Minted.

Welcome again to the sheer loveliness that is Wednesday - and no sarcasm necessary, because I actually love Wednesdays. I only have two lessons in college, which leaves me plenty of time in the afternoon/evening to do work, relax and just laze around my house in general. It's probably the most stress-free weekday, especially since I can take time writing posts -  instead of frantically bashing something out around 9.30pm, I am actually writing around 4.30pm & doing it very leisurely.

As far as today's outfit goes, I would hardly say I am pushing the boat out, but I think that the colours employed keep it on the stylish side.. 

Cardigan - Dorothy Perkins; Top, Necklace & Ring - Topshop; Jeans - H&M; Shoes - New Look; Bracelet - Temporary Secretary.

You can now see why this post is called minted, right? I thought the best way to rev up a jeans-and-vest-top look was to go for more statement hues, and as well as being different I have played to the SS'12 colour palette. I absolutely adore this mint vest top, it is probably the simplest top I consent to wear, yet it still looks cute thanks to the scalloped edges & gorgeous colour - Topshop, you are genius. My gold jeans have been a wardrobe favourite since I bought them a few months ago (you must be sick of seeing them!), and since metallics are still hot property this season they will remain as such. I just love the colours of this outfit, and the way it is framed by my chic Chanel-esque monochrome cardigan, then topped off with a gold statement necklace and more gold jewellery. This is simple, yet chic, perfect for my minimal-effort Wednesdays.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

This is the closest I'll get to the army.

Lately I have seen the uber-stylish Victoria Beckham working some slick, chic military-inspired looks and was oddly inspired by them. Considering that I am incredibly excited and in love with the SS'12 trends of print & pastels & colour, the neutral colour palette and simple shapes of VB's looks really shouldn't be sticking in my head, but they are. That woman could manage to make anything look gorgeous, but these latest ensembles really stand out from the crowd. After being so taken with her latest outfits, when I was stuck for what to wear today I decided to go Victoria-esque and opt for a bit of military chic.

Blazer - ASOS; Dress - Sparkle & Fade at Urban Outfitters; Boots - H&M; Belt, Tights & Key Ring - Primark; Heart Ring - Temporary Secretary.

I have worn this dress once before I think (shock, horror, double disaster..) but this time I styled it a little differently. I may have been influenced by VB's latest chic-n-simple looks, but this is still me.. I decided to rev up my military-green shirt dress with a pink snakeskin belt, some mini-dot tights and cute heeled ankle boots. This is still definitely erring on the understated side for me, which felt a little strange, but I liked my glam-army outfit today. I think it is the cutout detail and uber-cute collar which make this dress just interesting enough for me.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Whoever invented Mondays is not my friend.

Oh how I love Mondays. Not. They are probably my least favourite day of the week, since I have a full college day from 9am-4.30pm, complete with French, Spanish & double History.. Welcome to my fun life. Anyway, I know I say this pretty much every college day, but I was really not feeling up for college today - so yet again I decided to dress a little larger than life to give me the motivation to keep me going!

Shawl - River Island; Top, Shoes, Tights & Ring - Primark; Shorts - Topshop; Bracelets - random collection from ASOS, Topshop, Lola Rose and various holidays to India & Indonesia.

This was another of my thrown-together outfits, with some of my slightly quirky separates. I absolutely love this baroque shawl from River Island, it is the perfect way to rev up a t-shirt & shorts combo, and that faux fur trim is so cosy & warm, which is perfect for transitional weather in England. I think we have actually started to break into that transfer from winter to spring, where the weather starts becoming almost bearable, and I am so glad about that. Spring fashion is not looking so out of place now!

One last comment about my outfit.. thrown-together it may have been but the starting point for it was my Lady Gaga top. I love this top because it is basically a giant photo of one of my idols, the incredible Stefani Germanotta, and not only is it a giant photo I can wear on my chest, it is a photo of the Born This Way cover - one of my favourite songs of all time. This is a chance to wear one of my obsessions literally on my chest, but still work fashion into it!

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Partying, partying, yeah!

Last night another one of my beautiful friends turned 18, and had a big old party to celebrate. I am now feeling like the only 17-year-old on the planet, as I watch my friends go out like adults.. Since the party was at a pub & obviously under 18's can't drink, guess who got to drive around? Me. I do love driving, but the stress of trying not to lose your keys is a lot of pressure! That and not killing whoever else is in the car with you..

