Frills 'n' Spills

If there's one thing you can count on, it's the fact that summer will be a bit of a washout. Now I prefer gloomier weather as I am always too warm but I know that I am in the minority here! 😉 Maxi skirts will always be my summer clothing of choice and this floral skirt from Topshop is a fun addition to my wardrobe. I thought pairing it with a cropped jumper would be conceding to Autumn too early so I opted for this orange silk blouse instead. I don't want to wish my life away but I can't wait for the cooler months and I imagine this skirt will get a lot of wear layered up with some cosy tights and boots!

I wasn't sure what to do with the extra length of the blouse but I think knotting it like this looks pretty neat. Fifth Avenue is the latest addition to my Essie collection and it is a lovely coral red. I'm not very good at painting my own nails but I did feel pretty darned glam in this shade! 💅

The slits in this skirt come up pretty high (I had to resist the urge to pull an Angelina Jolie!) but these chunky block heels (hopefully!) helped to tone down the revealing nature. I may try it with a cream top and trainers next, how lush would these be?! 

How would you tone this skirt down? Are you counting down to Autumn like me?

Since starting my new job, I have had to get back into the habit of wearing smarter clothes for work. Whilst I miss my more casual workwear, it has been good to challenge myself and push out of my (very literal) comfort zone. Life's too short to wear boring clothes so I have been wearing a lot of fun printed dresses (this geometric number and this blocky beauty were particular favourites) to make it a but more interesting. I have been lucky enough to find a few dresses in my favourite charity shop to add to my collection, including this beautiful printed one from Hobbs. The shape isn't one I would usually go for but the drawstring waist was able to cinch me in and it is so light to wear, making it perfect for the summer!

I love the slash neck on this and the print is really unusual, does anyone else think it looks like rain? I have been trying to be more inventive with how I style my hair and I was pretty pleased with this sleeker look, thank goodness for my GHDs!

I wear these Whistles shoes a lot and I am cautious abut wearing them out as they are just so darned comfy! Has anyone seen any interesting black blocky heels recently? I need to find an alternative to these but ideally with a pointed toe too... let me know if you have more luck than I do!

What do you wear to work? Where do you buy interesting workwear from?

BIBA is one of those brands where subtlety is in short supply. I love all of their jazzy prints and they always look so luxurious. I spotted this top in the House of Fraser sale back in March and I fell in love, the peacock print is beautiful and I love the swooshy sleeves! I have been trying to focus on quality over quantity with my clothes buying and this was an ideal candidate: it wasn't cheap but the standard is so much higher than anything I buy from H&M or Primark and I know it will still be in my wardrobe  years later. 

Eyeshadow has always been out of my comfort zone but I have been trying to wear it more recently and I was pretty pleased with the result here. Paired with my favourite nude lipstick (Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Liv it Up) I was hot to trot! I treated myself to Liv it Up and Pink Venus when I got my new job and I absolutely love them, I will definitely be treating myself to a few more shades come next payday...

The back detail on this top is fab too, the tie allows you to adjust how wide the neckline is which I like. I always get a bit paranoid that the sleeves will keep slipping off my shoulders but this helps to keep them firmly in place. My hair has grown a lot recently and I have been able to coax it into soft waves which is fab. I have always been very low maintenance with my hair so it's nice when it cooperates!

These River Island jeans are so comfortable and due to the stretch in the denim, they stay comfy even after a large meal (which let's face it, is the whole point of going out!) I really want some new berry jeans this Autumn, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they bring some out in this style.

Are you a fan of BIBA?

I have always been a fan of florals and when I spotted this skirt in my local store last summer, it took me less than ten minutes to make a beeline for the till. I mean, it was the last one left, and in my size, that has to be fate, right?! I was going to pair it with a cream blouse but I actually love the black top with it, it makes the whole outfit look much cooler (and let's face it, I need all the help I can get on that front!). I never thought I would regularly be wearing crop tops but I have definitely been more confident clothing-wise recently. I'm not sure why I look so unsure in these pictures but I absolutely loved this outfit and I will definitely be recreating it this year...

My lipstick here was actually a lot brighter in real life but it didn't photography very well which is very annoying! I have been growing my hair recently and although I'll probably never go back to my 2013 length, I do like being able to do more with it now it's a tad longer.

