Monochrome in Mornington Crescent

Here's another style post, featuring my beloved flared trousers that I've basically been living in at the moment. I found these trousers in New Look - a store I don't tend to shop or find things in, but I've been loving this bargain beauty! When I first showed my mum these trousers she had a moment of 'Oh God, how are you going to make these work?' but I think I've since proved her otherwise. These trousers are super versatile, making them the perfect wardrobe gamble. I've worn them on a night out with heels and a crop top, and I've also worn them looking uber casual with a printed tee and sandals.Today, I was going for dinner and decided to dress somewhere 'in between'.

To avoid looking overly dressed up, or too fancy shmancy, I paired the trousers with a very simple white crop top from Topshop's basics - find similar style here. As always, I relied on my faux leather jacket to give my outfit a little bit of that 'edgy' but 'effortless' oomph - find the jacket I'm wearing here.

Jewelery was kept pretty minimal, and I left the outfit accessories to do the talking - I wore my Miss Selfridge black fedora (this seems to be stuck to my head these days, honestly). As a lover of all things vintage, this cute little tan shoulder bag belonged to my grandmother and I adore its place in my wardrobe. I can't recommend enough taking a trip to your local vintage shops, charity shops and flea markets! You can find unique pieces that make your style stand out, and chances are no one will be rocking the same items. Finally, on my feet I'm wearing my recently bought Primark sliders, these seem to match everything I style so I've already made so much use out of the £3 (?!) price tag.

Saina
xo

Spring Style: OOTD

You know it's Spring, when you grab for your leather jacket without any hesitation or doubts in fear of the cold! London, infamously known for its temperamental weather, has been staying true to its reputation by giving a bucket load of mixed signals. Right now, I'm sat indoors with the heating on full blast and wooly slippers on, whilst a couple of days back I was frantically reaching for my sunnies and some ice cream! Last week, we were lucky enough to have a few Spring like days and with the sun making an appearance coats were no longer needed. Here's a look at one of my outfits featuring my trusty leather jacket.

Admittedly, these tailored trousers do nothing for my figure, but when Topshop has a sale and you found the last item in a couple of sizes up you either make it work, or spend the rest of the week regretting your choice. These linen trousers are super soft to the touch, making them the perfect pair of 'work' trousers. Spacious, but somewhat stylish. There's nothing worse than being uncomfortable in skinny jeans whilst you're sat at a desk with a mountain load of things to do! This black knitted jumper was a Zara A/W 14 purchase, and I just adore the side slits and the dipped hem style of it. The ribbed detailing and the structure of the upper arms makes it seem like something more than a 'baggy old jumper' - when essentially that's all it really is!

These trousers really have that 'Sport-Luxe' feel with the black side paneling, and I rolled them up ever so slightly just to make them appear a little more casual (also to make them slightly tighter at the ankles, seriously loose sizing). My shoes are my sturdy leather Zara pointies with gold hardware - you guys know how much I love these shoes and I've mentioned them a couple of times before. Although this exact style is no longer available, I listed my favourite similar styles that are still available from high street stores - check out that post here. 

Outfit Details 
Topshop Soft Piped Trousers: Similar here
Zara Knitted Side Split Jumper: Similar here
Zara Pointies: Similar here
Zara Faux Leather Jacket: here

Saina
xo

OOTN: Vamp it Up

Ever had to whip up an outfit in a matter of minutes due to an unexpected call from the girls? Here's a quick outfit post showing you what I wore to dinner and drinks with friends a couple of nights ago. The theme for this outfit was much like all my other outfit posts - vampy meets Morticia featuring bold, dark lips and statement jewellery. Essentially, this outfit is a pair of structured trousers with a simple vest chucked on top. Yet with the use of statement metals, chunky heels and bold lipstick this outfit is brought to life, making it appear much more 'effort like' than it actually is!

By wearing statement jewelry we create the illusion of an accessorized outfit - the mixed textures of metals and gemstones on clothing brings character and luxury to a somewhat simple outfit. This gorgeous necklace was purchased in Zara (for £19.99) a couple of years bag, yet I still find myself reaching for it all the time. This is a great example of how luxury can be brought to your style at an affordable price. Although this exact necklace is no longer available, high street stores such as Topshop and H&M do great alternatives. Here are some of my current favourites:
Oval Stone & Tassel Necklace, Topshop
Bar Chain Choker, Topshop
Metal Mesh Necklace, Zara
Fringed Necklace, H&M

I've gotten a few weird looks whenever I dare to go out in these platforms - but contrary to what these bad boys look like, they are the most comfortable pair of 'heels' I own! The height in the platform at the front of the shoe evens out the height of the heel - essentially making it feel like you're wearing a flat shoe with height (does that make sense?). The whole of your foot is raised rather than just your heel, therefore taking the pressure off the front of your foot. These booties were purchased from Topshop a while back, but I've listed similar (and cheaper) options below:
Chunky Stack Ankle Boot, Asos
Lucy Peeptoe Heel, Boohoo

Outfit Details:

Vest, Trousers & Necklace, Zara

Chunky Heels, Topshop

Longline Blazer, H&M

Lipstick 'Living Legend', Mac

Saina

xo

CREEP It Real: OOTD

Having had another day full of sunshine, it seemed a waste to not take this as an oppurtunity to snap some outfit pictures. So, I'm coming at ya with anther ootd! Though the sun was out today, I took it upon myself to dress in all black... again. Somewhere, someplace, the gothic fashion God's are proud of me, right? Apart from being an all black outfit, today's wardrobe choice was all about light layering - in true Londoner spirit, of course.

