hot off the press - miss selfridge now offer free international shipping

If you're not familiar with the fabulousness that it is Miss Selfridge, then you can start thanking me now because it's right up there on my list of favourite UK online shopping sites. It's a wonderfully organised site, in the same design as you may have seen at ASOS and TopShop; all items are sortable by style, size, colour and price.  They have something for everyone, from the most basic staple items like tights and tees, to original yet affordable accessories and luscious dresses and coats in styles ranging from modern and on-trend to positively vintage inspired. In the past I've had to choose my purchases very carefully, taking much time to ensure that I really needed that skirt/jacket/pair of heels to ensure I wasn't paying exxy international postage charges for frivolous items that are indeed lovely but perhaps not necessary.
It's thrilling to know that I can now throw caution to the wind and splurge away, with all international Miss Selfridge orders over £60 now being processed with free shipping. In Australian dollars, at the most recent exchange rate that's around $94.50.

As if you needed any further inspiration to go clicking, here's my pick of the latest arrivals at Miss Selfridge, with images linked straight to the sale pages.

Navy Heart Print Belt Dress £45
Every girl needs a great long sleeved dress and this belted number is no exception.

Purple PU Trim Suedette Shorts £35

Shorts in all varieties of styles and lengths are going to be huge this summer. I'd be pairing these babies with a floaty cami tucked in for a chic yet relaxed look.

 

Green Polka Dot Burnout Crop £20

Show off your washboard abs in the huge assortment of crop tops seemingly everywhere right now. Not a gym junkie? No problem, crops are perfect for layering!

Sheer Equestrian Scarf £14

There's something so effortlessly sexy about a silk scarf tied delicately around your neck. Let this number speak for itself and pair with solid colours.

Tan Leather Buckle Satchel £69

The classic satchel at a fraction of the classic price. Heaven.

  

Leather Skull Purse £20

Unexpected tough accents like the skulls seen on this purse keep things interesting.

Magenta One Sleeve Textured Dress £34

I'm in love with everything about this dress; the colour, the cut, the fabulous texture. Straight to the top of my party-dress-wish-list.

Ochre Pleated Midi Skirt £29

This season skirts are all about "the midi", grazing just below your knee. Beware: this trend is not suitable for the vertically challenged, if this is you, stick to above the knee styles to ensure you don't get lost in stumpy calf hell.

Eloise nude stud T-Bar £25

The ballerina style with a blinging twist, me likey.

Mocha Waterfall Jacket £35

This half-sleeve waterfall number will see you through Spring, it's ultra versatile style will go with just about everything.

Rust Multi Stripe Tee £20

Stripes are one of my many weaknesses and this colour is bang on trend. How comfortable does it look too?!

Peggy Red Suede Multi Strap £65

Whether you pairs these kickers with bare legs or opaques, they're sure to get you noticed in no time.

hot off the press - topshop store for australia

Squeee! I've heard rumblings about this for what seems like centuries and now finally we have confirmation; TopShop's first stand alone Australian store is set to open it's doors in Melbourne in December.
The 1300 square meter store is going to nestle in perfectly in it's Jam Factory, Chapel Street location and Hilton Seskin, chairman of Next Athleisure, the company that secured the franchise rights to TopShop has confirmed that the store will be similar in terms of stock and the services provided, such as personal styling.
“I think we could hopefully deliver what TopShop is very successful for – being cheap in fashion, and delivering what the consumer really wants,” he said.
If you're a big TopShop fan like myself then you'll know it's been the place to go (online) for years for super current, super cute and super affordable fashion finds. If your a fan and currently crying into your keyboard because, alas, you don't live in Melbourne, there's hope for you yet. Seskin has commented that there are hopes to have another store opened in Sydney next year. "All the major cities are definitely going to be on the agenda over the next few years. We’re looking for the right environment, the right precincts to open in. Basically we’re looking for some iconic spaces.”
Australia is 32nd on the list of countries that have welcomed the British retailer with open arms and despite the current difficult retail environment Seskin is sounding confident. “The retail environment is tough but I think the opportunity is now. There is a huge demand for the brand, and with this demand we think Topshop will do very well.”
I've personally loved buying TopShop items online for years and you'll notice items from their collections appearing in many of my outfit inspirations, but I am practically hyperventilating at the very thought of all the racks, the change rooms and the huge variety that I'll be able to soak up with every sense possible.

hot off the press - bloom's sass & bide designer polish

This brand new release just hit my inbox and I'm sure you're going to be as excited about the collaboration between the talented ladies at Sass and Bide and one of our most trusted cosmetics companies; Bloom Cosmetics. The sensational collection has been developed from pigments around the world and the two new shades were inspired by Sass and Bide's latest collection Boogie & the Historymaker, here's what one-half of the Sass and Bide design duo, Heidi Middleton has to say about the new shades:

"The two colours we created were inspired by the electric wonderment of the unexpected. These vivid shades were designed for the girl who walks to the beat of her own drum and who isn't afraid to express herself with colour and creativity."

The bright and bold shades, certainly aren't for the faint hearted and I predict they will be a must-have item this upcoming season as they tie in so brilliantly with the huge colour blocking trend, set to take over our Spring. These contrasting shades would also be perfect for the nail marbling trend doing the beauty rounds as we speak. The new shades retail for $19.95 and available online at the Bloom website or at their flagship store on Chapel St, Victoria.
A lovely last detail: $2.00 from the sale of each bottle of this polish collection will be donated to the Children's Hospital Foundation, a very worthy cause.