London haul.

Bonjour mes chers, from sunny Paris! I am attempting to keep up with blogging a bit and have pre-written this before I left England...

Brace yourseves, this is gonna be a long one.. So go grab a cuppa and settle in for a little parade of my latest buys from the Shangri-La of high street shopping - Oxford Street. I keep on saying that I need to save money, and that I have a lot of clothes and could probably get by without many more, but when confronted with that surreal level of shopping heaven, I cave. And I cave big time..

FOREVER 21

There is no Forever 21 near me, so I hit this one hard! I love the 1920s feel of the first top, it will be ideal for going out, and the other pieces were picked up in the sale for my upcoming summer holiday.

H&M

This top was just so Mary Katrantzou, I couldn't resist!

 NEW LOOK

Gonna get my retro on in this dress from Kelly Brook for New Look. Hello, Marilyn.

TOPSHOP

Me at the Topshop sale is like a kid in a sweet shop.. restraint was impossible. I ended up unable to resist a new cute sweatshirt, yet another gorgeous print, some sweet detailing and with a bit more 1920s fever.

JEWELLERY

Here's a motley collection of my jewellery buys.. All gorgeous, all irresistible. Stud Earrings & Shell Earrings - Forever 21. Bracelet & Ring - Topshop. Ear Cuff - H&M.

SELFRIDGES

I was in heaven in the Food Hall, and ended up treating myself to something naughty but nice - Pink Vodka. Gorgeous. And anywhere that gives you free tasters of vodka at 12.30pm is alright by me.

Finally, the end of my London haul.. I have got some gorgeous pieces.. and not much money! Any favourites among my picks? I can't choose - I love them all.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Star Style Obsession - Mollie King

While everyone goes crazy about the jubilee today I am currently sat at home flicking through magazines and blogs. Which means that instead of some crazy royalist post (well, I have already obsessed over the Queen's style..) you are going to be getting some inspiration from another of my style heroes. This girl does, oddly enough, have a suitably royal name considering she is Mollie King, but other than that and a bit of a link to Prince Harry, this is quite unrelated. I just happened to see one of her latest looks and was then reminded of all of her stylish appearances that have impressed me. 

I am not a Saturdays fan in the slightest, but I have to admit they all scrub up pretty well and look irritatingly gorgeous in every appearance, and Mollie is in my opinion the most stylish of the five. Unusually for me, the looks I love the most are not her on-duty, red carpet ensembles, but her off-duty street style looks because she manages to make a stylish statement with every look, as well as being the epitome of easy-breezy daytime fashion. So for once, I won't be drooling over couture gowns that have no practical place in my wardrobe, but eyeballing some gorgeous daytime pieces that I could legitimately consider trying to buy.

Okay, you know me, I can't resist a few evening looks. This dress is pretty much perfect on Mollie - I love the lingerie-inspired lace and sleek midi-length, as well as the super-flattering silhouette.

 This is such a cute, playful red carpet look. I love the 60s style shift dress with oversized polka dots, and simple styling she has employed, with a voluminous up-do, heavy eyeliner and black heels. The look ensures she stands out next to Vanessa too.

 Working a hi-low hemline before most of us got in on the act, Mollie looks beautiful at the Harry Potter premiere. The ethereal, floaty dress is simply stunning on her and is perfectly complemented by white heels and her gorgeous tumbling waves and natural makeup.

A slightly more casual evening look, I love the polka dot body-con dress because the sleeves and high neckline are perfectly balanced by the shorter hemline that shows off her enviable legs. The matchy-matchy tan accessories are perfect with her navy dress.

Now we are really hitting the more casual looks as Mollie walks through an airport working that killer combination of tan and navy. That gorgeous scarf-print skirt is perfect for summer and really makes her stand out in the crowd, while still being comfortable and casual enough for travel.

Here's Mollie with a masterclass in how to work double denim - simply choose a light wash jacket and shorts, then team with a contrasting floaty top, messy updo, sandals and a luxe handbag.

