Elephant Print Skater Dress from New Look

There's lots of sales happening or imminent right now, and New Look is no exception.  Customers can currently get up to 60% off hundreds of products and there are some real bargains to be had.

I love this black and white elephant print dress that has been reduced to just £10.  It's a classic and elegant style that will fit well and flatter most figures, and the unique pattern makes it fun and quirky.  It can be worn as a simple day dress with pumps, or made edgy by adding black ankle boots and a leather jacket.

Striped Skirt Skater Dress from AX Paris

I've been keeping half an eye on this season's Celebrity Big Brother - not so much for the actual CBB shenanigans themselves, but more to see what presenter Emma Willis is wearing! I'm really admiring her taste and style at the moment.

I have spotted her wearing a couple of flared skirted skater dresses with a horizontal stripe across the skirt.  The first one was a monochrome one, paired with a gorgeous black coat (allegedly from Hobbs - maybe this Maisie one?) for the winter weather.  I've found a very similar dress at AX Paris on sale for just £14.99 (reduced from £25).  As with all skater dresses, it's a really flattering shape and I'd pair with black tights and ankle boots for a cold weather look.

The other dress I have found is this red and black contrast wetlook stripe skater dress, for a bit more of a colour pop.  Again, it's from AX Paris and is reduced from £35 to £19.99 and it would look great teamed with a black coat, tights and boots to see one through the season in style!

Maryna Kick Dress from Baukjen

Customers can now save up to 60% in the Baukjen sale where the focus is understated, everyday looks women can wear and still look chic and elegant.  The quality of the products is excellent, the styling is classic and each piece is easy to wear for most occasions.

I'm very taken with this Maryna kick dress in a fabulous ink blue, almost purple colour.  Made from a heavyweight jersey fabric with elastane, it will create a gorgeously flattering feminine silhouette with the full skirt balancing out the hips.  It can be worn simply as is or cinch in the waist with a thick leather belt for a lovely hourglass shape.  This colour has been reduced in the sale from £139 to £97; a black version is also available for £111.

Best of the Sales: French Connection

At this time of year it's hard to not be savvy when it comes to those post-Christmas sales.  This year, most stores are offering at least 50% off items and I suspect it will get even better after the New Year, if one can hold on!

With that in mind, I have been developing another website that looks at what's around - in less detail but more quantity.  It's still going to highlight great value and great quality items but with a wider range.

My first attempt is the French Connection sale.  I've found six items that I really love, that are bargaintastic or are investment pieces.  I think my favourite, for sheer uniqueness and value for money is this Disco Leopard flared skirt.  Originally £95, it's just £28.50 right now!

So please have a look at my new site and let me know what you think!

Delightful Dress: The Style London Women's Classic Tartan Red Skater Dress at Box Clothing

Tartan (or plaid to Americans) is a huge print for AW13 and there are so many fab items in the pattern.  I have found a classic, flattering, pleated skirted skater dress in a simple black and red check, which is simply gorgeous.  It's by designer brand The Style London, available from Box Clothing.  Wear in colder months with tights, boots and a leather jacket for a fab, urban, warm look.

It's £42 but new customers can get 10% off first orders by signing up to Box Clothing's newsletter.

Delightful Dress: Anna Scholz Lace Skater Dress from Simply Be

I haven't posted about dresses in a while, probably due to the weather; it's not really dress weather at the moment I suppose.  But then I spotted this fantastic Anna Scholz lace skater dress which is available from Simply Be.  It's simply stunning and flattering with a shaped bodice and waistband to create curve-skimming gorgeousness.  It's not clingy, so will skim one's shape effortlessly.  Wear for Christmas parties with contrasting bright, killer heels and look amazing.  But it's selling out fast - sizes 14 to 18 are still available, 20 and 26 low stock and 22, 24 and 28 are out of stock.  So act quickly!

It's £70 but new customers can get 10% off first orders at Simply Be with the code CQHC5 until the end of the year.

Wardrobe Staple: Original Vans

Back in the day (well, I'm thinking 90's), Vans were the shoes the cool kids wore.  They were stylish, comfy and definitely trendy when hanging out with all the skater boys.  And it seems as though they are having a bit of a revival - hurrah!  They've been luxuriated in satin at Céline and chosen to be part of a collaboration with Kenzo.  But I believe nothing beats the basic, original and the best slip-on versions.  They are so classic and versatile and can be teamed with casual jeans or shorts - but also sundresses and pencil skirts.

There is a ton of patterns and prices out there for original Vans, so as ever it is worth doing some research before buying.  As a rule, the slip-ons should be around the £30 - £35 mark, depending on pattern and availability, but they can be found for less.

If I were to go for a plain version, I'd pick these simple blue ones, available on sale from Footasylum for £29.99 in sizes 3 to 7.  They also come in black but are slightly more expensive, and only available in sizes 4 and 7.

But I am very tempted by this classic check version, available from Amazon for around £30.  I'd go for the pink, grey and black I think!

Other deals at the moment include:

• Cloggs - 20% off Vans with code VANS20 until 31st July.
• Allsole - stocks Vans and various codes available until the end of the month.
• Office - some Vans on sale.

