Fashion, turn to the left....

Well hello again!! After an evening of playing dress up at Clare's house so she could photograph me in all my new charity shop/jumble sale gear for this blog I feel I have fully regressed to my teenage self, sprawled across my bed drinking Diet Coke at this ridiculous hour and blogging (although as a teenager we didn't have a family computer let alone laptops!). I feel I should mention at this point that Clare and I have known each other for a very long time, she's one of my oldest and closest friends in fact. We met at college after having admired each other from afar at the bus stop and have been thick as thieves ever since (apart from a 5 year gap where we didn't speak, which was awful and I'm not proud of it).

When we first became friends we looked a bit like this (sorry Clare although you look SO much better than me!!):

In our early 20's we looked more like this:

Clare's bedroom is still quite similar now to how it was when we spent hours as teenagers in it, watching films, giving each other makeovers and dressing up for impromptu photoshoots. As you can see this is still a popular pastime for us!

Dress - Jumble sale
Shoes - a birthday gift from previous work colleagues many years ago (I was v.impressed by their generousity!!)

Skirt, blazer and belt - nicked from Clare
'Heathers' scowl - model's own

Skirt - Charity shop
Sweater - borrowed from Clare
Directional Kate Bush pose - model's own

Chinese brocade jacket - jumble sale
Leggings - H&M

Dress - nicked from Clare

Jumpsuit - Charity shop

Dress - jumble sale
Belt - borrowed from Clare

Sequinned sweatshirt - jumble sale
Vest - H&M
Jeans - Levis
Here I am pulling a face at some hideous people on 'Don't Tell The Bride', we switched it off shortly afterwards.

TTFN xx

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'Spot' the difference

Well hello there,

I've made a few awesome clothes purchases recently but haven't been able to take any photos of myself in them to show you all so I've had to think about something else I can write about in the interim (lest you all worry I'd fallen off the face of the blogging earth!!).

Some of you may already know that the skin on my face is a constant source of aggravation and disappointment to me. It is usually very dry but during times of stress or the slightest hint of a hormonal imbalance whatever lies beneath the epidermis gets rather miffed and wages full-scale biological warfare, resulting first in very red spots which then - even with minimal poking and squeezing, and yes I know the cardinal sin of beauty is to fiddle with your spots but sometimes I just can't help it!! - develop into large scabby, dry patches.

Up until now I've never found anything which calms and heals this issue, most anti-spot products being too astringent and then anything moisturising only making the oil issue worse. Then last night I was rummaging around in my parent's bathroom cabinet to see if they had any Sudocrem as my mother had said it's the hot new beauty essential everyone is raving about as it's great for spots. She read this in the Daily Mail. So obviously it must be true.

Now, I didn't find any Sudocrem but I did find this Tisserand cream instead:

And it's brilliant!! The combination of antiseptic tea tree and soothing manuka honey means it keeps my spots from drying out but doesn't make my skin greasy and prone to more spots either. Even under full make up of primer, then foundation and concealer I barely notice they're there whereas before putting make up over them used to irritate them dreadfully.

Also feeling rather pleased as my latest purchase from Boots afforded me a £5 off voucher for their No.7 products. Now I love Boot's No.7 as it's very sympathetic to my sensitive skin and it's predilection for diva strops! So I bought myself this:

It really smoothes out my skin, covering any lines and unevenness so when I put my foundation on it looks a lot more natural and 'radiant'.

So that's nice.

A more interesting post coming soon, promise!!

TTFN!! xx

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Shoplifters of the world, unite and take over.

Hello dears!!

Totally addicted to Downton Abbey! It's become a bit of a Sunday evening ritual with my mother that we watch an episode or two before going to bed.

Lady Edith is my favourite of the sisters, poor 'plain' downtrodden Edith.

She's the perfect anti-heroine!! And rather stylish too.

I've had a very nice weekend - charity shopping is a good cure for a hangover I found yesterday. Especially as I purchased a lovely shiny lycra and black net midi skirt, a coral one shouldered jump-suit with huge flared legs (perfect for dancing the night away to Chic at this years Vintage festival!!!!) and a Garbage album on CD that I used to own years ago.

Today I had a spa morning at a hotel near Oxford. One back massage and facial later I left feeling fully rejuvenated! And before you start thinking I'm all hotsy-totsy you should know I got an excellent deal on it through Travelzoo, all thrifty girls need a cheap day of pampering from time to time!! Then I spent the afternoon in the city of spires and picked up a rather natty pair of high waisted checked trousers - very Katherine Hepburn.

