only one thing for it!

This spring weather just isn't playing ball is it? I'm bored of winter stuff....in fact I'm even bored of my transitional stuff....it feels like I've been wearing it for so long. Looking over what I've purchased since January (you can see here) I've gone through phases, sweatshirts and a few tops were the order of the day in Jan/Feb. More recently I went on a hunt for alternatives to jeans and have ended up with lots of new trousers and even a skirt. Over the last couple of weeks I've been dazzled by a few new pairs of shoes. There have only been a couple of jacket purchases though (a bomber and a blazer) and the 2 I've bought just aren't cutting it with the chilly temperatures we are having at the mo! So there is only one thing for it.....I've been looking to add a little warmer wardrobe liven-upper to my spring jacket collection. I actually linked to this jacket on this post here and there are only a couple of sizes left now but I took the plunge and ordered it yesterday. Will report back once it's arrived!

ASOS oversize quilted jacket

I've also had my eye on this navy quilted jacket for a while too.

ASOS premium quilted satin jacket

This Maison Scotch one is a bit more spendy but I adore it.....shall be keeping my eyes peeled for a discount or price reduction! ;0)

Maison Scotch via ASOS quilted trophy jacket

Mnago have a couple of fab options that are heavily reduced!

Mango geometric print jacket

Mango jacquard print jacket

I found a couple of beauties in Mango's outlet section.....this one is just £12.50! 

Mango outlet trim printed jacket

Mango outlet floral reversible jacket

And last but not least! I had something similar last year from Topshop that was quilted but always felt it added a lot of bulk but the style of this Gap denim kimono is something that still really appeals to me! Brilliant for now with layers underneath but also gorgeous in summer with the sleeves rolled up over a t-shirt, white skinnies and tan sandals.....yup, may have to order for research purposes and to itch the scratch! ;0)

Gap denim kimono jacket

What I've been wearing to combat the chills these past few days......

Topshop jacket, past season similar here

Bella Freud sweatshirt, similar here

Zara jeans, here

Converse, here

Efurt scarf, past season

Zara cardigan , past season

Topshop t-shirt, past season similar here

Topshop Jamie jeans, here

Converse hi-tops, here

Mango bag, here

Topshop coat, similar here

Topshop sweatshirt, similar here

Zara jeans, here

Converse, here

Furla bag, past season similar here

So! Are you making any purchases to tide you over until we get some warmer temps or are you just eeking out your winter wardrobe for as long as it takes? Do tell!

Be back again soon.

a little lace number!

If you follow me on Instagram you will already know that I spent a couple of days away on a city break to Edinburgh. We were lucky enough to have some glorious weather and warm temperatures when we arrived. The shopping is brilliant in Edinburgh and with the sun shining......well it really got me in the mood for a spring/summer purchase or two! I can't take the credit for finding this little gem as it was my mum that picked it up! Mwah mum! You have no idea how long I've been looking for the perfect Victoriana-style blouse (yup....a few have been purchased which have duly been returned!)

H&M lace blouse

Limited sizes left but the product code  is 0397893001 should you want to track it down in a store near you via H&M excellent customer service department. But! I've found a couple of lovely alternatives here and here.

Here's how I intend to style this little beauty with what's already in my wardrobe (where some of my items are past season and no longer available I've used similar items). Here goes...

H&M lace blouse

House of Fraser Linea jacket

Topshop Cain jeans

H by Hudson Kiver boots

H&M lace blouse

River Island biker jacket

ASOS boyfriend combat trouser

New Look Ghillie block heel sandal

H&M lace blouse

H&M glittery cardigan

Gap crop flare jeans

New Look stone ballet pump

My new blouse has already had it's first airing.....sign of a great purchase! ;0)

Primark cardigan, instore recently

H&M lace blouse, here

Topshop Jamie jeans, here

Topshop boots, via eBay, similar here

Anya Hindmarch bag, past season similar here

The usual outfit round-up from the rest of the week!

Zara coat, past season, similar jacket here

H&M shirt, similar here

Jaeger sweater, similar here

Topshop Cain jeans, here

Topshop boots, via eBay similar here

Balenciaga bag, similar here

Primark cardigan, instore 

H&M stripe top, here

Topshop Jamie jeans, here

New Look ballet pumps here

Here is a little insight into what I packed for Edinburgh.....with only a couple of tops going unworn.

