There's something about wearing dungarees that makes me feel incredibly young again. I bought this pair from Boohoo about 4 years ago and like to kid myself that they still fit. (They really don't.) I don't usually wear denim this light but I actually like how versatile this shade is - it works just as well with a black top underneath as it does with a white one. I am after some darker denim dungarees however (not to mention ones that don't feel as small!) I tried (and very obviously failed) to roll my sleeves here which is ironic really because I used to ridicule my brother for doing this about a year ago and now it's all the rage!

 

I also love wearing this necklace, I'm on a real geometric jewellery obsession at the moment. I've been browsing online for triangular shaped earrings and even purchased some geometrically shape temporary tattoos which I'll be featuring in another post! This necklace is great because it's not too chunky or too long so can be worn easily during the day. It's like a statement necklace with a hint of subtlety. Just my cup of tea.

 

Follow me here: Bloglovin' | Instagram 

 

Follow me here: Bloglovin' | Instagram 

 

There's no such thing as being overly organised in my books. I'm popping to Europe for a few days next week and naturally the packing preparations have already commenced. I didn't realise at the time, but there is a lot of New Look lovin' going on here! I love the gemstone detail on my black top too - perfect substitute whilst I save up for a statement silver necklace.

Jade x

Blogging has definitely had a positive impact on me. It's made me venture out of my comfort zone and along the way, I've found some wonder products, stumbled across TV shows to obsesses over (as if I needed any more) and found a whole new love for knitwear. Here are my favourite finds of 2013:

1. Barry M Nail Hardener.

My absolute wonder product. I swear by it and I even persuaded friends and family into purchasing it too! I use it as a base and top coat without fail, and my nails have never been stronger or longer. Could not recommend it enough!

 

2. ABCs Scandal.

(source)

Thanks to the free 30 day trial at Lovefilm I stumbled across a little show called Scandal and I'm pretty sure I watched Season 1 and 2 in an under a week. If that doesn't grant me gladiator status, I don't know what does! (Inside joke - watch the show!) In all seriousness, it's like my perfect drama. Kerry Washington is an incredible female lead (point 1); it's about America (point 2); it's political but in a very accessible, dramatic way (point 3); it has a fabulous cast (point 4) and it's far from predictable. Can you tell I'm a little obsessed already? I don't know when (or if) Season 3 is coming to England but it had better is all I'm saying!

 

3. Loverdose Tattoo Perfume
 

I got given this for Christmas so it's not like I had it for the whole of 2013 but I caught of whiff of it in a magazine months back and was determined to get myself a bottle. Only once university started up again in September, perfume purchases were put on hold and it wasn't until Christmas that my wish was granted. It was so worth the wait though - the bottle is gloriously designed, which is really important to me as I collect perfume bottles (weird, I know) so I love them to have intricate, edgy designs.

 

4. New Look Knitwear

 

 

Okay so New Look selling knitwear isn't anything new but I've managed to secure two absolute sale steals this winter and I probably wear them both far too often. My black bulldog jumper is by far the item I've worn most this December, it just goes with everything! And my new zip detailed grey jumper is the perfect addition to my winter wardrobe.

 

Jade :)

Here's my problem: I love looking at other blogger's OOTD posts but I always feel like a massive plank doing my own. I'm much more of a behind-the-camera than in front of the camera kinda girl but I'm working (or should I say werking hehehe) on trying to build my confidence up bit by bit. Step one is doing more outfit posts because at the end of the day, it's about the fashion, not the face (thank goodness!)
 

So back to the OOTD, I've finally accepted that England's summer is probably over. The sun was lovely while it lasted - and it lasted a lot longer than usual! - but I am kind of excited to get back into my black boots, my knee high socks and my woolly jumpers. I'm not ready to go full out for fall yet though, so I'm trying to bridge the gap between summer and autumn with a mix of lightweight shorts, sturdy shoes and my ever faithful Urban Outfitters jumper. I'm pretty sure it's been featured in my blog more than any other item! I really wanted to do this OOTD outside but by the time I'd done everything else I had planned for today, the heavens had opened and it was absolutely chucking it down! Autumn has definitely arrived!

