The Best Coats of A/W 2014

The coat. One simple piece that can instantly energize a paired-back outfit without much thought or effort, while simultaneously shielding you from the harsh winter days of wind, ice and snow. For the A/W 2014 collections however, desingers didn't shy away from elevating this definition to the next level. Stand out elements included luxurious textures of sherling, fur and leather at DKNY, along with ecletic bold and pastel colours alike, and new-age sillohuets including capes from Christopher Bailey at Burberry BCBG Maz Azria , unstructured slouch shapes at Narciso Rodriguez, and delux parkas and bomber styles on offer from Alexander Wang and Hache. While it's all well and good these creative geniuses and many more alike dream up these designs, it's up to the humble high street to interpret them in such a way that us mere mortals with average incomes can actually have a piece of these trends hanging in our own personal clothing shrine (a.k.a the wardrobe). Here are some high street dupes of glorious designer coats at just a fraction of the price!

Fur

DKNY

ASOS

Pastels

Rebecca Taylor

New Look

Shearling

Sacai

Topshop

Duster Coats

Narciso Rodriguez

Capes

Burberry Prorsum

Topshop

Ciara x

My current wish list

It's never ending really is it? The desire to buy, collect and sometimes hoard clothes, accessories and shoes of all sorts that just make your bank account want to shed a tear, is a permanent dilemma in my life. It could be worse, but still! And despite the fact that my wardrobe is bursting at the seams and I have to wrestle with my hangers daily in order to organise it, here are my current favourites I'm lusting after.

Zara pink leather jacket (similar here)

Zara Yellow coat blazer

Zara oversized denim jacket

Asos Dialogue plimsoles

Asos leather cut-out playsuit

Asos Crop t-shirt

Asos grey duster coat

Asos bleached ripped boyfriend jeans

Seafolly clutch

The best is yet to come

 The only way I can really start this is off is by saying...IM BAAAAAACCCCKK! With my Leaving Cert FINALLY finished, I can go back to spending my days reading unrealistic romance novels, staying out until the sun comes up, and giving time to my little blog right here.
Unfortunately my fab camera woman has hopped off to America to live it up out there for the summer, ( Jenny if your reading this, I'm simultaneously hoping your having a ball while sending you evils for not being here ha!) so this outfit is from way back on a chilly day in March. It's not exactly summer attire, but what's a girl to do?!

   Kimono-Asos

Top-Primark

Disco pants-River Island

Boots-Topshop

Bracelet-Gift

Necklace-Forever 21

If I'm being honest I'm still wearing the kimono and boots now in June despite the autumnal colour palette, because we all know how unreliable Irish summers are. I decided to treat myself after my exams finished and have built up quite a collection of gorgeous pieces over the last few weeks that I'm dying to show you. Think maxis, stripes, delicate jewellery and more.

 Now I just need to get my act together and find a replacement photographer! Fingers crossed I'll have flatmates who will be kind enough to give me a hand next year at university!

Ciara x

Transitioning

Cardigan-Primark

Galaxy Print t-shirt-H&M

Leather Joggers-Forever 21

Aubrey 3 Oxblood Cut-out Boots-Topshop

Spiked Beanie-Primark

Necklace-Topshop

This laid-back outfit based around my new leather joggers from Forever 21 was inspired my Youtuber   Sunbeamsjess's recent 'Week in outfits' video. I'm a tad obsessed by her style, she's just always fearless with her styling and I really like that. If you haven't watched her videos before I'll put a link to her channel at the end, and go and subscribe to her, you won't be disappointed trust me.

I found the leather joggers to be on the tricker side to style, but who doesn't love a challenge?! I think the beanie and boots really tie it all together in an 'I just threw this on' kinda way, but you could also dress them up with heels and a cami top for an alternative look on a night out.  Last week I gave in and bought the BEAUTIFUL Aubrey 3 cut-out boots from Topshop after looking at them online for months. I got 30% off them with their seasonal offers on at the mo' and the 10% student discount AND free shipping during fashion week, so I was pretty pleased with myself. They are really chunky and great for trekking around the place in, you can definitely tell they were on the pricier side. They give a good height boost to vertically challenged people like myself, but the block heel is still comfortable to wear all day. The only downside to them is the leather is quite stiff and is hurting my foot at the place where the shoe bends when I walk. Fingers crossed it'll loosen out over time once I break them in!

I was having trouble uploading this to Lookbook for some reason, so I'm going to keep trying and I'm hoping it'll make it up there at some point!

Sunbeamsjess Youtube Channel

Ciara x