Boohoo £50 Fashion Voucher Blogger Challenge

Fashion Vouchers have teamed up with boohoo.com to host a cracker of a competition, introducing... the Boohoo blogger challenge (and yes, it is a challenge). Your mission, should you wish to accept it, is to create an outfit consisting of absolutely anything that takes your fancy from boohoo.com's incredible range but (yes there's a but) it must not exceed £50! Oh, and no sneaky cheating; student discounts or any other voucher/discount codes do not count. There will be four £50 vouchers up for grabs for those plucky bloggers with the best outfits for the budget. Fancy it? Enter Here.

This was a lot harder than I thought, not because the items are overpriced - far from it in fact! There are just far too many things I wanted to include and far too many looks I wanted to put together, it's very easy to loose touch of the budget when you are surrounded by so many pieces. This look I put together was more appropriately timed, shall we say. I've been seeing a lot of maxi and midi skirts and platform block heel boots in street style outside NYFW so here is an inspired look. 

Ruby Crop Stonewash Denim Jacket, Bella Basic Swing Vest, Justine Jersey Wrap Mixi Skirt,  Madison Winged Ring,  Lily Lace Up Block Heel Platform Shoe Boots;

Now all you need to grab is your black satchel strung over the back of your bedroom chair, a long silver necklace, sunnies, a black rolled up bowler or pork pie hat and finally match the shade of your lips to the shoes. 

I wanted my outfit to be more than just a dress and a pair of shoes resulting in a blown budget straight away - I wanted to see how much I could cram in and look at what I managed. Kudos to you if you've managed more! It just goes to show that if you make a saving on one piece in the look you can spend the rest of your budget on so much more. I still can't believe these gorgeous shoes were in the sale, sales have certainly improved it's not just all unwanted crap - who remembers those days?

Looking forward to seeing some of your entries! If i did win, I'd bag this lot in a shot. I'd be so fast you wouldn't recognise me. 

Boris

For the past three days I've been working on the same blog post so that's why you've not heard from me. This is just a filler post just to let you know I'm still here and also a 'I-forgot-to-post-this-a-while-ago-so-here-it-is-now' post. 

Woodland Folk 'Boris' cross stitch - The Range. £1.99 (or was it 99p?)

Card and Envelope - Paperchase. Approx £1

Ribbon and button - Local craft shop. Under £1

I made this card for a friend and lovely lady, Caroline, who owns and runs The Rabbit Residence Rescue where she dedicates her life to unwanted, unloved and dumped bunnies who initially have no future. I took my two up to her to board while we went away for a week on holiday and unfortunately my little girl Tigger developed a horrible disease called coccidiosis. It's one of those things that most or some rabbits carry, but only sometimes will it be triggered. It's incredibly contagious so how Jeeves (a former Rabbit Residence Rescue rabbit) never got it I will never know. In total Tigger and Jeeves stayed away from home for a month as Caroline was determined to get Tigger back on the road to recovery and refused to send her home ill which I found absolutely lovely. She used her stock meds, took them to her vets a couple of times and even had them stay in her bedroom through the worst parts. She was amazed at what a wonderful little fighter Tigger was, we could have lost her but due to Caroline's vigilance and Tigger's fight, she pulled through.

I think this card took me 13 hours, or at least the cross stitch part did - turning it into a card took a matter of minutes. It was worth the time though, me and Phil will be eternally grateful for her help as our little fluffs are so important to us. This card now sits happily in her new office (which we kitted out with hand handbuilt shelves and worktops!) 

Jolie fille, jolie vêtements, Jolie Moi!

Unfortunately, that's the extent of my French.

First off, pretty amazing news. I won 'best style and fashion advice' runner up in the New Look Holiday Hop competition on the wonderful Michelle Chai's blog Daisybutter! This means I will be getting a £30 New Look voucher through the post sometime soon and I'll be keen to make you all a post to show you what I spent it on. The other runners up entries were fab and the winners entry? WOW! Look. I'm pretty chuffed because I never seem to win anything (goes right back to my childhood and entering magazine competitions.)

Anyway, back to the sole purpose of today's post.

My list of shops is just getting longer and longer and I've another to pop onto the somewhat curling list: Jolie Moi!

They sound like my style personified, taking the latest trends but offering a vintage and wearable twist at payday friendly prices. It's only too well known that some lovely vintage-esque clothes make a hole in your lovely new purse.

