scallop...

Told you I would post the shorts better. The post earlier does not do justice to these shorts... I am not usually a shorts person, mainly because the dig into my thighs when I sit down, so I always kind of steered clear of them. But that was until my parents gave me these for Christmas. They are very loose around the leg which makes the extremely comfortable and they have little quirks (such as the scalloped edge and gold buttons down the side) that make them quite chic in my opinion. It is safe to say I am in love, I have worn these babies four days out of five this week, which is very unlike me. The only reason I didn't wear them yesterday is because my sister asked was I actually going to wear something else, the woman had to pleased...

Also I wanted to show you my new necklace in more detail... I think it is simply stunning. It's like having a perfect piece of ice around my neck. The Swarovski crystal is called the Aurora Borealis (what a name?!) and the chain is made of oxidized silver. It picks up so many colours depending on the light and what you are wearing. I saw it, fell in love and my boyfriend gladly bought it for me. I am very lucky indeed. He thought it was quite fancy and suspected I would only wear it out. I proved him wrong...

Top/Tights: Penneys

Cardigan: Awear

Shorts: Monsoon/Fusion

Loafers: Clarks

Necklace: Etsy

gifts...

Just a few shots of some of the gifts I was treated to this Christmas... I have to say I am one lucky girl! So here we go... what I got. Forties and fifties style books (thanks Dad!), Monsoon scalloped shorts (will show them better off in an outfit post later), Irregular Choice shoes, Swarovski crystal necklace (thanks boyfriend!), Besame lipstick (super great at staying for ages!) and finally a gorgeous Oasis suede belt.

What did you guys get for Christmas?

new year resolutions...

So last year's resolution was to wear more heels and to wear them quite regularly, daily was the ultimate goal. And I succeeded! I now nearly wear heels everyday. Not only has it made me feel more chic but it has almost improved my posture and my tolerance for the heel is much higher. All round it has been a good year for my feet and my self-esteem!

So since I have conquered heels I thought I'd move onto another fashion dream of mine, dressing more retro. I dress a little retro but not nearly enough to make me happy. The forties and fifties were always my favourite decades and with the help of the books my father has bought me (THANK YOU!) I hope to dress more like the ladies from those eras. Not fully mind you but a lot more than normal. Since there was never many vintage pieces are at my disposal I was thrilled to discover that there are quite a few online shops that sell retro inspired clothing. Now all I have to do is purchase a few key pieces to add to my collection and master the make up and hair. I really do hope I succeed, we'll just have to wait and see...

Here a just a few of the things I want to get my mitts on!

Lunch date/wanting to feel pretty in college...

Casual and comfy...

A night to make an impression...

I understand that these outfits look a little summery but that's because I am not spending anymore money on winter clothing for this season, my pennies are being saved for the summer.

Do you have any fashion resolutions?

merry christmas...

Just want to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas. 

Hope you all get what you want off Santa and that you stuff yourselves silly with food, drink and happiness.

Love you all xx

candy cane...

Just a little peek at my gift wrapping for this year. I love brown paper so I use that every year but I do try to change it up with other extra little bits. This year was white string and candy cane name tags from Happy August which have so many pretty gift wrapping accessories. I think the candy cane pattern is just so cute, though my sister felt I should have actually attached candy canes to the gifts as well...

How do you all wrap your gifts?

chiffon cake...

So yesterday was my fella's birthday... So as tradition, I went out with his family for a massive meal. I figured a meal with his family would be the perfect time to wear my new top. I bought it on Ebay from China. Tis a lovely top but it was being sold as a dress. I foolishly only looked at how it looked on the model and didn't read all of the measurements... silly me, that model must have been TEENY! Oh well, I still think it makes a lovely top, especially for those nights when you want to make a little bit of effort without looking too done up.

I was originally going to wear all black with this outfit but then I thought it could handle some happiness, some colour, some festiveness... So I wore red! These are the cutest shoes I own and are sadly getting horribly scuffed at the back so I keep putting lashings on clear nail polish on them. And then we come to the bag, which I thought finished off this outfit very well. I wanted to feel cute last night and what says cute more than a big heart-shaped handbag? Answers on a postcard...

