OOTD | My take on a transitional wardrobe

Jacket - Zara (similar here, and here) | Dress - Topshop Boutique (in-store, similar here) | Boots - ASOS

So, by no means is it warm enough yet to start buying all the beautiful frilled, off-the-shoulder-tops in Zara, but it definitely is time to put the winter coats away. I bought this linen camel jacket in the Zara Christmas sales, knowing that it was going to give me SO much wear throughout spring-summer. I think I've mentioned before how much of a cheapskate I am, and this translates into my shopping habits. I will buy things from sales, months in advance of me wearing them, rather than paying full price for something similar at the time. Saying that, Topshop have got some absolute gems in their current sale (which I might have spent quite a bit on...) including this brushed cotton jersey dress from Boutique.

OOTD | On Wednesday's we wear pink

Sweater - Weekday | Jeans - Zara (similar) | Trainers - H&M | Necklace - Weekday

I am beyond obsessed with the colour pink. Which is funny to me, because I am most definitely not a pink person. Before this month, I could probably count on one hand the amount of pink things I've ever owned. Now, however, I'd probably lose count. From nail varnish, to trainers, to potentially even suit trousers. I can't get enough! 

The thing is, dusty pink is such a surprisingly easy colour to wear. Not only does it pair perfectly with greys and blacks (aka, 99% of my wardrobe), but it works so well with basics to give any old outfit a bit of life.

This Weekday sweater is the most comfortable, silky ribbed fabric that I wish all of my clothes were made from. It's flared sleeves give it a slouchy feel, even though it fits quite well and isn't massively oversized. 

It also perfectly matches my newest pair of trainers! I was hesitant to buy these at first, as I don't particularly rate trainers that aren't branded. To be fair to H&M, their shoe game has massively upped in the past few months and these are actually very good quality leather. However, Vans have recently released a blush pink pack of slip ons and Old Skool's - both of which I'm now desperate to get my hands on!

*Disclaimer: I know it's Thursday, But these photos are from a Wednesday...

OOTD | Worker boots

Top - Zara (similar) | Trousers - Zara (similar) | Boots - Aldo

There's something so classic about paring navy and black together, that I can't quite understand why fashion magazines and moguls seem to hold the opinion that it's a massive no-no. But whatevs. I think it's maybe my favourite colour combination.

I bought these Turek boots especially for New York, anticipating it to be freezing cold and snowing. My weather forecast couldn't have been more wrong, but they still served me well in terms of comfortability when walking hundreds of blocks. They're shearling lined and have a really great cushioned rubber sole that kind of moulds to your foot. They're also so minimally cool and go with pretty much everything I own. I have wanted a pair of flat, pull-on style boots for so long and these just tick every box for me.
They're still on sale from Aldo, by the way...

OOTD | Love Actually knitwear

Coat (GAP sale in-store) | Jumper (H&M in-store) | Scarf (similar here, H&M in-store) | Jeans | Boots

I go to New York this Friday! Super duper excited, if not slightly shivery at how cold it's supposed to be. Right now it's something like -20 degrees, so I've been stockpiling coats, jumpers and scarves like a mad woman in preparation. I've never been to America before, so I'm pretty excited for the culture shock - any tips on where to go or what to see would be cool!

Sticking with my theme of toning down my wardrobe - I've started to ignore colours and patterns and impulse buys, much more in favour of muted colours and staple items. For example - a pair of snakeskin boots have been on my wishlist forever, and because of their monochrome palette, they pretty much go with every outfit combination I own. 

This jumper has gotten so much wear over the past couple of months. It's quite honestly the cosiest item in my wardrobe. I pretty much chuck it on every single day, after getting dressed and realising my outfit isn't cold weather appropriate. My boyfriend tells me it reminds me of Jamie's cheating girlfriend from Love Actually - which is a great compliment. That jumper is the best.

I realised whilst writing this post that I am such a cheapskate. I literally refuse to pay full price for anything - all of these items were either purchased with my discount or in the January sales. I always manage to find absolute bargains - prime example being this thermal lined coat. It's been reduced from £100 to £25, so if you can still find it in GAP stores it's definitely worth a purchase!

