LOTD: Casual lavender

A really quick look of the day post, as I came home after a brutal train journey that lasted nearly 4 hours. It left me exhausted and with a headache so I didn’t have much energy to write a more thoughtful post. Luckily for me, I took some pictures of my look and outfit a few days ago, which enables me to put something up here. Let me know in the comments below what you think!

Let’s start with the outfit which I was wearing.

• taupe colored sheer blouse (H&M)
• denim shorts (H&M)
• taupe tights (H&M)
• light brown ankle boots (Van Haren)
• spike necklace (Topshop)

As you can see, I went with mainly taupe color. Just to break up all those neutral tones, I decided to add my denim shorts. I love those because they are so versatile and with a pair of tights they are perfect for this transitional weather we’ve been having. The blouse is a bit shorter in the front than in the back, which is why I didn’t have to tuck it in. I am wearing a nude colored tank top underneath the shirt to cover up a bit more. The boots are insanely comfortable and have a zipper at the back rather than on the side which gives it a nice touch. I am wearing my hair up because when I wear it down it looks hideous now. It needs a cut and it’s going to get one next week so stay tuned for that!

Close up of the Topshop necklace

The eyelook is very simple. Excuse the smudging but I took these pictures after a long day of work and university so by this time this make up had been on for nearly 10+ hours. I decided to go for a pop of lavender (using my new Inglot palette) to add some color to the otherwise very neutral outfit. I used the three left most shadows in the bottom row of the palette as well as the highlight.

I will try to write a more elaborate post, quite possibly one on second language learning, for tomorrow. If not, it will have to wait till next week, or maybe the week after. Next week is vacation time as it is May break and I am sensing I’m in need of a break. These past weeks were filled with open days, classes, exams, uni assignments, losing a job and finding a new one and I have noticed it has taken its toll. I’ve been feeling quite drained ever since this weekend. So it’s time I rest and focus on all the good stuff that is yet to come. Hope you don’t mind and see you all on the other side!

 

Amsterdam shoplog: Inglot, MAC, River Island, H&M etc

Yesterday I went shopping in Amsterdam. I hadn’t been there in months. The last time I was there at all was November and I last went shopping there almost 6 months ago. Since yesterday would be the last semi-decent day till who knows when I decided to head out do some shopping. It’s not a massive haul, but I think I got some pretty cool things. Here it goes!

Black patterned wallet (Sasha)

I had decided that I needed a new wallet. My old one just wasn’t very practical. For one it was humongous and secondly money kept falling out. That’s why I wanted to look for something smaller, handier. When I spotted this one at Sasha at half price I knew it would be perfect. It fits all my stuff and is only half the size of my old one, so I’m good to go for a while again.

Short silver/ gold geometrical necklace (H&M)

This season I’m loving all the short chunky necklaces that have been hitting stores. I hadn’t seen this one yet but instantly loved it. This will immediately give an edge to any outfit. I like pairing such a necklace with a clean button down: adds instant spunk!

Short black sweatpants (H&M)

Since spring is happening, my work out pants are all becoming too hot to wear as they are all full length. I do have shorts, but they are well, short. I only wear them with leggings and soon, that will also be too warm to wear in a gym or dance class. I have seen plenty of people wearing longish short sweatpants, though I had never found them. While browsing around H&M, I found these in the men’s section. That’s right: the men’s section. They hit me just above the knee and will be perfect to work out in during the warmer months.

Black & white striped leggings/ pants (River Island)

When I saw these I wasn’t sure what to think. When I put them on they were actually really cool. Like this, they also look like a regular pair of pants, while actually they are thick leggings. They look like pants on as well so I decided to run with it. I think this will look good with a black or white button down, or a brighter colored shirt. Since they’re leggings I could even pair them with a simple black skirt or shorts. Some black biker boots to top it off and it will instantly make any outfit more interesting.

White distressed t-shirt with black studded cross (New Yorker)

Another look I love are distressed t-shirts. Unfortunately I find most of them too sheer to pull it off, but this one is textured enough for it to not look like it has been eaten by mots. I was immediately drawn to it because of the big black cross. And when I saw it was studded, it was just an added bonus. It’s a loose fitting top and I actually wanted it a size smaller, but they had run out. I still bought it because I loved it too much. Boyfriend jeans, this top and black low rise Converse sneakers = perfect laid back outfit.

