My Keds Style - The Liberty Collection

When it comes to Britain, what could be more quintessentially British than the seaside? And likewise nothing screams British London Style more than the iconic department store we all love - Liberty. So I was very excited to recently receive the Keds Liberty Collection, in particular the Liberty Triple Dot style. After all, you guys know (and see on my social media!) that I spend a lot of my time wearing Keds. So a nice new, and colourful pair were perfect for a day at the seaside.

Outlet Shopping In New York - The Mills At Jersey Garden

When it comes to shopping and New York, the two come hand in hand. I've never heard anyone say that they'll be visiting the big city, viewing the big lights...and not doing any shopping. As they say - when in Rome...shop! (Kinda)

My Keds Style - The Girlie Girl

So when it comes to style and fashion, I'm very girlie. I'm more comfortable in pretty clothes, with a feminine flare than in something that's a bit hit-and-miss or something that's only going to be fashionable for a brief period of time. I like my clothes, shoes and accessories to be classic and elegant - timeless even. Obviously my wardrobe is still majorly impacted by current trends and I do give in and splurge on the latest shapes and patterns from time to time, but my overall style is more consistent. And that's what I look for in the brands that I class as staples in my wardrobe: timeless elegance, and pure class.

Gemporia Jewellery

You guys know how much I love jewellery. It's one of my purchasing loves, mostly because I have a magpie like attraction to all things pretty! I also love jewellery because my fashion style is very much along the lines of: basic clothing, styles and trends, using jewellery to spice up my outfits. Jewellery can add a twist on any outfit, and the better the jewellery, the better you're outfit will look. So with that said, I'm always on the lookout for new brands who bring a little something different to the jewellery table...

My Style Icon - Lauren Conrad

There's always someone who's style and sense of dress inspires us, someone we class as a Style Icon. Someone who never fails to make their mark on the fashion word, to always look good (when we see them anyway) and who's sense of style is something we want to duplicate - with a touch of our own individuality thrown in. Someone who always gets it right, and always looks amazing - even in their chill out clothes.

My Top Designer Handbags

This year it's on my bucket list to save up and buy myself a new handbag. It might sound shallow to have this as a goal, but it gives me something to work that extra bit harder for this year, plus a reason to manage my money with more focus.

Fearless Takeover

I've realised something about style and fashion...

I've realised that everyone has their own unique sense of style. Some go for the meat dresses - Lady GaGa - and others go for the sweetie clad bikinis - Katy Perry.

But one thing is clear - we are all unique in our sense of style. Personally speaking, my style comes from several things: obviously what I like is key, but I've also come to accept that my body looks better in some shapes, colours and styles than it does in others. And because I've accepted that, I know instantly when I look at an item of clothing whether or not it's going to work for me.

Now, I'm not boring, I love a good random item every now and then - trying a new shape of dress for a night out, going for a daring style shoe etc - but overall I know what styles work best for me - and I tend to stick to those because, well, who wants to be walking around feeling unsure of how they look?! As ladies we should be walking around feeling amazing, fearless, confident and happy with ourselves - we may not have the choice when it comes to paying the bills, but we do have the choice over what we wear, and so, we should always have our happy outfits on! 

One of my favourite places to get my clothes is Fearless. They are an amazing British fashion brand who sell the most fantastic and girly clothes that are perfect for my sense of style. Most of my friends shop here too because they have such a vast amount of shapes, sizes and styles to choose from. They are also fantastically priced and one order from Fearless sees me fill my wardrobe without breaking the bank - which is very important!

If, like me, you don't want to always be buying your clothes from the High Street and pass other ladies in the same outfit, then brands like Fearless are the way forward. Their selection of clothing covers the basic staple items you need for every day wear like gorgeous jersey style tops and jeans in different fits and colours etc. But then they also have these amazing dresses and tops which are all catwalk inspired and just that little bit different to the things you get on the High Street. The great thing is that these styles and options come without the hefty price tag, so it really is win/win!



