Lust of the week: Cos standing collar top
This week I'm lusting after this stand collar top from Cos. I love the minimal boxy shape and colour and the unusual colour gives it a 1960s vibe...and at £69 it ain't too pricey!
Outfit: leather top, animal print skirt and sandals
Top: Zara
Bag chain worn as necklace: Whistles
Scarf worn as skirt: Gift
Sunglasses: Primark
Sandals: c/o Barratts
Good evening lovely readers! I don't know about you but I am fully taking advantage of the last days of summer. Although I love A/W fashion and am looking forward to getting my chunky knits and boots back on, you can't beat a balmy sunny evening and it really does make you stop and smell the roses (ha! I'm such a cheeseball)
The lovely peeps at Barratts sent me these sandals...good job too as my trusty Asos ones that I've been wearing to death all summer have pretty much fallen apart! I love the gold metal detailing on these sandals and the sole is slightly cushioned making them nice and comfy.
Lust of the week: Zara leather rucksack
This week I'm lusting after this leather rucksack from Zara. The leather looks so soft and buttery and the size looks enough to fit in all my essentials but not too big that I'll annoy other passengers on the tube when wearing it.
Outfit: sequin skirt, khaki shirt and captain's hat
Hat: River Island
Shirt: Zara
Skirt: Asos
Heels: Asos
Evening all! I bought this hat in the River Island sale - I like that it's an alternative to the usual summer straw hats but my boyfriend's reaction? 'You look like a jockey'. What do you think? Am I the only one who has love for this hat?
As for the rest of the outfit, I like the idea of teaming a gold sequin skirt and heels with this casual utilitarian shirt, and the gold buttons on the shoulders tie in nicely!
Outfit: preppy shirt, aztec skirt
Shirt: The Kooples
Skirt: Zara
Shoes: New Look
Quite a preppy look on the blog today; while I'm a big fan of blouses I don't wear shirts that often but I fell in love with the collar on this shirt from The Kooples, and rolled up sleeves and a messy tuck-in keeps it relaxed.
Lust of the week: Asos jacquard suit
This week I'm lusting after this gorgeous jacquard evening suit from Asos. I love the colour, the cut and the pattern; we have seen loads of co-ords this summer and it doesn't look like it will be leaving us in Autumn...huzzah!
Holiday postcards - Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Travel Supermarket have launched a competition for bloggers, asking us to share one of our most memorable holiday moments. The prize is £1000 to put towards your next holiday and the competition can be entered here
Here's my entry...
In April 2013 I went to Peru with my boyfriend and like a
lot of people who visit the country, our main reason for going was to embark on
the Inca Trail – a four day hike along the historic route up and down mountains
to reach the ancient Inca site, Machu Picchu.
I expected the hike to be long and difficult but that I’d
feel quite proud of myself by the end of it (being someone whose favourite
walking activity involves going from shop to shop on Oxford Street and who
balks at the thought of wearing walking boots), but it was a lot more than
that.
Peru is a beautiful country, full of some of the most kind
and generous people that I’ve ever met, even when they have so little. We were
a group of 13 and were totally looked after on the trek, with the guides
sharing the fascinating history of the trail and the Incas, and the porters
pandering to our every need. They
each carried 22kgs on their backs and ran up and down the mountains in order to
set up camp - putting us to shame with our small day packs and huffing and
puffing as we slowly made our ascent. The chefs were equally as good, and the
food completely exceeded my expectations (although I was beginning to get sick
of the sight of quinoa soup by the end of it!) We had everything from pancakes
to stir fry, and the chef even made a birthday cake for one of the girls in the
group (how he did that in a tent on top of a mountain, I have no idea).
The second day of
the hike was definitely the toughest. After waking up at 5am, we started the
five-hour walk to Dead Woman´s Pass (the name alone was enough to put me off),
the highest point on the trail at 4200m above sea level. It was gruelling. It
was a steep up-hill walk the whole way, made up completely of uneven steps
(good for my thighs, not for my mental state). Mix that with the high altitude
and ever-changing weather, and you´ve got a challenge on your hands. Reaching
the top we felt triumphant, only to then start an almost-as-difficult three-hour
descent to camp, down steps (again!) that were slippy from rain and mist
(causing me to have a couple of tumbles).
Day three was the longest we walked (16km), but it was also the nicest walk. It wasn´t too difficult, and the views of the surrounding cloud forest were exceptional. That, and I think that we were all just glad to have put the worst behind us.
Day three was the longest we walked (16km), but it was also the nicest walk. It wasn´t too difficult, and the views of the surrounding cloud forest were exceptional. That, and I think that we were all just glad to have put the worst behind us.
