Welcome to the dark side...

Prada AW12

Jean Paul Gaultier AW12

Chanel AW12

If you're a fledgling fashion intern, model or blogger these days it seems the unofficial uniform is black, maybe with a little monochrome or grey thrown in to mix it up. Usually, I prefer to dress like I've rubbed myself up against a wet unicorn that's been trotting through rainbows. Far be it from me to hate on black clothing - the LBD is still the staple for any girl's wardrobe (I now couldn't dream of life without my French Connection yoke mini) and black is universally acknowledged as the most flattering and alluring colour in style. Still, I'm always a little disheartened when I step on to the high street in Autumn and the displays are filled with fifty shades of black. This Winter, however, is different - I suddenly find myself hideously attracted to the blacks, oxbloods and graphites that litter the shop windows because everyone has gone embellishment and oddity crazy: studs, sequins, prints, inserts, patterns and sheer fabrics have (somewhat) lured me over to the dark side, and you should definitely join me.

River Island Grey Print Maxi Skirt - £25
This skirt has everything - a little grey, a little black, a little of what I'll constrew as oxblood, plus it looks like a big pile of Autumn leaves and everybody loves those (except gardeners).

In Love With Fashion LOU LOU Black Open Back Dress (back view) - £32
Cold shoulders and an exposed back but with a maxi skirt to make up for all that flesh, this dress is the perfect amount of exhibitionism for the Winter without those catty labels.

New Look Black Lace PU Sleeve Jacket - £34.99
Leather (look) and lace - an unusual but welcome combo for this season for releasing your inner gothika. 

Office Over The Top Wedge - £70
I feel like Oxblood is probably going to be the most difficult colour to work with this season as it's so inbetween, but these killer wedges from Office are right on the money and could be paired with brights or darks from the ankles up.

Pull and Bear Animal Print Jersey - £29.99
Super cute! People will probably want to pet you if you wear this.

ASOS Marketplace Pirate Ship Foldover Clutch - £15.99
Quirky little clutches are a mayjuh weakness of mine, and this one is a friggin steal as well as working the "grey and interesting" look.

ASOS Sheer Bomber Jacket - £35
Own it, love it, wear it everywhere. Bottom line? It's awesome go get one!

Miss Selfridge Project #3 Lace Panel Dress - £52
Yes we're bordering on the pricey here but if you want a truly knockout dress in everybody's favourite shade check out Project #3 at Miss Selfridge - a limited collection of stunning pieces, definite crowd pleasers and this art deco style mesh and lace number is spot on for AW12.

ASOS Sweatshirt with Stud Shoulder - £35
It's got studs and a leather look trim BUT it's also comfy as hell, I think Rita Ora whenever I see pieces like this and who doesn't want to be a little more like Rita?

Black Milk Black Galaxy Leggings - £48.37
Not usually something I would include in a Cheap Like Me post but if we're talking about innovative clothing then I have to mention my true love Black Milk. Yes a pair will set you a budgeting girl back a buttload but the wear you get out of them is worth every penny. 

Blame it on the goose... (Week 2)

So this post is a little late - I returned from London expecting for life to slow down a little but who the hell was I kidding.

I didn't think it would be possible for my second week to surpass my first but then I also hadn't banked on yet more events for Chartwell and just how awesome my team at Burberry would be.

Monday was show day. From monitoring the press coverage for the Emerging Markets it was clear to me that this show was about as talked about as little Choupette Lagerfeld, and hot damn that is one friggin adorable, head-line grabbing kitten. My whole team had bagged jobs at the show so I was left at HFH to monitor the social media coverage as it came in from Russia, India, UAE, the Baltics and the Middle East BUT the show was also being live streamed into the HFH café. I ventured downstairs and was confronted by an electric atmosphere. I grabbed a seat and waited for the spectacle to begin, and spectacle it was. Goosebumps, stunned silence and an audible gasp at the finale and I'm not just speaking for myself. There would be absolutely no point in me trying to detail everything worth mentioning about the show, so here's the show in full. Even if you're not a fashion fiend, it's still something to behold, especially with such an incredible choice of songs to accompany the walks (Tom Odell - Another Love *sniff*)

                

Just...... gone. One of, if not the best show of LFW (go Mr. Bailey!) with the coverage continuing for days. Somebody get me that marigold Blaze bag and that badass layered crop trench if you please.

