My Baby Shot Me Down Again

Wearing: Hat from Topshop, Dress from French Connection*, 

Boots from Matalan and Necklace from a jewellery party.

I love comfort, but unfortunately the most comfortable of outfits don't warrant much of a style credit. We can all relate to breathing in just to take a bit of pressure of that zip, subtly nudging that really annoying bone poking you in the ribs or sitting awkwardly in a rather restrictive outfit; but sometimes it's nice to float around in something that hardly feels like it's there.

The French Connection Ditton Sweats Crew Neck Dress  is an absolute dream to wear, I can feel comfortable yet remain true to my style. The cotton-blend fabric is wonderfully light and paired with the oversized nature of the dress itself means it's incredibly comfortable and doesn't weigh you down or cling as I thought a sweater dress might. I fell in love with the mix of textures and colour pairings, I think the sheer chiffon sleeves and chest panels really give this dress character and stop it from becoming too casual meaning you need very few accessories; a pork pie hat, statement necklace and amazing £10 cut out boots from the Matalan sale. Steal!

While it may feel light, it does not compromise on quality. The sheer sleeves feel secure and don't look like the stitching is going to give way at any minute as some cheaper items made from this fabric do, (I've seen my fair share of sheer tops and dresses falling apart at the seams in shops). It's not often I head into French Connection when I'm in the city, mainly due to money woes, but I'm so impressed with this that I'll make a point of heading in and seeing what else they have to offer.

Do you favour comfort or style? Or - like me - do you love to get the best of both worlds? 

Pounds or Practically Pennies: Flowers In My Hair

Whether they're called flower crowns, headbands, headpieces or garlands; we are absolutely no stranger to them. Equally loved and loathed among bloggers and fashionistas, flower accessories have evolved from festival must-haves to bridal accessories in an instant. 

Maison Michel;

Dolce and Gabbana;

Worn by Alexa Chung, Anne Hathaway, Keira Knightly, Katy Perry and Pixie Lott (who also has her own range over at Rock N Rose) the flower based accessories are becoming quite the sensation.  The above Dolce and Gabbana band is very cute, I love the blue accents, but is it £730 worth of cute? I'm not so sure...

Below I've popped together a few of my favourite flower crowns/garlands/headbands/headpieces for £15 and under. I've tried to keep a balance between high street retailers and independent stores to give you a rounded idea of what's available.

Forever 21 // Rosey Posey Creations;

Claire's // Peacocks;

Crown and Glory // Lolly Dolly Lavender;

Punky Allsorts // Tesco;

(Prices and stock are subject to change from the creation of this image!)

I don't think you can go wrong with the £3.50 Peacocks band or the £3.90 Forever 21 band especially if you're off to a festival and don't want to spend too much incase it gets ruined, or have a habit of misplacing things. The Forever 21 band would also look gorgeous with a wedding dress *drifts off to my Pinterest wedding board* and the Tesco one would look adorable on a little flower girl; they don't break your wedding fund either! My absolute favourites though are the Rosey Posey Creations Cream and Pink Dream Headband with its beautiful colour palette, the Crown and Glory Not a Lotta Rosie headband with its mini wine coloured flowers, and the Lolly Dolly Lavender Coral Crush Crown in all its big and bright glory.

They aren't just a spring fling either, get yourself in on a burgundy, wine or dusk orange and you're set for when the transition to Autumn begins. Of course, if you still don't want to fork out for a flower crown or want to make your own unique crown, Google has an abundance of D.I.Y's to hand and there's a ton of bloggers out there providing their own unique tutorials. 

Are you a fan of this seasonal headwear? Or is it a trend you are avidly skipping? I don't think anything will beat making daisy chains as a kid though. 

I Hate These Blurred Lines

Wearing: Wrap Dress as top from Vero Moda, Skirt by Darling via TK Maxx, 

Oversized Denim Jacket from Primark, Brogues from Peacocks, Belt and Sunglasses from Tesco and 

Necklace from Olivia Accessories*.

