What I Wore: First Day Back At Uni 2011

Vest, Shorts - Topshop, Tights - Primark

Black& Silver - H&M, Pink - Topshop, Fox (on thumb) H&M

Nails - Jadestone by Models Own

I don't know why I feel so against going back to uni today. I think it's a mixture of having been on a break since December 19th, and wanting to get out in the 'real world' of working, away from the tedium of essays, lectures, and seminar groups.

I'm having one of those days where nothing looks or feels right, and you would rather just stay in bed. I've finally decided on my faithful faux leather Topshop shorts, which never look or feel wrong, and a trusty vest in a gorgeous oxblood shade. I realised I have no jumpers or long slouchy, long sleeve tops that I could layer on top of this, so I'm probably going to be feeling pretty cold!
After an episode of grey or black-red nails over Christmas, it's nice to have a burst of Jadestone on them for a change. It really is such a stunning colour and just hints toward springtime frivolity. 

What is everyone else up to today? I don't know why I'm complaining about uni so much. I'm only in for an hour!

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Sources: Asos, Net-A-Porter, Topshop, Amazon

It's been a while since Wednesday Wishes, but I've handed in all my uni work and am chilling out now, so there's plenty of time to fit it in! With Valentine's Day being promoted all over the stores, pretty much since Boxing Day ended, the red colour palette seems appropriate. Not only does it get me out of my black phase, but it also goes amazingly with black so it's win win. 

The Ring: A while a go I saw Lisa Eldridge wearing a gorgeous 'lips' ring on one of her make-up tutorials. I instantly wanted it and eventually tracked it down at Net-A-Porter. It's designed by Solange Azagury-Partridge, who sells quite cute and unusual pieces for the 'Fine Jewellery' section. The downside is that it comes in at a staggering £990 (add another 14 thousand to that if you want the 18 karat, ruby version).  If you're able to afford it, then you can find it here.

The hat and boots are from Asos. I've been coveting a floppy hat for a while now, and what with the seventies trend coming up fast for spring, it will fit perfectly into my wardrobe. I've also been debating the boots since seeing them the other week, but haven't been sure how good they'd look. However, if you take a look at Late Afternoon's most recent post, you'll see that they look incredible. Yet more boots to detract from my bank account...

The little red dress: After wearing my shorts the other day (albeit indoors), I felt like I was getting a touch of spring spirit. This red dress with minuscule heart embroidery from Topshop, makes me feel the same way. I'm in need of buying stuff that brings a bit of sunlight to my wardrobe, but doesn't look too out of place while it's still chilly outside. Roll up pretty dresses in bright colours.

THE book: Now that I've finished my university work for the first semester, I can start to indulge in a little reading of my own. Justine Picardie's biography of Coco Chanel fits the bill perfectly. I found it here.

Is anyone watching Mary Portas's show tonight about customer service? I get so mad with sale assistants, especially during the January sales. I can never be bothered even looking through them because they're always so messy! What are your pet peeves when it comes to customer service?

Happy Wednesday! 

lovely gifts on a Sunday

Last week the lovely people at Chic Unique asked me if I'd like to pick something from their range. This was after I'd broadcast my poor form with regards to jewellery i.e: I have none. So of course, I excitedly took up the opportunity. I knew I definitely wanted a necklace as I don't think I own any, so I decided to go for a kitsch telephone and rose charm necklace. 

It was posted really fast (which I'm massively rating after recent experience with a company who has taken nearly 2 weeks to deliver something!!) and came in lovely packaging.

My necklace was in this gorgeous card with a lovely Alice illustration. Pretty perfect seeing as Alice In Wonderland is my favourite Disney film. Coincidence...?

Telephone and Flower Charm c/o Chic Unique

Chic Unique necklace, Topshop red dress

I would have posted a full outfit post, but it's Sunday and I'm lazing about with my boyfriend, so the outfit really isn't post worthy. As you can see the necklace is lovely, and on the back it has a teeny tiny Chic Unique inscription (my 'expert' photographer wouldn't be able to focus the camera enough for this). After looking at the website, you can also co-design some jewellery items, which is a great idea because who doesn't like a bit of custom design?

I've been really lucky this week because I've also been sent some goodies by Legs Love. As you might be able to infer from the title, they're a hosiery company who sell brands like Johnathon Aston, Pretty Polly, and Pamela Mann. They sent me a pair of Pamela Mann 'Solid Sheer Stripe Tights':

Pamela Mann tights c/o Legs Love

I'm kind of in two minds about them. Don't get me wrong, I genuinely like them, but I'm not sure what I'm going to wear them with yet. They're right on my boundary of hosiery choice, because my style doesn't get very exciting in that department. My most unusual pair are the Henry Holland 'suspender' tights, and they're not uncommon now at all. So while these aren't really bright or covered in bold print, they're just stepping outside of my comfort zone. However, the whole point of Legs Love is to get us tight-phobes kitted out and realising the difference that a great pair of tights can actually make to an outfit, so I'll definitely be posting an outfit including them soon.

