Autumn/Winter is all about Fancy Footwear!

When it comes to heels I don't like to think about practicality, that's what flats are for; it should be all about the aesthetics of the shoe. Heels are something that I'm extremely passionate about and which I consider as the centre piece or the coming together of any look so of course it's really  important to get it right. With so many different designers and styles out there it can be over whelming to even know what you want or what to wear your favourite heels are, whether it's a vintage inspired peep toe, classic stiletto or sandals, the wrong heel can ruin the prettiest of outfits so when choosing the perfect heels make sure you've taken the time to select the perfect shoe.

The stiletto heel is of course a timeless classic shoe; it's iconic and screams sex appeal. There is only designer encapsulates the essence and allure of the a stunning heel, of it's got to be a Christian Louboutin. While most couldn't afford either of these ladies extensive Louboutin collections or maybe would not consider spending that much on shoes but it is worth noting, these heels are not simply a shoe, but an investment piece, well a fashion investment nonetheless. A pair of classic black heels (as pictured above) will set you back a hefty £550 but with care and attention these heels could last years... Don't worry however if Louboutins are either not within your budget or is simply just not your favourite shoe designer (which you should reconsider!!) there are many other equally chic designers and high street brands that have excellent collections, check out Shoes of Prey where you can design your own shoes! Check out high street brands and online stores such as Pinup Girl Clothing, ASOS,  Dune, Office, Schuh, New Look, Zara, River Island, Mango, Hobbs, and Topshop which all have wonderful collections. Paired with retro or pencil dressor skirt ankle length vintage inspired high waist trousers. 

Moving on to sandals, while not the most practical for the coming chiller months, they couldn't leave them out of our fancy footwear favourites! Sandals work wonderfully with flowing fabrics rather than more structured dresses. Try pairing with a swing style skirt or dress, to create a more flirty feminine look which is ideal for a more romantic inspired look, perfect for St. Valentines Night. When it comes to sandals, my instant designer of choice has to be Jimmy Choo or Manolo Blahnik. These designers sandals are some of the most sought after designs in the world and with such an outstanding collections year after year is not hard to see the attraction! Again of course these sandals do come with a hefty price tag but like Louboutins, there an investment shoe. Remember that as long as you choose wisely of course these shoes will stay fashionable for years or  if you get tired of them with designer sandals it is easy to resale on eBay even after they have been worn as long as they are in good condition. Jimmy Choo or Manolo Blahnik style have been replicated sandals and equally matched with elegant high street designs. Some of the cream of the crop can be found at LK Bennett, Karen Millen, Nine West, Outnet.com, Alternative Footwear, Very.co.uk, Kurt Geiger, Shopbop, ASOS, Chockers Shoes, Barretts, Selfridges,  My Wardrobe, Forever 21, Net-a-porter

For a more authentic or unique vintage/ pin-up/burlesque inspired heels there are so many excellent stores available online opened in recent years which stock some of the most beautiful shoe designs available. Some of The Chic Guide's favourites can be found at Remix Vintage Shoes, ModCloth,  Revival Retro, Miss L Fire, Pinup Girl Clothing,  Ruche,  20th Century Foxy, I love Vintage,  Unique Vintage, Love Burlesque, Sweet On Your Feet. Pair with a vintage or vintage inspired or reproduction suit, pencil dress or any vintage inspired look to create a stunning look for your special date or simply just a glam night out with girlfriends. Remember with any shoe don't be afraid to experiment with different styles and design of shoe to create different looks; a sexy ultra high stiletto helps elongate the leg and crates allure, while quirky design or bold print can add to more fun relax element but most importantly wear what you feel comfortable in and what suits your outfit but your personal style and your sure to look your upmost best. 

Do you know of any shoe store gems that we haven't mentioned if so we'd love to hear from you or reviews on your favourite places to shoe shop, it's always great to hear what your loving....

Woodland Wonder

Recently did a shot with my multi talented friend, photograher and blogger of Stephosnacks. It was an absolutely glorious morning so we went to the local wood to shoot. I wore a vintage dress gifted to me, one of my favourite vintage dresses in my wardrobe, there's no label so I can't tell you the brand. The fabric of the dress is so light and soft, flows beautifully and twirls like a dream...the ideal dress to shot in! I paired it with a vintage hat, gloves and peep toe heels which are modern from New Look. It was such a fun experience to shot with a close friend, enjoy the beautiful woodlands and then we had a little picnic after! All photos are taken by Stephosnacks, hair, make-up and styling by me. Visit her blog for lots of gorgeous food, recipes, reviews and much more...! For more from the shot visit me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Google +. Next week, Tropical Paradise ♡

Freddies Of Pinewood

Freddies of Pinewood is an English based company specialising in 1940's - 1950's style denim but they now design have a wide selection of other retro inspired items including vintage mens and women's inspired tops, dresses, accessories, menswear, jackets and more. The Freddies of Pinewood designs stay very true to the original style of the denim worn in the 1940's and 50's which means they are all high waisted with a comfortable looser fit unlike the modern designs most of us are used to! 

