Strictly For The Office - A Junarose Review

Recently I was at an event for Junarose and MSSVG. We were being shown the spring and summer range for next year. I have to say you are all in for a treat. There were some gorgeous new lines coming to suit all styles and shapes and I already have my eye on a gorgeous beach wear item so fingers crossed I'll be able to pick that up when the time comes. 

While I was there I was lucky enough to try out some of the current lines in the collection. I really like items that aren't what they appear to be. This 3/4 mini dress looks like 2 separates when worn. The skirt of the dress cuts across the knee and the top half of the dress cuts short at the waist. I really liked how this one looked on and I knew it would be a good addition to my wardrobe and perfect to wear at the office. 

I like the simplicity of this dress, the colour is a rich and warm one which is great for this time of year and actually compliments a lot of my accessories and make up colours. When you want something that is practical and comfortable but also flexible you look for items like this one, at least I do. I like the fact that this is something that can be worn as a single item or with a little added flavour. This time of year the cold can be rather harsh and the last thing you want is to be bogged down with layers that you don't need. As much as I love a good bodycon dress it's nice to not need spanx or shapewear, especially when the outfit in question was bought for the office. I really wanted this dress to hang as loosely as possibly on my frame. When you have a large bust it can sometimes be an issue when clothes hang incorrectly against your frame or cling too much in areas. I picked this one up in a XXL to give myself a little extra wiggle room. A smaller size would have fit me fine but it would have been more fitted.  

I really like the detail at the back of the dress. The fabric from the front drapes behind your back leaving a V cut shape. I like that it adds something a little different to an otherwise simple dress.

I decided to pair this with a simple pair of black high waisted leather-look leggings from New Look Inspire. Those of you who know my blog will know that I like pairing leggings with dresses. Not only are they extremely comfortable and easy to work with they don't bunch up in areas the way that tights can. 

If you haven't noticed already I have a thing for hats at the moment especially berets so I thought my old black beret from Simplybe would be a nice addition to the look. To finish up I pulled on my favourite black pair of heels and  floral statement necklace from Primark. For that final bit of bling I wore the crystal stack ring from Evans. 

I will most definitely be looking for more looks that are stylish and sophisticated and perfectly suited to the office. The key is to feel good and look good in what you're wearing. I have some more office looks to come very soon so stay tuned! 

Remember what ever you where, feel fabulous in it and where it with a smile!

Blue Magic - A Lane Bryant Review

I love being able to blend work wear into my casual style. We can't all afford to have totally separate wardrobes for day wear and night attire. These days I tend to be all over the place a meeting here, a dinner there. It's not often that I have the chance to go home and change from location number one before I'm required at location two. For me the busy schedules and numerous commitments can make styling your looks be somewhat of a challenge sometimes. I work in a customer facing role where how you present yourself can be just as important as how you present the products you're selling. Luckily in my case I am able to incorporate my wardrobe into my work life making it easier when shopping and selecting my outfits in the morning.

I have said many times on this blog how much I love the colour blue and that whenever I see anything in the colour I'm instantly drawn to it. When I first saw this Embellished Button Back Tee from Lane Bryant it was a must have item for me! This was something I knew I could wear to work at the office and still add a casual twist to the look to make it wearable at any time. Despite the fact that blue is my favourite; I definitely don't own enough items in the colour so when I do see one I like it's always a positive thing for me. 

The Tee has a black panel at the back and small buttons all the way down the back. With a lightweight feel I have worn this top with a pencil skirt at work, jeans and leggings. The short sleeves make this one I like to match with jackets. Seeing as it's getting colder by the day the extra coverage is more than welcome in my case. 

I took these pictures on a pretty weird London day. With the constant stop-start game the clouds were playing making it rain every other hour it was hard to know what to wear. I decided that even though I had an umbrella to hand I would wear a hat so as not to get the front of my hair wet. I pulled out an old sequin beret that I bought from Primark years ago and the colour was just right to compliment the tee. A simple black pair of leggings was my next choice. To finish off the look I pulled on my PU Biker Jacket from Yours Clothing and slipped on my Shawberry Boots from Hotter. After adding my mandatory hoop earrings and necklace I was ready and set. 

