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! 

Check mate

Top: New Look// Skirt: New Look// Shoes: Nike// Clutch: Fashion Union// Necklace: vintage
Photos c/o Mae Reddaway

I started my new job as an Account Executive for a Marketing Agency this week. Barr the 6am starts, I've been loving the new Manchester life, the work and the working week. Now I'm officially an adult, I've been drinking fresh juices on the morning commute, doing smart/casual office wear and trying to grow up. It's going well so far, I'm trying to model myself of Carrie from SATC although I guess that means I'm building myself up to fail. 

My only problem is the cost of travelling in each day, so if any of you know anyone living in Manchester who needs a flatmate, let me know. After a few months I'll be starting the 'flat hunt', but I'll have to find somewhere with a big enough wardrobe for all my clothes! (just kidding)

This is an outfit the lovely Mae snapped for me before I left uni (sob) and although it's pretty basic, I think it's spot on for evening wear with all this hot weather we've been having. The skirt has been a staple for me since May, but I think it can work from day to night, just make sure you contrast its close style with a long shirt or tunic style top. I've been wearing it with a drop vest style top in the day and sling back espadrilles (which I'll feature in my next outfit post).

I love the trainer trend which has stubbornly stayed on trend since last year, I've been wearing my beloved Nikes when I can, they go brilliantly with dresses, cut offs and ankle grazer jeans. I'll keep you updated on my work wear diary, I'm looking for a photographer in Manchester to snap me once a week, so if any of you out there know any lovely DSLR-using photographers, please let me know! 

All the Day and All of the Night

University is finally at an end and I can get back to blogging. The last post I wrote for Hemlines&Holdups was in April and time has flown since then. I've sat my exams and got my results (2.1 in case you're wondering - yippie!) and graduation is just around the corner. Another week and I'll be starting work in Manchester as a Junior Account Executive and life as a fully-fledged real grown up. Although I'm gutted to leave Lancaster and the student bubble, life is currently very busy and pretty exciting, so I've not had too much time to dwell on my fading youth (sigh), which I guess is a good thing.

Although I'm heading into work, I wont be making the transition to Joseph blouses, cigarette trousers and 'less is more' just yet. In fact, a friend told me recently that my wardrobe was severely lacking colour. Even though I tried to ignore this annoying, yet irrevocably true fact, it's got under my newly-sun tanned skin and I'm going to have to do something about it. Therefore, subconsciously or not I've been adding a little more colour to my wardrobe, slowly breaking up the blacks, navy blues and greys. Anyhow, in the spirit of rainbow hues, I thought I'd share my last little project as Fashion Editor of the student newspaper with you. Lancaster University's SCAN (Student, Comment and News) Fashion section has been my baby for the last year and probably explains my blogging hiatus. Juggling the bi-weekly publication and a dissertation is a mean feat, so unfortunately something had to give. However, my time as editor is at an end (sob) but the last project was truly exciting. 

With the help of a few vintage shops in Lancaster and the wonderful photographic genius that is Mae Reddaway, I put together a photo shoot on campus to celebrate the university's 50th Anniversary. Opened in 1964, the concept behind the shoot was everything '60s and I just love the result of the team's hard work. 

   

Photos c/o Mae Reddaway 

For a peek at the other snaps, take a look at the SCAN website

I bought some bits...

Dress: H&M// Shoes: Nike//Shirt: Adidas

It's been five months since I updated this blog and I have to admit that time has truly flown. The dissertation I was researching in November has now been written, and all that's left is a month of exams before my University days are over. I was always incredibly cynical about Uni, with older friends and adults always promising me, with a nostalgic twinkle in their eye, that it would be 'the best years of my life.' So it's over. My three years of gluttonous self-discovery and selfish academic study are at an end. So that's it? That's as good as life gets? Don't get me wrong, Uni has been incredible and definitely the best years of my life SO FAR. Does this mean that any happy encounter that happens after I leave the bubble of student life behind just won't compare? I'm sure a lazy Sunday by the river with a cold lager and close friends is as good at 31 as it is at 21.

