Style Steal: Valentino inspired heels

From the moment I set my eyes on Valentinos latest offering of shoes I fell head over heels (literally!!). However the price soon brought me back to reality, at almost €700 a pair they aren't exactly affordable. 

Before my recent trip to the UK I had a browse online at some of the big high street stores websites as I knew I needed  a shopping plan before heading over to make the most of my short trip! I badly needed a new pair of heels that I could wear every day, not just for a night out. When I found this pair I was thrilled with myself!

Not only were they very similar to the Valentino pair I had been lusting after, they were a fab snake skin print (very popular at the minute), the heel wasn't too high (perfect for everyday wear) and the upper was leather (great for comfort). Best of all these shoes were only £65 (approximately €78), which I think is very reasonable since I plan on wearing them into the ground! I purchased this pair in Office and they also come in an all black version. 

Having already worn these on a night out and undertaken a considerable amount of walking in them I can assure you that they are quite comfortable. I styled mine with a pair of turn up denims but I think they would also look well with a pencil skirt. If you want to invest in a pair but don't have an Office store near to you they are available to buy online at office.co.uk, there is a £5 delivery charge to ROI customers.

High Street Steal: Burberry inspired clutch

When I saw the 3D flower petal clutches on the Burberry Prorsum SS14 catwalk I fell in love instantly! They are super girly and pretty and come in an aray of pastel shades. They are also a little different to many of the more structured clutch bags around recently. Burberry's offering is slightly slouchy and perfect for prettying up an outfit for a night out but wouldn't look out of place at afternoon tea!

They have named this piece 'Petal' and it is available in deerskin or vinyl ranging in price from €950 to €1195! Yes, we know very steep! 

Luckily we have found a high street version for a very small fraction of the price! The Savida collection at Dunnes Stores are known for their catwalk inspired pieces and exceptional quality at a very reasonable price. 

These Savida clutches are just in stores recently and are an absolute steal at only €25. The quality is also lovely as is the finish. 

The bags are also surprisingly spacious! Make sure to get to your nearest Dunnes Stores because these beauties will fly out the door!

Style Focus: Kim Kardashian

Love her or loathe her, there is no denying that Kim Kardashian is one of the most interesting and influential celebrities today. Between them Kim and her siblings have modelling contracts, clothing labels and makeup lines and there is no denying that the world is obsessed with this family.

Kim's style has evolved over the years and she now has some of Hollywood's top stylists and clothing brands at her disposal, as well as a fiance who prides himself on his fashion sense! We are going to show you how easily Kim's sultry look can be achieved on a high street budget. This look is actually very achievable due to Kim's tendency to stick to a particular colour palette; neutrals, metallics or all black.

By keeping all your purchases within the one palette you can easily build a capsule wardrobe and mix and match pieces to create a wide variety of looks. Recently Kim has avoided a lot of colour apart from when she wants to make a statement, as at the Oscars earlier this month. Her soft neutral look is simple yet chic and perfect for spring.
For the basis of a typical casual Kim look I would start with a pair of jeans in a white or faded pale blue denim. This piece can be dressed up or down and combining it with a different camisole or tshirt each day will freshen your look.

We found a great pair of basic white skinny denims on boohoo.com for €16. Tshirts and vest tops are great for layering and are so inexpensive, you can literally pick them up anywhere. Head to you local Pennys or Dunnes Stores and pick up tops in grey, peach, stone and cream. You can also introduce denim to your outfit with a jacket or shirt thrown over for a casual look or make a statement by adding a luxurious coat.

Kim finishes her day time look with a pair of nude court shoes.

It is no secret that Kim loves to show off her hourglass figure and expose a bit of skin at the same time. Recently she has been spotted wearing midi skirt and crop top combos exposing just a touch of midriff, perfectly showing off her post baby body. When attempting to imitate this look remember to choose one body part to expose. If you are going to expose your tummy opt for a high neckline and skirt below the knee and vice versa. 

Kim is also a fan of a body con dress, this is clearly evident in The Kardashian Collection for Lipsy. A little black dress is essential in any girls wardrobe and will really work for you. The dress shown below is available on lipsy.co.uk now along with the rest of the girls collection. 

