Frills 'n' Spills

Selina is a blogger who I have followed for a long time and it was so nice to see her again and catch up, I haven't seen her since we were big winners at the SWBloggers Xmas Quiz last year! 

I need to get me a bright pink vase!

Sassy posing on the stools on the stage. We definitely got some inquisitive looks when we were perched up there, you could tell people were trying to work out who we were! ;)

Being a blogger can be a funny old hobby- you spend hours taking and editing photos to go in a blog post, agonizing over the words to write with the images (or is that just me?!) whilst trying to keep up with emails, social media updates and comments… all in the few hours you have free in a week. Clearly, something has to give. Recently I have been feeling so out of the loop with blogging, I have barely been posting, thanks to another bout of flu and it all starts to feel a little overwhelming when you start trying to cross things off your ever-growing to-do list (don’t even get me started on sponsored/collaborative posts!) Instead of stressing out about this, I have been trying to remind myself why I blog (this post may be from 2011 but I think it is just as relevant today!) and trying to get back to basics and doing what I love the most; sharing the outfits that I love with all of you wonderful people who read my little blog! 

This pair were from the Gok Wan at Specsavers range and were my go to pair for everyday wear. The colour and shape are pretty inoffensive and easy to wear without becoming the focus of an outfit. I liked them but they never set the world on fire...

Despite my unsure looking face, this last pair have probably been my favourite ones to wear recently. When MyOptique asked if I wanted to try one of the pairs of glasses from their 'London Retro' range, I leapt at the chance. These glasses are like the lovechild of my first two pairs and those of a 1950s secretary- cat eye perfection! I was worried that they might seem a little costume-y at first but actually the shape is less cartoony in real life and more subtle than these photos make them seem. I had never heard of London Retro before they got in touch but any brand that names a range of glasses after Tube stations is A-OK with me...

One of the best (and weirdest) things about being a blogger is working with your favourite brands on posts. I was so excited last week when Sarah, the lovely PR lady for Seasalt got in touch with me. Seasalt is one of my favourite brands and there is nothing better than working with a brand you really really love, especially when they send such a sweet card with the package! They very kindly offered to send me a coat from their new 'Rain' range which is both wind and rainproof; I accepted faster than you could say 'snug as a bug'. I have always hated having to choose between being warm and staying dry and with this beautiful coat I don't have to (hooray!). I wanted to talk about the rest of my outfit (like how much I love my new jeans) but let's face it, it was all about the coat! 

For some reason it looks ridiculously crinkled here but it looks less scruffy IRL. Despite my face here, I love the coat, especially the fishtail hem (no more mud splattered legs for me!)

How could you not love a cosy fur-lined hood?! Honestly, wearing this coat is like being wrapped in the world's most stylish sleeping bag, perfect for my early morning starts! 

Here you can see the lovely blue-y grey colour and the beautiful anchor buttons on this, the details really do make it and it really does feel luxe (which let's face it, it should for the money you are paying!) I have been wearing this nail varnish for the past week or so as the colour is amazing. I had been looking for a true orange for a while (everything I already have is too pink or coral coloured) and this Nars x Pierre Hardy nail varnish set is perfect - such a punchy colour! 

Waterproof, windproof and totally cosy, what more could you ask for in a coat?!

Have you found your winter coat yet?

As a blogger I have been lucky enough to do all sorts of wonderful things but I think one of the best and strangest things I have done so far is having having my face printed onto a some playing cards. Yes you read that right, along with some of my favourite bloggers (oh hai Sarah, Carla, Gem and Michelle!) I am officially part of the Best of British Fashion Bloggers card game!

I have been searching for a new pair of jeans for quite a while now, I found some way back in May but they not completely perfect (I would have preferred them to be more high waisted) and so when I saw these ASOS jeans in the sale (they are now a measly £12!) I thought they were worth a shot. The colour takes some getting used to, mint green is definitely less forgiving of lumps and bumps than dark blue but I really like it and hopefully it will force me out of my comfort zone a little! It's typical that I have bought these as the summer is coming to an end but I imagine I can prolong their life with some cosy knits (this one would be perfect!) 

Other than my wardrobe full of stripes, I never normally go for patterned tops but I love how garish OTT this satin patterned tee is. It almost feels like it should be jewel encrusted, that's how jazzy it is! Although I wore it to work here, I can definitely see myself dressing this up with heels and some black jeans for a nice meal...

It even has lace all along the hem, maximalist is definitely the way to go this Autumn! However much I would like to be a sleek Jil Sander's kinda gal, I definitely fall into the Dolce and Gabbana camp, give me crowns over cocoon coats any day!

Do you prefer a minimalist or a jazzy look?

I don't exactly what it is about this outfit but it just feels a bit 'Real Housewives'- perhaps it's the combination of the low cut top and the high cut of the skirt?!  Luckily a black slip dress helped to make it a bit more work appropriate and it was actually super comfy too. I picked this wrap dress up from a charity shop but I will definitely be looking out for more to add to my wardrobe as the weather cools back down. Until I can afford a Diane von Fustenberg one, any ideas for where I can find some nice ones?

Whenever I am nervous about wearing a particular item of clothing, I pair it with old favourites in an effort to tone down whatever it is I am scared of. My Topshop wedges are a bit 'out there' and I wasn't sure how well they would go down at work but I figured that a Friday was the perfect day to try them out. I have worn them quite a few times since I bought them and they are really comfy, I think they will make perfect  dancing shoes! I can't see these black ones on the website but they have the grey and brown pairs which also look pretty nice...

This is pretty much this outfit with slightly snazzier shoes but it just goes to show, even fashion bloggers wear the same outfits repeatedly ;) I was lucky enough to visit the Herbert Museum and Art Gallery a couple of weeks ago with work (which is absolutely amazing by the way and well worth a visit!) and this necklace was a sneaky purchase from the gift shop. I love unusual jewellery and the Herbert has an amazing selection from local artists and I'm guessing most museums do. Much cheaper than Topshop and supporting local craftspeople, what more could you ask for?! 

Wearing only black and white has never really been my thing, I prefer bright colours to black and white and monochrome has always felt just a bit too safe for me. There are some notable exceptions to this rule, I loved this spotty top from Next and this maxi skirt and blouse combination is perfect for the summer but generally I steer clear of the (black and) white stuff. I really shouldn't have bought this dress from Primark, I try not to buy clothes that won't last more than a few washes but I loved the fit of this and the length makes it perfect for work.