Outfit Post: 'Check' it out

Ear phones in, I block out the world. Surrounded by someone else's voice. Someone who doesn't know anything about me but clearly has the same feelings. Someone whose lyrics are not always the easiest to understand but whose talent, in my personal opinion isn't recognised enough. Sia's new album- This is Acting- has taken her talent to a whole new level. It is such a strong, feel good, triumphant medley of songs, that kicks starts the day and ends it perfectly. 

It's 7:30am and finally everyone is up so I can blast out Sia whilst I straighten my hair. It is proven that listening to music in the morning puts me at least 15 minutes behind schedule. I mean come on, there is a mirror in front of me and a hairbrush in hand, lip syncing never hurt anybody! And whilst I pretend to belt out 'Alive', I feel powerful and ready to take on the day. Music is so much more than just noise. Music is special to so many people, so meaningful and so personal.

***

I can't decide on my style. Having two jobs and my own time to do what I want, means three different wardrobes. Whilst being a T.A provides a dress code, I like to add my own flair to a more sophisticated set of rules, with pinafores, roll necks and chunky boots being my go to looks. Gap is much more casual, what Gap stocks, is what I wear, stripes, block colours and denim, denim, denim! In my own time, well I just don't know what style path to take anymore- smart and sophisticated or a little more preppy? It is very hard to discover your style when you have to adapt to different roles and when you're trying to put a cap on your spending habits. 

As much as I would love to venture out and try new things, I feel I have hit a comfort-wall-barrier and am stuck in a style that is some what confused. Take today's outfit as the perfect example. It is far from my everyday style but still simple enough to wear and feel comfortable in. This to me is a more casual and laid back look and I feel this is because of the relaxed fit of the shirt and the finishing touches of a rucksack and leather jacket. 

Thanks to the wonderful invention of student discount, I managed to pick up the tunic shirt and chunky boots for some bargain prices! H & M doesn't break the bank anyway and I love going in there and finding some unique, easy to style pieces that work well throughout my wardrobe. With their flash event of 20% off with UniDays, it would have been rude not to. Here I have styled the shirt in a more casual manner but paired with some chunky boot heels and a metallic box bag and I have also worn it on a night out. I must admit, it is shorter than I remember but paired with some thick black tights and it is absolutely fine. 

I searched endlessly for a pair of boots like this, Chelsea boots with a thick 'Dr. Marten' inspired sole. From Topshop to New Look, Asos to Boohoo, River Island to Miss Guided but I just couldn't find a pair. I haven't bought a pair of shoes from H and M before but I am glad I had a quick rare look in their shoe department. These were the shoes, I saw, convinced myself I didn't need, then thought about them every spare second for about a week...resulting in yet again another pair of black boots to add to the collection. I've tried and tested them at work and have to say, they are super comfortable and work well with jeans, dresses and skirts!

Completed with a pair of tortoise shell sunglasses, I was ready to take on the freezing cold, extremely windy but blindly bright sunny day. Hopefully I will be able to discover my style soon and if you have any tips on how to do so, please share. I'm stuck with a mismatched wardrobe and a goal to stop spending so much money.

Check Dress: H & M £14.99

Chelsea Boots: H & M £29.99

Faux Leather Jacket: New Look £34.99 (Last season!)

Monochrome Rucksack: Primark £8.00 (A few seasons ago)

Brown Lipstick: Kate Moss Rimmel  Read about my love for the lipstick here!

Thanks for reading, 

Mollie Isabella 

xx 

Fashion and Beauty Lessons: 2015

On the 31^st December each year, we reflect on the past 364 days and whether we crammed as much in the year as we hoped and try to remember the New Year’s resolutions we made and broke in week one. 2015 was definitely a roller coaster to say the least and has opened my eyes, with numerous lessons being learnt about life and myself. I went from planning my entire life, to having no plan at all in three months. I have been brave, I have been heartbroken and I have been lost. However I have been so proud, so happy and so loved.

One thing I want to reflect on, is what I have learnt in 2015 based on fashion and beauty. To say the least, I have made many fashion mistakes in my time and I probably still make them today. I seem to get drawn to ugly items of clothing, well unique is good right? Gone are the days where I wore spotty tights, clashing with a heart printed over size cardigan matched with ankle socks and grey pumps. Thank you lord.

