Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Starting off with the pair of shoes which shouldn't be included in a summer shoe collection but of course they need to be, is a good Chelsea boot. On them days when the heavens open but it is still 20 degrees, these are a prefect shoe to pair with a little skater dress with some sun kissed bare legs. This black pair is very old from Newlook but are still is pretty good condition considering the number of times I have worn them over the years.
My second pair of shoes is the classic brown sandal which goes with almost every outfit in my wardrobe. This pair is again from Newlook and are super comfy to wear on long walks and in the hot weather. These are my go to pair when we have just got home from work and want to go on a walk straight away.
My last two pairs are a little more smart but also classics pairs in spring and summer. I think that loafers go with anything in any season so having a black and white pair are a staple in your shoe collection. My backless white pair is from Shein and my black pair are from - you guessed it - Newlook (they really do have the most comfy shoes). These are great for work with a nice summer dress or when (if) I go out to see people and socialise. My most worn outfit is a white shirt, blue jeans and a pair of loafers.
I love dressing up for the summer weather and this doesn't stop when I am picking my outfits for the office. Some offices are very lean about what employees can wear and some offices are not, so knowing what you can get away with in the heat can be trial and error.
Luckily my work are very comfortable for the employees to wear - to a degree - what we like. I have a few outfits which although I am entirely covered up, might not go down well with other companies. With that in mind I thought I would make a post on some fail safe outfits to wear to the office when the heat is just that little bit too much. I have two dress options if you are allowed to wear them and if not, don't worry, you don't have to sweat all day!
1. Midi dresses
Whoever invented midi dresses is my hero because they are so flattering on small people like me and they also mean I can get some well needed ventilation up the skirt! If you employer is quite modern they would have no problem with a midi dress as they only show a little bit of ankle, which is perfect. My favourite midi dresses to wear to work are normally solid black or a black pattern so that I am in keeping with the standard dress code.
2. Wrap Dresses
Another dress style which is great for the office is a wrap dress which comes around knee length, they completely cover you and look smart with the right pair of shoes. The best thing about them? your legs can breath in the muggy heat. What could be better!
3. Jumpsuits
If your employer isn't too keen on dresses in the office, go and buy yourself a smart jumpsuit. These are great for many reasons but the main one for this time of year, they are great because they look like a top and trousers without the added materials to sweat through. I find when I tuck a shirt into a pair of trousers in the summer, that extra material is a magnet for sweat and we don't want that while we are sitting at work. Again, you can't go wrong with an all black or black and white patterned jumpsuit for the office.
4. Culottes
It is no secret that I am a big fan of a pair of culottes and they come in very hand in the summer time. They look smart with whatever you put them with and they ensure great ventilation in the office. You really cant go wrong with a pair of black culottes and a white shirt if you dress code is smart with no variations allowed.
I have quite a few Pinterest boards for office outfits, working from home outfits along with outfits for every season so make sure to hop over for a look!
Its time again where I re-look at my seasonal wardrobe and think about that items I am missing to make the capsule perfect. My spring wardrobe doesn't have a long way to go now since I started practicing having a capsule wardrobe this time last year, so I started investing in timeless pieces last spring and these have all come out of storage now.
I can see that there are a few odd little pieces which I am missing from my capsule. You will notice that all of the items are plan and neutral off course because I am all about the neutrals in spring. My colour palette is mainly creams, beiges, green along the white and black basics I keep in my wardrobe throughout the year.
Take a look at some of the items i'm on the look out for this spring-
Cream/off white Cami
I wore my black cami top to death last spring summer so I know a cream or off white version will get so much wear in my wardrobe. You can pair these will so much and make so many different outfits with them so this is on the top of my list to buy.
Cream Blazer
An essential in most peoples wardrobe and something I am seriously lacking in! I am picturing blue denim jeans, a cream cami and a cream blazer on top with some loafers as the perfect spring outfit.
Green Trousers
I am trying to steer away from wearing black trousers during the spring and summer months so I am on the look out for a pair of comfy paper bag waist trousers to pair with lighter coloured cami tops and shirts. I love a green and brown colour palette when I have a tan so hopefully all this sunbathing in the garden will give me a nice even tan.
Blue Jeans
I am still on the look out for a nice pair of light blue denim wash jeans which are either mom style or straight but are on the slimmer side. I see some many people wearing light blue straight jeans and they look amazing, then I order a pair or try on some in store and I have the way they look on me. Hopefully one day I'll find a pair that sort my shape.
White Shorts
To complete my shorts collection all I need now is a pair of white shorts. I also ready have a black denim pair and a two comfy smartish pairs in green and oatmeal so a green pair with will perfect to make a few more outfits in the hotter months. I am imagining a all white outfit with a white short and then a tan bag and tan shoes, that is something I an pinning continuously on Pinterest.
