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Fashion Voyeur

People will stare, make it worth their while.

Categories: Fashion, Models, Pixie

Styling Holly’s Must Haves at M&S for Winter 18/19

Once upon a time Marks and Spencer was somewhere you’d shop for food, maybe a t-shirt bra and the kids school uniform.  These days however, things have changed.  Marks and Spencer has a new Creative Director of Womenswear in post and things are really picking up for the high street giant.

With a new campaign and a national sweetheart fronting it, it seems Marks and Spencer has become pan-demographic in just one simple move.  By putting Holly Willoughby front and centre and giving her one simple role; to pick out her favourite, key pieces from each Marks and Spencer drop and labelling it Holly’s Must Haves, before styling it and appearing in a very simple ‘Girl Next Door’ type campaign.  Not over styled, not overshot, just very simple, worn as every girl buying off the peg would wear them.  The idea?  To create a complete capsule wardrobe from around 12-16 pieces to include clothing, accessories, shoes and outerwear.  Simple.

A shot of the Holly's Must Have's Edit at Marks & Spencer Newcastle Intu Eldon Square in December 2018 showing Holly Willoughby in a poster wearing some key pieces from the collection

Simple and lucrative.  Very lucrative.  With Holly’s star power rising by the day, especially since her stint on I’m A Celebrity – which is around the time this Winter edit first dropped, it seems everything she puts her name to is destined for success.  So is this micro-collection any good?  Remember, she hasn’t had any hand in the design process, it’s a simple edit of a wider collection.  I was invited along for a private viewing the day before the collection launched at the Newcastle store and had the chance to try the pieces on and have a good look at the quality.

Actually, it’s exactly what you’d expect from M&S.  It’s good quality, reliable, washable and affordable, as well as being reasonably ethical for something that’s pretty mass produced – Marks and Spencer have been named Most Ethical High street Retailer for Clothing since 2007.  The trompe l’oeil A-line skirt is a standout piece for me, with its chunky belt it come’s in two lengths; regular or tall, I’ve opted for regular despite my 5’10.5 frame because the longer length looked a little frumpy on me and more like office wear.  I’ve styled it exactly the same as the campaign shot, with the horizontal striped fine knit sweater tucked in.  I also bought the fine knit pink roll neck which is a slightly finer grade knit and looks great with a high waisted denim jean.

Fashion Blogger Pixie Tenenbaum wears an A-Line skirt and striped sweater from the Winter 2018 edit of Holly's Must Haves from Marks & Spencer with a Dior bag for Fashion Voyeur
Fashion Blogger Pixie Tenenbaum wears an A-Line skirt and striped sweater from the Winter 2018 edit of Holly's Must Haves from Marks & Spencer with a Dior bag & a baker boy hat for Fashion Voyeur
Fashion Blogger Pixie Tenenbaum wears an A-Line skirt and striped sweater from the Winter 2018 edit of Holly's Must Haves from Marks & Spencer with a Dior bag & a baker boy hat for Fashion Voyeur

These are my favourite pieces from this edit, the smallest edit so far consisting of just 12 pieces.  However if you’re looking for something a little more formal you’ll find a cool scale mustard button down shirt, a pale pink Victoriana style flat fronted blouson with zipper detail at the wrists, and some really great basic black trousers that come in different lengths and promise to take you from office to bar.  The whole collection is available in sizes 6-24 (kudos Marks and Spencer) that’s a pretty great variety of sizes right there, and the shoes go right up to a size 9 and include a wider fit too.

In terms of accessories you’ll find circle bags in soft buttery leather, shoes and boots.  There’s also a coatigan that may have been better placed with an early Spring drop but it’s sure to sell out regardless with the power of Holly Willoughby in its coat tails!

The great thing about these edits is that they aren’t limited edition, they’re core collection.  That means that they’ll be reproduced within that season, they’ve been selected as part of an edit within a micro collection and will continue to be restocked so if you see a piece that you like, the likelihood is that you’ll be able to get it either instore or online and if there’s some kind of Sparks offer running, these pieces are included, they aren’t put on a pedestal and held at full price. 

Pixie

Categories: Uncategorized

Show Me Some Skin….

