Seasons Change But People Don't

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons to dress for. 

Sure, I adore the Summer brights, Spring pastels, light, floaty fabrics and cheerful prints of the warmer seasons, but as the nights start drawing in I always look forward to wearing the decadent jewel colours of Autumn. I think rich colours like teal, emerald, forest green, wine, raspberry, and dark magenta suit my complexion best, but mainly, I just find them all too gorgeous to resist! I'd fill my wardrobe with these colours if I could!

I've already started wearing rich colours this September, even if it is unseasonably warm and too hot to start digging out my Winter wardrobe just yet. I'll start with dresses and the winter knits can follow later!

Last week, I put this simple look together for, err... a walk around the garden. I used the garden like a hamster wheel and did a couple of laps for physio, I don't feel strong enough to stray from home on my own, but walking back and forth from the tripod for outfit photos soon adds up, so I decided to kill two birds with one stone, and took some photos, while I was in the garden.

I've been looking forward to wearing this beautiful skater dress since I bought it last month from Dorothy Perkins. I was drawn in by the gorgeous colour, which is somewhere between dark magenta and raspberry. I have a few dresses in this colour, and it's definitely one of my favourite colours to wear.

What I love about this dress is that it's made from textured fabric- which features a floral print- and it adds some interest to an otherwise simple skater dress. It's not too light or too heavy, and the short sleeves are perfect for transitioning in to Autumn. Or if you hate baring your upper arms but don't want to cover up with a cardi.

The dress sits just above the knee and it has some stretch, so your usual size should be fine. It retails for just £20, and if purple isn't your thing, it also comes in baby blue, black, and nude.

I wore mine with black leggings and forest green studded ankle boots. As soon as I tried on the dress for the first time, I knew the green boots would go perfectly with it. The boots were from Simply Be last Winter, but they do have the same boots in black and purple this season, in E and EEE fittings. I have these boots in three colours and they are the most comfortable ankle boots I've ever owned. 

The colour of the dress is much darker than it looks in this photo, but it was the best close up I took. I kept it in so you could see the texture.

You've seen me wearing this necklace many times before, but I love it so much I can't stop wearing it. I won it in Rachel's giveaway last year, and I've barely taken it off since!

Outfit Details

Dress- Dorothy Perkins // Boots- Simply Be // Glasses- Roxy

Leggings- New Look // Necklace- I won in Rachel's giveaway

Have you began embracing Autumn fashion yet this season? What colours do you love to wear at this time of year?

Cobalt Blue and Pearls

Hey guys,

I hope you all had a great Halloween! What did you all get up to?

I did little more than carve a pumpkin and watch a couple of films (Hocus Pocus and Labyrinth have to be watched each year!). I've never really celebrated Halloween with proper dedication; the last time I went trick or treating, I was eleven, and the last Halloween party I went to was back in Brownies. Since then, I've just acknowledged the day with jack o' lanterns and movies. I wish we Brits marked All Hallows Eve the way you Americans do, as the festivities look amazing, but it's just not a huge deal over here. We market it more for kids. Saying that, I am content with my little traditions, and I had fun carving the pumpkin!

Moving on from Halloween, I've got a quick outfit to share with you today, which I wore a couple of weeks ago...

Firstly, I'm sorry for the quality of the photos. It was late in the afternoon when I snapped them, and it was also beginning to rain. But still, they're better than any I try to take indoors! (Which I'm trying to avoid doing because they're always terrible!)

A few months back during the summer, I won a New Look gift card from Becky and Betty's joint blog giveaway and this is one of the dresses I bought with it. I was drawn to the beautiful cobalt, because it's one of my favourite colours. Only, I completely forgot I had it and only rediscovered it the other week, hidden between a couple of other frocks. My wardrobe is just so crammed full of clothes now.

So of course, I made up for lost time and wore it. I really like this dress, but it's made from very thin fabric and doesn't conceal much- even though it's lined. You can see the shadow of my leggings in the photo, so perhaps I need to try it again with a slip underneath to make it a little more forgiving. It's very comfortable, though, and has a stretchy waist and pockets at the hips! Pockets! I can't believe I didn't know it had pockets until I took these photos! I love pockets! It also has pretty crochet detail to the neckline and hem.