You are reading correctly, this skirt really was a measly £3. Me and Phil were drifting round TK Maxx (a somewhat regular occurrence when I'm at his) and as I scanned the rails my eyes found their way to this super cute print skirt and a rather pleasing red sticker hiding away on the clearance rail. I completely lost my train of thought and whatever I was jabbering on about came to an abrupt halt as I admired it. There was no um-ing and ah-ing to be had, I grabbed it hurriedly and tried it on over what I was wearing in the middle of the shop before I paid the same amount as I would have for a car parking ticket and took it home. The length is perfect and I adore the little embroidered polka dots which, to me, add a little bit of texture and depth. I've styled it down with a bit of brown and denim but this would be a brilliant candidate for a day to night type outfit.

On another note, what have you all been up to? I've had a lovely chilled week with Phil, he started a new job today so last week he used up the last of his holiday from his old one. We popped to Alton Towers and had a couple of days in the park where we got our rollercoaster adrenaline fix and queued 2 hours and 50 minutes for The Smiler. We had a few hours another day in the water park where I rocked a bikini for the first time and in the evenings we explored the beautiful village of Alton after eating home cooked pub food; lovely! We also managed to book two seats for McFly's birthday show at The Royal Albert Hall in September so are searching for decent priced hotels (preferably with car parking) in the area, so if you know of any please do recommend them to me.  I now have jobs to apply for, several emails to catch up on, posts to write, comments to leave, and photos to take and edit. Wish me luck!

Make sure you let me know your best bargain buys whether they're TK Maxx finds or not, I'd love to know. 

Wish-Want-Need: The Shoe Edit.

1. Topshop £75 // 2. Topshop £45 // 3. ASOS £17.50;

4. Matalan £8 // 5. ASOS £32 // 6. Mr Shoes £24.99;

7. Joules Outlet £25 // 8. Fashion Union £14; 

(Prices and stock may change from the creation of this image!)

The long and short of it is that these are my most sought after shoes of the moment. I'd love to buy them all, but right now it's just not going to happen so I thought an 'I want, I want *stamps feet*' kind of post was the best way to go to relieve my itchy feet caused by the #fbloggers chat which was filled to the brim with shoe appreciation on Monday night.

1. I love the Adonis 2's from Topshop, I saw them in the flesh last week and they're truly gorgeous with their muted florals and cut outs - cannot justify £75 at the moment though.

2. I'm a real lover of Swedish Hasbeen's but they're far too expensive for me so to find these Topshop clogs at £45 is fab, I love the rustic yet classy look; a world away from what my year 2 teacher used to wear. 

3. The ASOS Little Miss ballet flats are SO cute - it's an embroidered bunny face with ears! Do I need to say more? 

4. How amazing are the glitter boat shoes from Matalan? They come in silver too so for £8 you could easily get both. 

5. The brogue, I just adore the timelessness. My brown pair are dying but this classic black and white pair would be the perfect replacement and look amazing with a swing dress or ankle grazers. 

6. You either love them or you hate them, and I LOVE these Juju jellies from Mr-Shoes. I really do need a pair and since I was forbidden these exact ones when I was younger because they had a heel, I will rebel now. 

7. Another lagomorph style for crazy bunny lady over here. These Joules Hare logo wellies are super cute! I had to put plastic food bags inside my wellies last winter because they were leaking and I couldn't find the perfect pair but, here they are whilst we head toward summer.

8. I'd probably hobble in these strappy sandals from Fashion Union due to the heel, (and because I can't walk straight in flats), but these are stunning.  I've been looking for a block heel pair in this combination but I haven't found any so I'd risk my neck for these. They'd look perfect with my black elephant jacquard print jogger trousers from Primark and for £14 I'm mighty tempted.

