Wedding 2012

I haven't blogged it what feels like an age, partly because I've been mad busy with a wedding to go to and birthdays to plan but I've also suffered from the dreaded summer flu :( finally on my way to recovery though so I can blog about the wedding :)

7th July 2012 my Uncle Francis finally got married (we never thought he would...bachelor for life!)

Venue: Stanley House, Blackburn/Preston.

One of the prettiest venues I have ever seen a wedding take place in! Up on the hills away from everything the views were gorgeous! I dread to think how much everything cost but I'm guessing it was A LOT. Thankfully mother nature was kind and brought sunshine for all the photos and everything leading up to the wedding ceremony, only into the evening (when everyone was too drunk to care) did the rain start to fall! I'd been looking forward to this day for ages, mainly because I haven't been to a wedding since I was 12 but also because I had a gorgeous new dress to wear!

Hope you enjoy the photos! :)

I chose to have my hair in a messy curled fish tail which totally suited the the dress I was wearing! The pearl clips just give the hair style that extra little something and as a bonus I could keep them afterwards to wear again! Hair styled at TLC Hair & Beauty Hairdressers (Unisex) http://www.tlchairandbeauty.in-bury.co.uk/ with some of the nicest members of staff I have ever met, I wouldn't go to any other hair dressers!

This is the gorgeous Grecian dress I wore, super comfy and as it was floor length it meant I didn't have to worry about tanning my legs - bonus! I got this dress from Topshop for £60, it's backless which I love, not sure when I'll be able to wear this again because it is so summery and, excuse my atrocious English language, but 'weddingy'. However I will try my best to find some event to wear this to again because I have fallen in love with it!

My Uncle Francis with his gorgeous new wife and my new Auntie, Alison! They went for an ivory and deep red colour scheme - absolutely gorgeous!!

Here is a photo of me and my lovely mum and little sister is all of our gorgeous dresses, as you can see none of us wanted to wear anything even remotely similar so went for completely different dress styles and colours!

The happy couple cutting the GORGEOUS cake! The whole thing was fruit cake which I don't particularly like, however they had also had a plain sponge cake made for those of us who don't like fruit ones :) 

One final photo of the day - the first dance :) 

I had an amazing day despite the fact that I wasn't feeling 100% well! Hope you like the photos :) 

Outfit of the day

Evening ladies, just a short blog tonight on my outfit of the day; I made an effort for a shopping/lunch date with one of my best girl friends so thought I'd show you all :)

I look a bit of an idiot in these photos but oh well! 

I'm obsessed because they go with practically anything, also blazers are my absolute weakness, they make even the shabbiest of outfits look glammed up! I'm pretty much head to toe in Topshop attire in today ootd, what can I say, it's my favourite high street store! 

I purchased these amazing wedge open toe boots just last week in the sale at Topshop at half price, how lucky am I?! I can't stop wearing them (even in the house!)

My skinny fit jeans are actually my little sister's (again from Topshop) what I love about Topshop jeans is that even if they are too short on the leg it doesn't matter because they automatically become an amazing pair of ankle grazers - perfect for the summer! I think it's safe to say that I will be borrowing these beauties from my sister again in the future! 

The blouse I got again from Topshop ages ago and I wear it all the time, I think it's probably one of my favourite items of clothing from my wardrobe! The only downside is because I've worn it so much the colour has started to fade slightly but I can't quite afford to splurge on a new one just yet, I will be sorry to say bye to this when the time comes!

The blazer was again from Topshop shock horror! I love the detailing on the buttons/badge, it's almost like an old school blazer, but a cool one! Again it can be worn with pretty much anything and makes a plain outfit look more interesting and fashionable! 

My bag, my beautiful, gorgeous perfect bag...Fiorelli, need I say more?! Fiorelli is possibly my favourite design of handbags/purses that there is in the fashion industry, I'm yet to find one that I haven't fallen in love with! I love everything about this bag from its size (I can fit all my random rubbish in it) to its colour (tan is always in style and goes with almost anything). I was lucky enough to find this beauty in the after Christmas sales online at Debenhams, I will definitely be looking again this year for more!  

What to wear to a wedding

So ladies wedding season is upon us, every girl’s dream but absolute nightmare all in one. Excited at the prospect of getting a gorgeous new outfit but having a panic attack at the thought of having to find something appropriate/nice to wear! I find it so hard to find a complete outfit for a wedding, as in dress, shoes, bag, jacket (hey it’s England) and possible hair accessory – all to match; it’s asking for a miracle! My Uncle is getting married next week which inspired me to write this post as over the past month I have realised just how stressful I have found it to get together the perfect wedding outfit and thought I’d share my tips and finds that I discovered in the process!

