A Perfectly Presentable Summer Holiday

Hey there everyone! So Sorry for the lack of contact over the weekend but as I mentioned previously I was super busy! As Alex has weekends off and the weather has been beautiful we have decided to do something new and exciting every Saturday and Sunday around the area to get to know it a little better seen as we’re new! So this weekend on Saturday we went to a lovely town called Ludlow in Shropshire that is renowned for the quality of its food and drink. It’s surrounded by beautiful, fertile countryside and food and beverage producers that supply the endless supply of amazing restaurants! They have a really well-stocked food centre too, stuffed with local produce, which we managed to spend a small fortune on and then demolish in the first night!

Then on Sunday we went to Hampton Court Castle and gardens to see Hereford Big Band. It was so good! The weather was incredible again and we sat in a beautiful courtyard with cider and ice cream, very romantic. After the band had finished we took a stroll around the grounds, there was a very pretty river walk and a maze! I love mazes, and this one was super-fun! In the middle there was a tower which overlooked the grounds and underneath was a tunnel to a secret garden complete with waterfall! It was an absolutely beautiful day and a really fun weekend and for anyone that lives in the surrounding area and hasn’t been to either of these places I definitely recommend!

So this wonderfully warm weather and all the fun in the sun I’ve been having, plus the fact that most of the statuses I keep seeing on Facebook tend to be about Ibiza, Portofino or Hvar has inspired me to write today’s post about holidays! I’ve already given you my top tips on swimwear for this summer and check my post from Friday for a few outfits that will also work whilst away.

My holiday essential packing list goes as follows:

·         Three bikinis: Choose a different trend for each so that you have three totally different looks, wear them each once and then hand-wash and recycle.

·          Three wraps/beach covers: Choose neutral colours so that you can mix and match with each bikini and thus give a larger repertoire of looks.

·          One gorgeously trendy hat: Big-brimmed, trilby, vintage, any hat goes this summer!

·         Two sundresses: Try Topshop and H&M for some very cute and reasonable numbers. I bought two beauties from Topshop today and intend to accessorise them with big jewellery, belts and super sexy heels. Tall girls choose a mini or for those of you not up for getting the pins out choose a just-above-the-knee style so as to avoid looking lanky. Petite girls choose a mid-thigh hemline in floaty chiffon to stay in perfect proportion. Pear-shaped girls choose a style that is nipped in at the waist with a tulip skirt or draping to flatter a bigger bottom half. Curvy girls try the uber hot peplum look to really flatter your figure. Apple-shaped girls look out for a high waist and full skirt in non-clingy materials. Try to buy one plain and one patterned.

·         One maxi dress: Buy one that can be worn in the day with flats or in the evening with wedges for versatility. I love Tara Williams’ Rapture Embellished leopard-print cotton maxi dress (available on theoutnet.com; was £295, now £132.75).

·         One pair of capri/tapered trousers: Choose whatever colour suits you! Just make sure that you match a couple of tops to whatever colour you do choose. Whistles and Reiss have an incredible selection in a variety of colours and patterns. Just remember that big prints will enhance your bottom half.

·         One mini skirt: I’m pretty sure every girl will own at least one mini skirt so pick your fave and make sure it matches your tops and shoes.

·         One midi skirt: Anything pleated or wrap-around is super on-trend and with a nipped in waist with a silky vest top tucked in is a gorgeously sophisticated evening drinks look.

·         One pair of casual shorts: A denim pair with a casual vest, jewellery and a hat is boho chic and comfy for all those daytime sightseeing expeditions.

·         One pair of dressy shorts: H&M have a gorgeous pale pink scalloped hem silk pair with a black waist tie. These shorts are so versatile and pretty and are a brilliant piece to follow the sports luxe trend. Wear with heels and your tailored jacket for a super cool look with an air of nonchalance!

·         One floaty shirt: Try one in an acid bright or flower print. These are super on trend this summer and go with almost anything. Zara has a lovely selection.

·         Six tops: two casual vests, two silky vests and two others of your choice. Make sure that you have at least one top that goes with each pair of bottoms! If you can be super-savvy try and match all tops to all bottoms to give you endless possibilities of outfits!

·         One cardi: Choose a neutral colour in a light material to match all the outfits that you take.

·         One tailored jacket: Try white or pastel shades that will look especially summery sipping on cocktails whilst watching the sunset. BCBG Maxazria have so many to choose from and all are so elegant and sophisticated with quirky detailing and sexy shoulders all designed to accentuate the gorgeous female form.

