Christmas Blog Giveaway!
To celebrate Christmas and thank my wonderful Helen’s Wardrobe followers I am holding two giveaways, the first of which starts today! This prize consists of a SS’14 Matalan black leather look handbag, a Next statement metal necklace, a Tiki portable USB microphone, a 50 ml bottle of Vita Liberata organic tanning mouse and a customised black embellished beanie, pictured below. To enter simply follow @HelensWardrobe on Twitter and RT my #giveaway tweets, for those who already follow Helen’s Wardrobe on Twitter you can also enter, simply RT the giveaway tweets. This giveaway is open from Monday 9th December to Sunday 15th December* so get tweeting! Best of luck x
*The winner will be selected at random from all the entrants and notified via Twitter. All decisions are final. The prize will be posted to the winner upon receipt of their address via Royal Mail Signed For Delivery. I can not ensure this will be received before Christmas.
Clandestine Fashion Photography…
Initially published with TYD I wanted to share this amazing shoot with my readers. The original article and photography sees Helen’s Wardrobe delve further into the realms of beautiful abandon…
CLANDESTINE FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY.
Once again I find myself in the middle of nowhere surrounded by forgotten architecture and crumbling memories and once again I have set myself the challenging task of shooting a no budget project in furtive circumstances. But before I explain further let me start from the beginning, to clarify the reason for the situation I find myself in.
The idea of nature reclaiming a once bustling place has always had a personal allure, there is a long list of abandoned places I wish to explore and capture through photography and this artistic obsession recently merged with my love for fashion and styling to form an altogether different beast. Fuelled by this aforementioned passion and a general dislike for the vain repetition of generic fashion blogs, I decided to wage a visual battle against said vanity projects and introduce something with a bit more aesthetic bite and a lot more substance. Clandestine fashion photography to be precise.
To satisfy the need for unorthodox surroundings combined with a total lack of budget has resulted in last-minute ventures across the country to accomplish this notion and to date previous locations for my own blog shoots have included an abandoned theme park, derelict lido and a stately home. To make our ventures a little more challenging there are rules to be followed, unspoken urban exploration rules. Because the idea of “urbex” is nothing new, I’ve just added fashion into the equation, we all agree in unspoken terms to certain criteria. Nothing must be broken to gain access to a location, no criminal damage must take place and leave each location as you found it for other explorers to enjoy. As my own rule I do not share precise locations or how I accessed them, I work hard to research my projects and it’s up to others to do the same.
Illustrating the opinion that fashion is temporary and combining this with the backdrop of an altogether bigger idea of evanescence lands me back where I started, surrounded by woodland and buildings consigned to oblivion. So here I am, with a small team of equally motivated helpers, we clamber, crawl and stumble to discover outre scenery in which to parade my chosen outfits. Working against the threat of being discovered at any time the photos take on a certain natural charm, we have no time for additional lighting or reflectors, what you see is what you get. I have to capture as many shots as possible before being asked to leave otherwise the whole day and prior preparation is wasted. So not only do we have to be collectively organised and on the ball we have to be spirited and steadfast to the project.
The result of all this is something different, almost poetic, a dreamlike scene of dereliction explored to reveal the beauty in abandon. As nature reclaims the former public buildings our imaginative minds experience the reverie of this other-worldly location, after this everything else seems so ordinary. So this is it, clandestine photography is not only a way of challenging the unimaginative, it has also become an artistic sweet tooth, I wonder where I will end up next? For now let us capture the vision through haunting retrospect and inspire with style, as I give to you my latest example of clandestine photography…
Georgina’s Outfit: Black Jacket, Musto. Black Skinny Jeans, Levi’s Curve ID. Boots, Read or Dead. Leather Gloves, AllSaints.
Adam’s Outfit: Black Jacket, Musto. Black Skinny Jeans, Levi’s. Biker Boots, Vintage. Rings, Model’s Own.
Photography, Styling and Concept, Helen S Stanley. Creative Associate, Jessica Speller. Models, Georgina Goodman and Adam Speller. With special thanks to Musto.
Matalan SS’14, a Press Event Full of Surprises…
After deciding to launch a fashion and lifestyle magazine, Silk & Sins, in January of next year, Jessica and myself figured we really should attend some of these press events we keep getting invited too. Which is tricky when we literally have no spare time, however our collective decision to attend the Matalan SS’14 press event proved to be a good one. With ideas for shoots, features and articles swirling around in our heads this event helped to clarify some plans, one of which being Matalan will no doubt be featuring in Silk & Sins. When styling shoots and features I like to mix high street, vintage and designer together to establish an inspiring aesthetic balance, as well as this I also look at the product first and the origin of the design second. The combination of these preferences ensue style and creativity come first, resulting in an astute visual exposition. So, all this waffling does have a point, we were extremely surprised and impressed by the men’s and women’s products that Matalan have to offer for SS’14. With complementary colour palettes, strong classic silhouettes and charismatic prints the collections lit up the space and really inspired some great ideas for shoots. We were spoiled for choice. Whatever your preconceptions for Matalan may or may not be, I urge you to open up to brands like this, not only do they have on trend collections at very affordable prices, it’s a great way to update your existing wardrobes with key pieces. So keep your eyes open for Matalan SS’14, you’ll be very pleasantly surprised…
All photography by Helen S Stanley, featuring Jessica Speller.
Save The Children’s Christmas Jumper Day
Save the Children has taken its annual Christmas Jumper Day to a new fashion high with the support of the British Fashion Council to create bespoke designer jumpers to be auctioned – with a difference – in aid of Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 13th December. Fourteen designers have each customised a jumper to go on display at the Village at Westfield London in a stunning installation designed by artist Stuart Semple. The unique Christmas jumpers have been designed and hand-knitted by fashion brand Wool and the Gang and their British Gang of knitters here in the UK before being customised by each designer.
The jumpers will go on display at Westfield London and festive fans will be able to bid for the jumpers from 28 November – 28 December 2013 by simply paying £1.50 and texting the name of the designer and their minimum bid to 78484. This is an auction with a twist because the lowest unique bid that only one person makes wins. For more information visit www.christmasjumperday.org/designerchristmasjumpers Here is a selection of the designs on offer…
Jumper 1, Alexander McQueen. Jumper 2, Paul Smith. Jumper 3, Burberry. Jumper 4, Wool and the Gang. Jumper 5, Vivienne Westwood. Jumper 6, Mary Katrantzou. Jumper 7, David Koma. Jumper 8, Giles Deacon.
These Christmas jumpers support Save the Children’s 2013 Christmas Jumper Day campaign.
All photographs and information courtesy of Save The Children.
Be The Flame, Not The Moth…
Casanova said, “Be the flame, not the moth” and this inspired us to pull on our boots, explore the horizon and find beauty in an old abandoned church. Disciplined styling sees photographic moth prints combined with black and silver tones for a uniformity amongst the wilderness. Loving fashion but not taking it all too seriously is the key, so we enjoy a liberal sprinkling of high street, designer and vintage for two strong looks for both men and women. Autumn trends never looked so good, go forth and revel, there’s still so much to see…
Leigh’s Outfit: Moth Print Leggings £30, Abandon Ship Apparel. Cherry Red Dr. Martens £100, Dr. Martens. Silver Clutch Bag £19.99 & Cross Pendant £9.99, Loulebelle. Silver Skull Ring from £160, The Great Frog. Black Beanie £4, Sheer Black Shirt £12, Matalan (gold details removed by stylist).
Dan (Jack)’s Outfit: Black Oxford Shirt £45, Abandon Ship Apparel. Moth Print Sweat Pants £45, Abandon Ship Apparel. Silver Cashmere Chanel Scarf (Previous Season), Similar Available at Chanel. Black Dr. Martens, Vintage. Tom Ford Glasses, Stylists Own. Watch & Bracelet, Models Own.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Photography & Styling, Helen S Stanley. Creative Assistance & Location, Jessica Speller & Adam Speller. Models, Leigh Rees Reynolds & Dan (Jack) Atkins.
Special thank you to Abandon Ship Apparel.
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Bloggers Gift Guide…
As promised I’m working on lots of lovely gift guides for all my wonderful readers and as some of you are also fashion bloggers I thought this would be an area of interest. So today I have chosen the perfect selection for a fashion bloggers gift guide, perfect for work rest and play in style. So get your wish lists at the ready because you’re going to want all of these gorgeous things!..
Night: Carvela Open Toe Shoe Boots, £112.50. Olympus Pen E-P5 Camera, £999. Whistles Jacquard Leopard Print Skater Skirt, £135. Whistles Pink Evening Bag, £75. Pink Cord & Gold Vermeil Astley Clarke Friendship Bracelet, £65. Collection by John Lewis Statement Jewelled Earrings, £12. Jean Paul Gaultier Classic Eau de Toilette, £44.10 – £60.74.
Day: Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Display, £1,499.00. Purple WeSC Headphones, £29.95. UGG Boots, £225. Allegra London Cashmere Dip Dye Scarf, £99. Nails Inc. Gift Set, £14.40.
…and relax: Slipper Boots, £25. Vagabond Faux Fur Hot Water Bottle, £28. Green and Co. Country Lavender Scented Candle, £14. Large Gingerbread Man, £5. Fat Face Bobble Bed Socks, £16.
All products from John Lewis, prices correct at time of publication.
Pom Pom Love…
With Christmas coming up we really don’t need any excuse to add glitz and glamour to our wardrobes and when this particular glamour comes in the form of pink fur poms poms who can possibly say no? Whether you want to style up some of your existing footwear or treat someone you love for Christmas, make sure you check out Cleo B for beautiful designer footwear and fun accessories. As part of their collection they offer amazing shoe clips to add to your paws and these pink fur pom poms are my favourite. They work on so many different styles of shoes and are perfect to channel a little nod to the AW’13 pink trend. So to show you lovely lot here’s my version of pom pom love… 
Cleo B fur pom poms range in price from £30 – £60.
Christmas Gift Guides…
It’s started, in fact it seems to have started in mid October. Yes I’m talking about Christmas preparation. I always create gift guides with a difference for those who like something stylish and unusual and this year is no different. In fact I’m going to create more this time. So here’s the first one, a little taster of what’s to come. Enjoy getting excited and inspired about Christmas…
Etched Glass Jar £10, Matalan. Silver Leather Dog Lead £130, Ware of The Dog. Elaphe & Leather Gloves £295, Burberry. Metallic Leather Cosmetic Case £265, Alexander McQueen at Harvey Nichols. Rockstud Sunglasses £396, Valentino. Ceramic Vintage Dolls Head £15, Rockett St George. Skull Friendship Bracelet £140, Links of London at Beaverbrooks. Skull Print Scarf £165, Alexander McQueen. Carved Skull by Josh Harker £160, Rockett St George. Antique Book Paper Print £9.95, Rockett St George.
All Prices correct at time of publication.
