OOTD: Polka dot tights

T-shirt: H&M

Hoodie: Marks and Spencer

Handbag: Michael Kors

Boots: Dorothy Perkins

Tights: M&Co

Miniskirt: a gift

This is not just a photoshoot. This is an M&S photoshoot.

Happy Hump Day, readers! The World Cup starts tomorrow, and I am officially pumped.

Despite me supporting France in the 2018 World Cup as I did in the 2016 Euros (with my second teams being South Korea, Japan and Croatia), and me following the England national team with the same emotional whiplashing (not-so-subtle plug of a sick Miles Teller film, there) of love and hate that I had for them in the 2016 Euros (because of that racist Vardy), I will of course be keeping a beady eye on the exploits of my national team. How can I not, when Gary Baehill is in the squad?

The team had their official photoshoot yesterday, kitted out in a rather dapper, and more than a little tight Marks and Spencer three-piece-suits:

Couple thoughts on this photo:

Product reviews: BOX OF SIX MACARONS (Ladurée) and POSH PROFITEROLES (Marks and Spencer)

"Not really your kind of place, is it?"

OOTD: Pink is the new blue.

What I wore to watch my team beat Bournemouth 3-0 on Boxing Day!

Glasses: Red or Dead

Scarf: Monsoon Accessorize

Pink thermal top: Uniqlo

Football shirt: Chelsea FC

Trousers: Marks and Spencer

Lipstick: birthday gift from a friend (hehe)

OOTD: He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice

What I wore to spend Christmas Eve with my friend Kieran!

Jumper: Marks and Spencer

Trousers: Marks and Spencer

Earrings: a Christmas present (ehehe)

Glasses: Red or Dead

Bonus pictures of us in our Christmas jumpers, so you can see the nuances of the photos that a Samsung S4 and an iPhone 6 take!

Kieran's phone, an iPhone 6. 

My phone, a Samsung S4. I really need a new phone, will probably get myself one for my birthday next year!

We didn't apply the Snapchat filter until after the photo was taken, so didn't know those little elves would come up. But I daresay the app was quite prescient in who they applied to who. 👻

Two OOTDs: Hanging out with my BFF.

Dress: Miss Selfridge

Earrings: TK Maxx

Dress: Marks and Spencer

Glasses (in both photos): Red or Dead

(lol, Tom's wearing the same T-shirt in both! Either he doesn't have enough clothes or I may have too many. I'll let you decide which is the truth).

Goodbella.

Retrospective Outfit of the Day from when we celebrated my brother's 18th birthday (back in April) in a Petts Wood restaurant called Cyprianis. The wall art game in this place was strong!

Blue top: Marks and Spencer

Vest top underneath: Miss Selfridge

Glasses: Red or Dead

OOTD: What I wore to get drunk with my best friend in Barrio Central Oxford Circus

Hoop earrings: H. Samuel

T-shirt: New Look

Chinos: Marks and Spencer

As for the thirsty photobombers in the background, a lyric from the Ariana Grande song 'Focus' comes to mind:

I can tell you're curious, it's written on your lips,

Ain't no need to hold it back; go ahead and talk your shit.

#ByeFelicia

OOTD: Icco's with my Asian homie.

Icco's pizzas are perfection. This is what I wore to dine there for roughly the 20th time in 2015 with my mate Kieran:

Jumper: China

Jeans: Marks and Spencer

The Revenant-style earrings: Dorothy Perkins

Retrospective OOTD: standing in front of the Bastille

Sunglasses: Rayban

Earrings: gift from China

Necklace: Swarovski

Miniskirt: hand me down from friend

Bag: Primark

Cardigan: Marks & Spencer

friendship bracelet (barely visible): Mango

Retrospective OOTD: standing in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Cardigan: Mango

Shirt: Hollister

Jeans: Marks and Spencer

Boots: New Look

Sunglasses: Rayban

Bag: Primark

Here's a close up. It would be a decent picture... had I not stupidly over-applied lipgloss on my top lip. Bit cringe.

Earrings: street market in China

Necklace: Swarovski

Tights, stockings and hold-ups.

Having worked at my firm for a year now, I've developed a particular style during the Spring/Summer months: skirts and dresses, usually paired with a waist belt and a funky pair of tights/stockings. Here are a couple of the pairs I've been rocking in recent weeks, and my thoughts on them.

Below: all from Primark

Sadly the middle pair is with me no more, as, just after two wears + washes, it had too many rips and ladders, which says it all about the durability really. However, I loved the elastic gusset top of the hold-up, and generally prefer wearing hold-ups as it puts less pressure on my stomach and means I can get away with eating a carbier lunch. The only thing you have to be careful with when wearing hold-ups is for the skirt not to be too short, otherwise you'll constantly feel self-conscious.

In terms of longevity, the floral wool tights on the left have lasted the best, and the Mickey Mouse fashion tights on the far right, as you can see, haven't fared quite so well, being made from much flimsier material.

Below: all from Marks and Spencer

The 2 pairs for £5 hold-ups are pretty crappy quality, and the elastic gusset top's hold isn't firm enough for my liking either. The hold ups in the middle are a dream! here they are on:

The colour is a great compromise between nude and black, and so far they are yet to ladder or tear.

Below: from TK Maxx

Despite the lady on the cover, these are actually nude coloured stockings. The quality of the stocking itself is fine, however the elastic part at the top tore a hole in itself which is frustrating, but not the end of the world, as this part is covered by the hem of the skirt.

Below: from Primark

The floral fishnets look kinda tacky on the packaging, but I absolutely love them on!

Stylish and sexy, you also don't have to worry about laddering due to the way the tights are made. The thick wool tights last long, but give a bit too much coverage on warmer days.

Retrospective Outfit of the Day 1.

Today, I'm starting a new ~series in which I pick some of my favourite outfits I've worn in the past (or occasionally, what I'm currently wearing at the time of the blog entry), and list where I bought all the stuff. There's a couple of reasons why I'm doing this. First and foremost, cos it's fun!~~ And secondly, I'm not a huge online shopper, nor do I have that many designer label outfits, nor do I frequent thrift shops or anything. When it comes to clothes, 95% of my wardrobe comes from the high street, meaning I should, in theory, dress quite generically. My aim is to show that with a few odd bits and bobs here and there, you can really make an outfit your own.

I wore this ensemble on my last night on holiday with Anna (the namesake of this blog) in our stay in Toarmina, Sicily. Here it is:

 

Dress: Forever 21, £18.75

Heels: Marks and Spencer, £25

Bangle: Warehouse, £8

Handbag: market stall, £3

Heart-shaped sunglasses: Accessorize, £15

There's also a barely visible ring on my non-bangle hand, but I can't remember where that's from.

Wasn't that fun! There'll be more to come soon. :p