OUTFIT | #135

blouse: Forever 21; skirt: American Apparel; shoes: Topshop

My exams wrapped up nearly 2 weeks ago now and my post-exam life has consisted of sleeping until at least midday every day, working a little bit, and dancing until the early hours a lot. I move home in around 3 weeks, go on a holiday in 2 weeks, and until then I'm soaking up as much of my life in this city as possible before I go away for 4 months. This was probably the first day in a while I've worn something other than my going out clothes or pajamas. I actually got up and went to the bank and an important meeting and all kinds of normal people stuff.

High on my list of priorities for when I go home is to get my hair done. The ends are dead and my roots are out in full force. I curled it last night, just for a change, so it's some kind of loose day-after curls today. At least it's getting really long. I don't straighten it anymore but if I did, it would definitely be past boob length. Mermaid hair achievement: nearly unlocked.

OUTFIT | #134

cardigan, top, shoes, necklace: Topshop; jeans: BDG @ Urban Outfitters; nails: Barry M 'Mint Green'

My final exam is in sight and I'm powering through until next week when I am finally free. No more long days reading and making notes and pretending I'm not Snapchatting in the library. I get my life back. You have no idea how excited I am. Also I had a bottle of wine with a friend the other week and we booked a holiday to Ibiza in a month's time so I have that to look forward to now too. The fun never stops, clearly.

I am loving these BDG cigarette high-waisted jeans. People have been recommending them to me for years now and I'm glad they're just as good as I was told to expect. I think I may even prefer them to the Topshop Leigh jeans. Blasphemy, I know. But my Leighs haven't stood the test of time very well, to be honest. I'm not impressed. I bought a black pair in December and they've already faded badly and snag easily because of their soft fabric. Call me traditional, but I like a heavier true denim jean. All of this 'are they leggings, are they jeans?' stuff just isn't my thing.

OUTFIT | #133

sweatshirt: ASOS; blouse (under): H&M; shorts: Forever 21; shoes: Topshop

Just so you know, I'm definitely wearing shoes here. They're just black ballet flats but for some reason I look barefoot. I don't know what that's about. There's some kind of preppy/varsity look going on here that I felt needed to be done with such an obnoxious sweatshirt. I actually quite like it. Although, in retrospect, I should have worn my Tory Burch Revas instead. Just to make it even preppier.

I didn't wear this anywhere fancy. Just to the library. Same old, same old. I'm so ready for my final exams to be over. I can barely even motivate myself to study for them. I ended up sitting in the library for 3 hours, reading only 2 pages of my book, and going to the pub instead. Not a very productive day.

RECENT PURCHASES | London Purchases

t-shirts, necklace: Topshop; jeans: BDG @ Urban Outfitters

As previously mentioned, I went to London last week. During my brief trip (As in I wasn't even there 24 hours. The life of a jetsetter, eh?) I went to Oxford Street. Usually I avoid Oxford Street like the plague. Hordes of people jostling each other is not my ideal shopping experience. On this occasion, however, I got there for 9am and let me tell you, it was blissful. Topshop, in particular, was a ghost town. And if you've ever been to the Oxford Street Topshop, you know what a nightmare that place always is. I've been known to walk in and walk straight back out because I just can't hack it in there during peak hours.

So, naturally, I bought things. Oops. I know, I literally just made a recent purchases post. I have no self restraint. Also, the stuff I bought is really wrinkled because it's been sat in a bag waiting for me to have time to take pictures for this blog post. Don't mind that. I do own an iron, but I think I've used it once. I did the most damage in Topshop. I'm on a bit of a graphic t-shirt kick lately. Where it came from, I couldn't tell you. I probably wear one about once a year but recently, I've been a big fan. The New Order tank caught my eye immediately, being the child of a father who never quite gave up on the 80s. And with the realisation that after my next exam, I am officially in my final year of university - the 'SENIORS' tee seemed most appropriate. Plus it's kind of cropped and you know I love that shit.