I have a few Radley bags in my collection but this is definitely the most fun one I own. I absolutely love the heart shape and the colour is just divine. 😍

I have to say, Oasis is one of those shops that is a bit hit and miss for me, this skirt was part of their collaboration with the Chelsea Physic Garden and is fab (when they get it right, they get it really right!) but they can edge too far into twee territory for my liking - there's only so many butterfly prints that anyone needs, amirite?!

Are you a fan of florals? How do you make them less twee?

Blogging is a funny old game, and one I didn't do much of in 2016. It was a very strange year for me and mine, we had some lovely highs (including celebrating a decade with Mark, being bridesmaid for my little sister, spending V-day with some of the best people I know, being made permanent at work, visiting Barcelona and even managing to feel more at ease with myself and my body thanks to semi-regular exercise) but I also had some really tough times, especially with my dad's accident. Luckily he is much much better now and will continue to improve but there's nothing like a big shock to push you out of your comfort zone! I'm not very good at asking for help but so many people stepped up to the plate this year so thank you, you don't realise how much it helped! Slightly maudlin but I'm hoping that 2017 will be calmer, there's plenty to look forward to but slightly less drama excitement would be nice! I have always been a great believer in the transformative power of clothes and this top was both a fun purchase and another step out of my shell. I tend to avoid drop waisted clothes but I loved the fun print and shape and couldn't bear to leave it on the shelf.

It was the perfect choice for a lunch date with Mark as it looks fancy but is actually mega comfy and easy to wear. It makes enough of a statement that I didn't have to hunt down any extra accessories which is always a win in my book!

I have worn much less foundation this year,  it's amazing how distracting a swipe of bright lipstick can be! This is my failsafe summery shade: Max Factor  in Bewitching Coral, it is one of those colours that looks good on everyone...

You can't beat a swooshy hem! 😍

I have had this bag for donkey's years but apparently I have never posted about it on the blog which is a surprise! I think I picked up on one of my charity shop trips at uni but can't be 100% sure without my handy wardrobe referencer (a.k.a my archive of outfit posts). I love the super soft suede and snazzy tassel and it is surprisingly roomy for such a small bag, I managed to fit my purse, massive keyring and all of my diabetes stuff in, not bad going at all!

A better look at that hemline and a repeat of the bottom half of this outfit... oops! I have missed sharing my outfit pictures over on the blog and whilst I'd love to promise that this is all going to change with the dawn of a new year,  realistically, I don't think I will ever get back to my old schedule of posting every other day like in the good old days! I'm hoping to spend more time reading (and commenting) on my favourite blogs this year so please do hit me up with your favourites!

I am someone who has a fair amount of clothes on rotation but there are some pieces in my wardrobe that I will probably never get rid of and this denim dress is definitely on that list! I've had it for 4 years or so already but it is such a flattering fit, that it is sure to be in my wardrobe for a long time yet. Let's face it, this outfit isn't going to win any awards or end up on a street style roundup anywhere but it was comfortable, fun and I felt cute in it, what more can you ask for?! I'm not usually one for Bardot tops (I have fairly broad shoulders that don't need emphasising) but I couldn't resist this ribbed crop top from H&M and I love it layered up with this dress. Crop tops have definitely been the surprise addition to my summer wardrobe, they are just perfect for adding layers without too much extra bulk. The time for bare legs has definitely been and gone for this year but I'm definitely going to be trying this outfit again with longer sleeves and some nude tights now that the temperature has dropped. 

I can tell that we took these photos in summer as I am covered in freckles! I have always had a bit of a confidence issue but something seems to have shifted in my mind this year. For once I wasn't bothered about not wearing foundation or going bare-legged and it is a really freeing feeling. I'm just hoping that this continues as it's nice to have that extra little spring in your step!

These shoes are another old favourite of mine, Keds are just perfect for when you have a lot of walking to do and these were my go-to pair when I was in Barcelona. They may well be the best £4 I have ever spent!

It's been a while since I posted about wearing a crop top but since February, I have been introducing more and more of them into my wardrobe. They are the ideal match to my high-waisted skirts and surprisingly comfortable if you can find a good one. I am a fan of H&M's selection, mainly because they have them in a comfortable stretchy jersey material- I may be feeling more confident but I still need some wiggle room! This River Island skirt could have been made for me, I love the bright red colour and it is so comfy to wear, even when the weather is roasting! The adjustable waist is also a real bonus, there's nothing worse than feeling trapped in your clothes when it is boiling. I am someone who always burns in the sun (I even managed to burn through factor 50 after 20 minutes in the park the other week!) so you will usually find me lurking in the shade during the summer... if you see me outside at all! This lack of time spent in the sun does mean that my skin can be almost translucent but I'm hoping to be rewarded with fewer wrinkles in the future...

