Summer Capsule Wardrobe | The Lexicon

Hello! After a few months off I am back and ready to create some exciting content for you. A quick update... It's been a crazy few months, finishing University (just found out I am graduating with a First woo), and entering into the real working world with a full-time job as an Account Executive at a Marketing & Design Agency. So, yeah a lot has happened and my life has changed quite a lot since I last posted on my blog. I am back today with a post all about summer capsule wardrobes, that I have created in collaboration with The Lexicon, Bracknell.

After attending their Spring Summer 2018 Trends Blogger Event back in February, I was kindly invited along to their Summer Capsule Wardrobe event last month. It was a lovely event, where we got to meet several other bloggers and discuss all things Summer fashion related, with a fab talk from my lovely and well-informed friend Jess (check out her website here).

I am going to talk you through my five essential wardrobe additions for Summer, including a new purchase that my wardrobe was particularly lacking for the warmer months, that I purchased with The Lexicon gift card that I was kindly provided with.

1. Straw Bags

Firstly, straw bags and I am sure this one comes as no surprise. They have been a summer trend item for years now, and I can't see them going away any time soon. They are the perfect addition to not only your summer wardrobe, but your holiday wardrobe. Last year I purchased a lovely large straw bag in Spain (the perfect place to pick one up), Zara have some great ones this year, and it has come in particularly handy on beach days. I also recently purchased this straw cross-body bag (shown above), which worked perfectly as an evening bag, a more casual, summer-take on a clutch.

2. Shorts

Next we have shorts, of course a basic and essential wardrobe addition for the summer. But more specifically, I want to discuss floaty and lightweight material shorts. Personally, I'm not a big fan of denim shorts. Usually (on me) they are just unflattering, tight, and make me extremely sweaty (sorry TMI). I am far more comfortable in light and floaty shorts, that are so much more versatile, they can be worn in the daytime with a bikini or worn with a dressier top and some wedges in the evening. Above you can see this white pair that I found really useful whilst on holiday (similar here). They have a lovely tie feature around the waist, and are the perfect pair that can be worn in the daytime but dressed up at night. Also, whites always good for the tan!

3. Cami Tops

Cami tops for me form the basis of my summer wardrobe. Need something to go with your shorts, skirts or trousers? The easiest option is to opt for a cami. Not long ago I purchased this black lace trim cami from Zara (shown above), which I have already worn to death, both in the daytime and evenings, it literally goes with everything and the lace detail makes it look that little bit more interesting. I also got hold of this white one from Mango (shown below), probably more best described as a top rather than a cami, but it does the same job. It has a lovely bow detail on the shoulders and features some brown buttons which are of course on all the cami's at the moment. This is again a perfect staple within anyones summer capsule wardrobe. As long as you have a black and white one, you're good to go.

4. Block Heel Sandals

Moving onto shoes, for me there is simply one type of shoe that I couldn't bare to not have in my wardrobe, and that is a block heel sandal. If you follow me on Instagram (@laurenhonor) you will know that whilst I was away in Croatia (travel post to come) a lot of my evening outfits featured some kind of block heel sandal. They are perfect for dressing up your outfit slightly, but not making you look overdressed. I am not the tallest person, so any extra height is a plus for me. One of my favourite pairs you can see below, grey with a statement marble block heel, also with a tie detail up the leg. They are so comfortable and just make an outfit that little bit more exciting.

5. Occasion Dress

And finally, my newest addition that I purchased at The Lexicon... this beautiful River Island dress that could quite possibly be my perfect dress. If you know me or have read my blog before, you will know I'm not always the best with colour, but in summer I do like to try and experiment a bit more. Something that was really lacking from my summer wardrobe, and that I think everybody needs, is a versatile occasion dress. This dress is the most stunning coral colour, and has so many lovely details and honestly I cannot wait to wear it again. This is the perfect dress for a capsule wardrobe because it can be worn at so many different occasions, I wore this to a beautiful restaurant with some block heel sandals (shock) but I would easily wear it to a wedding, a party, or to the races, the list is endless. If you can't tell I really love this dress, and the best thing is it comes in several other colours and patterns too! I'm going to seriously have to try and restrain myself. If you're attending the races or have a wedding this summer, this would be the ideal dress.

I hope you enjoyed my first post back, I'm very happy to be back on the blogging bandwagon. Thanks to The Lexicon again for sponsoring this post, and helping me find my beautiful new dress.

Look out for my Croatia travel post with all the recommendations you could possibly need!

