Inspiring layers

                                      
All images pinned on Pinterest (in order): themoptop.com, sarahsmileawhile.tumblr.com, etpourquoipascoline.fr, heartcharlie.blogspot.com, via Staci Cross, via Erin Derkatz.


Well hello there !!

After a wee hiatus I am back ...... finally moved into the house but we still have lots of work to do and I have been been laid low by nasty colds and now a strained muscle in my back. So "normal" service might not be resumed for a while yet .......

In the last few days however I have discovered the joys of Pinterest, so here is a selection of layered looks that are inspiring me these cold winter days. A list of looks I would love to wear if: A) I could actually go out of the house at all, and B) if I had the energy to actually make the effort to put a half decent outfit together..... yeah I know the enthusiasm is just spilling out of me !!

New house........

Not really an outfit post, as I'm making excuses for my absence...... weeks of renovating our new house in the picture has taken it's toll on my fashion sense !! When every spare minute of the day is spent scraping paint off walls and getting covered in plaster dust, stylish outfits are the last thing on your mind !!

So we hopefully move in soon, which means I can get back to wearing some un-practical clothes and feeling sane again........ !!!!!

Cinema chic

Vest Top (Miss Selfridge) / Heather Chino Trousers (Tesco) / Black Wedge Mary Jane Shoes (New Look) / Black Burnout Waterfall Cardigan (M&S) / Eiffel Tower Brass Necklace (T-Boo @ Hannah Zakari) / Herringbone Grey & Black Belt (Old?) / Grey Check Biker Jacket (Littlewoods) / Navy Quilted Satchel (Next).


Went to the cinema the other night for the other half's birthday, to see Judge Dredd in 3D. I thought this lifesize cardboard-cutout advert would make a good backdrop for photos ........ plus I was inspired by the special effects in the film to do a wee bit of creative editing!

Outfit-wise I went for something layered and comfy (you never know how warm or cold its going to be in the cinema so layers is a must). So what do you wear to the movies?

Getting a tan..........

Tan & Navy Stripe Dress (Asos) / Navy Tights (New Look) / Tan "PF Flyers" Plimsolls (Schuh) / Bamboo Print Sunglasses (Primark) / Coloured Bead Bracelets (?) / Wooden Bead Bracelet (Gift) / Tan Knotted Belt (New Look) / Navy Quilted Satchel (Next).


Some more photos from the mini car rally weekend....... more getting a tan dress than getting the sunshine kind!! Love the frill detail on the back of this dress, it's an unusual touch on an otherwise simple striped grandad-style button-down dress.

Taking outfit photos is a bit of a challenge at the moment......we are in the process of moving house and I am therefore usually dressed in jogging trousers with wallpaper remnants stuck to them! Oh the joys of DIY !

Mini-mania

Teal Button-up T-Shirt (New Look) / Tan Chino Trousers (Tesco) / Gold Pyramid Stud Ballet Flats (Clarks Shoes Outlet) / White Bamboo Print Sunglasses (Primark) / Cream Patterned Scarf (River Island) / Wooden Bead Bracelet (Gift) / Coloured Bead Bracelets (?) / Tan Crossover Belt (New Look) / Denim Jacket (Asos) / Navy Quilted Satchel (Next).


Photos from last weekend....... we spent Saturday evening running about the north coast on a vintage Mini car run! There was literally hundreds of little old (and some new) minis there. The sun managed to shine for us, making it a pleasure to run about in the fading evening light.

These tan coloured chinos are so versatile, and it's the first time I've actually got to wear my new denim jacket believe it or not (the recent spate of heavy rain meant soggy denim was not a wearable option!). Jazzed up with a funky scarf and gold ballet pumps.

So what did you get up to over the bank holiday weekend??

I heart Hi-tops........

.....just a little selection of the Hi-tops I am admiring at the moment. I love the way they add a bit of attitude and casual-cool to any outfit. I have a bit of a collection of plimsoll trainers already and I think I could easily start collecting Hi-tops too!!

My first pair? ...... leopard print wedge style ones with fleece foldovers, that I bought a couple of months ago and which I strangely haven't featured yet on the blog. They are mad and I love them!!

Reflections on a summer break..........

Tropical Print Silky Vest Top (Dorothy Perkins) / Cobalt Blue Chandelier Earrings (Claire's Accessories) / Birdcage Pendant (Littlewoods) / Ollie & Nic Purple Handbag (Oli @ Freemans).


Our last night on holiday..... where we ate tapas on relaxed suburbian streets in Barcelona, reflecting on the lovely time we'd had........

Montjuic

Muscle Cars Vest Top (Matalan) / Pale Grey Denim Straight-cut Skirt (La Redoute) / Tan PF Flyers Plimsolls (Schuh) / Aquamarine Sunglasses (H&M) / Silver Twin Rings Pendant (H&M) / Purple Ollie & Nic Handbag (Oli @ Freemans).