·         One pair of flip-flops, one pair of espadrilles, one pair of wedges, one pair of killer heels: see A Perfectly Presentable Foot fetish.

·         One pair of sunglasses: there has been a big vintage revival this summer and cats eyes sunglasses are everywhere. I personally love this look, it conjures up images of Audrey Hepburn and all the glamour associated with her! If these don’t suit you though then don’t buy them for the sake of it, find a pair that looks good and you won’t want to take them off.

·         Two clutches: one that matches the wedges, the other that matches the heels

·         One beach bag: Make sure it’s roomy and also in a neutral colour so that it matches all your gorgeous beach styles.

I hope this helps fellow fashionistas! This list provides a good base for your packing and offers a wide range of outfits so that you’ll always be looking glam after topping up the tan!

Night all! Speak tomorrow when I will put up all the pics from today-sorry I didn’t do it tonight but internet really is dire!

Love, love,

x RT @PP x

By the way…has everyone heard, H&M has confirmed that the next incredible designer they will be collaborating with will be Maison Martin Margiela. The French fashion house includes celebs such as VB and Cate Blanchett amongst their many fans and will be available in-store and online from November 15^th. Can’t actually contain my excitement!!

A Perfectly Presentable Quickie

Hey all! Sorry for the lack of contact this weekend I've been crazy busy! Went to a mini food festival yesterday, then out for a meal and today went to Hampton Court Castle and gardens to watch Hereford Big Band! It was amazing! The songs were so good! I'll update you all fully tomorrow but I just wanted to check in and say that I hadn't forgotten about my blog! Hope everyone else has had an equally wonderful weekend! Catch up tomorrow! Love, love, x RT @ PP x

A Perfectly Presentable Weekend Wardrobe

Hey there everyone!! Sorry this post is so late today but living out in the country my internet is TERRIBLE! So the fashion show last night was really fun, it was to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Research so a very noble cause! I’m not sure of the final total raised yet but I believe it was a fairly substantial amount, hurrah! In the catwalk there were a number of really lovely summery outfits which coupled with the fact that today is Friday, have inspired me to put together a few outfits that will be suitable for the weekend ahead. Also I know that everywhere is launching and advertising pre-fall and AW12 collections, but it’s far too sunny for me to even be thinking about that right now, I may start some reviews next week but for now I’m sticking to my summer wardrobe wonders (of which most are in the sale so you can also grab yourself a bargain)!

I am going to be using a mixture of my own outfits, and those that I have seen online or in magazines that have really caught my eye. All outfits will be suitable for drinks, dancing, BBQs (just change the heels) and of course watching the Olympics Opening Ceremony!

Monochrome Madness

Black Primark Strapless Top, H&M White Skirt with Polka-dots, H&M Black skirt, Biba Black Heels, DKNY Black Clutch ( My B-Day present from Alex two years ago-chosen all my himself and I love it!). Monochrome always look classy and sharp, this is a brilliant outfit for drinks or lunch and for the cool days just pop a black cropped sweater over the top. Also if you aren’t a fan of strapless, tanks and vests look equally good.

Burning Bright

Hobbs Pink Tunic Dress, Dorothy Perkins Yellow Skinny Belt, Biba Black Heels, DKNY Black Clutch. I’ve kept this look quite classic with black heels and clutch but you could try nude or even yellow to match the belt. Don’t have yellow? Orange, green, blue, lilac and many, many more colours contrast nicely with the pink, just choose whatever you have in your wardrobe; or if you’re buying choose the best colour suited to your skin tone.

Tribal Scream.

Miss Selfridge Brown Faux Suede shorts, All Saints Black Chiffon Shirt, Topshop Snakeprint Wedges, Mulberry Bella Messenger in Tan. Safari, animal print, tribal, aztec. Four things that immediately spring to designers minds for an elegant, ethnic look. The traditional pieces featured heavily in SS12 runways such as safari jackets, khaki shorts and leopard-prints (See Michael Kors and Roberto Cavalli) but there were also some fresh ideas with summer crochet, raffia and modern finishing and fabrics. My personal favourite being the shiny safari pants at Balenciaga by Nicholas Ghesquiere.

Perfect Paisley

Black Primark Strapless Top, Red Print Wide-leg Zara Trousers, Black Biba Heels, Black Prada Bag. This look is a perfect day outfit as you can make it as casual or dressy as you like. Stick to totes and messy hair for a less formal look, or grab a clutch and a sleek up-do for dressier occasions. These trousers are super long on me so I always wear a ridiculously high heel with them (who am I kidding? I ALWAYS wear a ridiculously high heel!) But you could put on a flat or sandal if preferred.

