Knitwear and Nikes

I'm wearing:
Cardigan - George at Asda*
Roll neck - Primark
Leather tee - Forever 21 (similar here)
Jeans - Topshop
Bracelet - River Island *
Socks - Topshop
Trainers - Nike

Black is anything but boring when it comes to fashion. You may think that to have an exciting outfit you need something bright added somewhere, but for me I don't just look at colour. My favourite outfits are often all black but instead mix texture and shape so that the closer you look, the more interesting it becomes.

How to Wear Double Denim

My friend once told me that double denim is also known as the Canadian Tuxedo. This was completely news to me but she's from Toronto so who am I to argue? I think the Canadians are on to something though. I may look back at this outfit in a few years time and wonder what the hell I was doing, but I don't think I look like I've been dunked into a Levi's factory head first...

What to Wear to a Summer Wedding

I'm not really a dress wearer, but this summer has been full of 'occasions'. When shopping my friend's upcoming nuptials I contemplated a co-ord, or maybe a jumpsuit, but nothing felt quite formal enough. This was wedding, yes, but the bride is one of the most creative people I know; every year I get a homemade birthday and Christmas card from her which are always beautiful and I wanted to make sure that my outfit wasn't too traditional as it just wouldn't reflect the wonderful person getting married.

How to Wear a Denim A-Line Skirt

I love jeans for their versatility. No matter what situation I have to dress for you can guarantee that I'll have considered a pair of jeans at some point, but with other denim items I can struggle. Denim's stiff nature can mean shirts gape at the chest and skirts don't have the give to allow me to sit down without flashing some lucky strangers. The thing is, I reeeeeeeeally like this skirt so I just figured I'd get it and then make it work.

How to Wear Culottes

The last time I wore culottes was part of my Brownie uniform a good 18 years ago. I never went out with the intention of buying a pair, it just kind of happened when I fell into Pop Boutique on Seven Dials one evening after work. The thing is with culottes is you have to be tall to wear them, and as it happens, I'm 5ft 10" so I pretty much fit that bill. So I bought them, amused by the fact that they look like a skirt but totally aren't, and then promptly realised I had absolutely no idea what to wear with them.

Olympia Le Tan Book Clutch

Occasionally, at a sample sale, I will find one absolute gem. In amongst the slightly battered shoes and the rails of jumpers with a tiny snag in them, there will be the item that you know was meant to be yours, and fate brings you together in a beautiful way. For me, I spied this Olympia Le Tan book clutch when I was already in line to pay at a Net-a-Porter friends and family event.

Roll Neck and Palazzo Pants

I feel like I'm making some braver fashion choices recently. Don't get me wrong, I still love my standard uniform of skinny jeans, boots and jumpers, but occasionally I try something new, whether it's with a pattern or a cut. With an upcoming press day at work, I kitted myself out in product from the store and went a little out of my comfort zone, but with the main focus of being comfortable as I knew I'd be on my feet all day. I ended up with this outfit.

Crochet and Platforms

Although not a fancy dress event, my recent trip to the Faulty Towers Dining Experience made me want to channel the 70s again. This time I switched my fringed suede waistcoat for two other pieces synonymous with that decade and all over the high street at the moment.

What I Wore Going Out in Barcelona

My recent trip to Barcelona was in honour of a wonderful woman becoming my sister-in-law. A hen do is a strange gathering: a group of people of all ages, who often don't know each other that well, all coming together to have organised fun. We had plans for our first night - a VIP table at a swanky club, and more loose ideas for the second evening. So I packed smart-casual bits and one dress to go 'out-out' in. I never go out clubbing. There just rarely seems to be a night where I want to get sweaty and pay too much for drinks in a dark room, surrounded by people with questionable morals and music tastes. But with all that, I actually had a great night at

Setting Sail on Ladbrokes' Floating Casino

I really struggle with formal wear. I'm much more of a smart casual person: a pair of well-fitting jeans and some heels is what I'm most comfortable in on a night out, plus I'm rarely invited to something with a dress code. I had a slight meltdown when Emma (Miss Pond) invited me along to the #LadbrokesPartyLife event and there was talk of dressing up all fancy. I bought, and subsequently returned, three potential dresses from ASOS and eventually decided on something I already owned.

