Portobello Market

 

So one of the main perks of living near London is obviously the fact that on the weekends I can venture into the busy and fast paced life of the London towns to discover more about this wonderful city. This

Interrailing Tips: What I wish I had known!

As mentioned 1000 times already, this summer I spent just over a month travelling around Europe in the experience of a lifetime with my best friend. I pretty much got around everywhere on a train (apart from the odd ferry and flights there and back) and I bought a months Interrail (or Eurail) ticket

The Summer of a Lifetime

Dress: From shop in Portugal

This summer has been an absolute ongoing whirlwind of travelling to my hearts content. It's been manic, but I feel so amazed at all the places i've seen and everything i've achieved its such a blessing and I'm so grateful. So let me fill you in, you may already know from my last post that I went inter

railing for a month around Europe and I've now just returned from a 2 week holiday in Portugal! I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for me to relax after travelling but my inner explorer wanted to continue sight seeing and trying new experiences! Most days we went out on the boat and did water sports, had picnics on the boat out at sea and swam around in the ocean. One day we were  fortunate to see dolphins!! About 6 in total swam around our boat it was absolutely bloody amazing if i do say so myself! Magical, I have a video on my instagram @atelierofstyle if you wish to see it! :)

When I'm in different countries I love immersing myself in their culture and lifestyle, and this includes their style and fashion pieces. I picked up this dress in a shop in the town centre Lagos, I fell in love with the deep V cut at the front, but mainly the stunning low back with the delicate ties with beads on, as well as the flow of the fabric on the dress that rippled in the wind. I haven't seen many pieces like this and i've fallen in love with it. I hope you enjoy the pictures on this post as I was so pleased with the way they've come out! Also many thanks again to Georgia Ibberson my wonderful photographer without whom I wouldn't have been able to do this post! 

Freedom to choose

Jumper: French Connection

Skirt: Topshop

Trainers: New Balance

Bagpack: boutique in York

 



To start with, I'd like to begin by saying that I am the most indecisive person EVER. If you were to ever give me a choice between two things then 98% of the time its likely that I won't want/be able to choose and attempt to hand the decision making over to someone else! I've come to the conclusion
that part of my indecisiveness must at least partly come from my Gemini nature as they are said to have a tendency to take interest in many different things. (Note: I just googled qualities of a Gemini and honestly I kid not i'm rather amazed at how accurate it is!) More recently and most likely from having started this blog, I've begun to realise that my style preference regularly changes and I find myself liking a large range of different 'looks'.

Personally I think everyone has a bit of this urge within them to try different looks, for instance when going out at evening people tend to dress in something a bit more feminine and classy than their daytime wear. As well, on our (never ending) journey to discovering our personal style we often dip in, and especially at a young age, and out of trends, styles and experiment with what we feel most ourselves in. I bring up this topic from having shot two very different looks recently but yet liking them both equally, if you read yesterday's post then you'll have seen a more feminine, classy, chic and edgy look. Whereas today I've switched the clutch for a backpack and the heels for trainers!

As a lover of the arts and everything creative as well as having a deep passion for acting (oh how I miss it) I think the idea of taking on say, different personalities and looks is very appealing. When we get ready in the morning do the clothes we pick subconsciously dictate who we want to be that day? Or some days, do we consciously make these decisions, deciding that today we want to feel powerful and sexy, and therefore those heels and that pencil skirt are our attire of choice. Just some food for thought for us all! I guess in a summary, I'm trying to say that I just simply enjoy the freedom that fashion gives us, it plays a bigger part in our lives than most of us even realise.



California Dreaming

 

Dress: Warehouse

Clutch: Zara

Heels: River Island

Summer comes around, and as much as we all burst with happiness waking up to the beaming sun, it seems that the majority of people end up in a state about what clothes their going to wear. I love the sun, do not get me wrong it instantly lifts my mood and nothing makes me happier than spending
time outdoors. But whether its the stuffy England heat or the fact i'm used to being in colder temperatures, or that I don't have a pool to cool off in, my body turns into a hot oven after spending an hour in the sun! What's with that?! Therefore dressing in the summer for me almost becomes a challenge, but I think I've discovered the secret...

