Alright there August?

August has been busy with a capital 'B', but that's not a problem when you've got bright and breezy pyjamas to chill out and recharge your batteries in. Whether they be laced with pom-poms all along the edge or printed with punchy pineapples, you're no doubt in for a lazy Sunday. 

And why so busy you ask? (you probably didn't ask that really) Well, let me tell you anyway boys and girls.
Technically at the very back end of July, but overlapping into August, one of my dearest, closest and loveliest people I know, got married.

I love a wedding. Any excuse to drink, be happy and dress up am I right? So i put on my brightest and boldest maxi dress and snazziest, metallic dancing shoes on for the big day ahead. But c'mon, we all know I can't do sensible and sophiscated all the way, hence the chill pill bag. Very on-brand.

But when I'm not crying tears of happiness over my friends saying 'I do', you won't be that suprised to know that you'll often find me in a pair of dungarees, or something with straps that I'm buckled up in.

Suede, green, chiffon, pink - it's got it all! 

See. Dungarees aren't just for 5-year-olds. Neither is Barbie - don't believe me?

For once in the UK, the summer has actually felt like, well, summer! But with the summer heat PLUS the tube, all clothes have to be floaty please.

That includes strapless pink dresses that make you feel like a pretty pig...
 
...pleated gold collutes that even MC Hammer would be jealous of, and silky flared pants that are so jazzy that you feel a bit like Princess Jazz-mine.

And if you happen to head to the beach, why not dress like a piece of Brighton rock to fit in?

or some simples stripes will do. And when I say 'simple' I mean the mullet version of the skirt word, paired with an equally as simplistic sheer, sparkly shirt with a sassy slogan. 

Even though, hot damn, it's summer in the city (5 points if you get that reference), I still like to be one with nature with cactus on a pair of prickly pants. Oh, and lace and florals? A match-made in heaven surely.

Or step into the jungle, with some leopard print - whether that be in the normal or snow variety. And you know there's fun and games don't you know? Games that belong on a Sega Megadrive, worthy of a Sega Megababe. 

At times, life gets so dreamy that you want to wear an equally as dreamy marbled shirt.

Not everything's been rosy though, but when times are tough, you put your gold crown and put your game face on like a Queen because it'll all be fine in the end. Because it always is.

All-out August

We’re in the middle of September. What is happening with 2015. In the blink of an eye, I’ve had to store away all remnants of tropical playsuits, and whack out the mountain of trusty tights.

But before we slip into the knitwear, I squeezed the very last bit of the summer sunshine out of my wardrobe - oh, and hopped over to Milan to soak up some of the Italian sun too.

With British summers being what they are, the weather it always somewhat unreliable to do what it says on the tin and actually be summer. So you’ve got to be prepared with some brightly coloured suede jackets to keep the breeze at bay. And if that’s not enough, with a sassy and striped tee that says Bugger Off, the weather should get the message and buck up it’s idea.

And when that happens, time to make the most of it with the most tropical and most plunging thing you own in your wardrobe surely? 

When else are you going to be able to wear such a sunny number?

Oh, in Milan I guess - where deep plunges are always welcome. Especially when they’re in the form of a striped jumpsuit that makes you feel all John Travolta a la Saturday Night Fever.

But when it’s 35 degree heat, you just feel like wearing as little extra clothe on you as possible, and sometimes that just means a mini dress with a barely-there strappy back. Beware though. If you team it with a high pony, tortoise-shell platforms and glittery and glorious Miu Miu shades, your mate might tell you that you look like a Bratz Doll.

And then tell you that you look like Candyfloss Sandy from Grease when you walk home from the opera with a oversized glittery bow in your ponytail, and swish around in your floral pink skirt. 

But really, when it’s that hot, nothing can beat splashing in the water in your pastel-drenched bikini. 

Which just happens to match the rest of your stuff that you packed for your holiday - lucky that ain’t it?

What is missing form that pastel-themed dream though, are some oriental inspired patterns in culottes form. They will 100% do the trick in keeping you looking somewhat put-together as you laugh you way through summer.

But hey - who needs to looks stylish and sensible when there’s also pom-pom shoes, initialled bags and dungarees on offer? What a combo.

Inevitably though, the temperature will start to drop. And when that happens, it’s time to dust off the over-the-knee boots. And may i suggest a suede playsuit to go with them? They go brillliantly along with some metal accessories as well, in particular a handbag and big ol’ golden heart belt.

And if that's not enough, an amethyst tiara will make everything right again.

And when you’ve got all that, you might just get someone asking you why you look so cute? 

Stay happy!

Until next time...

A.x

Weekends by Numbers: Bae-hoven, slides & squad goals

So, I've been a bit rubbish with updates and blogging recently because life and work has been so busy and I always feel like I'm having the best time but that it's going about 80mph! And whenever I finally do have a moment of serenity, I end up putting everything at a halt as I catch up on sleep and life-admin. So here's my proposal boys and girls - instead of telling you what I've been doing this week, I'm going to jot down all that's been going on during my jam-packed weekends - Ready? Let's go!

