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.

OOTD // Pyjama chic

When you hear the words "pyjama chic", I'm talking silky two pieces which look like luxe sleepwear, and loose trousers which could easily pass for pyjama bottoms. Although not brave enough to wear the former out, as for the latter, I'm all about that comfy trouser life. Having had a pair for years now, they are officially the comfiest things ever. I wear them around the house and on plane journeys they are are a GODSEND. I usually get raised eyebrows from people when I wear them; hey you lazy sod, too lazy to bother getting dressed today. But au contraire, ladies and gents. These are proper legit trousers.

Up until now, I haven't felt very comfortable wearing them out for other events that don't include the airport or a quick dash for groceries, but the pjyama chic trend coming around makes me feel a little less timid to wear such a look out.

Camisole (thrifted) // YSL bag* //Trousers (old) // Shoes (gifted)

Because of their loose shape, I like to wear something a little more fitted on top to balance out the look. I usually go for strapless bandeau tops, or a delicate camisole like the one featured above. This top I've had for years (a hand me down from my aunt!) and is one of my favourites. It has scallop detailing on it too - meaning I was all about the scallops right from a young age!
And can we talk about the shoes? These were a recent gift from family who just came back from holiday and they are the comfiest things I have put on my feet in a very long time.

How you do feel about the pyjama trend?

*A huge thanks to Farfetch for introducing me to the bag of my dreams!

OOTD // A monochrome look with YSL and FarFetch

When it comes to fashion, I'm a bit of a colourphobe. If you were to delve into my wardrobe, you would be metaphorically drowning in a sea of black, white and grey. I'm all about that monochrome life, you see. The other weekend I got dressed in - you've guessed it - my typical monochrome get-up and ventured to the woods to catch Pokemon for a nice day out.

Top // Jeans // Bag // Shoes (old)

I'm so happy it's warming up as it means I can ditch the tights, boots and knitwear, and feel the sun on my skin FINALLY. I wanted to wear something simple and classic, without taking the shine away from my bag, as it's such a statement piece. And you can't get any more simple or classic than a pair of black jeans. I live in my black jeans. Everyone has their preferred cut / fit at Topshop, but my favourite is the Leigh range as it's not too high waisted, nor too low rise. The top I bought from Topshop a little while ago and it's been hanging in my wardrobe ever since, begging to be worn. And now I'm making up for lost time! I'm loving the off the shoulder trend at the moment - a white bardot top is so much more interesting than a bog standard plain white tee, don't you think?

I love how the bag pulls together the look. Suitable both day and night, this bag is a classic and will never go out of style. Check out that lettering. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before on a designer bag. It's just beautiful. A true work of art.

It's a small bag without being a small bag - you can still fit plenty in it. I'm used to carrying around large and heavy bags, so this was a lovely change and I feel myself becoming the small bag convert! I mean, do I really need to be carrying everything but the kitchen sink around with me?! I think not.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this look :) How would you style a bag like this? I have a few more outfit posts lined up with the bag to show it in a more casual context - so watch this space!

* A huge thanks to Farfetch for the bag of my dreams!

OOTD // Keeping things casual

When you see designer bags on Instagram and Pinterest, the owner of the insanely beautiful bag is usually all legs, wearing the most coveted of outfits and skyscraper heels, with the air of having just stepped off the catwalk, en route to their next Fashion Week show. You rarely see a designer bag in a casual context with straight-out-of-bed-hair. Until now that is.

Lazy weekends mean I want to be comfortable in what I'm wearing. My go to weekend staple has to be denim shorts and a tee and / or knitwear. This sort of outfit is great for lazying around the house in, or heading down the road to pick up groceries / going to the post office / other boring aspects of adult life. Simple but effective.

My favourite piece of knitwear I own has to be this sandy coloured number (just £13!). It's fairly light-weight compared to other knitwear which makes it a great transitional piece for spring / autumn / typical British weather and is great for layering with. It's also slightly over-sized which I love as it means it can hang off one shoulder all sassy like.

Jumper (Forever 21) //  YSL bag // Shorts (old)

Another personal favourite is this chunky khaki knit. It's not a colour I'd usually go for (it's not black, white or grey for starters!), but it's a lovely deep forest sort of green and looks ace worn with blue denim.

