Getting your weekend look right generally means being yourself rather than looking as though you wished you were someone else. That’s Anne Hathaway being very much her own woman and rocking Paige Denim’s beautiful Kylie Crop jeans. If you’re after her boots too, we can also furnish you with those:  ASH’s buckle trainers. It’s great that we’re on the same wavelength as such an awesome actress but we can’t pretend that, like her, we’ve got it all – sadly we can’t provide the handsome husband or gorgeous dog.

Printed Cotton Scarf, American Vintage, £58.00

 

There’s never a time when I’m not wrapped up in a scarf. In the winter the fabrics are cosy, in the summer they’re fine and floaty. I’m not alone. In the last two years we’ve become a nation of scarf wearers again with weekend scarves becoming the hottest accessory as handbags have retreated from centre stage. Gwyneth Paltrow, Miley Cyrus and Gisele Bündchen are a few of the scarf’s celebrity fans rarely seen without theirs, and let’s not forget the Duchess of Cambridge who has perfected her own fully accessorized look over the past two years.

Luscious patterns and prints have become the best way to add a dash of colour and detail to a simple look. Picture the plainest tee and then wrap a coordinating scarf around its neckline – it’s as easy as that. Codello has a stupendous range of prints in a variety of fabrics. The European accessories powerhouse has developed a range of designs that manage to combine a multitude of colours without overwhelming the wearer. Pastels and neons are mixed masterfully to create some of the most exciting prints out there.

Interestingly, we’ve also become much better at sampling different fabrics. Asquith sells plain and simple bamboo and organic cotton wraps that are deliciously big and comforting for post-yoga and ideal as a travel companion. American Vintage, too, excels at creating plain jersey wraps that are soft and versatile for whole-year use. EMU Australia, more famous for its gorgeous sheepskin boots, has produced its own very lovely, super-fine merino wool scarves which can work as beach cover-ups or as delicious pieces for pairing with a summer dress or jeans.

From one scarf fan to anyone out there who ‘fesses to being one too, this really is the season to stock up on this versatile, go-anywhere accessory.

Check out your favourite stretch boutique in this month’s Health & Fitness magazine. We’re always looking for new ways to brighten up your gym looks and this season there are kits bags full of colour and new shapes to check out. Featured here are pieces by Casall and Petit Bateau.

 

If you haven’t been there yet, don’t forget to raid the sale section for your summer basics. We’re having a spring clean so everything is 80% or more off original prices. Lounge Lover, American Vintage, Paige Denim, MiH, Wellicious, Casall, Lola Rose and Codello are a few of the brands you’ll find there. My personal favourites are the jersey layers that last throughout the seasons – I have neat stacks of American Vintage pieces and they never fail me. Also, the last of the winter cover-ups are heading out of the door so don’t miss out.

I could go on but that’s just cutting into your shopping time…  So before you start to get your spring look together in earnest, go to the sale section pronto!

We do love our ASH trainers – and so do the world’s top models, so that’s us in very good company then. Miranda Kerr and Chanel Iman are pictured here wearing Bowie Wedge high tops in Bowie black and cobalt and plain black suede. Simply gorgeous.

ASH was founded in 2000 from the passion and the knowledge of Leonello Calvani and Patrick Ithier. Independent and rebellious, the Ash collection takes an exotic trip in search of new horizons. The look is a mix of both glamourous and metropolitan with dashes of intense colour and the warmth of the desert, giving life to a collection that is a whole new world to discover. Their shoes reflect a background in French luxury design, merged with Italian leathers and craftsmanship.

ASH shoes target a fashion conscious generation of men and women who travel to the style capitals of the world, always setting trends, never following them. Glamour and originality of the styles are always at the base of the philosophy of the brand.

As a brand, Wellicious is very interesting; a contemporary yoga and loungewear company, focuses on comfort which lends itself perfectly to travelling. I recently had a long work trip flying overnight so wanted to focus on comfort, yet equally didn’t want to look like I was flying in my PJ’s! The cotton mix fabric of the Deluxe Pants feels more like light cashmere and the design is stylish - the drawstring waist brings shape to the waist, and the tapered cuffs are bang-on-trend as well as the grey marl colour. My fellow travellers looked on in envy and I decided to rifle through Lovestretch on my return for more. The summer collections are now in the sale and the classics are always right there in the Wellicious section – I’ll keep my beady eye on both.

 

The perfect city break look is a fine balance between practicality and style. You’ve chosen to go to a fabulous urban destination so you really don’t want to be wearing a hoodie and trainers if you can possible help it. American Vintage has lots of useful layers, including their mango silk gathered peasant shirt which has room to layer under but is fine enough to slip beneath a tailored jacket if needs be.

Butterfly Twists’ chic quilted pumps are the elegant way to save your feet if those smart leather sandals start to pinch. They come in their own pouch which means they will slip into anything from a bum bag to American Vintage’s roomy canvas grip.

A voluminous scarf finishes the look. Codello hits the tourist trail with its London Bus print scarf – big enough to wrap around your shoulders, fine enough to leave you fresh and ready for your next excursion.

Find Lovestretch now at Fashiolista.com, a fashion-watcher’s dream come true, and win a fabulous Metalicus catsuit and Zatchels bag. Basically, you sign up for a ‘Love’ button and then you simply press it whenever you see a fashion or beauty must-have whenever you’re on the internet. It alerts other Fahiolistas to fabulous things and you can build your own hit list for the season and beyond (you can add as many pieces as you like). We’re going slightly nuts with this one – it’s a race to have the best looking shopping list.

 

So you’re off to a yoga retreat and you need to take a recessionista’s approach to your clothing budget. The first place to look is the Lovestretch sale page – it’s packed with basics and gorgeous feature pieces that wouldn’t look out of place in the ritziest resort.

Planning begins with your colour choices. The better you coordinate your palette, the easier it will be to put together a series of looks. A Language top combines the LA look (splashy print, relaxed shape) with fabrics that can be worn for practice or for an evening in the bar. Wellicious always comes up with chic, unusual colours and uses them on superior yoga wear with a full collection of options, from leggings to tops.

When it come to accessories, pick wisely and you’ll be able to pack lightly and still look like the best dressed person there. A great wrap, a pair of flats and few pieces of jewellery will go a long way. And don’t forget a dress – if you’re spending all day in leggings, it will be a real treat to pull on a fab, simple piece at night.