Bloggers | Inspiration 2016

Most of my blogging motivation comes from reading amazing blogs or seeing something beautiful while I am out on adventures. I'd love to share these with you and hope you find as much joy from them as I do. Please note all images below are from their respective blogs, I had never noticed before how similar their logos were either, clearly all very creative types!

Being Little is written by Lyzi, a lass residing in the South West of England. She posts beautiful outfit posts which never conform to the restrictions of current trends. It always feels like she has found a fresh new look whenever her outfit posts come up. Fashion aside she is eloquent with her writing and has an eye for stunning interior design, a great example is her latest post 'Living Room Lust'. If you love high quality photography with fun fashion Being Little is a wonderful blog to scroll through. 

A Rosie Outlook is written by Rosie, hailing from Bournemouth she posts photographs of her fitness, fashion, food, travel and life posts. One of my favourite things about Rosie is she posts about real life issues and mindfulness, I believe I found the Lively Podcast through her blog in which intention based living is a key topic. Although her photographs are always beautiful I find myself even more captivated by the way she writes, as if you're old friends and she has a lot to catch up on with you. If you enjoy variety in blog posts then I highly recommend Rosie's blog.

On Serpentine Shores is my favourite blog for travel eye candy. Written by Alex, it features her adventures around Cornwall which is a place I went on holiday as a child and loved very much. Alex posts outfits but it never feels like an outfit post, more like a scene from a film with a beautiful country setting. The whole atmosphere of her posts and her blog in general are very natural and peaceful, like finding a beautiful book on a shelf in a bookstore then discovering it is a story which captivates you until the end. If you're into Poldark style visuals with content which fulfils every time then Alex's blog is for you.

Wishlist | Levi Love List

I am not rich, far from it but I have a crush on Levi products. Their T-shirts are the greatest thing since sliced bread for me, with the perfect soft and light fabric, a fit which really flatters every one and a price which isn't horrendous (especially when I had student discount).

Looking through their website and realising I could hardly afford one, let alone all of the things that I wanted it seemed a great idea to make a little window shopping wish list. These are some of my favourites right now. 

These jeans look so great for relaxing or wandering about town. I've been making plans to visit more places and after going to Berlin I've realised I need some slouchy warm clothes for those adventures.

Shirt dresses are perfect for styling in several ways and this one called out to me. I get the feeling it would be too long on a shorty like me but the classic Levi stitching and the soft Sierra shade makes me wish I had one of these so much.

Skinny jeans might be the in trend still but now I am getting a little older I really love these slim fits. The silhouette looks so flattering and I like the thought of giving my lower leg space to breathe.

Really digging the worn leather lace up boots just now and bets are that these would look great even with age. I loved the fact they were only ankle ones, quite often I find longer ones can be uncomfortable to wear with jeans, especially not skinny jeans. The colour of these is a luscious warm brown which suits my neutral palette of clothing to the tee. 

So those are my top favourites, it might seem indulgent to post them online but hey if ya can't buy them might as well be inspired by them!

(Image sources)
-

Wishlist | BLU

B L U  S T U D I O S

-

I love bespoke products, the feeling of having something rare and beautifully hand crafted is the best feeling when it comes to shopping. I know most people aren't fussed if they can find something cheaper but honestly the quality you get when you buy from a professional tailor is on a different level. It also comes down to us to help promote British companies, the foundations of our economy (sorry if that sounds preachy). 

So as a part of this I thought I'd post a mini wish list feature for a brand from my home City. 

"We are small skilled team manufacturing everything by hand guaranteeing the highest quality of materials and craftsmanship within every item. Our passion is to produce items our customers will adore and cherish for their opulent leathers and individual craftsmanship shunning the norm of mass manufacturing. Making each item truly individual to every customer. " - Blu Studios

The use of metallics and crisp shapes/silhouettes really makes these eye catching and individual, with a couture appearance. I'm looking forward to putting some money aside for one of these gorgeous back packs and fluffy accessories to add to my collection of high end bags. 

You can find them here at Blu Fashion Studios. (Image courtesy of Blu Fashion Studios webpage).


-

05. S/S 2016.

Winter is here but that means it is good time to be looking at the S/S trends for 2016. I'm sure many of these will appear in the high street stores in a less premium style. These are some favourites of mine from the LFW 2015 for S/S 16. Image source.

The OSMAN collection at the LFW focuses on structure and strong silhouettes, incorporating architectural elements into the designs. I was drawn in by the sharp injection of colour with the burnt orange and the monochromatic white and black.

All of these looks feature mixed texture with a flutter of spring colours. The draped fabric is ideal for the warmer Summer months but still allows for darker colour too. Something about these garments reminds me of Japanese style, perhaps the layered segments in the 2nd dress is reminiscent of Samurai armour and the white top has elements of a kimono.

