clazzerati

Valentine's idea: The date envelope

2012-02-10T08:24:00.000Z

Forget 12 red roses this year **yawn** - get creative this Valentine's Day.

The lovely lady* behind the blog Find Joy In The Journey posted details of her amazing Christmas gift for her husband, which would totally work for Valentine's Day.

She got 12 envelopes and in each one put details of a date she had planned for that month with her husband. Almost all were things they had never done before. Each month they will open the envelope together, discover what the date is, and decide on a date to do it.

How stinking cute is that?

A perfect (and in my eye non-cheesy) way to make someone feel very special this Valentine's Day, and you only need to create 11 as we're already in February, even better!

Enjoy your weekend lovelies, xx

* I couldn't find her name anywhere on her blog, so sorry nameless lady for not crediting you here!

Sewing project: back to basics (with a hint of vintage)

2012-02-08T09:45:00.000Z

My New Year's resolution in 2011 was to sew more. And it didn't go too badly (you can see my creations here) but it's still an on-going mission of mine to sew more.

I started this skirt over Christmas, yet only finished it a couple of weeks ago. Still, at least I finished this one - i've got tons up unfinished projects (crafty ladies, i'm sure you'll sympathise with me on this!)

This was a really simple New Look pattern (you can buy it here) - I was desperate for quite a plain black skirt to use as a basic and figured it'd be pretty easy to knock up. The material is kinda crepey and quite suit-like, if you get me (I think it's 100% cotton, but can't be sure). And the buttons are vintage, passed down from through the Bot's family, pretty neat.

First up, pin your pattern to the material

Next step, cut out the pieces

Darts - easier than they look, trust me

Dart markings

I cannot stress enough how much better your sewing projects will be if you press everything as you go

Always tack the zip in place - it ensure you don't go off track and b*gger up the entire outfit (been there, done that)

Sewing in the zip

Positioning the buttons

Don't judge me, but I get quite excited about a bag of vintage buttons

Hemming has to be the most boring part of sewing an outfit. I have been known to skip this step entirely on tops - not advisable, at some point you will have to sew the hem, otherwise you'll unravel all over the shop

Vintage hooks & eyes - found at my grandmother's house recently

Et voila, the finished article!

Happy Wednesday lovelies xx

It's snow joke

2012-02-06T08:35:00.001Z

Dress, Primark -- Boots, Office -- Tights, Matalan -- Jacket, Oasis -- Scarf, present -- Hat/snood with faux fur, vintage (via my gran, she was one stylish lady!)

Hello from a snoooooooooooooooowy London. Christmas may have been unusually mild but February has been freezing and the snow finally fell this weekend causing chaos, as per. Cue lots of drunken snow ball fights on Saturday night!

Happy Monday folks, x

Wines of Bordeaux blogger cook-off

2012-02-02T09:05:00.002Z

Last week I headed to Westminster Kingsway Collage, with my friend Georgi in tow, ready to embark in a battle of the bloggers cook off, hosted by Wines of Bordeaux. Think Master Chef meets fab tasting wine.

After tucking in to some lovely pink bubbles we got down to business and onto the wine tasting featuring six lovely wines from all corners of the Bordeaux region, along with an education master class from the lovely Laura Clay - that lady knows her wines!

We learnt the full-bodied Saint-Emillion would be good with saucy dishes and stews in contrast to the powerful Medoc wine with its strong personality which suits lamb dishes and strong cheese, and eagerly took mental notes for later. My personal favourite was the Richemont, Chateau de Sours Bordeaux Rose, very reasonably priced at only £8.99 (M&S online).

On to the kitchen. On-hand to help were chefs Jose and Jonathan, and student chefs Margarita and Sam (our saviours). We already knew we'd be cooking with Iberico pork, but we'd been kept in the dark on the rest of the ingredients. And then the competition began - 2 hours to whip up a top notch dish, no problem.

We decided to go down the Asian route, the natural choice with a Spanish bit of pork and French wines, non? Carefully slicing the pork into 2cm slithers, we left it to marinade in a combination of orange juice, orange zest, ginger, chilli, honey, olive oil, garlic and thyme. Then it was onto the sweet potato, roasted with garlic and more thyme before mashing. And for the side, a portion of julienned sugar snaps, carrots and beans. The final touch - some gorgeous looking mushrooms steamed in a concoction of vinegar and sugar reduction. Oh, and some jus, just to finish it off. As one does.

We all sat down, eagerly tucking in to our dishes and those of the other teams. We relaxed, sipped the wine and gracefully accepted our defeat...until they announced the winners. Pure shock.

Thank you to everyone at Wines of Bordeaux, Westminster Kingsway College and Isobar Social for a fabulous evening. We had a blast!

xx

Hats on parade

2012-01-31T09:37:00.000Z

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

I'm a bit partial to a hat these days (see here, here and here), much to the Bot's annoyance. And as my collection slowly grows I can't help thinking there must be a better, and nicer, way to keep my hats than in a pile in the corner of the bedroom . A hat stand doesn't take my fancy, nor does putting them away in a box. But creating a feature out of them on a wall seems like a sweet idea. I can see the Bot's eyes rolling now!

Happy Tuesday peeps x

Top to bottom

2012-01-29T21:21:00.000Z

Shirt: Urban Outfitters Shirt: vintage via my gran Brown top: Primark Blouse: c/o Desire Dress: Dorothy Perkins
Jeans: BDG Skirt: Primark Cardigan: F21 Jeans: Gap Tights: Primark
Shoes: Primark Belt: vintage Jaeger Skirt: Matalan Boots: Faith
Tights/shoes: Primark Tights/shoes: Primark
Necklace: Primark

Good weekend?

Friday night was spent munching and gossiping with the girls, Bot returned from the States on Sat morning, we saw our first potential flat to buy, Saturday night we went east for a triple date, Sunday I finished sewing my skirt, made some bows, went for a walk, cooked a butternut squash/chicken/chorizo risotto and finally watched the Inbetweeners movie. It's been a good weekend.

x

Imagine...

2012-01-27T10:48:00.002Z

It's been one hell of a week so all i'm going to say is have a wonderful weekend, and i'll see y'all on the other side (hopefully not too soon).

The breakdown

Shirt: Primark, £10ish

Headband: H&M, £7.99

Jeans: BDG, $45

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins, £28

Bag: Kate Kanzier, present from the Bot

Belt: vintage via my gran

Falling off the wagon

2012-01-26T08:18:00.000Z

Back in my younger days I always got excited about the sales. I'd rush out, sometimes on Boxing Day, to grab myself a bargain. But it was never really a bargain because nine times out of 10 I never ended wearing the damn things. And so I mostly avoid the sales.

But the sales don't avoid me. That's the problem with having online accounts with most of the high street stores; they have your e-mail address. And so for the past month I have been diligently deleting 99% of the sale e-mails that have been pouring into my inbox. And then I succumbed, just once mind. I found the perfect pair of cropped black trousers. And after throwing in a few extra items into the shopping trolley (as one does, they are ON SALE after all) I proceeded to the check-out to find the trousers were no longer available. Some sneaky bugger had trumped me. I almost bought the rest of the stuff until that little voice of reason popped up and reminded me I didn't actually need any of it.

