Baby, it's cold outside...

The smell of bonfires in the crisp cold air, the crunch of burnt orange leaves under your feet, the feeling of soft warm socks and woolly scarves... there's not much I love more than this time of year. It is time to embrace the cold.

What better way to celebrate the start of the chilly season than to welcome a new winter coat into your wardrobe.. and there certainly isn't a lack of choice in the UK highstreet at the moment! So, which to pick?...

TOPSHOP CAPE

I've already banged on about how big blanket capes are this season so I don't need to tell you why I love this topshop one.. I just do! Pull out the mustard tones with a yellow bobble hat!

ZARA CAMEL COAT

Camel coats are always classic, play with the simplicity by adding contrasting printed accessories - I love these leopard print boots from New Look & Striped hat from Wommelsdorff.

WHITEPEPPER DUSTER COAT

The duster jacket is another big trend this autumn winter, it sits about mid shin and is quite light weight. This one from The Whitepper is a delightful ice blue colour and looks great with a pop of colour.

MAKO BLACK COAT

Keep it grunge with this hooded piece from Ma-Ko, the layered arms add extra detail and interest. I love maroon at this time of the year so can't go wrong with a wine-stain-red beanie and biker boots!

RIVER ISLAND SHEARLING COAT

Make like Penny Lane and rock a shearling coat this winter, just add simple accessories and care free curly hair and you are good to go and dance with the band!

COS BOYFRIEND COAT

Another modern day classic is the oversized boyfriend coat, I love the way this coat and bright red hat reminds me of the Wes Anderson film The Life Aquatic...look it up!

All woolly accessories in this post are from knitwear brand Wommelsdorff - Check them out here. 

All Boots are from New Look - Check them out here.

Xxxx

Trick or Treat - Halloween Costume Ideas!

Mary Poppins - Just grab: A white shirt, a black midi skirt, a black hat, an umbrella and a red bow or ribbon and TADA. You shall be heel clicking and singing all hallow long!

French Clown (Pierrot) - Ok maybe a little more preparation needed - create a ruffle, which can be made of paper (see here ) Just grab: Anything white and floaty (a white maxi dress or white baggy shirt and trousers), Your pre-made ruff collar, paint face white and draw on sad eyebrows and tears with a black eyeliner pencil. Voila! 

Minnie Mouse - Just grab: Red Dress, White frilly ankle socks, black shoes, Make some minnie mouse ears by putting your hair into two top buns (see here), add a red bow to your new hairdo and lastly add a little mouse nose with a black eyeliner pencil and you're all set! 

I hope you like my halloween costume ideas, it's my (2nd - lets not get too excited here , it ain't no Christmas) favourite time of the year! I am not sure if I will even be attending any halloween occasions this year ( I shall mostly be spending my time singing along in a loud voice to this) but if I do I certainly will be choosing one of the above! What's your favourite? 

xxx

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Truly Transitional - The Maxi Dress

(all clothing in this post can be found on the topshop website!) 

The classic black maxi dress is a staple in most women’s wardrobes, with sandals and a sunkissed glow it gets us through many-a summer holiday! However, continuing with the theme of transitional dressing I wanted to show how I will be styling my plain black maxi to work for autumn and winter.

For autumn I went for a casual look, pair your maxi with a statement sweater to give it a sporty looking edge.  Slip on trainers are everywhere this season  and I love this faux furry pair from Topshop! To add a pop of colour to the outfit I decided to add a bright pink lip - if this is too daring for you try a nude gloss. 

When winter draws in its time to pile on the thick wooly jumpers, black tights and hand cream! There’s no reason why you can’t wear your maxi as a skirt in winter, it makes a nice change from the same old black jeans. Just pull on a thick jumper, and layer with tights for extra warmth I love this bag & boots combo - both Topshop, they match brilliantly and can be worn with almost any colour.

Well, that's all for now folks! So don't pack away that summer maxi just yet! 

LOVE

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Truly Transitional...

A switch in seasons means it’s time to change up & refresh your wardrobe and buy some new key pieces, as I highlighted in my previous post. However, if you are anything like me you'll find it’s a bit hard to let go of those last summer pieces and pack them up for the year. So, I have come up with a few ways to transition some classic summer garments for the colder months!  Starting with the simple floral sundress…

(All garments in this post are from New Look)

In the summer this dress was beautiful worn with bare legs and brown leather sandals but as the leaves turn brown it is time to add a few extra layers for warmth. Autumn is the perfect opportunity to layer your summer pieces, a simple white shirt looks great under a floral dress and a cardigan adds a little warmth but won't overheat you!

As winter draws in you needn't pack away that old floral dress. The fashion pack have created a trend called ‘Winter Florals’ the means you can't get away with flower prints all year round! Any floral print looks stylish as a skirt popping out of a thick jumper.  Pairing your dress with socks, boots and an oversized trilby hat conjures images of Sienna Miller & KeiraKnightley in the film The Edge of Love. 