Photoshop is not my strong point, cocktails and canapés however...

Outside of Burberry, I had been given more events to attend on behalf of Chartwell (are they crazy!? I do not feel old enough for these growed up respobsobilities), the first of which was Taste by Appointment held by Grey Goose at Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen. I took a certain little Emma with me to help me drink all that crystal clear French vodka and the evening was incredible. A scintillating lesson in the science of taste, blind taste test and DIY drink mixing later and it was time for our bespoke Grey Goose cocktails. Being a devout gin lover I was a little skeptical but the charming Joe from Grey Goose assuaged all my doubts with the incredibly aromatic and divine tasting concoction that he mixed up for me - Grey Goose, ginger ale, fresh grapefruit juice, coriander, black pepper and ginger, along with a medley of other delicious touches made for one of the best cocktails I have ever had the pleasure to drink. To finish off the evening we caught a glimpse of the lesser spotted Gordon Ramsay herding a flock of kids upstairs for a slap up meal and then ventured off to The Diner in Shoreditch to satisfy our own appetites for boozy milkshakes and ten tonne burgers.

Prescott's Punch: that absinthe'll punch you alright.

Had I had my fill of alcohol and carbs? Hell to the no, give me more, MORE I say! And more there was as the next night was the press launch for B-Soho, a new pizzeria and cocktail bar in the restaurant-rich area of Soho. I went with the gorgeous Grace who was also lovely enough to put me up for my second week in the big city (incredible hostess, all-round fabulous person and cooking skills to rival my mother's, I kid you not). Intermingled with my delight at the revelation of pizza e cocktails gratis was the pleasure of our dining company - Baldwin from Ice Bar London and Adasi, blogging for Fluid London. Our evening was topped off by a live acoustic set including a classic rock ballad medley - nothing like a moodily crooned Journey hit to signal the end of the night.

Friday rolled around about as quickly as crowds to a plus-size sample sale and because it had been show week, the team was granted a half day. More show coverage and a competitor event report later and we dashed across the road to the nearest pub where I was treated to a gin & tonic by the girls - enough to bring a happy tear to this Gordons girl's eye.

And that's the lot. Two weeks in London, ten days at Burberry, four events and god knows how many measures of gin later and I'm back in Bournemouth, though maybe not for long.

A week of firsts, the first of many (here's hoping!)

Where do I even begin. I have barely been in London a week and things have escalated quicker than a nudie monarch press scandal (yes, that quickly).

The 'What I Wores' - Week 1 (alliteration, yay!)

Monday was my first day interning at Burberry in their PR & Marketing Emerging Markets department. Once I came to from the overwhelming and monumental beauty that is Horseferry House (I'd quite happily sleep under a desk to be able to call that place home) it was down to business. Everything is frantic due to the much anticipated Burberry SS13 show for LFW which is also being streamed live to their brand new Regent Street flagship store that is revolutionary in terms of its digitally integrated shopping experience. I've been supporting the team while they've been organising their part of the show, co-ordinating other events in the emerging markets, pulling looks for international shoots and generally looking like supermodels (what's the word for intimidating times a bagillion?). HFH is a power house and Burberry's employees are living embodiments.

Horseferry House

Though Burberry has already been an incredible experience, some of the most interesting events of the week have come from a new adventure into blogging. After a great Skype with Victoria from Chartwell Magazine on Monday evening she hooked me up with invitations to a couple of uhmazing events, both of which were gin-orientated (Joy Levels: through the roof).

