A Year In Pictures

Hello! If it's still acceptable to say it then, Happy New Year! I hope you all had some lovely time off and didn't have too many work burdens like me to deal with over the festive period, hence my absence in posting, it seems only right to make 'time manage better' my no.1 resolution.
At the start of this year I took some time to reflect on 2014 by putting together a year in pictures, something I recommend everyone should do. I went from initiating with 6 pictures which soon grew to 12, and I could have had so much more! Looking through all my captures of the past year made me realise I'd had a way more productive year than I thought, which put me in a perfect mind set for 2015, something that we could all benefit from don't you think?  If you're thinking 2014 was not your year, well this could also work in your favour being be a useful tool to help bring out all the highlights. On the other hand if you are simply in need of a fresh start, do what I did last January and get a new haircut, take a trip, pick up a hobby. Or, do something I did this January and give your blog a new do, and if you don't have one why not start one?! As you can see it is a fab way to document things like this.

From right to left; My first internship of the year at a fashion suppliers, my new year do when my hair got the chop, a lovely trip to Amsterdam with my boyfriend, moving to London and starting my internship at womenswear designer studios, According to Ellie's first giveaway, learning Italian and discovering new restaurants in London, mine and my boyfriends birthday spent at the Waldorf Hotel, just in time for the races I taught myself how to make fascinators, working at London fashion week with designer Zoe Jordan, fashion illustrations of the collection I helped work on during my internship, my favourite OOTD taken in the beautiful Florence, and a Christmas jumper i made for the designers I interned at that was auctioned of for charity.


What are your 2014 highlights and new years resolutions?
I would love to see your photo montages, post your links below!

Ciao for now!

Ell

   

OOTD: When In Florence...

I couldn't of asked for a more lovely way to start the autumnal month of October than in the north of Italy in the beautiful city of Florence. Although we arrived to worse weather than England, the days following we couldn't of asked for better as temperatures reached 28 and the sun was shining over the Florentine skyline. As I have recently been taking a night class in Italian i was very excited to practice the language. I have visited Italy a few times but no where like Florence, the city itself felt very chic, yet traditional, and full of culture and beautiful people. To those of you who aren't familiar with Florence might like to know that Florence is also a great city to visit for fashion as it is home to many famous Italian fashion designers, including Gucci who has in recent years opened a museum there, a great place to see an archive of the designers greatest designs. Not forgetting, if you are a fan of leather pieces, Florence is THE place to go for a genuine leather article, with almost every other shop and or market selling the most gorgeous selection of leather bags and goods. So as I was in fashionable surroundings I thought it only right to an outfit of the day post. My most recent shopping spree involved me hitting the H&M sales and grabbing a bargain or two. This including the new love in my love at the moment, my black duster coat (similar to one in my wish list post below); which I was surprised was in the sale as I have noticed this style of coats just becoming a popular trend. I teamed this lightweight with more H&M both old and new, along with some H&M sunglasses that I bought especially for the trip. In fact, I think the only thing I was wearing that WASN'T H&M was my sandals, a Topshop purchase a couple of years that I absolutely worn to death i am pleasantly surprised with how long they have lasted! See below for some similar options of the older items.

The beautiful Florence itself...

Duster jacket H&M was £29.99 sale £15

Top H&M full price £14.99

Shorts (old) for similar click here

Sunglasses H&M full price £6.99

Sandals Topshop (old ) for similar click here

I think it is safe to say that this OOTD post is the last one where I will be seen wearing shorts for a while as on my return from Italy i decided the season of coats has finally arrived!

Have you got your winter wardrobes ready?

Keep in touch!

Ellie

OOTD: Monochrome & checks

Seeing as I haven't done an outfit post since Christmas this one is well overdue! I love a classic black and white combo in outfits but I sometimes feel a bit dull. So, even though black and white, I thought that these velvety textured check leggings helped to prevent any dulness! They are the comfiest pair of leggings I currently own so I absolutely love to wear them, especially with the check trend still on going! These beauties were low on stock when I originally got them from Topshop a couple of months ago, but I believe they are still available online. As you can see I wore these leggings with a simple white cami top from New Look, my new sleeveless blazer blazer from Primark which I adore, notice it has a mesh back also ooo! And of course, my monochrome combos are rarely complete without my trusty bowler, a last season buy from Topshop but still available online and in other high street stores.

Are you a fan of monochrome combos?

   Ellie

Guest Post

http://www.lifeofatraineejournalist.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/guest-post-outfit-of-night-white-bright_3.html

My Festival wardrobe

 This weekend I lost my festival virginity when I went to this years Virgin Media Festival at Weston Park. There was such a great line up this year and all the acts I saw were saw amazing, in particular the one and only Beyonce Knowles; there are no words good enough to describe her performance and my love for her! However, not only were the acts a delight to see but I really enjoyed seeing peoples festival wear. For some reason at festivals it seems that fashion is a bit more elaborate, people come out of their shell more and show individuality through clothing, as a fashion student I love that! So I thought I would give you my take on the festival look and what I wore.

For those of you are going to a festival in the next few weeks such as Leeds and Reading or Creamfields and have not been to camp before my biggest tip for you is that you pack light! I know what you are thinking, those two little words 'pack light' can be very daunting to us fashion bloggers but trust me you can still create a great, varied festival wardrobe with minimal items. For example take just one or two staple item such as denim shorts, or a parka coat and then pack a number of light tops that you can company with the staple item, however pack brightly coloured or printed tops as this will make your outfit look different each day.

