Break me on the thirty-seventh hour.

White tee: c/o COLLECTIVE. Leather skirt: £13.50, Topshop. Mug: gift (from my brother!), Cath Kidston.

For me, "home" means the Essex countryside. As far removed from TOWIE as feasibly possible (okay, about fifteen minutes drive from Sugar Hut, but we'll ignore that), I often find myself enjoying a good cuppa in the kitchen with whatever book I happen to reading at that moment in time; today's novella of choice happens to be The Great Gatsby. I do like the quiet of home, but I can't help but miss Liverpool's hustle and bustle more than a little bit. I'm looking forward to settling in again, i.e. cramming the heinous amount of clothes I've managed to build up over the past few months into my wardrobe, and catching up with friends I haven't seen for a few months. I hope the rest of you who are coming back from university are returning to homelife just as comfortably, and, if you need it, Yorkshire Tea's currently on offer in Morrison's, and everyone knows that it's the best one out there!

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The finest clothes that you can find.

Silky collar tee: £18, American Apparel. Shorts: £69, Carven via Cricket. Denim jacket: £63, Hobbs. Shoes: 50p, Russell and Bromley via ebay. Satchel: Stylistpick. Watch: Rotary. Necklace: gift. Phone case: 99p, ebay. Lipstick: Topshop Mischief.

Who could possibly resist matching their nail varnish, phone case, and location? Magazines like to call it a "pop of colour", but I tend to call it a coincidence that Jazmine pointed out as we were strolling down Rodney Street. This isn't the most exciting outfit ever, I know, but I don't wear new things every day, and as this is one of my typical everyday outfits it only makes sense to document it.

Although this was photographed in Liverpool (one last one coming for you soon), I'm back home in Essex and acclimatising myself to the Southern temperatures and no internet (sob!). Everything's a bit up in the air at the moment, what with trying to move house, trying to find a job, and trying to learn how to draw on symmetrical eyebrows, but I'm sure we'll get there at some point. In the meantime I'll be sure to content myself with plenty of orange juice and afternoons spent reading the books I never got round to in the garden. I hope you've all got a lot planned for this weekend, let's hope it stays sunny!

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Turning twenty-one.

Sequinned dress: c/o Oh My Love. Oxblood bag: c/o Marc B. Adder Boots: £36, Topshop. Skull bracelet: £11, Made via ebay. "R" necklace: gift, Urban Outfitters.

If it were acceptable to wear sequins all year round, I'd be looking like a piece of tinsel 24/7. Ever since glitter hair spray for dancing shows (yes, I was one of those girls), I've never been able to resist a little sparkle. When asked if I'd like to choose something from Oh My Love's Christmas collection, I avoided the obvious choice, and thought I'd select something a little more special for the big Two One. Seeing as I tend to avoid bodycon, sleeveless and "boob-y" pieces, my flatmate was quite surprised when I unwrapped this little beauty, but it got the thumbs up when tried on. I'm still a little conscious of my arms being on show (everyone has their hang ups), but I don't think anyone noticed! And, of course, you can't go out without a bag. This Marc B number is in my current favourite colour, and happily fits a scarf, point-and-shoot camera, and stash bottle in; anyone want a "what's in my bag" post?

In short, after all the worries I had, my birthday really was one of the best nights, days, weeks of my life, and I can only put it down to my friends who made the biggest effort to ensure I had a wonderful time: you guys!

xxx

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Stuck in speed bump city.

Navy lace dress: c/o Pussycat London. Navy cardigan: mum's. Horse belt: Primark. Ballet flats: 50p, Russell and Bromley, via ebay. Saddle bag: vintage, via Claire. Tartan scarf: £8, ebay. Watch: Rotary. Sailor coat (finally sewn back together!): £63, Topshop.

Whenever I have to do the (two hour round...) walk to the Post Office to pick up parcels, I always feel obliged to travel the scenic route along the canal. I've taken outfit photos here a couple of times before, but can you ever really have too much of a pretty thing?

