The Perfect Hoop Earrings #MyAbelini*

Earrings c/o Abelini Jewellery

It might seem a bit trivial, or even a bit shallow to be blogging about a pair of earrings right now, but given that I’m working 9-5 every day for the NHS under increasingly difficult circumstances (and I’m not complaining, I’m not front line, and I have nothing but the upmost respect for those who are, and for every other key worker out there putting themselves at risk) I feel that a little bit of escapism is warranted.

I cannot even begin to tell you how long I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect pair of hoop earrings. I’ve long coveted a pair of the “huggie” style ones but struggled to find some that I liked, and that I knew would fit comfortably.
Abelini came through with this beautiful pair from their huge selection of hoop earrings and I have honestly not removed these from my ears since the day they arrived.

These earrings are of impeccable quality, and whilst I did wonder if they might be a bit too blingy, they are actually really quite subtle and work perfectly for every day wearing. I worked with the brand last year as well, and was impressed at the time- it’s good to know they remain consistent in making good quality and beautiful jewellery, all handcrafted in Britain and delivered straight to your door.

I was hoping to show you some photos of the earrings being worn as well, but trust me, nothing about me is photogenic right now and after a couple of days trying to capture some half decent shots Bob and I admitted defeat. Still, these beauties are helping me keep a little bit of sparkle about myself in these testing times.

What is everyone else doing to keep themselves feeling bright?

SS20 Swimwear from Protest*

I’m not an avid swimmer (actually, I’m just flat out not much of a swimmer at all), and I have no beach holidays booked in and yet every year as soon as the swimwear campaigns start finding their way on to the high street I am inexplicably compelled to browse them all, compiling massive wish lists of bikinis and swimsuits that I’d never get the wear from; either through lack of confidence or lack of plans.

Most recently I’ve come across the brand Protest and their SS20 collection of swim and sportswear. A brand founded in Holland, they design functional yet stylish pieces that balance practicality with innovation. I’m smitten with so much of the collection, and unlike many of the high street brands, I can actually envisage myself wearing a lot of their bikinis as they seem to be cut more for activity than simply laying horizontal on a sun lounger (i.e. they look to cover a bit more than the absolute bare essentials!)

My favourite bikini style is the triangle bikini as I find it the most flattering on my small chest. I do find them a little on the skimpy side but balanced out with some higher waisted briefs it’s my holiday go-to.
Protest all have a huge variety of push up bikinis too, for those wanting a bit more boost or support. Again, they look super flattering with higher rise bottoms and the prints and colours are gorgeous.

Of course men haven’t been neglected, the swim shorts selection is vast, with more prints than you can shake a stick at. I showed Bob the collection to see what he thought, and at last count there were at least five pairs he rather fancied for himself.

Protest is a new brand on my radar, but one that is most certainly staying put. I’ve heard rumour that my Mum and I might be booking a girly break to Spain later in the year, and having outgrown my current scant collection of swimwear I think investing in something good quality and confidence inspiring would be worthwhile.

If you’re tempted for yourself you can get 10% off purchases with the code daisychain10
This code is valid until June 30 2020.

Let me know if anything has caught your eye, and if you decide to treat yourself. I’ll make sure to share any purchases I make on the blog or on my social media.

*collaborative post*

Gone but Never Forgotten

Dress: The WhitePepper | Boots: ASOS (a couple of years ago)

There are some pieces in my wardrobe that 100% don’t get enough love; this outfit represents that. I was actually looking for something else entirely when I re-found these boots and remembered how little I wear them, and this dress is one of my favourite ever purchases from one of my favourite ever brands. I’m still not over the loss of The WhitePepper from the virtual high-street, never have I coveted so many pieces from one shop, and it’s loss has scarred me to the same level as the loss of Tammy Girl from my adolescent life.

This outfit, and the rediscovery of these boots also made me realise how much I neglect my clothing choices a lot of the time these days, and how I especially neglect my footwear choices.
I used to have a vast (under-statement) collection of shoes and I wore and loved them all. Then I broke my foot and injured my back, and whilst I can now stand in heels (walking in them is another matter) without causing extreme discomfort I have fallen in to the habit of flat ankle boots for work, and the same boots or trainers out of work.

