If money was no object.

Constantly reading fashion magazines full of expensive things was bound to get to me one day, so today I compiled a list of the things I would buy if I had limitless money (or a very rich boyfriend). I don't even want to add up this imaginary spending spree.. 

1. Mary Katrantzou print dress.

2. Burberry trench coat.

3. Valentino Pre Fall/Winter 2012 asymmetric dress.

4. Prada flame shoes.

5. Mulberry Del Rey bag.

6. Christian Louboutin spike embellished heels.

7. Balmain gold embellished jacket.

8. Miu Miu gold 40s style sunglasses.

9. Prada earrings.

10. Guiseppe Zanotti heel-less heels.

The cost of this lot doesn't bear thinking about.. However they would all add in to one killer wardrobe! Maybe one day I will be rich/famous/important enough to be able to justify buying these sorts of beautiful things but for now a girl can dream..

What would you go and buy if you could spend any ridiculous amount of money?

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

Wanted - Flatforms.

The wedge heel is making its customary comeback for spring, in many a style, pattern and colour, but while I adore wedge heels for their glamorous appearance and relative practicality, the fact that I am already a wedge convert with a couple of pairs at home means that I am hardly bouncing up and down on my sofa, raring to wear them. However, there is one slightly different, slightly unusual style of wedge that has me quite excited.. Say bonjour to..

THE FLATFORM.

This clever shoe shape was everywhere on the SS'12 catwalks, proving that flats can be high octane and glam too. At first glance, I was unconvinced. I thought they were a little unwieldy, a little clompy, and not really my cup of tea. Then I let them grow on me for a few months, et voila, I am now desperately seeking some perfect flatforms to complement my spring wardrobe! Honestly, any shoe that can give me (much-needed) extra height at relative comfort is my best friend. So here I am, hunting down a pair that are chic, stylish and affordable..

£50, Topshop
As per usual, my first stop on the hunt was Topshop, and I was not disappointed. I love the wooden sole of these, and the simplicity of the black uppers.

£55, Topshop
These lace up, espadrille style flatforms also come in orange and black, but they aren't my favourites. They are a little too casual for me, and a little too similar to trainers!

£110, Topshop Unique
Now these are more my style. The metallic hue is simply divine, as is the Prada-esque flame detailing. However, the lace up sneaker effect is still a little too sports luxe for my tastes.. And the price makes these way out of my league.

£35, River Island
I have seen these in store a few times, and thought the colour was simply stunning. I love the simple style of them, which lets the hue shine through and means they will mix and match easily. Not a fan of orange? They also come in black. These are my favourites so far..

£40, ASOS
As the purveyors of runway style and top trends that ASOS are, I naturally went running to them in search of flatforms, and their collection is pretty big! I love the pattern on their VARSITY flatforms, which also come in two other prints.

£35, ASOS
The print on these VEZZA flatforms is simply incredible. Not the easiest thing to mix and match, but definitely a gorgeous statement. These also come in denim, and would be the perfect easy-breezy spring footwear.

£50, ASOS
These VIPER flatforms come in a range of other colours, but this black & watercolour floral combination is my personal favourite. These just epitomise spring for me - somehow they are romantic, strong, eye-catching and simple all at the same time. Practicality goes out of the window a bit with them, but oh well, fashion over function!

After looking at these stunning flatforms, I don't feel like I need to hunt any further. If you're not totally convinced by any of these, or aren't a fan of the patterns, try looking at ASOS's flatforms here because they have so many more prints and styles, from pastel flatform trainers to high basket weave pairs. 

Personally, I am a little bit torn between the orange River Island flatforms and the ASOS VIPER flatforms. I know, the orange ones are more practical, affordable, easier to style and probably easier to wear, but those ASOS flatforms are calling out to me. I do adore the River Island pair though, and in an ideal world I would definitely get both! Give me a few days to weigh them up and make my decision, and then maybe you'll be seeing spring's new wedge style on the end of my (short) legs. 

I can see that the River Island pair are the more sensible investment, but the ASOS VIPER flatforms are so beautiful my heart literally goes out to them. And which to follow, head or heart? Which ones would you go for?

