Frills 'n' Spills

Spring and Autumn are my favourite seasons, I hate being too warm so anytime I can get sunshine without boiling to death is a winner in my book. April showers though can be tricky to dress for. Luckily this jazzy trench coat is the perfect final layer for drizzly days. I have been a massive Whistles fan for as long as I can remember and eBay is my best friend when it comes to finding gems to add to my wardrobe (without the premium price point!). I'm definitely not one for a minimalist capsule wardrobe (I like the range of choice!) but certain things you are likely to find in lots of people's wardrobes and trench coats are certainly one of them. No boring beige for me though, this baby is more brown sugar than blah...

The overall effect of this trench coat is pretty classic but the colour is more brown than camel which is much nicer and more flattering on my pasty pale skin tone. I really like the oversized shape and the belt is great for cinching you in too. The best part about it though? I look and feel like a private detective whenever I wear it! Which is pretty fitting really when it comes to my social media stalking skills 😏

You really can't go wrong with a red lipstick and this one by Chanel is perfect! It's the Rouge Coco in shade 440 Arthur and I really love the finish (so much so, I also bought it in Etinenne!) My hair is getting longer and longer again and although I still have a lot in my wardrobe from 2013, I'm not sure I could ever go back to super long hair! 

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?

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? 

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?

 

I have been raving about Elemis Pro Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm over on Instagram but it deserves a mention here too. I got a sample on the front of Marie Claire magazine and it has already become an integral part of my beauty routine. It makes my skin look glowy without being shiny and I really love it! I have been applying it onto freshly cleansed skin under my beloved Dr Jart BB cream and looking much more alive as a result. It isn't cheap at £35 but a little goes a long way so I may just buy a couple more magazines instead...

P.S. I was sent this bra to review but if I didn't love it, I wouldn't feature it!

It's not often you will see me in (near) monochrome over on the blog as my default setting is bright colours but this oversized jumper was too good to resist. I spotted it in the Topshop sale when I went shopping with Hattie and it is one of my favourite things that I have bought this year. I have been trying to add some versatile basics to my wardrobe and this classic grey jumper is a great start. I love the relaxed fit of it and it is just so darned cosy! I wore this outfit on my first day back at work after Christmas and it was the perfect way to ease me out of pyjamas and back into proper clothes ;) My smug little face just shows how much I love this outfit, have you ever seen anyone look so chuffed?! 

I especially love the contrast of the sheer sleeves with the rest of the jumper (are you spotting a pattern here yet?!) I will be sharing my favourite lipsticks with you in a post soon but I have so many of them. Would you prefer it to be split into a few separate posts or have one huge one? 

I finally managed to get some replacement shoes for my beloved Clarks loafers. Although this pair are nowhere near as comfy as my old ones, they look a lot smarter and I'm sure they will soften up soon. Is there anything worse than breaking in new shoes?!

Would you prefer my favourite lipsticks to be split into a few separate posts or have one huge one? 

A few years ago you would never have seen me in a pair of jeans but I have slowly been incorporating them back into my wardrobe and after a lot of searching, I have finally found the perfect pair of high waisted jeans. I used to love the Topshop Kristen jeans but they discontinued them so I had to find an alternative. The ASOS Ridley jeans are a bit of a blogger favourite and I love the fact that you can get different waist and leg lengths, my stumpy legs are often too short for regular jeans so anything that fits them perfectly is a winner in my book!

I don't often go into the Cath Kidston store in Cheltenham but I popped in when I was waiting for Mark and found this gorgeous newsprint top which I just couldn't leave behind. It is made of a really thin cotton and flares out at the hem, I'm loving it now but I think it will really come into its own in the summer! I picked up my new glasses a few weeks ago and it is love. I splashed out on a pair from the Orla Kiely range and although they are expensive, they are worth every penny.  I figure I have to wear them every day so it is worth spending the money, right?

I told you, these jeans fit like a glove, I'm seriously considering getting them in a few other colours too.  I know some people aren't fans of high waisted jeans but I love them, they help keep everything all smoothed down and tucked in- I need all the help I can get to keep my stomach in check ;)

I have been a fan of these shoes for years. They belonged to my mum and I would pinch them whenever I could but they were finally passed onto me a few weeks ago and I couldn't be happier! My mum has the best taste, I just wish we were the same size in clothes so I could pinch those too (although she is probably glad that I'm not!)

Where do you buy jeans from?

