Friday Favourites

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I get style inspiration from several places but the main sources of my inspiration are fashion blogs, and without them I wouldn't have started mine. I catch up with them everyday and I don't only admire their pictures but I read what they have to say because I love finding out where they got their inspiration from for that particular outfit. This is where my fashion inspiration has come from this week, so they deserve at least a little bit of credit!

1. This floral skirt is so pretty, I love how it's been toned down with a simple grey marl tee.
2. HER TOP HAS THE BATMAN SYMBOL ON IT.  Nuff said.
3. What better way to wear a simple, white dress than when it's been grunged up with a checkered shirt and a black bag?
4. I love the colours in the outfit, the neon coral looks awesome against the black shorts.  And the creepers were a very nice choice, in my opinion.
5. It's simple, but I love it.  Very city chic.
6. The colours in this dress are too pretty.  Perfect with the white accessories.

You should let me love you

Purple checkered shirt: HEARTS & BOWS via ARK (c/o) | Blue skinny jeans: ZARA |
Contrast faux fur coat & purple velvet dino flatform shoes: ASOS

Okay so I kinda', sorta', REALLY love this outfit.  I am digging the whole grunge look at the moment, and I think this outfit gives a subtle nod to the trend without being too in-your-face. The shirt is one I received from Ark a week or so ago.  I decided to choose it in a size-up as I usually need to with shirts to avoid boob-area gaping, but this one actually looks over-sized, which I actually looove.  It has the whole yeah-I-pinched-this-shirt-off-my-boyfriend-and-I-am-still-totally-making-it-work effect.  There are so many way to wear this shirt (last time I wore it tucked into a mini skirt) so am looking forward to seeing what else I can do with it.
I really like how the coat looks with the outfit.  I get so many compliments on it every time I wear it and it's safe to say I will never grow bored of it, EVER.  It is such a unique item and I definitely think the contrast in textures add to the overall grunge-ness of the outfit.  The shoes I purchased late last year for a mere £25 (£20 with the discount I had, Bargain with a capital 'B'!) and I can't get enough of them.  If you like them I know ASOS have done a few variations on the dino flatforms, so I'd definitely keep an eye out!  The sunglasses were a cool, final touch to the look, although I should probably look into buying some more pairs as I just cannot stop wearing these ones.
I can't believe it's Septemeber in a few days, time moves so fast!  I think I'll just spend my last few weeks of freedom vegging out and watching my 'The Land Before Time' box set with a fat tup of Ben & Jerry's.  Don't hate me 'cause you ain't me.

Wishful Wednesday

1. Rose & spike floral headband £13 TOPSHOP | 2. Bright pink beanie £8 RIVER ISLAND |
3. Fade washed twist back tank top £30 URBAN OUTFITTERS |
4. Green cable knit jumper £19.99 ZARA | 5. Acid wash blue denim jacket £45 TOPMAN |
6. Cross stretch bracelet £8 ASOS | 7. Black lace skirt £40 TOPSHOP |
8. White tuxedo style blazer £25 FASHION UNION | 9. Top with laddered dip back £25 ASOS

1. Some of you will know that my pink version of this headband is my go-to statement accessory, so when this black one came in stock the other day, I just HAD to add it to my wishlist.  Such a great alternative for next season.
2. I am aiming to make my beanie collection (current count: 1) grow, and this neon pink one would be a welcomed addition.
3. I don't own anything from Urban Outfitters at the moment as I think their stuff can be a bit too pricey, but I love the back of this top.
4. From over-priced to UNDER-priced.  I expected this to be at least forty pounds, but nope, it's less than twenty.  Dark green is a favourite colour of mine in the winter, and I love cable knit jumpers, so I think it's only a matter of time before I am really naughty and purchase this...
5. My wardrobe still needs a vintage-esque over-sized denim jacket (I know, how late am I?!), and this men's one would be perfect.
6. I really like this unique piece of jewellery, just how cool is this?
7. This isn't a type of thing which I usually wear, but I instantly liked it.  I think it would be an awesome contrast to my Converse.
8. A white blazer is pretty much as necessary as a black blazer is, in my eyes.  I have been looking for one for SO LONG, and after ordering one and getting all excited, I had to send it back as it just didn't look right on me.  Disappointment!  But this one looks pretty damn perfect, and for £25?  Dayummm.  Too good to be true?
9.  OH HI COOLEST TOP I HAVE EVER SEEN.  Just, yeah, I want this.  This is my new BFF.  Love it.

