OUTFIT | #48

jumper: Forever 21; top: H&M; shorts: Zara; loafers: Urban Outfitters; necklace: Topshop; watch: ASOS

It's another rainy day stuck indoors for me. You'd never be able to tell from these pictures but it's so wet and gloomy outside; my room feels like a cave. Thank god for Photoshop. This jumper is making its second appearance in nearly as many posts. Partly because it's new and I really like it. (It's so soft) But mostly because it's one of only two jumpers I brought to uni with me. Luckily my hometown is only an hour away by train, so I'm popping back tomorrow to get some more weather-appropriate clothing. After the spending the past week shivering constantly, enough is enough.

OUTFIT | #47

jumper, skirt: H&M; top: Zara; boots: River Island

I feel like I've posted this outfit before. Or something really similar. I probably have; I tend to rotate the same outfits and stick to the same colours and patterns, as I'm sure you're aware. One of these days I need to make a blog post about how many striped shirts I own. It's a lot. At a guess, I'd say 1/3 of my shirts are striped. Maybe you've noticed that too, who knows. I am nothing if not reliable (or possibly just horribly predictable). 

In fact, my favourite part of these pictures isn't even the clothes. It's my new slippers sitting proudly in the back right. They're a recent Primark find. I like to walk about in my room in the gaudiest loungewear (that makes it sound so much fancier than it is) I can muster, see also: my banana PJ pants. 

HAIR | Rookie Two-Minute Beehive

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've no doubt seen the Rookie Two-Minute Beehive tutorial blowing up on blogs everywhere. Everyone and their mum is talking about how easy and amazing it is and looking generally gorgeous doing it. So, naturally, I wanted to join in. 

I had everything you need to achieve the look: long, greasy hair and a ton of bobby pins (or hair pins/kirby grips, whatever you call them). Despite suiting all the criteria, I could not get it to work. Admittedly, I am terrible with hair. The extent of my abilities are curling it with straighteners occasionally and a messy bun. Maybe I'm just not dextrous enough, who knows. After two days of attempts (I waited an extra day for my hair to get even dirtier. TMI?) and I still looked like Yubaba from Spirited Away had stuck her fingers in a socket with every attempt. 

I'm super stubborn though and tried it with a fringe instead. Tavi has a blunt fringe (or bangs, whatever) in the tutorial so maybe that was where I was going wrong? Bingo! More like 5 minutes, at least 50 hair pins later and I had my smug self a beehive.

Long story short: The two-minute beehive is totally achievable, even for totally cackhanded people like myself. But it's not really that easy and probably takes more than five minutes if you have really thick hair with no fringe. 

OUTFIT | #46

jacket, jumper: Forever 21; blouse, jeans: Topshop; flats: Office

Decided to give both my new shoes and my favourite jacket an outing. I find I always have such a small window of opportunity to wear jackets in. It's either too hot for them or way too cold. I've had this leather jacket for a few years but haven't been able to wear it nearly as much as I'd like. So, while we're having all these annoying April showers, I'm trying to get lots of wear out of it. Even if it is just a quick dash to the supermarket for something for dinner. I lead such a glamourous life at times.

RECENT PURCHASES | Leopard Print Shoes

flats: Office; wedges: Chinese Laundry

Apparently I'm really into buying leopard print shoes of late. These are 2 of 3 pairs I've bought in as many weeks. I'm not sure how many leopard print shoes a person has to own before it becomes a problem but buying so many in such a short space of time can't be good. 

The flats, at least, I can totally justify. My favourite pair of ballet pumps are falling apart so I'm looking for another pair to replace them. Enter leopard print flats. I am especially fond of the slightly pointed toe. 

The wedges, however, were purely an impulse purchase on my recent US trip. I was perusing TJMaxx's shoe section (and we all know I love TJMaxx) and saw them amid all the ugly kitten heels that seem to accumulate in the Size 8 section. They're kind of ridiculous (and not to mention, were a total bargain). Therefore, I love them. 

OUTFIT | #45

dress: Urban Outfitters; jacket: H&M; shoes: George @ ASDA

Are you sick of the denim jacket yet? No? Good. Because I kind of never want to take it off. It goes with nearly everything I own. As does everything I'm wearing in this outfit actually. These are all what I consider my 'go-to-when-nothing-looks-right' items. Cute pink shoes? Yep. Flattering dress with fun pattern? Check. Staple black tights? Of course. 

Plus my mop of unruly hair that is in desperate need of a trim to tidy it up. It seems to have had a massive growth spurt in the past few months and gone from around shoulder length to the middle of my back. Not long now until I can fulfill my Tumblr-girl dreams of mermaid hair.

OUTFIT | #44

jacket, dress: H&M; jumper: Forever 21; shoes: Converse

I'm currently visiting family in the US, hence the chance of location. It's been ridiculously windy every day here so far. I'd hoped to get away with wearing just a summer dress and my new denim jacket but even on the sunniest day so far, it was too chilly. A jumper over top was definitely needed. This striped number wouldn't have been my first choice but I think I packed somewhat optimistically for April. It's the only warm item I have with me. Mistake. A trip to Forever 21 to pick up a cardigan (and maybe a few other things while I'm there...) is definitely on the cards.

MAKE UP | Spring 2012

hairbow: H&M; lips: Rimmel 'Tell No One'

I watched a few episodes of that BBC show Pramface the other week. While I wasn't a fan of the show, I liked how all the female characters' make up was in coral/orange tones and have basically been trying to emulate that look ever since, though I don't know how well these pictures illustrate that (Make up posts are hard, guys). 

After being a big fan of the vampy lip and/or smokey eye combo over winter, it feels like a nice change for spring: some variation of a coral-y blush and a similar, possibly more orange, lipstick (Apparently describing make up shades is also not so easy either). Simple, foolproof and still a bold enough lip that I don't feel out of my comfort zone.