So what do you think of my gifts? Any ideas on what to wear the tights with? I hope that longer readers of my blog will have a vague sense of what I like, so you might have some ideas :)

You can find Legs Love and Chic Unique on Twitter here and here.

top quality outfit post

I jest as you will soon note when you see my photos. I realised I have a webcam, which could potentially take half decent photos. I was clearly mistaken, but it still managed to capture what I'm wearing for my essay writing today. 

Topshop: shirt, faux leather shorts, Vintage: bag

Rings: All H&M apart from the large one, which is Topshop.

My shirt just finished drying and is horrendously creased, but my flat mate keeps the iron in her bedroom and she's asleep, so you'll have to bear with them as I am, I'm afraid. I tried to capture a bit of the detail on the shorts too, but it ended up in some bizarre crotch shot, so I missed that one out! 

I actually feel a bit better now I've got up and dressed. 

Let the essay writing commence.

camel and green

Topshop padded shoulder trench, scarf, peter pan tunic, River Island thigh high socks, Tred knee high boots, Primark tights

So, this is what I wore back to Manchester yesterday. The coat is my beloved trench, which is getting more than its fair share of wear at the moment, and the tunic is one of Topshop's popular peter pan styles. See how short it is on me! It might have shrunk a tiny bit in the wash, but it was essentially this short to begin with. It really annoys me that they don't develop their tall range with these kind of styles, because they're really popular staples that come up too short on us tall folk! I never wear this tunic unless I'm going out somewhere where its questionable length can be concealed under my coat, so it's not too bad, I'm just in love with camel and emerald green colours together.

(I've no idea why the quality of the first photo is so crummy? And I have to smile because I just don't exude the straight faced cool of Fashion Toast no matter how much I try!)

L-R: Primark, Earnest Jones, H&M, Accessorize, Topshop, Models Own 'Nude Beige', Collection 2000 Liquid Eyeliner

These are some of the rings I own. I don't really co-ordinate my jewellery as you can see. The golds go next to the silvers, the big with the little, anything goes. And my nail art you've seen before here.

I'm back in Manchester today to go to the Trafford Centre with my boyfriend as we've been together two years today! Hoping to snap up some bargains in the sale, though everything half decent is probably gone. I won't be too disappointed, though, as I managed to get myself an amazing bargain yesterday on eBay. I've mentioned before that I'm pretty backward when it comes to eBay and sites like that, so I've really surprised myself. I was going to go the Oasis site to buy an aviator jacket I've wanted for ages, but thought I'd just have a peek on eBay to see if it was on there. Amazingly, there were TWO in my size and more than half the price of the one in store, brand new and with tags!! This kind of luck is surely to make up for the fact that I missed out on winning the lottery last week. Nobody bought the medium size, but someone tried to outbid me in the last ten seconds. Luckily I managed to win, so expect to see that soon. I've only got time to do this post today, so Wednesday Wishes will be missing this week. I should really schedule them in, shouldn't I?

Anyway, whatever you're up to today, hope you have a lovely day.

Happy Wednesday :)

wolves and badgers

Here's my favourite picks from the Wolf and Badger site. I was drawn into having a quick browse before I begin my essay because they have a sale on. The prices are still beyond me, but a girl can dream. If you follow me on Twitter you'll know that I could've been a millionaire this week! I have set lottery numbers which I always use on the rare occasions I actually enter the lottery. Come Christmas night, guess what numbers came up? That's right. Every single one of my numbers!! All six! Typical that I had declined my Dad's offer to enter my numbers that week. What a different Christmas day it would've been, and all of these unique items wouldn't just be a dream away.

All from Wolf and Badger.

The spider necklace is just gorgeous, isn't it? I'd style the skirt with a simple, retro tee like Rihanna did recently. The skull is actually a money box, and it would be a nice little statement piece on my desk, and don't get me started on the ring and jacket...