Studded

Floral spike headand: TOPSHOP | Grey studded shoulder top: GLAMOROUS via ARK | Black coated skater skirt: RIVER ISLAND | Velvet dino flatform shoes: ASOS

 I have been after a pleather skirt for so long.  I know there was a pleated Primark one which the majority of UK-based bloggers have, but the snob inside of me has never let me be much of a Primark girl, I much prefer to shop myself into debt by shopping in Topshop.  Yeah, quite a dangerous habbit... This one was only £20(!) though, so it was only a matter of time before I caved in and bought this one, as opposed to all the others which are popping up in lots of different high street stores at the moment.  I've already seen a couple of bloggers wearing this one, so am sure it will be a big hit amongst, well, everyone.  Hello, did I mention it is only twenty pounds?!  Even if using your last twenty pounds means you have no food for a while, it's okay, because you will wear this with pretty much everything.  With tights, without tights, whatever the weather, just wear it.  I have planned numerous outfits in my head already, and I only bought it yesterday.
Another thing which I purchased yesterday is this top.  I've only ever shopped online at Ark before, so I decided to go into their actual store in Manchester, but I only ended up liking, well, about half of their stock, actually.  Their prices are pretty amazing compared to usual Topshop prices.  I spotted a Levi's sleeveless denim jacket which I just wanted to grab and run away with, but I set myself a budget so I decided on this Glamorous top.  I've never shopped at Glamorous before, only some online window shopping, but what better thing to start with than a studded top?  Everyone and their mother has a studded item at the moment, and this is actually my first one.  Say whaaat?  They were a couple of different colours but I settled on this one as it was the first one I saw, plus grey goes with pretty much everything.
I thought the shoes and the headband were nice little additions to the outfit as I never like to look too, er, dark?  The pink flowers add just the right amount of girlieness to the outfit.  I've seen a black version of it online and I really, REALLY want it...

I'm your fool...

White round sunglasses: ASOS | Black faux fur gilet: TOPSHOP | Floral butterfly print shirt: RIVER ISLAND | Black coated mini skirt: ZARA | Shoes: CONVERSE

Happy Monday!  I know Mondays aren't usually associated with the word 'happy', but it's a bank holiday here in the UK, so I figured I could get away with it.  The weather has been crappy this weekend, though, and has been raining non-stop apart from a tiny little period in which I took these photos.  I'm obviously not dressed for the rain but I have no tights after ripping every single pair so I thought 'SCREW IT'.  Plus, the gilet helps in making it look more appropriate for the weather, right?  Yeahhh, I thought so.
As I say every frikkin' time I wear this shirt, THIS IS MY FAVOURITE SHIRT.  It is unbelievably pretty and I just want to look at it.  All. The. Time.  I thought it'd be really popular when it was on sale (March time, unfortunately!) and that I'd see it on a few blogs, like the famous floral Zara shirt from a few months back, but I've actually never seen anyone else in it.  But hey, I ain't complaining.  I think it looks really nice with pastel colours, but I went the other way today and teamed it with black items, which still bring out the colours in the shirt.  The skirt I bought from the Zara sale for a mere tenner a few weeks back, it's now my favourite skirt and I've worn it a handful of times already as it goes with everything.  'Nuff said.
I haven't done much this long weekend.  I may or may not have consumed a few cheese & tomato pizzas and chilled on the couch watching X Factor.  I know, such a wild thanggg.  I planned to go bowling last night but when we got there there were no lanes left, bad times when the one place where we can go which isn't a pub/club (no thanks) it's packed with people who should be going to said pub/clubs.  It turns out if you don't drink alcohol then you are stuck with nothing to do on a Sunday night.  THANKS SOCIETY, that seems fair...
I went to Manchester for the second time this week today, again having to restrain myself from buying loads of things.  I may have treated myself to a couple of items, but we can keep that hush hush.  Weird to think I will be living in Manchester in a few weeks, say whaaaaat?  My bank balance should be scared, very scared...

Friday Favourites

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1. A heavily studded bra peeking through a big chunky jumper.  Genius.  The colours work so well together, too.
2. I have a thing for tartan pants at the moment.  They look so great with this polo neck sleeveless top.
3. A cool-but-sexy outfit.  I love this.
4.  This look is so easy to re-create, I really have to get me a denim gilet.
5. Yellow and red work so well together.  Throw some leopard print shoes in there and you can't go wrong.
6. Quite a simple outfit but with the pop of colour from the shoes and the clutch, it's far from boring.  Perfect way to make a white tee and a pair of jeans a little bit more interesting.

