The Best of Luxury Summer Swimwear

The summer season is finally here which means it's time to go on holiday! I have put together a HUGE swimwear edit, so whether a one-piece is your thing or you prefer bikini's, you'll find all the best designer swimwear right here for your summer vacation. If you love statement swimwear with bold colours and vibrant prints (perfect for lounging around the pool) then I have found a number of great styles to choose from. Alternatively, if you like classic bikini's with a sporty edge I have also included some of these options as well. I hope this edit will introduce you to some new brands which you may not have heard of before.

If you have liked this edit and would like to see more, then be sure to follow my 'Swimwear' board over on my Pinterest (details below).

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22

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Spring 17 Menswear - Top Collections

Earlier in the year I posted a review on my blog about the A/W 16 menswear shows. It was the first time I had written about menswear on my blog, but I felt inspired by what I has seen that season. Last month the Spring 17 menswear shows took place and I was once again feeling inspired by the collections so decided another review was in order. Marvelling at all the colour, print, cut and styling, here are my top collections...

Gucci

Travel, Marco Polo, Eclecticism, Culture, Exotic, Print, Embroidery, Imagination

Balmain

Beach, Block Colour, Crochet, Tied Waist, Denim, Lace Up Details, Loose Fitting, Suede, Beadwork

J.W. Anderson

Oversized, Artistic, Checks, Colour, Childlike Prints, Visual, Impulsive, Patchwork 

Louis Vuitton

Masai Checks, Safari, Africa, Travel, Animal Motifs, Zebra Print, Taupe, Knitwear, Trench Coats

Givenchy

Camouflage, Combat, Checkerboard, Sportswear, Khaki, Money Prints, Loose Silhouettes

Dior

Sleeveless Coats, Combat Trousers, Floral Prints, Mesh, Trench Coats, Metal and Beaded Necklaces

Paul Smith

Stripes, Checks, Bold Colour, Free-Spirited, Sporty, Floral Motifs, Coloured Collars

Roberto Cavalli

Travel, 70's, Morocco, Rockstar, Poncho, Embroidery, Clogs, Skinny Scarves, Flamboyant

If you want to see more menswear collections then take a look at my 'Menswear' board over on my Pinterest page (details below).

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22

Pinterest - phillippadesign

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On Trend Now - Camouflage

When Donatella sent a bevy of beauties down the runway at the Versace Spring 16 show wearing neon camo prints, it was a sure sign that camouflage was about to make a major comeback. This old school army inspired favourite is everywhere at the moment, from the runway at Saint Laurent and Ashish to the streets of all the main fashion capitals. Throwing on a camo jacket or shirt over a pair of skinny jeans instantly gives your outfit a street style edge, making a contrast from the clean lines of your paired down outfit. Take inspiration from Taylor Swift, Olivia Palermo and Fearne Cotton, and see how you can  style your camo outfit...

If you are looking to shop this trend and have a designer budget then your go to brands this season should be: Valentino, Burberry, Saint Laurent and Versace. If highstreet is your go to shopping destination then you can't go far wrong with Topshop and New Look.

1. Satin Bomber - Topshop £59 / 2. Playsuit - Versace / 3. T-Shirt - Topshop £36

4. Jacket - Valentino £3160 / 5. Skirt - Saint Laurent £465 / 6. Shirt - Topshop £45

7. Dungarees - New Look £24.99 / 8. Shirt - New Look £29 / 9. Parka - Mr&Mrs Italy £3435  

10. Scarf - New Look £7.99 / 11. T-Shirt - Peacocks £10 / 12. Shorts - River Island £25

13. Backpack - Jaded London £25 / 14. Platforms - Saint Laurent £550 / 15. Clutch - Versace

17. Clutch - Burberry £450 / 18. Tote -  MZ Wallace £185

Couldn't sign off this post without this blast from the past...

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22

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July Art Inspiration

Over on my Pinterest I have an 'Artists' board on which I post lots of wonderful art which is inspiring me. I love art and visiting exhibitions but I never really post about it on my blog. So I thought it was about time I introduced some new content to my blog and show you some of my current favourite artists. Some of these artists you may have heard of before but they may be a new find for me or I may have rediscovered their work...