I'm hoping that this big change will bring new experiences and opportunities, the first of these being my new job which I start mid-July. I'm going into advertising dahling. Yep, suited and booted, I shall be part of the mad, Mad Men style Marketing, PR and Advertising realm. 'You've sold your soul to the corporate giants!' one of my particularly eccentric friends proclaimed. No, these days the industry is young, vibrant and friendly. Jeans and silk shirts have replaced power suits, 'fun' is a buzzword and 'creatives' are actually allowed to be creative. I'll be working in Manchester, which is exciting and although initially I'll be commuting from Cheshire, I keep telling myself that eventually I'll fly the nest and settle in a flat near the Northern Quarter, so I can pop into North Tea Power for a Masala Chai on my way into work.

So that's me and what's changed in the last few months. Again, I'm sorry for leaving you so long, but sometimes work really has to come first. I also can't promise that I'll be around for long this term, with exams on the horizon it's difficult to find the time to blog. However, I do promise that once Uni is finished, I'll be back with regular posts and better quality pictures (I hope) so do tag along for the ride.

Fashion-wise, there's been a lot of changes and, after a friend of mine suggested that my wardrobe was a mix of black, black and more black, I'm making a conscious effort to wear more colour.

Starting tomorrow. Unfortunately, ignoring that nagging voice in the back of my mind, I invested in some more navy/monochrome pieces to add to the racks, rails and shelves housing the rest of my navy/monochrome wardrobe. Let's start with the shoes. I needed new trainers for netball and these beauties from Nike were versatile enough to wear on and off the pitch. They're the 2.0 running shoes and they are so light that one day I'm sure they'll float away. Having flat feet means that it's hard to find comfy shoes, but since buying my Nike's in early March, I've not had them off my feet. Teamed with jeans for a denim on denim look, or with leggings and a graphic tee, they are definitely my wardrobe's new best friend.

The gorgeous cut-out dress was a £5 bargain from H&M in their glorious sale. The material is non-crease which makes it easy to wear and wash and the skater-style skirt and low cut top is flattering on any figure. Maybe a little too short for even the hottest summer day, but paired with an over-sized shirt and some trainers, I'm sure it'll be just fine for July.

Although it's brand new, the shirt is a charity shop bargain costing me a measly £3. I am a sucker for vintage styles and Adidas' re-launch of their Stan Smiths has put the brand back on the fashion map. The v-neck and flattering cut of this t-shirt means I'll be wearing it on campus all season through.

Trust your gut, it'll never lie like the others...

Coat: Warehouse//Dress (worn as top) c/o Bank Fashion*//Skirt: H&M//Shoes: New Look

Coat: vintage//Dress: c/o Bank Fashion*// Shoes: Topshop// Necklace: Next 

photos by Mae Reddaway

November has crept up on me this year. 2013 has flown by and honestly, I can't wait for 2014. A year of sadness and bad memories has to make way for bigger, better and brighter things. All I can do is apologize for my absence and blame third year studies on  my lack of blogging. I'm already working late into the night, hence my post right now, but unfortunately the pile of essays, readings and analyses is never ending. 

Anyhow, the lovely people at Bank fashion decided to surprise me with a couple of pieces from their new ranges to give my little blog a bit of a boost and to lift my mood - believe me it worked! These gorgeous new shift dresses have been a hit with all my friends and I've not had them off since I received them. The cut flatters every shape, the patterns are bang on trend and the quality is good. Easy to dress up or down (or even transform into a top as my first pictures show), these dresses have become a bit of a wardrobe staple for me. 

