Summer Showers

Sadly, the weather is already taking a turn and it's time to start preparing for some really English weather. Boo. We say, GONE are the days of fold away brollies that you are ashamed to bring out, even in a downpour. We say it's time for some glamorous, eye catching, sturdy umbrellas!

I've done the leg work for you and here we have some seriously pretty umbrellas for you to keep dry under though, as well as some fabulous vintage examples.

Match to your pill box hat for serious sophistication. 

Ruffles and flowers make for sunshine on a rainy day. 

Janet Leigh matches her hat, coat and umbrella. Do you?

MONOCHROME

Bombay Duck

John Lewis

LuLu Guinness

TRANSPARENT

LuLu Guinness
Light In The Box
Fulton

FUN-BRELLAS

Brollies Galore
Hello Brolly

LED Light up brolly Think Geek

PRETTY PATTERNS

Jolly Brolly

Rain Drops To
Cath Kidston

The Invasion of The Crop Top

Anyone else suddenly feeling a little bloated? A bit podgy? Thinking of cutting back on your sweets? Yeah...me too. I reckon it's all down to the rise of the T-shirt hemline from a sensible hip level to dangerous below bosom heights! The crop is here. And I fear it may be here to stay.

Oh I'm just bitter. The crop looks damn good on most of the ladies out there! In fact, they have done for decades, it's a fashion item that just keeps coming back to the catwalks and this time I blame the likes of Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton and Prada.

We've seen this style of top from the 1940s worn with with high waisted palazzo pants as worn by the gorgeous lady below on the left, through to the 1960s and the high necked, sleeveless styles seen on the right styled with monochrome high waisted shorts. A gorgeous 1960s sewing pattern and lastly, Kelly from Saved By The Bell showing us how the 80s and 90s chose to resurrect the crop!

Here are our picks of the best vintage, vintage repro and high street crops out there. 

Gypsy Crop from Vivien of Holloway

50s 2 piece from Hell Bunny

60s inspired crochet Topshop

90s cool Motel

Denim to go with everything Beyond Retro

More retro 2 pieces Hell Bunny

xxx

Feeling Fruity

I can't tell you how jealous I am not to be at this years' Coachella Festival over the pond. Two weekends full of amazing music and beautiful people, sigh! We've been keeping a close ear on the musical happenings over there (James Blake live? Babe) but also a close eye on what those ever so lovely ladies are wearing out in the sunshine. And we're beginning to notice a theme!

That's right, Carmen Miranda's tropical togs have inspired a micro trend yet again. They had a their style moment back in S/S/11 with Stella McCartney's zingy citrus prints, Prada's zainy bananas and Moschino's full on strawberry dress that inspired a huge juicy trend 2 years ago. 

Getting back to the year 2013, florals are always going to be the power pattern of the season, but it's brilliant to see celebs and their stylists thinking outside the box.  Especially when the sun comes out - who could help themselves? 

Solange in Alice and Olivia

Katy Perry carrying a Carmen Miranda bag by Lulu Guiness 

DJ Hayrley Veira Newton at Henry Holland's bash

Pixie Geldof in a pinup style one piece

We've found some awesome fruity fashion tops online both high street and vintage to get you to jazz up your wardrobes just in time for "summer" (will we ever get one?!). Even the lads can get involved! Now all we need is a plane ticket to the festival of my dreams. 

Pretty delicate with Nishe at ASOS

Boys get involved with ASOS

 Keep it independant with Alice Takes A Trip

Go grungy at Vulgar

Keep it zingy
Gina x