Fruit Pastels

3.1 Phillip Lim (As seen in The Collections Spring/Summer 2012 The Vogue Edit). I love this outfit, it’s so chic and beautiful, perfect to wear for lunch, drinks or even around town whilst shopping. The colours compliment each other perfectly and the structured look just screams effortless elegance.

White Hot

The Kooples skirt and sweater (As seen in The Kooples Spring-Summer Collection 2012 Brochure). This outfit is beautifully relaxed yet sophisticated. Maxi skirts and pleats are very on-trend for SS12 so this skirt kills two birds with one stone! For those really hot days, swap the sweater for a cute white vest and add a necklace or silk scarf. What I really love aboiut this outfit is that the Kooples are currently in their third markdowns and the majority of their SS12 stock is now at 70% off so pop into your nearest store or have a cheeky look online at www.thekooples.co.uk

Blooming Marvellous

Take inspiration from Erdem this SS12 for a plethora of floral prints, beaded blooms and gorgeously intricate applique flowers. I love this outfit, the clashing prints and tapered trousers are bang on trend and give a beautiful day-evening look. H&M and Topshop have an array of floral prints on every item of clothing you could possibly think of for more affordable copycats.

Olympic Chic

With the Olympics not even a whisper away, the world has been seduced by the sports luxe look. Track pants with a loosely tailored top, floor-length dresses with dramatic cutaways and neoprene minis are everywhere with an incredible selection at Mulberry, Victoria Beckham and Alexander Wang. Layer-up with cycling shorts under skirts and an anorak, wear them bright, bright, bright during the day but tame it down with monochrome and nudes for a more sultry style.

I hope this gives a good overview of all the trends that are still around for summer with a few ideas on how to wear them! Tonight, I’m going to watch the opening ceremony at Grove Golf Club in Herefordshire and I’ll be sporting the print look-will keep you updated of my outfit choice as soon as I know what I’m wearing!

Happy Olympics Night Everyone! Super Exciting!!

Love, love,

x RT @ PP x

A Perfectly Presentable Outfit for a Fashion Show

Just to let you know what I'm wearing to the fashion show tonight! French connection teal silk vest top, current Eliot grey jeans, camilla skovgaard silver heels and a black Balenciaga tux jacket. I've also got my trusty jimmy choo clutch to add an acid bright summer colour! I'll put the pic up upon my return but for now it's on twitter! Love, love, x RT @ PP x

A Perfectly Presentable Foot Fetish!

Hey there everyone! How are we all today? I hope well. I have been having a very lazy morning today lying in bed with my two kittens; Munch and Scrunch (cute names I know!!) catching up on all my e-mails etc.

I have been taking an avid interest in Cheltenham Fashion Week (17^th-21^st September) on Twitter and am pleased to say that I have a meeting with them to hopefully discuss any ways in which I can help out, which I am extremely excited about! I’ve been having a look at the website www.cheltenhamfashionweek.co.uk and it all looks extremely exciting, from guests such as Caryn Franklyn (fashion broadcaster, writer, director and producer) and Sarah Curran (founder of mywardrobe.com), to free workshops and hotels that are to be transformed into shopping paradises, CFW is not be missed this year. Tickets are now available online so hurry up and grab yours!

I have also been invited to a charity fashion show tonight in Hereford that I will be attending with some friends so I will keep you updated on that too! Anyone have any outfit suggestions for me for tonight?! Leave a comment below!

So for today’s post I am going to review my favourite summer shoes; heels, flats, sandals, wedges and where you can buy gorgeous pairs for under £25, under £75, under £150 and then a special blow the budget selection too! Because every girl loves a bit of window shopping!

Under £25

New Look Cream Zebra Print Espadrille Plimsolls. £7.99. Because every girl needs an espadrille in the summer!

Office Worship My Wedge (bright blue). Was £60, Now £15! Again these shoes are absolutely brilliant for adding a pop of colour to an outfit, the wedge is far comfier than a normal heel and the colour is everywhere this season.

Topshop Honey colour block sandals (Multi). £20. Perfect for adding a pop of colour to an outfit, whilst keeping your toes totally chilled. Love these sandals!

Under £75

Topshop Honolulu Cutout Peeptoe Shoes (tan). £32. These shoes are perfect for popping on with any outfit when you need a comfortable flat-shoe. They look adorable with summer dresses and the tan colour pretty much goes with everything.

