Monochrome

Coat: Mango// Jumper Dress: Zara// Thermal Leggings: M&S// Scarf: Vintage// Boots: Topshop

I've not posted for a while since getting back to uni, lots of different stuff has been occupying me, some good, some bad, so my blog has had to take a back seat. This weekend I'm home for some family time and last night my little town was transformed into Narnia as the snow began to fall. 

Being based in Lancaster for most of the year, I do miss out on the snow at home and have been moaning non-stop about the absence of the white stuff due to Lanc's proximity to the sea. Typical! So I finally got to play in the snow this morning and boy it was worth the wait! 

Winter's festive offering was great inspiration for today's outfit, leading me to opt for a monochrome look (very hot for 2013). My jumper dress from Zara (my favourite shop) was £9.99 in the sale, a total bargain and such good quality, teamed with my thermal leggings from M&S (granny chic at its best) and my gorgeous Mango suit coat I was toasty warm but still pretty stylish! 

How have you adapted your look for the snow?

Oh I do like to be beside the sea...

Top: Mango//Jeans: Charity shop//Shoes: River Island// Necklace: Spanish market//
Bracelets: thrifted//Watch: Next.

I'm guessing by now that you've worked out the absence of posts (unlike me) is pretty unusual. Well, I was actually away over the Christmas period, sunning myself in Fuerteventura (lucky me!) Me and the fam always have a holiday abroad in December instead of doing the traditional British summer hol thing. My dad HATES cold weather, so I'm always the one rocking a tan at the wrong time of year!

Ours was a typical beachy holiday and this meant evenings out were tres casual, so I stuck to jeans and  invested in this gorgeous blouse from Mango. Top itself is a gorgeous muted grey/blue colour and is lined with a similar colour chiffon so that you don't get the awkward underarm bra strap which always seems to show on low cut tops. It always really annoys me and, if I'm not feeling brave, I always pop a bandeau on underneath. This Mango lovely solves that problem and I've been wearing it way too much!

I teamed the look with the fab collar necklace which I picked up at a local market, I love finding bargains abroad and think it's so important to buy local, helping you find unique pieces for affordable prices. Some of my best jewellery finds are from abroad and I always make sure to check out local flea markets at least once on my hols - this time I bought two necklaces, seven rings and two bracelets, all for under 20 euros! I know that at times I struggle in the U.K to find accessories for under 20 quid, never mind eleven items.

What did you do over Christmas? Do you buy local when abroad?

Purple Haze...

Jumper: Next// Jeans: Mango// Shoes: River Island// Bag: TK Maxx// Watch: Next//
Necklace: Topshop// Cuff: Chelsea Doll*

Hello lovelies, hope you're enjoying the Christmas break. Can you believe it's nearly 2013 already? Where did 2012 go?! Feeling slightly cheated as it passed in a blink of an eye! Anyhow, here's the latest outfit post for you, just something nice and simple for a casual dinner. 

I know you've seen this jumper before, but I cannot deny that it's become a staple of mine, studs are still in (thank theee lord) and burgundy will simply not budge on the fashion barometer so I'm still in safe territory! 

The jeans are new and, after their first outing, I think that I'm in love with them already. The two-toned thing to create a slimmer silhouette has been a big trend this year; I mean who can forget that amazing dress Kate Winslette wore, maximising her curves but taking inches off her waistline. Well, in short, that's what these trousers are trying to do, using black on the inside leg and thigh area to make your limbs look longer and model-like. For me, the attraction is the fit, the stretchier denim material used in black really holds you in and the sturdier grey coloured stuff fits neatly round the leg, meaning there's no chance of baggy knees! I normally find it really difficult to find jeans, being between a size 10 and 12 everything is either too baggy or a little too tight. However, these beauties are the perfect fit, something I wouldn't expect from Mango (their jeans are usually designed for models; I've had to turn up the bottoms on so many pairs in the past!) 

Bag-wise, this is an early Christmas present from mum, and it's so lovely. The colour, the material (although not leather, you couldn't tell!) and the gorgeous, heavy clasp at the front make it look very stylish and elegant. It's also big enough for necessities and even a book/folder or two!

The cuff I've blogged about before, but it's honestly become one of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe, it's so simple yet so statement and it's something I wear for most nights out. However, the best thing is that I've not seen anything similar on the high street, so I'm still getting complimented on it a month or so after receiving it from Chelsea Doll! 

Anyhow, that's me dolls, hope you're all well!

I'm sure I'll get a Christmas post online after the big day, I'm already looking forward to the goodies I've got in my stocking!

We're creepy and we're kooky...

Wig: Wilkinson's// Collar and Cuffs: charity shop// Dress: Mango (old)//
Bag: thrifted// tights: DIY// Bracelet: Internacional.

So here I am on Halloween, dressed as an older version of Wednesday Addams! I thought I'd go as a vampire this year, but when I found this long, black wig, I couldn't resist a cheeky Wednesday look.

This outfit was so easy to put together and also so comfortable for a Halloween party- nothing too clumpy and something that didn't require too much effort (typical student!) 

My fave part of the look was the detachable collar, which was actually cut off a man's shirt from the charity shop - the shirt was pretty hideous, so I think I've done fashion a favour by turning it into something more useful! Teamed with the cuffs, the white, starched material made my dress pop - very PPQ, even if I do say so myself! 

Tights-wise, I cut some holes in an old pair to create the 'spotty' look. 

Finally, my makeup was really simple - a load of talc applied on top of still-wet moisturiser/foundation, eyeliner and dark purple lipstick...voila! 

How did you dress up for halloween? Send me your pics, I'd love to have a look! 

Lots of thursday lovin'