LIFE LATELY: EASTER

Oh hey! So I've been up to a whole host of stuff lately including stuffing my face, shopping, boozing... The usual.

Over Easter weekend, while most folk were gorging on Easter Eggs, I took a trip into town to visit Urban Outfitters. I've sorely neglected Urban recently - the lure of Silverburn proves too great most weekends for an UBER LAZYBONES like me - but there's only so much Topshop/H&M a girl can take, so I wandered in for a swatch. Got myself a few things but to be honest I was SUPER restrained as there's hunners of good stuff in just now, including a pretty good sale. 

Couldn't decide between this dress and the blue version at half price but ultimately went for this as I figured the colours were nicer and I'd probably get more wear out of it in Spring WHEN IT EVER BLOODY ARRIVES. Harrumph.

Just your basic silky black t-shirt but I find myself living in t-shirts most weekends and this silky, floaty version feels a wee bit smarter than my usual tea-stained efforts. It's nice with dark jeggings and heeled boots. Works for a more casual look at work too. Blummin £40 though!

Bargainous faux-leather wee studded bag in the sale. I'm normally a carry-everything-around-but-the-kitchen-sink type gal, but sometimes a wee bag is called for. Plus I have a weird rash type thing in the crook of my arm from constantly carrying heavy bags around - looks like little burst blood vessels. GROSS, but true. Must start utilising my shoulders yo.

I had my eye on this 90s style tie dye Evil Twin dress ages ago but at £90 I just couldn't really justify it. Spotted it in store at £50 and was SOLD. Perfect for summer WHEN IT EVER BLOODY ARRIVES. They only had a small left and it's a leeeeeetle tight on the bust, but I mean, I can just like hunch or something. Couldn't NOT get it.

Last Wednesday I was very kindly invited to the launch night of Munro's on Great Western Rd - or the old Captain's Rest as I kept calling it. It was a lovely wee night of craft beer (which I actually drank and loved despite always claiming to hate beer. My favourite was the Caledonian Deuchars or something, mmm!), nibbles and lolz.

I took the bf (because YES there is a bf this time - told you, actual life of a chick-lit novel) and we both thouroughly enjoyed. Think bf was still mourning the loss of Captain's Rest as the new pub looks quite different - sort of shabby chic with comfy booths and quirky light-fittings etc. but I really enjoyed the new feel.

Hunners of craft beers so if you're into that then Munro's is your place. If you like tasty bar nibbles,

pizza and wine you won't be disappointed either. Win.

Over the weekend I was cat-sitting Southside again so on Easter Monday we ambled along to the Glad cafe in Shawlands for a nosy at THEIR nibbles. 

Serious and silly. Also, look at my Jeremy Beadle hand!

Cool wee place with a nice vibe. The food didn't WOW me to be honest (I had the soup and sandwich deal) but I really liked the decor and arty feel. Apparently the Glad Cafe is a social enterprise with the legal structure of Community Interest Company. As a social enterprise they have a social purpose to eventually plough profits, (once loans have been repaid), into affordable music lessons for local people. Right on, man.

They have some interesting art up around the place and their wee Glad Rag magazine publishes poems and short stories from local writers. There's also a music venue area through the back. Southside is the new Westend folks, you heard it here first. Check it out if you're in Shawlands. 

Assorted miscellaneous pics from my weekend include...

STEAK...

A random back garden we passed while running about like hyper eejits round Linn Park yesterday afternoon. The picture doesn't show it all that well, but someone had strung silvery streamers on the fence so they shone all pretty and glittery in the sunshine. GOD, LISTEN to me! But from far away through the trees it did look quite magical... Just take my word for it. #photogfail

And general kitten cuteness.

Hope y'all had a nice Easter. Now where the HELL is Spring?

OH MA GAHD, NEED!

It's been quite a while since something from Urban Outfitters has made me literally STOP IN MY FACEBOOK-CREEPING TRACKS and squeal the above phrase... Congrats Evil Twin outer limits skater dress, I'm officially lusting after you BAD STYLE!

Oh Hi, Mila Kunis?

Looks to me like it's velvet - double win - but it helpfully doesn't say on the site so I can't be sure. Seriously though, how amazing is this? I thought my love of galaxy print had waned slightly these past few months, but it was obviously just lying dormant. NEED. THIS. DRESS.

At £88 it's a bit of a splurge (Skintville, population: me) but if I don't get it I have a feeling I'll spiral into a pit of regret and depression and NO-ONE WANTS THAT, RIGHT? Right. It's getting bought.

