Showing posts with label mini skirts. Show all posts

Cosy in cashmere...

Owning cashmere is such a luxury and I feel very lucky that I have some in my wardrobe. Mark bought me this ridiculously soft sweater for Christmas and I absolutely love it! The pale grey colour is pretty classic but the shape of this jumper is decidedly modern, especially with the boxy shape and slightly higher neck. I prefer the look of it with skirts rather than jeans, mainly as it gives me a reason to dig out my jazzy skirts and fun tights!

Jumper: Warehouse (gift from Mark), skirt: Tesco, tights: Tesco, shoes: New Look
My hair is getting so long recently and my hot brush is getting a lot of action! It is so easy to use (even if you are as clumsy as me!) and helps to give my hair a bit of a boost. Mark also treated me to the Charlotte Tilbury mini lipstick charms for Christmas and 'Very Victoria' is a gorgeous soft nude shade. (I also got Amazing Grace and Red Carpet Red which are equally gorgeous!) I was a little bit worried as I tend to go for brighter lipstick shades but this one is surprisingly flattering and wears really well. I will definitely be treating myself to a full size lipstick once I have picked out which shade to try next!


I have raved about Max Factor products a million times before and this nail varnish (shade 20 in silver FYI) is one of my favourites, I never could resist some sparkle!


This jazzy skirt is an old favourite of mine and was the perfect match for such a plain top. I may have been slightly too hasty to pack away my trusty opaques but it's definitely feeling more like Spring out there!


What is your favourite Charlotte Tilbury lipstick shade?
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The Lulu Kennedy printed mini skirt...

Over the years I have learnt that certain clothes just don't work on me. Not from following any 'rules' but from the fact that the reality is always a disappointment. Pencil skirts are one such item on me, I love the idea of them but the reality is less than ideal. Mini skirts however are something that make up a huge part of my wardrobe and I think they look pretty darn good doing it! You can see from these leaves that these pictures were taken a little while ago, but with a few extra layers (I'm thinking this jumper and coat combo with these boots would look ace) it could still work now. Obviously it depends on how casual your office is but with some opaque tights and a sharp blazer, I imagine this would make a pretty fun work outfit...

Top: Vila via ASOS, skirt: Lulu Kennedy x Marks & Spencer, shoes: Office
It took me so long to track down a plain navy top to go with this skirt, you have no idea! Everything I foud was either too fussy or far too short. Luckily the ASOS sale came to my rescue and this Vila blouse is absolutely perfect. I am really self-conscious about my tummy so any top that is long enough to skim over it is ideal in my book. I have raved about the Bourjois velvet lipsticks more often than I care to remember on the blog and this gorgeous Grand Cru berry shade is my new favourite. It is still quite pink-y in colour but adds a vampier edge, perfect for this time of year. 

The fact this skirt has pockets is a MAJOR plus point for me!
I must admit, I had no idea that Lulu Kennedy had done a collection for M&S but it seemed to go down a storm with the fashion press. Most of the designs are a bit too bohemian for me but I spotted this skirt in my size in the sale and snapped it up. I really love the assymetric hem and the contrast waistband and the thick woven cotton is surprisingly cosy. With nude tights and a hemline this short, I wasn't sure what shoes to go for but these trusty nude flats saved the day once again. 


Did you pick anything up from the Lulu Kennedy collection? Which clothes don't work for you?
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Jazzy tights and kicky pleats...

Every Monday morning I count my blessings that I work in an office where I can get away with wearing casual clothes, especially when I wake up with a very specific outfit in mind. This was what happened with this outfit and once I had visualised it, I couldn't wait to wear it (I know, I don't get out much!)  There was something just so fun about it and I felt super sassy for the whole day which is never a bad thing! I have big plans for this skirt in the spring, wouldn't  the gunmetal blue/grey look ace with this sheer blouse or this jazzy Monki one? Apologies for the slightly dark photos, I wanted to take outfit pictures but it was drizzling with rain so we decided to save the camera and stay undercover... 

Top: H&M, skirt: Warehouse, tights: c/o Marisota, necklace: French Connection, shoes: Marks & Spencer
I'm not sure what is happening with my hair here but I am impressed by its attempts to make itself into a fringe... This pink Revlon lipstick is one of my favourites, I am going to need to repurchase it soon, it has nearly worn out I have worn it so much. This necklace is another old favourite of mine, it  is subtle but it jazzes up a high neckline nicely.


I am a massive fan of Essie's nail varnish and Essie 'Aperitif' is my current favourite red. It is a bright classic red and immediately makes me feel more polished when I wear it- quite an achievement when you realise just how clumsy I am... I love the natty gold buttons on this skirt too, I can't resist shiny accessories!


