The Style Count

#browninfluencer

2019-01-22T13:35:00.000+00:00

How many Asian / Indian influencers do you follow?

How many do you engage with?

How many do you support?

How many do you admire?

Not many I'm guessing, either because a) there's not many out there or b) their following isn't substantial enough to pique your interest and they're simply not on your radar.

As an British-Indian female that is so unashamedly passionate about fashion and style, I have moments when I have to think twice about whether or not my followers will be interested in certain aspects of my life and what I'm getting up to.

Will you dis-engage when I post about Diwali?

Will you scroll past posts of my Indian wedding?

Will you turn off my stories if they reference parts of my culture?

My growth and engagement has stagnated somewhat, most likely due to 'the algorithm' but it means I'm trying to engage so much more and that's helped me realise how little I get back in return.

Accounts of larger followers that I engage with don't reciprocate, however I see their likes and comments, even follows, on lots of other accounts of a similar following to mine, only the difference is that their owner looks much more similar to them....coincidence?

Brands and inspo accounts have reposted me in the past which is always so lovely and really helps with growth. However I noted that when two of bigger High Street brands did repost me, they chose posts I uploaded where my face just happened to not be in it...another coincidence?

I'm not saying everyone on Instagram is like this, I have engaged with so many fabulous bloggers and instagrammers and influencers, but sometimes the feeling of being an outsider creeps in. I hate the thought of playing the 'race card' but I just wanted to ask the question and put my thoughts out there.

I'm am also not saying that if you're brown you won't succeed for this reason, I know that is not the case, there are so many Asian - Indian influencers / models / journalists etc out there that I am inspired by daily - Monikh, Simran Randhawa, Neelam Gill to name a few. I'm just saying it feels more challenging at times.

I'm tired of trying to remain blissfully ignorant to this and I'm tired of always putting these occurrences down to being purely a coincidence.

It may be the case that the quality of my content or my consistency just isn't there, but I work so hard to create my content the best it can be, so I find this slightly hard to believe. What about you?

I want to talk about it openly and I want to know...have any of you have ever felt the same way?

We should grow our community and we should constantly support each other even if other influencers or brands refuse to acknowledge us.

#browninfluencer

Please use the hashtag and share the post and your own thoughts on this, I would be so interested to hear what you think and would really appreciate you taking the time to let me know.

Don't forget to check out my Instagram @thestylecount where I will be using this hashtag wherever possible!

The Everyday Struggle That Is.....Life

2018-10-14T21:19:00.000+01:00

One of my favourite, most relatable meme's of all time has to be this one:

For as long as I can remember I have always had a never-ending to-do list, there is always a store return to be done or clothes to be washed or dinner to be made or a friend's birthday to attend or that gym class you told yourself you would go to.

I enjoy all of those things, that's what takes up my spare time, but lately it is just exhausting keeping up with it all. Sometimes I find myself thinking, something has got to give...but what?! In reality I don't feel like anything will give, in actual fact I think my time will be even more thinly spread when my husband and I think about the future and houses and kids and careers and making ours goals and dreams possible.

But how can you aspire to achieve bigger goals when most of the time it feels like you're just about keeping on top of the day-to-day things? How can you even think about pushing yourself further when you're just about staying afloat at the moment?

I vividly remember my weekday evenings when I used to live in London. After finishing work I would get home and constantly be in a mad dash making my dinner and lunch for the next day and packing my gym kit and putting a load of washing on, making sure all my jobs got done, and my flatmate would be sat on the sofa feet up with a cup of tea watching TV and relaxing and I used to think, why do I always have so much to do, why can't I just unwind.

I found myself going to sleep really wound up and at the time I just thought it was normal.

Recently I have had a realisation. You can keep doing 'stuff' and finding 'stuff' to do until the cows come home, but there will still be more to be done tomorrow and it's not going anywhere. It is endless.

So guess what, you are allowed to leave that washing in the basket for one more day, or not wash your hair on your proper 'hair-wash' day for once, or not iron all of your clothes...you don't have to be 'PERFECT'.

And that's my whole problem. I always strive for perfection in every aspect of life and frankly it's exhausting, de-motivating and possibly actually counter-productive. I am learning to ease up on myself, let my mind and body rest more and let myself find comfort in NOT being perfect.

The house doesn't need to be spotlessly clean every single day of the week. I don't have to take lunch from home every single day of the week. I don't have to keep in regular touch with everybody in my phonebook.

I think it is super important to step back and assess where you are. Remove anyone / anything that isn't adding value to your life. There simply isn't enough time for it.

Life is non-stop but you have to find yourself within it all. You have to make time for yourself, and practise the 'self-love' and 'self-care' that we are seeing all over our socials lately. I haven't quite mastered it yet but I am definitely making a conscious effort to work towards this and I feel so much happier for making the change.

Hope you enjoyed this read.

Be sure to check out my Instagram @thestylecount for lots of outfits and more x

Styling Cycle Shorts

2018-09-11T21:15:00.000+01:00

Cycle shorts - love 'em or hate 'em but there's no getting away from them right now. You can't scroll through your Instagram feed without spotting a pair lately and I have a feeling they won't be going anywhere anytime soon as we are now beginning to seeing the denim versions hitting the High Street!

Whilst I'm not 100% sold on the denim cycle shorts just yet, I am partial to the cotton / Lycra version and I wanted to show a few ways I would wear them:

1. GOING OUT OUT

I have worn a pair of black cycle shorts with a basic black crop (this is the 'extreme scoop' version from PrettyLittleThing) and my slouchy black boyfriend blazer.

The gold accessories make the look night-out ready but you could easily swap the blazer for an oversized zip hoodie to create a super-casual daytime look. Add heeled ankle boots or bare-there sandals or even your kicks depending on the occasion.

2. STAYING IN

I have paired this pink pair of cycle shorts with my beloved embroidered ErdemxHM hoodie (similar here). The colours work really well together but any sweater would work.

Add some white sport socks and chunky trainers and you're good to go!

3. TRAVELLING

Last but not least, I have put the black pair together with my new favourite tee (again, from PrettyLittleThing).

I would finish this look with a pair of heeled ankle boots and an oversized denim jacket and wear it as an airport outfit to travel somewhere HOT!

I picked up both pairs of cycle shorts from eBay for less than £5 each which I am more than happy to pay for trend pieces.

I hope this inspired you in how you style your cycle shorts, or even to buy a pair if you haven't already! They are surprisingly versatile, and definitely an inexpensive wardrobe staple to refresh any look.

Why I chose to delete my Facebook account

2018-09-02T12:30:00.002+01:00

A few months ago I made the decision to delete my Facebook account, and I mean FULL ON delete, not just a mere deactivation of my account. Pictures, status updates, friend requests....all of it was gone with just a click of a button and with not much of a second thought if I'm honest.

