Here's my style diary of what I wore on our recent holiday to Turkey.
Day 1:
Before we went away I decided to finally place an order from shein. I'd heard very mixed reviews about them which had perviously put me off. I ordered quite a few things and I can honestly say the majority were great. Some of the pieces were poor quality but overall I was impressed for the price.
These twinning dresses were from their website. Eva absolutely loved wearing the same dress as me. She asks if we can wear them all the time. It was nice and cool for the hot evenings and it hid my wobbly bits which gained it a huge thumbs up from me.
Day 2:
I decided to wear something a bit skimpier the following evening. On a recent shopping trip to London I spotted this candy stripe jumpsuit from Forever 21 which I knew would be perfect for the holiday. However, I almost didn't even try it on as it was quite revealing and I knew it would be a tight fit. I'm glad I caved in as I did love it and even though it was tight, I didn't really care once I was away.
Day 3:
I was gifted this fab dress from Next which is an ideal late summer/autumn transitional dress. I thought I'd be too hot wearing it in Turkey but it was surprisingly ok. It can be worn with tights or boots for the upcoming change in season or even underneath a pinafore dress.
Day 5:
This playsuit was also from shein. I really liked the look of it but it actually didn't suit my shape at all. It was a very unflattering fit on me but I kept it anyway as it was so cheap and I knew I could use it as a cover up for over my swimwear. They had children's versions of this too so it would be good for twinning.
Day 6:
Even though this looks like a dress, it's actual a vest top and skirt. I bought the skirt from a Turkish shop (I can't remember the name) but with the exchange rate, it only worked out as £6 which was such a bargain.
Day 1:
Before we went away I decided to finally place an order from shein. I'd heard very mixed reviews about them which had perviously put me off. I ordered quite a few things and I can honestly say the majority were great. Some of the pieces were poor quality but overall I was impressed for the price.
These twinning dresses were from their website. Eva absolutely loved wearing the same dress as me. She asks if we can wear them all the time. It was nice and cool for the hot evenings and it hid my wobbly bits which gained it a huge thumbs up from me.
Day 2:
I decided to wear something a bit skimpier the following evening. On a recent shopping trip to London I spotted this candy stripe jumpsuit from Forever 21 which I knew would be perfect for the holiday. However, I almost didn't even try it on as it was quite revealing and I knew it would be a tight fit. I'm glad I caved in as I did love it and even though it was tight, I didn't really care once I was away.
Day 3:
I was gifted this fab dress from Next which is an ideal late summer/autumn transitional dress. I thought I'd be too hot wearing it in Turkey but it was surprisingly ok. It can be worn with tights or boots for the upcoming change in season or even underneath a pinafore dress.
Day 4:
This has become my current favourite dress. It was part of my haul from shein. It is gorgeous. I've worn it a few times since the holiday and people always comment on it. It's extremely flattering and so pretty. They also had it in red and yellow and I am desperate to get them.
Day 5:
This playsuit was also from shein. I really liked the look of it but it actually didn't suit my shape at all. It was a very unflattering fit on me but I kept it anyway as it was so cheap and I knew I could use it as a cover up for over my swimwear. They had children's versions of this too so it would be good for twinning.
Day 6:
Even though this looks like a dress, it's actual a vest top and skirt. I bought the skirt from a Turkish shop (I can't remember the name) but with the exchange rate, it only worked out as £6 which was such a bargain.
14 comments
I was recently introduced to a new fashion brand which I am now obsessed with and that's Joanie Clothing. They ooze femininity through their quirky, vintage inspired pieces which are perfectly unique. If you're looking for something bold, eye catching and pretty then this is your go to brand.
They kindly asked if I would like to choose a couple of pieces from their collection for my recent trip away to Disneyland Paris. I honestly could've picked everything. I wanted it all (not that i'm greedy or anything lol). After seeing the beautiful Holly Willoughby in one of their slogan tops, I knew I needed one.
If you read my blog regularly or follow me on instagram then you'll know we are a travel loving family. Whenever we are off work, we always take the opportunity for a trip away. With that in mind I found the perfect jumper for me. It had my name written all over it. It's the Annual Leave Slogan Jumper (£38), ideal for when you're out of office is switched on.
I also received the Charlie A-Line Denim Midi Skirt (£38) which I adore. It's really comfortable and very flattering. It certainly hides my mum tum which is always a bonus. I'm only 5 foot so it's quite long on me but I like the length it sits at.
Whilst we were away I teamed the outfit with a pair of blue trainers for a casual look. To smarten it up i'd wear the outfit with loafers or smart flats.
