Scottish Fashion & Style Blog | One Girl and a Blog

Excuse Us!

2014-02-16T15:35:00.000Z

So... after almost an entire year, i'm going to give this another bash! I'm working away trying to make things pretty and get everything organised so please bare with me in the meantime!

wishlist

2013-03-19T21:09:00.000Z

Clogs: Topshop

Blazer: River Island

Tee: Black Score

Travel Wallet: Cath Kidston

Chain Detail Tee: River Island

High Waisted Jeans: Topshop

Breton Stripe Dress: Glamorous

It's been quite a while since i did a wishlist post but as you can imagine it doesn't mean i haven;t been gathering the wishes elsewhere. I've become pretty obsessed with Pinterest and whether it's on the bus first thing in the morning or curled up on a hungover couch, my wishlist board is always being added to. These are a few of my current faves sitting on there.

I'm probably somewhat premature with lusting after sandals but im obsessed with the idea of a low heeled wedge clog for daytime Summer wear. Paired with something simple like a tee and jeans i think it would just be perfect. That's also the reason for lusting after all these oversized tees- the Tom Ford one NEEDS to be mine asap. As for the nautical style items, i can only say this is a coincidence because it's a style ive always hated. I just adore the oversized yet simple cut of the blazer and breton stripes are in my opinion casual perfection. Seeing them in a simple casual day dress seems like the ideal Summer throw on and go option! Finally- the travel wallet. Basically i adore not-strictly-necessary-accessories like this. I already got my paws on a longchamp travel bag when i realised how much i was travelling with work and ending up on weekend trips away and a travel wallet just seemed like the next over the top accessory to go for. If nothing else it will stop my boss having to watch in despair as i rifle through lip balms and tissues at security in search of my boarding pass.

So there we have it. What's top of your current wishlist?

Google Reader Alternatives

2013-03-14T21:18:00.000Z

As you may or may not know, Google is pretty much my life (or at least my living!) So every time something annoying happens in the big bad digital world, there's an email in my inbox before i'm even at my desk.

This morning one of those emails was about Google Reader and its imminent removal from internet land.

Now. I'm not going to say this didn't catch my attention. As a blogger and avid blog reader i use it every day and we all know peering at fluctuating follower numbers on Google Friend Connect is a guilty pleasure we all like to indulge in now and then. However, for one there's been no confirmation that the closure of Google Reader will automatically mean the end of GFC (although it does seem to follow since the two are intertwined.) Aside from that, what people fail to remember is that GFC is just a tech-phobes RSS reader and Google Reader is far from the best of those.

SO! What are the options for all of you lovely lot looking for a new RSS reader (and more importantly a new way to follow my sporadic posting?)

Feedly

Feedly is a great aesthetically pleasing RSS reader that lets you aggregate your feeds for easy viewing. It's my new weapon of choice in the RSS world and this morning's news has given me the final shove i needed into organising everything into a manageable order as the mishmash of nail varnish and SEO tips wasn't quite sitting too well in my Google Reader. It's easy to use, there's a chrome extension available in the web store if you like everything readily available and of course a mobile version for on the go. There's also a handy option to instantly import your reader data by simply logging in via your google account so its a no brainer for tech phobes! A word of warning though, it's kind of suffering from Google Announcement Panickers at the moment so bare with it if it's looking a bit on the slow and clunky side for now. Once your there, if you like you can follow me here or by simply searching 'one girl and a blog.'

Bloglovin'
Bloglovin sometimes manages to accidently present itself as a reader only available to bloggers who have joined but it is just a simple RSS reader with a specific follow me badge thrown in for good measure. It's a great resource for finding new blogs and reading your old favourites all in one and they've also been quick to jump on today's Google news with a massive banner telling you you can import your google reader feed. You can do that here. You'll also find this little old blog on there by searching my name or right here with a big friendly follow button.

