As you plan for your big day, you will have so many things to think about, not least what you and your bridesmaids will be wearing. I recently posted about a cheap discount wedding dress for a very stylish budget wedding. I have noticed from my own experience of planning a wedding, that bridemaids dresses can be a dififcult thing to choose. Firstly, there seems to be a distinct lack of choice around, secondly, they are very expensive and thirdly, you have so many people to consider. If you want to avoid being a Bridezilla, you will probably take into account (a little bit at least) what will look good on your bridesmaids and something that they will not feel uncomfortable wearing.

My solution to the problem of finding gorgeous bridesmaids dresses is to think outside the box. Do not just confine yourself to shops selling bridesmaids dresses and traditional styles of bridesmaids dress. A bridesmaid dress does not need to be floor skimming, a midi length dress can look great and will compliment a long wedding dress perfectly. By widening your search to smart and formal dresses from womens clothes shops, not only will you probably save money, you will also have a lot more choice, giving you the chance to find something that your bridesmaids love and will fit in to you vision of a dream wedding. Your bridesmaids will also be a lot more likely to wear the dresses again afterwards. Think about prom dresses, strapless dresses, maxi dresses and cocktail dresses, all can be used as bridesmaids dresses. Look for luxurious fabrics and simple styles in one colour or a very discreet print.

Soft Grey Pure Silk Brush Print Dress

Sleeveless Pleat Front Belted Dress

Gold Waterfall Dress

I see so many clothes described as having abstract prints but I’ll have to admit I am not 100% sure what an abstract print is. I just tend to think of the abstract print as being a kind of swirly or design of lines that does not represent anything. I have seen some really gorgeous abstract print dresses usually with very striking designs. I thought it was time that I found out exactly what abstract really means. I found the following definition in www.dictionary.reference.com

adjective

5.	Fine Arts. a. of or pertaining to the formal aspect of art, emphasizing lines, colors, generalized or geometrical forms, etc., esp. with reference to their relationship to one another. b. (often initial capital letter) pertaining to the nonrepresentational art styles of the 20th century.

I now fully understand what an abstract print dress is and I know that I definitely want one. Here are some of my favourites:

Abstract print pleat dress

Monochrome printed dress

Pure Silk Abstract Print Dress

Cotton Floral Abstract Print Dress

I noticed on my birthday this year that almost every single birthday card that I recieved had a picture of dresses, shoes or hand bags. When you have an obsession like mine (fashion and  clothes) it is difficult not to let it have an impact on so many areas of your life. I have also noticed lately so many items with fashion and clothing related designs which would make such great presents for shopaholics and fashion lovers.

High button boot paperblanks address book

Little Black Dress Expresso Cups

Vintage Art Deco Fashion Advert poster

50s style dress birthday card

’40s inspired floral tea dress

I make no secret of the fact that I have a bit of a thing about floral dresses. I am also developing a real love of vintage clothes and retro styles, unfortunately I cannot always find exactly what I want in my size. There are so many new clothes inspired by vintage and retro styles at the moment, I just love shopping for new clothes.

The great thing about vintage and retro styles is that they have stood the test of time usually because they are flattering styles that look great. The tea dress was popular in the forties and is seeing something of a resurgence in popularity. It’s simple a line skirt and v neck is both feminine and flattering. A great choice of dress for daytime both the office and special occasions. I love this 40s inspired floral tea dress. Yet another item to add to my ever growing wish list.

Everyone wants to look gorgeous on their wedding day but a wedding dress definitely does not need to cost the earth. Sometimes the most stylish things in life are the simple things. The latest fashion in wedding dresses is simple, sophisticated and graceful, something that will allow your natural beauty to shine through.

This gorgeous ivory wedding dress is perfect for the big day that is big on style but not on cost. It has a corset bodice and floor sweeping a line skirt with front pleat detail and embroidery with beads and sequins. It comes with a scarf and detachable straps.  There is no reason to start your married life with a huge wedding bill, when you can so easily do it in style at  a fraction of the cost.