Beige Trench Coat
I have as some people may see, jumped on the bandwagon and now want a trench coat. I think a light coloured camel/cream trench would get so much wear in my wardrobe over spring summer and even autumn time. My only long coats are my winter boyfriend style blazer coats which are just too heavy to wear outside of winter. I would like to find a second hand vintage trench so that it has a bit more character then the coats being made today but god knows if I will be able to find one.
I can see that there are a few odd little pieces which I am missing from my capsule. You will notice that all of the items are plan and neutral off course because I am all about the neutrals in spring. My colour palette is mainly creams, beiges, green along the white and black basics I keep in my wardrobe throughout the year.
Take a look at some of the items i'm on the look out for this spring-
Cream/off white Cami
I wore my black cami top to death last spring summer so I know a cream or off white version will get so much wear in my wardrobe. You can pair these will so much and make so many different outfits with them so this is on the top of my list to buy.
Cream Blazer
An essential in most peoples wardrobe and something I am seriously lacking in! I am picturing blue denim jeans, a cream cami and a cream blazer on top with some loafers as the perfect spring outfit.
Green Trousers
I am trying to steer away from wearing black trousers during the spring and summer months so I am on the look out for a pair of comfy paper bag waist trousers to pair with lighter coloured cami tops and shirts. I love a green and brown colour palette when I have a tan so hopefully all this sunbathing in the garden will give me a nice even tan.
Blue Jeans
I am still on the look out for a nice pair of light blue denim wash jeans which are either mom style or straight but are on the slimmer side. I see some many people wearing light blue straight jeans and they look amazing, then I order a pair or try on some in store and I have the way they look on me. Hopefully one day I'll find a pair that sort my shape.
White Shorts
To complete my shorts collection all I need now is a pair of white shorts. I also ready have a black denim pair and a two comfy smartish pairs in green and oatmeal so a green pair with will perfect to make a few more outfits in the hotter months. I am imagining a all white outfit with a white short and then a tan bag and tan shoes, that is something I an pinning continuously on Pinterest.
Beige Trench Coat
I have as some people may see, jumped on the bandwagon and now want a trench coat. I think a light coloured camel/cream trench would get so much wear in my wardrobe over spring summer and even autumn time. My only long coats are my winter boyfriend style blazer coats which are just too heavy to wear outside of winter. I would like to find a second hand vintage trench so that it has a bit more character then the coats being made today but god knows if I will be able to find one.
This is a follow on post from the Working From Home Wardrobe Edit post that previously went up.
Finding my way with dressing for work while at home has been a journey and now that I have a routine for the week and feel some what adjusted to my new 'normal', I have found my home working style.
From my previous post I mentioned items which I was finding the easiest to wear at home to work in which I found made me feel productive, but also super comfy. I have a selection of working from home outfits to show you plus two bank holiday weekend outfits as a bonus. All of these outfits first appear on my Instagram account so make sure you head over there to see my daily outfits first. Enjoy!
Finding my way with dressing for work while at home has been a journey and now that I have a routine for the week and feel some what adjusted to my new 'normal', I have found my home working style.
From my previous post I mentioned items which I was finding the easiest to wear at home to work in which I found made me feel productive, but also super comfy. I have a selection of working from home outfits to show you plus two bank holiday weekend outfits as a bonus. All of these outfits first appear on my Instagram account so make sure you head over there to see my daily outfits first. Enjoy!
Like everyone right now I have been spending more and more time on YouTube and Netflix trying to keep myself entertained so over the last three weeks I have found some real gems hiding on the apps. After I boycotted Netflix for a few days when I realised that they had removed Royle Family (still not over that!), I started looking through the new shows added to the website and started to like them again when I noticed a few of my favourites.
In case you are in need of a new show to watch take a look below. Yes I know I basially mainly watch british shows and that is why there are sooooooo many!
