OOTD: floral heels

Outfit:
Black cold shoulder ruffle dress: ASOS (similar)
Black and white pattern clutch: Primark (similar)
Floral embroidered heels: LOTD.com*

So here we are, in October again. I have to admit this really is my favourite time of year as cliché as it may sound. I'm not one for the heat and winter brings with it too much rain for my liking. But this season the weather is still pleasant, fresh with a slight bite in the air. It's warm enough to only have to wear a thin mac and the skies are still blue.

LOTD.com got in touch to see if I wanted to update my wardrobe and among the things they kindly gifted were these pretty heeled sandals. I love the detailing on the heels and they really help to jazz up a simple outfit. One of my favourite things about the colder weather is dipping back into my winter wardrobe. I last wore this dress to a wedding in Glasgow over the festive period last year and am glad to be giving it another outing.

This week is going to be taken pretty easy. I'm finally off to my friend's new baby tonight who has to be the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen. As someone who is a self-confessed baby hater (slightly OTT), I never thought I would be this excited over a newborn. But I suppose it's different one they're one of your squad. I can't wait to give her a big cuddle and teach her lots of bad habits. I'll also be helping Hannah celebrate her birthday with the rest of the crew. An evening of giggles and good food is just what is needed after feeling a bit under the weather.

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OOTD: Blue cotton sun dress

Outfit:
Blue cotton midi dress: H&M (similar)
Light wash denim jacket: Primark (similar)
Gold boyfriend watch: Marc Jacobs (similar)

While we were travelling around Poland last month we decided to schedule in a beach trip. Somehow we managed to choose a day that was the chillest out of the whole two weeks but that just meant it felt like going to the beach at home! Sopot is around a 20 minute train journey from Gdansk, making it the perfect day trip if you find yourself in the city. I've got a post coming up soon so I won't say much more about the town. But it's definitely worth a visit, if only for ice cream from Flamingo & Co. That stuff is absolutely heavenly and I still dream about it now. Believe it or not, Poland is the best for ice cream. No joke.

I've been trying to wear more stuff in my wardrobe because I can barely afford to buy my weekly bus ticket, let alone treat myself to new clothes. Have you got your violins out yet? Owning a house is tough on my finances. I have no idea how I forgot about this dress and sadly this is the only time I've worn it this year. If that isn't the sign of a true shopaholic then I don't know what is... Hopefully an Indian summer is on its way and I'll get a few more wears out of this before the year is up.

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The Zara summer dress you have to buy

Outfit:

Gingham and floral shirt dress: Zara (similar)
Light wash denim jacket: Primark (similar)
Black double strap sliders: Birkenstock

I first spotted this Zara dress a good few weeks ago and fell in love but I had to wait until payday to finally make it mine. It finally came around and it become mine just in time for my weekend trip to Marseille. I snapped a few outfit snaps on my phone for Instagram but it was so well received I thought I would blog about it! It's probably my favourite purchase of the year and is the perfect holiday dress. Made from lightweight cotton, it's easy to fit into hand hand luggage and easy to dry out if you have to wash it while you're away. It's a great length and the two splits at the side stop it from feeling frumpy. I love the bright clashing patterns and the short sleeves are great if your shoulders are prone to a bit of sunburn like me. It's something that will definitely be coming in my bag for my July trip to Poland as well as frequently appearing on my body as we accelerate into the summer months.

Have a look at some more floral dresses below.

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How to style a tiered midi skirt

Outfit:
Black roll neck body: ASOS (similar)
Black and white patterned tiered midi skirt: ASOS
Black midi heel shoes: Primark (similar)
Poppy red Lily bag: Mulberry
Faux leather jacket: New Look (similar)
Red liquid lipstick: Kat Von D

I wore this over the weekend for a little mother/daughter date to London. We had such a lovely day catching An American in Paris in the West End (highly recommend it!), buying ridiculous yet fully essential things for my garden to make it look pretty for an upcoming BBQ and stuffing our faces in Bills with ribs and chicken burgers. It turned out to be such a beautiful day and it finally felt like spring. Looking out the window I had high hopes for the weather so I decided to wear my favourite skirt again. It makes me feel like the red lady dress emoji which is never a bad thing right?

This weekend looks to be just as fun as I'm on my way to the French Riviera for a weekend with my favourite internet friends. We've got the perfect guide in the form of Elodie showing us all around her hometown. I can't wait for a weekend of good food, great company and warm sunshine. It's been a long four months since I've been on a plane so I'm so excited to be exploring another part of the world.

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The £13 Primark embroidery shirt everyone needs

Outfit:
Khaki floral embroidery shirt: Primark (similar)
Ripped hem skinny jeans: New Look (similar)
Grey tailored coat: New Look (similar)
Croc print black skater shoes: Vans via TK Maxx (similar)
Red canvas backpack: Fjallraven Kanken via Asos

Back to my weekend uniform! I can't quite believe it but the last few weeks I've swapped my handbag for this backpack that I usually just keep for when I travel. I've been suffering with sore shoulders and back so thought I'd try and distribute the weight a bit by using a backpack. Turns out I'm getting sensible in my old age! I'm now a convert, my shoulders feel so much better and I can carry so much more stuff. As I'm no longer having to carry a handbag and tote bag to work, I look less like a cart horse... It doesn't seem like much of a hardship when the backpack looks like this to be honest. One step closer to achieving the Scandi coolness...

