Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : style

Summer to Autumn Transitional Wardobe Wishlist

The transitional period between the summer and autumn months can be a somewhat awkward time for fashion as the weather is so interchangeable and it's hard to prepare for the day ahead. You need to dress warmly for if the weather is cooler, but still, need to factor in that there might be some humidity in the air. Today I've decided to put together just a few of my top tips on how to smoothly transition your wardrobe from summer to autumn and look stylish and elegant whatever the weather.

Invest in floral dresses

Floral dresses are great for the in-between stages of summer and autumn as they are comfortable, light and airy and can be worn with bare legs for when the weather is warm and with thick, chunky tights for those cooler days. There are so many floral dresses on the market with a large variety of prints that are perfect for your wardrobe all year round. I love this Warehouse painted Meadow dress because it features lots of yellow and pink tones making it a great piece of the summer, but the base is a beautiful autumnal khaki colour.

Add a pop of colour

To stay vibrant in the summer, but also brighten up your autumn wardrobe consider investing in bright, colourful clothing with autumnal reds, oranges and yellow tones that depict the colours of fall - crisp yellow and orange leaves and roaring amber fires. This feminine Victorian Tie top yet again from Warehouse would be a great asset to your autumnal wardrobe.

Grab a pair of staple skinny jeans

Skinny jeans look great all year round as they accentuate your curves and look great with almost anything you pair with them, from a pair of cosy winter to boots to sandals during the summer. Dark blue denim jeans are great for the transitional period betweens summer and autumn because they are not as harsh as black skinny jeans on your skin tone and will make you look warmer even if the weather isn't at its best.

Boots are your best friend

Ankle boots are great all year round and right now there's so many to choose from. Look for a pair of statement ankle boots that would look great with a skater style dress for summer, but also look great teamed up with a pair of your favourite jeans. My favourite ankle boots at the moment are these Tiger Black suede boots from Kurt Gieger.

Accessorise your outfits

Finally, one of the easiest ways to adapt your wardrobe from summer to autumn is to invest in more autumnal accessories such as warming gold jewellery and handbags in burgundy, navy, khaki and coffee or hazel colours. This Michael Kors Sloan leather handbag would be a great addition to anyone's summer to autumn wardrobe.

Have you started buying your autumn clothes?

*collaborative post

The older I have become, the more I have realised the importance of investing in good quality, higher end clothes compared to throwaway fashion. When I was younger I used to throw money at clothes, often spending hundreds of pounds on items on many items that I would only wear once. I loved the adrenaline rush of going in a store and coming out with shopping bags that filled my arms and enjoyed looking in my wardrobe to see clothes almost bulging out it was that full. Things changed when I got married, started renting and then looked at saving for a mortgage. I realised that most of my wardrobe was full of poor quality clothing that would barely last me the month and I also started taking note on the real value of money, comparing what I spend on clothes to how much of a house it would buy me - at least if I bought more expensive, better quality clothing it would last me several years rather than having to replace everything. I started living the less is more way of life - I'd much rather have a staple wardrobe and I also realised that if you buy cheap, you're more likely to buy twice as many items in the long run.

Ted Baker have been a brand I've admired for years and I still remember the first Ted Baker dress I bought almost six years ago, it made me feel like a million dollars. It emphasised the curves that I wanted to be on show, while concealing all my other lumps and bumps and it was just the right length on my petite body frame. I still have that dress in my wardrobe and it is still in immaculate condition despite me having worn it numerous times. The dress back then cost me around £180 and I didn't have the most money, in fact I was a student, but I saw it as an investment piece - a dress that I could wear time and time again and after saving up for it, I knew it wasn't going to be something I would toss on the reject pile any time soon.

Since then I've bought many Ted Baker items, all of which take pride of place in my wardrobe and my recent addition to my Ted Baker collection is this Leea Tropical Oasis cold shoulder dress in midi* red that was sent to me by one of my favourite online boutiques, Country Attire. Country Attire are a Manchester based online business that specialise in collating all the best British brands on one website. From Barbour to Aspinal of London, Vivienne Westwood to Ted Baker. They have so many items to choose from and always pick the best of what each brand has to offer. I've worked with the brand on my blog previously, as well as having been a customer and I've never been disappointed.