Ripped

Black blazer: H&M | 'Ripped' vest top: TOPMAN | Skinny jeans: ZARA | Shoes: CONVERSE

So I went to Manchester shopping centre yesterday, and I have practically no money at the moment, but there were so many nice clothes in one place I nearly exploded (it happens...), so I thought 'I'll just get one thing', and what was the first thing I saw and thought 'I want it!'?  Yep, this top.  This silly, man's top, which is probably meant for the gym, but I loved it as soon as I saw it.  Plus, Topman's stuff is always cheaper than Topshop's, WHAT is that about?  I like to think this top makes me totally funny because, well, I'm not ripped, and I am a woman, so even if I was ripped, I wouldn't be big-headed enough to wear a top stating that I was.  I think it'll look great with a pleather skirt, tights and creepers next season, but for today I just went with the simple option of skinny jeans, then I added my blazer to make the outfit a bit more formal and contrast with the top.  I know the vest won't be every girl's taste (I mean, it's not even from a girl's shop...), it's not even the usual kind of thing which I go for, but it's fun and I like that.
I didn't go Manchester for shopping yesterday, I just had some time to spare, I actually went for a kind of open day thing at Manchester Met university, I missed the last open day and because it wasn't my first choice uni I didn't know much about the course (Fashion buying & merchandising, f.y.i.).  It was only a fifteen minute lecture from one of course's teachers, but it sounded pretty great and I came out feeling really positive, which is actually much better than I felt about my first choice university.  Keeping fingers crossed that I get the accommodation which I want and then everything will be done, eek!
I also went to see the new Bourne film yesterday, I haven't seen the first three so I didn't know what the story really was behind it, but I got the general gist and it was pretty good if you like your action films.  'The Watch' is next on the list I think, which I am SO looking forward to!

Wishful Wednesday

1. Blue & yellow check shirt £26 MISS SELFRIDGE | 2. Hinge swirl cuff £15 ASOS | 3. Cross chain ring bracelet £8.50 TOPSHOP | 4. Ripped chain cross tank £22 TOPSHOP | 5. Beaded collar necklace £10 ASOS | 6. Marble wash skinny jeans £30 Republic | 7. Creeper stud shoes £75 TOPSHOP | 8. PU sleeve fallaway biker jacket £55 RIVER ISLAND

1.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, a checkered shirt is a wardrobe staple.  Do I have one already?  Yes.  Can you have too many?  Hell nawww.
2. An awesome statement piece of jewellery but not too in-your-face.  Love it.
3. I don't own one of these ring chain bracelets, but they're everywhere at the moment so I couldn't help adding this to my wishlist.
4. This is probably a stupidly impractical top.  I mean, you can't wear a bra with it, really, but then you risk flashing some nip-nip... I still sort of, kind of, really like it, though.
5. The perfect addition to a simple tee/dress.
6. After seeing Kim wearing these amazing jeans yesterday I wanted them straight away, a great alternative to your average pair of blue skinnies.
7. How do I not have some creeper-style shoes yet?  They are pretty controversial, but I'm definitely on the 'LOVE 'EM!' side.  My mum has bought some off eBay though, which are currently on their way... Muuuuuuum?  *flutters eyelashes*
8. Perfact jacket for winter.  Yesssss.

When you lose something you can't replace

'Oh my god I can't see WHAT IS HAPPENING?!'
Little black dress & floral spike headband: TOPSHOP | Shoes: CONVERSE

Nothing 'spices up' a little black dress more than a statemement accessory, so this floral crown was a pretty perfect choice.  I've been planning this outfit for a while but I've just had to wait for the sunshine to get a move on and show its face.  This headband is one of, if not the, most unique accessory which I own, after bagging it in the sale a few weeks ago.  I love love LOVE it.  I think it definitely is the focal point of the outfit, and I wouldn't have been satisfied had I left the house in just this dress and nothing else.  I think the spikes on the headband definitely toughen up a what-would-have-been-a-relatively-girlie outfit.  Plus the Converse make the outfit a bit more laid back, too.
I pinched this dress out of my mother's wardrobe a few months ago, knowing she would have bought it to go out in, never to wear it again.  Women, eh?  I really like the back of it because I don't miss any chance to show my back every now and again.  I can see from the very short length of it that it's obviously meant to be worn for going out in, but seeing as I'm not one to go out and get PROPER SMASHED... BRUV(?), I always have to adapt clothing to more daytime wear.  Misson accomplished, I think.  Maybe I will wear my new over-sized checkered shirt over it next.
I'm off to town later today because I have an appointment at my bank.  Don't hate me 'cause you ain't me.  I have done practically nothing for the past couple of months.  Am not complaining, but maybe I should do something to make the most of my last few weeks off.  I've been wanting to visist Chester Zoo, mainly for the dinosaur bit which they are showing for a limited time (I have no shame.), but I also really want to see some elephants, ever since I cried my eyes out the other night watching a documentary on an elephant called Echo and the extremes she went to to save her huge family.  I am now completely in awe of them and I think they are the most amazing creatures to live on this earth.  My dream would be to go to Africa at some point in my life and see them in their real environment.
Happy Tuesday!