Rusty...

Sometimes it feels like I have been blogging for years, days become weeks and sometimes inspiration is sadly lacking. As a blogger, there are hundreds of photos stored on a hard-drive, just waiting to be made into posts, some don't make the cut, due to a bad angle or less than flattering pose and others probably should  have been consigned to the recycling bin on your desktop. It is interesting how blogs offer a slice of your everyday life up for perusal and yet we insist on everything being 'just so' rather than showing what you actually wear or do on a daily basis. This outfit is one of those that I wore on an ordinary day at work and although it isn't particularly fashion forward, I really like it. It is funny how our wardrobe reflects how we see ourselves and actually sometimes, what you wear doesn't have to be 'an outfit', it can just be a nice dress... 

I guess what I am trying to say is that recently I have been more introverted and my clothes choices are reflecting that ;)

Dress: Gap (via Matilda), blazer: Clothing at Tesco, necklace: Topshop, shoes: c/o Spartoo
This dress came from the wardrobe of my friend Matilda and the length and colours meant that it was love at first sight. I  think I suit Autumnal colours and I love all the different colours in the pattern and the gorgeous scalloped layers of the skirt.


I even managed to match my lipstick! I am wearing the Max Factor lipstain in the corally orange shade which adds a lovely bright colour to lips, topped with my beloved Ballistic lippie!


Rather boringly I went for grey accessories and the length of this blazer was lovely with the knee-length of the dress. This Topshop necklace was also a nice lengthening device, something I am always keen to do with my (rather stumpy) frame!

Owl-bert the door stop is looking pretty sad at the moment!
I love these heels and I am wearing them with yet another Autumnal outfit here! They really are the perfect height to wear all day and the grippy sole meant that I didn't fall flat on my face- perfect for when you are trying to stay incognito!  

How long have you been blogging? What do you do to stay inspired?

Victoriana...

Another day, another lace dress- I already have several lace dresses (including one in white and one in cream) but when I saw this beauty from Monki, I fell in love. I love the high neckline and the longer sleeves are perfect for the colder weather too, especially when paired with my trusty leather jacket...

Dress: Monki, leather jacket: New Look, belt: Miss Selfridge, glitter ankle boots: Primark
The collar felt very Victorian but I am sure they would be scandalised by the amount of leg I have on show here! ;) I was going to pair it with black opaques but I think the bare leg is needed to add some contrast to the demure cut, what do you think?


  The lace is a gorgeous off-white colour too, I think it is much less harsh a colour than a dazzling white and much more flattering for pale skin tones... Again the sizing on this is a little strange, there is a lot of material in the body but the neck buttons up very tight at the back and I think it would have been claustrophobic if I went down a size- I suppose it leaves me plenty of room for a big dinner now! ;)


My lovely black glittery ankle boots- definitely one of my best buys from Primark!


Outtake of the day: me doing my best Kate Bush impression. She may look a little deranged in the video for 'Wuthering Heights' but her dress is fab- definitely a worthy début! I remember listening to this song when I was younger and throwing myself around the living room, not much has changed!

IT'S ME, OH CATHY...



Do you 'dance' to Kate Bush? How would you 'de-frump' this dress?

The perfect cosy Sunday outfit?

As you may have heard, the weather and flooding has been absolutely terrible the past week and living in Tewkesbury has meant that we are a hub of the bad weather. The thing is, when it is cold and grey outside, all you want to do is cosy up under the duvet in your PJs but this outfit is a suitable, (people friendly) alternative...

Jumper: Monki, bodycon skirt: H&M, tights: Sainsburys, top (not seen):  Dorothy Perkins
 As you know, I am a BIG fan of Monki, I have slowly been adding more and more of their clothes to my wardrobe and I have not been disappointed. I love the range of clothes and I think the prices are very reasonable and I tell everyone  I know, they are definitely a brand that deserves more attention!


