Current Lustings

DATE NIGHT LACE.

Photo Credit: Taken by myself (IG: @marialetiziaxo)

Lingerie is to me, what bags and shoes are to most other girls. I adore everything about it and how it can make you feel when wearing it. Put simply, it can make or break your day from the moment you put it on.

One such trend that I've been obsessing over, is the lacey-bikini look sets; featuring a minimalistic band and a few strategically placed pieces of lace detailing to cover the obvious. Effortlessly cool brand For Love And Lemons inspired me with their delicate floral lingerie pieces, however I just felt that - as a student - I couldn't justify the price. And from that moment, a new mission was born - to find a more affordable equivalent. 

In comes ASOS. I'll admit that I haven't really been spending too much on clothing as of late, but after scrolling through the #fashion tag on my IG feed, I've decided that a little browse on the ASOS app couldn't hurt anyone. And that's when I saw them. The most beautiful lingerie set i've seen in a while. The Vine Appliqué Triangle bra and panties come as separates but at just £24 combined (£16 for the bra, £8 for the panties), it's really not something that you need to ponder over for longer than 0.3 seconds to decide if you're going to buy it or not. 

Because of the shape and design of the lingerie, I feel as though it's something that could either be worn as outer wear, or indeed just covered up and left to be seen by that special person of your choice. For me personally, I think I'm going to style the set as part of my outfit, in a sort of peek-a-boo way. I have a double date planned for this Friday, so I've decided to show you how I plan on wearing the lingerie for that.

The check curved hem shirt and ripped Jamie jeans are both from Topshop, and are recent purchases of mine. Incase you haven't heard, there's currently 20% off for students at the minute, so um, yeah. Get on that. I made it half way out the store with those before I came across an oversized black coat and decided that I needed that as well. But that's a story for another post.

Like the photo suggests, I'm planning on wearing the shirt fastened by a couple buttons at the bottom, leaving the top open and showing off the bra in small doses. A leather jacket and black strappy heels just finishes off the outfit and gives it enough edge to be dressy enough for dinner and drinks.

Will you be indulging in the lace trend this season?

Fit Fashion

FIT FASHION.

Just as the obesity epidemic has increased in figures in the last few years, the same has been happening with sports/activewear. Obviously this seems a touch contradictory - unless obese people everywhere have created a new trend of eating McDonald's in some Nike Dri-FIT - but the activewear market has seen a rise of about 7%; with regular apparel only seeing an increase of 1%. Developers and designers everywhere are seeing this gap in the market, and boy are they making money from it.

It isn't just an exponential interest in activewear that's taking the industry by storm, but the interest in fashionable and aesthetically pleasing pieces that we can all wear and cause envy in the hearts of those next to us in our mid-afternoon Spin class. Social media platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr in particular, are bringing images of colourful, attractive activewear to our attention and making it seem 'trendy', or 'fashionable' to be fit, healthy and conscious of what we put into, and engage our bodies in on a daily basis. 

Now, I'm not sure if many of you know this, but when it comes to sourcing those perfect yoga pants or sports bra, you don't actually have to shop at Nike or Lululemon. I know, major shock. Believe me, I was the same when I made the discovery. But with more designers seeing an opportunity in sportswear, new brands are coming to the forefront of our Tumblrs and blogs and getting us psyched for hitting the gym ASAP.

1. Alala // 2. Without Walls  // 3. Koral Activewear  // 4. Without Walls  // 5. Tully Lou

I've come across quite a few brands on my research for this post, however I thought I'd condense it down to about three or four for now. First up is Alala. Founded by NYC triathlete Denise Lee, the brand was created to answer the main issues that women face on a daily basis - clothes that just don't fit well for their purpose, and clothes that do it all; making you look cute enough to run from the gym to the office -  and not wishing the ground would swallow you up whole because of how you looked if you met 'the one' on the commute. The collection is very simple in terms of colour and pattern, but the devil is definitely in the details with each piece. I mean, they even have sports bras with zippers up the back so that you can actually get out of the thing post-workout. Genius. My favourite is the Got Your Back Tank, and at $85/£50 it's around the same price point as Nike. 

Next, Tully Lou. As TL is an Australian brand, I can't kept but just get why the collections are so bloody stylish. The Aussie's seem to get most things right when it comes to fashion - think Triangl and Sabo Skirt - and Tully Lou is no exception to that. Although the website is basic in all aspects, the collections are very colourful and slightly futuristic. Actually, it reminds me on Triangl with the linear concepts and bright block colours. The price point is similar to Alala, and they ship Internationally (obviously just need to watch out for customs tax), so it's worth having a look. 

Then there's Koral Activewear. What I loved most about this brand (other than the fact that they were based in LA), was that it's sports bras actually looked like bikini tops, and not something that a child would wear. They're known for their use of high quality materials which shape and contour the female body, whilst providing support in every way possible. It's stylish workout gear with a difference, and I'm 100% a fan.