 

I introduce to you (as I'm sure I have many times before) the delights of the summer dress. Airy, comfortable yet stylish and playful all at the same time. I think I have a serious love affair with dresses I just can't get enough of them! This particular dress is annually pulled out of the wardrobe, just looking at its colourful prints puts a smile on my face, who doesn't enjoy a good flower pattern?! This dress to me sets the scene for warm summer nights, sitting outside sipping Pimms underneath the twinkling fairy lights as the sound of soft music accompanying the chatter between friends.

 

If only my background was against a tropical pink sunset and palm trees on an exotic island, I feel like that is where this dress truly belongs. But it won't be long til' I'm off travelling Europe for a month! In fact the final arrangements are getting sorted this Sunday which is exciting (if not a tad scary) stuff! What do you have planned for the summer?

 

Most Loved #1

So I've decided to begin a series where each fortnight i'll post a selection of goodies that i'm really currently enjoying. I am a massive beauty nerd, I'll hold my hands up and say that I own a unrealistic amount of lipsticks and my stash is continuing to grow, thats just how i like it! I primarily wanted to focus the blog on fashion but Id like to gradually introduce to you more beauty/lifestyle elements into the blog as they are also things that I am enthusiastic to share with you! So enough with the chit chat, and heres what i've been enjoying these past few weeks.

I've always been a fan of flavoured lattes and have made a lot of them using a fancy machine, so I thought I'd give some coffee syrups a go! I made the latte in a old fashioned way byheating milk in a pan, who needs a machine?! 

I drink a lot of milk, like a lot as you've probably guessed from above. I'm an avid tea and coffee drinker and I still eat a lot of cereals, (who doesn't right?!). So i've been making a conscious effort to cut down on my diary which meant trying out almond milk, which is surprisingly really nice! The taste takes a while to get used to it but i'm happy to make the change :)

I luuuuuuuuuuurve this fragrance so so so much, it comes out annually in the summer from Estee Lauder and i just cannot get enough of the scent and i just repurchased a new bottle yesterday, literally summer in a bottle! It has to be my staple scent and even my mum now says the scent reminds her of me! 

The focus here on on this beautiful leather notebook that i found in Paperchase, it makes me smile just looking at it! I just don't want to write in it and spoil it now, eek!

The Effaclar Duo [+] has been doing absolutely wonders for my skin and is helping clear up some pesky unwanted intruders! The nivea pearly shine lip balm has stayed put in my handbag recently as the weather has turned dramatically colder and it gives a lovely sheen to the lips! The Maybelline Age Rewind concealer is such a wonderful product for brightening up the eyes or using for dramatic highlighting in the evenings.

I've been trying to maintain a bit of a healthy glow and you just cannot fault St Tropez bronzing mousse, its foolproof to apply and gives a healthy, golden tan, i love it! 

Atelier of Style

Feminine Sports Chic

Jacket: Topshop

Dress: Zara

Trainers: New Balance

Bag: River Island

Sunglasses: French Connection

Okay so, I know I have way too many black and white pieces in my wardrobe (slaps wrist) but I just couldn't resist this piece I spotted in Zara! I think that the peplum skirt/dress trend is so flattering and is a modern twist on the standard a line skirts. 

I also recently purchased some New Balance trainers! Eek! I've been eyeing these babies up for ages, as you may have heard me mention in a previous post I never thought I was type to wear trainers - nope, vans still don't suit me - but I feel in love with these shoes as soon as I tried them on, and my feet are definitely enjoying the comfort too! 

The sport cut of the dress combined with the trainers create quite a casual look, but still keeping my feminine touch with the floaty peplum flare, and all together I was really pleased with the whole look! And to add a splash of colour to a otherwise neutral palette of colours I wore a bright, orange coloured necklace as a nod towards to the sunnier summer months, bring them on!