I chose the Leea dress because it had such a vivid red colour, which I thought would be perfect for the summer as most of my outfits are quite autumn and winter based. The dress fits perfectly, ending at a conservative length just above my knee caps and it shows off one of my favourite body features, my shoulders with the cold shoulder and cut out sleeves. For those worried about wobbly bellies, this dress perfectly skims across my torso, hiding any unwanted bits and the fabric is really forgiving and also quite breezy for those looking at investing in this for a holiday outfit. At £149.95 it isn't the cheapest dress on the market, but that's because it is a quality item and you can tell just by feeling the fabric as well as looking at the sturdiness of the zip on the back of the dress and the small branded logo on the zip slider. If it is anything like my other Ted Baker dresses, I know it will last for years and that is what I love so much about the brand.

To complete the look I styled this dress with the Ted Baker Adoni crystal bobble leather crossbody bag. The bag is small, yet spacious for an evening bag and has a versatile design that will go with anything in your wardrobe. The rose gold chain and crystal accents on the clasp is the perfect finishing touch to any of your outfits. Again, you can tell the bag is of a good quality by the texture of the leather and the detachable strap feels sturdy, not flimsy like many other handbag straps can be. The handbag is £128, but for something that is so versatile, it is worth purchasing as an accessory staple.

Today I'm giving one lucky reader a chance to win a pair of Ted Baker bow earrings from Country Attire and all you need to do is enter the form below. This competition is open to anyone in the UK aged 18 and over and will end on the 31st July 2017. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you bought anything from Ted Baker or Country Attire before?

A few weeks ago I was invited down to the King Street Townhouse in Manchester to have afternoon tea with the MyBag.com and the Cambridge Satchel Company. The day consisted of browsing through the latest Cambridge Satchel collections, feasting on cake and the unveiling of the brand new Cambridge Satchel company and MyBag.com collaboration.

MyBag.com are an online designer bag retailer that launched in 2010. They cherry-pick the best designer accessories from handbags to jewellery for men and women from all over the internet and house them under one roof, offering next day delivery. Vivienne Westwood, Karl Lagerfeld, Aspinal of London and of course the Cambridge Satchel Company are just few of the many designer brands that they stock.

The afternoon started with the chance to preview some of the newest Cambridge Satchel Company bags to hit their website, before the big unveiling of their own collaboration. The latest Cambridge Satchel spring summer range is perfect for those looking to add a splash of colour to their outfits this season, with hues of neon blues, bright tropical pinks and yellows. If colour isn't quite your thing, fear not there's an ample selection of nude tone satchels, oxblood red and burgundy and clay. I love the Cambridge Satchel Company because their bags are classic, yet contemporary and suit almost any occasion. They have bags to suit just about everyones style, they are handmade in Britain and for the quality, the price is really affordable.

As part of the new handbag launch, we were treated to afternoon tea at the Kings Street Townhouse, a hotel that has been receiving great reviews all over Manchester. It is somewhere I wanted to visit for quite some time and although I wasn't able to stay the evening, it was lovely to feast on some of their culinary delights. The vegetarian afternoon tea came with an assortment of roasted vegetable and cheese and cucumber sandwiches, bakewell tarts, scones and mini profiteroles. A few of the girls on my table had several dietary requests from vegan to dairy free and gluten free, all of which were catered for with minimal fuss from the hotel, which was really great to hear about.

The star attraction of the afternoon was the big reveal of the MyBag Cambridge Satchel Company exclusive, the 'Mini Poppy' bag. The 'Mini Poppy' bag features crafted grained leather in a crossbody style, with a silver tone, push lock clasp. It comes in the most beautiful spring time Terracotta colour and engraving is available. I was lucky enough to be given one at the event with my initials on it and I'm really impressed - it has just enough space to hold my Olympus camera and my mobile phone and it is a really versatile handbag, it goes with almost every outfit I own. The limited edition handbag retails at £145.

What do you think of the new Mini Poppy bag?

Marks and Spencer has been a clothes store that I have admired for a very long time and when they recently contacted me to write a blog post about their latest Twiggy collection, I was really excited. I really admire M&S because they started out in Leeds and throughout the years they have never really lost touch of their northern roots - they are proud to be from Yorkshire and are one of the many things that helped put Leeds on the fashion map. Secondly, their St Michaels clothing is my favourite vintage brand to collect - throughout the decades M&S have always been at the forefront of British fashion and have been seen as pioneers throughout different trends and thirdly, growing up Twiggy was one of my icons, even though I was born several decades later than her heyday. My parents always listened to 60s music when I was small, which inevitably led me to research more about the era and the fashion. Twiggy was a global phenomenon in the 60s with her waife like figure, long lashes and short cut bob and even now, she's still in the limelight, but much more behind the scenes than walking the catwalk.

