Holiday Style: Post 2 of 3

The Ultimate Holiday Style List

As I’m starting to pack for my holiday (only 2 more days to go!!!), I’m writing list after list of what to pack and what to buy and I’ve been making a mental note of what essentials I’ll need to help me achieve poolside style success.  I’ve managed to narrow it down to just 10 items, instead of the 30 I started off with, and I consider these as the basics you’ll need for looking and feeling stylish throughout your holiday.

1 Kimono

I adore these!  They are perfect for wearing over a bikini when you’re at the poolside or making a trip to the bar.  Add a skinny belt in a metallic colour to give definition to your waist.

Kimono, £29.99 River Island,  Belt, £9.99 River Island

2  Cool cotton dress

I saw this in the window of River Island the other day and just had to try it on.  The soft cotton makes it wearable in the heat and the silhouette will flatter most body shapes.  It’s also a style of dress that will remain stylish for many summers to come, a definite investment piece!

White cotton dress, £49.99 River Island

3  Platforms

I think a lot of ladies will opt for wedges for their holiday style but I’m a huge fan of platforms.  Get a touch of 70s glamour by wearing them by the pool or as you wander around the local village.  The best thing about wearing heels with your swimsuit or bikini is they will give better definition to your legs when you’re strutting up and down the poolside.

Blue floral platforms, down to £17.00 online at Dorothy Perkins

4  Sunglasses

The Karen Walker style glasses are very on-trend for this summer, my favourites are the small round frames and you can pick up a pair from H&M at a fraction of the price.

Sunglasses, £4.99 H&M

5  Slinky shorts

I have to be honest; I’m taking a stand against the denim super short shorts.  Instead, I’m opting for these silky numbers from Topshop.  With a touch of 70s chic they’re an absolute must for this summer and the soft fabric will help keep you cool in the heat.  Love the lace trimming too!

Shorts £30.00, Topshop

6  The perfect swimsuit or bikini 

Hopefully you’ll have already read my post on what bikinis to wear for your body shape, and if not, here’s a link http://noreen-elizabeth-styling.blogspot.com/2011/06/holiday-style-post-1-of-3.html

7  A cover-up 

If you’re looking for a cover-up and would prefer to stay away from a kaftan or sarong, I’d recommend this little number from H&M.  It’s small and light enough to tuck away in your beach bag and does the job of covering-up perfectly.  With a defined waistband in the middle it’s also going to create a feminine silhouette.

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Blue cover-up dress, £14.99 H&M

8  Beach bag

I’ve found it quite difficult this year to find the right beach bag but recently I spotted this one in H&M and knew it would be ideal for my holiday.  It’s big enough to fit everything in, should I choose to take a heap load of stuff to the beach, but it’s also practical and it looks pretty too. I just love the colours, they’re so fresh!

Bag, £7.99 H&M

9  Hat

The big floppy sun hats are huge this summer.  I’m devoted to the classic black and white striped ones, I even used one on a photo shoot on Sunday, but I’ve also found this style from Accessorize.

Striped beach hat, £20 Accessorize

10  Perfect pout

I don’t wear a lot of make-up on holiday but I always like to wear a bit of colour on my lips especially during the day around the pool.  I especially like to wear something bold like this ‘Indian Pink’ lip liner from Rimmel.  It’s cheap as chips, the colour is stunning and it lasts all day!  Instead of wearing a lipstick over the top I’ll use the liner as a base on my lips then add a touch of gloss over the top for the perfect pout.

Rimmel lip liner available at Boots

xx

A wedding abroad

Around 25% of the brides I work with are turning their backs on a traditional wedding at home and instead heading off to warmer climates to make their vows.  I like the idea of marrying abroad, I find it romantic and in a way, more personal than a wedding at home.  I think it’s becauseyou’re secluded, away from the rest of the world and only your very close family and friends will be there to help you celebrate.  I’ll be travelling to Greece on Friday to see one of my best friend’s get married.  I’ve seen the pictures of the church and the venue for the reception (which is right on the beach) and it all looks so serene and perfect, I can’t wait!

I was there when the same friend bought her wedding dress, and without giving too much away, it’s perfect for the location, the ceremony and the venue and especially perfect for her.  So what’s the difference between buying a bridal gown for a wedding at home and a wedding abroad?

When choosing your bridal gown for a wedding abroad, there’s still a lot to consider, it’s not a case of dressing down for the occasion as many people may see it.  I see it as having to be more practical in your choice…..are you really going to be able to wear a princess gown on the beach….with a cathedral train….in that heat? 

