Westfield Stratford

 I went to the new Westfield shopping mall in Stratford on Wednesday. It's absolutely huge, I feel like I didn't manage to see all of it. Quite a few of the shops weren't open yet, but all of the ones that were all really busy (apart from Topshop, which was dead).

At the Jamie's Italian for cocktails and dessert.

The Khiels store gave me some lovely samples, and the Zara and Topshop had some great pieces (several of which I bought). There are a lot of high street stores, even a Primark, but all of the shops are well designed, more modern, and look great. 

I wore a Topshop jacket, Whistles trousers, Office ballet pumps and an H&M bag.

I'd definitely recommend a trip, but not until the hype has died down slightly - I was there at 7:30 on a Wednesday and it was heaving. 

Has anyone been to Westfield? Are you planning on making a trip in the future?

What I Wore: In My Garden

Making the last of the summer weather in the spider-filled garden of my new house. I'm still not sure how I feel about my Carrie skirt with black tights, so this may be one of the last times I get to wear it until next year. I wore my Whistles Carrie skirt (whose hem is sadly fraying at an alarming rate), with a striped H&M t-shirt, Office shoes and Ray Ban sunglasses.   

What I Wore To: Switzerland

For a country famed for it's mountains and snow, Switzerland is surprisingly warm. I could only take a carry-on case (thanks Easy Jet!), but I managed to get enough clothes for eight days into one tiny suitcase. Other than the clothes in these photos, I took one more skirt, top and dress with me, as well as some ballet pumps and Converse and that was it. I made sure that everything I bought with me went with at least two other items, so that I always had an outfit to wear. 

I'm wearing: Topshop t-shirt, Whistles skirt, Office sandals, Ray Ban sunglasses (I caved and bought some at the airport!).

Grace is wearing H&M jumper and jeans with Clarks Originals sandals.

Topshop t-shirt, American Apparel shorts, Office sandals and Ray Ban sunglasses.

H&M dress, Zara belt, Office sandals, Topshop bag and Ray Ban sunglasses.

I'm wearing: H&M shirt and skirt, Ray Ban sunglasses and Liberty headscarf (just seen). 

Grace is wearing a vintage shirt and American Apparel shirts (we have the same pair).

What I Wore To: The Zoo

I say zoo, it's more of a glorified farm that for some inexplicable reason features tigers and penguins. Although these pictures aren't very clear, I'm wearing a Topshop biker jacket, H&M t-shirt and trousers with Office sandals. Although it was sunny, there was a breeze, so my trousers, jacket and sunglasses were needed. I wish the weather would just settle on something so that I don't have to continually dress for three seasons in one outfit. 

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. 

That's enough snow, thanks.

Thanks to the snow, it took me two hours to get home from work tonight (the journey normally takes me 20 minutes). Luckily I was all wrapped up in several winter layers. 

I finally found a big cosy man-style coat (I've been looking for one for ages) in Topshop a couple of weeks ago. It's got lots of lovely pockets to keep my hands warm, but it means that when I get back to my flat, I have to spend ages hunting for my keys, which are always inevitably in the last pocket I look in.

My coat and hat are from Topshop, my scarf was a birthday present and my desert boots are from Office (I raved about them here). 

I'm sure everyone is doing this, but here's a picture of the snow in Canterbury - I'm back at home for Christmas break, so I was at work when the snow started. It had been snowing for about 45 minutes at this point:

While I was keeping warm in Topshop on my lunch break, I bumped into Gem, who writes Gem Fatale's Style Blog. She was so lovely and chatted to me for a few minutes - you should definitely go and check out her blog if you have a chance.

The best shoes in the world.

I think the whole of Britain is aware of the fact that its snowing. And there is a lot of said snow. However, this morning when I left home for work, there was no snow, so I left my welly boots in the car. Big mistake. 

However, I made a sensible shoe choice today - my beautiful black heeled desert boots from Office (I wrote about them here, but I haven't posted anything more about them, which is odd, given the huge number of times I've worn them).

Here are the blue ones (they also come in grey):

I work for Office, and I got my pair of these back in September, but although they're sold out in most stores now, there are some small sizes left on the website in the blue and grey (no sign of the black ones).

The rubber sole had perfect grip on the snow and I didn't slip over once (even on the ice on the hill) when I walked back to my car, and the laces kept my feet nice and snug in my shoes. I thought I couldn't love these shoes more than I already do, but I was wrong. When they come back into stock, I'm buying myself another pair. 

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. 