The length of the dress you wear to a wedding is ridiculously important, remember you’re not going clubbing, you’re going to what’s likely a family event and one of the most important days of two people’s lives. In other words, keep your boobs covered and wear something respectable! Respectable doesn’t have to mean boring or unfashionable; maxi dresses are the new must have for women everywhere! Being a shorter woman I can fully sympathise with those of you now saying “But I ‘m too small to wear a maxi dress!” fear not I learnt very quickly that there are petite maxis out there and if you whack on a pair of wedges you’ll be fine – problem solved!

Another key issue when looking for a dress to wear to a wedding is the colour! White is a no no, sorry ladies, it might look nice but it’s a definite insult to any bride! Just don’t do it! There are plenty of other gorgeous dresses out there for you to choose from, also white can look plain why not go for something a little more adventurous! Below are some dresses I’ve found on my search that are perfect for weddings, along with jackets in case you can’t stand the cold for the outdoor photos and shoes to match! Remember if the wedding is set in the summer, go for the bright colours, it's what this season is all about!

Name: Heart Back Rib Prom Dress

Price: £55.00

Shop: Topshop

This dress is adorable and can be worn again for the wedding - bonus! The cute little love heart cut out at the back gives the dress it's uniqueness, although the colour and style is nothing out of the ordinary it fits most body types and flatters most skin tones. Also with the colour being more simple it gives you a bigger choice as to the colour of shoe you decide to wear with it! 

Name: Peach Net Halter Cover Up

Price: £20.00

Shop: Topshop

This dress differs slightly to most other maxi dresses as there is a slight uplift at the front, allowing shorter girls such as myself to be able to wear it without being overly concerned that we're going to step on it every five minutes! The colour is very summery and would look beautiful on a summers day! Although with the colour being rather distinct it doesn't leave as much choice for the colour of shoe, however having said that coral/peach is this seasons must have colour meaning that the shoe range in this colour has increased!

Name: Light Blue Lace Skater Dress

Price: £60.00

Shop: River Island

How adorable is this little dress?! It reminds me of something from a vintage Alice in Wonderland! Definitely a cute little tea party dress! This would be ideal for a wedding, especially for those of you who wish to follow in Kate Middleton's footsteps and go mad for lace! The colour is bright but simple and can be matched with pretty much anything, again ideal for when shoe shopping! The cut of the dress would be flattering on most body types and the little cut out at the back again gives the dress another unique standing point! This is the shortest of the dresses I have found but still an appropriate length for a wedding and again could be worn again at another time! 

Name: Cream Chelsea Girl Lace Skater Dress

Price: 28.00

Shop: River Island

I think I'm becoming a tad obsessed with lace myself, I cannot help but adore this little dress! The colour again is gorgeous and will match well with most shoes/blazers/handbags! This is ideal for those of us who love a vintage look without the vintage smell! Lace is one of this seasons must haves and with the price of this dress you really can't complain! Bargain! Again the length of dress is perfect for a wedding, not too short but again for us shorter ladies we won't end up standing on it by mistake! This dress could be worn again, even in the day with a belt and tights to go with it!

Summer must haves!

Beach Holiday


If you're jetting off on a gorgeous beach holiday this summer here are some of the hottest fashion must haves to pack in your suitcase!!

Name: Bronze Fringe Swimsuit

Price: £27.00

Shop: River Island

I am absolutely obsessed with this newest style of swimsuit! Ever since seeing as similar style on Lauren Goodger (from TOWIE) I fell in love! I am yet to try one of these beauties on myself but they look amazing on everyone else I have seen wearing them, this must be a good sign! This is not your average swimsuit with peep holes up the side of your stomach and a plunging neck line you must have confidence to wear one of these; however as I said before I have seen this swimsuit on numerous body types from plus size to petite and it looks incredible on both!! This has got to be on my shopping list!

Name: River Island Frill Polka Dot Bikini Top

Price: Top £14.99 / Brief £9.99

Shop: Asos

This bikini is super cute and the frills at the top of the bottoms gives that extra bit of cover for those of us who don't feel as confident in a bikini as others! The only thing that would concern me when wearing this bikini would be that the bra has no straps - I wouldn't recommend wearing this if you're planning on going to a water park for the day as you are highly likely to have a few peek a boos! However if you are planning on having a nice relaxing day at the beach sunbathing this is the bikini for you! The colour is gorgeous and girly, not like most of the other basic bikinis out there!

