Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : outfit

Sunday Style: Stepping into Spring

It is such a wonderful feeling waking up on a weekend and opening the curtains to a bright, sunny day. My first thought as I leapt out of bed this morning was that it is now the perfect weather to start doing outfit posts again. Any blogger or photography enthusiast will know that gloomy weather can make life difficult when it comes to taking the perfect shot, similarly too much sun can also be a problem. The weather today was absolutely perfect - enough light to compliment my beautiful floral dress and enough heat to ensure my legs didn't freeze whilst taking this photograph.

This dress is one of my many recent purchases from Forever 21, a shop I have been raving about for the last few weeks on Twitter. It was only recently that I discovered Forever 21. Unfortunately there's no Forever 21 stores near me and I'm often put off by ordering clothes online due to sizing difficulties. When I was in Liverpool a few weeks back I took the opportunity to call in their Forever 21 store at Liverpool One and since then, I have not stopped talking about them.

I plan on teaming this dress up with my new Dulice Meg shoes from Clarks. To be quite honest, before last Saturday I hadn't been in a Clarks shoe shop since I was about five years old. I had always associated the brand with school shoes and footwear that my mum would buy, but I when I had a look round the other week after seeing a pair of shoes in the window that I liked, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of shoes I actually wanted to buy and left the store with two new pairs. These Dulcie Meg shoes have a smooth black finish with snake effect leather ankle straps. They have a block heel of around 8cm giving them an easy to wear feel and the cushioning on the inside gives support to people like me with foot problems.

Have you shopped in Clarks or Forever 21 recently?

Valentine's Day is all about showing the one you love how much you care and making an impression. Dressing up on Valentine's Day is one of the best ways to give yourself a confidence boost and also making your partner feel like they are the luckiest person alive. It doesn't matter whether you're having a meal in or going out or even having a ladies night in for all you single girls, Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to get your glad rags on and embrace the evening.

This year will be my first Valentine's Day as a married woman and I intend to wow my husband by wearing one of my new favourite dresses from one of my favourite Manchester Independent stores, Didi's Boutique.* This Didi's Shift dress is fully lined with embellished sequins following an Aztec style pattern and is beautifully made with a very high standard of quality. Unlike most sequin dresses I own, this hasn't shed one sequin whilst I have worn it and it feels incredibly comfortable and not itchy. This dress is a must have for any woman's wardrobe as the deep red colour evokes a sense of seductivity and the sequins help grab admirers attention.

I have teamed this dress up with my classic Vivienne Westwood clutch, my rose gold Michael Kors watch and the Vivienne Westwood necklace my husband bought me for Christmas. To finish off the outfit I have applied an eye catching red lipstick and I have used my favourite Chanel mascara to give me flirty looking eyelashes.

What will you be wearing this Valentine's Day?

Christmas is finally here and the biggest party season is full swing. For the last few months we have been religiously reading the ‘What to Wear at Christmas’ style guides and now the moment is finally here to put that knowledge into motion. If you're having a quieter Christmas this season like myself, it can be difficult to find an outfit that evokes festivity yet stays relatively casual. When you're having a quiet night in with family, you want the reason to dress up, but you don't want to don your favourite party wear too prematurely in the week.

This green Longline Jacket from Warehouse is the perfect complement to any festive outfit this season as it can be worn over a sparkly dress or a white blouse and jeans for a more casual Christmas look. I have styled this with a glitzy necklace, my favourite white blouse from Zara and a pair of leather pants. To make this outfit more festive, I could always add a bright red lippy or a red clutch.

If you’re going out this Christmas Eve and want to dress up, I would recommend an outfit like the one above. I love this Metallic shift dress from Warehouse and it would look great teamed up with this red clutch, cute kitten heels and a statement necklace.

Whatever your plans may be this Christmas, I hope you all have a fabulous time.

Merry Christmas!
x

Ordering online can be quite a daunting process and a lot of us will experience some sort of online shopping nerves just before Christmas. Ordering clothing in particular can be quite problematic and can send you through a range of emotions before your parcel finally drops on your doorstep. The 'what if's' always go through my mind - what if the garment doesn't fit? What if it doesn't suit me? What should I do if I need to return it? And of course, if you have an event to go to, will I be able to exchange it in time?

