Denim Dilemmas & Ochre | Next haul

 It's officially my favourite time of year!

Baggy jumper season is upon us and I couldn't be more thrilled.

Lets talk denim. Like most ladies, I find shopping for the perfect pair of jeans a nightmare! Previously I have been a lover of New Look and Dorothy Perkins jeans because of their lower end price and decent fit. However I've recently gone off the fit of DPs and I'm finding New Looks to be hit and miss, especially with the lengths in their petite ranges for both brands. I have VERY short legs, and find that in most brands even petite isn't short enough. For instance in Newlook, I get petite ankle grazers - which still fit me past the ankle!

This time I have tried Nexts petite range of jeans - These were just £18 each making them cheaper on average than DPs and NL and they came in 6 different shades. I decided to order 3 pairs in a lighter washed blue, a mid-blue and a ripped style in black. As you can see from the photo above, they fit perfectly and are very comfortable! I'm so surprised that the length is actually perfect for me - No roll ups needed! I'm really pleased with my choice in colours too, I think they're all going to fit my autumn wardrobe perfectly, and I'll definitely be taking them away with me to Edinburgh later this month!

Big this season is the Ochre trend. You'll see lots of yellow toned products being pushed on most retailers websites and Next is no different. The colour itself sums up autumn, rich and suits almost everyone - Except me! I don't know if it's my hair colour, my skin tone or what, but yellow tones wash me out completely, so I have been at a loss as to how I can incorporate this gorgeous colour into my wardrobe. Until I saw these amazing patient loafers on the Next website - Footwear is a great way to add a pop of colour to your outfit and these look great with my new jeans & a chunky knit jumper. 

I actually own these shoes in patient black too, which I have had for a while, but I didn't know they came in other colours until I had a spot of online shopping last week. They also come in navy, berry and patterned dogtooth. 

I've been really impressed with Next recently. It is usually my go-to brand in the summer for cute cotton/linen basic dresses. However their autumn game has been strong this year and I'm looking forward to receiving another package soon featuring some teddy-borg cuteness and more chunky knits!

Stay tuned!

BOOHOO Curve LBD | OOTN

I love a good girls night, but like a lot of ladies hate trying to find that perfect outfit. I'm typically between a size 14/16 and petite, which usually makes finding dresses or jumpsuits a long slog through the high street. 

Dress £22| Shoes £22.99 | Necklace £22

This time round I decided to give BOOHOOs curve range a whirl. The curve and plus size section of the website has some fabulous dresses to choose from, taking my problem from not enough to too much choice! But eventually I went for the Plus Off The Shoulder Wrap Midi Dress loving the look of the tie waist and dropped shoulders. 

I'm pleased to say that the dress fit me like a glove and I felt absolutely fab all night! This is the first time I've worn a body con style dress in over 2 years and although at first I was worried the dress would be unflattering, it was surprisingly well made thick crepe material and didn't show off any lumps and bumps.  

I also had my hair curly blow dryed by the lovely Hair by Chantelle at Chloe Danielle Studios in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. This was an absolute god send, because I'm awful at styling my own hair and she made my hair bigger and bouncier than I ever could have! She specializes in gorgeous hairups and curly blow drys. 

Check her out on;

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Matalans Alder hey collaboration | #BeASuperstar2018

#BeASuperstar2018

Everyone loves a new pair of PJs and fresh bedding right? 

The #Superstars collection  in support of Alder Hey Children's Charity has launched from Matalan and this years theme couldn't be cuter!  (And super comfortable!)

The campaign - Fronted by Geordie babe Scarlett Moffatt landed online and in stores this week, with a size range of PJs to fit the whole family (Including the dog - Yes, that's right!)  This year the collection has grew to include bedding as well as a whole host of accessories from eye masks to cosy fluffy socks. 

In 2014 Matalan pledged to raise £1.5 million in 5 years for Alder hey. However, after such success with the 'Alphabet Scarfs' and 'Get spotted' campaigns the brand raised an impressive £2.1 million in 4 years smashing their original target for the charity. 

