Gaiety Greyscale

7 October 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Anything grey is usually seen as dull and gloomy, but I think the exact opposite. Take Armani's A/W 14 collection for example. Even though the selection did include the occasional splash of green, grey was a significant colour. The designer does have a history of elegant simplicity. "Grey is a transversal, adaptable and even a sensual colour that conveys a natural elegance" says Armani in October's issue of Harper's Bazaar. He also said "I find that it's countless shades correspond to the many facets of femininity" Baring that in mind, I think darker colours are often underrated. I spotted today's shirt while shopping online and it reminded me of an average flannel or check shirt, that had been edited with a 'greyscale' filter which is what immediately drew me towards it. Most shirts of this style have a very bright colour or feature multiple colours for the ultimate S/S shirt. Yet I think this shirt, which does feature some subtle shades of grey alongside black and white, is the total opposite. It's the ultimate A/W shirt. 
Shirt - Next // jeans - Topshop // boots - Dorothy Perkins // bag - Topshop

Drop-Waist Winds

6 October 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
As someone who likes to wear dresses as much as possible, I've had my fair share of Marilyn Monroe moments. Dresses are very easy to style, and I'm incredibly lazy which is the only explanation why I've taken such a liking to them. It's getting so much cooler out, previously we still had the occasionally sunny day but the frost is slowly creeping in and taking over. Tights have become an essential and leaving the house without some sort of cover up is a risk I'm not willing to take. The wind has also begun to pick up, and as I live in the North, it's always way worse. Although autumn and winter are my favourite seasons in the year, I don't really like being cold - not the best combination. The wind can make it almost impossible for me to wear my favourite dresses because they just blow up, especially the skater style. But this drop-waist dress, which I'm slowly getting used to seems to be doing the trick. I can still wear my favourite style of dress without unintentionally flashing strangers in a train station. At some point in time, I have been told that your head always needs to stay warm and this is something that has stuck with me for a while. Beanie hats are a go-to for autumn and this sloppy cotton hat is an excellent autumnal colour. The berry red adds a little splash of colour to my outfit while still keeping the whole ensemble simple and comfortable. 
Dress - Topshop // cardigan - Primark // hat - Matalan // pumps - Next // bag - Next

Pencil Promises

4 October 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Pencil dresses were never ever a go-to dress for me. I would purposefully avoid them and for years family and friends have been trying to convince my just to try one on. I was simply too self-consious of my body shape to allow any sort of dress to show off any aspect of my figure. During this time, t-shirt dresses were my best friend, they hid anything and everything. However, over the past few years as I have learnt how to come out of my very homey shell, pencil dresses aren't so bad. In fact, they're a favourite of mine. I always wear them to job interviews because they're simple and sophisticated without being over-bearing and too much on the eye. So far, I still prefer the black pencil dress, simple because I feel more comfortable in that colour, but I'm sure that will soon change. To add a splash of colour to any all-black outfit, I usually go for something like a cover-up or coat. Today I'm going with a super soft cotton cardigan that's very similar to the one I wore yesterday. I like cropped cardigans because they're perfect for layering which is an autumn essential. They also tend to come in very basic colour so it's not to difficult to find one that's the right colour for you.
Today's outfit is evening attire, so wedges are excellent as I need a shoe I can walk around in, or stand up in for a long time. There are a few pairs of heels in my closet that are simply for show, I do wear them, but usually to events where I know I'll be sat down for a while because their either too uncomfortable to stand in for a long time or I haven't yet mastered walking in them. I once heard that if you go to an airport in your favourite heels, find a flat escalator or moving walkway to strut on for an hour you may just master the art of walking in any high heels. You may get arrested, but at least you can walk in heels. To finish the look, I'm carrying a sequinned clutch that sparkles and shimmers in the light. 
Dress - made for me // cardigan - Dorothy Perkins // wedges - Next // clutch - Next

Sweetheart Stylin'

3 October 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Whenever I wear ballerina pumps, I always feel younger. This may be because I wore them in my tween years so I automatically associate them with my younger self. This pair of pumps have bows on, which is why I think they're super cute and sweet because they're so simple. The pumps have a element of innocence in their sensible but stylish appearance. Today's dress is a top favourite of mine, it's something I have owned for years but just can't seem to let go. Sometimes there's one item in your closet that you just can't depart with - it's physically impossible to release, the items doesn't even have to fit, but it has some sort of memory attached to it and nostalgia isn't always a bad thing. Fortunately, my dress still fits even though I think I about it around five or more years ago. It's not too old, but this piece has had it's fair share of the limelight. When I was a lot younger, well, maybe 13, I used to spin around in dresses (I occasionally still do) to see how high the hemline would fly. This dress was always perfect for twirling because it gave you that 'princess' feel, which looking back it kind of cute. I really like the style and the length of the dress, because I'm quite tall, a lot of dresses are often too short for me. When I originally bought this dress I was probably only 5 feet and 6 inches so it would have been a little longer. 5 inches later, and this dress still fits like a glove and is an ideal length. I've found that it can be styled for so many different evens, the colour helps. A dress with pockets is a dress that will immediately catch my attention. Over the top, I'm wearing a cotton coral cardigan to keep me warm. 
Dress - Next
Cardigan - Dorothy Perkins
Shoes - Next
Bag - Topshop

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
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