Long lost friends

At last! A non rainy morning enabling a blog post. Sorry i am am such a slave to the weather but i only use my ipad to blog and it's photos only really work outside so i was very happy to see a respite in the rain.  I'm now 18 weeks into the pregnancy and my bump is feeling rather neat today, it actually looks smaller than a few weeks back. Either that or the rest of me has grown making my bump seem smaller by comparison. Not liking the latter option really.

As well as the weather, i am a complete slave to the skinny jean. It's a love affair that's not wholly reciprocated really as i am a big bottomed girl and they suit girls of snake-hipped origins much more. So when having a bad (read large) hip day i reverted to my first love, the skinny flare. Rachel Zoe does the flare so so well she constantly has me searching for an equally ahmahzing pair but i don't have much luck. I am tall and have zero to no options of leg length on the majority of nice skinny flares that i've tried on over the years so i was super thrilled when i discovered these first pregnancy haul Zara Maternity Jeans like some long lost friends. I got them off Ebay and i actually don't think Zara do maternity anymore, please someone prove me wrong as this is the biggest loss to pregnant women since they vetoed Stilton. They are the perfect length for me and so comfortable. Teamed with white silk Zara shirt i got in the January sales, treasured Dogeared wishbone necklace and River Island tan leather slouch bag. I've got some nude Primark pumps on but in true Zoe style have tried to cover them as much as possible with the flare. I have an oil stain on this bag (Bio Oil accident), if anyone knows a way to get an oil mark off leather i would love them forever...x Talia

Don't call it a tunic

When we had that little warm spell a couple of weeks ago we moved the garden furniture around a little and have not yet moved it back so my recent pics are a little out of sorts. I'm trying to get used to it but i knew what i was doing with everything where it was before so am hoping to get it back to normal pretty soon.

It's been a hectic week with work and travelling to see friends in London so i've not had much time. These pics were taken in about 2 minutes so soz for the strange faces. Since discovering the AMAZING fashion guitar blog i have been stalking her backlog of maternity inspiration.  It struck me how little maternity specific stuff she had, she seems to adapt her pre-bump wardrobe brilliantly and i was inspired to do the same. However after attempting it i am convinced she was blessed with a neat teenie bump and no pregnancy related hip widening (this happens - FACT!). Anyhoo, I'm not sure if the top is actually a top or a dress so lets call it a tunic. Scrap that, i hate that word, lets calls it as top as that's all i'll be wearing it as. It's really textured and almost leather  like. It was picked up with my Zara Boxing Day haul and is roomy enough for bump space. Gap white long sleeves tee underneath as it's still pretty cold and i caved and put on my H&M skinny maternity trousers as they're just too comfy. Block heels from New Look mean my pregnancy balance issues don't have to contend with a stiletto. Although not pictured i finished off with my ASOS masculine coat..x Talia

Doing it well - Nicole Richie

I have kind of been biding my time with this one as Nicole has been through two pregnancies so far and really has killed it both times so is my quintessential go to maternity style idol. The pictures i have found i think span back to her last pregnancy and also her most recent. She really is the bun in the oven boho queen. Although a petite little thing she has been the championing the maxi dress and works a variety of prints in her go to Bohemian style.

Unlike my like pregnancy i will be nearing the end of my semester over the summer months so will definitely be channelling some of Nicole's LA looks if we get a summer this year.  I am not alone in coveting her maternity style as US maternity website - A Pea in the Pod clocked her stylish ways and collaborated with her for a maternity collection.  We have nothing like Pea in the Pod in the UK and that's a real shame as it's a great website that brings many branded maternity ranges together in one place.

