The Cold Shoulder...

Style Theory: This summer the off the shoulder top trend has gained momentum and is now 'the' top to wear. Subtle, flattering and very 2015 the off the shoulder top is the perfect silhouette to take you from beach to bar.

Images via Pinterest

Wear these tops with denim cut offs, a short or midi button through denim skirt for a 70s vibe, skinny jeans or smarten your top up with tailored ankle length trousers and strappy, heeled sandals. The off the shoulder top is effortlessly stylish and incredibly flattering.

Here are the best on the high street now:

H&M £29.99

This top is the fashion bloggers favourite, a tailored shirt/off the shoulder top hybrid it looks fantastic tucked into blue skinny jeans with Next tan flat sandals.

Asos £28

The stripes give this top a very current look , wear tucked into cut off denim shorts and tan Palmaira sandals for a cool look.

Mango £26.99

Wear this with darker denim skinny jeans, heels and a bright raffia clutch for a fabulous summer day to evening look.

Next £26

This top looks so lovely on, I would wear with all black, black skinny ankle length jeans and black flat sandals for a sleek look, add a brightly patterned clutch for a pop of summer colour

Next £16

Reasonably priced with lovely detailing, this burnt orange top would be a fab little extra top for holiday, would look great against sunkissed skin with shorts and tan sandals.

Warehouse £35

I like the fact this is a sweater style top, will be good for cool summer evenings. Wear with black skinny jeans and black strappy sandals for a stunning monochrome look.

Topshop Floral Tie Print top £26

A beautiful floral print, again I would keep to skinny jeans or denim shorts with this top. I believe this top comes up fairly generous so size down if in doubt.

Topshop £30

This top would look cute with a mini denim button through skirt and tan strappy sandals (the Next ones)

Warehouse @Asos £24

I love this top, it is a gorgeous cotton fabric and really flattering, can be worn as a square neck on the shoulders or off the shoulder as in the image.

My Style

I bought this top from Warehouse department in John Lewis. It has splits up either side of it but I tuck the top into my jeans so no flesh (ie fat tummy) is showing. Can be worn up or off the shoulder and would look just as good with skinny black jeans or shorts and these Mango sandals (I have worn these loads!)

Top: Warehouse £28
Jeans: Levis 501ct £95
Bag: Willow Bag Aurora Living £59.50
Sandals: Mango £17.99

I now have a few off the shoulder tops and dresses in my wardrobe and they are the pieces I wear the most. If the sun decides to stick around I will be able to wear them even more...

Are you a fan of the off the shoulder top? Have you bought into the trend? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, have a wonderful weekend. Next time some interior inspiration...

Frances xxxx

The Essential Black Dress

Style Theory: When in doubt I often reach for the safety of a black dress for an event. They are always flattering, can be matched with any accesssories and always look chic and understated.

Images via pinterest

So versatile and timeless, the black dress is the perfect fall-back dress in your wardrobe and works for every season. Over the past 10 years my black dress hemlines have got longer but I always tend to buy ones with fairly high necks as they suit me shape better and I wear them again and again. 

Here is my selection of the best on the high street now:

&Other Stories Pom Pom dress £55

This is a great, light cotton, comfortable dress. It is one of those dresses that works just as well with flats as with heels. It does crush but as the fabric has a slight pattern in it you can get away with it crushing a little throughout the day. It also comes in cream, I know I will wear this non-stop and it hides my mum tum perfectly! Fits true to size.

This dress is a great cover up piece, I love feeling comfortable at an event, top arms covered, and legs..makes me feel unselfconscious...

&Other Stories Broderie Anglais £65

A beautiful, delicate but structured dress. I love the broderie look on the arms, will provide arm coverage whilst looking interesting and extremely pretty.

Zara Cape Sleeve Tie Neck Dress £69.99

The cape detail of the sleeve on this dress is very 2015, I would wear with high black/tan strappy sandals M&S ghillie sandals look fab on.

