We've got so good at pretending.

Dahlia stripy co-ord: £35. Clarks sandals: via Cloggs. Vintage saddle bag: won in Claire's giveaway. Emerald and white topaz ring: c/o Gemporia. Michael Kors Paige sunglasses.

It feels like forever ago (crikey) that I was doing my Art A Level, but four years on and I'm still as much of a fine art fangirl as I ever was, so when a trip to the scenes of John Constable's art works was suggested I grabbed it with both hands, and made sure that there'd be cake somewhere along the way. There's a National Trust spot at Flatford Mill which is where John Constable grew up and honed his skills before becoming a member of the Royal Academy, and after your walks around the area lapping up those Suffolk views there's a tea room (cake) and gift shop (cider) for you to while away an afternoon in. We skipped the aforementioned tearoom upon seeing the queue in favour of the Essex Rose in nearby village Dedham because neither could we pass up an opportunity to try another Tiptree tearoom nor be away from our beloved Essex for too much time in one go. You may have seen my instagram of the pastel coloured buildings, but if you missed it just know that Dedham is the prettiest little village around, and I'll definitely be bombing back up the A12 sometime soon.

For our little country excursion, I decided to debut my first ever co-ord and I have to say I'm rather taken by the trend. I picked up this stripy co-ord in the Dahlia sample sale (although I'd argue that it was just a sale with a few random bits and bobs on an extra rail, but never mind), and I'd like to think it looks okay on, even if the top's a little long #shortgirlproblems. After this small victory of trying something new and it working, I've been on the hunt for my next matchy matchy set. Despite being overwhelmed with the new season stuff at Oasis (you guys are gonna love it), right now Ark have got a load of co ords new-in that are really catching my eye, and I'm planning to pick up this top and bottoms set in store when I pop up to Liverpool next weekend. Because if I can get something that suits me and I feel happy in, it's totally fine to buy an entire wardrobe of them, right?

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I heard the truth was built to bend.

Oasis floral denim dress: £5, via sample sale. Vintage bag: 50p. Clarks two tone sandals: c/o Cloggs. Little Nell key necklace. Ralph Lauren sunglasses. Marc by Marc Jacobs bracelet: gift. Rotary watch: gift.

Another Saturday, another pub lunch (FYI, this time I went for a burger instead of fish and chips, and only realised that I hadn't photographed it when I was halfway through. Tough luck, pals). Yesterday we were told to make the most of the sunny weather as Bertha's due to have her stormy ways today, so we vowed to spend as much of the day outside as we possibly could. Sandals were a must, but I fancied a change after wearing my asos ones to death, and debuted my new Clarks ones from Cloggs. I like the patent toes on these ones, which make them slightly more transitional than my woven pair, and they look a lot, dare I say it?, classier to boot (clearly got chelsea boots on the brain, despite the weather...). I do need to wear them in, but Clarks shoes will always be comfy, so these two will be sticking around for a while.

Since I started at Oasis, I've found myself surrounded by pretty prints and girly cuts, and it seems to be slowly making its way into my wardrobe. Of course, a sample sale is going to help that along nicely, and this denim dress was the first thing I picked up when confronted with a car park full of rails - fate, amirite? I don't think it ever made its way into stores so I've picked out some similar styles below because I'm not that much of a tease, but I love the muted floral print of this one and the shape may even tempt me out of smock dress territory on special days.

Also, that penultimate photo features what looks like a rabbit in the tree bark. Yes. Yes it does.

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