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?

I have just spent the last week staying with friends at a darling little cottage in St Ives; beach walks, board games and plenty of food and drink with great company was the best way to finish 2015 and start 2016. The photos speak for themselves about how beautiful a place Cornwall is and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone looking for a beachy escape in the UK. It really is great, even in the rain!

Although I wish I had had a longer break (doesn't everyone?!) I am excited to see what 2016 brings as I have lots of fun things planned!

What are your plans for 2016?

Try saying that in a hurry! I have been a fan of Seasalt for years, their clothes are always so well made and fun too. I was lucky enough to be sent the Plant Hunter Rain coat when their Rain range first launched and I really love it. The only problem is that it can sometimes be a bit too cosy so I treated myself to this gorgeous tomato red Seafolly one a couple of months ago which is just as waterproof but less warm- perfect for the mild weather we have been having! I was umming and ahhing for ages about the colour for this but I'm glad I opted for the tomato shade, the redcurrant is much less fun in person and this  cute coral shade adds some (much needed) brightness to my winter wardrobe. I couldn't be happier with it and it has already proven its worth a million times over on my walk to work.

The detailing on this coat is fantastic and I love a cosy hood! Toggles on a coat always make me think of Paddington Bear and these never fail to put a smile on my face. The stripy lining on this is so fun too, you know how much I love stripes! 

This is hardly a ground-breaking outfit but sometimes you can't beat a bit of simplicity. This shirt is another Gap special and it is so soft. Gap may not be very trend led but you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere that does basics quite so well! I wish the shirt was a little bit slouchier on me but the fit always makes me feel a bit more pulled together which is no bad thing. These jeans were also a Gap bargain, they fit so well and (hopefully) you would never know that they are actually jeggings!

Are you a fan of Seasalt? Where did you buy your winter coat?

 

Longtime readers will know how much I love Seasalt, I discovered the brand when my friend Matilda donated a lovely stripy jumper to me and have managed to add quite a few pieces to my wardrobe since. I spotted this gorgeous coral tea dress in the sale and fell in love. I really love the colour and texture and it feels really elegant, something that can be lacking in my wardrobe of bright colours and bold prints! Paired with my brushed out bob, this felt quite 1930s, an era I seem to be drawing more and more inspiration from recently! Midis have always been a tricky length on me but I have quite a few in my wardrobe now, maybe I need to accept that I am actually a fan...

A better look at that nipped in waist and gorgeous textured cotton! 

You know how much I love a swooshy skirt and this one has a lot of material. The fact it has pockets just makes it even better in my opinion! I just wish I had some daintier shoes to pair with it although I suppose it does stop it feeling too costume-y. 

When I'm feeling under the weather, my outfit goes one of two ways: either comfort central or dressing up to pull myself out of my funk. This outfit was definitely the latter, it's been a while since I last wore this stripy dress on the blog but it is one of the nicest dresses I have in my wardrobe. I tend to wear it with leggings but it was nice to jazz it up with some nude tights and bright shoes instead. The neon accents on this dress are super fun but as I sadly don't own any neon yellow shoes (yet!) my coral pair were the next best thing. Despite my grumpy face in these photos, I really loved this outfit, it is super fun and it was perfect for making me feel less gloomy- always a good thing! 

Yes, it's another day wearing peachy coral lipstick, why mess with a good thing right?! MAC Vegas Volt is a blogger favourite but it is one of those shades that I'm sure would suit anyone. I blotted it down slightly here but I do love how vibrant it is when it is opaque!

How do you get yourself out of a funk?

It's been a shamefully long time since Mark and I last visited Manchester but we headed up at the weekend to catch up with Mark's brother and pay a flying visit to one of  our favourite cities. You can see just how excited we were by these photos, we both really love Manchester and could happily live there, we did see some lovely flats too, I just need to find a job up there! 

Wearing my Seasalt coat (necessary for the rain!), H&M striped top and Mac Impassioned lipstick. 

Manchester Central Library is awesome and I could have spent all day in there, how beautiful are those windows?!

We also made a brief stop in Chinatown to try and find some Chinese figs but to no avail :( I love this archway though, the colours are gorgeous!

Takk Manchester is a super cool Icelandic inspired coffee bar/restaurant in the Northern Quarter where I felt very uncool, this was hipster inspired dining at its best! ;)

This amazing mural was by Nicholas Chaffe (@nickchaffe) and I absolutely love it. There are so many little details in it and I keep noticing new things every time I look at it. Now I just want one of my own! 

OK, so the food and drink at Takk was amazing! I had the avocado, bacon and tomato sandwich on sourdough bread with a flat white (check out the genuine graffiti-covered school desks! ) which was absolutely delicious. Mark had roast potatoes, shallots and pan-fried chorizo with scrambled eggs and sourdough which I was super jealous of! 

This was the first time I had visited the Northern Quarter and I loved it- the rickety fire escapes and quirky shops felt very Brooklyn to me, I may have to pay another visit to keep my New York cravings at bay!

The exhibits on Manchester's textile industry were so interesting, just look how complex this machines look!

I mean wowee! 

This thistledown coat was super cool- a must have for every fashion blogger I think ;)

They also had an exhibition on 3D printing which was brilliant, I loved how brightly coloured these all were!

These are 3D-printed frames of an animation of a bear climbing some stairs, they don't look like much here but quite something 'in action'. 

My little brother was always a fan of Bob the Builder when he was little and these were the original models they used in the show (before they remade it!)

A very cool cine camera, I love the Italian stickers on the case!

The forst all-metal printing press was invented by the Earl of Stanhope, this one was made sometime between 1810 and 1830...

More cool murals...

I love the contrast of the old buildings and the uber modern Beetham Tower, that is one shiny building!

This is an awful picture but it was an amazing pie! We went to Pi in Chorlton for dinner after a long day walking around town and it was the perfect finish. I am now a fully fledged Pieminster pie fan (this was the Shamrock) I just need to get my hands on some more to try...

We went to the North Star deli in Chorlton for brunch before heading back on Sunday morning, the perfect finish to a wonderful weekend! 

Where should I try next in Manchester?