Urban Must-Chav

I credit Rihanna for finding love in a hopeless place (that place being a Belfast Council Estate) and taking uber-bling accessorising from Chav to Chic. Key to nailing this urban trend is blinging up your oversized denim jacket and leather baseball cap with layered chunky rings; bangles and heavy chains. Whilst more is definitely more when it comes to accessorising this look, be sure to keep the rest of the outfit laid-back hipster chic, allowing your bling and optional spiked booties do the talking.

Rihanna's take on Ghetto-Chic

Bargan Bling: My recent 4euro Topshop sale purchase

Proud To Admit It

I discovered today via Twitter that Oliver Proudlock- the unquestionably best looking and standalone hipster of the Made in Chelsea crew- has his own "What I Wore Today'' style blog. A rare hobby for a heterosexual male- albeit a skinny jean wearing one- I logged on, admittedly for a bit of a laugh more than anything else. I was surprised to uncover what I would describe as one of the best styled menswear collections I've seen in a long time. Set against a blank wall with no wordy descriptions or titles and with a layout as simplistic as The Satorialist, this daily outfit update is an inspiring fashion outlet for men and women alike. Helped by Proudlock's model-esque looks, the outfits range from preppy turned up jeans with boat shoes to hipster button-downs and military boots, as well as a questionable leopard print fedora featuring in today's post. Check out Proudlock's outfit choices at www.proudlockstyle.com

Rococo Raven

As seen on Dolce and Gabbana's AW12 catwalk, the beautiful winter floral Rococo trend is the perfect mix of ornate tapestry-inspired prints and rock-chick glamour. With a nod to this season's Baroque trend, Oasis last week launched their beautiful 13-piece collection that mixes ultra feminine prints and sultry silhouettes. Keep the look feminine by pairing the Rococo lace dress below with red heels, a clutch and a red lip or funk up the look with chunky boots and a leather jacket. For the fashion forward, take the print head to toe. As with Spring/Summer, there are little rules when it comes to this season's prints so feel free to match or clash them.

Dolce and Gabbana AW12

                                                     
                                                       Oasis Rococo lace dress, 100 euro

                                 Oasis Peplum Skirt (56 euro) and Long Sleeved Blouse (62 euro)

Leather Tongued Lover

We know I need little excuse to obsess over anything leather but the arrival of a stunning quilted faux leather skirt at Oasis today has kept my mind occupied all evening. Almost identical to the Balmain beauty that retails at 4855 euro, the 56 euro biker mini is top of my lust-have wishlist. Team it with a Rock n Roll graphic band tee and chunky boots for a hipster-cool look, or go chic with a black polo neck, layered scarf and thick tights come winter. If the micro-mini is too short for your taste, check out the leather pencil skirt I came across in Warehouse, similar to that by MCQ by Alexander McQueen and Thierry Mugler (pictured). Alternatively, opt to go vintage when investing in good leather like the outfit below by Dublin-based 9 Crow Street. Whether faux or the real deal, a good leather skirt is a wardrobe staple and a definite must-have piece for Fall/Winter 2012.

Balmain, 4855 euro, Net-a-porter.com

 Oasis Black Faux Leather Biker Mini, 56 euro

 9 Crow Street, www.9crowstreet.com

 Warehouse Fringe Panel Leather Skirt, 117 euro

Toy Soldier

The Military Trend has been in fashion on and off for the past decade but this Fall/Winter it's in with a bang,  seen on the catwalks of Victoria Beckham, Band of Outsiders, Jason Wu, Proenza Schouler and Derek Lam amongst others. This season the Military trend has been given a luxe modern twist, with leather panelling, gold button details and bodycon silhouettes. As a leather obsessee I've already bought four pieces from Oasis' ''Model Army'' package and have my eye on a winter coat similar to Victoria Beckham's beauty below. Rock the trend head to toe in a khaki bodycon like the Oasis Military Ponte dress (62 euro), chunky Jeffrey Campbell Litas and a thick black leather waistbelt or give a subtle nod to the trend with a white button down shirt, tights or skinny jeans and an Autumn khaki military coat as seen at Elizabeth and James this season.

