FLYING SAUCER

A Quest For Lazer

Hey guys! Hmm I'm not sure where to start with catching up with you, I've had a few weeks of busy, busy weekends and busy, busy weekdays. By busy, I mean travelling lots to see family and friends and then keeping all of you fashion shoppers stocked with the latest Motel offerings. In my eyes there's always something productive to do so you won't often find me without a to-do list, and in the past few weeks I've continued to eBay like crazy too. I've made a tidy sum to save for a rainy day so the lengthy uploading process and lunch time trips to the post office do pay off.

I'm hoping I'll have more exciting outfits to share when the weather heats up, but right now we are stalling through a chilly spring and I have stayed true to my spring-means-trousers habit. I think I tend to always go for trousers during this time of year because I don't like to wear black tights when the days are light and breezy, and it's definitely not time to get your legs out yet. Enter my new Topshop joggers, which I actually got on eBay for £6. I was hunting some 'smart' joggers for a few weeks and Topshop only had pairs with graffiti prints, but some searching on good old eBay lead me to these. 

I had so many outfits in mind when pairing these with my ASOS ankle strap nude shoes. I've worn them SO much, literally every day to work, as they add a totally chic twist to every outfit. Kitten heels may be small but they make as much of an impact as towering heels do. They also feel very grown up and ladylike! 

I'm also still chuffed with the Zara lazer leather sweater I managed to find in the Birmingham store. I don't really shop a lot nowadays as I had a much larger disposable income when I was a student, but I am a lucky shopper and always seem to find popular, sell-out items. There are so many things to love about this sweater, from the faux leather applique front to the quilted sleeves to the sheer back panel. It's also the easiest thing to quickly throw on but will look eternally chic, so it's perfect for a grab-and-go outfit that still looks smart. I've streamlined my wardrobe so I can find an outfit in five minutes that will have as much effect as one that was carefully pulled together in twenty minutes by investing in easy pieces like this and not buying filler things like plain leggings or cardigans.

I hope that gives a snapshot of where my wardrobe is in terms of fashion lately; this blog has seen me go through so many different styles and inspirations over the years! You can also see my Tumblr for what I am feeling at the moment but I'm excited to bring more real-time outfits to this blog soon... and maybe with some sunshine too!

Lucky Lace

I was on a hunt for a new dress all of last week for my housemate's birthday on the Friday. You know when you are looking for something and you just don't find it? I was after new shoes and a new dress but couldn't find either! There are no decent heels in the shops right now anywhere it seems. I did a mid-week ASOS order but everything was thin and too stretchy, so it was by chance that in the final hour I found this dress in Topshop. I had this picture that I reblogged on my Tumblr in mind and searched far and wide online for a similar dress, and then I went and found exactly it! 

Hidden behind a rail of bright midi dresses I found this lace beauty and thanked the Gods of shopping! It is nude with a very thin velvety overlay of paisley lace. However when I tried it on, I realised it only stretches in one direction so the sleeves are SUPER tight. Before you put it on, you have to make sure the seams are in the correct place or you will not be able to twist the sleeves once it's over your head! I also knew I didn't want a midi length as it just felt too formal for a cheesy club in Bristol, so I planned on hemming it, but actually in the end I just folded it under once about 10 inches! I'm so pleased I can still wear it as a midi length if I want to, and you can't tell it is folded under at all. They also have it in blue lace too! It was only £36 which is excellent for Topshop and for a longer length, and it should be in my outfit rotation for a long time!

Feeling Flutey

This photo was from the last time I went home against one of my Mom's amazing wallpapers; that lady loves an accent wall! This Flute Skirt from Motel is one of those new items that you almost forget you have because it's not quite worn-to-death yet, and then you remember it is in your wardrobe and you get a little buzz. It's actually a thin white faux leather and for someone with soooo much black in my wardrobe, it's a fresh change! Circle skirts will forever be my fail-safes! 

The first time I saw the polo neck crop tops in Topshop they had all sold out so I snapped up the black and white versions as soon as I saw them! I had to restrain myself from going any more into polo necks as they were an immediate favourite and I just had to hunt for a dress too. I returned the said dress as really, I don't need a 5th black maxi dress no matter which neckline it is! Still loving these crop tops though, and they're a tad warmer than your usual crop top affair!

