6 Miss Selfridge items in my basket lately

This post was written before the recent acquisition of Miss Selfridge by ASOS.

To locate the featured products - or similar - head on over here

The hit skirt you may have seen on Instagram

Admittedly the product images for this skirt aren't especially captivating (light green wrap around skirt as above) however I saw someone wearing it on Instagram and this was the selling factor for me. And turns out I'm not alone as the influencer picture is now on the product listing (well was, before the Miss Selfridge website went down).

The print on this floaty maxi dress

It's just so versatile. I can imagine this dress being perfect for city breaks, tropical holidays, after work cocktails, date night and brunch with the girls. Like waaaay in the future when we're actually allowed to do these things ;) I ordered my normal size but it didn't seem to have enough space in the boob department. Miss Selfridge had a 20% off discount code so I re-ordered the same dress (top left as above) and also in the size up to compare. The size up came up too big on me. Oddly the size that was too small before was perfect on the second attempt. What I didn't realise is that the dress has ties that can loosened or tightened accordingly (doh!).

The LOOK AT ME bag

I am trying to be more mindful of the environment so when I last worked in an office environment many moons ago pre Covid I made a conscious effort to stop using plastic bags and switch them out for totes. The tote bag I have is from a blogger event but the biege colour isn't practical for every day life. I also carried around a miniature handbag, the strap of which rubbed against the tote bag and stained it. Said stain is burgundy so could very feasibly be a wine stain given my love of red wine. Whilst I was considering a black tote with a suitably witty remark on it, this mustard macrame bag (as above) jumped out at me as it's a little more aesthetically pleasing than a carrying a large black rectangle around with you. Easily my best find of the year (was £28, in the sale for just £7).

The floral print bardot dress of dreams

This dress is just so effortlessly cool. I'm not always a fan of that elasticated corseting detail on dresses (very compressing on the boobs) but if the cut of the dress is right, it can be really flattering. Especially with a bardot neckline like this one. This dress has since sold out but the same print can be found on their tea dress version here.

The fluffy knit that looks blue but is apparently grey 

I'm baffled too. It's blue right? Now sold out but a sneak peek available in top right hand image

Itsy bitsy teenie weenie polka dot bikini

What's better than polka dots? Rainbow polka dots! I love the BlueBellGray essence of the watercolour polka dots on this bikini set which help transform a simple white bikini to something much more special. Currently in the sale with discounts within the 49-58% range, it's definitely tempting! 

Which items are your favourites?

You may also like: 11 things filling my ASOS basket lately

11 things filling my ASOS basket lately

Broderie collar shirt (currently in the sale here) // Wine broderie dress (also in sale here) // Pink knit (also in sale here)
White dobby dress here // Khaki tie waist linen shorts here // White dobby shirt here

White broderie collar shirt

I've been toying with this shirt for the longest time but is it too extra? Turns out it's not. The balloon sleeves help balance out the wide shoulders brought on by the collar. My only slight criticism is that the body of the shirt is just way too big. Tucking the shirt in seems to help with this but I have re-ordered in a smaller size to see if a smaller size is the play here.

Another broderie collar shirt

From one broderie collar shirt to another (not pictured but you can find here) however this one is a little more low key with short sleeves and more of a normal fit. I can imagine it looking lovely peeking out from under a chunky knit.

Broderie dress

Most broderie dresses are white, long and free flowing, so I really liked this shorter version in this gorgeous wine colour with a square neckline. The dress is every bit as lovely in person and looked great on, however this enthusiasm quickly waned once I noticed a questionable crispy white stain on the front of the dress (there are no words).

White dobby shirt

I have an obsession with anything dobby and while white can be a bit of a soul less colour - particularly in interiors - this raised texture gives it an added dimension and interest. The good news? Dobby textures are starting to appear everywhere. Light boho inspired curtains and table cloths. Bedding (I have been longing over this bedding plus this). And of course clothing. I already have two white dobby shirts so why the need for a third? Because they are timeless and by far one of the most used things in my wardrobe. Perfect for a day at the office, worn casually with shorts, or as a beach cover up.

White dobby dress

Another dobby inspired find (can you tell that I'm obsessed?). It felt a little too restrictive (and conservative) when buttoned to the top. I actually preferred the dress worn back to front with the buttons behind me - is that weird?