The brand is extremely popular with retro enthusiasts, vintage lovers and women that like classic style but their not exclusive to a certain style design is can still be worn the fit and designs of Freddies denim jeans are far more flattering to any size when compared with the modern standard denim wear as they sit just above the waist rather than hanging on your hips so the jeans give you an instant curves and really do look very flattering as they fall on the narrow part of your waist. Instead the fit of the Freddies denim takes the focus away from your hips and accentuates your waist which will also instantly give you more of an hourglass shape and looks sexier which is always a plus! They're definitely worth checking out if you want something a little different than what's available from your average high street store or even if you're looking for casual wear with a more flattering vintage style fit. 

When I bought my first pair I instantly fell in love with the cut and the quality of the denim it's practically indestructible. It's so heavy which is fantastic as you're guaranteed to have them for years, so for me it's worth the investment! I want to get another pair; I love these the new fifties button up jeans that are new to their denim collection. Their clothes are ideal for the creating the perfect retro casual look without being too dramatic or dressy. Below are some of favourites you'll find online now!

You can check out there full range on-line at: http://www.freddiesofpinewood.co.uk/ . Thanks for reading and stopping by and have a great week! x

Midnight Blue Diamond Dress 

Hooded Shirt-jacket

'La Belle' Shirt Striped Shirt

Jeanies Denim Jeans

Grease Monkey Boiler Suit

Botanical Brillance

One of the things I really love to do on sunny weekends it get outdoors, visit pretty garden and walk. Being stuck indoors at work all week sometimes leaves to feeling drained and creatively uninspired so to recharge I love exploring nature, it really helps gather me thoughts and provides so much fashion and creative inspiration. From the beautiful colours, smells of all the plants and flowers, birds, wind in the trees, in bloom it come alive again. Nature, to me, is absolutely wondrous and I love that I live near so many beautiful parks, walled gardens and Victorian gardens. 

I went on a beautiful walk last weekend, what a glorious day weather wise . We visited a really pretty and picturesque Victorian walled garden. The sunshine brought the whole garden to life. All the colour, smells and sounds were bigger, brighter and bolder than before. Walking around this beautiful space and admiring all the beauty provided me with so many ideas; it's really wonderful to feel so inspired creatively and get to experience such beauty on my doorstep! The colours of all the flowers and trees, the beautiful imagery got thinking about floral accessories, prints and patterns. The perfect to reflection and homage to this wonderful season, why not wear pieces that showcase the majestic beauty of the garden?

It appears I'm not the only one looking upon the beauty around from the garden and reflecting this within fashion. I was extemely excited to see that Erstwilder have teamed up with the beautiful and super talented vintage blogger and Miss Viva Las Vegas 2015, Miss Victory Violet. Together they've created a beautiful floral collection of beautiful botanical collection of jewelry simply perfect for this season. From Fuchsia, Pansies, Forget me Not, Wisteria and Cherry Blossoms to name a few, it's got all my favourite flowers beautifully designed, I think it's one of their best collaborations and collections to date. I can't wait to get my hands on a piece from the collection. 

It's wonderful to see fashion reflecting the beauty of nature and the seasons. It's so important to be in touch with your environment, plant life and nature all around you. Pretty Lanes Original Swiss Vintage reproduction company creates beautiful vintage inspired pieces with strong floral influences in their designs which I absolutely adore of late. Their 3D Daisy pin tuck blouse is a favourite of mine, along with many other pieces from their collection modeled by the stunning, Idda Van Munster.  Both of these pieces are the perfect ode to Spring...nothing reflects the season more than pretty little daisies, perfect print or accessory to showcase spring!

Visit your local botanical gardens, parks or take a walk around your local area if you haven't already and you'll be so pleasantly surprised by all the beauty that surrounds you. From sweet windows boxes to large scale gardens we can all create and appreciate nature however big or small the space or budget you have. It's the same with fashion you don't need to spend a lot or anything to enjoy...it's free to go to most gardens, park and enjoy the outdoors. To be more eco and budget friendly visit your local thrift stores and charity shops, I always find hidden gems. For more nature and fashion inspiration visit me and follow on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter where I post my daily looks and adventures. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend. 

