November: High street style, day & night

When autumn first arrived, the weather was unusually warm and we could get away with a thin jacket and a thin jumper. But now the cold weather has began to creep in and sometimes we struggle to look our best because of all the layering. I have picked my favourite high street items that will keep you looking stylish, day and night.

Topshop;

Gilets are the perfect layering device, they're texture and thickness adds warmth, but their style adds a statement to your OOTD. White can be a difficult colour, but teamed with a black leathet jacket will give it an edge.

I'm a big fan of blouses, they give sophistication to a day time outfit. This blouse works in two ways; the colour and the cut makes it formal, possible to wear to work with a camisole beneath it. Secondly, it's sheer, see through giving sex appeal to a night time outfit. Paired with the right black bra, this blouse would go from trashy to smoking hot.

I love the soft pink colour of this skirt? It gives it a 50's look. This skirt would look great with a black turtle neck and some floral courts. It's simple, but effective. Effortless style.

Snake print is expected to be a huge trend over the next two seasons. Get a head of the crowd with this sexy, body con, evening number.

The next two months are the best monte for wearing sparkle. There's something about the dark nights that makes you want to dazzle with your outfit. This rose gold skirt will do just that, pair it a simple black or white camisole and minimal gold jewellery.

If you're wanting to remain sexy and flash some skin during a night out, this dress is perfect. The colour is completely autumnal and will go great with some black ankle boots an a black leather biker jacket.

Zara;

Camel is a great winter coat colour. With a pair of dark blue jeans and some brown ankle boots you will look classically English. This coat gives off a 60's vibe and with a pair of denim flared and some chunky gold jewellery, you will turn back the decades to a time of great style.

Black is the most wearable colour, and the sexiest. This dress would be great for a night on the town, a cropped biker jacket, sparkling jewels.

Through autumn, there are days when a coat and lots of layering just isn't necessary. This grey knit cardigan is perfect for an unseasonably warm day.

This monochrome shift dress is the perfect way to feminise the autumn days. Pair it with thick black rights, thigh high black boots and a leather jacket and you're good to go.

Mustard is a great colour and the perfect pop of colour for autumn. Day or night this dress is versitile, looking great with day boots and night boots, black and silver statement jewellery aplenty.

Autumn mini skirts can be tricky, but this flary a-line skirt, with its grey, black and white colour scheme, would be great formally with a black blazer and tights, or at night with knee high boots and a long sleeved shirt.

New Look;

Monochrome is always stylish, and this houndstooth knit mini skirt oozes 60's style. The cut is sexy and could easily be worn at night, but if you're wanting to wear it formally, black tights and a mustard jumper would do the trick.

Not every autumn night will be a cold one, this dark purple floral devore wide sleeved shirt adds a night time glam affect. Worn with black skinny jeans and black leather pumps, portrays effortless chic.

I love this Aztec print, it's an ideal layering shirt that will fool people into believing you're wearing Missoni, when in actual fact, you're wearing a much more purse friendly New Look.

How can you not be swept off your feet by this dreamy deep red, faux fur collar coat. Day or night this coat will serve you well, it's riddled with glamour and dying to be worn with knee high boots and opulent jewels.

Another great mini skirt! The colours represent our autumn skies and would look great with a pair of tights and thigh high boots, or, for an evening look, no tights, and chunky ankle boots.

Midi skirts are obvious glamour, this red lace adds a late dose of sex to this midi, meaning you could tone down the rest of your outfit and let the skirt do the talking.

This gold sequin mini skirt bad the right amount of disruptive pattern to make it stand out from the crowd. It's not your average mini skirt, the pattern alone would hold the outfit, meaning less effort with the rest of your outfit.

This is one of the best kimonos I've seen this year. The burgundy floral velvet print against the dark backdrop give it a boudoir feel. A perfect kimono for an informal night out.

Peacocks;

Sometimes I can feel overbearing when the shops start stocking Christmas themed jumpers, but there's something sweet about this deer and snow print, plus there's no harm in buying early and saving until Christmas.

I love a shearling jacket, they are perfect for autumn, the colours are soft but the layers are warm, giving you a style two in one. 

A sexy black velvet body con dress for a night out gives you sexy glamour. The long sleeves and skirt length keep up with the autumnal nights, without the feeling of being too wrapped up.

This jacket is a great twist on a traditional biker jacket, replacing the leather with faux fur and a soft pink colour. 