I bought this skirt just after we moved in the summer and have been waiting for winter to wear it with tights as it is a little on the short side otherwise. The pleats on the skirt are uber flattering (definitely the best way to hide food baby!) and these Marisota tights are delightfully jazzy. They are certainly a talking point and probably a bit of a Marmite piece but I am firmly in the love camp! I have just realised how closely I match the balcony decking too, one to add to the unlikely style inspirations list I guess! ;)


Are you a fan of jazzy tights?
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Crunching through the leaves...

Stereotypical title I know! Recently Joules got in touch to see if I was interested in reviewing a piece from their new Autumn range and I jumped at the chance as they are a brand I really love. I chose this beautiful navy Portia wool peacoat and couldn't have been more excited to try it. It was delivered to my office and when I unwrapped it, all of my colleagues were cooing over it and stroking it. What more can you ask for in a coat?! I wore this outfit for my birthday and the coat was the perfect finishing touch for crunching through the leaves in the park. I look slightly like a flasher in this picture but there really is no good way to show off the lining of your coat! This is the perfect Autumn outfit in my eyes, there's nothing better than cosy coats and woolly knits for when the temperatures drop...

Coat: c/o Joules, jumper:Warehouse, skirt: Sainsbury's, shoes: George at ASDA
This coat is a different shape to the ones I would normally pick out but I actually love the more masculine look of it as it helps to toughen up my girlier outfits and adds a much needed dose of cool. The fact it is a gorgeous dark navy wool also helps, this is sure to be a classic in anyone's wardrobe!


Just look at the gorgeous gold buttons too! When I unwrapped the coat, each of these buttons was individually wrapped to prevent them from being scratched- now that's attention to detail...


Just look at that smug grin! I had said to Mark that I was looking for a navy jumper just the day before and I found this in the Warehouse sale for just £12. It is a lovely slim cotton knit and has really cool semi-sheer sleeves too which make it much more interesting. I know I will be getting a lot of wear out of it this Autumn/Winter!


I found this cute checked wool mini skirt in Sainsbury's a few weeks ago but had forgotten about it until Jen was asking about yellow wool suits on Twitter, whoops! I love wool mini skirts and this will look equally good with thick cable knit tights as it does with nude ones although I'm not ready to give up (nearly) bare legs just yet! This bag is one of my favourites and I always seem to pull it out at this time of year, the red is perfect for jazzing up duller colours... 


Are you a Joules fan?
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P.S. Joules sent me this coat to review but if I didn't love it, I wouldn't feature it!
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French inspired...

As you may have seen from my over-excited tweets and Instagram posts, I had 4/5 inches chopped off my hair last weekend and it was one of the best things I have ever done.  I asked for this style and I am so pleased with the result. Everyone told me that having short hair would be more high maintenance but so far it has been just as easy, if not easier to cope with than my old hair, I love how quick it is to wash and style. This was the first time I had styled it myself and I actually like the more dishevelled finish to it. You know how much I love stripes and this outfit felt really French, especially paired with this tweed miniskirt... 

Blazer: New Look, top: New Look, skirt: Marks & Spencer, shoes: Clarks, necklace: New Look

This blazer is a long term resident of my wardrobe and always gets pulled out when I am looking for something comfy to smarten up my outfit. I was pretty nervous about debuting my new hair so I went back to my old favourites of a blazer and a striped tee so I felt less freaked out about the whole thing. I needn't have worried about it though as everyone was really complimentary which eased my nerves slightly! The true test of a haircut is how good it looks after you style it yourself and luckily this was super easy to do- this hair styler is my secret weapon at the moment! I feel so much cooler with shorter hair and it has me experimenting more with my make up too, I have never worn so much eyeliner or lipstick!


This skirt was a real bargain in M&S a week or so ago, I love their sale and normally manage to pick up a few bits and pieces for work. I love tweed and red is my favourite colour so this was a no-brainer.This also felt quite French, especially paired with this stripy top, there's nothing like trying to inject some European cool into your wardrobe!


Any tips on styling shirt hair?
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Cowl neck and checks...

Heading into work on a Monday is difficult at the best of times but knowing that the heating won't kick in until later in the day makes it much more difficult. Ideally I would be able to wear pyjamas but until duvets are compulsory workwear, slouchy jumpers are going to have to do. I have been wearing a lot of  mini skirts to work recently (see here, here and here for proof!) they are just so easy to wear and add a bit of personality to my boring functional jumpers. This skirt has been in my wardrobe for just over 2 years now and I have been wearing it a lot recently, it really comes into its own paired with cosy jumpers and thick tights, it's just too short to wear with bare legs or nude tights! This top was a jumper dress but somehow I managed to shrink it in the wash so it now moonlights as a jumper - you can't beat a good cowl neck!

