Winter Wedding - MissGuided

                                            

Having played it a little safe with the Winter Wedding outfit in this post, I fancied putting together an alternative look, and where better to get my inspiration from, but from MissGuided.

Now, lets take a moment to say: Missguided did GOOD with their new Plus Size range. I've yet to try any thing, but if I did, it would be this tartan two piece!

Jacket

Skirt

I'd love to add a fancy hair piece, and brooch to the jacket to make it a little more Wedding appropriate (which MissGuided don't seem to do!), but with these dancing shoes, no one can question it's a special occasion kinda outfit!

A winter wedding just called for feathers and this clutch has the perfect muted tones for the tartan, as has the pom pom texture necklace.

What do you think? Too understated for a wedding?

Much love my lovelies, 

K x 

Winter Weddings - Evans

I have the great pleasure to be attending a winter wedding next week, and, whilst I have had my dress since Easter, I am still open minded as to whether it will be my actual dress for the day! 

Plus size dresses at Evans. Size 14-32. Buy online!

Here I opted for Scarlett & Jo Prom dress as my starting point, and as it's on the 19th December, a jacket is a MUST.

This crochet shrug has the potential to be lacklustre in real life, but the images on line give it a bit of something

Now, shoe wise, I know we'll be dancing all night, so went for these contrast loafers. Add these cute 3D Dot Design tights - for prettiness and smartness!

And finally, this snowflake look-a-like White Flower necklace to stand out against the black sheer neckline.

Cute combination, making me a little rueful that I've already made my outfit choices!! 

               

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

Mulberry Treats*

I do like to imagine what I would spend an imagined lottery win on. What I would treat myself to if I was to coming into an imagined windfall. 

I am starting to think now, as I'm approaching 30, that I need to think about growing up. About saving up. About paying more into my pension. About looking more like the career woman I am. 

So these two came together (the treats and the respectable 29 year old worrying about turning 30), when I was browsing the John Lewis website. I was looking for inspiration, swooning over fashion I couldn't fit into, and dreaming of interior decor I may own someday. 

Then I saw this:

I mean, THE COLOUR!

And I was distracted into looking at the Mulberry collection at John Lewis. I've never classed myself as an IT Bag type of gal - I classed my satchel as an investment piece! - but the muted tones, coupled with the versatility of the bags themselves had me studying the range with an renewed interest.

Ooooh, the earth tones and the simple but recognisable logo! This purse meets all of my Grown Up needs, according to the website:

• Popper closure

• 6 business or credit card slots

• 2 internal compartments

• 1 internal zipped compartment

But I have to say, I am a tactile girl when it comes to my leather goods. I like to touch, to smell the leather (if I was to have a favourite smell, it would probably be the smell of GOOD leather). I like to open the items, see just how much space I would have to play with!

So if I ever was to make this level of investment purchase, it would be instore. And after careful consideration!

However, it wouldn't stop me from perving on - sorry, perusing - the website and imagining my luck was in and my lottery numbers were the lucky ones!

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

* Sponsored Post

Phone Cases

I have recently been in a position to upgrade my phone, and so, along with all the normal considerations, I also had to think about how I would dress my phone. 

Yes, you read that right, I was concerned that as my previous phone had a selection of cases to wear, I didn't want these to no longer have a function, especially as one of them had been over the £20 mark. 

Why?

Well, as my phone spends as much time on my desk, in my hand, or on the arm of the chair, as it does anywhere else, I like my phone to be protected, but also look pretty!

I prefer the hard cases, to protect my phone should I drop it (which I do do. A LOT!), and as I like the smooth finish and feel of it in my hand, to the bendy rubber outer shells. 

When I was offered a phone case to review, I was keen to make sure it was a hard shell with an interesting print - I wasn't disappointed!

They eagle eyed amongst you may have spotted it at Plus North, or  noticed it on my #ootd which I post daily on Instagram.

I managed to get a China Blue case from here, which made me dream of owning a dress to match it:

ASOS Curve dress in Blue Floral

Simply Be China Blue Skater Dress

It arrived in rather snazzy packaging:

And within seconds it had slipped effortlessly onto my phone:

My lovely white phone sits rather happily in this china blue case, and it is a secure and sturdy method of protecting the lifeline that is my phone!!

