The 80s Want Their Denim Back

Jacket: Vintage Levis (similar here) | Jeans: Vintage Lee Denim (similar here) | Top: (similar) ASOS

Socks: Urban Outfitters | Trainers: Converse | Bag: (similar) Zara | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban
(DISCLAIMER: I found putting the outfit details on this hard as most of these items or vintage or one off's so I’ve tried my best to give you the best possible dupes!)

I’ve had an on-going battle with finding the perfect pair of MOM style jeans. I’ve got a typical hourglass shape so this seemed like a losing battle- if they fit round my bum they were way too big round my waist and if they fit there then there was no way I could even pull the suckers up to start with. But when mooching in Amsterdam last weekend (read all about it here) I found a pair of Lee Denim high waisted jeans, and yes folks, they fit! *Hallelujah music starts playing*

So as you can probably tell, I’ve worn these basically everyday since coming back to the wet and windy England. My Levi’s denim jacket is such a fundamental piece of my wardrobe (I throw it on with basically anything and everything) and being a double denim enthusiast I just had to wear these two wonderous pieces of clothing together. Admittedly, the response I got was mixed. My mum asked if I’ve become a painter and my dad asked whether I was the new member of Wham! But I love this look- and many at work did too. (Cheers Urban gang!)

I tried to keep it super simple to stick with the vintage vibe I had going on so I teamed it with an old vintage tee I picked up in a market for about £3 and my die hard coffee stained/mud covered/battered white high top Converse. In terms of accessories I went for sparkly socks (another Alex staple), my Tortoiseshell Ray Ban Wayfarers and a minimal style bag from Zara. This look all in all is something that I tend to throw on everyday, whether I’m off out to see friends for Coffee or nipping to the shops. It is so comfy and let me tell you, vintage denim is the best. The quality is so much better than most (Topshop Joni Jean denim I’m looking at you) plus the thickness of the denim keeps you really warm- a win win right!? This isn’t the most sexiest of outfits as really I’m swamping my frame, however in terms of comfort you can’t beat oversized anything/everything. If you are a bit scared of having too much denim fabric excess, team it with a tight crop or body to give it a bit of shape.

Are you a double denim fan? What’s your denim staple in your wardrobe?

A x

Culotte Queen

Happy Monday my angels!

I hope you are having a wonderful day and you aren’t feeling the Monday blues too badly: I’m sending you #MondayMotivatio vibes if so! Today I’ve had the day off and my best friend Molly has come up to see me from Brighton for a girly sleepover and chill so I’m having the best Monday I’ve had in fair while! Any adventures we get up to I’ll ensure its all caught on camera to get a post up for you guys to have a little nose at!

Anyway, I thought I’d share with you my current wardrobe staple: culottes. Admittedly these aren’t as cropped as some other culottes I own (I blame a big part of this on being a bit on the petite side) but these were such a good investment buy. I picked these up from Boohoo for only £20 and I’ve been wearing them non stop- with white V neck tee's to graphic crops to just jersey basics- they are so wearable and make a change to throwing on a pair of jeans everyday. These trousers have a fabric composition that makes them slightly heavier- which means they hang more naturally from the elasticated waistline than what regular jersey fit culottes usually do- and I love how they have a premium sort of edge and knowing they won’t fade. You can also buy the matching co-ord top to these trousers- I think its around £18- which nails that laid back/joggers style dressing everyone is rocking at the moment if you’d prefer a less tighter top like I’m wearing here.

I uploaded this post as when I’ve spoken to friends about culottes they’ve said how hard they find them to wear, but in all honesty I find them super easy to throw on. The best way to look at how to wear them is imagine they are your die-hard favourite Joni Topshop/high waisted jeans: the tight, high waisted top make them just as wearable except instead of a skinny jean the whole way down it’s a wide leg style and slightly cropped. Try them with trainers, flats or a pair of killer courts and see how often you’ll go back to wearing them. If in doubt stick to a solid colour like I have here (they are also completely office appropriate) or try some bright prints to add a bit of a statement. Play around with different tops like a shirt for the office or a casual crop like I have for going shopping. Don't be afraid to give them a try and watch them become that wardrobe staple you reach for when you've got no idea what to wear.