♡ Spring Delights - Pretty Pastels and cute prints ♡

British Retro Halterneck Dress

It's springtime, which means winter is officially done for another year! It won't be too much longer until the warmer days are upon us, so long dark winter nights and I can't say I'll miss them either! I always get excited about Spring, the flowers will soon be coming into bloom, the birds are singing loudly again! Spring is such a wonderful season, everything just comes alive again. What better way to celebrate the beginning of spring than some fun prints, pretty pastel shades and cute accessories. I tend to wear a lot of black and burgundy during the winter months so it's nice to reintroduce some lighter softer shades and less layers providing we get some milder weather!  

Hell Bunny Flamingo Print Cardigan

I wanted to share some favourites to inspire your wardrobe for the new season so I hope you'll enjoy! What would Spring be without a pretty dress and I love this halterneck from British Retro with the beautiful floral and bird print, I instantly fell in love! It's the perfect retro inspired dress silhouette, would work really paired with a pretty cardigan or on it's own when the summer months arrive. Visit Campbell Crafts, Unique Vintage, Lady Luck Boutique, Lindy Bop, Le Palais Vintage, The Pretty Dress Company, LoveurLook Clothing and Miss Candyfloss for more beautiful vintage inspired dresses. Do you have a retro inspired store that you can recommend or something local within your area that I may not have come across, if so let me know? 

I found this gorgeous little cardigan from Hell Bunny at Blue Banana. I adore anything with flamingo's and the soft pastel shade is the ideal shade for spring time. This would look so pretty with a simple pair of retro inspired capri pants, circle skirt or any dress of your choice. I love that you don't even need to add any accessories with this cardigan as it got the beautiful flamingos either side so you're good to go in record time! For more super cute retro inspired cardigans visit Mischief Made Me, Top Vintage Boutique, Emmy Designs Sweden, Doll Me Up Inc, Trashy Diva and Collectif. 

Lindy Bop 28" Peach Petticoat

A good petticoat can change an entire look! A pretty circle skirt or dress really come to life when you add a petticoat underneath, creating a much more authentic vintage look so it's worth investing in. Prices and quality can really vary for petticoats so it's worth reading reviews and ordering from reputable sources, my advice is as with anything you are thinking of purchasing is do some research especially if you're spending a bit more, you want to ensure that you are getting the best value and quality for your money. 

This pretty peach petticoat is from Lindy Bop and is very reasonably priced for those of you that are looking for something inexpensive but good quality I would recommend checking out their line as they stock an array of colours and different lengths depending on what you're planning to wear. I adore this soft peachy pink shade for spring or summer as it's that time of year when you can wear something a little softer, girlier when the sun eventually decides to come out. Petticoats should be multi layered which will enhance and puff out any dress or skirt making you instantly feel like a vintage princess. Vivien of Holloway create some of the best petticoats too, along with Petticoats a Plenty, Malco Modes, Setrino and Doris Designs.

BAIT Footwear Pastel Pink Heels

For footwear, B.A.I.T. (But Another Innocent Tale) has some some sweetest retro inspired shoes in the cutest pastel shades, no seriously they really do! All animal friendly too, all shoes are 100% faux leather and vegan friendly which makes them all the sweeter! I've really fallen in love with t-bar style heels, the height of these are ideal for looking stylish but still be able to walk around and go about your day which makes them an ideal everyday shoe. 

I adore heels but they are just not practical for everyday wear when I'm at work or need to do much walking. B.A.I.T. have loads of styles with practical heel heights for busy ladies, or if you're like me and constantly running about because you're late! These pretty little heels would look adorable paired with dress, separates or skinny style jeans or trousers to show then off in all their glory. You can also find amazing shoes at ReMix Vintage Shoes, ModCloth, Pinup Girl Clothing, Miss L Fire, Agnes and Norman, ASOS, Plasticland, Royal Vintage Shoes and TUK Footwear.

Miss Patina Swan Blouse

Miss Patina always have the cutest shirts so I knew I'd have to feature them in this post when talking about sweet prints! This gorgeous baby blue swan print blouse is just darling, the collar is so pretty too. This is ideal for Spring and would work so well with so many different looks, they have a beautiful range of blouses available on their site to choose from. Check out Book of Deer, It's Stella Rose, Valfre, Topshop, Collectif Clothing, House of Foxy and Alice's Pig for cute prints and retro inspired blouses. 