The Fall Winter 2015 runways were awash with lavish suede and leather.  From fringed suede at Burberry to patchwork suede and leather at Tom Ford and everything in-between, it was clear to see that skin is most definitely in.

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I’ve always been a huge fan of heavy luxury fabrics – velvet, crepe and now leather and suede, they have a way of upping the glam factor of any outfit and have the weight behind them to hang amazingly.  I couldn’t wait to write about how to jump ahead of the pack and get in on the trend early by working it into your Summer wardrobe too.  Both fabrics can be surprisingly versatile and easier to wear than you might imagine, coloured pieces can add drama; leather separates in bold primary colours can look rich and vibrant and soft, pastel coloured suede can be toughened up to create a great juxtaposition of textures.

There are some simple pieces you can pick up on the high street to update your wardrobe and they’re all hard working and not at all scary!  Not just for play, both fabrics are smart enough to be worn as workwear and with some clever dressing and accessorising, can take you from day to night in a flash.  Consider this my guide to the simplest way to get in on this trend, I’ve done the hard work and found you your dream pieces which will take you through Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter…..

First of all, dress to your usual style, you need to be comfortable, think of this as simply substituting textures rather than a complete style overhaul.  Personally, I like to play with textures and finishes and often like to mix a soft tailored piece with something that has more of a ‘rock’ vibe for a street style look, but there’s no reason why you can’t wear a suede jacket and a suede skirt, hey, it’s 2015 – anything goes!

I love wearing a structured pencil skirt with an oversized tank so let’s start with a suede skirt; this particular one is from ASOS, at £70 it’s a great way to get in on the trend without shelling out too much initially.  This one is a wrap over style so it’s real flattering and it has a D-ring fastener which gives it a high end finish.  I like to juxtapose this skirt with a tank and recently wore it to a fashion event with a Givenchy tee (minus the original sleeves).

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Tempted by that gorgeous tan suede skirt from Marks and Spencer, you know, the one that’s been featured in Vogue, Elle, Look, Grazia, Marie Claire etc.?  Stop right there!  There are two reasons to proceed with caution: 1. You’re very unlikely to find it anywhere as it’s the most coveted suede piece around, and,  2.  If you are lucky enough to find it, you’re going to bump into at least four carbon copies of yourself the first time you wear it making you wish you’d kept the £200 in your purse.

So, in light of this, for really great unique leather and suede fashion pieces, my top tip is to try vintage and thrift stores first (make sure you check each piece thoroughly before buying).  We’ve all got at least one leather biker jacket in our wardrobes but I’ve picket up some amazing ones in thrift stores, and the great thing is, you won’t bump into another version of yourself on the high street.  Every time I go to the states, I come back with at least one great vintage leather or suede piece and last time was this super cute suede Pocahontas style fringed skirt.  It cost me $60 (a snip at around £30) and it attracts compliments every time I wear it, plus it makes me feel like Carrie Bradshaw and who doesn’t want that, right?!

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A black leather skirt is a really hard working, versatile option.  If you haven’t got one of these in your wardrobe then you need one, pronto!  Smart enough to be worn for the office but rock chick enough to be worn for a night out this is one item you’ll pull out of your wardrobe time and time again.  This one is from Year One Collective, priced at £120, it’s great quality leather and if you’re patriotic you’ll like this one as it’s made by a British designer.  Things to look for when shopping for a leather skirt: 1. A good strong zip – the last thing you want is your zip failing on you after a heavy dinner, and, 2. A split. Front or back it doesn’t matter as long as there’s a split. We’ve all seen that YouTube clip of the super glamorous girl who can’t traverse the staircase because of her unfeasibly tight skirt right?  Don’t let that be you.  River Island do a great leather skirt, it’s a repeat style which usually comes in to store around September and there are new colour ways added each year, this is last years red one and I’d highly recommend it, at £90 it’s a great buy but the downside is you’ll have to wait until later in the year to get it.

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On the high street there are a gazillion options for a black leather pencil skirt, choose wisely.  On the investment end of the scale Marks and Spencer do a beautifully made leather skirt for £149, perfectly cut and seamed to give a fantastic shape, it’s a great option of you’re flush.  At the other end of the scale, there’s good old ASOS with a wide variety of shapes, styles and finishes.  From real leather to PU they’ve got you covered and if you head on over there now you’ll find that a lot of these styles are in the sale just waiting to be snapped up.

