Frills 'n' Spills: Clarks

Showing posts with label Clarks. Show all posts

Beautiful broderie...

Little white dresses are always my go to in the summer; sunshine just calls for something light and breezy and this pretty broderie anglaise dress from Warehouse fitted the bill perfectly! I love the oversized sleeves (re-reading Anne of Green Gables has definitely reignited my appreciation for puffed sleeves!) and it is so light to wear. Paired with my beloved coral shoes and bag, it's perfect for these last few sunny days before we slip fully into Autumn!

Dress: Warehouse, tights:Tesco, shoes: Clarks, bag: Clarks

I don't look very impressed but I promise I wasn't feeling as miserable as I look here! Someone needs to tell my face to cheer up! 😂 This Max Factor lipstick (Bewitching Coral) is one of my favourites and the bright pinky-coral matched my shoes and bag perfectly, I love it when a plan comes together...

I have been trying to use more of my accessories recently and this teeny bag is more practical than you might first think. I can't carry the kitchen sink around like I usually would but actually that's no bad thing, I always lug far too much stuff around with me!

I did worry that this dress was a little bit short as I have been conscious of wearing clothes that are too young for me but I'm hoping I can get away with mini hemlines for a little while longer yet?!

What are your summer staples?

P.S. Did you know that there is a whole series of books about Anne Shirley? I didn't realise until recently but I did enjoy reading more about Anne growing up!

Pretty and practical...

This post contains some boots that were sent for review

I know it is a bit of a blogger cliché but I am so glad that Autumn is nearly here! I am definitely not built for sunnier climes (the heat in Barcelona nearly finished me off!) so the falling temperatures are very welcome here in Cheltenham, I'm not a massive fan of the darker mornings but the addition of boots and jumpers back into my wardrobe almost makes up for it! ;) When Brantano got in touch to offer me a pair of boots to review, picking this Clarks pair was a real no-brainer. I love Clarks shoes, there's nothing worse than having wet and cold feet and I knew that these boots would be a practical choice for my walks to work during the winter. Obviously they look great with jeans but I was really pleased how they turned out with this cute floral dress too. I can often err towards the girly in my outfits so adding a slight edge with the jacket and the boots was a nice change of pace.

Jacket:New Look, dress: Oasis, tights: Tesco, boots: Clarks c/o Brantano

I have had this jacket since my first year of uni- a whole 8 years (sob!) but as far as I can see, it only appeared on the blog around 2011! It was such a bargain too, I can't believe that I only paid £20 for a real leather jacket! This glossy lipstick is a fairly new addition to my ever-growing collection. Revlon make some great chubby lip pencils and this one in Provocateur is great for adding a swipe of colour.

These boots remind me of a more polished version of my Dr Martens and are equally fun for stomping around in. A word of warning: they come up a lot smaller than Clarks shoes usually do, I normally fit into a 7 without any problems but the 8 in these just about fits. I know that the leather will give slightly but it is definitely worth sizing up in these, especially if you are pairing them with some chunky socks! I always worry about making my legs look short with calf length boots but hopefully the addition of black tights helps to negate the effect?!

What's your best bargain? How do you stay dry in the winter?
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P.S. I was sent these boots to review but if I didn't love them, I wouldn't feature them on the blog.

Paisley prints...

It almost feels like summer has been and gone but I'm clinging onto the last of it with my long weekend to Barcelona in a couple of weeks and I cannot wait. I am only there for a few days but keen to fit in as much as possible so if you have any recommendations, please let me know! This dress is a relatively new addition to my wardrobe (yes it's another Warehouse beauty!) but it will certainly be coming with me on my hols! Paisley isn't a print I would usually go for but the colours on this one made it impossible to resist. I think it is supposed to be a midi length but thanks to my less than willowy legs, it is more like a maxi on me. At least it means I get to show off these ace shoes though...

Dress: Warehouse, shoes: Clarks c/o Spartoo

I have been trying to do more with my hair recently and plaits are a firm favourite of mine. A mini braid like this is so easy to do, even if your hair is as short as mine! I really like the Revlon balm stains and Romantic is the perfect match.

A better look at that gorgeous print!

I was worried about looking a bit short with this hemline but these heels gave me a much-needed height boost. They are high and I didn't dare walk to work in them, but thanks to the padding to support your foot and the super soft suede, they do keep your feet comfy.

Have you got any hints and tips for Barcelona? Are you a fan of paisley print?

Falke and floral prints...