Lots of love, your friendly neighbourhood enabler...

 

URBAN OUTFITTERS SUMMER SALE

Heads up, y'all, the ever-awesome Urban Outfitters summer sale starts tomorrow.

Some summery lovelies I'm hoping to see come down in price include:

Insane but fierce, right?

Oh Urban, This is so dangerous, it's PAY WEEK! Jeeze. REALLY Hoping the weather picks back up so I can kick about the park in some of these wee dresses...

Also, if you were expecting a post about the Scottish Fashion Awards, sorry to disappoint but I wasn't there! Instead I was out having a lovely time watching Prometheus which, by the way, is awesome. Don't believe the crap reviews - although some of the characters are a little 2D it's still a total EPIC. Go see it.

HOWEVER I did check out the winners this morning and I'm glad to see Mulberry, Hayley Scanlan, Karen Gillan and William Chambers among the list. Shame to see David Black miss out on Scottish Graduate of the year, but Joanne Mcgillivary was a worthy winner. Here's the list...

Scottish Designer of the Year – sponsored by Instyle – Christopher Kane

Scottish Young Designer of the Year – sponsored by The Scottish Fashion Council – Hayley Scanlan

Scottish Textile Brand of the Year – sponsored by House of Fraser – Dashing Tweeds

Scottish Accessory Designer of the Year – sponsored by Swarovski – William Chambers

Scottish Fashion Icon – sponsored by Captial FM – Karen Gillan

Scottish Communicator of the Year – sponsored by Glasgow Airport – Faye Mcleod

Scottish Model of the Year – sponsored by Radley London – Tali Lennox

Scottish Retailer of the Year – sponsored by Braehead – Shhh-Oohs (Luxury Shoe Retailer Edinburgh)

Scottish Fashion Photographer – sponsored by The Herald and Times Group – Jonathan Daniel Pryce

Scotland’s New Face – sponsored by Smart of Glasgow – Kerry O’May

Scottish Graduate of the Year – sponsored by Marks & Spencer – Joanne Mcgillivary from Herriot Watt. David Black Was Also Awarded A Highly Commended Certificate

International Designer of the Year (for use of a Scottish fabric) – sponsored by Toni & Guy – Mulberry

Scottish Fashion Innovator sponsored by BareMinerals – Brian Rennie – Creative Managing Director of Basler

Fashion Ambassador sponsored by Mercedes-Benz West of Scotland – Colin Mcdowell MBE (Author, fashion esteemed fashion journalist and founder of Fashion Fringe).

Scottish Hall of Fame  – sponsored by Hartmann Media – Stella Tennant (Over her 20 years as an international supermodel, Scottish born Stella Tennant remains at the top of the game as the face of Chanel and cover star for many of the worlds leading fashion bibles).



STRIPED BASICS FOR SPRING

I absolutely love stripes for spring. Well, for any time really, but especially for spring - they just channel a sort of laid back, causal, sunny, beatnik vibe, doncha think?

Weirdly enough they never really say NAUTICAL to me, no matter how much ELLE tries to persuade me otherwise (unless the chick is wearing a straw boater or posing on a yacht). Instead I find striped basics perfect for throwing on as it starts to warm up, layering effortlessly with denim or leather and adding colourful accessories if I can be bothered or just some huge black sunnies if I can't. Perfect.

Here's some pretty striped basics from Urban Outfitters:

(Tyra would be proud of that stare guuuurl!)

Casually cool, aye?

OH, and if you're coming to the International Women's Day fundraiser on Thursday, go YOU, you are awesome, AND also try and get there for 6pm if you can as the lovely Laura from Oxfam Scotland will be popping along to say a few words and answer any questions and all that kinda goodness.

Leighton Denny Nails, John Frieda, Schuh, and ROX goodies all added to the raffle today :)

So excited, see you all there!

RECENT PURCHASES AND WHISTLES WISHLIST

So, I've been at it again - spending money like there's no tomorrow y'all!

I don't feel too bad though, as most of the clothes currently residing in the worlds largest ironing pile in my front room, or bursting out my drawers (always enjoy writing 'bursting out ma drawers!') are totally autumnal yo, and really unsuitable for the season ahead.

 - I say AHEAD because regardless of the fact it's allegedly almost June, summer has yet to arrive here in sodden, windy and decidedly chilly Glesga.