The party itself was so much fun, kicked off by getting ready with two gorgeous girls.

Here's a close up of what I am wearing..

Dress - Topshop; Shoes - New Look; Ring - Parfois; Bracelet - Pull & Bear.

This is in fact a dress you saw a while ago, way back in September when I first bought it to wear to another friend's 18th.. But don't worry, I have not broken my rule about not wearing the same combination twice - this time around I went bare-legged with gold heels, my hair down and bold eyes instead of lips. I love the detailing on this LBD - without the neckline detail it would be quite a simple dress, but that neckline adds interest and makes it more unusual. I cannot believe it took me 5 months to break it out again!

I said I went for bold eyes this time, so here is a quick close up of my slightly more experimental makeup look.

I can't remember where I saw this makeup look, but I was desperate to try it out. In my mind it is called Peacock Eyes. To start with, I applied a bright gold shadow all over my eyelid, going past the socket line, and a little to my lower lash line. Next I blended a royal blue shadow into the crease of my eyelid, then onto the outer corner of my eyelid. Into the blue I blended a tiny bit of green, for that peacock-feather effect, then smudged some inky black shadow onto the outer corner of my eyelid and the crease. I also extended the blue and black under my lower lashline. To finish the look I added a line of liquid eyeliner along my upper lash line, and a liberal coating of mascara. A quick clean-up with a face wipe and my peacock eyes were ready to go on display.

(disclaimer: I am not a very good beauty blogger, nor do I claim to be one, but beauty is such a part of fashion that every so often I will try something new and just have to post. Sorry if the beauty elements to my posts make little or no sense!)

After an awful parking job, we got to the party and basically spent the night talking, laughing, dancing and karaoke-ing. That's right, karaoke. I usually hate singing in public, but somehow I ended up singing Sk8r Boi by Avril Lavigne, and Born This Way by Lady Gaga... It was fun though! It was good to go out and let my hair down, as well as catch up with some people. Here's a few snaps of us all looking splendide!

I will just say that my camera ran out of battery about ten minutes in to the party (shame on me for not checking it was charged) so most of these photos come courtesy of the amazing Akikik of DREAMS. Hope the birthday girl had a good night and is enjoying being an adult now! Love and kisses, Tara xox

Star Style Obsession - Zoe Saldana

This is another case of a style obsession that is literally just that, a style obsession. As far as Zoe Saldana's actual acting work goes, I am not even sure I have seen a film she has been in, and I don't know very much about her in general.. However, her stylish presence has been noticed at many a premiere and on many a best dressed list, and for good reason. There is something so effortless about her look - the way she carries herself just oozes confidence, meaning that she looks gorgeous in pretty much all her outfits, and could never be accused of letting the clothes wear her. 

Personally, I prefer her on-duty wardrobe which is filled with gorgeous dresses that are sometimes simple & chic, sometimes glittering & embellished, and always glamorous. But I do have an appreciation for her off-duty style too - it's just not very 'me'. On the street she manages to work wardrobe staples and separates for a minimal-effort, fuss-free yet perpetually chic look, and kudos to her for making basic pieces anything but boring.

Anyone who can pull off this stunning shade of yellow is incredibly lucky.. I am very jealous of her now! The simple cut of the dress shows off her figure incredibly well, and that necklace is all she needs to accessorize such a statement frock.

Black dresses are like the bread and butter of event show fashion, and could easily be classed as unimaginative, but not when Zoe's working one. The dip-hem and embellished neckline make this dress stand out, and that pop of lipstick is the perfect compliment.

I absolutely adore this colour on Zoe, and the texture is gorgeous. There are literally no flaws in this look, it is faultless. The skinny belt perfectly nips in her waist, and that smile sets it all off to perfection.

As you know, one of SS'12's big trends is Great Gatsby, aka 1920s flapper girl chic, and this look encapsulates the trend perfectly. That drop-waist dress is to die for, and perfectly styled with minimal accessories and retro-looking hair.

Embellished dresses work really well on Zoe because she knows exactly how to wear them. She lets the dress do all the talking and doesn't try to drown it out with accessories or over-the-top makeup, and as a result always looks stunning yet never overdone. I love this dress.

She seems to have found another, even more embellished dress, and is working it incredibly. I absolutely adore this look because it is eye-catching, show-stopping and looks totally unique.