Jumper - Urban Outfitters Shorts - Topshop Necklace - New Look Socks - Urban Outfitters Shoes - Timberland (over 7 years ago now!)

None of these items, the necklace excluded, are relatively new: the jumper is getting on for two/three years old now but it's probably one of my favourite pieces of clothing I own. I love recycling and rehashing old items into new outfits and this OOTD is certainly a mish-mash of several generations of clothing! The collar is actually thanks to a £4 shirt I bought from Asda purely for work-related reasons, but I find this jumper tends to work better with a collar underneath it. I love how the bright white contrasts against the pretty neutral necklace and jumper combo (though I wasn't sure at first that my work shirt would actually work! Would have a been a bit ironic if it hadn't!)

So there is my first fall outfit of 2013. Summer, was nice knowing you!

 Jade :)

I don't know what's happening to me. I'm actually longing for something floral. I'm on a serious blazer hype (can I say hype in a blog? Probably not. I think perhaps hype is best left to people somewhat cooler than me.) Anyway what I'm trying to say is that I love blazers. Which is kind of weird because I spent five years at secondary pretty much loathing them. Except for the inside pocket. Perfect for pens. (Can you tell I really embraced geek chic?!)

 

A few years on and I've moved on from oversized school blazers to ones of a whole different patterning: floral. I'm not buying any clothes at the minute - it's not a spending ban as such, more of a 'all my money is going on rent' type of thing. That doesn't stop me browsing though so here are my top four floral blazers. Blooming marvellous. (Sorry. Awful pun.)

 

There are quite a few floral print blazers on the market at the moment but these are probably my top four. I really like the Peach Rose blazer from New Look because I tend to err towards long line blazers - I feel they're more flattering on me as I have much longer legs than body! They all have really nice patterns though and floral blazers are definitely something to keep an eye out for.

 

 

It's a known fact that I have been graced with hands larger than your average female. As a result, I spend an inordinate amount of time painting my nails trying (and mostly failing) to beautify my massive, manly hands in any way I can. And in a more recent attempt to mask the manliness, I invested in a set of stacker rings from New Look.

 

 

I still had some money on a gift card from my birthday and as a little post-essays/pre-exam pick me up, I saw these shiny little (or large, thanks to my chunky knuckles) rings that I hope will do the trick.

 

There are ten rings in total and I love that there are so many different combinations to be worn (it's the simple things.)

 

 

I really like the detail on these three, the ring at the bottom in particular. These will be the ones that I envisage I'll be wearing more regularly because they're pretty yet plain, so should compliment most outfits.

 

 

The ring on the left  (and on my middle finger below) is very similar to a ring I used to own but sadly broke. This one is a lot chunkier which hopefully will mean my man hands won't completely demolish it. I have a very bad habit of twisting my rings around my fingers when I get nervous (and I get nervous a LOT) and I swear my fingers see new rings as some sort of a subconscious challenge.

 

 

The two below are perhaps my least favourite of the set. I'm not a massive vampire fan (I was going to try and make a pun on the whole fan/fang word play but I figured I've made you endure far too many bad puns in the past. I hope you appreciated my restraint.)

 

 

They are kind of cute though, perfect if I'm feeling like embracing my soft grunge side. But my absolute favourites have to be these three below.

 

The classic pearl, the geometric print, the dark and mysterious one on the end. Yep, I love them ALL.

Definitely worth waiting to spend my gift card on and as long as I can make these last long enough to wear in Paris, I'll be happy!

Jade :)

1. one 

2. two 

 3. three

4. four

5. five

I love, love, love that Spring has finally decided to make an appearance but that does not mean I'm leaping straight into summer dresses and frilly bikinis. So how better to toughen up a nice, bright outfit than with a couple of well placed studs and spikes?

