FF VIII: Matches Fashion Special

You may not know this about me but I love designer clothing. I subscribe to pretty much every fashion magazine (and buy the others at the newsagent every month) and I'm building up a little collection of designer clothes, albeit very slowly! In fact, last night I even dreamed about owning an Alexander McQueen scarf.

So when Matches Fashion contacted me about their new collections, I jumped out of my seat (Ok, maybe not literally but I did sit up a bit straighter and furiously typed out a reply!). With the depressingly imminent retreat of summer, the only thing keeping me going is the thought of the new clothes I can buy for the changing season.

I've chosen a key piece from three of the most exciting collections and tell you how I would style it if I was given free reign.

When it's gloomy and miserable, I like to wear colour. If I stare at it for long enough, I can trick myself into thinking that it's actually summer. Almost. This orange Max Mara Vata top would do just the trick. I really like the vintage-inspired neckline so I would team this with a full black skirt, black opaque tights and patent ballet pumps.

I love dogtooth. I think it comes from my decades-long obsession with the sixties (Wow, I'm old enough to use the plural of decade? Ouch!). I was super excited when I saw Emma Stone on the cover of last month's Vogue in a dogtooth jumper. This Diane von Furstenberg Melissa skirt is even better- Look how bright it is! I'd channel the vintage vibe with a black fitted jumper, opaque tights and black suede boots.

Ok, time for the big guns: Alexander McQueen. This is my ultimate fantasy dress- the Victorian lace jacquard knit dress. Look at it. The opulence. The drama. I can't take it. This is the sort of dress that Rich can hear me finding because I make my "pretty clothes noise". I'd simply team this with black strappy heels. I wouldn't want to distract from the dress.

Other things I am loving this week:

Mo Farah is my favourite athlete from the Olympics. This meme, Mo Farah Running Away From Things, is absolutely amazing.

I love this vintage tutorial on achieving flicked eyeliner. So pretty! I saw this image on another blog but I lost the source when I copied it over. If anybody knows where it's from, please let me know.

I absolutely love the concept of Young Me/ Now Me. The basic premise is that you take photos of yourself in the same pose, clothes and (for the really extreme) location as your childhood photos. I really, really want to grab my brothers and try this!

What are your favourite things this week?

Post written in collaboration with Matches Fashion