Fresh Mint

Like any typical teenage girl (ignore stereotype if not applicable to you) when I was 14 I wanted a pink bedroom. I'm talking pink walls, pink curtains, pink lampshade. The works. As a 22 year old now living in the same bedroom I'm regretting my younger self's decision a little. Visiting home during my three years at university it was fine but now that I'm back with the parents I decided it was time for a change.

Thanks to Pinterest and my Mum's interior design catalogues she leaves about the house I was dead set on having a mint green and cream bedroom - a smidgen more grown up yet relaxed.

Deciding on the perfect shade of 'mint' was a mission. There are more shades than you could ever imagine and I liked every single one of them as I painstakingly painted tester blocks on the wall of my Barbie Palace. I finally decided on 'Ocean Ripple' as a sort of feature wall and 'Desert Wind' on the other walls. I'm also having a cream carpet which I'm hoping to keep clean of inevitable tea and coffee spillages.

After heaving all my toot back in and trying to reorganise it in a neater fashion my room is now complete and I wanted to share a few photos to maybe inspire some soon-to-be-decorating minds or for you to simply be nosy.

Elephants are my favourite animals and I like the rugged old effect of the map on this cushion from Habitat.

 My cute little owl from a little shop in Oundle. He is just the most adorable little thing and strangely enough I found his twin on my holiday in Portugal. A sneak peak of the mint feature wall behind him.

I love this storage unit from Ikea. It sneakily hides all the stuff I own that is too messy to be on display the whole time - nail varnishes, books, old school work, hats, scarves...

The vase is an old school milk bottle which I found in the kitchen. A nice twist on the usual glass vase and the lovely pink flowers go perfectly with the white.

I hope you enjoyed this sneak peak into my new little bedroom. I still need to add things to the walls to bring a bit more life to the cream colour but I am very pleased with how it has turned out.

Winter Warmer - The Trench Coat

1. Mango
2. House of Fraiser
3. Mint Velvet
4. BooHoo

As sad as it to realise the nights are drawing in and sandals are becoming less and less appropriate, it's also a comfort to know that soon we can wrap up warm in layer upon layer of cosiness. Time is nearly upon us to drag out those wooly jumpers which take up so much room in the wardrobe - Admit it, they fall on you too when trying to free up some space for bikinis and summer dresses.

If the thought of winter fills you with dread, fear ye not, I have a way of celebrating the upcoming season and of course it involves some retail therapy. 

When I think of the classic trench coat, Burberry springs to mind. Their beautiful designs and classic detailing have me drooling whilst their price tags send me running for the hills. My Dad actually owns a Burberry trench coat from decades ago but sadly it is a few sizes too big so I can't take it under my wing. 

For a few years now I have been eyeing up buying my own trench coat but have never found the right one - or rather have never had enough spare cash to splash out on a good quality one. This year I have been more prepared and have done my research. I have found a number of great options in a whole spectrum of prices and in a range of designs.

1. This Mango design is definitely my favourite that I have found thus far. The colour is just right - sounds petty but they come in so many shades you end up lusting over one in particular - and the length is perfect as it is long enough to keep your derriere warm on cold Winter walks. At almost £70 it sounds a lot but when I think back to the more expensive coats I have had over the years they are definitely a good investment to have, lasting longer and more importantly keeping you warm.

2. This black option is very smart, sophisticated and more appropriate for someone who commutes as it won't show the unavoidable stains and marks you are bound to encounter. Again, the length is great and would look amazing teamed with a bright bag and thick black tights ready for those cold mornings.

3. A shorter design such as this Mint Velvet one is perfect for a more casual occasion. The above-the-knee length is also good for petite women as it is less likely to swamp them. A chunky knit scarf will add the texture to this more laid back suggestion.

4. Finally, this BooHoo find is a fabulous price and still has the smart elements a trench coat needs. I love the colour of this coat as it could be worn with anything from smart office wear to jeans at the weekend. This is a brilliant piece at a bargain price.

Until I save up for my own Burberry trench coat any of these lovely options will most definitely do! Which one do you like best?

Heart to Heart

I'm not ashamed to say I take a lot of fashion inspiration from 'celebs' and what they wear day-to-day through magazines and online blogs. People who spring to mind include, Olivia Palermo, Emma Watson, Mollie King, Harry Styles...Wait, what?!

On my lunch break at work I popped in to New Look for a little browse and spotted this adorable heart print black shirt. 

I had seen a similar design in Topshop a few months previously but at £38 I resisted the temptation, and now I'm glad I did. The New Look piece was half the price. Bargain! Later on when I looked on The Mail Online (kills many a bored hour) I was surprised to see two completely opposite people wearing the designer version of my sweet little shirt. Those people being Mr Styles and Victoria Beckham. For once I'd bought into a trend without even realising. 

They have both been spotted wearing the new craze first showcased by Burberry at London Fashion Week AW13. Other pieces to fall in love with include this heart print dress with leather collar and the same print on a fur coat. Just slightly amazing.

London Fashion Week AW13 - Burberry

I know Harry Styles is a bit of a babe magnet (don't try and deny it, people) but I didn't think I'd be sharing outfit choices with him! 

Style Queen and Heart Throb share their love of quirky shirts

I feel like this could be a Marmite trend, love it or hate it. However, I'm super happy with my purchase and can't wait to style it with my dark jeans and brogues. Worryingly similar to Harry?

Who Wears The Trousers?

1. Topshop

2. Dorothy Perkins

3. H&M

4. Topshop

5. Oasis

I'm a jeans girl through and through but recently I have been drawn in by the tailored trousers and 'smart jogger' trend. Sadly, jeans aren't Summer appropriate but the British Summer can often be misleading and what looks like a warm day outside, perfect for ice cream, is actually too windy for a pretty skater dress. Printed trousers were my go to during the warmer months and I'm sure will continue to be as the leaves begin to fall.

The combined effortless but still sophisticated look has gone from catwalk to highstreet and is now available in Primark (of course they've caught on!).

                          

 Primark Trousers - £13

These trousers are usually way out of my comfort zone but combined with a plain black tee or a smarter cami this is an easy to wear combination and a fun twist on my usual Jamie jeans look. 

If you aren't feeling brave enough to be bold in the colour stakes, go for a monochrome colour palette with styles like 1 or 4. The design is still eye catching on closer inspection but the black and white won't draw too much attention to you.

Feeling bold? Go for bright reds and purples or even a colourful pattern (2 and 5). These warm colours will take you through Autumn and are even Christmas appropriate. Win win!

I've got my eye on a few more pairs for the near future. Saving's overrated, right?