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.
There'll be no prizes given out for guessing that this girl here flipping LOVES Christmas.
From trying to stay up all night and catch a glimpse of Santa, to falling asleep early on the sofa from all the Bailey and Bucks Fizz - as soon as midnight hits on December 1st, I just can't hide that festive spirit anymore. (And let's be honest, I've not done a very good job of disguising it ever since Halloween finished anyway).
But singing along to your Christmas playlist and glugging down the mulled wine ain't all that the festive period is all cracked up to be when you're in your 20s, oh no! There's oh so much more to that when you're stuck in between being a big kid and pretending to be an adult...
1.) The balance between twinkly and tacky
I'm all about the Christmas jumpers - sequins, glitter, vintage, and even ones with actual bells on - but as much as 5-year-old me could go all out practically dressed as Santa's little helper, that might be just a BIT too jazzy nearly 20 years later on my work commute. So, a slick of red lippy and my 'kissing guys for mince pies' jumper with do as I head to my meetings.
2.) The gift of giving
How about instead of gifts, we do gifs instead? I'll make you a personalised one with my expert Photoshop skills and everything. Tis' the season of giving, and I always see stuff I'm dying to get my loved ones - before I look at the price tag and remember than I've also got about 15 other people to buy for and I chose a career that pays a pittance... WHY MUST YOU COST SO MUCH YOU FESTIVE FIENDS.
3.) Winter bulking
Party season means the tiniest and tightest of dresses come out to play, but also, so do mince pies. And well, you can't go to a Christmas market without having a Bratwurst or 2 right? No other time of the year would it be acceptable to start your day with a teeny tiny chocolate every single day, but, y'know...it's Christmas! It's cold - you need to add a few extra layers on your body to keep you warm right?
4.) All I want for Christmas is...you?
Once upon a time, you imagined your life to look like the front of a snuggly Christmas card, with a couple cozy in front of an open fire. But in reality, you've been seeing someone for a bit and you don't know whether or not to get them a present - cus if they've got you one and you have nothing in return, well, you just look like a dick don't ya? Or you're just inundated with family members asking you if you've got a partner and why you're the only single one at the dinner table...BECAUSE I'M JUST FINE AND DANDY AUNTY CAROL LEAVE ME AND MY PIGS IN BLANKETS ALONE THANKS.
5.) Voice of an angel
Speaking of Mariah Carey, who HASN'T has tried to sing along with her vocal acrobatics and highest of high notes. Every time, every year, i'm convinced I can sing just as well as her (especially when it's the last song played on the dancefloor), and every year, I'm sorely proved wrong. Also, how many times is too many times to listen to that song in one day? Just asking for a friend...
6.) He's making a list, he's checking it twice
Well, I'm old and independent enough now that if I want something I like, I kinda already just, well, get it for myself? Long gone are the days of folding down pages in the Argos catalogue for my wish-list to Santa, and instead, I've realized I've ran out of that swish moisturizer I really like or I need a new diary - but that's just not as exciting as being surprised with a Barbie dream house is it?
7.) Decoration goals
You envisage your home to look like a winter wonderland of millions of fairy lights and wreaths that even Pinterest would be well jel of. In reality, you're stringing up your own baubles, cutting out snowflakes to hang on your archway and you've got the tiniest christmas tree that you and your flatmate's loose change can afford. It may be small but dammit it's YOURS and it smells glorious.
8.) White Christmas
As a kid, waking up and seeing the outside of your window covered in a beautiful white blanket was one of the best and most exciting feelings in the world. School was off and you were all geared up for a day of sledging. Now though, yeah you still get just as pysched - before you make your commute into work and the train's delayed or you need to de-ice your car. You're inevitably half an hour later and your gloves are soaked through.
9.) So, when are you free?
Look, there's only 4 weeks in December, so only 3 weekends before the big day, therefore, realistically, only about 6 whole free days where you haven't got that thing called a job or life getting in the way. That ain't a lot of time for having fun with your squad! And with everyone's schedules being different, trying to find a time everyone to get together is just an absolute mission, but there's a reason why they call it a Christmas miracle.
10.) Merry & mulled
It's been a long day at work, you'll go to a Christmas market or a pub with some friends just for a quick drink you think to yourself - you deserve it! You've been working hard at that 9-5 life yo. But mulled wine has this tricky power of tasting just like hot Ribena and before you know it, you're 6 mugs in and it's about to turn midnight. Just like Cinderella herself, you're trying to get the last train home after you've essentially drank a bottle of wine to keep yourself warm.
