Frills 'n' Spills

...or what to wear out when the weather is rubbish! I never know what to wear when I go to the pub- I am always torn between going for extreme comfort (jeans and a jumper) and wanting to get slightly dressed up. Finding a balance can be tricky, especially if you have to spend any time outside, before or afterwards. I decided that my new lace skirt from Monki (yes Monki again!) would be the perfect way to glam up a plain top and add a bit of interest to a more practical outfit. This leather biker jacket has long been a favourite of mine and the cropped length works well with longer skirt lengths (and particularly well with black semi sheer maxi skirts it seems!)  ;) I think I was trying to pop my collar up here but I'm really not sure!

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will know that I love a good coat. I have one in nearly every colour under the sun but luckily there is always room for one more, especially one as lovely as this. I bought it from Topshop in the sale and although I can't see it online, my local branch had quite a few left in store. I love the sixties swing style of this and the fact that it makes me feel like Blair Waldorf is a massive bonus. Just FYI, if you are thinking of buying it, definitely size down, there is a lot of material!

What clothes make you feel glamourous? Did you pick up any bargains in the sale?

Whenever I wear this dress, I end up pairing it with faux fur of some kind and feeling incredibly Russian- I think it is the rich colour and the fact is it wool but who knows! When the snow covered the ground last week, it was the first thing I reached for and despite the short sleeves I was super cosy. Wearing this dress is always a bit like Russian roulette as it is so unpredictable, sometimes it works and other times I just look like a sausage, hopefully this was the former! ;)

What have you been wearing in the snow? Do you have 'unpredictable' outfits?

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

When Matalan asked me if I wanted to get involved in their style project I couldn't have said yes any quicker. Some of my favourite bloggers have participated in it and I love seeing all the different looks that people come up with for the same theme- it's so interesting to see what pieces everyone is drawn to! I was really impressed by how far my voucher stretched too, I managed to get the top, trousers, blazer and shoes for £50, how amazing is that?! I haven't actually worn this into work yet (hate the snow!) but as soon as the ice disappears, this will be top of the pile to wear! 

The best dresses are those that you can wear throughout the year and this Peacocks dress has proven a favourite choice even now that the weather is colder.  I swapped my yellow sandals for some slightly more practical mustard flats and some grey woolly tights to keep me cosy. 

Which dresses do you keep coming back to all year-round ? Do you like being matchy-matchy?

This outfit is made up of items that I wear all the time but haven't actually shown on the blog. I have had this wrap cardigan for years and years and despite being part of a La Senza pyjama set (!) it is one of the smarter cardigans I own and I have worn it nearly to death. I think wrap cardigans had a bit of a revival after Black Swan and when they are as cosy as this, you can see why! These photos make it look like it is the same colour as the skirt but in real life it is much more glittery- I think my black glittery boots would look amazing with this outfit! 

These photos were taken way back at the beginning of October, before I picked up my glasses but I don't know why I haven't posted it yet as this is an outfit I wear pretty regularly despite both the shoes and the skirt being impulse buys. I have to admit, I am awful for making impulse purchases, (especially if I happen to wonder into a supermarket clothing section) and this skirt definitely falls into that category. I saw it on ASOS for a measly £9.50 and figured that even if it did look a bit yellow, with change from a tenner, I couldn't really complain. Luckily, when the skirt arrived, it was gorgeous- the colour is more camel than yellow and the check print is lovely- I never can resist a checked skirt! 

A slick of red lipstick and my faux fur stole always make me feel glamourous, even when heading to work, definitely the perfect sartorial pick me up...

Yes, my legs really are that short! Cable knit tights are a winter essential for me and these match these NW3 heels nearly perfectly. These heels hopefully elongate my stumpy legs too, despite the length of my skirt...

Apologies for the darkness of these photos - Mark inadvertently switched to a manual setting on the camera and they all came out looking like they were shot in a gloomy room and even my awful amazing brightening skills couldn't save them. I really love this dress, it was an eBay bargain and I have barely taken it off after its first outing to the #SWBXmas! It was originally a dress in size 18 from H! by Henry Holland (a brand I love) but had been adjusted to a roomy 16, so it is perfect for hiding that post-Xmas bulge ;)

I love the bows on the shoulder of this and the white necklace is fab, it always makes things feel more summery, even if it is grey outside...

I think everyone has found the last week or so a bit of a shock if they were off over Christmas and New Year. Going back to work is killer. Although I prefer a routine, when you have been getting up at 11 and lazing around on the sofa all day, getting up at 5 am is very hard to do. Luckily this beautiful tweed dress from Monsoon (favourite sale item?) made my first day back much nicer! I love love love the tweed and the fact it has pockets MADE MY DAY. Please excuse my dazed expression in these photos, this was about half 5 so I look completely slightly dopey...

I love pinafore dresses (see here and here for proof!) and I love the fact that this dress can be worn on its own or  layered up with one of my many sheer blouses for a slightly different look. The length is perfect for work and although I felt slightly like a schoolgirl, I think this is one of those outfits where you show a bit of  personality, but it is still appropriate for a more conservative office...

Even if I'm not going out, I like to dress up for New Year's Eve as it makes it feel like more of an occasion. This year, we stayed in with friends and played board games whilst eating ourselves silly (you may have seen the amazing Mars cheesecake we had!) which was really fun- definitely the best way to ring in the new year! I bought this dress on a whim from ASOS before Christmas as it was on sale and I couldn't be more pleased with it. The material is reassuringly thick and the print is amazing, it reminded me of Dolce & Gabbana FW12, I seem to have been very inspired by designer shows recently! I have always been more of a maximalist than a minimalist but never really dipped my toe into the opulent world of baroque until now. I get the feeling that this won;t be my last OTT print though! 

  

For a bodycon dress, this is also quite demure, I love the higher neckline and the length will be perfect for wearing nude tights when it warms up a bit! I bought this a size bigger than I normally would as I wasn't sure how fitted it would be, but definitely buy your normal size! These shoes were a sale bargain from some time last year that I really need to wear more, I love the snakeskin effect...

What did you wear for New Year's Eve? Are you a maximalist or a minimalist?

Cheesy puns ahoy! I hate to say it but I felt more than a little bit like Adele in this outfit. I have never been a fan of hers but I can't help but feel that the shape of the dress with the beehive make this something she might wear, even if it is a little brighter than her usual LBDs.  This whole outfit was quite 60s inspired and I actually love how it came out- perhaps a bit 'fancy dress' for New Year's Day but oh well!

I picked up this dress in H&M the other day, when it was reduced to a mere £10 in the sale and I absolutely love it. The length makes it perfect for work and I love the bright floral/tie dye explosion of colour too... I can see this working with a lot of  my favourite accessories, how amazing would this look with my pink shoes?!

THE SHOES OF DREAMS ™ I bought these shoes a few years ago in the John Lewis sale and I really don't wear them enough. They are pale pink velvet with sparkly encrusted bows and although fairly rigid, the perfect shoes to wear if you are having a bit of a rubbish day, these babies are guaranteed to put a smile on your face!