A Holiday Wardrobe Wishlist

30 April, 2013
Urban Outfitters Bohemian Holiday Wish List

Although I haven't 100% booked my summer holiday just yet, a week long trip to Portugal with my housemates is definitely on the cards. It's been years since I've been on a beach holiday, so I've been getting overly excited about my holiday wardrobe. Of course, there's also been the panic of acquiring a beach body, hence my recent dedication to the gym. We're not actually planning to fly out until mid September but I've been eying up a few pieces at work that I'll most definitely want in my suitcase. I've become a bit of an Urban Outfitters snob in some aspects, but it's become that only place I shop now other than charity shops.

001. This patterned Minkpink "Maya" smock dress is identical in shape to my beloved Scorpio Rising dress I bought last summer. The Scorpio Rising dress is actually one of my most worn dresses in my wardrobe, so it would make sense to own another one with a slightly different pattern. It would be perfect on holiday to simply throw over a bikini before hitting the beach.

002. Just how incredible and 50's glam are these cat eye sunnies?! They would be perfect paired with the high-waisted bikini I've also picked out in the following image.

003. In all honesty the thought of a bikini terrifies me more than anything. Even more than my irrational fear of stickers. On holidays in the past I've always worn shorts over my bikini bottoms because I'm horribly self conscious of my bottom half. However, hopefully this year I will conquer that ultimate fear with the help of this retro-inspired, halterneck bikini. I'm hoping the higher waistband will help me feel a little more comfortable as I take the plunge into bikini territory. Ideally, I would also love to have all year round perfect pins without the worry of slipping into a bikini, and I have found somewhere that offers laser hair removal treatment in Southampton, which would mean not worrying about pre-holiday leg waxing ever again!

004. As soon as I spotted this bag come into store, I decided I must own it. It's a little pricey at £65 but the detail is so intricate and beautiful, so it is worth the money. It's also an ideal size for a little trip to the beach, plus it seems to go perfectly with everything else I've picked in this wishlist!

005. I know I shouldn't even be contemplating a £110 pair of shorts, but oh my god these are my idea of the perfect pair of shorts! I only wish they were a little more high-waisted, because higher waistbands are always so much more flattering on the figure. Someone be a darling and treat me?

006. Finally, this patchwork blazer is ideal to throw over an outfit in the slightly chillier evenings to grab some dinner. It's also suited to the red theme I seem to have unintentionally conjured up in this wishlist. Maybe red will be my colour this season?







Note: This is a sponsored post.
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California Daze

25 April, 2013



Dress: Minkpink via Urban Outfitters Sale, £25 (w/ staff discount) // Hat: H&M, £12.99 // Sunglasses*: Ray Bans via Smart Buy Glasses // Necklaces: Urban Outfitters & Matalan // Boots: Topshop, £75 // Bottle of wine: 3 for £9.99

The classiest blogger and outfit post should definitely be awarded to me as I clutch a pretty much empty bottle of cheap wine and a Starbucks cup that is sneakily filled with alcohol! This is my outfit from Saturday when I visited London for the day for the George at Asda press day followed by Record Store Day celebrations under the sunshine in the streets of Soho. It was an afternoon that was certainly the first taste of summer as thousands of people gathered in the streets with a bottle of something or other in their hand, records in their bags and danced the afternoon away to either a live band on a stage that was set up of Berwick Street or music that was pumped out into the streets by DJ's from the local record shops. There was most definitely a festival atmosphere in Soho that day!

I was wearing yet another Minkpink little number, which I managed to get my paws on in the Urban Outfitters summer sale last year. I've been waiting for the perfect opportunity and weather to wear it. Now I've worn it for the first time and the sun seems to be sticking around in the sky (touch wood!) I'm certain I'll be wearing it on a regular basis. I love the loose fit and as you can see, it is certainly a wonderful dress to twirl and spin around in. Obviously that's the most important trait I look for in a dress! The velvet ankle boots I've had for a couple of years now and they've lasted me so well! Topshop shoes have always been a firm favourite of mine as although they're slightly pricier than retailers like New Look, the quality always outdoes the steeper price tag. All these festival vibes have put me in the mood even more so for Glastonbury!

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George at Asda Blogger's Picnic Press Event

21 April, 2013


George summer collection available soon online

A lot of people seem to turn their noses up at supermarket clothing ranges with the expectation that they are poorly produced and created without much thought for current trends. Yesterday, I was invited down to the George at Asda showroom in the heart of Carnaby Street to preview their new summer collections and I can confirm those common misconceptions about supermarket clothing is certainly not the case for George! They certainly show a vast knowledge of trend awareness as their latest collections came to prove. Their main focus trends for this summer season were sports luxe, "pretty twisted" (floral prints) and print clash. I must confess I've never particularly given George much of a chance, other than one delicious, silk, feather print romper I picked up from there a few months ago, but I have been completely converted. Whilst I was there admiring the collection I was taking a series of mental notes of what pieces I plan to pick up when they are available online and I can tell you there is quite a list!

