Rachel the Hat

Friday, 16 May 2014

Pretty Warehouse Summer Dress (And Passion4Fashion Link Up!)

Warehouse is a brand i have been buying since i started earning a wage. It is a brand i love year after year and love to buy special pieces from each seasons release. I have collected a lot of Warehouse Dresses over the years as this store is by go-to for pretty frocks.

The dress I was wearing when i my now-husband and I first kissed was a beautiful Warehouse dress that i still own ( I always remember these things, special outfits; what i was wearing for those occasions, and that was before the immortalising wonder that is Instagram!)

I remember a few years back I was attending a big Italian wedding shindig, and well i wanted to look amazing. After a day out shopping in Bath and going to every store you could think of i found my beautiful dress in Warehouse of course, and i still have it and still love it as much(even though its about 2 sizes to big haha!)

So when a brand like this asked if I would like to pick a dress, well i sure as heck jumped at the chance.

I have to be honest, it took me forever to choose as there are just so many beautiful dresses!!!!

Tropical, tribal, neon and florals.

Maxi's, mini's and everything in between.

In the end, after much deliberation, i chose Midi Summer Dress due to the fact i thought i could get a lot of wear out if it this summer(hopefully).

Thankfully the weather has heard my plea's and little old Wales has been basking in the beautiful warm sunshine the past couple of days.

And so, enter the perfect dress....

The dress is SO dreamy (could i gush any more about it? Probably not haha!)
It's floaty, twirly and IT HAS POCKETS!
Ladies, it sure is a beauty!
Keeping it simple i added my staple summer denim jacket and a pop of red and i could not be happier, flicking my curls and my dress in the warm summery breeze.

Dress:c/o Warehouse

Jacket & Shoes: F&F

Necklace: New look

Ray-ban Aviators: c/o Sunglasses-Shop

Do you own any Warehouse pieces?

And do you have a brand that you just go back to year after year?

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!

{By the way, we would love for you to help us spread the word! }

Travel: Rome

I've mentioned this before (i think) that pre- children i loved to travel. My first proper job was a travel agent, then i had 10 years out and now I'm a travel agent again. One of the things about my job i love is looking through all the brochures and planning holidays for people. Whenever we're a bit quiet i always start planning my own holiday.
This year i turn the big 3-0 and to mark the occasion i want to go on a short break with the hubby.
A short European break is what i'm aiming for, but there are just so many amazing places to try.
For my 21st i went to New York, it's only right that for my 30th i mark the occasion with a fabulous city break.
Having been to Paris multiple times and travelled all over Spain i am thinking somewhere new for me, somewhere i have wanted to go for many many years, i am thinking of visiting Rome.

I mean just look at it, Its spectacular.

After a little reading and research here are the top 5 things i want to do whilst in Rome.

Trevi Fountain

The largest Baroque style fountain in the City, one of the worlds most famous fountains in the world. For luck throw in a coin with your right hand over your left shoulder. (apparently 3000 euros a day are collected and the city gives it back to those in need in the city)

The Colossuem

Right in the City centre is this magnificent piece of architecture. The largest amphitheatre of the Roman Empire and in fact the world, this amazing building is considered one of the greatest works of Roman Architecture. To walk the around this building and imagine the gladiatorial shows that it was used for would be spectacular.

The Vatican

The Vatican City, a state all unto its own. Having been brought up in Catholic schooling, reading many religious books and references over my years the Vatican is a stop i would have to make. The history, the architecture..need i say more?

The Spanish Steps

Some of the most famous steps in the world and the widest staircase in Europe. A great place to sit and people watch and enjoy the Bernini Fountain.

The Pantheon

all images via
The Pantheon is one of the best preserved Roman buildings, still in use as a church the rich historical ambiance fills of the whole area, Piazza della Rotunda.

Of course there are so many more things to see and do such as St. Peters Basilica, the Pyramid of Cestius the monument of Victor Emmanuell II and SO MUCH MORE.
Not to mention the gelato and the pasta. Having been to Italy once before (lake Garda) i can safely say there is now ice cream anywhere that is as good as Italian gelato.
The cuisine of Italy is my absolute favourite. To me the richness of their food reflects their culture with their flare and passion for life. Its second to none.
Have you ever been to Rome? Is there anything you would recommend that i must not miss?
If you haven't ever been, have i tempted you? Lets go celebrate my 30th all together ...

Meet you in Rome, yes?

What Makes a Good Outfit?

Let me ask you a question Ladies;

What makes a good outfit for you?

Its a funny old question, perhaps one that's answer changes regularly. But I've been thinking a lot about this lately. What makes a good outfit for me? What is 'stylish'?

Well for me of late I have been enjoying very very simple outfits, but with some key pieces and adding in lots of happiness.

Maybe that's the formula for a good outfit?

Take this simple blouse and jeans outfit. I debated on whether to post this every-day, run-of-the-mill outfit in fear that it may be a little, um, boring? I mean you've all seen many a blogger wearing jeans and a blouse before, right?

So why post it. Well i guess because to me this is a happy little outfit and that is what i like to wear and share. Plus clothes are just that...clothes. Unless i started wearing trousers on my head and calling it a trend we will all have seen the same outfits over the years, no?

So what makes a good outfit? Something that makes you happy i reckon. What d'you think?

This spotty blouse has been my constant compadre the past week or so.Its been worn to do pretty much everything and anything. Coffee with the besties, yep! Meetings and school run's, yep again. I just love how easy it is to throw on and feel good.

A few other little outfit-makers for me lately are:

A piece of statement jewellery; In this case my neon NewLook necklace has been on more times than its been off these past couple of months.

The perfect blouse; with a popped collar and a little front tuck, I think sometimes it's not what you wear but how you wear it?

Fit-like-a-glove-Jeans: When I find a pair of jeans that fit to perfection, they really make me feel a million bucks, or pounds rather, either way. When the fit is right everything just looks better.

Rayban Aviator sunglasses; these have hardly left my face since i laid my mitts on them, adding the finishing touch to any outfit

So there we have it. Simple things for me that make me happy and are my (current) definition of a good outfit.

Blouse: River Island

Coated Skinny's &Necklace: New Look

Neon Heels: F&F (Tesco)

Bag: Primark

Sunnies:c/o Sunglasses Shop

So tell me what's yours?

I would love to know your thoughts on this.

What makes a good outfit to you?

Linking up with Transatlantic Blonde
Because Shanna Said So

Neon and Lavender

Mama's got a brand new bag folks, and a hat!
I am Lavender lovin' right now and i can't seem to get enough of that pretty lilac colour. Spring may not have sprung in my neck of the woods (Gale force winds blowing down 30ft trees in your actual street; (see here) this is definitely not Spring!)
But that doesn't mean i can't be in the spirit of Spring does it now. So my new little lavender loves are my subtle nod to mother Nature to say i am ready when you are.. Maybe my nods need to be less subtle;)

Lavender and Neon is a little bit of an unexpected combo but i kinda like it! After seeing my wonderful blogging partner in crime Catherine in this beautiful Lime with black and white combination i was totally inspired to re-create (or copy cat as it were, haha! most sincere form of flattery right?;) The lavender was just a fluke due to having a pretty new bag and hat and wanting to wear them all.the.time.

Evidently being obsessed with your new goodies sometimes creates good things like this happy little outfit i enjoyed wearing today.