A day at the office | Work OOTD

I've been dying to wear this outfit since I bought it during the summer holidays, but the weather has been too nice to wear trousers up until now (very rare for this country!). So, today with a cloudy forecast looming, it seemed like the right time for its first outing.

I think I've mentioned before that being a teacher, I often find it hard to find decent work wear. The shops have some great clothes, but sometimes for one reason or another they just aren't appropriate for school. 

The blouse for me was love at first site. Such a lovely material; really soft and luxurious feeling, sleeveless, just off white with a smart black tie. It was a complete bargain from H&M at only £14.99.

I decided to style the blouse with some black wide leg trousers which are going to be huge during AW16. This pair are from Miss Selfridge, they cost £30, but I think I had a 20% off email code from them. (I thoroughly recommend that you sign up to the Miss Selfridge mailing list as they regularly send out discount codes.)

Picture from ASOS

Finally for the shoes. I'm on my feet a lot during the day and I also walk to work, so comfortable shoes are a must. I do have some nice loafers, but sometimes you just want some height. These are the ASOS Shaken heels which are currently on sale for £24 (RRP £32). The heel height is perfect but they are hurting my big toes, so I may have to send them back if I can't stretch them out.

What is your favourite place to shop for work wear?

Go west | Festival look book

With V festival arriving at the end of the week, I've been thinking about the perfect outfit to wear. The western theme is really in this summer and is perfect for a festival. I'm thinking denim shorts, with a crop top or bralet underneath and a checked shirt, double buckle western belt and some boots to start. A hat, some sunnies and effortless wavy hair, maybe some gold stick on tattoos to finish.

I've put together this look with all day festival partying in mind - it is perfect for day to night.

Go west - festival look

Checked shirt - River Island
Western hat - ASOS
Crop top - Miss Selfridge
Western double buckle belt - Topshop
Denim shirts - River Island
Western bucket bag - ASOS
Gold tattoos - ASOS
Authentic peacock cowgirl boots - King Ranch Saddle Shop

These pieces are all great individually too, you can't go wrong with a crop top, denim shorts and a checked shirt at any time of year. The boots are a bit of a spending splurge, but how great would it be to have authentic Texan cowgirl boots that would last for years? And for all the men out there; boyfriends, man friends, best friends etc. you can get them some to match too.

What will you be wearing to V festival this week?

Chilly shoulders

My obsession for the cold shoulder look is growing. I saw this blouse when I popped in to River Island on Saturday, just wasting a bit of time before my optician appointment. The second I spotted it hanging on the rail, it was unexplainable love at first site. It is not even the kind of print I'd normally wear and I don't think I've ever spent this much on one top before, but something about it just struck me and drew me in. I thought it was beautiful and I had to have it.

I wore it for work today, paired with some ASOS black cropped skinny trousers and New Look tassel loafers. It will also look great tucked in to a black pencil skirt, or paired with jeans for a more casual look.

One of my cheeky year 8 boys asked me at work today what I was wearing?! He obviously doesn't know a single thing about fashion!

For me, as I said; it is love at first sight.

You can find it online here.

Primark OOTD ft. white jeans

I went to Lakeside shopping centre the other day with my sister and baby niece and ended up buying this great spring/summer ready outfit from Primark.

I went in looking for a pair of white jeans. I have some high wasted white jeans from boohoo but they aren't actually denim, so I wanted some this year that actually have that "jean" feeling. This pair are a distressed, ripped ankle grazer style. For only £13 for some jeans, I think I can't go far wrong.

Also, I'm loving these cold shoulder style tops at the moment. They give the normal t-shirt or vest top a bit of a sexy edge don't you think? This one is £7.

Finally I got this pair of black suedette sandals with tassels and small gold detail. They are only £5 and so comfortable and padded.

So the whole outfit cost £25.

What do you think?

Back to work look book

Back to work for me shortly, after a lovely (almost) six week break. Being a teacher, I sometimes struggle with shopping as a lot of things on the high street are not necessarily school-appropriate. I have to make sure that dresses and skirts aren't too short, and that tops aren't see through or flashing too much flesh. I also have the challenge of finding some comfortable black heels that look stylish but aren't so high that I end up in angony by morning break.

I thought I'd share with you my recent finds...

Miss Selfridge
Mini check pencil skirt
Black lace insert crop top

New Look
Black textured pencil skirt
White gem embellished crop top

River Island
Purple swing dress

Florence & Fred at Tesco
Patent gold trim penny loafers

Next
Black asymmetric buckle shoe boots

Although I have a couple of crop tops, when worn with a high waisted skirt, no flesh is flashing!

The Next shoes are proabably (not probably Emma, they are!) way too high, but I'll keep the Florence & Fred loafers under my desk for a little shoe change when walking around. 

All items were available to buy at time of writing. 20/08/2014

Holiday outfits

This time last week I was sunning myself in 5* Egyptian luxury. Right now I can hear the bass from V festival a couple of miles away and it's almost raining. *sigh*

Nevertheless, we had a lovely holiday and feel very refreshed. I thought I'd share some of my evening outfits with you. Unfortnuately, I didn't manange to photograph them all.

Top: Cameo Rose @ New Look, Shorts: River Island, Pumps: Primark

Dress: Missguided

Dress: Parisian @ New Look, Shoes: Crystal customised New Look courts

I also wore these coral shorts from Missguided with a white crop top, but didn't get a piccy

I wore an outfit almost identical to this, with this River Island aztec skirt from ASOS and a black crop top from New Look

The end of the holiday is bitter sweet. It is so good to go home and see Alfie, but I still wish I was in the 40 degree sun relaxing by the pool. Fingers crossed for some more sun here in Essex over the next few days, although the weather people don't seem very hopeful.