Below are some lessons I learnt this year- accompanied by previous blogging pictures:

1: Red lips are literally suitable for all occasions, come rain or shine. Paired with a floral print in the summer or an entirely black outfit in the winter, it gives a different feel but works every time. L’Oreal Blake is my all-time favourite red shade! 

 2: Be bold and take risks, whether it be with your clothing, your hair or makeup. People tend to take note when you make a more drastic change and come on let’s face it, we all love a compliment. This year I embraced a new hair colour, whilst returning to my ‘I don’t care what you think about my outfit’ attitude.

3: Buy staple, sensible items that will fit into your wardrobe. I throw out so many clothes and it has taken me to the age of 19 to realise that really it is down to my bad shopping habits. Instead of buying those bright pink shoes I could wear to one occasion, why not buy the black ones that can be worn all the time. All hail the leather skirt that I wear all year round. This is my second version of the same skirt!

4: A strong, sturdy, reasonable sized handbag is worth so much more than that little bag that can only fit your purse and phone in. No girl should ever have to choose between her lipstick and inhaler. 

5:Winged eye-liner is not a talent that can be learnt. You’re either born with the skill or you’re not. I am unfortunately not blessed with this talent and have to battle daily in a hope to leave the house on time with an okay, semi presentable flick. If there are tips out there, please share?

6:All black everything with the exception of white for my favourite trend of monochrome. It is effortless and so easy to wear. In my young teenage years I could never understand why my mum wore full black outfits outside of a funeral, now I am on the all black everything/monochrome bandwagon and I refuse to get off, until it reaches above 30 degrees! 

7:Simple jewellery still says a lot. I used to be one for big statement necklaces, dangly earrings and junk jewellery rings but in the year of 2015 I gained the lazy attitude and decided that I couldn’t be bothered wasting my time picking out the items to match my outfit. Instead I opted for a more simplistic look, of my every day Pandora rings and my Lucky Little Acorn Necklace which complement each outfit perfectly.

This year I shall make no new years resolutions because I know I won't stick to them. Whilst eating healthily and exercising more will be extremely beneficial, I refuse to count calories and say no to a brownie. For the first time ever I have no plan for the year ahead. Nothing is set in stone, instead I am on a free journey, waiting to see what life brings me. So here is to 2016, a year of no plans, just an undecided journey. 

Thanks for reading, 

Mollie Isabella 

xx 

5 Favourite Clothing Pieces: November

I love fashion all year round but most in the autumn and winter. With all the layering, patterns and deep colours on offer our wardrobes get a complete transformation. I feel that this time of year allows you to be so casually sophisticated. Below I have chosen my five favourite items from November (that are all still in store now) that will see me throughout the whole of Christmas. 

Enjoy! (Please excuse the quality of the images, it was getting progressively darker outside by the second!)

"Rupert the Bear"

New Look - £5.99

The name comes from the fact my Dad calls me Rupert the Bear every time I wear it. This scarf is a winter must have from the gorgeous traditional red tartan to the size, I cannot fault the piece. It is the perfect scarf for shopping because it isn't too thick and if you do get hot, it folds neatly into a bag, unlike last years favourite: the blanket scarf. Red is an excellent colour for the Christmas season and teamed with a black jumper or coat, it is bold and striking and manages to finish a look. For the amazing price of £5.99 it is affordable, bang on trend and an excellent stocking filler!

Coat me in classic 

Primark - £28.00

Of course there was going to be a Primark item, somewhere on this list. Each year, I put myself through the stress of buying a new winter coat. However this year, one shop and I was happy. This gorgeous coat is such a simplistic and classic shape. Due to the removable collar you get two coats in one. The faux fur collar adds the extra winter look, whilst bare the coat is smart and sophisticated. This is definitely a staple piece in my wardrobe! It isn't the thickest of coats but works wonders when I commute as you don't need a thick heavy thing to lug around. I have received numerous compliments on this garment and for £28.00 I couldn't be happier.

Parade them pom poms

ASOS - £40.00

When looking for a pair of knee high boots, I accidentally stumbled across these wonderful creations. I have wanted a pair of pom pom shoes for a while now, but never found a pair to suit my wardrobe. I have altered these slightly by cutting off one pom pom per shoe, I felt a little too snazzy, but now I love them and parade with pride. They are such a lovely heel height with wonderful lace up detailing and a gorgeous suede effect for an effortless chic feel. Thanks to a student discount day I got these for £32.00 but they retail at £40.00. Slightly pricey but a lovely pair of shoes perfect for both casual and dressy events.

