Aztec and Leopard Print

Just as i stepped out to take these photos the heavens opened.. you can actually see the rain in the photos if you look closely enough. That's dedication folks... or just plain crazy blogger-ness. I know its traditional to have showers in April, but i'm already done with rain.. please weather God's don't let this persist for the rest of the month, its almost unbearable. 

With the shops selling all the pretty spring-summer trends, it almost feels like some kind of torture. 

Like 'look at all these pretties you just can't wear 'cos you live in a stupidly wet country'.. its just not fair  i tell you (ok strop over, i promise).

Speaking of trends, for the past few summers some of the major design/prints have been tribal/aztec, this summer there's the addition of the 'Out of Africa' trend, think exotic animal prints, textures and utility dresses. It's the 'I've just come off a glamorous safari' look. And i for one love it. If you've been reading RTH a while you will know that i am a total animal print convert. I have gone from don't like at all, to gimme all the animal print there is! You only have to flip through a copy of Vogue to see Dolce and Gabbana's Out of Africa adverts and you realise this is going to be a hot trend this summer. 

New Look, Asos and Peter Hahn have a whole section on their site for Out of Africa style pieces, with lots of great prints.

 Blazer: F&F

Bag, Jeans & Hat: New Look (jeans ripped by moi haha)

Shoes: Marks and Spencer

Here i've gone for a bit of tribal and incorporated my little bit of africa with my gorgeous leopard print shoes. I really fancy one of those utility khaki dresses for summer too, with some gladiator sandals...
Oh warm weather, please come soon!

 So tell me, what prints will you be rocking this Spring Summer? 

Tribal, Safari or just straight up florals?

Orange Blazer

 This beautifully bright blazer was a lovely mothers day gift as picked by my boys from last weekend. I love love love it. Obnoxiously bright as it is i  can't help but be cheery in it. I wasn't sure if this outfit was a bit autumnal with the orange and greens but, who cares right (the season police possibly?), i think the brightness of the emerald green against the sharpness of the orange is a great combination, whatever the season. I have SO many outfits planned with this orange blazer. Who knew, orange is a really versatile colour to remix things up with! I am on a total blazer craze right now, i had this one and another tribal print one (coming to a post soon, im sure!) for mothers day (perk of the trade heh!) and i literally can't stop wearing them with skinny jeans, boyfriend jeans and different colour tops. It's just so easy to get out on time and look fairly pulled together, all thanks to a blazer. Blazers mean business and look the business and that is an easy-peasy formula i can totally do.

Blazer: Gift but from F&F

Top: Next (very old)

Coated Skinny Jeans: New Look

Clutch: Matalan (old)

Shoes: c/o Lotus

Hat: Topshop (last summer)

Are you a blazer fan?

Meet Linda (& Passion For Fashion Link Up!)

Today i have the absolute pleasure of making an introduction to you.
Meet the lovely Linda of A Labour of Life

(I'm in the bold and Lindas replies are in normal type)

So Linda when did you start blogging?

Officially August 20, 2013 just a newbie ( although I created my blog account in 2008 and did one diet post,  not meant to write about diets I guess)

What was your reason for starting your blog?

I was filling up instagram with outfit and shoe posts and thought some friends and family were getting feed up, and then I stumbled across a lifestyle blog written by a university Chum and thought, this may be the better way to go, although sadly I have resumed filling up my instagram feed with OOTD's

For those of us who haven't yet visited your lovely blog, tell us a bit about your corner of the web.

I am a Life and Style blogger because Lifestyle doesn't quite fit nor does fashion.  I love to write about all aspects of my life including crafts, food and travel. I have a large focus on what I am wearing and all my posts usually include an outfit but I rarely ever just post an outfit without a story.  I like to think my blog is your place to go to see how life is elsewhere. 

So if i were to travel across the pond to come visit what would we most likely do? 

We would have a shoe and hat Modelling Marathon, and then we would sit around and chat about Travel and clothes and blogs and families. 

Amazing.. next plane please;)

What are you most favourite blogs to read? 

Living in Yellow, Two Thirds Hazel, Not dressed as Lamb, Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Freckled Fox, Venus Trapped in Mars, Rachel the Hat,  just to name a few.

Where do you find inspiration? 

All around me, in blogs, in TV, in magazines,

Your favourite place in all the world? 

In the summer,  My Backyard, I love my yard and in the winter anywhere warm, Mexico, the Caribbean. but I do love the Mayan Riviera too

.

Lovely isn't she.. be sure to swing by her wonderful life and style blog here and say hi!

 

Ladies Day & Hats

It's that time of year again where Ladies day at the races are happening. I've mentioned previously my love for Ladies Day at the races, what with the hats and  the perfect reason to get all dressed up. But did you know there's actually Ladies Day Etiquette? With ladies day possibly dating back as far as 1711 with Queen Anne, i think its very important to keep up the show old chap! 

Things like, don't bare all, don't wear a white long dress and don't overdo it on the champers are all just so historically you can't help but love it. I think a bit of tradition in an ever advancing and changing world is good and also, did i mention such great fun!

Not many times in life do you get to go by the rule of thumb; the bigger the hat the better, but with Ladies day, bring on the hats! Oh yes, hats, fascinator's or any fabulous head-wear goes at this event.

And here's what i would wear:

ladies day by rachel-the-hat featuring high heel shoes

Coast pink dress, $250 / Coast high heel shoes, $92 / Coast snake chain necklace, $58 / Satin mix trench coat | Luxury Women's outerwear | Karen Millen, $460 / Cutwork metallic clutch | Luxury Women's OccasionWear | Karen Millen, $185 / All Accessories | Yellows STRUCTURED BOW HAT | Coast Stores Limited, $75


I am loving the contrast between the yellow and the coraly-pink. It's a fun and funky combo. And the fascinator.. aggh... does it get any better? A huge yellow bow! Uh-maze-ing!!
Add to that a beautiful satin Trench coat for the unpredictable British weather and some statement jewels and i would be hot to trot, going the comfy and classy route rather than the the Valleys cast last year..ahem... say no more.

What would you wear to rub shoulders with celebs at Ladies Day?
Would you dare to wear a REALLY big hat?


*collaborative post but all hat views are obviously very much my own ;-)