Not being up to date.

The Classics

Another Dublin throwback, while I sit here wearing several layers watching Sunday Brunch with rain gently (for once) falling outside. If there's something I love about the Irish city, it's its architecture. I love all the red brick in Manchester (I mean, I ought to, as I've just bought an exposed brick dream), but I am a massive sucker for Georgian architecture and its symmetry; handily, this is available by the bucketload in Dublin. We had a little wander around St Stephen's Green and Merrion Square, paid my dues at the Oscar Wilde House (sadly closed)

To complement the classic architecture, I wore my old classic combination of a wideleg culottes jumpsuit and a silk blouse. If you believe I planned this, then you're a sorry naïve fool, but I'm happy that the two so serendipitously combined. I'm still umm-ing and ahh-ing as to whether I can get away with wearing this to my Christmas party, whilst also wondering whether I should just go out and buy all the sequins: life is so darn hard. If you've seen anything standout, please do send me a link on twitter @rebeccacohen!

Other than the work christmas do, most of the festivities this year are currently pretty lowkey, taking place round people's houses or mine. Mince pies and christmas trees a'plenty, and maybe a bottle of mulled wine or five too. I've been spending a lot of time with Laura recently, which has been great, but looking forward to catching up with my girls when I'm back down South (including ones you know, like Jazmine and Kavita!). It's all been very go, go, go recently, but somehow I've managed to not make plans this weekend so I've been enjoying eating everything and can confirm I'm up to date with vlogmas - something I never thought I'd say, particularly when I'm still posting photos here from August...

I'm considering writing up a "year in review" style blog post before 2017's up as it's been a very busy one for me, so if I get another chance to have an hour or so typing up, expect to see that soon!

What I Wore.

Warehouse culottes jumpsuit. Warehouse silk blouse. Claudie Pierlot chelsea boots. Urban Outfitters bag.

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My current favourite outfit.

Pride

Is it just me, or has this week lasted a lifetime? Clocking out on Friday felt like a long time coming, and this three day weekend is very welcome indeed!

After a few glasses of prosecco and, um, a jaegerbomb on Friday night, waking up on Saturday morning was a pretty slow affair. After what felt like some v rusty cogs started moving again (aka I made myself a brew), I met up with Kate to check out the Manchester Pride parade in the surprisingly glorious sunshine. I'm not entirely sure how I missed it last year as it's bloody big enough, but there is something about watching everyone come together and just be happy that left me with a smile on my face. It was definitely a vibe.

Afterwards, we headed to Grub and I was overwhelmed with happiness (again, what a Saturday) with the food options available. I'd only been on the vegan day before, so went for new-to-me Press de Cuba's sandwich and we shared some Fat Annie's redneck fries, i.e. fries covered in bacon and cheese, all washed down with some local cider. It's safe to say that I was in a very happy place.

I asked Kate to snap some photos of what I was wearing, as it's been almost a year since this jumpsuit graced this little blog even though I wear it at least once a fortnight. I'm generally one for an occasion dress, but when I picked this up last year I quickly found myself converted to the jumpsuit cause, and am trying to work out how much I'd wear the pink option if I added that one to my wardrobe too... I've lost the belt tie to the depths of my wardrobe somewhere so wear it without, but the panelling is super flattering, and I love wearing it layered with both blouses as pictured here and turtle and polo neck tops too. I do feel like I'm stuck in something of a style rut, so it's nice to have something to fall back on that I love, and think it looks ok on too!

I'm not entirely sure where the rest of the weekend will take me personally, but I do hope all of you have a good one - whether it's planned or not!

What I Wore

Warehouse culottes jumpsuit (I'm also eyeing up the pink one). Warehouse silk shirt (sold out, but similar here). Claudie Pierlot studded chelsea boots (sold out, but similar here). Urban Outfitters sunglasses.

This is a collaborative post.

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Life Lately: Turning 25, Turning 2017 and Turning a New Leaf.

Quarter of a Century

Well, somehow I've made it 25 years without ending things a bit prematurely despite a couple of tequila-related close calls, so I guess some congratulations are in order. Late last year I hit the big two-five. No massive fireworks, no attention seeking spectacle (I hope), but a nice embarrassing round of happy birthdays from the guys at work, a card and present and a few cards in the post.

Our pal earth also had a birthday - tenuous link alert - and we hit 2017. Other than starting it with a stinking cold, the new year's got off to a pretty productive start and it looks like things are gonna be on the up with a couple of trips planned in and some preeeetty big life moments about to happen. 17's always been a favourite of mine, so I've got a good feeling about this one.

