My Favourite Dress (& #Passion4Fashion Linkup)

About a month ago i mentioned the dress i had been cyber stalking in hope that i would get my grubby little mitts on it, and my stalker skills paid off as it ended up being mine.
And for once I am so grateful for my website lurking expertise. I have worn this dress twice a week since i got it. I just love it.
Comfy, neutral so easy to remix with other pieces and it has pockets..
is that or is that not the most perfect dress? It is for me, so much so that I have also ordered the Khaki version to wear the life out of as well, 'cos quite frankly this one needs a breather (and a wash) so the khaki will be added to my rotation.
I'm looking forward to wearing it with bare legs come the warmer days, but for today i mixed a little navy with this Laura Ashley trench and navy boots. I've also worn it with my biker jacket, with a long  maroon cardigan and with a long black coat... I wasn't lying when I said I've been wearing it a lot.
And when I invest in a dress I make sure I get my monies worth.. so far so good anyway.

Dress: Whistles
Boots: F&F
Navy Trench
Bag: Michael Kors
Necklace

Have you invested any dresses lately?

An InLinkz Link-up

The Perfect Dress for a Wedding (and more)

I love a good wedding as much as the next girl, but there is a couple of things i dislike.
Firstly the stress we go through before hand trying to find the perfect outfit (Just me?).. I went through 4 completely different outfits before finally settling on this one.
Secondly, i don't go to a lot of formal events, weddings etc. So for me to have a beautiful and potentially expensive dress just sat there after the event kind of irriates the b'jesus out of me.
If i'm investing my well earned cashola in to a dress, then it needs to me somewhat functionable in my wardrobe and not put in storage with the other 'occasion frocks' never to be looked at again, apart from to reminice over what a lovely day' xxx 'was.
So i trawled and trawled and trawled and scoured the web high and low. I went to my usual haunts and i also went to some different for me shops.
Nothing felt right.
Until 4 days before i was browsing the Wedding Guest section on Asos and i stumbled across this beautiful dress. I instantly loved the colour, i've totally got a thing for teal, i liked the fuller skirt as apposed to straight and clingy- a 3 course meal and multiple drinks will make this belly pop out like a 6 month gone pregnant lady- so floaty rather than clingy also ticked the boxes.
The V neckline i find is uber flattering and perfect for showcasing some wedding style bling a la Yosa.
So with next day delivery i bought it.
And finally, FINALLY i freakin' LOVED it.

The Dress is from Whistles via asos (here) and is worth every penny.
The fabric hangs beautifully, Its elegant and comfy yet i can actually see versatility with a pair of sandals and a little jacket. Heck, I'm actually excited to wear it again! I've just washed it and it's drying as i type (there was a lipstick stain from my clumsy/tipsy accident.. i had lipstick on my glass and then accidentally rubbed my glass on my boob.. d'oh. what a plonker, but hey i was quite a few glasses of rose/champers/pimms to the wind so all was fine.. )
So anyway, back to the outfit, this was just after the amazing wedding breakfast (3 course beautiful meal) and even though there's a giant food baby under there, nobody was any the wiser due to the excellent cut and fabric of the dress.

I paired the dress with some grey and silver accessories. I borrowed the facinator and pashmina off a friend which worked out perfectly, it went well with the dress and it meant i didn't have to invest in something i wouldn't necessarily wear again.

Shoes and purse were bought an hour before the wedding.. last minute Rachel , as always.
A sparkly box clutch bag which was actually really annoying, as you couldn't fit anything in it for, y'know girly makeup provisions, and it was annoying to open (again made even harder due to the aforementioned multiple drinkies,lol)

The shoes were on sale for £15 and are actually a low block heel.. controversial for me, especially for a wedding, usually i go for a super high, super schexy heel.
But for this wedding where we were there from 12.00, i knew i wanted comfort as well as something purddy.
I found these mid block heels with a silver simple band across the toes and a light snakeskin effect to the heel and strap. They added a bit of interest and were beyond comfy.. seriously, i think i'm a mid heel convert (that and i fear i may be be getting old.. old but comfy at least).
Also being a tally plus a fascinator and add in any large heel would have made me tower above everyone (including most men) making me look like a giant.. giant style is not my thing.

