Frills 'n' Spills

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 dress was an impulse purchase a little while ago but I have only just got round to wearing it. I wore it on my last day at work before I was off for my birthday and felt like a 1960s secretary for the whole day (although thankfully without the institutionalised sexism!) I really like the camel/caramel colour with the cream- it felt like a really classic combination but the cut of the dress helps it to feel more modern. I look weirdly tanned in all of these pictures, I guess I chose the wrong shade of nude tights! ;)

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?

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?! 

There's something about lace dresses that I just can't resist. This is completely different to my beloved lace dress from Monki but with the high neckline, they both have a hint of Victoriana about them which I love. I just realised that this dress is basically a day time appropriate version of my favourite festive frock which seems fitting as they were both from Miss Sefridge. I clearly gravitate towards similar clothes without even realising! I picked up this dress when I was shopping with a friend. Naomi made me promise that if it didn't fit or if I ever got bored of it, that I would pass it on to her but unfortunately for her, I can't see this leaving my wardrobe any time soon!

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.

Not the most inspiring of post titles, I admit but it is difficult to describe this outfit in any other way! Last Friday I trekked down to London for the BBC WDYTYA show as my company was running a stall there and we were taking it in turns to help man it. This was the first time I had ever been to a trade show or anything like this and I didn't have the foggiest idea about what to wear. In the end I went for cosiness and a smarter version of my usual Friday outfit of jeans and slobby jumper.  I figured comfort was key when spending the whole day on your feet or travelling! I wish I had worn a proper coat rather than my jacket though as it was freezing, even on the Underground, and I was turning a fetching shade of blue... 

What are your favourite cosy outfits? How do you add colour to a work outfit?

And now for something completely different... After the riot of colour in my last post on workwear, this could seem positively drab in comparison, but interesting details ensure that this outfit is (hopefully!) more fab and also something that more people could wear in their office.  I knew this cardigan would be a wardrobe staple when I bought it and these grey wool trousers are my favourite ones to wear when it is chilly outside... 

This top is one of those that I can only wear with certain items of clothing as it is so short in the body. I like the fact that it is slightly different to your average monochrome striped top and the red adds enough interest to lift an all grey outfit. Paired with this rather summery necklace I felt a lot more cheerful at work! 

 

What helps to brighten your day at work?

These photos were taken way back at the beginning of October, before I picked up my glasses but I don't know why I haven't posted it yet as this is an outfit I wear pretty regularly despite both the shoes and the skirt being impulse buys. I have to admit, I am awful for making impulse purchases, (especially if I happen to wonder into a supermarket clothing section) and this skirt definitely falls into that category. I saw it on ASOS for a measly £9.50 and figured that even if it did look a bit yellow, with change from a tenner, I couldn't really complain. Luckily, when the skirt arrived, it was gorgeous- the colour is more camel than yellow and the check print is lovely- I never can resist a checked skirt! 

A slick of red lipstick and my faux fur stole always make me feel glamourous, even when heading to work, definitely the perfect sartorial pick me up...

Yes, my legs really are that short! Cable knit tights are a winter essential for me and these match these NW3 heels nearly perfectly. These heels hopefully elongate my stumpy legs too, despite the length of my skirt...