And while this has all been happening, I've neglected this little blog. Since starting it way back when in 2010, this online journal of sorts has covered my knobby phase, my I-listen-to-the-Smiths phase, my fuck-it-let's-move-abroad phase and my everything's-just-getting-too-much phase (or phases, let's be honest). But it looks like in my things-are-going-to-be-just-fine phase this blog didn't really have a place.

See, I guess I've never really done blogging the "right" way. I started it pre-surge, never really wanted it to be a career path, didn't network intensively and didn't hire a photographer to shoot multiple outfits in one go. As I got older, although this blog obviously does still centre around me, I've found it more and more of an uncomfortable subject, and don't get me started on the being in photos part. I've doing a lot of thinking, which I know can be a dangerous pastime, and I'm starting to reconsider what I think are the important parts of blogging part time. Instead of making sure there's fresh new content weekly, it's about time I let myself slip a little and think it's ok to let things lie low once in a while. Additionally, until I feel ok with having photos of myself on here again, it's time to dust off the camera and start being behind the lens properly.

If 2017's set to be a good one, then I full on plan to take it by the balls and prioritise the important stuff, meaning that there might not be hundreds of new posts but there will be little updates popping up here and there. Soz if you were after a post about how to wear blogger trends or fashion blogger hacks, but I guess that's just another example of crap blogging and feel free to keep reading for some more. Who knows, you might not get learn the angles to take a fire selfie, but you might have a laugh and we both know which is more fun.

What I wore.

Oasis Jumper. Warehouse Skirt. Public Desire Shoes. Beauty Bakerie Lipstick.
Photos by Clare. 

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Brit project.

Sundays in Manchester.

Aaaaaaaand breathe. If you're anything like any of the people I've spoken to in the past couple of days, your week's been a shocker. Inevitably it's the oh-crap-it's-October-how-did-that-happen panic setting in, along with a whole load of other Q4 feels, but there's definitely something other than pumpkin spice particles in the air.

Despite this (by which I mean, if we casually brush stress under a carpet), it's been a good start of month for me. I managed to catch up with old colleagues, school friends and new Manchester pals all in one weekend. Pity my bank balance, but we'll ignore that for a little longer. After the hazy beginning of a weekend in London, I was back in Manchester for a chilled Sunday. And, if I do say so myself, it passed pretty perfectly.

If there's one thing I've learnt since moving here, Manchester does Sunday very, very well. Or rather, it does recovery better than any city I've lived in; everything closed on a Sunday Munich was not best when I had a habit of going to the atomic cafe and not having the foresight to get food in... nightmare. Pretty much every place in the Northern Quarter and Deansgate does a killer brunch, and if your stomach's up for it you've got plenty of Sunday roast options too. 

With a lingering hangover tiredness from Friday, Laura, Clare and I headed to Hawksmoor for one of the best roasts I've had since moving here. Can I get those potatoes on tap, pls? Yes, it's not the cheapest, but for a score you get a Yorkshire the size of your face and refills on gravy. Photo below!

We headed back home via Spinningfields, where we managed to get some outfit snaps without any awkward reflections in the glass buildings - hurrah! Note my lack of expandable waistline, and see my main error. A couple of weeks back the babes at JD Sports got in touch and asked if I wanted to go to Brit Project, and they set me up with these beaut Nike Theas to wear on the night. I'm generally an Adidas girl through and through (other than my gym shoes), but my Superstars are getting a well deserved rest for a bit as I wear the new loves of my life in. Brit Project was a beaut way to spend the evening. I haven't been to a gig for a while, and it's always good to dust your dancing shoes off every once in a while - particularly when you can get there direct from yours on the tram, hollaaa.

If you've made it through this disjointed blog post thus far, congratulate yourself with a metaphorical gold star and a roast potato or five. This girl's done too much exercise today in preparation for another roast, and is falling asleep at her lapto.........

What I Wore.

Warehouse silk shirt: £15. Oasis Lily jeans: old. Nike Thea: c/o JD Sports. Olivia Burton watch: c/o OB.

Where We Went.

What's on Insta.

Last night we headed to @britproject with @jdsportsofficial, and today I felt it. Bad. #britprojectmcr #mcruk #victoriawarehouse #manchester

A photo posted by Rebecca 😈 (@rebeccacohen_) on Sep 25, 2016 at 9:30am PDT

At #BritProject watching #badlydrawnboy with @jdsportsofficial and @robyn_lynch ✨ #Manchester #mcruk #saturday

A photo posted by Rebecca 😈 (@rebeccacohen_) on Sep 24, 2016 at 2:13pm PDT

Ladies who Sunday lunch. Pretty sure I've used that caption before, but I'm still in a food coma so that's the best you're getting. #sundayroast #roast #hawksmoor #eatmcr

A photo posted by Rebecca 😈 (@rebeccacohen_) on Oct 2, 2016 at 1:09pm PDT

Regram from @chambrayandcurls - because apparently there's a uniform when we meet up now 🐼 #ootd #wiwt #wiw #whatiwore #whatimwearing #monochrome

A photo posted by Rebecca 😈 (@rebeccacohen_) on Oct 7, 2016 at 1:01am PDT

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MAN > SHF

A Culottes Jumpsuit and Embossed Watch

Let me just hold backspace for a bit.

