20th March, 2014 
SPRING CLEAN
 
Hands up who’s a fashion hoarder? Yup, I’ll admit it – I’m one. It baffles me how many clothes I think I need. Every time something shiny and new in the shops catches my eye, I forget that I most probably have something very very similar already in my wardrobe back home, and at the same time I find it difficult to let go of clothes I’ve not worn in a long time. There’s always that ohhhh but maybe it’ll be the perfect piece to finish off an outfit I’m not sure I’m going to wear in days/weeks/years time, and of course it ends up unworn on its hanger, feeling sad and lonely and unloved (anyone else imagine their clothes as living things? No ..? Just me then).
So, for the past few years, I’ve been making myself do a big wardrobe clear out every season. I go through every single piece and ask myself a) have I worn this in the past few months, b) do I have anything similar to it, and c) does it fit with the rest of my pieces? That helps me figure out whether I should keep that item or not. Then, once I’ve got a (embarrassingly large) pile of unwanted clothes, it’s time to get selling. While I do give some clothes to charity shops or friends, being self-employed and living the tough life of an author, I need to generate income where I can. eBay is my usual haunt, but man does it take ages to go through the detailed forms for each item! Plus, I’ve had so many issues with difficult buyers. So when French-based platform Vinted got in touch and asked me to trial their service, I was definitely up for a change.
Vinted is a great social shopping site where users can sell, buy and even swap their fashion goodies, as well as being able to connect with other users and chat about whatever takes their fancy on the forum. Vinted has just launched in the UK, so I’ve only been using it for a few days, but I’m loving what I’ve seen of it so far. Super intuitive design, quick, easy forms when uploading items, and a real emphasis on the social aspects of fashion and shopping. They also have a free app (for iPhone and Android), which makes it even easier to pop your pieces up straight from your phone. Check out my items here, and take a look round the site to see what you think. If you’re also doing a spring clean, it’s definitely worth a go 🙂 x
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14th March, 2014 
CHERRY BLOSSOM DREAMS
        
top: c/o Fashion Union | skirt: H&M | heels: c/o Next | cuff: c/o Dear Charlotte via Caratime
Totally pretending to live on this beautiful street and this gorgeous house we shot outside. How could anyone resist the pink perfection of this cherry blossom tree? It felt so much like spring, taking photos in the sunshine as soft blushed petals fell all around. I’m not quite sure why I’m wearing such a workwear-inspired look though. Perhaps I was in one of those wanting to feel prim and polished kind of moods. I could have just as easily paired my new jade top from Fashion Union with a pair of shorts or a cute little skater skirt. I can’t get over what a beautiful colour it is – such a deep, silky emerald green. It makes me want to channel my inner princess! Now just to find a diamond tiara …
Have a great weekend ladies 🙂 see you next week x
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10th March, 2014 
SWEET LIKE CANDY
    
top: ASOS | skirt: c/o Motel | jacket: Zara | bag: ASOS | shoes: Aldo | watch: c/o Olivia Burton
Something happens to me when the sun comes out. It’s like the Hulk and anger (well, ok it’s not really anything like that, but you know) – sunshine pours golden and warm over the world and I can’t help but dig around in my wardrobe for anything pastel. It’s just the ultimate summery feeling, stepping out in head to toe pastels. It feels so light and effortless and chic. While you could definitely go head-to-toe in one hue of pastel colour, I love mixing a few shades to add depth and keep it looking fresh. If you’re worried about looking washed-out, that’s definitely the way to go. You can also go for deeper pastel tones like this amazing skater skirt from Motel – isn’t it such a gorgeous pop of pink? I’ve been wearing it with oversized jumpers all winter, but now it’s warmer I can crank out the crop tops.
Another new-in favourite is this super cute bunny-ears bag from ASOS. I went a little mad during their recent sale (this was my reaction to pretty much everything), my poor postman having to trudge up to our top-floor flat with daily deliveries of fashiony goodies. Out of everything the bunny bag was my top buy. I ummed and ahhed over whether to get it in nude or black, but with the sun out how could I resist the lovely muted colour of the nude? It looks so chic too with white dresses and adds a playful touch to those summer-staple denim shorts and tee outfits. Another must-have pastel accessory is a pretty watch like this lilac one from Olivia Burton. The soft colour is so sweet, and will look perfect with a tan!
Hope you have a good week my loves. I’m knuckled down and working hard to meet a deadline for edits on my second novel. I can’t believe I’m not going to be a debut author for much longer! Writing is super glamorous – I’m pretty much living in my polarbear onesie. It’s basically my uniform at the moment. Maybe I’ll have to do an outfit post in it someday … 😉 x
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3rd March, 2014 
Good morning loves! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend? If, like me, you’re feeling a little sad that the weekend is over and are slowly getting back into the swing of things, then here’s something that’s bound to (quite literally) add a spring in your step this Monday.
Uber-talented blogger Caroline Blomst has teamed up with Deichmann, Europe’s biggest shoe retailer, to create what has to be one of the most gorgeous shoe collections I’ve seen in a long time. This is the first time Deichmann have collaborated with a blogger – previously they’ve worked with Halle Berry and Cindy Crawford – and they couldn’t have chosen a better girl for the job. Caroline’s fashion and street style blogs are some of the favourites in the fashion world, and I’ve been a fan for years of Caroline’s style. Her pages always leave me inspired to try something new, something fresh with my outfits.
That’s why I was super excited to hear about her collaboration with Deichmann. It’s been hard holding back from sharing the news with you all, but the collection launched today and I’m finally allowed to show you the goodies! So take a deep breath ladies. You’re about to get more excited than is probably decent on a Monday morning …
 
