Outfit: Stars and Stripes

Happy 4th of July to all my US readers! We don’t celebrate the day this side of the Atlantic (although I did got to a 4th of July party in Dublin 10 years ago) but I wore a themed outfit anyway, just for the heck of it. Our national colours are red, white and blue too so why not?

I had Martina McBride's Independence Day running through my head since I woke up.  Such a good song.

The stripes are obvious, but if you look closely at my scarf you might just make out the tiny start print. And I picked out the shoes for being blue, but when I was taking pictures I realised that they are also Converse All Stars and so fit the theme quite nicely.

Have a great weekend whatever you’re doing. The Tour de France is in Yorkshire this weekend so I’m off to watch that.

Red and white stripe top – H&M
Jeans – H&M (gifted)
Converse – c/o Sarenza
Blue and white star print scarf – Dorothy Perkins
Blue bangle – Diamonds and Pearls
Red beads – Claire’s
Navy heart necklace – Scope
Turquoise leather belt – H&M
Silver hoops - gifted

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Outfit: Shoeper Challenge 2013/14 Save 81 | Stripes and Florals

I don’t know why I haven’t saved these shoes sooner in the challenge (aside from them being quite summery due to the cut outs in the sides). I had forgotten how comfortable they are. They were a gift from the lovely people at Zalando a couple of summers ago and although I don’t think they are leather they are still a great pair of shoes. I chose them primarily for the strap as I can cycle in ordinary shoes providing they are held on my feet somehow. With these shoes ticked off the list I just have four more pairs left to save.

Today’s outfit was described as ‘very summery’ by one of my work mates today. And I guess it is with the nautical stripes and floral scarf. The trouble with living in the UK is that you get a couple of days of warm sunny weather and you know you have to make the most of them as there’s no guarantee you will get any more.

Navy and white stripe skirt – Debenhams (charity shop)
Navy top – Betty Jackson Black (Debenhams, sale)
Navy floral scarf – Fat Face (gifted)
Brown shoes – Anna Field (c/o Zalando)
Navy heart necklace – Scope
Silver hoops – gifted

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Outfit: Casual-ish Monday

It’s the last day of June. How did that happen? Do you find that some months just disappear in the blink of an eye whilst others (January) refuse to die?

I had a busy-ish weekend which involved some baking and a walk on Saturday and visit to my old high school on Sunday. Consequently Sunday night I was not really feeling inspired to pick out an outfit so I went with my standby of these striped pants.

Grey and cream striped trousers – Forever 21
Grey top – Best Mountain (c/o Spartoo)
Blue cardi – Next Tall (eBay)
Blue patent shoes – New Look (sale)
Blue bangle – Diamonds and Pearls
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted
Black leather belt – Pieces (c/o Spartoo)

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Outfit: Casual Friday

Wearing my hair up in a high bun the way I did on Wednesday must make me look especially youthful. I was asked for ID on Wednesday when buying wine in Aldi! I was bemused and wondered whether you now have to look 30 or something to buy alcohol but no, it’s still Challenge 25. Day = made!

The forecast today was for cooler temperatures and showery rain so I wore shoes that wouldn’t spoil if they got wet and added a blazer over my top.

Friday was day of food calamities: first my porridge boiled over in the microwave (and if this has ever happened to you you know how messy that is!) meaning I had to start again with it as I’d lost half of it, and then two of my yoghurt lids split when I was breaking the four pack apart. Gah.

Black blazer – Long Tall Sally (sale)
Teal top – New Look Tall (eBay)
Jeans – Long Tall Sally
Zebra print shoes – George at Asda (eBay)
Teal necklace – Scope
Silver hoops – gifted

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Outfit: Nautical Wednesday

A summery, nautical look for a warm Wednesday.

Navy and white stripe blazer – Next Tall
Navy top – H&M
Red jeans – New Look Tall (eBay)
Red wedges – River Island
Silver hoops – gifted
Red and cream bangles – gifted
Red beads – eBay

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Outfit: Black and White Pattern Mixing

Today’s outfit is an exercise in pattern mixing. Three patterns, all in black and white, and I think it works. I considered wearing my red wedges but this skirt is quite short for bare legs so decided flats would be more appropriate.

How was everyone’s weekend? Mine was awesome! Friday night the girls and I went to see Dolly Parton at the new Leeds Arena. It was a lovely warm evening meaning I could wear a strappy top for once in my life without worrying about being cold. The arena was air conditioned, but not too much, saving it from being baking hot but not making it freezing. We also wore our £1.99 bargain cowboy hats which we bought in Newcastle the last time we saw Dolly.

Dolly was on top form, she is a good entertainer as well as being a great singer and songwriter. She talked a lot about her life growing up back in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee and she teetered around the stage on 4 inch + stilettos very impressively for a woman of 68.

Saturday was the carnival in my hometown, and Sunday we had a belated Father’s Day tea at my sister’s house so I got to spend lots of time with my niece and the rest of my family.

Black shrug – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Black and white stripe t – Next Tall (eBay)
Black and white spot skirt – New Look (charity shop)
Zebra print shoes – George at Asda (eBay)
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Black and silver bracelets – gifted
Stud earrings – Primark

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Outfit: Breaking My Rules | Ultra-Casual Friday

I have several rules when it comes to getting dressed for the office and I’m breaking two of them today. These are the ‘no flip flops’ and the ‘no vest tops’ rules that I impose on myself. However, my job this week has entailed a lot of running around and moving equipment and I couldn’t bear the thought of hot feet when the forecast was for another hot sunny day. The vest top problem is solved by throwing a jacket over it when necessary.

Do you have exciting weekend plans? I’m seeing Dolly Parton in concert tonight, then tomorrow is carnival day. Happy Friday everyone!

Orange jacket – c/o T M Lewin
Grey and orange vest – DC Shoes Co (c/o Spartoo)
Grey vest – River Island
Jeans – Esprit (c/o Spartoo)
Orange and pink flip flops – Skechers (c/o Sarenza)
Silver necklace – New Look (sale)
Silver hoops – gifted

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Outfit: Red and Stripes

I could have saved a pair of shoes yesterday, but I’m in two minds about whether or not to keep them. I like how they look but they’re not that comfy on and I’m just not sure. The shoes in question are these turquoise peep toes.

They’re the only peep toe heels I have and I love the colour, but I just don’t know. Due to the nature of my job yesterday I didn’t end up wearing them for very long as I had loads of deliveries to collect and sort so I switched to the flat shoes I keep under my desk. Perhaps I’ll wear them again next week and decide then whether to save them or ditch them.

I was really warm most of yesterday (I know, not like me at all) so I picked out a vest top and shrug to wear today. The vest is from M&S and I have the same one in navy. It’s a great top as the straps are wide (no danger of flashing your bra) and the front is high (no danger of flashing anything). I would have bought more colours but they’d sold out of my size.

Red shrug – New Look Tall
Red tank – M&S
Grey and cream stripe trousers – Forever 21
Red and black suede flats – Jones Bootmaker (sale)
Beads – Scope
Silver hoops – gifted

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