New Year's Peeve

Finding the ideal New Year's Eve outfit is a task that reduces most of us to sweaty-palms and practicing yoga breathing, as we fear having to begin the new year in trackies and a Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt (sadly, I fear this will be me.)

We all get super fussy around this time of year- this looks like something Ozzy Osborne would dress his puppy in, that looks like something your mum would wear to work- until it gets to the point where you're not even looking forward to going out anymore because there's too much stress involved, and honestly, at this point even you don't know what it is you're looking for. If this is your issue every build-up to New Year then why not follow my mantra of the 3 S's: Sequins, Sparkles and Smiles.

• Sequins- 

People tend to shy away from the ferocity of sequin garments (partly due to the snag factor) but if there is ever a time for sequins it is definitely New Year's Eve. For once, don't fret over whether you look like a canape consuming glitter ball as the light bounces off you and draws attention. Instead, embrace the sequiny splendour of literally outshining everyone.

(Left- Oasis
Right- Zara)

• Sparkles- 

The same rules for sequins applies here, more or less. But come on, sparkly outfits are just so magical, and nowhere near as threatening as sequins. I dare any girl to say they don't feel powerful wearing something sparkly or shiny (I know I sound stupid, I also know that I'm right.) 

(Both Topshop)

         

• Smiles-

This isn't a type of outfit I'm afraid, more of a state of mind. It is crucial that you wear something you feel, as well as look, great in on New Year's Eve. How are you supposed to fully celebrate the first moments of a fresh year if you're smiling through the pain of your boob-crushing, soul-destroying dress. Trust me, we can all tell the difference between a genuinely relaxed smile and a grimace-to-get-it-over-with type smile (think Katherine Heigl at the L.A. wedding in 27 Dresses.)

*My internet was down last night, hence the Monday rather than Sunday upload.* 

What is motivation and where can we find it?

Ah, the age old battle between motivation and procrastination, will it ever be solved?

Lack of motivation is a disease most of us suffer from, and despite knowing how much trouble we could be in for not meeting a deadline, the thought of beginning some tasks is just so unbearable that we keep putting it off and putting it off and... DEADLINE!

So how can we prevent ourselves from continuously following this lazy pattern?

I've found that keeping everything in perspective really helps.

First of all, I keep my goal for that particular task at the front of my mind, e.g. "Well if I don't write this English essay I'll have less practice for the exam, and then I'll get a worse grade, so then I won't get into the uni of my choice." So you realise you better write that essay.

The second step I use to keep everything in perspective is list-making. I'm a list fanatic; I'll write a list for anything at most given opportunities (presents, people, stationary shopping, etc. etc.) and I genuinely find it extremely helpful. If I have everything I need to do listed out neatly in front of me I know exactly how much there is, and then can work out how long it could take me. Furthermore, list-making also ensures that nothing is forgotten and makes it very satisfying when you get to cross something off, knowing that you've completed it.

Which leads me nicely to my third motivator; the satisfaction. I always keep in mind that once I've completed a task I'll feel relieved and proud of myself for knuckling down to do my work, and then I won't feel so guilty when I relax and watch Tangled for the 1248th time afterwards.

In a generation with 201 distractions, we need to be careful that we keep our motivation and productivity high, or we have no hope in being a generation that can make brilliant changes in the world. I always remember my older brother being highly motivated at my age (leaps and bounds more motivated than I) and I credit that mostly to Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr etc. not being a part of his generation.

This is why I will still advocate the classic "ridding yourself from distractions" to stay motivated, but for me it is closely followed by just keeping things in perspective. 

Let me know how you stay motivated (I could use the extra tips too!)

It's Easy Being Green

Ordinarily, green isn't everyone's go-to colour. This reluctance is probably formed from images of sludgy pea soup coming to mind at the mere mention of the word green, or fearing doing a Georgia Nicholson and dressing like a party-going olive.

Even I've had my reservations in the past, but this season, as I've found my hand snatching up several green items in a row on various shopping trips, I've had to surrender to the green monster.

In particular, I've accepted that velvet and corduroy fabrics and green just belong together. The dreamy, distinguishable textures of those fabrics mixed with rich, mossy greens are a completely romantic pair that remind us all of fresh air and midnight walks. That's not to say any of us should go overboard and get ourselves kitted out in an entirely green outfit, one that'll make us look like we've hopped right out of a salad bowl, but instead I'm suggesting that layering dark greens with other patterns or colours this season could be a whole new kind of flattering.

Take this bottle green overall dress I purchased from Zara as an example. The model has been dressed with a light blue and white polka-dotted blouse under the overalls, not a likely pair but nonetheless this outfit is fun, season appropriate and flattering.

And I don't seem to be the only one who has the green feeling this Autumn, as Her Majesty Anna Wintour of American Vogue stepped out in a glorious leaf covered creation, for the 2014 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Awards, and didn't she look as decadent as ever!

Photographed with Stella McCartney.

Don't or Can't?

Every single one of us has faced one of those "Eureka!" moments, when something that has us completely worked up pushes us over the edge and we think, "You know what? Whatever, I don't care anymore."