I have a habit of leaving my emails for about three weeks, then replying en masse. It's not a technique I'd recommend. In fact, I'd actively dissuade you from adopting this method, as it's only going to make you stress and piss people off. Either way, when I got an email from the babes at Olivia Burton asking if I wanted to head to an event in Sheffield I was mid-way through typing a "cheers, but I live in Manchester" reply before deleting it all and saying "oh, go on then". 

Sheffield is one of those cities I've always loved. No beating around the bush, it's a solid 95% because of Arctic Monkeys, but it holds its own right too. I applied to university there way back when, and even though I didn't attend full time I did go a fair amount to visit my friend Selena. Last time I went was back in 2011 for an Arctic Monkeys gig (surprise surprise), and I've just never had a reason to go back.

Now I live up North, it's not hard to be a daytripper. Yes, trains are few and far between, but they're cheap as chips. That day I met up with Kavita to discuss what she'd been up to since we'd last seen each other. Sheffield weather was behaving, so we ate outside before heading into town for a quick walk around. I then headed to Meadowhall to visit boutique Goldsmiths. I was very lucky to be treated to my very own Olivia Burton watch, which has been personalised with my name: it doesn't just tell you the time, it also helps you out of tricky situations. You can get this done online, but it was super quick in-store.

Fast forward to the next weekend, and Laura and I were picking our brunch spot for the weekend. Not feeling a 45 minute (!!) wait for Alabamas, we just went round the corner to Allotment. One of those "should I eat where I drink?" establishments, but I am so glad we went in. Honestly, the eggs benedict comes highly recommended from me, and I've tried a fair few platefuls of it in my time.

Laura was kind enough to snap a few photos of my outfit before it proper peed it down. New fave combo of a culottes jumpsuit and anything chelsea boots that I picked up for a mere £7 in Zara. Of course, paired with my faithful leather jacket and a fedora hat.

What I Wore

Olivia Burton watch: c/o. Warehouse culottes jumpsuit. The Kooples leather jacket. Zara metallic chelsea boots: c/o Liverpool ONE. Topshop fedora hat. Urban Outfitters bag.

Where We Went

What's on Insta

Sunny skies in the steel city today 🔥🔥 #Sheffield #travel #summer

A photo posted by Rebecca (@rebeccacohen_) on Aug 7, 2016 at 9:11am PDT

Yesterday's kiwi special (apparently) mince on toast with @shewearsfashion #sheffield #acolorstory #green

A photo posted by Rebecca (@rebeccacohen_) on Aug 8, 2016 at 10:21am PDT

Get in me. 🍳 Brunch with @chambrayandcurls #eatmcr #brunch #manchester #food #breakfast #capturemcr

A photo posted by Rebecca (@rebeccacohen_) on Aug 20, 2016 at 4:15am PDT

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You could wait for a lifetime to spend your days in the sunshine.

Catarzi fedora hat: £25 (jeeze, they've really increased the price of these). Warehouse bardot dress: £24.  Oasis loafers: £4. Warehouse belt (I think, found it in my room one day). Marks and Spencer bag: £43. Scarf c/o Style by Portobello. 

Weekend museuming and sunshine.

As I sit here, having just uploaded the best. boomerang. ever. (if I do say so myself) looking at some very grey skies, it's making me chuckle to look at the above photos: what a difference a week makes! It wouldn't be a patriotic Great British Summer without discussing the clouds every two minutes, so I'm glad to see we can continue this tradition. Less chat about the Euros the better, however. 

Making the most of last week's sunshine, I headed along to meet Clare and Joe at the Imperial War Museum North to check out their newest exhibition: Fashion on the Ration. I hadn't been to IWM since 2003, so was well overdue a visit to the funny looking building on the other side of the river to the Lowry. It's a beautiful museum as it is (despite its subject matter), so would recommend a look round. But, if you're nearby, the Fashion on the Ration exhib is worth a look-in too, as it'll definitely make you feel #blessed after last night's asos splurge. Anyone else kinda want those undies made from a silk ex-army map? 

