Frills 'n' Spills

If there's one thing you can count on, it's the fact that summer will be a bit of a washout. Now I prefer gloomier weather as I am always too warm but I know that I am in the minority here! 😉 Maxi skirts will always be my summer clothing of choice and this floral skirt from Topshop is a fun addition to my wardrobe. I thought pairing it with a cropped jumper would be conceding to Autumn too early so I opted for this orange silk blouse instead. I don't want to wish my life away but I can't wait for the cooler months and I imagine this skirt will get a lot of wear layered up with some cosy tights and boots!

I wasn't sure what to do with the extra length of the blouse but I think knotting it like this looks pretty neat. Fifth Avenue is the latest addition to my Essie collection and it is a lovely coral red. I'm not very good at painting my own nails but I did feel pretty darned glam in this shade! 💅

The slits in this skirt come up pretty high (I had to resist the urge to pull an Angelina Jolie!) but these chunky block heels (hopefully!) helped to tone down the revealing nature. I may try it with a cream top and trainers next, how lush would these be?! 

How would you tone this skirt down? Are you counting down to Autumn like me?

It's been a while since I posted about wearing a crop top but since February, I have been introducing more and more of them into my wardrobe. They are the ideal match to my high-waisted skirts and surprisingly comfortable if you can find a good one. I am a fan of H&M's selection, mainly because they have them in a comfortable stretchy jersey material- I may be feeling more confident but I still need some wiggle room! This River Island skirt could have been made for me, I love the bright red colour and it is so comfy to wear, even when the weather is roasting! The adjustable waist is also a real bonus, there's nothing worse than feeling trapped in your clothes when it is boiling. I am someone who always burns in the sun (I even managed to burn through factor 50 after 20 minutes in the park the other week!) so you will usually find me lurking in the shade during the summer... if you see me outside at all! This lack of time spent in the sun does mean that my skin can be almost translucent but I'm hoping to be rewarded with fewer wrinkles in the future...

You know that I am a stripes fiend so it was inevitable that I would end up adding this top to my collection. The soft ribbed cotton is ridiculously soft and comfy and was the perfect backdrop to this delicate gold necklace. I bought it a while back in the Warehouse sale but the chain was ridiculously short so I used the broken chain from an old necklace to lengthen it slightly. It may not be the prettiest solution but it works!

A better look at this dainty bracelet. I originally bought it for a friend's birthday present but it was too nice to give away so I bought her something else instead!

Maxis are perfect for the summer, they're covered up but keep you cool and they are super fun for swooshing around in. Shoes in the summer are always a bit of an odd one for me, I can't deal with stuff between my toes so I always opt for single strap sandals. This pair are getting a little bit shabby now but they are so comfy that I can't bear to throw them away. Here's hoping Matalan bring out a similar pair next year!

It almost feels like summer has been and gone but I'm clinging onto the last of it with my long weekend to Barcelona in a couple of weeks and I cannot wait. I am only there for a few days but keen to fit in as much as possible so if you have any recommendations, please let me know! This dress is a relatively new addition to my wardrobe (yes it's another Warehouse beauty!) but it will certainly be coming with me on my hols! Paisley isn't a print I would usually go for but the colours on this one made it impossible to resist. I think it is supposed to be a midi length but thanks to my less than willowy legs, it is more like a maxi on me. At least it means I get to show off these ace shoes though... 

A better look at that gorgeous print!

I was worried about looking a bit short with this hemline but these heels gave me a much-needed height boost. They are high and I didn't dare walk to work in them, but thanks to the padding to support your foot and the super soft suede, they do keep your feet comfy.

Have you got any hints and tips for Barcelona? Are you a fan of paisley print?

I love maxi dresses and Monki make some brilliant ones. I have had this dress for a couple of years but for some reason, I've never blogged about it! It is a little fancy for everyday wear but ideal for when you want to be comfy, but still look like you have made an effort- like date night or new year's eve! The dress is light as a feather and the pleats give the skirt a satisfying swoosh as you walk. It definitely has a Greek goddess vibe to it so gold accessories were a pretty easy choice. 