Chic tailoring at its best here I think. I love the clean lines of this outfit and the neutral-yet-contrasting hues of navy, beige and white that are perfectly offset by some super-luxe accessories. I am incredibly jealous of her bag collection.

Tailoring seems to be one of Mollie's specialities. These gorgeous blue shorts could easily have been smartened up with a blazer for evening, but I love how she has toned them down with a cute white top, polka dot scarf belt and oversized sunglasses.

I promise I am not just in love with this look because I have the exact same dress in pink.. It helps though. The lace overlay is gorgeous and so Valentino, and again those tan accessories make it perfect for day but with a luxe edge.

Breaking out some gorgeous tailoring again on an outing with Frankie, but this time working a shorts suit in powder-pink. I have always been dubious about matching shorts suits, but Mollie does look gorgeous and sweet in this one, especially thanks to the pastel hue. I like how she has kept the look light with a white scallop-edged vest and blush-pink heels.

Another airport look, but not one that I am sure I would be brave enough to replicate, however much I love it! This grey t-shirt dress is gorgeous and super-cute with that rubber duck motif, and I love how it has been styled up with fierce heels, a luxe bag and uber-cool sunglasses.

Finally, this is the look that reminded me of Mollie's stunning style. I simply adore the 1950s trend this season, and I have been wanting to try a bralet with a pencil skirt for quite some time - this look has inspired me to go for it! I love the sweet white bralet with the brightly printed skirt, and again those gorgeous tan accessories and beautiful blonde locks.

I love Mollie's style and am hopefully going to emulate some of her daytime looks, especially in that she always looks very "done" and polished - definitely not a lazy-day-in-trackies girl! What do you think of her style?

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Ready for a dip!

This is just going to be a quick little post about a piece that has finally made its way into my wardrobe, and not a moment too soon! You may remember that recently I posted a wishlist of retro inspired swimwear (see the original post here) and wanted pretty much all of the pieces I looked at. Well, as of now I have a gorgeous retro-inspired swimsuit - and yes, I am still a little surprised to be reverting back to a one-piece.

Swimsuit - River Island

For once I have ended up with one of my original picks, and seeing it in the flesh (or fabric) only convinced me that it was the perfect swimsuit for me. I absolutely love the pink daisy pattern because it is bright and eye-catching and will look perfect on a tropical beach with a tan. The ruffled detailing around the bust is very cute and retro, as well as perfect for maximising my petite figure (aka, I have no curves so I need to create them). Another 1950s inspired feature is the halterneck, which is again perfect for creating the silhouette, and also this particular costume does stay up without the halterneck, so while sunbathing I can avoid the awkward tan lines.. Now I can't wait to go on holiday to hit the beach 1950s style - I may even have to try and organise a group trip down to a British beach, just to show it off!

Love and kisses, Tara xox

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

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

Wanted - Retro swimwear.

Swimwear, blue sky and holiday tips have been screaming at me from every magazine I have picked up lately, so naturally my mind has turned towards the summer holidays and my trip abroad (I'm going to Indonesia this year). With holidays in mind it is clearly the time to start hunting down this year's dream swimwear - all of last year's just won't cut it, and I need to feel comfortable, fashionable and fabulous on whichever tropical beach I hit. With my love of all things retro, I have decided that a vintage, 1950s style costume is the way to go because they flatter your shape and look cute and glamorous at all times.

1. Miss Selfridge - £26.00
2. Miss Selfridge - £26.00

3. Owntherunway.com - £16.99

4. Topshop - £28.50

5. River Island - Top £20.00, Bottoms £14.00

6. ASOS - Top £18.00, Bottoms £14.00

7. ASOS - Top £20.00, Bottoms £14.00

8. ASOS - Top £18.00, Bottoms £14.00

I have always been a bikini girl, and all of these are so cute that I kind of want them all! I really love the ones with high-waisted bottoms because they are especially vintage style (even if the tan lines would be horrendous). The retro patterns on pretty much all of them are gorgeous, and I love the sweetheart necklines. Wearing any one of these I would feel like a vintage screen siren in the Riviera..

