THE POWER OF RED

Apologies first of all, I haven't managed to get on here for a couple of weeks. Mum life got a little bit busy and then thankfully my saving grace was that I got to go away for a long weekend with my girlfriends for a Hen do. I'm back now, and I would say I'm feeling refreshed but it's more like hungover to be honest. So to lift my mood I thought I'd talk power colours. I've wanted to do a post on RED for a while now, I personally love it and it is definitely my power colour. It can pick my mood up on a gloomy day, give me a little bit of confidence and can simply make me smile. Everyone will have their own power colour but if you haven't found yours yet, give red a go and let me know what you think. Here is my pick of the high street for all different budgets, bodies and occasions. 

(left to right - top to bottom)

1. Plunge Neck Pencil Dress  ASOS  £40.00

2. Almu Red Lace Up Heeled Shoes  Public Desire  £29.99

3. Long Chiffon Dress  H&M  £49.99

4. Wide Leg Palazzo Trousers  Topshop  £55.00

5. Ruby Woo Matte Lipstick  MAC  £15.50

6. Off-The-Shoulder Jumpsuit  Zara  £49.99

If it's an event you have to go to then red will definitely have you standing out from the crowd. I love a red lip to start with and the only lipstick I wear in this colour is MAC Ruby Woo. It has a vivid matte finish with a blue-red colour and stays put on me all night long, if you haven't tried it yet then my advice is to give it a go. The jumpsuit from Zara is gorgeous and is a power outfit in every sense with the ruffle and the beautiful bright red fabric. I would style this with simple black barely there heels and a smart black clutch bag. The palazzo trousers from Topshop would be great to dress up or down with a white tee and a denim jacket and flats. The dresses show how you can be bold but still stay body confident. For mummies out there who aren't so sure about body-con dresses the Chiffon dress from H&M would be an amazing option to flatter all shapes and sizes. The pencil dress from ASOS is a sexy number for those of you who are body confident. I would stick with simple black accessories with both to let the dress do the talking. 

1. Converse All Star Hi Trainers  Office @ Topshop  £47.99

2. Flat Top Cat Eye Sunglasses  ASOS  £12.00

3. Zip Ankle Skimmer Jeans  Boden  £35.40

4. Cross-Body Bag with Scarf Detail  Zara  £29.99 

5. MOTO Red Denim Mini Skirt  Topshop  £29.00

If it's a more basic look you're after Converses are always a good idea and can be worn with everything and anything. Cat eye sunglasses will flatter most face shapes and are another easy way to introduce a little bit of red into any outfit. These would look great with a black chiffon maxi dress and to really go all out match them with red lips. Anyone that follows my instagram will know I love my red handbag and this one from Zara is just as fab. I love that it has the scarf detail on it and the gold detailing makes it look much more expensive than it is. The denim skirt from Topshop is on my wishlist, although I am torn between the red and the pink at the moment. I would style this with my trainers (surprise, surprise) I know it's predictable but for an easy mummy friendly outfit, trainers are always perfect. I would also style it with graphic tees and chunky cardigans. 

1. Floral Bomber Jacket  Denim & Supply By Ralph Lauren @ ASOS  £145.00

2. 06 Deep Red  Maybelline Superstay Nail Varnish @ Boots  £4.49

3. Off The Shoulder Mini Dress  ASOS  £15.00

4. Leather Platform Slides  Zara  £39.99

5. Embroidered Denim Shorts  H&M  £19.99

I'm obsessed by the festival vibes in the shops at the moment, particularly those pieces that can give you the look but you don't have to actually wear to a festival. As much as I would love to be going to them all this summer, we have a house to furnish so maybe next year! There's nothing to stop me looking around the furniture shops in my super stylish Zara sliders though. The Ralph Lauren bomber jacket is a headliner and would be perfect with a basic outfit. I would also be tempted to do some print clashing and style it with stripes and florals. The off-the-shoulder dress from ASOS is bang on trend and at such a great price it's hard to say no. I would go with layered up jewellery and biker boots to really give the festival edge. The shorts from H&M are another steal at only £19.99, these will be perfect in the summer dressed up with tassels and lace up sandals. My favourite nail colour is red, always has been and always will be. My thoughts are that red nails go with everything and are perfect through out the seasons. I always use Maybelline Super stay in Deep Red 06 and find that it lasts a good 7 days on me, which is good when you think how many times a day I'm washing up, changing nappies etc etc. 

