Frills 'n' Spills

I have noticed recently that I keep buying outfits that I would love to have worn when I was younger.  This Warehouse dress was (another) sale bargain and although it is ridiculously short (I didn't realise just how miniscule the skirt was until I saw these pictures) I really love it. I am more than happy to be getting older (hopefully the wisdom is on its way soon!) I am a little bit worried that I look a bit like mutton dressed as lamb, I don't think I can really pull off short skirts anymore but I imagine my grey cable knit tights would look pretty nice with this and help to tone down the shortness of it all too...

I have had this necklace for years (how young do I look in this outfit post?!) and it was the perfect way to tie in my brown accessories without distracting from the pattern too much. I wasn't entirely sure how flattering the contrasting bodice would be but it actually sits pretty close to my natural waist so manages to nip me in in all the right places! The print on the skirt reminds me of Moroccan tiles, I blame Pinterest for my new found obsession!

I have had these boots for years- I got them as a gift from my parents for doing well in my GCSEs (an age ago!) and they have lasted remarkably well, I haven't even needed to get them resoled in the 9 years since I have owned them! They always make me feel like I should be in a pantomime - they are pretty swashbuckling and even have a fastening across the back of them but I do love them!

Not just the punchline to a bad joke (a newspaper being the answer!) but one of my favourite work outfits to date. Monochrome is a classic combination and paired with red, it always looks quite fun! Since wearing this, I have managed to shrink it somehow in the wash and it is now far too short but by swapping tights for leggings, I can still get away with wearing this into the office. I'm not sure what is happening with my posing here but I do look extraordinarily pleased with myself! I know some people are always a bit dubious about wearing horizontal stripes but I actually think they are quite flattering here, especially with the combination of a cropped cardigan and a slightly A-line skirt... 

I am envious of how lovely and clear my skin looks here! I need to step up my skincare regime again and try and combat the excesses of Christmas- do you lovely beauty bloggers have any recommendations for  something to combat dry, flaking skin? This necklace is 8 (!) years old and is starting to look a little worse for wear, but I can't bring myself to throw it away as it is just perfect for adding a splash of colour to an outfit. I guess I will just have to keep my eyes peeled for a worthy replacement!

This is possibly my favourite bag in the whole world- I love how red and shiny it is and despite being 'well used', it still looks as new as it did on the day I got it (all the way back in 2011!) Despite how small it looks it is surprisingly roomy and I manage to get my purse, keys, phone, diabetes stuff and passport inside it- no mean feat, I think you will agree!

The Clothes Show can be more than a little overwhelming and the urge to buy as many things as you can possibly get your hands on can be difficult to resist! Luckily, I have been before and so I had an idea of the kind of things I wanted to pick up. Beauty stuff is always much cheaper there and luckily I had my wing-woman Selina with me to help hunt down the bargains! A lot of the magazines offer 'goody bags' but it is definitely worth looking around before you buy anything as some are much better than others and you have to be realistic about what you will actually use/read! I hadn't bought any magazines for a while so I was pleased when I saw this Cosmopolitan and Company goody bag. I paid a grand total of £3 for this, including two magazines, which definitely makes it worth it. Especially for the train journey home!

I love the pot it comes in, the frosted glass feels very luxe and it is surprisingly heavy, definitely one to take care with! 

The cream is relatively thick but it absorbs quickly and even after just a couple of days, I swear my skin feels plumper! The smell initially reminded me of baby lotion but once applied it reminded me of the perfume/make -up that my mum used to use when I was younger. It's not unpleasant but it may not be to everyone's taste...

Did you pick up any bargains from the Clothes Show? Which beauty products can you not live without? 

If you know me, you know that leggings and I have never really got on. I never thought I would be wearing leggings on the blog, let alone in a work outfit but how things have changed! I have never been able to find a dress that was long enough to avoid the dreaded 'leggings as trousers' look which I hate but this floral Apricot dress has filled that gap in my wardrobe perfectly. The mornings are still pretty cold so this green raincoat has been perfect for adding a nice loose layer that isn't too heavy when I have to carry it home in the evening! 

For me, shorts are one of life's under-appreciated treasures. They are way more practical than a skirt but much more fun than a pair of trousers and finding a pair that were work appropriate has been on my mental shopping list for a long time now.  This navy pair were from my beloved NW3 by Hobbs and the length is perfect although I wish they sat higher on the waist as they just fall down on me. For work, I paired them with a plain blouse and simple accessories for a professional but relaxed look but I think these will also look awesome with my chunky knit tights and a jumper or two...

OOER missus- judging by the title I think I may get a fair few odd search terms now but oh well! As soon as it started to get cold again, I dug out these fab leather trousers/waxed jeans and some thin and cosy layers to ease me into winter. This jumper is such a gorgeous turquoisey teal shade but it hasn't translated very well in the pictures which is a bit rubbish. (#bloggerwinterwoes) It reminded me of a sequinned jumper which I wanted from Hobbs at the beginning of the year but luckily was much cheaper- I love supermarket clothes!

As you may have noticed, I am now the proud owner of some very snazzy glasses! After being told that my prescription had changed, I decided that some new frames were in order and Claire and Jen provided some much needed inspiration for my new frames. (I have to say how much I love Jen's make-up classes for girls with glasses, if you're a specs wearer, check them out!) They have taken a while to get used to but I am already loving how different I look in each pair (review of these lovelies to come soon!) I was really surprised by how much I loved the Gok Wan range and found it difficult to narrow it down to just 2 pairs!

Who is your glasses inspiration? How do you incorporate print into your wardrobe?

P.S. This post was done in collaboration with Spartoo

Unfortunately my hair styling skills leave a lot to be desired but Eugene has inspired me to be a bit more adventurous with my hair, definitely something to try when I go out for my birthday! 

Thank you Mr. Drunk Man, I hadn't noticed what I was wearing until you said! This dress is my favourite thing to wear at the moment, I picked it up for £1 (!) off our clothes rail at my work's summer BBQ and I couldn't be happier.   I have always wanted to try a clothes swap and this really worked as loads of people brought in clothes for me and my colleague Matilda, to sell and we managed to raise £20 for  our nominated charity (not bad considering everything was £1!)

Can you tell I have been watching Mad Men again?! 2 Mad Men inspired outfits in the space of a week may just give it away! I panic bought this dress with a credit voucher before it expired [learn from my mistakes: DON'T LOSE YOUR RECEIPTS!] but actually I love it! It is similar to this dress from Topshop but much dressier...