Why Pinterest is the best, imho

 

Hi, hello. How’s it going? I know it’s been a while.

Is it just me or has time seemed to have simultaneously slowed down and sped up? It’s May next week (!!) and yet I’m still very firmly in *new year, new start* mode. At least being five months brings with it a welcome change in weather. And beer gardens. What’s not to like?

Anyway, courtesy of the many hours I’ve spent unproductively on my phone, I’ve had a lot of time to look at (brace yourselves lads) clothes. It began with Instagram, but, due to it being a place which often leaves me feeling worse about myself than before, I’ve made the move over to somewhere much more peaceful. Pinterest.

I’ll be completely honest, until about a month or so ago, I never really *got* Pinterest. Scrolling through pictures and saving them to virtual boards? I always thought it was somewhere for DIY-ers and wedding planners, but now a few hundred pins later, I am hooked. The easy browsing, the 21st June outfit planning, the media without the social and the joy of looking at things purely to look at them. And categorise them so I can look at them some more. Pure bliss. I think the fact it brings back the childhood nostalgia of my Tumblr days may have something to do with it too. 

So why is it that I’m telling you all about my newfound love for Pinterest? Is this an ad? (If only.) To be honest, it’s really just a reminder that the internet isn’t always a horrible place. It can actually, sometimes, be somewhere to pause and be unproductive. And not feel guilty for it. 

It’s actually really helped me get back into a creative mindset and take pointless selfies for no other reason than, it’s 5pm on a Sunday and the golden hour light is *chef’s kiss*. 

I hope you’re doing well, and keeping safe. Happy Tuesday’s my loves.  

xxx

T shirt weather

I just wanted to share some photos of me swanning around London as a reminder of life before (and after) lockdown. T shirt weather, here we come. Probably underneath a big coat.

Sending love xxx

Photos by the fab @jaieart

 

Finding Joy

 

I’m currently living the cliche Sunday morning dream; coffee in hand, mindless laptop scrolling with lofi music softly playing in the background. Noone else is up. Quiet, even if it is only for an hour or so. 

These small moments of joy are so fleeting, it’s such a rarity for me to actually stop and acknowledge the moment when I’m in the middle of it. When life is moving a much slower pace (thanks panoramic) one of the only silver linings is that growth of appreciation. I don’t know about you, but this period has really put my life into slow motion, and allowed me to see it for what it really is. Frame by frame. 

Of course, that change of pace also means a lot more time for thinking, thinking, and oh yeah, thinking some more. Whilst most of the memories my tired mind brings up are soft and comforting bursts of hazy nostalgia, there is a small portion which revisits forgotten friendships and poor decisions. Often followed by a knot in my stomach and a strange sense of remorse. 

Should I feel guilty for relationships I’ve lost and the choices I’ve made? 

What I’m starting to realise (it’s taken me long enough) is that life isn’t straightforward. Not every friendship is forever and no choice you make has to define who you are. Just because you are X one day doesn’t mean you can’t be Y the next. Things will move in and out of your life, but they don’t necessarily need to be good or bad.

I used to spend so much time worrying about things in my life that happened - literally - years ago, but why? Cliche (I mean c’mon do you expect anything less from me?) but I can’t change the past. As much as I’d like to hop in the DeLorean, there’s no way I can venture back to teenage me and try to rekindle something for the sake of rekindling it. Plus, that would mean putting concealer on my lips again, and I don’t think anything is worth reliving that phase *shivers*. 

So what’s the point of this post you may be wondering. Really, it’s a bit of a reminder, to you and honestly me too. A reminder that those moments of joy really are there, even in those times where the waves are crashing around your ankles and you feel like you’re treading water. It’s easy to forget what joy feels like, but you’ll feel it again soon, I promise.

I would love to know what joy feels like to you. Hope you’re keeping safe and well, and sending love, as always x

 

P.s. For me, joy also very much looks like this vintage Haunted Hollywood Planet Hollywood t shirt which I tracked down on Etsy after a relentless search. Gotta love the internet.

Five looks, one blazer

I absolutely love a good blazer. Since I was first introduced to them in high school where that excess of pockets was my best friend (yes mum that lipgloss is essential), to the one I bought on depop last year as a Christmas gift to myself, the humble blazer has been an absolute staple in my wardrobe, through and through.

So a post solely dedicated to this particular piece of outerwear has been a long time coming. Here I've compiled five of my fave ways to wear.

Are you an avid blazer wearer? Which look would you wear? 