The Obvious Choices
1. Gavin and Stacey
2. Tiger King
3. Friends
British TV Shows
4. Friday Night Dinner
5. The Stranger
6. Inside n9
7. Miranda
8. The Vicar of Dibley
9. Dinner Ladies
10. The Job Lot
11. Ab Fab
12. After Life
13. Doctor Who
14. Luther
15. Fresh Meat
16. Call the Midwife
17. Bad Move
18. Sex Education
19. Johnathan Creek
20. Poldark
21. Top Gear
22. White Gold
23. The IT Crown
24. Only Fools and Horses
25. Cuckoo
26. Sherlock
27. Bottom
28. Black Mirror
29. Big School
30. Benidorn
American TV Shows
31. You
32. Big Band Theory
33. Glee
34. Gossip Girl
35. American Horror Stories
36. Queer Eye
37. Vampire Diaries
38. Shadow Hunters
39. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Documentaries
40. Don't F*ck With Cats
41. The Keepers
42. Jail Birds
43. Reggie Yates - Extreme
44. Blue Planet
45. Girls Incarcerated
Others
46. 100 Humans
47. Michael McIntyres Comedy Roadshow
48. Tiny House Nation
49. The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes
50. Next in Fashion
For a more in depth look into some of the tv shows take a look at some of my previous Netflix roundup posts. Sorry if some of the shows are no longer available on the site!
Working from home is a completely new concept to me so the first two weeks felt very strange and unnatural. Now I am ending my 3rd week of working from home I thought I collate the items I have found worked great at being comfy to work in but also made me feel smart and most importantly - productive. I know some people only want to live in comfy clothing right now and if you can work in that then great, but I tried the whole loungewear look for two weeks and didn't like it all.
My working from home style is comfy but looks smart and makes me feel productive whatever I am doing.
Black Culottes
I swear by these trousers for most of the spring and summer as they are so comfy and let air in in all the right places but they also look smart. Pair these with a silk shirt and you will feel so productive and professional but, also feel comfy no matter whether you are working on the sofa or the desk. If you want to be even more comfy pair these with a graphic tee and layer a cosy jumper and you are sorted. The best thing about culottes is that they don't crease at all so you can slob in them all day and still look put together!
Shirts
I am a big fan of any type of shirt and have a large collection in my wardrobe for everyday use so I find shirts really comfortable to wear. I always think it doesn't matter what bottoms you are wearing if you have a nice shirt on. No one is going to see your bottoms on video call anyway!
Plain Denim Shorts
This is obviously weather appropriate but a good pair of denim shorts with a nice top can do you the world of good when you need a little pick me up. This is my working in the garden uniform where I want to feel comfy and breezy in the nice weather but I need to look smart for a video call. You can never go wrong with black or blue denim shorts and a nice white shirt.
Cream Oversized Cardi
Because I know the weather can't make up its mind and we might need something to get a little cosy. I find my cream cardi from Newlook is great to throw over everything in my wardrobe and the cream is great with my spring colour palette.
Patterned Trousers
I love a good pair of patterned trousers and you can get some really comfy styles which feel like leggings but look much smarted. I have a pair of black and white trousers from Newlook which i have already been living in as they are so comfy. I like to pair them with a graphic tee shirt and whole outfit looks funky and smart.
Smock Dresses
Who doesn't love a smock dress? I have quite a few in my wardrobe and this means I can style them for winter with black tights and jumpers and pair them with sandals for the spring/summer time. A patterned smock dress is great to look smart in but also great for air ventilation while working. Tip - Try and wear dresses which don't crease easily!
Smart Shorts
I have only recently invested in some smart style shorts which I like to pair with a plain cami top or a shirt in the warmer weather. I have a green and oatmeal colour shorts which are super comfy to wear and make me feel a little bit more presentable.
I have been taking photos of my working from home outfits this week so keep an eye out for the blog post which will be coming soon, where I will be wearing basically everything in this edit.
My working from home style is comfy but looks smart and makes me feel productive whatever I am doing.
Black Culottes
I swear by these trousers for most of the spring and summer as they are so comfy and let air in in all the right places but they also look smart. Pair these with a silk shirt and you will feel so productive and professional but, also feel comfy no matter whether you are working on the sofa or the desk. If you want to be even more comfy pair these with a graphic tee and layer a cosy jumper and you are sorted. The best thing about culottes is that they don't crease at all so you can slob in them all day and still look put together!
Shirts
I am a big fan of any type of shirt and have a large collection in my wardrobe for everyday use so I find shirts really comfortable to wear. I always think it doesn't matter what bottoms you are wearing if you have a nice shirt on. No one is going to see your bottoms on video call anyway!
Plain Denim Shorts
This is obviously weather appropriate but a good pair of denim shorts with a nice top can do you the world of good when you need a little pick me up. This is my working in the garden uniform where I want to feel comfy and breezy in the nice weather but I need to look smart for a video call. You can never go wrong with black or blue denim shorts and a nice white shirt.
Cream Oversized Cardi
Because I know the weather can't make up its mind and we might need something to get a little cosy. I find my cream cardi from Newlook is great to throw over everything in my wardrobe and the cream is great with my spring colour palette.
