wearing...

A few outfit selfies, plus a DIY necklace I made recently... Still failing to wear any shoes aside from my two favourites- I'm well and truly smitten.

P.S. Had a bit of a name change- not sure how long I'll be sticking with this one, but inspiration is resolutely refusing to strike.

Summer outfits...

Outfit photos are a bit of a rarity at the moment, mainly because I've been wearing things that are more functional than they are interesting, due to both the heat and the fact that I tend to just throw on whatever I find before me as I run off to work.  This is pretty much everything I've worn in the last month or so that I've even remotely liked:
 

dungarees- Primark, top- Zara, espadrilles- Lidl

dress- Topshop via ebay, boots- Uterque

top- Oysho, shorts- Whistles, shoes- Park Lane via Asos

top- H&M, skirt- Topshop, sandals- local shop

Once more this year, I've failed to assemble much of a summer wardrobe, so I've been relying on my tried-and-true favourites, with the odd addition in the form of espadrilles and sandals...

Wearing lately...

left: shirt-Asos, shorts-Whistles, shoes- Park Lane via Asos; right: shirt- Zara, shorts- Topshop Boutique, shoes- River Island

left: top- Pull & Bear, skirt- vintage, shoes as before; right: top- Zara, dungarees- Primark, shoes as before

 I'm not entirely sure how it's possible that we're halfway through July, but the calendar doesn't lie, and despite a late start, it's now very much summer outside.  Which obviously means I'm stuck in the same sartorial rut as I am every year.  I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that I just don't actually like very many summer clothes, though I don't know what I can do about that.  This year, I had sworn to avoid the problem of finding two separate items of clothing that I actually like and which match each other, by just buying a selection of floaty summer dresses, rather than trying to match tops and skirts/shorts.  I've yet to buy one.  The problem with summer dresses is that they mostly tend to be shapeless sacks in an array of colours I'd normally never look twice at.  So I've once more resorted to my tried and trusted denim shorts, and I'm building up a small collection of non-t-shirt tops to pair them with.  The photo with the leather shorts was taken a few weeks ago- it's definitely too hot and sticky to attempt wearing them now.  Footwear is proving to be another problem- as much as I like the silver sandals and black and white espadrilles I'm wearing in every single photo, I'm very much sick of wearing them every day, but I'm finding it hard to find anything else I particularly like (well, anything that isn't Balenciaga and therefore completely unaffordable)  To be honest, I'm getting really frustrated with having to go through a big chunk of the year hating almost everything I wear.  Surely there must be a way to dress nicely when it's over 30 degrees out?  Answers on a postcard please...

June outfits...

Clockwise from top left- top- Zara, skirt- Topshop, shoes- Minnetonka; dungarees- Miss Selfridge via ebay, top- Oysho, shoes as before; jumper and dress- Topshop Boutique, shoes- Kurt Geiger; blazer- Topshop, top- Zara, skirt as before, shoes- Marc by Marc Jacobs

So far this month I've finally got hold of some denim dungarees, re-discovered and couldn't stop wearing my ancient Minnetonkas and became a firm fan of skirts over shorts.  Dungarees aside, I'm actually feeling rather girly at the moment, after a winter spent mainly in trainers.  As much as I push myself to try new things, I always seem to end up in old favourites.  And, as always, it wouldn't be an outfit roundup post if I weren't wearing at least one item multiple times.  

Craving change

top- Cos, skirt- vintage, shoes- Charlie May

 It's funny, after a winter spent in jumpers, shorts and trainers, I'm suddenly overwhelmed by the urge to wear skirts, dresses and proper shoes.  I'm even finding myself craving heels for the first time in probably years.  I don't know what's behind this really- possibly a combination of my reverting to form (tomboyish dressing has never really been my cup of tea) and my flea-sized attention span- after wearing/eating/doing anything for too long, I get bored and want the exact opposite of the offending clothing/food/activity.  So it's no surprise that the grey suede vintage skirt I'm wearing in this photo is possibly my favourite recent purchase (I want to pair it with floaty cream tops, of which I currently own precisely none).  I instead chose to pair it with my trusty old favourite Cos top and my new-ish Charlie May x H by Hudson brogues which I've since decided are not quite me and are currently up on ebay (*ahem* not that I'm shamelessly plugging my own listing or anything...)  

