Won't you stay with me? 'Cause you're all I need

  

Outfit:
Quilted faux leather jacket: Zara (similar)
Grey polo neck jumper: Primark (similar)
Jacquard black and silver floral midi skirt: c/o Poppy Lux
Croc effect chunky heeled pointed courts: c/o Florence and Fred

When this skirt popped through my letterbox, I immediately thought of Christmas. There's just something about the metallic colours that scream the festive season to me. I think it's a keeper for Christmas Day. There's plenty of room to scoff down an insane amount of cheese and biscuits on the big day. What more could you want? Etail PR have come to the rescue!

I can't get over how fast November is creeping past. I feel like I'm going to blink and it's going to be December. My diary is starting to fill up with lots of Christmas get togethers and my shopping list is fast getting ticked off. I have a trip to Bruges in a few weeks which I'm extremely excited about. I'm not usually much of a Christmas fan - working in retail kinda sucks it out of you. But this year I'm enjoying seeing all the mince pies and Christmas trees pop up in shops. Working in food has meant that I've already had my fill of festive treats since the beginning of the month - long may it continue!

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How to style vintage into a modern wardrobe

I am a bit of a throwback to the past. I adore anything vintage or old fashioned but I struggle to dress head to toe. I can't seem to pull off vintage clothes without looking a little bit frumpy so instead I buy retro inspired clothes to get the same look. However, I have learnt along the years how to work with vintage acessories to help enhance my wardrobe. Here are a few tips on how to get the look without going the whole hog.

Brooches

I have an obsession with brooches - to the point where I struggle to leave pretty ones behind. I find they are so great for helping to jazz up a coat or a jumper. They're such a talking point and gives your outfit a little old fashioned charm without being too fuddy duddy, Colourful ones are brilliant for all black or monochrome outfits and pearl ones can help you embrace your inner Audrey Hepburn. You can pick them up for hardly anything from charity shops and bootsales.

Vintage scarfs
A scarf is by far the most simple way to jazz out an outfit. You can have an all-black outfit and pick a snazzy printed scarf and voila it changed the whole vibe. Opt for a long sweeping scarf to wear around your neck with a faux fur coat or choose a shorted multi-coloured scarf to tie around a vintage-style hairstyle.

Old fashioned bags
I'm also a collector - sense a theme here? - of what I like to describe as Kelly bags. Structured leather handbags - usually from the 1950's or the 1960's - are pretty easy to pick up from charity shops and car boots. They look so classy and can really give an outfit a vintage kick especially if you pair them with a midi skirt or shift dress. They're also a great size which is perfect if you like to carry a lot of junk around like me.

Pearls
My favourite stone is by far a pearl - i'm not sure Cameos count as a stone? - and i've built up quite a collection over the years. A string of vintage pearls immediately make an outfit ten times classier in my opinion. You can also go for pearl stud earrings if you want to push the boat out. I'm hardly ever seen with a pair of pearl studs.

How do you incorporate vintage in to your modern wardrobe? 

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Wake me up when it's all over.

Outfit:
Midi beige trench coat: Zara (Similar)
Quilted mint green floral midi skirt: ASOS (Similar)
Suede pointed Chelsea boots: Topshop
Black Cat eye glasses: c/o London Retro via Glasses Direct

Over the past year i've realised i'm a complete sucker for a cat eye so when Glasses Direct got in touch and offered me a snazzy new pair of London Retro glasses, that's obviously what I went for. I love the retro vibe of the specs and how they're something a little different from the norm. I was drawn to the leopard print on the arms. No point in blending in if you're a glasses wearer!

Glasses Direct actually offer a special service where they send you four of your favourite frames at no charge to try out at home. Once you decided on which beauties will grace your face, you can order the winners online. Then you return them free of charge within seven days. If nothing tickled your fancy, you can start the whole process all over again. Genius! They've also introduced a new boutique range which feature some amazing brands such as Ray-Ban, Superdry and Tommy Hilfiger.

What's your favourite style of glasses?

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Laura Ashley S/S '15

 

A few days ago I was invited along to have a little mooch around at what Laura Ashley will have to offer next season. It's always such a joy to have a sneak peak.

Their handbag game was immense. They're not a brand that I associate with handbags but I fell in love with every one they had on offer. I adored the gorgeous pastel colours and many reminded me of Michael Kors in the shape. The stunning pink envelope bag would be ideal for a summer wedding - it's big enough to still fit all your junk in!

They really went to town with their patterns for this season. The nautical themed rail was amazing - loved the adorable seagull print. You really can't beat a good thick cotton dress when the weather starts to heat up and the boat print one ticked all the right boxes. The cute buttons on the strap at the back was a lovely detail. My personal favourite has to be the midi white embroidery anglaise dress. It was such a perfect length and the material felt so luxe. Definitely a piece I'm going to look out for!

I was particularly impressed with their range of kitchenware. I'm a sucker for some china and loved the pretty patterns they had on offer. The cake knife would be perfect if you were throwing a family garden party and wanted to impress whilst cutting a yummy Victoria sponge. Who can resist the cute Tobias the dog lamp? Such a handsome chap!

