Thursday 23 February 2017

How to embrace being petite

How to embrace being petite


I used to be very self conscious about my height when I was at school. I always wanted to be taller and I used to be teased and made fun of by certain girls at school because of how small I was, which used to get me down. As I grew older, I embraced being petite and now I absolutely love my height and my size. I'm proudly five feet tall, a size 8 in clothing and size 3 in shoes. As I've embraced being a petite girl, I've also learned a few tricks and tips on how to dress and shop when you're petite.

How to embrace being petite


How to embrace being petite


Find the best petite brands


Many fashion brands have their own petite range, such as Reiss Petite, Miss Selfridge Petite, Zara and Asos Petite. These are honestly the best places to shop for trousers and dresses in my opinion, as the fit and length will be just right. There are also plenty of specialist petite fashion brands to choose from.

How to embrace being petite

Wearing vertical stripes 


This Zara dress is a perfect example of a flattering print for my size. As the stripes are vertical this creates the illusion of my body being taller and the stripes elongate my figure. A tailored fit also looks great.

How to embrace being petite

Shopping in the sales


If you're my size, you'll know that you can pick up some amazing bargains when shopping in the sales. I get most of my shoes when they're on sale, as size 3 seems to be the only one left in stock! These ankle boots from Wallis were in the sale and they are the perfect heel, whilst being super comfortable. I also picked up this dress in the January sale this year at Zara for an amazing £12.00!

How to embrace being petite


How to embrace being petite


Avoid baggy clothes


Although your clothes don't always need to be skintight, I would recommend wearing fitted clothing rather than ones with extra layers of cloth. I really like how this dress I'm wearing is fitted towards the bottom as well, creating a flattering look.

Whatever size you are, the most important thing is to be happy and comfortable with what you're wearing and how you feel. Just like me, you can learn to embrace your size and height, and find a style that you love.

How to embrace being petite


Photography by Kirstie Melville.

Sunday 19 February 2017

How to get your wardrobe ready for spring




After the excitement of Christmas and New Year has worn off, I start to get excited around this time of year for spring. As much as I love to embrace winter and enjoy cosy evenings, I also love spring and summer where the evenings start to get lighter and the weather much more milder. As I'm writing this blog post, the weather is so cold outside but I'm still looking forward to spring and I'm excited to change a few things in my wardrobe.




Swap coats for jackets


Very soon when the weather becomes much milder, we can all put away our winter coats and get our jackets out. I like wearing light jackets like this pink one from New Look. It goes well with pretty much anything including dresses and jeans. This outfit I'm wearing is much more of a casual weekend look, but I love how these Miss Selfridge jeans look much smarter when paired with this jacket.






Bring out the pastel colours


You can't really go wrong with pastel colours in spring. My personal favourites include this pastel pink jacket, as well as blues, yellows and lilacs. Just by adding these pops of colour, your wardrobe instantly changes with the season. I also think details make so much difference. For example, this white top I'm wearing has a subtle diamonte neckline which makes the whole outfit so much more elegant.





Have a wardrobe detox


As soon as spring arrives, I like to take a good look at my wardrobe and put away any clothing that I won't be wearing for the next six months, such as thick jumpers and coats. This is also the perfect time to have a wardrobe detox and get rid of any clothes you no longer wear. You'll be surprised at how many clothes you find that you've forgotten about too!





How do you like to get ready for spring?

Photography by Kirstie Melville.

Sunday 12 February 2017

Visiting Chichen Itza in Mexico

Visiting Chichen Itza


Chichen Itza is one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations. Many people may not have heard of it, but when you see photos of the iconic pyramid, El Castillo, you will certainly recognise it. Known as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you’re on holiday in Mexico, I would definitely urge you to go for the day. I was staying in Cancun for a week, so taking a day trip to Chichen Itza was a great way to explore more of the history of the country. Read on for my tips on getting the most out of your day trip and what to expect.

Visting Chichen Itza

Travelling to Chichen Itza


As I was staying in Cancun, it was a very early start as we were picked up from the hotel at around 5am. The reason for this was because Chichen Itza is quite far away from Cancun (around two hours drive) and also leaving early meant that we arrived early and avoided the crowds. However, the early start is completely worth it and on a two hour journey you can take a nap in the coach!

What to see when you get there


The most famous landmark of Chichen Itza is the El Castillo pyramid, which I’m sure you will have seen on postcards. However, after you’ve admired this there’s lots of other ruins and architecture to explore. It’s an ancient Mayan city and if you have a tour guide, they will be able to explain more about the history and culture. I recommend having a tour guide for the day, as they help to bring the architecture to life and explain why things are in a certain way.