Other notable purchases include: super comfy acid wash grey t-shirt, simple but dead nice necklace that I spent ages looking for, and finally getting my hands on a pair of BDG cigarette jeans after having them recommended to me for years. 

INSTAGRAM | #4

table seat all to myself? don't mind if I do; cocktails and good food at Dim T; chilling in the cheap-seats at Victoria Palace Theatre

I regret not buying this t-shirt; Oxford Street Topshop at 9am is a ghost town; I need this flask in my life

admiring the Lola's cupcake stand in Topshop; made a few cheeky purchases; blingy new phone case was waiting for me when I got home

It's been an interesting week. I spent Tuesday and Wednesday in London, visiting a friend, eating food, going to see a West End show (Billy Elliott, for anyone wondering), and shopping a lot. The latter half of my week has been less relaxed since I'm working 25 hours over 4 days. Why do I do these things to myself? There'll be a blog post of my London purchases when I have time but y'know, exams, jobs, drinking in the sun. They all get in the way. I can't even remember the last time I was home except to sleep. Definitely got that end of the academic year feeling. Can I just be on a sunny beach somewhere please?

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OUTFIT | #132

dress, necklace, boots, socks: Topshop; watch: Casio; lipstick: Revlon 'Cherries in the Snow'

So this is that new dress I bought. It's so comfortable and flowy. I'm a bit in love. It's pretty simple but I've just been sitting in the library all the time anyway lately, so I haven't been dressing up much. I'm sure you could wear a belt with or something fancy like that, if you were so inclined. I'm always wary of waist belts. Too many episodes of whatever that show was Gok Wan hosted where he'd always stick women in high-waist belts. Not everything needs a belt! (I have a lot of feelings about belts)

Being in the library means my style kind of goes to shit, so I also haven't worn lipstick in a few weeks either. It felt good to get some colour back on my lips. I didn't even go anywhere or see anyone today, apart from a quick trip down the road to the shops. Is wearing lipstick around the house weird? Do other people do that? 

RECENT PURCHASES | May 2013

sweater: Johann Earl @ ASOS; dress, belt: Topshop

I finished my first of two exams on Friday. It was kind of a great day and I've been sleeping and doing nothing all weekend ever since. During the revision process, I was basically living in the library and staving off mini-meltdowns on a nearly daily basis. So in the midst of all this, I indulged in some retail therapy a few times. Whatever works, right? These are the things I bought along the way. The sweatshirt in particular was an amazing find at less than a tenner. I probably don't need another sweater but it has my initial on it and I'm such a sucker for that crap. 

The dress and belt have a story to them. I bought them at the peak of my revision stress. One day I woke up early and went to the library, as usual. I sat down and promptly decided I would probably scream and throw something if I stayed there so I went to town instead, bought a new dress and a burger then returned to the library right as rain and revised for 6 hours straight. I tried on the dress ages ago but vetoed it on the grounds of being a bit pricey for something so simple and also, it was purple. I don't do purple. I kept thinking about it though and now, of course, I really want to go back and buy it in another colour... The story of my sartorial life, ladies and gentlemen. 

OUTFIT | #131

top: Topshop; skirt, necklace: H&M; boots: eBay; lipstick: Revlon 'Really Red'

I wish more bloggers showed you what they wear on a night out. I would more often if I ever had time. Getting ready for a night out is typically a rushed affair of running home from work, hopping in the shower, hurriedly redoing my make up, and then heading out - hopefully still only 'fashionably' late and not 'oh my god, is she taking the piss?' late. It's a rare night when I still have time to set up a tripod and take some pictures before I head out.

I really like the ritual of getting ready to go out though. I have a whole specific playlist for the occasion. Lately I've been spending more late nights revising for exams, sadly, than I have out dancing. This weekend I went out to celebrate a friend's birthday though which made a pleasant change from long hours in the library. I couldn't find the necklace I really wanted to wear though. It's still lost in my room somewhere, which is a tad worrying.