Mango Catalogue: Summer 2013

Gosh I love the Mango summer collection this year. Simple silk vests and chemises, slouchy pants, lightweight blazers and jackets, all teamed up with bold golden ethnic-inspired jewellery create the perfect look for balmy summer days and scented evenings.

An eclectic mishmash of styles, colours and designs runs throughout the collection: juxtapositions of blacks and whites with infusions of colour and a mix of sophisticated and relaxed convey the idea that there is no 'right' way to wear these clothes. You are beckoned to experiment with them for yourself, in order to create your own signature through fashion. Block colour and Aztec patterned combos are also prominent, combining classic elegance with that distinctive 2013 twist. For me, this is the best of uncomplicated style. Simplicity is always the key, pair it with a couple of exquisite accessories and you've got a killer look.

Hot New Trend: The Ankle Boot

For me shoes fall into two categories. There are shoes which you know you will be able to wear with more or less anything, and afterwards wear for months at a time. Then there are shoes which are so "unique" in their colour or shape that you can only limit them to specific outfits.

The ankle boot falls into the former category, I have happily observed, myself being prone to buying a good wearable pair of shoes than to sport a different pair every day. If you are too then the ankle boot is a must-have for your wardrobe this season. They can be worn with jeans, tights or bare legs, during the day or night, and have the ability to look casual or smart, depending on the occasion. The possibilities are infinite!

If you're lacking in inspiration find some below. What do you think?

Inspire me: The Cardigan

I know you must have felt it by now. After one and a half months of ostensible "spring" it has finally arrived! Admitted, we're not quite at the shorts-and-flipflops stage yet but nevertheless the light rays of sunshine and slight increases in temperature tell us it's definitely time to leave our gloves and woolly hats in the cupboard to gather dust for another year. 

Right. So no flip flops, no gloves. Then what? To this problem I have found the perfect solution for the springtime: it's the cardigan. Flexible and practical, with jeans or dresses, maxi or mini, it is an essential item for your closet this season. Add to it for a layered look on a cold day or you can wear it with a light top underneath if it's more humid. Make sure you buy at least one size larger than your actual size if you intend to layer. Otherwise it will look like you've borrowed from your nine year old sister.

But enough with me, do you like it? Find the best of our street style below. Any favourites? 

The Stefanel Lookbook: Spring 2013

Stefanel. One of my all-time favourite designers. Every season I find myself fawning over his creations and this spring was no exception.

Soft shirts, trousers, cardigans and jackets pervade the collection which showcases simplistic essentials that never seem to go out of fashion. A classic aesthetic is created through the contrast of casual and elegant, combining khaki pants with a knitted sweater in one shot or gladiator sandals and a silk shirt in another. The palette consists of neutral tones of taupe grey, beige and white. The subtle tonality that differentiates the individual pieces from each other only enhances the delicate elegance of the clothing.

Unlike many designers of today, the clothes of Stefanel never seem excessive or OTT. In observing them, not once does the thought cross our mind where on earth we could wear them. This is because Stefanel's aim is not to push the boundaries of contemporary fashion to its breaking point. Nor is it to showcase extravagance which leaves poor souls such and you and I scratching our heads in wonderment at the fantasticality of his creations. No, his muse is simply the real woman; the weekly shopper, the business executive, the stay-at-home mum, the winer-and-diner. His clothes convey the message that no woman is unworthy of his creations and that all women have a right to feel beautiful. And his aim; to turn her into a vision. A vision, that is, all'italiana.

Inspire me: Patterned Leggings

I laughed when I heard that leggings (patterned ones, at that!) were making a comeback. 'Surely you must be joking!' I thought, the visual in my mind immediately reverting to cheesy fitness videos of the eighties. 'How could anybody possibly be willing to look like such an idiot?!' This opinion I maintained for long afterwards and despite the growing fan base numbers for this unlikely fashion trend, I still remained ever-cynical. Now however, as much as I hate to admit it, they're beginning to grow on me. If you are still skeptical, take a look at the images below and tell me that you still hold leggings in high contempt. Or have you already got your eye on a pair?

Style icon: Audrey Tautou

She is one of the more underrated cinema stars of our time yet certainly one of the most beautiful. French actress Audrey Tautou, noted for her tiny gamine physique and pixie looks, is perhaps most famous for her leading role as the quirky Montmartre waitress in Amelie in 2001 or as the face of the Chanel No 5 campaign of 2009.

The revelation that she had been chosen as the face of the world's most renowned perfume did not come to me as any surprise. Everything that Chanel No 5 was, she was too: classic, alluring and undeniably...French!

Not that her statement look is such a difficult one to simulate. Her outfits provide an interesting mix of the masculine and feminine, combining little T shirts, long-sleeved tops and simple knitwear staples with minimal accessories. These are items that we all possess, yet never seem to succeed when it comes to that twist of classic French chic. In our society which promotes sex-appeal through minimal attire and the idea that less-is-more, Audrey's image comes as a refreshing new approach to the meaning of la coquette.

My Handbag Obsession

As you well know, girls fall into two categories: girls who like bags and girls who like shoes. Being 5ft9 barefoot myself, I do not get the same kick out of footwear that others do. While many fawn over a pretty pair of heels for a night on the town or gaze starry-eyed in awe at some strappy sandals for a hot summers day, I tend to stand back and, with some reluctance, am compelled to choose the sensible over the stylish.

I have therefore compensated for my shortcomings in the foot department by channeling my unfulfilled passion for shoes into lust for handbags. My collection is by no means a big one but I more often than not find myself on the lookout for any can-be and, more wantonly, any would-be additions.

I say "would-be" because unfortunately I cannot afford to shop for Gucci handbags the same way I might pick out some Granny Smiths in a supermarket. Until then, I have to resign myself to the simple pleasure of drooling over them in Selfridge's window displays - not quite the same as being the proud possessor of sublime leather goods such as these but whoever said there was any harm in dreaming big?

Mulberry Nude Willow Tote

Dior Diorissimo Orange Bag

Valentino Rockstud in green

Prada Twinstrap Summer Tote

Miu Miu Matelasse Luxe

Moschino Red Quilted Tote