Dancing through December

Winter is the perfect time for a spot of shearling.

Whether that's long and swooping along the floor like you're part of a 90s pop music video, or short and denim like a 19-year-old hipster. 

You know what the other thing that's great in December? Red. All the red during the festive season please. Whether that's a simple and bold lippy, a punky pleated skirt or a sparkly slogan sweat. 

And on the days you're feeling really lazy? An oversized 101 Dalmations sweatshirt with a big ol' Lazy Oaf heart. 

Sassy over the knee boots optional.

And when the festive season gets all too much, put on your chunkiest and coziest piece of knitwear to hide the fact that you've eaten so many pigs in blankets that you've in fact, become an actual pig in blanket.

As a regular Mrs.Christmas myself, it'll surprise no-one that I'll have festive headgear on me more often than not. Whether it's more on the subtle side with a sprig of mistletoe or go all-singing, all-dancing with a flashing headband of tinsel. 

Throw in a pair of pom-pom earrings and a metallic gold skirt and you're ready for a night out of fizz and festivities. 

But you know, there's times you have to go hog-wild and when those times call, find you're jazziest Winter Slopes top and matching it with a shimmering, mermaid pleated number...

Or why hold back? Deck your jumper with boughs of holly and tie that tutu round your waist.

And who says clothes get to have all the fun. Time to fab up the hair with hues or purples and blues. 

But the star of the show? The star at the top of the December tree? This magical LBD.

Sparkly stars ahoy, and a crown to finish the whole thing off because you know, it was just a bit too low-key.

The look of a girl living her best life y'all. Living. Best. Life.

Until next time,

A.x

6 style struggles every girl has going into autumn...

Even though I haven’t been in education for a few years now, every time that September rolls around, I still get that dread of going back to school. Yep, summer is done and dusted for yet another year and autumn is rearing it’s head again, those awkward dilemmas of what to wear during this trasitional period appear once again.

1.) Layer it up like a Mary Berry cake

 This is especially true if you live in that there Big Smoke of London. It’s still stupidly hot on the tube due to there being about 200 people packed into a carriage about the size of a sardine tin. But the sun’s not making an appearance as often and it’s getting chillier with each day you walk to work. You wanna wear something breezy for the commute but wrap up warm for everything else. Cue you wearing more layers than a cake in the Bake Off, and you dressing and undressing more times in a day than you care to wish to.

2.) Right, so how long can you hang onto that tan you got on holiday?

You've caught a bit of the sun and now you’re feeling like a bronzed goddess from your summer holiday. The sun’s fading, but you don’t want your tan to be as well! So you do everything with all your might to stay golden while the skies turn grey. You wear loads of white to flaunt it - while you’ve still got it and everything. You invest in some of that after-sun that has a bit of fake tan in it and your bedding ends up smelling of biscuits. But in the end, you just had to do like Elsa from Frozen and just Let it Go. You’re going to be so wrapped up soon anyway, that you won’t see any skin, never mind a tan.

3.) I love and hate tights simultaneously.

As a loyal skirt wearer, they are an essential in my wardrobe as soon as those leaves start falling - I don’t know how i’d live without them! But my god, I love strutting around with bare legs. And the fact that they have to be prisoned once more by an 80-denier prison makes me so sad. Let’s also not forget that those little menaces ladder like crazy, you have to buy so many pairs that it ends up costing more than your rent, are just so unattractive. You will never feel more unattractive than the split moment you catch yourself in the mirror as your getting ready and you’ve just got your bra on, and a pair of tights pulled all the way to your bellybutton.

4.) Dust off those jackets and coats boy and girls.

Once upon a time, you could leave the house and go the whole day with just the top on your back. But those days are over my friend. Even your trusty denim jacket that goes with everything won’t even suffice now. Nop. You’re going to have to slowly step away from the jackets and infiltrate some big, snuggly coats back into your life.

5.) Better say seyonara to your sandals!

There’s no way that your little tootsies can withstand the ever declinging climates without being snuggled up in a pair of socks in the comfort of a pair of closed toe shoes. On the rare occasion you get ready in the morning and the sun’s peeking through and you think you can get away with one more appearance from your fave summer sandals, by midday you’ll realise what a grave mistake you’ve made

6.) Who knew you had such a GREAT winter wadrobe eh?!

Yes i know it’s sad to say farewell to those flirty and floaty skirts and sassy and strappy tops. But the upshot of all of this is that all of a sudden you feel like you have a completely new wardrobe to play dress up with. More jazzy jumpers, snuggly scarves and bangin’ boots that you can shake a stick at.

Until next time!

A.x

Jazzy January

Oh January you icy mistress. Yes you're cold and blustery weather conditions make my teeth chatter nose numb, but I'm not going down without a fight! I'm armed with fluffy beanie hats and massive fur-trimmed hooded coats,

And the best accesory for a fluffy beanie? More fluff of course in the form of a sequinned and furry jumper and pair of pom-pom plimsols. 

But just because it's winter, it doesn't mean you have to wrap up all the time.

Stripping down to some sheer beauties when it's playtime, is just a sheer delight (especially when there's lacy underwear involved...oo-er!)

Speaking of underwear, do you have those special numbers that you save for special occasions? Liiiike, to wear under your zip-down cord number for a first date.

But if pretty lace numbers are a little bit too promiscuous then sports bras and crop tops are The. One - either catching a glimpse under a metallic gold open knit...