Those or my two main recommendations for our pretty fashiony, beauty, lifestyleish kinda world but there are of course a whole host of other RSS readers you can find- NewsBlur The Old Reader Fever NetVibes FeedDemon FeedReader are just a few.

So there we have it, the world isn't over after all! Let me know what you think, what will be your new reader of choice?

OOTD: Mirrors

2013-03-13T21:58:00.000Z

Tshirt & Boots: Topshop

Midi Skirt: Primark

Watch: Michael Kors

Necklace & Bracelet: H&M

Spiked Cuff: ASOS

Welcome to another glamorous outfit post featuring my living room radiator... Other than that, it does feature one of my new favourite things- midi skirts. I picked up this beaut in Primark and am absolutely delighted with it. It does have that tricky tendency to look like misplaced office wear if you're not careful. I stick to teaming it with simple slouchy tees and a bit too much jewellery which seems to work. I'm also in the process of filling my slightly premature Summer Wardrobe with midis that i hope will look way better without tights. I've started with a tomato red number and a simple breton striped other but can see it (as with all my other obsessions) being taken way further and i'll end up with more midi skirts than acceptably sunny days to wear them.

Have you all started filling up theoretical or otherwise Spring wardrobes? I've started a pin board of my general intentions if you're interested in more than midis. I'd love to hear what you guys are planning, too!

OOTD: 'Silver Lining'

2013-02-24T18:41:00.001Z

Shirt: Primark
Skirt: ASOS
Boots: Topshop

Lipstick: MAC Ruby Woo

Well hello there! Finally i've got around to posting some outfit snaps. As i said in my recent videos, i finally took the plunge and bought a MacBook which has really made blogging easier again- i convinced myself it was a blog related investment as my old uni Vaio only added to the reasons i wasn't blogging very often. I actually can't believe how amazing MacBooks are though- everything is just so beautifully easy and intuitive. Hopefully you like my new layout, have been enjoying my haul videos and are actually still interesting in seeing my updates- although i can't promise a night at the pub won't often win over me taking pictures of myself, i do hope to be back blogging more frequently.

This outfit is actually really dressy for me as i've become more and more casual of late. You might have seen me instagram a pair of Vans i got at Christmas time and i even bought a pair of Nike Blazers last week, something i never thought would happen... I guess working in a casual office makes you want to slum it in jeans, tee and trainers every now and then. I love this little velvet skater skirt i picked up at the end of the year from ASOS- skater skirts have featured pretty heavily in my winter wardrobe just because they're so easy to chuck on with shirts, tees, jumpers etc... I actually don't particularly like it with this shirt though, it's just not very flattering as much as i've tried to make this shirt work, with jeans as well, it looks set for the ebay pile!

I hope you're all still there reading and doing well! I'm in the process of updating my blog reading list as well so please leave your blog address in the comments so i can get some new reading material!

Primark Haul Feburary 2013

2013-02-10T17:27:00.000Z

Another haul, this time all Primark! Enjoy..

February Collective Haul

2013-02-07T20:10:00.000Z

Just a little collective haul i filmed at the weekend. If you'd like to see more of my videos you can check out my Youtube Channel.
Please feel free to leave any questions in the comments below here or on the video itself.

Kiehl's Edinburgh Review

2013-01-04T19:02:00.000Z

I was recently invited along to the Kiehl's store in Edinburgh to have a chat with the lovely Cheree about my skincare and generally hear a little more about the brand. I've always been intrigued by Kiehl's as a brand but haven't ever tried it out before so it was great to go alone to a stand alone store and hear all about it first hand.

