Hi, I'm Selina. I have just completed my degree at the University of Manchester and now work for my favourite brand Motel Rocks as the Promotions Assistant in Bristol! I am originally from Birmingham and studied in Sweden for a year too. Have a question?
Check out my about me page or email me at jelibaby[at]hotmail.com
After a hard and life-changing week, and in a burst of winter inspiration, my housemate and I decided to have a chilly Sunday walk and we definitely felt energised after. Just feeling calm and centred and chilled once a week really helps, especially if you are always on the go like me.
We are all preparing for a very cold few weeks and I'll be snuggling up in my River Island fur coat and New Look snood, definitely layering up a few pairs of tights and leggings. I'm not great at dressing for the cold due to a love of crop tops but I have a few jumpers to see me through!
Also a lovely hello to the girl I met in Miss Selfridge, I love the skirt I ordered, yay!
Hey guys! Now then, I have a rather slightly large addiction to skater skirts and I'm not afraid to say it! In my eyes, you can never have too many, but I definitely have almost too many. I think bottoms are a good purchase as they go with everything and can be worn many times a week, whereas a top can only be worn once before washing and wearing again. I have no hesitation in buying well priced bottoms I like so right now I have a heap that I love wearing. This means a) I don't have lots of tops and b) I don't need any more bottoms!
However I love these skater skirts at River Island and they are all just £18 and under! They look the the comfiest things ever and I just spotted the tapestry one in the Just Arrived section - gorgeous! I'm really into berry and burgundy right now but I'll try to stay away from the skirt and invest in a burgundy knit instead, but another weakness is leopard print! The dark black version is a great alternative to an actual black skirt, and the right skirt is just the perfect tone and size! Alas, I do have a leopard skater skirt that actually is from River Island, so I can admire from afar but try to focus my shopping attention on other things. Now I just need to find a decent jumper without a cross or skull on it!
Here are a few things I've bought in the past couple of weeks - not a huge amount but each has a special place in my wardrobe heart! I can't wait until next week for pay day to hopefully see if I can buy maybe a new clothing treat - I'm hankering after a gorgeous jumper!
I've mentioned this before but I had my eye on this River Island rucksack for a while but was waiting for any more to pop up. New Look do have a slightly similar and slightly cheaper one but I really like the square flap and front pocket on this and the leather straps. However the drawstring is a piece of rope which looks cool but you have to tie it physically in a knot each time you close the bag, so it's not great if you're paying for something quickly or trying to grab your phone! Also there are no zipped inside pockets so finding anything is a bit of a 'mare. Things get very lost at the bottom!
I'm going to take up the Topshop 3-pairs-for-£8 deal on socks as they have by far the best high-street socks and I'm a bit obsessed with them in ankle boots, creepers or with flats, worn over plain black tights. Cosy, practical and cute - win!
This is the MUA £1 lip pencil my sister recommended - it comes out as a matte rich red/plum colour so very on trend for gothic berry lips this season. It stays put all day too and is much less smudge-friendly than lipstick. And there's sharpener in the lid! What an ultimate bargain.
I also have a couple of things from some new cross items we have at Motel, and thank you to everyone who helped me decide which dress to wear out on Friday! I put the options out on Twitter because I have no girly opinions in the house I live in now and just couldn't decide. In the end I went with the dress that fitted the best, which I think is a good rule of thumb as you will always look your best if you have the right underwear for what you are wearing and if it fits well. I wore the Zena Dress which yes I already own the same shape in now around 9 different prints and colours! The neckline is seriously flattering so I know they'll just work. Also the Zenas are now a little longer and thicker than your average Motel dress, yay!
Hi guys! I took a holiday day off work today so I have been relaxin' to the max and prepping for Wireless Festival tomorrow woo! I haven't been to a festival in a year since Parklife in Manchester so I have been veeery excited, especially as I cannot wait to see Nicki Minaj and Drake!! I think it's going to be insannnne! The problem is I can't decide what to wear! I hit town a few days ago to pick up the essentials first...