This Sarita sweater is possibly my favourite thing that I have bought from them though; it is ridiculously cosy, I love the colour (burgundy is my favourite at the moment!!) and the cute print is just a bonus...  Word of advice though, I got this in a small,when normally I would have to have the large. It is massively oversized as you can see and I would have drowned in a larger size (not something that ever usually happens to me!)


Apologies for the close up of my face but it gives a slightly better look at the heart print and the lovely Ballistic lipstick that has been my go to recently, along with my new foundation: Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 foundation- a ridiculous name but a fantastic foundation. I love nearly all Max Factor foundations and the fact that they are pale enough for my ghostly face too (I wear Light Ivory for reference!)


Mini hearts knitted into the jumper are just the perfect finishing touch- definitely my favourite jumper (sorry fisherman's knit!)

What do you wear on a cosy Sunday? Any brands you rave about?

1 party dress, 3 ways (PICTURE HEAVY)...

When the lovely folks at Voucher Codes got in touch to ask me to style one dress, three ways (to prove that you don't have to spend a fortune on all of those Christmas party outfits), I leapt at the chance. This year will be the first time I haven't been living at home and as Mark and I will be spending our first Christmas together in addition to one with each of our families, I need a hard-working dress! I chose this red lace beauty from Miss Selfridge, I love a red party dress - much more interesting than an LBD and perfectly festive too. 

Look # 1: A classic Christmas party look - perfect for meeting up with friends and dancing your socks Christmas stockings off...
Dress: Miss Selfridge (c/o Voucher Codes), belt: Miss Selfridge (c/o Voucher Codes), nude fishnets: Accessorize,  shoes: Bertie
 When I saw this gorgeous bejewelled belt from Miss Selfridge, my inner magpie was more than happy; there is nothing I love more than a bit of bling! I do think £28 is a bit extortionate, however, but maybe a craftier blogger than I could do a D.I.Y?! 

I love the delicate lace, definitely the best way to work some sheer pieces into your wardrobe!
 One thing I didn't realise when I ordered it was that the dress had a 'dippy hem'. I really cannot see the point of these but luckily the front of the dress was long enough for me not to get too annoyed about it and before long I was swooshing around in all the extra material. I think the clunkiness of the shoes also helped to balance the floaty hem too. What do you think? 


The sheer back is lovely and I love how pale my skin looks next to the red. Winter is the one time of year where I don't look abnormally pale, as everyone else is a little bit more ghostly ;)


Look # 2: An evening in the pub - understated yet still festive (just add antlers)...

Dress: Miss Selfridge (as above), belt: vintage, shoes: ASOS, clutch bag: Topshop, nude fishnets: Accessorize
 Ever since I started blogging, many moons ago, I have wanted to do an outfit (head to toe) in one colour and although I am missing some red tights, this is pretty darn close! These red satin shoes always make me feel like a ballerina and are jazzy enough to look like you have made an effort, so you can feel nice and smug whilst everyone else is wincing in their heels. 



A vintage belt and the cutest clutch bag known to man add the finishing touches! 


Look # 3: The work Christmas do - from desk to dinner...

Dress: Miss Selfridge (as above),  tights: M&S, shoes: Primark, clutch bag: c/o Accessories Direct
 With a natty little cardigan (yes I am 85 years old!) I think this would be perfect for work, especially if (like me) your party starts in the afternoon rather than the evening. If in doubt just add black tights and some simple court shoes, amirite?!


A giant bow clutch bag always helps me to feel 'party ready' (what a hideous phrase!) Who needs statement jewellery when you have a dress this nice?!


A slightly closer look at the lovely sweetheart neckline and my make-up: a simple smoky eye with a scarlet pout works for any occasion in my opinion!

How would you style this dress? Have you got your Christmas outfits planned?
P.S. Many thanks to Voucher Codes for their generous offer, I hope I have given you some inspiration for your festive frock!

How to wear shorts for work...

