fashion | Vanity Claire

ClaireJune 25, 2013

Wishlist: The Search For A New Handbag.

Handbags. Even girls (who arguably should be sectioned) that claim they don’t like shopping and ‘girly things’ love a good handbag. Where else are you supposed to keep essential items like phones, keys and snacks for later? POCKETS? ARE YOU MAD? HAM SANDWICHES DON’T SURVIVE IN POCKETS.

Ahem. Anyway. I’ve been on the hunt for a new handbag for a while now and I’m in two minds whether to invest in something fancy or just go with my usual standard of buying a cheap handbag that only lasts a couple of months. At the moment I’m using a horrible combination of a little black box bag for the days I don’t have a lot of stuff (it’s a really old Primark one that’s not worth getting into too much detail about) and a big floral one for when I’m going to the gym (or have a big lunch…). They’re doing me fine for now, but I really feel like I need a nice grown up handbag in a sophisticated shade of black or tan to make my life a bit better.

So, with all of this pointless information in mind, I’ve decided to put together a handbag wishlist to try and streamline my ideas and also share with y’all the best of the handbags on the highstreet.

Contrast effect bags:

As you may notice, I’m after a bit of a classic bag that’s going to last me over the next couple of years (fingers crossed), so I’m a bit wary of getting involved in anything too neon or rucksack-y. On the topic of rucksacks, me and Claire were discussing what perils you could encounter while wearing one. Don’t get us wrong, we are both big fans of rucksacks but there are things that need to be addressed. What if someone stole my lunch on the way to work (don’t pretend like you didn’t unzip people’s backpacks at school and hide their things)? What if I fell over backwards and squashed my belongings? What if I was mistaken for a five year old and told to go back to pre-school? Will I actually just look like a giant douchebag? For these legitimate/worrying reasons, rucksacks have not been featured on this bag wishlist. Sorry gals.

Tan bags:

Printed bags:

I’m painfully aware that the tan bags and contrast bags I picked are all a bit boring, so I’ve decided to do a ‘printed’ category to take me out of my comfort zone a bit. I’m not sure how classic these are but the I do enjoy a good bit of leopard and geometric print so one of them might be the one!

What do you guys think? Any particular favourites or recommendations?

*Note – Claire just pointed out I wrote about lunch on three occasions in this post. IT’S MY FAVOURITE MEAL OF THE DAY, I’M SORRY I ENJOY A FREAKIN’ SANDWICH.

ClaireJune 19, 2013

The Best Sites to Find A Fashion Bargain.

I feel like I may be giving everyone the wrong (or right) impression of me here on Stylingo. With posts like my guide to the best cheap makeup products out there at the moment and various other references to being a bargain hunter, I do think you might all see me as some kind of homeless penny pincher. This is kind of true to an extent (apart from the homeless bit). I’m still looking forward to the day that I can shop in Topshop without feeling horribly guilty and I have discovered that being a grown up means you have to buy boring things like food instead of a new pair of shoes, SNORE.

For this reason (and making sure we can afford tequila, vodka and other important things), Claire and I tend to always be on the hunt for a bargain. Claire is officially the queen of eBay and impresses me daily with her bidding action and I physically can’t say no to something that is on offer. We tend to do a fair bit of shopping, I mean client research, online at work because it’s convenient, so we have actually become quite the experts at where to find cheap clothes and products, how to obtain a fashion bargain and what the best way to save money online is. And because I’m such a kind and giving person, I’m sharing this list with y’all.

eBay

It’s not a huge surprise that this is at the top of my fashion bargain list! You can buy pretty much everything from eBay and it’s a great place to check for second hand gems. Over the years, I have accumulated quite a lot from eBay but probably the best buy I got was a pair of baby pink Hunter wellies for £20. The eBay shops are also brilliant and they often do things that are on sites like boohoo.com or missguided.com. Claire and I have come to the conclusion that eBay shops and some online fashion retailers have the same supplier, but often the eBay version is cheaper. It’s worth having a look what’s available; we have our eyes on the platform block heeled boots that are everywhere at the moment.