Toms Crochet Women’s Classics (neutral). £45. Again because every girl needs an espadrille, but also because the wonderful people at Toms donate a pair of there fabulous shoes to a child in need with every pair purchased. These are my favourite as they are perfect to keep cool in summer whilst working the African-inspired trends. Also check out the Toms website for their new eyewear and again with every pair of ultra-chic sunglasses purchased Toms will help give sight to a person in need, providing prescription glasses, sight-saving surgeries and medical treatment. Yes these espadrilles are slightly more expensive but they really are the shoes that care.

Jeffrey Campbell (available online, at Office, Harvey Nichols and various other retailers) Foxy Heel Platform. Was £105, Now £55. T-bar style with a cute peep-toe and chunky wooden heel. My favourite are the zebra print suede, but these babies come in all manner of colours and patterns...Which one would you choose?!

Topshop Adios Tapestry Western Boots (multi). £62. These little cowgirl booties are super cute and super on-trend, especially for festivals with a denim short or plain summer dress. Don’t fancy wearing willies but know that you need something a little more protective than a pump these beauties are ideal! And trust me, the compliments will come rolling in!

Under £150

Kurt Geiger Harrison Wedge. Was £190, Now £95. These caught my eye the moment they entered the store and I have loved them ever since! They ooze exotic luxury with the juxtapositioning of woven monochrome raffia and beautiful brights they really will be the highlight of any outfit. And with 50% off…go on, treat yourself!

Medea Metallic Ancient Greek Leather Sandals (netaporter.com). £140. These sandals have a slight heel and really will look absolutely fabulous with any summer outfit, with a bikini on the beach to wearing a maxi from drinks at sunset. The signature wing-shaped buckle fastening and the studded detail show true craftsmanship.

Blow the Budget!

Charlotte Olympia Melody Raffia Wedge (neutral). Was £935, Now £468. These absolutely gorgeous wedges are so cute and fun for the sun! The pom-pom on the front reminds me of kids birthday parties and automatically puts a smile on my face! Definitely a feel-good shoe for a feel-good summer! Check out the Charlotte Olympia website for many other beautiful styles at sale prices, The Meredith (£283) are another favourite of mine for instant fun and glamour this summer!

Nicholas Kirkwood Suede and Elaphe Slingback Sandals (netaporter.com). £795. Handcrafted, these heels are the epitome of style. I love Nicholas Kirkwood; always have, always will, and this is why. These shoes are so elegant and unique, quirky and innovative. Part of the pre-fall collection they are perfect to wear with any summer outfit and yet will compliment any AW12 outfit too. I love the mix of apricot suede, lemon elaphe and patent red leather. Note to boyfriend…it’s almost payday!!

So there’s my list and a few pics of my favourite summer shoes, as you may have been able to tell, I love a wedge! But hopefully I’ve put a few other styles in there to inspire you all! Remember that most places are in sale at the minute and I have to say looking online the Office and Kurt Geiger sales really stood out. Also if you ever wanted to buy designer but can’t justify the outrageous price tags that some of them come with then really do some research, check out designers own websites, not just the likes of matches.com and my-wardrobe etc. Try theoutnet.com for grabbing a bargain too, it sells off the previous season’s collections from netaporter.com at unbelievable prices!

I hope everyone has an amazing afternoon! Got a spare five minutes then check out the online sales!

Love, love,

x RT @ PP x

Perfectly Presentable Working Week (With only one pair of Trousers)!

So, with the news from the chancellor today about the ‘disappointing GDP figures’ and the fact that we are still in a recession, I thought that I would make my blog today a perfectly presentable-purse-friendly post. I’m going to show you five different outfits to wear to work that will be cool enough for the summer heat, super on-trend and best of all super cost-effective! I am going to style the same pair of Whistles black-with-white polka dot tapered trousers with a multitude of different items so that you’ll look like a new person every day of the week! Plus an added bonus is that these looks will work with any pair of tapered trousers, they don’t have to be a certain colour or pattern and seen as they are such a big look this summer hopefully you will all have a pair that you can start wearing immediately!

I am going to try and style most of these looks with pieces that you will already have at home so that you don’t have to spend ridiculous amounts of money trying to achieve them, some pieces may be more unique and you may not have something similar but I just want to give you ideas of how to wear tapered trousers and inspire you to put them with things you already have but may not have thought of before. Of course, if anything takes your fancy then by all means go and buy it…who am I to stop a girl shopping?! And besides it may even help the economy!