I wore it with black leggings, and a blue shrug I bought on sale at M&Co for a few quid. I usually wear a clashing colour, but nothing in my wardrobe wanted to work with this dress, so cobalt it was. The longer sleeves are ideal for this time of year and it's really cosy. I also wore my studded navy slippers, and some pearl necklaces and bracelets.

These aren't great photos, but you can see the lace detailing, and a close up of the two necklaces I was wearing. (Apologies for the boobs!) I still adore the double cameo necklace that I won in Rachel's blog giveaway. I've barely taken it off all year!

Outfit Details

Dress-New Look Inspire // Shrug-M&Co // Leggings-New Look Inspire // Slippers-New Look // 

Pearl Bracelets-Matalan // Pearl Necklace-Matalan // Pearl and Cameo Duo Necklace-Rachel's Giveaway

I hope you all have a great Friday. I'm hoping to make it to our local bonfire and fireworks display tonight; let's see if I come back with any decent photos to share!

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 //

Stripes, Dots, and Bunting OOTD

Hello lovelies,

If you've been following my blog for a while, you'll probably be aware that two things feature prominently in my wardrobe and style: dresses and prints. (The third is colour). I have dresses in all kinds of prints: polka dots, flamingos, birds, cats, daschunds, foxes, bird cages, florals, fish... the list goes on, but until this summer I didn't have any stripes in my dress collection.

"... but, you're fat! You shouldn't wear stripes- EVER! They'll make you look BIGGER! Only skinny girls should wear stripes. Wear this black sack, instead." Says Society.

This is the message which I've heard ten thousand times since my childhood, from media, and from my peers; something which I'm sure most of you have been subjected to on numerous occasions, too... but have I ever listened to that 'rule'? Like hell, have I! It's a ridiculous rule. And anyway, rules are made for breaking!

I've worn striped items often in the past, and own my fair share of striped tops and cardigans at present. My body shape hasn't once grown miraculously before my eyes because it was clothed in stripes... and neither will yours. I never avoid wearing stripes, I enjoy wearing them. And I actually made it my mission to buy a striped navy and white dress this summer that I could wear for a nautical look with red, white, and anchors. I managed to find one, but it's taken me until now to share it. My bad.

Well, I never did manage to find a red cardigan to create the look I'd first envisioned, nor have I added lashings of white or anchors, but I am wearing a striped dress. And a double dose of stripes. And breaking another style rule by clashing patterns. Oh, and there's bunting!

I bought the dress from Dorothy Perkins back in May or June, and I've taken outfit shots of it twice before but I was never happy with the photos. These aren't great, either, but you get the idea. The dress is a lovely thick cotton, with a fitted but stretchy waist, a v-neck, and thick shoulder straps. The stripes are horizontal from the waist up, and in chevrons below it.  While I sized up so it wouldn't be figure-hugging, I don't think this dress makes me look wider at all (if anything it makes me feel smaller). Even with a loose cardi hiding my shape.

Lacking a red cardigan in my wardrobe, I thought I'd try the cardigan my sister gave me for my birthday with the dress instead, clashing the stripes with more stripes and polka dots. It's a little big on me unbuttoned, and I wish it was a little more fitted, but I like how the two pieces look together. 

The cardigan is by Per Una at Marks and Spencers, and it was on my wishlist for quite some time as it was quite pricey for a cardigan at £35. Although, now I own it, I think it was priced fairly as the quality of it is fantastic. It's the softest piece of knitwear I've probably ever owned, and it's so thick and warm. It's like wearing a giant hug. The best part of all about this dress is that it's embroidered with bunting! Bunting, of all things! It's very me, and I can't wait to wear it again, now that we're heading in to cooler weather.

I originally tried this outfit with a blue manicure, which I loved.

