Frills 'n' Spills

Yes, the leopard print curse strikes again! I found this gorgeous leopard print dress on the sale rail in my local Tesco (always a lethal place to look!) and I fell in love. The combination of batwing sleeves and the print felt very 1980s to me and the fact that it was a mere £6 (!) sealed the deal; it has to be one of the most flattering dresses in my work wardrobe. I think you can see how happy I was here and I felt really sassy in this outfit. The dress is made out of a really thick jersey that is super flattering and also meant that I didn't need a cardigan or jacket which is always a winner in my book. There's nothing worse than having to carry a jacket around, especially when you don't need it after first thing in the morning. Batwing sleeves can be a real pain to wear and that much material can be overwhelming but they are super fun and I really love them... I am always super impressed with Tesco, some of my favourite ever dresses have come from there!

I straightened my hair because it was absolutely huge when I woke up and a sleeker look meant that it wasn't competing with the print on my dress. I don't tend to go for nude toned lipsticks but this rosy brown colour was the perfect shade to make me feel pulled together without needing much effort. 

I love a nipped in waist and this D-ring belt helps to define mine. I bought Essie Ballet Slippers in a duo set with Spin the Bottle a while ago and although it is pretty pale on me, with a few coats it makes my nails look super sophisticated. 

I was originally going to wear my beloved rose gold heels with this dress but they made it look a bit too 'done' for a Friday at work. I went for this chunkier heel instead which gave me the height without feeling too dressed up.

Are you a fan of supermarket clothing? Which clothes put a spring in your step?

These gorgeous sandals were another of my ASDA picks and they are so ridiculously comfy- I didn't even have to go through the horrible ritual of breaking them in! They really remind me of these Matalan sandals which I absolutely love and so far, they have been the perfect accompaniment to all of my swooshy dresses and skirts. They aren't leather but they don't look cheap or plasticky thanks to a fairly simple design and some judicious design touches, like the textured front strap and chunky gold buckle. I am gushing but it is simply because I love these sandals so much!

What do you wear to work in the summer?

As you know, I have been trying to eat more healthily recently and when Legal & General challenged me to get more fruit and veg into my life, I was sold. Whilst I will never look as glam in the kitchen as the Hemsley girls, their spiralizer makes it super easy to make courgetti and the like- and yes, that may be the most pretentious sentence I have ever written! ;) I was advised to switch to a low carb diet by my diabetes team a little while ago so anything that can fill me up without using all of my 30g meal allowance is a winner with me. I rustled this up for a quick lunch for me and Mark at the weekend and I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it was and how easy it was to make...

There are a few brands I really, really love and Joules is definitely up there on the list! I spotted (har har!) this beautiful Amelie polka dot dress  on Sarah a while ago and it was not long before I added it to my wardrobe. 1950s style dresses will always be my favourite shape to wear and I love how this one nips you in at the waist, the swooshy skirt is amazing and the pinky coral is super cheery too: this dress is definitely Maria approved! ;) I wore this out for a date night with Mark a few weeks ago but I will be definitely be wearing it all through the summer once the weather warms up again, it is far too pretty to 'save for best'! I was a little bit chilly in these photos but I haven't got a cardigan that matches. I am now on the hunt for a pale pink one, let me know if you have any recommendations, I'm not sure where to start looking for one...

Are you a Joules fan? What do you wear for date night?

I promised you that I would be sharing my George picks and I am so excited to be sharing this outfit with you. Certain things really put a spring in your step and this seaside dress is my new favourite thing in my wardrobe. Paired with my cat-eye sunglasses, I felt like Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday when I was swooshing around in the park in this- what more could you ask for from a dress?! I just need Gregory Peck to whisk me around on a Vespa now! (swoon). 1950s style dresses are always flattering on me and this one fits me like a glove. It feels like a grown-up version of the infamous Venice dress that I loved all the way back at uni and I couldn't be happier with it. Mark and I have been exploring Cheltenham more recently and this wisteria-filled park was a nice change in backdrop- definitely expect to see it on the blog again soon!

I know I will get a lot of wear from this dress in the summer and I can't wait to pair it with my bright yellow bag and sandals or this navy pair, the beauty of a busy pattern like this means that there are plenty of colours that you can pick out! I was originally going to go for a classic red nail varnish but I decided to wear Essie 'Spin the Bottle' on my nails instead which is definitely my perfect nude shade!

You know I can't resist a full skirt and this one is deliciously swooshy. The extra material could be a little overwhelming but the nipped in waist stops me from drowning in fabric. A midi length like this would be better with heels but I actually love it with flats, not least because I could run around without any problems.