First look.

Whistles black-with-white polka dot tapered trousers, Acne open-back cream silk tunic, Biba black suede courts. Keep things simple and classic with a plain black bag or to make things more summery add a pop of colour with a pastel or acid-bright clutch.

Second look.

Whistles trousers, French Connection orange silk vest top, Biba black suede courts. The beauty of this look is that you can wear any colour or material vest top you like, patterned, plain, pastel…the choice is endless. You can then start matching shoes and bags to the colour of the top that you choose and this look suddenly turns into 1000 different office looks! By keeping the top silky and the heels high this outfit is then a rather beautiful after-work drinks number!

Third look.

Whistles trousers, H&M silk black vest top, Kurt Geiger burnt orange suede heels. With this look you can wear any colour heels you have. Keep the outfit all black and add a coloured heel, if you have a matching bag throw that into the mix too. If you don’t have black tapered trousers then don’t fret, just match the top to the colour of trousers that you do have and then wear a contrasting coloured shoe. If you’re feeling a little shy and don’t fancy dressing head to toe in one colour or pattern, then keep the black top and match with a pair of black heels. Simple!

Fourth look.

Whistles trousers, Markus Lupfer white sinner tee, Biba black suede courts. This is a slightly more casual office look, but the smart tapered trousers and high heels do make it work. If you want it to be a little less casual opt for a dressier tee in a more silky fabric, sans motif, perhaps with dressier detailing such as a bow or cut outs. You can always put on a tailored jacket over the outfit to smarten it up too, but remember would you want to be stuck in an uncomfortably hot office wearing a tailored jacket? Neither would I! Consult the weatherman before you leave!

Fifth look.

Whistles trousers, Lilith orange polka-dot silk shirt, Biba black suede courts. I have chosen a floaty shirt this time, also with polka dots for an interesting contrast with the trousers. You can wear a tailored or floaty shirt for this look, I chose the loose-fitting style to keep cool on hot days but whichever you choose they both look equally as smart. A tailored shirt will give a more masculine look (think Paul Smith Black and Preen) whereas the floaty shirt is more pretty and feminine (think D&G and Jil Sander). Keep it summery with bright or pastel colours.

I hope this guide is useful and gives some good ideas of not only how to look extraordinarily cool in the office, but also has conjured up some beautiful new ways to vamp up your work wardrobe without having to splash the cash! Let me know your favourites below and please if anyone has any questions then feel free to comment!

Have a good evening everyone! I’m going to get myself a William’s Chase G&T and curl up with Alex on the sofa, put a film on and relax!

Love, love,

x RT @ PP x

Perfectly Presentable Pictures!!

Hey there everyone! Right break through, I’ve finally pulled my finger out and gotten to grips with technology…I can now upload photos to here instead of doing it to Twitter all the time! Hurrah! I know I should have been able to do this from the word go, but I’m blonde and technology sometimes baffles me!

I have a brilliant post all lined up for you this evening…a whole working wardrobe with only one pair of trousers…I promise you you will love it if you’re struggling for work wear now that the sun has got his hat on. I’m just working on the pics to go with it and it will be up here ASAP! So for now I thought I would just say hi and post a pic of me enjoying the sun before I go shopping in a beautiful summer dress that I bought last year in the New Look sale for £7 (yes I can’t quite believe it either!), nude sandals from Debenhams, Dior sunglasses and a Marc by Marc Jacobs navy patent clutch.

Also, do you like the hair?? I saw a much neater, sleeker version on the gorgeous face of Mulberry, Lindsey Wixson and decided to try it out myself. Mine is much messier but I quite like it for a casual daytime look, and it really took no time at all!

I will Tweet as soon as the next post is ready! Keep your eyes peeled!

Enjoy the sunshine!

Love, love,

x RT @ PP x

Perfectly Presentable Swimwear

Hey All! How are we today? First thing’s first I’m going to fill you in on the vintage event I went to last night! It was brilliant! Held by Lizze May Vintage (@LizzyMayVint) the clothes were really cute and they had a huge selection. I tried on two skirts, one white cotton number with a really pretty embroidered detail on the hem, just above knee length-very 70s; the other was black A-line with two rows of embroidered circle detailing to the hem-very 60s. I bought the white cotton and am sure will be wearing it very soon for pics to go up! It really is perfect for the summer. There were also yummy cakes provided by One Jolly Girl (@OneJollyGirl) on the most charming vintage china, along with cups of tea and coffee in an array of beautiful vintage cups and saucers all provided by The Crockery Shed (@thecrockeryshed). The two aforementioned companies I know cater for a variety of events so if you have anything coming up definitely look into using them, I know I will be for the grand official opening of Perfectly Presentable! The picture of what I wore; The Kooples skirt, Zara shirt, Jimmy Choo clutch bag and KG shoes, is on Twitter (not very vintage but very bright for the beautiful sunny weather!)

