Frills 'n' Spills

BIBA is one of those brands where subtlety is in short supply. I love all of their jazzy prints and they always look so luxurious. I spotted this top in the House of Fraser sale back in March and I fell in love, the peacock print is beautiful and I love the swooshy sleeves! I have been trying to focus on quality over quantity with my clothes buying and this was an ideal candidate: it wasn't cheap but the standard is so much higher than anything I buy from H&M or Primark and I know it will still be in my wardrobe  years later. 

Eyeshadow has always been out of my comfort zone but I have been trying to wear it more recently and I was pretty pleased with the result here. Paired with my favourite nude lipstick (Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Liv it Up) I was hot to trot! I treated myself to Liv it Up and Pink Venus when I got my new job and I absolutely love them, I will definitely be treating myself to a few more shades come next payday...

The back detail on this top is fab too, the tie allows you to adjust how wide the neckline is which I like. I always get a bit paranoid that the sleeves will keep slipping off my shoulders but this helps to keep them firmly in place. My hair has grown a lot recently and I have been able to coax it into soft waves which is fab. I have always been very low maintenance with my hair so it's nice when it cooperates!

These River Island jeans are so comfortable and due to the stretch in the denim, they stay comfy even after a large meal (which let's face it, is the whole point of going out!) I really want some new berry jeans this Autumn, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they bring some out in this style.

Are you a fan of BIBA?

This post contains jeans that were sent for review

When House of Fraser got in touch to see if I was interested in styling some of their jeans, I jumped at the chance. I have been looking for a replacement pair for these leather look trousers for a while so thought I would take a risk on these coated Biba jeans for a similar look. Imagine my surprise when they arrived and looked more like a pair of sexy waterproof trousers than waxed jeans! Once I had got over the shock, I tried them on and they actually fit really well, something I was worried about as Biba usually runs pretty small for me. Paired with a swooshy tunic top, I was sold and I wore them out for dinner and drinks with Mark. 'Date night' is one of those things that can feel a bit contrived (especially when you live together!) but it's nice to have an excuse to get all dressed up and trying good food and drink is a great way to spend time together. I always hate the idea of going out but we always have a lot of fun when we force ourselves to get out of the house, I just need to tear myself away from Netflix for more than five minutes...

I never used to like leopard print, the first time I wore it was back in March 2011 and since then I have slowly been adding it into my wardrobe. I have stuck to accessories for now though, as I still worry that I would look a bit 'tarty' in a full blown dress or skirt. I really wish I had the confidence to pull it off! So, when House of Fraser asked if I would like to review this bag I almost bit their hands off. I love a nice mini bag like this and thought it would be perfect for those days where you don't want to carry around the kitchen sink...

I always seem to wear this dress with the same coat and belt, I think the camel coat makes it look a bit classier despite being a really short skirt! ;)

As you can see, neither the bag nor the logo is particularly subtle but then, leopard print for me is all about injecting that bit of 'oomph' into an outfit, it's definitely not for those who want to blend in! Saying that, I do like the more subtle purple leather version of the bag, isn't it the most gorgeous colour?! 

The inside of the bag is absolutely HUGE, looks are definitely deceiving with this Tardis of a bag. I managed to fit my phone, diabetes stuff (about a make-up bag's worth of stuff) purse, passport and keys and still have all this room left! I think the 3 separate pockets are fab, especially if you are as prone to losing things as me and I love the print on them too. I'm not so keen on the flap and handle of the bag, it is leather but feels a bit cheap and nasty (and at an eye-watering £179.00 full price, it certainly shouldn't!) The bag is in the sale at the moment for a slightly more reasonable £89.50 which for a sturdy leather bag like this, I think is fairly reasonable even if completely opposed to the essence of the original Biba brand! (where everything was designed to be cheap and disposable)