The below outfit I think illustrates that shapeless sport-inspired tops do absolutely nothing for me and are best left as ghosts of sartorial mistakes past.  Luckily it was only £2.99 in the sale and will work quite well as a beach cover up come summer.  I am incredibly pleased with my scallop-hemmed skirt from Toppers though- I wish they had brought out more colours, I would have bought them all!

    

top- Pull & Bear, skirt- Topshop, shoes- Kurt Geiger

What I've been wearing...

Left: jacket- Primark, t-shirt-Gap, trousers- Zara, plimsolls- H&M; right: top- Pull & Bear, trousers- Zara, shoes- Chloe

 Left: top- DIY-ed H&M, dungarees- Zara, shoes- & Other Stories; right: jumper- Etoile Isabel Marant, jeans- Masscob, boots- Massimo Dutti

A few examples of how I've been trying to dress for the dreary, wet, and unpredictable spring weather.  I'm literally the only person walking round with bare legs here, but the thought of digging out the black opaques again is too unbearable...

Outfits: February/March

 

 

 

Clockwise from top left: jumper- Topshop, skirt- vintage, shoes- & Other Stories; jumper- Topshop, skirt- Topshop Boutique, boots- Beau Coops;  jumper- American Apparel from ebay, skirt and boots- same as before; random navy top, dungarees- same as before, shoes- H by Hudson for Charlie May

Clockwise, from top left: top- Pull & Bear, dungarees- Topshop Boutique from ebay, shoes- Kurt Geiger; hoodie- American Apparel (from charity shop, random t-shirt, shorts- Topshop Boutique from ebay, trainers- Nike; cropped t-shirt- H&M, trousers- Zara circa 2010, shoes- Repetto; shirt- Asos, jeans- Primark, boots- Beau Coops

This is the sum total of outfit photos I've managed to take in the past two months.  This is mainly down to the fact that I've been wearing essentially the same things all. the. bloody. time.  I managed to buy quite a few bits for summer before I left London, but absolutely nothing for spring, which means I'm wearing the same few bits over and over until it's warm enough for little skirts, sandals and sleeveless tops.  Looking at these however, I can't help but notice that almost everything I tend to wear a lot is either quite old (both pairs of Beau Coops boots) or from ebay/charity shops (my two bits of American Apparel, and my much-loved velvet dungarees).  I'm starting to think shopping exlusively secondhand is the way forward...

January Outfits

And only a month late!  I've been slacking on all things blog-related lately, and outfit photos are no exception.  I feel like I've spent the last month or two wearing about five things over and over, so haven't felt any of my outfits has been particularly worthy of being documented.  Nevertheless, here are a few things I did manage to snap in the nearest mirror...

L-R: top- Cos, trousers- Zara, trainers- Nike; dress- Topshop Boutique, trainers- Nike; dungarees- Topshop Boutique,  top- Oysho, boots- Massimo Dutti

top- Zara, jeans- charity shop, shoes- Pollini; jacket- Marc by Marc Jacobs, t-shirt-Gap, skirt- Topshop Boutique, trainers- Nike

jumper- charity shop, skirt- Topshop Boutique, boots- Beau Coops; top- Primark, skirt- vintage, shoes- Kurt Geiger

So basically this past month or so I've embraced trainers and far too much Topshop Boutique.  And also attempted bare legs in an attempt to stick two fingers up to the frankly unbearable London weather.  Wake me when it's summer...

Outfits (again)

This past week I've mainly been trying to wear something something other than navy jumpers and my tiger-print skate shoes.  I've not entirely succeeded.

