Long time, no blog.

I hate that the pressures of university and trying to hold down a job forced me to abandon this blog and focus on my studies/getting enough sleep. Hopefully I'll be back soon, now that I've finished my second year. I've missed blogging a lot recently. 

Wearing Ray Bans and a Whistles dress. 

I'm so bored of wearing tights

I took this picture at home over Christmas, just as all the snow was beginning to melt. You wouldn't think it was -3 degrees outside. The dress I'm wearing is from Topshop and its a dream. I can't wear it until I can wear it outside with bare legs and little black pumps. 

Experiments in length

I picked this dress up in Topshop a while ago, and I love it, but it has taken me a while to work out how to wear it. I wanted to try out the mid-length skirt trend that is going to be huge come spring/summer. I like that the slip underneath is the length of the dresses I normally wear (just above the knee), but the chiffon skirt on top is that bit longer. I tried wearing it with black tights but the effect of the longer skirt was lost, so I had to borrow some nude tights from my mother. I wore the dress with ankle boots from Office. 

Happy Birthday Nathan

My friend Nathan, who writes the blog Real Horrorshow Tunez, turned 19 on Friday. We had planned to go to a roller disco (complete with 80s outfits), but the snow put a stop to that. Instead, we went to a little club in Kingston where Amerie (of '1 Thing' fame) was performing. She came, sang three songs, and left (so there was no time for anyone to take any decent pictures). 

James and Lydia (who had refused to give up on the 80s theme): 

Laura, laughing because I reminded her about this:

Laura and I in our Topshop dresses:

The birthday boy:

What I Wore To: Dinner

I went over to my friend's flat for a delicious meal of spaghetti bolognese this evening. 

I wore my birthday dress from Zara and red shoes from Office. 

I think that this dress is one of those pieces I would choose if I was doing the "six pieces of clothing for a month challenge". It's so beautiful - classically so - and there is so much I could wear with it. 

Flo x

Scarlet Woman

I wear a lot of black. I love it's simplicity, it goes with everything, and it's easy to wear. However, for a while now, I feel like I've been wearing black too much - I regularly wear all black outfits (black dress, tights, cardigan and boots) - and it's getting a little dull. 

So I've decided to branch out, and get some colour into my wardrobe. This past week, I've bought a red dress, and a pair of red heels. 

I bought this red dress from Topshop: 

It's sold out online, and they didn't have in the Topshop store where I'm studying, so I had to go to the Topshop concession in the department store - this was a bit annoying as I got vouchers for my birthday I could have put towards the dress. 

I also bought these gorgeous red suede heels from Office, that were on my birthday wish list and that I've been lusting after since August. I'm normally a UK size 4, but I had to get a size 3 and put half-insoles in to get them to fit, but they are worth it - so beautiful and so worth it. 

This photo and the poor lighting in my room really doesn't do these beauties justice. 

19th Birthday

My birthday cake, made my mother, and decorated by my little sister:

I received some very lovely presents this year - my mum me got the THE BEST DRESS IN THE WORLD EVER. I didn't realise at the time, but it has pockets. (Pockets!) A dress with pockets is the best kind of dress. I'm wearing it now, and I tried to take photos but my room in halls terrible for photos - the lighting is truly dreadful. 

My brother bought me the benefit make-up I posted about back in September. It's just as good as I remember (again, photos to come when I have better lighting). 

My dad bought me these cashmere gloves and scarf. They're so warm and cosy, but I'm really worried about losing them, I'm terrible with gloves, I always lose the right hand. 

My sister got me a Topshop giftcard, my uni friends got me a lovely bookmark and all my drinks when we went to the pub in the evening, and a friend gave me American Psycho - I'm rush-reading all my uni books so I can give it my full attention. 

Flo x

In love with a dress from Zara

 I took a trip into town with Grace on Tuesday and while she was waiting for me (I was inevitably running late), she wandered into Zara and spotted this dress. 

When she showed it to me, I emitted a high pitched girly squeal and had to try it on immediately. 

It's such a perfect dress. I'm usually a size Small/Medium in Zara, but I had to get the XS (which I was surprised they had in stock), as in the Small sagged on my shoulders and waist. I think the cut is beautiful, and I could wear it out to parties over Christmas but also to work with a pair of biker boots or Converse. 

I'm taking my mother to see it today on the off-chance she wants to put it on my birthday list. 