Sheer black/ grey/ white leopard print button down (H&M Divided)

Amsterdam has roughly 10 different H&Ms and my initial plan was to go into only one. However, I ended up visiting all of them, as I saw this shirt at the first one and decided to not get it. It looked great on, but not being sure when or where I’d wear this, I put it back. Half way through my shopping trip I started regretting that decision and went looking for the shirt everywhere. Finally, in the last H&M I knew they sold the Divided collection I found it again (it had sold out everywhere else). It’s a button down. It’s sheer. It’s got a contrast collar. It’s got leopard print. What’s not to love? (Note: I used to hate leopard print, but I think that in this grey color it looks much classier than in the traditional brownish hue).

Coconut & Mint M&Ms (Eichholtz US & UK Foods)

During my shopping spree I also found a small concession store selling mainly US, UK and Dutch delicatessen. They also sold different types of M&Ms. I had never tried these yet, so decided to pick up a bag of each. I especially liked the minty ones!

H&M nail polish in Peppermint Fusion, MAC Eyeshadow in Patina, Yves Rocher hand cream

I have yet to try H&M nail polish. I had spotted this color online, but it had unfortunately sold out. It’s a very pretty lavender color with a very subtle shimmer to it. Great for spring. At MAC, I didn’t buy that much this time. The only thing high on my wishlist was Patina eyeshadow in pan form. Last time I was there it had sold out so I decided to get it now. I was also in need of new hand cream and Yves Rocher just recently reopened a store in Amsterdam and they had a special discount on several items. This hand cream was one of them.

10 Freedom System eyeshadow palette, square (Inglot)

Now the reason why I really wanted to go to Amsterdam: to buy another Inglot eyeshadow palette filled with matte spring colors. The last time I went shopping in Amsterdam I also paid Inglot a visit and I am still in love with the 5 eyeshadow palette I created at the time. Inglot has some great matte eyeshadows and since I love matte shadows, and since they let you create your own palette, I thought it would be a great combination. There are a few shimmery colors in there (3 in total) but the rest are all matte. They are perfect for spring and together with the palette I already have it is also a great combination. I will make a separate post on the palette in a few days.

So that’s it: my Amsterdam shoplog. As you can tell, it’s not that much, but I still had a great shopping spree. I started at Inglot in the Van Baerlestraat and made my way to the railway station via PC Hooftstraat, 9 straatjes, Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk. And can you spot the theme in the clothing items I’ve been buying lately? First I had a haul with only taupes, last week it was brights, and now it’s all black and white. I only realized that when I got home. I will try to make a lookbook/ outfit of the day type thing with some of the stuff I’ve been hauling some time soon.

Enjoy your day and leave a comment below telling me what you think of these items. Would you wear the stripy leggings? How about the leopard shirt?

London Shoplog # 2: Shoes & Fashion

A few days ago I already showed you some of the stuff I bought during my London trip. That post featured books, CDs, make up, beauty products and accessories. But that wasn’t all I got as I also bought a bunch of clothes and yes, as a shoe freak I also got some shoes. So stay tuned and check out part 2 of my London haul.

Let’s first have a look at the shoes I bought. The first day in London I went to Spital Fields/ Bricklane and found these two great pairs of shoes at a vintage store called Blitz for only 10 pounds each:

Dark grayish blue tasseled loafers

Burgundy lace up loafers

As you can see I got two pairs of loafers. I already have two pairs of brogues which I bought last year and I love how they can give an outfit this nerdy/ boyish look to outfits. That is why I really hoped to find a nice pair of loafers as they give an outfit a nerdy/ preppy/ grandma vibe. Both of them are made out of real leather and the blueish gray ones have hardly been worn as the soles are in great condition. The burgundy ones are a lot more beat up but oh so soft and comfy because of it.

Now as you may remember I left for London with a bit of a wish list in mind. I am glad to say that I found some of the things on there and then some. Here’s the first thing I ticked of my list: colored shirts.

Primark t-shirts in peach, green and gray

Primark t-shirts in yellow, mint green and bright blue.

You’re just gonna have to trust me when I say that one shirt is green and not blue. I’m afraid my camera didn’t pick up on the color all that well. Anywho: I found the colored shirts I wanted. Only two of them have prints on them. The rest are all basic, boring, plain t-shirts, but these will look great when paired with patterned bottoms but they can also be paired with other colors. The way I see it: you can never do without a good set of basic shirts.

