Culottes life

Culottes: yay or nah? Still firmly on the fashion radar, culottes show no signs of going away anytime soon. But the culotte is one of those controversial trends. Case in point, the heated 'debate' at work a few weeks ago. "My boyfriend thinks they're ugly.' yelled one of my colleagues. "The length is just too awks for short girls." said another. "You have to be stick thin." the intern pitched in. Yes, these girls are clearly a nah. Interestingly, these girls later admitted that they had never actually tried a culotte on.

I'm a yay. I will confess I was not always on this side. There was a time when I would have agreed with all the comments above. When did this change? I was browsing online en route to work (standard behaviour) when I came across a culotte jumpsuit on Topshop.com. I was (and still am) going through a cut-out detail phase, although the culotte leg did somewhat scare me a little, as I'm only 5ft 3". But I figured it was time to take the plunge and actually try on a culotte, so I ordered it and fell in love.

As I always say, with anything it's really all about having confidence.

Obviously, I'm now hooked and since then I've gone on to purchase quite a few. My latest addition? A pale pink leather culotte. Lush!

Moral of the story? Don't knock it until you try it!

Oh, how can I not mention the boots? These patchwork cuties are from ASOS and I was living in them so much, that they are currently with my shoe repair guy for some much-needed TLC.


Photos by @burd_boy

                                                                     
                                                                    Outfit details
                              Jumpsuit (sold out) similar here, Boots, ASOS (sold out) similar here 

When in doubt, wear stripes

Don't you just love it when you discover photos? I've just found these photos on my laptop, they were taken a few months ago in my favourite tunnel, Leake Street Tunnel, by my uber-cool photographer friend, +Dan Liburd

Who doesn't love stripes? Worn thick or thin, in various colours, directions, thickness and structures, stripes are my go-to whenever I'm feeling a little 'blah'. I love how this shirt is oversized with a 70s vibe. Since I snapped this shirt up from Topshop last year I must admit that I have pretty much lived in it. I've been switching it up though, you know, making it work hard, I've teamed it with ripped skinnies, leather trousers and at times (as I have in these pictures )I have worn it as a 'dress.'

As for these flatforms...well yes, I'm STILL obsessed!

Are are fan of stripes?

Let me know. x

Outfit

Hat, H&M, Shirt, Topshop, Bag, ASOS, Shoes, H&M

Let's Talk Transeasonal Dressing

Hot one minute, warm the next, if you are finding dressing for the current weather just a little tricky then fear not, I'm here to give you the low down on what we call in fashion: transeasonal dressing.

Transeasonal (or Trans) fashion are the go-to pieces that bridge the gap between seasons. Think lightweight knitwear, sleeveless cover-ups and the must-have outerwear piece of the moment - the Duster coat. These gems can be slipped on over summer dresses, playsuits, tees, etc and are oh-so- stylish!

Key trans items have already landed in shops. Below are a few top items that I am currently swooning over, with the tribal duster coat from River Island being my number 1 need- to-have-now piece.

The Tribal Duster Coat

The Oversized Checked Coat

The Patchwork Print Dress

The Raw Edge Sleeveless Jacket

The Lime Mixed Print Oversized Jacket

Let's get festival!

So festival season has begun, with the big one being Glastonbury at the weekend. In my head I can see myself at Glasto, bubbling along to all the cool acts ( Hello Dolly P), with a bottle of cider, wearing a kimono over a slip dress or a pair of silver shorts. But then reality kicks in and the thought of camping.... well let's just say that freaks the hell out out of me and brings me right back down to reality! I would be the worst camper! My inner princess would just not cope!! However, it's sometimes a good thing to face your fears, so maybe, one day I could be writing a ' I'm heading to Glasto' post. Until then I'm sticking to non camping festivals and next weekend, I will be at the Wireless festival, ( Hello Bruno Mars).

I have started thinking about my festival look and I definitely think it will involve a Kimono and maybe even a bandana.... Hmmm, but anyway this leads on to the inspiration behind the outfit in this post.