Wednesday was the Gordon's Gin Ten Green Bottles launch party at One Marylebone, showcasing ten bottles of Gordon's designed by Sir Terence Conran. First London event and I'm thrown in at the deep end, riding solo. The venue was completely bathed in green light and personalised for the iconic dry London gin. Upon arrival: trays of classic gin & tonics and a gin & elderflower concoction, both of which went down a treat (several times over I might add). There was a massive mix of people there, from Made in Chelseans to design groupies to those just looking for a grand old time, including Richard from i-likeitalot.com who I ventured with round the ten themed alcoves that displayed Conran's designer vessels (all hidden when we arrived - countdown started, big bang, coverings dropped, buzz ensued). The alcoves were all themed by Conran around his designs including a lush flower market, a vegetable patch and a giant canvas replica of one design allowing guests to paint their own contribution. The refreshing designs were a fantastic complement to the brand and the tempo of the night increased to a lively and excitable pace.

Several gin and mixers later and aware that I had to be up for more Burberry graft the next morning, I headed out, briefly meeting comedienne Olivia Lee on my way (she did like the walls in One Marylebone). Just when I thought the night had given me all it had to give, a Gordon's x Conran goodie bag was thrust into my hands as I left including a full bottle of the fruity, dry stuff. Great news of the highest order.

And so began LFW. Mania in HFH as everything is prepared for the SS13 show, but my Friday night was mainly concerned with the PPQ after show party. Not just an after show party, but one at Kensington Roof Garden and sponsored by Tanqueray gin, inevitably meaning a few more free gin cocktails. Fashion, party, rooftop venue and free gin. Please excuse me while my head explodes. Stepping out of the lift and into KRG it's clear where the PPQ devotees are: the large VIP area towards the back of the contemporary-luxe club is rammed with fash-packers and an incredible creature draped in chain mail (didn't remember to get a photo... N.B. self: work on my triple threat). I survived the throng at the bar and emerged with a champagne-gin concoction ready to explore the Tudor-garden-style outside venue with Aziz and Carlos, two rascals I met in the queue who were there through a friend to just enjoy the party and throw a little cynicism the way of the try-hards.

Live music, shisha and a bottle of the smoothest white rum I have ever had the pleasure to get acquainted with made for an awesome rest of the night before the last tube home. Apparently I missed Pixie Lott and VV Brown tearing up the dance floor in the early hours but I'll try not to shed too many tears....

And that's it. So completes my first week at Burberry! I thought this next week might let up on a poor, overwhelmed town girl but I'm being thrown in at the deep end and having my head held under (though in the most enjoyable way possible) with two more events for Chartwell, one with Grey Goose and one with cocktails and pizza in Soho... dear liver: sorry in advance.

All that glitters...

Everyone has their kryptonite: I may be able to refuse that gorgeous geometric-patterned blouse or pair of heart-attack inducing platform heels (though this isn't willpower that I often find myself in the possession of) my one enormous weakness is accessories: bags, necklaces, bracelets, earrings - rack 'em up and pile 'em high is the mantra I find myself living by when it comes to the finishing touches of an outfit. Imagine my excitement then when I flick through the trend forecasts for AW'12 and see page upon page of glorious garments adorned with massive jewels, killer studs and Fifty Shades of chains.

Left to right: Anna Sui AW'12; Jean-Paul Gaultier AW'12

The bigger the better is always a sweet phrase to hear, and even better to see in action in the fashion world. Here comes the tricky part though: a stylista on a budget can find herself at quite a disadvantage when the mind-bogglingly intricate and eccentric jewellery of her dreams is accompanied by a huge (though often justified) price tag. Enter: the high street. For a fraction of the cost you can buy yourself a chestful of style swag to layer up and make look super expensive thanks to those notoriously fabulous designers at H&M, Zara, ASOS, Topshop and a host of other helpful high street brands. Here's a selection of what you can find in the shops this Autumn/Winter to update your look.

