Feeling Fruity

Fruit prints are always a winner for the Summer months, what says “sunshine and blue skies” more than adorning yourself with your favourite tropical treat? Actually, this is the first time I have succumbed to the trend (I think) but I can firmly say I’m a fan, even if the item in question isn’t the brightest of the bunch.

Dress: H&M (here) | Shoes: Primark (current stock)

Summertime should be all about easy dressing and what could be simpler than sticking on a printed dress and a pair of sandals then calling yourself good to go? I love H&M for their basic jersey dresses, at £7.99 it’s hard not to add another one to my collection every time I call in to a store. This is the first I’ve bought this year, but with some equally fabulous prints and block colours available I’m fairly certain it isn’t the last.
These sandals have exceeded my expectations in the comfort stakes. For a less than a tenner I didn’t have great hopes but I can wear these for the entire day without getting even a hint of a blister. I’ve seen so many similar styles on the high street at the moment, and on other bloggers. I’m not usually one to buy in to the hype of a shoe trend but this time I’m glad I jumped on board! I want to collect all of the colours but really don’t have the space (or need) for them.

Where do you shop for your Summer staples? H&M, Primark and New Look never seem to fail me.

end

The Denim Shirt Dress

Is there ever a season where denim doesn’t feature somewhere in amongst the hottest trends? Not that I can recall, although I don’t remember there ever being quite so much variety as there is right now. No complaints from me (other than from my bank balance). I love a bit of the blue stuff and it’s perfect for any off duty look. I was recently lured in by the New Look and came away with another piece to add to my collection.

Shirt Dress: New Look (here) | Sandals: Primark (current stock) | Bracelet c/o lolandgrace

These photos haven’t come out as well as usual, most likely due to me actually taking them myself for once. Laura + Tripod and self timer are not the best combination in the world, luckily I usually have Mum or Ben on hand to help out!

This shirt dress was reduced to £12 in the New Look sale and I love it for something easy to sling on after work. It’s a bit on the short side which I often find with New Look’s dresses but with flat shoes and a bit of careful placement on myself it’s not really an issue. I paired it with these wide-fit sandals which I picked up last month in the Cardiff Primark. I love that more places are doing wide-fit shoes these days- no more squishing my flippers in to beautiful shoes that really are too tight. Oh how I long for pretty, dainty feet.

I’m not really sure what else I can say about this outfit, it’s simple but I like it and I shall be wearing this dress well in to the next fashion season whatever the trends dictate!

Fellow denim fans, what’s been your favourite find so far?

end

Blue Vanilla

Have I mentioned my love of culottes this year yet? I’m bordering on obsessed, such a versatile addition to both the work and play wardrobe the latest arrival in my wardrobe add a monochrome twist to Summer style.

Culottes c/o Blue Vanilla | Vest: New Look (last year) | Shoes c/o Clarks

Blue Vanilla isn’t a brand I am overly familiar with, or wasn’t until I saw it popping up all over my favourite blogs/bloggers. They have a website jam-packed with affordable on trend pieces and I just couldn’t resist the tropical palm print of these culottes despite them hardly being out of my monochrome comfort zone.

I thought this outfit would make a good alternative to my summer dress staple for work (I’m lucky enough to have a fairly relaxed dress code compared to some places) and they are easily smartened up with a slightly more fitted than I usually wear vest and my favourite work shoes from Clarks. They are one of the most comfortable things I own and I’m also looking forward to wearing them in a more casual way with a cropped tee and my Adidas Gazelle trainers.

Are you familiar with Blue Vanilla? How would you have styled these culottes?

end

In the (shoe) zone.

Oh Summer, the season of sandals and bare legs right? We’re not quite there yet but in the spirit of things I braved the deceptively chilly winds to get the photos for this post- sporting a new pair of sandals with jeans and a jumper just isn’t quite the same is it?

Sandals c/o Shoe Zone | Skirt: Urban Outfitters (sale, get yours here) | Top: H&M (here)

Both the skirt and the top were bought when I went over to Cardiff for my birthday and I’ve been waiting for some warmer weather to wear them. Sadly that weather is yet to arrive but I couldn’t wait any longer. After picking up my staple denim a-line skirt I was a non-denim version too and this beauty in the UO sale was exactly what I had in mind. It was a bit of a random find in the end, when other shops on the high street let me down- I’ll call it fate that I didn’t find one elsewhere though as at £12 this was far less than I was willing to pay as well!
The vest was a bargain in H&M at £7.99 and I love the print and the style, they have since launched a couple of other prints which I might have to go back for, at that price it’s hard not to!
Speaking of bargains, I have once again teamed up with Shoe Zone who I have raved about on the blog many a time before. Their latest arrivals are perfect for any summer occasion and I was taken in by these cute sandals, perfect paired with neutral colours and for finishing off relaxed, bohemian style outfits.

At £14.99 these sandals really do represent excellent value and I have never had an issue with quality from Shoe Zone, there are regular new arrivals on the site (and in store) and it’s easy to see why fellow bloggers also love them!

I hope you’re all enjoying the second May bank holiday, I’m indulging in an utterly lazy day doing nothing much at all- how about you?

end

New Balance

Same skirt, different day- I knew I’d end up living in this the second it arrived. Apologies for the creased state, anyone who knows me will attest to the fact I am hardly a domestic goddess and it didn’t occur to me that I might want to iron it before wearing again!

Skirt: New Look| Jumper c/o Skip n’ Whistle | Trainers: New Balance

This particular pair of New Balance has been on my wish list for well over a year but I couldn’t justify the expense. When I saw my pal Lois from Bunnipunch selling a pair for a bargain price I just couldn’t stop myself from snapping up despite having just bought my Adidas Gazelles and really, really not needing another pair of shoes. Still, I couldn’t be happier with my purchase as they are every bit as comfortable as I imagined and go with so many things.

This outfit was what I wore to a day time hen-do for one of my favourite people, Ellie. She gets married on the 23rd of this month and I just can’t wait to see her walk down the aisle. Fingers crossed that the sun shines on Saturday!

end