I picked up this rucksack in the sample sale at work, it is from Topshop. ( I work for Arcadia), I love how it screams festival but also has an exotic feel to it, with all the colourful prints, trims and embellishment.

So, the top belonged to my mum, she was going to get rid of it but my big eyes spotted it in her ' chuck away' pile, and I grabbed it faster than you could say 'Chuck'. I think the print is gorge and I love the kimono - style of the top. Teamed with a pair of black leather shorts, biker boots and my floppy hat, it definitely has a festival vibe going on, right?

 I actually ended up wearing this outfit to a pub lunch/a vintage shop day out, where I  picked up so pretty cool stuff, (but I will write another post about that later).

I will of course take snaps of my for Wireless outfit, and the acts, so look out for a post on here and keep an eye on twitter and Instagram.

Let me know which festivals you are going to. 

X

The Perfect Pineapple

Hey!

I can't quite believe how mad life has been the last month, which explains my lack of blogging! But fear not, i'm back to blogging and I have a few ideas wrapped up  my fashion sleeve, so keep your eyes peeled.


So what's been happening, right? well last week Monday was my birthday, and those who know me will know that I am a BIG birthday person!!  I always celebrate my birthday, and I have done so since I was 14.  Last Saturday ( June 14th), for the 4th year running, I joined forces with my brother and his friends for our annual birthday party.  I am still waiting on the main pictures so I will write a separate blog post for that when I get them.


On another note, it seems that summer is here and I am SO loving it!! Everyone in London seems happier, Monday's do not seem as  'blah', the endless amounts of summer events are pouring in, and it is just so nice to wake up to SUN!!! I have finally whipped off my 40 denier tights and I treated myself to pedi last weekend. The beautician commented on how lovely my feet were. I know, I was shocked too as um... all feet are ugly, but I just went with it, it would be rude not too. Summer is the perfect excuse (not that I need one) to go shopping. I have bought lots of nice stuff so look out for outfit posts on here to see how I have styled them up.

Lately I have been crushing over all things oversized and maxi, which leads on to my first new outfit post. This pineapple print maxi is from Topshop, it actually is from their beachwear collection but I think it makes the perfect option for summer days and nights out in London. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it immediately! I fell in love with the dropped back hem and the sexy cut out back (which I didn't get a picture of) and for a reasonable price of £28, I quickly grabbed it and made my way to the cash desk.

I love how it sort of has a tribal feel to it ( a key trend for SS14, don't cha know). Yesterday, when I was on my way to a rooftop bar, a lovely Ghanaian  woman told me I looked like an African queen, I thanked her for the sweet comment and told her that was just a London chick in a Topshop maxi dress.


Are you a fan of the maxi dress?

x

Outfit
Dress, Topshop 
Boots, Topshop (old)
Sunnies, ebay

                                                             
                                       

Can I Lend Your Eye?

Take one rather cute, pleated playsuit...

Pleat Short Playsuit

A hot pair of heels in a shimmering metallic hue

Romy Padded Strappy Heels

                                                   

....and you get the perfect outfit come cocktail hour!


I often get asked for style/outfit suggestions from friends, family members etc so I have decided to introduce a style advice section to the blog. Every fortnight, (starting from next month), I will post an outfit/style query that  I have received, and then feature the query along with my suggestion on here. Why? well why not! Plus I figured it would make a great addition to the blog!

Feel free to hit me up by email, through my social media channels or by simply leaving a comment on here, if you would like me to help. I am by no means saying I am an expert , but I can confidently say that I feel I have a good eye ( which caters for all shapes and sizes), and  I love to lend both my stylish eyes to help people feel fab.

Oh, by the way, this section is going to be called: 'Can I Lend Your Eye?' :)

An Intimate Evening With Jean Paul Gaultier

Last week Tuesday, I went along with one of my good friends to spend the evening with the amazing, Jean Paul Gaultier. To celebrate the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition currently being shown at the barbican, they were holding an intimate on-stage discussion with king of the catwalk and vogue editor Suzy Menkes, and my friend had managed to score us a pair of tickets. (Yay!)