Victoria Beckham FW12

 Oasis Military Ponte Dress (62 euro)

 Elizabeth and James FW12

Spectacle Spectacular

The one-man powerhouse that is Victoria Beckham has extended her brand once more to include glasses, a six-piece optical collection comprised of whispered horn and pearl-oyster interior lining. The frames, produced in Italy by Cutler and Gross hit stores in January and range in price between $410 and $530. Although significantly more expensive than many other optical collections by major Italian fashion houses such as Gucci and Prada (usually retail between $200 and $300), judging by the overwhelming success of her fashion line and any other merchandise Brand Beckham has thus far produced, I have no doubt this collection will sell out on pre-order.

Man, I Feel Like a Woman

Always a fan of the androgynous look, I have recently become a little obsessed with bowties. Team it with a button down shirt, high waisted shorts and loafers for a preppy-chic look. Keep the look feminine by using a pastel or bright block colour palette rather than the been-done monochrome tuxedo look ala Rihanna (in Louis Vuitton). Be sure to steer clear of ''geek chic'' glasses when sporting your bowtie, the combination can appear try-hard and overly theatrical and instead keep all other accessories to a minimum, allowing the bowtie to be your statement piece.

J'ADior

Raf Simons made his Dior debut this week, showcasing his Fall 2012 Couture Collection in Paris and demonstrating the very reason he was hired as Galliano's replacement as Creative Director for the French  fashion house. The 54-piece collection managed to ooze Raf's signature conceptual design elements of shape and form whilst remaining on-brand and classic in the Dior does best. This collaboration of futurist form and classic silhouette is exemplified in one key look for the collection, the classic ballgown truncated at the peplum and worn over power-trou cigaette pants. Style.com's Tim Blanks describes this as a symbol of change, ''a meeting of formal past and streamlined future.'' Regardless of past, based on this collection -which Simons himself described as ''A Blueprint''- I have no doubt the future for Dior and indeed couture itself will be very bright in the hands of Raf Simons.

High Summer, High Waist

Who would have thought a few years ago that we'd be looking back to the style-cringe 90s for trend inspiration?! However, this summer the return of bralet tops and high waisted shorts have proven Kelly Kapowski had it right all along. After a decade of believing Britney knew best and wearing the lowest possible slung denims that let's face it, didn't flatter anyone regardless of size or age, the high waist jean is back! Allowing for modesty, comfort and on-trend style, the high waistline draws attention to most women's narrowest part, creating a slimmer silhouette overall. Already seen at both Coachella and the recent Lovebox festival, the high-waist denim cut off is proving to be this season's hottest festival trend. For the brave, go all-out 90s with this look and team your high waist shorts with a bralet and padded-shoulder suede cropped jacket. For an easier look, tuck an oversized tee into your denims and team with biker boots. Take your shorts right through to Autumn/Winter by layering them over tights and adding a cashmere jumper, a button-down shirt and a pair of fail-safe Jeffrey Campbell Litas to elongate your legs.

Make Your Marc

Whilst browsing through images of Marc Jacobs' Resort 2013 collection, which debuted in New York on Monday, I was slightly baffled at not only the scary realisation that we are looking at collections for January 2013 (yes it is already JUNE) but also the eccentricity of the collection itself. Never one for playing it safe, it is this very eclectic eccentricity upon which Jacobs thrives. However, it was not the psychedelic colours that threw me but the confused incontingency of the collection; a blurred mix of 70s print meets hippy maxis meets Stepford Wife meets Futuristic sequins. Whilst a creative collaboration of any two of these themes would be welcomed  and individually the pieces are stunning, the finished product lacks a common concept that would tie it together as a collection.

Here are my best picks:

'Cause Every Lil Thing is Gonna Be All White

The French woman can do little wrong when it comes to effortless chic style and this becomes increasingly evident in Spring/Summer when she manages to still look classy and stylish despite the summer heat. White on White has always been a Parisian staple but has been catapulted to the forefront of the fashion world again this season by brands such as The Row, Jil Sander and Chloe. The mono-colour makes it easy to mix and match within a capsule white wardrobe but when it comes to this look remember less is definitely more. Sheer chiffons work brilliantly for a high summer look that combine style and comfort in hotter climates and this season's pleated white maxi skirt hits two hot trends at once. Pair with an oversized floppy hat, simple white silk tank, cage sandals and your favourite sunnies to complete the look. For those not brave enough to go head to toe white, mix some black accessories into the look such as a black belt, clutch and shoes for a monochrome chic style Audrey Hepburn would be proud of.