Flo x

Lanvin for H&M

I've never been one for high street store and designer collaborations. All H&M collaborations with Jimmy Choo, Sonia Rykiel, Stella McCartney etc. completely passed me by. Kate Moss at Topshop was never really to my taste. 

But then, I opened my copy of Grazia to see lots of beautiful dresses and shoes that are right up my street. They are more than a wee bit pricey, and far beyond my student budget, every piece is gorgeous, and completely wearable. 

These are my six favourite pieces from the collection:

£99.99

£24.99

 £29.99

 £59.99

£69.99

This dress is my favourite piece of the whole collection - but it costs far too much for me - £149.99

The collection arrives in stores on 23rd November. 

Flo x

London With Grace.

Grace and I headed up to the Topshop Student Shop at Oxford Circus. She bought this gorgeous velvet turban. It was the last in the shop - we had to steal it off a mannequin. 

Afterwards we headed to the Hummingbird bakery for some delicious cupcake goodness. 

Grace wore a vintage cape and had a carrot cake cupcake, and I wore my new Topshop hat, with a Topshop jacket and dress and my ASOS bag, and I ate a chocolate cupcake (above). 

Flo x

New glasses, new room.

Before I left for university, I decided I wanted some new glasses. I had a pair that I really disliked, and as a result, I really didn't wear them. I bought this Dior pair from Vision Express - they were expensive, but the amount of time I will spend wearing them justifies the price - I've already worn them so many times in the 10 days that I've had them.  

This is my new room in my halls at university, and this is the only place where I can get an full length outfit shot - standing on my bed, with my camera on the shelves opposite. I don't have a full length mirror, so I'm using this technique to see what my clothes look like. It does make deciding what shoes to wear difficult. 

I'm wearing a black H&M cotton dress, black M&S tights and my Dior glasses.

Flo x

What (Grace and) I Wore To: Sit on a bench

Grace is wearing a Topshop jacket with an H&M top and skirt.

I'm wearing a Topshop dress and jacket (that belongs to Grace), with Office boots and my vintage bag. 

Flo x

Inspiration, or a lack of it.

Over the past two years, I have been quite lucky to have a income that I could spend on whatever I wanted - going places with my friends, clothes, magazines, DVDs, trips to the cinema, shoes. However,  in the last few months, I have needed to use my wages for my "responsibilities" - driving lessons, insurance, holidays, travel for work, saving for university. As a result, I have been spending a lot of time at home, and I am feeling very uninspired. 

The last item of clothing I bought was my beautiful jacket from Pinko, and although I love it, the weather is not quite right for it yet, and I mooch around my village in the same dress-or-jeans-and-jacket-combo, which I have grown very tired of.
What did excite and inspire me though, was a photo shoot I did with my mother, in the gardens of a beautiful local stately home, so that she had an entry for a sewing competition; the entry being the the dress she made for me.  It felt wonderful to put on something that fits me so well and is so gloriously extravagant and unlike anything I wear normally. I even enjoyed wearing my Office heels again as well - despite the fact that they hurt me so much I want to take them off after less than an hour.

This look is also on Lookbook (see above). Sorry for the long and wordy post.
Flo x

Happy Birthday Hattie

One of my best and oldest friends, Hattie, turned 18 last week. We celebrated by going out to Fabric in London. 

The birthday girl.

Hattie and I got MAC make-overs before we went out. I hadn't had one before, and I wasn't sure what to expect. My only vague direction was "a sort-of dramatic smoky eye", and now I wish I had been a little more specific - I felt it was more than a little over the top. I did get a nice lipstick though. 

In Fabric with Fiona and Sean. 

Hattie wore a black dress from Topshop, and I wore an American Apparel leotard and ASOS skirt.

And a little blast from the past, taken on another birthday:

Flo x

What I Wore: On Holiday

Taken after a day in the car, where we had driven from France, through Switzerland (where this picture was taken) to Italy. 

I'm wearing an ASOS tee, Zara shorts and belt with my trusty Converse. 

We spent a night in a hotel that sat in the mountains above Lake Como. This photo was taken at 8:30am and it was already a good 25 degrees.

The dress and jacket I'm wearing are from Topshop, the belt is from Zara and the flip-flops are Havaianas.

My brother is wearing Ray Bans, a free t-shirt, H&M shorts and Vans.

