Fair Weathered Running and Fears

Simple Summer Sunday: Jumper: Dorothy Perkins (oh, so old) Next alternative, Tee: H&M Basics, Skirt  (£1 fish of a skirt) Similar, Flats: New Look

It’s that time again folks, its exercise season. I know this because a, I am definitely packing winter weight like an animal that hibernates and B, because I almost got run over by five consecutive runners on the way home last night. And in the dark, over a high level bridge it can be pretty scary. It was almost like being roped into a flash mob. (That’s like a major nightmare of mine, along with people dressed up as Disney characters – *shudder*).

But yes, there are people like me getting fit all over the place! Fair weathered exercisers. I’m personally taking it slow – as in crawling almost backwards through the local pool a couple of times while I wait to get back on that bicycle! It’s just no fun with snow (re: floods) on the ground!

Running, Dresses & Global Warming all in one post!

Blue Dress: Dorothy Perkins, Belt: H&M (Old), similar (yes mens but who said they can have all the fun?), Bag: Accessorize sale, similar, More expensive, Blazer: F21 Similar Shoes: New Look

I think the sun has gone to my head. Why you ask? Well it could be because I find myself no longer capable of getting anywhere without rushing. The worst part is; I don’t even know why I am perpetually running – I get up at the same time, I am ready almost early and yet every morning I find myself running onto the train, running into the office, running out of the office, running for my next train, running for dinner . . . you name it I no longer walk to it, I run.

So during the week this dress is pretty useless but on the weekends . . . oh the weekends! I am one cool cookie. In fact we jammed so much in this weekend that I even chose to wash our car. Now if you know me you’ll know that car washing, not my strong suit. I was spoilt with a dad who loved his cars and made sure they looked good. Well that and I’m pretty sure he was just insuring that my messy mug of a car wasn’t bringing down the neighbourhood. (Or driveway, It probably was)

But then you know what happened? Monday. That’s what happened and so starts the cycle of running again. Oh global warming you are a cruel mistress!

Bring on the mint!

Blazer: F21 (2012) Same shape/blazer in colbolt (you can’t go wrong!), Mint Tee, Dorothy Perkins (2011) Similar , Zara BF Jeans 2013 Similar (I love zara jeans for comfort price and fit! well suggested!), Pixie Flats Next 2013 Similar in Raspberry, Mint Bag Accessorize Necklace, thrifted.

 

Who knew that back in University I would pick up this gem of a shirt without realising that mint was going to be such a big deal in a couple of years? Well as luck would have it I did! I loved it then and I certainly love it now as well I mean mint and polka dots all in one? That is the style bloggers dream! It has also kept itself quite well over the years so its still wearable, remixable and loved now as well as back then! In fact even Josh loves it!

Now I must tell you I didn’t plan for a weeks worth of Mint posts but apparently its like my new favourite colour. Who’d’ve guessed right? Also these jeans make me so happy! They are so relaxed and soft that I could literally sleep in them they are that good! So the fact that spring/summer is on its way is very welcomed just so I can wear these jeans all the time!

p.s What are our thoughts on these shirts? I just wanna live in one of these on weekends with leggings! Thoughts?

Spring Updates (Did someone say shopping?)

Accessorize, Accessorize! Mint Bag, Scarf

I have been on a bit of a bag/scarf kick recently. Literally a new one every month! I mean firstly thats crazy and I obviously don’t recommend od’ing on accessories but when they are this cute? Honestly hows a girl to say no? Also they weren’t too badly priced this bag is only £17 which wasn’t bad! (I don’t think) Shockingly though it doesn’t feel as sturdy as my trusty go to Primarni bag so if you get this one wedged in the tube doors you’re probably not going to win but its mint and was only £17 so that outweighs it for me! (Although I know, I know I am meant to be saving for investment pieces! whatcha gonna do?)

The scarf also wasn’t too pricy at £15 which isn’t bad for a transitional piece, its not always warm enough yet but its got more warmth than a silk number! I also liked it because there was more fabric as alot of their new spring stuff doesn’t have enough for this time of year so you’d literally have to wear another into work and then change when you get there! how annoying right? but this was a nice best of both worlds piece!

Now I am hoping next month not to go so accessories crazy! As I’d like to buy some basic sandals (India ruined last years ones – lots of sand = very discoloured white shoes! – but oh so worth it!) and maybe a summer dress! But in my window shopping I have fallen in love with this dress from Dorothy Perkins . . .

 

I love that skirting pattern! Its not in tall unfortunantely but so what if I show a little ankle this summer right? After my failed Boden denim shop (too tight around the middle a tad too short (in tall) and to baggy around the legs!) I am also trialing these jeans from Next this weekend, fingers crossed cause I could do with some comfy (coloured) jeans!