After a little chat about the (frankly adorable) history of Kiehl's and how it started as an old school chemist, Cheree did a full skin consultation with me. It's something i really appreciated as i've been getting more and more into skincare recently but have never felt like someone really took a look at my skin and tell me what it's 'really' like. I have extremely dry skin to the point of flaking and just because that's not annoying enough, it's also extremely sensitive and reactive. I told Cheree all about this which she of course took into consideration, but she also did a nifty little skin test with two mini tabs, one held against my forehead and the other against my cheek. These showed where the different areas of my skin ranked in terms of oilyness and actually showed that i do have some oilyness when i thought i was bone dry. It turns out although my cheeks are really dry, my t zone has quite a bit of oil. I loved this as it wasn't someone taking a look at my skin and telling me how it looked or taking my word for how i found it- it was real proof. This was a great part of an extremely thorough consultation where cheree gave me a full face, body and hair care routine recommendation, taking me through the detail of every product and letting me have a touch and feel of the products. The whole thing was so thorough and personalised in a way that i've never experienced with other brands and it gave me real faith in the recommendations i ended up with.

I'm currently in the process of trying out the bits and pieces that Cheree gave me on the day which i'll tell you all about soon but in the meantime i'd definitely recommend popping into Kiehl's if you're in Edinburgh or have another store nearby. The best thing about my experience is that it wasn't something offered just because i'm a blogger- it's a standard experience that anyone can pop in for at any time and if you are in the Edinburgh store, Cheree has been lovely enough to offer all of my readers a little goody bag with any purchase. Just mention One Girl and a Blog when you purchase!

Primark Haul December 2012

2012-12-16T18:41:00.000Z

Argania Shampoo & Conditioner Review

2012-12-16T18:14:00.000Z

Argania Shampoo & Conditioner*- Boots

I was recently sent a gift set of Argania products from the lovely people at Boots so i thought i'd get started with a review of the shampoo and conditioner. My hair is extremely dry and damaged due to years of heat, ombreing and going blonde after 10 years of dying it dark so a product like this that promises to repair and nourish hair naturally without covering it in awful silicones is perfect for me.

Both the shampoo and conditioner retail at around the £8 mark so i'd place it in the mid range of hair offerings. The products themselves are both nice and thick so easy to work with when lathering and conditioning. This is the first argan oil type product i'd used but with all the hype at the moment i was expecting good things. My hair was definitely nice and smooth after blow drying without being greasy as can so often be the case with hydrating shampoos. I was also pleased to still have a good amount of volume in my hair. The one downside was the smell which is very 'natural.' I know some people are all about the natural but i personally found myself wondering why i smelled like i'd been in a greasy spoon cafe by mid morning..

Overall? Nothing ground breaking but a nice day to day shampoo that naturally hydrates without overloading hair with silicones.

I'll be giving away an Argania set later in the week so keep your eyes peeled for a chance to win...

OOTD: 'Bejewelled'

2012-12-02T17:52:00.001Z

Jumper, Leggings, Necklace: H&M
Boots: Topshop

Such a typical outfit for me at the moment! I've grown quite fond of wearing black separates head to toe with a little bit of interesting texture, shapes and accessories thrown in for good measure! Picked up this amazing necklace yesterday in H&M along with a fair few others that are near enough the exact same. I love the whole embellished trend at the moment and have taken to whacking jewels on everything i own. I also picked up the jumper in h&m at the same time. It was a bargain 10 quid, slouches perfectly and is ideal for my plan to recreate this topshop jumper for a fraction of the cost. I might even pick up a few more...

I've spent the weekend being ridiculously organised getting the last of my Christmas presents and some decorations. I have so much planned for the festive period and i'm ridiculously excited for it all already. I didn't want to be one of those houses that you look at and go 'ew that's not A CHRISTMAS TREE is it?!?!' on the 1st of December so the decs aren't up quite yet but come next Saturday i'm going to be knee deep in glitter and DELIGHTED.

As a side note- does my hair look disgusting here? I've probably not been posting often enough for you to notice but a month or so ago i had a hair disaster when my blonde highlights got a bit too blonde and i asked to tone down to a dark blonde dip dye only to be given root glow and ginger ends so i've taken matters into my own hands with a 7ish golden blonde on the top and some bleached and toned down ends- i'm aware the contrast isn't really that clear. I've booked an appointment to get my hair cut mid December and have my heart set on a mid length blunt cut but i'm not sure what to do about the colour? Keep it as it is? Ask a hairdresser? What do you think?