Selfie Style…
As you will have seen from all the generic fashion blogs out there people love to take pictures of themselves, and when taken on mobiles we’re calling them “selfies”. Generally if I’m featured on my own blog it’s because I either can’t afford a model, or the location in which I’m shooting isn’t appropriate to take a model, (those who have seen my shoot Where The Wild Things Are and my article for TYD on Clandestine Fashion Photography will understand this). So it’s not my favourite thing to do because Helen’s Wardrobe is a fashion blog, not a personal style blog, the difference being I write about fashion for the most part and not so much about myself. There is also a notable absence of weird soft porn, pouting faces and dip-dyed hair. So because this week I’m without a model I have created a series of selfies with style, as always photographed and styled by myself. Enjoy my selfies and why not send Helen’s Wardrobe some of your own?…
Coated Black Skinny Jeans, £95 G-Star at Sojeans. Customised Harley Davidson Tee, Vintage from the Laines in Brighton. Fur Stole, Vintage from eBay. Boots, (previous season) River Island. Skull Ring £160, The Great Frog. Skull Necklace, Anna Lou of London (courtesy of the Cosmo Blog Awards goodie bag!), Long Skull & Crossbones Pendant, £80 The Great Frog (Charms, Vintage & Chain, Camden Market). Skull Bracelet, £7.95 Loulebelle. Tweed Flower crown and Polaroid, stylists own.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Styling, concept & photography Helen S Stanley.
Sojeans Private Sale!
Just a quick heads up that Sojeans are having a private sale with up to 70% off and it’s my duty to share this opportunity for amazing deals with Helen’s Wardrobe readers. So sign up and have a gander at their great products, you’ve got until 4th November 2013, so get shopping!…
Please note that this sale is for SoJeans customers only, please log in or create an account to participate.
Aw’13 Trend Breakdown, Check Mate…
A big trend for AW’13 is the check, it was all over the catwalk and many designers featured the check in one form or another. This has quickly filtered down to the high street and many gorgeous outfits can be had by you stylish lot. The best way to explore and translate trends is by highlighting an outfit with a key item reflecting your trend of choice, for example a scarf, a bag, shoes or piece of apparel. By all means wear everything at once but it’s best to dress tastefully with a nod to AW’13 trends rather than get over excited. So here are three outfit ideas to get you inspired by checks, combining flattering silhouettes, classic pieces and texture, as always I have teamed high street with designer and vintage, enjoy…
Outfit One, Rock Star’s Wife: Black Alpaca Blend Knit £540, Rick Owens at Net-a-Porter. Leather Mini Skirt £1’660, Saint Laurent at Net-a-Porter. Leather Knee Length Boots were £160 now £140, Jones Bootmaker. Black Faux-Fur Cossak Hat £35, Dune at House of Fraser. Tartan Shopper Bag £22.99, Pull&Bear at ASOS. Cocktail Ring £234, Mawi.
Outfit Two, Day at Spitalfields: Black Trench Coat £79.99, Zara. Team Jacobs T-Shirt £70, LPD New York at Net-a-Porter. Tiger Check Kilt £355, McQ Alexander McQueen at Harrods. Skull Clutch €79.95, Religion at We Like Fashion. Black Leather Ankle Boots were £99 now £89, Jones Bootmaker. Coral Snood £16, TopShop. Textured Leather Cuff was £35 now £18, ASOS.
Outfit Three, Ganstar’s Paradise: Black Wide Leg Trousers £331, Philosophy Di Alberta Ferretti at Style Bop. White Blouse £29.99, Mango. Black Cape £195, Coast. Snake Print Loafers were £79.99 now £35, Jones Bootmaker. Red Wide Brim Fedora £375, Eugenia Kim at Net-a-Porter. Vintage Black Sunglasses were £5 now £3.75, Rokit. Checked Wool Blend Scarf £436.74, Saint Laurent at Farfetch. Black Python Print Clutch Bag £35, Motel Rocks. 
All prices correct at time of publication.
Shrt Clothing…
Old Fashioned Style with a Personalised Twist…
I was very kindly sent a personalised necklace from My Name Necklace, however, I didn’t want my name, I wanted ‘Pirate’, which I got. I love my pirate necklace, it’s my new favourite and I’ve been wearing it with pretty much everything. Today I styled it in a land girl meets skinny jeans and vintage Gucci look, with added pirate. The great thing about personalised jewellery is that you can style it however you want, adding a unique element to your wardrobe. So here’s my take on a name necklace, surrounded by some old fashioned loveliness and my very own Helen’s Wardrobe style…
Sterling Silver “Carrie” Style Name Necklace was £32 now £27.90, My Name Necklace. Head Scarf & Gucci Bag, Vintage. Striped Top £15.99, Zara. Skinny Jeans £80, Levis Curve ID. Boots £250, Timberland Boot Co (previous season). Skull Ring £160, The Great Frog.
All prices correct at time of publication. Styling Helen S Stanley, photography Stephen Turner.
Halloween Costume Ideas…
My favourite holiday is here again and as per usual I feel it is my duty to advise on Halloween costume ideas. Whether you are going to go the whole hog and dress in full costume or just channel a stylistic nod to All Hallows’ Eve, I have some great looks for you. The good thing about these costume ideas is that when you divide the pieces up, they can be worn again with other items. Perfect! Enjoy Halloween and get inspired by these spooky style marvels…
Outfit One, Subtle Spookiness: Skeleton Long Sleeve Top £14.99, New Look. Metallic Coated Low-Rise Skinny Jeans were £275 now £110, The Outnet. Red Scarf £30, Coast. Black Crepe Blazer £59.99, Mango. Fang Clutch Bag £995, Charlotte Olympia at Net-a-Porter. Black Stiletto Boots £98, TopShop. Skeleton Hand Ring £98, The Great Frog. 
Outfit Two, Full Blown Style Bedlam as a Super Savvy Corpse Bride (perfect for all shapes and sizes): Black Embroidered Corset £27, Corsets UK (exposed ribs painted on). Black Flower Crown $5.80, Forever 21. Black Tulle Skirt x 2 for volume £5.84 each, eBay. Skeleton Shoes $33.57, Amazon. Bouquet $9.99, Spirit. Skeleton Glove (part of set) £2.99, Fancy Dress Ball. Spider Earrings £70, Botica. 
Outfit Three, Vampy Style You Can Certainly Wear Again: Black Maxi Skirt £125, Coast. Lace Long Sleeve Top £60, Coast. Vampire Fangs £13.99, Escapade. Spike Shoes were £130 now £60, Jeffrey Campbell. Bat Necklace £952.39, Feverish at Farfetch. Bat Hair Clip £5.08, Etsy. 
All prices correct at time of publication.
Get Those Pins Out In Style…
It might be Autumn here in the UK but that doesn’t mean your precious pins should be hidden away from the daylight. Whether you layer up or adorn some tights there is always an opportunity to show a little leg. So to give you some examples of ways in which you can tastefully expose yourselves I have put together three outfits, each of which cost less than £150 per look. Whether you want some wardrobe inspiration for day, night or the office, I’ve got it covered. Style it up ladies…
DAY: Take a New Look Day Dress & Style it Up from Sunrise to Sunset, Daisy Print Skater Dress, £24. Boyfriend Cardigan £19.99. Black Leather Biker Boots £64.99. Quilted Bag £22.99. Pink Mohair Bobble Hat £7.99. Fox Head Ring £3.99. All from New Look. 
NIGHT: Maximise Your Style With a Sexy New Look Maxi Dress For After Hours Glamour, Purple Side Split Maxi Dress £19.99. Black Leather Biker Jacket £59.99. Black Platform Court Shoes, £24.99. Cat Face Clutch, £9.99. Silver Grunge Spike Necklace £17.99. All from New Look.
WORK: Let’s Spice Up Your Work Wear With Leopard Print Adorned Pins (Skirts Are Massive for AW13), Leopard Print Skirt £14.99. Burgundy Tie Neck Blouse £17.99. Black Faux Fur Black Coat £49.99. Grey Multi Buckle Court Shoes £22.99. Grey Bowler Bag £24.99. Chunky Gold Ring £3.99. All from New Look. 
All prices correct at time of publication.
Independent Boutique Loulebelle…
After recently moving to Hertford and seeing so many beautiful but empty shops in the town it really emphasised how important it is to support our high streets and local independents. Established in 2011 Loulebelle in Old Cross Hertford is a treasure trove for fashion, gifts and home decor. A welcoming boutique with a personal approach to customer service and competitive prices. The eclectic mix of products and an inspirational atmosphere makes Loulebelle a truly wonderful, independent retailer and I wanted to celebrate this on Helen’s Wardrobe. The best way to experience Loulebelle is to come to Hertford and visit the boutique for yourselves and to tempt you I have taken a few photos of some of the lovely products Louisa has on offer. So show your support and visit Loulebelle at 19 Old Cross, Hertford, SG14 RE…
Black Jacket £69.95, Skirt £34.99, Top Underneath (part of ensemble) £37.99, Bag £30, Necklace £13.99. Statement Necklace £13.99. Crystal Necklace £19.99. Cuff £9.99. Spike Necklace £18. Clothes Rail Pieces prices vary. Cross Bracelets £4.50 each. Layered Top with Scarf £34.99, Necklace £24.99. Jumpers £29.99 each. Silver Necklace £25.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Get Ready for Winter in Style…
Although the UK weather has been very mild it’s set to turn cold and we need to get ready. I hate the cold, I hate it! So something good has to come of this horrible time of year in the form of magnificent outfits. Obviously it’s my duty to provide my readers with style ideas so nobody ends up looking like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, so here are three looks for you to ponder with high street, designer and vintage pieces, enjoy…
Colour, texture, florals, volume, faux-fur, a hint of grunge & lots of layers. I’m calling this “thrown together chic”: Yellow Chunky Cable Knit Scarf £135, Marc by Marc Jacobs at Liberty. Floral Jersey Dress £30, Oasis at Debenhams. Oversized Knitted Beanie £20, Free People. Wool Wrap Around Coat £89.99, Zara. Multicoloured Faux-Fur Bag £35, ASOS. Black Biker Boot £42, Emilio Luca X at Brantano. Leather Bracelet £170, Saint Laurent. 
Imagine a modern-day Jackie O wearing wellies and channeling a gorgeous houndstooth check: Oversized Sunglasses £257.01, Tom Ford at Saks Fifth Avenue. White Faux-Fur Hat £20, House of Fraser. Pearl Studs £15, Debenhams. Houndstooth Jacket £79.99, Zara. Black Roll Neck Jumper £12.99, New Look. Black Skinny Jeans £9.99, New Look. Black Quilted Buckle Wellington Boot £24, Brantano. Expandable Leather Tote £330, Karl Lagerfeld at Net-a-Porter.
Incorporating checks and faux-fur for an AW trend friendly, rock ‘n’ roll, snuggly outfit: Aviators were £195 now £97.50, Gucci at The Outnet. Vintage Harley Davidson T-Shirt (with sleeves cut off) £15, Rokit. Red Check Kilt £50, TopShop. Rosebud Dagger Necklace £170, Pamela Love at Net-a-Porter. 3 in 1 Parka with Faux Fur £100, River Island. Snow Boots £30, Osaga at Brantano. Faux Fur Shoulder Bag was £600 now £270, Stella McCartney at The Outnet. 
All prices correct at time of publication.
