RECENT PURCHASE: MOTEL

What are you guys up to this weekend? I'm heading out with a pal tonight to drink and dance and cause mayhem in a notoriously-sweaty club and I realised the other day that I had NOTHING to wear! The gorge Evil Twin galaxy print dress that I bought recently is still my favourite dress of the moment (maybe of all time) but as it's velvet it's really more suited to autumn, and everything else in my wardrobe is either too smart or too casual! HONESTLY!

What I decided I needed was something short, tight and sleeveless. Doesn't sound like me, right? I know, I have no idea where the compulsion came from - I've DEFINITELY been watching too much Geordie Shore! Anyway, I figured I'd have a look at Motel's latest offerings as I seemed to remember from a while back that that sorta thing was right up their street. I opted for this wee number...

I was drawn initially to the high neck and then the cool print. It definitely straddles the trashy/classy divide but I figured with some opaque tights, chunky Jeffrey Campbells and spiked necklace it would just nudge it back over into 'respectable for a 25-year-old...' Oddly enough I wouldn't usually say my ARMPITS were one of my best features, and this dress does make something of an example of them, but I fell for the lure of how good it looks on this size 8 model (dangerous) and tried to convince myself that maybe it would flatter me too...

It arrived yesterday so I've had a chance to try it on and, aye, its nice. I'm not IN LOVE with it - mainly cos I think I'm just not particularly comfortable getting my pasty arms oot, and it is CRIMINALLY short, but the neckline is interesting and I like the print so it'll do fir the dancin.

Also, as I am no size 8, I did worry about my wobbly bits but thankfully the fabric is thick enough to do some serious SOOKING IN, but stretchy enough to accommodate a considerable bosom and bum. Ideal. Plus, I think this is kind of AGAINST Gok Wan's rules of fashion or something, but I do find that a busy print on a bodycon dress can often help disguise lumps and bumps rather than accentuate them. Don't shoot me Gok, I'm still all for a waist-cinching belt!

Anyway, what a rambly, ridiculous post. HERE'S MAH NEW DRESS. Hope y'all have an ace weekend.

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR STOMPIN

Winter means a new pair of winter boots. Lusting after ALL these studded lovelies featured on the New In section of Solestruck.

A mix of Dr Martens, Ash, Jeffrey Campbell and UNIF. Enjoy!

Not exactly dainty or unassuming are they? Going to HAVE to get the Doc Marten ones, but I wish they came fleece-lined like my trusty brown ones from last year...

What ones are your favourites? Or are they all hideous!

Oh, and just cos the title of this posts reminds me...



Like This is England but, well, worse and not as cheery. Russell Crowe though...

ETSY SPOTLIGHT: CALYPTE COLLECTION

Back in June I spotted this Vanessa Mooney necklace on the ever-stylish Morven's blog and fell head-over-heels in love with it. Like for real. It's all I could think about for weeks. HOW. SAD. AM. I?

But at over £200 it was just a tad out of my budget. OK, it was WAY out of my budget! Luckily for me I discovered Calypte Collection on Etsy, run by the lovely Carol, who, after a few emails back and forth, managed to cobble together this almost-identical necklace for £20!

The spikes are a little larger and I opted to have the smaller chain in gunmetal instead of silver, but it's sufficiently similar to the designer version to warrant some MASSIVE swoonage, right?

Carol emailed me a few other versions including this badass one which I ummed and ahhed about for a while... 

Awesome, right? But in the end I'm more than happy with the one I decided on. You should check out Carol's shop for more chunky chains and spikes if that's yer cup of tea, plus she's uber flexible and creative so if you have something specific in mind she'll knock it up for you no bother. Sawwted.

What jewellery have you guys been obsessing over recently?