With this look, Zoe might just be convincing me that shorts suits are not some hideous perversion of nature, but are actually pretty cute and cool. I love the way she has balanced the print with a white tee and simple accessories, along with that big smile. Oh, and I am also officially jealous of her perfect pins!

Off-duty, Saldana has stuck to a neutral colour palette which keeps her look fresh and casual. It is the luxe accessories like those sunglasses & that bag that keep this look firmly in fashion territory. 

I love the way she is wearing this denim shirt, so simply styled with black skinny jeans and ankle boots - I might have to try this sometime! Again, the luxe accessories rev up a simply day-time look.

You've got to either be very brave or very foolish to wear all white, and for this outfit I am going with brave because it is utterly gorgeous! I love the differing textures and also those nude heels.

Zoe Saldana's style is effortless, simple and often very wearable. She doesn't go over the top with her styling, which keeps her laid-back style cool, chic and easily glamorous. Off-duty, she dresses like a normal person, albeit one with a million-dollar wardrobe, which makes her the perfect inspiration on those 'what do I wear' days - the answer is with Zoe. On the red carpet she takes on and perfectly pulls off new season trends, giving a masterclass in dressing for cocktail hour. What do you think of her style? I love it.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Ice cream dream.

TGIF, is all I can say. Today was pretty tiring if I am honest, and that wasn't helped by us watching a video in history last lesson - pretty sure I was sleeping with my eyes open. Yet again, on one of those 'I want to be in bed' days, I picked an outfit that would disguise my less-than-alert brain, with fresh colours to hopefully stimulate my mind. Not sure it worked, but it's always worth a shot!

Blazer & Bracelet - ASOS; Top & Earrings - Accessorize; Skirt & Tights - Primark; Shoes - New Look; Belt & Ring - H&M; Necklace - Accessorize.

In sharp contrast to yesterday's loud, proud & printed look, I opted for another of SS'12's hottest trends for this Friday's look - pastels. I am in love with pastel colours right now. I don't know if it is their ability to be mixed and matched effortlessly or the fact that they are super-pretty with their candy-ice-cream hues, but honestly, pastels are my favourite trend of the season I think. Today I dressed a bit like an ice cream, if you wanted some pale strawberry and mint.. I like the way the scallop-neck top matches the scallop-hem skirt, and the way the colours work so well together. I also love my gold jewellery, particularly this leaf double-ring.

I will admit that I got a little lazy with my hair though - I wanted to do something other than wear it down, but apparently all I could come up with was up in a bun.. I promise to be more adventurous with my hair soon! 

Love and kisses, Tara xox

One thing you can't accuse me of is playing it safe.

I'm going to keep this short and sweet, since it is around 10.08pm and I have just had a day in college followed by work & quite literally only want to see my bed. I was pretty tired to start with today, and all that activity has just floored me.. This morning, when deciding what to wear, I did my usual trick of dressing super-brightly when I feel tired - it's a real mood-booster, and means that nobody else can tell you are basically running on autopilot because they are too busy processing your look!

Blazer & Top - Topshop; Trousers & Ring - ASOS; Shoes - Dorothy Perkins; Bracelet - Lola Rose.

Today I was not content with simply wearing my new (gorgeous) floral trousers from ASOS, which I officially adore, but I decided to basically attack the eyes of the general public with some seriously mixed up florals. And let's face it, single print outfits just won't cut it anymore! I think it works because the two patterns are both floral & digitized, but slightly different, and the orange of the top picks out the neon orange element of the trousers. Since the main body of my look was so OTT and in-your-face, I styled my clashing blooms with simple black accessories and silver jewellery. I will openly admit now that I had not realised how skinny the heel was on my new black Dorothy Perkins heels - it's fair to say they aren't the most stable of shoes. But I walked around in them happily all day, and skinny heels are very du jour! 

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Someone make it SS'12 already!

Today my half day at college was made even better by a quick shopping dash, and then arriving home to yet another package full of goodies I bought online last week. I can only liken last Friday to a total shopping binge - after the Mary Katrantzou blowout I just carried on chain-shopping on ASOS.. But my wardrobe desperately needed a new season update, so I limited myself to must-have key pieces as much as I could. I am most definitely in the mood to really rev up my SS'12 style, and I wish the weather would let me. Today I did slightly disregard the rain/cloud/wind/cold in favour of some spring style though...

Jumper & Clutch - New Look; Skirt - H&M; Shoes, Necklace & Earrings - Topshop; Tights - F+F at Tesco; Ring - Temporary Secretary; Bracelet - Lola Rose.

