Feeling this.

This post is horrendously overdue, considering my birthday was technically a few weeks back, but what the heck? I thought i'd share some of the shenanigans with you. For a fairly naff, boring age of twenty two i had a really amazing week of birthday celebrations..

I went 80's dancing with my nearest and dearest, which included lots of oversized cocktails, awful dance shapes and full on renditions of Grease and MJ's Thriller. 

 

One Shoulder Wrap Dress - Topshop (£46.00)

The birthday outfit included this lovely berry dress from Topshop, it has very grecian edge with one shoulder and draped skirt. My wonderful YSL Tribute rip off heels from River Island lasted all of five minutes, in-fact they didn't even make it down Croydon high-street, such a wimp.

Then on my actual birthday i spent the day and night in Brighton with the boyfriend, it has such an amazing atmosphere, much more chilled out than London town. Not going to lie, i was equally determined to visit none other than Sea World (yep, i did turn twenty two, not seven). Boyfriend in tow we gazed at the array of colourful fish of all shapes and sizes, crabs of which i have a severe phobia of (shudder), starfish, sea horses and forget the sharks, there are turtles there the size of small cars.

After moseying on around the lanes and bracing the windy sea air one the pier, we checked in to the beautiful little boutique hotel called the Artist Residence, which is directly opposite the old pier. Each room in the tiny hotel is decorated by a local artist, it is also extremely affordable (dirt cheap) with breakfast in tow - i really couldn't recommend it enough. 

We stayed in the Panorama room, decorated by local artist Andy Mclynn which has a amazingly detailed paintings of Brighton's sea front.

And, of course, there wouldn't be a birthday without gifts right?

Breakfast at Tiffanys Companion by Sarah Gristwood - beautiful.

Parisian Chic - A Style Guide by Ines de la Fressange.

Benefit Lipglosses from my brother and Nars varnish in Night Flight from Matthew.

My lovely father who jetted off on my birthday to attend his best mate's wedding in New York, they got married on the actual Jersey Shore, no Snooki sightings apparently. He picked me up both presents from my parents and Matthew from Tiffany's. 

Return to Tiffany Pearl bracelet from my parents.

Tiffany Bead Bracelet from Matthew.

artistically displayed on shockingly bright pink new Kindle cover - unsure of the tiffany charms but i do love a dainty pearl and silver bead!

Last but not least, surprise tickets to see James Corden's new play - I'm so excited! 

Well done if you've read this far crikey! I throughly recommend staying in the Artist Residence hotel, as well as the scrummy doughnuts on the pier. And answer me this, WHY is Tiffanys a heck of a lot cheaper across the pond? In other thoughts, i've banked and saved all the birthday money/gift cards i received for the topshop and netaporter sales (yes please! - muimuimuimui)

Nothing but the beat

What an obligatory blog post to write. For my non-blogger readers, this post is all centred around what's in my handbag, yeah slightly bizarre i'll give you that. But as much as i adore the art of the handbag, what i carry around it are some of my most prized processions and my most loved and used accessories.

My handbag of the moment is my dearly beloved Mulberry tan bayswater, my Alexa has taken residence in it's dust-bag whilst i use this baby. Not such a baby any more, as you can see it's aged with grace love over the three years i've lovingly battered it around every single day. I saved long and hard for this bag, then BOOM! out of nowhere every Tom, Dick and Harry has one. Ahem, trend setter anyone? I kid, i kid.

Marc by Marc Jacobs purse - This was my first 'big' purchase, just after i started college, i saved up all summer. My dad nearly had a heart attack when he found out, but 5/6 years later it hasn't aged a day.

Mulberry Purse - I bought this little dark brown purse in the Mulberry sample sale last year for quite a bargain. It holds all my pennies, as well as being the perfect small purse for clutches and small handbags.

Cath Kidston Train Pass - Never buy these full price (day light robbery), wait for their amazing sales. Picked this up for three quid, which currently holds a good three thousand old train tickets.

Zara Perfume in Iris - Cheap as chips, but smells to die for.

Moleskin Diary (with battered Mulberry sticker attached) - such a beautiful diary, the leather bound thick paper is every stationary dream and i quote the lady in the book shop when i say, once you go Moleskin you never go back.

iPhone 4 - emotionally attached.

Clarins Lip Perfector - Smells like toffee, tastes like toffee.

Mulberry keyring - a present from the lovely Sarah, with one house key, that is never used, ever.

Pink Tangle Teezer - must have!

Ancient iPod - this was given to me eons ago from my parents, my dad had 'fix up look sharp' engraved on the back and, yes i refuse to use the iPod on my iPhone, i get awful stares on the morning commute when i whip em both out.

I promise you this post wasn't sponsored by Mulberry - though i wish it was. And I much rather use my Luella bag to work (isn't as kickable in the staff room) so I'm forever taking out the crap (6000 lipsticks and tissue packets) when I swap bags. Long.

Heaven knows i'm miserable now.

