Shake Your Pom Poms

Shake your pom poms if you're off to a festival this summer. If you want to channel that sought after global traveller vibe when you don't plan on venturing any further than deepest, darkest Glastonbury then pom poms  are definitely the way forward. An instant talking point, pom poms cry out 'oh look at this necklace I picked up in Peru' - never mind it's actually from Primark!

The crafters' favourite will instantly add an ethnic twist to this year's festival fashion - so why not buy some wool, make a batch and tie some to your wellies? That said, if you don't fancy a spot of DIY fashion, you can find pom poms everywhere at the moment - just look at the Issa for LK Bennett collection where these brightly coloured fuzzy balls are the embellishment of choice.

Sweats & Hoodies

Floral Fancy

OK, so it'll very soon be July - but whatever happened to so called 'flaming' June?! By now I thought I'd be shopping for pretty floral dresses in the summer sales - like this one from Dorothy Perkins (pictured left, WAS £25 NOW £20) - but I've actually just bought yet another woolly jumper.

This lovely - although very autumnal looking - cross stitch effect floral jumper from Zara (pictured below, WAS £35 NOW £19.99) will most likely turn out to be a better investment. What with Glastonbury taking place this weekend rain is pretty much guaranteed!

Wimbledon Whites

Wimbledon fortnight is here - so why not take inspiration from the All England Club and add some tennis whites to your wardrobe?

The blogosphere is going crazy over Zara's skort at the moment (£25.99, pictured left). For anyone that doesn't know, a skort is effectively a pair of shorts with a flap at the front to make them look like a skirt. Particularly favoured by female tennis players, a skort could well be the perfect Wimbledon inspired fashion item - but there are plenty of white tennis dresses, shorts and playsuits around to choose from.


Just don't spill your strawberries and cream if you want to keep these whites bright!

Dress Deja-Vu: Pippa's Peplum

All eyes were on Alnwick at the weekend for the society wedding of the year no less. The Duke of Northumberland's daughter, Lady Melissa Percy tied the knot to Thomas van Straubenzee wearing a beautiful bejewelled white gown with short sleeves - not to mention that unmissable coronet!

With the Duchess of Cambridge resting-up ahead of the royal birth it was down to little sis Pippa to lead the parade of well-dressed wedding guests - but have we seen Pippa's printed peplum dress somewhere before?

If Pippa Middleton's monochrome print dress gave you a case of dress deja-vu it could be because Kelly Brooke has been spotted sporting the very same one.
Designed by Dannii Minogue's former Project D collaborator Tabitha Somerset Webb, the two brunettes prove that the style works equally well as a day dress as it does as a wedding guest look.

Whilst Kelly simply slipped on a pair of peep-toe Louboutins, Pippa completed her outfit with an Olivia Roat Milinary fascinator and Gucci heels.

So, who wore it best?

Spot the Difference: Zara v Stella

Where a Stella McCartney Fallabella bag will set you back around £600, Zara have a strikingly similar chain-edged bag for just £22.99. The long strap even detaches so you can use it as a crossbody bag or transform it into a clutch.

Topshop Top Buy

On your marks, get set, GO! The Topshop sale is now on.

Loads of styles now have up to 50% off, but browsing through the pages of discounted goodies online one item stands head and shoulders above the crowd for me.

I love these perspex heel shoes with floral print upper - and what's more they've been marked down from £55 - £30. Slip your feet into these glass slippers and with that almost invisible heel you'll feel like you're walking on air!

Well Cinderella is all the proof I need to show that the right pair of shoes can change a girl's life...

Seduced By Summer Sales

Once again proving that good things come to those who wait, I've finally got my mitts on this scarf print panel jumper that I've had my greedy eyes on for ages. Reduced from £40 - £25 at the Warehouse sale I couldn't resist.

Just to make us feel like summer really has been and gone summer sales are popping up everywhere at the moment - and it's not just high street stores getting in on the act early.

Harrods have kicked off their summer sale with a flash-mob of dancers performing outside the iconic London store, whilst down the road at Harvey Nics they've got in trouble for their sale ads - again.

Following the January sale campaign which featured women who appeared to have wet themselves with excitement, the summer sale ads feature headless chickens. Try to stay calm...

Don't lose your head - for a full rundown of the latest summer sales, head over to SalesGossip.

Tesco Dress Code

Put the beer bellies away boys! It looks like Royal Ascot isn't the only place enforcing a strict dress code this week. Following a series of complaints, Tesco in Tiverton, Devon have issued a ban on flashing the flesh in store for 'health and safety reasons'. Basically they're worried hot and bothered shoppers may sweat on the fresh produce - yuk!

The statement stuck to the sliding doors reads: 'To avoid causing offence or embarrassment to others as well as for health and safety reasons, we ask that customers are appropriately dressed when visiting our stores. Shirts/Tops and shoes must be worn at all times.' So no trousers is alright then???

It's not long since a similar ban was placed on pyjamas, as shoppers took 24 hour opening as a green light for nightwear. With no shoes there's the possibility you might slip and then sue for compensation. The question is are we bothered by the sight of a few beer bellies?

So often as soon as the sun comes out style is set aside. Along with shirtless men we get girls bikinis when there's no beach in sight - not to mention yards of see-through white linen (worn with black underwear). When I was in Dubai, where a 'modest' dress code is enforced in public places, I have to say that the effect was a whole lot more elegant approach to summer dressing. Maybe Tesco have a point.

