Retro Wanderlust

Back to black

by Unknown - February 26, 2017

I'll be the first to admit that no matter how many floral dresses, bright coloured skirts or rainbow striped jumpers I end up accumulating in my wardrobe I always seem to revert back to black somehow. This isn't necessarily a negative thing. Black doesn't have to mean boring. I mean take this coat for example. Black yes, but boring, anything but!

I remember lusting after this coat before it even hit the stores. As a dedicated follower of (Alexa Chung) fashion, I saw her sporting this little dream during fashion week and loved it straight away. Then FINALLY it landed in stores. I may have ordered 3 different sizes so I could make sure I got the perfect fit before it sold out (yep I've become that person). But when I tried it on I wasn't 100% head over heels in love with it. I KNOW. I don't know what I was thinking. I just wasn't sure It was something that I could pull off. I felt like it was such an eye catching 'show stopper' type coat that someone with bag loads of confidence needed to wear it, not me.

Flash forward to my latest trip to Paree and I stumbled across it yet again, this time in the sale. Now if there's anything that's going to tempt this gal back in, its a 50% off sticker... So maybe it was a touch of Parisian magic or maybe due to the croissant induced sugar coma I may have been in, but I bought it! I finally told myself, stop being stupid! This coat is the bloody dream. Stop putting yourself off and just wear the damn coat!

And I'm soooo glad I did! I think I've finally reached that point where I really just don't care what other people think. Yes when I wear this on the Tuesday night Tesco run to grab some milk and a pack of bagels, I get the odd few looks. But who really cares? As long as you love what you're wearing that's all that really matters. Anyway, moral of the story is, wear what you want, when you want and let them stare!

Coat- Archive by Alexa at Marks and Spencer

Blouse- Zara

Skirt- Darling London

Boots- Dune via ASOS

Bag- Radley

Beret- Joanie Clothing

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Putting on the Ritz

by Unknown - February 16, 2017

If Anna Russell were alive today she'd be the ultimate dream babe, #goals and likely to be part of Britain's coolest girl gang. If you have no idea who I'm banging on about (like me 10 minutes ago...) prepare to be enlightened. Anna Russell- aka Queen Victoria's bezzie, was the brains behind the afternoon tea. Yep. This means before this babe stepped on the scene, the concept of sitting down with trays of finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and endless cups of tea whilst having a good old gossip with your gal pals wasn't a thing. Just imagine! For me, my absolute favourite treat is tucking into the perfect afternoon tea. It's just so quintessentially British! I mean where else in the world is it considered sophisticated to slap on layers of clotted cream and jam and demolish a tray full of cakes before 5pm?

Now if you're like me and love a spot of afternoon tea, you HAVE to go to the Ritz at least once in your life. There is no place better in the world in my eyes. Yes I adore sketch, (the interior, the bathrooms, the food- it's just the dream) but if you want something a little bit more old school fancy schmanchy, then the Ritz is absolute perfection.

Upon our arrival we were quickly met with a fresh glass of rosé champagne before the prettiest floral china tea set was placed in front of us, filled with finger sandwiches, warm scones and delectable cakes. I mean talk about #instagoals- I couldn't not snap about a million pictures right?

Anyway when a gal finds herself with an invite to the afternoon tea of dreams there's only one thought that enters my mind- OMG what can I possibly wear?!? But fear not gals- Joanie has it covered. As soon as I saw this dress back in November at the Joanie shoot, it was love at first sight and when it landed on their site, I snapped it up as fast as you can say Victoria sponge! I mean it may as well be called the Harriet dress because it's as if someone read my mind and created my ultimate dream dress.

Where do I even start. A collar adorned with red love hearts, a massive white bow with the cutest 'I left my heart in NYC' embroidery, the perfect sixties shape, Monochrome AND pockets. I mean, I have to hand it to the gals at Joanie- they are absolutely killing it at the moment. Teamed with my favourite red strappy heels from Zara, a cute vintage red bag (I mean let's go all out with the red accessories here...) and of course a coating or two of red lipstick, my perfect Valentine's Day outfit was complete!

