Leather in Summer

We've had so much amazing weather lately, I came to a point where I just didn't know what summer dress to turn to next. It's also a bit of a shock to the system being wrenched away from my winter colour palette so instead of going bright I built a simple muted outfit around my trusty pleather skirt.

I have to fight with myself not to clash colours and instead choose neutral tones but I think I found the right balance with a little bit of pink lipstick and the grey blue sunnies.

Are you enjoying dressing in bright colours or do you keep wearing your winter clothes?

Vest Top - River Island

Pleather Skirt - H&M

Studded Sandals - New Look

Pendant Necklace - Topshop

Mulberry Alexa Bag

Sunglasses - C&A

Lipstick - Touch of Magic by Barry M

A Royal Baby Is Born

It's my new dress! Don't you just love it?!

So I spotted this dress in H&M at the weekend (this and it's all black sister, yes I bought both) and on trying it on knew it had to be mine. It's only like, the perfect cut on me. The halter neckline is so flattering and what with my upcoming trip to New York, buying pretty summer dresses is totally legitimate.

I went with this Swedish-esque plaited hairstyle to show off the detail of the dress and chose fairly subtle accessories. I think the green ring and red lipstick gives a nice bit of colour and I can always find a reason to wear my mirrored sunglasses.

In other news, the royal baby was born today (well, technically yesterday, since I'm late night blogging past midnight)! I'm not really royalist as such but I seemingly get quite excited for such events. I mean, it is history in the making, despite the fact people have babies every day yada yada yada.

So anyway, congratulations Kate and Wills!

Halter Dress - H&M

Metallic Strappy Sandals - New Look

Mirrored Sunnies - Primark

Studded Bag - Moroccan Market

Green Ring - Turkish Market

Red Lipstick - Stiletto by Sleek

Disco Pants & Denim

I'm a pair of legwarmers and a Spandau Ballet record away from actually being in the '80s here. It's not a fashion era I ever thought I'd be into but apparently I'm all over the bomber jackets and acid wash denim.

I feel like I should address the socks. Now I know socks showing from under trousers is the ultimate in cool... if you're a geography teacher that is but every time I look at these leopard print babies I feel like they need more show time. I have to admit, the sock thing does remind me of a Sex & the City Carrie Bradshaw moment where she's wearing knee high plaid socks with a flat cap... but hey, I felt like it on the day and I went with it. That's what fashion is all about, right?

I also feel the need to admit that I did not wear this outfit on one of our recent heatwave days. I'm not an idiot, I've seen the Friends episode with Ross' leather pants and I get the distinct feeling, American Apparel disco pants will work in the exact same way.

Bomber Jacket - Primark

Acid Wash Sleeveless Shirt - Primark

Disco Pants - American Apparel

Leopard Print Socks - New Look

Burgundy Pumps - New Look

Gold Boyfriend Watch - ASOS

Gold Necklace - H&M

Ballet Pink

Oh dear, squinty smug face strikes again. I can't begin to explain how difficult it is to contort my sad neutral face into something that represents a normal face. Anyway, enough of my facial difficulties.

My Carrie Bradshaw skirt has featured on here before but it was only recently I realised that it matched this top, thus creating a dress! Ahh, fashion maths.

I'm very much in love with my neon accent sandals. When I first spotted them in H&M I fell immediately in love but thought they might be hard to style. Fortunately my fears were unjust and I've found I quite like clashing them with unexpected looks. I know, right? Thank the Lord.

Net Skirt - H&M

Frill Top - H&M

Sandals - H&M

Watch - ASOS

Necklace - H&M

Satchel - Glastonbury Festival

Lipstick - Touch of Magic by Barry M

English Garden Summer Dress

There's nothing better than a really great new dress. Actually there is, when that dress has had £30 knocked off the price.

I spied this rose caressed beauty on Oasis a while back but I have a serious problem with spending any more than £25 on a dress so I sighed, closed the window and probably headed off to Primark. A sale however, will catch my eye and when it's the last one in my size and almost half price it's pretty much destiny.

Nobody can deny that Oasis dresses feel quality and this one is made from very thick material and fits really well. The print reminds me of an English garden on a summer's day, which is only like, my favourite thing. I also pictured myself skipping through New York, Carrie Bradshaw style, while wearing it - did I mention I'm going in August?

Eeeeeeep!

Rose Print Dress - Oasis

Studded Sandals - Primark

Mulberry Alexa Bag

Wedding Outfits: Boys & Girls

A few weekends back, James and I headed out to a wedding reception of some friends from school. The evening do was held in an old barn and courtyard complete with fire pit, cheese platters and a helluva lot of bunting.

The weather was really beautiful and we had a great time sneaking back and forth to our tent (yep, camping was our room for the night) to collect bottles of cider as if we were fifteen again. Call us cheapskates but we're currently saving towards going to New York in August (SO EXCITED) so cider stealthing was pretty essential.

Both myself and James love a good vintage outfit and you can really go to town at a wedding. James describes his look as Mumford & Sons meets Frank Sinatra (actually, I added the 'meets Frank' part) and mine is just classic cocktail dress meets box of Magners in shot.

James wore:

Shirt - Republic

Trousers - Matalan

Braces - H&M

Bow Tie - Debenhams

Brogues - Matalan

Hannah wore:

Halter Dress - Red Herring at Debenhams

Wedge Sandals - Primark

Red Lipstick - Stiletto by Sleek

Joni Jeans

I resisted Topshop jeans for years. Well, I say resisted, more like avoided them from the fear of never getting them over my gigantic calves. I find Topshop's sizing quite small but once upon a time in the sale, I dared try on a pair of Jamie jeans and was thrilled and a little shocked to find they fit.

So my eyes were opened to the world of Topshop denim and when on the hunt for some super high waisted jeans, I discovered Topshop Joni jeans.

On a trip to Bristol I was fully prepared to part with the £40 but they didn't have them in my size so instead I hit up eBay where, much to my delight, I discovered brand new ex-display Joni jeans for around half the price. These are now my go-to jeans for pretty much any jean-based outfit. Score!

Joni Jeans - Topshop

Pussybow Blouse - Vintage

Tweed Blazer - Primark

Converse

Studded Bag - Moroccan Souk

Lipstick - Touch of Magic by Barry M

Ethnic Summer

I bought this high neck top a while back since it seemed to be the top of the season but I made a fatal error. In my poor state at the time of buying I sent back the ASOS version in favour for the cheaper eBay one and now I am blighted with see through top. 

Schoolboy.

I do really love the style but next time, I won't be scrimping then maybe I'll keep my dignity.

Loving the maxi skirts when the weather is hot and these mirrored sunglasses are one of my favourite recent Primark finds. The ethnic necklace is from a souk in Marrakech. It took my very best haggling to get it to come home with me but how annoying is it when some of the little doo-dahs flip underneath? Very annoying.

Black Roll Neck Top - Ebay

Green Maxi Skirt - Primark

Flip Flops - Primark

Cardigan - Internacionale

Leather Satchel - Glastonbury Stall

Mirrored Sunglasses - Primark

Necklace - Moroccan Market

Lipstick - Stiletto by Sleek