How to style the tunic dress

The tunic dress is something that will never go out of fashion. It’s one of my favourite items for smart work wear, but can also be dressed down for a more casual look. I remember that I used to have to wear a tunic dress in primary school as my school uniform! As an adult, I’m much better at styling a tunic dress than I was back then! Read on for my tips when it comes to styling this piece.

Choose a suitable shirt

With outfits like this, layering makes all the difference. A crisp, long sleeved shirt under your tunic transforms the look into a smart workwear piece. The pinstripes on my white shirt add an extra smart sophistication to the whole look. For a casual look, I would wear a black long sleeved polo neck under this dress.

Stick with neutral colours

The tunic I’m wearing is a dark colour which perfectly contrasts with the white shirt. This simple touch means that it will always be in fashion and I can wear it any time of the year. The tunic also has a very simple and subtle blue pattern, which can only be seen very close up. If you keep the style simple, you can be sure that it can be paired with most things in your wardrobe.

Accessories are your best friend

My love for accessories and handbags continues in this outfit with a leopard print bag from Marks & Spencer. As my outfit colours are simple, I felt that a pop of colour with my handbag worked perfectly. This bag is deceptively spacious, with room for all of your essentials including an Olympus Pen camera!

I also wore my black shoes from New Look as they are really comfortable to walk in and they look super smart. The cut of the dress falls just above my knee, giving the illusion of long legs when worn with these heels – perfect for a petite lady like me!

Photography by Kirstie Melville.

How do you like to style a tunic dress?

Why you should invest in timeless fashion

Keeping up with the ever changing trends in fashion can be difficult. I’m always interested to see what the latest fashion trends are straight from the catwalk, but that doesn’t mean I need to necessarily wear them. If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you will know that my style is much more timeless and classic and that’s because I believe in investing in your items. I like to purchase clothing, accessories and handbags that I know I would wear years into the future. I’m always purchasing new clothing, but before I spend my money on it, I genuinely ask myself – will I still want to wear this in two or three years time? If the answer is ‘yes’, then I will happily click the buy button. If not, then I don’t see the point in buying it. And that is honestly how I go about my clothes shopping.

Think about the cost per wear

This may start to sound mathematical but if you know that you will get good wear out of something, then it’s worth investing in. This red coat from Miss Selfridge was something I purchased a few years ago, and here I am in 2017 still wearing it. It certainly hasn’t gone out of fashion and I still get lovely compliments when I wear it. I was actually asked the other day if it was a new coat that I had bought! Taking good care of your investment pieces makes all the difference and I honestly don’t think you can tell that I’ve had this coat for the last few years.

Visualise what your purchase can be worn with

Whatever you are buying, try to see how this can be styled with current things in your wardrobe. That way, you can be sure that you will be wearing it a lot. For example, when I bought this red coat, I knew that it would look great with jeans, trousers and even dresses. The jeans I’m wearing in this outfit look great for a casual weekend outfit, but I’ve also worn this coat with a dress and bare legs underneath for an evening out. As the coat is fitted at the waist, this gives a very flattering look.

Keep your items well looked after

Regular dry cleaning and just generally keeping your items in a good condition can really help with preserving them and ensuring they last as long as possible. It may sound obvious, but it’s what works to help my most precious items still look great. When the winter is over, I tend to put things like coats that I won’t be wearing for the next few months away in a cover, as this also helps to keep them looking great.

What are your favourite items of clothing to invest in?

Photography by Kirstie Melville.

How to shop for luxury evening wear

Whether it’s an outfit for a special occasion, a date night or even just a treat for yourself, shopping for luxury evening wear can be difficult, as there are so many brands to choose from and you want to be investing in the right pieces. I’m definitely all about investing in timeless classics when it comes to clothing, so when purchasing a luxury item, I always ensure that I will get the most wear out of it before spending my money on it.

One of my favourite luxury fashion brands is Reiss. I have quite a few Reiss dresses in my wardrobe as I find them to be very good in quality, unique and timeless. When it comes to brands like Reiss, I know that I am investing in quality for sure and over the years I’ve learned how to shop well for luxury pieces.

Do your research

Whether that’s by looking through fashion blogs, YouTube videos or articles online, I would suggest doing your research into key luxury brands and their staple pieces. I remember I first discovered my love for Reiss when reading an article about Kate Middleton and she happened to be wearing a Reiss dress. I admire Kate Middleton’s style so much, and when I clicked onto the Reiss website, I instantly became a fan of the brand. This black dress was the very first Reiss item I bought and I still love and wear it for special occasions.

Find a style to suit you

Try on different pieces from your luxury brand of choice and then decide what fits you best. For me, I like dresses that are fitted and quite figure hugging. This black Reiss dress fits perfectly and the long sleeves make it great for evening wear, as it means you can go out without a jacket or coat. I’ve also never seen anyone else wearing it when I've worn it, and I always get compliments when I wear this dress, as the design and pattern is so unique. When shopping for luxury evening wear, it's important for me that the item stands out so I'm always looking for something different.

Look out for promotions and sales

Sometimes, you can get some of the best luxury items when promotions and sales are taking place. I’ve definitely picked up some great luxury outfits in the January sales, including dresses from Reiss! Various brands also have promotions throughout the year and I would recommend keeping an eye on their website or signing up to their mailing list. So if you’re looking to invest in some luxury pieces, try to find out if there are any upcoming sales or promotions, as any savings when it comes to high end or luxury fashion is definitely a bonus when shopping for evening wear like this.