The M&S spring Twiggy collection is the fashion icons 15th collection with the brand and 30% of the proceeds from the collection will go to the charity Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. Although Twiggy's collection is aimed at the more mature market, a few bloggers like myself were given the opportunity to try out a few clothes and address its appeal to the younger demographic. To see what all the fuss is about in the latest Twiggy collection we were also invited to a catwalk show in Leeds showcasing the clothes and even got to meet Twiggy herself - who was the most down to earth, humble celebrity I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Twiggy's latest collection is based around of one of her favourite eras, the 70s. It features heavily around the use of bold colours, bohemian prints and floating fabrics, all of which have been given a trendy, modern day overhaul. One of my favourite pieces from the collection is the floral print jacket that I'm wearing in the main image of this blog post. It is a really versatile jacket that can be dressed up or down and worn to various occasions, easily adding a splash of colour to your wardrobe without being too bold. The jacket is a medium texture and weight making it perfect for the typically British weather that is always changing. Although primarily made for spring, it can be easily worn all year round.

A few of my other favourite pieces from the new collection includes this beautiful pure cotton cutwork dress which is really sophisticated and perfect for the summer, the lightweight cotton shirt that would look great with a pair any pair of jeans and the boyfriend shirt with lace on the side which is trendy and casual, but could also be dressed up with a black pair of jeans and heels for cocktails or a meal with friends. With summer fast approaching and many of us looking to book holidays, I have also included these two pairs of trendy sandals, both of which are in the collection.

Do you shop at M&S for clothes?

*Collaborative post with M&S

The mid-twenties are an awkward age for women when it comes to fashion and things get even more confusing when you fall the wrong side of 25 . Some clothes seem far too young and others seem far too old. Getting the balance right can be the difference between 'mutton dressed as lamb' and looking far too old for your age. Over the last few months in preparation for my 26th birthday I have rid my wardrobe of all the clothes that that look too much like a 20 year old would wear and I have replaced them more sophisticated, capsule pieces that will see me through to my thirties. My hemlines have got a lot longer, my wardrobe is much more suited to my personal style and most importantly I've picked timeless pieces that will look great whatever age. Want to know how I've done it? Here's a few of my tips.

Less is more

When it comes to creating the ultimate capsule wardrobe - less is more. Buy pieces that will blend seamlessly together and always think 'when would I wear that?' If you cannot think of one particular occasion that you can wear that piece of clothing to or anything that you can style it with, you probably don't need it in your wardrobe.

Invest in quality

To create a wardrobe that stands the test of time, invest in quality pieces. Quality doesn't have to be expensive - there's many ways you can get designer on a budget from shopping vintage in charity shops to looking online at places like the Vestiaire Collective or eBay. Buying quality clothes may seem expensive to begin with, but you're likely to get much more wear out of your wardrobe and they shouldn't need replacing as quickly.

Choose versatile accessorises

Accessorises can really help enhance an outfit whether it is a waist belt to show off your curves, a designer bag to add a little bling or a sparkly necklace to draw attention to your neckline. Choose accessorises that can adapted to suit every outfit and again like clothing, less is more - have a few items of capsule jewellery pieces that you will wear and wear again rather than having a jewellery box full of accessorises you will never wear.

Don't be afraid to experiment

Finally, don't be afraid to experiment with your wardrobe. During your mid-twenties you still have plenty of time to develop your own personal style and make a few fashion blunders along the way. I recently bought a frilly 1970s vintage dress that I thought I would never pull off and I get compliments every time I wear it, in fact it is now one of my favourite dresses.

Have you had a wardrobe clear out recently?

Last night I was kindly invited to spend the evening having afternoon tea with one of the UK's leading outdoor and luxury clothing companies, Country Attire to celebrate their 10th birthday.

Local to Manchester, Country Attire has built up a loyal customer base across the world. Beginning in 2006, Country Attire was the progression of an already established equestrian brand owned by entrepreneur Jenny Parker. Together with her husband Richard, the Parkers built Country Attire from their own kitchen fulfilling orders with established British brands such as Barbour and Hunter, of which they still stock today. Ten years on, Country Attire are now a much loved British brand themselves and currently stock their own label as well as luxury designer brands such as Ted Baker, Hugo Boss, Vivienne Westwood, Joules and Canada Goose. Staying true to it's origins, the brand still resides in Manchester.

