Category Archives: fashion

The Pink Pumas

31st July 2017
I’ve gone from wanting to collect all the pretty high heeled shoes in the world to being completely obsessed with trainers. I’ve built up quite the little collection and seem to live in them outside of work, but that doesn’t particularly justify why I felt the need to buy another pair a couple of weeks ago…my defence is simple, they were calling out to me (and on sale). It just had to be.

Dress: Pull&Bear (here) | Trainers (here)

Literally the day after I ordered these trainers they went back to full price, but hands down I’d pay it. They attracted a lot of attention on Instagram when I posted them and a few people wanted to know what the platform is like. In a word, subtle. The sole is a bit thicker than your average trainer but not obscenely so- the perfect hybrid trainer/platform in my eyes and they are so damn comfortable too.

This whole outfit/hair style combo feels a little bit 1990s to me. I never thought I liked the choker neck trend but since picking up this dress a month or so ago I might be converted. It was a bargain in pull&bear at £12.99 and it’s made in a really stretchy jersey so the neck doesn’t feel restrictive. I was a bit concerned I might feel too exposed- as I’ve explained before I’m not at my most body confident right now, but it drapes in the right places and actually manages to be vaguely flattering.

And body confidence does remain a big issue and a lot of the time it’s a real effort to wear anything but my baggiest clothes. Not that they are so baggy any more. Things are starting to fit me again, a blessing and a curse. Great I can suddenly wear half my wardrobe once more, a curse because it makes anorexia turn my brain in to even more of a battleground therefore taking a whole lot more energy and determination to power through. But there’s always a nap for that. I find naps are a great healer.

Despite this I’ve felt hugely positive lately, in a way I really haven’t before. Life suddenly feels exciting- I don’t want to be governed by my insecurities and control issues any more. There’s so much that I want to do an experience and there’s nothing going to get in the way of me doing that anymore. I’ve been my own worst enemy for half of my life, it’s about time I let this go. For good.

(Accidental tangent there, oops!)

Back on track- what do you think of this outfit? Anybody else a complete trainer fiend?

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Posted in fashion, lifestyle, outfits, personal style, recovery, shoes, shopping

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A Little Topshop Wish List

28th July 2017
It’s not often I browse Topshop these days, half the time I feel like a lot of the clothes are too young for me (you know, now I’m old) and the other half of the time I just know I’ll end up falling in love with half the stock and that’s just dangerous territory.

A recent bout of procrastination and a rather tempting sales e-mail saw me meander back on to the site though and it just so happened that this was one of the times when I liked WAY more than I can afford (which is essentially nothing at the minute!) Being that it’s been a while since I last posted a wish list though I thought I’d share my finds- maybe if I win big on the lottery this weekend I’ll be re-naming this post a shopping list?! A girl can dream…

It’s a bit of an eclectic mix of pieces- that pretty much sums up my style at the minute as one day you’ll find me in something girly and floral and the next it’s jeans and a hoodie. Of course there is the obligatory slogan tee, an absolute staple in wardrobe whatever the season, and oddly for me, a blouse…I’m really not a blouse kind of girl but this embroidered one is doing it’s best to convert me.

A couple of the items happen to be in the sale which has just gone to 70% off making it even more tempting to think “sod it” and blow my holiday fund. The embellished sandals would never get worn, but at £25 and with sparkles I’m finding myself with my hand hovering over the “add to cart” option a bit too much. The toucan jeans as well…they’ve been on my wish list since they first landed and now they’re pretty much half price I want them more! I’ve promised myself no jeans purchases though, not until I’m a healthy weight and I can finally find my perfect pair.

Anyone else have a love/hate relationship with Topshop and online browsing in general? It can’t be just me…

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Posted in fashion, personal style, shopping, wish list

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Brand Love: Yoshi

24th July 2017
I feel like this post is LONG overdue as I’ve been admiring Yoshi and their amazing array of accessories for a very long time now. I believe it was the queen of quirky, Char who first put me on their scent and ever since then I’ve obsessively stalked their instagram and website seeking out the latest arrivals.
But what makes this brand stand out within such a saturated market? I’ll start off with a visual example of why I love them so much…
Cats, biscuits, books, flowers and dogs are just a few of the cute characters you’ll find splashed across Yoshi pieces. With everything from handbags to glasses cases and key rings to coin purses this is one of the first sites I hit up when I’m looking for a gift with the personal touch for someone I care about, or to create massive wish lists of pieces I want for myself.

Yoshi is a small family business that has over 50 years experience in working with leather. With their timeless values of quality, craft and workmanship it’s clear that they truly care about what they do and this shines through in the accessories they produce.

It was an absolute privilege when Yoshi got in touch with me on instagram asking if they could pop a couple of cat themed pieces in the post to me. Just because, no obligations. The pieces came beautifully packaged in gorgeous printed dust bags and the attention to detail is just spot on. This is exactly why I love to support small businesses- you get that extra something that you just can’t replicate with mass produced goods.

There is definitely something for everyone in Yoshi’s work and I can hands down say you can buy from them with confidence. The key rings are a personal favourite of mine for gift giving purposes, and once I know I can trust him not to lose it I might well treat my boyfriend to one of their men’s wallets.