Right, i'm off to ebay on a maxi dress mission. All hail Queen Nicole..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

Inside I'm smiling

Week 15 of the pregnancy and i just wanted a quick post to share this awesome ASOS smiley tshirt. Although it's not maternity, i thought it looked big enough to accommodate the bump and i was definitely right, it's massive! I got a 14 to ensure it was a bit bigger than usual but it's really roomy and think it will last me through most of the summer, unless i pull a Jessica Simpson.  I also love it's inclusion of CND signs and that the back is a bright neon orange. Teamed with New Look skinny maternity jeans from my last pregnancy, New Look Brass collar necklace and Havianas as it's good old  casual dress day at work. In an ideal world i would have opted for some nice skinny pastel jeans in orange or yellow but am yet to find some comfortable/flattering maternity ones.

Another quick thing to share is that i was involved in the NL Daily vblog yesterday for New Look's maternity range. I'll post more details once it goes live and i have more pics to share but here's a sneak peak of me in a maternity maxi that was chosen for me to wear by the New Look peeps. It actually dawned on me that i am a bit of a control freak about other people styling me but more of that later...x Talia

Doing it well - Kourtney Kardashian

I know i'm not alone in counting The Kardashians amongst my guilty pleasures.  Bar the whole 72 days of marriage debacle i find them a relatively normal family. Granted with rather more fame and fortune than the average. With a headstrong pushy matriarch, an extended step family with all the arguments and trials that face many of us.  Kourtney is the eldest of the three and her current pregnancy is her second. She actually had her first shortly after i had Henry but adopted a sightly more body con approach to maternity wear last time. She's obviously mellowed out since then i find her maternity style this time round both simple and on trend.  She's shunned the bump bearing clingy fabrics and gone for layering, buttoned up shirts and flowing loose fitted elegance. There was another outfit where she bravely rocked a bow tie, cropped trousers and classic loafers but i couldn't find a good picture.

Another challenge for Kourtney is that she's 5ft 3 and has the Kardashian curves but is still not afraid to rock the flats for a casual look. Obviously in an ideal world i too would accessorise my bump with a gorgeous Celine or Balenciaga but 'it' bag aside and bar the red carpet numbers, I think Kourtney's style can be quite easily recreated with high street pieces. Bump and Bootylicous!...x Talia

Miami Vice

  

I'm feeling rather large today. I think when you wear tighter stuff your bump always looks bigger and this lace dress is a stretch fabric so clings to the bump from top to bottom. I don't mind it though as i feel i actually look pregnant now. This lace dress was a really good wardrobe staple for my last pregnancy and luckily still works this time round. Its all stretchy and a nice length. It's so so comfortable and so easy to just throw on and was from H&M Mama section. Loose fitting Cream cotton blazer also bought from H&M, like the dress, it's quite old but i love it for the warmer months and it's loose, longer masculine fit takes the girly edge off the lace dress i think, sleeves rolled up a'la Don Johnson circa Miami Vice.

My Jade pendant was from Miss Selfridge Diva jewellery sale i think, i got it from a department store sale jewellery section last year, I tend to hold out for high street jewellery to go in the sale as most of it does. The Molly Sims pics made me hanker for a longer pendant so i was glad i remembered about this little gem, plus the green adds a touch of colour. Just to confirm i have no plans to ditch the heels but am opting for a chunkier more stable heel. Velvet shoe boots from New Look...x Talia

Carrots and maggots

So we're in week 14 and  i'm starting to look a little more pregnant. I'm venturing back into the world of maternity wear and am generally pretty happy with what's out there at the moment with some exceptions. I do still have a few maternity pieces from my last pregnancy, such as these trousers. In my experience, it's the trousers that are always the first to feel the pinch and i have already relegated numerous jeans to my post-pregnancy cupboard as they're not going to be needed for the next 9-12 months. Damn the non stretch high waist! Disappointingly, the majority of maternity trousers for work are boot cut and generally pretty dowdy so i was glad H&M could accommodate my need for a slim trouser leg with these fronm the Mama range. However i did not have the same luck when i browsed H&M maternity last week, as per my tweet, I'm pregnant, not 65.

