Vessels

Jumper: Zara

Shirt: Charity Shop

Shorts: Vintage

Bag: Charity Shop

Shoes: Vintage

Necklace: gift

This is my last outfit of 2011! 

That feels so final and crazy to say. This year has gone by so fast and I can't believe in six months I'll be graduating and moving away from Leeds. A lot has changed this year, I started it with an aching heart and ending it feeling completely content. I'm really happy with where I am right now, I'm surrounded by amazing friends, I live in one of the best cities and I'm studying something I'm truly passionate about. What more could you ask for?

I'm heading over to our local tonight for a new years eve party with bands, lots of drinking and the odd bit of musical chairs. Hope everyone has a great new years and see you all in 2012.

Youth Lagoon

Shirt: Charity Shop

Shorts: Vintage

Cardigan: Zara

Shoes: Charity Shop

Bag: Charity Shop

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas day! I spent the day eating far too much, drinking far too many cocktails and falling asleep for a two hour nap after dinner. As it was just my mum and I this year it kind of felt like any other day but it was a nice day nonetheless. My main present, which is a record player, isn't coming until January but I was still spoilt with lots of gifts to open from under the tree.

Today, my family are coming round for dinner round two and probably a festive film or two.

I wore this outfit on Christmas eve to see some friends and catch up. Someone said my style reminded them of Jess from The New Girl which I took as a massive compliment.

One Step Checkout

Jumper: Zara

Skirt: Vintage

Shoes: Vintage

It's kind of a blogging tradition for me to take a photo in front of my christmas tree every year. I wore this outfit to have some family portraits taken with my mum by Mel for her final year project and we snapped some outfit photos first. A cosy jumper with a plaid skirt spells christmas cheer to me but this year I will be wearing a white dress on Christmas day. Controversial, eh?

Things might be a bit quiet here over the next week as I have no photographer and no tripod but I'm sure I'll find some other stuff to blog about until I'm back in Leeds for New Years Eve. This year really has flown past and when I'm reunited with my external harddrive in January I will be putting together a little 'year in retrospect' post as I'm loving the others popping up on everyone's blogs. Link me if you've done a similar post!

King of The Hill

Jumper: Zara

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Boots: ASOS

Necklace: Stolen Thunder

Today was my first day back at work and I'm completely exhausted. Working 8-4 means getting up at 6AM, getting to work in time for sunrise and leaving once it's dark. At least it's only for two weeks. Needless to say I'm going to keep this post short and sweet.

It was really windy when we took these photos but we persevered as I really liked my outfit. Looking at it now, I kind of resemble a tree but I'm fine with that!

Thieving Magpie

Top: New Look

Skirt: Charity Shop

Cardigan: H&M

Shoes: Charity Shop

The lengths I go to for outfit photos can be a little ridiculous sometimes. With the upcoming snow, I think posing under an umbrella in the rain will seem like a walk in the park to me soon. It was miserable weather the last few days in Leeds but I'm home now to even more bad weather.

I've been busy since getting home on Wednesday as I've been in London the entire time, shopping, going to a gig and then my office christmas party on Friday. I finally had a moment to stop and put this post together today. I start back at work on Monday and I am dreading those 6AM starts but the bank balance at the end will be worth it. I'm hoping since it's christmas the workload will be lighter than usual and everyone should be in a jolly mood. 

I wore this outfit for a day of running errands and watching films with a friend. The skirt used to be midi length but I hemmed it up to a more comfortable length and I can predict it'll be in heavy rotation in the near future.

Close Your Eyes

Dress: Vintage

Cardigan: Charity Shop

Shoes: Charity Shop

I wore this outfit for a day of pre-production meetings and an evening of watching Hugo at the cinema. It's actually the first film I've seen in 3-D since I was a kid when 3-D had another mini rebirth. I just can't seem to buy into the experience to be honest. I mean, it's all very interesting for the first ten minutes but then it just kind of gave me a headache. The film itself was alright, probably not for people that aren't into film history, but worth a watch.

This dress was one of the first vintage pieces I ever bought and it took me two years to get round to wearing it. The hawaiian print is perfect for me but it is quite short which can be a nightmare when it's as windy as it has been.

