That One Off Eccentric Purchase

I was a total tomboy growing up. I loved rugby, trains and building stuff. I didn't "waste time" with dolls and frills; I wanted to create Playmobil and Lego cities across the entire ground floor of the house (much to my poor parents' feet's despair). I know you have to be careful when describing boys' and girls' hobbies these days but in a nutshell what I mean is: I was the girl asked to "sit out" of ballet for knocking others over with my clumsy footwork, and the last thing anyone would think I'd wear would be this...

outfit links = jumper sold out similar here from same brand / skirt (comes up small) / bag / shoes are old but these are the updated ones from same brand

links = cropped alpaca knit / rose tulle skirt / cropped cable knit / embellished pink skirt / bag  / shoes

And Other Stories Poppy Maxi Dress

This week is going to be a bit crazy and I'm not sure how to deal with it. Two words; Black Friday. I don't want to be one of those bloggers who constantly bombards their followers with the "best deals" - but at the same time my god are there some good ones. So, I've done a little tab (you'll be able to see it on the top left of my blog below the illustration - or by clicking the "menu" tab if you're on a mobile) rather than a post and am updating it daily with offers and my picks. Influencers get emails about them in advance, so we might as well share!

outfit links = bag, Gucci (in honey, here) / dress, and other stories (in black here) / shoes, LK Bennett

When it comes to these pictures do not fear I have not totally lost my sense and bought another Gucci Soho. I was shooting with Claire and her bag went way better with this outfit than mine did. I ummed and ahhed between my colour (the honey, here) and this one - in the end the fact I wanted it for a summer wedding was the only reason I steered away from the black. 

I actually don't have a black bag I always go for a colour... Maybe next year. Saying that, they keep going up in price. When I first wanted one they were £565, I remember it vigilantly as I kept thinking about buying one. A year later I paid £715 and now they're £805. It's the same as the loafers which (don't tell anyone I know) I just splurged on - thats what happens when you a fantastically sh*t day and are stuck at home alone with your credit card. I digress...

Slightly Less Silly Christmas Jumpers

I absolutely love Christmas, absolutely love it. I love everything about it; the decorations, the build up, the present buying, the family seeing, the food... But the frugal side of me hates Christmas jumpers. Hate them. I don't like anything that doesn't seem like a worthy investment; ask my friends how often I quibble a bill (it can be useful but I am certain they'd tell you they've wanted to smack me over the head a few times). Having worked so hard to build a staple, constantly-useful wardrobe it seems to go against all I believe in spend money on something you only wear for that one day in the office. Then I found this...

outfit links = jumper, Gap (similar here if sold out) / jeans, Weekday / belt, Gucci (bought second hand from Vestiaire Collective / scarf, Weekday / bag, Gucci / sunglasses, Hugo Boss / boots, Toms

This jumper is basically an extension of my own, usual style. It's striped and it's the same fit as I'd usually buy - the only difference is the stripes are multicoloured and not blue and white! In fact, when Gap asked me to help them with an Instagram campaign promoting it as a Christmas jumper I was really surprised/thrilled that it counted as one. Surely this is the best possible scenario? 

Any way, it got me thinking - there must be more like this? Which is handy as my one seems to have sold out (though keeps coming back into store, check this link regularly and there is a very slightly different one here - just has a metallic neck).

Backless Ganni Knit

I saw this jumper at the beginning of the season and knew I had to make it mine. Is it practical? Hell no. Do I really need it? Nah. Will I love, care and treasure it for the rest of time? Absolutely. And so, the Ganni knit of dreams and I were united...

outfit links = jumper / jeans / bag / earrings / shoes 

I was a bit worried as the small had sold out so I got the medium. It's actually a perfect fit; it's supposed to be big and comfy. The wool is so, so soft and the bow at the back is quite a firm fabric so it holds firmly throughout the day. In short as much as it's an investment, I think it's a really good buy. Chunky knits are a thing at the moment, but they've never really not been in my wardrobe. They're warm and they hide the amount of pudding you eat. What more could you want?

