Frills 'n' Spills

I'm wearing something a little less glamourous for this outfit post! ;) I have been going to the gym a couple of times a week to just increase my exercise levels and strength and despite the early starts I have really been enjoying it. For a long time my body and I have been at war and this might only be a truce, but I love the challenge (yes I do have a competitive streak!) and I love how I can feel my body getting stronger. I have always found nice clothes to be a great motivator and I wanted to show off the latest additions to my gym wardrobe... I have realised that I will always love snazzy leggings and that there's a lot to be said for fun prints and bright colours! Marks & Spencers are my go to for cool sports bras and they are the perfect foundation for whatever I get up to in the gym (not sponsored, I'm just a super fan!)

I have to admit I was pretty dubious about Fabletics before I ordered but I have been well and truly been proven wrong. These Salar legging (in Black Ice print) are my new favourites and they are brilliant, they have a high enough waist to be comfortable and the print makes me feel super badass too!

Being a total Nike fan girl in this outfit, but they do have some of the best sportswear!

I picked up this coral top in JJB's sale a few years ago (RIP) and it is one of the nicest ones I own, the cotton is super soft and however sweaty I get, it stays cool and dry. 

 I do generally prefer full length leggings but these Nike printed capris are ideal for when the weather warms up. The marble print skims over any lumps and bumps and let's be honest, what else would a blogger choose?! ;)

My local TK Maxx is always full of weird and wonderful treasures and I am always trawling through for bargains. Their sportswear is pretty varied but it's well worth having a rummage if you are looking for something in particular!

What do you wear to the gym?

Honestly, it has been so long since I wore this outfit that I almost didn't post it but I loved it so much that I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I posted about the navy version of this dress nearly a year ago and this post is basically another love letter to Whistles and their gorgeous occasionwear! This faux leather jacket is so easy to wear and was the perfect finishing touch for this outfit. Usually December weather would mean that such a thin layer would be impractical but the weather was so mild that this kept me plenty warm enough. I wish we had that weather now, I am currently huddled under a duvet to write this as our flat is so cold!

One of the things I love so much about Whistles is the attention they pay to detail. The black tulle on the shoulders adds an edge to the pale pink tweed and stop it from looking too precious. This velvety Max Factor eyeliner is my new favourite and makes it easy to draw a cat eye with it, even for someone as useless as me. I paired it with the Clinique Chubby Stick in Woppin' Watermelon and the Max Factor Creme Puff blush in Seductive Pink for a fresh glowy look.

I love a nipped in waist and this shape skirt is flattering on pretty much everyone.It is a little bit short with nude tights so I went for this velvety pair instead. They aren't the cheapest opaques you will ever buy but I promise you, they are worth the investment!

These spotty shoes are from Accessorize of all places and are super fun. I love the pointed shape and the fact that they are sheer means they work as well with tights as they do with jeans. I am tempted by this pair but need to get rid of some other pairs first, my shoe storage is looking pretty full at the moment...

Which brands would you write a love letter to?

It's funny how traditions start, somehow they get established before you realise what has happened. Spending Valentine's Day with some blogging babes is definitely one of my favourites and this year we spent a lovely long weekend at the Oast House in Herefordshire to celebrate Sarah's 40th birthday. (no I can't believe it either!) Honestly, this weekend was just what I needed, life has been a little bit stressful recently so catching up with these girls over chocolate, cake and prosecco was the perfect antidote! I am officially the worst blogger ever as I didn't bring my camera so you get some phone photos instead!

It was full of charming original features, like this awesome range stove...

The house was based on the Brockhampton Estate and we decided to go exploring on Saturday. The weather was awful but hot soup helped to take the chill off...

Luckily I did manage to avoid buying any more books, I don't think my bookcase could take any more pressure!

Whenever I wear this dress, I tend to steer clear of anything too pretty and go for something a little less precious. Looking at these pictures, this outfit was clearly inspired by the 'Gucci geek', especially with the addition of this camel coat! I love the oversized, slightly androgynous shape and the longer length makes it perfect for my chilly walks to work. When I posted my Instagram picture of this outfit, people were concerned that I was out with bare arms but trust me, this was just out of shot haha!

I have been wearing this Nars lipstick a lot recently and it is such a fun colour. I was tempted to go for a more muted berry tone but the splash of pink (hopefully!) helped to stop this from looking too fusty. You can get a slightly better look at my glasses here too: I opted for a slightly less statement pair this time round and I really love the tortoiseshell frames, Marc Jacobs has done it again!  

These velvety soft tights have barely left my legs recently, they are so soft and keep me nice and toasty. They are well worth investing in if you want a luxury feel without spending a fortune. These Orla Kiely shoes are one of my favourite pairs and the chunky heel made me feel unstoppable- just what you need when your to-do list won't stop growing!

Do catwalk shows inspire your outfits?

It's strange how your wardrobe changes over the years, I used to live in cute floral dresses but have barely worn them recently. This Oasis dress has been hanging in my wardrobe for a while although I have been waiting for the colder weather to wear it as it is too short to wear without some opaques! I really like the colours and the ditsy print is super cute. I have been having a bit of a crisis of confidence recently and do worry that certain clothes can end up looking a bit 'young' on me. I tried toning down the cutesy factor with some grey tights and a swipe of red lipstick so hopefully this dress doesn't look too ridiculous!

Workwear can be pretty tricky but I'm a great believer in wearing classic pieces in fun colours to brighten up the office. This teal blazer is a firm favourite of mine and is one of the pieces I reach for when I need an extra burst of confidence. I had to do a mini presentation at work and I really loved this outfit, I felt pulled together but still comfy, important if you have to speak in front of people! I'm not sure why the photos came out so bright but no end of fiddling with the settings helped so I'm afraid you will have to just be dazzled by how bright this shirt is! ;)

There are certain recipes that you know will never let you down and this Victoria sponge recipe from Marguerite Patten is my go-to for delicious light and fluffy cake. I have been trying to use up things from the freezer recently and had the bright idea of using the batch of frozen mango that I had in a cake. I really love coconut and mango together but was trying to work out how to incorporate the flavours into a cake without it going too soggy. The house smelt amazing as this was cooking and I was so impatient to try it that I burnt my mouth in the process, haha! Overall I was pretty pleased with how this turned out but would probably use less mango next time as the mixture was quite wet. It could have probably had another sachet of creamed coconut too, I was erring on the side of caution as Mark's not really a fan but actually even he said it could take a little more of it. It wasn't bad for an experiment though, and I think with a bit of tweaking, this could make its way into my favourites...

When you say Laura Ashley, leopard print is not the first thing to spring to mind but this slinky shirt dress is one of the more unusual pieces in my wardrobe. I have had it for a couple of years now and even managed to take photos back in April 2014 but never posted them as I didn't like how they came out. I always tend to style it in quite a simple way, when you have a dress that is patterned, textured and almost satin-y, it doesn't need any extra embellishment! It was so windy when we took these photos that I almost blew away and revealed more than a glimpse of thigh in the process... ooer!

Are you a Laura Ashley fan?

Christmas can be quite strange. It's probably when you spend the longest on the sofa but your clothes tend to be pretty fancy and unsuited for slouching - in my house at least! I picked up this velvet shift dress during Gap's Black Friday sale and I couldn't be more chuffed with it. The simple shape makes it easy to wear and the burgundy colour is pretty festive, even though I will definitely be wearing it all year round. I couldn't believe how pale it made me look though, I am almost blending into the wall behind me!

Any tips for wearing dark lippie?