Joe Browns Dress

So remember the other day i mentioned I've been loving the 1940's era lately and also watched a string of Rachel McAdams films? Well that inevitably included The Notebook. In my honest opinion one of the best films, ever. And it may not be what the cool kids are watching (i never did make it in to the cool gang,haha!) but to me it is just such a beautiful story! I can never watch that film enough! And plus Noah is well, perfect.LOL!

A couple of weeks ago Joe Browns contacted me and asked if i would like to try something out of their new range. I shopped at Joe Browns quite a lot a couple of years ago and then they fell off my radar for a while, so i jumped at the chance to try something out once again.

The dress i chose was Soaring The Sky Jersey Dress. As soon as i saw it it reminded me of Allie Hamilton's in The Notebook in this scene :

You see? Beautiful huh?! (the dress that is ... stop looking at Ryan now ladies ;-)

The old school glam, vintage style with the red lip and the curled hair just add to the whole ambience of this beautiful outfit. She looks fab and the outfit was perfection. 

And so this was my take on it.

I actually wore this for my birthday on Monday (before i fell down the stairs), i wore it all day out for coffees and then out with hubby. It is a lovely stretchy comfy material with lots of give and lots of comfort, but in my eyes, that doesn't detract from the beauty of the dress! It was a complete pleasure to wear!

Dress and red vest underneath peeping through: Joe Browns

Tights: Primark

Cardi: River Island about 3 years ago

Shoes: New Look

I wanted to look a bit glam that day, being my birthday and all, so i added the pretty bow tights and the little red cardi for a ladylike vintage look.

I'm really looking forward to remixing this dress with some boots, socks and thick tights and a leather jacket, giving it an edgier look could be real fun! i think it will soon become a wardrobe staple for me, a dress i will definitely be going back to time and time again.

 Have you ever shopped at Joe Browns? I love their funky alternative dresses and tunics, I love that they have a lot of different things to what is on the high street.  I think i may be adding this and this to my Christmas list and leave Santa a note to say i've been extra good this year ;)

A Casual Day..

Happy 1st of December to you all! Hope you're bringing in this festive month in a lovely way today!

We went to Neo's nursery Christmas production, but unfortunately Neo cried the whole way through and wouldnt stay on the stage... don't think he's a natural performer lol!
Its also been rather eventful here as we've had our first proper cold snap with a beautiful covering of frost in the mornings. Driving in to work the fields look stunning. But with frost comes trouble! In my little town a major water pipe burst and we are on day 2 of no water! Its been crazy! Last night i did a late night dash to the shop to get water and supplies and today they have had truck loads of bottled water being delivered to each street effected... oh how i long for a nice hot shower! Not having it has really made me appreciate having it! If you have water today (which im guessing you will!) have a nice hot shower for me won't you?!

So today i bring you a reeeaally simple outfit. I'm not even sure if its blog worthy but i just really liked it's simplicity. I have been on a Rachel McAdams film run lately completely unintentionally , she just so  happens to be in a few of my favourite films (The Notebook, The Time Travellers Wife and The Family Stone). 

In The Time Travellers Wife , she wore this kind of outfit in the scene where he has been missing for a few weeks all over Christmas and she has to go to the gallery and tells Henry life doesn't stop now that he's back, and then they go on to win the lotto.  Its nothing special of an outfit but when i was watching it , i had one of those "hey i have items just like that" moments. And so the outfit was re created. I tried sourcing a pic of it but there wasn't a full length, best one was here where you can only see the top half. Hopefully  you get the idea.. have you seen The Time Travellers Wife?  

I don't wear this coat enough! Paul bought it for me a couple Christmases ago and i just love it, it twirls so beautifully and the tan colour goes with just about everything. My coat collection is getting a leetttle out of control. Anyone else have a thing for coats? No more additions this Christmas thats for sure!
Speaking of Christmas we are doing are Tree and decorations tomorrow! I can't wait! I love putting the dec's up! And the obligatory Elf watching will be taking place! Its my favourite :-) "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear". Me and Paul quote Elf lines all year round haha! our favourites are "he's an angry elf" and "Do you need a Hug" hahaha!!

 So, Monday marks the date of my 28th birthday.. crazy! i can't get over how quickly the past 28 years have gone, especially the past 10! I can remember my 18th like it was yesterday!! Compared to my 18th (which was a 4 day long celebration!), i think it will be just a quiet one this year with my nearest and dearest. Oh and cake of course!  I shall see you on the other side lovelies! where i shall me another digit older!