But that's never what we really mean, is it?

We can attempt to fool ourselves into believing we don't care anymore, but what we honestly mean is that we can't care anymore. The act of caring has thoroughly exhausted our minds, to the point where our determination kicks back into an armchair and soothes itself without an episode of Friends and a bag of cookies, and instead of acknowledging that we're still bothered by problem X, we slap on an "Oh well!"

Is this healthy or realistic? No.

If problem X still frustrates you to think about, you still care. Therefore, instead of either eradicating or coming to a conclusion over the problem, you've just buried it for the time being, leaving a door for it to creep back up on you, and force you to shamefully realise that your eureka moment wasn't so eureka after all.

I'm 200% guilty of the hot-headed, heat of the moment "I don't care anymore!" In fact, if it was an Olympic sport I'd win a gold medal at it. But recently I've realised that it just doesn't work for me; I do care, it does matter.

So what do I do instead now?

I work even harder to resolve the problem. Once it's reached that crushing stage where you're so wound up that you know you can't keep caring anymore, it means the problem must go. I know it is never that easy, but if you invest yourself enough into anything there is always a loophole, and don't feel that it would be weak to find support from those around you too.

As long as you're able to acknowledge whether you don't care anymore or whether you can't care anymore, you will be able to find your solution. 

Meshmerising

Let's give a nod to the nineties with the return of fishnet, gauze and shimmer!

I've never really been fishnet's biggest fan, spending many years believing that it belongs solely to the punk variety, and I still strongly believe that fishnet tights and finger-less gloves do belong chained away in that category. However, much like England's relationship with Scotland at the moment, I may be willing to make a change in attitude on fishnet as a whole. This change came about under the influence of one of my pal's latest purchases; it was a totally wacky, totally brilliant, fishnet top from Urban Outfitters. The material is, at first glance, of a metallic blue, but under various lights the colour of the top can appear purple, green or even a tinge silver. I was incredibly impressed by my friend's find (and actually rather peeved I didn't find it myself.) Nonetheless, she managed to change my feelings towards fishnet, leading me to go on a man-hunt for a gauzey beauty of my own.

I discovered that most regular high-street shops didn't tend to stock the type of top I was after, not surprising as they are rather vintage looking, so I knew I had to look in the more obscure places, such as eBay or ASOS Marketplace (NOT to be confused with ASOS; ASOS Marketplace is all secondhand.) I finally managed to find one or two that had the right nineties vibe that I was after and, as there's always the risk with ASOS Marketplace of someone else purchasing your one of a kind item, I didn't hesitate to order. Fingers crossed that this won't be one of those times where clever lighting and pretty models completely transform a piece of clothing!

So if you're brave unleash your inner Cyndi Lauper and step out in a mesh creation (mind you, I would still steer clear of the finger-less gloves...)



Left: Urban Outfitters top
Right: ASOS Marketplace top

Scent from above

A fashion blog, by law (not really), must only report on clothes, shoes, bags, hats, etc. etc. Basically only things that you can wear. However, although some may argue that perfume is a cosmetic item and belongs in a drugstore rather than a clothing store, I'll argue for arguments sake that perfume is just as much a piece of clothing as a flattering dress.

A dress may capture a person's glance, but the perfect scent captures so much more. Scenario: a lady walks past you wearing a gorgeous silk Marc Jacobs number; you'll glance up and appreciate her dress, but once she's left the room the dress may have disappeared but the smell of her Chanel Coco Mademoiselle still lingers; that is what you'll remember her by. You won't remember the colour of her Marc Jacobs or the height of her Carvela heels, you'll remember the fresh, slightly citrusy scent of her Chanel. A scent captures the nose, mind and in some cases even the heart. The most common thoughts when someone smells incredible: what scent is that? Do I smell like that when I wear perfume? Is it possible to have a crush on a person's smell? It's not biased to just women either, the same thoughts and feelings apply for men's colognes too and I think that for both sexes there is nothing more flattering than a good scent. So this Christmas instead of asking for a new statement jumper or jacket to make you stand out, why not invest in a statement scent if you haven't got one already? Leave an impression in a different, more subtle way. I personally also feel fantastically fresh when I'm wearing my perfume, as I know that if I can smell it then I must smell incredible to the people around me too. I've been using Chanel Coco Mademoiselle for years now and I still adore the smell, but I quite fancied a change and that is why I'm purchasing Gucci Première in a few days (a very different scent from my current one; fresh and citrusy Vs. floral and slightly musty)and I know I'll get just as much use out of it as the Chanel, or a jumper!



Do let me know what your favourite scents are!

P.s. I haven't been updating my purchased page due to lack of free time, but I'm hoping to get it up to date soon!

Diamonds

It's time for another dip into the realm of my recurring thoughts (I know, I'm excited too) and I think this one is relevant to all age groups, genders, species, mammals etc. etc. So here we go...

Question: why do we have a human instinct to criticise others?