I've chosen a few pieces from current high street store ranges which look similar to these catwalk ranges.

FASHION // Graduation Gift

Last week was my Graduation from my Graphic Design course. Above is me and my friend Holly, it was an awesome day full of happiness for all my friends achieving their Degree and sadness knowing I'll barely get to see them any more. 

I had been eyeing up a few things I'd have liked to treat myself to for finishing. I am a total fangirl of FOSSIL as a brand, their bags are super soft and durable but also tailored beautifully. The smokey blue mini back pack is so cute and versatile, it is similar in style to my black shoulder bag so it was on top of my list to get but I was hesitant because of cost. While I was in London for an interview me and a friend were in the shop in Covent Garden and there it was, on sale and calling out to me and it was the last one!  

The photos don't really do it justice. Now after many years in higher education it feels a little scary as to what is going to happen but I'm excited to move on to new things.

{Fashion} Loves and Likes

Compton Fitted Shirt - Elmore Wrap Skirt

Although I'm not trying to buy clothes just now, I still keep a little eye out for fashion that inspires me or for beautiful garments. Finery have such unique clothing, I'm drawn in by the cut of their products.  Unfortunately I'm not as slim and tall as the models on their site but I think the fitted shirt and wrap skirt would really suit my shape.

Flared Grey Dress - Soft Yellow Bag - Pastel Pink Coat

Zara always have something I adore, I'm so loving the shape of that dress, nipped in at the waist and flared at the hips. I'd love to match it with either the bag or the jacket (though not both), good ole grey goes with most things eh? The jacket is beautiful and simple, perfect for days out it almost makes me sad I can't splash out on clothes. 

Going to stick with my spending ban for general clothing, only buying absolute staple clothing (dark jeans, white tees etc.).

FASHION// CAPSULE CLOSET?

Recently I came upon a Podcast (The Lively Show) and was listening to an interview with Caroline, the owner of minimalist fashion blog Unfancy. I'd not heard of her blog before but was intrigued and excited by what she had to say. The basic premise of her blog was to create a place to share her adventures in creating minimalist seasonal wardrobes with a maximum of 37 pieces of clothing, excluding accessories and occasion evening wear.

Caroline speaks of making decisions with intention and not being super impulsive which speaks to me regarding many aspects of life. With having only those 37 items she doesn't buy anything for 3 months, ensuring she will have not increased the amount of clothes to too many and also offering extra funds for when she does go shopping at the end.

Now I am somewhat of a clothing hoarder in that once I buy a piece of clothing if I like it I'll keep it for far too long, for example a dress I've had since 2005 and worn only a handful of times. I need to break this cycle as I am moving house and it is unearthing my monumental pile of clothes. The new closet I'll have is not nearly as spacious and so will only hold so much. Another problem is I'll often forget I have a garment as it is hidden between or under other clothes.

The Capsule Closet seems an ideal solution, though as Caroline explains it doesn't have to be 37 pieces and mine likely won't. My hope is that I will have a maximum of five of each garment, for example t-shirts or jeans and so on. This may sound like lots of rules but honestly it is just what I need to curb spending to save for the future and to give myself a closet of clothes that will all be used to their fullest potential. A big part of this will be understanding my style, something I'm not 100% sure about just yet.

I've filled in her worksheets in the hope of finding out exactly what my style is, for now I know that I adore basics (plain white tee, black jeans, fitted blazer) so these are the staples I'll be sticking with and use accessories to add character. I'm also avoiding buying cheap clothes because they're cheap and sticking with best quality items that may cost a little more but I am sure will last longer. Part of the premise of the Capsule Closet is to store away garments which don't fit the season to ensure your closet is not packed with things you aren't using for months. This is one of my favourite parts as generally I have Summer dresses packed onto hangers next to thick sweaters, though in England that isn't always a bad thing.

Fingers crossed this will work out, for now I've been filling bags for Charity/Thrift stores and giving to friends if they like them. Let the challenge begin!

FASHION// FOSSIL, A BAG WORTHY OF HISTORY

One of my greatest desires for a while, albeit it is a little sad, has been a black bag. Not just any bag but a bag that can stand frequent use. Black to preserve its colour as pastel and other light colours stain when worn with jeans, which I more often than not do and leather as it is durable.

I had intended to save for this day but I was caught off guard by how ideal this little bag is. The size is big enough to carry every day necessities but also not overly large to become cumbersome. The brand is Fossil, which I know consistently deliver high quality products. I already own a handful of their jewellery, a purse, watch and small bag.

Entering the store is always a great experience, the staff are welcoming and helpful but don't push you to buy anything. Everything is displayed with such care I almost didn't want to pick anything up for fear of ruining it but the staff let me know you can try on any jewellery and if you buy anything you get a fresh product, not one from their displays. The lady that served me was a sweet French lady in the Oxford Street branch, we had a lovely chat about their products and she told me how this particular bag had been out of stock for a few weeks prior so it was a strike of luck to get this so easily.

