Frills 'n' Spills

I felt very student-y wearing this outfit, I think it was the combination of the satchel and boots but also slightly like a cowgirl, all I needed was a hat to complete the illusion...

I don't know what it is about these boots but I just feel so darn cool in them and confident too, which is something I never was until I went to uni. Although I still have the occasional wobbles, I am almost unrecognisable as the girl who started at Warwick back in 2008. Starting this blog with Danni back in October 2009 was one of the best things I ever did but I never would have imagined that I would (willingly) take photos of myself and put them up on the internet (OOER!) but university gave me the confidence to try completely new things and that has got to be one of the best things it ever did for me. I loved my degree but the confidence it bestowed is much more valuable and I am now a lot more willing to take risks, fashion or otherwise... 

Admittedly I probably should have worn this dress with black tights, it is fairly short and those boots aren't doing the length of my legs any favours but it was the perfect attire for mooching round the shops on a Saturday (a favourite pastime of mine when I was a student!)

What did university teach you?

Whenever I wear jeans I feel like I am 18 again, trotting off to college brimming with that dastardly mix of excitement and insecurity. Years of never being able to find a pair that fitted left me disheartened and I swore myself off jeans for about 2 years. I first broke with these second hand flares, then these berry beauties and now another pair have wormed their way into my affections. Say hello to the Topshop Kristen jeans that have stolen my heart...

This outfit felt like classic 'capsule wardrobe' fare (which I normally avoid like the plague) but I loved its mix of practicality and warmth on a chilly Autumn day.

I paired the jeans with my current favourite top/boots/belt combo to ease myself back into wearing jeans without feeling too self-conscious and I have to say I was pleased with the results. I know the majority of you are probably rolling your eyes at your computer screens right now but JEANS SCARE ME, so wearing them and enjoying it, is quite an achievement!

In my head, the fact that they were high waisted made me think that I had legs like a supermodel but sadly, these pictures have proven otherwise! I must have had my rose tinted spectacles on that day :P

The detailing on this top is quite something, on the hanger it looks a bit 'blah' but when you put it on, it makes you feel like a million dollars... MAGIC.

I still can't get over how gorgeous the cathedral is in Worcester!

Outtake of the day: I was so excited to see statues (on a cathedral nonetheless!) that I forced Mark to take a picture of me with them, secretly I think it's because they matched my coat.... 

What clothes scare you? Have you ever sworn off wearing certain items of clothing?

There is no greater pleasure, than spending time with some of your best friends and I was lucky enough to do this last weekend. I am lucky enough to have a close-knit group of friends at home (who I have known for years) and we are all still very close despite being scattered across the country and when we meet up, it is as if we have never been apart. I can honestly say that food, drink and plenty of fun with your best friends is just what the doctor ordered...

I have a full outfit post to come but I just wanted to say thank you to my friends, who never fail to put a smile on my face <3

How do you relax? Do you have a close knit group of friends?

It seems like I all have done recently is talk about being a tourist but sometimes you have to take a step back and appreciate the smaller things in life. These photos were taken a while back when Mark and I met up with my best friend Sophie in our local town, Worcester.  

After all of your help with deciding to keep these boots, I paired them with this dress to give it a slightly cooler edge, the sheer tights also meant that I was less self conscious about stumpy leg syndrome too! 

I think it is so easy to forget how beautiful places are if you see them regularly and it was nice to wander around, catching up and reminiscing with two of the best people in my life.  Worcester really is a lovely city and behind the cathedral is quiet despite being 2 minutes walk from the centre of town. 

Whatever your religious views, you cannot deny the grandeur and dignity of cathedrals, their very stones demand that you savour the moment and respect the history. 

My new boots proved to be exceedingly comfy and I cannot wait to pair them with chunky socks and a woollen dress this Autumn. 

Recently, the training for work has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster with long hours and lots to remember so I met up with Sophie again yesterday, which was the perfect antidote to all of the stress. Sophie is one of those people who never fails to cheer you up and I fell in love with her the moment we met at college 5 years ago.  She has been there for me through all of my ups and downs and I honestly don't know what I would do without her. Gorgeous, intelligent, funny and the best friend a girl could wish for... Recently I have been so grateful for all of the lovely people I have in my life and I just wanted to pay tribute to all of my wonderful friends and family and just wanted to let them know. Go and tell yours that you love them. 

Have you ever been a tourist in your own city? How do you show your appreciation?

P.S. This was meant to be a light-hearted post but it turned into rather a weighty subject so apologies for that, at least there are pretty clothes to look at! 

Now I have already posted about a million pictures from my graduation but I felt that the food was worthy of its own post. After my ceremony we went to Vintners in Stratford and it was absolutely fantastic! The food and drink were fantastic and it was obviously popular as the entire restaurant was full for the two hours we were there.

Mark and I shared king prawns pan-fried in garlic and herb butter and although they were messy, there were cooked perfectly.

For the main, Mark and I both had escalopes of pork fillet with free-range fried egg, caper butter & the crispiest French fries I have ever had!

This is the pudding of dreams. Marbled chocolate mousse cake with amaretto crème. It was so rich that I didn't actually manage to finish it but it was soon gobbled up!

Eton Mess

Isn't this the cutest?! A miniature version of Vintners! It was lovely to spend some quality time in good company and the restaurant did not disappoint. If you are ever in Stratford, I would definitely recommend it :)

Although the only guidelines that Warwick gave were 'no jeans or trainers' I decided to go fairly smart and wore my Topshop shift dress with my gorgeous cerise Mary Janes from Hobbs. I am not a big fan of heels but these were perfect and so comfortable, even after a day on my feet. The nude fishnets I am wearing were a gift from the lovely Emily at MyTights.com. I love the look of nude fishnets and they add a bit of texture to any outfit without overpowering it so they were perfect for my graduation.