Last week I was asked if I would like to review a dress from JOY and this little black lace number immediately caught my attention. For those who do not know JOY is a unique fashion and lifestyle brand best known for innovative womenswear, menswear and accessorises. Each of their items are injected with fun and quirkiness and according to their website are 'quietly eccentric and aching cool.' I love dresses from JOY, each garment seems to have it's own personality and differs from many of the outfits seen on the high street. If you're looking for something different and to make you stand out from the crow, JOY is the place to be.

Going back to the internet shopping dilemma, this beautiful Louche Khiana Dress from JOY is one of the first dresses in a long time which I have ordered online and fits to perfection. The dress is true to size, has a very accurate description and the dress looks better in real life than on the website. Surprisingly the dress also suits my 5ft2 petite height which is often hard to come by.

Have you ever shopped at JOY?

When I was five years old, I owned a tartan dress that I loved more than anything. It was a skater style dress with combination of red, yellow and green tartan, finished off with a white embroidered collar and a pretty red bow in the centre. I couldn't stop wearing it and my parents used to make me wear it to all the family parties. As I grew older I started to associate tartan with older people - you know, those cute little old women with dated tartan pencil skirts that cut just above their ankles. It wasn't until the last few years as I hit my early twenties, that I noticed how trendy and flattering tartan can be and with more of it on the high street than ever before, the urge to invest in a tartan dress became prominent.

I bought this pretty Hearts and bows dress on my Saturday payday shop at Leeds Ark Clothing Store. I love how this little dress is pulled in at the waist to create an hourglass figure and the warm tones of colour running through the tartan. As someone who is 5ft 2, I often find it difficult to find dresses that flatter my height, but this little beauty cuts perfectly above my knees - not too short, but also not too long.

For those who haven't heard of Ark Clothing before, Ark clothing began trading in the 90s with their first shop over 20 years ago opening in Leeds. Originally the brand were heavily music focused - selling tickets for local raves and promoting their own beanies, however since the 90s the store has delved much more into fashion, creating their own distinct clothing lines Cloak Menswear and Hearts and Bows for women. Along with their own branded clothes, Ark sells a variety of best selling fashion brands such as Motel, AX Paris, Lavish Alice, Vera Moda and many more and you can almost guarantee that whatever the latest trends are, you'll always find something to suit your style at Ark.

Have you shopped at Ark clothing before?

Yesterday a handful of bloggers and I were kindly invited to the Chiara Fashion HQ for a photo shoot day which involved having our makeup done and being given the chance to try on several items of their new A/W collection as well as meet their lovely team.

Chiara Fashion are a small friendly shopping site that stock the latest trends and fashion at affordable prices and consist of a small team based in central Leeds. The upcoming fashion brand sell a great range of clothing with everything from going out dresses to casual attire as well as accessorises, handbags and shoes.

Their studio in Leeds had the most wonderful display of clothes - with items that would cater for most people. Common trends seen at the studio were tartan prints, peplum tops and dresses, checkered clothing and chunky winter knits. For those interested in Christmas Party dresses, Chiara Fashion had a great supply of glittery body-con pieces and statement peplum dresses. In fact, at Chiara fashion you could buy several party dresses for a fraction of high street prices.

One of my favourite items of the day was this cute little tartan crop-top, perfect for teaming with a pair of leather pants or even disco pants during the autumn season. I wore this with a chunky statement necklace and curly hair to channel my inner rock chick.

I had a wonderful day at the Chiara studios and I can't wait to see how my images turn out in a few weeks time. Keep your eyes peeled for part-2 of my Chiara Fashion photo shoot.

Have you shopped at Chiara Fashion before?

When it comes to autumn and winter clothes shopping, the store that comes straight to my mind is Zara. Admittedly I'm not a fan of their summer range, but as soon as the weather becomes dull and the nights get colder, I'm straight into my nearest Zara to stockpile all their cosy knitted jumpers, coats and scarves straight into my basket. As someone that suffers from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) staying warm and wrapped in the winter is my priority, it is comfort over fashion any day. Without scarves, gloves and a fussy warm coat my joints would swell much easier and leave me in excruciating pain. It was actually last winter that I first noticed the warning signs of RA, but I dismissed these symptoms thinking they were side effects of the atrocious weather we were having. Investing in a warm snuggly winter coat is important for everyone, but for someone with inflammatory arthritis it gives them even more comfort through the days when their arthritis isn't at it's best.