Green skinny jeans (Forever 21)

These pants look a bit weird in the picture. Again, I blame my camera, but they are a solid grass green pair of skinny jeans. And again, I wanted a pair of green pants so hip hip hooray for that. You’ll be seeing more of this green color in this post as my wardrobe was in desperate need of a pop of green. The color in the picture isn’t true to the color of the actual pants. They are more like the color of these pants. Other than that they are just a pair of plain low rise stretchy skinny jeans. I am thinking of pairing this with gray or yellow and maybe a bit of pink to tap into the color blocking trend.

Wool & cashmere red blazer (Blitz)

Wishlist item no. 3: check! Check out this cool red blazer. It has a very straight, men’s like cut to it which is what I had hoped to find. I had never bought a boyfriend cut blazer as none of the ones at H&M or other places ever looked good on me. They made me look bulky and the fabrics were usually pretty loose which just doesn’t make for a good look on me. This blazer however, fits like a glove and is super soft because of the material used. It’s very sturdy too which means it keeps is shape nicely when it’s on rather than turning into a straight hot mess.

Navy woolen cardigan with side pocket (Vintage stall at Old Truman Brewery)

This navy cardi just jumped right at me when I was browsing to the racks on my vintage shopping spree on Sunday. It’s a great fitting button down which I’m suspecting may even have been knitted by someone’s grandma as there are not tags in the sweater, nor are there any signs of any tags ever having been attached to it. It does show some pilling, but nearly all woolen items get that after a few washes. All I know is that it’s super comfy and not in the least bit unimportant: it’s warm too.

Oversized navy Aztec print sweater (Primark – men’s section)

Here we go again: another item I can tick off my wishlist. I found my bulky dark colored sweater! At Primark. For 10 pounds. In the men’s section. Yes, you read that right: the men’s section. This is a size XL men’s sweatshirt. It looks great on though. I plan on wearing this as a sweater dress with a pair of leggings and some booties or sneakers or brogues or loafers or whatever shoes I feel like. The print is super fun and in style right now so I’m a happy bunny.

Black & white bouclé sweater(Topshop)

The Topshop on Oxford Street is massive and it took me quite some time to browse through it. In the past I was always able to find the cutest dresses there, but this time round this sweater and the one below were the things that caught my eye. This sweater is again super comfy but it’s not super bulky. It’s not exactly tailored, but has a relaxed fit and will look good with nearly anything: riding pants, jeans, those green pants I showed you earlier. You name it and you can make this sweater work somehow. The black and white combined with the fuzziness also gives it a fun textured look.

Multi-colored pastel bulky knit sweater (Topshop)

Say hello to bulky sweater no. 2! The minute I saw this sweater I fell in love. If you look at it from a distance it looks like it could be a light gray sweater right? Now look more closely… There’s the slightest pop of color there. See what I mean?

Close up of Topshop pastel colored sweater

As you can see in this picture, the thread actually consists of different pastel colors: pinks, blues, yellows, greens, purples and creams. Your eyes blend it to make it look gray when you’re standing too far away. Sort of like a pointillist painting, only in sweater form. This is a very loose fitting sweater and I even bought it a size larger than I needed because I just thought it looked better on. It has rolled cuffs and has a nicely relaxed fit. Again, this sweater is soft and warm and it makes me want to cuddle up on the couch with a hot cocoa just by looking at it.

Green polka dot skater dress with pussy bow (Monki @ Selfridges)

This dress combines 4 things I am currently loving into one: 1.) it’s a skater dress, 2.) it’s green, 3.) it has polka dots (I now own 5 or 6 polka dot dresses oops), 4.) it has a bow. I just think it looks super cute and I look cute in it (not unimportant). As with the green pants, the color is washed out as it is a much perkier green in real life. I did find it on the Monki website though so take a peep there if you want to see what the color actually looks like.

Green skater dress (Forever 21)

Last but not least I found another great green dress. See, I didn’t lie when I told you green would feature quite a bit in this post huh? This one is from Forever 21 and the green is a bit perkier than the one from Monki. I also loved the detail on the neckline and the thicker waistband gives this dress a slightly different look. It is very plain and simple but I’m thinking paired with some fun tights and shoes I can make this a casual or a more formal outfit.

