OUTFIT | #43

jacket, necklace: H&M; blouse, skirt: Topshop; boots: River Island; nails: 'Lemon Tree' - H&M

Everyone and their gran knows a denim jacket is a pretty good accompaniment to a spring wardrobe. I've had a light-wash one for a while but I found myself fancying a more indigo version lately. I got this one in H&M (a.k.a the love of my life) and it was everything I wanted. Plus it's basically identical to the ones Topshop are selling for £50 but, of course, much cheaper!

The laddered tights were not intentional, I feel I must add. They're just the only pair I've got at the moment and it was too chilly to go without. I've had it on my to-do list to pop into town and buy some more all week but it's the last week of spring semester so I've been stressing about coursework and module enrolment for next year instead. 

I go home for nearly a month this weekend, minus a week or so to visit family in the US. I'm looking forward to my own bed and seeing everyone I miss from home but it's always sad to leave my little life here at uni, especially after the amazing semester I've had. The most frightening part is I've only got a few weeks of exam period left when I come back and then I'm basically a second year university student, which is more than a little terrifying..

OUTFIT | #42

blouse: Charity shop; shorts: Zara; loafers: Urban Outfitters

I know, I know, I talk about the weather all the time. Forgive me. However, this week has literally been the best weather ever. I've gone bare legged (no tights!) three days on the trot. In March. I don't want to question it in case it starts raining again but this is slightly surreal. I'm still meant to be wearing my trench coat and whinging about the cold for another few months yet. 

I opted for a blouse from a recent charity shopping sesh and my new loafers today. Why did I wait so long to get loafers? They are the best. I want to wear them everywhere. In fact, I would if they didn't tear my feet to shreds. They still need a bit of wearing in but I will persevere since I love them so. Painful feet are a small price to pay for great shoes, or something nonsensical like that.

OUTFIT | #41

blouse: Uniqlo; skirt: H&M; belt: Topshop; tights: Primark; boots: River Island

Apparently my subconscious was going for a blue theme today. I didn't actually realise until I left for class. Then I had that awful song stuck in my head for the rest of the morning (you know the one...). 

Things didn't look like this for long though. Upon exiting my flat, I immediately laddered my tights.,which got worse through the day until I had to switch to a plain old black pair, slightly ruining the polka dot thing I had going on. The sleeves were also shortly rolled up due to the unseasonably sunny weather and I got mud on my skirt after ditching the library in favour of an afternoon by the lake. All in a day's work.

RECENT PURCHASES | New Glasses

L-R: Karen Millen, Missoni (both via Specsavers)

I get ridiculously excited about new glasses. I've worn them since I was 5 but something about picking a brand new pair will never get old. My family don't seem to enjoy the experience as much; since I wear them every day, I am very picky and can spend hours selecting the perfect pair.

I couldn't make up my mind this time. One pair I liked had gold arms and I'm really funny about mixing metals. The other pair were red and reminded me of Sally Jesse Raphael and I wasn't sure if I'd want to look like a 90s talk-show host 24/7. So I took the easy option and got both. 

OUTFIT | #40

blazer: H&M; blouse: Topshop; leggings: George @ ASDA; loafers: Ecoté @ Urban Outfitters

I noticed that every single one of my recent outfits have been totally black and white. So to spice things up a bit, here's a smoothie to mix things up a bit (was that a bad pun? I hope not). Plus the smoothies they sell on campus are totally amazing and I have to physically stop myself from buying one every day. 

Besides smoothies, I am also over the moon in love with this blouse. I'd seen it in my hometown's Topshop way back in November but they didn't have my size and I never saw it anywhere else. I figured it was a goner and since then had been searching high and low for a substitute. Fast forward several months, I go to London with some friends, end up in Topshop on Oxford Street and, just as I was about to leave, I spot this shirt. It was meant to be, I tell you. A match made in monochromatic stripey heaven. 

DAYS OUT | British Museum

On Thursday (which was also International Women's Day, I hope you all had a good one) I went down to London to see some friends for the day. We walked around Camden, Covent Garden and Soho and went to the British Museum before having an amazing lunch at Maxwell's (I've never been before but I'd recommend!) followed by red velvet cupcakes at Candy Cakes. Delish. 

I'd have taken more pictures but the autofocus on my 18-55mm lens is broken, as is my point and shoot camera. So, I only had my 50mm lens on me which takes really close up pictures, making it pretty difficult to get some quick touristy snaps. I'm not having a lot of luck with cameras lately...

 

nail polish: No7 'Temptress'; lipstick: Revlon Lip Butter 'Red Velvet'; coat: H&M; scarf: Edinburgh Woollen Mill

oh, and a sneaky McDonald's before we caught our train, of course!

RECENT FAVOURITES | March 2012

cardigan: Topshop; top: Zara; skirt: H&M; watch: Sekonda; nails: Mavala 'Milky'

I had big plans for today that never really happened. First I overslept, which is never a good start. Then I spent ages deliberating over whether wearing a pleather skirt in the day was something I could pull off or not before I decided, who cares? So I wore it regardless. Except then it wouldn't stop raining all day so I stayed in and no one saw me in the skirt anyway. It was also too dark to take any decent pictures of my outfit except in my tiny bathroom. So, all in all, today was a bit of a failure on all counts.

In light of my rubbish day, here's a small list of things that I've been enjoying lately instead:

-Grimes - 'Oblivion': The music video for this reminds me a lot of Rihanna's 'We Found Love' a.k.a. it looks likes a 15 year-old Tumblr queen directed it. I wasn't even sure if I liked this song or not at first but I've been playing it nonstop for 2 days now so I guess it's grown on me.

-Geordie Shore: Not the most intellectually stimulating of ways to pass time but I can't stop watching this ridiculous show lately.

-Smoothies: It's looking more like Spring every day and it's making me want smoothies all the time. I might even buy myself a little blender so I can save some money and make my own. 

OUTFIT | #39

jumper: H&M; dress (worn as skirt): American Apparel; tights; Primark; shoes: Converse; necklace: River Island; lipstick: Topshop 'All About Me'

dress: American Apparel; tights: Primark; shoes: Topshop; watch: ASOS; lipstick: Topshop 'All About Me'

Being a student, especially one in a town with pretty good night life, means I go out a fair amount. Sometimes I'll go all out and get changed, redo my make up, even put together an entire costume for theme nights. Then there are the days when I've been stuck in the library working for hours and really can't be bothered. 

Which is why I love the American Apparel Double U-Neck dresses. They are the easiest way to transition your outfit from day to night (here I go again, giving you cheesy magazine style advice, my apologies). Throw a jumper or a cardigan over them during the day and when it's time to go out, just change your shoes. Presto, the lazy-girl solution for when you really cannot be arsed to spend ages getting ready to going out. 

I'd recommend getting a code from a site like Groupon (this was how I bought mine) or buying them when AA have their flash sales though. Much as I love the dress, I'd never pay full price for AA. Failing that, loads of places on the high street (Topshop, New Look, H&M, Forever 21, etc) do really similar versions.