My latest Fearless outfit was something I wore for a girls days out recently and it's already one of my favourite outfits for this winter. I have to admit when I was picking the outfit, I knew I was feeling bold and wanted something a bit different, something to get my out of my jeans. So this is what I went for...


The base of the outfit was a black swing dress. I love these swing dresses and class them as a staple piece. I wear them a lot because they cling nicely at the top and show off my figure, while also hiding my child bearing hips (boo). Tight at the top, and loose around the middle section is a style I love and Fearless sell these dresses in several colours for only £14 (!) and they are fantastic quality and really comfortable. You can wear them casually or really dress them up, so I recommend everyone has at least one of these in their wardrobe.

The next part of my girls day outfit, and probably the statement piece, was this gorgeous (and very cosy) faux fur gillet. It's a warm cream colour, and has a shaggy faux fur style to it which I loved because these gillets are so fashionable and on trend right now. I've seen these in the shops with some mahoosive price tags, but this one only costs £38 and they do have it available in black as well. I love wearing mine with jeans and a basic long sleeved top as well. It's versatile enough to go with most casual outfits as well as the glam look, and the next time I wear it, the plan is to wear it with faux leather trousers and heels on a night out...



Next - the shoes! I'm a shoe person. Shoes are my thing. So these boots had to come and live with me. They are called 'Dare Me' and are suede over the knee boots with a cute chunky heel. The over the knee look is something I had admired from afar until I got these beauties. I was unsure if I could pull them off, but as soon as I tried them on, I was so glad to see that I could. Another absolute bargain at only £40 - yep, £40 for a pair of suede over the knee boots! They really glammed up my outfit for the day, and I love to wear them with my jeans and gillet too. I've even pushed the boundaries of 'business-wear' and worn them to work a few times too. Told you I was fearless right?!





And what outfit wouldn't be complete without accessories? My favourite style of jewellery right now is a statement necklace, and this Boho Dreams necklace is my favourite by far. It's got an amazing shape, and the thing I love about it is the length. Most of the statement necklaces I own come on such long chains that the don't sit close to my neck - where I want them. This one sits exactly where I want it, so it falls nicely too. I wear this all the time and it adds a bit of glam to my daily outfits.

This outfit is one I will be rocking regularly throughout the winter, it's got that edge of style but it's comfortable and not too over the top. That's the thing I love about Fearless - they bring you high fashion yet they don't sting you with insane prices. You can literally kit yourself out for winter without spending much at all, and all their clothes are good quality and long lasting as well.

So, if you're looking for a one stop shop for your winter wardrobe then make sure you visit the Fearless website - I can guarantee you'll be asking Santa for more than just a few things - I know I am!

Follow Fearless:
Website: www.fearless.co.uk
Instagram: fearless_uk
Facebook: Fearless.co.uk
Twitter: @fearless_uk

If I was Prime Minister

So, just in the name of having a bit of fun, I decided that although I know nothing about politics, I could do an amazing job at being Prime Minister. Here are some of the laws I would bring in:

1. Socks with sandals would be illegal.

2. Duvet Days twice a year. So if you woke up and just wanted to stay in bed, you could use one of your fully paid Duvet Days!

3. People who smoke get smoking breaks at work. So I would introduce social media breaks so we could check our Instagram and Facebook with a nice brew for five minutes too.

4. Greasy hair would be a crime against fashion, punishable with instant, police enforced dry shampoo rugby tackles.

5. Men would be forced to wear a neon sign above their heads if they are cheaters, players, mummy's boys or commitment-phobes - so we could see them coming.

6. Junk mail senders would be fined a gazillion pounds per letter.

7. Feminine hygiene products - Tampons - would be free!

8. Bullies and mean people would be forced to shave their heads - just because.

9. People who don't use their indicators when driving (especially at roundabouts) would be forced to surrender their license forever. Just because.

10. Builders bum, the top of the bum crack being on show - both would result in community service and compulsory braces for life.

11. Bad spelling, grammar and text speak would be banished and anyone found using it would be arrested by the Grammar Police.

12. Couriers would be forced to stand in the rain for one hour solidly for every time they leave a parcel outside in the rain.