The main driver behind this decision was the Facebook controversy surrounding privacy that erupted a few months ago whereby it was reported that some of your personal details may have been made accessible to other companies.

After hearing the news I felt so violated and also I felt frustrated that I had become a victim to it all through being signed up to a social network that I didn't even use, much less did I need!

All of a sudden, Facebook was being invasive, and making me feel vulnerable - what information was out there about me that I don't know about?

The only thing that niggled me slightly before deleting my account was the loss of my photos, mainly from my university days - most of these were not backed-up and would be lost. However, I still went through with the deletion and lost all of those photos. Upon reflection, I wondered if subconsciously maybe I wanted to forget the certain times I went through?

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved being at uni but it was without a doubt an extremely stressful and sometimes lonely time for me. I struggled with the course I was doing (Mathematics), and since I chose to live at home for my second and third year (it was not far from campus at all) it was isolating at times.

I generally associated Facebook with memories of myself where I wasn't feeling my best, where I wasn't portraying the best version of myself so deleting my account felt somewhat cleansing.

And hey, worst case scenario, I know most of my friends are still on Facebook and will have the photos on their accounts anyway.

I rarely engaged with anybody on Facebook day-to-day, I really used it only to look at the memes going around and also just to be a bit nosey!

Why am I more comfortable with Instagram then?

I share a lot more on Instagram relative to Facebook with even more people than just my friends. However, I have less of an issue with this because Facebook was more one-sided, I didn't input anything on there and equally I didn't get much out of it, so I would close the app after a quick scrolling session feeling quite negative and dissatisfied, constantly comparing myself to other people.

On the flip side, when I use Instagram I have a built-up network of users that I engage with daily and I get lots out of it as I put lots in. Instagram is more current and it's more controlled. I see more of what I want to see and less of what I don't. I get more enjoyment from engaging on Instagram where there is more of a 'community' feel and everybody is sharing the love and support.

Facebook suited me at a certain point in my life but now that I've grown older, it no longer serves that purpose, and became a form of procrastination instead.

The only downside to deleting my Facebook account so far?

I have developed a bad habit of not remembering anybody's birthdays now!

Earrings - Soru Jewellery

Dress - old Topshop

The Wedding Diaries (5) - Honeymooning

2018-06-05T21:28:00.001+01:00

Hi there!

I have to say, it feels super weird to be back here typing again...it feels as though so much has changed since my last blog post.

As you may know, I recently got married, and following our wedding, my husband and I (again, so weird!) travelled to Jamaica for our honeymoon. As I do following most of my trips, I wanted to fill you guys in a bit on where we stayed, what we did etc.

We flew from London Heathrow on Tuesday 8th May and returned on Sunday 20th May, so we were there for just under 2 weeks which was ample time for us to be to able to acclimatise, wind down (believe me, this took a couple of days!) and really enjoy ourselves.

The journey was about 12 hours as we had a brief layover, but overall the journey wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

We stayed at the relatively-new resort 'Breathless' in Montego Bay, and we also had access to the 2 neighbouring 'Secrets' resorts.

The resorts were impeccable; they were clean, modern, chic, sophisticated. Nothing was too much for the staff, every single one of them was super-friendly and hospitable.

There was tonnes of food options, from traditional Jamaican food, to French, Italian and Indian cuisine. There was always lots of entertainment to keep us...entertained. For example, every single day at 3pm, there was a foam party in the hotel pool which says it all really!

I guess the best way to summarise my review of the resort is to say we would definitely stay here again.

We ventured out of the resort a few times.

Before we left for Jamaica, a few people heavily recommended that we visit Negril beach and we were so glad for it. It was a beautiful, authentic beach where we ate fresh jerk chicken and met some locals.

Also, we stopped by Rick's Cafe, one of the most famous cliffside bars known for its views of the sunsets whilst some people cliff dive. I would tell everyone visiting Jamaica to go there, it was such a fun and memorable evening.

One thing we hadn't been told much about prior to our trip was Dunnes River Falls. We visited the falls and actually climbed them as part of a group. This was enjoyable, and a way to break up an otherwise super-lazy trip. It wasn't too strenuous but got us moving and walking. In terms of the actually falls, to be honest, it wasn't hugely overwhelming but as I say, it was a nice way to break up the trip.

Finally I just wanted to let you guys know about the weather. We knew we were going during monsoon season but we figured it would rain for an hour or so a day and quickly dry up......nope.....I would say we had 2-3 hours of torrential downpour for about 5 days spread out during our trip which was not the best, but we weren't complaining! When it was hot, it was hot but mostly it was humid and cloudy on the days with no rain.

That's about it from me but if you want to know anything more about our honeymoon in Jamaica, leave a comment below and I will get back to you. X

P.S. Apologies for the lack of photos, I was very lazy with shooting while we were there through pure exhaustion following the wedding madness, but there are more pics from the trip on my Instagram @TheStyleCount

The Wedding Diaries (4) - Pre-Wedding Thoughts & Feelings

2018-04-21T23:34:00.000+01:00

The months of planning are finally done...

The table plan has been tweaked and perfected...

The suitcases are all packed...

The big day is only days away and I am feeling quite reflective so I thought it would be a good idea to share my thoughts and feelings this close to my wedding, as it'll be another keepsake of the whole process.

On the 5th May 2018, I will become somebody's wife, marry my soulmate and begin a new chapter in my life. But how do I feel about it all? As a British-Indian girl, getting married is not just about getting married. There's so many other feelings and emotions to consider, as there is so much more going on in the periphery.

Integrating into another family

It is customary to live with your husband's family following the wedding, which we are planning to do. It will be nice to forge those new relationships and get to know each other better (and also save some money!) but I do feel nervous about it all, which I think is quite natural from speaking to other girls that have gone through the same thing. It's one thing getting to know my husbands habits and moods, but it's another getting to know his parents' too...and equally them getting to know mine. It's going to be a process to find the new comfort zone in the new chapter that we are all entering together.

Although since Ricky and I met, I have gone away on holiday with his family and spent lots of time at his family's house so we aren't too far away from this!

Leaving my old routine, moving out of my parent's home and my childhood bedroom

This definitely generates sad feelings for me to the point that I could honestly cry every time I think about it (and probably will cry buckets on the actual day) but I know it's something every girl has got to go through, and that change is absolutely necessary in order to grow.

It's the little things about living with my parents that I will most the most, things like my dad deicing my car for me!

Although I am SO sad, I am immensely thankful for everything my parents have done to get me to where I am today and I know that realistically I could not live with them forever, it's a way of life, I have to flee the nest in order to make my own.

