Next International Style Challenge

Hello folks! I actually took these snaps a couple of days ago but I've had a poorly weekend so this is a little late. I'm not feeling quite as ill as I was, but I'm still writing this from the comfort of my bed. Needless to say I wasn't well enough to get to #ldnlunch yesterday (gutted doesn't even cover it), but there's already talk of a June meet up so I can look forward to that and avoid anyone who looks as if they're about to sneeze on me in the meantime. My close personal friends Mr Ben & Mr Jerrys will be keeping my company this afternoon.

Aaaanyway. The real focus of this post is the Next International Style Challenge which I was HUGELY flattered to be asked to be a part of. I've done style challenges before, for the likes of Matalan in particular, but nothing on this trans-continental scale, so it's rather exciting. The brief was simple : pick an item from a list and style it up to represent British heritage and my personal style.

Floral dress - Next; black leather boots - H&M; leather gilet - Primark

The dress I picked is this floral midi number, which on me with my stumpy legs was pretty much a maxi. It does look a lot more grown up on the website, I'm not sure whether that's the pose of the model or the lack of accessorizing, but I fell hook, line and sinker for that gorgeous floral print. It's almost coral red so perfect for Spring, and with a jumper thrown on top of it it can be worn as a skirt too. However, it's ultra-feminine and so bright that it's not the sort of thing I would have usually gone, a CHALLENGE! 

My style is getting more and more refined every month, which makes it a LOT easier to get dressed in the morning and I end up feeling a lot more confident, every day. What I love about British style is the non-conformist attitude of so many of our fashionistas. Sure, we all love perusing the trends in magazines, but ultimately, British fashion on the street does not have to be dictated by anyone else. 

My take on it will not surprise any of you. To contrast with that girly print, the only viable answer for me was to throw in some leather. This gilet is such a staple for me it's unreal. I don't think I've owned anything I rely on so much (except maybe a pair of purple cords I had when I was twelve, man that was LOVE). With the loose fit and the tough touches, this is now definitely an outfit I would wear, and I believe it totally sums up my style, and my influences.

Thankyou Next for asking me to be involved! <3
To see the other contributors, make sure you check out the list. xox