Rachel the Hat

Saturday, 27 September 2014

Starting a Collection

For years and years i have longed to start a collection of some description, something that will have markers in time,like little reminders or keepsakes of special occasions.
I couldn't think of what i wanted to use and so far my collection was none existent.
Untill now
After thinking long and hard I am starting a Pandora Charm Bracelet. I am so excited.

First i picked out my silver bracelet from Pandora and now i am eager to get started with the charms! There are SO MANY even the spacer charms are so so pretty.
I only wish i had started it sooner if I'm honest. But, no time like the present and I'm sure there will be many occasions to fill it. There may or may not be a certain BIG birthday fast approaching (wink), I hope a new charm will be most certainly be gracing my bracelet. It's the perfect birthday/special occasion request. It's not that I'm not awkward to buy for but i never need for anything and never know what to ask for when people say 'what do you want for your birthday/christmas this year?'
This now gives me the perfect answer!
A Charm please :)

I Love autumn ans have been browsing their Look Book for autumn.. they are all so so beautiful!

The decision is so hard!

Do you have a Pandora or charm bracelet?

If you do, please- inspire me, what charms do you have?

This weekend Pandora are offering a FREE bracelet in store when you spend £125 in store. So if you're planning on starting a collection or buying charms and could give the free bracelet to someone else as a starter now is the perfect time! Christmas is just around the corner you know ;)

Ps i'll be sure to post photos of me and ma new lovely bracelet soon! Can't wait to show you! eeeee :):)

Special Shoes, Leopard Print Coat & Passion 4 Fashion LinkUp

Ahhh Special shoes, there's nothing quite like them for a girl is there?

"The fact is, sometimes it’s hard to walk in a single women’s shoes. That’s why we need really special ones now and then - to make the walk a little more fun "

Carrie Bradshaw

Ain't that the truth Sister. So when Rainbow Shoes got in touch to talk to me about there wonderful shoes for special occasions, i wondered how i could make it work, what witht he lack of special occasions going on over here. But when they showed me their Colour Studio and customisation of the shoes , heck i had to give it a shot! I chose the prettiest bright blue and finished them off with the perfect removable jewelled bows.

Special Shoe Perfection.

Rainbow shoes specialise in beautiful shoes, if you have a special occasion coming up(wedding maybe?) then i highly recommend you check them out.

The service is impeccable and the shoes are breathtakingly beautiful

Also if you do have a wedding or special occasion coming?

Please can i come too? I have the perfect shoes already ;)

If you love shoes as much as i do, make sure you keep a very close eye on the blog here. I have some VERY exciting news involving lots of shoes for october
(which shall forthwith be known as SHOETOBER!!! eeeeekk!!)

Fashion is for everyone.

Whether you're single in the city or a stay at home mum from the country...

we all have a passion for fashion!

Every Friday Lena & I will be co-hosting a fashion free-for-all linkup!

Anything fashion goes!

Link up your outfit posts, a fashion recap, a fashion wishlist, get your kids or hubby in on the fun... if you've got a passion for fashion, this is the place to be!

Celebrate your style with us every Friday!

We'll be pinning our favourite looks to our Passion for Fashion boards on Pinterest!

You can find the board HERE

Follow both hosts Lena and Me so we can come visit you!

If you could link back to us via text link or button and help spread the

Passion For Fashion word.

Then go visit, blog hop, follow and comment on all the fabulous ladies you are meeting!

Very Fancy Booties

Ever plan a whole outfit around a pair of shoes? That's exactly what i did with this outfit, worked from the bottom up. Nothing wrong with that i reckon, especially when the shoes are show stoppers like these babies!

These beautiful Daniel Footwear booties are the piece de resistance, i can see them being my fancy boot of choice all winter long. They will be great with super skinny jeans and even with tights for a night out. Studded entirely with silver round studs, they are just magnificent, i just couldn't stop looking down at my feet when i wore them and they most definitely put a spring in my step.

If you haven't figured out yet, i am very much a shoe gal.

I love shoes, always have,always will. After i had my son i kinda of stepped away from heels for a while and went to more practical shoes. But the past 12 months i have re found my love of heels and great shoes and have re built my collection. One can never have enough shoes right?!

Boots have been top of my agenda this month, wanting to gear myself up for the coming winter and these definitely tick the box.

As to the outfit i then matched up to the boots? Well the aztec skirt is a fairly recent purchase from New Look as is the boxy orange top but that was bought in the summer sale. Both bought on separate occasions but were like they were made for each other, love when that happens! I am very much looking forward to thick black tights and this skirt with a chunky knitted jumper through winter. But for now, we still have this freakishly warm weather to deal with so i dared to bare the legs again before hibernating them for winter;)

If you're wondering, this is the the Ancient Wonders Necklace which i currently am besotted with (for this week, haha it changes regularly)

If you're also wondering about my cray-cray hair i think it was channelling Diana Ross that day. There just seemed to be no taming it! Thank god for hats ;)

aren't they beeauutiful!

Boots : c/o Daniel Footwear

Skirt Hat & Top: New Look

Ancient Wonders necklace : Yosa

So i have my fancy winter boots sorted i am now on the look out for knee high boot or possibly over the knee?

Do you have your eye on any fabulous boots for this winter? Do share so i can go have a nosey and share your shoe love too!

How to wear Boyfriend Jeans 3 Ways

For Genes for Jeans day the lovely people at Bonprix set some bloggers a challenge.

1 pair of jeans, 3 ways.

I decided to go for a boyfriend style jean as they are my all time favourite style. I love dressing them up and down and the versatility they provide.

So with my jeans in hand i started styling. I thought about every day life and the different scenario's i would be dressing for and settled on Sunday Casual, Office Smart, and Evening Out.