Pink bobble knit jumper

A very similar concept in terms of that lovely raised detail to run your hands over, whilst at the same time adhering to my new found love of the colour pink as touched upon here. This sweater just looked so slouchy and comfortable and I imagined it looking amazing with one of the above broderie collar shirts worn underneath. In person it is slouchy and comfortable as well as being softer than I ever imagined. Definitely a keeper.

Tie waist shorts

I'm a big fan of khaki and high waisted trousers / skirts / shorts so these ticked many boxes. I love how ASOS have paired them with a white shirt which is exactly how I would style them and has me thinking back to that white dobby shirt (damnit).

Tie ankle espadrilles (currently in the sale here) // Leaf print shirt here
Leaf print shorts here // Vero Moda cut out sandals here

Tie ankle espadrilles

Ankle tie espadrilles are taking the world by storm. It can be tricky to find the perfect heel - not too high, not too low - but these fit the bill perfectly. And let me tell you now, these shoes go with everything and I will treasure for years to come. A huge thank you to Josie who first brought these to my attention through her amazing #ootd posts!

Grey cut out flats

I'm getting old and I just can't deal with heels any more. They ruin your feet and I just don't have the patience for them any more. I love a bit of grey and I thought the cut out detailing of these sandals was a bit more interesting than say a traditional sandal. What I've been impressed with is how incredibly comfortable they are due to the padding underfoot.

Patterned shirt and shorts

First things first. This isn't leaf print like they claim. It's more like jungle print or tree print, but trees do have leaves so I'll allow it. Introducing the weirdest fit ever. The shorts are very close fitting (I prefer shorts to have a little more give in them) whereas the shirt is stupid big. I actually had to return the UK size 8 and reorder in a UK size 6. And even that was huge. So if you order for yourself I'd recommend sizing up on the shorts and sizing down for the top. It's quite a jazzy coord set for something that is designed for everyday use (something that I can't get my head around). I ordered primarily to use as pyjamas as I love pyjama shirt / shorts combos and you can't usually find them in such interesting prints, however I will be returning due to the weird sizing. Had the shirt been a normal fit, it would have been a completely different story.

Which items are your favourites?

You may also like: 6 Miss Selfridge items in my basket lately

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4 things I have been loving lately

I used to have pink phobia (or pinkophobia according to Urban Dictionary) and now I find myself making an online order and 3/4 of the items are pink. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME

Pink coat (NOW SOLD OUT) // over-sized cardigan (NOW SOLD OUT) //
lace trim pink crop top here // Pink military style coat here

PINK COAT

Nothing screams spring more than a soft pink coat. I love pink coats paired with light blue denim and a simple white top. I couldn't decide between the above two (aren't they beautiful?) so naturally I ordered both. Which coat gets your vote?

OVERSIZED CARDIGAN

I love a slouchy cardigan for true dressing gown / robe vibes. I love the monochrome colour blocking on this one and the gold buttons - it looks so much more expensive than it was! (also comes in the cutest soft pink shade)

LACE TRIM KNITWEAR

Again with the soft pink.. WHO AM I. I usually prefer a v neck / scoop neck / off the shoulder on knitwear for a flash of skin, however I love the higher neck and lace trim of this one. It would look amazing with an updo like a high pony tail, don't you think?

What have you been loving lately?

The ballet flats that dreams are made of

I first started taking ballet lessons when I was knee high. I quickly discovered that it wasn't for me (I have about as much grace and poise as a tea spoon). Although ballet never worked out for me, I have always respected the discipline required and the sheer amount of hard work it takes to train.

Fast forward some years to the here and now, when one day I came across a pair of soft pink ballet pumps. It brought back all the memories and I couldn't not pick them up could I??

Pink tie leg ballet flats here

I find that some pointed courts can pinch and destroy your feet over time, but no word of a lie, these are an absolute joy to wear thanks to the padded, cushioned built-in insoles which I can only describe as like WALKING ON A CLOUD.

The ties are as buttery soft as the shoe itself, so feel suitably nice whether you wrap the ties around your ankles or higher up your leg. Whilst I don't have the grace or poise to be a ballerina in this lifetime, they do lend a grace to any outfit. They come into their own when paired with a long pleated skirt 

Polka dot long pleated skirt

They also work a treat in a more casual context with a silk camisole and chunky knit cardigan

Vila camisole here

Primark cardigan

Some may call them pink. Some may call them nude. All I know is that they blend in with my skin tone like state of art invisi-shoes. They are so lightweight I sometimes forget I even have shoes on (a far cry from my ballet days where the ballet pumps used to HURT LIKE HELL). 

