Outfit Of The Day Pink, White and Silk

This is just a quick rundown of what I wore to work today.

Since it is spring and all, this morning I decided to step out of the darkness and inject a little colour into my outfit. Excuse me if I look a bit ragged, this is me at the end of the workday. 

Scarf: Zara

Shirt: GAP Bowery Supersoft Tee

Skirt: Matalan

Mackintosh/Trench Coat: GAP A/W 2013

Tights:TESCO (don't knock it they are surprisingly durable)

Flats: Miss KG by Kurt Geiger.

I told you guys I have a love for gap. lol 

have a great evening, my lovelies. 

Rest up, being fabulous is hard work.

xx

The Replacements

My Miss KG Lotus Black Pointed Ballerinas passed away to shoe heaven in September. In addition to that the Office Term time Loafers did not work out. I had to exchange the brown pair twice because the soles kept splitting. The black pair didn't do me the honour of splitting, one of the soles just fell off one day when I was at work. Suffice to say replacements needed to be drafted in.

The irony of this is I ran away from purchasing these Dune Laino Penny Loafers because The Office Term Time Loafers were cheaper, not by much but still cheaper. Now after all the the rigmarole, I had to buy the Dune Loafers anyway. If I had bought them in the first place I could have saved myself the trouble and the blisters. 

LAINO Black Leather Penny Loafer

I had a look at the Nine West Jowhona3 Black Flat Court Shoes in Debenhams while on my shoe hunt. However after realizing  the composition of the Jowhona3 Black Flat Court Shoes were synthetic just like the Faith Patent Bow Pumps I went with the Faith ones. I have 3 bows on my shoes instead of 3, making me a very happy bunny. 

Faith Patent Bow Pumps 

Love the 3 bow detailing

The life and times of a shoe-a-holic in training.
Happy New Year my lovelies 
xx 

The Flat Shoe Is Making a Power Play

Miss KG flats

The flat shoe has been the ugly step sibling of fashionable footwear everywhere for years. They have long been loathed by the fashionable women in society. Skyscraper heels, wedges, sandals and various stiletto beauties have always taken up the forefront of  fashion magazines, advertising and even tv shows. However the flat shoe is fighting back, not content to just sit in the corner. The tides are slowly turning and the arena for fashionable flat footwear is drawing more and more spectators. Flat shoes now are not only limited to the Clarks ballet flats I wore for 2 years, though comfortable they were in no way comparable to their fashionable counterparts now taking up the runways. Top brands such as Charlotte Olympia, Mulberry, Miu Miu, Gucci, Tory Burch  and Marc Jacobs are increasing their efforts in relation to flat and near flat footwear for women. Forget the "Power Heel," for 2013 it has been all about the "Power Flat." 

River Island Bordeaux Flat

Ballet flats are out!!! They have been banished from the workplace, offices and boardrooms. Instead they have been replaced with exquisite textiles and embellishments added to other classic shapes such as smoking slippers, loafers, brogues, to create truly fashionable flat master pieces.  Not to say that the Ballet Flat does not have its place. Where as in the 90's tv show Sex & the City had  droves of women queuing up to purchase Manolo Blahniks Offerings. Tory Burch has built a cult like following around her Reva Ballet flat, google the Reva Ballet flats and you will generate pages of suggested blog posts and you tube videos.

River Island Navy Flat

 Why the rebellion on the heeled shoe? There are several reason: Health  - as I have mentioned before the appropriate heel height for a heeled shoe which will be worn over a long period of time is 3 inches. Wearing heeled shoes over 3 inches high for a prolonged period of time (years) causes strain on your pelvic muscles which could lead to a prolapsed uterus.  The constant need to balance on the thin stiletto heel (the preference of the power set) causes strain and sprain on your ankles, bunions could form and also displacement of the bones on your feet.

Time - wearing high heels slow you down. There was no fancy way to explain that.

Options - as I said before footwear options of the flat variety have increased tremendously. There is something for everyone and for every occasion. Flat shoes are no longer limited to the extremely casual events which occur in a woman's life.