And that’s it! That’s all I bought in London. Let me know in a comment below which item you like best. Also let me know which, if any, of these items you would like to see on. Perhaps I can make a bit of a lookbook with some of it or at least an Outfit of the Day. Have a good Sunday!

Fashion Wish List

So many cool trends have been happening lately and that is why my fashion wishlist has been growing quite a bit. Because of my London trip I’ve refrained from buying too many new things as I want to see what is available at stores that I cannot get to on a regular basis. I hope to find items that are just a tad different from what I would be able to find in my local shopping street. This goes mainly for clothes and accessories and here’s what I hope to find.

Source: weheartit.com

1. Basic colored shirts

Number one on the list are basic colored t-shirts/ tops. I have a ton of plain nude colored shirts, but no brights or pastel colored ones. I have plenty of colored shirts with prints on them, but NOTHING that is just a shirt without too much going on. Since colors are a must have this spring I’m hoping there will be enough to go around and find them.

2. Dark colored bulky sweater

I’m totally digging the trend of wearing tight (riding) pants with a bulky sweater on top. You know, the ones that look like your boyfriend might have lived in it for a while. I have light colored ones, but no dark one. I tend found this sweater by American Apparel and fell in love. It is pricey though so I will go check it out and if it really is as good as it looks on the picture I will just splurge on it.

3. Skater or shift dress

I would really like a skater or shift dress. I bought a skater dress the other day, but that one is a mustard yellow with dark blue polka dots. What I’m really missing in my wardrobe is a plain gray dress. What I am hoping is that I will find a gray skater dress or possible one in that great sea foam green color that I’ve been spotting everywhere lately.

4. Short necklaces

Short necklaces are making a huge comeback. I still have a few from way back in the day, but there are new styles out right now that I’m loving. Most of them are very plain and simple and look great paired with a button down shirt. I will definitely try to hit up Primark and Forever 21 and I think I will find something that suits me there.

5. Colored pants

Another thing I’d love to find are green or bright blue pants. I bought a pair of pink ones in January, but I remember owning a pair of green pants a few years ago and loving them to pieces. I had to throw them out because they were too big, so finding a new pair would be nice. So far, I haven’t found a pair of pants that has the right color, though I spotted a nice green colored pair of treggings at pieces the other day. I may just have to go with that if I can’t find it in London.

6. A red blazer

I love blazers but I’m very picky when it comes to them. I’ve been trying to find a red blazer for over a year now, but have yet to find the perfect one. There is always something that wrong: wrong cut, wrong shade, or it’s too tight around my shoulders. I know it’s a long shot but I hope to finally find a comfy red blazer that doesn’t make me look pasty.

7. Some items for DIY projects

I’ve found so many great DIY clothing tutorials on Youtube and I’m dying to try my hand at a few. However, I don’t want to risk ruining a perfectly fine brand new shirt. That is why I really want to go to Primark. As their stuff is cheap it won’t have cost me tons when things go bad. It totally depends on what I’ll find what I’ll be able to do with it and I will let you know if it all worked out and make some posts on the DIY stuff when I get to it.

What’s on your fashion wishlist?

Shoplog: Zara, Bershka, MAC & Urban Decay

Yesterday I took another trip to The Hague to see my allergy doctor. This time not only to get my shot, but also to find out whether I have an intolerance for gluten. Luckily I don’t and these monthly trips usually entail hitting up some stores that I cannot get to on a regular basis as they are not in my town. I had already spotted some neat blouses on the ZARA website in their spring collection so I had my mind set on going there and just couldn’t help picking up a few other trinkets on my way there. Scroll down to see my purchases.

Tribal/ Aztec print sweater dress (Bershka)

My first stop actually wasn’t ZARA but Bershka, ZARA’s little sister and I bought a few things there. They still had a sale going on, so I picked up this sweater dress with this very neat Aztec/ Tribal inspired print for 10 euros. With sweater dresses it’s always a bit hit or miss for me. I tried on a different one in the store which looked hideous on me but the same on the hanger as this one. When I tried this one on it fit perfectly. The mannequin makes it look a bit weird at the bottom but you get the general idea. Here’s a close up of the print:

This type of print is going to be pretty hot this year. It already was for autumn, but for spring and summer I’ve been spotting it too. I think the green & purple give this dress just that little extra that makes it perfect for winter, but also spring as the colors can go with that season too.

