This blogpost is in collaboration with John Lewis & Partners Oxford – They gifted me The Complete Style & Beauty Experience back in January 2019 and I loved it so much I’ve come back to try their HOLIDAY style session which you can book free of charge for up to two hours with a personal in store stylist. This session was styled by Lindsey Francis and Mechac Josephs both are Personal Stylists at John Lewis & Partners Oxford store in Westgate Shopping Centre.
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Now what should you take on holiday? Should it all be new items (absolutely not!) but it is nice to have a few new things to be excited about wearing on your hols. I have in the past only taken items I already own and it can be a little deflating not having something special or something excitingly new to show off whilst baking in the sun getting that tan (just right!) And so it is fine to buy some new items. Take note though, summer clothes are not actually in store that long, so if you are not jetting off until the end of August or even maybe later, unfortunately you do need to be buying now – I’ve already seen some great pieces selling out fast.
Before heading to the stores, have a session at home trying on what you already own for summer – this way you will know your gaps. Also have a think about what you will be doing on holiday – as much as we think we will be on a lounger all day, that’s not always the case. Will you be exploring exciting cities? If so I bet many of these may have some amazing buildings to go into to, but check what are you allowed to wear – some places require you to cover your shoulders and your legs to allow you to enter. So have some versatile pieces in your case that you can dress up for a night out and then downgrade later in the holiday as cover ups.
By having a style session with a personal stylist this will also get you out of your comfort zone. Make yourself try a few things on that you wouldn’t normally wear and have a little fun exploring different garments – it’s good to try something different and holiday is the best time – no one knows you, you can really go to town and see how you like it.
So we hope you enjoy the outfits below that we’ve styled, all these items are currently available in store in Oxford at John Lewis & Partners.
This blog contains affiliate links as I am an AWIN member and have joined the John Lewis & Partners affiliates programme. By clicking on the links in this post I will have the potential to earn commission on purchases. You will not be charged for this and will only pay the RRP.
I don’t like to say I have favourites within my styling posts but if any dress was to shout HOLIDAY and SUMMER to me, it’s this one! Colour is such a good way of getting into the holiday vibe, I think the more colourful you can make your outfits especially in the evenings the more you will make a statement. And this is very much a statement dress. I particularly like the hem detailing; the floral design plus how it sits higher at the front allowing to show of your legs yet you don’t feel like you are wearing a short dress. This is a great solution if you want to be a little more sassy of an evening than perhaps wearing a midi or a maxi dress.
Don’t be scared to add more colour with your accessories, just pick out colours in the floral design to help you.
Ted Baker Gilly Bardot Floral Dress, Red – £229
John Lewis & Partners Bailie Stiletto Heel Mule Sandals – £89 (Online there is red or nude – for the blue head in store at Oxford)
Aspinal of London Classic Leather Travel Wallet, Raspberry – £130
Pineapples! I posted this dress on my Instagram the day of the shoot and I can’t quite believe just how excited people were getting over pineapples! This is such a versatile dress – you can wear it three ways quite easily! First up it’s the perfect dress for a city tour when visiting hot countries the sleeves and the length of the dress are ideal if you need to be covered before entering any religious buildings. The cotton will keep you cool and fresh and simply add a pop of colour with a cross-over bag. Later in your holiday you can downgrade it to a beach cover up; wear it open over swimwear or button up for your beach restaurant lunch with flip flops and a straw bag. And then when you get back home and perhaps it’s not quite as hot as holidays, then use it as a kimono over cropped jeans, a white vest top and add a little shell jewellery to keep that summer vibe!
Dress is exclusive to John Lewis & Partners – hush Judi Pineapple Shirt Dress, White/Midnight – £95 (be quick it is selling fast)
L.K.Bennett Angele Wedge Heel Sandals, Navy – £120
Red Bag is Kin – £39 – available in store at Oxford
Now I appreciate not everyone is in to dresses and perhaps for a lot of different reasons you need to cover your legs on holiday – well I think these zebra stripe trousers are just perfect. They can be dressed up for an evening look with a silky black blouse and heels or again like below this would be perfect for a day tour out visiting the island you are staying on, you can easily wear your swimwear underneath and just add a vest. The animal print is also a great way to add a little something different to the look and yet it’s stylishly understated.
Whistles Zebra Stripe Trousers, Multi – Was £99, now £79
Exclusive to John Lewis & Partners, hush Ledbury Embroidered Top, White – £59
Dune Elsie Lace Up Trainers, Leather Yellow – £90
Modern Rarity Women’s Round Sunglasses, Warm Tortoise/Purple Gradient – £49
This final look you’ve seen before in my Fenn Wright Manson SS19 post – now I really loved this look, the whole look not just the dress. This outfit you can wear anywhere! Out for lunch, for day trips out, to London shopping or even if you are catching a short flight to another country for a little mini break – this will ensure you arrive at your destination ready to go exploring as soon as the plane hits the runway! The jacket, bag, sunglasses and trainers would be all you need for a mini break and just keep changing the dress – a great option if you need to travel light for a few days.
Fenn Wright Manson Petite Tally Dress, Lemon – £151.20 (at time of publishing there is a 20% saving – this price is not guaranteed when you click through or search yourself online)
Mint Velvet Denim Jacket, Dark Blue – £89
Exclusive to John Lewis & Partners – hush Sardinia Bag, Natural – £65
Dune Elsie Lace Up Trainers, Leather Yellow – £90
Modern Rarity Women’s Round Sunglasses, Warm Tortoise/Purple Gradient – £49
To find out more or to book in for one of their five Personal Shopping sessions for free, either head to the Experience Desk in store or book online, by clicking here. You can follow Lindsey on Instagram @jl_lindseyfrancis or Mechac @jl_mechac
The post HOLIDAY WITH JOHN LEWIS AND PARTNERS was on Loved by Lizzi first. Personal shopping sessions are free, however I was gifted THE COMPLETE STYLE AND BEAUTY EXPERIENCE WITH JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS in January 2019.