The forecast is rain for most of the day, but it's not clear if this will be some drizzle or full on showers eeek! This means my hair will be ruined sob! In the past I have been to V and Reading festivals quite a few times and was always really optimistic about rain, and so didn't really plan properly and got drenched. This time I picked up this leopard print mac from New Look, where I debated getting a plain one but opted for the bright! I picked up some cheap wellies too but can't decide whether to wear these River Island flatform trainers instead, as the festival has no camping so I doubt Hyde Park will be a mud fest! What do you think? I'd rather ruin these and buy another pair of trainers and return the wellies! Also got the standard flower headband and will be wearing these aztec socks from New Look definitely! All about cool socks at the moment.
Now onto the outfits! I cannot decide which of these shorts and tops to mix and match! I decided to definitely wear shorts for ease in portaloos and because I never really have chance to wear shorts in the day time! I'm not a huge fan of black tights and if not, that is a lotta leg on show for a normal work day. I might wear these Motel Rocks Dixie Shorts in the palm print (there are some Dixies in the sale for just £12 too!) as they are perfectly high waisted and the little cuts into the hem are really flattering (you can't really see them in these pics). Inspired by Taz, a member of the marvellous Motel web team, I could match prints with the matching palm crop top, or go with the ever cute white Hillary Crop - we sell a shed load of these as they can be worn with anything and stretch over your bra nicely so don't fall down.
Or I could go for classic denim high waist shorts from H&M like these with maybe this River Island neon lime crop top (only £3 in their sale!), Topshop skull bralette (although I think just about everyone owns this), or another Motel Rocks palm print Brandy Crop Top.
Decisions, decisions, what is your vote?! I'm swaying towards the palm shorts maybe, but then again the denim are so sturdy and reliable! I will most likely be wearing that mac so don't want to look too prints crazy. Also what are your thoughts on hats? I have a sort of black boater/bowler style hat like Demi Lovato but I am concerned someone cheeky would steal it off my head!!
Haha my bedroom is SO SMALL! Evening everyone, what do you think of bigger photos? Easier to see outfits? I wore this yesterday and actually felt rather normal in it rather than rather fruity,haha! Isn't it funny how you feel totally comfortable in some things but in others you feel a bit on show? Give me a fluro maxi skirt and I'm fine!
I got this River Island maxi last year in the sale and it's a bit big so looks almost like it has a paper bag waist. Maxis are the easiest thing to wear as you don't need to worry about tights or tan and, if they are high waisted, they look right with just about any top. I got this body that looks like a corset from Berksha when I was in Madrid and it's so comfy! I'm really getting into strapless things at the moment which isn't my usual choice but once you find something that stays up, they can be great with high waisted things - which is basically all I own!
I also did a wee video too although I haven't made one in a while so I am a bit random! I'm about to book a holiday to Barcelona *fingers and toes crossed* so if you have been there before, please could you suggest any central hotels? I hope you are having a lovely week, I have a good feeling about this one!
Evening all! Gosh it's hot isn't it? Boiling! I have to dry my hair in about half an hour which won't be too fun! I've just been on a veeery cheeky shopping trip as I needed to pick up another hair tint from Superdrug and they didn't have my colour. I popped into River Island and had to try on the shoes I'd blogged about yesterday, and then had to buy them! I tried on the floral pair but they were a bit too *much* for all the patterned things I already own, so I got the nude/taupe pair. The hidden platform really elongated your legs and improved your posture, and I got £8 off as they have a mark on the front which I'll try to remove!
I tried on these aztec flatforms too which were fab but would have sealed the deal if the platform was really oversized. I couldn't decide so I tweeted my dilemma - thank you for all your help! I thought I could the new trainers with: neon, Riding Pants, my pink Circle Skirt, high waisted denim shorts, my leather rucksack, a sleeveless polo neck, and I'm wishing I owned a neon green, rolled-up sleeve sweater/top from the H&M Trend section that I spotted last weekend. Why Bristol doesn't have H&M Trend, I really don't know.
As for shoes I don't really wear, I've only worn the River Island beauties below a handful of times as they need a certain sort of outfit and occasion. They're definitely one of a kind and a really unique shape, with lots of straps. I wish I had more occasions to wear them!