What’s your favourite piece on the Yoshi Website? I’m kinda feeling that owning a Jammy Biscuit bag is bordering on essential right now!

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Posted in accessories, brands I love, craft, fashion, shopping, wish list

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Denim: a fit guide*

21st July 2017
It took me a while to realise it but jeans are a true wardrobe essential. They might have had some downtime over the summer as denim shorts reigned supreme but they’re definitely back for autumn/winter 2017 — as if they ever truly went away!
Of course, finding the perfect denim relies heavily on getting the right fit. Womenswear designer Ralph Lauren is on hand to guide us through this season’s most stylish shapes and how to wear them.

(image from Ralph Lauren website)

Flared
Thought flares had been and gone? Think again- Flares are back for AW17 adding a vintage revival to the new season. They’re great for balancing out your proportions and subtly hint at times gone by.
Elongate your legs by wearing your flared jeans with heeled ankle boots, chic lightweight knitwear and a trench coat. As autumn transitions into winter, choose a chunkier knit and wool overcoat to keep the cold at bay.

Boyfriend
For those down days boyfriend jeans are essential. Their relaxed, loose-fit style is perfect for a variety of body shapes, from hourglass to pears — but only if you get the fit right right.
Many believe that ‘boyfriend’ is simply a fashion term for big. However there is actually an art to wearing boyfriend jeans- just like a top that is too big will swamp you, you risk losing your curves in a pair of ill-fitting boyfriend jeans. Stay on the right side of this style by making sure yours fit properly around the waist then loosen on the thighs.

Turn up the hems and wear with Chelsea boots for a tough yet chic winter-ready look, or with converse and a slogan tee for true weekend vibes.

Straight
Straight jeans are the perfect go-between style for boyfriend and skinny styles. More relaxed than skinnies yet with greater structure than boyfriend jeans, they are super versatile and can be either dressed up or dressed down. Wear them with flat or heeled boots during the day, or switch it up for the evening with a stylish pair of patent court shoes — their polished look will contrast perfectly against the relaxed jeans.

Skinny
With A-listers making more relaxed, loose-fit styles popular skinnies may not be your most-worn jeans this season. However, after all these years we can’t just leave the skinny jean behind, there will always be a place for our shape-showcasing old faithfuls in our wardrobe.
This season we’ll be keeping our skinnies for smart-casual events, wearing ankle-grazing styles to show off our killer new season boots.

What’s your favourite jeans style? I’m definitely a skinnies girl, although I feel like once I’ve found the perfect boyfriend style they’ll soon be replaced!

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Hot To Trot: Warm Weather Essentials To Buy Now*

20th July 2017
Most of us are guilty of moaning about grey skies until a heatwave hits. Sometimes, it can seem like there’s no happy medium and we go from miserable to sweltering without warning. We may not be guaranteed sunny skies all summer long but there have been some pretty hot days of late so it’s definitely time to invest in some warm weather essentials. If you’re keen to make sure keep your cool this summer here are some must-haves for your wardrobe.
Throw-on dresses
When it’s hot outside and you haven’t got hours to put an outfit together a throw-on dress can be a godsend. Thankfully, this season there’s something for everyone- from cute mini Bardot dresses to jersey maxis and retro-style midis. Go for cotton or linen to keep you cool and choose a length that makes you feel comfortable, some people are much happier about exposing their legs than others. If the warm weather has caught you off-guard and you’re not ready to show off your pins just yet chucking on a maxi is an easy way to look chic and stay cool with minimal maintenance. Cold shoulders and strapless styles are everywhere this summer but if you don’t want to show too much skin (or don’t fancy the tan lines) you can team a plain slip dress with a basic vest or tee.

(image here)

Summer lingerie staples
Hot weather can pose problems with it comes to lingerie as we tend to veer towards strapless styles, or tops with low backs, racer-backs or even no backs. If you don’t already own an extensive collection of summer-friendly underwear click here to check out some versatile styles. It’s also a good idea to stock up on nude and white underwear in the summer months especially if you’re wearing trousers, skirts or dresses made from light materials like linen. You don’t want visible pants spoiling an amazing get-up…I can’t help but cringe when I spot this whilst out and about!
Denim shorts
Not a year goes by when the denim short doesn’t make an appearance in every summer must-have list on planet Earth. There are many a good reason why denim shorts are so popular- they look cool, they’re suitable for festivals, garden parties and hanging out with your friends and they’re really easy to wear. This summer why not embrace the embroidery trend and go for some cut-offs with pretty floral prints? You can toughen up the look with vintage leather sandals, an arm cuff and a mini backpack.

(image credit)

The jumpsuit
If you aren’t a dress kind of girl jumpsuits may be your thing. The good news is that jumpsuits are back with a vengeance this summer. Choose from sophisticated tailored versions for nights on the town, weddings or a day at the races or go for jersey basics or nautical style stripes for a cool daytime look.

It can be difficult to look great in hot weather, especially if it arrives without prior warning. If you haven’t had chance to update your wardrobe yet it’s time to get shopping and stock up on these warm weather essentials.

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Posted in fashion, shopping

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