SS14 Trend: Arty

Last week we covered the SS14 botanics trend which has been giving us flashbacks to endless Photosynthesis lessons in the biology lab. This week, we're heading over to the art block for another SS14 trend - primary colours, brushstrokes, all a little Mondrian, a touch Miro... yup, we're talking all things Arty...

There's always a trend that our fav highstreet haunt, Zara, picks up and does to a tee. From the moment we saw the SS14 Celine catwalk, we called the arty trend as having the Zara Factor and we're delighted to say those Spanish fashion magicians haven't let us down...

Zara Printed Top
£29.99

Zara Asymmetric Fine Pleated Skirt
£39.99

Zara Printed Top
£29.99

Zara Printed Bikini
£32

Zara Tri-Colour Top
£25.99

Zara Printed Skirt with Buckle
£39.99

Zara Abstract Print Blouses
£25.99

Zara Printed Kimono Blazer
£59.99

Zara Special Edition Scarf
£39.99

That little lot got your creativity flowing? Want more? Check out our Polyvore Arty Set for even more arty shopping inspo...

Heiress vs Penniless: Céline Laundry Bag Checks

This season Phoebe Philo took that old adage about models looking good in bin bags and fiddled with it a little... for A/W13 the willowy, beautiful brigade stalked down the Céline runway in Paris looking not good, but knockout AMAZING in, wait for it... 

 

Laundry bags... 

 

 

Yup, Philo managed to pull off the Herculean task of making those crackly, plasticky, checked granny bags look chic. Dot Cotton, eat your heart out...

 

You know it's a runaway smash of a collection when pieces pop up on the front of multiple Vogues and Miroslava Duma sports the look top to toe...

 

 

 

Of course, if we had Miroslava-esque bank balances we'd be minesweeping the nearest Céline store and filling our closets with these luxe laundry accessories...

 

Sadly we don't have a spare couple of thousand pounds knocking around in the bottom of our wallets, so instead we've scoured the highstreet for the very best in laundry loveliness on a washerwoman's budget... 

Ganni Checked Cocoon Coat
£325

Zara Double Breasted Checked Three Quarter Length Coat 
£69.99

 

Topshop V-Front Coat

£89

ASOS Clutch Bag in Sequin Check
£30

Zara Checked Dress
£39.99

 

Of course, there's always the literal take on the trend which comes in at a very purse pleasing price and gives you enough change from a fiver for a load at your local laundrette...

 

Large Laundry Bag

£1.19

 

#Celfie Mania...

Now I think if we're all honest we'd admit to being partial to a smidge of over-indulgent #Selfie one-on-one action! Whether that be a cheeky snap to a boyfriend or girlfriend, a 'how do I look' capture before a night out or a holiday smoast lazing on a lounger cocktail in hand! The self-portrait of the digital age swept the world hard back in 2012 and continues to reign in a royal fashion.

So who's to blame for the rise and rise of the #Selfie? Well the celebs of this world have got a lot to answer for - the likes of Bieber, Kelly Brook, Miley and Rose H Whitely have been busy posting posy photos of themselves for quite some time now and don’t seem to be showing any signs of growing tired of this me, me, me mentality…

And it's not just starlets, popstars and models getting involved in this photographic phenomenon... Jules of Sincerely Jules (one of our must-read fashion blogs) has taken this trend to the next level and created the ultimate fashion blogger tee with a twist! Playing on the Céline craze and the #Selfie sensation she's designed... wait for it... the ‘Célfie’ tee - genius!!!





It's yet to explode and take over the world in the same way the #Selfie has but watch this space as Ashley Tisdale has already been papped rocking one and other high profile bloggers like The Blonde Salad are also getting in on the action…

If you're late to the #Selfie party, follow the 3BM how-to bluffers guide in mastering a kickass #Selfie of your own...

1. It’s all in the angle - tilt your Smartphone to 45 degrees angle just above your eyeline – this is deemed generally the most forgiving
2. Lights, Camera, #Selfie – a flattering beam of a backlit light, artistic flare or a touch of reflective flash will have you positively glowing 
3. Pose for your life – a stellar #Selfie is all in the pose … the perfect pout, a cheeky rasied brow, a sideways smirk
4. Vintage filter – Instragram the hell out of your snap *B&W is always the most flattering

Heiress vs Penniless: Structured Totes

There was a time when the bags that we coveted were of the It variety.  The shouty, instantly recognisable bag of the moment that we couldn't help but pine for even though we knew that this time in six months it would be everywhere and this time in twelve months it would be over.

The Chloe Paddington, the Marc Jacobs Stam, the Fendi Spy... we could go on.

But now the bags we're desperately lusting after are of a completely different ilk.  These bags whisper of luxury and enduring style.  Their clean, sharp lines promise to look just as good in ten years time.  They are the Chanel Blazer of bags to the Chloe Paddington's Miu Miu Glitter bootie.

Topping that list for us are the Celine Luggage Tote and the 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Tote.  These beautiful, structured bags look equally as at home in the office as they do on the front row at fashion week.  They're classic, timeless and beautiful quality.  They also cost an obscene amount of cash.  And we're not talking just profane, we're talking really offensive... 

Images via: www.jakandjil.com

Image via: www.backseatstylers.com

Image via: www.stylebubble.co.uk

Celine Luggage Tote
Priced from £1,200

Images via: www.celine.com

3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli leather Tote

Priced from £744.54

Image via: www.net-a-porter.com

So what's a girl with a giant crush on these stellar totes but without the big budget supposed to do?  Save would be our first answer.  If there's any way that you can scrape together the cash, these bags are serious investments.  They go with everything, can be used everyday and will last and last - if you're working on a cost per use basis, this is a no brainer.

But if saving is an alien concept (right there with you) and your credit cards are all totally maxed, then we have a couple of lower priced alternatives.  We're not going to even try to pretend that they're the same as the Pashli or the Luggage but for a quick fix to momentarily sate your structured tote cravings, we think it's hard to beat the following... 

The Alternative Luggage Tote
J Crew Leather Tillary Tote
GBP 273.80
HKD 3562.97

J Crew Canvas Strip Tillary Tote

was GBP 190.32 Now GBP 133.55

was HKD 2475.68 Now HKD 1737.21

Images via: www.jcrew.com

The Alternative Pashli

Zara Tri-Combined City Bag

49.99 GBP

Image via: www.zara.com