SalesGossip intern, Amy Lam is a student at the London College of Fashion. Before she takes a well earned summer break and jets off in search of some sunshine, Amy has let us take a peek at what she’ll be packing… 

The holiday season is here, and whether you’re going abroad or not it’s definitely time for a wardrobe update - but the key is to pick a few essentials so you don’t end up breaking the piggy bank! I also like leaving luggage space to bring back a few holiday perks without busting the luggage allowance, so for this summer I think my motto will be, “Less is more”. Here are a few of my handpicked holiday essentials…

Tribal Print Kaftan, was £115.00, now £80, Karen Millen

This beach cover up oozes elegance. Wear with your bikini, sun hat and a pair of gladiator sandals, or to dress it up add some gold bangles and a chunky necklace. Either way you’ll have the whole Sex in the City style package.

Jersey Maxi Dress, £38.00, Topshop

If you’re hot and bothered on holiday a maxi dress is the easy option when choosing an outfit. The cut out detail in this Topshop maxi dress adds a bit of twist. Opt for the grecian look with your hair wrapped in a bun and a pair of strappy sandals. For an evening look, just add a clutch bag and drop earrings.

Newaz Skirt, was £175.00  now £122.50, AllSaints

You’ll sparkle in the sun with this hand embellished skirt. Opt for a basic tee as the embellishment does all the talking and wear with a pair of metallic gladiators, or for an evening look change into heels and add a statement necklace into the mix with a simple tank top.

Acid Wash Shorts, £30, Miss Selfridge

High waisted denim shorts are so in this season and this acid wash effect is a nice grunge detail. Wear with a tank top or graphic tee tucked in and converse trainers for a laid back look - or for a chic city look, wear with a blazer and ballerina pumps.

Wine Ruched Bandeau Dress, £7.99, New Look

This simple bandeau dress is defiantly an essential. For a casual look wear it as a dress on its own or pair it up with a pair of high waisted shorts. To dress it up, add a maxi skirt and a blazer on top and a statement necklace. Both of these looks will go with sandals or heels.

Black Bikini Bottoms £3.99, and Purple Bandeau Bikini Top, £9.99, both H&M

Matching bikinis is so last season, for me it’s all about mix and match. You can’t go wrong with a pair of black bottoms as they’ll go with every other shade – and I love this pale purple badeau.

Gold Rope Detail Sandals, were £85, now £30.40, Pied a Terre

The perfect finishing touch to any summer holiday outfit – these gold sandals will match everything – so no need to waste suitcase space packing lots of shoes!

Have a great Holiday Amy!

 

The sun may be rather late making a cameo appearance this summer, but at least the summer sales have started early to brighten up the long days!

SalesGossip girls Hannah, Amy and Elisabetta have each chosen what they think is the best of the summer dresses to be found in the sales right now. From a chic wedding guest look to the perfect beach maxi – these dresses are certain to impress us (and save us lots of cash too)…

My sister is getting married in September, so at the moment the search is on for a dress. This placement print prom dress from Oasis definitely has to be a front runner! I’ve had my eye on it for a while – but I’m pleased to report it’s now been reduced from £85 – £36! Now I’ve just got to find a hat…

 

With the Olympics coming to London this summer I’ve been inspired by the whole grecian look. This elegant number by AllSaints compliments all shapes with it’s drapes and ruffles, and can be found in the sale reduced from £150 – £75! Keep the accessories minimal because this dress does all the talking! Just add metallic sandals or strappy platforms, grab a clutch and this dress will see you through from lunch to the late hours.

 

At SalesGossip HQ We’re all dreaming about our summer holidays, and on the beach I’ll be wearing this Miss Selfridge maxi dress, reduced from £37 – £30. Just imagine walking along golden sands wearing this long dress with oversized sunglasses and flat gold sandals - an effortlessly chic holiday look.

Have you found a great summer dress in the sale? Remember, we always love to see your bargain buys!

As the world’s top athletes arrive in London for the start of the Olympic Games, Oasis have launched a very special limited edition collection called London Love Letters.

The 18 piece collection includes silk scarves, shopping bags, skirts, tops. dresses and even notebooks, all featuring vintage postcard prints of iconic London locations, including Tower Bridge and Big Ben, as well as stylised line drawings by illustrator Lizzie Prestt.

We love this Love Letters Shopper (£18) – and what better souvenir of a shopping trip to London could you possibly find!

