I borrowed this L.K.Bennett dress for an event and absolutely love it. The brand really understand a woman's shape, so as much as it is more expensive than others I also really understand why. It's not my only one, I'm also the proud owner of a beloved Lily and Lionel maxi dress which I absolutely love, even though the fabric is a little light for the colder months. So, here is my edit of favourite finds - and there are some real goodies.

 dress / scarf / bag / boots in black / boots in brown

Before I get started lets talk about the boots because I've had loads of questions about them on my Instagram (follow me here if you don't already). They're from Whistles, I saw them in the window of the Hampstead store about a month ago and knew I had to have them. They only had size 7s for the window display so I very patiently waited for them to be released online, and then pounced. they're wonderful. Every thing I'd ever want in a pair of boots. They're very comfortable (and that says something because my feet flair up at the tiniest thing, the heel is the perfect height in that it's smart enough to go out in but walkable and the leather is a brilliant quality. There is a zip at the side so you don't have to lace them up every time (a major, lazy girl, concern). They didn't rub at all on their first wear which again, really says something. They come in black here, and now brown here. I recommend them strongly.

 dress / scarf / bag / boots in black / boots in brown

You can tell by my face that I really enjoy wearing this dress. L.K.Bennett were one of the first brands that ever gave me any time as a blogger, and I'm so grateful to them for it. It's worked, as I pay really close attention to a lot of what they do and am always so impressed by their clothing collections.  I have a few dresses from them and they get worn so much as I just feel really good in them. My favourite is about 6 years old now, they still do one just like it here if you're interested and you'll probably recognise it from my feed.

I think where people go wrong style wise is they pick a colour or print they like and use that as their only criteria when shopping. What I've learnt recently is that the shape of the dress is more important than anything else. This dress really hits the spot for me and I wasn't actually having a very good day when I shot these photos, but it perked me up as it pulls in, puffs out and draws the eye to all the right places. 

 dress / scarf / bag / boots in black / boots in brown

They've used the same print in a few different styles so it's depending on your usual go-to shapes you can still shop to your hearts content. Yes, their dresses aren't the cheapest, but if we go on the basis of leopard being a neutral and the shapes will be timeless I think it's quite a good purchase.

my dress as worn / dress with pearl buttons / wrap dress / leopard mini dress / silk maxi dress

Have to say, as more of my friends have to consider it now, this dress is great if you're breastfeeding. I saw it in store and it's super soft fabric. I'm learning fast (through various WhatsApp groups) that I'm not allowed to recommend clothing unless you can whip a boob out easily - in a very different way to Zante circa 2002... I'm also, on the opposite end of the scale with a high neck line and short length, love this mini dress. 

 dress / scarf / bag / boots in black / boots in brown

But, it's not like L.K.Bennett are the only store to do a leopard print dress. I'm spotting them absolutely everywhere, it's become the item you need to check and see if any of your friends are wearing (I had a thing with work where 3 of us turned up to present the same presentation wearing one, fail). I just love And Other Stories' options, and Mango's, I think they're probably my favourites to be honest. Here they are:

AOS front tie dress / Mango wrap dress / Mango button front / leopard print mini dress / collared maxi dress / Free People frilled neck dress

Lastly, if I still haven't convinced you go head-to-toe - here is a lovely half way house. It's black, but leopard print detailed. Enjoy...

I've been pretty quiet on the blogging front since the holidays as I've been a bit unwell; still unsure quite what but it's majorly unsociable and means I haven't really felt like doing much. I'm going to try and make a conscious effort  to "get outside" so I decided I'd take a proper walk to get some fresh air into my lungs. I am most definitely the type to get cabin fever and after watching 300 episodes of The Good Wife and reorganising the cutlery drawer, I realised it might be time to leave the house. That and that the dog was about to wet himself...

I've felt pretty overwhelmed during 2017 so far; this year could be quite a big one for me if I put my head down. For the first time (over Christmas) I really felt affected by social media and it's made me think about what I'm projecting out to my followers. I was scrolling through the perfect feeds with the perfect outfits, lives, flat lays and houses and felt inadequate - Why would anyone read my blog? Was I good enough to write one? Was I thin enough to write one? Do I have enough followers? What if people don't like me? 

Then I got a grip of myself and took a good look. I'm healthy (ordinarily, not right now, but still) which is a bit of a miracle given I've spent more time in hospital than your average rugby side. My flat is tiny but lovely. I have wonderful friends and family, even if my sister and I do bicker like teenagers on a weekly basis. Gus rocks - I won't go into it as I know my single friends have a real thing about those who gush about their love lives on social media, and I totally get why. When I was single seeing couple-induced-happiness on Instagram used to really get me down...