Prints are still a big tick on the trend[ometer this Autumn/Winter. To add a little interest to your outfits, move away from the typical burgundies, navies and reds we see at this time of year and add some punchy print to your look. I promise it'll brighten up your outfit and your mood! I'm always guilty of sticking to greys and blacks, but this season I've promised myself that I'll brighten up. A bolder, better, more confident version of myself, to go with my new outfit choices. It's my last year of uni and I'm determined to enjoy it, regardless of what's going on in my little world.

Yep so that's me, a paragraph of clothing reviews and cryptic messages after a month of silence, but if you've been a long time reader, what did you expect? 

All my love and the promise that more blog posts will appear very soon.

A little bit of Braveheart never hurt anyone...

Skirts from Next

Wowsa, a month has flown by so quickly! August has been a busy one for me as I had my placement at Next HQ in Leicester. I had an amazing time in the PR department there and lucky me, I've been asked to go back in September. This time I promise to document as much of the experience as I can, even if it's just my wardrobe choices for the two weeks!

Weather-wise, bloody hell it's been hot. Not Mediterranean Zorba the Greek style heat, but hazy, sweaty humid stuff which we've all become quite accustomed to. The type of weather that encourages men to wear football shirts due to the 'breathable material' which in actual fact makes them sweat more than Great Aunt Jude (a very sweaty lady). I've been stubborn and started wearing my autumn wardrobe already. I looked a bit mental in Leicester on the day it was 33 degrees strutting around in my black skinnies, jumper and lace up boots, but honestly stick me in a chunky knit and I'm happy. 

Autumn winter fashion is always the best in my book and this year's penchant for heritage is fab. I've got my tweed blazer at the ready, all I need now is a manservant called Giles and a load of pheasants to shoot. Yes, initially I might go a little too far with the tweed, but I'm pretty sure I can pull off eccentric English gent. 

I did cave and buy two kilt style skirts from Next. The reason? Their preppy enough for Blair Waldorf, with a little bit of Celtic warrior on the side. I'm effectively channeling Mel Gibson's New York alter ego...hey, a little bit of woad isn't a bad thing. 

Refined psychedelia

Dress: Rare (GetTheLabel)*// Shoes: New Look// Bag: h&m// Fur Stole: Accessorize

Exams are over! I am so relieved that they're all done and dusted, but so sad that second year is coming to an end. I've been living in my student house since October and it honestly feels like ten minutes. After this year I can truly understand why people look back on student life wistfully, I don't think I ever want to leave! 

Anyhoo, as I mentioned in my last post, I was invited along to the Get The Label blogger party last month, the event was such a success and, as well as meeting some lovely new bloggers, Get The Label offered to send me a few of their new season pieces to review. I was immediately drawn to this gorgeous lace shift dress from Rare. I've been dying to find the perfect little black dress for summer - all of my current ones are body con and too hot for a night out in June! The dress is such good quality and comes with a brown belt which you can pop on for a look more suitable to daytime. 

I thought for a treat I'd get dressed up and paired it with my lovely 60's wedges from New Look, which I'm a little bit in love with, and this gorgeous oil-slick style envelope clutch from h&m which I snapped up in the sale over Easter. With all the sunshine we've been having, my fur collar is a tad unnecessary, but I finally got to see Gatsby on Friday night so I thought I'd add a little glamour to the look! (I think sans collar would more suitable for a student night in Lancaster, it's a little more MIC than LA1!) 

Over the next few weeks I'll be popping up some more Get The Label posts as well as my usual thrifed styles. Although a few of the pieces have been sent to me for review I have to admit I've become a little addicted to the Get The Label site due to its very affordable collections, so I've made a couple of purchases of my very own too!

TTFN

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Dress: Ebay// Bag: Vintage// Shoes: River Island// Lipstick: MAC Rebel
 Bracelet: Daisy Does Jewellery// Tights: Pretty Polly (Charity Shop)//  Ear Cuff: ASOS

Happy Sunday! Here's a long awaited outfit post for you as I've been desperate to share my latest purchase, this gorgeous velvet collared dress which I found on Ebay! The dress, priced at under £20 (including delivery), is such a bargain for Christmas. 

