Check the Gradient

17 August 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
When ordering clothes online, I always think: "This is so nice, it would be great to blog about!" without the intention of actually wearing it. Either that, or I've forgotten I've ordered it and it comes as a surprise about a week or so later. This shirt was bought because I thought it was 'nice' but that was about it. However, over the past few days I've actually grown to love it, even wearing it twice in one week! I don't wear check shirts that often because they can clash with a lot of other clothes in my closet as I love patterns. But I really like this simple check shirt, with no extreme colour and a really cool pattern. It follows the typical 'flannel' style, but I think the black and white take on it causes it to stand out among the rest. I think this shirt is perfect for Autumn because of it's darker tones but it's still just as stylish to finish of summer.
I would also like to apologize for not posting since Thursday, I've been through a digital nightmare! I have a Lenovo Windows 8 laptop which has been amazing for school over the past year, but it just broke down out of no where! And just my luck, it broke down two days out of the warrenty so I had to pay for a brand new hard drive because mine was damaged. After contacting Lenovo and getting a new driver, that hard drive then broke! I was terrified of losing all my photos but luckily non of my documents were harmed. So now, I have yet a new hard drive which should hopefully work. My broadband also stopped working last week so I had to go to coffee shops just to post! But I think I'm back on track now - I really don't like posting infrequently. 
Shirt - Next
Jean - Miss Selfridge
Shoes - Nike
Bag - Topshop

Blue Balloons

14 August 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Is it me or is summer ending a little quicker than anticipated? I feel like it only lasted a few minutes; and I know that's what everyone always says during summer but it's strange how quickly the seasons pass, I only ever realise because the weather's changing. Today's dress is perfect for today, which is quite gloomy and dull. The dreary clouds just blanket the sky and create a chilly breeze while throwing a storm or two into the mix. Not really the August I was expecting, it has rained nearly everyday! You may recognise the fabric used for my dress from Monday's post. I had a lot of spare fabric and decided to used it on more than one item of clothing. As mentioned in yesterday's post I nearly always go for the skater dress style and I'm trying to break the habit. I thought I would go with a super cosy dress and the temperatures are already beginning to drop. The fabric is a knitted cotton so it's warm against the wintry winds and has a little bit of stretch making it all the more comfortable. Today I'm working all day, and I'll be sat inside all day, so comfort couldn't be more important. I'm also in a great mood because the colour of my dress is almost identical to the colour of my nails and that makes me really happy. It's the little things. My boots are Chelsea boots from Dorothy Perkins that I absolutely adore because they're amazing quality and add an element of 'cuteness' to this look. My nail colour is Blue Balloon, by GOSH Cosmetics.
Today is also results day and I can't wait to receive my grades for Media Studies, English Language and Literature, Sociology and Graphic Design - good luck to all those receiving results!
Dress - made for me
Boots - Dorothy Perkins
Bag - Next

Simply Sparkling

13 August 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Over the last few days and over my last few posts, I have really emphasized my love of simplicity in an outfit. Sometimes less is more and I think that can be the key to an effortless look. This dress is a new favourite of mine, which I recently bought in Next's most recent summer sale. I wasn't going to keep this piece at first, because I didn't think I could pair it with anything, and I wasn't sure when I would actually wear it, but it's much more versatile than I first believed. The fabric has a really subtle shimmer that is brought out in natural or artificial lighting which makes the outfit and the dress seem much more exciting and 'busier' rather than boring. I see this dress as a gigantic t-shirt, because it's so comfortable and has that similar shape to it. I usually go for the skater style because it's the dress shape I'm much more used to wearing, but I really like this straighter look. I absolutely love the pockets in this dress because they don't take away from the look and become a unique characteristic. I think the length makes this dress very versatile because it can be worn to formal and established events, but also dressed down to suit a casual day. I've paired this dress with some boots, also from Next that I bought earlier this year. I like the tiny heel which lengthens my legs and still compliments the dress.
Dress - Next
Shoes - Next
Bag - TK Maxx
Sunglasses - Primark

Composed and Casual

11 August 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Although we are really only just into August, some schools are already going back to start the new year. I have completed my 'time' in the education system and luckily don't ever have to worry about 5,000 word essays and class presentations ever again. But I do have to work, which has it's positives and negatives. Today's looks is really casual, as the dress code at work is quite laid back but never sloppy. I also thought this look would be perfect for a school day if you're not in uniform because it's really simple and the bright blue acts as a staple piece for the whole outfit. For me, comfort is essential so I really like to dress in clothes that will keep me warm and cosy all day. I have to travel out and about a lot for work, visiting lots of centres as I work for a charity, so it's important I wear clothes that are durable and I can actually move in; rather than dressing in ridiculously over the top clothes that will just get in the way. I love charcoal jeans, if you've been following my blog for a while you will know I can't get enough of them because they're so versatile. The colour can be dressed up or down and pairs with absolutely everything. My bright jumper (which matches my nail colour this week) is made out of a knitted cotton I chose myself. I chose knitted because it's warm, but it also has a natural stretch which is crucial for a busy working day. I've become really fond of simple but put-together outfits because they're really easy to style, especially for English weather.
Jumper - made for me
Jeans - Topshop
Shoes - Nike
Bag - Next

Swingin' Saturday

9 August 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
I have actually become really fond on full and circle skirts. They  not only follow a flare style, which is one of my favourites, but they are so easily styled it's almost impossible to go wrong. The super simple style comes in so many different colours and patterns, they can conveniently become a statement piece for an entire outfit and are great for highlighting a really feminine silhouette and show of you body's best bits. I personally prefer to wear these skirts with either a cropped top, possibly showing of a little midriff if it suits the look I'm going for. Today I've paired this skirt with a top that's a little longer than an average cropped top but still quite short. I absolutely adore this top  because it's perfect throughout the year. The 'holes' in the pattern mean it's really cool to wear throughout the summer in the warmer temperatures and it can also be used in a layered outfit because it's a little oversized and one colour which is very versatile. I really appreciate the simple pattern in the top because it makes my outfit seem a little more exciting in comparison to a plain white tee. Full skirts come in so many different length and looks, but I really like the classic black skirt that started the trend. As it is a little colder today, I'm wearing boots but still going without tights; and carrying a canvas tote bag that was actually given to me at a university fair that I've been using a lot more after my bag in Monday's post.
Top - Next
Skirt - made for me
Boots - Brantano
Bag - free gift
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