Wearing my new Pussycat London crochet dress, with a(n admittedly bumpy) beehive and slick of lipstick, I felt rather ladylike for a few hours. Surreal experiences aside, it is also seriously comfy when you're wrapped in your duvet surrounded by a textbook fort, which is a common occurrence right now. I hope you're all sniffle free and enjoying your advent calendars!

xxx

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Slip inside the eye of your mind.

Camel coat: £10, Marks and Spencer via charity shop. Tartan scarf: £8, ebay. Peter pan collar dress: Urban Outfitters. Thigh high socks: asos. Boots: c/o Stylistpick. Cameo necklace: £1.50, vintage via charity shop. Watch: Rotary.

It's getting to that time of year when sunlight is scarce, and your daylight hours are spent huddled underneath your bodyweight in clothing as you hurry between destinations, exposed skin burning in the cold. Unfortunately, this situation isn't conducive to the sharpest of images, and neither was the rain splattering on the pavement (and my head!).

For now, I'm sitting on the sofa with my flatmate watching Children in Need and eating lots of heartwarming food - it sure is nice to not be staring at word documents for a few hours. Time to bring my duvet in from my room and crack out the chocolate, I reckon.

xxx

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Meet and drink and pollinate.

Striped Breton tee: £30, Aubin and Wills. Corduroy circle skirt: £15, American Apparel via ebay. Grey cardigan: £63, Carven via sample sale. Denim jacket: £63, Hobbs. Horse belt: £1, Primark. Ship necklace: Toujours Toi. Granny/child bag: £4, vintage. Eye ring: £2.25, Topshop. Watch: gift, Rotary. Grey Alea boot: c/o Stylistpick. Lipstick: Mischief, Topshop.

I like having access to a roof.

This is what I wore to Liverpool Fashion Week yesterday (more on that when I can work out how to edit videos; YouTube newbie over here!). Surrounded by a sea of sequins, I felt pretty casual, but crouching for a fair few hours in the marked photographer area made me feel slightly less ashamed of leaving my skyscraper heels at home. These boots were sent to me by the lovely Stylistpick girls after meeting them at The Apartment, and they are my new favourites. However much I love my chelsea boots, I have worn them to destruction, and it's reaching the stage where no amount of pleading in the cobblers will make them re-heel them. I am, surprisingly considering Liverpool's temperament, yet to weather test their replacements, but they're comfy enough to wear all day, which is an added bonus, and something I ought to consider more seriously when purchasing footwear. Although, life would be dull and a little less interesting if everything were done for the greater good (and to not get blisters).

xxx

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We're flying first class up in the sky

Silk blouse: £1.50, Per Una via charity shop. Paisley Shorts: c/o Glamorous. Adder heeled boots: £36, Topshop. Leather bag: £4, charity shop. Cloud charm: gift, Luella. Lipstick: Gabrielle, Chanel.

When I started this humble journal of sartorial mistakes, there were many things I wouldn't wear. I've tackled jeans, and the up-do, now it's time for paisley. Glamorous contacted me asking if I'd like to try out a couple of their products, and, despite the Royal Mail's best attempts at ensuring I wouldn't receive anything, these shorts came through my letterbox a couple of weeks ago. They're a little tight, so although they may have been 100% appropriate for my first Essex night out since coming home for the summer, I would recommend going up a size, just to be sure. Check out the new loves of my life in kick-ass leather form that I picked up in the January sales but have only just got around to wearing due to living a few hundred miles away. They'll have to be surgically removed from my feet at some point in the near future.