Do you have a favourite luxury brand?

Photography by Kirstie Melville.

How to spend a day in Capri

If you're looking to get the most out of a day in Capri in Italy, the read on for my tips to have a great experience there. I stayed in Sorrento for a week and one of my excursions was a trip to the famous island of Capri. Situated in Italy's Bay of Naples, Capri is famous for being a holiday home to many Hollywood stars, exclusive designer stores, stunning natural beauty and a place to explore.

Getting to Capri

Depending on where you're staying, you'll most likely take a boat to the island. From Sorrento I travelled by ferry to Capri in the morning, which took around 30 minutes.

Boat tours

Once there I took a boat tour of the whole island, which included seeing the famous Blue Grotto and the Faraglioni rock formations. You will recognise the rock formations from the well known Dolce & Gabbana perfume advert for their Light Blue fragrance, featuring David Gandy. The Faraglioni rock formations are truly stunning and breathtaking and I would highly recommend going to see them. The boat tour I was on took me through the arch of the rock formations, so I got to see them up close.

Anacapri

After this amazing experience, we travelled by coach to Anacapri which took around 20 minutes. In Anacapri you can take a chairlift to the summit of Monte Solaro, where you can take in brilliant views across the Bay of Naples. I'm not usually too afraid of heights, but on this chairlift I was slightly scared with my feet dangling in the air! However, it was totally worth it and the whole experience of the chairlift and the view from the top was so peaceful.

Shopping and where to eat

Back in Capri, the busy Piazzetta (main square) is full of places to eat and drink. I would also recommend trying some ice cream as it's delicious! After you've had some lunch, take a walk down to  Via Camerelle which is known for luxury designer shops.

The best view

After browsing the shops, continue along Via Tragara until you reach the point where you can see the Faraglioni rock formations. This view is spectacular and one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. I spent a good amount of time here just reflecting, admiring the view and appreciating how lucky I am.

Have you visited Capri before? What did you enjoy the most?

How to wear red with confidence

Red is one of my favourite colours and I love wearing it all year round. I know that some find it to be a risky and daring colour to wear but I wanted to share my advice and tips on how to pull this colour off confidently and how to wear red.

Wear just one item of red

Instead of opting for a head to toe red outfit, you could just choose one item of your outfit to be red. In this look, I'm wearing a red skirt from Next as it incorporates the colour to the outfit nicely, without being too overpowering. It's a great way to introduce more colours to your wardrobe in a subtle way.

Keep the rest of your outfit neutral

When styling this red skirt, I decided to wear a black turtle neck jumper so that they complemented each other. This also helps to keep the look understated. I like how the black and red colours fit together to create a perfect look for this time of year.

Choose some classic jewellery

I love the classic and timeless look and I decided to wear a pearl necklace and earrings with this outfit. I find that jewellery pieces like pearls really pull a look together, and in this outfit they really bring the black and red out.

Be brave and go for it

I decided to finish the look off with a bold red lipstick from Revlon and also some red nails. The main thing to remember when wearing red is to be comfortable and confident in what you are wearing, and also to just go for it and smile!

Photography by Kirstie Melville.

Do you like wearing red? What's your favourite red item of clothing?

The top five places to visit in Rome

Rome is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. I love Italy for the sights, culture and cuisine so when I booked a trip to Rome, I knew that I would love it as much as Sorrento. There's so many sights to see in the city, but I've managed to narrow it down to my top five for those of you looking to get the most out of a short city break. I stayed in Rome for four days which is plenty of time to explore the city and take in the many breathtaking buildings and areas. However, if you're only visiting for a short period of time and want to maximise your time there, below are my top five recommendations of places to visit in Rome.

Colosseum

Probably one of the most iconic sights in the world and seen on every postcard, the famous Colosseum is rich in history and stunning architecture. I would recommend visiting this early in the morning to avoid the afternoon crowds, as we went there first thing in the morning and literally queued for ten minutes! I've heard of other people queuing for hours later in the day.

Vatican Museums

You'll need at least half a day to truly experience the Vatican museums. The world's most famous pieces of art can be found here including Michelangelo's frescos in the Sistine Chapel. When I entered the room and looked to the ceiling to view the frescos I actually became quite emotional. It was a combination of feeling so grateful to be in Rome and witnessing works of art that I had studied as a child at school and at that time dreamed of being able to visit places like this.  

Spanish Steps

Feeling like Audrey Hepburn, I headed over to the Spanish Steps for some super posey photos! The Piazza di Spagna provides a fantastic setting for both photos and a place to take some rest during a long day of walking.

St Peter's Basilica

This is one of the most beautiful churches in the world, and the most important in the Catholic world. It's definitely worth standing in the queue for, as when you walk inside the grand interior is simply breathtaking. I was also lucky enough to see the Pope in person when I visited, as he addresses his flock at the Vatican on Wednesday mornings.

Trevi Fountain

The fountain is definitely a must-see sight and when we visited, it was actually undergoing some building work. Nevertheless, we still got to admire the beauty of the architecture and design.

Have you been to Rome? What did you enjoy the most?