Towards the actual wedding day and whether it all goes accordingly to plan

There have been a lot of highs and lows to get to this point, I have been the most laid-back, almost uncaring bride-to-be and I've also been full-blown Bridezilla mode. It's been a crazy, emotional rollercoaster with tears and tantrums (mainly from my side) but also lots of giggles and laughs under the pressure of it all.

Ultimately, seeing all my friends and family come together and hearing how excited everybody else is to attend our wedding, having people travelling from Singapore and Canada to celebrate with us is definitely a special feeling.

I am beyond excited for the wedding week. I break up from work the week before my wedding. I am looking forward to catching up on my sleep and relaxing and seeing everything come together. I am looking forward to having that week at home and seeing my house filled with all of the people closest to me, bringing lots of love and laughter with them to see me off into married life.

Guys, it's actually surreal that it's so very nearly around the corner.

Thank-you for reading this blog post, I hope you enjoyed it, and I will see you on the other side...wish me luck!!!

Don't forget to check out my Instagram @thestylecount where you can follow all the shenanigans via Stories x

Why I am totalling buying into the 90's comeback

2018-04-15T23:03:00.002+01:00

First chokers were everywhere and everybody wore them channelling their inner Spice Girl...then came the sea of midriffs and bellybuttons as crop tops hit the high street...and slowly slowly, it seems like a 90's throwback is everywhere I turn as another 'new' old-school brand seems to make a comeback each week...

At the moment, all I am seeing in the shops and across my social media are the "ugly" dad trainers, Kappa and Ellese tracksuits, corduroy flares, denim dungarees, spaghetti slip dresses; it's giving me all of the Saved By The Bell / Friends / Sabrina The Teenage Witch vibes and I am really enjoying it.

Why?

Well, first of all it totally justifies my desire to hold onto my clothes with every intention that I WILL wear these again; everything DOES come back around eventually in one way or another.

And secondly, because as people are remembering their old styles and how they used to dress, there is nostalgia in the air.

It brings us back to thinking of times when we weren't constantly glued to our iPhones, when we didn't think twice about our safety before booking a trip away, when people engaged with each other more, when doors were left open and your neighbours were actually your friends. It reminds me of the times when we were influenced by the likes of Spice Girls promoting #GirlPower rather than the reality stars who are famous simply for being famous.

I'm not for one minute saying that the world is an awful place, it's just that lots of things have changed and some are not always for the better. BUT we do have lots to look forward to and lots to be thankful for. It's now so much easier to stay in touch with loved ones that are far away, it's now so easy to become knowledgeable about anything you want to, and I don't know about you, but I would literally be lost without my SatNav.

Other things I'm excited for include: ~The return of Love Island
~The Royal wedding
~Summertime!

I'm just saying that in the midst of Donald Trump becoming president and the looming Brexit, putting on a crop top and your old popper trousers, and knowing you're not alone can be somewhat comforting.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post.

I wonder if any of this resonated with you?

Don't forget to catch me on Instagram too @thestylecount

Until next time, thank-you for reading! x

Living the London life...

2018-04-01T22:22:00.000+01:00

Hi loves,

For this week's blog post I wanted to tell you a bit more about my time in London.

A year after I graduated from university, I managed to land my dream job as part of a graduate scheme working within finance for a huge British clothing retailer based in London.

I was so excited when I heard the news that I had got the job, I told the HR lady I could start anytime. I was given a start date of 10th Dec, and I decided to commute for the remaining two weeks of the year that would take me up to the Christmas break to give myself time to find my feet in the new role in a new city.

The commute wasn't as bad as it sounds (Birmingham to London) and although it cost me pretty much the same as rent would have, it was comforting to come home to my family after being in a brand new environment during the day.

I found a house-share via the Spareroom website in Finchley, North London and I moved down on New Years Day ready to go back to work from there after the Christmas break.

The house was shared between 4 girls including myself, I was the youngest at 23 and the others were about 28-29 but I thought the age gap wouldn't be a big deal. They seemed lovely, and the house seemed warm and cosy.

I had never moved this far away from home before (I went to university in Birmingham and my halls were a 5 min drive from my family home!), and I was also relatively newly single so I found the move quite a big adjustment to get used to.

A few people said to me 'London can be a lonely place', and that was definitely true for me for the first few months. I was homesick, more so because my sister was getting married in April so lots was going on at home in preparation for the wedding that I wanted to be a part of.

I loved the job, but I wasn't enjoying London as much as I thought I would. I think this was because the girls I was living with were very 'in and out' of the house, and we didn't socialise much as a result. Also I was so broke! (Rent is absolute killer!!!) So it was hard to be out and about all the time whilst also living within my means.

But I persevered with it. I was doing a job I absolutely loved and I was meeting more and more people and building my network slowly. If there was no-one to meet up with, I would take myself to Westfield for a day of shopping, or I would take myself for a coffee, or I would reach out to people I wouldn't usually. I really discovered the joy of spending time with myself and slowly London began to feel like 'my city' and more like home.

Moving into a brand-new 2 bed 2 bath flat in East London definitely helped too! I was now living with 1 girl who was my age and instead of just being flatmates, we were also friends.

I also experienced London in the summertime - lazing on a rooftop bar with friends as the sun sets made it easy to forget I was still in the UK, and definitely made the sweltering tube journeys worth it.

3 and a half years later I had met my soon-to-be husband and I decided to move back to the Midlands to help with the wedding planning. Moving out of London was a necessary decision for me to make but also sad at the same time!

I remember thinking, when I first moved here I was so shy and timid on the tube with everyone barging past me with such purpose as I checked my route on the Tube app and now as I get ready to move out of London, I'm the one walking purposefully and confidently towards my destination, completely and utterly comfortable in my surroundings.

There's so many things I miss about London, it will always be a special place to me.

I miss how there is ALWAYS something new going on somewhere, how diverse it is, how eclectic. I miss walking down Oxford Street and seeing so much style inspo! I miss the independence of living in London. I miss having more time to myself. But of course there are upsides to leaving; I am saving tons more money and I am loving being much closer to my family.

Although London is not an easy to place to live in, in my opinion, it was so so worth it and for now, I will always be able look forward to the next opportunity that I can go back and visit.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post...

Don't forget you can check my Instagram @thestylecount to see more of what I'm getting up to, besides blogging! xx

Skirt - Mango

Knit - H&M

Pumps - Topshop

Sunglasses - Zara

Bag - Gucci

The Wedding Diaries (3) - Hen - What I Wore

2018-03-25T16:53:00.000+01:00

Hi loves!

I have a super quick blog post for you this week...

I wanted to give you a bit of an insight into what we got up to for my hen weekend last month, including one outfit in particular.

I had decided that I wanted to get a big house for the weekend to celebrate my 'last weekend of freedom' with my nearest and dearest.