7 favourites...

1.) Just as I was getting used to making plans with friends in July, we've somehow now ventured into August....the 8th month of the year...HOW. Well, before August passes us by in a flash, here's my July, filled with pianos, pedelos and pints.

2.) One of the things I wanted to do more of this year, is spend money on experiences and days out, rather than on materialistic things, and although my ASOS habit hasn't quite been kicked, a lot more live music and weird and wonderful activities have entered my life too, and that's included Citadel festival which my fave bedtime and chill out babe, Ben Howard headlined, which was the perfect relaxing end after jumping around in the blazing heat all day. Throw in some cider, fairground rides and new music that's been discovered and you've got a crackin' day right there my friend.

3.) Another sunny weekend, anoth couple of pints of beer drank - standard. This time 

at Ally Pally at their summer festival, which basically means that there were stalls of yummy food and booze at Alexandra Palace, with fun fair rides and kick-ass singers distributed in between. And that made me super happy. How happy I hear you cry? THIS happy.

I mean - when you've got a hot dog, a pint, and heart sunglasses on, what more could you possibly want in the world?

4.) But if booze in the sunshine isn't your cup of tea (I mean - have you tried it?) then maybe a night at the BBC Proms in a motherflipping box (Yeah, housemates RULE) listening to Beethoven while sipping on bubbly and eating quiche. And since this isn't an everyday occurrence - would you believe it - we got dressed up for the event and no amount of typical British rain was going to put me off wearing this little backless number! 

5.) 'This sounds like a lot of activities Amy, what do you do when you're doing this with your weekends?', asked no-one ever. But one of my my favourite things to do of a lazy Sunday morning is to have a lie-in, crawl out of bed and enjoy a cup of tea while listening to Desert Island Discs while sat by the big ol' window in the living room. Utter. Bliss.

6.) A night out that is filled with Disney songs and musical songs you say? Right, i'm there with bells on it! That's how I spent one Friday night with my BFF, and how do you end such a magical night? By staying up to 4am playing Disney Trivial Pursuit and watching The Lion King obviously. Oh, then spend the next day hungover at Highgate Cemetery and spending 7 hours on a hunt for ice-cream, which ends with a MASSIVE sundae in your belly.

 And this is all done with said BFF, her boyfriend and 3 men that you met about 10 hours ago... Casual. 

7.) One thing - amongst many - that I miss about uni is house parties. Not needing to think about entrance fees and how much you're gonna spend on drinks or time you're gonna sacrifice dancing on the dancefloor because you're queuing up at the bar. Nop. Cus you're at someone's house, with a bottle that you've bought with you, and you can even kick off your heels as soon as your get in. My uni friend Hannah popped to London to attend such a party, and even stayed for a good ol' fashioned sleepover afterwards - n'aww! Unfortunately, I reverted back to my uni days a bit TOO much and ended up in quite a state. So much so that I sprained my ankle and spent the rest of my weekend with a fat ankle covered in bags of frozen veg. Whiskey - 1, Amy - 0.

3 tweets...

"Texted my flatmate with  this morning - is 7am too early for such an emoji combo?"
"Spending the weekend with a bunch of Northerners in London made me realise how much I miss people saying 'Ta love' to me "
 "You know it's gonna be a good day at work when your to-do list includes #GBBO and Spice Girls - YES then!  "

1 outfit...

You know THAT house party night I referred to where it all went Pete Tong? Yeah, well, while I may have looked like a 10/10 hot mess by the end of the night, the start of the night actually started off in a much more modest and monochrome manner.

With a black and white crochet bralet and striped pyjama-like trousers, this outfit was SO out of the realms of my usual ensembles, but I loved it SO much. Someone gimmie all the crochets crop tops please - they're flattering and oh-so-comfy.

Stay happy!

Until next time,

A.x

An ode to dungarees

I hadn't laid my eyes on you since I was 6-years-old,

and after all these years, I wondered if I could be so bold,

to press 'proceed to checkout' on that Topshop site,

and at 2am while procrastinating, I thought I just might.

Breton stripe, lace crop tops and white tees,

I thought of all the things I could pair with thee,

Summertime frolics, drunken nights that were reckless,

All the possibilities, well, they were endless.

Comfort and effortless style, you're the whole deal,

And perfect for when I wake up late to meet friends for a meal.

You are perfect for occasions of all kinds,

Constantly making up new combinations in my mind.

But it wasn't enough, I started trying on more versions of you,

And before I knew it, I had bought another you in a different hue.

You're perfect in every form, and even as a skirt,

I'd forgotten about other clothes, what even is a shirt?

From babysitting to bars, from day to night,

I couldn't stop buckling up those straps, try as I might.

Long, short, denim, black,

I've fallen in love with you, and I can't go back.

A.x

Sugar Sweet

As we all anticipated, the British Summer was never going to last forever.

dress:LOVE, trainers:Nike, belt:ASOS, socks:Topshop, necklace: Topshop

So, before it finally draws to a close, I skipped out of the house to catch every last drip of sunshine that England had to offer, and what better dress to soak it all up, than this flirty, little off-the-shoulder number.

