Posts tagged style

What I Wore: Mandala

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Per Una Crochet Long Top (Thrifted) / Primark Basic Vest / Primark Black Skinny Trousers / Blonde + Blonde Lace Up Block Heel Boots / Four Beautiful Keys Moon Necklace

The last few days have been warm enough to go out without a coat or jacket, so today when Charles and I headed out for lunch, I decided to wear something with a bit of detail that wouldn’t be covered.  I’m still not quite over my winter passion for layering, so this long crochet top by Per Una seemed like the perfect transition item.  I picked this up for £1 from a carboot sale a few weeks ago, as you probably saw in my latest thrifty finds post, and it’s so comfortable and light.  I adore the long bell sleeves with their mandala-type crochet patterning, and the length of the top is really flattering.

I needed some new black skinnies for Spring, but wanted something lighter than denim, and these Primark trousers are ideal.  I found them in the jeans section, but they’re actually made of a soft stretchy fabric.  They fit really well too, which is a big thing for me as I have long legs so usually struggle to find trousers that are long enough for me, but these are fine!

The lace up boots are also new, and were an amazing find.  I was strolling through the local shopping centre a few weeks ago, with no intention of buying anything, but happened to spot them in the window of BANK.  The shop was having a closing down sale, and these babies were discounted from £38 to just £7.60!  Lucky for me, despite the shop being almost empty, there was one pair left in my size, so it was meant to be, especially as I’ve been after some laced block heel boots for MONTHS.  Winner!

Naomi x

Thrifty Finds No. 6: Car Boot

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It’s that time of year when the car boot sales start up again (yay!), so on Easter Sunday I went along to my first car boot of the year.  As usual I was on the look out for fashion bargains, and lucky for me the clothes were out in abundance.  I spent a good while rifling through boxes and clothes rails, and managed to come away with four good quality pieces.

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Next Button Wrap Front Dress £2.50

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Per Una Crochet Sleeve Jumper Dress £1

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ASOS Swallow Print Skater Dress £2

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Miss Selfridge Drape Front Cardigan £1

I also got a cute little ‘Sew Your Own Baby Owl’ kit for 50p, which I thought would be a nice little craft project to do one evening.

It total, including the craft kit, I spent just £7.  I’m really pleased with my latest thrift haul, and I hope I can keep up the pace and add more bargainous additions to my wardrobe next time!

Have you been thrifting yet this year?  Have you managed to find anything exciting?

Naomi x

What I Wore: Stag

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Primark Skater Dress / Primark Light Knit Cape / Primark Metal Waist Belt / Unbranded Stag Necklace / Schuh Biker Boots

After my foray into brightly coloured floral last week, today’s outfit post is back to my usual ‘black on black’.

I can’t get enough of my new Primark cape at the minute.  It’s lovely and light so is perfect for every day wear during spring, and looks great with pretty much anything.

The dress is one of my wardrobe staples, and has already seen me through a couple of years of wear.  I’m not usually a fan of high necks as I find them irritating, but this one is surprisingly comfortable and flattering.  Team it with a statement necklace, like this antique gold stag head, and a waist belt, and you’re good to go.

I found the boots lurking at the back of my wardrobe last week.  I haven’t worn them for years, and they were a bit battered when I pulled them from the depths of my closet, but I think they look all the better for it.  They were originally from Schuh, but I replaced the laces with black ribbon when I first bought them.

Naomi x

Debenhams Random Acts of Kindess

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Ben de Lisi Spike Drop Necklace

February 9th saw the start of Random Acts of Kindness week, and to celebrate Debenhams surprised me with their very own RAK, and let me choose a little treat from their range of jewellery.  There were quite a few pieces to pick from, and after much deliberation I settled for this striking spike drop necklace, by Ben de Lisi for Principles.

The chunky cord chain, large glass gems and silver plated accents make this necklace look effortlessly glam, and it really does make a statement.  It looks amazing teamed with a little black dress, either dressed up with a pair of heels and a clutch, or down with a pair of ankle boots and cute cardigan.

The necklace usually costs £18, but is currently on offer with 20% off.  Shop it here!

Naomi x

*This Ben de Lisi Spike Drop Necklace was sent to me by Debenhams as part of Random Acts of Kindness week.  All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

What I Wore: Floral

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 Primark Light Knit Cape / Primark Floral Skater Skirt / Primark Basic T Shirt / Primark Tights / Gifted Cloudbusting Silver Necklace

It would seem that Spring is finally here, and brighter weather calls for brighter clothing!  I’ve been trying to add a few more colourful pieces to my mostly black wardrobe lately, and this skater skirt from Primark is a good start.  It’s floral and made of crepe, two things I’m not usually a fan of, but at £3 in the sale I thought I’d give it a go, and was pleasantly surprised.  It’s a lovely shape and very comfortable, and though I bought it to with the intention of wearing it to work, I can see it becoming an all round favourite this season.