I only have a few more days in Leeds before heading home for Christmas. I'm going to be spending most of it in the library trying to get another essay out of the way but I'm sure I'll fit in a few more visits to my favourite Leeds establishments before I go. I'm excited to get back to London though!

Walk It Off

dress: vintage

cardigan: h&m

shoes: charity shop

It's confession time!

Normally when I take my blog photos, I step just outside my house where one of my housemate snaps my photos and then we run back indoors. Unfortunately, our house is next to the bin section for our street but I thought I'd gotten away with it in most photos. Yesterday was bin day though and since we snapped these at 11AM, the bins hadn't returned to their little enclosure. So now you know, I pose in front of the bins every day. I'm just classy like that!

This dress had been sitting in my sewing pile for months but I finally fished it out and took it up as the plaid is perfect for the winter months. I did feel a little bit girl scout when I was wearing it but that just fits in with my normal style. 

I've taken to starting a collection of heels from charity shops. I'm normally massively uncoordinated and this doesn't bode well with heels but my modest collection is made up of low solid chunky heels so I get all the perks (the difference they make to my legs is amazing) without the worry of falling over everywhere. I still fall over regularly though. Some things just can't be helped...

Write To Your Brother

Top: New Look

Shorts: ASOS

Cardigan: Charity shop

Boots: ASOS

Hat: ebay

Belt: Zara

Sometimes when you have to be into university by 10 on a Monday morning, all you want to do is be cosy and comfortable. This is what this outfit was for me. It was snow-raining when we took these and continued to be freezing for the rest of the day so I was glad I'd gone with my supercosy tights by the end of the day. 

I ordered these shorts in the ASOS Sale despite promising to be better with money. I've been on the hunt for blue high waisted shorts for the longest time and although these have me constantly checking if my bum cheeks are out, I can sense they'll still be in heavy rotation.

We're having our own Christmas day on Friday with a roast dinner, mulled wine and mince pies. We're going to round it off with some of our favourite christmas films before people start heading home for the break. I'm only home for two weeks and I'll be in the office for most of them earning money to fund my film but I'm still looking forward to getting back to London for a little while.

What are your christmas plans?

Keep It Quiet

Shirt: Charity Shop

Shorts: Vintage

Belt: Zara

Boots: Vintage

Necklace: gift

Reasons I love blogging:

• the way it pushes me to constantly wear different things
• how much it has improved my remixing skills
• the wonderful, supportive community of bloggers
• the photographic diary that I have of the past year and a half
• the place it has given me to talk about all the important things (and sometimes the unimportant) in my life
• the inspiration other bloggers give me in my style
• the look of confusion on peoples faces when I tell them I write a personal style blog

Sometimes you just need to take a step back and reevaluate why you do something. I have been blogging for a year and a half now and as much as it has gotten easier with practice, I hated thinking of blogging as a routine. It left me feeling anxious about getting photographs and being too analytical about my page views and stats. I needed a break to realise that I do really enjoy blogging and I'm not quite ready to give that up yet. It's difficult to put yourself out there on the internet almost daily but the rewards are so worth it. I just needed reminded of that. So I'm back! What did I miss?

Undertow

Dress: Ark

Cardigan: H&M

Boots: ASOS

Bag: Vintage

My last outfit of 2010. If we're not counting what I wore out for new year's eve, of course. Being back in Leeds, even though it's only for three days this time, makes me so happy. I got to be with my friends, eat at wagamama, shop, go to Headingley for lunch, drink a ridiculous amount of rum and dance at a house party to celebrate the new year. Then today I bundled up in my biggest cardigan and go for turkish food with everyone to cure our hangovers and talk about last night. 

We took these photographs when we went to Headingley, I don't know why we always use this street whenever we go there. Mel decided to join in and the following poses ensued. There were some nice ones of her but I thought I'd share these beauts instead. I dyed my hair but I don't know whether it's very clear in these. 

I hope everyone had a great new years eve! Mine was actually really good for once but I'm sad I have to go home tonight and don't have longer here. Never fear I'll be back in Leeds properly by the end of next week.