Mac Face and Body Foundation Review

2012-11-26T19:39:00.004Z

Mac Face & Body Foundation £25.50 (125ml)

Mac Face and Body foundation definitely isn't a secret in the blogging world. I'm forever seeing posts pop up ranting and raving about how wonderful it is but i have to say i never paid much notice, thinking it just wouldn't be for me with its sheer coverage and water base. Oh how i was wrong! My interest grew and grew and when i started trying out and loving lower coverage foundations just as my sister started working for Lauder, she was kind enough to get me a bottle on discount for me to try. (This is the amazing thing about her discount- it means i get to try things i would have shyed from before and discover favourites!)

Ok, so what is it actually like? The coverage is sheer and yes it's pretty watery but with a good stippling brush and a bit of determination, you can turn this into an amazing base for healthy, glowy, natural looking skin that's not overly dewy or shiny as can so often be the case with these types of products. I've been particularly enjoying wearing this when i have fake tan on and just need a little bit of evening out or when i'm having a casual foundation and mascara Sunday. I've also been mixing it with double wear to take advantage of the lasting power and higher coverage of double wear but take the drying/matte effect down a notch. It gives the perfect natural long lasting full cover base which for me is absolutely perfect. I haven't tried it on my body yet but i have a friend who swears by it so i'll be giving it a bash!

I was going to say that the foundation is also great value for money at £26.50 for 120ml which is insane considering usual foundations are 30ml and the same price. The sad thing is, i've heard they're discontinuing the 120ml bottles and the 50mls will be the only available and when they're priced at £20.50 it kinda seems like a bit of a rip off- only £6 cheaper for less than half the product!

What do you think? Have you tried Face&Body or are you more of a full coverage type?

Round Up:

-Easy to wear, doesn't stick or slip off the face

- Natural, glowy effect with just enough coverage

-Great for mixing with other foundations

-No smell or bad consistency

OOTD: 'disco'

2012-11-15T19:58:00.000Z

Trousers: American Apparel
Tshirt: Zara

Cardigan: Vintage

Shoes: River Island

This outfit is far from 'me' but when I finally took the plunge and bought some genuine disco pants I wanted to wear them straight away which meant during the day to run errands. I'm still getting used to them and I'd definitely like to be back to my best weight even more since seeing photos of myself in them!

I can't believe it's Thursday already! The weeks are flying by and it'll be December before we know it. I'm ridiculously excited for the festivities with lots of plans coming together nicely and fancy outfits to plan. Ive even been stockpiling stand by dresses for those nights when someone invites you out last minute and the fact that it's December someone means you have to look extra fancy and can't possibly be seen to be repeating outfits. I grabbed an amazing baroque print midi in primark today for a bargain. It might even become one of my actual planned outfits! Who knows!(if you have me on instagr am I just posted a wee snap on there!)

What's your Christmas plans? Are you excited as me or livid at the mere thought of selection boxes appearing in Asda come September?!

Primark Haul November 2012

2012-11-13T19:13:00.004Z

#todayimwearing

2012-11-09T19:00:00.000Z

I've recently been using any last few minutes before i rush out the door to shamelessly take mirror snaps of my day's outfit and stick them on instagram. Since outfit pics on a week day are never going to be a mid winter option i thought i'd stick these mini sneaks at my daily outfits on the blog too. I plan to do it monthly going forward but for now, here's most of what i've taken over the past few months. If you want to know where anything is from, just ask!

OOTD: 'five nine nine'

2012-11-08T20:48:00.001Z

Jacket, Top, Skirt, Shoes: Primark

Bag: Mulberry

Watch: Michael Kors

Necklace & Bracelet: H&M

Lipstick: Vegas Volt

I've literally had these photos on my laptop waiting for a post since it was warm enough to still wear something like this. I like the idea of adding a wool coat or chunky knit and some heeled boots for the colder months though.

