Butterfly Twists

In general , when I am looking for a flat shoe I usually reach for a sneaker and it has been years since I have worn ballet flats. However I have loved the new trend of pointy flats and was looking for a classic but modern take on the trend which would also be practical and most importantly comfortable.
So I was very happy to come across the brand Butterfly Twists which is an innovative brand that creates shoes with the unique memory foam feature which means that not only are they foldable and they actually come with a lovely little pouch to put them in, they also fit perfectly to your foot.
I thought that they would also be great to pop in your bag , if you have had enough of your heels for the day or for a quick dash in your lunch break.

I opted for the HOLLY which features  a pointed toe and comes in cream and black. They also feature a flexible rubber sole which makes them extremely comfortable for walking , unlike some other ballet pumps.

There are lots of other designs on the site , from sporty styles to the more traditional round toed ballet flat, and considering the great quality of the product the price point is very good.




One of my other favourite styles is the OLIVIA ( obviously named after the queen of the ballet flat, Ms Palermo) which also comes in leopard print here and in cream and patent black here.

In my opinion these are staples in any busy girls wardrobe and mine will be sitting pretty in their pouch tucked into my handbag at all times for when I want a break from my sneakers and need to smarten up my outfit or to replace painful heels .

The Perfect Tassel Printed Boho Dress

I love scrolling through blogs and Instagram looking at gorgeous Summer outfits with blazers and long sleeved embroidered blouses, however the reality of living in a hot country is that generally less is better. Keeping cool and looking cute is is the goal and trousers and blazers are best saved for late September. 

I really like the boho trend at the moment and it also suits my expanding waistline and ample chest which is always a bonus. I was so happy to find this gorgeous tasselled dress from Zaful , a company which I think is great for beautiful dresses and playsuits at very competitive prices.

 The dress has little thin straps which you can also tuck in to create a strapless style or let them hang down for a more relaxed look. The pattern is beautiful as is the pretty tasselled trim along the front. This is not maternity dress , but it does look great with a bump as well. The material is lovely and soft and you can easily wear it from day to to night.

  Tassel Ruffle Cami Dress here

The dress is currently under $20 dollars and there is a huge sale on the site and combined offers to take advantage of. 

xxx

STRIPE DUNGAREE SHORTS...pregnancy update!

A quick update from me. I am currently STRUGGLING to find cute outfits that will flatter my growing bump. I am nearing the end of my second semester and I can't say that I have a particularly big bump, but you know it's there obliterating the waistline and making getting dresses a work of art. Dresses are obviously great options but i am not really a fan of maternity wear and will try to get away with wearing normal clothes as much as possible. trying to figure out what size I might be in maternity wear is yet another mind boggling feat. I mean....clearly you are going to get bigger as the pregnancy progresses so how can you be the same size throughout...baffling!

 And while I can get my bum and thighs into things , the bussoms are a different story altogether. I pulled out all my floaty Summer dresses that I had stored for winter , feeling confident that they would look lovely over my blooming baby bump only to find that I could not fit my breast in...what is that all about???

Anyway on that note I have found that short dungarees are the best way forward at the moment, plus I love them anyway regardless of the pregnancy situation, but I do think they look extra adorable on pregnant girlies. Plus you don't have top worry about the growing tummy as they are adjustable . I came across a gorgeous pair from Pull and Bear very similar to a dungaree style dress  I already own but unfortunately tends to ride up a bit at the front now.

 They are in very summery strip pattern and are just the right length to make them both practical and youthful. I teamed them with a vest top in these pics but I will be wearing them white t-shirts and even a lacy crop top! I sized up and they fit great. so if you are not pregnant your normal size should be fine and the straps are adjustable.

Dungarees:Pull and Bear here similar here and here

Cap:Top Shop here

Shoes Slidders :Primark Last Season Similar here , here and here

The Floral Linen Dress

So we all that feeling of being stuck in a bit of a style rut this time of year , the shops are all full of gorgeous Summer clothing but the weather has different ideas . Add to that the fact that bearing too much after spending months covering everything up feels a bit exposing. So what is the a girl to do?I have found that a pretty spaghetti strap dress with a spring pattern satisfies my craving for something new and cheerful , but the fact that this is a great layering piece is what seals the deal . You can layer it over tops when the weather is a bit chillier and come Summer show your lovely tanned shoulders in the feminine strappy design. The one I am wearing in this pictures is from online retailer Zaful and is in a beautiful linen fabric that feels very comfortable and the beautiful floral design makes it perfect for Spring. I can't wait to style it in different ways and I think it will look so lovely with a pair of espadrilles or some dainty sandals.Add to that that it is a great bargain at $25 dollars and honestly it looks so much more expensive, I just hope they bring it out in more prints and colourways!

