Jackie sparkles

Dress: Andy Warhol Pepe Jeans (Oxfam)// necklace: Zara//
Tights: Pretty Polly c/o Divine Hoisery// Boots: Urban Outfitters

I've been a busy bee in Manchester, working in the week and flat hunting in the evenings and at weekends. I've been scouring Didsbury for an affordable pad and still had no luck. All I want is a nice room in a friendly house near a tram stop, but even that appears to be too much to ask.

Although I didn't find a flat, I did find this amazing dress in the depths of Didsbury's Oxfam. A hard to find Andy Warhol print Pepe Jeans release, the gathered front hides my belly whilst the print and gorgeous fabric give this piece the wow factor. 

I've teamed the dress with these incredible tights the lovely Scarlett gifted me from Divine Hoisery. Stockists of the finest tights, hold ups and leggings, I'll be showcasing a whole range of their pieces, which are so stylish and fantastic for the coming winter months. These amazing Pretty Cosmic tights are decorated with gorgeous gems, which help to lift even the darkest outfit. Although I'm not normally one for sparkles, I thought I'd try something new with these beauties. The workday has definitely brightened up with these on my legs. I'll be wearing them all winter through. 

Although it's wild, I love this look and will definitely be testing the waters with it, once I've moved into Manchester! 

Fashion Vouchers Christmas Blogger competition!

The lovely people at Fashion Vouchers  emailed me recently to tell me about their brand new competition which aims to find the most fabulous Christmas party outfits for under £100!

As I've mentioned previously, I'm a student which means a lot of the time I'm desperate for new stuff but simply don't have the funds. Finding the right Christmas outfit on a budget is so difficult, so I leapt at the chance to be involved and see what I could create. 

My chosen merchant for this comp is ASOS, a site which is a treasure trove for any fashionista and I found the most fabulously quirky outfit for all the festivities!

My first choice was this gorgeous Velvet Dress in a gorgeous purple-blue colour. Velvet is huge this season and in my mind epitomises the Christmas cheer we all know and love! The lace and long sleeves make this look classic and elegant, but versatile enough to wear all year through at any event. 

I'd toughen up this look with this gorgeous spiked necklace, which adds a little Christmas cheer with its bright bauble-like coloured gems. Adding this amazing book clutch bag gives the look a quirky edge and ensures the accessories are poppin'! 

Finally, you can't have a Christmas without sparkle and these amazing 60's style pointed heels add all the glitz and glamour you need for your special day! 

The items have a total cost of: £100.00, however, ASOS offer student a 10% discount with Unidays and NUS extra, bringing the total cost of this look to £90.00! 

If you fancy posting your own entry to this great comp, have a look at the Fashion Vouchers blogger competition page here where you can read all the t&c's. 

Enjoy!

Style Watch: Next - My favourite catwalk pieces

As Autumn draws ever-nearer and the-summer-that-never-was fades into obscurity, I thought it was about time that I popped onto the Next website to see what little gems I could dig up.

Over the summer I've been working as a temporary Sales Assistant in a Next store and ALWAYS find something that I want to buy every time I have a shift! However, my store is only little, so we don't have access to all the lovely clothes in the Next ranges (which is a good thing for my bank balance!), so every few weeks I have a browse on the website so see what I'm missing out on!  

This time I thought I'd set myself a challenge; to pick out the top four items from the website that would take any girl through Autumn/Winter 2012 which hit the big catwalk trends. So here they are! A total mix of items, from a peplum top to a pencil skirt all for under £100. 

The trench coat is bang on for A/W, following the craze for military-inspired pieces. The coat is well structured and a classic design, something akin to the coats seen at Burberry. With a timeless style like this, it's easy to keep up with currents trends but also have a wardrobe staple which will last for years!

Animal print, seen at D&G is my secret obsession and this gorgeous peplum really doesn't disappoint. Originally seen with Mary Katrantzou's gravity-defying dresses (S/S12) and included in on the A/W12 catwalks was the idea of accentuating the hip/waist area. Peplums are perfect for either emphasizing or creating curves! Leopard print in this classic grey and black is a perfect take on a trend which could be spoilt with garish versions of animal skin. 

After the newly-wed Duchess of Cambridge sported her pair of LK Bennett nude heels (a number of times!) The simple style has been big news. This season, the gothic, draconian style, which many argue has been inspired by the latest craze, 50 Shades of Grey (dear lord I hope not!), has modified this classic shoe adding toe caps and, in the case of Next, a seductive metal heel. These shoes are my personal faves, as the look like something off the catwalk for a fraction of the price. The colour also means they're suitable all season and into spring, adding a masculine touch to floaty florals.