 

New Look have got a great range of chunky necklaces in at the moment and I've been searching for a nice, spiky gold one to wear with an outfit I'm planning on wearing to an upcoming ball at uni. I love the blue triangle one but the colour would clash with what I'm wearing so I'm keeping an eye out for any others that take my fancy. If that fails, I'm definitely considering popping into Topshop to see if the spiky ball earrings are in store - such an easy way to go from girly to down-right gangsta. Nearly.

 

 

I'm sorry for such a short post - the first week back at uni is always a bit of a busy one and I'm trying really hard to get into a solid fitness regime which I'm looking forward to blogging about soon. Hope everyone else is having weather as nice as I've had the last few days - it makes everything seem so much better.

 

Jade :)

Firstly, you might be aware of how much I raved about British band Bastille all the way back in April 2012 (click for full-on fangirl-ing) and now, almost a year on, I think I love them even more. If you haven't heard any of their stuff yet (if not, why not?!) go and find them on Youtube. The first song of theirs I heard was Flaws and it sounds just as flawless (sorry) as it did then.

 

Moving on from flaws to claws, it is no secret that I'm a fan of all things animal print. And though I'm currently feeling a little depressed from days of job hunting and CV sending, I'm not going to let a little thing like the lack of money stop me from lusting after things I probably will never be able to buy.

1. I like, foolishly, to think that this America ram tee from New Look is a bit of an edgier take on animal print (and yes, I'm applying the word edgy because there is a skull involved. It's been a tought week, let it slide.) Plus it's in the sale at a bargain price of only £4. Not to be missed.

 

2. As for this swimsuit, there are no words that I possess in my vocabulary to describe just how much I want this. But thanks to my lack of money, a holiday seems unlikely and since the British weather isn't known for being swimsuit friendly, I can't currently justify buying it. Sad face.

 

1. Another great find from Zara, I love the colourful tribal print on this rainbow giraffe tee and is perfect to brighten the bland British weather.

2. This is a white tee with black print AND it's a cat with a moustache. Perfect if you: a) like white tees, b) like cats c) are a hipster wannabe or d) just really like moustaches. Asos, I think I really like you.

3. This final tee from Asos is also very nice, with its almost tye-dye base and cute tiger overlay.

In my opinion, Zara currently have the best selection of animal-enhanced tees and they're so bright and lightweight that it's making me even more eager for summer. As you may know, I also have a petite penchant for wearing men's clothes and I'm happy to report that boys can get in on the animal loving too (which is good to know as my brother has got to the age where he's started to wear printed tees. And I for one am not keen on him parading around with scantily clad women on his tops. The bro should have better fashion sense than that; he's related to me. I KID.)

 

I'd definitely wear this black tiger jumper - it would be great layered over a collared shirt and thrown on with a pair of skinny jeans and black boots. A standard lecture outfit of late.

 

As for this wolf tee, I perhaps wouldn't personally wear this but I do have a wolf tee of my own from (the female section) of Zara and I love it. Wolves are cool.

This last item intrigued me because it's quite an odd design to have such a large animal form a print on a shirt but I kind of think it works. Check it out on Topman for a few similar items of animal print goodness.

I'm currently the proud owner of two black (surprise, surprise) crop tops but I'm drawn to them more and more the closer summer seems. Now I by no means have the body for them but a few alcoholic drinks down the line and I start professing I have the body of Miranda Kerr. (I really, really  don't.)

Still, I am convinced that under my ever-present pouch, I could potentially possess abs. I try (emphasis on the try. I fail quite often too) to work out a couple of times a week. I'm not terribly rigid with it - some days it's literally five sit ups and nothing else - but exercise is something I am conscious of doing. And sometimes, when I'm having a really good day, those low-lying abs come to the surface and I whack out the crop top (with some suitably high-waisted garments of course.)

In other words, I'm tactical. Having a high enough skirt and a long enough crop top gives the very clever illusion that I'm far more toned than I ever could be. In showing only a sliver of flesh, it allows the onlooker - who is usually far more inebriated than I am - to assume I'm some sort of gym-loving golden girl. And if I'm lucky, the camera falls for this trick too. So until this theory is disproved, crop tops will continue to be a staple part of my student wardrobe. (Sorry, dad.)


