Strapless Pleated Maxi Dress from Marks and Spencer

Today, Marks & Spencer launched a fantastic three day Mega Event offering 20% off clothing, shoes and accessories - it ends on Tuesday 25th March and is online only.

I have had my eye on this cobalt blue maxi dress for a while now. The cobalt blue is one of this season's key colours. The pleats, ruching and belted waist will ensure the fit is flattering to most figures. It's totally glamourous and is perfect for an evening out, teamed with gold heels, jewellery and a sophisticated updo hairstyle. It could also be worn to a wedding - either as a guest or as one of the bridesmaids. Originally £89, with 20% off it's £71.20 during the Mega Event.

Delightful Dress: Louche Hensley Tree Print Dress from Joy the Store

Another day, another sale and today it's Joy the Store.  Again, there are so many gorgeous items available but I thought another lovely dress was highly appropriate!  I particularly like this Louche Hensley tree print dress which has been reduced from £59 to £35 in the sale.  The shimmery, silky pattern is divine and different and the high necked, full-skirted style is classic and refined.  With a hint of elastane, it will fit perfectly, nipping in the waist for a gorgeous, flattering shape.

Best of the Sales: Atterley Road

Atterley Road stocks some gorgeous, designer fashion so it's worth having a look when there is a sale on.  New lines have just been added plus there are further reductions meaning there's now up to 75% off.

On my new site, I've picked out a few of my favourites from Whistles, Filippa K, Day Birger et Mikkelsen and Lamb to name just a few!  But should I have to choose just the one, it would be this Allium B Alexa bead collar dress reduced from £135.00 to £79.00.  A simple navy with a brown contrasting Peter Pan beaded collar means that it is simple yet elegant.  It can be worn for day or night, work or casual - just team with tights and ankle boots for an up-to-date look that works for any occasion!  Contrasting accessories would also look fab with this outfit.

Best of the Sales: Modcloth

There's 50% off sale items on the US site Modcloth right now, so a perfect time to take advantage of stocking up on some fab retro and vintage clothing, footwear and accessories from America!  I've picked out six of my faves on the new site - as ever, it's so hard to choose just one when the sales are so amazing!  However, I find you can't really go wrong with a Bernie Dexter dress, so how about this 'France and Frolic' one?  A beautiful pastel blue dress with a French flavour, classic and fitted to cinch and flatter the wait and bust.  It's reduced from $155.99 to $77.99 (so about £47) - trés jolie et chic.

Keep enjoying the sales and I'll keep looking out for the best quality, gorgeous bargains!

Delightful Dress: Cream Tea Tunic from Dorothy Perkins

There are many great offers on the Dorothy Perkins website right now.  There's up to 30% off denim, a 20% student discount, special offers plus lots still available in the sale.

I've found this fantastically patterned tunic dress in the sale.  The shape is perfectly stylish and flattering, with a belt to cinch in one's waist and feminine capped sleeves.  It can be worn as a summer dress with some simple sandals, or as a tunic with leggings and jeans.  But it's the fabric's print that really stands out for me.  It's so unusual and pretty, with a nostalgic vintage flavour.  It brings to mind - for me - ladies enjoying a picnic (as opposed to a cream tea, as the dress is named).  This dress comes in small/medium and medium large and is reduced from £22 to £17.60.

Terrific Top: Stone Lace Blouse from Kaliko

There is nothing more feminine, delicate and ethereal than lace clothing - a gorgeous, floaty dress or perfect fitted top.  There are also so many looks that it compliments - elegant and classy, funky and fun or vintage and offbeat.

I've found this beautiful, stone coloured lace blouse in the Kaliko sale.  It's simple but beautiful.  The scalloped edge, v-neck and ribbon tie waist means that it will flatter one's top half fantastically.  The neutral colour means that it can be paired with bright and/or patterned bottoms to create a vibrant colour pop, or keep it pale and sophisticated with a white pencil skirt and courts.  Originally £65, it's been reduced to £49 and comes in sizes 8 to 20.  Delivery is free at Kaliko - always a plus in my book.

