I love finding quirky, fun, British brands, and at the moment I am loving everything about Brat & Suzie a cool label founded by twins Polly and Charlotte Vickery.
I have a number of pieces in my wardrobe for this brand as I love their cute hand-drawn animal illustrations, so much so that I could possible start a petting zoo, and my latest addition is the adorable slouchy Skating Deer Sweater from the brand’s ‘Winter Warmer’ collection, very Bambi on ice!!!
All my previous finds from this label have been t-shirts and vests, and they are generally my favourite pieces during summer, and even though I still wear them in winter my love for feeling snug means that they get hidden away under a chunky knit. Well I don’t have to hide away my animal prints any longer as this off-the-shoulder jumper is made of super soft jersey with a furry lining inside to keep me warm – and believe me it is so comfortable and warm.
If you haven’t already discovered this brand – keep an eye out from them online as they are stocked at ASOS, New Look, Room 31 and through the brand’s own website – to give you a head start I have put together a few of my current favourites below:
My Style: Brat & Suzie Skating Deer Sweater (c/o); H&M skirt; Tribeca Biker Boot (c/o); Barbie necklace and Retro 54 glasses.
I know treats are normally reserved for Friday afternoon, but this one just couldn’t wait, I have been given three pairs of tickets to giveaway to see the gorgeous and uber-talented Azealia Banks live in Cambridge from the lovely guys over at ASOS.
The tickets are for her gig taking place at Junction 1 in Cambridge on Tuesday, October 9, sorry for the short window, but I didn’t want you lovely readers to miss out.
As the gig is next week I have kept it simple to enter – all you have to do is follow both me @FashionNBarbie and @ASOSon Twitter – and to let me know you are ‘in it to win it’ just leave me a comment below, email me or tweet me telling me you have done that, making sure to include your email address – I will need to get in touch if you win!!!
The competition closes Sunday, October 7 at 8pm, I know sorry it doesn’t give you long but I need time to contact the winners and get them to ASOS – but seriously what an amazing prize!!!
Good luck, and don’t forget to check out ASOS to pick yourself out a new outfit in case you win the competition – you want to look your best for Azealia don’t you?!?!?
And to get in you in the mood, check out Azealia Bank’s new video, Luxury.
**T&Cs: The competition is open to everyone, but the prize is just ticket entry, you will have to arrange your own transport to Cambridge. No purchase is necessary to enter. Full details on how to enter is above. Entries limited to one per person. The editor’s decision on the winners is final. There is no cash alternative.**
ASOS are killing it lately with their affordable designer collaborations, there was Simeon Farrar's gorgeous woodland creature tees, Marios Schwab unveiled a line of lingerie due to hit the online retailer in November during London Fashion Week, and now London-based Elizabeth Lau has designed an exclusive cockney London themed collection.
The capsule collection features eight statement jumpers that are perfect for autumn, we've seen the OMG and Kapow from Markus Lupfer and the haunted ghost as part of J.W. Anderson for Topshop, well now you have 'Heart Breaker', 'Treacle' and Winston the dog. Oh, and if the cockney rhyming slang and adorable dog knits weren't enough, these beauties start at £65 – designer looks at high street prices and I want them all!
“I want to bring a big smile to all who wear these jumpers” Elizabeth Lau.
Which statement jumper will you be working this autumn?
Do you have a passion for fashion? If you just answered yes, like I did, you need to keep on reading as I have a great competition from Money Supermarket. I love checking out the latest trends, and I love even more when I can work the catwalk trends at a more affordable price, and autumn is one of my favourite times of year as I get to layer up!!!
If you are a fashion blogger who also enjoys scouring the internet for hot shopping picks and piecing together your dream outfits for the latest trends you are going to love Money Supermarket’s fashion competition, Passion for Fashion, where you can win £1,000 and an iPad 3.
How to enter:
It is simple to enter, all you need to do is put together five different outfits for the following categories: party, casual, outdoor, first date and office wear – basically you are creating the ultimate autumn/winter wardrobe. As this is for Money Supermarket you need to be wise with your budget and each outfit should be under £200 and be put together from your favourite online fashion retailers. Also don’t forget this is a complete look for each category – so don’t forget shoes and accessories.
Once you have gathered your dream looks, write a blog post explaining why you choose each part of your outfit, what trends you were looking to replicate and detailing where your looks came from. Once you’ve published your blog, drop a quick email with your URL to passionforfashion@moneysupermarket.comby September 24.