It's strange how your wardrobe changes over the years, I used to live in cute floral dresses but have barely worn them recently. This Oasis dress has been hanging in my wardrobe for a while although I have been waiting for the colder weather to wear it as it is too short to wear without some opaques! I really like the colours and the ditsy print is super cute. I have been having a bit of a crisis of confidence recently and do worry that certain clothes can end up looking a bit 'young' on me. I tried toning down the cutesy factor with some grey tights and a swipe of red lipstick so hopefully this dress doesn't look too ridiculous!

Dress: Oasis, tights: Falke, shoes: c/o Clarks

Glamour magazine normally has some pretty cool freebies and this Clinique Cherry Pop Lipstick is a new favourite of mine! It's a pretty pinky-red and goes on really smoothly. It doesn't last very long on me (the perils of constantly eating!) but fades pretty evenly down to a pretty stain so is ideal for when you don't have the time (or inclination) to reapply throughout the day...

Nails: Max Factor in Angel Nails

I am lucky enough to work right in town and often spend my lunch breaks searching for bargains in the shops. I picked up these beautiful Falke matte tights in TK Maxx and I couldn't be more chuffed. They are super cosy and I love the slate grey colour too- much less harsh than black! I have been trying to soften these beautiful pointed flats for about a year now and although they're still not as comfy as I would like, I am slowly wearing them down ;) They were the perfect choice with this dress as they felt a bit more interesting than my usual block heels and I could speed around town to get my errands done, win win!

How do you avoid looking like you are playing dress up?

Petrol blue and orange...

It is a well-known fact that Whistles make some very nice clothes and I have been lucky enough to add some of their pieces to my wardrobe over the past few years, either via their sale or on eBay. (I cannot wait to wear this gorgeous teal dress next time I go out either, it is just so swooshy!) This latest addition to my wardrobe is distinctly more casual than a lot of the dresses I own but it is perfect for throwing on when you want something comfy but still smart. I wore this over a month ago (!) but I am so behind on blogging my outfits. You will have to forgive me if there are some seasonally jarring ones although I always seem to be much warmer than everyone else, especially at this time of year! Thin layers are the only way to cope with fluctuating temperatures and this corally orange cardigan is one I keep out all year round as it is just so versatile. I love orange and blue paired together and the combination never fails to put a smile on my face.

Whistles gunmetal blue grey jersey dress, Gap coral orange cardigan, Clarks orange suede pointed heels, casual, fun, workwear, Autumn

Dress:Whistles via eBay, cardigan: Gap via Matilda, shoes: Clarks c/o Spartoo

The jersey material makes this outfit pretty casual but I really liked the contrast with the smarter heels. It has a nice nipped in waist too so I felt less slumpy and more like I could take on the world buy lunchtime! If only I had an orange blazer that matched, I could take my matchy matchiness to a whole new level ;)

You know how much I love these orange heels and they are just so comfy. It's not often I will choose to wear heels for a full day at work but these are just so fun that I couldn't resist!

How do you keep your work outfits fun?

1 dress, 2 ways...

This post contains a dress that was sent for review

As soon as you reach your twenties, weekends start to get taken up with weddings (and later christenings!) and your fancy clothes end up working overtime to cope. When New Look offered me a dress to style two different ways, I leapt at the chance. We have a few birthdays and a wedding to attend in the next couple of months and it is great to have a dress that can work for several different occasions. This floral Closet dress is absolutely beautiful and despite the strong print, it is surprisingly versatile. I have to admit I hadn't heard of the brand before but I am really impressed with the quality of this dress and I will certainly be keeping an eye out for Closet in my local store. I picked this beautiful silk coat up years ago during one of my charity shop trips at uni and although I have only worn it a couple of times, I could never throw it away as it is just so pretty! I felt like a right princess in this outfit and although it could have looked quite dated, the messy hair and smoky eye made it feel more modern.

Closet floral fancy occasion dress from New Look, Precis Petit silk pink princess coat, New Look nude pink pointed heels, Clarks black patent pointed shoes, cropped wool cardigan, 1 dress styled 2 ways

Coat: Precis Petite via charity shop, dress:Closet c/o New Look, shoes: New Look

I mean, just look at that gorgeous detailing! I recently bought Sarah's old Fitbit Flex off her and I am loving it so far. It is forcing me to get moving about and the targets are perfect for someone as competitive as me! ;) I was going to take it off for the photos but what could be more modern?!

I wear these nude shoes to every wedding as they go with absolutely everything and I can manage a whole day and night in them. Always good when you want to be dancing along to cheesy pop in the early hours!