P.S. If anyone has any advise on saving photos so they appear high quality when uploaded, please do tell me, I would love to know! I think my photos go blurry once they are uploaded x

One Studded Lady

I had a Topshop voucher at Christmas but saved it up for their SS13 drop. I have visited the shops a few times to return things or buy presents recently but the shops are totally dull! It might be the January vibe but as it is such a long month, the sales are drawing out so there are only random unwanted items left, and there is not quite anything new just yet. The biggest transitional trend is clearly monochrome and I'm bored of black and white - I already own so much! I'm not a huge fan of graphic, metric prints either so nothing has been catching my eye.

One thing on my mental shopping list was a new bag, as they are one of your most used purchases and we will still be wearing coats to cover our outfits for a few months. I've had backpacks and rucksacks throughout the past year which I love but my current leopard one started feeling a bit sloppy, and I want to be a little more chic this year.

I was browsing the shops on Thursday feeling very downbeat with everything there and after two trips around Topshop, I resigned myself to exchange some things for just a gift card, but spotted this lone bag on a shelf. It's the Studded Lady Holdall in 'dirty pink' but I'm going to call it a dark blush/nude! It's not a pale - it's definitely a warm rose colour. Topshop have loads of leather bags but they always seem to do a great faux leather bag at a lower price point, and £40 is pretty good! They do it in black and grey too, but I nabbed this one. It will be nice to have a bag on my arm again rather than hanging off my shoulder.

Topshop Wishlist

Hi guys! I'm going to omit the obligatory 2012 summary post as quite frankly it was a year that life was a rollercoaster off a cliff! My only resolution is to chill out as things are so much better and this involves wearing chic, simple and form-fitting items. Wanting these Topshop items for a long Monday tomorrow!

Oxblood Skirt, Open Neck Crop, Role Back Tee, Hip Skater Skirt

Starry Night

Hi all! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Mine was very different to the norm but it's so lovely to be at home even for a little while, and despite travel complications because of the flooding, I manged to see all the special people I wanted to! I have been a bit under the weather but purposely have tried to do very little and want to ring in the new year in perfect style.

Here are a few snaps from a few weeks ago! I lusted and I avoided but I have a very big soft spot of Wildfox. I have the classic logo tee and had the ouija board dress once, but nowadays the prices are way out of my reach. I've seen a few really cheap knockoffs of the Seeing Stars Lennon sweater but I saw this jumper in Topshop and the rest is history.

Topshop jumper, Miss Selfridge maxi dress, River Island creepers

I have a few black maxi dresses now and always layer them for work on a casual day. These photos were taken near work with Motel girls Lucia and Sophie! As daylight is so short, we all have trouble taking good photos so we came together in all our blogging glory. You have to check out their blogs, these are two of the best girlies!

The Wildfox Fall 2011 collection lookbook is the best one ever in my opinion - I LOVE '70s flares and the curls and the platforms. I'm tempted to cut up my jumper into laddered holes when I've had my wear out of it, and wear it with my denim high waist flares and a floral headband.

Glam Happenings

I feel very lacking in the glamour department as of late and want a few gloriously fabulous things in my life! Things that are just damn fabulous. I'm starting my Christmas shopping on Saturday and may look around for a few cheeky pieces for myself. I desperately need some new heels as my feet have shrunk a size for some reason and I keep falling out of my own! My friend has these Topshop Lassie Platforms in black and cork and they are the kind that make a statement but basically look great with everything. The brown with black straps are probably most versatile but these leopard ones would be quite amazing. They are super high but look really comfy, and £55 is a decent Topshop shoe price.

I let myself loose in Oxford Circus Topshop the day after the Motel bloggers party in London (woo!) but it was cut even shorter when an alarm went off and everyone was somewhat calmly evacuated. I had walked through Miss Selfridge and spotted this glitter encrusted bag covered in studs, complete with a handy hand strap (hoho), and dubbed it my next 'going out' bag. You can't see all the studs in the picture but it is covered! Alas this purchase wasn't meant to be as I had to leave the shop with everyone else quite sharpish after the alarm started, but I'm going to go to Miss S here on Saturday to have a closer look. £30 made me wince a little though!