N2 Cupcake Cat Earring

I'm absolutely in love with N2 Jewellery at the moment they have an super cool range from brooches, necklaces, earrings and much more. I adore these cupcake cat earring, how cute are they? They'd look great paired with the shirt from Miss Patina or add a colour pop to any look. All are available now, so what are you waiting for...?! Visit Erstwilder, Darling Distraction, The Crave Yard, Yazbukey, Rosita Bonita and Soda Sweethearts for some of my favourite jewelry designers. I'd love to know who your favourite designers, artists or bloggers are? Don't forget to visit The Chic Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest and Google+ ♥                                                                               

Seductress Style

Designer Micheline Pitt models Deadly Dames Capsule Collection
from Pinup Girl Clothing. Faux leather dress and bolero

Seductress style is inspired by classic icons, movies and fashion from 30's, 40's and 50's; harking back to a time when glamour was at it's height. Form fitting suits, dresses, minimal accessories acting as the perfect accent to complete the look. Minimal patterns, textures and colours - black, white, red, beige, leopard print, tweed and leather are my favourites for this look you, it's about keeping it simple yet seductive.

Seductress style is about confidence and classic style; embracing your femininity and most importantly enjoying fashion! Any of the women that capture seductress style, to me, appear effortlessly beautifully yet perfectly groomed which is no mean feat! The key is not to look as though you've tried too hard to create any look! Don't to go too over-the-top with accessories, let the clothes do the talking! Hair and make-up should be kept classic with red lips and cateye for the final touches to create the look.

Von 50's Vintage Vintage Inspired 'Vogue Suit'

Key pieces are essential to create and maintain ultra chic seductress style. If you don't have already you should considering investing in the following pieces for the perfect look; a form fitting black dress, pencil skirt, trench coat, vintage or retro inspired suit or dress. leather or pleather (faux leather) skirt or dress, black stiletto heels. 

I've found some incredible items at some of my favourite brands visit Pinup Girl Clothing, Von 50's, YakuboWitch, The House of Foxy, Lindy Bop, Revival Retro, The Seamstress of Bloomsbury, Trashy Diva, Deadly is the Female, Dorothea's Closet Vintage, Rusty Zipper, Posh Girl Vintage. For accessories it's worth investing in some vintage scarves, cat eye glasses, brooch, long gloves or black hat. Check out Ruby Lane, Etsy, La Palais Vintage, eBay, Just One Eye, Gaspar Gloves, Mod Cloth, Collectif, The Vintage Optical Shop, Retro Peepers and Rock My Vintage.

YakuboWitch Trench Coat

For the final touches for hair and make you can find wonderful tutorials on YouTube for creating vintage hair and make-up if you're not already confident in how to create your own look to compliment vintage inspired seductress style. I recommend checking out the following ladies whom I regularly watch for styling ideas and inspiration. Visit: The Cherry Dollface, A Vintage Vanity, Classic Retro Glamour, Lisa Freemont Street, Miss Victory Violet, Hollywood Nior Make-up and these are just a couple that I'm follow...their a thousands more wonderful tutorials to get tips and tricks! I'll be doing a separate post on film noir inspired make-up and hair coming soon and where to buy all the products to create the look.

Check out any of the stores I mentioned earlier for lots of style inspiration and many fabulous vintage and vintage inspired clothing and accessories. It's always worth having a look in your local charity shops or thrift stores as well as you don't need to spend a lot of money to create any look, rather it's how you wear it. It's worth having key pieces in our wardrobe and from that you can create any look with the right accessories but you can do it on a very small budget. I've found some amazing vintage clothes and accessories for next to nothing in charity shop and high street stores so I'd encourage you to take a look if you don't want to spend a lot or love a bargain find! Hope you enjoyed this post and don't forget to like, follow and subscribe! You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Bloglovin and Google + ; have a great week and thanks for stopping by ♥

Winter Chic - Faux Fur

Top Vintage Faux Fur Collar and Muff Set

Practical, luxurious and the optimum of glamour - winter fashion is not be complete without faux fur! Whether you prefer to wear faux fur as an accent or accessory it will compliment any winter look perfectly; you'll be instantly feel like vintage vixen! Faux fur collars are a staple in my winter wardrobe especially when the weather gets very chilly. I have a couple of different colours which I pair with suits, coats, cardigans, dresses and jumpers to create a more authentic and luxurious vintage inspired winter look. Oh and not forgetting of course to top off your look with some red lipstick and you're ready for any occassion! 

