Style Diary Day 15: Sleepwear

Inspired by today's freezing Melbourne morning- here are some cute and toasty sleepwear options in perfect pastels:

Style Diary Day 14: LLV on Country Road

LLV best picks from Country Road's latest range:

Style Diary Day 13: Va Va Voom

When you've got it- flaunt it!

"Va Va Voom" ala Christina Hendricks....the curvy confident goddess of the silver screen. 

Embrace your dangerous curves in these body confident dresses:

Lace Yellow dress: House of Fraser

Black dress: Witchery

Cream curve dress: Chiara Fashion

Red long sleeve: Top Shop

Spaghetti strap black: Miss Selfridge

Navy and cream: Diane Von Furstenburg

Bright mustard: Zara

Christina Hendricks in fine form:

What a woman!

In which fashion piece do you feel YOUR most confident???

LLV xx

Style Diary Day 12: Stripes

STRIPES

Stripes are everywhere this season and I love it!  Every time I see something striped, I think of Annabel Berry my best friend from Sydney who has been an ambassador for striped pieces for as long as I've known her.  I bloody love her to bits and always adore her fearless, effortless, chic and cool style attitude.

Rocking stripes is a great look, especially when done in moderation in tandem with quality simple, neutral pieces.  Here is a stripey look I put together:

An oversized striped sweater dress like this one from Zara paired with simple black pants (these are from Top Shop but I got similar ones from Seed Femme) with spliced leather detail works perfectly.  A light denim shirt (mine is just from Cotton On) worn open tones down the stark black and white look.  Pale camel boots are lovely with black pants and these Gorman ones are super comfy and beautiful quality.  A little splash of colour can be given by a pair of bright socks poking out.  The long length of the sweater dress can be balanced nicely with a long statement pendant.  Stripes don't have to look nautical, they can be chic, simple and worked in to a comfortable, casual look.

LLV xx 

Style Diary Day 11: Leather Luxe

Spliced leather is one of my favourite looks for the Winter season.

Style Diary Day 10

Style inspiration can come from anywhere....

Here is an outfit inspired by my pride and joy, my British shorthair cat Dorothy:

Style Diary Day 9: Mary Katrantzou

Robyn Lawley even looks fabulous doing her laundry! As featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine Australia, here she is wearing one of my favourite designers to daydream about, Mary Katrantzou.  I love the way colourful graphic scarf style prints have been filtering into many street style trends recently and Mary creates this look perfectly.  Her most current prints are inspired by International postage stamp designs.  I would do anything for even just one of her luxurious pieces.  I have chosen a few of her looks showcasing her brilliant fabrics:

Here are some of the Mary Katranzou 2013 collection pieces fresh off the runway:

Being on a budget means I only dream of Mary's pieces inhabiting my wardrobe.  However, I do love the style of these pieces so I am going to do my best to take inspiration from these incredible designs and work scarf/tapestry prints into my style.  

As a start, I was just delivered this gorgeous pencil style midi length skirt from Asos.com for only $35 which has the essence of the vibrancy and graphic print of the Katranzou dream pieces.

What is on your luxe dream fashion list?

Style Diary Day 8

Just scraping in for today's style diary entry! Just in time!

It was such a beautiful sunny day in Melbourne today and I am in the market for some new sunglasses so I have put together my picks for best specs from 4 of my favourite eyewear brands.

Which will I pick??

Fearne Cotton Street Style

A friend of mine recently told me to look up Fearne Cotton, because she thought I would dig her style.  She was right! (Thanks Kathleen.)  The British TV and radio presenter has sported some incredible street style looks in her time.  In fact, nearly every image I come across is blog-worthy but here are my favourites:

I love this effortless casual look.  White stripes on navy is fresh and simple and the combination of denim, canvas and camel leather works perfectly.  I'm loving the cream scarf to lighten up the look.

Classic black and warm burgundy with a signature red lip.  It suits Fearne perfectly.  The most subtle little polka dots and cosy socks in boots also get a nod from LLV.

I love this layering of a simple white shirt, sweater dress and mini pom-pom embellished scarf around the shoulders.  The green leather adds the perfect amount of colour to this neutral palette.  

Androgynous chic - that charcoal man-style trench is amazing.  I'm never sure about snakeskin but Fearne totally pulls it off and with a hint of leopard skin too!  There's that signature red lip again.  

This royal blue and gold print is perfect with all the black pieces in this look.  Inspiration for a perfect Autumn/Winter music festival outfit.

Look at this amazing fur jacket.  Enough of a statement, so Fearne has balanced it ever so beautifully with classic black.  

Not afraid to use colour: feminine pink floral shirt with a deep purple cardigan and fun red wedges.  Fearne makes it work.  

Speaking of colour!

 

I love this casual look.  Charcoal and blue denim with black leather boots and a camo jacket.  Those thick sky blue and white stripes really freshen up the darker neutrals.  

Another effortless casual look from Fearne.  Light denim with that toasty parker and a fine graphic print on the bag - great combo.  Not too sure about those shoes but fearless Fearne pulls them off and the hint of citrus lemon/lime works well- even Mr. Pigeon is impressed.

A classic red, black and white combo.  Fearne can do no wrong!

Style Diary Day 7: Alexa Chung Street Style

Happy Monday Everyone!

One of my favourite new things to do, is take a street style or fashion image and find pieces that emulate that look.  One of my most raging style crushes is on model, TV presenter and British Vogue contributor, Alexa Chung. Swoon! She often looks her best when off duty and I adore the snaps of her slouchy, casually cool street style.  I found this picture of her in my style searches and decided to put a little look together for the blog.  

Clockwise from top:
Hat: Miss Selfridge
Short Sleeved Shirt: Top Shop
Trench: Zara
Chiffon Blouse: Top Shop
Nails: NARS
Boots: Sportsgirl
Jeans: Cheap Monday
Bag: Sportsgirl
Backpack: Mimco
Watch: Mimco
Sleeveless Shirt: Crooks n Castles
Sea Spray Hair: John Masters Organics
Boots: Jeffrey Campbell

If you have an image or fashion snap you are in love with and need help putting together a similar look- I'd be happy to help! Send style challenge images to: laurenleighvalentine@gmail.com

xx LLV

Style Diary Day 6: Ladies Who Lunch

Oh how I wish I could just lunch all day instead of going to work!  If I could, I would be sporting my favourite new neutral Khaki with splashes of hot magenta and a sprinkling of animal print. 

Here's to the ladies who lunch.  

LLV xx

Happy Birthday Lisa!

A big bear hug Happy Birthday to my dear friend, indie-pop musician Lisa Lionheart.  Here is my blogged birthday card to you- personalised Lion inspired looks.  Have a beautiful day gorgeous girl. xxx

www.lisalionheartmusic.com

Style Diary Day 5: Day Tripper

The perfect outfit for a crisp Autumn day trip.  Signature Melbourne style layering, bold pops of colour and highlights of leather.

Sweater: Gorman

Jacket: Top Shop 

Blush: Nars

Nail Polish: OPI

Beanie: Asos

Shoes: Gorman

Jeans: Top Shop

Backpack: Mimco

Watch: Adidas from asos.com

Scarf: Jigsaw

Street Style Inspiration