Why gingham is my favourite summer trend





Outfit:
Red and white gingham midi dress: New Look
Nude espadrille wedges: H&M (similar)
Poppy red Lily bag: Mulberry

Despite looking like a tablecloth, Gingham is one of those trends that I come back to summer upon summer. Just looking at the print evokes memories of balmy long summer nights, endless BBQs with friends and trips away to foreign countries. It's seems so timeless and classic, one that will always be around until the end of time. I spotted this red gingham during an unusual browse on New Look late at night - usually I'm an ASOS girl through and though - and it reminded me of a blue dress I had from Topshop many moons ago that I had to reluctantly throw away after it became a little worse for wear. I have every faith that this dress will become just as hardworking and one I will turn to time and time again now that summer has finally reared it's head.

So here we are at Saturday again! Today I have a friend popping round for a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs and my favourite bread from a local bakery. This afternoon it's a free for all at a BBQ hosted by my best friend. One of the reasons why I'm so excited to finally move into my own house is because it's less than a five minute walk from BFF. Not that that was the reasoning behind the purchasing... Tomorrow sees a mid morning brunch at Bills before popping to the house to do some work and splashing out on some paint in B&Q. A pretty chilled weekend is just what the doctor ordered...

How is your weekend looking?


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How to style a tiered midi skirt





Outfit:
Black roll neck body: ASOS (similar)
Black and white patterned tiered midi skirt: ASOS
Black midi heel shoes: Primark (similar)
Poppy red Lily bag: Mulberry
Faux leather jacket: New Look (similar)
Red liquid lipstick: Kat Von D

I wore this over the weekend for a little mother/daughter date to London. We had such a lovely day catching An American in Paris in the West End (highly recommend it!), buying ridiculous yet fully essential things for my garden to make it look pretty for an upcoming BBQ and stuffing our faces in Bills with ribs and chicken burgers. It turned out to be such a beautiful day and it finally felt like spring. Looking out the window I had high hopes for the weather so I decided to wear my favourite skirt again. It makes me feel like the red lady dress emoji which is never a bad thing right?

This weekend looks to be just as fun as I'm on my way to the French Riviera for a weekend with my favourite internet friends. We've got the perfect guide in the form of Elodie showing us all around her hometown. I can't wait for a weekend of good food, great company and warm sunshine. It's been a long four months since I've been on a plane so I'm so excited to be exploring another part of the world.


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Why everyone should buy a yellow dress for the summer






Outfit:
Yellow bardot summer dress: ASOS
Black faux suede mid heels: Primark (similar)
Poppy red Lily: Mulberry

Last weekend we took advantage of the sunshine after lunch at Hannah's and strolled down to the river in Putney to catch the rowers warming up for the Oxford and Cambridge boat race. After a few visits to Putney, I've really grown to love the area. It doesn't feel like you're in the city at all and when you're down by the river in the warm weather, you could almost be on holiday! I think I was a little too optimistic with this dress as when the sun went in, it was a little chilly. But it was just too pretty to have hanging in my wardrobe unworn. I've been eyeing it on the site for months but it kept coming in and out of stock. I finally managed to nab it at the right time and think it's going to be a staple for the next few months.

This weekend has been a busy one. Yesterday we celebrated a family 50th birthday and managed to squeeze in a tasty Bills brunch too. Today we're off out this afternoon to celebrate a friends birthday at Top Golf. It's been so nice to stay local for one and away from all the tubes!


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How to wear a leopard print coat







Outfit:
Leopard print smart coat: Next (similar)
Distressed black skinny jeans: New Look
Grey chunky knit roll neck jumper: New Look
Tan faux suede ankle boots: ASOS (similar)
Red poppy red Lily: Mulberry

I have such a soft spot for leopard print in all forms. Shoes, coats, dress and bags. But sometimes it just doesn't work. You want to look classy not tacky. Now I much prefer more muted, understated animal prints. I feel like they can be remixed better as the more gaudy patterns can make an outfit look too busy. As much as I love clashing prints on other people, I just don't like them on me. So what are my tips on how to wear a leopard print coat?

I like to wear a neutral top underneath, This chunky knit gray jumper is a bit less boring than black or white but still offers a good base. It keeps in with the snuggly winter theme I was aiming for. A white crisp shirt will also work well. These distressed black jeans again add a neutral base. But the ripped knees and frayed ankles help to keep the skinnies interesting. Finally the tan boots bring out the browns in the coat to bring the whole outfit together and the red bag brings a pop of colour. I think accessories are great to jazz up an outfit.


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OOTD: Checked midi dress







Outfit:
Beige trench coat: ASOS (similar)
Midi checked dress: ASOS
Croc print leather skater shoes: Vans via TK Maxx (similar)
Poppy Red Lily: Mulberry

So we've hit November eh? I honestly can't believe it's this time of year again but I'm not complaining as it means my trip to Glasgow is creeping even closer. My friend is getting married on 27th December so we've decided to stay for the full week and see out the New Year in the Scottish city. If anyone has any tips then I would love to hear them please! I already have a few places booked in to eat but it can't hurt to have some more ideas.