Clockwise from top left: dress- Topshop, boots- Beau Coops; jumper- Topshop, tshirt- Gap, shorts- Topshop Boutique, shoes- Kurt Geiger; top- Cos, skirt- Zara, trainers- Nike via ebay; jacket- Gap, top- Cos, trousers- Zara, shoes- Studio Pollini

My sky blue trainers are my aforementioned attempt at Scandinavian nonchalance.  I'm not particularly convinced I can carry them off, but they're so comfortable, I don't actually care and I have to force myself to not wear them with absolutely everything.  I think I may need another pair...  Also feeling quite smug that I've already got the perfect over-the-knee boots when all the magazines are bleating on about them being the shoe of the season.  Meanwhile mine are from 2010, the last time they had their moment in the sun- are fashion cycles moving that fast that three years is enough time for something to go from must-have to fashion pariah and back again?

November(ish) Outfits

If anyone actually reads this anymore (hi! *waves*) I can only offer apologies for vanishing off the face of the blogosphere. My new job generally leaves me exhausted and despite my best intentions for interesting blog posts, all I can actually share is a load of photos of me repeatedly wearing the same clothes (or ones which are so similar, they may as well be- I'm officially banned from buying anything with a white collar ever again!)  At least if the cost-per-wear of any given item in my wardrobe were calculated, it would be about 5p.  I'm not actually sure that's a good thing... 

clockwise from top left- dress- Cos, boots- Beau Coops; breton top- Sunspel, skirt- vintage, boots- Massimo Dutti; top- Asos, shorts- Whistles, shoes- Kurt Geiger; dress- Pop Boutique, shoes- & Other Stories; shirt- Asos, skirt- JW Anderson x Topshop, boots- vintage; coat- Primark, jeans- Masscob, boots- Massimo Dutti

clockwise from top left: jumper- Etoile by Isabel Marant, trousers- Topshop Boutique, shoes- Kurt Geiger; jumper- as before, shorts- Whistles, shoes as before; jumper- Topshop, shorts- Oysho, shoes as before; t-shirt- Gap, skirt- vintage, shoes- & Other Stories; top- Asos, skirt- vintage, boots- Massimo Dutti; top- Cos, jeans- Masscob, shoes- Kurt Geiger.

Not pictured- either of my two (!) new pairs of shoes, once of which is an honest-to-God pair of trainers.  I've been wearing them with little dresses and telling myself it's very Scandinavian of me, rather than 1980s commuter.  Photographic proof of my Scandi-coolness to come...

Wearing Lately

My inability to pass shops without ducking in to have a quick browse, even if it's the third branch of H&M that day and I'm quite certain I won't find anything I like, means there's been no shortage of opportunities for changing room selfies since I've been back in London.  So I present every single thing (more or less) that I've worn over the past 2.5 weeks...

Clockwise from top left- top and skirt, Zara, boots- Massimo Dutti; top- Topshop, shorts- Oysho, boots- Beau Coops; lace top- Oysho, shorts- Whistles, shoes- Kurt Geiger; jumper- Primark, skirt- Topshop, plimsolls- H&M; jumper- French Connection, skirt- Zara, shoes- Kurt Geiger; jacket- H&M, t-shirt- Gap, skirt- JW Anderson x Topshop, boots- Massimo Dutti

shirt- Asos, shorts- Whistles, boots- Massimo Dutti; jumper- H&M, shorts- Vero Moda, shoes- Kurt Geiger; dress- Cos, shoes- & Other Stories

 

 

top- Cos, skirt- vintage, boots- Massimo Dutti; jacket- Gap, trousers- River Island, boots- Beau Coops

I'm slightly freaked out by how identical my stance is in every single one of these, down to the placement of my fingers as I'm holding my phone.  I am however, quite pleased with the variety of my outfits considering they're comprised entirely of the contents of my 20 kilo suitcase and a handful of new purchases.  Perhaps I've succeeded in building a capsule wardrobe without actually trying?  I definitely need a new pair of ankle boots though- both the pairs I've brought with me probably photograph better than they've actually been holding up...