It seems to me that whatever anyone thinks, does, says, wears, there is always at least one person standing by their shoulder ready to belittle it. In a diverse world of many cultures, you'd think that by now this wouldn't be a problem and we'd all accept that each and every person has different interests, different likes and dislikes and different methods, but sadly not. I found a perfect example of this the other day when I asked my step-dad whether it irritates him that my mother always criticises his driving, his response; "Every driver criticises other drivers' methods" and when I asked why he said; "because it's not your own."

Because it's not your own.

Now is that really a reason to criticise something? Because it's not the way you choose to do something, because it's not your personal choice, does that mean it shouldn't be anyone else's? I'm not saying I'm not guilty of this too, boy I can give out peer-criticism, self-criticism, any-criticism by the barrel if I want to, but at least I'm aware it's wrong and try to contain it most of the time, which unfortunately cannot be said for most. Criticism transforms into a hobby for some, consuming their thoughts as they must comment on what an "ugly pair of shoes she's wearing" or how "weird his haircut is" just because it's something that you wouldn't think of choosing for yourself. I'm not going to wring out the already wrung towel of "be yourself, not what people expect you to be" or the classic "everyone is different", because I know, much like anti-smoking campaigns, people won't do something because they're told to, no matter how hard you push it, they will do it because they want to. So as perfect as it would be to live in a less-critical world I know it isn't possible and instead I would like to leave you with this:

Wise American jeweller, Harry Winston, once said; "no two diamonds are alike," (and he was pretty damn rich!)

New York Fashion Week: SS15

New York Fashion Week has just wrapped up, and of course I have plenty to say about it.

I'm going to delve right in and begin with the Rodarte show on 9th September. Rodarte is renowned for its abstract shape-on-shape dress designs, and for SS15 disappoint did they not. The new collection is brimming with over-lappings of texture, pattern and design, and the dresses are, as always, a harmonious combination of glitzy and edgy. However, one thing that did surprise me about their collection for SS15 is that it seems to stick to rather neutral and also fairly dark colours. Being Rodarte, I would've expected their Summer collection to showcase the light and bright.

It's also no secret that the Fanning sisters are huge supporters of Rodarte, as they are often snapped wearing their designs at events, so it came as no surprise to see that Dakota Fanning was found showing her appreciation for the brand in the Front Row of their show.

Favourite from Rodarte:

Next up is my choice of the best designer's complete collection from the entire fashion week; Paul Costelloe's. This collection just screamed oh-so-sixties at me from the top of its lungs, and boy it's been heard. What's more, I think that the shades they've used are the epitome of Spring/Summer. The pieces are so Brigitte Bardot, so super feminine and just so wonderful; I've fallen completely in love.

Here are just two of my favourites from the show on 12th September:

Now last, but certainly not least, I wanted to end with mentioning one of my all time favourite designers; Badgley Mischka. I fell in love with their exquisite dresses after watching an episode of Gossip Girl which featured character Ivy Dickens at her coming-out party, completely elegant in a Badgley Mischka gown (hated the character, adored the dress). Since then I've been entranced by their breath-taking designs, and SS15 was no exception.

Below is my absolute favourite pick from Badgley Mischka's stunning SS15 collection:

Let me know who your favourite collections from the week were!

Back to School Packs

Across the country most of us are returning to school in a fortnight or so and back to school calls for one thing: the perfect new school bag that'll carry you (or rather your books) for the entire year. Since your school bag is the one thing that you're guaranteed to be seen with pretty much everyday, you have to make sure you absolutely love it, because a faux pas with spending a heck of a lot of your birthday/Christmas/parents money on this one item, and then waking up one day and seeing it as a hideous creation, could lead to you not having the money to replace it. This is why I decided to put together a collection of bags to suit different styles, and hopefully my ideas will inspire the right choice of bag for you this academic year.

The Minimalist:

If you prefer to keep it classic and tend not to delve into the adventure zone with your choice of arm accessory, here are a few of my simple yet attractive favourites (in fact, I purchased the Le Pliage Longchamp Tote for school myself, in black too.)



(Left to right: Longchamp Tote, £68. Topshop Satchel, £65. Zara Shopper, £39.99.)

The Saver:

If you're price conscious and want a bag that's still fabulous but more in your current budget then look no further than a few of the less expensive options I've picked out. I've found that H&M always do it right with the cheap but essential pieces, and every season they seem to have produced a popular, affordable bag that's perfect for school use.



(Left to right: Zara Messenger, £29.99. H&M Shopper, £12.99. River Island Messenger, £25.)

The Daring:

My last picks are for those of us who prefer to push the boat out with whatever they're wearing. Almost two years the backpack trend hit its peak, and a design that was previously considered "nerdy" was now adopted by fashionable teens everywhere. Now it seems that this trend is slowly trying to reemerge for fall/winter'14. Unfortunately, not everyone realises that you can't just throw on any backpack and make it "fashionable", and despite popular disagreement, in my opinion the Fjallraven Kanken backpacks just look like over-sized lunchboxes. So here are a few of my examples of how I think quirky bags have been done well.



