Having spent the last few years saving the majority of my wages for car insurance and my new guitar, it had been quite a while since I'd been able to do a big clothes shop and at least 8 months since I had bought any new clothes at all. Coming towards the end of my time at college, I felt as though I needed to give my wardrobe and my general style a bit of a refresh.
I was in desperate need of new jeans. I've worn nothing much other than black jeans for the last 2 years and my few pairs were looking pretty faded and sorry for themselves. But I also felt like I needed to try something new, I wanted to look different. I owned 2 jackets, my khaki coat and a black leather jacket and that was it. It really seemed as though my style needed to get it's mojo back ready for Uni in a couple of months time.
It took me a little while to save once I'd started at my new job; I decided to do something I hadn't done in a few years: splurge completely on myself.
I took a trip into Cheltenham with my boyfriend with a few week's wages and I went a little crazy. It felt good and made me feel so good! I am a great believer in retail therapy. I feel it's really beneficial to your mental health to throw out old clothes and replace them with bright, new alternatives.
This blog post is going to be mainly pictures; I hope the blogger.com formula accommodates
this well.
Our first stop was my absolute favourite clothing shop; New Look. In my opinion, it's one of the most affordable high street fashion stores that keeps up with runway styles and fashions. I knew that new jeans had to be my priority. Jeans shopping is probably the most stressful form of clothes shopping because your money never seems to go very far and it can be very tricky to get the perfect fit. I have experienced this to extremes. Before I filled out a little over the last year or so, I was so slim and short legged that the only high street brand of jeans I could fit into properly were Top Shop's pricey rage at £40-50 per pair. I knew that if I wanted to kit out my wardrobe fully, I'd have no money left at all so I gave New Look jeans another try.
I'm so glad I did. I seem to have finally grown into myself so I could fill the fabric properly without there being meters of shriveled fabric around my ankles.
I picked up a pair of holy grail black jeans, but then found myself being drawn to lighter fabrics. I found a really comfy pair of dark blue denim jeans for only £7.99! As well as a more pricey pair of gorgeous light blue jeans with this beautiful floral embroidery. I got 4 new pairs of jeans in total and my wardrobe already looks much brighter and I spent half as much on them as I was expecting.
I also felt my wardrobe was pretty limited on jackets. New Look's lovely range of rain coats had caught my eye on previous trips out and I managed to find my dream coat in the sale reduced by about £13. This lovely crisp white rain mac with blue and white stripe detail has me so excited for the autumn time. I have come to terms with the fact that I am just not a Summer person. I can imagine me walking through the University campus in this lovely jacket with a coffee in one hand and a lovely bright bag in the other. Nothing makes me happier than being able to look forward to next term.
I also wanted to try out a denim jacket. I haven't worn a denim jacket since I was really little. I have seen them being worn recently on other people and they just look like the perfect layer for early autumn and spring time. I knew if I invested in one now it would last so I picked up this oversize jacket. It is a few sizes too big for me, but I loved the way it looked regardless. It would look lovely over a play suit or T shirt dress as well as over my range of Jersey trousers I have collected. I'm excited to start styling this, I think it will bring something really new to my look.
I also looked through the mid season sale in New Look and found a few lovely pieces. I knew my wardrobe lacked in some casual items such as T shirts and jumpers. I firstly stumbled upon this blue and white striped T shirt which I had at home in black. It was reduced to only £4, so I thought it was worth picking up because I absolutely love my other one. I also found this jumper in khaki green. It was 2 sizes too big in a 10, but I cannot resist the colour khaki. Although it will be big, it is so soft and I think it will be really comfy and cuddly in the coming winter months when I'm away from home.
I also picked up these lovely floral pattern shoes in a slip on, converse style. The neutral colours make them so easy to style with any outfit and, seeing as my collection is made up of mostly heeled ankle boots, comfy flat shoes are always welcome!
Lastly, I couldn't resist adding a couple more mugs to my collection: this lovely cat mug to match my other and a sparkly one that reads, 'born to be a unicorn.' They were both so cute and I do love my coffee in a pretty mug in the morning!