I'm still fitting into most of my tops so grabbed this Zara button back cream blouse with a nude M&S slip underneath and my new statement necklace from New Look. My nearest New Look branch is Nottingham and it has just had the mother of all refurbs.  I think when shopping your surroundings really can make a massive difference and i found it a pleasure to shop there with a huge shoe department and a great range of jewellry. I bagged this bright necklace which my 3 year son has advised me looks like carrots and maggots. I disagree, i think it's pretty prefect and great for injecting some colour into an outfit. I'm out for dinner and going to the theatre tonight so went for this large suede clutch which was also part of my New Look haul and i love the pastel yellow accent on it. Primark peeptoe patent nude platforms finish this little work to evening ensemble...x Talia

Doing it well - Molly Sims

It's always good to have a few pregnant celebs when you are with child to see how those women under the glare of the paparazzi flashbulbs are wrapping their bumps. Fair enough they may have a little for cash for maternity wear and gifts from their designer friends but i love perusing their pregnancy style for inspiration and tips. I won't be sticking to women who are pregnant at the same time as me though as it's quite slim pickings with Chantelle Houghton and Snooki(?!?) so will trawling the pregnancy archives to bring you looks i like and women that are, in my opinion, doing pregnancy chic well.

This is not in order of preference but I have decided to start with Molly Sims. This lady was first brought to my attention when i saw her being styled for the Indie Spirit awards in the Rachel Zoe Project where she was styled by the lady herself and thereafter from red top rags who seem to like snapping her maternity wares.  I have seen her snapped a few times in various stages of pregnancy and think i will now be putting a blazer with everything as it is clearly working for her. Obviously the supermodel bone structure and the gorgeous tousled hair helps but i love her understated, covered up style with some statement accessories and simple hair/make-up. Quite fabulous...x Talia

Black and Gold

So the daily 'what fits me today' adventure is well under way! It's a lot of fun let me tell you (insert blank faced smiley here). The bump is almost 3 months old now and high waisted, non stretchy stuff is already being archived. Dresses will be my friends for the foreseeable future.  Although i'm not sure how long this Zara shift will be feasible as it's more fitted and non stretch but i love the puffy shoulders, it's stiff fabric and shape. It fits today and that's all that matters.

I've been waiting for a laid back outfit to try out my new eBay necklace. Love the whole spiked jewellery love affair that is happening right now and found this delightful matt gold number on ebay for the bargain price of 14.99.  Went with my Hobbs faux ponyskin chelsea boots as the heel is nice and chunky so i can hopefully avoid the pregnancy heel wobble that i am prone to developing. Over the top i put my ASOS masculine wool coat which finished it off nicely but didn't have time to snap as i was already out the door when i grabbed it, the fun of the nursery run and all that...x Talia

Come undone

This is my first outfit post in quite a while and along with it i have a wee announcement. I'm joining the likes of Sienna and Kourtney to be rocking some maternity chic in 2012. My expanding tum is getting less easy to dress already! They do say it can come quicker with the second but I'm thinking this doesn't bode well and i shall become humongous before your very eyes. Anyhoo i plan to take you guys on my journey with me but will try not to turn into a baby bore and mix it up with regular looks i'm loving/wishing i could wear, celebrity style and also perhaps some guest bloggers...watch this space! 

In my experience it's very easy to lose yourself throughout pregnancy and end up a complete shadow of your former self dressing only in leggings and stretch fabrics coming out the other side thinking - "What's happened to my wardrobe?" I'm hoping by continuing to blog and keeping in touch with the blogging and style community, i can limit this effect.

So here's my first outfit post with mini bump and the first item of clothing to fall victim to the bump is my favourite white Gap men's shirt. That middle button was feeling the strain so the last three buttons have come undone and bare bump has been suitably covered by grey H&M cardigan. I went back in my wardrobe archives to these grey Dorothy Perkins shorts  as they're more of a low slung fit. Old favourite New Look black suede ankle boots and ebay gun metal necklace. I'll admit it's not my favourite look but i want to give you the rough with the smooth. I find this early stage quite hard as much doesn't fit you yet but your bump isn't prominent enough for people to be sure if you are with child or just had a heavy food weekend, today i'm feeling like the latter...x Talia

THE dress post

I've been wanting to do this dress post for a while. I got married last September and had originally planned to do my wedding dress post on valentines day but got waylaid with having a house of germs. So in the absense any outfit posts this week i am taking fellow bride, Sarah's advice and just posting it whenever i like and taking you all back to last September to share with you all the most important dress i'll hopefully ever wear. 