During the evening we were able to preview the Country Attire A/W collection and then afterwards sit down and chat about the collection over afternoon tea. Their autumn showcase consists of lots of big brand outdoor names such as Barbour and Joules, mixed with luxury items from the likes of Ted Baker and Vivienne Westwood. There were many items that stood out to me last night and it really showed how versatile Country Attire are as a retailer, providing an eclectic mix of some of the best British brands that appeals to a wide range of customers. My favourite items from the evening had to be the wonderfully bright yellow Joules jacket which to me makes me think of autumnal walks on the British seaside, the burgundy Vivienne Westwood Angle-mania handbag and the Melissa Vivienne Westwood ballet flats.

After we browsed the collection, we all sat down for a traditional afternoon tea at the Proper Tea tearooms where the event was held. Proper tea is a tearoom opposite Manchester Cathedral which offers a traditional afternoon tea, cakes and drinks all with a modern twist. The cafe works with artisan producers and local farmers and also uses fresh herbs and honey grown in the neighbouring cathedral grounds. The vegetarian Proper Tea afternoon tea is composed of a variety cheese and hummus finger sandwiches, a collection of fancy cakes and one giant heart shaped scone that even the Queen of Hearts would be proud of. I dined with several friends who all had different dietary requesters - kosher, gluten free, dairy free and vegetarian and all of them were catered for and the staff went above and beyond to ensure all their guests had a wonderful time.

The evening was wonderful, the food was great and Country Attire's autumn collection had me falling head over heels for everything. Happy Birthday Country Attire and here's to another 10 years of Britishness!

Have you shopped at Country Attire before?

Maxi dresses are the must-have piece of clothing during the summer and this year there are plenty of styles out there to get you feeling body confident and ready for your holiday. Whether you're taking a mini break or sailing off on cruise, a maxi dress should be one of the first things you consider packing alongside your passport. They are breathable - making them great for hotter climates, maxi dresses can be dressed up or down for any occasion saving you space in your suitcase, they are easy to slip on and off at the beach and last, but definitely not least, maxi dresses are an affordable way to look elegant. Here's a few of my favourite maxi dresses from House of Fraser.

1. Biba Printed Jersey Maxi Dress was £89.00 now £62.30

This Biba printed jersey maxi dress features a strikingly bold tropical print with a seductive neck tie and low scoop back. It can be worn dressed up with heels at a fancy restaurant or with flats at the hotel bar overlooking pool.

2. Mela Loves London Aztec Print Maxi Dress was £25.00 now £12.

This Mela Loves London dress is an absolute steal at £12 and features adjustable straps and an elasticated back. If you're looking for a casual maxi that still delivers in style, this is the dress for you.

3. Eliza J Halter Neck Maxi Dress was £140.00 now £95.00

If you're looking for something a little bit special that stands out from the crowd, look no further than this Eliza J Halter neck maxi. The print on this particular dress makes me think of the 1960s pop art with the cream and red colour combination and the variations of polka dots.

4. Wallis Petite Paisley Metallic Maxi Dress was £48.00 now £30.00

This Wallis paisley metallic dress almost looks oriental with it's carefully woven fabric detailing and the contrasting red and cream colour scheme. This slimline dress would look great worn with a pair of tan sandals.

Have you purchased a maxi dress this summer?

I love summer, the weather is warm, (most of the time) the fashion is better and everyone looks chic in their oversized sunnies. I also love the colours that the season brings from the baby blue hues of the sunshine skies to the baby pink cherry blossom sprouting in the trees. If you're skin tone suits lighter, brighter colours like myself, summer is the best time of year to dress up and invest in a new wardrobe.

Most of my clothes shopping takes place in the summer as I'm a big fan of pastel colours, white lace and wearing cropped leather jackets. As I like to travel a lot too, I find that summer is a better time of year to buy clothes that are European city break friendly.

It has been awhile since I've done a 'Sunday Style' post, mainly due to the bad weather in England and secondly because my confidence took a temporary dip after gaining a few pounds from ill health. It's hard when you have a chronic illness to look in a mirror some days and see the 'ghost of your former self' never mind look into the lens of a camera, but after buying some clothes which have given me a confidence boost and the sunshine being out, I decided to embrace the weather and take a few snaps.