The necklace just set everything off perfectly. How much is this Crystal Clear Collar made for weddings? It just brought the whole outfit together and finished it off with some pizazz. I loved it.

Smooches and selfies with Mr Rachel the Hat haha ;)

 And lastly , one picture of me and the beautiful bride. Hayley has been one of my most dearest freinds for the past 12 years. We have so many memories together and have really been through so much together. I can't even begin to tell you how overwhlemingly happy i was to see her getting married to such a great guy.
Plus she looked stunning ( I cried, like a baby when she walked down the isle ).

 

So there we have it, the perfect wedding look, all last minute and all verstaile to be worn again!
Have you got any special occasions this year?

Shop the wedding look

Matalan Style Project

Well helloooo lovelies. How have you been? I've not blogged since last Thursday and it already feels like an age. Moving is in full swing and i am absolutely shattered! More about that later. 

Today i have the absolute pleasure of being part of The Matalan Style Project.

Each month 4 bloggers are given a £50 budget to style an outfit to a certain theme, this month i was chosen with 3 other wonderful ladies and the theme was China Blue. I chose this dress and paired it with these boots and my own denim jacket (which also happened to be from matalan!) 

I am absolutely loving boots and dresses right now. This is something i would wear all summer. The dress actually surprised me when it arrived as it is an absolute dream on, with a comfy stretch waistband and a lovely flowy material.

 Oh my word it was soooo windy up here on the mountain and really cold. Can we just pretend for a moment that its actually Spring, please? And while we're pretending lets pretend that those milk bottle legs up there arent a shade of Casper white can we? Aww thanks;-)

This style project is actually a competition ,so if you would like to be so kind and put a vote my way (which would enable my shopping habit as the prize is a £50 Matalan voucher and i'm already eyeing up this little beauty) that would be simply wonderful. All you have to do is click HERE and scroll down to the comments and leave a comment voting Rachel The Hat. Simple...
Muchos Muchos Gracias!!!

 So we are currently smack bang in the middle of our upheval and mid move to our new house. Its going ok... ok because, well we have the keys and have started decorating, but not great because we still have so much to actually move. I'm getting a little antsy living amongst boxes and between 2 houses. This morning i couldn't find my jeans...anywhere.. So stressful i threw a small hissy fit and then proceeded to find them in a pile on the floor.. opsy.. So yes, i may be away again for a few more days whilst i sort this mess of moving out.  I can not wait to be back in to a normal routine again!

Wishing you a wonderful week! And i shall be back very soon i hope!
Oh and don't forget  Vote Rachel ;-)
xxxx

Red

Happy Monday Folks! Another weekend, gone, so quickly!

I had a lovely relaxing weekend. If we're friends on Instagram you may have seen that i am the proud new owner of a sewing machine. My sis came down to assist me on Saturday as she's quite the pro and we potched about with it. And then.... Then i was on my own with it. And now i'm scared of it! I need to do some reading up i think as it is not coming naturally let me tell you. But i've only had the thing 2 days, we just don't know each other well enough yet. So i'm booking us a 2hour date together this afternoon to get to know one another better. Wish me luck!

Vintage 1960's Dress Via Ebay seller: Retro Rainbow Vintage (she has some AMAZING well priced pieces)
Brooch: Vintage
Daps & hair tie: New Look
Bag: Chelsea Girl range at River Island (on major sale)

I flippin' love this dress. It came with the most amazing vintage elastic white and red belt which, on the day of wearing  the dress, little to my knowledge, my son had stashed the belt away in his toy box. I was so sad!! But alas mama bear has found the belt and restored to its rightful place.
Even hubby looked up and smiled and passed a positive comment on this dress which never happens ;)
And the shoes. Do you call these daps? Or what? My mum used to buy us these when we were kids, the cheap mans trainers. She wouldn't buy us the top notch, fancy pants trainers all my friends were wearing, we had daps... and now i've gone full circle back to the daps. And my my they are comfy! Maybe you were on to something mum?? (hiii by the way mum, i know you're a lurker reading this xx)
And is it me or are my legs getting whiter? Seriously,  i'm going to be translucent soon. Come on Britain, show us some sun!

