Fun in the Sun

The sun has finally arrived in the UK! (and fingers crossed that it's here to stay!)

So, for the first time in a long time, i left the house without anything on my legs! No tights, no nothing...the joy! And in the midst of this wave of the 90s having a comeback, the playful child in me came out to play in the sunshine.

top: Gap, dungarees: River Island, trainers: Nike, sunglasses: Ray Bans

With my dungarees and trainers on, ready to run around in, i felt stepped out greet and say a big "hello" and "welcome back!" to the big, shining, yellow ball in the sky, and nearly burst into a game of hopsctoch or skipping rope!

These trainers a new recent addition to my family of footwear, and our relationship blossomed by complete accident. When my housemate went to exchange her Converses for a different size, i was just waiting and perusing the trainers, and then i stumbled across these cute and fun babies!....before being pointed out they were for kids...

Alas, it was meant to be! As kids apparently have feet the same size as a 5 foot 5 Chinese 21-year old...what are kids eating these days?!

The mix of bright coral and candy floss pink is so infectiously fun, and i especially love the cute heart on it! and how it the can instantly brighten up any outfit.

I hope this weather finally means the start of Spring and Summer, and so far so good, things are looking up!

I've only got 2 weeks of uni left now, and my degree is done...I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do afterwards! But hopefully the sun will stick around and i can enjoy it to its fullest when I'm free from the shackles of uni.

Have you guys been enjoying the sunshine? Has anyone had their legs out, or had their 1st BBQ of the year yet?!

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x

High tea & high fashion

For a lil gift and birthday celebration, earlier on this week, i ventured into London to have a rather special afternoon tea with some of my closest friends at The Berkeley Hotel.

Now, i know for many young people my age, they would think "an afternoon tea?....how boring!", but for me, and i know also for many of my friends, there's nothing like a good cuppa! So for me, and the rest of the tea party being pretty big tea drinkers and cake lovers anyway, it was an amazing experience!

With a dress code to fulfill  i slipped into this beautiful and whimsical dress that i got given as a gift and have never had an occasion to wear yet. I absolutely love it, and how it's elegant, feminine yet still fun and quirky, which is how i would like to think that i dress normally. The old-fashioned circus prints are beautiful and adorable, and the beads that glisten as you move just gives it that extra special touch.

dress: Ted Baker, jacket: Urban Code, bag: Topshop

To stop it being too formal, and more relevant to my style age, i finished off my outfit with my trusty leather jacket and a zingy, lime green bag, with the cherry on top the cake being this beautiful necklace which was 21st gift from my parents. 

When i was younger, I would always see these teddy bears holding a big key and want one, but my mum said they were for people when they turn 21, and get given the key to their adult life and world. Although it may not be that teddy, i now have my very own shiny key.

The afternoon tea is called Prêt-à-portea, with all the sweet goodies inspired by this fashion season's catwalks. It was so peculiar and funny to be sat round a table saying "oh, the Burberry's really yummy!", hearing cries of "oh wow, the pistachio handbag is delicious!", and being asked "have you tried the Fendi shoe?" It was truly special and indulgent.

 The sandwiches and canapes were so moreish and the cakes were so clever and beautiful, and the service was brilliant, we even got given a doggy bag of left-over goodies to take away! And they are the most amazing take-away bags I've ever laid eyes on!

If you get the chance to go, for a special occasion or treat, i would definitely recommend it! If you want more information, you can look on there website here: http://www.the-berkeley.co.uk/fashion-afternoon-tea/

It was just a wonderful adternoon spent with beautiful and delicious food, sipping on tea and champagne and just absolutely lovely spending time chatting and sharing uncontrollable giggles with friends.

What do you think to afternoon teas? A bit boring or civilised and relaxing?

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x

21!

Yesterday, I turned the wise and ripe age of 21!

At the weekend I spent it with my family, who truly are the best and most loving family I could have ever asked for.

As not all of us get together all that often, having them all come back to spend the day with me was brilliant enough, but they also threw me a surprise pirate party!

