Lipstick Gossip by: Penneys SS14 womenswear

I have had a clothes encounter with Penneys SS14. It is very boy meets girl. It is confident, romantic and simply cool.

The candy colours and overall androgyny is reminiscent of twiggy but there are many varied influences throughout which is very exciting. There is a taste of a young Carrie Bradshaw in 'The Carrie Diaries' with full chic skirts and voguish fitted ensembles. Faded floral print, boxy shirts, blue tartan, gingham, sleek jumpsuits and old school posh spice type strappy mini dresses can be dressed up and down. Acid wash and tie-dye finishing on denim and jersey follows the 90’s flavour apparent in Penneys SS14. Rock a visor and cornrows as a bold funky on trend finish.

For this season the devil is in the details. Basics are jazzed up with peter pan collars and button detailing is feminine and elegant. In terms of footwear there is adorable platform sandals that have a colour splash. Metallic brogues give a futuristic vibe whereas high tops and canvas shoes are very sought after this season.

For that ‘back to school’ vibe last season we welcomed red tartans, dark neutral colours, PVC and leather. This season you can embrace your inner american gal with varsity jackets, and oversized football tees. Teamed with denim shorts or dungarees you can have a cutesy laid back vibe whether your personal style is tomboyish or whether you follow trends.

The look is timeless whether you accessorise with a 1990’s or 1950’s twist. There is a great selection of bright stylish sportswear for this season also. What stands out for me is the ‘sandstorm’ trend. Penneys has a wide variety of moroccan prints, tailored blouses and trouser combos that you can team with bronze or gold statement necklaces that exude sophistication. Last season I styled Grace, a model from Assets for a shoot with fashion photographer Lili Forberg in head to toe Penneys. She wore a crisp white shirt, sand colored pleated trousers and a coat with nude shoes. So many people raved about the outfit as it is simple, clean cut, understated but is incredibly versatile. They couldn’t believe the entire ensemble was from Penneys as the sharp tailoring looked very expensive whereas this kind of a look can be achieved on a budget. So this tough ‘Banuary’ where you are banning yourself from raiding the sales think about the value you can get for a boardroom to playtime outfit by buying separates in Penneys.