Top: Ebay

Treggings: Dorothy Perkins

Shoes: Gift/Penneys

Belt: Dunnes

Bag: Gift/UO

wish I was wearing #7

These days of mine are filled with wrapping presents up in brown paper (gotta love brown paper), snacking on food that I really shouldn't be snacking on, christmas lunches with my buddies and maybe a few treats for myself bought here and there. What a better way to keep snug during these activities than with leather boots and winter woolies... I do love fitted knits with maxi skirts, always thought it looked both cosy and chic. I just need to buy some fitted knits and find my maxi skirts (they have mysteriously vanished somehow.)

Also as you all know I love me big rings and chunky watches. The ring is from Etsy and has a secret locket for your poison (apparently.) I suppose you never know when you'll need that but I sure do want it, ya know just in case... The watch is from Fossil and looks simply yummy. Rose gold is just super pretty. Have been coveting it for awhile, ever since I saw it on the lovely Kendi Everyday blog.

How are you all keeping cosy during these festive days?

wrapped up...

So today was the first of TWO Christmas dinners! Oh yes my friends, I said two... So I felt I needed to dress up an teeny bit. Nothing too fancy but nothing too casual either. I felt a pencil skirt with laced up heels would do nicely. I always think that pencil skirts are the perfect skirt when you wanna be sort of fancy. Too posh for a regular day but not exactly out-on-the-town kind of clothing (unless styled appropriately). This skirt was given to me by my sister because it was too big on her, I ain't gonna complain: tis a free skirt after all.

The little origami wrap over thingy on the front is lovely and also hides so many lumpy bits, which I adore! Not to mention the colour, I wouldn't normally choose this colour but it really is nice: nude without being nude. And finally the length, love when my skirts come to my knee (even more when it comes below.) I just think it's more flattering for my shape. Overall not bad for a skirt I got for free...

So now I am full of food, slightly sleepy (due to my cold, grrr) and getting ready to cosy up for the night. Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend...

Top: H&M

Skirt: Asos

Shoes: Penneys

festive...

I am technically finished for Christmas (yay!) however since I am in my final year of college I still have loads of work to do (boo!)

Still... I am going to enjoy the little bit of time I have off. Starting with my first of two Christmas dinners this weekend. Since neither of my sisters will be here for the actual Christmas we are gonna have one on Sunday and then my parents and I are going to this massive aunts, uncles, cousins dinner on Christmas day. So starting tomorrow I am gonna get into the Christmas spirit and shake off what fears of college I have. My mum and I have to get everything ready for Christmas and I cannot wait...

This year my Christmas fashion fix has forties feel to it; tartan, pencil skirts and capes. Stained lips as I sip on my sisters homemade hot chocolate. Soft curls tumbling down as I wrap my gifts in brown paper and candy cane tags. Curling up on a bed in fitted cropped trousers to read a book my father has lovingly purchased for me while my boyfriend plays his latest video game. Simple pleasures of my life...

pin up...

I'm sure you all now at this stage that I have an insane love for shoes and an insane love anything retro. So you can understand that when I have a proper trawl through Pin Up Girl Clothing that I was totally excited and raging that I have no real spare cash for a new pair (maybe for my birthday.) It had the cutest collection of shoes that ranged from the highest of heels to the most dotey of little flats. Here are just a few of the pairs that I want, I must stress it is only a handful of what I want, there were simply too many to pick from. Not only do I love the shape of these dresses but I love the little quirks of them that make them different to your average high street shoes. If you do pop in check out the dress section as well, they have dresses to die for... 

Funnily enough the majority of the shoes I picked were from one shop known as Pin Up Couture. Must be my taste, they had the most "pin up style" in their shoes in my opinion. Thankfully their shoes are also sold on this of the pond so no nasty shipping and tax costs. You just got search for them.

