Dorothy Perkins Style Essentials Part 2 - Amy

This post is part 2 of 2 of the Dorothy Perkins Style Essentials campaign

Photography by Holly McGlynn

www.hollymcglynn.com

@hollymcglynnphotographer

Quilted Leather Biker c/o Dorothy Perkins, Zara Big Cuff Striped Crop Top, Maxi Skirt c/o Dorothy Perkins, Topshop Black Belt, Boohoo White Clutch, Topshop Aubrey Cut Out Boots

I'm not going to lie, when Dorothy Perkins asked us to style the maxi skirt, I panicked a little as this was so out of my comfort zone but this just goes to show how versatile these essential SS14 pieces are as I came away absolutely in love with this look.

These skirts are the perfect way to get your statement pastel look this Spring, especially if you're style is a little more elegant than some other candy coloured pieces around at the moment. The sutble shade and slight shimmer in this skirt glistens and looks gorgeous as it flows - and it's only £18. What more could you need for walks on the beach on holiday and bbqs at home?

The last word to describe my style would be delicate so I felt I needed to complement this skirt with tougher pieces so went for trusty black leather and this amazing crop top from Zara with the dramatic cuffs. It was the perfect outfit for fun in South Ken with equal amounts of posh and play 

Oriental Bloom - Amy

Topshop Boutique Silk Shirt Dress, Topshop Floral Top, Topshop Floral Bodycon Dress, Necklace c/o , Boohoo Clutch Bag, Topshop Aubrey Boots

ASOS FF Collaboration: In Bloom - Amy

'This post is number 2 of 5 in a special series we have done for Asos Fashion Finder on why the pink coat is most definitely this AW13's essential purchase by showing you how it can be worn with literally every other trend around this season'

Sparkle and Fade Pink Coat c/o Urban Outfitters, Topshop Floral Embroidered Trophy Sweat, Topshop Scandi Floral Shirt, Primark Velvet Skirt, Reign Vintage Tartan Scarf, Topshop Aubrey Boots

For our second pink coat look, we wanted to go with rich, bold colours in the form of the popular winter floral :) This sweatshirt is such a massive statement, and goes perfectly over everything from little tea dresses to t shirts with denim shorts. Even more perfectly, the pink in the jumper is identical to the pink of the coat! 

I love dressing sweatshirts up with clean collars so went for this autumnal floral shirt from last AW. The colours are subtle enough to work with the sweatshirt but to form a pattern clash that actually works. For simplicity and texture, I wore finished off with a velvet bodycon skirt on the bottom and a check scarf to pull out for of those gorgeous colours from the sweat :) 

Check Mate - Amy

Sister Jane Check Tartan Cardigan, Sister Jane Check Tartan Shift Dress Topshop Circular Sunglasses, Topshop Black Frilly Ankle Socks, Topshop Aubrey Boots

Visit the Sister Jane Website HERE

Is this, or is this not the most perfect dress of all time? It's tartan, it's shape is so flattering AND it already has a collar so I've saved the time trying to find my own - spot on. What could make it even better? It has a matching cardigan. Sister Jane, you have been the answer to my Autumnal Fashion prayers.

To show this co-ord off for what it is (fabulous), I have kept accessories to a real, real minimum and have just gone for the cute frill detail in the socks and the gold detail on the boots to tie in with the yellow tones on the check. This two piece really does turn heads as a real statement but the items being classic and chic, I want to literally wear it every day as it hits the mark for every weather and every occasion

Have you found your go-to statement for this autumn? 

Some Kind Of Love - Amy

'Some Kind Of Love' Slogan Tee c/o Feather Hearts BUY HERE!, Topshop Sleeveless Check Shirt, Topshop Charcoal Midi Dress, Topshop Circular Lens Sunglasses, Boohoo Studded Clutch Bag, Topshop American Flag Socks, Topshop Aubrey Cut Out Boots

Even though the whole point of our blog is showing how we wear the same trends differently, I love it when me and Naomi are given the exact same item to play with to see what we do with it :) This slogan tee from Feather Hearts was certainly perfect for this challenge as it powerful enough to make a really show of but simple enough that we could both mould it to our own style to create our outfits :)

I have raved about how much I love a slogan tee and how much FH is definitely my go to place when I'm in need of a new one and quite frankly, nothing's changed. The boxy shape tee over bodycon a dresses has been my go-to/easy peasy/ no thought required outfit over the summer so I thought this would be the perfect way to show off the tee. I've tweaked it to transitional by wearing a thick jersey midi dress and a check shirt for an extra layer on top. No outfit of mine is complete without some form of colour coordinating sock and a cut out boot, and I matched the gold detailing on the boots to this amazing clutch from Boohoo to finish off the look.

