Flower Power

Monday 29 February 2016

I've been loitering with intent on The Kooples website the last couple of months which was what culminated in the purchase of the laced up neck jumper seen here. But that wasn't the only thing that caught my eye - their blouses and shirts were doing it for me big time too. And though normally, I'm a plain and simple girl, I'm quite liking a print this year. Specifically floral ones. Dare I say it? I've come over all girly!

The Kooples Floral Print Boyfriend Shirt

The Kooples Floral Muslin Shirt

The Kooples Dots & Roses Shirt

Dandelion Print Shirt

But for once, I took the inspiration and ran with it .... to Matalan. Don't knock it ... there are some gems if you take the trouble to look and their clothes are finished quite well actually compared to a lot of other high street chains in a similar price bracket.

Matalan Floral Shirt

This is actually quite a versatile little number. It can be dressed up with a black blazer and heels for going out and it can be dressed down with jeans and some sandals for easy peasy summer wear - I'm also thinking some khakis and Cons for an easy and practical school run look. It can look a little boho if the mood suits you and it can go a little more mean and moody (stick a biker jacket on over it) owing to the fact that the background is black. The best bit - it's not overly girly so it screams fluffy bunnies at you.

However, I actually bought this a month or so back but knew it was a keeper but I because I am a slack blogger, I have only just got round to blogging it. And as a consequence, it's disappeared from their website (sorreeee) but I guess there will be some floating instore. So to make up for it, I've found some other little gems which I might have gone for myself if I was in the market still for another floral number.

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I've tried this Zara one on and it's a lovely flattering easy to wear top. It skims nicely and the shirring on the front bib adds a little interest. I actually really like the idea of doing darker denim with this top to emphasise the navy in the blouse.

Zara Printed Blouse

This Mango blouse is probably the most similar in print to the one I have. The tie neck adds a little interest so you can go a bit Miss Moneypenny if you want to wear it for work but it looks equally good with a pair of jeans which is pretty much how I would wear it and plan to wear the one I have.

Mango Print Shirt

Now I still love this one (I've already shown this on Instagram). I actually bought it once it went in the sale but I ended up returning it as I knew I wouldn't find it as easy to wear as the Matalan one I have. When I bought the shirt, the Shop Assistant cooed over it. When I returned it, another Shop Assistant cooed over it. It's a lovely little shirt. Fabulous for a night out for drinks when you want to look a little more put together and look like you actually made some effort (I'm talking about me here) and still want to be comfortable.

Topshop Twinkle Pyjama Shirt

But this, this is the one I really love for all of the reasons above but even more so, for the clean sharp print and the fact that it's a soft silk crepe de chine.

Topshop Unique Elystan Shirt here and here

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So anything catch your eye up there? ;o)

Oh No - Not Another Sweatshirt!

Tuesday 23 February 2016

Next Teddy Coat (old but similar here)

Topshop Freshman Sweatshirt

Topshop Baxter Jeans

Golden Goose Trainers (alternative here)

Zara Silver Bag (old)

H&M Pompom (instore)

I said I wasn't going to buy another sweatshirt but I was powerless to resist. This is a hug in a sweatshirt and is my new favourite things to wear - I spent a lot of half term snuggled up in this.

I justified the purchase of this one on the grounds that I didn't have a burgundy one :)

Project Social T Freshman Sweatshirt

But it wasn't an easy choice as Topshop are doing a nice line in these fleecy sweats at the moment. This black one is lovely - I personally rather like a black sweatshirt - the graphics always seem so much cleaner.

Topshop California Brushed Sweatshirt

And you can't beat a tiger on your chest! The blue version which Michelle wears so well has sadly sold out online now but there's always the grey.

Versaille Brushed Sweatshirt

And yes, I'm still not over the pink thing. Perfect for a weekend at the Hamptons or just slobbing wherever you please.

