Frills 'n' Spills

As you may have seen, I had my hair cut recently and decided to get a fringe cut in. I had been umming and aahing about it for ages and I finally decided to trust my hairdresser and just go with whatever she came up with. I figured it's only hair and if I hated it, it would grow back right? Recently all I want to wear are jumper dresses and this Cadbury purple one is one of my current favourites!  I wouldn't really classify this as a particularly exciting outfit but this blog is all about the highs and lows of my life and wardrobe so I wanted to share it anyway. This dress was originally from Sainsbury's (supermarkets have some seriously nice clothes in at the moment) but I got it from Matilda- I love having a friend who is the same size as me! It is probably long enough to wear with tights but it was a fairly chilly day so I thought leggings were the better option... 

Which straighteners would you recommend?

It's not often you will see me in (near) monochrome over on the blog as my default setting is bright colours but this oversized jumper was too good to resist. I spotted it in the Topshop sale when I went shopping with Hattie and it is one of my favourite things that I have bought this year. I have been trying to add some versatile basics to my wardrobe and this classic grey jumper is a great start. I love the relaxed fit of it and it is just so darned cosy! I wore this outfit on my first day back at work after Christmas and it was the perfect way to ease me out of pyjamas and back into proper clothes ;) My smug little face just shows how much I love this outfit, have you ever seen anyone look so chuffed?! 

I especially love the contrast of the sheer sleeves with the rest of the jumper (are you spotting a pattern here yet?!) I will be sharing my favourite lipsticks with you in a post soon but I have so many of them. Would you prefer it to be split into a few separate posts or have one huge one? 

I finally managed to get some replacement shoes for my beloved Clarks loafers. Although this pair are nowhere near as comfy as my old ones, they look a lot smarter and I'm sure they will soften up soon. Is there anything worse than breaking in new shoes?!

Would you prefer my favourite lipsticks to be split into a few separate posts or have one huge one? 

If you are a long-time reader, you may remember this coppery midi skirt which I bought back in 2011 (!) as it has popped up a few times on the blog over the years. I just can't believe how different I look here and here, it's amazing what a difference a few years can make to your style!

I have tried a lot of things since I started blogging (wearing leggings, rediscovered jeans and peplums) but I honestly never thought that you would one day catch me on an outfit that combines two unlikely pieces of clothing. Although I love bright colours, I have never worn lime green as I was convinced that it didn't suit me and that I wasn't able to pull it off. Great on other people but just not for me. The same was true of Dr. Martens and yet here I am , proudly sporting a pair (and outside of the house too!) This White Stuff jumper was another kind gift from Matilda and it has been sitting in my wardrobe for months as I had no idea what to pair it with. Luckily my trusty black pleated skirt came to the rescue and actually made this whole ensemble feel much more 'me'. I may never be super cool but I can at least use the DMs to add some edge to my usual girly appearance! 

I was clearly looking to a slightly earlier decade for inspiration than I usually would here, I don't usually wear anything non-fitted or oversized but there's something about Monki that forces me out of my comfort zone, I love the cool yet accessible Scandinavian feel of their clothes, even if I'm not a tall willowy blonde! This is the cream Precious jumper dress which I really love, I am seriously tempted to get the blue version too... I really like the relaxed shape of it and paired with my string of faux pearls, it felt very 1920s inspired. I can imagine it looking really nice with some t-bars or Mary Jane shoes for a dressier look too which is always good. You can't go wrong with a good jumper dress in Autumn/Winter! 

When John Greed got in touch with me to ask whether I was interested in reviewing some Pandora charms, I was a little dubious - I have never liked the silver bracelets. But when this grey leather bracelet with this charm arrived, I fell in love and I have worn it every day since. I have even started a wishlist of the charms I want (*cough* this owl one *cough*) It is strange how the people who are most disapproving of something become the biggest converts ;)

Are you a fan of charm bracelets? Which charms would you recommend?

Despite its popularity amongst women of all shapes and sizes, I have never been one for wearing all black, I find bright colours much more flattering and way more fun to wear. With my dark hair and pale skin, an all black outfit just feels a bit costume-y. Don't get me wrong, I love it on other people (Steph at Faiiint always looks amazing in black) but until now, I have remained unconvinced. As you can see though, this all changed  last week when my Monki order arrived containing this rather lovely black jumper. I loved the mix of textures when I paired it with my (p)leather trousers and I felt super cool in this outfit, I definitely got my strut on!