13. Gym membership would be free for everyone.

14. On everyone's birthday, a full band would turn up in the morning and sing 'Happy Birthday' to you.

15. The Xfactor would be banned. Forever.

16. Girls wearing shorts that don't even cover their bum cheeks would be forced to wear maxi skirts for the remainder of the month.

17. Sports of any sort would only be allowed to be on TV between 2am-5am. Sports would no longer be allowed to overrule the soaps, or any other program. And can only be watched when it wouldn't interfere with decent TV.

18. Men who don't pay for, spend time with, or step up as parents (when separated) would be branded as such. Probably on their foreheads.

19. All single parents would win awards.

20. People who abuse the benefit system would be given smarties instead of money.

21. The working week would consist of two days. The weekend would last for five.

22. Going to the cinema wouldn't cost more than a mortgage payment.

23. People who discriminate would be segregated. (See what I did there?!)

24. Every house would be built with a 'special' tap. That just poured Gin.

25. One day a year, all make-up would be free.

So, those would be my laws...what do you think, would you vote for me?

Festive Fingers

One thing I've made a ritual in my life, is having my nails painted. I either paint them myself, wear wraps, or a friend of mine with a nail salon will give me a gel manicure. It's the one thing I guarantee to do for myself, to make me feel less mumsy and add a touch of girlie glamour to my fingers. Little things - like having your nails painted, can make all the difference in making you feel good about yourself. Those little bottles are more than varnish - they're like mini shots of confidence!

I used to always stick to the same colours, I never varied that too much - mostly because I whimped out, and not for any other reason! Nowadays though, if I like the colour, I'll have it, and pah to whether it's acceptable to wear neon pink to work!

With Christmas coming up fast (too fast - I'm not ready!) I've been looking at all the different nail options for festive fingers. I'm probably going to try loads of variations, colours and designs but here are some of my favourites for this year...

Leighton Denny Dazzle Duo Set - £17.00
A gorgeous set of two different nail varnishes in a cute Christmas box. Both can be used alone to create festive colours - a pearly looking white, or a dark and mysterious looking sparkly varnish. I love this set because there's the option of wearing them individually or, wearing the white as an undercoat, with the sparkle on top for an extra pop. There's also the option to use the white as the all over colour and do the tips in the sparkle colour and make it fade away the closer to the cuticles it got. I love the sparkle dipped look, and this set would be perfect for that!

 New Globe Walk Snow Globe Nail Polish by Nails Inc - £15.00
A limited edition nail polish for Christmas 2015, this gorgeous glittery varnish is supposed to be reminiscent of a childhood snow globe. The idea being that the glitter settles at the bottom of the bottle, and is only 'activated' when shaken. A gorgeous light gold shimmer, if you shake the bottle a lot, you get a much higher concentration of glitter for a stronger colour when worn. And if you only shake the bottle slightly, the shade is a lot less prominent - depending on which look you're going for. Anything glittery is a winner for me at this time of year, so this one being named after a snow globe means that I'm already a fan!

Paperchase Christmas Nail Wraps - £5
An absolute bargain at a fiver, not only are these super cute but they would make a fab stocking filler too. The set comes with ten wraps (so don't accidentally rip one!) each showing cute festive characters. The background shade is a pale grey, which would look more like a pale white when worn. I think the idea is that the characters jump out to make the statement, more than the colour. A bargain for festive nail fans.

OPI All Stars 4 Pack - £14.50
OPI's christmas range for 2015 is called 'Starlight' and features 18 limited edition shades. They have several sets available featuring different shades in different sizes, but my personal favourite is this four pack of mini size lacquers (3.75ml) called 'All Stars'. It features a signature festive red shade with a deep plum red too, with two different metallic shades to complete the set. I feel like you could make some awesome ombre styles with this set and all four colours individually are wearable too. It's not like some sets where you get a couple of decent shades and then the others are so horrific that even your nan wouldn't wear them to bingo. No, this set is a doozie with four wearable shades = love.