I am more than a little bit in love with this candyfloss-pink jumper - it is the perfect way to wear spring's sweet pastel hues while maintaining some vestige of warmth in these icy February days. To juxtapose the slouchy, relaxed, casual shape & style of the jumper I opted to dress it up with lots of sequins, glitter, and a statement necklace, along with a pop of bright pink lipstick. These all made today's ensemble look very pulled-together rather than thrown-together, and I really like the clash of textures between knitwear and sequins. Something that really brings the outfit together is the lipstick; I said only this morning that putting on lipstick always makes it look and feel like you have put some effort in - I honestly don't feel dressed without mine! My favourite little detail though is my Lola Rose bracelet, courtesy of my free shopping spree.

Now you've seen me working spring pastels today, take a look at which SS'12 styles are going to be popping up in my wardrobe soon, thanks to my ASOS goodies..

First up is this gorgeous tropical print pencil skirt - take me to Hawaii! I am now dying for summer, sun, beaches and blue sky.. But this skirt will have to do for now. The main reason I love it is that despite being tie-dyed and crazily printed with digital blooms, the pencil shape keeps it chic.

Alright, so I am going crazy for florals.. what can I say? The new digi-flowers are just too cute and eye-catching not to end up in my wardrobe, especially the ones on these stunning trousers. Not only are they gorgeously tailored, wildly printed with just a touch of neon from the orange detail, and achingly du jour, but these trousers are from the petite section, which means they will actually fit me well! I can't wait to wear them, but I will expect more than a few funny looks, since they are pretty out there..

When I saw this dress online, I literally had to get it. Do I need another dress? Realistically, no.. but there was no way I was letting this dress go. I think everyone is familiar with that gorgeous SS'12 Louis Vuitton collection that starred Kate Moss & was basically the epitome of pretty.. Well, I dreamed of owning one of their dresses, and then along came this little beauty - it is a stunning powder blue, with large, cutout broderie anglaise style lace and a cute fit-and-flare shape.. basically it is so Vuitton it hurts. Therefore, it was always going to be mine.

It does feel a little premature to be buying sunglasses, I'm not going to lie. Then again, if we do get a sudden burst of unseasonal good weather, my peepers will be bang on trend in these perspex, pastel pink cat-eye shades. Trust ASOS to have the perfect addition to any summer outfit on hand!

When I went to town shopping today I will admit that my latest purchases were playing on my mind.. leading to two things. Firstly, a lot of restraint since I spent rather a lot of money recently. And secondly, when considering what to wear with my new ASOS trousers & skirt, the realisation that I don't own a pair of simply black high heels. Well, that had to be fixed..

And the solution came from Dorothy Perkins. These simple, suede effect shoes are exactly what I wanted - a chic pointed shape, sleek black colour & the perfect heel height for walking around all day. They did come in a rainbow of other tempting colours, but I needed black shoes, so black shoes I bought!

I think this ought to be the last major shop that takes place for a while, because totalling up what I have spent recently just gets painful. I don't even want to look at my bank statement! A few weeks of restraint are in order... which will also give me a chance to get creative with my new purchases. So just to be clear, this should be the last shopping haul post you see for a while (or a day or two until I just buy something anyway), but prepare yourself for a lot of outfits...

Love and kisses, Tara xox

I like to challenge myself.

You've probably noticed I enjoy a good challenge - from not being wearing the same outfit combination twice, to that mini shopping ban around Christmas, I like to set myself a difficult task and then accomplish it. There's something oh-so-satisfying about discovering the extent of your own willpower, and achieving something you weren't sure you could. Which is why, along with some of my friends, this Lent I am giving up sweets, chocolate, desserts etc. Basically anything sweet, unhealthy and delicious is off the menu for 40 days and 40 nights. I will just add that this is my first time at giving anything up for Lent, so it's going to be a tough one.. but the challenge is accepted!

That means that today, pancake day, is the last day of sweet treats for a looooong time (around 6 weeks) and so I may have gone a little crazy for chocolate. Ah well. At least I didn't wear anything body-con today..

Dress - H&M; Blazer - ASOS; Shoes & Jewellery - Topshop; Tights - Primark; Belt - Malene Birger.