This week again looks set to be a busy week. I've got a few events I want to attend, a few drinks with friends and a dinner out. No doubt I'll be moaning by Wednesday just how tired I am but what's the point in working in London if you're not going to embrace it eh? God job this weekend was a lazy one...

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Why everyone should buy a yellow dress for the summer

Outfit:
Yellow bardot summer dress: ASOS
Black faux suede mid heels: Primark (similar)
Poppy red Lily: Mulberry

Last weekend we took advantage of the sunshine after lunch at Hannah's and strolled down to the river in Putney to catch the rowers warming up for the Oxford and Cambridge boat race. After a few visits to Putney, I've really grown to love the area. It doesn't feel like you're in the city at all and when you're down by the river in the warm weather, you could almost be on holiday! I think I was a little too optimistic with this dress as when the sun went in, it was a little chilly. But it was just too pretty to have hanging in my wardrobe unworn. I've been eyeing it on the site for months but it kept coming in and out of stock. I finally managed to nab it at the right time and think it's going to be a staple for the next few months.

This weekend has been a busy one. Yesterday we celebrated a family 50th birthday and managed to squeeze in a tasty Bills brunch too. Today we're off out this afternoon to celebrate a friends birthday at Top Golf. It's been so nice to stay local for one and away from all the tubes!

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Dressing for the first day of spring

Outfit:
Leopard print jersey midi dress: ASOS
Mid heel black pointed courts: Primark (similar)
Faux leather jacket with fur colour: New Look (similar)
Poppy Red Lily across body bag: Mulberry

Gosh wasn't this weekend's weather beautiful? These pins came out for the first time all year and it was glorious. Although looking back it seems they could do with a bit of fake tan to help brighten them up...

I've recently given my wardrobe a bit of a overhaul. I've not been quite feeling myself lately thanks to gaining a bit of weight and my clothes not quite fitting how they used too. All those meals out are starting to catch up on me. But I'm hoping I can start getting back to myself once I properly move out and start cooking home cooked meals in my house. I've been wearing the same outfits over and over again, being stuck in a dreaded style rut and just being so unhappy when I look in the mirror. I have all these clothes hanging in my wardrobe taunting me and yet my motivation seems to be at rock bottom.

Instead of losing the weight as I probably should - but you know burgers - I've decided to treat myself to some new clothes. This dress has made me feel like myself again. It's makes me feel confident and given me a spring in my step. It's everything I adore about a dress. A loud print, a long length and short sleeves. This type of dress is my jam, it's what looks best on me and has been my style staple for the past decade.  I've neglected the midi dress recently, preferring to hide away in jeans and a blouse. But here's to gradually climbing out of that style rut. And maybe losing that stone that consists of pizza, cake and burgers. Eventually.

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Why you need a pair of rose gold heels in your life

Outfit:
Grey and purple ombre coat: ASOS (similar)
Colour block shirt: Boohoo
Washed out black skinny jeans: New Look (similar)
Rose gold court shoes: 4th & Reckless*
Red liquid lipstick: Kat Von D

I love shoes. In particular I love a pair of heels. No evening out for me is completely without wearing a pair of high heels. Court shoes and barely there sandals are my weapon of choice. I have far too many pairs to even want to count. That way I can just pretend I have none and buy more right?

I was kindly gifted these rose gold court shoes and realised they were exactly what I was missing in my wardrobe. Sometimes you just don't know until it falls into your lap. They're neutral to go with everything in your wardrobe yet they pack a punch. They help to jazz up a simple outfit but are plain enough to go with a busy outfit too. Basically everyone needs a pair of rose gold heels in their life.

Take a look at more rose gold shoes below - go on, treat yourself!

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OOTD: Green midi dress

Outfit:
Green midi broderie shirt dress: ASOS
Light wash denim jacket: Primark (similar)
Pony hair black block heeled sandals: New Look (similar)
Red leather Lily bag: Mulberry

I've been stockpiling lots of summer dresses ready for my trip to Copenhagen at the beginning of July. Which really means I've been obsessively checking the new in section on ASOS and buying lots of things I don't really need. Standard behaviour. One of the things I came across during my daily search was this green midi. It was lovely at first sight. A dress that goes from day to night. Perfect for a day exploring Copenhagen before retiring for dinner in the Danish city. Its casual enough to wander but smart enough to make it look like you've made an effort. What more could you want from a dress? I gave the dress a debut during a lazy Saturday walk around Battersea Park before feeding our faces at the Prince Albert pub. But more on that pub lunch in the next post. Spoiler. It was absolutely delicious!

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