For me, shorts are one of life's under-appreciated treasures. They are way more practical than a skirt but much more fun than a pair of trousers and finding a pair that were work appropriate has been on my mental shopping list for a long time now.  This navy pair were from my beloved NW3 by Hobbs and the length is perfect although I wish they sat higher on the waist as they just fall down on me. For work, I paired them with a plain blouse and simple accessories for a professional but relaxed look but I think these will also look awesome with my chunky knit tights and a jumper or two...

Sheer blouse: New Look, shorts: NW3 by Hobbs, camisole: M&S, belt: New Look, shoes: Clarks c/o Spartoo
Apologies for the badly lit photos too, leaving the house at 6 am in the winter definitely has its disadvantages!  I only realised recently, just how many sheer blouses I have and I am trying to wear them as much as possible, the sleeve length makes them more seasonally appropriate and yet they are light enough that I don't boil with the central heating at work. This camisole/slip from M&S is a real lifesaver, it is a half decent length unlike many that come underneath dresses (I'm looking at you Topshop!)


New level of matchy matchy on the lipstick and nails front too. I have far too many lipsticks that have been lying unworn for too long so I am rediscovering old favourites from my make-up bag. This shade is Ballistic (136) from good old Rimmel. I love a classic red lip and this is a really great every day colour. 


My favourite nude fishnet tights (Accessorize are one of the few places on the high street to do decent  nude fishnets) and my lovely leopard print loafers added a much needed injection of print and I love how the leopard print looks against the cream. 


A dainty little initial necklace from the Urban Outfitters sale a while ago which I absolutely love but rarely wear. I find daintier jewellery tends to get overshadowed by the chunkier necklaces I own which is a shame as it too nice to be hidden away! 


How would you style these shorts? Any ideas on how to ease myself back into wearing lipstick again?

The best peanut butter cookie recipe...


When I was younger I had a real sweet tooth and liked nothing more than baking (and eating!) sweet cakes and treats although I usually prefer something more savoury these salty peanut butter cookies are the perfect mix of sweet and salty.  This recipe is a slightly adapted version of one from my beloved Cookiepedia- Americans sure know their cookies!

A vintage coat and brand new boots....

Recently as it has got colder, I have found myself reaching for my beloved skinny jeans and I have been trying to find different coats to pair them with so that people don't realise that I am essentially wearing the same outfit ;) This coat was my vintage bargain buy from when Danni and I went to Vintage at Goodwood with Aussie and it has never really had much airtime on here despite me wearing it a lot. I love the fuchsia pink colour and the fact it is 100% wool definitely helps!

Coat:  vintage, top: NW3 at Hobbs, jeans: Kristens from Topshop, shoes: Betty London ankle boots c/o Spartoo, bag: vintage
This little beauty is the latest addition to my (ever growing) owl collection and was a wonderful birthday gift from my friend Matilda as part of an owl themed birthday present- isn't he gorgeous?! I just love his little pearl body and the length of the necklace is perfect...


Once again though, my love is reserved for my shoes. Since I bought these black ankle boots, I have been wearing them with everything. They are like the more wearable version of these and ridiculously comfy, I didn't even have to break them in...

That is a look of true love my friends. Sorry Mark, Bertope and I are now an item...
I think it might be love! They have the perfect size heel to give me a bit of a lift (avoiding the dreaded stumpy leg syndrome) and the black suede is gorgeous. Considering these have barely left my feet for a month and have been subjected to water, mud, grass and slippery leaves, it is also incredibly hard wearing. Definitely considering buying a back up pair of these...


P.S. This post was done in collaboration with Spartoo

How to wear burgundy...

Every year certain colours come back around and burgundy/oxblood/berry/bordeaux,whatever you want to call it, is one that you can guarantee everyone will be wearing, come the winter months .  I must hold my hands up, I am a big fan of the colour and I seem to have acquired more than a few items in this gorgeous berry shade over the years...

