Passion for Fashion

A few weeks ago on the lovely Lily's blog I read about this fab 'Passion for Fashion' competition being run by Money Supermarket. You can read all about the competition here, but in a nutshell the aim is to create your dream looks for autumn/winter for under £200 each.

Now it's no secret that I both love a bargain and love putting outfits together, so I thought I'd give it a go!

I think the looks are all very 'me' - or at least how I'd like to be! There were 5 categories in total, and I found some easier than others to create looks for. I'm always dazzled by party dresses and my wardrobe consists of far too many, so I was spoilt for choice here, whereas I'm far more of a snuggle under the duvet in winter kind of girl than brave the elements, so the outdoor task was more of a struggle!

I'm really pleased with what I came up with though, and I really would like to wear all of the outfits. For under £200 each they're not bank braking either. Although I have to say, I didn't find keeping within the price restrictions too difficult - there are so many good buys on the high street at the moment that with a bit of savvy shopping you can easily create expensive looking outfits for less.

I hope (my technology skills permitting!) that you can click on each of the images to make them bigger.  I've included where all the items are from so you can take a look if you like them, and have also tried to explain the looks I was going for and why I made some of the selections I did.

I hope these outfits show my 'Passion for Fashion'. It was certainly a lot of fun putting them together. Why not give it a go yourself?!

xx

Put A Ring On It!

Evening all.

So I'm pleased to report that I had a really good second week at my new job :-) But I still think that no matter how much you like your job, you still get that Sunday night feeling where the weekend just seems to have flown by and you can't believe it's Monday so soon. Ah, well, it will be Friday again before we know it!

I really want to do another couple of posts like my last one on my old room at home, but because I don't want things to get too boring, I thought I'd mix it up, do this post on accessories, and then do another room post next.

Now I do love a good old bit of costume jewellery. A statement ring here. A funky necklace there.

Over the last few weeks I've added a few new rings to my collection. I only really tend to buy costume jewellery in the sales, as you can get some real bargains. Here are a few of my latest purchases... I can't wait to wear them...

Miss Selfridge - £2

Big. Chunky. Flower. Can't go wrong.

Left: Miss Selfridge £2. Right: Bijou Brigitte (Uxbridge) £5

I bought these two separately but I think they look good together. I bought the Miss Selfridge one because I have so many rings for my middle finger, but none for my ring finger.

Accessorize - £1.80

I'm not really sure about this one, as the diamantes aren't my usual style, but it's still quite pretty and will look nice when I want something a bit more subtle.

Dorothy Perkins - £2

So this one's pretty big and impractical, but it's pretty! I wouldn't wear it on a daily basis but thing it could be a statement piece to add to quite a plain outfit for a night out or event.

\

Miss Selfridge - £3

I couldn't resist the colour of this, with the wires and chains. I also picked up the matching long necklace for £3. I probably wouldn't wear them at the same time though.

I don't know about you, but my heart always skips a beat when I see a sale jewellery rail! *need to get my kicks in ways other than shopping*

xx

Festival Fever

So, I well and truly have festival fever... although I'm not actually going to one this year!

Despite my lack of planned festival action I've been browsing online and have put together 3 festival looks I think are really cool. They are each really different and would suit different people and different festivals.

The first look is cool and edgy. The fringed shorts are amazing - they are from River Island and I think £29.99 is a really reasonable price as not only would they be great for a festival, but they would be useful all through summer and could be worn day or night. The bright red wellies are a real statement and give the whole outfit some real impact. I think it's really worth investing in a good pair of wellies if hitting a festival this year, and the funkier the better! The scarf, trilby and earrings accessorise the outfit well without being too fussy - fussiness is definitely to be avoided if getting ready in a tent and spending all day outside!

Silk Bird Print Bobble Trim Scarf - Warehouse - £25

Red Wellington Boots - Evercreatures - £29.99

Ok Print Crop Tee - River Island - £14.99

Fringed Hotpants - River Island - £29.99

Diamond Weave Purple Trilby - Accessorize - £17

Khaki Feather Drop Earrings - Dorothy Perkins - £12

This second look is more cutesy and girly, and I can see it being worn to more of a T4 on the Beach style festival than a Glastonbury kind of occasion. It is not too big a statement to say I am actually in love with the sunglasses - the colour of the frames and shape of the arms are really retro, and I will definitely be buying them as soon as funds allow! The loose fitting shorts would be comfy to wear all day and as the sandals do up with buckles they're not going to come off in the sand. Beware though, if the festival's muddy these are far too nice to get ruined!

