"Enemies will shout your mistakes but whisper your success"

Hello there!

Firstly, I'd like to apologise for my absence. No excuses I just really haven't been feeling like blogging yet again. I've put it down to commitment issues (we all have them right?!)

Sadly this isn't a happy comeback as I have read Samantha Brick's thrilling article 'Any woman who wants to stay beautiful (like me!) needs to diet every day of her life' in the Daily Mail today.
I had seen some speculation on Twitter about this article over the past couple of days and after a while I realised that this was the same woman who proclaimed how beautiful she was a couple of months ago on This Morning. I first read the title and thought 'oh typical woman and fad diets' (forgive me) but getting stuck into the article, the tone completely changed along with my mood and opinion. I finished reading this horrific article red faced and brimming with anger. How can a woman be so self-centred, self-assured, self-indulged, arrogant and egotistical in one sitting? 
Yes women diet and yes, we all feel a certain pressure to be thin. Brick for one has taken this a step too far. Just because she doesn't wish to eat chocolate, it doesn't mean her friends who brought chocolate to her house (as a gift) should be faced with her arrogance of throwing them in the bin without an offering. Just because she claims to have spent 30 years of her life on a diet [since the age of 12] it doesn't mean that every woman has to live that way. I personally don't see a connection between Joan Collins' appearance and her career. It's about talent in that industry which is becoming more clear in the present day. There is no way Brick can make the statement "And one of my biggest incentives is that I know men prefer slim women". Don't get me wrong, men appreciate a woman's physique and they have no qualms in saying if they don't like the couple of pounds you're carrying around your stomach. If my boyfriend had a problem with my body then he could sling his hook. I'd appreciate his encouragement but he certainly would not keep an eye on my weight. That figure is for my eyes and mine only! It may be true that male bosses are known for giving jobs to pretty women with a good figure but surely that only says something about the man and his priorities? She might be a nice bit of eye candy pal but it doesn't mean she'll be any good for your company. Hey if you hire a 'fat' lass you might at least get some free doughnuts!
Exposing her diet secrets and tips for the world to see is not encouraging in any way. Brick is allowing for men and women of all ages to read these and be influenced by her actions. It is extremely unhealthy and dangerous to live on marmite and toast for a year. She is glorifying eating disorders that so many of the population face today. Samantha Brick's article is enabling people who suffer with body illnesses, weight issues and so forth to continue their uphill battle by encouragement of an obnoxious, self proclaimed journalist. One thing I cannot comprehend is that she suffered from depression at a point in her life and 'ballooned' to a size 14. Where is her compassion for people who suffer with illnesses that affect their weight? For some people the way they look is not a choice. There is nothing they are able to do about it. 
Her need to vocalise that she doesn't eat between meals indicates she is suggesting that those who do snack inbetween meals are overweight or unhealthy. Who ever said that eating three meals a day is healthy? It may be considered the norm but it isn't ideal for everyone's way of life. Her ending statement 'As I see it, there is nothing in life that signifies failure better than fat.' disgusted me. What a disgraceful and delusional thing to say. I don't understand how this woman feels the need to be so shockingly outspoken and address bigger people in such a manner. Nobody knows the in's and out's of another person's life. A quote comes to mind "Enemies will shout your mistakes but whisper your success". All I can think is that Samantha Brick's article has affected one too many people; hopefully more who now disrespect her than those who believe in what she has to say. 
   

 Personally, I thought we had made a breakthrough from when men controlled women; when men had a say in what women looked like, what they wore, where they went and how much money they spent. Sadly this article has made me question this change. Thinking about the article fills me with confusion, worry and anger. The way Brick began the article was enough. If she had wrote it as a way of declaring her opinion on the matter then maybe it would have been perceived a little more lightly. She would have still received high scrutiny but we're all entitled to an opinion. But she didn't. Everything she wrote was a statement and a bold one of that. Samantha Brick seems to enjoy talking more about herself than she enjoys her actual job. I feel sorry for this disrespectful woman. Not pity, just sorry that she feels the way she does.


