What's in my basket... Zara S/S 14

Long time no post! Usual excuses; work, lack of money to buy anything worth blogging about and long- distancing with the boyfriend means that my weekends are usually spent trawling up to Dorset.
A nice simple post to get back into the swing of things: my recent picks from Zara. I always see people buy gorgeous things from Zara, and there's usually one or two blogger-hyped pieces each season, but I find it hard to shop in store. Whenever I go in I can never find what I'm looking for or even much I like, but when I went on the website this afternoon I found so many things I want! I've just been paid but I'm trying to restrain myself...
all images from zara.com
Skirt with crochet/lace hem: £25.99

I love the detail along the hemline of this skirt, but it has actually inspired me to give this a go myself, by buying a cheap skirt and some pretty trimming to sew along the bottom. I'm thinking a lilac or baby blue version would be lovely for summer.

Printed skirt: £19.99

This has a really sporty vibe, which isn't usually my thing, but I think the combination of the loud print with the sporty accents works so well

Wrapover skirt: £25.99

This caught my eye due to the way the skirt ties across the front. It reminds me of a piece from one of Rihanna's collections for River Island, a dress with a 'fake' shirt tied around the middle.



Striped dress with floral sleeves: £19.99

I first saw this on the ever-stylish Lily Melrose, and fell in love. It's really good value for £20 and I love clashing prints.

Hopefully now the days are staying lighter for longer I will get back into blogging. I really want to do outfit photos but have no tripod and I hate having my photo taken, so I'm too embarrassed to ask anyone else to  take some!

What's in my basket...Boohoo S/S 14

The glimpse of sunshine we've recently had has made me long for summertime to hurry up! The weather has influenced the sort of clothes that are now catching my eye, as you can probably tell my selections from Boohoo below:

Though drop waist dresses remind me somewhat of the dreaded peplums, there was something about these two dresses that I really liked. The short sleeved pink dress is only £12 and also comes in lime and navy; I'm quite tempted to get all three colours! It's a bit longer at the back which I appreciate, as you know there's no risk of an unsightly bum flash.
The red long sleeve drop waist dress is £18, still really reasonable, and comes in black and navy as well. I love that lots of websites now provide a video of the garment being worn, as you get a much better idea of the movement and how the fabric looks on. With Boohoo the fabric can be hit and miss, and I was concerned this dress would be that horrible thin jersey material that clings. But in the video it looked really flattering so I'm definitely considering it.
The floral slip dress (£20) is a bit 'sexier' than something I'd usually go for, but I think it has potential to be 'grunged' up with boots and an oversized denim jacket.
Finally, the lime and metallic shoes (£30)- I think these are incredible! I'm still trying to think of something in my wardrobe that I could wear these with to justify purchasing, but I'm struggling. They also come in white; maybe that would be a more sensible choice?

1 Motel Dress, 3 ways to wear

I've been a long time fan of Motel since the early days, back when their specialty was printed body con dresses. The brand has really evolved and I love seeing the new prints they bring out each season.
I recently bought the 'Petal Shift Dress' in the tangerine Morris Flower print and below are three ways to style it (though excuse my laziness in not changing up my hair and makeup too :p):

Look #1: Smart/ Sophisticated
Though the dress is pretty loud, a blazer and some strappy heels smartens it up

Look #2: Bright and Casual
With a denim jacket and neon necklace this dress can be dressed down for a casual pub outing

Look #3: Clash with other prints It can be hard to successfully clash prints, but for some reason leopard print seems to go well with all sorts of patterns- spots, stripes, tartan and floral too. Knee high socks are a bit passe now, but I kind of like them with this outfit.

Making a statement #1: Tops

Despite my original intentions to have this as a fashion-focused blog, I'm not the best person at putting outfits together. So I usually pair a statement piece with something more plain. Here's a selection of statement tops I've recently bought- any interesting fabrics or textures always catch my eye:

Metallic Jacquard top- Boohoo

I was so impressed with this top from Boohoo. As much as I like some of Boohoo's designs, I feel the quality can be a bit hit and miss. However, this top is so well made and looks a lot more expensive than it is. The overlaid stitching and colour of the fabric makes it look almost like burnished metal. See the close up below.