A Lack of Colour

Vest: Urban Outfitters

Shirt: Vintage

Skirt: H&M

Boots: ASOS

Hat: Vintage

Bag: Vintage

My photography assignment for over Christmas was to produce a photographic portfolio of five images so I dragged my friend to the lakes to model for some photos. I'm working on a set of levitation photographs and the fog made a nice backdrop so hopefully they'll turn out well. The ground was completely waterlogged and there were a few dangerous moments where I nearly slipped down a hill with my camera in hand. I walked away completely covered in mud after lugging a step ladder around.

I'm heading up to Leeds tomorrow for New Years. Luckily some friends are having house parties so I won't have to worry about going out because it's always an anti-climax. What are your new years plans?



Say Goodnight And Go

Top: Urban Outfitters

Jeans: Urban Outfitters

Cardigan: Peacocks

Boots: ASOS

Our christmas tree gradually got smaller as we got older. Now it's just the three of us for Christmas day every year so we don't go all out anymore. I needed an escape from freezing outside while taking photographs so I moved inside. I know they're kind of awful but inside photos minus flash are tricky.

I'll be taking the day off from blogging on Christmas day to overeat, open presents and listen to whatever awful CD my mother picks out on loop all day. After that I've got a party with one of my favourite people and then New Year's Eve in Leeds with my best friends there. Being home for Christmas is nice but I can't wait to get back to Leeds now.

So Merry Christmas for the morning and I hope you all get everything you wished for. See you on the other side.

My Heart is a Wasps Nest.

Top: ASOS

Cardigan: H&M

Skirt: Vintage

Boots: Vintage

I'm officially fed up of the snow now. It stopped me from going out with friends in London tonight because the trains weren't running and I'm apprehensive to book my ticket to Leeds for New Years after all the drama national rail have been experiencing in the cold weather. I've been staying inside and keeping warm with films and books though.

I set myself a lot of goals this break like finishing my screenplay, sewing all the clothes I need to alter as well as doing my university work as well. So far they've all kind of been neglected because sleep is so much more appealing. My sleep pattern is ruined. I can't sleep til 5AM most mornings then I sleep til 11:30, stay awake a few hours and then become uncontrollably tired around 7:30 and nap until 11 when I'm awake til 5 again. It's starting to become irritating but I can't control how tired I get in the evenings compared to the night times. Any tips for resetting my body clock?

Stridilum

Playsuit: Vintage

Belt: Vintage

Cardigan: Primark

Boots: Vintage

Necklace: Etsy

This is what I wore to my old office Christmas party on Friday. I thought I'd wear red to be a little bit festive, everyone else was in their work clothes though so didn't make much difference. Reminded me how glad I am I don't have to wear office wear any more though. Seeing all of my old work friends was really nice, they're all still exactly the same. I miss that time in my life because they really were like my family for a while but I'm glad I left and went to uni because the job was a dead end. They made the newest team member dress up in a Santa dress on the fake premise that the newest one always hands out the secret santa gifts. The poor woman went along with it and everything!

There was a flurry of snow as we were on the bus to the restaurant and it finally got me in the christmas mood. I don't have much christmas spirit normally, this year even less so for some reason but it was a nice little touch. It did lead to being snowed into my Dad's house all of Saturday though.

Has everyone got all their Christmas shopping done? I've still got to get one last present although half of them haven't come in the post either so I'm going to be handing out a lot of IOUs this year.

Orange Sky

Cardigan: Primark

Top: H&M

Skirt: Vintage

Bag: Vintage

Shoes: Urban Outfitters

Today I spent a windy, rainy and eventually snowy day with two of my favourite people in my favourite place. I met Molly and Laura in Brick Lane because despite it being a week or less since I've seen them both in Leeds, I just couldn't stay away. We spent the day buying ridiculous amounts of vintage, eating amazing organic pizza and hiding from the snow in a cosy coffee shop.

I'm considering doing another session of only allowing myself to buy second hand clothes in a bid to save money/space in my wardrobe but after today, I don't think it would achieve either. This is the skirt from this post but none the original styling as I left half my stuff in Leeds. It's always a hassle travelling home by train because I can only take one suitcase.

I'm attending my old office's christmas party tomorrow and I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone. I miss them all a lot but I don't miss waking up when it's still dark outside to commute to the office. Next week I'm travelling to see my best friend for her birthday and my two other best friends will be there too. I'm really looking forward to having us all together again.

What are your festive plans?