Colour Statements with Subtle Style…
There are lots of ways to add colour to your look and a particularly useful way of doing this is with a diary. Regardless of whether you have an iPad, a Smart phone, a laptop etc it’s still great to have something tactile and tasteful like a quality diary. Even with all my electronic wizardry I still have to keep a diary otherwise nothing would get done. A diary is going to last a whole year, it will be taken everywhere and will generally get knocked about so I would always recommend investing in a quality design. Not only will quality last you, it looks a lot better rocking up to a meeting with a leather-bound lovely instead of a dog-eared plastic number. True style is subtle, and what better way to channel that style than with one of Smythson’s 2014 Diaries? Here are some of my favourites to think about for next year as well as superb choices for gorgeous gifts…
Purple Lambskin Portobello Diary £180, Blue Calf Leather Soho Diary £260, Yellow Lambskin Fashion Diary £140, Emerald Lambskin Mayfair Diary £155, Fuchsia Lambskin Panama Diary £55, Orange Lizard Skin Panama Diary with Gilded Pencil £295.
Prices correct at time of publication. Please note: sizes not to scale or relative, for accurate measurements please click on the description links.
Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2013
After being shortlisted for Best Established Fashion Blog at the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards the day finally came to attend the awards. Taking place in the Oxo Tower we were treated to a beautiful view, lots of drinks, male models, nibbles and lovely people. I was lucky enough to bump into Angela from Honey Pop, Andini Ria from Advertures of an Anglophile, Ella from Hello Ella xo and Kim from Lunacy of Ink which was great fun and we all supported each other through the nerve racking evening. I decided to wear a Matthew Williamson dress with Kurt Gieger heels, a Marni bag and vintage jewellery, staying true to my style preference of mixing high street, designer and vintage for a good aesthetic balance. My hair remained purple courtesy of Chantelle at Dead Swanky (thank you!) and my nails were black metallic courtesy of my creative associate Jessica (thank you!) I had super smokey eyes, with big black lashes and drove there in our Land Rover Defender which the girls have dubbed “The Wagon”, I’m pretty sure I was the only Defender driving, purple haired, big lashed, XFM listening, fashionista around, I like to mix it up. So, the time came for the announcements and unfortunately I didn’t win, boooooo! However I did get a special mention from the editor of Cosmo for “styling and photographing my own shoots and thinking like a fashion editor”. I’m not going to lie, I was disappointed, I put a lot of thought into this blog, I help people with style issues, I interview up and coming designers, I create mood boards to help my readers interpret trends, I break down those trends into outfit builds and I travel halfway across the country to shoot interesting and unique features. I mean who else drives five hours to find an abandoned theme park, gets injured by barbed wire and chased by security to shoot imagery for their blog?! At this point I have to mention that I do not encourage this kind of behaviour 
Anyway, it was a great honour to be shortlisted out of 42 thousand entries, that’s quite an achievement. Thank you to everyone who voted to nominate me and then again to win, I really appreciate it. Enjoy the pictures…
A huge thank you to Cosmopolitan UK for a wonderful night and this fantastic goodie bag and Clym Evernden for my amazing illustration!!! x
All The Fun of The Fair…
Sometimes we just want to throw together an outfit, not over think it, then go and have fun. Perfect for these occasions is the humble t-shirt, teamed with skinny jeans for a more flattering silhouette and a cardigan or leather jacket for a good contrast and warmth. Band t-shirts are a great way to show personality and limited edition designs are equally great to style with. I was lucky enough to come across Shrt Clothing, a fantastic company who design limited runs of designs which are numbered so each one is unique. As a fan of photographic prints and the sea, the Beach Tee is the star of this shoot, bringing out my inner pirate! So without further a do, I give you some relaxed styling and fairground fun…
Helen’s Outfit: Ltd Edition Beach Print T-Shirt £25, Shrt Clothing. Skinny Jeans £80, Levis Curve ID. Leather Biker Jacket £165, TopShop Boutique previous season. White Leather Pumps £54.99, Converse at Office. Aviator Sunglasses £135, Ray Ban. Skull Ring £160, The Great Frog. Hair Colour Courtesy of Dead Swanky.
Jessica’s Outfit: Vintage Johnny Cash T-Shirt, Jessica’s Own. Skinny Jeans, Sunglasses & Cardigan, Primark. Hair Colour Courtesy of Dead Swanky.
Photography & Art Direction © Helen S Stanley (Photography with me in Jessica).
Don’t Censor My Style…
In a world where political correctness has gone mad it’s important to retain your own opinion and not dilute your honesty. Therefore I have created a visual analogy to embody this idea, I know I’m a nerd, but it’s a great style angle! Personal style is a fantastic way to express your personality, I don’t mean by sticking coloured triangles over your eyes to look “different” (yes I have seen this at LFW) I mean by dressing for who you are. I love graphic tees, band tees, slogan tees, they’re an easy way to inject some identity into your wardrobe. Aged 12, on a school trip, I walked around wearing a t-shirt with a massive marijuana leaf on it, my Mum had bought it for me because she thought it was a fern. True story. (Please note: I do not encourage marijuana use, I’m merely recalling a story from my youth. I do not smoke marijuana, if I tried to smoke it now I would fall down where I stand). You can tell a lot about a person by what they wear so think about that next time you are about to put on that beige ensemble. Get some style personality and push some boundaries by mixing high street, designer and vintage…
Outfit One, Royalist Charm: God Save The Queen Kate Moss Tee €35, Destroy Pop. Ripped Jeans £295, Style Bop. Camouflage Shoes $55, Yoox. Wide Brim Fedora £85, Flannels. Jean Paul Gaultier Vintage Cropped Biker Jacket, £890, Farfetch. Cross Charm Bracelet £313, L’inde Paris. Religion Union Jack Clutch was £48 now £19.60, ASOS.
Outfit Two, Boobalicious Colour Splash: Boob Print Tee, Vivienne Westwood previous season, available on eBay (prices vary). Coral Tulip Skirt £25.99, Zara. Lime Shoes £69.95, Nelly. Jade Capri Cats-Eye Sunglasses £270, Avenue 32. Navy Blazer £79.99, Zara. Mermaid Necklace $44, Humble Chic. White Leather Clutch Bag £79.99, Zara.
Outfit Three, F*ck Designer Logos: F*ck Chanel Crop Top £14, Rings & Tings. Leopard Print Pencil Skirt £20, River Island. Gold Platforms £50, Office. Yves Salomon Black Fur Coat £1189.53, Farfetch. Painted Clutch £295, Lulu Guinness. Vintage Christian Lacroix Glasses £100, Rokit. 
All prices correct at time of publication.
Born To Walk Tall Bid Boutique Auction…
Save the Children is training thousands of health workers to bring life-saving medical care to families in the world’s poorest countries. One health worker can reach up to 5,000 children a year, treating disease and teaching mothers how to keep their children healthy. To raise money for this incredibly worthy cause Bid Boutique are holding an online eBay auction with some fantastic shoes designed by celebrities Tamsin Egerton, Hayley Atwell, Helena Bonham Carter, Mollie King, Erin O’Connor and Kimberly Wyatt. These celebs have taken inspiration from their childhood dreams and memories to design a pair of shoes they’d love to walk tall in for the Bid Boutique Auction. The result is a stunning collection of elegant and imaginative designs that offer a unique insight into the mind of each designer. The shoes will be auctioned off through the Bid Boutique online eBay auction and the six winners will be able to own a pair of beautiful shoes, lovingly hand-crafted in their size by luxury made-to-order shoe label Upper Street. The auction will be open between Thursday 26th September and Sunday 5th October 2013 at www.savethechildren.org.uk/bidboutique. So why not get involved, support this wonderful cause and invest in some beautiful, unique shoes? You can also follow #WalkTall on Twitter to get the latest updates. So what are you waiting for? Bid shoes lovers, bid! 
Design One, by Hayley Atwell. Design Two, by Erin O’Connor. Design Three, by Helena Bonham Carter. Design Four, by Kimberly Wyatt. Design Five, by Tasmin Egerton. Design Six, by Mollie King all for Bid Boutique 2013.
All photography and illustrations courtesy of Save The Children.
The Earth Laughs In Flowers…
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The earth laughs in flowers” and as a key trend for AW’13 florals influence my latest shoot for Helen’s Wardrobe. Welcoming Fall with florals in jewel tones, lots of texture and A Midsummer Night’s Dream inspired hair, we have a quixotic vision perfect for individual style and diacritic flair. Enjoy and be inspired to incorporate the AW’13 floral into your wardrobe…
Jessica Wears: Sheer Floral Shirt £26, Neon Rose. Black Skinny Jeans £12.50, Primark. Suede Boots, (past season) Cleo B. Necklace £13.99, Loulebelle. Ring £12.99, Loulebelle. Hair Colour, Dead Swanky. Styling Products, GHD Style & Protect. Adam Wears: Floral Shirt, Vintage. Black Skinny Jeans £30, Topman. Dingo Boots, (past season, similar available) Country Outfitters. Helen Wears: Fluffy Striped Jumper £28, Neon Rose. Tulle Skirt, Vintage. Shoes (past season) Kurt Geiger. Flower Ring £7.99, Loulebelle. Skull Ring £160, The Great Frog. Hair Colour, Dead Swanky. Styling Products, GHD Style & Protect.
Photography & art direction © Helen S Stanley. Photography (with me in) & Location Jessica & Adam Speller. All prices correct at time of publication.
Interview with Designer of Infatue Clothing, Lil Fresh Sam…
Today Helen’s Wardrobe talks to Lil Fresh Sam aka Samantha Aragon of Infatue Clothing, to further promote independent design and talent. I love uncovering character and unique ambition in the fashion world and Lil Fresh Sam is a perfect example of this…
HW: Tell us about yourself and Infatue:
SAM: I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado in 1991. I was not always “fresh”, I went from worst dressed kid, to flyest in the Mile High. Realizing my passion in middle school I was always known for my different style. Early 2011 I attended college for a semester and then realized I was determined to make it without this, I saw designing as a talent and believed I had what it took. January 2012 I released my first line of clothing and since then I have been using all my skills, designing, modeling, photographing and styling different people for events and photo shoots. There are no limits when you have a dream and are determined enough to make it reality and I am an example of that. I work to motivate and inspire the youth to not only dream, but make it happen.
Infatue is an upscale urban wear line inspired by high-end design with a twist of street wear. From one of a kind pieces to t-shirts we have a variety of pieces, handmade with love and passion in every stitch. “Inspiring passion through a foolish love”.
HW: What inspired you to become a designer?
SAM: In 2010 after graduating high school I was lost. I knew what I wanted to do with my life but coming from a small city in Colorado I was always told being a Fashion Designer was unrealistic and not to pursue it. I went to college for a semester for Business and dropped out to chase my dream. A year later I had a clothing collection and a release party scheduled.
HW: What/who are your influences?
SAM: What really influences my designs are very intricate details, from the inside of a watch to the architecture of buildings.
HW: What do you find most challenging aspects of the industry?
SAM: I think the most challenging part of the industry is trying to produce exactly what you envision with the limitation of being a new/small business and the costs that come with that.
HW: What is most rewarding about being a designer
SAM: The most rewarding thing I have experienced yet is seeing people fall in love with my pieces as much as I do. Seeing models confidently walking the runway feeling like a million bucks in my designs is motivation.
