WHAT WOULD WILLSON WEAR: New Years Eve Outfit ft. Motel Rcoks

And finally, FINALLY, we've come to the end of 2016. After losing David Bowie, Carrie Fisher, Christina Grimmie, and so many other talented humans, as well as the UK abandoning the EU boat, and the train wreck that is american politics, I don't think I've ever been happier to see the end of a year. That being said, 2016 has had many great memories for me, as well as the restart of this blog! So for the final post of 2016, I'm showing by far my favourite outfit of this year! 

Ever since I first saw this dress on ClothesEncounters all the way back in 2013, I knew it had to be in my life. Luckily, Motel Rocks have continuously kept it in stock as it's so popular. This is the ultimate disco-ball/mermaid/sequin dress as the iridescent colours keep on popping out as it catches the light. It has a little bit of back showing and the sequins are sewed onto velvet to give it a really chic finish. The theme for the new years party I'm going to is glitter and sparkles so this dress really fits the bill. I paired the dress with my navy velvet platforms as it compliments the fabrics and brings out the blue undertones of the dress. Even though it was a house party, I still brought my over sized Levi's jacket with me for in between taxi rides and in case of an emergency takeaway run. Denim and sequins are one of my favourite combinations because its gives that really dressed up look a more grungy feel. I kept it simple with accessories by wearing a dainty silver necklace with a little martini glass charm. 

Dress- Motel Rocks

Shoes- Pull&Bear
Necklace- Topshop

Whats Banging For The Festive Sesh - NIGHT OF GLITTER

Here's the third and final installment of 'What's Banging For The Festive Sesh', in which I'm showing my favourite A/W16 trends for the festive season! I hope you've enjoyed this mini series and now have a banging outfit planned for your party/new year’s/any other sesh.

NIGHT OF GLITTER

Dolce Gabbana, Saint Laurent, Ashish, Siblings, Balmain, Adam Selman

If anyone knows me and my friends, they'll understand the cult love we have for sparkles n shiny stuff. So of course what better time of year to glitz the hell out of yourself! This can come in the form of straight up glitter, metallics, sequins, holographic and iridescent textures, speckled fabrics or all out tinsel dresses. 

MOTO Stone Encrusted Mom Jeans

MOTO Stone Encrusted Mom Jeans

If your gathering is slightly more casual but you still want a bit of shimmer in your look, these stone encrusted high-waisted mom jeans are a perfect edgy twist on a classic denim staple. These limited edition jeans are an online exclusive and only 50 have been made so you better get on that quick before they go. The denim fit instantly turns the glitter trend day-time appropriate but can easily be dressed up more elaborately. I'd pair these jeans with a black turtleneck to keep my top half sleek compared to the looser fit of the jeans. For accessories I'd keep it simple with cool tone and silver jewellery, or a little pastel velvet choker. Pastels in the winter look gorgeous and are also easily transferable into spring.

Disc Sequin Slip Dress

For a twist on a classic LBD, take the plunge (literally) with this gorgeous cami style dress. If you're new to sequins, Motel Rocks is the best place online for them without causing too much damage to your bank account. What I love about this dress is that the larger disc sequins give it a completely different texture to a standard smaller sequined piece. This dress is better if your sesh is an inside shenanigan as the spaghetti straps cross at the shoulder blades and has a low scoop back. 

However a dark wash denim jacket or someone’s hoodie you've just managed to nick would be conventional for going outside for fireworks on New Years Eve. If you want to go nostalgic and channel some nineties vibes, layer the dress over a plain white t-shirt. Think of it as a more glamorous adaption of Cher's gym outfit from Clueless. 

Okapi Bug Clutch

            Okapi Bug Clutch

My go to bag for party if I need one will always be a clutch. All I need to bring is my phone, a mini mascara, lipstick for touch ups and plasters (you never know when someone’s going to get blisters from their heels or if someone wants to cover a nip slip). A statement clutch bag is a great way to add some ole' razzle dazzle to a simplistic outfit. I think this Skinny Dip envelope bag is so fun with the adorable graphic patch bug detailing and patent silver body contrast. The little pink sequin eye accents are just so cute! I'd pair it with a dress that picks out one of the accents of the little bugs to make them pop, but would also look good with an full on sparkly outfit if you wanted to go all out with the glitz. 

