DAYS OUT | Cambridge

I go back to school in a few days and start all my exams, which is a little bit daunting. So I've been making the most of the break I have left. This week I went to Cambridge to do a bit of touristy gawking and shopping. We couldn't have picked a better day to go; it was absolutely beautiful. Clear blue skies all day and obscenely warm for April.

Unfortunately we never made it down to the river for a wander, despite being constantly accosted, in typical Cambridge fashion, by people asking us if we were interested in punting down the Cam. Maybe next time, when the call of the H&M sale isn't so strong. Eating lunch in front of King's College was about as far as the cultural experience went, more's the pity.

jacket, shirt, skirt: H&M, shoes: Converse, bag: Zara

watch: ASOS, nail polish: Revlon 'Fuschia Fever', Sally Hansen Hard As Nails 'Strobe Light'

OUTFIT | #19

Let's be honest here, growing out your hair is the pits. It's laborious, takes a lot of patience and you don't always looks good in the process. My hair is finally reaching a stage where I can comfortably call it 'long' after nearly 2 years of growing it. I'm finally in the home stretch, where the length I want it to be is in sight, if I can only hang on another few months.

I consider myself a pretty patient person but sometimes, I do just want to hack it all off. My current style that can only be described as 'unruly mop'; it's definitely not something you would rush to your hairdresser and ask for.

So while I bide my time, willing my hair to grow so I can finally (finally!) do something fun with it, I've taken to trying to style it in different ways, to distract myself from this unending waiting game. I'll be the first to admit, however, that I am really pretty crap at styling my hair, or anyone else's for that matter. I just don't think I'm dexterous enough, probably due to too many years of endless typing.

 

t-shirt: Forever 21, skirt: River Island, hair band: ASDA

Which is where hair bands come in. Head band, alice band, whatever you want to call them. They really are your best friend when you have no other option (apart from that strange headache they give you after a few hours) plus you can pretend you're Blair Waldorf, without the penthouse and designer clothes.

This particular hair band makes me feel about 5 years old rather than an Upper East Side socialite, but I still like it. Plus if you're inclined to wear mostly neutrals and greys, like me, then it can bring a little colour into your outfit. Or just stave off another bad hair day.

RECENT FAVOURITES | Monochrome

In my wardrobe, I am not the world's biggest lover of colour. It would not be an exaggeration to state that 90% of the clothes I own are black, grey or navy. It's what I'm comfortable in and it's what I like. Coloured clothes, as far as I'm concerned, are lovely on others but personally best saved for the odd occasion.

jacket: H&M, jumper, shorts: Topshop

Sometimes in the warmer months, or especially dreary days that need a little perking up, I will abandon my embargo and put on something bright. But otherwise, it's muted tones or monochromes all year round, rain or shine.

sunglasses: River Island, lipstick: MAC 'Costa Chic'

I can't say I share the same ideology with lipsticks though. On the lips, as far as I'm concerned, it's go bold or go home. Which is why when I finally got my hands on MAC's 'Costa Chic' - a gorgeous, almost neon with the right application, pinky coral that positively screams Spring, (and is, I believe, only available in Europe unfortunately) I was a very happy camper. Topped off with some mock tortoise shell sunglasses with a definite 50s-throwback feel and I'm ready to face the summer months. (Although whether the right weather appears or not is definitely another matter altogether.)