January Sparkles

I'm not gonna lie, January has really smacked me around the face and been a bit of struggle for me this year. I think I finally realised the real meaning of January Blues, and it's not a barrel of fun I can tell ya...

As a result of that, I've unapologetically spent days on end in wooly jumpers and bright coloured sweats binging on Netflix.

But dressing bottom half like Paris Hilton circa 2000 aside, I've been brightening up my January with metallic, shimmering goodness - from twinkle toes to skirts paired with backless wonders.

Oh, and not forgetting silver patterned trousers, complete with Delboy coat, which is the warmest, snuggliest thing in the world, and the best find I've ever discovered at a vintage store.

(Don't know who Delboy is? First of all, shame on you, secondly, google and youtube that legend)

It's been cold, and I mean so freezingly cold that it hurts - soz Elsa, the cold really DID bother me anyway - so stepping outside the house with less than 5 layers is just unacceptable. Hence the cowl-polo neck and additional hat. 

So any additional furry and warming wonders is always a must. And if they're dripping in multi-coloured fun, then that's a plus.

Or you could throw caution to the wind and chuck all sensibility and layers out of the window. As long as your boots are high enough to go over your knees, that's fine, right?

What else can you brighten up a grey January day with I hear you say? Anything that will make you aww or LOL. That includes foxes paired with pinafores (who said they were just for school?)

And as for a if all else fails, feel safe in the knowledge that your bum's having a sassy chuckle. Some cheeky treats from Victoria's Secret (pun intended), should do the trick!

Stay happy!

Until next time...

A.x

On Wednesdays, We Wear Pink

Unashamedly, one of my favourite colours is pink.

Yes it's stereotypically girly. Yes, it's mainly pink of the pastel varirety that you'll see me in. But I do love it oh so much. Even after all my years of tomboy-loving of navy blue and Addidas tracksuits.

So it's no surprise that my love of this sugary shade, goes hand-in-hand with my love with Mean Girls.

I quote Mean Girls nearly every day of my life. So to save the muscles in my mouth - I jabber on enough anynway! - what better way to fulfil my inner Cady Heron than with this extrmemly quotable t-shirt.

Complete with pink skirt and scarf, both in a knitted fashion, and a shearing lined denim jacket, I was ready to take on anything real world - or girl world - had to throw at me!

Oh, and the piece de resistance? This fantasticly fluffy bag.

Can someone say Cher Horowitz?

You know how magpies are attracted to sparkly and shiny things? That's me, but with fluffy things.

tshirt:Tee Island, skirt:ASOS,  jacket:Topshop, bag:Topshop, boots:Topshop

And this little fella is like my new bestie when it comes to fun frolics and adventures!

This alphabet scarf is also quite a little find. 

It's the softest thing that you would wrap yourself in to warm yourself up this Winter, and not only can you get a letter personalised to your name or initial, but also all the proceeds of it goes to charity - pretty pastels, cozy and charitable, what more do you need!

You can get your very own one here. All profits go to Alder Hey Children's Hospital Charity. 

During the weekend excursion to the country that this outfit accompanied me to, I enlisted the help of my good ol' friend Hannah. She lives half and hour from the Big Smoke, and that meant only 30 minutes until rolling hills - Yes!

As much as I love London and all it's fun, food and places to frolic, the country-loving girl in me does miss seeing green grass, stepping in muddy grounds and not constantly having bright lights shining.

And you definitely wouldn't come across a group of deers in the capital!

We went to Woburn Abbey and Gardens, where we stumbled over a secret rainforest garden...

She took me to Woburn - and was top tour guide may I add - which was beyond adorable (eveb the post boxes are precious!)

We wondered around muddy fields aimlessly, chatted over warm cups of tea, ate in a cozy pub with a roaring fire, and even had a mug of festive winter Pimms to tie it all up (trust me, it's a winner!)

Although we both work in London now, we never have time to see one another. And it was just so lovely to spend some downtime doing pretty much nothing.

Literally, the only word I can use to desicrbe that day, is lovely.

And just the much needed escape that I needed.

Stay happy!

Until next time...

A.x

Denim Throwback

The 90s are back in full force.

And in the shape of all-singing, all-dancing, all-denim wearing girl band, M.O

Frankee, Nadine and Annie from London have been tweeted by and received praise from Ed Sheeran, and have supported Ciara on tour. Wowzers. But it wan't until I heard the echoes of 90s anthem 'Bring you Flowers' being re-worked and played on the radio, that I became hooked on these girls.

They want to evoke an era of 90s R&B, and that they certainly have. Sampling one of my favourite tunes that is guaranteed to get me on my feet and dancing (although, it doesn't take much), their sound calls back to the days of TLC and En Vogue.