My recent Zara purchase is the gorgeous camel coloured fur trimmed coat that I bought from a recent trip to Manchester. This coat is not only lovely and warm, but it also has a removable fur trim making it incredibly versatile and a great investment for those looking for a coat that pull off many styles. When I'm not wearing the fur trim, I often team this jacket with one of my large Zara scarves for optimum comfort and warmth.

There are so many winter items I'm currently lusting after Zara at the moment from this beautiful red tartan checked scarf to these super cute leopard print booties. I'm also in love with this wool blazer that looks sophisticated and cool yet still has the ability to keep you warm in the Autumn and this cosy camel layered jumper with sheer underlay, perfect for a capsule wardrobe.

Have you been shopping at Zara lately?

It feels like two minutes ago since I did my last 'Sunday Style' post - this week has gone far too fast for my liking and boy, it has been a busy one. On Thursday I was kindly invited as VIP to a Selfridges Fashion Show and this week has been probably one of my busiest since I started work, hence why the articles have been less frequent recently, I'm sorry.

Today I thought I'd share with you my lovely new shift dress from Wal-G (link). If you haven't heard of the Wal-G brand before (I haven't until recently), they are a fresh, young London Label that according to the website: "offer sophisticated transitional pieces with a mix of casual basics for the girl who is style conscious and wants day-to-nights pieces." Wal-G* defines their average customers as "someone who has an undeniable confidence which consistently translates through their wardrobe choices.With an admirable love for mixing dressed-up and dressed-down styles, she maintains elegance in an effortless way."

I have been looking to invest in some new shift dresses for quite sometime and this Sheer Swing Shift Dress recently caught my eye. I love the quirky sheer panels on the wrists and how effortlessly glam it looks. The dress can be accessorised and worn with heels for an evening look or worn with a simple necklace and chelsea boots for a day time look. The versatility of this dress is endless and at £35.00 it also a bargain.

Have you shopped at Wal-G before?

Don't you think it's the best feeling in the world when you find a dress that a) looks good b) accentuates your curves and c) doesn't cost a fortune? Words cannot describe how happy I was when I stumbled across this beautiful red lace dress for £29.99 in my local H&M. Last night the Husband and I went out on our monthly 'date night' and I spent hours yesterday afternoon looking for the perfect dress to grab his attention. I went in all my usual stores and kept coming across clothing that looked very similar to dresses I already own.I wanted something different, striking and since we were going to a posh Italian restaurant, I really wanted to channel my inner 'Bella Donna'. H&M isn't usually a shop I tend to visit, but after yesterdays surprise purchase, I'll be paying more attention to what they have in stock.

This dress is for those who love flaunting their curves and wants hips like Beyonce - seriously. The floaty petticoat lined skirt adds volume to the hips whilst the rest of the dress tightens in at the waist, giving the perfect hourglass figure. A dress like this can be worn on so many different occasions whether it's the upcoming Christmas festivities (I'm sorry for mentioning the 'C' word), a Bonfire night party or an evening out with your friends. You can also dress it down with a little leather jacket during the day for a grunge style look or glam it up with a blazer and statement jewellery for the evening. In fact, a few weeks ago I was invited to the St Leger's Ladies Day races that I unfortunately couldn't attend and this dress would have been perfect with a pair of red heels, a little blazer and a smart hat. Although it is quite a flirty and fun dress, the long sleeves and high chest line enable it to be worn at more sophisticated events. I'm ridiculously happy with new purchase.

Have you found any bargains in H&M recently?

The skies are getting darker and the weather seems to be getting colder, Autumn has well and truly made it's seasonal entrance and made us aware that it is time to change our clothing. My wardrobe is currently full of floral summer dresses and little shorts, I was not prepared for Autumn this year - it has come around far too quickly. However, there's one item that I'm always able to trust and that is my lovely transitional cape coat. I bought this cape coat in Dorothy Perkins approximately two years ago and every time I put it on, I fall in love with it over and over again. The cape coat fits effortlessly on my shoulders and is the perfect substitute for a winter coat when it's not too cold, but not overly warm either. This cape coat seems to go with every item in my wardrobe and best of all, it feels like you're snuggling up to nice warm blanket when you're commuting on an autumn chilly morning.