Anthony Caro

Dan Lam

Grant Haffner

Joan Salo

Ugo Rondinone - 'Seven Magic Mountains', Nevada 2016

Faig Ahmed

Michael Burges

Gerhard Richter

Jules Olitski - Patutsky in Paradise, 1966

Ellsworth Kelly

Janet Echelman

Gabriel Dawe

Phyllida Barlow

Olivia Lambiasi

I hope you have found this post inspiring. If you have then be sure to follow my 'Artists' board on Pinterest (details below) for more work from all of the above artists plus lots more. I'd also love to hear from you if you know of any artists who you think i'd like!

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22

Pinterest - phillippadesign

Instagram - PhillippaDesign22

Style Inspiration - Selena Gomez

This week Selena Gomez turns 24, so to celebrate her birthday I have taken a look back at some of her best style moments. Last year Selena hired super stylist Kate Young to transform her look...and I have to say since then Selena has not put a foot wrong on the red carpet or the sidewalk. Her style has been elevated to serious high fashion stakes wearing sought after brands such as: Vetements, Monse, The Row, Rodarte and Givenchy and fronting her very first high fashion ad campaign for Louis Vuitton. Here are some of my favourite red carpet looks we have seen from Selena...

Whether it be dressing for the red carpet or street style, Selena always opts for classic pieces with subtle elements of sex appeal. Recently Selena has been wearing a lot of edgier pieces including knee high boots and leather trousers, but she styles them in a way which still makes them wearable for an everyday look. Here are a few of Selena's best street style looks and how you can 'get the look' for less...

Outfit 1

Outfit 2

Outfit 3

Outfit 4

Outfit 5

I hope you have enjoyed this edit! If you have, then be sure to head over to my Pinterest page (details below) and follow my 'Selena Gomez Style' board.

 

Phillippa x

 

Twitter  - @Phillippa22

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Brand To Know - Magda Butrym

I first spotted Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wearing the beautiful red floral printed silk summer shirt from this brand a few weeks ago,  I later spotted it on Pernille Tesibaek and Pandora Sykes posted a picture of herself on Instagram wearing a red velvet blazer with the same print. I just had to find out the name of the brand.....Magda Butrym. Founded in 2014, this relatively new luxury brand produces pieces with an emphasis on handcraftsmanship. It is not often you come across a brand that looks as if everything was designed with you in mind, but that is exactly how a feel. Each piece looks like it belongs in my wardrobe, perfectly complementing my personal style. Sharp tailored blazers, summer dresses with beautiful prints, mini dresses in suede, a-line leather skirts and crisp silk shirts with Victoriana ruffled collars...sartorial perfection!

The S/S 17 collection, in a largely red, black and white colour palette includes a number of great pieces which will not only look great in summer but will also be great transitional pieces as well for your autumnal wardrobe. You can shop online on the Magda Butrym website and in retail stores such as: Beyman, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Elyse Walker. Price Range: $315 - $3685

The brand already has a legion of  fans including celebrities, stylists and fashion editors. These include: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Ellie Goulding, Alessandra Ambrosio, Chrissy Teigen, Pandora Sykes, Pernille Teisbaek and Leandra Medine. As you can see these pieces can be perfectly styled for casual high fashion street style look.

If you have fallen in love with this brand as much as me, then be sure to follow them on their social media channels and take a look at their website to see the full S/S 17 collection and a full list of stockists.

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22

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Playlist - Favourite Songs

I have put together a few music playlists on my blog, usually consisting of new music that I have discovered. However for this post, and because Glastonbury took place last month, I thought I would compile a list of my all-time favourite songs. Some of these have personal meaning to me, and others are songs which I have loved since my childhood in the 90's. Sometimes it can be hard to explain exactly why you love a song, they just resonate with you for whatever reason...

Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve

Stop Crying Your Heart Out - Oasis

Hard Sun - Eddie Vedder

F.E.A.R - Ian Brown

Karma Police - Radiohead

Beautiful Day - U2

Hoppipola - Sigur Ros

re:Stacks - Bon Iver

This Year's Love - David Gray

Heroes - David Bowie
Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall - Coldplay
Skin Of The Night - M83
Red - Taylor Swift

Into The Fire - Thirteen Senses

Ordinary World - Duran Duran

Wonderful Life - Hurts

This Woman's Work - Kate Bush

Don't Go - Rae Morris

Every Breath You Take - The Police

Seven Wonders - Fleetwood Mac

Elastic Heart - Sia

Solsbury Hill - Peter Gabriel

Common People - Pulp

Beautiful - Moby

One Day Like This - Elbow

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22

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The Best of Resort 17 - Part 5

The final part of my Resort 17 review series...

