Recent Purchases

I find myself in a strange limbo recently between being a student and an unemployed fashion graduate! I'm currently looking and stressing about trying to find a full time job, yet just wanting to relax and enjoy my last few weeks in Southampton. Payday came around and I thought I'd treat myself to a few bits and bobs. I'm trying my hardest to save money for when I leave but I'm actually addicted to shopping.. aren't all girls?! It'll probably do me the world of good to be moving away from a city center and back home to the countryside where I cannot access any shops..

First off, BANK.

 

After 'popping' into BANK after work, I was actually surprised at how nice some of the clothing was in there. I'd never been a massive fan as the one in Southampton is tiny, but they had some beautiful summer co-ords and prints in there. I picked up this grey cami dress for £16 (with student discount) after falling in love with it. The crossed straps and v-neck make it a perfect summer staple to thrown on on those warm days. Sandals and a bag and I'm set to go. My favorite basic striped top shrunk in the wash the other day, so I needed a replacement. This logo one was in the sale for £10 and fit the bill nicely. I also had my eye on this 'SUCKER FOR LOVE' top before it went into the sale, which was also £10. I'm a sucker for a slogan recently.. can you tell?!

EBAY

I think this slogan is so very good for a fashion graduate like myself.. I really do have so many issues!! This top was such a bargain too, it was £5 from a trusted ebay seller, free P&P and it even came the next day. Very happy.

BOOHOO

I'm in loveeeeeee!! I'd wanted some white sandals for a while as I'm wearing my caged black ones alot in this in-betweeny weather, and when I saw these ones online I had to have them. I'm not really a fan of online shopping as you never know with sizings and quality, but luckily they fit me perfectly. They were £25, but they are great quality and I absolutely adore them!

MISSGUIDED

This print is quite bright for me, but the fit was so lovely I had to keep it. It will be great for nights out and summer/beach/holidays with some white sandals. It's a lovely stretch fabric which is really flattering, and it's slightly longer than normal playsuits which I really like, no fears about flashing your bum.

PRIMARK

 

 A basic striped boyfriend tee.. always needed for those casual days. And this one was only £3.50! I really liked this mini handbag. Now i've finished uni I don't have to worry about having big bags to throw everything in, and usually when I'm out and about I just need a few bits. This one is a great size for my nessecities.

Ellen xxxxxxxxxxxxx

OOTD - Neons & pastel

 

On Sunday I met up with some friends for a day trip to Oxford. I'd never been there before, but it was halfway between where we lived in the south and where my other friend lived in Coventry. It was actually a really lovely place, and only an hour or so on the train from Southampton. I was unsure what to wear or what we would be doing, I knew I wanted to be comfortable and the weather was a bit unpredictable (typical British summer right there).

I've been basically living in my ripped boyfriend jeans in the minute, and wore them with a neon tee that I bought about a year ago from forever 21. My white Primark slip ons, scarf and leather jacket meant I was prepared for any dodgy weather. 

How gorgeous is this watch by the way..? (I am aware I wear my watch on the wrong wrist I have been told, I just prefer it that way!) I don't often buy items in Next for myself, but this really caught my eye. With my staff discount it was only  around £16, which I thought was a real bargain. I love the simple black leather strap and minimal face, and works really well with my style.

Ellen xxxxxxxxxxxx

OOTD - Casual gingham jeans

 

 (Excuse the chipped toe nails!)

 

Being crazy busy with my hand in meant I hadn't seen my boyfriend in a while. Last friday he was in Southampton and decided to meet for a last minute dinner which was lovely! I really miss him when we don't get to see each other often, but when I move back home I'll probably be sick of him hehe.

 I chose to wear my new gingham jeans from primark with a basic black top. Many of my outfits nowadays are monochrome, I just find it so easy to wear, and don't like to match too many colours together. I teamed it with my silver necklace, floral scarf and new sandals. It was funny because they kept sliding off as I walked, I think I need to learn how to walk in them properly! They also surprisingly rubbed in the middle of my foot, but hopefully once I've worn them in they'll be fine.

Ellen xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Celebratory shopping haul

After a very stressful hand in, me and my girlfriends needed a massive celebratory shopping trip to treat ourselves after all our hard work! I was in major need of some summer wardrobe updates, and here's what I picked up...

Checked shirt (sale), pink floral shorts and black slip ons - New Look

Gingham and white jeans, floral kimono - Primark

Scarf, earrings, necklace and sandals - H&M

Perfume - Zara

I'm a big fan of New Look recently, their shoes are really good, and because my friend works there she always kindly gets my discount which I always take advantage of! This cropped check shirt is the perfect casual summer top, paired with some high waisted shorts. I just loved the white floral print on these shorts and though they were really girly and cute. I've most definetly become a comfy shoe convert recently, and it's a nice change from all the heeled boots I was wearing over winter. Trips to the library saw my rocking up in my jeans and trainers most days, some days you just can't be bothered and want to be comfy. I have a pair of white slip ons from Primark which I'm wearing alot, and decided to get a black pair from New Look. They were only about £12 too, a bargain.

