Vintage Stripes

I'm back! After nearly 3 weeks of having no wifi (first world problems eh!), we have finally been connected to our new provider! It's been an absolute nightmare, but the internet does seem to be faster...fingers crossed!

Onto the look. Well, as those who follow me on instagram will know, I had a bit of an ebay splurge about a month ago. I'm a soon to be 'new student' and having minimum spare cash, meant I had to be creative with how I create the looks I want. This vintage 1970's shirt was just £2.95! I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it, and although my mum thought I would look like a cast member from 'Joseph and his technicolour dream coat' I knew that it just needed a bit of merchandising up! It's a bit like the on trend kimonos that are out there, and it could easily be worn over a bikini. However I thought Id style it with simple black skinnies and some Primark shoe-boots. I'm into the whole boho chic right now, and I love being individual with my style. I'm definitely an ebay addict right now, and to get those one off pieces that you know you won't see anyone else in, I'd definitely get yourself on ebay! 

I've seen versions of the shoe-boots everywhere for this A/W. These were only £16 and I have to admit, they are reasonably comfortable! I do worry about the cold toe thing in cooler weather though...maybe that's me showing my age and I should just think about the fashion! 

I've had the backpack for almost 2 years now, although this was the first time I wore it! I am a total backpack convert! How amazingly convenient are?! Hands free is definitely the way to go! I even bought a animal print one as a beach bag for my upcoming holiday, totally in love! I've kept the accessories reasonably simple with just a gold cuff and some majorly over-sized sunnies.

Sorry this is a rushed post, I was just so excited to get my blog up to date after 3 weeks!

Thanks for stopping by, see you soon!

Lauren XO

Shirt: ebay (find some here) // Jeans: topshop // Bag: Next (similar here) 

Shoe-boots: Primark (similar here) // Sunglasses: River Island 

 Cuff: New Look (similar here)

Round up of the Week

For those of you who didn't read my last post, I explained that as I'd had such a busy week outfit wise, I was going to cram them altogether in one post. I've not had the time to shoot proper blog pictures, so I just took a simple profile and side shot. I am shooting for a full size post this weekend, so stay tuned! All the links to the outfits are below :)

Hope you've all had a lovely week

Lauren XO

Flowers and Jewels

Shirt: Zara (similar here) // Jeans: Topshop // Brogues: TKMaxx (similar here)

Satchel: The Leather Satchel Company // Necklace: Primark (similar here)

Day to Night

Staples: Shirt: Primark (similar here) // Jeans: Topshop

Look One: Shoes: M&S // Satchel: Topshop 

Look Two: Shoes: Primark (similar here) Bag: Primark (similar here)

Off the Shoulder

Top: Ebay (similar here) // Jeans: Topshop // Shoes: M&S 

Bag: Primark (similar here)

Sport Stripes

Shirt: Primark (similar here) // Jeans: Topshop // Mules: M&S // Clutch: Primark (can't find any similar, but loads of nice one's here)

Khaki Joggers

Joggers: Primark (similar here) // T-shirt: Mango // Shoes: Primark (similar here) 

Bag: H&M // Hat: H&M  

Annnnnnd done! Phew, sorry for the rushed post, just wanted to make sure you all had the links to the looks.

See you soon!

Khaki and Stripes

I have had the busiest week ever! Just lots of things all at once, squeezed into 5 days. This is not that unusual, but since I've started blogging, I find myself constantly thinking of my outfits and if they would be good enough for the blog. I suppose that is the curse of the fashion blogger. The constant insecurities about 'your style' and if people will like your look. 

Living in Manchester, and well, the UK in general, also makes for hard outfit choices. They are all determined on the weather! The night before the Vintage Car Show, I had planned a lovely summer look...woke up in the morning to find it was raining and miserable! It ended up being 22c and sunny! (hence me wearing tights and biker boots!)

I've had the khaki parka since I was 12. It was the first thing I ever bought from River Island. 13 years later and it's still a fave! I cannot get enough of stripes. I wear them all year round, sunshine or showers, warm or cold. They always look good :) This dress is just £10 in the Asos sale, grab yourself a bargain! 

Biker boots may be a winter staple, but as I mentioned before, living in Manchester, they are also a summer essential! I bought them in the River Island sale for just £35. They are real leather and unbelievably comfy!

As I've had so many outfits this week, I've not been able to take good quality blog pictures. So I'm going to upload a round up to the week and all the links to the clothes in one post, I hope you guys enjoy!

Lauren xo

Parka: River Island (similar here) // Dress: Asos // Boots: River Island (similar here)

Bag: H&M // Sunglasses: New Look

Checkmate

Another monochrome look. I can't even defend my black and white obsession any more! It was a total accident that this was monochromatic, but I'll roll with it, as this is one of my most 'liked' looks on instagram!

I've been blogging nearly a month now, and whilst I have loved dressing up and choosing looks, I've also decided that I will blog more of what I wear every day. This is a good example of that. Flats, flats, flats! I hardly ever wear heels in the day time, or if I do they are small, extra comfortable ones. These slip ons are a daily fave of mine, it literally feels as though you are wearing slippers, they are just so crazy comfy! I also love the quilted detail on them (which is a big trend for A/W14) as I think it makes them stand out slightly more than a simple canvas pair. (that isn't dust on the picture of them, that's rain drops!)

