Guest Post: Anya Sarre

I would like to introduce Anya Sarre, the author of the very first guest post on Style Up Savvy! Anya Sarre is one of Hollywood’s most influential trendsetters. A nationally recognized celebrity stylist, Sarre is known for her impeccable eye and ability to tie any look together with the perfect accessory. Named “Best Television Fashion Stylist” for her appearances on Entertainment Tonight, The Insider and countless other media outlets, Sarre is the go-to fashion expert for Hollywood’s biggest celebrities. x.

The Pleated Skirt: A Must For This Fall Season

Are you ready to look good and feel good this fall? Transport yourself back in time with these new fall fashions. Feel confident about your attire and wear clothes that flatter your body. When you wear what's flattering to your body type, everyone will compliment you. Everyone needs a confidence booster. The latest fall fashions could be just what the doctor ordered to get you out of that "blah" mood and help you feel like a million dollars.

Whether it is a plaid pleated skirt or a pleated maxi dress, you should be sure that this is the staple to have in your closet this year. Pleated skirts are flattering to nearly every body type and can be a huge success in a variety of environments. Pair your pleated skirt with a ruffled or button-up top with a cardigan over it and reclaim your innocence. Pleated skirts are available in a variety of bold primary colors and are the perfect addition to the wardrobe. Wondering about accessories? Well, here are a couple of ideas that may help.

Shoes are the most important accessories this fall. Try pairing your pleated plaid skirt with brogues, saddle shoes or other chunky flats. A wedge heel would look great with pleated skirts if you prefer a non-traditional approach.

Varsity vintage jackets are also en vogue this season. Consider pairing the skirt with this jacket, chunky earrings and a simple necklace. If you want a more gothic look, try an all black ensemble and complete the look with a dark black wig and deep gray eye shadow. The options are endless with the pleated skirt this fall season. Unleash your inner fashion designer and show us what you have got. We know you can come up with an idea that is different from any designer.

Get to your favorite mall or vintage store and shop for the pleated skirt. It is a staple of the fall fashion season and no girl should be without one. When you turn heads and receive numerous compliments, you feel more confident about your appearance. Don’t delay. Get started today.

-Anya Sarre

Dakota Fanning gives a style masterclass in easy University Dressing

Follow in Dakota Fanning's leather-clad footsteps with this casual look, perfect for attending lectures at university. Simply add a sweatshirt dress like this one from ASOS, some gorgeous leather boots like these from River Island and some tights if it's chilly. Enjoy your lecture in style! x.

Money Supermarket Passion for Fashion Blogger Competition

Last week I was contacted by Money Supermarket with regards to their current ‘Passion for Fashion’ Blogger Competition. I had to come up with an entire outfit for under £200 for these five given categories: First Date, Party, Office Wear, Casual and Outdoor. I took inspiration from the A/W 12 catwalks and tried to create similar high-end looks with high-street pieces. 

First Date:

Inspiration: Jil Sander, Dior

Trends: Peplum, Embellishment

Miss Selfridge Peplum BlouseDress £39

Zara  Statement Necklace £29.99

New look Nude Peep Toe Heels£24.99

New Look Embellished BalletPumps £17.99

Accessorize Embellished Clutch£16

ASOS Classic Mac £55

Total: £182.97

Party:

Inspiration: Dolce & Gabana, Valentino 

Trends: Black & Gold Baroque, Lace

Topshop, Motel lace dress £58

Daisystreet.co.uk Jessie  Gold Glitter Heel  £34.99

Miss Selfridge Gold Aztec Collar£14

Miss Selfridge Gold Aztec Cuff£14

NEXT Gold Box Glutch £26

Topshop ‘Mishcief’ Lip stick £8

Total: £154.99

Office Wear:

Inspiration: Prada 

Trend: Printed Trouser Suit, Eastern Opulence 

ASOS Premium geo PrintBlazer  £65

ASOS Premium geo Print Trouser£40

ZARA White Shirt £29.99

Dorothy Perkins Black Court Shoe£35

New Look Black Quilted Tote£24.99

Total: £194.98

Casual:

Inspiration: Chanel,Burberry Prorsum, Chloe

Trend: Bomber Jackets, Graphics

River Island Jaquard BomberJacket £65

Mango distressed jeans £34.99

ASOS Eye test T-Shirt  £14

New Look Wedge Hi-Top £64.99

Topshop Cable Dip Dye Beanie Hat£14

Total: £192.98

Outdoor:

Inspiration: Burberry Prorsum, Ralph Lauren

Trend: Equestrian, Downtown Abbey, Printed Knits

ASOSWool and Tweed Mix Parka Jacket, £80

RiverIsland Suede Wedge Boots £40

ZaraBeaded Sweater £25.99

Forever21 Grey Knit Tights, £5.65

Forever21 Stripe Skirt  £22.75

RiverIsland (MENS) Rucksack from £32 down to £25

Total:£199.39 

Check out the competition details at moneysupermarket.com/passion-for-fashion. x.

Daisy Street Blogger Competition

This week I was lucky enough to be contacted by Punk PR on behalf of the online womenswear retailer: Daisy Street. They are holding a competition where 10 bloggers put together their ‘MUST HAVE’ looks for A/W 12 from the pieces on their website www.daisystreet.co.uk. I’ll be honest and say that I had not actually heard of the brand before but was genuinely impressed with their pieces. 

I created my look around the amazing Elene Metallic Peplum Jacket and imagined I was creating a look for a night out for drinks in a city bar. Peplums are a huge trend for next season and can be seen all over the catwalks and high street; not only is it fashion-forward, it’s actually a really figure-flattering shape! Another huge trend is embellishment and these stud collared shirts can be seen everywhere at the moment (TIP: wear the collar over the top of the jacket to highlight it). I also went for studs on the ankle boots. Seeing as I kept the base colours of my outfit monochrome, I used the yellow clutch bag and earrings to throw a splash of colour into this look, plus silver and yellow work surprisingly well together! To finish off the look I added in a bit of print with these amazing nail wraps, which are a fun and easy way to decorate your nails. 

So thats my outfit. I really hope you like it, and if you do please head over to the Daisy Street Facebook Page to vote for my entry by clicking ‘LIKE’ on my look (Please Vote for my Entry Here). The top three looks, as voted for by you, are entitled to receive a complimentary item from their look, with the overall winner recieveing their entire look! Needless to say I would absolutely love to win this prize, especially as I had so much fun putting this together and discovering this brand. PLEASE VOTE FOR ME! x.

Bit of It All.

Bit of a mixed bag today. Here are the results of my detox diet, some more wedding photos as requested, and my pick of new IT-things this week.

First up, my detox diet has been going well. I have lost the extra few pounds I had acquired whilst in Ireland and feel much healthier generally. The first day of fasting was tough and I have to admit I did cheat a little in the evening by having a smoothie and some soup (still healthy and low calorie). By the second day I wasn't experiencing the same hunger but I did have bad headaches, so it is important to keep your intake of water up. Today is the third day and I get to add in protein to my diet (!) I have chosen low calorie options, such as my favourite chicken-style Quorn pieces (eggs are also an excellent source of low calorie protein). I intend to keep up this fruit, veg and protein diet up for a little longer, and have also taken up Pilates which I am loving! I'm not the best for sticking with exercise programmes but I really like how easy going and yet effective Pilates seems to be. Its great for those who want that Miley Cyrus-esque flat stomach, she herself being an avid fan.

Secondly, I have provided more photos of my wedding look, so I hope these provide all of you with a wedding or formal event to attend with some inspiration! The details include; nude heels, a black fascinator from House of Fraser, a pink and white patterned clutch from New Look (Rochelle Wiseman from the Saturdays was seen out with this clutch recently), a pink rose ring and pink nails. I wore my hair in a side bun at the nape of the neck using one of the 'hair doughnuts', some clips and a lot of hairspray!