Sorry for a deeper, angry post but this woman really frustrated me and got me thinking. 
I hope noone has been affected badly by her article; she should really learn to keep such things to herself, as should the Daily Mail.

Hope you're all well!

Hannah ox

'When I shop, the world gets better, and the world is better, but then it's not, and I need to do it again.'

It has taken me a while to round up the last of my sale purchases but I am now complete. And very satisfied. I'm not one for sales, I detest rummaging through sale rails in shops whilst slipping on sheer blouses that have been strewn all over the floor. I have even had one of those incidents where I've picked up an item from a rail and felt the pull of an angry woman opposing me, staring me down until I crumbled. Sale shopping often resembles survival of the fittest.

Maybe a slight exaggeration but I like to think of the cafeteria scene in Mean Girls where Kady pounces for Regina George. 

| Trousers - Urban Outfitters | Tie Dye Shorts - Urban Outfitters | Jeans - River Island | Skirt - River Island, (similar here) | Jumper - Topshop | Studded bags - Urban Outfitters | 

It was a couple of days before Christmas when I made the River Island order. Six/seven years ago you couldn't keep me away from the place but now I hardly flinch when passing. I found this jacquard knitted skirt in their sale for a mere £10 and these jeans that have that soft, jegging-like feel to them for around £15. 

I couldn't help but hop onto my laptop early Boxing Day morning to have a gander at the sales from the comfort of my bed. It doesn't help when your inbox is bombarded with the dreaded but delightful sales emails. First stop was Urban Outfitters. I find that some of their items are a little pricey normally but they have amazing sales. I hovered over the trousers for a day or two, ended up caving and ordering the shorts aswell. I think both items were around £20 plus student discount... maths never has been my strong point.

Bracing the shops and leaving my bed proved easier than I had thought a week or so after Christmas. I found this Topshop jumper in Outfit for either £12 or £20. I had been wanting a black and white sort of speckled knitted jumper for a while so nabbed this one. I then reverted back to my bed where I am always at my best, especially when it comes to shopping. Perusing UO (again), I came across the duffle bag (still on sale here!) with the studs at the bottom. I'd had my eye on it for a while so couldn't resist and before I knew it the studded zip bag just happened to arrive along with it. Both of these bags amounted up to just £30. They are both actually quite spacious and bigger than I expected.

So a very long overdue post but hopefully worth it. I am very happy with my buys and order you to go check out the UO website now. They still have a couple of items on sale now.

Have a lovely week,

Hannah ox

'I'm sorry, do you have some prior commitment? Some hideous skirt convention you have to go to?'

† This scenic skirt from Motel Rocks instantly caught my eye when browsing the website. The colours are amazing as is the detail. Motel often sell knockout items like this which you don't come across often. 

♥  The little All Saints sequin number is simply gorgeous. The champagne colour makes the skirt that bit more glamorous and the dip dye at the bottom gives it a mature edge.

□  I love this cream printed mini from Zara. It is a perfect item for transferring into Spring/Summer. The pattern is striking and the mix of colours compliment eachother beautifully.

■ The black skirt screams sophistication with it's pencil cut and mesh insert. This skirt would fit in nicely with the monochrome trend just in time for Spring.

♣  How amazing is the last skirt from ASOS? The print is so elegant yet eye catching; it reminds me of something you might see from House of Holland. I think this may creep into my wardrobe in the near future. 

Is anyone else wrapped up in fashion week already? What's been your favourite show so far?

*Hats off to anyone who recognises the quote in the title!

Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

Hannah ox

'Crop tops are like leggings... only slim people should wear them'

**I would just like to point out that the title of this post is not my opinion. I came across it on a thread on The Student Room when researching.

