Outfit: Blue Monday Friday

Way back in the heatwave in June I was sent some tights by UK Tights. As it has not really been the weather for coloured tights I have not got around to trying them out until now. This blue pair is by Pamela Mann and they are 70 denier footless. They have plenty of stretch and are a fabulous colour.

I am pleased that it is Friday. The first week back after a holiday is never the best and it will be lovely not to have to get up early for 2 days over the weekend.

Black jacket – Long Tall Sally
Blue top – Dunnes Stores
Blue stripe tank – River Island
Denim skirt – Matalan
Blue tights – Pamela Mann (UK Tights) (gifted)
Black patent shoes – Matalan
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Silver hoops – Claire’s
Blue bead bracelet – gifted
Blue and turquoise bangles – Oxfam
Blue ring – Diamonds & Pearls

Total Est. Cost £93

Outfit: Shoeper Challenge #64 and Very.co.uk Jeans Review

When I was contacted last week by Very.co.uk and offered a couple of their products in exchange for a review, I jumped at the chance. My skinny jeans that I wear with flats are on their way to wearing out so the first place I headed to pick something out was the jeans department. I knew that Very stock the South label which is available in Tall, but I was sceptical about just how ‘tall’ the lengths were. The size guide said the leg length was 33” (to anyone tall, this is most definitely not Tall). However, I decided to give them a go anyway and requested the Pippa straight leg jeans. I am very pleased to report that as you can see from the pictures the jeans are far longer than a 33” inside leg. They are perfect for me to wear with flats and I might even be able to wear them with heels too. They have a little stretch in them, making them super comfortable to wear; and they are fairly high waisted, meaning no muffin top! I love the detailing around the pockets (I am sucker for detailing on jeans) and look forward to being able to wear the jeans tucked into boots come the winter.

I have already recommended these jeans to a friend, and I would have no hesitation in buying myself another pair from the South range. The Pippa jeans are priced at just £20 so Very.co.uk will definitely be a port of call next time I am looking for jeans.

We headed out to eat at a pub restaurant last night with my sister and her husband. As I was wearing my new jeans, I took the opportunity to cross another pair of shoes off the Shoeper Challenge list. These are my dressiest flats and I also have them in bright blue (which I have yet to wear in the challenge). I think they were £9 (hence why I have 2 pairs).

I had my hair done yesterday afternoon. I asked my hairdresser to put in some shorter layers as I wanted to keep the length but do something a bit different with it. I love how she blow dries it so straight: what you see here was achieved using only a hairdryer and some Tigi Bedhead. I’m sure it will look totally different once I’ve washed it and styled it myself but I’m enjoying my professional blow dry whilst it lasts. If I had endless money I would definitely treat myself to a weekly blowdry.

Purple shrug – cut down from a top (charity shop)
White tanks (I have on 2 as they are so thin) – River Island
Jeans – Very.co.uk (gifted)
Purple satin flats – Priceless Shoes
Silver necklace – gifted
Purple bangles – Diamonds & Pearls
Silver bangles – Scope
Earrings – Ethel Austin

Total Est. Cost £34

Outfit: Thursday

I baked cookies last night. I’ve never made biscuits unaided before, so no one was more surprised that I was when the little dollops of dough started to magically turn themselves into something resembling biscuits in the oven.

Lookit:

I used this recipe but I don’t think I cooked the first ones quite enough – some of them were a bit gooey even after they’d cooled. If you’re going to give these a go, know that substituting the plain flour + baking powder for self-raising flour works fine, and give them closer to 10 minutes in the oven than 8.

This is almost a direct copy of something I wore around this time last year. Well there’s no point having archives if I can’t use them for inspiration, right? I can see this being repeated with grey jeans, boots and a hat when it gets cold.

I have put some additional pictures on my Facebook page as a way of making more use of it. You can check it out here! Please ‘Like’ the page so I can feel more popular too!

This afternoon I’m getting my hair done, and then this evening we are heading across the city for a meal out with my sister and her husband.

Grey cardi – New Look Tall
Grey long t – New Look
Jeans – Topshop Tall
Snakeskin shoes – Matalan
Silver bling ring – River Island
Silver earrings – Dorothy Perkins
Blue bangle – Diamonds and Pearls
Blue beads – gifted
Silver and diamante necklace – gifted

Total Est. Cost £49

Outfit: Keeping It Simple

This was really easy to plan: fabulous shoes + last night’s jeans + easy top. It turned out to be just the thing for a wet and rainy day. I threw my trench coat over it when I left the house.

