vintage

What does your Valentines Day look like?

| blueskygirlie

It’s Valentines Day! Whether or not you celebrate it, love it or loathe it, are taken or single, it’s a great day to spoil yourself and make yourself feel good. It’s a day all about love – whether its the love for a partner, for your friends, your family but most importantly yourself – because you can’t love anyone properly unless youve learnt to love yourself! In todays blog I’ll show you my picks to help you do just that…

Valentines day flat lay by blueskygirlie aka Always a Blue Sky Girl fashion style blog blogger

  • Mind blowing blow dry spray – Schwarzkopf Got2b
  • Red lingerie set – Peacocks 
  • Vanity case – Primark 
  • Heart earrings/Movie Night purse/Diamanté brooch – New Look  
  • Rose Quartz Facial Oil – Skin Chemists*
  • Red Gazelle Trainers – Adidas  
  • Je t’aime brooch – vintage 
  • The Righteous Butter – Soap and Glory 
  • Heart dish – Clintons
  • Harley Quinn mini-figure – Lego 
  • Love Heart sweets – Swizzles Matlow 


I love wearing nice underwear whatever the day and Valentines Day demands some red accents so why not your undies! This lace bra and knicker set (£15 from Peacocks) is sexy but still wearable – as a 43year old, DD cup size with a mummy tummy, Ann Summers style is just not going to work for me!  Feeling confident is sexy, right? The Schwarzkopf Mind Blowing Spray is a new discovery for me and its amazing! It makes your hair dry so fast and makes straightening really easy. The ‘Be Mine’ heart dish (£10 from Clintons) is perfect to put my rings on at night and the Harley Quinn Lego minifigure (£4 from all good Lego retailers) is a little gift from my boyfriend who just loves Lego (and I love Harley). The heart earrings were from the New Look sale and look really cute on as do my red Adidas Gazelle trainers – I’ve wanted a pair for ages so treated myself in the January sales and  by buying the kids version (they go up to UK 5.5) I saved a fortune!  The Skin Chemists Rose Quartz facial oil (£24.99 from Skin Chemists) is still keeping my skin soft and radiant (for more info see my review of it here) and smells lovely…just the thing to make you feel great about yourself!


I do love a pretty accessory and the heart brooch is a vintage one and the diamanté wreath brooch is from New Look. Love Heart sweets are always cute to give your loved one and dont seem to of changed that much since I was a kid (apart from maybe a ‘text me’ one!).  And this vanity case (£5 from Primark) is just adorable – perfect for if youre going away or just to store stuff in your bedroom or bathroom.



I love Soap & Glory products so The Righteous Butter is a constant buy for me – if you’ve never tried their products then I did definitely recommend you do. And finally I couldnt resist the Movie Night coin purse (£4.99 New Look) its small, but perfectly formed and the perfect size for your cinema tickets, some coins and a bank card.  

But ultimately my Valentine Day looks like just being with the people I love. As its half term and I have the day off I will be lunching then having a Starbucks date with my 3 sons/stepsons in the day and then later on will share a romantic dinner with my boyfriend.  We dont ‘do’ gifts, just give a Valentines Day card because for us its every day that matters, not just February 14th.  But whatever you do, however big or small, enjoy the day.

PS I also wrote about how I hate the commercialism of the day here – have a look and let me know your thoughts!

During February Skin Chemists are having a Rose Quartz month with lots of promotional offers on the entire range. This product usually has a RRP of £99 but during February is reduced to £24.99 – to shop it click here.  My followers can receive an additional 20% off by using the discount code BLUESKYBLOG making the product only £19.99! The code is valid until the end of February.

*I was gifted this product but all views stated are my own. For more information please see my disclaimer section.

My vintage buy of the week

| blueskygirlie

Welcome to another of my new semi regular blogs! As you may know I run a business on Etsy selling vintage items and often end up keeping things I fall in love with.

In these blogs I will share what I’ve bought and why (hopefully) it was a good buy! 

Currently I am adding the finishing touches to our bedroom re-vamp and am on the look-out for unusual and quirky pieces to add an ‘Anthropologie’ (the shop) vibe to the room but at a more realistic price. So far La Redoute and TK Maxx has been my friend but those good old charity shops are providing some unique touches too.

So say hello to this little fella! I love owls and this 1950’s/60’s French porcelain trinket pot is a great collectable.  Nice quality pieces like this are always a good investment and sell very quickly when I have them in my Etsy shop, plus – well look at him, he’s adorable!

And here he is, in position in the bedroom. I do love mixing different types of vintage storage together for a eclectic look and best of all my huge jewellery collection is almost getting organised!