Thanks for reading!

A few days away // a UK staycation

After a jam-packed few months, we needed a few days away to unwind. We didn't want to venture too far or spend too much, so a UK staycation was on the cards.

WHERE WE STAYED

We stayed somewhere that holds very special memories for the both of us. For me, because of family holidays I had there when I was younger. I later introduced Mr Curiouser and Curiouser one year for a mini break and it's become somewhat of a tradition.

What I love most about the area is the surrounding woodland and the treetop hotel / treehouse hotel feel to it. You walk through floor-to-ceiling glass walkways in amongst the trees and it doesn't matter whether it's raining, snowing or sunny outside, there is always this incredible sense of peace.

The hotel had asked for the nature of our stay and very kindly gave us a complimentary upgrade. And oh my, the room was beautiful.

Purple accents added a touch of luxury to the room, as did the silver dressing table, dresser and side tables. I adored the window seat and looking out in the mornings.

WHAT WE DID

Understandably it was pretty hard to tear ourselves away from our room. We took things at our own pace, enjoying woodland walks by day....

With a stop off at the local zoo

.....and enjoyed the hotel's incredible bar and restaurant as evening fell.

WHAT WE ATE

The hotel is always big on local produce and sources a lot of its meat from Hampshire. This time around we enjoyed a mini farmhouse loaf with groundnut butter, followed by a complimentary carrot gazpacho amuse-bouche, which had the heat of ginger and chilli despite being a cold dish. Bread course and amuse-bouche aside, we had scallops to start (standard) followed by venison with savoy cabbage, parsnip puree, parsnip crisps and spiced figs. For dessert I had pears poached in mulled wine. DELICIOUS.

On this particular visit the hotel surprised us with complimentary champagne, which we enjoyed in the bar afterwards, taking the rest with us up to our room.

WHAT I WORE

At the time I was going through a floral wrap-around skirt phase and the soft waves and curls in my hair were the product of being caught in the rain a fair bit (who needs straightners?!) <3

We've actually booked our next visit already because autumn is the best time of the year to visit (not too hot, cheaper rates, and excellent seasonal food in the restaurant). EXCITED

What travels do you have lined up next?

Our room upgrade was complimentary as was champagne at dinner, but the rest of the hotel costs, our food and days out were all paid for by ourselves

How to style an oversized blazer

* I received a complimentary item for review purposes but opinions and love of blazers all my own!

There's something about a blazer that always makes you feel a little more put together, don't you think? I can wear a simple white tee with black skinny jeans and look all plain Jane, but add a blazer and you feel like you can conquer the world.

And what's better than a blazer? A military style blazer (gold buttons really satisfy my magpie tendencies!)

White military blazer* (currently in the sale!)

As much as I love an oversized blazer, it does require careful styling so that it looks less scientist's lab coat, more borrowed from your boyfriend / fiancé / husband (hence why you may sometimes hear it fondly referred to as a boyfriend blazer!)

The key to styling an oversized blazer is to keep your body as slimline as possible to provide that contrast between a loose-fitting top layer and more closely fitting under layers.

AVOID

• baggy culottes
• wearing the same colour on your lower half
• big knitted jumpers
• wearing too many layers

The moral of the story? If you go for shapeless items under a less structured jacket, you are just adding bulk.

OPT FOR

• Slim fit trousers / jeans / leggings to balance the weight of the top of your frame (i.e the blazer)
• A little skirt / shorts would also do the trick here
• Draw attention to your waist with high waited trousers, paper bag waist styles and / or a waist belt to highlight your slimmest point.
• Lace and girly details -  counterbalance a masculine fit jacket with feminine details underneath (think lacy camisoles)
• Bare legs for a contrast between nakedness and non nakedness. Tread with caution as very oversized styles can make you look naked underneath!

In my case, I styled my blazer with high waisted military style shorts which ticked the following boxes:

• High waisted to draw attention to my waist
• Colour contrast between the jacket and shorts so it doesn't look too samey
• Contrast of showing some skin on my lower half and being covered up on my top half
• Matching a miltary style jacket with miltary style shorts
• A strapless bandeau top underneath gives the look a little more femininity than a regular tee
• The fitted strapless top and shorts combo resembles a playsuit and creates a slimline silhouette

Do you like a good blazer?

A huge thank you to Fashion World for providing me with the blazer of dreams!