(Left to right: Deena & Ozzy Shoulder, £38. Herschel Backpack, £50. Lazy Oaf Backpack, £40.)

Let me know if any of my picks spark your fancy and also remember to keep checking up on my purchases page!

They're just not that into you.

Once again dabbling in other areas besides fashion, (yes, I dabble) I thought I'd make another post about something that's been on my mind recently.

Have you ever noticed how the people who give us the least attention, make the least effort to see us and are generally the least appreciative of our friendship are the ones we spend the most time thinking about? Even if the thoughts are merely just irritated thoughts of anger or frustration instead of longing or sadness, we're still spending our precious time with them on our minds; this observation formed the foundation of my question: why do we care the most about people who care the least? Answer: for me, it all goes back to the well-known phrase "you always want what you cannot have." Bizarre human logic means that our brains seem to be programmed with a function that only enables us to form a serious attachment to something when we realise we can't have it. Much the same as when a parent tells a child they can't have ice cream and the child suddenly becomes desperate for that ice cream, or a teenager is denied going to a party and suddenly that party is the most unmissable event of the year, when someone realises that their affections to another are not equally requited then suddenly that person becomes the most fascinating person they know; all of their efforts will be poured into attempts to capture the interest of the uninterested. However, this results in us not realising that we are wasting all of our energy on people who simply don't care, and in turn doing exactly the same thing to the people who are actually interested in us. It's a vicious circle of neglect really; we'll waste our time on people, who are ignoring us to waste their time on people, who are wasting their time on people, who simply don't care. Question: Why is that? Why do we not waste our time on the people who do care? Answer: We're blind. Blind to kindness. We only ever pick up on the negative, leaving us to neglect the good.

So I propose that we all open our eyes and notice who and what we've been neglecting in favour of the negative; we leave people who give us attention, affection and care trailing behind, as we trail after those who are doing the exact same thing to us. Instead I think we should all put our time and effort into reciprocating the kindness people give us, rather than trying to fix the negativity we receive.

This Old Thing: The Vintage Clothes Show

A new programme that I've been absolutely loving is This Old Thing: The Vintage Clothes Show on Channel 4. Although the last episode of the series aired Wednesday 30th July , you can catch up with all the episodes on 4oD.

What I found refreshing about this programme was that we've been fed the same regurgitated shows about high-street fashion over and over- Trinny & Susannah and anything Gok Wan- and it was nice to see something different for a change. Not only were we given a look at the best vintage houses across the UK, ranging from Reading to Brighton, but the show also offered portions where they gave do-it-yourselfers tips on vamping up or rescuing their own vintage finds. One of my personal highlights of the show was learning about vintage fashion collectors that I'd never heard of before watching, such as William Banks-Blaney, who owns and founded WilliamVintage. The show gives you a unique insight of his most rare and exquisite pieces, from all different eras. Of course, the pieces are simultaneously wildly unaffordable and completely to die for, but at least we get to stare at them on our screens for a while!

The show's host, Dawn O'Porter, was not only charming and bubbly, but completely animated by her own personal love of vintage fashion throughout the show; each episode featured her wearing her own beloved vintage pieces from her wardrobe. Her genuine passion and interest in what the show was encouraging- convincing young people to ditch high-street in favour of more original, vintage numbers- added to the addictive quality of the show, as you found yourself convinced that you'd look as eye-catching as she does in her outfits. Her dedication to the cause is proven by the launch of her new brand and website, bobbydop.com. At the moment, it's just a collection of Dawn's favourite vintage pieces that she's scoured the country to find, fix up and sell, but in October she's launching BOB by Dawn O'Porter, all new pieces designed by her and her team, but ones that recreate classic and sought after vintage styles and designs. Her reasoning behind her new brand is that she understands it can be hard to find incredible vintage designs in the right size, so this way she wants to ensure that everyone is happy!

Best of luck to her with her new brand, and I know I'll definitely be checking it out in October.

Sundress up

Summer; the season of warmth, cocktails and, one of my personal favourites, sundresses.There's an understated quality about sundresses that I just adore. They're simple yet alluring, demure yet attention-grabbing, comfortable yet elegant. In other words, you just can't go wrong with a sundress in summer.

A lot of girls tend to shy away from sundresses, especially if you're like me and aren't 200% comfortable with getting your legs out, but I think that we all need to be a little more brave. Sundresses are feminine and flattering, and I don't about you but I certainly feel more dainty wearing them. There's almost an old-Hollywood feel about wearing a sundress, as they're not seen worn by teenagers much anymore, but they were all the rage for older women and teenage girls alike when they were popularized by American fashion designer and socialite, Lilly Pulitzer, back in the 1960s.

The two things I love the most about sundresses: 1) Due to the fact that they're usually meant to be quite loose and flowy, they suit pretty much all shapes and sizes, so you don't need to be rake thin to think you can pull one off. 2) There are so many pretty, yet still affordable, sundresses available on the high street! So there's plenty of choice, without having to empty out the contents of your purse. I've found that H&M in particular have some cute, but cheap, ones out this year. A few of my favourites from H&M.com will be posted below.

