Frills 'n' Spills

Shorts at work can be a tricky thing to pull off, patterned shorts even more so. This Uniqlo x Celia Birtwell pair are probably the comfiest pair that I own and this was a really fun outfit to wear. Perhaps a bit of a cliche look for someone who works in the creative industry but hey! I kept to a fairly neutral color scheme with this outfit and I loved how bright the red looked against the navy, I love a dramatic colour and the jacket helps to make it more work like too.

Straightening my hair is SO much easier now it is shorter (plus it doesn't take me an hour anymore!) and I love how dramatic it looks too. A sassy bob and red lipstick gets you ready for anything! I'm getting my hair cut again tomorrow (can you believe it has been 7 weeks already?!) and I am hoping to get some weight taken out of the bottom of it. Triangular hair just ain't cool...

This boxy white textured top is my favourite at the moment, the shape feels fresh and the texture makes it way more exciting to wear than my other white tops. I wear it so much I wish I had bought a back up. I'm not sure what was happening with my face here but I promise I was happier than I look here!

How do you style shorts for work? What clothes do you wish you had bought back ups for?

Every week when it gets to Friday, I thank my lucky stars that I don't work in an office with a dress code. When you can wear nearly anything you like (within reason!) casual Fridays are a thing of the past. This outfit is ridiculously comfy but I know denim shorts (however fancy they are) just wouldn't fly in the majority of workplaces so I do feel very lucky! These photos were taken before the clocks went back and I cannot wait to start taking photos outside again in the morning before I go to work. These ones required some (minimal) editing but brightening them is a small price to pay for being outside again, lighter mornings are just so hopeful feeling! I really love this H&M top, they really make the best Breton tops on the high street. I am seriously tempted to get this blue version too...

I told you that I have been experimenting with my hair recently and I really love it straight. I never used to straighten (or even style) it much but since chopping all of my hair off, it has been so quick and easy to do, 15 minutes tops, rather than the hour and a half it took previously! I still prefer sleeping on my hair once I have straightened it though, I prefer a less polished and more lived in look!  This lipstick is one of my favourites and is perfect for brightening up my grumpy morning face. I'm not quite sure why I look so unsure here, I guess it still felt too early to be up and about... 

What do you wear on casual Friday? Any tips for getting that perfectly undone look with my hair?

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?

When I heard that Uniqlo were doing a collaboration with Celia Birtwell, I was very excited, I love Uniqlo's collaborations and I was pleased to add some of Celia's signature prints to my wardrobe. I originally planned to wear these shorts on holiday this summer but I thought that they would also work layered up with some chunky tights too. I'm never sure whether I pull off pattern mixing successfully but I figure you can't go wrong with a striped tee, right?! 

As it is still pretty cold, I pulled out my oversized grey blazer  and my thick grey tights, to add some warmth and also to tone down the patterns. I don't think Tewkesbury is ready for this just yet...

A close up of the shoes, I actually managed to elegantly glide totter along in these for a whole morning, result! 

For me, shorts are one of life's under-appreciated treasures. They are way more practical than a skirt but much more fun than a pair of trousers and finding a pair that were work appropriate has been on my mental shopping list for a long time now.  This navy pair were from my beloved NW3 by Hobbs and the length is perfect although I wish they sat higher on the waist as they just fall down on me. For work, I paired them with a plain blouse and simple accessories for a professional but relaxed look but I think these will also look awesome with my chunky knit tights and a jumper or two...

This outfit is almost so far out of my comfort zone that it's ridiculous. With Keds and a stonewashed denim jacket, you could be forgiven for thinking we had gone back to the 80s... I was given these Keds for Christmas and as I will be wearing them on holiday, I thought I had better break them in before I trek all around Italy in them...

Definitely the pièce de résistance of the whole outfit. The gorgeous Liberty print and incredibly comfy soles mean that these are lovely to wear, it literally feels like you are walking on clouds and these are the comfiest pair of shoes that I own. I'm not sure where my parents got this pair from but you can get THIS EXACT PAIR or some other lovely sneakers over at Spartoo who have some other rather lovely shoes that I have my eye on...