Recently we lent our camera to Mark's parents for a wedding so spent a week or so without it. Whilst they had it, I wore an outfit that I really loved and that has definitely been one of my most recent favourites. Originally I was just going to rely on my phone but I remembered that my iPad mini has a camera and I was pretty pleased with the results even though they now look massively blurry on this size screen. Although in itself, stripes, jeans and a snazzy necklace is hardly groundbreaking (!) the fact that I have found one of each that I love, is. Paired with the beautiful camel coat that Mark bought me for my birthday (you can see a glimpse of it here), I felt very French (bien sûr!) and very luxe. It's amazing how some good quality basics can lift your wardrobe! I have been in a bit of a style rut recently, on the one hand I still want to wear fun things but my taste in who makes them has certainly moved more upmarket (I can't be the only one who stalks Whistles dresses on ebay, right?!) whilst my budget has stayed the same. I guess this is an inevitable part of growing up but navigating through these two halves of my wardrobe has caused some headaches of a morning recently! 

I have a real thing for stripes and H&M have the best striped tops on the high street. This style is a shape I really love and although I would never usually go for a light stripes, this one feels and looks very luxe - good job H&M! (They currently have their blue and white one on sale too if you are in the market for a new Breton top) I was lucky enough to get an Accessorize voucher for my birthday this year and I have been on the lookout for a neutral statement necklace (is that even a thing?!) ever since my beloved white floral one broke so was pretty pleased to see this beauty in my local store! It is the perfect length to wear with higher necklines and has received more than a few compliments every time I have worn it, mainly along the lines of 'ooh, so shiny!' ;) I have been straightening my hair a lot more recently and I love how different it makes me look. I prefer the lived in look I get after sleeping on it but would love to be able to do that with products too, any recommendations?

Despite the fact I wear this top fairly often, I never seem to get a decent picture of it. I love the fun print and it is always a conversation starter, no wonder it is one of my favourite tops! Although I'm (more than a ) little grumpy that the weather has stopped being so nice, it is always good to get more wear out of my winter basics, I'm not quite ready to give up long sleeves just yet! Another smug face from me here, I think you can tell that I really love this outfit :)

Throughout my final couple of years at school, I was obsessed with wearing bright green Rimmel eyeshadow. Luckily I have outgrown my neon green days but I do still have a soft spot for green eyeshadow and this Bourjois Little Round Pot Eyeshadow in Anis fulfils all my bright eyeshadow needs. It can be difficult to know what to pair with such a bright colour but this Revlon lipbutter  in 'Peach Parfait' is the perfect subtle peach shade.

I probably should have ironed these shorts before wearing them but never mind! These shorts weren't the cheapest thing I have ever bought but you definitely get what you pay for, the quality is ace and the frilled hem just adds a little something to every outfit. I love the fact that these shorts are a little longer too.  I may be wearing them with black opaques here but I can't wait till I can switch back to my 15 deniers!

Do you have any beauty faux pas from when you were younger?

I never thought I would see the day when you would find me choosing to wear a pair of boyfriend fit jeans. I have been a massive fan of skinny jeans for a while now but anything less fitted is foreign territory. My hips and legs are less than slender so I was always worried that adding extra material wouldn't be flattering and although I have certainly looked better, I actually like this more relaxed look. I have never been very good at casual wear but maybe there's hope for me yet!

There's something quite natty about having a flash of your ankles on show, it feels way more spring like but still keeps you warm. These shoes have barely left my feet since I bought them but when they look this darned good with everything, why bother?! I have been trying different tops with these jeans but this is my favourite look so far, fitted tops are definitely the way to go!

The other day I was feeling absolutely awful. Flu has been going round the office and I was feeling very sorry for myself. Unfortunately my jazzy pyjamas are not acceptable office wear so I had to resort to my comfy jumper and jeans combo instead. This Seasalt jumper was given to me by my friend Matilda and I absolutely love it, it is ridiculously comfy and oh so soft, just like getting a hug. Paired with some comfy jeans, I was good to go! I always umm and ahh about including outfits like this in blog posts but then I figure this blog is all about the ups and downs of my life and wardrobe so causal outfits should be up there with the fancy dresses amirite?! 

I have been having issues with my hair recently, it has grown at an alarming rate and thanks to the volume of it, I now have triangular hair, the one thing I was afraid of when I went shorter :( I am getting it cut on 3rd May but until then, any help would be appreciated! You may have spotted my lovely initial badge here, Claire at The Bellwether was kind enough to include it alongside the cross-stitch kit she sent me (I am making slow but steady progress!) and I absolutely love it, anything with my initials on is sure to be a winner in my book! Red lipstick is my go to for brightening my face up when I am tired and this Tesco sheer lip stick is ace, I can't find it on the website but have a look instore, I managed to pick this up for £3!

What do you wear on lazy days? Can you recommend any good photography tutorials? 

Do you have any unusual style staples?