What are your thoughts on culottes? Are you a fan?

A x

February Favourites

It’s that time of the month again folks! Well, not that time but the time where I share with you lovely lot what I’ve rated throughout all of February. How many times can I say time in one sentence? TIME. Anyway, moving on…. I still can’t believe its March, it feels like this year already has been a whirlwind and passed so quickly. I hope you’ve had a wonderful February (and week) so let’s get going with this month’s favourites….

Amsterdam

Okay, this may not be a product or something I can put on a marble flatlay but Amsterdam was an obvious choice for my February favourites. Both Jamie and myself had a lovely time with all the amazing things that Amsterdam offered, from the coffee shops (both normal and Amsterdam style) to the alternative independent shopping destinations and landmarks that we visited. I won’t ramble on about it too much as I put together a little Amsterdam post here but this little selection of Instax goodies showed just how beautiful it was. Looking to make a visit…? DO IT! It is only an hour flight and is an ideal romantic getaway with your other half or a perfect opportunity for a weekend away with girls.

Vita Coco Coconut Water with Pineapple

(Available in most supermarkets)

If you’ve come on this blogging journey with me back in January you’ll know I made some New Year’s Resolutions and a big one was to do with a healthy lifestyle. I’ve been doing really well to keep training at least three days a week plus everyone knows that exercise and diet go hand in hand. Previously I’ve hated coconut water- I found it just tastes like funky tasting five day old water you left on your bedside table, BUT I am a coconut water with pineapple water convert. Coconut water has so many amazing benefits- its completely fat free, full of goodness like potassium and more importantly, completely natural. The addition of pineapple takes that bitter taste out of the original flavour and makes it so much more drinkable. I’ve supping at least two or three big bottles a week and it’s worth a shot if you can’t bare the taste of pure unflavoured coconut water and want a sweeter but equally beneficial alternative.

Oversized Tortoiseshell Rounded Square Sunglasses

(Buy them online here)

When I was packing for Amsterdam I made sure I was armed with sunglasses. I don’t think I’ve worn a pair all year in the notoriously awful British weather but when doing blog photography a pair of sunglasses has to be packed in there somewhere! When I wear sunglasses they have to be oversized- I’ve got such a big round head that any cute dainty glasses look so ridiculous so these babies cover my tired eyes and look super chic at the same time. I picked these up at Urban Outfitters last year and they’ve released a pair really similar again this year and I they’re easily one of my favourite sunglasses frames I own. (Also perfect for hiding tired/hungover eyes!)

Nice Is Just A Place In France: How To Win At Basically Everything by The Betches

I’m one of those people who when they find a good book, I literally can’t put it down until I’ve read every single page. Being an obvious fashion enthusiast, last year #GirlBoss by Sophie Amoruso was definitely one of the best I’d picked up (if you haven’t read this yet I demaaaand you to purchase it!) and when browsing Amazon earlier this month this came up as a recommendation. Admittedly, I feel as though you’d love this book or you’d hate it. Personally I love how they defined ‘betches’ and I enjoy the almost ‘pretentious’ and ‘affected’ tone that this book has. It won’t be everybody’s cup of tea but if you want a book that ignites your inner liberal and independent soul inside then this is definitely one to try. You’ve got to take it with a pinch of salt EG: everyone knows you shouldn’t live off Diet Coke and Frozen Youghurt but it has become a guilty pleasure of mine throughout February. Cheerful, hilarious in parts and a genuinely uplifting read that will make you want to become part of the #BetchesClub.