So please, be a little more brave and take a chance on a sundress! I guarantee you'll feel, even slightly, more glamorous this summer.



- Burgundy and Pale Pink: £12.99
- Daisy print: £9.99
(All from H&M)

Improvements

Taking note from established bloggers/vloggers, I've realised that in order to run a successful blog then you need to have some routine and regularity on your site.

Most successful blogs either post daily or have a set day once a week when they will upload their latest post. I certainly can't be posting daily, with schoolwork obviously being top on my list of priorities again once summer is over, so I don't want to make a promise of posting daily now and then gradually start to slack more and more until I end up appearing as a lazy blog-neglecter. However, I do aim to have one new post up a week, so have decided that from now on when I do post it will only be on a Sunday. I just think that this will tidy up my blog a bit and give it a bit more structure.


But this new post embargo is only for my main posts on my main page. My main posts are usually either fashion reviews and recommendations, fashion news, or general current musings. However, I'd like to introduce a new page to my site titled 'Purchases.' Whenever I make a new purchase I will make a quick and brief post on this page of the item and details. I like this idea because I think it gives readers more of a sense of my own personal style and it also means that I won't feel the need to make generic purchase posts on my main page, as I know that it can get tedious reading blog after blog about "hauls" and "outfit of the day." The purchase posts won't be restricted to Sundays like the main page though; I'll just post as I buy.

Hopefully the changes improve my blog.

Have a great Monday!

It's in your jeans!

It has been said time and time again that everyone must have at least one pair of well-loved and well-worn jeans in their wardrobe, and how true that is.

An old, familiar pair of well-fitting jeans is like a safety blanket; completely flummoxed on what to wear to lunch, or incredibly late to an appointment? You can just turn to your trusted pair of jeans, that you're already certain fit perfectly and look good on you, so you don't have to spend an extra fifteen to twenty minutes agonising in front of the mirror over "how my legs look in these", or "what it does to my muffin top." I'm now a strong advocate of every person owning a good pair of jeans, however I do recognise that finding the right personal pair is very difficult. For two years I tried to avoid wearing jeans when I could, believing that they drew attention to my least favourite part of my body (my legs.) Of course I'd tested out multiple pairs over the years, but had found that the colour of Topshop jeans faded too quickly, and that Zara jeans just didn't fit right on me. But after recommendation from one of my pals, I indulged in a pair of Jack Wills Black Fernham Skinny Jeans. Of course you'd think that if I was so terrified of squeezing my legs into jeans then why would I jump straight into the deep end with the Skinnies? but my friend had assured me that Jack Wills Jeans were the only jeans she had found that she believed actually made legs look slimmer. I was skeptical at first, still believing that the key to having skinny looking legs is to actually have skinny legs in the first place, but when I tried the jeans on in the changing room (Side note: ALWAYS try clothes on before purchasing) I did notice that I thought they did make my legs look slightly more slender- I believe that maybe the super tightness of the fabric aids in squeezing everything together. Safe to say, I was thrilled! I'd been searching for jeans that gave this illusion for quite some time. Both my friend and I have fallen head over heels for Jack Wills Jeans and have both vowed that for the foreseeable future all of our jeans shall be purchased from there.

They are slightly pricey for teenagers/students at £49.50, but I think that they'd be a worthy investment, as the quality seems good, the colour hasn't faded from washing yet, and the fit is fantastic. Some advice a member of the Jack Wills staff did give to me was that when purchasing their skinny jeans you might want to go for a size smaller than your usual, as the fabric has some stretch to it and may stretch a bit with wear. Other than that, I see no other problems; I bought them two weeks ago and have already worn them several times and have been surprisingly impressed.




Let me know if you purchase your own pair!

Quay Sunglasses

A cute new sunglasses brand has recently come to my attention: Quay Australia. This Australian brand started being sold internationally back in 2009, but has become more popular recently. They excell in creating fun, quirky and original sunglasses, and I'm already itching to get my hands on a pair. Their sunglasses have been worn by Lady GaGa, Gwen Stefani and even Beyoncé! I have a feeling their eyeware is about to become very popular, as more people, celebrities especially, discover the brand. Although you can only only buy them on their official wesbite in dollars and in Australia, Quay Sunglasses can also be purchased from ASOS.com, and they're super afforadble too!

My favourite pair so far is the Nala pair in Tortoiseshell; I've always loved Tortoiseshell sunglasses, but the slightly unusual shape of these ones makes me love it even more!

Fashionable TV Characters

I've kept up with a lot of TV programmes over the years (I have no life) and realised that one factor which compels me to love a character is their fashion style (obviously.)So I decided to write a piece on some of my favourite fictional fashionistas.

1. Blair Waldorf - Gossip Girl

At the top of my list is, of course, the one and only Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. Blair always made every ensemble cute but classy, usually sporting a trademark headband to match it. But what I really noticed about Blair's style is that she never had to squeeze herself into tiny, tight-fitting outfits to look incredible. Of course, with a fashion designer for a mother on the show, all of her clothes were designer, which also aided our Blair fashion envy. But everything she wore throughout the show was just elegant, and sometimes even old-fashioned, but she still managed to pull it off. Sometimes to make an old-fashioned outfit work she would just add her own quirk to it, such as her vivid red tights teamed with the matronly pinafore from Season 1.