These jeans are turning to be a favourite pair. I think I have at last found a replacement for my beloved Gap Long and Leans in the dark wash which died a leg splitting death more than a year ago now. Several other pairs made good substitutes, but none were ever quite the same until now. I love these jeans!

I am going swimming again today. I intend to go on a Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon each week and once on the weekends if I can fit it in. And perhaps a gym session in between. But I really prefer swimming to the actual gym. And the reason I joined where I did was because of the pool.

Black top – Tall Girls (eBay)
Jeans – Next Tall (Clearance Store)
Black and cream shoes – Matalan
Diamante hair clip – Babyliss (Boots)
Silver and diamante necklace – gifted
Wonder Woman belt – River Island
Silver hoops – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £51

Outfit: Meal Out and Shoeper Challenge #63

I don’t know about you, but I like to dress up a little when I go out. I don’t think people dress up often enough these days so I like to take the opportunity when I can. However, as we were only headed to the local pub for a meal to celebrate the young man’s dad’s birthday, I kept the clothes fairly simple but amped it up with the shoes and hair. I love big hair and used my Bumpit to full effect last night. I didn’t do anything to the colour before anyone asks – there was a little sunshine yesterday evening (I know, I couldn’t believe it either!) and those red/auburn streaks are 100% natural.

These shoes have been languishing in my cupboard for a couple of years now and have only been worn a couple of times. I got them in a charity shop for £4.99 and I think the reason they were there is the same reason as why I didn’t wear them much previously. You see, when I got them, bits of the glitter stuck up over the edge of the shoe and it was unbelievably sharp. Having sharp things stick in your foot all night? Not fun. A while ago I attacked them with scissors and a metal nail file and now, let the record show, these shoes are actually really comfortable. I think I still had it in my head that they would spike me, but now I have been re-educated, I will endeavour to wear them far more frequently. I bought them because I had been lusting after an almost identical blue pair from Faith for months, perhaps years. The blue ones were too expensive for shoes that would only be worn occasionally so I waited for the sale but of course my size was long gone by that time. Stalking them on eBay proved fruitless so when I spied these in bronze for just a fiver, it was a done deal.

We had a lovely meal out then went back to the young man’s parents’ for a cup of tea.

Brown top – Tall Girls
Jeans – Next Tall (Clearance Store)
Bronze glitter shoes – New Look (charity shop)
White gold cross - gifted

Total Est. Cost £27

Outfit: Ruby Shoesday

I must be getting used to doing this now as I remembered it was Ruby Shoesday, even after a fortnight off. Go me!

The new issue of Elle magazine tells me that the trouser is back in a big way for the A/W season. This is good news. Couple it with the fact that thick socks worn with fabulous shoes were all over the catwalks at the A/W shows, and this winter will be full of cosy. And full of fantastic footwear. Just my thing.

This week is shaping up to be a busy one (and I thought August was going to be quiet). We have a meal out tonight for the young man’s dad’s birthday, and a meal out on Thursday with my sister and her hubby. I am going swimming this afternoon and tomorrow and I’m getting my hair done Thursday afternoon. The Tesco shop will have to be postponed to Friday this week. At least it all softens the blow of being back at work.

Today’s look is simple. I seem to pair red and black a lot, but it’s such a classic combination. I had originally picked out a different black tank but I wasn’t sure whether the v neck would be too deep for work. No such problems with this one: I’d forgotten just how high necked it is. I love the ruching on the sides but as it’s not a Tall piece it needs to be paired carefully – the waist line of the bottom part has to be sufficiently high so I’m not flashing midriff.

Red shrug – New Look Tall
Black side ruched tank – Dorothy Perkins
Black cords – Topshop Tall
Red shoes – NOW Discount Shoes (gifted)
Red beads – Ethel Austin
Red and cream bangles – gifted
Red glitter bangles – Primark
Silver hoops – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £54

Contest! Win Some Scholl Goodies

Scholl have very kindly offered a whole load of their products for you to win. The winner will receive everything pictured above, plus a pair of HydraStep moisturising sandals (these will be sent separately from Scholl as they will need to know your shoe size).

I can vouch for the fabulousness of some of the products, especially the Party Feet gel inserts and the blister plasters. The foot spray is also fantastic.

