Frills 'n' Spills

Try saying that with your mouth full! Regular viewers of my Instagram may have noticed my recent love affair with all things Whistles. I have been bowled over by their clothes recently and I'm pretty sure that I could dress myself in only their brand without much difficulty- have you seen their dresses?! I had been stalking this dress over on ASOS's website for ages and when it finally got reduced that little bit more, Mark (very kindly) bought it for me. I was so excited when it arrived and I really couldn't love it any more. The colour is the most amazing tangerine orange and the fit is super flattering. I was very excited to wear it. It is also brilliant because the colour is so jazzy that it doesn't need accessories to jazz it up, the dress is statement enough! I felt like a super sassy sixties spy in this outfit- I blame the shift dress/bright colour combination! Now all I need are the nude pink and bright blue versions and  my working wardrobe will be set! You can tell it is heading towards Autumn with the light in these photos, I am going to have to hunt out an interior spot to shoot some outfit pictures as the colours did not come out well at all :(

These shoes are some of my favourites as they are just so comfy. I love blocky heels and the dalmatian print on these are ace! You can't see it very well here but the hem of this dress is slightly longer at the back than the front which is perfect for work- no risk of flashing! 

What is the sassiest outfit in your wardrobe?

Yes, it's another little red dress! It's been a while since I have worn a 1930s inspired silhouette on the blog but since having my hair cut, I seem to be more drawn to different shapes and styles than I used to be. I picked up this dress for about £15 in the Monsoon sale a little while ago and  I really love it. It's not really an everyday dress but it's perfect for things like family meals where you want to be fairly dressed up but still be able to slob on the sofa with your food baby afterwards ;) I look very windswept in all of these photos, one of the perils of the great outdoors I suppose! It was a very bright day when we took these pictures so I look slightly washed out which is a real shame as I really loved twirling around in this dress- as you can see!

I have just noticed the hanger tag hanging out of my sleeve in these pictures and it is driving me mad- I wish I could go back and tuck it in! MAC Lady Bug is my new favourite daytime red lipstick and it is lovely, I just wish the colour lasted a little bit longer on my lips. It disappears quite quickly after eating or drinking as it is the lustre finish so is lovely and creamy but wears off quite quickly. I cannot be faffed with reapplying lipstick throughout the day so I need something a little more hard-wearing! Lipcote may solve this problem but I find it very drying, any tips for prolonging the life of my lipstick are appreciated...

It's been a while since I have worn a playsuit on the blog, I used to love them when I was at uni but the ones that I saw in the shops were so short that they were obscene. Luckily though M&S came to my rescue with this gorgeous scalloped playsuit that I picked up in their sale a few months ago. I felt very French in these pictures, (I blame the stripes and red lipstick) but also slightly like an oversized five year old. I guess if an outfit can feel fun AND sophisticated, it is doing pretty well, amirite?! We also tried a new location for these pictures too, what do you think? I met up with the lovely Hattie a few weekends ago for lots of food and a long-overdue catch up and it just reminded me how awesome blogging can be. I first met her at the Birmingham blogger meet a few years ago and now I would count her as a close friend - it just goes to show that the internet ain't all bad!

I was initially a bit worried about the tabard-like front but actually the fit makes it pretty flattering as it makes your waist look much slimmer; never a bad thing in my opinion... This nail varnish is so nice too. It seems a little bit early to switch to dark nail colours but they just look so much more sophisticated than my cheery brights, especially on my short nails!

Just how cute are those scalloped shorts?! If wearing a playsuit wasn't so darned inconvenient I would be layering all kinds of snazzy tops over it but I think a cosy jumper and some jazzy tights will have to suffice in the winter! My beloved Brit Stitch satchel is softening up nicely and the leather by the handles has started to get that slightly battered look too- lovely! 

Do you wear playsuits? Who are the best friends you've made through blogging?

Jeans and I never used to be very good friends (and I even went a few years without wearing them- just how skinny was I in those pictures?!) but recently I have been reaching for them as the perfect basis for both my work and weekend wardrobe. I picked this faded grey pair up in the Warehouse sale for a mere £5 and they are so comfy. I swear I can't go in that store recently without picking something up, their clothes are just lovely. The grey is a bit more unusual than my usual choice of blue denim but I actually really like it, all of my blue tops and jumpers have been getting an airing with it. I am in a completely different place to where I thought I would be 3 years ago (sartorially and socially) but I actually like how things have turned out, I'm really not doing too badly for myself, something my worrying tends to forget!

These jeans are straight legged rather than skinny fit which makes them ridiculously comfy but also weirdly difficult to style. I went for these leg-lengthening heels and a slight turn up to bring them back into my comfort zone but I'm keen to wear them more casually so any ideas for how to style them are appreciated! 

How would you style straight-legged jeans? Which brands are you crushing on at the moment?

Long sleeves and a high neckline can sometimes feel quite oppressive but this dress is so light you barely notice them. It also means that this dress is also suitable for work, although I would probably save it for when I was going out for drinks as it is a little too jazzy for just an ordinary boring Wednesday! Originally I was going to wear this with a pair of black tights, to dress it down a bit but that actually made it look fancier- maybe it is the contrast with the brightness of the print?

Have you ever bought anything from Great Plains? What are your secret obsessions?

P.S. Great Plains sent me this dress to review but if I didn't love it, I wouldn't feature it! 