HW: What’s the next step for you and Infatue?
SAM: The next step for Infatue is becoming a larger company. More store locations and more team members. We plan to be in stores worldwide by next year ■
Instagram: @infatue
Twitter: @infatue
Facebook: facebook.com/infatueclothing
Style at Any Age…
After being inspired and moved by Fabulous Fashionistas, a documentary about six women with an average age of 80, who approach style in an unwavering manner, determined to look fabulous and redefine society’s view of old age, I thought the best way to show my appreciation for such passionate and inspirited women was to blog about it. So I have created two looks intended to work for women of any age, to adorn and celebrate the female form. Style is eternal no matter what age the individual…
Outfit One, Don’t be afraid of colour & print in AW, no matter what age or shape you are: Mary Portas Animal Print Dress was £135 now £15, House of Fraser. Silver Boots £110, Dr. Martens. Jennifer Behr Pink Silk Turban Headband £130, Liberty. Balenciaga Oversized Round-Frame Sunglasses were £226.11 now £90.44, The Outnet. Crystal Cocktail Ring $175, Max & Chloe. Green Leather Tote Bag £80, River Island. 
Outfit Two, Inject sunshine into your wardrobe with warm tones and texture & invest in some black skinny jeans, Levis Curve ID are perfect for all sizes: Mary Portas Oversized White Shirt £49, House of Fraser. Vintage Orange Neck Scarf £6.80, eBay. Mary Portas Gold Tweed Coat w/ Removable Knit Sleeves was £285 now £85, House of Fraser. Black Skinny Jeans £80, LEVIS. Gold Ballet Flats £90, French Sole. Orange Clutch £680, Smythson. Love Ring £6, Fashion Union. 
Stately Style in Animal Print…
Faded grandeur sets the scene for an exploration into animal print for Autumn/Winter, combining floaty silhouettes and subtle prints with vibrant detailing. Black pins balance the texture and pattern, while minimal accessories allow the animal to speak for itself. Reconnoitre this AW trend against the backdrop of a derelict marvel, in true stately style…
Helen’s Outfit: Red & Black Zebra Print Shirt was £70 now £35, Prey of London. Black Skinny Jeans £80, Levis Curve ID. Leather Biker Jacket £185, Top Shop. Snake Print Wedges, ShoeZone. Skull Ring (just seen) £160, The Great Frog.
Jessica’s Outfit: Leopard Print Kimono, made from a vintage kimono pattern by Helen S Stanley. Black Jersey Leggings £12.99, H&M. Biker Boots £250, UGG. Union Jack Clutch Bag, past season, Aspinal. Leopard Print Cats-Eye Sunglasses £145, Stella McCartney. Gold Skinny Belt £1, Primark. Cross Ring £2.50, Primark.
Photography & art direction © Helen S Stanley. Photography (with me in) & Location Jessica Speller. All prices correct at time of publication.
Fabulous Tech Accessories…
With the amount of technology we use on a daily basis there are equally as many accessories to wrap them up, protect them, carry them in and generally adorn them. Tech accessories are a perfect way to add a little designer element to your outfit through diffusion lines, or a pop of colour, some intricate details, or even a little humour. The tech accessory market is also a great arena for gift buying, so what better way to start the week than a montage of lovely, useful, accessories to provide inspiration and ideas for your precious tablets, phones and laptops. Enjoy…
Karl Lagerfeld Embossed Leather iPhone Sleeve was £75 now £22.50 ,The Outnet. Cartoon E-Reader Case was £7.99 now £4, New Look. Moby Headphonies Speaker £19.99, Argos. Striped Tablet Case £9.99, Pull & Bear. Metallic Laptop Case £20, River Island. Skulls iPhone 5 Case $42, Marc by Marc Jacobs. Marc by Marc Jacobs Monogrammed Neoprene iPad Case £50, Harvey Nichols. Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear Headphones £169.99, Selfridges. Kenneth Cole Purple Smartphone Wristlet was £29.33 now £13.88, Macy’s. Pantone iPhone Case €29.95, We Like Fashion. Pink Bow Wow Dog Speaker €21.49. Stingray iPhone 5 Hard Case £14, Top Shop. Frends In-Ear Headphones £85, Harvey Nichols. White Ostrich iPad Case $39.99, Toru. Silver Crystal Hard iPhone Case £4.99, New Look.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Transitional Style with H by Hudson…
It’s that time of year again when the weather is changeable and the styling gets tricky. I find the best way to tackle this fashion limbo is to combine elements of spring/summer with elements of autumn/winter. For example, an SS dress with AW footwear and layers, this approach allows layers to be removed or added and the footwear will always be appropriate. The best way to understand this transitional style idea is to visualise it, so I have chosen two pairs of handsome boots from H By Hudson at Jules B and created transitional outfits which work with them. With London Fashion Week starting today I have styled these looks in a very “London” way with a modern grunge influence, combining personality with practicality and comfort. So let’s get transitional and tackle the start of Fall with true style and attitude…
Outfit One: Peter Pan Collar Blouse £194.99, Printed Skirt £259.95, both Marc by Marc Jacobs. Stripe Cashmere Cardigan £179.95, Duffy NY. Chelsea Boots £159.95, H By Hudson. Oversized Knit Beanie was £24.99 now £16.24, Noahs Ark. Small Leather Shoulder Bag £244, Lulu Guinness. Tortoise Shell Sunglasses £104.99, Spektre.
Outfit Two: Check Dress was £234.99 now £117.50, Marc by Marc Jacobs. Black Biker Jacket £394.99, Jofama. Brown Leather & Suede Boots £149.95, H By Hudson. Black Large Brim Fedora Hat £74.99, Helene Berman. Large Brown Leather Slouch Shopper Bag £234.99, Depeche. Orb Pendant £119.95, Vivienne Westwood.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Beau Ideal Until The End…
Beau Ideal Until The End is a short film directed, filmed and styled by myself and collectively achieved by my usual team of genius and wonder. Beau Ideal Until The End is the story of a girl who dreams about the end of the world. Unsure if this was just a dream or a vision of things to come, she decides to live the next day as if it were her last. In true style. This short film will be screened in the near future and until then here are some teaser shots of this beautiful story…
All outfits are vintage, sourced & altered by Helen S Stanley. Mojito Shoes, Julian Hakes. Gold & Silver Bracelets, Vintage. Skull Ring, The Great Frog. Tea Cup Ring, Tom Binns for Disney Couture.
Photography & Styling © Helen S Stanley. Model Georgina Goodman. Location & Props Jessica Speller. Make-up & Hair Allison Boyd.
AW’13 Trend Breakdown, Pink Style…
After my AW’13 Trend Summary I thought a breakdown of these trends would be helpful and inspiring. So each week I will address one trend at a time and create three lovely outfits for each one. This week I will be looking at pink. A lovely, feminine colour, also a colour which can look ghastly if styled without due care and attention. So let’s combine outfits for day and night in glorious tones of pink.
Outfit One, A Pink Outfit to Take You From Day to Night: Flower Crown £36, Rock ‘N Rose. Printed Silk-Satin Dress was £279 now £145.08, Malene Birger at The Outnet. White Leather Shoulder Bag was £520 now £260, Marni at The Outnet. Lime Wedge Leather Pumps were £480 now £240, McQ Alexander McQueen at The Outnet. Classic White Leather Biker Jacket was £1’517.70 now £758.85 Balenciaga at Tessabit. Friendship Bracelet £140, Links London.
Outfit Two, Night Time Pink Perfection: Silk Playsuit was £395 now £158, Diane von Furstenberg at The Outnet. Grey Fedora $250, Almarelli Hats. Puppy Picture Clutch €57.09, Modekungen. Silver Court Shoes £79, Dune at Debenhams. Spike Bracelet £395, Eddie Borgo at Net-a-Porter. Agate Ring £315, Bottega Veneta at Net-a-Porter.
Outfit Three, Casual Daytime Pink: Pink Unicorn T-Shirt £23, Crown Love. Cropped Boyfriend High-Rise Jeans £260, Current Elliot at Selfridges. Pink Ballet Flats £120, French Sole. Green Ice Pop Wayfers £130, Ray Ban at Selfridges. Pink Orb Studs £50, Vivienne Westwood at Selfridges. Buckle Tote £590, Sophie Hulme at Selfridges. 
All prices correct at time of publication.
Work Wear Doesn’t Mean a Cheap Suit…
In the past I have created features to advise my readers on appropriate yet stylish work wear. I have seen too many polyester suit-trainer combos in my time to ignore these crimes against style. It’s not just about the way you look at work, it’s important to express your personality through your outfits whilst being comfortable. Depending on what sector you work in will dictate your attire, but “smart” shouldn’t mean dull. I continue to find myself seeing dreadful things all over the place and therefore I feel the need to create another feature to help. As we are coming into AW let’s have a look at some work wear outfits to inspire you and improve my view…
Aspire to Outfit One, Feminine Tones and Soft Silhouettes: Leather & Ponte Jacket £730, Helmut Lang at Net-A-Porter. Silk Chiffon Trimmed Jersey T-Shirt £140, CLU at Net-a-Porter. White Crepe Tuxedo Pants £220, Band of Outsiders at Net-a-Porter. Cutout Leather Ankle Boots £590, Gianvito Rossi at Net-a-Porter. Leather Tote Bag £960, Michael Kors. Pink Neoprene Tablet Case £50, Marc by Marc Jacobs at Harvey Nichols.
Go Without Frappes for a Few Weeks for Outfit Two, Bold Prints with Rich Jewel Tones and Lots of Texture: Printed Camouflage Dress £45.99, Zara. Black Coated Skinny Jeans £34.99, Mango. Red Ballerina Flats £110, Kurt Geiger. Glasses £146, Tom Ford at Smart Buy Glasses. Snake Emboss iPad Clutch was £40 now £25, Kurt Geiger. Shark Tooth Bracelet £335, Givenchy at Harvey Nichols. Large Clear Tote Bag $22.99, Amazon. Rouge Noir Lipstick, Chanel. 
Splash the Pennies on Outfit Three, Channel the Animal Print Trend and Mix It With Tartan for Personality in Your Work Wear: Dark Blue Animal Print Skater Skirt £17.99, New Look. White Boxy Shirt £26, River Island. Bow Tie Created Using a Black Silk Scarf. Black Lace Up Heels £40, Next. Leather & Tartan Satchel £115, Cambridge Satchel Company Exclusive to ASOS. Huntsman Walking Umbrella £20, Fulton at Selfridges. Red Watch £9.99, New Look. 
All prices correct at time of publication.
Where The Wild Things Are…
The dreamlike scene of a derelict theme park, explored in biker boots and Dr. Martens to see for ourselves the beauty in abandon. As nature reclaims the former amusements and rides, our imaginative minds experience the reverie of this otherworldly location. After this everything else seems so ordinary. Let us capture the vision and inspire with style: Where The Wild Things Are…
The style for this shoot is inspired by 90′s grunge with AW’13 trends. Combining the different textures of denim, cotton and wool with oversized silhouettes. Patterns and prints collide in this “thrown together” look. Flowers with plaid and camouflage, polka dots with denim and checks. The perfect attire for such a dreamy adventure.