*Sponsored post

SS18 | My Favourite Trend Pieces

You may or may not have read my last post about my trip to The Lexicon, where I discussed the upcoming Spring/Summer trends. In that post I assured that I would share what items I purchased whilst at The Lexicon with my voucher that I was kindly gifted! So here they are... 

Above is my beautiful new jumper from H&M, of course it is off-the-shoulder because obviously I am a big fan. I did in fact already own this jumper in red before purchasing, so I knew I loved the style already. It's the most beautiful pastel blue colour (the 2nd image shows the colour the best), which aptly follows the 'ice cream colours' trend, and I just couldn't resist it. I personally think it's a bargain at £19.99, and it is a relatively thick and soft fabric, so even in the cold weather it still keeps you pretty toasty (although I wouldn't recommend it in the snow). In terms of sizing, I would recommend sizing down in this. The red version I previously bought in a size S as that is my usual size, but I didn't try it on in store and when I came to wear it I realised it's pretty big. It's a more oversized style anyway, but I found the XS in this fits me so much better. This is pretty much everything I could ever want in a jumper, a definite Spring knit to get your hands on, plus it comes in lots of other lovely colours! 

Next is another item from H&M, the loveliest lace/crotchet top that of course follows the sheer trend. I have popped a black cami underneath it here (purely because having your photo taken outside is freezing), but you can definitely get away with just wearing a bra or bralet underneath. Frustratingly I cannot find this top online, but as you know I did pick it up in the H&M store at The Lexicon, so if you're lucky you might find it there too. Here is an alternative option that is similar in style. I've been looking for a top just like this for ages, and my friend actually picked it out for me, and I love it. It's the perfect evening top, that'll go perfectly with jeans, trousers or a skirt. It's a great addition to my wardrobe! This top retails at £34.99, so not the cheapest but definitely worth it in my opinion. Something I purchased separate to my trip to The Lexicon, was this amazing beaded pink clutch bag from TopShop. I think it compliments the outfit perfectly by adding that bold pop of colour. This was a bargain in the TopShop sale, and is still in stock, so grab it while you can! I'd say the second picture shows the colour of the bag the best. 

I hope you like the items I picked up at The Lexicon just as much as I do, I'm sure you'll see them both cropping up lots on my Instagram over the next couple months. 

Also, big statement... I am going to be doing a capsule wardrobe for the month of March. Yes I know, me? It'll definitely be a big challenge, but I am excited to test myself! I'll be creating lots of content related to my capsule wardrobe on both my blog and my social channels, so keep a look out and see how I get on with this challenge!

* Sponsored post 

Spring Summer 2018 Trends | The Lexicon

I was lucky enough to be invited to a Bloggers Event at The Lexicon in Bracknell a few weekends ago. The day began at the lovely Coffee Barker, where we indulged in an amazing breakfast, a must-visit for anyone visiting The Lexicon. I mean, even the toilets were beautiful. Whilst at the event the lovely ladies hosting discussed the upcoming SS18 trends (hopefully Spring will arrive soon...) that had been collated by The Lexicon's stylist, Lisa Talbot. Here's a quick run-down of what to expect in the shops this Spring/Summer...

1. Ice cream colours - those beautiful pastel tones that I certainly can't get enough of
2. Tailored dark denim 
3. Trench coats - which we all know I love
4. Sheer - particularly within evening wear 
5. Primary colours - something I am already seeing lots of, it's nice to see some bright colours
6. Plastic - for example vinyl 
7. The 50s staple pencil skirt 
8. Fringing - especially on hems 
9. Shorts - rather than skirts
10. Slip dresses - for that minimalist look 

We were all lucky enough to be gifted a voucher to spend at The Lexicon, which I can confirm was very easily spent. Even though The Lexicon isn't the largest of shopping destinations, they have pretty much everything there that you could want. For example TopShop, H&M, New Look, River Island, the beautiful department store Fenwicks, and many more. It's a lovely outdoor shopping experience, which I will definitely be visiting again in the Summer to make use of the lovely outdoor restaurant spaces, and of course to have a shop. Myself and my friend managed around 5 hours shopping, which I have to admit is pretty excessive, but if anyone's going to do it, it would be us... There were lots of lovely clothes & accessories in the shops, and of course we had to weigh up our options before spending our gift card. I have to say one of my favourite things about The Lexicon was how clean and tidy it was, every shop seemed spotless which resulted in a much more pleasing shopping experience (not that it's particularly hard to please me when I'm shopping). But seriously, it's a lovely day out if you're looking for somewhere different to go and spend your pennies and discover the latest trends. Below are some photos of some of the SS18 trends that have already started being filtered into the stores...