Asos Marketplace

This has a similar vibe to eBay, but is run through Asos and is a bit more upmarket. There isn’t a bidding system but it is a place that many people sell second hand items. Asos impose strict quality control, not only on the clothes themselves, but also on how people sell them (you have to post pictures that have been taken outside etc!). You do have to have a bit of a root around, but you can really find a great bargain for really high quality and fashion forward stuff!

Blog Sales

If you’re a frequent reader of blogs (which chances are you are, if you’re reading this!), you may have noticed that a lot of bloggers do personal blog sales. This is usually to get rid of any unwanted products or clothes and it’s a brilliant way to get a bargain from one of your favourite bloggers. They sell anything from high end products to cheap clothes, so it really is worth having a look at what bloggers are selling.

Cheaper online options:

I’m definitely not knocking missguided.co.uk, boohoo.com or any other online retailer. I’m actually a massive Missguided fan and I tend to check there before anything where I’m looking for an outfit. HOWEVER, it is worth saying that there are other alternatives online that sell exactly the same thing for a cheaper price. Similar to the eBay shop situation, a lot of these online shops appear to have the same wholesaler and you can usually pick up a bargain if you’re prepared to have a good root around. Some examples of cheaper alternatives include:

OMG Fashion
Fashion Union
Mary Jane Fashion
Karma Clothing
Daisy Street
Desire Clothing

It just goes to show what a difference a quality model, good styling and a good marketing strategy can make!

Online shopping tips:

It is amazing to find a bargain on the internet, but buying cheap clothes online can also be a bit disappointing. You do have to be a bit more shrewd when it comes to choosing what you buy, because you can’t check out the quality, fit and real life colours for yourself. Over my internet shopping years, I’ve picked up quite a few handy tips so I thought I’d do a little addition to this post to share them and make your online shopping experience that much more magical.

1. Check the sizing! Claire did a really good post a few weeks ago on vanity sizing and what high street size you really are, which really highlighted the size differences between shops. Also, a lot of the cheaper shops do basic sizes like ‘S/M’ or ‘M/L’. This is slightly bizarre, because I am most definitely a ‘M’, whereas Claire is definitely a ‘S’. There is no way I’d fit into her teeny tiny jeans for example, just as she wouldn’t fit into one of my bodycon dresses. It’s worth really thinking about the garment you’re planning on buying and deciding whether basic sizing is going to have an impact. For an oversized jumper, basic sizing wouldn’t really matter but for tighter fitting clothes, you may want to try and check the measurements. Of course, you can always return something if it doesn’t fit properly, but that’s a faff and aint nobody got time fo’ dat.

2. Check the country! If you’re buying on eBay or other auction sites, it’s really important to check where the item you’re buying is being delivered from. Sometimes, the really cheap stuff is from the US, China or other international places, which can mean that delivery costs will be high. In the end, you might not actually save that much money. International items also take a lot longer to ship, so you might need to think about whether you can wait a few weeks for that must-have to arrive.It can be worth it though, I bought 60 pairs of eyelashes from Hong Kong for about £7. They took a while to arrive but really were a bargain!

3. Research voucher codes! Most online shoppers will be aware that brands often put out codes that offer money off, free delivery or other special offers. These can be amazing and are really worth taking advantage of when you can find them. I often find these on Twitter or Facebook, but you can use great sites like Fashion Vouchers. These let you search through various categories and find what offers are on at the moment. If you’re shopping from a regular high street store, there really is no reason not to find what voucher codes are out there.

SO. That is my rather long winded post on what good websites for cheap fashion are available out there in the big scary mystery that is the internet, as well as a few online shopping tips because I am just feeling pretty generous today ;). What do you all think? Have you got any other tips to add?

ClaireJune 18, 2013

Outfit of the Day: Tie Dye & Treggings

T-Shirt: Maryjane Fashion / Chain: eBay / Treggings & Wedges: Primark

Hey y’all, hope all of your days are going wonderfully and that you’ve all had your daily biscuit. This is just a simple outfit of the day post to show one of my favourite easy outfits at the moment.

