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

Party Season.

The season is in full swing (as marked by the arrival of the 'Mid-Season Sales'). And we all know what the winter season promises... parties, and lots of them. For any style savvy having the perfect outfit to attend all events is a must. I have recently become obsessed with backless dresses, and this black maxi from ASOS which I wore with a gold body chain, was perfect for my flat warming party.You can find the dress here x.

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.

When I Grow Up.

I am about to hit twenty, the end of my teenage years [gasp!]. And yes, I know that is by no means old, in fact I am rather excited to embrace a more 'grown-up' style of dressing. Longer lengths become somehow acceptable and not 'frumpy'... I hear a midi calling my name! Beyond this and looking even further forward, is what I want to look like when I 'grow up'. Mature celebrities such as Michelle Pfieffer, Sarah Jessica Parker and Christie Brinkley (all above the age of 45) effortlessly navigate the red carpets, often outshining their younger counterparts. Whether you put it down to years of experience in expert dressing, or beautifully maintained complexions and hairstyles, you have to hand it to these women: they look hot. So when I grow up (properly) I want to look like that. Best go put on some moisturiser and factor 50. x.

Kate Middleton:Princess of the Far East

 

Style icon Kate Middleton returns to the forefront of the fashion world during the Duke and Duchess' recent tour of Malaysia as part of the celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Kate wore an array of classic dresses reminiscent of Princess Diana's own tours of the Far East and embraced local culture with traditional Malaysian dress. Jenny Packham and Alexander McQueen dresses abounded, proving once again, a staple in the Duchess' wardrobe, but were mixed with pieces from high street brands such as Zara and Jaeger. I love her timeless, elegant style. What do you think? 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.

Inspiring Street-Style Looks.

With such changeable weather it's sometimes hard to know what to wear. Bikini? Check. Sunglasses? Check. Rain Mac and Umbrella? Check, Check. Thank you British weather. So to help anyone else stuck for ideas, here are the celebrity and blogger daytime looks that are inspiring my street style looks at the moment. Hope you enjoy! 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.

Departure Lounge Style

When it comes to airport/travel dressing there seems to be two camps. The 'see every public place as yet another personal runway' types and the 'effortlessly casual and comfy' looks. But don't be fooled, just as much time has gone into planning the seemingly thrown-together casual look as the polished flight-upgrade-ready styles. So are you the Victoria Beckham type, or more of an Elle Macpherson? Here are my two looks from my trip to Ireland, in which I tried out both. Even though I loved the comfort of the second look I have to admit, had it not been a late night flight I'm not so sure I would have felt as comfortable being so dressed down. I guess I know which kind of airport dresser I am... x.

Upcoming Features: How to: Customise, More Wedding Photos + Detox Diet Results (as requested) & House of Fraser Blogger Style Challenge.

MIC's Next Top Model

Its not only Made in Chelsea's Millie Mackintosh that has been doing a spot of modelling recently (click here to see the article on Millie's modelling for Lipsy). Louise Thompson has been modelling for Gorgeous Couture with stunning results. The Edinburgh University student (same university as me!) was in Ibiza modelling for the range that is popular worldwide, with celebrities from the likes of Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian to the casts of 'Made in Chelsea' and 'The Only Way is Essex'. Check out the photoshoot and shop online here at http://www.gorgeouscouture.com/ x.

Upcoming Features: Airport Style, How to: Customise, More Wedding Photos + Detox Diet Results (as requested).

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.

Get Inspired.

If you are stuck for a bit of style inspiration, fashion blogs, magazines and clothing websites are of course a great place to seek inspiration. And in recent years, apps have taken over the fashion world as more and more companies are providing style inspiration for those on the go. My big tip though, would be to check out high street lookbooks (available online or as apps to download). Pretty much all popular brands these days do their own interpretations of catwalk trends, using lookbooks to showcase their new collections. Often these looks are far more wearable for day-to-day dressing. I would especially recommend  Topshop for those looking for edgy, avant-garde style, Zara  for classically chic looks and River Island for heavily trend-based ideas. Check them out by clicking on the links below. x.

Topshop A/W12 Lookbook
Zara A/W12 Lookbook
River Island A/W12 Lookbook