Bobbi Brown Blush in Peony

(Buy it online here)

I go through phases with what I love doing with my cheeks: sometimes I am all about contouring and really bronzing my face for a sun-kissed look but I do like to occasionally keep it simple with a naturally flushed cheek. Bobbi Brown’s pigmented Peony Blush has been my go-to this month. All I’ve tended to use was my foundation (a mix of Rimmel Wake Me Up in Ivory and MAC Studio Fix in NW20) using the Bourjois Chocolate Box Powder for a bit of definition but applying the Peony blush on the apple of my cheeks. The product itself is super pigmented, and when applied with a light hand you can have either a subtle or a more bold colour when built up. It reminds me exactly of a cold spring morning's flush so it's perfect for this time of year.

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Beautifying Oil

(Buy it online here)

I picked up this product this month as my usual Moroccan oil had run out. In the past I’ve had problems with moisturising hair oils like Argan and Moroccan oil as they’ve left my hair feeling really greasy and oily so I’m always a bit wary of heavy hair oils that I'm not use to. However, this Keratin Oil didn’t fit into this oily category at all. I tend to use only a couple of pumps of this on wet- not dry- hair and it's helped to stop my hair from feeling dry and damaged after hacking at them with curlers and straighteners most days. I personally love the Toni & Guy Light Moroccan however this is a great alternative for a high street budget at only round £6.99 a bottle. Cheap, cheerful, it does the job and it's definitely one to keep in your beauty drawers just in case.

Boohoo Culottes
(Buy them online here)

I’m a sucker for Culottes. Who knew that such an unflattering cut of trouser would actually elongate our legs, be super comfortable and have that laid back dressing vibe nailed? These are my new favourites I picked up from Boohoo. The elasticated top means they nip me in at the waist to give my body some shape in what would appear like some weird cropped legged trousers. Even you petite girls who’d think they wouldn’t work well on smaller body frames (being a bit of a shorty I was always doubtful) are wrong- they look so cool just teamed with a tighter style crop top or a white V neck tee and minimalistic style trainers. They make the legs appear longer but avoid jersey fabrics as they don’t have the premium edge- go for a heavier Polyester/Elastane composition if you’re on a budget. I'm doing a post on these early next week so keep your eyes peeled!

Blog Of The Month: Kate La Vie
(View Kate's blog here)

Soooo… I’m a little bit obsessed and have a massive girl crush Kate and her blog. The imagery and content she creates is beautiful but mostly I find her blog and overall perspective so positive and uplifting. We should always look on the bright side of life and her posts called ‘Five Good Things’ show that we can take positive outcomes on even the most mundane and everyday situations and scenarios. With a mix of everything from beauty, lifestyle to playlists her blog is a one stop shop for everything inspiring. Plus the images of her flat are to die for and would make any interior designer jealous. LOVE.

Quote of the Month

'Be so good they can't ignore you'- Steve Martin

What have you been loving throughout February?

A x

A Weekend In Amsterdam

Hello you wonderful lot!

Apologies I haven’t blogged much over the past week, as you know myself and the boyf jetted off to Amsterdam and going back to work has meant I haven’t had much time to put a post together. So I do apologise, but the good news is this is my Amsterdam blog post! Hurraaah. Admittedly when I originally went to Amsterdam I had the idea of making this blog post primarily outfit based but oh my god it was so cold. It snowed when we arrived, got drenched in the rain on plus the freezing cold wind that was present throughout the entire duration meant we got hit with all sorts of weather. Being typically me I didn’t pack the most appropriate of outfits (culotte trousers and crop tops I’m looking at you) so most of the time I was layered up in a longline coat with big bulky jumpers underneath which didn't photograph anywhere near as well as the original outfits I packed. So, instead of a more outfit based post like I usually upload, l I’ve decided to put together a little Amsterdam guide about what I loved and where you should go if you ever get the chance to visit. We had such a wonderful time (minus the occasional snow and rain downpour) and did a mix of things that I thought you guys would also enjoy, so let’s get going!

