Am I hipster yet?

Working a completely different style to the previous post, I have attempted to edge up my look a little to match my (gorgeous) new creepers. There is just something about them that makes me want to shop in the slightly grungier half of Topshop and plaster myself in crosses and a serious attitude. But of course, I'm not an all-out grunge kid, so this look was a little half-and-half. I like to call it eclectic. In contrast to the floaty, floral, summertime look of the last post, here I have added a bit more of a twist to my outfit - but of course the girlie girl inside me hasn't been completely overruled..

Shirt & Bralet (underneath) - New Look; Skirt & Eye Bracelet - River Island; Creepers - Amazon; Socks - Urban Outfitters; Bag, Earrings, Leaf Ring & Cross Bracelet - Topshop; Star Bracelet - Lola Rose; Camera Ring - Temporary Secretary.

See, even when wearing some super-cool leopard print brothel creepers, the girlie-ness works its way in there, as seen with my beloved pink skirt, new pastel handbag and pastel blue nails. However, the simple white buttoned blouse with a black bralet underneath and some edgy jewellery (crosses and such), as well as some glittery ankle socks keep it eclectic and cool. It might not be the most obvious way to work your creepers, but personally I like the contrast of masculine and feminine elements, and the way the shoes make the whole look fiercer when it easily could have been sugar-sweet.

These photos were taken out in town with Akikik of DREAMS, full credits to her for capturing me. We also took some more random photos just for fun - once I get hold of the ones she took on her camera you can see us being super-cool, as per usual..

Love and kisses, Tara xox

In bloom.

In my world there is no such thing as too much floral print. Or flowers in general. Especially when the great British summertime seems like it might finally be getting in full swing, because they are seasonal, gorgeous and so so versatile. Whether it's watercolour flowers, ditzy little prints or digital blooms I adore them all, and have a lot of floral things in my wardrobe that just scream Spring/Summer. Which is why today I went all out with the florals - and no, it's definitely not overkill.

Dress & Headband - New Look; Shoes - Topshop; Necklace - Accessorize; Bracelet - Primark; Ring - H&M.

I think the fact that I am full of the joys of summer is visible here - head-to-toe flower power! This is one of the new dresses I picked up on Saturday, and I already love it. The high-to-low hem feels gorgeously floaty and summery, as does the light fabric, while the bold daisy print makes it stand out from the crowd. The finishing touches were some cute gladiator sandals from Topshop (re-surfacing for the first time this year!) with fabric flowers in a neutral tone, and a gorgeous Lana Del Rey-esque floral headband. I felt like a little bit of a hippie child, but I'm cool with that.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Paisley print.

Finally. The day has come where I can wear a sundress without tights or a jacket or any kind of practical layering - nothing needed other than shoes, jewellery and sunglasses! People might be complaining about the heat, but I am still loving it. I live for days like these. Besides, I hear that it is meant to rain here on Wednesday, so I have to squeeze in some sunshine appreciation while I can..

Dress - Dorothy Perkins; Shoes & Earrings - New Look; Necklace & Rings - Topshop; Bracelet - Pull & Bear; Sunglasses - bought in Malaysia.

I have had this dress quite a while and worn it on a fair few occasions, but I couldn't remember ever wearing it solo so I decided to break it out again today! The paisley print is still totally on-trend, and I love the colour palette. The bright blue, white and purple on a black background is a gorgeous way to work a print without looking over the top, and is echoed in my purple wedges. Yes, I am wearing those wedges to death this summer, I love them! Sunglasses are obligatory when driving on sunny days, and I opted to up the glam factor with this classic, oversized pair.

This week I tried out a new nail colour again - Maybelline's Forever Strong polish in Ceramic Blue, one of their new SS'12 pastel shades. It is safe to say I am completely in love with this pale blue colour which looks fresh, unusual and achingly pretty on my nails! It was also surprisingly easy to apply, possibly thanks to the '100% Precision' brush..

Creepers - Amazon

Another new purchase came in through the post today - I am now the proud owner of a gorgeous pair of creepers. I could have just bought a plain colour, but of course I opted for some super-cute leopard print on mine! At the moment they are being sold on Amazon for some ridiculously cheap price, so I snapped my pair up quick. Ever since flatforms came into fashion and brothel creepers seemed to be making an impact I was tempted by them, but only after seeing Karl Lagerfeld incorporate them into his ensembles was I completely sold. It may be a little warm to wear them now, but I love them anyway!

Love and kisses, Tara xox

We're on a timebomb.

