Fashion: The sun is shining…get those legs out ladies!

As I get closer to the BIG four zero my legs age with me and are not as youthful as they used to be. However, I still want to wear shorts for the summer. Therefore I need to adopt a few tricks of the trade and make sure I get them waxed, keep them moisturised, exercise so they get toned and then make sure I get shorts that don't make me look like I'm selling car washes. 

This season we have found shorts which will give you style, keep you looking trim, and have the comfort factor. Something for every occasion, the beach, the bar, the stroll into town, the park, and just looking fabulous.

Here are Stylekt11's selection of shorts for this summer a little something for everyone, come on ladies give your legs some vitamin D.

 L-R: Stella McCartney , Zara, New Look, H&M, Whistles

Fashion: Supermarket sweep

So today, after buying my Dad a Father's Day pressie in M&S and stopping for an obligatory latte in the coffee shop, I found myself in Tesco checking out their Florence and Fred range.

I'm not usually one to shop for clothing in a supermarket as I find I end up with items that I bought just because they were cheap and I never wear them. Well, all that changed today. The Florence and Fred range blew me away. It was totally on trend with aztec trimmed shorts, beautiful bright jumpsuits and some seriously cool sandals.

In fact, I went to a very stylish wedding in Germany last weekend where everyone looked super cool. The bride works for Adidas and the groom for Audi and everyone there just oozed style. However, aside from the bride of course, there was one girl in particular who just looked amazing. She was wearing a palm print jumpsuit with flat sandals and a black leather biker jacket. Not usual wedding attire I know, but at this wedding, so long as you looked cool, it didn't matter.

I spent the whole day envious of her flat sandals (as I teetered around in my 4inch heels after my two very small children!) wanting to ask her where she got her jumpsuit. Needless to say, I went into Tesco today and there it was (either a perfect high street copy or the real thing). It had a swing tag to say it had been featured in the press and so of course there was only a size 16 and 20 on the rack. Undeterred I have ordered one online!

Anyway, its not every day that I am as impressed as I was today by the selection F&F had to offer, so below are my favourite finds…

Jumpsuits:

Glam:

Denim:

 Holiday Essentials: 

Fashion: Be a quilt Queen

Ok so it's not a fashion trend that you necessarily associate with spring/summer, but let's be honest the weather we have been experiencing recently isn't exactly what we'd expect for the end of May. So I thought I should write about a trend that has come to my attention of late which may well just see us through this tricky spell and mean that come autumn you are already one step ahead sporting what is undeniably going to be a trend for A/W 2014.

Thanks to Dior who sent padded dresses down the runway, quilting seems to be having a moment. As ever, the high street has interpreted the trend in a number of wearable options.

I love these quilted skirts from h&m, especially the blush colour one which can be worn with anything from a cropped tee and heels for the evening or a vest tucked in and your favourite denim or leather biker for the daytime. 

Quilted skirt £34.99, H&M

Quilted skirt, £12 H&M

On a more practical level why not invest in a quilted sweatshirt. Great with jeans, but would work equally as well with a skirt for the evening. Asos have a great selection at the moment. Go on, while its raining outside treat yourself to a snuggly, warm, quilted sweatshirt to keep you cosy.

From top left: Quilted '6' sweatshirt £16.50, ASOS. Pippa Lynn quilted neoprene sweatshirt £65, ASOS. Leather trimmed quilted Joseph top £165, net-a-porter. The Laden Showroom cropped sweatshirt £35, ASOS.

Or if footwear is your thing, why not try a pair of these neutral colour trainers that will work perfectly with a pair of skinny white jeans…

Top: Chloe trainers £495, net-a-porter. Bottom: Tory Burch trainers £165, net-a-porter

Fashion: Mirror finish

There is something special about metallic shoes and accessories  - they go with absolutely everything and just don't date.

Therefore, if you are going to invest in something this spring then make it metallic. Be it silver or gold, you just can't go wrong with a shiny pair of shoes or clutch. They lift a black outfit and make brights pop.

If you are brave enough to venture into metallic clothing then pair one metallic piece, such as this pleated skirt from Asos (currently on sale at £12, so hurry!) or this foil patchwork vest from Whistles, with something plain and preferably in black or white. Whatever you wear it with, it needs to be simple and not too fussy - let the metallics do the talking.

We have put together a selection of some of our favourite items from high street to designer for you to choose from.

       

Clutch £39.50, Jack Wills
Magnificent metals eye shadow £24, Stila
Mango pleated skirt £12, Asos
Foil vest £115, Whistles
Kurt Geiger Heels £295, Topshop
Isabel Marant Orion sandals £142.50, theoutnet.com

Fashion: Going to the ball Cinderella?

Everyone wants to be the belle of the ball and with so many people going to the party you want to be sure that you get the look right for you. One that encapsulates your individual style. 

Although it's not just about the outfit, its about every stage. 

If you aim is to wow and you want to look like your attending the Oscars, then yes you generally have to work hard to achieve this look of glamour. 

Here at StyleKt11 we have the steps to making you the belle of the ball, the Jennifer Lawrence of the Oscars.

Add some red carpet glam
like Jennifer Lawrence

Step 1 - Look after your skin, if you don't already do it, buy some mittens and exfoliate in the shower with a good quality shower gel. When you come out of the shower moisturise your skin with coconut oil. Make sure you put the oil on the soles of your feet.