Digi-print florals are out and the classic, retro fabrics are in! This skirt is bang on trend, with it's 'midi' style, which is very feminine (think Mad Men!) and it's gorgeous rose print, which again adds a little gothic edge. These prints are modified versions of the S/S12 catwalk collections; designers couldn't part with florals so adapted them with muted colours and pastel shades (think Lana Del Rey and Dirty Dancing!) This skirt is so versatile and a guaranteed bargain buy - this love affair with all things flowery will not be fading anytime soon! 

Hope you enjoy my picks and remember to visit the Next Website here, so you can have your own window shopping sesh! 

Next are also running a blogging competition at the mo - they're looking for a guest blogger for their own site and the winner will receive three outfits of their choice! for more info click here! Get involved people! 

This is how we do...

Leather Jacket (seen in other images): TK Maxx//Tshirt - DIY dip-dye//Disco Pants: GlamorousUK// Shoes: River Island// Satchel: thrifted//Necklace: ASOS//Cuff: Chelsea Doll*

 I thought I'd style my dip-dye shirt to show you all how well the dye has taken. I'm so pleased with it! I've got a few more bits I'm going to dip-dye and so I've bought some studs off Ebay (£2.99 for 100 = bargain!) so that I can recreate my own versions of the gorgeous pieces seen in Topshop, which I can't afford at the mo!

My birthday was on Tuesday, I was the big 2-0 (shock horror!) and I've been really busy organising my night out etc, so this outfit was put together a few days ago before the madness descended. I popped out to my local town to do some window shopping and, as comfort is a priority for any shopping mission, I popped on my glamorous disco pants, my newly-dyed top and my leather jacket (My prize possession!) I also dug out this satchel which I bought for about a fiver in a charity shop wayyy before satchels started appearing on the catwalk. I think it goes really well with the look, what do you guys think?

Jewellery-wise, I stayed safe, opting for the little cross I bought off ASOS teamed with my beautiful new cross cuff from ChelseaDollx which arrived in the post with the gorgeous armlet I received from them a while back. The armlet is a much more intricate piece, so I've been wearing the more simplistic cuff non-stop, and saving the armlet for evenings out!

Before I forget...THANK YOU LOVELY FOLLOWERS! I've finally got fifty of you! (Well just over at my latest count) so I'll be hosting a giveaway very soon. I was thinking that a little vintage Suzy Smith handbag would be a good prize - a recent find in a vintage store. What do you think? I didn't want to go down the line of more generic items for my first giveaway, I wanted something unique. Hopefully you'll all approve.

Happy Thursday - I'm out tonight with the girls, for a belated birthday celebration, so will post soon!

She's still a Chelsea Doll

 

Shift Dress: All Saints//Rucksack: Thrifted//Shoes: Urban Outfitters//Chain: Charity Shop//Arm Cuff*: Chelsea Doll



 

I thought I'd post something a little different today because of a very lovely package I received in the post from online jewellery site Chelsea Doll, containing two gorgeous pieces from their new 'Cross my Heart' collection. So, for a change, I thought I'd base my outfit around my accessories to show off my fabulous new Nox Cross Drop Armlet.

 

I teamed this little gem with my All Saints dress that I picked up in Lancaster's on-campus charity shop for £.250 (bargain!), a thin silver chain and my favourite suede boots from UO which have kept my feet snug throughtout my first year of uni. The rucksack is also a new find, costing around a fiver from another charity shop.

 

I'm a big fan of thrifting and, as many of you know, I'm always in and out of junk shops, vintage markets and charity shops - my go-to for a bargain (which goes towards a good cause too!) I'm not a mad spender on clothes and prefer versatile pieces which will last me a few seasons rather than a week or so.

 

I am a student after all and, unfortunately, in this climate you've got to be savvy with your money. However, I've got to admit, that at £12, this cuff is worth the money. The simple, elegant style means that it's in fashion now and will be throughout the winter months - something to wear in Ibiza, but also during the christmas party season.

 

I've dressed this look up with my suede boots, eyeliner and vampish purple lippy, but chuck on some flats, a grey marl t-shirt with a fresh-faced look and you're good to go! So, apart from the bright pink box and tissue this cuff came in, being adorable, the piece itself is a worthwhile investment.

 

The lovely people at Chelsea Doll also sent me another little treat which I'll be blogging about soon, but in the meantime, I'd recommend that you check out their website here, which, in my opinion, is full of unique, affordable pieces - a great alternative to some of the uniform, overpriced accessories that some sell.  

 

 

www.chelseadoll.co.uk

 

 

Happy Thursday everyone!

 

 



Cross my heart...

Top: Next (Charity Shop)//Jeans: Charity Shop// Belt: Topahop// Shoes: River Island// Necklace: Asos// Bag: Mulberry

So just a quick post today because I've been so busy! I've just bought my first car and been working non-stop, so it's busy busy busy for me at the mo! So here's something I wore on sunday while the sun momentarily shined.