What are you guys shopping for this month and next? Do you have any spring essentials that you feel are worth investing in this year?

Not so mellow yellow

 

Jumper: Gap (sale – my favourite word), Black Pencil Skirt: H&M (old as time but I know stores like Dorothy Perkins do these kinda things!) Black bag: Primark (my 2nd) Yellow Flats: New Look

 

I’m on a mission. A colour mission. I may have  mentioned this before but back in university my wardrobe considered off four colours, black, white, red and navy. Don’t get me wrong this made dressing pretty easy and let me be pretty put together at all times, but you know what else? It was incredibly boring. Yep you heard that right, dressing, boring? so incredibly boring.

So as I do I set out on a mission to not only focus on better quality (less cheap bulk buys – le sigh) but to also make sure that each piece can both fit in with my wardrobe and be well loved and remixed but to also be at the same time completely different!

I am really trying to not only inject some much needed colour but to also add patterns and interest and I hope with paying that little bit more that I will also get some more textures and often its the little fancy extras on a piece of clothing (like a little bit of velvet covering the seems) that just adds to that wow I feel good factor! and who doesn’t want that?

From home to the office

Coat: Primark, Blazer: Topshop Similar, Bag: (strap seperate) both Accessorize different colour same bag, Scarf: Accessorize cute alternative, Tunic: Next, Treggings: Next Similar pattern, Flats: New Look

The worst has happened. I am struggling to wear heels. Since just before Christmas I have been having prolific cramp in my toes and calves which heels have not helped. In fact the last time I wore my wedge trainers walking (Which I used to do all the time – not just to sit in the office or go between car and dinner) Josh threatened to get us a cab pick the car up because I couldn’t walk or shake the cramp out of my poor damn toes. It has been hell on earth.

Add in consistent rain and I have been wearing a pair of low brown boots (which have yet to make it on the blog probably because I look at them like they are the evil rain spawns. (They totally are.) My grey ankle pirate boots and black knee high boots are all I have worn lately. I am so over boots believe me. So I am very much looking forward to spring/summer as I intend to pick myself up some bright coloured flats (I have seen online, mint and yellow hello! come home with me?) sandals and maybe some more brogues to bring in the new seasons while I can’t wear all my favourite heels.

But I am very cut up over this. I can’t think of anything worse than flats forever but fingers crossed with more exercise and stretching I can perhaps work this cramp away!

p.s. excuse that crinkle bag I can’t get the crinkles out!?! crazy . . .

Primary Colours

 

Cardigan: Next Similar, Top: George, Asda, Alternative Jeans: Dorothy Perkins Similar, Scarf: Accessorize, Bag: Accessorize Similar, Boots: New Look Similar

 

If I was Jessica Day and/or was a primary school teacher it would be this outfit that I would wear. I love bright colours and although I really want to indulge in some great pastels, my small budget was not allowing me this month so instead I have gone old school blogger. That means I remixed old clothes into a new outfit. Almost unheard of I know!

P.S. excuse the blurryness. It took hours to get that effect. I joke, the windy/rainey weather was not playing ball in letting me take good photos. Also its Valentines day and I forgot to wear pink again . . . oh . . . me. 

Coffee Machines and Comfies

Lets be honest girls. I don’t wear full on blog finery all the time. Shocking, I know. Sometimes all a girl needs is a Sunday at home wearing comfies and lounging and thats exactly what (we tried) to do last Sunday. I was having a bit of a weekend of it to be honest. So the idea of wearing jeans or anything was just, egh, no way was it happening.

Luckily it wasn’t too cold (and it didn’t rain! success!) so a stretchy skirt, Ramones tee shirt and f’uggs (fake Uggs) were just the ticket. Also, it was pretty perfect for us going to buy our new Nespresso Machine. In fact we both fell in love that weekend, with a coffee machine. Because human love, how could it compete?

p.s if you don’t see a post Thursday don’t panic – that weekend I just spoke about, really kicked my ass and my ability to take photos was pretty bad also.

Jumper: Topshop (sooo old), Tee: HMV, Skirt: Dorothy Perkins, Fake Uggs: Brantano, Bag: Primarni

A little Birdy told you . . .

A little Birdy told you . . .

That I have Pinterest! 

I should’ve worn pink

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 g

Its that day again, the day all singletons hate and all couples like to exchange gifts on and tell each other how much they love each other. For me? Valentines has been and gone folks! It was last saturday, didn’t you know? But again, I didn’t wear pink, what was I thinking? 

