So today I’m presenting you with another outfit post. This outfit, however, poses a deep contrast to the less than modest outfit that was last week.
For the first time in forever I was confronted with a formal meeting (I’ll have to spare the inner details I’m afraid…) and that was a reason in itself to splurge on something new (including new shoes and a handbag, of course). I wanted to go for something smart but somewhat laidback for the Spring/Summer months. It was also vital that each item individually could be paired with other items to create intriguing new looks.

So nude, of course, was the way to go, and shall be until we long to see the last of it come the end of August. Beige trousers, courtesy of Zara, could later be paired with casual tees and moccasins for a laid back Summery look. The blush-coloured top, also courtesy of Zara, could be dressed either up or down by either layering it with plenty of bangles/necklaces for evening, or merely tucking it into shorts for day.
The H+M shoes (so beautiful, no?) are indeed fancy but will be saved for an up and coming wedding in May (an outfit post shall indeed be created shortly afterwards!)
And finally, the black blazer which is so old it’s practically vintage will be put to firm use this Spring when I will endeavour to experiment with wearing it for casual everyday use.

Question time: Do you like this formal outfit? How would you choose to wear any of the featured pieces? What are your favourite outfits for formal occasions?

(Don’t try and pretend you don’t remember this song.)

Despite the ravishing sunshine, the weather itself is deceptive and cruel, and a nippy wind chill ensures that scarves, jackets and workman boots are still very much necessary.

That doesn’t mean I haven’t been secretly donning denim hotpants and experimenting with this season’s super cool ice cream shades indoors though!

(Top: Zara, Shorts: Topshop, Hair clip: Dorothy Perkins)

(Jumper: Topshop, Shorts: As before)

Um, excuse the dirty bin liner in the second picture. It’s not rubbish, honest, I just keep forgetting to take all my hideous wardrobe monstrosities to the charity shop.

Also I hope you like the new look of the blog. I was in the mood for drawing summery stuff today!

Question time: Are you excited for the summer months? What trends will you be embracing this summer?

image courtesy of http://runjun.blogspot.com

I am sorry that my posting has become a bit inconsistent lately. Work and laziness have played a major part in my procrastinations and I promise I’m going to make more of an effort from now on.

I’ve recently become obsessed with the art of spring-cleaning my wardrobe. I’m just so sick of hoarding items I wouldn’t dream of wearing any time soon and pointless impulse buys that just make you think “whyyyyy?” So, from now on I’ve vowed to be good and really take care when splashing out on those deceptive absolute-must-have-buys.

How am I going to take care exactly? The answer, my money-saving-expert friends, lies in the following rules:

1.) Only buy something if it can be paired with at least 3 other garments.
This is such a great point and something which has stuck with me from my dailly scanning over at the Lookbook forums. Whether it’s a top, pair of jeans, or even a fluffy feathery ra ra skirt, it has to go with 3 or more items you already own. Otherwise, you won’t wear it and it will just get discarded at the back of the closet with those other must-have mistakes.

2.) If the price is unjustifiable, WAIT until the sales.
Chances are, if no one else is grabbing it off the rack then it will be in the sales, in which case you’ll end up saving yourself a lot of money. There’s nothing worse than finding that gorgeous dress slashed by more than 75% several weeks after purchase.

3.) Avoid buying more than one item which follows the same trend.
Not as self-explanatory as the first two points, so I shall explain. Basically, if you already own a pair of harem pants, don’t buy another pair. Trends come and go, meaning you’ll have more items to add to the “strictly unwearable” pile by the time that trend disappears. Instead, try the 60/40 rule. 60% of your wardrobe should contain staple items that remain acceptable from season to season (jeans, cardigans, basic tops etc.) and 40% should feature really trendy items which will only last 1/2 years at the very most.

4.) Know what suits you.
Never buy clothes in the wrong size in the hope you will one day fit into them, and never ever buy something you’re not 100% sure about. If in doubt, always take a friend shopping with you for a second opinion.

5.) Work out the money-for-wear equation
You’ve probably heard of this before. Basically, if you’re buying something you will wear a lot, such as a new jacket or pair of boots, expect to pay considerably more than a top which can only be worn so often. So, for example, if you pay £100 for a pair of boots and wear those boots a grand total of 100 times, those boots will cost £1 each time you wear them. Of course, it can be difficult to work out how many times you will wear a certain garment, but if you can’t think of more than one occasion when you would wear it, then either don’t bother or pay less.