Now down to business…I will again be spending the day out in the garden sunbathing today (even though I have to admit I did get slightly burnt on my thighs and tummy yesterday, even though I used copious amounts of suncream! I guess that’s what an English complexion gets you!). So I thought that an appropriate subject for today’s post would be swimwear! I’ve seen everyone and everywhere lately tweeting and writing and advertising swimwear due to the very welcome appearance of the sun over the last few days so I thought I would review some of my favourites, provide advice on what’s hot and what’s not this summer and how to look your best wherever it is you choose to bronze yourself!

So as you may have read yesterday I was tanning it up in a blue and white Aztec print bikini from Debenhams, today I am favouring a navy Frost-French bikini covered in white polka dots with frills everywhere! I think this particular choice is the marmite of my swimwear collection-you either love it or hate it. I happen to love it. I bought both of these bikinis two years ago and still get so much use out of them. Here’s why: Nautical and Print are always winners in the swimwear world. Especially if the print is monochrome, aztec or brights. Stick to this rule and you too will get years of wear out of your bikinis. Two of my favourites this year are the Missoni Aztec swimsuit which not only covers the print trend but also the crochet trend that we are seeing a lot of in summer 2012 swimwear and the Odabash swimsuit in white with black flame like pattern that will give the most incredible curves.

This year also sees a sixties and seventies inspired revival with high-waisted bottoms paired with bandeau bikini tops. Throw into the mix a suitably retro print and you’re onto a winner, for example the Zinke Kristen frill bandeau (there are retro pastel print and popsicle pink versions) top and high-waisted bottoms (available on asos.com from £65) is super on trend! The cute print available on this bikini is also available as detailing on another lobster red bustier bikini from Zinke called the Starboard bikini, which in my opinion is another failsafe this summer.

Another trend for those of us that are brave enough this summer is going nude. Neutral tones and nudes are big news this summer, and yes it is daunting appearing naked on a beach, but the sheer variety of shades out there means that there really is a nude bikini to suit everyone! With a bit of thought you can match your skin-tone correctly and after a few days of bronzing that nude bikini will really accentuate your colour. Just remember the paler you are the more block pattern, bronze bikinis will show off your tan, the darker you are the more nude you can go! If you are feeling shy try bikinis that couple nude inserts with block colours, fluoro or black inserts alongside the nude will also highlight your tan and you will be able to wear the trend whilst preserving your modesty. Emilio Pucci has a brilliant selection of nude swimwear or go to beachtomato.com to see the fabulous selection they have put together.

So I’ve given you a few swimsuits and bikinis that I love, now for the cover-ups for those of you, like me, with your English complexions that are unfortunately all too eager to turn pink. Firstly grab a hat. Any Hat. They’re big news this summer, from seventies inspired floppy, wide-brimmed beauties to funky fedoras we have absolutely fallen in love with headwear this summer. I bought a Christy’s straw trilby that I live in and I am soon to be investing in the Erdem Bergen flower print scarf that I will be fashioning into some sort of turban come headscarf delight, as seen a lot on the likes of Nicole Ritchie and Kim Kardashian already this summer. Top Tip: Choose a material that will be easy to wash, we all know that suncream is greasy and messy, so if you’re investing in a beautiful silk scarf that gets ruined on its first outing then those summer blues will not be easily cured. Also choose colours that will be big this AW12, emerald greens, aubergine, bronze so that after the summer you can continue to wear your investment hanging beautifully around your neck. Try vintage shops and markets for stunning scarves at really reasonable prices. (All pics on Twitter @RachelETranter).

Right well, that’s all from me today! I’m going to try and bronze myself and hopefully then I’ll be able to pull off one of the wonderful nude bikinis. My fave is from Lanvin but the £690 price tag is definitely making it a piece to wear only in my dreams!

Enjoy the sunshine!