Top: George at ASDA, skirt: ASOS, tights: Tesco, boots: Nine West, moon face: model's own
I could have really done with some brighter lipstick with this outfit, I didn't realise just how pale I was! Admittedly the bright light isn't helping but I have been kinda ghostly recently, I need some sunshine! My hair is getting really out of control recently too, I am seriously tempted to just chop it all off like this, what do you think? The last time I went this short was back in 2010 but I am due a change I think!


These boots are nearly 8 years old now (which is all kinds of crazy!) and they get comfier with each year that passes. I did think I was going to have to retire them at one point as I completely wore through the sole and I even bought a replacement pair but luckily my local cobbler is a genius and managed to resurrect then for me! 


Which old favourites do you keep going back to?

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Handsy...

Even though I loved this jazzy work dress, this here is a more typical work outfit for me. However much I love the look of heels, I just can't wear them on a day-to-day basis (although I admire anyone who can!) I never thought I would buy a drop-waist dress but I have been trying to break out of my sartorial comfort zone recently and this jazzy little dress from Monki (where else?!) was the perfect introduction to a less fitted style. I really love the mini hand prints that make up the pattern and it is one of the comfiest dresses I own. I imagine you will be seeing a lot more of this one!

Cardigan: Tesco, dress: Monki, tights: Tesco, shoes: New Look
When it gets colder, I plan on layering this dress up with long sleeves and knee high socks, much like I did with this dress (can you believe how long my hair is here?!) I did toy with adding a belt to this outfit to prevent looking like a sack of potatoes but hopefully I look relaxed rather than pregnant!


Just look at those teeny little hands! I am trying to use up my massive collection of lipsticks and I was pleasantly surprised by this rosy Kate Moss lipstick, I forgot how much I liked it! I tend to go for brighter shades but sometimes a neutral just looks that little bit more polished...


The print hides the drop-waist but you can see just how much extra material there is here! I love how the watch matches perfectly too, experimentation is all very well but there are some things that will never change! 


Have you got any drop-waist dresses?

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Blue bows...

As you may have seen on Instagram, I recently went through my wardrobe and cleared out 5 bags of stuff to go to the charity shop, along with a sack full of things that I want to sell (would any of you be interested in a blog sale?) Originally, I put this jumper in the to sell pile but I fished it out on Monday as I wanted to wear it and couldn't bear the thought of giving it away. I have been wearing a lot of jumpers to work recently as our heating is a bit temperamental and although I managed to shrink this one in the wash (I don’t know how I managed it as I washed it at 30 degrees!) I quite like the more cropped length as it is way more flattering when I wear it with skirts and dresses. This is a pretty typical work outfit for me at the moment; a jumper worn with lots of thin layers and my go-to ankle boots make getting dressing in the morning much easier...

Jumper: River Island, shirt: New Look, skirt: Tesco, tights: Tesco, boots: Betty London c/o Spartoo
I have been buying a lot of jumpers recently (see here and here for proof!) and this one has been the most popular one I have worn at work so far, it seems other people are suckers for a pastel colour and pretty bows too! 


When I had my hair cut a little while ago, I decided to grill my hairdresser on styling tips. I am really low maintenance with my hair but have been wanting to learn how to blow-dry it for a while as I love that swoosh you get when you have been to the hairdressers. Rather than trying to grapple with a hairdryer, a brush and my lack of coordination she suggested a hot brush and so I decided to try one out. I bought this one from John Frieda at Boots and it is no exaggeration to say that it has changed my life. I tend to still let my hair dry naturally most of the time and then just use this to add some definition and volume to my hair in the morning but I can confirm it works equally well drying my hair from wet. Would you guys be interested in a full review of the hot brush/my hair routine? 


Ever since the first Autumn editorials started to appear, I have been on the lookout for a checked, kilt like skirt but they have all been either too expensive, too short or both so you can imagine my delight when I stumbled across this little beauty on Tesco’s website. (I have just tried to find the link and they have taken it down which is a bit odd!) As you can see from the photos it is a relatively modest length (for reference it is being worn on my waist in these photos) and I can make it even longer by wearing it on my hips if I want/need to, for just £16 Tesco have come up trumps again!  I have been wearing it non-stop ever since it arrived and will hopefully have another outfit post to share with you soon!


Which products have changed your life recently? Would you be interested in a blog sale?
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Making mini skirts 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! 

Coat: Dannimac via my mum, faux fur stole: H&M, blouse: Urban Outfitters, skirt: Vero Moda via ASOS, tights: ASDA, shoes: NW3 by Hobbs
As soon as it arrived, I knew I wanted to pair it with this teal blouse, it seems to go with everything and although sheer, with a camisole top underneath, it is more than work appropriate. I think the trick with mini skirts, is to ensure that you wear a top with sleeves with them, as this makes the shorter length a lot less obvious, even if the sleeves are sheer. 


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...


What was your last impulse purchase? How do you make short skirts more wearable?
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