OUTFIT | #164

top, skirt, necklace: Topshop; shoes: Converse; watch: Casio

I'm never really one to save clothing items for 'special occasions'. If I buy something, I'll wear it whenever I fancy. This skirt felt really autumnal to me though, so I wanted to stave off wearing it until the weather started to feel cooler. Seeing as I bought it in July that took a while but I finally wore it the other day. I like it a lot. It's a pretty simple skirt, but it has some nice smaller details like the pleats and heavy material. I foresee myself getting a lot of wear out of this in the coming winter months.

This outfit went through a lot. I've been spending a lot of long days on campus, between work and various projects I'm involved in. One this particular day I was on campus for 17 hours, which is ridiculous - even for me. I'd have worn different shoes, probably some heeled boots, but I had to work in the bar for a while hence the Converse. I never wear anything other than Converse to work, since I don't care if they get a bit scuffed up. Converse look better, in my opinion, when they're well worn. 

RECENT FAVOURITES | September 2013

FJALLRAVEN KANKEN
I mentioned that I was thinking of buying a Kanken in a wishlist post a while back. I got one just before I came back to uni and it was such a good decision. Usually I bring a satchel type bag or some kind of more structured handbag, but I pack a lot of crap and it was beginning to hurt my shoulders. The Kanken is so ridiculously practical. A few people have commented that it's not necessarily my 'style', perhaps a bit outdoorsy for me? Or makes me look like a child on the way to their first day of school. I still love it though. Plus it's dead durable and comes in a million different colour ways.

L'OREAL EVERSLEEK SMOOTHING & INTENSELY NOURISHING SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

Ever since I was 13 or so, I used Tresemmé products on my hair religiously. I never ever switched brand and it always worked for me. In the past year or so though, since I began to dye my hair and wear it naturally - not straightened every day, Tresemmé wasn't quite cutting it. I'd heard good things about the EverSleek range and I'm interested hair care with less sulphates, parabens, and siliciones and all of that at the moment. My hair is really dry so I went with the 'Intense' formula and I love it so far. I've had so many people tell me that my hair looks brighter and more red too, which can only be a good thing.

ORLY 'SMOULDER' NAIL POLISH

I picked this colour up when I was in America over the summer and it's become my favourite nail polish for autumn. It's a deep metallic burgundy and basically just gorgeous. I tend to favour black or red nails in the autumn and winter anyway, and this fits right into that colour family nicely.

OUTFIT | #163

cardigan: H&M; top, jeans, boots: Topshop; watch: Casio; lipstick: MAC 'Diva'

I bought the Topshop Joni jeans. Finally. They've been on my mind forever, basically since they emerged as the cheaper alternative to the AA Easy Jean. My friend Bridie (who has a blog about things and you can read it here) has been singing their praises recently and I caved. They're so stretchy and comfortable, I might be in love. Not to mentioned they're the most high-waisted pair of jeans I own now and I'm totally cool with that. The higher the waist, the better. Low-rise can get out of here. Now I probably won't need any more black jeans for a long, long time. 

I really love this whole outfit. I wore it out for a giant brunch, which was delightful. Unfortunately I didn't take pictures. Rookie mistake. It covers all my style bases though: black, burgundy, leopard print, and ankle boots. Another of those 'my style summed up in one outfit' outfits. I was worried the boots would rub because I haven't worn them a lot yet but once again, Topshop boots did not let me down. My favourite forever.

OUTFIT | #162

jumper: H&M; dress: Urban Outfitters; boots: Topshop; lipstick: Revlon Matte 'Really Red'

Let's all take a moment to appreciate how much healthier my hair looks in this post. I had it cut and it's barely any shorter, but it feels so thick and luxurious now. Please remind me never to go 4 months without a trim again. My poor, poor hair. I'm super tempted to go for the big chop now though and get a long bob. It's been on my mind for ages now but I've also never had my hair this long before, so I'm reluctant to give up so easily. Maybe I'll carry on aiming for mermaid hair a little while longer.

I am loving the fact that I can wear tights and boots all the time again now it's chillier. Dressing for colder weather is so much easier to me. I love layers, what can I say? Plus this dress I bought for the summer slots perfectly into autumn dressing too. Don't you love when that happens? Much as I do enjoy a good summer dress, they get so little wear most of the year. I'm forever reluctant to splurge on something I only get use out of 2-3 months of the year. 

OUTFIT | #161

cardigan: H&M; t-shirt: Primark; jeans: Topshop; shoes: Vans; watch: Casio

I wore this on a day where I was spectacularly hungover. That's kind of all I remember about this day, or this outfit. I spent most of it in bed before finally dragging myself onto campus to see a friend, so I didn't feel like I'd totally wasted my day. I think that was why I went for all the black. It felt comforting. I'm kind of glad that freshers week is coming to an end. It's been good but I'm exhausted and I've said 'I'm getting too old for this' a few too many times. 

That's not to imply I haven't had a lot of fun, and I know that I'm not really too old for all this. The night before this particular outfit was especially fun. I had a very belated birthday celebration with my uni friends. Yes, I know my birthday was ages ago now. No, that doesn't stop me celebrating it weeks after the fact. Somewhere along the way I became one of those annoying birthday-loving people, and I've just come to embrace it.