I decided today that i either had to stop my blog officially or get back on it and i've settled on the latter. I love blogging and even though the fact that i spend my working days in digital makes it slightly less of an escape these days, i do still love it and everything that goes with it. I also know i've said i'm 'coming back properly' before and failed but i really will try, honest!

I've been spending my blogger downtime hanging out on my Pinterest and Instagram so find me on there if you miss me. I kinda miss you guys!

Autumn/Winter Outfit Suggestions

2012-09-23T22:18:00.002+01:00

I'm not usually one to enter blogger competitions but when i was asked to enter Money Super Market's Passion for Fashion i jumped at the idea. I love creating outfits like this and it being a competition is a great bonus!

Outfit 1: Casual
1. Topshop Shirt £40 (£36 with Student Discount) 2. River Island Watch £25 3. ASOS Rings £15 (£13.50 with Student Discount) 4. New Look Coat £54.99 (£49.50 with Student Discount) 5. New Look Teens Boots £24.99 (£22.50 with Student Discount) 6. New Look Jeans £19.99 (18.00 with Student Discount) 7. ASOS Bag £28 (£25.20 with Student Discount)

Outfit Total: £207.97 or £189.70 with Student Discount

I love how popular casual dressing has become again this season and the military look is definitely a favourite style for the Autumn Winter with its comfortable and warm practicality matched perfectly with style. This outfit is also the perfect example of how using student discount can make a big difference to your spend and in fact this outfit would have been over the competition's £200 per outfit budget if it wasn't for this cheeky discount. I also used a favourite old trick of checking out the teen department for some bargains. Most high street stores go up to age 16 and size 5 or 6 in footwear so i always have a look around to take advantage of the tax free bonus on some kids clothes and the generally lower prices!

Outfit 2: Party
1. River Island Blazer £35 2. River Island Dress £80 3. Ebay bag £10 4. Ebay Shoes £20.98 5. M.A.C Red Lipstick £13.50 6. ASOS Cuffs £12

Outfit Total: £171.48

I decided to go with the whole opulent baroque/embellishment trend for this outfit and i absolutely love every item with the simple accessories and accents letting the dress shine. I think 'party' outfits can often be difficult to keep stylish and true to your style and i know i often end up looking like a little teeny bopper in a pink body con dress at times, but hopefully this outfit avoids all that! While the dress isn't exactly too skin baring, i thought it best to make it britain appropriate so teamed it with this over sized blazer which i think pretty much everyone should have in their wardrobe for more fancy yet practical outfits! The dress is a bit of a splurge item but it follows my philosophy of pairing quality, expensive items with cheaper accessories which always works well. I also used the trusty tip of trawling ebay for 'inspired' versions of popular items. These look alike Jeffrey Campbell boots do the job without the £120 price tag of the originals and while i agree it's sometimes nice to have the real thing, for such a statement item it's good to try out a cheaper alternative before committing!

Outfit 3: First Date
1. Primark Blouse £12 2. H&M Fur Shawl £12 3. H&M Blazer £19.99 4. Topshop Boots £70 5. H&M Leather Trousers £24.99 5. Mac Morange Lipstick £13.50 6. Primark Bag £9

Outfit Total: £161.48

Being such an old married granny, i haven't been on a 'first date' for almost 5 years but my outfit of choice on mine and my boyfriend's one is still a subject of humiliation so i'd very much like a re try! I stuck with an all black colour palette with different textures to break it all up a bit. I think wearing black is the easiest way to be smart and casual all at the same time, something which is key on a first date where you want to look your best and as though you've made an effort but not terrify your new friend by over doing it. In this outfit, i've very much pushed the current stud trend that i'm sure will continue to be huge over the next season but also making sure the whole thing is practical with layering, some cosy boots and an amazing fur collar. In an effort to be penny savvy, I've chosen some bits from my ever faithful Primark! I don't tend to have huge splurges there, but picking up a few key items and mixing them with more expensive pieces is my ultimate weapon in attempting to stay up to date with trends.