I had 10 girls plus myself and we managed to find a fabulous house near Chester via Airbnb. We arrived Friday afternoon at about 4pm, and left Sunday morning (slightly worse for wear) at about 11am.

Friday night plans mainly consisted of pizza, prosecco and pyjamas. My sister arranged for all the girls to have the cutest matching pyjamas with their initials embroidered on them, which became a keepsake for them to take home too.

On the Saturday, we went for a boozy brunch at the racecourses, which is where I wore this outfit.

Red is a traditional colour for indian brides, but *spoiler alert* I'm not wearing red on my wedding day, so I figured it would be nice to wear it at the hen instead!

I have been loving the hanky-hem midi skirts that are in the shops at the moment, and this skirt will also be perfect for the honeymoon too as it is really lightweight.

I am also really loving the pink and red colour combo, I don't know what it is, but I think they go really well together. The entire outfit is from ZARA, except for the boots which are TOPSHOP.

Following the brunch, we had lots of games to play and then we headed out to Bijoux in Manchester for lots and lots of dancing. I would really recommend this place, it was really intimate so no-one got lost but also it had the best atmosphere with non-stop tunes being played.

Safe to say, by Sunday both my head and feet were hurting from all of the above but without a doubt, I had the best weekend, and loved seeing all my friends come together.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post, and can appreciate that I can't share EVERYTHING from the hen weekend but rest assured, the girls gave me a very good send off into married life!

If you were following my Instagram, you may have caught more on my stories @thestylecount

Lots of love xxx

How I Save For Designer Purchases

2018-03-12T21:58:00.000+00:00

Hi loves,

For this week's blog post, I thought I would try to give you guys a bit of an insight into how I save up to shop designer goods.

Firstly, I think a bit of context is needed. I have a full-time job which allows me to fund my lifestyle myself comfortably but I also work really hard and have to save up in order to be able to splurge on something. If I want something, I will only buy it for myself if I can afford it. I don't and won't rely on anybody else to buy these things for me.

Secondly, buying designer goods is a huge deal for me!

1. SAVE THOSE GIFTS!

When your auntie gives you £20 at Christmas, or your granddad gives you £10 for your birthday, I would say always put these small cash sums towards your luxury savings. The pennies make pounds and you would be surprised with how quickly it all adds up! It's hard to put this into practice surprisingly because it's so easy to use that £10 gift on a little Starbucks pick-me-up, but then how far did that gift really go for you? Bank it!

2. SELL, SELL, SELL!

Clothes and shoes and bags sitting in your wardrobe not being worn is a waste of space and could be bringing in money for you. Have a wardrobe clear-out and sell those pieces that you probably will never ever wear again. Again, it all adds up plus it actually feels very cathartic to be ridding yourself of old, unused items in your wardrobe in order to buy yourself something that is more of an investment, that you know will last you for years to come.

3. GOOD OLD-FASHIONED SAVING

Then of course, there's the good, old-fashioned saving. Each month, I try to put away some money that is intended to go towards a luxury purchase. However, I don't save in the same way as I would save for a car or house; this luxury purchase is not a necessity so there are months where I can't save anything and months where I can.

It's not the end of the world, I fully realise that there are other more important things in my life that I need/want to prioritise such as our wedding, and wanting to travel.

I will buy what I want when I can afford to, whether it takes me two weeks, two months or two years and it will feel just as great whenever it happens. You have to stay patient with it! It can be a slow process.

And that's it! That's all I really do to save up money for those extra-special purchases for myself, and I often use them to recognise something I have achieved for myself such as a new job.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post, it was more to recognise the images portrayed on social media, that shopping luxury is an everyday thing, which for me it completely is not!

Don't forget to check out my Instagram @thestylecount to keep up with everything I'm doing, not just my blog posts! x

How I've Learned To Dress For My Shape

2018-03-05T21:54:00.002+00:00

Hi loves!

For this week's blog post, I wanted to talk to you about how I've learned to dress for my body shape as I've grown older.

Today, I put comfort over everything when I'm choosing something to wear. If I'm not 100% comfortable wearing something, it shows on my face and my body language, even my mood. It really affects me!

I am all for pushing out of your comfort zone and wearing something you wouldn't normally wear, but I wouldn't go as far as wearing something that I felt ridiculous in.

Years ago, whilst I was at university, I tried to wear bodycon skirts and dresses like all of the other girls were wearing and I remember feeling so on edge about it. I hated it, and it totally shows on my face in all the photos I feel. Honestly, my face is a mixture of forcing a smile and breathing in waaay too much.

Through growing up, I've learnt a lot.

I've since learnt to be happy in my own skin. I've learnt that we all have different body shapes and things that we like/dislike about ourselves. But most importantly, one of the best things I've learnt is to EMBRACE it all.

I don't have to wear what everybody else is wearing and I don't have to like what everybody else likes (which is often the case!).

I now recognise and choose to emphasise my favourite assets.

I have long legs and skinny ankles (thanks Dad!) which means that skirts are in fact my best friend (this one is ASOS).

I have always had a muffin top tummy and I don't like cleavage so I avoid anything that accentuates my midriff/chest.

When buying t-shirts, I choose to buy them in a size 12 rather than a size 8 to make them loose rather than tight (this one is from TOPSHOP).

I've learnt that I really love anything oversized on me, which is nothing to do with my size, again it's just my preference for comfort and it's what makes up a HUGE part of my style!

To be completely honest, these old thoughts have resurfaced recently due to upcoming trips to Miami and Vegas requiring me to "dress up" for that super-glam nightlife. I saw my friends rocking their dresses and for about 4 seconds, I wished I could wear something like that. But instead of dwelling on these thoughts, I remembered how much I loved what I was wearing instead and how much fun I was having on the trip.

Everybody has their own shape and style and we should all embrace these to inspire others.

Let's throw out compliments to each other like we do to those random girls in the club toilets after ones too many drinks; let's share those good vibes x

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me

2018-02-26T21:45:00.001+00:00

This week's blog post is slightly different and something I have never done before but I thought it would be a good way for you to get to know me a bit better!

So here are 10 things that you may not know about me....

1. My date of birth is 22nd August 1991, which means I am 26 years old right now

2. I was born in Birmingham

3. I am a qualified management accountant (subject to submitting my logbook!)

4. I went to university and I have a Mathematics degree

5. I lived in London from January 2014 to May 2017 and LOVED it

6. I started this blog because I had all these clothes in my wardrobe and I never really wore them even though I had all these ideas about how I would wear them and with what outfits and I wanted to get my thoughts and ideas out there!

7. My hair used to be dip-dyed blonde which was amazing at first. Then I dyed my hair back to one colour for my sister's wedding and tried to recreate the blonde dip-dye effect afterwards but it was never the same. I want to hopefully dye my hair again after my wedding this spring.