I dug out a couple of my most nautical inspired accessories; an anchor ASOS ring, and a seaside themed charm bracelet by Abilu Creations. It was bought from their stall in the Camden Lock Market a few years ago, and is one of a few pieces of their gorgeous eclectic jewellery I own. I tend to buy something from them each time I visit Camden, (they have a website now which often tempts me), because I just love their funky, fun accessories. The jewellery is all made by hand by a small independent business, who use a lot of vintage charms and signature guitar plectrums to create unique one-off pieces, and you can check their eclectic designs out here.

I then completely mismatched my accessories by wearing this beaded parrot Accessorize necklace. It's a few years old now, but I still love wearing it during the summer months.

Outfit Details

Dress-Dorothy Perkins // Cardigan-Per Una for Marks and Spencers (similar) // Leggings-Evans // Ring-ASOS // Necklace-Accessorize // Bracelet-Abilu Creations (similar)

I kept my make up simple with black eyeliner and one of my new red Inglot lipsticks that arrived earlier this week. I'll be reviewing them soon, but I'll tell you now- they're amazing!

What are your thoughts on wearing stripes?

It's Not Always Rainbows and Butterflies

I was hoping to have an outfit post for you by Thursday this week, but sometimes I forget I can't plan anything in advance with disc pain controlling my every action. My pain levels can be unpredictable from one day to the next; some days are better than average, and other days are incredibly worse. On those days, the pain engulfs me like a flood, swallowing every last ounce of my strength and energy until even every rise and fall of my chest adds to my pain. On those days, I barely have the mobility to turn over in bed. 

This week, I've had six of those days in succession.

On Monday I had my fifth group physiotherapy session at the hospital. I was struggling before I'd left home, and had to push myself through the stretches. The physiotherapists who lead these classes always say that if we're grimacing, we're pushing ourselves too much, and should ease off or stop that exercise. They say they don't want us to push ourselves to a point which leaves us physically set back and immobile for the rest of the week. This week I felt like the male physiotherapist we had was pushing me far too much, and instead of stopping when I knew I'd reached my limit, I did as he suggested. Big mistake. I pretty much crawled out of the hospital at the end of the forty-five minutes, and have been confined to bed  feeling like I've been hit by a bus, ever since. Thus explaining my absence the last couple of days. The pain has hit me hard, much harder than usual, and it's taken the life out of me.

I had no choice but to pop in to town to pay a bill yesterday afternoon, which was exhausting and so painful I've actually worsened the pain. I did, however, quickly snap a few photos of my outfit before I crawled back in to bed. And I'm sure you'd rather see them then read my musings above. So, here you go...

Firstly, sorry for the quality of the photos. As soon as I grabbed my camera grey clouds decided to race across the sky to conceal the lovely blue sky and sunshine. And would you believe, once I'd finished they dissipated!

Anyway, I'm wearing a Dorothy Perkins pinafore dress which I got for my birthday last month. I realised I was lacking casual dresses in my wardrobe, and I thought this one fitted the gap perfectly. It's black with a white bow print all over the front and back, and it's made from a thick stretchy cotton. The waist is fitted, but it has some stretch, so it's so comfortable! It also has a pockets, which I think more dresses should have!

I will say that it's a dress best suited to cooler days, especially if like me you become easily overheated during Spring and Summer, as the fabric is quite heavy. 

I ordered this dress not expecting to like it, but it turns out I really love this dress. And not just because I think the square neckline is flattering on my broad shoulders (which I'm still learning- and failing- to love).

This dress was just £18.00, and I think I used a couple of discount codes, too, which brought it down further. DPBDAY will get you 15% off Dorothy Perkins dresses, and it seems to have unlimited use as I've used it many times over the last couple of years. This dress is only available in a couple of small sizes now online (here), but it also comes in plain cobalt blue, green, and heart print (which I also own).

I wore this dress with a pair of plain black New Look leggings, my Lovedrobe off-white shrug, and a double cameo necklace, which are all pieces I've featured recently in my outfit posts. I just needed a comfortable, casual outfit to run a couple of errands, and I think I found it. I forgot to keep them on for the photos, but I also wore a pair of gold flat sandals, and accessorised with my red heart print Zatchels barrel bag.

