Winter Wardrobe Updates

Morning pals!

Another Friday is here and we're another week closer to Christmas! It only gets more exciting from here and it's my favourite type of year. Winter clothes are also my favourite kind, layering is the best thing and I love all of the patterns and colours associated with autumn/winter clothing.

Here's what I've been buying to update my wardrobe this year:

First up I picked up this belt from Dorothy Perkins. I've had a belt for dresses very similar to this before and I wore it until it fell apart so I knew it was a good buy. It's definitely good for wearing at any time of year but as has been happening for the last few years the trend for wearing a belt to cinch in your coat is back and this one is going to be making it back into my wardrobe.

Secondly I snapped up this BEAUTIFUL scarf from Zara. I touched it in store and couldn't leave it behind. I love the patterns in tartan and the red is gorgeous and goes with all of my coats, it's a winner and was something I had no idea I needed and now cannot live without. It doesn't leave my neck during the week now!

My latest shoe purchase is from New Look and I had to order them from in store as they didn't have any left. The heel height is perfect for most occasions and the gold buckle detailing is enough to give it a bit more pizazz. These can be worn with leggings and jeans and I look forward to wearing them to the pub over the next few months.

Capes are big news and this blanket cape cardigan type garment is absolutely fabulous. It's super comfy, warm and goes with everything, literally EVERYTHING. The colours mean it complements many outfits but there are also many tartan type patters and colours available too and if I was rolling in the spare cash I'd probably get another.
This one is from New Look and I'm so glad that fashion has produced and comfortable, wearable and warm item of clothing for the winter months. I've always wanted to look chic in a cape, jeans and boots!

Lastly is my new bag also from New Look (they've clearly got a lot out of money out of me recently!) This beautiful bottle green bag has replaced my tired looking black bag for work purposes.
It's awesome, the colour is lush and it holds it's shape really well too which is perfect as I seem to be lugging a lot of paper back and forth to work at the moment!

What have you been buying to update your wardrobe? Do you have anything else on your wishlist?

I'm looking to add another coat, a lovely thick wool one would be lovely but I may have to wait until the sales for the type of quality I would be looking for. I'm fed up of buying important items like coats and finding out they are cheaply made! If you have any suggestions for some hardwearing well made coats leave them in the comments section below!

L xxx

OOTD Red Lace Dress

Another OOTD today. I'm really loving doing these at the moment! Hopefully I'll persuade my other half to take some photos for me soon. (He's decided he wants to write a post on here, we will see if he does, he thinks living with a girl is so hard, apparently not being allowed his stuff in our bedroom isn't nice ;-)!! I need clothes space!)

Finding a red dress that's nice is always a bit of a challenge! First off it's colour, finding the perfect red shade that isn't tacky but classy, that goes for fabric too! When I factored in lace I didn't expect to find a suitable one. Near where my parents live is Clarks Village full of factory discount shops including Yumi! I picked this up from there a while back and it's now back on there website here. It retails for £28 and comes with a plain brown belt.

I used my usual Butterfly for Matthew Williamson Bag (Currently on offer here) It's the perfect size for just what I need. The leopard print heels are from Dorothy Perkins. I can find them online now. I like these as they are a softer shade of leopard print and a slightly lower heel makes them comfortable to wear all day.

The bracelet is from New Look It's £4.99 here. It's something I can reach for quickly. I picked this up in this spending ban update which I also got the necklace featured below!

The necklace is from River Island. I love this necklace, I used to own it about 4 years ago so I'm glad to have it back. You can pick one up here for £6. I love how it brightens up an outfit. The fake leather jacket is from primark! I love it bit I can't see it lasting long as I've already broken the lining.

I was all about the statement jewellery it would seem! The ring is from Boots range of jewellery. They have some great pieces in there and they are regularly on offer.

The belt is off another dress. I paired it with opaque tights so I could wear this too work. For me the length is perfect. It sits comfortable on me without being too short. The lace is a good quality and hangs really well. I also like that it has sleeves

.

It has a small keyhole at the back of the dress with a button at the top, I like all the little details this dress has and I've worn it loads. Even better it doesn't need ironing which is always a bonus as loads of my work dresses do!

I really like Yumi Dresses. They tend to be a bit different! I'm definitely coming around to red dresses too.

Love M

xxx

OOTD Dogtooth Work Dress

Hey all it's hump day!! I have an exam tomorrow so I'm not all that happy to be half way through the week!!

Here is my second OOTD post. This is a work outfit. I'm very lucky in the fact I can wear what I like to work within reason. 

I'm trying not to overly wash my hair still. It seems in much better condition if I let it go three days. This does mean if I haven't gone swimming by the third day I tend to put it up. For that you can't beat a bun ring (I've done a tutorial on that here) I like to accessorise mine with Dainty Rose Glitter Bows (you can pick them up here) I've mentioned Dainty Roses lots on this blog. I have bought a lot from Lisa. 

On my lips I decided to wear Mac Angel. (review here). I've forgot about it a lot lately and want to start wearing it more again.

I love loading up bangles. L is much better at arranging them than me. They are so easy to wear and I like to load up on jewellery if I have a simple dress.

Rings are definitely my thing when it comes to jewellery. I have loads. I rarely leave the house without them. I love this one. It does tend to hurt my finger a bit after a while though. It looks go so it's worth it. A quick search on eBay found these which are similar. Two stacked up would give the effect.

I love these. I've wanted leopard print pumps for a while. I picked them up from Tesco last summer. They could do with replacing so I'm eyeing up these. I'm loving the bow on these.

I love to add a pop of colour to plain outfits and this two toned green double wrap belt is perfect for that. It adds shape too. I picked this up from ASOS a while a go. You can get a green skinny belt here for £5. It looks a similar colour.

The dress is form next and a favourite work dress of mine. I love the cowl neckline which makes it suitable for work. It's a great length too and I can ware it bare legged in summer. I also go to Next the day after the sale starts and stock up on work dresses. They tend to have a few I like and have great prints. 

They also fit great. I've mentioned a few times my curvy bottom half. It can make dress shopping hard, my waist is an 8 and my hips can be upto a 12. I find next dresses generally fit in an 8 and are more roomy on the bottom half.

Where do you go for work wear? Can you wear what you like?

Love M

xxx

NOTD Leopard Print Nails

Today's nails are another on from Makeup Savvy's 15 day nail challenge. Today is leopard print. Leopard print nails is something I love but I've never tried it before. I'm not great at detail nail art and don't have a nail art pen which I think would make it easier. 

But here's my attempt. I used Max Factor Max Effect nail varnish in shade Ivory which is in fact a gorgeous glittery gold. I really like this shade.

Next I used Look Nail pop in the kimono which is a khaki shade with a hint of gold in some lights. This will definitely be used a lot through autumn. I'm really liking this nail varnish and really want more Look ones now. With the kimono I put little blobs (great describing word there) of nail varnish on each ring finger. (I'm sure you've seen by now I've not mastered nail art on all my nails) I put 5 to 6 blobs on each finger. Try not to make them perfectly round.

The next step is easiest done with a nail art pen, but if you are like me and don't have one a dotting tool, cocktail stick of kirby grip can be used. I used OPI Lincoln After Dark for the outline of the print, the trick is to add little dots and lines around the circles but not completely outline them.

I really want to try this more and get it a little neater next time and on all nails. The great thing about this is it can be done in lots of different colours too. What do you think of leopard? Is it one you'll try? Any tips for me?

Love M

xxx