Luckluster Jacket

When ever I need to layer up, I always gravitate towards an oversized denim jacket. There's something about a massive Levi's jacket that seems to go with any outfit you throw it over. Although if you want to give it an upgrade, try sequin patch distressing. The Ragged Priest  give denim a new breath of life with distressing, hand painted embellishments and  just pure bad-ass-ity. With the trademark RAGGED patch on the bottom hem at the back, something like this will keep you warm yet keep you looking super cool and edgy. As it's an oversized fit, I'd wear it with a bodycon dress, or skinny jeans and a bodysuit to keep the rest of the outfit streamline. 

If you've already got your entire outfit planned to the nines, but realised you're lacking on the glitter front, then look no further. You've probably seen something like these on tumblr or instagram, and I instantly fell in love with them at first sight! Glittery diamante tights are going to make your legs look absolutely stunning if you're opting to show them off for the sesh. These are going to give an unexpected yet glamorous touch to any outfit if want that extra dazzle. A diamante choker and your favourite pair of closed-toe heels would tie perfectly with them. 

So that concludes this mini series. I hope you all have a banging Christmas and a sound New Year, lets hope 2017 is better than this train wreck of a year. 

Much Love X

Whats Banging For The Festive Sesh - TAKE IT BACK TO 1980

Here's part two of 'What's Banging For The Festive Sesh', in which I'm showing my favourite A/W16 trends for the festive season. 

TAKE IT BACK TO 1980

Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, Saint Laurent, Pam Hogg, Isabel Marent

Fashion in the late 1970s and early 1980s was all about standing out, power dressing and more is more! This season, the crossover of the decades has spread it's legs across evening wear, giving us serious 'born in the wrong era' envy. All I can say is thank god it's been brought back again. We're talking power shoulders, glam rock, and countless David Bowie tributes from designers. After almost a year since the Blackstar release and the passing of the legend, many creators in popular culture have paid their respects and tributes in the many ways that he influenced himself.

Daisy Street, Marc Jacobs, Unif, Balenciaga

David Bowie was famous for his many outrageous fashion choices, but my favourite has to be the classic 'Bowie Boot' mainly because of the extra height they give (and being only 5"2 I really appreciate it).

The two main things to keep in mind when going for this trend is the blend of colour and texture like ruched satin, layered lace for some serious 'like a virgin' Madonna throwbacks , studded or embellished leather and sequins for days. Metallics will give the perfect glam punk rock look and complex patterns will indulge your inner Boy George. 

One-Shoulder Metallic Dress

I'm personally not keen on showing too much skin, whereas other people love showing everyone what their muma gave them (as long as you feel confident then that's all that matters!). I think that the best universal piece for this concept is a playsuit. This one is perfect as it's a gorgeous metallic chrome that'll shimmer and give the illusion of a smooth silhouette and hide any bumps or areas that you'd want to conceal. The one-shoulder statement will show off your collarbones, but if you're not keen on showing your arms layer in under an embellished jacket or over a long sleeved black high neck top to keep it simple. If you're unsure about the leg length, try a pair of thigh high boots or glitter speckled tights. 

Velvet Belt, Leather Obi Belt

If you already have a dress for your sesh but want to channel the 80's trend, a wide belt will help elevate the look and give you an hourglass figure. If your dress is one colour or patterned, find a colour that compliments it or picks out one of the colours. A thicker obi belt is better for looser styles and will cinch the waist in more. 

As the 80s philosophy is more is more, then surely you need something which is going to fulfill that need. If you want something that will for sure turn heads, then an all-over sequin jumpsuit is the ultimate statement piece. A texture like this is tricky to style, but looks incredible when done right. To elongate the look, a pair of patent stiletto heels will keep it sharp and sleek. A satin bomber jacket will make it more casual (well I mean you can't really make a sequin catsuit casual). A pair of statement drop earrings that catch out one of the undertones of the sequins will give it the full on 80s glamour. 

Whats Banging For The Festive Sesh - VELVET LUXE

We're now over a week into December and the many festive sessions are about to roll in. Whether its a work Christmas do, a festive sesh, new years or just a big ol' party for sure you will want to look absolutely peng. Although its rather daunting when you're in an old t-shirt, hair in a messy bun, staring into the abyss that is your wardrobe and not having a clue what to wear. So over the next few blog posts, I'll be sharing a few winter trends that I've been loving and think would be perfect for any get together over this time of year!

