Style Picks: Matalan SS13

I don't usually pop in to Matalan but when their SS13 Lookbook landed on my desk, quite a few pieces caught my eye. So I've pulled together my favourite styles. Take a look and let me know what you think...

MatalanSS13-Fringed-tops copy

Grey Jersey Skirt £10
Chiffon Tie Dye Shorts £12
Warrior Necklace (left) £10
Spike Necklace (right) £8
Fringe tops (price unlisted)

I love these Tie Dye Shorts, they remind me of the tie dye I use in my blog header. They'll look great in the summer with tanned legs and creeper-soled sandals.
The fringed tops have that summer holiday feel and would add great texture to this basic jersey pencil skirt.
The Tribal style of these silver spiked necklaces would jazz up any plain tee.



MatalanSS13-Dresses




Left to right: Shift Dress £16
Stripe Dress £15
Shift Dress £16

Dresses dresses dresses. Need I say anything more? The stripy peplum is my favourite. I would wear it with black ankle boots and a slick of red lipstick.


MatalanSS13-Jumper-and-Jacket
Jumper £18
Military Jacket £35

These are two items that would slot seamlessly in to my wardrobe. The holey grunge knit would look great over a white shirt for work or with high-waist jeans for the weekend.
I'm glad to see khaki jackets with contrasting sleeves are still going strong for next season. This hooded jacket would be handy for those April showers.

What's your favourite item? Are you looking forward to Spring styles already too?

New Years Day 2013 Shopping

New Years Day Shopping

Lace dress: H&M
Diary: Cath Kidston
Pendant: Vanessa Mooney at Urban Outfitters

We may have partied hard at the Mansions last night to celebrate the New Year, but today's hangover feels infinitely better than the norovirus I've been suffering with for the last week. So, today I left my housemates to The Mighty Ducks and headed to Seven Dials to do some sale shopping. First stop was Cath Kidston for my new diary. I wanted one that was small and light enough to carry around every day but still pretty enough to tempt me into actually recording some goings on inside. This fits the bill nicely and also has a handy zip pocket for any loose things I want to keep hold of.

Then I headed across the road to Urban Outfitters and steered myself wisely past the shoes and clothes (I have so many new things from Christmas I haven't got round to wearing yet!) and went to look at the jewellery. I picked up this Vanessa Mooney pendant reduced to £25. I love its unusual shape and its the long length of the chain. It'll look suitably gothic with a long black jumper and jeans.

Finally I popped into H&M and couldn't resist this dress reduced from £29.99 to £7. The bright pop of colour is just the thing I need to kick start the New Year so I'll wear it to my first day back at work on Thursday. 

That was a pretty mild sale indulgence - I blame the hangover!
Have you picked up anything good in the sales this year?

Recent Purchases...


American Apparel Nail Lacquer (Hunter)
American Apparel Beanie (Black)

I've been meaning to buy this hat for a while but hadn't popped into American Apparel for AGES and they've now sold out online. I forgot all about their free Nail Lacquer with any purchase thing so this was a nice little extra at the till. I chose the Hunter shade because I think it'll look all festive with a glitter topcoat.


Motel Deluxe Wild One Sequin Bustier Dress in Black
Motel Tinsel Sequin and Mesh Dress in Iridescent Green

Last week I bought a couple of sequin dresses from Motel with Christmas week and #NYE in mind. I LOVE SEQUINS and Motel are like my go to for party dresses.


The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Girlfriend in a Coma by Douglas Coupland
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

Also I decided to get some morbid reading ready for when I get bored of TV at Christmas. (It does happen.) I'm reading American Psycho at the moment so I decided to go for some more cult classics.