Outfit 4: Workwear

1. H&M Boucle Jacket £34.99 2. River Island Shirt £24.99 3. H&M Trousers £24.99 4. Topshop Beguiled Lipstick £8 (£7.20 with Student Discount) 5. Vintage Chanel Earrings £34 6. Primark Shoes £12 7. Topshop Bag £34

Outfit Total: £172.97 or £172.17 with Student Discount

I'm a huge fan of the masculine trend and the beautiful printed trousers that are turning up on the high street at the moment are making me upset that i now work in a casual office. I love a trouser, shirt and jacket combo for the office for comfort and the ability to whip off a layer in Winter when it's freezing outside yet tropical in the office. Oh and the low heel of these shoes might even make hardcore trainers-tothe-office types reconsider. I'm not a total vintage girl but i love a rummage from time to time and one of my favourite pieces of jewellery are a pair of vintage Chanel earrings. I found this pair on ebay for around 30 quid and it's the perfect example of where vintage is an amazing bargain- ebay, charity shops, markets and vintage shops have vintage pretty much sorted now and there's usually always a bargain to be found with a bit of rummaging!

Outfit 5: Outdoors

1. River Island Jacket £55 2. H&M Knit £14.99 3. Ebay Studs £4 4. H&M Satchel £14.99 5. Topshop Hunter Wellies £80 (£72 with Student Discount) 6. Primark Jeans £11 H&M Denim Shirt £14.99

Outfit Total £194.97 or £186.97 with Student Discount

Randomly enough, i have of late been found in a fleece and a pair of walking boots but you'll never find me popping out in a fleece and waterproof. Luckily I feel like the whole heritage look that's been developing of late has made the outdoor look far more acceptable to us fashiony types! Layering is absolutely key here with thick denims, knits and wax jackets creating a gorgeous mixture of texture for outdoorsy warmth and a cheeky bit of style. I've also included a pair of obligatory Hunters which may not be considered a saving at first glance at £80 for a pair of wellies but the effortless style, comfort and quality actually make these more of a long term investment which i'm ok with (especially if you also qualify for a cheeky Student Discount!) Oh and i also included some of my favourite DIY studs here as DIYs are still one of my favourite way to get the exact item i'm after without having to shell out extra cash for it. At a couple of pounds for a hundred, these studs are easy to use and add an expensive looking twist to simple items like this denim shirt!

So there we have it, my 5 outfits for every on trend, practical and money savvy Autumn/Winter occasion! What do you think? Any favourites?

Image Credits: online stores as mentioned.

Want.

2012-09-17T21:18:00.000+01:00

1. River Island Tartan Shirt I recently bought a red tartan shirt from ASOS and i absolutely love it so my obsessive personality has led me on the hunt for more. Absolutely love the tartan, contrast collar and length of this and think it would be perfect over jeans on its own or layered with a chunky knit come Winter.

2. River Island Fur Coat I'm already pretty attached to the beige fur coat i stole from my Nana's wardrobe a couple of years ago but i'm sort of in the market for a new one too. I really want a longer length darker coloured one and even though i love this i'll probably end up spying one in one of the many charity shops near my new flat.

3. River Island Embossed Tube Trousers I already jumped on the old disco pant copy band wagon with a pair of RI's plain black 'tube trousers' and after loving them i jumped when i spotted these in the new in section. I'm not sure i'm quite ready to go down the shiny grey or blue route just yet so this embossed floral pattern is a perfect alternative style.

4. Zara Office City Bag I really don't need any more handbags, but as ever Zara are making it hard to resist with their usual stream of amazing handbags. This reminds me of a Prada bag i've always loved and the simple structured shape is everything i love in a daily bag.

5. New Look Knitted Jumper Admittedly this jumper is pretty ugly but i'm strangely attracted to it. I love the ease of a slouchy knit, skinny jeans and chunky boots in winter!