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you will know that I have been wanting this little faux leather jacket from Zara for quite some time now. I initially had a few reservations as one size was too small, but the next size up was a little bit big and I was worried it wouldn't look quite right, but after a week or two of making my mind up, I finally purchased it. This little jacket from Zara is a great investment piece and a wonderful new addition to my wardrobe. Leather jackets are incredibly versatile and will go with almost everything from skater dresses to midis, jeans and t-shirts to even a pair of leather look skinnies in the winter. If you have always wanted a leather jacket, but have felt they look a little bit too masculine for your figure, this particular jacket available in blue, pink and yellow is a great way of adding a splash of feminine colour into your wardrobe and it's lighter on the complexation than the standard black leather jacket. I have teamed this up with a dress I bought from New Look approximately three years ago for a summery, feminine yet cool look.

Since the weather has been incredibly nice, I've finished off this outfit with my new Marc by Marc Jacobs* sunglasses from the Sunglasses Shop. I love owning a pair of good quality frames and these oversized cat eye style sunnies really suit my face shape as well as protecting my eyes with the UV400 lenses. UV 400 lenses offers one of the highest levels of protection from sunglasses, preventing eye exposure to UVA and UVB radiation and protecting your eyes against light rays as small as 400 nanometers. Good quality sunglasses can be quite expensive, but these Marc by Marc Jacobs frames are only £99 from the Sunglasses Shop and that is £10 cheaper than elsewhere on the market. So if you have a penchant for designer frames and getting a bargain, the Sunglasses Shop is a good place to look.

What summer fashion have you been investing in?

Yorkshire Blow Dry is the a newly opened blow dry salon in Leeds city centre and last week I was invited around to check out the services. The company is the brain child of Nargas Harrison, who saw a gap in the Leeds market for an express blow dry service. As a busy mum and business woman, she recognised that not everyone has the luxury of time to a book blow dry well in advance - especially those working in the city centre and she believes that ' everyone woman deserves amazing hair'. Yorkshire Blow Dry* is a place where you can relax and have experts transform your hair for quicker and cheaper than your regular hairdresser, while still maintaining the high standard of quality. Whether you prefer your hair bouncy, straight or wavy, the stylists know what they are doing and are eager to help.

Yorkshire Blow Dry is situated in the Central Arcade between Bella Italia and House of Fraser on the main high street. It is accessible for busy career women in the city as well as leisurely shoppers and those in need of a quick fix. The salon has a modern, stylish interior featuring faux fur rugs, paper lanterns and even a branded wall where you can have your pictures taken like a superstar - the salon oozes luxury.

I opted for a natural curly blow dry and I was really impressed with the results. Not only was the service speedy (she managed to pincurl my hair curly in less than 40 minutes), but it was also really friendly and welcoming. The girls who work there are really down to earth and can hold a good conversation, without being too in your face like some hairdressers can be.

A blow dry at Yorkshire Blow Dry is £45 - which is fantastic for city centre and I think it's definitely worth the price. I'm already looking into booking future treatments in with the team and if you're planning a night out or desperately need a hair fix, I would definitely recommend them.

What style blow dry do you usually go for?

Last week I headed over to Manchester for the evening to catch up with some friends and to attend the MyBag SS16 collection preview held at Artisan. MyBag is an online fashion retailer, launched in 2010, that specialises in designer luxury handbags and accessorises. Their stockists include Karl Lagerfeld, The Cambridge Satchel Company, Lulu Guinness, Aspinal of London, Ted Baker and many of the big names, all of which are at competitive prices. As a 'handbag girl' myself and someone who is currently on the market for some new arm candy, I couldn't wait to check it out.

The first bags to grab my attention as I walked into the room were these Grafea bags in an array of bright colours. I'm not usually a rucksack type of girl, but these made me reconsider. I love how feminine they are as rucksacks are usually quite bulky and manly and the colours just scream spring/summer and festival season.

Next to catch a glimpse of my eye was this Karl Lagerfeld cream Karl & Choupette shopper. I love how spacious this bag is and the quirky design. It is perfect for those looking who follow the stories of Karl and Choupette and want a bit of Karl Lagerfeld in their lives without investing big bucks in Chanel.

Lulu Guinness have always been one of my favourite brands and I was really happy to see a few of their items on display. Although I'm not too sure whether the lipstick bag is that practical, it definitely put a smile on my face and is a perfect little accessory for someone who wants to stand out from the crowd on a night out. My favourite Lulu Guinness piece of the evening was the Amy Cross Body Bag in Light Magenta. It's just the perfect size for an evening or afternoon with the girls and the pastel pink adds a pop of colour to any outfit without being too bold and in your face.