Look One

Black blazer - Topshop ℅ Depop

Green blazer - H&M

Roll neck - vintage Vinyl trousers - Topshop ℅ Depop

Shoes - Asos

Look Two

Black blazer - Topshop ℅ Depop

Shirt and neck tie - vintage

Trousers - Old Primark Heels - Old Primark

Look Three

Black blazer - Topshop ℅ Depop

Sweatshirt - Ebay

Shorts - Asos ℅ Depop Boots - I Saw It First

Look Four

Black blazer - Topshop ℅ Depop

Shirt - vintage

Jeans - Old Primark Boots - Office

Look Five

Black blazer - Topshop ℅ Depop

Bag and belt - Ebay

Shoes - Asos

 

Back to the future

Hey, happy Saturday. How are you? 

It’s strange to think we’re halfway into the first month of 2021 and yet little feels different - almost like when you grow another year older and someone asks you how it feels to be X years old. “Pretty much the same” you say with a shrug, wondering when adulthood will kick in and you’ll finally have a clue what you’re doing with your life. Hopefully next year you think, fingers tightly crossed, prosecco in the other hand. 

The lingering feeling of the new year has seeped into these first couple of weeks, and I’ve been picking

at the remains of Christmas chocolate and going through the lockdown 3.0 initiation i.e. Bridgerton, Drag Race and avoiding the news at all costs.

Anyway, the above shots were taken what feels like a lifetime ago. Graphic t’s and black jeans are one of those outfits I feel most at home in, and this ensemble is no different. It makes me feel like I’m the slightly edgier sidekick in an indie movie and I am here for it. Do you have an outfit that you feel most at home in?

I hope your year is off to a flying start, and if you need some Jan inspo, feel free to have a read of this post from last year. 

Sending love, and stay safe xxx

photos by the fab Martin J Sylvester

 

Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?

The best way to start 2021? An Arctic Monkeys inspired lookbook of course.

So even if this year started a little differently than 'New Year's of past, I hope it was a good one for you nonetheless. I spent it watching the Bachelor, drinking an obscene amount of prosecco and resisting DMing Harry Lawtey on Instagram.

Anyway, I spent the first half of the day doing my v. favourite thing: playing dress up. Music has always been very influential in my styling choices, so it was only a matter of time before the ultimate crossover episode of two things very close to my heart - clothes and Arctic Monkeys, namely Alex Turner. Having really gotten into making Reels lately, mainly as a way to channel some kind of creativity, I could not resist combining my love for one of my all time fave bands, and my wardrobe. It was the natural thing to do.

So here are five of my top AM inspired outfits, along with the songs that sparked the look.

Which is your favourite?

One - Four Out of Five

Two - 505

Three - Mardy Bum

Four - Cornerstone

Five - Stop the World I Wanna Get Off With You

So which one would you wear? Does music influence your outfit choices?

Sending love and wishing you a wonderful new year. xxx

Is it 2021 yet?

This post contains a kindly gifted item from Photowall

Blogging eh? Remember that? Once lockdown struck I had visions of elaborate seo posts with glossy pictures firmly and regularly uploaded throughout this bizarre year. Consistency to keep me sane if you will. However, as it has a habit of doing, life happened. And here we are five months later.

 I'm someone that's lucky enough to be able to work from home, and have spent the majority of my free time - one hundred percent seriously - watching Netflix and helping out with the cooking and trying to up my skincare game (tysm James Welsh.) I've also had some fun with re shopping my own wardrobe, making Reels and thrifting - honestly just browsing the Depop app is calming to me. And that calmness is so valuable when it feels like the world has been thrown into a spin cycle. 

Probably the thing I've poured most of my nervous energy into is creating and most specifically, self portraits. I've talked about it on the blog before, but creating things just for myself has been a real highlight of this whole bizarre year. My most recent "shoot" - in the loosest sense of the word - was inspired by a print I was kindly gifted by Photowall.

I know you've heard it from every lifestyle blogger under the sun, but being at home so much really does make you think about your habitat more, and how the things that surround you impact how you feel. I have so many amazing interiors saved on my IG - anything that's a little 70s, graphic, eclectic is right up my street, so this print fits oh so nicely into my life. It's also the perfect starting point for my future gallery wall of dreams. If it's something you're interested in, do have a browse through their treasure trove of a website, and if there's anything you fancy, this code will also get you 25% off: teandtwosugars25

I really hope to get back into the swing of things on here in the new year, and hopefully share some *new content*. I know, I'm as shocked as you are. Anyway, I hope you're staying safe, sane and thank you for sticking around. Here's to 2021. 

Sending love xxx