ootd posts

UPDATE: Life Overhaul

August 27, 2014

You may notice that I infamously promised that I’d be back on the blogging scene sometime last month, and mysteriously vanished shortly after making such a bold claim – I apologise, but I HAVE MUCHOS NEWS. After my fight (which sometimes felt disturbingly literal) to secure a graduate job without drowning to the bottom of too many merlot bottles first, I happened to get an interview for a very exciting position on the still rather new and incredibly dynamic Web Team for Primark.com – and guess who got the flipping position as Womens/Kidswear Content Assistant? That would be me! *Insert many streamer emoticons*

So, since the 3rd August, I’ve been trying to get my head around a completely different town in a completely different part of the country: I’m now a big ol’Southerner and I live in Reading. Bit of a wander from the likes of Lancaster and Manchester that I’m used to haunting, but I’m finally starting to get my bearings and have just put down the deposit for a gorgeous studio apartment that I snapped up this morning – so all systems are go – go – go with regards to new life planning! Since I got here (less than a month ago!), I’ve already experienced some amazing times: snagging a Saturday day ticket to Reading Festival and going with a complete stranger (who turned out to be fabulaaaarse and I can’t wait to hang out with her again), a whirlwind work trip to Dublin and far, far too many bottles of red wine (happy bottles though – makes all the damn difference!).

I just thought I’d drop in and remind you all that I still know how to type and (hopefully) construct reasonably interesting posts – and will be doing far more proactive things with my blog now that I’m officially part of the fashion industry and incidentally, have developed an absolute obsession with buying new (Primark) clothes. So if you want to know anything Primark-related from hereon in; I’m your girl. Once I get settled in my new apartment (which is totally OOTD-background friendly, woo), I’m going to be setting up my tripod (wheey) and posting more fashion-focused posts, rather than my verbose ramblings. You can thank me later.

 

 It’s good to be back. xo

Fresh Laces x Harvey Nichols: Official Blogger

January 28, 2014

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True to my ever candid self, I’m just going to start this post with: I do not own a pair of fashionable sneakers. The only form of heart-racing trainers have evoked from me, thus far, comes only in the guise of mild palpitations at the prospect of my next run. I have often mused over the odd pair of hi-tops and, in all honesty, unless someone placed a pair of pristine burgundy size 3 hi-tops in front of me: I’m probably never going to wear sneakers as part of an #OOTD. Unless it was an #OutfitOfThe(run-related)Death. However, to broaden my horizons and hopefully change my mind on what has become one of the biggest trends in fashion over the year – I will be attending the Fresh Laces x Harvey Nichols event in Manchester this February – in fact, I’m one of their official bloggers, so here’s hoping!

 

Topshop Mini-Haul.

January 27, 2014

*Deep breath* aaaaaand I’m back, guys. After a couple of weeks of being a nigh-catatonic wreck with a penchant for nothing but my duvet, I’ve emerged on a whim of motivation to get back in the game – I’ve missed you guys (I also miss waffling). So today, here is just a speedy little post to outline the recent splurge I went on in the Trafford Centre on Saturday. I’ve been feeling like a barrel of dump – a bit like someone literally emptied their insides on me and then whapped me around the chops with a mangy fish – so my boyfriend decided to ‘treat’ me to a couple pick me ups. By treat me, I mean – lend me the money until I’m no longer debating bin-raiding for my dinner choices. But it’s the thought that counts, right?