I bought these treggings months ago from good ole Primark and wore them over and over again in the first few weeks. I then noticed that they didn’t wash very well (read: I didn’t wash them very well – domestic goddess I ain’t) and had gone a bit bobbly so didn’t really bother with them again. I re-discovered them a couple of weeks ago and found that the condition was nowhere near as bad as I’d imagined – and so they live another day! I’m well aware that they’re hardly the most flattering things for my shape, but I think I’ve explained before my new life philosophy of embracing your natural body shape which for me means saying to the world ‘HEY, HERE ARE MY HIPS, DEAL WITH THEM’. I really do like the treggings in an outfit, they give a slightly smarter look to really casual tops but not in an awkward ‘teacher on sports day’ way.

I got this tee from Maryjane Fashion about a month ago. I love the tie-dye/smudge print, and the dark colours mean it will still be wearable in the colder months. The fit’s nice and loose, but it’s still perfect for tucking in as I’ve done here. I can’t find it on the site anymore, which is a SNORE, but the site has a load of other nice pieces for ridiculously cheap prices. I think this was around the £6 mark, and its surprisingly good quality.

I teamed it with my current favourite gold chain, which everyone has seen me wear about fifty-eight times already. It’s tacky and fabulous and I will not hear a bad word said about it.

ClaireJune 18, 2013

What To Wear To Festivals This Year.

I have a wee confession to make (nothing to do with port-a-loos, don’t worry). I’m not actually going to a proper camping/I-haven’t-washed-for-five-days festival this year. I’m traditionally a HUGE Glastonbury goer and I’ve been going since the tender age of 15. However, this year has been mega expensive from getting the crib with Claire and generally being a mad person (budget, WHAT BUDGET), so I simply couldn’t afford to fork out £200 for a fezzie.

Nevertheless, I am going to the Friday at Wireless Festival (and staying at a hotel in Shoreditch, so not quite true to the festival roots) and I feel like this is still a great excuse to get a new outfit. The grand thing with any festival, even one in the middle of London, is that you can go a bit wild in terms of what to wear. Fun headwear, cute day dresses, a bit of glitter and even a bit of naughty fringing never go amiss, so it really is time for me to start planning properly. But what festival outfits are appropriate this year and what trends should we be thinking about?

I meant to do this as more of a ‘wishlist’ post but then got a bit carried away as usual, so for your viewing pleasure I have put together a few outfit options for every festival scenario. SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, here are some ideas of what to wear to festivals this year.

For the perfect weather festival:

Ever the optimist, I put this one at the top of the list. This is for the festival we all dream of; perfect weather, pints of cider and dancing about in the sunshine. For those of us who are lucky to get a weekend with good weather, the festival fashion world is your oyster. This is what I would wear for a warm and sunny weekend. Some might say that a light blue summer dress is the last thing you’d want at a festival (grass stains, anyone?) but to you I say WHERE IS YOUR SENSE OF ADVENTURE AND/OR BOTTLE OF VANISH.

1. Swing Dress from Missguided. 2. Wayfarer Sunglasses from Topshop. 3. Tangerine Nail Paint from Barry M. 4. Floral Garland Headband from Asos. 5. Converse from Asos.

For when things get muddy:

Let’s be honest. The likelihood of getting a weekend of blue skies here in Ye Olde England is pretty much nothing so it’s better to be prepared than caught unawares. Rain ruins EVERYTHING, so these are my essentials to keep everything in tact when the weather turns sour. The absolute worst is when it’s rainy, humid and we all end up looking like Monica on Friends so hair serum is at the top of the list! I’m also absolutely in love with this neon mac. LOVE.

1. Neon Mac from Topshop. 2. Dungarees from Boohoo.com. 3. Long Sleeve Crop Top from Topshop. 4. Hunter Wellies from Asos. 5. John Frieda Frizz-Ease from Boots.

