Outfit | Cobalt Blue and Red Polka Dots

I'd like to introduce my new favourite dress; Matilda, the red polka dot swing-shirt-dress. She's the latest addition to my ever-growing collection of polka dot dresses, and don't tell the others, but she's quickly becoming one of my favourites.

She's one of those dresses that I fell in love with the moment I first saw her, and one I couldn't stop thinking about until I was able to snap her up. I don't know what it is, but there's just something about polka dot shirt dresses that I go crazy for, and this one tops them all. Matilda is the créme de la créme of polka dot shirt dresses, and since she's a Lindy Bop frock, I'm not surprised; their dresses are always so beautiful and high quality.

What sets Matilda apart from all the rest is that she is a swing shirt-dress, so she has an amazing full, flared skirt that gives a gorgeous silhouette, and also has plenty of room for a petticoat underneath, to make it even fuller. Unlike most shirt dresses, she is only buttoned to the waist, which I personally love because there's no worry of popping or losing a button and accidentally flashing your underwear to the world. She's made from good-quality cotton, but the fabric is still light enough to wear during the Summer. It's a sleeveless frock, too, so it's ideal for those hot sunny days. You can be sure that I'll be rocking this dress with pops of yellow when the weather gets warmer!

As it's still a bit early for wearing bright yellow, I've been wearing Matilda with bold cobalt blue, and a little bit of black. The colours of the dress and the blue pieces haven't been captured well in my photos, though. It was a cold and dull, grey day when I shot these photos, and the light kept changing from grey to dull yellow. I took over a hundred photos, but I'm not happy with how any of them came out. To be honest, I'm not pleased with the ones I'm sharing, but I decided to share them anyway, because I loved wearing this outfit and wanted to show you this dress before it sold out. So... just imagine that the dress is a really vibrant tomato red, and the blue shrug, belt, bracelet, and satchel are very bold shades of cobalt blue, because they are in real life.

I had so much fun wearing this outfit, which is just as well, as I had a nightmare with the sizing of the dress. I actually had to order Matilda three times, sizing up once more each time in determination to get the dress to fit! I  loved the dress too much to give up on it. I found my usual Lindy Bop size and the next size up too tight on the waist. They fitted nicely over the bust, but I still had problems with gaping buttons, as I always do with buttoned shirts. While I'm not very busty, I am naturally broad shouldered and chested, so I never get along with shirts. I almost always have to size up a few times to avoid gaping, so it's rare that I ever get to wear a properly fitted shirt. I'm wearing a dress three sizes larger than I generally wear here. It doesn't gape (hurray!), but it's not actually all that loose around the bust or waist. It isn't perfectly fitting, though; sizing up has meant the top button starts over the bust, and the waist is a little further down, but it's nothing that cinching in the fabric belt, and adding a stitch or two can't sort. Just bare that all in mind if you're broad shouldered or chested, and want to buy one. She really is worth persevering for, though!

She's a gem of a dress, comes in sizes 8-26 UK, and a bargain at just £29.99! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she'll be made in other colours; if she is, then I'd happily buy them all! I bloody love this dress!

Outfit Details

Dress- Lindy Bop // Shrug- M&Co (similar) // Satchel- ASOS // Brooch- Cath Kidston // 

Bracelet- Cath Kidston // Shoes- Fashion World* // Tights- Evans

OOTD: Brown and Yellow Polka Dots

Today's outfit is one I wore back at the beginning of September when the weather was still hot and it still seemed acceptable to wear pastel yellow. It seems so long ago now!

I had been playing dress up that day, trying different colours with my new Lindy Bop brown polka dot Audrey dress. I don't usually find it difficult to pair colours together, but my wardrobe is lacking in colours that compliment brown, like rust, mustard, chocolate, and dusky pink, so I started experimenting with other colours. That's how this unconventional brown and yellow combo came about. 

And... I look like I'm wearing the Brownies uniform from the early nineties! I'm just missing the sash! Does anybody remember how vile the colour of the culottes and trousers was? It looked like bile! I remember always hating them, especially since my Mum made me wear the culottes and not the trousers. What kid wants to wear bile coloured culottes? Seriously? None of them do!

I've not worn culottes since my Brownies days (thank God), and I hadn't worn brown and yellow together, either, until this outfit happened in September... but I actually liked the result! I think the colours look okay together, and it was fun to try out a new colour combination. It seems a waste to leave this beautiful dress hanging in my wardrobe unworn until I buy some pieces that compliment it better. It deserves as much wear as possible; even if the most exciting place it gets worn is the garden and the only person I'm dressing up for is myself!

