Panda-monium! (Next Panda Print Ballerina Slippers Review)

Slippers. I don't often buy slippers for myself. They're something I usually receive for Christmas from my family or best friend. For that very reason, I own at least four pairs (that I can think of), all in various states of wear; well loved but well looked after. It's fair to say I'm well prepared for keeping my feet warm and cosy during the bracing Winter cold.

So, there really was no need for me to buy myself another pair this week... 

Apart from the fact I needed these slippers because they are covered in sweater-wearing pandas! That's right, pandas! I mean, who doesn't need slippers with adorable pandas all over them?? 

I'd popped in to our small local Next with my sister, who wanted to check out the home ware, and on our way through, these slippers caught my eye. The panda print stopped us both in our tracks. I was so taken with them, I would have treated myself to them there and then, but my size was out of stock. Of course, I didn't let that stop me, and I ordered them online a few days later. 

And, well, you can see them for yourselves! Introducing my Next panda ballerina slippers...

I'm sure those of you who are as smitten with animal motifs as I am will agree that these slippers really are adorable. The pandas really make these slippers a winner in my eyes; their proud little faces are impossible to resist. It's also refreshing to find a pair of girlie printed slippers that aren't bright pink and emblazoned with cartoon characters... There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but that's just not my style.

These slippers are a different style to any I've owned in my memory, but they're everything I look for in a slipper: warm, cosy, comfortable, cute, and well fitting. I have wide feet, but they fit like a glove. I think the sizing is quite generous, and your regular size should fit you well. If you're between sizes, you'll probably want the smaller size. I'm a 6 and a half, but the 7 was huge, and the 6 was perfect. 

The toes of the shoes are decorated with a bow in a golden colour.

Here's a closer look at the panda print.

The fabric of the shoe is cream and flecked with grey with the print all over, and then trimmed with gold piping.

The insole is just about the cosiest fleece my feet have ever touched, and that includes my expensive Ugg boots! If you're looking to give your feet some TLC this winter, then I recommend you consider checking these out- your feet will thank you!

And, if you needed any more detail in a pair of slippers, the soles are also decorated with hearts and a well-used Christmas / Winter quote.

So, would you believe me if I told you that they only cost a purse-friendly £10? Believe me or not, it's true! The slippers will only set you back a tenner! That's nothing for a cute pair of fuzzy warm slippers that will keep your feet warm throughout the winter chill.

The slippers can be found here and they stock UK sizes 3-8; get them before they go!

Oh, and I must quickly mention, before I go, how fantastic Next's customer service is. I ordered these slippers late one evening, and they arrived by noon the next morning! I'm so impressed with how efficient their delivery service is. You really can't ask for better than that with a standard delivery option for £3.99!

Jemma Kidd I-Tech Liquid Eyeliners Review

So, I love good quality make up; the sort that is mostly found on make up counters and in boutiques (read: expensive), but I can't often afford the price tag that comes with them any more. Jemma Kidd make up is on the lower end of the scale, but a step or two up from drugstore make up brands, with prices starting at around £9.00 for an eyeliner pencil.

I had always wanted to try some Jemma Kidd make up, and you can imagine my delight when I discovered their I-Tech liquid eyeliners were available on beauty bargain lovers favourite, Fragrance Direct. And for just £1.99 each; a steal considering the RRP is around £10.50!

From the moment I saw them online, they instantly reminded me of the liquid eye liners that B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful (the late sister company of Lush) once sold. I once had about fifty different colours of them in my collection and I LOVED them. (To be honest, that's an understatement! I was obsessed). So, I had to order the Jemma Kidd ones to find out if they could possibly live up to my old favourites.

I collected the three shades available on Fragrance Direct over a couple of orders, and also bought some for my best friend and little sister. The colours consisted of a deep chocolate brown called Aesthetic, a dreamy emerald green called Contrast, and a beautiful stormy ocean blue called Abstract.

In appearance they look very similar to the B Never Too Busy... eyeliners. The packaging is made of strong plastic, with a clear pot so you can see the inviting colours of the make up. The lids are a matte black with the logo and brand name adorning them in bright pink. I personally think they look tasteful and I like the simplicity of the design. The lids have a screw fastening, which is easy to use, and should keep the make up from coming open in bags and make up bags.