1. Jersey Pleated Wide Leg Trousers  ASOS  £28.00

2. Fine Knit Boxy Crew Jumper  Topshop  £25.00

3. Mini Skirt  Zara  £25.99

4. Occasion Cropped Blazer Co-Ord  ASOS  £45.00

5. Wide Shorts  H&M  £7.99

My red jumper has been a staple of my wardrobe over winter and thanks to the great British weather is still going strong in my wardrobe now. Mine was from Mango last year but this one from Topshop is very similar and a great price. Check out my instagram to see what I've been styling mine with. Most days that I wear it I'm usually feeling a bit low and use it as a little pick me up, I know it won't make sense to everyone but whatever gets you through the day right!? The pleated trousers from ASOS are another item that is bang on trend at the moment with the pleats and looks great as styled here with the striped top. The skirt from Zara looks just as good with the blue and white stripes, this use of pattern tones the red down enough for all day wear. The cropped blazer is a super power piece and would give attitude to an outfit of basics or look amazing with the co-ord trousers with a white tee and trainers. The shorts from H&M are just £7.99 and will see you through the summer. They also have tops, dresses and shirts available in this print to mix and match. I would love to see the shorts paired with the coordinating top and black espadrilles. This is all depending on some good weather coming our way soon though. 

If your budget is slightly bigger or like me you just like to keep your lust list up to date. Take a look below at the designer items I wish I could take home with me...

1. Leather Trimmed Platform Sandals  Miu Miu @ Net -A-Porter  £700.00

2. Lynton Asymmetric Wool and Silk-Blend Midi Skirt  Acne Studios  £470.00

3. Peekaboo Medium Whipstitched Leather Tote  Fendi @ Net-A-Porter  £2,890.00

4. Printed Slub Cotton Jacket  House of Holland @ Net-A-Porter  £510.00

5. Toerless 100mm Suede Pumps  Christian Louboutin @ Matches Fashion  £625.00

So with payday just around the corner why not treat yourself to a touch of red. Whatever your budget, get yourself out there in a power colour and conquer the world, one look at a time. 

xx

NEW PURCHASES

I thought I'd share with everyone what I've been buying this week. Did I need any of it? Well no, probably not. But what till you hear the deals I got, I'm sure you'll agree I just couldn't say no....

Midi Dress  H&M  £24.99

So buy number one I managed to get with 20% off, so for around £19.99! Last time I shopped in H&M (which wasn't long ago at all) I got given a voucher for 20% off for in store use only so obviously it was burning a hole in my purse and had to be put to use. I've got a weekend away coming up with my girlfriends so thought this would be perfect for a night out with some heels. It comes just below the knee with the splits on either side coming half-way up my thigh. I was going to go with a belt around my waist with it but I think this time I'll keep the top half simple and go for lace up heels. For a different look with flat sandals in the summer a belt would definitely be useful though to give a bit of shape. 

Midi Dress  Marks & Spencers  £4.49 (was £45)

This was my bargain of the week at just £4.49!!! I went to Marks & Spencers to take a look at the new ArchivebyAlexa Collection which I loved and want all of it, but I might have to wait until next month for that. So I took a sneaky look in the sale section and found this fab midi dress. I wish I was lucky enough to get 'that' midi dress from Zara last year that everyone now seems to have, I wasn't though (sigh), so when I saw this for less than a fiver I thought I might as well. It's obviously not exactly the same as the Zara dress but very similar and could be worn in the same way. I'm thinking with trainers and a little jacket or with black boots for a smarter look. 