As the sun was shining and I had a delightful spring in my step, I decided to wear my pink jumpsuit. I did not get to take any pictures on the night, but I remembered I had these pictures taken a few weeks ago so figured I would include them in this blog post. 

Jumpsuit: Topshop, Shoes: Aldo (old), Sunglasses: Ebay, Necklace: H&M

                                                    Photos taken by Burd_boy

So, back to the evening, right.  Ok, so Jean Paul Gaultier was welcomed to the stage with a huge applause from the diverse audience. We spent the next 45 minutes listening in awe, as Gaultier  spoke about coming out to his parents, Madonna, John Galliano and tales of his career to date. He remained incredibly enthusiastic as he told each story, and it was like you could feel the room had been infected by his passion. When asked how he managed to remain motivated in an industry that is as tough as fashion, he replied saying that it is his passion that has helped him remain enthusiastic and driven for all these years. He then went on to say something that seriously made me stomach go all funny: 

 "....I know that with nothing I can do something … If you have passion, nothing is impossible. If you are obsessed by something and you want to do it, you will find a solution to do it … "

 This was met by approval by many members of the audience (including myself), who 'mmmmm' in agreement.

All in all the evening was fantastically inspiring and left you wanting to immediately book your ticket to see the exhibition.

In a few weeks time, my friend and I are going to see the Exhibition: The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From The sidewalk to the Catwalk. I will of course write a review on here.

Has anyone already been to see the exhibition? Are you planning on going to see it? I would  love to know!

Sequins and lobster

Yesterday I took one of my oldest friend's ( old as in a friend I've known for years, since age 11 to be exact, after we bonded in school over Salt n pepa and athletics), out for a belated birthday lunch. We went to the refinery in Southwark and caught up over lobster, steak, fat chips, onion rings and prosecco. 

I wore my latest sequin purchase - a sequin kimono, that I picked up on a whim last month in Topshop. I was in Topshop with a friend as she was craving a bubble tea. We then went down stairs to browse the last bits of the sale which is when I spotted this beauty. I love me a sequin and I also have mad love for kimono's so stumbling across this, I guess I felt like the cat got cream ( as my American bestie would say).

Even more exciting was the price tag, which was a steal at  £20 from £95, yes really!

I would say that this sequin kimono is a piece that will take me smiling from spring into summer. A statement number for sure, which is why I teamed it with a simple white vest and grey lace shorts. As I don't really like to blend in and I have a great love affair with  bright lips, I dug out one of my fave Lippy 's; Fuchsia from Sleek makeup.

Just add sequins

Take one vintage top, my ever so trusty pair of boyfriend jeans and one pair of fierce shoes and this what you get:

Outfit
Top- Shrug worn back to front, Vintage
Boyfriend jeans, J by Jasper Conran (Debenhams)
Shoes, Topshop
Bag, J&P available at Topshop

As a gal who loves to wear sequins all year round, I dug out this top to wear to brunch and cocktails (did someone say dry January?) last weekend. I last wore this top back in 2012 which was featured here 
I will confess that I only remembered I had this top when I stumbled across an old picture of me wearing it, 2 years ago! This promoted me to add to my 'list of things to do in January', a ' keep one whole weekend free to do a SERIOUS wardrobe (s) clear/sort out'.  It is LONG overdue to be honest....I might actually do a blog post about it as I have a feeling I will 'find' lots of hidden gems along with things I no longer need (I am the worst hoarder ever).

As January is 'no money month', I will definitely sell some bits on ebay or take them down to my fave vintage/exchange shop:bangbang. Watch this space.

xx

Let the shoes do the talking

Clicking my way through the Topshop website on my lunch break, I came across these BEAUTIES!!! Topshop are killing it at the moment.... well as always, right?

I am having serious new shoes cravings.....

Thoughts on  my selection is my much appreciated :) xx

Oh, keep yours eyes on the blog this week, I have lots of stuff to write about and this week I can FINALLY actually write/post the posts as I have a 'quiet' week. The last few weeks have been cray, cray!

Happy Monday!