Home.

So I made a flying visit home last weekend, and as the boy was getting increasingly agitated as to how long I was taking to pack ('packing-light' is not a legitimate phrase in my vocabulary), I finally decided that it was time me and the disco trousers went on a break, so I ended up in this little get-up...

Striped Jumper - Forever 21 (similar here)
Skirt - River Island
Shoes - Daisystreet

I have to say I am rather enjoying the trend of loose fit jumpers over skater style skirts; anything which means I don't have to worry about breathing in the whole time works for me! 

Ombre.

As I suspected, the disco pants have barely left my legs. Like a magpie to jewels, I find it hard to step away from shiny black lycra of a morning; they are just too darn easy to throw on!

Moonstone ring - Monica Vinader
Spiked ring - Topshop
Amber ring - Independent jewellers

Hat - Topman
Top - H&M
Leggings - American Apparel
Boots - River Island
Glitter Socks - Urban Outfitters

Ideally I would have worn this top with my black lace body underneath but that has currently been commandeered by my sister so I risked it for a chocolate biscuit and went without.

I was hoping to pop out for a bit of late night shopping tonight but the heavens have opened and I am not sure I can face trudging round the shops in the pouring rain. Besides having to get Christmas pressies' for people, I am rather clueless as to what I can ask ol' Saint Nick for and was hoping to get some inspiration from my favourite high street stores. 

What are you all asking for for Christmas this year?

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme...#4

Seeing as it is Christmas coming up, I thought I would post a few things that I would be very happy to find under my tree this year...

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower - Amazon   Houndstooth Playsuit - Topshop   Galaxy Jumper - Ebay
Platforms - Topshop   Earrings - Topshop   Nail Varnish in Stardust - Topshop
Velvet Playsuit - Lavish Alice  Cut Out Boots - Missguided

I need these these platforms in my life, PRONTO.

Please Stand Up.

 So I finally caved and got a pair of American Apparel disco trousers. Why did I wait so long?! (Oh wait, I remember. The price tag...)

Hat - Topman
Ring - Topshop (really old!) Similar here
White Tee - Topshop (similar)
Trousers - American Apparel
Shoes - Primark

 I hadn't worn these brogue style shoes in a while and it didn't take me long to figure out why; with literally no grip on them I almost went arse-over-tit more times then I care to remember. I think I may relegate these back to the wardrobe during these winter months, unless of course crutches suddenly become the accessory du jour.

I have been very lax in taking photos recently; my 'photographer' went AWOL for a while, but now he is back and firmly in my grasp I shall endeavour to keep this blog up-to-date :)

Twilight

Day at the office followed by a trip to watch everyone's favourite vampire ( I don't think I even need to write his name...)

Jacket -ASOS
Dress - Missguided
Boots - Daisystreet

Necklace - Topshop (so cute that couldn't help but include a close up!)

The dress is actually a maxi dress but I belted it round the waist  so I could give a flash of ankle (raunchy), but mostly of course so I could show of the fab spiked boots adorning my feet. Chuck on my leather jacket which brings a bit of pizazz (can't believe I used that word) to any seemingly plain outfit, and a slick of my new Kate Moss lipstick and I was ready to indulge in some vampire goodness!

Bite ya later...

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme...#3

Shoe special!

Boots - Charlene De Luca   Loafers - Miista   Black Platform Heels - Barratts

Embellished Boots - Topshop   Snakeskin Heels - Whistles

I want them all!

Weekend Round Up...

I popped home over the weekend so didn't get a chance to blog, but I managed to squeeze a quick photo op in...

Shirt and Bag - Primark
Hat -Asos
Leggings - Missguided

I love my new bag, why have I not rocked a backpack since primary school?! So practical! And stylish (hopefully...). Anyway, I predict that this Primark beauty will be making an appearance in a lot more future outfit posts so I shall apologize in advance. Sorry.

Sheer Maxi Dress -Miss Selfridge

I also bought this dress from Miss Selfridge in the week for a party I went to on Saturday night. I loved the outfit I wore but stupidly forgot to take a photo (doh!); I have a few parties coming up so hopefully it will get an outing then and you shall get to see it in all its glory! For the time being though, here is a very slight peak of it (and my new Kate Moss lipstick, whoop!)...

Until tomorrow my friends,

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme... #2

So, having a quick online perusal during a spare 5 minutes at work and found a load of treasures that would look great hanging in my wardrobe.

