20% Off At oki-ni...

Sometimes menswear comes across as having a far fresher aesthetic than that of womenswear, particularly when considering recent designer and mid-market offerings. A lot of these items are also incredibly easy to integrate into a woman's wardrobe, offering a great way to experiment with cut and silhouette, whilst also offering the opportunity to play with styling by way of accessories and additional separates.

In my opinion, oki-ni is probably one of the best places to find such items. Stocking an unrivalled selection of contemporary, mid to high end brands, they provide an array of perfectly curated pieces for those wanting something outside of the realms of rainbow-hued Aztec prints and American Apparel hoodies.

From Margiela to McQueen, Kenzo to Carven, the collections stocked at oki-ni ultimately provide an exciting depiction of modern menswear from an intriguing, forward-thinking fashion concept.

Need even more of an incentive to check them out? Well, until midnight tonight, you can receive 20% off a selection of spring designs using the code SPRINGHASSPRUNG at the checkout.

Diemme Men's Roccia Vet Pony Hair Hiking Boots - £350

Undercover Leather Bracelet - £65

NN.07 Men's Quinsey Denim Shirt - £105

A Truly Tropical Aesthetic

It's no exaggeration to say that Carol Lim and Humberto Leon have effectively reinvented the house of Kenzo. A brand which enjoyed incredible success during the seventies, eighties and nineties under the direction of its founder, Kenzo Takada, the brand remained somewhat under the radar during the early noughties.

It was only under the supervision of Lim and Leon that Kenzo has since flourished, entering an entirely new phase and enjoying, consequently, a significant amount of well-deserved success. The (not so) secret behind this recent popularity? That would be a single tiger face illustration. A seemingly simple concept, with a similarly simple execution, it has, nevertheless, propelled the brand to cult status, with said tiger faces causing signature sweaters to sell out within minutes of being re-stocked. 

Not having any luck on scoring one of these elusive sweaters? Luckily, Kenzo have branched out into an incredible array of accessories this season, emblazoned with a selection of multi-hued animals, these statement pieces are the perfect way to implement a touch of Kenzo to your look for S/S '13...

Gold-Plated Tiger Necklace - £125 at Liberty London

Pink Tropical Elephant Scarf - £90 at Liberty London

Pink Jacquard Leopard Print Pouch - £75 at Liberty London

Golden Touch

So Harrods quite obviously know that today, after what seems like actual years, was my pay day. FINALLY! How do I know they knew this I hear you ask? A little after checking my bank balance, I received an email about their upcoming 10% off event. Off everything.

As if the sheer premise wasn't enough, I then proceeded to have a little look, during which I consequently saw this.

 

 Givenchy Antigona Small Tote - £1,325 - Harrods

Illustrating perfectly just why I need to own one so badly, this item of sheer golden magnificence is exclusive to Harrods. Combining the classic shape of the Antigona with a luxe, textured metallic leather, this tote proves Givenchy's incredible design prowess when it comes to the art of accessories.

With its complementary gold hardware, I'm positive this tote will prove to be seriously versatile for Spring/Summer...

 

Saint Laurent Janis Mary Jane - £585 - Harrods

Okay so it seems this post has taken on an unintentional gold focus, so I'm going to go with it. Is it just me or are all of these gold accessories suddenly seeming pretty much perfect for Spring? I currently don't own any golden shoes or handbags and now, judging from these two alone, I'm seriously thinking I need to. Preferably these two....

Anywhom, as mentioned, starting from tomorrow until Sunday, Harrods are giving you 10% off everything onsite... You're welcome...

Introducing SS13 at Reiss

When it comes to pastels and prints, my wardrobe is seriously lacking. The two essentials no good Spring/Summer wardrobe should be without, these elements are seriously adaptable, whether applied to polished, feminine pieces or sharp, androgynous tailoring.

