OOTD: Little black dress

Outfit:
Black crepe midi dress: Zara (similar)
Ombre midi coat: ASOS (similar)
Burgundy leather ankle boots: Next (similar)
Black leather Bayswater: Mulberry

Not the most ground-breaking of outfit but when all else fails, the little black dress always succeeds. It's foolproof when you're having a breakdown in front of your wardrobe struggling to know what to wear. I always like to add a few splashes of colour if I'm going for the all black everything look. This time I opted for burgundy. Again. One day I'll promise I'll stop wearing this coat and these boots so much. Maybe when spring finally arrives. It is coming right?!

I've been making a conscious decision to slow down recently. Clearing my diary and just concentrating on myself. The early nights aren't quite happening but I'm feeling a lot better in myself. I think I was trying to cram in a bit too much, eager not to get FOMO and spending too much money. I love working in the city but commuting is tough. I think you forget how much travelling knocks you for six. So I've been spending the last week - and probably this week! - obsessively watching Dickensian, eating spaghetti on toast, taking candle lit bubble baths and reading Game of Thrones conspiracies. Pretty much perfect.

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OOTD: Grey ripped jeans

Outfit:
Khaki tunic: ASOS (Similar)
Grey ripped jeans: New look
Burgundy leather ankle boots: Next (similar)
Grey ombre midi coat: ASOS (similar)
Poppy red Lily bag: Mulberry

I hope you're not getting fed up with this coat because it's still attached to my body. Perfect for this cold weather snap - stylish and great at keeping me cosy! I went on a bit of jeans splurge a few weeks ago to try and update my drawer. Among them were these distressed grey skinnies. I am a bit partial to a ripped knee now and was keen to add to my collection. New Look jeans just fit like a dream, are reasonably priced and they keep their shape - not baggy knees on these bad boys! What's not to love?

I wore this little ensemble to a Japanese brunch date at Flesh and Buns with my favourites Lily, Sarah - the expert photographer - and Hannah to help celebrate my birthday. I was given some wonderful gifts, rinsed the all-inclusive processo, cackled like a mad woman and stuffed myself silly with steamed buns. It was one of my favourite afternoons out in a long time. Those girls are pretty special.

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OOTD: Winter florals midi dress

Outfit:
Winter floral midi dress: F&F (similar)
Burgundy leather ankle boots: Next (similar)
Grey ombre coat: ASOS (similar)
Poppy red medium Lily: Mulberry (similar)

An afternoon out at The Goring called for a new dress so naturally I had to oblige. This floral number was found at F&F for a mere £25. I loved the slightly 70s feel and and the long sleeves. I just need to dig out my burgundy fedora to complete the look. I say it time and time again but Tesco really is my favourite supermarket for clothes. They always bring out such gems season after season at reasonable prices and good quality.

Well we've well and truly been hit with that cold snap eh? So much for that mild winter that had us all complaining. What I'd do for that now! This weekend I'll be celebrating nine years with my boyfriend and scratching my head at how it's been so long. We've got a hotel booked in East London for Saturday night, cocktails and a Hozier gig in South London before a late brunch at Duck and Waffle on the Sunday. Something I'm so excited for. I've been dying to get a table booked there for months. Those views from the Heron Tower *insert heart eyed emoji|*.

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OOTD: Chunky roll neck jumper

Outfit:

Khaki trench coat: Primark (similar)

Two tone chunky knit roll neck jumper: New Look

Navy soft touch skinny jeans: ASDA* (similar)

Two tone brown and black heeled leather boots: TK Maxx (similar)

Poppy red medium lily: Mulberry

I took fashion advice from Hannah Gale and went on the hunt before Christmas for some long-line chunky knit roll neck jumpers. The girl has a cracking collection. I eventually came across some on New Look that tickled my fancy - this two tone jumper was one of two that I ordered. Now I want to order all the chunky knits in the world. They're cosy, easy to throw on and allow you to still feel put together yet as comfortable as wearing your jammies outdoors. Win win situation all round. Now when is payday so I can buy more?

Ah Neals Yard - an Instagram wet dream eh? I met up with Lily and Sarah whilst dragging along my RL friend for a brunch date at Dishoom and a bit of Shakespeare culture with Dame Judi Dench in A Winter's Tale. You should have seen my best friends gobsmacked face when we all whipped out our cameras to photograph our breakfast. The girl didn't know what had hit her! A Winter's Tale was fun. I didn't really have a clue what was going on for the first 20 minutes and really should have done prior research. But by the second act I was laughing at the jokes and it was a pleasure to see Dame Judi in action. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday I tell thee. 