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: Sequin Pattern Skater Dress from Fashion World

A girl can never have too many dresses so here's another one!  Fashion World is an online and mail order catalogue company, focusing on plus-size womenswear from sizes 12 to 32.  They have a great variety of on-trend, quality clothing, shoes and accessories, all designed to flatter and compliment all figures.

This sequin patterned skater dress is perfect for summer. The design is delicate, the colours subtle and pretty.  Skater dresses flatter curves enormously, by drawing in the waist and then skimming the hips and thighs; this particular dress goes one step further - by having a pleated skirt, it will hide any lumps and bumps and create a wonderful, girlie silhouette.  Being cotton and elastane, it will be cool and fit well.  It's a fantastically, versatile, savvy purchase - I'd team with casual sandal wedges and a cardi in the day or nude heels and a pashmina for the evening.

I think this dress is great value already at just £27.50, but new customers can get 10% off with code CQHC5, which is ongoing until the end of the year.  It's available in sizes 12 to 22.

What's your preferred dress style?  Would you wear a shorter skater dress like this or do you prefer a maxi?  Or something more fitted?  Let me know in the comments below!

Delightful Dress: F&F Limited Edition Jacquard Prom Dress from Tesco

Prom dresses are gorgeous and versatile.  They can be dressed down with a casual leather jacket and wedges or glammed up for a night on the town with some amazing accessories and killer heels.  They are super-flattering by holding in the waist but skimming the hips to create a lovely, feminine shape.  Bigger busted women should look for prom dresses with round or v-neck necklines and smaller busted women can go for dresses with a higher neckline.

Tesco have a great range of dresses at the moment, and now is a good time to shop there, as they are doing their clubcard exchange promotion.  This means that every £5 in vouchers can be exchanged for £10 worth of vouchers for particular products - including clothing!  So essentially, customers are getting double something for nothing*!

I spotted this F&F Limited Edition Jacquard prom dress on the site, and it was also featured in Grazia magazine's Fashion Charts.  The neon green floral pattern is quirky and fun as well as being totally on-trend at the moment.  I'd wear it in the day and accessorise it with a belt to create the illusion of a small waist and team with some smarter sandal wedges and cream cardi.  The dress also comes in black and white and is available in sizes 10 to 20.  It's £35.

* Of course, there needs to be an initial spend to get the vouchers in the first place but hey ho.

Splendid Skirt: Ice Blue Jacquard Skirt from Miss Selfridge

The Miss Selfridge sale is now on, with up to 70% off.  This ice blue jacquard patterned skirt is lovely and the skater style is very much on-trend at the moment, as well as being perfect for hotter weather.  The benefits of skater skirts are the high waist and loose, flared fit which can create the illusion of a slimmer waistline and hips.  With this particular skirt, as jacquard fabric is quite thick, it would work best balanced out with a tighter top - I'm thinking a tucked-in slinky white silk vest top would look amazing along with some fab wedged sandals (maybe the white and silver Steve Madden ones I found the other day?).

Originally £35, it's £17 in the sale and available in sizes 8 to 16.

Splendid Skirt: Naomi Flocked Aztec Skater Skirt from Boohoo.com

Congratulations to Boohoo, who have just won 'Best Online Retailer' in ITV's Lorraine's High Street Fashion Awards 2013.  To celebrate, they are offering 15% off everything online till 27th May with code OFFER15, so a good time to take advantage!

This Aztec patterned skater skirt combines three key trends of SS13 - the tribal-inspired print, pastels and the skirt style - in an understated, pretty and chic manner.  Perfect for warmer months, it will look great combined with a simple white t-shirt or vest top and sandal wedges.  Normally just £20, it's £17 with the discount and comes in sizes 8 to 14.

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?

Delightful Dress: Amelia Red Prom Dress from Lipstick Boutique

Ahhh, The Only Way is Essex.  A modern, cultural phenomenon or completely outrageous car crash entertainment?  Opinion is divided, but it's certainly created a number of marketing opportunities for its stars such as Amy Childs, Lauren Pope and Lydia Rose Bright, not least in the fashion industry.  Lipstick Boutique is an online store that stocks the creations of many of the cast members and some of it is good value and really rather nice!

This poppy red lace prom dress is half price in the sale and is just £35.  The high-necked flower appliqué top is intricate and pretty and the gathered waist and ruffled skirt with netting underneath will be amazingly flattering.  The colour is eye-catchingly bright and superb.  I don't think one would need to accessorise this hugely - some black heels and a few simple bracelets would make this dress look really classy.  It is still available in sizes 8 - 16.

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: Blue Cutwork Skater Dress from Warehouse

There's 20% off dresses at Warehouse today and tomorrow (ends Friday at midnight) so it's a good opportunity to find something pretty!  There are so many fantastic dresses on the site, but I have gone for a skater dress in this season's shade of royal blue.  The pattern is not quite a broderie anglaise design, but it's certainly headed in that direction and I love it - this makes it a bit more interesting and delicate than the average skater dress.  The capped sleeves, cut of the dress and the scalloped hem all contribute to a flattering silhouette.  It's available in sizes 6 - 16 and is usually £95 but with the discount, it's £76.