Style slump- update 1

Eurgh, I'm so frustrated with being in a style slump (which I first mentioned here). I know that LOGICALLY I really need some chic basics to wear day to day but instead I went out and purchased these Zara bad boys...

You can buy them here

Yes, they are gorgeous, yes, they're a bargain at only £19.99 but do I need them? Er, that'll be a big fat NO then!

This is why I think the personal shopper may be helpful, I'm always tempted to buy with the heart, not the head; these heels, gorgeous as they are, have no place in my life at the moment.

On  a more productive note, I have booked in with the personal shopper at House of Fraser, I have a package from ASOS with this sensible basic in (that I'll try tonight) and a giant package from J Crew due any day now. It's the first time I've tried J Crew but there is a further 25% off sale goods at the moment which made the price of their basics comparable to most high street stores and from what I can gather, they have a reputation for long-lasting, stylish basics.

Finally, I'm going to sit down later with a coffee and read this blog post here about finding your own style, I've only had a chance to have a quick glance but it defo looks interesting.

Another update coming soon, hopefully focusing on some things I need, not just gorgeous things I want!xxx

Style, shopping and, er, stuff.

Imagine a sad, slightly resigned face; that's my face every morning when I go to put something on. Rewind a year and I was sorted, I had a pretty smart work wardrobe that I liked, plenty of 'going-out' clothes for meals/ drinks/ theatre etc and, when the time came, I managed to buy a load of cheap maternity stuff that, being honest, wasn't the most stylish stuff but as it was only going to be worn short term so I was happy to compromise style for economy for nine months. 

But now...

Now I stand in front of my wardrobe with a sad, slightly resigned face. I seem to have very little 'casual' stuff that I actually feel comfortable in, everything seems to either be too frumpy, too impractical/ young (e.g. skirts too short) or too 'clearly fashion from 18 months ago'. Everything is just a little, well, bleh.

So, I've decided to do something about it. 

I'll keep you posted on progress, it'll be slow as I don't have bags of money, but here's what progress looks like so far:

1. Make an appointment with a personal shopper
I'm going to make an appointment with a personal shopper; I've left my contact details with the one at my local House of Fraser, though by all accounts, Debenhams and John Lewis have good ones too (they don't work on commission and are free). Hopefully the professsionals can offer some inspiration as I'm currently walking round the shops like a zombie, buying things then returning them within a few days as they don't feel like 'me'.

2. Get some role models
I'm going to try identify those who have similar body shapes to me (where I also like their style) and take inspiration from there. I discovered this part of the Vogue website recently and it's a great source of inspiration being able to see how style evolves. I have since developed a bit of a girl crush on Alexa Chung, not that we have a similar shape mind you (I happily have more junk in the trunk, and everywhere else), I just love her style.

3. Use blogs as inspiration

I love browsing at blogs such as Cupcakes and Cashmere for the gorgeous, 'put together' clothes but, realistically, they don't suit my lifestyle or budget. Occassionaly though, I'll be inspired by a blog to purchase something I can afford. Tonight I purchased this simple grey t-shirt based on a review on Buy Now Blog Later. I bought a Cheap Monkey dress from ASOS last year based on one of Laura's reviews and was really pleased with the quality. I think it's useful to find a blogger whose opinion you trust and whose style you admire, and then shamelessly steal be inspired by their ideas.

4. Sort my hair out

As you'll have noticed, I had my hair dip dyed for a couple of years and while I loved it, I was really bored of it. I went into the hairdressers and asked for this type of cut...

And this type of colour...

Well, the result was more blonde than brown (cue photo from night out stolen from Facebook)...

I am defo NOT a blonde! I looked all washed out and ill. I went back and had a brown semi put on but it's already starting to fade which still leaves me with the question, what the hell should I do with my hair???

Anyway, rant over. I'll keep you updated and hopefully I'll find my casual/ chic/ mama mojo again soon!Happy Friday. xxx

Stuff I wear... for 'drinks' with friends (pregnancy)

And by drinks I mean diet coke and fruit juice! Excuse the poor photo quality, the room was pretty dark.

Necklace- Warehouse {old}

Shoes- Zara {old}

Lippie- MAC Girl About Town

Dress- Blooming Marvellous {bought in Mothercare store in sale recently for a mere ten pounds}

Next time I promise I'll take the photo in better light!xxx

Stuff I wear... when on a country walk (pregnancy)

Dress- New Look Maternity Link!
Belt- from a different dress

Cardigan (really old none maternity)
Grey knitted tights- Mothercare sale (couldn't find link as bought in store- sorry)
Wellies- Joules Link!