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A Mulberry handbag treat

Last weekend I did something pretty reckless. I treated myself to a new Mulberry handbag. It was completely on the whim as I wasn't really looking for a new designer bag. I had some Christmas money, early birthday money for my parents and a £2 money box a quarter full so I only ended up paying £41 out of my own money. So really it was practically free. Or something like that! I'd wandered into the shop in Covent Garden and saw my dream bag in the sale so decided to go for it. I haven't regretted it since. The Kitchenaid food blender I was saving up for will have to be bought later on in the year!

I have such a thing for red accessories and have lusted over a Mulberry Lily for a few years. I treated myself to a Bayswater when I got my first freelance gig three years ago so had been eyeing up a new bag. But I thought I had a lot more saving to do. My upcoming 27th birthday seemed like the perfect excuse to just go for it! I absolutely adore it. It's a fantastic size, such a vibrant colour and so versatile. There's just something about the Mulberry brand that sucker punches me. No one else comes close.

Isn't Lily such a beauty?!

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OOTD: Ombre coat

Outfit:
Burgundy and grey ombre coat: ASOS (similar)
Black skinny jeans: New Look
Black vest tunic: ASOS (similar)
Burgundy heeled leather ankle boots: Next (similar)
Blue plastic glasses: Julian MacDonald via Vision Express*

So the last week of 2015 eh? I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I certainly did! It will full of lots of family bonding, incredible food, too many bubbles and lots of films. I feel utterly exhausted and not quite sure how I'm going to get back into a decent routine. Does anyone struggle with knowing what day it is between Christmas and New Year? It just feels like a fun-filled blur!

I was very kindly gifted this gorgeous coat and these boots from my parents for Christmas. I think the coat was actually bought around October time so I was patiently binding my time until I could finally wear it. Talk about a slow torture! It was well worth the long wait. I have such a soft spot for statement coats. Spending the last 26 years living in the UK - also known as the Arctic during the winter - had given me a deep appreciation for a decent coat so they're always worth the investment. After all, you wear them for nine months of the year!

I also just wanted to say thank you so much for your kind comments on the last post. You guys are pretty darn cool!

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OOTD: Cream faux fur coat

Outfit:
Cream faux fur coat: Primark (similar)
Floral silky longline shirt: Boohoo*
Black skinny jeans: New Look (similar)
Cobalt blue studded heels: Dorothy Perkins (similar)
Black leather Bayswater bag: Mulberry 

Despite my boyfriend asking me if I was feeling a bit sheepish when I met him wearing this coat, I'm very glad it's finally cold enough to bring it out of storage. The best £25 I ever spent in Primark. And it's lasted more than one season which is always a bonus with that shop! I wore this for a burger lunch date with Hannah and Lily before mooching around the V&A museum. Pretty perfect Wednesday if you ask me! I'm now back at work, back commuting and back spending my days in London. So long week off! Now it's all full steam ahead until Christmas. How on earth is is December already?

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OOTD: Purple glasses

Outfit:
Khaki trench coat: Primark (similar)
Blue soft jeans: George At Asda* (similar)
Orange bird print chiffon shirt: River Island (similar)
Grey leather ankle boots: Office (similar)
Red and navy checked scarf: Accessorize (similar)
Purple cat eye glasses: London Retro*
Black leather Bayswater: Mulberry

As a glasses wearer since the tender age of 11, I appreciate a good pair of specs. I like to have a few on rotation at once. After all you wouldn't wear the same t-shirt everyday right? They have to stand out, have a slightly retro shape and thick rimmed to get my seal of approval. That means the Bakerloo frames from London Retro tick all the boxes. I'm on my third pair of glasses from the brand and I really can't fault them at all. The delivery is always impeccable and they have such a gorgeous selection of glasses.

November is looking to be a busy month. Just how I like it. I've got a good chunk of freelance work scheduled in, lots of fun events planned, exciting things happening with the blog and of course, Christmas shopping to start. The dreaded C word has started to take over my life. How on earth is it that time again?

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OOTD: Pink floral dress

Outfit:

Pink floral midi dress: Topshop (similar)
Quilted faux leather jacket: Zara (similar)
Suede and leather heeled ankle boots: Ravel via TK Maxx (similar)
Black leather Bayswater: Mulberry

I've been trying very hard to keep this dress off my body lately. Pub with friends? Out comes the dress. Trip into London? Out comes the dress. Going to see a Whitney Houston tribute night like tonight? Out comes the dress. So really a dress for everything. That's the excuse I told myself when I treated myself to it. You can always find an excuse whilst shopping.

Looks like it's tights and ankle boots weather for another 6 months. And scarves. And gloves. And thick coats. Can you tell I'm not excited at the prospect?! But it does mean a little bit of shopping to update my wardrobe. Now that is something that excites me.

Thanks to the ever so lovely Sarah for snapping these pictures.

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