Left: Jumper £35 Centre: Crochet dress £52 Right: Slouchy lace insert top £26;

1. Polka dot bodycon dress £28 // 2. Pink lace bodycon dress £28 // 3. Skull print dress £28 // 4. Woodland scene dress £40 // 5. Black mesh skirt £28 // 6. Galaxy skirt £22 // 7. Button pleated top £22 // 8. Patchwork/ colour block bag £85;

Right away I'm seeing catwalk inspired trends in the garments above; oversized, geometric, monochrome, crochet, lace, slouchy, galaxy, gothic, grungy, motif, chiffon and colour block. 

Paired with ankle socks, block heels/sandals, creepers or brogues with some lovely red or pink lips and maybe even a bunny bow, you have the perfect on-trend-with-a-vintage-twist look! 

I'm irrevocably in love with numbers 1, 3 and 4. Many people know that I am animal mad and will happily stop traffic to let a bunny cross the road (or in a funny case have a hare run alongside me at 40mph), so the wildlife dress is perfect for me. The beautiful motif caught my eye and I love the gothic mesh skirt that goes with it. The skull dress is a lovely autumnal colour and what's brilliant is they have different facial skeletal? expressions. Finally, the polka dots. I love a good sequence of spots and a bodycon style to show off your curves, and the crochet lace frill trim makes it a winner for me.

I urge you to check them out. 

I'm the Cat With the Bass and Drum

Wearing: Dress from Dorothy Perkins, Biker Jacket and Necklace from New Look  and Brogue Creepers from  Mr Shoes

Me and the boyfriend, Phil, spent Bank Holiday Monday at the coast. We only see each other Friday night through to Sunday night and for the past 5 or 6 weeks we've been volunteering at The Rabbit Residence Rescue on Saturdays, meaning Sundays have been spent laid on the sofa knackered or pottering around in the garden. We took this extra day and used it to head out together - we've not been adventuring anywhere recently and it's something we love doing. We popped to a lavender farm and then headed out onto the coast where we had chips and ice cream (obviously). 

Anyway, above is my outfit of the day, once again the biker jacket makes an appearance. I love these brogue creepers to the moon and back - they look great and they're so comfy, I spent all day walking in them and my feet were still pain free by the end.

Any of you planning on shopping at Motel? I have a fabbo promotional code entitling you to 20% off! If you weren't planning on it, I bet you're tempted to now aren't you? 

Fifties Shades (of Grey old UK).

My favourite, most bought (and lost) accessories are sunglasses and today it clicked just how short summer really is, and to my recollection, I don't remember wearing my sunnies much at all. They're all hiding away in their little bags in my boyfriends car in the hopes of us going out and there being sun. 

Photo Source: Jak & Jil;

I've decided I now want a timeless pair so I've been hitting the online shopping world oohing over the latest designer offerings and ahhing over the purse friendlier versions. 

My most loved styles at the moment are cats eye or big and printed, but it's mainly all about the vintage style frame following in the catwalk footsteps of Erdem, Nicole Fhari, Prada and Missoni. Right now I'm craving a pair with a little personality that can brighten up my face and the below are absolutely perfect. Most of my picks echo a dainty fifties style and I'm hard pressed to choose a favourite between the D&G picnic print, the Fendi cats eyes, the Models Own red cats and the Viva La Diva angular or peaked cats. Meow!

The below are all from Fashionworld!

Their selection is better than I ever expected so I'm surprised I narrowed it down this far! Cats eyes are fab for bringing out your cheek bones and immediately give you a retro vibe, and in my case make me want to smack on some red lippy, don a bunny bow hair tie, a flowing summer dress and a pair of dainty ankle socks. End daydream. Textured and printed sunglasses are ideal for those who don't want to brave the all over aztec, lace or floral prints but still want to bring a statement to their look. They can brighten up a simple outfit or, if brave enough, aid to a kooky clash. 

Sunglasses don't just have to be a summer thing so don't feel compelled to shut them away for the winter when the temperature drops. One of my favourite things is seeing sunglasses being worn in the autumn and winter sun - the sun is bright whatever the season so don't feel put off by it. If anything, you'll look super chic! 

I have a purple pair of sunnies that are slightly angled, but now I want to go all out with style and colour. Bring it on! 

This is a sponsored post.

New Look #holidayhop giveaway!