Be bold in burgundy

Miss Selfridge - £28.00

I could probably put this item down to an accidental buy but the fact I was looking suggests I wanted to find a new item for my wardrobe. Amazingly I managed to get this dress with 30% off and then a further 10% discount, bargain! I'm really into dresses at the moment. They're so easy to wear, just throw on one item and you're practically ready to go. This dress is actually from the petite section and I love the fit; it is the perfect length for my shortness. It washes excellently, oh and another bonus, it doesn't need ironing! It's a high neck, body-con, burgundy piece that is perfect for this season.

Make it metallic 

New Look- £15.99

I have always loved box bags, they're such a lovely little addition to an outfit and their structure causes them to stand out. What better way to have a stand out bag for this season than a little metallic number? This mirror metallic bag comes in silver, black, gold and pink and is perfect for the party season. Tiny it may be, but I managed to fit all my essentials in it. Have it with the strap for a shoulder bag, much easier for dancing, or pop the strap inside and have it as a clutch, perfect for posing in pictures! At only £15.99 it is a lovely, affordable addition to the bag collection. 

So there you have it, my five favourite, perfect for the season, affordable items. Once again , apologies for the image quality turns out going into your back garden at 4:30pm on a cloudy day doesn't provide the best lighting. None the less, you can see the items I guess and that is the main thing.

Mollie Isabella 

xx

I'm a walking mixture of shades.

 I have always had a huge indescribable love for red telephone boxes. Something so classic, yet not appreciated enough. Maybe it is the beauty within the colour, striking and sophisticated, who knows? Whatever it is, my dream house would feature one in the front garden.

***

I am getting quite worried with the fact that every item of clothing I buy is either white, black or grey. I am a walking mixture of shades with only my lips injecting a bit of colour. Okay, there is always the argument as to whether black or white are colours, but they're not featured within the rainbow, so that is enough justification for me. There is just something so stand out about monochrome and I seriously enjoy wearing it. I think that point is backed up with the fact I mention the trend at least once every blog post but until the summer, I refuse to let go.

I normally avoid horizontal stripes, due to the fact they seem to stretch your body out. However that didn't even cross my mind when my eyes spotted these wonderful black and white scalloped hem shorts. I literally have nothing in my wardrobe that can even compare to them so it was a definite risk, one that I am very glad I have taken. They are an item that can be worn all year round, now with black garments and in the summer with a brightly coloured top and bag. They're a definite wardrobe must have in my eyes. 

As soon as I saw this black wrap front top on the rail, my mind instantly paired it with the shorts. I sometimes find that wrap tops can reveal a bit too much but I must say that the shape and material of this top, make it perfectly suitable. It is the definition of a perfect finishing touch and I will definitely be getting my wear out of it. It also comes in a thicker light grey version, and a thin dark grey version. Due to the bold V neck, I didn't think a necklace was necessary so instead paired with some statement blue and silver earrings. 

For ages I have searched for a plain black handbag that would compliment any outfit. The answer lies within this gorgeous relaxed box shaped beauty, which comes with two straps. Sometimes you need the bag as the main centrepiece but here I have managed to find an effortlessly versatile bag that can be both a statement but subtle when you need it to be. With three separate compartments, it is also very practical. Who can complain at such a handy, all round perfect bag?

With the natural light, providing me with no 'flattering' close up's of my make up and earrings, I went back to selfie central AKA my bathroom to try and capture the shot. These earrings manage to spruce up an outfit-added to a simple tee and jeans combination and they cause an instant transformation. The light pastel shades also compliment the blonde in my hair. On my eyes, I have gone for a flick, slightly higher than usual and made my lashes as long as possible to try and achieve the false lash effect. I have never found a mascara that works as well as this and I highly recommend that you get it. The link and name is below. My lips are covered in a gorgeous shade of red. Due to the cutback of colour in the outfit, red lips were a must.

