Frills 'n' Spills

I thought I would give you all a break from being all dressed up by sharing one of my favourite casual outfits that I have worn recently.  This oversized jumper is one of my favourites and although it has only ever made it to the blog once before, I wear it a lot. I find this time of year really difficult to dress for as it is cold when I leave in the morning but I am boiling by the time I get home- I don't know how anyone manages! Luckily this outfit comprises of lots of thin layers which are surprisingly versatile as well as being ridiculously comfy. I mean, you're only about one step away from pyjamas which can only be a good thing, amirite?!

There are a few decades that I never thought that I would look to for fashion inspiration and I would have said that the 1970s were up there on that list but looking back, I have more than a few pieces that are looking bang on trend at the moment! Ideally these would have been flared jeans rather than skinnies but I sadly got rid of my bargain Boden flares in one of my clearouts so these skinny jeans will just have to do! I seem to gravitate to this faux fur gilet every Friday, it is just so darned cosy and perfect for making even the most casual outfit look dressed up. With my fringe, I felt very 1970s groupie but that's no bad thing right?!

My fringe has got so long recently and I have to admit, although I really love it, I don't think I will get it cut back in next time I go to the hairdressers. I think a side fringe is more my style, I miss my forehead! ;) This Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet lipstick in Pink Pong 06 is one of my favourite lipsticks and is a gorgeous hot pink shade that lifts this outfit perfectly.

I stupidly wore (small) heels when I was in London this week and my poor feet were ripped to shreds so I have been wearing these ridiculously comfy Betty London flats whilst they heal up. Usually ballet flats gape around your feet but this pair fit my feet like a glove and I just wish they came in more colours as they are definitely the comfiest shoes in my wardrobe!

Weekends for me fall into one of two types- jam-packed and full of nice food and dressy outfits  and travelling to see friends and family or slobbing around, doing as little as possible whilst binging through series on Netflix- please tell me someone else is as obsessed with Agents of Shield as I am?! This outfit was worn for a weekend like the latter a few weeks ago, quite often  I won't bother to get dressed and you will find me happily curled up in my 'slob suit' but I had to make a run to Tesco so had to wear proper clothes which was a bit of a shock to the system! I rediscovered this Monki dress at the back of my wardrobe- yes I know, I need to have a proper clearout! I bought this dress back in January 2014 (along with this dress and these tights- I was clearly having a burgundy moment!) and although I have worn it a lot, it has never made it to the blog, until now! Although this is a super cosy outfit, it is slim fitting enough to be flattering and I don't boil to death which is always a bonus, I think I have finally found the perfect jumper dress!

Which TV series should I watch next? Send me your recommendations please!

It's not often that I wear outfits that can be described as cool but I think this outfit may be just that. I picked up this snazzy dress (yes, more leopard print!) for a mere £7 in the Tesco sale a little while ago and it has become my go-to dress for when I want to look smart but still be super comfy. I have worn it with both nude and black tights and heels but this is probably my favourite way to wear it. The jumper and boots add a bit of a rock 'n' roll edge and most importantly, make it super cosy! All I need now is a slick of eyeliner and my leather jacket and I will have that cool vibe nailed... I have been super impressed with Tesco's clothes recently, I keep finding clothes whenever I go in, living opposite is dangerous!

This cropped fluffy jumper (similar ones can be found here and here) is so soft and although I would never normally choose a cropped length, it actually is much more flattering with dresses than a regular length would be. It just goes to show that stepping out of your comfort zone occasionally can be a really positive move! I have treated myself to a few MAC lipsticks recently and Impassioned  is a firm favourite of mine, I love how bright it is against my pale skin...

It took me a while to break in these Duo ankle boots but now I have, they are one of the comfiest pairs of shoes that I own. They have replaced my beloved Bertope boots which I have worn out, or at least until my local cobbler can work his magic and resole them! I love the heels on these, they are comfy enough to wear all day but crucially push me over that 5' 5" barrier too which is always a good thing ;) 

Any tips on nailing that rock 'n' roll look?

I'm not sure why I look quite so cheery in these pictures but it makes a refreshing change- usually I tend to  look bleary-eyed rather than chirpy! This outfit is a more casual version of this one and I have been wearing it a lot recently. The top was a recent impulse purchase in the Matalan sale and it looks equally good with high-waisted skirts as it does with skinny jeans- always a winner in my book! I love the jazzy print at the top too, it makes even the most simple outfit look more pulled together. The one problem is that it creases ridiculously quickly, I had ironed it not more than 10 minutes before these photos were taken but you wouldn't know it from all the creases. It's a good job I'm looking pretty relaxed about it huh?! Matalan have really impressed me recently, I could spend a fortune in my local store and I'm sure I certainly will come payday...

The best part about a simple outfit like this is that you can go completely overboard on the accessories! This bright yellow bag is the perfect way to add some sunshine and paired with my new favourite lipstick (Mac Lady Bug) I was hot to trot... 

Which brands have impressed you recently?