Love, love,

x RT @ PP x 

Hey All! Sorry for not writing yesterday, had a really busy day in Cheltenham! It was so sunny Alex and I decided to go for a day out and enjoy the shopping! I LOVE Cheltenham, there's something about it that is so continental and sophisticated. It may be the sunshine that I causing me to be biased but it really is beautiful, if you've never been then you should! Definitely the perfect place for me to be basing Perfectly Presentable. The people are cool and beautiful and the shopping is brilliant! I love The Kooples on Regent street, the staff are always so friendly and the clothes are beautiful. Their AW12 stock comes in next week so get yourself down there and check it out, I'll be there with bells on! The Reiss AW12 collection is also starting appear in-store and online and I can't wait to get my hands on the Joanna skinny waistband trousers in emerald (£95). The colour is stunning and will be a brilliant investment pair as they are bright enough to be worn now in this gorgeous sunshine we're having, but rich and warm enough to transition into Autumn/Winter with some gorgeous gold accessories.

But for today what I really want to talk about is...jeans! I think you may all agree with me, I love shopping; every kind of shopping. But finding that perfect pair of jeans used to be a complete nightmare, a nightmare that I am happy to say I have completely overcome! And here are my tips to hopefully help you turn jeans shopping into a dream too...

We all know that finding jeans can be a daunting task. Too tight? Too loose? Too high? Too low? We all long for the type of jeans we are proud to put on and shake our derriere in; a pair that fills us with confidence, sculpting our butts and thighs and elongating our legs. A pair that we yearn to wear is a hard thing to find but fear not ladies as I am about to guide you through this daunting task and help you come out the other side with that exact pair of jeans.

First things first, set aside a good couple hours for jeans shopping. Go to a dedicated jeans store (Levis is a personal favourite of mine) or a department store with brilliant denim department, such as Harvey Nichols. A brilliant denim department in my eyes is somewhere that has more than one brand of denim and a wealth of styles within each of those brands. I know this may seem overwhelming but you need to find somewhere with a varied range in order to hunt down your perfect pair but remember just because the store has hundreds of pairs of jeans, doesn’t mean you have to rifle through and try-on hundreds of pairs of jeans! You can always ask for help from the staff who are really very knowledgeable about styles and fits across brands. Some are made for a J-Lo booty and those of us not blessed in this department are never going to get them to work. Bear this in mind when trying your jeans-don’t get disheartened if the first brand you try looks awful, there will be one out there that fits like a glove. Experiment. If you are usually a die-hard skinny jeans fan, try out a skinny flare or straight leg. Remember that what one brand markets as a skinny, another will sell as a straight. Here are my top tips to use as guidelines for flattering your shape:

Boyish. Those of us with a boyish figure are lucky enough to pull off most styles of jeans. If you want to add a bit of shape, try styles with zips and embellishments, patterns also add curves. Skinny jeans look great as they show off the slim figure. Try Paige for patterns and Hudson for classic indigo styles.

Pear-shaped. Those of us with a pear-shaped figure try a straight leg, bootcut or skinny flare. The bootcut and skinny flare even out the wider hips and thighs and look super sexy with a killer wedge. Heels will elongate your legs and enhance your curves. Try the martini skinny flare by J Brand.

Curvy. Those curvy girls out there should try a straight leg jean which elongates the leg, especially in a darker wash. Avoid patterned jeans as these will make the bottom half look larger than it is. For a more flattering look try a slightly thicker denim as seen in 7 for all mankind. Levis also have a great range of demi-curve and curve jeans that are super flattering and fit like a glove for curvy girls.

Petite. Those shorter girls amongst us look great in skinny or straight leg styles, especially those with a high waist as it really adds inches to the leg. The Hunter High Rise by James Jeans is super flattering. Add a heel or wedge to instantly give you height and always get jeans altered so that they sit just below the ball of the ankle.

Apple-shaped. Those of us carrying a little extra weight around the tummy should concentrate on showing off their legs in a skinny leg. Always avoid low rise and wear styles with a flat front and high rise.

Don’t be afraid to keep things on trend with a patterned or coloured jean but remember that an indigo or black never goes out of style. A good pair of jeans will be your friend for years and give you that silhouette you always dreamed of. My advice is to buy as expensive as you can afford-justify it by calculating the price per wear; one £200 pair of jeans that lasts 5 years is £40 per year, whereas a £40 pair that only lasts six months is double the cost! And remember don’t be afraid to ask sales advisors for help, it’s their job, they’re trained to do it and they will be able to recommend pairs that you would have never imagined trying but that are incredibly well suited to your own shape and size.

Love, love

x RT @ PP x

A Perfectly Presentable Summer 2012!