Well, that's all for now folks, next Saturday watch out for the next post in the 'transitional pieces' series all about styling the maxi dress through autumn & winter!! 

XXXXXX

LOVEEEEE

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Raindrops on Roses & Whiskers on Kittens..

Ok, so I am a little late to the game to call these August favourites as we are already on our way through September, however, these are a few of my favourite things from the last month or so...

BEAUTY

The Naked palettes.. I couldn't be later to this party, there was cake..balloons...pass the parcel.. I missed it all! The naked palettes have been a cult beauty favourite since the naked 1 was released in 2010 (I did have to google it, I am not that obsessive). I have heard almost every beauty youtuber talk about them, read every beauty bloggers adoring reviews and finally... years later... I got my hands on them (as an amazing birthday present from my parents.. What a lucky girl I am!) 

If you don't know anything about them the naked palettes are a selection of wearable matte and metallic eyeshadows based on urban city colours...Ok, it sounds boring but I promise you its divine! The shadows blend beautifully and I am yet to find a colour that I don't like on my lids! My only problem with these two new arrivals in my life is how overwhelmingly amazing they are.. I can't choose which ones I want to wear each morning! What a lovely problem to have :).

WEAR

(Jumper - Mango, Shoes - River Island, Trousers - Topshop Shirt - Topshop)

Another one from my birthday (the post will be full of them I'm afraid) is this amazing new outfit I chose on a birthday shopping outing with Will. With autumn fast approaching I have decided I want a smarter, more classic wardrobe.. after pinning a few too many photographs of Alexa Chung and Audrey Hepburn in cigarette pants,loafers and crisp white shirts I went and got my own (well Will treated me ;) Birthday Girl that I was!). The trousers were featured in my last post about AW 2014 trends and they are the perfect fit, the shirt had to be mine the moment I laid eyes on it in Topshop and the shoes...well.. I have been searching for the perfect pair of smart loafers for quite some time and having tried on almost every pair on the highstreet I decided on these babies from River Island! The patent isn't too shiny which is nice but makes the shoes look smart and put together and I'm a sucker for a tassel!

EAT

(Bonedaddies www.bonedaddiesramen.com/menus/ramen/) 

On my birthday ( Ok Dusk we get it! It was your birthday!!!) I went out to dinner with the fam and I had to chose a place vaguely central as at the  moment we are all spread out over London and it makes it easier to meet in the middle! I have a pretty unhealthy obsession with noodle soup and on hearing about Bonedaddies ramen from a certain beauty youtuber (Essiebutton) I knew I had to go and try it out & this was the perfect opportunity. 

The restaurant has more of a fast food (in a Wagamamas way not a Mcdonalds way) feel to it with communal seating and high tables. The music was loud and rock-y in a good way that made it feel very youthful & exciting and the food was just...ucccch..I can't even.. so, so good. If you are a fan of ramen you will absolutely love it! I got the edamame beans (yum) the T22 Ramen which included shredded chicken and chicken scratchings (like pork scratching but YUMMY) as well as a nice pile of vegetables plus an extra helping of Nori!  I can't recommend this place enough, just go! 

ACCESSORIZE

After pinning this backpack and then blogging about it my brother & his girlfriend cleverly gifted it to me and what a happy bunny I was to receive it. This backpack still looks smart and put together but has a fun 'back to school' style feel to it.

SEE

(photo taken from V&;A website , see more here: http://bit.ly/1gwRVKQ)

I was lucky enough to get to see the Wedding Dresses exhibition at the V&A with Wills mum, sister and my mum last month. The exhibition shows the changing style & traditions in wedding attire through the ages which as a fashion graduate I found fascinating. There was also a selection of famous dresses from either specific designers or famous owners (Kate Moss' is even more beautiful in person then in picture just fyi). Even if you are not that interested in weddings then I would say you will still enjoy looking at the shapes, construction & history behind the garments. I myself have an interest in both! 

Well, that's all for now folks! How was your August? Are you looking forward to autumn or dreading it? 

XXXXXX

LOVEEEEE

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From Catwalk To Highstreet - How To Style AW14 Trends

Hey guys,

Today's post is an update on all the fashion trends that are trickling down from the catwalks to the highstreet for autumn/winter 2014!

