Fashion Confession - Material Girl.

This is a bit of a random post really, since I haven't shared my little quirks (or bored you to death with my mundane-ness, take your pick) for a little while. In truth, I've been too busy with outfit posts & obsession posts to throw out some random, text-only detail, but today I have found the time. Well, I say time.. what I really mean is that I am going nowhere today (aside from work this morning) and will not be able to research/resource anything else in between attempting to write a French essay and trying not to fall asleep at my computer.

However, today's musings were not born out of sheer lack of effort & motivation - this confession is something that came to me like a bit of an epiphany this week.

I am probably the most materialistic person I know.

It's probably not news to anyone except me, since anyone who has seen a few of my posts knows I have the slightly shallow life goals of owning designer clothes (and shoes, and bags...) and maintaining my style whatever may happen to me. I am obsessed with fashion, shopping & image in general, choosing never to leave the house without my makeup and a carefully considered, fashion-centric outfit and reading countless fashion magazines in an attempt to be on top of the trends at all times. All of this is not adding up well for me - my entire world appears to be coming down to nothing more than material possessions, and expensive, fabulous ones at that.

My friends will probably agree with this realisation I have had, and tell me they knew a long time ago.. Especially those in my French class - when we had to argue that you can't buy happiness I disagreed, because I honestly think my life would be vastly improved if I owned a pair of Louboutins! One of my aims in life is to get my hands on a pair of those red-soled beauties, along with a Chanel bag, a good amount of Prada, a Mary Katrantzou dress and something by so many more designers that I adore. My friends, while they are mostly interested in fashion and what they are wearing, and all look absolutely beautiful at all times, probably have much less shallow goals..

And I am not saying I don't! I want a good job, to find happiness and to help others (especially children in third world countries), and I realise there are more important things in life than looking good, like my family and friends, whom I love insanely. It is just that I live, breathe and walk fashion, and in our capitalist, materialistic society, with the rapidly fluctuating world of haute-couture and trends, to keep up and keep looking stylish, money must be spent. Also, while the great British high street is full of fashion and gorgeous things (I should know, it is all I can afford), a fashion obsessive like myself cannot help but lust after the creations of huge fashion houses.. Materialism is in my blood - it's a sickness, and I am willingly very ill indeed.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Impractical as usual.

It's Friday.. and not a moment too soon! Another week has dragged on by, bringing with it my January round of exams (over now - woo!), the sudden realisation that this (college) year is disappearing into thin air and an unspeakable desire to shop again. Unfortunately, my weekend will not be either restful OR a chance to lose myself in some retail therapy, since I am working Saturday & Sunday.. Anyway, ramblings about my busy old life aside, the other thing that Friday brought was a definite drop in temperatures & an icy wind - making today's outfit vastly inappropriate.

Jumper - New Look; Shorts - Reverse; Shoes - Lime; Tights - Primark; Necklace & Ring - Temporary Secretary; Bracelet - Accessorize; Earrings - TU at Sainsburys.

Okay, okay, I'll confess to taking a jacket too. But this is what I really wanted to look like all day today! I have completely fallen for this jumper now I have christened it by actually taking the tags off and wearing it.. not only is it a totally gorgeous shade of candy pink that makes me feel like a sorbet, but it is also ridiculously slouchy, comfortable and flattering. Hello, spring style staple. To balance the slightly oversized fit of the jumper, I decided to break out one of my many pairs of mini-shorts (I know, totally not sensible in January).  I love my Americana shorts because they are so fun and quirky, different to your average denim pair - they are just not the most winter-appropriate clothing in the world. Especially not when paired with thin mini-dot tights! But cold or not, I loved my outfit today, especially the new jumper and my Temporary Secretary jewellery, so don't expect to see me give up my style for practicality any time soon.. Love and kisses, Tara xox

Practically minimalist for me..

If you know me at all well, you will know that pared-back minimalism just isn't my thing & that I would rather get stared at than wear something boring that makes me feel uncomfortable. So imagine my shock when I woke up this morning and wanted to wear something almost simple, without any bells or whistles (well, without many) and with a distinct lack of my favourite accessory - colour.

Blazer & Ring - ASOS; Shirt, Skirt & Earrings - H&M; Shoes - New Look; Tights - Primark; Necklace - Christmas present; Bracelet - Pandora.
I said without many bells & whistles, okay?! This is as low-key as I think it's going to get. But honestly, look at the components of this outfit and it really is simple.. Plain black blazer, crisp white shirt, plain black tights - the only statement, detailed piece is the sequin mini. I actually quite like how the staple separates really let the skirt shine (ouch. no pun intended.), and even though I have a more-is-more attitude, I quite liked the feeling of not wearing too much colour. It's true, black is perennially chic. And in my defence, it is winter so black is appropriate, although the sequins were just necessary to make January a little bit more fun.. I didn't quite resist the temptation to accessorize though, but I kept it fairly simple with some small touches of silver. Obviously, by tomorrow I am expecting to be back to my colourful, eclectic self, but it wouldn't surprise me if I went for some serious minimalism in the future. Love and kisses, Tara xox

C'est Chic.