Starting Your Own Business; The Things Nobody Tells You

2017 seems to be the year of "following your dreams." Everyone seems to be taking risks and making changes; particularly when it comes to work. As a "small business owner" I get asked a lot about how and why I started doing things on my own so I thought I'd put a post together with things I've learnt in the last 2 years - half to help you guys, half to remind myself. There are so, so many factors to consider (if you're a blogger considering full time you might find this article useful) Enjoy...

outfit links = stripe top / trousers / shoes (available in 3 colours) / sunglasses / bag

Are You Cut Out For Self Employment?

It baffles me how few people actually think to ask themselves, "Can I work for myself, by myself?" Be mature enough to remove the dream from the reality. Strip your idea bare and make sure there is a viable business in there. Understand that behind every, single #startuplife Instagram image of the perfectly frothed coffee and perfectly handwritten to do list there is an employer pulling their hair out over a VAT bill/supplier issue/staffing problem (possibly all in one go).

outfit links = stripe top / trousers / shoes (available in 3 colours) / sunglasses / bag

And Other Stories Rose Jumper

Social media is a funny old beast; sometimes it feels like your best friend and other it feels like it's totally forgotten about you and isn't returning your calls. This week it felt pretty good. It was my birthday, and I got lots of lovely message from people I really know, and people I really don't. It made me realise that these days the meaning of "community" doesn't mean your local area, it's the people who choose to be in your world, from wherever they are location wise. Scrolling through the comments I realised how many of my now close friends I met through social media too - and just as I was doing it, someone came up to me in a cafe and told me my content about this year's election really helped them out. Winner.

outfit links = rose jacquard jumper / red shoes / jeans / brown satchel / earrings

When I started blogging there was no Instagram, Pinterest or Snapchat. Twitter was the platform to be on, thats why you'll see a lot of influencers who have been doing it for longer tend to have bigger followings on there than those who started in the last two years. If I'd known how pictorial the world of social media was going to become I doubt I'd have ever started it; the internet felt pretty anonymous in 2011.

outfit links = rose jacquard jumper / red shoes / jeans / brown satchel / earrings

All The Threes, Thirty Three

So today is my birthday, I'm turning 33 at 11.43am. Just in time for lunch, a philosophy I have stuck to for my entire life. 32 was my best year yet and I'm seriously excited for the next chapter. 

outfit links = dress, Net A Porter (similar for less here) / bag, APC / shoes, Finery / cardigan, Jigsaw 

To mark the occasion I put on my favourite dress and hit the streets of Shoreditch to twirl around like a loony in it. It's a Zimmermann again; my favourite brand ever. Yes their dresses are expensive but ever so often I think it good to purchase something completely irrational (and it was this or a puppy, which is a bad idea right now). I've included some more purse friendly options further down the post - but I fully recommend going the whole hog, here. They even have a few colour options, below (as do the shoes).

dress as worn / shoes as worn /pink bow shoes / version in red / version in cream / multi colour shoes 

Golden Season

Ever so often you buy something complete different to your usual style, and within seconds of wearing it, it feels as if you've never been without it. I spied this jacket in Topshop in a quick visit between meetings. It was one of those cr*ppy days where nothing was going right, so I decided to treat myself. They didn't appear online for ages so I've held back in telling you about it. It's finally available here, but it seems to be selling out super fast so if you want it I'd be quick about it.

outfit links = tee shirt, Ganni / jeans, Weekday (20% off till Monday) / shoes. L.K.Bennett / bag, APC (make up of note = NARS highlighter)

How To Spend A Weekend in Marrakech, Part One

Followers of my Instagram will be fully aware that I've just returned from a trip to Morocco. We booked a last minute week-long deal to Agadir with a simple agenda of sun and sand. However, I couldn't not go to Marrakech if I was in the country - Gus had never been before and I was desperate to show him the city. It's one of my favourite places in the world. So we hopped on the coach (£7, comfy and wifi) and arrived for a two night break.

Now, I've stayed in Marrakech 4 times. I've done the enormous American hotel thing, I've done the compounds on the outskirts thing - but I'd never done the riad thing. When a friend recommended La Sultana I knew it was the one for us. Smack in the middle of Kasbah (part of the old city), the 28 roomed hotel is made up of five former private homes dating back as far as the 12th century. I expected to love it, but I didn't expect to be completely blown away... So much so I've had to split this post into two parts as I've taken over 1400 photos...