Pictured: Walking through the cloud forest
On the fourth and
final day we awoke at 3.30am in order to get to the Sun Gate and see the sun
rising over Machu Picchu. The hike only lasted about two hours and wasn´t too
difficult (discounting going over fresh landslides and clambering up
dangerously steep stairs...ok, maybe it was quite difficult). As we finally
reached the Sun Gate and saw Machu Picchu slowly lit up by the sun, the past
few days of hard work, early starts and quinoa soup were all completely worth
it.
I looked around at this group of people that I just shared
the past few days with – people from all different nationalities, backgrounds
and beliefs – and I was so overjoyed to have shared this experience with them.
Pictured: The group upon reaching Machu Picchu
Monthly inspiration: August
All images from my Style Inspiration Pinterest board
Here are just some of things inspiring me this month and getting my creative style juices flowing...I need those Balenciaga boots in my life! What's inspiring you this month?
Outfit: shirt dress, jumper, cinched with a belt
Shirt: Deep Vintage (Newcastle)
Jumper: Brandy Melville
Belt: H&M
Sunglasses: Primark
Clutch: Whistles
Boots: Kurt Geiger
Good evening lovely readers! Hope you all had a lovely weekend. Today we popped over to Henley to see some visiting family, and this was my outfit of choice (ignore the early-morning hangover face in the top pic!) Wish I'd taken some more pictures over there because it's so pretty - especially in the sunshine!
DIY ottoman
We moved into a new flat a couple of months ago, and whilst moving can be a bit of a nightmare (especially in London where finding a flat you like, in a location you like, and at a price you like is almost impossible) I do like setting it up, getting new bits and getting my interior-design on.
I really wanted a nice ottoman - something useful that can store things and we can also use to put our feet up on. Searching the shops though, they're pretty expensive so I decided to make one myself.
Here's how I did it...
This children's toy chest from Ikea was £11...it's pretty basic but a good size and had a lid for easy storage
I got some high-density foam cut to size to fit the top of the lid (I did this online but you'll be able to get it from fabric shops as well) and this striped fabric from John Lewis.
Next, I cut enough fabric to completely cover the foam and lid...
...folded the fabric onto the wooden edges of the lid, and nailed it in. I did this all around, folding the sides like I was wrapping a present.
Lust of the week: Daniela Gregis oversized coat
This week I'm lusting after this oversized coat by Daniela Gregis. Now that our heatwave is waning and the A/W collections are coming into the shops I'm starting to think what pieces I'm going to go for next season. Unfortunately, at over £1700 I won't be able to invest in this baby, but hey that's what lust of the week is all about.
I do, however, have my eye on bank-balance-friendly oversized coats and I think that's the kind of outerwear I'm going to be sporting in the colder months. I love the masculine silhouette that they give and their minimalist coolness (like this navy and white one I have from Zara)
Outfit: fedora, leather skirt, draped cardi
Hat: Topshop
Cardi: Michael Kors
Tee: eBay
Skirt: Asos
Boots: Kurt Geiger
Last week Adam and I went to Ikea to pick up a few bits for our new flat (it's finally coming together, yaay) and in true blogger style, forgot about the flatpacks for a few minutes, picked up the camera and took some outfit shots.
The first cloudy day in London gave me the opportunity to don my new Topshop fedora and Michael Kors cardi I got in the Outnet sale. It was such a bargain and I love the colour, softness and drape of it.
Recipe: vanilla cupcakes
I love cooking and baking, and growing up I was forever making cakes and experimenting with dishes. But living in London with fantastic restaurants, delis and shops on my doorstep means I don't do as much as I used to. Last week I decided to rectify this and unleash my inner domestic goddess, make some cupcakes and this was the result. The recipe is taken from the Hummingbird Bakery cookbook and they turned out light, fluffy and full of deliciousness.
Click here for the recipe
Outfit: Green dress, statement necklace
Dress: Zara
Necklace: Spitalfields Market
Wedges: Asos
Outfit post for you today lovelies! I got this Zara dress at Christmas but haven't featured it on the blog until now. It fits so snugly and I love the deep green colour; teamed with strappy heels and a statement necklace and it made a great outfit for a dinner date.
Lust of the week: Roksanda Illincic wool-crepe skirt
My lust of the week this week is this full wool-crepe skirt from Roksanda Illincic. The colour, soft pleats and length make it the picture of femininity and I can tell it would be so fun to twirl around in! But at £775 I think this will remain a lust, rather than a purchase...