I had a little ASOS splurge last month and picked up this dress as I was in desperate need of some casual dresses. A very good decision! I love the soft flannel material and the slouchy fit which makes it perfect for wandering around a windy city. I wore this on my trip to Devon a few weeks ago. We stayed in Plymouth for a long weekend revisiting my best friends old university haunts. I didn't realise how much a needed a weekend away with my favourite girls and the sea air until we arrived at midnight on a Friday night. It's such a beautiful part of the world and exactly what I needed to switch off from that London life. I love it but sometimes you just crave fresh air and the sound of the sea!


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OOTD: Red smock dress





Outfit:
Red smock cold shoulder dress: H&M (similar)
Poppy red Lily: Mulberry
Pony hair black chunky heeled sandals: New Look (similar)

This is quite possibly one of the most unflattering things that I own but also the most comfortable. Priced at under £15, I spotted this a good few months ago in my lunch break and purchased it immediately in preparation for my holiday. I wanted clothes that were light, loose, comfortable and easy to pack. This ticked all the right boxes. One of my favourite purchases this summer! I can tell it's going to be a style staple whenever sunshine decides to appear.

I wore it out for a lazy Saturday brunch in east London with my favourite gal pals. Elodie and Lauren were visiting London so it was a good excuse to try somewhere new and catch up.  It felt like they had never moved away! Don't you just love a Bank Holiday weekend?


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OOTD: Blue midi dress




Outfit:
Blue cotton midi dress: H&M (similar)
Nude and red patent flats: Christian Loubouton (similar)
Poppy red lily bag: Mulberry
Navy and yellow watch: Timex* (similar)

I finally gave my new Loubs an outing after snapping them up in a sample sale a few months ago. I was going to save them for a special occasion but what's the point in having nice things if they just gather dust in the wardrobe? Not the most comfortable shoes but I will train my feet to get used to them!

I'm back on UK soil now after two weeks travelling around Eastern Europe and feeling the holiday blues. I had the most fantastic two weeks, seeing amazing sights, swanning around with great company and stuffing myself silly on good food. Eastern Europe really is such an underrated part of the world. It's my favourite part of the continent and each place is so different, charming and interesting. I'd recommend it in a heartbeat. Keep your eyes peeled for lots of travel posts coming your way!


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OOTD: White dropped waist dress







Outfit:
White dropped waist sleeveless dress: ASOS (similar)
Black leather espadrilles: H&M (similar)
Poppy red Lily bag: Mulberry
Mint leather strap watch: Olivia Burton

Despite spending most of my week in London and travelling to and from the city for the best part of 13 years, the skyline still gets me. What a beauty eh? It reminds me that I still need to make it to the top of the Sky Garden for a cocktail or two. I found this dropped waist dress lingering at the back of my wardrobe when I was trying on some holiday clothes. It's amazing what you can find when you hunt around! It's a great length, such comfy material and pretty light which makes it a great choice to wear when wandering around a city. It's definitely made the holiday cut! Paired with my new leather espadrilles, it's a fab outfit to try and combat this weird muggy weather we seem to be having at the moment.

By the time this has gone live, I shall be in Prague hopefully drinking and eating my way around the city. I've got the Old Town, castle and Petrin hill all high on my list to visit. Check out my Instagram to see some snaps as no doubt I shall be spamming away!

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OOTD: blue chevron shirt





Outfit:
Blue chevron shirt: Boohoo* (similar)
Beige midi trench coat: ASOS
Distressed blue denim jeans: F&F (similar)
Gold pointed leather loafers: Topshop
Poppy red Lily bag: Mulberry

This is a weekend staple for me. My shirt collection is slightly getting out of control. It's a simple, comfortable outfit that's perfect for mooching around town and meeting friends. The holes in these jeans are getting bigger and bigger but that's exactly how I like them. I'm dreading the day they fall apart on me. I wore this for Hello Kitty afternoon tea with my favourite blogger pals but more on that gem later on in the week. These gold leather loafers are the most comfortable pair of shoes I own. They were an absolute pain to break in and I think my feet weeped for about five days. But once that was over, they fit like a glove so it's worth taking on the pain for a while. Something to bear in mind if you feel like taking the plunge!

Today I am off to Copenhagen for three days and am so excited to finally visit Scandinavia. I booked the trip for my boyfriend's birthday so looking forward to eating out way around the city and coming back 10 stone heavier. We're going to try and take it easy to make sure we come back relaxed. Which means no ridiculously early alarms and lots of lounging around the apartment eating Danish pastries. Most of the trip is planed around food stops but we do have a few must-visits on our list. See you on the flip side guys!


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A Essex based lifestyle blogger who lives a champagne life on a lemonade purse!

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sophie.warner89@yahoo.co.uk.

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