I’ve had a few requests asking how to wear this season’s florals and seeing as it’s a style that is dropping into stores right now, here are three ways to wear the floral print trend.

1.    Accessories

If you feel like dipping your toe in the trend, there’s no better way than to wear Mary Katrantzou.

Mary Katrantzou’s collaboration with Longchamp is one of the best ways to wear this trend. Available exclusively at Arnotts ( Tel 01-8050400) this large tote will costs approx €350 and is due in store next week!

2. Head to toe prints

Adventurous types can opt for the head to toe print look. Styling this is easy! Nothing has to match (prints wise) – Just wear from head to toe and keep accessories such as shoes and bags, minimal and to one (mono) colour.

My favourite take on it is Stella McCartney’s palm print for spring summer 12 (available at Brown Thomas). For a high street take on the trend, this skirt €52 and top €46 combo from Warehouse is the perfect way to mix it up.

3. Separates

This is a less extrovert look than full-on, head to toe prints.

It’s true, Irish girl’s love their dresses but this season is all about separates – it’s just a matter of learning how to wear them.

With so many options to choose from, my style tip here is to choose just one print piece and pair with simple separates -  wear a pair of print trousers with a luxe t-shirt or pastel top.

Another favourite is this ASOS print blazer  – wear over a plain white t-shirt or shirt and black pencil skirt or cropped trousers. (It also comes in a cigarette pant for those who want to wear it as a suit) Divine!

So step forward into floral prints this spring – there’s a style out there to suit you.

Dear Ask the Stylist

I’ve heard that a peplum is one of the key trends for this spring summer, how can I wear it? I’d like to spend very little on this look and have it in a colour that easily goes with other items in my wardrobe. N. R, Galway.

Yes the peplum  is back with a bang. Jason Wu and Preen were all over this look on the AW11 catwalk  and Christian Dior (pictured) has revived the fashion house’s trademark which first came to prominance in the ladylike 40s and 50s.

You’ll be glad to hear that it’s no longer regarded as a prim ladylike look, it can be trendy and figure flattering too.

Here are three ways to wear it:

As a dress

A peplum on your waist will slim your hips. This dress is ideal as black on your bottom half is slimming so it has a double skinny affect!  The cobalt blue adds a pop of on-season colour too.

Two tone dress €40, Savida at Dunnes Stores. In store now.

As a top

If you’re more of a separates kind of girl, opt for a peplum top. This is the figure flattering SS12 catwalk trend that celebs love to wear (Emma Watson wore it on the red carpet recently).

The peplum affect below a waistband makes your waist look smaller. Wear this red peplum top with a black skirt or trousers. You surely have a pair of black smart trousers or pencil skirt right lurking in your wardrobe?

Style tip: add a skinny belt to sit just above where the peplum veers outwards and it’ll shrink your waist even more!

Red peplum top €25, Savida at Dunnes Stores. In the shops now. This top is a dead ringer for the Christian Dior SS12 look, pictured above, which has the built in belt.

On a coat or jacket sleeves

As seen at Roksanda Ilincic SS12A coat with three-quarter-length sleeve which ends in a peplum or tulip,  is a cool take on the look. What bingo wings you say?

Let me know if you’ll be adding peplums to your wardrobe this season.

Dear Ask the Stylist

I’ve got big calves and I can never find winter boots to fit me! I’m after a pair of knee high boots. Any tips? B.B.

We’ve found the perfect solution for you in the form of “Duo” – an online shoe store that makes custom boots to fit your size. So, whether your calves are too big or too small, simply send them your stats and they’ll send you your made to measure boots. It’s €15 to ship to Ireland.

http://www.duoboots.com

They’ve also got 30% off some styles in their winter sales at the moment. Good luck and let us know how you get on with them.

Read about our Must-Have Shoes of the Season

How to Wear: Winter Boots

Dear Ask the Stylist

I’d love to wear a “different” hat to the races this Christmas. Can you suggest anything?

Trilby hats are a great look for winter racing.

Make like Sonya Lennon (pictured) who is one of the judges at this year’s Most Stylish Lady competition at Leopardstown Christmas racing, with her bright trilby and cape combination.

Sonya’s chapeau of choice is Philip Treacy at The Design Centre, Powerscourt and you’ll also find some amazing trilby hats by Martha Lynn at Project 51  – pictured is one of Martha’s designs in purple (€275) which also comes in navy.