I met up with my usual partner in crime for press events, Toni, and the lovely Robyn from The Robyn Diaries. The weather was certainly on our side as the sun was blazing down upon London after these endless weeks of clouds and rain. The picnic theme that the team at George had curated was suited perfectly to such a divine day! The showroom was spaciously set out with a wonderfully chilled out atmosphere with a bar for a constant stream of refreshments, beanbags to relax on, lots of dress up props and even a candy floss machine! We were also treated to hair styling, manicures and makeovers by the Powderpuff Girls in where I had my hair pin-curled. I'm absolutely rubbish with anything beauty or hair related, so it was nice to be pampered properly for once.








The most notable pieces that stood out to me were a two piece floral bomber and shorts, a tie-dye playsuit, a floral pinafore dress and an enchanting, mesh, white maxi skirt. There was also one aztec-inspired printed beach bag (which I'm holding in the photo below), which I'll almost definitely be purchasing for my summer holiday this year! It was a wonderful afternoon that allowed us to mingle with some other bloggers and run around Carnaby Street attempting to take part in a street style challenge (our team failed miserably!). I wore a Minkpink dress I picked up in the Urban Outfitters sale last year, but I'll do a separate outfit post going into more detail soon.

The array of floral and tropical prints and flowing prints in the new George collections has certainly put me in the mood for summer. In fact, I'm ready to be on a beach sipping a mojito in some exotic, unbearably hot location right this instance. We spent the rest of our sunny afternoon strolling the streets of Soho with a bottle of wine in our hands celebrating Record Store Day amongst the masses, but that's another story all together. Another story that resulted in a hangover headache before 10pm...






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AX Circus Event

16 April, 2013


As well as the Motel Rocks Press Event I posted about previously, I also attended a press event hosted by AX Paris & e-Tail PR last Wednesday evening held in the upmarket venue of Circus in Covent Garden, which I must admit was ever so well concealed! We even had a little trouble finding it having to backtrack on ourselves after passing it. The theme of the evening was based on the circus and we were treated to delicious rum infused cocktails, canapes and regular performances from circus inspired acts, which included dancers, fire breathers and some rather attractive gentleman spinning around a ribbon. How could I ever complain? Although at one point he came rather close to kicking me in the face. Awkward.

The highlight of my evening was definitely being able to meet so many of my favourite bloggers, some for the very first time. It's so wonderful to be in an environment with so many like-minded people who are not necessarily from your hometown. My favourite part had to be the photobooth, which always seems to prove a hit at blogger events. The fancy dress stash and manual photobooth set up was heaps of fun to act silly after a few cocktails and glasses of wine. As you can see we certainly made the most of it! Overall, the evening was a huge success thanks to the wonderful and hard work of the girls at e-Tail and the AX Paris team!


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Motel Rocks Press Day

14 April, 2013



On Wednesday I had was the busiest and most exciting day I have had in a long while! Tuesday evening I saw myself hopping on a coach with the destination of London for an early morning interview on the Wednesday, then followed by a day of press events around London! First on the circuit was Motel Rocks in where their showroom was alive with nostalgia of the 90's, the era of my childhood. We were greeted by the ever beautiful Selina and was treated to a bottle of Hooch, which just so happens to be one of my alcoholic favourites, before being taken through the new collections Motel has to offer. In the corner of the room the area had been transformed into a replica of a teen 90's bedroom complete with VHS, boyband posters, Polly Pockets, feather boas, an inflatable chair and even a Dream Phone! I've got to admit, I was never the owner of a Dream Phone when I was younger because I grew up as a bit of a tomboy, so playing it was a whole new experience to me.

The showroom had several new collections for us to have a little sneak preview of, as well as their current. Essentially Motel is taking a leap back in time to it's original 90's roots, hence the theme, with a lot of reworked past prints and shapes reappearing. One rail in particular full of dresses featuring grungey graphic prints of acid house smileys, Pegasus horses and eastern influenced imagery would not go amiss on a young Miss Gwen Stefani circa the early No Doubt days. There were a pair of full length, burgundy, paisley dugarees that I fell particularly head over heels for!






Another collection that grabbed my attention was the 'Eastern Promise' collection, which features a bright, inky blue mandala, ethnic inspired print in looser, babydoll shapes in contrast to the usual fitted, bodycon numbers that Motel is well known for. I felt as though they could easily be sold amongst the stock at Urban Outfitters and would be ideal for my Glastonbury festival wardrobe. I may have to make a few cheeky purchases there! I'm really happy that Motel have stepped away from the constant fitted shapes in favour of more smock shapes that are a lot more practical for hot summer days (if they ever arrive!) and for those of us who are a little wary of bodycon.




Hat: H&M, £12.99 // Dress: Topshop (last year), £36 // Belt: New Look, £2.99 // Rucksack*: c/o Grafea // Boots: Urban Outfitters Sale, £7.50 w/ staff discount

I wore my cutout, patchwork, paisley Topshop dress that I bought last summer teamed with a wide brim, black hat, my white leather Grafea rucksack and some studded Chelsea boots that were an absolute steal in the Urban Outfitters sale. As you may have noticed I had green streaks run through my hair by the Colour Xtreme team that were present at the event! It's only sprayed in colour, but I've got to admit that I've warmed to the idea of having green running through my hair. Maybe I'll make it a little more permanent come summer?! What are your thoughts on the newer collections? Are you a fan of the 90's revival trend?
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