Frills 'n' Spills

Long time, no speak! It feels strange to be back here writing when it has been so long since I last posted (and even longer since I was posting regularly!) but I guess that's what happens when life gets in the way! We took these photos a long time ago but as I style this dress the exact same way every time I wear this dress, I figured it was still worth sharing! I never used to be one for either midi lengths or trainers but this dress was my first step into a whole world of comfort. I love pale pink and grey together and the grey sweatshirt element of this makes it super easy to wear and cosy to boot!

I have spent a lot of time (and money) trying to find a skincare regime that works for me and Caudalie seems to be the holy grail! I don't know what magical ingredient it is in their products that suits my skin but it has made me a lot happier overall, even without make-up. All I am wearing here is a swipe of Glossier's Boy Brow (another favourite of mine) and some tinted lipbalm, younger Maria could have never...

I do love a dramatic ribbon! 

I spotted these rose gold Converse in the Office sale a few years back and immediately fell in love. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I like shiny things so it was inevitable that they were coming home with me. They made trainers feel much more accessible to me and for that I will be eternally grateful! They are also proof that basics don't have to be boring!

How do you jazz up your basics? Which colour combinations so you always come back to?

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?

I am always nervous when I wear anything with a wrap skirt so I opted for a (very attractive) nude slip underneath to preserve my modesty and I was glad I did after some rather gale-like winds...no-one needs to see that much leg! 😮

How would you style this jumper dress?

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 got this amazing Nars gift set for Christmas and I absolutely love the different red shades in it. It includes the (limited edition) velvet lipliner in Misdemeanor, a lipstick in Flamenco and the velvet matte lip pencil in Mysterious Red and I couldn't be happier with the selection. I am a big fan of red lipstick and these Nars shades apply like a dream. I was looking particularly pasty pale here so the lipstick looks particularly bold. My hair has grown a lot since we took these pictures but I can't decide how long to let it go as I like how it looks here!

A better look at that awesome floral print... I know florals are hardly groundbreaking but these botanical ones are at least more interesting than your usual.

Help a gal out, how long should I keep my hair?!

You can't really go wrong with a natty printed dress and this cute teal number is a firm favourite in my wardrobe. I bought it from Yumi when I was in St Ives for new year and it was a complete bargain. I don't often go for dresses with sleeves (the perils of always being warm!) or many shirt dresses but I think the shape is pretty flattering on me and the sleeves make ideal for work too! I love jewel colours and teal is definitely one of those colours that works on everyone, especially if it is covered in teeny gold polkadots!

I had been searching for a replacement pair of nude shoes with a block heel for what seemed like years and had almost given up hope when I spotted this pair in good old M&S. They aren't anywhere near as comfy as my other pair but I'm hoping that they will wear in soon as they are a perfect heel height!

Whenever I wear this dress, I tend to steer clear of anything too pretty and go for something a little less precious. Looking at these pictures, this outfit was clearly inspired by the 'Gucci geek', especially with the addition of this camel coat! I love the oversized, slightly androgynous shape and the longer length makes it perfect for my chilly walks to work. When I posted my Instagram picture of this outfit, people were concerned that I was out with bare arms but trust me, this was just out of shot haha!

I have been wearing this Nars lipstick a lot recently and it is such a fun colour. I was tempted to go for a more muted berry tone but the splash of pink (hopefully!) helped to stop this from looking too fusty. You can get a slightly better look at my glasses here too: I opted for a slightly less statement pair this time round and I really love the tortoiseshell frames, Marc Jacobs has done it again!  

These velvety soft tights have barely left my legs recently, they are so soft and keep me nice and toasty. They are well worth investing in if you want a luxury feel without spending a fortune. These Orla Kiely shoes are one of my favourite pairs and the chunky heel made me feel unstoppable- just what you need when your to-do list won't stop growing!

Do catwalk shows inspire your outfits?

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?

It seems like Mark and I have had plans every weekend recently and although I love doing stuff and seeing people, there's nothing better than having nothing planned. At the end of October (some of!) my family and I went to see the Vulcan's last flight at Staverton airport  and although it's not the kind of thing I would usually go for, it was actually really fun. I wore this floral Gap dress and it was ideal for both the huge roast dinner I ate beforehand and standing in a field at the airport ;) I am a massive fan of Gap dresses and this one is another firm favourite, especially as it it has pockets, I mean, what more could you ask for?! It's not fancy, but it sure is fun...

I have been wearing my hair a little longer recently (it looks weird in hats otherwise!) and am able to do a little more styling-wise, like curling it with my GHDs. The best part is that the wave holds, even in the wind and rain! I have had my Fitbit for nearly 2 months now and and I really love it, it has definitely inspired me to move more. 

I love a swooshy skirt and this one is lovely, especially as all of that extra material helps to make your waist look smaller, just what you need after a big dinner ;) 

It is so nice to spend time with family and although I don't get to see them as much as I would like, they are pretty darned special. Now can you guess which of us are related?! 

It seems like a long time since these photos were taken, it is definitely too chilly for sandals and bare legs in the mornings now! I have written a few times about buying the best you can afford and this gorgeous stripy French Connection dress may not be cheap but it wears a darn sight better than the cheaper equivalents in my wardrobe. The cotton jersey is super soft and breathable which I really love. I am always warm so anything that can help keep me cool is a winner in my book! As the main colour is navy, I was going to go down my usual route of red lipstick and accessories but even I like mixing it up occasionally! ;) I used to be really self-conscious about my legs as I am covered in old scars and bruises. I'm sure to anyone else they are practically invisible but it has taken me a while to become more confident in going out without nude tights. Isn't it strange what people worry about?

I always think that this park near our house feels like Narnia (I blame the lamppost!) We are really lucky to have plenty of green spaces in Cheltenham and I do feel very lucky that this is all on my doorstep. I really need to get out and explore the town more though so if anyone has any recommendations, please let me know!