For the festival in the city:

This is perhaps my biggest conundrum. What on earth do you wear to a festival where there is little or no grass involved? WHERE ARE THE COWS? WILL THERE BE MUD? DO I NEED WELLINGTON BOOTS? After a lot of thinking and lying down after all the fashion exertion, this is the outfit I have come up with. I think that you can get away with being a bit dressier if you’re not rolling around in a field and you don’t need to think about inappropriate festival shoes if you’re in a city. I’m loving the contrast between pastels and darker colours at the mo!

1. High Neck Skater Dress from Missguided. 2. Pork Pie Hat from Topshop. 3. Black Sandals from Zara. 4. Statement Necklace from Asos. 5. Plum Lipstick from Superdrug.

For the festival abroad:

YOU LUCKY THANGS. For anyone heading to Benicàssim, Tomorrowland and other genuinely exciting festival abroad, I hate you and we are no longer best pals. Thinking about what to wear to a festival abroad can sometimes mean taking into account long bus journeys, plane limits and what you can comfortably carry. But you also have to be aware that it is going to be HOT and fuelled with cheap alcohol, so this is my take on what to wear to a festival abroad. Expect maxi dresses and bikinis!

1. Neon Bikini from Missguided. 2. Round Sunglasses from Topshop. 3. Sandals from River Island. 4. Denim Skater Skirt from Miss Selfridge. 5. Hand Harness from Boohoo.com.

So, this are just a few of my festival favourites on the highstreet at the moment! What do you all think?

ClaireJune 14, 2013

Men’s Fashion: How the Boys Can Wear This Season’s Trends Too

It’s all about having friends in high places, right? Well, me and Lauren don’t have any of those, but we do have our friend James.

I jest, of course; James is a person of huge importance and fashion knowledge. Part-time stud muffin and full-time Visual Merchandiser for the Coventry branch of Outfit, he’s in charge of pulling trends together to create the key looks that you see as you walk around the store. Luckily, I knew him back when he was 15 and would spend his weekends getting drunk in the park, so if I ask him to help me with stuff then he basically has to oblige.

Last night, then, I roped him into talking me through all of the latest trends that they’re currently promoting in store, and in particularly what boys should be wearing this summer. So, if you have a boyf who’s a bit of a Screech Powers and you want a Zack Morris, you can just print this out and give it to him. Useful, right?!

Image

What does a Visual Merchandiser do?

A Visual Merchandiser (VM if you want to be fancyHUH) is an important job in retail. James describes it as ‘dressing mannequins and living the gay dream’, but it requires a little more thought than that. What the customer sees from the moment they enter the store to when they leave is basically the responsibility of the VM. James receives a ‘trend pack’ at the start of each season and then has to pull together key looks from the stock that he’s given, and display these around the store.

James says the key is to make looks that are wearable for the customers. It’s his aim that if you walk into the Topshop section of your local Outfit and see a look on a mannequin that isn’t your style, then the next look you see will be one which definitely is. It’s all about being accessible and not alienating any customers’ styles, but still building imaginative outfits that can inspire consumers.

Key trends this summer

As me and James sat in my living room eating McFluries, he explained to me it’s currently an exciting time for both menswear and womenswear as it’s one of the first seasons where the key trends have been completely wearable for both genders. As he said, “gone are the days of disty floral tea dresses for girls and humour motif tees for the boys”. Now, trends are crossing the sex divide and there’s no reason why both parts of a couple can’t rock the same trend (though please, for the love of god, don’t do it at the same time and look like total planks).

Here are the key looks that James says are strong in store right now:

Varsity

Jacket: H&M
Vest: Topman
Jeans: Topman
Trainers: Nike

Tip: modernise this 1980s, ‘Breakfast Club’-inspired trend with iconic pieces such as skinny jeans

Tie-Dye

Hat: H&M
T-shirt: Urban Outfitters ‘Urban Renewal’ range
Jeans & trainers: as before

Tip: wear with snapbacks, skater shorts and high-tops to give tie-dye a more urban edge than its traditional hippy vibe. Play with different shades – incorporate acid brights to create an exciting look, or tone down with pastel shades.

Pastels

Hat: H&M
Jumper: Asos
Shorts: All Saints (cut-off jeans)
Trainers: as before

Tip: this was seen last year, but has finally come through strongly in male fashion as well as female. Team with bright colours for interesting tonal looks: think watermelon red with mint ice cream.