Mustard yellow/ blue polka dot skater dress (Bershka)

Another dress I found was this mustard colored dress with dark blue velvety polka dots. I wanted to get a dress in this particular cut as it is very flattering when you’ve got a narrow waistline but are bigger at the top and bottom. They also had a black one with stars, but since I already own a few black dress I decided to go with some color instead. This dress was only €6 on sale.

Mustard colored narrow belt with bow detail (Bershka)

The last sale item I found was this mustard colored belt. At only €2.99 and with that incredibly cute bow I couldn’t pass up on it! I will be wearing this as a narrow waist belt.

Sea foam colored button down shirt with balloon hemline (Bershka)

Of course all of the spring collections are in stores by now too and I have to say that all those pastels aren’t really my thing. However, this dark sea foam colored shirt hits everything right on the dot. It is not too fitty as it is meant to be quite baggy looking and the color is spot on. It makes for a nice contrast with my blonde hair and I think it will go nicely with the petrol colored pants I bought last month. This button down shirt cost €15.99.

Mint green sheer polka dot button down (ZARA)

Finally my stuff from ZARA which actually isn’t too much. I had already spotted this very nice minty green color on their webshop last week and so when I went to the store that was what I was looking for. I said before that I don’t like pastels but this is the ONLY pastel color I can pull off without it making me look dead. I had seen several items on their website and tried all of them on. When I put on this shirt it was perfect straight away. Yes, it’s sheer, but it will be perfect over the bustier I bought on sale at H&M for €4. And sheer is another trend that is definitely going to be around this spring. Price: €25.

Cream colored sheer dress shirt with buttons & pussy bow (ZARA)

Another sheer shirt, which again looked amazing on. I love the fact that it has a pussybow AND polkadots. Two of my favorite things put together. Again I intend on wearing this over a bustier or a nude colored tank and possible with highwaisted pants or skirt. This shirt also cost €25. The polka dots up close: cuteness!

MAC Fresh Honey blusher (Naturally collection), Urban Decay Naked 2 eyeshadow palette

I also bought a few make up items. I’ve been wanting to get a MAC mineralized blush for some time now, but I actually didn’t like the ones they stock in their regular collection as they are quite shimmery. When I heard the mineralized blushes in the limited edition Naturally collection released this Saturday are void of shimmer and super pigmented I had to pick one up. I went with Fresh Honey: a warm peach colored blush that gives just the right amount of glow without making me look like Christmas decoration.

And then quite possibly the most coveted item in this entire haul post: the Urban Decay Naked 2 eyeshadow palette. It’s here already. I really thought we’d have to wait a year until it would be released in The Netherlands, but then the palette was spotted in Rotterdam last week and now I found it at Sephora in The Hague. I am so excited!  I will show you the palette in a separate post including swatches. It is too gorgeous not to devote a separate post on it.

So there we go! I had told myself to not buy anything until my London trip, but these are things I would have picked up there anywayz. It will just save me some weight in my suitcase. I can at least take the skater dress, mint colored shirt and the UD Naked 2 palette from my wish list.

Which spring fashion trends are you looking forward to adding to your wardrobe?

Warm Winter Must Haves

Temperatures have been freezing lately. Just this Saturday temperatures dropped so low that it hit the top 5 of coldest nights for the Netherlands since 1901. My parents reported -20 Celsius in their backyard and here on the West coast is was still a freezing -16 when I woke up around 9 AM. Trains aren’t running, the roads are a mess and which weather like that you have to dress accordingly. These are my winter must have items that keep me warm despite the freezing cold (esp. on those windy train platforms yuck!)

1. A nice & warm winter coat.

I guess this first item is also the most important one: a warm coat. A coat with wool added to it works wonders, just make sure your coat has 60% wool or more into it and it should be warmer instantly. I have two wool coats and the reason why I picked this one is because it has a zipper from top to bottom which is protected from drafts by two slabs of fabric. Another good thing about it is that it is padded on the inside too and the hood can add extra warmth when you put it on. This red coat came for H&M sale a few years ago and cost me €15.