.. or matching your just as metallic leather skirt with a tropical printed crop with equally as gold Puma sign emblazoned across it.

If a single word logo isn't enough though, then there's a number of sassy slogans you can wear across your chest to express your feelings in a perfect adolescent manner.

If even being a teenage runaway is too mature for your taste though, a playground-worthy beaded bracelet (even if the message isn't that playground-friendly).

No better way to go along the school days vibe than with a pinafore dress, but with a grown-up twist of being made out of forest green suede.              

But back-to-basics are just as good and sometimes black and white is the way to go. (And you can still buckle up your dungaree straps - win, win!)

Speaking of classics - you can't go wrong with a tshirt and jeans combo, which is exactly what lazy weekends are made for! Especially when it has Honey Bunny written across it, and is baggy AF to show off your lacy red bra - cheeky!

But you can't really get further away from basics than a gilet covered in pastel feathers or pretty pink hair. January blues? Yeah...you can do one buddy.

Alas though, it wouldn't be my wadrobe if there wasn't a shitloads of patterns, particuarly if they're florals that go perfectly with a sleeveless poloneck and long ol' shearling coat.

Or there's the playful playsuit which may seem like a summer choice, but with autumnly tones and knee high boots, they're spot-on for a winter's day's stroll.

And I always get a bit starry eyed when I see anything spaced themed like moons and stars. A plunging star-printed dress with flowing, fluted sleeves had me feeling like a 60s rock babe.

Except, I know I'm not, so along with with my thigh high boots - this is about the closest I'll ever get to feeling like Stevie Nicks. And that's fine with me.

Until next time,

A.x

December disco

The festive season of December calls for 3 very important components, and in 3 varying degrees...

First there's the glitter and sparkle - now, you can just give a nod to the twinkly lights of Christmas with a long-length netted gold top, with a sparkly silver CK bra to save your modesty.

Step it up a notch with enough texture and shimmer to give Frosty the Snowman a run for his money. Pair with over the knee boots, pom-pom earrings and grey hair for maximum festive feels.

Or go the whole hog with big ol' gems and beads on your Elsa-worthy dress. Frozen? Eat your heart out.

Component no.2: The Christmas jumper. Now, you can go kinda traditional with a fairisle-style print full of beads and the like (Psst, it goes perfectly with dungaree-dresses and leather skirts with a touch of tartan)

Or drop in more of a novelty factor with some holly in embroidery form, with of course some added extra sparkle in the form of gems just for good measure.

But why do that when you could just throw caution to the wind and wear a jumper covered in glitter showcasing the very important motto that one is 'Kissing guys for mince pies'. Perfect with a shimmering, red dress that is oh-so-festive, or with a chevron skirt while you roller skate around the dance floor. Multi-purpose to the max.

And last but not least - tis' the season of giving! So that also means the receiving of gifts (if you've been good that is) And it seems that I can't have been too naughty this year because Santa bought me a swish new diary to keep my life in order, some pyjamas that are out of this world, and lots of other magpie-worthy shimmery sparkles.

Including a double-heart token asking me to sail away with them. Well, how could I resist the charm of rose gold eh?

Bonus round alert! If 3 major factors to Christmas isn't enough enough, then throw in a fishtail plan and enough tartan scarves to give the cold weather in Budapest a run for it's money.

 Until next time,
A.x

Icy November

Oh winter - you can be such a cruel and icy mistress, but dya know what? It does mean that I get to wrap up in a long ol' camel shearling coat that makes me feel like I'm in a 90s pop music video. And just to complete the throwback look, a slogan t-shirt that has 'trouble' scribbled inside a heart should do the trick.

It's no suprise that the weather hasn't deterred me from my love of all things pastel, cus y'know, the cold never bothered me anyway (sorry, not sorry). And you know what the best thing is when you wear all the pale colours under the sun in the winter?

You feel like a sassy lil' ice princess with your grey hair, frosted lippy and kick-ass over knee boots. (Can I add sassy ice queen to my CV please?)

If taking inspiration from from Disney princess Elsa isn't enough, then what about Brigitte Bardot? 

A zipped-up little cord number with some slinky 70s boots will make you feel suitably old-school, in the best way possible.

Or a laced-up knit with a trusty golden chained belt will do a similar job - the choice is yours! (oh don't I spoil ya?)

And of course, it wouldn't be winter without some festive knitwear now would it? Am UBER-cozy jumper with gold stars should do the trick, especially when teamed with a leopard print fuzzy mini-skirt and a big ol' high pony tail that would give Ariana Grande a run for her money.

Bit jazzy? Well, if all those patterns and prints are just a bit too jazzy for you liking, then it's time to take things down a notch with an all black ensemble, complete with sheer stripes and a deep side-parting. 

 Don't worry though - the underwear may be black, but it's still sparkly as a Disney festive parade.

And if all else fails, take a leaf out of your girl Posh Spice's book and go for a trusty LBD - i've gone for a scalloped edge and cut out number - and some high black boots wouldn't go amiss either.

 And why stop at going out ensembles when it comes to going back to black. A pair of ripped jeans and a tile printed polo neck will do the trick for any lazy weekend - and with a pair of sassy snakeskin boots and a Tracey Emin book on hand too, your inner Alexa Chung can sleep easy tonight.

Until next time,

A.x