The Palermo affect

 

The fact i can still fit into my regular clothes makes me very happy. I'm not a huge fan of the clingy body-con anyway so do tend to size up and that has certainly proved a good move now i'm bun cooking. This Topshop chiffon dress was a wardrobe favourite last summer, when i had a waist to cinch, particularly after the style crush du lifetime Olivia.P was spotted in the yellow version. So now to this summer and i no longer have a waist so i've converted a cinched waist to an empire line and hey presto - maternity midi.

I wore this out for dinner with friends and thanks to the delicious summer we're having (insert sarcastic face here), i felt the need to tone down the summer pastels with my Zara leather jacket and Black Topshop elasticated shoes. Cinching my non waist is an eBay China export studded double wrap belt which is horrible quality and has an accessory lifespan of around 15 wears at an absolute maximum. It's done that thing where the coated pleather just cracks around the belt holes, not a happy eBayer. However it's my go-to rock belt so i was left with little alternative. As not to break the habit of a lifetime, i will grab the opportunity to wax lyrical about Zara. This Zara leather jacket I bought in Puerto Banus on a girly holiday is at least five years old and even though i've worn it to death, it's still a wardrobe favourite. Thanks to my oversized handbag on the elbow habit, the arms are now almost thread bear so i was beyond over the moon when i saw it in their new A/W collection and shall definitely be repurchasing. The shape is perfect for me and if it aint broke and all that...x Talia

At last, my love has come along

At last! Sunshine :) I have to admit summer is not actually my favourite season. I get a little stressed with the unpredictability of it all, however after the unseasonally cold period we've been experiencing recently, I have been waiting for a day like today. If not only to debut my Asos Floral Print maternity trousers. After getting a sneak peak at the Zara S/S look book, floral print trousers were pretty high on my wish list so when Asos got this maternity version in i snapped them up. They are really generous on the waist so i have not only been waiting for a day bright enough to pull them off, but also for my bump to be a sufficient size to keep them up. Today is that day and i have rejoiced!

Teamed with a lovely New Look maternity shirt dress that i have rouched up slightly to make a little shorter thus qualify as a top. Court shoes just were not cutting it this morning so Topshop elasticated peeptoe shoeboots were added and i also put my black Zara blazer over the top which i wish i would have snapped as i liked the extra layer it added although it has long since been discarded due to the beautiful sun beating down. Not a grievance we get to air often enough in this country...x Talia

Up on the roof

After feeling like a bad blogger i vowed to do an outfit post today and this usually happens in my garden as i am not brave enough to take to the mean streets of Nottingham. However, these plans were scuppered by some pesky roofers my neighbour had in thus the new location. I will be back outside as soon as roofers and weather permit!

When it comes to shopping religion, it's no secret that i worship at the church of Zara. They can actually do no wrong by me and I have been literally bursting at the seams to blog about my love affair with these shoes. The weather has not allowed me to wear them too much as i have no desire to get wet toes or put that nude suede in any puddle's firing line. They do the shoes in a variety of colours and budget permitting, i would have snapped them all up. Even though they are a snip at the bargain price of £29.99, i limited myself to one pair and this mix of nude, black and orange won out.  Ankle strap sandals have made a triumphant come back recently and seeing how my girl Camille has been rocking them recently i snapped them up and have worn them at every given opportunity.  The heel is a little on the dainty side for me at 21 weeks pregnant but practise makes perfect.

