Summer Holiday Preview - Berchtesgaden, Upper Bavaria, Germany

I am really excited because at the end of July we will be going on our annual summer mountain holiday.  This year we have elected to stay in the Berchtesgadener Land area of Germany a stunningly beautiful area located in the outermost corner of Upper Bavaria right on the border to Austria.

We will be staying at the Alpenhotel Weiherbach from Saturday, 27 July to Wednesday, 7 August.  We booked via Booking.com and as well as the automated booking confirmation we also received a personal booking confirmation from the hotel directly.

The hotel is located on the outskirts  of Berchtesgaden and the walk into the town centre will take between 15 to 20 minutes (the walk back will probably be slightly longer due to it largely being uphill).  However, there is also a bus (and I guess there is always the option of an "emergency" cab).

The hotel has a big garden area with sun loungers and an indoor swimming poll and a Kneipp pool - in case we are overwhelmed by the need of a "hiking time-out".

We will split the drive down from the Dortmund area by leaving on Friday, 26 July and driving down to Munich where we will spend the night at the Hotel Stachus which is really centrally located - about 5 minutes from Munich's famous pedestrian area.

Can't wait till July! Super excited!

Top snake print accessories finds

Handbags

This beautiful natural snake envelope clutch is available from Next. It'll go perfectly with a simple LBD or skinny jeans and a silky top. At 19x24x4cm it is spacious enough to hold all essentials. It retails at £16 points so is ideal for a budget-friendly update.

An alternative with a bigger pattern but what appears to be similar dimensions (non provided on the website) would be Fashion Union's white snake print hard bag which has been reduced from £14 to £7 to boot!

This uber-cute Ted Baker make up bag is available in nude pink or pink and both colourways look equally adorable.  It retails at £22 and could probably also double up as small clutch bag alternative if you want to go minimalistic.

As far as this gorgeous snake print tote bag is concerned - it was love at first sight! I love the rose coloured accents complementing the bag's basic grey colour scheme. I can see it also multitasking not only as a practical everyday bag but also as a small weekend bag if you are a neat packer. It retails at Asos Marketplace for £37.99 and there are currently two bags available.











Fashion jewelery

This lovely snake print bangle with silver effect edges is available from Next and retails at £12.

I am also quite taken with this more rounded bangle by Bag Envy with a gold brushed metal  trim available via Asos Marketplace and retailing at £10.

If you after a statement pair of snake print earrings these ones by Matalan have caught my eye and at £3.50 it would be rude not to!

Sunglasses

These oversized sunglasses from Next (apologies for the picture quality) are ideal for creating a Jackie O. look with a modern snake print twist! They retail at £10 and are also available in black.

Topshop's monochrome brow sunglasses are also a very classic shape incorporating snake print and retail at £16.

Lipsy's tortoise shell snake print arm sunglasses with their oval lenses will suit most face shapes and retail at £15.

Top snake print shoe finds (trainers)

Sometimes only trainers will do but I don't know about you whilst I value my comfort a bit of a style injection never hurts!

I simply adore how the snake print has been integrated into these classic vintage look Nike trainers available exclusively from Office. Retailing at £69.99 and currently available in sizes 4 to 10.

These neon pink classic All Stars with a snake print double tongue will brighten up even the most rainy of summer days (not that that every happens...) and are available exclusively from Office as well. They are retailing at £49.99 and are currently available in sizes 3.5 to 7.5.

How unbelievably stylish are these Women's Supra Society Trainers! They are retailing for £80 at Schuh and are currently available in sizes 4 to 7.

Top snake print shoe finds (heels/wedges)

I have a style crush on these stunningly beautiful Stéphane Kélian Cameron/Bronze Python wedge sandals which I can just imagine gliding down the beach promenade in Cannes! They are available via Spartoo.co.uk and are retailing at £402.99 and are currently available in sizes 3.5 to 7.5. 

Now these Callahan Court snake print heels from Jones Bootmaker are somewhat more bank balance friendly and very stylish indeed. They embody a classically elegant look and would be a great addition! They are retailing at £79 and are available in sizes 4 to 8.

For a classic mid heel pumps look no further when the above Michael Kors one available via Kurt Geiger. If you are after doing the snakeskin look subtly then this timeless pair of heels will fit right into your wardrobe. They are retailing at £95 and are currently available in sizes 36, 37, 38, 39 and 41.

If you are after a gothic take on snake print than Schuh's More than Words High Heels with their ankle strap, cut out, 15cm heel, sateen look and snakeprint platform speak for itself! They retail at £65 and are available in sizes 3 to 8.

I adore Ravel's Kai Court Shoe natural leather platform heels for mixing snake print with a suede finish and the added platform for that extra bit of lift when sensible heels just won't do it! They are retailing for £70 and are available in sizes 4 to 8.

Top snake print shoe finds (flat)

I love these criss-cross snake print flat sandals from George@Asdas which I will wear with my maxi dresses and capris and shorts for a comfortable yet stylish summer look. They are retailing for £12 and are currently available in sizes 3 to 8 (size 9 sold out).

If you feel combining a beautifully natural looking snake skin print with a bit of subtle glitz than Office's flat Conga sandals which will go beautifully with casual and more dressy looks may just be the thing! They are retailing at £25 and are currently available in sizes 4 to 8.