How to Wear Mom Jeans

I am a skinny jeans girl. They're safe, simple and I am rarely seen in anything else on a day-to-day basis, but I do love mom jeans. They have a fitted but baggy style to them and I like how they are super casual but look great when dressed up. I've been wary to try them due to being overly blessed in the child-bearing hips department, but these are a bit high-waisted so I still actually get some shape.

How to Wear Khaki Trousers

I really, truly ummed and aahed about my sudden wish for khaki trousers. This is the problem with working for a fashion retailer; I end up in meetings about trends and it ends up with me putting together a mental shopping list and convincing myself that my wardrobe is bereft without a particular item. On a recent trip back to Milton Keynes I asked my mum if we could go to Matalan as I never manage to get to one in London (although they're opening one on Oxford Street soon so that's exciting!), and lo and behold, the mighty khaki trousers appeared.

[Fashion] My Christmas Wardrobe

I'm wearing:
Santa t-shirt - Primark
Gold skirt - vintage eBay find

Everyone owns a Christmas jumper. I'm not going to harp on about the best ones to find on the high street as there's plenty of blog posts out there that can do that better than me. What I did want to show you though, is how you can wear something Christmassy without it just being in knitted form.

[Fashion] Quilted Jumper, Delicate Jewellery

I'm wearing:
Coat: Warehouse (old - similar from River Island here)
Hoody: H&M
Jumper: Primark
Necklace: Susan Caplan x ASOS*
Handbag: Mulberry (bag not available but purse version here)
Jeans: J Brand (from TK Maxx)
Boots: Miu Miu (old - similar here)

One thing to keep in mind if you're planning to go to Frankfurt in Winter: it's bloody cold. At the very last minute I packed an extra hoody in case it was chilly in the hotel, but I ended up wearing it over every jumper I wore during our quick two day trip. To brave the outside I wore a t-shirt, jumper, hoody, coat, leggings, jeans, two pairs of socks, a huge scarf, gloves and boots. Most of the time this was all zipped up with just the top of my face peeking out, and these photos were taken very quickly 54 storeys up the Main Tower, so it was pretty nippy!

I love me some quilted tops. My favourite t-shirt is a quilted grey number from ASOS about two years ago, but I still get compliments on it even though I wear it probably once a week. This pale blue jumper gets a big tick for its texture, but also because of the colour. I'm loving the trend of pastel coats right now, but have yet to find one that suits me, so this bargain from Primark does the job for now. Chucked over my favourite jeans and boots, I was super cosy, and although it's a lot of blue, the fact that its varying shades doesn't make me look too much like a smurf.

My gorgeous necklace is from the Susan Caplan for ASOS* range. It comes in a set with matching clip-on earrings which I completely adore. I'm one for big statement necklaces, however this is small and delicate yet goes beyond a standard chain by having the clasping hands in the middle. This is definitely a new favourite to my collection.

Can we also take a quick moment to look at my handbag? I got this beauty at the recent Mulberry sample sale at the Music Rooms, and although still pretty punchy in price, I couldn't resist and I don't regret a thing. It is a style I wasn't familiar with previously called the Kensal and it is the perfect small bag with so much storage and a long strap which helps with my dodgy back. I'm so in love!

Keep an eye open for my post on my trip to the Frankfurt Christmas Markets coming up soon!

