Frills 'n' Spills

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?

Unlike red, yellow is not a colour that I wear very often. I love it as a colour but finding a shade that flatters me is pretty tricky. I spotted this top in Warehouse a couple of months ago and I fell in love and thankfully the colour actually works on me. It is more lemon in person but it is impossible to photograph so you will just have to take my word for how nice a colour it is! Paired with my favourite skinny jeans and some shiny shoes, it was the perfect outfit for dinner and drinks.

These beautiful pleated sleeves were my favourite part of this top, aren't they fun?! They are quite long though so I wouldn't advise eating messy foods with these because they will dip into absolutely everything!

Shiny shoes will always be fun and this River Island pair are one of my favourites. Because they are flat they are super comfy and I can dance the whole night away in them. More proof that basics don't have to be boring! 

Are you a fan of yellow?

Recently the high street has been making clothes that are as good, if not better than many designers. Warehouse is one of my favourite brands and they are consistently creating beautiful clothes that look much more expensive than their price tag. This dress was a total bargain and I absolutely love the mix of prints and the shape. I usually don't go for long sleeves but this dress shape is one of my favourites and is mega flattering on. I have worn this dress out for dinner a couple of times and it is absolutely perfect, it looks fancy but it is mega comfortable to wear, especially with its swooshy skirt...

Mixed prints can be tricky to pull off so I kept it simple with some velvet opaque tights and my favourite pair of wedge heels. I'm not particularly tall so anything that can make my legs look longer is a winner in my book!

Are you a fan of Warehouse? Where are your favourite places to shop on the high street?

I love maxi dresses and Monki make some brilliant ones. I have had this dress for a couple of years but for some reason, I've never blogged about it! It is a little fancy for everyday wear but ideal for when you want to be comfy, but still look like you have made an effort- like date night or new year's eve! The dress is light as a feather and the pleats give the skirt a satisfying swoosh as you walk. It definitely has a Greek goddess vibe to it so gold accessories were a pretty easy choice. 

My hair is finally getting long enough to do more with and I have always been a fan of a twisted and pinned style. There's no particular method to this but it keeps my hair off my neck and it looks like I have bothered to make an effort, win win!

You know how much I love a swooshy skirt and this dress definitely ticks that box. Unlike my parrot print maxi, it isn't lined all the way down but it actually makes it much comfier to wear as it is a lot lighter. I should have worn more interesting shoes (wouldn't these wedges look ace?!) but comfort won out this time!

What do you wear on date night?

Thank you for all of your lovely messages on my last post, making big decisions and changes can be overwhelming (understatement of the century!) but I am really excited to see what the future has to hold! As soon as my initial wave of enthusiasm subsided, my first thought was what on earth do I wear?! I didn't get much of a chance to scope out the office when I was in for my interview but that hasn't stopped me picking up (more than) a few pieces for my new working wardrobe! ;) I spotted this top in the Dorothy Perkins sale and although I have tried not to wear any of it before I start (it gives me something to look forward to!) this was the basis of a perfect date night look to celebrate. We had a pretty early dinner so I didn't want anything too fancy so jeans and a top were ideal. I really love the length of this top, it is super flattering and I feel really tall when I wear it which is never a bad thing! I have to say that Dorothy Perkins is not a shop I think to look in regularly but having a browse reminded me how good their clothes are, especially for work and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more bargains...

This post contains jeans that were sent for review

When House of Fraser got in touch to see if I was interested in styling some of their jeans, I jumped at the chance. I have been looking for a replacement pair for these leather look trousers for a while so thought I would take a risk on these coated Biba jeans for a similar look. Imagine my surprise when they arrived and looked more like a pair of sexy waterproof trousers than waxed jeans! Once I had got over the shock, I tried them on and they actually fit really well, something I was worried about as Biba usually runs pretty small for me. Paired with a swooshy tunic top, I was sold and I wore them out for dinner and drinks with Mark. 'Date night' is one of those things that can feel a bit contrived (especially when you live together!) but it's nice to have an excuse to get all dressed up and trying good food and drink is a great way to spend time together. I always hate the idea of going out but we always have a lot of fun when we force ourselves to get out of the house, I just need to tear myself away from Netflix for more than five minutes...

There are a few brands I really, really love and Joules is definitely up there on the list! I spotted (har har!) this beautiful Amelie polka dot dress  on Sarah a while ago and it was not long before I added it to my wardrobe. 1950s style dresses will always be my favourite shape to wear and I love how this one nips you in at the waist, the swooshy skirt is amazing and the pinky coral is super cheery too: this dress is definitely Maria approved! ;) I wore this out for a date night with Mark a few weeks ago but I will be definitely be wearing it all through the summer once the weather warms up again, it is far too pretty to 'save for best'! I was a little bit chilly in these photos but I haven't got a cardigan that matches. I am now on the hunt for a pale pink one, let me know if you have any recommendations, I'm not sure where to start looking for one...

Are you a Joules fan? What do you wear for date night?

When you are busy working, it can be difficult to find time to spend together so Mark and I always try to make sure that we do something at least once a month, usually on 30th (which is our anniversary!). Last night we went to Theoc House, a local restaurant and the food was LOVELY. There's nothing I like more than a good burger!

It was a lot cooler last night but still really muggy so I wore one of my infamous Primark dresses with my 80s-tastic ASOS blazer...

This dress should really have it's own category here on the blog as it has been featured before but then that is what my party essentials are all about! I always think that people assume a print dress is less versatile because it is more distinctive than a little black dress but as with anything, it is all about how you style it. For me, this dress has always been that perfect mix of demure and flirty and has been my go-to outfit for many a party...

Paired with black tights it is perfect for family meals at a local pub and with heels and bare legs, perfect for a date or a trip to a bar!