I would choose an ultimate favourite out of these, but truth be told these are my favourites. There's loafer, ballet, brogue, jelly, stiletto, clog, boot and even welly, so I technically have a favourite from each style (wormed my way out of that one didn't I?) I think these picks sum up my shoe style; classically quirky with a little bit of jazz.

Any choices here that you'd choose for yourself? What's your shoe style?

Memory Lane, We're Here Again, Back to the Day.

Wearing: Heart Swing Dress from Carousel*,

Gold Brogues from Primark and Gloves are vintage.

How completely whimsical and fanciful is this beautiful dress from Carousel? Once again, while the world is completely roaring twenties mad because of The Great Gatsby, I'm still stuck in the fifties. I don't mind, I've always done things differently. When I knew this beautiful dress was on it's way to me I immediately knew when I was going to wear it and, last Saturday, I frolicked off to Wembley Arena for the very first time to spend the night singing and dancing to my favourite band McFly. Having read that  their theme was the 1950's I knew I wanted to dress up for it whether anyone else did or not and this dress was the perfect number as it reminded me of that stunning dress Lea Thompson wore as Lorraine Baines in Back to the Future. When I first stepped out in this Phil gave me a smile and told me how much I suited the style - I'm a lucky girl. 

It fits like an absolute dream! It has an elasticated back that lends to contouring to your body in the right places whilst making sure it flares out everywhere else. I love the beautiful peach/pink colour with the kitsch cream heart print which is also infused with tiny little polka dots. The fold over neckline, the ruched thick straps and the full knee length skirt are the perfect classic touches and, if you put all these features together you get an item of clothing that is really aesthetically pleasing! I've decided that I'm going to glam up this dress for Phil's cousin's wedding in a couple of weeks, so suggestions on a postcard please.

Carousel have some of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen, no exaggeration. While adhering to and acknowledging current trends, Carousel choose to work with independent brands with unique styles and twists while remaining essentially classic meaning they offer things that you'll be hard pushed to find anywhere else. Their selection is stunning and rivals what the high street stores can churn out undoubtedly; an absolute must-peep for vintage styled lovers. 

The gig was amazing by the way, I won't go into it too much but as I get older I get softer and I was an emotional wreck. It's McFly's 10 year anniversary this year after all and I've grown up with them every step of the way. Anyone who has a band or a film or a following that means something to them will understand whether or not you agree on the 'thing' at hand.

Do you like little gem shops like this? Do you find it refreshing to find such different styles or do you simply prefer the high street? 

Google+ Hangout with Swimwear 365 and Stylist Helen Boyle.

A few weeks ago, I was invited to take part in a Google+ hangout with Swimwear365, beautiful stylist Helen Boyle and some wonderful bloggers to talk this years hot swimwear and holiday trends. If you're jetting off someplace nice but not sure what style swimwear to go for, then watch our little hangout below to get in the know. Everything from prints, colours, cuts and embellishments to skin tone, hair colour, body shapes and problem areas were covered. 

Swimwear 365 cater for a range of shapes and sizes with '100s of styles to suit every body'. They have a really handy shape calculator which need 3 simple measurements; bust, waist and hips, to tell you which body shape you are. Armed with this new information and a sudden brazen attitude to head for a bikini over a one piece for the very first time in my life, my key question to Helen was about what I should be looking out for, for a size 14/16 hourglass figure. During the chat it became apparent that vintage and retro styles are great for my figure as it matches the 'classic' 50's hourglass look, these styles are also great because they aren't too scary or garish. In order to keep myself in proportion and balanced, matching prints on the top and bottom are great and slightly draw attention away from my non perfect belly. With my pale skin I need to avoid really harsh extreme colours like white, black, neons or block colours; navy and white is much more gentle for my skin tone and blend beautifully rather than stand in stark contrast with one another. I'm a great student aren't I?

After the hangout we were invited over to the Swimwear 365 website and asked to choose ourselves a little something. After my mini consultation with Helen regarding what to go for I plucked up the courage in a now or never sense and headed straight for the bikini section. Taking Helen's advice I picked out this classic polka dot number, it's similar to the one she chose for me but with slightly wider sided bottoms to hold in all my wobbly bits. 