I teamed my cape coat up with this gorgeous faux leather Ox Blood dress from Hybrid* fashion. Hybrid Fashion stocks a variety of timeless and sophisticated dresses suitable for any occasion. Established in 2010, Hybrid now has over 300 independent boutiques and department stores, as well being featured in online retailers such as ASOS. This Hybrid Fashion faux leather dress exhibits the beautiful autumnal colours seen around us at this time of year and fits beautifully, creating an hourglass silhouette. The lining on the inside is soft and warming and the dress finishes elegantly below the knee cap making this dress suitable for casual or formal wear.

Have you shopped at Hybrid Fashion before?

Finding the right dress for a special occasion can often be difficult and even though I'm a fashion blogger, I still have days where I can't find anything to wear. My wardrobe is cluttered and overflowing with dresses, but there are days that some of my existing outfits just don't suit the occasion. Yesterday was one of those days.

Yesterday I attended the Manchester Bloggers Meet which was held at the prestigious members only bar, The Milton Club. It was such a fantastic day with lots of activities the wonderful host Lucy designed to keep us entertained. When I woke up that morning, I did not have a clue what to wear and despite owning a large amount of dresses, I struggled to find the perfect outfit. I arrived at the Milton Club full of glamorous bloggers feeling frumpy in my little white cotton dress. The problem was that it was too hot to wear most of the dresses I currently own and the ones I wanted to wear were in the wash from the parties and nights out I had attended over the week.

Luckily for me, a brand called Didi's Boutique (link) was showcasing at the Manchester Bloggers Meet and generously gave us all 50% off the clothes they had on their stall. After browsing through the racks, I came across this gorgeous little pink polka dot and realised it was the dress I had been wanting to buy a few months ago, but never got the chance. Instead of being £45, I bought this dress and another for just over £35. The dress and I were meant to be. Like Cinderella going to the ball, I quickly ran to the toilets with my purchase and changed my outfit. When I walked into the room full of bloggers, I was greeted with compliments and everyone loved my new outfit.

I love the jagged petticoat beneath this dress and the retro vibe the dress gives with the white polka dots. The dress is so comfortable to wear and gives me the perfect hourglass shape - the hubby-to-be loves it. This outfit looks great styled with my favourite Michael Kors watch (link), my White Chocolate Kandee heels (link) and this floral headband from New Look (link).

Have you shopped at Didi's Boutique before?

Being experimental with clothing is always risky - sometimes it pays off and sometimes you look like an ideal candidate for a 'Fashion Police' column. I usually stick to know what I know suits my body shape, which is usually anything that brings me in at the hips and flares out at the waist. I have an hourglass figure with a lovely small waist, but with rather big hips for my petite body frame. When Red Label approached me to review one of their dresses, I thought it would be a great opportunity to pick something that I would not usually go for and I decided on this lovely Mint Panel Bodycon dress.

According to the website:"Red label are a young British brand with an in house design team dedicated to all things fashion." The brand was founded in 2010 and is focused around designing versatile, everyday dresses, which now appear in Debenhams stores. When I first felt the dress, I was blown away by the soft, stretchy fabric and beautiful mint colouring. The dress looked shape defining and a good length for my height. Unfortunately when I tried it on, it just did not suit my body shape. The dress clung to all the bits I did not want anyone to see and the mint panel made me look wider than slimmer. It is unfortunate as I love the colour and the high quality fabric of this dress, it was my body shape that really let it down. As I chose this dress, I knew I would be taking a gamble, but fashion is about experimentation and being able to develop your style. With Red Labels affordable, quality and versatile clothing it is easy to be a little more daring and still have plenty of cash in the bank.

Do you experiment with your style?