Project Social T Hamptons Sweatshirt

And now that's it for sweatshirts ... till the next one :)

Laced Up

Friday 12 February 2016

Next Teddy Coat (similar here), Kooples Lace Up Jumper, H&M Jeans, Converse (similar here)

So I'm actually full of cold, got a hacky cough still and I really should wear a scarf to keep myself warm but then you wouldn't be able to see the lace up neck detail on my jumper would you? ;o)

I got it in to my head that I wanted a lace up neck jumper and having investigated a number of options (all done online), the jumper for me had to be The Kooples one. Well it's black and that makes it a winner already. And whilst I was doing my investigations, I spotted lots of lovely French Instagram ladies including Audrey Lombard below looking very cool in theirs so that was the seal of approval for me.

Source : Audrey Lombard

Now my jumper has sadly sold out unless you can find one instore. However, the high street stores seem to be awash with them at the moment. However, I did spot this one from good old M&S if you like the look of mine :

M&S Speziale Lace Neck Jumper

Or if you fancy something lighter in colour and looser, River Island have this and this in the moment which look like good contenders.

Blue Lace

Saturday 6 February 2016

Anyone got an event to go to? Anyone like the Self Portrait dresses? This could be worth a dabble without the price tag.

Zara Lace Dress

This one's from Zara and it's just dropped in to store. I couldn't resist having a try on just for the heck of it - sometimes you just have to indulge yourself in a bit of fantasy trying on - it's good for the soul.

Now I have to say that I am totally the wrong build for this dress and these waistlines do nothing for me - I am standing at the most flattering angle I could muster) but face on, it's not good. On the right lady who needs a nice dress like this - this could look amazing! And don't forget, it has a side zip before you try to wrestle yourself in and out.

As I was saying, on the right lady, this looks amazing.

I'm just not that lady :(

Aldi Lacura Caviar Illumination Cream

Wednesday 3 February 2016

Aldi Lacura Caviar Illumination Creams

Just before Christmas, I sent a message to my friend Michelle to get herself to an Aldi first thing in the morning to bag a Lacura Caviar face cream pack. Why so important? Well, the cream had been compared to La Prairie's Skin Caviar Protection range which costs a couple of hundred pounds more and the Aldi (£6.99 for 50ml) version hadn't fared too poorly in the reviews (see here). And they were doing a special pack offer of both the night cream and the day cream for £12.99. Well, you've got to try haven't you if you can get your hands on it.

Unfortunately, Michelle didn't manage to get herself any at the time but sent me a gleeful message just last night to say she had got her hands on a couple of pots in store! So I dashed off this morning and bagged myself two jars and here I am typing this up to tell you - she's right! They're back in store and they look like they are becoming part of the main skincare range so you don't need to all make a mad dash for them ... unless you really want to. Like I did.

I can't tell you anything about it apart from it smells lovely and I'm going to ditch my old face creams stuff (which I can't abide the smell of anyway) and start using this from this evening. Heaven knows I need all the help I can get at my age.

Thank you Michelle - mwah!

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Last Note :

If anyone has already tried it - what do you think?

Extra information on the Aldi creams here.

Lacing Up

Tuesday 2 February 2016

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Some things take a little while to filter in to my consciousness. Like the laced up neck jumper and tops which have been hanging around for the last year thanks to Ms Marant yet again working her fashion magic. She created the Charley jumper (seen above) and then various versions came out from the The Kooples doing their rather lovely version here (which I have and actually prefer to the Marant) to even Primark bringing out their version in September which I tried on but didn't buy- it wasn't bad actually and very cosy.

And then I didn't think very much about it till I spotted this in M&S a week or so ago.

M&S Pure Cotton Striped Top

Stripes and a lace up neck - quite a nice fresh take on the old Breton I thought! What a perfect top to take you from spring in to the summer! This one is a size 10 and I'm a size 10. My remit these days when shopping is "thou must not hug the spare tyre" and this one skims it nicely. The arms are cut slim and it's a nice medium weight cotton.

With a pair of cropped flare jeans and some Swedish Hasbeens - this would be quite a nice modern take on the seventies looks which seems to show no sign of disappearing. With a pair of cut off denim shorts and a pair of Converse and a cute basket - how very tourist chic is this? And with a pair of navy wide leg trousers - what can I say? You're a lucky thing having giraffe legs and being able to carry this off!