And so I carried on through January feeling slightly smug. Until those e-mails appeared. I had become used to repeatedly pushing the delete button of a morning but then one day three little words caught my eye; final sale reductions. And I fell off the wagon.

The breakdown
It's all from Urban Outfitters
Dress: £35
Spot blouse: £22
Rug: £15
Wallet: £5

Matalan S/S 2012

2012-01-24T08:32:00.000Z

Swooning over these delightfully budget-friendly pieces from Matalan's S/S collection. Vintage-inspired caped maxis, sharp tailored shirts, animal prints, bold clashing prints, statement necklaces, candy stripes (think Brighton beach), handy shoppers, updated palazzo pants and the festival must-have; the satchel.

Not bad, eh?

Prices range from £6 for the satchel to £26 for the caped dress.

Four for the price of one

2012-01-23T09:46:00.000Z

Hat: present Shirt: c/o Matalan Shirt: donated by a friend! Blazer: H&M, £29.99
Shirt: vintage via my gran Cardigan: F21, £14.99 Jumper: ASOS, £45 Top: thrifted, £4.50
Skirt: Urban Outfitters, £45 Belt: Hobbs thrifted, £5 Jeans: Primark, £6 Jeans: BDG, $45
Tights: unknown Skirt: Primark, £9 ish Heels: New Look, £24.99 Brogues: bought in Argentina
Shoes: Primark, £10 Tights: unknown
Heels: Primark, £10

Winter means one thing - no sun. Ok, it shines for like 2 hours a day but I leave for work in dark, I return home in the dark. I feel like some weird nocturnal animal. This does mean that I pretty much have no time for outfit shots, except on weekends. And i'm certainly not going to spend my entire weekend taking outfit shots (I think it would certainly spell the end of my relationship with the Bot). So, in the interim, i'm going to be relying on the trusty iPhone for my shots. I'll still take the normal shots when I can, but this way you can see some of my mid-week outfits.

I've spent the entire weekend coughing and expelling copious amounts of snot from my body. I've OD'd on Lemsip, Vix, honey, lemon and ginger and watched A LOT of TV. However, i'm hoping that i'll be on top form this evening, as i'm off to a blogger cook-off courtesy of Wines of Bordeaux, I can't wait! Working in teams, we've all been told which meat we're cooking with, but the rest of the ingredients have been kept secret, until tonight. So if you know any good pork recipes, send my way asap!

Are we friends on Twitter? If so you can follow my antics tonight and find out who wins! And you can also follow #bloggercookoff .

xx

Boxing Day walkabout

2012-01-20T08:07:00.000Z

These photos were taken on our Boxing Day stroll. We walked all the way from my mum's house along to the park in town, following the river. It's funny, I lived in St. Albans for about 18 years, yet had never done this walk before. Do you find that? When you live somewhere you don't take advantage of all it has to offer. It's only when you leave, and then return as a visitor that you actually do those things.

I scored this vintage 80s jumper on eBay just before Christmas for 99p, result! I like to think of it as my golfing jumper, on account of the pattern, but I love the two little pockets at the front, perfect for keeping my little hands warm on brisk walks. And the fur headband was a present from the Bot. He calls me "Caggs" whenever I wear it...not entirely sure i'm a fan of Caggs on account of her being a complete prick-tease. But she does wear nice clothes, occasionally.

Source: Google images

Crimbo pressie from the sis

The breakdown

Duffle coat: Vero Moda, £65

Jumper: vintage via eBay, 99p

Jeans: BDG, $45

Bracelet: present from my sister

Wellies: Hunter via mum

Socks: ASOS (v. old)

Have fab weekends all, do you have any fun plans? I'm off to a film workshop tomorrow, can't wait to learn how to write a script, frame shots and edit. Watch this space Speilberg! xx

World's coolest flight attendant

2012-01-19T16:21:00.001Z

This dude has to be the coolest flight attendant around. I'd certainly pay more attention if he was on my flight!

Happy Thursday y'all.

Shake it like a polariod picture

2012-01-18T10:21:00.002Z

Juno Says Hello from Sonny Malhotra on Vimeo.

Towards the end of last year I had the pleasure of spending a whole day playing dress-up in the latest collection of gorgeous vintage gowns from the delightful luxury vintage boutique, Juno Says Hello.

Alongside Rebecca Rose, founder of Juno Says Hello, model Rebecca Thacker, photographers Dani Riot and Sonny Malhotra, and our fab assistant come blogger Elodie we had a great day re-enacting Studio54 and i'm now in the process of saving up my pennys so I can afford this beautiful 1950s prom dress.

Round my hometown

2012-01-16T14:07:00.000Z

The London Eye

Sometimes it's easy to take for granted the things that are right on your doorstep. I've lived in and around London for most of my life, but I can't remember the last time I really took a look at the wonderful sights it has to offer. So when the Bot offered to show an American friend the sights, I jumped at the chance.

Enjoy my city, it's pretty damn fine. xx

Big Ben

Message in a bottle, Trafalgar Square

Add caption

Meet Frank. He lives in St. James's Park.

Trying to grab a glimpse of Queeny, Buckingham Palace

Westminster Abbey. Yup, where Kate and Wills tied the knot last summer.

The Mall

St. James's Park

St James's Park and Buckingham Palace

Big nuts

Big Ben

Protecting the Queen

And look who I found in my garden on Saturday morning. Foxy Loxy!

I take my hat off to you, sir

2012-01-13T17:08:00.000Z

I scored this hat at the Salvation Army in Wandsworth for £5, bargain! I've got a really small head (my girls call me Pea-Head) so finding a hat (other than in the children's section) is always a struggle so I was really pleased when I stumbled upon this beauty. And the neck-tie is just a bit of old ribbon I had lying around the house. I liked the western feel it gives, coupled with the hat. Yeeeeeeha!

The breakdown
Cardigan: H&M, £19.99 (I think!)
Shirt: c/o Matalan
Ribbon (tied at neck): leftover from an old project
Hat: Salvation Army, £5
Jeans: BDG, $45
Ballet pumps: Primark, £10

Have a fab weekend all xx

Flab-busting soup

2012-01-12T09:37:00.001Z

Then enjoy!

I think we're all feeling the squeeze to our waistlines post-Christmas, so this is a fab little soup crammed full of vegetables to help you shed those pounds. And better still, the more of this soup you eat, the more calories you'll burn!

So how does it work? Well, all the vegetables used in this soup are considered negative-calorie foods. In other words more calories are burned digesting the vegetables than are in the vegetables themselves. Genius. One batch of soup makes about 5 large bowls, so I tend to make up a batch on a Sunday and have it for either lunch or dinner during the week.

You can play around with the ingredients where i've given options e.g. an onion or a leek, and you don't have to use the spices if you don't like, but they do give it a nice bit of flavour.

If you have any questions, leave me a comment and i'll get back to you as soon as I can!