Muubaa leather jacket, past season similar here

Primark cardigan, instore recently (£7 in the sale!)

Donna Ida sweater, here

Gap sweater, similar here

Whistles cardigan, similar here

Zara stripe top, similar here

Alexander Wang v neck t shirt, here

Zara silky t-shirt, past season similar here

Mango printed top, past season similar here and here 

H&M pleather leggings, past season similar here 

H&M ripped jeans, past season similar here

Zara ripped jeans, similar here

Nike Blazers, similar here

New Look stone ballet pumps, here

I wore this outfit with my Muubaa biker jacket over to travel in

Mango top, past season similar here and here

Zara jeans, similar here

New Look shoes, sold out

Muubaa leather jacket, past season similar here

Primark cardigan, instore recently

Zara stripe top, past season similar here

H&M jeans, past season similar here

Nike Blazers, similar here

Anya Hindmarch Gracie bag, similar here

Topshop snood, past season

Uniqlo sweater, here

Topshop shirt, past season similar here

Gap jeans, similar here

Hush brogues, here

Muubaa leather jacket, past season similar here

Uniqlo shirt, similar here

Zara trousers, past season similar here

Converse, here

Couldn't leave you without sharing another gorgeous little top from H&M I have my eyes on at the moment!

H&M fringed blouse

How many pretty tops can you justify in your wardrobe for spring/summer? I would love to hear! 

on my bucket list!

This week's post is pure fantasy! One of my bucket list wishes would be going to the annual Coachella music festival in California. It's one of those things that would require a lottery win to do it in style.....but a girl can dream right?! It's not just for the kids either......Cindy Crawford has rocked up this time around and she has a few years on me! ;0) There is a great article here about the more mature festival go-ers!

Personally, I am not a fan of Cindy's look here, there's a bit too much going on for me. One person who always seems to pitch their Coachella style perfectly though is Kate Bosworth. Here is just a little flavour of her festival style.....

She rocks it every time doesn't she?! Admittedly, I don't think I could get away with some of Kate's looks but my one of my favourites here would be pretty easy to replicate! All the pieces could be worn again too.....fashion not just for festival purposes!

So just for fun I've shopped the pieces!

Free People reversible gilet

Miss Selfridge dress

Rayban Aviators

ASOS belt

ASOS Rebel boots

A pure pipe-dream post for me but indulge me....what would you wear to Coachella and what's on your bucket list?

What I've been wearing these past days, what I wouldn't do for a bit of that Californian wall-to-wall sunshine!

Muubaa biker jacket, past season similar here

Zara t-shirt similar here

Uniqlo trousers, here

Converse, here

Topshop bag, past season similar here

Stradivarious bomber, sold out though they have similar here or here

Topshop sweatshirt, sold out similar here

Gap original fit jeans, similar here

Converse, here

Mango bag, here

Zara jacket, past season similar here

Zara t-shirt past season similar here

Uniqlo skirt, here

Converse, here

Zara bag, past season similar here

I have to thank the lovely #mystylephotochallenge ladies on Instagram as the idea for this post came from their *bucket list* theme yesterday! I'll be keeping everything crossed that I've won the lottery before next year's Coachella festival! ;0)

Wishing everyone a great start to the week.....back soon!

dual purpose dresses

It's not very often that I happen across a dressy dress that I really love but when I saw this H&M one I knew I had to make it mine! The trouble was that it was already sold out online :0(

H&M chiffon maxi dress, sold out online

Undeterred, I stalked the website everyday....but alas to no avail. But this is when it pays to have lovely blogging friends! My saviour Sue spotted that one lonesome, wrong size dress when it suddenly appeared......the consolation was that I had the product code at last! First thing Sunday morning I put in a call to H&M customer services! Boy, are they good!! By half past nine, three phone calls later the fabulous customer service rep had managed to get one put aside for me in Cardiff as my hubby was passing through the Welsh capital on business on Monday! Woo hoo! Love it when a plan comes together! Sue also tipped me off about the Elle Magazine discount code as well, meaning I managed to bag it with a few pennies off too! Happy days!! So! If you want to go down this route and try and get your hands on this dress the product code is 0391347001.....and the number to call H&M is 0344 736 9000. 

See, I really needed this particular dress as I have a couple of weddings to go to but I require my dresses to really work hard for me. There is not much point in having a dress that is only going to see the light of day on the odd occasion. No.....I have to have a dress that will work very hard in my wardrobe and not just be wheeled out for the odd event. This dress is perfect as there are so many ways I can wear it!

