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

My week in style.

Since I had all of my birthday shenanigans to post about this week I held back on the outfit posts, and now you lucky people can feast your eyes on all of this week's outfits in one (long) post! In my first official week of being 18 I haven't really gone crazy with it, and to be honest I can't feel much of a difference aside from being legally an adult - there's a little bit of new self-responsibility there. I certainly haven't made any changes to my style, which is still ever-changing, fun, experimental and intrinsically girlie..

Monday

Blazer - ASOS; Blouse - New Look; Skirt - River Island; Shoes & Tights - Primark; Earrings - Topshop; Necklace - Accessorize; Bracelets - Lola Rose, Pull & Bear, Topshop, ASOS & Accessorize.

I opted for a fun mix of patterns to beat the Monday morning blues - there's nothing like my cherry print skirt to add a playful edge to an outfit. I can't wait to wear it in a more retro fifties style outfit, but that will have to come when the weather finally improves! For now I settled for pairing it with a polka dot blouse, framed with black tights and a blazer and finished with my much-abused mint green shoes. I also wore my hair up for once, and it looked better than I thought.. I still won't make a habit of it though.

Tuesday

Blazer - ASOS; Dress, Shoes & Flower Ring - Topshop; Tights - Primark; Earrings - New Look; Bracelets - Topshop, Accessorize & Lola Rose; Star Ring - Forever 21.

With Tuesday came a very girlie look - inspired by the gorgeous lace on the Valentino catwalks I wore my new Topshop lace dress (a birthday present!) and kept it feminine with glittery pumps and statement earrings. Then of course I added a boyish edge with my blazer, and I love the juxtaposition it adds. Again, I can't wait to wear this dress without the necessity of tights and a blazer, but for now I like it layered. I just felt super-pretty wearing this and can't wait to break it out again.

Wednesday

Denim Shirt - River Island; Dress & Bracelet - Topshop; Belt, Tights & Shoes - Primark; Ring - H&M; Headband - New Look.

Since Wednesday was finally a sunny day where I am I decided to go for a more summery, almost festival-esque look. White has rolled around again as a key colour for this season, so I pulled out my broderie anglaise dress, and made it a little more seasonally appropriate by layering it with a pale denim shirt and patterned tights. My mint shoes added a confectionery edge, and I topped it all off with a sweet floral headband. I have been waiting for a sunny day to start wearing my floral headbands again, and this new one is super cute with its gorgeous yellow flowers. I loved feeling so summery and pretty, and I want more sunny days!

Friday

Blazer - ASOS; Top - Yumi; Shorts & Tights - Primark; Shoes - George at Asda; Bracelets - Topshop, River Island & Lola Rose; Ring - Miss Selfridge.

With Friday came a gorgeous print mix - a clash of some tropical-inspired parrots (thankyou to my friend who got it for me), and Prada-esque car print shorts. They really add a fun, playful edge to my outfit when put together and pick up on the cute, cartoon prints trend of SS'12. I also love these bright shoes, and cannot believe I picked them up at a supermarket!

Before you say anything, I realise Thursday is missing - I was actually ill then, and nobody wants to see a picture of me in my PJs in my bed. One thing I have realised looking at these outfits is that I can be completely different in my look from day to day, and just how versatile fashion can be, in that you can dress for every different part of you personality, which I love.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

[PS. I realise I am getting ridiculously haphazard with my blogging - when my life calms down a little I will be back to regular posts I promise!]

Tip top.

At the moment I am a strange mix of excited and petrified, thanks to the fact that it is only a week until I become an adult. Well, that accounts for the excited, but the petrified? Oh, that's because my first exam is that day too. Yes, some cruel twist of fate means I am going to be examined on my ability to talk fashion in Spanish. And some other, more depressing unknown subjects too (out of the environment, racism, terrorism and unemployment). It's a well-known fact among my teachers and friends that I hate speaking exams - I get incredibly nervous. So all in all, not what I was hoping for on my birthday.. And now every time I count down to my birthday, I count down to the exam as well! Today, the pressure and excitement really started to sink in. So forgive me if today's outfit isn't quite as put-together as you are used to..

Blazer - ASOS; Shirt & Shoes - New Look; Skirt & Cuff - H&M; Tights - Primark; Ring - Topshop; Collar Tips - Ebay.

Today's outfit consisted of some sharp, simple separates, pulled together with the detail. I am wearing this white, chiffony shirt for the first time and I love it. In this outfit it has been dressed up with the blazer for my take on some sleek, business-like tailoring, then the look has been softened by my colour block pleated skirt and some quirky patterned tights. From the waist up I am dressed quite androgynously, in a classic masculine combination of a blazer and a white shirt buttoned to the top, but waist down is more feminine and quirky, and the contrast is what makes this look interesting. I said the detail pulls it together, and it does - the block of purple adds interest, and the pleats add another level of texture that is very of-the-minute. 

My favourite detail however has to be my new collar tips! I have been seeing them on shirts in shops and on celebrities, and love the extra detail they add, but I was struggling to find any in stores or online that weren't permanently attached to a shirt. I love shirts, but I wanted the versatility of some collar tips I could add to any of the shirts and blouses with collars that I already own. So I went to the website that sells everything - ebay. And these gorgeous vintage style ones turned up - I adore the shell motif and stylized shape of them, and the way they take a plain shirt to a whole new sartorial level.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

I take dressing up quite seriously.

Honestly, invite me to your party and I am a happy bunny... but then invite me to your party and give me a dress-up theme and I am yours forever. I put a lot of consideration into getting dressed just to go to college or shopping in town or a friend's house, so when you give me a proper opportunity to go wild with my look I jump on it. It doesn't even have to be glamorous - I love fancy dress! I know a lot of people dislike being told to properly dress up & can be a bit half-hearted about it, but I love it. I take a similar approach to my everyday dressing in that the fancy dress costume must be well considered, a bit individual and preferably never been seen before.

This post extolling the virtues of dressing up is not just random though, it has been brought on by a party I went to last night, where the theme of the night was 'Bears', inspired by the birthday girl's nickname - Clarebear. I was a bit stuck for ideas at first, but I think I managed to pull off something interesting...

Faux Fur Jacket - borrowed from friend; Dress - Topshop; Tights - Primark; Slippers - New Look; Polar Bear Hat - ebay.
Yes, I am a polar bear. I told you I take dressing up seriously! One serious plus of this outfit was how incredibly warm I was on the drive over, as well as the fact I clearly look ridiculously cool.. The downsides were overheating at the party & having to shed my layers, as well as the scary impracticality of wearing head-to-toe white while trying to drink Sangria. I can't really talk about how this outfit came together, since it is pretty obvious (white + fur = polar bear), so all I am going to say is that now you can see I am not always totally serious and dedicated to my fashion, I let my hair down too...

I am now going to put on my shame face because I have realised I spent all evening at the party and took no pictures. And I call myself a fashion blogger! I should have been practically attached to my camera, but no. Shame on me. Anyway, all that remains to say is that I hope Clarebear had an amazing time, because I certainly did! Happy 18th you little adult you!

Love and kisses, Tara xox