Hello High Street…

Once upon a time I used to blog about high street fashion every day. I’ve clearly lost the knack. But nevertheless, here are some of my current favourites. Shop away…

Black gladiator sandals £38 and multicoloured tribal sandals £45 both Next

Can you believe these shoes are from Next? For the first time I might actually understand why people feel the need to queue in the early hours for the sale if this is what they’re bashing out now. Their Spring / Summer collection is absolutely chock full of amazing catwalk inspired styles, and the shoes are some of the best. These over the top numbers are my faves (the tribal sandals are a dead ringer for last Summer’s Louis Vuitton ‘Spicy’ shoes) but also check out the occasionwear styles for diamante studded heels and sandals.

Metallic lime parka £75 Butterfly by Matthew Williamson

I have a weird, inexplicable obsession with shiny parkas. It all stems from a graduate collection I saw a few years ago, where models wore slinky raincoats over floaty tropical print dresses and skirts. It was very ‘gap year’ – the idea of being caught in a rainstorm in some exotic location and throwing on your boyfriend’s coat – and I fell in love with the look. Matthew Williamson did something similar a couple of years ago, and now he’s bought it down to his diffusion line. Score!

Skater dresses £30 each Dorothy Perkins

There’s been a hilarious string of angry conversations via social media for high street brands recently, and it’s all thanks to the fact these jersey dresses are being described as ’skater dresses’. “What is skater about THAT?!” screams angry emo girl #498. Of course, they mean ice skater, in reference to the leotard-style top and flippy skirt. I’m considering a couple of these to see me through the next few months. They’ll look just as good now with tights and a cardi as they will in 6 months with sandals and the sleeves rolled up. And they’re only thirty squids.

Bouquet crepe wrap dress £95 Cath Kidson & Home Front dancing dress £68 Tara Starlet.

Tea dresses may have been done to death recently, but I can’t help but still love them. Queen of twee Cath Kidston is ever-reliable for vintage style dresses, and this season she’s really pulled out all the stops. Meanwhile, retro designer Tara Starlet has a geat 40s inspired dress in everything from pretty florals to functional, practical grey. I like these two because they really look like they might have been unearthen from the back of grandma’s closet, but unlike vintage, they come in more than one size.