House of Holland Nails - £9
Henry Holland teamed up with Elegant Touch and now produces some of the most striking fake nails that you'll ever see! So I was super excited when the Christmas designs started hitting the shops. My personal favourites are the 'Tis The Season' set which features bright and colourful designs on each nail, and the 'Santa Baby' set featuring Santa and his reindeer. Each pack has ten nails and includes nail glue to apply the nails. These are a personal favourite of mine and are absolutely sure to catch the attention of everyone and anyone this year!

So those are my picks for Christmas nails this year, which is your favourite?

How To Rock The Wellie Look This Winter

Is it just me or did we wake up about a week ago and literally overnight autumn had turned into winter? Gone were the beautiful crunchy leaves that looked so picturesque, instead being replaced by puddles so large they resemble a sinkhole.

Gone are the lovely sunsets and sunrises, and instead we have darkness when arriving at work, and darkness when leaving. Plus we're facing wind that sounds like it's about to knock houses over and rain that ruins perfectly styled hair within seconds.

Yes my friends, autumn has gone. Winter has arrived.

So, that means that once again it's time for our clothing choices to change. We can't get away with a light jacket anymore, instead needing something thick enough that it would protect us from nuclear fallout. But the biggest change for me is footwear. Now I have the school run to do, I can't get away with toddling along in my work heels. Instead, I know it's time to face the truth - the wellies need to come out.

And thankfully for us, we now have so many choices when it comes to colours and brands. Long gone are the days of khaki green or khaki green as the only option. Now we've got all sorts to chose from, and far from being classed as taboo - they are now a winter fashion must have!

So, how can we rock the wellies?

Firstly, and best for those who rest in the safety of darker colours - if you go for the black ones or darker colours, then team them with a pair of wellie socks that fit over the top and will break up the bottom half of your outfit with a nice neutral tone. Layering isn't ever going to go out of style, and this includes with footwear and your bottom half too.

Another way for rocking the darker colours like grey, would be to use the rest of the outfit to bring in some colour. Team with a scarf that matches the grey but also brings in a pop of colour and just adds that lovely wintery feel too. You can't go wrong with grey either because it goes with all coloured bottoms - black, blue etc.

You can even wear wellies when you need to wear something sparkly! I'm a real girlie dresser, so I love things with sequins and sparkles. Just because you need to wear wellies, doesn't mean you need to forgo your entire sense of style. Add a pair of skinny jeans and stick to dark coloured boots and voila - chic, classy and practical for those wet days.

If you're going for bright and cheerful boots then this is how you rock the look...

Use the colours of the boots to allow you to wear staple shades like black in a gorgeous little dress with black tights and layered cardigans, scarfs etc to keep you warm. The pop of colour will make you stand out and really draw attention to how well you can rock a pair of wellies!

Personally I spend a lot of my life in jeans. So to rock wellies in jeans, pick the bright and colourful boots. That way you're offsetting the jeans - no matter what colour or shade they are. Use your accessories to match - scarf, bag, jewellery - and coordinate a whole outfit around your boots and accessories. And don't forget to wrap up warm with a thick winter coat.

Now, the pastel colours are gorgeous, but are they winter worthy? I think so! My favourite pastel shade would always be baby pink, so using that as an example, team them with light coloured jeans and a matching top or jumper. Keeping the jeans on the pale side won't make the difference between denim and pastel so large, and will be easier on the eye...so no case of feeling like your mismatched. Keep your top half matching and you'll rock the pastel boots easily.

So, there you have it! It's all about the colour boot you choose - but it's easy to rock the wellie look this winter. Some boot colours need to match the clothing and some need to match the accessories. And some need to be worn as the only colour in the outfit, to take all the attention. Whichever style, brand, colour or pattern you chose. This just proves that you can rock the wellies this winter.

Ssasa Designs - Cocktails & Calendars

Working in marketing (online) and spending my spare time blogging, I feel that I'm so fortunate to spend a large portion of time discovering new 'things' - whether it's brands, inspiring people or something that just generally interests me. You do have to sift through a lot, but every so often you stumble upon an absolute gem and find something that blows you away...

