Inspiration Time

I've been away from blogging for a few months. Simply because, for a while I lost the inspiration to blog. Aside from that my personal style altered quite a bit in terms of the way I shop. I'd have days where I just want to get up and throw on a pair of jeans and a T. I was getting really bored with my wardobe and cleared out about 60% of it. I threw away clothes that I would take one look at and feel, not ill as such, but sometimes I felt so deressed about some clothing choices I had made that it made me want to cry a bit. And as much as I love clothes I never really realised until recently that a persons wardrobe choices could make you feel that way. Even down to a simple t-shirt or a pair of denim shorts. I am still picking things out every couple of days that I throw in a bag, destined to never be worn again. I discarded of about 30 pairs of shoes and quite a few bags as well. I took some time to ajust or fix the things that I wanted to keep that needed repair. I lost a bit of weight as well so some things either had to go or needed taking in. At first I thought looking into a fairly empty wardrobe would scare me but instead I saw it as the perfect blank canvas for rebuilding a closet that would enspire to be happy with whatever I decided to wear on any given day of the week. 

I then made a long list of peices that I needed to make looking into my own wardrobe more ispiring to me. These things included bright coloured blazer jackets, different colour and printed jeans, smart cigarette shape trousers, large scarves in different patterns and fabrics and statement necklaces. Sounds easy right? However I got into a bad habit of thinking that if I didn't have it I wouldn't bother wearing it. For example; for work I don't really wear any nice pieces of jewellery, a chunky bangle or a big neclace, because they get damaged. So becasue I wouldn't wear them then why  bother buying them? So when I deleted that large chunk of my wardrobe that was holding me back I took the plunge and went and bought some big, bright, fun necklaces. And when I go out for anything other than work, I put one on.

I've also spent quite a bit of my spare time flicking through magazines and looking at street style blogs. I am back to shopping like an addict but this time round my wardrobe looks so different and even thought I am happy with it, I could still do with more. More lux t's, more flat shoes in different colours, more belts, just more. So here are some of the pictures that have not only inspired my to change my style but change the way I shop and look at clothes.....

 Chiara from The Blonde Salad

Christine Centenera

Emmanuel Alt

Karla from Karla's Closet

Miroslava Duma

 

 Olivia Palermo

Viviana Volpicella

Cas
XXX

(photo credits; style snooper dan, the blonde salad, karlas closet, tumblr, random google searches)
 

Decisions, decisions: RED OR BLACK?

When the new ASOS magazine landed on my doorstep the other day I was eager, as always to start flicking through it. I came across a pair of wedges in a shoot that I instantly fell in love with and after learning that they cost only £45 I went straight online to start my quest of owning them. That was for the silver metalic pair... when I got there I found that they also came in red and black. 

Dilema time. What pair shall I treat myself too? The Red? Or the Black? I even have my eye on the silver pair!! I've had to give it some serious consideration and have come to the conclusion that it's only "my right to shoes" to own all three colours. However the bank account harldy allows me to order all three in one go so what colour should, or needs to come first? 

While I have lots of black, at this moment in time it goes more with what I'm wearing than both the red or silver. But when I think about the sort of clothes I will be wearing as spring and summer finally arrive the red AND silver speak volumes!! Considering the height of the wedge and the t-bar style of the shoe these things are going with everything from floaty dresses to light cigarette pants. I'm gonna need help!!!

XXX

New in: STUDDED COLLAR SHIRT

 

I found this little gem on ebay. It doesnt have a brand or any labels or anything it just fits so well. It arrived in the post and I spend the rest of the evening when I got home from work pairing it with nearly everything already hanging in my wardrobe and imagining what it would look llike with other things on my shopping wish list. 

I have gone a bit crazy with blouses, tops and shirts with amazing collars recently. so wearable now and so wearable in 6 months!!! Throw it on over a white bandau with jeans or tuck into cute shorts... easy peasy!!

XXX

Cold ears: BOBBLE BEANIE

I need a new beanie for this winter. Ive found a few that I really like across high street stores but when I noticed this one, in Topman of all places, I knew it was my favourite. Its soft, and the colours are cute. Don't care if its supposed to be sat ontop of  a guys head.

