My love for Topshop

For the female readers amongst us, I just know it sounds familiar when I say that 'when in the UK, shopping at Topshop is on the top of the list'. So I was over the moon that Sheffield not only had one, but TWO Topshops! This brand offers everything a twentysomething girl wants (and even more!). Topshop follows the latest trends and tries to remake affordable versions of it (but still I have to admit that I'm sometimes surprised about how expensive some particular pieces are…). I personally am a very big fan of their jewelry. If you see something coming up at the big brands (think about the Dior double sided pearl earring), Topshop has it a couple of weeks later, and most of the time in an even more cooler and trendy version. Just check out all the statement necklaces on one of the pictures: to die for! And honestly, if you look at all the beautiful stuff they sell, it is totally understandable that every year this is thé runway show at LFW that every person who means something in the fashion industry wants to attend. 

Topshop: I already had a crush on you, but now it is big lovie time!

Timberland

When in Sheffield, wear Timberlands for walks in the Peak District… WORD

Burgundy on my feet

Although burgundy was really one of thé colors in the winter season last year, I still like to wear it. Because real fashion isn't really about what the magazines tell you to wear, but what you want to wear yourself! And think about it… Even though it is not explicitly said that burgundy is still one of the main colors this season, you still see it everywhere. Look for instance at these beauties from Attilio Giusti Leombruni. I just loooooooove them!! And even better: they're mine! They are the perfect balance between a classic loafer and a creeper. I didn't really had a chance to put them on yet, because of this rainy weather in England, but wait until the festivities start! They are really pretty under a jeans, but I even think I can pull them of under a dress… Let's wait and see! 

St. James' Row

Today some outfit pictures taken in one of the cutest alleys of Sheffield. This little street connects the area where I live with the city centre, and is located next to the cathedral. It's definitely one of my favorite parts in Sheffield! I just had to take some pictures there so that I can add them to my Sheffield-archives ;) As it was a sunny day, no fluffy coat was needed, yay! I could also wear my new slip-ons that I bought at Topshop. As I'm a real sneaker fan, these burgundy beauties immediately caught my eye. The jacket was also new, and perfect for the midseason (that I think has officially come to an end). Also the scarf was a new addition to my winter garment - I know living in England with all its amazing shops isn't really good for my wallet - and I just love the way it can give a whole outfit that little bit more, some kind of an extra touch! 

Outfit: jacket New Look - pants Zara - slip-ons Topshop - scarf Essentiel - glasses Ray-Ban

Alexander Wang X H&M

Just like last year, I really wanted to get my hands on a piece of the H&M collab from this year: Alexander Wang. Sad part of my goal was that because I'm studying abroad now, that was as good as impossible. The closest shop for me was located in Manchester, but due to the huge amount of work that I have for university, I wasn't able to plan a trip for this Alexander Wang madness. The only chance I would maybe have, was in London because I was going there for the weekend to visit my family. For me it seemed kind of impossible (again) because that trip was 2 full days after the launch of the collection. Last year the Isabel Marant collection was sold out in less than an hour - and that was in Gent, Belgium - so how would it be possible that in one of the biggest fashion cities in the world that would be different? 

So on Saturday the 8th of November, we went shopping in the Regent street area, where also one of the H&M stores, who had the collection available, was located. In the United Kingdom you could only shop the collection in Birmingham, Manchester and London… That is so strange if you know that in my little country Belgium you could find the clothes in Gent, Brussels, Antwerp and I think in even some other H&M's. England, I sincerely expected more from you ;) ! 

But I have to admit one thing to you guys: it wasn't really love at first sight with the collection. When I heard the collab was with Alexander Wang, I was so excited because I love his creations and the fabrics that he uses. But when I saw the first images of the collection - also remember the pictures of Rihanna wearing a top and a legging kind of pants - I was so so so so disappointed. Almost all the clothes looked unwearable. I definitely like sporty clothes, but this was just over the top. Although I hated most of the collection, there were a few pieces where I was really fond of: the backpacks, the white and black tops, the grey WANG sweater (I would've bought the one made for men, because the female one was a crop-sweater and I knew I would never wear that), the black sweater/jacket and the grey black coat. 

So when I entered the H&M shop in London I had low expectations… But they increased quite fast, when I saw a big banner of Alexander Wang and still a lot of clothes under that banner (hurray!). I started screening everything that I could screen, and realized that of course a lot of the pieces were the big sizes or the completely unwearable and expensive stuff. I grabbed one of the t-shirts, that I really liked and headed to the first floor to check if there was some stuff left from the guys. Unfortunately this check-up ended up negative. So I went down to the ground floor for a last look, and then I saw the black sweater/jacket that I wanted, just hanging there all alone… This one wasn't there before, so I saw my chance, grabbed it, fitted it, and (thank you parents!) bought it! Operation Wang in London: awesome! I have to admit, it was quite an expensive operation, but it was definitely worth it because that day was the first day where I could call myself the owner of an Alexander Wang design ;) 

Click here to check out all the pieces separately ! 