"Imagine you are going to Ibiza for a long weekend. Create a post on your blog stating which items from the New Look store you would wear to complete each of the following outfits on your holiday. You have 5 outfits for 5 occasions, so which items would you wear and why? Head over to the New Look store and start picking your favourite party dresses, bikinis and accessories. 

Style these Looks: Travel Style, Poolside, Beach It, Sunset Supper, Beach to Club."

For travelling we all understand that being comfy is key - but who said you can't be stylish? Ditch the trusty turn-to tracksuit bottoms and turn to a pair of disco pants. As the older and funkier sister of leggings, disco pants give you a good amount of comfort and stretch, you can contort yourself into almost any position whilst trying to get comfy on long journeys. Chunky sole plimsoles will hug your feet whilst walking to the furthest away department gate and this chunky knit cardigan is perfect to snuggle into after slipping on sunglasses to hide telltale bags. Speaking of bags, this is perfect to fit in plenty of fashion magazines, food and duty free goodies. Jet-set chic, oui?

This is a fab little bikini, it aptly reminds me of an ice lolly. I've never worn a bikini, so if this is to be my first one then go all out and make it bright. The woven bag is perfect to pop in a book to read by the pool, along with suncream to prevent lobsteritis. The the crochet top and shorts act as a great little cover up while the woven sandals just scream holiday and are ideal alongside these retro frame cats eyes. 

I'd be tempted to head out sightseeing in this number! Versatile.

The studded heart earrings are super quirky so I decided this look needed to have a burst of colour and embrace the Ibiza vibe, therefore, lime green tootsies are a must! Jelly shoes offer a legendary and childish blast from the past and the sunglasses are a must because if not you'll be squinting all the time and look like an angry and unapproachable tourist. This is such a cute one piece and when you pop the shorts over the bottom half you appear to have a whole new look because the top half of this suit acts as a cami/ strapless affair. I'd say the hat and bag are pretty self explanatory.  

A lovely sunset supper means that a flowy little number and a bit of glitter is a must, the denim jacket is for when that cool holiday breeze breaks out and to make you look like this is look is effortlessly casual. These magazine clutches will suit to a T and indicates a fashion savvy individual. Hand chains, to me, represent a more exotic style so are perfect to be worn sat at a table overlooking the sea watching the sun set. Rock a soft and light smokey eye and match nails with the main item in the look, and you are ready to impress. 

You don't want to be hitting the club straight from the beach in just a sarong (unless it's that sort of club) so you need to rock beach glam! Matching accessories and shoes make this simple beach worthy playsuit club ready. When they say accessories can make an outfit, its true, it's as easy as that. It's always good to have a little bit of gold (or any metallic) catching the lights in the club, this way you sparkle across the dance floor like you belong there. Fabulously, this bag can be used as a clutch or can be slipped over your shoulder leaving your hands free to get your groove on. 

I'll admit, I tried to pick everything to settle within the £400 prize budget but I failed miserably. I guess that's why New Look is my favourite high street store! Simply irresistible.

House of Fraser Blogger Style Challenge

I love a good outfit compilation, so when I was over on Katie's blog and saw that House of Fraser blog were doing a blogger style challenge, I couldn't resist entering it myself. All you have to do is head to www.houseoffraser.co.uk to check out their A/W new arrivals, pick your favourite items and create a look. Blog it, mention where you'd wear it, comment here with a link to your post - and you're done! Simple. I hope you all enjoy it - I spent 2 hours surfing new arrivals and putting together three different looks. This one though, was my ultimate choice. 

French Connection T-Wild Fire Dress // Madden Girl Casual Boot // Vivienne Westwood Chancery Patent Bag // Glamourous PU Studded Biker Jacket // Day Birger Et Mikkelsen Tassle Necklace // Tiffany & Co Nature Garden Sunglasses;

A good deal of monochrome has been showcased on the runways for A/W '12, just take a look at the Chanel and Moschino collections, so I decided to take inspiration from this and mix it up. A/W collections admittedly often have quite dull colours and we all need a bit of a boost through the long, cold, overcast months. So pick one piece that will really kick off your look and adorn with season must haves such as a biker jacket embellished with studs, ankle boots, tassels and animal print texture - the sunnies are to keep that bright autumn sun out, who says you can't wear sunglasses in autumn and winter? 

With this I love how you can look chic and edgy at the same time. In an ideal world this would be worn strutting the sidewalks of New York in November buying Christmas presents for family and friends and of course cheeky presents for myself!