This tie-dye crop from Urban Outfitters is one that I keep coming back to. I love the colour of it and the little lace section is lovely; my only worry is that I'd be far too scared to wear it out in public. I think it'd be perfect for dance under a baggy, over-sized vest but for me it has just a little too much SPP for a night out.

I really like this Topshop bralet because of how summery it looks. In terms of its style, it's not something I'd usually opt for (it's a tad too tight-fitting and feminine) but it would be perfect paired with denim shorts someplace hot.

I think this white crop top from Fashion Union is one of my favourites though. It's baggy yet beguiling and can definitely be dressed up or down with disco pants or boyfriend shorts. It's a little longer than the other two so if, like me, you're a bit more body conscious then this allows you to still get on trend without any untoned tummy trouble.



Of course any wishlist of mine would not be complete without something black and basic so this eagle crop top from New Look is of course one of my top crops.  It's loose, it's white-on-black print; in short, it's very me. If I bought this (and believe me, I'm very close to doing so) I'd probably wear it with denim shorts, black knee high socks and some pretty grim black plimmies. I am a student after all.

The studs on the middle are the main reason I like this one from Asos - studs are a surefire way of making any outfit a bit more edgy. It comes in black and grey and I like that it has actual sleeves - I'll take any extra warmth I can get.

I also love this cream crop top also from New Look. Lace is ace because it never really goes out of fashion and again this comes in a number of colours. Woo.

So as you can see, crop tops really are all the rage right now. And the best thing about crop tops? By only using half the material, they're usually half the price of a proper top. BONUS.

Anyone else a fan of the crop top? Also, MAJOR apologies for the poorly constructed post title. I like to try and pretend I'm dead witty. I'm not.
 

I have so much to blog about and so little time to do it. Sad face.

We've just moved house and I've just come home from uni so life is pretty hectic but making things worse is a lack of internet! So I've been drafting lots of blog posts and trying my hardest to find time and ways to post them. So whilst I sort out the rest of my new room, thought I'd leave you with a little post I wrote a week or so ago.

I never thought I'd be the girl who couldn't say no to shoes. But when New Look are offering a cheeky 50% off, how can anyone say no? I'm only just starting to actually enjoy wearing heels (I'm a late starter) and I've been stalking pairs of this style for weeks. I hate, hate, hate showing my toes off and I have been struggling to find a pair of wedges that didn't have an open-toe design.

And just my luck, when I was only meant to popping into town to buy my Secret Santa present I ended up finding these little beauties just begging to be bought.

Now I know I'm a student but somehow spending £13.99 on a pair of shoes as nice as this is borderline acceptable, right? Although karma did come back to bite me on the bum because I'm not actually going to be able to wear my new best friends out until 2013 when I'm back at uni.

I can already tell they're going to be absolute killers on a night out (what heels aren't?) but I'm determined to make them worth it. I have a few beige and cream coloured tops which would match these perfectly and I'll probably be pairing them with some of my trusty LBDs more often than not.

A purrrrfect little splurge just in time for Christmas!

I know it's winter. I know it's deathly cold outside. And yes, I know Christmas is literally just around the corner. But did that stop me buying (yet another) billowy blouse? Did it heck.

 

I couldn't help it, I went into New Look on Friday with the sole intention of buying a new purse (my previous one fell victim to a bit of a tipsy girls' night out) but as I wandered past the sale rack, I could not stop myself buying this little blue beauty.

 

 

It was reduced to £7 and as a sucker for an animal motif, it didn't take long to win myself around.  I assume, from the colour, that the birds are meant to be doves but I just liked how cute they looked, all paired up. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a massive cynic when it comes to real life relationships but animals are another story altogether.