With their S/S '13 collection, Reiss have done just that. The mainline offers a grown up, sophisticated take on the aforementioned trends, juxtaposing a pastel palette with intriguing textural detailing and a delicate use of print. If you had to pinpoint a particular strength of Reiss it would be their approach to dress design. Season after season the brand effectively translates relevant trends into seriously covetable, distinctly chic dresses, all showcasing a modern, almost minimalistic approach to design, but which are all unashamedly Reiss. Conviction in a consistant vision is a rare feat and consequently incredibly refreshing to see. With many brands exchanging a discernible aesthetic for the cheap thrill of fast fashion, Reiss is effectively paving the way for premium design which marries together an emphasis on quality with a contemporary, refined signature.

Shop the S/S '13 collection at Reiss, available online and instore.

 

New Heights

Despite owning a vast number of ankle boots, when it comes to proper heels, my collection is seriously lacking. I think it's because I'm abnormally attached to boots. They go with everything, are, more often than not, seriously comfortable and, as if this wasn't enough, there's never a risk of them coming off your foot after one too many...

However recently I've seen hundreds of heeled pumps which have me thinking it just might be time to switch my allegiance. From statement to classic, I like to think these heels will have you covered for any occasion. A worthwhile reason? I think so...

 MCQ Alexander McQueen - £340 - my-wardrobe

These are my absolute favourites. Everything from the pointed toe to the subtle studding and platform sole make these the ultimate investment piece, something that you'll effectively wear for seasons to come and which easily transcend fleeting seasonal trends.

Sigerson Morrison - £365 - my-wardrobe

Pointed toes seem to be be a recurrent theme in my list. I think the beauty of these lie in their very versatility, looking just as good dressed down with a v-neck tee and skinnies as they would dressed up with a midi. A seriously wise investment for Spring/Summer if you ask me.

Camilla Skovgaard - £679 - my-wardrobe

You can never go far wrong with a pair of Camilla Skovgaard heels and these laser-cut beauties are definitely no exception. Continue the grunge-inspired aesthetic with a leather biker and a smokey eye and you're good to go...

All styles available from my-wardrobe!

Elizabeth And James - Fall 2013

Even I'll admit, $34,000 for a handbag seems completely irrational. The bag in question? A crocodile rucksack by The Row, designed by uber-chic twins and fashion industry sweethearts, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.

Despite having spent a pretty obscene amount on handbags myself, I'm not sure $34K for a handbag could ever be justified. The good news? As of June, the Olsens will officially be launching a new handbag line with a much more affordable price bracket. Designed under their sister brand, Elizabeth and James, this new range is comprised of almost exact replicas of their main line, whilst making necessary changes to fabric and finish to ensure a more accessible price without a compromise on  quality.

Ranging in price from around £250 - £500, the collection utilises calf hair, graphic leopard prints and a distinctly minimalist aesthetic to create a seriously covetable, beautifully designed line.

Spring Break

So I took a short blogging hiatus. During this break, a hell of a lot happened actually, the biggest thing being that I put a deposit down for a new house with some friends from uni. The first proper house we looked at, as opposed to flats, and we all loved it pretty much as soon as we stepped foot inside. A little terraced house complete with a backyard where we can sit in the sunshine, if the sunshine ever returns to Newcastle obviously, a guest room and period fireplaces. I'm quickly becoming a bit of a geek when it comes to interiors, which is probably pretty evident...

Unlike the others, it had a really 'homey' feel, something which meant we could actually see ourselves living in it as opposed to having to sit on garden furniture in the living room (yes, this was actually a feature in some of the others I saw)...

The next morning we were told we beat numerous others to the phone as we placed a deposit down straight away. So happy, I literally can't wait until we move in. Although we have to wait until September, this actually turned out for the best, giving me plenty of time to decide on an interior theme which, contrary to how infinitely lame it sounds, is actually pretty fun.

I've also had more time to paint which I love, despite being pretty critical of my stuff at times. However, I do enjoy it nonethless. 

A fair bit of other stuff has also happened, however this is fast turning into a bit of an indulgent post so I shall quit here. Although I'll try not to leave it so long between posts again, it's been a good break.