On the high street, we love the selection of trilbies at Aso, the nude one pictured is €28.25 at ASOS   while over at Topshop (£28) we found them in teal and in purple.

Wear over a jumpsuit, seperates or dress and accessorise with a pair of long leather gloves by Paula Rowan, (from €148.72), some faux fur and a stand out clutch.

- By Ann Marie Proudfoot, a personal a stylist at Proudfoot Style

By AnnMarie Proudfoot

Dear Ask the Stylist

I picked up a faux leather dress in H&M a few weeks ago for my Christmas party. It looks more expensive than it was fits perfectly and is really comfortable to wear, and I would probably wear it again. I was thinking of wearing it with black tights, suede ankle boots and a black blazer.

However now I’m panicking like mad that I will be totally off the fashion radar, as the trend seems to be for velvet and lace for the party season and I’m wondering if what I was thinking of wearing with it makes me look like I’m heading to a funeral instead of out for the night? I would really appreciate any help you can send my way, before I run out and spend money on something that I’ll probably not wear again and that everyone else is already be wearing! G.

Hi G

Firstly, don’t panic, we’re here to help!  To start, you are not off trend; you can’t go wrong with black as a base colour. I do understand your concern that all black can look a little funeral like or can tend to make us look a little pale in the winter.

Before running out to buy a whole new outfit, let’s work with what you have. The dress sounds great and for €20, what a bargain! I think you have the basis for a really nice outfit; I would just add a little colour or design into it, to lift the overall look.

Here are four options to add to your current outfit. I have taken examples from ASOS, River Island and Topshop, but if you can’t get to these stores you should be able to pick up similar options from other high street stores.

1. A statement scarf . This Aztec print scarf will work great with all black.

2. Statement tights.  They will add interest and a bit of fun to your outfit. Wear some stacked up bracelets with this look.

3. A statement bag. Gold metallics look great with black. Team this with stacked bracelet from above.

4. A statement belt.  Adding a belt over your blazer with give it a nice feature and also add a good shape to your figure.

Hope this helps. Let us know how you get on with the outfit. Enjoy your night out!

AnnMarie

 This Ask the Stylist was brought to you by stylist AnnMarie Proudfoot – read more about her on Proudfoot Style.

And so it landed yesterday at 9am.

WhatSheWears went along to H&M South King Street to see what others thought of the collection and if there would be the same fashion frenzy that ensued for the H&M Lanvin and Jimmy Choo collaborations.

There were 100 shoppers gathered outside the store, some there since 6am and one girl, Michelle Walsh who was first in the door, had queued all night. We were there to greet her when she emerged with her purchase (a multi coloured leopard print bomber jacket) before she dashed off for an interview in Brown Thomas.

Determined to get their hands on the designer collaboration, staff let them in in groups of twenty, for twenty minutes at a time so by the time we got in, there wasn’t much left.

None of the leather jackets or fur gilets which we’d liked were to be seen, with only signature print jackets and scarves in blue, green and yellow left, which were just too Donatella for our liking. We would’ve bought one of their cool cushion covers had they been there, but the homeware side of the collection never reached Dublin.

There were plenty of happy shoppers though.

Erica Finnegan was determined to get her hands on a choker, but alas staff wouldn’t sell it to her as it was on a mannequin, so she settled for a bomber jacket instead. She’s going back for the choker today though, on a promise that they’ll take it off the mannequin.

Ciaran Mac Lanky was annoyed that there was no men’s collection in the South King Street store whatsoever, despite men’s, women’s and home ware being promised. He settled for a scarf while his friend, fashion blogger Leanne Woodfull only wanted one thing, a pair of signature print leggings.

This won’t be the collaboration that we’ll remember most for wearable pieces so roll on the next one; with  Tom Ford we hope!

Dear Ask the Stylist

I have a winter wedding. I’d like to get something that might be suitable for work later – I work as a trainer. I’m a curvy 5ft , carrying a little too much weight round the middle. What would you recommend? Colour would be good, but need to be covered too. A.B.

Lucky you, I love a good winter wedding!

I suggest a dress, as they can be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion.

A wrap dress will help show off your curvy figure, the draping at the front will help disguise problem areas. It will look great with black tights and a shorter length (above the knee) works well for your height.