Teamed with Topshop maternity floralprint and black silk tee and H&M Mama maternity trousers. Oh and in other breaking news...It's a girl! My bank manager will soon be shuddering at the sight of Zara Mini...x Talia

The affliction of the feeling leaves me wanting more

A bit of an overdue weekend post here. Well my weekends are pretty long because i have mondays off to look after Henry so here's Monday's outfit. We went on a playdate and to the cinema so a pretty fun little day i decided to debut both this new River Island cardigan and also a new nail shade.  I say new in relation to the cardigan but i actually bought it a few weeks back but haven't had the chance to wear it yet. I'm not very adventurous when it comes to colour. I do try but my wardrobe has a massive black fetish. However with a hint of spring in the air and pretty pastel colours popping up everywhere, the colours in this cardigan really caught my eye. It's a really scatty mix of different textures of knit and colours and i tried it on with all black outfit and really thought it's what my wardrobe needs.  Also when i get into the later stages of pregnancy it will still fit and i can still benefit from the slimming effects of an all black outfit without bordering on funeral attire. As i was trying it on the shop assistant happened to mentioned that Rihanna had bought it at the Oxford circus branch. I'd like to think this didnt' cement it but what's good enough Ri-Ri! My only criticism is that i long for it to have pockets.

Whilst going for a little more colour, i though it the apt opportunity to trial my Pixi Glow nail varnish in Petticoat Pink. I saw this on Emma's blog and fell in love with it. As she says the pictures really do not do it justice, it is so bright and neon like, I'm glad i fake tanned this weekend, a bright nail really washes out my hands. The bump is rather large today so H&M black jersey dress and New Look Maternity black skinny jeans. Although not pictured went with old faithful Topshop nude ballet pumps. I do keep being tempted by studded loafers but just love these old faithful ballerinas...x Talia

Who cares what they're wearing..

Blog post title yet another song, this time Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile from Annie the musical in homage to this delightful dress from fab online label Never Fully Dressed. I first discovered this label after one of their dresses was featured in one of the Sunday supplements (about 2 years ago) and i really love their stuff. You can also get their stuff from ASOS marketplace. This is the second of three dresses i have from them and it's good for day and night. As it's casual Friday at work i have gone for my Zara waxed jeans which i picked up in the sale and Topshop nude ballet bumps which it is probably a little cold for but i felt sad for them at the back of my shoe cupboard. Cross earrings from Topshop but it's what you wear from ear to ear, and not from head to toe that matters :-D (regretting not smiling in these pics now)...x Talia

Slouchy blues

Thank the lord for topknots and peg leg trousers! I was also certainly appreciative of the respite in the big freeze today. No ice on the windscreen and lack of frosty floors for outdoor outfit pics always make for a happier morning.  Due to the third day of Batiste hair i have been left with no alternative than rocking a topknot. I heart the topknot so this is not a stretch for me, although i did let that kind of dictate the outfit. I think these Topshop peg leg trousers with their huuuuuge pockets are along the same sloppy relaxed look and set off a topknot. I carried on this slouchy theme with this Topshop jersey batwing charcoal grey top which i haven't actually worn to work before as deemed it too casual but thought my new eBay necklace and some electric blue colour pop suede heels from New Look would redeem this look from weekend to relaxed office. I realised i babbled on in yesterday's post so am attempting to keep this short and sweet..x Talia

p.s
Need to start including my outerwear so novice pic  ←here. I was in a horrendous location so have blacked/whited it out. Leather jacket, Zara. Extra long chunky knit scarf, Burton...x

Should auld fashion mistakes be forgot...

Happy New Year! Only five days late with my new year's wishes but the first couple of days back at work coincided with me taking over the nursery run so i have been mostly late for work. However this morning i rushed that little bit faster and had time to take a few outfit pics. I apologise for the quality of these but the app i use for the photos had mysteriously disappeared along with the lens that i usually use so they are a bit dark. Plus it was very dark this morning due to the horrendous winds and rain. If i had hatches, last night they would have been battened down as it got pretty scary.

On to this morning and this, a rare trouser wearing post.  I am currently trying to shed a few lbs i put on at Christmas and these Topshop men's waistband peg leg trousers are forgiving so perfect for January.  The shirt is from Motel Rocks and it's the perfect leopard print, big spots and a great camel toned hue. It is referred to as a boyfriend shirt but i think could do with being a little bigger and a little longer to really qualify for 'boyfriend' status, unless your boyfriend takes the same size as you.

