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Posts tagged Black
What I Wore: Polly Peplum
3
3 years
by Naomi in Fashion
At the minute my wardrobe is full of dresses, skirts, jeans, t shirts and jackets, but for some odd reason I am seriously lacking in nice tops! I recently made the decision to rectify the issue, and one of my new additions is this gorgeous Polly Peplum Frill Lace Top from Missy Empire.
I usually shy away from peplums as they don’t always suit my shape, but the soft, flowing cut of the fabric and fitted waist means this one looks very flattering, and does a great job at accentuating curves in all the right places.
The fabric is textured, and studded with small black sequins, and the sleeves and chest panel are made from a pretty floral sheer lace, which is stretchy and incredibly comfortable to wear.
I adore everything about this top. The sweetheart neckline and delicate lace are especially elegant, and it looks and feels so sophisticated. It’s also a really versatile piece, and being black it’s easy to wear and style in a variety of ways. In the photos above I’m wearing it casually with leggings and flats, but it also looks great with skinny jeans. For smarter looks it can be paired with tailored trousers or a pencil skirt with basic court shoes, or for a night out, a shorter skirt and sky high heels.
Missy Empire’s Polly Peplum Frill Lace Top is available in a range of sizes and shades, and is available here for £16.99. You can also follow Missy Empire on Facebook on Twitter for news about giveaways, new products and special offers!
Check back soon to see how I style this beauty throughout the summer!
Naomi x
*This Polly Peplum Frill Lace Top was sent to me by Missy Empire for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Thrifty Finds No.5: Car Boot
2
3 years
Last Sunday I visited my favourite car boot sale once again, and came away with yet another decent fashion haul. I managed to find a few things that I’ve actually been looking for for a while, which I was very pleased about, as well as a few other unexpected items. Here’s what I bought…
Topshop Studded Lace Bralet £5
This cost a bit more than I usually like to spend on items at a car boot sale, but I just couldn’t resist the studs and lace! Topshop bralets seem to be really popular at the moment, and this one has an RRP of £38, so I’m pleased to have found one in my size at a fraction of the price. According to the lady I bought it from it is unworn too, other than being tried on.
New Look Cutout Heart Dress £2
I’ve been wanting a cut out heart dress for ages, so when I spotted this under a huge pile of clothes on one stall, I snapped it up. It’s exactly my size too! I love it, and it looks like it’s never been worn which is a bonus.
Sans Souci Polka Dot Dip Hem Blouse £2
This is one of my favourite finds of the day. I’m currently on the look out for more summer tops, and this will be perfect for warm, sunny days. The dip hem and button back detail are really lovely, and are what caught my eye when I saw it on the rail. Sans Souci isn’t a brand I’m familiar with, but the blouse still had a TK Maxx tag attached, and it cost £9.99 new.
Oasis Leather Studded Waist Belt £1.50
Again, I’ve been trying to source a decent waist belt for a while, so this was another bargain I couldn’t pass up. The belt is made from real leather, and still had its Oasis tags attached so is brand new.
H&M Silver and Grey Jumper £1
It’s not like I need another jumper, but I actually saw a similar jumper to this in H&M last season and wanted one, so I bought it anyway. I thought it’d be itchy, but it’s actually nice and soft, and I know I’ll get plenty of wear out of it.
Next Oversized Polka Dot Shirt 25p
This shirt is three sizes too big for me, but I bought it to wear it as an oversized cardigan during cool summer evenings. And anyway, at 25p I couldn’t say no.
Stuart Little Soft Toy 50p
And just because I have a soft spot for cuddly toys and rodents, I brought Stuart Little home for 50p. He has slightly tatty whiskers and was a little grubby, but after a quick bath he’s now squeaky clean (excuse the pun!)
Total: £12.25
What do you think of my latest thrifty finds? Which piece stands out for you?
Naomi x
Thrifty Finds No.4: Car Boot
3
3 years
On Sunday I decided to indulge, yet again, in one of my favourite hobbies – thrifting – and got up bright and early to go to two car boot sales in Leicestershire. In particular I was hoping to find some bargainous clothes to add to my spring/summer wardrobe, and though I came away from the first car boot with nothing (how disappointing!), the second was a veritable treasure trove of fashion! For the grand total of just £4.50 I managed to get a waterfall cardigan, a thin knit jumper, a t-shirt, and my absolute favourite find of the day, a pair of wedge shoes.
Z Black and grey striped waterfall cardigan £1.50
Next Thin knit black jumper 50p
River Island Skeleton heart t-shirt 50p
Truffle Black velvet wedge shoes £2.00
Total: £4.50
I’m really pleased with this little thrifty haul, and I’m looking forward to styling each item in outfit posts in the near future. Which is your favourite piece?
