The following post is a competition entry:
I received an email a few days ago inviting me to take part in a fun styling competition which is being hosted by MoneySupermarket.com and judged by bloggers Becky, Laetitia, Reena, Danielle and Lily. The challenge involves styling five outfits suitable for the British winter!
The occasions are: Office, Casual, First Date, Outdoor and Party. Each outfit should total less than £200. There are six prizes available, five of £200 (one for each category) and an overall winner - this lucky person will receive £1000 and an iPad! You can check the competition page here for all the details on how to enter.
I had a lot of fun putting my outfits together - as a winter baby I've always preferred winter clothes to summer ones! All of the new pieces I've found online are making me really excited for crunchy autumn leaves and Starbucks red cups!
Dress - New Look (£24.99), Coat - Dorothy Perkins (£69), Bag - Topshop (£36), Shoes - Dorothy Perkins (£35), Tights - New Look (£2.99), Umbrella - Accessorize (£15), Nail Polish - Models Own (£5), Ring - Warehouse (£6), Earrings - Warehouse (£6)
Office outfit total: £199.98
As you might know I'm a teacher, so my work outfits have to be 'professional'. I think this outfit is smart without looking stuffy! Polka dots are my favourite print but they can sometimes look too 'young' - the high neckline and structured shape of the dress help keep it appropriate but the on-trend peplum puts a bit of personality back into it.
The red wedges are an essential for me, at 5ft1 I'm always battling for the height advantage over year 7s! The small heel and platform would take me from the morning meeting to home time without compromising on comfort. Models Own's 'Red Red Wine' is the perfect manicure shade to compliment the wedges! The coat looks perfect for a British winter - nice and cosy for break and lunch duty out on the playground plus it's under £100, bargain! I'd keep my pencil case and stash of emergency chocolate in the Topshop handbag!
I've always loved butterflies and I think the jewellery would calm me every time I felt like I wanted to fly away from a stressful situation! I resent paying out for a decent umbrella but Primark's finest are a false economy - they're cheap for a reason (plus this one is frilly!).
The red wedges are an essential for me, at 5ft1 I'm always battling for the height advantage over year 7s! The small heel and platform would take me from the morning meeting to home time without compromising on comfort. Models Own's 'Red Red Wine' is the perfect manicure shade to compliment the wedges! The coat looks perfect for a British winter - nice and cosy for break and lunch duty out on the playground plus it's under £100, bargain! I'd keep my pencil case and stash of emergency chocolate in the Topshop handbag!
I've always loved butterflies and I think the jewellery would calm me every time I felt like I wanted to fly away from a stressful situation! I resent paying out for a decent umbrella but Primark's finest are a false economy - they're cheap for a reason (plus this one is frilly!).
Dress - Topshop (£30), Shirt - La Redoute (£19.50), Bag - Matalan (£12), Shoes - Office (£56), Tights - New Look (£3.99), Necklace - Oasis (£12), Ring - Astley Clarke (£55), Lipstick - Revlon image credit (£7.99)
Casual outfit total: £196.48
I interpreted the 'casual' look to be what I'd wear to run errands, go shopping or maybe go to the cinema. I chose the pinafore dress as it's cute and comfortable. The pretty peter-pan collar shirt keeps the look fresh and adds a layer for warmth! The polka dots are making a re-appearance, this time in tights form!
The quilted Office pumps are my favourite flats - I've been through two pairs! They're so comfortable and add a little Chanel-style polish to any outfit. The slouchy Mulberry-Alexa-esque satchel bag can be worn over the body to keep my hands free, which is essential when I'm browsing the sales rails or deciding on pick 'n' mix!
I kept the jewellery really simple and classic - all that's left is to add a slick of Revlon's 'Lollipop' Lip Butter and I'm good to go!