I bought the rest of this look in the H&M sale. The skirt was £6 and the shirt was £10. Although I'm not into the whole "cropped" look (oh if I had abs Id be all over it!), however this cropped shirt was so flattering when I tried it on, that I couldn't resist. It just hangs rather than clings and is also super cool for summery weather.

I hope you guys are having a good week, I love getting your comments on instagram, please feel free to leave them on the blog too. I will always reply :)

Lauren xo

Shirt: H&M // Skirt: H&M // Slip Ons: Asos // Satchel: Topshop (alternate colour)

 Watch: River Island

Kimono in the Rain

Yes, you read it right, "Kimono in the Rain" is exactly what it says on the tin! As per usual, the sun did not shine on the day we shot this look. It was an impromptu photo shoot, as we were off to the pub and we saw that the road I usually take the pictures on was empty. I must admit, I felt a tad silly with my sunnies on and a rather 'holiday' style outfit, but luckily, the pictures haven't got visable rain drops on them!

I bought this kimono style top online from H&M. It's original purpose was for my holiday, I'd envisioned a bikini and wavy hair with this as a cover up. But when it arrived, I was wearing these jeans and a vest top, so just tried it on for size. I then realised it was really versatile and could be worn in loads of ways! I was trying to get across the movement of the kimono on the pictures, as it really does flow when you walk, however I do feel I look like a flasher on some pics! Anyway, it was such a bargain (£9.99) and I know I will wear it in many different ways. 

Boyfriend jeans are my staple this summer (as my followers will know), but I'd not yet paired these light denim ones with my other fave, my M&S mules. Such a cool, effortless look, and more importantly, really comfortable!

On to my satchel. My perfect-in-every-way satchel. I can't fault it. I picked it up as it was the closest bag to the door, but whenever I see it pictured, I fall in love with it all over again. It completes any look, dressed up, or down, and I get so many compliments about it. I bought it from the Leather Satchel Company, which is the best out there! Not over priced, brilliant customisation and just perfect customer service. I highly recommenced getting in touch with them if you are thinking in investing in one.

Hope you are all having a great Monday! 

Lauren XO

Kimono: H&M (No longer online but still in store. Similar ones here, here and here) Jeans: Zara // Tshirt: Mango // Mules: Marks and Spencers 

Satchel: The Leather Satchel Company // Cuff: New Look (Similar here and here)

Stripes and Ripped Jeans

I know, I know ANOTHER monochrome look! I honestly don't mean to do it, it just ends up all black and white! I didn't even realize I owned that many black and white items...

This was a look for a lunch date. To me, being comfortable is the most important thing about any outfit. Again, I've gone for boyfriend style jeans. I cannot recommend them enough, I'm sure you are getting sick of them by now, but trust me, they just flatter your figure (even when I'm having a "fat" day and just want to slob out). These particular beauties I found in the Mango sale. I don't normally get along with white jeans...especially skinny white jeans. I always feel they highlight all of the bits I want to hide and are usually very unforgiving. So when I found these, I was beyond happy! I also feel like I will inevitably get stains all over them, which I'm happy to say hasn't happened yet! Although as you can imagine, eating lunch probably wasn't the best first outing for them.

The stripey boyfriend tee is from Primark and at £4 how could I resist!? It's great and baggy, again so comfortable. It added the little nautical look I was going for. Oh and the good old mules are out again. What can I say, they go with EVERYTHING!

These are the first pics I've added with my hair up. I have a very weird obsession that my head is very small and I end up looking like a 'pea head'. It took me a while to get the confidence to take shots with it up...I suppose we all have our strange insecurities!

I'm trying to get more outfits up that I wear on a day to day basis, rather than a 'blog specific' look. I hope you will enjoy the more casual outfits!

xo

Jeans: Mango // Top: Primark (similar here and here) // Mules: M&S // Watch: River Island

Ripped Jeans and Red

Three posts in one day! Crazy I know, but I've totally neglected my blog for a week, so it's only fair I make it up. I learnt a valuable lesson about lighting in this post. Basically, if the light is good, the pictures will be great. Unfortunately for me, I only had an hour or so on the day, and it was sunny. Sunny is great, but not at 1pm when the sun is so high in the sky that is causes weird shadows. So I am sorry about the quality of the pics above, and the fact my face is constantly in the shadows!

Ok, onto the look. Boyfriend jeans are a girls best friend. They hide a multitude of sins, they are majorly comfy and you can wear them dressed up or down. The ripped detail is bang on trend. Unlike some celebs, I've gone for the slightly ripped look, rather than looking as though I've been attacked by a tiger (google Kim K ripped jeans...). I tend to wear them most during summer, as paired with sparkly sandals, they just look to effortlessly cool. However, I've dressed them up a bit with my new fave heels from H&M. When you break it down, this outfit is so simple. A white tee and jeans. But that added pop of colour from my little friend (M&S) plus the heels, has made it a little more edgy and on trend. 

Red is THE colour of A/W 14, but when I found this beauty I had to have it for summer! I just love it. It's slightly tacky, and OTT, but it adds such fun to what would be a rather plain look. 

Jeans: Zara // Top: Primark // Shoes:H&M // Bag: Marks and Spencers