Enjoy! xx

* recipe adapted from the Fat-burner foods diet book*

2012 style

2012-01-10T09:20:00.002Z

This year I want to ~~attempt to~~ have a more defined style (at least in my own head). I often think about what pieces I want to buy in store, but when I get there I always end up buying dresses, or bits I don't really need. So this year, i've created a list of things I really want. Pieces I can add to my wardrobe bit by bit to create a wardrobe I can use, rather than despairing of a morning that "I have NOTHING to wear!"

1. Blazers
Classic, chic, and smartening up any outfit, I definitely need more of these in my life.
Featured: H&M blazer, £34.99 http://www.hm.com/gb/product/97065?article=97065-B

2. Details
It's the little details that are often the most interesting parts of an outfit, such as a brooch or a cardigan clip. So I plan on gathering lots of interesting little tit bits this year.
Source: Google images

3. Pencil skirts
I'm a classic pear-shape, and vertically-challenged, standing at only 5"3, so I always figured pencil skirts were off limits. However, i'm totally digging them this year. Combined with a fitted shirt, statement necklace, heels and small handbag, these babies scream ladylike chic. Let the collection begin!
Featured: ASOS hounds tooth pencil skirt, £25

4. Midi heels
I wear flats pretty much all the time. But I do purchase the odd killer heel for nights out. Problem is these don't exactly work during the day. I'd like to wear them to work, don't get me wrong, but I have about 25 mins each day to walk from home to the tube, station to work. And the end result is always blisters and me moaning, a lot. I have two pairs of midis that i've started wearing a lot more, so I want to invest in more. More shoes that I can actually wear. Yup, i'm getting practical in my old age.
Featured: New Look midi heels, £24.99

5. The statement necklace
I have a whole collection of necklaces I never wear; cute little pendants that look adorable hanging by my mirror but that I rarely wear. This year i'm after the statement necklace, a couple in fact, to do their thing and 'make' an outfit.
Featured: ASOS metal collar, £12

6. Cropped trousers
"The pink ladies pledge is to act cool, to look cool and to beeeeeeeeeeeee cool." Grease 2's Stephanie Zinonie is one cool chic, epitomizing the 1950s/60s. And she wears cropped trousers too well. Coupled with a little heel, tight tee or shirt and a killer jacket this will be a great look for the office. I also read somewhere once that a woman should reveal only her skinniest parts, so this fits in nicely with that mantra!
Featured: Topshop ankle grazers, £38

7. Shirts
Shirts, blouses, if it's got a bit of structure (i.e. a good collar) I want it this year. I love the androgynous feel a shirt buttoned all the way up gives so I plan to get lots more of these this year.
Featured: Zara blouse, £22.99

8. Happy hair
Last year I finally started investing in my hair with regular visits to Andrew Barton's salon (I can't recommend these guys enough) and using products such as Redken as opposed to whatever was on offer at Sainsburys. I've never been one of those girls whose hair 'makes them' if you get what I mean, so I tend to wear it up a lot. But i'm keep to experiment a bit more with different styles (A Cup of Jo always features great hair tutorials) and using more interesting accessories. Watch this space!
Featured: Jo from Lost in the Haze with these cute red ribbons in her hair

9. Brogues
As I mentioned on #4, I pretty much wear flats all the time, but don't seem to invest in them, it always tends to be heels. So I plan on building up a bigger collection of these so I don't end up wearing the same pair all the time and ruining them.
Featured: Kate Kanzier brogues, £25

Are you coveting any particular items this year? Or do you prefer to just wing it and see how your wardrobe evolves..

Happy Tuesday xx

Bobble bobble

2012-01-09T08:59:00.000Z

How were your weekends?

Friday night we went to an amazing bar, Madison, in St. Paul's for a friend's birthday. The bar is perched on the top of a shopping centre and has INCREDIBLE views of St. Paul's and the eye. It's got a real New York vibe about it. I don't know about you but I feel London has been a bit behind New York in terms of our bars. Our skyline is one of the best in the world but it seems only recently bars, such as Paramount and now Madison, are taking full advantage of this. Sure, there may be the odd hotel bar, but for your average Joe who isn't swanking it up, we've not exactly had the greatest choice. Let's hope this is a trend that's set to stay!

Also, can you believe it's only 200 days until the London 2012 Olympics? I'm sooooooooo excited. To have the Olympic Games coming to your home city is going to be rad. I was pretty lucky to get tickets to some athletics and can't wait to head on down and soak up the atmosphere.

Happy Monday folks xx

The breakdown
Dress: Primark, £15 ish
Jumper: Dorothy Perkins, £35
Tights: unknown
Shoes: vintage
Belt: vintage via my gran
Bracelet: vintage via my gran

A little Christmas stroll down by the river

2012-01-06T09:29:00.000Z

Anyone else feel like they've run a marathon this week? The adjustment back to normality and work has been hard. Gone are the days of pork, chocolate and Bucks Fizz for breakfast. I miss Christmas!

Bot took these photos down by Hampton Court Palace (you can just see it in the background) just after Christmas. I'm proudly showing off at least three of my Christmas presents (hat, snood, bag). Knitted items were clearly all the rage this year as I received a fabulous hat from my sister, and a snood and headband from friends. I know some seriously talented crafty people!! And let me introduce you to my new little satchel in the perfect shade of blue. He's a beaut.

Do you have any plans this weekend? We're heading into the City tonight for some birthday drinks but then I envisage a full-on sloth weekend with lots of fry-ups. Yum.

Have a good one peeps xx

The breakdown

Dress: handmade by me

Top: Primark, £1.50

Hat: Christmas present, knitted by my sister

Snood: Christmas present, knitted by my friend

Bag: Kate Kanzier (present)

Shoes: Argentina

Tights: Primark, £1.50

New Girl

2012-01-04T12:14:00.001Z

I am so excited that New Girl is finally coming to the UK. Starring the totally awesome Zooey Deschanel (yup, total girl crush) who, after catching her boyf doing the dirty, moves into an apartment with three random men. She sings her words and watches A LOT of Dirty Dancing. What could be better?

Tune in Friday 6th Jan, 8.30pm, Channel 4.

Happy New Year one and all

2012-01-03T11:27:00.001Z

Well Happy blooming New Year to you all!

I don't know about you but i'm really looking forward to getting back into some sort of normal routine. Whereas Christmas was spent catching up with family and eating till I burst, New Years Eve was spent boozing, dancing the night away at Norman Jay's Good Times at Battersea Arts Club with friends, followed by a 48 hour lockdown at home. Oh yes, it's been a good two weeks. And I even managed to squeeze in making a skirt (blog post coming soon). So of course all my plans for lovely end of year round up on the blog and promises of all the things i'm going to achieve in 2012 went out the window. Pffff, life is for living, and i've had a fab couple of weeks, and I hope you have too!