From sleek to super casual, I can't seem to make up my mind about what I want to wear to work! We have all had those days when we feel rubbish and this was the perfect comfy outfit. This jumper was another gift from Matilda and has become my go-to for when I want something easy and breezy to wear. Although I wouldn't normally wear something so oversized, I love the short sleeves and bright colour. Coral is my favourite colour to wear in the spring and summer and it is perfect for adding a splash of colour to a grey day (just look how miserable this weather is!) The one thing I'm not so keen on is how short in the body it is as I have to find another top to layer underneath it but maybe I just have a weirdly long torso?! 

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? 

I don't know what it is about wearing bright blue recently but I really can't get enough of it. You all know how obsessed I am with Monki too and, like my neon jumper, these slouchy trousers were another £8 bargain - I have worn them so many times since I bought them! This outfit is a weird hybrid of brightly coloured TV presenter and bad 80s workwear. I blame the trousers, personally.  Initially I was going to go for a more neutral jacket but I actually really love the bold primary colours together and it makes for a much more interesting outfit. The beauty of wearing bright blocky separates is that if you do get too self-conscious, you can just lose the jacket and you've got a much more conventional work outfit - perfect for more conservative offices!

Gloomy days call for bright clothes and they don't get much brighter than this jumper! Another Monki bargain, it cost a mere £8 in their sale and it is the perfect 'inbetweeny' jumper, warm enough to keep you warm but not so thick that you boil to death (anyone else who thinks that their work has put on the central heating far too early?!) Before it arrived, I didn't realise  just how bright it was but this is one very loud, very neon jumper! Despite worrying that it might be a bit *much*, every time I have worn it, I have had so many compliments from pretty much everyone who has seen me in it. If you are feeling grey, this neon cherry red Trudy jumper is a mood-booster in knitted form...  Although I like bright colours, I never think of myself as liking neon clothes (too many uni flashbacks) but this was way more wearable than I expected . Because the colour is enough of a statement on its own, I opted for my favourite stripey dress and plain shoes to (try) and tone it down a bit. 

I never used to like layering jumpers up with dresses but recently it has been my go-to when I'm not sure what to wear- all the fun of a skirt without having to find a top that matches! You all know how much I love Max Factor lipsticks and it seems I'm not the only one! This perfectly pinky coral is the 'Bewitching Coral' shade and the lovely Amy is also a fan (although it looks like a completely different colour on her!) Being matchy- matchy may not be cool but if this is wrong, I don't wanna be right! 

How do you make neon more wearable?

There's something about dressing like a schoolgirl (not like that!) that I just can't resist (see here, here and here for proof) and this outfit felt like a rather strange mixture of Wednesday Addams, a Puritan costume with a dash of schoolgirl thrown in (I blame the satchel). I don't tend to wear monochrome outfits very often but occasionally something a little more severe helps to shake me out of my sartorial style rut...This green coat has barely left my back over the past two weeks, chilly rainy mornings have sent me running back to my coat collection faster than you can say 'back to school'.

OK, so I lied in my last post, so far this is the last post with my old hair! Deciding what to wear in the heat has been utterly unbearable but this gorgeous monochrome Emily & Fin dress has been a lifesaver. I bought it from Ruby Cotton back in about March (check out their closing down sale for some bargains) and have been wearing it a lot over the past few weeks, there's nothing better than a really swooshy skirt! Emily & Fin are one of those brands that I absolutely love but can never find, the prints are gorgeous and best of all, the lengths aren't ridiculously short, never a bad thing in my book! I am always jealous of Sarah and her rather extensive collection, I just wish I could fit into it ;)

Who can resist a giant bow on the front of their dress? Not me, that's for sure! I really like the pattern on this dress and weirdly it makes the humongous bow more subtle as you can only see it at certain angles- definitely something worth dancing about!

I love the soft pleats on this skirt and I'm not even fazed by the midi length which is unusual for me! I probably should have worn a little block heel with this skirt but I loved the bright pink with the monochrome and comfort was definitely the order of the day. These Clarks shoes get a lot of wear but have worn really well, even though they are suede- no mean feat when you consider how clumsy I am! 

I love the bright blue stripes and paired with my favourite orange-y  lipstick, it felt very summery. Thanks to the sunshine I have a bunch of new freckles and my hair is looking pretty light here too, you can really see my gingery tinge!

I have taken matchy-matchy to a new level with these shoes! I don't wear them as often as I'd like but I really should as they are probably the comfiest shoes that I own!  From looking at these photos you can see that the leggings have gone massively saggy around the knees.  I really need to invest in a half decent pair but I'm not sure where to start looking, any ideas?

I washed my hair with the Umberto Giannini 'Incredible Body' range here and you can really tell, my hair was absolutely huge when I woke up! Paired with the denim shirt and peachy lipstick though, I'm not sure if I look like I have fallen through an 80s wormhole?! Please excuse my bleary eyes here, early starts will do that to a girl! 

Monki clothes are known for being rather oversized but after an unfortunate incident with a pair of trousers that wouldn't encompass my hips, I thought that I would be better off sizing up than down. This shirt however is nearly as big as my hair and I felt a bit 'schlumpy' in it if truth be told. Belting it seemed to solve the reservations I was having and I trotted off to work quite happy in the end...

Are you brave enough to wear denim on denim? How would you style this denim shirt?