The piece looks great over skinny jeans for a simple dinner outfit, or with leather shorts or a pencil skirt for a more dressed up look. It was £18 when I purchased, but you can get it right now for £15

Waffle-textured leopard print top- Topshop

Again, another great top for dressing up or down. And do you see what I mean about loving texture? This has a 'waffle' sort of texture with the leopard print design over the top. It's quite out there, and when I picked it up I had a brief moment of trying to decide if it was hideous or amazing! Obviously, I decided on the latter. I think this was £20, it's not on the website anymore and last time I went into a store it had gone in to the sale for £12, so there might be some knocking around still.
Below is another close up to show the texture.

Teal Jacquard top- Topshop

Stores at the moment seem to love labelling pieces 'Jacquard'- I have to admit I don't really know what this means! But in this case, it is almost like a tapestry-like effect because of the weaving of the fabric. This was the statement top I bought first, as my eye was drawn to the colour and unique fabric, which has a slight sheen to it. This was £28 and is no longer available, but Topshop have some  similar styles here, here, and here

White Leather Look Tee- Missguided

I was umm-ing and ah-ing over this for ages and finally bought it. I got a 10 (as I tend to find Missguided sizes a little small) but because of the cut I should have got an 8, as it looks a bit big in the shoulders. However, I still really like it and looks great with a statement necklace (post to follow soon...). This is still available on the site for £17.99, but I think I got it a bit cheaper as Missguided is very generous with dishing out discount codes!

So that's my first post on statement pieces, more to come soon!

What's in my basket....New Look

I think New Look is a brand that girls of my age have a sentimental fondness for. It was one of the first stores where I would spend my pocket money on buying my own clothes, from the 915 range. At one point I don't think the brand had the best reputation, but the last few years it has gone from strength to strength, managing to keep up with the trends and remain affordable. Here's my pick of recent pieces (links below)

Coral Boyfriend coat: £34.99 
Gingham top: £12.99
Cream check A-line mini: £17.99
Floral Midi skirt: £19.99
Black rucksack (also available in a beautiful taupe): £17.99



Do you ever shop at New Look?

First foray into...high end makeup. Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Foundation

I've dabbled in medium-high end makeup like Benefit for years, but never splashed out on any brand more luxe than that. But I'd wanted to try the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat foundation for a while and as I had some birthday money I decided to indulge. Shelling out £29 on a foundation did make my eyes water a bit! As it's so expensive I am saving it for my special occasion/going out foundation. 

On first application I was a little disappointed, as the coverage seemed a bit sheer, especially as my skin is still not behaving. However, it is so buildable without looking caked on, and it really does illuminate the skin much like the iconic Touche Eclat concealer, without looking greasy or oily which I was concerned about.

As I had some vouchers left over from Christmas I also bought Benefit's 'Hello Flawless' powder. I had a miniature of this in my 'How to look the best of everything' kit' but the shade was a little too dark. My replacement shade 'Gee I'm Swell Ivory' matches me perfectly and sets the YSL Foundation  really well.

Wednesday Wishlist #2: Jumpsuits/ Playsuits

There was a time when my wardrobe was filled with playsuits, but I've never been brave enough to go for a full length jumpsuit. Here's a selection that have caught my eye (can you tell I'm a fan of florals?)

From Left to Right:
Lace V-Neck Jumpsuit- £39.99- Missguided
Pink Floral Jumpsuit- £29.99- Missguided
Floral Playsuit-£20- Shelikes
Red Floral Jumpsuit- £55- Motel
Belted Floral Jumpsuit- £29.99- Missguided

Recent wardrobe additions featuring Mulberry Alexa 'dupe'

My mum's had a Matalan card for as long as I can remember, but I do find it to be so hit and miss. Think it's because in my mind I view it as a shop like Primark, but it's a bit more expensive and sometimes the quality can let it down. However, I went in recently and was very pleasantly surprised and picked up the following bits:

Daisy print wrap dress: £16 I love the style of this dress (wrap dresses are so flattering), and though the print is a bit summer 2013, I always like a good daisy print. The quality of this is good, it fits nicely and it's not ridiculously short. I'm looking forward to wearing this in summer with red lipstick and hair in victory rolls for a 40s vibe
Alexa style satchel: £15   

This picture doesn't actually do this bag justice. I LOVE IT. It is such a good size, it looks a lot more expensive than it is and will fill the Alexa shaped gap in my wardrobe whilst I save for the real deal

Scalloped Hem Shorts : £7 These were in the sale for £7 which I thought was great, again as the quality is a lot better than I expected. I was also delighted to find a pair of shorts that don't show off half your arse cheek, as I am seriously finding it difficult to find any shorts on the high street that are not hot pants or 'knicker' shorts. It winds me right up!

Wednesday Wishlist #1 : Boots

Here's a selection of the boots I've been coveting recently, all really reasonably priced from Boohoo or Missguided. I'm struggling to restrain myself, but as I wear boots 90% of the time, even in summer, perhaps that can justify a purchase?

Snake print boots: £37.99     Holographic boots #1: £35.99      Black patent boots: £39.99

Burgundy boots: £35            Suede pull-on boots: £37.99          Holographic boots #2: £35

Saving money on online shopping

Since I finished working at Top Man and stopped spending the majority of my time in a shopping centre, physical shopping trips (i.e. actually venturing out of the house to shop) have dramatically decreased. This doesn't mean I've stopped shopping, but rather I tend to do it all online nowadays, particularly as my favourite retailer at the moment happens to be the online-only Missguided. Here are some tips for saving some money when shopping online.

1. Always search for a discount code

img: vouchercodes.co.uk

Before I part with my cash, I always do a quick google search for any discount codes. There are loads of sites that list valid codes, but my favourite is Voucher Codes. They seem to have the most up to date codes and not just widely publicised ones either; recently they listed a 30% off Motel code for at least a week before it was broadcast on Motel's website or emails, and often have random codes that have featured in magazines that you may otherwise miss.

2. Social Media is your friend

img: www.graphicsfuel.com

No brand neglects the power of social media, so I wold recommend following your favourite retailers on twitter, nstagram and Facebook. As well as getting style inspiration and notified about new items on Instagram [thank you, River Island PR], retailers frequently post discount codes on a variety of social media platforms, and I've also seen some ridiculous competitions on offer too.

(FYI: If your panicking about having nothing to wear at the weekend, a lot of sites, particularly Missguided, will offer free Saturday/ Next day delivery on a Friday to encourage you to buy a new outfit for the weekend)

3. Sign up to emails from Money Saving Expert

img: moneysavingexpert.com

The money saving expert site is an absolute gem. The site contains a wealth of information regarding more 'grown up' stuff such as banking, utilities, insurance and mortgages, which for those who have flown the nest and are struggling with the realities of adulthood could be extremely useful. But not only that, it has the latest restaurant, web site and clothing discount vouchers, gives tips on shopping on eBay, has info on consumer rights and far more stuff than I'd be able to capture here. It is pretty overwhelming just how much the website has on it though, so I find that signing up to the weekly email is really worth it. It ensures you get a compacted summary of the most recent and exciting stuff (most surprisingly for me, it has even been including a heads up of what the Boots Star Gift has been week by week)

4. Sign up or create accounts with your favourite retailers

Though a lot of these recommendations involve clogging up your inbox, I do believe that signing up to your favourite e-retailers newsletter's is worth it for offers and discounts that you might otherwise miss. You often get notified about sales early, so you can grab some great bargains before all the decent stuff in suitable sizes sell out. I've also found with 90% of the websites I've signed up to or have an account with will give you a birthday discount too, which is a sweet touch.

5. Look for cheaper alternatives

Though there will always be a place in my heart for Top Shop, without my staff discount it is a wee bit expensive to regularly splash out on. But I do find with the most popular trends you can almost always find a cheaper alternative. Prime example: the pastel cropped fluffy jumpers I was coveting but never got around to buying (fool...)- between £35-£45 at Topshop, £20 at Missguided. Why pay more?