And lastly, Without Walls. If the name doesn't entice you in, then how about the fact that their website gives you everything you'd need to live a healthy lifestyle. Not only do they stock their own collections, but they offer activewear from other designers, too. And you can buy your yoga mat and protein shaker at the same time. It's just convenience at its best. I loved how their collection features a lot of mesh and little hints of pattern. It's sports luxe but with practicality. Fab.

Where do you usually shop for your gym clothes?

Photo Credit: Tumblr (top image), Tully Lou, Koral Activewear, Without Walls & Alala websites.

Style Moment | Spring Monochrome

NEW LOOK CARMEN BOOTS.

What is a girl to do at 3:23am, when getting blood from a stone seems more likely than getting a little shut eye? Shop. Us insomniac girls, we shop. Especially when it was student loan day less than 24 hours ago.

The websites I tend to hit up include the likes of: Missguided, Daisy Street, Pretty Little Thing, Topshop, eBay, ASOS etc etc. Then, if i'm feeling particularly lavish, Net-A-Porter and The Outnet. It's very rarely that I actually purchase anything from the latter two, but I like to dream. 

Lately I've been sensing a trend and seeing lots of bloggers purchasing boots similar to these from Pretty Little Thing, and although they're a little high and not really something that I would find myself wearing too often, I did want to get in on the chunky sole trend. 

After coming across these monochrome Carmen ankle boots from New Look (found at ASOS), I began to justify them to myself. They would undoubtedly go with a lot of my wardrobe, be comfortable and stylish enough to wear from day to night, and I could wear them on Osbourne Road (Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK)  for the bank holiday this coming Sunday; but the point that had me sold, was that they're only £20.50 in the sale. It's safe to say that they were purchased in less than 60 seconds.

Baily Moto Jacket // Giambattista Valli Embellished Top // BLK DNM Skinny Jeans // Chanel J12 Watch // Moschino Violetta iPhone Case // New Look Carmen Cleated Sole Ankle Boots

Seeing as I've been trying to find topics to blog about on a daily basis recently, I thought it would be a good idea to do a 'How To Style' post and show you how I plan on wearing the boots on the bank holiday this week. It's obvious that the items I've chosen are from my dream wish list, but it's easy to replicate the look just by popping up to your high street and seeing what's on offer there.

I wanted to keep the look in tune with the boots and having everything monochrome. Especially seeing as I'm an avid 'all black (and white) everything' fan. I added in the Chanel J12 watch as that is one beaut that I've wanted to get my hands on for years, and the Moschino Violetta bunny iPhone case just ties the look together nicely with a little Easter flourish.

Have you bought into the chunky sole trend this season? If so, leave your blog links below - I'd love to check them out! xo

Sport Luxe | Pastel Leather

Bit of a random act with this post, but I've just purchased myself a little Valentine's Day present and I want to share it with you all. The gift in question is the Zara pastel blue faux leather biker jacket. Retailing at £69.99, it's one of my bigger (and unfortunately, less frequent) purchases being a student and all, so I'm bound to be feeling a little excited - and slightly nervous to check my bank balance after this weeks spending.

As it stands, there isn't a Zara store in the centre of Newcastle, so I usually get most of my basics from them online and have it delivered. This does mean however, that I can't really inspect the jacket to see what sort of quality the faux leather is like, and therefore judge whether or not a penny short of £70 is worth it or not; but we shall see. I am pleased with how beautiful it looks in the editorial shots and indeed on its listing online. The shade of blue is a first for me - well, any shade of any colour is a first for me - so i'm excited to see what it's like on. I have blue eyes and dark hair, so the colour tends to agree with me more often than not anyway.

Recently I've found myself styling pieces in a more 'sport luxe' manner; with slouchy fit bottoms and either plain T's or silk vests up top. So I've gone and styled the jacket in a similar way.

I've chosen a white track pant because I felt like the jacket warrented a clean finish, and this style and colour of pant is bang on trend for the Spring/Summer season. Up top is a basic white T with Celine print on front, and finishing with black, chunky ankle strap courts and classic Chanel J12 watch - oh how I've dreamt about one day owning that beauty. Sigh..

Maybe it's the fact that the pastel is a baby blue hue and therefore rings annotations of being delicate in my head; whatever the reason, I'm happy having a fresh and light styling take for the jacket and feel that I'm going to get a lot of wear out of it this year.

How would you style this piece?

Biker Jacket: Zara | White Pants: Revolve | Celine Tshirt: Etsy

Back To Black

So there I am, sitting in front of my laptop, green tea to my right hand side, stash of magazines to my left; yet nothing seems to be compelling me to write. Then I have a flash back to NYE and my sister stating that she 'preferred' the way I looked when I wore my best friend's dress for a change. Said dress was a strappy, white and gold stripe sequin number - potentially consisting of everything that I have never ever wore in my twenty something years of existence. Why did she prefer this look you may ask? Well, it wasn't black.

