Fashion

All Wrapped Up for Autumn

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I said a while ago that I’d forgotten what it felt like to be cold… and boy, do I wish that was still the case. I am definitely suited to warmer climes. But the good news is I get to break into my Winter clothes now (I like to pack away some of my warmer clothes over Summer – it creates more space in the wardrobe and means you get a nice surprise in the Autumn!)

I wore this outfit for a trip into Manchester this weekend to buy a few bits and pieces for my new house.

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Jeans: Topshop Tall, Boots: Faith (via Debenhams)

The cardigan is from Marks and Spencer (similar here) and the belt is from Oliver Bonas. As it’s not-quite-arctic yet I was warm enough wandering around without a jacket too.

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The Look for Less

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Selena Gomez stole the show at this year’s Teen Choice awards. She wore this Cushnie et Ochs dress with daring double slits at the front.

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I love this look on her but I don’t know if I’d be brave enough to show quite that much leg round these parts… And, as my dad would say: it’s rather pricey, considering half of it’s missing…

Luckily I’ve stumbled across this Needle and Thread dress on sale for £95 which is not only beautifully embellished, but also has a slightly-more-modest-yet-still-very-sexy double split.

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Bows, Buttons and a new Bag

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Photography is still a bit of an unmastered art form for me – I have a fancy camera and every intention of learning how to use it but life/work keeps getting in the way. Added to which I nearly always self-shoot for the blog and rely a lot on the self timer. So I was really pleased with how some of these photos turned out. (Just wish I knew how I did it!)

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I wore this outfit to work this week. The shoes are from Dorothy Perkins – sadly they don’t stock them anymore but they do have something similar. The white vest top is from Primark, the sunnies are from F&F and the skirt is one of my favourites – I bought it from Mango a couple of years ago. It’s wrap-around so the waist always fits perfectly and it looks really pretty with the bow detail at the side.

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I wore it with my old favourite – my topshop denim jacket (which goes with everything) and I accessorised with my shiny new bag! It’s by Pieces and I bought it in the ASOS sale. I love the rafia look and feel – it’s by far one of the best bargains I’ve found in the summer sales.

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Savvy Shopping: ASOS now stock Primark – so if you can’t be bothered treking into the town centre (and it is a bit of a trek from my place) then you can now get it delivered to your door for free!

Pretty Prints from the Past

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As anyone who lives in the North-West (UK) will know, a girl’s “Summer” wardrobe is usually reserved for holidays and that one weekend of unseasonable heat. But that’s not been the case this summer and happily I’ve been able to debut a host of new outfits at work… I say ‘new’ but I’ve owned most of these things for a couple of years, the thing is they usually only come out of my wardrobe to go into a suitcase…

The denim jacket came from Topshop three years ago (just before I left London – when I was trying to blend back into the countryside way of life again!).

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The dress is another one of Tesco’s finest from their F&F range and is a couple of years old. (Although I’m reliably informed by someone in the know that bird-prints are going to be the next big thing in textiles… so maybe this dress was just ahead of it’s time?)

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But the bag has to be the best bit of this outfit. I’ve never seen another like it. There are similar shapes and styles of course, but nothing to match this one with its gorgeous print. I’m not even sure where it’s from anymore.

It was a birthday present from my Mum 2 years ago. I’d just been handed notice by my landlord at the time and we joked that it wouldn’t matter if I was made homeless, because I could fit my life in this bag. And you really can, it’s like Mary Poppins’ bag: Practically perfect in every way!

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(Worn with sunnies from Accessorize & shoes from Debenhams)

A Rare Find

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This is one of my all-time favourite outfits. It’s just so comfy to wear and believe it or not it works for both Summer and Autumn/Winter. When the temperature drops, I layer it up by wearing the shorts with brown tights, putting a white vest under the T-shirt and adding a red cardigan on top. (I’m lucky enough to be working in a creative industry where there’s quite a relaxed dress code, so I’ve worn this winter-version to work before.)

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(How lovely does my Mum’s garden look in the evening sunshine?)