I teamed with an old Zara blazer and, inspired by Audrey Leighton of Be Frassy blog fame, i rolled the short sleeves above the blazer sleeves as i've seen her do this and think its a really simple but effective touch, she can do no wrong in my opinion. Nude round toe heels from Primark. I have worn these to death, lucky my husband is a cobbler, but due to excessive wear the ends have taken the slight imprint of my toes which actually makes me love them even more for reminding me of Vivienne Westwood's infamous animal paw shoes. Long live Dame Viv...x Talia

They call me Zara

Happy Christmas! Merry Boxing Day and all that jazz. Hope y'all had good ones. As with most, this is the busiest time of the year with numerous Xmas parties, in laws taking over the residence and massively excited 2.5 year old running around waiting for Santa, it all was rather lacking in blog posts. Soz. Anyhow, I'm baaaaaaaaack! And have lots of sale gotten gains to show you.

This post is dedicated mainly to the fabulousness that is Zara. Delicious just does not cover it. I got there at 9.15 after waking up from a Christmas Day champagne fuelled Articulate session having not bought all my wish list when the clock turned midnight on christmas night and the boxing day madness began like i said I was going to do. This resulted in a not so fresh faced dash to town to join the minions. Actually there were only about 15 people outside Zara so not bad at all.

Got lots of things that I wanted pre-sale and a couple of bits from the new collection. Once again drawn to the non-sale new collection like a moth to the well cut, reasonably priced flame.


For today's post, in short; Sheer cream shirt, waxed jeans, tuxedo blazer and burgundy leather tote, Zara. Nude pumps topshop. In long; I'm a complete sucker for an oversized cream sheer shirt, there's something so classic about them and love this collarless design. I have been after some waxed jeans for a while but had a long list of misses and no hits. I had originally decided to get the All Saints ones but saw these on the sale rack for a third of the price. I didn't try these on but am well happy with them as they fit really nicely although I have convinced myself Zara sizing is getting smaller after comfortably fitting into a 14. Aint no shame in it. Tux jacket is a nice variation to the blazer and had spotted this pre-sale, always a bonus. I had originally wanted the big camel pleated handle leather bag but it was nowhere to be seen online or in store so although an unintentional purchase, I fell in love with the burgundy bag's size, colour and mix of suede and leather.

I got a fair few other bits, including some amazeballs Chelsea boots which popped my Hobbs cherry, so will share ov the weeks to come. Am now off to fill out my size 14 arse with Tapas with some old school friends who are home from London and Oz! See you next year if not before...x Talia

The Primark Leather Dress

I purchased the Primark Leather dress on its second sighting. The first time i saw it i was a little reserved, a full leather dress was perhaps a bit much so i left it. Since then it has worked its way into my head space when outfit planning for occasions so when i went in again and saw a rail of them i thought it was meant to be. I'm really happy i got it as the leather, although faux, is very realistic and not at all pleather like. Also the shape is great i think. High neck, capped sleeves and a-line mini.

On the occasion pictured, i was going out for a posh Christmas meal with all my girlfriends. Hubby questioned the appropriateness of a leather dress at the high end restaurant but i think teaming it with classic pieces takes it well away from it's fetish roots. Blazer from Zara, skull scarf from Topshop and my old trusty New Look Ankle boots which you can't really see on this pic as my tall hubby took it so it's kind of a view from above. He's a supporter of my blogging and i couldn't have got these shots without him, albeit a little blurred and footless. First after dark shots so a little break from the norm but really wanted to share.