I was so happy to find these gingham jeans in my size in Primark! You've probably seen them everywhere already - identical dupes of the Topshop Joni jeans but at a fraction of the price. I'm a big fan of printed trousers so had wanted a pair of these for ages. I also picked up a pair of white ones, which I'm planning to rip myself (when I get the courage to, I'm so scared I'll ruin them, then again, they're only cheap!). I have a major love of kimonos at the minute, and this pinky floral tasselled one had to get in my wardrobe for summer!

I'm a big lover of scarves, I have a dark floral one from H&M I pretty much wore all autumn, and now this brighter floral one is perfect for warm days. I also picked up some silver accessories, as I'm becoming a silver jewellery convert now! These basic studs and long chain necklace will go with everything. These sandals I was so excited to find, I'd seen so many bloggers wearing them and had to grab them. My friend hates them as they make your feet look kinda chunky, but I think styled in the correct way they look great, and are dead co (luckily I have quite slim feet!) and are dead comfy too. Can't argue with that!

I also picked up a new bottle of 'Apple juice' perfume from Zara. I've gone through a couple of bottles of this now, it's such a wonderful fruity perfume that is great for the day, and at £9.99 it's so reasonable. Anyone looking for a good perfume I would definitely pop into Zara.

No doubt this will be my last haul before leaving uni, I need to make the most of my student discount and the remains of my last student loan!

Ellen xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Life catch up

I have majorly neglected blogging for the last few weeks, mainly because I've completed my final uni hand in, and am now officially a fashion graduate! The last few days until the deadline were very stressful, long days in the library, little sleep and lots of stress, but am happy to say everything got completed and handed in on time. I just have to wait a couple of months until I get my final grade, and attend my graduation in November. I'm staying in Southampton and making the most of the remainder of student life until I move back to Somerset and look for a full time job in the industry. I'm very nervous and feel uneasy about all the changes coming up, but I know I have great friends, family and a boyfriend who will support me wherever life takes me. It's going to be an emotional time, leaving behind my last (and best) 3 years of my life, but hopefully moving onto even bigger and better things. I can hopefully keep my passion for fashion alive through blogging, and hope that I have plenty more time to carry it on within the next few months.

Ellen xxxxxxxxxx

Casual Sunday OOTD

My style is usually quite girly, and I do like to make an effort and wear heeled boots, and dresses and skirts during the day. But recently being so busy (and joining the gym!) some days I just want to be comfy and casual! I'd never thought I'd see the day I want to buy some nike trainers to wear in the day, but it's happened. Today was the weather was beautiful and sunny, but unfortunately I spent it running around town trying to find coats for an upcoming photo shoot I'm doing, and then inside the library working on my final major project! I just hope the weather is like this in a month or two when I'm finished and can relax. 

                 

 

Jeans, top and shoes - Primark

Jacket - H&M

Bag - Primark

These comfy slip ons where just £3 and are perfect for when I'm doing alot of walking! I love these boyfriend jeans I got last summer, they've managed to rip themselves even more, I'm scared they're going to fall apart soon, but I am a fan of the ripped look luckily! 

Ellen xxxxxxxxxxxx

Primark Pastel Haul

Like many uni students right now, I'm longing for my student loan! As easter falls late this year it means we don't get our money till the end of the month, and me and my friends are longing for new clothes! I have been naughty though and been picking up bits and bobs to add to my wardrobe for summer, the weather is getting so much nicer now thank goodness. I should be called the queen of primark, as all my friends know I'm obsessed, I might aswell live in there! I'm becoming a huge lover of pastels as you can see and these are a few summery bits I've bought over the last few weeks.

 

Lemon Cami - £6

Lilac Cami dress - £8

Gingham skirt - £6

Pink Gingham shirt - £12

Cocoon tops - £4 each

Clutch bag - £8

I have so many different coloured camis from last summer, but saw this pastel yellow one and had to have it. They 're so easy and versitle for the summer months. This cami dress is a really lovely colour and length too. I love all the gingham, and this top and skirt can be worn with other bits so it's not overly girly for my style. These cocoon vests I picked up in the oxford street branch, they're really light and long, perfect for layering over jeans or leggings on warm days. And finally.. this beauty! I was so excited when I found this clutch, Primark have finally picked up on the holographic trend. I wanted a holographic clutch so long ago, but after a while I gave up as ebay was the only place I could find one. When I saw this I grabbed it and did not let go, and for £8 what a bargain! The chunky black zip gives it an edgy feel, and will be used all summer I think! I'm very happy with how pretty and pastel my collection is going, it's well worth a trip to primark at the minute for some on trend summer pieces.

Ellen xxxxxxxxx