8. I love love love going to the gym and exercising. I've been a member of the gym since I was about 17 years old and I've done lots of different exercise regimens - swimming, spinning, yoga etc. I don't believe in diets!

9. I am a middle child, I have one older sister and one younger brother, and for me, the Middle Child Syndrome is so real!

10. I have 3 tattoos and 6 piercings in my ears. I used to have my nose pierced too. I love them all and I want to get more in the future!

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and that you found it interesting, I know I love reading this type of stuff with other people too!

Don't forget you can catch up with me on Instagram too @thestylecount

Bag Review - Gucci Dionysus Shoulder Bag

2018-02-18T17:47:00.001+00:00

Hi loves!

For this week's blog post, I am reviewing my latest luxury purchase, the Gucci 'Dionysus small GG shoulder bag'.

In my last bag review, I mentioned how luxury purchases are a massive deal for me, and not something I take lightly. I do a ton of research beforehand, and visit the bag and try it on a good few times before I make a decision.

I had been eyeing this particular bag up for months, in-store and online, along with the Gucci Marmont shoulder bag. I was undecided between the two, but ultimately I chose this one.

Why?

I felt that the Dionysus canvas print was classic, and I really love the structure of the bag compared to the Marmont. And also, given I had the Marmont cross-body bag already, I thought that getting the shoulder bag wouldn't look/feel very different.

I was a bit wary that I was buying ANOTHER Gucci bag, and that I should maybe venture towards another brand instead, but as I tried to look elsewhere nothing was quite matching up, so I took the plunge. I am so glad I did it!

I bought the bag directly from Gucci and it took about 3-4 weeks to arrive, which I didn't mind as I wasn't in the biggest rush to use it.

I love the structure, size and colour of this bag. To be honest, it doesn't go with everything, but it's not the kind of bag I would want to wear everyday anyway.

The canvas is coated in a protective chemical material so you can take it out in the rain. Even though the outer material is canvas, it's completely protected.

I can fit quite a bit inside too - my phone, cardholder, keys, lipstick, sunglasses, headphones, hand sanisiter - all of my basic, daily essentials!

All in all, I have to say that I absolutely love this bag and I am so glad I bought it. I truly do think I will be wearing it now and for years to come, so even though it is on the pricey side, it will last me forever.

Further info for reference:

Official name - Dionysus small GG shoulder bag
Price - £1,490
Outer material - canvas (coated)
Inner material - suede
Size - W28cm x H17cm x D9cm
Chain length - 38cm or 22cm depending on how worn
Where can you find it - Gucci

Hope you enjoyed this blog post and that you found it useful! x

Happy Valentine's Day....?

2018-02-11T21:31:00.000+00:00

Hey there!

Next week brings us the “most romantic day of the year” also known as 14^th February and I wanted to talk about it in this week’s blog post.

Personally, I dread Valentine’s Day, and when I see the cards and flowers and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates being promoted everywhere from the last week of January onwards, it makes me cringe and shudder.

Whether I’ve been single or in a relationship, my feelings towards Valentine’s Day are the same either way. If you are single, it’s kind of like couples everywhere are rubbing their relationships in your face. If you are in a relationship, you can’t help having an expectation of how you want the day to go, and if/when it doesn’t, you wind up feeling angry or disappointed. Do you see what I’m saying? Regardless of your situation, I believe Valentine’s Day just makes people miserable and for that reason I am so against it!

That being said, I do use this opportunity to go out with my OTHER loved ones, my girls. We usually make plans every year to go for dinner and drinks, to spend quality time with each other in the midst of tables filled with guys that seem like they have been forced to wine and dine their girls and we always end up having the BEST time.

This outfit is something I would probably throw on for a dinner with friends.

I loved this blazer in Topshop when it came in store just before Christmas but I didn’t buy it as I was trying to be good (as always). Then I saw it in sale after Christmas and I didn’t think twice about picking it up (as always!).

I’ve worn it with my new favourite blue straight leg jeans and white slingbacks, both Zara along with this tee and belt to break it all up a bit. I've also worn some thick gold hoops which I picked up from Topshop and am absolutely loving!

Blazers are definitely becoming my go-to for most occasions, workwear, casual daytime, evenings. They just work so brilliantly and effortlessly in my wardrobe!

What do you guys normally do on Valentine’s Day? Do you love it or hate it? Let me know what you think!

Don’t forget you can catch me on Instagram @thestylecount to catch up with what I’m doing and wearing x

I have this thing with white tees...

2018-02-04T10:24:00.000+00:00

Hello!

Today's post is going to be relatively short and sweet :)

If you have been reading my blog posts for a while or you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I have A LOT of t-shirts, white ones moreso. I have some grey and some black, but the majority are white.

Whenever I spy a new white t-shirt in the shops, I feel compelled to buy it. I have about 3 t-shirts in my wardrobe that have yet to be worn and about 7 that have only ever been worn once, it's slightly ridiculous I know.

I am a huge advocate of selling or donating clothes and shoes to someone who will love them more than me, but for some reason, I can never bring myself to sell any of my t-shirts.

Some of my favourites include the Merci t-shirt, the Females of the Future t-shirt and the classic Adidas t-shirt. These feel iconic to me, and for that reason, I just can't see myself selling them any time soon.

I think I love them so much because they can make such a statement to a plain or casual or smart outfit. To me, a t-shirt is the epitome of versatility and a printed/graphic t-shirt is just that one step further.

I know that the t-shirt featured in today's post will also become a firm favourite of mine.

I grew up listening to Whitney Houston as my mum is a huge fan. I saw this t-shirt on the Topshop website styled with a suit. When I saw it, I was immediately scouring their t-shirt section looking for it! I couldn't find it. For the next month or so, I kept checking their website and only saw it styled with other items that were for sale but the t-shirt itself appeared nowhere on the website.

A few days before Christmas I popped in store to do some last minute shopping and lo and behold it was right in front of my eyes! I literally ran to it! I bought it in a size Medium as I like the oversized fit and I absolutely adore it.

I have worn it with these lovely velvet culottes that I picked up in the Zara sale and my trusty Vans.

Is there anything that you're obsessed with buying? Trainers or bags or anything else?

I would love to know!

Don't forget you can also follow me on Instagram @thestylecount

Next week's post will be all about Valentine's Day - how I feel about it and what I wear for it!

xxx

3 Current Favourites - January

2018-01-28T23:52:00.000+00:00

Hello!

Today's blog post is all about the 3 current favourite items in my wardrobe/beauty bag. I love doing this type of blog posts as it allows me to recap all of my favourite outfits and photos. The last time I did this was in October so there are definitely a few updates!

