One Less Problem Without You!

Ariana Grande is a girl after my own heart.

In a world where everyone has their leather skorts being a badass, or kicking it in there BOY sweatshirts and beanies being too cool for school, I'm usually found twirling around in a pink dress, feeling like a 5 year-old who can't hang out with the big boys and girls. Don't get me wrong, my wardrobe is as varied as a box of Bassetts AllSorts - I love trying out different styles. But in my heart, I'm a true girly girl through and through, who loves bows and glitter. And I don't know why I shouldn't be - if it's wrong to want to wear a sparkly dress and fluffy heels, then I don't want to be right!

And Ariana Grande (who's the same age as me and has had hit singles - what have I been doing with MY life?!) has a similar girly taste, and I love that there's finally someone like that out there! She has hints of Harajuku style in there, and her style is appropriate for her age, and I always feels she stays true to herself, whether performing and on the red carpet...

...or just taking selfies on Instagram. Even when she tries different styles - like the 60s touch for the 'Problem' video - her own personal style still shines through. And I've always though hat fashion should be a mix of your own personal style, and experimenting with other looks and trends, but most importantly, it should be fun, and I think Ariana compasses that perfectly! 

Images: @arianagrande (instagram), freetopone.com, wheretogetit.com, mtv.co.uk, seventeen online, directlyrics.com, stuffpoint.com, V magazine

Also, how cute is her hair?! She's had some stick for it always being in a similar style, but she's had hardships with it (it started coming out due to dying it to much for a Disney programme she was on, and her signature style is the only way she can hide her extensions), and I for one applaud her addressing it, and think it's sassy as heck!

Unless you've been living under a rock, she's had hit single after single already, and I first heard of her on her track, 'The Way', and it instantly reminded me of old school Mariah Carey. 

And even though it's the middle of Summer (a pool of sweat is forming as I type this), if you haven't heard 'Snow in California', you need to right away - it's so chilled out, her voice sounds amazing and it's jst got that 90s R'n'B tone to it - OBSESSED!

Are you a fan of Ariana? What do you think of her style?

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

Just a small, town girl...

For the past 2 weeks, I've been on a placement at a national magazine in London, and as if I didn't love the capital enough already when I lived there for my fashion internship, my love for it grew to a dangerous level this time...

I used to hate the city. It was too busy, everyone was always in a rush, I didn't understand the underground, everything was too expensive, and I didn't like how every person on the train didn't say 'Hi' to one another...

But just like people grow and change, their perceptions and aspirations do too, and my god, I cannot wait to be in the centre of this bustling environment now...get me down there ASAP!

Bauer towers, the office I was at, was based in Camden, and if you just skipped across the road, you'd find yourself at the Camden Lock canal. And everyday, I was armed with my lunch and my book of the moment and spent an hour soaking up the British sunshine, and it was glorious!
Bella was such a great enviroment to be working in, and as I often feel like I'm playing catch up with the rest of my coursemates when it comes to journalism, this give me a confident boost, and made me more ambition and wanted to chase after that career that I dream of, more than ever.

In lil' ol' London town,
There's always lots to do...

I met up with a friend, who found out on Twitter that there was an event at Selfridges to celebrate Magnums' 25th birthday, where you could make your own personal Magnum! As well as metallic and glamorous displays, there was a smorgasbord of toppings you could choose from, to sprinkle onto your Magnum, made up of your own chocolate combination. I went for cinnamon sugar, popping candy and silver leaf. As much as that sounds like a tooth cavity waiting to happen, it was one of the most fun and tasty ice lollies that I've had....I'm drooling now as I look at the picture...

There's always lots to see...

I've had tickets booked to go to the Wedding Dress exhibition at the V&A for a while now, with 2 of my old housemates and closest friends. And when I found out Kate Moss' dress was going to be there - which makes my heart flutter and what my dress dreams are made of - I couldn't wait to go, and it did not disappoint. It had everthing from the history and evolution of 

wedding dresses, to celebrity ones and how they differ in different cultures. And before I met up with my friends for that, I popped on over to the Quentin Blake exhibition at the newly opened House of Illustration by Kings Cross. It was so interesting to see how those drawings that I cherished while growing up, were developed and created. And with a trip to China Town, some strolls through Kensignton, and a secret garden discovered, I couldn't think of anywhere else I wanted to be at the point.

There's always lots to feast on...

Bad news for my tummy! Or good news, as I ate everything from cupcakes and cheesecake slices from the Hummingbird bakery and creamy milkshakes, to a sophisticated lunch of charcuterie and cheese boards with a glass of champagne and Dim Sum with blossoming jasmine tea, to just a FEAST of Brazilian barbecued meat. And it'd it all again. In a heartbeat.

There's always lots to shop as well (bad news for my bank account unfortunately)...

From the great British high-street, to market stalls and even a spot of fabric shopping from an iconic department store...my wallet took a bit of a battering...

And most importantly of all, there were lots of lovely guys and gals to share it all with!

As well as meeting lots of great new people at my workplace, I caught up with family that I don't see as much as I should, childhood school friends that make me feel like no time has passed, old housemates who I've spent many a night playing stupid pranks with, and newer housemates who I've spent this past year with.

It seems just like yesterday that I was writing about how scared and excited I was to move to a new city and move to Sheffield. And now as I type this, my room looks like a tornado has hit it as I try and pack up my life and move out - and it's been one of the happiest, hardest-working and mostly, most fun years of my life so far. And if that's what a year in Sheffield had in store, I can't wait to see what my life has in store for me when I move to face the real world (I can't believe I've been in education for so long!)

This post is a little bit different - a little update if you will! (Do you like posts like these?!)

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon!

A.x