Anyone who knows me will know that colour isn't exactly something that I particularly warm to. Perhaps it's the fact that as a teenager, I went through the typical goth/emo phase and chose to wear nothing but head to toe black. Whatever the reason, I have just always loved it. It's like my favourite colour (it is a colour, I don't care what anyone says), clothes-wise anyway. I love that it's mysterious, 'slimming', generally inoffensive, but most of all, it's unassuming and modest. I recently saw a tweet from one of my favourite Scottish fashion girls Cara Eve Dunlop, stating that "Modesty breeds happiness" and to be honest, I thought that it was a fantastic little mantra to live by. It also made me think about my decisions to wear black and how I genuinely feel happier and more secure in myself whenever I do so. There was definitely something to go by in that quote.

Another connotation that I immediately think of with black, is power. It's undeniable that some of the words most powerful and influential leaders - not just in fashion - have been seen in an all black ensemble. Chanel created her signature dress around the colour, Kelly cut throat Cutrone is pretty much always seen in it and even Simon Cowell, Johnny Cash, Joan Jet and Batman to name but a few, love(d) the dark side. A woman recently came into my work (ironically I work at The White Company) and told me that her New Year's resolution was to wear less black, so she was purchasing a few navy and white dresses to kick start the year. I immediately had the response to ask her why. Why do people think that wearing all black is a crime? Some of the best designers in the world like Rick Owens create collections with nothing but black. 

Over the years, it's has proved a defining feature for myself and I wouldn't have it any other way. I can understand that if everyone were to think the same as me, the world would just be a sea of black, but for the minority of us who prefer to dress this way, do not think of it as something that you need to change or amend. Wearing black is classic, empowering and can be styled in any way that you wish; so please, respect it, own it and make it your own.

Mini Haul: Zara

Mini Haul:

Haven't done a post like this in a while, so I thought I'd share some of my recent purchases this week!

My sister and I decided to take a little trip into The Glasgow Fort (an outdoor shopping centre), initially just to buy some last minute things for the impending arrival of her new baby; As if this would ever just work out this way. I'm a shopaholic and I know it.

After trying on a variety of skinny jeans, leather leggings, jumpers, tshirts and a jumpsuit for good measure, I decided on the top two items. The jumper was in the sale and I just loved how casual and slouchy it felt with the jeans, so I had to get it. The jeans are insanely comfortable - no, really. The denim is really soft, moveable and looks even better now that i've added some rips and distressed marks around the knees. Well, you've got to add a little bit of DIY to make something your own, haven't you? The jeans were £25.99 and the jumper was only £9. I couldn't find the exact one online for the post, but the one featured in the image below is basically the same thing. 

Now, I did say that I tried on a jumpsuit for the sake of it and although I didn't go ahead and buy it, I took a photo just so that I could think about it some more later on. After much deliberation (who am I kidding? It only took me about 10 seconds), I decided to just go ahead and buy it online. It's £39.99, had an elasticated waist which can be positioned higher or lower on the body, depending on the kind of look you're going for. I have a thing for low cut neck lines at the minute, so that was another reason that I loved this little black number. I would say though, that if you spot this jumpsuit on the Zara website, it looks nowhere near as good as it does when you try it on. The image on the website does nothing for me and if I hadn't already seen it in store, I probably would have just scrolled past it and not given it a second thought!

Photo Credit: First image is a collection of images from www.zara.com - last image is my own.

One Teaspoon: The Perfect Denims

One Teaspoon:

Baggy Denim

It could be an understatement when I say that I've been looking for (and failing to find) the perfect pair of denims lately. I've tried Topshop, ASOS, H&M, Primark, Zara, you name a store on the high street and I'll tell you that I've already tried it. I just can't find a pair that A) suits my shape, B) fits in with my budget & C) looks good.  Now, I can't say that the feature I'm about to show you ticks off point B exactly, but I can tick off points A & C without a shadow of a doubt. That's a start at least.

One Teaspoon are an Australian brand who have a penchant for pushing boundaries and creating collections which are inherently edgy and wearable. It is the perfect marriage for anyone whose style includes a fair amount of "fantastically rebellious, sex-infused, old school, rock n' roll & glamorous" pieces. One Teaspoon can take you from casual to red carpet and back again, so there really is something for every occasion. 

On this particular instance though, I've been focusing on their range of denim jeans and shorts. They currently have a range of 'baggies' which are low waist, baggy boyfriend jeans with a rolled up, tapered  ankle. They are literally perfection, as far as I'm concerned. Frayed, distressed, bleached, they're just everything you would want in a boyfriend jean and more. 

Starting with the jeans in the top image we have: White 'Awesome' Baggies & 'Surrender Super' Baggies. Price ranging from $140 - $150 AUD (around £80 - £90?). I just love how casual, yet versatile they are; You could pair them with a plain tee for an easy going day look, or match with heels and a low cut silk cami for drinks with the girls. 

Onto the next one - shorts: Desperado Bandits & White Croc Bandits. Both priced at $89 AUD (£54-ish?). Slouchy, comfortable and stylish. These are a perfect option for looking casual and cool in this current heat wave that we're getting at the minute. 

Fancy snagging a pair for yourself? Head on over to their website and shop till your heart's content!

One Teaspoon SHOP.

Photo Credit: Images found via the One Teaspoon website & edited on Polyvore.