The outer packaging is made from sturdy cardboard, like most high-end make up packaging, and the design is sleek and simple. No fuss, just simple red and black and a few words. It certainly has that high-end charm.

"Make a statement without saying a word. Quick dry, extreme last liquid liner in classic black to bold brights. Fine brush for professional application. Remove with an oil based make up remover."

I really agree with this statement, and I will explain more in just a moment...

"Jemma's fashion fix: Liquid liner every time for after-show party glamour that lasts and last; dusk till dawn."

Each eyeliner has it's own brush inside the lid, which has a long handle to get to the bottom of the pot, and a fine flat brush for achieving perfect and precise neat lines. Each time I've used these eyeliners, I've created the neatest eye liner looks I've ever managed in my entire life. Honestly, I'm terrible at achieving neat eye liner, but I have no problems with these. The brush makes it so easy to get in close to the lash line, and whip it across in a straight line.

Here are the swatches of the eye liners taken in natural daylight. In the photo above, I altered the levels and contrast of the photo, but it's still true to the real colours and vibrancy.

The photo above hasn't been altered at all. This is what you get. Freckles sold separately.

So, the colours are all absolutely beautiful. All of them. They're all so bold and vibrant, and oh so pretty.

The green is probably my favourite. Mostly because I have a thing for green eye make up. This one looks like a gleaming pool of liquid emerald that I just want to swim in, and it really makes my brown eyes pop. The blue reminds me of the sea on a stormy day; of choppy waves crashing towards the shore. I could sit here and look at the colours of it all day. The brown is a stunning chocolate brown and bronze colour, and I find this shade so beautiful. It's a great alternative to black, and versatile, too. 

The biggest surprise to me was how long-lasting they are. Once you apply these quick-drying liners to your skin, they're not going anywhere for quite a while. They will last an entire day without so much as bleeding or fading, which is brilliant... but, that also means they take a bit of effort to wipe away at the end of the day...

It took me about five minutes of scrubbing my hand raw with a cleansing wipe to get those swatches off my skin. You should be able to see how red my hand looks. It wasn't too big a deal, but it wouldn't be possible to use the same force on and around the eye lids, so the make sometimes ends up remaining in place for a day or two.

I'm very impressed with all three of these Jemma Kidd eyeliners, and they are definitely just as good as my old favourites, and some of the best eyeliners I've ever used. Not bad for the bargain price of just £1.99 each! All three colours are still available through Fragrance Direct, and you can find them here.

Have you tried Jemma Kidd's i-tech Liquid Liners yet?

Wednesday Wish List

Hey guys,

I've got some really lovely pieces to show you in this week's Wednesday Wish List. I'm coveting so many items now that the Autumn lines are really flooding in to the shops, so much so that this is just a tiny fraction of what I have on my dream list.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 

13- TU at Sainsbury's  // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17 // 18 // 

19- TU at Sainsbury's // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23

I'm currently keeping an eye open for the perfect Winter coat. I need something long line which can be worn over dresses that sit below the knee (or above), but it's slim pickings at the moment. The other day I came across two lovely-looking fit and flare coats on the Next website (3 and 4), and I actually think they could be what I'm looking for. The only issue is that they retail at £85 (steep, but a good investment, I think), and I can't decide if I prefer the black or the red. I usually prefer colourful coats, but I may be leaning towards the black. Which one do you prefer?

I do love my colour, though, and I'm in love with the rich purple and forest green lace dresses from New Look Inspire (1 and 6). Aren't they stunning? I almost wish everything in my wardrobe was in these two colours! I'd happily dress in elegant Gothic forest green and purple every day.

I'm really impressed with Sainsbury's TU clothing collection at the moment, and in particular their knitwear. I've picked up a few colourful cardigans from them this week, and I have my eye on many other pieces. My favourites are the beautifully thick and cosy fox (13) and Scottie dog (19) motif jumpers, which are super soft and would be perfect for snuggling up in when the temperatures plummet. I hope to make them mine very soon.

I'm also in love with Next's panda print ballerina slippers (20). Slippers with pandas on them, what more could a girl need? Nothing, that's what! I couldn't resist, so I have a pair whizzing their way to me as we speak.

And before I go, I just have to mention the ASOS ombre beach cover up (17). I know it's the wrong season for beach wear for many of us, but it's such a pretty cover up, and it would look so beautiful over swimwear. I like that it's longer than the average kaftan, which is great if you don't feel comfortable flashing too much flesh or you need something to take you from beach to bar.