Lascana Navy Vintage Polka Dot Bikini*

I absolutely love it and it fits perfectly. As you'll see below I've a huge thing for vintage and retro swimwear styling so this is perfect. The quality of the fabric is fantastic, it's thick, lined and padded so no risk of nips being on show or thinking it'll go see through as soon as it touches water. The small strip of fabric between the cups is essential to bring some definition which is great for a bigger busted lady like myself, it's not only flattering but helps to keep the blighters where they belong! Keeping with security and the avoidable flip-flop fatalities, the straps are thick and secure which follow right under the arm to join with boned sides and a thick strip under the bust; there's also a great clasp at the back - no Carry On Camping moment for me!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Swimwear365 are also hosting a wee competition over on their blog where you can win a spa day for two at a Bannatynes Spa, lovely! It closes on 20th May which is this Monday, so dive in if you want to get involved. You can find out more information here.

Lascana Vintage Polka Dot Bikini // Joe Browns Polka Dot 50's Tankini // White Bold Sunglasses;

Gold Coloured Pendent Necklace // Buffalo London Hot Pants // Joe Browns Gingham Dress;

Tamaris Beige Patent Wedge Sandals // City Walk White Lace Up Pumps // Lotus Cream Bow Bag;

I never tire of classic styles and, as Helen said in the styling session, classic vintage and retro styles never get old. Whenever I think vintage swimwear I always think of the beautiful 50's bathing suits and two pieces and, of course, the stunning Esther Williams. While the world is going roaring 20's crazy thanks to The Great Gatsby, I'm going all fabulous 50's and this is my sole inspiration for this collage. The bikini and tankini are two of my favourite retro style pieces Swimwear 365 has to offer; you can't beat polka dots or halter necks when trying to recreate this era. I'm utterly smitten with this gingham dress, it'd look perfect with a pair of classic wedges to enhance the 50's silhouette while the pumps would look cute when layering up either piece with a pair of shorts.  

What were your favourite pieces Helen showed? I hope you found this helpful, I certainly did! 

Oh Mickey you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind hey Mickey!

Wearing: Oversized denim jacket and t-shirt from Primark, 

high-waisted shorts from River Island, 

Shoes by Converse and bag from Clarks outlet;

I'm 23, I can assure you of that, I just have a childish nature that appears to make itself apparent when I dress. I can still get away with this though I think - oh sod it, I bloody hope I can. It was a casual day anyway and,  if all else fails, I'll just wear it at Disneyland whenever that may be. See? Child. I guess this is a bit of a 90's throwback look, especially with that cracking song in the title as covered by Lolly; I was having a jolly old time listening to it the other night whilst drafting this post.

More importantly, the shorts. These shorts were in the most recent River Island mid season sale, the colour immediately caught my eye and once I had a good touchy-feel of the fine corduroy style fabric I was sold. At £10 (after having a panicked run to a different store because the original one I spied them in didn't have my size) the shorts were mine. They are undoubtedly my favourite pair out of any I own. I love the colour despite it being so Winter 12/13 and I love the high waisted flattering and comfortable fit. 

I'm utterly shattered so apologise with the quietness over the past week. I've spent all my time packing up my Nan's house for her, moving her to another, unpacking and settling her in. There's still a lot to do, but she's happy and it certainly feels like home. Whilst she was clearing out her wardrobe and deciding what to chuck in the charity shop bin bag I managed to snag myself some vintage cream 40s/50s gloves, a vintage tartan scarf, a floral blouse and bright pink dress. I'm going to need to do a bit of experimental altering on the latter two but I'm pretty happy, thanks Nan!

Have you got any bargains in the River Island sale? I think it's been a corker, I've bought 2 dresses as well as these shorts and there's so many other amazing things in it. 

She's Just a Loner with a Sexy Attitude.