Striped Knit Top H&M  £6.00 (was £29.99)

Anyone who reads my blog regularly will know I have a thing for stripes at the moment and to be honest I've been after a little knitted top like this for a while. This one was hiding in the sale section in H&M, but they had the dress version in there full price range so I thought I'd chance it and see what was going on. I was told because this was the last one it could be sold for £10.00, result!! Only problem it is a size 6, I'm normally an 8/10. I tried it on though and although yes it is a snug fit, we're going to say it's meant to be like this so it came home with me. I'm thinking it will look good with my button up denim skirt or my kick flare jeans and will brighten things up a little bit even if the weather doesn't. I'm also thinking it would look fab with my final purchase of the week....(were talking Alexa Chung/Gucci vibes)

Metallic Skirt  Zara  £25.99

My final purchase of the week, is from Zara. I can't find it on there website but in store they had a good size range available. As I said picking up on the Gucci Vibes of SS16 and in the style of Alexa Chung, paired with a bright striped knit and simple black heels. I'm also tempted to take it a little more edgy for a night out with lace up heels and either a graphic tee or lacy cami, I'll let you know what I decide. But it's definitely a day piece too and could be worn with a knit or sweater, white tee and trainers. As you can see, this is clearly how I convince myself that buying it is the best option, making it as versatile as possible and giving myself more options than I'll ever need for it. 

Keep up to date with my instagram for all my daily outfit pics to see me wearing my new buys.

xx

LACEY DAYS 

Even though I'm not a girly girl when it comes to clothes, I am partial to a bit of lace. I prefer to dress mine down with some trainers and ripped jeans, and recently I've even been layering up with patterns and stripes (check out my instagram). The high street has gone lace crazy and there are some fab buys out there for Spring/Summer. I've been having a look and wanted to share all the bits I'm loving and lusting after. So whether you're off to a wedding, going on holiday or just fancy some pick me ups for your day to day wardrobe, have a look and let me know what you think.

(from left to right, top to bottom)

1. Lightweight Lace Scarf  Marks & Spencer Indigo Collection  £19.50

2. Full Printed Lace Skirt  Zara  £39.99

3. Dress with Lace  H&M  £39.99

4. Lace off-the-shoulder top  H&M  £29.99

5. Yellow Lace Espadrilles  New Look  £10.99

Following on from a post I did recently, lets start with pastels. Perfect for this season to softly bring some colour back into your wardrobe. I really love the H&M yellow off-the-shoulder top, it does also come in black, blue and cream but not all are available on the website at the moment. I tried the cream one on recently and it is a really beautiful but durable thick lace. They have no under-layer so you either need a bag full of confidence or failing that a bandeau top would also work. The skirt from Zara would be perfect for an occasion with a cami top and following that you could turn it into everyday wear with a sweater or white tee and trainers. The dress is a slip style dress with some added lace, if you like this one, have a look at a post I did recently on how to style and wear this type of dress day and night. If you don't want to go crazy on the lace trend but want to make an outfit out of some basic jeans and a tee, try going with lace accessories. The scarf (above) also comes in white and blue, but I personally love the baby pink which I would add to an outfit of greys. The espadrilles are such a good price and so, so comfortable, perfect for busy mummy days. 

1. Lace Dress  H&M  £59.99 

2. Lace Trimmed Mini Dress with Strap Back Detail  Self Portrait @ ASOS  £260.00

3. Poppy Ruffle Lace Midi Dress  Topshop  £110.00

Ok, so you're off to a wedding, my advice is to always check the colour scheme because no-one wants to turn up in the same colour as the bridesmaids! But after that the choice is yours and yes lace is a go. So as long as blue is an option here are some choices I love, at different ends of the pricing scale. I would probably style them all with silver barely there sandals and a cute silver clutch bag. My personal favourite is the Topshop dress which I have seen layered up in there marketing campaigns with stripes, so obviously a winner for me. 

1. Contrast Embroidered Dress with Lace  Zara  £49.99

2. Panel Lace Shell Top  Topshop  £36.00

3. Siena Lace Midi Tea Dress  French Connection  £145.00

4. Pencil Skirt in Multi Coloured Striped Lace  ASOS  £38.00

5. Lace Scallop Crop Top Midi Dress  ASOS  £85.00

For those of you who like a bit of colour, you can't go wrong this season with orange. The top from Topshop would look perfect during the day with jeans and to take it through to night change it up with a black leather skirt and ghillie lace up heels. I love the laid back style of the French Connection dress and think if this is more your style you could also dress this up for a wedding with some heels and an embroidered clutch bag. The red dress from Zara and the Orange dress from ASOS are really well priced for occasion dresses and would have you demanding attention at any event this summer. The scallop edging on the ASOS dress I particularly like and think it would look so much more expensive than it is. The skirt also from ASOS I would dress up with a cami top and some simple heels, but for during the day I'd be tempted to chuck on my trainers and a denim jacket to make it more of a casual piece. 