Birthday Wish List

It's my 19th birthday a week today, so I have comprised my semi-realistic wish list of what I would love to find waiting for me on the breakfast on my birthday morning. 

I may have these trousers in tan and navy blue, but I really want a black pair - £35.99 from Zara. 

These gorgeous heels from Office, £68 (above)

A pair of cherry red Dr. Martens, £75 (below)

Tickets to see: 

Katy Perry & Take That

(I know they're both sold out, but a girl can dream). 

 Lovely lovely Ray Bans, £82 from Sunglass Hut

My tartan tights ripped last winter and I really want some new ones. 

I love Benefit make-up. I use Erase Paste all the time, and I'm running out and I posted about my love for The Porefessional here. 

I think this is the first birthday in a long time where I haven't asked for something specific, so I'm looking forward to being surprised. 

Flo x

New shoes?

These are the best shoes I own at the moment -  black suede heeled desert boots from Office. The heel is low, which means I can wear them when I'm at university, riding my bike, or running around at work, without my feet hurting. The sole has also got really good grip, which I which meant I didn't slip over in the rain yesterday. 

They look really nice with dresses, skirt and trousers, but my favourite thing to wear them with at the moment is my chinos. I took them off while I paddled in the river while out on my bike ride today. 

Flo x

A Lifetime of Obsession

When I was very young, about five maybe, I saw the Wizard Of Oz for the first time. And while I was not only entranced by Oz itself, and the way Dorothy's life changed from black and white to colour, I was also drawn to The Ruby Slippers. For my birthday that year, my grandmother gave me a pair of (gold) glittering shoes that I adored and wore and wore until all the glitter fell off. 

Dorothy was so many years ahead of current trends - she paired heels and ankle socks together years ago.

Over the years, I've lusted after many a pair of red heels, but never bought a pair. I gear up to get them, gather my funds, try them on several times, to make sure that they are the perfect fit, but I never commit.I always make some excuse at the last minute and back out.

I think now though, I may have found my perfect pair. Although I have yet to try them on, these (supposedly "burgundy") heels from Office.

They are suede (my favourite fabric for shoes), with a good, solid, but not-ridiculously-high heel. They don't look as harsh as some other red shoes do and they are not as tough as some of the shoes of previous seasons. I could see myself wearing them with a pair chinos or tailored trousers. 

The shoes are a good red - not too bright, but not too purple either - the suede makes the colour look classy, which I don't think it would work if the shoes was patent, or matte leather (I am rather picky about my reds as I had to wear a post-box-red jumper every day for seven years at primary school).

I think I may have to make the investment.

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

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

What I Wore To: Lovebox

The weather, and people on Twitter, told me that it was going to rain while we at Lovebox, so I dressed for rain. It didn't rain in the end, but I was glad I had the ridiculous coat, because it got cold later. 

Apologies for the poor picture - my camera was charging while I was taking this. 

I wore my mum's coat (that she walks the dogs in - stylish!), Topshop dress, and my festival staple, Office boots, and wool socks. 

Flo x

Festival Fashion

The festival season is well under way, so I'm a little late in doing this post. 

I didn't have my camera while I was at Lounge On The Farm (I didn't want it to get stolen), so I couldn't take the outfit pictures I wanted to, and so I had to make do with my (new) iPhone instead.

The weekend was hot and sunny, so the main accessory was sunglasses: 

I'm wearing Lora's sunglasses, that she bought from a stall at the festival, and my Union Jack top is from Topshop. Lora is wearing my sunglasses from Topshop. 

Ashley (above) and Ani (below) in Ray Bans. 

A lot of people (myself included) wore band t shirts - mine used to belong to my brother, but it shrunk in the wash. I wore my River Island shorts all week - they have become one of the best buys I have ever made. Hannah's cardigan and slip are both from Zara.

Georgie (above) and Paris (below) also embraced the band-tee-and-sunglasses combo.

Nice hat.

I always find Topshop's t-shirts rather lacking - they can never make them simple - the one I'm wearing here comes from Topman (size XS). I'm wearing my River Island shorts and you can just see the top of my socks. I wore these boots from Office all weekend, with a pair of thick socks - they kept my feet relatively dust and dirt free.

 

On the last day, it was a little cooler, so I wore my ASOS top with the shorts, a watch that used to belong to my grandmother, and my trusty vintage bag. Lora is wearing a Jack Wills jumper and Topshop jeans. Oh, and a mask that we stole from someone's tent (sorry about that, whoever you are). 

Flo x