Patterned Trousers
I love a good pair of patterned trousers and you can get some really comfy styles which feel like leggings but look much smarted. I have a pair of black and white trousers from Newlook which i have already been living in as they are so comfy. I like to pair them with a graphic tee shirt and whole outfit looks funky and smart.
Smock Dresses
Who doesn't love a smock dress? I have quite a few in my wardrobe and this means I can style them for winter with black tights and jumpers and pair them with sandals for the spring/summer time. A patterned smock dress is great to look smart in but also great for air ventilation while working. Tip - Try and wear dresses which don't crease easily!
Smart Shorts
I have only recently invested in some smart style shorts which I like to pair with a plain cami top or a shirt in the warmer weather. I have a green and oatmeal colour shorts which are super comfy to wear and make me feel a little bit more presentable.
I have been taking photos of my working from home outfits this week so keep an eye out for the blog post which will be coming soon, where I will be wearing basically everything in this edit.
I don't know about anyone else but I am so ready for Spring! I always thought I was a winter girl at heart but really, I think I just love Christmas. Then when Christmas is over, I am so over the weather. We have a long way to go before we can get your legs and arms out (as we speak I have the worst cold) so I have been pinning lots of wintery outfits to give me some inspiration. Here are a few outfit ideas I am loving from Pinterest.
Patterned trousers and a big jumper
I love this look especially with my favourite colour.... Black! It is so easy to wear and it is suitable for work and play (and by play I mean not leaving the house because it is so cold). I do have some black and white check trousers already which I have got a lot of wear out of this season already.
Patterned skirt and roll neck
Do you think I like patterned bottoms during winter? When it is really cold outside but I am bored of wearing a jumper and jeans, my patterned skirt and tights come out and I feel a little bit more fashionable. There are so many ideas on Pinterest, I have saved so many on the last few months!
Big baggy jumpers with black skinny jeans
Who still wears skinny jeans I hear you say? I still love them especially in a black because you can wear them with anything. All of my current jumpers are either cropped or hip length so I haven't been able to recreate this look but I love it as it is so easy to style. I do think a long black jumper will get a lot of wear out of my wardrobe for winter, but getting the right length is hard when you are short.
A cream jumper with blue jeans
This sounds like quite a standard outfit and nothing to write home about but some photos I have seen on Pinterest make this look amazing. The colours compliment each other and if you have the right jeans, it can look really flattering and effortless.
All black with a pop of colour
I tend to steer away from bright colours as my wardrobe is mainly white, black, cream and grey as the base notes but I keep finding myself looking at bold coloured jumpers. A red jumper is my number one guilty pleasure at the moment with an all black outfit.
All photos will be pinned in my Autumn/Winter board so please go over and show the original photo and owner some love!
Patterned trousers and a big jumper
I love this look especially with my favourite colour.... Black! It is so easy to wear and it is suitable for work and play (and by play I mean not leaving the house because it is so cold). I do have some black and white check trousers already which I have got a lot of wear out of this season already.
Patterned skirt and roll neck
Do you think I like patterned bottoms during winter? When it is really cold outside but I am bored of wearing a jumper and jeans, my patterned skirt and tights come out and I feel a little bit more fashionable. There are so many ideas on Pinterest, I have saved so many on the last few months!
Big baggy jumpers with black skinny jeans
Who still wears skinny jeans I hear you say? I still love them especially in a black because you can wear them with anything. All of my current jumpers are either cropped or hip length so I haven't been able to recreate this look but I love it as it is so easy to style. I do think a long black jumper will get a lot of wear out of my wardrobe for winter, but getting the right length is hard when you are short.
A cream jumper with blue jeans
This sounds like quite a standard outfit and nothing to write home about but some photos I have seen on Pinterest make this look amazing. The colours compliment each other and if you have the right jeans, it can look really flattering and effortless.
All black with a pop of colour
I tend to steer away from bright colours as my wardrobe is mainly white, black, cream and grey as the base notes but I keep finding myself looking at bold coloured jumpers. A red jumper is my number one guilty pleasure at the moment with an all black outfit.
As many of you will know by now I have been attempting to create my perfect capsule wardrobe since last year and I am slowly getting there. My wardrobe has reduced in size dramatically and my way of thinking when it comes to shopping has completely shifted 180.
Instead of going out and buying loads of items which I don't need just because they are slightly reduced, I now look at what I already have in my wardrobe, make outfits out these items and then make a list of items which I think are missing from my wardrobe. If you haven't tried it I would highly recommend it. If you have and it didn't float your boat, fair play at least you gave it a go! For those of you who haven't, here are a few reasons why I think people should shop their wardrobe.
