STYLING THE PETIT BATEAU BRETON DRESS

It's no secret that I love the French sense of style [the blog title is a dead giveaway] - so when Gemini Woman got in touch and asked me to put together a post celebrating the launch of Petit Bateau [aka the holy grail of the Breton stripe] on their site, I was more than happy to oblige.

In a change from the classic Breton tee, I picked a navy stripe dress to style [£120 - shop here]  because I wanted to demonstrate it's versatility. If you're yet to jet off on your summer escape, a Breton dress makes an ideal beach cover up. Style it espadrilles for a St. Tropez vibe. Stripes are also the perfect print for weekend wear - wear your dress with a pop of leopard print for an unexpected twist. You can even smarted up this piece for the office, I'd wear either a white shirt or bib collar under mine for a professional edge. Pair with some colourful flat points and you've got a 1960s homage going on which is a key trend for autumn/winter 2014. 

If you're unfamiliar with Gemini woman, I'd recommend checking out the site. They stock a curation of grown-up, wearable fashion brands including French Connection, Great Plains and of course - Petit Bateau!

Whisked away: Amalfi espadrilles, Mint & Rose, €75. Petit Bateau stripe scarf, Gemini Woman, £47. Fendi two-tone sunglasses, Net-a-porter.com, £200. 

Weekend: Sophie Hulme mini leopard print shoulder bag, Net-a-porter.com, £395. Nails in One Hot Minute, Topshop, £5. Felt borg skater shoes, Next, £24. 

Work: Pointed pumps in beetroot, Boden, £89. Karl Lagerfeld folded cotton-blend collar, Net-a-porter.com, £110. Lips in Inhibition, Topshop, £8. 

COMPETITION - WIN UP TO £45 SPEND ON FALKE TIGHTS

Now that the [brief!] British summer seems to be over, my mind has turned towards planning my autumn/winter wardrobe. One essential that I can’t live without in the colder months is tights, and not just any old pair, high quality 40 denier plus hosiery please. So when Legal and General got in contact recently and asked me to pick one product 'worth investing in' - that I could then give away on LFF - it had to be tights! 

In my experience, the more you spend on your hosiery, the more you get back. One of my favourite brands is Falke - having road-tested their hosiery the past couple of winters (on Laura from WIT blog's recommendation), I can confirm that these tights are  worth the extra spend - ladder-proof [within reason!], washable and comfy - Falke will see you through the season. Alongside stellar tights, the brand also retails luxe socks - I love the styling in the below campaign image.

In collaboration with Legal and General, one lucky LFF reader will win up to £45 to spend on Falke.com’s website on anything of their choosing [less the £6 postage and packaging]. To enter just fill in your details in the widget below and Like LFF on Facebook/ or Twitter and I'll be back in touch after the competition ends on 30th August if you're successful. Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! x

LFF'S LONDON - THE FRANCIS HOTEL, BATH

This month LFF’s London escapes in the city in search of a stylish getaway on the doorstep on the big smoke

The art of total relaxation is a state that became a nigh-on-impossible feat when I moved to London four years ago. It’s the fear of missing out that is to blame; when I lie in on a Saturday morning after a busy week of work a dirty sense of guilt sets in – only intensified by my Instagram feed, clogged with smug early risers eating exquisitely plated Turkish eggs at another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pop up bruncherie. If you too are suffering from a case of FOMO, then may I suggest you do as my boyfriend and I did last month and harness the weekend to escape the city, in search of a little tranquillity. 

Just a 1:30 journey from Paddington station and we found ourselves in the elegant Georgian the city of Bath. 

SUMMER HOLIDAY BUYS UNDER £30

I'm not one for spending big bucks on my holiday wardrobe. If it's at the mercy of suncream, seawater and sangria, it most likely won't see out the summer. So in this frugal spirit, I've put together this dirt-cheap edit of holiday buys, all under £30. I think I'm quite good at putting together a capsule holiday wardrobe - the key is to stick to one colour palette and travel with lots of pieces that can be mixed and matched. I always pack some costume jewels to dress up outfits for dinner - the Johnny Loves Rose tangerine drop earrings below are a nifty purchase. A few cheap, disposable tees are a good idea - I like Uniqlo for quality budget buys. The shoe of SS14, leather sliders are super comfy and practical for both the beach and sight seeing. And if you're as pale as pasty as I am, don't forget the suncream!

Top row L-R: Linen blend tee, Uniqlo, £4.90. Nails in Pink Cadillac, Topshop, £5. New Look white leather sliders, ASOS, £19.99. 

Middle clockwise: Warehouse pink sunglasses, ASOS, £16. Palm tree print clutch, New Look, £9.99. Zip detail black bikini set, F&F, £13. Woven black shorts, H&M, £24.99. 

Bottom row L-R: Lace espadrilles, ASOS, £9. Johnny Loves Rosie Orange statement earrings, Myflashtrash, £12.