As I sat down to type this, it dawned on me I don’t think I’ve ever done a haul post before. I mean, I might have done, but I’m 98% sure I haven’t. Surely it is some sort of blogging sin that in over a year I’ve yet to do one? I’m not even sure where to begin. Hence the rambling I suppose.

I would have liked to show you what these clothes actually look like on, however a weekend long bout of hay fever does not cute outfit of the day photos make. In fact they don’t make anything, apart from a teary snuffling mess trying to paw sympathy off anyone within a 5 foot radius.

I went to Primark to buy one thing (good intentions and all that.) All I wanted was a pair of flat black shoes for the days when I was doing photography at work (you can read about that here) and for driving around in, because somehow every single pair of shoes I owned had a heel. Apart from some high-shine metallic trainers that didn’t really go with office attire.

1. Plain Black Shoes.

I bought these, mainly because they fit… which for a size 4.5 – 5 is like winning the lottery in Primark. I could almost feel the angels singing hallelujah. I like the fact there suedette and so I think don’t look quite as cheap as a lot of the other black shoes Primarni stocks. I thought the gold hardware and tassels brought them up a notch, but I’ve developed a love-hate relationship with them. Yes we love a good tassel, however we do not love sounding like a donkey on Blackpool beach every time we take a step. They are just so damn jingly.

2. Accessories

I could have easily filled my bag with all the flamingo printed goodies in store, but until this year’s holiday has been decided on I am attempting to restrain myself. My go to style of sunglasses tend to be more cat-eyed, because I feel that aviators just make me looks a bit less sculpted. Can aviators cancel out contouring? Now there is a scary thought. I got these though because all the rose gold reflectiveness drew me in. They make you feel sassier than I don’t know what, and are bloody brilliant at hiding the effects of hay fever.

The neckerchief is apparently a bandana, according to the label. It only cost a measly £1.50 but I think this shade of blue is perfect for spring/summer… it’s not so bright that you cannot wear it with everything, but isn’t too dark either

3. Accidental 2^nd Pair of Shoes.

Oops… I mean they were an accident, but flat shoes are always useful, right guys? These are a strong tan, verging on orange and again a suedette. Despite owning flat shoes a lot more expensive than these in the past, I think they may be the comfiest flats ever. I’ve worn them everywhere, like properly everywhere. I’ve worn them so much I’m tempted to buy another pair just for when these poor overworked things give up the go. I love the T-bar style and when worn with cropped jeans, they make me feel like a proper, actual blogger.

4. Suede Pinafore Dress

I apparently have a fetish for suede this season, who knew? I got this lil babe as a last minute purchase and I am so glad I did. A plain A-line style it has two pockets on the front and a racer back. Primark could have inserted a concealed zip at the side but I think the chunky gold just adds a nice little touch. After all, hardware and utilitarian are a match made in heaven kids.  It also comes in a baby pink but I felt this one would be a smidge more flattering, either way they are so buttery soft it’s untrue.

5. Victoriana Blouse

This lil sweetheart was teamed with a pink pleated midi-skirt in store and looked so romantic I was 80% sure Prince Harry was about to propose to me. He didn’t, but the top consoled me. Tbh, the skirt would have too if I was a few inches taller but hey ho. Although almost every Victoriana top, in every season has lace panels and frills (this one has frills both down the front and around the sleeves, with lace inserts on the shoulders) I love the little tie on this one, it just makes it feel more up to date somehow. It is really long though, like long enough to shock your boyfriend because it goes on forever. I’ve been wearing it tucked into various skirts, but am now playing with the idea of toughing it up with the aforementioned pinafore. We’ll see.

6. Makeup Bag.

At home I usually use Muji make up storage boxes/trays, but knew I needed something a bit more practical for a recent weekend away. I don’t normally go for such bright prints, but hey its summer and it’s got a pom-pom. What more excuses do you need? Although it looks a good size anyway, it turns out this is the cosmetic world’s answer to the Tardis. It holds so, so much. So much you can take all the glittery shimmer eyeshadows you want and wear none of them.

I was going to name this Outfit of the Day ‘The Long-line Knit’ but on looking at this photo it just doesn’t actually look that long, it just feels it. This blog post was created in between delivering Eid presents to the neighbours; so if you’re celebrating Eid tonight have a good one!

Now that the winter weather is drawing in, I’ve started eyeing up the big jumpers. Alas, it hasn’t quite been that cold so those bad boys have stayed relegated to the closet. I’ve been wearing this top to work practically every week since I picked it up from Primark along with the ‘outfit of the day’ t-shirt.

It could be just another plain boring jumper to throw on when you can’t quiet be arsed rummaging through the closet you absolutely, 100% will tidy up at weekend. Yup.

I think the fake-shirt bits (fake-shirt bits… I feel like these should have a more technical term…) just up the ante a bit, especially the way the bottom hem is cut into a slight curve. For some reason having a curved shirt flapping about makes me feel a bit like a cross between a butler at the end of the night and a slightly drunk toff.

Because the top is plain, I do feel that it needs a bit of something, so I’ve added my ‘clock’ necklace from Accessorize. I got it way back when, but love how individual it is – I’m yet to see someone else wearing it.