As you can see, i'm pretty obsessed with River Island at the moment and i'm loving what they're doing at the moment and how far it is from their sequin and over logod past. I definitely go through cycles of loving different shops! Where have you been shopping for the new season?

Autumn/Winter 2012 Collective Haul (Video)

2012-09-15T11:00:00.000+01:00

A little impromptu video haul to update you on all the Autumn/Winter bits and pieces i've been gathering over the last few weeks. Features Primark, Topshop, Zara, H&M and River Island. If you have any questions about any of the items, please just leave them in the comments!

Oh, and if you're interested in the Topshop Athletes i mention, you can see them and a few other bits for sale on my ebay.

Where have i been?

2012-08-18T16:24:00.004+01:00

Everytime i see my little sister, she reminds me of the fact i've not updated my blog in over a month, luckily for once i've had a pretty busy month, which may just qualify as a valid excuse...

I moved house (and City) back to my beautiful home town of Edinburgh, this time with the boyfriend in tow...

Then i left my first ever proper job (tear), before starting my new one and spending my second ever day getting drunk in a field dressed as a hippy (seriously...)

Next it was time to step another year closer to my 'mid 20s' and celebrate with the most ridiculous ever bday cake (courtesy of my gorgeous sister) and getting so drunk it took 2 days to get over it..

Oh and just because that wasn't enough excitement, i popped down to the Olympics with a little time to pretend to be a proper blogger at The Diner and jump on the Bubble Tea bandwagon (it was revolting FYI)

While i won't PROMISE constant updates, i do already have some outfit posts standing by to get up for you, so things should be a little more regular!

Birthday Wishlist

2012-07-07T22:10:00.001+01:00

Office Boots; Vivienne Westwood Bracelet; Body Shop Body Butter and Hand Cream; Real Techniques Brushes, Lanolips, ASOS Rings, Topshop Nail Varnish in Razzmatazz; Mac Lipstick in Vegas Volt; Zara Plaited Shopper; Soap & Glory Exfoliator; Topshop Make Up Bag

Primark Autumn Winter 2012 Preview

2012-06-27T20:43:00.000+01:00

I've been slightly more picky with my Primark preview post this season. I'm actually pretty impressed with what they've come up with but the outfits they'd put together for their model shots left a lot to be desired so i've put together my favourites from the still life shots. When i say favourites, i mean favourites. These are all items i would (slash probably will) buy and wear.

The coats and jackets are what stand out for me most, although that may be because i'm a total coat fiend? I absolutely MUST have the Zara Parka copy in my life ASAP and i'll be sniffing around Primark like a crazy woman until it's safely in my wardrobe. I'm hoping my Primarking will be a bit more successful when i move to Edinburgh simply because the 'fashion sense' through there seems entirely different to Glasgow. In Glasgow Primark all the good stuff is snapped up immediately and you have to be pretty quick not to be left staring at an empty rail wondering how ridiculous a size 20 would actually be. I also really like the crombie coats here. I still have my New Look one from last year that i love but would love another colour too- the cream and leather trim one may just do it for me. I always think Navy is a bit difficult to wear? Definitely don't need any more blazers but i like that the tweed one is slightly more winter-esque. As is the leather jacket, although it looks suspiciously like one of those Primark previews that's pitifully cheap looking when it arrives in store?

I'm a bit of a sucker for Primark shirts, stuffing them in my basket like there's no tomorrow. I had told myself i was stopping, refusing to be a part of Primark's 'never mind the cotton price rise we'll just make everything out of shitty fake chiffon' ploy.I do kind of like these though, you can never have too many white detail shirts and the floral is nice and expensive looking (why do we use this phrase so much in Primark posts?) Love the knitwear, too. I'm planning on buying this blue 'honeycomb knit' in the biggest size i can find and wearing it with a collar, skinny jeans and chunky boots.

