Birthday Bonanza

April 13, 2017 | blueskygirlie

So last month it was my birthday. Its lovely to receive presents particularly when most of the year youre spending your money mainly on other people (kids I’m looking at you). Want to see a selection of what I was lucky enough to get?

As a working mum/stepmum of three boys, doing up a house, with a foreign summer holiday on the cards, there’s nothing too extravagant here but have a look and hopefully get inspired for some present choices of your own…

V by Very colour block coat, V by Very embellished cross-body bag / Very.co.uk

I had been after this coat for a while and when it went 50% off in the Very sale pointed my boyfriend towards it. It is wool with different colour panels and really looks fab with just jeans and a t-shirt.

This bag was another item that went into sale, it was out of stock for ages but when a few appeared online I made sure one of them ended up as a birthday gift for me! The detail on the strap is just lovely and has got quite a few comments plus they go together nicely too!

Embroidered sleeve peasant top / Next

Everywhere on Instagram, this top will be a summer staple for me. Be warned though it comes up quite short so I went up a size to the medium. The detail is amazing though and it looks like a £300 top not a £40 one.

Love you to the moon and back artwork / Clintons

I am going to hang this within a collection of artworks on one of our feature walls – its a phrase my fiancé always says to me so has real meaning too.

Boho jacket, fluted sleeve jumper, assymetrical earrings / M&S

I had been given some money so put it to good use in good old M&S. The fluted sleeve ‘it’ jumper had been on my wishlist since Christmas so I decided to treat myself but instead of my usual grey I went pink!

Reasons I love you gift box / Not on the High Street

This was the cutest little birthday gift from my fiancé…there are 10 handwritten notes in this pretty box saying reasons why he loves me ☺️ I do love a personalised gift and a romantic gesture too.

Bloom by Estee Lalonde/ Amazon

I was interviewed by Estee as part of the behind the scenes filming on the Garnier advert I filmed last December and was struck by her cool Canadian style. Her book has all sorts of tips and information in and I really like its relaxed but stylish vibe.

‘Hello Lovely’ hanging mirror plaque / Wilkinsons

Because if you can’t have a mirror tell you youre lovely then whats the point? This is really lovely and adds a feminine touch to my usually quite retro tastes.

Vintage 1980’s necklace / Vintage Fair

Ah my best friend knows me well! I will wear this with a black polo neck or t-shirt while channeling my inner Melanie Griffiths in Working Girl. I love vintage jewellery for its uniqueness and love this look.

And that is a selection of the bits I got! I hope my presents gave you some style inspiration – its lovely to receive gifts you love and I usually set up a wishlist or ask for money to achieve just that.

So I’d better start building it back up – its only 8 months to Christmas!!!

Boho is back…

February 23, 2017February 23, 2017 | blueskygirlie

…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.

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.

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

My Limited Edition SS16 picks

March 2, 2016March 6, 2016 | blueskygirlie

I was in M&S the other day having a browse and as ever made my way to my favourite section, Limited Edition.

A fact about me – in my career as a stylist and visual merchandising manager I was part of the team at M&S who came up with the original brand concept (then Limited Collection) so it will always have a fond place in my heart.

The great thing about M&S and its ‘shop in shops’ is you can always find a sub-brand that you like and shop that area. For me Limited Edition is definitely ‘my brand’ – its trend led, stylish, aimed at a younger customer and always has an element of quirky styling that isn’t seen within the other M&S sub-brands.

In todays blog find my 5 favourite pieces all currently on sale in stores. Happy shopping!

Tie neck blouse – £29.50

This blouse is super pretty and perfect for dressing up or down. You’d need a camisole on underneath but I’d team it with skinny jeans or slim leg trousers and heels.

Shoulder bag – £38.00

I’m a sucker for a cartoon or fun reference and I love the mix of classic design and quirky detailing. Its a size that will hold everything and the nude and black colourway will never clash with what youre wearing.