Clockwise from left to right: ASOS Double Ring Spike Doorknocker Earrings £15; ASOS Spiked Headband £10; ASOS Jewelled Moon Doorknocker Earrings with Detachable Stud £20; ASOS Shard Necklace £10; ASOS Hair Spikes with Hanging Chains £12

Left to right: H&M Necklace £12.99; H&M Bracelet £7.99; H&M Necklace £7.99; H&M Earrings £5.99; H&M Earrings £6.99

Left to right: Zara Women's Golden Mesh Bib Necklace with Black Stones £19.99;  Zara Jewel Necklace with Stones and Glass Tear £19.99

Left to right: Topshop Deco Chandelier Earrings £15; Topshop Curve Hollow Bar Necklace £15; Topshop Wild Thing Shard Ear Cuff £8.50; Topshop Perspex Peter Pan Necklace £25

Pssssst... you know those super cute detachable Peter Pan collars that are all over the shop right now? If  you want something a little more unique without paying custom/couture price tags then head over to Etsy for some handmade bargains! Here's a few I think are worth checking out...

I haven't listed the sellers or prices of these Etsy delights as these pieces are one offs (yay!) which does mean they go quickly (boo!) BUT there's pages and pages more of them (YAY!).

Stylista little sister: Bershka

You learn something new every day: when I recently visited a friend in London I had a lot of time by myself during the day to explore the city and take in the sights (and by sights I mean Brick Lane, Camden Market, Carnaby Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street - don't judge). Now although I don't brand myself as a budget fashion aficionado just yet, I thought I had most of my go-to retailers nailed! How wrong I was.

Enter Bershka: imagine if Zara had a little student sister who liked to spend her day giggling with friends in independently owned cafés but revealed a wild streak at night and you'll get an idea of the kind of pieces Bershka have to offer the fashion conscious and frugal.

Though not quite as keen on bright and eye-catching colours as some of her relatives in the Inditex Group (Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear) there are certain items from Bershka's AW'12 collection that would most definitely invite the question: "Excuse me, I LOVE your ________, where can I get my hands on it?!" Whether you let them in on the style secret or not is up to you (if they have that instantly recognisable look of fashion lust in their eyes have some compassion and throw 'em a bone guys) but you should nevertheless show this lesser known budget brand a lot of love. Here are my favourites for the new season:

Fringe detail belt - £7.99

Left to right: Bershka Various Prints Skirt - £9.99; Etro AW'12

This symmetrical print skirt is a bargain and a brilliantly cheap way to capture one of the most eclectic trends of the season. Although it's a very busy pattern go the Etro way and try a casually clashing print to level up the impact of your outfit.

Skulls necklace - £7.99

Stud detail earrings - £5.99

Chain necklace - £9.99

BSK Combined Wedges - £39.99 

Left to right: Bershka Stud Detail Sleeveless Shirt - £19.99; 3.1 Philip Lim AW'12 

Washed out has never looked so good: the stud detail on Bershka's sleeveless denim shirt gives it a little edge but for even more tomboyish charm get a black skinny belt involved like 3.1 Philip Lim.

Skull print clutch - £14.99

Ballerinas with crossed studded straps - £25.99

Wedges with ankle straps - £59.99

Left to right: Bershka Zipper Back Top - £19.99; McQ by Alexander McQueen AW'12

Sophisticated, sultry and a little bit cheeky, both the colour and the style of this sheer Bershka zipper back top emulate the popular red wine shades that litter so many AW'12 collections including McQ by Alexander McQueen. Like McQ, jazz up this subtler trend with big hair and powerful accessories if you want centre stage.

Nail it!

Nails - one of the simplest ways to make an outfit pop, non? Changing up your nail colour/style/design can be cheap, easy and an extremely effective way to accessorise so there's no wonder we all get so excited and cram our cupboards full with so many shades Joseph would be hard pushed to find them all on that fine coat of his. I got to a point where I had so many that it was like looking into my full wardrobe and declaring that I had absolutely nothing to wear, so I started to condense my collection down to the colours that I would need for the current/upcoming season.

Since a friend introduced me to Refinery29 I have been hooked on their posts: they are always my first port of call when searching for new brands both in beauty and apparel, and their trend round-ups are always fantastic with their picks for AW '12 nail colour being no exception.