1. HIGH STREET FOUNDATION

The first favourite is my current high htreet foundation that I am absolutely loving at the moment! I have always been a die-hard fan of the MAC Face & Body foundation but I felt like a change, especially between what I wear to work everyday compared to evening wear.

A couple of people had recommended Loreal True Match, and given lots of beauty bloggers rave about it on Youtube, I thought I would give it a go. Me being me, thinking about too many things at once, I ended up buying the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation completely by accident. I also picked up a BB cream to try out for daytime too. I realised my mistake once I got home, but for the sake of £10 I decided to just give it a go.

I mixed the foundation with the BB cream and applied with my fingers. The coverage and consistency is very similar to the MAC Face & Body foundation, and it also leaves a nice dewy look on my skin too. When I saw my makeup in photos, I found that it really does POP and it looks flawless! I honestly prefer my makeup in photos with this Rimmel foundation compared to my usual MAC one. Safe to say, I am SOLD and will be buying it again without a doubt!

2. VINTAGE HANDBAG

I had seen vintage Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Dior bags popping up on YouTube and Instagram recently and decided that I needed to get a piece of the action. I fell in love with the Dior vintage trotter print so naturally I started trawling eBay and Vestiaire in search of one!

I found this Dior baguette a couple of days later and loved the shape of it (the saddle bag shape wasn't for me), I loved the navy print but most of all, I loved the hardware on the zip and the strap! Needless to say, it hasn't left my side since it arrived.

3. LOUNGEWEAR SET

I am all about comfort. If something is comfortable and warm, it's a winner for me. I love sporty tracksuits, I love brand-new pyjamas and I love love love chic loungewear, especially matching sets.

This set from Missy Empire is beautiful. It's super lightweight and I feel that it looks so put together because it is a co-ord. It's perfect for running errands, travelling or just to do absolute nothing in! I would definitely recommend!!!

And that's about it! My 3 current favourites at the moment. Did any of them surprise you? Are you guys loving any of these right now? I would love to know!

Don't forget to check out my Instagram @thestylecount to keep up to date with everything that I'm wearing and everything that I'm doing :)

The Wedding Diaries (2) - Engagement

2018-01-21T17:28:00.000+00:00

Hello!

This week's blog post is going to be the second instalment of The Wedding Diaries and will be taking you through our engagement!

THE ENGAGEMENT (also known as the chunni & kurmai ceremony)

The engagement was made up of two ceremonies; the chunni and the kurmai.

The two ceremonies go hand-in-hand together. The kurmai the focuses on the boy and is done by the girl's family. The chunni focuses on the girl and is done by the boy's family.

Both ceremonies are essentially centred around giving blessings to the couple to be married.

The kurmai can take place before the wedding by any length of time, a week, a year or even just moments before. The choice to do it before the wedding and make it into a separate event is entirely down to individual choice. Some families like to have an event between the announcement and the wedding, especially if there is a substantial amount of time in between the two.

The kurmai generally takes place at the 'gurdwara' (Sikh temple). The girl's family bring sweets and dried fruit and maybe a 'kara' (Sikh religious bangle) or a ring or a watch to present to the boy. The meaning of this ceremony is essentially both families declaring their approval of the union, and this is usually shown when a senior male member of the girl's family feeds the boy a date.

Next comes the chunni. This involves the boy's family gifting the girl with presents such as make-up, jewellery, Indian clothes etc. They also bring 'sindoor' (a red powder) and most importantly, a red 'chunni' (scarf). The sindoor is placed in the girl's parting by the boy and the chunni is placed on the girl's head by the boy's mother. This signifies the boy's family welcoming the girl to the family.

Coming back to our kurmai/chunni, initially, I had wanted to do ours within the wedding week. It can take a great deal of time and money to plan these as separate events and often takes focus from the actual wedding, which we learnt from my sister's wedding. However, in this instance, we did what our parents wanted and ours took place on Saturday 7th October.

Ricky had his kurmai ceremony at the gurdwara in the morning, which I didn't attend as is the custom. From what I hear and the pictures that I saw, it all went well! My family took 5 baskets filled with Indian sweets, fruit and 1 was full of biscuits because they're Ricky's favourite.

Then in the afternoon we had the chunni ceremony. Now, I have attended a few chunni ceremonies, including my sister's as I have mentioned above and I've seen them get bigger and bigger over the years until they resemble what can only be described as a mini-wedding, with cake-cuttings and first dances. I knew that I didn't want any of that, doing it once on the actual wedding day would be enough for me!

As a result, we opted for an afternoon tea theme. There was no Indian food in sight (a bit of a risk) but we actually had a lot of people tell us it was a welcome change to the norm! It took place at the Malmaison hotel in Birmingham in a conference room. There was no cake, no DJ, no dancefloor, nothing that gave even the slightest hint of a wedding reception!

My family welcomed Ricky's family to the venue, and once everybody was settled, I entered wearing an Indian outfit gifted to me by Ricky's family.

The chunni ceremony then took place, Ricky put the sindoor in my parting (and might have accidentally spilt some on my forehead!) and Ricky's mum placed the red chunni on my head. Everybody then gave us their blessings and we ate. It was a really fun, chilled vibe and I was really happy with how it went, regardless of the nerves I was feeling beforehand!

But as I mentioned above, it did take up quite a bit of time planning and co-ordinating it all. As a result we lost a bit of momentum with the main wedding planning, which is now just over 3 months away!!! I can't quite believe where the time is going. I also have my hen coming up in the next couple of months which I'm excited to share with you all in the next instalment of the Wedding Diaries!

But if you want to see what we get up to in real time, make sure you stay tuned to my Instagram @thestylecount !

Thank-you for reading x

The basic grey tee x3

2018-01-14T13:06:00.000+00:00

This week's post is all about styling a basic grey tee 3 different ways...

I am all about getting a good cost per wear ratio on the items in my wardrobe, and whenever I am contemplating buying something, I always run through the various possible outfits that could be worn with the potential new item. I tend to go for clothes that can be worn smart AND casual, day AND night, with heels AND with trainers. In other words, clothes that are truly versatile, which is why I love doing posts like this. I believe the clothes in your wardrobe should really work for you, and should be able to be worn many different ways several times over.

So without further ado, let's crack on!

Nibbled grey tee - Topshop

OUTFIT 1. STATEMENT BOOTS

This first outfit is giving me a lot of LA vibes (even though I've never been, it's on the bucket list!). It's super laid-back but also quite polished and clean.

I rolled up the sleeves of my oversized grey tee, chucked on my washed black, raw hem denim culottes and a pair of statement booties. Accessories are minimal; watch, sunglasses, neutral lipstick. With those boots, I don't think the outfit needs much else. The boots take the outfit from being basic to minimal chic.