Wearing: Midi Dress from FD Avenue, 

Biker Jacket from New Look and 

Hi-top Wedge Trainers from Primark.

I may have to put myself on a serious ban from wearing this jacket when I'm going to do outfit posts; I think it's featured in almost all of them so far but it goes with everything! It's quite a good job I don't do one every day really because there is a high probability it'd be there again and again (avec my jogging bottoms which are not used for jogging). I'm quite late with posting this look actually, it's been on the Look Street Style website and the FD Avenue blog for quite a while now so I thought I'd leave a little time before posting it here and, well - I forgot.

I'd been eyeing up midi dresses for a heck of a long time yet putting off buying out of fear of the length making my legs look short and stumpy. Just before Christmas I threw caution to the wind and took the plunge with this amazing monochrome skull number and with a 50% off code it cost a little over £7. Ker-ching! I couldn't quite believe how bold the print was so was understandably terrified whether I could pull it off or not but, as soon as I slipped it on, I fell in lust. I silently rejoiced as I looked at myself in the mirror as my legs didn't look like they belonged to a Corgi after all! Generally though, I think you should be safe if you find a midi that rests just below your knees rather than mid-calf. I paired it with these hi top wedge trainers for a colour accent and to make my calves look slightly elongated - just incase. 

Do you all love the midi dress trend, or are you finding it a bit tiresome?  

You wonderful readers can get 20% off at FD Avenue by entering the code MONTAGE20 at the checkout.

Pounds or Practically Pennies: Feeling Blue

Roberto Cavalli and Erdem have a lot to answer for. We have become swamped by ornate prints against creams and whites and, while I've never been a big fan or wearer of the colour blue, I am inescapably in love. 

Erdem 1 - 2 - 3 ;

Roberto Cavalli 1 - 2 - 3;

Erdem's feminine and contemporary designs feature the dreamy French Milandes chateaus and landscapes framed by beautiful filigree. I love how these prints aren't symmetrical but are still weighted similarly on each side making them slightly more relaxed but just as refined and romantic. The Roberto Cavalli 'Resort' pieces are much more structured in terms of print placement and the simple shapes are made up for with extravagant and detailed prints and features. The prints are classic, and Cavalli lends a hand to incorporate the contemporary; the skirt features a daring side split while the shirt boasts a clashing geometric print and the neckline on the dress connects with white metal flowers and collar cutouts. 

Enough of those though, what just-as-lovely pieces can we find for a fraction of the above prices?

H&M // Primark // Matalan // Glamorous // Next;

Pret a Portobello // Topshop // Glamorous;

New Look // Vero Moda // H&M // River Island;

(Prices and stock are subject to change from the creation of this image!)

Inspired by the classic porcelain crockery and dinner sets your grandma probably owns, the porcelain prints are sure to be a big Spring/Summer 2013 hit - here's hoping for colour variations as the seasons progress . I adore the Primark dress and how the neckline just touches the shoulders, unfortunately, I haven't been able to find it in store yet. I'm also a massive fan of the H&M blazer and the Topshop pop socks (that's a mouthful). I have some brown wedges just dying to be paired with this print!

Are you loving China blue?

Cambridge Style Week night 2: Cutting-edge Cambridge Design

The second night of Cambridge Style Week paid homage to the next generation of fashion designers and really did set the bar high for the rest of the week. Showcasing exclusive one of a kind designs from final year students from the Cambridge School of Art, the catwalk played host to an array of stunning materials and incredible shapes that wouldn't have looked out of place on the LFW catwalk. 

There were a wealth of designs and styles flashing before our eyes, ranging from gothic glam and futuristic frocks to embellished co-ords and effortlessly chic pieces. Each design was innovative and unique and I really would have loved to have heard about the inspirations and reasoning behind them all. There were clear trends featured throughout; leather/PU detailing was featured on large number of outfits, it's clearly still a winner for both bloggers

and designers, metallics also made a feature along with the classic cut out, embellished two piece looks, monochrome, jacquard prints and androgynous sharp cut designs. 