Disclaimer: This post may contain posts of a Kylie-fied nature, and all non-obsessive Minogue fans may find it boring and irrelevant.

I think my love for Kylie is pretty clear. If you've read any of my old posts you will recognise a certain level of excitement came nearly two months ago when I finally met her in Manchester after seeing the Anti Tour.. Well, the excitement has been re-awakened this week by the arrival of an incredible new song - Timebomb. I may or may not have been listening/dancing to it for about 2 hours already today. As well as being a dance-tastic tune that is perfect for summer, the video itself is pretty amazing. Here are a few of my favourite shots, and a look at what she was wearing..

This is the official cover image, and I love the monochromatic photo with a bright red heart on the Moschino jacket.

I love this outfit - much more toned down than your usual pop music video, even if it does consist of a biker jacket and hotpants! That jacket is new-season Moschino and completely gorgeous, with a peace sign on the back in white as well as the red heart on the front. I adore the embellishment on the shorts, and together they are gorgeous.

It takes a brave woman to wear something like this.. I never could. The shoes however I am in total love with! How can this woman possibly be 44 tomorrow?? She's too beautiful.

If I have piqued your curiosity now with my obsessive posting about Kylie and her songs, here is the video to the latest tune, Timebomb.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KYLIE FOR TOMORROW!

I live for mornings like these.

Finally, the moment I have been waiting for. A Saturday morning where both an absence of work and gorgeous sunshine have collided, and this can mean only one thing - shopping! Yes, I know, I spend way too much money, but honestly even if I don't spend very much I love being in shops, looking at all the new pieces and trying on things I can't quite let myself buy. Shopping is one of the most pleasurable activities ever, and I actually think that Topshop is my natural habitat.

Top, Bag & Ring - Topshop; Skirt & Earrings - River Island; Shoes - New Look; Bracelet - Temporary Secretary; Necklace - Accessorize; Sunglasses - ASOS.

The summer sunshine today meant that I finally got to put together an outfit without a single hint of black - I stuck to confectionary colours for a bright, cute look. It's also very rare that I don't have print on at least one piece of clothing, but today I was going for something fresh and light. This may look like a simple outfit, but I am working in my SS'12 references - 1950s cat-eye shades & A-line skirt, shimmery metallic vest, candy-pastels bag. For once I also wore my hair up, on a complete whim, and I am surprised to find that a simple ponytail looks perfect with the amount of trends going on in this outfit.

This shopping trip I didn't actually buy too much - I just got sucked in by the gorgeously stylish and affordable dresses in New Look..

I adore this dress. For once it doesn't swamp my petite frame, thanks to the mullet hemline, and the print is completely gorgeous. It is perfect for summer with those oversized daisies, and the floaty fabric - I can't wait to wear it out in the bright sunshine!

This next dress caught my eye because of the beautiful tropical print that just makes me dream of my summer holiday! It's so bright, and absolutely perfect for long, lazy summer days. But what really attracted me upon closer inspection was the retro shape. Indulging my 1950s dreams, I love the cut of this dress with the fit-and-flare shape, as well as the cute tie-up detail on the back.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Now this is my kind of weather.

Oh sunshine, how I love you. I have been waiting for months and months for it to finally feel like summer, and now, at the end of May, we appear to have made it. Lots of people I know are already complaining about the humidity, or it being too hot to concentrate - have they forgotten just how dismal winter was? I certainly haven't, and I am loving this weather. It often seems like I was born in the wrong country since my natural preference is for 30+ degrees, blazing sunshine and so much heat that you need a drink every five minutes. I will never be glad of rain or cloud the way I adore a blue sky. So naturally, this burst of gorgeousness that is the weather is right up my street, and yes, I have been sitting out in the sun with ice lollies as often as possible, as well as relishing the chance to venture out without some form of jacket.

Top & Earrings - Topshop; Jeans, Sunglasses & Cuff - H&M; Shoes - New Look; Ring - Miss Selfridge.

First of all, sorry for the terrible washed-out photo - there's the one downside of bright sunshine. Trying to balance the camera on a trampoline probably didn't help either. Right here I am relishing the joy of being able to wear just a top, but again I didn't quite get whole-heartedly into summer clothes,  since my treasured gold jeans were the perfect match. Metallics are still hot right now, and I gave them a bit of a summer update with a floral, 1950s style top. And the sunglasses were a necessity, especially when driving!

Who else is enjoying the sunshine right now?

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Getting a little patriotic.