I wasn't one of those who went into January with a to do list. I went in with a sick bucket, and (sadly) it wasn't because I'd stayed up all night partying. When you see all of these "10 Ways I Made Myself F*cking Awesome And Better Than You" posts on Twitter it just makes you want to scream. So, I'm giving you, me. I'm behind already and it's January the 5th. I haven't done my taxes yet, and I've lost my debit card. I hope thats ok... My posts in January will be more of the tone "Things to buy to get you through this dull AF month without killing yourself." In fact I think I might start that one right now...

All that said, this year for me is about consolidating and empowering myself. Two big words I know, but let me explain. I've been working for myself for nearly three years now and although on the surface of it I get to do some really cool stuff, see really cool places and work with really cool people, I'm ready to take it to the next level. I've never quite got there, at least in my opinion. You probably won't have heard of my little consultancy One Roof Social, but we're taking shape nicely and we're hoping this is our year. We did some work at the end of last year that I'm super proud of, and I've got the team I've always wanted to work with which feels really good. I'm also going to do some consulting for some very cool businesses, which as soon as I can, I'll share.

Blog wise, I'm going to try and work on my narrative a little as there's lots I think about and don't write about. I've seen through my Instagram Stories (here) that you guys seem to quite like my ramblings, so you're going to see a bit more of them. I'm going to write about how I'm getting on with my business as well as all the usual fashion, beauty and travel stuff. It's not going to work to a strict content schedule for a while because actually my blog exists because it's fun, it's a hobby and I'm keeping it that way. So there.

Eeeek it's party dressing time. My worst nightmare... I really hate being told how to dress, particularly when I plan to consume the intake of a small country over the course of the next few days, so usually pyjamas are the way forward. I'm also not really all that dressy... So when Topshop asked me to pick my favourite festive look I initially thought it was going to be tough. Then I found an outfit that makes me feel so carelessly Ziggy Stardust that I'm positively relishing wearing heels inside (seriously, it's the only day we ever do that isn't it?!) this weekend...

For those of you who wear tonnes of colour all the time I apologise, I get that this outfit isn't off-the-scale-groundbreaking. However for me, the idea of wearing sequins is a bit of a revolution. I follow a blogger called Fran who mentioned on Instagram that she was seeking out an all-sequin top and it set the idea in my mind. Then I found this! It's brilliant and so fun to wear, particularly around babies who just stare at you for hours on end. As a further point, it's fitted around your shoulders and then loose everywhere else... So no post-lunch pain.

outfit credits at the base of this post

Next, frayed denim. Followers of my Twitter will no I've been harping on about getting a pair for ages. I originally wanted this pair from Net A Porter but they were so, so expensive. As much as I believe in investing in denim when something is so trend focussed as opposed to a solid investment piece, I just couldn't justify/afford to buy them. Then I found this pair from Topshop and knew I had to have them. They're fun without being mental, and they make denim party-acceptable.

For anyone nervous around sizing (buying Topshop jeans has been known to cause a breakout of hives over sizing) I bought my regular size and although it took an initial wrestle to get them on, they now fit perfectly. As a side note, old people really like these jeans. A lovely lady at the post office told me they were wonderful when I was dropping off some packages last week and it made my week. Find them here, and I've put a couple of colour options at the base of this post.

outfit credits at the base of this post

Accessories wise, I got my red stuff out. It is Christmas after all. My shoes were from a super fun project earlier in the year, find them here. I save them for special occasions which is stupid given how much they cost, I really need to get my cost-per-wear out of them. The block heel is really good for parties as you stand up for ages and look like you made an effort. Bag wise followers of my Instagram (if not do so here, pretty please) will already know what this is = my precious L.K.Bennett x Boyarde Mariel bag (here) and initial stickers (here), which if you are looking for a last minute gift is most definitely the way forward...

Whatever you are doing over Christmas I really hope you have a wonderful time. I'll take this as a little opportunity to say thank you so much for all your hits, clicks and support with the blog this year. I really considered stopping blogging this summer but you guys and your positive words have kept me going and I'm back to loving it again. So thank you from me and from Lopez (who can, thanks to you, continue to eat his organic chicken for dinner and would otherwise be back to Pedigree chum).

Outfit details (click links to go through to their site)

sequin top = as worn, Topshop 

jeans = as worn, Topshop / similar in black here / similar in dark blue

shoes = as worn, Chloe at Net A Porter

bag = as worn. L.K.Bennett / initial stickers, L.K.Bennett

This post was in collaboration with Topshop, all content my own -without editing or input. Photos shot using the Canon 5D available at John Lewis, by Ben.

Where on earth has October gone? How are we into November? No complaints though as it's my favourite month of the year. It's my birthday next week, fireworks night this weekend and so many lovely things planned. Blog wise it's the month for gift guides and a bumper beauty edit, as well as a couple of trips to Stockholm and Devon. All in all, busy. I really shouldn't - and won't - complain.

