My weekend - A film and family party

Saturday night, I had a quiet night in with Mr Style Eyes and some easy peasy food (my favourite). I constantly moan about how there is never anything on TV (not that I get to watch it very often). But I was in luck, there was a romantic film - Music and Lyrics starring Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, that I had never even heard of before. I really enjoyed it and I really liked the style of the character Sophie Fisher played by Drew Barrymore particularly a very beautiful red dress.

Sunday was a big family party for my Grandma's 85th. A great opportunity to catch up with all of my family that I don't get to see nearly as much as I would like. I wore my new Tromp L'Oeil dress that I bought about a month ago, but haven't had the chance to wear yet. Tromp L'Oeil means trick the eye and is an art technique that uses imagery to create an optical illusion that looks 3D. I love the contrast of black and white and the hand drawn look of this.

Dress - Oasis

Mesh skirt - Topshop

Jacket/ bolero - Marks and Spencers

Boots - Topshop

Socks - Peakcocks

Necklace/ locket - present

scarf (in hair) - present

1 little black dress, 7 days in 7 ways

I recently found this blog called the uniform project which documents an exercise in sustainability where Sheena Matheiken had seven versions of the same black dress. One for each day of the week. She accessorised in different ways to create different outfits using vintage and handmade accessories. I decided to try this out myself not for a year but for just seven days, with the same dress which obviously I washed each time. I don't have many vintage and handmade accessories so used what I had in my wardrobe instead. The black dress I chose was one that I bought about a year ago in Oasis. Partly because it is, I think quite flattering and also as the short length lends itself to being worn with leggings and trousers giving it more outfit possibilities and versatility.

The black dress from Oasis

Jeggings - Topshop
Boots - Whooga Boots
Cardigan - Jane Norman - a long time ago
Scarf - Dorothy Perkins

Tights - Uttam
Shoes - ASOS

Wood and string necklace and bangles - presents
Jeggings - Topshop
Shoes - Marks and Spencers

Jacket - Second hand suit jacket - Next
Leggings/ jeggings - Topshop
Shoes - New Look
Necklace and bracelet - presents

Jacket - Charity Shop - Jaeger
Chain necklace - New Look
Leggings and shoes as before

Cropped leather jacket - Gestuz from ASOS
Necklace - French Connection
Jeans - DIY refashioned with bleach


Top / jacket thing - Next
Chain Necklace - New Look
Footless tights - bought in error (I thought they were normal tights) from Uttam.
Shoes - M & S


I thought this would be easy peasy but it is actually quite hard and by day seven I was really starting to get bored with my little black dress. After day three, I struggled to think of what to wear with the dress and really had to stretch my imagination beyond my usual uniform. But I also learnt something very important, I don't have nearly enough beautiful, stylish and unusual hand crafted accessories. It made me think a bit rather than resorting to the usual safe options. It also made me reconsider the importance of buying 1 lovely black dress and accessorising in many different ways. Something that I have always tried to do to a certain extent, until I spot that must have floral statement dress or something else completely whimsical.

and yes I can confirm the cat did not move for the whole 7 days!

The Leather Shift Dress

Oasis Leather Dress

This autumn and winter is the time for the more conservative dressers amongst us to embrace their inner vamp. With thigh high leather boots all over the catwalk and leather dresses all over the high street including a sell out version at good old M & S, wearing leather is almost respectable, although I wouldn't suggest wearing the thigh high boots and the dress together would look remotely respectable.

Hopefully Marks and Spencers will be restocking their leather shift dress which was available in black and grey at £149. I have actually found one that I prefer at Oasis. It is less expensive (a very important consideration) but also has a great shape, lovely soft looking leather and some interesting detail around the neck line. Definitely a classic style that is likely to last for seasons to come. I have also spotted a reference to a leather dress from the Limited Collection at New Look in my latest copy of Elle, although I can't yet find it on the website yet, hopefully it will be arriving soon.