Feathered jumpers are already becoming a fast growing trend this season. They're being made in some great colours, colours to suit every outfit, day or night.

This lace waterfall jacket is the ideal piece for a formal night out. It's classy, elegant, but the cut vamps up the sex appeal and gives you one hell of a jacket that will be great season after season.

November: Shoes & Accessories

November has arrived and brought with it a large dose of true winter weather. We are waking up to frosty mornings, cold air, and the need to wrap up warm. Here are my favourite November shoes and accessories, to keep you looking stylish and on trend during the vast change in weather.

New Look;

These burgundy leather ankle boots are the perfect compliment to team with a pair of black or dark blue skinny jeans.

These boots will add an edge to even the simplest outfit. The chunky sole and heel, the dark brown with the flash of silver in the zip, turns effortless into rock and roll.

With the changing weather, it feels impossible to make a day outfit feel glamorous, but these embellished heels add a height of glamour to these cold, drab days.

The colour of these ankle boots, put with the chrome buckles, makes these ankle boots elegant. They have the style of an average winter boot, but the colour and finishings give them a touch of sophistication.

It's difficult to know what shoes to wear when going out on the town. It can be too cold for regular heels, and too warm for boots, but these cut out boots are the perfect compromise. They give you the warmth of a boot, but with the style of an evening shoe.

I'm a big bag-lover and this faux fur tote bag is the ideal winter bag. It will go with almost any outfit, binging a classy look to a day outfit and a glamourous touch to an evening one.

We tend to stick to dark colours during winter, but I think the best way to add a pop of colour is in your accessories. This royal blue tote bag would be great with a tartan shall, a black leather jacket, a black faux fur coat, or a cream jumper.

I am obsessed with these scarves, they're out of the ordinary, but they're small prints help to keep them not too bold and out there. An excellent way to twist a tradition.

Jewellery is my guilty pleasure, this gold, red and navy necklace screams daytime glamour. With a pair of blue jeans, burgundy boots and a cream jumper, this necklace will brighten up any winter day.

The moment I laid eyes on this was like love at first sight! If you're feeling like dressing in all black, this assortment of blue feathers and jewels will keep win the dark theme but add a hint of colour, bringing a flutter of glamour.

ASOS;

For me, there's no better autumn accessorie than a oversize scarf. This cream, red and black tweed scarf, will not only keep you warm, but keep you looking on trend. 

There's somehow effortlessly cool about blak lethet gloves. These gloves will add a kick of rebellious to your outfit, sexing up the autumn day.

These gloves are the perfect shade, the pastel violet, will soften the harsh autumn days and make your layering feel more feminine. The faux fur trim gives a touch of glam, making these the ideal accessory for a shopping trip.

H&M;

H&M always mange to create beautifully quirky accessories to add fun to an everyday outfit. You don't hate to be a cat-lover to adore this feline bag.

This leather tote is classically stylish, but the patterned imprint makes it stand it from any other leather bag.

Black and gold year drop earrings ooze class and elegance, even wen worn through the day a the only piece of jewellery, they will stand out.

These earrings yearn to be worn at a Christmas party. They're fabulously bold and full of sparkle. The perfect earrings for a works Christmas do.

These bangles are effortlessly classy. To be worn alone or stacked, they remind me of an Hermès bangle, but with an 8th of the price.

H&M have truly peaked into my heart and pulled out these shoes. They're got autumn so right with these snake print boots, they are autumn luxe, and the image of shoe elegance, giving and expensive look to a low key outfit.

Interview: House of Bounty

Sammy Shah is the 25 year old owner and designer for the jewellery range House of Bounty. She has obvious dedication and a passion for what she does and it's clear that her ideas and plans are as big and bold as her jewellery. Check out the interview, then check out her fabulous range at incredible prices: www.houseofbounty1989.com

 

How long has House of Bounty been around?

We have been around for 4 years. We opened our online Shop in September 2010.  Our first products featured on the website were our Luxurious Lashes and some handmade necklaces and bracelets.

 

What inspired you to begin House of Bounty?

I have always been a creative person. I can remember taking apart and experimenting with jewellery from my mum’s collection.  Working 9-5 was not for me and I wanted to do something I was passionate about, I built House of Bounty to create an outlet for me to use my creativity and inspire people with my designs.

 

Explain exactly what your brand is and what you hope to achieve?