You know that I am a stripes fiend so it was inevitable that I would end up adding this top to my collection. The soft ribbed cotton is ridiculously soft and comfy and was the perfect backdrop to this delicate gold necklace. I bought it a while back in the Warehouse sale but the chain was ridiculously short so I used the broken chain from an old necklace to lengthen it slightly. It may not be the prettiest solution but it works!

A better look at this dainty bracelet. I originally bought it for a friend's birthday present but it was too nice to give away so I bought her something else instead!

Maxis are perfect for the summer, they're covered up but keep you cool and they are super fun for swooshing around in. Shoes in the summer are always a bit of an odd one for me, I can't deal with stuff between my toes so I always opt for single strap sandals. This pair are getting a little bit shabby now but they are so comfy that I can't bear to throw them away. Here's hoping Matalan bring out a similar pair next year!

As I have got older, I have been less inclined to spend time fussing over my outfits at the weekend, Basing an outfit around my comfiest jeans mean I have more time for fun things like lie-ins or brunch instead! ;) I had never really been one for double denim but this chambray top is so comfortable, that paired with black jeans it managed to convince me. I picked it up in the sale at M&S a while back and although it's not flattering, that's OK. I felt really comfortable here, even if I'm not going to win any fashion awards!

The sleeves in this top are my favourite thing about it. I love a fluted sleeve and these certainly add a bit of interest to a plain top. This necklace is one of my recent favourites, I love the simple deco shape of it, even if it is wonky in all of these photos... I have been going make-up free as often as possible recently and not wearing anything other than mascara and lipstick has been doing my skin the world of good. I am more self-conscious about my rosy cheeks (and my embarrassing tendency to blush) but so far no one has run away screaming so I'm counting it as a success! ;)

These dalmatian print shoes have been in my wardrobe for over 4 years and they were the perfect finishing touch for this muted outfit. I will be so sad when they finally give up the ghost, they may have only cost me £12 but they are so comfortable!

Are you a fan of double denim?

I never thought I would see the day that I would be sharing an outfit with me wearing a crop top (!) but this blog has pushed me so far out of my comfort zone that nothing surprises me anymore! Going to the gym has made me so much more confident and I felt amazing in this outfit. I wore it a couple of months ago for my best friend's birthday and it was the perfect mix of comfy and dressy. There are lots of rules about what women should and shouldn't wear but there's nothing like an amazing outfit to make you feel like you could take on the world. 

There's nothing worse than a lumpy waistband from tucking your top in and although I was nervous about wearing a crop top, only a sliver of skin was on show. I have since bought a couple more to wear with my amazing new maxi skirt and I get the feeling that you will be seeing a lot more of them over here on the blog! 

This skirt has to be one of the best bargains I have ever found, it was supposed to be £60 and I got it for a mere £4.50! It is beautifully made with layers and layers of organza silk and I felt like a million dollars in it. The shape is uber flattering and the layers give it that element of fun without being overpowering. I mean, who could resist a skirt that looks like it is made of flower petals?!

Would you wear a crop top? What's the best bargain you have ever found?

It's strange how your wardrobe changes over the years, I used to live in cute floral dresses but have barely worn them recently. This Oasis dress has been hanging in my wardrobe for a while although I have been waiting for the colder weather to wear it as it is too short to wear without some opaques! I really like the colours and the ditsy print is super cute. I have been having a bit of a crisis of confidence recently and do worry that certain clothes can end up looking a bit 'young' on me. I tried toning down the cutesy factor with some grey tights and a swipe of red lipstick so hopefully this dress doesn't look too ridiculous!

Christmas can be quite strange. It's probably when you spend the longest on the sofa but your clothes tend to be pretty fancy and unsuited for slouching - in my house at least! I picked up this velvet shift dress during Gap's Black Friday sale and I couldn't be more chuffed with it. The simple shape makes it easy to wear and the burgundy colour is pretty festive, even though I will definitely be wearing it all year round. I couldn't believe how pale it made me look though, I am almost blending into the wall behind me!

Any tips for wearing dark lippie?