Owl trinket pot via Cancer Research charity shop

What bargains have you found recently in the world of charity and vintage shops? I would love to know…

To shop my Etsy Shop click here
To shop my eBay shop (where vintage clothing ends up) shop here
To follow my Instagram (where most of my buys get shared first) follow me here 

Look out more more vintage buys in coming weeks…

Making the 80’s modern again…

| blueskygirlie

Todays look is based around a vintage buy I fell in love with recently (although my boyfriend did say I reminded him of a member of Duran Duran in it – in a good way allegedly – but we’ll gloss over that) that I just had to wear asap. It cost me just £5.00 in a charity shop and I loved its unique look but also its totally bargain price!

This kind of shirt is perfect when you just want a comfy yet stylish outfit…and you might not be feeling as body confident as you could be (I do suffer from this) – but hey, comfort is always good – no fixed waistbands here!  The shirt itself is quite bold but with plain leggings or skinny jeans doesn’t look over the top. A pair of heels dresses it up slightly although flats would work just as well for a more laid back look.

The shirt itself is a voluminous 80’s/early 90’s number and I co-ordinated it with some wet look leggings, block heel sandals and a cheeky novelty clutch bag.


The sandals are a Very.co.uk purchase and have been so useful. They are dressy but comfortable and look great with everything. The bag is from Accessorize and was one of those ‘I have to have it’ purchases. I love a novelty bag and this one makes me happy everytime I use it.


They key to an oversized shirt like this is balance. If its loose on top go tight on the bottom that way you look in proportion and if you’re petite like me, youre not swamped by the volume of the item. Leggings and skinny jeans work perfectly with a look like this.

The shirt came with shoulder pads which I removed. As ever my vision is a modern version of vintage, and a few changes can make a vintage item feel modern.  If youre more of a fashion fan than a vintage belle, most vintage items can be improved with a nip or a tuck.



And finally back to those sandals – the gold block heels are EVERYTHING!  Plus some matching red/orange nail varnish on my toes carried that bright print through to my feet!

This bold bargain has already become one of my favourite items I own and I literally can’t wait to wear it again.

Shirt – vintage
Wet look leggings – eBay
Sandals – shoebox at Very.co.uk
Bag – Accessorize 

My vintage buy of the week

| blueskygirlie

Welcome to another of my new semi regular blogs! As you may know I run a business on Etsy selling vintage items and often end up keeping things I fall in love with

In these blogs I will share what I’ve bought and why (hopefully) it was a good buy! 

Todays buy may be small but it holds its own! A minature 1960’s blown glass vase it was the perfect colour to add to a grouping of glass I’ve been adding to in our lounge. Isn’t it cute?


Highly collectable and growing in value its a great little buy. Plus I ADORE retro glass!

And here it is in its new home…


1960’s mini vase via RSPCA charity shop

What bargains have you found recently in the world of charity and vintage shops? I would love to know…

To shop my Etsy Shop click here

To shop my eBay shop (where vintage clothing ends up) shop here

To follow my Instagram (where most of my buys get shared first) follow me here

Look out more more vintage buys in coming weeks…

My vintage buy of the week

| blueskygirlie

Welcome to a new semi regular blog! As you may know I run a business on Etsy selling vintage items and often end up keeping things I fall in love with.

In these blogs I will share what I’ve bought and why (hopefully) it was a good buy! 

Todays item is a dress I just fell in love with the minute I saw it. Made in the Netherlands in the late 1970’s/early 80s it is by the brand Suku San and is in a bold colbalt blue polyester crepe.  At the same time I also picked up an unusual twisted vintage belt so the outfit is full on vintage which is unusual for me.


What I loved the most though was the draped front and split sleeves. Its so stylish and feels great on, plus the whole outfit cost me less than £5!  Comfort and style…hoorah! 

blue vintage 1979s 70s dress by blogger blueskygirlie via Always a Blue Sky Girl fashion blog
What do you think? Its definitely going to be one of my favourite dresses in my wardrobe.

Dress & Belt – Tomorrows People charity shop

(Tomorrows People is a charity in Kent that helps unemployed people get work experience and become confident to find a permanent job)

What bargains have you found recently in the world of charity and vintage shops? I would love to know…

To shop my Etsy Shop click here

To shop my eBay shop (where vintage clothing ends up) shop here

To follow my Instagram (where most of my buys get shared first) follow me here

Look out more more vintage buys in coming weeks…

Secretary Chic

| blueskygirlie

“Here is your coffee Mr Smith, would you like me to finish that filing?”

OK, the traditional secretary doesnt exist anymore but the prim yet sexy look still can. I’m a great fan of the TV show Mad Men and this look as a Joan vibe to it (without the amazing bosom sadly!). Its a cute, preppy look thats often replicated by Kate Spade or J Crew too, favourites of mine and is perfect for a day in the office.   