Dungaree style jumpsuit – £49.50

Pinstripes – check, Navy fabric – check, Tie waist – check, Utility details – check. This jumpsuit has all the style points and will look so stylish through the Spring and beyond.

Flower necklace – £25

You can go wrong with a statement necklace and this oversized resin one would look perfect with a white skirt or t-shirt, white on white or to create a pop of colour over a bright top or dress.

Bomber jacket – £55.00

Bomber jackets are EVERYWHERE for SS16 and this is a more premium, feminine slant on the ones I’ve seen. The oriental style quilting definitely makes this look unique and its flattering and easy to wear – perfect!

What do you think? What are your picks for the new season? All products (plus lots more loveliness) available at M&S now – for the online range click here.

Wearing Teen Ranges

July 14, 2015August 5, 2015 | blueskygirlie

If you follow my Instagram you’ll probably of noticed I wear quite a lot of kids clothes. This has started in the last few years or so.

Being 5’2″ in height, teen ranges often fit my height much better than any main range, and petite ranges are not as common as you would think. After losing weight a few years ago I realised that my size 10/12 frame seemed to fit a lot of the older sizes of some kidswear ranges and to be honest I kind of like some of the clothes better!

So can you get away with wearing a kidswear piece of fashion when you are 40 plus?
I think you can! You need to follow a few rules though and here are my 5…

1. Can I pull this off? Just as you’d look at a piece of main range fashion you need to ask yourself if the design is appropriate for you. Sadly for me now in my 40’s, certain super cute prints like Hello Kitty that I wore in my 20’s now look rather out of place, however each to their own and if you love it, then go for it! I’m still rather partial to a fun print t-shirt though and find more ‘classic’ designs like Disney, smiley faces, retro logos etc all work really well – if you feel great in it then do it!

2. Will it be too short? Its great to not have to alter stuff but then again wearing a dress that is super short is probably not the best idea. Consider wearing it as a top or with leggings underneath instead.

3. Will my boobs fit in it? The amount of items I’ve had to pass on because of my D cup bust! If you are busty you may have to look for items that are more stretchy instead.

4. Not all ranges are created equal. Make sure you try everything on. An age 13/14yrs might fit in one store but be tiny in another, the same goes with length. Most teen ranges go up to 15/16yrs so make sure you shop around.

5. Stick to certain types of clothes. Unless you are very petite, skinny jeans and other very fitted items are a no no. Look for items where the design makes them boxy or more voluminous. Also look out for shoes and boots which often go up to a size 5 or even 6.

And as a final plus, in the UK its all 20% cheaper due to being VAT free!

And here are a selection of some of the teen ranges I’ve worn.

Tammy Girl cropped t-shirt – a boxy shape means a easy fit regardless of it being size 152-158 (12/13yrs) and I love that this is actually cropped on me whereas most adult cropped tops sit on my hips in the most totally unflattering way.

Love Australia UGG boots – When I wanted a pair of Kensingtons I realised the kids size 5’s where over £100 less in price! And the only difference? They are a tiny bit shorter (as am I!) and have a zip, which I actually prefer.

Tammy Girl strapless maxi dress – I love maxi dresses but often they don’t love me – to buy a dress and not have to shorten it is a dream! A stretchy strapless dress like this in size 164-170cm (14/15 yrs) fits perfectly.

915 for New Look shoes – as a size 5 most kids ranges have shoes in my size. I hate high heels so its a great way to find dressy low heeled shoes and sandals. I might not like high heels but I do love a party shoe!

M&S indigo jumpsuit – A great length, although it was a little tight on the bust at first. Being cotton it had give in it so after a bit of wear (and slight stretching!) it was perfect. This one is age 13/14 years.

M&Co. Kylie necklace – obviously this is one size but kids jewellery ranges have some nice little pieces and my nickname is Panda!

915 at New Look jumper – age 14/15 years. This was an example of trying items on as some of the range came up very small.

