Frills 'n' Spills

I thought I would give you all a break from being all dressed up by sharing one of my favourite casual outfits that I have worn recently.  This oversized jumper is one of my favourites and although it has only ever made it to the blog once before, I wear it a lot. I find this time of year really difficult to dress for as it is cold when I leave in the morning but I am boiling by the time I get home- I don't know how anyone manages! Luckily this outfit comprises of lots of thin layers which are surprisingly versatile as well as being ridiculously comfy. I mean, you're only about one step away from pyjamas which can only be a good thing, amirite?!

The Clothes Show can be more than a little overwhelming and the urge to buy as many things as you can possibly get your hands on can be difficult to resist! Luckily, I have been before and so I had an idea of the kind of things I wanted to pick up. Beauty stuff is always much cheaper there and luckily I had my wing-woman Selina with me to help hunt down the bargains! A lot of the magazines offer 'goody bags' but it is definitely worth looking around before you buy anything as some are much better than others and you have to be realistic about what you will actually use/read! I hadn't bought any magazines for a while so I was pleased when I saw this Cosmopolitan and Company goody bag. I paid a grand total of £3 for this, including two magazines, which definitely makes it worth it. Especially for the train journey home!

I love the pot it comes in, the frosted glass feels very luxe and it is surprisingly heavy, definitely one to take care with! 

The cream is relatively thick but it absorbs quickly and even after just a couple of days, I swear my skin feels plumper! The smell initially reminded me of baby lotion but once applied it reminded me of the perfume/make -up that my mum used to use when I was younger. It's not unpleasant but it may not be to everyone's taste...

Did you pick up any bargains from the Clothes Show? Which beauty products can you not live without? 

I have been a lot more confident with wearing darker lipsticks this year and I really love the pared back look with the really dramatic lips. Unfortunately my skin has now gone completely mental so it will be a while before I wear this little foundation/concealer!

Even though I have a lot of clothes, I don't have much from the high end of the high street. A few Hobbs pieces aside, the majority of my clothes are from places like H&M or Tesco (I have absolutely no issue with picking up my clothes in supermarkets!) I don't tend to venture to the 'expensive shops'- even Topshop or Miss Selfridge are too expensive when it isn't sale time but I have been trying to add a few more hard wearing pieces to my wardrobe, Primark just doesn't cut it for me any more. I completely blame Gem and Sarah for my recent foray into the Jaeger sale, they are very good enablers and very bad for my willpower! ;) Strangely enough,  this outfit manages to combine Tesco, Hobbs, Primark and Jaeger in one. Not bad really, especially considering I didn't pay full price for any of them...

Do you ever venture into the expensive shops? Who are your enablers?

I hate to be a cliche but I am not a fan of hot weather. The combination of pale skin and a body that is always warm does not make summer a very pleasant experience for me. Weirdly enough when I was in Italy I was OK but here, I just melt- perhaps it's the humidity that I have a problem with?! Unfortunately I can't use my time-tested method of lying in a cool dark room and eating ice-cream during the week so I have to find suitable outfits for work, never an easy task when it is 27 degrees outside! For me, sleeveless dresses, leggings and sandals have been the perfect combination in the heat this year. I last wore this mint dress back in May last year and I couldn't believe how short it was when I tried it on again this week. I am all for comfort but without leggings, I think this would be far too short to be decent!

How do you dress for the heat?

Another day, another outfit featuring my cream dress and camel coat! This dress is my go to outfit whenever I'm not sure what to wear as it is such a versatile colour and I really love the shape of the dress. I'm so glad that the weather is starting to improve too, I am desperately in need of some sunshine and my pretty summer dresses are just dying to be worn. It may not be summertime yet but with (nearly) bare legs, a girl can dream, right?! 

Apologies for my over excited moon face here, the sunshine was obviously far too exciting! This floral belt doesn't get worn as often as I'd like but it was perfect for adding a bit of a pattern to an otherwise plain outfit. I have been painting my nails a lot more recently and this Nails Inc 'Tate' nail polish is my favourite red colour. I love the fact it isn't too bright too, I think the darker red looks really dramatic against my skin and I love it for adding a bit of an edge (this is as edgy as it gets chez Fallon!)

Saying that though, I have finally embraced the ankle sock/dress/ankle boots combination after many a failed attempt to pull it off. This was mainly for practicality's sake (there is nothing worse than shredding your feet when trying to break in your new shoes) but actually I liked how it turned out. I did feel like an oversized five year old for a while but I like to think I actually looked pretty darn cool in the end. I have been lusting over these beautiful boots for ages and I couldn't be happier. As with all Betty London shoes, they are ridiculously comfy and so well priced too, I think I may have a slight problem....

I think everyone has found the last week or so a bit of a shock if they were off over Christmas and New Year. Going back to work is killer. Although I prefer a routine, when you have been getting up at 11 and lazing around on the sofa all day, getting up at 5 am is very hard to do. Luckily this beautiful tweed dress from Monsoon (favourite sale item?) made my first day back much nicer! I love love love the tweed and the fact it has pockets MADE MY DAY. Please excuse my dazed expression in these photos, this was about half 5 so I look completely slightly dopey...

I love pinafore dresses (see here and here for proof!) and I love the fact that this dress can be worn on its own or  layered up with one of my many sheer blouses for a slightly different look. The length is perfect for work and although I felt slightly like a schoolgirl, I think this is one of those outfits where you show a bit of  personality, but it is still appropriate for a more conservative office...

Cheesy puns ahoy! I hate to say it but I felt more than a little bit like Adele in this outfit. I have never been a fan of hers but I can't help but feel that the shape of the dress with the beehive make this something she might wear, even if it is a little brighter than her usual LBDs.  This whole outfit was quite 60s inspired and I actually love how it came out- perhaps a bit 'fancy dress' for New Year's Day but oh well!

I picked up this dress in H&M the other day, when it was reduced to a mere £10 in the sale and I absolutely love it. The length makes it perfect for work and I love the bright floral/tie dye explosion of colour too... I can see this working with a lot of  my favourite accessories, how amazing would this look with my pink shoes?!

THE SHOES OF DREAMS ™ I bought these shoes a few years ago in the John Lewis sale and I really don't wear them enough. They are pale pink velvet with sparkly encrusted bows and although fairly rigid, the perfect shoes to wear if you are having a bit of a rubbish day, these babies are guaranteed to put a smile on your face!