Source

The zips are a beautiful gold/bronze colour, the zip underneath opens to allow the bag to expand and there is a zip on the reverse for safe items. The front zip is actually an opening for a large pocket with which the flap of leather over the top becoming part of the pocket.

I'm pleased to have such a versatile bag, it adjusts at the strap and I'm certain it will go with almost any outfit and work for evening or out and about in the day. If you've ever tried Fossil's products I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

FASHION// NIKE STRUCTURE 18

Source

I have never been a person to wear trainers everyday. In the past 5 or 6 years though I have been an avid runner and always on the look out for some way to improve my fitness so I regularly get some new running shoes and I have a pair for gym/training. My latest pair are these stunning, bright, super comfortable Nike Structure 18s. Bought from 'Sweatshop' in Norwich, the gent that served me checked how I ran in them on the gait treadmill so I know they're ideal.

If you're looking to start running or even improve, then I recommend getting your gait analysed (most sport shops will do this for you) and investing in some good trainers. Really and truly it is best to spend a little more on these than you'd expect as they'll be the best protector against injury.

FASHION// ACCESSORIZE MINI-HAUL

This grey Autumn weather has me a little low so thought it'd be a great opportunity to embrace the Autumn shades. I'm so into the idea of layering jewellery, especially with the variety of styles Accessorize offer with a great Student Discount. The trend seems to be for plum shades and burgundy, which I feel would be amazing with a burgundy sweater, jeans and boots. The bracelets were an addition to my bracelet stacks, along with my Fossil watch. Hope you guys like my picks, you have to check out their window displays at the moment, lovely colours and textures.

FASHION&LIFESTYLE// KNIT FOR WINTER

So this may seem an unlikely post for your modern fashion blogger, however I think the past decade has seen such a rise in thrifty living with programmes similar to Kirstie's Fill Your House For Free being quite the sensation. Knitting is a very therapeutic past time and though it is associated with elderly ladies it is quite accessible as any one can do it with some practice. Winter is on its way and so I've been re-learning how to knit, though I've never been amazing at it I feel my current attempt is going so well.

One of my 101 in 1001 challenges is to knit a scarf so I've been working on this one, guided by a magazine I bought a while ago, only £2.99 and it came with wool, needles and guides on how to knit. The magazine is called Knit & Stitch in association with Bergere de France. I'm so excited to try and create cardigans or sweaters ready for Winter, hopefully saving myself some cash. I know there are plenty of patterns online to try and tutorials on Youtube. I'd highly recommend you check them out if you find yourself bored in the evenings.

FASHION// QUIZ WISHLIST GRADUATION

Bag £19.99 | Jeans £26.99  | Necklace £8.99 | Boots £34.99 | Top £16.99 | Jacket £29.99

With only a year left until graduation I've been thinking about what I'll wear on the big graduation day. Quiz clothing offer a versatile range of casual wear and occasion wear so browsing their website I compiled this wishlist of what I'd love to wear for the big day. The mixture of smart blazer with ripped jeans is much like my degree, a mixture of business and creativity. The bag is a perfect size to fit the essentials in and the necklace has the look of luxury though I don't know if I'd need it with the diamante detailed top. I'm very excited to start my final year of University, I think looking forward to an awesome graduation outfit just fuels my energy into doing my best.

FASHION// BRA-VO ANN SUMMERS

There seems to be something strange about posting underwear on my blog but I think it is something that is so important in a ladies wardrobe. After all an outfit with poorly fitting undies can looks horrific! This weekend I treated myself to some new bras as it is time to submit some older ones to the underwear room 101. I'm quite unfortunate in having quite a broad rib cage area of my chest, with a measuring tape it says 36" but whenever I try those on in most high street stores I find they can nip a bit so I tend to go for the 38C over my sometimes 36D. Ann Summers have a wide selection in my size, though very few in the sale rails so my student budget was pleased to see a multi-buy deal. These two lovelies were £30 for 2, an absolute bargain really when in the past I've paid £40+ for one. They had at least a dozen different colour ways or styles in this offer so definitely worth a look if you're wanting to save.

Having more than one style bra is great for varying the way your outfit will look, the red/fuschia bra is underwired but has a beautiful lace fabric with no padding of any sort. I find these types tend to go nicely with an evening dress or a loose shirt. The white one has a removable boost padding, allowing a choice of ways to wear it. Sometimes I find padded is more comfortable to wear and often looks better under t-shirts or casual dresses.