I think I will loosely curl my hair, with my black eye liner and my favourite red Mac lippie. Sorry guys, this beanie will look better of us girls this winter!

xxx

Day and Night: MAWI EARRINGS

Every woman has them, and every woman does it. I am referring to the simple wardrobe staples and the ability to dress them up for the night time and  dresss them down for the day. I, however do it with the majority of my wardrobe. I am talking maybe 85-90% of it. I can easily wear that tight bodycon dress that i wear out, during the day with some flat pumps, and oversized bag and a leather jacket, and wearing the high waisted shorts with a pair of skyscraper ankle boots rather than converse, is a simple and effective switch to make.

I have, however, realised that I don't apply the same dressing method to my jeans. Maybe cos I own two pairs of jeans, and rarely wear them. But since the cold weather has decended upon us, when walking my dog, I've both ruined my black skinnies and fallen back in love with them at the same time. I think some staple shopping is in order before christmas.

Anyway, this is, about a pair of earrings, I spotted whilst browsing mywardrobe.com. I have 5 days until payday so this is a ridiculously, silly thing to do. I create a mental list, by the time friday comes, I would have forgotten most of it.

A simple way to liven up your wardrobe staple jeans and t-shirt. For the day; Nike Blazers, Zara slouch bag. For Night; Zara studded leather clutch and suede Charlotte Olympia heels. Jeans are Topshop, t-shirt by Acne and MAWI earrings.

When I think about it I could probably very easily recreate these looks by delving into those monster wardobes I have.

If you ever have a spare afternoon, look through your wardrobe and start pairing things that you wouldnt normally wear together, with each other. Believe me its so easy and once I started doing it, it actually started changing the way I looked at pieces I wanted in the shops before buying them. If youve read back in this blog you'll know that, I can like an item of clothing, but as soon as I start building outfit ideas in my head thats when I fall in love with it.

XXX

Wishlist: ANKLE BOOT edit

I, like most women these days are addicted to ankle boots. I have a fair few pairs as it is but you can never have enough. In my opinion, one little detail, can make or break an outfit. Consider this, you create the perfect outfit in your head, with clothes you already own, with shoes that you already adore, but theres something missing.... I cant tell you how many times I've put together an outfit and thought, well that would look SO much better if that bag, had studds!

The same applies for shoes.... I might have to be a careful buyer but that doeesnt stop me wanting many variations of the same thing. Take for example; I have a pair of leopard print heels, from Office. They are a few years old, but I still love them like I did the day I saw them, but I bought a pair of heeled ankle boots as the variation. They are from Topshop, the print is almost identical as is the fact that they are both ponyskin. But sometimes the ankle boot looks better than the shoe and vice versa.

I'm babbling, my point here is; same boot, three colours? WHY NOT!!! We've all seen Sex and the City....It's a womans right to shoes, even if youre more into bags, or watches, or rings, every woman loves a shoe! I am no exception. I have run out of space, they fill the space under my bed, they are crammed in one of my three wardrobes and yet there are still boxes stacked in the corner and pairs lined up on top of magazines and books on shelves. I dare not count them.

This Christmas, the first thing on my whishlist (aside from a cream faux fur gilet for Topshop) is a new air of ankle boots. I've sub conciously sent the last few weeks noticing many pairs on my visits to shops, now there are far too many pairs for me to choose from! I am a little overwhelmed to say the least. will I choose, another black or brown pair, or maybe i'll go after a beautiful purple velvet pair with barouque stitching....(Or maybe i'll put them on my christmas list and see how lucky I get).

I've put together small edit of some of my favourites, and if any of my family manage to read this, take the hint, alright?

Topshop 'PRAIRIE 3' Black stitched velvet boots. Zara Cream boot with zip and red insert.Topshop 'ADIOS2' Black suede studded boot. Topshop 'AFLAME' Black suede studded boot. Topshop 'ADIOS' Brown Suede boot. Miss Selfridge Black simple harness boot. Topshop 'ANARCHY' brown western chelsea boot. Topshop 'ACCENT' navy stud cut out boot. Jeffery Campbell at office stud harness boots. Miss Selfridge 'Amelie' tan suede cowboy boot. Zara Cream studded ankle boot. Topshop 'AGGRO' black studded ankle boot. Jeffery Campbell at Office black leather Benetar ankle boot. Topshop 'PROUDLOCK' Premium black leather studded ankle boot. River Island brown square toe western akle boot.