Birthday outift

So today's my birthday :) Not got any major plans for it, just having my girls round for cocktails before heading into my local town. So not a super dressy outfit; my fail-safe disco pants, Ant boots, and new crop top which was a bargainous £10 from Top Shop. 

Top: Topshop

Jacket: Topshop avaitor jacket (old)

Trousers: American Apparel Disco Pants

Boots: Topshop 'Ant' (see this post)

Bargain Creepers

I'm still undecided about creepers...when they cropped up a few years ago I HATED them. But the more and more I see them they've started to grow on me. I don't like to think of myself as a fashion lemming, only wearing things because other people do. For me, it's not about wearing things because they're 'in fashion', it's more the fact of seeing others wearing more 'out there' fashion choices gives me the confidence to choose things I might not have done a few year's ago for fear of being different. 


Anyway, babbling aside, these were a bargainous £12 from trusty Primark, so even if I bottle it and hardly wear them I won't feel too guilty about it. And I've already had several comments about them, people assuming they are the £95 Office ones :)

Bit scuffed and dirty already :p

I wore these for a 9hr shift at work and had minimal foot ache, which is always a bonus. The only thing I found a bit odd with them was although I bought my normal size, they felt like they were slipping a bit even though my toes were quite near the end. But once I did the laces up tight enough they were fine. 

Was really impressed when I went into Primark. It can be very hit and miss, but  was a definite hit this time! I also got some pairs of frilly ankle socks (half the price of the Topshops ones), as well as two long sleeve crop tops to go under my dungaree dress [outfit posts to come soon], £3.50 vs Topshops £10 ones. There was also lots of lovely midi skirts and dresses and shoes, but being on a spending ban I tried to restrain myself

What do you think of creepers?

S/S 2013: Neon picks

Every Spring/ Summer the neon trend comes around, and I have always hated it WITH A PASSION. But this year I am a convert (as can be seen by my recent NOTD). Though I'm still not sure of the best way to pull off neon pieces, I've seen a few things that I am really tempted by, but might have to wait until this snowy patch blows over!

1. Skirt, £12. Boohoo. Wear with: a black cropped jumper, chunky gold chain and boots to toughen it up

2. Jumper, £38. Topshop. Wear with: leather leggings

3. Ankle socks, £3.50. Topshop. Wear with: high waisted shorts, crop top and high tops for a sporty/ 90s vibe

4. Bag, £18. Boohoo. Wear with: Anything! 

5. Jumper, £20. Boohoo. Wear with: Denim shorts or leggings 

6. Crop top, £15. Topshop. Wear with: I'm thinking white shorts or a skater skirt- but that outfit would definitely have to wait 'til Summer!


Think my new found love of neon is my subconscious wishing for sunnier days and the end of this dreary winter. And also because of it's tie-ins with the 90s trend which I'm also liking- hello Wildfox S/S look book!

Top Shop Mini- Haul

My recent purchases from Top Shop have been far too optimistic...though I love winter clothes I've already started thinking about Spring/ Summer 2013 and outfits :) Though with snow today and the cold front coming over from Russia, some of these outfits may not see the light of day for a while!

-

Denim Pinafore dress (£36) and grey crop top (£10): didn't buy both together to intentionally have an outfit but I think they work well together. I'm planning on wearing the dungaree dress with long sleeve crop tops and boots or creepers now while it's still cold, and I can imagine wearing it loads in summer with gladiator sandals

Green speckled dress (£26): this comes in a few different colours but I loved this one; unusual colour between bottle and teal green with little flecks in it. This is great for just chucking on with tights, boots and a fur stole

White cropped jumper (£30): I don't usually wear white as I think it washes me out, but with my new Kate Moss lipstick this looked great. Will wear with disco pants now and high waisted shorts in summer.


Seriously why am I thinking about summer so much already?!