Keeping everything delicate, and blushing in pink, and I the daintiest of necklaces on, and even my socks were pink (complete with hearts and everything!)

This outfit made me feel all soppy and loved up, frolicking amongst the flowers that coincidentally, matched my outfit too! Good jobs nature!

Keeping things fresh, I laced up my Nikes and popped on my favourite belt (which I always think has a Moschino feel to it, with it's black and gold tones)

Although I am a MASSIVE summer bunny - I love the sun, I love not having to wear tights, I love the BBQs and Pimms and I love that it doesn't get dark until 11pm - I am looking forward to changing up my wardrobe for autumn and having more fun with layering, ample amount of tartan, and lashings of maroon, pine green and mustard yellow.

What about you? Are you holding onto every last bit of summer? Or are you looking forward to wrapping up warm?

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

Jungle Jane!

This pastel princess has gone a bit khaki crazy.

Continuing with my love affair with strapless items, this playful piece has become a firm favourite of mine that I keep whipping out day & night.

What's not to love about it?! It's got a beautiful playful print on it, it's geometric cut makes it' a bit different and interesting, especially with the layering of a skort design (which also means you don't have to worry about any accidental flashes or embarrassing Marylin Monroe moments!), and it looks flattering on every body shape.

I remember one year, one of my New Year resolutions was to wear more green (obviously out a lot of thought went into that particular year's resolutions), and this lil' outfit kicks that resolution right out of the park - even Kermit the frog would be proud

As if wrapping myself in jungle leaves wasn't enough, I threw my new favourite jacket on top in all it's khaki glory (which incidental, I bought the both of these items together, which made my friends call it my Jungle Jane outfit). With a brass belt to tie it all up, my trusty black wedges and bag, I was ready to go on safari! (I even had my magical, rainbow sunglasses, which every person should have as they instantly make you happy!)

playsuit:Topshop, jacket:Topshop, shoes:Clarks, bag:Mulberry, sunglasses:Urban Outfitters

My arm candy game has been stepped up recently. When I was younger, I stacked so many bracelets and bangles on my arms, it sounded like a cattle of cow bells! Now though, I usually just slip on my Pandora bangle with all it's meaningful and cute charms that people have given to me over the years - but after buying a lovely lil' friendship bracelet from Liberty that's simple and sweet, I re-discovered some of my old ones and have been layering them ever since.

This outfit is literally something I've been pulling out of my wardrobe constantly. Skorts are so underrated (and not like that kind that I used to wear and to play netball!). They're not only stylish and different, but comfortable and practical too - the est of both worlds! I definitely think that skorts and playsuits are a go-to for summer, and if you're looking for a way to save on your summer essentials, then you should head over to Raise.com - they're the 1st online marketplace where you can sell your unwanted gift cards, and buy discounted ones to your favourite stores - Genius! (why didn't anyone think of this idea before!)

They have brands from Victoria's Secret to Starbucks - so there's something for everyone! 

https://www.raise.com/buy-gift-cards

https://www.raise.com/sell-gift-cards

Now, I may not be Katy Perry in Roar, but I can certainly be Jungle Amy in life!

images: thatgrapejuice.net, e-online

What are your essentials when it comes to summer?

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

Orange is the new Black

Strapless items have become my new best friends.

Being an overweight teenager who didn't have the best perception of her own body image, the last thing I wanted to do was wear something that squeezed out every inch of flab spilling over the top, and spend every 5 minutes hitching it back up. 

But now, as a happy and confident 22-year-old woman,  I love having my shoulders out. Not only do you escape any pesky tan lines, but there's just something so carefree and summery when I hop into something strapless.

And with this fun-coloured and floral-crocheted piece, it just amped up the summer feeling by 100%.

dress:Topshop, jacket:Topshop, shoes:Topshop (a bit of a Topshop heavvy outfit!)

With some plaits in my hair, my new favourite platforms that make me feel like a Spice Girl (a girl can dream), and a khaki jacket - complete with leather trims and shiny, gold details - I skipped around Kensignton without a care in the world! (Except when people are looking at me taking photos..that's a bit awks still!)

Summer in London is one of the best things ever. I can't even describe it in words, but you just flit around this buzzing enviroment with beautiful places and people in between.

And as well as many other parts of London which are firm favourites of mine - Islington, Soho, Brick Lane - Kensignton is just one of the most beautiful places, and I dream of living in a building like these.

I was a bit late onto the 'Orange is the New Black' train when it 1st came out, but when the 2nd season rolled around, I was well and truly hooked, and many binge seasons took place on Netflix. Now, I might not as sassy as Laverne, as funny as Nicky, or as fiesty as Red, but I think I rock the orange look in my own way!

This summer for me is very exciting personally, there's new opportunities and new cities to explore, and it's the 1st time in my life where I don't know what's going to happen or what's coming up next. And that's all kinds of scary and excitement! 

What parts of London do you love? 

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x