LFF COMPETITIONS - WIN A £50 DEBENHAMS GIFT CARD

If you liked the outfits I put together for the Debenhams AW14 Blogger Style Challenge, then this is the competition for you. The go-to UK department store have kindly offered La Fashion Folie a £50 gift card to give away to one lucky blog reader. If you've yet to splash out on your winter wardrobe, £50 will slash the cost of an investment coat or new-season boots. Personally, I'd be hard pushed to decide how to spend the gift card - one of my favourite departments in Debs is the Debenhams homeware, but Todd Lynn's AW14 luxuriously tough handbag collection has also caught my attention [pictured below, modelled by Leah Weller, no less]. To enter the competition, simply put your details in the Rafflecopter ap below and either follow LFF on Facebook,  Twitter or both to double your chances of winning. The competition ends on Sunday 2nd November - good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

RETURN OF THE BACK(PACK)

The whole nineties revival capturing the fashion world's attention at the moment sure is making me feel old; namely because it's the first trend in my sartorial lifetime that I can remember the first time around. Chokers, mini backpacks, platform trainers - thanks  to the Spice Girls I've owned them all. Fashion rules dictate that wearing a trend the second time round is a faux pas - but I believe that's a myth - the secret is to rework the look and incorporate pieces effortlessly into your current wardrobe. Enter the updated backpack - the grown-up girls entry into the nineties trend. 

DEBENHAMS AW14 BLOGGER STYLE CHALLENGE

Debenhams are hosting a fun bloggers autumn/winter style competition at the moment, challenging bloggers to style two looks using new season trends, one for themselves + one for a fellow blogger. This is the first outfit that I put together for myself, inspired by the 'Autumn Luxe' trend. In truth I just fell in love with Coast's autumnal hued Harper skirt and designed my look around it. I am a fan of a jewel earring so that + a cherry red Mac lip are all the accessories this luxurious statement skirt needs. 

From clockwise: Warehouse black side spilt tee. Coast domenica earrings. Mac lip pencil in Cherry. Coast harper skirt. Dune pony detail dressy loafers. 

I designed the second look for my fellow blogger Katie from Glass of fashion. What I admire about Katie's sense of style is that she isn't afraid to mix and match unexpected pieces; it's that J. Crew-inspired styling aesthetic that defines her look. Katie and I often like the same clothes (we've bought the same Zara bag in the past!) but we rarely style them in the same way. In truth, I'm not as sartorially adventurous as Katie, so it was a challenge to style an outfit for her. I settled upon the 'Blue notes' a/w trend and subtly clashed prints within the look to capture her playful sense of style. So now I nominate Katie to take on the challenge too. Good luck Katie! x

From clockwise: Alice and You blue wool coat. Mood large blue peardrop earrings. Clinique chubby stick lip balm. Nails inc polish in Belgrave Place. Miss Selfridge graphic jacquard trousers. Carvela blue laurel flats. 

COFFEEGRAPHY WITH NESCAFE DOLCE GUSTO

When Nescafe Dolce Gusto invited me to a blogger's calligraphy workshop last month, I was puzzled. Was it just me that failed to see the link between calligraphy and coffee? Intrigued, I agreed to attend as speedily as I shot an espresso on a Monday morning. 

TREND EDIT: GREY MATTERS

Going grey is the height of sartorial chic this autumn/winter, thanks to appearances on the new-season catwalks of Derek Lam, Michael Kors, Topshop Unique to name a few. The key to nailing this trend is to rep shades of grey (no pun intended) top-to-toe, bar accessories (I love the cobalt blue leather clutches seen in the Derek Lam AW15 collection and a glossy black boot will finish the look). Having done some digging, I found some on-point grey pieces on the high street; Warehouse's sleeveless wool coat (no. 4) is a smart buy at a mere £65 - layer it up over a grey roll neck for an affordable take on the trend. For a chic take on the 9 - 5, the Fold's herringbone skirt (no.1) would look the part with a silk blouse. If you're in the market for a new tote, Stella McCartney's soft and slouchy Beckett bag is a real investment piece. The simple bucket shape and industrial grey hue will see you through winters to come. Proof that this season, grey is anything but drab. 

1. Brook skirt in Herringbone, The Fold, £165. 2. Stella McCartney Beckett faux leather bag, Net-a-porter.com, £715. 3. Baja grey Agate set earrings, Monica Vinader, £165. 4. Grey sleeveless wool blazer, Warehouse, £65. 5. Cashmere tunic, Uniqlo, £89.90. 6. Felt borg trainers, Next, £24.