Velvet Luxe

(left to right): Kenzo, Preen by Thornton Bragazzi, Valentino, Opening Ceremony, Monse 

Velvet is one of those fabrics that can make you feel glamorous in every setting. Lately velvet pieces have typically come in navy, rich purples, and darker tones for the autumn. But as Christmas is approaching, winter brights and pastels are a perfect way to make your outfit stand out from the crowd. 

Red Bodycon Dress

If you're someone who wants something to ease into the velvet trend for the season, your best bet is a red dress as its looks flattering on every skin tone and is a staple colour for Christmas. A body-con dress will give the fabric a smooth finish and a romantic, elegant look. 

Pink Baby-doll Dress

For any girly-girls out there, baby pink velvet has been phenomenal on the runway this year. This pink baby-doll dress is very Melanie Martinez, and would definitely get Karen O's approval on the #BBHOODZ. A piece like this is easily transferable from casual daytime to dreaming evenings. 

If you want just a hint of texture for your outfit, then a velvet choker would add a simple extra touch. Chokers have been non stop on trend for the whole of 2016, so why not end the year with one more? This festive one from ASOS reminds me of the little ribbons you get round the Lindt chocolate reindeers and Santa's and would be such a cute little addition to any outfit.  

Red Velvet Choker

Purple Platform Thigh High Boots

These purple velvet platform over-the-knee boots are giving me life. They look like something Daphne Blake from Scooby Doo would rock on a night out. For this statement pair of boots, a little black dress and a diamante choker would be a perfect midnight outfit for New Years. 

WHAT WOULD WILLSON WEAR: Day-to-Night Outfit ft. GOODSTOCK

Welcome to a new mini series I'm starting on my blog! It's called 'What Would Willson Wear' in which I'll essentially be showing, what I wearing (what a concept, I know). 

Yesterday was probably the longest day I've had in ages. Having to get up at 5am on a Saturday is not how I'd like to start the weekend. However, I was going to an open day and if I've learned anything from going to open days last year with my sister, it's that the earlier you get there the more likely you'll see everything you need to without it being constantly crowded. I've never been to Manchester before, but I instantly fell in love with how vibrant the city is. I went to look at the Fashion Buying and Merchandising course at Manchester Metropolitan which is what I'm hoping to do next year. In addition to this, I had a sesh later that day, and I know how hard it is trying to get changed in the back of a car on the A14 so I had to make sure that whatever I wore would be day-to-night ready. 

The main focus of this outfit definitely has to be my new faux fur leopard print coat from Topshop which I am L O V I N G. I feel like I'm channelling all my Bette Lynch/Hypodermic Sally vibes when I'm wearing it. It's so fluffy and perfect for winter. I layered it over this green thick-mesh polo shirt I bought from a vintage shop. I love how strange it looks as I've never seen anything like it. I wore it over a black bralet and pair of black high waisted skinny jeans. As I was going to walking round all day, I decide to opt for a pair of black boots to keep it casual yet practical. If anyone knows me, they know how much I love a pair of hooped earrings. After losing my silver pair in a mosh pit at Mystery Jets (how does one even mosh to MJets anyway?) I had to buy a new pair, except this time I decided to go a little bit edgier and found these black hoops from Primark. To transfer this look from day to night all I had to do was change the boots to a pair of platform heels (which I ended up taking off half an hour into the sesh anyway), tie the shirt into a knot at the front to give the illusion of longer legs, put on a classic red lip and tie my hair up in a messy ponytail to show my neck line a bit more (and also in case I needed to have a tactical chunder. Luckily it didn't come to that). 

Coat - Topshop

Polo Shirt - Vintage 

Boots - USC

Jeans - Topshop

Earrings - Primark

One thing that I've loved about the Manchester Fashion Institute is that they work alongside with Goodstock which is ran by the charity vInspired, based right in the heart of the city on Oxford Road. As I'm someone who has an undying love for second-hand clothing I could't give it a miss. 

"Goodstock by vInspired sets out to smash the myth that charity shops are about old-fashioned, worn out clothes. Instead, our stores are home to beautiful secondhand garments that are customisable, unique and supporting a charitable cause"

"Our aim is to bring sustainable fashion to the high street while offering a fresh, new take on the traditional charity shop"

Nostalgic Cartoon Inspired Lookbook

One of my favourite things in the whole world are cartoons. The best thing about pretty much any cartoon character is that they never have to worry about what they're going to wear because they're always wearing the exact same things! I think we can all agree that there are some classics which are stapled in our childhood. So, I'm recreating some of my favourite characters and looks from the the past decade or so.