This is my New Years Eve outfit. If you follow me on Twitter you'll know I left getting an outfit until the last minute, at usual, so spent a fun two hours running round the shops trying to pull something together. And low and beyond it was Primark who came to the rescue. Yup, minus the shoes this whole ensemble is Primarni. I was going for a Madonna meets Desperate House Wife vibe. The Bot wasn't entirely sure about the whole 'underwear as outerwear' and the boys continued to make jokes at my expense, "So, are you gonna get dressed before we go out, blah blah blah blah". They were just jealous they couldn't go out in their pants.

And so normal life resumes. As is tradition the Bot and I always take the first working day of the year off so another day of slothing lies ahead for me. But for the rest of you, I hope your first day back at work isn't too painful. xx

The breakdown
Top: Primark, £9
Scarf worn as belt: Primark, £3
Skirt: Primark, £6
Shoes: New Look, £25

The New Years Eve crew

Thank you, Santa

2011-12-29T10:26:00.000Z

L-R Design Sponge at Home - Kate Kanzier handbag - Fur headband - Hand-knitted beret by my sister - Coco mademoiselle - Colette sewing handbook - Orla Kiely casserole pot - Candle holder - Star bracelet

Life had become a blur of cold plates, bucks fizz and pot bellies. My only complaints are that i'm too full. Yup, life is hard.

Did you have a lovely Christmas?

Here are a few of my fave presents this year - I totally lucked out with some amazing gifts. And looking at them it's clear to see that my life is made up of fashion, crafting and home-making. Sounds about right.

Tootles. x

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T16:09:00.001Z

Wow, I can't believe it is Christmas Eve already!

I spent the day at Borough Market yesterday with the Bot and his parents, munching on cheese, drinking yummy wine and generally being festive, woop! And today we've been rushing around, buying the last of the presents, wrapping them up and generally getting ready for the big day. It looks like it's going to be a pretty mild day here in London, and no snow, boooooooooooooooo.

And with that, I wish you a very Merry Christmas. Wherever you are, whoever you are with, I hope you have a lovely day, eat far too much, and be merry.

Love, Clazzerati xx

The breakdown
Jumper: Primark (2010), £15 ish
Dress: Miss Selfridge, £45
Tights: Primark, £1.50
Shoes: Dorothy Perkins, £28
Headband: an early Christmas present!
Coat: Vero Moda, £65
Bag: very old Topshop

...and here are a few pics from Borough Market

Snapping around

2011-12-21T09:00:00.000Z

Christmas is officially ON! Work is DONE and today i'm spending the day with Franny food shopping and prepping for Christmas dinner with the girls tonight - we're cooking for 15, boo ya!

Anyway, here are a few shots from my past few days. Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? I totally got cocky starting early and fooled myself into thinking i'd been uber prepared this year. Wrong! Looks like i'll be hitting the shops on Christmas eve again. Will I ever learn.

Tootles x

Breaking up for the holidays

2011-12-20T13:34:00.001Z

This is exactly how I feel about finishing work today. Hopefully you guys haven't got too long to go either.

Merry Christmas xx

via Black*Eiffel

The work Christmas party outfit

2011-12-19T09:56:00.000Z

It was our work Christmas do last Thursday. We had a fabulous lunch at the Water Way in Maida Vale before catching a barge down to Camden locks to party the night away in a fab little bar complete with its own Robbie Savage. Yup, the actual Robbie Savage. Permatan and all. He looks even more like a waxwork in real life but I assure the pic at the end of the post is real. I of course spent the entire two minute conversation telling him how amazing he was in Strictly. Honestly, the lies that come from my mouth when i've had a drink or two.

I bought this dress in the ASOS sale a couple of months ago after falling for the beautiful detailing. But the shoes, oh the shoes, i'm in love. The photos don't do them justice but the heel is full-on glitter-ball-tastic. Amazing.

You can just make out my candy floss/tinsel nails. Two coats of candy pink followed by a sprinkling of silver glitter on the tips. Well festive.

The breakdown

Dress: ASOS premium, £50

Tights: New Look, £2.99

Boots: New Look, £34.99

Corsage: Dorothy Perkins, £8

Bag: Forever21, £18.95

A few little pics from the past couple of days...

Meet Buttons the reindeer who appeared in our car park at work on Friday. He is one of THE reindeers from Fred Claus the movie. Yup, he's famous.

Santa, me and Buttons

Me and the Savage

Christmas ham, mmmm

Happy Mondays all. I don't know about you but my body is seriously starting to fail - Christmas is hard work! Hoping to take it easy this week in prep for Sunday...if only! xx

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree

2011-12-16T09:57:00.000Z

I think i've found my new place to take outfits. Well during the week at least because i've now figured out how to take shots inside without the horrible orangey light (thanks Bot for teaching me all about tungsten light). And seeing as I only seem to be at home in the dark and the weather is turning nasty the living room will do nicely for now.

Meet Mr. Nutcracker. We picked him up from Macys a couple of years ago when we were in New York. At the time every other advert (or should I say commercial) seemed to feature the Nutcracker shouting, "Argh, people just keep feeding me nuts". So it's become a bit of a tradition to place him on the mantelpiece at Christmas and for me to shout, "Arghhhhhhhhhh people just keep feeding me nuts" (guess you probably had to be there).

This is one of favourite decorations this year. I picked up some cardboard letters from Hobbycraft, spray painted them white and then dunked them in tray of silver glitter. I had originally wanted it to say 'Ho Ho Ho' but they ran out of 'O's, go figure.

How rad is this shot? When I saw these piccies over at Click it up a notch with some super easy instructions I totes had to give it a try. Ok, so it's a bit dark, but have you ever seen a Christmas tree look so magical? I would definitely class myself as a beginner when it's comes to photography but there are so many fab tutorials online these days i'm picking up a few little tricks along the way. I'll be giving Cecil Beaton a run for his money soon.

The breakdown

Shirt: Primark (2009)
Skirt: made by me

Tights: Dorothy Perkins, £5

Shoes: a little place in Buenos Aires

Quite a few random musings today- I guess that's whats happens when you spend half your week consuming more food that you normally would in a month (my quarter pounder with cheese quota is out of control) and drinking way too many Jager Bombs. Classy.

Happy damn Friday all, have wonderful weekends xx

Vintage glamour

2011-12-14T10:01:00.000Z

A little vintage inspiration from some of my favourite ladies today, wearing winter's must-have; fur. Pure elegance with a drop of Hollywood glamour thrown in for good measure. Delightful.

Happy Wednesday folks xx

p.s. bought the most incredible burgundy suede boots this week complete with gold, glittery heels. I'm like a magpie this time of year - anything sparkly and I can't resist! xx

Boy meets girl

2011-12-12T09:34:00.001Z

The Christmas season has officially begun; I've eaten way too much food, wine is my friend and no meal is complete without a cheeseboard. Happy days I say!

I like the androgynous vibe to this outfit which is a pretty standard look for me at the mo; ankle grazers, brogues, shirt and jumper with a feminine bag and head scarf thrown in for good measure. It's my go-to Sunday outfit. Comfy.