The black cape was also in the Primark sale, half price at just £7.  It’s a lovely soft lightweight knit, so is perfect for keeping covered during the spring months, when it isn’t quite warm enough for bare arms.

As you may have seen in my 25th Birthday Haul post, this gorgeous necklace was gifted to me by my fiancé for my birthday.  It’s made of 925 silver and was personalised especially for me.  Cloudbusting by Kate Bush is one of my favourite songs, and holds many special memories, so I absolutely adore it.

Have you been enjoying the warmer weather this weekend?

Naomi x

What I Wore: Rat Fan

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Have you ever found an item of clothing that is just so perfect it could’ve been made with you in mind? Well for me, this t shirt is one of those items. I love rats, I love Batman, I love black clothing, so what better than a black ‘Rat Fan’, Batman-style t shirt?!

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ratsratsrats Rat Fan T Shirt / Primark Long Black Cardigan / Blue Rags Black Ornate Embroidered Trousers / Dr Martens Lauren Boots

I bought this t shirt for £14.99 from an online store called ratsratsrats, which specialises in rat-themed clothing, accessories and gifts.  I’ve ordered a couple of t shirts from them now and I’m always really impressed with the quality.  The fabric is really soft and comfortable, the fit is great and the print is always high quality.  I also like the length of ratsratsrats tees as they sit below the hip, which I prefer.

I teamed the t shirt with my favourite winter cardigan, and a pair of Blue Rags black embroidered trousers, which are so warm and comfy.  They’re also patterned with a beautiful embroidery-style damask, which you can see clearer on the red pair I styled here.  My Dr Martens Lauren Boots make an appearance too, of course.

This outfit is pretty much my go-to outfit for cosy, lazy weekend days, and is perfect for nipping out to the shops, or slouching around the house in.

Naomi x

Little Black Dresses by George

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The festive season is just around the corner, and I’ve already been invited to a few Christmas parties and meals out.  As such, I’ve started to do some online window shopping for the perfect party outfits for this season, and I’ve found that George at Asda have some really gorgeous women’s dresses in their Autumn/Winter collection.  I’m a sucker for a classic LBD, and George have two in particular that I’ve been eyeing up.  It’s been a while since I put together a wishlist type post, so I thought I’d do one to show you how I’d style these two dresses.

LBD 2014

Outfit One

George Sequin V-Back Dress / New Look Pony Hair Structured Clutch / Jeffrey Campbell Lita Ankle Boots / Zara Interwoven Chain Necklace

Outfit Two

George Peplum Bodycon Dress / Irregular Choice Stitch In Time Clutch / ASOS POETIC Platforms / George Bobble Bead Necklace

Outfit One features George’s Sequin V-Back Dress, which retails for an incredibly affordable £28.  Sequins and a V-Back would both make a huge statement at a glitzy Christmas party, so this dress doesn’t need a huge amount of accessories.  A simple structured clutch would be ideal to offset the sparkle, and a chunky chain necklace would add a bit more texture and depth.  It’s not always easy to find a pair of shoes to go with sequins, but I quite like the look of a chunky heel with this kind of dress, hence why I chose a classic pair of Litas to go with it.

Outfit Two features George’s Peplum Bodycon Dress, which costs just £30.  I absolutely adore this dress as it’s classic and feminine, but has a bit of an edge with its faux leather waist detail.  To enhance the waist, I chose a pretty floral clutch by Irregular Choice which has a similar black on black look.  An elegant pair of stilettos and a beaded necklace finish off this look, but I think it’d look just as stunning without the necklace.

Which of these two looks do you like best?

Naomi x

*This post is a collaboration.*

Highcross Autumn Fashion Fix

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Autumn is my favourite time of year for so many reasons… the weather, the colours of the trees, Halloween, Bonfire Night, the cosy nights in, the homely cooking, and of course the fashion!  So, when I found out that Leicester’s biggest shopping centre, Highcross, was putting on an Autumn Fashion Fix catwalk show, I booked my tickets straight away!

My mum and I headed into town this morning for the 11:30am show, and we were lucky enough to get front row seats.  Everyone who’d booked seats also got a little goody bag which was nice.

The show itself was really enjoyable.  There were six models in total, four female and two male, and the show was split into six scenes – The Cosmo Edit, Faux Fur, Tapestry Folk, Shades of Red, New Pastels, and Metallics.  Every single scene featured some really gorgeous pieces, but the Metallics section was my favourite, as it mixed colours and textures that I love.  Think leather biker jackets and chunky heels, mixed with gunmetal sequins.