I don't know about you, but I can't get my head around this weather (how very British of me to complain about it...) It goes from being freezing cold when I leave the house at 6 am, to being a balmy 25 degrees by the time I get home. My answer to the weather dilemma? Layers. I really loved this combination when I last wore it back in June and it has made a reappearance here because it is perfect for these inbetweeny days. I picked up this orange jumper in a local charity shop and it is so warm, especially considering how thin it is! I love the bright orange colour and I can see this getting a lot more wear in the winter. I just wish that I had played with the proportions with this outfit a bit more, it would just make it a lot more interesting if I had worn a flowier top or something ...

I have always loved the buttoned up look and although I'm never convinced that I can pull it off, I can't resist a polka dot blouse paired with a high neckline, especially if it is brightly coloured! I liked this pairing with the glasses too - the oversized frames and it feels quite androgynous too, a rare occurrence for me. This polka dot top has been in my wardrobe for a couple of years now and it is so versatile although I am more likely to wear it like this than how I last wore it on the blog. I'm not sure I can pull off  little cropped tees any more!

How would you make my outfit more interesting?

As we still seem to be in the midst of winter (thick jumpers and boots in May, really?!) I have been reaching for cosy layers at work and this outfit has been one of my favourites. This panda print blazer doesn't get worn anywhere near enough and it was the perfect way to make plain trousers and a stripy top more interesting. It is so easy to repeat the same outfits over and over again when choosing what to wear to work so anything that shakes me out of my comfort zone is a good idea! Saying that, I have been wearing these trousers a lot recently. Slim fit trousers in interesting colours will always  have a place in my work wardrobe, they are such an easy way to introduce colour into the office without looking like an escaped clown being too garish...

I think it's a bit of a blogger cliché but my wardrobe is full of striped tops. This Mango jumper was a bit of an impulse buy but I couldn't resist adding another striped jumper to my collection. It is surprisingly warm and perfect for the office, especially when paired with my snazzy blue blazer! I have been wearing a lot of monochrome outfits recently and it feels weird not wearing any colour so this blazer is ideal for brightening them up...

I really love this jumper but I'm never sure how to style it. The oversized fit isn't that flattering on me and I'm not sure what to pair it with to stop me looking so square. I wore it here with a loose t-shirt but maybe I need a more fitted top? It reminds me of this outfit in a lot of ways, maybe I just need to dig out more skinny trousers?

This necklace is the perfect finishing touch and I have been wearing it a lot recently. I really like the length and think I need to invest in some more statement necklaces, they are perfect for pairing with stripes!

How would you style this oversized jumper?

I am a massive Orla Kiely fan and I fell in love with her A/W 2013 collection as soon as I saw the pictures from the show.  The weather has been freezing recently and even I, Maria "human radiator" Fallon, have needed to bundle up against the cold. This outfit was my attempt at being an Orla Kiely girl and I quite like how it turned out in the end. It's definitely not fancy but it felt slightly more pulled together than pyjamas!

I stole this jumper off Mark as the colour matched perfectly with the pattern on my skirt - dontcha just love it when that happens?! ;) I did feel slightly like a schoolgirl when I wore this but I think combining a jumper and checked mini-skirt will have that effect! Someone at work said that I looked like I belonged in the Mad Men office which made me feel a lot happier, I love the clothes in that show!

I don't tend to layer collared shirts or blouses very often but I love the results when I do, maybe I need to be more of a blogger cliché?! I am currently waiting for a hairdressers appointment and my hair is getting a little bit wild at the moment. Brushing it out into soft waves seems to be the only way to keep it under control!

As you may have heard, the weather and flooding has been absolutely terrible the past week and living in Tewkesbury has meant that we are a hub of the bad weather. The thing is, when it is cold and grey outside, all you want to do is cosy up under the duvet in your PJs but this outfit is a suitable, (people friendly) alternative...

Apologies for the close up of my face but it gives a slightly better look at the heart print and the lovely Ballistic lipstick that has been my go to recently, along with my new foundation: Max Factor Face Finity All Day Flawless 3 in 1 foundation- a ridiculous name but a fantastic foundation. I love nearly all Max Factor foundations and the fact that they are pale enough for my ghostly face too (I wear Light Ivory for reference!)

Mini hearts knitted into the jumper are just the perfect finishing touch- definitely my favourite jumper (sorry fisherman's knit!)

What do you wear on a cosy Sunday? Any brands you rave about?