Kim's skin tight dress choices are not the most forgiving so be sure to invest in good support underwear to conceal any lumps and bumps. Finally keep the finishing touches very simple. Kim usually lets her outfit speak for itself with minimal jewelry and a simple strappy shoe. Barely there sandals are a favourite of the reality star and are all over the high street at the moment.

We love these metallic River Island sandals. Glossy hair and a smokey eye will complete your Kardashian makeover!

Transitional Dressing

 

After a great deal of contemplation we finally settled on an idea for our first blog post, I give you "Transitional Dressing for Dummies Spring 2014 edition". Not that we are implying that any of our readers/ potential readers (hopefully some of you will stick around after this piece!) are incapable of selecting appropriate trans seasonal attire but from our careful observation it seems that a lot of girls could do with a guide! It is that time of year when the weather is neither here nor there, the sun was splitting the rocks last week with temperatures in the mid teens when only a few weeks ago we were apparently facing some kind of mini apocalypse with every form of precipitation pelting at us. It seems to Beau Heaux that many women tend to lose the run of themselves once the mercury rises to anything above 12 degrees. Pasty limbs are exposed to the nation and this is usually followed by a lot of bemused looks and a bout of the flu a week later! This is where we have decided to step in and help by doing a great deal of investigation and selecting a few key items which will get you through this awkward period and will surely set you up for summer 2014.



First on our list is a pair of denim jeans, a staple in every woman's wardrobe and available in a cut to suit all shapes and sizes. The big trends for this season are The Boyfriend Jean and also The Distressed Ripped Jean. The best advice I could give would be to try several styles as you would be surprised what will suit you and if you find a pair you love buy two! Jeans are so practical as they can be dressed up or down so for a casual look style them with a tshirt, coat and flats. As the weather picks up you can lose a couple layers and wear this piece on into the Summer months. We found a great pair of Boyfriend jeans in Dunnes Stores for a steal at only €25.

Boyfriend Jeans €25 Dunnes Stores

 

A pair of comfy shoes are absolutely essential in any girls wardrobe and we love the old reliable pair of Converse. Team with your boyfriend jeans for a relaxed yet super stylish look. They literally will take you anywhere! Pair with a sundress or some cut off denim shorts for the perfect holiday sightseeing outfit and you are guaranteed to feel comfortable yet stylish all day. At this time of year I would advise investing in a white pair and staying clear of the darker colours. Pastels are a huge trend right now and can be easily incorporated into any outfit with a pair of shoes or some accessorising so why not purchase your converse in a pastel hue?

Every woman (and man) needs a good white shirt! This piece can instantly add sophistication to any outfit. You can also use a shirt to layer which is great for keeping warm on cooler days but also to protect your shoulders from the sun's rays during periods of intense heat. Layer it up with a camisole underneath in a complimentary shade (pastels and neutrals are good!) and throw on a chunky knit or a smart blazer over for a polished look.

A good white shirt can also be worn at night and looks fab with a pencil skirt or a pair of high waisted pants. Take inspiration from Kim Kardashian on this one!
Any outfit can become amazing with the help of a structured jacket, again this piece will take you absolutely anywhere and will instantly dress up a tired jeans and tshirt combo. Zara always seem to get it right at Spring time with their pieces and this item is really worth paying that extra few quid for. Tempting as it may be to pick up a black version I would stick to beige, tan, camel, grey etc, remember you want to be able to pull this piece out to wear to dinner when you're sunning yourself in Marbs!

 

Structured jacket €89.95 ZARA

 

My final recommendation would be to invest it a decent sized handbag. If you choose carefully you will literally be able to use this item every day. A good handbag should be able to hold your wallet, phone, keys, makeup bag, hairbrush and a pair of heels just incase! This bag should take you from work to town and back again. While there are some gorgeous bright colours on the high street at the moment be cautious, do you really want to roll up to work with a lime green bag swinging from your arm? Michael by Michael Kors have some great pieces at the moment but so too do high street favourites Zara and River Island. Lots of the high street stores are also selling real leather accessories too and these are worth paying the extra few euro for as they will last a lot longer and actually a lot of the time look better as they wear.

Real Leather Slouch Bag €100 River Island