I’m always browsing the internet for bridal fashions and recently found a recommended website with what I consider THE best beach bridal gowns and I’m sure you’ll agree.  The dresses on this website are more than just a beach dress.  Yes, they’re understated, but they’re also refined and each have a certain something about them that’s still going to make every bride that wears them feel special.

You can order the dresses online from http://www.shopbop.com/ and all orders over $100 are free delivery to the UK.  The prices aren't too shabby either, especially for designer bridal gowns!

I’ve spent quite a bit of time daydreaming over them but finally managed to select my 6 favourites.

  

 Halston Heritage, Kimono wrap long sleeve gown $995


This one is probably my favourite of the six chosen.  I just love the kimono style dresses at the moment and don't you think it's quite a versatile dress?  I can imagine this being dressed up for a vintage look and also having a modern twist.

 Halston Heritage, Spaghetti strap $895

 ADAM, Chiffon with lace yoke $495

 Odylyne, Hummingbird dress $300

 Thread, Marilyn gwon $480

 Catherine Deane, Giselle gown $2,050

If any readers celebrated their wedding abroad and would like to share pictures of your dress choice, I’d love to see them, please feel free to post them on my Facebook wall, search for Noreen Elizabeth Styling.

xx

Holiday style : Post 1 of 3

July is nearly upon us which for many of us can mean only one thing….holidays! 

I love the preparation involved before going on holiday; writing to-do lists, shopping for new clothes, pampering yourself with haircuts and manicures and the mad rush to finish work deadlines. I think it all helps to build up the excitement.  I especially love packing...well,what I really mean is I especially love the outfit planning process!  I think I enjoy planning and creating my holiday outfits more than I enjoy actually shopping for my holiday clothes.  I always feel I can be more adventurous and carefree with how I wear my clothes on holiday so I’ll put together outfits that are always a little more daring and different from my usual style.  As my holiday is just around the corner my outfit planning ideas have inspired me to write a few blog posts on styling for your holiday wardrobe. 

I thought I would start off my ‘holiday posts’ with what I consider the most difficult holiday item to shop for….the bikini!  Now, I can’t take away the fear that comes with having to wear a bikini however, I can help you to make the best choice when it comes to buying bikinis to flatter your body shape and therefore, help you to feel a lot more confident when you’re strutting up and down the golden sands of your holiday destination.

Depending on your body shape, certain swimwear will be more flattering, so I’ve suggested ideas for each body shape below with a few tips on the essential cuts and styles to look out for in your bikini.

Hourglass figures have a body shape that is perfectly proportioned, so most swimwear styles will flatter you.  I'd recommend you look out for bikinis or swimsuits that emphasise your curves such as this 1950s style swimsuit from Topshop or anything with a sweetheart style neckline.

If you're an apple shape, I'd recommend avoiding a bikini and instead choose a swimsuit such as these styles above.  The ruffle detail in the yellow swimsuit will drape across your body and help to disguise a round tummy. The print in the floral swimsuit will also act as an illusion and distract attention away from the silhouette and draw more focus to the print and colours.

If you find yourself to be more of a pear shape, you should be looking out for bikinis rather than swimsuits.  Try to go for a bikini that has more detail in the top such as ruffles or an interesting pattern so the eye is drawn away from your fuller hips and up towards your petite décolletage.  A halterneck style is also very flattering.

If you're straight up and down with quite a boysih frame, feminine and frilly is the way to go.  Create the illusion of curves by wearing swimwear with lots of frills and details on the hips and bust, and choose pretty patterns and bright colours.

If you're top heavy, you need to focus on balancing your fuller upper body with your trimmer lower body.  Look for bikinis with a simple top and more detail in the bottom such as this green bikini from Heidi Klein.  The halterneck top will help to trim down shoulders while supporting the bust and the ties on the side of the bikini bottoms will balance narrow hips with broad shoulders.  Try fun prints like this cherry bikini from ASOS.com too.

If you're a plus size I recommend these 1950s style swimsuits as the best for defining your curves.  They're the trendiest swimsuits available and the sweetheart neckline and halterneck style will add definition to your curves.  Look out for neutral colours for a more slimming effect or try small detail prints such as this animal print from Manoush. 


For more ideas on how to create glamorous holiday style I’ll be posting a piece on my Top 10 Holiday Style Essentials soon.  Join my Facebook page to be the first to receive updates when the posts are up.


xx