This swing dress can be jazzed up with some gold accessories and a cream fur for the wedding and then toned down for work with a crop navy cardigan over it. This style will skim over problem areas. Team it with navy tights and if you want to add a pop of colour, a pair of red shoes.

Swing dress, ASOS

Another option is this Zara print dress (pictured above, main image) which will cinch in your waist. The gathering below the waist and print will help disguise problem areas. Again, this can be dressed up for the wedding with a bracelet and a crop fur jacket added to the look. The shorter style is great for your height.

Style tip: Cropped jackets, stoles and cardigans are great for maximising your figure and height.

Enjoy the wedding!

Ann Marie Proudfoot is a stylist at Proudfoot Style

Dear Ask the Stylist,

I’m loving the cigarette pants look but I’m only 5foot tall and have major trouble finding trousers that fit me well. Is there anywhere you can recommend that I could try for a nice pair of cigarette pants or because of my small size is this a look I should avoid all together? Thanks. L.C

The good news is you can wear this style of trousers if you opt for the cropped version and heels. Cropped pants actually lengthen the leg.

I love this look; it’s very Isabel Marant AW10 (pictured) and oozes Parisian chic!

It sounds cold for this time of year but by wearing a skin coloured pair of tights underneath, you should get away with it.

Zara have plenty of cigarette pants but they are all super long in length. Only buy here if you have a good seamstress to crop them for you. which is a difficult length to get right!

Style tip: To shop this look, go to stores that offer a “short” or “petite” length. Topshop, GAP and Dorothy Perkins all spring to mind. To recreate the look at home, roll the cuff of your fav slim pants to 2-4 inches below mid calf.

Here are some of my favourites (click on hyperlink to see product):

Topshop, Black ankle grazers with faux leather trip,  £46

Gap at Arnotts or Dundrum, Slim crop pants,£45.95
Shopping tip: Sign up for Gap’s newsletter here and you’ll get a 15% off voucher for shopping in Irish stores or online.

Acne “Lee”, Brown Thomas, €200

Image credit: Isabel Marant AW10, from Ruffling Feathers

Dear Ask the Stylist

I am looking for a pair of Leopard print ankle boots and I’m finding it hard as there’s so much out there right now. Can you recommend any? O.L.

I love this look ever since I spotted Olivia Palermo in Charlotte Olympia pair last year. Luckily there are heaps of styles out there ranging from designer to high street.

My favourites are:

Isabel Marant €460.00

ASOS Tango Suede Platform Shoe Boot, €97.84

Topshop Anika Leopard Print Boots, 65 Pounds

Dunnes Stores  €30 (see pic over here)

Steve Madden $149 at Cocobelle Royal Hibernian Way or Harvey Nichols Dublin. These are more wedges than ankle boots.

Style tip: Remember to keep the rest of your outfit toned down or  keep it to one colour and let the leopard print boots do the talking as your main statement piece.

Pictured Left: Olivia Palermo wears her leather dress with a House of Harlow necklace and adds pops of colour with a red clutch and mustard heeled loafers. Right: Penneys pleather dress 25 Euro.

Dear Ask the Stylist

I recently bought a black leather shift style dress from Penneys.
It looks nice on if a little big at the neck, can you tell me what I could wear with it please?  L.

I find when wearing black and leather it is good to add some colour into the mix.

This can be a scarf, tights, belt or a bag. I would keep accessories chunky and choose earrings, a cuff or stacked bracelet and /or a statement ring.

As a shift dress tends to be high around neckline it can be trickier to get a necklace that sits right.

I find that calf length boots or ankle boots can look great with a shift dress.  If you don’t like to show off too much of your legs you could go for knee highs, just make sure the dress sits above your knee in this case,  so that you see some of your tights.

If coloured tights are not your thing, you could choose black with a pattern to add some texture to the look.

Here are my three suggestions for what to wear with your little leather dress…

Option 1

[View with PicLens]

Bracelet -Awear
Ring – Awear
Bag – Topshop

Option 2

[View with PicLens]

Boots – Dunnes Stores
Tights: Black high shine opaques. Cocobelle sell the most gorgeous Wolford pair
Bracelet – Topshop

Option 3

[View with PicLens]

Tights -Oasis
Boots – Office office boots
Scarf – Accessorize

- This Ask the Stylist was brought to you by AnnMarie Proudfoot of  Proudfood Style