Mango Fringed Dress £49.99

Fringing is on trend this season and this dress is a perfect way to wear it. Would look amazing with the mango strappy, flat sandals, a cool boho look for holiday. Add a large straw bag and some fine gold jewellery and it will look beach to bar perfection.

Next Boho Dress £26

An easy to wear lightweight jersey dress. Great for throwing over a bikini/swimsuit on holiday.

Topshop Plunge Neck Dress £40

Balance out the midi length of this dress with a plunge neck. I had one of these from French Connection many years ago and it was so flattering. Pointed court shoes make this dress look super sophisticated.

M&S Sleeveless Maxi Dress £52

Chic and glamorous, the black maxi dress is endlessly useful. Dress up with chunky gold bangles piled high, gold boho drop earrings and high strappy tan or black sandals. By day wear with flat sandals and fine gold jewellery, add a coloured bag for a pop of colour.

Warehouse Gypsy Style Dress Midi Dress £28

An easy to wear, un-expensive dress, will make an impact when dressed up with heels and accessorised with gold/silver clutch bag.

H&M Embroidered Dress £59.99

This is a little short but I love the embroidery detail, it is stunning. A great holiday piece and wear in the winter with black opaque tights and knee high 70s style tan boots.

I could go on forever, I do love a black dress, I have kept all of mine (since I was 18) as I wear them again and again (the ones I can still squeeze into!)

Do you have a favourite black dress? Do you tend to go for the safety of black when attending a function? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, have a great hopefully sunny weekend Frances xx 

Spring's Perfect Flat Shoe....

Style Theory: It started with Aquazzura, then Isabel Marant and now the high street is awash with the lace up, delicate shoe that flatters and looks fabulous with dresses and jeans alike...

Aquazzura @Harvey Nichols £425

The Aquazzura are really expensive so I am so glad to report I have found some stunning 'homages' on the high street for as little as £22.99.... perfect for a Spring wardrobe update...

First here are some ideas of how to style:

These are the Isabel Marant shoes, the lace up style looks fabulous styled with an oversize sweater and ankle length skinny jeans, laid back perfection. 

Wear with your boyfriend jeans and cargo to up the style on a casual look.

Stunning with black distressed jeans.

Great with cut off shorts and a tee for holiday chic.

Go for Parisian look with a black/navy blazer and skinny jeans. 

A subtle and stylish look with all black 

The lovely Alex from The Frugality wears her Next shoes with a beautiful maxi dress for a wedding, the perfect dress up/dress down shoes.

As you can see these are such useful, elegant shoes that go with such a range of outfits and are completely easy to walk in..perfect..

So here are the best, affordable options on the high street, starting with the more expensive down to super reasonable. I have chosen all flat version of these shoes as I find them easier to walk in and therefore get more wear out of them. These will look fab in the Spring with a pair of skinny black or blue jeans and a sweater and in the summer wear with denim cut off jean shorts and a white boho top with black/white embroidery detail and a black or leopard print bag.

Russell and Bromley Logo Lace Shoes £255

Free People Jeffrey Campbell Shay Lace Up  £100

Boden Lille Lace-up Point Shoes £89

Office Vibrant Multi Strap Shoes £55

Next Black Ghille Point Shoes £45

A word of caution with these shoes, they are narrow so better on narrow feet due to the lack of support on the outside. If you have wider feet the New Look or Office will be a better, reasonable option.

New Look Lace Up Point Shoes £22.99

Such a useful little pair of shoes, if you can try on a few different styles to check which ones flatter and fit you the best, I guarantee if you find a really comfortable pair you will wear them all the time.

MY STYLE

Breton: Petit Bateau
Jacket: Topshop
Jeans: Topshop Baxter Jeans
Bag: Aurora Living Willow Bag
Shoes: Next (link above)

I have worn mine for nights out, days shopping and meetings and they are really comfortable, looking forward to the weather warming up so my feet do not freeze as much though!

Do you have these shoes, are you into the lace up look? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Frances xx