Oh if I had the money there would be no complaints. Maybe I should start playing the lottery??

Which ones would you choose? Help a girl out here!!

XXX

Step ON

Can't stop thinking about these Zara beauties!!! I'm thinking at the end of the week I'm going back in for them. With the crappy weather we are having at the moment I need something to brighten up my day. Problem is though, which colour?! And at £30 a pop, anything could happen.

Xxx

Without a Pair of

I don't own  pair of trousers! Not a joke and no, I dont walk around in just tops and no bottoms. But I am trouserless. Have been for quite few years. Last pair of trousers I owned were black high waisted and tapered. But I always felt that they didn't flatter me, however much I loved them. Since then I have lost all interest in buying trousers because I felt they just didn't suit me. But I lost weight, and think I'd feel more confident in them again now.  In the last few weeks my eyes have been widely open to the large range of really nice trousers in the shops recently and I am ready to go and try on many pairs. My Secont point is I dont have much print in my life and I thought now would be an excellent time to change that.

So to mark this (fairly large, for me at least) occassion I decided to create an "edit" of sorts (well Zara and Topshop) of the pairs of trousers that in the next week I shall be hunting down and sliding my legs into.


First up: TOPSHOP (obviously)

 

Zara

I shall be wearing these with clashing prints or simple neutral tones. This Spring/ Summer is a perfect time to try something new, and prints and trousers/ printed trousers are the way I am choosing to go.

So go on try something completely un-you this spring. The sun is out. Enjoy.

xxx

Oooh it's a FESTIVAL

I woke up this morning from a fairly disturbing dream where I was leaving for a festival to realise that me an my friend had no money, no food, no idea what clothes we had packed because our mums packed them for us (why in the hell!!??), was seriously running late for our train, no alcohol and ciggarettes, no wellies, AND NO TENT!!!! So not surprisingly I have my festival going bug back and it's time to search for a new tent. Instead however I find myself looking for the things that make the weeked go slightly mad. I am talking about brightly coloured fethers (I had so many tied in my hair last year), false eyelashes, and most imporantly and ANIMAL HOOD!!! I discovered MERRIMAKING at last years Secret Garden Party and created a sizeable list of animals that I wanted to wear on my head. Leopard, Tiger (even thought i bought a tiger one for a friends birthday present and then immediately borrowed for my own head), snow fox, red panda, giraffe, monkey, a deer (with antlers and all) and a Parrot.

You can't really tell what it looks like, it's a dark photo with an instagram effect on it. But go and have a look at last years photos.

Now, I'm off to actually look for a tent, that dream scared the crap out me!!!

Have fun!

xxx

Primark Suprise

I don't often go in Primark, unless its for tights and socks and the occasional vest. But I was having a proper look around one busy day after work and came across these two gems.

The first one I am sure some of you have seen before on other blogs but I really like it, and now it comes in other colours I might just have to go back and get them.

With the second one, I fell in love with the cuffs. There are these big floppy white bows attatched to them and the top is very floaty. I havent worn it yet but I will do soon.

I might have to investigate primark more often.

xxx

I'll Bring you Flowers....London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week started today and Topshop have launched Mary Katrantzou's third and new collaboration, the majority of which disappeared within moments and sold out online when it went live at midnight. Alongside that Topshop celebrated 10 years of NEWgen which was launched in 2002 as a platform for emerging British design talent. In recent years some of these designers have created small collections for Topshop, this has given those of us who have a great love of fashion but who's pockets might not go that deep a chance to own a designer piece.

Today I headed towards Oxford Circus to pick up one of these beauties!!!

However by the time I had arrived it was completely sold out. Gone! BYE BYE!! It upset me more than I thought it would have and got me down for quite some time. I found myself going on a mini rampage in search of one. But patience is a virtue and after keeping my eye open for hours, one popped up in front of me when I'd almost given up hope and stopped looking.

It came in it's own drawstring bag and I can't wait to wear it!! And I shall try and quit going on about Mary K for a while. Well until her new collection shows this week.

Enjoy Fashion Week lovelies.

xxx