Boho is back…

…but then it never went away!

I am a sucker for falling in love with things via my Instagram feed – to be honest its one of my favourite things about Instagram. Stylish people share their great finds with you, discoveries that you can then make your own.  I’d seen an amazing blouse on a few different bloggers feeds and had assumed it was Isabel Marant or similar, and knowing that was completely out of my price range resigned myself to swooning over it from afar.

I couldn’t believe it when I tapped for a credit tag and found it it was from good old Marks and Spencer!  M&S!  I practically did a little dance!!!

The blouse is from the Indigo range at M&S and is a cream cotton Telcel with detailed embroidery and fringing. It is gathered under the bust so is a very flattering fit which hangs to your hips. The generous bell sleeves add to the peasant look but everything about this blouse screams designer when it is in fact, high street.

M&S Marks and Spencer Indigo boho peasant top via Sarah Gorlov Blueskygirlie Always a Blue Sky Girl blog
I wore mine with skinny jeans and heeled boots and felt the proportions were really flattering to my curvy frame. Size-wise it is true to size and I bought the UK size 12 which hangs really nicely.

The best bit about this blouse is the boho details.  The detailing is REALLY good – a mix of colours with fringing detail to the front and it has a slight cut out detail to the back fastening.

M&S Marks and Spencer Indigo boho peasant top via Sarah Gorlov Blueskygirlie Always a Blue Sky Girl blog

M&S Marks and Spencer Indigo boho peasant top via Sarah Gorlov Blueskygirlie Always a Blue Sky Girl blog

This blouse would definitely be a great addition to your SS17 wardrobe – its a very wearable piece, is lovely quality and very flattering.  My advice? Grab it now before it sells out!

Peasant blouse – Indigo at Marks & Spencer / £35 in store and online now

The Hungarian H&M Holiday dress™

Every so often I get obsessed with finding a piece of high street fashion I have seen in a magazine or on Instagram. You know that feeling when you just have to have something?

I first saw this dress on one of those big wall posters in H&M. Did they have it in stock? Well as it was only £14.99 it had sold out…typical. I trawled Bluewater then central London trying to track it down. I found a couple of UK 16’s and 18’s but this dress is huge (for reference I am wearing a UK8 and probably could of fitted in the 6 if I could of found it and I am definitely not that size!)

Finally when we were away on holiday in Budapest I sweet-talked my boyfriend into letting me go into the H&M there and I found it – so forever it will be called the Hungarian H&M Holiday dress™.

h&m off the shoulder peasant dress by blueskygirlie via Always a Blue Sky Girl fashion styling blog
This dress ticks a lot of boxes trend-wise for summer 2016. Off the shoulder? ☑️ Peasant style? ☑️ ☑️ Strong, hot colour? Oh yes ☑️☑️☑️

Now I am a bit of a customiser when it comes to fashion and as I’ve mentioned this dress is very voluminous – great if youre a 6ft waif model but not so good if youre a 5’2″ curvy 40 something.  The dress had tasselled ties on the sleeves which I removed and replaced with elastic and then created a tasselled rope belt which I fixed to the dress. This belt pulls the dress in at the waist, still keeping with its Boho feel but creating a more flattering fit for me and my body type.  The lesson here? If something doesnt quite suit you then make it suit you!

h&m off the shoulder peasant dress by blueskygirlie via Always a Blue Sky Girl fashion styling blog

h&m off the shoulder peasant dress by blueskygirlie via Always a Blue Sky Girl fashion styling blog

h&m off the shoulder peasant dress by blueskygirlie via Always a Blue Sky Girl fashion styling blog
I accessoried this look with my new rose gold sunglasses from New Look (which I’ve hardly taken off since I bought them), some gold palm leaf earrings and espadrille floral print sandals from Primark.  Oh, and just as a finishing touch I painted my toenails the same reddy/orange as my dress.  Good styling is often all in the details – you dont have to spend a lot…in total this outfit cost me under £40.

h&m off the shoulder peasant dress by blueskygirlie via Always a Blue Sky Girl fashion styling blog

h&m off the shoulder peasant dress by blueskygirlie via Always a Blue Sky Girl fashion styling blog

So what have we learned from todays blog? If you fall in love with something find it by any means necessary even if you have to go to a foreign country and then change any parts you don’t totally like to make it look even better!