Outfit Details

Dress and Belt- Lindy Bop // Cardigan- New Look // 

Shoes- New Look // Bag- ASOS // Necklace- Giveaway Win

Would you wear brown and yellow together?

Cut Make Trim Leather Satchels + Exclusive Discount Code

Leather satchels have become extremely popular over the last few years, coveted by fashionable men and women all over the world. No longer just a school staple, they have become the "it" bag that everybody wants a piece of. And who can blame us? Leather satchels are beautiful, chic, and versatile, and practical, too! They go with almost everything and are ideal for a variety of casual, formal, and professional situations. What's not to love?

In my opinion, everybody should have a good quality leather satchel in their wardrobe; I have three, and my favourite is a barrel bag from London-based satchel brand Cut Make Trim. 

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you may remember that I reviewed this beautiful Cut Make Trim barrel bag earlier in the year (here). I'm still in love with the quality, design, and craftsmanship of the satchel all these months later, and I highly recommend Cut Make Trim for their high-quality, beautifully made satchels.

I have an exclusive discount code to share with you in just a moment, but first I'd like to share a few reasons why I love Cut Make Trim and their satchels.

♥ The beautiful bags are all made by hand by a small team of skilled leather crafts-people in London.

♥ Cut Make Trim is an English brand, and I truly believe it's important to support our own independent businesses,.

♥ Each bag is made to order.

♥ All of Cut Make Trim's bags are made from high quality leathers and fastenings. The combination of quality materials and skill results in beautiful high quality satchels.

♥ No bag has been mass-produced..

♥ No CMT bag is made in a sweat shop, and nobody has been subjected to unethical working conditions while making them.. You can rest assured knowing that nobody has suffered for your fashion choices..

♥ Each bag comes in up to twenty-two colours, including classics, brights, neons, and pastels. No matter your colour preference or needs, there's sure to be a perfect CMT bag for you.

♥ You could use Cut Make Trim satchels for work, job interviews, school, college, uni, sight-seeing, shopping, and for a variety of other every day situations.

Now on to the good news...

Cut Make Trim are offering Polka Spots and Freckle Dots readers an exclusive 20% discount off their beautiful leather bags! All you need to do is enter the code: polkaspotsandfreckledots at the checkout at cutmaketrim.co. Fantastic, right?

It's the perfect excuse to treat yourself to a new bag this Autumn, or perhaps get started on your Christmas shopping! 

The satchels would make perfect gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, milestones, and a variety of celebrations, as well as pay day treats to yourself! 

The only difficult decision is deciding on which of the five bags and twenty-two colours to buy!

Will you be treating yourself to a Cut Make Trim leather bag this Autumn?

Zatchels Polka Dot Satchel Review

I'd like to introduce you to the newest addition to my bag collection, this rather gorgeous polka dot Zatchels satchel!

Isn't it a beauty? It was a birthday present from my older sister, which I convinced her to buy after I spotted it in the Zatchels sale back in June. It was just £31 instead of £110, which was a complete steal, and we both agreed it was too great a bargain to pass up. She paid for the bag, and I paid for shipping, (fair deal, I think!), and it finally arrived on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago after a very long six week wait.

While I was not at all happy about the very long wait- more on that in a minute- I'm pleased to say the satchel didn't disappoint. I've wanted a polka dot satchel for years, and this bag is far more perfect than I could have ever hoped for. It's absolutely beautiful in both design and craftsmanship.

Like all of Zatchels' bags, the satchel was handmade in Britain by a team of skilled crafts-people using high quality leather and fastenings. You can really see the skill used to make this satchel; the stitching is uniformly straight, and there's not a single stitch out of line. It's clear by how perfectly every piece has been put together that it was made carefully and with precision by highly-skilled people. I can also feel the quality of the materials used; the leather is wonderfully thick, and the nickel buckles are so sturdy. You really do get what you pay for with a Zatchels satchel and in this case that means quality!

The satchel features a large main compartment at the back of the bag, and a smaller pocket to the front, which is the perfect place to keep the items you want to grab quickly, like your phone or keys. This satchel is the 13", and while it looks like a big bag, it doesn't have a huge amount of space... but it does have enough room for the essentials. I can fit my purse, keys, phone, iPod, lip balm, Kindle, and some make up in it with a little room to spare. I can't carry around a heavy bag anymore, anyway, so it definitely meets my needs most days.

The bag is fastened by two straps at the front, which need to be buckled and unbuckled by hand. It can be slightly inconvenient when you're in a rush, but it doesn't take too long to do. If you don't like the idea of dealing with buckles whenever you want access to your belongings, Zatchels now offer the option of adding magnetic claps to their bags- although it wasn't an option when I purchased this one, or I probably would've added them.