Creatures of The Wind

English Florals, Embroidered Parkas, Blush Tones, Loose Silhouettes, Soft Prints, Fur Trims

Cedric Charlier

Masculine/Feminine, Leather, Statement Florals, Ruffles, Slip Dresses, Smocked Waists

Just Cavalli

Disco, 70's, Sequins, Applique Patches, Rainbow, Snake Print, Circus, Mix-and-Match, Palm Leaves

MSGM

Sporty, Stripes, Layering, Graphic, Floral Motifs, Checks, Oversized, Slogans

Miu Miu

90's Rave Culture, Metallic, Cosmic Prints, Trippy, Layering, Platforms,  Bold Accessories

House of Holland

Mexico, Conversational Prints, Loose Silhouettes, Applique, 90's Denim, Checks, Pineapple's

3.1 Phillip Lim

California, Micro-Pleats, Botanical Prints, Slip Dresses, Chiffon, Masculine Tailoring 

Tory Burch

Jamaica, Bold Prints, Beach, Texture, Shells, Ruffles, Crochet, Tie-Dye, Stripes, Indigo

Nicole Miller

Art Nouveau, Whimsical, Flounce Hems, Coral, Delicate Prints, Off The Shoulder, Chiffon

Elie Saab

Painterly Blooms, Beads, Tiered Lace, Pastel Shades, Minimalist Silhouettes, Evening Dresses

I hope you have enjoyed my Resort 17 review series! For a more extensive look at all the Resort 17 collections, including many not mentioned on my blog, then head over to my Pinterest (details below) and take a look at my 'Fashion Lookbooks' board.

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillipp22

Pinterest - phillippadesign

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On Trend Now - Tracksuits

Ok so i'm not talking about Paris Hilton circa 2004 wearing a pink velour Juicy Couture tracksuit, but more so the recent revival of this laid back 2-piece which was seen on the S/S 16 catwalk. Reworked and paired with feminine chiffon blouses and halterneck tops, the negative connotations associated with the humble tracksuit have been pushed aside. As a further move on from the huge athleisure trend of the past few seasons, tracksuits are moving into luxe territory with  floral prints and adorned with embroidered motifs. There is no denying the nostalgic element to this trend. Many of us will remember rocking a tracksuit back in the 90's, albeit with less grace than we would now. Mel C in her Sporty Spice days, Damon Albarn in his Kappa tracksuit, Gwen Stefani in No Doubt... there are so many references to mention. The most coveted tracksuit as seen on the runway was the Vetements green 2-piece with oversized sleeves, which sold out as soon as it hit stores. Whilst Gucci's embroidered tracksuit has graced the cover of countless magazines and has been worn by the likes of Rihanna.

When it comes to making this trend work for 2016, it's all about new silhouettes and clever styling. Do not dig out your old school PE kit and try to make it work for the present day, this trend is not about 'vintage' but rather it's about tailoring and luxe fabrics. Tapered bottoms and stripe detailing bring this look up to date. Whilst drawstring waists are in, your outfit still needs to look 'put together' and not slouchy. This trend is all about a new wave of cool street style - tracksuits teamed with Celine fur slides, or glammed up with heels will elevate your look to high fashion stakes. Here is a selection of the best designer and high street tracksuit pants...

For styling, take reference from the likes of Lily Aldridge, Elle Fanning and Chiara Ferragni. Note how effortless their looks are, with few accessories and no over complicated layering.

For more Athleisure wear, street style and runway looks, be sure to follow my Pinterest (details below)

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22

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Designer vs High Street

So you've fallen in love with the most coveted designer bag or pair of shoes of the season, but there's the slight problem of that designer price tag to contend with? Well thankfully high street retailers  are quick to jump on board of the must have seasonal catwalk pieces and deliver convincing dupes. When it comes to dupes, you either love them or hate them. Not everyone wants to wear a so obviously copied budget version of the latest 'It' bag, but some people wear dupes to such great effect you would think they were wearing the real thing. Its all down to personal preference. I have rounded up the best dupes currently available on the high street and compared them to their designer counterparts.

Phillippa x

Twitter - @Phillippa22

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