Nothing too major then..well, when you love something, you love it!

Dress – H&M
Sunglasses – New Look
Earrings – New Look
Sandals – Primark

ASOS Bridal

Regular readers to this blog may know I got engaged last year and am currently saving up to get married. As this is my second time around I am definitely not planning to spend as much money on a dress as I did in my early 30’s (over £1500 not including accessories and definitely not including underwear) so when I heard ASOS were introducing a Bridal section I was interested to say the least…

Then I saw this Instagram post and I was REALLY interested! Lots of embellishment, with a boho vibe, yet still fashionable and stylish – the first collection is looking perfect for brides like me who want to look fashionable on their wedding day too.

In todays blog I show you my top 10 picks from the range – ASOS has grown up and is ready to commit and and its looking fantastic!

Lace Panelled Maxi Dress – £120.00  Kimono Deep V Fishtail Maxi Dress – £120.00

   Chi Chi London Bridal Tulle Maxi Dress – £65 

To liven things up how about wearing a jacket over your wedding dress?  I love this look particularly for a bohemian style outdoor wedding.

A Star Is Born Bridal Embellished Trophy Jacket – £160.00


And then there’s the shoes…

ASOS PASSIONATE Heeled Sandals – £45.00   

ASOS PRICELESS Embellished Pointed High Heels – £50.00   

And you can’t forget to buy some special underwear…yes this set is expensive but its just beautiful and you have to bring out the big guns for your wedding night!

Skivvies For Love & Lemons Ophelia Bra – £100.00
Skivvies For Love & Lemons Ophelia High Waist Brief – £130


And maybe add some cute (but sexy) nightwear too…

Bluebella Julianna Pyjama Set – £44.00

And finally a bag is handy to keep a lipstick, mirror and probably these days a phone…

ASOS Flower and Pearl Box Clutch Bag – £40 ASOS Flap Over Embellished Clutch Bag – £32.00

So what do you think? Prices range from £8 to £350 and is sized from UK4-18 plus theres some Petite and Curve options too.

Look out for more gorgeous styles to come too.  These are the images Hello Fashion Monthly shared… 

I wont be choosing my dress for a while yet but ASOS will definitely now be somewhere I will look when I’m ready.

All photos via ASOS – find the full range here.

Finding my Dress of Dreams™

I think its fair to say I’m quite a bohemian at heart. Style wise I love a maxi dress or skirt or hippy style kimono. I’m always on the look out for great boho style pieces for my wardrobe but you tend to find they are mainly summer pieces.

When I saw this dress in H&M last week I grabbed it off the rail so quickly I almost gave myself whiplash!  I don’t buy a lot of clothes but this sort of dress is a dream daytime dress for me.

The dress itself is a great A/W piece made from a silky yet thick material which hangs beautifully. Being only 5’2″ I knew the dress would be too long and as soon as I got it home I altered it taking 3″ off the bottom. I’m used to shortening things now when there’s not a petite section and a dress like this is pretty easy to do.

I added a thick belt for a more structured look, as being petite I often get a bit swamped by blouson styles but the dress has an elasticated waistband so can easy be worn without. It is available in sizes UK 6-16 and comes up true to size/slightly generous. I am wearing a UK size 10 here although as I mentioned it is shorted by 3″.

      Little details such as bell sleeves and a tasselled tie to the collar really makes this dress looks much more expensive than it really was…

 …Oh yes, did I mention it is instore at only £14.99!!! What an absolute bargain!Lace up boots keep the look relaxed yet still within a bohemian vibe although I kept the hem length to just above the floor so you can hardly see them.I kept my hair long and added some extra curls to the ends, make-up was a neutral daytime look with just a bit of mascara, brown eyeshadow and wine coloured lip gloss to complete the look. My autumn flower power inspired look was complete!

Dress – H&M

Belt – Vintage

Boots – New Look

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