What's on your wish list at the moment?

The Five Thousand Question Survey: Questions 26-50

Hey guys,

I've got the second part of The 5000 Question Survey, which I'm attempting to work my way through, to share with you today. Today I've answered questions 26-50.

I'm still not sure whether to blog my way through the challenge here or not; are you guys interested in reading this kind of post and on a regular basis? My other thoughts are to blog through it on my inactive Livejournal account, or perhaps create a page for this on the sidebar to add to each week. I'd love it if you'd let me know what you think!

26. Who has done something today to show they care about you?

A good friend messaged me and told me she missed our chats. (It's been a few weeks since we last had a good catch up via text).

27. Do you have a lot to learn?

Of course. Nobody can know everything. We're all constantly learning and evolving until the day we die.

28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not working what would they be?

A. How to fix my back and take the pain away.

B. How to earn a small fortune.

C. How to drive a car.

29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do or how other people make you feel?

I remember all three, but I never forget how people make me feel, nor do I forget nasty things that are said to me. I'm quite a sensitive person, and I do take things personally and to heart.

30. What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship?

Trust, honesty, support, humour, give and take, love, friendship, and fun.

31. What 3 things do you want to do before you die?

A. See the Northern Lights.

B. Go whale watching.

C. Visit Italy.

32. What 3 things would you want to die to avoid doing?

A. Burning in a fire.

B. Allowing physical harm or murder to happen to another person because of me.

C. Handling a tarantula.

33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause?

I feel quite strongly about animal rights and against animal cruelty. It upsets me to think of animals being abused and killed whether it's for animal testing for cosmetics or science, for sport, for fashion, inhumanely for food, by pet owners, just for the hell of it, or whatever the reason. It baffles me how people can be so cruel to another living creature.  I prefer to use cruelty free beauty products as much as possible, and have always given my pets the care they deserve.

34. What does each decade make you think of:

The 19..

20's: The Wall Street Crash, The Depression, the 'Roaring Twenties', Flapper Girls, bob haircuts, jazz music, silent movies, Charlie Chaplin, The Charleston.

30's: The start of World War 2 and The Nazi Party, the Golden age of Hollywood, The Wizard of Oz, swing, blues and jazz music.

40's: Tea dresses, red lipstick, amazing fashion, victory rolls, war, Nazis, Hitler, the Holocaust.

50's: Poodle skirts, polka dots, cat-eye glasses, perfect hair, housewives, gentlemen in suits and trilbies, Elvis, Johnny Cash, rockabilly, beautiful dresses, (the beginning of) the civil rights movement.

60's: The Beatles, Motown, Woodstock, hippies, stoners, bra-burning, feminism, psychedelic, Twiggy, mini skirts, beehives, men with side burns, a lot of facial hair, and long hair, black eyeliner, tie die, bell bottoms, Martin Luther King's 'I Have A Dream' speech.

70's: Disco, R&B, Motown, Abba, The Jackson 5, The Supremes, glam rock, punk rock, The Clash, hippies, platform shoes, floral prints, flared trousers, beards, side burns, long straight hair, lava lamps, Mohawks and tartan.

80's: Madonna, big polka dots, big hair, mullets, neon, leg warmers, good music, movie montages, Bon Jovi, Band Aid / Live Aid, the Chernobyl disaster, Rubik's Cubes, Arcade Computer Games, Michael Jackson, Dirty Dancing, Footloose, Tears For Fears.

90's: My childhood and early teens, boybands, Boyzone mania, Britpop, Blur, Pulp, Oasis, Top of the Pops, Smash Hits Magazine, Pogs, Eternal, En Vogue, TLC, smiley faces, troll dolls, crop tops, baggy high-waisted jeans, a line skirts, Adidas poppers, Hooch, Tamagotchis, Gladiators, Ceefax, Home Alone, sun moon and stars prints, recording the Top 40 on to cassettes, making mix tapes, forever untangling cassette tapes, Live and Kicking, Byker Grove, the death of Princess Diana, electric blue mascara, hair mascaras, N Sync, Backstreet Boys, Sonic the Hedgehog, Saved By The Bell, Sister Sister, Sabrina the Teenage Witch... I could go on!

