My Stylish Buys: February

Here at Bees & Taylor we’re fans of forever buys – investment pieces that will take you from season to season, year on year – with a few well chosen trend items thrown in when required.

Want to know what we’ve been buying this month? Get the inside scoop on our favourite purchases and find your new season inspiration.

ZARA Leather Slingback Sandals

The mule is looking like big news for SS16 and this bold orange pair from Zara will add a pop of colour to any outfit.

Click here to buy now.

ISOLDA Fru Fru Off-Shoulder Silk Top
ISOLDA Fru Fru Off-Shoulder Silk Top

Bare your shoulders in this ruffled off-shoulder silk top. Bright white will pair perfectly with denim for day or tucked into a high waist come evening.

Click here to buy now.

H&M Long Sleeve Cut-Out Shoulder Top
H&M Long Sleeve Cut-Out Shoulder Top

Show a hint of shoulder in this basic black long-sleeved jersey top. This is one trend which will be sure to transition from winter into spring.

Click here to buy now.

NOIR JEWELLERY Beatrice Gold-Tone Cubic Zirconia Ring
NOIR JEWELLERY Beatrice Gold-Tone Cubic Zirconia Ring

For statement jewellery that you can wear everyday Noir has the edge. This ring brings a touch of luxe at a price you can afford.

Click here to buy now.

BOWER Navy Blue Bardot Cross Bikini
BOWER Navy Blue Bardot Cross Bikini

I know, I know, it’s winter and no one wants to think about the dreaded bikini body yet. But with it’s longline top and racer back this is the perfect mix of sporty come sexy.

Click here to buy now.

BY MALENE BIRGER Artia Cropped Trouser
BY MALENE BIRGER Artia Cropped Trouser

The crop trouser is still going strong. Best worn with heels, team these jersey knit trousers with a longline tunic for this seasons silhouette (* pretty please, we want the sandals too!).

Click here to buy now.

ASOS Pinafore Jumpsuit with Culotte Leg
ASOS Pinafore Jumpsuit with Culotte Leg

The jumpsuit, an always favourite here at Bees & Taylor. Layer over a fine knit or stripe jersey top for easy wear dressing by day this winter.

Click here to buy now.

JIGSAW Ayda Silver Trainer
JIGSAW Ayda Silver Trainer

Spending all day on foot my feet must be both comfortable and chic; luckily for us the modern day trainer can be both practical and stylish.
Click here to buy now.

The Changing Shades Of Yellow

SS15 is showing a lot of love for yellow this season, both on the high street and in the luxury market, giving a welcome pop of colour in a typically spring pastel palette. But with so many shades, from buttercup to daffodil, mustard to flaxen and golden to acid the options are infinite. We help to focus your search with our handy guide to yellow.

SS15: Chloe | Lucas Nascimento | Emilia Wickstead | Ralph Lauren

Have you had your colours done? Do you know what shades work best for your complexion? No? Right first step, find your colour season.

Bees & Taylor uses a basic 4-season theory (spring, summer, autumn, winter) to help you consider the role of colour in your wardrobe and when making any purchase. The right colours have the power to make you look noticeably younger and your skin brighter – dark lines and shadows will visibly fade. Depending on whether you have a warm (spring or autumn) or cool (summer or winter) skin tone, different shades of any one colour can give you an instant face-lift and point you to a palette that better suits your complexion.

NB. whilst this can be useful, don’t be limited by colour; instead wear shades that suit higher on your neck and those that don’t lower on your body and away from your face.

Which seasonal type you are depends on two basic variables:
* the undertone of your skin, hair and eyes
* your overall colouring

In short, if you are ‘warm’ you are either spring or autumn and your overall colouring has a distinctive warm undertone to it, a golden glow if you like. However, if you are ‘cool’ you belong to summer or winter and your overall colouring has an underlying cool quality to it.

SPRING (warm)


Complexion: you are pale and delicate colored with warm tones to your skin which turns a peachy colour when you blush.
Hair: your hair is golden blonde, or was, and is now mid brown. Perhaps even strawberry blonde. You have golden or red undertones. If you choose to lighten your hair, you should use warm highlights and not platinum.
Eyes: clear blue, turquoise, green, hazel or light brown.
Accessories: your accessories should be gold and not silver.
In summary: you look great in bright cheerful tones like coral, turquoise, and primary red. You should never wear pure black or white against your face. Your coloring will be enhanced by clothing with a bit of ‘sunshine’ in your colours. Think warm and bright when selecting your wardrobe.
How to wear yellow: if you are a spring then golden yellow can look fabulous on you. It will also bring out the golden highlights in your hair.

Zara, trousers with elastic waist
Zara, trousers with elastic waist

AUTUMN (warm)


Complexion: you have medium to dark warm toned skin with a golden undertone. Rich overall colouring and low contrast between skin, hair and eyes.
Hair: mid brown to black or medium to deep red. You look best if you dont lighten your hair, but it looks great if you darken it. Be sure to use warm tones when doing this.
Eyes: hazel, medium to black/ brown, olive or warm green.
Accessories: your accessories should be gold.
In summary: you look good in darker, warm colours like olive green, rust, and chocolate brown – you will glow in harmonious environmental colours. Avoid clear bright shades, pure white and black which will make you look tired and faded. Also, avoid true pastel colors which will look cold against your complexion, giving you a pale and sickly appearance.
How to wear yellow: mustard yellow is a wonderful colour on the golden, bronze skin tone of the autumn so wear it in abundance.

Topshop, silk v-neck cami
Topshop, silk v-neck cami

SUMMER (cool)


Complexion: you have pale skin and a tendancy to redness. With an overall cool undertone and low contrast between hair and skin.
Hair: your hair ranges from ash brown to dirty blonde with cool ashy undertones. If you lighten your hair, use platinum, not golden higlights.
Eyes: blue, grey/ blue, cool green, grey/ brown, slate.
Accessories: your accessories should be silver and not gold.
In summary: you look best in pastel colors with no warm tones in them. Look for soft, toned-down, subdued colours eg. powder blue, mint green, dusty pink or soft white. You should never dress in vivid or saturated colors, for they will disrupt the serenity that summer needs in her look.
How to wear yellow: if you have the cool skin tone of summer, yellow is more tricky to wear due to your blue/pink skin base. However, pastel yellow can look very pretty on pale summer skins.

Miu Miu, cropped ribbed cashmere sweater (@Net-a-Porter)
Miu Miu, cropped ribbed cashmere sweater (@Net-a-Porter)

WINTER (cool)


Complexion: cool or olive undertones, with a high contrast between skin, hair and eyes. A deep overall colouring.
Hair: your hair color is dark and cool in tone. You should never try to lighten it, but it looks great if you darken it. Be sure to use cool tones when doing this.
Eyes: mid-brown to black/ brown, grey/ blue, clear blue, cool green.
Accessories: your accessories should be silver.
Summary: if you’re a winter, you look your best in dark, intense colors like midnight blue, emerald green and royal purple. Because you have a lot of visual contrast you can pull off deep, rich colours accented with jewel tones and even bright white or true black. Your dynamic colouring ensures you look great in vibrant colours but avoid earth tones which can make you look sallow and muted or powdery colors which can make you look shadowed.
How to wear yellow: a strong bold acid yellow can look very striking on a cool winter complexion.

Emilia Wickstead francis duchess-satin maxi skirt (@ Matches Fashion)
Emilia Wickstead francis duchess-satin maxi skirt (@ Matches Fashion)