Coffee Shops

Left | CT Coffee & Coconuts: Ceintuurbaan 282-284, 1072 LR Amsterdam, Netherlands

Right | Lot Sixty One: Kinkerstraat 112, 1053 ED Amsterdam, Netherlands

Now I’m not talking about the Cannabis kind here (if you did want this kind of Coffee Shop there are loads of these dotted about- you can smell them before you see them!) but Amsterdam has the cool laid back Coffee Shop vibe nailed. I am a caffeine addict and I knew when researching into Amsterdam before we left that they had some awesome looking shops about so I was in my element. I honestly think had about four or five coffees per day to not only solve the caffeine fix but just to have an excuse to go in each shop to admire the amazing décor they had going on. The general style felt simplistic- think Scandinavian inspired- with such a wide range of different coffees and a sweet pastry menu to match. Two Coffee Shops we visited were CT Coffee & Coconuts and Lot Sixty One and both were incredible. Yes the coffee was amazing but the exposed brickwork and interior design in each shop, the chilled music and freshly baked goods are well worth a visit.

The Tourist

I feel as though many think that tourist attractions are a turn off and in some ways I disagree. Yes, in every city there are certain tourist traps that are overpriced and aren’t worth the money for the experience, but also these tourist attractions are key ingredients within a country’s history and heritage. What would Paris be without the Eiffel Tower or Sacre Coeur? Or New York without the Empire State Building? Yes these may be extreme examples but to really get the essence of a country I feel as though there are certain museums/attractions/key landmarks that have to be visited.

Anne Frank Museum: Prinsengracht 263-267, 1016 GV Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Anne Frank Museum

The Anne Frank Museum doesn’t need an introduction. Everyone knows the heart-breaking story of Anne who goes into hiding in a secret Annex during World War 2 and creates a personal diary of her experience. Being a bit of a history enthusiast I have always wanted to visit the museum after studying it in History at school. Admittedly, if you are to go please go early as the queue can get very long (we arrived just after the 9am waiting time and stood in line for an hour) but the wait is worth it. Not only does it most definitely put our own lives into perspective but it also highlights just how important it is to recognise this history of anti-Semitism and to ensure that it never happens again. The museum is highly educational, honest and deeply moving.

The Heineken Experience

Less of the heavy, and onto the more… Boozy? Admittedly the main reason I ended up going to the Heineken Experience was because Jamie wanted to go, but it was a lot of fun even for a not so enthusiastic beer/lager fan. The ‘Experience’ takes you on a tour of everything Heineken- from its history in the heart of Amsterdam, its ingredients and brewing process, the distribution, advertising and most importantly, the tasting. The museum itself really gives an interactive and multi sensory experience- you can ‘be in the bottle’ of Heineken in a simulator, create your own personalised Heineken bottle as well trying multiple different games, photo booths and more. Plus at the end of the tour you get two free pints of Heineken, what's not to love?

Heineken Experience: Stadhouderskade 78, 1072 AE Amsterdam, Netherlands

Sex Museum

The Sex Museum in Amsterdam is located just in front of Central Station in the middle of traffic madness. The Sex Museum, also called ‘The Temple of Venus’, is a mix of historical artefacts with the elements of an attraction park. Expect to meet Marilyn Monroe’s white dress flying up in the wind as well as interesting pieces of art, one-off objects and rare photography. Admittedly it is a bit of a laugh just walking through all these different areas of sex related objects (the enormous penis statue is a hilarious photo opportunity, (see photograph below!) but at only €4 its cheap and most definitely cheerful. Have a laugh walking through the museum and learn a fun fact or two along the way.

Red Light District

Red Light District is one of those areas that we’ve all heard about: window after window of women standing in front of red-lit glass and in some respects it is everything you’d think it would be. The key thing here is to enjoy the honesty of it all as you won’t find it anywhere else. Amsterdam prides itself on its liberal and tolerant attitude by embracing the fact that people may be into prostitution, soft drugs and pornography. So instead of criminalizing everything what you see is what you get. Whether you just want to have a nose about, browse to buy or visit the odd sex show ensure you go at night, as that’s when the bright red and neon lights really make the the cobbled come alive. There is also an amazing Thai restaurant around this area called Bird Thai so when your feet are tired crash out and enjoy a Pad Thai to keep you going!