The trip revolved around taking back my ZARA houndstooth coat that I’d ordered online (featured in a recent post), which made me look a tad like I was auditioning for a slightly upmarket role of Oliver. So, after the disappointment of losing yet another houndstooth-y piece, I set out to ‘sniff’ out another – see what I did there? We ended up, unsurprisingly, raiding the racks of Topshop which, of late, or at least up until very recently, have bored me to near tears. However, I came across these little beauties (and I’ll be featuring them in an upcoming OOTD or two eventually – or at least, as soon as I stop resembling something hovering at death’s door):

    • Dogtooth Printed Throw On Coat – £75 (cheeky £67.50 with student discount) 

Holy maracas: I am not a fan of that styling, Toppers. Anyway, I love this thing. Or, at least, I will love it until it finally throws me to the clutches of pneumonia due to its deceptively thin lining. This is grand as it’ll last me into the summery months – it’s just whether I’ll last with it. It’s soft, cosy, doesn’t make me look like a snowman/homeless person and what do you know – it’s in my favourite print (my tartan scarf is glaring at me). If you want something thin that you can layer underneath, I’d recommend this coat. If you like being warm and actually venturing outside for more than a lecture-dash, I probably wouldn’t.

  • Petite Sequin Velvet Dress – was £68, now £35 (or a handy £31.50 with NUS)

I’d been eyeing up that Motel sequin number for yonks now – so when I spotted this Topshop version, I just had to at least give it a quick try on. Buying it in the Petite section – which isn’t too petite, allowed me to shave £5 off its usual price, but they only have size 10s left on the site now. It’s lovely, but the fabric is quite bulky, so be wary if you want something a little more streamlined.

Rings, Rings, Rings and Things.

January 14, 2014

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(Excuse the paleness of this shot – I’m not sure whether this is the design, or urr, their printer was out of ink?)

For months on end now, I’ve been eyeing up rings all over the show – in a desperate (and arguably vain) attempt to create a little collection to disguise the absolute trotters I have for hands. I started this collection last week when I picked up a gorgeous pearlescent in the Accessorize sale, and recently I was sent the following pieces by kitschy jewellery brand Kukee. Needless to say, my hands are going to look like this religiously now – even if I do look a little like I’ve escaped from a cult (wearing a pentagram choker doesn’t help, either).

For the price, these are brilliant little additions to anyone’s ring collection. The seal at the back of the spiral-look rings is a little shoddily finished, but that goes to the back anyway and is barely noticeable. Considering all I usually do is whinge about items I’m sent – I’d actually recommend Kukee’s products for cheap and easy way to round-up some stackables.

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 From R-L: Kukee Celestial Midi Stacking Ring Set (inc. Moon ring on left) – £6* | Kukee Twist Midi Ring Set – £3* | Accessorize Sterling Silver Mother of Pearl Oval Ring £6 was £12 | Kukee Moon Ring (out of stock)*

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OOTD: Dissertation Dash.

January 13, 2014

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Today marked the first Doomsday of my calendar: the dreaded return to university, rounded up to terror stages by the addition of a 5,000 word essay deadline and a dissertation meeting with my tutor who ever so slightly scares the living shit out of me (she’s coo’, though). I had to dash from Wigan back home to Lancaster, which included having to write up the referencing for my essay on a bus – surprised I still have a MacBook left (if you know Wigan, you’ll understand) and stupidly telling a chav to ‘eff off’ after he jumped in my path to scare me enroute to the bus stop. Surprised I still have a MacBook and a pulse. Anyway, drama was averted eventually and the day, whilst tiring, has been made exponentially better by this absolute bargain outfit.

Everything I’m wearing (necklace aside) comes from the Primark sales – the entire outfit came to TWELVE POUNDS. Yes. Twelve measly pounds. The jacket is proving an excellent purchase but there are many bloopers of me realising that you can fully see my bra through this dress with the flash on. Not sure whether that’s just the quality or something to do with the fact I’m wearing a bright white bra under a dark green dress – urrr.

I’ve got absolutely tonnes to be blogging about this week, so keep your eyes peeled.

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Make Up

Face: Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in SB 02 | MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder | Revlon PhotoReady Concealer in Light | Benefit Hervana Blush

Eyes: L’oreal Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette | Ted Baker Liquid Liner Pen | MAC Kohl Liner in Smolder | Benefit They’re Real Mascara | Smashbox Smokebox

Lips: Estée Lauder Pure Colour Lipstick in Black Cassis

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Outfit

Primark Pleather Sleeve Bodycon Dress – £5 was £10 | Primark Floral Jacket – £7 was £17

Empty Casket Amethyst Pentagram Cord Necklace – £15
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Apologies for the utterly pants image quality on these: I didn’t have any time to take pictures before the sun went down, so these will have to do! Definitely need to get someone to start taking my pictures for me – I am fundamentally useless.