Helen’s Outfit: Men’s Checked Overshirt, Smartwool (Previous Season) similar available from Farah £79. Denim Jacket $198, True Religion. Polka Dot Dress, H&M (Previous Season) Similar Available from ASOS. Cherry Red Dr. Martens Boots £100, Dr. Martens. Tweed Flower Crown, Created by Stylist. Skull & Cross Bones Pendant £80 (Worn with Vintage Charms) The Great Frog. Las Vegas Necklace £ 25, Plastic Bat. Skull Ring £160, The Great Frog.
Jessica’s Outfit: Men’s US Army Shirt (Price per Kilo) Seek & Revive. Denim Waistcoat $178, True Religion. Checked Men’s Shirt $165, Jack Spade. Floral Dress, Vintage. Biker Boots £250, UGG. Claw & CND Pendant, Stylist’s Own. Heart Necklace £6, Plastic Bat. Wool Beanie, Stylist’s Own.
Photography Helen S Stanley. (Photography with me in were taken by Jessica Speller!) Styling & Concept Helen S Stanley. “Models” Jessica Speller & Helen Stanley.
Accessories for the AW’13 Trends…
To follow on from my AW’13 Trend Summary I thought it would be a good idea to translate these trends into an accessory guide. Accessories are a great way to dip into trends without going overboard, some people like head to toe animal print, others don’t. It’s all about balance and personal style, it’s also essential to remember fashion should be fun and accessories are a great way to have fun with style. I constantly rant on about mixing high street, designer and vintage and accessories are a key way to achieve this. High street outfit + vintage bag, vintage jewellery + designer shoes = stylistic aesthetic balance. Easy. So here is my pick of the best accessories for AW’13. Happy shopping….
The Trend, Pink: The beauty of this trend is that pink shades and tones differ so enormously that it can suit any style. I’m not a “pink” person but I love rose hues and dusky pinks. This is an ideal trend to channel through handbags, shoes and scarves. Rockstud Leather Trapeze Bag £1’950, Valentino at Net-a-Porter. Cashmere & Silk-Blend Scarf £155, Chan Luu at Net-a-Porter. Crystal Nirvana Ring £109, Swarovski. Sunglasses £168, Wildfox at Harvey Nichols. Pink Striped Beanie Hat £9.95, O’Neill at Village Hats. Rose Peach Crystal Bolster Bracelet £199, Swarovski. Pink & White Striped Cotton Loafers £110, Charles Philip Shanghai at Harvey Nichols. Flower Crown £125, Eugenia Kim at Net-a-Porter. Pink Platforms £60, TopShop.
The Trend, Feathers: Floaty and feminine or dark and sultry, feathers can add something really special to an outfit and if it’s not feathery attire you’re after then accessories are the ideal way to take this trend on. Feather Trimmed Hat £315, Eugenia Kim at Net-a-Porter. Feather Bow Hair Clip £8, River Island. Feather Headpiece £18, River Island. Flamingo Feather Bracelet £32, Boticca. Feather Print Pouch £43.53, Samudra at Shop Bop. Feather Earrings £10, Warehouse. Feather Print Dress Slippers were £215 now £95, Avec Modération at Browns. Feather Shoes $94.99, Mojo Moxy at Heels.com. Feather & Leather Medicine Bag £591.90, Stand & Deliver at Far Fetch. 
The Trend, Checks: Grunge, Bond Street or High Street, checks work for everyone. I’m not talking lumberjack, more country meets city chic. Anything goes with checks, mixing checks is my favourite way to style this trend, with lots of layers and personality. Check Scarf £65, Swildens at Far Fetch. Mondrian Cat-Eye Sunglasses £365, Cutler and Gross at Avenue 32. Check Bangle $58, C Wonder. Check iPad Case £30, Marc by Marc Jacobs at Bernard Boutique. Check Travel Tote £169.46, Michael Kors at Nordstrom. Houndstooth Turban £58, Electronic Sheep at Boticca. Checked Shoes Boots £449, Daniele Michetti at My Wardrobe. Checked Rain Boot £292, Burberry at Far Fetch.
The Trend, Animal Print: Some find this trend a little tricky, but there is no need to be scared of animal print, it can be just as subtle as it can be bold. Accessories are a fantastic introduction to this trend, so be brave and embrace your inner animal style. Animal Print Clutch Bag £300, Jérôme Dreyfuss at Net-a-Porter. Animal Print Cuff £6.99, New Look. Leopard Print Cashmere Blend Scarf £99, Lily and Lionel at My Wardrobe. Animal Print Necklace £6.99, New Look. Embellished Leopard Print Collar £175, Roarke at Harvey Nichols. Animal Print Heels £22.99, New Look. Zebra Print & Python Boots £1’195, Christian Louboutin at Net-a-Porter. Animal Print Cocktail Ring $66, Emitations. Zebra Print Sunglasses £9.99, Pull & Bear.
The Trend, Floral: A lovely trend, an easy trend. Flowers come in all colours and all shapes and sizes, just like us, so florals are the perfect trend for everyone! Floral Sunglasses £85, Irregular Choice. Vintage Gold Tone Flower Brooch £11.25, Rokit. Floral iPad Case £230, Dolce & Gabbana at Net-a-Porter. Floral Shoes £89.99, Irregular Choice. Floral Boots £89.99, Irregular Choice. Floral Silk Chiffon Scarf £190, McQ Alexander McQueen at Harvey Nichols. Floral Headband £75, Louis Mariette at Harvey Nichols. Blossom Print Leather Clutch £388, Mary Katrantzou at Matches Fashion. Floral Baseball Cap £15, River Island.
All prices correct at time of publication.
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Inspired By Tim Burton…
This week my Inspired By post is creatively inspirited by Tim Burton, specifically Beetlejuice. I have long been a Tim Burton fan and Beetlejuice was the first Burton film I ever saw. As with many directors, Tim Burton has an established team who work alongside him to maintain consistency and help to develop his overall definitive aesthetic. Colleen Atwood, an incredible costume designer, has worked on most if not all of Tim Burton’s films, she’s an incredibly talented designer and helps bring Burton’s magical characters to life through costume. Black and white stripes can be seen in many of Atwood’s costumes and have become a visual calling card throughout Tim Burton’s films. This is the key element I am taking to create a new kind of style, Beetlejuice meets Bond Street. It’s incredibly important to take influences from many different places and this is a great example of how fashion can be inspired by film and also illustrates how to have fun with fashion, it shouldn’t be so serious all the time. If you are looking to go the whole way then Beetlejuice is a great choice for fancy dress too. So without further a do, I give you fashion from film in the style of Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice…
Outfit One, Stripes & Spikes: Oversized Cats-Eye Sunglasses £25, Cheap Monday at ASOS. White Jersey T-Shirt £28, Iris & Ink at The Outnet. Striped Silk-Satin Skirt £495, Mother of Pearl at Net-a-Porter. Sodalite Spike Necklace was £65 now £32.50, Kenneth Jay Lane at The Outnet. Platform Pumps were £345 now £172.50, McQ Alexander McQueen at The Outnet. Black Floppy Hat £15, Noughts & Kisses. Green Fringed Clutch was £450 now £225, Anya Hindmarch at The Outnet. Snake Ring £260, The Great Frog.
Outfit Two, Androgynous Spirit: Striped Sunglasses £240, Illesteva at Net-a-Porter. Silk Crepe de Chine Blouse £430, Marc Jacobs at Net-a-Porter. Black Slim Tie £8, TopMan. Black Coated Skinny Jeans £22.99, New Look. Perspex Clapperboard Clutch Bag £795, Charlotte Olympia at Net-a-Porter. Striped Shoes £155, designed by me from Shoes of Prey. Snake Ring £260, The Great Frog. Spike Bracelet $98, Just Love Me. 
Outfit Three, Throw It All Together: Round Sunglasses £18, Spitfire at ASOS. Striped Blazer was £1’510 now £754.99, Balmain at The Outnet. Lips T-Shirt £55, Vivienne Westwood. Black Mini Skort £25.99, Zara. Large Leather Shopper £99.99, Zara. Bondage Boots £375, Vivienne Westwood. Skeleton Bracelet £105, Vivienne Westwood. Skeleton Earrings £125, Vivienne Westwood. 
All prices correct at time of publication.
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE FOR HELEN’S WARDROBE FOR BEST ESTABLISHED FASHION BLOG AT THE COSMOPOLITAN BLOG AWARDS!
Cartoon Charm Meets Rock ‘n’ Roll Style, Under The Bridge…
This week I am lucky enough to have a fantastic array of pieces to shoot for Helen’s Wardrobe, taking bold prints, cartoon fun and giving it a rock ‘n’ roll edge for a truly unique look and captivating style. Juxtapose this vision with concrete and you have the perfect combination, so enjoy the styling and love the fashion as I give you Under The Bridge…
Outfit One: Spinal Tap T-Shirt (customised) $19.99, Fashion Punk. Tulle Skirt, Stylist’s Own. Shoes, Model’s Own – Similar Available From New Look. Bag £79.95, JumpFromPaper. Bracelets, Vintage. Barbed Wire Bracelet £1, Blue Banana. Skull Ring £160, The Great Frog. Outfit Two: Tunic Dress £89, Havren. Bag £79.95, JumpFromPaper. Sandals, Italian Market. Sunglasses £2.99, Primark. Outfit Three: Playsuit, Past Season Blanco. Skull Ring £160, The Great Frog. Pearls from £1.50, Primark. Swallow Necklace £165, The Great Frog. Skull & Crossbones Pendant (just seen) £80, The Great Frog.
Special thanks to JumpFromPaper for the amazing handbag and Havren for the gorgeous tunic dress.
Photography & Styling, Helen S Stanley. Model, Melaina Stanley. Location, Jessica Speller.
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My Ideal Holiday with Avenue 32…
I have been invited to share my ideal holiday with you for a chance to win a pair of sunglasses from Avenue 32 which I simply couldn’t pass up because I love sunnies and holidays! It’s also a super opportunity to share my favourite place in the world, what I wear when I visit there and why I love it so much. My ideal holiday is Orange County in Southern California, I am a California Soul. Ever since I can remember I dreamed of visiting California and when I finally jumped on a plane in 2003 after a Rolling Stones gig (yes I am very rock ‘n’ roll) I literally melted into a dream. It was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. I have visited again since then and explored more of Orange County, which has helped identify some really special places. So let me take you on a visual journey with me to my ideal holiday destination and my ideal holiday style…
My favourite places in Southern California are Crystal Cove, Disneyland and Corona Del Mar. I love make-believe and always regret not becoming Alice in Wonderland at Disneyland in Anaheim, the first of the Disney parks which has been there for over 50 years. When I visited California for the first time I will never forget laying by the pool and my friend walking over and asking me if I wanted to go to Disneyland, I was so excited; sun, beer, Disneyland, California, perfect. I also have great memories of a recent visit to Corona Del Mar, it’s such a wonderful place, full of lovely people and the food is so good. The beaches are beautiful and there are great places to shop. My boyfriend’s sister lives in Corona Del Mar so we do real American things not touristy things. Living the dream! My ultimate ideal place in California is Crystal Cove which is less than 20 miles from San Clemente up the Pacific Coast Highway. You literally step back in time to a preserved three-mile stretch of beach protected by the State Park Historic District, it looks today nearly the same as it did a century ago. The beautiful beach is lined with 46 original beach houses built between the 1920s and 1950s, some of which first served as movie sets.
