Inspiration Monday - Emma Stone

This week's Two Birds Inspiration Monday was the lovely Emma Stone. Her jacket is gorgeous but I have had a love/hate relationship with my jacket ever since I got it. I've never worn it. When I first tried it on I loved it, when I came to wear it out for the first time I hated it.

I felt that it was too boxy (which isn't flattering with my shoulders) and I always thought that the waist needed to be a little more fitted. Even so, I've saved it from the charity bag on a number of occasions, somehow I just couldn't make up my mind. Until now. Seeing these photos has helped me make my peace with this jacket. Jacket and I are now friends. So, thank you Megan bird, and thank you Nora bird, I feel like I have a new item of clothing!

I haven't ever put these items together before but I definitely will again.

Do you have anything in your wardrobe that you just can't make up your mind about?

See the other inspirations here.

Love

NOTD - Rimmel I love Lasting Finish Nail Polish in Hot Shot

I don't often post about my current nail colour but I'm so taken with the newest addition to my collection, I decided to share it with you.

My general feeling about nail colour is, the longer the nails, the paler the polish. So, when I broke a nail vacuuming (as if I need another reason to dislike it!) it presented me with the perfect opportunity to try this new colour (every cloud...)

Rimmel I love Lasting Finish Nail Polish in 270 Hot Shot
This is how it looks after two coats. It's a gorgeous bright pink, perfect for sunny days.

Wearing it makes me smile.

Giveaway Winner

The winner of The Modern Girl's Guide to Fabulousness is Jesss of Just Jesss for her quote 'Fabulousness is making the most of every situation and not letting others bring you down'.

Thanks Jesss, I hope you enjoy the book and thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway.

Enjoy the sunshine (remember to wear sunscreen)!
Love

Shopping my wardrobe... part 4

This is the final part of Shopping my wardrobe. I've really enjoyed seeing outfits, styled around the same item, side by side. I hope you have too.

The remaining pieces are two bangles from Cherry & Joy and a pair of ballet pumps from Stylist Pick.

I didn't realise until I saw these pics together that I veer towards black/neutral colours or red when I wear these pumps. Maybe the coming seasons will change that?

I tend to avoid bare ankles in the winter months so these have had little wear so far. Now that it's warmed up just a tad I knew it was time to get them out again. I can't wait for the warm weather, I always feel a little more 'me' when unencumbered by numerous layers. One of life's little joys is being able to leave the house without your coat.

I have worn these bangles a lot. They work really well worn as a pair but as part of an arm party they look fab! I purchased the blue one on a whim, I just loved it, so when I saw a coral version was available it was only a matter of time before I found myself ordering that one too.

Also see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. So, that's that.

My next challenge is coming soon...

Love

Maxi dresses for work

Last year I posted about the perfect maxi dress for work and now I am on the lookout for another.

For the office, I think, it is best if your maxi dress covers your shoulders, is modest and is minimal.

There are thousands of maxi dresses available but the vast majority are strapless or sleeveless, floral or heavily patterned and voluminous.

Here are the office-friendly maxi's on my list (the ones nearer the bottom on my 'if only' list).

Casual T-Shirt Maxi Dress
New Look £14.99
Simple shape, neutral colour - the possibilities with this are endless. A cute cardigan would work equally as well as a blazer for the office, but this wouldn't look out of place slung on over a bikini on the beach too… win, win.

Mariella Belted Long Sleeve Maxi Dress
Missguided £19.99
Simple shape, long sleeves - easy to accessorise. A great wardrobe staple and the sleeves will save you on those typically English summer days when the sun spends most of it's time behind the clouds.

Navy White Stripe Cotton Jersey Maxi Dress
Laura Ashley £67.50
I adore stripes in all guises, especially when they come in the form of an empire line with clashing stripes - perfect for hiding an after lunch tummy. It's also smart without being to 'buttoned up'.

Splendid Maritime Stripe Maxi Dress
shopbop, £91.45
This is perhaps a little casual for work but you could hide the tie waist under a belt and smarten it up with a lightweight blazer. I love the stripes and simple t shirt shape.

Full Circle Kasumi Cap Sleeve Maxi Dress
House of Fraser £110.00
Okay, so technically this is more of a midi than a maxi but isn't it lovely? And, technically, it doesn't have sleeves but the neck is high enough to compensate (am I clutching at straws here?). The stripes and blocks of yellow are just too lovely not to have included this dress!

