Hazy

Like the rest of Britain this weekend I saw the sun and though 'ALL ACTIONS GO, SUMMER CLOTHES NOW'. So for a lazy day on Saturday of traipsing around town and have dinner outside I wore this outfit. Yes I jumped the gun, I didn't test the temperature before I went outside and my legs were chilly, but the sun was still shining and there were men with no tops on. So that, my friends, is summer.

I wore this midi/maxi dress, depending on your height, very simply with a chunky brown belt and beige wedges. I still have this dress and it's almost two years since I bought it. I think it's still fashionable, especially when I  pull it up, and make it a midi length. The simple t-shirt style is what initially drew me to it, and of course, it's grunge feel, with the print. You don't get many maxi/midi dresses that aren't floral and don't feel like something my gran would wear. I always prefer simple, plain maxi dresses for this reason. I love the rocker vibe, it looks great with a leather jacket and thick tights in winter too. I popped my battered Levis jacket on over the top to try and continue the facade that I am some sort of cool, glam rock chick, who buys her veg from ASDA. I wore this dress a couple weeks ago as a short style, and I do think it's really versatile.

Sorry about my full on chunky fingers! This clutch is a charity shop find. It has a little strap too that I'm looking to replace with a longer one, but I think it's really cute as a vintage style clutch. The tan colour is great for summer, and it's a lovely size, fitting essentials in and still closing up without me having to stuff them in.

I went out for dinner tonight for one of my best friends 22nd birthday. I'll show you what I wore later this week, and tell you about the restaurant. I drank half a bottle of white wine and it's hitting my head now. Oh no wine headache in a stuffy office, sounds like my idea of hell. At least there are loadsa men in suits!! (See twitter for reference ;))

I also have to show you the amazing nail wraps that I put on on Saturday night! 

Dress - Dorothy Perkins (old)

Levi Jacket - Vintage (my mum's)

Bag - (Charity shop)

Shoes - H&M

Necklace - Old

Ring - Evans,vintage, pia.

Gem xo

Wants of the Week #14

It feels like summer is here again, if it doesn't rain or cloud over, so I've obviously taken that to heart and my wishlist is just all aimed at summer wear! It's been a lovely weekend to a hectic week! So this is what I've been lusting after this busy week:

1. Floral Dress - ASOS Curve £32

This dress is so pretty, I love the style of it as well, just so simple for summer. A girl can never have too many floral tea dresses.

2. Mint Shirt - Monki (around) £24

This batwing blouse is a lovely colour. Again I was drawn to the simplicity of the item, meaning it's versatile and you can wear it with lots of things. It would look lovely with a pair of blue skinnies, or a printed skirt.

3. Aztec Print Skirt - New Look Inspire £12.99

Just like this one! New Look Inspire is fast becoming one of my favourite plus size retailers on the highstreet. It has a lot of different styles to choose from, lots of t-shirts styled with a YOUNG audience in mind, and really affordable. This skirt would look lovely with the shirt above, it hits two key trends this summer, pastels and tribal prints. This definitely needs purchasing soon. It'd also look great with the aztec print nail strips I tried out this weekend. 

4. Skin Repair Moisturiser - Liz Earle £30

This has been getting great reviews. And since I've been so impressed with the rest of the Liz Earle range, this moisturiser would be a great addition to my skin care regime. Especially for summer, one of the things I need in Summer is a great moisturiser.

5. Tortoise Shell Sunglasses - Ray-Ban £120

I doubt I will ever have a real pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. I lust after them year in, year out and never ever want to part with the money. I don't doubt that they are worth it at all! It's me, I know I'll break them, thus breaking my heart. I'm just too clumsy. These glasses are always a firm favourite with celebs, and will always be on trend in summer for festivals and holidays. The tortoise shell are my favourite, but black will always be a cool option too.

6. Crotchet Collar - Forever 21 (Similar one here) £12.15

Still in love with collars, this pretty one will go nicely over a simple black t shirt dress for a night out. And will dress up any simple outfit and is definitely a statement piece.

Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend, I'll be showing you the nail wraps next week as well as a summery outfit I braved this yesterday! 

Gem xo

Set Sail to the West.

Today I was very casual by usual standards! I didn't even wear a buttoned up shirt under this jumper to try and be all preppy. You probably didn't notice as there are far more important points than me in your life, but I didn't write yesterday due to not really knowing what to post. I had taken outfit photos, but was not impressed with them at all. Spat my dummy out and all that. 

Anyway, today I threw this on as I'm still not as accustomed to early mornings. I wore some new skinnies from Dorothy Perkins. These are the most comfortable skinnies I own. I know I say this about any pair of jeans that fit me, but they are. They're a lighter blue than in the photos, and there are lots of different colours in them. If you're interested, you can find them here. I know I don't have that pert arse that is the models. But I still think they fit me nicely. Definitely size down though, as all the reviews say! This old lace tunic and stripy jumper complimented each other well too. Staying with the blue and white theme, and the subtle lace underneath the cropped jumper was quite pretty. As you can see from the photo below! I wore this vintage jumper ages ago and dug it out, I'm actually thinking of making it a bit shorter as it's at a weird in-between length, what dya think?

I'm off out in a bit for dinner anyway with a few friends (om nom nom) but will probably change as this is a bit too casual for me. I've become addicted to pastel nail varnish too, lilac mostly. And keep replacing my favourite red with it when the sun comes out! Anyway have a lovely Friday Evening!

Jeans - Dorothy Perkins

Jumper - Vintage Shop in Brighton Lanes

Tunic - Old Dorothy Perkins

Boots - Dorothy Perkins

Necklace - Made myself.