FASHION// LOST&FOUND

Thick Zara Knit Sweater £3 | Dark Grey Cowl Neck Top £1 | Lace Sleeve Zara Knit £2

Keeping up with my post before about Winter wear, another avenue for brilliant bargains, I mean insanely good bargains is the humble car boot sale. I rarely have Sundays to myself due to work, this week though me and my sister went to one of the local car boot sales. It is quite the mixture of hit and miss at these events, sometimes there are multitudes of what I consider junk on stands but someone's junk may be another persons treasure. If you're wanting to have a movie night there are tons of DVDs for as little as 20p, or a costume party you can find cheap costumes and clothes to modify. Personally I look for video games and great quality pieces of clothing. All of the above are in like new condition and I'll leave a little tip for thrifty buyers - don't always grab something straight away. The thick Zara knit was £6 at first, I went away for a short bit to think about it and when I returned the lass had reduced all the items to £3! Obviously you can lose out sometimes with this so it is risky but if it saves you 50% that's brilliant.

FASHION// WINTER COMMETH

H&M Sweaters 14.99 each

It is the most wonderful time of the year for me, when regarding clothes anyway. I love layering using scarfs, boots, belts and hats all at once, just being able to wear enough to make some great textural contrasts makes me so happy. Something my closet definitely lacked in was comfy sweaters, I tend to stick with dark colours like black or deep blues and greens but I was inspired by another blogger to go for more neutral softer shades. I am smitten with pastels and earthy tones, though there really seemed a lack of what I was particularly hunting for in shops. Why is there so much knit with huge heavy bling on it yet nothing plain?

Alas I was elated to find H&M was my saviour. After trying on a pile of jumpers I found these two were my favourites. The colours here aren't great and Photoshop just wouldn't play nicely, the front one is in fact a mushroom brown and the other is a pastel salmon pink. These two particularly caught my eye as they varied in shape, texture and thickness. The pink is short and quite baggy (I got a medium to give me the extra baggy look), this will go perfectly with my rose gold watch and accessories, I think I'll probably wear it with trousers as I fear denim may stain it. The mushroom brown one is longer and slightly fitted, it has a beautiful pattern along the front and down the sleeves and slight slits in the sides for my lady hips. This'll go great with leggings and boots I think, maybe some short shorts.

Another star buy was a little satchel bag, bought from The British Heart Foundation shop. The bag was brand new and only £12.99! I adore the vibrant duck egg turquoise colour with the rose gold unique catch on the front. It has plenty of pockets inside and is perfect for a wee lass like me as it isn't over cumbersome.

BHF £12.99

FASHION// ALLSAINTS FOR SALE

Since I know my followers are stylish gorgeous people I would let you all know about my auction of an All Saints leather jacket I have for sale on eBay. It is size 12 and looks great on, fitted and with the cowl style neck it looks fab with a chunky scarf for those cool Autumn days coming up. Click the photo to go to the auction!

FASHION&LIFESTYLE// STRIPES & BLUEBERRY

Jacket H&M | Strap Top Primark | Shoes New Look | Lipstick Avon | Watch Fossil

Been a while since I did an outfit of the day, honestly not felt like it but today I was inspired by Emma and her latest post. These poofy tiered skirts make me feel like I'm 8 years old again, so fun but a nightmare to try and iron as it seems to wreck the shape. I found this skirt in TKMaxx, the brand is Superdry and it was only £9.99 (I also got a navy one, don't judge me heh). No tights for once as the weather is pretty awesome, not one for showing my arms though so the light jacket does the job.

On another note, as part of my healthy living I was looking up treat style meals that don't enlarge the waistline too much and came across a recipe for pancakes. There are only two ingredients in these! All they contain is banana and two eggs, I was so intrigued I made them right away and although mine don't look as beautiful as those on Nic's Nutrition where I found these I'm pretty pleased with them. They taste so scrummy, the banana adds a little sweetness so I didn't really need to add sweetener but I sprinkled some to try it out. I would recommend these to all you pancake lovers, a guilt free snack that gives you one of your five a day and a bit of protein, great post workout when you're craving!

Delicious with blueberries & stevia.

FASHION // CORAL KNIT

A few weeks ago I picked up this amazing loose coral knit sweater. The colour just pops and I'd been looking for something super bold for a while and thankfully Zara tends to supply when there is demand. This sweater has it all really for me, three quarter-length sleeves, a V-neck and it is higher at the front and dips at the back. For the cooler Spring days it has worked great with shorts and a strap top. Sadly the photo has slightly discoloured it but you can tell it is super bright, a welcome addition to my mostly black closet.

Another buy that I am super chuffed with is a black shopper bag found in Primark. After a Spring clear out I found a mountain of plastic shopping bags and felt a little overwhelmed, clearly when shopping there is no need to keep adding to that pile and so a shopper bag was required. This bag has been amazing, it holds everything and the width really helps distribute weight without making your shoulders give out. It also comes in a duck egg blue colour and is about £9.

I'll leave you with a detail photo of the sweater, asymmetrical seams add an unusual edge to a simple garment.