The 20..

00's: The 9/11 terrorist attacks, the 7/7 bombings, dirty denim, hankerchief tops, emo music, Friends Reunited, Internet that took an hour to connect to (and hogged the phone line), Ugg boots, Livejournal, the evolution of mobile phones and digital cameras, the deaths of Stephen Gately, Michael Jackson, Brittany Murphy, and Heath Ledger,

10's (so far): Selfies, social media, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, the duck face (groan), iPhones, gadgets, terrible music, diverse fashion, amazing animal prints on clothes (animal motifs, not the patterns of their skin / fur),  dresses, bloggers, plus size fashion expanding and improving, celebrity child abuse scandals, the death of Amy Winehouse.

35: Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why?

From my life time, I'm definitely most connected to the nineties which was my childhood and teen years from ages five to fifteen. It was a great time to be alive and I have a lot of happy memories connected to those years. Although, I often wish I had been the age I am now in the forties of fifties, because I love the fashion and I guess I'm a little old fashioned in some ways at heart.

36. What is your favourite oldie / classic rock song?

Any of these...

Billy Idol's Dancing With Myself.
INXS's Never Tear Us Apart.
Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart.
Tears For Fears's Everybody Wants to Rule the World.
Queen's Under Pressure, I Want To Break Free, and Radio Ga Ga.
Bruce Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark.
Bon Jovi's Livin on a Prayer.
The Beatles The Fool on the Hill, A Day in the Life, and Lady Madonna.

37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of that country.

I live in England and our Prime Minister is David Cameron.

If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country what would it be?

How do you sleep at night?

38: What's your favourite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night?

I can usually be found watching E4, BBC3 or Food Network in the middle of the night.

39. What Disney villain are you most like and why?

I've spent ages trying to answer this question, and I've really no idea. I don't think I'm like any of them. I'm going to go with The Queen of Hearts from the Alice in Wonderland cartoon, as I have high standards, and a short temper- but not as bad as her!

40: Have you ever been a girl scout?

No, but I was a Brownie, if that counts?

41. If you were travelling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat?

I'd rather take a boat. I love being out on the sea. The views are amazing, being on board is far more relaxing than flying, and I'm generally quite content out on the water. 

42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night?

Why is the grass green? Why anything?

43. What does your name mean?

Louise means "famous warrior".

44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space?

I'm curious about what's out there in outer space, especially beyond our own galaxy, but until we develop a fast form of space travel, there wouldn't be much exploring, just a lot of travelling. So, I'm going to say the oceans. They're filled with amazing creatures, and probably dozens if not hundreds of animals yet to be discovered so exploring them would be far more fascinating and productive. I'd still like to explore outer space, though.

45. Word association:

What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:

Air: Plane

Meat: Cleaver

Different: Me

Pink: Panther

Deserve: Karma

White: Snow

Elvis: Presley

Magic: Man

Heart: Beat

Clash: (ing) Colours

Pulp: Fiction

46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be?

I would have loved to have met Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

47. What if you could meet anyone alive?

I've been fortunate to meet and spot quite a few celebrities over the last decade, from Boyzone to Ronnie Barker, but let's think... I would love to meet Dawn French, Tom Hanks, Mike Shinoda, Fall Out Boy, Stephen King, Liam Neeson, Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton, Peter Kay, Omid Djalili, Caleb and Nathan Followill, Colin Firth, Johnny Depp, Naveen Andrews, Leonardo Di Caprio, Kate Winslet, Channing Tatum... the list goes on.

48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it everyday?

Yes, and on occasion, I have done. It's Titanic and I've been a bit obsessed with it since I was eleven.

49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do?

You mean, after I've had a panic attack about being trapped? (I'm really claustrophobic). I'd bring a fully charged Kindle and a few paperbacks to see me through most of the week. When I start reading I can be engrossed for hours. I'd have to bring a fully charged iPod for some music- I can't live without music; a notebook or two and a pen for writing down blog posts and creative writing; and perhaps bring in my disc injury journal and craft supplies to do a little art journaling to pass the time.

50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved?

I saved a starling that was stuck head down in a bird feeder, once- does that count?

