Showing posts with label Tewkesbury. Show all posts

Blush pink...

Picking a Christmas outfit is always tricky, you have to be able to eat insane amounts of food (I can't be the only one to have eaten 10 tons of cheese over the past few days, right?!) but still look (relatively) dressy. My family have always dressed up for Christmas and Boxing Day but Mark's family are always slightly less OTT so this year I had to tread the line between smart and casual which I always find really difficult. I had been planning on either wearing this dress or this dress but when Mark and I were in town on 23rd, I spotted this lacy beauty in one of the charity shops in Tewkesbury (yes I may have a bit of a thing for lace dresses!)

Dress: Debut at Debenhams via charity shop, tights: Tesco, shoes: Office
I was originally a little unsure of the colour as pastels can make me look really washed out but with the black belt and strong make-up, I think I managed to pull this blush pink/ lilac colour off. I really love the lace overlay and it was an outfit I felt really comfortable in, even after eating my own body weight in mince pies.
The dress was originally from the Debut range at Debenhams and I think it shows in the cut and fit of it, this was clearly designed for a special occasion and it made me feel really elegant when I was wearing it- a very strange feeling for someone as clumsy as me!

Oversized bows are always the way forward...
I imagine this would look really lovely with nude tights or bare legs come the warmer weather but the single digit temperatures convinced me to wear my trusty black opaques instead. These cosy tights were a Tesco bargain and I have been wearing them non-stop. 40 deniers just don't cut it in this weather but unless I am outside for a prolonged period of time, the Primark fleece lined tights are just too warm for a radiator like me so these 60 deniers are perfect!


How do you pick a party frock? What did you wear for Christmas?
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Meadham Kirchhoff x Amazon scarf...

I have always been a massive fan of designer collaborations, I will never be able to afford couture (only in my dreams!) or the ready-to-wear collections so this is as close as I can get to getting a taste of the high life! Initially I was slightly skeptical of the idea of Meadham Kirchhoff working together with Amazon but when this beautiful scarf arrived, I fell in love! Apparently  "the Drawings design is a visual archive of Edward's sketches from our 'Cosmology of Women' autumn 11 show'' and I adore all of the different outfits you can see on the scarf...

Jumper: charity shop, scarf: c/o Meadham Kirchhoff x Amazon
First things first, this scarf is actually huge! I had a lot of fun playing around with it by the river in Tewkesbury- my (slightly less glamourous) homage to the Vogue pictures of the collection ;)


Oh hello!


This is the slightly sheepish face of true love! The more I look at this scarf, the more I notice in the pattern. It is also edged in a beautiful pastel pink/baby blue that reminds me of a winter sunrise (how poetic!) Honestly, if I didn't wear this so much, I would happily frame it and display it!


Which pattern would you have chosen?
P.S. This scarf was sent to me for review
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How I wore printed trousers...

This outfit has been one of my favourite ones to wear recently; it is ridiculously comfy (hello oversized top!) but these beautiful printed trousers from Topshop are jazzy enough to lift it out of complete slob territory. I usually wear it when I feel in need of cheering up- it is impossible to stay grumpy when you have such a fun bottom half! I actually spent weeks tracking down these trousers, I spotted them online but they had sold out of my size and the same was true in-store until recently. When I saw them on the rail, I launched myself at them and was at the till quicker than you could say fashion victim, I love it when a plan comes good! Printed trousers can be pretty difficult to style but but a plain top and a jazzy pair of heels go a long way to make them more wearable...

Top: Fat Face via Matilda, trousers: Topshop, belt: Primark, shoes: c/o Spartoo
I love this oversized top but it does have a tendency to make me look slightly pregnant, just look how much material there is! I'm not sure whether the excess material helps to make my waist look smaller in comparison or just make my hips look bigger ;) The fit on these trousers is a little odd too, the waist and hips are pretty roomy but the calves have absolutely no wriggle room at all- avoid these if you have legs that are any more muscular than mine! 