Paris Barbie Vest - Miss Selfridge - £20

Peach Plastic Sunglasses - Dorothy Perkins - £15

Ditsy Corsage Trilby - Accessorize - £17

Sherbet Heart Print Shorts - Topshop - £35

White Tribal Cuff Sandals - Miss Selfridge - £35

Pink Satin Corsage - New Look - £3

The final outfit I put together is more toned down and natural. Playsuits are everywhere at the moment and the strong red in the print of this one stops the whole outfit looking too neutral, beige and boring. The floppy hat is not only really in-keeping with the outfit, but practical too to stop the rays (if indeed we get any sun this year!). The statement bangle with its stones and mirrors adds a bit of glamour to the outfit without being unnecessarily fussy.

Mocha Zig Zag Scarf Trim Floppy - Accessorize - £20

Geri Nature Woven Sandals - Accessorize - £35

Hibiscus Printed Playsuit - Topshop - £45

Stone Set Mirror Bangle - Miss Selfridge - £12

Weave Box Cross Body Bag - Topshop - £30

Overall I think the key to any festival look is to wear something you are comfortable in. Obviously everyone wants to look nice, but fiddling with too much jewellery, attempting to keep heels on in the mud and generally trying to be someone you're not is really not a good look. Relaxed and natural is definitely the way to go.

I love all three of these outfits and could see myself wearing all of them depending on where I was going.

In hindsight maybe it is a good idea that I'm not going to any festivals, as based on this wishlist I seem to have developed it could prove very expensive indeed!

xx

Two is better than one

With all the lovely things in the shops, I don't know why I do this so often...

Because I am loving my new Miss Selfridge ring I bought a few days ago so much, I decided I just had to get it in the other colour too!

This one is silver as opposed to gold, and the disk has a purple background with blue flower. Again it was in the sale, reduced from £6 to £2, in the Bullring in Birmingham.

If I really like something I often end up buying it in more than one colour. It seems a bit silly, but I figure if its not broke don't fix it, and if you get your wear out of the first item, you'll probably find the same with the second one.

(My nail varnish is 'Sherbet Lemon' by 17 which is in the same 'Candy Collection' as the 'Mint Choc Chip' I reviewed in March.)

I'm loving Miss Selfridge's jewellery at the moment. These are a couple of my favourite pieces...

These 'Filigree Fan Earrings' are £9. The subtle colours mean they would go with everything, and as they'e not too plain nor too 'in your face', I think they'd take you from day to night perfectly.

I think this 'Pink Flamingo Brooch' is absolutely amazing, priced at £5. The bright colours would add a 'pop' to any outfit and I think with this on your blazer, scarf or even hat, you'd feel instantly ready for summer! They do the same flamingo design as stud earrings if you're not a brooch wearer.

So if you're shopping this week I suggest you take a look in Miss Selfridge as you might just find a little treat for yourself!

xx

Degree Over...Life Back

My finals are over, and not only does this mean freedom, but it also means I can get back to shopping!

I hit the shops straight after my final exam and it was a beautiful day so I was after some summer clothes to put me in the mood.

As is always the way though, when I wanted to spend some money to treat myself after a hard month or two of revision, nothing seemed to fit and I couldn't find anything that caught my eye (in my price range anyway!).

However, I did pick up this gorgeous ring in the Miss Selfridge sale, reduced from £6 to £2. It's really chunky with a gold finish, and the disk on top is peach with a pink flower. I think it should finish off any summer outfit pretty nicely...

The nail varnish I'm wearing is 'Mint Choc Chip' by 17 which I am still loving since I reviewed it below back in March.

Please also notice MASSIVE lump on finger from all the writing I have been doing in my exams - proof that a degree doesn't come easy!

By the way, this picture was taken with the 'Hipstamatic' app on the iPhone. The app costs £1.19 and allows you to try out all different kinds of cool tints, styles and lenses. I'll be playing around with it for a while so expect lots of my future photos to be somewhat arty!

xx