Fluffy duffy in blue

Just like last year, oversized coats are still in business… Big business!! And this is absolutely one of the trends that I love the most, so I hope it sticks around for another couple of years. Last year I bought the burgundy Sandro coat (remember?). This summer though, my eye fell on this beautiful blue fluffy duffy coat. Indeed, I said summer, as it is totally not crazy to try out winter garment when it's 30 degrees outside ;) Blue is my favorite color so I sealed the deal quite quickly.  And what's so funny is that I didn't knew that blue oversized coats would actually be a thing this winter: after I bought my coat, I saw similar coats popping up on fashion sites all the time (next to the pink ones, who are also still quite high in the ranking of most fashionable coats of FW14) Lucky me! What do you guys think about this trend? Do you also like to bring some color into these grey days, or do you remain a fan of the classic black-grey-brown kind of winter garment? 

Outfit: coat Scapa Original - scarf Essentiel - boots Massimo Dutti - handbag Topshop - pants Zara - pinky signet ring personal

Meadowhall student shopping night

On the first Wednesday evening of my new life in the UK, my erasmus friends and I went shopping at Meadowhall. It's a huge shoppingcentre - really the biggest thing I've ever seen - just outside the city centre. To 'celebrate' the beginning of the new academic year, they organized a student night where you could shop until you drop with a reduction of 20 %… So heaven can actually be a place on earth?! And I have to admit, we really shopped and dropped. We went from one store to another, with only a 15 minute (fast-food) lunch break, and even with this tight schedule we didn't have the chance to see all the shops: this place is just massive! The shop that impressed me the most, was Victoria Secret. In Belgium we don't have one - or maybe in the airport, I'm not sure - so it is always a new experience when I enter this VS madness. Although it is always über fluffy and pink, it's a fun shop and concept (but I have to admit that I still stick with the Belgian brands on this one!). For a list of all the shops, check http://www.meadowhall.co.uk/stores.aspx and definitely plan a trip to this shopping walhalla if you're in the neighborhood. 

Drizzly days

I have to admit you guys, what they say about the weather in England is sooooooooo true! It rains and rains and rains and rains (but occasionally, véry occasionally, we have some good moments). So the one thing you really need here is a good coat and of course an umbrella (more on that in one of the upcoming blogposts). This picture below was taken when I was still in Belgium. And I have to say that also Belgium has its very rainy days right? My mind was already set a long time on this kind of jacket and when I went shopping in Nieuwpoort - for my new English followers 'Newport' - at my favorite shop Storms this yellow baby caught my eye! Perfect for trying to be that little bit of sunshine on a drizzly day…

Outfit: Jacket Just over the top - glasses Giorgio Armani - shorts Zara - polo Zara - shoes Exit - bracelet Delvaux 

1 outfit, 4 positions

Today, the pictures speak for themselves: one outfit, 4 different positions. 

Outfit: blouse and glasses Zara - bracelet Delvaux 

MODEinOOSTENDE #thefashionparty

Hi guys!!! While hopping around in my erasmusadventure, I remembered I didn't made the final report on the MODEinOOSTENDE - event that Belmodo launched last summer (I'm so sorry as it is already October…). Still I'm of the opinion that it is never to late to give an insight on thé fashion party of the summer, don't you think? We all gathered at the casino in Ostend to celebrate Belmodo's great promotion campaign of the city. And as you already know, I was really fond of it. 

At the venue, there were six Belgian brands who presented their work of art: always nice and inspiring to see who are the Belgian newbies on the fashion market. Later that evening, the fashion came more in the background - how is this ever possible, right?! - and the party came in the spotlight (or do I have to say we?). Having the beats of Ostend based dj, polaroidblogger and it-girl Elisabeth Ouni, aside with some GT's, it was just the perfect dancing night. Just a pity that there wasn't a real fashion show, as a lot of us thought there would be one… 

Outfit: skirt Essentiel - top from local store St. - Tropez, bracelet Delvaux, clutch VII Bruxelles 

P.S. Sorry for the bad quality pics as it was so difficult to take proper pictures with all the flashing lights… 

Backstage, front row and trends @ LFW

The fashion weeks galore is over - sigh - so it's the perfect time to reflect on what I've seen and noticed during this fashion circus. Because I can currently call myself a citizen of the United Kingdom, my focus was mainly on the London fashion week (and if I'm being honest, I just love this one most of all!). During my first week in Sheffield, I've already met lots of new people, and some of them are fashion victims just like me. While chitchatting, lfw was also one of the topics, and apparently the BBC made 3 episodes about London fashion week. I just had to check this out! Beneath, you can find the links to the episodes, and I can highly recommend them to you if you're interested in experiencing lfw through the eyes of a fashion insider. 