“It was a set for Hollywood filmmakers during the silent-film boom, a drop-off spot for Prohibition-era rumrunners, a destination for motorists during the early auto-touring movement, a staging ground for postwar tiki parties and luaus, and a continual source of inspiration for nearby Laguna’s famed art community,” writes Laura Davick, one of three co-authors of Crystal Cove Cottages: Islands in Time on the California Coast.
To me this place is paradise, I have an obsession with abandoned buildings and whilst the holiday homes are being lovingly refurbished one-by-one there are many in a state of disrepair which simply adds to the charm of Crystal Cove. Beaches was one of many motion pictures filmed here and there is a haunting charm to the entire area, visions of directors, artists and starlets running along the beach and partying in the old beach bar spring to mind as soon as you step foot into this incredible place. I actually don’t want to recommend Crystal Cove to anyone because I want it all to myself, but that would be selfish, so I hope you enjoy the photographs from my last visit along with my ideal outfits for my perfect paradise…
Crystal Cove – Polaroid One: Bikini £160, Marianna G at Avenue 32. Necklace £315, Estelle Dévé at Avenue 32. Neon Python Box Bag £300, Nina Peter at Avenue 32. Polaroid Two: Floral Dress £710, Wunderkind at Avenue 32. Cats-eye Sunglasses £145, Stella McCartney at Avenue 32. Winged Sandals £150, Ancient Greek Sandals at Avenue 32. Polaroid Three: Fringed Jacket £1’430, Tim Ryan at Avenue 32. Feather Crown £155, Littledoe at Avenue 32. Ring Set £125, Estelle Dévé at Avenue 32.
Corona Del Mar – Polaroid One: Stripe Tee was £295 now £118, Araks at Avenue 32. Wrap Skirt was £280 now £196, Leutton Postle at Avenue 32. Pink Sandals were £585 now £234, Burak Uyan at Avenue 32. White Clutch Bag £790, Jerome C Rousseau at Avenue 32. Polaroid Two: Zebra Beach Towel £140, Maslin at Avenue 32. White Aviators £115, Mosley Tribes at Avenue 32. Polaroid Three: Bikini Top £90, Bikini Bottoms £75, both Giejo at Avenue 32. Black Pom Pom Hat £235, Littledoe at Avenue 32. Initial Bracelet £100, Sarah Chloe at Avenue 32.
Disneyland – Polaroid One: Cats-eye Sunglasses £270, Prism at Avenue 32. 50th Anniversary Minnie Mouse Ears, Disneyland. Polaroid Two: Hawaii Tee was £255 now £127, No. 21 at Avenue 32. Cropped White Jeans were £140 now £70, L’agence at Avenue 32. Polaroid Three: Leather Espadrilles £150, Prism at Avenue 32. Raffia Bag £185, Heidi Klein at Avenue 32. Bracelets £450, Carolina Bucci at Avenue 32.
All prices correct at time of publication.
AW’13 Trend Summary…
To help with your AW’13 wardrobes and general style inspiration I have compiled an AW’13 Trend Summary. There are some wonderful trends for AW’13 and many of them are very easy to transition from SS’13, whilst the weather is still warm. Look out for really feminine silhouettes, colours and prints, this is definitely a good season for the girls. For fans of something a little bit more edgy find a new look at grunge from Saint Laurent and striking combinations of texture and print from Jean Paul Gaultier. You will be spoiled for choice for AW’13…
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The Trend: Pink. Head-to-toe hues from pale pink to dusky rose, soften the winter wardrobe allowing transitional outfits from summer to autumn. Combine with soft greys, tweeds, wool and faux fur for a full winter look or complete pink, pink, pink for a perfect autumnal aesthetic. Pink is easy to style well but equally as easy to style badly, avoid looking cheap with soft pinks in a mixture of textures, layers and fabrics. Be especially captivated by TopShop Unique and Giles, and inspired by Blumarine and the flattering silhouettes.
The Trend: The Skirt. New longer lengths offer a flattering silhouette to style with a blouse, tee, sweatshirt, heels or flats. The key to the skirt as an AW’13 trend is versatility and wearability. Pieces can be seen in heavy tweeds, leathers, metallics and lots of layers. Fabulous examples can be found from Ports 1961, Sportsmax and Aquilano.Rimondi. 
The Trend: Checks. In subtle prints, bold weaves and matching accessories the check is big this AW. As seen on the catwalks of Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton to name a few fashion houses who have explored this favourite detail throughout their collections. Mix different checks together in similar tones by layering pieces or style subtle checks through outerwear or gloves. This is a great trend for any style to adopt as part of a new AW wardrobe. 
The Trend: Feathers. Seen in many AW’13 collections in one form or another, feathers offer a romantic, feminine aesthetic. Bringing instant glamour to any piece through the movement of marabou, soft appeal of ostrich or vibrant embellishment of peacock. I love the use of feathers and fur combined gracefully to be worn around the neck in the Giorgio Armani Prive collection as well as his full-on feather outer wear for a bold take on this trend. Feathers combine with lace for an explosion of delicate detail by Alexis Mabille and a playful interpretation by Jean Paul Gaultier, turning the traditional idea of a fox fur into a feather and jewel incrusted show stopper. This has to be one of my favourite trends, it can be adopted on any scale to suit any style.
The Trend: Animal Print. This is one trend which won’t go away, there are however many different ways of interpreting and styling animal print, and it’s an easy one to get very wrong. Jean Paul Gaultier mixes animal prints in a unique, vibrant way combining leopard print, snake-skin, lace and leather in elegant silhouettes. Try styling animal print the Saint Laurent way, mixing leopard print with florals for a sexy grunge look, or traditional, simple ermine in the style of Red Riding Hood from Valentino. 
The Trend: Florals. A lovely addition to AW’13 through voluptuous couture details as well as prints. Depicted so beautifully by Giambattista Valli and through subtle details at Dior. Lanvin explores florals with modern twist, not only on dresses and capes but trouser suits too. This trend is one for everyone, feminine and full of interest.
The Best of the Rest:
Metallics, a favourite for AW and a constant on the catwalk for several seasons now. Through strong texture, embellishment and layers this trend can be flattering and elegant.
Fur, whether you are for or against it, fur has been seen throughout the collections for AW’13. If you’re not a fan then good faux fur can work, I personally would go for vintage fur. Fur trims, coats and hats, the bigger the better.
Feminine Silhouettes, womanly elegance celebrating the female form. Hourglass curves are the perfect trend, cinched waists, flared skirts and figure hugging bodices. This all equals a wonderful ladylike trend.
Overcoats, maybe an obvious one but the key to this trend is making the overcoat the star of the outfit. Whether it is a cape, an oversized silhouette or a boyfriend fit, the overcoat is practical and stylish, keeping you warm and on trend for AW’13 ■
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filoFax, A Design Classic…
Despite being obsessed by Apple I simply can’t have all my information on one device, I have to be able to write everything down or things just won’t get done. Up until now I have used an ordinary diary, until I found this neon orange filoFax. Not only is it an incredible colour it literally has everything I need to stay organised, with the handy pouch inside I can even use it as a clutch bag! filoFax challenged me to style my personal organiser along with an outfit from a past decade, I chose the 1950′s as my inspiration because many design classics were created in the fifties and I see filoFax as a design classic too. The Original Personal Organiser is made in the UK, from real leather and is available in three neon colour ways, retro tones and a patent finish to suit any style; I have grown quite attached to my organiser and what better way to illustrate the appeal than to show you? So, enjoy my 1950′s inspired styling along with my design classic filoFax and if you love it visit the filoFax facebook page to vote for me…
Photography & Styling Helen S Stanley.
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Interview with Talented New Designer Lisa McConniffe…
I love finding new, independent, creative, talent from the UK and I believe it is incredibly important to support our homegrown stars through their journey in this tough industry. So I was thrilled to discover Lisa McConniffe and completely blown away by her incredible designs. Lisa and MUUSE where an obvious subject for my Designer Profile page but I also felt it was important to shout about this young designer via my front page. Lisa’s use of colour, form and texture is unique, vibrant and aspirational. I would be delighted and proud to wear any of her majestic, graceful silhouettes. Lisa is one of those designers whose creations will be seen at Fashion Weeks all over the world, in beautiful boutiques and adorned by the influential and fabulous in the near future, I also know my readers will be inspirited by MUUSE and inspired by Lisa. So it gives me great pleasure to introduce Lisa McConniffe and MUUSE…
HW: Tell us about yourself and MUUSE?
LISA: Hello, my name is Lisa McConniffe, I’m a recent graduate of the Manchester School of Art (BA Hons Fashion) My 2013 graduate collection has recently received extensive press from Vogue, Vogue Italia, Glamour Magazine and fashion blogger Susie Bubble. I have also been nominated for the 2013 Colour Award, talented spotted by the head of design at Ozwald Boateng on Savile Row, and I have also recently been announced as runner-up for the British Fashion Council Warehouse Competition! I’m absolutely delighted to have my collection nominated for the Muuse x Vogue Talents 2013 Competition this year! MUUSE is a fabulous international label that represents design talent from around the world.
HW: What inspired you to become a designer?
LISA: Ever since I was a child I enjoyed drawing and doodling and I just knew I wanted to pursue a career within the arts, however, it wasn’t until my foundation art and design course at Manchester School of Art (same course Sarah Burton of McQueen attended before CSM) that I experimented with fashion, and through working on the stand I instantly knew it was the right path for me.
HW: What/who are your influences?
LISA: I am always chasing ideas, I am primarily influenced by history and culture. I particularly enjoy researching and discovering new imagery that instantly captivates my interest. Through cultural travel visits and blogs, I use that research to fundamentally inspire my concept, then continue adding to my research through working on the stand in the studio. I test out techniques but also interpret and reference what I see people wearing on the streets, because trends ultimately start from there. All this helps me communicate an unexpected spin within my designs. I’m also influenced by the powerful use of colour, I like how they vary in shades , brightness and hues, but also how different combinations can create an instant confidence in the mood and outlook for both the wearer and the designer. For example Roksanda Illnic inspires me with her clever use of colour, she also achieves something different, wearable and edgy.
HW: What do you find most challenging aspects of the industry?
LISA: The fashion industry is very diverse and opinionated which for a new designer can be daunting, however, I’ve learnt to take on opinions and advice and choose helpful elements of this advice, ultimately I’ve learnt to follow my instinct and use strengths to my advantage. I believe you should let nothing stand in the way of achieving your ambitions and goals.
HW: What is most rewarding about being a designer?
LISA: The unpredictability of the design process can be tough for any designer but for me the most rewarding thing about designing is seeing that process come together into the final product on the catwalk and taking in the atmosphere around you at that very moment.
HW: What’s the next step for you and MUUSE?
LISA: My next step is to continue to grow as a designer through learning and gaining as much experience as possible within the fashion industry, I am also going to apply for a Masters in London. I’m hoping through the MUSSE x Vogue Competition that I have the opportunity to remain within in the Top 50 and then hopefully top 10 and go onto win the incredible grand prize, I would be so grateful! ■
Remember to vote in the MUUSE x Vogue Competition and support this talented designer.