The breakdown
Jumper: ASOS, £35
Shirt: H&M, £14.99
Jeans: M&S, £5
Shoes: Dorothy Perkins, £28
Bag: vintage, £25 ish
Hairband: flea market in Paris, 1 Euro

As it gets dark about 3pm these days, and doing pictures before work is out of the question, I often don't get a chance to capture any of my party outfits (I refuse to lug my camera around in the evening). But I always have my iPhone to hand and although the quality is pretty shite, here are a few snaps from this weekend.

Happy Monday folks xx

Leaving party at Venn Street Records, Clapham / Wearing: Matalan dress

Christmas party at Kensington Roof Gardens / Wearing: Miss Selfridge dress

Christmas lunch at The Regent, Balham / Wearing: vintage M&S dress with thrifted Hobbs belt

Drinks with the bessies at Paramount bar, Centre point (amaze views over London)

When I grow up I want to be...

2011-12-09T11:57:00.000Z

...judging by this outfit, an air hostess.

I'm trying to wear more of my hundreds of scarves. I tend to wear them wrapped around my head so i'm looking for new ways. Ok, this style ain't exactly original, but I quite liked the whole French, nonchalant vibe it gave.

Have wonderful weekends one and all. I've got my first Christmas party today, followed by a surprise evening with the girls tonight and then Christmas lunch with the gang tomorrow. It's full-on Christmas parties now until the 25th, wahoo! xx

The breakdown
Jacket: H&M, £29.99
Shirt: vintage via eBay
Jeans: BDG, $45
Scarf: vintage, £5
Briefcase: ASOS, £35
Shoes: Next, £20 ish

Homemade Christmas gift: Peppermint vodka liqueur

2011-12-07T08:49:00.000Z

I stumbled across this gorgeous little DIY via Delightfully Tacky and instantly bookmarked it on my Pinterest board. These will make fab little Christmas presents and are really easy (and quick) to make. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas xx

Matchy matchy

2011-12-05T10:57:00.000Z

Gook weekends lovelies? I managed to sort out four (count em, four!) Christmas presents on my quest along Oxford and Regent street. Top tip: if you're planning on hitting the west end, go early. I went at 10am and it was lovely and quiet, quite enjoyable really! And then I spent a whopping 3 1/2 hours at the hairdressers - a record for me.

I've never really got the whole French matchy matchy approach to fashion. It always felt a bit 'done'. But this autumn I cannot say no to deep cherry red. It started with the scarf, which led to the nail varnish, which led to these beautiful brogues from Dorothy Perkins. And now I can't help thinking that every outfit needs a signature colour to pull it together. What do you think?

Do you like ~~the Bot's~~ my new hat? Happy head.

The breakdown
Jacket: Oasis, £165
Stripy top: Primark, £4 ish
Cardigan: H&M, £24.99
Jeans: BDG
Brogues: Dorothy Perkins, £29
Hat: H&M (men), £7.99

Happy Monday folks xx

Old skchool

2011-12-02T10:32:00.000Z

The roly poly and the scarf are back. I seriously can't get enough of these two things right now. For the first time in my life my hair has the appearance of being thick (miracles can happen) and my neck just feels kinda lost these days without the scarf.

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend? I'm getting my hair done tomorrow by the lovely Matt at Andrew Barton's salon (seriously love those guys) and then it's Christmas shopping for me. On Oxford Street. Yikes, better prepare myself for the onslaught of tourists. I've got a couple of crafty Christmas projects i'd like to get underway this weekend two, and i'll be pulling together some tutorials that i'll be sharing over the next couple of weeks, so watch this space!

Have a lovely weekend, whatever you're doing, and i'll see you Monday. xx

This dress is a super old ASOS dress. Back in the days when ASOS was As Seen On Screen and all the clothes were replicas of those worn by celebs. Oh yes, I am feeling old right now! This was a copy of a Mischa Barton which i'd totally fallen in love with. Go ASOS.

The breakdown

Dress: ASOS (2004 maybe...)

Scarf: c/o Scarves by Simpkins

Bag: vintage, £25 ish

Tights: Primark, £1.50

Coat: Dorothy Perkins sale (2009), £25

Shoes: Primark, £10.50

Ring: Oasis, £10 ish

Brooch: vintage via my gran

Stocking fillers

2011-11-30T09:18:00.000Z

I love opening lots of little presents at Christmas...it feels like i'm being really spoilt! So I thought i'd share a few of my current fave stocking fillers for this year...

Clockwise from top left
Anthropologie earrings / €28 -- Anthropologie pie dish / €60 -- Orla Kiely casserole dish / £60 -- Dorothy Perkins PJ set / £22 -- Chevron necklace via Etsy / £25 -- Dorothy Perkins satchel / £30 -- Urban Outfitters brooch / £12 -- Alice for Alice Hannah arm warmers via ASOS / £12 -- Handmade bracelet via Etsy / £12
Urban Outfitters throw / £35 -- Anthropologie bonnet / €58 -- Anthropologie dishtowel / €20 -- Urban Outfitters bag / £28

And i'm also pleased to announce that the winner of the Scarves by Simpkins handmade scarf giveaway is...(drumroll please)...Doll Doll Dolly. Congratulations!!

Happy Wednesday my lovelies xx

I got the moves like Jagger

2011-11-28T07:34:00.000Z

Ah it's so nice to actually feel rejuvenated after the weekend, which compared to how I felt last week is a mahoosive improvement. I took in my first Zumba class which was AMAZEBALLS. Ok, so I still sweated copious amounts (one of the reasons I hate exercise), and my face turned grossly red and blotchy (reason #2) and it was hard work (#3), but I can honestly say it's the only time i've had a smile on my face whilst exercising. How can you not smile when you're thrusting away to Maroon 5's Moves like Jagger and being encouraged to sing along by your (very, very camp) instructor.

What do you think of the new dress? When Matalan asked if i'd liked to style up this 60s block colour dress OF COURSE I said yes. Well, I was actually a tad concerned that the white skirt part wouldn't exactly be kind on the old hips (being a pear shape n all - and as any pear-shaped girl knows, you should always wear darker colours on your bottom half) but it turned out just fine. And paired with the beehive (courtesy of my Bumpit), and a quick slick of black eyeliner, this is one little dress that have you swinging your hips Austin Powers style in no time! Oh, and did I mention it's £20? Swoon.

Excuse the rather pale face - I had my last microdermabrasion session on Saturday and you're banned from wearing make-up for 24 hours after (I figured eye make-up didn't really count!).

The breakdown
Dress: c/o Matalan, £20
Tights: Matalan, £5
Shoes: Primark, £10.50
Coat: TKMaxx (seriously old, can't even remember how much)

We found this old piece of rope hanging from a tree in the park so of course I couldn't resist jumping on for a swing. It was getting dark so the picture quality isn't great but here are a couple of snaps of me monkeying around.

Happy Monday xx

F&F at Tesco S/S 2012 press day

2011-11-25T08:33:00.001Z

I'm not gonna lie. I've been tardy this week. I attended the F&F at Tesco press day last Tuesday. LAST TUESDAY. Damn it. Still, better late than never, eh? (does that phrase actually make anyone, anyone feel better. Thought not).