What Matalan have said;

"By purchasing products from the collection and sharing your snaps on social media, you will actively raise funds for Alder Hey Children’s Charity. Proceeds from the campaign will fund a range of activities and projects, which are designed to enhance and improve the lives of Alder Hey patients. Money raised will also be used to support research and purchase specialist medical equipment.

100% of profits from our #Superstars collection will go to Alder Hey Children’s Charity, supporting kids who really need your help."

Adults | Kids | Baby | Pets | Bedding | Socks 

I picked up a pair of the unisex PJs, an eye mask and socks today in Liverpool and couldn't wait to get home and wear them. Firstly the style is great. I love my nightwear oversized and comfortable, so with that in mind I picked up a Large. The waist on the trousers are a little big however they don't fall down too badly and I like how loose and baggy the top is. The trousers are jogger bottom with the top being a relaxed sweat shirt style. The fabric is 100% cotton and quite thin - Perfect for this time of year.

In summary I ruddy love them! Not only are they in support of such a great cause, they're also comfortable, cute and great for the transition into Autumn. 

The collection will not be available in all stores (If in doubt you can check stock availability on the website) and next day delivery will unfortunately not be available. 

The limited edition sleep mask also seems to be in store only and not available to order online.

Each year the projects collaboration has grown in popularity, with many anticipating the launch. It is expected that the range will sell out fast, so those of you wanting to get on the #BeASuperstar2018 bandwagon may need to hurry! The range will also be made available at Alder Heys charity shop in the hospital auditorium.

To get involved get online or to your local participating store and grab yourself something from the #Superstars range! Don't forget to snap a selfie and share your photos with Alder Hey by following and tagging them across their Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

The H&M rose print skater dress | OOTN

| Dress - H&M | Bag - Deichman | Shoes - Office | Necklace - H&M |

I'm so glad I bought this dress when I did, I managed to pick this up the day it was released and actually picked it straight off a rolling rail before they had a chance to get it on the wall display. I think a week later only a handful of sizes were left too? - Crazy

This dress pretty much just screams summer. I'm a big fan of vintage patterns, and on the rare occasion I wear a dress I want to look pretty as a picture which I think is where this frock really excels. I mean you could be the biggest tom-boy in the world but you'd look like a real lady whilst wearing this outfit.

The bag is a big beautiful favourite too. I picked it up about a year ago at Deichman shoes for £7, an absolute bargain. And its so huge! I love a big bag and this one is great for me as I tend to try and take my life out with me on a night out - Small bags just don't make the cut.

Finally the shoes are a little present off Creature, he got them after I passed one of my uni modules with a 1st earlier this year and since have been a favourite for classy meals out. 

I think in hind sight, neutral accessories would have looked better but at the moment I have a severe lack of neutral heels that don't kill my tootsies! 

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Boyfriend t-shirts | Mini haul

 | Hogwarts T-shirt - £6 Primark | Mean girls t-shirt - Ebay |

I wish I could say I'm one of these girls that loves a dress, but I'm not. I'm definitely a jeans & t-shirt kind of girl through and through.  And ever since seeing Jess from Jessica In Your Ears Hogwarts t-shirt at a recent event, I've wanted my own! On a recent trip into Primark to grab the essentials I actually managed to get my hand on the navy blue version of this magical tee, and believe me I was also very tempted by the Slytherin and Griffindor tees too - But now that would be a tad obsessive now wouldn't it?

I've also recently been sent a fabulous t-shirt that commemorates one of my favourite films of all time, Mean Girls. I actually got this shirt for free through a store on Ebay after a very long winded dispute over 2 t-shirts going missing in the post and a completely made up investigation with royal mail by them. I eventually got a refund and a free t-shirt as compensation, but I won't be recommending this store any time soon as it seems from their recent feedback, this isn't the first time this has happened, and several people experienced the same treatment recently.

I am however utterly in love with both these tees. I've worn both simply with skinny jeans, sandals,  and a leather jacket, keeping the whole look very plain. But the inner geek inside me is just over the moon with both looks!