Ella Moss Chelsea Striped Maxi Dress
shopbop £104.70
I really don't think that this dress needs any explanation...

Tucker Floor Length Dress
shopbop £267.05
For me this is THE perfect maxi dress for work. It's the colour, sleeve length, neckline and even the buttons that make it so. What's more after work you can undo a few buttons, add some jewellery and sandals and it would be transformed into a gorgeous evening outfit. I want this dress.

So there it is, my (wish)list for an office maxi dress. Which ones take your fancy?

Images from New Look / MissGuided / Laura Ashley / House of Fraser / shopbop

Love

Everybody, Everywear : Green

I love the idea of Everybody Everywear, I can spend hours looking through the entries. This time around green was voted as the theme.

I chose a simple outfit of cardigan, t-shirt, jeans and ballet flats. I can't tell you how pleased I am that it's finally warm enough to wear ballet flats and rolled up jeans again!

Love

Mother's Day 2012

image source

Every year I ask my Mum what she would like for Mother's Day. "Oh, you don't have to get me anything, just a card will be fine" is her annual response. We both know that this isn't true. Every year we do this little dance and every year I turn up with a gift and she is delighted, "oh, you shouldn't have" she says…

This year I'm going to take her on a trip down memory lane by giving her Shirley Valentine on DVD. It was the first 'grown-up' film that she and I went to the cinema to see back in 1989. We both loved it.

When we walked out of the cinema she asked me 'what was the moral of that story?' I shrugged my teenage shrug. 'Don't lose your identity' she said. It's good advice, advice I've never forgotten.

Isn't this exactly the kind of thing that makes Mum's so flippin' brilliant?

What will you be doing for Mother's Day?

The Modern Girl's Guide to Fabulousness book giveaway

I am a Fabulette.

Which means that I am one of 15 women blogging for the Modern Girl's Guide. The site was started by Bethanie Lunn, author of The Modern Girl's Guide Guide to Fabulousness and as Fabulettes we report on fashion, style, life and all things fabulous.

My most recent post for the MGG was about how I transformed my wardrobe from chaotic to calm following the advice given in Bethanie's book. It's a handy lifestyle A-Z covering a variety of topics and I'm not the only one who think's it's pretty great...

‘Laid out as an A-Z, Bethanie separates the so-so from the sensational. Providing the fastest guide to ‘intelligent spending’. Her ‘little black book’ uncovers places and services in addition to featuring experts who offer their pearls of wisdom, from maintaining youthful looks in your 20s to your 60s to mascara master classes and where you can buy the best cashmere whilst stopping off for a cocktail on the way. Let’s hope Bethanie Lunn takes her gentle wit and her quest for fabulousness global’.
–Elle Macpherson

Bethanie has given me a copy to giveaway to a reader.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is follow the @ModrnGirlsGuide on twitter and leave a comment below completing this sentence 'fabulousness is...

'

Please include your twitter name in your comment.

The giveaway will close at midnight on 25/03/12.

The winner will be selected and notified the next day.



Good luck

Frugal February comes to an end...

Frugal February was about cutting out all non essential spending.

I found this to be a really positive exercise. For the first time, in a long time, I had money left in the bank when payday rolled around again. It felt so good that I am tempted to try and match it this month by following the same rules.

I will be doing some shopping though, I need to buy cleanser, moisturiser and mascara but when it comes to the mascara I've decided to try Boots Lash Adapt. I've read some really good reviews about it and it's half the price of the one I have been using (see, still got my frugal head on).

At the end of the month I have wedding reception to attend, it has a black and white dress code so I will be buying a frock for that. In fact you can help me decide what to wear here. I'm rather leaning towards the Oasis rope print shift dress, what do you think?

Hope you're all having a great week, despite the dreadful weather!

Currently loving : above the knuckle rings

Have you noticed these little rings popping up? Above the knuckle rings, or memory rings as they are sometimes known.

They add a little something unexpected, just a hint of something. Subtle, cute. I like.

This simple thin band came from Wired Jewellery. It's simplicity delights me ♥
You like?

February Scavenger Hunt

Huge fail on the Postcards from the P.P. scavenger hunt this month.

I always use my iPhone and Camera+ app for the challenge, this month using the polarize filter and instant frame.

this was taken from a train window just as we were going under a bridge

February was a funny old month, just as I'd had enough of leaving the house in the dark and returning in the dark, the days suddenly seemed lighter and brighter and the cold relented to give us a few warm days. Spring is coming…

Love