Outfit Details

Dress-Dorothy Perkins // Shrug-Lovedrobe // Leggings-New Look // Necklace-From Rachel's giveaway.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Under the Green Umbrella Trees

Hey there, lovelies,

I've got a quick casual outfit to share with you this morning, which I wore to the hospital to be lectured and patronized by my physiotherapist yesterday morning. I'd go in to what happened, but I'd only start to rant about what she said.

The dress which I am wearing in this post is one of two frocks I purchased last week with a New Look voucher I won from Becky and Betty's joint blog giveaways. It was a lovely surprise to find out I'd won, and I was obviously excited to spend it as it's been a while since I've been able to afford new clothes for myself. So, thank you so much ladies! I purchased a cobalt blue chiffon dress, and this lovely denim number...

This lovely light-wash denim dress is so effortlessly wearable. It is the perfect dress to be worn casually in the day time for running errands, going to hospital appointments, and perhaps doing a spot of shopping. I think it could also work down the pub in the evening, at festivals and concerts, and perhaps even for nights out if the right accessories are used.

I was drawn to the dress online due to the pretty crochet collar detail which is shaped like sunflowers, but I also knew it would be the perfect casual piece to add to my rather dressy wardrobe. I don't have many casual pieces I can just throw on for a hospital appointment or for nipping to the supermarket. This dress certainly solves that problem perfectly.

The dress is made from a decent denim which isn't too heavy or too thin (although my leggings can be seen through the fabric). It'll be ideal for wearing all year round. I originally thought this was a prom dress style, but it actually has a modest asymmetric hem; although I really love that about it. (I'm still loving asymmetric skirts.) I did however, size up as I thought it had a fitted waist, but it turns out it's elasticated so it's rather loose on me- especially around the boobs... (However, this dress should be able to accommodate you ladies with ample chests). I cinched in the waist tightly at the back with the matching denim belt, which solves most of the over-sizing, and a cardigan disguises most of the looseness around the girls. I presume the denim isn't pre-shrunk, so I imagine it'll probably shrink a little in the wash, anyway, as I wear it. I just couldn't be bothered to return and reorder.

I'm smitten with this dress, and I'm so pleased I purchased it. It was a bargain at just £24.99, and I know it will be getting regular wear from now on. My only bug bear about it, is that it creases so easily, but that's a common issue with light-weight denim...

So, yesterday, I wore it with my basic purple Evans leggings, and a scalloped off white shrug by Lovedrobe. I wore my blue Havaianas flip flops as my toes are still recovering from operations and can't be enclosed, and used my pin stripe River Island satchel. I accessorised with a few pieces of jewellery which I'll show you below.

Here you can get a glimpse of the dress not hidden beneath a cardigan.

I love this beautiful neckline.

This is one of my favourite bags from my collection. I find the combination of colours, patterns, and textures interesting and aesthetically pleasing. It came from River Island about a year and a half ago, and it looks great with the dress.

I can't help but smile when I see daisies, and they're scattered all across our lawns now Summer has arrived.

And these are the accessories which I also wore. I won the double cameo necklace and the pearl bracelet with the flower charm from Rachel's blog giveaway a month or so ago, and I've barely taken them off since. I have a soft side for cameos and pearls, and I don't think I could love these two pieces more! I'm particularly crazy about the double necklace.The other two pearl bracelets are by Matalan, and the daisy earrings are a current line from River Island.

Outfit Details

Dress-New Look Inspire // Leggings-Evans // Shrug-Lovedrobe // Flip Flops-Havaianas // 
Satchel-River Island (ebay here)  // Daisy Earrings- River Island // Plain Pearl Bracelets-Matalan // Floral Charm Pearl Bracelet-Won in Rachel's giveaway // 
Cameo Necklace-Won in Rachel's giveaway //

This dress is definitely a winner, and I recommend it to all you denim loving ladies. It's available in sizes 18-28 on the New Look website, and if you're thinking of purchasing one, you should be fine with your normal size. Trust me, ladies, you need this dress. I'm certain you won't regret the purchase!

