OUTFIT | #68

dress: ASOS; shoes: Office

Posing for outfit pictures is hard. I am no model. I am not a contestant on ANTM. There is no repertoire of broken-down-doll pose variants under my belt. So sometimes (okay, a lot of the time) I find myself reusing the same old poses again and again. The two above seem to be cropping up a lot on the blog of late. There is the ubiquitous hand-on-hip and, of course, the looking-at-my-shoes (Or, in this case, showing-you-my-roots. The time to re-dye my hair is nigh, it would appear) which is perfect for days when your face just isn't the camera's best friend. It happens. 

I own this dress in a floral print too but this is the first time I'd worn the coral version. It was my baby brother's 1st birthday over the weekend and we had a party with friends and family. There was a lot of food, a lot of booze and a whole lot of cake. (The theme was Under The Sea, hence the various fondant sea creatures)

OUTFIT | #67

top: American Eagle; shorts: Zara; bag: H&M; shoes; necklace: Topshop; bracelet: Unknown; watch: Sekonda

I took these pictures the day before I flew out to the US to visit family for a few weeks and I honestly can't remember what I did that day or any of the commentary I probably had in mind about this outfit. Oops. Bad blogger. I had meant to post it days ago but travelling across timezones tends to leave me  disoriented for a while and I've been trying to settle back into routine and not wake up at 5am every day, thanks jet lag. 

I do remember that it was warm when I wore this though and, if nothing else, I would have been packing my suitcase with last minute things and checking my packing list. (I still managed to forget my eyeliner and eyebrow brush though, despite my meticulous list-making skills)

TRAVELS | Latitude 2012

I volunteered at Latitude festival this year. I've never really been one for the whole festival thing before. It's always seemed like a bit too much money to drop on one weekend. Free is free though, and I had a fantastic time, despite all the mud. I took some disposable cameras with me to get snaps of the experience. No outfit shots though; I don't really do 'festival fashion'. I wore the same pair of shorts and wellies with a hoody for several days. It was so not glam, especially when combined with the lack of hot showers.

Volunteering for most of the day did mean I missed a few acts I wanted to see (I am forever a bit sad that I didn't get to see how bad Lana Del Rey is live firsthand), but I got over it. I would wake up early, get my work out of the way for the day and then come back to the staff campsite, have a few drinks with my fellow volunteers and head out to the forest to dance until the early hours. All in all, not a bad way to spend a few days. 

OUTFIT | #66

dress: GAP; necklace: Topshop; watch: Sekonda; flats: Tory Burch

No, I didn't wear this to my own graduation lunch. I am still very much a university student, with just a few months to go until I begin my second year (a.k.a the year when grades start to count towards my degree, terrifying) of study. One of my closest friends graduated this week and I went to lunch with her and her family.

I have to admit, I had no idea how fancy I should dress for such an occasion. My favourite blazer was too warm for this odd, muggy July weather and all of my other options made me look like I was going for a job interview. Not exactly the look I was after. So I went for the old 'throw on a statement necklace' trick instead. I would have worn heels with this (preferably my newest pair) but, as I mentioned in my last post, my ankle's still sore from a fall a few weeks ago so I opted for flats so I didn't cripple myself. 

OUTFIT | #65

dress: Topshop; boots: River Island; lips: Topshop 'All About Me'

If you follow me on Twitter, you might know that I've been nursing a sore ankle for a few weeks now. To make a long story short, I fell off a pavement in some very high heels on a night out and have been suffering the consequences of my (somewhat drunken) actions ever since. Today I tried to see if my poor ankle, no longer swollen and bruised, was able to get back in the saddle, so to speak, and suffer through heels again. Alas, even my old faithful River Island chelsea boots were too much. I immediately took the shoes off after I took these pictures because my ankle had begun to complain. So dramatic. 

I am loving my newest addition to my leopard print dress collection. A part of me wants to keep buying them until I have one for every day of the week, but that might be bordering on the ridiculous (Although therein lies half the appeal) I threw it on today to get a few odd jobs done, including developing my disposable cameras from Latitude. Maybe, if the pictures aren't too awful, I'll scan a few and share them. Half of them are from seeing Bon Iver on the main stage. We were literally 5 rows from the front. It was the best.

RECENT PURCHASES | Summer Treats

dress, necklace: Topshop; heels: H&M

Generally speaking, I'm good with money. This summer I've been doing a few odd jobs to earn a bit of cash to fund various holidays and days out with friends and generally scraping by. Recently though, I was feeling a bit rubbish so I decided to indulge in a spot of retail therapy and stop watching my pennies quite so closely, if only for a day. I'd had my eye on some bits for a while so I went ahead and got them for myself. 

