Military Summer

21 June 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Summer is always a season I tend to struggle with more because I do like the colder seasons, due to trends such as layering and darker colours which I am more comfortable with, but my fashion goal is to go out of my comfort zone so I do try to 'mix it up'. I'm always being told to wear brighter colours like yellow and orange because they contrast well with my skin tone but first I have to get used to standing out in a crowd. Sometimes I really enjoy pairing things together that would usually clash. For example, these acid wash jeans with dark boots. Jeans and boots are two items that I wouldn't normally pair together, but today is an exception. I also quite like the contrast between the brighter effect on the denim compared to the very dark tone in my boots. Distressed denim was such a huge trend throughout spring and ripped, torn or destroyed jeans and shorts are still immensely popular especially among celebrities. I really like the acid wash look because you get so many different shades of colour in one item. I think the 'speckled' effect is always unique in comparison to just ripped jeans at the knee. A favourite pair of jeans are always the perfect thing to throw on during an 'I have no idea what to wear' day, which happens to be today.
Have a great weekend!
Coat - Next
Jumper - homemade
Jeans - Miss Selfridge
Boots - Brantano
Bag - gift

Graphic Denim

19 June 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Graphic t-shirts are one of the easiest trends to pull off as there's an unlimited amount of styles and colour to play around with. I usually go for something that will draw attention but doesn't overpower the rest of the look. The one I'm wearing was actually a gift, and I don't know where it's from, but I do know that there are many different stores that sell graphic tees. However, they may not always be in the women's section which isn't always a disadvantage. Whenever I wear t-shirts, I like them to feel loose as it's usually warm out. Men's t-shirts are made with a different shape in mind, in contrast to women's clothing made for the feminine figure. Some of the most popular men's stores like Topman or ASOS sell a lot of graphic tees which can be paired with a variety of bottoms. The weather is a little colder today so I'm wearing simple blue jeans and soft skater shoes to finish the look. I'm also loving my fur-lined charcoal coat that keeps me unbelievably warm and cosy.
Top - gift
Coat - Matalan
Jeans - Next
Bag - Spanish market
Shoes - Brantano

Rustic Rucksack

18 June 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
TK Maxx has become one of my favourite stores for finding one-off, one-of-a-kind pieces that are unique in their own way. I'm lucky enough to have a few stores very close to me, and each other has so much inside, I never know where to start. When shopping for bags, TK Maxx has always been my go-to store. Firstly, because it's highly unlikely anyone else will have the same bag, and secondly, there is a chance that you will find a designer handbag, or a bag that was previously very expensive but is available for a reasonable price which always makes it seem more appealing. TK Maxx always includes the recommended retail prices of their stock so you can compare the previous price and the current one. I bought my rucksack, or backpack, from TK Maxx and I adore it. As mentioned in yesterday's post, I love items with pockets and this bag has plenty. I also really like the washed-out denim look that the bag is, and the denim is very thick and tough which makes the bag durable and reliable. This style of backpack came into fashion during the summer of 2012, when music festivals were becoming much more mainstream and tiny holdalls were not common. I still really like this style of rucksack because it's so different from the standard bag with straps and I think is much more stylish and suitable for anything that isn't school-related. I've also found that my bag is actually quite versatile with outfits and occasions, but can also be used for everyday use which is the biggest bonus. 
Jumper - homemade
Leggings - Topshop
Converse - Schuh
Bag - TK Maxx

Charcoal Check

17 June 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
I have a bit of a habit for wearing darker clothes. I once heard the phrase, "I'll stop wearing black when they make a darker colour" which I couldn't agree more with as it seems to be my go-to colour without me even realising. Today's weather is quite cloudy so my current excuse is that I'm matching the sky. I have recently been obsessing over jackets. I don't know what it is, but a nice slouchy jacket or even a hoodie is one of my favourite styles. It's not only the comfort that appeals to me, I like a 'sloppy' look in general and I think there are so many different ways to style a jacket, from a blazer to a oversized swearshirt. There are also so many jackets on the high street that come in all sorts of styles, shapes and colours, they're out there. One thing I inherited from my mother's fashion sense is my love of pockets, which I know sounds unbelievably strange, but if I see an item of clothing with pockets in I'm at least 45% more likely to purchase it. Dresses with pockets are my weakness, but I really love pockets for their practicality, and they do no harm. 
Today I have resorted back to charcoal jeans, my denim preference because they match the tones of charcoal on the top half. I find colours like this really easy to style because they blend with so many other colours. Dark tones in general will always go together, and you can always brighten up an outfit with one statement accent piece, which changes the tone of the entire look.
Top - Next
Jacket - Next
Jeans - Topshop
Bag - TK Maxx
Shoes - Brantano

Working Girl

16 June 2014

Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK
Now that I am technically no longer a sixth form student, and I can't really sit until August to wait for my exam results, I have to work... full time. I'm very lucky to have a few years of working experience already to prepare me for the 'adult' world but I still have to get used to working full days. There is no set dress code where I work, in fact many of the employees wear very casual clothing as they're sewing all day and so have to be comfortable, in contrast to an office where presentation is incredibly important. I also work in the city centre so I love to do a spot of shopping during my lunch and after work, so my outfit is diverse in that aspect. A big wool coat is essential for me today as I'm freezing even though the sun is out. I am one of those people that will always say they are cold, no matter where I am, at one point during the day, I will be cold - so I have this oversized coat to wear when it gets chilly. I'm also wearing this knitted scarf that I discovered in my mother's closet and I love because it appears to be hand-knitted and is so incredibly soft. Wool can sometimes become quite itchy which then become uncomfortable, so my top tip would always be to look for wool coats with lining inside. It doesn't have to be thick lining but if you're allergic to wool like me, it can become irritable on the skin. My coat has lining, but there also elements of wool in the colour so this scarf is a great substitute liner. Two of my style icons, Mary-Kate and Ashley are infamous for their oversized so I'm channelling an aspect of the style duo with this huge leather and suede bag that even expands to a bigger size. On days where I need to carry folders or a lot of items my first resort is always an oversized bag as they're chic and strangely don't ever look overbearing - the ideal accessory.
Coat - Dorothy Perkins
Jumper - homemade
Scarf - old
Jeans - Topshop
Shoes - Dorothy Perkins
Bag - Next
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