The Autumn Tag

I've seen this tag pop up on quite a lot of blogs lately, so I decided I wanted to give it a go, too. I probably did this tag last Autumn, but perhaps my answers will have changed a little from a year ago. If you fancy giving this challenge a go, too, please go for it! I decided to make my own Autumn Tag image, but feel free to use it if you wish.

1. Favourite Thing About It?

My favourite thing about Autumn is... probably all the fiery colours of the foliage. As much as I hate seeing the greenery fade away and how barren the trees will soon look until the Spring (I find that so depressing), I can't deny how beautiful Autumn is, especially here in The Cotswolds. Well, you guys now how swayed I am by colour!

I love going for walks at this time of year, wrapped up warm in chunky knitwear, gloves, scarf, and boots, feeling that Autumn chill on my skin, and crunching through the crisp dead leaves. And I also love the fashion colour palettes in Autumn; the forest greens, teals, burgundys, mustards, and deep purples, and the prospect of new season purchases.

2. Favourite Drink?

I don't really have a favourite Autumn drink; I'm not much of a hot beverage drinker and what I drink generally remains the same all year round. I do occasionally treat myself to a Costa hot chocolate during Autumn and Winter, though, so I'll go with that. Costa hot chocolate with marshmallows- no cream.

3. Favourite Scent / Candle?

My favourite perfume scent for Autumn is DKNY's Red Delicious which generally gets worn from September until the spring. It smells like red apples and berries, and I think the scent is so elegant and reassuring. It's cosy, warm, and inviting against the crisp Autumn air, and sits perfectly between subtle and over-baring.

As for candles, I enjoy the scent of any of the cookie scented Yankee Candles like Christmas Cookie, Snowflake Cookie, Red Velvet, and Vanilla Cupcake which all smell like short bread is being baked in the kitchen. There's something so comforting and homely about the smell of baking when it's cold outside, and it reminds me of cold Sunday evenings growing up when my Mum would usually be baking something comforting like apple pie or a rhubarb crumble.

4. Best Lipstick?

It's been a long time since I last wore lipstick regularly, so I don't really have one, but I would choose dark reds and wines, and plum colours for this time of year. I'd recommend Inglot lipsticks, which I've been experimenting with recently.

5. Go To Moisturiser?

I use the same moisturiser all year round and have never changed it with the seasons. I use The Body Shop's Vitamin E Moisture Cream and have done for quite a few years now. It keeps my skin so soft and smooth, and the scent is pleasant, so I see no reason to ever change it. It's not tested on animals, either, which is another reason I love it.

6. Go To Colours For The Eyes?

I'm not sure I really have particular colours I reserve just for Autumn. I like to wear almost every colour imaginable all year round, and never let the seasons affect that. Generally, you'll find me wearing lots of greens, purples, golds, and teals, but that's the case all year round, too.

7. Favourite Music Or Band / Singer To Listen To?

My musical tastes don't change hugely from season to season. I have my all time favourite bands, songs and albums which I listen to all the time, and that doesn't ever change much. I do tend to play Evanescence's music often in Autumn, especially their debut album 'Fallen', and I play Arcade Fire's 'Funeral' album a lot, too. I love to listen to Linkin Park's earlier albums (especially Meteora), and Kings of Leon's Only By The Night compliments the season. There's a few songs on the end of Savage Garden's 'Affirmation' album ('Two Beds and a Coffee Machine' onwards) which have always been played in Autumn, too, and I really don't know why!

8. Favourite Outfit To Wear?

I love wearing chunky knit boyfriend cardigans layered over tea dresses, with a thick scarf, opaque tights, ankle boots, a knitted beanie hat, and a cute pair of gloves.

9. Favourite Autumn Treat?

Apart from the Costa hot chocolate, probably my Mum's home made apple pie with custard.

If we're talking non-food treats, then I love to treat myself to new boots, gloves, scarves, and knitwear for the new season.

10. Favourite Place To Be.

My favourite place to be in Autumn is probably just in my own home town. We have so many trees in our town so it's a pretty place to be when the leaves start changing, and I find home so comforting when the nights are drawing in. I love curling up under a blanket with a good book or a movie, or perhaps some kind of craft to do and getting all cosy.  I also love to visit Oxford around September, October time, as it's a really beautiful place when the foliage bursts in to all that colour.

What are your favourite things about Autumn?

A Bird on the Cardigan is Worth Two on the Dress

Lately I've been having a mini clear out of unwanted things to earn myself a little extra cash, and this dress very nearly went in the eBay pile.

