Blood is thicker than water.

I have to admit that living down here with my parents in the middle of nowhere I don't see the rest of my family that often. Last weekend however my grandparents (Mum's side) came down to visit and we had a meal out for their anniversary/grandma's birthday, which my cousins came to as well. Unfortunately while my grandparents were down I was working a fair bit so I haven't got much to say about the rest of the visit, other than we watched insane amounts of tennis..

On the Sunday however we all went out to a hotel/restaurant nearby us, fighting through those awful floods to get there. We (I) got all dressed up and had a lovely meal out, spending hours just talking. I did, however, get a few minutes to take some not-at-all-awkward outfit photos outside when the sun came out!

Shirt & Skirt - H&M; Shoes & Clutch - New Look; Earrings - Forever 21; Rings - Miss Selfridge & H&M.

This look was inspired by Marilyn Monroe, or rather one of the outfits Michelle Williams wears while playing her in My Week With Marilyn. That look consisted of a shirt and pencil skirt too, but in neutral colours - I copied the silhouette but added my own modern twist with bright colour, print and some super-cute wedge heels. I love getting dressed up, but obviously going out for lunch isn't quite as formal as dinner, which is why I kept this look casual without too much ornate jewellery, and the collar unbuttoned.

It was lovely to catch up, and a nice change to sitting at home on a Sunday!

Love and kisses, Tara xox

My week in instagram.. #2

I am home from Paris now! And what better way to start posting about it than with my instagram shots from the week?

Getting my Marilyn fix on Monday | Tuesday's uber bright look| Un chocolat chaud | Enjoying the Parisian sun in Wednesday's outfit | The Sacre Coeur | Getting fat just from looking at these French cakes | Wednesday's carb-tastic picnic | Hanging out in the Cafe des Deux Moulins comme Amelie | Un cafe frappe | Un mojitoooooo | Friday's girlie ensemble | Details of my fave Topshop bracelets

More details to come on the whole Parisian sejour, but this is just a quick sneak peek of my shenanigans abroad. One thing I will say is that being vegetarian in France is difficult - hence why my intake has been mostly BNs, pastries, bread and coffee. Oh, and I never realised just how much I dress like a Brit-girl.. the contrast with classic French chic was more than a little obvious..

Love and kisses, Tara xox

I was born in the wrong era.

Don't get me wrong, the 21st century has a lot of good points (technology, vast fashion history to steal from, equality for gender/race etc) but I can't help but feel that I should have been born a little earlier on. Many people would say the 70s or 80s would have been fun to live through, and while I love Studio 54 glamour, those decades just aren't my preferred timeframe. I'll just spit it out. I wish I had belonged to the golden era of Hollywood. Those glorious decades when cinema was coming into its own, creating screen sirens and eternal icons, where it was all about the glamorous image portrayed. The stars of those times are the epitome of style, glamour and celebrity - just how many times do you see a vintage Hollywood look on the red carpet?

Personally, this love of old Hollywood has always existed, but it has definitely intensified this year, beginning with seeing an exhibition of portraits over the summer, and continuing with seeing My Week With Marilyn. Having seen at least part of her story, I now want to see some of her actual films.. and those of other icons. I also harbour a deep admiration of the way the stars were always picture perfect, how the image presented was nothing less than gorgeous at every opportunity, be it on screen, in a photoshoot, or out and about. So much more glamorous than today's celebrities being papped going to the shops in their PJs. And even though it is all so obviously orchestrated, I cannot help but love it. The red lips, the perfect hair, the uber-stylish clothes...

Marilyn Monroe epitomises glamour.

I love the fresh feel here.

A typically Monroe shot - glamorous & gorgeous.

Louise Brooks is another favourite of mine.

I love her iconic bob.

This photo is creative genius.

Elizabeth Taylor - picture perfect.

Sadly we lost her this year.

As Cleopatra.

Jane Russell's famous photo for The Outlaw.

She is literally beautiful.

I would kill for her looks.

Rita Hayworth, making smoking look glamorous.

Pure beauty here.

Jean Harlow posing.

I am obsessed with Lauren Bacall's look here.

A very dramatic Marlene Dietrich.

Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire dancing up a storm.