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Bit of a mish mash this week as I'm insanely sleepy at the moment. I've been wrapping presents for a stupidly long amount of time. Is it just me, or does wrapping your presents seem like a fun idea until you've been wrapping for two hours, still have  a bag left, and have suddenly lost the will to live? Buying presents and wrapping them is definitely my most hated part of Christmas. Moving onto the post, any of these rings would be welcome in my stocking and they're all from Topshop. I recently bought this one (it looks a lot nicer in real life) and I'm steadily developing my collection of rings. Topshop has got some great jewellery out at the moment, and as one of my New Year's resolutions is to buy more jewellery (what an indulgent resolution, I know), I might just start from there.

Up next, I wanted to draw your attention to a friend of mine who sells various things she makes by hand at Folksy. I'm not really very good with these kind of websites (Etsy, even eBay) but I love the pieces she's created. As I said, they're all handmade and they really remind me of Cath Kidston style homeware, which I love. The cushions are my absolute favourites at the moment, made from vintage lace and fabric the Union Jacks are gorgeous and look great in a modern home, yet fit in perfectly with the kind of traditional English, tea room style that reminds me so much of Kidston. You can buy them here and Ellie also sells bags, soap, tea cosys....a variety of great gifts. I realise it's now too late to make any orders for Christmas, but if you like them be sure to bookmark the page for presents in the New Year.

How's your Wednesday going? Today my boyfriend and I have had our 'pre' Christmas as we're not spending Christmas day together. After the manic last minute wrapping, I've had Christmas dinner, Christmas pudding, opened presents, and thought about making a snowman, but it's just too cold. I've actually taken a photo for an outfit post, boring as my outfit is today...watch this space, I might just put it up.

Happy Wednesday!

Sources: Topshop, Folksy

wednesday wishes (on a weekend) 8

Shorts, Ring: Miss Selfridge, Jumper: Topshop, Dog: Erdem, Bag: Proenza Schouler both at Net A Porter

So Wednesday Wishes is taking place on a weekend this week, because I'm completely overloaded with uni work. I've kind of forced myself to live like a hermit this week though, and now I can almost see over my mountain of books I thought I'd give a bit of time to the blog. 

If you're on Twitter make sure you're following Erdem. Somehow I didn't know Erdem even had Twitter until Most Curious tweeted him. That day he had posted a photo of the fabric Daschund 'ice skating'. As a Bulldog and Daschund lover, I wish I had this guy sat on my desk right now. Sadly, at £150 he's not going to be sat there any time soon. Another thing on the wish list which won't be mine in the near future, is this gorgeous PS1 satchel in the most delicious raspberry colour. It is my absolute favourite bag of the season. 

Some things a little more achievable on my wishlist come from Miss Selfridge and good old Topshop. I spied these suede shorts over at Cocos Tea Party the other day. I fully expected them to be a designer label, but to my happy surprise they're £34! I hope my Dad is reading this because he's wondering what to buy me for Christmas, and these would be ideal. The ring is £12.50, another bargain, and it speaks for itself really.

As any long term Miss Dolly readers will know, I've been obsessing over Alpine themed knitwear ever since the D&G show for this season. I've still not got round to buying any yet for reasons unknown, but I'd pair this jumper with my leather shorts and thick knee socks. Does anybody else get looked at like they're crazy if they wear knee high socks out at the moment? I was wearing a coat, a scarf, a cardigan, a thick dress, gloves and ankle boots, but because I had an inch of thigh showing from my super thick knit thigh high socks, people were looking at me as though I was running naked through the cold!

Hope you're all enjoying the weekend. Who are you rooting for to win the X Factor tonight? Rebecca all the way.

P.S The new nails: 

Barry M Blueberry, 17 Matte Top Coat, Chanel Blue Satin

wednesday wishes 6

I'm writing this post while I'm feeling particularly peckish, so that may account for the inclusion of a cupcake and a giant cupcake mould. It's a bit like going shopping when you're really hungry - big mistake! However, my boyfriend and I are on the search for the perfect cupcake. We actually have criteria to mark our cupcakes, cake fiends/sad people that we are. I really should take more photos of the cupcakes we encounter, as there have been a fair few, but I can tell you that Tesco are actually in the lead at the moment with their Red Velvet cupcakes. They're not really true to 'red velvet' in that their sponge only has a tint of red in it, and the icing isn't made of cream cheese. However, for something ridiculous like £1.98 for 4 cupcakes, I definitely direct you to go and buy some as they are AMAZING! Also, this giant cupcake mould available from Firebox used to be a whopping £35!, which I just couldn't justify being a typically cuisine backward student. It's now £14.99, which is much more affordable, so I'm definitely going to have to buy it asap and make an absolute beast of a cupcake! 

I recently posted about my longing for a Christmas party to attend, and this is still playing on my mind. This Miu Miu little black number is gorgeous. The detailing is just beautiful and the more modest style cut of the top is lovelyl. It's on the LBD dream list, for sure. 