Anyway, hopefully the weather will gie itsel' a shake sometime soon, so with that in mind here's a wee peek at a couple of new summery purchases:

 Urban Outfitters t-shirt

Just cos I DO enjoy a slouchy t-shirt with a random word in French emblazoned on the front - and who doesn't! Seriously though -  a recent reccy of my tops situation showed I have vastly more shirts and blouses than I do casual t-shirts and the like so REALLY, if you think about it, I kind of HAD to get it didn't I...? 

Urban Outfitters striped maxi skirt

Still loving and living in stripes at the moment. I've been looking for a stripey maxi skirt for ages but can never seem to find one that fits just right. I bought this and the top online so haven't tried them on but fingers crossed this one does the job - really hoping the waistband is tight enough to sit right on my waist as I'm such a short arse it'll no-doubt drown me otherwise.

I'm imagining wearing both this and the t-shirt together, with some oversized black sunglasses, the Alexander Wang Rocco bag and some chunky black sandals like those in the pic. Summer perfection, no?

Zara floral kimono

OK, OK, last thing I really need is yet another blouse, but this is such a vibrant shade of yellow in real life I couldn't really resist. I wore it to the GCU fashion show which I was filming on Thursday night and it was so comfy and pretty, and went perfectly with my coral Rimmel lippy. I'm going to Venice for a holiday in September and can't wait to wear this wafting around on a gondola sipping prosecco and stuff, pure classy like...

Whistles Wishlist

I was Tweeting recently about how I never usually tend to shop in Whistles or Cos or Reiss, but actually the calibre of clothing - both in terms of quality and fashion-forwardness -  going on is super high, perhaps expectedly so considering these stores fall under the higher end of the highstreet. In other words they are EXPENSIVE!

I was doing some more assisting for the Sunday Herald fashion department last week, and we went to pick up a few items from Whistles in Princes Square - which is where I fell in love with the following:

Turquoise lace dress

Rather hilariously I have been invited to attend the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace in July, as my Dad is a Justice of the Peace and was selected to bring an unmarried daughter aged 17-25, and BINGO that's me! An absolute lolocaust, right? I mean, I can only presume it's so as to try and match me up with some kind of Duke or Lord or summat! SCORE! Anyhoo, obviously this means SWANKY NEW DRESS, and this would be perfection!

Nowhere else have I seen Christopher Kane's fluorescent lace of SS11 translated so well. I love the length, colour, belt and panelling neck detail in particular, and yet again keep imagining it with that coral lipstick. Sigh. Shame it's £275 odd quid.

Coral knitted cropped sweater

I'm really in need of some summer knitwear, as ridiculous as that sounds! Like I mentioned, it's still cold enough to feel a chill without a jacket, but I don't always want to wear a jacket if the sun's shining so this would be perfect. AND it's cropped so would work with my high-waisted leather shorts or even the stripey UO maxi skirt. Plus it's coral and I'm definitely more than a little obsessed with coral at the moment, in case you haven't noticed!

Striped jersey maxi dress

Another one for Venice I reckon. Very Jill Sander esq, it's voluminous without being overwhelming and all I'd need with this would be some big sunnies, a wide-brimmed hat and sandals. Chic to the max.

Orange loveheart bikini

Love this orange heart print to death - Whistles do it in a more traditional bikini and swimsuit, but I'd definitely opt for this high-waisted retro version. I much prefer a bikini with an underwired cup as I just don't trust those stringy buggers not to ping off at any moment...

So there you have it, whaddya reckon bloggies? Seen any must-have summer buys in the shops recently?

Let me know!

JEEZE, BANANAS, SHUT YOUR FREAKIN GOB, OK?

This week I have been mostly quoting Juno under my breath AND feeling stripes.

On Wednesday, whilst under the influence of a ridiculous whim I purchased this delightful Vaudeville & Burlesque velvet and sheer black shirt from Urban Outfitters:

Swoooon, right?

I think I posted a similar shirt from Etsy a while ago and mused as to how much I was lusting after it...Anyway, I just literally could NOT stop myself.

Some other stripey pieces in at Urban online include these gems:

Just a nice simple layering piece.

 Seriously, do you realise how hard it is to find a plain black and white striped bodycon dress? Lemme tell ya, it's HARD. I kinda want to wear the vertical striped shirt over this, just to, like, MESS WITH PEOPLE'S HEADS...

Cool, am I right? I'm not wrong....

Won Hundred so prisonner chic...and the result is fabulous! Love the simple styling of a berry-red lip, plait and boots.

We used this skirt for one of the Sunday Herald shoots and I've loved it ever since - really like the combo of dusky pink and navy together. Hello Spring!

OH, PEE ESS, thanks a heap coyote ugly, this cactus-gram stings even worse than your abandonment.