ASOS Sale Buys.

January 10, 2014

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Well, well, well, ain’t it funny how the frequency of my posting increases exponentially when I have something I actually have to get done to a deadline? Not content with my sale picks at ZARA, I got tempted into the above beauties: primarily because I got sent a 20% off code for Christmas for being part of AccessAllASOS (thanks guys!). Now, you’ll know if you’re an avid reader, that I’ve actually wanted the Alexa Chung x Eyeko set for a while – it was part of my December Wishlist so I’m ridiculously excited to try this out. Is it me or, given that it’s an Alexa Chung related product, is there a weird lack of hype around this set? I’m hoping that isn’t anything to do with the quality, but I’ll be sure to post a review pretty much as soon as it arrives, anyway. I also featured the killer boots in my ASOS sale picks last week.

Now, if you’re aware of the fact that I’m currently trying to adopt the vegan lifestyle (to an extent), you’ll be quite perturbed to find two leather items in my picks. I’m not going to lie and feign total philanthropy: I’m only eating vegan, I’m not adopting it into every aspect of my life. Though I’ll never wear fur. I had to pick up these pieces – the quality for the price is just amazing and I saved so much money with the combination of the sale and my discount code:

ASOS Leather Pinafore Dress – £60 was £120

ASOS PREMIUM AFFLICTION Leather Ankle Boots – £34 was £85

Alexa for Eyeko Limited Edition ‘Eye Do’ Set – £35

When you factored in the 20% off, the basket only came to £103 – that’s a saving of nearly £140!

Have you bought anything from the ASOS sales?

 

ZARA Sale Outfit Buys.

January 10, 2014

If you’ve been reading my musings lately, you’ll be all too aware that I’ve just got back from London – and I’m still sulking about the lack of effort I put into my outfits for LCM. Given that I’ve been asked by a couple of magazines to cover LFW for them, I’m already madly planning outfits to ensure that I actually look the part this time. So, instead of writing my essay (currently at 1,000/5,000 words with less than 3 days to go – stellar), I’ve spent the last hour or so conjuring up outfits in my head/on the Internet – my bank account is in peril.

I’m desperately hunting for a co-ordinates set at the moment but, after endlessly hunting the Internet, I haven’t had much luck – so I’ve opted for a different spin on the trend here. Both the coat and the shirt are houndstooth print, which would tick the boxes for that co-ord look I’m after – pop in some chic ankle-grazing trousers and open-toed sandles (toenails would have to be oxblood, definitely) – and I’m in love. Arguably, if I had these in the shop, the love could go down the drain very quickly: I’ve lost far too many outfit lusts to trying them on and then realising I look like a pure pillock, so bare with me on this one…

And oops, I just ordered them…

 

 

 

 

Total: £123.96

Total Savings: £66

What do you think? Will it work, or has my essay-riddled brain finally lost it?

OOTD: Library Day of Pain.

January 10, 2014

I’ve been awake since 9am and, somehow, still managed to procrastinate myself into the afternoon: it’s almost a skill. Outfit of the Day posts are something I said I’d get around to doing more often, so I thought I’d keep up my promise – despite my tripod currently being 40 miles away (hence the bizarre ALT angles) – and shave a few more minutes off my impending visit to the library of doom to start my essay. Some of the shots are a bit awkward, but I was fighting against the Lord of the Self-Timer whilst balancing my camera on some books, and I’ve weirdly come to love them. Still about as edgy as a satsuma…

Outfit

Urban Outfitters – Floral Bodycon Dress | New Look – Marl Red Jumper – £22.99

New Look – Black Lace-Up Boots – £24.99 | Empty Casket – Amethyst Pentagram Cord Necklace – £16

Brown Distressed Satchel – Topshop

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OOTD: Day 3 of LCM.