And my new IT-things? Victoria's Secret's first UK store in  Westfield Shopping Centre, Stratford. I went in yesterday, and it is quite simply amazing. These people certainly know how to market a brand + their products are of amazing quality. I for one, am certainly glad to have this great brand finally in the UK.

One last thing, on my radar this week are Wedge Hi-Tops. These have been growing in popularity over the summer and now I seem to be spotting them everywhere. They are great for adding that hidden bit of height whilst being casual enough for everyday wear. And after Millie Mackintosh was spotted wearing a pair at last nights launch of boyfriend Professor Green's clothing line for Puma, I'm sold. Check out this cute embellished pair from New Look for £64.99! x.

Upcoming Posts: How to: Customise, House of Fraser Blogger Style Challenge & Kate Beckinsale + Jessica Alba's 'Total Recall' Red Carpet Round Up.

Toughen Up with Leather

For A/W12 I have been looking for a great leather jacket to toughen up my daytime look. Think Biker Chic. Think Supple Leather. Think Everyday Wearable. And you get this Jacket. I have honestly been hunting for so long for a black leather jacket that; fits me well, has enough detailing without being trend-specific and can take me from day to night. Just imagine my delight when I came across this amazing jacket. So amazing that I dedicated a whole photoshoot to it... it even inspired me to stray away from my usual feminine aesthetic. (If you can’t tell by now, I am IN LOVE). Hope you enjoy! x.

How to Wear: Print

The Printed Top
---







---











The Printed Skirt

---

























---


















After my recent post about the best high street print picks (click here to see article) I
took my own advice, went out and bought some great pieces. Here I am
going to provide some ideas on how to style up these printed lovelies so that
you stay on the chic side of this print clashing (otherwise oh-so-tricky
trend).



Not quite brave enough for the 'look at me'
attention grabbing potential of printed trousers, I decided to tackle the printed skirt and top first. I have styled these looks for the next season,
trying to bear in mind the inevitable temperature drop soon to come. And just
to show the versatility of print, I have done two looks for each: one daywear
and one for nights out (hint: the sunglasses indicate daywear and the increase
of flesh on show...you got it, night-time looks). Hope these provide
inspiration! x.

To The Max!

Maxi Dresses. Such a firm fashion favourite of summer. Be it for a dinner date, drinks out, or for a relaxed BBQ, maxi dresses meet all of our needs for summer dressing. Colour, comfort and effortless style, I am just IN LOVE with maxi dresses at the moment. Not only this but I am convinced that the men in our lives love them too. There is something classily-sexy about covering up yet with only a thin layer of fabric between them and you...as we girls are so often told, it is the sense of mystery, of not seeing everything at once, that can be the most alluring thing. This gorgeous maxi dress above is £32 from Topshop in stores now. I just love the low back and nonchalant-throw-on look of this dress, its all very MIC’s Kimberly and one of my firm summer favourites. x.

27 Dresses.

Ok, maybe not quite 27... and I’m not a bridesmaid, but I am having serious trouble deciding what to wear for a wedding this summer. Summer Weddings are one of the major fashion events of the season, a great opportunity for a new outfit but also a bit of a headache. Not only do you have to find a complete outfit (including shoes, bag, jacket or shawl etc) but it has to conform to style etiquette – THINK white-dress-ban and priest-appropriate-neckline. The photos too...oh the photos! The type which will go into album after album and pulled out routinely for reminiscent moments! A fashion fail then? Entirely unacceptable. So here are my four options to help provide inspiration for anyone else facing a similar wedding-guest-outfit dilemma. At the moment the only two certain parts of my outfit, are a black fascinator and nude heels...probably not quite enough clothing to preserve my modesty. Take a look and feel free to vote for your favourite! x.