Capes, cloaks & oversized scarves At Burberry they were giant scarves draped over models shoulders with initials emblazoned across them, at Valentino they were of fairytale proportions and scattered with embroidered butterflies, at Mcqueen trimmed with black fur or splattered with otherworldly colours and patterns.. You can’t avoid the cape this year. Echo Burberry with this Asos tartan number and hit two trends with one stone 

Pale pink  I’m sure you had to living under a rock to not realise the pastel pink coat trend last winter!  Even M&S had one (It was gorgeous btw.. don't judge a shop by its dowdy reputation!) This autumn/ winter history repeats itself - not only in the form of deliciously soft rosy wool coats but also in candy pink patent skirts and strawberry ice cream coloured fluffy jumpers. I for one am happy to take the springtime pastels trend on early and make like Cara at the Chanel Supermarket show… (Look it up). This pink coat is actually from Primark and costs a mere 25 pounds.. meaning it's you can try out the trend without breaking the bank!

Smarten Up We British girls are well known for our quirky and slightly scruffy fashion choices, and that is something I am proud to admit! However, this season sees a change in the air, as a smarter look is donned by the British fashion & blogger clique. Referencing Alexa Chung’s ‘geek chic’ (as if the phrase wasn’t overused enough) - cropped cigarette pants have shown up all over the high street and shirt collars pop out of adorable knit jumpers everywhere I turn. We do the ‘smart look’ with our own fashion ingenuity sewn in - although still a bit scruffy around the edges inevitably!  

Fluffy fuzzy furry Well, even if you missed the pale pink trend last year you can’t possibly have passed by the fuzzy jumper trend! This year fluff is back with a vengeance... Bunny-like jumpers and shearling coats meet faux fur gilets and shaggy wool collars! Snuggly Cosiness awaits us ladies! See this Whistles faux fur jacket as your introduction to the furry trend.

60’s Mod Louis Vuitton showed perfect A-line shift dresses, knee high patent boots and polo necks. The prints at Valentino were unmistakably bold and Mod inspired. I am particularly happy this seasons’ inspiration comes from my favorite era the 1960's! Pointed 60s flats and loafers are also having a comeback and can be seen in a lot of the new highstreet collections. This pointed flat/loafer hybrid from River Island is perfect to wear with your new Topshop cigarette pants! 

Well, that is all for now folks you can find all the links for the pieces in this post below so...happy shopping I guess! This post will also be featured on The Chiswick Herald newspaper as my first fashion feature so pop over and give the website a little look over if you are interested!

| Fuz coat - Whistles | Pink Coat - Primark | Silver Loafers - R.Island |  Pants -Topshop | Cape - Asos |

XXXXXX

LOVEEEEE

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Marché Aux Légumes

Hey Guys,

One last Summer post before the sunshine leaves London? I think so.. especially seeing as the sun has decided to show it's face this week!!

These pictures were taken on my recent trip to France. Will and I were told by a friendly campsite owner to go past the town of Chartres and check out the vegetable market and cathedral. If there's one thing we love it's a good market and we were certainly not disappointed! After picking up some delicious fruit and veg to cook with and a big ol' box of olives (Will doesn't even like olives..I ate them ALL! Mwhaha), we wandered around the town and when I saw the beautiful gardens around the cathedral I insisted on posing outside (with a baguette and a plastic bag full of market loot!) for these pictures haha, who could resist?

Before my trip I was on the hunt to find... 'the perfect pair of shorts' (DUH DUH DUUUH) - this meant - not too short that they reveal my bottom and not too long either! On a fleeting trip to a very busy & stressful Oxford Circus I happened upon the quiet and calming oasis that is Next.. I never normally pop into Next as I assume it isn't my style but I happened to pick out quite a few pieces I liked and in the end left with these blue pattern shorts.. not too long, not too short.. just right!

The shirt was also found on the same dreaded Oxford Circus trip, this time in my new favourite shop Mango (check out their new AW collection - it's diviiiine). I often find shirts come in a rough polyester-y fabric that always tends to be too see through, however this one was..just right!

I topped off the outfit with my trusty Birkenstock dupes from Primark which saw me through thick & thin (torrential rain & boiling sun) on my holiday, not bad for 5 pounds!!

That's all for now folks, look out for a 'AW Highstreet picks' coming this weekend!

What was your favourite part of your Summer? Leave a comment telling me, lets get talking!!

XXXXXX

LOVEEEEE

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Recent Vintage Finds

Hey guys,

This post is to show you the little vintage bits & pieces I have picked up recently :) I thought this was a nice way to incorporate my vintage obsession into my blog!

 First up is this gorgeous pink dress - circa 1950's. I bought this off a really sweet lady in the weekly car boot sale near our flat in East London, she was so nice and I couldn't pass it up, it is the perfect midi length too! Now I just need an occasion worthy enough of it!

Next is this turquoise midi skirt from a charity shop, I reckon this is probably 80's but I shall hopefully be styling it in true '50's Dior New Look' fashion :). It is such a lovely 'on trend' piece that will blend very well with my 'uk highstreet' wardrobe! I am imagining it with a striped breton tee, little white sandals and red lips..what an outfit!