New in | The pink trainers dreams are made of

Jeans - Zara (similar)

Trainers - Puma via Urban Outfitters (only available in purple & grey now!)

Sometimes - as I'm pretty much sure 100% of everybody else who shops at Urban Outfitters does - I buy things purely because they're really, really pretty. But, as I think I've mentioned before, I am not a 'pink' person. Lately however, I find myself gravitationally pulled towards anything powder pink in any shop I seem to be in. I bought these Puma's in a incredibly spontaneously "well, they've only got my size left so it must be a sign" type moment. Don't get me wrong. I live in trainers. Always have, always will. But pink trainers? I own a pair of baby pink leather Stan Smith's that I wore to death aged 14. But Puma's are just so sporty and I am just so not-sporty...

I bought these in the first week of January and only this week have I braved trying them on - let alone wearing them out of the house. But then again, why shouldn't I wear something a little out of my comfort zone once in a while?

The coat of all coats (and a trip to Edinburgh)

Coat - ASOS
Jumper - GAP

Culottes - H&M

Trainers - Vans via FootAsylum

I went to Edinburgh for a little pre-Christmas holiday last week and it was so amazing! I absolutely love city breaks, and after going to Brussels last year, I definitely wanted to go away again this year. I'd never been to Edinburgh before, so it was really nice to explore the city and visit the markets and generally get into the festive spirit - I've literally never listened to so many Christmas songs in such a short amount of time before. Love you Mariah.

Anyway, I'm so sad to be home. Edinburgh is a beautiful city and I would love to go back, maybe in summer to see more of what it has to offer! These photos were taken up at the castle that sits in the middle of the city, next to Old Town and Grassmarket - where we found some pretty little pubs to drink gallons of wine in. By no means do I know my way around Edinburgh, but I'm tempted to upload a photo diary of where we went and what we did!

I bought this coat on ASOS as soon as I spotted it on the new in section during a 1am browse. It is my dreammmm coat, one I've been searching for, for actual months. There was a similar one by Topshop Boutique a couple of years ago that I've been moping about for so long. I was convinced that massive puffer coats were a thing of my primary school past, but I'm finding that I'm more and more gravitationally pulled towards them every time I go into a Zara. This ASOS version sold out in about two days so I'm mega happy with having got my hands on it! It's a Christmas miracle. Lol. 

Hope you all have a lovely Christmas!!

**I don't think I could have mentioned Christmas more times in this post**

Life update

Tee - Zara

Necklace - H&M (similar)

Cullottes - H&M (similar)

Boots - Vagabond

I haven't posted properly in so long! But with good reason. I have recently started a new job, so in between spending time on a training course in Reading and the awful winter weather ruining any chance of looking half decent, I just haven't had chance to take photographs. I'm still searching for that perfect indoor spot with perfect lighting - but this is as good as it's going to get for now...

I've started working for H&M Home at the new Selfridges concession in the Trafford centre. It's a part time sales role - so not a 9-5 office type just yet - but after a long summer of writing CV's, online applications and interviews, I decided to give myself a bit of a break. It was all starting to get on top of me and wear me down. I couldn't find anything I was seriously passionate about and everything I applied for seemed to lead to a dead end. I wasn't sleeping at all because I was so stressed and my whole outlook was completely miserable. It took a bit of exasperation from my boyfriend at how irrational I was being towards myself, but I finally sat down and stopped and reassessed everything I was doing. 

At the moment I feel fine about my life, my job and, kind of even the future. I know it's not going to be forever, but it's more than good enough for now. I feel a lot more motivated and confident in myself and my abilities. And earning a bit of money to be able to treat myself and have a nice time makes it all seem OK! I think the pressure of graduating from uni and walking into a job is way too intense. Nobody seems to say 'it's OK to still not know what you want to do with your life.' Or, 'it's OK if you don't want to do anything related to your degree just yet - if at all!' 

For now, I'm fine with saving up for going to New York, drinking a lot of mulled wine and getting out of bed everyday to go to work somewhere I actually enjoy!