Arthur the Aardvark

I honestly haven't got a clue how Arthur is supposed to be a Aardvark (have you seen them??). However, he's the cutest and probably only representation I've ever seen. Everybody knows him, they all know the song Believe In Yourself by Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers, and who could forget the meme?

For this outfit I layered this really hideous secondhand yellow sweater vest with a white button-down shirt. I wore my Topshop blue-wash mom jeans as they're similar to the silhouette of the cartoon. As an alternative you could wear skinny jeans or a denim a-line skirt if you want a more streamline look. I have a pair of red canvas Vans which makes me feel very 2012, however this lookbook is in spirit of major throw backs. For accessories I kept it simple with a pair of rose gold circle lens glasses similar to the ones Arthur wears. For my hair I put it in half-up/half-down Miley buns to mimic his ears (which his glasses are actually no where near).  

Jeans - Topshop

Button down shirt - H&M

Yellow Sweater Vest - Vintage

Shoes - Vans

Glasses - Depop

Minnie the Minx

Minnie is a personal favourite of mine as I spent my childhood religiously reading the Beano. She's the original hell breaker and doesn't take anyone's shit. Usually matching with Dennis the Menace, the key to her trademark look is (of course) the black and red stripped jumper. I paired it with a black bodycon skirt to make it a little less frumpy, however a skater or a-line shape would work just as well. I wore my red vans to run about in causing havoc, and I couldn't give the black beret a miss so I wore this over some loose braids.  

Jumper - H&M

Skirt - H&M

Shoes - Vans

Beret - Vintage 

Lisa Simpson

The Simpsons are on top of my go-to cartoons and I'm a full believer that we all have a bit of Lisa in us. I channelled her look by wearing double orange with a high-neck top and an a-line faux suede skirt. I wore a pair of comfy, (not very) white converse and went with her classic pearl necklace and some cute earrings to match. For my hair it was pretty hard to recreate her spiky silhouette, so as an alternative I back-combed it and put it into Miley buns. 

High Neck Top - New Look
A-Line Skirt - Primark
Shoes - Converse
Necklace - Vintage


Debbie Thornberry

The Wild Thornberrys was never a show that I watched religiously, moreover she's probably the most relate-able Nickelodeon female for me right now. She's a bit mardy, extremely sarcastic, and has a fantastic taste in music (literally makes her my spirit animal). Her outfit is a little bit hipster and a little bit grungy. I wore my blue Topshop mom jeans with a cropped orange t-shirt and layered a guy's green plaid shirt over it. Considering she's trecking round Borneo, combat boots seem practical and also a necessity for her typical grungy look. I used L'oreal Studio Matte & Messy Salt Spray to add some texture to my hair, and wore a dark purple lipstick. In some episodes she has her hair up in a scrunchy so wore this green velvet one from Topshop as matches the plaid shirt and screams 90s vibes. 

Jeans - Topshop
Crop Top - Primark
Plaid Shirt - Vintage
Boots - Clarks
Scrunchie - Topshop


Lilo (and Stitch) 

This one's for all the Disney fans out there. This look is definitely a more summery one, however I couldn't miss it as it's just so cute. I wore my favourite summer dress of all time; a red and white tropical off-the-shoulder from H&M (not going to lie I purely bought this dress so I could look like Lilo). I threw on some chunky platform sandals to elevate the look and a necklace I bought from a rural art exhibition. I placed a white flower behind my ear to give it an effortless tropical vibe. 

 

Dress - H&M
Shoes - H&M
Necklace - Art Exhibition
Flower - Dunelm


Tina Belcher

Probably the most simple, easiest one of them all I'm finishing off with Tina from Bob's Burgers. This cartoon is the legit so clever in how controversial, yet PG it is. Tina, the eldest out of the Belcher kids, channels all our inner awkward personas and social ineptness. However she's a 'smart, strong, sensual woman' #Preach. All you need for this look is a plain light blue t-shirt and a navy blue skirt (I wore a skater fit but any style will work). I've got some red striped knee high socks from American Apparel which I wore with my run down converse. For accessories I used a really cute little yellow hair clip and a pair of square framed glasses. Now all you need to do is stare and comment about everyone's butt. 

T-shirt - H&M
Skirt - H&M
Shoes - Converse 
Socks - American Apparel
Glasses - Claire's 
Clips - Clair's