Top picks | Net-A-Porter autumn 2013

As promised, here's part two of my top picks from the autumn 2013 collections, this time from Net-A-Porter. You know, that dangerous site that sells amazing designer clothing and accessories.
By the way, if you don't live in the UK, you can get the new Charlotte Tilbury make-up collection here.
So, without further ado, meet my selection:


COATS AND JACKETS

  Valentino scalloped wool and silk-blend coat £2,290  |  Faith Connexion two-tone textured-leather biker jacket £770  |  Burberry London leather and wool-blend felt cape £995

Let's start with a bright hue, shall we? This season is all about making a statement with outerwear, and let me tell you, you won't go unnoticed wearing this beauty.  |  Next, a khaki and black textured-leather biker jacket, an essential piece that goes with any outfit.  |  Addicted to skinny pants? Well, they go nicely with this leather and wool-blend felt cape (that has a little hint of cashmere). How cool does it look?


NIGHTTIME DRESSES

Burberry Prorsum studded crepe gown £1,895  |  Christopher Kane macramé lace mini dress £7,975  |  ALICE by Temperley heron jacquard twill dress £345

Would I prefer spiked studs? Sure. But this is a very close second to that dress worn by Cara at the Met Gala. Plus, I'd feel more comfortable with this neckline.  |  Ooh! This burgundy dress is a beaut! Just click on the link (in the caption above) to take a closer look at the amazing detail.  |  A twill dress with many, many herons would typically scream "girly" or "cute", but the clever choice of dark and sophisticated colours balances the look.


DAYTIME DRESSES

Dolce&Gabbana crystal-collar jacquard dress £2,060  |  Alexander Wang leather dress £1,165  |  Victoria Victoria Beckham crepe and satin mini dress £565

White dress, black opaque tights, standard.  |  For the urban girls out there: get a leather dress. You'll be amazed by how often you'll end up wearing it. Just make sure it fits perfectly.  |  Can you guess my favourite colour? I believe this item wouldn't be here if it came in different shades, only.


TOPS

DAY BIRGER ET MIKKELSEN lace top £190  |  McQ Alexander McQueen tartan-print fine jersey T-shirt £155  |  Christopher Kane cashmere and macramé lace sweater £950

Fan of black? And lace? This top combines both and features a nude lining at the front and the back, making it more practical. Combine with skinny trousers to balance the feminine look.  |  One of the major trends this season happens to be my fave: the tartan. This interesting version was created "by folding the original design into small overlapping pleats."  |  Another example of macramé lace by Christopher Kane. A more toned down and casual version for daytime.


TROUSERS

EACH x OTHER metallic mid-rise skinny jeans £330  |  Paige Edgemont coated mid-rise skinny jeans £285  |  Balmain printed cotton-blend skinny jeans £1,070

Grunge style? Metallic painted effect? That's the recipe for the perfect pair of skinny jeans. I'm keeping an eye on this brand...  |   I have many pairs of skinny jeans with zips. Still, I'd like to ad this coated number to my collection. The shade is quite interesting, reminds me of those nail varnishes that are almost black, but not quite.  |  I know, I know, it's a controversial item. But this bold print will add some excitement to an otherwise plain outfit.


SKIRTS AND SHORTS

rag & bone Lakshmi leather shorts £430  |  Theyskens' Theory Iding printed silk shorts £250  |  3.1 Phillip Lim pleated stretch-leather and jersey skirt £985

These leather shorts can go from summer to winter. The neutral shade is an ideal choice when pairing with pretty much anything in your closet.  |  Not a fan of bold prints or colours? These silk shorts are subtle, yet have an interesting detail up-close.  |  On the other hand, the more noticeable contrasting panel on this stretch skirt, allows neutral-lovers to make a statement.


BAGS

MICHAEL Michael Kors Hamilton large textured-leather tote £310  |  3.1 Phillip Lim The Pashli medium two-tone shark-embossed leather trapeze bag £805  |  Victoria Beckham The Victoria matte-leather tote £1,995  |  Alexander McQueen The Skull Swarovski crystal-embellished box clutch £1,765  |  Giuseppe Zanotti + Anja Rubik suede clutch £805  |  Bottega Veneta The Knot intrecciato-effect leather clutch £990

If you found the mini office bag too mini, this textured-leather tote might be an option. The golden chain makes a nice contrast against the rich berry shade. Find more colour options on the Michael Kors website, including this khaki number.  |  A versatile bag that suits every occasion, from daytime to casual dinners.  |  Basically, an upgrade from the office bag, if it fits your budget...  |  There's always a Skull clutch that stands out, and this season, this is the one. Take a closer look at the Swarovski crystals and gold beads.  |  The happy collaboration between Zanotti and Rubik resulted in this black suede clutch, clearly inspired by 70s rock glam.  |  This brick leather clutch is the perfect addition to the urban girl's closet.