I love that this dress has pockets too, they should be a feature on every dress! I really love the shape of the top, it is plain but still interesting...

The thick black waistband makes for a really flattering silhouette too, especially against that bright skirt. You can see the colours a bit better here too, I was worried that they would be a bit insipid but they are certainly eye-catching!

This look is much more suitable for a family party than a wedding but it felt a lot easier to wear. I inherited this cardigan from Mark's mum (thanks Sue!) and it is one of the hardest working pieces in my wardrobe. I managed to shrink it in the wash a while ago but the shorter length means it hits at the most flattering point on my waist rather than hanging at that weird awkward length above my hips.

Cardigan: BHS via Mark's Mum, dress:Closet c/o New Look, shoes: Clarks

Mark bought me these shoes for Christmas back in 2013 and although they aren't quite as comfy as my beloved orange suede pair, they're pretty darned close!

How would you style this dress?

P.S. I was sent this dress to review but if I didn't love it, I wouldn't feature it!

Tile prints and tan wedges...

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...

Top: Primark via charity shop, camisole: Tesco, jeggings (!): Gap outlet, wedges: Clarks

MAC Vegas Volt is one of my favourite lipstick colours and some bright coral make-up helped the brown tones from felling too dull or dated. My hair was annoying me on this day and it is annoying me again now when I'm looking at these photos haha! My fringe has grown so much in just a few weeks, I'm so glad it's not at this annoying length any more, it was getting very frustrating...

A better look at that awesome print which reminds me of a teeny tiny tiled floor! This gold cuff is one of my favourite pieces of jewellery and I always feel pretty cool when I wear it-perhaps its Wonder Woman vibes were what gave me that extra sass in my step?!

Bracelet: Accessorize

I bought these Clarks Orleans Jazz tan wedges when I met up with Hattie at the end of last year and have been saving them for the first glimpse of sunshine. They are pretty high but the wedge heel means that they are comfortable enough to wear all day, assuming that you don't trip over any uneven floorboards at work (ahem). Clarks make some really beautiful shoes and I am definitely one of their biggest fans!

Would you ever try *gasp* jeggings?

Camel and Clarks...

I have been feeling pretty ropy recently but it was Mark's birthday on April fool's day and rather than wallowing at home, we decided to go out to Gloucester Quays for a little bit of shopping and a lot of food at Portivo Lounge. We are massive fans of the chain and Impero Lounge is one of our favourite places to go when we visit our friends in Portishead so we had high hopes! The food was delicious and although the atmosphere was a little lacking, it was early on a Wednesday night so we can forgive them for that! I didn't want to get all dressed up but as we were celebrating Mark's birthday, I wanted to make some effort so went for my favourite skinny jeans and a jazzy top instead. It seemed fitting that I wore my birthday present from him on his birthday so I pulled this gorgeous camel coat out of the wardrobe and it was the perfect finishing touch to this outfit. Outlet shopping can be a bit hit and miss but I am a massive fan and I even managed to pick up a few bargains (including this gorgeous Gap dress) which I will be sharing soon :)

Coat: H&M via Mark, top: Warehouse, jeans: ASOS, shoes: Clarks

Since buying my GHDs I have been wearing my hair straight more and more often as it is just so easy and helps me feel more pulled together (even if the truth is a different story!) My fringe had got far too long by this point so I pinned it back and I quite like how severe it looks, especially paired with this darker lipstick (Revlon Colorburst lipstick in Crush FYI)

The sleeves are the best part about this top- they are much more interesting than regular sleeves and are super cosy too- no cardigan is needed with these bad boys! The print on this top is really unusual too, it reminds me of ink stains and is much more interesting than your bog standard florals...

These gorgeous suede shoes were another Clarks sales bargain a while ago and I really love them. I find suede shoes so easy to wear and these are ridiculously comfy, even after wandering around outlet shops all evening ;)

Are you a fan of outlet shopping?

Sheer and squares...

Here I present you with the final outfit post with my old hair! This outfit is usually something that I would wear to work but I was so excited to wear it that I busted it out on the weekend instead. I rarely buy things at full price but when I saw this top in Warehouse, I couldn't resist, I told you that shop was lethal! I really like the length of this top and hides a food baby nicely ;) I'm lucky that I don't have a proper dress code at work but if you do then I imagine you could swap these jeans for some slim black or grey trousers and add a smart blazer for a smart (and fun!) work outfit...

