Frills 'n' Spills

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery right? Because when I saw the beautiful Nicole Ocran in these jazzy flared trousers, I couldn't help but copy her. If you're not already following her, you should be, she has an awesome eye for an outfit and is as lovely as she is stylish. Yes, I may have a slight crush! I was a little unsure of how to style these trousers but decided to embrace the 1970s vibes and incorporate these earthy tones to match. This top is actually a dress I have had since 2011 (!) and it matched perfectly. It's always fun to dig back into your own archive and I still have all but the coat and scarf from that outfit post. I'm not sure whether that's impressive or tragic but let's go with the former! It's not often this happens but this trouser/shoe combo has made me look relatively tall which is always a win in my book!

I can't resist a good lipstick and this is Nars Giusti satin lip pencil, it's a gorgeous rosy brown and  the perfect 'your lips but better shade' if you are pale like me. I really rate their lipsticks and this has been on repeat for when I just want to look slightly more polished. Over the last year I have also become obsessed with earrings. I have never had my ears pierced (and I probably never will!) so I have been enjoying clip on styles from people like the lovely Julia de Klerk or adapting non-clip on styles with some clip backs and superglue. That way, I still get a jazzy fix without having to resort to anything more permanent.

A slightly better look at the shoes. I usually would avoid slingbacks (I have weirdly narrow ankles!) but they are the perfect summer-y shoe and as they are leather, they should last for a long time. I love a block heel all year round so these are a nice way to 

Who is your style crush? How would you style these trousers?

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?

Since starting my new job, I have had to get back into the habit of wearing smarter clothes for work. Whilst I miss my more casual workwear, it has been good to challenge myself and push out of my (very literal) comfort zone. Life's too short to wear boring clothes so I have been wearing a lot of fun printed dresses (this geometric number and this blocky beauty were particular favourites) to make it a but more interesting. I have been lucky enough to find a few dresses in my favourite charity shop to add to my collection, including this beautiful printed one from Hobbs. The shape isn't one I would usually go for but the drawstring waist was able to cinch me in and it is so light to wear, making it perfect for the summer!

I love the slash neck on this and the print is really unusual, does anyone else think it looks like rain? I have been trying to be more inventive with how I style my hair and I was pretty pleased with this sleeker look, thank goodness for my GHDs!

I wear these Whistles shoes a lot and I am cautious abut wearing them out as they are just so darned comfy! Has anyone seen any interesting black blocky heels recently? I need to find an alternative to these but ideally with a pointed toe too... let me know if you have more luck than I do!

What do you wear to work? Where do you buy interesting workwear from?

I have always been a fan of statement jackets and when I spotted this one in Seasalt, I knew I would be taking it home with me. I love the colour teal and this print is perfect for adding a bit of interest to a pretty basic outfit. Admittedly I would usually associate Seasalt with stripes or anchors than with prints like this but it was definitely a pleasant surprise! Paired with bright lipstick and glasses, it did feel like something an art teacher might wear, I just need to figure out how to layer my necklaces...

Pink lipstick is always so fun to wear and I have raved about this Bourjois velvet formula many many times. You should definitely get your hands on it if you like bright shades that last all day! Statement pieces need a blank canvas to really shine and this beige top from Gap was ideal. It is a lovely soft cotton and crucially is long enough in the body for me. I can't stand tops that are short in the torso!

Are you a fan of statement jackets? How do you jazz up your basics?

BIBA is one of those brands where subtlety is in short supply. I love all of their jazzy prints and they always look so luxurious. I spotted this top in the House of Fraser sale back in March and I fell in love, the peacock print is beautiful and I love the swooshy sleeves! I have been trying to focus on quality over quantity with my clothes buying and this was an ideal candidate: it wasn't cheap but the standard is so much higher than anything I buy from H&M or Primark and I know it will still be in my wardrobe  years later. 

Eyeshadow has always been out of my comfort zone but I have been trying to wear it more recently and I was pretty pleased with the result here. Paired with my favourite nude lipstick (Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Liv it Up) I was hot to trot! I treated myself to Liv it Up and Pink Venus when I got my new job and I absolutely love them, I will definitely be treating myself to a few more shades come next payday...

The back detail on this top is fab too, the tie allows you to adjust how wide the neckline is which I like. I always get a bit paranoid that the sleeves will keep slipping off my shoulders but this helps to keep them firmly in place. My hair has grown a lot recently and I have been able to coax it into soft waves which is fab. I have always been very low maintenance with my hair so it's nice when it cooperates!

These River Island jeans are so comfortable and due to the stretch in the denim, they stay comfy even after a large meal (which let's face it, is the whole point of going out!) I really want some new berry jeans this Autumn, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they bring some out in this style.

Are you a fan of BIBA?