My hair is finally getting long enough to do more with and I have always been a fan of a twisted and pinned style. There's no particular method to this but it keeps my hair off my neck and it looks like I have bothered to make an effort, win win!

You know how much I love a swooshy skirt and this dress definitely ticks that box. Unlike my parrot print maxi, it isn't lined all the way down but it actually makes it much comfier to wear as it is a lot lighter. I should have worn more interesting shoes (wouldn't these wedges look ace?!) but comfort won out this time!

What do you wear on date night?

With a print this bold, I didn't want my make-up vying for attention so I went for a more subtle glowy look. I paired Sleek's Rose Gold blusher (the best dupe for Nars Orgasm that I have found) with the 'Seductive Pink' Max Factor Creme Puff blush to give me a summery glow. This Bourjois lipstick in Fuschia Libre is my favourite pink at the moment and layered with the C-3PO Max Factor lipstick, it was the perfect level of shimmer. I love Nars products but even though their Hungry Heart duo is supposed to be a blush/highlighter product, I tend to use it as eyeshadow because it is very light, even on my pasty pale skin!

I love the detail on the back too, even if it could lead to some awkward tan lines!

I never thought I would buy a pair of platform shoes but these sandals were such a bargain that I couldn't resist. For a mere £8, I can feel both ridiculously cool and tall too!

Initially I wasn't going to blog about this outfit, it wasn't worn for anything special, I haven't done anything new with my hair or make-up here and realistically, it's not really all that flattering. I think many people fall into the trap of always trying to 'dress your body shape' and whilst I love a fitted waist and full skirt as much as the next gal, sometimes I just want to wear a particular combination that isn't 'flattering'. Of course, what is flattering depends on your point of view, but for me, being happy in both my skin and clothes is way more important than whether I am 'showing off my best bits'. Even if you have a very clearly defined style, there's always going to be times when you try something new and this outfit is certainly doing that for me. I have been on the hunt for an Autumnal maxi for a while now but nothing has been quite right so far. Rather than just sulk, I thought I would try adding a cropped jumper to make this (very summery) maxi dress more weather appropriate. I have only just realised that both my jumper and dress are both from Mango, what can I say, they were clearly onto a good thing! ;)

I was worried that I would be a bit chilly in this as it is made of quite a thin jersey material but I needn't have worried as I was just right thanks to the jumper. Despite being 5' 5", when I bought this dress, there was over a foot of unnecessary material at the bottom of the skirt. Luckily Mark's mum is an adept seamstress and she adjusted it so the length sits right on me. I now I am very lucky to have someone who can do this for me but it is amazing how much difference one simple (ish) adjustment can make!

Any tips on where to get a wintry maxi dress? Do you dress to flatter your body shape?

It seems like a long time ago now but I had a couple of days off a few weeks ago which coincided with the nice weather we were having. I have to say, there's nothing better than being a lady of leisure, especially in the week. It always feels like you are bunking off when you are wandering around a blissfully empty town haha! This dress was a bargain £5 in the Warehouse sale last year and I have been wanting to wear it for ages- thank goodness the weather played ball! You know how much I love maxis and this one is lovely. It is made from a lovely heavy jersey material and drapes really nicely. Cobalt blue is one of my favourite colours and is one of those that looks good on everyone as it is just so cheery! I felt really glamourous in this outfit and although I was just doing my shopping (Tesco has never looked so glam!) there's something about getting dressed up that puts a real spring in your step! 

I really love this bracelet and it was perfect for tying together the outfit without looking like I was wearing a costume. I don't usually wear gold jewellery (unless it is pale gold in colour) as it can look odd on me but I think the warmness of it here makes the whole outfit feel more summery

I did feel a little (read very) silly posing like this but I felt super slinky in the dress and I wanted my Angelina moment! ;) I rediscovered these wedges in the bottom of my wardrobe last year and they were the perfect match for this outfit. The wedge is comfy enough to wear all day (assuming that the straps don't rub your feet, sob!) and they added some much needed height. I'm not very tall so maxis are pretty long on me so I do need a helping hand sometimes, haha!

What is your most glamourous outfit?