Getting Over the Failed January Detox
Like most people, I try and use January as a bit of a detox month; a time to recharge the batteries, stay off the wine and get ready for the year ahead. It hasn't really happened this year though, what with a house (and city) move right at the beginning of the month, then straight on to LCM, a hectic work schedule and everything in between. Sometimes a girl just needs a glass of Sauvignon.
Fortunately, the lovely team at Beauty Expert have given me a bit of a hand, teaming up with Mornflake to make sure I take care of myself inside and out. At the beginning of the month I got a hamper full of granola, oats and skincare - including the Complex 27 serum from Cosmetics 27 by ME Skinlab (amazing if your skin is in need of a little healthy lift) and a couple of hair growth products from Grow Gorgeous (I found this a bit too heavy for my hair but if you're after hair growth, this is the brand you need).
My favourite product though, has to be the Ole Henriksen Ultimate Eye Lift Gel. When I'm tired and have had a few late nights (or more likely, long days in the office), my eyes are the first ones to show. This gel instantly cools, soothes and de-puffs, as well as tightening up the skin around the eye area and reducing crow's feet - winner.
Outfit: The Knot Sleeve Dress
Dress: c/o SheIn
Jeans: ASOS
Shoes: Topshop
It was only after I'd uploaded these pictures that I realised how bright white my feet were...I'm hoping it's the light but if that's not a sign I need some sun asap, I don't know what is.
Anyway, on to the outfit. For me, those perfect everyday pieces are the ones that are simple and easy to just throw on when you're getting ready for work, but also have a small detail that make it look like you've actually made an effort. This dress is a case-in-point. It's a bit short for me so it's become an oversized top in my wardrobe, but I love how the ties at the wrist create an interesting sleeve. 6.30am dressing made easy.
Outfit: A Contemporary Take on the '60s
Blazer: c/o PrettyLittleThing
Dress: c/o PrettyLittleThing
Jeans: ASOS
Sunglasses: ASOS
Heels: c/o PrettyLittleThing
One of the only good things about January has got to be the time when you start seeing the new collections coming in, with the trends we saw at Fashion Week last season emerging in stores. This promise of a new season always excites me and makes me want to try out the different looks, incorporating them into my own style.
PrettyLittleThing recently challenged me to style one of this season's trends, and I opted for a subtle, contemporary take on the '60s. Seen at the likes of Louis Vuitton and Orla Kiely for SS16, the '60s is the decade to emulate this year. This shift dress with a cut-out neck is the perfect piece for this trend, and when worn with an all-black outfit of belted blazer, cropped mom jeans and lace-up heels, it becomes 2016-appropriate. And cat-eye sunglasses, of course, because where would the '60s have been without them?
Outfit: Casual Tailoring at LCM
Roll neck jumper: Zara
Coat: c/o Holi
Bag: Sandqvist at Coggles
Jeans: Weekday
Shoes: Topshop
This is the look I wore to the first day of LCM last weekend. Anyone who's been in the UK recently will know that winter has suddenly hit and we're all bloody freezing, so thick knitted layers and my cashmere coat from Holi were definitely necessary. With it being menswear I wanted to incorporate a couple of mannish, tailored accents into my look too, and these were the perfect pieces. In fact, I saw a few men that day sporting similar outfits - I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing...
Outfit: The Boyfriend Camel Coat
Coat: c/o Dorothy Perkins
Sunglasses: ASOS
Roll neck: c/o Dorothy Perkins
Jumper: c/o Dorothy Perkins
Jeans: ASOS (similar)
Flats: ASOS
I'm going to be a typical Brit here and harp on about the weather, but man it's cold. It snowed in Manchester yesterday so it seems that winter has finally arrived in the UK and I was not prepared. Luckily, Dorothy Perkins recently sorted me out with some seasonal-appropriate layers and they couldn't have come at the right time. Right now I'm all about layering roll necks under a sturdy knit à la Margaret Howell AW15 for extra warmth, and big wrap-around coats are an absolute must.
Outfit: All Black at LCM
Coat: House of Sunny
Jumper: ASOS
Jeans: ASOS
Shoes: Topshop
Bag: Sandqvist at Coggles
Lat weekend I headed to London for London Collections Men, kick-starting the next two months of fashion weeks for me. I love going to men's - it's much more relaxed than LFW and the models are definitely easy on the eye. Obviously the clothes and the styling are great too...
This is one of the outfits I wore while I was there. This season I was all about comfort - and warmth - given I was there for work and running from show to show. All black is always a winner for me, so I opted for a simple look with a pop of red lipstick to hide the fact that I'd barely slept the night before and was full of cold.
Outfit: Longline Top over Culottes
Top: Whistles
Culottes: Zara
Sunglasses: ASOS
Flats: ASOS
The sales are the perfect time to pick up those wardrobe-building essentials - the simple knits that go with everything, or those trousers that fall just so and you can see yourself wearing for years. This Whistles top is one of said items.
At half price it was an absolute steal, while its split sides and long length make it the perfect piece for this season's layering trend. It's one of those tops that could look great just worn with a pair of cropped boyfriend jeans, but I've been wearing it with my burnt orange culottes for a bit of festive colour.
Outfit: Draped Dress over Jeans
Dress: c/o House of Fraser
Jeans: ASOS
Shoes: Topshop
For me, the best style at winter time involves that kind of un-obvious layering; a turtle neck under a shirt, say, or culottes layered underneath a longline tunic. Dresses over jeans is one of my go-to styles, especially during colder weather when a girl just doesn't want to wear tights. The trick is getting the silhouette right so it doesn't look too bulky - go for slimmer on the leg and looser on the dress for a contemporary look (rather than a '90s throwback).
Outfit: All Black and Velvet Heels
Sunglasses: ASOS
Top: Weekday
Jeans: ASOS
Shoes: Topshop
This month I've been gravitating towards all-black; maybe it's a sign of the January blues, or that I'm simply picking those clothes that hide any evidence of a few extra party-season-pounds. It's not all doom and gloom though - an all-black outfit will always be chic, plus that printed heel adds a necessary flash of colour.