Street Style Steal #2: Monochrome & Clashing Prints

This girls outfit caught my eye whilst I was mooching around in Kingston the other week. I managed to muster up enough courage to ask her if she'd mind me taking a picture of her and (obviously) she very kindly obliged. Unfortunately, in my haste to leave her alone and avoid a 'weirdo' label, I forgot to ask her where any of it was from and I didn't even get her name! Sigh. Nevertheless, I have compiled these pieces which I think can be put together to recreate the striking look.

I have to say, this is an outfit which I'm unlikely to wear myself. I'm not quite confident enough to pull off the clashing-prints combo and I've never ventured into the world of 'wide-leg' or 'flares' - I'm well and truly a slave to my skinny's. That being said, whilst the monochrome and print trends continue to feature in the A/W fashions, there are certainly elements I'll be incorporating into my own outfits and as I've shown before in this post, I'm a huge fan of monochrome.

1. Polka Dot Wide Leg Trousers - This pair gives a more casual vibe due to the smaller polkadots and comfy (looking) material. Ideal for the daytime. 

2. Chiffon Sleeve Baseball Top - Next have outdone themselves with this top; I love the twist on the classic baseball top. Very cool. This is definitely on my 'wish list'.

3. Geo Face Watch - I love the simplicity of this and the black and silver is in keeping with the whole monochrome look. That being said, a pop of colour on the watch strap would also have made a lovely contrast.

4. Buckle Flatform Plimsolls - Continuing my love affair flatforms... I really like these because they're a more girlie and interesting take on your classic lace-ups. They also give some height (ideal for wide-leg trousers) without being too dressy. Perfect.

5. Pearl Peter Pan Collar - If you imagined this outfit in your head, you'd think that a pearl collar necklace would look waaay too fussy with all the other things going on. In reality it actually adds a little something to the outfit - there are loads of these on eBay for bargain prices so take your pick!

6. Chiffon Polka Dot Trousers - these are actually black even though they do look navy! These are definitely more of a night-time choice due to the sheer legs and the knicker-shorts.

7. Contrast Panel Tee - I've actually just seen that this is out of stock, which is a shame because it's gorgeous but hopefully they'll restock. If not, New Look have a similar one here. Alternatively (and for a different 'look', chuck on a neon top - gorgeous!) 

8. Quilted Pumps - Chanel eat your heart out, I think these are adorable and look much more expensive than they are!

So, there you have it - my second 'Street Style Steal'! What do you think of this look - have you ever tried wearing two different prints in one outfit? Is this an outfit you'd like to recreate?

Chem x

OOTN: Leather & Lime

I wore this ensemble for a long awaited night out with my friends. I snapped up the leather ('pleather') skirt in the H&M sale for a jaw-dropping £5 which I was chuffed with. Leather is still on trend for AW13 so this versatile piece will see me right through the seasons.

I paired it with a lime green Topshop cami which I picked up on a whim thinking that together they'd make a perfect outfit. I love the contrast of the black and the neon, and the top brightens up what would otherwise be quite a plain outfit. I think I'll definitely be picking up this top in some more colours!

I wore my Bertie platform ankle boots which you cant see that well in the picture but I have featured them before in this post. I really like the contrasting 'toughness' of the boots and the leather skirt with delicate top. 

I finished it off with an old Topshop leather clutch bag with metal detailing, and a pair of statement earrings. I ended up wearing a white blazer too (which you can be seen here) which really finished off the outfit.

It's definitely an outfit I'll be coming backing to time and again!

Cami: Topshop

Leather Skirt: H&M sale (similar here)

Boots: Bertie, John Lewis sale (similar here)

Chem x

p.s. As you can see, the cat decided to get in on the action again!
p.p.s. I'll be working making my stance a little more ladylike! 

OOTD: Urban Outfitters' Shift Dress

Can I just start off by saying that I bloody love this dress. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it, I took it home and we've lived happily ever since. There were second dates with this little number.