I think you can probably see the reason why I dream of belonging to this era... You know I am one for being very put-together in my style, and since every element of their appearance was contrived, these Hollywood stars are real style icons for me. But this love is, if possible, even more about beauty than clothes. I simply adore the perpetual red lipstick, flawless complexions and retro-waved hair that comes with the screen siren territory - it is the look of classic glamour, constantly replicated by celebrities. Besides, you know I love a good lipstick. Of course, they might not have been 100% perfect in real life (a crazy amount of editing and re-touching went into every photoshoot), but their image was always faultless. I love the clothes too, from the uber-feminine cocktail dresses like those of Rita Hayworth to the more relaxed clothes like Jane Russell wears above because they all maximise and promote a realistic, feminine figure. And the girls look gorgeous for it. I wish there was more of this today.

So you see, Hollywood's icons are forever our icons because they provide the basis for flawless glamour, and a constant inspiration for fashion-lovers worldwide with their signature beauty looks. I love the element of mystery and privacy that is clear, you never do see them without their lipstick, their perfected images, and would never catch Marilyn Monroe in joggers going to buy milk. I try my best to emulate this, with my constant attention to my appearance, which could seem unnecessary, but I always want to be caught at my best, like my vintage icons. What is the point of dressing up one day, only to have everyone see you looking messy the next? Lipstick is also a mainstay of my beauty look - I wore a different one to college every day this week! - and is the fastest way to look 'done'. So basically, I really do feel like I should have been born into the golden Hollywood age.. I may not have been up there with Elizabeth Taylor etc, but I would have been dressing and acting like I was. Love and kisses, Tara xox

We are in the Christmas spirit!

It's been a few days since I inundated you with my absolute love & adoration for the festive season, and that's a few days too long in my book.. Especially when I couldn't have been provided with a better excuse than today - the day my gorgeous group of friends and I got our Secret Santa on & swapped prezzies! First Christmas present of the year - woohoo! The thrill of presents buoyed me through the first half of the day until lunchtime, and even managed to make me get up in the morning and get dressed without too much inner grumbling..

Dress - Internacionale; Coat & Tights - Primark; Shoes - New Look; Ring - Accessorize; Earrings - present from a friend.

Although this looks quite simple, finding a coat to go with this dress was quite stressful. Originally in my head I had just pictured the dress, tights, shoes combo and couldn't shake it from my brain, because I really wanted to wear it - outerwear just didn't figure - and then it was so nasty outside that I simply had to find one. This is why the first picture is sans coat, it is how I wanted to look, and the second is how I actually looked. I am quite fond of my blue trench though, it may be a cheapie, and a bit of an oldie, but it is a classic - classic style, classic colour, classic chic. It also fits pretty nicely, nipping in at my waist, unlike my other coats which create a vastly different silhouette. I will just say that what with the fit-and-flare dress, red lipstick and bow-seam tights I was trying to channel my inner Marilyn.. not sure if it came off, but in my head I was strolling around like a vintage movie star. Reality may have been vastly different, but that was the character I was today - screen siren on a casual day (meaning you still don't leave the house without your trusty red lipstick). 

I said there was Secret Santa, and while it didn't remain so secret in the end (we all fessed up to who we had after the presents had been distributed and loved by all), I think it was just what we needed to perk up this penultimate college week. Everyone is getting bogged down in exams, coursework and depressing weather, so a little bit of love goes a long way. I also chose today to give out my Christmas offering to my beautiful friends (whom I love VERY, VERY much)...

Merry Christmas my lovelies! Yes, I continued my trend of cake for gifts, indulging in some intensive baking last night to produce some lush little cupcakes, vanilla & chocolate, iced in white, chocolate, green & red, adorned with edible glitter in silver, white, green, red & gold. Sense the festive colour scheme here. Edible glitter is my new dessert obsession - I believe it was the great Kylie Minogue that said "when in doubt apply more glitter" - and it really made these cupcakes look Christmassy and special. They went down well I think, so I am glad to report that my Christmas present was a success! I decided against actual presents for several reasons (1 - money is tight. 2 - would rather make a big deal about people's 18th birthdays. 3 - I just love baking cakes.), but cake is a good way to show you care.

This is neither fashion-related, nor cake-related, but I just wanted to put this out there - I love my bestie Florence SO SO much, and just wanted to share this beautiful picture of us in the midst of the Secret Santa joy...

Isn't she gorgeous! And I even look tolerable here.. Love you loads Flo! Now just a few little extra comments to be made...