It is a wonderful addition to my wardrobe of phone cases, and I am rather taken with the dotty ones available in the Uncommon range, available from Three - especially the turquoise polka dot one!!

It is still quite happy on my phone, and has been for the past week - and to prove it, my #ootd this morning:

So head over to : http://store.apple.com/uk/product/HA094ZM/A/uncommon-deflector-case-for-iphone-4s?fnode=47&p=1 to see if any of their styles fit your phone cover needs.

Much love my lovely, 

K x

This item was sent to me to review by the lovely team at THREE, but my opinions are my own x

Workwear with a Kathryn Twist

After a great weekend in Glasgow (you may have seen my tweets **shakes head**), I was struck down with a stomach bug which seems to be going around, so Wednesday became my Monday!

Mondays aren't usually a problem day for me. I like my job, I don't mind office wear, and usually ge enough sleep to not feel cheated out of sleep. But as I was still recovering from lack of sleep and tummy trouble, I needed something to cheer me up!

Ooh, scowly face Kathryn there! Sorry about that!

 

I love this necklace, I immediately thought of designer Rob Ryan when I saw this!

Marks and Spencer tights in purple & my Clarks brogues. 
They remind me of The Bill credits,
and the shoes the female Police Officers wore!

Top in teal: Simply Be - same as the top worn here
Skirt: Domino Dollhouse (no longer available)
Belt: unknown
Necklace: Glasgow Westend Market
Brogues: Clarks
Tights: M&S
Glasses: Gok Wan for Specsavers

The belt is a thin one I must have got with a dress at some point. Like I mentioned, my tummy wasn't feeling at it's best, so I felt a thin belt would be best (to actually hold my skirt up!), but can't wait to wear this with my thick nurses belt for an added waist OOMPH.

I loved this combination! The teal and the purple are far enough away from each other that they compliment, not clash, and I got a real autumnal feel wearing this!

The Domino Dollhouse skirt is a favourite of mine, and I love that it can be dressed up for smart work, as well as dressed down with a band tee for slouchy weekends. 

I'm hoping to put a post together about my favourite outfit from Glasgow in the next couple of days, but I did wear this (with leggings, not tights) for shopping on the Saturday and it still felt amazing! Just a perfect combination that I'll make sure I get my wear out of this A/W!

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Military Revisited

Last night I had a serious "WHAT AM I GOING TO WEAR!" moment. We were heading over to Sunderland to see an old friend perform in the 'Split Parade', which, in their words: Split Festival's sister event for emerging talent across the North East.

In the build up to Sunderland's biggest music weekend, Saturday 15th September will see the regions top music talent play across 4 venues in the City's 'Holme' of music!

Now, when I was a wee whippersnapper, I regularly would have got to events like this, and I don't remember having such a crisis of what to wear!

Then I remembered! This dress, which was worn to a house party, hadn't 'officially', been worn on a night out! And away I went!

Clothing at Tesco Military dress - available here

George@ASDA handbag - no longer available

Belt: Thrifted

Necklace - Tatty Devine

Phone Cover - ASDA - no longer available

And off I went! 

I went with a very good friend, and J and I reminisced about past events in Sunderland, and fun times had. 

Little did I know, that going to see our friend Nadine Shah play, would mean that I was going to have a complete and utter flashback!

Nadine is a beaut: her lyrics are maudlin and powerful, emotive and soulful. Her facebook page is here.

But what made the event special was this:

She was joined by Lucas Renney, ex Golden Virgins, to cover 'Staying Sober'. I have no words. Watch the video, and you'll see why. 

As a youngster, I adored the Golden Virgins. So seeing my fellow fangirl performing with the singer? Just no words. And that is why I'm not a music journalist!! 

There you have it. My Saturday night.

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Mission Accepted: Separates

I joke I wear a lot of dresses. I own a lot too! But now I've 'mastered' (haahaaa) the art of the dress, I need to challange my use of separates now I think.

