[OUTFIT] Summer Work-wear

With a heat wave promised for this weekend in the UK, I decided to dress as I meant to go on for work on Friday and hunted out my Dorothy Perkins playsuit. It looks a little like a dress but the shorts make it a little less liable to flashing anything untoward.

I’ve added a little Boots 17 Instant Fake Tan Gel to my legs so that they’re not as pasty white as they were!

And I’ve finished it off with my Sam Edelman sandals.

A playsuit makes a great alternative to a dress and this floral pattern means that this one can be worn for formal occasions without looking too chintzy.

I’ve worn this dress to weddings, the office and for dinner out in the summer – making it one of the most versatile pieces in my wardrobe.

It looks great paired with sandals or flip flops or even heeled shoes – depending on your mood and the event.

On Friday I went straight from the office to a BBQ and felt completely well dressed in both situations.

How do you dress for the warm weather at work?

[SS13] Top Five Sunglasses Styles For Summer 2013

With summer apparently here, sunglasses are the must-have accessory of the season and we’ve picked the top five shapes for summer 2013:

• Wayfarer: wear with denim cut-offs and a crop top!
• 60s style: team these with your most retro of outfits.
• Cat-eye: wear with your prettiest summer dresses.
• Aviator: these will work whatever your style and are classic and timeless – probably one of your best bets for an investment pair of sunglasses.
• Oversized: channel your inner Audrey and team with an LBD for ultimate summertime glamour!

What shape are you wearing this summer?

[SALE STEALS] Dorothy Perkins

It’s sale time again!!! Nothing makes me happier than the 50% off signs. To save you the trouble of rummaging through the sale racks, I’ll be posting some of top finds over the next week or so. Today, here are my top three jewellery finds from the Dorothy Perkins sale:

1. These pretty blue stone earrings (as seen in Grazia magazine!) are perfect to add to an outfit for a summer wedding
2. This set of pastel triangle stud earrings will work for the office or the weekend throughout the summer months
3. My favourite find so far has to be these on trend pastel and neon stone earrings – wear with everything, all of the time!

Have you been sale shopping yet? What did you buy?

[FRIDAY'S FIVE UNDER FIFTY]

This week sees the start of a new series on the blog. Each Friday I’ll pick five pieces for your weekend, all under £50. So whether you intend to spend your weekend partying, catching up with friends, or enjoying lazy long brunches, there’ll be something for you to treat yourself to without having to worry about breaking the bank!

1. If you’re planning to party this weekend, make sure you sparkle with this sequined sheer loose fit top by Mango;
2. This Warehouse statement necklace will dress up any outfit, no matter how casual;
3. This gorgeous spot dress by Wallis is perfect for a formal Sunday lunch with family, or can keep for Monday morning;
4. If you’re planning on any retail therapy this weekend, make sure to keep your feet happy with these flat boots at Kurt Geiger;
5. For relaxing in front of the TV, or Sunday brunch with friends, this Dorothy Perkins knit jumper will keep you warm and comfortable.

What are your plans for the weekend? I’d love to hear about all of your exciting plans!

[BARGAIN OF THE DAY] Dorothy Perkins Coral Peplum Top

Check out this on-trend peplum top, currently reduced in the Dorothy Perkins sale. Was £26, now £12. And, from today, you get an extra 10% all sale pieces at Dorothy Perkins – which makes this top a bargainous £10.80!!

[BARGAIN OF THE DAY] Dorothy Perkins floral tee

When I spotted this Dorothy Perkins floral tee in Grazia a month or so ago, I knew I had to track it down. I still haven’t actually bought it (shame on me!) but it’s too good not to share.

It looks like it just stepped right off the catwalk for Mary Katrantzou SS12, right?

How would you wear it? Teamed with more florals/patterns? Or with simple neutrals?

[OUTFIT] What I Was Wearing for a sunny Sunday stroll by the sea

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day in Cardiff Bay. We awoke to sunshine streaming into our apartment and decided to head out for a walk through the Bay and across the Barage.

For the walk, I chose to keep any sea breeze at bay with my new quilted jacket from Dorothy Perkins and teamed it with a floral H&M scarf, a Uniqlo cashmere blend jumper, new Oasis bottle green jeans and my trusty Converse trainers:

We strolled past the Wales Millennium Centre, drenched in the sunlight:

And then round and over the Barage – looking back towards the Bay:

And out to sea:

How was your weekend? Did you get out and enjoy the sun?

Budget bonus: Until midnight tonight get FREE delivery on all orders at Uniqlo and £10 off when you spend £50 with this code: TREAT50.

Budget bonus: Students if you’re in Cardiff, Birmingham, Sheffield or Manchester, find out here how you could get yourself a FREE pair of Oasis jeans.