(my brother took some brilliant photos, but i have yet to copy them off them, but i'll update this post when i do!)

When i asked why pirate, I just got a response of why not?! We all had pirate hats and eye-patches  played pin the eye patch on the pirate, and i had treasure hunt planned out for me, with goodies for both my 21 year old self and my 5 year old nephew to find.

It was such a lovely and brilliant day, and I went back to uni, where i woke up to my 21st birthday.

My bonkers and amazing housemates surprised me with confetti, banners, tea and horrific but hilarious photos plastered around the house!

I then had an exciting day at uni where i got to experience my outfit being shot at my first ever photoshoot! I'm so happy with how it looks and how it's all turned out, and as we're all usually working on these pieces in the sewing room and don't get to see it all put together, it was such a boost for us to see the final result and is definitely spurring me on. Unfortunately, due to copyright reasons, i can't post any photos yet :(

I then went out to dinner with some friends, and it was lovely to just spend some quality time with them, and a while back at home, i went for a birthday dinner with my friends from my hometown as well, and with us all away at uni, it was just brilliant to spend time with my amazing and caring friends, and just reiterated how that years later, how amazing all my still friends are :)

I really have had the best birthday, I've eaten so much yummy goodness that I'm surprised i haven't turned into a cake! i have so many people in my life who care about me, and support and love me, and i am so thankful for them. I am one happy, lucky, and truly spoilt birthday girl, and thank you to all of those who have sent birthday wishes, messages, cards and presents!

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x

Fancy Pants

Having a tiny break from the corridors of uni, i headed into town to run some errands and pick up some things, unfortunately, Spring still hasn't arrived, despite it being April now.

The sky was grey and the pavements were wet, so i brightened up the surroundings with these trousers.

I've had them for a little while now, but the other day while i had them on in uni, i for some reason got a handful of compliments about them, and it made me realise how gorgeous they actually are!

jacket: Urban Code, top: New Look, trousers: Topshop, shoes: Libertys for Clarks

I love how smart they are, while by being a tone of blue that isn't dissimilar to jeans, they go so well with everything, and the silver, metallic detail makes it that bit more special.

While in town, and returning some items to Topshop, i saw some socks on offer.

I am the biggest sucker for cute and fun socks.

They have flipping dinosaurs on! 

I really do hope the weather brightens up soon, especially this following week, i'm spending the weekend wth fmily for birthday celebrations, as on Monday, i'm turning the ripe ol' age of 21.

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x

And breathe...

The past week, i enjoyed a much needed breather and little time off and away from the four walls of the sewing room at uni.

I chilled out in hot tubs, played giant Jenga, had my nails pampered, relaxed with family, coo-ed over babies, giggled with the girls, danced and drank the night away with my friends and of course, ate lots of my dad's yummy cooking.

But now, I'm back at uni, and the countdown is really on now...21 working days and counting!

I can't believe how quick these 3 years have flew by!

Recently i applied for some postgraduate Master degree courses and also some posts for writing contributions, and I'm happy to so I've had good news on both accounts, have had a smile plastered on my face recently! :)

Since I'm about to finish, i thought it'd be nice to post a bit about my work this year.

My collection is all about texture and drapes, and it originated from my research of insects.

It's nothing like i pictured my collection to be like at the start, but I'm glad in a way, my work and i have developed and grown and I'm happy to be proud of my work.

Before i entered back to the colourful world of the sewing room, i had a friend's 21st birthday party the night before, and it was just brilliant.

I got to dress up and spent girly time getting ready with the girls, there was champagne, yummy desert, great songs that were oldies but goodies, that i danced the night away too, and best of all, i got to hang out and spend time with my friends.

I love my friends from home, I've known them for years, we've grown up and changed with one another, and after 3 years apart at uni, everytime we get together and have a laugh, it just reiterates to me what a great bunch of good eggs there are, and it just puts a great big ol' goofy smile on my face!

Are any of you at uni and nearly finishing? Or have you got your life sorted already and chilled out?!

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x