Prediction: Airtex

Airtex T-Shirt: Aqua by Aqua
Shorts: as before
Trainers: as before

Tip: Airtex is set to become big news in fashion. An extension of the sports luxe trend, you can expect to see Airtex paneling and also full Airtex pieces such as this tee from Aqua by Aqua. Bright, acid colours are going to be key to keeping this look young and fun, as opposed to bringing up memories of PE in school.

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We hope you enjoyed this slightly different post on male fashion! Huge thanks to James, who you can find at @Juh_ames on Twitter. What do you all think about men’s fashion this season?

ClaireJune 12, 2013

Outfits of the Day: Skulls & Leopards

Top: New Look
Necklace: Primark
Skirt: Primark
Boots: Dorothy Perkins

Vest: H&M
Scarf: eBay
Bracelets: Primark
Maxi Skirt: Topshop (Petite)

Greetings earthlings! It’s been a pretty fun few days for us in regards to this blog, having had an AMAZING response so far to our giveaway (click on the link for info on how to win – it’s easy, so no excuses).

We (by which I mean Lauren) also finally figured out to get our (by which I mean Lauren’s) camera fixed to our new tripod, which hopefully means more OOTD posts and general fun and games. That is, unless we get too enthusiastic at the weekend after a couple of vodka lemonades and end up knocking it over while trying to take group shots, which is highly possible…

I think our night at the gym last night faffing about with kettle bells and weights might have left us both with the urge to feel a bit more feminine today, as we both emerged from our boudoirs wearing skirts for work this morning. Lauren went for her trademark leopard and gold (she is the epitome of class, that girl) dressed up with a red midi skirt. I opted for my bright blue tube skirt that I LOVE and have worn so much since getting, with my trusty old skull scarf – which comes in really handy when wearing tight outfits like this, covers up that lunchtime cous-cous bulge a treat. I was also wearing my new black loafers from Primark, but the camera cut them off. I would say this is because I’m too tall, but a machine at the gym the other day broke the awful news to me that I am shorter than I thought – I am only 5’1.8! Off to climb into a shoe and cry. Bye bye.

ClaireJune 12, 2013

The Problem of Vanity Sizing: What Size Are You Really?

(Images: 1 / 2 / 3)

When you look at these pictures, a lot of words probably spring to mind. Curvy – yes, feminine – yes, sexually sexual – YES… but a size 16? Not from where I’m looking…

There has been a myth circulating for a long time that Marilyn Monroe was what we know today as a UK size 14-16. I think it was one of my favourite blogs, Scouse Bird Problems, that first made me aware of what a misconception that actually was. Digging a little further, I found that there was indeed no way that Marilyn was the same as a size 16 today. As this article explains, her dressmaker had her measurements listed as 35-22-35 (bust-waist-hips). Those are definitely not the measurements of many size 16s that I see on the high street today. So why do people make this claim? Is it just because she was curvy, and people have blown the truth out of proportion?

Well it seems like the answer might be that she did wear a 14 or 16 in US sizes – at the time.

I wouldn’t usually cite Wikipedia as a source but SO WHAT I’M NOT IN UNI NOW, SCREW YOU HARVARD REFERENCING (Cavanagh, C., 2013). But yes, in this Wikipedia article on the subject of vanity sizing, it states the case of Sears’ department store in America. Apparently, a dress with the same measurements – 32 inches around the bust – was initially sold as a size 14 in 1937. The dress with the same measurements was then being sold as a size 8 in 1967, and eventually was branded as a size 0 in 2011. This is obviously an extreme case, but it highlights the trend of ‘vanity sizing’ that’s received quite a bit of press over the last few years. Vanity sizing refers to the effort that retailers go to to flatter their customers with more generous sizing – meaning that they will fit into size 8 clothes when they’re usually a 10 or 12, for example.