Most notably the shoes. They're not what I typically go for (read: they're colourful) and yet, that's what makes them so appealing. The dress, on the other hand, is very much my usual. I've bought 3 leopard print dresses in the space of as many months; I'm beginning to acquire quite a collection. This one was tucked away in the corner of the Topshop sale, overlooked because it has so many buttons. On a playsuit, that would be problematic (undoing 20 fiddly buttons when you're desperate for the loo is never fun) but with a dress, I can cope. Just before I headed to the till with the dress, I spotted a little silver and gold necklace. Mixed metals, done right. So I snapped that up too in the spirit of carpe diem, and all that.

OUTFIT | #64

shirt, dress, belt: Topshop; necklace: H&M; loafers: Urban Outfitters; bracelets: I have no idea; nails: No7 'Cheeky Chops'

I know what you're thinking, isn't that the dress from my last post? Yes, it is indeed. It's just worn a slightly different way. I even took the pictures on the same day. What can I say? I'm trying to pad out the blog with some regularly scheduled updates while I'm away working for the next week and at a music festival. 

This sundress gets a lot of wear in the summertime. It's the first thing I reach for if it's nice outside. When I don't just stick it on with some sandals, plain and simple, I like to pair it with denims. It goes really well with a denim jacket (although, let's be honest, what doesn't?) but, to spare spamming the blog with pictures of me in denim jackets lately, here's a denim shirt instead. Same deal, a little bit more flow-y and lightweight. Plus a belt. I try not to be one of those people who put belts on everything, like in those awful makeover shows (There is such a thing as too many belts!) But for once, I felt like I needed one with this outfit.

OUTFIT | #63

 

dress: Topshop; necklace: H&M; loafers: Urban Outfitters; bracelets: They were gifts or something, idk

It can be difficult to make an outfit that feels 'put together' when wearing a sundress. They don't always tuck into other items of clothing well and when it's hot, all thoughts of layering go out the window anyway. If it's over 24 degrees Celsius, I'm thinking about wearing as little clothing as I can get away with. Not putting more on. Sometimes I feel like a bit of a cop out posting pictures of me just wearing a dress and some shoes, with potentially a small amount of jewellery. Like 'Hey guys, I'm wearing a dress! That's it, k bye now'. But whatever. I post pictures of what I wear. And in the summer I wear sundresses. (I feel like I need a sassy dealwithit.gif here)

OUTFIT | #62

 

blouse: Uniqlo; shorts: H&M; sandals: Topshop; watch: Citizen

This outfit was totally inspired by a Polyvore that Days of Dane posted a while ago. While I don't have any white shorts (I'm too prone to spilling things on myself to own white clothing), my old faithful yellow pair did the trick. Those sandals she posted, on the other hand, I am totally lusting after. They have that whole ugly yet cute (and moreover, comfortable) thing that I kind of love. No doubt they'll pop up on a wishlist at some point in the near future. 

As you read this, I'm probably freaking out and packing to go to my first music festival (I know, I'm such a square) Well, technically it's not my first. But it's definitely my first time doing the whole camping thing at a festival. That should be ...interesting. I consider myself a pretty adept packer but this feels a bit out of my league. At least I can't cock everything up by forgetting my passport again this time! 

LIPSTICK | All-Time Favourites

If you know me, or have seen my make up collection, you will be aware I am somewhat of a lipstick fanatic. I own nearly 40, which seems a tad ridiculous even to me. I do wear them all though and I don't buy colours that look similar to ones I already own. You will not find a million shades of nude in my lipstick drawer. Bright oranges, a whole lot of reds and a few dark purples, however? Definitely. I tend to subscribe to the 'Go bold or go home' sentiment when it comes to my lips. There are a few (six, in fact) lipsticks that, I admit, I do favour above the rest though. 

l-r: Topshop Lips in All About Me; NYX Round Lipstick in Doll

TOPSHOP LIPS IN 'ALL ABOUT ME'
This lipstick was actually free with a Topshop.com purchase I made a few months ago. I found out about the deal on their Facebook page and while I have no idea what clothes I bought in the order, this lipstick immediately became one of my absolute favourites. It's super bright, with a slight blue tone so it doesn't make your teeth look yellow. I like to pull this one out when I'm feeling a bit under the weather (or hungover, it happens) to make myself look a little more alive and kicking.

NYX ROUND LIPSTICK IN 'DOLL'
NYX products are basically impossible to find in the UK but I bought a bulk lot of 10 lipsticks on eBay last summer. This one is the best of the bunch, in my opinion. Sometimes the quality of these Round Lipsticks can vary (three words: chunky glitter EVERYWHERE) but Doll is a staple everyday colour for me. It's a good fit between the more subdued nude or mauve shades and a brighter red lip.

l-r: Revlon Super Lustrous Creme Lipstick in Cherries in the Snow; Rimmel Colour Show Off Lipstick in Shake Up Pink

REVLON LIPSTICK IN 'CHERRIES IN THE SNOW'
I tend to think of this as my 'special occasion' lipstick. I wore it for the first time on my 17th birthday and now I always reach for it on holidays and for parties. The wear time on this lipstick is incredible; with a good lipliner, I barely need to reapply it throughout the day. I don't tend to be concerned with certain lipsticks for certain seasons but this is definitely a good all-rounder: bright enough for summer and cool-toned enough that it suits a wintry look too.