Credits to akikik for the first cake picture and the picture of me & Flo - amazing blogger, amazing friend, awesome photographer. Also just a quick notice of love for all of my friends, you are all brilliant, you get me through the day. In friends, I am coming to include you my little band of followers/readers/commenters - there may not be many of you, but seeing that people are actually reading what I write and taking the time to comment really makes my day! Finally, this marks the official, official start of this festive season for me, so MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Love and kisses, Tara xox

The infinite joys of a day off.

Today has literally been amazing. Numero uno, it was a 'staff development day', aka no college! Therefore I got a lov-er-ly little lie in, complete with reading Alice In Wonderland in bed while listening to Florence & The Machine (combination of 2 of my favourite things). Then came the utter joy of being in the house at 10am, able to switch on the heating and choose to do work as and when I please. And yes, it did happen. Then I got all dressed up and headed out into the bracing December air, off to the cinema with my friend Sherri. Well, firstly I did have to walk the mile and a half to my mum's school, to get dropped at the bus stop, but the less said about that the better.. Anyway, the day only got better - we went to see My Week With Marilyn, which was literally amazing. I already want to watch it again. Then a quick shop, Costa & bus ride home to a cosy warm house. Brilliant day. Here's my wintery best for you all..

Cape & Hat - Topshop; Top (worn as dress) - Warehouse; Leggings - Miss Selfridge; Boots - Primark; Socks - Urban Outfitters; Bag - Tous; Bracelet - Accessorize; Rings - Dorothy Perkins & Primark.
After going literally purple yesterday, and checking the (freezing) temperature outside this morning, I chose to get almost wrapped up, breaking out the serious winter pieces. The cape has emerged from its vacuum-pack bag, where it had been residing since last winter, and I had actually forgotten how much I loved it. Yes, it is last year's statement coat, and therefore has been seen by pretty much all my friends, but capes are not quite over yet! I adore this one - the duffle detail, chic navy colour and all-round cosiness that comes with a slightly more stylish coat shape than your everyday outerwear. I chose to rev it up a bit this year with some almost leather-look leggings (all synthetic, of course, I still have my principles), a bright statement handbag and my *new* beautiful faux fur hat, for a very du jour clash of textures. This hat received a fair bit of attention, and I did feel like I stood out a bit, but that's a good thing - I am an individual after all. An individual with a very warm head. Crazily in love with this hat, and can't wait to wear it again! I also added a pop of colour to an otherwise quite darkly tonal outfit with the dark berry lipstick, again Boots 17 lipstick in Rich, my new favourite..

In a vague attempt to link myself in with the film, I will just say that being so "done" with my lipstick on and a bit of a bold hat I did feel almost comparable to the immaculately made up Marilyn being portrayed brilliantly by Michelle Williams. But of course, I have not achieved anywhere near the level of glamour displayed by the icons of old Hollywood... with whom I am now getting more and more obsessed. Since seeing My Week With Marilyn I am realising more and more that under the glimmering facade they were not as perfect as they seemed, and that Marilyn at least was troubled. That doesn't stop them being international icons, of course. I think I will save my burgeoning screen siren obsession for another day, and another post, however, and suffice it to say that I am in awe of Marilyn Monroe & her fellow vintage movie stars.

Anyway, yes there was a brief mention of shopping earlier - you know me, I can't resist diving into the nearest store when I'm in town! And Sherri was the one who wanted to go into New Look...

Right, blogger is messing me about with this one.. Just ignore the fact it is technically upside down. This gorgeous purple clutch was such a bargain, and finally provides me with a sensible day-to-night bag. I always find that going to parties etc in the evening all my bags are too small - well now I can carry a cute bag that fits all my stuff! And as I wear my cape more I can't wear a shoulder bag too easily, so this is again perfect.

Oh look, what's this? Another unnecessary purchase? Why yes, I believe it is... This was another New Look find, something that I saw, loved, tried on for sheer funzies and then had to have. It looks so cute on, not too long considering it isn't technically a petite dress, and my wardrobe was lacking both a good red dress and a good lace dress. I believe buying this counts as what they call killing two birds with one stone. That and the fact that it was gorgeous and I wanted it led to another bout of impulse buying - the bank balance is really taking a hit this month! Good thing it's Christmas soon, the chance of money from relatives is always a good thing! So that was my beautiful day off - back to college again tomorrow.. joy. Love and kisses, Tara xox