Backstage at lfw with Susie Lau

Frontrow at lfw with Abbey Clancy

Trends at lwf with Daisy Lowe

picture from blog Susie Lau www.stylebubble.co.uk 

picture with Abbey Clancy on the left www.express.co.uk

picture with Daisy Lowe, Pixie Geldof and my all time favorite Alexa Chung www.mirror.co.uk

Superga X Roberto Del Carlo

Hi guys!!! I'm so so so so sorry for not getting back at you for almost 2 weeks now (shame on me…) but I just had the most busiest time ever during my first week abroad. So many new things to discover, so many cool people to meet, so many stuff to experience… I finally found a silent moment to focus on the blog and to make the sneaker lovers among you happy! For you guys, the brand Superga must definitely sound familiar! 

Born in Turin (Italy) 1911 the Superga factory, under the stewardship of Walter Martiny, started to produce shoes with vulcanized rubber soles and so the Classic Superga 2750 Heritage style was born! Today,  this still is one of the most iconic pieces that the brand has ever made. But over the years, also other kinds of shoes followed: sport shoes, rubber rain boots… It thus doesn't surprise you that also some collaborations popped up, and my eye fell on the collab with Roberto Del Carlo. I got my hands on a pair of those, and I can assure you, I'm not letting them go! I always had a thing for extravagant footwear (look at my earlier posts) so this pair just had to be added to the pile. It's a classy sneaker - referring to the white beige combo - but yet it is absolutely daring. Superga is definitely a brand to watch, as it defied trends and stood the test of time. 

Looking back… and forward!

Words from the west… I can definitely call this one of the most awesome projects I have ever done. Fashion has always been my biggest passion (rhyme wonder over here!), and with this blog I was definitely taking this big crush of mine to the next level. Sharing my own thoughts on fashion with the worldwide web wasn't initially an Astrid thing to do (especially posting pictures of myself posing in my own clothes). My closest friends knew that this was the topic where I could go on for hours, but communicate it to readers who I don't know at all was totally new. But I have to admit it is fun, and my visitors rating shows me that a lot (and more!) of you guys seem to think this as well. My blog has already created so much opportunities: fabulous events, fashion shows, and even a 3 month internship at Belmodo which I unfortunately had to cancel because I'm studying abroad this year… But good news for you, the next few months you will get posted on some UK fashion trends. Hurray! Before I leave this rainy - today weirdly hot - Belgium for the even more rainy Union Jack country, I just really wanted to thank you for the support and for reading my blog. Therefore I made some kind of compilation video from the past year as some kind of overview. Hope you like my iMovie skills! ;) 

Pleated

While I'm sitting here at my desk, writing another blogpost and staring outside the window, summer seems to have left us already... The long hot nights are definitely over - sigh - and autumn is waiting right after the corner. Although I'm a summer-minded person, I can also enjoy the upcoming colder seasons, because I can unpack my coats and scarfs again and start brainstorming for some new cool winter looks! It seems to be a good moment to change positions again: summer clothes out, winter garment in! Before the winter season starts and you go out for some new clothes, it is always a good idea to first check what you already have (logic!), followed by checking the fashion magazines full of new trends. This winter, not a lot has changed: you can still wear your chunky punk motor boots, combined with an oversized coat and a big scarf. This still is one of thé looks for the winter. And as you know, I'm a big fan of this style. Also capes are very hot and a lot of clothes, shoes, bags... are finished with fringes (which is not really my cup of tea). 

But as you've already seen, the pictures beneath are totally not wintery yet. I refuse to acknowledge that the sun won't be around that much anymore, and that attitude reflects in my outfits. Monday I had a goodbye diner with some of my law-friends (more about that in one of the upcoming posts), and this is what I wore: I just really wanted to wear my pleated skirt one last time...

Outfit: pleated skirt Mango - crop top from a local shop St. Tropez (not a real brand) - bag Louis Vuitton - shoes Scapa - necklace Anne Zellien - bracelet Hypnochic

Eatable iphonecover #Moschino

Since Jeremy Scott took the reins as creative director at Moschino, the brand already came a lot into the picture! Who doesn't know the iconic Mc Donalds inspired sweaters, bags... (click here to see them) Scott is known for his eccentric-meets-feminine designs and that's what I like about him: it is always so over the top! Today, he has already crafted some luxury collections that harken back to Moshino's days of celebrated streetwear - which I suspect will soon take its prominent place in the street style hall of fame (if it didn't happen already).

He also designs the cutest Iphone covers ever! What do you think about my lickable one? :)

#ELODIEforJBC

Elodie Ouedraogo is a well-known sportswoman in Belgium - more in particular in athletics - but fashion has always been a big part of her life. I'm already following Elodie for a long time now because she has that kind of style that I love: one day she can be very feminine, followed by a day where she just wants to wear a big sweater with jeans. So when I read that she had made her own sweater line for the Belgian brand JBC, I was sold immediately because I knew it would be great! The collection exists of 6 sweaters --> I made a compilation of my three favorites below. 

I have to admit: Wednesday it was the first time that I entered a shop from JBC. But thanks to Elodie I have now broadened my horizon! And I have to admit, the collection is very neat. I bought the sweater with the golden sequins, and the design was really well done: every little sequin was attached perfectly! 

Are you guys sweater fans? And what do you think of ElodieforJBC?