Since being back at uni, it feels a bit like I haven't stopped: lectures have kicked off and final year is well and truly underway. The workload isn't a shock to the system (yet!) but I've definitely found my work ethic has improved since last year. Whether this lasts or not.. well that's another question!

 

I keep meaning to compose OOTD posts for this week's lectures but I've been so nervous about getting back into the swing of things, I always forget to take photos before I leave and by the time I get home, I'm either sweaty from a gym session or I'm so tired I get straight into my onesie! So in the meantime, I thought I would do a little post in honour of one of my favourite ever programs returning to the telly this Sunday. 

 

For those of you who don't watch Homeland (why on earth not?!) Morgan Saylor plays Dana, a somewhat rebellious teen Dana - the daughter of ex-Marine Nicholas Brody. She was recently featured in Asos magazine which in itself says a lot about her fashion sense: in short, I want to steal it.

1. This black number is one of my faves - for starters, it's black which already means I'll likely love it. I also love sophisticated looking up-dos, mostly because I just cannot pull them off - I have the unfortunate attribute of an oversized, melon-shaped head!

2. Bang on trend is this monochrome dress. I love the unusual pattern - it's not quite geometric but it's far from boring, everything you want in a dress. I'm penning a monochrome post for later in the week, so keep your eyes peeled for that!

3. Lastly is this cute lace dress, featured in the aforementioned Asos magazine. It's no secret that I love Asos - these days I'm sure I spend more time browsing Asos than I do Facebook! I'm also a fan of the floral crown, it gives just enough of a burst of colour to really enhance the otherwise delicately pure ensemble.

 

So there we have it. Not quite what I envisage Dana will be necessarily wearing when Series 3 airs this Sunday (eeeeek! Can you tell I'm excited?!) but Morgan Saylor's style is definitely one I'd like to steal.

 

Jade :)

So this is a bit of a different style steal in the sense that it's all about hair. After having almost all my hair chopped off well over three years ago, my hair has slowly grown into an awkward no-longer-short-but-not-quite-mid-length stage. I'm a massive How I Met Your Mother fan and I've loved watching the hair transformation of Canadian Cobie Smulders.

Her most recent hair style is actually of a similar length to mine which means she acts as perfect inspiration. I love the looseness of the curls in the photo below and this is one style I'm dying to try out myself!



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After spending years wanting flat, straight hair, in the last few years I've started to appreciate voluminous styles much more. I'm sure that this style was created by professionals but I'm sure with a bit of teasing and fluffing, I can get something similar.. (wishful thinking?!)


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I love this up-do a lot because there are days when I just need all my hair scraped off my face and off my neck. I usually end up with some sort of pineapple top knot on days like this - which is fine if I'm not going anywhere! But on days when I'm dragging my sorry self to lectures in the freezing cold, this looks like a good style that is still quite chic and elegant. Definitely on my to-try list.



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But out of all of these styles, this one below is probably my favourite. It's well put together, the curls are loose but not messy and it's one that I have tried time and time again to recreate!

 I will try and capture the next time I attempt Cobie's curls - I can definitely see it being an interesting post given my previous attempts! (A clue: I never achieve anything like the photos above!)

Jade :)

The 21 one year old me should be revising right now. The 21 year old me should also be taking more of an interest in world politics and environmental issues and a whole host of other grown up things you're meant to do when you turn 21. But the 18 year old in me (who, I have to say, never really went away) is actually far more intrigued by the new series of Skins coming back to E4.

I have fond memories of Skins. I remember seeing the trailer for the very first series and being simultaneously horrified and captivated. I was under strict instructions not to watch it (with good reason) but I remember joyously hatching up a plan to watch it anyway. I would have my TV volume at the absolute minimum, ready to crouch with my ear as close as possible for the full hour it was on, my duvet half pulled back ready for the superhero style leap back into bed if footsteps began to ascend the stairs. It was, in my eyes, the perfect plan and executed effortlessly. Looking back, the plan was probably futile and my parents were probably aware of what I was doing but safe to say, I got hooked. It wasn't until the 2nd Generation of Skins that I became (borderline) obsessed though: I fell in love with Cook and never looked back. In terms of style however, Effy was always the one I wanted to emulate.

Effy is the teenage epitome of soft grunge. In short, the type of style I wish I was cool enough to pull off. Think baggy tops, dark make up, ripped jeans and chunky boots. These pictures give a bit of an idea of old school Effy, though if the new trailer is anything to go by, the dark and mysterious ensembles are long gone. (Sob.)

Lots of black, lots of leather, lots of jewellery and printed tees. Is it any wonder I was a fan? Shops like Urban Outfitters, Fashion Union, Top Shop and (if you can afford it) Black Milk are great starting points for a bit of stylish soft grunge.

1. Stripes are an easy way of dipping your little baby toe into the soft grunge pool. This oversized vest top from Asos is great because of the dropped sleeves: Effy has a penchant for baggy tops, bandeaus and bras.

2. I'm not the biggest fan of  gummy bracelets but they are a little less macabre than a skull encrusted bracelet.

3. I am however a massive fan of this  3 pack necklace set, also from Asos. Pile on the neck-wear if you're looking for a quick and simple solution.

4. This printed tee (surprise, surprise) is from the male section of Urban Outfitters but to be honest, both the male and female sections boast some very Effy-like creations. It's my number one stop for graphic tees.

5. Finally, if you want to have a hand at trying Effy's intricate eye make up, try creating a smoky eye combo with the help of this Jemma Kidd Eye Crayon.

For some extra inspiration, see these stylish sale items (can you tell I enjoyed this post a tad too much?!)

 1. MeeMee

2. MeeMee

3. Top Shop

4. Fashion Union

5. Asos

I'm awaiting judgement on the new Skins - I wasn't a massive fan of the 3rd generation (but I watched all the episodes regardless) and I can't decide if this is a last ditch attempt to get back its former glory or not. Either way, I'll probably be watching and if you fancy checking out the trailer yourself, you can find it here.

Enjoy!

Jade :)