Frills 'n' Spills

Whenever I wear this dress, I am always accused of dressing like a 5 year old and the fact that I wore similar pinafores when I was five (and the fact I look about 12) does make it difficult to disagree. Recently I have been obsessed with layers and this Autumn inspired outfit has been one of my favourites. 

 This top is one of those which only works when it is layered under something- the fit is downright odd, especially round the hem, but I love the fluted sleeves and they are wonderfully swooshy! 

Wearing some gorgeous Crown and Glory bobby pins. I have written before about how much I love Crown & Glory and these bobby pins are so easy to wear. I never know what to do with my hair but these are understated enough to wear every day and add enough interest without being overpowering.

 Finished off with a pair of my most practical shoes- I think I need to invest in some more brogues for this Autumn!

How do you jazz up your hair? Where do you buy brogues from?

It's still not very flattering but I don't know what to change to make it more wearable, maybe trim the shoulders down? 

I wanted an outfit that was cosy but still looked like I had made an effort and although I look really miserable in these photos, I loved the metallic tones with the berry jeans...

I bought this cardigan in the sale at good old M&S at the same time I bought this skirt and these shoes and this is the first time it has debuted on the blog! I loved the gold leaf effect that is sprayed (?) all over and considering that it it is cropped and full of holes, it is surprisingly warm! 

Outtake of the day: me perfecting my hair model pose, am I really worth it?! 

What would you do to make the jacket more wearable? Do you like things to match?

Unfortunately when they arrived they were far too small, I ordered a 7 (my usual size) and could barely fit my feet into the shoes. Luckily Fleur and Schuh were fantastic and managed to send out another pair in the next size up. 

 As you can see, these are very high shoes, so high infact that I haven't dared to wear them further than 100m from the house yet. From just walking around inside though, these shoes feel very solid courtesy of the chunky heel. I  felt like a baby giraffe, wobbling around, trying to get my bearings  because they are just so high...

Despite this though, I love them, the black suede means that they should be 'practical' but the sparkles make them irresistible. My inner magpie is crowing in triumph at the SHINY SEQUINS and I am wearing them around the house in the hope that I will (one day) be able to walk in heels!

I mean just LOOK! Apparently if you hairspray the glitter it stops it shedding so much (something I am yet to try) although it does lose some of the colour off the glitter. I ill definitely be doing this as I want my shoes to be glittery, not my carpet... I am so grateful for being able to be involved in something like this, I love sparkly shoes and I would recommend these shoes, just make sure you practice walking in them before you leave the house! If you fancy grabbing yourself this pair or another pair of Schuh beauties then head over to their discount page to bag yourself a bargain! 

Would you wear sparkly shoes? Can you walk in heels?

I first heard about #sequinmonday from the lovely Susie and it was definitely the inspiration behind this outfit. For many people, Monday is the signifier of a new week, about about as far from sparkly as you could get but for me, Monday was my day off before I started my latest project... I am now working as a marketing intern for The Roses Theatre and I couldn't be more excited! These photos celebrate the last of my Mondays off and (hopefully) the start of a shiny future... 

I bought this necklace after spying MJ in a similar one.. I think it is clear to see that I was heavily inspired by other bloggers with this outfit...

 A subtle sparkle to lift a neutral cardigan...

... and some sparkly brogues made for an outfit which I felt was worthy of #sequinmonday! 

How do you lift your spirits? Which bloggers inspire you?

The shape of this dress immediately made me think of Sarah [a girl after my own heart with her overflowing wardrobe of dresses!] especially with the addition of sleeves! The swooshy skirt was just an added bonus! 

In an attempt to tone down the girlishness of the dress, I paired it with my trusty opaques and brogues. I was never a fan of brogues but had to buy some for work and I like the way they add something a bit different to an outfit. With the combination of the brogues, the bright red of the dress and the leather jacket, I felt super confident and ready to take on anyone...

Red is definitely a colour that I am drawn to, I love the contrast with my dark hair and pale skin and it always makes me feel super confident. It is one of those shades that forces you to walk a little taller and meet everyone's eye, ideal for when you need a bit of a boost or pushing out of your comfort zone!

Although I have never been a fan of leopard print, this belt has helped to change my mind, I love adding it to plainer outfits for a bit of excitement.

 I guess the same could be said for this hat! I loved it when I wore it to play Poohsticks and it is guaranteed to be a conversation starter whenever I wear it... not bad for an impulse buy from River Island!