1. To love your clothing more
When I used to have a very large wardrobe, most of the clothing didn't get worn. I already back then would stick to my favourite items and ignore the items I know I couldn't make work or didn't have anything to go with. That clothing isn't getting any love. When you have a wardrobe filled with clothing that you love, it makes you excited to pick an outfit and excited to wear that item again. If you have a wardrobe full of clothing that you never wear, what was the point in buying it?
2. To encourage you to think of new outfit ideas
Having a reduced wardrobe does mean you have to play around to create different outfits on a day to day basis, which is why it is great to have a colour theme to your wardrobe so that you know, every item will go with every other item. You might get bored wearing a jumper and jeans ever day so play around with layers and textures. I spend a few hours a day on Pinterest finding new outfits and saving my favourites. If you need any ideas have a look!
3. To reduce your waste
This is a big issue that came to a head over the last few years and fast fashion is a big problem. I do still shop on some stores classed as 'fast fashion' but I am more conscious now to the problem which also helped me reduce my buying. I now only buy items with I will literally wear to death. No wear once and forget out it moto that some people have. Times have changed and with my reduced wardrobe I find that I don't need to throw out any clothing as it is all pieces I will like for a long time and which will last me till they have lots of holes in. I also take my clothing to charities and collections so if you are thinking about reducing your wardrobe and trying a capsule wardrobe remember from school, reduce reuse and recycle!
4. To minimise the space your wardrobe takes up and reduce the time it takes to get ready!
This is a big one for me because I hate taking ages to get ready so having a smaller selection of clothes to choose from makes finding outfits easier and faster. The idea is to pick a top and bottom out of your wardrobe and they should match if you have your colour theme down to a tee. Also have a smaller wardrobe will mean your will have more room in your wardrobe and more room for activities!!
5. To save money
You will see in a later post that saving money is on the top of my to do list this year so listen up good. Before I started my capsule wardrobe I was going out shopping most weekends and at least picking up one new thing. Since starting my capsule wardrobe I have spent about 20% of the amount I used to spend on clothes. You are allow to buy clothing when you have a capsule wardrobe, you just remove an item so that your wardrobe doesn't get cluttered and you don't allow yourself to impulse buy. I have saved so much money on clothing and I am so proud of myself. You do end up spending more money on one single item of clothing in the long run because you are investing in that piece of clothing, but you don't have to run before you can walk. You can start a capsule wardrobe with the clothing in your wardrobe right now.
What was your reason for starting your capsule wardrobe?
I love dressing up for a date night with Cal and although he wouldn't care if I went out in my pjs (don't worry I wouldn't!), I still love to plan my outfits and feel dressed up for the occasion. So I thought I would show you some of the outfits I have made from the items I already have in my wardrobe. Some of the outfits will be a bit fancy in case you are going for a fancy meal for a special occasion but some of the outfits are also cosy and casual.
My first few outfits are a little bit fancy for when you are going out to a nice restaurant. First up is a black velvet playsuit (similar) which I picked up from Newlook a few months ago for only £8, what a bargain! I haven't found a time to wear it yet so my mission is to wear it on a date night with Cal this year. It feels like you are wearing a onesie so it is the most comfortable outfit I now own and if you wanted to make it bit more casual, you could throw a big jumper on top to make them look like felt bottoms.
My next outfit is another fancy one which includes items that everyone has in their wardrobe! If you don't already own a leather skirt (similar), you are missing out! Although I don't wear it for a lot of the year I do find certain times of the year when I become obsessed with it again and it is always handy to have for a night out. For a date night I would pair this with one of my H&M shirts and some little black boots and my outfit is sorted. If you wanted to tone down the outfit as well I normally just swop the shirt for a ribbed roll neck and make the skirt the focus of the outfit.
An outfit which no one will be surprised about involves my favourite little leggings. These leather look leggings from Femme Luxe are so easy to wear and look great with practically everything. For date night I would wear these with my cream H&M shirt and my Newlook Patterned boots to make it seem like my legs were never ending (which they definitely are). Again if you wanted to dress the outfit down because you are only going out to a pub, you could swop the shirt for a jumper or whack the jumper on top so that you have the collar poking out.
Moving on to some outfits which aren't too fancy but you wouldn't call them casual as well, the first two options are my black and white dresses from Shein. Since I purchased these in the last few months I have worn both non stop. I have worn then to new years eve and a Christmas party as well as to work with some flats. They are so versatile and instead of wearing them with black tights, I have started wearing them with skin colour tights and they completely change the outfit. For new years eve I wore one of the dresses with skin coloured tights, some chunky black boots and a red bag and felt great.
