Party Time

Despite being a big old introvert who doesn't like parties, I made an exception for the work Christmas do. Well you have to, don't you? My colleagues are a lovely bunch, plus there was an open bar. Yoicks! I frocked up, whacked on some red lippy and went out.

If I were a proper organised sort of blogger, I'd no doubt have scheduled in a separate photoshoot outdoors, in daylight, in front of a colourful doorway to show off my outfit to optimum effect. Instead I completely forgot, got drunk and then flung my phone at someone at the very end of the night and shrieked "Don't take any pictures where I look fat!". Classy.

(Why, oh why, is red so hard to photograph? Admittedly we were in a fairly dark hotel lobby and both the photographer and subject had had a shandy or twelve but still, grrr.) This frock is the absolute perfect shade of red and I love it. You may have to see it in real life to appreciate what it actually looks like though.

London skyline tights FTW.

Dress - Dorothy Perkins
Heels - Shelly's, Spartoo
Bag - gift
Jacket - vintage, from Kinky Melon
Tights - can't remember! They're epic though.

Despite my antisocial tendencies, I had a lovely night. 

A Festive Frock

I made my Christmas party dress this year. Hark at me!



Mooching around Dunelm in October, I came across Christmas fabric and rather fell in love with this vintage inspired print fabric. I pondered hard - the house is sucking up all my spare cash at the mo and really, I could have just worn a frock I already had, couldn't I?

However, Christmas needs new clothes. It's the law. Honest it is. New pjs for Christmas Eve are an absolute must (this may perhaps be a Scouse thing but I reckon it should be an everyone thing) and you have to have something pretty to wear on the big day itself. Same rule kinda applies to the work do.

T'was an excellent bargain as it turns out. The shop assistant and I were both in rather dozy form and I waltzed out of the shop, went home and only then discovered that although I'd asked for 3m, she'd given me 4m and only charged me for 2m!



As for the final result, I freely admit that the satin trim did not work properly. I might have had plans for the frock in mind since the autumn but I wasn't organised enough to buy any proper bias binding and this ribbon did not want to get pressed into service as makeshift bias binding. I ended up just stitching it straight on and it's gone all wonky. The girls assured me that it looks like it's meant to be a ruched sort of trim neckline and I'm going with them on this.

I made it in a day though, minus the time spent going into town for lunch and to watch a live screening of The Crucible (and holy heck, that's a long play!) and I'm pretty impressed with myself for that. I haven't sewed anything for months and I thought I might have forgotten how to do it.




Dress - handmade, Simplicity 2444
Petticoat - Vivien of Holloway
Blazer - Warehouse via Oxfam
Heels - Shelly's



Also, yes, not great pics. I take so flipping long to get ready for a night out that there's never any time left to set the camera up and take proper outfit photos.

The frock goes smashingly with a beard though!

Is It A Bird? No, It's A Plane

I like it when a plan comes together.

I also very much like it when an outfit comes together. I don't usually put that much effort into pairing things up - things either work within the context of my limited wardrobe and accessories or they don't. Time and money prevent me from dithering around finding the "perfect" thing to match it up with.

Also I have a raging hatred for blog posts about things like "10 ways to wear jeans". Here's a crazy notion: put them on your legs and get on with your day.

 Ahem. Am I a fashion blogger or a fraud?

So I totes bought this AMAZE top and I was all "OMG, whatever will I wear it with?"
*consults ASOS, asks on Twitter etc*



Yeah, I actually just looked in my wardrobe and went "That'll do", then ended up actually liking my reflection in the mirror for once. Score.

It is an amazing top though. Maps and planes!!

Top - Vero Moda (get it here)
Blazer - Warehouse via charity shop
Jeans - Gap
Heels - Shelly's via Spartoo
Stacking rings - Dorothy Perkins

Paddington...version 2

Nope, I haven't made another Paddington item of clothing. I probably should...I'm sure there was a decent amount of fabric left over after I made this skirt. Where on earth I've put it though, I don't know. Probably in the same place the missing red zip is stashed. They'll turn up eventually, they always do.

What I have done is teamed it up with lots of black things. Let's face it, the skirt is fairly bold. Although I paired it up with red last time to pick up some of the pattern colours, it really doesn't need that to help it look awesome. Basic black is a nice backdrop to make it stand out even more.



Any chance to wear my fave ridiculous black heels is welcome!





Skirt - handmade
Cardi - Gap
Jewellery -MerCurios
Shoes - Shelly's

The Big Day

My big brother is getting married in October. Too soon to start planning my outfit? I think not!

I already have my heart set on this dress:

50s halterneck polka dot dress by Vivien of Holloway.

As I've been reliably informed that someone my height will have to have a VoH frock shortened, it's best to get it bought in plenty of time, isn't it?

I'm much less certain on the subject of accessories. I think I'm fixed on the plan of making them black - I don't want to be head to toe in green, plus it'd be really hard to match specific shades without either going mad searching the shops or getting things specially dyed. It's the style that I can't decide on.

In the footwear department, do I go for something a bit frivolous like these Melissa Lady Dragon Westwood shoes seeing as it's a wedding?

Or maybe something a bit chunkier but still very cute, like this Shelly's pair?

I really like them both. Argh.


As the constant battle to cover up my awful upper arms rages on, I'm also trying to decide between sticking with the 50s theme and getting a Vivien of Hollway bolero:

Or looking for something else.  I'm inclined to think that a cardi would be too casual and a jacket/blazer wouldn't work in terms of shape, but I'm struggling to visualise it.

Help!