Outfit

top- Zara, skirt- Topshop, shoes- Kurt Geiger

The arrival of autumn (which I'm still in denial about- it somehow doesn't feel possible that it's already the end of September!) means I can once more start wearing things like closed shoes and sleeves, which increases my wardrobe options by about 300%, so I thought I'd start taking the odd outfit photo again.  Today's is courtesy of the fitting rooms at Zara, and was actually taken a few days ago, but it's better than nothing (or not, but if I ruled out grainy selfies I'd never have any photos of what I wear and I'm much too narcissistic to do that).  Fingers crossed my imminent move back to London will mean access to better lighting and/or full length mirrors. In the meantime, I quite liked this particular combination- I had grown bored of skater skirts in general, but with my new shoes, the shape seemed fresh again somehow.  Shame the shoes completely crippled me- fingers crossed they'll soften with time...

Outfit (sort of)

I haven't bothered taking outfit photos in ages, as I don't think the internet needs to see me in my most-worn combination of denim shorts and a slouchy t-shirt.  I did however go to a wedding earlier in the month which required I wear proper clothes and I finally had a reason to dress up like an actual girl:

dress- French Connection, shoes- Miu Miu via ebay

Now I just need more excuses to wear both the dress and shoes that don't require anyone pledging themselves to someone else for eternity...

Continuing on from my last post, a couple more oufits featuring things I've either had forever, or have bought secondhand off ebay.  For the first time in ages though, I'm actually quite pleased with my wardrobe and don't just want to burn it all and start again, so clearly I've done something right.  And whilst everyone else is moaning about the lack of a summer thus far, I'm secretly quite pleased that the low (for Greece) temperatures mean I can wear things like long sleeves and closed shoes for a while longer.  

blazer- Primark (ancient), top- Topshop via ebay, skirt- Zara circa 2010, shoes- CB Made in Italy

dress- Topshop Boutique via ebay, shorts- diy, shoes- Chloe via ebay

I was going to post a few photos of recent outfits here and I realised that, even as infrequently as I take outfit photos, I'm still wearing things that I've previously worn- a lot.  And I think that's quite symbolic of my style, and finally feeling comfortable in my own skin.  I've spent a long time collecting inspiration photos of girls who look nothing like me, wearing things I never would.  Wondering if I shouldn't try things that were more quirky/colourful/trendy.  But none of that is quite "me".  So I'm coming to terms with the fact that I like quite simple, classic things.  That I don't really wear patterns.  That I feel most comfortable in non-colours like black, grey and navy.  Some of my favourite items of clothing were bought 3 or 4 years ago, most frequently the only item of jewellery I'll be wearing is a pair of gold hoops I bought ages ago on ebay for 99p.  This all coincided with reading this post by Garance Dore, about buying fewer things that you absolutely love rather than lots of things you're meh about.  It's something I've been attempting to do lately, often by filling my basket on various sites and then closing down the browser window.  Anything I'm still thinking about hours, or even days, later is worth actually clicking home.  So far I've bought nothing (bar a few ebay bargains which, as previously mentioned, seem to be my favourite sort of shopping at the moment).  But I'm re-learning to appreciate what I already own, and trying to find new ways to mix individual items together.  

Last year's Pull and Bear top and Surface to Air shoes with Zara trousers bought in the sale 3 years ago for £15.

Chloe sandals and Topshop jacket- both via ebay, leather shorts- Very by Vero Moda

Zara lace top, Primark jeans, Beau Coops boots circa 2010

And something that is a new purchase- the perfect pastel yellow nail varnish by Korres.  I've been wanting, and failing to find, this precise shade for literally years, so I'm so pleased this has come out: