Frills 'n' Spills

Basic is a pretty loaded term but even I have to take a break from dressing up; and when I need a break from pretty dresses, I head for simple pieces like this jazzy shirt and jeans. River Island have had some really nice casual pieces in recently and this shirt is a very welcome addition to my weekend wardrobe. I love the longer length of it and the soft cotton is thick enough to wear without a jacket which is ideal for this time of year. 

The real highlight of this outfit for me though was the shoes. I've never really worn Converse but I saw this metallic pair and fell in love. I will always love anything rose gold and these shoes are just so shiny! 😍 

I mean, how can you not have a smile on your face you are wearing these?! They are proof that basics don't have to be boring!

What are your wardrobe basics? 

I am jumping all over the place with my outfit posts at the moment. This one was from 2 months ago and I swear it felt more like winter then than it does now! Whilst the colour scheme is fairly muted for me, playing with textures and proportions makes it much more interesting.  I wore a pretty similar outfit a couple of years ago but I can't believe how different I look. I was in dire need of a haircut here but I love the outfit so much that I guess you will just have to ignore whatever is happening with my head in these pictures haha!

The silhouette of this tunic looks completely different without the blazer and I think I look pretty tall here which makes a nice change! I wish I had broken the line of the top up a little bit as it is a little bit difficult to see where the top ends and my pasty skin begins here. This lipstick is a firm favourite of mine and makes this monochrome look a bit more me. 

I really love this Radley bag (FYI it's the Berkeley bag in blue) and it is the perfect size for everyday use. I can even fit a book in there! I just wish the strap on it was a little bit thicker, it can feel a bit precarious when I have it jammed full of stuff but I guess I just need to learn how to streamline the junk essentials I carry around with me.

These glittery boots were in constant rotation in the winter of 2012 but I lost them in the back of my wardrobe for a while. Happily, they are now back and I have been reaching for them when I need a bit of cheering up, I never could resist such sparkly shoes!

You all know how much I love Monki, their clothes always put a smile on my face and they are just so nice to wear. I bought a gorgeous summer maxi dress from there last year which I didn't think I could beat but I think this dress may have just done it. I have worn it for everything from a meal with my family to meetings at work and it is the perfect easy-breezy dress (I love it so much that the black and white version is also on its way to me!) Pastels aren't usually my first choice but the colours in this are gorgeous and the print makes it much more wearable, it is lots of little squares rather than a floral print- way more interesting! The skirt is sheer but the underskirt sits just above my knees so it's not too risque! Because I am so short in comparison to the models they use, this is actually more like a maxi than a midi on me but I prefer the longer length - it makes the dress perfect for swooshing around in ;)

These dusky pink velvet shoes are one of my absolute favourite pairs but I rarely wear them out of the house as the weather has to be perfect. Recently, though, the weather has been perfect and I have been skipping along quite merrily in them; here's to many more bright days filed with swooshy dresses and princess shoes! 

Which brands always put a smile on your face?

Welcome to October everyone! Just like every other person on the planet, I can't believe that we are so far through the year but I have to say, October is my favourite month (and not just because it is my birthday!) This outfit sums up Autumn for me; cosy checks, chunky cable knit tights and brogues, you really can't go wrong with comfort at this time of year! I have wanted this dress for a long time and I managed to pick it up when French Connection had it in the sale. It is a gorgeous soft, brushed cotton and although I bought it a size bigger than I needed to, I think the slouchy fit actually helps to give it that cozy weekend vibe which I love. I wore this for a day of running errands and it has to be one of the comfiest outfits that I own, short dresses are great for just throwing on but I never know where to find them, any ideas?

Whenever I am nervous about wearing a particular item of clothing, I pair it with old favourites in an effort to tone down whatever it is I am scared of. My Topshop wedges are a bit 'out there' and I wasn't sure how well they would go down at work but I figured that a Friday was the perfect day to try them out. I have worn them quite a few times since I bought them and they are really comfy, I think they will make perfect  dancing shoes! I can't see these black ones on the website but they have the grey and brown pairs which also look pretty nice...

This is pretty much this outfit with slightly snazzier shoes but it just goes to show, even fashion bloggers wear the same outfits repeatedly ;) I was lucky enough to visit the Herbert Museum and Art Gallery a couple of weeks ago with work (which is absolutely amazing by the way and well worth a visit!) and this necklace was a sneaky purchase from the gift shop. I love unusual jewellery and the Herbert has an amazing selection from local artists and I'm guessing most museums do. Much cheaper than Topshop and supporting local craftspeople, what more could you ask for?! 

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!

Another day, another lace dress- I already have several lace dresses (including one in white and one in cream) but when I saw this beauty from Monki, I fell in love. I love the high neckline and the longer sleeves are perfect for the colder weather too, especially when paired with my trusty leather jacket...

Since buying the new Kate Moss lipstick, I having been loving richer berry shades and this Revlon Matte is that perfect shade of 'just finished a bottle a glass of red wine'.

The title of this blog post sounds much more violent than the reality! It's amazing how much your style changes in a year or two and looking back to the last time I wore this fake fur on the blog was really quite a shock. I originally bought this coat off Ebay as I wanted a fake fur but was loath to pay too much money, especially as I knew I wouldn't wear it that often. When this one arrived, although I loved it, it wasn't the most flattering so it got pushed to the back of the wardrobe, languishing, unloved on a hanger. Luckily, when I was considering buying a fur gilet to layer up this year, I remembered that I had this coat and figured that as I rarely wore it, chopping off the sleeves couldn't do much harm! 

Plus it matched my glittery brogues perfectly, what more could you ask for? This combination will definitely be making a reappearance at a sequin Monday at some point! 

There are certain shoes that just demand attention, they don't whisper, they SHOUT and these Schuh beauties are such a pair. The lovely Fleur from Most Wanted at Voucher Codes asked if I wanted get involved in their latest campaign; Most Wanted Seasonal Staples which "aims to take a key season trend and enlist fashion experts to help road test the look.  Ultimately we hope this will help to unearth the best high street version of the look" with the look being those ubiquitous Miu Miu sparkly booties. I leapt at the chance, you all know how much I like anything sparkly! 

Unless you are used to wearing high high heels I would really advise against wearing these to anything you may need to walk to/from. However, I rarely wear heels, especially high ones so I am a complete novice!