2. A decent pair of shoes

Cold feet are the worst thing on the planet in my opinion so no sneakers or wedges for me these days. No, I opt for my Doc Marten’s Jenny with wool lining. They have a good set of soles giving you plenty of traction on the snow and the leather and wool keep your feet warm. I bought these last year for a whooping €170 but they were well worth it.

3. Warm gloves/ mittens

Another part of you body that should not be cold are your hands. Now I don’t know about you, but my hands are the first things that will start to freeze at any point, however these gloves/mittens definitely keep the cold at bay for a while. They are by a brand called Thinsulate with specializes in survival/ hiking gear. I especially love how it’s a glove and a mitten all in one go. Mittens actually keep your hands warmer than gloves but make it hard to grab things so the combo is ideal. I bought these years ago and honestly can’t even remember where I got them.

4. Scarf

These days I really cannot go without a scarf. I wear one with my outfit but I top it off with this woolen one when I go outside. A wool scarf is quite possibly the warmest option you’ve got. If you don’t have one, then this is definitely a must have. Make sure it is long enough so it can cover your chest as well. Again: keeps you warm. I bought this years ago at a store which now since doesn’t exist anymore.

5. Ice hat

The last thing you need is a warm hat: something that will cover your ears and maybe even part of your face for ultimate protection. I have the two pictured above. They’re not cool or sexy looking but they get the job done just fine. I bought the one at the left when I first started university and the other one I bought in Dublin. Don’t remember how much each of them cost.

The final tip I can give you is layering your clothing. I wear leggings underneath my jeans and I wear at least 4 layers of tank tops/ t-shirts/ sweaters etc. Does it look nice? No. But it keeps you warm and cozy and it prevents your toes from freezing off, which for me, standing around cold, windy train stations all the time is a must have for me. I’d rather look and feel like Humpty Dumpty than freeze half to death.

What do you do to keep warm?

Shoplog: Asos, H&M & Forever21

Last week I posted a shoplog which existed of mostly of beauty related items. This time I’m showing you items I bought which are fashion related. I got most of these things online and on sale as it’s the last bits of sale that are going on right now. The places I shopped at are Asos.com, H&M (also in store) and Forever 21. Let’s start with accessories first.

Short necklace with spokes (H&M), chandelier earrings & earrings with spikes (Forever21)

I’m totally loving these earrings and the necklace. I think the short necklace trend is a keeper: I still have tons of short necklaces from way back in the day. So this will come in handy. As for the earrings: I’m totally digging long and big earrings now and I love Forever21 accessories. They are edgy and cheap and I think that is also something I can say of these earrings. Especially the ones with the spikes. I think these just stand out and are super funky.

Cream ruched button down shirt with bell sleeves (Asos)

I already told you about my Asos order in a previous post, but I thought it would still be fun to show you what the clothes actually looked like when I got them in. The thing with ordering online is that things can look different than you could tell from the pictures. This shirt is a perfect match to the original picture. This is a size 42 though (UK size 14, US size 12), which is why it looks much bigger: it is. I buy button downs 2 sizes too big on purpose. It’s more comfortable and they’ll actually be able to close around my chest. It looks perfect on. It’s cute with the collar and the ruffles, but it’s not overly cute. That would not bit my style at all. However I think this shirt has just the right amount of boho chic to it for it to be manageable.

Nude colored pussybow dress (Asos)

This is exactly what I meant by: you never know what it actually looks like. The way this dress was folded and send over made it all crumpled and frumpy looking. It is still a great dress though. It’s sheer, so I definitely have to wear something underneath other that just underwear, but the color and the cut are perfect. It hits me just above the knee and accentuates my waist ever so slightly. I can live with the wrinkles as I won’t be able to wear this for a while anyway and by that time gravity and if need be an iron will be able to do the trick.