Naomi x
What I Wore: Acid Wash
1
3 years
by Naomi in Fashion
I didn’t do much shopping during the recent spring sales, but I did place a little order with USC at the start of April. Unfortunately they use Yodel as a courier, who are notoriously unreliable, and it took over two weeks for my parcel to arrive – not great considering I paid £3.99 postage! At one point I was told my parcel was lost, but then it miraculously turned up the next day! Though I’m not happy with the service I received, the items I got were sort of worth the wait. One of said items is this gorgeous acid wash denim skater skirt, which was reduced from £22 to just £3.50. Acid wash was all the rage in the 1990s, the decade of my childhood, and though fashion wasn’t the greatest in those days, I do quite like acid wash denim, and this skirt makes me feel all nostalgic.
Glamorous Acid Wash Skater Skirt / Primark Black T Shirt / Primark Sheer Black Tights / Converse Suede Polka Dot Hi-Tops / Zatchels Gothic Lace Saddle Bag / Claire’s Spike Necklace
I really wanted the skirt to do the talking with this outfit, so I paired it with a plain black tee and sheer black tights. I was considering wearing heels too, but in the end I settled for Converse as I think they suit skater style clothing well, and my partner and I were heading to the cinema so I thought I’d keep it casual.
Finally, to pull the outfit together, I accessorised with a grey spike necklace from Claire’s, and my metallic silver Gothic Lace Saddle Bag by Zatchels, just to bring out the silver in my shoes and to match the grey in the skirt.
I also got a beautiful dress in my USC order which I absolutely love, so check back soon to see how I style it!
Naomi x
What I Wore: Foxton Locks
2
3 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Today my fiancé and I visited Foxton Locks with my sister and her boyfriend. Foxton Locks are ten canal locks on the Leicester line of the Grand Union Canal, and the whole area is so lovely and green. I’ve always enjoyed visiting the Locks, ever since I was a child, but today’s trip was extra special as it was the first time my fiancé had been. We all had a nice time and had a little picnic whilst we watched the boats go by, before going for a walk along the canal paths.
As April’s weather is usually unpredictable, I thought layers would be best, so I wore my favourite Primark skater dress (which is becoming a Spring wardrobe staple of mine), and teamed it with my trusty faux leather biker jacket and some basic leggings. Over this I wore an oversized but light floral skull scarf which I thrifted last year, for an extra bit of warmth if necessary. As it happens, the weather was gorgeous and the sun was shining, but luckily it didn’t get too hot.
Primark Faux Leather Biker Jacket / Primark Faux Leather Cap Sleeve Skater Dress / Primark Leggings / Dr Martens 1460 W Purple Shimmer Boots / Abandon Floral Skull Scarf (thrifted) / Topshop Leather Stud Bag (thrifted)
As I knew we’d be walking a lot, I thought it best to throw on my Dr Martens, which was definitely the right call, and I also took another thrifty find of mine – my Topshop leather stud bag. The perfect size to carry my camera and picnic food.
I’m so pleased that Spring is finally underway as I love being out and about enjoying the nice weather, and today was a great opportunity to do so! Have you been taking advantage of the sunshine lately?
Naomi x
Thrifty Finds No.3: Topshop Leather Bag
3
3 years
Yesterday was a lovely sunny day in Leicester, and it saw the start of the car boot season! I’m a sucker for a good car boot, so I forewent my Sunday lie-in and headed to Measham car boot, with a purse full of change, to see what treasures I could find. As I expected, it was VERY busy, and though there were hundreds of stalls I only came away with a few bits and pieces. In fact, all I bought was some pins and a tape measure for my sewing projects, which I’m pleased about as I needed them and they were an absolute bargain, and the best bargain of all… a real leather Topshop bag, which cost the princely sum of just £1!
Admittedly, the bag is showing a few signs of use (a couple of studs are missing and the lining has been stitched in one place), but the leather is beautifully soft and in excellent condition, and it still has plenty of wear left in it. I love the slightly slouchy style too. I’d been looking for a generously sized plain black leather shoulder bag for months, and this is ideal. It’s really roomy, with a large main compartment and smaller side and internal pockets – perfect for work or a shopping trip.
Will you be going car booting this year? What do you hope to find?
Naomi x
David Emanuel Spot Peplum Dress
1
3 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Up until recently I would never have even considered shopping in Bonmarché. I’d been in there a few times with my mum and grandma, but everything was just a bit too… ‘mature’ for my style. But then I was offered the chance to choose an item from the Bonmarché website to review, and suddenly my opinion was changed. The item I chose is this gorgeous black and white polka dot dress from the new David Emanuel collection. David Emanuel was the designer who created Princess Diana’s internationally loved wedding dress, and since then he has dressed countless female celebrities, and has sold collections in the likes of Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
I absolutely love polka dots so it seemed only natural to go for this dress, and I’m glad I did. The print is bold, but the cut of the dress is very sophisticated, so you can make a statement whilst still looking chic. The front of the dress has a mock wrap effect, and a pretty peplum detail that sits just over the hip; both of which are extremely flattering, and the fabric is soft and stretchy for ultimate comfort.
