Marching orders.

Military style is a perennial sartorial winner, and this A/W is no exception - it is back with a vengeance, ready to transform your wardrobes into a sea of khaki, sleek tailoring and powerful silhouettes. I dipped my toes into some army-esque styling recently on a shopping trip..

Parka, Shirt & Bralet (underneath) - New Look; Leggings - Miss Selfridge; Shoes - H&M; Clutch - Primark; Necklace - New Look; Bracelets - Topshop; Cuff & Ring - Nelly.com

Despite previously being firmly opposed to wearing leggings as pants, I loved this look. I literally cannot wait to do a similar one because I felt so fierce! The parka made the leggings totally acceptable, and the necklace collar stopped the white shirt being boring, while the wet-look texture of my leggings (remember how cool these were like four years ago?) is more reminiscent of sleek army pants than time spent at home in sweats..

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Life Update - Gap Year!

If there are any regular readers, you might be wondering why I am not raving on about my new university, or complaining about freshers' flu.. But I am actually on a gap year! I have taken a year out from education, deadlines and stress to relax, enjoy life and grow as a person. For now I am working like crazy to save money for the biggest part of my year out..

In January I go travelling around South East Asia for five months!

I am so excited to be going - I will be volunteering in two schools as well as backpacking and sightseeing in my favourite part of the world. It won't come cheap though so as well as working as much as possible I am limiting my spending as best I can, which means barely any new purchases.. 

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Done my hair up real big beauty queen style.

International obsession Lana Del Rey is one of my icons, so it's little wonder that I tried to replicate her retro glamour for a night.. This look was for a meal out with my friends on results day, and the photos were taken in my garden as I tried to be as fabulous as Lana.

Dress & Shoes - New Look; Clutch - christmas present from parents; Earrings - Versace for H&M.

I am in love with this vintage style dress, especially the print and the bow-tied back. The earrings are some more favourites that rarely get worn, since they are so heavy! I also attempted something new here with my hair - a voluminous, backcombed half up style that one of my friends commented was very like Lana - and am loving the results. Expect to see more hair like this..

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Edgy florals.

One of the most tried and tested, timeless combinations is the cute dress with a leather jacket - something about the contrast of sweet girliness and tough leather makes for a perfect outfit. Of course with my new (faux) leather jacket this is going to happen a lot in my OOTDs, and here is the first one.

Dress, Jacket & Clutch - New Look; Creepers - Amazon; Socks - Urban Outfitters; Earrings - Miss Selfridge; Ring - Topshop.

I put my own spin on this combination with a hi-lo dress with a cute daisy print and my current shoe obsession, my leopard creepers and glittery socks. AW'12 is shaping up to be a season where we embrace our inner goth, but in a slightly more romantic way so of course a biker jacket was a necessity. I am really into this trend because I love darker colours and richer textures for autumn/winter, and because I am currently in lust with crosses, skulls and studs.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Ladylike.

I spent the majority of last season wanting to be a vintage siren, and wearing pastels, pencil skirts and anything retro like it was going out of fashion.. and I won't stop this season! It just needs to be toughened up, updated and given the AW'12 edge. This outfit is taking you all back to August - a slightly nostalgic re-visit to my SS'12 style.

Jacket - Topshop; Bralet - Miss Selfridge; Skirt - H&M; Shoes - New Look; Bracelet - Pandora; Ring - Swarovski; Necklace - Tiffany's.

Exposing your high-driff was the cool girl's way to flash some flesh, and I finally plucked up some courage and wore my bralet with a pencil skirt. I would still do this now, but since we are heading firmly into autumn, I will require tights and a warmer jacket! I love the tonal effect of the look, as well as the way it is thrown off with the electric blue pumps - they kick a bit of personality into this bourgeouis lady.

Love and kisses, Tara xox