I absolutely love the graphic blue poppy print of this dress, as well as the draped neckline. It's the perfect spring day dress, and if I hadn't been so desperate to wear it I would have saved it for some sunny day when I could wear it sans blazer & tights.. But I wanted to wear it now, so I layered up accordingly. Maybe soon the weather will improve.. I also adored my accessories today - quite Topshop-heavy I will admit. Those big, door knocker earrings were on their first outing, and I was pleasantly surprised by how light they were, as well as loving the mid-century modern twist they put on my dress. Another accessory being christened today was my Malene Birger belt, which is now a firm favourite for its quirky appeal. My one criticism is that there weren't enough holes to tighten it around my waist, so I had to pull it through tightly and hope for the best, but I suppose that is the trouble with being so tiny..

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Finally, some Katrantzou is mine..

The first day back after half term is always pretty painful, especially the February half term when you realise there is only a term and a half left of the year. I am currently half way through my final year in college, getting prepped to sit MAJOR exams, and slightly freaking out. So excuse me if from now on my blogging gets more and more rushed and makes less and less sense...

Anyway, to cheer up such an unattractive prospect as the first day back, I decided to go bold with what I was wearing, and also try to compliment my new hair (which I am still not used to).

Blazer - ASOS; Blouse - Lefties; Jeans - H&M; Slippers - New Look; Belt - Primark; Necklace & Bracelet - Accessorize; Earrings & Ring - Topshop.

When trying to step out of the ordinary and rev up a day-to-day outfit, metallic jeans are a fail-safe option, especially in this glamorous gold. Metallics are not just for party season anymore either - they are shaping up to be one of SS'12's big trends for day and night. To dress mine down (but still chic) for day I went for a matchy-matchy coral blouse and slippers combo, topped off with my black blazer which is probably overworn already.. A quick slick of lipstick, some cute gold accessories, ten minutes spent styling my (new) hair and I was good to go!

Now, the outfit wasn't the only way that this first day back was brightened up - oh no. I am sure you are all aware that a certain Mary Katrantzou for Topshop collection dropped last Friday, and that I was absolutely desperate to get my little paws on a piece or two.. Well, I'm ecstatic to say I was successful, and today I arrived home to this..
 

3 gorgeous little (well, quite large actually) packages waiting for me. And inside were 3 beautiful pieces of Mary Katrantzou's genius collaboration.

First up is this cute floral print t-shirt. Mary's latest catwalk was all about florals, so it doesn't surprise me that she has continued to use them as an inspiration. I love the graphic, digital blooms on this black top, and the sleek, slightly oversized cut makes it perfect for tucking in or wearing straight out. I foresee some print mixing with this little baby!

The second piece, and possibly my favourite overall is this absolutely incredible blouse. If I loved the digital floral prints on the first top, I think it's safe to say my brain is overloaded with love for these stunning computer-generated flowers. The unnaturally bright hues and soaring, swirling petals that sprawl across the soft, chiffon-like sheer fabric of the blouse are simply breathtaking in my opinion. When I finally looked past the aesthetics of this shirt, I did get slightly confused though.. both sides have a collar, so until I saw the label I was honestly baffled as to which way round it was supposed to be worn, since the 'back' and 'front' are both equally gorgeous. If you trust the label, the buttons go on the back, but I may end up wearing it both ways round just because it looks beautiful from all angles.

The last thing I managed to snap up on Friday was this beautiful shift dress. Usually I stay away from shift dresses, due to my height, but this one is incredible. Again, the digital print is so eye-catching I can't tear my eyes off it, especially that stylized bird. Mary Katrantzou is literally a creative genius for designing something this gorgeous and this wearable, and making it so affordable that a humble little Topshop girl like myself can own it.

Along with the purchases came a *free* Mary Katrantzou for Topshop printed bag.. And since it took 3 separate orders to get my 3 pieces, I am now the proud owner of 3 of these bags!

These are also amazing, and I can't believe they were just giving them away with the orders! I am also glad I have three, because now one can be kept pristine and the other two can be used, abused and shown off. 

I am completely in love with my Mary Katrantzou for Topshop haul - I am now the proud owner of three gorgeous, bold and wearable pieces by arguably my favourite designer of the moment! I can't wait to wear the pieces, although it feels a waste just to wear them to college.. but then letting them gather dust in their garment bags feels equally wasteful. I guess I will just have to see what special occasions come up soon.. 

What do you all think of my Mary Katrantzou gems? Did anyone else manage to pick up any items? Love and kisses, Tara xox