The quilted Office pumps are my favourite flats - I've been through two pairs! They're so comfortable and add a little Chanel-style polish to any outfit. The slouchy Mulberry-Alexa-esque satchel bag can be worn over the body to keep my hands free, which is essential when I'm browsing the sales rails or deciding on pick 'n' mix!
I kept the jewellery really simple and classic - all that's left is to add a slick of Revlon's 'Lollipop' Lip Butter and I'm good to go!
Dress - Topshop (£42), Jacket - New Look (£69.99), Shoes - ASOS (£18), Bag - Accessorize (£55), Earrings - Debenhams (£6), Nail Polish - Models Own (£5), Lipgloss - Accessorize (£4)
First Date outfit total: £199.99
If I cast my mind back to April 2005, I can just about remember my first date with my boyfriend. I think it involved something to do with a drunken beach party and shopping trolley races. Seven years later, and we've matured (a little...) - our dates are more likely to involve dinner, dancing and drinks.
Wearing a red dress on a first date could be interpreted as a little bold, but I also think that most men have a 'thing' about women in red dresses! The pearl clutch and cz studs add a little girlyness, which is balanced out by the leather jacket and peep toes. The nails are kept nude and a sheer pink lipgloss won't scare your date out of giving you a goodnight kiss!
Wearing a red dress on a first date could be interpreted as a little bold, but I also think that most men have a 'thing' about women in red dresses! The pearl clutch and cz studs add a little girlyness, which is balanced out by the leather jacket and peep toes. The nails are kept nude and a sheer pink lipgloss won't scare your date out of giving you a goodnight kiss!
Dress - New Look (£24.99), Cardigan - Topshop (£48), T-Shirt - Dorothy Perkins (£8), Belt - Ted Baker (£39), Wellies - New Look (£17.99), Snood - Topshop (£16), Hat - Dorothy Perkins (£8), Gloves - Accessorize (£10), Tights - Topshop (£10), Lipstick - MAC image credit (£16.50)
Outdoor outfit total: £198.48
Playing in the snow or going on long winter walks require lots of warm layers. I started out with the jersey leopard print dress and added a long sleeve t-shirt underneath, a pair of wooly tights and the amazing studded cardi. The glittery wellies are a cute way to avoid wet toes, and they are less than a quarter of the price of the very similar Vivienne Westwood x Melissa boots!
The hat, scarf and gloves are cold weather staples, and because the look involves a lot of black or grey pieces I've added the red glittery belt and MAC's Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Prolong! The long lasting formula will mean the colour lasts throughout any outdoor fun (fingers crossed for snow!).
The hat, scarf and gloves are cold weather staples, and because the look involves a lot of black or grey pieces I've added the red glittery belt and MAC's Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Prolong! The long lasting formula will mean the colour lasts throughout any outdoor fun (fingers crossed for snow!).
Dress - Topshop (£80), Shoes - Office (£65), Bag - American Apparel (£24), Tights - New Look (£2.99), Lipstick - MAC image credit (£14), Ring trio - Dorothy Perkins (£7.50), Ring - Dorothy Perkins (£6.50)
Party outfit total: £199.99
I have been waiting for Topshop to release the black version of this dress for months! It originally came in silver, which was a bit 'too much'. The black version, although still covered in glittering sequins, seems more subtle (ha!). I've kept the dress the main feature here with chunky slingbacks and the simple leather clutch.
An all-black outfit is the perfect opportunity to showcase MAC's Rebel lipstick, which is an amazing pink toned berry shade. A few rings stacked up complete the look!
An all-black outfit is the perfect opportunity to showcase MAC's Rebel lipstick, which is an amazing pink toned berry shade. A few rings stacked up complete the look!
So that's all five looks - the budget for each outfit was £200, and I did my best to get as close as possible! The budget is there to be hypothetically spent, right? There was a fiver left over but I think I did pretty well!
Which Autumn/Winter pieces would you spend £1000 on? Remember to check out the details of the MoneySupermarket.com Passion For Fashion competition here!
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