 

 

 

There were only two blouses left - a small and a medium. I opted for the small simply because I've got two other blouses both of which are long enough to wear with wet-look leggings, so decided this purchase would be more for wearing with a tight black skirt. Which I did, later that Friday night. I don't have any suitable photos from that night to show you all I'm afraid so instead I decided to leave you with the song from which the title of this post was taken.

 

Enjoy!

As promised, a quick look at a few of the things I've bought in the last week or so.

First off, my newest perfume. I adore perfumes: I love buying them, wearing them and keeping the bottles afterwards. I do tend to go through perfumes pretty quickly but I don't mind because I love going out and picking a new one to try. I very rarely go for the same one twice (especially not one after the other) but I will be making an exception for my "special perfume." After waiting and saving for a Chanel perfume, I was lucky enough to get given one for Christmas last year and I absolutely love it. It's Coco Mademoiselle and I will 100% save up to buy it again once I've finished it. I do, however, only use it on special occasions and is not by any means my everyday perfume.

Which is where this one comes in:

After to-ing and fro-ing between this one and Zara'a Rose fragrance, the design on the box tipped my decision and I'm so glad it did. This is probably one of my favourite every day perfumes I've had in the past year or so, mostly because it's so light and fresh and is not intoxicating like others I've used previously. Definitely worth the money.

Also worth the money was this cheeky little sale item I stumbled upon without even meaning to. Mum and I were just about to queue in New Look when we saw a bunch of bags in the sale and after being taken with a cute little black bag, I saw this sequin number and there was no way I wasn't going to buy it!

Thanks to this beautiful weather England seems to be having at the moment, I've spent a lot of time outside these last few days, having BBQs with the family and topping up my tan. Whilst I'm not actually going on holiday this year (sad face) thanks to this sudden heatwave, I've still been browsing bikinis and beach wear. So instead of spending my time wishing I was going away this summer, I decided to compile a watery wish list instead

                                                

I wouldn't usually go for white (as I don't think white and water together are particularly practical!) but the fruity print gave it a cheeky little edge and could easily be matched with a plain red or white bikini top, or the 50s inspired bikini top ASOS suggests.

2. French Connection Frilled Bikini Pant With Ditzy Leaf Print - £13.00 (x)

Frilly bikinis always catch my eye and though £13 is a little more than I'd usually spend on one half of a bikini, I love the colour and the design of these and would be perfect for the pool.

3. *ASOS Patchwork Print Tie Side Bikini Pant - £6 (x)

I love the design on these and the yellow detail around the top sold me completely. As these are both dark in colour and small in size, I'd typically these near the beginning of a holiday for maximum exposure. Also, I prefer brighter colours against a darker tan so anything bright or neon I usually leave till last.

4. Miss Sixty Aztec Cut-Out Swimsuit - £34 (x)

Originally priced at £67 but being sold by New Look for £34, this swimsuit is a bit more pricey pool chic that pool side prep but I love, love, love cut outs. Whether it's swimsuits, dresses or tops - cut outs are fantastic because I think they have the ability to flatter a variety of body shapes. This cut out does flash a lot of flesh and is obviously pretty expensive but the Aztec design definitely caught my eye.

I was immediately grabbed by the brightness of this duo and I personally tend to favour bandeau bikini tops over other styles. Thanks to the assortment of bright colours, this is the type of thing I'd wear near the end of my holiday as I think it would really pop against a tan. I also like that the bottoms aren't too flimsy and don't rely on a bit of string to keep them together.

So there we have it: my five favourite pool side pieces. If only I was going away so I could actually wear them!

Note:

*matching items available.

So I finally went shopping for the first time since I've been back home from uni and I definitely picked the right day to go - sales galore! I picked up a few nice things from New Look and Top Shop and there was a fair amount I liked in Zara and H&M too, but until I get any work under my belt, I (painfully) resisted spending too much money. Oh the woes of student life. Anyway, back to the sales..

There were loads of these shorts in the sale, in loads of colours but hardly any in my size - they were all size 6, 14 or 16! Managed to find this cheeky pink size 10 pair though so it wasn't all bad.

Anyone splurged this week(end) too? Please don't make me feel guilty!