Clothes:
Striped Scalloped Hem Shorts- £8 Primark
Black 'Boxy' Bag- £8 Primark
Black Wrap Top- £12.99 New Look
Statement Earrings- £3.00 (Sale) Accessorize
Shoes were originally from New Look. However they are no longer sold in there. Replica's can now be found in Primark

Makeup:
L'oreal Colour Riche Pure Red BLAKE- £6.99 Superdrug (Available in most makeup stores)
Eyeliner Pencil Barry M- £2.99 Superdrug (Available in most makeup stores)
Maybelline Master Precise Eyeliner Pen- £5.99 Superdrug (Available in most makeup stores)
L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Excess Mascara- £10.99 Boots (Available in most makeup stores)

Thank-you for reading another monochrome themed blog. I am sure that as soon as the bright bolds hit our stores, I will fall in love with another trend! Hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing.

Mollie Isabella

xx

Christmas Picks

After eating every variety of junk food possible over the last couple of weeks, my body is starting to suffer. You know the casual, having to breathe in when wearing those jeans, the oh I actually look pregnant in this skirt, and woah I can't move my arms in this top kind of  feeling. It is safe to say, sometime in the future (who knows when)  I will have to allow my body some actual nutrients and more exercise than just searching the sale rails.

It is safe to say that Christmas of 2014 was indeed excellent, from the piles of presents, reindeer glasses, family time or the pigs in blankets piled on my plates- it will definitely be one to remember.

I just thought I would share some of the gorgeous pieces I received this year. I am not sure whether doing this blog was the saddest thing ever, as I stood in my garden positioning my selfie stick to get the images I needed but a girl has got to do what a girl has got to do.

Lets start with my new babies. Yes, it is yet another pair of black boots but these had red laces and none of my other boots have red laces. They have a somewhat Timberland look but with a more feminine feel. They are super comfortable with their fur lining and due to the laces manage to stand out. I pair them with almost everything, regardless as to whether or not they go. I am too in love with them, to leave them sitting at home. These were from River Island, of course. 

Sticking with River Island, I also got this gorgeous khaki bag with gold chain detailing. I usually try and cram the entire contents of my room into a small side bag when going shopping, only to open it and the whole contents sprawl across the shop floor. Therefore I needed a practical bag, that was casual yet roomy. This ticks all the boxes. I love it. It is very spacious with a front pocket, zip pocket and the option of two different strap lengths. It also comes in a black or beige version, which have stud detailing as opposed to the chain. 

Next up are two separate items, firstly the purse. It is also from River Island and I absolutely love the pure, crisp, fresh look of the white and beige. I have wanted a new purse for ages but couldn't find one that I fell in love with. As soon as I saw this, I knew it was the one. It has all the necessary compartments and fits perfectly in my new bag. The second item is the gorgeous cut out heart ring. I am slightly addicted to Pandora rings but never found one that looked right on my forefinger but the simplistic, elegant feel to this ring worked perfectly. It is so beautiful, complimenting my other rings but striking on its own.

As you can probably tell, my favourite high street store is River Island. As this is yet another item from there. This blue, pink, beige and grey blanket scarf caught my eye due to the soothing colours. Most winter scarves are quite harsh, however this double sided piece contrasted the others. I am a sucker for scarves in the winter but don't just wear them for warmth, they need to be on trend. Blanket scarves have been extremely popular over the past couple of months and I found that this was just the right size to be worn in different variations. Sometimes they're too thick to do anything with. This will definitely see me through many more winters.

Next up are these two beautiful pieces of jewellery. First up is the unique, gem and pearl choker from Miss Selfridge. A gorgeous, dressy piece of jewellery that instantly makes an outfit. I have found it quite hard to put it with a top, but this slightly high neck long sleeve allows the gems and silver detailing to really stand out. I really love this item because I haven't seen another choker like it. The second item is another Pandora ring, this time for my middle finger. This gorgeous ring, captioned on Pandora's site as a "classic lace ring" definitely knows how to sparkle. It is much bigger than all my others and caught my eye due to its unique sophisticated shape. This is a ring that does work well with others but stands out best when left solo.

Finally, we have this classic faux fur black gillet from Red Herring, Debenhams. Working effortlessly with jeans, it is a different way to finalise an outfit. I haven't worn it as much as I have wanted yet, due to really feeling the cold but as soon as it starts getting a little warmer I will practically be living in it. The material is beautiful and soft and due to it being black it goes with everything. Whether I am using it as a layer of warmth or simply a finishing touch, this is a wardrobe staple.

So they were some of the key fashion pieces that I received this year. Heading into the new year, without the stress of Christmas at work and Christmas in general, I will be blogging much more frequently. I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed creating.

Mollie Isabella 

xx