 

We visited Volterra and it was a little cooler, so I was able to cover up a little (I really didn't want to get any sun burn). The shirt I'm wearing used to belong to my mother and comes from Jaeger, and the shorts are Zara. 

To brighten up the outfit I wore my favourite sandals from Office. 

My brother wore his Vans with Lyle and Scott shorts and t-shirt, and a very touristy looking camera.

In Pomerance, the Lyle and Scott devotee wore a polo and chinos with his Vans (you would think he didn't bring any other shoes away with him) and I wore a Dorothy Perkins dress with my Office sandals.

The swimsuit I'm wearing is from Speedo and I bought it a couple of years ago when I was still part of a swimming club. However, the head instructor told me that it was "inappropriate" because it was a "fashion swimsuit". It's from Speedo. Honestly. So now, I don't wear it unless I'm on holiday.

I wore the black Dorothy Perkins dress (with my espadrilles and vintage bag) again in Paris because it's cool, comfortable and rather chic. 

 Flo x

Holiday Packing

Tomorrow I leave for my summer holiday with my family. We are driving (brave parents- they have three teenage children) through France to Italy, where we are renting a house in Tuscany for a week. On the drive there, we are spending a night in Dijon, and the next by Lake Como. On the return journey, we are staying in the Alps and having a night in Paris. 

My challenge is: we are driving there, meaning everything we are taking has to fit in the boot of our car and that I am limited as to the amount of clothes and shoes I can take. 

From left to right: 

Topshop jacket, Jaeger shirt, Zara trousers, floral Topshop dress, black Dorothy Perkins dress, (another) floral Topshop dress, floral H&M dress, tie dye dress from Topshop, black dress (also) from Topshop and (yet another) floral dress (also) from Topshop.

From left to right: 

grey H&M t-shirt, black American apparel body, blue and white vest from Warehouse, striped tee from Gap, beige shorts from Zara and denim shorts from River Island. 

From left to right:

Office wedges, beloved converse, Office sandals, Havaiana flip-flops, Office pumps and espadrilles I bought a few years ago in Italy. 

I hope everyone is having a good summer. 

Flo x

Topshop A/W 10/11 Lookbook

In case you haven't noticed, I rather like Topshop. So today I finally sat down and had a look at the Topshop lookbook for this coming season. I was really disappointed in Topshop's last winter collection (they had all those ridiculous vampire tops because they were cashing in on the Twilight craze), but this year's A/W is looking pretty good.
Most of the looks feature coats or jackets, which suggests that they are going to be part of my wardrobe this winter. There is also a variety of different hem lines, rather than the basic mini length, which makes things more interesting. The colour palette is also good - mostly dark but with bright splashes of colour make a difference from Topshop everything-must-be-black looks. Interestingly for a dress devotee, like me, there are only 3 or 4 dresses in the entire look book - the focus is mainly on separates. 

My three favourite looks:

This jacket is obviously Burberry inspired, and I really like the different shades of the fur/sheepskin/shearling on the jacket. I love the length and colour of this this skirt - I think it would look really good with a pair of thick wool tights.

Although this hat and cape together look a wee bit Inspector Gadget-esque, I like them both. Camel is going to be really big next season, especially in cape form, and I'm a sucker for any kind of hat. I also like the tartan on the skirt.

 

Another cape, this time in navy blue (my favourite colour!). I prefer this to the one above because it has a hood. Despite my love for hats (I have about 20), I rarely wear them due to my hair - hats and big curly hair don't mix - so a hood suits my needs perfectly, but very few coats have them. I really like the jodhpur-style leggins, but I'm really not sure about the boots. They look like they belong with a Balmain-style leather jacket.

Two other looks I liked:

I liked parts of these looks, but not the whole outfit:

I like the coat. It reminds me of a coat my dad still has somewhere in the back of his wardrobe that looks like what a football commentator might where. I really dislike the cable knit pattern on the top - why print the pattern when you can get the real thing? And I'm not sure about the structured skirt with the outfit. Nice socks though.

I love this skirt. I have a similar vintage Betty Jackson one that used to belong to my mother. I think the white boots are an interesting twist on the tougher black boots, or plain white trainers. The top half of this look confuses me. I can't tell whether that the t-shirt has a bra printed on it, or whether the model is wearing a bra over the t-shirt. Either way, I'm not keen. I admire anyone who can pull off wearing their underwear-as-outerwear, but it's not really a look for me.

What do you think of the look book?

Flo x