Chic snapshot

For today’s Chic snapshot I wanted to show you one of my favourite outfits at the moment.

After seeing these blue, black and white trousers in Topshop a few weeks ago, I couldn’t resist. They’re more colourful than what I’d usually wear in terms of trousers and, as I’m petite, I did worry they would be unflattering for my shape. However, after trying them on I was in love! I’m trying to be more adventurous in my purchases, rather than playing it safe, and these are a great start.

Topshop trousers, peplum top and Accessorize necklace

Topshop trousers

I paired the trousers with a black peplum top, also Topshop, and my current favourite piece of jewellery – a necklace from Accessorize. In my last Chic snapshot post I showcased a gorgeous neon jewelled necklace from Accessorize, and I have to say – they really are getting it right at the moment.

As a lover of anything and everything Art Deco this necklace really stood out in-store, and with everyone going crazy for this era with the release of The Great Gatsby, it’s great to see so many pieces reminiscent of this time.

Accessorize necklace

I’d love to hear about your favourite items at the moment, so leave me a comment below or tweet me at @Em_L_Smith.

Thanks for reading. Stay Chic!

Fashion focus: Alexis Dove jewellery

I’ve wanted to write a post about Alexis Dove‘s jewellery for a long time, and as I keep seeing new pieces posted via her Facebook page I wanted to finally share this amazing jewellery with you.

I first heard about Alexis Dove when I was working for a local magazine. I attended one of her launch evenings at her workshop in The Needlemakers in Lewes, East Sussex, and was enchanted not only by her jewellery but also the beautiful way her pieces were displayed. At the time, vintage mirrors adorned the walls and jewellery was displayed in glass cabinets and unusual bell jars, making you feel as if you had stepped into a magical place in time.

Dove’s jewellery designs are inspired by nature as, as I understand it, her previous ambition was to become a farmer. Collections include Blossom, Curio, Wild Rose and, my particular favourite – Beachcomber.

All jewellery is handmade in the workshop in Lewes and is decorated with semi-precious beads and pearls, in silver and vermeil. Each piece has a beautiful vintage feel and feels totally unique to what you might find in high street jewellery stores.

Alexis also offers a bespoke service and even designs wedding and engagement rings, which are ideal for the bride and groom who want something designed with attention to detail, and totally unique to them.

India rosecut ring and Sapphire and rose gold ring (l-r)

I hope you’ll go and have a look at Alexis Dove‘s website or even visit her shop if you’re local to Sussex. In the meantime I wanted to share with you some of my lust have items of hers’ at the moment.

Aqua marine pendant in 9ct rose gold

Beachcomber – Clamshell studs in yellow vermeil

Beachcomber – Silver conch shell pendant

Beachcomber – Urchin ring in rose gold vermeil

Bunny in rose gold

Foxy – Pendant in yellow gold vermeil

Thanks for reading. Stay Chic!

Chic snapshot

So after my first Chic snapshot on Monday, I’ve decided to make these regular posts to give you an insight into my everyday outfits, and show you what I’m loving at the moment.

Today I wore this gorgeous necklace from Accessorize.

As soon as I spotted it I thought – wow, that is a statement necklace. The neon colours are perfect for Summer and so on trend. The price is reasonable at £25 and it’s perfect to wear day or night. Today I dressed up a blue shirt for a day look, and wore it with black jeans and heels.

I’d love to hear what items you’re loving at the moment so let me know in the comments below, or tweet me at @Em_L_Smith.

Thanks for reading. Stay Chic!

Chic snapshot

It’s Bank Holiday Monday and a glorious day. The first part of my day consisted of us visiting our new allotment (Expect news of some homegrown delights soon!), after which hubby and I ventured out for a lovely lunch.

Due to the lovely weather it was time to bring out the peep-toe shoes. These wooden heels from Primark have been a summer staple for a few years now, and today I teamed them with stonewash jeans and a black vest. Due to the heat, too much jewellery would have felt overdone, so I dressed the outfit up with some gold art deco style earrings from Topshop.

I haven’t done many outfit posts but if you like these Chic snapshots (as I like to call it) I may do more!

Thanks for reading. Stay Chic!

The long and the short of it – a life of hair

I read a great article a few weeks ago in Stylist magazine about one woman’s changing hair styles and how, after being blonde for years, when she tried another colour she struggled with her identity. This got me thinking – what does your hair mean to you? It might sound like a superficial question as it’s only hair right? Well maybe, but for women I think it’s safe to say it’s a huge part of who we are. It’s one way we show the world what sort of person we are and hints at our personality.