Pictures to come soon!

TTFN xx

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....and a night at the races

On Saturday night my friend Hazel and I had a night out at Oxford Dogs, it was my first visit to the world of greyhound racing and I had an absolutely fabulous time. We had a delicious 3 course dinner and both had substantial wins (£21.40 for me and £45.80 for her!!), I'll definitely go again!!

I arrived at her house and was greeted with balloons, cake, pressies, party poppers and Schloer! This is because she didn't get to see me for my birthday weekend.

I must admit that when I've been to the horse racing in the past I've had a bit of betting fever, the dogs were no different!!

Can't wait for my next visit.......

TTFN xx

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A day at the jumble....

Hello there,

I had a very productive and fun weekend.

On Saturday afternoon I accompanied Clare to the jumble sale at Naphill Village Hall (I grew up in Naphill but no longer live there, whenever I return it feels like I'm entering a weird parallel universe). I think I spent a grand total of £3.00 and came away with some fantastic swag....

My favourite: a blue and white polka dotted dress, original Berketex, looks ridiculously good on.

Amazingly 70's printed maxi dress, cannot wait for festival season when this will be teamed with a denim waistcoat, long necklaces and plenty of fringing for a Stevie Nicks look (I nicked this off of Clare, I owe her 30p).

A fine knit bat-wing jumper, will look great with wide legged jeans or trousers.

A royal blue Chinese brocade tuxedo/smoking style jacket from Monsoon (nicked off Clare, I owe her 30p!!). I plan to wear this to death.

Shame this picture doesn't fully illustrate the lovely bead work spanning out from the collar of this sweater, a modern take on the 20's style

A grey vest with a navy lace and satin bow, I think this will look cute with jeans but also tucked into a pencil skirt!

A Lipsy khaki tunic/long line shirt - will be great worn with skinny jeans or leggings.

An aubergine coloured M&S bias cut dress

I also bought some tortoiseshell 'Wayfarer' style sunglasses, 3 books and 2 nicely coloured metal tea caddies which I'll use for storing stuff in.

All in all a great afternoon!!!

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It's Friday I'm in love....

as Robert Smith once sang. And what better opportunity to do an entry about things I'm currently loving/lusting after.I seem to have developed a bit of an obsession with folksy cushions, they'd certainly brighten up my 'compact' bedroom! The shoes are simply beautiful and by a designer called Penelope Chilvers. At nearly £300 they are also out of my price range but rest assured should I ever win the lottery they'll be first on my shopping list (I know, priorities right?!).

The leopard jeans and butterfly dress are however much more affordable, both being from popular high street retailers. I might get them at the weekend in fact, although really I shouldn't!

I have put the picture of daffodils in there because their lovely yellow colour always cheers me up and I have a vase full of them on my desk which are in the process of flowering. Working in an office with no plants or flowers would make me sad.

Off I go to Waitrose now to purchase the ingredients needed for my steak dinner.

Happy Friday everyone!

TTFN xx

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The trials and tribulations of lipstick....

Hello lovelies,

I've got lipstick on today! I rarely wear it because I find it so difficult to find a formula that suits me. The cheaper ones which are not special 'kiss proof', 'smudge proof' and generally life proof end up everywhere!! On my teeth, on my lovely gingerbread man mug, sometimes it'll get on to my cheek (I have no idea how). Quite tiresome. But then the more expensive formulas which are designed to stay put all day dry my lips out and then I get a very unattractive cracked and flaky look. I do moisturise my lips daily and yet this still happens.

Can anyone tell me if that 'Lipcote' stuff works? That also looks as though it can be quite drying...

How on earth did women cope with having to wear lipstick every day when it's so tricky to maintain?! I salute those ladies.

I am also wearing my very favourite dotty dress (from Hobb's, natch!) and I have attempted a modern and somewhat 'deconstructed' version of Victory Rolls in my hair.

What do you all think?

The last picture is of me in my favourite coat - it looks yellow in the photo but is in fact Camel. I always feel so smart and polished when I wear it.

Everyone in the office was quite taken aback today by my 'glam-retro' look, they aren't used to seeing me with lipstick on!

I am very glad it's Friday tomorrow. Roll on the weekend I say!!

TTFN xx

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