Dress: Forever 21, belt: Primark, tights: John Lewis, shoes:Kurt Geiger, glasses: Gok Wan at Specsavers
I promised you a review of my (other) new glasses so here you go, these beauties from Gok Wan have become my 'everyday' specs as they are more subtle than my other pair and the slight Miss Moneypenny look to them works better in the office I feel ;) I'm still not used to my face with spectacles (any tips on how to get used to them would be much appreciated!) but Mark thinks they make me look older, what do you guys think?
Lipstick: Shade 107 in the Kate Moss matte lipstick range- the perfect berry lipstick
Here is your first look too at my gorgeous new handbag! Part birthday present and part reward to myself for my promotion, this baby is a 100% leather bag from Radley in a (you guessed it!) lovely shade of burgundy that is the perfect size for an everyday handbag.


The focus of the outfit for me though was this gorgeous pair of patent Mary Janes (a bargain at Swindon designer outlet a few weeks ago) They are the kind of shoes that make you do a jig of happiness whenever you catch a glimpse of them. They are surprisingly comfortable considering the height and even I managed a whole day in them- total success!

I love the fact that my tights match the colour of the shoes perfectly- hello optical illusion of having long(er) legs!
Even my drink matched! My first black forest hot chocolate of the year went down a treat before I headed to Zizzi's, talk about an indulgent afternoon!


Have you fallen for burgundy this Autumn? (har har) Any tips on how to get used to wearing glasses?

Skyfall & Zizzi Worcester (A REVIEW)...

So as you may have heard, a little indie film was released recently called Skyfall. Directed by Sam Mendes and featuring Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes and everyone's favourite, Judi Dench, for me it was something I was desperate to see and Ladbrokes (click here to visit their site) very kindly sent me vouchers for both the cinema and for Zizzi- the perfect recipe for a night out. I won't post any spoilers here but I will say that Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace felt like 'pre-Bond' to me whereas Daniel (my beloved) was more classic Bond with this film... I will never be a film critic but it is good, definitely go and see it (I have seen it twice already!!) (Even as a long term Adele hater, I didn't even mind her singing the theme song!)


Hilarious webcam shot from my first year at uni,  so 2008 (!) of my giant Daniel Craig poster... swoon! Captioned on Facebook as 'Have you seen his massive gun?!'- classy as ever...
 As it turned out, Mark and I went to the cinema last weekend with Cindy and Dan which was lovely and then went for a massive meal yesterday at Zizzi in Worcester which only opened recently. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and has been designed with the history of Worcester as the inspiration for the décor. I am a long-time fan of Zizzi and I always end up having the same thing so this time I was determined to try something different...


For my starter, I had doughsticks- bread with garlic and rosemary, what more could you want?! I am definitely going to try and make these at home..


Mark had calamari (bleugh) with a lemon mayonnaise...


I love how each of the tables had music underneath the glass- I think Elgar would approve! 


Hot ginger beer and elderflower to drink, unfortunately the hot ginger beer was just spicy rather than warmed- how amazing would that be in winter?


I loved the new chichetti menu which is basically tapas as I am always far too indecisive. I chose rosemary chicken and pepper skewers, deep fried risotto balls with peas and mozzarella and seared beef with a peppery rocket salad (my favourite) and I was nicely full after I had finished...


Mark had the classic Fiorentina pizza with a fried egg on the top (it shouldn't work but it does!) which was HUGE.


 And for pud? Torta Amaretti which has always been my favourite pudding, I don;t know what I would do if they ever took it off the menu!


Mark plumped for grissini- sweet dough with honey, pine nuts and chocolate sauce for dipping them in. I swear, after all of this food, Mark had to roll me out of the restaurant but I didn't regret a single mouthful! 

Have you seen Skyfall yet? Do you always choose the same thing at restaurants?
P.S. Many thanks to Ladbrokes for the vouchers, Mark and I had a lovely time!