Tiana Coconut oil

Step 2 - Facial - get at least 3 facials before the ball, preferably once every 3 weeks and leave it a whole week before the ball. Our recommendation is Seven beauty in Ripley, we go there for a prescription facial because this ensures that you get a facial tailored to your individual needs.

Seven beauty Ripley for facials

Step 3 - Hair - as important as the others, you need to treat it a few months before with a hair mask and treatment, best one we have tried is at the salon Leo Bancroft. You then need to follow this up with a regular trim and colour if needed. If you are changing colour you need to check what is right for you. If you are going for hair up, then you need a trial. Leo recommends that you wash your hair the day before not on the day.

Hair mask available at tesco

Step 4 - Exercise. This is something ongoing, but make sure you are doing muscle toning on the areas that will be on show. Omar Baulch from Ride recommends Kettlebells, its the most basic exercise but the technique when right (and you need to be shown first) works every part of the body.

work out at Ride and get toned

Step 5 - Spray tan - good to have a practice to see the tone you go, before you rely on the night. Try Sunstyle, it is a fabulous beauty destination in Cobham and the tanning lotion is scented with the scent of your choice (£25 per session). You can test the tone, see how it lasts and most importantly you can learn how to look after it properly.

Get sunkissed without being in the sun by Sunstyle Cobham

Step 6 - Feet. Book a luxury pedicure, one where the feet get a good scrub and all the yucky stuff falls off. If you are looking after your feet with coconut oil then this will help. Get your feet ship shape and then get a bio gel, or shellac on there to make sure it lasts. We have a gorgeous lady Fay DB who does this - contact us if you need her details.

Step 7 - Hands. Moisture and exfoliate them, then book a manicure. Again for polish that stays on, use shellac.

Step 8 - Wax or laser try Sunstyle for this it doesnt hurt with there australian technology!

Step 9 - Shopping for the outfit. Bit tricky as you might know what you want, but don't know where to find it. If this is your dilemma then our first port of call is POCKET WARDROBE an app on your phone, which allows you to put all your stats and then you request what it is you want and how much you want to spend. The app which is connected to stylists, retailers and the Pocket Wardrobe team who will find what you are looking for. If its not quite right the first time, they keep looking for you. The best thing is its free and so easy to use.

Step 10 - If you love to shop, do your research at home first and then go shopping. Take a friend and some heels, wear nude undies and a strapless bra. Take a picture in the dressing room each time you try, go for coffee, decide and buy. KEEP THE RECEIPT

Step 11 - have fun, and take pictures of your amazing night and send to us at stylekt11@gmail.com

Gifts: Cool gifts you can give to your man friend

With my husbands 40th birthday just gone, my gift shopping was focused solely on him. 

Now the thing about my man is that he likes nice things and usually gets them before I have a chance. Sound familiar?

Technology is no no, he is something of a gadget geek, so he would need to do this himself. He researches, then researches and then goes in for the kill. He loves cars, but I am not going to get him one of those and he loves somewhat expensive watches, so again I think its best for both of us if he gets one himself!

In my mind I like to get him little things and then do a birthday big thing (I say thing because until I find it thats exactly what it is). This sounds a bit extravagant, but its not really, as this includes tokens of love. It's a bit like a lottery - a few big ones thrown in with lots of little things to make it fun, remember the kids have to get involved and for this I got my friend and fellow styleKt11 friend to sketch a personal picture of my children - which was the best present.

I am going to share my best finds with you, not all bought for him right now, but definitely still on the list for Christmas.

Kooples is great for nice shirts, and the general man collection is super cool. Go check it out for presents they have great choices.

Washing bags, are cool and if they travel even better. We don't share one for our holidays because of my 'stuff' so it is something just for them.

Aftershave is good and my current fav is Tom Ford Portofino, its a wonderful scent which will make you want to keep close to him because he smells so good.

Socks glorious socks you just cannot go wrong! I personally love the colourful ones and Paul Smith do great ones, its a little touch of designer without the massive cost.

Dress watches are good, and you can find them within a good range on net a porter.

HoF washbag,  Matches socks, Debenhams Tom Ford aftershave, shirt from Kooples, and watch Mr Porter

Beauty: Get some beauty sleep with this gorgeous spray

There was a time when I used to sleep like a baby, a time when a lie-in existed on the weekend no matter what time I went to bed. This however, was a thing of the past when I had babies! 

Ever since having children my sleep has suffered. It's not just the sleepness nights with babies (thats' part and parcel of having children), it is more the insomnia I got during pregnancy which continues through life now. Admittedly it has got better with the use of reflexology, but I can't actively call on that at a drop of a hat (my friend Lynne might have a word to say about that if I called her at 2am).

As my sleep has continued to improve slowly, I have resorted to solutions which do not have me taking any pills, but I can use at night to help me relax.

This is my new find 'Deep Sleep Pillow Spray' by This Works which helps me associate the smell with sleep, its nice, it relaxes me so I switch off and I wake up feeling fresh.

Studies on this spray have shown it to work, they tested it on 217 people age range 12 years and above.

Catch up on some beauty sleep 

83% of the testers were shown to have a great night sleep. 
If you have trouble getting your beauty sleep then here at Stylekt11 we recommend this miracle spray to help you sleep and wake up feeling fresh.

Stocked in SpaceNK Cobham (& in most Space NK's) - 
http://uk.spacenk.com/deep-sleep-pillow-spray/MUK200008263.html