Love and kisses, Tara xox

PS. I just had the amazing realisation that I now have 60 followers! (does mad little dance and squeals excitedly) This honestly made my day, because I never dreamed of getting one follower for the my random fashion thoughts & it amazes me that anyone reads it at all! I am also over 15000 page views - thankyou so much to all the people who read, follow + comment, you make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Post-Christmas wishlist.

It seems a little Scrooge-ish to be eagerly waiting for Christmas to pass just so I can shop again, but I can't deny it, I am. That said, anyone who's read a few of my recent posts knows I am literally buzzing for Christmas day tomorrow - 1 more sleep, people, 1 more sleep! It's just that after the festive excitement is over for another year, I have given & received my presents and eaten more chocolate than humanly possible, I will finally be free to spend my money again. It may have only been 12 days, but for me that feels like a lifetime. To get me through this tricky time, I will admit to compiling a small mental wishlist, much like a Christmas list, but packed with the items of clothing/accessories I am lusting after and probably would have already bought if it weren't for this little no-shopping challenge (and lack of funds). Realistically I know I cannot afford all of these gorgeous pieces but a girl can dream...

£50, ASOS

My beloved Topshop black blazer is one of my favourite pieces and it has served me well over the past year and a half ish, but even to my eyes the well-worn-and-loved vibe it gives out is now just becoming tatty-and-overused, so the time has come to replace it. This ASOS blazer is simply gorgeous, and very similar to my own, and I am seriously considering treating myself to it.

£40, Topshop
While the ASOS piece is pretty much perfect, I get the nagging feeling that I should stick to Topshop for the sheer quality. I love this black ponte blazer, from the rolled up sleeves to the little mock pockets, but I can't help but feel it would be too long for me...

£36, Topshop
Another ASOS-Topshop face off here.. I love anything embellished, and have had my heart set on a scalloped, embellished top for quite some time now, and this Topshop lace top is simply stunning. I can already tell it will look amazing with so many things, either dressed up or down. Want, want, want.

£49.50, ASOS Salon
But then ASOS Salon threw this little beauty into the mix. It is possibly even more gorgeous with the mint-green hue and beautiful silver embellishment.. It is just the wearability and price tag that are swinging this in favour of the Topshop.

£26, Topshop
I saw these in store in Topshop maybe two or three weeks ago and literally fell in love. Leaving them behind was one of the most tremendous shows of willpower I have ever given, and they immediately went down on my 'after-christmas-when-you-have-money' list. There is no question, these shorts are mine.

£8.50, Topshop
At the same time as I resisted the shorts, I also resisted these tights. You know I love tights, and when I saw these on the mannequin in store I really wanted them. I meant to put them on my Christmas list, but forgot, so now I am putting these firmly on the wishlist. I just can't get over how much of a statement them make with the contrasting sides!

£12, Topshop
While cruising the tights page on Topshop.com for the other tights, I chanced upon this gorgeous pair and decided they were simply too cute. I know, I know, I don't need any more tights, but these will be perfect to cheer me up in January!

£8, Accessorize
I have been looking out for some good gloves for a long time, because I originally wanted some leather-style driving gloves, but non-leather of course. Unfortunately all I can find is real leather and genuine suede, but these from Accessorize just might be close enough to what I want. They are wool, so all man-made, but come in a retro, driving glove style with the cute buttons and edging.

£28, Dorothy Perkins
This cardigan is so Chanel it hurts. And I love me some Chanel. I adore the monochrome colour scheme and chic edging - and I will need something besides my trusty blazer to keep me cosy when the winter-spring-summer transition finally kicks in, which this cardigan is perfect for.

£8.50, Dorothy Perkins
Another thing I can never have enough of is rings. Especially oversize cocktail rings. Don't get me wrong, I love all jewellery, but the perfect ring excites me in so many ways. I love the classic cocktail style of this DP ring, and the mustard colour is just gorgeous and luxurious.

£22, River Island
Collars are another recent obsession of mine, and this embellished one has stolen my heart. We will all need a bit of sparkle once Christmas is over and summer seems like an eternity away, and I really can't think of anything more suitable than this for glitzing up my daily wardrobe.