When it comes to refreshing my style, I always want to add a few more jewelry pieces to my collection. My absolute favourite high street shop is accessorize. I have a wide range of accessorize jewelry already yet they always manage to have something new and exciting to catch my eye. I was firstly drawn to this rose gold necklace and the matching earrings. This combination will be perfect to glam up one of my simpler outfits.
I also managed to find my dream set of earrings. I've been trying to get old of some miniature hoop earrings for ages. I see people wearing them but I've never been able to find any nice ones in shops. When I saw this set, I couldn't resist picking them up. They come in several colours which is ideal for matching them with outfits and they're so classically simple! I'm super excited to wear these.
Lastly, I wanted to pick up a set of rings. When I was 15, I would wear rings all the time despite not really being allowed to at school. I wanted to try and get back into wearing rings. When I saw this quirky geometric, rose gold set; I knew it was perfect for me. I don't often splurge on jewelry and it felt good to treat myself!
Rose Gold is definitely a trend that has stolen my heart.
Our next stop after a beautiful lunch at Bills was H&M. I absolutely love H&M for casual, comfy clothes on a budget. I managed to pick up almost as much as I did in New Look for a third of the price.
Firstly, I wanted some big comfy T Shirts to pair with my patterned trousers at home. I picked up one in grey and one in Khaki. These feel like such lovely quality for such a low price, I can see myself picking up a lot more once I'm living in the city!
I also stumbled upon a couple of midi dresses; this one blue and white striped T Shirt dress and then a more classic black bodycon dress. I loved both of these because you could easily wear them quite casually, but add heals and the right jewelry/makeup combination and you can dress them up quite a bit!
This wasn't a planned purchase; this lovely bright striped shirt caught my eye and, although it was on the pricier side, I couldn't resist picking it up! It's quite over sized on me, but the simplicity of it is so lovely and I've never owned anything like it before. I think it would pair up really nicely with my floral jeans from New Look.
I also picked up a couple of boxes of tights which are always handy and this set of stud earrings. You can never have too many pairs of pastel colour studs!
Before we headed home, we popped into WHSmiths so that I could grab Louise Pentland's debut novel and a quick Chai Latte from the Soho Coffee upstairs. As a bookstagrammer, I was a little skeptical about reading Louise's novel, having been disappointed by YouTuber books in the past. However, after reading such lovely reviews, I decided to give it a try. I also picked up The Secret History by Donna Tartt which has been on my To Be Read list for a while, and I Capture The Castle which was a random selection to fill a BOGOHP offer.
I always pick up a few books when I go shopping!
I hope this post may have inspired you to refresh your look a little for the autumn time. I always feel like autumn is a kind of fresh start in a way. It feels like the beginning of a new year for me and I love to go into it with new ideas and inspiration, a new set of clothes is a lovely way to start! Enjoy the rest of your Summer and I'll be back next week with a July Book Haul!
So what?
I'd love to leave this post like that but as you've probably guessed, I have a few things to say.
Firstly, I can completely understand why some people might be a little apprehensive about this, because if I'm honest, I was too when this was first announced.
My concern was with the motives behind the choice to cast a female to play the traditionally male role. My initial thoughts were as follows: providing that this plot decision and casting choice was made because that was what they believed to be best for the show, I think it could really be great; however, if they have done it simply to make a political message, it could backfire. Firstly because, if that was their motive, the quality of the show could change and suffer which would create a negative response from viewers towards this new 'female doctor.' However, if they have chosen to cast this fantastic actress because her audition was the best and the quality of the show remains at a high standard, this could be really awesome. I hope they see that nothing has to change when writing these stories. A female lead is no different to a male lead surely?
I see why people have a problem with it because it seems so sudden and strategic. Obviously, going into the science of the show, at any point in history the Doctor could have regenerated into a woman. However, the fact that we have had 13 regenerations and never had a female makes this one stand out oddly. I think it's brilliant; but with the recent story lines involving Missy and the Master, it all seems very deliberate and unauthentic. So I can see why people who grew up with the show and hold it dear in their hearts would be a little unsure about it. But I have only one thing to say to those people...
Get over it.