I don't mean a short lived '7 Day Challenge', I mean a meaningful change over a period of time. It started today really - my ASOS order arrived yesterday, and I've only tried one thing on so far, and I'm wearing it today.

It needed some consideration as to what I could pair it with, and I originaly had it with a neon yellow tee, which detracted from the skirt completely. And where was the fun in that?! The fun is in the skirt, not the top. See, I need to learn these things!

I paired it with my ancient (6years+) white tee with subtle sparkle, mainly because of the length. It is short enough to wear over the top of the skirt. I am so used to tucking into skirts these days, I don't own any 'short' tops to wear with this! I'll keep an eye out and try to pick some up (plain ones from ASDA should do it. I am thinking pastel blues / pinks - possibly a hot pink as well. But you see, I'm unsure!!

Enough of the talking! I need to put my pictures where my words are:

I fell for the print of this skirt (obviously!) and love that it is a 'fuller' skirt!

  

  

I added my ASDA navy blazer to make it a little more 'business dress' -  and I feel really summery in this! I love the material, and yes, it does need an iron (just wanted to wear it today for a bit of a pick me up!)

So there we have it, a nice departing from my usual "Here is a dress I wore" posts - so rather happy with this!

I added a number of accessories as well to this combination - I had an extra couple of minutes to work this out, which is the only reason I don't normal wear earrings etc!

My new earrings are from Dainty Roses: http://daintyroses.co.uk/ - little blue flowers - perfect and girly!

My necklace is a pale pink racing car from Collectif, but no longer available:

And my brooch is again from Dainty Roses - but I bought the last one:

Much love my lovelies,

K x

Cath Kidston Collection

Enough to say that I am obsessed with Cath Kidston. This is only part of my collection (3 more mugs, last years diary, and the possibility that I have forgotten other items hidden somewhere in the room!).

It started with 3 hard suitcases that looked like this:

I was living in Leeds at the time, and was travelling home to South Shields on a regular basis. I wanted statement luggage. These 3 suitcases were in the Sunday Supplement, and then, magically at Christmas, they were mine!

From that point, the catalogue / magazine started to arrive, and I would pour over it, imagining wearing the clothes, jewellery, and all their accessories. I wanted to be a Cath Kidston girl.

The next item I covetted was the Red and White striped 'Ladies bag', which again, one birthday or Christmas, magically was mine. I was too scared to use it though, the pale colours begging to be marked or have something spilled on it!!

When I was in my long term teaching post, I was desperate for a decent bag, that would age well - and so the brown leather weekend bag was my next Cath Kidston treat. The leather is now well worn, scuffed and looks all the better for it. The flower patterned insides means that you can easily find things, such as coursework, pens etc! And gives it a different edge.

It does seem though, that since I've found the shop in Edinburgh, York, and the concession in Fenwicks, Newcastle, my collection has truly grown! My last mail order was about a year ago, and saw the addition of the striped blanket (yes, that multicoloured blanket the items are lain on, is also CK), the blue spot small saddle bag, and a mug or two.

And it is more likely to continue!

I've not included in the photo the items of jewellery I have - but I knew they wouldn't show up well in the 'bigger picture'.

I now tag:

Sara: http://confusedbrit.wordpress.com/

Hanna: http://thewardrobechallenge.wordpress.com/

Mhairi: http://www.lilybobombslovelylumps.com/

Dani: http://diyfatshion.blogspot.com/

Gina: http://fatfitfine.blogspot.com/

Kaye: http://testybrunette.blogspot.com/

Cynthia: http://flavors.me/cynrdz#9f8/wordpress

Caroline: http://curvywordy.blogspot.com/

and I'm also tagging Tracey, even though she wasn't too sure if she wanted to join in:

http://traceyb-ablogisforlife.blogspot.com/

Now, the challenge is to compile your own collection. I've already got a list of other things I've 'collected' - but as my blog is mainly fashion orientated, I thought I would gently ease you in to my CK obsession... the others, well, they might take a little explaining!!

Ladies, post away! Link back to me (please?) and your fellow collectors, and encourage others (not exclusive to the +Fashion blogging world) to join in!

Much love my lovelies,

K x