Khaki jumper (Forever 21 old)

Another F21 jumper... this post is starting to feel like it's sponsored by Forever 21! (it's not for the record!). I just genuinely love Forever 21 and I do pick up 90% of my knitwear from there.

So there you have it. Two looks with a designer bag in a more casual context. Next time I am taking casual to a whole other level, exploring if designer bags and 'pyjama chic' are a marriage made in heaven or not - so it will be interesting gauging your reactions on that one! Do you like designer bags styled in a more casual way? Or do you prefer a glossier look?

* A huge thanks to Farfetch for the bag of my dreams!

6 ways to style a maxi dress

When it comes to finding the perfect summer dress, it's all about versatility. Finding a piece that doesn't look out of place come rain or shine; that can dressed up or down; and taken from day to night. Here are my top 6 ways of how to style a maxi dress this summer.

1. Is a skirt? Is a dress?
Just because something is labelled as a dress, doesn't mean you have to wear it as a dress. I like mixing up my maxi dresses by wearing them as skirts too. Simply wear a boyfriend tee, crop top, or a shirt on top to give your dress a new lease of life.

Maxi dress

2. .... or maybe it's a top?
Same rules apply. But as a top. Why not try tucking your dress into a pair of shorts / jeans / different skirt?

3. Why ruin a classic?
Appreciate the dress for what is is. Particularly when faced with a pretty print like this one. Make the print the main star of the show, and stick to basic and delicate jewellery and gladiator sandals. I adore the layered detail on this top which gives it a two-piece feel.

4. Dressed to the nines
Maxi dresses for me are usually casual comfort for those swelteringly hot days. But who's to say that maxi dresses can't be dressed up? Team yours with a fitted blazer / cropped jacket to draw attention to the slimmest part of your silhouette: your waist. Extra style points for incorporating a waist belt!

5. Embrace your grunge side
Why not try a leather jacket and ankle boots (if unlike me you actually have a pair!) for a grunge inspired twist?

6. Chilly summer evenings
You know the deal. Day time you are struggling in blisteringly hot weather, but come sun down, you feel the goosebumps pricking up on your arms. A over-sized knit makes the perfect cover up for chilly summer evenings.

And that's it for my maxi dress styling tips! If you have any maxi dresses hanging in your wardrobe, dig them out, and experiment to your heart's content - maxi dresses are so versatile and you can get so much wear out of them. Fully obsessed with #ihavethisthingswithfloors on Instagram, I fell in love with this blue tile print maxi dress which reminded me of the prettiest Moroccan tiles. So unbelievably floaty and comfortable, this dress will definitely be getting a lot of use from me this summer!

*Although this maxi dress was very kindly provided by JD Williams, summer dress styling tips and love of maxi dresses all my own!

Finding the perfect dress to last you through the summer - no matter the weather

What type of dress could this be, I hear you ask. A maxi dress? A bandeau? No my friends, I am proposing The Shirt Dress. I love a shirt. But then again, I do love a dress. Now imagine the two getting together and this item of clothing being the result... it's a thing of beauty.

Shirt dress *

I own this dress in cassis which is a beautiful berry sort of colour, and cries out for a matching berry lip. This dress also comes in khaki and black, which given the wonderful fit and feel of the dress, is making me seriously consider picking up the other two colours to complete the set. Particularly now that they're in the sale for a mere £30.

The sleeves can rolled up or down - depending on what takes your fancy - and the belt helps to create some shape by nipping you in at the waist. The material of the dress is lightweight and thin - but by no means see through - making it the ideal choice for summer getaways, day trips and the like.

For my summer inspired look, I wanted to keep things simple, to let the dress do the talking. It's such a beautiful colour, it makes enough of a statement as it is. I teamed mine with delicate jewellery and Valentino style criss-cross flats. However there is a lot of potential to style a shirt dress like this. My top tips:

1. Wear with lace-up-the-leg gladiator sandals to emphasise tanned pins. Go for a tan coloured sandal to contrast beautifully against that lovely berry colour
2. Wear with a large floppy hat and shades for the ultimate summer look. 
3. Try a chunky knit on top and ankle boots for an off duty model sort of look. This will transform the dress into a button up skirt for an alternative use 
4. When travelling, for the ultimate capsule wardrobe, why not repeat wear another day, but this time with the dress tucked into high waisted shorts or jeans? This will give the dress a new lease of life and will save you valuable suitcase space for bringing back souvenirs and / or duty free ;)

Hope you like the dress and that this piece allows you to find inspiration for how to incorporate shirt dresses into your summer wardrobe. On me it's a pretty decent length meaning it's a perfectly acceptable item for me to wear to the office or for other occasions where I need to be a little more covered up!