11.) Chill or thrills?
You can't wait to get home, get in your comfy clothes, and put on Love Actually with the bae (be that your other half or a big ol' pizza). Buttttt, the girls from yoga are also at the bar down the road - you know the one who do two for one cocktails and always play your favourite songs? Yeah. That one. YOU WANT TO DO BOTH BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE YOU.
12.) Nearest & dearest
And that's the biggest struggle of them all - having to come to terms and accept the fact that you're just a big festive soppy git deep down (you don't fool me you Scrooge)
Hope you all have a magical, love-filled festive period with all those that you love!
You know when I decided to do weekly favourites? Yeah, well, who was I kidding - we all know that I was gonna fall behind on that so let's start afresh and turn this into a monthly thing yeah? Because, you know, life and shit like that tends to get in the way.
7 favourites..
1.) I've been counting down the hours until it was December 1st and I could whack out ALL the Christmas jumpers and put Mariah Carey on full blast, but that did mean that I had to say bye to a homely November that was filled with wintery frolics and old-school memories.
2.) One of the highlights of the whole month, was when I went to brunch. Yes. A meal was a highlight of mine and I'll tell you for why - it had been in the diary for about 3 months, it was with 3 of my dearest friends from Uni and it was at an absolute dreamy, tropical, palace. We went to Bourne & Hollingsworth near Farringdon and many a yummy treat were had: cripsy potato hash, bacon, maple syrup, french toast, salon, hollandaise sauce, and of course, bottomless bellinis. It was such a lovely day of chatting and wondering around the festive lights of London and it felt like no time had gone since we finished Uni together 3 years ago.
3.) And Uni friends aren't the only ones I've been catching up with as it was my 5-year school reunion and it was weird and wonderful all at the same time to walk back through those school days and share a glass of wine with the teachers that used to tell me to stop chatting so much in class. What it really made me realised is that everyone has taken so very different paths in their lives and you know what? Everyone's just happy for everyone and no-one's judging one another for what they have or haven't done - you do you babes, you're doing fab.
4.) Ok, so I know it's only just turned December BUT I've had the festive spirit bubbling under me for a while now, so it's hardly surprising that before the festive month had even arrived, I'd already indulged in twinkly lights, the Coca-Cola truck, and eggnog cocktails while roasting marshmallows in front of an open fire on a rooftop Wig Wam bar.
5.) And with friends, comes family, and this month saw the 3rd birthday of the youngest munchkin in the Lo family and as my nephew ran around with excitement ripping open presents, I fully indulged in some priceless Lo family time (as well as eating all the jelly and ice-cream on offer of course)
6.) But it's not just birthdays that means loads of Lo love. I spent a whole week fulfilling Aunty Amy duties. In case you don't know what that entails, it means drawing ice-cream shops, giving piggy-back rides, watching cartoons and playing hide-and-seek (which can prove to be rather difficult when you're a grown adult and the only places you can really hide is behind doors and the side of beds.)
7.) The soundtrack of my November has mainly consisted of 3 albums: Adele, Justin Bieber and Tame Impala. And lucky me is going to see one of them next year! (Can you guess which one?)
5 tweets...
1.) Honestly, one of my worst traits EVER is video snapchatting when I'm out and drunk...
2.) Oh GOD I've got a sore throat. This is it guys. This is the beginning of the end. Crack open the Lemsip and blankets.
3.) The past 2 weeks have been pretty indulgent in terms of calories, alcohol & my bank account. Oops. #winterbulking
4.) Can't stop eating gherkins today. Gross but delicious (story of my life)
5.) Listening to #Adele25 and I keep staring meaningfully out of the window as I travel through London
Even when you're a 23-year-old adult, you can put on a t-shirt that Lizzie McGuire would've worn and a long ol' shearling coat that looks like it came out of a S Club 7 Christmas music video to take on the day. Over the knee boots and wrap around icy blue skirt are perfect to make this into an ice princess outfit (grey dip-dye hair and fits of giggles optional)
LEFT- jumper:& Other Stories, skirt:Topshop RIGHT- dress:Topshop, boots:ASOS
Winter also means the time for jumpers, and what better knitwear to snuggle up in that a navy blue number with gold stars - I'd fit right in with a Christmas nativity don't you think? Paired with a furry leopard print mini skirt and a high ponytail and you've got yourself a pretty sassy ensemble.