Ok, enough rambling. On to the show. Approaching the Oxo Tower from the banks of the Thames where the wind was briskly swirling around my being, we scaled the stairs and were transported into the wonderful land of F&F. Moving from one rail to another we took in the tribal-inspired range with its geometric and animal prints, and imagined we too could do safari-chic as well as Meryl Streep in Out of Africa.

Next, the Great Gatsby collection. A whirlwind of romantic pieces inspired by the 20s and 30s, brimming with ruffles and lace. Think pretty blouses and printed tea dresses. A big hit.

And so followed the modern graphic pieces which sat alongside the 80s inspired bold clashing colours. One should never be afraid of colours again.

I was impressed. Super impressed. The price points are incredibly low, most certainly affordable, but they haven't scrimped on the quality of the material. These are very, very good value for money pieces. They are on-trend but not fashiony, taking inspiration from the catwalk, but without being a slave. And many, i'm sure, will become firm wardrobe staples. Think New Look (but slightly classier) for the woman in her mid-20s and up.

Good work F&F. I'll be seeing you very soon.

Block colours with a side pleat. Spot on.

This tropical number with the 70s neck-tie would be perfect for strolling along the beach. Preferably in the Caribbean.

Cute sleeveless blouses are ideal teamed with skinny jeans and brogues.

Ah the de rigour photo booth. An essential component of any shindig in my humble opinion.

My fave skirt, from the tribal collection. Add some heeled loafers, a cream shirt, fitted cardigan, handbag placed in the crook of your arm, and some glasses. Office chic right there ladies.

If you're looking for great office pieces, you've come to the right place

Vintage sunnies, yes please.

Gatsby flapper. Charleston, here we come.

Love, love, love this sunny polka dot dress.

Neutral woven clutch. Want!

Colour me happy jeans.

Have wonderful weekends all. And don't forget to enter my competition - you've got till Sunday, so be quick!

xx

And they called it, smart casual

2011-11-23T10:31:00.000Z

Do you ever have one of those weeks where you feel like you're constantly playing catch up? At work, at home, with friends, with life? Ok, so this 'catch-up' is entirely my fault after a jam-packed weekend of partying, but it has made me think about things. What do I value more at the weekend? Partying and therefore slothing during the few short hours of sunshine. Or do I prefer an early rise wherein I make the most of the few precious winter hours of sunshine, bumbling around markets, sewing, eating (proper food, not minstrels).

Ok, i'm being slightly melodramatic (those of you who know me in "real-life" will be used to this i'm sure). I don't need to pick one over the other. I'm never going to stop partying. But what I am coming to terms with is that i'm growing up. As hard as it is to accept, i'm getting old. Urgh. Is this something that happens in your last year of your twenties? Any advice?

Let me introduce you to my new friend, the roly poly. He is my new BFF. If like me you were ~~cursed~~ blessed with super fine hair you'll understand that trying to create a substantial looking bun is no easy feat. You dream of the day when you wake to find your limp hair has transformed into Penelope Cruz-esk locks, that flow down your back. Alas, that dream is yet to come true. Enter the roly poly, or the doughnut as you may be more familiar with. Pop you hair in a ponytail, pop on the roly poly and clip in place (so it becomes like a doughnut) and wrap your hair around. Et voila, a nice substantial bun. And the beauty of the roly poly is that you can also create gorgeous 1940s rolls too. Genius.

The breakdown

Jacket: Primark, £12.50 (2010)

Shirt: Primark, £10 (2010)

Skirt: Urban Outfitters, £35

Tights: Matalan, £5

Shoes: from a little trip to Argentina

Bag: Forever 21, £19.95

Roly poly: Boots, £5.36

Watch: c/o Swatch

Oh, and don't forget to enter my competition to win your very own Scarves by Simpkins scarf!

Happy Wednesday folks xx

Competition: win your very own handmade Scarves by Simpkins scarf

2011-11-21T09:56:00.001Z

Good weekends all? I'm not going to say too much about mine other than it was very, very boozy. So in order to cheer us all up i'd thought i'd kick start the week with a little competition...

As promised in Friday's post one lucky reader will win their very own handmade Scarves by Simpkins scarf, you lucky things. These beauties are gorgeously warm, and nice and long too so you can really wrap yourselves up! The winner can choose from the great range of colours on the website (olive, teal, purple, cherry, chocolate, taupe, charcoal, oatmeal, boysenberry and silver) and then Georgi will then knit you your very own scarf!

So how do you get involved?

1. Be a follower of Clazzerati via Google connect (just click on the JOIN THIS SITE button on the right-hand side of the blog)

2. 'Like' the Scarves by Simpkins Facebook page

3. Leave a comment below telling me which colour scarf you like the best, along with your e-mail address/blog so I get in touch with you!

This competition is open to UK residents only.

All entries must be received by 6pm GMT on Sunday 27th November 2011 and the winner will be announced next week. Good luck!

Country life

2011-11-17T23:26:00.001Z

What an amazeball of a week. The Bot has been in Washington all week and while the cat's away...just kidding. But it has been a v busy one. The F&F at Tesco press day on Tuesday really blew me away (more on that next week), my collection of homemade Christmas pom poms is slowly growing (albeit at a slightly slower pace than hoped), and yesterday the lovely folks at Midas and Eurostar whisked me away to Paris for the day, merci, merci. And tonight I have a date with a certain Mr. Pattinson. Swoon.

This scarf has literally not left my neck since I received it last week from the lovely Georgi of Scarves by Simpkins. I've worked with G for years and recently she and her mum decided to venture into the knitting business, being such talented knitters, and the results are incredible. You can check out their website here, and i'll also be hosting an exclusive competition on the blog next week, so be sure to stop by!

The breakdown

Coat: Vero Moda, £65

Scarf: c/o Scarves by Simpkins

Jeans: BDG, $45

Converse: £35

Bag: Peacocks, £5

I thought you might also be interested to see these pictures I took last weekend while I was helping my mum clear out my granddad's house. In an old tin trunk were hundreds of these world war magazines, almost every one in the set! There are a few less than before as the mice have got to them but aren't they great? We also found a copy of the Sunday Dispatch newspaper, a special edition celebrating the silver wedding of the Queen mother, incredible.

Bon weekends all, see you next week x

DIY: chalk notice board

2011-11-16T14:54:00.000Z

You will need:

1 x tray (this one belonged to my grandmother and was about to be thrown out before I rescued it - any excuse for a DIY!)
1 x paint for the frame (I used a duck egg blue tester pot)
1 x chalkboard paint (I got mine from B&Q for £6.49)
1 x tin of Brasso
String (optional)
1 x piece of chalk for writing your messages!

Ah the Bot, so amusing

Feeling crafty? Get yourself down to the London debut of Got Craft? next weekend. i'll see you there! x

Trinity Hospice Designer event

2011-11-15T08:58:00.001Z

Get ready ladies, Trinity Hospice's second designer event is taking place this Saturday at the Trinity Hospice Shop, 785 Fulham Road, SW6 5HD.