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Field Day Festival

I'm wearing:

Coat - Uniqlo

Sunglasses - Tatty Devine

Tshirt - Finders Keepers (bought Amy Valentine on Depop)

Necklace - Vintage

Shorts - Beyond Retro

Boots - Doc Martens

I always feel like I'm kind of done with festivals, until that June-September period rolls around and I find myself lusting after stellar line-ups and pining for a overpriced, warm pint in the company of thousands of pissed music lovers. Let's face it, I like to have a shower everyday, know that the nearest toilet isn't covered in something heinous, and sleep in an actual bed, which is why the appeal of a weekend no-camping festival sounds fine and dandy to me. 

Field Day isn't huge in size, it's not in the middle of nowhere (unless you're not particularly familiar with Hackney...), and it doesn't have the household name headliners, but it brings in a dedicated crowd of music lovers who are looking for something a bit different to your average festivals. Gone are the chip pan death trap food vans you'd expect, and instead you're treated to gourmet (by festival standards) grub from Street Feast. Choose from Indian wraps, pimped up mac n cheese, or maybe a big old venison burger if you just want gold old fashioned meat in bread. The booze isn't your regular selection either. Yes you have your basic piss poor plonk for the less discerning palate, but I was loving the Meantime Brewery van, keeping me refreshed with quality cold ale instead. I may sound like a snob, but I'm not one to drink to get drunk, I actually like the taste of a good beer, and Meantime always delivers in that respect. 

As for the music, there was a great line up. I only went on the Saturday, which in my opinion hadn't he best bands on offer. I managed to catch Sky Ferreira, Blood Orange (who did an ace version of Mansun's 'I Can Only Disappoint U'), SBTRKT and Simian Mobile Disco amongst others. The best act by far for me though, was SOHN. You'll have seen from two of my recent Monthly Mixtapes that he often features highly on my 'I LOVE THIS' spectrum. Having recently seen him in the intimacy of his gig at the Village Underground, I wasn't sure what to expect from a festival atmosphere, but the crowd knew how to create the right ambiance to appreciate his gorgeous sound. I left even more in love with him than before, and I still cannot recommend his album 'Tremors' enough.  

With the sun shining until the end of Metronomy's headline set, we were chilled out, happy and a hell of a lot less smelly than your average festival goer. Dare I finish by saying we did in fact have a 'field day'? Yeah, why not.

Jungle Fever: Leopard Print, Leaf Shaped Necklace

I'm wearing:
Sunglasses: Miu Miu
Kimono - Cotton On (in Sydney)
Necklace - Tatty Devine (sample sale)
Jeans - Topshop £38 (similar here)
Shoes - some shop in Melbourne

I cannot dress for summer. I don't like revealing too much skin, I'm not really much of a dress person, and really I couldn't be happier than when I can wear a big chunky jumper and a pair of boots. BUT I love the sunshine and I can't wait for the weather to just make it's bloody mind up and stay warm for more than two days. So this is my mid-way "it's kind of hot but I still want to wear jeans" outfit. I am a leopard print aficionado and this kimono was a quick fix purchase while I was in Sydney to shield off the intermittent showers (NOT what I signed up for, Australia!). It's lightweight and floaty and can be chucked over anything. I accidentally embraced the jungle theme with my Tatty Devine leaf necklace, but I feel that west London is lacking in safari mentality so I'm just doing my bit for nature. I'm tempted to get this top from Ted Baker and wear the leaf necklace with it, but I'll have to weigh up whether that's too much or surprisingly genius. Let me know what you think!

Ted Baker Tropical Dove Top reduced to £36 at John Lewis

Metallic Knitwear, Pussy Bow Blouse

I'm wearing:
Leather jacket - Zara
Jumper - H&M
Blouse - Mong Kok Ladies Market
Shorts - Miss Selfridge
Boots - ASOS

I bought this blouse from Mong Kok Ladies Market in Hong Kong. I struggle with shirts and blouses because I always feel a bit frumpy in them, but I bought this specifically to wear under jumpers and dresses (although it does also have some rocking shoulder pads, so maybe one day!).