I’m sure that shops and brands using different size guides is something we’re all familiar with – it explains why I personally have clothes of three different sizes in my wardrobe. Their thought process, I’m guessing, is that you’re likely to re-visit a shop if you take a size 8 in there, as opposed to the shop down the road where you take a 12. I can see their logic – however much you know that your health and weight are about how you feel, there’s always that bit of a buzz when you fit into a smaller size.

But do the retailers think about the negatives associated with vanity sizing? Not only does it make the whole shopping process ten times more of a faff (‘could you just get me these in every size from a 6 to a 14 please, and cancel all of my social commitments for the next three days while I try them on, cheers ’), but also for some girls it’s really disheartening to not fit into the ‘right’ size in some shops. Of course, sizes can depend on a number of things – sometimes we like things in a baggier fit, sometimes you might size down if you’re short and want it to fit better. But it does seem ridiculous – and a bit patronizing – for the UK high street to be trying to trick us into feeling skinnier.

So, which shops are playing by the rules and which are throwing digits round as randomly as a girl at a bar trying to fake-number (‘fumber’) some drunk man chatting her up?

Here, according to my trusty friend Wikipedia, is the UK standard sizing guide, though the article states that this is regularly deviated from.

As you can see, our gorgeous Marilyn with her 35-22-35 measurements had the waist of someone well under a size 6. Her curves obviously made her bigger than this, but basically she would have been likely to still fit into a size 10 pair of jeans.

To see how the UK high street matches up to the standards, here are the sizing guides of a selection of our favourite shops. I’ve separated sizes 6 and 8 as this is what the retailers do, though it’s interesting that the standard regards them as the same.

(Sorry for only including the sizes up to a 14 – I had to make these snazzy tables myself and frankly it was all too numerical for me. I struggled in a way that would make my GCSE maths teacher weep.)

I hope this can give you a rough idea of how much sizes differ in just a small sample of high street shops. Here are some of the main things I noticed:

• I always thought Topshop and Asos both came up a bit big in their sizings, but it seems they actually both stick quite closely to the UK standard.
• Asos allows for almost an extra inch on the hips than Topshop do. They’re pretty much the standard, so Topshop actually come up a little small.
• H&M’s sizes are significantly smaller than the standard, particularly in their bust measurements. By the time you get to a size 14 in H&M, the bust is 2” smaller than Topshop, Asos and the standard. This seems to be almost anti-vanity sizing – are they determined to make us all feel fat? Or do they only want the teeniest tiny girls?
• River Island is MUCH more forgiving in all measurements, and are definitely the worst case of vanity sizing in this list. They’re usually only out by an inch or two, but we all know that that extra inch can make a big difference.

What do you all think of vanity sizing – do you hate it, or do you just accept it as a normal part of shopping? How have you found these shops mentioned, and are there any others that you think are particularly bad for sizing too big or small? Would love to know your opinions on it!

ClaireJune 8, 2013

Primark @ Asos – Favourite Pieces

It was only a couple of weeks ago that I wrote a post on Primark’s S/S collection and cried to the gods about Primark not offering an online shopping option. Well, sacrificing all those little lambs must have worked, because just a few days later the news started spreading on Twitter that my beloved Asos were now stocking Primark.

The items at the moment seem to be going live a couple at a time: on the first day there were only about 8 things to browse, a couple of days later there were 20 and so on. There’s now around 30 I think, and they’ve introduced some men’s pieces too (though I don’t think Primark has ever really got our male counterparts quite as giddy as it gets us, has it?)

Here are a few of my fave Primark pieces that are currently available to buy on Asos:

Primark ‘Miami’ Hockey T-Shirt – £6

I’ve banged on in great detail about my love for the current varsity trend, and this cheap and cheerful Primark jersey is a really easy way to incorporate it into your wardrobe. I love the slouchy fit and light colours of this top, and would wear it as the model does here with light denim.

Primark Grafitti Print Midi Skirt – £8

I wasn’t entirely sure about the graffiti print trend when it first appeared (why would you WANT to look like a wall..?) but I think this monochrome version really works. I am also a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge fan of the midi length, though I usually have to buy petite versions so whether this one would actually suit me remains to be seen (shall I maybe start sacrificing more small animals in the hope of Primark bringing out a Petite range?)