1. Lace Blouse  H&M  £29.99

2. Selma Halter Neck Cut Out Lace Midi Dress  Jarlo @ ASOS  £115.00

3. Lace Top  Zara  £39.99

4. Lace Blouse  H&M  £29.99

5. Mixed Lace Top  Warehouse @ ASOS  £69.00

When it comes to lace you can't go wrong with white and black. These items will see you through year after year and can become so versatile. H&M is the go-to place in my opinion at the moment for lace in both colour (see the yellow top above) and monochrome. The first image here shows the white blouse with matching co-ord skirt,  I couldn't find the skirt available online but if you're interested I'd just keep checking. They also do a long sleeve button up blouse in the same fabric which has disappeared from the website, but again keep checking. The second H&M blouse with the long sleeves is a great victoriana style top and would be perfect under dungarees. I think the price is particularly good on this one as the quality is really fab compared to those I've found in other stores. The top from Warehouse is slightly more pricey but it really caught my eye. I think it would be a great one to layer up with stripes and florals underneath and sweaters over the top, so you could definitely get your moneys worth. The top from Zara is another that caught my eye and to be honest although all of the above are similar I would have no problem in taking all 4 of them as I think they could all offer something slightly different. This one I would take on holiday with some bright white shorts and lace up sandals. The dress above is maybe not one for a wedding, but for any other event a white dress is a perfect stand out option. It's also a great option for something you can wear again and again with different coloured accessories. Right now I would go yellow but you could pull it out next summer and change it up with black. 

1. Black Lace Ballet Pumps  New Look  £9.99

2. Black Lace Scallop Trim Top  New Look  £17.99

3. Mara Bloom Embroidered Maxi Dress  French Connection  £225.00

4. Layered Lace and Camisole Top  Zara  £39.99

5. Lace Jumpsuit  H&M  £49.99

Last but not least, black lace. Just a versatile as white lace and more durable for those days where staying clean with the little ones just isn't an option. The ballet pumps are firmly on my wishlist for next month and I think will be something I end up pairing with everything and anything during the day. The top from New Look is a great price and I think would work for colder days with a long sleeve striped top underneath with some ripped jeans or leather trousers. The layered up lace camisole top from Zara is an easy buy if you're not confident in doing the layering yourself. This could also be dressed up with heels or worn with some pointy black flats and trousers. The detail on the jumpsuit I really like and am currently scoping out all my local H&M's so I can give it a try, I'll keep you posted on my progress. The French Connection dress is a pricey choice but again the detail on it is amazing and a good maxi dress will be more than useful year after year. 

Hopefully I've talked you in to some lace, no matter what your budget there is something out there for every occasion, be bold or go girly, you won't regret it I promise. 

xx

POM POMS

I love having fun with fashion, so when I spotted a pom pom sweater in Zara I just had to give it a go. Now when I say Zara, I'm talking about the kids section! I was innocently shopping for my daughter when I realised some of these items might just fit me. I ended up in the kids fitting room trying on the the size 13-14 years (I'm usually a size 8-10) and was surprised to find that I loved it all and whats more because its meant to be for kids, it's all a lot cheaper too (no VAT added). So cheaper and to be honest all a lot more fun than the adults section, what more could you want? Don't get me wrong I won't be buying all my clothes in the kids sections, but it's definitely worth a look now and again. The jumper I ended up with (see below) got me all excited about the pom pom trend so I wanted to have a look and see what else was on offer across the high street for Spring/Summer 2016...