Wellies. The one word that screams festival and that has to be your festival essential, weather muddy or not you can never go wrong with wellies at a festival! I took a pair of bright coral beauties for just £12 from Primark, I suggest these and one pair of either sandals or converse, weather dependent, and you will be all set!

Are there any other festivals that have you been to this year?

What items would you take to a festival?

Ellie

Outfits of the holiday: My Majorcan wardrobe

This year me and my family had a lovely weeks break to the sunny island of Majorca.
I was quite disciplined when it came to holiday shopping this year only treating myself to 2 new outfits which together were just over my budget of £50. The thing in particular that I love about holidays is the evening warmth and being able to go out dressed in anything you like and not panic about being too cold (a major dilemma I am troubled with living in the North East of England).

I have been very into my print this season and my favorite new outfit of the holiday was a loose shift dress with a bright tribal print that I purchased from Miss Guided for £24.99. I loved the print on this on this dress and the bright coral colour in it gave it a really summery feel! It is also available in green.
The other outfit I bought was from NewLook and consisted of a plain white cami vest which was just £9.99 which I tucked into a black and white aztec print skirt midi skirt which I wore at the waist, this was just £22.99. To accompany the outfit I wore a nice pair of strappy black sandals with a small gold buckle that which I had admire similar to on a number of online designer websites, however I managed to bag them for just £12 from Primark.

Again, still working on the camera, apologies!

Loving my hair braid in this photo, always a must when I go on holiday!

Have any of you bought any new outfits for summer this year?

Ellie

Outfit of The Day: Statement accessory

Today outfit was a simple combination of shirt and shorts. Simple is great but sometimes an outfit just needs that little extra something to liven it up! My answer to this? About 99.9% of the time is a piece of statement jewelry. I was eager to wear my latest jewelry purchase which was a silver, spikey rope and chain necklace from Urban Outfitters, this placed nicely under the collar of my shirt which I tucked into my vintage Levi shorts.

Shirt: H&M, Shorts: Levi's, purchased at vintage fair 

Ellie

Outfit of The Day: Promoting the print

Whether it be aztec, geometric, tye dye or floral, printed clothing is everywhere this summer, so today I am doing my bit by wearing some geometric print  trousers I bought in early spring to promote this bold trend. I pieced them with a collarless royal blue blazer that picked out the blue in the trousers so together they looked like a casual two piece suit. You might say I was a little overdressed just to go shopping but hey ho!

Tapered trousers & blazer: both H&M, Bag: Topshop

Peplum top: Topshop

Studded shoes: Newlook



I also had a very successful shopping spree bagging three items in the sale, and without even thinking they actually create a nice summer outfit all put together. My first buy was from Zara, a pair of white textured jeans that I had previously tried on but didn't buy for some reason, and obviously fate was telling me to come back later as today I found them in the sale for £10 cheaper! Next I headed to Newlook, where I purchased a simple black cami top for a splendid £6, the fabric is nice and light so perfect for summer. Finally, as always I have to make a pit stop at urban outfitters because even if I dont have the intention of buying something, I love seeing how they piece items together for inspiration. But, and I would be lying if I said it was an accident, did stumble across the jewelry sale and found a b-e-autiful statement necklace, which just so happens to be the type of jewelry I have a guilty pleasure for. So for £12, well it would be rude not to!

Ellie



Outfit of The Night: Diamonds world tour

The night before last I was lucky to witness live the barbadian goddess that is Rihanna perform her diamonds world tour, supported by David Guetta at Sunderlands stadium of light, and this is what I wore...

Studded sleeve peplum top: H&M, Khaki lightweight skinny jeans: Topshop



I chose to wear this top back to front because

I liked the zip as a feature!

Sandals: Topshop

Excited!

However there is no doubt that Rihanna certainly trumped my outfits as she wore six throughout a one and a half hour slot! Firstly, to open the show she stepped out in a pair of  black knee high flat boots with a sheer black crop top, embellished shorts and a gorgeous embellished coat to match, which to no surprise didn't stay on for long! To follow was a two piece outfit consisting of a casual boyfriend fit black and white t-shirt, accompanied with a killer pair of thigh high, yes thigh high! white boots that I think only the likes of Rihanna could pull of without looking like 70's cross dresser! Then for her performance of S&M it was no shock that her outfit consisted of a large amount of PVC and fishnet...need I say more!

Then as the beat of 'We Found Love' filled the arena came her next outfit change, stepping out in a metallic silver skater dress with a matching jacket and high tops, not forgetting a pair of pastel green sunglasses to top it off.

Outfit no. 5 was a scarlet red sarong style dress with a cut out across her stomach, flattering her flawless figure...she definitely made me regret the Dominos pizza I had earlier eaten.

Her 6th and final outfit we all had high expectations for as of course it was the finale...and as she ascended from beneath the stage all the lighting in the arena began to reflect off of a stunning and what looked to be encrusted gold jumpsuit. Well done Ri good thinking to wear this whilst singing 'Diamonds' as she was indeed (pardon the pun) shining bright.

Stadium of Light

My photo of the night, the man was a-ma-zing!

Just before the firework finale 

Thanks for reading!
Ellie