This is - i must say - investigate journalism at best. Raw, emotive and digging out the true facts of the matter. For months, years even there have been rumours passed around back and forth, building excitement only to be squashed by the unknown. So it was time i felt, for Sarah and i to seek out what lay ahead and see the truth for ourselves. Last Wednesday, we battled it up the Northern Line to a dingy little shopping centre in north London to Edgeware, where we came across perhaps the best kept secret in perhaps, none other than the Topshop Outlet. 

 Our first thoughts when we approached this very small store dedicated to previous sale items was the sheer amount of stock. Each wall bay and stands are jam-packed full of last season stock at very low sale prices, with every item on the offer buy one, get one free. The stock we saw was mostly high summer, with the exception of pieces that are actually brand new (such as this dress) and items that have just hit the online sale last week. Everything is in size order, and naturally most items graced the floor. The ladies that work in their must have the patience of saints i tell thee. We saw numerous ladies filling up trollies worth of stock, to presumably be shoved on eBay. The other customers mostly looked like locals,  unlike Sarah and i who were completely fazed by the whole time and dug right in. There were racks upon racks of tops, blouses, shorts, dresses and trousers; with a limited amount of accessories and shoes. Piled up with a variety of items, we hit the changing room to find a number of bits completely faulty, with zips missing and slashed holes, i guess this has happened at its previous store destination and has been shoved out anyway.

After grabbing most things in sight, i spied this dress on the changing room rail, had a slight heart attack and fell in love again. I say again, due to desperately wanting this dress over the summer and never buying it, yet finding it now half priced! Hurrah!

Nice tights line!

Sequin Dress - (reduced from £65, to £30.00)

I then picked up this dress as my free item, a simple striped dress that can be worn in the summer.

Overall, although i am over the moon with my purchases, Sarah sadly left with nothing. Although this shop is clearly wonderful, i dare say it is fairly hit and miss. As its quite a fair journey, in norf norf London its would be a major disappointment to not find anything. However we have decided to visit after Christmas, when more seasonal, easier to wear items will hopefully have better stock. Watch this space.

The Topshop Outlet is situated in the The Broadwalk Shopping Centre just a stones throw from Edgware tube. We hopped on the Northern line from London Bridge and found it pretty easy to find. All the shop details can be found here.

So there we have it, will you be visiting?

Fix up Look sharp

 

 

Skinny Jeans - H&M (£19.99)

Black & White Tweed Jumper - Topshop (£43.00)

Red Block Heels - New Look (£19.99)

Vest - Topshop

That's me, in skinny black jeans, thats right. Nearly three heart attacks in the fitting room, four size variations and various jumping around, i bought a pair of black skinnies. Why? Because whilst on the tube, i saw a beautiful girl rocking the most tapered pair of black jeans i've ever seen, with red cherry lips and oversized cream shirt. Naturally, i ran out to shamefully borrow her look. London really is a street style book of inspiration.

Too much too young.

Accessories Online is an online store that i'm all too fondly aware of, not only do i continously lust over their Alex Monroe section, even the boy ordered me this necklace last year for my birthday. So when i spotted on twitter that they were looking for guest reviewers, i hopped right over there like a right crazy woman. Then i panicked. If you know me well, you i'm horrendously picky when it comes to jewellery. I wear the same pieces everyday and never change it up to suit outfits and such. I prefer dainty bits and bobs, nothing statement, just nice and whimsical please. And i was not disappointed.

Dogeared Make a Wish Heart Bracelet - (£21.95)

Dogeared is a brand i've pondered over from afar, their jewellery is very to my taste. Its simple and classic, small and dainty mostly centred around different charms, with all different meanings - something i find rather appealing. The wish heart bracelet is rather different for me, but the red irish linen is something i really like. Not going to lie, i did go through a faze of wearing a red cotton bracelet, until someone one mentioned to me i'm not Madonna and did i study Kabbala, point taken. However this dainty little so and so looks amazing combined with my gold MJ watch, and i adore the little heart. Its not in your face, but rather whimsical with an eye catching red string.

 

The sentiment behind the bracelet is Make A Wish, whereby you make a wish before attaching the bracelet, and when it falls off the wish will come true. Nice sentiment, but really i was to excited to get it on my wrist to even think about a wish, and secondly at twenty squid, i don't want it to fall off either. Alas its a lovely present idea i presume.

The bracelet it's self is fastened by a bead through a hoop and wound round, but i knotted mine to make it extra secure. The website also states that the Irish Linen (posh cotton i dare say) should not get wet, due to fade and ageing, but i quite like that idea.

Overall i'm really happy with this bracelet, not only is it adorable (you must admit it) but i've really enjoyed wearing it. A nice feminine touch if you wear a rather heavy masculine watch like i. In review of Accessories Online, from their past service where i have ordered before, it has crazy speedy free service (something i find very rare these days) and a great collection online, plus sneaky tip - for a limited time (aka tonight) you can receive 20% off with the code AUTUMN20. Now i'm off to gaze lustingly over more Alex Monroe, and more Dogeared. Christmas list anyone?

