bags

Misery Business

22 October 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
 I have been missing summer quite a bit this week, I always say I prefer winter but that's because I like snow. Wind, hail and rain are a few elements I'm not too crazy about. I'm also convinced that the weather is affecting my mood. The rain does make me happy, for example; yesterday, I got caught in a downpour that felt more like a shower outside and I didn't hate it even though it was unbearably cold. The clouds do dampen things a little bit so I decided to brighten my mood by brightening my outfit. Summer is a great time of year for me as I can wear plenty of different bright summer colours that contrast but compliment my skin tone. Even though I occasionally resort to black, adding a touch of colour never hurts. Today I'm wearing a really basic skater dress that I had made to fit to play the centre piece for the whole look. The solid colour is enough for the whole ensemble so I chose to stick with black accessories. The dress has two pleats rather than a gathered elasticated waist. And of course, the dress contains jersey, my favourite dress fabric. This week I have also really missed my Converse. I don't wear them as often as I used to, but after spending the morning in these hi-tops my feet are very happy. Underestimating to comfort of quality shoes is something I'll never do again!
Dress - made for me // Jacket - Miss Selfridge // Shoes - Schuh // Bag - TK Maxx

Black 'n' Blue

2 October 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
About a year ago, I would have never worn a dress in another style than fit and flare/skater. But today I'm wearing this jumper-like dress and I absolutely love it. I think this style is perfect for autumn because it doesn't give off summery vibes like a swishy skirt does. Not only is this style essential for me, as I'm always freeeeeezing, but the thick fabric is perfection for this time of year. The fabric contains wool, but is also 'breathable' which means I can have a busy day without overheating because the fabric doesn't store heat and lets air in. I've become obsessed with this colour, if you've been following my blog for a while, you'll know that blue has become my comfort colour (apart from black). I tend to gravitate towards blue because I think it suits my skin tone best, whereas I don't suit orange as much. I decided to pair my dress with a black jacket, bag and pair of shoes because I wanted the bright blue to be the main feature of my ensemble. Immediately people are dawn to my dress rather than the rest of my outfit. Although this dress isn't a typical autumn colour, I find it an essential for the season simply because it's so practical and versatile!
Jacket - Miss Selfridge
Dress - made for me
Shoes - Brantano
Bag - Next

Happy Hiking

30 September 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
I always see living in Yorkshire as a bad thing. Simply because I like busy cities and lots of people, places like London, New York City and even Los Angeles seem like magical cities and the best place to be; but sometimes there's nothing I love more than being able to look out the window and seeing the Yorkshire Dales, watching a sheepdog control an unbelievably large flock of sheep or just being mesmerised at the phenomenal landscapes the county has to offer. I like in a historic village area of West Yorkshire, so everything is very simple, there's not overbearing traffic and major events (apart from Bingley Music Live) and people smile at each other in the street. One of my favourite things to do on my days off is go for long walks or hikes up the moors right to the very top. The great thing about walking all the way to the top is that I can see Leeds Bradford Airport, as well as Lister Mill and plenty of other historical landmarks around Leeds and Bradford. On a clear day, there's nothing greater than seeing all the jumbo jets set off in different directions, flying to every corner of the Earth. Although it's a tiny bit colder than a few months ago, I still enjoy occasionally hiking to the very top of the moors - it's a great place to relax or read, and it's rare there's a lot of people up there during the day. An essential for me when taking these 3 mile walks are my favourite chunky boots. I bought these from Brantano for around £20 and I have to admit, I think they're a better quality boot than Timberland. I know high brands are usually quite pricey, but I've found that sometimes the cheaper items is better despite all the stigma attached to big brands. My teeny tiny shoulder bag/purse is perfect for today as it fits my phone and some spare change in which are the only things I take with me. I'm wearing some thick charcoal jeans because there are some sections of the footpath where I need to climb so I need to be able to move, but it's a little colder as autmun is in full swing so I think jeans are the best way to go. Finally, I bought my jacket and t-shirt during the summer season but I can't get enough. My t-shirt is made of a rally high quality, thick cotton, so it's so cosy and warm even though it's just a short sleeved tee. Over the top, my jacket is very light but still well insulated so it's ideal as I usually get really warm when I'm walking uphill. Unfortunately today is only a quick walk as I have job interviews today but it's a great wake up!  
T-shirt - Topshop
Jacket - Next
Jeans - Urban Outfitters
Boots - Orchard
Bag - market stall

Loving Leather

18 September 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
I think an item made of leather is a must have in any closet. Whether it's just a simple skirt of a pair of super shiny trousers. I personally love leather jackets because I think they're so easy to style and can be paired with a lot of different items. I've found that leather jackets are the one item of clothing you can own for years and still style it to perfect, just like a promising pair of jeans. Leather as a fabric can be difficult to buy, usually the higher the quality, the higher the price. I don't own a lot of custom-made leather items simply because it can be cheaper to buy them in the long run, but there's so many leather items on the market at the moment in plenty of different colours so there isn't much room to complain. I actually remember when leather jackets because a huge trends while I was about 14 in 2008, Topshop had just released a line of leather jackets, and most of them had hoods on *cringe* which I was desperate to have. Of course now, I'm happy I didn't buy one because leather jackets look a lot better and are more versatile without a hood. Today's look is über casual as I'm only going shopping during my day off. One of my favourite things about good quality leather is that it's thick and naturally insulating so I can wear one of my favourite patterned tees underneath which is quite thin and loose on me, without getting really cold in the autumn breeze. I'm carrying my favourite leather bag from Topshop that's a really strong leather, making the bag well structured and less floppy. Finally, my leather hi-tops were bought a few years ago and are still a favourite of mine for the winter because they are so warm and well-lined as well as extremely comfortable to walk in.  
Top - Primark
Jacket - Miss Selfridge
Jeans - Next
Shoes - Fred Perry
Bag - Topshop

Mini Midriff

18 August 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
When I wear cropped tops, I often buy them long enough to cover my tummy, or wear high waisted jeans that go past my belly button. However, today I'm feeling daring, and exposing a tiny bit of my 'midriff'. Usually this is something I would not be uncomfortable with, and I think pulling off this look is all down to confidence and how you feel applying this trend. I think it's an absolutely perfect look for anyone that isn't keep on wearing shorter dresses or short-sleeved tops because your lower chest and tummy can be show off in a really subtle way without going outside your comfort zone. I have quite a pear body shape, so I've really grown to love cropped tops and high waisted clothing because they disguise the bits I don't like and highlight or show off the bits I do like. I've also found, in effect, it can make you look a little bit slimmer, when you show off your favorite body parts. This denim shirt I chose to wear over the top is a new favorite of mine because it's really light denim, and not as thick as a jacket so it's not overbearing. I've found that the thinner denim shirts are perfect for autumn because they're so easy to use in a layered outfit, and the basic shades can be paired with plenty of different colours as well as patterns to create a unique look. 
Denim shirt - Next
Top - made for me
Jeans - Topshop
Shoes - Brantano
Bag - Next
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