Has anything caught your eye?

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Layering up

Outfit:
Midi beige trench coat: Zara (similar)
Burgundy and navy scarf: c/o New Look
Black across the body bag: Zara (similar)
Black turtleneck jumper: Primark (similar)
White textured drop waist dress: Asos
Leather heeled black boots: Topshop (similar)

You can tell the chill is starting to set in when you resemble the Michelin man when you leave the house thanks to the endless layers. This outfit is the prime example! Gosh it's been a little cold this week hasn't it? This trench still hasn't left my body since the day I bought it but I might have to retire it soon. It's just not thick enough! I'm still not entirely convinced by the drop waist dress. It's a little bit too much like a smock and not too flattering. But it's the ideal piece for layering a jumper underneath and is so comfortable! It definitely looks better with a bit of a heel.

Thank the heavens for Friday eh? This has been one hell of a week!

How are you layering up now the winter months have hit?

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Embracing the junk (in your trunk)

It's hard being a woman. There I said it. Seeing stunning, slim girls in magazines can play havoc with your self confidence. Everyone always has an opinion of how you should look and what is attractive.

I spent years wishing I was built differently. I always wanted to be straight up straight down but alas this wasn't to be. I was born a classic pear shape with my hips being the largest part of my body.

Despite knowing deep down I'm not fat, I'm constantly trying to better my eating habits and lose weight. I'm the girl always moaning about how many calories I'm consuming yet will always have that extra glass of wine or eat everyone's leftovers. I blame the former chubby girl inside who lost three stone at the age of 18 on Weightwatchers. I always see that girl in the mirror. I last a week, maybe two weeks of being a machine with my eating habits then I fall spectacularly. Usually when I get the chance to go out for dinner and stuff my face with three courses. I know I should exercise more and stop eating as much junk food.

But do you know what? I've started to embrace who I am. I'm in a healthy weight range for my height even if it may be at the higher end. My height helps me to carry off any few dreaded pounds that I might be carrying. I have a boyfriends who loves me just the way I am. I would love to lose half a stone but I also love to enjoy life - which to me means eating all the food. In the world. Swings and roundabouts.

At the grand old age of 25 I've finally worked out what clothes suit me and help my confidence grow. I like to wear crop tops as my stomach is flat and my waist is my smallest part. I find the 50's silhouette skims my hips and helps me appear much more slimmer than I am. The midi length is perfect to hide the top half of my legs. I would love to wear trousers but they just cling far too much to my child bearing hips doing me no favours. I ain't ever going to be a jeans and tee kinda girl. My bum doesn't agree with that!

It may be cliché but it really is true that you become more comfortable in yourself the older you get. You just learn to not really care any more. Life is far too short to be counting calories all the time. If you want to have that burger, stuff it in your face. Just try to maybe have a better day the next. It's all about balance. It wouldn't be any fun if everyone looked the same. I bet what you have in your eyes as perfection, someone else has you as perfection.

Fake the confidence until you have it my friends. You're beautiful just the way you are.

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Recipe: Scones

Whenever I'm pushed for time and fancy baking up a storm, I always opt for some scones. They're so simple to make and cook so quickly that they're in your mouth before you have the chance to say 'clotted cream and jam please!' This is my go-to recipe adapted slightly from Good Food.

Ingredients:
350g of self raising flour
150g of sultanas
1/4 tsp of salt
1 tsp of baking powder
85g of stork baking spread
4 tbsp of caster sugar
150g of half fat natural yogurt
4 tbsp of semi-skimmed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg beaten with 1 tbsp of milk to glaze

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and line a piece of greaseproof paper with butter before placing in a baking tray.

2. Mix the flour, salt, butter and baking powder in a big bowl with a wooden spoon. Then stir in the sugar and make a well in the middle of the mixture.

3. Warm the yogurt, milk and vanilla extract in a the microwave for a minute. Don't worry if the mixture looks a little lumpy, this is normal! Pour the mixture into the bowl and mix in with the dry ingredients. Pour the sultanas in at this stage too.

4. Take the dough out on to a flour dusted surface and fold it over a few times. Roll the dough out to about 4cm thick and cut out your scones. Continue until you have used all the dough.

5. Beat the egg with the milk and glaze the scones before popping in the oven.

6. Leave them in for 10 minutes until they are golden brown and risen. Leave to cool on a wire rack before tucking in with lots of jam and clotted cream if you have some in the fridge. Strawberry is my favourite!

As always make sure you tweet me if you happen to give these a go, I'd love to see how yours turn out. Happy baking!

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Thoroughly English

At the risk of being very cliché, I'm very much an autumn girl. I love it when the weather starts to get a little more chilly, the trees start to change colour and I have the excuse to spend my Sundays tucked up in bed binge watching Netflix without feeling guilty about missing out on the sunshine. I really do love layering up and getting all cosy with a scarf and gloves. Don't even get me started on buying coats. My excuse for my bulging wardrobe is as a Brit we spend most of the year in coats so I need to stock up. But just no rain please. I hate the rain. I've put together a little wish list of things I'd love to be sporting this season. A girl can dream right?