Thinking back to my various hair colours and lengths through the years I guess I’ve gone through quite a few changes, which unsurprisingly coincided with quite big stages of my life. I remember wanting short hair after years of long dark brown hair – I longed for Terri Hatcher’s silky bob in the Superman TV series when I was about 8. By age 15 I was desperate for a change and had my nearly waist length hair cropped short – I LOVED it…for about 6 months. Then I longed for my long hair and vowed to never have short hair again!

The in-between stages are the worst where it sticks out and you tug at it hoping it will grow again. During university my hair went from my natural dark to honey highlighted and then (gulp) blonde – which turned my hair to straw. After this I went back to dark with a sweeping fringe. My hair was finally getting long…and then I cut it all off again à la Frankie Sanford. This time though the style was perfect and coincided with a change in jobs. I was a new woman.

Then when I got engaged in 2011 I had visions of sweeping vintage curls on my wedding day a year later. I started the growing process again and I am still growing. This time with a full on fringe – the same style I had before my first hair change – and I love it. This is me – my perfect hair style. Funny how things turn out!

Here’s some of my current hair lusts:

Jameela Jamil

 

Lana Del Rey

 

Louisa Rose Allen aka Foxes

 

Perils Of Petite Shopping

It’s been a while since my last post – what with one thing or another I just haven’t been able to find the time – but now I’m back and in full flow!

I considered last week writing a post about the Oscars fashion highlights, however I had already written a post about this for the music magazine I blog for – Hit The Floor. Then, after a trip to Oxford street yesterday I knew what I wanted this post to be about: something close to my heart which is petite clothing. I’ve touched on this on previous occasions and at 5 foot it’s something I want to regularly include in my posts. As I’m sure there are many other woman out there who, like me, get frustrated at the lack of choice for us small but perfectly formed ladies.

I haven’t been to Oxford street for ages, largely due to the fact it gets so manic it doesn’t make for a very pleasant shopping experience. However, I needed a dress for a black tie event in a few weeks and, as we were meeting friends in London for lunch, thought it would be a good place to start as there’s so much choice. Or so I thought.

I love the art deco era and anything with embellishment is ideal. So from the outset I had in mind the sort of dress I was after. First stop was House of Fraser, then on to John Lewis and H&M all of which offered nothing suitable. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t that there weren’t any dresses that I liked as you’ll see from the images below, it was the fact that not one of these stores catered for my size.

Selection of dresses at House of Fraser

As you can see by the selection of dresses above I was hoping to be able to find a maxi dress, but after holding up each of these in the store it was clear I’d need to be a leggy 6 foot to suit any of these. The range of sizes was also poor with a large number of size 10 – size 16 and nothing smaller. For a petite size 4/6 I didn’t stand a chance!

After this I felt disheartened and a little grumpy to say the least (which my husband will more than testify to!)

Next it was on to Topshop which I have to say is my fail safe for most things. After a hunt around and a request to see if they had my size in stock, I did find the perfect dress. A silver and nude embellished dress which is absolutely gorgeous.

After this experience though, it became clear to me just how difficult and stressful it is shopping as a petite woman – especially for evening wear. Although many stores do have petite sections there is a limited selection and it seems if you’re petite you’re stuck with what’s available to you in those ranges. There really needs to be a store that caters just for petite women stocking a wide range of styles and designs that are suited to our body shape – which a lot of these high street petite ranges certainly do not!

I’d love to know if any other ladies have this issue and whether you’d want to see a store just for us.

Thanks for reading. Stay chic!

Valentine’s Day Chic

It’s still chilly here in the UK, but with Valentine’s Day approaching it’s time to hot things up…in your wardrobe.

Some say Valentine’s Day is just an excuse for card shops and florists to make money and has nothing to do with love. Who needs the 14th February to show your other half how much you love them? This is something you should do everyday. And I agree, to some extent. On the other hand it’s a bit of fun and a chance to drink some champagne and dine out (although not on the actual day – set menus galore! No thanks.)

I wanted to put together an evening outfit for such an occasion and when you think Valentine’s Day you probably think red, but I wanted to do something a little different and have opted for a black and blue outfit.

Topshop Maxi Dress | New Look Aztec Clutch | Topshop Biker Jacket

Miss Selfridge Stone Collar | Barratts Blue Courts

What will you be wearing this Valentine‘s? Let me know.

Thanks for reading, stay chic!