This striking dress was the hit of the night, incredible right? It received spontaneous applause from the outset, something about it hit the right spot. Every inch of the fabric was carded by hand and constructed on a live model ensuring a flawless finish and fit. 

As the night progressed I, and others alike, completely forgot we were watching student's works and became immersed in the fashion. This wasn't a night dedicated to 'classic' and wearable designs, it was quirky, it was somewhat eccentric but most of all, it was great. Some designs were ready-to-wear but these was easily overtaken by the arty and more 'out-there' pieces, yet I wasn't put off - not one bit. In my opinion, a catwalk night so dedicated to this type of fashion and design definitely added towards what constitutes an event to be a 'real' fashion week. What better way to celebrate Cambridge and all it has to offer by unveiling the hidden talents of the city and the next generation we will put our style and fashion faith in. See my other favourites from the night below.

These are my second and third absolute top picks, can you spy the gothic inspiration? The fierce dress on the left would have been at home on the Brit Awards red carpet alongside other black and gold numbers, it incorporates the much loved leather/PU panelling along with sheer fabric and classic split leg design. The whimsical Alice in Wonderland-esque printed collar and skirt dress on the right would be fitting for a Tim Burton film and is seriously cutesy.  I'm still not over collars yet and love the quirky mirror print.

Two more wearable dresses here both featuring dipped hem and asymmetrical cuts. The left featured a laser cut bodice and hem while the right focused on layering.

I adore this beautiful jacquard style glitter threaded 2 piece suit with navy ruffles, it definitely full-frills (ha!) this seasons statement frill trend. The simple monochrome satin top with nipped in waist is an elegant colour block number.

Look at those stunning trousers! Another jacquard style piece accompanied by an on trend oversized white shirt and cape. I love how romantic and flowing this beautiful empire line dress is. It gathers just under the bust, and although it has a deep cut and exposed skin either side, it's not at all revealing or at all inappropriate. Perfect!

These are two rather classic looks taking an update. The stunning grey blazer has embraced leather/PU detailing around the collar and elbow patches while the halter neck shift dress features a leather/PU neckline, asymmetrical front and dip hem back.

The only way I can really describe these designs is 'galactic' and that's probably not the right term at all. I was drawn towards the metallic fabrics in this collection and the contrast between the metallic texture, skintight black gloves and white panelling. The shapes are to die for.

The amazing plastic bubble neck dress demonstrates perfectly what futuristic fashion is all about, experimenting with new materials and making something great. The woolen cape and bralet combo with tailored trousers is androgynous chic at its best; I love the high waisted trousers with their PU leather detailing and peach highlights, a definite ready-to-wear element amongst an 'out-there' piece.

All jewellery here was from the fabulous Cambridge based Catherine Jone Jewellery and complimented all outfits perfectly. The actual necklace Princess Leia wore in the final scene of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope resides with them now and made an appearance on the catwalk. Unfortunately, my photos didn't turn out great but trust me, it's a beaut! If you have a spare £1,998.00 you can buy it here. 

Night 1 coverage // Nights 3&4 coming soon.

£50 Savvy Saver Outfit

I know for a fact that I'm not the only one out there who likes a good discount code or deal. Just because we like to save money; therefore, unquestionably getting more for our money, doesn't mean we're scrimpers - it means we're savvy.

So, when I was challenged to create an outfit costing no more than £50 using netvouchercodes, I headed over immediately and got my stalk on. After clicking through deal after deal and spending an age searching through clothing, footwear and accessories, I settled on this outfit. 

Blacks and golds will never get old, prints and boots won't either. 

Inspired by our god-awful ever changing weather, this is the perfect season transition outfit. At the moment I'd be inclined to wear with black tights and a dark grey marl boxy boyfriend jacket, but as the weather finally improves I'd go bare legged and pop on a pair of oversized sunnies.

