Join the dots...

When I saw this playsuit on Urban Outfitters I fell in love, I loved the mini polka dots and the navy colour meant it would slot into my wardrobe without too much fuss. I wore this on the last day before it got too cold to go out in 15 denier tights although I still look a little bit cold in these photos! 

Playsuit: Pins & Needles at Urban Outfitters, bag: Poisson Bleu c/o Sarenza, boots: Clarks c/o Sarenza, necklace: John Lewis (gift) 
This outfit reminds me slightly of nurse's uniforms with the polka dots, a bit of a random style inspiration but there's nothing so chic as navy and cream, especially on such a simple silhouette... I seem to be moving towards sleeker outfits recently, does this mean I am growing up?!


Star of the show were my new shoes, bought with my winnings from Sarenza, these gorgeous grey suede ankle boots are so ridiculously comfy and I was glad to finally add a grey pair to my ever-growing ankle boot collection!


My parents bought this clover leaf necklace way back when and I love it for adding a bit of subtle bling. Plus everyone needs a lucky necklace right?! 


This outfit reminds me of something I would have worn 18 months ago but I think I have managed to put a new spin on a Maria classic!

Who is your unlikely style inspiration? Do you prefer pared down silhouettes?
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Sparkly heels...

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! 


Unfortunately when they arrived they were far too small, I ordered a 7 (my usual size) and could barely fit my feet into the shoes. Luckily Fleur and Schuh were fantastic and managed to send out another pair in the next size up. 


 As you can see, these are very high shoes, so high infact that I haven't dared to wear them further than 100m from the house yet. From just walking around inside though, these shoes feel very solid courtesy of the chunky heel. I  felt like a baby giraffe, wobbling around, trying to get my bearings  because they are just so high...


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!


Despite this though, I love them, the black suede means that they should be 'practical' but the sparkles make them irresistible. My inner magpie is crowing in triumph at the SHINY SEQUINS and I am wearing them around the house in the hope that I will (one day) be able to walk in heels!


I mean just LOOK! Apparently if you hairspray the glitter it stops it shedding so much (something I am yet to try) although it does lose some of the colour off the glitter. I ill definitely be doing this as I want my shoes to be glittery, not my carpet... I am so grateful for being able to be involved in something like this, I love sparkly shoes and I would recommend these shoes, just make sure you practice walking in them before you leave the house! If you fancy grabbing yourself this pair or another pair of Schuh beauties then head over to their discount page to bag yourself a bargain! 

Would you wear sparkly shoes? Can you walk in heels?
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Fisherman's knit...

A good outfit can completely change the way you feel and when I was strutting round in these jeans and boots I felt pretty damn cool! This thick jumper has been invaluable in this chilly weather and has completely transformed my berry jeans into winter appropriate gear... 

Jumper: Primark, belt: vintage, jeans: Miss Selfridge, boots: Primark, hat: River Island
 A year ago you would never have seen me in an outfit like this but I have been more willing to experiment recently and hopefully it has paid off! I really loved the pairing of the jeans with the boots and I was definitely inspired by the Isabel Marant boots... 


Please excuse the slightly awkward pose, I was trying to show off the dipped back to the jumper. I have always said it is the little details that make something and it was this which first drew me to the jumper, it's especially good for keeping your bum warm if you sit down at cold bus stops! I'm not sure if technically it is a fisherman's knot but it is so chunky and cosy I think it would keep you warm, even on the high seas... 


I used this belt to cinch it in a bot and stop me looking too shapeless. It also had the added bonus of stopping drafts! 


Topped off with my favourite sparkly hat, berry lip stain and my leather jacket (which didn't photograph very well) I felt quite rock and roll, as well as being perfectly cosy, definitely a win in my book! 

What would you pair with a chunky knit like this? How do you transition clothes between seasons?
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Maria's party essentials: a little red dress...

I have written before about my love of red dresses and this is one of my favourite 'party' outfits. I bought this dress from Tesco for around £7 and as with most Tesco pieces I absolutely love it and have worn it to death! It is actually a bright scarlet but I think the orangey tones of our living room have made the colour photograph funny...