Boots - Topshop SALE

Culottes - Zara SALE

Sunglasses - Rayban

OUTFIT 2: STATEMENT EARRINGS

Lately, I feel as though none of my outfits are complete without a pair of earrings!

This second outfit has a smarter look to it.

I have traded my culottes for some slim-fit black joggers and thrown on my go-to black blazer. I added some accessories that not only complement the outfit but also each other. The earrings have hints of pink in it which are accentuated by the colour of my loafers.

Joggers - Zara

Blazer - Miss Selfridge

Loafers - Gucci

Earrings - Zara

Bag - Mulberry

Sunglasses - as before

OUTFIT 3: CHUNKY KNIT

For the final outfit, I kept the same joggers on as above but I have swapped the blazer for this awesome mustard chunky knit cardigan and worn my metallic booties again.

The different textures and colours works quite well in this outfit. You could opt for black boots or white trainers if these boots are a bit too much, but I absolutely love this combo!

CARDIGAN - River Island

Bag, sunglasses and joggers - As before

How else do you wear your basic tees?

I hope you enjoyed this blog post, and don't forget to follow me on Instagram @thestylecount to stay up-to-date on all of my blog posts and outfits :)

Beating the January blues

2018-01-07T23:23:00.000+00:00

Hi there!

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and New Year. Mine was super fun, spent with my family doing the usual - eating too much! I think by now most of us will be gradually getting back into the swing of things, putting the Christmas decorations away and getting back to reality.

January can be a difficult month for many. It can be tough to remain focused and stay positive. Some of us use the new year as a fresh start. Some are trying to detox or do dry January or even spend less...generally just trying break bad habits and embed good ones.

I have just included a few ways that we can combat these feelings and get through what can feel like the longest month below:

KEEP THE GOAL IN MIND

If your goal is to save up some money or to lose some weight or to get that promotion, put reminders around for yourself so you are continually reminded of why you are doing what you're doing. I do this by changing the background on my phone to something I am working towards or putting up mood boards around my bedroom that include images of what I'm striving towards. Seeing it in front of you often really does act as a reminder and give you that boost when you need it.

SET ACHIEVABLE GOALS AND REWARD YOURSELF

'celebrate the little wins'

The little wins will keep you feeling positive and motivated and remind yourself of the journey that you're on. If you're saving up for something, treat yourself to a little motivational gift. If you're trying to lose weight, go out for a cheat meal once in a while. If you're going for that promotion, keep those emails where your boss is praising you. It seriously helps when you reach that plateau in progress!

STAY POSITIVE

I know that this blog is talking about the struggle of staying positive in January and that this may seem like I'm stating the obvious but don't underestimate the power of a positive attitude! If you believe you can do something, you will do it! On those days when you're feeling a bit low, do something to tackle it and raise those endorphins in your body. Go for a run, go get some retail therapy, go eat some chocolate! Do what makes you happy to get yourself back to your happy place, and then start again. There is no shame in having a setback, as long as you are able to get yourself back up from it.

I hope you enjoyed this blog, it's a little different for me, but I really enjoyed writing it!

Make sure you check out what I'm getting up to on a daily basis via my Instagram @thestylecount

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

2017-12-24T23:58:00.000+00:00

Merry Christmas!

...or should I say Merry Christmas Eve as it's technically 11.36pm on 24th December as I type this but let's just roll with it!

So, this is to be my LAST post of 2017! (so cliche but seriously, where does time go?!!!)

Pre-warning: it's going to be a bit more of a reflective blog post today, as it just feels right to do at this time of year. I hope you enjoy reading it!

2017 has been an amazing year for me, it's been hugely exciting with weddings and rings and proposals, but also new jobs and moving cities. Like most people, my 2017 has had its ups and downs, which I am grateful for. The not-so-good stuff has helped me to become a better person and more appreciate of the good stuff!

What I have particularly enjoyed this year is focusing more on THE STYLE COUNT. My blog is something I have always been passionate about, but it was only this year that I have really been able to dedicate myself to it. I am able to shoot photos and upload blog posts more regularly, and as a result, I have seen my following grow massively. I have loved putting my thoughts and feelings and outfits out there and seeing all the love and appreciation I get in return (mainly via Instagram).

I have just loved putting my good vibes out there and getting them back. I am thankful for it everyday and I just hope it continues!

As I look forward to next year, I know it will be a huge year already, as I get married and begin a new chapter of my life. But I also plan to continue giving THE STYLE COUNT my continuing focus and commitment and passion.

I want to continue to produce content that you all love, but that I also love creating.

I want to grow my following and my blogger network more and more.

I want to worry less about stats and figures and care more about just doing what I love, which is shopping and styling!

I am so grateful for everything I have achieved so far with regards to my blog, and so so thankful for all of the support and appreciation that you have all shown me.

So just, THANK-YOU and again, I wish you all a

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Lots of love x

New Years Eve Outfit Ideas

2017-12-17T17:18:00.000+00:00

3, 2, 1....

This week's post is dedicated to New Years Eve, which I thought would be appropriate as it's only a couple of weeks away and people begin making their plans and thinking about what they want to wear on the night.

I wanted to show you what kind of outfit I would wear on New Years Eve.

As I mentioned in my Christmas party blog post, I don't tend to rush out and buy something especially for a Christmas party, and the same goes for New Years Eve. The outfit below is made up of items that were already in my wardrobe.

When I was younger, I would go clubbing and ravings on New Years Eve and I would wear dresses or skirts or playsuits, something with lots of sequins and definitely not sensible in the cold temperatures!

As I've gotten older, my idea of a perfect New Years Eve has definitely changed. Now I prefer having friends over for food and drinks, or going to a warm and cosy pub for the evening or going to the temple. It's definitely not my most favourite evening of the year, but I do feel as though welcoming a new year should be commemorated in some shape or form.

Today's outfit is something I would wear to a house party or dinner party or to a low-key pub/bar.

The blazer is my everyday black, boyfriend-style blazer from Miss Selfridge, and my mom jeans are from Zara. The bodysuit and shoes are both from Topshop. The bodysuit is nude with some sequins, it's definitely a party piece but the blazer and jeans make it more casual.

I've worn some gold earrings from ASOS too. And my fabulous bag is vintage Dior from Vestiaire Collective.

You could definitely dress this up with leather/vinyl trousers or a skirt and lose the jacket.

What do you tend to do/wear on NYE?

Don't forget you can catch more of my outfits and what I get up to via my Instagram @thestylecount

Thanks for reading! x

The blazer of Christmas dreams - taking you from Day to Night

2017-12-11T20:09:00.000+00:00

Hi everybody!

Keeping in theme with my previous post, this post is about how to wear an outfit that will take you through from daytime to nighttime effortlessly and seamlessly.