The saffron skirt that radiates sunshine even when the sun isn't out

* I received a complimentary item for review purposes but opinions and love of pleated skirts are all my own!

"Lucy, do you need another black top?" one of my best friends asks despairingly.

Later that day I rummage through my wardrobe - which admittedly is filled with whites, blacks and greys - and I start to see her point.

It's not that I hate colour. On the contrary. It's just that I have never felt confident enough to wear bold colours. Black has always been fail proof for me in that it's classic, flattering and works for all occasions. As are whites and greys. Hence the predominantly black, white and grey wardrobe that I have accumulated over the years.

But times are a-changing people.

Ignoring the fact that I painted my bedroom grey (let's let that one slide), I am being much braver with colour around the house. I painted my lounge a beautiful deep teal colour (a far cry from its previous magnolia state), and have picked out a beautifully rich shade of aubergine for the home office. Not only that, but my wardrobe is coming along leaps and bounds too.

Introducing the saffron pleated maxi skirt of dreams.

And just some of the 1,456,745 reasons why I am loving this skirt:

• It radiates sunshine even when the sun isn't out (which is like, 90% of the time here in the UK)
• It's also a great autumnal colour - meaning it will still get plenty of wear post spring / summer
• It has a elasticated waistband - rendering it perfect for the sheer amount I eat
• It doesn't give you a bulbous waist / hips like some pleated skirts do 
• It's velvet and silky smooth - not that scratchy horrible feeling kind
• It's lightweight and has been the perfect thickness for the hot snap we've had here in the UK lately

I know what you're thinking. It's from that notoriously sought after online fashion brand where all the swoon worthy pleated skirts seem to come from. WRONG.

Introducing Fashion World. An online fashion retailer (a trading style of JD Williams) which stocks UK sizes 10-32, meaning there really is something for everyone. I have always had the greatest respect for fashion retailers who refuse to put a label / size limit on fashion, and who make fashion accessible to all.

I have had so many compliments on this skirt and people naturally (and wrongly!) assume that it is from that renowned online fashion brand that I alluded to earlier. Which is the greatest compliment to Fashion World as the skirt both looks and feels a lot more expensive than its £30 asking price.

Saffron pleated skirt* 

And know this: this skirt comes in two colours. 

And I opted for the saffron over the black.

My friend would be so proud.

The most rawrsome of t-shirts

Guess who's back at it again with the white vans amazingly imaginative blog post titles...THIS GIRL

Let's shake things up a bit.

Long time readers will know that I love fashion. And talking about it. And wearing it by virtue of  weird poses on this blog. Case in point here 

But today I'm talking MENS FASHION.

The lovely people at Jacamo got in touch asking if I'd like to treat the man in my life to a new look from their SS18 collection. Mr Curiouser and Curiouser isn't much of a shopper but I do think that he secretly quite enjoyed picking out some new bits from the Jacamo website. And having a parcel arrive for him and not me for a change. So here he is in action.

Jurassic Park tee here

First of all he chose this Jurassic Park tee as we're both huge fans of the films (no word of a lie: I could quite easily watch the films most weekends... that soundtrack though).

Walking through the woods, the park, and the long grass, it felt like a perfectly apt choice. Occasionally there was a rustle from a nearby bush and you know that feeling you get that you are being watched? Well, yes we were. But admittedly less raptor and more squirrel.

And what better shorts to walk around "Jurassic" park in then cargo shorts? This coming from a guy who loves his pockets (if the shorts or jeans in question don't have pockets, he's not interested). Forever wearing khaki shorts, he opted for a smarter black pair which received two thumbs up for pocket capacity.

Cargo shorts here (currently in the sale and also available in blue, khaki, navy & rust)

Lastly, he also chose this Jack Daniels tee as a throwback to our first ever holiday together where he used to have a shirt like this and locals would constantly be heckling him with novelties like: "JACK! Where are you going?" and "JACK! How's the whiskey?" Years on, and he can still rock a Jack Daniels t-shirt like a boss (admittedly I'm extremely biased).

Jack Daniel's tee here 

I always thought Jacamo only catered to the larger gentleman, however this whole experience taught me that this isn't the case at all! Jacamo stocks a wealth of sizes ranging from S to 5XL which was perfect for M. as his torso is what you'd call a pizza slice (broad shoulders, muscly arms and slim waist) so he had a good selection to choose from despite being of a slimmer build. He did say it was refreshing to have some t-shirts which weren't crazily slim fit and which offered some space so he wasn't 'hulk-ing' out of them. Particularly in this heatwave we've been having lately.

