Style memo: What NE fashionistas are buying RN

Virgit – @preppyfashionist 

Fashion blogger and influencer Virgit Canaz has a knack for styling staple pieces with a trending twist. She regularly shares her OOTD with over 88 thousand Instagram followers.

I love British designers like Paul Smith, so when I heard the brand was collaborating with Fenwick I didn’t hesitate to buy this midi skirt from the collection. I will be styling it up with heels and down with white trainers, for a more casual look. I love the playful print, it showcases the eclectic essence of British style.

I also love wearing midi dresses in summer, they’re especially great for the weather up North – when it’s warm but not hot. I was very happy to pick up this dress in the sale for half the original price. The piece screams summer to me, and love the thirties vintage-inspired cut and candy stripe print. The luxurious silk fabric and chic oversized pearl buttons make me feel like royalty.

Alice – @aliceroseglow

Alice knows a thing or two about styling a winning outfit, writing about fashion and lifestyle on her popular blog, The Rose Glow. Whether she’s dressing up or down, her outfits are equally as aspirational. 

Any excuse to feel like a princess in a floaty midi dress and I’m sold! Being tall, midi dresses are great for balancing out my height. I’ve been styling my midi dresses with a pair of simple white plimsolls and my favourite pair of sunglasses. I love this polka dot version from Next.

After a shopping spree in H&M, I found myself with a bunch of wonderful slouchy shirts – both patterned and in simplistic white. Pairing these with mom jeans and rolled-up sleeves help me achieve a great smart casual look.

Amy – @_amyward

Fashion creative Amy Ward is constantly providing us with outfit inspiration. She does casualwear so well — as a model, she really knows how to nail that off-duty style. 

Zara is a go-to brand for me, they’re great at creating designer-esque pieces at a high street price point. This knit two-piece, (sold individually but sadly the culottes are now sold out) is at the top of my wish list. I’m all about comfort and this outfit ticks all the boxes — it’s oversized, cosy, a gorgeous camel colour and you can wear the pieces separately, ensuring you will get the most wear out of each piece. I’d style it with sandals, chunky gold jewellery, loosely tucking in the shirt and putting my hair in a low bun for a cool effortless look.

The most expensive item on my wish list at the moment is the Loewe basket bag (you will have seen it all over Instagram). It’s such a classic, timeless bag which will never go out of fashion. Since you’ll be able to wear it year after year, I think it’s worth the investment — it’s just perfect for the summer months and on holiday. Priced at £350 it’s on the lower end of the designer scale, so it’s not going to break the bank if you do want to treat yourself. However if like me you don’t have the money to splash out on this designer piece at the moment, luckily Mango has brought out this fantastic dupe for a fraction of the price!

Kate – @kateannw

Kate’s feed is a treat for style lovers. This Geordie gal loves a floral print and rocks her trending looks with a touch of retro-fashion flair.

I haven’t stopped thinking about this lilac cardigan from Monki since I saw it in-store, during my first post-lockdown shopping trip last week. I absolutely love the colour, and the puff sleeve is bang on-trend. It would be ideal to jazz up jeans and T-shirt, or could even be worn with a brightly coloured dress for a colour-clashing look.

I’ve had a pair of chunky black sandals on my fashion wish list all summer. These Dr. Martens are a wardrobe staple that could be paired with any dress or skirt, be it mini, midi or maxi length. I love pairing a floral midi dress with Dr. Martens, so these sandals offer the perfect summer alternative when it’s just too hot for boots.

This ecru utility jacket is the perfect summer cover-up and will go with everything. I love the contrast stitching as it gives a bit of a retro feel. Plus, Marks and Spencer use sustainably sourced cotton for all of their clothes, so it gets bonus points for being environmentally friendly!

Alice – @conciousandcolourful

Alice is a fashion and lifestyle blogger who exclusively shops conscious, sustainable brands. She has a penchant for beautifully colourful pieces, and her looks inspire us to get bolder in the style stakes.

I’m not planning on going on holiday anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean I can’t bag myself a paddling pool and relax in my back garden. Seeing as I have a pretty tiny collection of swimwear,  if you can even call it that, this colourful ‘suit from Batoko is just what I need to liven it up! Better yet, all of Batoko’s designs are made from recycled ocean waste that’s been upcycled and reused, though you’d never know it.”

I’m pretty bad when it comes to buying basic items in my wardrobe, I always opt for prints and patterns. This means my wardrobe is seriously lacking plain t-shirts for everyday wear. Ethical fashion band Lucy and Yak have some lovely t-shirts in at the moment, which would be ideal to wear under my favourite floral dungarees.

Jilly – @jillyalifeinstyle

Fashion-lover Jilly enjoys sharing her passion for clothes and accessories on her blog, A Life In Style. Her style rules include dressing for yourself, and not saving items for best. We couldn’t agree more.

The search for the perfect leather jacket has been a quest of mine since I bought my last one back in 2012. It’s been eight long years of trying and failing to replace the perfect fit of my Zara leather — I’ve gone from high street to designer to no avail, then I stumbled on this beauty by chance. Hugo Boss is a label I associate with workwear which is usually a little too classic for me, but this piece is chic, smart and beautifully tailored. The leather is gorgeous, the fit is amazing and the branding is subtle which is preferable as I am not one for large logos or labels on items.

No, I’m not going on a safari – like most of us I am staying put, but I don’t need to be going away to wear this set, it is classic with so much wearability. This dreamy suit could be styled with heels or flats, a classic white shirt, tee or animal print. I love the rich camel colour and would wear the blazer alone with jeans and a vest or shorts with strappy gold heels and a silk camisole top. Even better is the fact that it’s on sale making me as happy as a lion basking in the grasslands!

Lauren – @averagelaurenlife

We head to Lauren Mellor’s Instagram not only to see which picturesque spots she’s headed to in the North East, but what she fashionable get-up she’s wearing there, too.

I love everything Stay Wild Swim stand for. They’re an independent, sustainable brand from London, founded by blogger Zanna van Dijk. I recently bought one of their face masks and the quality is fantastic. The swimwear is on the pricey side, but that’s because it’s made from recycled waste such as ocean plastics. If I had a holiday planned I definitely would be treating myself to their nomad bikini in this gorgeous blue colour.

Megan Ellaby is a total style icon and I love everything from her clothing brand Saturday. I’ve got two of the jumpers already, but have fallen in love with her new collection — especially this gorgeous yellow dagger collar polo top. It would look great right now in the hot weather, and just as good layered up in the colder months.