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?

Basic is a pretty loaded term but even I have to take a break from dressing up; and when I need a break from pretty dresses, I head for simple pieces like this jazzy shirt and jeans. River Island have had some really nice casual pieces in recently and this shirt is a very welcome addition to my weekend wardrobe. I love the longer length of it and the soft cotton is thick enough to wear without a jacket which is ideal for this time of year. 

The real highlight of this outfit for me though was the shoes. I've never really worn Converse but I saw this metallic pair and fell in love. I will always love anything rose gold and these shoes are just so shiny! 😍 

I mean, how can you not have a smile on your face you are wearing these?! They are proof that basics don't have to be boring!

What are your wardrobe basics? 

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 told you that I have been obsessed with River Island recently, their more casual clothes are lovely, reasonably priced (especially if you can nab them in the sale!) and the perfect additions to my wardrobe. This jacket is one of my favourite things that I have bought recently, it is ridiculously soft and comfy and perfect for jazzing up a plain top and jeans.I don't tend to wear many plain tops but when a print is this cute, I will dig one out of my wardrobe! I wore this outfit to dinner and it was perfect for the three courses that I chowed down, you can't beat a loose top for ultimate dinner party comfort ;) 

I find it difficult to find jeans that fit but think I have finally found the perfect pair in (guess where) River Island! The Amelie jeans in the short length fit like a dream and couldn't be comfier. Again, I like them so much that I have them in black too! These coral shoes are a long-time favourite of mine and add an element of fun to an otherwise plain outfit. 

Do you buy things in multiples like me?

My name's Maria and I have a confession to make: I'm obsessed with River Island... I have to say that I never saw this coming. I have always been a bit wary of the brand but they have come a long way from the diamanté-encrusted shop of my youth. Now, I am a regular visitor and a fair few pieces have made their way into my wardrobe, starting with this gorgeous striped top which I absolutely love. The stripes make it feel really crisp and summery and the shape makes it much more interesting. I went fairly neutral with the rest of my outfit here but wouldn't this be ace with bright red or coral accessories?!

I have raved about these jeans a million times before and they just seem to get better with age. I wanted to wear these blue flats but I couldn't find them (the perils of having a whole unit full of shoes!) so I opted for these nude shoes instead. Not quite as fun but they did give me that much needed height!

Are you a fan of River Island? Which shops have surprised you recently?

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?

Yes, it's another 1970s inspired outfit! I rediscovered this top when I was having a clear out recently and I have basically ended up recreating the same outfit but with a more summer-y spin. I guess my taste hasn't changed as much as I thought in the past year, despite plenty of new additions (ahem) the vast majority of my wardrobe is pretty constant and I will always have room for a cute printed top! This outfit is nothing particularly ground-breaking but I felt absolutely unstoppable when I wore it, possibly because I have found a pair of jeans that fit me perfectly! I discovered them when I went to the Gap outlet recently and although I was initially dubious about trying on jeggings, the material is actually sturdier than a lot of jeans I own and they fit like a dream. I couldn't find them online but this pair look very similar and it is worth looking for them if you are in a Gap store any time soon...

Would you ever try *gasp* jeggings?

I have been feeling pretty ropy recently but it was Mark's birthday on April fool's day and rather than wallowing at home, we decided to go out to Gloucester Quays for a little bit of shopping and a lot of food at Portivo Lounge. We are massive fans of the chain and Impero Lounge is one of our favourite places to go when we visit our friends in Portishead so we had high hopes! The food was delicious and although the atmosphere was a little lacking, it was early on a Wednesday night so we can forgive them for that! I didn't want to get all dressed up but as we were celebrating Mark's birthday, I wanted to make some effort so went for my favourite skinny jeans and a jazzy top instead. It seemed fitting that I wore my birthday present from him on his birthday so I pulled this gorgeous camel coat out of the wardrobe and it was the perfect finishing touch to this outfit. Outlet shopping can be a bit hit and miss but I am a massive fan and I even managed to pick up a few bargains (including this gorgeous Gap dress) which I will be sharing soon :)

The sleeves are the best part about this top-  they are much more interesting than regular sleeves and are super cosy too- no cardigan is needed with these bad boys! The print on this top is really unusual too, it reminds me of ink stains and is much more interesting than your bog standard florals...

Are you a fan of outlet shopping?

I have raved about this red biker coat before on the blog but it is the only one I want to wear when it is so cold outside. I like the simple, slightly masculine shape, the colour is perfect for brightening even the frostiest of mornings and the wool keeps me from turning the same colour as the coat, haha! This outfit was perfect for meeting up with the lovely Hattie for a (long overdue) gossip and lunch. We have been friends since getting the train back together from the Brum blogger meet in 2011 (!) (see how many familiar faces you can spot!) and we meet up as regularly as our schedules allow for shopping, cake and chats about all things blogging. That is definitely the best part about blogging for so long, all of the awesome people I have met and can call friends as a result :)

Warehouse have been my go to for jeans recently and their high waisted ones are super flattering on. I got the blue version of these high rise ones instore and although the denim is not as thick as I would like, they are dressy enough to be worn with everything from comfy tops to jazzy blouses. I will always prefer high-waisted jeans as they help to keep my tummy smoothed down and I need all the help I can get in that area ;)

Where do you buy your jeans?

This tan cloche hat is a long-term resident of my wardrobe and although it doesn't get worn very often, it sometimes adds the perfect finishing touch to an outfit. Cold weather often leads to pretty dull outfits from me (just check my Instagram for proof!) but although this one is pretty simple, I think it is just interesting enough. I didn't realise that a couple of the pieces from this outfit were c/o until I uploaded these pictures, I guess it proves that I don't just wear things that I am sent in the photos and then never again, this coat and these shoes are an integral part of my wardrobe. I look slightly sheepish in these photos, thanks to lots of nosy neighbours and keen dog-walkers, it is difficult to keep a straight face when you are hissing 'hurry upppp!' at Mark, haha! The 1920s and 1930s are not usually decades I am inspired by but I have been watching a lot of Poirot recently and they sure knew how to wear a hat... ;)

Since cutting my hair, there have been a few things that I have had more trouble wearing and this hat is one of them. When my hair was longer, the hat gave just a hint of 1920s style but it looked a bit costume-y when I was trying it on with various dresses from my wardrobe so I decided to go with a more modern outfit instead. Paired with MAC Vegas Volt, my favourite new peachy coral lipstick (it even suits my pasty pale skin!) it felt more modern than musty. This lovely necklace was a surprise gift from my lovely friend Jules a while ago and it is one of my favourites. The knot is simple but adds a bit of interest to plain tops and you know I can't resist a tassel! 

These shoes are also a few years old now, I originally wore them back in March 2012 and they get pulled out when I am looking for a little bit of height and a more interesting colour than nude to wear. These Jamie jeans have been neglected in favour of my ASOS and Warehouse jeans recently but they are ideal for if you want to flash a bit of ankle or show off your shoes which you have to when they are this jazzy!

Are you a hat wearer?