2. Aria Montgomery - Pretty Little Liars

Aria's style is rather punk-rock inspired, and to be honest that's why I love it. She's all for the leather jackets, dark colours and biker boots, and with her dark hair and pale skin it couldn't suit her more. Her outfits are just very "cool", for lack of a better word, and nothing ever looks too shocking that you'd think she's taken it too far, but always edgy enough that you notice her style. I am a massive fan of leather anything, so secretly quite love biker/punk-rock fashion (when done well, of course.)

3. Naomi Clark - 90210

Naomi was entirely different from the first two altogether, though still heavy on the designer like Blair, but she managed to always look as equally amazing. She definitely wanted to draw attention to herself with her outfits (particularly male attention) and most outfits would usually accentuate her tiny figure and long long legs; with a figure like hers, why wouldn't you show it off? Her classic type of outfit would be a figure-hugging mini dress with stiletto heels- very feminine, very attention-grabbing.

4. Rachel Berry - Glee

Rachel isn't a typical choice for most fashionable character, particularly as a familiar jibe to her on the show was for her childish, "Pippi Longstocking" esque fashion, but I find something extremely adorkable about her outfits. Typically, she would team a plaid skirt with shin-high stockings and a knitted animal print jumper. Whilst these particular pieces thrown together do look like something a mother would choose for her daughter's first day of nursery, I think that it totally suited Rachel's character, and with her fresh face and innocence she made it look somewhat pretty and sweet. Besides, you've got to love a good plaid skirt.

Words

Lately I've been wavering my posts from the usual fashion related ideas that my blog was intended for. As much as I love fashion, and I can assure that it is much, sometimes it is not entirely satisfying only writing about fashion. Don't get me wrong, fashion is not as fickle as the world tries to make it out to be; there's a quote that Blair Waldorf on Gossip Girl once said which was "fashion is the most powerful art there is. It's movement, design and architecture all in one. It shows the world who we are and who we'd like to be." Now, I agree with Blair on this; art and fashion are the same thing in my eyes, despite the fact that art is celebrated for being classic and wonderful whereas fashion is criticised for being fickle and materialistic. However, I believe that Blair's speech also applies to the power of words.

I've always loved reading, even from a young age- I know I know, a blogger/wannabe writer who loves to read, such a surprise, right? Without meaning to sound cliché or cringey, my free time pretty much orientated around reading from about the age of 7 until about 14. Then for the last 2 years there's been a lull in my incessant reading, as I discovered more "teenagery" things to do with my time, but also because I couldn't find a new book that would grasp me the way anything else had. Then I became more technology dependent and spent any bored minutes checking my Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr (need I go on...) and something that I had once loved to do, and had spent many happy hours doing, became something I no longer cared about. But as I've just started my half term in between exams, and found that I actually have quite a few free hours to spare, I decided to re read some of my old favourites. I quickly realised that I had completely forgotten the impact books could have on me and how they can make you feel reading them- unfortunately I'll just have to allow myself to sound cringey, apologies.

There's something about the way clever writers place their words, the way they can conjure an image in your mind, the way they personify a character so well that you feel like you actually know them, there is something about all of these things that makes me believe that writers, stories and words are all undervalued. If you think about what a published story really is, it is the writer completely exposing their imagination and thoughts to the world, making themselves vulnerable and ready to embrace judgement. Then think about what the writer is doing for you by exposing themselves in this way; you're given an opportunity to escape to an entirely different world for at least a few hours a day. Sure, you could argue that films are like this in a way, but it's not really the same because films are over all too quickly, and you don't get to mould the images to fit your own imagination with a film, like you can with a book. Books can drag you from a dull day into a thrilling, action-packed world within seconds, and allow you to escape into a world of fantasy, magic, romance or mystery, all in your own home. So in my own long-winded, klutzy and rambling way I just wanted to make amends for giving into technology and social media, just like the rest of the world, and neglecting an old hobby; I shouldn't have so easily forgotten how powerful words can be, and how much I once enjoyed and depended on them.

Maybe this post will make you all think of some old hobbies you had, that you don't give the time or effort for anymore.

Undervalued

I know that my blog is supposed to be a fashion blog, but I feel sometimes it's nice to step away from the material (ha ha ha) stuff, and instead give attention to things that are slightly more meaningful. I wanted to create a post about the top 5 things in life that I believe are undervalued.


1) A close relationship with your parents: I am envious of my friends who have an extremely close relationship with their parents, where they can confide in them and they will actually take genuine interest. I don't feel I have this with my parents, but it's one of the things I'd absolutely love to have. I think that most teenagers take for granted their parents taking an interest in their lives (and I mean an interest for reasons other than to scold their children.) This is definitely something that needs to be appreciated more.