The proof is forthwith.....

I have 3 pairs of heeled sandals begging to be worn with this for a wedding....

H&M dress, sold out online

 Vintage Pied a Terre....very similar here from Topshop here 

H&M dress, sold out online

L K Bennett sandals, past season similar here

H&M dress, sold out online

Vintage brown snakeskin sandals

Topshop plaited leather belt, similar here

How do I plan to dress it down? 

First off....with a denim jacket and my beloved Converse

Warehouse denim jacket, similar here

H&M dress, sold out online

Converse, here

Topshop jacket, similar here

H&M dress, sold out online

New Look ballet pumps, here

Topshop sweatshirt, here

H&M dress, sold out online

Converse, here

And finally.......

H&M dress, sold out online

Topshop plaited leather belt, similar here

Topshop sandals, sold out similar here

I think I've completely justified this purchase! One or two things to mention here. I would say sizing is about right.....mine is a size 10 which I'm very happy with. Also it does come with a matching fabric belt that I have chosen to remove, along with the loops!

Is this kind of dress something that would easily slot into your wardrobe?

The usual outfit round-up

Zara jacket, past season similar here

Zara t-shirt, similar here

Topshop jeans, here

Urban Outfitters Percy boots similar here

Topshop jacket, past season similar here

Topshop jumper, past season, similar here

Zara jeans, past season similar here

Urban Outfitters Percy boots similar here

Topshop sweatshirt, sold out online similar here

Zara army trousers, similar here

Converse, here

Zara bag, past season similar here

Zara jacket, past season....this ASOS quilt jacket is gorgeous

Zara t-shirt, similar here

Zara jeans, similar here

Superga trainers, here

Out of interest how would you style this kind of dress and what's your favourite footwear choice with it? I would love to hear!

Be back again shortly!

current obsession......ballerina pumps!

So, I've been hankering after some ballet flats for sometime as a change from my usual choice of footwear, trainers! Whilst I managed to pick up some fab nude ballet pumps in New Look for a song last week (I featured on my last post here), I've been looking for something a bit different as I'm not doing the *granny* shoe trend and I feel the need for something just a little bit more substantial! I bought some Topshop Ghillies last year, but to be honest as they have a pointed toe I feel they are on the dressy side for my everyday wardrobe so I've been eyeing up a softer, rounder toe shoe. These Aldo ones's are top of my wishlist and they are heavily reduced! I think these will look great with my Uniqlo crop pants, H&M kick flares and Topshop pinstripe pegs, all recent purchases.

Aldo Zaitz ballet pumps

Now my lovely blogging friend Fran from The Fashion Lift caused a bit of a frenzy on Instagram the other day when she posted some fab New Look Chanel-esque pumps! Alas....I have trawled but haven't been able to find them......however! What about these beauties! 

Next cut out ballerinas

Last but by no means least! I love a metallic shoe for summer, I find them such a great neutral to have in your shoe arsenal.....my silver Superga's have already seen a lot of action this season. These Topshop flatties look brilliant, I think they would be amazing with the Uniqlo chiffon skirt I blogged about here. These have a fab quirky squared off toe that give them a bit of edge for me! Again these will go with all of the purchases I have made lately.

Topshop Karate ballet flat

So 3 pairs of shoes added to my wish list, I could warrant each and everyone of them.......I'd best get eBaying! ;0) 

Is there a spring/summer shoe you are hankering after at the moment? Which of my picks would you choose.....or do I need all 3?! ;0)

Outfit round-up!

Topshop jacket, past season similar here

Topshop sweatshirt, here

Zara jeans, here

Superga trainers, here

Topshop coat, similar here

J Crew sweater, similar here

Topshop Cain jeans, here

H by Hudson boots, similar here

Primark scarf, past season

Uniqlo Merino sweater, here

J Crew tencel shirt, past season similar here

Gap real straight jeans, similar here (hacked off hem done myself)

New Look ballet shoes, here

I may have clicked the button on all 3 of these shoes....entirely in the name of research obviously! I shall keep you posted! ;0)

I'm not sure where the Easter holiday has gone....it went in the blink of an eye it would seem! However I am looking forward to getting back into a routine this week!

I'll be back in a few days....wishing everyone a good start to the week!