£20, River Island
I have had my eye on this for a while actually, but never plucked up the courage to buy it, and then the weather simply got too cold. Now that we might finally start heading out of winter again, I'm trying to develop my transitional wardrobe and this would be ideal. I simply love the almost Versace-esque print, and I love faux fur.

£24.99, Versace for H&M
Speaking of Versace... These amazing, summery shorts are my personal favourite item from their next (and final) collection for H&M, and while they don't drop until mid-January, I will definitely be putting aside some cash for them. I just know they will take away any winter blues that are hitting.

£10, Temporary Secretary
The final item on my wishlist (so far) is less of a trend-driven piece, and more of an it's-too-cute-to-pass-up item. Temporary Secretary is a bit of a new discovery for me, and while several bits and pieces are on my Christmas list, I just couldn't make a wishlist without including something from there. This cream tart ring is one of my favourite things on the site because it is just so sweet and original - the kind of detail that makes an outfit unique.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my wishlist. Well, everything I am wishing for right now. I am sure that when I actually hit the shops I will see a million more things that I adore, but these are definitely the things that are playing on my mind right now. I don't even want to add up how much it would cost to buy all of these things, because I know it will just be painful, but that won't stop me lusting after them...

The next time I am going shopping is Boxing Day, straight after work, which I realise is brave since town is bound to be heaving with bargain-hunters stalking the sales, but I am visiting relatives the 27th-28th December, and simply cannot wait until the 29th! I hope that everything I want is in store, because delivery gets expensive, and I will of course be making use of my beautiful NUS card to scrounge some discounts where I can.

I was also wondering what you guys all think.. which pieces would you go for? 

Anyway, it is probably time I shut up now, and stopped daydreaming about clothes and shopping (which is probably a sign of a dangerous addiction to it). It is most likely that I won't be online tomorrow, since it is Christmas Day, and I reserve the right to spend the whole of it unwrapping presents, eating myself silly and generally having fun with my parents. So I'll say it now... MERRY CHRISTMAS!! It means a lot that you've been reading my blog, and I hope you get everything you want tomorrow - have an amazing day! Love and kisses, Tara xox

I'm up for a challenge.

You're probably expecting to see some kind of 'my look today' post, but unfortunately I'm under the weather today, and am staying home - meaning I look a little bit like death. Being ill does not bring out the best in me. I'm currently curled up on my sofa watching pretty much any DVD I can get my hands on, in my PJs under my duvet, and feeling pretty sorry for myself. But I couldn't let this blog go without an update (and anything to take my mind off feeling bad is very welcome), so I thought I'd just share a little challenge I have set myself.

It might not sound like much, but after continually depleting my bank balance this month, as of Monday (after the H&M purchase) I decided something. No more shopping until after Christmas. Well, no more shopping for myself. Of course there is the Christmas shopping to complete - I have a few more gifts left to get - so I can't promise not to spend money. What I have challenged myself with, however, is to show some restraint and not buy anything for myself until after Christmas, when I will get some more money and be able to properly evaluate what I can afford.

13 days (at least!) without spending money probably sounds like an impossible task, if you know me well. All of my friends (and probably all of you readers too by now) know that shopping is a bit of an addiction for me, and that every time I go out to town I end up buying something, be it a ring, a dress or some metallic gold jeans. Recently these purchases have been more and more impulsive, and I am even a little concerned about the state of my bank account... So even though I will undoubtedly be heading into town to brave the cold, the only people benefiting from my hard-earned cash will be others - apart from the warm, fuzzy feeling I get when giving the presents of course.

I am not even going to let myself buy things that I might be able to justify needing. If I run out of makeup, or cleanser or anything like that, it will have to wait. More than anything, I just want to see how well I cope. How strong I can be with the temptation all around... There are so many gorgeous things I could easily go out and buy, and yes I could most likely afford to, but I am setting this challenge and I will stick to it. It is the third day, and I am pulling myself through by compiling a mental wishlist of all the things I would like to add to my wardrobe - and then after Christmas I can pick some to treat myself to! Watch this space, because I may have to post the wishlist to keep going with this shopping boycott... For now, I am going back under the duvet and hoping to feel better... Love and kisses, Tara xox