So go on gals, treat yourself. Book that afternoon tea, wear that red lippy with your favourite dress and you'll honestly have the best evening of your life! In my head you feel like a princess as soon as you walk through the doors and what girl doesn't deserve the princess treatment every once in a while?

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A pop of pink

by Unknown - January 15, 2017

Happy Sunday everyone! Yesterday I had a little wander round Notting Hill a.k.a the home of the dream pastel/white townhouse, so obviously the perfect place to snap a few outfit pics! When it comes to getting ready on a morning I always tend to pick one item I really want to wear and then base my entire look around it. Yesterday this came in the form of the most perfect pink polo neck that I managed to snap up in the Oliver Bonas sale. From here I knew I wanted to go all out on the 60's/French girl/clueless vibes, so styled it with some white tights (dangerous in this weather!) my dream & other stories shoes and obviously an A line mini. I've had my eye on this Whistles skirt for a while and as soon as I saw it had dropped to a mere £30 in the sale from £110 I literally squealed with joy. To top it all off I wore my new favourite coat ever which I surprisingly found in the Miss Selfridge sale. I'm not the biggest fan of Miss Selfridge normally but as soon as I saw this I was beyond impressed. I've been after a coat like this for soooo long. Velvet trims, A line shape, major school girl/60's vibes- it's a dream. I love the pop of pink the polo brings to this very monochrome look- yes I unintentionally match the background in all these pics but if my outfit is anywhere near as dreamy as these houses, I'm pretty chuffed to be fair! Thanks to Rachael from bubblyaquarius again for all the snaps!

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Bright eyes, Blue denim (and some stars thrown in)

by Unknown - January 09, 2017

Let's face it, January is pretty bloody grim for all of us. The Christmas festivities have ended, our finances are a mess after too much sale shopping, the weather is consistently miserable and we're all trying our best to get on the heathy eating bandwagon after weeks of over indulgence. Yep, the January blues are real and us gals need to fight them! On Sunday, I met up with Rachael from bubblyaquarius (aka absolute babe!) for a spot of brunch and some 'accidental' sale shopping on a pretty gloomy London afternoon.

Let's put it out there, January weather and my frizzy locks are not exactly a match made in heaven. No matter how nice I style my hair in the morning, as soon as I step out the door and am graced with yet another foggy, drizzly and dreary day, the frizz takes over everything! I've come to just accept the fact my hair will never be weather resistant and to just somehow embrace my unruly frizzy hair. Girls with fringes, you'll know where I'm coming from- it's a bloody nightmare but I've just learnt to live with my less than perfect locks. None of us are perfect and despite what are our Instagram feed tells us, every single one of us has our own little insecurities- mine being my frizz prone hair! But who really cares? I doubt anyone that passes me in the street really notices or cares that my hair is looking less than Insta ready, so I've learnt to just deal with it and not care so much!

Anyway, to try and brighten things up through January I like to add a bit of sparkle to my outfit. On Sunday this came in the form of bright red lips, a dreamy star print mini satchel and all the enamel badges I own! Yes, accessorising is key to jazz up any outfit and make it your own. I've become obsessed with little enamel pins to add a bit of 'bling' to denim dresses and jackets whilst also adding a personal touch to your style (i.e. so everyone knows I'm a Beatles geek!).

I'll be the first to admit this absolute dream bag from Cambridge Satchel Company may be too cute for words, but it is THE most impractical bag for someone who carries everything but the kitchen sink with her at all times. But we all have to make sacrifices for style, right?! The bag, dress (from Marks and Spencer's) and shoes (And Other Stories) were all recent sale purchases I'm pretty chuffed with finding. I've been searching for a denim shirt dress ever since Alexa Chung released one in her AG jeans collection- and for a mere 15 quid, I found my very own version! The shoes. Aren't they a dream?! As soon as I saw them I fell in love, and the fact there was only one pair left in my size, I knew it was meant to be. I've been eyeing up Carel shoes for years now but rather than splurge and spend hundreds of pounds, these only set me back £45- bargain!

So overall, it may be miserable outside, it may be tights weather again but gals, slap on that bright lipstick, grab those killer accessories and let's brighten up January one enamel pin at a time!