Frills 'n' Spills

I have always been a fan of statement jackets and when I spotted this one in Seasalt, I knew I would be taking it home with me. I love the colour teal and this print is perfect for adding a bit of interest to a pretty basic outfit. Admittedly I would usually associate Seasalt with stripes or anchors than with prints like this but it was definitely a pleasant surprise! Paired with bright lipstick and glasses, it did feel like something an art teacher might wear, I just need to figure out how to layer my necklaces...

Pink lipstick is always so fun to wear and I have raved about this Bourjois velvet formula many many times. You should definitely get your hands on it if you like bright shades that last all day! Statement pieces need a blank canvas to really shine and this beige top from Gap was ideal. It is a lovely soft cotton and crucially is long enough in the body for me. I can't stand tops that are short in the torso!

Are you a fan of statement jackets? How do you jazz up your basics?

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?

Unlike red, yellow is not a colour that I wear very often. I love it as a colour but finding a shade that flatters me is pretty tricky. I spotted this top in Warehouse a couple of months ago and I fell in love and thankfully the colour actually works on me. It is more lemon in person but it is impossible to photograph so you will just have to take my word for how nice a colour it is! Paired with my favourite skinny jeans and some shiny shoes, it was the perfect outfit for dinner and drinks.

These beautiful pleated sleeves were my favourite part of this top, aren't they fun?! They are quite long though so I wouldn't advise eating messy foods with these because they will dip into absolutely everything!

Shiny shoes will always be fun and this River Island pair are one of my favourites. Because they are flat they are super comfy and I can dance the whole night away in them. More proof that basics don't have to be boring! 

Are you a fan of yellow?

Basic is a pretty loaded term but even I have to take a break from dressing up; and when I need a break from pretty dresses, I head for simple pieces like this jazzy shirt and jeans. River Island have had some really nice casual pieces in recently and this shirt is a very welcome addition to my weekend wardrobe. I love the longer length of it and the soft cotton is thick enough to wear without a jacket which is ideal for this time of year. 

The real highlight of this outfit for me though was the shoes. I've never really worn Converse but I saw this metallic pair and fell in love. I will always love anything rose gold and these shoes are just so shiny! 😍 

I mean, how can you not have a smile on your face you are wearing these?! They are proof that basics don't have to be boring!

What are your wardrobe basics? 

Blogging is a funny old game, and one I didn't do much of in 2016. It was a very strange year for me and mine, we had some lovely highs (including celebrating a decade with Mark, being bridesmaid for my little sister, spending V-day with some of the best people I know, being made permanent at work, visiting Barcelona and even managing to feel more at ease with myself and my body thanks to semi-regular exercise) but I also had some really tough times, especially with my dad's accident. Luckily he is much much better now and will continue to improve but there's nothing like a big shock to push you out of your comfort zone! I'm not very good at asking for help but so many people stepped up to the plate this year so thank you, you don't realise how much it helped! Slightly maudlin but I'm hoping that 2017 will be calmer, there's plenty to look forward to but slightly less drama excitement would be nice! I have always been a great believer in the transformative power of clothes and this top was both a fun purchase and another step out of my shell. I tend to avoid drop waisted clothes but I loved the fun print and shape and couldn't bear to leave it on the shelf.

It was the perfect choice for a lunch date with Mark as it looks fancy but is actually mega comfy and easy to wear. It makes enough of a statement that I didn't have to hunt down any extra accessories which is always a win in my book!

I have worn much less foundation this year,  it's amazing how distracting a swipe of bright lipstick can be! This is my failsafe summery shade: Max Factor  in Bewitching Coral, it is one of those colours that looks good on everyone...

You can't beat a swooshy hem! 😍

I have had this bag for donkey's years but apparently I have never posted about it on the blog which is a surprise! I think I picked up on one of my charity shop trips at uni but can't be 100% sure without my handy wardrobe referencer (a.k.a my archive of outfit posts). I love the super soft suede and snazzy tassel and it is surprisingly roomy for such a small bag, I managed to fit my purse, massive keyring and all of my diabetes stuff in, not bad going at all!

