Frills 'n' Spills

Initially I wasn't going to blog about this outfit, it wasn't worn for anything special, I haven't done anything new with my hair or make-up here and realistically, it's not really all that flattering. I think many people fall into the trap of always trying to 'dress your body shape' and whilst I love a fitted waist and full skirt as much as the next gal, sometimes I just want to wear a particular combination that isn't 'flattering'. Of course, what is flattering depends on your point of view, but for me, being happy in both my skin and clothes is way more important than whether I am 'showing off my best bits'. Even if you have a very clearly defined style, there's always going to be times when you try something new and this outfit is certainly doing that for me. I have been on the hunt for an Autumnal maxi for a while now but nothing has been quite right so far. Rather than just sulk, I thought I would try adding a cropped jumper to make this (very summery) maxi dress more weather appropriate. I have only just realised that both my jumper and dress are both from Mango, what can I say, they were clearly onto a good thing! ;)

I was worried that I would be a bit chilly in this as it is made of quite a thin jersey material but I needn't have worried as I was just right thanks to the jumper. Despite being 5' 5", when I bought this dress, there was over a foot of unnecessary material at the bottom of the skirt. Luckily Mark's mum is an adept seamstress and she adjusted it so the length sits right on me. I now I am very lucky to have someone who can do this for me but it is amazing how much difference one simple (ish) adjustment can make!

Any tips on where to get a wintry maxi dress? Do you dress to flatter your body shape?

It seems that I can't get enough of Oasis midi dresses at the moment! This black one is slightly plainer than this jazzy printed one but has been a key part of my wardrobe recently. I was looking for a casual LBD that I could replace this ASOS number with and picked this one up when it finally went into the sale. I really like the simplicity of the black against my pasty pale skin and red lipstick, it looks striking without requiring much effort (always a win in my book!) ;) Confidence is a funny thing and although mine comes and goes in waves, I think you can see how happy I look here. I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone a lot recently and it has definitely made me braver, here's hoping that continues! 

I always feel most like myself when I am wearing red lipstick and MAC Lady Danger is my favourite at the moment. It is definitely not for the faint-hearted but it matches my shoes so well that I couldn't resist, haha! The neckline on this was pretty revealing so I dug out my bandeau top again. I would have preferred a lace trimmed cami but haven't been able to find any pretty ones, does anyone have any recommendations? 

These orange-y red suede shoes were a bargain from when we visited the M&S outlet at Gloucester Quays back in April and I really love them. Block heeled shoes are my favourite and the studded heel sets them apart from the other pairs in my wardrobe. I think this is supposed to hit just below the knee but thanks to my less than lanky legs, it is nearly a maxi on me. I suppose it just means that I will be cosier when I start layering it up for Autumn!

The level of detail  on this is just astounding and thanks to some clever pieces, he is fully poseable. I love the fact that his tummy opens too, you could actually fit the plant inside. Yes, I am a complete child but I love how much personality this little critter has.

I mean, who wouldn't love this cute little face?! 

Are you a Lego fan?

It seems like a long time since these photos were taken, it is definitely too chilly for sandals and bare legs in the mornings now! I have written a few times about buying the best you can afford and this gorgeous stripy French Connection dress may not be cheap but it wears a darn sight better than the cheaper equivalents in my wardrobe. The cotton jersey is super soft and breathable which I really love. I am always warm so anything that can help keep me cool is a winner in my book! As the main colour is navy, I was going to go down my usual route of red lipstick and accessories but even I like mixing it up occasionally! ;) I used to be really self-conscious about my legs as I am covered in old scars and bruises. I'm sure to anyone else they are practically invisible but it has taken me a while to become more confident in going out without nude tights. Isn't it strange what people worry about?

I always think that this park near our house feels like Narnia (I blame the lamppost!) We are really lucky to have plenty of green spaces in Cheltenham and I do feel very lucky that this is all on my doorstep. I really need to get out and explore the town more though so if anyone has any recommendations, please let me know! 

There's something so easy about wearing a dress in the sunshine and this cute gingham dress from Matalan is a cute 1950s inspired addition to my wardrobe. Sales shopping can be dangerous but as promised, this dress is fun and practical and I have already got a lot of wear out of it. Monochrome can be tricky but I love it with a couple of splashes of hot pink as it just feels so fun! I didn't wear this outfit for any special occasion but I wanted to make the most of having bright weather before I retreat into the comfort of cosy jumpers and berry tones. These photos were so difficult to take, I am so pale that if I brightened them much more I was glowing onscreen, haha!