Hey All! I know I’m slightly late with the summer special BUT seen as this is my first ever blog I hope you can forgive me, also as the weather has been terrible we haven’t been able to enjoy the trends as we should so far anyway! But I’ve been checking my weather app and it’s looking up for next week so I’ll get this out now and consider it just in time!

Yes, summer’s finally here and it’s all about prints! Floral, tribal, geometric, you name it, we want it! Think families of colours in bold Aztec prints teamed with sultry animal prints as seen on catwalks from Dolce and Gabbana to Michael Kors. Pop on a pair of Gucci vintage cats eyes sunglasses (£150) to set off the look and channel the inner vixen that you are! Accessorise with bright, block-coloured handbags and shoes to really stand out from the crowd, I am all about Sophia Webster at the minute, once assistant to Nicholas Kirkwood her designs are feel-good summer shoes in a plethora of different colours and prints with the price-points being remarkably reasonable too. Haven’t seen her work yet? CHECK IT OUT IMMEDIATELY!

Feeling slightly shy, stick to one key item in a bright, bold pattern, pair with more understated pieces and rock it with a fab tribal necklace, Primark and Topshop have a brilliant selection, whilst those with a more monstrous budget head over to Harvey Nichols for the astonishing display from Erickson Beamon, my personal favourite being the Foxy 22-karat gold-plated oversized Swarovski crystal necklace (£850).

So ladies, here’s the brief how to on prints this summer but just remember those wishing to disguise a well-rounded booty stick to ditsy prints and patterns and avoid stripes on the bottom-half. Petite ladies also may want to avoid being drowned out by big bold prints and focus on a more subtle style. Try coupling a simple floral dress with a different floral print cardi and a pair of killer heels.

So, today I'm going to a gorgeous place called Eastnor castle in Herefordshire with my boyfriend for a nice day out! Then I think later we'll be hitting up the Cheltenham Open Air Theatre...very sophisticated day needing an outfit to match! Think I'm going to wear my J Brand Martini Skinny Flares in indigo, with my favourite Whistles silk snakeskin shirt (Pale pink and grey and super chic in my opinion!) Teaming this up with my Jeffrey Campbell cream canvas wedges again so I don't sink into the ground! And for enjoying the theatre later I'll make sure to take my favourite jacket that I have ever owned!! A pastel peach BCBGMaxaria waterfall jacket that is totally on trend this summer. Remember to check Twitter @RachelETranter for all the pics and quick updates!

Have a brilliant Saturday!!

Love, love

x RT @ PP x

My First Time!

A Perfectly Presentable Blog.

Hi everyone! My name is Rachel and I am in the process of setting up my own personal styling business: Perfectly Presentable! I’m an absolute fashion lover and a shopaholic so I decided that for my career I would love to spend other people’s money making them look fabulous in the process! I have a load of experience in the field, working in fashion retail and as a personal shopper before so I thought it was about time to take the plunge and be my own boss…very daunting! Especially in these times in which we live but I thought if I’m not going to do it now when will I ever do it?!

I’m writing this blog alongside my business, hopefully to offer sound advice on key trends, capsule wardrobes, staple items of clothing that women from now until the end of time will be buying; bras, shoes, jeans etc, but I am also going to log my outfits-what I wear and where I wear them, how I accessorize them, how successful they are (or perhaps how unsuccessful?!) and I would love suggestions and comments along the way, remember the more the merrier but please be gentle as this is my first blog! I will hopefully try and take as many pictures as possible of me in my outifits and post alongside these, I will also give you the down-low on twitter @RachelETranter so follow me on there too for snippets of how it’s going!

Right so today I will be going to visit my estate agent (I am in the middle of moving house, my boyfriend recently started work at Chase Distillery in Herefordshire so we have made the move from Edinburgh two weeks ago, we are now looking for a more permanent abode in a town called Ledbury, which for a city girl like me, is in the middle of nowhere!!) As a girl who is used to trotting about in heels, country living doesn’t really facilitate this very well but I refuse to give up! So my outfit choice today…It’s warm and only slightly cloudy…silk Aztec print black and white trousers from Urban Outfitters, silk French Connection teal vest and some sensible cream Jeffrey Campbell canvas wedges for the country (kind of) and oh-so hot for summer 2012 anyway! Finish it off with my trusty white frame oversized Dior sunglasses and a Christy’s Straw trilby and I am good to go!

Anyway I have to dash, let me know what you think of the outfit, I’ll keep you posted on what reactions I get!

Love, love

x RT @ PP x