This is one of those looks that has been pulled together from existing pieces and doesnt require a shopping trip (hoorah says my bank manager!). Its really just based around a great vintage skirt I got for £3 in a charity shop – these type of skirts are easily found and look rubbish on the hanger – the type of skirt your Nana would of worn, but styled right look great.     

I love the removable white bow I got from River Island after Christmas taking a plain white shirt from Matalan and making it both feminine and smart.  A preppy slipover jumper and ankle boots keep the look from looking too vintage (which I hate)…    

So next time you walk past a charity shop filled with 1960’s polyester skirts maybe its worth a second look, what do you think?

Bow – River Island
Blouse – Matalan
Jumper – Benetton
Skirt – Vintage
Shoes – New Look

ASOS Bridal

| blueskygirlie

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.

The thing I have fallen in love with this week: Hello Spring!

| blueskygirlie

Over the last few days it feels like we’ve finally left winter and slowly moved into Spring. Ok, its not totally here, but the suns been shining, there’s flowers blooming everywhere and Easter and all its sweet treats is on the way.  

I need some inspiration – I need bright. I need cheerful. I need cute!!!

In todays ‘The thing I’ve fallen in love with this week’ blog I share the things that are making me smile so far this March. I couldn’t pick one thing so I’ve gone for a few (I do love doing a flat lay!). Bright, fun and sweet is the name of the game…

 

Clouds zipped purse – Cath Kidston
Vintage coral necklace – Etsy
Purse and brooch – New Look
Nail polish – Superdrug
Hello Fashion Monthly – subscribe here
Pineapple dish – Debenhams
Vintage Mother of Pearl necklace – Etsy
Pineapple vase – Store TwentyOne
Scarf – Echo
Love Sick book by Jessie Cave – Amazon
Vintage glass dish – Etsy
Mike and Ike American candy – B&M stores
Mason Jar cup – Poundworld
Face pot stand and beaker – Tiger Stores
Twizzlers American candy – B&M stores
Clouds Gola trainers – Cath Kidston
Hand Food hand cream & Butter Me Up body butter – Soap & Glory 

 

Bright colours and cute designs lift my spirits. I love the Cath Kidston cloud design (well I am the blue sky girl!) and my new Echo scarf is perfect for Spring styling. The yellow Pineapple vase from Store TwentyOne was a bargain must have and ‘Love Sick’ by Jessie Cave is a book of her doodles on love and relationships and it is very funny and VERY relatable…

 

Regular followers of my blog know I love Hello Fashion Monthly (a bargain at £1.50 each month) and I couldn’t live without Soap & Glory products – I can’t shower, scrub or cleanse with anything else! If you like a jelly bean (as I do), it doesn’t get better than American brand Mike and Ike and when I saw that Pineapple dish in Debenhams I just had to have it…

I feel more cheerful already! So, what are you loving for Spring?  

For more flat lay product inspiration follow me on Instagram – here.

New Years Eve

| blueskygirlie

What did you get up to on New Years Eve? 

We were lucky enough to be invited to two parties and split our time between family and friends and of course I took the opportunity to get dressed up! 

What I wore – 

I wanted a formal look that was a bit quirky and definitely sexy so went for a mix of underwear as outerwear and vintage!  The skirt is an amazing vintage Frank Usher layered chiffon maxi skirt with a wired hem that makes it ‘swoosh’ out. Being vintage its fixed waistband was a tight fit on me even though the label said 14 – thats one of the things I hate about vintage…vain I know! But it certainly is a fabulous skirt. I teamed it with a black lace body with 3/4 length sleeves from the Secret Possessions range at Primark and a black satin underwear underneath.  


Hair and make-up – 

With it being NYE I went for a full face of make-up with Barry M smoky grey Dazzle Dust eyeshadow, highlighted with an amazing L’Oreal holographic silver shadow, black liquid eye liner and a wine coloured lip.

My hair was freshly washed in L’Oreal Paris Elvive Nutri-Gloss Crystal Sparkling Shampoo and conditioner (which gives a lovely shine) then dried while it was up in a loose bun to create full beachy waves. I pinned a few sections away from my face and finished with Ellnet hair spray.

   

Accessories – 

As I was wearing such a dramatic skirt I went quite light on accessories wearing a pair of drop diamante earings and a novelty bag both from New Look. This chocolate bar clutch makes me smile whenever I use it!  

And that was my New Years Eve look for 2015! I had a absolutely fabulous night and felt like a gothic princess which in my opinion, is not a bad thing to feel like! I hope you had fun too whatever you were doing.

Lace Body – Primark

Satin body (underwear) – Very.co.uk

Maxi skirt – Frank Usher (vintage)

Earrings – New Look

Clutch bag – New Look