Parka - Joules, Skinny Jeans - Joules, Red Audacious Lipstick - NARS, Navy Tartan Check reversible scarf - River Island, Kate Salon Pro red Nail Polish - Rimmel, Jewellery - Joules, Leather brogues - Joules

Jumper - Joules, Trench Coat - Joules, Cream Embellished gloves - New Look, Grey bag - River Island, Boots - Joules

What are you looking forward to buying this autumn?

This post was written in collaboration with Joules.

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D'you reckon that they do it for a joke?

Outfit:
Burnt orange midi boho dress: Zara (similar)
Nude leather courts: Topshop (similar)
Lip crayon: Cover girl shade 215

I saw this dress in a Sunday paper magazine and decided there and then I just had to have it. It's not usually what I would ever go for but something just drew me in. I think I was hoping to channel my inner Sienna Miller that day. It was a tad overpriced but it was payday and I threw caution to the wind. You do have to be extremely careful with it as it does tend to snag if you're not careful. Serves me right for purchasing such a delicate piece I suppose! I'd been eyeing up these courts for weeks and was frantically selling on eBay to help pay for them. Just as I had enough money I learnt they'd gone in the sale and were sold out online but I managed to find them in a branch near work. I think it was fate! Real leather shoes for £30? Not bad Topshop, not bad at all.

Have you ever taken the plunge and bought something not your style but loved it?

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Tower Poppies

I'd been planning to visit the beautiful Tower Poppies for months and I finally got the chance to pop down to see them last weekend. What a gorgeous day it was to choose - London is always so much prettier when the sun is shining. The city just seems to come alive.

We hopped off at St Pauls and decided to walk along the river - with a detour to Borough Market which was shut for filming booo! - to the Tower. The Tower of London gets me every single time, it always has ever since I was a little girl obsessed with the Tudors. It always takes my breath away whenever I see it and it's by far my favourite building in London. So much history in one place - it's just a shame it's flipping £25 to go and visit!

We walked along Tower Bridge and immediately saw the huge crowds leaning over the fences to catch a glimpse of the poppies. They looked absolutely stunning. It was really humbling to stand there and take in the sight whilst thinking that there was a ceramic poppy for every single person who lost their life in The Great War. It really is mind-blowing to think there are 888,246 poppies in the moat. It's so hard to imagine such a horrific loss of life in only four years. It's an outstanding tribute to the 100 year anniversary.

If you can make it to the Tower before Armistice Day, make sure you go! I'm a massive history buff when it comes to the World Wars - that sounds very strange i'll admit, but I just think it's so important to learn from our mistakes. But even if you're not that interested in the history behind it, I personally think it's a great place to recognise the the sacrifices these soldiers made so we can live the life we lead.

Have you been to see the poppies?

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Interning for dummies

When people tell me they're desperate to break in to the journalism industry and ask me for tips. I always say the best advice is to run away screaming and promptly choose another industry. At this point they stare at me wide eyed and you can see them struggling to get their head around it. 

But if you do decide to ignore me, you'll soon find yourself in one of the best industries in the world. I honestly couldn't imagine dong anything else. This is my dream job and all I've wanted ever since I was 11 years old. But it really wasn't an easy ride to get here. I have spent many a sleepless night worrying if I was good enough. But if you can ride out the storm and be prepared to work seven days a week - five of those days for expenses only - and throw your heart and soul in to making sure you're indispensable, then you're halfway there.

Interning is soul destroying. You spend hours doubting your abilities, your self esteem takes a severe battering and you break down in tears when you receive yet another rejection email - someone doesn't even want your services for free! After a year on the emotional roller coaster you begin question your sanity. I was two weeks away from jacking in all my dreams of becoming a journalist and fill our an application to start my PGCE before I got my job. But if you can jump on the interning train, i've got a few tips that could help you along the way.

Don't just go for anything - pick internships that you think you have an interest in. Vogue may be your dream but it's everyone's else's too. So if you want to work for a fashion based magazine then write to all of them to try your luck. Don't send out generic cover letters - make sure you tailor them and really get across why you'd love to intern there. Gorkana, Media Muppet and Fashion Monitor are great websites. Don't be afraid to ring the publication up directly and ask. They'll remember you more if they hear your voice rather than see a faceless email. 

Don't be afraid to go the extra mile and never ask to go home early. The interns that will be remembered are the ones who offered their services, never came back from lunch late and found office jobs for themselves to keep them busy. The journalism industry is very close knit and almost everyone knows someone at one publication so news travels fast. Be willing to put the effort as it will help you out in the long term.

Make friends and talk to everyone on the team. Like I said above, the industry is very small so keep in touch with everyone who you work with. You never know what information you could be fed on the grapevine. They can give you the heads up for potential jobs and put in a good word for you if needed. I have made some great friends over the years and still keep in touch with them now. It's always nice to catch up with them at events! 

Good luck! 

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