Zandra Rhodes & Pure London…
This week I had the pleasure of being invited to Pure London, a fashion trade show held at London Olympia. Pure London is a fantastic event for buyers, retailers, stylists and bloggers to discover new and established designers and brands through catwalks, presentations, talks and beautiful stands. I have to admit the biggest attraction for me was the launch of Zandra Rhodes footwear collection. The legendary designer currently has an exhibition, Zandra Rhodes: Unseen, at the Fashion and Textile Museum in Bermondsey, London exploring her archives, studio and creative process. As one of the world’s most distinctive designers celebrating 50 years in the industry I simply couldn’t miss the opportunity to meet the wonderful lady herself and hear all about her footwear. The quality, colour and design of Zandra’s collection sets it aside from everything else, her clothing, footwear and handbags can easily be worn altogether or as part of another outfit. One really can create unique styling with any of Zandra’s designs. From colourful wedges and printed espadrilles to cigarette heels and sandals, each piece of footwear is full of personality and fun, which is exactly what fashion and style should be about. I simply can’t wait for SS’14, I have my eye on the Blue Zola Wedges and Red Lipstick Zenia Flats, so beautiful! I was even lucky enough to receive a limited edition Zandra Rhodes purse, which will be truly treasured! 
As well as Zandra Rhodes I also met super talented shoe designer Julian Hakes, creator of the much celebrated Mojito Shoe. I was delighted to see the introduction of a boot to the collection and lots of additions to the design. Somehow I still don’t have any of these beauties, I have such footwear envy, they really are a work of art. Some of my other favourites from Pure London were the limited edition #artscarf from Schim Jolie, large silk scarves with amazing photographic prints (a trend continuing well into 2014) which you can wear as a dress, a skirt, a scarf, a cape… Such a wonderful concept. More photographic prints in a completely different style from Dead Lovers and perfect band tees from FanPac London. Wooden sunglasses from Proof Eyewear and wooden watches from We Wood, the whole wooden accessory idea is not a new one, it is simply coming back and I love it. Love it! Fabulous bold and fun accessories from Catseye London, perfect to add some personality and flair to your aesthetic and beautiful hand-made jewellery from FL Private Collection. So in conclusion, Pure London was a fantastic fashion trade show, I highly recommend it, a very valuable experience and a great day! 
Photography Helen S Stanley & Christopher Heeney took the ones with me in!
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Atmospheric Style & Sophistication for The Perfect Individual Wedding…
Previously I created a feature aimed at women who didn’t go in for the whole “toilet roll cover bride” look which was very popular and helped a lot of my readers. Inspired by Keira Knightly and her effortless approach to style on her special day I thought it was about time I created another feature for the betrothed out there. Once again I have chosen dresses you can wear again, I have avoided white and anything frilly at all costs. Not only have I created some inspiring looks I have also set the scene with dreamy locations, just call me your fairy style mother! Enjoy you lucky brides to be…
Outfit One: Dégradé Silk-Chiffon Dress £945, Jonathan Saunders at Net-a-Porter. Glitter Pumps £230, Sophia Webster at Net-a-Porter. Sparkle Belt £12.99, New Look. Orchid Floral Headpiece £34, Rock ‘N Rose. Crystal Solitaire Earrings £39, Swarovski. Crystal & Leather Cuff £159, Swarovski. Purple Calla Lillies, Costs Vary, Available From Any Good Florist. Location: Mocked up by Musings from the Moon. If you want somewhere other than a church for your vows try the beautiful British countryside, with imaginative decoration you will be spoiled for choice. 
Outfit Two: Embellished Silk-Organza Dress was £6’610 now £1’983, Valentino at The Outnet. Glitter Pumps were £195 now £117, Lucy Choi at The Outnet. Pearl Headband £7, Accessorize. Baby Bee Necklace £132, Alex Monroe. Baby Bee Charm Bracelet £195, Alex Monroe. Pink Peonie, Lillies & Sweat Pea Bouquet, Costs Vary, Available From Any Good Florist. Location: Mocked up by Musings from the Moon, an abandoned building is an original setting for a reception, decorating with lights and flowers to make it personal. 
Outfit Three: Silk Gown £2’348, Vivienne Westwood at Matches. Patent Shoes £240, Kurt Geiger at Selfridges. Wing Headpiece £48.45 Etsy. Red Lips Clutch £295, Lulu Guinness. Pearl Choker £335, Vivienne Westwood. Pearl Bracelet £85, Vivienne Westwood. Red Rose & Calla Lilly Bouquet, Costs Vary, Available from Any Good Florist. Location: A meadow, beautiful, simple, memorable. 
All prices correct at time of publication. Styling, Helen S Stanley.
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What’s In My Handbag?…
I always wonder what people carry around in their bags and thought why not show other nosey people what I carry in mine! My favourite bag was a gift from my boyfriend, a Turquoise Aspinal Hepburn Bag and most of the time it’s full of stuff. I always carry a bottle of Chanel, I don’t wear anything else, at the moment my weapon of choice is Coco Noir, along with this I have some new cool mint Neo Electronic Cigarettes for when I need a moment to relax. I have also just discovered Posh Palettes from Beauty UK, I like to wear a lot of browns on my eyes so this palette is perfect, especially if I’m out all day and want to touch up. Other essential make-up consists of Laura Mercier cover-up, Chanel Lipstick in Fatale. My wallet is also from Aspinal as is the handbag hook, because I never want to get my handbag dirty! I also carry a little bit of extra rock ‘n’ roll in the form of The Great Frog jewellery and some much needed cream blush from Bourjois. Finally, I have at least two pairs of sunnnies at any one time, one pair of Ray Ban Aviators, one pair of oversized Moschinos to disguise tired eyes, along with an iPad for work on the go, my phone and a pack of Tim Burton playing cards, because, well, why not!…
Photography & styling, Helen S Stanley.
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Vote for Helen’s Wardrobe at the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards!
As a friendly reminder to vote for Helen’s Wardrobe as Best Established Fashion Blog at the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards I thought I would create a few self promoting images to help my cause and encourage you to vote! 💋
As my regular readers will know I am truly passionate about style, fashion and fashion history. I put my heart and soul into this blog, I love writing it, creating features and shoots for it, and it would be really appreciated if my readers would vote for me. If you nominated Helen’s Wardrobe for Best Established Fashion Blog you will then also need to vote again on the shortlist. So thank you again lovely style savvy muses and PLEASE VOTE!
Thoroughly Modern Pirates…
As you may be aware from my blog background and previous style ramblings, I love Pirates. I would dress as a Pirate everyday if I could and often do. With this in mind I thought it might be nice to create a post inspired by Pirates, influenced by AW’13 trends and the combination of vintage, high street and designer pieces. I even roped in (excuse the pun) my dear friend and creative extraordinaire Jessica Speller to help me out and make this post more interesting and beautiful. I do hope you enjoy and feel inspired by this aesthetic offering and perhaps add a little Pirate to your day!…
Jessica: Vintage Headscarf, Seek & Revive. White Shirt & Black Maxi Skirt, Primark. Vintage Missoni Scarf Worn Around Waist & Vintage Tan Belt, Sourced by Helen S Stanley. Metal Decorative Belt Jessica’s Own. Pirate Boots, Vivienne Westwood. Cross Ring, Primark. Sword & Other Rings, Jessica’s Own. Turquoise & Leather Wrap Bracelet, Millie ‘n’ Mae. Black Electronic Cigarette, Neo E-Cigarette.
Helen: Blouse, eBay (customised with skull buttons by stylist). Tweed Cropped Trousers, River Island. Mojito Shoes, Julian Hakes. Scarf Worn on Head, Vivienne Westwood. Tan Belt, Timberland. Orange & Silver Cross Wrap Bracelet, Millie ‘n’ Mae. Skull Ring, The Great Frog. Diamond Ring, Custom. Black Electronic Cigarette, Neo E-Cigarette. Rum, The Kraken Rum. Hanging Skeleton Necklace, Made by Jessica. Chair, John Lewis.
Table: Clutch Bag, Aspinal. Pearls, Primark. Skull, Urban Outfitters. Collar, Gold Cuff & Blue Stone Ring, Celliana. Amber Necklace, Vintage. Rum, The Kraken Rum. Orb Necklace, Vivienne Westwood. Bracelets & Chains, Vintage. All Coverings, Vintage.
Photography & styling, Helen S Stanley & Jessica Speller.
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Inspired By…
A popular feature on Helen’s Wardrobe are my Inspired By posts. Previously I have created Inspired By Elvira Hancock, Inspired By MotorSport and the very well received Inspired By This Is England. So I thought it was about time I created another one, this time let’s be inspired by the iconic, beautiful and talented Gwen Stefani. Whether it’s the early days of No Doubt or the later years of her solo career, Gwen has long been a style icon. So inspired by her unique dress sense I have created two very different outfits as a homage to the beautiful Gwen Stefani.
Sweet Escape: Polka Dot Shorts £60, J.Crew at Net-a-Porter. Ruffled Silk-Crepe Blouse £1’200, Saint Laurent at Net-a-Porter. Blue Bow Neck Tie $0.99, eBay. Rouge Patent Shoes £525, Christian Louboutin. Patent Red Clutch £595, Christian Louboutin. Hinged Gold Ring £250, Maison Martin Margiela at Net-a-Porter. Crimson Lipstick £20, Ilia at Net-a-Porter. 
Rock Steady: Crop Top was £6.99 now £4, New Look. Black Bikini Top £10, Top Shop. Slouch Boyfriend Jeans £45, River Island. Strappy Stilettos £24.99, New Look. Trucker Cap £19.99, Village Hats. Checkered Belt £6, ASOS. Rock and Roll Rings £14.99, Punky Pins. Chanel Lipstick £25, Selfridges. Diamante Lips Clutch was £675 now £199.99 Lulu Guinness at TK Maxx. 
All prices correct at time of publication. Photography & styling, Helen S Stanley.
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The Perfect Summer Accessory with Tamara Tobias…
There are many Summer accessories to choose from and one of my favourites is the scarf, so I was thrilled to come across a new designer creating wonderful pieces, perfect for Summer style. Tamara Tobias is a Central Saint Martin’s graduate who perfected her craft working with Betty Jackson, Zac Posen and Clements Riberio before starting her own online luxury scarf boutique. Tamara’s first collection is inspired by nature and the beauty of everyday life captured through a camera lens. The use of silk and cashmere, bold prints through to neutral tones creates a collection of beautiful pieces perfect to compliment any wardrobe. Adding texture layers and interest, scarves are a key accessory. By adding a pop of colour or complimenting an outfit with similar tones you really can’t go wrong with a scarf, investing in a designer piece which can be worn season after season, year after year. Whether you are influenced by The Great Gatsby and wear a silk scarf around on your head, or like to style a scarf more casually draped around your neck, Tamara’s designs are perfect for any look. I have created some styling suggestions to help you so go ahead and treat yourself at Tamara Tobias…
Prices range from £60 – £120, a bespoke design service is also available. Visit Tamara Tobias for more information.