2) A caring friendship group: This is definitely something I have, and I would definitely say this is one of the most important things for a person's happiness. You could have fifty relationships in one year or one 5 year relationship, but nothing compares to spending time with your best friends who are the most similar to you. There's a certain kind of fun and enjoyment that can only be had with your best friends; the kind where your inner strangeness is completely let free, because you all know you're equally as strange as each other. It's also great to always have the feeling that there are always people there to support you- and to irrationally dislike anyone you irrationally dislike. If you don't have a strong friendship group then you might not realise the importance of having one.

3) Kindness from strangers: Some people completely ignore kindness from strangers, as if it isn't a big deal. Well they are completely wrong. This stranger did not have to be nice to you; do they have any obligations to show you kindness? No. So the least you could do is show your appreciation to this selfless being. Unfortunately, most teenagers have not grasped this concept yet, and quite frankly our attitude towards both people we do and don't know is rather appalling. However, that's not to say adults aren't guilty of this too...

4) Someone sharing their favourite song with you: A person's favourite song is extremely personal to them. Whether it be their favourite because it reminds them of a memory, place, time, or because the lyrics mean something to them, or merely because they just like the beat of the song, if someone is willing to share their favourite song with you then you should listen and respond with respect. In a small way it's as if that person is exposing a tiny bit of themselves to you by doing this, so no matter how god-awful the song is then you should appreciate the gesture.

5) The joy that literature can bring: I think most people underestimate the enjoyment that reading a book that you love can bring, so it is beyond me when people, teenagers especially, ridicule one another for enjoying it. We often deem it as "lame" or "boring", but really what's boring about having a wide and versatile imagination?

There are definitely a lot of other things that are taken for granted, but these are just a few I thought of from the top of my head.

Thanks for reading.

Don't play safe, playsuit

Summer is very nearly here, and whilst it's frightening how fast this year has flown by, you cannot help but be ecstatic at the thought of summer; longer evenings, gorgeous weather and SUMMER CLOTHES. Although Autumn outfits and layers are fun to put together, there's something lovely about being able to leave the house in just a pretty top and shorts, without having to worry whether your scarf matches your thick coat.

Now a couple of years ago there was the playsuit/jumpsuit craze, but the past summer or two it seems to have died out. When they were popular they were absolutely everywhere in stores; hundreds of different prints, styles, colours. But lack of interest in them over the past year or two has resulted in less availability of choice, but I don't see what's not to love about them?! They're fun, cute and comfortable- what could be better. To me, nothing screams summer more than a pretty playsuit, and they are especially great for girls who feel that dresses are too girly for them but they'd still like to dress it up a bit.

I have found a playsuit I absolutely adore from American Apparel (surprise surprise!) I ordered it the other day and when it arrived I was pleased to discover that it is just as cute in person as it is on the website (unfortunately I don't have the AA model's legs so maybe not just as cute...)The playsuit I ordered is the Stripe T-shirt Romper in the colour Natural Black Lydia Stripe. It isn't even an especially eye-catching playsuit, and the print is pretty basic, but I just thought it was just such a perfect combination of casual and slouchy mixed with fun and cute that I was instantly drawn to it!

This playsuit was £44.00 from americanapparel.co.uk
, which understandably sounds rather pricey! So I have found another playsuit which I think is equally as adorable but is more purse friendly.

This Black Wrap Jersey playsuit from Topshop is only £24.00 and is still casual and cool at the same time.



Let me know if you purcahse any other nice ones!

Update: I also purchased the American Apparel Fisherman's pullover I wanted in the colour Natural instead, and it's gorgeous!

Dress to imp- feel comfortable!

One thing that I have definitely learnt over the years is that dressing for practicality is equally as important to dressing solely for appearance. There is nothing more ridiculous and unflattering than miserably shivering in a mini skirt and crop top in 3 degree weather; be realistic, no one buys that you "don't feel the cold."

Always dress weather appropriate; layers can be flattering too. If it's cold throw on a pretty scarf over a casual jacket and skinny jeans, if it's hot and humid do not attempt to wear a tight fitting, rib-crushing dress that suffocates your skin and causes major sweat patches. It is almost as if intelligence is key for choosing the right outfit. Multiple times during the past winter I have witnessed girls going out in stormy weather with crop tops, thin cardigans and a grimace disguised as a smile, as they pretend to be comfortable in what they are wearing. Please do us all a favour and spare us the opportunity to ridicule. Also be shoe savvy for the weather, i.e. No strappy and open-toed numbers during rain and preferably no big thick boots for the summer.

My conclusion is that practicality is key!

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Ms. Moss is back!

Yes that's right, the glorious Kate Moss is returning to Topshop for another killer collection designed by her. Kate has been spotted meeting with Philip Green (Owner of Topshop)several times over the past month, and there are several confirmed reports circulating the web (including Topshop's own website) of her collection intending to be released in stores at the end of April/early May(not even that long to go!)I for one am ecstatic by this news, as pretty much everyone who is a fan of Topshop clothing adored Kate's edgy yet cute collection back in 2007-11. We all remember the cool cut off shorts vs the dainty floral print dresses don't we??? And who could forget the iconic picture of Kate Moss posing in the window display of Topshop Oxford Street, sporting a knock-out red dress from her collection, on the very first release day in 2007; I'm pretty sure she must have caused various heart attacks and car accidents as she surprised the many admirers waiting in queue, yet of course Kate remained cool and collected, keeping up her pose in a nonchalant fashion (she is Kate Moss after all, probably nothing phases her.)