I have always been a fan of florals and when I spotted this skirt in my local store last summer, it took me less than ten minutes to make a beeline for the till. I mean, it was the last one left, and in my size, that has to be fate, right?! I was going to pair it with a cream blouse but I actually love the black top with it, it makes the whole outfit look much cooler (and let's face it, I need all the help I can get on that front!). I never thought I would regularly be wearing crop tops but I have definitely been more confident clothing-wise recently. I'm not sure why I look so unsure in these pictures but I absolutely loved this outfit and I will definitely be recreating it this year...

My lipstick here was actually a lot brighter in real life but it didn't photography very well which is very annoying! I have been growing my hair recently and although I'll probably never go back to my 2013 length, I do like being able to do more with it now it's a tad longer.

I have a few Radley bags in my collection but this is definitely the most fun one I own. I absolutely love the heart shape and the colour is just divine. 😍

I have to say, Oasis is one of those shops that is a bit hit and miss for me, this skirt was part of their collaboration with the Chelsea Physic Garden and is fab (when they get it right, they get it really right!) but they can edge too far into twee territory for my liking - there's only so many butterfly prints that anyone needs, amirite?!

Are you a fan of florals? How do you make them less twee?

Blogging is a funny old game, and one I didn't do much of in 2016. It was a very strange year for me and mine, we had some lovely highs (including celebrating a decade with Mark, being bridesmaid for my little sister, spending V-day with some of the best people I know, being made permanent at work, visiting Barcelona and even managing to feel more at ease with myself and my body thanks to semi-regular exercise) but I also had some really tough times, especially with my dad's accident. Luckily he is much much better now and will continue to improve but there's nothing like a big shock to push you out of your comfort zone! I'm not very good at asking for help but so many people stepped up to the plate this year so thank you, you don't realise how much it helped! Slightly maudlin but I'm hoping that 2017 will be calmer, there's plenty to look forward to but slightly less drama excitement would be nice! I have always been a great believer in the transformative power of clothes and this top was both a fun purchase and another step out of my shell. I tend to avoid drop waisted clothes but I loved the fun print and shape and couldn't bear to leave it on the shelf.

It was the perfect choice for a lunch date with Mark as it looks fancy but is actually mega comfy and easy to wear. It makes enough of a statement that I didn't have to hunt down any extra accessories which is always a win in my book!

I have worn much less foundation this year,  it's amazing how distracting a swipe of bright lipstick can be! This is my failsafe summery shade: Max Factor  in Bewitching Coral, it is one of those colours that looks good on everyone...

You can't beat a swooshy hem! 😍

I have had this bag for donkey's years but apparently I have never posted about it on the blog which is a surprise! I think I picked up on one of my charity shop trips at uni but can't be 100% sure without my handy wardrobe referencer (a.k.a my archive of outfit posts). I love the super soft suede and snazzy tassel and it is surprisingly roomy for such a small bag, I managed to fit my purse, massive keyring and all of my diabetes stuff in, not bad going at all!

A better look at that hemline and a repeat of the bottom half of this outfit... oops! I have missed sharing my outfit pictures over on the blog and whilst I'd love to promise that this is all going to change with the dawn of a new year,  realistically, I don't think I will ever get back to my old schedule of posting every other day like in the good old days! I'm hoping to spend more time reading (and commenting) on my favourite blogs this year so please do hit me up with your favourites!

A little while ago we had an 'incident' with our washing machine which resulted in a lot of tears, swearing and some clothes turning completely the wrong colour. This top went a horrible blotchy pink colour but luckily my mother-in-law managed to rescue it so it's now back in rotation in my wardrobe. The jazzy print can be a bit OTT so I paired it with this khaki miniskirt in an attempt to tone it down a little bit. I'm not 100% sure that I can quite pull off a skirt like this (at least not without some very thick tights) but I guess you never know until you try!

A better look at the gold detailing... I don't tend to buy much from Primark anymore but they do have some great pieces in there. It's definitely worth having a look if you want to try something out without spending a fortune. Khaki is a bit more interesting than denim but is just as wearable and it looks great with blush pink which is definitely my favourite colour at the moment!

I am a massive fan of New Look's shoes and this nude block heel pair were a great addition to my wardrobe. The pink shade matches my pasty pale skin which helps to make my legs look longer.I love heels but find them quite difficult to walk in, so block heels are the perfect compromise!

Are you a fan of khaki? How do you style bright patterns?

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?

It's been a while since I last featured these jazzy trousers on the blog but I do wear them fairly often and always seem to choose the same colours when I pull them out of the wardrobe. You can't help but enjoy an outfit as exuberant as this, there's just something so wonderfully cheery about navy and coral together! I wore this outfit for running around town doing errands and it couldn't have been more perfect- these trousers are so comfortable but are a jazzy enough print to fool people into thinking that you have made an effort, win win!

This bag may not be practical but it sure is fun!

It seems like I have spent my entire blogging life searching for the perfect pair of nude shoes and this pair comes pretty darned close. I love the scalloped edge and the soft leather makes them super comfortable to wear too. It's difficult to see here but they match my pasty pale skin perfectly!

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!