WHAT I WORE 2013...

 

Hello, I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas holiday!
As new year approaches, I've put together a little 'what I wore' 2013, featuring some of my favourite outfits from this year. At the start of this year, my blog was solely personal style, but as I look back I'm so happy with the way it's developed over the last year and I hope you've been able to see a bit of the real me. As ever I've loved writing my blog this year, and have literally shared my experiences wherever I went - including my visits to Paris, and London.

In January, I brought this lovely paisley dress with my birthday money, from River Island. I've worn it all year, as its so easy to wear for all occasions. Here, I wore the dress for a new year's celebration, with my Clark's heels - those kept me dancing all evening! In February, I received a lovely necklace from Little Birdie jewellery emporium. I wore it in an outfit post with my vibrant coloured flamingo jumper. I loved this outfit as it was super comfy, as I love to find an excuse to wear my Top Shop jeans. In March, I put together a little 'smart' outfit, that I liked wearing to sixth form. The blazer was an old H&M favourite that I've had in my wardrobe for years, and I brought the pencil skirt was from Dorothy Perkins. 

 April brought the first glimpse of spring, and with it my lovely floral Kath Kidston style tea dress. I loved this outfit as it's a lovely denim colour, and was easy to dress down for a day out with friends. I wore it with a cardigan from Next, which is also another wardrobe favourite of mine! In May, the sun was shinning so I wore a festival inspired outfit. I loved the Matalan shorts and wore them with a crop top from New Look and Primark jacket. For June, (which I missed a month due to exams) I've selected a photo from my visit to Paris in the Summer - I loved my double denim combination!

July was a crazy month, but I've chosen my little dress I wore on holiday as one of my favourite outfit posts! The dress was from Primark, and was definitely one of my summer essentials. In August, I attended V Festival for the first time, and with that my complete festival outfit. My New Look top complimented my vibrant orange River Island shorts. I also loved my Joules wellies, which had details of cute doggies on! As I started a new school year, I went for a cheeky day trip to London. I wore an cobalt blue skirt with OASAP denim jacket and Clark's boots. 

 From October, the sun disappeared, but I was still holding on to the summer floral in another 'smart' work wear post. I wore a Dorothy Perkins dress with a H&M green blazer. In November, I attended the Clothes Show Live, with press pass in hand and my lovely friend Emma-lee to keep me company. I wore a tartan dress from New Look, with a satchel from OASAP and my super comfy Clark's boots. Finally December saw my festive Rudolph jumper, which I wore for the majority of the month (whoops) - though can you blame me?

So there's my favourites of 2013, my favourite was probably November, because I loved wearing the felt hat. Keep your eyes peeled for a few posts later this week!

Lots of Love,

It's time to wrap up - Coat Wishlist..

Hello!
A little update from me first. I've been on stage all week, performing in a musical production of Carousel! It's been such an exciting week, however everything has been on hold, so I now have a lengthy 'to do' list to compete with. Hopefully you'll forgive me for today's short an sweet 'wishlist' post, as I'm excited to show you some of the beautiful textures and colours of the coats currently hitting the high street!

1. Khaki Short Parka £55 - Dorothy Perkins.
If your looking for a coat which you can thrown on during a Autumn shopping trip, and want it to last right through to spring, then I'd definitely recommend a parka style coat, as they're great 'all year' jackets. I particularly liked this one, as it's got fur inside, and a hood to dodge those typical UK showers..
2. Mohair coat £120 - Asos
So pink has taken over this winter, and this over sized detective style coat has to be my personal favourite, as it will look effortless with rolled up jeans. Think modern barbie, and be daring with splashes of yellow and pink - yes I've seen it done!
3. Beige Coat £49.99 - H&M 
I love the H&M basic collections, and their range of coats never disappoint. This coat will really give your winter wardrobe a vintage twist and if you love the 'oversized' look (which is always a great excuse to wear Grandad jumpers) this coat will match up with some patterned trousers and thick boots.
4. Checked Coat £129 - Zara
Another huge trend this winter is Tartan (and not just the kilt sort). If your looking for something that looks good now, but will stay on trend next year, then this checked coat is perfect - plus the quality of Zara coats is amazing, so no frost bite for you!
5. Fluffy Swing Boyfriend Pink coat £89 - Top Shop
Finally, how could I miss out this Fluffy pink coat from Top Shop, I warned you Barbie was cool, and well for ultimate warmth there's nothing better than a fluffy coat (am I right).

Have you brought your winter coats yet? My wish list could be so much longer, but I'm still clinging to last years coat until payday!

Lots of Love,

Pretty little satchels...

Hello!

So it's start of the week (though it doesn't it feel like it) and a little gift that can through the post over the weekend is what's going to keep me going!

As you may (or may not) know, I have a teeny obsession with satchels, and my latest gift from Oasap has certainly made me very handbag proud!