The Jenny Packham Minerva.

I teamed it with a Jenny Packham headpiece, some vintage shoes and my great-grandmother's veil.  My husband is extremely camera shy so i have kept him out of these and instead included my two other favourite men; my daddy and my boy Henry. I'm a total wedding dress junkie so please send me any links to your most amazing dress...x Talia

My Great Grandmother Mabel marrying my Great Grandfather Norman Phethean on the same day, 3rd September, in 1924. Wearing the veil she so kindly saved so that my mum could wear for her wedding, and that I, 87 years to the day, could wear on my special day.

Desperately seeking costume

So due to various school girl type excuses such as my husband having man-flu, my son having a viral infection and my mother in law being a house guest, i haven't outfit posted for yonks. I will get round to this soon, perhaps when my back yard is devoid of snow and i have less chance of falling flat on my arse. I have instead decided to blog about an upcoming fancy dress party i have been invited to. It's a 40th birthday party and the recipient's favourite era (man after my own heart) is the 80s. I love love love everything 80s. From the cheese of Wham to the constantly revisited styles of Pat Benatar. However funds are not permitting a costume hire so i've decided to improvise with what i already have in my wardrobe.

With the best, and sometimes worst, of trends generally always making a come-back, it's pretty easy to find pieces that are a nod to eras past. I saw Caggie Dunlop do this on a Made in Chelsea, Come Dine With Me mash-up and was inspired. I am going for a short tuxedo type jacket over a bodice tucked into a voluminous skirt. Accessorising with a big velvet hair bow and lace fingerless gloves, a crazy curly bonce and a tonne of bangles & necklaces. All very much in homage to the queen mother of pop madonna, more specifically 'Susan'.  After a quiet few weeks, I'm very much looking forward to getting into the grove at this party, germ exodus permitting, and promise to try to outfit post pics of the real thing when the party comes around. Share your best fancy dress delights...x Talia

Bandwagon jumper

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! It's officially freezing. Snow on its way and everything. As i have a little one, i would like to have a bit of snow so we can get some snowman, snowball, sledging action on the go, wellies at the ready! Until that point i will be donning flats as to avoid any leg break, ankle twist, head bang, hip smack incidents on the ice.  These brown brogues are from Primark as my budget won't quite stretch to some Grensons quite yet although i have been flashing this pair ↓ under my husband's nose for a while so you never know, a girl can dream.

While worshipping at the alter of all things Primark i have shamelessly jumped on the blogger bandwagon with the purchase of the Primark Pleated Leather skirt. What swung it for me is the god that is Karl Lagerfeld's recent Karl collection as sold on Net a Porter. This skirt was one of the standout pieces in his collection and as i have been admiring the styling out of this skirt by Lydia, Lily and Emma to name a few, i bit to bullet and headed to ebay. I know i'm really late to it and it's a bit 2011 but if it's good enough Karl in 2012, who am i to argue?...x Talia

Old school

Tuesday comes round far too fast for my liking. Not actually as fast as Monday for most of you guys so i shan't moan. I tried my very hardest to plan my outfit last night, in my head that is, i am far too disorganised to get the items themselves out the wardrobe. I actually almost always fall asleep before i reach a conclusion but the upside of that is sleep so, again, i shan't complain.

I opened the wardrobe this morning and had to start from there really. I have a new jumper from George at Asda. I love a plain black crew neck and especially if they a little rouching to the shoulders but unlike my others, this is a more longline version which is great for my taller frame. I put a sleeveless white H&M shirt underneath with collars poking out. I love the whole 'flared skirt out the bottom of a longer top' look which i think was cemented by this Carrie Bradshaw outfit so i put my Zara pleated skirt underneath. Went with grey tights and black velvet shoeboots from New Look. I was told earlier i look like a school girl thus the title.  At 31, i'm not sure if that's a compliment or not?