The top was an absolute bargain from a charity shop and I've had so many lovely comments from friends when wearing it. It's got an aztec-style print on it and although it's brown (not my fave colour) it looks quite sophisticated when on. For simplicity, I teamed it with my old fave's; my black skinnies, which I always roll up so they sit just above the ankle.

The shoes and necklace are the newest additions to my ever-expanding wardrobe/jewellery collection. The shoes I've posted about before, but I really haven't had them off my feet and, for £28, I'm sure they've paid for themselves by now! The little cross was £6 from ASOS and it goes with everything. The style is so simple and so delicate that it's an everyday piece that could be dressed up or down.

Oh and don't get me started on the bag...it's my baby. End of.

So there it is, a little snapshot of my look from my bank holiday weekend wardrobe. Enjoy the rest of your week, although I must admit, today seriously felt like Monday all over again!


Muchos besos!

Fashion bites back - Recession-busting tips for clothing addicts

Yes, I know times are tough. As a student, I always find myself reaching for my beloved student discount card (the holy grail for girls between 16-22) but recently I've been thinking that a little piece of plastic can't really be the only option for the fashion obsessed.

I thought I'd start online and try to find some little gems so that my readers can actually use the info I supply and make some savings, whilst supporting fantastic sites. Basically, this means I'm avoiding golden oldies like Ebay because, frankly, everyone knows about it and understands that it's a great place to find fashionable bargains - all you have to do is search! So here are my favourite five websites for online shopping!

1. PRETAPORTOELLO.COM: This is one of my favourite online shopping sites. It's basically set up as a virtual version of Portobello market, so if you're not lucky enough to live in London you can still pick up some great items. The site has loads of "stalls" to visit which means you really wont be caught wearing the same things as friends, even if you all shop on the site. My little fave which is a recent add to the site is the "Haggle option." This basically means sellers can decide whether they're open to accept lower offers on items, meaning that you can be cheeky and offer less, letting you bag an even cheaper bargain!

2. REVIVAL VINTAGE: This is a great little site my friends and I browse regularly. Based in Huddersfield, this vintage shop sells loads of one-off pieces online. Unlike some vintage sites, items are relatively cheap and they also have a £5 vintage bargain area of the site where you can pick up some fantastic bits and bobs. I love a good vintage website which prices its stock fairly, so I definitely recommend you give it a visit.

3. THE THRIFT SHOP: Another really cool vintage site which is based in London. The site is fantastic because it's a no nonsense approach to vintage clothing. The site offers any address in the UK free delivery and free returns, so buying from them is totally easy. Clothing is reasonably priced and is really beautiful. A lovely vintage site to browse during your lunch break.

4. FASHION VOUCHERS: I normally hate voucher sites. From my experience, you do a quick Google search, find a link which promises you the world, then once clicked, you get plagued with adverts and chain mail etc. Fashion Vouchers is completely different and I have to admit, it's become a bit of a guilty secret for me. It's so simple to use, you search for a store or brand, find the voucher code you want, click on the 'reveal code' link and it directs you to the site and gives you the code. Allll for freeee! Quick, simple and saves you pounds. Be careful, you may find you buy even more because of this!

5. ETSY: A firm fave with me and my friends, Etsy is set up to work in the same way as Ebay, but attracts more permanent sellers with original designs and quirky items. You can shop for products from across the globe, but you're also able to limit purchases to within the UK if you're nervous of buying from further afield. The site is also linked to users' blogs, so you can learn more about sellers and their products before you buy. Everything is reasonably priced and you'll always find unique items to buy, it's another great site which really doesn't get promoted enough.

Do you know any great sites to visit when shopping online?

Montezuma summer

The Aztec trend has been really big throughout spring and summer and I can't tell you how much I love it. The bold colours and geometric patterns are really versatile, suit practically everyone and inspire so many designers to go big, bold and bright on the catwalk.

These designs then land in the hands of high street designers, who create beautiful, bright, eccentric outfits which allow every girl to stand out in a crowd.

So after having a huge wardrobe clear out the other day (I have bin bags filled with gorgeous clothes, which I will never wear!) I rediscovered this punchy scarf that I bought from Pop Boutique, Manchester about two years ago!

The colours are fantastic and really make my little scarf a statement piece. The clashing dark purple, pink and blue surround splashes of mustard yellow, allowing me to wear a little of my colour Kryptonite (believe me, when you have a weird-ass complexion like me, mustard yellow is your enemy)  which has been on the fashion radar for around three years (I have suffered, I know!).

So I'll hopefully be pairing this little beauty with a plain tee and my leather rucksack or add clashing prints for a more tribal look.

Have you found any fantastic accessories which channel the current trends by rooting in your wardrobe?