Frills 'n' Spills

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?

When you say Laura Ashley, leopard print is not the first thing to spring to mind but this slinky shirt dress is one of the more unusual pieces in my wardrobe. I have had it for a couple of years now and even managed to take photos back in April 2014 but never posted them as I didn't like how they came out. I always tend to style it in quite a simple way, when you have a dress that is patterned, textured and almost satin-y, it doesn't need any extra embellishment! It was so windy when we took these photos that I almost blew away and revealed more than a glimpse of thigh in the process... ooer!

Are you a Laura Ashley fan?

I have written a lot about workwear over in this little corner of the internet and although I am lucky enough to not have a formal dress code, I think with a few fun accessories, nearly everyone can add a bit of pizazz to their wardrobe. This outfit is very similar to this one from early 2014 and despite looking a lot younger in those pictures, I'm glad to see that my style hasn't changed too much in the past couple of years! Gap is a firm favourite of mine for work appropriate dresses and this zingy red number was a sale bargain many months back. I really really love the colour and the shape is super fun too. Although I do have summer and winter wardrobes, I wear the majority of my clothes all year round, adding or removing layers as necessary. I can't wait to try this layered up with a polo neck and some boots, I love it too much to only be able to wear it for half of the year! It may not be subtle but hey, neither am I! ;)

I am a massive fan of bright lipstick and MAC Lady Danger is the perfect match for this dress. I really love the colour and finish and it is ideal for those days where you haven't had much sleep and need to distract from your tired eyes! ;) The detailing on this dress is great and I love the neck line, it feels work appropriate without being claustrophobic...

Has your style changed in the past few years?

Black trousers are a bit of a minefield for me, I find that if you get them wrong, I end up looking really frumpy and I knew that I needed some that were fitted rather than tailored to go with tops like this. This high waisted pair from ASOS remind me of the ones that the 'cool girls' used to wear at school (I blame the piping down the legs!), does anyone else see it?! Despite having a flashback to being desperately uncool, I really like these. They are super comfy and just what I wanted for work; all the comfort of jeans, whilst being smart enough for the office. 

Which colours give you confidence?

Yes, the leopard print curse strikes again! I found this gorgeous leopard print dress on the sale rail in my local Tesco (always a lethal place to look!) and I fell in love. The combination of batwing sleeves and the print felt very 1980s to me and the fact that it was a mere £6 (!) sealed the deal; it has to be one of the most flattering dresses in my work wardrobe. I think you can see how happy I was here and I felt really sassy in this outfit. The dress is made out of a really thick jersey that is super flattering and also meant that I didn't need a cardigan or jacket which is always a winner in my book. There's nothing worse than having to carry a jacket around, especially when you don't need it after first thing in the morning. Batwing sleeves can be a real pain to wear and that much material can be overwhelming but they are super fun and I really love them... I am always super impressed with Tesco, some of my favourite ever dresses have come from there!

I straightened my hair because it was absolutely huge when I woke up and a sleeker look meant that it wasn't competing with the print on my dress. I don't tend to go for nude toned lipsticks but this rosy brown colour was the perfect shade to make me feel pulled together without needing much effort. 

I love a nipped in waist and this D-ring belt helps to define mine. I bought Essie Ballet Slippers in a duo set with Spin the Bottle a while ago and although it is pretty pale on me, with a few coats it makes my nails look super sophisticated. 

I was originally going to wear my beloved rose gold heels with this dress but they made it look a bit too 'done' for a Friday at work. I went for this chunkier heel instead which gave me the height without feeling too dressed up.

Are you a fan of supermarket clothing? Which clothes put a spring in your step?

I have only had this leopard print tea dress for a couple of months but it has already crept to the top of my 'must wear' pile as it is just so easy to wear! It reminds me a lot of this blue leopard print dress (what do you mean you don't own several variations of brightly coloured leopard print?!) but this is definitely the more wearable version. I have worn this dress to work, dinner and drinks and birthday parties- it's very versatile thanks to its jersey material and has become one of the hardest working pieces in my wardrobe as a result! Paired with my faux leather jacket, I felt very cool here, I love an outfit that fills you with confidence and this made me feel super sassy, never a bad thing in my opinion! ;) Who knew that I would become such a leopard print fan?! Certainly not me all those years ago! Apologies for the slight blurriness in some of these photos, it was so windy when we took these photos that they have ended up looking like I am moving at great speed, haha!

You can see how long my fringe has got again here! I am definitely going to grow it out next time I get my hair cut, I just hope my hairdresser can work her usual miracles with it! You can see how bright this print is too- you can't beat electric blue for cheering you up! I have been wearing liquid eyeliner more and more recently as it helps to define my oh so tired eyes and make me look more awake- I have been super busy recently so I need all the help I can get make-up wise!

I was originally going to wear this dress with my trusty black opaques but I actually prefer it with nude tights- it feels much easier and breezier and paired with these leg lengthening shoes I was skipping through the day. Seriously if you can, buy yourself a pair, they are so comfy and go with everything in my wardrobe!