If you're like me and love pencil skirt dresses, red lippy and that elegant curved heel then you are gonna love this website. Just be careful not to get too carried away...

night out...

Of course we all know that it's that time of year again. When despite the epic coldness we head out in our finest to drink and be merry... Where mistletoe and baubles will be hung, where everything will sparkle and where mulled wine, champagne and martinis will be drank til the wee hours of the morning. But the best thing about Christmas parties is that you have the excuse to dress up. Going all out and being glamourous! The Christmas party is a very important occasion where no length is too long and no shoe is too sparkly.

Since anything goes why not try a full length gown? I know I would. I was always a slightly extravagant girl. Being dressed up was and still is so important to me. Thankfully maxi dresses and such are becoming less and less formal. They are no longer meant to be kept for that rare black tie event. Styled the right way I really think these maxi dresses could be amazing (well there amazing anyway).

Would love to be daring enough to wear a maxi dress this party season, hopefully I will.

God I love being the bell of the ball...

How do you feel about maxi dresses for this party season?

elementary...

Might have gotten carried away...

THIS is my new cape... Can you tell I love it?! My ever witty father keeps calling my Sherlock, but as long as I get a bubble pipe out of it I don't care. I love everything about it: the buckles, the sheepskin and the fact it also works as a blanket. But to be honest I am most grateful that I now have a coat that actually has a hood. Especially since the heavens decided to open up when I was on my way home. The rain seems to have a habit of showing up doesn't it.

So grateful I was indeed...

For the rest of the outfit I apparently went for a school girl look, which I didn't notice until I put the outfit together. And I am totally okay with this, seeing as it is a damn sight nicer that my old school uniform.

Cape: Dorothy Perkins

Shirt/Tights: Penneys

Skirt: Awear

Heels: New Look

Brooch: Gift

How are you all keeping warm this winter?

graphic monday...

Just a handful of posters from the collection by Simon C Page known as Futurism: An Odyssey in Continuity. Striking no? I love both the colour scheme and the style of these posters. They all contain different patterns but you know they are connected, that they belong together.

There are heaps more here if you want to have a look...

Images via Behance Network

oooh pretty...

Don't know if any of you caught this stunning advert for Moet and Chandon in last week's Style magazine for the Sunday Times. Well, I spotted it anyway and was blown away by the styling of the whole thing. I mean the dress, the hair, the room, the mountains of champagne flutes! What is not too love?! If I were to have a party it must be like this. An overly decadent, alcohol fueled night of long gowns, big jewels and dancing til dawn.

I like to think that this is a shot from the morning after. Caterers are clearing up around her while she remains dazed, still her gown with her hair dishevelled. Clutching on to the very last bottle of Moet.

Cheers!

FYI I need that dress in my life... wonder whose it by?

wish I was wearing #6

Bought a fabulous cape yesterday (way over half off!) and today I keep thinking of how to wear it. This is the outfit I want to wear with it today. Dark tones apart front a knee jerk kick of colour (but a winter colour of course-nothing too fresh), a touch of sparkle for the today to get into the festive spirit without being full blown Christmassy, chunky heels to give a bit of height to teeny old me while keeping it low key, a thick knit to add some cosy Chanel chic and a beautiful ring just for fun.

This is an outfit I'd wear a lot and is quite versatile from day to night. And these are certainly the colours that I've been feeling lately, along with burgundy. Gonna have to get purchasing, well... I would if I could.

busy bee...

Apologies for the lack of posting this week... But projects and essays and so forth are due and I have a portfolio to prepare. Which is actually what I wanted to share with you. Above are just some of the photos I took today. They are photos of my rough work/original designs and are for the research section of my portfolio. Proof (to you and the examiner) that I have been working hard and not just being a lazy so and so. Late nights were had (and not enjoyed) and tonight I am heading to the sack at a normal hour... and boy am I gonna love it!

I'm living life on the edge...

Fashion related post tomorrow or Saturday I hope!