Now, I understand I would have been better off posting this back at the beginning of the year when it was genuinely appropriate to make new years’ resolutions. But it’s never the wrong time to change bad habits, so why not join me in the beginning of a new ‘careful shopping’ regime?

Question time:Do you have any bad shopping habits? Are you an impulse buying? What tips do you have to avoid making silly buys?

As for the transformation process? Extreme side parting + slightly tousled hair + lots of eyeliner + blouse + skirt + tights + pointed brogues = sorted! Definitely not my usual style, but there’s no doubt that it’s fun to experiment sometimes. Who knows, I might start dressing like this more often.

And the pictures (apologies for the lack of full outfit pictures, but my camera is actually held together with a lot of cracked plastic and sellotape right now…):

Absolutely love the vintage-inspired heart pattern on this blouse. The blouse itself is cropped short, so I teamed it with a high-waisted black skirt and black tights to balance it out.

The pointed patent Primark brogues! These pictures were taken after my night out, so hence the tragic drink stains and dust marks.

You can’t really see the full extent of my hairstyle here, but I roughed it up quite a bit which is different to my normal style. Of course the look wouldn’t have been complete without a slick of bright lipstick and a gold plaited hairband!

So there you go. How to transform yourself from pretty normal to indie kid in the space of one evening. You likey?

Question time: Do you like to transform your style or do you mainly stick to the same looks? What looks have you experimented with in the past?

P.S. Sorry if you’ve been receiving weird messages from my Twitter. It’s not me, it’s spam, so just ignore it!

P.P.S Thanks everyone who voted for me in the Benetton: It’s My Time competition! It’s still not too late to vote – CLICK HERE TO GET VOTING!

I’m glad at least one high street chain is taking notice of the significance of using real people in their campaigns. It seems like Dove’s Campaign For Real Beauty has highlighted the public’s appreciation for everyday faces on our local billboards.

Question time: what do you think about brands using non model types in their campaigns? Is it a good idea? Have you entered the Benetton It’s My Time competition?

P.s. I apologise for the lack of postings recently, and am back with a vengeance a full-bodied, non-advertising post next week regarding alternative/indie style!

In the meantime, please vote for my lookbook on Benetton’s “It’s My Time” campaign!

I mean, I can see how everyone cringes and shudders and holds up handmade crucifixes at the mere mention of the word, but I don’t think the guys behind these store cards are the mind-warping crooks we make them out to be.

I mean sure, the guys at the Bank companies don’t exactly cut off their right arm to tell you about payments, but it’s not hard to work out how long you have left before the dreaded interest rates start teaming in.

The key, my friends, is to use the store card only when it is absolutely necessary. Look out for the shockingly brilliant discount days and take advantage. Providing you know you can definitely pay off the debt within the next month or so, then there should be no reason to get behind with payments and end up in a sea of drowning paper statements and red-lettered notices.

For the most part, I think I’d rather pay outright for an item of clothing than deal with the hassle of paying at a later date. Saying that, though, some retail outlets are so desperate to have you use their store card that they’re willing to give you a whole chunk of money off in the mere hope you might forget to make your next payment. Totally worth it, if you ask me.

Question time: What is your take on the whole store card fiasco? Useful or totally, evilly unnecessary? Any cringeworthy or positive experiences?

Image Source: fashionindie.com

As you may have already heard, one of the decade’s most awe-inspiring designers has died, aged just 40 years old. Alexander McQueen completely obliterated the runway with his 2009 “The Origins of the Species”-inspired collection, embracing a whole wave of new fans whilst simultaneously satisfying the old.

Like anyone, I am immensely shocked. Especially since it was only recently I was raving about the depressing nature of the industry. It saddens me to think that when I light-heartedly wrote “seems like everyone in the industry is suffering from some form of clinical depression” I had no idea that this would relate directly to one of the world’s best-loved designers.

Being a bit of a sentimental thing at heart, I can only hope Alexander is with his mummy right now, and enjoying designing a nice range of creamy-white collections for his fellow angels.

Personally, I wasn’t at all affected by or even aware of McQueen’s talent until his most recent collection. When those crazy heels and fabrics breezed down the runway last October, all I could feel was a tingly sense of wonder and love. Usually cynical about weird and wonderful runway pieces, I finally allowed my imagination to run riot with the beastly elements of the collection. It was then I realised that predictable draped dresses and tailored suits were no longer going to fulfill my fashion tastebuds as far as any designer was concerned.

In a weird way, McQueen seems to be a bit of a Michael Jackson of the fashion world. He might not have touched so many hearts or reined long enough to show off his full goodness, but he certainly received the respect and admiration that he deserved.