Okay, okay, normally I don't get swept up in these kind of events, and I can safely say that 'royal fever' hasn't struck me down before. Last year, I was so sick of the royal wedding between Wills & Kate that I was ecstatic to be on holiday on the day, and only really cared about who designed Kate's dress (McQueen was definitely the right choice). However, I truly believe that one of the biggest events this year (other than the 20120 Olympics in London) is the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. She has been on the throne for 60 years now, and in my opinion doing a fabulous job. Her and the entire monarchy are a British establishment that we should all be proud to still have, and there is something exciting about having a woman as a ruler too.. Not to mention a rather stylish one at that!

Yes, my latest style icon is possibly an unlikely one, coming in the form of our very own Queen Elizabeth. She may be getting older, but her style remains impeccable - she is never over or under dressed, she always accessorises perfectly, and probably has the largest collection of hats the world has ever seen. Elizabeth also manages to work in new-season colours, and there probably isn't a shade on the planet that she hasn't pulled off beautifully. 

From the start of her reign, she ruled in style..

In her early official photographs the Queen looks gorgeous, and never OTT. Of course, the crown is the perfect accessory, but in the second photo I am in love with her necklace and that stunning off the shoulder dress.

The bows on this dress are super-cute, and she is already showing her penchant for pearls..

This outfit is simply perfection - retro glamour at its finest. The lace looks simply beautiful, and her regal accessories of elbow length gloves, a parasol, and one of her many hats are the perfect complements. If I could wear this dress now, I so would.

Don't even get me started on her wedding dress. That train is simply breathtaking - Elizabeth is doing nothing by halves!

The vintage Elizabeth looks may be totally gorgeous, but the modern day ensembles are pretty spectacular too..

Only a queen could pull this off, and Elizabeth definitely does! That crown is the perfect accessory, and I love the cosy fur trim on this silver gown.

And the journey through Her Majesty's colourful wardrobe begins.. Seen sans hat for once, this outfit is anything but dull. Perfectly combining pink and red, which should completely clash, Elizabeth looks bright and beautiful here.

The Queen has an amazing collection of coats, as well as the complementary hats, and I love this one in particular. The red trim and buttons are so cute, and the feathered hat looks pretty darn stylish. She has accessorized well with soft black.

I am actually pretty jealous of this cape trench, it is a complete style classic and pretty effortlessly chic for a rainy day.

Severe style kudos goes to anyone who can pull off lime green, and the queen has definitely gone up in the style stakes by working this tricky hue.

I love the detailing on this matchy-matchy monochrome ensemble.

Royal blue is the perfect colour for Her Majesty to wear as she greets the troops, and this flattering coat is gorgeous.

Sporting an incredibly du jour paisley print suit, Elizabeth looks bold and bright again here. This Queen is far from boring, and will never fade into the background!

A good cherry-red ensemble is all Elizabeth needs to look stylish on or off-duty, and I actually really like her hat here. The carbon black accessories are timelessly chic, especially when paired with red.

Dressed perfectly for a sunny day, this light pastel blue is again very du jour, and the white gloves keep the entire look light.

This powder blue spring coat is incredibly stylish right now - pastels are a key trend for SS'12. There is no denying the fact that this monarch is a style queen too! That hat is quite cutting edge with the black feather, but the soft blue flower keeps it suited to the prim coat.

Who could forget the Queen's pale-yellow ensemble at Wills & Kate's wedding? In a stronger yellow this would have been blinding, but the soft hue means it is perfect. Pastel yellow is another gorgeous SS'12 shade so Elizabeth was ahead of the trends. I love her light white accessories and nude courts that keep this look fresh and oozing springtime chic.

And finally, this is our Queen's official diamond jubilee portrait. In my opinion she looks simply glorious - what better way to celebrate your diamond jubilee than wearing a dress that looks like it is encrusted in them? 

I am sorry if this post is a little long/picture-heavy, I hadn't quite anticipated how carried away I would get looking at the Queen's ensembles! I am now eagerly awaiting the Diamond Jubilee for the chance to celebrate her years on the throne - how about you, readers? Do you like the monarchy? As far as I'm concerned, God Save The Queen! There is one thing I am still ridiculously curious about though. What exactly does she carry in her handbag?

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Examined in style.

I had an exam today. On like the sunniest day so far - it's typical! But on the plus side, history is over for this year. And I don't even think it went too badly. Only 3 to go now, thank goodness. I did get the morning off to sunbathe though, so it's not all bad. And then when I finally had to make myself presentable to the world I finally got to go out sans tights - summer is officially here. For at least a few days.

Shirt & Skirt - River Island; Shoes - New Look; Necklace & Ring - Topshop; Cuff - H&M; Wishbone Bracelet - Accessorize.