These photos were taken a long time ago back at the beginning of September but for some reason I have never shared them. I don't know why as this dress has to be one of the best things I have bought this year! It's completely out of my comfort zone- leopard print and a relaxed fit are not what I would usually go for but I really love it. It is the perfect dress for both work and play and I love how free it makes me feel. Soft cotton jersey and a fun print will always be a winner in my book! This year has definitely been one of change and experimentation- I never thought I would move to Cheltenham or chop off all my hair but I did both of those (and more!) in 2014 and I'm excited to see what 2015 brings!

I also experimented with the parting in my hair to give myself a faux fringe and a bit of volume and I really like how it turned out. That's the beauty of short hair, it can look really different with very little effort which I never found with my longer hair. I am on the lookout for some hairclips and headbands to jazz it up even more, do you have any recommendations?

I think the shape and design of the dress is really unusual and although it is a relaxed fit, the contrast waistband helps to make it look less shapeless. I managed to get the updated version of my beloved Clarks loafers but I haven't forced myself to make the switch yet, this pair are just so darned comfy!

What's the best thing you bought this year? Any recommendations for jazzy hair accessories?

It's not often that I wear outfits that can be described as cool but I think this outfit may be just that. I picked up this snazzy dress (yes, more leopard print!) for a mere £7 in the Tesco sale a little while ago and it has become my go-to dress for when I want to look smart but still be super comfy. I have worn it with both nude and black tights and heels but this is probably my favourite way to wear it. The jumper and boots add a bit of a rock 'n' roll edge and most importantly, make it super cosy! All I need now is a slick of eyeliner and my leather jacket and I will have that cool vibe nailed... I have been super impressed with Tesco's clothes recently, I keep finding clothes whenever I go in, living opposite is dangerous!

This cropped fluffy jumper (similar ones can be found here and here) is so soft and although I would never normally choose a cropped length, it actually is much more flattering with dresses than a regular length would be. It just goes to show that stepping out of your comfort zone occasionally can be a really positive move! I have treated myself to a few MAC lipsticks recently and Impassioned  is a firm favourite of mine, I love how bright it is against my pale skin...

It took me a while to break in these Duo ankle boots but now I have, they are one of the comfiest pairs of shoes that I own. They have replaced my beloved Bertope boots which I have worn out, or at least until my local cobbler can work his magic and resole them! I love the heels on these, they are comfy enough to wear all day but crucially push me over that 5' 5" barrier too which is always a good thing ;) 

Any tips on nailing that rock 'n' roll look?

So my new-found love for leopard print has spiralled into a full blown obsession thanks to this beautiful leopard print kilt from Sainsbury's (they really do have some lovely skirts in at the moment!) I spotted it online but my local store didn't have it and I had nearly given up until the lovely Emma managed to track it down and post it to me- thank you internet! I have worn the skirt a few times before with my black cowl neck jumper but I actually prefer it with this thin khaki/taupe knit, it looks much more interesting and plays into my luxe/fun wardrobe split. This is the kind of outfit I will wear all winter long, with a coat and gloves all of my extremities are covered but it has enough thin layers to cope with the heat blazing from all the shops. I know it's a controversial topic but surely an ambient temperature of 20-odd degrees is better than extreme heat and cold? 

Long sleeves and a high neckline can sometimes feel quite oppressive but this dress is so light you barely notice them. It also means that this dress is also suitable for work, although I would probably save it for when I was going out for drinks as it is a little too jazzy for just an ordinary boring Wednesday! Originally I was going to wear this with a pair of black tights, to dress it down a bit but that actually made it look fancier- maybe it is the contrast with the brightness of the print?

Have you ever bought anything from Great Plains? What are your secret obsessions?

P.S. Great Plains sent me this dress to review but if I didn't love it, I wouldn't feature it! 

Despite my well-documented love of colour, I do have a soft spot for that perennial style classic: the little black dress. My LBD of choice is this one from Tesco- I love the fit of it and I can imagine it looking good on anyone and everyone. This has seen me through many a business meeting, meals out with friends and family and even my Grandad's funeral earlier this year- not bad for a mere £7! What I like most about this dress is how simple it is, there is a time and place for embellishment and fancy details but this makes the perfect blank canvas. Luckily, it even works without me having to wear heels, there's nothing worse than having to wear heels when you have a day's worth of meetings! These photos were another bunch that were taken earlier in the year but I wore the exact same outfit the other day and forgot to take photos, so thought I would use these instead! This outfit is never going to set the fashion world alight but it is made up of some of my favourite items of clothing and it tends to be the kind of thing I wear to work on a day to day basis- basics can be fun too! ;) 

As you may have seen from my increasingly grumpy tweets this week, I have been off work due to being ill- always fun when you have lots of work to do (!) Unfortunately, despite being poorly, I have still had to leave the house (usually to top up on painkillers and Coke!) and unfortunately pyjamas are still out of the question in polite society, so what do you wear when you would rather be curled up on the sofa? This tomato red dress from Monki (yes I know, I am a Monki-aholic at the moment) is perfect for slobbing around the house in but is still suitable for leaving the house in. The shape of this felt really 90s to me and although I would never normally go for this style, it was definitely nice to try something different. I will be layering this dress up with one of my striped tops or slouchy jumpers this winter which places it more in my comfort zone, I have never been very good at casual wear but hopefully this dress will ease me into it!

Do you have any tips on how to deal with stress when you are poorly? (I think I need some!)

P.S. This post was done in collaboration with Spartoo