Navy and orange is one colour combination that I really love and this Primark belt is the perfect shade of orange to match the abstract floral print on the trousers. I am on the hunt for a dressier navy or cobalt blue top to pair with these trousers over Christmas, any ideas where I could get one? My usual search of ASOS has let me down :( 

This waffle-y texture may look cosy but it is actually made up of teeny holes that let in a lot of cold draughts-  lots of thin layers are essential with this one!
I don't need to tell you (again) how much I love these heels, I am seriously tempted to get the metallic version for the festive season, especially as I know how comfy they are! Although I'm sure I could get away with flats with this outfit, wearing heels actually gave me more of a spring in my step and the extra boost of confidence I needed to ignore the slightly confused faces of Tewkesbury's residents and wear these trousers with the panache they deserved!


How do you wear patterned trousers? Any ideas where I can get a 'fancy' cobalt blue top from?
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Uniqlo x Celia Birtwell: the shorts...

When I heard that Uniqlo were doing a collaboration with Celia Birtwell, I was very excited, I love Uniqlo's collaborations and I was pleased to add some of Celia's signature prints to my wardrobe. I originally planned to wear these shorts on holiday this summer but I thought that they would also work layered up with some chunky tights too. I'm never sure whether I pull off pattern mixing successfully but I figure you can't go wrong with a striped tee, right?! 

Top: Oasis, shorts: Uniqlo x Celia Birtwell, tights: Tesco, shoes: NW3 by Hobbs, necklace: New Look, bag: NW3 by Hobbs
As it is still pretty cold, I pulled out my oversized grey blazer  and my thick grey tights, to add some warmth and also to tone down the patterns. I don't think Tewkesbury is ready for this just yet...


This bag matched the red of the pattern perfectly and I think it adds a sense of fun too. It's impossible to be grumpy with such a shiny bag! Apologies for my face in this photo, it was pretty darn cold (I think you can see the goosebumps!) but I wanted to give a better idea of what the indoor version of the outfit looked like. I have been wearing my hair swept to the side quite a lot recently, I love the fact that it is now long enough for a proper ponytail!



A close up of the shoes, I actually managed to elegantly glide totter along in these for a whole morning, result! 



Have you picked up anything from the Celia Birtwell collection yet? How would you style these shorts?
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The Jelly Roll Cafe, Tewkesbury... (PICTURE HEAVY)

On Sunday, Mark and I went to the Jelly Roll Cafe which is a small independent cafe in Tewkesbury and one of the nicest places to go for tea and cake or a light lunch/brunch. (They also do a jazz evening but we haven't made it to one of those yet!) We are both massive foodie fans and this is somewhere I know that the food will always be fantastic.  For anyone interested in paying a visit, you can find them at 17 Barton Street, Tewkesbury.

They always have such amazing specials too...
 Trying to decide what to have off the menu- I tend to go for either the Welsh rarebit or the smoked mackerel pate as they are delicious and perfect for lunchtime.


I really like the decor too, the chairs are comfy and paintings from local artists adorn the walls


Mark looking rather excited...


Mark went for the chicken and bacon sandwich with barbecue sauce which came with a lovely side salad and the best coleslaw known to mankind!


In the end I went for the mackerel and horseradish pate which is served with massive doorsteps of granary bread. Heaven on a plate! 


 We also decided to go for another wander down by the river as it was such a nice day, despite being a little chilly (jeesh I sound like my parents!) Luckily my parka-esque coat proved perfect for keeping out the chills even though it's only being a thin layer. It really is the perfect coat for when you need to warm up quickly!

Coat: Miss Selfridge
This isn't the best photo in the world but it gives you a slightly better look at my jumper. I got given it by my friend Matilda as she didn't wear it any more, and despite my (well documented) love for stripes, I haven't really worn it. Luckily it was the ideal jumper for a slouchy Sunday and perfect for hiding my food baby, what more could you ask for?! Expect to see a lot more of this jumper though, I have some red skirts/trousers that would look awesome with it...