Question Time: Have you been affected by the death of Alexander McQueen? What were your greatest McQueen fashion moments?

Ladies beware: I think I have found the answer to speedy drying yet chip resistant polish. And, what’s more, it’s only £2.99 a bottle. Behold…. Rimmel’s I ♥ Long Lasting nail polish!

You know, I’m not much of an advertisement whore but I’m completely head over heels in love with this product. I wouldn’t even consider myself much of a nail fanatic; if anything I find nail polish shopping a chore and a bore rather than a God-given pleasure.

But there is something about the Hotshot and Electric shades which really caught my eye when skipping my way through Boots the other day. And what’s more, the cute “♥” symbol on the packaging really appealed to my girlieness. Proof, then, that it really is the smallest of things which make your day, and that I really am so gullible as to be won over by a ‘♥’ symbol on the packaging of a nail polish bottle.

On the subject of hands, I also decided to update my ring collection now that the high street is awash with super-discounted jewellery sales. The dimpled oval ring on my index finger was an absolute steal at £2 from Wallis (reduced by £8!) and the very fussy beaded piece on the middle digit was slightly more expensive at £9 from Oasis. I felt the detailing was worth it though, and being a student meant I got a couple of quid off the price tag!

Oh man, I am such a sucker for cocktail rings and pretty nail polish colours. What are your favourite nail polishes, and are you a fan of pretty rings? Spill.

Now, being involved in the fashion blogging sector means I’m obviously inclined to disagree with a lot of Gold’s points and beliefs. I don’t think fashion is to blame when one is flattened by a train and I can’t help but feel saddened by the fact Gold’s personal insecurities clearly lay the outline for much of her pent-up hatred.

Then again, despite some of the ignorant hilarities which pop up throughout the main body of the article, I am inclined to agree with Gold’s attitude to some of the ideals of the Industry.

I mean, in some ways fashion is pretty inconvenient. If I had it my way, we’d all be donning Shakespearian ruffs and wear our underwear on the outside of our jeans. But hey, fashion says this is all a big no no and that we must instead listen to the big wise words and amusing accents of Mr. Karl Lagerfeld and Jean Paul bloody Gaultier. Fair enough.

And of course, there is no doubting that modern fashion does only exist with the barely-pubescent size -4 girl in mind. But that’s OK, because us insanely obese Size 8/10s and above have managed to work ways around this.

What annoys me most about fashion, though, is not so much the whole famine-is-fashion controversy but rather the sheer moodiness that the industry emits. Sulks, rows, tantrums and turmoil are notorious behind the big names of the industry – BUT WHERE ARE THE SMILES? Everyone from the models to the writers to the big name brands appear to be suffering from the most acute form of clinical depression. Seems like being draped in all the latest Haute Couture just doesn’t cut it then. Sigh.

So in retrospect, fashion is a pretty annoying thing if you choose to perceive it that way. You could even say the roundabout of trends is a mere ploy to test our stupidity as the human race.

But why take fashion seriously? Who said the designers are always right and the consumers always listen? Who says we can’t laugh at Alexander McQueen and revel in last year’s stuff? Fashion, dear friends, is thus: the more seriously you take it, the more it hates you. The more you scorn it and play with it, the more it wants to love you. Man that was deep.

Now, if you don’t mind Ms. Gold, me and my Jimmy Choos have a train to catch.

Sometimes, just sometimes, it’s good to ignore the eccentricities of high fashion and revert to a more basic, laid-back style. One thing fashion has taught me over the years is that dressing like a leather-clad Prima Donna doesn’t always give you as much credit as you may think. Not that I dress for compliments, mind you! But people are generally more fascinated by what you wear during your chilled out days than your lots-of-effort, LOOK-AT-ME days. (Don’t pretend you don’t have those days…). Think Jennifer Anniston for example. She’s hardly Miss Eccentric herself, but somehow the media still wants to know how she’s kitted out.

When it comes to a bit of casual fash, I’m all about the pretty tops and skinnies. I rarely wear anything else. It’s not exciting, but the pretty top part gives a bit of life and versatility. Ideal. Oh, and if the top is absolutely splattered with floral print, all the better. The floral trend is one trend I could never get sick of and if it ever becomes uncool I will either commit fashion suicide or wear it with a severe untrendy vengeance.

So my little fashion poodles, what do you wear on those ‘blah, I can’t be bothered to be quirky/eccentric/different’ days? Are you a jeans and top kinda person or do you opt for something else? Enlighten me!

P.S. JLS hoodies are so in this season and everyone should get one. Gemma Louise Dadson did not make me write this.