It seems light only two minutes ago it was the last bank holiday, but I definitely feel like I deserved a break. This last week I have working like a maniac trying to get all my final university submissions in order and applying for jobs for when I graduate. Most people I know are currently terrified of the thought of leaving university, but I am incredibly excited. I thrive off new adventures, learning new skills and meeting new people. I see the next chapter of my life as a time to really discover myself in the industry I spent three years training for and to see my skills lie. I want to travel, create a career and learn to love myself.

I spent today shopping, grabbing a bite to eat with my partner and working hard at the gym. My partner coaxed me into purchasing a lovely pastel blue blazer from River Island after saying it would suit me and I had the most delicious meal at my local Revolution. Me and James have also got into the habit of going to the gym today and spent the remaining day working hard at the gym, then heading to the pool and sauna for some relaxation.

Today I wore one of my favourite tops that I bought from River Island last year and my new favourite bright pink skorts from eBay (link) that I bought for as little as £7. I love them. They effortlessly add colour to my wardrobe and make me feel so summery. I teamed them up with my floral top to add a touch of spring to my outfit and a black blazer to cool down the bright colours in my top and to make my skorts colour pop.

What did you do this Bank Holiday?

Isn't it great when the sun comes out and you instantly feel more confident, daring and flirty? I love how everyone seems to be their best dressed when there is a little bit of sun in the sky and we able to flaunt ourselves rather than covering up in heavy scarves and large, unflattering anoraks. During the last few days whilst the sun has been out, I have grabbed some of my favourite summer dresses out of the closet and I have been walking around town feeling the best I have done in a long time. I love summer colours, pretty dresses and the ability to show of my legs - which I believe are my best asset. It is also nice to be able to do your hair and know that it won't be wrecked by wind or rain on the way to work, for once you can arrive looking close to perfection and not feeling the need to rush straight into the toilets to adjust yourself. The walk of winter fashion shame seems to be disappearing with all the nice weather.

Whilst it was sunny outside, I took the opportunity to take some photos of one of my new dresses from Fashion Union, the Jennine Round Neck Printed Shift Dress in Pink*. The dress makes me think of the 1960s and I love the striking colours and pattern. The dress feels really comfortable to wear and fits easily, my only criticism is that it is a little bit too baggy for my liking, I would prefer it to give me a little bit more shape, but nevertheless it is still one of my favourite new dresses.

Have a wonderful stylish Sunday.

http://www.fashionunion.com/

Many people are under the preconception that Supermarket clothing can be rather distasteful and unfashionable and this may have been right several years ago, but now Supermarket clothing seems to be rivalling some of the best high street fashion stores. Clothing lines such as F&F for Tesco, the M&S collection and George for ASDA are bringing out a fabulous selection of spring clothing and as they are relatively low in price, more and more people seem to be picking their clothing up alongside their groceries.

ASDA have launched a blogger challenge called 'Valentines Night Out.' Each of the participants were asked to pick a dress from the website they would most like to wear out on Valentines evening and a stylist would then pick out an accessory at random to go with what they have chosen. My choice was this wonderful skater dress* and necklace set. This dress is incredibly versatile and can be rocked up with a pair of heels or would look great with a pair of ballerinas. The added necklace adds a splash of colour, adding life to what could be considered as a boring little black dress. The fit is wonderful and the fabric feels soft and stretchy. It's a delight to wear and my partner who took these photographs loves it.

My little surprise from the styling team was this really pretty pink satchel. I've always wanted one of these, but could never really find the right one I liked. This satchel* from George at ASDA is a vibrant pink colour which is perfect for the bold pink colours currently in the S/S14 trends. It adds a little bit of variety to your wardrobe, spices up a dull outfit and really is a statement piece that can be used all summer.This little bag retails at £12 which is an absolute bargain. When holding the handbag and feeling the quality, you wouldn't think it would be that affordable. I'm tempted to buy lots of different colours.

What would your ideal Valentines outfit be?

Sunday Style: Stepping into Spring

My Valentine's Day Outfit

Warehouse Christmas Style

Christmas with Joy The Store

Autumn Tartans

Chiara Fashion Behind the Scenes

Keeping Warm with Zara

Sunday Style with Wal-G

Sunday Style

Autumn Sunday Style

My Dress Saviour: Didi's Boutique

Red Label Mint Panel Dress

Bank Holiday Outfit of the Day

Sunday Style

Valentines Night Out With George ASDA