It's your classic shift dress, simple and chic. It falls really nicely, skimming over most of the lumps and bumps, and the pattern is gorgeous. It's super comfy and soft, and although it wasn't cheap (£42) I've worn it to death already and I've only had it for a couple of months. Teamed with tights and a white collared shirt underneath, it'll even see me through winter.

This dress also comes in a navy colour with a daisy design on it, which I stupidly didn't buy when I saw it, but I'm desperately trying to get my hands on as we speak. I literally want this dress in every colour!

I teamed it with a pair of black leather boots with gold detailing. They're basically a rip-off of the Chloé ankle boots that everyone wanted to get their hands on last year! I nabbed these in New Look sale earlier this year for...wait for it... £5. Yes, you read that right AND they're real leather. They're actually a size 3 (I'm usually a 4) but I made them fit and they're actually not too bad.

The jacket is also a New Look sale find. It's a parka style jacket, but really light-weight and thin. A perfect summer jacket.

I did my hair in a half-up/half-down style in a classic 90's tribute. I'm actually really enjoying wearing my hair like this at the moment; it keeps it out of my face but it's more exciting that a ponytail.

You can find this dress on the Urban Outfitters website.

What do you think of the dress? Are you a fan of shift dresses?

Chem x

p.s. Next door's cat wanted in on the photoshoot so naturally I obliged - isn't he cute?!

Clothing Crush: Flatform Sandals

So you could say that I'm a bit late to the party re. flatforms, but you'll have to forgive me. Albeit not being to everyone's taste, flatforms showed their practical-yet-stylish face about 2 years ago, and have continued to loiter in our shops ever since.  

I've only recently ventured into the sphere of flatforms in the form of your classic white plimsoll (a bargain from eBay which you can find here) but after seeing a colleague rocking a particularly delectable pair of flatform sandals (the Topshop 'Woohoo') my head has been filled with images of these little beauties.

With that in mind I thought I'd show you my favourite pairs which are out there at the moment...

1. 'Pink Ties' from & Other Stories £23 - These are actually in the sale and have sadly sold out of my size but they have most other sizes. I just thought they were too pretty not too include - the fabric ankle ties are such a nice touch and so different to anything else I've come across.

2. 'Red' from & Other Stories £45 - Perhaps not strictly 'flatforms' but as good as. I really like the bright colour and the plastic strap across the toes give them a slight twist.

3. 'Monochrome' from Zara £19.99 - I love the chunky-ness (?!) of these shoes and the monochrome colour scheme. The white stripe really makes them stand out and I think they'd be perfect for day wear or a night out. What's even better is that they are such a bargain and they'd look so good in my wardrobe...

4. 'Sparkle' from Zara £59.99 - These are the priciest of the lot but I think the glitter is so pretty! I love the nude tones and they'd look great on the end of some bronzed limbs. Gorgeous.

5. 'Raffia' from Topshop £45.00 - These are really versatile and I really like the contrast of the raffia and leather.

6. 'All Black' from Topshop £40.00 - Your classic black flatform, perfect for any outfit and any occassion. Out of all of them, you'd probably get the most wear out of these. I love their simplicity.

In a nutshell, flatforms can be worn with, well... anything! They will give a cute summer dress a slight edge, dress-up a pair of skinny jeans and a slouchy top, or even look great on a night out. With the weather taking a slight U-turn at the moment (read: wind and rain), I'm reluctant to purchase any of these beauties but if a pair happens to fall into my hands I'll be sure to show you some outfits with them.

What are you thoughts on flatforms? Which pair is your favourite?

Chem x

OOTD: The Graduate

When I say finding my graduation outfit took months, I'm not exaggerating. I've been searching since April for 'The One' (read: perfect outfit) and my searches had remained unfruitful until the end of June.