There were certainly lots of things that caught my eye whilst shopping that day that I have mentally recorded for upcoming paydays... I particularly love the pastel blush pink wide-legged trousers from River Island, they are definitely on my wish-list.

If you're interested in seeing what I actually purchased with my gift card at The Lexicon, keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming blog post featuring those items.

Shops featured...

River Island

TopShop

H&M

Accessorize 

*Sponsored post

My Autumn & Winter Colour Palette | Knitwear

Finally, the cold and crisp weather is kicking in. And I have to say I am extremely excited to have gotten all my knitwear back out of my wardrobe! I guess there is a pretty standard colour palette that goes hand-in-hand with Autumn/Winter, you know black, burgundy, grey etc. But I thought I would show you what my own personal colour palette consists of for the current seasons. Of course there's black, it will always be my base colour, it is just so easy to dress with. This usually comes in the form of jeans and boots. I will always be a burgundy and grey lover too, they are of course still neutral colours so are easy enough to integrate into anyone's wardrobe.

The new colours I have discovered for AW17 that I may not have previously experimented with so much are blush shades, red and camel. Pantone Colour Institute released their colour report earlier on this year for AW17, featuring some lovely camel-toned shades 'Toast' and 'Copper Tan'. There's a beautiful bright red 'Flame Scarlet', and some gorgeous earthy tones. So clearly we are going to be seeing lots of clothing along this colour wavelength this season. Some of these colours featured in the colour report are still currently on my wish list, however sadly university means less online shopping. But I am on the hunt for a beautiful camel coat, and would really like to get some boots this year that AREN'T black for once (we'll see).

I've put together several outfits for you, focusing on knitwear. Seeing as in Autumn and Winter that is basically what I live in, it only makes sense. Most pieces are new/recent, but I have included a couple from last year. I think I've found some pretty great wardrobe staples to see me through the colder months. Here are some of my favourite pieces...

The Cable Knit | Red

The Bardot Knit | Grey 

The Back Detail Knit | Burgundy 

The Turtle Neck Knit | Grey 

The Sleeve Detail Knit | Beige 

I hope you like the pieces I have picked out, I have linked the ones that I can. I think it's pretty safe to say that I'm now covered in the knitwear department! 

The Black Blazer

I've finally got my hands on a Black Blazer, and I can't stop wearing it. For some unknown reason, I haven't had one in my wardrobe for years. After recently having a wardrobe clear out, I realised that I was really lacking in my smart jacket department... and the item that has solved this problem is this black blazer. It literally goes with everything, and turns the most casual of outfits into smart ones. I opted for a double breasted, more boyfriend fitting style, which generally I would avoid. I find that more oversized clothing styles don't tend to suit my body shape, but for some reason this one seems to work. I picked this one up from Stradivarius for an amazing price... I know I've definitely already got my price per wear out of it! Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that if you don't already own a black blazer, then it's about time you invested in one. Trust me, they will solve all your wardrobe malfunctions. Now if I'm having an outfit meltdown, I just reach for my black blazer and all my problems are solved!

My New Leather Love

Finally after our swelteringly hot bank holiday weekend, the autumnal weather seems to have made an appearance. So, finally it is time for me to get my beautiful new leather jacket out the wardrobe (before the sun returns again). 

I have completely and utterly fallen in love with this jacket. It's black, has silver hardware, it's matte, and is slightly cropped... it has everything I could've ever wanted. I spent a lot of time hunting for the perfect leather jacket. As an investment piece, it had to be just right. Originally, I had my mind set on an All Saints one, but after trying them out I came to the conclusion that they were just a bit too busy for me. I then knew that I didn't want a belt on it. I came across this beautiful Whistles 'Black Agnes Leather Jacket', as soon as I saw it I prayed it would look just as lovely on, and it did.

It's completely timeless, because it has the right amount of details. It's not particularly trend lead, so I know that it will carry me through seasons from year to year. For me, it is the perfect length, hitting me around the hip area (I'm around 5'5). It's quite a boxy fit, with slim fitting arms, which I find is the most flattering fit for my body shape. I'm not sure there's anyone I can't see this jacket looking fab on!

Whistles is one of my favourite and most covetable brands, so I was thrilled to get my hands on this jacket. It is made using the softest of leathers, and has a beautiful silk feeling lining. I am so pleased I picked this one, it is definitely going to be a wardrobe staple for many years to come.

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