Frills 'n' Spills

Yes, it's another day, another printed navy dress worn here at Frills 'n' Spills HQ! Dresses will always be my favourite thing to wear, mainly because they are just so easy to throw on in the morning and this one is a worthy addition to my wardrobe. It is another Sainsbury's bargain and I absolutely love it, the jersey's super flattering and the print is just to die for: it has the cutest illustrations of buildings and dogs on! Apologies for the dearth of posts recently, you may have seen that I have a new job (eek!) and things have been pretty manic here. I start my new job a week on Monday and I'm excited and terrified in equal measure. I don't know what my new routine is going to look like but hopefully I will still be able to snap outfit pictures and fit in some blogging! Change is always nerve-wracking but it is definitely the right decision for me, I am just anxious to get started so I can stop worrying about it, haha!

I really love the print of this dress, cute illustrations of pretty buildings and cute dogs will always float my boat! You know I can't resist a belt (I am worse than Gok Wan in that respect!) and this red patent one is lovely. Paired with Essie Russian Roulette shade this outfit felt quite retro without looking costume-y (I hope!)

I picked up these orange-y red suede shoes when I went to the Gloucester Quays outlet back in April and although I have only worn them a few times so far, I really love them. Little pumps with block heels like this are so comfy for everyday wear and I would have them in every colour if I could!

I have always found that clothes are the best indicator of my mood, whether that is bright and exuberant or more restrained. So much of our confidence is tied up with how we look and blogging has made me a much more confident person (just look how far I have come since one of my first outfit posts!) but recently I have been feeling all kinds of rubbish. I realise that most people won't want to know about my self esteem issues but I have always been honest about the lows on this blog as unfortunately life isn't always sunshine and flowers! Since starting my job last April, I have put on a lot of weight and much to my dismay, some clothes are now off limits as they are too small. As a result of this, I have been quite self conscious of my problem areas (hello hips and torso!) and so have been looking for ways to disguise them. I am working to lose my weight gain, replacing crisps and cake with  salads and more exercise *sob* but as anyone who has lost weight knows, it can be a slow process! Despite all of the above (!) I really love this outfit and am looking forward to recreating it when I want some cosy layers...

TL;DR- I put on weight which is bad because I can't fit into some of my clothes and my self esteem suffered as a result...

This nail varnish is part of the rather wonderful Nails Inc set that I picked up in TK Maxx recently (along with this Rouge Noir inspired shade) and is a gorgeous pinky burgundy colour. It is the little details that make all the difference and I always feel much more pulled together when I paint my nails. I have also been trying to appreciate the little things in life; there's nothing nicer than scented candles or fresh flowers! 

How do you stay upbeat? What makes you feel more confident?

Like Laura Ashley, Hobbs is one of those places that I really can't afford to shop at but I still do. The thing is, their clothes and shoes are so well made that they are worth spending a bit more on and also the designs and the attention to detail really are something else. Although I'm not snobby about brands, I do think it is always worth getting the highest quality you can afford along with only buying clothes that you really love and Hobbs fits both those criteria! I bought this top in the sale before Christmas and have been waiting for the weather to warm up so I can wear it properly. Although it is sleeveless, the higher neckline means that I can wear it to work and keep cool without flashing too much flesh, always a winner!

If you know me, you know I love hot pink. It's a colour I always go back to and when I saw these trousers in H&M it was love at first sight. I had been looking for some clothes to update my work wardrobe and these were perfect, a classic shape in a modern and fun colour. 

I'm not sure why I look so grumpy but I love this 60s inspired outfit, perfect for rainy days...

Green. The colour of nature, new beginnings, fresh starts but also the colour of jealousy, and envy. For me of course, it is the colour of my ASDA uniform and whilst that is a more virulent shade of green (think Kermit coloured!) rather than putting me off,  it seems I can't get enough of bright green, especially when it comes in the form of a rather darling maxi skirt. I have been dressing up more on my days off as I have to wear a uniform for the rest of the time and I think this has done wonders for my creativity, I feel so inspired to experiment when I look at my wardrobe that more 'interesting' outfits like this are inevitable!

In the end, this outfit became all about the accessories... My trusty brown belt came out again...