Clothing choice wise I used to not be afraid to stand out. My work wear and out of work wear represented my personality far more than my current rotation of outfits does. I put a lot of this down to being older now, now I’m in to my thirties I have an idea that perhaps I should blend in a bit more, dress less like I’m in my early twenties. That an a chronic loss of confidence mean my work wardrobe revolves around five key pieces, and despite owning many outfits for all manner of occasions, out of work I mostly end up in the same baggy dresses or, when feeling especially brave, a pair of jeans.

Am I too old to dress as I used to? I probably am for some of the crazy shit I used to put together, but I would like to get back to not caring so much, for allowing myself to stand out a little more and to actually feel confident in what I’m wearing, rather than drab and like I’ve given in.

Which high-street brands do you miss the most?

What’s on my wish list? #3

And here we are again, my plans for a return to regular blogging scuppered by de-motivation. The motivation to blog is there, but the motivation involved in sitting down and putting fingers to keyboard is kind of lacking. Still. I hope that with longer days and brighter weather my slump lifts, it can’t continue, it’s a mystery to me why it even started in the first place to be honest…but anyway, enough of that and on to the latest wish list post (which contains some affiliate links FYI).

Skirt | AllSaints: I very rarely browse the AllSaints website, it is so firmly out of my budget and yet so full of things I want to own it’s ridiculous. Occasionally though I slip up and allow myself a peek, inevitably I then fall in love with twenty thousand things I can only ever dream of owning, this skirt being one of them.
Coat | AllSaints: This coat is another from my AllSaints indulgence and I just love that big over-sized collar and graphic pattern. There are many reasons why I will never own this coat, the price being the main one, the second highest reason on the list is the colour. I am one of life’s mucky people and I will never in a billion years be able to keep this clean.
Dress | Joanie: My obsession with anything space themed is second only to my obsession with cat themed items of clothing or accessories. I zoned in on this Joanie dress the second I popped on to their website. It is quite frankly out of this world (sorry).
Dress | New Look: New Look are consistently nailing it with their new arrivals at the moment. First there wast that polka dot dress from a few weeks ago (which I eventually managed to get my hands on) and now there is this daisy printed dream. Hurry up payday, my wardrobe needs this dress, perfect for the trans-seasonal transition that is ahead of us.
Skirt | Nobody’s Child: I’m not usually big on red but there is just something about this skirt. Again it’s great for that awkward time between seasons- ideal with a chunky knit now, and a ribbed tee when the warmer days finally arrive. I love the ethos of Nobody’s Child as a brand and I want to make this year the year that I introduce them to my wardrobe.
Dress | Thunder Egg: There will always be a special place in my heart for skater dresses and this lightning bolt beauty from Thunder Egg perfectly represents why. Flattering, versatile and the right side of quirky, it’s love at first sight. I’m going to have to do some saving to afford the £60 price tag but this dress is the dream.

Beauty Bites: Anti-ageing sun protection from Calypso

We all know the importance of daily sun protection, especially on your face which is exposed to the sun’s rays day in and day out. During the summer I’m hot on applying sun lotion to my body (being fair skinned and red haired) but I do tend to skip my face due to most products feeling too sticky, or too greasy to wear comfortably, especially under makeup.

Sensitive Lotion for Face & Neck c/o Calypso

I was recently sent this SPF50+ sensitive lotion for face and neck from Calypso, a brand I have regularly used in the past for my general sun-protection needs.
It’s been a while since I used anything from the brand and I was surprised at how big a range of products they do.

This lotion is delicate enough to use on the most sensitive of skin, and it has a special formula to make sure it is light to wear and non-greasy. I was sceptical as to whether it could meet these claims, but after a tentative application one morning before putting my makeup on I honestly couldn’t tell I was wearing this- there was none of that sticky, clogged up feeling you can get with some sun lotions.
This lotion also protects you from UVA rays (responsible for ageing) which is something that a moisturiser or makeup product with SPF can’t do…and now I’m noticing fine lines appearing by the day this is something I definitely need some help with!

A worthy and welcome addition to my fledgling skincare regime and worth checking out if you’ve struggled with facial SPF before.

*product gifted for blog consideration*