I mean obviously a romantic get a way and fancy turkish food isn’t romantic enough without a romantic outfit right? Wrong, ill tell you, my mainly green inspired weekends were pretty romantic even without some hearts. But now? All I can think about is pink outfits, so maybe next week?  

Bet you didn’t see that coming, now where to buy an entire outfit covered in hearts? Mmmm, maybe not then.

 

The height of the matter. . .

Lets talk about height and fashion.

What kind of height do you think of when you think about fashion? high fashion is definitely height. Its all about these supposedly amazonian sized women right? tall, you think about tall women striding down the catwalk right? At least I do, but then again maybe I’m biased. At six foot myself I love thinking that fashion is a tall girls game, as I tower over my gorgeous 5ft friends. (By this I mean 5’1 – 5’9/10, not just 5ft)

I honestly love being tall. Being tall is a part of me, something I didn’t like as a child but as i hit my later teens to be honest I began loving my height. Its part of me like having brown eyes and i’m proud of it even, I like feeling tall and striding through town, its me but fashion recently seems to have taken a turn against us tall girls.

Lets go back to 2008-11/12. I was in jeans/trousers heaven, I had finally realised that tops that are slightly too short look terrible on girls like me who are in my case a little off kilter in the fact that my torso (I tend to think is a little too short for my legs etc . . .) So I learnt to dress right and at the time the stores were in my favour with what they call ‘tall’ sections.

Great stores I loved at the time were,

Topshop – long tops and jeans that cost the earth but fit fab! and leggings! my uni staple finally long enough that I didn’t have to call them cropped leggings!

Dorothy Perkins – affordable jeans and more importantly for me skinny jeans that finally looked right! (None of these straight leg jeans masquerading as skinny jeans)

New look – every tall girls dreams, shoes up to size nine! (US 11 – I think?) I got so excited over this finally cute shoes! heels! Boots and flats that dont look like orthopaedic shoes! and great long flowey tops that every girl needs!

Everything suddenly became reachable. I was suddenly in charge of my clothes, long leg lengths were in abundance and I suddenly had great choice of clothes that fit great. I was in tall girl heaven. However it was short lived. Any tall girl in the UK has probably noticed this (and I hope its not just me in London and Kent that has found this) but somehow the Olympics were looming and we lost the tall sections. Much to my dismay.

Annoyingly for me (and not because I have a dislike for the shorter person) but it seems that petite sections have grown in a huge way while there is no longer sections for tall girls. I fight stores for long leg lengths, refusing just to order them online. I want the chance to try these things on in the stores not order them through and continually send them back (as something like jeans and trousers take me ages to find a good pair that suits me and fits right – as i’m not particularly curvy)

SO what I want to know is why if we love all these tall supermodels do we not get tall sections or even just a slightly longer leg lengths? After all as we all get taller naturally why not cater for it? Its far easier to hem something or take something in then add to it. After all us tall girls cant exactly add some denim to the bottom of our jeans find the same fabric to make our t-shirts longer, we just have to live with short numbers that don’t suit or show off to much skin.

So, if you know where the tall sections have gone comment below, or link up some great sites that maybe give us tall girls a chance to be as a fashion forward as the rest of the more ‘average’ height girls.

Some stores that I have found are great are . . .

Long Tall Sally – This amazing company offer a new couple of ranges every season. Whats great about the store is their great clothes and the fact that each new season follows some great timeless patterns and keep to similar complimentary colours which make wardrobe building nice and easy.

The clothes are great as they are also well made and tailored to the tall girl, with good fabrics as well as patterns! Unlike stores like Dorothy Perkins who seem to only offer black trousers and plain t-shirts with a range of simple jeans.

Saying that . . . Dorothy Perkins. (Now this is a case of being a great store when you can find the pieces) looking I have found some great skinny jeans I love their ultra soft skinny jeans at £25 I don’t mind buying multiples, (I currently have them in blue and black) the only store to do proper skinny/skinny jeans These are uber comfy and i think that they are great. Also LEGGINGS! again when you can get these I live in them for years, probably my favourite thing. I also love their jeggings, i’m currently lusting over these steals at £23 and they are longer in the crotch as well which is great so they fit far better than those low-low rise jeans.

New Look shoes! You have to search but there is still the odd size nines kicking about my new home town is actually great for this as I tend to buy them in the sale most often and they also offer wide fit for girls with wider feet. And if you can find the tall sections, CONGRATS! as they have some fun pieces like sequinned pencil skirts that don’t look like mini’s.

I love being a tall girl, but high street fashion options are taking their tolls. So if you have a great tall store or some tall fashion options write in the comments section below, link your blogs and sites that offer great tall clothing choices.

xoxo