SHOES

Maiyet textured-leather over-the-knee boots £765  |  Valentino lace and leather pumps £555  |  Miu Miu suede pumps £420  |  Saint Laurent Tribute Two suede pumps £515  |  Esteban Cortazar rubberized leather ankle-cuff pumps £730  |  Charlotte Olympia Showbiz silk-satin platform pumps £825

The square heels with small gold studs are just too cool.  |  This shoe style is one of my go tos for daytime. Love the lace over nude leather.  |  You don't have to read the caption to know they're Miu Miu...  |  This season's version of Tribute Two in a lovely burgundy shade. You won't see me wearing 6 inch heels very often, but I'd definitely wear these.  |  The contrast between the mute matte dark-grey and the industrial shiny silver cuff says it all.  |  The cone heels are glamourous and quirky at the same time. There's a good combo.


ACCESSORIES

Maison Michel Blanche rabbit-felt wide-brimmed hat £255  |  Linda Farrow cat eye watersnake sunglasses £450  |  Roberto Cavalli snake flowers ruthenium-plated Swarovski crystal collar necklace £1,160  |  Karl Lagerfeld studded leather gloves £69  |  Karl Lagerfeld Karl Kat mirror and PVC key fob £89

I regreted not getting a wide-brimmed hat last year. Getting one (or two) this year, for sure.  |  My favourite shape when it comes to sunglasses, paired with a gorgeous texture.  |  Because I love snakes and statement necklaces.  |  Who doesn't want to look like Karl? Ideal for autumn, but I'll be needing some finger protection during winter months...  |  Karl. Kat. Key. Ring. Need I say more?

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Top picks | ZARA autumn 2013

With the new season fast approaching, it's time to start browsing through the new collections. I love shopping the new collections — less chance of my size, or preferred colour, being sold out. How irritating is that?
This post will feature my current favourites from ZARA and the next post will present my top picks from Net-A-Porter, so keep your eyes peeled for that one!
For the time being, here are the pieces that caught my eye:


COATS AND JACKETS

Jacket with contrasting lapel £79,99  |  Houndstooth coat £109  |  Biker jacket with zips £69,99

Couldn't be more excited with the autumn/winter trends this year. Gothic style, deep jewel tones, graphic prints, different textures... The list goes on and on. The 3 garments above have some sort of detail in the lapels, which I appreciate, like a contrasting shade or texture and even a lack of one!


DRESSES

Dress with bow at the back £49,99  |  Funnel neck dress £29,99  |  Tube dress with ruffle hem £29,99

Three dresses, covered on the front, with a short hemline. Typical "me"...
The shape can vary from loose-fitting to curve-hugging, highlighting a special detail on the back, like a beautiful bow, or on the hem. Already sorting through my opaque tights collection...


TOPS

Sweatshirt with combination sleeve detail £22,99  |  Combined lace top £19,99  |  Top with Peter Pan collar and buttons at the back £22,99

Sheer, sheer and... sheer. I freakin' love the first sweatshirt. The sheer and opaque stripes on the sleeves are brilliant!  |  The lace panels on the sides and the back of the green top, along with the more opaque straight-cut panels, make the perfect union between delicate and tough.  |  The final option is just obvious, if you know me. Peter Pan collar? Check. Black and white contrast? Check.


TROUSERS

Checked trousers £29,99  |  Skinny trousers £35,99  |  Combination leather studio trousers £349

The toned down shades and the slight transparency combined, create the most stylish plaid ever.  |  Coated red trousers: just because.  |  The final piece is a bit of luxury found on the High Street: a pair of trousers composed by cotton on the outer edge and soft leather on the inside. They come with a higher price tag, of course...


SKIRTS AND SHORTS

Mini skirt with zips £79,99  |  Short combination skirt £19,99  |  Striped high waist shorts £29,99

Keeping up with the leather theme, this mini skirt with zips is the most versatile addition to any Autumn/Winter wardrobe. It can dress up a T-shirt or tough up a more feminine or dressy shirt.  |  The middle one, is a stretchy skirt — love the fact that it's navy, instead of black — with coated panels, making it more interesting, texture-wise.  |  The striped shorts are the cutest! I think they make the look more girly, without being too feminine.


BAGS AND SHOES

Mini office city bag £29,99  |  Messenger bag with metallic fastener £29,99  |  Leather ankle boot with straps £89,99

Thinking if I should purchase this mini office city bag in burgundy. It's very clean and simple, but this shade adds something special to it.  |  Speaking of colour, the green and cream colour-block messenger bag, with a lovely golden chain, makes quite a statement.  |  (One of) the top trends in boots: the cutout. Either you love it or you don't...

