Hello gals, I hope you are all well and YAY to a lazy Sunday full of roast dinners, cozy blankets and ten hundred candles lit. Don't you wish everyday was Sunday? Just, bliss! Today is my first blog post and I would be lying to you to say I wasn't nervous in the slightest... Truth is, I am one big scaredy cat but I guess that is a normal feeling to have when it's post number one.
If I had a chance to describe my style, I’d say it’s somewhere between your fifties high school student and sixties groupie - I’m basically jumping from era to era. Not every day is the same for me, I’ll go one way or another. Whether that will be a very feminine look or when I’m feeling that tad bit lazy, I’ll opt for indigo washed denim jeans and your classic go-to piece, the stripy tee (yes ladies, you know). What tends to stick with me and which should be tattooed on my face is my obsession with a bold red lip. If you ask anyone who knows me, they'll agree that I can't leave the house without painting it on - I simply just don't feel like myself without it. In my opinion this can make any outfit a winner and as Marilyn Monroe once sang, "Diamonds are a girls best friend", red lipsticks are also your besties in which you can rely on and most importantly, have in your pocket. A normal day outfit for me looks a little something like the below.
Just a little insight into my life, I was never that girl who was at their happiest when wearing anything that was seen as the typical ‘girly girl’… I'd most likely throw a screaming match if I had to wear anything remotely floral, frilly or glittery. It was especially a total nightmare taking me shopping for school party attire even if it was just to dance around to 'Don't Stop Movin' by S Club 7 in a small hall. A tracksuit and a sporty tee was my top combo that I'd happily reach for at the age of twelve years old. Now at the age of twenty, I’m like a kid in a sweet shop. Give me ALL of the dresses! Now! ~inserts the popping heart eye emoji times ten~.
Okay so back to the real talk on the block…
I love Summer. Partly because it’s the season where Edinburgh comes alive, suddenly everywhere is decorated with amazing bunting and there is always that buzz in the air. I love waking up to the sunshine beaming down on your face and if I smell a BBQ, I will definitely be the first one to queue up - seriously. Saying that, dressing for this time of the year isn’t my favourite. I find it requires a little bit more thought as all of a sudden we have so much more flesh on display and if you’re, well, a self conscious gal like myself then it can become a difficult task. Every Summer, I have the same battle with myself - can I pull off the same floral skirt the way other girls can or can I wear denim shorts to festivals like the way other girls do. The answer is obviously YES because nobody is judging my body as much as I think they are, they're probably too busy filming a Boomerang or snapping a photo of the most Instagramable ice-cream.
But let's briefly talk about my legs. They're probably one of my biggest physical insecurities when they aint' covered up by tights. I don't go to the gym therefore my legs are not toned in the slightest and I'm definitely up there with the palest legs. Not to mention, cellulite - oh that is one biatch that feeds on my negativity. A current memory I have of this Summer is when I put off going to meet my gals in the heat because I had it stuck in my head that they would look 'better' than me and I would be the odd one out with milk bottle legs. I'd be walking through crowds of people in town and my mind would take a turn for the worst. The overall paranoia of strangers laughing at how they looked wasn't healthy. Stupid, isn't it? Even having part of my legs out has always been a big deal for me but up until recently I've became a lil' more confident and I hope to carry that confidence with me, forever. Of course, we all should love our bodies because they are amaaaazing things but each have their beautiful differences. It's just sometimes, it's not that easy to love them and it can take real effort to get to that stage - that's perfectly fine because we are human beings and things take time. I wanted to give our legs a shoutout because they do so much for us, like carrying (bolting in my case...) us to the bus stop in the morning for work. But beside that, they're what we've got and we owe it to ourselves so let's try and embrace them. There is no such thing as the perfect pair of pins - don't let yourself believe such nonsense (something that I constantly remind myself so join me with that!) Sometimes, you just gotta find the courage to whip those tights off and go bare legged. One thing I've definitely learnt is that you can't be cooking up a sticky, uneasy sweat all day long that's for sure!
For months, I’ve hunted high and low for a suitable midi skirt that I was able to pull off at the height of 5ft but up until recently, this cerise number caught my eye in New Look and I instantly fell in love. Most people would shy away from this vibrancy but as a fan of incorporating colour into outfits and expressing my personality throughout it, I find it’s a great addition and can really jazz your look up even on a dull rainy day. What I really love about this skirt, is the bow detailing around the waist, it pulls you in and therefore creates a flattering silhouette. The shape of the skirt gives the whole look a take on the fifties which as you know is my thang and is perfect for any vintage fashion lover's wardrobe. What more could a girl love than twirling round feeling like Sandy from 'Grease'? The fuller the skirt the better! I personally feel that the skirt itself is a statement enough without going all out on the top half. So for that matter, I paired this with one of the most massive trends at the moment - the slogan t-shirt. 'Let's Dance' is one of my favourite songs to play at a party so it made sense to pick up this high street winner from Mango. I'm almost certain that the majestic Mr. Bowie himself would be full of appreciation and applauds. A total clash of the colours buuuuut electric blue and hot pink were pretty much made for each other! Eek! Never shy away from being that one who stands out from the crowd - follow the footsteps of Bowie.
One of my favourite touches to any outfit is to mix and match. Be feminine, but also add that touch of masculinity. Which is why slipping on your pair of trusty high tops is a perfect way to rock that ‘tomboy’ look at the same time. I wore this outfit watching The Maccabees perform live (yes, I shed a tear when they played 'Toothpaste Kisses' - who wouldn't?) and by God, my feet were comfy. Converse are just a timeless style staple who I've never had a rocky relationship with, which is what everybody looks for with a pair of shoes, right? Plus, they make me feel like thirteen again therefore how could I possibly complain. So there you have it a super duper easy style recipe that anybody can rock.
Lou x
'Let's Dance' T-shirt - Mango
