shake those pompoms!

Head pompom!

Within a season a micro trend often comes along that's fun, frivolous and plays on our inner child. So while I'm feeling optimistic about the warmer weather, let's jump board the sweetie train and embrace the colourful pompom into our stylish lives.

The best way to wear this trend is through accessories as they will change up any outfit and are relatively in expensive. Some high end designers have added pompoms to their shoes, bags and jewellery and where they lead, the high-street follows.

Dolce and Gabbana Pompom shoes

So whilst these Dolce and Gabbana pompom shoes aren't exactly practical, these ones from Glamorous at ASOS certainly are!

Glamorous pompom sandles, £29.00, asos

I am currently obsessed with finding the right clutch bag with pompoms on it to take on holiday with me. But with so much choice it's hard to make my mind up.

Textured envelope bag, £29.99, Mango

Star Mela floral clutch, £60, asos

A fab statement necklace is he bets way to show case this trend. This one is from Zara for £17.99, it will see you through the Summer and can be worn in the daytime or dresses up for the evening - everyone's a winner!

Pompom necklace, £17.99, Zara

You can even have the mutli-coloured ball's in your home -

Boho Pom Pom mirror, £16, notonthehighstreet.com

Or if you are crafty, there is nothing stopping you from making your own trend inspired pompom adornments.

Pompomania, £3.99, amazon

No one can be in a bad mood in the presence of a pompom which is why I am encouraging you to go forth and purchase something now! Share with me what you have brought in the comments below or on social media.

Style rules for transitioning into Spring summer

This week I finally went outside without my Winter coat on! Enough was enough, it's April and I was still wearing my winter scarf round my neck and sometimes even putting my woolie hat on. BUT then the sun came out and I feel I can finally move forward towards Spring style.

With it being so cold it's hard to make that transition from Winter to Summer without feeling the chill. So if the thought of trying to give your winter pieces a spring-appropriate umph is overwhelming, I'm here to share with you my style tips on how to transition your daily wardrobe from the big freeze to the well, slightly milder change without a complete wardrobe overhaul.

1. Double jacket

It's jacket season, but the key to keeping warm is layering your jackets up on top of each other. My favourite is wearing my black biker jacket underneath my khaki parka, leather is warm and always instyle as it can be teamed with anything. Bomber jackets are also good for layering, put your denim jacket on underneath one and you have two great layers to keep you warm. Failing the double jacket look, you can invest in a lightweight Summer duster coat that will see you through Spring, Summer at Autumn, my bright yellow one is my go-to piece for this time of year.

2. Layer-up

Layers, layers and more layers is currently my unofficial motto! So to ensure you beat the April showers and are prepared for glorious sunshine, in equal measure, use what you already have in your wardrobe to keep you warm underneath your lightweight jacket. Wear your stripe tee, with a denim shirt, thrown over the top is a sweater all worn underneath your bomber jacket.

3. Scarves

The key to transitional dressing is being prepared for all the elements – the Great British weather means having sunnies and an umbrella on you at all times. Ensure you always have an extra layer of warmth with a chic lightweight scarf – opt for neutral hues that are ready to be paired with any look, and tie around your bag when you don’t need it for an extra accessories injection.

Jigsaw floral print scarf, £49.00

Zara stripe cotton scarf, £17.99

Becksondergaard Scarf, The Dressing Room £65.00

4. Get rid of the winter boots

Pop those Winter boots back in the cupboard for next year and it's time to get the flats out. I am currently living in my trainers, brogues and loafers to update my look, but I can't wait to move into my ballerina flats and espadrilles when it does eventually get warmer (see next week's blog on Summer's hottest shoe trends). From lace-up flats, a now familiar sight on shop floors, to pretty scallop-edged pumps, there are numerous offerings to give your wardrobe an injection of femininity. If you’re after a more androgynous look, invest in a pair of tassel-detailed brogues.