For UK fashionistas on a budget, Refinery29's selections can be a little out of reach both in terms of geography and price range, so here are a couple of cheap chic alternatives that you can easily pick up on the high street but will nevertheless still nail the trends:

From left to right: 1. LOOK Nail Pop in Dove; 2. L'Oreal Colour Riche Nails in Blue Reef; 3. Accessorize Nail Polish in Molten Copper; 4. Maybelline Forever Strong Pro in Dark Denim; 5. GOSH Nail Lacquer in Gasoline; 6. LOOK Nail Pop in Kimono; 7. Essie Nail Colour in Gym Dandy; 8. NYC Expert Last Nail Enamel in Boundless Berry

1. Fifty Shades - Moving away from the sulky, moody greys of AW'11 (and those of a recent literary phenomenon) next season's grey nails look to be lighter and with shots of silver, paying homage to the urban playground that is the city - LOOK's Nail Pop in Dove (£5 from Superdrug) is about as perky as a grey can get and even has a cutely optimistic name.

2. Ocean Deep - Teals make a comeback with piercing sea green shades dominating the palette. L'Oreal's Colour Riche Nails in Blue Reef (£4.99 from Superdrug) is vibrant yet understated - mermaid make-believe anyone?

3. Autumn Hues - It's undeniable that Mother Nature is always impeccably accessorised so it makes sense that beauty would take a leaf out of her book (impossible to resist, sorry!) for this nail trend: look out for intense gilded and burnt oranges inspired by fall trees - this little Accessorise Nail Polish in Molten Copper (£3.45 from Superdrug) is made all the more stunning by flecks of gold.

4. Winter Blues - With blue already permeating so many AW'12 catwalk collections it's not surprising that a darker shade has made its mark in cosmetics: navy looks to be the go-to blue for nails, but make sure it has mischievous bright blue undertones like Maybelline's Forever Strong Pro Nail Enamel in Dark Denim (£4.09 from Boots).

5. Purple Haze - If you're looking for THE party nail colour for next season look no further than the spotlight-hogging, diva-tantrum-throwing, knockout purples that have been brought out on the high street. With this trend you want a shade that craves attention: GOSH's Nail Lacquer in Gasoline (£4.99 from Superdrug) is extremely eye-catching.

6. Attention! - The military trend has dominated the catwalks for AW'12 and its presence in beauty is just as powerful. This time around khakis and gunmetals are updated with ominous flashes of petrol-like iridescence for maximum impact. LOOK's Nail Pop in Kimono (£5 from Superdrug) is nearly always on my nails at the moment, my personal favourite.

7. Hot Chocolate - Those of you that love your neutral nails will adore these sweet, comforting shades of milky, cocoa browns. Essie's Nail Colour in Gym Dandy (£7.99 from Boots) has a soft, nostalgic, marshmallow hue perfect for dark Winter days.

8. Pick-Your-Own - Whereas autumnal nail colours are bright and light, this trend requires a trip to the dark side: berries go bad in the best way possible with blackened yet colour rich purples and reds on the cards for those who want to emulate gothic style and NYC's Expert Last Nail Enamel in Boundless Berry (£1.99 from Superdrug) is the ideal indulgent shade.

IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK!

Well hello there! Remember me? GUESS WHAT?! I've got my sorry act together and Cheap Like Me is making a comeback just in time for AW'12. Yes, I know we're not quite there yet and forgive me a little pessimism for ignoring the fact that we are technically still in the midst of Summer but I like to look ahead and I know many of you will as well. 

Since my last post I've had some extremely exciting news that will be featuring on here around mid-September in the form of several blog posts: a two-week placement with Burberry! I'm hoping to be able to give you a sneak peek into what I'll be doing and also how I'll be dressing to try and convince myself and the rest of glorious London that I belong there.

As far as other posts go I'll be back doing my usual round up of high street catwalk copies and budget beauty buys as well as a couple of other random little posts - after all, variety is the spice of life and I love spice, chai anyone?