Frills 'n' Spills

No, not a newspaper but this rather ace outfit! I have always been a fan of buying things in different colours if I like them and I loved this lilac Monki maxi so much that I bought the monochrome version too! FYI they are both on sale at the moment too. Go and buy them, you will not regret it. These are the perfect summer dress! I love a skirt that I can waft around in and this does not disappoint, mainly thanks to the slits in the side of the skirt. The skirt trails behind you wonderfully for maximum swooshing potential!

Brit Stitch is a bit of a blogger favourite and for good reason, their bags are gorgeous! I had been looking at buying a satchel for ages but had never taken the plunge as I didn't like the boxy shape of them. Luckily Brit Stitch's Full Pint satchel is curvier and way more 'me'. I love the fact that they are handmade in the UK too, you can see the level of craftsmanship that has gone into each of these! I ummed and ahhed between the poppy and vintage red but I am glad that I went for the latter, it is much more versatile! Although I am totally in love with the bag (I have been known to stroke it lovingly) I wasn't very impressed by the service. My bag was delivered to the wrong address (billing rather than shipping) and I had such a faff getting hold of it which was super frustrating, especially as I love the bag so much! 

I know pants is an American term but it fits so much better than trousers in this situation! Jazzy trousers are one of those things that I love on other people but was never convinced by them on myself, until recently. I picked up a couple of pairs of printed trousers from Matalan and they are so comfy! I have been wearing them for work and at the weekend and their lightness makes them perfect for the warm weather we have been having. I love their slimline shape and the elasticated waist is just a bonus in my eyes ;) I have been loving longline tops and cardigans recently and Matalan came up trumps with this gorgeous white blouse. I had been looking for one for a while and I really like how simple this one is. It does have fluted sleeves but it was still pretty chilly first thing so my cardigan was definitely staying on! 

This cardi was a gift from my friend Matilda and it is such a gorgeous colour. I have worn it so much that it has developed a hole though so I am trying not to wear it as often. The morning light has been so pretty recently and it is massively flattering too! None of my lipsticks seem to be quite the right colour recently so I have been layering up colours to get the perfect shade. This was a mix of Max Factor Ballistic and my bargain red lipstick from Tesco to get that slightly deeper red. The one problem with moving is that I won't have such pretty backdrops for my photos, I will miss all of this green space!

You know how much I love red, white and navy together and the print on these trousers is ace. You know I have a pretty relaxed dress code at work but the navy definitely helps to smarten these up although I'm sure they'd be equally at home on the beach! I wasn't sure which shoes to pair with these as I don't have many pointed pairs but these nude shoes were a safe compromise, at least until I can get some red pointed heels...

Any tips for where to look for some red pointed heels? 

When I decide I like something, I fully commit to the theme. Whether it is stripey tops (14 at the last count) or owl themed pieces (far too many to count!) it is clear to see that I am a bit of a hoarder. Little red dresses are another weakness of mine and I bought this gorgeous red lace dress from ASOS last November. It has become a firm favourite in my wardrobe, despite only featuring on the blog once before now. It is one of those outfits that looks nice in person but is impossible to photograph.  Luckily Mark did a good job with these photos and hopefully you can see why I love it so much.  The dress itself is made of a stretchy crochet/lace which I really like, it makes it a bit more wearable and it is ridiculously comfy too! I'm not usually a fan of sleeves but these are pretty flattering, especially with the sweetheart style neckline. Usually cheaper dresses skimp on the details but this one is fully lined which is another plus. New Look is a brand I always forget to look at but they do have some really cute summer things in, I think I am going to have to take another look... 

A slightly better look at that lace and my gorgeous new pastel nail varnish. My nail varnish collection is ever growing, especially with my recent conversion to Essie, but there will always be a place for Nails Inc polishes- probably the first 'brand' I remember spending my pennies on. This is Hallam Street, a limited edition colour in association with 'emerging British designer David Longshaw' and is one of the nicest colours I have seen in a long time, definitely one to get your paws on if you can! 

I really need to start wearing a different pair of shoes but these loafers are just so darned comfy! I am seriously tempted by this patent oxblood coloured pair too, aren't they gorgeous?! Although I'm wearing them here, I have managed to wean myself off my black opaques and have been wearing this with my nude tights. At least the dress is long enough to get away with bare legs! ;)

Believe it or not, I do sometimes dress up for work and as much as I love my comfy outfits, you can't beat a sleek dress. This navy shirt dress was a bargain in the Gap sale (similar one here) and I love how elegant it is. I love the colour of this, navy is much more interesting than black and it is a colour that looks good on everyone too. You can see how happy I was with this outfit by my cheesy grin, the dress fitted perfectly and it's nice to feel grown up occasionally ;) I mainly bought this dress for when the weather warms up. I will inevitably catch the sun on my shoulders and this dress will keep me covered up. I'm hoping that the looser fit will keep me cool too, I hate being too warm!

Usually I would swap this belt for something jazzier but I actually like the plain belt it came with. I have never been one for the minimalist look but I think this is one I am growing into as I get older... I am totally in love with this nail varnish. Another Max Factor gem, this 'Red Carpet Glam' is the brightest red and lasts really well, I have had this on for over a week!

I really wanted to wear it with my favourite orange heels but unfortunately I managed to ruin my feet by wearing heels on a night out (rookie error!)  Once we hit summer time I plan on wearing this with some of my favourite sandals, wouldn't my yellow or nude sandals look ace?

Are you a fan of the minimalist look? 

I used to spend a lot of time stalking my local charity shops hunting out bargains and my final year at uni was a goldmine for bargains. Seriously, if you are anywhere near Kenilworth, go and have a rummage, the shops there have the nicest stock!  Tewkesbury also has some awesome ones and I picked this top up a few weeks before Christmas but it has been hanging unworn in my wardrobe. I really love the colour but I wasn't sure how to style it. I have a couple of white and striped draped tops from H&M already but the colour of this one makes it much more difficult to  wear- at least in my head. I originally planned to wear this with either a patterned skirt or blazer but the colour was statement enough by itself. 

What details do you look for with clothes?

Last week I went with Mark to a work 'do' with him and his colleagues at a local pub. I always hate going to the pub, I never know what constitutes dressing too fancy and the pressure is certainly on when you are meeting people for the first time! You know how much I love a little red dress and this New Look number is the perfect mix between comfy and fancy. I think it's the fact that it is crochet rather than lace that makes it so easy to wear and paired with black tights, it was perfect. Unfortunately it never seems to photograph very well but you will have to take my word for how nice it is ;) 

I have been wearing a lot of dark nail varnishes recently, T K Maxx had some Essie polishes for really cheap when I went in the other weekend and the 'Sole Mate' shade is my new favourite (Fair Game isn't far behind!) Dark nails add just enough edge and I have been super impressed with the quality of Essie polishes so far- I just need to decide what shades to try next! 

 These tights are a gorgeous 100 denier cashmere blend by Aristoc and are the luxe grown up version of the tights I used to wear at primary school - perfect for keeping you cosy in all of the horrible weather. I am a complete convert to cashmere tights, they are a touch of everyday luxe that might not be overly exciting but sure are practical!