My first stop was Debenhams after I found the 50% off womens dresses deal here. I'm still loving faux leather and, while it may be 'so last season', black is going nowhere as this seasons monochrome trend so wilfully shows. As a faux leather dress, this Beloved Tunic could appear heavy, but the scalloped edges and laser cut detailing ensure a lighter looking garment for the transition into spring. I found this little beauty reduced from a whopping £69 to a mere £15 and yes, that is well over 50% off!

My second and final stop was at Get the Label. It was out of pure curiosity as I'd never heard of this store until happening across them in the netvouchercodes directory and seeing the 75% off designer clothes and accessories deal here. My first stop was footwear, if I'm creating an outfit and only have limited amounts of money, I'd choose footwear over bags anytime. I loved the mix of classic chelsea style and playful print of these leopard print heeled boots; with an RRP of £22.99 but reduced to £14.99, I can afford to pick a bag too! Satchels are great, and this black Pieces snake print number, reduced from a corking £47.99 to £12.99, is ideal alongside the black dress to keep things muted and make the boots pop. With a few pounds to spare I needed a little something on the top half of the dress. I was quite intrigued by this Pieces chunky chain necklace, reduced from £17.99 to a teeny £5.99; I suppose the classic gold chain does hold quite a stigma, but this statement double wrapped piece has something chic about it.

The overall price for this outfit is £48.97 as opposed to the cray-cray original price of £157.97; just imagine what you could do with that spare £109!

I suggest you go take a look, you could save some serious dollar! Hands up if you love a deal?

*Partnered post, content written by myself.

Cambridge Style Week night 1: Best of British

As models practised their walks, bottles of wine were being laid on ice and finishing touches being put to pop up shops in the boutique experience; Nicky Shepard, Cambridge Style Week director and co-founder, was gliding around amazingly stress free. The first night of the first ever Cambridge Style Week was about to go live to the public and not an ounce of panic or anxiety graced Nicky's face. What a pro. 

As guests entered the first stop boutique area, single roses in a wide array of colours were gifted by Purely Roses, I got a beautiful lemon shade which sat proudly in an Asti bottle on the kitchen table for the rest of the week. It was a beautiful welcome touch along with a goody bag for seated guests and complimentary welcome drink as well as plenty of smiling faces. Guests, and myself alike, then had an hour to peruse the boutique experience meeting local Cambridge companies including: Victoria Egg, Curious Orange, Retro Vert, The Cambridge Raincoat Company, Design Essentials, B Jewellery Ltd, Cambridge Interiors, OJT Designs, Tweed Vixen, Debbie Wallwork Photography, Velvet Bakehouse and Pole Fitness. The hour of browsing and admiring was up quickly and we were soon lead into the catwalk area as we anticipated the start of the first catwalk of the week.

As a living-in-the-sticks kind of girl it's never easy or cheap to get to London or Manchester for fashion weeks - so, when I heard there was going to be a 'Cambridge Style Week' I was extatic and dying to get involved. The first show was better than I ever expected, there were a diverse range of designs and styles from a mix of Cambridge based stores and British designers - many of which I had shamefully never heard of, but that's what this event was about. While designs were evidently different with varying inspirations, functions and aesthetics, they were all united in the fact that they are all quintessentially British; and they're ours to be proud of! 

Prohibido Lingerie, a Cambridge based luxury lingerie boutique, featured Mary Portas' Kinky Knickers as a great start to the show. Each pair is handcrafted in Britain out of the finest Nottingham lace, models sported some of the range which are perfectly suitable for everyday wear yet have a sexy and playful edge. 

The Cambridge Raincoat Company showcased their classic and timeless mac designs with a modern and colourful twist. Originally started as a fashionable alternative for cyclists and unattractive lycra, The Cambridge Raincoat Company have become the epitome of stunning rain wear. Perfect for those little April showers.