Delightful Dresses: Modcloth Sale

The Modcloth sale is on with up to 50% off some gorgeous, vintage-inspired pieces and, quite frankly, if they're doing a sale, I'm going to find a perfect dress!  There are two types of dress that I have been after.  The first is a retro summer dress, that I could wear to an afternoon, vintage-themed tea party and maybe go for a little dance afterwards at a Lindy Hop club!  I've chosen this 'Head Bow-ver Heels' dress by Knitted Dove which is half price at $58.99 (about £39).  The style and shape, with the empire line waist, is very flattering and the white bow collar is just charming.
The second dress I want is something I can wear to the office and be cool and chic, but also something that I can wear in the day when not in the office.  And I have found two!  The first is this 'Stop and Smell the Hibiscus' shift dress by Tulle Clothing which is half price at $34.99 (about £23).  The navy, fuchsia, coral, red and white floral pattern is subtle but pretty and the collar makes it work well for the office.  The belt is removable, but will flatter the waist brilliantly.
Another dress I would wear to the office, as well as out and about, is this chiffon 'Strolling the Seashore' dress in mint green.  It's a similar style to the above but I love the colour combination and attention to detail.  Again, it's half price at just $24.99 (about £16.50).
So many dresses, so little time!  There are literally thousands of dresses in the sale - as well as other clothing and accessories - so it's a perfect time to grab a real bargain.

Delightful Dress: Ashley Shirt Dress from Baukjen

Shirt dresses are classic, versatile and comfortable.  They can be thrown on and teamed with jeans or leggings, bare legs or with tights and look chic.  I would pick a cotton or cotton blend one and make sure that it has a decent tie waist to really flatter the figure - otherwise one runs the risk of looking like one is wearing an oversized man's shirt.

The Baukjen sale is on and I have found a lovely blue and white striped shirt dress, available in sizes 8 to 16.  It can be dressed up with wedged sandals (I think it would be fab with these Steve Madden ones) or wear with skinny jeans and Converse for an off-duty, casual look.  Originally £109, it's been reduced to just £43.60.

Splendid Skirt: McGregor Skirt from Fever London

Apologies for the gap in posting - it's been one of those weeks!  But I'm back, checking out the ongoing sales and today I've been perusing the Fever London sale.

This Fever McGregor skirt in a citrus fruit pattern is cheerful and summery. The a-line cut with the belted waist will flatter most shapes and the flared skirt will ensure one is kept cool during hotter days.  Wear with a bright, citrus coloured top and sandals for a chic, effortless daytime look.

The skirt is available in sizes 6 to 18 and has been reduced from £59.99 to £29.99.  In a mainly cotton material with a hint of elastane for a perfect belted fit, this is a great, quality bargain to see one through the summer months.

Summer Staple: White Broderie Anglaise Dresses

Following on from my blog post last night about Ugg wedges, I wanted to find the dress that I felt would go perfectly with them.  My criteria was straightforward: classic, white, 100% cotton, broderie anglaise and on sale at a great price.  It also needed to be in stock and available in a range of sizes.

I have found two versions what I was looking for, in two different price ranges, both of which will go perfectly with the Lucianna Ugg wedges!  Both have a gorgeous, broderie anglaise pattern which is elegant, feminine with a hint of vintage.  Both are simple enough to wear during the day, every day - but could easily be dressed up for the evening with some colourful accessories and shoes.  And they're both totally gorgeous, classic and should last season after season.

The first is this white cotton skater style dress in the Dorothy Perkins sale.  The capped sleeves and fitted waist will flatter, as will the flowing, flared skirt.  It's quite a young style, so not only would it work well with the wedges, but it could be dressed up with some neon accessories - I'm thinking a bright pink necklace, bangles and/or nail colour!  Originally £24, it's been reduced to £15 which is an absolute bargain for a dress that should stay on trend for years to come!  It's still available in sizes 6 and 12 to 22.

The second is this Jaeger broderie anglaise dress which is available on sale at House of Fraser.  The keyhole neckline with ruffles is very pretty and quirky and the tie waist will be amazingly flattering.  The length on this one is slightly longer than the Dorothy Perkins dress, if one wishes to be more modest.  This dress is available in sizes 10 to 14, and has been reduced from £180 to £85.  Although this is slightly more pricey, it's an investment piece which will last and stay chic year after year.

What's your favourite summer outfit? Do you like a cool, cotton dress like this - or do you prefer cropped trousers or shorts? Let me know in the comments below!

Delightful Dress: Hybrid Jailhouse Pencil Dress from Lovarni

Another day, another sale!  Today I've been perusing the Lovarni site, which is an independent fashion retailer who are offering up to 75% off in their sale.  They stock a range of brands including Little Mistress, A Postcard from Brighton, Lipsy, Jarlo, Rare and Marc B and they are always worth checking, as they have a price match promise plus 10%, so you should always manage to get the best deal from them.