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins : last year

Coat: Gift from Paul, but from Next

Black Turtle neck: George at Asda

Mustard Jeans: Clothing at tesco

Lands' End Coat

Image by the talented Natalie Lines

 Lands' End are launching their Autumn/ Winter campaign and i had the pleasure, alongside some other fabulous bloggers, of trying one of their beautifully made Cire Down Coats from the Ladies Coats section.

 I have to say this is one of the best coats i have ever worn. The first thing i noticed was the quality and how well made it is. There are pockets on pockets with fleecy lining, a removable hood and removable fur, belt and double zip and popper fastening to keep that cold out.
I thought i'd give it the best possible test run and take it up to the highest point in Llantrisant, where the wind was howling and the temperature was 5 degrees Celsius. And d'you know what? I was toasty warm... seriously, really warm! I have never actually owned a coat that has kept the cold out so well. Most of my coats have previously been "fashion" type jackets which means i usually moan within 10 minutes of being outside. But The Cire Down felt so great on and looked as good as any fashion type coat i own.

 The Down coat is proven to be one of the warmest coats on the market, with its thermodynamic properties it can with stand severe cold which in my eyes makes it the perfect winter coat. I hate being cold so this solves all my problems as it enables me to still wear all my favourite dresses through winter, which makes this dress wearing gal, very happy!

This coat is so warm it didn't need a scarf or a hat as the hood is the largest snuggliest i have ever had the pleasure of covering my head with. I felt like the warmest Eskimo with it on!
I've worn mine here with a simple dress and a pop of colour with the tights, which is one of my favourite go-to combos.
The wonderful thing with this coat is its versatility. I will quite happily be wearing my skinny jeans with blouses or funky knitwear underneath. Pops of colour look great and add interest to the colour palette, so any coloured jean/trouser would look fabulous. Ankle booties, tights and skirts are also another go-to for me and thankfully this coat will keep me warm whilst wearing them. It also has a sports luxe feel so i think  it would look amazing with a pair of wedge hi top trainers that are everywhere this winter.

This is probably one of my favourite spots, as i've mentioned a few times before. Hardly anyone travels the 10minutes from the town up to this point, but in my eyes it's so worth it for the views and the peace. Every time i come here the view is different, whether it be due to the weather or the changing ever evolving roads. You can see all the cars scurrying around like ants travelling from one destination to another, always in a rush to where they need to be. Its nice to  stop and stare for a while.

Have you or do you own a Down Coat? I would definetly buy one in future, but I've just read up that these coats last years and years and have serious longevity when looked after, which makes it even more of a great investment piece in my eyes!
If you would like to also see the other ladies styling of Lands's End coats they are:
Jen of A little Bird Fashion
Kat of Does My Bum Look 40
Ellie of Pretty Much Penniless
Amanda of The Online Stylist

*The lovely people at Lands' End kindly sent me this coat to review and commissioned me to contribute to their Lands' End outerwear guide and i was super happy to help*

this weeks linky communities:

New Specs..

GlassesUSA.com recently contacted me to see if i would like to review a set of their specs.  So off i popped over to their website where i had a lovely look around their website at all the choices available. After being ever so indecisive and wanting to pick 6 pairs of glasses from their aptly named retro/nerdy section i settled on these:

 The whole outfit was inspired by the retro cats eye shape glasses. That and I've been watching a lot of old films lately, I'm just loving the 40's and 50's right now and the lady like way the women dressed back then. Don't get me wrong i love a good jeans day but back then ladies really made an effort everyday.. i mean that's dedication! Some days i roll out of bed and throw on the cleanest least creased jeans i can find and call it an outfit, lol!  But on the days where i can find the time i just love making that little bit of extra effort and it makes me feel so glam!

 Dress & cardi: Very old

Shoes: Hush puppies

Black lined tights: River Island

  ....   Buy Glasses ....

 The glasses arrived in 2 days all the way from America, here to the UK. I was very impressed, and for prescription glasses they came to my precise requirements. With the help of their on-line mirror (below) it makes for ordering glasses a much better experience!!

Have you ever ordered eyeglasses on line? I would highly recommend!

*i was gifted these glasses for review and they most definitely get a thumbs up from me!