These pictures were snapped on Saturday when Lindsey and I had just come back from visiting Laura in Leeds. We went up for one night and had an amazing meal at Iberica - if you're from there or got any plans to visit to make sure you add this one into your culinary hit list. 

I'm wearing my favourite purchase in a while, my new leopard print shirt from Topshop. I have been searching for one of these for a long, old while and drifted between going for the much more expensive Equipment version here. I'm so happy with it, and for the price (£36) the quality is ace. It's also awesome that you shove it in the wash and hang it dry. No ironing, win!

The jeans are years old, again from Topshop. Long term readers of the blog will know that I'm a bit of a snob with my denim, but somehow these have always stayed. They're the boyfriend fit, and having had them for a long time I can honestly say they are worth the £42 investment (and that comes from someone who owns several £200+ pairs...). They're seriously good... Find them here.

Lastly the shoes. I've had these a while and hadn't got around to shooting them. They're from Boden, who really should be considered by all for footwear as I've had a few pairs of ace stuff from them over the last few seasons. I love them, they're great for work-to-play days and are really, really comfortable (wasn't sure they would be, but after they'd given a bit on first wear they're great). Here is their entire collection which is worth a gander = Boden footwear, or my loafers here.

I have told myself that this is going to be a super productive week, and am proudly ticking off tasks from my Wunderlist this evening (an amazing tool if you don't already use it). Whatever you're up to, I hope you have equally fruitful weeks, and roll on the weekend to fireworks night!

The last few weeks have most definitely taken a turn weather-wise (and thats before I even start with our weekend in Stockholm - so cold) and for the first time I've actually had a proper "wardrobe switch" from summer to winter. I packed up my tops and tees and was left looking as a pile of grey, navy and rust. As much as I love all that, it wasn't the most inspiring set of clothing so I set about searching on ASOS for something with a little bit more "oomph." And I found this.

The colour is just really uplifting. I know that sounds a bit silly, but I'd forgotten how much I like wearing green. I have a years-old cashmere knit from Reiss in the same colour and whenever it goes on my mood is instantly brightened. When it comes to this shirt I love the colours, the floaty bits (sorry, I'm sure there is a far more official word), the florals and the fact you can look just as good as it on a skinny day as you can a fat one - a necessity during these bleak, roast-and-wine-induced-bloating months to come...

It's from a Korean brand called Stylenanda which is pretty new to the UK market (I think ASOS are the only ones to stock them) and having done some investigations they're a pretty big deal (2.4 million followers on Instagram). I was a bit worried that the sizing wouldn't work for me as Far Eastern brands often come up incredibly small but this is a small and fits me really well (I'm a standard size 10, with arms and thighs I wish were a tad smaller).

I'm all for adding in a bit of colour and patterns to my otherwise thrivingly-neutral (read: boring) wardrobe and have since spied a few more bits. I'm not prepared to spend a fortune on prints, with the exception of an Equipment shirt I have tracked down to a boutique in Berlin and paying an extortionate amount of money to own... It arrives this weekend. So, with double the reason to by frugal this month I've found this pink top from ASOS and this green kimono dress. I haven't bought them yet but fully intend to this weekend (pay daaaaayyyyyyyy).

The jeans, as pretty much always, are from Paige. You just can't beat them. If someone told me I'd be an advocate for a £200+ pair of denims a few years ago I'd have laughed out loud. However, having worn these beauts for a while now I can honestly say the difference is outstanding. They keep their shape, they actually fit and they're so soft they often fall through my hands when I'm putting them on... Find the majority of their collection at Selfridges here, or as a tip try hunting down a pair on sites like The Outnet here or Paige's own sale page here.

You may have noticed my hair, and thank you to all of you who commented on it over on Instagram, really meant a lot. It's not like I got my head shaved off or anything but cutting my hair really does take a couple of vodkas for me. When I was ill last year it thinned a lot, more out of stress than anything else. So it means I now have lots of new hair coming through thats an awkward 7/8 inches long. Cutting my hair shorter makes it far less noticeable as it blends in with the layers... When I got it done at Sassoon I really thought it would be a short term solution but I think I might stay like this for a while!

Whatever you're doing this week, I hope you have a good one! Nearly payday, Halloween and Bonfire Weekend, etc. Enjoy!

shirt = as worn, Stylenanda at ASOS / similar in pink / similar style in a dress

jeans = as worn, Paige Denim

shoes = as worn, LK Bennett

bag = Celine at Bicester Village / similar pre-owned from Vestiaire Collective

Mentioned: green jumper, Reiss / Stylenanda collection at ASOS