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Boyfriend jeans & summer florals | WIWT

| Jeans - Mango | Shirt - Primark | Bag - Mango | Shoes - Topshop | Necklace - H&M |

Now we're getting into summer I'm banned from my forever favourite skinny jeans & black jumpers. Replaced by summery floral patterns and pastel shades (much to my pale skins annoyance). However I'm not quite ready to give up my jeans.. Being a size 12 and quite big on the thighs, as a rule I probably shouldn't be wearing boyfriend jeans as they use serve to make my ass and thighs look huge, but they're just so darn cute! 

Personally I loved this outfit, the shirt looked really cute tucked in loosely, and paired with the neutral accessories it brought the whole look together. I wore this for a simple shopping trip with Creature, and felt cool enough without flashing too much milk bottle pale flesh!

What's your go-to summer outfit?

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I have too many shirts | OOTD

 | Shirt - Mango (old) | Cardigan H&M (sale'14) | Jeans - Mango (sale'14) |

 | Shoes - Gifted  (Christmas)| Bag - LYDC (Christmas) |

 

Since working at Mango, I've moved away from my relaxed leggings + tshirt combinations that were wore all too much last year. Although I loved fashion back then, I was still quite the lazy dresser.. Getting up for uni, usually with minutes to spare thanks to the devil that is the snooze button, it was all too easy to grab the nearest pair of jeans & what ever t-shirt or hoody was at the top of the pile.

 

However,  now that I've been working with such gorgeous classically stylish clothes for a year, I've found that my style has become a lot more grown up. My Mama & Nan commented on this last week whilst I was at home too. It seems that the new me, in my ever growing collection of shirts & blouses, is a hit with family as well as my own self esteem.

On another note, I fear I may have a bit of a problem. Sorting through my washing a few days ago I counted how many blouses I actually own... 21.. Not including the ones I have to wear as uniform either.. Wowza!

 

What I'm wearing above is my new favourite cardigan, you might recognise it from my January sales haul. I love the moss green colour, especially against the navy blue of my blouse & ox blood LYDC bag. The blouse I bought when I first started working at Mango, but you can get very similar styles this season too. It's a very classic trend for Mango, and something they tend to reproduce each season. In fact, Mango are fab for repeating styles. So for those of you, like me, who tend to stick to a style when you know it works, it's great to know you don't necessarily have to buy in bulk through fear of the style or cut of that dress or shirt disappearing.

 

Are you a blouse sort of girl?

 

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Asymmetric shirt | OOTD

| Blouse - Primark | Jeans - Mango | Bag - Deichmann | Watch - Michael Kors |



It's that time of year where the lighting is damn awful.. But lord I do love a good floral shirt!
 

I'll be bringing you a few over sized shirt outfit posts in the next few weeks, & you may recognise this one from last weeks January sales haul. This particular one is my favourite of the three I bought. It's slightly less see through which means I can get away with not wearing a tight tank top underneath. Although with the weather getting colder, extra layers are always welcome!

I've also featured my over sized envelope clutch, this was also in my last haul post, but I wanted to include this with the outfit so you can really get a sense of how big it actually is. Oversized bags are a favourite for me, I'm one of these bag hoarders that has to take a far too much makeup, tissues, diaries, big purses & other gadgets out with me at all times.. & yes, even on nights out I've been known to carry unnessesary tat, just in case.

Have you picked up any bargains lately?

 

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Winter wollies & Tartan | WIWT

| Jumper - H&M | Jeans - Mango | Hat - Boohoo | Boots -Linzi Shoes | Bag H&M | Scarf - Primark |

 

We're so close to Christmas! & today I'm feeling a little more festive, wrapped up to my eyeballs in my favourite cable knit jumper, thick weave jeans & tartan scarf.

 

Can you believe this scarf is from Primark?! It's so thick and wooley! I originally went in on the hunt for a red tartan scarf but soon fell in love with this neutral check print instead. & to be fair, this one definitely matches my wardrobe a little better.