Anyway, I’ve teamed this jumper with some plain navy skinny jeans and my L K Bennet heels (which you can see in more detail here.) I say I’ve teamed this with jeans as if this is something out of the ordinary but patterned jazzy pants scare me slightly so jeans are the current go to.

With regards to make-up, I thought ‘go bright or go home’ so went with the brightest red lip I could. It doesn’t look to bright on the photo, which is a shame, but when I wore it for a work outing it flashed up in the big boss’s review mirror and she muttered ‘Christ that’s bright.’ So trust me; it’s pretty damn bright in real life.

In other news I’ve just bumped into a friend who noted that ‘I’ve heard your Mum’s bush is quite popular’ which is a lot more innocent than it sounds. In the last few days my dad cut the garden hedge into a caterpillar… So far BBC Radio Lancashire has covered it and The Sun and The Mirror have been taking photos and asking interviews. So yeah, new claim to fame for me.

I actually got this top a week or two back; when I saw it I couldn’t get over just how perfect it was. My boyfriend literally let out a little groan because he could guess what was to come. Just in case you’re on a phone with a small screen; let me read that t-shirt slogan for you “Outfit of the Day…”

See; dreamy. Spot on. Absolutely perfect.

I bought it without trying it on, because ya know, how wrong can a grey t-shirt go? And I suppose it hasn’t gone very wrong but it’s not exactly the most flattering thing in my wardrobe, so I’ve been delaying putting it on the blog. Even though the slogan pretty much demands it.

Because it’s not that flattering (and is a fairly plain grey top) this has become my weekend top. My running errands, whilst possibly not wearing a full face of makeup top. If the t-shirt is so ‘fashion blogger’ surely not wearing much makeup just naturally transcends into going for the ‘natural look’ right? Not the ‘I can’t really be bothered today look.’

While I love it for the obvious reasons, I also love it because it just shows how much more mainstreamed blogging, and fashion blogging in particular,  has become. More and more people are finding ways to express themselves, to share their passions and to show the rest of us what an outfit looks like on a normal person.

Ok, some of the serious fashion bloggers are practically model-like with their proportions and glossiness – but the majority aren’t. The majority are the ones we look to when we wonder if that dress will look good in real life, not just on the website under all the lights and none of the carbs. The majority are just normal people showing you how style up an outfit in a way you wouldn’t have thought have; and a way a magazine would never have dreamt of.

The t-shirt is from Primark and was about £8-9, but feels surprisingly good quality. I can imagine this top will stand up to a good few waltzes in the washing machine.

You can’t really see on this photo (blame my niece and current photographer for that, then again she’s only ten; so maybe hold back on the blame-game) but I’ve teamed this with some gorgeous grey suedette loafers (also from Primark) that are my current favourite flats. Just in case you were wondering which shoe was my favourite flat these days. I call them seudette, after stealing that term from someone at work; because let be honest, that sounds a dozen times better than fake-suede. And it makes me feel so much less studenty and more like a proper adult. Which is always good.

Don’t we all.

Jokes aside, I chose that title because something about this dress makes me feel a little bit like I’m in holiday mode. I bought it thinking that although it is clearly a holiday dress for throwing over a bikini as you wander into the Old Town for a few drinks, as it had fairly muted colours I might be able to wear it around the UK too.

Maybe it’s the frill and off-the-shoulder combo, but something about it just makes me feel a little bit Mexican or Spanish. Perhaps I should have accessorised with some maracas? Do they actually shake maracas in Mexico? Who knows. I’m saying this, but if you were too look really closely at the panel near the hem you’d see it’s decorated with Elephants in all their blanketed and head-dressed glory. So maybe I should call this The International Dress instead, as the design seems to be incorporating quite a few continents.

Another thing only the eagle-eyed amongst you will notice is that around the frill instead of a plain hem, it is finished with a row of platted threads in a rope-like effect. When I first looked at the photos on the camera screen I was a little worried that this trim had turned out yellow – but I can assure you this dress (a recent steal at Primark) is purely midnight navy and ivory. At one point not too long ago, I would have said black and white; but working with fashion fabrics teaches you a thing or two about the ever-so-slight shade differences, which before you never really gave a crap about.

Although it has an elasticated waist, the one row of shirring is pretty pointless to be honest. It makes you look like you kinda-might have a waist if you step back and squint a bit. As such I’ve teamed it with a fairly thick black belt stolen from good ol’ mum. Living at home still has some perks.

The wedges are from a past New Look collection, but let’s face it: tan leather wedges won’t be hard to find. As these ones have a massive platform at the front, it does mean you can walk for quite a while in them, even down gravelly paths to take outfit of the day photos.

Normally whenever I wear my hair up like this I feel all nude and like I’m missing an integral part of me. How is a gal meant to get through the day without playing with her hair? With this look, I guess we can blame the aforementioned holiday mode – because when it’s near 40° who really wants to straighten their hair? So if this Outfit of The Day post has inspired you to book me a free holiday, just drop me a line. And maybe some spending money too for good measure.