Sweater  Zara (kids section)  £12.99

(from left to right, top to bottom)

1. Swing Dress in Knit with Cold Shoulder and Pom Pom Detail  ASOS  £35.00

2. Pom Pom-detail Cashmere Jumper Chinti and Parker @ Selfridges  £350.00

3. Festival Smock Top with Embroidery & Pom Pom Detail  Glamorous @ ASOS  £32.00

4. Foldover Clutch Bag with Embroidery and Pom Pom Trim  Moyna @ ASOS  £56.00

5. Pom Pom Wedge Sandals  ASOS TOGETHER  £45.00

The pom pom trend is all about colour and having a bit of fun, this is especially true with the accessories on offer here, if these don't make you smile then I don't know what will. I think they would be perfect paired together with a casual outfit of jeans and a tee or dressed up on holiday with a block colour dress. To me they just scream summer and having fun in the sun! The jumper is more practical for the weather we're having at the moment and is a beautiful cashmere, pricey but well worth it if you ask me. The dress from ASOS would be an easy take on the trend and could be worn with trainers for easy day wear. I love the smock top and think this would be one well suited to festivals come the summer. I would stick with denim shorts and add some lace up sandals with this one. 

1. Premium Pom Pom Cardigan  ASOS  £55.00

2. Pom Pom Peplum Top  Pitusa @ ASOS  £91.00

3. Pink Pom Pom Strappy Heels  River Island  £65.00

4. Dungaree Dress with Raw Hem and Pom Poms  Liquor & Poker @ ASOS  £35.00

5. Pom Pom-Embellished Raffia Sandals  Aquazzura @ Net-A-Porter  £530.00

If you want to take your pom poms out with you on the dance-floor, take a look at these heels. Different ends of the price spectrum but both equally gorgeous. I would style the River Island pair with a smart LBD for full on glamour. Or if you didn't want to dress them up too much, a smart pair of black culottes would be equally as chic for a night out with the girls. The peplum top from ASOS is another festival goer and would look great again with some denim shorts. I think it would also look fab on holiday thrown over your bikini. The cardigan is a definite attention seeker and would have all eyes on you, I personally think it's a steal at only £55.00! The dungarees I think would be one of those items you would surprise yourself with at how much you wear it. It could be another bikini cover up, as well as an easy go to with a white tee and trainers for day to day mum life. I love items like this that are easy to wear but have that something extra that means you stand out from the crowd. And yes I'm pretty sure I've just completely talked myself into getting this too!

Here are some images I found over on pinterest for the Pom Pom trend. Some style tips; layer up with simple pieces in your wardrobe to reinvent and breath a bit of life in to them. Stick with all one colour if you don't want to look too over the top and above all else have fun! Life is too short for boring clothes, let me know what you think.

xx

PASTELS

Its been glorious sunshine outside today so sticking with the Spring feeling, I wanted to do a little post on pastels. I really want to step away from the dark colours it seemed we all gravitated towards during winter and introduce some freshness into my wardrobe. Pastel colours are perfect for this so I thought I'd see what was on offer on the high street for all occasions and budgets....

(from left to right, top to bottom)

1. 3-Pack of Ribbed Pastel Socks  Zara  £9.99

2. Pink Textured Slip On Plimsolls  New Look  £14.99

3. Yellow Layered Double Strap Cami  New Look  £12.99

4. Linen Cotton Coat  Zara  £59.99

5. Cream Stripe Sleeveless Tunic Dress  New Look  £24.99

Even if its just a little bit of the trend you're after there is something for everyone. I found these socks available in Zara, although I also saw similar on ASOS if you fancy slightly different colours. These would be fab right now to lighten up a basic outfit of jeans and a tee. I would wear with my Zara flatforms and my jeans rolled up. I would also be tempted to carry the colour through onto a scarf. I love the coat (above) also from Zara, I have one in a similar colour from Primark and I love to wear it to brighten up black outfits or to keep it fresh with a white shirt. The yellow cami is from New Look and also comes in array of other colours, I personally love to have a good option of cami's in my wardrobe for spring/summer as they're so useful and easy throw on tops for everyday wear. The dress is bang on trend with the stripes and the colours are super fresh. I saw this one today in town and I think it would look great with a denim jacket and white trainers or for now you could stick a grey roll neck underneath. 