I wouldn't say I'm an art guru or anything like that, but I appreciate pretty things and things that look good, and the more girlie - the better! I did have enough of an art education in my younger years to be able to fully recognise talent when I see it. So when I found Ssasa Designs I knew I'd found something special...

Behind Ssasa Designs is the wonderfully talented Parissa, a fashion illustrator and artist who's work is now decorating my office walls - and I'm sure you'll agree it's worth it. She's got years of experience and has spent time experimenting with lots of different mediums and types of work, until she settled on this style with is uniquely her own.

I love fashion and her style is so authentic and captures the girlie, fun side of fashion that I love. Illustration is one type of art I also really like and her prints make you feel like you've got a work of art in your home - which is why I've got three! Her work is so pretty and appeals to my inner fashionista - and my outward home decor addict.

So, when Ssasa Designs released a 2016 desk calendar, I couldn't resist. I buy a desk calendar for my office every year and this one comes with it's own cute easel, which isn't a style I've had before, but I'm now so excited I've got. Each month itself has it's own illustrated fashionista decorating the display, along with the days of the month at the bottom.

The EXTRA special thing that I love about this calendar though, is that it's cocktail themed! Each month, the fashionista is holding a cocktail - who doesn't love a good cocktail?! And on the first of every month Parissa herself will share the cocktail recipe of the month on her Instagram account @ssasadesigns - so you get pretty illustrations, fashionistas, cocktail recipes and the practicality of a desktop calendar too. I don't think I could ask for anything more 'me' in a calendar than this! And at only $24 including the stand (works out at £16 approx here in the UK) it's also so well priced.

I get compliments on my Ssasa Design prints whenever friends come into my office and I already have a list of things to buy from her shop as Christmas gifts this year. I know can't wait for 2016 to begin so I can start using my desktop calendar too!

So, if you want to buy something special for Christmas, check out the prints in her shop. And likewise when you buy your desk calendar for next year, make sure you check hers out first.

Follow Ssasa Designs here:
Instagram: @ssasadesigns
www.ssasadesigns.com

Make A Wish

Have you ever seen something you really liked but have struggled to find somewhere to actually buy it? Well that's what I was like with tiny bracelets - until I found WishStrings.co!

I'm a jewellery hoarder. I love it. All of it. Give me ALL the jewellery! When it comes to bracelets I've got really skinny wrists, so thick and chunky isn't a good everyday look for me. Thick is good for a night out or once in a while, but as a whole I tend to lean towards the dainty, feminine type of bracelets for everyday. My favourite are the string type, with a very small single charm or detail, so when I discovered WishStrings.co I was literally in my element.

WishStrings.co offer a selection of beautiful and handmade wish bracelets which are exactly my style - classic, dainty, understated and girlie. I've got four and I absolutely love them all. What's more is it's not just jewellery, it's much more than that...

The beauty of a WishString.co bracelet is that each and every one is handmade with a sentimental meaning behind it. The idea is that you make a wish, tie on the bracelet and when the thread wears thin and breaks away, your wish will come true. And because of the sentimental nature of the WishStrings.co brand, there is a bracelet for every occasion you could think of, many of which would make the perfect gift - their website has bracelets for new parents, friends, new opportunities etc. literally every occasion you could think of! And each bracelet only costs between £2.50 and £2.99 each which I think is an absolutely FANTASTIC price. You could give a WishString as a really thoughtful and lovely gift...and I fully intend to! (To all my friends reading this - please expect them for birthdays!)

As well as being excellent gifts, I love them because you can buy them for yourself too. With so many charms to choose from, the choice is endless and you can wear one on it's own, or you can make your own arm candy selection and stack them up - which is a really popular jewellery trend right now. And for the price, why not?!

Not only that, but they come in really cute and simple packaging, with a card that explains the meaning behind your WishString. This is my 'Good friends are like stars...' bracelet and on the front card was the quote, and inside, a second card with details about how tie the bracelet, and details about how the magic of a WishString bracelet, is seeing how long it takes to fall off - could it be months, or even years until your wish comes true? I love that, it gives it a really special little side element.