Gem xo

Gradient Nails

I did the gradient nails. On my own! And they aren't a complete disaster. I tried them tonight when I got in from work and in took me about half an hour to do it. I saw this Tumblr, and found the tutorial on American Teen Vogue website, which you can find here. 

It's actually really easy, and I love the spring pastel colours together, but you could do it with any colour really! They currently look very pretty, and I can't wait until summer so I can wear them more. I wish I'd thought up this idea because anyone really can do this at home with the help of a tiny paint brush, clear nail varnish and a piece of tin foil!

That's all for this evening anyway! Have a good'un lovelies.

Gem xo

Get Your Camera

Hello!

Started my new job today, and it feels amazing to be working full time again! I have bought some really nice stuff for the office which I'm excited to show you. Office wear is so fun now! And providing I stick inside of the companies rules, which my clothes do, I can wear fun things still! Woohoo! I had a lazy bank holiday weekend, sewing pants to turn them into cigarette pants and sewing buttons back on shirts, like the one I'm wearing above. On Friday me and my mother went into Manchester to pick up some bits and bobs for a masquerade party my mum was attending this weekend, and have lunch. So I threw this ensemble on. 

I'm still loving the aztec print leggings, I'm not brave enough to purchase the multicoloured ones. But they do look cool, and people were suggesting cool things to wear with them last time I wore them, but I just stuck with black and white again!! I stuck on a button up shirt and a black jumper over the top to smarten up the leggings and my chelsea boots. You can't see either but I wore a longer black top underneath to cover my bum! I'm pretty sure the people in Manchester are queuing up to see my bum cheeks, but not on Friday!

I bought this necklace from a charity shop when I was in London last year. My friend works in the charity shop so it always reminds me of her. Plus I love the double gold chain. It would look lovely as a ring though too. 

Anyway, a bath is calling out my name. I hear 'Gemmaaaa, Gemmaaaa, come and soak your little toe' every time the bubbles crackle. I don't know what I'm saying at all!

Shirt - Peacocks

Jumper - H&M

Leggings - Primark

Boots - Office

Necklace - Charity Shops

Gem xo

Wants of the Week #13

I've not been lusting after much this week. I've been busy sorting myself out. But with the prospect of more money coming in, I'm thinking about being a Sensible Susan and opening a savings account to save money for the future. I've always been frivolous but my mindset has changed this year, and I'm really thinking about not spending money, mainly not spending money on clothes. Which is a bit of a killer for a fashion blog! I'm still wanting some things though, which I'll show you now!

1. Barry M Nail Varnishes - Boots £2.99 (Save a pound when you buy 2 atm!)

I have already bought these two pastel shades for Summer. And I love them. I'm looking at trying out that gradient effect that's been doing the rounds on Tumblr. I've tried the ombre one which was easy and this looks like a messy one too which is perfect for me, as I've never had a steady hand!

2. Peacock Tunic - Yours Clothing £30

This bright tunic from Yours is lovely. I'm always looking for cute tunics to wear with leggings and this one would look lovely. I'm pretty sure they say peacock feathers bring bad luck. Did I make that up? Anyway I don't think the saying applies to wearing them.

3. Black Flatforms - Office £45

I've been sucked into the world of flatforms. I tried these on and walked away from them, even though they were the last pair, but they're still on the website so I have a bit of thinking time. People say the flatforms are hard to walk in, I think these would be a little bit easier as the platform sole is quite small really. They also have them in pink if you're a bit more daring!

4. Bow Necklace - ASOS (not available anymore) But similar one is £8

Love this necklace, it would look so cute under a buttoned up collar. This on my birthday wishlist too! Which is only a couple weeks away if anyone wants to buy me anything!

5. Black Lace Blazer - ASOS Curve £37.50

Still looking for a smart blazer, I've found it. Not one for conforming to a black boring blazer, that's plain and made of polyester. I love this lace one which is still really smart, but pretty in a subtle way.

Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend! 

Gem xo

Have Your Say

I wore this today to pop to the post office and sort of some bits and bobs for the new job coming up next week, as well as take part in the vote that's happening in the UK. I really believe in everyone having their say because everyone moans about the state of the country, but people don't seem to vote! And local elections are just as important as the general ones! So important, I have to highlight the fact with multiple exclamation marks apparently!! Now I've got off my high horse, I took the dog down with me and he managed to jump through the fence, I actually have no idea how he did it. I laughed so hard when I came out to find him all tangled up, and in the bushes on the wrong side of the fence. No men will break down barriers to get to me, but my dog will, at least I know he's loyal. And will hump me at any chance he gets.

This bright top is another Next buy, and I love the colour surprisingly. It was sunnier and warmer today than it has been, so I enjoyed wearing a brighter colour to fit in with the day. It has the peplum waist that's popular as the moment, and I can wear it casually undone like so.. or done up to be preppy and smart. I wore it over this black dress, as it is quite see through and then a light denim jacket over the top. I wore this leggings and old converse as walking the dog is not a task done in boots, especially when you're dodging dog poo. But popped my boots on anyway for photo reasons.

Sorry about the full on cleavage shot, but I wanted to show you the colour of the top and the collar detail which I love too. I also added an Instagram widget which is seeming a bit temperamental, if anyone has a link they'd like to supply me with for a better one I'd appreciate it greatly.

Hope everyone had a lovely day! 

Top - Next

Boob tube dress - Primark

Leggings - M&S

Boots - DP

Denim Jacket - Evans (Agesss ago)

Gem xo