 Zaful Linen Dress here

 Zaful Sunglasses here

Top Zara 

Jacket Zara similar here and here

Trainers Adidas Stan Smith here and here and here

The Suede Biker

The weather might not quite have caught up with Spring , at least not where I am but that doesn't mean that winter clothes feel kind of heavy and inappropriate. With that in mind as well as the fact that the temperatures are still quite chilly I wanted to find a piece of outerwear that is both functional and that I can layer for now in addition to giving my outfits a more spring like feel. Light colours are a must now as far as I am concerned and they are also more practical when the sun actually does decide to show up .I think the fact that I am pregnant adds to that and the funny thing is that I am finding myself drawn to pinks and pastel colours , even florals which is not at all like me ( I am putting it down to me carrying a girl!).
Anyway , the suede biker seemed to tick all the boxes for me and I found the perfect light grey/stone cropped version in Zara. I actual fact it isn't real suede , it's suedette , which for me is much more practical as I don't have to worry about it getting rained on or dirty as I can just put it in the washing machine. also the price is obviously a lot lower that what the real deal would be, but you get the same effect for less hassle!
I can imagine wearing this with so many outfits and it will look great over summer dresses further into the season. i think it is a very useful staple and well worth investing it. Lets not forget that the cropped style also makes legs longer and the snug fit is super flattering for all body shapes. The one I have also comes in other colours ( I am quite tempted to get the pink version ) so if you were not comfortable with such a light colour it is available in a gorgeous navy blue.

Also, I know I am a bit late buying into the baker boy cap trend but I am absolutely obsessed , they transform any outfit , genius!

Biker Jacket Zara here
Top Zara old
Trousers Zara here
Cap H&M  here
Trainers here



I have also linked some of my other favourites on the high street right now

And to complete the outfit :

Designer Dupe Handbags for under $15

There is nothing quite like a beautiful handbag to make a girl feel special and designer handbags have become a highly covetable status item that we all aspire to acquire. However, the reality is the huge price tags these bags carry  make them pretty unobtainable for most of us. So a good dupe , not a replica can have a similar effect on our outfit without having to take out a second mortgage !

Gamiss have an amazing selection of beautiful handbags that are inspired by current designer best sellers and ridiculously low prices. I though it was too good to be true give the price , and assumed the quality would be very poor , however I was very pleasantly surprised. Don't get me wrong , they by no means reach the high standards and workmanship of designer bags, but I would say the quality is very much on par with your average high street handbag. I decided to go for some cross body chain bags , as I felt I was missing these in my wardrobe and chose some very recognisable signature looks which I am sure you will also recognise immediately.The whole procedure was very straight forward and everything arrived as described and in perfect condition.

Red Cross Body Bag here

Grey Cross Body Chain Bag here

Twist Lock Cross Body Bag here

I have since ordered a genuine leather satchel which is absolutely stunning and I honestly have got so many compliments on all these bags.

Gorgeous leather backpack for under $50

Finding a good backpack that looks nice and grown up but is also functional is not easy.Certainly the leather versions venture into high price ranges, but not all of them. I have come across a gorgeous leather bag from on line retailer Gamiss in beautiful brown that is perfect for the new season. It is a really good size, it fits all that I need in it but is not too big and bulky. I also love the clan lines and sleek design of it. Furthermore, lets not forget the issue of security, because having all your belongings on your back makes theft pretty easy especially in busy city environments. This one zips on the to and also has a flap over it so someone would have a pretty hard time getting into it without you realising it. Last but certainly not least it cost less than $50 !

Personally I also like to carry my backpacks like a tote, which I know kind of defeats the object but we all have our quirks. Anyway I think it looks pretty goo like that as well. So well done Gamiss for coming up with such a great sophisticated bag we can all afford!

Lether Back pack here

Zaful Knitwear Review.

I have long been a convert to Zaful for their beautiful dresses, however I was intrigued to see what the knitwear was like. I checked out the site and there was a huge choice of very stylish classic knitwear as well as lots of on trend sweaters. I decided to go for more neutral, thick winter options and ordered a couple . The sizing was one size so that was pretty easy . When they arrived I have to say I was not disappointed. Obviously due to the very low price points they were made out of man made fibres , however they looked and felt very good quality. There was plenty of nice thick fabric to give them the over sized look and they had beautiful thick roll necks which was definitely the selling point for me. The one thing I would point out is that the sleeves are not very long. They are OK on me but if you are tall I would advise going for a sweater with sizing options and sizing up.

I teamed my knitwear with my favourite basics and I was very cosy and warm so I am sure I will be getting plenty of wear out of them before the weather warms up.

Dark grey roll neck here

Cable Knit sweater here

Brown Faux Fur Coat

The weather is pretty chilly right now so the hunt for a cosy coat is always on! The problem with most really warm outerwear is that they can tend to be heavy and unflattering. I was therefore very pleased to cross paths with this stunning faux fur lined jacket from Zaful as it is very stylish and kind of a hybrid between an aviator and a fur jacket. What I will say is that it is so warm, the day these pictured were taken was absolutely freezing and I was fine with a relatively thin knit and the coat over it! The fur is the softest thing ever and the detailing  feels really luxurious .

Zaful Faux Fur Assymetric Zipper coat here

The length is perfect and it can be easily dressed up or down according to your mood and for colder climates the neutral colour will see you into spring as it is less harsh that black.