My day-to-night outfit is built around an ochre, velvet blazer from TOPSHOP. It came in a blush pink version, and also had matching trousers. I didn't opt to get the matching trousers, while the suit was BEAUTIFUL, I was struggling to justify the blazer cost-per-wear let alone the suit so I decided against it.

The blazer however.....utterly irresistible! (seriously, I must have looked at the blazer about 9 times before I bought it, I tried so hard not to give in)

I have teamed it with a pair of slim-fit black jogger/trousers from ZARA, heels and a long sleeve floral bodysuit from TOPSHOP.

I wore this outfit in the evening during my weekend trip to London and I also wore it during my spa break at the Belfry.

A jazzy statement piece in your wardrobe is really great for seeing you through the festive season.

Swap out the bodysuit for a roll-neck jumper or t-shirt and the heels for some white plimsolls or boots, and it is good to go for the daytime too! This definitely helps to get your wear out of the more premium items in your wardrobe.

I have also spotted some people rocking this blazer with a cheeky hoodie underneath - love it!

I hope you enjoyed reading this, and that you love this blazer as much as I do!

Check out my Instagram to see more from me and what I get up to!

Christmas Party Ready

2017-12-03T20:56:00.001+00:00

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

We are officially in December and party season is upon us!

As my weekends are getting more and more filled up with work parties, catch-up dinners, festive drinks, I am finding it harder and harder to resist buying all of the shiny, glittery dresses that are all over the high street right now...I can't be the only one right?!

For this week's post, I wanted to show you what I have decided to wear to my work Christmas party this year.

I wasn't actively looking for anything new for the occasion, and often I end up wearing something already in my wardrobe but I had to share this look, partly because it was what started my new obsession - wrap dresses FYI.

I was casually browsing the Zara website when I stumbled across this beauty.

I originally loved it because I thought it would be great to wear as a long duster jacket with jeans. I also loved the green colour and the print. It was called a 'velvet wrap dress' on the website which also prompted me to buy, but honestly, my only intention was to wear this as a jacket.

The dress arrived and as soon as I tried it on, I knew it was a winner. The colours, the print, the wrap-style, I was loving everything.

Okay and the best thing? It was only £30!!!!!

You know when you try something on, you just think "yes this would be perfect for this event"? I had one of those moments.

I paired the dress with some Zara sock boots and some simple gold hoops, it didn't need much in the way of accessories.

I am super happy with this purchase and believe me, this dress will be worn many times more, as a dress, as a jacket with jeans, layered under a roll neck jumper....I can't wait!

What are you guys wearing over the festive season? Do you buy anything special?

I would love to know!

Be sure to check out my Instagram @thestylecount where I'll be sharing more of my outfits as always!

Bag Review - Gucci Marmont Crossbody Bag

2017-11-26T17:53:00.000+00:00

I wanted to do a bag review on my Gucci Marmont crossbody bag just in case any of you were contemplating buying it and wanted to know more about it (I know I always research and read other people’s reviews on bags and shoes before I consider buying anything!).

Buying a luxury bag is a big commitment and a huge decision for me personally. It’s a lot of money to pay for something, which some people may or may not agree with but I guess it’s a personal choice at the end of the day. I see these types of purchases as an investment. Some bags go up in value as time goes on, so you could actually end up making money if you ever decided to sell them on!

I never rush this type of decision and I will often go and see the bag in store (usually more than once!) before I decide if I want to buy it. In the end, I bought my bag via Net-A-Porter. There was no real reason behind choosing this retailer except for me wanting to see what the experience was like (10/10 by the way!).

For me, this bag ticks a lot of boxes.

· Relatively affordable (vs similar size/style bags from Chanel, Saint Laurent, Prada etc)

· On trend right now but classic enough that I could see myself wearing it in years to come

· Slots well into my wardrobe

· Suitable for daytime and nighttime (the bag seriously fits SO much in there - my iPhone, makeup, cardholder, keys…super roomy and practical!)

The bag is truly beautiful, and as a huge Gucci fan, buying this bag was the best decision and the first step towards building my collection. No regrets!

It is easy to take care of, and suitable for pretty much any weather (although I wouldn’t take it out in the pouring rain anytime soon!).

It really finishes off any outfit, be it a smart check blazer with jeans or a winter dress with tights and boots (check out my Instagram @thestylecount to see all the different ways I wear this bag). It really does go with a lot, and the subtle, brushed gold logo detail adds the touch of luxury to my everyday wardrobe that I wanted!

All in all, I would definitely recommend this bag! It comes in velvet too, and in lots of different colours (red, nude, white and more) and also bigger sizes. BUT guys! My biggest piece of advice would be to make your purchase before the brand’s biannual price hike….when you’re lusting after a bag for months and then see the price increase by £50-£100, it can be quite painful!

Further info for reference:

· Official name - GG Marmont matelassé mini bag

· Price - from £715

· Outer material - matelassé chevron leather

· Inner material - microfiber lining with a suede-like finish

· Size - W18cm x H12cm x D6cm

· Chain length - 60cm drop

· Where can you find it – Gucci, Net-A-Porter, Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, lyst.com

Happy shopping!

So I bought some blue velvet boots...

2017-11-19T16:12:00.000+00:00

Like a bolt of lightning, it seemed as though the moment Balenciaga's sock boots hit the runway, they were all over the high street!

SOCK BOOTS

There's been no getting away from them this season. They are everywhere, in different heel heights and colours and styles.

At first, I was adamant that I wouldn't buy into this trend, it would pass soon enough and I didn't need to get a pair. But as I always inevitably do, I caved.

I just think they look so great with a pair of raw hem jeans or a floaty midi dress, I had to snap up a pair. "Life's too short, buy the shoes" and all that!

I tried some from Topshop that were a silver, satin-esque type of boot for about £38 but they just didn't look right on me.

Zara had a few pairs, in the bright red stretchy fabric aswell, making them a GREAT dupe of the infamous Balenciaga booties, but I wasn't willing to pay £70-£80 for the Zara ones.

Finally, via Instagram, I found these AMAAAAAZING blue, velvet ones from noneother than our very own Marks and Sparks!!!! AND they were only £39.50! (similar here)

Aren't they just stunning!

What I love more about them is that the heel is very comfortable so they can be for daytime or nighttime.

I often just wear them with a pair of jeans and a tshirt, these jeans are Topshop Boutique and the tshirt is Zara.

It's a great off-duty look with the rich velvet of the boots adding a little somthing-something to the entire look. I'm so happy I decided to pick these up!

Here are some links to some fabulous sock boots in the shops right now if you fancy getting your hands on a pair:

TOPSHOP (PLAIN)

PUBLIC DESIRE STRETCHY

Make sure to let me know if you decided to pick up a pair and how you styled them! x