5. Add some colour!

Desperate to ditch the black and winter hues in favour of something brighter but aren’t quite ready to go the whole hog in bold colours? Injecting colour into your wardrobe now will brighten up your mood and your style. Last week I blogged about colour and what colours can do for you if you wear the right ones. Add a touch of Rosa Quartz to your look. A hot colour trend this season (see last week's blog post), give the feminine tint an edge by teaming it with an otherwise monochrome look – from a pale pink coat to a candyfloss knit, it’s the perfect spring shade to bring your wardrobe up to date.

Cos Coat £150.00

Zara Asymmetrical blazer £69.99

Oasis paper bag trousers £40.00

how to add some colour into your wardrobe

For the first time, Pantone announced their colour of 2016 to be two colours instead of the one, ROSE QUARTZ and SERENITY. Interestingly Rose Quartz is a pink tone and Serenity is a blue tone.

As is wider society, fashion is also experiencing a gender blur which in turn has impacted colour trends, the way designers are showing their products and ranges that retailers are putting them out. Levi's has just announced a 'gender neutral' jeans range and if you go on Zara's website you will also see their genderless clothing collection 'Ungendered'. The 16 items range from T-shirts and sweatshirts to denim and Bermuda shorts — unisex basics in neutral colours, constructed from comfortable cottons and cotton blends. On the website, pieces from the inaugural collection are photographed on both a male and female model.

So back to colour, does this mean that as a society we are moving towards a more unilateral approach to colour which is coinciding with societal movements toward gender equality? Are we getting more comfortable with using color as a form of expression? We often use colour to express the way we are feeling, consciously or sub-consciously, and these two colours of the year "reflect a soothing sense of order & peace" say Pantone.

Colour can change your life. Fact.

Did you know that just by wearing the wrong colours in your clothes you're making yourself look:

- older
- more tired
- accentuating fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes
- ill or 'under the weather'
- dulled skin, eyes and yellowing teeth

Wearing the right colours will instantly give you a healthier glow, a younger, fresher and more vibrant appearance and will help to 'take years off'.

So what are you waiting for? If you want to feel confident with your colour choices, want to break out of the 'wearing too much black' habit or just want to be able to express yourself with your clothes then...

Book your appointment with me now, it is the perfect timing for Spring. By the end of our time together you will have learnt all you need to know to about making the right colour decisions the next time you go shopping. And, did I forget to mention that once you've learnt which colours are 'you' you'll then be able to build a capsule collection of clothes that all mix and co-ordinate making the decision of "what goes with what" a thing of the past.

Or why not host your own colour party? In the evening with friends over a glass of wine or in the daytime over coffee and cake?

how to wear gingham - Spring's most wearable print trend

Checks are always in style, they never go away each and every season. But gingham it seems has it's own print trend it follows and whilst it's been around for a couple of seasons, it just got bolder for 2016.

Audrey Hepburn made gingham a fashion staple with her gingham capri pants, a-line dresses and feminine blouses. Since then everyone from Marilyn Monroe, Bridgett Bardot, Alexa Chung and Amal Clooney have followed in her fashion footsteps.

This trend started on the SS16 catwalks, where we saw gingham fading into abstract floral print dresses appear at Marc Jacobs. DVF brought in some gorgeous works that gave gingham a softer, more amiable appeal, while Victoria Beckham's vision for the trend included more contrast, a bit more subtlety in changing colors and plunging necklines on dresses reaching around the ankles.

The high street has now followed. Gingham is an easy two colour print trend that can be worn very casually with jeans, smarter under blazer jackets or as a statement on it's own in a dress. Which piece will you invest in this season? Here are my top 5 high street picks...

1. Mango gingham check pattern blouse £29.99

2. Madewell gingham shirt dress - £75.47

3. Whistles knitted check skirt - £65.00

4. Whistles navy gingham strappy top - £110.00

5. Warehouse gingham off the shoulder dress - £49.99

Follow my pinterest board for more gingham styling inspiration at - Gingham SS16 looks