Nail inspiration courtesy of Emma @milkteef. Spotted the single bling nail on a twitpic she posted and thought it looked lovely so purchased a pink GSOH nail glitter, the only shade they had left at my local Superdrug which i think works quite well with my favourite mink polish which was a Nails Inc magazine freebie from the summer. On another beauty note i tried out Laurens Way fake tan after getting sick of the smell of Fake Bake. It's quite good and smells way better than fake bake but think i might head back to the St Tropez mothership when this bottle's done. Come back to what you know and all that...x Talia

Dotty Dotty Ps

It was my work Christmas party last night and no i didn't do the evening outfit post that i had every good intention of doing as i left work late and ended up rushing. Rushing and trying to ensure my son didn't throw my make-up down the stairs, a fate which has bequeathed 2 blushers and 1 bronzing powder, or burn himself on my curling irons. The end result was gold, sequined and suitably Christmas sparkles although i did get dress envy of another Christmas Party goer who had a Chloe-esque sheer spotty number on.

Talking of spots, i have been coveting a spotty shirt since seeing Fearne Cotton rocking the spots on celebrity Juice, so i was particularly chuffed when i spotted (see what i did there?) this spotty shirt yesterday in the 30% off day at Dorothy Perkins. It is floaty and sheer with small polka dots. The only downfall is that it does not button to the top (why? if people want it open, they'll undo them?!) so i have secured the top with an old stud earring. I wanted the high neck look as went with some shorts and it was a case of 'one or the other' (I go with the chest or legs theory as opposed to T&A). So enter Zara shorts and Ambush Boots. Sorry, beloved Ambush boots from Topshop...x Talia

Remember remember...

So the 5th of November brings my first weekend post (albeit only blogged on Monday)! I often get wrapped up in my weekend and forget to shoot but i was premiering my new Ambush boots which i eventually went for in Black. I had ordered the brown ones online from Topshop, along with some Baxters to see, once again, if the fit had got any better for me. Well there was disappointment all round as the Baxters remained a horrible fit, (legs too tight, waist too baggy) and my delivery note was also the bearer of bad news advising me that the Ambush boots were out of stock. Why the website couldn't tell me this prior to ordering, i don't know. Anyhoo i called customer services and they advised me that my local store had them in so i saved them and made the trek into town. I was in town for 1hr15 minutes which is how long it took me to remember why i do most of my shopping online. Teenage hell. However the upside of this hell was that i had the advantage of comparison and decided I preferred the boots on me in black. i teamed them this weekend with an old Primark Peacock print dress which is one of my favourite ever Primark pieces...Hope you all had a fun, firework-filled weekend...x Talia

Winter boot dilemma part II - the winner is...

.....The Tan Topshop Ambush Boots.

Bought off the topshop website for £75 due to the hugely disappointing lack of voucher love for Topshop. However, it's still less than the bulk buying, shopping killing, ebay shysters trying to charge £140 in the vain hope some dumb fashionista will not double check if they are sold out in their original store, which they are not. Ha! Talia 1 - ebay Shysters O. Sort of. Topshop wins overall...x Talia

Annual winter boot dilemma

And here we are again with the annual winter boot dilemma. I'm here every year and 2011 seems to be causing me more trouble than usual as I have now officially abandoned my Uggs. It's been a long emotional journey with the brand since my first pair in 2003 but i can no longer face the criticism from my husband (what exactly do men have against Uggs anyway?!) or the ever increasing/bordering on ridiculous price tag (they're made of sheepskin for Christ sake!). So in search of other options i go.


Due to the amount of time i spend reading the children's book Dear Zoo to my son, i am doing this post in a Dear Zoo style.


I wrote to the online shopping gods to send me some boots and they sent me...

...some vintage biker boots.


They were too bulky and a little last season so i sent them back.












So they sent me....

.... some vintage suede over the knee boots


But they started selling them in every shop in town, so i sent them back.














So they sent me...

...some flat Chelsea boots, but they were too unflattering so i sent them back.














So they thought long and hard and sent me a choice of four (t-b Topshop ambush boots in black and tan, River Island PU Chelsea boots in tan and black) and now i can't decide.

so my dilemma continues...


p.s. The actual Dear Zoo ends with the conclusion of a puppy (frog too jumpy, monkey too naughty, lion to fierce etc) but my version of Dear Zoo will have to be a 2-parter as i am not as easily pleased as the zoo's clientele...x Talia