I was holding out for that love-at-first sight, fitting-eachother-like-a-glove moment, and I wasn't prepared to settle for anything less. Yes, I am still talking about clothes, not finding my life partner although it felt just as important!

Eventually I found the dress that you see before you today; a bright yellow pleated midi dress from Topshop. I didn't have a particular colour in mind and yellow would never have been my first choice but I love it. It fits brilliantly and is a modest but chic length. It was also such a nice contrast against the black gown. On a side note: yes, wearing the hat and gown is just as exciting as you think it would be, although I could never have predicted how much it would make me sweat!

Next were the shoes. Oh, the shoes! They were by far my greatest worry. I was plagued by nightmares of toppling in front of hundreds of people as I collected my certificate (I didn't, phew. ) Anyway, usually I'm a platform wedge-wearer but I realised that they couldn't be anything like that. Not only did I think they'd look clumpy, but I knew that the heel height coupled with a wedge would leave me open to going over on my ankle, especially without the usual help of vodka induced confidence that one gets on a night-out (I know you know what I'm talking about)! After much Cinderella-style shoe trying, I decided on these blue strappy shoes. Comfy, secure, a good height and damn right sexy - Office , you nailed it. I also know I'll definitely get more use out of them than just on this one occasion.

Finally, I stumbled across this really cool floral clutch bag in the Dorothy Perkins sale. It tied in the colours perfectly and was a steal at £10.

So there you have it, my complete graduation outfit. To all you future graduates, my advice would be... start early! If you thought your dissertation was difficult, you ain't seen nothing yet.

What do you think of the outfit? What did you/will you wear to your graduation?

Chem x

Beauty Favourite #1: Topshop 'Hazard' Lipstick

So, I'm back. After a shameful and extended break in blog posts, I have finally crawled out of my dissertation and revision cave (yay!) and have entered the real world once again. This time it's forever too, as I've completed university and I am a actual graduate. I won't lie, it's terrifying, very sad, and a little exciting all at the same time. Needless to say I just don't know how to feel, so until I figure that out, I have my first 'favourite' for you, and this time it's personal beauty related.

I bought the Topshop lipstick in the shade 'Hazard' probably around a year and a half ago, after hearing The Persian Babe talking about it in one of her videos. Before this, I'd never really been into lipsticks and I had certainly never owned a red lipstick so I bit the bullet (geddit?) and purchased it. Since then it has become my go-to lipstick; if I fancy adding a pop of colour to a muted outfit, or if I want to lay off the smoky eye for a night, this is always my number one choice. 

I have to say, I've never worn this lipstick during the day as it is a very red red and I don't know if I'd quite pull it off. On a night out though, I love it. It's extremely long lasting; it has stood the test of multiple drinks (ahem) and a hell of a lot of dancing. It really doesn't budge which is brilliant because I can forget about it instead of wandering all night about whether my lipstick is on my forehead. On top of that, although it is matte, it isn't drying (and that's coming from someone who is prone to dry lips) and it doesn't cling to flakiness although a slick of vaseline before applying it never goes amiss.

The colour is beautiful - it's a dark, cool toned red which I think would suit any skin tone. It's so difficult to show the actual colour so the above pictures reflect how it looked away from a window (Left) and in front of a window (Right).

It's definitely my favourite lipstick that I own, and I plan on trying out some other Topshop lipsticks because I think they're such good quality as well as being affordable.

What do you think of red lipstick? Are there any Topshop lipstick shades which you'd recommend?

Chem x 

Bloglovin'

So this isn't a very interesting post (there is one on it's way, I promise!) but it's definitely pretty important!

As I'm sure you know, Google Reader and Google Friend Connect are being shut down in the near future. For this reason I'm setting my blog up in conjunction with Bloglovin' so if you'd like to follow me (and I'd really love it if you did!) then please click the link below and it will direct you! I also have a button you can use on the right hand side.

>>>Follow my blog with Bloglovin<<<<

Chem x