OUTFIT | NEW DRESS FROM THE WHITEPEPPER!

As a thank you for helping out with a feature in their latest magazine, The Whitepepper kindly sent me a few bits from their new winter range; (definitely thought Christmas had come early)! One of the items I asked for was this amazing long, black shirt dress. It's super comfortable and flattering because it literally just falls off of my shoulders to my shins, showing off no lumps or bumps on the way down. Here I've worn it with black cotton tights, my Dr Martens and my new, long grey coat, which is also from The Whitepepper.  

DRESS BY THE WHITEPEPPER

WOOL COAT BY THE WHITEPEPPER

TIGHTS FROM H&M

DR MARTENS SHOES 

 

IS IT SPRING YET?

With Spring only 23 days away, (I looked it up), I've found myself thinking about what I'll be wearing in the warmer months to come. More than anything I'm looking forward to bare-leg days in high waisted shorts and tucked in tees... but I'm also a fan of simple loose dresses thrown on with socks and sandals in summertime. Thoughts of late night BBQs in a dress and snuggly roll neck and barefoot picnics in the park are already dancing before my eyes! But hey, summer seems years away so let's get back to reality.

The other week I treated myself to this adorable pair of Office t-bar shoes thinking they'd look good in Spring/Summer with ankle socks... I can't wait to wear them with my dungarees! I was also recently given this dress by Lavish Alice*; I love the scalloped edge detail and it's a beautiful blue... I'm sure it'll be getting lots of wear when the weather FINALLY peaks!      

OUTFIT | TARTAN COAT

A few months ago Harriet and I went for a look around charity shops in Crouch End, which is a great area of London to spend a Sunday afternoon by the way, and I found this amazing tartan coat for just £8! I actually bought it thinking it would work really well in a shoot I had planned, but I quite like it for myself too so I'm keeping it! Also If you haven't seen already, I've had some styling work published on HUF Magazine, you can see it here, I used lingerie from Miss Crofton and vintage clothing from Beyond Retro. Let me know what you think!   

VINTAGE TARTAN COAT

LEATHER BACKPACK FROM THE WHITEPEPPER

DR MARTENS SHOES

 

THE GIVING KEYS

Last week I was lucky enough to attend a very special event hosted by The Giving Keys. Based in LA, The Giving keys has a unique brand story, which you can read more about here.

Not only does purchasing a key help support the homeless through the brand's close working relationship with Chrysalis but the lovely idea behind them is that you pass it onto someone else who needs it when the time is right and then share your/there story on the website. A selection of necklaces and bracelets are available and you have the freedom to choose an existing message such as love, hope or strength, or you can pick your own, which will then be engraved by hand in LA. My key reads "love".

"INSPIRE OTHERS" TANK TOP BY THE GIVING KEYS

WATERPROOF JACKET BY RAINS

KEY NECKLACE BY THE GIVING KEYS

  

JANUARY (NOT SO) BLUES

Usually January is one of my least favourite months of the year, (alongside February and March). It's cold, it's dark, it's rainy and boring - such an anticlimax after Christmas! I'm normally poor and grumpy about returning to work too - not this year though. I know we're only 11 days in but hey, I'm feeling pretty optimistic. It's not too cold, it's not too rainy and I seem to have adjusted quite nicely to the short days this time around.

Of course I'm still super excited for the long Summer evenings to come. I'm looking forward to leaving work when it's still light, to evening picnics in London parks and being able to wear shorts without tights. But for now I'm content with dark, cosy nights spent inside and wrapping up warm in knitwear - this weekend I've had a lovely time spent snug indoors watching films and doing research on Pinterest, (you can follow me on Pinterest here). I did also pop out for some fresh air yesterday to have a play with my new Olympus Pen! Today I think I'll read my new Wes Anderson book, plan a test shoot, then perhaps watch a film this evening. What are you up to today? 

Here I'm wearing my new coat, which I picked up for £25 in the New Look sale; I actually bought it in a larger size so that it's a lovely boxy shape and falls from my shoulders quite nicely. I don't like fitted coats - coats should be warm, slouchy and oversized - big enough to wrap around yourself and cuddle when you're really cold!

FAKE ROLL NECK FROM H&M

COAT FROM NEW LOOK

RED OR DEAD SHOES 

A LOVE STORY

Over the past few years I've found shopping for clothing very difficult. Not only have I had to worry more about paying rent than owning the latest trends, (London living is not cheap), but my taste has changed too and I've become a little confused in the transition. Whilst at Uni I opted for a rather boutique"y" look wearing mainly vintage and cute dresses, I now prefer a more sophisticated look featuring darker shades and sleeker silhouettes. I think growing my hair long has effected what I like wearing somehow too.

As you can imagine then, my wardrobe is now an eclectic mix of patterned blouses I never wear but can't seem to bring myself to part with alongside a cleaner, darker selection of Cos and The Whitepepper. This makes dressing in the morning very confusing.... "Who do I want to be today?"

Last weekend I put all of my ugly blouses, checked man blazers and vintage ditsy print dresses in a huge suitcase and I've hidden them under the stairs out of my life! Of course I've kept a few patterns and colours in my wardrobe; the electric pink, purple and green sheer checked blouse I picked up for £14 in a vintage store in Southampton for example, and a loud pair of high waisted 80s style shorts I've worn once but swear I will make more use of this summer.... I've also started some boards on Pinterest; Fashion Week and Style, which I pin inspiring outfits on to help refine both my personal style and styling aesthetic.    

I thought I'd given up on shopping - I always felt confused and disoriented and I'd always go home empty handed feeling a bit dead inside due to my loss of retail love. But then last Wednesday I paid a spontaneous visit to Topshop on my way home from work and found myself feeling not awkward, lost and overwhelmed but calm, collected and focussed. I scanned the sale rails, picking up a few bits here and there, before finding a really cute Sister Jane dress in the sale for £25. I tried everything on, you have to really, and ended up leaving with the dress and a simple ribbed funnel neck in navy, which I thought would look good under pinafores. I also picked up some new underwear, I love the knickers in the three for £10 section and always buy black so everything matches!

I'm not sure if my love of shopping has completely returned yet but I certainly seem better at it at least... finally! My main focus now is to refine my wardrobe and overall style so that I can literally get out of bed in the morning, throw something on and walk out the door looking effortless... I plan to do this by treating myself to a couple of new pieces each month, and I'd like to buy more investment pieces that I know will last. Dr Martens shoes, Cos coats, things like that.