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The T-Shirt is from Rare but I bought it at Luan Matthews (a boutique shop I go to often). You can’t see the full length here, but it is super-long. I always take it on holiday with me as it’s perfect for wearing over a bikini as a sort-of dress.

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The shorts are a trusty old pair from New Look. I bought them a few years ago and they’re just starting to fray around the edges (and they’re looking a little crumpled here so sadly I don’t think I’ll be able to wear them to work much longer…)

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P.S. Yes… I go barefoot a lot at home. It can be a bit risky with so many animals about, but what can I say? I live life on the edge!

Savvy Shopping: You won’t find Rare on the high street yet, but if you want to try before you buy then Topshop usually stock some items. Or if you just want to avoid delivery charges you can also find some lines on ASOS. 

Beach Beauties

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It’s finally happened. After weeks of glorious sunshine and un-English warmth, I’ve forgotten what it feels like to be cold.

So in celebration of this, the fact that I’ve booked a holiday this week, and the summer sales – here’s a round-up of some of the best beach-themed holiday wear on the web:

001 ted baker libertine

Ted Baker Bikini, Top £39 Briefs £35
Libertine by Giles Deacon Sea Horse Pendant £35 (on sale)
(Both via ASOS)

003 maxi dress

London Rebel Sandals, £16 (on sale) Via ASOS
JOY Maxi Dress £45 (on sale)
Oliver Bonas Shell Ring £3 (on sale)

002 FC bikini Gold bangle

French Connection Bikini, Top £24 Briefs £22 via ASOS
Oliver Bonas Clam Bangle

004 roxy bikini

Roxy Palm Beach Print Bikini £35 (on sale) via ASOS
House of Fraser Seagull Print Beach Towel £25
Ted Baker Starfish Earrings £29 via ASOS

006 maison top

Oliver Bonas Necklace £26
Maison Scotch Jumper £57 (on sale) via ASOS

005 swimwear

Ted Baker Seahorse Bikini, Top £35 Briefs £35
French Connection Swimsuit £34 (on sale)
Both via ASOS

Hay Fever

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I love this time of year. Even if we weren’t having such lovely weather, the English countryside always looks at it’s most beautiful in Summer. Specifically, the point just before they cut the hay – when the grass is lovely and tall like this.

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I took these pictures in a field near my house, the dress is an old favourite – one of ‘Tesco’s Finest’ from their F&F range. It’s pretty versatile – I wore it to work that day but it’s great for spending time outdoors too (it goes well with wellies!)

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Americana

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I’m a big fan of America – In fact it’s my dream to do a coast-to-coast road trip across the States one day.

Last week it was Independence Day on the other side of the pond. (It was also, coincidentally, a year since I completed on my house, so I like to think of it as my own day of ‘independence’ …more about that coming soon!)

The star-spangled banner is the main image associated with Independence Day, and this summer it’s something that’s really influenced high-street designs. So here’s my pick of the best stars and stripes still out there at the moment…

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Star Denim Hotpants, £28 from Topshop
wear with: Stipe Crop Top, £10 from Topshop & Ring, £8 from Urban Outfitters
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Flag Vest, £20 (on sale) Hilfiger Denim via ASOS
Skinny Jeans, £45 (on sale) Kill City via ASOS
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Flag Shorts, £15 from boohoo.com
wear with: Emroidered Blouse, £20 from Dorothy Perkins & Cowboy boots, £110 from Kurt Geiger
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Skinny Jeans £38 (on sale) Tripp NYC via ASOS
wear with: Denim Biker Jacket £12.99 (on sale) from Zara & Canvas Shopper £13.00 (on sale) Pieces via ASOS
How would you wear this trend? S x

Ever Emerald

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I bought this lovely midi dress from ASOS last year when I needed something to wear to my sister’s graduation. It has a knee-length slip with a chiffon overlay – and gathered waist. I love the colour too.

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This sort of dress is perfect for a summer occasion with a more formal dress code – the chiffon layer is so light that you won’t overheat in it, but it’s still a bit flirty and fun. I wore it with nude heels and the clutch shown above (both from Dorothy Perkins).

Unfortunately this exact design is no longer available on ASOS but they do have an almost identical dress available.