Topshop has some wedges like this a while ago that were simply a blast of iridescent glitter, and hopefully these New Look versions will be the same. I just fancied a bit of sparkle, and if the glitter is multicoloured then they should look a lot more expensive. If not, maybe not.

And lastly, I still can't think of a colour to get my nails painted on Saturday apart from white with glitter over the top again! Hmmm! Topshop's Rising Star polish would be perfect over a pearly white polish, but I haven't bought my own in ages since realising I might as well use the salon selection always!

Topshop Tartan

How disappointed I was when I went into River Island and scooped up the lust-worthy skater skirts of dreams and found even the size 6 was droopy and boring on! What a shame! I love skater skirts and despite having a bunch, I was very keen to get another but alas the fit was not meant to be. I love fuller, more structured skater skirts and spied this Topshop tartan skirt while I was browsing and trying on a few things. The fit is extremely flattering with a full 'poof' from the waist as it has a little underskirt layer. It's perfect with the polo neck crop tops that they've brought out in loads of colours - I nabbed a white one when they had sold out but now they have loads of colours! I got the black too but should have waited and maybe got a dress. The tops themselves are quite long so don't always come up super cropped, but I roll them under a little.

I'm still spending less and saving more but I have had a few buys this month which I'll show you soon! Half of the things I got I ended up returning so the things I have kept I really love. I really want a black rose headband that isn't huge or really long so if you see any, do let me know! x

Off Shoulder Florals

Evening all! So last week I had a brainwave at work as Motel girl Sophie had started a fashion blog! Sophie works with me talking to all bloggers out there about the current Motel gossip so it was fitting that she joined the blogging world, and you can find her super cute blog Across The Universe here! I've been struggling with ways to take outfit photos as the set up and lighting is just not working in my current room, so I thought maybe we could take snaps of each other when Sophie is in the office! These photos were taken by fellow Motel web team babe Lora, who also takes photos for Motel, and I'm so excited to finally share my current wardrobe with you again! This should make my blog much more accurate with what I'm wearing day to day.

Motel Debbie Dress, American Apparel Circle Skirt, Topshop studded flats

So my off shoulder obsession continues with this Motel Debbie Dress worn as a top - one of the few bodycon dresses that I have just worn in the day time! I would have thought off shoulder things would be slightly uncomfortable but you pretty much forget about the neckline as they don't ride up or fall down. I'm still wearing my peach American Apparel Circle Skirt into autumn and want to team it with berry red and dark blue too, and I just wore my studded Topshop flats which are now only £15 in the Topshop sale?! For me I feel totally made together if my shoes and hair are both looking good! Wearing old, tattered ballet flats makes me sad.

And how amazing is this inspiration wall?! The Motel design team have an office below ours but they are usually based in Bali, Indonesia, so we can pop in and admire all the upcoming pieces.

 

Treats and Traumas

Hi guys! A little late night check in from me as I have been round the shops yet again and have not seen anything that I wanted to part with my cash for! What is going on?! I'm currently on a bottoms ban (aka no trousers, skirts, leggings, etc) as I have so many that I still love, but I could do with some knitwear as more of a 'priority'. I'd love a burgundy jumper but haven't seen the winner yet!

I'm still waiting to use someone's student discount on the soft River Island creepers but have bought a bunch of Topshop socks in preparation! I love the frillies and seriously love these the thick fold-over detail on the right pair. I'll be washing these in bleach so they stay the brightest white!

I also realised I had a decent amount of Boots points and tried to re-buy my favourite contour/bronzer colour, Brickie by 17. I got this probably two years ago and now they seem to have discontinued it, nooooo!! No signs on eBay or the'net either. Why didn't I stock up on this £3.50 beauty?! I did wonder if they had changed the name and it was now the rather similar shade Nude but alas they are not identical. Nude is still pretty though and shall get hopefully as much use as it's older sister.