In a bid to post my outerwear more, i quickly ran back outside to do a shot of my new ASOS coat. I've been after a masculine longline wool coat for a while, I did attempt to add more colour to my wardrobe with this item by trying a burgundy and a camel one but went back to black. Fur collar was gifted to me by my sister and saves me scrapping around ebay for the H&M one...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

Agadoo

Apologies in advance for the bad joke post title. Black Lace. Agadoo. See what i did there? I know (groan) but i couldn't resist. Not only have i gone with some black lace today, care of Zara new collection, but i have also gone for a bit of a new hair look. It's a little 90s throwback to the old wavy one sided affair and happened a little by accident after i took my bobble out from yesterdays hair knot, it just kind of fell like this but it's something a little different so i thought i'd give it a whirl. Back to the outfit, I would have liked to team this top with trousers to balance the lacy girlyness of it but the top come up a little short in the body for me so i know i'd be forever pulling it down to ensure no muffin top action was happening which would have driven me mad.  So i went with Asos high waisted skater skirt instead and black New Look ankle boots...x Talia

Rainy days and Tuesdays

First blog outfit post in the rain and it was, erm, quick! Thought i'd give it a go though as i do live in England after all and these sorts of scenarios are far from rare so stiff upper lip and all that. I've also been waiting for a chance to work a bit of Carpenters into my blog titles so here it is. I've used a little poetic license though as i don't work Mondays so my Tuesday is equal to most peoples Monday.

So first day back in the office after a weekend of blog silence and it's a dress. A Primark shirt dress in a delicious raspberry colour which is a great for these not freezing but still rainy and grey days. It seems to get shorter with every wash so i buttoned it to the top to make up for the rising hemline. In my style logic, the buttoned to the top look balances out a shorter skirt.

Teamed with my Hobbs faux Ponyskin platforms and a messy topknot. I completely by accident uncovered the secret of the perfect topknot - do it the night before. A good nights sleep and a few fixing kirby grips has revolutionised this style and removed any 'Croydon facelift' paranoia...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

If only...

Today was just one of those days when i was slightly uninspired by my wardrobe.  I think lack of sleep due to a chesty toddler who crawled into my bed at 1am and proceeded to cough on me all night and this horrendously grey weather.  Anyway this is the conclusion i came to and although its not the most inspiring or innovative of outfits, i wanted to blog it as we all have those days don't we? I want to include the rough with the smooth days, i've even considered blogging Sunday's 'outfit' if you can even call it that. After a morning slobbing around in bed, I decided at the last minute that Sunday would not be a pyjamas day and that i would leave hubby in bed and take aforementioned toddler to the cinema...ten minutes before the film started. Had i had the time, I would have blogged both of us because we were a hot mess.
Him - Grey marl joggers, black uggs, white long sleeved tee (with chocolate milk stains) purple AA hoody and a mahoosive fairisle bobble hat.
Me - AA leggings, jersey vest dress, boyfriend checked shirt, ambush boots and topknot.
Add into this lack of make-up, really the dark cinema was the best place for us.

So back to today's concoction. This shirt was from the Zara sale and i do actually really like it. I'm having a definite spotty moment of late so this fitted in nicely. Went for this pencil skirt as wanted something high waisted so this jersey number with deep pockets from Primark was perfect. However i was left with that funny 'if only' feeling and today's was 'if only i had some grey suede footwear.' Although not pictured, I have a grey cardigan on and really thought some grey suede ankle boots, very much like the 3 sizes too small for me pair I saw in the Zara sale, would have been lovely. Don't you just hate it when you know what would finish your outfit off perfectly and it's just not in your wardrobe? Well today was one of those days. But i settled for black suede New Look ankle boots. Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to eBay i go...x Talia