Not quite as sassy as channeling your inner Posh Spice though in a cheeky cut-away LBD and black over the knee boots. Hi-Ce-Ya, hold tight!
The excitement of Christmas is well & truly settling to make way for the New Year. So while you pick at the last bits of your Christmas dinner that's leftover (seriously, we've still got turkey to tackle in the Lo household), why don't you sit back, relax - go on, make that cuppa, I'll wait - and scroll on through my week of all things festive.
7 favourites...
1.) Another week, another Christmas jumper: 'Kissing guys for mince pies'. I like to have a Christmas jumper for every occasion - I've got novelty ones that friends LOL at, and fairisle one I whip out for more stylish affairs - and this, is perfect for when I'm feeling a bit cheeky (which is 90% of the time).
2.) As you've gathered by now, I fucking love Christmas. Everything from the food to the fun and games. But when it comes down to it, the thing that makes me the happiest about the festive period, is seeing my family and the ones I love.
As the little diddy 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas' says: 'Faithful friends who are dear to us, gather near to us once more.
And, of course, my dad ended Christmas by falling asleep in front of the telly. LAD.
3.) It may be because it's the season of giving. Or it may be because it's the season for gluttony, but I've been baking like Mary Berry on speed. Gingerbread for get-togethers, cranberry and white chocolate cupcakes for gifts, and mince pies for Santa, naturally.
4.) I grew up with 2 siblings of lego-builders, so when it comes to gifts, there's a high possibility that there's one that requires building. This year, the stakes were raised, and we moved onto nanoblocks, which may be the most fiddly things in the world. But the end result is so damn cute.
5.) Snow! I know snow is a pain after a while, and I try to avoid driving in it at all costs. But it still feels as magical and beautiful to me now as it did when I was little when I see that first snowfall. This is the first time my 2-year-old nephew has ever encountered snow too, and his reaction to seeing it falling, and touching it for the first time, was truly adorable as he watched on with amazement. I think my heart might have burst.
6.) The I.T Crowd. I'm VERY late to the party, but I put it on on Netflix on a whim when I was unpacking when I got home last week. A week later, I've watched it all from beginning and end, and now have a unhealthy appreciation of Richard Ayoade's humour and Chris O'Dowd's accent.
7.) I am very lucky to not only be able to spend my holidays surrounded with love, family and food, but also to receive gifts, for which I'm always grateful for. This year, not only did I get some beautiful, decent headphones to stop myself being crappy, cheap ones that constantly break, a book of one of my favourite people who makes me cackle like a witch, but I also got an Ariel doll. Yes, I know i'm 22, but you should've seen my face when I ripped open the paper and realised what lied beneath the paper. It was a flashback to me as an excited 6-year-old.
Little Mermaid for life yo!
3 thoughts...
"OMG THAT'S A HAND & A GREEN DRESS I SEE - IT'S FLIPPING ARIEL ISN'T IT"
"I never want to eat again..."
"Did someone say cheese board?"
1 outfit...
dress:Louche
I had festive fawns prancing around my dress for Christmas day, complete with red lips and bow. This was until I had to changed into my onesie to optimise my potential to eat more food. Priorities right?
As we wind down from Christmas and slowly digest our overloading of turkey, I realised, I can never remember the lyrics of The 12 Days of Christmas past '2 turtle doves' - except '5 GOOOOLD RINGS' of course.
So, here's my own spin on the classic instead. Just call me Adele, lyrical extraordinaire. Filled with all the things I've loved this festive season, here are the 12 things I've loved this Christmas!
On the 12th day of Christmas, the festive season gave to me...
12 sing-a-long songs
In no a very particular order. I don't care what anyone says, but Mariah gets me into a festive spirit without fail. Every damn time. (And I like to think I can sing along to it spot on as well when I blatantly can't - Santa must have missed the memo of that Christmas wish)
11 presents wrapped
I LOVE PRESENT WRAPPING. Just jingle my bells and call me an elf.
10 fabulous nails
What can I say? I like my nail art.
9 in my crazy family
That's what Christmas is all about isn't it? To have those dear to you, near to you.
8 hours of sleep
ABSOLUTE BLISS. Any other time of the year, I'd be lucky if I got 6 hours being the night owl that I am.
7 classic films
These are the films that I've grown up with and grown to love, and every year when I watch one of them, I feel that all Christmassy and shit.
6 festive accessories
What can I say? I love my novelty accessories.