You possess the art of layering once you live in London - don't be fooled by the sun!

Outfit Details:
Leather Jacket: H&M 
Sheer duster jacket: Asos
Deep armhole vest: H&M
Ankle length trousers: Zara 
Faux leather sliders: Primark, similar here
Satchel: Vintage Celine

Hope the sun's been treating you right!

Saina
xo

Styling the Fedora

Nicole Scherzinger, Kourtney Kardashian & Mary Kate Olsen sporting the fedora trend

One fashion trend that I'm overly excited about is the Fedora craze. Fedora's made their first signs of appearance last Fall, they continued as a firm favourite during Winter and Spring, and they seem to be holding their place on high street and high end fashion for summer too. This, I am thrilled about. Hello, this means immediate miracles for bad hair days, dull outfit days and an instant spruce to 'I can't be bothered' days!

Admittedly, I'm not the most head-wear savvy person and I often steer away from overly accessorizing an outfit with add-ons like hats, scarves, belts etc. But I must confess, the fedora has become my favourite wardrobe item of the moment. Any time that I am unsure of an outfit, or want to look chic without looking like I've tried too hard, I throw on a fedora. They are both functional and outfit transforming - an absolute win win. Today, I am going to share with you a few outfit ideas showing you how I style my fedora's for both casual and more 'dressy' days.

Look 1 - 'Soft Grunge': Although I'm no stranger to a predominantly all-black outfit, the monochrome checkeredflannel on top of an all black look definitely adds an element of grunge to this outfit style. This outfit is typical of me attempting to look 'girly' without the pink and frills that I steer (well) away from! Dresses are not my go-to, but this is my take on Saina does Spring Stylin'.
Outfit details: Flannel, Topshop - similar here
                       Dress, Asos - here
                       Boots, Topshop - similar here
                       Fedora, Miss Selfridge - here 
                       Bag, Michael Kors chain safiano - here 

Look 2 - 'City Chic': This is an everyday Saina outfit, minus the heels. I'd usually substitute these for a pair of Nike's or New Balances to make the outfit casual. But going with the theme of 'chic', I added a pair of strappy heels to show how versatile fedora styling can be, and how it can be used in aid of dressing up an outfit. Apart from the heels, there's not really much going on in this outfit, and things are kept pretty minimal. This is a perfect example of how the hat transforms what would be a simple outfit to something a little more (effortlessly) stylish.
Outfit details: Faux fur jacket, New Look - here
                       Black vest, Zara - here
                       Coated denim trousers, Zara - here
                       Strappy heels, Asos - similar here 
                       Fedora, Miss Selfridge - here 
                       Bag, Chanel 2.8mm - here

Look 3 - 'Casual for Coffee': If you're ever bound to bump into me, you're more than likely to see me in some rendition of this outfit. Ever since I discovered the world of trainers, I've been loving the exploration of fashion in the sport-luxe world. By adding elements such as the fedora, and a fancy handbag the outfit is instantly lifted from what might look rather masculine (jeans, t-shirt, trainers.. you get my drift) to a fashion-savvy yet comfy outfit.
Outfit details: Faux-fur long waistcoat, Canadian Boutique - similar here 
                       Basic white Tee, Zara - here
                       Ripped knee jeans, Topshop - here
                       Grey fedora, Next - here
                       New Balance 524, here
                       OMG canvas tote, Alphabet bags - here

What do you think of the fedora trend - yay or nay?

Saina
xo

Grey No More OOTD

It's officially October, though the sun remains to be shining over London. For most this is a reason to smile, but as someone who loves the holiday season, I'm yearning for winter festivities to fast approach us! Though with today's 22 degrees, it was impossible for me to squeeze jeans on and to throw a jumper over top. I'm not much of a skirt/dress wearer, yet over the passed year, the midi length trend has definitely allowed my legs to see the light of day. If I wear midi skirts or dresses during the day, I tend to style them with a pair of leather ankle boots - not only to add a little bit of a less feminine 'edge', but also to make the look appear more casual. I also added my Miss Selfridge Fedora , which just seems to be making an appearance every other day. I've been totally obsessed with chucking it on to add a little 'grunge' edge to every outfit, and it simply works wonders on third day hair (when it's beyond Batiste's help). Sunglasses, as always are my Ray Ban Classic Aviators, found  here.