Do you like denim dresses? How would you style this dress?

I'm personally planning to restyle it with tan and brown accessories, along with a few thin braids in my hair.

Oranges and Lemons

Morning guys,

I'm sorry that it's been a couple of weeks since my last outfit of the day post, but I have something resembling one for you today.

I've just returned home from a two week stay with my sister at her home in Portsmouth. I mostly spent the time resting from the sofa or from bed, engrossed with old episodes of The Hairy Bikers (I love them!), and The Vicar of Dibley, but I was able to get out a little here and there.

On Saturday, we popped in to Gunwharf Quays, which is Portsmouth's outlet village. What's lovely about shopping there, apart from the great shops, is that it's situated right on the harbour, so it makes a scenic, relaxing environment to shop in. It's just a couple of miles from my sister's home, or I should say was as my sister and brother in law are moving today; so it was a journey I could physically cope with. We popped in quickly to pick up a couple of gifts; but that morphed in to dawdling along the water front with an ice cream, and somehow resulted in taking a short boat trip around the harbour.

We had no interest in seeing the Navy vessels or various other boats and ships dotted around the small bit of coast line; we both just liked the idea of being out on the sea in the scorching sunshine. It was a gorgeous hot day. I decided to push my pain tolerance to the limit to go on it, although I hadn't considered the fact the boat would have stairs. Somehow I managed it, and I enjoyed being out on the water with the sun on my skin. I couldn't move for twelve hours when I got home, but it was worth the pain.

So, what did I wear?

I wore my sunshine yellow polka dot dress from AX Paris which you've seen a couple of times over the last year. It's one of my favourite dresses, and one I always have the urge to wear when the sun is shining. The colour is so uplifting! This was actually the first time I've worn it out in public, and probably the only time I've worn bright yellow in public without feeling self-conscious! I think that just shows how far I've come along the road to self-acceptance.

I usually wear this dress with white and turquoise pieces, but on this occasion I had the urge to try it with coral... and I really liked the result! The colour combination is so pretty. 

I'm sorry I haven't got any full-length outfit photos to share with you. I wasn't happy with any of them- a wind-swept Louise with no make up and a swollen irritated eye is not a pretty sight! I didn't think it was far to subject you to that!

The shrug came from Lovedrobe last summer, which I love for the scalloped edging. I have this shrug in black and off-white, too, and they're perfect summer cardigans. I wish they'd came in other colours, too.

The cropped leggings are ruched at the sides, and came from New Look about two years ago. They're great for wearing under summer frocks for that extra bit of comfort and reassurance, if, like me, you're not comfortable with completely exposing your legs.

I'm still unable to wear any footwear other than flip flops at the moment, so I was wearing my battered pink Havaianas. Hopefully I'll be back in pretty shoes by Autumn.

 The saddle bag was from Accessorize, which I'm afraid is another old piece;  it's without a doubt one of my best summer day bags. 

I bought the skunk cameo necklace from Life's Big Canvas earlier this year (and extended the chain with some ribbon), and the daisy studs are by River Island which I recently picked up for the purse-friendly sum of two pounds.

I love this little skunk!

Don't you think the daisies are just the friendliest flower?

Oh, and I had a couple of coats of Barry M's Gelly Paint in Mango on my nails to complete the fiery look.

Outfit Details

Dress-AX Paris // Leggings-New Look (size 16 on eBay here) // Shrug- Lovedrobe // 
Saddle Bag-Accessorize // Necklace-Life's Big Canvas // Earrings-River Island // 
Flip Flops-Havaianas // Glasses- Roxy // Nail Polish-Barry M Gelly in Mango

Who knew an industrial English harbour could look so pretty?

If you're ever along the south coast of England, and are looking for somewhere lovely to shop, grab a drink, or eat out, make sure you check out Gunwharf Quays. I personally recommend you do!