Both t-shirts featured above are standard fit, but the Jurassic Park tee also comes in long if you are of taller stature and need the extra length. I will officially be borrowing both of Sir's new t-shirts because caring is sharing, right? ;)

A huge thank to you Jacamo for making my partner look like a rock star. And thank you to Mr Curiouser and Curiouser for being such a good sport and modelling for me! ;)

* items in this post very kindly gifted by Jacamo. As ever, all words and opinions are my own

12 summer holiday essentials perfect for your next holiday

I'm not going to lie, I have the biggest case of wanderlust right now. The last travel piece I wrote was on Gran Canaria here and that combined with a Madeira Tourism event I attended last week has only intensified my desire to hop on a plane. But where should I go and write about next? (suggestions in the comments below please!)

One of the things I enjoy most about going abroad is planning my holiday wardrobe and how you can wear things you may not be able to back home. For instance, I wouldn't exactly go for lunch in London dressed in just a bikini. When I'm away, I'm a lot more care free about about how short my dress is, needing a bra, or how deep a plunge my swimsuit or dresses have. And you know what? It's liberating.

One of my go to places for stocking up on summer essentials is Forever 21. It's an affordable way of doing so (as you'll see from the prices I've quoted below) with some great fashion forward pieces. And just so you know, this feature is in no way sponsored by or in collaboration with Forever 21. I just wanted to share some of my favourite pieces I've seen on the site lately and also a discount code I found recently on Mail Online which offers 30% off any 5 items or more purchased from the site, rendering already affordable prices, even more affordable. Read on for the discount code and for my top summer picks

Foliage print maxi dress £35 £24.50

Satin floral maxi dress £52 £36.40

Seaform striped playsuit £15 £10.50

Striped beach playsuit £20 £14

Whenever I travel to a warm destination, I always like to pack a few maxi dresses. They are great for the evenings when the temperatures start to drop and I love wearing something a bit dressier for dinner. I fell in love with this satin floral maxi dress with its plunge front, open back and high cut slit. Admittedly it's a little on the pricier side for Forever 21, however with the 30% discount code, this was more my sort of price. The foliage print maxi dress is a little more day time I feel, and something I could visualise wearing back home too. 

Another one of my summer holiday essentials is a playsuit. How beautiful is the blue off the shoulder playsuit? It comes in other colours too (red, and black & white), but I was drawn to the brilliantly named "seafoam" version (as pictured). And again with the stripes (obsessed much?!), I adore this red and white striped pool cover up. Perfect for coming out of the pool and heading to the bar for a much needed cold drink.

Red bustier swimsuit £26 £18.20

Mint sunkissed swimsuit £20 £14

Grey striped cover up £35 £24.50

Red & white striped bikini £28 £19.60

Again with the red and white stripes (in fairness I wear my red and white striped breton top all the time!). In true Where's Wally / Where's Waldo style, no one would lose you on the beach in this red and white striped bikini. Further to the red and white pool cover-up (above), I was drawn to another striped cover up, but this time in the form of a longer grey and white one. Because grey. And whenever I travel I like to take a mixture of bikinis and all-in-one swimsuits with me so I'm ready for any occasion. I love the colour mint so this mint coloured swimsuit really spoke to me (plus mint looks incredible with a tan!). And how different is this structured red bustier swimsuit? It also comes in nude, but I personally love the red. It's a bit Baywatch, but with a difference.

Brown longline cardigan £22 £15.40

Planet graphic tee £10 £7

Red polka dot dress £18 £12.60

Red shirt dress £20 £14

I love the back of this red polka dot dress. It's a good day trip dress and something I'd happily wear back home post-holiday too. And the same goes for this red shirt dress. I adore a shirt dress (something that has been long imprinted in me since finding this berry shirt dress). And how amazing does the brown cover up look over a simple white tee and denim shorts? It adds a little something extra don't you think? And everyone who wants to visit every inch of this planet needs this cute "love your planet" tee in their lives. When I pack for a trip I always make sure I have some round neck tees and sensible shoes as I love going for hikes and long walks. Even if you don't use the 30% discount code, £10 for a t-shirt is not bad going!

I ordered a few of the above as well as a pair of sunglasses (down from £4.40 to a mere £3.15!), but these sunglasses have now sold out and I can't link to them sadly.

What are your favourite items?