Top: Warehouse, jeans: ASOS, shoes: Clarks

The print on this top is really unusual and I really like the sheer panels too, they make a simple shape way more interesting! I paired this outfit with Revlon's Just Bitten Cherish stick here but I imagine it would look equally nice with a bright pink lipstick or a blue smoky eye, wouldn't that be ace?!

I have raved about this bag a lot and you can see why- it is a gorgeous brown-y burgundy leather, it is the perfect size for all of my usual junk that I carry round and it even has enough room for a book, bravo Clarks, you have done it again!

Bag: Clarks

These gorgeous suede shoes were another Clarks sales bargain and I really love them. They don't seem to be available on the site any more but you can get a better look at that gorgeous gold block here. I find suede shoes so easy to wear and these required minimal breaking in, whereas this pair are still causing me some trouble- do you have any tips for breaking in shoes?

What make-up looks would you wear with this shirt? How would you style this top for work?

Cosy basics...

It's not often you will see me in (near) monochrome over on the blog as my default setting is bright colours but this oversized jumper was too good to resist. I spotted it in the Topshop sale when I went shopping with Hattie and it is one of my favourite things that I have bought this year. I have been trying to add some versatile basics to my wardrobe and this classic grey jumper is a great start. I love the relaxed fit of it and it is just so darned cosy! I wore this outfit on my first day back at work after Christmas and it was the perfect way to ease me out of pyjamas and back into proper clothes ;) My smug little face just shows how much I love this outfit, have you ever seen anyone look so chuffed?!

Jumper: Topshop, camisole: Tesco, jeans:ASOS, shoes: Clarks

I especially love the contrast of the sheer sleeves with the rest of the jumper (are you spotting a pattern here yet?!) I will be sharing my favourite lipsticks with you in a post soon but I have so many of them. Would you prefer it to be split into a few separate posts or have one huge one?

I finally managed to get some replacement shoes for my beloved Clarks loafers. Although this pair are nowhere near as comfy as my old ones, they look a lot smarter and I'm sure they will soften up soon. Is there anything worse than breaking in new shoes?!

Would you prefer my favourite lipsticks to be split into a few separate posts or have one huge one?

Lady Danger...

This post contains items that were sent for review

My love for Whistles is well documented on this blog and although I am a massive fan of their oh so cool designs, my bank balance is less fond. As a result, I spend a lot of time stalking their designs on eBay (obsessed me?!) and it's always very exciting when I actually manage to win an auction. This little red dress (yes another one!) is my latest purchase and I spent the day after it turned up, swooshing around Cheltenham in it. This is definitely a 'look at me' dress and it was perfect for putting a spring in my step and cheering up a wintry morning! I have been feeling a bit down recently so this outfit was just the confidence boost I needed. It was also the perfect blank canvas for the beautiful Clarks shoes that I was lucky enough to be sent to feature (scroll down for more details!)

Dress: Whistles, shoes: c/o Clarks, tights: Tesco

MAC Lady Danger is a gorgeous orange-y red and although it is quite bright against my ~~pasty~~ pale skin, I couldn't resist as it was the perfect match for this dress. I didn't realise how low cut this dress actually was and the top button is pretty loose so I spent most of the day rebuttoning it and trying to avoid the disapproving glances I was getting in Waitrose (oops!) My hair seems to get shorter and shorter (funny that!) every time I got to the hairdressers- I would love to go as short as the lovely Lil but I'm not quite that brave...yet!

You know I can't resist a natty bow and this cinches my waist in nicely. I'm not usually a fan of sleeves on dresses but these ones balance out the lower neckline and mean that I don't have to cover up with a cardigan- always a good call when I am layering up in winter! Any dress with pockets gets a thumbs up from me and these drapey pockets are ace.

When Clarks got in touch about working with them recently, I was absolutely over the moon, they are a long term favourite of mine and I was so chuffed to be asked. I was sent a voucher to use instore and after a lot of umming and aahing, I picked these beautiful pointed flats. I love the snakeskin printed leather and slight metallic sheen - they are some good looking shoes! The leather hasn't softened yet so they're not the most comfortable but I know from experience that given time, they will be like heaven for my feet!

Which outfits put a spring in your step? Are you a Clarks fan?

P.S. Clarks sent me a voucher to trial some shoes but if I didn't love them, I wouldn't feature them!

Frills 'n' Spills

Beautiful broderie...

Pretty and practical...

Paisley prints...

Falke and floral prints...

Petrol blue and orange...

1 dress, 2 ways...

Tile prints and tan wedges...

Camel and Clarks...

Sheer and squares...

Cosy basics...

Lady Danger...

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