We're all going on a summer holiday!

This is just a quick warning post to say that I will be going on holiday tomorrow so my blogging will be even less frequent than it has been lately! I have prepared some posts to go up whenever I find an internet cafe, and I will try and upload pictures to share with you all while I am away, but just bear with me. I am hardly going to be in a country where electricity and internet run free and wild.

I am going to be spending 3 weeks in Indonesia with my parents - I am super excited because I love Indonesia and Asia in general, and can't wait to see the culture, have some authentic food and of course finally get some true summertime!

Thankyou anyone and everyone who reads my posts/follows me, I do love you all, and I will be back blogging regularly in about 3 weeks time.. For now, I hope you have an amazing summer and I will check in with you all when I can!

hehehe, just a little gif because I love you

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Sunshine & showers.

Venturing out for the first real time this week, post-jubilee and looking forward to summer, I hit the shops again. Expecting sunshine, I dressed optimistically for a warm June day, and was instead greeted with odd little bursts of sun mixed into some dismal rain. But I did pick up some gorgeous summery pieces in town today that picked the mood of the day right up.

Top & Skirt - New Look; Shoes, Bag & Earrings - Topshop; Bracelet - Primark; Ring - H&M.

Going for quite a simple, feminine look made up of sweet separates, I definitely was hoping for better weather than I got. I love the two complementary floral patterns though - the bright, abstract skirt works well with the cutout vest, which always feels very summery to me. The pastel bag and glitter flats added another layer of girliness and kept the look light and sweet.

Cork heel sandals - New Look

I couldn't resist these heels. I have needed a new pair of summer heels for quite a while now, and these are just stunning. Mint green is my favourite colour right now, and not only will these give me a serious height boost, but they are actually really comfortable since the heel is so chunky. Love.

Maxi skirt - New Look

Another thing I have been searching for is a maxi skirt, and the search was getting more desperate as my holiday approaches! The colour of this skirt is what really caught my eye, and then the lightweight material and flowing cut convinced me that I had to have it. Of course, to make it fit my petite frame I will need to take it up (with help from my mum) but it is still worth it.

Peplum top - River Island

I have been seeing peplums on anyone who is anyone in the fashion universe, and although I was dubious at first I am now convinced that I need to work one, after seeing so many different and inspirational ways to wear one. I opted for a top because it will be versatile, and this one in particular because I love the fierce, metallic print.

Jewellery - Topshop

Lastly, I got enticed in by the jewellery sale in Topshop and managed to pick up some sweet pieces for under £5 altogether! 

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

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

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, please?

After spending so much time and effort yesterday style-stalking Mary Katrantzou & her designs, I have to admit that print was on my mind today. It's one of the biggest SS'12 trends, and is one of the only known cures for the winter blues - especially a good vibrant floral pattern. It may be the middle of winter, everything may be dull and grey, but that won't stop me breaking out a summer dress..

Dress & Shoes - New Look; Blazer - ASOS; Tights & Belt - Primark; Earrings - Topshop; Bracelet - Accessorize; Necklace & Ring - Temporary Secretary.
I've broken a bit of a trend here & used a candid, very un-posed photo - but honestly, it just made me laugh. My silly cat was determined to get in the picture, and broke my pose as I tried to shoo him away. He apparently won, since his body and tail are pretty much taking over the photo!

Anyway, as I was saying.. summer dress. Yes, today I had a craving for summery print and decided to break out one of my favourite throw-it-on summer dresses. Usually I would wear this one with just a belt, some sandals and sunnies, but even I know that is vastly inappropriate now - so I opted for my beloved blazer, some slightly clashing tights and quirky accessories. This type of outfit is more typical of the Tara of 2010/11 - my winter wardrobe literally used to be my summer wardrobe with a blazer and tights, but this year the knitwear obsession kicked in, and I fell in love with snuggly-warm clothes.. It feels kind of good to return to my old classic style. It's a similar feeling to reading a story you wrote in primary school - familiar & comforting. This has also reminded me that classic combos will work forever.. Love and kisses, Tara xox

My go-to fashion formula.

I didn't realise this until I saw yesterday's look and today's next to each other on the computer, but I seem to have a bit of a fashion formula that I fall back on when I can't quite think of what to wear. Thinking back, it seems even more obvious. You'll probably notice it when you see today's outfit, or maybe I am just seeing too much detail here..

Top, Tights & Shoes - New Look; Skirt - Internacionale; Ring - Topshop; Bracelet - Temporary Secretary; Earrings - Miss Selfridge.
Do you see what I mean? This is a prime example of my go to outfit - cute top + swishy skirt + interesting tights = typical Tara. I mean, the details like the print, pattern and colour vary quite a lot, but it's the nipped in silhouette and my penchant for tights that surfaces again and again and again... All I'm going to say is if it ain't broke, don't fix it. It works, and as long as I keep pulling together different combos I don't mind this little formula. One more thing - in the rush today I didn't get a chance to put on any lipstick, and my lips felt very very naked.

Oh, and of course my trusty New Look coat accompanied me today, I just felt no need to darken such a cheery, sorbet-hued outfit with black, black, black when it wasn't absolutely necessary. I also am going to repeat how much I am dreaming of summer, especially since I picked up the new Elle magazine when I had a spare few minutes. It is packed full of gorgeous SS'12 fashion that I am falling in love with - there are so many different characters to portray this season, so now I have to choose which girl to be! Or shall I just be all of them, a day at a time?

Finally, I just wanted to say THANKYOU to everyone who's been reading and commenting - I hit 10,000 pageviews today! While for a 'proper' famous fashion blog, 10,000 views is achievable in a day or two, for me just starting out it is incredible. I can't quite get my head around the fact that my page has been clicked on so many times, and that people are actually interested in reading my ramblings. Anyway, so much love to you all, thankyou! Love and kisses, Tara xox