† The colours of this New Look floral crop are amazing. It’s perfect to add to your spring wardrobe ready for summer. I think it would look lovely in spring with a chunky cardigan and high waisted jeans, maybe peeking through a fine knit, a loose knitted jumper or a sheer top. 

♥ I don’t know what it is about this tie dye top from Missguided but I just really like it. I think the colours are understated so the top is still quite modest and the simple round neck and long sleeves make the top more wearable.

□ I cannot really pinpoint what I like so much about this crop; I think it is due to the repeated logo design on the top. I usually dislike clothing with the design logo printed on but this Boy London via Romwe top is simplistic and minimal. 

■ Fringing… Summer… Festivals… match made in heaven? Whenever I think of festivals, I see fringed tops and denim shorts, sunglasses, a small trilby and… dry shampoo. I also think this ASOS crop would look cool for a gig or a chilled night out with the girlies.

♣ You may or may not know that velvet and I have a little thing going on. The colour of this little number is stunning; an amazing electric blue. I can imagine this beauty paired with a touch of leather or some equally amazing printed trousers. As expected from American Apparel, it comes with a hefty price tag… I’m sure I could justify it though!

What are your opinions on crop tops? How would you style them?

Hope you've had a lovely weekend...

Hannah ox

'I like the way you like to touch, I like the way you stare so much...'

 My Casual Tee

As you can see, I was inspired my by previous post to create a casual outfit with a plain tee being the focus. This one is quickly becoming a favourite staple of mine. It has everything I like in a t-shirt; oversized, rolled sleeves, quite long in length and a good simple colour.

Tee: Topshop | Jeans: Zara | Jacket: Topshop | Leather Jacket: Topshop

Necklace: Wavy Jewellery | Converse: Office

Aren't I quite the advocate for Topshop! I opted for layering to add a relaxed effect to the look and injected some colour with the soft burgundy-like coloured jacket. You can always fall back on jewellery to add a little something to your outfit and make it snazzier, don't ya think?

The photographs didn't turn out quite as I had hoped hence the decapitation of my head in all but one. I quite liked the casual vibe my outfit was wafting off as I head out of the door this morning but after looking at these photos, it didn't photograph as it looked in the mirror if that makes any sense, and these were the most decent of the bunch! 

Do you ever get that... You actually quite like your outfit for once but then it doesn't look like you thought it would?

Hope you've made it to the mid-week point without any mishaps...
I know I haven't!

Hannah ox

"I've always thought of the T-shirt as the Alpha and Omega of the fashion alphabet." - Giorgio Armani

Casual Choices: Tees/T-shirts 

This week I've opted for some casual cool t-shirts I've spotted online recently. Since being in University, I rely a little more on comfortable and simple everyday outfits. This is because more often than not I only have a one/two hour lecture a couple of times a week and the rest of my time is spent in kit or workout gear. The t-shirts are simple styles, some with prints to add something a little more and others more plain allowing for accessorising and different styling ideas to add another dimension to an otherwise basic outfit. 

†  I really like the simplicity and the cut of the first t-shirt; especially the slight dipped hem and the length it hits on the body, just passed the hips, as it is oversized.  The sleeves are a flattering length as they are longer so less of the upper arm is visible. I think this tee is simple yet versatile. It can be found at ASOS from the ASOS collection.

♥ The white mesh long sleeved top is one of my favourites. I actually saw it in Look Magazine being styled with the item of clothing from the pick of the week. I like the clean, crisp look of the River Island jumper and the fine knit gives it a relaxed feel. The mesh insert across the chest and down the arms adds simple detail to the top whilst still keeping it casual. This top can be worn layered during the colder months, then on its own heading into spring/summer.

□ The third tee is from Topman. For a while I've really liked the tie dye effect as I think it can be an easy print to wear. I'm always attracted to t-shirts from Topman because of their cut and the way the sit on and off the body. They're often more of a clean cut if that makes any sense. They are also an easier way to achieve the oversized look.