First up Sunday Casual style

Possibly my favourite this would be me more like me on the daily lately rather than just Sunday. Comfy ankle boots, light knit sweater and a biker jacket. This could also be called easy-peasy -comfy style.

Sweater: about 7 years old from primark!
Brown Biker jacket (from last year) & Tan Bag: New Look
Jeans: c/o Bonprix
Boots: co Duo
Rope, chain & Spike Necklace : Yosa

Secondly

Office Smart Style

I wanted to encompass a smart outfit as even though the boyfriend jean is quite a relaxed style, i just love the juxtaposition between smart and casual. Whenever the dress code says smart-casual this in my mind is the epitome of that exact phrase.
The jeans work well when paired with a smart blouse and blazer. Perfect for office's that are smart/ casual or an appointment where you want to appear pulled together (even if underneath you're like me, a bumbling hot mess;)

Snakeskin Shoes & Bag: Primark
Jeans same as above
Blouse River Island
Purple Pleasures Necklace: Yosa

And Finally

Evening Out Style

For this 3rd and finally style i wanted to show an evening look, something like drinks with the girls or a meal out with the hubby. I added in a kimono and some super red shoes and a slick of red lipstick for a stylish yet comfy evening look

Kimono & Black vest top: f&F (old)
Red Shoes: c/o Daniel Footwear
Clutch: Peacocks
Boyfriend Jeans: c/o Bonprix

So there we have it 1 pair of jeans 3 ways.

Which way is your favourite?

And do you own a pair of Boyfriend jeans, do you love them like i do?

Let me know in the comments below, i love to hear your thoughts!

Casual Friday (& Passion4Fashion Link Up)

Casual Fridays are always a good idea in my eyes. I have been working a lot from home of this week and had appointments etc so casual has been the dress code. Boyfriend jeans have been my jean of choice this week. I had a trip to Sainsbury's earlier this week and picked up these lovely jeans and patent brogues.. its love! And yes another supermarket purchase, i know i know. I blatently can't be trusted in any supermarket. I ahve to say Sainsbury's had some pretty swell things there (shame you can't buy online though i say!)
So at this time of year i totally, full-on crush on burgundy. It was the colour to be in last winter and i'm happy to see that its definitely around again this year. What's great is that is seems to work well for this icky weird transitional phase we're in right now and also gives me my autumnal fix all at the same time. Speaking of Autumnal have you seen? Starbucks have Pumpkin spice back! ohh mmmyy pumpkin! Bring. it. on.
So back to the outfit, with the boyfriend jeans and loafers i just paired a pretty floral top that i've had since last year and this long line maxi (ish) fine knit cardigan, which gives the perfect amount of coverage in this aforementioned icky weird weather phase.
Finished off with a Primark special burgundy little double handle (big this season) bag, and the beautiful intricate Pretty Posey necklace in green that's all kinds of wonderful.. and there we have it..Simple but happy and comfy.
Happy Casual Friday all!

Bag: Primark

Pretty Poesy Necklace : Yosa (don't forget free delivery on all UK orders with code: FREEUKSHIP and half off all international with code: INTSHIPOFFER

Jeans & Loafers :Sainsbury's

Cardigan & Top: New Look

OOo by the way my BBFF Catherine is hosting a Yosa giveaway, with 2 lucky winners getting the item of their choice. Be sure to go enter here!!

Now it's time to link up ladies!

Fashion is for everyone.

Whether you're single in the city or a stay at home mum from the country...

we all have a passion for fashion!

Every Friday Lena & I will be co-hosting a fashion free-for-all linkup!

Anything fashion goes!

Link up your outfit posts, a fashion recap, a fashion wishlist, get your kids or hubby in on the fun... if you've got a passion for fashion, this is the place to be!

Celebrate your style with us every Friday!

We'll be pinning our favourite looks to our Passion for Fashion boards on Pinterest!

You can find the board HERE

Follow both hosts Lena and Me so we can come visit you!

If you could link back to us via text link or button and help spread the

Passion For Fashion word.

Then go visit, blog hop, follow and comment on all the fabulous ladies you are meeting!

Kimono Trend for Autumn (and photo-bombed by a cow!)

I have loved the Kimono trend this summer. I find them so elegant and pretty, plus they make the perfect lightweight jacket.
I've recently read that Kimono's are staying around for the autumn season too, which surprised me(in a pleasant way) as i kind of associate them more with a spring/summer type trend, but I've found in darker hues of blues and reds they can add a wonderful little spark to an outfit. I'm picturing in winter an all black outfit, perhaps with a high neck fine knit sweater and a splash of lovely colour with a kimono.
This particular kimono is from the lovely people at F&F, we've all established by now how much of my wages gets spent with them each month, right? Its just too irresistible!
After browsing the Inspire-me page with lots of lovely ladies i then turned to The Autumn Winter Hit list which i found very handy ( i didn't realise how much lovely inspiration they had on the website up until now!).
It points out all the trends this coming season and some suggestions.... I was sold on the kimono's.
So this lovely little outfit came together. I had a birthday meal and drinks to attend for my manager and this outfit worked out perfectly, we sat in the sun of a Sunday afternoon sipping sangria. It was wonderful!

Excuse the tired face.. it had been a long weekend!
Prior to lovely drinks & food at Cardiff Bay it had been a party of 26 four year olds at a play gym for Neo's Birthday party (which was fab), exhaustion is clearly making an appearance on ma face!

Have you spotted the multiple cow photo-bombs? They just snuck up on me, i didn't even hear them the little(big?) sneaks! Kind of fun thought, it's like a game of Where's Wally haha!