One thing I didn't realise before the MyBag event was that MyBag also sell jewellery and watches, in particular Olivia Burton, which as you may know is one of my favourite watch makers. They only have a handful on their website right now so I'm hoping they do get a few more in the future.

Finally, the bag that stole my heart, the Aspinal of London Mayfair Croc bag. I adore everything about this bag from it's compact size, yet really spacious inside, the beautiful vintage design and the cute little clasp on the front. This handbag is versatile, it's an investment piece due to it's timeless design and you cannot deny how cute it looks. If only someone would lend me £595...

Have you shopped at MyBag before?

Have you ever looked into your wardrobe and felt like you were getting too old to wear something? This has been happening to me every other day as of late because in a few short weeks I will be turning 25. I have realised that my personal style has changed tremendously over the past few months. I find myself nearly every week going through my wardrobe and muttering the words 'too short' or 'what the hell was I thinking?' I never used to be a jeans and blouse person, but somehow without even thinking too much about it, my sense of style is now merging into an older, more mature style and I'm actually preferring it.

Long gone are the days where I would wear six inch heels I could barely walk in, wear dresses that probably my dad wouldn't approve of and where I would go out on Saturday night without a jacket. These days it is all about comfy layers, a good pair of flattering jeans and heeled, sensible booties or court shoes if I need to dress up. I have transitioned from 'just got out of university girl' to 'young professional' and I think I'm looking better for it.

My current style staples are a pair of figure hugging jeans, a smart versatile blouse that can be dressed up or down and a neutral coloured jacket or bright blazer depending on the occasion. I'm also quite partial to a leather jacket if I feel like 'rocking' things up a bit. Before my 'style reinvention' I used to be a shoe girl, but I'm all about handbags now. My closet is bursting with handbags in different styles and colours, some high-street, some designer and somehow I cannot stop buying more. I feel like a good handbag completes my outfit. My current favourite is this Carvela bag from the House of Fraser Sale at Love The Sales. I have teamed this handbag up with my lovely new Zara stripped blouse and jeans and this old blazer that I found at the back of my wardrobe.

Although no-one really looks forward to ageing, I am quite looking forward to my 25th birthday in a few weeks as I feel that I've finally reached my style maturity and I'm looking forward to experimenting with fashion a little bit more and straying away from the clothes a younger me would have once chosen. I feel more confident with the way I look now than I did at 21 and I'm ready for what the future will bring. Am I sad about turning 25? No, bring it on.

As a blogger sometimes you are asked to do some pretty fun things that you would have never seen yourself doing prior to unleashing your thoughts on the world wide web and one of those things for me was modelling. As someone who is a curvy 5ft 2 shy twenty-something year old, I'm not the sort of person who automatically screams model, but I'm all for trying new things and last week I was invited by the clothing company Joe Browns to have some shots taken in their new spring/summer collection.

Joe Brown's is an online clothing company that specialises in quality unique clothing different to the high street and their influences are taken from all over the world. Their clothing is bright, bold and colourful and in some cases, a little bit retro-inspired - all things I personally love. Their S/S16 ladies collection is very bright and floral and there's so much to choose from meaning that everyone of different shape, size and age is well catered for, including little miss 5ft2, big hips over here.

For our little blogger photoshoot, the lovely Kellie (Big Fashionista) and I were taken to Tropical World, Leeds and both of us had a few photographs taken against the beautiful tropical plants and wildlife. As you can tell in the image above, both of us had such a fun time and the dresses we choose to model were so comfortable that we could just be ourselves and have a laugh.

My favourite dress of the day was the Summer Day Dress seen in the photo above. It is a lightweight printed dress with a petticoat lining and features an elasticated waistline. This dress is just the perfect length for my height and really flatters my curves. The floral design draws attention away the bits that make me feel self conscious and the elasticated waistline helped demonstrate my smaller waist. At £24.95 it's really affordable and the dress itself has a very versatile design with florals being in style most months. The light pink and baby blue hues are perfect for the spring and summer months, while the dark navy base colour helps tone down the dress for autumn and winter.

As someone who had never previously heard of Joe Brown's before this shoot, I have to say that they have really impressed me with the quality and I'm now a Joe Brown's convert. My only discrepancy would be that sizes can vary so you need to watch out when ordering online, but that is the same for many high street stores - after all, we're not all the same shape and size and to be honest, it would be boring if we were.

