My new BFF

My new BFF has to be this gorgeous pink pleated skirt sourced from France and won by me from eBay and it arrived beautifully packaged ready-to-wear.


The skirt is such a bright colour that it automatically cheers me up when i put it on and is definitely a head-turner! I played it safe today with a black Topshop vest and tan accessories just because it threatened to rain, but wait until a hot summer's day and I'll pairing this with a contrasting colour block top, I'm thinking my yellow Zara vest and these bright Office wedges as seen on Chelsea Davy.

And because I've been playing around with my Instagram app, here's a FOTD.

Trend Alert.......! Colour Blocking

A few weeks back i posted this pic of Camilla Belle in head-to-toe Gucci absolutely nailing the colour blocking trend and it inspired me to try the look with a little help of Zara.

Now if you've been into a Zara store recently, you will have noticed it has been transformed into a treasure trove of Crayola coloured items. Fuchsia pinks, neon yellows, cobalt blues, vermilion reds and Verde greens adorn every shelf and rail.

I wanted to take a picture of the store but felt a bit cheeky without asking so instead took a quick pic of the window display.


Orange, yellow, red and blue? Oh yes!

I was pretty much spoilt for choice and could have spent ££££'s brightening up my wardrobe, but i did refrain a little, settling on a green pencil skirt and yellow vest.

Skirt and vest - Zara
Belt and heels - Primark

I love how this pencil skirt can easily inject some colour into your working wardrobe, but yet can be teamed up with a simple tee for a more casual/relaxed look. You can't see here, but both the vest and skirt both have exposed gold/black zips which just adds that hint of sexiness to what could be a boring outfit.

I couldn't resist styling the skirt with old wardrobe items like this Miss Selfridge Orange Crop Top.....

And this new Floral Tee from Primark......

And for a relaxed look this photo print tee from Topshop....

Excuse the hair and check out the shoes!

Admittedly I've not gone the whole hog as the shoes are neutral but if i can dig out some colour pop heels i will!

I'll leave you with a few of my favourite images from Zara's Lookbook.

The future's bright, the future's Zara

Trend Alert.........! Pleats

One of the big trends this season is pleats. It has been a bit of a slow burner this one to transcend from the catwalks to the high-street, but i can report this trend has well and truly landed in-store. Go-to shops are Whistles, Topshop, Primark, Pretaportobello and Rare.

I chose this beautiful peach/nude full length pleated maxi skirt from Rare's concession in Topshop.

I love that this skirt has a full length lining so i don't feel too exposed, I'm not sure i could carry off that half-lining pleat skirt. The skirt is a floor skimming length so heels are a must to avoid that carpet sweeper look that the Olsens do so well. I've styled it with a casual tee for a relaxed daytime look but for night i would add a bright silk vest.

The Rare skirt costs £42 and is available online in two other colours but you do need to be quick as it's already sold out online at Topshop and Asos. If your budget is a bit bigger than mine then head to Pretaportobello where you can find their Jovanna Pleated Maxi Skirt for £65.

Here's what it looks like:

I also headed to Primark a few weeks ago and snapped up this black maxi for £12 - bargain!

But my first port of call for pleated skirts was actually eBay, you could have snapped up some pretty good bargains if you were early enough. I am currently eagerly awaiting delivery of this vintage beauty i won source from France.

I'm definitely going to rock this with a bright vest, working two key trends, pleats and colour blocking. Bring on the summer i say!

Look out for my next post where i try out colour blocking via Zara.



In the Pink

I've been experimenting with my manicure recently and trying different colour combos. For the first time I tried a graduation colour manicure where you paint your nails using one shade from light to dark. What do you reckon?

The colours used from thumb to pinky are: Revlon Passion Fruit, Nails Inc Strawberry Hill, Nails Inc Brompton Place, Nails Inc InStyle Candy and Barry M Berry Ice Cream.

I did get a lot of admiring glances and comments so will be doing this again soon, but which colour palette should i choose next?

Yesterday in pictures

1. New reading material - 3 for £5 cant go wrong.
2. More reading material, Company special and Instyle with free Nails Inc polish.
3. Lashes - I've heard good things about these, excited to have a play.
4. Superdrug Beautycard including mirror for touch-ups on-the-go. Points mean prizes!
5. New tops from Peacocks, Zara and Primark, working florals and block colour this season.
6. Chocolate, nom, nom. My new fav confectionery Spots v Stripes, just like Cadbury's Top Deck if anyone can remember? White chocolate on top of milk chocolate mmm delicious!
7. Nails Inc Candy Orange free with Instyle.
8. I'm all over jumpsuits and H&M seem to have the best, love the styling of this one.
9. Dorothy Perkins heels I N-E-E-D I-N M-Y L-I-F-E.

What I've been wearing....

I feel this may be turning into a regular feature!
 

Jacket - Warehouse, Top - Warehouse, Jeggings - Dorothy Perkins, Shoes (left) - Next, Shoes (right) - River Island, Bag - vintage, Ring (just seen) - Topshop

 

Jacket - Villa, Vest - Warehouse, Trousers - Miss Selfridge, Shoes - Office



Top - Asos, Trousers - Warehouse, Belt - Borrowed, Shoes - River Island, Watch - Michael Kors, Bracelet - Pandora



Dress - Joy, Jacket - Warehouse, Belt - Borrowed, Tights - Primark, Shoes - Office

Not really inspired looks but hey ho!






Smartie nails

I've been meaning to try this trend for different colour nails for a while now after spying twitpics from Fearne Cotton and Rochelle Wiseman (below).

I wish i could accessorise with that YSL ring - jealous!

With such a huge collection of polishes I'm so indecisive on which colour to paint my nails next, so choosing five solves that and it's also a great way to use up my old polishes. Before anyone complains of plagiarism i want to say credit does go to Make Up Savvy and 25Flondon who blogged about it first.

Seriously you don't know how many attempts it took to try and hold five polishes in one hand and get an alright picture!

Trying to get a bit artistic!

And the polishes in question i used are:
- Barry M Berry Ice Cream (lilac)
- Revlon Blue Lagoon (pale blue)
- Rimmel Apricot Punch (coral)
- Revlon Minted (mint green)
- Nails Inc Spitalfields (yellow)

I really liked the effect and it definitely stops me from getting bored too quickly i can't wait to try it on my toes for summer. Next up i think I'll do graduation nail colours if i can round up enough of the same shade.