Right now... right now... resisting temptation and stepping away from the website... argh! So I'm trying to save money like crazy in order to go on some holidays and generally get out of here and away this year but it's rather hard at the start of the season with all this lovely newness. There are loads of things I'm loving right now and I'm like a magpie to prints. How good would the floral sweater and leggings be together in a nod to the pyjamas-in-the-daytime and head-to-toe-prints trends? Very! Absolutely perfect for maybe a Thursday at the office. However I'm mentally visualising if all these things were suddenly sitting in my wardrobe right now and how I could always wake up and wear something else in there. I've got a couple new things that still feel jazzy (internet shopping ftw) so I'm moving on. Tough stuff! Miss my River Island discount!
This was a tough question!! I can't decide if my favourite store is H&M or River Island, but if River Island had H&M's price points, it would seal the deal. I do have a soft spot for River Island as I worked there as an SA for nearly a year, and I love going in and seeing the new or move-on lines and how they are merchandising the store. I got this black maxi skirt with slits up the sides for only £20 a few weeks ago and it is a staple already! It goes with everything! I wear maxi skirts SO MUCH it is unreal. Well fitting trousers are too hard to find and it's too hot for tights yet. I got this Forever 21 top when I visited home for the birthday and it's my favourite at the moment; a bit Wildfox inspired I think!
I also snapped up these boots of PERFECTION in River a couple of weeks ago. I was looking for some chunky ankle boots with a little heel but all the nice ones in Topshop are sold out or are too expensive. These aren't real leather so they were only £40! They're hanging them on the clip hangers so move quickly because I predict these will sell out at that price. They are so comfy too! I can't wait to wear them with tights so I definitely need to bust out my huge bag of a million tights ready for a few weeks time.
It's been extremely busy at work at the moment so I haven't had much time to blog and I am having huge sleeping problems as I'm sure I heard a mouse in my room at 5am on Tuesday! I stayed in my housemate's spare bed and last night too but he is not in tonight so I am braving my room! I am listening out to every little sound and am definitely not paying rent until it is sorted; our neighbours had pest control in yesterday so I'm thinking they will all visit our house instead aaaaargh!!!
I haven't quite read my Elle UK issue this month but I did study the accompanying Runway Edit supplement as I was dying to know what is 'in' for this Autumn! I've been out of the runway fashion loop this year due to exams and having to go into uni for only about two hours, twice a week. It felt like a waste of makeup! And I lived in my jeggings. But working now means I need a minimum of five great outfits every week, and in a fashion office, anything goes as long as it's neat and presentable! I make a lot of effort in the mornings with my hair and makeup so it's nice to feel it's justified!
Elle is usually confusing when proclaiming something like the 'moderntrouser' is in, and none of your wardrobe seems to satisfy or dissatisfy this. However there's apparently a trend dubbed 'opticshock', which is everything bright, patterned, dotted, embellished, printed, glittery and furry all put together. This means I can transfer the spring brights trend!
Miss Selfridge cropped tee, New Look vest underneath, River Island maxi, New Look belt.
I was in London on Thursday for the Motel showroom launch party, which was fabulous and I met loads of lovely bloggers! I'll post about that next as I have a shopping list the size of my arm. Anyway, I knew the River Island sale started that day and that Oxford Street shops are open until late on Thursdays so I popped along at about 8.30pm and the sale was huuuge but almost everything was on the floor or in huge piles draped over fittings, about ten items deep. I could have took a photo because it was an unbelievable sight, but as you probably know, I was a River Island SA until very recently and it's no fault of the staff, it's customers that shop a bit too brutally. I've spent many sale shifts just picking things up and hanging them for hours and hours and it's hard to keep up, so the size of the Oxford Street store sale seemed way too big to cope, and it was late on the very first day in sale.
I had a glance and russell through it all and spotted this coral pink maxi skirt (it doesn't seem to be on the website) for £20 from £35. I had ordered the exact same skirt in blue from the website the night before but I'm really glad I picked this up in the end as it was meant to be this dark blue but in real life it's the forest/turquoise green below. I'll have to return it tomorrow! Or probably swap it for more sale things...!
The skirt had a mark on the back and so I got a further 10% off, so it was only £18. It is my homage to the infamous Jil Sander maxi that covered Elle, and I love everything high waisted. My skirt is more of a coral colour, so according to this 'opticshock' trend prediction, in the autumn I'll hopefully pair it with a contrasting colour top or something striped or polka dotted!