I'm trying to convince my boyfriend (and myself), that our upcoming two year anniversary really is an occasion that calls for a Yves Saint Laurent 'Arty' ring. Can you believe he doesn't agree?! I'm working on it. I think £115 for a piece of YSL is amazing and almost seems like a bargain in my warped mind. There are a few different styles, but I think rich purple/blue will go with more of my wardrobe than the others.

My current going out shoe crush lies with these little Asos numbers. I'm a real fan of block heels,  and these kind of have that going on, but they're slightly more sleek at the end. I hope that they will be much more comfortable than the stilettos I'm usually accustomed to wearing. 

Hope you enjoyed the post. Sometime this week I'll be receiving a gorgeous Asos dress and some flat, thigh high boots. My first ever purchase of flat, winter shoes that haven't arrived in a box with the label 'Ugg'. I can't wait. I seriously hope they're comfy!

Sources: Firebox, Asos, Net A Porter, Google Images

Holly Fulton for ASOS

Move over Lanvin and H&M, there's a new collaboration in town, and one I'm far more excited about. Holly Fulton has created a capsule collection for ASOS, consisting of shirts, leggings, dresses and skirts. They're all instantly recognisable to those in the 'fashion know' as Fulton pieces, as they feature the heavy, graphic prints, which have become her signature, coupled with strikingly vibrant colours. More excitingly, she has also designed a necklace for the range. I fell in love with Holly's jewellery when her collections opened the show for Fashion East s/s 2010. I'm awful at accessorising with jewellery, I just never buy it, so I much prefer getting statement pieces which you can build your outfit around. I'd layer this necklace with some really simple basics and let it do all the talking. It's just a shame that at the moment there's only one piece available. Hopefully there will be more to come.

All available at Asos.

What do you think of Holly's collection? And out of curiosity, did any of you brave the crowds and pick up a piece of Lanvin x H&M ?

subtle skulls

Tom Binns earrings, Mawi ring, Daisy Knight necklace and ring, Alexander McQueen ring all from Net-A-Porter.

I'm all for the skull trend jewellery. The key piece I'm coveting is the Iosselliani skull necklace, which you might know better as being the favoured cameo skull necklace often worn by Alexa Chung. I don't really work the edgy, Gothic look that so often goes hand in hand with full on skull adornment. I'm looking for more subtle pieces, like these stunning ones above. The Daisy Knights necklace and ring are particular favourites. They're so simple, yet striking when you look at them up close. Yet more to add to my ever increasing/completely unobtainable Christmas list.

wednesday wishes 4

Marc by Marc Jacobs bird rings at Net A Porter, Boohoo.com lace shirt, MAC 188 brush, Topshop chunky heels, FSAugusta Piggy Ring

Yay, I finally remembered to do Wednesday Wishes! I should remember Wednesday is an important day, because Desperate Housewives is also back on - good times! My boyfriend bought me the first series boxset last week because I never saw it when it first started, and I've barely emerged from my bedroom as it's so good.

This week's Wedneday Wishes is like a double edged sword. It's good because it's a lovely collection of everything I love right now, but it's horribly bad because it serves as a reminder that I HAVE NO MONEY AND I CAN'T HAVE THESE LOVELY THINGS! :(

The other day on Twitter I checked out Wolf and Badger's blog and came across this beautiful pig ring. I have a feeling it might create a bit of a Marmite love it/hate it reaction, but I personally love pigs. I actually really want one, and not one of your cutesy, little micro pigs like Victoria Beckham. No, I'm talking a big, hairy, adorably ugly pig. But, as I don't own a farm, I think this little fella would sit pretty nicely on my hand. It's by the amazing FSAugusta, and if you haven't seen their site before definitely go and have a look now. They have some stunning, quirky pieces like Mr Pig here.

The shirt is from Boohoo, and is a deep navy, though you can buy it in black. I've been looking for one with pockets so aptly placed to recreate look 43 from Burberry Prorsum's fall '10 show. I've got my shearling heeled boots (the New Look one's in the sidebar) so I'm just looking for some great trousers to complete the look, if you know of any? Topshop has just brought in these great chunky heels, and I'm in love. I love chunky heels, yet bizarrely I don't own any. This situation probably needs to be rectified fairly promptly... To use the Topshop card or not? That is always the question on my mind. The Mac brush is just one out of the whole range that I'm coveting right now to help me come close to achieving flawless makeup, and the Marc by Marc Jacobs love birds? Well, they speak for themselves.

What do you think of my Wednesday Wishes?

Happy Wednesday!