Next up I have another outfit which involves my H&M shirts but they literally can be worn with anything to anywhere. I like to pair the shirts with my Billabong Mini Skirt and wear a black and gold black over the top, it is a very smartish preppy look which I actually love to wear. I can change up the shirt to make 4 different outfits and although the skirt is tight and short, the bagginess of the shirt makes me comfortable and covered up. TIP I wouldn't wear this skirt with skin coloured tights unless you want everyone to see what you have eaten for the last week!
My last outfit of the post is probably my favourite because it is comfy, cosy and looks like I have made a lot of effort. It features the shirts again... I'm sorry I cant help it! Once you see it hopefully you will let me off for using them again. My last outfit is my Primark black mom jeans (similar) with the cream shirt tucked in, adding the black and gold belt and my Primark loafers to make the look really preppy and put together. You really can't go wrong with mom jeans and the black ones are so flattering.
I hope you liked the outfits and have found some inspiration for your own wardrobe. Let me know which outfits you loved!
It can be quite daunting thinking about all the items you want to invest money in for the long run and then totalling up how much it would cost to invest in them items... I find that investment pieces can be something that you gradually add to your collection when and wear you can, and there is nothing wrong with buying non-investment pieces in the mean time.
Following on from that thought, I wanted to do a round up of items, clothing and non clothing, which I like to spend money on and save money on. I don't have loads of money to spend on myself, I have a mortgage and would like to have children in the near future so spending vast amounts of money on myself just isn't a priority. I hope this helps people who are trying to figure out what they want to spend their hard money on but don't know where to start.
Where I like to spend
Following on from that thought, I wanted to do a round up of items, clothing and non clothing, which I like to spend money on and save money on. I don't have loads of money to spend on myself, I have a mortgage and would like to have children in the near future so spending vast amounts of money on myself just isn't a priority. I hope this helps people who are trying to figure out what they want to spend their hard money on but don't know where to start.
Where I like to spend
- Skincare
- Moisturiser - Apart from the Sukin Facial Moisturiser which I am a big fan of, I mainly only use Clinique or Origins moisturiser and the main reason for this is simply - my skin like them much better. I have tried a few drugstore moisturisers but 9/10 times my skin does not agree with them so naturally, I am going to listen to my skin.
- Eye Cream - Since I started wearing eye cream a few years back (not as soon as I should have mind you) I have always stuck to the Clinique All About The Eyes Cream and I have never found anything to rival it. I tried to find a pot of eye cream from Boots when I ran out and all I could find was tube eye creams. What is up with that?
- Outerwear
- Outerwear is generally a higher price point because of what it is made of and the amount of material used but I do like to spend a little extra on my outerwear to make sure it lasts me for many many years. You end up wearing your outerwear 10x more than any other item in your wardrobe and it completely covers your outfit so it needs to be something that works with everything and stands the time. I also like to spend a little more on a outerwear piece because i have a select collection of coats and jacket rather than having a large collection to choose from.
- Footwear
- Footwear is around the same thinking as my outerwear collection, i have a few key pieces of footwear that I rotate depending on the season so i like to invest in shoes that will last me more than one season. I still have some shoes from Primark and Newlook which have lasted me a long while but I do like to go into TKMax and see what more brands I can get my hands on.
- Jewellery - excluding earrings
- I used to love the 'costume' jewellery that I used to buy in Clair's Accessories when I was younger but now I have ground up I much prefer the more simple diligent pieces. I find to buy a piece of jewellery that will last years without the chain breaking, you do need to invest a little into the piece.
- Handbags
- Again this is very similar to my thinking process about footwear and outerwear, a good hand bag can last you so many years and work for any occasion. I am someone who bangs and bashes their handbag around all days so i need one which is going to last more than a few months before breaking.
- Kitchen Equipment
- Strange one maybe to put in but a very important one for people deciding to move out! When im talking about kitchen equipment I'm talking washing machine, slow cooker, dish washer - all of the equipment which can cost a lot to replace at the wrong time. When i need to buy something for the kitchen i do like to go by certain brands which i know last a long time and have great customer service. My favourites if you wanted to know are Russel Hobbs and Samsung.
Where I like to save
- Home Decor
- As much as i love looking in the white company... it just isn't going to happen. The price some brands charge for home decor is crazy considering Home Bargains and Primark do some amazing items which are similar and more than half the price! I feel like only a few years ago it wasn't seen as cool to buy home bits from shops like Home Bargains and then in the space of a year or two, everyone is raving about their products and I can see why.
- Makeup
- If you have been around for a long time than you will know that i have always been a drugstore makeup girl right from the beginning and nothing has really changed. Although i like to spend a bit more on my skincare, I find most makeup works on a good base and I do have my favourites. Rimmel, Revolution and Kiko are to name a few which i have stuck with for many years. I have a few higher end products in my collection but the majority of it is from Boots.