January 8, 2014

I might be typing, but I have a sneaking suspicion that my eyes may still be in bed. London Collections: Men is drawing to a close today and, trust me – I’ve had a blast. I’m not going to go into the details here, as an update will be posted later on, but here’s my last outfit of LCM (all that matters is that the mouse at the tube station yesterday didn’t get me).

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Outfit

Urban Outfitters Kimchi + Blue Blouse – £20 | Primark Pleated Skirt – £?

Urban Outfitters Urban Renewal Tartan Scarf – £9

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Make Up

Face: Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation in SB 02 | MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder | Revlon PhotoReady Concealer in Light | MAC Powder Blush in Peaches | Benefit Hervana Blush

Eyes: L’oreal Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette | Rimmel GlamEyes Liquid Eyeliner in Black | MAC Kohl Liner in Smolder | Benefit They’re Real Mascara | Smashbox Smokebox | Illamasqua Neutral Palette

Lips: MAC Matte Lipstick in Lady Danger

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Not particularly sure why/how I’m accidentally flipping off the camera here – but I like it…

ASOS 75% Off Sale Picks.

January 2, 2014

Despite my bank balance currently screaming over-overdrawn at me, I couldn’t help myself from having at least a masochistic peek at the up-to-75% off sale running at ASOS at the moment – and now I want to cry. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could cry pennies? Painful, but $$$$. However, I decided to live vicariously through you guys and give you a quick rundown of some of the delightful pieces they have to offer at the moment. Don’t worry about me, I’ll just be here – in my dressing gown, crying into my camomile tea. Currently on Day 2 of ‘Veganuary’ and not smoking, going strong and looking forward to trying out the Vegan options at Tampopo later at the Trafford Centre. Going to get my consumer fix by trading in 5 empty Lush pots for a facemask, mwahaha. Anyway, back to the subject – here are my sale picks:

  • Daisy Street Crop Top with Polo Neck – Was £9.99, now £6.50

Unsure whether my infatuation with this style of shirt lies with the product itself, or my burgeoning jealousy for that model’s torso – can I buy that, too? Either way, I love how this shirt manages to flip off the prudish stigma behind polo/turtle necks (three words: Velma – Scooby Doo) with its cheeky midriff cut. Easy to style, I’ll have it in both red and black please.

  • ASOS Skater Dress in Check – Was £42, now £21

Cannot get my head around the juxtaposition of preppy and grunge with this one, but I think that’s the appeal. Team with a chunky waist-cincher belt, black platform boots and a black fedora. And a coat: just because Father Christmas has been and New Year has gone, doesn’t mean you should opt for Pneumoniary (that’s pneumonia + January… worked out better in my head).

  • ASOS Pencil Skirt with Bold Braces – Was £40, now £24

You can be the bawzzz with this form-fitting bold pencil skirt. Perfect piece for an office-to-evening switch: just wear with a dress shirt during the day, sneakily strip off in the loos and replace with a graphic shirt – preferably with something alluding to how fabulaaarse you are (don’t – those shirts make you look like a bit of a nob).

  • ASOS PREMIUM Affliction Leather Ankle Boots – Was £85, now £42.50 

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Hamlet asked: “To be or not to be?”, Ebony asked: “Why the sweet mother of fudge aren’t these boots on my feet?”. Arguably somewhat less of a pressing matter – I think shoe lust is trumped by suicide contemplation, but I’m still not convinced… I would team these with: everything. Forever and ever Amen.

Products linked via product images.


Ebony. 25. Manchester.
Marketing Manager who likes to mouth off on here about stuff she cares about. Expect mental health, Borderline Personality Disorder, and reviews - from restaurants, to books, to fashion. Talks to cats more than people, but seemingly has a lot to say.
ebonylaurenn@gmail.com