Queen of the New Year

Um, since when was it March?! This year is going by way too quickly for my liking. I feel like January was 0.3 minutes ago.

This week's post is a little throwback to January - the time of year where everyone feels that it is absolutely imperative that you change yourself or, at least have the intention to. It's almost like we're not enough on our own. We live in a culture where we must always be doing something, becoming something new, working toward something, and standing still is not an option. My sociology lecturer once put this perfectly - 'we are taught that just living is not enough'. And so, when January rears its optimistic head, it's an excuse for  a fresh start for most. I've lost count of the amount of 'New Year, New Me' statuses/tweets I've seen.

It can be a lot of pressure, especially when social media has the tendency to guilt trip you into thinking that everyone else is working 10 million times harder than you. Everyone puts up their highlights, their achievements. But what we don't see is the true amount of hard work that goes into these achievements. We also don't see the times where they're sitting at home eating Ben and Jerry's in their pyjamas at 3pm, scrolling through their newsfeed feeling like they're not doing enough either. It's easy to forget that everyone has down days, when you feel like everyone around you is working non-stop. The key is to be kind to yourself. You can be a boss ass bitch and take a pause for a bubble bath too. Go at your pace, take your time, and make sure you take time to care for yourself. Bey's empire wasn't built in a day.



To go with New Year-y mentions, this is the outfit I wore on New Year's Eve. This jacket from Beyond Retro is everything I've ever wanted in a jacket, ever. Also, fluffy shoes? So much fun.

What I'm Wearing:

Dress: Miss Selfridge

Jacket: Beyond Retro
Shoes: Irregular Choice

And a huge thank you to Lyathara for this weeks photos! 

Mr. Winter

I hate to be that person who starts off by talking about the weather but HOW COLD IS IT RIGHT NOW? This is the kind of weather that makes me want to exist solely as a bed burrito and to never venture outside. But unfortunately, responsibilities. I'm currently thinking of my ventures outside (even if it is to the corner shop for more hot chocolate) as being training for when I got to Montreal at the end of next month. Yes, I know it's going to be much colder than this but I'm currently in denial.

This weather is also the kind that reminds me that I own nothing warm. No cardigans, no knitwear, nada. And every year I say 'I really need to get a coat this year' and every year I'm like '...naaaa'. But this year was different. Because I actually found the world's most duvet-est coat and it has answered all my warm-woes. It's also my first faux (very very faux, real fur is just no) fur coat.

I got this beaut from Beyond Retro - if you're in need of something mega warm, definitely invest! It's worth it if it makes you feel like you're in a duvet whenever you wear it. Especially in this weather.

I think a statement coat like this is a cool way to jazz up a monochrome ensemble. I love monochrome - it makes everyone look dapper as hell.

What I'm Wearing:

Coat - Beyond Retro

Shirt - ASOS

Leggings - ASOS

Shoes - Irregular Choice (these are actually sold out! but check out their website for more irregular goodies.

Thanks again to the lovely Naïke (http://www.poetryisinthestreets.co.vu/) and Sophie for this week's photos. It was worth the chilliness!

Back to Life, Back to Reality

So after a brief departure, my blog is FINALLY back! And I am so excited for what’s to come.

Over the past few months I’ve been able to find my feet, work with some really awesome people and finally get into the swing of doing this whole ‘blogging’ thing. In hindsight (I’ll say it before and I’ll say it again), I definitely should not have decided to start up a blog in my third year. I think I’m just one of those people who (apparently) really likes putting themselves under pressure to do all of the things. But now uni is over (yes, I’m still pining), I finally have the energy and time to create some sick content.

I not only now have a slick new super-layout (thank you so much to the wonderful people at Pipdig!), but I will, from now on, be posting the links of where I get things from (where I can) or link to something similar. I don't want to be a bad influence on your bank account but...wait, actually I do. Treat yo'selves. You're all great.

So, outfit post this week! I recently went into ‘treat yo’self’ mode myself, and this outfit is an accumulation of what I treated myself with (damn you, Aziz Ansari; that phrase will be the death of me). This tee is my current fave item of clothing. I’m feeling very early-series-Rachel right now, so I think it’s particularly fitting.

What I'm Wearing:


Tshirt: Primark
 (here's something similar)

Skirt: American Apparel


 Tights & Socks: Primark
 (because who doesn't love a snazzy pair of socks/tights?)

Shoes: River Island
 (here's a selection of River Island patent shoe deliciousness)

Choker: Topshop

A huge thank you to the brilliant Naike (http://www.poetryisinthestreets.co.vu/) for this weeks photos, and to the sweetest Sophie for this week's makeup. You guys are the best! 

One Step at a Time.

So, graduate life is odd. I keep expecting a professor to email me with daunting messages about an upcoming deadline but instead my uni email is barren. At the moment I find myself living vicariously through my friends still at university by asking them about how their courses are going; although I'm met with groans, moans and 'oh God I think I'm going to have to do another all nighter's, I am still so envious because they are still learning - something I miss so much.

I may not be learning in lecture or seminar form anymore, but I am learning how to find my own feet. And I'm not going to lie - it has been hard. University definitely does not warn you enough about it. Creating one's own normality is difficult when a structure has been spoon fed to you since the age of 4; what makes the feeling worse is feeling like everyone else has totally got it already and feeling like you have to catch up. But really, that's not the case at all. It's a process which takes time, and that's okay. I'm getting there - things may not have been exactly perfect recently but I'm emerging out of this slump, by hook or by crook.

I've been saving these pictures because I love them so much - thank you so much to Shen Outar for such a wonderful and fun shoot (seems like forever ago now!); she was such a pleasure to work with. You can find more of her work here. You can also check out her fab vlogging channel here.

Also, this is the world's most flattering LBD, honestly if I want to feel fierce as hell I just chuck this on and BAM. 10/10 would recommend.


What I'm Wearing:
Dress - River Island
Shoes - New Look

p.s., Follow my blog with Bloglovin!

Been Around the World.

So this summer I finally got to tick off a major part of my bucket list; I travelled all over Europe, (well, student-pricing-friendly side!), with two of my best buddies by my side. We did the whole interrailing thing, which basically meant popping from city to city via train. I say by train like it was a glamourous experience, but most of the time we ended up on the floor in the train corridors, which resulted in the manufacturing of many scoobidous (remember those?!).

So we explored Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb (for like 6 hours) and finished off in sunny Split. We stopped off at each destination for a few days, attempted (and often failed) to soak up the culture, and boogied the pants off of each city. Being at each place for just a few days at a time meant that we could all get taster of each. What it left me with was that terribly cliched sensation of wonderlust. I guess once you pop (to another country) you can't stop. Or something.

I'm now just trying to decide where's next - I'm hoping (and saving up for) Asia and the States. Fingers crossed!

What I'm Wearing:
Top - Primark
Skirt - Get Cutie, Brighton
Necklace - Topshop
Shoes - Nike