Not a fan of skirts?  Then maybe culottes are your thing.  Since Spring Summer 2014 the trend for culottes has grown exponentially and now they’re everywhere.  From New Look to Margiela, culottes are more than just a trend, they’re here to stay and with new leather and suede styles hitting the high street it’s easier than ever to tap road test this look.

My favourite leather culottes are from Topshop Boutique, buttery soft and smokey grey coloured, these culottes add a little luxury to any outfit, there’s just one rule with culottes: Always. Wear. Heels.  On top anything goes, I like to pair mine with a floaty black camisole, again, to juxtapose the textures but you could pair these with anything from a band tee to a cropped tee and duster coat – as long as you remember the golden rule and always wear heels.  These particular ones are pricey at £250 but River Island has some great PU alternatives for around £30.

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This suede pair from Warehouse are amazing, this is a great example of the high street interpreting a trend really well.  Pale in colour, wear with care.  These are not for clumsy people, messy eaters or dirt magnets, but if you can avoid all of that then these are well worth a punt and are probably the best example on the high street.  At £110 they’re not cheap but considering how well they’re made and the quality of the fabric, they’re hands down, my best buy.  If you’re looking for a bargain then you could do worse than this pair which are currently in the sale at Topshop for £65.

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A great way to nail the trend in one piece is to try a dress.  Leather dresses have been around for ages, you may even already have one in your wardrobe, if you haven’t then your Mum is bound to so try her first.  Suede dresses however, are a relatively new concept on the high street and with so many of them sent down the runways during Fashion Month, you’d be wise to jump on this trend now.  My favourite leather dress is by Raoul, it was an investment piece at £695 but it’s my old faithful and something I come back to time and time again as it always makes me feel ‘dressed’.

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There are a huge variety on the high street depending on which style you favour, ASOS has skater style, slip, pinafore, A-line and shift dresses available in leather and this one is my favourite, I’m awaiting my delivery but I know it will see me through the seasons and it’s a change from black.  At £120 I’d say it’s pretty reasonable.

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In suede the style is more seventies in feel, think dropped waists and huge pockets and you’re on the right track, exposed zips also work really well with this look.  Mango does a great suede shirt dress but my best buy is this little beauty from Warehouse and at £110 it’s a complete outfit which isn’t too bad right? (It also comes in pink).

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For Winter I’m a big fan of leather trousers and have two top picks:  Marks and Spencer does a great recurring style and new colourways are stocked each season.  The great thing thing about this pair is that the leather is super soft and the back section is ponte fabric meaning you don’t get the dreaded sag in the butt area and at £99 these are a steal.

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Another of my favourites are the Paloma by Paige, worn by countless off duty models and celebrities these really are a style staple.  I have these in black, green, burgundy and grey and I wear them all the time.  More of a leather legging in style than a trouser they’re again ponte on the back and the front is structured to be uber flattering, they’re a bit of an investment piece at £350+.  You can also buy this style in vegan leather (PU) if you prefer for £290.

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We all know that good quality leather and suede can be expensive and that it needs to be maintained, if you can’t stretch to either of these fabrics then alcantara makes a pretty good substitute for suede and there are some decent vegan / PU options out there instead of leather.  If you are opting for PU, bear in mind that it can, and will make you sweat so choose where you wear it and always try it first – if you can’t take the heat in a store dressing room then you’re probably not going to wear it out to dinner in the Summer.

In terms of jackets it’s simple – if you’re opting for suede then fringing is your best friend.  The high street is full of fringed and tassled suede jackets in a variety of colours – If they’re wearing it in Nashville then it’s definitely ‘in’.  For leather jackets, you can’t go wrong with a leather biker and that goes for any season.  If you want to mix it up a little then try a different colour for Summer, the SS15 runways were a parade of bold colours with cobalt blue being a standout.

So, now you’re armed and ready to hit the high street with bells on.  And probably fringing.  But most definitely a leather biker…..

Pixie x

People will stare, make it worth their while

Pixie Tenenbaum

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