Dress: Tesco, necklace: Topshop, shoes: Bertie
Plus it has pockets!! How much fun is that?! 

I have just been browsing on Bertie's website (so many beautiful shoes!) and these shoes are still in the sale so grab them quickly! 
Paired with my current favourite bag and necklace. I know it is a bit of a fashion faux pas mixing gold and silver but I figured red and gold was slightly more festive...


My beloved grey suede bag (which I found out that you can wear as a clutch too!) 


The shape of this neckline is just about perfection, I love the sweetheart bodice and the straps are thick enough to cover your bra straps, it is a major bugbear of mine when you have to keep readjusting them under a skimpy dress!

Would you wear a red dress? What colour combinations make you feel festive?

P.S. Congratulations to Sara Falcone, the very lucky winner of the gorgeous Dino-might necklace, let me know your address and I will post it out to you! Thank you to everyone who entered, I will be doing another giveaway very soon so keep your eyes peeled for that :)
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Maria's party essentials: a brightly coloured mini-skirt

This skirt is one of those items that never fails to get a reaction, it is fun, flirty and easy to dress up with the minimum of fuss... The hot pink colour is guaranteed to lift anyone's mood and I am glad that Winnie persuaded me to buy it when we went shopping! 

Jacket: Tesco, blouse: Miss Selfridge, skirt: Zara, shoes: Bertie, bag: c/o Sarenza (competition prize) 
Please excuse my worried face, I really loved this outfit but I was obviously concerned about something! 

Love the family photos making an appearance at the back there! 


This blouse has been a favourite for a very long time now and it seems to be one of the most versatile pieces in my wardrobe, I am just a sucker for a sheer blouse with a pretty print! 



The highlight of this outfit though HAS to be this gorgeous bag. I bought it with some of my prize winnings from Sarenza and I couldn't be happier! I think it an extremely worth replacement for my beloved grey satchel bag...what do you think? It is a gorgeous bluey grey suede and the softest bag I own, I swear it would make a lovely pillow! I love the fact I am wearing basically the same outfit in that post too, even bloggers repeat outfits ;) 


Would you wear a bright mini-skirt? Do you like my grey bag?


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From Russia with love...

I bought this dress back in March and back then I was unsure about the length but recently I have really been loving midi lengths and this dress has really come into its own. At one point I did shorten it but because of the asymmetrical hem it just looked plain odd so I merely removed the 'Wonder Web' to return it to it's former glory...

Dress: ASOS via charity shop,  faux fur stole: H&M, belt: vintage Laura Ashley, boots:Carvela at John Lewis
I really love the midi length, I think it is perfect for this time of year and the boots give me some much needed height so I (hopefully) don't look too stumpy...


The fact that it is quite fitted also helps to avoid looking like I have pulled on the nearest sack as a dress but unfortunately it's not the most flattering after having scoffed down a huge meal... ah well, food before fashion! ;) 


The warm browns of the fur stole and my favourite vintage belt looked fantastic against the rich wine colour and I felt very Russian with the fur (don't ask me to explain why!) 


My beloved bobble hat had to suffice as I have not yet managed to lay my hands on one of these cossack style hats... I'm sure my local Topshop had a dark brown one but I can't see it anywhere online, so I'm not sure if I imagined it?  

Would you wear a knitted midi dress? Have you got any hats for winter? 
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Maria's party essentials: the print dress...

This dress should really have it's own category here on the blog as it has been featured before but then that is what my party essentials are all about! I always think that people assume a print dress is less versatile because it is more distinctive than a little black dress but as with anything, it is all about how you style it. For me, this dress has always been that perfect mix of demure and flirty and has been my go-to outfit for many a party...


Paired with black tights it is perfect for family meals at a local pub and with heels and bare legs, perfect for a date or a trip to a bar!



Patent black court shoes and a classic quilted bag (if only mine was real Chanel!) keep the look classic and leave the focus on the dress. 



I love the contrast of the dreamy pastels of the dress with the rather garish bright pink of my blusher and slick of black eyeliner. I think this would also look great paired with a smokey eye and lots of mascara for a more dramatic night-time look... 



Outtake of the day: courtesy of a sharp gust of wind and a mouthful of hair... it's all glamour here!