Outfit One: Blazer £24.99, H&M. Silk Blend Tank Top (Under Blazer) £70, Kain at Net-a-Porter. Cotton/Linen Shorts £17.99, H&M. Bouquet Scarf £120, Tamara Tobias. Platform Pump £545, Charlotte Olympia at Net-a-Porter. Gold Metallic Straw Shopper £12.99, New Look. Arty Gold-Plated Glass Ring £180, Saint Laurent at Net-a-Porter. 
Outfit Two: Biker Jacket £269, Karl Lagerfeld at Net-a-Porter. Black Cropped Skinny Jeans £185, Proenza Schouler at Net-a-Porter. Black Leather Ballet Pumps £25, TopShop. Leaves Scarf £60, Tamara Tobias. Powder Coated Cuff £180, Eddie Borgo at The Outnet. Ring £139.99, Mawi at The Outnet. Leather Tote £352, Diane von Furstenberg at The Outnet.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Rock ‘n’ Needle…
A few weeks ago I was honoured to style a show for Kelly Goss, designer of Rock ‘n’ Needle. Kelly has just launched her UK online shop so go and check it out, there are some great pieces and they are so fun to style!..
Professional Photography, Luke Patrick Dixon. Styling & Behind the Scenes Snaps, Helen S Stanley. Models in order of appearance: Fiona Meacham, Ariel Tempest, Lu V. Hair: Lucy Spary. Make-Up: Becca Ross, Sophia Lauren. Location: Whisky Mist.
Lounge In Style With Garden Party Chic…
So the Summer is (sort of) here and whilst some may be jetting off to palm lined beaches, others will be relaxing in the garden. So especially for those who will be enjoying sun, BBQs and Pimm’s in good old Blighty I have created some lovely little visuals to get you in the holiday mood. Luxurious lounge wear in white is flattering with a golden tan and perfect with gold jewellery, add colour pops in neons and jewel tones for interest and keep a good balance by mixing high street and designer. I’ve also added a few elements to enhance your surroundings so viva la garden party…
Outfit One: White Pleated Maxi Dress £50, Next. Gold Bandeau Bikini £180, Melissa Odabash at My Wardrobe. Orange Belt £79, Malene Birger at My Wardrobe. Neon Flat Sandals £85, Sam Edelman at ASOS. Statement Necklace £18, ASOS. Neon Paisley Clutch £20, Next. Large Stone Ring £60, Ottoman Hands at ASOS.
Outfit Two: Beach Shirt £28, Next. Neon Lime Bikini £25 (for both pieces), Next. Jewelled Sandals £45, Aldo at ASOS. Studded Snake Clutch £1’995, Jimmy Choo at Net-a-Porter. Pharaoh Style Statement Necklace £45, ASOS. Cuff £25, Made at ASOS.
Garden Party Decor: Parasol £8, Ikea. Mustique Lounge Chair £199, Made.com. Carraway Cushion £19, Made.com. Blackberry & Elderflower Pimm’s.
Outfit One: Bird Print Kimono £79.99, Zara. White Cut Out Swimsuit £9.99, New Look. Gold Ballet Flats £310, Lanvin at Net-a-Porter. Blue Jewelled Pendant £35, ASOS. Metallic Shopper £249, Love Moschino at ASOS. Round Sunglasses £12, ASOS.
Outfit Two: Silk-Georgette Kimono £130.01, Mara Hoffman at The Outnet. Hot Pink Long-Line Bikini £25, Topshop. Wedge Shoes £149, Designed by Me at Shoes of Prey. Black & White Floppy Hat £18, Next. Jewelled Sunglasses £20, Topshop. Gold Plated Necklace £34.99, Kenneth Jay at The Outnet. Leather & Rubber Neon Green Tote £78, Michael Kors at The Outnet.
Garden Party Decor: Moon Chair in White £349, Made.com. White Parasol With Base £74, Ikea. Gin Hendricks.
Outfit One: Beaded Kaftan £115, John Lewis. Nude Swimsuit £190, Melissa Odabash at Net-a-Porter. Palm Tree Print Clutch £53.29, Juicy Couture at ShopBop. Oversized Sunglasses £237, Matthew Williamson. Shoes £169, Designer by Me at Shoes of Prey. Amethyst Ring £60, Ottoman Hands.
Outfit Two: White Tux Jacket £195, Unique TopShop. Photographic Print Motel Swimsuit (on sale) £80.50, We Are Handsome. Floppy Metallic Hat £15, Dorothy Perkins. Nude Mojito Shoes £159, Julian Hakes. Cat Eye Sunglasses £275, Prada at Net-a-Porter. Clutch £350, Anya Hindmarch. Nude & Gold Earrings £4.99, New Look.
Garden Party Decor: Cuba Lounge Chair £219, Made.com. Black Parasol £50, Ikea. Denby Heather Tea Cup £9, John Lewis. Denby White Saucer £4.85, John Lewis. Black Tray Side Table £149, Dwell.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Gatsby Inspired Outfits for All Budgets…
I certainly don’t need to remind you that The Great Gatsby directed by the legendary Baz Luhrmann, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan was released on May 10th. There has been so much discussion and anticipation and I just can’t wait to see this visual marvel on the big screen. The 20′s has long been a favourite era of mine, the music, the architecture and of course the fashion. Androgynous silhouettes, short hair, feathers, sparkle, beautiful fabrics; nothing but glamour and style. I have created many 20′s inspired outfits in the past on Helen’s Wardrobe and today is no exception, however this time I have created three options for three very different budgets. Everyone should be able to explore 1920′s style and I will show you how to do it. So there is no excuse, channel your inner flapper and get those glad rags on…
Sacrifice your Friday night drinks for…
Outfit One: Pink Embellished Flapper Dress £75, Frock and Frill. Patent Mid Heel Shoes £28, Next. Bando created using Hair Slide £8, Rose Clips £7, both Accessorize along with feathers from any good haberdashery. Long Crystal Pendant £8, Accessorize. Cream Lace Purse £20, Next. Deco Ring £10, Accessorize. Pink Glitter Nail Polish £2.99, Barry M. 
Save up your cash for…
Outfit Two: Embellished Silk Flapper Dress £325, Jigsaw. Mary Jane Shoes £149, designed by me at Shoes of Prey. Headpiece £210, DC Bouquets. Vintage 1920′s Beaded Necklace £80, Rock My Vintage. Blue Moon Nail Paint £2.99, Barry M. Clutch Bag £35, Accessorize. Sterling Silver Turquoise Ring £15, Accessorize.
Sell the rest of your wardrobe for…
Outfit Three: Draped Brushed-Satin Dress £1’495, Lanvin at Net-a-Porter. Head Scarf £145, Liberty. Crystal Embellished Shoes £590, Miu Miu at Net-a-Porter. Sequinned Box Clutch £290, Kotur at Net-a-Porter. Gold Nail Polish in Honey Ryder £11.50, OPI. Cocktail Ring £790, Tiffany & Co. Century Flask in Sterling Silver £730, Tiffany & Co.
All prices correct at time of publication.
Once Upon a Time…
…in an abandoned motel by an empty pool, a beautiful stranger waits for her lover to return. As the days come and go she waits and waits, is he ever coming back?…
Outfit One: Denim Waist Coat & White Denim Shorts, True Religion. Shoes, Fashion Union. Las Vegas Necklace, Heart Earrings & Heart Brooch, Plastic Bat. Badges, Vintage (Stylists Own). Rings, The Great Frog. Belt, Stylists Own. Nail Wraps & Lip Foil, Nail Rock.
Outfit Two: Top, Primark Kids. White Jeans, True Religion. Shoes, Fashion Union. Clutch, Primark. Necklace & Ring, The Great Frog. Sunglasses, Stylists Own. Nail Wraps & Lip Foil, Nail Rock.
Outfit Three: Dress, Fashion Union. Denim Jacket, True Religion. Shoes, Fashion Union. Necklace & Ring, The Great Frog. Earrings, Plastic Bat. Sunglasses, Stylists Own. Dog, Stylists Own. Nail Wraps & Lip Foil, Nail Rock.
Outfit Four: Jumper, Vintage Seek & Revive. White Denim Shorts, True Religion. Shoes, Fashion Union. Heart Necklace & Heart Earrings, Plastic Bat. Nail Wraps & Lip Foil, Nail Rock.
Art direction, Styling, Photography – Helen S Stanley of Helen’s Wardrobe. Make-Up & Hair – Allison Boyd. Props – Jessica Speller. Model – Georgina Goodman. Behind the Scenes Filming & Photography – Stephen Turner. Special thanks to the St Albans Sub Aqua Club for giving permission to shoot at this wonderful location.
All aesthetic material © Helen S Stanley, Helen’s Wardrobe.
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- Matalan SS’14, a Press Event Full of Surprises…After deciding to launch a fashion and lifestyle magazine, Silk & Sins, in January of next year, Jessica and myself figured we really should attend some of these press events we keep getting invited too. Which is tricky when we literally have no spare time, however our collective decision to attend the Matalan SS’14 press […]Helen's Wardrobe
- Save The Children’s Christmas Jumper DaySave the Children has taken its annual Christmas Jumper Day to a new fashion high with the support of the British Fashion Council to create bespoke designer jumpers to be auctioned – with a difference – in aid of Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 13th December. Fourteen designers have each customised a […]Helen's Wardrobe
- Be The Flame, Not The Moth…Casanova said, “Be the flame, not the moth” and this inspired us to pull on our boots, explore the horizon and find beauty in an old abandoned church. Disciplined styling sees photographic moth prints combined with black and silver tones for a uniformity amongst the wilderness. Loving fashion but not taking it all too seriously […]Helen's Wardrobe
- Bloggers Gift Guide…As promised I’m working on lots of lovely gift guides for all my wonderful readers and as some of you are also fashion bloggers I thought this would be an area of interest. So today I have chosen the perfect selection for a fashion bloggers gift guide, perfect for work rest and play in style. […]Helen's Wardrobe
- Pom Pom Love…With Christmas coming up we really don’t need any excuse to add glitz and glamour to our wardrobes and when this particular glamour comes in the form of pink fur poms poms who can possibly say no? Whether you want to style up some of your existing footwear or treat someone you love for Christmas, […]Helen's Wardrobe
- Christmas Gift Guides…It’s started, in fact it seems to have started in mid October. Yes I’m talking about Christmas preparation. I always create gift guides with a difference for those who like something stylish and unusual and this year is no different. In fact I’m going to create more this time. So here’s the first one, a […]Helen's Wardrobe
- Selfie Style…As you will have seen from all the generic fashion blogs out there people love to take pictures of themselves, and when taken on mobiles we’re calling them “selfies”. Generally if I’m featured on my own blog it’s because I either can’t afford a model, or the location in which I’m shooting isn’t appropriate to […]Helen's Wardrobe
- Sojeans Private Sale!Just a quick heads up that Sojeans are having a private sale with up to 70% off and it’s my duty to share this opportunity for amazing deals with Helen’s Wardrobe readers. So sign up and have a gander at their great products, you’ve got until 4th November 2013, so get shopping!… Please note that this […]Helen's Wardrobe
- Christmas Blog Giveaway!