* Dress very kindly provided by JD Williams but as ever, all opinions are my own!

FESTIVAL STYLE // Palm tree print tee

Festival style for me is all about having fun with colours, prints and textures. My favourite print this season? Tropical print. Think palm trees and pineapples. Tropical print is increasingly cropping up on the high street - so much so, that it's edging it's way into homeware and interiors too, what with copper pineapple ornaments and green leafy cushions. Whilst floral crowns continue to be the go to fashion accessory to complete your look this festival season, why not take the inspired-by-nature look one step further with palm tree print?

My favourite offering on the high street right now has to be this palm tree cami. Super, super soft and lightweight, it's the perfect layering piece, should your festival go from thunderstorms and muddy puddles to heatwave (we can dream!)

For my festival inspired look, I teamed with white cut off shorts and sandals. Forever optimistic, I incorporated peep toe sandals into my festival look as by some stroke of luck, I haven't yet been to a festival where it's been muddy or raining!

Therapy tropical / palm tree print top* - £20

I love the different shape of the neckline and straps, rendering it not quite halter neck, but also not a traditional strappy top as we know it either. I find some tops look better worn with a skirt / shorts / trousers [delete as appropriate], however this isn't the case with this top which seems to go with everything! It's a truly versatile piece which looks equally good with crisp white jeans as it does with denim cut offs.

Now I'm festival ready, all I need now is a cider in my hand and a festival to go! Who's with me?

*Top very kindly provided by House of Fraser, love of festival style and tropical print my own!

Blue bardot off the shoulder dress and walking with dinosaurs

British Summer Time came, smiled, and then waved goodbye for another year. I wish I was joking, but this is typical British weather. In the mere days of heat and sunshine we had the other week, I decided to make the most of it by heading out for walks aplenty. My favourite find in London had to be Crystal Palace Park which has DINOSAURS. Yes, dinosaurs. I mean, how have I lived in this city this long and not known about this park?! It just shows that being native to a country or city means nothing. You may feel like you've exhausted everything there is to see and do... but it's never the case.

I went to this park as part of my extended weekend / birthday celebrations and saw this rare slither of nice weather as the perfect opportunity to wear my new off the shoulder dress, which has been hanging in my wardrobe for a while now, waiting for the sun to make its annual appearance. Being a looser fitting dress, it skims over all your lumps and bumps, but at the same time without making you resemble a sack of potatoes. Which is always good. It was one of the most comfortable dresses I've worn in a long time, and I now urge the weather to go back to how it was, so I can wear again and again!

Dress - Forever 21 - (now sold out)

Crystal Palace Park has these curious sculptures - some of which date back to the 1800's. 

The best models are the earlier creations - the ones which have stood the test of time, and are starting to merge with nature

Some were fairly convincing

Others were not so convincing...

The newly restored iguanodon stuck out like a sore thumb and was comical in comparison with its super white teeth, claws and whites of its eyes. There were other creatures there too besides the dinosaurs

It was a hot day filled with lots of walking and photography. I watched ducklings splash clumsily in the water, yearning to feel the water against my skin to cool down, but settling for ice cream instead, which did the job equally well. We came up too short on coins for the ice cream, but the lovely lady at the shop located within the park handed us the ice creams anyway and waved us off with a smile. I am still really touched by her kindness. We sat underneath these beautiful trees, slightly curved inwards like an archway, until every last drop of ice cream was licked away.

With my Mr Whippy and flake all gobbled up savoured, we continued with our circuit of the park, snapping away because the lighting was amazing for photography that day.

So the moral of this story? Just because you've lived somewhere your whole life, or for considerable years of said life, never assume that you know the place inside out. There is always so much more to see and do. Live, explore, seek the unknown.