1. Miss Selfridge - £32.00

2. ASOS - £62.00

3. River Island - £25.00

After the torture of swimming for PE in school, I honestly never thought I would want to wear a full swimming costume again, but these retro style ones might just have changed my mind. I love the cute floral patterns and halterneck styles - any one of these would make me stand out perfectly on the beach.

The hard part now is going to be decisions.. I have found my options and as usual have fallen for pretty much all of them. I can't even decide if I want a bikini or a swimsuit! The only way I can start to rule things out is by price - for example I don't have £62.00 to spend on swimwear, so the ASOS swimsuit is out. 

If I was to pick a swimsuit out of the remaining two, I would opt for the River Island one for its cute frills and sweet pink daisy pattern. Well, that was easy enough. But choosing from the bikinis is much more difficult - I adore the River Island one, the high-waisted bikini and the patterned set from ASOS, and the fruit pattern set from Miss Selfridge.. I guess I will have to give it a day or two and see which ones I prefer after sleeping on it!

So followers, which do you prefer? Which one(s) should I invest in this year? And what kind of swimwear are you after yourselves?

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Lighten up!

Since the calendar tells me that it is May and we are heading into summer, it feels incredibly depressing to be wearing black. Even my black tights feel like a return to winter, however practical I must be. I am also being told it is summer by every single magazine I read - bikinis, beaches, blue skies and summer dresses taunt me from every page. Honestly, have the editors not looked outside and seen the grey, rainy, cloudy mess that is the sky? With all of this, plus the fact I have invested heavily in my brights, prints and pastels for a summer wardrobe, it won't surprise you that today's outfit was a bright one.

Blazer - Bershka; Top & Skirt - New Look; Tights - Primark; Shoes - George at Asda; Cross Bracelet - Topshop; Wishbone Bracelet - Accessorize; Ring - H&M; Necklace - Accessorize.

I really adore florals right now (not a surprise either!) and mixing and matching them is the best way to feel all springlike and bright, despite the weather. I love the way that the shape of this light blue bralet paired with the dark blue A-line skirt makes a retro-fifties silhouette - I was so glad that the 1950s were in fashion because it meant this top could make an appearance again! Obviously I then had to think practically, adding in the obligatory black opaques and choosing a jacket. I had toyed with the idea of my black blazer, but it felt too stifling, then when I put on this gorgeous peach blazer it just worked. The entire outfit got even more of a lift of colour which even cancels out the darkening effect of the tights. The finishing touches was some cute jewellery, two-tone blue pumps and some softly pastel makeup to keep the look fresh and light.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

My bank balance takes another hit.

My bank account must be feeling abused by now, as I keep splashing the cash on gorgeous new clothes.. It feels like every other post on here contains new I have bought - maybe a little restraint is in order? And yes, I say that every time. And then go and spend more money. Someone, call Shopaholics Anonymous.. 

This lovely little (or rather large) haul comes as a result of my shopping trip with a friend yesterday, which was a brilliant way to spend the afternoon. I think I went shopping originally in search of shoes, and she needed an outfit for some event or other in our buzzing social lives.. The mission was partially successful - her outfit is sorted. But take a look at what I bought.. not a shoe in sight.

Vest - Topshop

The first place we went was a dangerous one to start with - Topshop is probably my favourite shop on the high street. And then there was a sale. I got more than a little excited and got a few gorgeous things, beginning with this shimmery, opalescent vest top. I had seen it in the store before, but it was a little pricey for me. On sale however I couldn't resist this - it is perfect for the under-the-sea trend that is a big hit this spring/summer. I love the pale, shimmering, iridescent hue on such a simple shape, which means it makes an impact but will still be easy to style.