(What did I tell you? Just gorgeous.)
From wardrobe-essential black heels to flats in playful prints, Caroline’s ten designs form a collection that is somehow effortlessly classic and on-trend at the same time. Caroline describes the collection as ‘very, very simple, but every shoe has it’s own detail, some edge’, which is exactly right. These are designs that every girl can wear, that slot into so many outfits, but will still give a look that extra bite. The six shoes above are my top picks from the collection, and you can see how each has some special detail that gives it a fashion-forward edge, whether it’s a twist on a classic silhouette or an unexpected print.
I love how Caroline’s kept it simple but focused on these subtle design details. Her ‘Stockholm meets Paris’ style is evident in the sleek shapes and the prominence of black in her designs. It’s a well thought out collection that feels high-end, but with prices ranging from £17.99 – £27.99 it’s completely affordable at the same time (and this totally means it’s ok for me to buy all ten, right?). It’s especially refreshing not to see a big mark-up from Deichmann’s typical prices. They always offer classic but cool shoes at accessible prices, so I’m glad they’ve kept to this ethos with their celebrity collaborations.
Quality isn’t compromised either. Having tried out two pairs, I can safely say they’re super comfy and well-made, with high quality fabrics that’ll last a lot of wear. And that’s a relief, because Caroline’s designs are so versatile you’ll be styling each shoe up in a tonne of different looks. Here’s two outfits I put together over the weekend with two of my favourite shoes from the collection – the pixel print sneaker and the peep-toe lace shoe boot. I went for a typical everyday look with the trainers – sneakers, leggings and an oversized shirt is pretty much my winter uniform – and more of a feminine outfit with the beautiful lace heels, so you can see how Caroline’s collection has something to suit every style.
PIXEL PRINT SNEAKER
My number one pick from the whole collection, these trainers are just pure sports-chic perfection. They’re the kind of shoes you can’t help but feel cool in – something comfy and chic, with a little splash of colour to lift a monochrome outfit. Style in the winter with boyfriend coats, leather leggings and sweatshirts. Come summer, try teaming with floral dresses and polkadots for playful mixed-print styles. The thing I love about trainers though is that there are no rules, so just experiment and have fun!
      
PEEP-TOE LACE SHOE BOOT
The ultimate naughty-but-nice heels, for those days (and nights) when you’re feeling a little cheeky and want a flash of sex-appeal in your outfit. These shoe-boots are all about dark romance. They’re both elegant and edgy, with a touch of on-trend gothicness that’s perfect for mixing with feminine fabrics and prints. I’d wear them with with leather miniskirts and faded tees, as well as cute dresses for the girly style I’ve gone for here. You could even pair them with socks for the daytime – metallic fabrics would look amazing against the lace!
      
Which outfit is your favourite? My style is definitely quite different to Caroline’s (sigh, I wish I had her knack for effortless cool), but that’s what’s so great about her shoes – they’re versatile enough to fit into any wardrobe. If you want to add a few to your own wardrobe, you can find her collection online from Deichmann’s store here. I’m off to buy a few pairs myself! Do go take a look at all ten designs and let me know which ones you love most in the comments below. Hopefully you’re all as excited about this collaboration as I am, and your Mondays are well and truly brightened!
Happy shopping sweeties x
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24th February, 2014 
HAPPY BUNS
Honest Burgers
Callum and I have a project (well, he doesn’t know it yet, but I’m sure he’ll happily come along for the ride): we are on the hunt for London’s Best Burger. There are many things in this world that I love, but a good burger is pretty high up the list. Luckily, London is full of fantastic burgerias (is that a word? It should be), but there are just so many it’s almost more difficult to really find which ones are worth your money. So the project is this – eat at restaurants across London until the perfect burger has been discovered.
Yes, ladies and gents, it’s a hard life, but someone’s gotta do it.
First up on the list (and setting the bar rather high) is Honest Burgers. Since setting up shop in 2011, Honest have become a household name amongst Londonders, and they’ve now got restaurants in King’s Cross, Soho, Brixton, Camden and Portobello Road. What I love about Honest is their simplicity – a concise little flowchart menu keeps the focus on the burgers, keeping sides and dressings simple and allowing the quality of the meat to sing. British farm Ginger Pig are Honest’s suppliers, and it’s great to see two British indies working together to put the emphasis back on top-notch produce.
Honest’s burgers are just that – honest. Super tasty, simple, juicy bites of delicious burgerness (also not a word but should be). I love their rosemary-salted chips too, which have just the right amount of squidge, and their homemade lemonade is scrummy. I always find it difficult to resist a classic beef burger, so I haven’t tried the chicken or veggie styles yet, but it’s refreshing to see they’re just as much a part of the menu as the beef options. This is a burger bar that isn’t just for carnivores.
Keeping up the British heritage theme is Honest’s latest special – a beer-soaked burger created in collaboration with BrewDog, so stuffed with alcohol you need ID to buy it! The special also comes with a little bottle of BrewDog ale. It hits restaurants from March 2nd, so make sure to check it out if you’re a fan of your beer. Hey, at least it saves buying a drink on the side! 😉
Happy eating, dear readers x
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