 

I'm still in love with my Boohoo Jillian wide brim hat, bought originally for Marbs earlier this year as a summer accessory. But it goes so well with my Linzi Chelsea boots I won in the Etail PR facebook competition this summer, and my winter wardrobe in general too. 

 

I think this outfit pretty much sums my autumn/winter style up perfectly. I like to layer, be comfortable but always accessorize. Something my always glamorous Mama taught me well!

 

Do you have a favourite winter jumper?

 

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Tweed & Leather | OOTD

 

| Coat - H&M | Bag - H&M | Top - Matalan | Jeans - Mango | Boots - Zara | Necklace - Mango |



 

Aren't wash days the worst? I found myself wanting to tear my hair out over my wardrobe today. Each and every t-shirt I own was in the wash basket! & what's worse is I don't have a washing machine or dryer, so everything must be hand washed in batches!

 

I did however dig out this really quite old batwing orange t-shirt. I think I bought this one & the royal blue version - which I suspect is at the bottom of the basket too - in the Matalan sales a while a go. It's one of those effortlessly easy to wear tops, & paired with my trusty Mango Elektra jeans I felt comfortable, cosy & embraced the pop of colour.

 

This coat is the second one I've bought from H&M this season (see the first here). At the beginning of AW13 this coat was like gold dust to get hold of, I'd seen it everywhere and even tried it on in store before deciding it wasn't thick enough.. But caved soon after.

I love tweed, & the leather sleeves are bang on trend for this season, however, the day I decided "I must have that coat!".. Was the day I realised it had sold out everywhere. Night-to-the-mare.

 

Giving up all hope, a few weeks later, I was window shopping in the Huddersfield H&M in between lectures when a flash of tweed caught my eye on the fitting room rail. & voila I had found the allusive coat, the last one they had in store & in my size too!

Some might call it luck, I call it fate.

 

Have you invested in any new coats this season?

 



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Faux fur | OOTD

 
 

| Hat & Scarf - Next | Coat & Bag - H&M | Jeans - Mango | Boots - Zara | Watch - Michael Kors |

 

Apologies for some of the photos being slightly out of focus, I'm not entirely sure what was going on with the camera today.

 

So with the winds turning icy and summer way behind us, the faux fur scarfs & stoles have come out in force. For my birthday I received £30 worth of Next vouchers from my Nana and Granddad, and in all honestly I had my heart set on a cute little dress I'd been internet stalking. But after having no luck finding the allusive Topshop mixed tone stole I instantly fell in love with this grey fur scarf & black Cossack hat. 

 

I also treated myself to this lovely black wool coat on Black Friday (my actual birthday too - yippie). H&M were offering 20% for students, so I couldn't resist.. Only on the way to the till I also spotted a huge black boxy handbag, which was no sooner dragged to the check out too!

 

The finished look, teamed with my trusty Mango Elektra jeans is definitely a favourite in my wardrobe at the moment. Simple, comfortable but effortlessly stylish with the addition of my fur accessories.

 

Have you invested in any faux fur?

 

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Whistle & Wolf | WIWT

 
 
 

 | Whistle & wolf Embroidered Shirt Dress |

 

Apologies for my photos being a little out of focus, for some reason the camera wasn't playing ball, but I'm positive this dress will be used in future posts to come as it's fast become a wardrobe favourite!

 

Whistle & Wolf are a London based fashion company specialising in quirky & stylish women's wear, and a website of which I quite often browse. So when I was contacted by them & asked if I'd like a dress from their aw13 collection, I was immediately drawn to the Embroidered Shirt Dress!

 I loved the colourful embroidery on such a simple classic cut frock, it really adds a true to form "quirky" element.

 

The dress is buttoned down the complete length of the body so I did have to get a size 12 (M) to accommodate my bust, but I'm very pleased to say that it fits like a glove.
I love the little waist tie too, being a curvy girl means smock dresses don't strictly suit me, so having the added belt really helped the dress suit my frame.

 

What do you think of the Whistle & wolf Embroidered Shirt Dress

 

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