But it's not ust their music that is reminiscent, but their style too. Looking like they've been plucked straight out of the steets of the 90s, these girls sure know how to work their denim and oversized jackets.

90s fashion is something that i've been loving for a long time now. My love affair with 'Clueless' has been around since I was a kid, and Iggy Azelia's video for 'Fancy', only ignited that.

The crop tops. The flatworms. The chokers. They've all crept back into my wardrobe. But jeans and I have always had a love-hate relationship.

Not being a Victoria Secret's model means not having legs that go on for days, and to be honest, I've just never having found mt dream pair of jeans, means that you don't often find me in them. They usually aren't comfortable, or I don't feel comfortable in them and spend the rest of the day fidgeting in them. And don't even get me started on skinny jeans. If there was ever a piece of clothing to make me feel like I was the self-concisous, chubby 13-year-old that I used to be, then that's the ticket. I just haven't met 'The One' yet in the denim world, and while these ones aren't it, but they're pretty damn good.

top:Topshop, jeans:Topshop, shoes:ASOS, necklace:Topshop, belt:Warehouse

90s means all the things that are a 'tick' in my books. High-wasited: check. Ripped: check. Slouchy: check. Teamed with a ribbed, pastel pink number, I couldn't have felt more at home in my childhood era. I even had holographic flatforms - my disco shoes - and a choker to complete it.

You need to check out the video of 'Dance on my Own'. It'll get you dancing, get yo strutting, and get you whipping your denim out before you can say "In West Philadelphia born and raised..."

Are you guys loving this flashback to the 90s we're having? Or do you wish it snapped back to the present day?

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

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

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

Denim: on-duty

I bloody love dungarees.

Me and dungarees go way back - you could hardly tear the off of me when I was a wee nipper-snapper. And now I've grown out of them, one pair still isn't enough for me. So, I got myself a longer legged twin, and I cannot stop wearing them.

They are one of the comfiest things ever, and 90% of the time, if I end up making plans with a friend on a Saturday, these babies are my go-to. 

They're perfect for spring -whether I've got an Iron Man sweatshirt and Nikes on with it, or this sheer daisy top and wraparound chunky sandals (or what a girl I met liked to call, my Spice Girl shoes!)

With my hair whipped up into a high ponytail, and some square gold hoops hooked on, my and my denim buddies were ready for the weekend!

dungarees:Topshop, top:Topshop, shoes:Topshop, sunglasses:Raybans

 I especially love the scalloped edge to the top, and whenever I do up my Spice Girl shoes, I feel a little bit like a ballerina!

Do you ever like an outfit so much, that you wear it to death? Well, I'm a bit worried that it's gonna happen with this!

Hope you're all well!

Speak soon,

A.x

Beautiful Ballerina

Strictly Come Dancing isn't a guilty pleasure for me. I just full blown-out love it

And apart from the beautiful sparkly dresses, funny banter and amazing dancing, one of the reasons why I enjoy watching every Winter is the judges, in particular, the beautiful Darcey Bussell.

After watching a documentary about her life recently, she had a whole lifetime as a dancer before the show, that I knew little about - and it's the stuff that fairytales are made of.

While being named Dancer of the Year in the 90s and featuring in modelling in countless campaigns, she was a the youngest principal dancer t the Royal Ballet for many years.

Being awarded a CBE in 2006, she retired from the Royal Ballet in 2007, and was faced with a standing ovation, with hundreds who were tearing up and catapulting flowers onto the stage, begging her to stay!

She is just as elegant and beautiful on Saturday night tv now, as when she was a graceful ballerina. And with my slight obsession with the ballet - it's so feminine and I dream of tutus - it's unsurprising that I dress like a wannabee ballerina every now and again (especially as I am basically a ballet drop out!)

Sources: balletnews.co.uk, dailyrecord,co,uk, ballet.co.uk, royalacademy.org.uk, guardian online, britsattheirbest.com, classicfm online, express online, flikr, hellomagazine online, whatsontv.co.uk, huffingtonpost, digitalspy.co.uk

Although I may not have a beautifully embellished, multi-layered tutu in my wardrobe, a powder pink skirt that swirls like a dream, is just as good when it comes to going to lectures.

With a just as girly sequined bow in my hair and sparkly belt around my waist, I brought the outfit off of the ballet stage and into the 21st century - where a 22 year old girl has to do more than gliding across a stage, and has to do less exciting things like buy groceries - and teamed it with a shearling-lined denim jackets and brown lace-up boots.

top:H&M, skirt:ASOS, jacket:Topshop, belt:Topshop, boots:Timberland, bow:Topshop

I may not live out my childhood dream of being a ballerina, but damn it, I will dress like one!

What profession do you wish you could dress like on a day-to-day basis?

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