Thank you Joe Brown's for such a fun day, I know where I'm getting my holiday wardrobe.

Have you shopped at Joe Brown's before?

Today I thought I would heat things up by writing a post about my new Cleo by Panache underwear. I don't really blog much about fashion these days and very rarely do lingerie posts, but Panache have been a brand that I have wanted to try for awhile now and since it's Valentine's Day and everyone's in the mood for love and seduction, I thought this would be a great fit.

Panache are a popular underwear brand that specialises in D to K cup lingerie, with smaller cup sizes arriving this spring. Their collections are really trendy as the brand names suggests and they come in a variety of colours, styles and patterns. It always shocks people when I tell them that I was once an F cup. It was when I was much larger and carried a lot more weight and since shedding the pounds my bra size has dropped to an ample C cup. When I had a much larger bra size, I always struggled to find bras that looked good for my age. I was only 17 at the time and the majority of bras that I stumbled across looked highly unflattering and finding something youthful was next to impossible. These days having a larger breast size is much more common and there are now a lot more retailers catering for a wider selection of 'bussoms'.

Panache recently sent me their Cleo by Panache Kali baby doll set to review ahead of Valentine's Day and try for size. I explained to them that I'm a C cup, but they said that some of their sizes can vary just like many other high street bra shops and that this particular baby doll in a D cup would probably fit just nicely. When the set arrived I fell in love in the bright red colour and you could tell the lingerie was of a good quality by the feel of the fabric. I really like the little lace heart detailing that helps this particular baby doll stand out from the crowd and the lace knickers that came with it are a flattering cut - they sit perfectly on my hips and help enhance my curves. This set is a real confidence booster.

Overall I'm really happy with the Panache babydoll set I was sent to check out and they have lived up and exceeded my expectations. I had heard so many positive things about the brand from press, bloggers and my friends and I'm incredibly happy that they are bringing out a few smaller sizes so that I can shop there more in the future.

Have you bought any Panache underwear before?

The one thing I love more than anything besides the memories and experiences of going on holiday, is collecting souvenirs. I'm one of those people that goes purposely out of their way to ensure there's extra room in my room suitcase and the majority of the time the things I buy are meaningful to me, but probably 'tat' to most others. Recently I've had a change of approach to my overseas buying habits and instead of bringing back bulky items that weigh down my suitcase, I have been buying charms for my various charm bracelets and thanks to Joshua James Jewellery*, I have now been given a new one to fill.

In the past I have been very loyal to Pandora and have almost filled one of my bracelets with charms representing different stages in my life including the places I have travelled, but I always find the Pandora charm collections quite limited. When I have gone abroad, I have seen a lot more Thomas Sabo travel charms specific for that area than I have done Pandora ones and for that reason, I have decided to change tact and trial a new type of bracelet.

For those who haven't heard of Thomas Sabo, although I'm sure most of you have, Thomas Sabo has been trading since 1984 specialising in versatile, innovative and trendsetting jewellery from timeless classics such as watches and bracelets to their world renowned Charm Club compromising of more than 500 different designs.

I opted for this turquoise charm carrier bracelet priced at £29.95 and the Thomas Sabo Globe Charm 0923 with an 18ct gold plated sun. Although this particular bracelet only holds four charms, I thought it would be a lovely introduction to the brand and would be something that I can wear time and time again when I travel as the colours are very reminiscent of a summer holiday. I was really impressed with the sturdy bracelet and I have fallen head over heels for the design as it is highly detailed and really pretty to look at. Thomas Sabo charms have a higher price mark than Pandora, but you can tell you are paying for quality with the level of intricacy of the design.

Above are just a few examples of the Thomas Sabo travel inspired charms and the charms I would personally love to buy. I'm particular fond of the VW van as I spent many childhood holidays in my parents VW and it brings back very fond memories. I also think that the scotty dog is a cute variation of what usually is a Scottish flag.

Do you own a Thomas Sabo bracelet?