There are so many gorgeous option on the ZAFUL site so head over for lots of cosy coats and knitwear as well as new ins every day!

Over the knee boots

Over the knee boots are pretty much everywhere at the moment and have become pretty much a staple , however they can be quite daunting and a bit of a tricky look to master if you are not careful. Zaful have a great pair , which for me tick all the right boxes.

It is important to make sure that the boot fits well and isn't too tight or even worse too baggy. I Have very thin calves so I always struggle with boots , so I find that it is best to for a pair that is adjustable and that can be fitted to your leg.

Another thing I would say is don't go overboard with the heel if you want to avoid the pretty woman look. I think that a medium block heel works best and gives the boot a cooler more retro look, especially when worn with short skirts and dresses. Also I would refrain from bodycon with long boots , instead opt for more demure or girly pieces for a bit of a contrast.

I also love to wear my boots , as you can see from the pics , in a more casual way, teaming them with jeans and a sweater and it also means I can get plenty of wear out of them.

I am really pleased with these boots, they are a fabric faux suede which I do not mind and it makes them more affordable and easier to take care of. The round toe and block heel are perfect for the look I want to achieve and it means that I can wear them any time of the day. They have a bit of stretch in them so they are well fitting and the tie back allows you to adjust the top of boot to your thigh. Lastly I really love the length, boots that end on the knee are really annoying and tend to go baggy or fall down. These are extra long so they stay up better and also cover more leg so you can go a bit shorter with dress or skirt. They are around the  $50 mark so they are a great pair of boots for the price as well and they also come in brown.

     Zaful long boots here

Why you should invest in an aviator !

Every Fall/Winter season  there is a big player in the jacket game. This year there are a few contenders , the faux fur, the teddy coat, the biker, the bomber and the oversize coat. For me the big winner, is the aviator although it is slowly reaching classic status and this is one of the main reasons I believe it is worth the investment.

There are so many gorgeous options, with a favourite of mine being the oversize Acne Studios inspired velocity jacket. If you cannot , like me afford, the hefty price tag, fear not as there are so many equally beautiful affordable options to chose from.

The great thing about this jacket is that it adds a cool factor to any outfit and can literally be teamed with anything from jeans to winter florals. Go for a faux fur lined jacket as it will keep you nice and warm and the extra bulk makes it look more luxurious and expensive.

The one I am wearing is from Zara and although there were lots to compete with it , in the end it was the cream faux fur that sold it to me .

Zara  Jacket here

Below are some more of my current favorites , that will hopefully cover all budgets ! For the US:

For my UK and Europe  girls:

A Cardigan Coat with a Difference

Personally , I am a big fan of cardigan coats. I find them more practical than coats and more convenient when you are in and out of place and the temperature is fluctuating. I also think that there is something chic about them as they are more fluid than a heavy winter coat. Obviously for colder climates you can layer a coat over your cardigan coat and the layers will add even more interest to the outfit. 

I do have quite a few in my wardrobe , however , I was looking for one that had a bit more detail , that was a bit more fancy. I was therefore very pleased to come across this gorgeous ZAFUL grey cardigan coat with faux fur pockets. I am mad about faux fur at the moment and this element is so subtle that is appropriate for any time of the day and occasion. Furthermore the fur can be detached from the pocket for a more conservative (albeit , less fun!) look.

Zaful Faux Fur Pockets Open Front Cardigan - Gray here

Zaful Felt Hat  here

The Faux Fur Coat

I remember buying a faux fur jacket when I was at university from Primark and I got it to wear to a new years eve glamorous party over my silky Coast strapless dress and I'm pretty sure I wore long gloves as well! The point is that it was for a special occasion and I don't think I ever wore it again as it was considered too over the top for normal wear. How things have change! The Faux Fur jacket has become a wardrobe staple the last few seasons and I absolutely love them and wear them with pretty much everything. This season in particular is so much fun , because you can really play around with colour and shape which is great as most of the time in Winter the focus is on your outerwear. The one I am wearing here is from Pull and Bear but I have also included some of my other favourites. This jacket is in the colour of the season, burgundy or oxblood as some call it and I really was drawn to the cropped shape of it. Needless to say it is so warm and snugly I never want to take it off!

Faux Fur Jacket Pull and Bear here

For the US

and for Europe

The Bomber

Today I want to share a little gem with you. I recently ordered a oriental print little bomber ( was feeling a bit daring ) from Zaful but to be honest I wasn't expecting much.I thought it would be pretty but quite flimsy and was planning to wear it as sort of an evening cover up. Well , I have to see I was so impressed when it arrived. The fabric is a sort of stiff satin and the print is stunning. The sleeves have a concealed pockets with a cool zipper and it fastens with gold poppers. The best thing though for me , because I hate being cold is that it is padded which means that it is perfect for milder winter days , but I will also be layering it under gillets and coats.Considering the price  ( about $37) I would say that the quality is amazing and it has become my favourite thing in my wardrobe.

Zaful Floral Print Puffer Jacket here

Zaful is actually running a promotion at the moment 

click here

to find out more!!

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