Photos from the top of Montjuic, the big hill in the middle of Barcelona which overlooks the city and the docks. It is also the site of the Olympic stadium, a medieval castle, copious art musuems and a cable car....... much to keep us amused for a whole day out.

Love this vest top from Matalan ...... cute and retro, yet the sugary pink colour contrasts nicely with the macho car theme! Worn with my trusty plimsolls to add to the retro feel and to carry me through a day of climbing up and down a large hill!

Barcelona nights

Ikat Vest Top (Tesco) / Bleachwash Slim Fit Jeans (Tesco) / Beige Cutout Shoeboots (Barratts) / Black Nickel Effect Spikey Necklace (New Look) / Coloured Plastic & Wood Bangles (New Look) / Ollie & Nic Purple Handbag (Oli @ Freemans).


......A relaxed and laidback night time outfit, worn when we wandered the streets of Barcelona in search of tasty tapas and cold beer......

Dusty streets

Raspberry Marl Vest (River Island) / Bright Floral Skater Skirt (La Redoute) / Gold Strappy Gladiators (New Look) / Aqua Sunglasses (H&M) / Tan Knot Belt (New Look) / Purple Ollie & Nic Handbag (Oli @ Freemans).


Some more holiday photos ....... this time from our stint in Barcelona. The dusty, sleepy urban streets around our hotel had a certain charm about them, with the feel of a quietly cool, up-and-coming neighbourhood about them. Broke out the bright colours with this jazzy skirt and highlighted with my funky aqua wrap shades.......

Guggenheim

Navy & Grey Stripe Vest (New Look) / Grey & White Stripe Skirt (Sainsburys) / Silver Gladiator Sandals (Ebay) / Blue Heart Umbrella (Bilbao gift shop) / Mirrored Aviator Sunglasses (Ebay) / Perspex Butterfly Necklace (Ebay) / Sequinned Flower Print Beach Bag (Sainsburys).


Sorry about the enforced break....... technical difficulties have meant no internet connection for nearly a week and a long wait on a new modem ...... grrrrrr!!

So, some photos from when we visited the Guggenheim in Bilbao ........my blue and grey colour scheme seemed to mirror the colours in the buildings around us that day! Topping it all was my blue nail polish, it's a Rimmel colour called "Aqua Cool" and it's a gorgeous warm cornflower blue!

As you can see, the building itself is as interesting as the modern art it houses .......even on the inside the amazing architectural lines continue. A really cool place to visit.....

San Mames Stadium

Grey Marl & Pastel Flowers Skater Dress (Topshop) / Silver Strappy Gladiators (Ebay) / Double Ring Pendant (H&M) / Sequinned Flower Print Beach Bag (Sainsburys).


Photos from our tour of the football ground of Athletic Bilbao ........ they are totally football mad in this city!! And they had a stuffed lion in the VIP lounge (a gift from some dignatory or other) ........ how random is that??

Not the outfit most people would wear to a football ground, but I felt the need to look all girly in the face of all that masculinity!! I love this dress, got it reduced in a Topshop concession a few weeks ago and I literally grabbed it off the rail!

Casco Viejo

Peter Pan Collar Ditsy Floral Blouse (F&F @ Tesco) / Khaki High-waisted Skirt (Matalan) / Tan PF Flyers Plimsolls (Schuh) / Oatmeal Marl Cardigan (Tesco) / Eiffel Tower Brass Necklace (T-Boo @ Hannah Zakari) / Sequinned Flower Print Beach Bag (Sainsburys).


Taken in the old town in Bilbao, known as the "Casco Viejo", after a leisurely Sunday lunch and before we took a wander around the medieval streets. It was a bit rainy that day but it kind of suited the dark & moody narrow streets! The historic architecture in this part of town felt really untouched and I loved the rabbit-warren weave of streets and alleys full of interesting shops.

As we were expecting to eat loads and then walk it off round the city, I wore a very laid back outfit, picking out the aquas, dark greens and lilac in my sleeveless blouse with my accessories. And my beloved PF Flyer plimsolls were on my feet ready for the walking.......

Polkadot-ty about Spain

Fuschia Polkadot Vest (Next) / Pale Grey Denim Straight-cut Skirt (La Redoute) / Silver Strappy Gladiator Sandals (E-bay) / Multicoloured Polkadot Sunglasses (Primark) / Silver Double Hoops Pendant (H&M) / Colourblock Watch (Next) / Plastic Ring (?) / Sequinned Flower Print Beach Bag (Sainsburys).


Our first day in Bilbao was spent wandering about the streets, taking in the vistas over the river and seeing "The Puppy" outside the Guggenheim, a dog-shaped sculpture alive with blooming flowers (seriously amazing!). We also started our gastro-tour by going for a 3 course lunch with wine (a "menu del dia" in spanish) ...... 12 euros each well spent!

Even though the sun was trying to hide behind a smattering of clouds, it was still warm, so no jacket was required for this outfit. I went bright and breezy with pink polkadots and sunglasses to match, combined with grey and silver neutrals ......well you gotta start off your holidays with some bright colours haven't you??