When you remove your bracelet from the packaging, you may need some help securing it on your wrist - or not if you're flexible! If you have small, medium or large wrists, it doesn't matter because the string is super long, so they will fit everyone. The suggestion is to tie three to five knots (and make a wish on each!) which will secure the bracelet in place. Once in place - you're good to go. As soon as I put mine on, it was so comfortable, I forgot I was wearing it. Unlike some jewellery that gets in the way, or weighs your wrist down, these are so wonderfully dainty that you forget they are there and then you get a nice little flash of the charm when it pokes out from underneath your sleeve. The material of the string doesn't catch on anything, or fray and it dries quickly when you get out of the shower, so it's never damp or uncomfortable to wear. The charms are really durable too and they don't chip or dull either which is great. And makes them well worth every penny.

As I said, I've currently got four in my collection and I know for a fact I will be adding to them on a very regular basis. I regularly check the WishString.co website, Instagram and Facebook to keep an eye on new designs, my favourite of which is the Christmas range! Including charms like a Christmas star (which is the one I've got), a candy cane, snowman, Christmas tree etc...I can see myself creating an entire Christmas arm candy just with my WishStrings!

You can order your own WishStrings from their website here and postage is only £1.50 (standard postage, other options available) so why not take a peek? I have a feeling you'll love them as much as I do..

Also, make sure you follow them on:
Instagram here
Facebook here
Twitter here

(They also offer wholesale, so if you own a boutique, shop or brand and would like to know more, please get in touch here.)

Autumn Loving

Autumn.

Fall.

Whichever side of the atlantic you're on, this time of year is my absolute fav. Not only is knitwear way more comfy, but it's also great because, who knows? I could just be wearing a super baggy jumper, or I may be hugely bloated from eating too much - the joys of autumnal knitwear are endless. And they cover a multitude of sins - including wearing your pyjamas underneath to nip to the shop...

Everyone loves autumnal colours. I'm no photographer, I can barely take a decent selfie, let alone a 'proper' photo. But autumn colours are amazing, lots of orange, brown and natural colours through nature as well as gracing the catwalks - bravo. I love looking at autumnal photography on Pinterest, and imagining myself in some gorgeous American town, sitting near a lake in my gorgeous wooden house....you know the type... hey, a girl can dream.

Autumn fashion is my favourite for other reasons - mostly, boots. I flipping LOVE boots. Of all footwear, boots are my favourite. Give me a boot over a flip-flop any day. A nice bit of heel for a sexy edge (and added bum wiggle, don't deny you know it happens in heels) but lots of protection from the cold. And everyone that knows me, knows I hate being cold. Winter is hibernation for Lady Writes, I literally clothe myself in a ridiculous amount of layers and quite frequently refuse to leave my house. I also have my heating turned up so high it resembles a tropical country - so autumn is a perfect balance, and the first time I get to crack out the boots after months of open toe sandals and wedges. Hurrah.

It's also the season for funky, thick, scarfs to a.) practically keep warm b.) make any outfit look awesome with little effort. It's okay to wear leather (or faux leather in my case), it's okay to wear clothes that look like your nan knitted them, because somehow (thank the Lord) this style has come back in. And it's also perfectly fine to wear thick fluffy socks at every opportunity.

And the food. Oh the food.

Thank you autumn for your food. I need to eat salad. I'm a foodie. I love eating, but these hips are not as narrow as they once were (cheers childbirth) so salad is common. But come autumn, I've had enough salad and the slow cooker comes out - stew, broth, thick soup, bakes....oh wow, dumplings! Hearty meals that make me proud to be British (lets face it, the weather doesn't). I love them all. And thanks to the above mentioned knitwear, you can eat as much as you like - and no-one knows! Genius.

Sunset walks before it gets cold.

Starry nights. And nights in cuddled up with a movie and glass of wine, because frankly, you're all partied out from the summer. And most likely, skint too.

And of course, the looming C word...

Christmas.

Get your mind out of the gutter guys!