I really want to begin doing outfit posts, however my camera isn't brilliant and I'm not in possession of a tripod. I was too embarrassed to ask my mum to take photos as don't think she'll really 'get' the blogging thing but I'm going to swallow my pride and just ask her :) I think when everyone starts out blogging they feel a bit embarrassed and like a total newbie, so hopefully it's 

Wilfox S/S 2013: Clueless!

Oh wow. Not usually a fan of Wildfox [or rather my bank balance isn't] but the new look book is fabulous! Best of 90s style and inspired my one of my favourite 90s films, Clueless! I love how each model represents one of the three girls, Cher, Dion and Tai. and N.B. How gorgeous is the 'Tai' model? Serious hair envy here!

Bottom left- totally me!

I'm not even sure it's just the clothes, or more the essence of what they evoke: carefree teen summers with no worries. Wish I could back to these times!  

What's in my basket...

@ Motel

It's so close to Christmas now that I really can't afford to be buying myself anything. However, that never stops me from having a browse online. I quite like Motel, especially since they've developed as a company and do more than just printed body con dresses like they used to. Here are my top picks from the website

Sale items

Black and White stripe tube skirt: £10

The last month or so I've been veering towards midi and maxi length skirts and dresses- must be because of the cold weather. My knees won't be on show until March at the very earliest! I think this would be a great addition to my largely monochromatic wardrobe, and would look good with boots and the fur stole that never leaves my neck

 

Wine colour lace playsuit: £15

I haven't worn a playsuit for a while, but I love the colour of this one, the pattern of the lace and the frill around the middle. Looks a little short though, which I guess is to be expected from Motel!

Non Sale

Long sleeve wrap crop top: £20

A plain top, but would go great with my vast numbers of high waisted shorts/ skirts and my shiny new American Apparel disco pants!

Cut Out shoulder crop top: £18

Ditto with this top. I must be in a style rut because I seem to only be drawn to black clothing. But I also love the cut out sleeves on this crop top

Short sleeve denim shirt: £40

Think this is a bit expensive, but I love the wash of the shirt and how it looks with the trousers and boots. Would recreate this look with my disco pants and Ant Boots. Basically think I just want to look like this model! Loving the grungey/ glam vibe

Genius invention for nail polish addicts

I was watching TV with my mother when one of the typical ads came on. You know, the classic JML-style cheesy advert showcasing a new 'must have' gadget. However, with this one both me and my mum went 'Wow, I want one of those!'. High Street TV presents the Nail Buddy; a simple thing that you put between your knees (oo-er) and slot your nail varnish inside 

Image from sixtyplussurfers.co.uk (only place I could find a picture!)

This may seem like a silly invention for some (who are probably thinking, 'why not put the polish bottle on a table?'), but as someone who holds their polish whilst painting and has had too many accidents tipping or dropping the bottle [idiot], this is straight on my Christmas list. 

The Nail Buddy is available at highstreettv.com

New Boots #2: Topshop 'Ant'

What can I say...when the weather starts getting colder and wetter I just can't resist a new pair of boots. Despite my new flat studded boots, I saw these in Topshop and couldn't resist. I don't usually go for silver, but the detailling on the buckles was really pretty and I could see myself wearing these a lot. Using my uniform discount as well meant they were very reasonable, and I think they'll last me the whole winter well into next year

Winter boots, Chloe dupes!

My style is pretty much goth/ rock 'chic' so when I first saw Chloé's studded ankle boots I fell in love. Wasn't loving the £850 price tag however! So I was mighty thankful when Victoria of vipxo featured a great dupe in one of her Ebay posts. I ordered them back in October and yes they did take a month to get here but for £27.99 I didn't mind waiting!

Surprisingly difficult to take pictures of your feet!

I thought as they were so cheap they'd be painful/ bad quality/ break quickly. But I am very impressed and think these will get me through winter :) 

Perfect Parka

I've been after a parka for the last two winters, but never found one I really liked (and couldn't afford the £60+ they usually are). But finally, I found one! And in Primark! It was a bargain £27, the perfect colour, with multiple pockets and lined with lovely soft sheepskin in the hood. I thought as it was so cheap it might not be the best quality, but it kept me lovely and warm on my way to work at 6.30 am