Get The Look: Superheroines! Part 2

It's not long until Halloween; time to start planning your costume (or you could just be a superhero any day of the week, your call). And nothing says "badass" more than a reinvention of classic superheroines!

Patience, who has been interning over at our sister brand Whistle & Wolf (check out the blog!), has put together some stylish versions of these awesome heroes! 

Storm 

Ororo Munroe-codename Storm can be considered one of the most powerful females in the Marvel Universe with the power of flight and total control over the weather. Over the years, Storm’s look has gone through many transformations, from an anarchic punk with a Mohawk to a regal and glamorous African Queen (she was formerly married to fellow superhero and king of fictional Wakanda, Black Panther) yet she has still kept her signature bright white locks.  Storm is in my mind the most fashionable of the X-men, so channel her look with grey and yellow shades and mix punky and refined fashion genres.

The Ghost Retro Body is suited to Storm as it features a delicate and elegant grey patterned panel clashing with more daring mesh.

1. Liberty Headband by Clemmie Watson at farfetch.com - £423.25 

2. Esmeralda Robe Dress by Piamata at Les Nouvelles - £110.43 

3. Lightening Bolt Cuff by Alexis Bittar at Neiman Marcus -  £132.52

4. Lightening Strikes Shoulder Bag by Betsey Johnson at Forzieri - £35.50

5. Sheer Split Maxi Skirt by Just Female at ASOS - £65 

Black Widow

Natasha Romanov, A.K.A the Black Widow is a master spy and Assassin, trained in Russia and made popular by Scarlett Johansson‘s portrayal of the seductive agent in Iron Man 2 and The Avengers. Super-soldier Romanov is a morally ambiguous character by nature, and is willing to kill if anyone gets in her way, making her a dangerous adversary despite her not possessing any notable superpowers. Her intelligence, wit and intense combative training have meant that she has outsmarted figures like Iron Man and Daredevil. The Black Widow’s style is sleek and sexy, with a mysterious and lethal charm.

Our Hella Block Body is ideal for a femme fatale such as the Black Widow!

1. Bullet Cuff Bracelet by ASTALI at AHALIFE.com - £93  

2. Colpeta 100 Patent Leather Pumps by Christian Louboutin at Net-A-Porter - £395

3. Spiderweb Tights by Emilio Cavallini at ASOS - £17

4. Dripped Chain Belt by Cecilia De Bucourt at free People - £125 

5. Leather Panelled Pencil Skirt by Isabel de Pedro at Jules B - £184.99

Catwoman

Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman, is the ultimate female superhero anti-hero. As part of Batman’s gallery of rogues yet also his most notable romantic interest, Selina constantly treads the lines between good and evil. She is primarily a cat burglar with a taste for dangerous thefts although she sometimes engages in crime fighting. Catwoman has been portrayed fashionably in film on numerous occasions, notably by a retro Julie Newmar in the 1960’s, a crazed Michelle Pfeiffer in the 90’s and an elegant Anne Hathaway in 2012. Replicate Catwoman’s current look with daring black leather and PVC, expensive jewels and a cute cropped hairstyle.

The Dominique Longline Bra is definitely Catwoman’s style: sleek and classy, with a touch of naughtiness hinted at with its cage straps.

1. Pearl and Crystal Necklace by Tom Binns at Ssense- £396.90

2. Leather Leggings by Alice and Olivia at Flannels - £620  

3. Precision Ink Eyeliner in Abyss by Illamasqua - £18

4. Cat-ears Headband by BCBGMaxazria - £30.70  

5. Evening Gloves by Dents at House of Fraser -  £18

Get The Look: Superheroines! Part 1

It's not long until Halloween; time to start planning your costume (or you could just be a superhero any day of the week, your call). And nothing says "badass" more than a reinvention of classic superheroines!

Patience, who has been interning over at our sister brand Whistle & Wolf (check out the blog!), has put together some stylish and affordable versions of these awesome heroes! 