Black & cream geometrical pussybow playsuit (Asos)

When I first put this on I was like: oh no! It doesn’t fit! Can you see the waistband somewhere in the middle? That’s to singe your waist, but what if the garment doesn’t hit you in the waist but much lower? Yup. I ended with a nice peeping view of my belly button. No fun. But then I realized that I could easily hoist it up, as the body part of the playsuit is too long for my short upper body. So I pulled it up to fit into my waistline and voila it’s a perfect fit! I can add a belt if I feel the waistband won’t stay put but after a bit of practice I think I can make it stay put without adding anything. If anything I’ll just pin it. Here’s a murky pic of me wearing it when I was trying it on the other night:

Tribal print dress (H&M)

I saw this dress ages ago in an H&M in Amsterdam. However, at 30 euros for a cotton summer dress I thought it was too pricy. I was hoping it would go on sale and lo and behold: it did! I got this at half the original price and I love it. It has a pretty wide skirt with pleats, exactly like I used to wear them when I was a little girl. At that time I already preferred dresses that would flare out when you spin around. My mom spent hours making me dresses that did just that and now I finally have one that does exactly that.

Black bralette/ bustier (H&M) (Sorry mom )

I’ve been wanting something like this for ages (years really), but I couldn’t find one that fits. I’m the proud owner of a good sized D cup and these things are usually made for breasts at least half that size. So when I found this at my local H&M sale I was skeptical. Yet, I wanted to try it and it actually fit perfectly! And guess what it cost me? 4 euros! Not kidding. Original price is 29.95, it was on sale for 5 euros and I got an extra 20% off as it was one of the final days of sale.

Acid wash skinny jeans (H&M)

I actually don’t have many light wash jeans. They’re all medium or dark washes as I find that the most flattering on me. I saw these on the website, where they were unavailable, so when I saw it in store I decided to give it a shot. They fit nicely, are super comfortable and they look great on! They’re also not too long which is a plus for me. Oh and they are stretchy which is why they are so comfy in the first place.

Have you done any last minute sale shopping? If so, what did you get?

My Wardrobe Organisation

Almost 2 years ago, I had a makeshift wardrobe, consisting of 2 separate closets that were old and rickety. One day, one of the closets decided to collapse on me. All the shelves simply fell down and that’s when I knew: it’s time to buy myself a new closet. I went all over town trying to find the perfect wardrobe. Not only did it have to be bigger than what I had, I also wanted a decent amount of space to hang items rather than to stack them. After much searching I ended up at IKEA, which had been my idea to begin with, where I found the PAX system. It’s a wardrobe system that let’s you customize your entire closet. How convenient! This is the one I bought:

Pax Malm in oak

It’s one of the largest ones they have. Hooray for living in a place with high ceilings. I store my suitcases on top. I had to buy a ladder just so I can reach them (no kidding). However, what is very convenient is that I can now store everything in there. I keep my nightgowns on the side as I found myself not using them when they were inside the closet. The only things not in this closet: socks, scarves, and some shoes and flip flops. The rest of my clothing & clothing related items are in there. Here’s what it looks like on the inside:

Right side

Left side

As you can see I got this closet with sliding doors. They take up less space and are overall very convenient. I also really like the huge mirror. Since the closet is so big, if that door would also be made of wood it would instantly make my room look smaller. Right now, with the added mirror, it makes my room look more spacious and this is now my main mirror when I’m trying on clothes. It has more space for hanging clothes than laying them down and I like it that way. I kept one part long so it would fit dresses and still have space left for shoes underneath. I also added some drawers for underwear and accessories. I’m really happy I got those too as they are super handy and spacious.

Buying a closet that will fill your wardrobe needs, is only part of the solution to wardrobe organisation. The next thing you have to do is decide where and how to put your things into it. My main guidelines here were: how often do I need it + how will I be able to find things quickly? The solution: wise placement & color coding. This is what it led to:

Bottom: shirts, Top: sweaters & cardigans

Both shelves have double stacks. Behind the sweaters there are two more stacks: one with heavy knit sweaters and one with basic long sleeves. I keep my basic tees separate from printed ones and tops with special cuts. Hooded sweaters are kept underneath the drawers behind my shoes as I barely wear them anymore.

Bottom: work out clothes + sweatpants on the left, tank tops & swimwear on the right

Top: pajamas on the left, towels on the right

Dresses

I keep my more formal dresses on the left and my boots & booties are stored underneath the dresses.

F.l.t.r.: bolero/ sleeves, short sleeved button downs, solid long sleeved button downs, patterned long sleeved button downs, zip up cardigans, blazers & jackets.

I keep my heels and extra bedding on the shelf above this rod.

Fl.t.r.: long cardigans & button downs, skirts, shorts, jeans, pants, leggins, jeggings & treggings, neat pants, communion dress (in bag)

The shoes I store here are mostly sneakers and some older shoes that I don’t grab for all the time. There are also some heels here that didn’t put up on the shelf anymore.