RIMMEL LIPSTICK IN 'SHAKE UP PINK'
Pinks don't tend to be my thing. I either don't like most of them or they don't suit me. I'm much more of a red or coral fan. This shade is one of my few exceptions. Rimmel never let me down when it comes to lipsticks, paired with Revlon, they're my go-to brand. I tend to wear this a lot on nights out when, let's face it, I want to look pretty hot but not deal with the lipstick-all-over-my-face situation that comes with more bold shades when you're drinking and dancing.

l-r: Revlon Lip Butter in Red Velvet; No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Romantic

REVLON LIP BUTTER IN 'RED VELVET'

I've mentioned this lipstick a few times before on the blog, but it remains one of my main loves. I actually have 2 tubes of it; I love it that much. Reds are probably my favourite lipstick shade and this is one I always get compliments on. It never fails to make me feel good about myself, even on days where I feel a bit drab. Plus I love the name. Now, if only I could find decent red velvet cake in the UK...

NO7 MOISTURE DRENCH LIPSTICK IN 'ROMANTIC'

This is the lone nude shade among my favourites, and really among my entire collection. For years I didn't do nude. It's only recently I've warmed up to the idea, although I still prefer my bolder colours. A lot of the supposed 'my lips but better' colours make me look like the walking dead. Romantic has a nice warm pink tone to it that doesn't wash me out. The packaging is really sleek and lovely too, which is a plus. I'd recommend picking it up with one of those £5 off No7 vouchers Boots are constantly giving away.

OUTFIT | #61

jacket: H&M; dress, bag: Zara; boots, necklace: River Island

Hey, are you sick of this denim jacket yet? No? Good, because I barely take it off these days. If I wasn't so poor right now, I'd buy it in another colour. And I'm really not that girl who buys things in multiple colours. My only regret is that I wish I'd got it in a size or two up. It fits well enough (perhaps a tad snug over bulkier things) but sometimes I feel it would look better a little bit oversized. When I bought it, it had been put on the wrong hanger and I didn't realise it was actually a few sizes smaller than I'd meant to buy. It's still one of my favourites though, so it worked out alright.

This outfit nearly didn't get posted. I took the pictures a week or so ago when I'd just bought my new Zara bag, to show its size and how I wear it on a day-to-day basis. Then I totally forgot about them until I was looking through my hard drive the other day. Oops! Being at home and not having any routine is starting to get to me. I struggle to remember what day of the week it is at times. God knows where I wore this, maybe out to drinks with friends? I've slept since then.

OUTFIT | #60

jacket, top, skirt: H&M; flats: Tory Burch; watch: Sekonda

Filing this one under 'obvious combinations that never occurred to me'. Seriously, these are all my most worn clothing items (as in I wear them all at least one or two times a week) and I don't think I've ever thought to put them together. What have I been doing with my life? I'm definitely adding this to my repertoire of simple (read: slightly dull) outfits to throw on when I can't think of anything else to wear. Unsurprisingly, it's all from H&M. Do I shop anywhere else?

After the 'Eureka!' moment I had when I threw this on, and thus created a brand new staple go-to outfit, I didn't do too much with my day. My sister and I took a really long, boring bus journey to a small town near where we live. We got an ice cream and looked at make-up in the local pharmacy. After realising we could walk the length of the town centre in 10 minutes, we got back on the bus and took the long, boring journey home. After that I ate a lot of Chinese food and watched Lars and the Real Girl. My life, ladies and gentlemen.

OUTFIT | #59

blazer, blouse: H&M; jeans, shoes: Topshop; watch: ASOS

The weather is muggy and I am struggling. How does one dress for 'muggy'? 23 degrees yet still overcast with a forecast of rain? I feel like a broken record constantly banging on about the weather but come on, what is this? It's not just affecting my outfit choices. Even typing this entry is made more difficult by this weather. Here's some behind the scenes information: I can't write these entries unless I have total silence. Music in the background, someone talking to me, any extraneous noises and I can't focus. Which means I can't have my fan on, despite the fact that my room feels like a sauna, because even that is too distracting.

Anyway, enough whining. I've been keeping myself busy since I've been home, seeing friends and running errands and the like. I wore this to have breakfast with some of my favourite hometown ladies (Wetherspoons Full English for £2.99? You can't beat it) The top (that I've already said is a firm summer favourite) and shoes were an attempt to look somewhat bright, despite the weird muggy-but-miserable weather. This is probably as close as I'll get to the whole neon for summer thing, unless it's on my nails. The black jeans, while very much within my comfort zone, did get a bit much after a while. I had to make a quick pitstop at home to switch them out for a maxi dress before going to the cinema in the afternoon.