Who Should be Your New Style Muse?

As spring is gradually easing its way on to the shores of England, a lot of clothes brands have started their spring sales and a lot of us have put "wardrobe spring clean" as top priority on our lists.

But before you head out to the shops, it may be a good idea to pick a style muse to guide your purchases. Is there a celebrity whose style you would like to emulate? 

Perhaps taking a look at this year's best dressed British stars would narrow things down a bit.

Not only does she manage to pull off every colour under the sun, but Lupina Nyong'o's clean cut tailoring choices and poise have earned her a spot on Vogue's 10 Rising Stars of 2014.

A veteran on the men's fashion circuit, David Beckham always looks elegant.

Suki Waterhouse's 60s Mod  style is based on her passion for vintage.

Idris Elba makes dressing seem effortless but he's not your typical English gent, adding some cockney boy cheekiness to his outfits.

As the new Givenchy muse and expectant mother, Ciara has been making waves in the fashion circles for the past few years with her edgy yet classy looks.

A modern day "king of cool", David Gandy manages to look a million dollars, whether he's dressed down or up.

Great stars. Great styles. So much to choose from! Now, if we only had the same amount of cash in our pockets...

Graduand on a Budget (How to be a Smart Shopper)

Photo by Yi Lei

So a few days ago I had my graduation ceremony and realised how expensive such affairs can be. Dresses, shoes, hair & beauty... such events can quickly break your bank if you are on a tight budget. Fear not! There are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself without falling in debt. Being the thrifty shopper that I am, I managed to kit myself out for about £50 making my total graduation expenditure just over £100 (including memorabilia and academic dress hire). So what did I wear? Let's take a look:

BALLY shoes from TK MAXX for £35 (RRP £479)

Promod dress for £15 (pre-sale price £40)

Love the sequin print combo!

How did I do it? Well, first and foremost I strongly believe that you can look good without spending a lot. With that in mind, here are three tips on how to be a savvy shopper:

• Paying full price for something? Think again. You could be entitled to a discount by showing a student ID or a loyalty card.

• Wait for the sales! Special offers, online promos, seasonal and flash sales happen regularly and often back to back. Hold your horses for a while and you may save some money.

• Outlet shops are your best friends. These stores stock up on branded items (high street AND luxury) from past seasons or window displays and sell them at huge discounts. The best part is they have clearance sales as well so you save even more! Think TK Maxx and SportsDirect.

Stay smart, save money and enjoy life (don't let the banks bite you!).

10 Style Tips and Tricks You Should Know (Part 1)

Here's a little something to help you up your style stakes:

• Stick to your own signature style which you know looks good on you because not all fashion trends will suit you.

• If you are not sure about an impulsive attraction to a garment or accessory, hold back from buying it until the next day - if you are still thinking about it then go for it!

• V-neck sweaters and t-shirts give the illusion of a longer torso.

• Put on so much spray tan that it ended up on your clothes? Use a lemon wedge to clean up the mess.

• Wear your new leather garment in the rain - the water will soften and stretch the leather and will also allow the garment to crease at specific points on your body.

• Use a hot glue gun to hem skirts and pants in seconds.

• Loads of good accessories (scarves, glasses, hats, jewellery) can transform even the most basic outfit.

• Dry wet shoes naturally in open air. Never use heat - it will cut the lifespan of the shoe in half.

• "Spray shirts prone to sweat stains with lemon juice before washing. The natural acid dissolves alkaline sweat reside that could cause yellow discolouration." - Perrie Samotin, StyleCaster.com

• Nude pumps give the illusion of longer legs, unlike dark-coloured shoes which can make them seem shorter.