This is a fantastic opportunity to grab yourself a designer bargain from the likes of Ralph Lauren, Chanel and Armani. But even better than that, every penny goes directly back to Trinity, enabling them to provide individually tailored end of life care, at home or as in-patients.

The shop opens at 10am. See you there.

Trinity Hospice

Polka dot princess

2011-11-13T17:20:00.001Z

What a fab weekend: leavings drinks, curry with friends (Hot Stuff in Vauxhall is THE place to go in Londres), a hit and run up north with mum, more drinks, lie-in, facial, all finished off with a delightful roast dinner cooked by a friend. Perfect. What about you guys?

I'm such a sucker for a polka dot. When the lovely girls at Desire Clothing asked if i'd like to style up one of their £25 and under dress I was immediately drawn to this one; polka dots, nipped in waist, sleeveless, forgiving on the hips. Well, it sounded positively dreamy. And it didn't disappoint. The material is wonderfully floaty which makes the dress incredibly comfy to wear - a perfect Sunday dress. Nice.

The breakdown
Dress: Desire, £25
Jacket: H&M, £29.99
Tights: Primark, £1.50
Shoes: from Argentina
Belt: Hobbs (thrifted), £5
Bag: from Argentina
Hat: vintage (via my gran)

NB> the dress actually comes with its own special belt, but I swapped it for one of my go-to belts, this thrifted little Hobbs number. All views in this post are my own - I was not paid to write this post, nor did I receive any gifts. x

Lest we forget

2011-11-11T08:44:00.001Z

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Jump to the left, if you're having a good time

2011-11-09T09:42:00.000Z

Literally can't get enough of jumpers this autumn. I'm normally more of a cardigan gal, on account of not being able to control my temperature (cardigans allow for much easier access to bare skin than the torment of dragging a jumper over one's head) but for some reason this year, the jumper rules.

I picked up this little beaut in ASOS's half-price sale for their new winter range. I just love the colour. And the fact it comes with a detachable fur collar (till next time), well that's just rad.

You'll notice a few additions to the photos today, but can you spot my spooky friends? x

The breakdown

Jumper: ASOS, £40

Leather jacket: Oasis, £165

Belt: vintage

Skirt: Primark, £10ish (2010)

Bag: George at Asda, £5

Boots: Primark (old)

Ring: Oasis, £10 ish

The only thing I do love about sneaking in some pre-work outfit shots is that I normally get a little visit from Meg from upstairs. She's such a scatty cat, love her!

Vero Moda and Selected S/S 2012 press day

2011-11-07T09:23:00.000Z

On Thursday I braved the wet and windy weather and headed down to the Bestseller S/S 2012 press day to check out their selection of Danish brands.

Vero Moda

Danish fashion brand Vero Moda wasthe brain child of Troels Holch Povlsen back in 1987 and sits among anumber of brands under the Bestseller family. My fellow UK-ers will most probably have comeacross the brand in the likes of Oliver Bonas and House of Fraser. A young brand with the ethos to ‘create topquality clothing reflecting the latest trends at affordable prices’ the brandhits the nail on its head with its S/S 2012 collection. You’ll find cutesy dresses, pretty lace tops,flattering shorts, peter pan collars, pretty beaded detailing and Chanel inspired cardigans next spring. Young and freshthis fashion label is a real contender for the likes of H&M, Topshop andNew Look. Ok, it's not a new brand, but I still feel like it’s a well-keptsecret, a secret I’d like to keep, but hey, where's the fun in not sharing…oh, and did I mention Alexa Chung is their new 'face'. Yeah, this collection is going to be a guaranteed sell-out. Damn it!

Selected
Sitting alongside the Vero Moda brand is Selected, a brand i'll admit i'd not come across before. Aiming at a slightly older audience (25-45) the S/S 2012 collection is full of classic neutral pieces with flashes of yellows and browns, positioning it alongside the likes of Cos. These are pieces which transcend the ages, and would look just at home on those in their 20s, as with those in their 40s, or 50s. A rare find in today’s market.

As with many others I often find dressing for the office a challenge when the weather warms up (apparently denim shorts paired Havaianas aren’t really the done thing when you’re 29). But with well-cut blazers, beautifully draped tops and floaty skirts connoting a wonderful feminine feel, with hints of masculinity, this collection will be just perfect.

I also spotted these rather rad red wellies with the lace-up front and cut out detail at the top - clearly inspired by the classic riding boot. Wouldn't these be great for splashing around in puddles?!

A big thank you to the wonderful girls from Bestseller for inviting me down!

Happy Monday folks x

The leaves they are a turning

2011-11-04T09:31:00.000Z

I'm a real sucker for autumn. I'm completely influenced by my surroundings as the trees morph into an incredible pallete of reds, yellows and browns, and so too is my wardrobe. The brights colours of summer are side-stepped in favour of warm, compatible hues; burnt orange, mellow yellow, burgundy and navy. Roll on autumn.

I'm really favouring clutches of late. I'm not entirely sure why because they aren't exactly the most practical of bags, but I do think they look rather chic. What do you think? Fan, or not?

The breakdown

Jumper: Forever21, £15

Jeans: BDG, $45

Shoes: Argentina

Bag: Forever21, £19.95

Bracelet: present

Have a wonderful weekend my lovelies. I've got a triple date tonight, fun times, and then a relaxing rest of weekend me thinks, no doubt taking in a firework show or two! Bon weekends x

Winter coat 2011

2011-11-02T10:37:00.000Z

Vero Moda / ASOS /ASOS

I just cannot make my mind up about which coat to get for winter. Duffle? Cape? 60s? Decisions, decisions. x

Suede and lace

2011-10-31T08:45:00.000Z

My weekend: drinks on Friday night followed by a super chilled Sat and Sunday was exactly what I needed. The Bot and I munched on Chinese take-away, took in the X Factor (ok, that was me, he faffed on the laptop), and visited our favourite new diner in Balham on Sunday for some wings and ribs. Nice.

I've had this ASOS lace top for ages, and it's become the perfect staple top. It goes perfectly with skirts and jeans, and unlike a lot of the lace tops around at the moment, it has a deep scoop at the back, which I love. I think there is something quite alluring about a bare back. Much nicer that flashing your cleavage.

The breakdown
Top: ASOS (2009), £35
Vest (underneath) New Look (well old)
Belt: Urban Outfitters, £15
Skirt: Primark (super old)
Bag: c/o Primark
Tights: Dorothy Perkins, £5
Shoes: Anthropologie, £39.95 in the sale

Happy Monday folks xxx

Sample sale alert!

2011-10-31T08:34:00.000Z

This Thursday ~~and Friday~~ i'll be heading down to the Out & About Showroom to snap up some great sample pieces from three up-and-coming Australian brands: MinkPink, Evil Twin and Staple the Label. The names might not ring a bell, but you'll no doubt have seen them gracing the rails at Urban Outfitters.

Want in?
The two-day sample sale will be held at the Out & About Showroom, 11 Poland Street, London and is open 10am-7.30pm both days. Oh, and did I mention prices start at just £5? Nice one guys.

