Guest Post - Laura Neal, Chambray & Curls

Today the beautiful and mega stylish Laura Neal is guest posting! Doesn't she look incredible? You can check out Laura's amazing blog, Chambray & Curls, right here. X

So, being on Heidi's blog is kind of a challenge! She is the queen of laidback cool, and always manages to look so effortlessly good. I had to have a little think about what I could wear to live up to her usual standards :) So, I decided to follow the rule of Keep It Simple, Stupid... This is my attempt to look casual and a little bit cool (!) What do you think? Done ok? I hope so, because this jumper dress is my new favourite and I may end up wearing it forever...

xxx

Dress: H&M via Ebay 

Boots: Topshop via Ebay

Hat: ASOS (here)

Necklace: Freedom at Topshop

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The Monday Piece - Guest Post, Holly Crouch

This week's Monday Piece is a guest post from the lovely Holly Crouch featuring some amazing Spring pieces from Boohoo , hope you enjoy it :).
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Beautiful Boohoo

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with online shopping; I’m finding more and more these days that I can’t find what I’m looking for in actual shops, but I’m always scared about ordering online in case I choose the wrong size and have to go through all the palaver of returning (which I’m never entirely sure how to do!!). Boohoo has become one of my favourite online clothing sites and I’m always amazed at the massive selection and variety they offer. I particularly love Boohoo clothes in the spring and summer with their beautiful prints and selection of sundresses and playsuits, but from what I’ve seen of their spring collection so far they seem to have pulled it out of the bag even more than usual this year. I’ve seen a few hauls circling around on Instagram and Youtube and have found my wish list getting a little out of control so I thought I’d share some of my favourite pieces with you that my wardrobe is crying out for (honestly it is!!)

Tapestry Smock Dress

Smock dresses are popping up all over the place at the moment and they seem to be fast overtaking the much beloved skater dress. I love smock dresses because they suit pretty much any shape and are so easy to just throw on without needing much styling (not to mention they comfortably conceal any food babies going on!) I’ve seen a few pretty ones in Primark but this little Tapestry number has really stolen my heart. I love the different colours it uses and how it looks like Tapestry but isn’t actually Tapestry fabric. I think the appearance of different textures really adds a bit of va-va-voom to basic outfits and I think this would look lovely paired with a cropped denim jacket and chunky wedge sandals. Of course it could be a little while still until we reach bare legs weather, so I think this would also look stunning with black tights, a cropped biker jacket and Chelsea boots. I like to wear smock dresses with cropped jackets as I think they really pull the outfit together and prevent you from looking swamped as well as showing off your figure a little bit. I do think £18 is quite steep for a dress, but this is such a versatile number that you’d be able to get lots of wear out of so I think the price tag can be justified.

Cream Coatigan

What I love most about Coatigans is the comfortable and simple way they sit because they don’t have any buttons. They’re perfect to wear over a pretty top because they show plenty of the top detail whilst keeping you nice and snug. I love this cream Boohoo coatigan because it looks like a lovely knit that’s going to keep you warm without making you break out in a sweat and it’s also the perfect length that can be worn over a dress or a top and jeans. There’s something so fresh about wearing cream with pastel and I literally cannot wait until it’s warm enough to wear a coatigan without a winter coat and scarf! (Anyone else seriously had enough of winter now?!)

Chiffon Swing Dress

This is one of those dresses that as soon as I saw it I knew it had to be mine. I love everything about it; the colour, the fabric, the length, the sequin detail…Boohoo have really ticked every box in the spring checklist with this beauty. I personally love peach but they also have it in mint; I personally think that peach looks best with brunette hair and mint looks best with blonde hair, but I also think if you love a colour you can find a way of making it work for you! I’m incredibly pale so I will need to whack out some fake tan to be able to wear this peach shade, but I particularly love this dress because of the subtle yellow detail on the top panel which I think breaks it up nicely and stops it from looking like a naked skin colour. Whilst I do think this needs to be worn with bare legs, it’s a versatile little number that will be both day and night time appropriate and the chiffon fabric means it’ll be perfect for taking on summer holidays.

Fluffy Crop Jumper

Mohair style fabric was one of the most popular fabric textures for AW13 and I’m super excited to see it’s going to continue into SS14. I really love long sleeved cropped jumpers as they’re suitable for different weathers and can be styled in lots of different ways. This little lilac option just looks so soft and amazing I want to snuggle up in it and IT’S SO FLUFFY I WANNA DIE (name that movie :P) I think this will look stunning either tucked into or worn over a skater skirt, worn over a skater/swing dress or worn under a dungaree or pinafore dress. I love how you can play around with crops to either show a little strip of flesh or style them so you can’t see any flesh and I think £20 is pretty reasonable for a good quality knitted jumper. I find Lilac a bit of a difficult colour to wear, but they also have this in pink and lemon which is another thing I love about Boohoo; they nearly always offer things in different colours so you can find the one that’s perfect for you.
Love Holly x
www.pamperpreenperfect.blogspot.co.uk
@HollyCrouch

Best retro-themed birthday party ideas

Best retro-themed birthday party ideas - With fashion and film constantly drawing on retro looks and past events, take your inspiration from the trendsetters and put a spin on your next party with a fabulous vintage theme. From the Big Top to the eighties via the fabulous flappers, these fun and easy ideas will make it a night to remember.
Circus Chic - A circus theme can be styled to suit toddlers, teens and big kids of all ages. Check out the legendary PT Barnum's 'Greatest Show on Earth' for a historic approach, or look up the weird and wonderful contemporary performances of Cirque du Soleil. The drama and glamour of the circus provides plenty of costume opportunities: think suave ringleaders, colourful clowns and glitzy acrobats. If you're going really retro with handwritten invitations, send them in the form of 'Admit One' tickets to get your guests in the mood. When it comes to food, opt for classic fairground treats - we're talking hot dogs, popcorn and candy floss. Pick out an outfit, put up the decorations and wait for your guests to roll up, roll up!
Gorgeous Gatsby - Baz Luhrman's stylish adaptation of the classic novel has seen everyone go gaga for the 1920s. Although serving alcohol was illegal during Prohibition, the era was notorious for wild and boozy parties. Serve your drinks in teacups or brown paper bags, and create the feel of an authentic speakeasy by sending your guests a password on their invite and refusing entry until they come up with it. Glamorous twenties costumes will prove an instant hit with guests who love the chance to get dolled up. Guys will look sharp in spats and suits, while ladies can work fabulous flapper style in long gloves, feathered headbands and lovely party dresses.
Eighties nightmare - Forget neon legwarmers and side ponytails- we're talking about the ugly side of the eighties. Relive the worst looks of the decade with big hair, shoulder pads and plenty of tulle. Create a suitable cheesy playlist with all the classic tunes, and encourage your friends to add their own guilty pleasures. help everyone step back int ime by decorating your house in eighties memorabilia. Dot Rubik's cubes in every room, cover the walls in movie posters and pick up some VHS tapes from charity shops to use as balloon weights.

I've featured below a sassy party outfit with a casual twist, the sparkly brogues are so glam and chic, with a black drop hem dress and a veil beanie hat! What would you wear to a retro inspired birthday party?
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