Store Twenty One Christmas tops – Both in age 11-12 fitted me at a size 10-12! The green top is a boys one so dont forget to have a look in the boys ranges too!

So, are you ready to have a browse in the kids section the next time you go shopping?

All these photos are from my Instagram – Follow it here for fashion, style, my life and loves and all the things I find beautiful.

My home style: The flat 2013

April 7, 2015August 5, 2015 | blueskygirlie

Back in 2013 my flat was featured in the book ‘Style Your Modern Vintage Home’ by Kate Beavis which I was also the stylist on. It is a fantastic book featuring peoples vintage inspired homes from the 1920’s look through to the 1980’s/90’s look and also includes advice on collecting vintage plus lots of styling tips in how to display your finds.

I thought today I would share it with you to give you a taste of my personal home and interiors style…

All images courtesy of Simon Whitmore via F&W Media International Ltd.

I love to mix vintage and modern together so my home fitted the books brief perfectly. As an ex window dresser and now stylist and style blogger how things look are so important to me. Am I fussy? Maybe!

I also wanted to show what could be done in a rented flat as so often interior books and magazines only show the most amazing, huge older houses – totally unrealistic for the majority of us. Real life can still look fabulous. So take a look at the flat I lived in then…

The lounge – a fun mix of pop art, flashes of red and orange and retro 60’s styling.

Table – original 1960’s Arkana, Artwork – John Lewis, M&S, Sofa – Harveys, Cushions – Matalan, Primark, Lamp – M&S, China Cats – Villeroy & Boch, Rug – vintage.

The kitchen/diner – a rented flats modern kitchen styled to feel different & quirky with a dining area designed to maximise a small space.

Table & chairs – original 1960’s Arkana, Artwork – vintage 1980’s, John Lewis, Fridge – Smeg, Glassware – vintage 1960’s, Kettle & Toaster – Breville, Clock – M&S, Accessories – Alessi, Matalan, Vintage

The hall – Fun vibes with a practical need.

Side table – original 1960’s Arkana, Lamp – Dwell, Clock – vintage 1990’s Swatch, Chair (just seen) – original 1960’s Arkana, Trimphone telephone & telephone book – vintage 1970’s

And finally some of the styling details –

It was a great exerience having my home, as it looked in that moment in time, immortalised in a book!

I have since moved to a new house that needs work, so look out for blog posts showing my home styling there. A bigger space will be much more fun and now thst we are not renting anymore, we can change what we want!

‘Style your Vintage Modern Home’ by Kate Beavis is available from Amazon – here

All images courtesy of Simon Whitmore via F&W Media International Ltd.

A bit of Magic & Sparkle

November 21, 2014August 5, 2015 | blueskygirlie

I was in London a few weeks ago and popped into the huge Marble Arch M&S store for a browse and to check out the Christmas windows (old window dressing habits die hard). Out of all the areas Limited Collection is my favourite brand and the area I buy most from. At 41 I guess I’m technically a bit old for it – but I don’t care about that – I’m a firm believer in that age is just a number and I’m going to be a fashionable pensioner!!! Topshop better be really for me in 2040ish !!!!

The one item that stood out in Limited Collection to me was a white t-shirt with black print and diamanté embellishment that said ‘make your own magic’. I loved the words and at £19.50 it was a great price too. I went for the size 10 – its a slightly loose fit so if you want very fitted go a size smaller.

For todays look I teamed it with skinny Jeans, metallic pointed shoes & a long M&S waterfall cardigan as I am always cold and its winter! I also bought some lovely earrings from Forever 21 while in London for only £3.50. They are diamanté with a curved pearl drop…I love them!

I love this t-shirt and think it will work well for casual and formal wear. While in Limited Collection I also bought a patent look PVC mini skirt to wear with it tucked in. Will feature that look nearer Christmas.

I think this top is going to become a favourite with me…