On a whim, I put it on under this gold jumper from H&M. I bought this a while ago when the Michael Kors original was all the rage, and it's done me well. Because of the close fit I can wear it with everything from jeans to skirts, but this time I wore it with shorts and black tights because let's face it, Spring hasn't quite sprung yet.

I wore this outfit to Dans le Noir, the restaurant I reviewed on Tuesday where diners eat in the dark. So really, it didn't matter what I wore out! Make sure you check out what I thought, it's really an experience not to be missed.

Camo Jacket, Swedish Hasbeens Boots

Brrrrr! It's bloody freezing outside. I have the perfect wardrobe for Spring and Autumn, but I really struggle with the extremes of Summer and Winter. I basically live in jeans, black boots and my favourite thick coat, so I made the conscious decision to change a few of these cold weather staples when I headed out at the weekend.

I've been living in my Warehouse thick tweed coat, but I just wanted to wear something else to keep me warm, so I layered up and brought out my Autumn favourite: my camouflage jacket from Urban Outfitters. It is one of the best bargains I've ever got from eBay, a snip at 99p! Denim and camo always go great together (although I love leather and camo even more), and this shirt is one of my favourites. It's from ASOS quite a few years ago and it doesn't fit as well as it used to as I've *ahem* grown, so I always have to wear a vest top underneath just in case a button decides to pop open! As for the earrings, they were happily permanently borrowed from my Mum's 'I will never wear them but I love them' pile of jewellery. They get a lot more facetime now they're in my collection!

Swedish Hasbeens are well known for their summer footwear, lusted after by anyone with a fashion conscious pulse. I had no idea until I saw these bad boys in a sample sale last year, that they even did boots. The iconic clog style heel is still there, but instead of sandals we have beautiful cream leather with red laces. Just about calf height (when not tucked under jeans), they are firm, warm and so so pretty. I've hardly worn them since owning them and I genuinely have no idea why, especially as I look at them everyday and think about how much I love them!

How are you wearing camo?
What are your favourite vintage jewellery finds?
Did you know Swedish Hasbeens do boots?!
I'd love to read your comments.

Cx

Florals and Breton Stripes

This is it. I've found the perfect summer jacket. It's light and floral and just so pretty! I've been throwing it over every outfit recently, even those I have to wear an actual coat as well at the moment.

Jacket: Zara (can't find the link, but it's recent!)
Dress: Uniqlo
(Extremely dirty) High tops: Primark

I can't quite put my finger on why it goes so well with this breton stripe t-shirt dress, maybe it's the blue in both. Regardless, I am a happy camper in this pairing. This whole outfit is so comfortable. I wore it to wander around Reading at the weekend while visiting for a friend's birthday. I've never been there before and I couldn't believe how quiet it was! I'm obviously now used to London always being stupidly busy.

Bright patterns, bright jewellery, bright lipstick and nails. Little additions to keep this casual outfit fun which I love. I'm so guilty of finding the right accessory at the bottom of a box of randoms proving that it's always worth having a rummage to find the perfect final touch.

Blue and Yellow

It's pretty rare that I go out out. I'm not stranger to the pub on a Friday, but generally I stay the hell away from central London on a weekend for fear of ordering a drink that's double my annual salary by accident and feeling obliged to pay for it anyway. But last week I acted my age and got dressed up for a night in Covent Garden for a friend's birthday. 

Tee: Topshop
Skirt: Zara £29.99
Bag: Vintage
Bracelet: ?
Heels: ASOS

I bought this skirt from Zara a couple of weeks ago and I wasn't originally sure if I had anything to go with it. So I made my poor housemate sit with me while I tried on every top I own with it. Turns out I have THIRTY potential outfit combinations, so it was well worth the money! I'm looking forward to it being warmer so I can wear it during the day with a turquoise top and grey high tops.

It was actually fun to get a chance to wear a pair of heels and go dancing for the first time in ages! These heels are from ASOS about 4 years ago, and haven't worn them in forever, but this outfit was perfect to resurrect them.

Watch out this week for another one of my new Zara purchases!