Ah peg legs. What did we all do before them? I admit 'smart casual' trousers have been my absolute saviour in my student to office wear transition the past year but it's also meant that i don't tend to wear them casually anymore and with my new company's casual dress code i might be a bit stuck. I absolutely love some of these pairs though. The Zara and Topshop copies are my faves and i'll no doubt pick them up eventually. The only thing is i never know what shoes to wear with them in the Winter? Scotland is FAR too cold for flats but boots just seem to look a bit daft? Thoughts? Maybe my new Alibis will be the answer. Oh and the fur gilet. I hummed and hawed about it all of last year thinking they're just a wee bit too difficult to wear but i reckon this year it could be the perfect layering piece for the office?

I wasn't really all that blown away by the accessories Primark previewed but i love these few bits above. I really never buy handbags in Primark just cause you see them everywhere, they look cheap and never last but i like the notion of this one at least. Might be nice as an overnight bag? Nice to see they're ~~taking inspiration from~~ copying Zara so much this season in general and in particular with these shoes. I always kind of watched the Zara versions from a far like a child contemplating jumping in a fire but never did take the plunge. My little fat legs really don't need to be cut off with an ankle strap and they just seem too dainty for my sizeable self? Now that they're in Primark though, i might just take the plunge. That's the thing i love most about Primark, they let you try things with a lower price tag that's far less commitment. The flats are chic and pointy and perfectly fit the bill for my new flats obsession and as for the leopard numbers? God i don't think there are any words?

So there we have it. I think we might be able to say Primark have done it again? Admittedly our love affair had cooled off a bit since the beginning of the year since they decided to up their prices and produce decidedly average (and bizzarely coloured) shite but they're definitely back in the game and i will always love them. In fact, Ben's been making jokes with everyone that we wouldn't be moving back to Edinburgh if the Primark hadn't opened. I haven't told him he's right.

OOTD 'Coco'

2012-06-24T18:55:00.001+01:00

Jacket: H&M

Shirt: River Island
Jeans: Topshop
Earrings: Vintage

Channelled my inner Coco yesterday in this boucle and shirt combo for lunch in Edinburgh. I began to feel like a bit of a tool after realising i was dressed like some sort of old money Edinburgh New Town lady but hey if i'm moving back there, i better start to recall all of the horrific stereotypes! Talking of moving, we got a flat last week so i'm slightly less stressed- although only slightly. We move out of our current flat and into the new one on the same day and i'm working the day before and after with a casual 10 days away from home before then. Think i may implode? So very, very excited though!

OOTD: 'please don't slow me down if i'm going too fast'

2012-06-17T16:51:00.000+01:00

Blazer: Primark
Tee: Topshop
Trousers: H&M

Hiiii! Apologies for being so MIA from the interwebs of late! Even my Twitter is a bit tumbleweed esque. I do have an excuse however, i've been busy deciding to move a new city [Edinburgh, where i'm actually from in the first place and where i've been working half the week for the past 10 months] AND casually getting a new job just because one massive life change isn't enough! My lease ends on the 11th July and my new job starts on the 19th so it's safe to say i am FREAKING out! I also haven't even found a new flat in Edinburgh yet, so if anyone knows of any beautiful 1/2 beds in the New Town or Stockbridge PLEASE let me know!

All the changes have meant an extremely skint month with no cheeky purchases and lots of looking at homeware instead but i did get this gorgeous blazer at the end of last month. I love telling people it's from Primark and watching their faces and how it can add so much to a simple outfit. I wore this outfit to my Mum's birthday lunch yesterday and even my Granny kept going on about how much she loved it. I'm all about the simple dressing these days, although it does at times border on boring. My new company has a casual dress code, too so i'm kind of freaking out about managing to maintain nice casual outfits 7 days a week. Not long until my birthday though so stocking up on new bits might be on the cards!

A Month in Instagram: May

2012-06-06T21:20:00.003+01:00

Follow me on Instagram @onegirlandablog or click the Instagram Button in my sidebar to view online