Creating illusions

I don't tend to wear white very often (mostly because I know I can be quite clumsy and I often spill on myself - whether that be coffee or bronzing powder), but when I found these jeans I just had to give white a try, and without even noticing (well...) I had "accidentally" clicked home a white top as well. 

Double white? 

Well, at least it's not double denim a la Britney and Justin!

The jeans, which are from Blue Inc, are of a pretty skinny fit, but the lower legs aren't quite as skin tight as I'm used to. It's quite nice though, as the fabric ruffles around your ankles.

The jeans have ripped detailing all down the front (like they've been sliced open several times by an angry teenager) - a young look that is very on trend at the moment... even for non-teenagers! In fact, great designers like Dolce & Gabbana and Gucci are all going for the ripped jean look for AW15-16, so don't be afraid to experiment with this style.
 

The white top, also from Blue Inc, is of a peplum style - something I've never tried before but now I've realised that I really like it as it creates an illusion of a smaller waist. It has a lovely rose gold detail at the front which adds a touch of glam to it.

Would you wear all white? Is it too daring?

I think it's quite nice, as it really brightens up these early autumn days.

Although, I've added some black accessories to make it more monochrome.

See what I mean about the peplum style?

It actually looks like I've got a proper waist! My body type is quite straight naturally, and I've always envied people with really marked waists.

I could never go all white (I don't want to be mistaken for being a ghost!) so I've opted for strappy black heeled snake print shoes with lovely golden details to match the gold on the top.

To add to that rose gold glam I'm wearing a new charm bracelet from Snö of Sweden - from the same collection as the bracelet I wore to Thirsk Races the other week.

The faux leather handbag from Fiorelli at House of Fraser also adds to my hint of monochrome. It's just the perfect sized handbag, and it's neutral enough to go with basically anything - I love it when your accessories are versatile and can compliment both a casual and a party outfit. The handle straps are the perfect length - something I find very important when it comes to handbags. My previous handbag just had little grab handles, and it annoyed the hell out of me. I like being able to sling my handbag over the shoulder.

To top it all off I'm wearing a pair of circle shaped rose gold stud earrings with a bling edge - also from Snö of Sweden. 
Did I mention that it's one of my favourite jewellery brands? You probably figured it out already!

What to wear to the races - Ladies' Day at Thirsk Racecourse

You know there's something great going on when there's delicious bubbly Prosecco involved... cheers!

Myself and three fellow Leeds fashion bloggers were invited to ladies' day at Thirsk Racecourse on Saturday - a small racecourse with a very friendly atmosphere that kind of makes you feel as if you're just sitting in someone's (very posh) back garden.

After having arrived at Thirsk station by train a free shuttle bus picked us up and took us to the race course, for which we had tickets to the Premier area. 

Let's raise our glasses to that!

A couple of us decided to place some small bets, and we all walked over to the racecourse side to have a look at the horses. 

Don't these lovely ladies look stunning in their posh hats and fascinators?

From the left;

Kristina from Mode of Style wearing a strapless black dress.

Dash from Mode Lily in a stunning floral number.

Laura from Top Style Advice rocking a blue and purple dress with lots of decorative details.

And myself - opting for a dark turquoise dress.

My dress is a dark turquise skater or A-line style chiffon dress that I found at Debenhams last month. It's from the brand Tenki, and as you can see it's quite a short number. 

Getting my legs out! ;)

It's got a zipper and some bands at the back which you tie into a pretty bow, which makes the dress fit perfectly around your waist.

I adore these new platform stilettos that I recently bought from Deichmann! They may not look it, but they're actually comfortable. They sit really snug around your feet, so they're really easy to walk in. Plus, the slit style black suede is gorgeous!
I'm also matching my nail polish with my dress, of course ;)

Some curls are a must when going out for a special occasion. My hair is naturally really straight, so giving it a bit of bounce is a nice way to really liven it up and to add more of a party look to it.