Name: Beige Croc Wheelie Suitcase

Price: £65.00

Shop: River Island

If you haven't already got yourself a suitcase may I suggest this beauty?! I just happened to stumble across this when looking randomly online and have fallen in love! The colour is gorgeous and the size is perfect for a weekend away! Having handles on both top and side of the suitcase makes it easier to carry about and to top it off it has wheels too! Imagine rocking up to the airport with this?! The design is simple but gorgeous, looks expensive but isn't and doesn't necessarily look all that practical, but is! Best find yet, definitely recommend, and if I didn't already have a suitcase I would be buying this without hesitation! 

Name: Light Pink Caged Sandals

Price: £40.00

Shop: River Island

Just when I thought I couldn't find any sandals I liked the look of I came across these! Sandals that won't hurt your feet/toes, practical for walking around in (especially on the beach) and not only do they come in this pretty pink colour but they also come in black too - winner! Just make sure that you get to tan the rest of your feet so you don't get a dodgy tan!

Name: Cats Eye Sunglasses

Price: £16.00

Shop: Topshop

The newest style of sunglasses is the cats eye style, this particular shape is very feminine and gives a flattering shape to a woman's face. The colour is practical and goes with anything, the style is modern and on trend, people will be asking you were you got them from!!

Name: Cape Back Playsuit

Price: £46.00

Shop: Topshop

All I can say is I MUST HAVE THIS PLAYSUIT. If you are going on holiday this is the perfect item of clothing to take with you! Not only could you wear this to the beach with some flip flops and a hat but you could wear it out for a meal or to go out in with a nice pair of heels and a gorgeous bag to go with! The colour is so summery and fresh, the simplicity of the garment is what makes this playsuit so unique. You know an item of clothing is good when it can be so plain and yet perfect! Nothing more needs to be done to this item to make it look amazing because it already does so just on its own! Imagine just how good your tan will look against this colour too! 

Name: Oversized Aztec Bag

Price: £25.00

Shop: Topshop

This oversized Aztec style bag is a perfect example of a summer must have for the beach! It's big enough to fit all your essentials in; from your sun cream to your beach towel! The design of the bag will not be missed, you won't be losing this anywhere! When I first came across this bag I was pleasantly surprised by the price and come pay day I am seriously considering making a cheeky purchase just in time for my holiday!

Women's top five life savers

There are a few things in life that we as women just can't live without; if you don't have some of these products I urge you to go out and purchase them immediately because they are absolute life savers!

Number one on my list has to be dry shampoo! This product is amazing, if you haven't got time to wash your hair in the morning a quick spray of this, then brush your hair through and you're good to go! This is an absolute must have, affordable and easy to fit in your handbag!

Name: Batiste Dry Shampoo Tropical

Price: £2.99

Shop: Superdrug

A new product I recently stumbled across completely by accident was this beauty! Over the years I have tried numerous different concealers most of which just dried out my skin and didn't give good coverage on blemishes. There is nothing worse than waking up in the morning to a nasty red spot on your chin and no decent concealer to hide it! Frantically searching through the make up counter in Boots after having discovered a dreaded spot I came across this amazing product. Not only does this concealer give good coverage so any spots you may have are no longer visible but it lasts all day too so no need to top up!

Name: No7 Quick Cover Blemish Stick

Price: £8.00

Shop: Boots

Another essential product for every ladies handbag has to be Scholl Party Feet. These mini cushions for your feet will make even the most painful shoes comfortable! There is nothing worse than hitting the town in a gorgeous new pair of heels only for the balls of your feet to start rubbing whilst 'breaking in' your new shoes. These mini pillows of love for your feet will allow you to continue your night on the town pain free! Not only are Party Feet see through they are also re-usable so you definitely get your monies worth!

Name: Scholl Party Feet

Price: £3.75

Shop: Boots

Nothing irritates me more than finding a gorgeous lipstick but having it rub off throughout the day and constantly having to reapply. Thanks to some genius we now have lip stain, basically a lipstick that lasts all day, regardless of whether you eat or drink! Although having said that not all lip stains are 100% effective, I have tried some in the past that have rubbed off after a few drinks that has made the lip stain go bitty, often resulting in getting some stuck between/on your teeth - not an attractive look. However this new product by Maxfactor has solved all my lipstick problems, it lasts all day with no need to re-apply and with the shape of the product being similar to that of a felt tip pen, making it super easy to apply!

Name: Maxfactor Lasting Lip Tint

Price: £7.99

Shop: Boots

The final of the five top life savers for women has got to be the no vpl knickers! Every woman should own a pair of these as they can be worn under absolutely anything and won't show; even on the tightest of dresses/jeans! They may not look too appealing but the do the job, especially if you're wearing a nice dress for a special occasion, the last thing you want is your knickers line showing! 

Name: No VPL perfect low rise knickers

Price: £5.00 each of 3 for £10.00 - bargain!