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Top picks | Net-A-Porter summer sale

Take a look at my favourites from the Net-A-Porter sale. Bare in mind that your size might not be available — a common misfortune during sale periods — and a particular item could be sold out by the time you click on the link. Sorry 'bout that! Nothing new if you have purchased anything discounted in the past.
Some garments are not reminiscent of summer, exactly, but I always like to think ahead and start adding to my autumn/winter wardrobe. Okay, let's scroll down to find my top picks:



DRESSES

Markus Lupfer sequined merino wool dress £75  |  Catherine Malandrino feather-trimmed stretch-satin jersey and chiffon dress £190  |  Isabel Marant Dreamy studded stretch-leather mini dress £762  |  Christopher Kane cracked leather dress £598.50

Between wool, sequins, feathers, leather and studs, I think there's something for everyone's taste. Red leather might not be your cup of tea, but don't worry, there are plenty of options to choose from. Funnily enough, the length remains identical.

JACKETS

Theory Yaisa leather-sleeved ponte blazer £318.50  |  R13 moto leather gilet £390  |  Proenza Schouler basketweave tweed jacket £655  |  Etro satin-trimmed cotton-blend tweed jacket £250.50

A chic khaki blazer with leather sleeves looks great paired with a loose shirt, leather trousers and a statement necklace. Plus, two combination jackets that really make a simple outfit more interesting, and a leather gilet thrown in the mix. Why not?



PANTS  |  SHORTS 

DAY Birger et Mikkelsen Day Liquid slub-twill tapered pants £80  |  Joseph matt stretch-leather skinny pants £556.50  |  Isabel Marant Devin embellished stretch-leather shorts £276  |  T by Alexander Wang leather shorts £278.60

At the moment, I'm really into these relaxed-fit trousers for summer. Honestly, skinny leather pants are my thing, so had to include those. Since there weren't many offerings in the pants department, I decided to included a couple of shorts as well: neutral colours, studs and leather, of course.



SKIRTS 

Balmain striped stretch-denim mini skirt £634  |  Alexander McQueen fluted crepe mini skirt £232  |  DAY Birger et Mikkelsen leather and suede mini skirt £60  |  Rag & bone Renard woven-striped leather skirt £370

Black and white stripes and zips as part of the same garment? Had to include it, obviously. In addition, you'll find a nude skirt with some movement on the bottom — a crown pleaser, I'm sure — as well as a combination skirt and a pleated leather one.

TOPS 

Missoni waffle-knit top £232.50  |  Oscar de la Renta sequin-embellished cotton-lace blouse £447  |  Derek Lam jacquard-trimmed bouclé top £257.40  |  T by Alexander Wang knitted stretch cotton-blend sweater £84.30

Four choices, each one with a particular texture and visual effect. Usually not a Missoni fan, but I really liked the print on this top. The second offering is a more interesting version of a blouse I already own — collar and all — and the other two are just my usual go to pieces, really.

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Top picks | Biker jackets

Today's post features the top picks, available now, in the biker jacket category — a.k.a. a peek into my own wishlist.
I absolutely adore biker jackets and feel like myself whenever I'm wearing them, if that makes sense. You know when you're wearing something, just because you followed someone's advice, go out and feel kind of awkward and uncomfortable? And, of course, that's when you bump into someone you haven't seen in years. Hah! I rarely do that now, I just wear what I want, because I dislike the feeling that I'm not transmitting my true image/personality through my outfit.
Last Christmas, I got a pair of lime green gloves with a pink trimming. And they were seriously soft and good quality. But I didn't have anything that would look good with them. Also, I'd probably hide my hands in my coat pockets. So I carried on wearing my bottle green leather-look gloves with cut-outs. Much better.
Or, the time I got a necklace from my work colleagues, and didn't want to hurt their feelings, so I wore it the next day. Not that it wasn't pretty, just wasn't my style. Basically, I felt weird for the whole day because I had it on.

ZARA Biker Leather Jacket With Buckles £169
ZARA Ethnic Jacquard Pattern Zip Jacket £59,99

Anyway, on with the jackets. The first two are from Zara — which isn't a surprise coming from me, is it? The one on the left has a nice quilted effect on the arms and quite a few zips, which I really like. The second one, has more of a spring feeling — softer material, paler shade and a fun print.

Topshop Contrast Lapel Leather Biker Jacket £180
Topshop Quilt Detail Biker Jacket £58

Next, a couple of options from Topshop. The first has a really unique lapel in a contrasting colour. It's ideal to combine with a black outfit, providing a little visual interest. The white jacket has a subtle quilted effect just on the top of the arms and buckles on the waist. Again, the leather-look and some extra zips make me happy.

ASOS HIDE Freja Biker Jacket in Cream £315
ASOS Muubaa Sharp Shouldered Biker Jacket with Zips £389

The final two can be found on ASOS, and these specific models are a bit more pricey than the previous ones. But, take a look on the website and you'll find different price ranges and designs. The first choice is a cream leather jacket with a pretty standard style, when it comes to real biker jackets — zips, pockets and a belt on the waistline. The lighter shade makes it more fresh and versatile to combine with various clothing items. The one on the right comes in a beautiful and rich berry shade, with a zip on the arm — nice detail there — and the perfect length.
Now the difficult part: which one should I go for?

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