I have such a huge wish-list from Joanie. Their pieces are affordable and versatile. We bought annual passes to Disneyland Paris so the next jumper I am going to buy is the 'Bonjour' one. Here are some of my current favourites on their website.
Have you heard of Joanie Clothing before? What's your favourite from my top picks?
If you read my blog regularly or follow me on instagram then you'll know we are a travel loving family. Whenever we are off work, we always take the opportunity for a trip away. With that in mind I found the perfect jumper for me. It had my name written all over it. It's the Annual Leave Slogan Jumper (£38), ideal for when you're out of office is switched on.
Whilst we were away I teamed the outfit with a pair of blue trainers for a casual look. To smarten it up i'd wear the outfit with loafers or smart flats.
I have such a huge wish-list from Joanie. Their pieces are affordable and versatile. We bought annual passes to Disneyland Paris so the next jumper I am going to buy is the 'Bonjour' one. Here are some of my current favourites on their website.
Have you heard of Joanie Clothing before? What's your favourite from my top picks?
If there's one thing I lack in my wardrobe then it's smart, casual clothing. I seem to have plenty of casual items or dressy outfits but nothing in-between. I knew we had a trip to London coming up where I would need an outfit that I could wear all day but would also be suitable for afternoon tea and dinner in a nice hotel.
When it comes to getting clothes for myself, i've always preferred a visit to our town centre rather than shopping online. I hate the task of sending clothes back when they don't fit etc and then i'm left panicking when I haven't found anything. I much prefer wandering around the shops and trying things on there and then. I must have trawled every shop in Cardiff and I couldn't find anything suitable. I decided to pop into Marks and Spencer to grab some food but I found myself distracted by the clothes.
It's not a store that I shop in for myself. If i'm completely honest i've always thought it was a place my nan would buy her clothes. I buy clothes for my girls there as they have a fab children's range but I very rarely browse the women's section. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of things that caught my eye.
There was a section that really stood out for me. It reminded me of holiday's and I felt transported to France. It was full of nautical style with a palette of blue, white and red. A mix of casual and smart clothing but plenty of options for what I was looking for.
I can't even begin to tell you how many things I tried on and how many of those things I wanted to buy but this shirt style dress really stood out for me. I completely fell in love with it. Stripes are such a staple trend and never seem to go out of fashion. They are something that you can keep in your wardrobe and pull out year after year.
The dress is a loose fit which is perfect for me as i'm not in the shape I would like to be at the minute. It has buttoned detailing at the front and a tie waist which you can wear loosely or tightly to alter the shape of the dress. The fabric is cool so it's ideal for a summer city break. For a more relaxed look you could pair it with trainers and then for an evening out evening you could simply add heels.
It's a very recent purchase but unfortunately I can't seem to find it online so you'll have to pop in your local store to see if they stock it there.
I recently wore it to afternoon tea at Cardiff's newest luxury venue, The Exchange Hotel which is where all of the photographs in this post were taken
. The venue is stunning. The outside reminds me of being in a European city. It's beautiful. I am officially declaring it as the most instagrammable place in Cardiff at the moment so if you follow me over on instagram, i'm sure you'll be seeing more of the venue on my feed.
I'll definitely be packing the dress in my bag for our London trip. It's such a versatile piece that is perfect for a city getaway. It's something you can wear casually all day and also something to show off at dinner.
When it comes to getting clothes for myself, i've always preferred a visit to our town centre rather than shopping online. I hate the task of sending clothes back when they don't fit etc and then i'm left panicking when I haven't found anything. I much prefer wandering around the shops and trying things on there and then. I must have trawled every shop in Cardiff and I couldn't find anything suitable. I decided to pop into Marks and Spencer to grab some food but I found myself distracted by the clothes.
It's not a store that I shop in for myself. If i'm completely honest i've always thought it was a place my nan would buy her clothes. I buy clothes for my girls there as they have a fab children's range but I very rarely browse the women's section. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of things that caught my eye.
There was a section that really stood out for me. It reminded me of holiday's and I felt transported to France. It was full of nautical style with a palette of blue, white and red. A mix of casual and smart clothing but plenty of options for what I was looking for.
I can't even begin to tell you how many things I tried on and how many of those things I wanted to buy but this shirt style dress really stood out for me. I completely fell in love with it. Stripes are such a staple trend and never seem to go out of fashion. They are something that you can keep in your wardrobe and pull out year after year.
