Summer Jeans Edit

Oh jeans, jeans, jeans. 

They're never far away in any season, are they? Even in the height of summer, jeans in some way shape or form will be on rotation.

I think if i counted the days of the year that i actually wear denim, whether that me in jean form, dress or shorts, it would probably equate to 80% of the year.

So with it being summer there are a few pairs making this season go along without a hitch.

These are the jeans on my Summer Jeans Edit

Boyfriend Jeans:

Loose fitting and a bit airy, these are with me every season. I love the idea of them with some blue heels too.. note to self, pull out your electric blue heels and pair with a white tee, statement necklace and boyfriend jeans! Happy days! 

White jeans:

A definite summer essential. I love mine ripped and ankle length. Such a great blank canvas for pairing with so many options. Great for those chilly mornings that are sunny but not quite reaching leg baring weather also. You still feel summery but not chilly.

Monochrome is my favourite look with white jeans right now, add in a black blazer, cami and heels and that is one chic jeans look.

Flares

This seasons current must have cut and style. I have a pair but i don't love them (not enough flare and bordering on bootcut..shudder..) But with the right amount of flare these can be the perfect cut for summer. Just add a floaty boho top and a fringe bag and you are ticking all the summer '15 trend boxes.

Distressed Skinny Jeans

My constant companion, the ripped skinny jean. I just love the juxtapostion between torn and distressed and a smart breton top. Add in a trench and statement necklace and you've got my all time favourite outfit (and currently what i'm wearing right now)

 Short shorts
I say if you've got it flaunt it. In the height of the summer, there is nothing nicer than a teeny pair of shorts on a long hot day, throw in some converse or some sandals and these will make your legs feel as free as a bird

Long Shorts
I actually like the slightly longer length denim shorts for myself. I think i will keep my cellulite intact and feel light and airy and just as free in these as i would micro shorts. The thing i love about shorts is the freedom of movement they permit.
Playing football with the kiddoes, no problem, paddling in the sea, sure thing, running after your dog who refuses to come when called, all possible in a good old pair of shorts.

All jeans above are available at House Of Fraser

So those are my summer jeans.

What are your summer jeans must haves?

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

Summer Look for Under £50 (& Passion4Fashion Linkup)

I love a bargain. And i Love a challenge.
So when the good people at Think Money posed the challenge to me: "A Summer Look for £50", well i sure jumped at it.
Being quite the savvy shopper i knew this could be done. I love a bargain and so started my hunt for a full outftit for £50.
With it being summer, i find it a lot easier to dress and look nice for less. First off we're talking of a lot less layers than those cold winter months making my 50 quid outfit much more attainable.
Secondly, at this time of year a great summer dress maketh the outfit, that really should be like some sort of summer proverb( maybe one day when i'm long gone, young people of style will quote me on that,haha!).
Basically all i needed was a fabulous dress, low enough in price to still be able to get shoes and a bag but yet be a show stopper in its own right..
And ladies did i find one. I stopped in House of Fraser, where i could spend my allocated Love to Shop Vouchers and headed straight to the Warehouse section, knowing so far this summer, they had done me well.
Their latest dress most certainly stole my dress lovin' heart. It was instant love. I knew i would be able to dress it up or down, so a summers day with flats (a la above) or paired with some heels and a clutch for night to give a low key smart summer look.
The Warehouse dress is £32.00 so taking up a huge chunk of my budget. But where there's a will there's a way, and so off i trotted to a cheap and cheerful favourite haunt of mine.
New Look is great for that instant hit of on trend goods, when you don't want to spend a great deal.
There i found these cheap and surprisingly comfy T-Bar gold and tan sandals for a whopping £7.99, which since last week i have worn loads, cost per wear will soon be pennies i'm sure.
Then finally finished my look off with a gold clutch bag for just shy of a tenner.
All in all i got my full outfit for £49.98.
Challenge complete. Oh Yes!
And i really really love it. Its another corker of a dress from Warehouse (i told you i'm trouble), but they keeping bringing it and i keep buying it. It can't be helped.
Especially when you can get a whole summer outfit for less than £50.00.
So how d'you think i did?

Do you have a summer dress that's just an instant outfit maker?
Could you create an outfit for £50? 
Be sure to go check out the other Summer Looks for £50

 And kisses and cuddles and piccies with my boy.. absolutely priceless ;) love 'im

An InLinkz Link-up

H&M Summer Dresses FTW

I binge shop at H&M.  I'll go a couple of months without buying anything and then place a big order: big being 3 dress and 4 tops on sale, which i don't think the whole lot came to more than 60 quid. But yes, a nice bundle of goodies arrived which i was most impressed with. If you've shopped at H&M before you will know their sizes are a little bizarre. Bizarre in that there is no continuity. At.All.

But i took a wild stab at it and everything turned out well (this time, i've also been known to send 90% back!) 

So in my bundle of goodies came this cotton weave, striped dress. It's just so perfect for a summery day. It's light and airy and has stripes. How beautiful would it look on say, the island of Zakynthos, amongst the white washed walls and the little blue shutters. Perfect is what it would look. But alas i am not going anywhere remotely close to the Greek islands this year. Its another British summer for me. But at least i have pretty dresses like this to make me feel better.

Also in that order i got a couple more shirt dresses, which i am more than sure you will be seeing soon, because as we all probably know by now, i am a leetle obsessed with shirt dresses. That is until the UK has a freak heatwave and sleeves seem like torture. But once those high temperatures inevitably dip back down i will be ready with my shirt dresses once again. 

I paired my stripe dress with my comfy-hardly-left-my-feet Boden lace-up flats(which are on sale!) and my gorgeous Navy Radley bag for a smarter summer look. I reckon the dress would still look fab thrown over a bikini (not on me however) with some little sandals and tan bag.

Then of course i finished off with a super favourite necklace from the shop: The Colour Pop Collar. So much fun in a necklace. Orange, yellows and blue, its like a party for my neck, Hahaa!

This Dress: H&M
Exact Shoes: Boden
exact Radley Bag (which i've also found out you can personalise.. i LOVE this idea!)
Colour Pop Collar Necklace
Bracelet

Have you shopped in H&M lately and found any gems? 
Or do you have any current favourite summer dresses?