When I was going through the pictures for this post I got to think about what we mean when we call something a staple piece of clothing. Some people would refer to a staple item as something basic that we all own like plain black top or something like that. For me a staple piece of clothing is an item that I can incorporate into a series of outfits and even wear across different styles. This Lane Bryant Tee for me is one of those items not only because of the colour but because of the cut and fit. The material makes this one hang nicely against your frame. The sheer material is really soft against the skin and doesn't cling tightly in any area. I got this one in a size 22/24 which for me worked out really well due to the buttons at the back. A smaller size most definitely would have fit but one or two of the buttons may have gaped ever so slightly. If like me you have think about the size of your bust or if you have any back fat then you might want to up size in this one. 

You know what I always say, go through your wardrobe! Pull things out, see what items work together either through colours, prints and fabrics and see if you can get at least 2 different looks out of some of your clothes. This will not only give you more outfits to play with on a smaller budget you'll also get a proper wear out of your clothes. In my case I like to have items I can wear either across seasons or items that look stylish and chic both during the day and night. You might find some cool combinations that you hadn't thought of previously.

Remember what ever you where, feel fabulous in it and where it with a smile!

Bringing Autumn And Winter Together

So the clocks have turned back by an hour and the official start of the winter season has been marked. At the moment though we are still in that in-between stage where heavy jackets, snugly scarves and thick winter warmers aren't quite required just yet. The good thing about this time of year is that opportunity we have to be more playful with other elements to our wardrobe attire. Cute hats, funky accessories and warmer colours are hitting the stores and with that we are able to wear the odd summer item with some more seasonal items to create an outfit. 

Admittedly I don't have many earthy tones in my wardrobe and I don't have many green or brown items in my wardrobe. I think these are great colours and they work with a variety of different styles but I haven't found many items that have caught my eye. Having said that when something really works for me I will usually buy it in more than one colour. When I first saw this cold shoulder dress from Boohoo I picked it up in black but I have to say this Lime green colour really works for me and I like the contrast in colour against my skin tone. I'm not afraid of fitted or tailored clothing by any means but I have to say it is nice to have the odd item that simply skims over your frame rather than hugs it. The single bold colour also acts as a canvas in a way allowing you to accessorize or dress up the look any way you want.

The cut and length of this dress makes it a nice one to wear as a single item or styled with leggings and a cute jacket or coat. I thought that my Black PU Biker Jacket from Yours Clothing would work well with this look. The tailored cut of the jacket compliments the looseness of the dress and the length is a nice one if you want to feel coverage without having to wear a long or heavy jacket. The side zip detail and pockets make this a piece that would work with my different items and I look forward to styling this one with other looks soon. 

For me one of the most important elements to an outfit during the autumn winter months is footwear! With the weather being so changeable and unpredictable I feel it's important to be prepared for what's to come and to incorporate style with practicality. I was recently gifted a pair of Shawbury Boots from Hotter. I have to say I had never owned a pair of shoes from the brand beforehand and I wish that I had! The shoes are built in such a way that makes them really bouncy and they are incredibly comfortable. The soles of the shoes are built like inbuilt gel cushions, only better! There are tons of tiny little air bubbles in the soles of the shoes which not only make the shoes more comfortable they give you that extra spring in your step that's needed when the weather goes from warm and sunny to dark and gloomy. I always try to weather strong leather boots this time of year as they are the best thing for battling the wet and cold. If you are considering trying out something new you should check out the Hotter site to see what other styles are available. 

This time of year I like to wear hats every now and then and so I thought I would finish off this look with a beret I bought from Simplybe many years ago. This is often my go-to hat when I'm either having a bad hair day or I need a little extra coverage this time of year.

My usual hoop earrings were included with this look and I thought I'd wear a recent purchase of mine with this one. When I saw this medallion necklace with tassel detail from Primark it was one of those must have items for me. I like really long necklaces as having a large bust can often make necklaces hang a little higher than I would like so anything that can add length often catches my eye. Being a fan of wearing a little bling; I wanted to include the Crystal Detail Stack Ring from Evans. Sometimes Just a few bold pieces of jewellery can really set off a look. 

Before you go and stash away all of your summer favourites take a second look as you may find the odd item of clothing that you can incorporate into this season's looks. With this outfit I could have worn an interesting scarf, different style jacket and boots. There are many ways you can switch up a look and it can be the finishing touches that gives something that different style. 

Remember what ever you where, feel fabulous in it and where it with a smile!