The dress is a loose fit which is perfect for me as i'm not in the shape I would like to be at the minute. It has buttoned detailing at the front and a tie waist which you can wear loosely or tightly to alter the shape of the dress. The fabric is cool so it's ideal for a summer city break. For a more relaxed look you could pair it with trainers and then for an evening out evening you could simply add heels.
It's a very recent purchase but unfortunately I can't seem to find it online so you'll have to pop in your local store to see if they stock it there.
I recently wore it to afternoon tea at Cardiff's newest luxury venue, The Exchange Hotel which is where all of the photographs in this post were taken
I'll definitely be packing the dress in my bag for our London trip. It's such a versatile piece that is perfect for a city getaway. It's something you can wear casually all day and also something to show off at dinner.
Lately i've been wishing I could just pause time. Life is so busy and chaotic that one day turns into a week and then a week turns into a month. Life just seems like a blur. It only seems like yesterday that I gave birth to Eva, my first born child. Now, here I am 4.5 years down the line and only a couple of months away from her starting her reception class at school.
Eva and I were kindly sent some Ice-Watch timepieces from Ice-Watch and it was when I was looking at pictures of the two of us wearing them that I started to reflect on our time together as mummy and daughter.
She currently goes to preschool for 2.5 hours a day. I'm angry at myself for wishing she was in school for longer and fantasising what it will be like with all my spare time. I feel like I've been wishing her life away instead of pausing and enjoying the precious time I have with her before she grows up.
I have such fond memories of when it was just me and her, all the special moments and days out we took together. Then her sister came along and our family dynamic changed. Life became hectic. I become preoccupied with daily life rather than focusing on those moments in time.
If these last 4.5 years of parenting has taught me anything, it is to appreciate those small moments, those precious little exchanges between you and your children, the smiles, the laughter and even the tears. Believe you and me I have moaned through the clingy phases, the sleepless night phases, the terrible two's and now I would give anything to have that time back. I just wish I could make time stand still and soak in those moments.
I'm loving the stage where Eva and Ophelia still think i'm cool. We quite often twin or triplet each other with our clothing and instead of them thinking it's silly, they think it is amazing. These are the moments in time i'll never forget. They may want to forget it when their older but it'll be too late by then as i'll have the photographic evidence and the memories. Haha unlucky girls.
The gorgeous watches that you can see in our photos are from Ice-Watches. Mine is from the Ice sixty nine range and Eva's is from the ICE ola kids range.
These watches will always hold a special place in my heart. I have a jewellery box of all of my special things from when I was younger which includes my very first watch which was a pink, my little pony watch given to me by my great grandparents. This Ice-Watch timepiece is Eva's first watch which is a super special moment in her life and I am so pleased that we have twinning watches to share this experience together. I'll keep these watches in that special Jewellery box when she grows out of hers.
Do you think time goes too fast? Do you have special moments in time? Have you got keepsake jewellery items from when you were younger?
*Thank you to Ice-Watch's for sending us our watches*
The 'Little Black Dress' or LBD as it's better known is something that every woman should own in her wardrobe. Some fashion rules are plain stupid, this one is gospel. Think of it like an oath. When you start becoming fashion conscious you should take this oath and swear that you will buy and own an LBD for the rest of your life.
The LBD is simple yet effective. It's intended to be versatile, flattering, a head turner and something that will stand the test of time in your wardrobe. It's something that can be dressed up or down and will suit every occasion you have to attend. Think of it as an investment.
The LBD stems from the wonderful Coco Chanel in the 1920's. It was later when Vogue published a sketch of one of her designs that the concept was formed. It then become a staple piece for every fashion icon through time. When I think of fashion icons in an LBD, I think of Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Jackie Kennedy, Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, Olivia Palermo and most recently HRH Kate Middleton.
When I was younger an LBD for me was a body con dress whether it be a maxi or midi. If you've read some of my previous fashion posts before, you will know that since having my girls, I am extremely body conscious and quite unconfident. This usually turns my much beloved shopping days into the stuff of nightmares.
However, as time goes on I am starting to get passion for fashion back along with some body confidence. I am beginning to embrace my post baby shape, after all, how can I not like something that produced 2 beautiful little girls?
On a recent shopping trip in River Island, I came across a gorgeous black dress. At first I wasn't sure whether it was a playsuit or a dress. Its style was unusual and to be honest, I didn't think it would suit me but I knew if I didn't try it on I would regret it.
I took a size 12 and a 10 into the changing room with me. I tried the size 12 on first and I fell in love. It looked perfect. It was everything you needed in an LBD and more. It was quite loose so I decided to give the 10 a go. This is where I usually end up in a strop as I can't get clothes over my hips or chest.