Shop: Marks and Spencer

Wish list of the week

I just can't seem to help myself at the moment, there are just far too many items I am dying to own (especially with a holiday coming up.) Typically sticking to my usual fashion forward ways you will probably find most, if not all of my wish list items in the front windows of the shops they're sold in at this moment in time - gotta keep up!

Name: Bleach Denim Leggings

Price: £22.00

Shop: Topshop

These light denim leggings are an absolute must have for the summer! They go with practically anything and the lighter shade will make whatever you wear with it look summery! Leggings tend to be a better fit/comfier than jeans which is why I prefer this style, jeans tend to be stiff especially when they've just been washed! Also I have found that jeans don't tend to fit as well as leggings do, so why not have the best of both worlds and get denim leggings instead! 

Name: Pastel Gingham Bralet

Price: £25.00

Shop: Topshop

I am currently obsessed with bralets! They are so cute for the summer and can be worn for day wear and night wear! This cute little number could be worn with leggings and a blazer during the day or high waisted shorts or a pencil skirt with heels in the evening! Not only is the design cute and girly but the pastel colour is very summery and can be matched with most colours - bonus!

Name: Disco Pants

Price: £70.00

Shop: American Apparel

Words cannot even begin to describe how much I love these pants! They look absolutely incredible and come in so many different colours! I could imagine so many different outfits to go with these pants for day wear and night wear too! A bralet and heels would be perfect for going out in, or maybe even a sheer blouse! Day wear, any t-shirt would look good with these pants; if you get the right size they literally make your legs/bum look amazing and tight too! I am dying to own a pair of these trousers but it looks like I may have to do a fair bit of saving before I make such a huge splurge on a pair of pants! 

Name: Misbo Tribal Platform Sandal

Price: Was £40 Now £20

Shop: Republic

Can you believe that these shoes have been reduced by half price?! Typically they lower the price when I have no money in my bank account to purchase these beauties! These heels look amazing on and the colours are gorgeous! These heels could be worn in the day (if like me you are a pro at walking in high heels) or could be worn in the evening with a gorgeous outfit! These are definitely statement shoes as they don't look like anything else out there at the moment! I can promise you now that if they still have these babies in my size when payday comes I WILL be purchasing them! 

Interview Attire

Knowing what to wear for an interview can be an extremely difficult task, even at times more stressful than the interview itself! Often for men an interview suit is acceptable, appropriate and easy; the only difficulty that could possibly arise would be the colour of tie you choose to wear! Women however are stuck with the length of her dress or skirt, also the cut of of her blouse or dress. A similar problem I have found with wearing a blouse to an interview is how see-through a number of blouses tend to be – not really the impression you want to give a potential future boss! If you opt for a trouser suit it is a worry that you will be judged for your fashion sense on not being ‘womanly enough’ and as ludicrous as this may sound it’s true. Like it or not people are judged by their appearance and not just what they can give in the interview. Tests have shown that slimmer people are more likely to get a job over a more obese person; similarly that more attractive people are more likely to get given a job over someone who is not considered to be as attractive. This also comes into account with how a person dresses for an interview; people do not judge solely based on your intelligence and capability of doing the job properly but more so on how you present yourself.

Although I agree that for an interview you should dress to impress I do not feel that your entire interview should be based solely around the outfit that you choose to wear (unless of course you are going for some sort of stylist job; then what you wear is crucial!) These days it is much easier for women to find appropriate attire for job interviews; with the rate of business women increasing greatly high street stores such as Topshop, New Look,  River Island, Zara and many more have brought in new lines of clothes suitable for interview wear. I personally have found Zara to be best for providing plain, but fashionable blazers in appropriate colours; Topshop have been good to me in regards of plain, knee length business dresses – fashionable and interview appropriate! I have discovered (through my mother of all people) that Marks & Spencer do a huge variety of blouses and shirts suitable yet stylish for interview wear.

We all know that we have to live on a budget and can’t afford to splurge large amounts of cash on an outfit for an interview that we may only wear a few times so below I shall list a few favourites of mine appropriate and affordable to help you bag that job you’re desperate for!  Remember a smile works wonders, no point in your outfit looking amazing if there isn’t a smile to match it!

       

   Name: Tuck Neck Shift Dress

          Price: £30.00

     Shop: Topshop

      Name: Basic Double Cloth Blazer (available in other colours)

      Price: £49.99

      Shop: Zara

         Name: Embroidered Shirt

         Price: £34.00

         Shop: Topshop

     Name: Black Patent Chain Court Shoe

     Price: £24.99

     Shop: New Look

             Name: Black Jersey Pencil Skirt

             Price: £25.00

             Shop: Topshop