Also I'll probably do a room tour video or take some snaps this week of my Bristol home!
Hi all! I've been meaning to post about the mini holiday I went on about two weeks ago but thinking of it makes me quite sad! I only went for three full days as I didn't have that much time after I finished exams and started work, so it was very last minute. I really, REALLY wanted to go on holiday after the year of having assignments 100% of the time and also working at River so I persuaded my then boyfriend to go with me as none of my friends could! That's also why it's a bit sad to look at the pictures as we live in different cities now but girls run the world this blog so I won't go on about that! But yes I went on holiday with a boy so I had to give strict warning that I would take ages to get ready and wear makeup to the pool/beach.
We got a reeeally cheap deal in the end to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands of Spain for only £100 each including flights, hotel transfers, and an apartment with this amazing view! It was called Guanabara Park and Gran Canaria seems to be made up of a lot of resorts in valleys so we were up in the hills with this amazing view. It was a ten minute walk down to the beach and there was a hotel pool too, and a taxi up the hill was about 3euros so we just took loads! This is the 360 view from our balcony, and the apartment was huge and really clean; everyday our sheets were changed and the cleaners even did the washing up!
I didn't know the plane would be four hours long though as the clocks don't change in the islands so I was so bored! Here's a little Nails of the Week shot; I got them done in the salon in this fluro orange/pink colour called Amp'd Up by Colour Club, which I definitely have to buy as I have been looking for something like it for ages. My doodles are a sign of major boredom!
So I took total advantage of being a blogger with a boyfriend aka photographer, so I'm very grateful for all the photos! I did a video haul before the holiday as our deal was so cheap because we booked it the day before! It was the only time I could guarantee I could go away as before I had to move all my things home to Birmingham and sort out where I'm living now, etc, so when we knew we'd both have a few free days, we just booked it! So I left my boyfriend's in the morning and did a mad dash around town to pick up sandals and a hat and sun lotion and all other essentials.
I was lucky to have chose a sun hat as it was 35 degrees there!!! Insane! BBC weather said around 25 but apparently that is taken from the north of the island and we were in the south so it was scorching!
The hat is from New Look and was only about £7! The only problem about the island was that the food was really not great for vegetarians. We went self catering because we wanted to eat out but every restaurant was part of an open mall full of exactly the same restaurant selling every meal you could ever ask for! There was nothing traditionally Spanish. Also the vegetarian stuff usually went as far as pizza or an omelette, although we hunted down some places that were a bit better! This was a shot of rum that was given at the end of one meal.
So I have photos of almost every outfit I wore, bar the two days travelling. I wore my River Island fluro coral bikini finally, yay! I wore it that day with a River Island crop top and shorts from last year and sandals I quickly picked up in New Look. I also got one of those flower garland headbands from River Island, which I'd really recommend if you are going on holiday as you can wear them in the sea or pool and they make having wet hair feel a bit more glamourous!
I got this H&M maxi dress in 2008! I've only worn it on one holiday and the material is very beachy so I can't wear it at any other time! It's lovely though and perfect for the beach.
At night it was still so hot that I didn't wear half the stuff I brought, especially not heels! Here I'm wearing a H&M vest dress that I picked up in their current sale and an ASOS nude dress with cut-outs at the sides. Haha that night my boyfriend did karaoke in a bar and I was sitting outside but he was looking towards me so all the holiday makers in the bar were looking at me! He sang my name at one point too and everyone was like 'awww', haha I was so embarrassed! I included a little clip in the video below :)
I got this H&M dress recently but haven't worn it as it feels a bit much for daytime! However it's really lovely and has a cut-out at the back too. This was the hat I got and really used all the time because it was so hot!
It's quite dull here because it was about 10pm at night! This was our last night and I was really sad to be going so soon, it seemed like everyone around us had been there for weeks and we'd only just got there!
This was the beach in the daytime and there were many more to visit too. One day we got on a boat and went across to another beach, where we sat up on the boat roof. It was so scary but fun!
So that was my mini holiday! Can't wait until next summer, I'd love to go with my family or friends! Here are my outfits in video form and a few funny clips:
