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!!!

You can never have too much (bargain) Jewellery

April 7, 2017 | blueskygirlie

They say accessories make an outfit and for me having a selection of different jewellery I can dip into to add to an outfit really helps me make a difference when styling my clothes.

Just want to wear a white t-shirt and jeans today? Add a fab necklace and it will take your outfit to the next level. The other bonus is costume jewellery is usually quite cheap so you can grow and a collection quite quickly without spending too much money.

With jewellery I am quite a believer of quantity over quality and will happily rummage through the sale areas of high street stores to find some bargain bits!

In todays blog I’ll share with you some the pieces I have bought recently, none of which cost over £5…

Crescent moon necklace /Primark
3D ring earrings / New Look
Heart earrings / New Look

Silver hoop earrings / New Look
Ribbon corsage / vintage (charity shops can be great to pick up unique and bargain priced pieces)

Tassel earrings / H&M

Rose gold disc necklace / Topshop

You’ll see these pieces appearing accessorising my regular outfits very soon! Who says you have to spend a lot to look great???

What bits have you got recently that you love?

The thing I fell in love with this week

April 1, 2017April 1, 2017 | blueskygirlie

Beach bag £14 – Matalan

I couldn’t resist this fabulous beach bag in Matalan on a recent visit. It cost just £14 but looks so much more expensive than that with some fantastic details. Plus its huge…you could easily fit your towel, book, suncream etc. inside – I mean, what more could you want in a summer bag?!?

Its detailing is really good (beading and thick embroidery) and there’s a matching tassel charm too!

It is also lined in black cotton, with a magnetic fastening, zip pocket and additional phone size pocket. For me, these little details make it more versatile than a normal beach bag and therefore an even better buy.

I won’t just save this for the beach…I’m using it as a great ‘carry everything’ summer bag now.

There’s quite a few different designs to choose from – find the full range here or pop into your nearest Matalan store.

Try-Day Friday!

March 3, 2017March 7, 2017 | blueskygirlie

I was recently inspired by Dia&Co. (an American curated shopping experience, delivered to your doorstep, exclusively in larger sizes) to write about the importance of promoting confidence through fashion.

I have definitely been on my own journey with confidence and I do struggle sometimes to love my post 40, curvy, petite figure complete with ‘mum tum’. Having been a variety of different dress sizes over the years the one thing I have learnt is confidence is EVERYTHING! If you feel good about yourself on the inside you will look great whatever you wear – I really think it is that simple.

Dia&Co is promoting the idea of ‘Try-Day Friday’; a weekly-challenge to step outside your fashion comfort zone and embrace something new. We’ve all put on an outfit, maybe something new or different from our normal look, only to get nervous at the last minute and decide to play it safe. Maybe it’s time to stop letting our insecurities talk and embrace something new?

I thought about some of the trends recently I have seen people rocking and have shied away from and then decided to jump in 100% and put them all together in one outfit.

The looks I wanted to try were –

Wearing co-ordinates
Wearing trainers with a formal outfit
Wearing my hair up
Creating a ‘street style’ fashion look

I had wanted to try wearing co-ordinates for ages but had kept stopping myself for fear of look like a piece of upholstery! I had also seen lots of cool bloggers rocking trainers with their formalwear but wondered if I was too old to pull this kind of ‘street style’ look off. I also have a tendency to hide behind my longish hair so if I was going to truly get out of my comfort zone my hair would need to be put up too!

I had seen some a great looks on Instagram which I loved but hadn’t had the confidence to try, so with them as inspiration, I decided to embrace Try-Day Friday and go for it! This is my look, my way –

I opted for an ASOS pyjama style co-ord from the petite range. The proportions are perfect for me and the trousers are a perfect length for my 5’2″ height. The navy jacquard fabric looks really luxe without being too dressy and the bomber jacket top gives it a sporty edge. Find it here (jacket) and here (trousers).

photo via ASOS

I styled it with a simple vest underneath and pushed up the sleeves. The wide leg pants worked really well with trainers but I think would look just as good with heels in the evening.

To add a pop of colour I added a fun pink bag and pink tassel earrings – I love bright pink with navy and these H&M earrings are a real statement piece.

To achieve the ‘trainers with formalwear’ look, I put on my trusty leather Converse All Stars. I LOVE these sneakers – being black leather they are a great way to wear trainers in a smarter way but still look casual – plus they are really comfortable!

To finish off the look I had to match those pink accessories with a bright pink lip too! Would you believe this is a £1 lipstick from the Poundland make-up range?!? Its really good and a definite recommend. As I challenged myself to, I put my hair up into a bun and although I prefer to hide behind my hair, I loved how it showed off those fabulous earrings.

Lux pyjama bomber jacket / ASOS Petite
Lux pyjama wide leg trousers / ASOS Petite
Black vest (just seen)/ Primark
Leather Converse / Converse All Stars
Tassel earrings / H&M
Heart bag / River Island (past season)

So what are you going to do to push yourself out of your style comfort zone?