[DISCOUNT] Dorothy Perkins 25% off VIP Week

What better way to start your Spring wardrobe than with a little discount? Dorothy Perkins are hosting their VIP Week and offering shoppers 25% off and we have chosen our favourite pieces to wear now and see you through to the new season:

 

• My top tip for SS12 is coloured denim, preferably in sherbert shades! These mint coloured skinny jeans are perfect to keep you right on-trend.
• Florals are definitely “in” for Spring and mixing and matching your prints is the way to keep them fresh*:
• Choose the ivory fish print tee and team with a floral pencil skirt.
• Or the black floral tee with a monocrome print skirt.
• For maximum impact, take the multicoloured floral print tee and team with a contrast floral print pencil skirt.

How are you planning to update your wardrobe for Spring?

*Check out my how to wear the print trend for SS12 post

[OUTFIT] Friday 13th

Finally, an outfit post! My apologies for my severe lack of any outfit posts for weeks. The boyf isn’t always the most willing of photographers and taking photos in the hallway with a remote often feels unimaginative, do you like them or are they boring? Let me know, if you’re only interested in the clothes and how I’ve styled them, then I’ll go back to that and you can see more of me!

It’s dress-down-Friday and so jeans and my new New Look boots were the first things I picked out this morning. And then last year’s Christmas jumper. Which I love. It is so soft and hasn’t lost any of that through many, many washes.

Do you like my new coat? I say new, it’s about three weeks old. And it was bought when I found myself at my dad’s for Christmas with no coat packed. So stupid! So I made a dash for H&M, knowing that I’d be able to pick something up without breaking the bank. I’d been after a navy coat for ages and spotted this one almost immediately. They also happened to have 50% off all coats at the time too, so this one was under £20!! Bonus! At least I remembered everything else, I had a boss once who went to New York in the winter with his wife – and they forgot their entire suitcases! Only realised when they got to the airport and there was nothing they could do.

And my new New Look boots?

I asked you all earlier in the week which I should keep. Well, I couldn’t let either go, so they are both staying. Before I seem a little too frivolous, I did have a voucher for New Look that I used to buy the boots, so when they boyf* asked, when I returned from town with two pairs of new boots, “Have you got the money to be spending on new boots?” I could answer, yes! For once!

Do you believe in the curse of Friday the 13th? Or is it all rubbish? I’m of the latter opinion. Although I might not take any chances and won’t be walking under any ladders today! Hope you all have fun plans for the weekend – it’s going to be cold, so wrap up!

I was wearing: H&M coat, H&M snood, Dorothy Perkins jumper, Gap jeans, New Look boots and Longchamp bag.

*Note: this is the boyf who just spent more than 5x what the boots cost on a new guitar – might I add!

SALE ALERT: my-wardrobe, Kurt Geiger and Dorothy Perkins

As the countdown to the big day moves into days, many stores – my-wardrobe, Kurt Geiger and Dorothy Perkins to name but three – have launched their sales before Christmas this year, so whether you’re looking to do a little last minute gift shopping, or if you’ve already got your festive shopping wrapped up and just fancy a little something for yourself, I have picked out some of my favourite pieces from the sales:

my-wardrobe sale: DAY Birger Et Mikkelsen Day Bluebell Necklace: £79 £55; Marc by Marc Jacobs Purple Ipad Quilt Nylon Case: £55 £38; DAY Birger Et Mikkelsen Grey Day Wool Felt Hat: £99 £49; DAY Birger Et Mikkelsen Black Night Sake Velvet & Glass Bead Bib Necklace: £109 £54; Marc by Marc Jacobs Long Animal Print Cosmetic Bag: £85 £59; Smythson Lapis Blue Iphone Cover: £95 £66; and Dannijo Lucas Ring: £143 £71

KG Kurt Geiger sale: Jelly Baby Tote in Black £250 £125; Fizzball in Green £90 £45; Sugar Almond Wallet £70 £35; Perspex Small Pounch in Pink £20 £10; and Snake iPhone case in Grey £20 £10.

KG Kurt Geiger sale: Lily Snood in Red £50 £25; Minnie Cuff in Gold £50 £25; Annie Bracelet in Metallic £50 £25; Fara Bracelet in Navy £25 £12; Grace Ring in Metallic £40 £19; and Maya Leather Gloves in Red/Other £65 £32.50

Dorothy Perkins sale: Red rib and cable dress £34 £20; Mustard balloon sleeve dress £26 £17; Multi fairisle dress £36 £20; Stone crochet lace-up boots £45 £25; Grey mid heel Chelsea boots £40 £20; and Black fur lined wedge boots £65 £25.

What will you treat yourself to? I remember when I was younger my mother would ban me from buying anything for myself this close to Christmas as she insisted I should wait until Christmas Day but these days I like to rebel against that!