 "Long stuck in stuck in the purgatory of casual wear, flats are suddenly being promoted for polished occasions. Flats sleek enough to dress shoes were paired with the tailored suits and even with evening wear on the spring runways from Marc Jacobs to Giorgio Armani." - WSJ

I am a Black Girl in the Ring and I wear flat shoes. YOU should too. 

River Island Black Loafer

Twitter  Facebook

This was an original piece which first appeared in Black Girl in the Ring Magazine

New Shoes - Office Term Time Loafers

I recently had a little clear out and I had to regulate 4 pairs of my flats to the rubbish bin. They had been loyal and trustworth servants over the years, but alas they had to go. With space now in my shoe cupboard I decided to stock up on some new shoes. I had been stalking the Office Educated Loafer ever since they launched online/instore. On several occasions I had tried them on, but I never liked walking in them. The  soles are too hard, and they just felt like I was walking with two pieces of board attached to my feet.

Enter the Term Time Loafers, these had be sold from the first time I tried them. They fit well on my feet. Plus they have a great insole, which is nice and soft. I am big on comfort, the Term Time Loafer offers style and comfort, what else could I possibly desire? Oh yes a bargain of course. The Term Time Loafers were on offer at the time I purchased them, saving me £10 per pair. I bought the Term time Loafers in black first, then 2 weeks later I purchased a pair in tan. I like the loafer style of shoe because it is a classic, therefor it is versatile enough to wear all year round, from the cornershop to the office. I will waterproof them before wearing them out with the rain and colder weather approaching. Overall I am very pleased with my purchase. 

Black Office Term Time Loafers
The classic colour, their is something which is just serious, almost business like, about glossy black leather. 

Tan Office Term Time Loafers 

Tan, whiskey, cognac, brandy, rum these are the new games given to brown leather, making them sound as great as they look. No matter the name or the hue, there is something  luxe about brown leather. Also the older it gets the better it looks. 

                                     

Totally unrelated - but here is a song called NEW SHOES by Beyonce.

Have a great day lovelies. 

Twitter

Bloglovin

Facebook

What to Wear to Work - Black and White

Sorry for the blurry pic my lovelies. 

This is just a quick outfit of the day post showing what I wore today. Staying true to my love of separates I paired a white cotton button down with a black tulip skirt. 

Shirt - T. M. Lewin white poplin shirt

Skirt - Zara Tulip skirt circa 2010 

Shoes - Dune Sanctuary Court shoes

Bag - Zara Braided shopper , 
this is the perfect carry all for when I am away from my desk. 
 xx

What to wear to work - Blue/ Purple Structured Dress

This dress is an anomaly, to my naked eye it is blue, however it photographs purple. On the Website it was described as purple so *throws hands in the air.*  

   The best thing about this dress is the simplicity. The design features a high neck, small pockets on the sides,   cap sleeves and a V in the back. The versatility of this dress means that it can be easily styled this with a cardigan (white), a blazer or short jacket with rolled back sleeves, a necklace if wearing the dress on its own or a wide belt to accentuate the waist. 

 The fit of the dress is neither tight, nor clingy. so no worries about it splitting or bursting seams if you have to make a mad dash or two across town on your lunch hour. 

                                "Fashion fades by Style remains eternal." - Yves Saint Laurent

Dress - Dorothy Perkins

Shoes - Dune

I hope that you have been enjoying the sales, my belles.

xx

What to Wear to Work - Green Structured Dress

 Last week we had to Blue draped dress, this week it is  the Green structured dress. A simple design with small pockets on the sides. This dress can be easily styled this with a cardigan (white/yellow), a blazer or short jacket with rolled back sleeves, a necklace if wearing the dress on its own or a wide belt to accentuate the waist. 