House of Bounty is an online boutique which houses all things glamorous. We want our designs to be worn by women who understand it’s better to arrive late and look good.  We are aiming high at House of Bounty HQ and want to take our Brand international, and worn by fabulous women everywhere!

 

Have you always been interested in fashion/accessories/beauty?

The fashion and beauty industry is my forte. I love keeping up with the latest trends and beauty products. Accessories is my main love though, there are so many ways to glam up a plain outfit with the right accessories. Whether it’s a funky set of arm candy or an elegant anklet, you can be sure to make a statement if you accessories correctly!

 

Who/what are you influenced by?

I must admit, my guilty pleasures are the Kardashians. They always look well dressed and they’re makeup is beyond glam!  

 

 

Your favourite pieces?

My favourite piece from my collection has to be the Hollywood Bracelet. Sparkly is an understatement. There are so many ways to work with this piece; I always layer it with some of our Swarovski & Pearl Bracelets that match the colour of my outfit!

My ultimate neck candy of the moment is the Picasso Statement Necklace, it’s just so funky! I love wearing it over a neon top however obnoxious it is!

 

Your top three beauty tricks?

 These are my 3 rules I live by!

 

I line outside my lip line with a nude lip liner to make my lips appear bigger. My all time favourite nude is the Naked Liner from Mac

 

I don’t have the patience to paint my nails with care, I apply my nail polish carelessly, wait for it to dry and just wash off the messy bits with warm water and soap! 

 

When I have run out of Makeup remover, I grab some cotton pads and baby oil and wipe off my makeup! It takes it off really well plus it’s moisturising too!

 

Your favourite autumn trends?

 My all time favourite autumn trends have to be Dark lips! I love Diva from Mac at the moment.  It’s a dark burgundy and it fits well with the Autumn Colour Palette! Another trend I love during autumn is definitely Sweaters! I’m always cold, nearly all year round too so I have a nice collection of Knits in different colours!

 

 

What's the best thing about what you do?

 I must admit, one of the things I like about what I do is choosing my working hours. As I said before, 9-5 is not my thing! However, the best part about my job is definitely the creative side of it. I love to experiment with different beads, styles and trends. My job role is so much fun, making pretty jewellery, finding pretty accessories to share with you and taking creative pictures to share with you on my social media always good fun!

 

And the hardest?

 The hardest has to be the paper work behind all the glam. I’ve never been very good with numbers and I’m ashamed to admit that I had to re-sit Maths a few times before I got a good mark. All I can say is thank god for calculators.

 

How hands on are you?

 I look after all aspects of House of Bounty so I’d say very hands on! I am the designer, photographer and accountant to name a few. It can get a bit overwhelming but the hard work does pay off!

 

Do you design your own accessories? (if not skip the next question)

 Yes, I design most of the items available in House of Bounty from head pieces to Bracelets. It’s the best part! I feel good knowing I’m wearing or your wearing a piece designed and handcrafted by myself.

 

Explain your design process? 

First of all, research is key! I’m always looking for the latest trends to work off whether it’s the in colour of the moment or a certain style! From what I’ve learnt through my research comes the designs. Sketching out my ideas on to paper and then working from that.After I have a few designs I like I’ll hunt for the pieces needed to create it, from local craft stores to online suppliers. Trial and error comes in here, as I work with different materials to create a piece I am totally happy with and voila we have our new jewel!

 

Where do you source your jewellery and what do you look for in a 

good retailer?

Most of our Jewellery is handmade and I also have a good amount of items sourced from fab suppliers that I have been working with for a few years! I am always searching in craft fairs for beads and pendants and definitely appreciate retailers with unique items!

 

 

What hopes do you have for the future of House of Bounty?

Definitely grow and take over the accessories market! I want Glamorous women draped head to toe with House of Bounty Jewellery.  I also want to expand our range and go into different aspects of accessories! It’s all in my future plans so keep your eyes peeled!

 

What trends do you predict will be popular next year in terms of accessories and beauty?

 I have feeling statement body jewellery and body art will be taking over next year and we’ve already started working around this trend but it’s a secret as of now so I will keep my lips sealed on that!

 

On a more personal level, how do you spend your spare time?

 To be honest, House of Bounty is my baby and I dedicate most of my time working with her. However I do enjoy catching up with my favourite TV shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians and The only way is Essex with a nice cup of tea. Of course, girly nights in and out with my besties, catching up with the latest gossip and not to forget shopping!