The weekend (read: the sleep) was very much appreciated, and I had a wonderful weekend with a few people that I miss incredible amounts when I'm at university. It's so difficult finding the time to see everyone during the week, as commuting tires me out more than I imagined it would. I'm slowly getting used to it, however, and am looking forward to seeing  a big group on Wednesday, as well as catching up with some blogger pals at the weekend. Sometimes I think it's a shame that I haven't tried the new flavours of Red Bull introduced for the Jubilee (cranberry, lime and blueberry, so patriotic ⚐) as they'd surely pep me up Queen Liz style. Then sometimes I'm really rather glad I haven't.

xxx

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Take me back to dear old blighty

 

Sheer blouse: £13.50, Miss Selfridge. Pocket skirt: £2, American Apparel via ebay. Leather belt: 20p, charity shop.  Jacket: £22, Primark. Chelsea Boots: £60, Topshop. Bag: gift, Marks and Spencer. Bracelet: gift, H Samuels (one of the baby bracelets!). Sixpence pendant: stolen from mum. Red ribbon: 23p, market. Ring: £1.25, vintage. Lipstick: £1, shade 3, MUA @ Superdrug.

Happy jubilee!

I shan't pretend I've done anything vaguely patriotic (other than eat the delicious cupcake made by The Cake Shop in the last photo that I picked up from Aubin & Wills when browsing), but it's been nice to see so many flying the flag. I did indulge in this Cath Kidston pocket mirror, but otherwise I've been spending my money on making the most of what little time I have left in Liverpool before I return home for Summer. I did give the union flag a little reference in my outfit though. The white is in the form of a blouse I picked up in the Miss Selfridge sale, but, despite loving it, I normally reserve for going out as it's exceptionally sheer. The blue is the navy version of the American Apparel pocket skirt that everyone has (I have it in grey and a pale blue too). And the red is with some ribbon I picked up at the market, secured with a pin, which I covered with a sixpence my mum picked up at my village's summer fair last year. And then the wind decided it didn't like my beehive, but we'll ignore the rather windswept nature of these photos...

After much deliberation, I decided to create a facebook page for this blog. I've always put it off as I like to avoid the "so you take photos of yourself and put them on the internet?" question from my friends, but recently I've started to feel slightly more confident with the content I've been publishing. I would really love it if you could 'like' the page here, and a massive thank you to everyone who has so far!

I'm off to my flatmates from last year's house for movies with something a little patriotic (okay, I couldn't resist) and edible in my bag this evening. Hope you're enjoying the four day weekend, and keeping up with You Know You're British When.

xxx

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Where there's a Wills, there's a way

Striped breton top: £30, Aubin and Wills. Suede skirt: £8, Oxfam. Black pumps: 50p, Russell and Bromley via ebay. Shoulder bag: £15, Oxfam. Necklaces: (from top) vintage, elsie belle, gift.

Don't let that carefree smile fool you, the last photo is c/o my camera's irritating ability to take photos just as someone asks whether it's okay for them to walk past. Cue dying inwardly, the perpetual story of my life.

I bought this top with my birthday money last December from the then recently opened Aubin and Wills along Church Alley. Hidden just off the high street, I'm always popping in to see what I can only dream of owning (oh, why must I spend my student loan on boring things like rent?). Perhaps I go in there a little bit too much as Carrie, the store manager, passed my details on to Lucy in their head office, and was invited to an event they hosted in-store last Friday. Two of my friends and I headed down to listen to the beautiful harmonies of Blue Rose Code and sample the swift brown fox topped cupcakes made by Cake Shop Liverpool (the one with the rad Beatles cakes in Central Station). I had a look at the new collection whilst the band were doing band things pre-performance, and amongst the classic cuts that Aubin and Wills are known for, there were beautiful floral prints, and a navy (favourite colour!) dandelion print playsuit, that would be perfect for telling the time in - don't deny it, everyone believed that the amount of puffs it took to clear a dandelion head equated to the nearest o' clock when they were young! However, the evening soon drew to a close, and we got rather soggy walking home - typical Liverpool. It's not very often that stores host events like this, and it was nice to just spend an evening pretending I don't have coursework due next week (gulp), and indulge in my love of stripes. Obviously. I'm determined to go to the Aubin Cinema in Shoreditch when I'm home this Summer; I feel like I only ever do the same things when I visit London, so do you have any recommendations?

Plus!! The blogger meet up took place on Saturday, and it was lovely to meet such wonderful people at long last. In the vague name of chronology I decided to post this first, what a whacky idea.

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