As the temperatures have started to drop, everyone has started complaining about how they aren't ready for the cooler weather but I couldn't be more thrilled. Autumn is my favourite season and I love being able to wear long sleeves and darker colours again. Sorry sun-worshippers, you have had your fun for this year! ;) I have had this jacket since my 11th birthday (!) and it still fits (just about!), it's probably the only piece of 'vintage' in my wardrobe! I don't wear it very often as it ends up looking pretty casual but I think it works with these cords, what do you think? 

Even my make-up is getting more autumnal! This Revlon lipstain in Berry Crush is the perfect berry shade and I know I will be getting a lot of wear out of it this winter. I am on the lookout for more darker lipsticks though, has anyone got any recommendations?

 Last year I wore this top with my berry coloured jeans but I actually prefer these cords with it as they are much more comfortable! They are supposedly part of Gap's leggings range but considering that they have pockets and a proper zip and button, I feel justified in wearing them as trousers! I never know what shoes to wear with this outfit, white would match best but the closest I can get is these nude shoes which are super comfortable, even if they are looking a bit shabby!

Any tips for darker lipsticks? Are you craving Autumn yet? 

It seems like a lifetime ago that it was warm enough to go out bare-legged and although I much prefer the cooler temperatures  (I am the human radiator and have had my fan on since January at work!) I miss wearing cute dresses like this to work! I said in this post that I wanted to buy the red version of this gorgeous H&M wrap dress and when I spotted it in the sale for a mere £7, how could I resist?! A wrap dress is one of those styles that looks good on anyone and this is so easy to wear- just add a cute camisole and sandals for an easy breezy outfit...

I never used to like the fact that my hair was curly. My childhood years were spent dreaming of long blonde straight hair and bemoaning the fact that mine was more blah than beautiful. Luckily, my mum found the 

These shoes are also a long time favourite of mine (check out them in action from April 2011!) and are super comfortable. Tan is a universally flattering colour in summer and just makes everything feel more summery. Paired with this huge tan ASOS bag, I was hot to trot. I will always be grateful for my online archives on the blog, I knew that I had bought both the shoes and the bag quite a while ago and had worn them on the blog at some point, I just didn't realise it was quite so long ago! My style has clearly changed over the past five years but some things have managed to endure the many house moves and wardrobe clear outs!

Whats the oldest thing thing you have in your wardrobe?

Smart casual is a tricky one to pull off, it is very easy to look crumpled rather than chic but this tried and tested combination is my favourite on days when I want to look pulled together, but still be comfortable. There's nothing worse than feeling trussed up all day when you're at work! It's the lovechild of this outfit and this one and is such a cliché 'I work in marketing' outfit- I blame the buttoned collar and the hipster glasses ;) I can't believe how different I look with longer hair either, those pictures were only taken a few months ago but I look (and feel) like a completely different person. It's amazing what a sassy haircut and a slick of jazzy lipstick (MAC Impassioned FYI) will do for your self esteem and your wardrobe!

I really love these dalmatian print shoes and they were perfect for adding a bit of excitement to a fairly plain outfit. I seem to be drawn to plainer outfits than I used to be, is this a sign that I am growing up?!

How do you shake up your style?

P.S. Joshua James Jewellery sent me this watch to review but if I didn't love it, I wouldn't feature it! 

A couple of weeks ago, my cousin got married at Ansty Hall and Mark and I were invited to the ceremony. The location was absolutely beautiful and the ceremony was lovely, very relaxed but very moving. I am a complete sap when it comes to weddings, I always get all over-emotional and end up crying. I dread to think what I will be like at my best friend's wedding in a couple of weeks! I managed to find this gorgeous Coast dress in my size on ASOS and I was absolutely thrilled. The colour is right up my street and I love the top too. Thanks to my pasty porcelain complexion, it looks like it is strapless, but without any of the faff or hoisting that a strapless dress requires! ;) I did have a pashmina type shawl with me too but I'm not sure what had happened to it in these photos!

I managed to get my hair cut the day before the wedding by my awesome hairdresser (go and see Thomika at Blushes in Cheltenham for the best haircut around!) and my blow dry managed to stay intact until the next day- result! I had such a faff trying to find a fascinator in the right colour but struck lucky in the Accessorize sale a couple of days before the wedding. The tendrilly bits were a bit annoying but the colour was a perfect match in the end!

The detailing on the dress was absolutely beautiful. I love the pleating on the bodice and the lace panels really give it that something extra special (can you tell I love this dress yet?!) These shoes were a bargain from New Look and matched my bag perfectly. I used to wear a lot of New Look clothes and shoes but other than this pair, I haven't been that impressed with their shoes recently. Is it me or do they just feel really cheap?

Gratuitous soppy couple photo, doesn't Mark look cute in his suit? ♥

I'm not sure why I look quite so cheery in these pictures but it makes a refreshing change- usually I tend to  look bleary-eyed rather than chirpy! This outfit is a more casual version of this one and I have been wearing it a lot recently. The top was a recent impulse purchase in the Matalan sale and it looks equally good with high-waisted skirts as it does with skinny jeans- always a winner in my book! I love the jazzy print at the top too, it makes even the most simple outfit look more pulled together. The one problem is that it creases ridiculously quickly, I had ironed it not more than 10 minutes before these photos were taken but you wouldn't know it from all the creases. It's a good job I'm looking pretty relaxed about it huh?! Matalan have really impressed me recently, I could spend a fortune in my local store and I'm sure I certainly will come payday...

The best part about a simple outfit like this is that you can go completely overboard on the accessories! This bright yellow bag is the perfect way to add some sunshine and paired with my new favourite lipstick (Mac Lady Bug) I was hot to trot... 

Which brands have impressed you recently?