 Next up is this little froggy!! My mum picked this up at a car boot sale recently and I am in love, he is sooo cute! It says 'rings&thing' inside his mouth so clearly that is what I shall be storing in him. He fits in perfectly on my dressing table full of vintage bowls laden with fake jewels and other random trinkets :)

Last of all, I picked up these white heeled sandals in Beyond Retro's newly named 'Outlet Store' on brick lane. I picked them up expecting that they were going to be full price and was pleasantly surprised when my boyfriend pointed out they were actually 70% off!! Amazing!

Do you like vintage shopping? If so, what's your favourite places to go?

I hope you liked this post! I will be attending the 'Vintage Furniture Flea' by Judy's Affordable Vintage next week so expect a post all about my day there! :)

LOVEEEEEEEEE

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Modern Day Audrey

Today's post is a style stealer. I'm going to show how I would style clothes from the UK highstreet to get a Modern day Audrey Hepburn look! I've styled three looks each based on an Audrey Hepburn classic film :) Hope you like!

Rather than take the classic black and pearls outfit from the film I chose my personal favourite, this magnificent pink ensemble! Hepburn pulls off this all pink outfit with princess like perfection!

Rose print dress - Topshop

Neon pink blazer - Topshop

Spiked headband - Asos

Hot pink skater dress - Oasis

Pastel pink peplum blazer - Boohoo

Pastel pink heels - Boohoo

Diamanté hair pin - Asos

Pastel pink lace socks - Topshop

I've chosen a selection of pieces from high street brands. The loud print on this Topshop classic prom dress really modernises a classic shape, pair with a neon blazer and a spiked tiara headband to add edge! 

If you are looking for a more authentic Hepburn look, the pastel look is probably for you, I've chosen a skater shape hot pink dress and to set it off a cute pastel pink blazer with a peplum waist. Accessorise with a pair of chunky sandal heels, wear lace socks under these to add even more sweetness! 

I love this film so much, and this outfit is so amazing and simple!

Cropped polo neck - Topshop

Black and white panel midi skirt - Topshop

White socks - Topshop

Platform loafers - Underground @Topshop

Black flat jelly loafers - Office

Loafer wedges - Nine West @KurtGeiger

For this outfit I've chosen a Topshop sleeveless cropped polo neck (it is just like the American Apparel one but a fraction of the price!) and a midi skirt to modernise the look a bit. The skirt has a white panelling detail along the sides which helps tie in the white socks better!

 I've given three different options for shoes depending on how daring you're feeling.. If you are feeling mighty daring perhaps these huge Underground platform loafers are for you? I think they would look so cool with this sleek body fitting look! If, however, you are looking for a more classic, comfortable look, I would go for the  plain black Jelly loafer, these are only £28 from office and look very cute with the white sock. Last of all is the wedge loafers, for extra height and to keep your body looking tip top whilst wearing such a figure hugging outfit! 

The 'Sailing' Sabrina look!

Shirt - h&m

Cotton shorts - h&m

Denim Shorts - h&m

Plimsolls - h&m

Cork flatforms - h&m

Not much modernising to be done here, such a great summer outfit!

 I chose to select items purely from h&m for this look as its a great place to shop for summer basics!

 I chose a check print shirt, be sure to do the buttons up halfway and tie at the waist a'la Audrey! I've given two different options for shorts, cotton or denim and two different options for shoes.. if you are actually on a boat maybe go for the cute classic plimsolls but I think these cork and white flatforms are so lovely! 

That's all folks! Hope you liked this blogpost, make sure to comment (or follow!) if you did! I'll be back soon with a Marilyn inspired outfit post! 

LOVE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Full outfit

cross back

rings from Topshop and bracelet from Kukee.co.uk

ear/hair piece - Kukee.co.uk

I'm wearing a maxi dress again! Surprise Surprise! I added a jersey tank top tied at the middle, keeping the outfit casual. However, the main reason for this outfit post is to show this amazing jewelry from Kukee.co.uk, I got two bangles - one gold one silver and they are amazing to just throw on with an outfit to make it look a bit more fashion-y and special, plus they are sooo shiny!

Best of all is this ear/hair cuff which has a comb piece on the end of the chains to put into your hair! It's so great because it makes a plain,boring bun into something cool and punky! I'm obsessed, plus they are selling similar ones on ASOS.com for much more money. I strongly recommend you have a look on Kukee.co.uk for cheap, fashion forward and amazing jewlery!

In Other News 

I found these two LIFE magazine specials in a book shop in Golders Green the other day and I love them. They are full of amazing behind the scene and Iconic pictures of the two beautiful stars and make great coffee table books,plus I got them for £3.99 each! Bargain! :)

LOVE

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In This Outfit:

Jersey tank top - H&M

Plain cross back maxi dress - ASOS

jeweled sandals - Primark

bangle and ear/haircuff- Kukee.co.uk

rings -Topshop

Sunnies - Topshop