This year I have been truly spoilt at Christmas, both in gifts and love from my family. We have had a particularly large family Christmas this year with my in-laws staying over from Ireland and my parents friends coming over on Christmas day to join in the fun. As an only child, Christmas when I was younger was great in terms of presents - I admit, I always got everything I wanted and more, but the festive season was rather lonely without a brother or sister and there was only ever four of us at the table, my parents and I and my grandma up to the age of 12 before she passed away and then my auntie regularly joined us in my teens. These days I'm lucky have a large extended family by marriage and Christmas is now never quiet. In fact, part of me craves on Christmas where it can be just my husband and I sitting in front of the TV all day with very little fuss. This Christmas has been so much fun, but incredibly busy and for the first time in years it has been nearly a week since I updated my blog and my George Secret Santa reveal has been a little bit delayed.

George, ASDA* got in touch with me at the beginning of Christmas to see if i would like to take part in their Secret Santa, a gift exchange amongst other bloggers. We were given a £50 budget and could choose several items from the George clothing and gift sections of the website. If you haven't shopped at George before, £50 can go a very long way with most items on the website at really affordable prices - you could easily get a full outfit of clothes for that budget.

When my George Secret Santa arrived, I couldn't believe my eyes. All my presents were individually wrapped and there were so many of them. Christmas had come early and I couldn't wait to see what I had been given. The first item I opened was a thick black scarf and a pair of faux leather gloves. I've actually wanted a new pair of gloves as I'd lost mine and these were really comfy and smart. Admittedly the scarf wasn't to my style, but as it is black it would go with any outfit and is incredibly versatile. I then opened a pair of fuzzy white Christmas socks. You cannot go wrong with socks and these were perfect for all the cold weather we were experiencing a few weeks ago. Unfortunately I was slightly disappointed with the quality as the fluff fell to pieces all over my floor and made such a mess, but the third present I opened made up for it. The third present was this wonderful cream dressing gown that feels luxurious and a treat to wear. I wouldn't have expected this quality from George and I'm really impressed, in fact my mum thought it was more expensive than it is.

Over all I'm really happy with the items I received as part of my George Secret Santa and many of the items are things I would use over and over again. If you're interested in any of the above items, now is the best time to shop as they have Christmas sales on and you're bound to find a bargain.

When I was younger and in my late teens and early twenties, I wouldn't have left the house without wearing incredibly high heels. I would wear heels come rain or snow and even when I was just popping to the shop for groceries. My heels were the only things that gave me confidence as they would elongate my legs and make me stand tall and proud. When I wore my heels, I felt ready for anything the world would throw at me. In fact, when my husband and I started dating, I wore heels so much that he would often sing to me the line 'hey, pretty baby with the high heels on'. As I've got older, wiser and arthritis in my foot, my choice of shoes have dramatically changed. Gone are the days where I would judge a pair of shoes on their heel height, now it's all about comfort.

As a twenty-something year old with arthritis, finding comfortable and supportive shoes can be rather difficult. My doctor is forever telling me to wear orthopaedic shoes, but most orthopaedic shoes are designed for people at least thirty years my senior. As a fashion conscious young woman, 'grandma' shoes are not the look I want to go for.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by the team at Hotter shoes and asked if I would like to visit the opening of their brand new Leeds store. Unfortunately I was really poorly that night and had to cancel, but a few days later, I was emailed back and asked if would like to pop by one night to check out the range and discuss my shoe fitting problems. I immediately said yes as I knew it would be a fantastic opportunity to discuss my arthritis and see if they had any comfortable, supportive shoes that would help my problems and a few days later I visited the store.

Hotter shoes are a British footwear brand that have been making shoes for over 50 years. They are passionate about making shoes with built-in comfort, so much so that their shoes are meticulously designed and cared for before they reach the store shelves. Hotter shoes has a large variety of footwear for men and women and they also offer wide fit fittings. Not only do they sell fantastic shoes, they also have a range of beautiful handbags and accessorises crafted with quality and made with 100% leather.

I really enjoyed having a chat with the Hotter Shoes Leeds branch manager and she helped me pick out several pairs to try on, taking my foot concerns into consideration. She told me that Hotter shoes are often recommended by podiatrists and doctors for their comfort and I was surprised that when I rocked up to the doctors a few weeks later wearing my new shoes, she instantly recognised the brand and for once, I felt like I was in her good books.

Before I left, I was offered a pair of shoes to take home with me and after much consideration and trying on each of my favourite pairs again for the third and fourth time, I chose these stylish Shipley shoes in tan. These shoes are really comfy and look great too. I've been wearing them a lot lately and noticed considerably less pain and I feel like I could walk for hours in them. These will definitely be the shoes I take with me on my next trip to Frankfurt.

Have you shopped at Hotter shoes before?

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