My problem is not with people's uncertainties, I completely get it. My problem is the way people have made such misogynistic assumptions of what the show is going to be.
On This Morning today, 17 July 2017, they opened the show with a Dalek repeating 'exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate.' What a load of shit, for want of a better word.
The Doctor isn't going to be running around reapplying lipstick or fluffing her hair. Please leave in the comments any lead female roles in TV or Film where this has been the case? Katniss Everdeen? Miss Marple? Hermione Granger?
People have gone as far as to say that they will never watch the show again. They wont even give the female lead a chance.
Over the years Doctor Who has slowly escape its subtly sexist formula of having a male lead and a female counterpart as a dependent love interest and with companions such as Donner and Bill, women have become a stronger and stronger part of the show. But suddenly, if the roles are switched, people don't like that. I am struggling to understand why.
We have had 12 white males play the Doctor. Let someone else have a chance.
I hope that the writers do this change justice and give us a powerful female lead and good story lines to support it. I'm glad that there's a completely new dynamic to work with.
I just pray that the misogynists with a problem don't ruin it for Jodie. She will always be the First Female Doctor, give her a chance and give this a chance to be something great rather that tearing it down before it's even started.
This next season might flop, it could be one of the worst Doctor Who seasons. But lets consider the fact that we have a new writer, the views have been dropping for years, there will be a new companion this season. So many factors are changing. If the next season is unsuccessful, there will be more to it than the fact that the new Doctor is female. If you ask me, a Doctor with a female body is the least substantial threat the show has currently.
As a girl who grew up watching Doctor Who, my inner 7 year old watching David Tennant and playing with action figure monsters is so excited that a girl could play the Doctor. Let us enjoy it. I wish I hadn't had to write this at all, I wish a woman could be cast and that be celebrated rather than threatened. I guess there's still a long way to go.
I'll end this by asking you to just watch Jodie's first episode, and if you hate it fine. But don't rule the show out simply because 'she's a woman,'
We deserve better than that.
It is a rare thing for me to dedicate an entire week's blog post to one book. Usually I would wait until the end of a month and do a monthly round-up, but this one needed it's own post.
When you read as much as I do, it's hard to narrow down your favourite books. The ones I have loved the most have ended up as blog titles: All The Light We Cannot See and The Night Circus for example. Having recently finished Into the Water, I knew this was going to be one of those books.
I fell in love with Paula Hawkins' writing last summer when I completed The Girl on the Train in a couple of days. Into the Woods not only followed in its footsteps, but exceeded my expectations dramatically.
It ticks all the boxes.
The story line is captivating. I couldn't put the book down and that's such a cliche, but it's true. I sometimes struggle to read for hours at a time; I end up falling asleep or drifting off in some other way. Not with this book. I just wanted to know what happened the entire time. Every single page of this book has vital information for the ending and thus is demands your attention in the most wonderful way.
I loved the story. It was everything I could want in a book; history, mystery, thrills. Not only that but the writing style is so magically crafted.
You follow the perspectives of several different characters and with that comes a massive struggle for a writer; that is to make the narrative voice for each character different to provide some contrast. The reader needs to be able to distinguish the difference in characters. In this novel, Hawkins defeats this challenge in a very ambitious way. She explores every single person: first, second and third. Also, she shifts between past tense by giving insight into the dead characters writing project and thus, you hear the dead girl's voice as well.
As a writer, this book has really inspired me to test myself.
This book is very different to The Girl on the Train which can fall into the generic plot of a thriller. Into the Water is like nothing I have read before or probably will again. It's one of those books that will leave you stumped as to what to read next because it was just too good.
Please take the time to read it if you can, you'll love it!
See you next week.
Isn't it funny how we tend to jinx ourselves by looking forward to things? It's life's cruelest sense of irony that excitement ultimately leads to disappointment. We build things up in our minds to such levels of perfection that reality's result can only be inadequate.
I think I've done this to myself in every aspect of my life at the minute.
Our new house was meant to be this wonderful palace of freedom and contentment. Instead I feel trapped in this tiny village, excluded from my friends and forgotten. I'm pushed into a box room of self reflection without much good to reflect on.