A better look at that hemline and a repeat of the bottom half of this outfit... oops! I have missed sharing my outfit pictures over on the blog and whilst I'd love to promise that this is all going to change with the dawn of a new year,  realistically, I don't think I will ever get back to my old schedule of posting every other day like in the good old days! I'm hoping to spend more time reading (and commenting) on my favourite blogs this year so please do hit me up with your favourites!

It's been a while since I posted about wearing a crop top but since February, I have been introducing more and more of them into my wardrobe. They are the ideal match to my high-waisted skirts and surprisingly comfortable if you can find a good one. I am a fan of H&M's selection, mainly because they have them in a comfortable stretchy jersey material- I may be feeling more confident but I still need some wiggle room! This River Island skirt could have been made for me, I love the bright red colour and it is so comfy to wear, even when the weather is roasting! The adjustable waist is also a real bonus, there's nothing worse than feeling trapped in your clothes when it is boiling. I am someone who always burns in the sun (I even managed to burn through factor 50 after 20 minutes in the park the other week!) so you will usually find me lurking in the shade during the summer... if you see me outside at all! This lack of time spent in the sun does mean that my skin can be almost translucent but I'm hoping to be rewarded with fewer wrinkles in the future...

You know that I am a stripes fiend so it was inevitable that I would end up adding this top to my collection. The soft ribbed cotton is ridiculously soft and comfy and was the perfect backdrop to this delicate gold necklace. I bought it a while back in the Warehouse sale but the chain was ridiculously short so I used the broken chain from an old necklace to lengthen it slightly. It may not be the prettiest solution but it works!

A better look at this dainty bracelet. I originally bought it for a friend's birthday present but it was too nice to give away so I bought her something else instead!

Maxis are perfect for the summer, they're covered up but keep you cool and they are super fun for swooshing around in. Shoes in the summer are always a bit of an odd one for me, I can't deal with stuff between my toes so I always opt for single strap sandals. This pair are getting a little bit shabby now but they are so comfy that I can't bear to throw them away. Here's hoping Matalan bring out a similar pair next year!

I told you that I have been obsessed with River Island recently, their more casual clothes are lovely, reasonably priced (especially if you can nab them in the sale!) and the perfect additions to my wardrobe. This jacket is one of my favourite things that I have bought recently, it is ridiculously soft and comfy and perfect for jazzing up a plain top and jeans.I don't tend to wear many plain tops but when a print is this cute, I will dig one out of my wardrobe! I wore this outfit to dinner and it was perfect for the three courses that I chowed down, you can't beat a loose top for ultimate dinner party comfort ;) 

I find it difficult to find jeans that fit but think I have finally found the perfect pair in (guess where) River Island! The Amelie jeans in the short length fit like a dream and couldn't be comfier. Again, I like them so much that I have them in black too! These coral shoes are a long-time favourite of mine and add an element of fun to an otherwise plain outfit. 

Do you buy things in multiples like me?

My name's Maria and I have a confession to make: I'm obsessed with River Island... I have to say that I never saw this coming. I have always been a bit wary of the brand but they have come a long way from the diamanté-encrusted shop of my youth. Now, I am a regular visitor and a fair few pieces have made their way into my wardrobe, starting with this gorgeous striped top which I absolutely love. The stripes make it feel really crisp and summery and the shape makes it much more interesting. I went fairly neutral with the rest of my outfit here but wouldn't this be ace with bright red or coral accessories?!

I have raved about these jeans a million times before and they just seem to get better with age. I wanted to wear these blue flats but I couldn't find them (the perils of having a whole unit full of shoes!) so I opted for these nude shoes instead. Not quite as fun but they did give me that much needed height!

Are you a fan of River Island? Which shops have surprised you recently?

I can't resist a boutique hotel when we go away and as this anniversary was a pretty special one (10 years!) we headed to The Fish in Broadway to celebrate. The Fish couldn't have been more different to Malmaison in Oxford where we went last year but we had such a nice time and it was so relaxing. We both let out a huge sigh of relief when we arrived and all of our worries just fell away. Apologies for the picture spam, but everything was just so beautiful that we couldn't help but take pictures!