- Earings
- I couldn't count for you the number of earrings I have upstairs, the number would carry on for a long while and along the years I have picked up big packs of multiple design earrings from Newlook and Primark and I have never had a problem with them. If you have sensitive ears than maybe ignore this point but i would rather spend £10 on a pack of 50 earrings them £50 on one pair.
- Jersey Basics
- This might make people gasp in horror but I buy all my basics from Newlook and H&M because you can't go wrong with them. Most of my wardrobe is made up of basics from H&M and Newlook and i have had some for years.
- Jeans
- I know a lot of people like to invest in their jeans and have the one perfect pair but I still have some jeans that I bought from Newlook about 7 years ago and they still look perfect. I find that as long as you wash them right, you shouldn't really have a problem. Always remember to go for a smaller size so when they naturally give, they aren't too big!
- Nails
- If you have never tried the fake nails from Primark what have you been doing all your life? A full set of acrylics can set you back £30 ish and to have them removed cost an extra £10 for the removal? Primark sell amazing stick on nails for just £1. When i tell people this they do look at me like OMG you must be that stingy but once i show them my hands with the fake nails on, they can't believe how good they look. Honestly if you have never tried them give them a go, it will only cost you a £1! The glue you get with them is also amazing!
- Cleaning Supplies
- Another random one but the amount some people spend on cleaning supplies is ridiculous. I buy all my cleaning supplies from Aldi or Home Bargains if certain things are on offer. I find with cleaning products... it all does the same thing!
- Food Shop
- Ever since I moved into my own home I have shopped with Aldi and I love the food they make. I have converted so many people to Aldi and it is amazing the amount of money you can save on a big shop. Yes it has some set backs like the packing is really annoying but I tend to open all my bags in the trolley and throw them into the bags - rebel I know! Again i feel like it is now cool to shop at Aldi thanks to people on YouTube recording their 'weekly Aldi food shop'.
Who loves autumn clothing? Yes me too!
I have a few items which I have been wearing non stop this autumn and I thought I would share with you these items in case you are missing them in your wardrobe. I will try and list all the items for you but for any which are too old to link, I will similar items for you!
Petite Longline Camel Coat
I recently picked up this coat in October/November when Newlook were having a sale on their petite range and I picked up the Camel and Black version to add to my jacket collection for autumn winter and I have worn both non stop since they arrived. The camel version has to be my favourite of the two because the colour is super flattering and my go to outfit at the minute is some black trousers with a black roll neck and the camel coat on top. Simple but classic!
Black High Waisted Leather Look Leggings
I can't tell you how many times I have worn this leggings in the last few months, I have even started wearing them to work because they are so comfy and easy to style with anything. I love to pair them with a long black jumper and the camel Newlook coat on top and I look really styled but with minimal effort required. It is now a running joke with my family whenever I wear them now one of them will say 'she's in them leggings again...'
Every H&M shirt I own
Sorry I could not pick just one of the H&M shirts for this list because I love all them equally. They look amazing and hang really well of your body and even after a number of wears and washes, they still look brand new. At the minute while the weather has dropped I am putting a big baggy jumper over these shirts so that the collar is poking out and I love the preppy look of it.
Black Studded Velvet Leggings (similar)
I picked up these velvet studded leggings last year in M&S and I absolutely love them! In all honesty their quality is shocking and half of the studs have fallen off but I actually like the look of the random stud now. Most of the studs have fallen off over my bottom and on the inside of my legs so it actually looks like this is meant to be the design. Aside from the flaw in design, I love how comfy the leggings are and they can make a plain outfit so much more interesting than if I was wearing just some black skinny jeans. They are also really insulated for the colder months which is a bonus.
Grey Fine Jumper
I have an array of jumpers in my wardrobe and everyone gets a lot of love but I have to say one H&m grey jumper does get a little bit more daylight then the rest. I picked this up in summer actually when H&M were clearing their autumn stock from the previous year. I had the best day because I walked into the store and the place was covered with knitwear on every rail, all new stock for the current season, and then I walked to the back of the store and there was 5 rails of sale jumpers! I think I picked 3 or 4 jumpers up for £25 and then I got a discount for being a member so it was the best day! Anyway back to the post, If I am ever in doubt of what to wear one day, I slip this jumper on with any bottom and I am good to go. I have never been much of fan of the colour grey but actually it is the most popular colour in my knitwear collection so it must actually be a favourite!
During 2019 I have made a conscious effort to rework my wardrobe and create a capsule wardrobe which would work for me for any occasion. I have watched plenty of videos of the essential items you would need and I would say my wardrobe is definitely near completion, but over the last month or so I have increased the size of my wardrobe.