Take the leap…it’s really a great feeling!

If you liked my styling follow my blog at https://www.alwaysablueskygirl or my Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/blueskygirlie

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

Pretty in Pink

January 20, 2017January 20, 2017 | blueskygirlie

Its no secret I love pink. I like bright pink, baby pink and metallic pink…which is strange really as I wouldn’t describe myself as a particularly ‘girlie’ girl. But fashion for me is about feeling good about yourself and pink clothing always does that for me.

Todays look is based around a fabulous bargain jumper I bought from New Look. Its just £9.99 and is available in a number of colours – its shade is ‘shell pink’ which is a lovely flattering pink perfect if you dont want to go too pink (if thats possible, but hey I love pink!). It has a high neck, sloughy shape and fitted sleeves which creates a very flattering fit. I went for the small as I didnt want it too loose fitting. The jumper is available in 9 different colours plus some petite and tall options too and I definitely recommend it – find it here.

For a feminine look, I teamed it with a silver pleated skirt, pearl necklace and silver brogues. I wanted the look to be pretty but not fussy so kept it simple. I just love pleated skirts and keep buying them in various colours, as theres something about the ‘swoosh’ you get when wearing pleats that just makes you feel great!

The longer length necklace creates a flattering accessory drawing the eye downwards and for a cute quirky look I teams the brogues with glittery ankle socks rather than tights.

I think this is a pretty, feminine look without looking too girlie (I am 43!). So are you ready to embrace some pink for when Spring arrives? How do you style it, I’d love to know…

Jumper /New Look £9.99
Skirt / eBay (China) £14.99
Socks / Next Kids £3.00
Necklace / Dorothy Perkins (past season)
Shoes / 915 at New Look (past season)

More La Redoute

December 31, 2016January 1, 2017 | blueskygirlie

You know I adore La Redoute (read about my first haul here) and I always have a saved wishlist waiting online for when they have their big promotions or sales and recently they had another 40% off promotion which equaled another La Redoute haul…so I went for it. Want to see what I got?

Red coat, slogan sweatshirt & white shirt

This is a perfect set of layering pieces and great worn with a pair of jeans for a smart casual look.

The boyfriend style coat is made from a twill type material rather than wool, so a couple of layers are required if I’m wearing it outside, but I do love wearing red – it always makes me feel great.
You can’t go wrong with a classic white shirt and this one has a nice bit of stretch in the cotton so can be worn firted underneath things.
And the sweatshirt? Well its always nice to be polite, oui?

Shirt / £19 – find it here
Sweatshirt / £14.40 (on sale) – find it here
Coat / £49 – find it here

High neck lace top

This top is a really great addition to my wardrobe and can be worn both to the office and dressed up for a night out. It is lovely quality and looks much more expensive than it was. Its definitely a new favourite piece.
Lace top / £24.50 (on sale) – find it here
Camisole / Primark (past season)

Metallic party top

Who doesn’t want to sparkle at Christmas? This 1980’s style top is made from the most amazing fabric – it looks like molten metal. Its dressy without being too over the top and is the perfect choice for a night out when you dont want to look too dressed up. The frilled front and buttons up the back just add to its loveliness.
Frilled top / £34.30 (on sale) – find it here

Grey trainers

I am not one to buy unbranded trainers but I loved the laid back vibe of these. The different shades of grey felted wool look very stylish and they go with practically anything! Just no 50 shades of grey jokes, ok?
Trainers / £39 – find them here

All items available from La Redoute right now – find the website here. All prices accurate at time of writing – their winter sale has just started so why not grab yourself a bargain!

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2016January 1, 2017 | blueskygirlie

I just wanted to say a big thank you to you all for your support this year, following my little blog/Instagram/Facebook page and joining me on this journey. I started this blog at the end of 2014 as an outlet for my creativity at a time when I had very little opportunity to be creative and with an aim to help me grow my confidence about myself and share that with other women while showing that age did not define style.

Just over a year later and 2016 has been a real year of change for me…a new job, changes in my personal life meaning I have had to focus much more on my son and his needs and then, out of the blue, some amazing opportunities linked to my Instagram and blog.

I have also learnt this year not everyone is on your side, in fact some people can be downright nasty, but getting toxic people out of your life is never a bad thing. It can hurt of course, but experiences like that just make you love your supporters (whether they are family, friends or strangers you only talk to via the internet) even more and I am very lucky to have a wonderfully supportive partner and some loyal and loving family and friends.

I am really proud of what I have achieved this year. I have found my place at work and created a role that really suits me, grown my blog and Instagram followers, worked hard at keeping my blended family happy and full of love, continued my fitness journey by keeping up my running every week (over 450 miles run this year!) and topped the year off by filming an advert for Garnier!

I wish you all a wonderful holiday period and a healthy and happy 2017! I’m off to eat some more Quality Street…

The boon. Christmas Shopping Challenge

December 14, 2016December 14, 2016 | blueskygirlie

When boon. got in contact with me and asked me if I wanted to take part in their Christmas challenge I just couldn’t say no. Their challenge if I chose to accept it? To find some fabulous Christmas fashion available on the high street now, paying via my phone using the boon. pre-pay Mastercard and then share it with you guys.

I had to find the following –

A Christmas party outfit that could be worn 2/3 different ways
A secret santa gift for a friend that says they’re not a hipster, but are, bought from a charity shop.
A Christmas party accessory
A Christmas jumper

So far, so exciting. But first of all I bet some of you are thinking, what is a boon. card? Well, good question. I am new to using boon. (and Apple Pay in general) and was a little nervous at first. But my worries were unfounded – its super easy to use, very secure and a great way to stick to a budget (something I always need help with!)

So boon. (the full stop is part of its name) is basically a digital, prepaid MasterCard. You download the app and sign up to use it with Apple Pay and store it in your Apple wallet. You can top-up your account via your bank account, debit or credit card and it works via your phone at any contactless payment terminal.

It is very secure (my primary concern) as when you add a credit or debit card to Apple Pay, the actual card numbers are not stored on the device, nor on Apples servers. Instead, a unique device account number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored on your device, then each transaction is authorised with a one-time security code. You have an app on your phone that tracks your payments, sending you a message when money leaves or enters the account as well as providing you with a statement of your spending.

So, phone in hand, I was ready to shop… but what did I choose?

The Christmas Party Outfit –

Sequin sweatshirt / £10.00
Metallic pleated skirt / £15.00
Leopard boots / £12.00
Earrings / £2 all Primark

This will be my boxing day/night outfit but then I will wear the top with black jeans and the leopard boots for a more casual party look later in the week for a night in the pub and the metallic pleated skirt with a lace top and heels for a sexier, party look which would be perfect for New Years Eve. Mix and match party dressing – perfect!

The Secret Santa Gift –

I saw these 1980’s Ladybird books in one of my local charity shops and I just had to get them! Retro and cool Ladybird books would remind any hipster of their childhoods and we all love a bit of nostalgia dont we? They could even frame the illustrations and front covers to create some really cool art for their walls.

Disney is always a hit whatever your age but then I saw this ‘Frog Chorus’ one and I had to buy that too…how perfect for Christmas is that!?! I have no idea why this is a Christmas song but it is on about every Xmas compilation I own! All together now “Bom, bom-bom, baw-ah-wah, Bom, bom-bom, We all stand together…”

Ladybird books / £1 each all Scope Charity shop

Did you know some charity shops take boon. too? If they have a contactless payment terminal you can use your phone to pay just like anywhere else and if you want to get in on the secret santa action, boon. are currently running a competition on Facebook where you can win some credit for yourself too. Check out their Facebook page for more details!

The Christmas Party Accessory –

Lately I have been wearing more things with a high neckline and consequently have been moving away from wearing necklaces, prefering statement earrings and bracelets. This stunning duo look glitzy without being tacky and would go with any colour party outfit. I like that the earrings are hooped rather than chandelier style, keeping their style contemporary and the bracelet is adjustable like a necklace – perfect if you have tiny feeble wrists like me!

Diamante bracelet / £4
Diamante earrings / £3 both Limited Edition by Atmosphere
I also couldn’t resist these gift bow earrings…so cute for subtle Christmas dressing up.

Bow earrings / £1 Primark

The Christmas Jumper –

Ok, so I’m gonna level with you – I’m not really a Christmas jumper person. I like being festive and I LOVE sparkle and embellishment but having a cheap, novelty jumper on isnt really my thing. I will if I have to, but at 43, I’d rather create something a bit more stylish. However I do like to embrace the festive period so I thought about how could create a Christmas jumper that wasnt actually a Christmas jumper and my stylish solution was this…

Pink roll neck jumper / £9.99
Brooch / £5.99 Wreath brooch / £5.99 all New Look

I added a couple of my own vintage brooches, and….et voila!
Bow earrings / £1 Primark
Vintage brooches / my own

I love this look – it has all the sparkle you want at Christmas but it is not silly, plus you can wear it all year round – if you want to make it a bit less Christmassy you can just remove a few (or all) of the brooches. I’m going to wear it with a metallic skirt and silver brogues over Christmas for a pretty, girlie look.

Skirt/Socks/Shoes my own

So you’ve seen my Christmas Shopping Challenge buys – I stayed within my budget and came home with a set of items I just love and think will improve my existing wardrobe, plus I donated to charity too. I hope you love my choices as much as I do and they inspire you this Christmas whether you are buying for yourself or for friends and family.

This post was written in conjunction with boon. but all views expressed are my own. Find out more about putting boon. in your Apple Wallet here.