In terms of sizing, the dress is pretty generous. I’m usually a size 10-12 and opted for a 12 in this style, but it is slightly roomy at the back so I should probably have gone for a 10. This particular dress is available in sizes 10 to 24, and retails for £28 in all sizes.
I perhaps wouldn’t wear this dress casually as it’s a bit too smart for kicking around town in, but it would be absolutely perfect for the office or, as Bonmarché state, an ‘elegant occasion’. It definitely looks the business teamed with a pair of elegant black heels!
Though the majority of Bonmarché’s stock is perhaps not very ‘me’, I’ve definitely learnt that you shouldn’t dismiss a shop based on prejudgments. Even the most unlikely of places can have some hidden gems lurking on the rails, so it’s always worth having a browse to see what you can find!
If you like the look of this dress, or want to see the rest of David Emanuel’s Bonmarché collection, click here.
Naomi x
*This David Emanuel Spot Peplum Dress was sent to me by Bonmarché for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
NOTD: Primark Spotty Nail Polish
3
3 years
by Naomi in Nails
I’ve been wanting Illamasqua’s Speckled nail polishes ever since they were released, but at £14.50 each I just couldn’t justify buying them. Then, whilst queueing in Primark at the weekend, I spotted this Spotty nail polish, which is a dupe of Illamasqua’s Speckle – their discontinued speckled lilac shade. And the best part? Primark’s Spotty was discounted from £2 to just £1!
The polish has a creme base, and is crammed full of black glitter and micro glitter, which in the right light has a beautiful holographic sheen. The overall finish reminds me of a Cadbury Mini Egg, which is perfect for Spring and the run up to Easter! The polish has a smooth consistency and applies evenly, giving opaque coverage in two coats, but it takes a while to dry. Not ideal, but not really a problem if you’re not in a rush.
My only issue with the polish is that, when I first used it, lots of little air bubbles got trapped underneath (as you can see above), so it looked and felt a bit lumpy. It could’ve been due to the base coat I used though, so next time I’ll give it a miss to see if it makes a difference.
In terms of staying power, I wore this for three days before removing it, and by that point it had barely chipped at all. I imagine it would last for almost a week before starting to look scruffy.
Overall, this is a lovely, pretty polish, and I’m so pleased I finally have a speckled polish in my collection. I just wish I’d picked up the other shades too!
What do you think of my bargain find?
Naomi x
What I Wore: Victorianesque
6
3 years
by Naomi in Fashion
I’m not usually one for wearing skirts, but for some reason today felt like a skirt day, so I decided to wear one out for lunch with family at my favourite country pub. I recently picked up this lace midi skirt on sale at Primark for just £3 (yes, £3!) It’s lined with a silky teal fabric which contrasts beautifully with the black lace, and it’s so pretty and intricate it only really needs a basic top to go with it!
Primark Black & Teal Lace Midi Skirt / Primark Pocket Top / Dr Martens Regina Heeled Boots / Alchemy The Raven Necklace / Juno Black Patent Grab Bag
For a slightly Victorianesque Gothic look, I finished the outfit with my lace up Dr Martens Regina brogue heeled boots, and my stunning Raven Alchemy necklace. Alchemy are a company close to my heart as they’re based in my hometown, and I own quite a few of their pieces, but this is one of my favourites as it’s based on my favourite Edgar Allan Poe poem, ‘The Raven’. Of course I also had to add my trusty Juno patent grab bag, which I reviewed here last week.
What do you think of this look?
Naomi x
Rekindling my Love of Converse
3
3 years
by Naomi in Fashion
When I was a teenager, my footwear of choice was always Converse. I had bright ones, plain ones, printed ones, even tie dye ones, but for some unknown reason I stopped wearing them a few years ago, and moved on to boots and heels. But all that changed when I spotted this pair of beauties on the John Lewis website…
This particular pair of Hi-Tops are a new style, and are made of soft black suede, so they’re a bit warmer and a bit thicker, but just as comfortable and casual as their canvas counterparts. They also feel really soft and luxurious to the touch. What first drew me to them was the all over polka dot print as I’m crazy about polka dots, and I love the combination of large and small silver dots. The grey laces are also a nice touch, as they blend in better than the usual glaringly white laces.
I’ve worn these almost every day this week, and I’ve had a lot of fun styling them in different ways. One day I wore them with jeans and a jumper, another day with a skater dress and leggings, and yesterday with a somewhat smarter dress, and they looked great with everything. That’s the beauty of Converse… They’re just so versatile!
I’ve well and truly fallen back in love with Converse All Stars, and I’m looking forward to wearing my polka dot pretties all Spring long. I have a new black mini skirt that I can’t wait to pair them with! You can find these and many other Converse styles online at John Lewis.
Naomi x
*These Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Printed Suede Hi-Top Trainers were paid for using vouchers that were sent to me. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
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