Also don’t forget share your awesome looks on Twitter by tagging them with the hashtag #PassionforFashion.
What you can win:
There will be six winners; one for each category, winning £200 each to spend on the outfit they’ve put together. There will also be an overall winner who will win £1000 to spend on all five outfits, as well as an iPad 3.
Getting started:
I’m excited to be judging the Outdoor category, so to get you inspired and give you an idea of what I am looking for here is my example of my Outdoor look:
One of the biggest trends for autumn/winter 2012, Town & Country is inspired by the country, textured fabrics, earthy tones, and equestrian touches. For me the best of the ‘town and country’ trends came from the likes of Burberry, Ralph Lauren, and Chloe, each were inspired by English tweeds, Fair Isle knits, equestrian details, and woodland creatures. This is a category that the high street really has really taken hold of and you could go in so many different directions. For my example look I have decided to focus on one of my favourite Burberry looks. I haven’t replicated it completely, instead I have put my own twist on the look, and I even managed to keep under the £200 budget!!!
New Look Khaki and Faux Leather Sleeve Jacket, £44.99 // Simeon Farrar Fox with Shirt and Tie T-Shirt at ASOS, £55 // Matalan Horse Skinny Buckle Belt, £3// ASOS Leather Single Strap Backpack, £35 // Lipsy Tweed Peplum Skirt, £35 // Barrats, Two Part Brogue Style Mid High Court Shoes, £15 // Butterfly by Mathew Williamson at Debenhams - Secret Gold Rabbit Adjustable Ring, £6.
Grand total = £193.99.
Basically, take the trend, make it your own and find it all for under £200 – I am so excited to see what direction you all take for Outdoors.
Want to find out more about how to enter? Well check out this handy video from the Money Supermarket guys and the dedicated Passion for Fashion competition page, where you can check out all the other judges, which includes my good pal Reena from Fashion Daydreams who is judging the First Date category.
A couple of weeks ago I shared the news that one of my favourite illustrators/designers Simeon Farrar was designing an exclusive collection for ASOS, well the Woodland Creatures are now ready to buy. Each t-shirt, whether long or short-sleeved is £55 each, so it means the only hard decision is which one to buy first!!!
Which one is your favourite? I am still edging towards the bunny face with bow tie but I do love the baseball-style shirts especially the howling wolves.
I shamelessly have a lot of Barbie adorned clothing and jewellery, maybe a little too much for someone my age, but I can’t help it I am obsessed. Whether it is a vintage Barbie tee, a Barbie signature necklace, or a kiddy Barbie watch I have it all in my wardrobe. I loved the t-shirt line that Miss Selfridge did, the Barbie x Uniqlo line was cute, and now I totally want to add these insane Barbie printed pieces from the ASOS Collection, the retailer’s trend led and directional line.
Granted I totally know I can’t pull this look off, I wish, but how amazing are these printed joggers with a matching sweatshirt? I am loving the retro eighties vibe, with the crew neckline sweatshirt and the contrast cuffs, and the slouchy style to the joggers and all in a knit fabric – kind of reminds me of the plain grey Fruit of the Loom one I was subjected to as a child. Add the faded collage print featuring Barbie dolls, kittens, glitter stars, butterflies, make-up, heels, an old-school camera, and even a pineapple and it was love at first sight!!!
It’s the insane print that completely sells it to me and I am thinking that this sweatshirt with 1986 popstar Barbie on the front is going to be my new comfort blanket on a cold night in front of the TV!!! The printed joggers do look comfortable though with their high-rise waist – but I think it takes a braver person than me to pull these beauties off.
When designers I gush about do an affordable collection I am sold before I have even seen a piece, I loved Olivia Rubin for Dorothy Perkins, I adore the countless collaborations coming from H&M and Topshop, and I am getting very excited about Simeon Farrar’s exclusive range of t-shirts coming soon to ASOS.
Inspired by woodland creatures, the collection of t-shirts features a number of archived prints including my favourite and beloved Kate Mouse and the bow-tie bunny that I totally need, as well as a couple of exclusive new styles including foxes, deers, and frogs.
As well as the t-shirts being extremely cute, the best bit is that the 12 prints with styles for both men and women will sell for only £55 each – this means you can snap up a designer print without it costing the earth.
I seriously can’t wait to see the whole collection, but I already think that I am going to need the bow-tie bunny and deer in my wardrobe for fashion week – roll on the end of August when they hit ASOS!!!