Lovarni is also the home of the Hybrid brand, which has been spotted on celebrities and other famous faces. The dresses are made from a super stretch body sculpting fabric and elegant, sophisticated styles that flatter all figures.  I've found this fabulous, 1950's vintage-inspired Jailhouse pencil dress in their sale.  With a blazer, it could be worn to the office but then whip that jacket off and you've got the perfect dress for a cocktail or two in the evening!  With the nipped in, belted waist and bodycon fit with a hint of elastane, it will hug one's figure and flatter perfectly.  Team with killer heels for a stylish and chic look which oozes sophistication and glamour.

The dress has been reduced from £95 to £45 and is still available in a variety of colours and sizes.  I would chose this fairly neutral cream and black version and team with colourful accessories and a bright lipstick, but I'm also quite taken with the fuchsia pink and black version.

What colour would you choose? Leave your comments below!

Delightful Dress: Black Elephant Print Peter Pan Collar Dress from Sheinside.com

Definitely, one of the best things about writing this blog is finding new and exciting online stores that stock items that can't be found on the High Street - or even in this country!  Many of the foreign stores I have found lately focus on the vintage/retro look - which I love - but Sheinside.com has that and more!  New items are added to the site every day, so it's really easy to get something unique, interesting and fabulous.

This black and gold elephant print dress is really fun and funky.  The elephant pattern and striking colours for me creates an impression of the far East - think sumptuous silks, sparkly gold and wandering safari animals.  The A-line style of the dress is very flattering too; it will create a very feminine silhouette by pulling in the waist but flaring out underneath.  And a Peter Pan collar is always cute!

This dress would look fantastic with a few simple accessories - maybe a great hairband and some bracelets. I'd then add some black t-bar peep-toe heels to create a lovely, vintage look with a modern twist.

This dress is on sale at the moment, reduced from $89 to $59 (so about £38) but an extra bonus of Sheinside is that there is free worldwide shipping - brilliant!  Also, new customers can get 15% off their first order by signing up to their email list, but I imagine this won't work on sale items.  But worth a try!  Let me know how you get on in the comments below.

Father's Day Gift Ideas: Comic-Con Gifts at Play.com

There's nothing like being prepared for gift giving, hence the second Father's Day post of the day.  There are a couple of daily deals on at Play.com today only and I think both of these would be fantastic for the comic book fan Dad in one's life.  They both expire at midnight, so if you're after them, get cracking!

The first is this fab Superman wallet and belt gift set which is half price today at £9.99.  I love the retro comic strip styling of the wallet and the silver buckle on the belt is perfect for any Superman.  I also like the quirkiness of it - I can imagine the conversations to be had when the wallet comes out when it's time to pay!  Although, being Father's Day - he really shouldn't be paying, should he?!  It comes in a gift box, so a perfect pressie.

Or why not take inspiration from one of the most famous infamous fathers in the entire universe?  This black and white Darth Vader cotton t-shirt is brilliant and will also make a great gift for any Star Wars fan.  Simple but effective, will Dad embrace the Dark Side of the Force?

Delightful Dresses: About the Artist Dress & Soda Fountain Dress from Modcloth

I am afraid that I can't stay away from the US site Modcloth.  There are so many amazing items on the site, especially their dresses.  For this post, I have chosen two dresses that I feel are gorgeous, versatile and great value but, to be honest, I could have chosen far, far more!

The first dress I love is this 'About the Artist' lilac dress.  Made from a soft cotton, it is perfect for keeping pretty and cool in the summer months.  I adore the whole style of this dress, from the capped sleeves, darted bust area, ruffles and v-neck to flatter the top half, the flowing skirt to flatter the bottom half and the belted waist to create a beautifully defined, feminine silhouette.  It comes in a great range of sizes - from small to 3XL - and is $52.99.  That's about £35 which isn't bad for a dress like this.

The second dress I have chosen is even better value and slightly more practical - but still pretty!  This cotton stretch 'Soda Fountain' dress comes in cherry red, cola black, purple grape and ginger yellow.  Again, being an A-line style, the fit is super-flattering and being cotton is will be cool to wear (in all senses of the word!).  The element of stretch material in this one also will allow for a perfect fit.  As it's slightly plainer than the 'About the Artist' dress, I think this would work wonderfully as a summer office outfit as well as a more casual day dress.  It's $44.99 (about £30) - so again, great value for a great quality, cotton summer dress.