Ok lovelies, have yourselves a lovely week! I'll let you know how my sewing endeavours go...
xxx

Monday Mingle is ovthe Lovely Momtrendser at

Friday Five Fav's

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE, I think i can say we officially made it to another weekend, fairly unscathed. 
I'm looking forward to a fabulous weekend. Tomorrow we are painting bags from a tutorial from this lovely blog. Seeing as the UK now has a 5p charge on every carrier bag(even when buying clothes or fast food! Craziness!) I thought now would be the perfect time to get organised, get my bags ready and obviously that involves making them puuurrddyy:)

With the absence of piccies for you today (hubby has pulled a muscle playing golf bless him) I thought I'd show you my Friday Five Fav's:
1.

New Look currently has a fantastic sale on. I got this dress in store for £9.00! I liked it when it was £29.99 but didn't buy it. I love it now it was only £9! Looking forward to showing it. I think it needs a nice belt. Suggestions on a postcard.

2.

I finally got round to having my peepers sorted on Monday. I am as blind as a bat and wear contact lenses constantly. When i had neo i don't think i took them about for about 7months! Horrendous!(i also did definitely not mention that to my Optition) Anyway, I've needed new glasses for a while as my currents are scratched to high heaven. I was so pleased with the new Gok Wan range at Specsavers! They have a little retro twist which i love and i also got a new Karen Millen pair also on BOGOF, YAY :)

3.

I have serious lust for these boots from Very. Practical, Smart and i really fancy pairing with a classic trench/mac or a tweed style jacket. They should also see me nicely through the winter... maybe payday.

4.

I have a bit of an addiction to scarves and this one would make me happy.. Vintage and price cut! Now also only £9
Devoted to Vintage have some wonderful items.

5. 

Last but by no means least, this vintage Fisher Price farm. What can i say, its a classic! It holds a special place in my heart as i remember playing with the exact same farm as a child. I think Neo may still be a tad young for it, but I'm contemplating it anyway (more for me really, i wanna see those cute little animals again)

I also have some amazing things on order from this lovely lady Really looking forward to showing those to you once they arrive.

Wishing you a fabulous weekend!

Rachel x o x

Wardrobe Wednesday(late as it's now Thursday)

Well Wednesday came and went and in my usual fashion, I am late, fashionably late though!
Have been working away hard here on cash flow forecasts and profit and losses and bathing baby and playing stacking cups.  A completely varied week from the insanely stressful to the sublimely satisfying!
Here's my Wednesday outfit:

Being a mum I have had to learn to sleep standing up.

"I feel Pretty, oh so pretty..."

I do like a nice arm party!

Dress from next
Bracelets from Newlook
Bag, belt and shoes are old.

This  dress here is one of my first A/W 11 purchases that I'm looking forward to layering come the colder months, wait, what am I saying, it already is cold!! Good old Welsh weather. Please excuse the white legs, welsh weather also equals milk bottles!
 I have to admit, I did not actually wear this dress as is, I had to add black leggings. Leggings are my safety net, its cold and I could only find one stocking  and last winters tights were all in a great knotted bundle.

Are you having a nice week?
So far this is how my Wednesday  looked:

I have just started cooking again, a passion of mine that seemed to die a death once Neo came along. But I am totally back in the cooking zone. The above was a Jamie Oliver Mushroom Risotto.
Thank you Mr. O you're risotto was outstanding!

Got some more nice outfits to post soon, so will hopefully see you shortly!
Please check out this fabulous momma who has a great hop that I plan to hop along with!



and also