More cheap and budget wedding dresses and accessories  

There are so many different types of ethical and eco clothing available, it is sometimes difficult t decide what to buy for the best. Much of the unethical treatment of workers and producers in the the textiles industry is associated with the production of cotton. Over two thirds of the worlds cotton is grown in developing countries and the former Soviet Union but instead of improving peoples lives the cotton production often causes misery and suffering. For example in Uzbekistan, the second largest exporter of cotton in the world,  forced child labour, human rights violations, excessive pesticide use and the draining of an ocean are all problems associated with the cotton production. During the Autumn, schools are closed and the governement forces children to work harvesting the cotton by hand with little or no financial reward.

Fairtrade offers an alternative to unethically produced cotton. Fairtrade ensures better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Fairtrade addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them to improve their position and have more control over their lives. 

Fairtrade cotton T shirts are a great ethical basic for your wardrobe.

Fairtrade cotton crew neck top

Fairtrade cotton v neck top

I have never really paid that much attention to umbrellas, thinking of them as something functional and not really that interesting. Yesterday, as I dashed out of the house, the heavens opened and my old umbrella, that I once got free from a magazine, finally gave up the ghost. With two spokes already poking out in rather a dangerous looking fashion, when the whole thing turned inside out, I knew it was destined for the bin. Instead I sheltered under my daughters Mr Men umbrella. What a funny site that must have been, me running along unde a clear plastic dome of an umbrella with lots of funny purple men all over it. I’ll have to say, it did a very good job of keeping me dry but it didn’t really compliment my sophisticated and carefully selected outfit.

With this summer looking to be a bit of a washout (again) and the umbrella becoming one of my most utilised accessories, I have decided that I need to invest in a stylish new umbrella or perhaps more than one to compliment different outfits. I can then ensure that I arrive stylishly and dry at my destination. Here are some of my favourites.

Fulton birdcage black umbrella

Frilled Zebra Print Umbrella

Ditsy Floral Print Umbrella

Paisley Print Umbrella

Frilled Spot Print Umbrella

There are plenty of clothes sales on at the moment, the perfect opportunity to bag yourself a bargain. Here are some of the biggest discounts on some of the most stylish women’s clothes. If you see something that you like, don’t delay as these goodies are not likely to stay around for long.

I have already mentioned these gorgeous nautical espadrilles in my post on Alexa Cheung and her striped tops but I had to include them in this feature as they are such an amazing bargain at only £10.

If you are looking for something a little different and quirky, this light weight Blayde cardigan is perfect. It looks great with jeans and a t shirt for those late summer fresh evenings, it is less thn half of it’s original price.

If you practically live in your jeans then it is well worth investing in a great fitting pair. If you check out the sales, you could get yourself a great pair at less than half price like these classic Red Label Levis.

With Dries Van Noten being one of my favourite labels, I find it very difficult to resist a bargain. I love the pattern on these bermuda shorts and would wear them in summer or in winter with tights.

Now here is a blast from the past and something that many of us would have expected (perhaps hoped) never to see come back into fashion again. I have mixed feelings about cropped T shirts or crop tops. I am very much of the opinion if you have got it flaunt it. ‘it’ in this case being a wash board flat stomach. This is however, something that relatively few of us do have. For the rest of us crop tops are a bit of a no go area.

In actual fact though crop tops or cropped t shirts do have some relevance to us rounder bellied types. Have you every considered layering a crop top. This look can work really well giving you required tummy coverage but also the latest trend. Being quite short, I find the cropped look works quite well and the play on proportions can actually make my body look a bit longer.

Soul Cal Neon Crop Top

Miso Doodle Crop Top

picture from www.buzzworthy.mtv.com

Alexa Cheung is considered a bit of (actually quite a lot of) a style goddess. She always manages to look gorgeous and chic. I am loving her striped tops that she is regularly spotted in. This picture of her presenting her MTV show recently shoes how she cleverly combines simple pieces to create a clean, fresh, classic but individual look. The nautical trend never really goes out of fashion, but Alexa has managed to give it a new twist.

Get the look with this Soul Cal nautical striped top and Jean Paul Gaultier denim dungarees finished off beautifully with these nautical espadrilles.