With a wide variety of beautiful colours I chose a deep green bag with a tan lace around the edges. The bag is not leather, but is made to a high quality which could easily fool the eye. I particularly liked the sewing details around the outside if the bag which add character and make the beg look more rustic. The size of the satchel is perfect for a day out, as you can fit all the necessities in without having to worry about space/bumping into every person you pass/wishing you'd brought your brolly after convincing yourself you wouldn't need it. It's structured frame makes it suitable for work/collage too, and the little pockets on the front make it suitable for storing the 'I'm going to  loose these' items'.

As the first showers of September left me with a cold this weekend - going to a university open day without my coat was not a sensible idea - I'm being a little brave in my outfit choice. I chose a little skater skirt I brought in a river island sale a few years ago, with a new look coral blouse and my shoes which are a new addition to my collection of brogues! As it's London Fashion Week at the moment - though I'm trying to avoid this topic, being gutted I'm not there - I've been getting far too excited about Summer 2014, and forgetting about the long winter I'm sure we've got in store. For that reason, this may be my last 'without tights' post for a while now...so be prepared for woolly tights, thick jumpers and oversized coats!

What I'm Wearing: Bag - OASAP, Top - New Look, Skirt - River Island.

That's all from me, make sure you check out the OASAP winter collection - it looks fab and well I'm a tad obsessed already!

Have a lovely week, wherever you are!

Lots of Love,

The first fall of snow...

 "The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event."

 

YAY! A few weeks late, but the SNOW has finally arrived!
I've also had the last of my exams today, so the fun can really begin this weekend!
As our school let us out early this afternoon, me and my sister waisted no time to get out into the snow and put out hats and scarfs to good use...

 My sister enjoying the snow - minus the frost bite she got afterwards!

 I took advantage of the snow to wear my New Look boots, with these great Over boot socks from River Island, that kept my feet EXTRA warm! These boots are great, as they have lots of grip and you can tighten them, to stop the snow getting in!

Another key piece in my winter wardrobe is this years coat from Dorothy Perkins. It's lasted me all winter, and definitely worth buying - as it's passed every coat quality test! My french style hat, has always had a place in my winter wardrobe (since I was about 6..) and keeps my hear cosy!

 What I'm Wearing: Coat - Dorothy Perkins, Scarf - TU at Tesco, Boot Socks - River Island, Boots - New Look.

What Lydia is Wearing: Coat - New Look, Scarf/Hat - Matalan.

Did it snow where you are this week? How are you spending your snow day?

 I'm about to have a large mug of Cadbury Hot Chocolatte and change into a snuggly pair of  slipper socks, as I think my toes may just fall off any minute! 

Enjoy the snow, wherever you are!
Lots of Love,

A touch of Aussie hair therapy...

I hope your New Year celebrations have been enjoyable! I'm afraid I've been off the blogosphere the last few days, as I've been locked in my room to revise! So today's post will be short and sweet, focusing on my favourite hair therapy for this time of the year! 

There are three things my hair hates about winter:

1. I end up turning Ginger (as I refuse to use hair dye).
2. I get split ends - probably from straightening my hair way to much.
3. I always find my hair goes really dry/tangled during the winter months.

As a result of trying endless bottles of 'leave-in conditioners' which will give you that 'endless shine'... I've come to one conclusion... Half the time, your better off ignoring what the label says on the bottle!

As a result of this tireless exercise, I've finely found the spray in conditioner beauty I've been looking for... A beauty conditioner that caters for MOST of my demands - missing out the turning Ginger aspect, which is pretty much inevitable, with the  lack of sunshine and more rain clouds the UK gets, in winter months! 

Aussie has saved my life on several 'bad hair day's', and now this Miracle spray in conditioner, is my very best friend! If you've tried it for yourself you'll know what I mean!
It lasts around 3 months used wisely, and is definitely worth paying the extra pound! 

Lots of Love,

We go together like winter and it's jumper...

Happy Saturday :) Sorry I'm late today, I've been busy writing my next article for my local magazine - it's such fun, as I get a chance to write what I want, every month!

Apart from being gutted I'm not going to the Clothes Show Live this year, I'm looking forward to an exciting evening with my bestun's tonight, and a good feast of pizza! 

Today, the sun decided to say hello - which I was more than happy about, as I'm really struggling at the moment to get any shoots done, thanks to the lack of daylight and rain...

As I've been slobbering around the house today, I only got dressed around 4 o'clock, so please excuse the poor lighting and lack of quality - I promise to sort myself out for tomorrow! 

Burning With A Cold Flame...

As promised, another post coming your way! Two in one day (you lucky things...)

So the sun was shinning this afternoon - perfect for the wedding I was singing at! Turned out, it was an old friend's sister getting married; which made it super cute! Lucky for them the weather was nice! Unlucky for me the weather has turned ugly! I'm supposed to be going with my family to a bomfire display tonight - but if it keeps raining... YOU CAN COUNT ME OUT! I've never been the hugest fan of fireworks; not since we had our own 'display' at my house a few years ago and nearly set our Thatched Cottage roof alight. It seemed my dad was unaware that fireworks have to be dug into the ground - so sent the whole thing, up in the air (whoops) - as a result, our family tend's to give fireworks a miss since then! Though I am still very much looking forward to wearing my lovely new coat - THANKS DOTTY P! :D

Today's post is my 'keep me warm' outfit. I just love winter. It's a great excuse to slob around in oversized jumpers, load on the layers and enjoy lots of hot drinks! Please excuse the poor quality of today's photos, my cammera has been playing up on me - you cant guess what's on my christmas list!