Jumper: Seasalt c/o Matilda, top: Gap, jeans: Topshop, shoes:Betty London c/o Spartoo
Have you ever visited the Jelly Roll Cafe? Which independent shops/ cafes can you recommend?
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Floral print and polka dots...

Emma wrote a post recently about how few posts there are with bloggers showing off their workwear so I thought I would share a few more of the outfits that I wear to work! I am lucky enough to work in an office that is fairly casual but although I experiment with colours and patterns, I would say that my office wear is fairly smart. I think if your office is more conservative, swapping these red trousers for a more muted colour ensures that this outfit could work for most people!

Top: M & Co. via charity shop, trousers: ASDA, shoes: Dorothy Perkins
I spotted this top in the British Heart Foundation charity shop, the last time I was in Tewkesbury and the mix of teeny tiny roses and polka dots, sold it to me immediately! It can be so difficult to find tops that are work appropriate and warm enough to wear in a chilly office so the long sleeves were also a real bonus. Plus who can resist a cute bow neckline detail?! * The lovely Ballistic lipstick is also making a reappearance here as I have been wearing that shade to death recently....


A closer look at the print and my beloved 'M' ring (which has barely left my hand!). I wouldn't usually pair two such bold colours together but the trousers picked up the colour of the flowers so I felt it was tonal enough to work, what do you think? 


I was hoping that by casually tucking in my top and adding some mid heeled shoes, I would somehow lengthen my legs to model-esque proportions, which didn't quite happen, but I do love these shoes for giving me that bit of extra height that is necessary, for me to pull off coloured trousers. The last time I wore these trousers, I went for a (slightly) more subtle pair of shoes but this black pair are becoming a firm favourite for when I want to add a little elegance to my outfit. There's something about that pointed toe which makes me feel like I mean business! ;)


Do you work in a conservative office? Would you wear such bold colours together?

* not me, that's for sure!
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Tewkesbury trips and tweed...

For the first time in ages, Mark and I didn't have anything planned for this weekend so we decided to take a trip into Tewkesbury and enjoy the sunshine. If you have never been to Tewkesbury, it is definitely worth visiting for the stunning buildings, and dozens of charity shops if nothing else! I love exploring 'familiar' places and nothing beats being a tourist in your own city... I bought this dress the last time I came to Tewkesbury from one of my favourite charity shops and it is one of my favourite things to wear thanks to the swooshy skirt and gorgeous heavy tweed. 

Dress: Tu at Sainsburys via charity shop, blouse: New Look,  belt: from dress, shoes: Betty London flat shoes c/o Spartoo
 As it is still freezing outside I have been layering it up with my sheer shirts and I think the combination of the gorgeous gold/brown tweed with the cream shirt is fab as the gold buttons co-ordinate perfectly- you know how much I love being matchy matchy! ;) I had to feature my new favourite ring too- I never had anything personalised when I was younger so whenever I see anything with my name or initials on, I snap it up immediately!


These shoes are the latest addition to my wardrobe from Spartoo and like my other Betty London flats, they are ridiculously comfy.I also love the little bow on them, I think all the best shoes have bows on them!  


A bit of an outtake here thanks to the huge gust of wind but I love how well my bag co-ordinates with the barge behind me! 


Running parallel to the high street in Tewkesbury you can walk along by the river and it really is beautiful, especially on a sunny day. Unfortunately it is flooded at the moment as the river has burst its banks again, but luckily the path was high enough for us not to get our feet wet! 

Healings Mill was built in 1865 and spent over 140 years as a flour mill before it closed in November 2006
 The mill has been derelict since its closure in 2006 and I have never been inside but there are some stunning images of the inside here and here. 


This part here is usually a wooden jetty but as you can see, that has long disappeared under the flood water! I loved having a wander around the back streets and alleys of Tewkesbury and I plan to visit lots more towns and cities in the UK this year as I am not going to Italy again *sob*

Have you ever been to Tewkesbury? Which UK towns or cities do you recommend visiting? 
P.S. This post was done in collaboration with Spartoo

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