My post A Level summer was meant to be memorable and full of amazing experiences. I was going to have a lovely holiday, hang out with friends, read so many books. Instead I have no money, I cannot travel to see any friends, I cannot pay for a day out let alone a holiday. So instead I'll sit at home alone and look at everyone else's amazing summer on Instagram.
I was going to save so much money over the next three years by studying at home in my awesome, quirky new room that was going to be decorated with my favourite quotes and aspirations. Instead I cannot stand my home so much that I'm going to be thrust into whatever student halls they have left over-
I am running out of things to write about because, honestly, there's not a lot going on at the moment. I am not sure why the handful of you read this blog, but I can only apologise for this week's lack of optimism. Things just haven't gone the way I planned.
I'm a little lonely, I don't really have any girlfriends I can hangout with. In fact I don't remember the last time I had any proper girl time. I haven't even got a sufficient job to go to yet, although I hopefully will start one tomorrow. Without much to do, there isn't much to stimulate thought.
I'm currently reading another Agatha Christie and I have loads more books to get through but, right now, even reading can't make this sense of nothing go away.
I've been very aware the last few years of how much 'teenager stuff' I have missed out on due to the fact I struggle with socialising. I feel like this summer will be the pinnacle of missed opportunities so I hope you can forgive me for being ultimately miserable.
I'll try and find a good book to review for next week.
Our first stop was my absolute favourite clothing shop; New Look. In my opinion, it's one of the most affordable high street fashion stores that keeps up with runway styles and fashions. I knew that new jeans had to be my priority. Jeans shopping is probably the most stressful form of clothes shopping because your money never seems to go very far and it can be very tricky to get the perfect fit. I have experienced this to extremes. Before I filled out a little over the last year or so, I was so slim and short legged that the only high street brand of jeans I could fit into properly were Top Shop's pricey rage at £40-50 per pair. I knew that if I wanted to kit out my wardrobe fully, I'd have no money left at all so I gave New Look jeans another try.
I'm so glad I did. I seem to have finally grown into myself so I could fill the fabric properly without there being meters of shriveled fabric around my ankles.
I also wanted to try out a denim jacket. I haven't worn a denim jacket since I was really little. I have seen them being worn recently on other people and they just look like the perfect layer for early autumn and spring time. I knew if I invested in one now it would last so I picked up this oversize jacket. It is a few sizes too big for me, but I loved the way it looked regardless. It would look lovely over a play suit or T shirt dress as well as over my range of Jersey trousers I have collected. I'm excited to start styling this, I think it will bring something really new to my look.
I also looked through the mid season sale in New Look and found a few lovely pieces. I knew my wardrobe lacked in some casual items such as T shirts and jumpers. I firstly stumbled upon this blue and white striped T shirt which I had at home in black. It was reduced to only £4, so I thought it was worth picking up because I absolutely love my other one. I also found this jumper in khaki green. It was 2 sizes too big in a 10, but I cannot resist the colour khaki. Although it will be big, it is so soft and I think it will be really comfy and cuddly in the coming winter months when I'm away from home.
I also picked up these lovely floral pattern shoes in a slip on, converse style. The neutral colours make them so easy to style with any outfit and, seeing as my collection is made up of mostly heeled ankle boots, comfy flat shoes are always welcome! 
I also managed to find my dream set of earrings. I've been trying to get old of some miniature hoop earrings for ages. I see people wearing them but I've never been able to find any nice ones in shops. When I saw this set, I couldn't resist picking them up. They come in several colours which is ideal for matching them with outfits and they're so classically simple! I'm super excited to wear these.
Firstly, I wanted some big comfy T Shirts to pair with my patterned trousers at home. I picked up one in grey and one in Khaki. These feel like such lovely quality for such a low price, I can see myself picking up a lot more once I'm living in the city! 
I also stumbled upon a couple of midi dresses; this one blue and white striped T Shirt dress and then a more classic black bodycon dress. I loved both of these because you could easily wear them quite casually, but add heals and the right jewelry/makeup combination and you can dress them up quite a bit! 