The Row SS12

 Chloe SS12

The Printed Square

I have waited with bated breath since early February for Oasis' latest Limited Edition collaboration to hit stores and tomorrow, the Scarf Print collection is finally here! Inspired by costume designer Nicky Albrechtsen's beautiful original print books, the 13 piece capsule collection consists of pure silk tops, skirts, shorts and a stunning maxi dress, perfect for upcoming summer weddings. The prints, whilst not identical, all complement one another which allows for easy mix and matching within the collection- a perfect excuse for me to justify buying everything! :) Here are my best picks:

Best in Show

Race season has started and for many ladies, the competition in the style stakes is far more intense than the actual horse racing. The prizes for Best Dressed Lady have never been so fabulous like this week's Punchestown Races, sponsored by Coast, in which the winning lady will enjoy a 2 day stay in New York, Madrid and Spain; have personal ‘Coast by Appointment’ style consultations, with prize vouchers of €1,000 to be spent in each Coast store. All flights and hotel expenses will be paid, so the focus is on enjoying the ultimate shopping experience in some of the world’s most stylish cities.

My advice for dressing for the Races is to work with a structured dress to suit your body shape, whether that be a tailored piece that accentuates your silhouette or a kick skirt, according to your style preference. A bright on-trend colour like a coral pink provides a strong base that can be easily accessorised with a headpiece and jewellery that complement the bold colour. Alternatively, opt for a printed piece in keeping with this season's hottest trend but keep accessories a little more minimal and allow the dress to be your statement piece. Be mindful of the weather and pick a cropped jacket or complementary shawl to offset the look.

Don't feel you need to spend a fortune to be in with a chance of winning on the day as judges favour recession-friendly labels styled in a creative way over pricey catwalk labels. Similarly when it comes to your headpiece, unless you have the budget for a Philip Treacy beaut, get creative with the superglue and see what your local haberdashery store has to offer.

Check out these fab racing frocks from Oasis

Tis the Season to be Grubby

It's officially the beginning of my favourite season of the year, when the heels get swapped for wellies, cocktails swapped for cider and night clubs swapped for muddy fields... oh yes, the festival season is finally here! ''Festival Chic'' has become a little predictable in recent years with the ubiquitous 'wellies, denim shorts and parka' brief done to death, so thank for Coachella's stylistas to inspire this year's look. It's clear from my style stalking that for this year's festival fashion as ever maxis are huge, denim jackets are making a sneaky comeback, the crossover bag is the hottest accessory and dip-dye is the new way to wear your denim. Emma Watson pushed the romper as a prominent piece (try battling that in a portaloo, no thank you) but my festival style icon for the third year running is Kate Bosworth, donning the perfect mix of effortless cool juxtaposing feminine florals with an oversized masculine military jacket and the mandatory Hunter wellies- stylish, practical and cool.

Here are some of my favourite looks from Coachella 2012

New Daddy for Dior

Raf Simons has been selected to replace John Galliano as artistic director of Dior, after his controversial firing following an anti-semitic rant last year. Simons, who is known for both his own menswear line as well as being creative director at Jil Sander, has been credited with starting the bold colour block trend that has heavily influenced catwalks and high street collections over the past few seasons. Admittedly Simons seems an unusual choice for Dior as his work at both Raf Simons and Jil Sander have a more floaty, feminine feel than the edgy collections we have seen in recent years at Dior under Galliano's hand. I in no way doubt his creative ability however, and perhaps a fresh creative brain is exactly what the 66 year old luxury brand needs to bring back the classic signature designs with which it was once associated and perhaps got lost in Galliano's eccentricity. Simons' first Haute Couture collection for Dior will debut in Paris this July.

Here are some of my favourite picks from his career to date

Jil Sander Spring 2010

Jil Sander Spring 2012

Jil Sander Spring 2011

Jil Sander Spring 2011