Crazy for Paisley

OOTD

I am obsessed with paisley at the moment. For me, it works all year around. 

As it is summer, I have to basically force myself to wear some element of colour (such a hard task). 

Sometimes I feel as though there is underlying pressure to force yourself to buy some sort of coloured clothing, knowing deep down you just want to grab that beautiful black/grey/white ensemble off the rail. 

Patterned clothing however is the answer to my prayers because it looks cool, plus you have a sneaky bit of colour in there. In this case, paisley! 

This blouse is from Primark and definitely looks more expensive than what it actually was. What I like about Primark is that you're able to buy something so cheaply and if you start to get bored of it, at least you didn't pay £80 for it from a designer store! 

If you do start to become attached to a certain design/pattern, then I feel its best to venture out into an expensive range. Until then, keep to the high street stores!

I went with more of a summer theme to this look. It's not exactly Mediterranean weather in England but it still gets pretty warm so I want to at least look remotely content about the sunshine! 

I paired this paisley blouse with some white jeans I bought from Zara and it gives the whole outfit a sleek, fresh look. 

I had to get some black in this outfit somehow! I am obsessed with this duster coat from Topshop. I've seen them in white and lilic but this one totally won me over. It was a bit pricey but its shaped beautifully. I love how I could style this with a casual outfit like this one but also pair it with a nice dress for the evening. It will also look great in the Autumn time!

I wouldn't necessarily say this coat was perfect in summer, but during those windy, breezy days, it keeps you content! 

In terms of make-up I normally keep it simple and natural for the day time. However, I couldn't help but add some red lippy to this look because I felt like it just needed to be there! The pop of red just totally contrasts the rest of the look and looks great during the day in the summer! 

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Style Inspiration

Style Inspiration

When it comes to finding your own personal style, I find that one of the key ingrediants to achieve this is to look for inspiration. Inspiration can come from anywhere, whether it be celebrities, music, art, literature, architecture, photography... etc. 

Keep in Mind this post could potentially be in working progress... as my style develops, many things may be added so follow this style journey!

Here's a list of my personal favourites and how they inspire me to dress the way I want to:

Celebrities:

Alexa Chung:

In terms of style, Alexa Chung wins every time. The queen of being effortless. I love her twist on the preppy/schoolgirl look with her white collared shirts and brown brogues. Her style is effortless and achievable to copy at an affordable price. If you haven't ever read Alexa Chung's book 'It', I highly recommend it. Go buy it. Now. I love how Alexa is able to take an old pair of Levi shorts and pair it with an oversized blouse and some flats and it looks simply stunning. I also love how Alexa's style rarely changes. Her style is defined and classic. This is great for us as it shows that we don't have to follow every trend out there! Looking at Alexa's style is such a good way of piecing together how you want to dress and really helped me understand what my style actually was! 

Miranda Kerr: 

Miranda Kerr is simply my girl crrrrrush! In terms of fashion, I wouldn't necessarily say she was my go-to gal. However, her style is definitely something I admire because it is classic and effortless. I love her off-the-clock style days as she pairs jeans with dressy tops to balance out the look and make it seem multi-functional. Most importantly however, in terms of her make-up, her healthy lifestyle and her positivity, she is such an inspiring woman. If she's not doing her yoga she's eating her Chia seeds. Her instagram is addicting. Seriously. Follow her and you'll start to understand why life is so wonderful. 

Suki Waterhouse: 

Possibly one of the coolest dressed celebrities out there. I envy her hair, her style, her music taste. And she's dating Bradley Cooper which is enough to make any girl jealous.  I would say her style is very Rock' N' Roll/Sixties. The best part about this is that she effortlessly makes it work. Reading about Suki, I love how she talks about how she is inspired by the Sixties and how she reads about her inspirations, such as Pattie Boyd. It's so amazing how a celebrity talking about their own inspirations can influence how we see/think about fashion. 10/10 Suki. 

Olivia Palermo: 

We dress for our surroundings. Therefore, if I ever was to go live in Los Angeles then I would try and follow Olivia's style down to a T. Unfortunately, I don't live blissfully in the hills and have to come to terms with that. Therefore, her style for me is quite limited. I couldn't necessarily walk around in skirts and shorts in 12 degrees. However,  I take so much inspiration from this woman. Her style is impeccable. It's classy, its original, its fun, it's.. expensive. But... I love how simple her style is and how she can add accessories to glam it up. Plus she really reminds me of Audrey Hepburn... so without further ado.. 

Audrey Hepburn: 

I'm not sure how much credit I could give to Audrey Hepburn as from the outfits she has worn in movies such as 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' and 'Funny Face', her outfits have obviously been picked by famous designers such as Givenchy. However, regardless, I've always loved Audrey Hepburn for her elegance, her happiness and her acting.  She's an icon in her own right and from pictures I have seen of Audrey out of character, she dresses with simplicity and grace. 

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Awkward Weather

OOTD

So the weather in England has been fluctuating lately.  Some days it can be pretty decent outside with clear skies, whilst other days it's just painfully humid without a spot of sun in sight. 

Today is one of those cloudy days...

This means that it's so hard to find something that keeps you cool throughout the day without looking as if you're about to hit the beach. 

The outfit is pretty simple, it doesn't appear too "summer-ish" but its easy to adapt to the weather changes. 

It's so easy to wear crop tops on days like this because if it does get chilly you can layer it up with a jacket, cardigan or blazer and you will still be able to see the crop top underneath. I love how this top from Topshop is structured at the neckline as it offers more of a dressier feel. 

I'm also absolutely obsessed with these ripped jeans from Topshop. They're definitely a summer staple and offer a casual feel to the outfit, challenging the dressier crop. 

These shoes are from Primark and are honestly the greatest thing thats probably ever came out of the store. Unlike other pointed flats that I've seen, they're so inexpensive at around £6 and have surprisingly survived an array of climates. They're also great for making an outfit dressier. Plus because they're sandals, they'll keep you cool. 

In terms of accessories I've kept it to my basics that I wear with absolutely everything! My floppy hat from Topshop is probably the best thing I've ever bought. It's so amazing how one item can make an outfit appear more classic and 'done up'!

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