As you may have gathered by now, my wardrobe colour pallatte does not exceed white and black, and grey is my idea of colour. If I've managed to incorporate a grey piece, then I tend to give myself a pat on the back for effort! This 'Army' cropped t-shirt is a Vintage Renewal buy from Urban Outfitters. This jersey charcoal grey skirt is from Boohoo and is still available to buy here for only £8!

These boots are totally Western meets Biker, the stitching and the slight metal toe cap add so much detailing to a somewhat simple outfit - love! They were bought in H&M last year so I couldn't find the exact pair to link for you, however you may be able to find similar styles from their new A/W range online here. Finally, my bag - this little gem is a vintage Celine satchel-style bag, which I was incredibly lucky to receive as a hand-me-down. Although it may be a little difficult to find this particular handbag, you can rummage through your local charity shops and thrift stores for that similar 'vintage' effect (probably for an eighth of high street prices).

I hope you've all had a lovely start to October!
Saina
xo

Autumn Sun OOTD

Hi lovelies, today's post is another ootd - these are some of my favourite types of blog reads, and I love doing them too. This outfit is an example of my usual monochrome casual getup, with an added splash of colour brought in from accessorizing. On more casual days, I tend to just throw my hair up into a messy ponytail, and opt for a nude lipstick - and today's look was an accurate depiction of that.

 

The sunglasses featured in this outfit, are my Classic Ray Ban aviators with a gold frame (I've practically worn these for 2 years straight). This faux leather jacket was purchased last year from H&M, similar ones can be found here. I've paired my Topshop white Joni jeans with a basic Zara tshirt - these tshirts are less 'slinky' than others that I have found on the high-street, and therefore do not look too much like pj's (am I the only one that feels like white tshirts look pyjama-y?)

For some people, the heeled Chelsea boots may be an unnecessary addition for a casual day out, but over the passed year I have embraced a sleeker and more classy look by adding a slight heel to my casual style. Am I the only one that feels more feminine and slightly more mature by wearing a small heel during the day? These boots were bought two years ago from Topshop (anyone remember the Topshop Allegra craze?) but I'm sure you can find similar ones that are in stock at the moment.
My handbag is the Michael Kors Jetset Safiano in black, with gold hardware.
Finally, this Topshop scarf is my new favourite addition to my wardrobe, it's that gorgeous mustard-camel colour and instantly lifts a neutral outfit.

What are your wardrobe style essentials? Do you have any staple Autumn pieces?

Saina
xo

OOTD: Monday Calls for Cocktails

For many of us Monday calls for a serious episode of post weekend blues as we dread making our way back to work/school. Despite my wardrobe choices being a part of the darkest colour palette possible, the weather in London today was absolutely beautiful. As a result myself and my friends decided to go for a few drinks in the evening whilst the sun was still making a definite appearance! As always my outfit was quite minimal, though I allowed the accessories do the talking - the strappy heels and my classic Chanel with gold hardware. I also put my hair in a sleek top knot *bad hair day alert* but I went for a bold berry lip colour to bring that edge to the overall look.
My outfit features a new firm favourite of mine and an absolute bargain-buy - the Primark strappy heels. These heels were bought in the sale (as if Primark needs a sale) for £8! I instantly fell in love with these beauties, and I just knew they had to be mine - you can only imagine my excitement when I found out they were almost half the price at the till (originally £14).

Lightweight Zara Knit Jumper - here
Topshop Blue Black Leigh Jeans - here
Heels: Primark

Bag: Chanel 2.55 Medium Classic flap Bag with gold hardware 

Lipstick: Mac's Viva Glam III - here

I hope you've made the most of the sun and your Monday hasn't been too awful!

Saina
xo

Ootn: Monochrome Madness

Here’s a peak at what I wore out one night this weekend – brace yourselves for... More monochrome. With monochrome being a trend that appears to be hot at the moment (when is it not?), I thought I’d take advantage of this and keep my look rather classic and simple. I would usually add a bright lip, or nails to an outfit like this, but as always I was in a rush to leave the door and my nude lip was frantically applied in the car!

This little crop top is from Topshop and I love just how versatile it is – I pair it with high waisted trousers, skirts, shorts, just about anything.

This stripey midi skirt is also a versatile statement piece in my wardrobe that I like to wear on my casual days with t-shirts, flats and a cute satchel. Or I can dress it up like I did on this occasion with heels, a clutch and accessories.

Topshop’s Allegra’s were my heels of choice. These boots are just like your regular Chelsea Boots with a chunky heel, super comfortable and match almost everything. I love pairing these with dresses and skirts as they toughen up an outfit by adding edge.The Allegra boots are no longer available, but here's a similar option.

This cute clutch is a little quilted, vintage beauty that used to belong to my grandmother. What I love about this bag, besides the fact that it was my grandmothers, is the beautiful alligator skin detailing on the leather – it adds additional dimension and detail to a simple outfit.

Here’s to yet another monochrome outfit!

xo