I don't get out much these days but on the 2 occasions I have done over the last couple of months I have worn this dress. I was hoping to capture some more fashionable shots rather than just being infront of my garden fence but with 2 young girls, I just haven't had the time or energy.
If you're looking for an LBD then I can't recommend this one enough. You can get it here, Black Dress for £45. Do you own any Little Black Dresses?
The LBD is simple yet effective. It's intended to be versatile, flattering, a head turner and something that will stand the test of time in your wardrobe. It's something that can be dressed up or down and will suit every occasion you have to attend. Think of it as an investment.
The LBD stems from the wonderful Coco Chanel in the 1920's. It was later when Vogue published a sketch of one of her designs that the concept was formed. It then become a staple piece for every fashion icon through time. When I think of fashion icons in an LBD, I think of Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Jackie Kennedy, Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, Olivia Palermo and most recently HRH Kate Middleton.
When I was younger an LBD for me was a body con dress whether it be a maxi or midi. If you've read some of my previous fashion posts before, you will know that since having my girls, I am extremely body conscious and quite unconfident. This usually turns my much beloved shopping days into the stuff of nightmares.
However, as time goes on I am starting to get passion for fashion back along with some body confidence. I am beginning to embrace my post baby shape, after all, how can I not like something that produced 2 beautiful little girls?
On a recent shopping trip in River Island, I came across a gorgeous black dress. At first I wasn't sure whether it was a playsuit or a dress. Its style was unusual and to be honest, I didn't think it would suit me but I knew if I didn't try it on I would regret it.
I took a size 12 and a 10 into the changing room with me. I tried the size 12 on first and I fell in love. It looked perfect. It was everything you needed in an LBD and more. It was quite loose so I decided to give the 10 a go. This is where I usually end up in a strop as I can't get clothes over my hips or chest.
The 10 slipped on like a glove and hugged my body like a dream. I was ecstatic. It certainly gives me a fantastic shape and hides my mum tum which is always a bonus. I adore the tie neck neckline and the front split. It gives the dress the wow factor.
I don't get out much these days but on the 2 occasions I have done over the last couple of months I have worn this dress. I was hoping to capture some more fashionable shots rather than just being infront of my garden fence but with 2 young girls, I just haven't had the time or energy.
If you're looking for an LBD then I can't recommend this one enough. You can get it here, Black Dress for £45. Do you own any Little Black Dresses?
If you follow me on instagram you will have seen how in love I am with my new lace tee from Next. For the past four years I haven't bought a lot of clothes for myself, mainly because most of our money goes on buying clothes for the kids but also partly because I haven't felt very confident in my mum body.
Years ago (pre kids) I'd have worn this tee with a pair of shorts no questions asked but since having kids, I've had to adapt my style. I am definitely not as body confident as I used to be. There's no denying that I have hang ups about my body and how I look.
However, I am learning to embrace my motherhood figure to feel confident in what I wear. Just because I don't feel confident in a pair of shorts or a short skirt anymore doesn't mean I have to sacrifice style in the fashion stakes. I've learnt to try new things on and become a bit more inventive with what i'm wearing.
The tee instantly caught my eye. I've always been a fan of lace but it's usually something I would wear to go out rather than for a casual outfit in the day. This is why I was instantly drawn to it. The lace detailed gives the relaxed, loose fit t-shirt a feminine, pretty touch.
It's perfect for summer as it's quite thin so you won't swelter in the heat. The fit is just right as even though it is loose, it hugs the right places.
They also have it in pink and navy so they are next on my wishlist.
Ordinally I would have teamed it with a pair of trousers but it was a sunny day and I knew I had the perfect skirt to match.
The skirt is also from Next and again is the ideal summer holiday addition to your wardrobe. It's cotton so it's great to be paired with strappy vests, tees or even with swimwear at the beach. It could then be transferred to an evening outfit.
It actually looks like a maxi on me but it's not supposed to be that long. I'm only 5 foot which is why it appears that way. I adore it. It hides my mum tum and is a very flattering shape. It's also available in quite a few other colours so again I will be getting more.
My shoe choice even surprised me. I'm usually in flips flops or sandals but I was aiming for a more sporty, casual look so I opted for my good old faithful Converse. I didn't actually get them from Next but you can purchase the exact pair from there.
This outfit is definitely not the style I would normally wear but I loved it. It looked cool, relaxed and above all was very comfy. I wore it on the school run and then for an afternoon at the park.
The whole outfit can be purchased from Next and all the links are below.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)