5 warming drinks
Half the reason why I get festively plump over the holidays are due to mulled wine and Baileys, which is essentially alcoholic cream...
(And this year, I discovered Egg Nog too - god help us all)
4 christmas jumper
I love Christmas. And I love knitwear. Match-made in heaven.
3 heart-warming activities
Ice-skating, wig-wams and Christmas stalls (heart: SWOON)
2 books to read
Both smooshy and adorable to get stuck into.
and 1 very fully tummy!
Every year, I fill up my plate full of stuffing, roast spuds & pigs in blankets. Every year, I don't know when to stop. And every year, I end up lying on the floor, thinking I never want to see any food again.
The best.
I hope you all had a lovely Christmas, filled with fun times, yummy feasts and lots of memories with the ones you love!
I am pretty hungover and nursing a big mug of tea while I type this.
The reason for this will become apparent further on in this post. I know you're all sitting on the edge of your seats eagerly waiting to know.
(UPDATE: I started writing this yesterday, and am thankful to say the hangover is well and truly gone after lots of packets of McCoys flame grilled crisps and a much-needed journey to sleepsville.)
This week, I think I've reached the peak of my festive spirit thus far, have travelled across the country and have spent a lot of time tangled up in my duvet.
7 favourites...
1.) THIS BAG. Yes, it's a milk carton. No, it's not the most sensible thing in the world. And yes, it's amazing, thanks for saying so. I love it. And judging by the amount of times I got stopped by people who complimented, a lot of other people love it too.
2.) This book got sent into work when I was at Now, and I know you're not supposed to judge a book by it's cover, but c'mon, how can you not with this pretty site! Oh, and it's a joy to read as well. Kind of important for a book.
3.) I haven't listened to The Kinks in AGES, and their songs are just incredible - lyrically and musically. I love them and have missed them, and have been on a listening binge. 'Sunny Afternoon' is always winner.
4.) Being back home for Christmas is absolute bliss. Copious amounts of tea, a fireplace, my dad's ever-amazing food, driving my little car again, and my bed (GOD I'VE MISSED THAT BED). I refer to many places as home - like when I'm in London, I say I'm going home, as in back to my flat - but there's just nothing quite like your true home.
5.) I had a big Christmas dinner with a whole bunch of my friends from school. I'm very lucky that I've gathered some pretty great people as friends throughout life. And it's not that often that you stay so close to friends you made when you were young. But this not-so-little bunch (there's nearly 20 of us...) that I made at school, are still here even after leaving school 4 years ago, with uni, jobs, and relocating along the way. It's pretty rare that we can ALL get together, and even though there were a few absentees who we missed, it was just really nice that after all this time, we were still laughing, drinking, hugging and shouting 'Cheers!' just like we did back at school (which also solves the mystery of the hangover...) It was ridiculously fun and just what the festive doctor ordered.
They're bloody good eggs. Ever single one of them.
6.)Look at these nails. They're festive as balls baubles! My aunt has just gotten herself a snazzy machine that lets you print ANYTHING onto your nails - she runs a salon, she isn't just really extravagant with her nail art. I'm going to be taking full advantage of it thanks very much. Next stop, Mean Girls nails...
7.) I'm at my brother's house at the moment, and there's been some seriously lovely family time. There's been pub grub, and I've spent the day singing along to 'Frozen' with my nephew & niece (no, I'm not sick of the songs yet thanks very much). I flipping love being an Aunty - you get to have all the fun, play with toys and hear all the hilarious things that kids come out with, without any of the responsibility or mess of nappies or tearful tantrums. Winner.
3 thoughts...
"WHY have you done that?! We were never just friends, and we definitely aren't friends now!"
"How much do you have to blend out black eyeshadow before it stops looking like a panda..."
"How have I got SO many clothes?! This wardrobe is jam-packed and I want to wear it all!"
1 outfit...
dress:ASOS, boots:ASOS, belt:ASOS... (I promise this isn't sponsored by ASOS, I wish it was though!)
Sometimes, you just can't beat a LBD. And I went all-out for my Christmas night-out. My favourite belt that makes me feel like a WWE wrestler was on, there was mistletoe in my hair (cheeky!), and I even had shimmery gold and black smokey eye make-up. I never wear eyeshadow! And after a long and exhausting hunt for the perfect pair of over-the-knee boots at the perfect price, I finally found these babies and I love them, love them, love them!
.JPG)