Cream Biker Jacket -Topshop   Collarless Jacket - Topshop   Dress -Topshop
Shirt -Glamorous   Boots -Office   Kate Moss lipstick -Boots, Superdrug etc

I saw the dress when I was in Topshop in Leeds last weekend, uhhhmed and ahhhhed over it but decided to leave it. Major regret! It is definitely on my shopping hit list, along with the Kate Moss lipstick ( I can't resist a plum colour).

As for the other items, they may just have to go on my Christmas list. Or be a Christmas present to myself.

Hmmmm...

Cool Lane

So I went to Leeds for the first time this weekend to visit my beaut of a friend Claire. Due to our various states of hungoverness on the Saturday, shopping was not at the top of our agenda (shame cause Leeds looked like it had some great shops!). I did manage a quick dash into Primark however, and manage to grab a few bits and bobs...

All items from Primark, except nail varnish

I gravitated like a magpie to the shorts as soon as I walked into the shop, I can't resist a bit of sparkle. The koala print shirt reminded me of my recent time in Oz (oh to be in Sydney right now!) and I have been after some more shirts so this seemed like the perfect combo. Finally, I love the simplicity of the black backpack (and it makes me feel young and like I should be back at school, ha!).

Ciao for now...

Hell For Leather

Unfortunately, a rush to get ready for work of a morning does not always result in the most exciting outfit...

Jumper - Missguided
Skirt -River Island
Boots - River Island (old)
Bag - Urban Outfitters (old)

I like all these items individually; the River Island boots have been an old faithful for a few years now and 9 times out of 10 end up gracing my feet on a night out (comfy, high and black are always a winning combo with me). The skirt is another River Island goody; we all know everyone and their aunt is wearing leather skirts at the moment, but they are really versatile and look great paired with a loose knitted jumper for a more casual look.

The jumper is a Missguided purchase from a while back (still available!). Being a redhead means I rarely wear pink, but I just though the model in the photo for it online looked pretty darn good in it so that was me sold!

 The bag is another of my favourites; again I got it a couple of years ago (leather and stud combo has always had a place in my heart apparently) and it is so useful, easily transitioning from a day to night look. Now, I am guilty of being a girl that carries everything (including the kitchen sink) around with her, an oversized bag is normally surgically attached to my shoulder/elbow/hand. However, on the rare occasion I decide to break with tradition, this bag is sure to make an appearance.

Until another day...

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme

Having a casual perusal of the Topshop website and these little bobby dazzlers have definitely caught my eye...

Jumpsuit

Playsuit

Slip Dress

I love the idea of the jumpsuit teamed with a bold patterned shirt, and the silver pinafore playsuit would make a great Christmas party outfit (46 days and counting by the way!). As for the slip dress, I love the idea of wearing it as outerwear and it conjures up a very Jean Paul Gaultieresque imagine in my mind; in reality though, I'm pretty sure If I was to actually wear it I would resemble an overstuffed sausage. Oh well, I can dream...

Park Life

A beaut sunny November day combined with a park date with the boy seemed the perfect opportunity for my COS jumper to make its debut outing...

Jumper -COS

Jeans -Topshop (kind of similar!)

Boots -Zara (similar here)

I teamed it with a pair of Topshop jeans (N.B. 99.9% of my jeans are Topshop, Jamie specifically. I just love the fit, what can I say) that I hadn't worn in yonks. They had been stuffed in my 'must-Ebay-but-too-much-effort' pile, until the other Sunday I actually decided to do something about the pile of clothes lurking under my bed. Anyway, I usually only wear a skinny style but had recently been rebelling and eyeing up some looser fitted, 'boyfriend' style jeans (and recoiling at the thought of jean shopping, the only type of shopping I detest). So, it dawned on me as I was about to put these jeans up for grabs on Ebay (for being 2 sizes too big, hurrah!), that they might satisfy my momentary desire for a more relaxed fit jean. Obviously these are far fom being the perfect pair of jeans, but for the moment it is nice not to be overcome with that feeling of dread in a morning at the prospect of wriggling myself into a pair of Topshop skinnys...

Nails!

Along with everyone else, I too have jumped on the bandwagon of nail art. For a while I have admired from afar, loving the Ciaté caviar manicure but never willing to pay the £18 price tag. However, whilst having a casual flick through heat magazine they brought to my attention the fab Nail Constellation range by MUA (Makeup Academy). The best bit? Only £3! At that price you definitely can't go wrong.

Nail Constellation -MUA
(Excuse my ugly fingers, nasty habit of picking the skin. Must stop.)

