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 

Outfit: Cape and Leopard Print

"I really want a cape for Christmas?"

"Why would you want a cake?"

"It's so nice and limited edition!"

"What's a limited edition cake?"

"Nooo, a CAPE from River Island!"

"Like with string around your neck?"

The perks of loving both fashion and a boy who doesn't know the difference between a heel and a wedge, a skirt and a skort and a super hero cape to one of the biggest trends this winter. Regardless, I got my wish and tearing at the paper on Christmas day, I revealed the mismatched patchwork pattern and fur trim-oh, Saint Nick you know me so well. 

Whilst my wardrobe consists of the bog standard, popular, statement pieces, I'm also drawn to the slightly obscure, 'friends only tell you they like it because they have to' kind of pieces. Hanging, central on the display, the gorgeous cape literally shouted, "Mollie you need to try me on!" and within seconds, I was wrapped up, stroking the faux fur already allocating it to different outfits from my wardrobe.
Now it is in the sale for £35.00 and with the weather turning that extra bit colder, I highly recommend.

I couldn't resist teaming together an outfit made up of some of my new favourite pieces. I'm not your usual leopard print girl but I fell in love with this gorgeous Topshop crop top, the moment I saw it. Don't get me wrong, it clearly is leopard print but due to the toned down base colour it isn't so in your face. It has a slight high neck (of course)! Teamed with this gorgeous Topshop denim dress that has two pockets on the front and a low back. It is such a brilliant item to have because it can be worn all year round. I love the shade and overall fit.
Of course I couldn't break conventions with my footwear. All welcome another pair of black boots to my wardrobe. I would like to take this moment to justify them: they're suede...simple as. The thing is, you can never have too many pairs of black boots, they go with everything! To complete the look, I accessorized with this gorgeous, three layer dreamcatcher necklace and lovely John Rocha box bag.

Another blog done in my favourite location. It is normally so peaceful and quiet, as though the whole ground is my own personal studio. However on this fine, cold wintry morning I felt slightly over dressed and under-dressed at the same time as I passed numerous people, clearly out for their mid morning walk. Over dressed in the sense, I was wearing heeled boots, strolling in my cape and swinging a handbag in my stride, walking past appropriately dressed people in wellies, hats and gloves. As I carefully placed my feet through the mud, I realised why wellies were a good idea. Under dressed in the sense people looked cold but cosy, I looked uncomfortably cold. My hands bright red to match my nose and abnormally rosy cheeks. Shivering back to the car, it made me think, the outdoors just really isn't for me. Not in the summer, not in the winter, not in the autumn and not in the spring...

Mollie Isabella.

Cape- River Island Was £65 Now £35
Leopard Print Top- Topshop £20
Denim Dress- Topshop £35
Black Boots- New Look £24.99
Dream Catcher Necklace- New Look £7.99
John Rocha Handbag- Debenhams Price Unknown

15 things 2015 taught me

Look out for my next blog for information on this outfit!

Okay this is probably a blog I should have written at least a week ago. However, all my days merged into one again and finally over a week into the year, I have managed to sit down and finally reflect on the roller coaster known as 2015. 

(Some are more serious than others but I really did learn quite a lot last year!) 

1: University is not for everyone. There is more than one pathway, more than one direction, you just need to find the right one for you. 

2: Leaving a job on good terms is amazing. I have now returned to the same job three times and each time I go back and decide I want to move onto something else, I leave positively and this had really paid off. 

3: Friends come from the most unlikely of places. Okay, you may have the image in your head of a perfect friend who likes all the same things as you? Banish that and let things fall into place, the best people in my life are those I have almost nothing in common with.

4: It is okay to be proud of yourself. I am one of those people that never really see's the good in anything that I do. However June, 2015, blessed me with the proudest moment of my life. I put in hours and hours of hard work and it really paid off and I am proud to say I am proud. 

5: Do not take things for granted. Do not take family for granted. Do not take friends for granted.
 

6: Justin Bieber really can create good, meaningful music. I never thought this day would come but 2015, really was his year. Company and Feeling are my two all time favourite songs of his. 

7: Be yourself. I really felt there were certain parts of 2015, where I just wasn't me. Where I let expectations and reality take over what I truly believed, felt and wanted. The person that you are is the best person you can be. 

8: Stress really isn't as necessary as my body thinks it is. I have put myself through so much un-needed stress, for what? I have learnt that I need to take a second, breathe, evaluate the situation and remain calm.

9: You do not need to know your future now. At the age of 19, I felt immense pressure in terms of my future. I felt I should have a career plan, written chronologically with no time to fail. Well guess what, 2015 proved that this is probably the worst thing because if it doesn't go right, you panic. I am not saying wing it, I am just saying be open to different things.

10: Make sure you spread your attention and care widely, don't invest everything into one person.

11: If at first you don't succeed, try and try again but if it makes you miserable it's okay to give up.

12: I have a severe spending addiction, that probably is bad enough to seek help but quite frankly it keeps me sane.

13: It is okay to be emotional, it shows you care. So yes, it is okay to cry when you run out of cereal, or when you watch 24 Hours in A and E or when you just need to let it out. 

14: Happiness comes in many forms. 

15: 2015 taught me to be me. Life throws so much at us, things we can handle, things we can't. It was a roller coaster of a year that opened my eyes to life, love, friendship and new emotions. I wanted to close the chapter and start a fresh and that is exactly what I am doing. 

Here's to 2016, 

Thank-you for reading, 

Mollie Isabella 

xx