Are you a fan of fifties frocks?

Yes, it's another 1970s inspired outfit! I rediscovered this top when I was having a clear out recently and I have basically ended up recreating the same outfit but with a more summer-y spin. I guess my taste hasn't changed as much as I thought in the past year, despite plenty of new additions (ahem) the vast majority of my wardrobe is pretty constant and I will always have room for a cute printed top! This outfit is nothing particularly ground-breaking but I felt absolutely unstoppable when I wore it, possibly because I have found a pair of jeans that fit me perfectly! I discovered them when I went to the Gap outlet recently and although I was initially dubious about trying on jeggings, the material is actually sturdier than a lot of jeans I own and they fit like a dream. I couldn't find them online but this pair look very similar and it is worth looking for them if you are in a Gap store any time soon...

Would you ever try *gasp* jeggings?

Have you ever tried Jewel Street? Who are your favourite jewellery designers?

P.S. Jewel Street sent me this ring to review but if I didn't love it, I wouldn't feature it!

I was originally going to wear this with some nude tights but I forgot just how short the skirt was so switched to opaques instead. I love a tulip skirt shape, it is super flattering and a great way to show off your legs without being too bodycon.

The menu at Mal Brasserie is more limited than many places but I actually prefer that, there is such a thing as too much choice, especially when you are as indecisive as me! I went for the steak frites, the world's biggest crème brûlée (so good but absolutely humongous!) along with a mojito. We got a cocktail each as part of our room price (along with the best eggs Benedict) and it was the perfect way to round off the evening. 

What is the best dress in your wardrobe? 

As you may have seen from my million Instagram pictures (#sorrynotsorry) Mark and I spent a lovely day and night in Oxford for our anniversary and we had an amazing time. We managed to get a good deal at Malmaison Oxford (yes that is a converted prison) and it was the perfect base for exploring Oxford as it is right in the centre of town. I have been wanting to stay here ever since Sophie raved about it and I was so thrilled that we were able to book it for our anniversary. Usually we stay in Travelodges when we go away so it was nice to experience a 'proper' boutique hotel- I just couldn't believe how fancy it all was! We haven't got a big holiday booked for this year but we are keen to see as much of the UK as we can so expect to see lots of little day trips like this one...

The exterior was amazing, so imposing and absolutely beautiful, especially in the sunshine, I imagine it would have looked slightly less welcoming if you were being imprisoned here, I couldn't believe that the prison only closed in 1996!

I loved that the original fronts of the cell blocks were still in place although I wasn't a fan of that narrow walkway crossing the hall. Me and heights are not a good combination!

We stayed in the beautiful room 210 in C-Wing and I couldn't have been happier. The room had quite a rustic feel with the exposed brick and the tartan accents. It could have ended up looking awful but I actually loved it, it must be my Scottish heritage ;) 

This was what we could see from our window, how ace is that view?!

I absolutely loved the bathroom, it was absolutely stunning although I have never stayed anywhere with so many mirrors- we had about 6 in our room which made it lovely and light but it was very disconcerting to keep catching glimpses of yourself, haha!

Being soppy with a smiley selfie with Mark. I can't believe that we have been together for so long, nine years seems to have passed by in a flash and I couldn't be happier :D Ok soppiness over for another year ;)

Radcliffe Camera- I am always amazed at how crowded a spot this is in, it always looks much roomier on the TV! We were planning on going to The Vaults and Garden Cafe for lunch (as recommended by Kat) but it was absolutely jam-packed so we sadly had to try somehwere else. 

Hattie recommended Turl Street Kitchen to us for lunch and it was absolutely lovely. 

I had a flat white and this smoked mackerel and potato salad and was just sad that I didn't have a larger portion as it was absolutely delicious. 

The super cute Bridge of Sighs...

Mark and I spent a few hours in the Ashmolean Museum and took so many photos! The Greek and Roman stuff was my favourite and the classicists among you may recognise a few pieces!

This had to be one of my favourite sections though, everything was so SHINY! The picture in the centre made me laugh so much, the way it took makes me look like I am wearing a giant shiny crown-  I just wish I had cause for a gilt owl and diadem!  

A beautiful ivy covered building, I just wish I could remember where this was- we did a lot of walking and took a lot of photos... 

Mark looking a little bit sheepish outside Oriel College- his grandpa went here so we wanted to take some photos but they were doing a lot of building work and it was a bit awkward taking them with the workmen, haha! 

Have you been to Oxford?