As i have stated this bracelet was sent to me, basically because they asked for volunteers on twitter and basically went batshit crazy & jumped at the chance, simply down to the fact that i love what they stock and i have in the past and will continue to buy from them. As my old readers will know, i can't stand any churned out press release nonsense and i ain't no marketing machine either sweetcheeks. Recently i have had the chance to feature different items, but i get worried that i will jeopardise what i stand for. What are your thoughts on this?

Where them girls at.

Over the last month or so i have been very busy planning a fashion show for work, don't get me wrong it nothing like LFW (although one particular model did throw a Naomi Campbell at some stages), but it was such a lovely event all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief. Where i work, i mostly serve old dears and grannies, and i hear simply amazing stories about various charities and how they have helped in such simple, but great measures. One of our models on the night, a rather glamourous Gloria aged 73, told me about she had run a marathon in aid of Breast Cancer relief the previous weekend - not only did this make me feel terribly unfit (seventy bloody three!) but i realised i'm seriously lacking when it comes to giving to charity, especially Breast Cancer relief.

Its time to do my bit. I've scoured high and low for some amazing products and items that donate a percentage to Breast Cancer Relief, because looking at these amazing items there's certainly no excuse not to.

Bare Essentials In the Pink Set - (£21.75) / Givenchy Very Irresistible at Debenhams - (£34.00) / Estee Lauder Pink Collection - (£18.50) / OPI Pink of Hearts Nail Varnish - (£10.50) / Palmers Coco Butter - (£3.59) / Malava Little Pink Box - (£9.95) / Origins Make a Difference Skin Treatment - (£21.00) / Bobbi Brown Lipstick in Pale Pink (£18.00) / Clinique Lipgloss Key Ring - (£15.00) / Jo Malone Red Roses Body Wash - (£30.00)

Monica Vinarder Figi Bracelet - (£95.00) / Green and Blacks Chocolate - (£2.29) / Lace Bra (£89.95) - Drop into Rigby & Peller and donate an old bra to receive money off a new one in their gorgeous new A/W style and they'll donate! / Highland Spring Water - (£1.89) / Pink Tangle Teezer - (£10.20) / Pink Smythson Notebook - (£45.00)

If all else fails then pick up a pin for a squid! 

Footloose

H&M Tan Riding Boots - £10.14

Your going to love me or absolutely loathe me. Last year, i was given these tan riding boots for my birthday and i adore them. They can easily be worn with anything, evoking my inner parisian chic (i wish) and they are ultimate best friend on rainy days. However, just this minute i was snooping the H&M mid season-sale and i saw these beauties having been reduced to £19.99 - a steal in my eyes. Alas, H&M are awfully bad (AMAZING) with promotional codes and if you enter the following you can save another fiver and 25% off the sale price, bringing them down to £10.14. What are you waiting for? 

£5 off - 1304

25% off - 9514

NB. At that price you can neither moan if they get delivered in November & they always re-stock sizes - so  keeps your eyes peeled if your size is outta stock. Bizarre right?

I have so much to say, including my birthday, the amazing Topshop outlet i found & some amazing goodies i bought from Westfield today.

GIRLS ON FILM

Last weekend i made a cheeky Topshop order online, it being pay day and having a stolen student card (brothers are so, so useful) in hand, i took advantage and ordered. I received my birthday dress - soon to be seen, this jumper and another dress. The cream jumper was otherwise lovely but short and oversized in the wrong sense, insert sighing face, and the peter pan dress was just meh. I popped into my local branch to exchange them for:

Velvet Blue Pumps - Topshop (£18.00)

I adore these pumps, they resemble a more expensive French Sole cousin, and yes, yes, yes slightly unpractical but too beautiful to resist, i promise to not wear on a rainy day. 

Cream Blouse - Topshop (£38.00)

This blouse is simply pretty, and not going to lie damn right handy. I have a knack of buying nothing that matches, and this little fellow can be mixed and matched any how, where or season.

Bow Neck Tie Blouse - New Look (£22.99)

I literally doubled blinked when i saw this blouse in New Look, its collar has the most beautiful scallop edge detail and the tie up bow is something i have been on the hunt for, since forever.

I love and leave you now for a few days as i am off to celebrate my birthday which falls on Monday, for a very boring age of twenty two i have succeeded in drawing out celebrations over an entire week - is that just me that does this? Hey, the queen gets the luxury of two birthdays. Tonight i'm going 80's dancing, then noodles with my girlfriends on Saturday night, followed by a nights stay in Brighton on my actual birthday with the boy. There i plan to over indulge in pier doughnuts, mushy peas, visit the aquarium and the palace, plus a little lane shopping! My dad is flying to New York on Sunday for a wedding (taking place on the actual Jersey shore - don't ask) and has announced bringing me back a special gift- oooh! 

Now, the ultimate question i am asking you - what is your favourite 80's song? I'm pretty partial to a bit of Duran Duran or Blondie.