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman, also known as Diana, Princess of Themyscira is the quintessential female superhero. A member of the ‘big three’ of DC Comics along with Batman and Superman (yet the only one without a blockbuster movie, tut tut DC), Amazon Princess Diana’s trademarks are her passion for justice, equality, her golden lasso of truth and her bullet deflecting bracelets. WW and her image have reached an iconic status within popular culture with the 1970’s TV show starring Lynda Carter still beloved by fans and even a Mac makeup collection under her belt! A character who first appeared in comics in 1942, Wonder Woman’s costume has become a classic, so channel her look with retro hair and make-up, metallic accessories and bold red white and blue!

The Love vintage stitch corset is the perfect shade of red for an inspired Diana costume!

1. Wonder Woman High Rise Knickers by kickerrocker on Etsy - £13.84

2. Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo by MAC - £15 

3. Smooth Double Cuffs by ASOS CURVE - £15  

4. Gold Eagle necklace by ARK - £11.99 

5. Red Star Stud Earrings at Play.com - £6.82 

 Zatanna

Although not quite as well known as Wonder Woman, Zatanna is a popular superheroine in her own right with a signature style.  Like her father Giovanni Zatara, Zatanna Zatara is both a stage magician and a real magic user with skills in sorcery and illusion.  Fun fact: when making spells, Zatanna speaks backwards! She has had relationships with both Batman and Constantine, proving she definitely has a preference for bad boys! Channelling old style magicians, Zatanna usually styles herself in a modified top-and-tails, along with her trademark fishnets.

Our Red Satin Waspie would be a great waist-cinching replacement for Zatanna’s traditional waistcoat!

1. Fishnet Tights by What Katie Did at Playful Promises - £9

2. Blouse with Bow Tie by ASOS - £32 

3. Tuxedo Jacket by Whistle and Wolf - £65 

4. Top Hat by Catarzi at ASOS - £30 

5. Sequin Knicker Shorts by Fashion Union - £20 

Style Guide: Bodysuits

We've all been there. We've bought something we really really love, and find that our mind just draws a blank when deciding what to wear with it!

Bodysuits (because they are just so flexible) can be troublesome in this way, especially when you want to do the underwear as outerwear trend! Don't fret, we've put together just a few ways you could wear our Anastasia Bodysuit. 

Look 1: Dancing the Night Away

 

Whether you are partying with your friends or on a hot date, the bodysuit adds a bit of an edge to your outfit! This body lends itself well to a rock-girl outfit, with black panels and cage strap detail casting a tougher edge against the dark floral pattern.

Team with a chunky statement necklace, wedge heels (in black, purple or pink), a leather-look skirt and an embellished jacket for a playfully dark look.

Look 2: Like a Boss

Kick ass at work with this twist on the traditional skirt-suit!

For an injection of colour, wear the bodysuit with a black pencil skirt, Whistle & Wolf Tuxedo Jacket, black wedges and a matching briefcase. 

And sometimes you just need a bit of time to yourself! 

Settle down with your favourite book or tv show, slip on some warm socks and put the kettle on. Team the bodysuit with a robe (we love Kriss Soonik's loungewear) and get under that blanket!

Festival Survival Guide

Love it or loathe it, festival season is upon us again.

Why do we do it to ourselves? Surely the sanitary horrors, the medieval standards of personal hygiene, the food poisoning/sunstroke/hypothermia (suspected) and the post-festival trench foot (confirmed) would teach any creature with the ability to learn and evolve that these are places to be avoided?

I don’t have the answers I’m afraid. What I do know, as someone who’s done more than her fair share of festivaling both as a performer and a partygoer, is that there are some basic rules to remember if you want to go to a festival and come back with your sanity (relatively) intact.

1. No matter how good the forecast, how many offerings you’ve made to the weather gods, no matter what the evidence of your senses tells you, NEVER, EVER ASSUME IT’LL BE SUNNY.  The mere inclusion of a bikini top in your backpack is enough to make the skies darken and clouds gather ominously. However the corresponding principle is also true; come prepared for the worst and you’ll end up lugging an unopened backpack full of baggy jumpers and spare blankets halfway across the country. Only one thing to do really; tempt fate with your finest Playful Promises bikini top.

2. Accept that at some point you’ll be served a grotesque parody of food for which you will shell out hyper-inflation levels of cash. Literally wheelbarrows full of notes. You can bring as many of your own healthy snacks as you want but your tent will seem an awfully long way away after a couple of ciders and a few rounds of Gangnam Style (you were dancing ironically of course, we believe you.)