I love Wednesdays. For one, they mean it is the middle of the college week and I have made it through Monday & Tuesday, and secondly, I only have a half day on Wednesday - leaving me free and clear to do whatever I want with the afternoon. This particular Wednesday was awesome. Both lessons were over surprisingly quickly, and then I did a photoshoot for my friend's photography project! Pictures to come later, once she has done all her clever editing stuff too make me look half decent, and make the photos look a bit more authentic. The theme was Hollywood glamour, so the shots had to be very posed, and I made an effort to wear something with a chic, retro feel today..

Cardigan - Dorothy Perkins; Skirt - River Island; Top - Pull & Bear; Shoes - New Look; Tights - Primark; Necklace & Bracelet - Temporary Secretary; Ring - Accessorize; Earrings - Topshop.
This was the first time I wore my new so-Chanel-it-hurts cardigan out, and I've got to admit I love it - monochrome is perennially chic, and it is cut gorgeously. Another thing I wore that's a little bit perennial is my much-loved pink skirt. I have had it forever, or at least it feels that way, and it just keeps coming out on top of the trends. Colour is still playing a big part in new season catwalks, and dressing like a strawberry sorbet is very du jour, so this skirt is going nowhere. Possibly the sweetest, most vintage style thing I had on today was my necklace.. the 'Keep Calm And Carry On' slogan is a World War Two thing, and is quintessentially British, retro and cute. I think I just about pulled off Hollywood glamour with this outfit - the set up of the shoot definitely helped - but you will have to judge for yourselves, just as soon as I get the photos from my friend. Love and kisses, Tara xox

Just another college day..

Is it only Tuesday? This week seems to be dragging already.. On the plus side, today was a much better day now the exams are over for now (until May/June - eep) and I wasn't in isolation for the majority of it. I even managed a quick sesh at the gym - I really need to do more exercise. Three more days like this, and this week shouldn't be too bad.. Again, stylist's block struck me down a bit today, but I managed to pull something together with my usual impulsive eclectic-ness.

Blazer, Shoes & Necklace - Topshop; Shirt - River Island; Skirt - Internacionale; Tights - F&F at Tesco; Bracelet & Ring - Temporary Secretary.
Okay, ignore the fact the ring is technically upside down - I like seeing it the right way up from my perspective, because I really do love a good moustache. I think it was the cute details that made this outfit work and look pulled together enough for me, from the quirky jewellery to the glitter flats and the flower-pink lipstick. I do think I need to try a different statement necklace with my denim shirt - it's time to mix it up! Next time. I opted for such a floral pink lipstick today because I was flipping through a magazine or two (okay, five) and noticed that beauty for SS'12 is less about bold berry lips and more about the flower tones, so in an effort to stay on trend and maintain my love for lippie I broke out this one. Natural Collections in Pink Orchid if you were wondering. Love and kisses, Tara xox

A very long day.

More random moaning about the joys of being a student coming up.. let's get it over with. I had two exams today. Two. Plus isolation, since they originally clashed. Therefore, I was stuck in a room from 9.30-1.00 by myself (well, apart from the invigilator), then moved to another room to sit an exam from 1.25-3.45ish. Painfully long day. Made me very tired, very grumpy, and lacking the enthusiasm to do absolutely anything tonight - hence this small, slightly whiny post. Don't worry, I'll be back to my usual cheery self come tomorrow, when there are no ugly exams to worry about! To tide you over until then, here's my outfit of the day..

Jumper, Shorts & Ring - Topshop; Socks - River Island; Shoes - New Look; Key Necklace - Rock N Rose; Binoculars Necklace - Temporary Secretary; Egg Timer Necklace - Christmas present; Earrings - Miss Selfridge.
I will admit that this is one time I began planning my outfit with comfort in mind, knowing how long I would end up sat in one place for today! I'm not all practicality & sensibility though - the slouchy, loose knit of this jumper, micro shorts and knee socks did not a warm outfit make.. When wearing these gorgeous raspberry shorts, I felt like I had to go slightly oversize and chunky on top, to stop myself flashing too much flesh and looking trashy rather than chic - and the perfect match came in the shape of this caramel jumper. I then decided to rev up my block colour separates with aztec print socks (for a fun touch) and oodles of jewellery. One of my favourite things about this outfit is that the tonal feel is just playfully broken up by the pop of pastel blue nail polish (Barry M in Blueberry Ice Cream). This shade is one of the ones I picked up on Saturday, and I am so glad I did. It is gorgeous, springlike and oh-so-mood-enhancing - the perfect pick-me-up when you have to write for around 5 hours.. Love and kisses, Tara xox

Star Style Obsession - Florence Welch

Choosing a style icon after the incredible Kate Middleton was always going to be difficult, but this week I found myself inspired by someone with a style vastly different to Kate's prim-and-proper look - the queen of quirk, Florence Welch. I say I found myself inspired, and I truly did. I didn't even have to think about who my style obsession was going to be this week, because not only is her album the soundtrack to my life right now, but her performance on Jonathan Ross yesterday was breathtaking.. and she looked incredible.