I bought it around the time I started this blog, a good year and a half ago, and although I loved it at the time, I convinced myself it wasn't all that great. I think that was because the fabric is that thin, satin-like polyester which I'm not a huge fan of. So, the dress had been unworn and unloved in my wardrobe for over a year.

When I selected it from my wardrobe with a handful of other clothes destined for eBay, I then tried it on again, to be sure. I always make sure. And... well, as I stood in front of the mirror, I decided it was actually quite pretty on, and wondered why I'd allowed it to go unworn for so long. I saved it from the adoption process before it was too late, and decided to wear it a few days ago...

And it even made it in to the garden for a photo shoot!

Although, I couldn't have chosen a worse day for taking photos. It was extremely blustery outside, and I spent most of the time trying to hold down my dress with my hair across my face! I took about sixty photos, and only a handful were half-decent and didn't involve me flashing.

The dress is a royal blue midi-length tea dress with foliage and garden birds across it and I came from Dorothy Perkins. I think they also had this dress in a pale blue, but the bold cobalt won me over- it's one of my favourite colours. I love the long midi length, which is a couple of inches below the knee on me; dressing in it makes me feel so lady-like. The only thing I really don't get about this dress is why it has ruffles running from the bust down to the waist band. They look awful, and really do nothing for my figure. It would be so much prettier without them.

Isn't the print pretty?

I dressed it with a mint green cardigan, to match the mint foliage of the dress, and wore black opaque tights as it was so chilly. I'm now thinking grey tights would have looked better. 

I just slipped on my studded slippers to go outside, but it would look so much prettier with a pair of cobalt or mint heels.

I also accessorized with two Cath Kidston brooches of a blue tit and a chaffinch (I think), to continue on the print of the dress. The blue tit was having a conversation with one of the dress birds! 

And to coordinate even more, I wore my mint green floral ring which is made of jade.

Outfit Details

Dress-Dorothy Perkins // Cardigan-New Look // Tights-Evans // Slippers-New Look // 

Brooches-Cath Kidston // Ring-Local Shop

Wednesday Wish List

Hey guys,

It's Wednesday which means it's Wish List day once again, and this week I have two dozen beautiful pieces of clothing and accessories for your viewing pleasure...

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 

13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17 // 18 // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24

This week I've been loving:

~ Animal motif knitwear. Clothes adorned with penguins and daschunds, deer and bunnies, raccoons, owls, swans and more. All perfect for adding to my wardrobe zoo. The daschund jumper is my personal favourite (7).

~ Tartan, tartan, and more tartan. Did I mention tartan?

- The tartan ASOS smock dress (8) is one of my favourites of the moment. Isn't it a beauty?

~ Everything purple, mustard, green, red, navy, grey, teal, and burgundy.

~ Chunky knit jumpers and cardigans, hats, gloves, and scarves. Brrr it's freezing!

~ Joe Browns' gorgeous new winter coats. (12 and 18). They're stunning.

~ Almost everything on the Modcloth website. Their bold colours and funky prints make me smile. It's all so beautiful. If I could do a trolley dash on that website, I'd die blissfully happy. I want it all.

~ Speaking of Modcloth, I'm so in love with their 'Spark a Connection' dress (19), which is printed with bumper cars! That's right: bumper cars! I thought I'd seen all there was to see in terms of prints, and yet they just keep on coming.

~ And finally, I'm loving the pork pie hats from Topshop. The forest green version (4) is absolutely stunning. It's a shame I really can't pull off hats, but I can think of a few of you who can!

What's on your wish list this week?

Autumn Wardrobe Wish List

When Summer ends and the weather starts to drop, I always find myself reviewing my wardrobe to think of what I need to see me through the colder weather. Do I need a new coat, or some new boots? Perhaps I could do with a a thick knit scarf, or a great pair of heavy denim jeans.

Sadly, as much as I love Autumn and Winter fashion, I never have much money to spend on myself or my wardrobe at this time of year; what with Christmas on the horizon, and four family birthdays before it. Between September and January I have to be quite frugal and put gift-buying first, so I actually don't have much of an Autumn / Winter wardrobe! I mainly just make do with layering up clothes I wear in Spring and Summer and that usually works just fine for me.