Do you have a favourite printed dress?  Is it more versatile than an L.B.D? 
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Eclectic Eccentricity Christmas giveaway!


Now that we are finally in December, the countdown to Christmas can really begin and I have teamed up with Eclectic Eccentricity to help to get you in that festive spirit. I love Eclectic Eccentricity's site and I have added this gorgeous cameo bracelet to my Christmas wishlist (hint, hint if you're reading Mark!)  I am really excited about this giveaway, and it is super easy to enter...


To be in with a chance of winning this gorgeous stegosaurus necklace, all you have to do is like their Facebook page and Frills 'n' Spills on Facebook and comment on this post with what gets you into the Christmas spirit, with a way of contacting you, if you win. It really is as easy as that! The competition will close on Monday 12th December at 9.00 am and I will choose someone at random to win the necklace. 



What gets you in the mood for Christmas? 

Competition Rules of Entry 
1) The winner of each competition will be drawn at random from all the correct entries received. Each blog will announce their winner on a day of  their choosing, as advised at the start of the competition. 
2) Only one entry per person per blog. 
3) Offer is open in the U.K. only
4) No cash alternative available. 
5) Prize is non returnable and non exchangeable. 
6) Judges decision is final.  
7) Entrants details will be used for the sole purpose of forwarding your prize should you win. 
8) All queries regarding the competition should be sent to info@eclecticeccentricity.co.uk  
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Maria's party essentials: the little lace dress...

 This lace skater dress is one of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe, it looks equally at home with a cosy coat and boots as it does with seamed tights and heels. I always think darker colours look better with this dress as it has the tendency to look a bit twee with lighter shades! 

Dress: Topshop, tights: c/o MyTights, heels: Marks and Spencer
 These tights are one of my favourites, they are slightly tongue in cheek but never fail to get a reaction from people! For £7.99, I think they are one of the easiest ways to transform an outfit... 


Seamed tights always look quite classic but also added a sassy burlesque twist to this outfit, again taking away from the potential twee-ness! I have worn this dress to various birthdays as it is just so versatile but this is definitely my favourite version...


The tights only come in one size and I think you would struggle if you had legs any longer than mine [which let's face it, is most people!] as they felt like they would rip if they were pulled up any more. The colour of the tights was fairly dark on my ghost-like skin and very glossy and although I was worried  they would look odd, I think they had quite a slimming effect...  


I think these would look equally good worn with a pencil skirt and a sheer blouse for after work drinks or even with a block coloured dress to add a bit of interest...

What is your go-to party dress? Would you wear seamed tights? 
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Maria's party essentials: the playsuit...


Around this time of year everyone ends up with more social events to attend than the rest of the year added together [well I do at least!] and it can be difficult to find enough outfits to wear without going out and spending a fortune. Hopefully this mini-series of posts will give you some inspiration on how to revamp your wardrobe for that festive feel! 

Picture courtesy of Jazmine! L-R: Harriet, me, Kat and Amy :)
I first wore this playsuit to the Tabio blogger event and it is one of the easiest items to style up for an evening party. Just add some snazzy tights and a spot of blingy jewellery and you have an outfit that manages to be sexy without flashing too much flesh, always a win in my book! 

Playsuit: My Yard, hold-ups: c/o MyTights, shoes: New Look
 Luckily, the fact that this is a block colour allows for a lot of freedom with the accessories and I think this would look great with some leopard print or sequins too...


I think patterned hold-ups are even better than patterned tights! I think these would add an edge to an outfit without taking away from the gorgeous draped shape. My Yard have a gorgeous burgundy playsuit in at the moment which I think would look absolutely gorgeous layered up with chunky gold jewellery and a sheer black shirt.  


A close up of the gorgeous patterned lace ( I love these Jonathon Aston hold ups for a similar look) I always associate lace with Christmas and party occasions but I am looking to the gorgeous Reena for some lace tights inspiration for everyday wear.


One of my favourite photos of me and Danni, just before we finished uni ♥ It just goes to prove how versatile the playsuit can be... Another party, the same playsuit! ;)


What are your party essentials? Do you own a playsuit?
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