The cheapest Modcloth shipping to the UK is about $17 (about £11), not including any customs charges - various options are available though.

I've also just noticed that you can invite friends to join Modcloth and get a $15 voucher - so might be worth having a look at that too for extra savings!

Delightful Dress: Pippa Dee White Lace Dress from Amazon

I think one of the prettiest and easiest Summer outfits is a simple, white lace dress.  There are so many ways to wear it: with bright accessories and heels, with strappy sandals or with a denim or leather jacket or cardigan when it's cooler.  So versatile, it can be worn casually or dressed up for a special occasion.

This Pippa Dee white lace dress, available from Amazon, is just perfect.  A classic shift dress shape that should never go out of style, the lace fabric is delicate and feminine and the contrasting belt flatters the waist area.  The length is fairly modest too, finishing just above the knee.  It's available in sizes 8 to 18 and is just £15 instead of the recommended £28.

Summer Staple: Pink & Green Floral Belted Bathing Suit from Unique Vintage

There's 20% off at Unique Vintage until tomorrow (28th May) with the code MEM20 so it's a great opportunity to stock up on some fab, retro pieces!

I love this pink, white and green floral swimsuit.  Fabulously retro, it's flattering in all the right places, with a modest but pretty sweetheart neckline and belted for a defined, feminine shape.  The pink ruffles add to the delicacy of this swimsuit.

Normally $97, with the discount it is $77.60 (about £51) and shipping is about $36 (£24).  It comes in sizes small to extra-large.

Delightful Dress: Emilia Dress from Coast

So I was scrutinising dresses from the BAFTA Awards last Sunday and was very taken by Sienna Miller's box pleat long-sleeved dress from Matthew Williamson’s Fall 2013 collection.  I particularly love the aqua colour, but the cut, length and pleats in the skirt make the dress just perfect.

Searching for something similar online, I found this powder blue Emilia dress from Coast.  It's not an exact match, but I think takes the best bits of the Matthew Williamson dress and expands on them.  I love the ruffle folds on the shoulders, which add an attractive element of interest that the original dress doesn't have and the belt ensures a flattering waistline.  Better yet, until 18th May, there's 25% off full-priced dresses at Coast with the code STYLE25 - so instead of being £160, this dress can be bought for £120 - so one can get celebrity catwalk style for even less!  Beautiful, savvy and canny.  What could be better?

Splendid Skirt: Floral Piper Skirt from Darling Clothes

Darling Clothes is a small, independent label which specialises in feminine, vintage inspired and quintessentially English styles with an edge.  It's stocked in various stores such as Topshop and has an online site too.

At the moment, they are offering a Bank Holiday special, with 25% off full-priced items with the code FLASH25 (until Tuesday).  This floral hand drawn floral print pleated skirt with wove chain belt is really pretty for Spring.  Wear with a simple blouse or vest top and pumps, it is perfect for daytime chic.  And with 25% off, it's £41.25 (usually £55) and comes in sizes extra small to extra large.

Delightful Dress: Slash Neck Striped Fit & Flare Skater Dress from Marks and Spencer

The Marks and Spencer sale has been on for a little while but there are still some nice bargains to be had.  I like this monochrome striped skater dress, which has been reduced from £49.50 to £32 and is on trend for Spring/Summer 2013.   With a little stretch in the material and a belted waist, it should fit comfortably and will be flattering.  Sizes 8 - 16 and 22 are still available.

Delightful Dress: Sugarhill Boutique Flamingo Midi Dress from Rock My Vintage

Rock My Vintage is a fab online store selling original vintage pieces, as well as more modern, vintage-inspired clothing and accessories.  It's easy to shop by style, brand or era so simple to locate any gorgeous items that you are after!

I love this 1940's inspired flamingo bird print day dress in navy from the brand Sugarhill Boutique, available in sizes 10 - 14.  It is flowing, feminine and flattering, with its cowl neck and contrasting patent pink belt.  The pleated, longer length skirt makes it graceful and elegant.  It will look lovely for a summer wedding with some nude heels or it can be glammed up with some brighter ones for an on-trend colour clash!  It's £58 from Rock My Vintage, but with the code RMV8 there's 8% off until the end of the year, making it just over £50.