Like I said, I triumphantly got my pale-as-a-tissue white legs out today to celebrate the sun, wearing my gorgeous cherry print skirt to add a bit of fun to an exam day! I didn't get carried away though, pairing it with my light-wash denim shirt. Coloured and printed denim may be very du jour, but this pale-blue shirt is an old favourite of mine and is so much more summery than any dark denims. I then added a statement necklace, bright wedges and some gold jewellery, with quite minimal makeup for me and voila, my pick-me-up look for the exam was complete. Oh, and throw in my photo-bombing little cat too.

Some more shameless self-promotion - follow me on instagram! babydolltara is my username, look me up!

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Summer?

Seriously, how does Monday always roll around so quickly? I was slightly less irritated by this one though since I got to finish at lunch time (I have finished history for the year, so no more Monday afternoon lessons!) and go hang around town with one of my best friends having coffee and a brilliant time. This makes me long for the summer when I will have even more free time to spend with friends before we all go our separate ways to uni and gap years.. Today I also absolutely loved the fact that the sun was out, blazing away with blue sky above and making it finally feel like summer! For the first time I got to cruise along in my little car with the windows down, probably annoying the wildlife/farmers/other road users by blasting out Marina and the Diamonds. All in all, not a bad day! 

Blazer - Bershka; Blouse - Blanco; Shorts & Leaf Ring - Topshop; Tights - Primark; Shoes - New Look; Flower Ring - Accessorize; Bracelet - Pandora; Necklace - Accessorize.

For today's outfit I simply mixed up some of my favourite separates of the moment.. Those raspberry Topshop shorts are now one of my wardrobe staples because they are a gorgeous colour and suprisingly flattering for being so short! The tropical print top is very of the moment and bright - perfect for a sunny day, especially with my gorgeous pastel peach blazer. And don't get me started on how much I love my coral slippers at the moment, they are just too cute. A bright lip and black opaques finished the look off perfectly, although I can't help but long for the day I can go out with my legs bare (and hopefully not totally pasty-white) because that will mean summer is here. 

Just a few things to say now. Firstly, thankyou again to Lindsey Irby for her guest post that went up yesterday (check it out here)! Also, I guest posted on her blog Style Splice with a trend report featuring a photoshoot I took on the other recent sunny day, all about 1950s fashion - take a look here! I hope you all check out her blog, since I absolutely love it. Lastly, I got an instagram page, so please go follow me @babydolltara - there aren't many photos up yet but I will get right on it..

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Guest Post: Trend Report

Salutations, fellow fans of the lovely Tara and her obsessions du jour! Je m’appelle Lindsey and, frankly, I’mthrough the roof to have you beautiful people read my highly thought out and overanalyzed words! I have been given the esteemed honor of guest posting for one of my favorite blogosphere dwellers, at this gorgeous residence of a blog. She is also the featured guest blogger at my little fashion playground, Style Splice, so pop over and show her some love! Now, down to business. I proudly present MY obsession du jour; the printed pants trend.

​Allow me to preface my trend review with the following: I presently own upwards of 6 pairs of these trend-worthy leg parties, so I do not just dabble in the style niche. I could almost live in it for an entire week straight. So trust me when I say it is completely fashion idiot foolproof. What better excuse for getting away with wearing what are essentially glorified pajamas, in a fashion forward way, than obnoxious leg art? Well, let’s ask Beyonce, who seems to be donning an ornate tapestry across her nether regions. Or perhaps fashion icon Whitney Port, who appears to have waded through a very tasteful jungle. Though their floral styles served as the inspiration for my trouser of choice, there is a literal abyss of pattern options, not to mention cut and fit, not limited to flowers or other assorted plant life. Demure polka dots, punk rock animal print (circa Paramore’s Haley Williams), dizzying art deco geometric prints, all that look delicious paired with oversized chunky cable knits, vintage silk button-ups and blazers, or halfway tucked in men’s t-shirts. Depending on the route you steer your look with a pair of these versatile trend monsters behind the wheel, motorcycle boots can be equally as visually appealing as a pristine pair of patent Mary Jane pumps to compliment them. I recommend thrifting to road test this trend so you can sample a few different styles without breaking the bank and be far more empowered to invest in flamboyant and ostentatious varieties without selling one or both kidneys and/or other vital organs.

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Thank you all so much for reading and I hope to review a plethora of trends for you in the future!

xx

Lindsey

 {Trousers - Goodwill, Cardigan - Goodwill, Top - Marshall's, Belt - UO, Loafers - Thrifted.}