The satchel also has an adjustable shoulder strap, which has a silver nickle buckle fastening and eleven notches so you can adjust it to the desired length. I love my bags long, and on the longest notch it sits on my upper thigh, or on the hip when worn across the body, which is perfect for me. It doesn't matter how short or tall you are, or what size you are, the shoulder straps on Zatchels satchels will adjust to accommodate most people's needs.

I absolutely adore this satchel, and I would recommend Zatchels satchels to anybody who loves high-quality leather satchels. This bag is my third Zatchels bag- I also have a classic red satchel and a red heart print barrel bag- and I've yet to find a fault with any of them.

However, I will say, I've not been impressed with the length of time I've had to wait for the two bags I purchased (during two different transactions a year apart). Last year, I had to wait a ridiculous ten weeks for my barrel bag to be delivered, and this year I was left waiting for this satchel for six long weeks. Not cool! I started getting annoyed after a month had passed. 

I ordered my satchel within the first half an hour of their sale, yet people who had placed their orders later were getting their bags before me. So frustrating! I personally think they need to be conscious of working on orders by date and not just by design, even if they feel it's more efficient to work from one leather at a time. Their service is extremely slow during sale time and I don't think I'll be in a hurry to shop with them online again, even for a beautiful bargain. I understand that they get flooded with orders during sales and they're only human, but I haven't got the patience for service that slow, even if their bags are so beautifully crafted.

This polka dot satchel was definitely worth the long wait, though, and I absolutely love it! Sadly this design is no longer available, but there are different colours to choose from here which are currently on sale. I think there's only one day left of their sale, so get in fast if you want to snag a bargain!

Do you own a Zatchels satchel?

Cut Make Trim Leather Satchels + Discount Code

If you've been following my blog for a while, you may remember that a little earlier in the year I had the pleasure of reviewing a beautiful handmade leather barrel bag from British satchel manufacturer Cut Make Trim. [Read the review here]. 

The bag is one of the most beautifully-crafted, high-quality bags I've ever owned and over the last few months, it's become one of my firm favourites. I've enjoyed using it time and time again, and I couldn't be happier or more impressed with it.

So, I'm pleased to be able to offer an exclusive Cut Make Trim discount code for Polka Spots and Freckle Dots readers today. (Coming up at the end of this post).

First, let me tell you a little bit about Cut Make Trim and the bags they make.

Cut Make Trim are a small team of experienced crafts people who make high-quality leather satchels by hand at their workshop in London using high quality leathers and fittings. At present, their collection is made up of five designs which come in up to twenty-two stunning colours including neutrals, brights, neons and pastels. There's sure to be a design for you no matter what your colour preference and handbag needs are.

The 11.5 Inch Satchel

Powder Pink // Pink // Fuscia // Purple

The 13 Inch Satchel

Powder Blue // Royal Blue // Patent Grey // Black

The 15 Inch Satchel

Tan // Ranger Cognac // Dark Tan // Chocolate

Cut Make Trim's beautiful handmade leather satchels come in three sizes, so whether you like to travel light or prefer to carry everything but the kitchen sink around with you, they've got you covered. Each size comes in 18 or more classic and fashionable colours, and feature brass buckles and adjustable straps. These classic satchels are stylish and will never go out of fashion, so they're a great investment for your handbag collection and capsule wardrobe. They're ideal bags to take to college, uni, and work, as well as for every day use, like going shopping or doing a spot of sight-seeing.

The Barrel Bag

Red // Fluorescent Orange // Green // Yellow

The barrel bag is a fantastic alternative to the classic satchel, and it's my personal favourite because it has much more room than the average satchel. It's the perfect bag for anybody who wants the charm of a classic satchel but needs something with a lot more space for all those essentials, and perhaps something a little bit different.

I have one in fuchsia and it's not only functional and practical but one of the most beautiful bags I've ever owned. I can fit so much in it, it's one coat stand away from becoming a Mary Poppins bag! I couldn't recommend this bag enough, and if fuchsia isn't your thing, it also comes in 20 other colours. If you'd like to read my full review of the Cut Make Trim barrel bag, you can do so here. 

The Saddle Bag

Fluorescent Yellow // Fluorescent Green // Fluorescent Orange // Fluorescent Pink

The saddle bag is a smaller but just as stylish alternative to the satchels and barrel bag. It comes in 22 gorgeous colours, so whether you love brights, pastels, or classic neutrals, there's sure to be a saddle bag for you! This design would go perfectly with jeans and a tee, or worn over a dress, cardi, and tights.

