IT’S ALL IN THE ACCESSORIES

*Post sponsored by Sunglasses Shop & Ray-Ban*

I don't want to jinx anything, but my goodness have we been treated to a bloody good summer here in the UK this year. I know it's only mid July, but I am SERIOUSLY buzzing with how many beautifully sunny and down right warm days we've had already this summer.
In recent years our summer's have consisted of one or two days of sun, but this year, I feel it's been warm pretty much 80% of the time, boiling and sunny for 10%, with the odd rainy day for the remaining 10%, and for the UK and especially Manchester this is pretty damn impressive indeed. 

Summer has always been a season that I've struggled with when it comes to dressing, which is absolutely no news to you lot. I'm never quite body confident when summer comes in from nowhere, I'm usually V behind on summer shopping so struggle with how to dress well and stay cool and I just generally enjoy creating looks that involve a heck load of layering, not something that is advisable at this time of year unfortunately.

However, this year, I've REALLY been enjoying styling for summer days, which is something I never, ever(!) thought I would say. It's been more of a predictable summer than ever before so I've found myself investing in the perfect summer pieces to ensure I'm ready to tackle the humid city centre conditions. 

Clothes are all well and good, but to be a good stylist it really is all in the accessories. 
For as long as I can remember I've always championed clothing when it comes to spending my pocket money or hard earned cash, but in the last year or so I've really learnt how powerful a key accessory or two can be. 

The power of the accessory is particularly powerful at this time of year, when layering up shirts under jumpers,  under faux fur coats just isn't feasible. Injecting a couple of key accessory ingredients into a look is a success story for many a styling recipe.

Take this look for example, although the & Other Stories pelican and palm print crop top is rather special indeed, this look would be nothing without the sunglasses, handbag, shoes and even the delicate jewellery; it really is all in the accessories.
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As a Sunglasses Shop x Ray-Ban ambassador for 2017, I'm very lucky to have the latest designs from RayBan in my life and I have to say that the Ray-Ban Ja-Jo is my favourite of the new designs. 
As a huge, and not so quiet fan of the Ray-Ban Round Metal frames, the Ja-Jo is a welcome addition to my circular frame family. In a much larger size it's the key to retro styling success and surprisingly very easy to style up indeed. I would even go as far as to say that I might prefer this style over my beloved Round Metals (yeah I didn't think I'd ever say that either) there's just something about the way in which the Ja-Jo's frame my face, I feel they suit me ever so slightly more than the smaller styles. Clear coloured lenses are pretty dam HUGE this season and despite not being all too great for makeup-less hangover days or for people watching (something I learnt the hard way...Ooops) they're a really gorgeous way of adding some interest to your summer looks, of course in a statement, retro kinda way.

The pink of the Ray-Ban Ja-Jo's tie in beautifully with my arm candy of choice, a piece that once again is working to add serious sass points to my simple summer looks. The Prada Cahier box bag is the latest addition to my bag collection and I am totally and utterly in love with it.
Not only is it the most STUNNING of pink shades, that matches my Ja-Jo's perfectly, but it's actually surprisingly roomy for all my daily essentials, with the accordion style divides, something I often struggle with, when it comes to box bags. Expect to see a lot of the ole Ray-Ban Ja-Jo x Prada Cahier combination throughout summer and no doubt beyond!

Shoes are another great way of injecting a little bit of summin' summin' to your summer looks, which you know I'm a massive advocate for. Statement shoes, sunglasses and a beautiful bag are my absolute failsafes when it comes to summer styling, something I bloody wish I'd learnt a long time ago, it would of prevented many a wardrobe meltdown, thats for sure.

So the secret to my styling is out! And it is very much all in the accessories, for summer at least. What are your styling secrets and saviours? What do you think of my pink accents? Is it something you could get on board with? And most importantly what do you think of my Ray-Ban Ja-Jo's? They come in a few other colours too, if the pink is a little too bold for you, so be sure to check em out on the Sunglasses Shop website here 
I also have a very exciting 20% off discount code for all Ray-Ban's on the Sunglasses Shop website, just quote MEGAN20 at the checkout... You are SO welcome 😉

x M

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOPHIE TRAYNOR