Bags Of Style from House Of Fraser

More often than not, the perfect handbag can be the illusive holy grail of fashion. We want something which compliments our outfits, yet can also be filled to bursting with all of our daily essentials. From sunscreen to house keys to tablets, we often have different bags for different occasions - but just like shoes, a girl can never have too many handbags, right?

It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like... Partywear from F&F

Now that it's November, I think we're finally allowed to talk about Christmas. I've had look books piling up in my email for weeks, filled to bursting with sparkly party wear ready for festive fun. But like my Netflix watch list which is currently filled with Christmas movies, I've made myself wait so as to not experience Christmas fatigue. But now that the party countdown is officially on, I'm so excited to share them with you, with the first set being from one of my favourite high street retailers, F&F.

The look book itself is filled with a dreamy elegance. It has has a touch of 20s decadence with 70s detailing, mixing  sequins, faux fur and indulgent fabrics. The colour palette is made up rich golds, striking whites and midnight blacks, designed to work as strong individual pieces, but also easily mix with existing items. 

High Neck Wrap Dress (£28) - available here.

High Neck Lace Blouse (£18) - available here. Faux Leather Pencil Skirt (£16) - available here.

Pussybow Velvet Jumpsuit (£30) - available here. 

Lace Dress (£40) and Shaggy Faux Fur Jacket (£39) - not yet available.

Sequin Embellished Double Layer Dress (£30) - available here.

Sequin Embellished Double Layer Dress (£30) - available here.

Metallic Foil V-Back Dress (£28) - available here.

The whole collection is stunning, but it was the gold foil and art deco patterns which really spoke to me. I love how pretty the sequin pattern is on the double layered dress, and the shimmer on the foil is festive perfection.

I'd challenge you to wear either and not feel stunning, like a proper Christmas cracker!

In addition to the clothing, F&F have also launched a wonderful set of accessories. The Velvet Box Clutch Bag (£18) is perfect for any special occasion, as is the sparkling Glitter Clutch Bag (£12). However I almost wept with joy at the sheer cuteness of the Cassette Clutch Bag (£12) and the Penguin Cross Body Bag (£12). As someone who loves DJing and is obsessed with penguins, I need both of these in my life immediately!

Until next time,

Diana xx

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) F&F.)

Modern Love: Modern Vintage, a guest blog for Simply Be.

Towards the end of last year, the lovely people at Simply Be saved my sartorial skin when I was on the hunt for a flapper style dress to suit my non-flapper shape. Hips and breasts are not a friend of the usual 1920s styles, so it was with great relief that I unpacked the above stunning dress for an art-deco event I was DJing at.

One of the things which came out of the swap was an article wrote about modern day vintage styles. I absolutely love shopping for vintage clothing, but the reality is large breasts often make for slim pickings, and it can be frustrating rummaging through rails to come away with nothing but disappointment. Although you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming for my favourite vintage haunts, I do love that there is has been a turn towards "heritage chic" on the catwalks, with a range of vintage inspired styles sailing down the catwalks and into shops. It was really encouraging to see that I could find a dress from every decade from the 20s to the 70s when pulling the article together, and you can read the whole story here on the Simply Be Blog.

It was really nice to be writing about fashion again, especially about vintage influences which is something very close to my heart.

Until next time,

Diana xx

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos (unless stated otherwise). Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Fly Me To The Moon

I was so excited to finally get to wear my beautiful Baroque Flapper Dress from Simply Be last weekend whilst DJing at a lovely 1920s / art deco themed event.

Never have I wore an outfit which won so many compliments, with the exquisite beading really glinting underneath the lights in the evening. Sadly it was so cold that I had to start the night in my bolero and shrug but as things heated up, the layers came off and I was happy shimmying and shaking from behind the DJ decks. You can see how the dress looks without the layers of winter wear by clicking on my earlier post here.

Dress: Simply Be Baroque Flapper Dress (£75).

Beaded Headband: Primark (This was on elastic and designed to be worn over the forehead but I cut it off and pinned it into my hair instead.)

Moon Necklace: La Luna Necklace from Tatty Devine (£40).

Art Deco Ring: Tatty Devine.

Bolero: Gift from a friend.

Wool Cape: Vintage.

Tights: Simply Be (£16 for two pairs).

Boots: Primark

Black Beads: Beyond Retro. 

In the end, I opted for a 1920s roller set on my hair which made me feel like a completely different person. I was quite taken aback by how different I felt without my giant faux-Bettie bang at the front of my hair!

If you're looking for a dress to feel incredible in over the festive party season, then I cannot recommend the Baroque Flapper Dress enough. I am so grateful to Simply Be for saving my sartorial skin and sending it over! ♥

Until next time,
Diana xx

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos. Please do not reproduce without written permission.) 

How High The Moon - The Baroque Flapper Dress from Simply Be.

The amazing Baroque Flapper Dress from Simply Be.

With a big art deco themed DJ gig coming up, I was absolutely flustered by what to wear. Traditional flapper dresses don't suit my hour glass shape, and I was struggling to find something which didn't resemble a potato sack, or even worse, cheap fancy dress.

Lucky for me, the lovely people at Simply Be sent me the gorgeous Baroque Flapper Dress and have absolutely saved the day! The 1920s inspired flapper style is perfect for shimmying behind the decks, with the intricate beading creating points which pull in to give it some shape. It's fully lined and sparkles from all angles with the scalloped edges acting as a stunning design feature.

 Baroque Flapper Dress from Simply Be.

Detail of the sequins and beading on the Baroque Flapper Dress from Simply Be.

Detail of the scalloped edges and beading on the Baroque Flapper Dress from Simply Be.

Whilst I haven't quite decided how I'm going to style it (it'll be without the 1940s hair for a start!), I am certain to end up wearing my lovely La Luna necklace and art deco inspired ring from Tatty Devine with it.

La Luna Moon Small Necklace in Opal (£40) from Tatty Devine.

Tatty Devine art deco inspired ring (no longer available).

I absolutely cannot wait to wear it next week, and will be sure to grab some photos of the final look pulled together with 20s hair and make-up. In the meantime, if you'd like to buy one for yourself to get you through the party season, you can find it on the Simply Be website here for £100 (stocked up to a UK size 26).

Until next time,
Diana xx

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All product photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)