So, now I've shown you Cut Make Trim's beautiful leather bags, it's time for the good news:

Cut Make Trim are offering Polka Spots and Freckle Dots readers an exclusive discount of 15% off all Cut Make Trim bags at  www.cutmaketrim.co using the code: polkaspotsandfreckledots!

Fantastic, right?

This code is available to the first 50 customers who use it, and all you need to do is enter the code at the checkout at www.cutmaketrim.co once you're ready to pay for your order. It couldn't be easier.

Why not take advantage of this exclusive discount code and treat yourself to a beautiful new bag for Autumn or the new school term? I promise you won't be disappointed!

Will you be treating yourself to one of these lovely bags? Which one is your favourite?

*The exclusive discount code is available to the first 50 customers who use it, on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Lemon and Aquamarine

Hey guys,

This last week has been swelteringly hot here in southern England, and although the sunshine has been heavenly, the mugginess has been almost unbearable. I've resorted to wearing my comfiest and loosest sun dresses and flaking out beneath my fan to cope with the heat.

On Tuesday, I dug out my new aquamarine fit and flare sun dress from Dorothy Perkins and it turned out to be perfect for chilling at home in the roasting heat.

The dress is so bright in colour that it makes these photos appear too over exposed, but in actual fact it's been captured perfectly. The dress is a bold shade of aquamarine with a grey rose print all over it, and it's unlike anything else in my wardrobe. It's such a summery dress, and the colour is an instant mood lifter. I think I need me some more of this colour!  

The dress is also insanely comfortable, made from stretchy cotton that feels almost scuba-like. It's perfect for wearing in the heat without getting too flustered. It has a sweetheart neckline with thick shoulder straps... that have a habit of falling off my shoulders every five minutes, which is annoying but a regular occurrence with me. 

As I don't own much grey, I tried this dress with lemon pieces, and I really liked the colour combination. I dressed it with an old yellow cropped cardi from New Look, my beautiful lemon satchel from ASOS, a jade green floral ring, a cream rose necklace, and a pair of really old silver sandals from Evans. I haven't got a pair of shoes that go with this dress; I'm in dire need of new shoes!

I wouldn't leave the house without leggings under this dress, because bare legs are out of my comfort zone, but at home I just don't care and it's great for lounging around in.

Here's a closer look at some of the details...

The pretty fabric.

And the bag I was using but you can't really see in the photos is the yellow satchel in the photo above.

Sadly the dress doesn't appear to be available online anymore, but it would be worth checking your local Dorothy Perkins branch because it's only a few weeks old and at full price costs just £18. There are also two other designs in the same style dress available here and here in sizes 6-22UK.

Outfit Details

Dress-Dorothy Perkins // Cardigan-New Look // Satchel-ASOS // Sandals-Evans (similar) // 

Ring-Local Shop // Necklace-either Accessorize, Dorothy Perkins, or New Look, I can't remember!

What do you wear to keep cool during the summer?

Cut Make Trim Leather Barrel Bag Review

When the lovely people from the London-based satchel manufacturer Cut Make Trim contacted me recently and offered me one of their beautiful bags for review, I didn't need to be asked twice. Well, you know how much I love handbags!

I was allowed to choose a bag to review in the colour of my choice, and I instantly fell in love with their barrel bag, which appealed to me as it was a little different to the average satchel. (More on that in a minute!) There were twenty-one lovely colours to choose from and believe me, choosing wasn't easy! (It took me over an hour!) I eventually decided to do something out of character and went with the fuscia; a colour I have very little of in my wardrobe. I'm not a 'pink' person at all, but the bold colour stood out to me on screen, and when it turned up on my doorstep a few days later, I wasn't disappointed. 

As you can see, the bag is absolutely beautiful! I may have squealed with happiness when I opened the box to find this beautifully crafted bag inside. I instantly loved everything about it.

This barrel bag is Cut Make Trim's fantastic alternative to the classic satchel. The reason I say that is because it's so much wider than the average satchel, which means it has lots more space for all those essentials- without compromising on that beautiful classic style we all know and love! It's the perfect satchel for anybody who likes to carry everything but the kitchen sink around with them in their handbag, but it's just as functional if you prefer to travel light. It's a good medium-sized bag, measuring approximately 31cm long x 19cm wide x 22cm deep (at the widest points).





I took my bag out to the cinema last week, and I was impressed by how much I was able to fit in it. I managed to fit all my essentials in with room to spare, even after the addition of a cardigan, Kindle, and a beverage! It was one step away from becoming a Mary Poppins bag; I was sure if I dug deep enough, a lamp or a coat stand was going to appear from its depths!