Whilst I love red lipstick, hot pink feels less serious and this Bourjois lipstick was a welcome addition of colour. I'm loving having shorter hair again, it is so much easier to straighten! Looking back over old posts, it strikes me how young I look in a lot of them and whilst I'm hardly old now, I look a lot closer to my age with short hair. I do sometimes miss having longer hair but cutting it all off was the best decision I made and I still love it a year and a half later!

You know how much I love a full skirt and this one is perfectly swooshy. I was going to wear my hot pink heels but I felt a bit too wedding-y with them on and I love the freedom you get with flats, especially when you are skipping around Tesco! 

Are you a fan of fifties frocks?

Summer seems like a long time ago now but bright colours are in constant rotation in my wardrobe, however gloomy the skies are outside. This midi dress was a total impulse buy;  a fitted jersey midi dress is so far out of my comfort zone that it is laughable but the jazzy pattern really drew me to it. The print is full of my favourite colours and I have all kinds of plans for what to pair with it. I mean wouldn't this teal blazer look ace?! I was initially very self-conscious when I went out in this but actually once I got used to wearing something so bodycon, I felt pretty darned cool. I am breathing in massively here but I think the addition of the print helps, it seems to distract the eye from paying too much attention to any lumps and bumps you would rather have ignored! 

I mean would you expect me to be wearing any other shoes with this outfit?! It seems like I have barely taken this coral pair off recently but they are just so cheery and I want to make the most of wearing them before the rain stops me wearing all of my lovely suede shoes!

Which clothes would you never wear? Any tips on introducing midis into my wardrobe?

It's weird. I never realised how immersed I was in the world of books and publishing until I moved jobs. It was very strange to go from being surrounded by stacks of books to only having them at home. I have always loved books but I didn't realised how much I missed them until recently. Unfortunately time constraints and a rising level of stress has meant that my reading has suffered massively over the last few years but I have been making a conscious effort to switch off the TV and my laptop in the evening and curl up with a good book instead. My new job also allows me a slightly longer lunch so I'm able to whiz through a chapter (or ten!) during the day too. The best thing though was when my friend Tash decided to start a book group last year, it is super fun when we get together and although I have missed the last couple of sessions, I still manged to read the books. I really enjoy it and it has forced me out of my comfort zone to find new books and authors to love. I'm always on the lookout for new books (don't tell Mark and my poor buckling bookshelf) so please do share your recommendations!

These are some of the books I have read recently and although I wasn't a massive fan of Never Let Me Go (It fell flat for me as I just couldn't connect with the characters) I have really enjoyed the rest, especially The Talented Mr Ripley. Nicky, you will be pleased that I really loved your latest pick for book group, no moths in this one! ;)

Whilst I tend to read fiction, I have a lot of non-fiction on my TBR pile too, including the lovely Farfetch Curates Design book which was sent to me c/o the publishers Assouline. Whilst it is much smaller than you would expect for a coffee table book, I really enjoyed reading it and it is a really pretty package. It's the second book in the 'Farfetch Curates...' series and I am going to have to order the food one too as it looks great! Whilst £16 isn't cheap, the book feels like a lot of care and attention has gone into it (bonus: it smells amazing too!) and it would make a lovely gift for anyone interested in design, especially as it doesn't take up tons of room when you have a tiny flat!

I really love the cool scribble print of this top and the gold detailing (does it count as a necklace?!) means it doesn't need any extra accessories which can only be a good thing! As usual, I am wearing my favourite red lipstick, I know it's not exactly ground-breaking but I just really, really love it! 

How do you get out of a clothing rut? What's the longest you've gone without repeating an outfit?

Guess what? It's Maria wearing stripes and red lipstick again! I know, this has been a bit of a uniform for me for many years now but when they look so good together, who can resist?! I picked up this cute striped dress on my lunch break (working in town is lethal!) and wore it into work the next day. I have no self control and new clothes are the hardest thing to resist. I love the 1960s shape of this and I felt pretty darn cool in this outfit. It was also super fun to wear which is always a good thing! I couldn't believe that I was resorting to thick tights so early in the year but I guess summer never really got started. Autumn is my favourite season (blogger cliché alert!) and I can't wait to try this with black boots and burgundy or green tights once the leaves start to drop! I really wanted to wear my favourite red bag with this outfit but a bag that small is just not practical for work, however cute it is! 

What's your uniform?