Musé Du Sexe: Damrak 18, 1012 LG Amsterdam, Netherlands

Red Light District: De Walletjes Area

Canal Boat Tour

I think this was one of my favourite parts of our little weekend in Amsterdam. We went on a Saturday afternoon when the sun finally decided to make an appearance and it was so lovely to cruise down the canals getting a completely different view of Amsterdam from the water. The Canal trip itself comes with headphones so you can hear some amazing facts about Amsterdam and it highlights things that you’d never take much notice of if you were walking around on foot. We paid around €15 each for an hour trip through the canals that was also a welcomed sit down after plodding around the city all morning. Canal buses are also available to get from once place to another if you didn’t want to catch a bus or tram.

Local Markets

We visited two markets during our stay. First was the Waterlooplein Market that previously used to be an old Jewish Flea market and is now seen today as the top market for all vintage finds in Amstedam. We arrived at 10.30am where the market stalls were still being set up so I’d recommend heading there more towards mid/late afternoon to really have a good rummage through all the incredible fur jackets, levi jeans and little treasures that could be found at Waterlooplein. (There is also an Episode Vintage store right next to the market that has a great choice of vintage product too!) The other market we visited was Noordermarkt. This isn’t a fashion based market per se - there were a few bits but not anything outstanding worth noting- but Noordermarkt is a gold mine if you come at lunchtime. From fresh fruit and veg, cheese, meats, pastry and bread it was amazing walking through the market picking up a little tapas style lunch and eating it next to the canal. If you’re like me and you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth you have to visit the local bakery across the street called Winkel43- its been voted the best apple pie in all of Amsterdam.

Shopping

De Negen Straatjes: Keizersgracht 217G, 1016 DT Amsterdam, Netherlands

And last but by no means least, how could I go to Amsterdam without checking out all their retail stores ay? There are some wonderful stores dotted throughout the city but in general I found the two best areas for shopping (by this I mean they have the best range of stores within a condensed area) were De Negen Straatjes (‘The Nine Streets’) and Kalverstraat. Kalverstraat is kind of like Amsterdam’s version of Oxford circus: you’ve got your standard stores like Forever 21, Berksha, Nike, Topshop etc but also some cool stores in-between like & Other Stories and Every Day Counts. (Any makeup fans I recommend going to Douglas at Kalverstraat as they’ve got an Anastasia Beverly Hills counter that we can’t get in the UK- dreamy!) If you’re more into independent boutiques then De Negen Straatjes is the place for you. These small cute streets are littered with independent boutiques, interior design stores, coffee shops as well as an Acne Studio’s store- surely a winning combination. Take a stroll through the canals and see what wonderful independent stores you stumble accross on the way. It's also worth noting that Amsterdam has an amazing array of Vintage stores. Both myself and Jamie picked up a few bargains from Episode Vintage (they have five stores throughout Amsterdam) which were all not badly priced and its amazing what you can find if you have a rummage. Other vintage stores that we visited to look out for were: Zipper, Retro & Chic, I Love Vintage, Wini and Laura Dols that will cater to any vintage enthusiasts taste.

So that’s all from me today! I thought I’d give you a whistle stop tour of our wonderful time in Amsterdam and just a couple of things I’d recommend going/seeing if you ever have the chance to go. One thing I didn’t mention was that an Apple Studel/Pie with a flat white for breakfast every morning is a must. Oh and beware of all the bikes- people are not joking when they said they are bloody everywhere! hope you all had a delightful week last week and postings from now on should be back to normal! Happy Thursday my lovelies!

Have you been to Amsterdam? What was your favourite part of the trip?

A x

The 80s Want Their Denim Back

The 80s Want Their Denim Back