■ I love the gorgeous navy paisley printed top from Pull and Bear. Navy and white are two of my favourite colours together. The print on this top is so pretty and intricate, I like that it's symmetrical and mainly focused on the sides of the t-shirt. This t-shirt reminds me of something you can pick up from Zara and also Urban Outfitters but probably for a slight fraction of the price. 

♣  Baseball style tops like this one from Urban Outiftters interest me, I'm not sure why. I really like the old school plain white in the body of the t-shirt and the different colour sleeves. In the photo this looks a little oversized and also has long sleeves which I haven't really seen before in this style of top. This is my ideal casual top that I think can also be dressed up a little for drinks or a meal. 

→ So as I am a small superhero fan, I decided to include two t-shirts I've had my eye on for a little while. The Avengers is probably one of my favourite films with a couple of the best superheroes (en mi opinion) and gorgeous ones of that *Chris Evans*. I like the grey one as it has all of them together and not one standing out like most of the t-shirts I've seen have. The grey t-shirt is from Amazon where you can find some cool film/music t-shirts and things, similarly to Play. I really like the young children's t-shirts as they're usually a lot cooler and more fun. I like the yellow one a little more for everyday wear as it has a retro vibe to it and includes the original Avengers. This one is from Junk Food via Ebay which is a really good site for superhero and cartoon-y clothing/accessories. 


I hope you like my choice of casual tees. Who doesn't like a nice and chilled dressed down day?

Apologies for the slightly delayed post; I'm back at home for a couple of days.


Hannah ox

'By the late 1990s two-thirds of women in the United States wore pants to work several times a week.'

#2: Trousers

† My first pick of trousers are these peg leg style trousers from ASOS. The berry colour is perfect for this time of year and lends for the rest of the outfit to be simple and of a neutral colour - black/white. My favourite style of trouser is high-waisted as I think the fit suits any shape. The cut and style of the legs of these trousers are flattering as they are slightly loose and therefore giving. These trousers are available in four different colours at a very reasonable price, starting at just £11. 

♥ These olive green military style trousers are from Reclaimed Vintage via ASOS. I really like these; the first thing that caught my eye was the bagginess and the rolled up hem. I think the colour could be quite versatile if you work with it and try it out with a few different colour pairings. I can imagine them with a hot pink top, possibly a crop, and a pair of doc martens. The androgynous style of the trousers draws me in but I think these would sadly drown me at 5'1".  

□ The brightest of the bunch are these paisley printed trousers from Boohoo. I like the assortment of colours of the trousers and that the background navy colour allows the brighter orange to stand out. I also think the colours would entice the wearer to be braver in choosing a coloured top/shoes/accessories to pair with the trousers rather than the fail safe white I'd more than likely fall back on. The cut of the trousers is again flattering, especially the ankle length which gives the illusion of longer legs.

■ Possibly my favourite out of the lot are these faux leather trousers from Free People. Since leather trousers have been "in fashion" I have longed for some but I don't think my legs are forgiving enough to don a pair. The zip detailing around the pockets and at the bottom of the legs adds to the biker/rocker vibe of the style. I think the cropped ankle length is perfect as the fit is rather tight and snug. These cost a whopping £98 but I think they look so worth it, if  my bank account would allow it then they would be mine.

♣  To end with, these lace trousers from Topshop. How gorgeous are they?! These trousers could be worn for any occasion; a posh dinner, a night out, during the day. The lace pattern gives the trousers that extra feminine edge. I like that they graze the ankle and the light grey colour also helps to elongate the legs. I propose that they make the blazer to match. 


I researched women and trousers and found the Fashion Encyclopedia; I think we have the War to thank for women wearing trousers becoming acceptable! 


Do you wear trousers often? What is your favourite style/cut? 

Would you prefer me not to talk about my choices and just post pictures instead? Let me know.


Hannah ox