There are so many how to guides to building a capsule wardrobe and the thing I love about capsule wardrobes is that you don't need to follow any. You can have as little and as big a capsule wardrobe as you like. I think as long as the items see you through multiply seasons and can work with anything in your collection then you can join the fam!
When I first tried a capsule wardrobe in probably march time, I really took my wardrobe back to basic. I did a mammoth clear out and condensed my items to about 50. Half of the items I gave away to friends and family who loved it because most of the items were in perfect condition, and then I packed the rest of my wardrobe away because it wasn't seasonally appropriate. So I was left using 1/4 of the wardrobes in our bedroom (1 section is Cals, 1 is for house items and the last 1 I used for washing baskets).
I loved using my more condensed streamline wardrobe and found it really easy to work with for the first few months, I think with it being summer it was easy to rework outfits for different occasions. Then the weather changed and I found it a bit harder to maintain the wardrobe. I pulled out all of the jumpers from storage and rediscovered some of my favourites which has meant I haven't purchased any jumpers this autumn winter which is great, but I felt like all I was wearing was a jumper and leather leggings.
I knew I had some room for some cute dresses that I could wear with tights and boots during the winter months so I have recently purchased a few different styles which I have wrote about here. All items which i can work with for spring summer with some sandals. Apart from two winter boyfriends coats that I purchased from Newlook, these dresses are my only other purchases since April time which I am proud of. The concept of a capsule wardrobe has really stuck with me because only last year, I was routinely buying new clothing for no real reason. Now I look at my wardrobe and see what I am lacking and what would work with what I already have.
Other than the new dresses I have recently purchased, to give me more options in my wardrobe during the colder months I re-evaluated my summer wardrobe in storage. I have loved splitting my wardrobe into seasons because it gives me more room in my wardrobe and most importantly, I tend to forget what items I have in storage so when I take them back out, I feel like I have a new item again. Saying all this, I needed some items to change up my wardrobe so I wasn't wearing the same outfit style every day. I have posted about some of the summer items I brought back out here. Now that I have purchased a few dresses I have no need for my summer items of clothing, so they have now gone back into storage ready to rediscover for summer.
So after this year how do I feel about a capsule wardrobe? I still absolutely love it and would recommend it to anyone. It helps you love your clothing on a daily basis and takes the stress out of trying to make a outfit. I love watching peoples videos of their capsule wardrobes and seeing how everyone's is different.
I currently have about 70 pieces in my wardrobe (excluding shoes and accessories) and to some people, they would say that that isn't a capsule wardrobe. To them people I say, the great thing about capsule wardrobes is that you can tailor it to however works for you and if you saw the number of clothing items I used to own, you would be proud!
P.S. I use Pinterest every day to help me create different outfits with the items I already own, take a look at my boards to see if they give you inspirations! Chelsea Loves on Pinterest
First up is a new dress which I mentioned already in my last post and I haven't been disappointed. I wore this dress from Shein to a Christmas house party and I absolutely loved how it looked with knee high boots and black tights. I always think you can't go wrong with a black and white spotted dress in any season.
And since I love black and white spotted dresses so much, I picked up another one from the same website and have been wearing it to work with my cropped H&M jumper on top for extra warmth. I've picked them both up in a size medium so that it would be too tight on my back and I love the way they hang lose but look fitted with a simple black belt on top. I do need to stock up on baggy ditsy dresses so I may need to make another order!
Next up I have a green smock dress I purchased a few years ago from H&M which again is big and baggy but I normally pull it in with a belt. To make the dress more weather appropriate I just wore a black roll neck underneath with some black tights and a black belt to pull the outfit together. During winter roll necks are your best friends and I have been wearing mine none stop. They do sell this dress in a number of different colours and I stopped myself picking up the black version as I didn't think I got enough wear out of my green dress but now, I may need to keep a eye out on the website.
My last actual dress is a purple velvet number I picked up from Primark a few years ago and this is a dress which looks super cute during the summer with some little black heels but I think it looks even cuter with a black long sleeve and tights underneath. Sometimes I think I look a little bit young in the dress but then I try it on and fall back in love.
Lastly I have a jumpsuit (similar) which I thought I would add into this post because it is such a staple summer piece because of the design and I thought I wasn't going to get any wear till next spring. The materials of the jumpsuit isn't the thickest so I can only wear it for a few weeks before I need to layer some tights underneath. I have teamed it with my white roll neck to bring out the light colours but I can also wear it with a black roll neck which works better with the tights and black boots.
Do you have any spring/summer items you've reworked for the colder months?
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