3. Buy a watch that you don’t mind losing. Sounds weird right? But you’d be amazed at how the time can slip past you when you’re far away from your laptop and your phone has run out of battery, and your nice designer timepiece has been (sensibly) left at home for fear of it ending up lost somewhere in acres of churned mud. Besides, if you’re planning on catching any of the scheduled bands, it might be helpful to be at the stage they’re playing  ten minutes (to five hours, depending on how popular they are) before they’re supposed to come on.

4. Leave the onesie at home where it belongs. It may seem delightfully whimsical to dress in a baggy felt badger costume but I’ll wager you’ve never tried to use a public toilet in one. Undignified doesn’t start to cover it. Instead, keep it classy and cool in our new shorts and trapeze top combo.

5. Bring socks. Lots of them. And for the love of god, all the baby wipes you can carry.

6. This might go against all the dire warnings above, but be open to spontaneity.  Some of the best festival times you will have will be after you lose the booklet and find yourself embracing the carefree spirit of the event; discovering new music, embracing new experiences, and generally just cutting loose and enjoying yourself.  You’re there to have fun; now go find it!

Minibreak Style Tips: Como

The 66^th annual Cannes Film Festival was a few weeks ago, and was, as usual, a veritable red-carpet of Hollywood stars and style-conscious celebs soaking up the spotlight. (So I’ve been told - I’ve never actually been to Cannes. Unless you count a camping holiday when I was 8.)

Ok so I didn’t get to attend the event, but I approve of the idea. There’s a part of me that’s always wondered what it would be like to be a screen siren living the high life in glamorous resorts in between shooting movies and having torrid love affairs with my leading men. Floppy hats and oversized sunglasses, paparazzi-dodging and hob-nobbing with the rich and famous - it’s a far cry from the reality of my usual day which tends to feature more running for buses and battling for the last salad at Pret, and fewer chauffeur-driven Bentleys and personal pastry chefs.

Strangely the tabloid press don’t seem too interested in documenting my days, which, I’m sure you’ll agree from that thrilling glimpse into my world, would make for compelling reading. However a girl can dream…and to that end, this week’s City Style Tips is dedicated to the gorgeous Lake Como, Italy, where I once spend a sumptuous long weekend swanning about and pretending I was in a Fellini movie. 

Romany Tea Dress | Magenta Bikini Top | Magenta Bikini Brief | Rorschach Kimono

There is definitely something cinematic about Como – maybe the fact that it’s been used as a backdrop in countless films, such as Oceans Twelve, Casino Royale and er, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. (It also counts George Clooney amongst its famous residents, if that sort of thing interests you…) It’s a great excuse to embrace the escapism and try something different.

Our Romany tea dress, with its pretty but striking rose print, has a soft femininity to it which is also bold and bright, both classic and contemporary, like Como itself. The lightweight fabric is perfect for beating the heat as you explore the old town, enjoy a pleasure cruise, or take in the amazing galleries and villas around the lake.    

If you happen to be in Como in mid-June, look out for the wonderful dance festival Swing Crash – it’s difficult to miss with lindyhopping couples filling the streets and live music until the early hours. Hundreds of sharply dressed hep cats and kittens make it their mission to cut a rug come rain or shine, and with competitions, classes and dance-offs in the central square of the town centre, you’ll be grateful for a cool frock with a loose skirt if you decide to join in the fun!

It’s not a great idea to go swimming in the lake itself, as the waters can become choppy when speedboats (captained by louche Italian playboys) zip past. But there are several local ‘beach clubs’ or lidos which provide a place to meet, sunbathe and swim, with a beachhouse bar serving up the favourite local tipple of ‘spritz’. If you’re planning on taking a dip, a one-piece is advisable (or risk an embarrassing bikini malfunction – this warning comes from experience) but if it’s lounging in the sun whilst looking every inch the movie star that interests you, grab yourself one of our magenta bandeau bikinis before they sell out (swimwear is flying fast off our shelves at the moment!) and a Rorschach Kimono Jacket to drape around your shoulders when the sun dips behind a cloud.

And if you do happen to end up partying on a yacht with Clooney and co, don’t forget to invite me – I’ve already done my packing…

Lydia x