Gabor is known for producing good quality stylish shoes and the Irina flat snake print sandals would make a fantastic addition to the wardrobe of not only a classic but also a trendy dresser! They are available via Spartoo.co.uk, are retailing at £96.99 and are currently available in sizes 4,5, 7 and 7.5.

Combining a slip on style with snake print and gold studs these flats would be ideal for workwear or a shopping trip marrying comfort with style. They are sold by Boohoo.com and are retailing for £18 and are currently available in sizes 4 to 8.

I simply adore ballet pumps with ankle straps and these one come in a neutral snake print with added subtle gold studs, are available via Boohoo.com and are retailing for £15 and are currently available in sizes 3 to 8.

To give the Audrey Hepburn look a snake print update look no further than Office who have designed a fab black and white version which is retailing at £54 and currently available in sizes 4 to 7.

Top snake print top finds

I love this Next snake print halterneck top for its floatyness and shoulder revealing cut and it is available in pink and a muted green which I find both equally pretty. The tops retail at £22. The pink halterneck top is currently available in sizes 6 to 22 and the green one in sizes 6 to 26.

Another favourite is Dorothy Perkins's ruffle snake print top for its beautiful neutral colour palette and the mirror image snake print. This top has been reduced from £25 to £12 as it is currently only available in sizes 6 and 12.

Matalan has a nice nice basic tank top shape one the light colouring of which makes it a perfect for high summer wear. It'll go beautifully with jeans, shorts or pencil skirts. What's more it has been reduced from £12 to £8 and is currently available in sizes 8 to 20.

And for a summery bright  pop of colour look no further than George's snake print camisole vest with adjustable straps which retails at a bargainous £5 and is currently available in sizes 8 to 20.

If you favour something with a bit of a sleeve then have a look at Postcard from Brighton's grey snake top which with its generous cut has a nice relaxed casual look about it. It's available from Next retailing at £59 in sizes s/m and m/l.

Top snake print trouser finds

I love how Pepe's grey mint skinny snake print jeans effortlessly combines two trends. These are available through Asos retaling at £85 and are currently available in sizes 26in to 32in with sizes 25in and 30in currently being unaivalable. I can see those jeans dressed up casually by throwing on an oversized sweater or shirt or by combining them with a simple tank top.

Next's snake print leggins (though not trousers obviously) have also caught my eye because of their very natural looking print and their beautiful grey tones. The leggings are retailing at £14 and are currently available in sizes 6 to 18.

But my ultimate "I can't believe this is from George" bargain are George @Asdas black snake print trousers. I have had these for a month now and am absolutely in love with them.  They have a sateen sheen and wash beautifully. They are very slim fitting but also very flattering at the same time and are a 7/8 length on me (I'm 5.8) which I love.  They are retailing at £14 and are currently available in sizes 10 to 20 (size 8 is sold out).

Top snake print dress finds

If you are a size 16 (with good legs) than this French Connection jewel green mini jersey dress with snake print currently retailing at Asos for £30 down from £97 would look absolutely stunning and would need no accessorising as the print speaks for itself.

Matalan has a beautiful classic snake print shift dress with black illusion side panels which would work for the office as well as for a more dressy occasion retailing at a purse-friendly £25 and currently available in sizes 8 - 20.

Boohoo's holly snake print wrap dress would in my opinion make an excellent holiday wardrobe addition as it would work beautifully as a stylish beach cover as well as for going out or even going sightseeing. It retails at £20 and is currently available in sizes 8 to 12 only.

Another nicely summery floaty dress I really liked was Next's sleeveless snake print dress which is available in regular, tall and petite sizes retailing at £38.  The full range of sizes is still available in the tall and petite sizes but the regular dress is currently only available in sizes 6,8,10,12 and 18.

Top snake print pencil skirt finds

I absolutely adore Lavish Alice's multicoloured snake print skirt (currently available in sizes 10 - 18, with size 8 out of stock).  This popular little number has already been a previous sell out and I'm currently looking forward to my delivery.  With its really high slit up the front it will look equally good with black opaque tights as it will with tanned legs - making it a perfect season cross-over item. It's retailing at £32 . However, the site is currently offering a 10% discount for liking them on Facebook.

They also have a more neutral offering, their snake print slit side pencil skirt, which is of a similar cut and would look lovely with black and colours of the brown spectrum ranging from a very pale cream right through to dark brown. this beauty is currently available in sizes 8 - 14 and retailing at £30.

If you fancy a bit of snake print but would like to streamline your silhouette a little bit at the same time then Matalan's cotton sateen pencil skirt currently available in sizes 8 -20 and retailing at £16 (I do like a bargain!) may just be what you have been looking for!

And to round my selection of pencil skirts off I came across Asos's beautiful midi-length  pencil skirt in snake effect leather (also available in a shiny silver version) in a beautiful shade of green retailing at £95 making this a bit more of an investment by and currently available in sizes 6 to 18.

Obsession of the day: Snake Print

Snake Print has slinkily slithered in to release the stranglehold leopard print has had over my otherwise very monochrome (read black) wardrobe.

[The same disclaimer applies to snake print which applies to leopard print: one item at a time please otherwise severe style failure may occur.]

Surfing the Web for snake print finds to give my wardrobe a lift and to be easily integrated into my existing wardrobe I settled on the following favourite finds (slightly favouring a neutral colour palette but with a few pops of punchy colour).

I will be covering pencil skirts, dresses, trousers, tops, shoes/sandals and accessories in separate posts.