 

With my turquoise dress being quite vibrant I've opted for really sleek and simple accessories; a neat chain bracelet in rose gold and a matching ring with a bit of bling - both from Snö of Sweden.

The girls and I had a lovely day at Thirsk races, placing some bets, sipping on Prosecco, catching up on some girly talk, and doing some general people watching. It's great seeing what outfits other girls have opted for for ladies' day (and it's also fun laughing at girls who've gone really over the top with their hats!)

What sort of dress do you tend to wear when going to the races?

Do you flaunt your curves in a trendy and edgy fashionista style dress, the classic dress which could be a standard chiffon or lace style, or do you tone it down a bit and go for a more sophisticated and mature style which may be a bit more covered up?

Fashionista - Diamante Cage Pencil Dress from ASOS £95
Classic lace - Navy Lace Dress from Mango £50
Sophisticated - Grace Miracle Dress from Winser London £150

These three dresses are some fab examples, and I really wouldn't mind wearing any of them for different special occasions. But for the races I tend to go for a more classic style, with a slight hint of fashionista vibes.

Thank you so much to Thirsk Racecourse for inviting us to this fabulous ladies' day!

Key learnings from Leeds festival

The August bank holiday weekend up in the north of England means only one thing for some people… Leeds fest!

I’ve personally never been to Leeds fest before as it always falls on my birthday weekend and I tend to do other things for it, but my sister convinced me to go with her this year seeing as she and a friend were flying over all the way from Sweden for it.

I had only been to day festivals prior to this, and my sister had only been to a really small reggae festival before, so the 80,000 crowd was a bit of a shock for both of us.

But I think we were as prepared as we could have been with our double tent and sleeping bags.

After 3 days of walking around in the alcohol soaked grass and mud, here are my key learnings for surviving a festival.

Go with the flow

Everyone is in the same situation, and no one will judge you for having greasy hair or dirty clothes, or for sleeping off that hangover in a camping chair in the middle of the day… so just let your hair down and make the most of it. 
You’ll have so much more fun if you just let loose and go with the flow. 
Messy hair, don’t care!

It’s all about layers

As we all know, the weather in England is extremely unpredictable, so make sure you plan what clothes to bring, and wear layers so that you can quickly take some off when the sun comes out, or pop a cardigan on when it gets chilly.

Shorts may be great during the day, but bring a pair of thick tights for the evening.

Some of the best items I brought were a cardigan, hoodie, scruffy ankle boots, thick tights, a fold-away parka and standard dark jeans. I also brought some comfy pants and fluffy socks to sleep in.

Everyone has to compromise on hygiene

Bigger festivals like Leeds fest do offer some showers, but they tend to be very basic (a single trickle of semi-cold water in a tent booth) so people often try to stay clean in other ways. Baby wipes and face wipes are your best friends during a festival, and the same goes for dry shampoo! If you, like me, like to wash your hair very often (I admire people who can get away with only washing their hair once or twice a week and still make it look nice and glossy on day 2, 3 or 4!) you may be confused as to what to do with your big but limp crow’s nest hair when you wake up in a sweaty (or freezing) tent on festival day number 3. 
Why not do a practise run of some simple hairstyles back home prior to the festival? 
Maybe some cool 70’s style braids? 
Or just bring a hat!

Stay safe

Never leave any valuables in your tent! 
Also, you may think backpacks are great, but would you actually notice if someone behind you in the crowd started digging out your stuff? Opt for a bag that is close to your body and that people can’t just snatch off you. 
A bum bag, or a cross-body bag are your best options.

Jazz it up

Even though you feel slightly disgusting, it’s a given that you want to look nice. 
Statement accessories is always a fun touch to a festival outfit – personally I went for big, bright blue sunglasses, an oversized metal necklace, and green feather earrings.

The new friends we made, and seeing Metallica headlining (from really close to the stage!) made it all worth it, and I already can’t wait to attend another festival next year! Download festival, perhaps? ;)  

 Have you ever been to an all-weekend festival, and what are your top tips and key learnings?