There's a multitude of stores selling vintage and reproduction pieces, from faux furs coats, stoles, collars, cardigans, accessories, winter boots and handbags it's easy to find the perfect faux fur piece to suit your look for this winter. I gathered some of my favourite accessories, coats, cardigans, collars, stoles and shoes and where to purchase them. For some of the very best collections visit Collectif, Topshop, Pin-Up Girl Clothing, Retro Vixens, Revival Retro, Puttin on the Ritz, Top Vintage, Voodoo Vixen, Mod Cloth, Miss L Fire, New Look, Fabulous Furs, Esty, Steady Clothing, Beyond Retro, Rokit London and Faux UK. Have a great week! 

Don't forget to visit The Chic Guide on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Bloglovin and Google + and follow for all the latest updates! ♡

Miss Selfridge's Faux Fur Cardigan

 Revival's Faux Fox Fur Stole

Collectif's 'Pearl' Faux Fur Trimmed Coat

Voodoo Vixen's Faux Fur Cardigan

Miss L Fire Faux Fur Trimmed Winter Boots

Winter Wishlist...!

Marilyn Brooch from Erstwilder.com

Miss Selfridge faux fur cardigan

As September is now upon us (summer is fading fast!) autumn will soon be creeping which got me thinking about my winter wardrobe. I've been checking out the new season collections on the high street and online in time to get saving/shopping! This winter I want to add some classic pieces to my wardrobe, more vintage and stock up accessories. Here's my picks and hopefully it may give you some style inspiration for the colder months to come! I just adore Erstwilder I want to start collecting their beautiful brooches; I'm slightly obsessed with them to be honest! I want is the Marilyn Brooch, it's such a pretty pin-up lady with her red parasol. This was an obvious first choice! There are loads of other wonderful pieces within their collections from cats to pancake stacks and even better Erstwilder have just launched their very own website you can buy direct from their website. I really want to add some nice vintage cardigans and cosy jumpers for new pretty accessories to rest upon! This year Miss Selfridge have created another wonderful range of vintage inspired knitwear and I want this black cardigan. It's ultra chic and suitably large faux fur collar which I adore, it adds an extra bit of vintage style glamour to those dark winter days! 

Forever 21 Faux Leather Midi Cirle Skirt

Collectif Beau Cherry Jumper

I've been lusting after faux leather skirt for so long now and I popped into Forever 21 the other day only to find the perfect leather faux leather black midi from their Autumn/Winter line. It's exactly what I've been looking for, I love when that happens! This skirt is the ideal mix of retro inspired as it's a midi circle skirt but the leather look gives it a sassy, glam and more fashion foward finish. Whilst I absolutely love to wear vintage inspired looks sometimes it's refreshing to twist the old with the new and change up your look, be a little daring. After all, fashion should be fun! I've been after this type of skirt for ages so this is going on my to buy list. Its available from their website. I have to admit in recent years I've overlooked the humble jumper but this winter I want to wear. They are perfect for creating an authentic vintage look and perfect for layering in the colder months. With that in mind I have been on the hunt for some pretty vintage style jumpers. I am avid fan of Collectif who consistently design beautiful vintage inspired clothing and knitwear each season some of their Autumn/Winter Collection online which I have been drooling over! I was really taken with this beautiful red jumper which has an adorable cherry pattern knitted design with a tie front. This would look great for dressy or casual look this winter, the colour is such a lux shade of red, perfect for an all black ensemble and deep red lips. I'm excited about winter this year!

Trashy Diva Cheetah print beret  

Pinup Girl Clothing Wizard of Oz Clutch

To finish off any winter look you need a good hat to complete your look. This ultra chic cheetah print beret would work wonderfully with any of the pieces on my wish list I've chosen and with my new winter coat which will feature on The Chic Guide in the coming weeks as part of fashion featues from a recent shoot with Kaizi Photography. I found this super cute beret from Trashy Diva. I adore berets, they never go out of style and I hate buying anything that is bang on trend as I prefer to get pieces have I can have for years and this little cheetah print number will go with everything for winter and beyond as with any of these pieces..!   I was unbelievably excited to find this Wizard of Oz clutch. As one of my old time favourite films ever, this is a dream bag come true. Perfect for Autumn evening out or a fancy lunch! I found this dream clutch on Pinup Girl Clothing while lusting over all the gorgeous clothes, shoes and accessories. They have so many lovely handbags but 'The Wizard of Oz' is the perfect bag, not what I was initially looking for but equally one of best finds and top of my wish-list!  

There will be lots more winter fashion inspiration over the coming months! Coming next I'll be featuring my recent shoot with Lindy Bop, Banned Apparel and more...from the most beautiful location- Glasgow Necropolis! A little winter and pre halloween homage to my favourite season! Visit The Chic Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Google+ for all the latest news, fashion and chic style. ♡

♡ 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,

♡