Autumn colours

2011-10-29T10:53:00.000+01:00

I'm always envious of the Americans doing things bigger and better. Take Halloween. Ok, so there'll be a fair few drunken parties with ghouls, ghosts and witches taking place around London this weekend. But unless you're at one, Halloween could easily pass you by. And pumpkin patches. I'd never seen one in the UK before. Yes, I know they must be growing somewhere, but where?! They seem to be in abundance across the pond. You may be thinking it has something to do with me living in London. Nope, I leave our fair city quite often.

This year I was determined to pick my own pumpkin. And find myself a patch to do it at. So I was more than a little excited when I found a place about 40 mins away that declared boldly on their website, 'Pick your own pumpkin.'

Me: "Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot, we're picking pumpkins this weekend."

Bot: "F*cking great."

So imagine my disappointment when we got to the farm and realised that 'Pick your own' translated at 'Pick your own pumpkin off the floor' rather than 'get down and dirty and carefully select your chosen pumpkin and cut it free from it's roots with your bare hands (or some scissors)'. Bummer. Anyway, we got some nice shots, enjoy! xx

How cool is this dress from Vero Moda? The perfect dress for picking pumpkins, look at the colours! So autumnal and 70s and just totally rad. And as if I didn't need any further confirmation, as we were walking to the farm to pay for our pumpkins a lovely American lady shouted out, "What a great dress!". Loved that lady! I'm looking forward to pairing it with chunky knit jumpers, and high-waisted midi skirts. Dreamy.

The breakdown
Dress: Vero Moda, £18 in the sale at ASOS
Belt: vintage via my gran
Tights: Matalan, £5
Bag: Peacocks, £5
Boots: I'm gonna say Faith, but I really can't remember
Coat: Topshop vintage via eBay, £12.97

Halloween special: glittery pumpkins DIY!

2011-10-26T09:46:00.000+01:00

When I saw these glittery pumpkins (via Martha Stewart) popping up outside the town houses and apartments of New York last year, I immediately bookmarked the idea for for Halloween 2011.

They are soooo simple to make, yet the finished looked it totes amaze.

Here's the tutorial...

...and Martha has outdone herself again this year with these adorable vampire teeth pumpkins. That is one talented lady, ladies and gentlemen.

Happy Wednesday lovelies xx

90s nerd

2011-10-24T17:50:00.001+01:00

Had a fabulous weekend with some much needed RnR followed by a cosy Sunday roast with friends yesterday - deeeeeeeeelightful.

Today on the other hand has been hectic! This morning I headed north (London style) to Golders Green to take part in a little photo shoot for Juno Says Hello, a gorgeous online boutique full of adorable vintage dresses. I spent a good five hours playing dress up in some stunning one-off pieces - I was in heaven! I'll be sharing some photos as soon as they're available!

After the shoot I foolishly headed to Oxford Street for a little retail therapy. What a mistaka to maka; it's half term, otherwise known as hell. Still, I managed to finally spend my Anthropologie voucher from my 2010 birthday (have I mentioned how bad I am at spending vouchers?) and picked up a fab pair of heels, four beautiful vintage-esk teacups and some rad sunnies. Then it was onto Oxford Street to finally check out Forever 21. Wow, that place is great. And I picked up a couple of fab winter jumpers and a black leather bag with leopard print.

Right, now it's time to hit the pub for a little creative brainstorm, phew, what a day!

Tootles x

The breakdown
Shirt: vintage, £12 ish
Dress: Primark, £10
Shoes: Argentina
Brooch: vintage
Tights: Matalan, £5
Bag: Peacocks, £5
Necklace: Rock n Rose, present
Ring: Oasis

Oasis VIP blogger meet-up

2011-10-21T09:35:00.001+01:00

L-R Daniela, Reena and I play dress up

One high street store has made a big impact on me recently. I'll admit, until about a month ago I hadn't shopped at Oasis. I've no idea why - maybe I felt I wasn't quite old enough yet (yeah, i know, i'm in my late twenties, I need to grow up. But deep inside i'm still a teenager and constantly after the best bargain I can buy.) So when I decided I wanted a biker jacket for my birthday, I started researching. And to my surprise Oasis had THE jacket. The one. The one i'd dreamed about. And so my love affair began.

On Wednesday evening the lovely gals at Oasis (Katie, Eleanor and Hannah - xx) invited some bloggers down to check out the crimbo collection and the re-vamped store on Argyll street. Cue dressing up, bubbles and cupcakes. Delightful. I got to catch up with the ever gorgeous Daniela of Couture of Crumpets (can we not leave it so long next time pls?), and to finally meet the lovely Reena of Fashion Daydreams in person. And we each received a cute necklace too, which i'll be styling up soon - it's a chunky black and gold number which I think would go perfectly with a nude jumper - what do you think?

So, after viewing the collection the following pieces are now sitting firmly on my Christmas wish list:

This incredible velvet sheer sleeved dress.

This metallic leather mini skirt.

This gold dress was a huge hit with a lot of the bloggers - kindly modelled by the lovely Mille

This embellished collar shirt (as modelled by Reena in the top pic)

Amelia, me, and Mille (thank you @Blogger-spotter for taking the pic!)

The newly refreshed Oasis Store is now open, so why not take a peak! (And if you want to see more pics of bloggers playing dress-up, check out the Oasis Facebook page).

Bon weekends all xx

Blue and grey

2011-10-20T09:20:00.000+01:00

I'm full of cold, feeling bleugh and just want to snuggle up under a duvet and watch DVDs all day. That is all. x

The breakdown
Shirt: Forever 21 (2009)
Skirt: Primark (2010)
Tights: unknown
Shoes: Primark (2010)
Necklace: Spitalfields market

Mad men

2011-10-18T10:12:00.000+01:00

I had the most amazing weekend in Portugal, hanging out at our private villa complete with its own club with dry ice and light strobes. Totes amaze. I ate, drank, sunbathed, drank and returned a slightly broken woman.

But on to the interesting stuff. Last week my office had its first ever fancy dress day; Mad Men day. We played dress-up, drank lots of cocktails, ate a lot of cheese and pineapple on sticks. Hats,full dresses and suits were in. Jeans were out (except for those that forgot). And infidelity, drinking,smoking and sexual innuendos were rife. It was great.

In a last minute panic I bought this skirt suit on eBay. I wasn't sure what to expect but at £10 it wasn't going to be a great loss. Turns out it was perfect fit, aces. The only downside? I was sweating like a biatch all day, classy I know.

If you've got fine hair like me, trying to create a beehive is near-on impossible. Cue, the Bump-it. I was sent these ages ago for the blog and never used them because they felt a tad OTT. But for 60s fancy dress, ideal. You can buy them online here - and I most definitely recommend listening to the video. Totally cheesy and cringe-worth.

The breakdown
Skirt suit: vintage via eBay, £10 ish
Belt: Urban Outfitters, £15
Bow headband: no idea
Tights: no idea
Glasses: Primark, £1 (~~stolen~~ borrowed from Bot)
Bag: vintage, £20
Bracelet: Primark
Pearls (real): 18th birthday present
Shoes: vintage via a charity shop, £12