Primark Denim Shirt – £10

This, for me, is a classic example of what Primark do best: a simple basic, which is indistinguishable from other brands but so much cheaper.

Primark Mesh Sweetheart Dress – £15

They do this dress in black too, but I think the nude version is the perfect option for summer. Though that’s not to say I probably wouldn’t pick up the black one too, just in case…
What do you all think of Asos now selling Primark? What are your favourite pieces?

ClaireJune 6, 2013

What to Wear: My Night Out Wishlist.

I’m currently having a terrible panic that my entire wardrobe is terrible and that if I don’t invest in some new clothes quickly my whole life will become meaningless. Some might say this is slightly over-reactive but to them I say, NAY YOU SIMPLY DON’T UNDERSTAND.

Backing up ever so slightly, I haven’t bought many new clothes of late because I was saving up for my big move from Cheshire to Coventry. Now that I have my lovely new job, a wonderful (if a bit broken and untidy) house with Claire and have finally got my life together, I have a bit of extra cash to play with. I say a bit, I don’t really have any but I feel like a baller and what is a baller without a good wardrobe?

Next week, we are having some of our university pals to stay. The story is quite tragic, mostly because my old housemate is having to move back to Dubai and we may never see her again, sob. So we’re having a bit of a hoorah at our house to say farewell and also to catch up after the long and upsetting months we have been apart. As you can tell, it is an important occasion that will definitely be fuelled by wine, tequila and a lot of cry hugging. Partly because my wardrobe is in such a pathetic state and also because it’s an excuse to buy something new, I’ve been all organised and decided to plan a few options of what to wear. I’m loving the UK fashion trends at the moment, so it’s going to be an excellent time to invest in a few key staples.

I’ve been inspired by a lot of fashion and beauty blogs that have been featuring neon pieces recently, so I think this is the main trend I’m going for when I eventually go shopping. Unfortunately, I’m having to coordinate with Claire who’s going for a neon crop top and denim skater skirt so I’m a bit limited (she’s a selfish one, isn’t she). As you might know (if you’d read my fashion tragedy post), I bought these New Look platform sandals last week and managed to break them within an hour of wearing. I’m hoping to replace them this weekend so they are my shoes of choice while I’m looking for outfits!

Floral Midi Skirt: Missguided. White Cropped Tshirt: Topshop. Gold Chain: Topshop. Yellow Nail Varnish: Barry M. Platform Sandals: New Look.

Printed Shorts: Boohoo. Gold Earrings: Topshop. Pink Lipstick: Topshop. Shoulder Cutout Body: Missguided. Platform Sandals: New Look.

Monochrome Skater Dress: Missguided. Neon Satchel: H&M. Geometric Earrings: Topshop. Platform Sandals: New Look. Black Lipstick: Barry M.

So, what do you all think? Any favourites? I’ve officially got a week before the girls come over so it’s definitely time to start planning and buying!

ClaireJune 6, 2013

2013 Bikinis: Best on the UK High Street

It is with a slightly heavy heart that I sit down to write this post, and I want you all to know that it’s only because of my dedication to this here fashion blog that I am even bothering to write it. For today I am writing a post on the best bikinis for holidays this summer – AND I AM NOT EVEN GOING ON HOLIDAY MYSELF.

I’ve been on girls’ holidays every summer for around the last five years, but saving to move into my new house this year has meant that a holiday is firmly off the cards. Especially seeing as I’m now 22 so would have had to go somewhere respectable that doesn’t do a fishbowl, two cocktails and a round of shots for a fiver (oh Magalluf you will always have a special, though tacky, place in my heart).

So, no hot holiday this year means no bikini shopping. But, like the trooper I am, I’ve scoured the web to track down some of the best swimwear available on the high street right now. THE THINGS I DO FOR LOVE, EH?

Asos Bikini / Topshop Bikini / River Island Bikini @ Asos

Topshop Bikini / New Look Bikini / Missguided Bikini

New Look Bikini / Boohoo Bikini / Forever 21 Bikini

Well, this has thoroughly depressed me.