The London Love Letters collection is available from selected Oasis stores and online. Prices range from £10 – £80.

Where are your favourite places in London? Remember our London Shopping Walks can help you see more of the city this summer - and discover some great places to shop!

Want to find out which of our London Shopping Walks is the one for you? Here’s the style lowdown on Primrose Hill & Marylebone…

Forget Madame Tussauds, Primrose Hill is the place to spot famous faces. This exclusive residential area of North London is a haven for celebrities, with Kate Moss, Sadie Frost, Sienna Miller, Jude Law and Gwen Stefani all calling it home.

Yummy mummies love the leafy streets lined with designer boutiques, coffee shops, delis and bakeries – and a batch of freshly baked cupcakes always goes down well at SalesGossip HQ.

So, if you want to find out where Kate buys clothes for Lila or Sienna shops for all her boho bags and belts, our Primrose Hill Guide will let you in on the secrets. Plus, the summer sales mean you can get the look for less. Just look what you can buy…

Aubin & Wills Navy Blazer was £175 now £125, Breton Jumper was £65 now £45; Illesteva Sunglasses £208, Tory Burch Ballet Flats were £208 now £145, Diane von Furstenberg Purse was £123 now £73, MaxMara Belt was £85 now £42 – all from Matches; LOFT Design by Aldo Cardigan for Mum & Son; Comptoir des Cotonniers White Dress was £114 now £57

Want to find out which of our London Shopping Walks is the one for you? Here’s the style lowdown on Knightsbridge and Sloane Square…

Back in the 80s Sloane Square was the famed stomping ground of a young and wealthy set of yuppies. Sporting a strict uniform of navy blazers, with chinos and rugby shirts for the boys and pussy bow blouses, mid-length skirts and headbands for the girls, they earned the tag ’Sloane Rangers’.

It would seem like not that much has changed over the years - after all it does give a pretty accurate description of Prince Harry and Blair Waldorf!

British heritage brands including Burberry and Aquascutum are still based in the area, supporting the traditional look of the upper classes which has regained popularity with a whole generation of neo-sloanes, led by the impeccably dressed Duchess of Cambridge herself.

You might just bump into Kate shopping in the Peter Jones department store on Sloane Square, or browsing some of her high street favourites along the King’s Road in Chelsea (where she has been spotted rifling the sale rails at Whistles and French Connection). But our Knightsbridge and Sloane Square Guide is all about the very best in luxury designer fashion.

The wonder emporium that is Harrods has become a tourist attraction in it’s own right.  With acres of opulant displays to take in no visit to the area would be complete without calling in store. Along this London Shopping Walk you’ll find the best of British design at Burberry and Paul Smith, then stop off for a taste of the international flair offered by Chanel, Gucci, Armani and more.

Just look what you can buy…

Paul Smith Suit; Burberry Trench Coat £995, Uumbrella £175; Harrods Shopping Bag £19.95; Christian Louboutin Peep-Toe Platforms £550; Gucci Watch £910; Chanel No 5 Eau de Parfum, Chanel 2.55 Quilted Leather Handbag

Want to know which of our London Shopping Walks is the one for you? Here’s the style lowdown on Covent Garden…

Located in the heart of London’s theatreland, it’s guaranteed that come rain or shine there will be something to entertain you in Covent Garden. Stop to watch the street entertainment in the piazza, where musicians and magicians jostle for your attention, or how about a West End show? Don’t forget you’re also only a stone’s throw from world famous museums and galleries – and the hidden gem that is Sir John Soane’s House. A visit here comes highly recommended by Kathryn Abrams from Trip Stylist (you can read more in our interview with Kathryn).

Back to the shopping - cosmopolitan Covent Garden is one place that really does have something for everyone. The famous flower and fruit sellers have moved on – leaving fashion to take centre-stage. The historic market is now packed with independent stalls selling unique gifts. Out on the surrounding streets high street favourites and designer boutiques sit side by side, whilst lovers of the latest gadgets won’t want to miss the Apple store.

With our Covent Garden Shopping Guide you’ll visit a diverse mix of the best of British – such as Joules, Lyle & Scott, Cath Kidston and All Saints, plus some international superstars too.