Jumper - Topshop

Another sale find that I couldn't resist. This is the perfect, lightweight jumper for now - all my chunky ones are being banished from my wardrobe because I am optimistically believing that summer is just around the corner. This is such a fine, light knit that it will be ideal for the transitional weather, and the dove-grey hue means it will go with pretty much every item of clothing I own.

Jacket - Topshop

I have resolutely packed away my coats for this year, and the suddenly wintry weather has taken my remaining jackets and cover-ups by shock, so I was really excited when I found this jacket. Number one, it was a complete steal in the sale. Number two, it is cute, light and cropped enough that I won't feel depressed wearing it in April/May. Number three, it is so Chanel-esque that it hurts a little.

Bralet - Topshop

This is my final Topshop find, and I know what you're thinking. Yes, it's a slightly strange, retro-style bra. Well technically yes, this is probably meant to be underwear. But I intend to wear it as a very cute, vintage style bralet for a bit of a 1950s vibe. It looks enough like a top that you won't be able to tell it is underwear, especially by the time I am finished styling it. I just couldn't not buy it, I totally fell in love with the structured, vintage corset shape and those quirky giant polka dots.

Skirt - River Island

River Island has also become very dangerous territory for my debit card - I am literally in love with about 70% of their stock right now. My friend walked in and started pointing out all the things she could see me in and it took a lot of restraint not to go on a complete spending spree. I did however pick up this insanely cute 1950s style skirt. I just couldn't resist the kitsch cherry print and the gorgeous shape of this skirt - it's the ultimate curve creator on someone as curve-less as me! 

Shorts - Primark.

Okay, okay, maybe I am getting a little too obsessed with the 1950s Americana trend that is going on. But come on, just how Prada are these shorts? I have wanted some car print in my life for months now and procrastinated over the River Island car print pieces, always finding a reason not to buy them. These however were such a bargain that I couldn't find a reason! The print is so cute and fun that I just want to go running around on a beach in blazing sunshine, so I am hoping the weather picks itself up soon..

Skirt - New Look

I may have gone a little skirt-crazy here - but at least I am all set for mixing and matching my wardrobe now with the variety of prints! This gorgeous floral skirt caught my eye straight away with its bold blooms and rich blue background hue.. you know what I am like with florals. This will be so versatile for summer with its light fabric and flippy shape, and easy to pair with most of the tops I have.

Bracelet - Accessorize

Finally, something that isn't 1950s inspired! This harks back to a slightly earlier time still since it is reminiscent of the 1920s/30s costume jewellery worn by the screen sirens that are my idols. I just loved the slightly over the top feel of this bracelet and couldn't resist buying it to add a bit of glamour to my outfits.

Skirt - H&M

This is the last skirt, and the last item - I ordered it a week or so from H&M and it arrived on the same day as my haul.. Fate? Definitely. Especially since it will work so well with pretty much all of the tops I bought! This is another retro-inspired piece, a sweet-yet-chic lace pencil skirt. With its sharp, vintage cut I will have a gorgeously retro silhouette, and the candy-pink lace is the perfect pretty colour to wear in summer. This is an uber-feminine skirt, and will be so versatile. I love it!

And that is my haul! It is all deliciously summery - I am eagerly anticipating the warm days when I can wear the skirts and shorts without tights, and when the tops won't need to be covered with a jacket unless I specifically want them to be. For now, I am looking forward to layering them up for the transitional weather, and making good use of that Chanel-esque jacket. I am seeing a bit of a theme in my purchases though.. I am definitely being drawn towards retro glamour, from the 1920s to the 1950s. And why not? It was an undeniably stylish era, full of high octane fashion and screen icons. I am fast becoming obsessed with old black and white movies, so maybe my fashion sense is just reflecting my general interests. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that pretty much the entire fashion world is loving that era too..

Love and kisses, Tara xox