 The fit of the dress is neither tight, nor clingy. so no worries about it splitting or bursting seams if you have to make a mad dash or two across town on your lunch hour. 

look at me now

stand up straight, shoulders back

"Fashion fades by Style remains eternal." - Yves Saint Laurent

Dress - Dorothy Perkins

Shoes - Dune

caio ma bellas

xx

The Little Black Dress Look Book

"One is never under-dressed or over dressed in a Little Black Dress."
 - Karl Largerfeld

Little Black Dress ft the Classics 

Little Black Dress ft the Black Blazer 

Little Black Dress ft the Sequinned Jacket

Little Black Dress ft the Navy Blazer 

Little Black Dress ft the White Cardigan 

Little Black Dress ft the Black Jacket

Little Black Dress ft the Blue Cardigan

Little Black Dress ft the Navy Cardigan

Little Black Dress- Dorothy Perkins

Sequinned Jacket - Mango 

Navy Blazer - Zara 

Black Blazer - Zara

Black Jacket - H&M

Macintosh - GAP

White Cardigan - Primark 

Blue Cardigan - Primark

Navy Cardigan - H&M

Bag - Longchamp

Flats - Kurt Geiger

Black pumps - Duner

Heels - Office 

There you are my lovelies my

 "Little Black Dress" look book.

Happy viewing.

xx

What to Wear to Work - The Blue Dress

Ready for my close up

    The colours are coming out with the weather heating up, the sun is still playing hide and seek with us but we forge ahead nonetheless. This blue cap sleeve dress is a lovely number to pull out of your closet for a day on the job/at the office/work meetings or even if you are out of office meeting clients.

    The dress gathers at the waist, and meets a faux panel, then drapes around the hips. I think the draping around the hips is great for curvy girls, since it follows the shape of the female body form, yet leaves room for  movement. Therefore it is a lot less restricting that the traditional style of tighter fitting dresses.

Pockets, perfect for lip balm/lipstick and a snack  

"Fashion fades by Style remains eternal." - Yves Saint Laurent

Dress - Dorothy Perkins

Shoes - Dune

Have a great week my lovelies.

xx

What to Wear to Work - Beige dress ft Black blazer

"The little Gucci dress, the little Gucci dress or the little Gucci dress." - one of the most iconic fashionistas of our time said this in a movie. Not knowing who this lady, is the equivalent of liking that horrendous bird on Carrie's head in the Sex and the City movie.

 The sun is out and the dresses come out. After hiding away under layers of thick tights and trousers hemlines get shorter as the weather heats up. Here we have a little ensemble compliments the fashion houses of Forever21 and Zara.  

This is the dress on it's own,  I  usually wear this dress sand cardigan or blazer. To get over the bra strap showing issue, I cross  the bra straps over in an "x" shape.

"Fashion fades by Style remains eternal." - Yves Saint Laurent

Dress - Forever21

Blazer - Zara

Shoes - Dune 

Little Black Dress ft Navy Blazer

Blazer buttoned up

excuse the zombie hand, lol 

Dress - Dorothy Perkins

Blazer - Zara 

Shoes - Dune 

Read my review of my Navy blazer here 

Read my post on the history of the LBD here  

What to Wear to Work - Sheath dress with White shirt

 The French gave us crepes, Madame Clavelle, Madeline and CoCo Chanel. I will be the first to admit, this does look a bit like uniform. However there are some days when I want an outfit that says "I am here to work"  something simple yet effective. A sheath dress is good for under layering shirts/blouses as well as over layering jackets/blazers/cardigans. 

Dress - Matalan

Shirt - T. M. Lewin

Shoes - Dune

Earrings - Pia 

"Fashion Fades, but style remains forever." Yves Saint Laurent

Little Black Dress ft Black Blazer

Rounding out the Little Black Dress series is another daytime work wear look.

Dress - Dorothy Perkins

Blazer - Zara

Shoes - Dune 

Little Black Dress ft Navy cardigan & Black pump

Another LBD and cardigan combo for Spring, remember no back of the closet for the little black dress.  A good combo for work, and windy days or afternoons. Get out and enjoy the  sun. 

"Fashion fades by Style remains eternal." - Yves Saint Laurent

Dress - Dorothy Perkins

Cardigan - H&M

Shoes - Dune 
xx