Well, if her new collection is anything like the previous then it will send the High-street fashion world into another frenzy. Here's to the excitement and anticipation of seeing what she comes up with this time!

American App-raisal

I don't think there are quite the right words to describe my love for American Apparel clothing. Almost everything they sell is the perfect balance between quirky yet wearable, and there is always such variety to choose from! One of my favourite factors of American Apparel is probably that everything that they sell always comes in a vast variety of different colours; usually in most other shops the lack of colour variety is my pet peeve. In particular I love their Fisherman jumpers and hope to purchase one soon (probably in either Sage Green or Vintage Grey, though I'm partial to the Lavender one too, hmmm.)But I am also a huge fan of their skirts and own several myself. Their pastel denim skater skirts were a huge hit in the summer, but for winter I think that their slim fit leather and twill skirts are lovely, and am eager to purchase one of these too! In the summer of 2013, I went to New York for 10 days (it was absolutely fantastic) and I went a little American Apparel overboard- but I don't feel guilty in the slightest. Every piece of clothing that I purchased whilst I was in New York was from American Apparel, but I felt that it was necessary as there are so few AA shops in England! A personal favourite of mine was and still is their crop tops; they are some of the few crops tops that I feel look flattering and pretty to wear, and make me feel slightly less self-conscious about bearing the mid-riff! Not only is AA clothing fabulous to look at, American Apparel is a sweatshop free, fairtrade company, so even though the clothing is rather over-priced, it is for an extremely worthy cause, so you can feel good about buying the clothes too!

Currently: I love these cute tennis skirts that AA have just brought in for SS14; my favourite colours that they are sold in are Sunset and Citron. In the UK these skirts are sold for £46.00

Monochrome Myths

Once again the bold print of monochrome has returned to the trends, and secretly I'm thrilled! (not so secret anymore I know.) For some reason, one that I'm not quite certain of myself, I'm quite a fan of this quirky print. Some may say it's too prisoner-from-a-cartoon or Zebra like for them to wear, I say wear it well and it will suit anyone. As it consists of black over white (or white over black, whichever you think) these are two colours that suit anything and everything right? however in my opinion errors with monochrome occur when worn too obviously, and this is what leads to misconceptions that monochrome is too daring of a print for the everyday person to tackle. What most people believe is that monochrome can only be worn as obvious blinding block colours of black and white, usually striped. However there are more subtle ways to rock this trend that work so much better.

Above are two images: Bold monochrome gone wrong Vs. Subtle monochrome gone right. Kate Moss (right) manages to make monochrome look elegant and subtle in her cute 60s dress, whereas Elsa Pataky overdoes it and ends up with quite a blinding result. I myself have recently just purchased an example of subtle monochrome print trousers- an inspiration to this post! The print on them is so detailed and fine that you can barely tell it's monochrome at all (it is though, trust me.)

Purchased: Whistles Monochrome Jacquard Skinny Jeans £95.00.

Current favourites

As we have approached the end of gloomy January and have entered a new month, it has given us plenty of time to spend our Christmas money on between-seasons sales or even the full priced joys that are beginning to enter into shops for the transition into Spring/Summer. I wanted to share some of my recent purchases and favourites... 1)

The first is the 'Benefit high beam' complexion enhancer. The description states that it gives your skin a soft, dewy finish, and that it does! The shimmer in it is not too overwhelming as to give you a stage-makeup-gone-wrong type of look, but instead it does exactly as it states and just enhances the areas of your face which could do with brightening up. 2)

Secondly I've chosen the Smashbox Primers. They are just so light-weight and satin smooth on your skin; I love them. I personally have the green colour correcting one, as my skin has quite red undertones. However, many of my friends just have the basic photo finish, and they equally have been highly impressed by it. It doesn't just have to be used under foundation either; for those who only wear concealer and powder like myself then it works wonderfully too. 3)

Now this one isn't exactly a new favourite, but I have just recently dyed my hair for the third time using this hair dye. I always love the colour that is produced by it, and the dye is so good that I only really have to dye my hair every 6 months. (However if you are fussier than I am about roots then you might have to redye more often.) 4)

Lastly, I have chosen this Topshop Chambray Shirt. I have noticed that Chambray shirts seem to be coming back on trend again slowly, as American Apparel and Topshop are producing plenty of them, and I particularly loved the look of this one from Topshop. So casual, yet teamed with the right trousers and shoes could also make a smart outfit; multi-uses, it must be a must have! I haven't purchased mine yet, but not to worry, I will soon! These are just a few of my current favourites, but there will probably be heaps more that catch my eye soon! E x