Angels Carrying Savage Weapons were absolutely, the most jaw dropping designs on the catwalk. Their intricate corsetry and handmade designs can easily rival the corset's Victorian creators. Each dress is handmade to order from the designers own cuts in Nottinghamshire, and their range includes bridal and evening wear, 50's style skirt suits, capri pants and the classic boudoir corsets and lingerie.

Baska, a Cambridge based boutique boasting renowned international designers, showcased their Olivia Rubin London collection. This was one of my favourite sets and summed up my favourite part of British fashion - bright colours and playful prints! I adored this 'Porch Gate' printed silk mini dress with gathered sleeves, gathered waist and full skirt - it would look perfect amongst a field of daisies accompanied by the ornateness of a champagne and strawberry picnic. The classic Olivia Rubin brick print has been revamped in popular pastel colours specifically for SS'13 and this shirt dress was my favourite style the print was adorned on.

After our blogger preview event of Somerset by Alice Temperley at John Lewis, I couldn't wait to see the SS'13 pieces styled to a tee and hit the catwalk. Alice focused her Somerset collection on feminine yet workable and everyday pieces which can effortlessly form part of a capsule wardrobe. Think pretty embellishments, classic cuts and sumptuous fabrics, Alice Temperley hasn't slacked on the collaboration with the high street brand. It's hard to pick favourites within this line as everything is so effortlessly stunning, but the blue wallpaper tile print jumpsuit is up there.

Boudoir Femme, another Cambridge boutique, featured their stunning SS'13 Libelula collection. A UK based label designed by Sophie Cranston, Libelula draws attention to, and focuses on, timeless styles and cuts set to flatter the feminine figure. Having set up Temperley alongside Alice Temperley in the year 2000, I noticed this label draws slight similarities like classic British cuts such as the pink boucle skirt and white cardigan; but is much more eclectic in terms of print and colour. I love the vibrancy of the green and pink bug print dress, yet the clash of the red and pink georgette dress is striking - who said you can't wear pink and red together and make it work?

Baska did it again by featuring their Bourne, England SS'13 collection. With refined styles and polished details, Bourne commit themselves to creating British made and British designed products for those of us who want a luxury wardrobe on a competitive price level with other labels. Their SS'13 pieces see a mix of classic summer colours like nudes, pinks, whites and peaches and put elegance right at the forefront of their designs. 

Nehru London jackets are based upon traditional Indian fashion as devised by Jawaharlal Nehru. This classic Indian styling has diversified over the years to embody quirky British design by experimenting with bright colours and striking linings especially for those with a penchant for good tailoring. Their ladies collection, as previewed here, will be released later this year.

There was of course something for the guys in the crowd as the John Lewis menswear collection so proudly displayed. I'm sure many of us ladies love to see a well dressed man, and hopefully you guys like to make an effort too sometimes. The heritage look on the far left is a winner for me; I really enjoy the combination of earthy colours, elbow patches and a shirt and jumper combo topped with a check blazer. The second from left is a great smart/casual look, there's something very Ryan Gosling about it isn't there? The third in however, is a look my boyfriend Phil would be most likely to rock out of this selection - an untucked shirt, classic jeans, military boots and bomber jacket is much more his style. 

Modish Shoes, a Cambridge and Saffron Walden based shoe boutique, also made an appearance in some of the sets on catwalk boasting their classic union jack sequin platforms and other gorgeous footwear. They're on a mission to offer fantastic looking and fantastic feeling shoes to all women as well as stocking more difficult to find brands and new designers. Clamp Optometrists, an independent Cambridge based company with a wide selection of well known brand, designer and boutique glasses and sunglasses, supplied the brilliantly styled eyewear in this show. I'll hopefully be giving them a visit closer to summer to treat myself to a pair of more expensive sunglasses to cherish, there's only so many cheap £10 or under sunglasses I can buy.What pieces/brands are you liking the look of? Hopefully I've given you a few new designers works to lust over.Night 2 coverage // Night's 3&4 coming soon.