As you can see, everything is color coded from light colors on the left (or on top) to dark colors to the right (or at the bottom). Exceptions are skirts and shorts, for some reason I switched that the other way round. The dresses are organised slightly differently as well:  formal dresses are on the left followed by summer dresses. It then goes into pink, red, cream/ nude, brown, blue, grey and black. Don’t ask me how that happened, but it works for me. I can quickly find whatever it is I need and because I have so much hanging space I can easily see what I have.

Do you have any tips on how to organise a wardrobe?

Video: Collective shopping haul

I thought I’d try something different again and instead of bringing you a haul post in pictures, it’s now in video. And you can watch it in HD. Only thing is that for some reason my upload got scrunched and I don’t know why. It will probably be some setting I used when publishing the video with Moviemaker. Oh well. It’s here, it’s up and I think I got some cool stuff, so enjoy!

Like I say in the video I didn’t buy all of this in one go. It’s stuff I’ve accumulated in the past 2 -3 weeks. But here are the items featured in the video in chronological order:

- Max Factor lipstick in Mulberry
- Catrice Eye & Blush palette from the London collection
- Dark red/ brown (x2), beige w/ stars shirts (New Yorker
- Maxi skirt & maxi dress (H&M)
- Faux fur waistcoat (H&M)
- Peter pan collared button down (Asos)
- Cream & nude button down shirts (Asos)
- Multi-colored dress (Asos)
- Dark gray knit sweater dress (Vila)
- Green parka with teddy lining (Primark)
- Accessories (Primark)
- Camel zipper bag (random store)
- Dark green bag (H&M)
- Tall black boots (Shoe Outlet)

So there you have it, my shopping haul. I recorded another video the same day which will be up later this week. Let me know in the comments if you would like to see more videos and if you do what it is that you would like to see! Thank you for your time.

Shoplog Dublin: Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Penneys, Top Shop, New Look, etc.

If you’ve been following this blog, then you know that this girl can’t go traveling without doing some serious shopping. So that’s exactly what I did. I already mentioned in my travellog that I went shopping the day before we left and I got some other trinkets along the way. As promised, there are a few more things with polkadots! I got some clothes, accessories, books, CDs, shoes (of course) and some make up. I didn’t buy that much make up and nothing too interesting so that isn’t pictured.

high waisted denim shorts (Top Shop)

I had been looking for high waisted denim short for some time, but none of them fit me right. This one does and it was on sale too!

cream polkadot dress (Top Shop)

I love the retro 50′s style of this dress. The collar is the cutest!.

baggy dark grey polka dot shirt (Forever 21)

Yup, Dublin has a Forever 21. They had tons of similar tops with different colors and prints, but I liked this one best.

denim button down (Forever 21)

Same as with the high waisted shorts. Wanted one for ages, couldn’t find one that fit right. This one does and it wasn’t that expensive.

black & white polka dot jumpsuit/ romper (Urban Outfitters)

Possibly my favorite buy from the entire trip! I took it into the dressing room thinking it was a dress. I only noticed the shorts in them when I tried it on. Fits like a glove and isn’t uber short like most rompers.

Book, CDs & DVD (HMV, random book stores)

Books: Folk & Fairytales of Ireland compiled by W.B. Yeats, Melmoth the Wanderer by Charles Robert Maturin, Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen.

CDs: Hugh Laurie – Let Them Talk, Lady Gaga – Born This Way (Deluxe Edition), Britney Spears – Femme Fatale (16 track edition), Pete & the Pirates – One Thousand Pictures

DVD: 500 Days of Summer (best movie ever!)

thick ice hat (random hat shop at St. Stephen’s Green mall)

panty hoses (Penneys – Irish version of Primark)

small tan satchel (Penneys

from right to left:

silver cuff bracelet (Forever 21)

shamrock necklace (souvenir shop)

triangle earrings (Urban Outfitters)

necklace with two leaves (Forever 21)

necklace with tassles (Forever 21)

from left to right:

black & red ballerina flats (Penneys)

dark grey keds (Penneys)

moccasin/ loafer style tan heels (New Look)

My favorite buy is definitely the romper from Urban Outfitters. What is your favorite thing in the lot?