Duchess in Dalmatian

So there we have it! The Duchess of Cambridge has completed her last official solo engagement before she goes on maternity leave. In Southampton for the naming of a new cruise ship Kate made the surprise sartorial choice of dalmatian print.

Copy Kates will be eager to hear the coat is from Hobbs. Coming in at £169 that's helluva lot cheaper than the £1250 bottle of Moet smashed against the ship's hull as part of the naming ceremony!

A spokesperson for the British brand said: 'It is an honour when ever the Duchess of Cambridge chooses to wear the UK high street.' Of course, this is not the first time we've seen Kate wearing Hobbs, but this is a particularly striking choice as we don't often see royals in animal prints (that is aside from ermine trimmed cloaks). That said dalmatian is the print of the season - as seen at Stella McCartney and Phillip Lim.

If you need any more proof that dalmatian print isn't just for Cruella DeVil, here are some of my top picks... and yes, I've definitely got my eye on that Phillip Lim handbag.

Belts

24 Carat Gold Shoes

Alberto Moretti certainly has the Midas touch when it comes to shoes. Unveiled where other than the Monaco Grand Prix, these very special shoes are coated in a layer of 24 carat gold.

Whilst I can boast of having sampled a cappuccino with 24 carat gold sprinkles on top my footwear collection is somewhat lacking when it comes to precious metals. Coming in just two simple styles - that's stilettos for women and men's loafers - 'the material that covers the entire surface of the shoe makes it unnecessary to add any kind of decoration.' So Moretti let's the gold do the talking - and these shoes scream 'I'm rich beyond my wildest dreams.'

If you should fancy giving your feet a treat to a bit of bling it'll come as no surprise that these shoes are only for the very well heeled - coming in at £1,700 a pair. Adding to the exclusivity of the item they'll solely (get it?) be available from just 5 of the world's top department stores; that's Harrods London, Barney's New York, Fred Segal L.A., The Swank Hong Kong, and the Shoe District in Dubai Mall.

Prince Harry has worn the designer's shoes in the past, begging the question will a pair of Alberto Moretti's 24 carat gold shoes be added to the crown jewels?

Wrap up in Beulah

When it comes to packing most of us fall into one of two distinct camps. There are those (like my mum) who pack for every possible eventuality and then those who could practically hop onto a plane taking nothing more than the clothes they're standing in. There's always lots of talk about capsule wardrobes at this time of year - but it's easier said than done. That said I may just have stumbled across the secret to skillful suitcase packing...

As you can imagine, it came as quite a surprise when I had somehow managed to pack the lightest suitcase out of four girls last time I went away on holiday (well on the flight out at least - you've got to save room for all that souvenir shopping after all). My top tips? 1. Borrow your best friend's GHDs and 2. Nothing is as versatile as a humble scarf. My oriental print stalwart scarf came in as a sarong, shawl and head scarf all during the course of a 10 day trip.

If you're looking for the perfect scarf this summer, Beulah have got you covered. As seen on Pippa Middleton, the Beulah Shibani scarf - a blue heart print cashmere shawl - certainly gets my vote. Priced at £80, 10% of profits go to the United Nations Blue Heart Campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking.

Beulah Shibani Scarf, £80

Jenny Packham - By Royal Appointment

As the royal family gathered at Westminster Abbey to mark 60 years since the Queen's coronation all eyes were on Kate, who looked a peach in Jenny Packham  - oh, and her favourite LK Bennett Sledge courts.

It's fair to say the Duchess of Cambridge is quite a fan, having been spotted wearing Jenny Packham designs to a string of royal engagements over the past couple of years - but for me one dress particularly stands out from the rest.

Almost a year on since we saw Kate wearing her teal Jenny Packham gown to a London 2012 gala, it still ranks as one of my favourite DoC looks - but did you know the stunning dress with plunging neckline and lace detailing is also available as a bridal gown? If I ever meet my Prince Charming the Aspen, as it's known, would definitely have to be at the top of the wedding dress wish list.

Of course, Kate's Sarah Burton creation will always be the ultimate wedding dress in my eyes - and it definitely lived up to my expectations when I went to see it on display at Buckingham Palace. This year the summer opening will showcase the Queen's Norman Hartnell coronation gown - I can't wait!

Harry's a Bargain Hunt-heir

Something tells me the High Street Kensington branch of TK Maxx is going to be getting A LOT more shoppers through the doors from now on. With the news that the world's most eligible bachelor has been spotted shopping for his undies at the designer discount store, the bargain hunters are sure to be joined by hoards of Harry hunters.

Reports say that Harry spent around an hour in the store before spending £160 on a hoody, t-shirt, phone case and underwear.
Sadly the closest I've come to bumping into Prince Harry on a shopping trip was the painted phonebox (pictured left) - to be found where other than just down the road from TK Maxx in Windsor!

If Harry likes a bargain then he might like SalesGossip - where you can read my blog post on how to get Harry's signature look for less. It's all about the combo of chinos and pastel shirt...

Tres Chic, Camilla

You really couldn't miss the fact that the Duchess of Cornwall was in Paris last week - not when it was advertised right across her clutch bag!

Camilla was in the french capital to undertake her first solo royal engagements, which along with charity events included time to visit the Dior store and admire the vintage gowns.

I love the quirky addition to Camilla's outfit - it would be the perfect accessory for my own trip to Paris later this summer. I'm not sure where the raffia bag is from, but there is a secondhand one with pink trim for sale on the Friendly Fashion website. Apparently the Duchess loves nothing more than bidding for bargains on ebay, so maybe I'll try there too...