One of the qualities I look for in an every day bag is enough room to carry a book and a drink alongside all the usual essentials, and this barrel bag more than caters to my needs. It's not just stunning, but it's practical too. It's a fantastic bag for both work and play, and will instantly make any outfit look stylish!

Like all of Cut Make Trim's bags, this barrel bag has been hand crafted by a small team of experienced crafts people in a small workshop in London, using high quality leathers and fittings. I have to say, the quality of both the materials and the skills of the team really do shine through in this high quality bag!

The leather is of fantastic quality, which is obvious in the thickness of each piece, the good weight of the bag, the overall sturdiness, and the flawless, smooth texture. The leather is so smooth I can't stop myself from running my hands along it every time I pick it up. (Maybe I shouldn't admit to that?)

The barrel bag is secured by two metal buckles on the front, which need to be fastened by hand. It can be a little inconvenient when you're in a rush to grab your phone or your purse, but with a little patience, it doesn't take too long to buckle and unbuckle the straps. I've yet to see a vintage-style satchel with poppers or clasps underneath the straps, so the buckles are a common feature and add to the beauty of the design.

Each strap has four notches. I keep mine on the tightest notch, but the others will be invaluable if the leather slackens over time, or on those days I pack a little too much.

It features a handle on both the front and the back of the bag. This design doesn't have a handle on the top.

It also comes with a detachable shoulder strap, which can be adjusted to sit on the shoulder or across the body. It can be adjusted to seven different notches, which helps to cater to our different needs and preferences. I'm 5'6'' and the bag, fully extended, sits on my hip across the body, and at the top of my thigh on the shoulder. I'm pleased about that, because I prefer a longer length.

As for the colour, this shade is known as 'fuscia' and it's a stunning deep magenta, which I think looks stylish- and not tacky like some pink accessories can appear. I'm not much of a 'pink person', but I fell in love with it online, and I love it even more in person. The colour is so bold and cheerful, and it definitely advertises my love of colour! It makes a statement, that for sure, and I love how the fuscia adds a modern spin to a classic style of bag.

If pink isn't your thing, the barrel bag also comes in twenty other colours! From classic tan, black and navy, to colourful purple, green and yellow, fashionable neons and pretty Spring pastels, they've got the classics, the trends, and our colour preferences covered! 

The barrel bag currently retails at £84, which is fantastic considering it's a handmade leather bag, using leathers of higher quality than many of the leading satchel manufacturers. The price is affordable and cheaper than similar satchels I've seen by other companies. This is because Cut Make Trim bags are ordered direct from the makers, which means you aren't paying for the expensive adverts or the cost of running brick and mortar shops, so we are able to get their beautifully made products at a smaller price. They also offer free delivery on all of their products, which is brilliant!

Alongside the barrel bag, Cut Make Trim also make saddle bags, and satchels in three sizes (11.5", 13" and 15"), with prices starting at £44. All items can be bought via their website in a wide range of gorgeous colours. They are also available every Saturday and Sunday at the Jubilee Hall Craft Market in Covent Garden, London, where you can see all the designs in person.

I was provided with a special code so that I could 'purchase'* this bag from the website myself, in order to get a real feel for the full shopping experience. The website was very easy to shop from. I shopped, checked out, registered, and paid for my purchase within two minutes! The great thing is that you don't have to register before you add items to your basket; it can be done at the checkout, and only takes a minute. Unlike some websites, you aren't asked to fill in a million details to sign up. It was extremely easy!

The website was very easy to navigate. It's simple, clean, and uncluttered, and I had no problems finding what I was looking for. The information available is quite basic, and I would personally love to see  some advice for caring for the bags- such as what to clean the leather with if something is spilt on it and so on. Apart from that, it told me everything I needed to know, including a little about the brand, their London workshop and the designs themselves.

The delivery service was completely free, and I'm pleased to say my order arrived within three working days without a hitch.

The only thing I feel is missing from the design of the bag is an indication of who made it; there isn't a label inside proudly displaying the brand! It would also be useful to have a dust bag to protect it when its not in use; a leaflet or label provided with care advice; and perhaps a little information about where it came from!

However, the main factor is the product, and I'm extremely impressed with my beautiful barrel bag. It's wonderfully made, stunning, and practical, and I have a feeling this bag is going to stay with me for many years to come! I love this bag so much, I'm already thinking about saving up for the same bag in fluorescent orange!

I'm smitten with Cut Make Trim's striking designs and wonderful craftsmanship and I think we should expect good things from them in the future! 

If this review has interested you, why not pop on over to their website here where you can get a closer look at the full range of designs available!

Thanks for reading.

*The barrel bag was gifted to me by Cut Make Trim in exchange for a review. As always, all words, opinions, and photographs are my own.