Just look what you can buy…

Cath Kidston London print umbrella, £20, and pearly queen bag, £85; Joules union jack wellies, £36.95; Neal’s Yard Remedies limited edition hand lotion, £12; Lyle & Scott blue jumper, £100; Converse pink high top trainers, £43, and pink bracelet, was £35 now £19 from Kurt Geiger; Urban Outfitters floral baseball cap, was 14.99 now £7, and pink sunglasses, £16

When it comes to finding out all the best things to see and do in London, Kathryn Abrams from Trip Stylist is our oracle.

Kathryn creates self-guided London walks that combine great places to eat and drink with hidden gems and more popular London sights. On the Trip Stylist website you’ll find easy to follow walks that will help you get off the beaten track and discover new places – and now we’ve teamed up with Kathryn to bring you a special series of 6 London Shopping Walks.

We asked Kathryn to tell us more about Trip Stylist and share some of her favourite London sights… 

So Kathryn, how was the idea for Trip Stylist born? 

I love travelling and exploring new places. In particular I love London and discovering new places to go, eat, drink and wander. Over the years I’ve accumulated a huge list of great places to eat and drink, hidden gems, latest gourmet coffee shops, exhibitions to check out, new bars, oddities – you name it I had picked up the flyer or bookmarked the web address!

I also found myself researching and planning other people’s holidays for fun (odd, I know) so I decided it was time do something about it this obsession and make use of the masses of information I had gathered over the years – and so Trip Stylist was born!

Is it just for tourists, or can Londoners learn a thing or two?

It’s definitely for Londoners too! I wanted the walks to help people get off the beaten track and discover new places, see things they might not have found otherwise – both for Londoners wanting a day out at the weekend as well as visitors to London. Hopefully Trip Stylist can help people explore London’s neighbourhoods and quirkier side rather than just the major tourist attractions.

There is so much to see in London – how do you choose your routes?

The walks are designed by area so I started by choosing the areas I knew the best. I’ve gradually added walks over the last few months so I now have 11 London walks available to download. I wanted to be able to combine visiting popular tourist sights with lesser known places – for example the “To The Tower” walk which visits popular Borough market, Thames Path and Tower of London and also detours via Bermondsey and Maltby Street food market – places tourists (and many Londoners) would probably never visit, despite them being very close to major tourist destinations.

And you offer personalised walks too…

Yes, I can personalise any of the London walks by changing the titles of the walks, adding in favourite cafes or sights etc – great for unique presents or surprise days out.

I also offer bespoke walks, tailor-made to your specifications.

Which is your favourite walk and why?

That’s a tough question! Probably “London Villages” which explores Marylebone and Primrose Hill – a tranquil, greener side of London that many visitors don’t see.

How much do your walks generally cost to download?

The walks cost £4 each or 3 for £10. Try out the free Sales Gossip shopping walks and see what you think!

Where is your favourite place in London to shop and why?

I love the Shoreditch area because there are so many great markets as well as pop ups and stores selling clothes from new young designers. It’s a great area to shop if you want to find something unique or a bit different. There’s also loads of great cafes and bars to stop at en route….

For someone visiting London for the first time this summer, what would be your top 3 recommendations of things to see and do?

The Southbank is a great summer destination – there’s always lots of outdoor entertainment and you can see many of London’s iconic sights by taking a stroll from Westminster Bridge to London Bridge.

 

 

Escape the hustle and bustle for a while, grab a picnic and enjoy the sunshine (fingers crossed) by visiting one or two of London’s Royal Parks – St James’s Park and Regent’s Park are my favourites.

 

 

We can’t forget the Olympics of course – if you don’t have tickets to the events you could soak up the London 2012 atmosphere by watching the Games on one of the big screens that will be popping up all over London – head to Hyde Park, Potters Fields or Victoria Park or to Trafalgar Square during the Paralympics.

 

And 3 hidden gems to be seen on your walks…

Arnold Circus in Shoreditch – a beautiful bandstand and garden built from the rubble of a former slum.

 

 

 

Sir John Soane’s Museum - the former home of the famous architect, Sir John Soane. It’s stuffed full of paintings, antiquities, sculptures, furniture and even a crypt complete with tombs and mummies.

 

 

Postman’s Park – one of the City’s many hidden little gardens, check out the amazing memorial to heroic self-sacrifice.

 

 

 

Thanks Kathryn – we’ll definitely be checking out all these places very soon.

Follow Kathryn on Twitter: @trip_stylist