River Island New Season Wish List

Pink leather look skirt £28 / Blue fringed t-shirt £12 / Colour block cape £35 / Geometric print shirt dress £55 / Khaki ghillie heels £45 / Sunglasses £16 / Denim culottes £17 

Just before Christmas I had a lovely surprise turn up on my doorstep. Erica had nominated me for River Island's secret santa project #IPartyWith (because we totally do) and I received a lovely little array of winter warming goodies to keep cosy in the cold. I was lucky enough to receive a gift voucher in that box and so, of course, I've been raiding the River Island website to make sure I'm super sensible about what to buy.

[Fashion] The Lazy Girl's Guide to Layering

I love seeing street fashion photos of people completely nailing 'layering'. I think people can look so chic wrapped up in contrasting fabrics and colours; a scarf up around their face, a shirt poking out of a thick jumper topped with a chunky cardigan.

I cannot do this. I overheat. If I wear a long sleeved shirt under a jumper my face will go red, I'll start getting a sweaty top lip, and I'll need to take the jumper off only a few steps after leaving my house. I can wear each of these things separately and generally my layering is made up of a lot of big shiny jewellery, or at most, a scarf.

Denim collar bib £10 - River Island

White shirt collar bib £10 - River Island

Embellished shirt collar bib £15 - River Island

I discovered these genius collar bibs in River Island and they are the answer to my layering prayers. When you're wearing a jumper it looks like you have a shirt on underneath, with the collar and buttons on show, but without the cumbersome long sleeves or hassle of tucking seams in. Onlookers are none the wiser; in fact, I had one girl at work comment on how she always struggles to wear shirts underneath jumpers and it really annoys her.

You can see here some quick pics I took when getting ready in the morning, one of which shows the denim collar bib by itself, and then underneath a jumper. I was thrilled by how authentic it looked and couldn't help but tell people at work all day about my secret trick!

What do you think of this lazy way of layering?

Never miss another blog post! Follow Charlie, Distracted on Bloglovin'

Follow me on Twitter / Facebook / Instagram /Pinterest

Purse Palpitations Week #14

Ding ding ding! The Celia Birtwell for Uniqlo collection is all in the sale and this great printed tee is currently a steal
T-shirt £7.90 Uniqlo

Camis seem to be the basic to own at the moment, with everyone and their mother owning the Topshop ones. River Island actually have a great selection too and they're cheaper.
Cami £15 River Island

H&M Sportswear is my favourite on the high street and they keep bringing out new pieces that maintain that status. This sports bra is a new must-have.
Sports bra £12.99 H&M

These T-Bar Points are such a fabulous shape and the pastel shade is perfect to see out Summer with some boyfriend jeans
Heels £68 Topshop

Mesh Inserts

The peek-a-boo style of mesh inserts is all over the high street right now, showing a tiny bit of skin all wrapped up in a monochrome palette. It's tasteful with a mix of punk and would fit right in with a flash of tartan or some strategically placed safety pins. Here's my pick of the best on the high street right now, and one far too pretty designer item that just couldn't be missed out.

Bralet, River Island - £10

Midi skirt, New Look - £14.99

T-shirt, Tophop - £20

Dress, House of Liza at Farfetch, £420

Wardrobe basics

I'm really trying to update my basics at the moment. I've had enough of crazy pattern clashing and wild colours. Don't get me wrong, I still love those things but they always look better with a plain tee or simple jeans. Basics don't have to be boring, they just need to be paired with the right things. Here are the ones I'm loving right now.

This mesh insert tee is simple enough to dress up, but once you take off your leather jacket, BOOM! Check out the detail. Love it.
Topshop £20

This plain white tee has a sneaky little Aztec print that you'd barely notice if I hadn't mentioned it.
River Island £16

I get nearly all of my plain black tshirts and vest tops from H&M. This one is perfect to wear with blue jeans  and layered up with a big chunky scarf.
H&M £6.99

Having a new texture to a basic tee brings exactly what a pattern does - something new, but in a more subtle way. This one has a crepe paper like effect and a cool boxy shape.
Monki £15 (in the sale)

One basic I can't live without is my plain grey jumper. It's so comfortable! I always find the best jumpers in the men's sections of high street stores. Where do you buy your basics?

Purse Palpitations Week #8

Oh the shops are full of such goodies right now. It hurts me that I can't afford to splurge on all of these! I'd better start writing to Santa!

OK, they look like Noel Fielding's gone crazy in the glitter aisle, but oh they are so pretty. Opaque tights and a big statement necklace are needed with these.
ASOS £45

Really want these adorable elbow patches to sew onto a plain grey jumper.
eBay £4.99

Looking at this blazer actually physically hurts me. I want to dress in the reject material from Mary Poppins' handbag!
River Island £35

Two months in to living in my new flat and there's still a big space above our lounge mantlepiece that's driving me crazy with its emptiness. How about this?
AmandaCatherineDes on Etsy £9.63

What I Wore to...Callooh Callay

Blazer - River Island
Vest - Topshop Boutique
Necklace - ASOS
Printed trousers - Zara
Clutch bag - ASOS
Red stilettos - New Look

I've been playing with different types of black as my bog standard skinny jeans have seen better days. These trousers actually have a jacquard print on them and are a great way of being a slightly fancy basic.

I wore red lipstick and red nails with gold jewellery to add something interesting to a pretty monotone outfit and was pretty pleased with the result! 

Ring - H&M
Watch - Casio
Bracelet - somewhere in Barcelona

My beautiful necklace from a friend for my birthday

Wondering what the hell Callooh Callay is? My next post on Friday is all about it!

What I Wore to...the Costa Brava, Spain

For the first time in 2 years I hit the beach and made my way over to the Costa Brava in Spain with my boyfriend. I'll put some pics up soon as it's a really beautiful place and a massive bargain getaway, but first here's a round-up of my favourite Instagram outfit posts from the trip:

My big sister donated this denim Alexander McQueen playsuit - my first piece of designer clothing!

Zara silk trousers and Topshop Boutique vest

Next tunic

ASOS shorts and H&M vest (with ASOS bikini poking out the top!)

An old favourite: Primark horse print playsuit

H&M crop top and River Island high-waisted denim short

For all of my holiday outfits check out my Instagram feed.

What I Wore to... Notting Hill Carnival

Bed jacket - River Island
High-waisted shorts - River Island
Vest top - Topshop Boutique
Sunglasses - New Look

It was beautiful weather for Notting Hill Carnival on Sunday, and I finally got to wear this kimono I picked up in the River Island sale ages ago. I've been scared of the whole pattern clashing trend, but this is a really easy way to embrace it, by wearing it over plain items! The shorts are also from River Island and are high-waisted to hide any sins. The basics were a vest top from Topshop Boutique and sunglasses from New Look. High street heaven! Look out for my post on the fun of the carnival tomorrow.

Purse Palpitations Week #4

Some festival fashion lusts and general needs this week.

I desperately want this to be my Summer to Autumn coat this year. £50 from River Island

I frickin' love Aztec print. After seeing these bags on Pink Julep I've completely fallen in love.  £40 from Aldo.

I've wanted this for long. I really should just suck it up and bloody buy it. £19 from Me & Zena.

Floral dip hem skirt. What's not to like? £19.99 from Bershka.