Summer Blossom - Amy

Topshop Floral Blouse, Topshop Floral Skater Dress, H&M Sunglasses, Topshop Leather Belt, Primark Socks, Topshop Aubrey Cut Out Boots

Florals are perfect all year around, you just need to get your colour palette and textures right! Inspired by a double age spread in this months Vogue, it seems blush pinks and autumnal oranges, rusts and darker greens are this AW's floral friends.

Because floral is one of those trends that never really goes out, it's easy enough to dress up older pieces and stay on trend with minimal spend. Both key items in this outfit are pretty old topshop pieces (I remember buying these when I worked at Westfield which was 2-3 years ago!) but I'd never have thought of layering them together this way until now :) 

I stuck with baby pink for accessorising as it was the most summery of the colours to pull out and matching shoes and belt to finish off :)

Garden Party: Part 1 - Amy

Zara Floral Shirt, Tophop 3D Floral Cami, Topshop Lace Dress, Floral Sunglasses via Ebay, Topshop Frilly Ankle Socks, Topshop Aubrey Boots

With these long summer's evenings at the moment, it is definitely the time to have a garden party :) Whether you prefer tea and cake or a beer and a barbie, it's time to embrace the outdoors, celebrate and most importantly - dress up :)

The first thing I think of when dressing up for a garden party is florals and after raiding Naomi's wardrobe and going crazy over her 3D skirt (how talented is she?!) we decided the first look should not just be about traditional florals, but all about texture.

If florals were my first thought when it comes to garden parties, lace is the obvious second so this light coloured floral lace dress was the perfect base for my outfit, as a more subtle and delicate texture. I then layered the white cami over it to tie in the 3D floral theme but again keeping the outfit very light in colour. The satin floral shirt was the perfect top layer with it's bright colours, luxe fabric but the shirt shape suited my style more with the rest of the outfit than a traditional jacket or blazer would. Due to it's more manly shape, I belted it in to give me a figure. 

The sunglasses keep the outfit fun (which parties are meant to be!), the socks keep the outfit cute and girly and the boots match the belt to give a traditionally feminine outfit a bit of an Amy-edge. Very much like the surroundings - a beautiful English Garden, with a wonderful twist.

Punk's Not Dead - Amy

Vintage Check Shirt via Rokit, Topshop Pearl Crop Top, Topshop Boutique Silk Shorts, Topshop Lace Trim Cycling Shorts, Topshop Belt, Anne Summers Fish Net Tights, Topshop Aubrey Boots

I never, ever thought I'd say that I have used (current day) Madonna as fashion inspiration - but that just goes to show that inspiration appears in the strangest of places! It was hard not to take inspiration from the punk theme Met Ball a couple of weeks ago as the star studded bash was full of incredible and unlikely outfits and there is nothing I like more than seeing people push their boundaries with their wardrobes and get involved in a theme even if it isn't necessarily they're signature style.

This is definitely not an outfit that I would wear to a ball, punk themed or not, but the idea was to have a more glamorous take on grunge. I've been looking for an excuse to blog last Christmas's 'it' top from Topshop, but with a more updated/non seasonal look and this seemed perfect. I've worn the shirt over the top (tucked the collar in so it looks cleaner and less casual) and belted it with a leather belt so it gives me a figure, rather than open and oversized, which again, looks more grown up.

I chose to keep the rest of my outfit solid black, as to not distract from the gorgeous pearls or the punk element of the check, so decided to play with textures rather than pattern, colour or print. The silk shorts tie in with the more glamorous feel to the outfit and combined with the lace trim cycling shorts (underneath) and the fish nets definitely says sexy rather than scary. No outfit of mine is complete without a black boot, so I chose my black cut out Aubrey to tie in with the gold buckle of the belt.

Who was your 'Best Dressed' from the Met Ball?