I will normally allow myself a couple of purchases before I concentrate on Christmas shopping, but I have to think about what I really need more than what I'm dying to own. And that's exactly what I've been doing lately. I've put together a little collage to show you what I need and would like to add to my wardrobe this Autumn...

Winter Coat

I'm probably most in need of a new winter coat. The ones I own are all a little past their best now, and also a little too short for wearing over most of my dresses. I find it so difficult to find lovely fitted winter coats that fall past the knee, so finding ones which I like are a whole other story. I wish the navy Dorothy Perkins coat was a few inches longer as it's so beautiful.

Wide Fit Ankle Boots

I've been looking out for the perfect wide fit ankle boots, and I think I've found them in the Simply Be studded boots. Well, that's providing they're as pretty as they appear on screen, and fit well in reality. I've ordered the burgundy pair after having an eBay clear out, and I'm sure if I fall in love with them on delivery I'll be going after the other two colours as well. In my head I'm already working on making them all mine, anyway! 

Staple Boyfriend Cardigans

Something I could really do with is a couple of plain coloured boyfriend cardigans for layering. I have plenty of cropped, and shorter cardigans, but not much of anything else. Getting rid of faded and misshapen old cardigans seemed a good idea at the time, but I never got round to replacing them... I have my eye on the black Matalan cardigan above.

A Red Cardigan

It's been a couple of years since I last had a red cardigan in my wardrobe, and I've been wanting one ever since. I love wearing red, and I think it's such a versatile colour. I've been trying to hunt down a nice, affordable one all year, and oddly they've been so hard to find! What's up with that?

Chunky Knitwear

I both need and would like some lovely chunky knit jumpers and cardigans to keep myself warm and cosy when the temperatures plummet. I love wrapping myself up in chunky knitwear and going for a walk when there's a crisp frost or snow on the ground. Heaven.

Knitted Beanie Hat or Beret

I have a couple of knit hats, but nothing I love. I want a new cable knit beanie or wool beret to keep my ears warm in the cold, and to look cute, too. Ideally, I'd love one in grey, burgundy, teal, cream, or black.

Tartan Dress

I definitely don't need any more dresses, but I have wanted a tartan one for a long time, so I had to treat myself to the gorgeous Pink Clove number last night. Not only is it beautiful, but it has sleeves which makes it more A/W friendly (few of my dresses have sleeves), and it was only £22! I hope it lives up to my expectations in real life!

And finally,

Scarves

I have several scarves which are suitable for Autumn / Winter, but I have my heart set on treating myself to a new one. I'm in love with the red polka dot scarf from Accessorize; it's beautiful, and also wonderfully thick and warm. I will have to pounce on it soon, but I've also fallen in love with the tartan scarf, which would also be so perfect for my A/W wardrobe. Perhaps I need both...?

What's on your wish list for Autumn?

Just a Dash of Hound

Hey guys,

I've got an outfit post for you today.

As I mentioned earlier in the week, last Sunday marked the anniversary of the day I first woke up in pain and was aware something wasn't quite right with my back. (I still don't know when I actually did the damage to it, but I think it started a few weeks earlier). Anyway, I didn't actually manage to take a photo of myself on the day, but this outfit was worn the afternoon before, which I'm counting as a record of the two year milestone.

I bought this lovely Peter Pan dress from Rachel's blog sale a month or two ago. When I saw it up for grabs, I just had to have it because of the amazing print. It has little daschund dogs all over it! I love daschunds, but didn't have a single dog-print anything in my wardrobe, so it had to be mine. It was originally from Primark, and it's only a polyester number, but I love it! I've not actually stepped foot in Primark in two or three years, so buying this dress was a real novelty. Thanks, Rachel!

I kept this look very simple with black leggings, black studded slippers, and a bold coral coloured cardigan from Matalan. I have this cardigan in four colours, and they're the softest things ever!

Isn't the print adorable?

I really love the beautiful Mother-of-Pearl buttons these cardigans have.

These are the mismatched accessories I was wearing. I wore my new strawberry brooch and my cute fox pin, both from Cath Kidston (where else!?), and a jewel coloured ring from Evans.

Outfit Details

Dress-Primark // Leggings-New Look // Slippers-New Look // Cardigan-Matalan // Fox Pin-Cath Kidston // Strawberry Brooch-Cath Kidston // Ring-Evans //