The only thing I'd warn future buyers of is that, in my case, the dress is generously sized - I originally bought a size 12 and it was too big for me, after swapping it for a size 10 (thank you to the lovely sellers) I've had to alter the dress slightly around the waist! I have to say though, it was really nice to find a company who actually cut sizes properly, instead of charging through the roof for clothes which used tiny amounts of material! 

The gorgeous wine colour of this beauty and unique style makes it suitable for Christmas dinner but also for clubbing - it'll keep me toasty warm during the winter months and through Jan and Feb! 

These tights were such a bargain, I found them in a Lancaster Charity shop, unopened and priced at £2 - I love them as the add a little bit of 50's glamour to any outfit!   

What are you wearing for Christmas? Any special plans for your big day?

Love ya! 

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! 

Birthday Wishlist!

L-R:
 Dixi Jewellery Mia twisted rainbow stacking rings £6.00// Timex Watch (sold by Next) £55// The Vintage Set Camo jacket £25.00// Glamorous UK black organza sheer dotty blouse £22.99// H&M Dalmatian-print trousers £9.99// MotelRocks Zena Bodycon mini £35.00// Daisy Does Jewellery gold crystal bracelet £15.00// MAC Lipstick in Russian Red £14.00// Dixi Jewellery Kisa Sunshine Druzy Ring £15.00 

So on September 4th I'm gonna be the big 2-0 (I mean twenty) which is pretty scary let me tell you. I still get asked for I.D when I buy lottery tickets, never mind booze (FYI, in the U.K you have to be 16 to  have a little gamble on the national lottery, so it's pretty embarrassing that I really don't look my age!)

Anyway, scary numbers aside, I thought I'd compile a wishlist and, having recently joined twitter, I'm being followed by all sorts of lovely websites which I've found some amazing stuff on. Seriously, before heading to the same shops, have a quick look on these websites and I guarantee you'll find some unique and exciting buys.

The sites I've listed here are: 

www.shopdixi.com

www.next.co.uk

www.thevintageset.com

www.glamorousuk.com

www.hm.com

www.motelrocks.com

www.daisydoes.net

www.maccosmetics.co.uk

So if I end up with any of these little beauties on my big day, I will be one happy bunny. If you're looking for presents, or just a little treat for yourself, check these sites out here.

Happy Wednesday!

Another sunny day

Top: Levi Jeans, Skirt: Next, Necklace: charity shop, Shoes: Converse, rings and bracelets: thrifted

I can't believe it, two days in a row its been sunny. By sunny I don't just mean a little-light-from-behind-the-clouds-and-braving-it-in-skinnes-and-a-scarf. I mean proper holiday-style sunny. To put it simply, it's been 25 degrees where I am and for England that is impressive.

While it was still cool this morning, my mum and I decided a trip to the charity shops was in order and, although I've had a huge wardrobe clearout, I REALLY couldn't resist a look.

I actually did pretty well, picking up a load of bargains all for the grand total of a tenner. I managed to find a brand new H&M animal print bikini, a Levis tshirt, a multi-coloured Breton top and a statement necklace.

I thought I'd pop on the tshirt and the necklace and show you some of my lovely buys along with a casual way to wear jewellery like this. I think it really makes the outfit (apologies for how casual I look, but on a hot day like today when you're sunbathing anything more is too much!)

Enjoy your day!

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?

Here comes the sun

Yes, the first glimmer of sunshine and I've got my legs out. I do apologise, but this type of weather really doesn't last for long in the U.K.

Kept it simple today, white tshirt, spotty shorts (c.o. Primark), a hat I was given by a relative and some  SuperGa-esque shoes I bought in the charity shop for £2.

I guess they could be mistaken for being a little granny-ish, but I usually pair them with charcoal skinnies and some clashing top which livens them up a bit... and ultimately, granny-chic isn't half bad! 

Enjoy the sun!