Florence has been one of my favourite singers since I first heard Rabbit Heart (probably way back in 2009, given how excited I was to see her at T4 on the beach that year..), and my love for her grew as I got obsessed with Lungs (the first album). Now that Ceremonials (the new album) is firmly on my MP3, I haven't stopped listening to it, and I love her more than ever. Which is why I am so glad that her unusual, quirky style reaches over from her music into her appearance - she dresses like nobody else I can think of, and permanently looks amazing. It would be easy to hate her cooler-than-thou appearance as she casually mixes vintage, print, dazzling sequins and her signature fiery locks, but she is just too inspirational!

From head to toe here, Florence is a vision. She effortlessly proves that nude colours can work by themselves, in this gorgeous embellished dress. I also love the romantic feel of the differing hemlines, from thigh-grazing mini to dreamy maxi at the back. Her makeup and hair set it all off perfectly, because they add just enough life and colour to the look to make it work.

First off, anyone who can pull off all white deserves serious kudos in my opinion. I salute Florence for making the 70s trend look dreamy, romantic and dramatic all at once.. and once again that gorgeous hair (this time more of a burnt orange) offset both the dress and her skin tone to perfection. The block fringe also looks amazing..

I'm not sure there are words for this dress apart from oh my God. This is Florence at her best, combining edgy and romantic in this sheer, floor-sweeping dress embellished with hundreds of flowers. I could never make this work, but she does, in her effortless, flawless way. I've got to stop gushing on about her hair, but it is just too perfect an accessory, in whichever shade of fire she chooses to wear it.

Nobody wears a maxi quite like Florence Welch. She always manages to make them look romantic, eccentric and unique, just by putting them on! This look easily could have fallen flat as frumpy, with the long skirt, long sleeves and high neck, but she knows that the sheer fabrics make it work. Well played, Florence.

Another colour that works beautifully with her ethereally pale complexion and flaming locks is bronze - it is almost tonal on her. And just by looking at this outfit I can safely say that Florence is ahead of both the flapper girl and top-to-toe colour trends of SS'12 with this fringed dress and matchy-matchy bronze heels. How does she do it?
 

I think this is my favourite of all her looks. Breaking out another divine, floor-sweeping dress, Florence made an ethereal appearance at the Grammys. I simply adore the swan design layered on the sheer fabrics because it is dreamy, dramatic and somehow graphic all in one.

Finally, we see Florence in a slightly more casual event look. She looks to be at the height of her eccentricity here, with that graphically (and gorgeously) printed mini-shirt-dress, super-cool hat and carbon-black accessories.

Moving slightly away from red carpets, here is Florence's chosen look for when she sang at a Chanel runway show.. She is Karl Lagerfeld's muse, which cements her place as a fashion icon - not that it needs any other proof than a quick look at all her outfits. This dress is simply gorgeous, and so Florence because it is unusual, quirky and seriously show-stopping. Love the waves too.
 

On-stage too, Florence's looks are incredibly dramatic and often theatrical. I love the colour of this plum-red, swirling maxi dress, and the way she incorporates it into her movements to make a statement. Seeing her live must be an incredible experience.

Getting more and more casual now, Florence showcases an off-duty wardrobe that is no less quirky, cool and lust-worthy. This is the kind of look I wish I could replicate, from the statement accessories to the simply-paired separates this girl has got casual cool down to a fine art.

There's nobody else who suits vintage quite as much as her. Possibly because her look seems to transcend fashion, trends and time already, a vintage floral midi dress just looks undeniably right on Florence. I love her cute accessorizing with black heeled boots and white ankle socks (too sweet), as well as her dramatic makeup and half-up, flaming hairdo.

Black and gold are a timeless fashion match made in heaven, so Florence's choice of matching a carbon-black outfit with a gold kimono is simply perfect. I also love the updo - it is always nice to see a bit of variety from style icons.

Even at the airport, she manages to look achingly cool and quirky. If the swan dress was my favourite on-duty outfit, this is my absolute favourite off-duty ensemble. I can't pick out a single element I like above all else - everything just works. I am severely lusting after her bag though.

Yes, this girl has style like nobody else. She is unafraid to be original, to dress differently and be exactly who she is, which I admire so much. It is this, plus the air of quirky-cool that surrounds her style that makes her such an icon, and one of my obsessions. Like I said, I didn't even have to think about who to choose this week, because Florence has been playing on my mind all week as one of my inspirations. I am incredibly envious of her hair, but will probably not dye my own locks flaming red because I am just not that brave. I wish I had her wardrobe, because she literally always looks incredible. I also wish I was the muse of a huge fashion designer like Lagerfeld, but I will have to get a little more famous and a lot more stylish for that to happen..(but a girl can dream, right?). For now, I am going to settle for not only trying to emulate her flawlessly eccentric looks by paying attention to detail and not being afraid to wear something that makes a big statement, but also to replicate her attitude of dressing how she wants to dress. Transcending the trends, while still looking incredible deserves major fashion credentials.

So what do you think of Florence Welch? And have you heard her new album? If not, I suggest you go and take a listen, because it is musical genius. Oh, and did I mention I am seeing her live in March? I cannot wait. Love and kisses, Tara xox