The contest is open to everyone, and the winner will be selected at random a week today (Monday 9th August 2010) at 12 noon.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. If you tweet or Facebook a link to the contest, leave another comment to tell me so and you will get an additional entry. And if you blog about the contest (again, with a link) leave another comment to tell me and you will get an additional entry.

Good luck!

This Week I Will Be Mostly...

...wearing tights if it doesn’t warm up any
...reading I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk
...watching Friends on DVD
...listening to Bucks Fizz – I am totally obsessed with them at the moment!
...eating sweet potatoes – ditto!
...shopping for nothing

Outfit: Shoeper Shoe Challenge #62

I glanced at my list of shoes I’ve not yet worn and decided to pull out this pair today. I’m glad I did – it has reminded me that they are badly in need of reheeling! I’ve had these for ages, I bought them in the sale years ago. I love the low heel but I think the low heel means they don’t get worn very often. Anyway, they went with what I had it in my head to wear today so it’s all good. I started off with bright blue footless tights with this outfit but they didn’t look quite right so I switched them for a nude pair.

It’s my first day back in work after 2 weeks off and I had 1000 emails in my inbox this morning. Once I’d deleted all those that weren’t actually for me (I am on the department mailing list so get all the mails about the build being broken and fixed that I don’t need to see really), I was down to about 65 – much more manageable!

It’s not that warm today, so I was glad I’d added the blue jacket (it was part of the plan all along). I think summer is about over. It was too dull to take outside pictures this morning too.

Blue faux leather jacket – H&M
Blue cardi – Ethel Ausin
Black & cream stripe dress – charity shop
Black shoes – Dolcis
Blue chunky bangle – Diamonds & Pearls
Blue bead bracelet – gifted
Silver & diamante necklace – gifted
Silver hoops – Claire’s
Blue ring – Dorothy Perkins

Total Est. Cost £84

Top Blog Award

Whilst I was away, I was awarded a top shoe fashion blog award by Online MBA. It’s always an honour when my blog is recognised in such a way, and I am proud to display the badge in my sidebar.

Online MBA Rankings

Outfit: Return to the Real World

You may have noticed that I have been absent from my blog for the past 2 weeks. I’ve been on holiday from work and I set up some scheduled posts to keep you entertained in case I didn’t have time or didn’t want to blog. As it turned out, I didn’t really have the time. We had no plans at the start of the fortnight and spent a couple of days just doing jobs around the house and generally relaxing. On the first Wednesday we had a day out to Whitby. We got there to find that the swing bridge in the centre of the town was blethered, so we ended up walking much further than planned as the only way to cross the river was to walk all the way along the harbour to the road bridge. We had a lovely day out though as the weather was good, and we stopped off for a meal in a country pub on the way home.

On Thursday that week we headed over to Lytham St Annes. We stayed overnight in the Grand Hotel, which is very grand indeed, and had a mosey around the town. The following day we went up to Bowness on Windermere and when we saw there was an air show on the following day, decided to stay overnight there.

Last weekend was uneventful, then we spent a couple of days visiting both sets of parents. On Wednesday this week we went down to stay in a lovely hotel just outside Norwich. We had a day in Cromer and a day in Great Yarmouth. I would definitely recommend Cromer, as Great Yarmouth is much more of a tacky seaside town, whereas Cromer has a certain charm about it.

That brings us to this weekend. Yesterday we had a cycle ride and stopped off at a pub for some drinks in the sunshine. Today I was on duty at Sunday school. As we don’t have many children in the summer we just put them all in one room and let them play games. I ended up teaching a group how to play Beggar My Neighbour (a card game) this morning. The young man is off on his motorbike for the day so I’ve done a pedicure this afternoon and am going to go for a swim in a little while. Tomorrow is back to work unfortunately.

This white top is the one I bought for the show this year to save myself from the too short see-through option on offer from the costume store. I wore a grey jacket over the top this morning but didn’t really need it on at church or afterwards. I can’t decide whether these shoes are pink or purple, but I think they work best with purple shades.

White top – QS
Jeans – Next Tall (clearance store)
Fuchsia Lady Dragon Heart shoes – Vivienne Westwood Anglomania for Melissa (Shudoo) (gifted)
Purple glitter bangles – Diamonds & Pearls
Silver earrings – gifted
Purple flowers necklace – Dorothy Perkins
Snakeskin belt – local boutique

Total Est. Cost £38