  

I just love this jumper! Here's my secret behind it. If you want it, you'll find it in the mens section of Primark. I was unimpressed my some of the ladies jumpers designs - they were either to thick for what I wanted, or I didn't like the design. Insted I found myself among a crowd of men trying on jumpers in the smallest sizes! There were some amazing jumpers, with great price tag's and I've fallen in love with mine :)

Very Best of Next AW12 X

Hey there!
Turns out I've spent the most of my Week off school, blogging, eating and doing homework... the joys! 

I found a lovely competition to enter on http://www.amyantoinette.com/ blog page! Amy has teamed up with Next in an exciting competition, to win £500 worth of Next vouchers! The great thing about Next, is that it offers something for everyone! Me and my momma regularly do swaps on Next clothing, and fight over who is aloud to buy which top! So here's my entry! If you fancy having a go for yourself check it out now! All the outfits bellow, can be found on the Next website: http://www.next.co.uk/:) ENJOY X

My first outfit is this lovely Lipsy wax lace shift dress. Just because Winter's here doesn't mean you can't wear your favourite dress with a pair of heals! I love the Gold over wax design, it's so elegant, and perfect for Christmas parties! I've pared it with some glittery heals, as a girls outfit is never complete with a sprinkle of glitter! Accessorize with a black and beaded clutch, and John Richard Vine Necklace, to set your outfit off. Not forgetting a lovely Sparkle Jacket, as let's not forget, it may be hot on the dance floor - but it'll be freezing outside (from personal experience, trust me on this one!). Dress: £70, Shoe's £45, Clutch £35, Necklace £30, Jacket £38.

Casting an Autumn Spell X

Well I've just about recovered after a crazy weekend!

Kelly Clarkson was amazing on Sunday - She's been an idol of mine since I was little, so it was so great to finally see her - and that she sang all my old time favourites too!!!!!
We've got half term next week, but lucky me - I've got work experience! So it won't be much of a break.

Still I'm very excited, as any opportunity to develop my understanding of a career in Marketing should be fun! Plus it gives me something productive to do with my week - apart from shopping!

I'm off now to one of my many dance lessons, followed by a piano lesson - the joys of being young!

As I've been majorly busy, I'm throwing on whatever's at the front of the wardrobe at the moment, relying on my classic 'blue scarf' that I'm way to obsessed with! While completing some (unskilled) photography of my Garden for my art homework, here's a little sneak at today's mixxxxxx mash!

Winter Woollies and Cosy Coats X

So It's been another hectic week in my household.
Now, I could complain to you about how tired I am, or how I still have a pile of homework to catchup on, or that I've willingly volunteered to give up my Saturday to go on an 'all day visit' to York University, for a History Lecture...... No....... Because that would be incredibly dull.

Instead in the search for my perfect AW12 Coat, and some equally snuggly woollies to make a shopping trip worthwhile. So thanks to the Internet and online shopping (MY HEAVEN!) I've found a a few pieces, I may have fallen in love with!

Last Year's Winter - Snow Snow Snow <3

New Look and Sparkle Fashion Blog Comp X

It's that time again, I've found another brilliant competition to enter, thanks to New Look and 'Sparkle Fashion Blog.' I love my jeans - as they are essential part of every girls wardrobe! So when I was asked to take part in putting together an outfit, centred around the 'classic jeans,' I knew, the only problem would be finding just ONE outfit to enter!

The Latest 'Primarni' Purchase.

So I went on a splurge last week, and currently very proud of my latest Primark purchase (best buy ever!).
Since last Saturday, I was so proud of how much money I came home with after my day trip, that I've managed to spend nearly every penny... Whoops!
Still, It's the first day of autumn today - so I see these beauty's as a good personal investment!

The perfect outfit for under £50 - No problem!

As you already know, I'm obsessed with a bargain or two! So when Boohoo.com set me the challenge to put together an outfit for under £50, I was more than happy to spend my Saturday morning clawing at my computer screen, for the wonderful creations in the current Boohoo range. Problem was, choosing one outfit wasn't going to be easy! If you fancy checking out the compeition for yourself and testing out your 'bargain hunter skills' then head over to: www.fashionvouchers.com. So, I'll stop my rambling...here's my competition entry. Enjoy! X

Skater Leather Look Skirt: £14, Shirt £18, Velvet Slipper Shoes £18.

~September Early Morning Secret's~

HOLA CHICAS!

It's fair to say every person in England is trying to ignore the obvious signs that September is lingering in the distance. There are three reasons for this. You go back to school/collage/work starts back up in 'full swing'. You are also confronted with a pile of 'summer' added weight, you now need to loose. And finally, the early starts with darker mornings begins! I've just entered a beauty competition, all about 'your secret's to getting the best start in the morning' and I thought I'd share mine with all your lucky readers. So SHUSH!