1. Crepe Pocket Mini Skirt  Topshop  £35.00

2. Soft Washed Tee  Topshop  £12.00

3. Denim Pinafore Dress in Pink  ASOS  £30.00

4. Striped Dress  Zara  £29.99

5. Pleated Midi Skirt In Colour Block  ASOS  £35.00

A basic tee is just as useful for spring/summer as a cami and Topshop have a great selection of colours at the moment, including this mint green one. I like to mix my pastels so I would love to see the Topshop tee paired with the pink skirt (above left). The pink pinafore I love with the stripes underneath but I would also wear it with an of the shoulder white top. The striped skirt is the same as the one I have that sold out on ASOS. This one is just slightly milder with the colour combination and would mix with a pastel blue tee or grey sweatshirt perfectly. I like to style mine with my trainers and my leather biker jacket but with this one I would be more tempted to go with a denim jacket to stick with the blue tones. The short dress from Zara has the ruffle trend going on and would work with jeans as well as seeing you through the summer with bare legs and lace up sandals. 

1. Ruffle Midi Skater  ASOS  £25.00

2. Flower Show Pink Watch  Olivia Burton  £70.00

3. Drop Armhole Jersey Playsuit with Pom Poms  ASOS  £18.00

4. Embroidered Cotton Top  Mango  £19.99

5. Tiered Ruffle Blouse  ASOS  £36.00

As much as I like to give everything an edge and throw in some denim, you can't really beat going full on girly in pastels. Its not something I do very often and find the girly look difficult in the winter, but in the summer with these pretty colours on offer it all becomes a little easier. I love the simplicity of the blue dress (above-top-left) and would wear it with my old but faithful Jimmy Choo silver sandals with a silver embellished clutch bag. I think it would be a perfect easy wear for all summer occasions. The Olivia Burton watch is going on my wishlist, I have a black strapped one that I got for Christmas, but I think this one would be much better for summer with its delicate face. The jersey playsuit (above-top-right) would be a great buy and would definitely be something you would wear over and over again each year. I would like to see it styled with lace up espadrilles and some layered up necklaces. The pink tops (bottom) are both very girly and on some days I would still be tempted to mix with ripped jeans and fresh white trainers. Although, I do think if I was feeling it they could be worn over a light coloured midi skirt with sandals and possibly even flowers in my hair! 

1. Azaelea Dress  Self Portriat @ ASOS  £240.00

2. Handmade Long Coat  Zara  £89.99

3. Bandana Print Scarf  Marks & Spencers Limited Edition  £15.00

4. Plastic Frame Glasses  Zara  £15.99

Self Portrait dresses are without a doubt, stand out, amazing pieces and if you can afford it, they are a must for any wedding or event you have this summer. This dress (above-left) comes in all different pastel shades and is just so elegant. But it is slightly pricey so if its not within your reach, have a look on the New Look website. They have a blue one and a nudey coloured one, in the same style but slightly shorter length. I came across the blue one in store the other day and the quality is pretty good for a fraction of the price of the self-portrait ones. They do keep selling out though so you might have to keep looking. I love the accesories (above) and would wear them both together with white. Even with a grey coat chucked on at the moment, you'll have that essence of spring even if the temperature doesn't say so. If you want to really go for it while were still (sadly) in coat season, try the pink one on offer from Zara (above). Another great piece that you could chuck over an all black outfit or mix it up with some stripes underneath to introduce the pink.

1. Stand Still Lace Maxi Skirt in Sky Blue  Keepsake @ ASOS  £165.00 

2. Rhinestone Ear Cuff  &OtherStories  £6

3. Silk Love Stone Sleeveless Trench Shirt Dress  C/Meo Collective @ ASOS  £175.00

4. Boucle Top with Collar  Fashion Union @ ASOS  £25.00

5. Printed Scarf  Mango  £19.99

Some more accesories here, this time an ear cuff from &OtherStories which would look great with the green playsuit I picked out from ASOS (see above). Or you could take it smart and pair it with the blue dress shown here (above-top-right). Just because the style is slightly androgynous, I would like to see it dressed down and paired with simple softer accesories. You could also wear it over jeans and a tee as a jacket, I think the cut would flatter most body types with the wrap around style and the tie up on the side, and you could also decide how much leg or cleavage you wanted on show. I think this one is a great buy for the price and would be worn over and over again. The top and skirt here are both pieces sticking with the pastel trend but both have a little more going on so keep the other elements of the look simple. The lace skirt would be great dressed up with heels as well as with sliders for during the day. 

Hopefully I've brought a little bit of sunshine into your day and tempted you into going a little bit girly for the upcoming summer months, let me know what you think...

xx