Visting Chichen Itza


Visting Chichen Itza





What to take with you

As well as flat and comfortable shoes, I would recommend taking along some spending money as there are stalls selling things like arts and crafts, jewellery, souvenirs and rugs. I bought my mum some lovely jewellery from there, so if you’re looking to get things like souvenirs, then this is a great place. Other things to take are your camera, sun lotion, sunglasses and a small bottle of water. I have a very handy cloth over the shoulder bag that I like to take with me to day trips like this, as I can fit all of the above in it.

Chichen Itza is a beautiful place and one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ sights, so I would definitely say that it’s worth taking a day trip. It is a long day, especially if you’re staying in Cancun like I was, but it’s so interesting to explore and learn about the ancient Mayan culture and history.

Visiting Chichen Itza


Have you ever been to Chichen Itza? What did you enjoy the most? 

Tuesday 7 February 2017

How to nail the trouser suit look

How to nail the trouser suit look


For your slick and smart office looks, the classic trouser suit is a go-to piece that everyone can wear. It's all about finding the right style and fit for you. I personally don't need to wear a trouser suit everyday for work, but I know many company dress codes require this attire on a daily basis. Whether your trouser suit makes an appearance once or twice a week or everyday, read on for my tips on nailing the trouser suit look.

How to nail the trouser suit look


How to nail the trouser suit look


Find your perfect fit


I'm a huge fan of tailored pieces, especially for smart workwear. Once you find a fit that you feel comfortable with, stick with that and the rest of your look will fall into place. For example, if you prefer skinny trousers, find a suitable suit jacket to go with them and keep that as your signature trouser suit look. My preference for a trouser suit is straight cut trousers and a fitted blazer. This grey suit from Next is one of my favourites and the fit is absolutely perfect. I'm usually a size 8 in clothing but interestingly, I had to get the Next Petite size 6 blazer with these size 8 trousers. The size 8 blazer was far too big for me, so it's really important to try on a few options and find your perfect fit.

How to nail the trouser suit look


Dare to be different


You can't go wrong with a classic black trouser suit. However I like to mix things up from time to time, so when I saw this grey suit at Next I knew it was for me. The colour is brighter but still understated, and grey is still a neutral colour that will go with pretty much anything. This suit also has a very subtle print if you look closely. I'm a fan of things that look slightly different, so this really caught my eye.

How to nail the trouser suit look


Add a pop of colour


This outfit was finished off with this gorgeous pink multicoloured scarf from Accessorize. I love the bright colours and how they contrast to the grey. Scarves are really smart and can dramatically change any look. As I was wearing a plain white shirt under the suit, I thought a bright pink scarf was exactly what the outfit needed.

How to nail the trouser suit look


How to nail the trouser suit look


Accessories


For my accessories in this outfit, I chose my black DKNY handbag, a Hugo Boss watch and my New Look heels.

How to nail the trouser suit look


How to nail the trouser suit look


Photography by Kirstie Melville.

Wednesday 1 February 2017

How to look elegant in lace


Lace is definitely one of those subtle statement pieces in any outfit. I don’t own many lace items, but after buying this white lace top which was a recommendation from a friend, I know that I want to invest in more lace outfits. It adds a classic and elegant feel to your whole look and for this day time outfit, I think it fits perfectly with a pair of jeans.



Choose a cut that feels comfortable


Fashion is all about feeling your best in whatever you wear. So it’s important to be comfortable and this white lace top is perfect for a day time look for me. The long sleeves and high neck are nicely balanced with the lace where you can see through to the skin. Worn with a pair of jeans, the top falls just under the waistline to create a flattering silouhutte.




Pair the lace with a simple piece


The lace aspect of the outfit should ideally be the one that stands out. Personally, I believe that whatever you pair this with, whether it’s a pair of jeans or a skirt, should be quite simple so that it doesn’t clash or detract from the lace. These denim jeans from Miss Selfridge are flattering and a perfect dark blue colour to complement the white lace.





A pop of colour goes a long way


As you can see, the red handbag and red lips really stand out in this look. I didn’t realise how much until I put the whole outfit together! I must say, I do love how the white lace and red contrast from each other. It’s a perfect combination for making a statement. The red handbag is from Mango and is a great size for a day out as it can be worn cross-body or simply held in your hand.



It’s all about the heels


As a petite lady, heels are often my best friend. This pair of black heels from New Look make me look taller and add a touch of elegant to this everyday outfit. There’s also something about skinny jeans and a pair of heels that I love so much!







Photography by Kirstie Melville.