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?

Black and white is not a colour combination I go for very often but monochrome does look very chic and these Uniqlo gingham trousers were just too good to resist! I have to admit that I do look more than a little pretentious in my sunglasses but it was so bright that it was next to impossible to see without them. With the cat eye sunglasses and the skinny gingham trousers, this outfit could have been quite 1950s in style but thanks to this oversized tunic top, it felt a little more modern. I have been scouring Pinterest for some sartorial inspiration and have a few ideas. Now I just need to feel confident enough to wear it with a white shirt knotted at the waist- wouldn't that look ace?!

I had been eyeing up these Uniqlo gingham trousers for a while but wasn't sure whether they would fit me. Luckily these are a trouser/legging hybrid and even have enough stretch to fit over my hips! ;) I never thought I would wear leggings so happily but paired with a loose blouse, they are surprisingly comfortable and I felt super sassy in them. I was worried that they would be super warm but they didn't feel too smothering, even in the heat. Now I just need to buy all of the different patterns and have them on permanent rotation... 

Printed trousers can be tricky to pull off but luckily this black top can make even the loudest print more wearable. This is one of my favourite work outfits, it is fun but still pulled together. I am so glad that my office doesn't have a dress code because I dread to think how I would cope with having to wear a 'corporate uniform' of dark colours and no prints. I look pleased as punch in these photos, this was definitely a strutting kinda outfit! It took us so long to get some photos without rows of traffic in the back of them too, isn't the fading light causing me enough problems?! ;) #fashionbloggerwoes 

Originally I was going to wear this lime green jumper but the weather has been too warm to pull out my proper wintry knits so far :( This cardigan is perfect for this time of year, it is super thin and the colour is perfect for jazzing up any outfit. The fact it matches this gorgeous bright lipstick (Max Factor in Bewitching Coral FYI) is just a bonus! I recently bought the Glamour beauty box and the Laura Mercier foundation primer I got in it is beautiful- it makes my skin look and feel amazing! I just hope that I can eke out this tube for a while - it is pretty pricy...

These trousers were another Warehouse bargain (I  seriously love their stuff at the moment!) and they fit both my hips and waist - hurrah! Peg leg trousers seem to suit everyone and the print on these force the eye to skim over your lumps and bumps. What more could you ask for?! This Primark top was such a bargain buy and I love the slight peplum effect the double layer gives. Now to find a replacement before this one gives up the ghost...

Which outfits put a strut in your step?

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? 

This outfit has been one of my favourite ones to wear recently; it is ridiculously comfy (hello oversized top!) but these beautiful printed trousers from Topshop are jazzy enough to lift it out of complete slob territory. I usually wear it when I feel in need of cheering up- it is impossible to stay grumpy when you have such a fun bottom half! I actually spent weeks tracking down these trousers, I spotted them online but they had sold out of my size and the same was true in-store until recently. When I saw them on the rail, I launched myself at them and was at the till quicker than you could say fashion victim, I love it when a plan comes good! Printed trousers can be pretty difficult to style but but a plain top and a jazzy pair of heels go a long way to make them more wearable...

I love this oversized top but it does have a tendency to make me look slightly pregnant, just look how much material there is! I'm not sure whether the excess material helps to make my waist look smaller in comparison or just make my hips look bigger ;) The fit on these trousers is a little odd too, the waist and hips are pretty roomy but the calves have absolutely no wriggle room at all- avoid these if you have legs that are any more muscular than mine! 

I don't need to tell you (again) how much I love these heels, I am seriously tempted to get the metallic version for the festive season, especially as I know how comfy they are! Although I'm sure I could get away with flats with this outfit, wearing heels actually gave me more of a spring in my step and the extra boost of confidence I needed to ignore the slightly confused faces of Tewkesbury's residents and wear these trousers with the panache they deserved!

How do you wear patterned trousers? Any ideas where I can get a 'fancy' cobalt blue top from?

I don't know what it is about wearing bright blue recently but I really can't get enough of it. You all know how obsessed I am with Monki too and, like my neon jumper, these slouchy trousers were another £8 bargain - I have worn them so many times since I bought them! This outfit is a weird hybrid of brightly coloured TV presenter and bad 80s workwear. I blame the trousers, personally.  Initially I was going to go for a more neutral jacket but I actually really love the bold primary colours together and it makes for a much more interesting outfit. The beauty of wearing bright blocky separates is that if you do get too self-conscious, you can just lose the jacket and you've got a much more conventional work outfit - perfect for more conservative offices!

As we still seem to be in the midst of winter (thick jumpers and boots in May, really?!) I have been reaching for cosy layers at work and this outfit has been one of my favourites. This panda print blazer doesn't get worn anywhere near enough and it was the perfect way to make plain trousers and a stripy top more interesting. It is so easy to repeat the same outfits over and over again when choosing what to wear to work so anything that shakes me out of my comfort zone is a good idea! Saying that, I have been wearing these trousers a lot recently. Slim fit trousers in interesting colours will always  have a place in my work wardrobe, they are such an easy way to introduce colour into the office without looking like an escaped clown being too garish...

When Matalan asked me if I wanted to get involved in their style project I couldn't have said yes any quicker. Some of my favourite bloggers have participated in it and I love seeing all the different looks that people come up with for the same theme- it's so interesting to see what pieces everyone is drawn to! I was really impressed by how far my voucher stretched too, I managed to get the top, trousers, blazer and shoes for £50, how amazing is that?! I haven't actually worn this into work yet (hate the snow!) but as soon as the ice disappears, this will be top of the pile to wear! 

Every year I am drawn to rich, earthy tones and this outfit has managed to combine two of my favourite wintry colours; bottle green and burgundy. This coat was a real bargain from ASDA about a month ago, the colour is gorgeous and I love the fact that it has a belt, (!) regular readers will know that there is nothing I like more in my outerwear! I just wish it was waterproof too, at this time of year, you can't really afford to make a choice between the two!