As I'd bought a weekend tram ticket, I asked on Twitter if anyone had any sunny Sunday recommendations for me, and Emma recommend heading to Sale before walking on to Didsbury. The one thing I've found since moving to Manchester and living a stone's throw from the city centre is that I'm constantly in the urban jungle, with little to no green space available. So, without much hesitation, I took up this suggestion, and got my weekly dose of the green stuff. Now, this comes with a warning: take suncream. Idiotic me prioritised ice cream (not really that sorry), and I'm still applying cocoa butter every day to make up for it. The walk along the Mersey to Didsbury was the perfect antidote to a long ol' week, and I think I've fallen a little in love with that part of Manchester. It's got a very village-y feel (think Wimbledon village, if you're trying to work out its vibe), and it sells parma ham paninis for £6.50.

If that's not got you sold, I made a mini-vlog of my Sunday here. Let me know if you liked it, cos I might start making these a weekly thing (when it's not raining).

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Eyelet details and espadrilles.

H+M tee: £6.99. M&S skirt: £17.50. Hobbs espadrilles: £1. Urban Outfitters bag: £15. Warehouse sunglasses: £god knows, fill a bag for a fiver find.

Updating my wardrobe essentials game.

You can read this post in many ways:

1. I'm refining my wardrobe, and sticking to the pieces I know I'll wear forever/until they've been washed see-through.

2. I'm skint after deciding to seriously up the amount I'm saving per month, so basic's about as good as it's going to get. Tara embellishment, you were good while the student loan lasted.

3. I'm completely disillusioned with all trends right now, so just giving up on it all and going for the things I really like and/or suit me. Not necessarily at the same time.

4. I bought this top when H+M had an offer on and now I'm trying to justify spending my money somewhere other than Morrsion's.

Whichever number you pick, you're a good portion of the way to the truth.

Without trying to rehash old ground, we all know that as a general rule a certain type of bodyshape is portrayed again and again in the media. Yes, it's getting better. No, I don't think retail stores are to blame. But when it comes to trend pieces, those rip-offs from the catwalk in some capital city miles away were made to fit a certain frame, and most of the time the high street-filtered version is a pretty damn good copy (did someone say six weeks lead time?), so why should it suit me? I'm not sad about it at all (apart from shift dresses, cos I really, really want to dress like Twiggy on the daily). I accept that there's no point trying to give my own take on a trend, which is basically just a carbon copy of everyone else's, and thus *unpopular opinion klaxon* it's boring. There's a reason I follow the women's blogs I do: I like to see original, well thought out content that tells a story, because if I want to see trends I'll toddle off to Vogue, who do it very, very well.

I'm not a stylist who knows how to put perfect outfits together; I still bleary eyed chuck things on in the morning, only to re-assess in the toilet at work thinking "nah, definite miss". But I do like to document what I've jumbled together here, and hope you don't mind that it's a little more "wardrobe essentials" than "fresh off the catwalk".

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I'll have the usual.

The new monochrome uniform.

Is it a blogger sin to upload two almost identical monochrome outfits, one after the other? Cos, it's happening, and I'm not even about to apologise. I've found myself reaching for the same old pieces time and time again, relying on what etailers constantly call "basics" (mate, you trying to tell me something?), whatever the weather and whatever the season. Of course, my leather jacket is my child and cost about the same, so it will always, always be a staple in my wardrobe. Add in this super soft (and super cheap: £8!!) white tee that I now have in several colours, a slightly straight, slightly a-line faux leather skirt and my kinda boxfresh trainers 100% inspired by Natalie, and you've got yourself an outfit straight out of Cohen-ton. Maybe it's because I'm not a morning person, or maybe it's because I'm slowly developing a sense of style, but it sure is handy when you wake up after snoozing three alarms and need to shower and be on a bus to work stat.

Much like walking into the pub, making eye contact with the bar-tender (HI SCOTT) and then immediately cracking open a cider, it's always good to have those things you can rely on. If we're talking drinks, cheeses, shops and coffee, then I don't see why clothes, shapes and fits don't fit onto the same list. I like my slouchy tees and crew neck jumpers, and find that they're the kind of things you can dress up and down to make the most of whatever crap you decide to spontaneously purchase from asos after you've had a gin and missed the returns cut-off date for.

I'll never stick to monochrome outfits 100% of the time, but as long as I've got the same reliable shapes and fabrics, it's fair to say I'm on to a winner. And, as the saying goes, if it ain't broke wear a stripy t-shirt. And I have a lot of those to hand.

What I'm wearing:

The Kooples leather jacket. Missguided white t-shirt. Warehouse faux leather skirt. Adidas Superstars trainers.

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