Strange to think that with Ben you couldn't even tell I was pregnant, yet this time round I'm 17 weeks and I've been in maternity clothes from around 13! That said, I'm lucky in that many of my none- maternity clothes still fit or I've been able to adapt them.

Turns out we didn't really need the wellies that day but better safe than sorry!xxx

Having a moment- rose gold watches.

So for a good few months now I have been actually, physically drooling over rose gold watches. In particular ones like these:

{Michael Kors}

{Marc Jacobs}

{Fossil}

However, the only gold I own is costume jewellery, I'm much more a silver kinda gal. But seeing pretty watches like these on the arms of several bloggers whose style I admired had me lusting after one. Sadly though, I don't have the money/ friends in fashionable places that such bloggers do so, was I willing to invest over £200 in something I wasn't really sure was 'me'?

The short answer is no.

So, to satisfy my craving, last night I purchased this:

Next £22 Link!

This is now officially my 'trial' watch. I'm going to wear it for the next couple of months and if I love it, I'll invest in a more costly time piece in rose gold. If not? I could always re-purchase this watch (below) which I bought when I was 18 and loved so much I bought a second one at about 25 when the first one broke!

Honestly, who'd have thought something as simple as a watch would cause so much deliberation! xxx

Stuff I wear... for the 'rents' anniversary meal

My mum and dad celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary a few weeks ago- forty years! Wowza, so full of admiration for them! It's strange sometimes to think of them as a partnership and not just part of my own family unit, but they're clearly a team who work well together.


We popped into Newcastle a few days earlier and I picked up this colourful number in the sale from Primarni (Primarc) for a mere ten pounds. I initially bout it for France but as it's lined in some cheap, nasty fabric, I realised it would be far too hot. Instead, I was forced to wear it with grim black tights due to our terrible English weather. The belt came with it and I love the cheeky flash of flesh on the back too. 

{Front}

{Back. Hard to see but hair is in a teeny tiny bun, tied with a black ribbon}

{The side view, mid-turn, while telling Steve not to chop my legs off}

If you live in the North East of England, we went to Cafe Twenty One and I'd highly recommend it: there were nine of us (each having three courses) and each dish was flawless.

Happy Friday everyone.xxx

PS- Thank you all for the well wishes for Ben. He's on the mend now and his mischievous grin has returned (which is always reassuring).

Stuff I Wear... for a Friend's Wedding.

I didn't take a specific outfit picture so I'm afraid there isn't a back view (basically the netting dips from the shoulders into a low V that stops where it meets the pale lilac bodice). The dress is from Coast and was originally £200 but I got it when it was half price. It was still the most I've ever paid for a dress but I was utterly smitten with it (no longer in sale section so can't link- sorry). I rationalised the purchase by telling myself that it isn't particularly in fashion, ergo, it will never go out of fashion! I bought it earlier this year and I've already worm it to two weddings and a prom so I'm adamant I'll get good value for money in terms of cost per wear! It did originally have a black satin belt round the waist but as I've lost a stone since Christmas (go me!)so I had to just tie a black ribbon round my waist (luckily I bought the size 10 and it's stretchy fabric so the dress itself still fits fine).


The shoes (barely seen) are just plain flesh toned pumps from New Look. I don't think they sell the version I purchased which have a higher heel and were in wide fit (to accommodate my ogre width feet) but these are similar- link! The bag was a pale cream clutch with subtle beading, it was from a charity shop for a mere £1 so I'm afraid I can't offer a link.  


I describe this dress as my 'Audrey Hepburn' dress because it just feels like a classic I could still be wearing in fifteen years. 


I will be doing a full post on the wedding soon but until then... xxx

Stuff I wear for drinks with Steve

I enjoy looking at how other people dress, how they mix and match patterns, fabrics, accessories etc. I have tried getting Steve to take photos for outfit posts but was always left feeling like an utter plonker posing for them. Anyway, last night I bit the bullet. Cue awkward looking photo of me...

After a drink too many, I am suffering horribly and have a children's party attend with Ben- wish me luck!xxx

Saturday Sparkle

Sooo, I promised I wasn't going to buy anything as we're trying to watch money at the moment... but you can't hold a good magpie down and so today I indulged in some sparkle from H&M. These neck baubles were around £6-£8 each (although the last one might be going back- I have to worry when even my eight year old tells me it looks cheap)!

Other than that we went for a gorgeous giant walk this morning and tonight I'm hoping to drag Steve into Newcastle for a cheeky beverage or two (he's in reluctant fuddy duddy mode at the moment so we'll have to see about that one). 

Oh Saturday- I really could just smooch you, what a beautiful day you are! Hope you're all enjoying it.xxx