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Reiss Semi Sheer Embroidered Top £110 / Reiss Wide Leg Culotte Trousers £129 / Red Herring Ivory Faux Fur Coat £79 / Reiss Rose Gold Strappy Stiletto £139

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River Island Fluffy Knit Jumper £30 / River Island Reptile Faux Leather Miniskirt £28 / River Island Plastic Origami Necklace £12 / Miss Selfridge Faux Fur Gilet £55 / Jasper Conran Ivory Maribou Cossack £40 / River Island Taupe Suede Ankle Boot £50

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Karen Millen Floral Tapestry Dress £199 / Karen Millen White Pleated Front Cotton Shirt £110 / Karen Millen Black and Floral Print Scarf £99 / Karen Millen Lace Black Shoeboot £155

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Monsoon Embellished Chiffon Top £69 / Monsoon Blush Satin 50s Skirt £69 / Betty Jackson Oversized Double Breasted Coat £159 / River Island Gold Open Toe Stiletto £50 / Aldo Pill Box Bag £35

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Warehouse Leather A-Line Mini Dress £48 / Warehouse Leather Slim Trouser £38 / Ted Baker Silver Sequin Jacket £299 / Aldo Teardrop Chain Necklace £20 / Simply Be Metallic Reptile Clutch £25 / Office Holographic Open Toe Heels £50

I also filmed an Instagram video of the Shades of Red scene…

It was nice to see affordable, high street pieces on a catwalk, and a lot of this year’s trends and colours are right up my street.  The soundtrack to the show was great too!

What do you think of this season’s fashion trends?

Naomi x

What I Wore: Comfy Sunday

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Today my fiancé and I decided to go out for lunch, to one of my favourite bars (the Orange tree in Leicester – they serve a cracking veggie roast!)  Afterwards, we went for a leisurely wander around town, did a spot of shopping and checked out the new Richard III monuments near the cathedral.  A lovely casual day called for a casual outfit, so I threw on this gorgeous draped hoodie with a basic tee, and my favourite pair of jeans.  I love anything acid wash and polka dots, and these jeans combine the two, and are made of light, stretchy denim so are incredibly comfortable.  They’re a real wardrobe staple and have seen me through Spring and Summer, but will also be great for Autumn, worn with a pair of chunky boots.

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DressLink.com Draped Hoodie / H&M Polka Dot Acid Wash Jeans / Primark Basic T Shirt / Primark Metal Waist Belt / Primark Canvas Shoes / Thrifted Topshop Leather Stud Bag

I ordered this oversized draped hoodie from DressLink.com a few weeks ago.  It was originally intended to be for my mum, but unfortunately it doesn’t quite fit her right, so she let me have it.  Believe it or not, this is an XXXL, but Asian sizes are a LOT smaller than our Western sizes, so it fits me, a size 10/12, like a baggy hoodie.  There’s no way it’s a UK size 20 like the website suggests!

Tops like this are absolutely perfect for this time of year.  It was sunny today, so too warm for a coat, but there was a hint of Autumnal coolness in the air, so it kept me nice and cosy, and the hood is great for when you want an extra bit of warmth.  I also really love the length and draped style of the hoodie as it gives it a slightly witchy edge, and though it looks good baggy, I adore the more tailored shape of it when worn with a waist belt over the top.

What pieces will be seeing you through the Summer to Autumn transition?

Naomi x

Urban Outfitters Leicester Press Preview

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Earlier today I was lucky enough to attend the invitation-only press preview of the new Urban Outfitters store in Leicester, ahead of their official launch tonight.  The store is located at the heart of the city in the Highcross shopping centre (right on the edge so it’s easy to find!), and spans two large floors, with womenswear downstairs, and menswear, home and gifts and fitting rooms upstairs.

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As soon as I entered the store I could tell that it had a great vibe.  The Urban Outfitters team have worked hard to transform what was once a fairly dark and claustrophobic space, into a far more open and vibrant one, which has the subtle industrial look that you expect from Urban Outfitters, with its bare floors and reclaimed metal and wooden interior.  Vintage and alternative curios are also spread throughout the store giving it a fun and quirky edge, and hand painted contemporary art and wording adorn the walls.  I even got to see some of it being done!

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The store boasts a really eclectic mix of brands and styles, including own label collections such as Pins & Needles and Worland, but also well-known brands such as Converse and Levi’s, and up and coming labels like Cheap Monday and Native Rose.  I spotted a great mix of edgy basics and classic designs, as well as bolder, more creative pieces (including a very spacey looking silver mini skirt!), that at the same time keep an urban, on-trend theme.

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The accessories, gifts and homeware don’t come as an afterthought either.  Everything is displayed so beautifully, and items of jewellery, hair accessories and nail varnishes are dotted around the shop so you can really get a feel of how to style different items throughout the store.  Everything just seems to fuse together so perfectly, making for an easy and pleasant shopping experience.

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I really enjoyed browsing the new store before it opened, and it was nice to meet some of the Urban Outfitters team too.  I even got to choose a gift to take away with me, so I went for a beautiful black burnout floral cardigan that will be great for layering during the coming autumn and winter months.  I’m sure you’ll be seeing it in an outfit post or two very soon!

Naomi x

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