♡ Pretty Spring Dresses ♡

I've decided I'm not going to wait for the weather to determine what I feminine  instead I'm determined to welcome the new season! When it comes to what to wear for spring it's all about wearing soft pastel shades, flowers your hair, dainty floral prints, country walks, picnics in the park, the flowers coming into bloom, bee's buzzing, bird singing, buds on  trees, longer sunny days.... it's a magical time of year. Nothing screams Spring better than some pretty florals and soft pastel shades. Here are The Chic Guide's favourite dresses for Spring 2015 to inspire you for the coming season, enjoy!  You can find all the dresses featured below by clicking on these link and here are some other wonderful sites visit: Heyday! , Bernie Dexter , Style Icons Closet, Pinup Girl Clothing, Hell Bunny, Collectif, Lindy Bop, Vivien of Holloway, Tara Starlet, Tatyana,  Deadly is the Female, 20th Century Foxy, Modcloth, Ness Clothing, Trashy Diva, Top Vintage, Voodoo Vixen, Lady Vintage and Miss Mole for beautiful retro dresses , clothing, accessories, beauty and heels! Next up, Il'l be showing five pretty hairstyles for Spring, created by me! Don't forget to subscribe to The Chic Guide and visit me on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, Google+, Twitter and you also follow The Chic Guide on Bloglovin too! ♡♡♡

La Palais Vintage by Miss Winny has the most beautiful vintage reproduction pieces. Vintage classics that can seen in old issues of vogue, harpers bazaar from the golden age of fashion are the clear inspiration behind this brand and the clothes are absolutely divine. Visit Miss Winnys store on Ebay and other online stores.

Heyday! produces the perfect picnic dresses and the above is ideal for those warm Spring days. You'll find this dress and many more beauties on their website

Bernie Dexter produces some of the cutest dresses you find anywhere. The prints she produces are so gorgeous a definite must for Spring. Her clothing is available from many clothing stores online and from Bernie Dexters Website.

Style Icons Closet came to my attention because of their ultra pretty and feminine dresses. A beautiful retro feel to their clothing but what modern twist.  Check out their store for this Spring/Summer

Pinup Girl Clothing is an all time favourite for retro inspired clothing with excellent quality and design.
 They are one of the most influential brands I know. From couture to in-house labels designed by Laura Byrnes and Micheline Pitt. I adore everything they produce!

♡ Vintage lovers must have - The Trench Coat! ♡

The trench coat without debate is the optimum of chic; from royalty, the elite, the stylish, and the ultra glam are all loyal fans and I most certainly am too! It's a classic wardrobe stable, it's light weight, chic and has been in style since it was created in the early 1900's. While there is debate as to origin of the trench coats design Burberry, Aquascutum and Barbour all have an important place in it's history and those famous brand are still making some of the most sought after and highly priced trench coats available. While they may be out of the realm of most of our humble fashion budgets, you'll find fantastic trench coats available from Forever 21, Gap, Topshop, Primark, Net-a-Porter, Whistles, Marks&Spencer, The Outnet.com, Farfetch.com, John Lewis, French Connection, Next, Zara, House of Fraser, Reiss, Warehouse, Hobbs Soia & Kyo, L.K. Bennett, Lands'End,  or you can find new, vintage or used trenches on eBay, Esty, ASOS Market place, Decades and there are many more wonderful shops online. Whether you prefer new or vintage most trench coat coat stil opt for the classic design based on the original make of double breasted with deep collar, and belt at the waist. Black, beige or red is my personal favourite but again that's down to preference, you can get everything from polka-dots to floral or leopard but if you want a coat that will last from season to season and year-to-year to come. It's best to invest in a really good trench and in a neutral colour and it will last you forever if you look after it well.

Our love affair with the trench coat never seems to dampen;  from the world war one soldiers in Britain and French, the design proved not only a roaring success within the military; post WW1 many civilians began to see to the functionality as well as the chicness of the garment and by the end of the Second World War the trench coat had grown massively in popularity. Hollywood cemented the trench coat into cult status in classics such as Casablanca, A Foreign Affair, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Killers, Out of the Past and is synonymous with Film Noir genre (watch any of these movies and you'll want to go out and buy a trench, I guarantee!). Who wouldn't want to smoulder like Marlene Dietrich or emulate the chicness of Audrey Hepburn, I fell in love with the trench just from watching all the old Hollywood movie stars and my fascination with vintage fashion began and all from the trench coat! So go and get a trench either vintage or new and once you start wearing yours you'll never want to be without on again, it really is a must for you're Spring wardobe and for any vintage loving lady or guy! You can find amazing vintage trench in local charity shops or you nearest vintage seller, you can usually find them within the £30 - £50 range but unless it the trench is in mint condition and an actual Burberry or designer I would never pay more than that. Vintage items are fashionable at moment so be mindful of the quality and price is correctly reflected and that it's authentic. I've come across items that were being sold as vintage but were not which is annoying to say the least. For this reasonI think vintage reproduction can sometimes be a better option; something to consider when making any vintage purchase. I can't wait to purchase a new trench coat for Spring and I'll post all about very soon...happy hunting for yours!

Don't forget to visit The Chic guide on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Tumblr. Please spread the vintage love by liking and following! I really appreciate you stopping by and most importantly- have an amazing weekend!

Lots of love,

♡ 

• Fashion Week Favourites •

Here's all my fashion favourites from Fashion Week from. I am always excited to see all new designs will grace the runaway; trends for the coming season and it's always inspiring seeing masters showcase their craft. I love the excitement of it all! I love finding new designers and studying the art and craftmanship, it never fails to not to excite me. I've chosen some that have inspired me. I very much into textures and bold prints, dramatic old hollywood style dresses and of course retro themed clothes intermixed with gothic and leather. What have been your favourites? For an excellent source and catelogue of all the runway shows from fashion week visit Vogue.co.uk. It literally is an online fashion bible, essential studying for every fashion lover. Heres a tiny selection of some collections that caught my eye for this season and next winter which sounds crazy when we haven't even reached Spring! Nonetheless and I hope you having a great week. Much love and hugs ♡

Guy Laroche Winter 2015

Isa Arfen Winter 2015

Victoria Beckham Autumn / Winter 2015

Dolce & Gabbana Winter 2015

Reem Acra Autumn / Winter 2015