Personally, seeing as I am quite likely to be the most inartistic person you will ever stumble upon, this simple way of getting jazzy nails is brilliant for me. All you have to do is paint your nails, and then when wet pour over the beads and lightly press onto the nail. Voila! Caviar nails. 

Also, if you go now to Makeup Academy they have 3 for 2 on! Bargain!

My Week...

One of the best buds came up to visit me in Brighton last week, and we spent a laaaavly day mooching round the shops and making plenty of new purchases.

Hat - Jack Wills
Jumper - COS
Novelty Glasses -Urban Outfitters
Mascara -YSL

My friend wanted to have a look in Jack Wills; now, it is not somewhere that I would usually go in but whilst following her around I stumbled upon what I think is this rather fabulous floppy hat. Whilst it may be fabulous, I don't think it is £98.50 worth of fabulous. I am sure I will be able to find an equally great alternative in one of the high street stores at a fraction of the price.

I stumbled into Cos for the first time a few weeks ago and asked myself, 'WHY HAVE I NEVER BEEN IN HERE BEFORE???' They have some seriously great stuff; sleek and simple designs with great cuts, not to mention a large selection of winter worthy jumpers. The first visit I left empty handed, rushing for a hair appointment, but my second visit happened to coincide with payday, UH OH. I could have spent a fortune in there, but limited myself to this lemony lime (the colour seems to vary slightly depending on the light) jumper. Admittedly it is probably not the most practical colour, and I did question as to whether come January I would regret buying it in such a statement colour, but for now I love it.

A few other purchases, the new YSL Effet Faux Cils Shocking mascara (pretty good, but sure there are better ones out there for £23), burgundy leather trousers/leggings and a vintage fur coat. Watch this space...!

Date Night

So after a mundane Tuesday at the office, it was time for date night; cue plenty of popcorn and a rather dashing Daniel Craig...

Jacket -ASOS
Fur Collar -Vintage
Lace Top - Vintage
Jeans -Topshop

This jacket instantly caught my eye whilst perusing the ASOS website over the summer; leopard print AND leather = my perfect combo. However, at £150 (now on sale for just £75!) I wasn't sure I would wear it enough to justify the cost. Luckily for me, the Boy picked up on some hints and presented it to me for my birthday, and how I am so glad he did. It definitely livens up a simple outfit and I love it paired with the vintage fur collar, a perfect autumnal look.

Another one bites the dust...

So, it appears that the bag gods are against me this week. After coming to terms with the fact that I wasn't going to be able to get my hands on the Whistles Marianne Snakeskin bag at the sale price, I remembered about a bag that I had been watching on Ebay...

The more I looked at it the more I loved it - a BEAUTIFUL vintage Celine bag, perfect condition. This was the bag that was going to help me move on from my previous infatuation. Until some little bugger outbid me with 2 seconds to go.

My heart weeps again...

Heartbroken...

My dream bag is SOLD OUT!!!! At the sale price at least. Literally a few hours after I found it. The fashion world is a cruel mistress.

Winter Warmer

This jumper was a new purchase over the weekend; I had spotted it already in good old faithful Topshop but hadn't thought too much of it. Skip forward to a freezing cold Saturday roaming around London and I just couldn't resist its slouchy fit and instant warmth. Expect to be seeing it a lot more in the future...

          Jumper - Topshop      Leggings - Missguided      Boots - Office                                                                    

                                                                                  

Dreamin' Of...

I have been dreaming of this bag for a while now; from the moment I saw it I knew it was love! I am a sucker for any kind of animal print, but with a price tag of £235 I just couldn't justify it. However, upon searching for it to share my love for it with the world, I found it on SALE! Down to a better (but still slightly eek) £188. Is it a sign...?

Bag - Whistles

Introductions please...

So I guess I should start this blog with a quick introduction...

I'm Catherine and I live in Brighton; I have been to Uni, done some travelling and am now in that time of my life where I plod along to my 9-5 job each week, and spend my time there thinking about fashion, looking at clothes and dreaming up wishlists of all the goodies I cannot afford.

Before this gets going, let's be clear: I definitely don't think of myself as a some sort of fashion guru. Like most girls, I just enjoy shopping; my wardrobe resembles a jumble sale and I haven't seen what's lying at the bottom of my draws for months. I probably spend far too long getting ready,and wish I could master the 'Oh this? I just threw it on' look. But I can't. Here goes nothing anyway...

                                                                                               This is me! Cutting out the strangers next to me would have 
                                                                                  resulted in an extremely zoomed in photo of my face. Not good for anyone...