A Bold Safari

I need a safari skirt, safari shorts, a safari dress, a safari playsuit, safari everything. They are just some of the things you need, whether you wear them or not. And then, some of the things you want but don't have. This week, I hit the Mango sales with the single aim of finding a couple of pairs of shoes I knew I wanted even while full-priced  but never got round to go shopping for them. And what did I get? A plain safari skirt and errm, a few extra bits and bobs.

The basic look is pretty easy to work: take something simple in a shade anywhere between stone and dark khaki (mine is dark beige or light camel), and add rich leather  accessories. The thing about safari is, well, while timeless and sort of chic, it easily washes you out. This season's boldness comes in handy to spice things up. You can go for a flash of royal blue, red, coral, even yellow, or do as I do and pick emerald green. You'll find this medium dark hue really flattering, whatever your true colours are.

I could not resist adding the green patent shoulder bag... matchy-matchy as it seems, what dominates is the eye-popping factor so why not load up? And, if you're short of bag space -I know you are- grab another beauty of an arm candy. I think the 1970s style platform wedges I've had for a few years will do nicely for the city safari. 

P.S. On the second evening of being abducted by UFOs (dearest's term for me getting sucked in by the shops and losing track of time), I did manage to pick up the last pairs of the shoes I had been after in my size - I'm sure they will crop up in one post or another soon enough.

shirt, skirt and bags: Mango, belt: C&A, sandals: River Island, sunglasses: Zara

Hippie Rocker Reloaded

Just a few days ago I had some fun with this outfit post as, using some of my good old stuff, I decided to bring the springfest atmosphere closer to home and create a look I labelled as feeling like rock & roll and looking like a hippie. 

Yesterday, when I received Topshop's newsletter on new seasonal look the Gypsy Rocker, it just seemed like a great idea to recreate the featured look with items from coolest British high street brand Topshop, actually available in shops and online.

Here's my outfit, and below, the ones I styled with Topshop pieces, grab them and enjoy the spring!

All items: Topshop as at 30th April 2011

A Hippy Hippy Shake

With festival season well on the way since Coachella, everything is about music and open-air fun, I decided to turn today's outfit into a relaxed spring festival look on a whim.

The only things to add now -if I were actually going out today- would be a Western style hat, and a bag, either one with endless fringes or, a mid-sized purple Cambridge Satchel.

Now, about the outfit... proud to say I have managed to feel like rock&roll and look like a hippie. Isn't that called glam rock? Whatever that is, let's not overthink it.

I'm so ready to kick dirt around, sit on the grass, have a picnic and a drink, and groove to some live music... so zen and chilled out that I don't even care who's playing. It's just another perfect afternoon.

Nude washed jeans: Mango, leather trainers: Converse All Star, leather belt: charity shop (brand Gemini Firenze) sunglasses: Toxic, bear keyring: C&A, embellished chiffon scarf: Accessorize

By the way, the blouse was probably hand made in the family, sometime in the late 1970s or early 1980s. What's more, I have a fully matching (!) pleated (!!) midi (!!!) skirt I've got to show you someday this season. Will I have the nerve to ever wear that?

All items as before. Suede jacket: retro/vintage shop (brand Wonder Woman),

braided hairband: River Island

For this summer I have a couple of festival gigs pencilled in already, with heavy metal and gothic metal on the menu for now, so I will definitely let you know about my outfits.