outfit ideas

An idea planted in my mind after my latest post, so I decided to run with it. 2016 has been a year of rekindling my love for digital illustration. I’m quite happy with where I’m at in terms of my signature style, whether that’s in terms of drawing or even the outfits I’ve been wearing this year, so, I thought I’d combine the two and do a small recap of the looks I’ve been gravitating towards, in the form of some fashion outfit illustrations!

~ WOODLAND BOHEMIAN DREAMING ~

One of my first outfits of 2016 was probably the start of defining my aesthetic for the year. I thought perhaps it would dip in and out of this and that but this dress has made quite a few appearances more than this simple two-piece look. Seeing as it wasn’t an ethical or conscious purchase, I’m justifying it by knowing that I most definitely have worn it for 30 wears and I will continue to do so until it’s either in need of repair, a revamp or a trip to a charity shop.

I’m also happy to say that my Dr Martens have had plenty of outings too, and I had them repaired instead of receiving a new pair when the zips were starting to fail me. I would like to try out the vegan Dr Martens, but I’d also like to know more about their production before doing so. Although they might not be produced of leather, plastics and synthetic materials aren’t necessarily any better due to the chemicals used and released in the manufacturing process.

~ ACCEPTING CHANGE // SARDINIA, ITALY ~

A similar style dress with splits and a detailed print was featured in my blog post about accepting change and curating a personal archive. I also wore my DIY and revamped faux leather jacket in this post too. I’d say for the majority of the second half of 2016, I was wearing at least one or two, second-hand items per outfit, so for this one, I opted for layering a floral blouse underneath the dress. For those with a slimmer figure and for those who don’t usually wear a low neckline, layering blouses is what I recommend for you! I also wore my Dr Martens here too.

You may have taken a look at this outfit post rather recently, but I’ve definitely worn it more than that one photo shoot. I love the colour blocking element to it and the fact that everything but the shoes I was wearing (another pair of my trusty DMs) were second-hand or vintage. A lot of you liked the look of my pink turtleneck (in fact, I believe one of you even went out and scouted down your own second-hand version), so I’ll definitely make a show of it in 2017 too! And of course, the years after that, and for however long I can manage to squeeze into it.

~ SEE-THROUGH ~

This outfit went down with a warm reception. As you can tell, dresses and my calf height Dr Martens are definitely a ‘Tolly trend’. This dress was an unexpected jumble sale delight. Unfortunately I now don’t have it on me as it wasn’t really on my mind when leaving the earthquake zones (let me know if you want me to write a piece on living with a temporary capsule wardrobe), but I know once it’s back in my possession I’ll be styling it up once again. In fact I think it would look great with the aforementioned pink turtleneck. Also – sheer clothes are really fun to draw.

What have you been wearing recently? Which is your favourite illustration? Let me know in the comments! 

I know I’m not really supposed to apologise for what goes on, on this blog, but I would just like to say a quick sorry for my lack of blog posts since LFW finished. I did actually give a quick warning to say I’d be on a break, but then I was struck by a dreaded cold and the break stretched further than I’d anticipated. However, I’m hopefully back for good now! I thought I’d start things back up again with a simple, good ol’ fashion-y post about what I’ve been shopping for recently, all in the form of secondhand pieces of course! Much more satisfying and a great way to gain inspiration for your own ethical wardrobe…

~ WHAT I BOUGHT: £80 ~

As I was saying; satisfying, isn’t it? All of that for the price you might pay for two or three high street items which aren’t necessarily (well, almost definitely) ethically or sustainably produced. What’s even more satisfying is how everything blends and matches so well! It wasn’t really intentional, but when you’re shopping in all in one, I suppose it’s a subconscious thing, to buy items that all match up perfectly. Technically, though, I didn’t buy all of this is in one as you can see from the labels above. Unfortunately, I didn’t keep my receipts to tell you which charity shops I shopped in, but I can tell you from memory that RSPCA & Longfield Hospice are two of my favourites for well-sorted stock.

For these recent purchases, the only items I had in mind beforehand was some sort of evening dress (I’m off on a cruise at the start of November and let me tell you, they dress fancy) and possibly, a suit. A while ago whilst in the car, my dad spotted a men’s suit in the window of a shop and um… it turns out that apparently, it was a better fit for me (it was polka dot, mind you), so ever since then I’ve been on the hunt for a matching two piece! I’ve actually become really interested in suits in general over the past few months, just because of their fit and the androgynous vibe that comes with them.

It turns out that running giddily around a jumble sale looking for every single stand of clothes pays off because I found it! I found the suit I was looking for! I hadn’t really decided on my ideal suit, but I knew a navy one wouldn’t turn me away. You can’t really see it in these pictures, but I promise once I’ve adjusted the shoulders, I’ll be shooting it ASAP! It’s actually a satin number with the most gorgeous fitted trousers, and it cost me €10 in total. And the even greater thing? At the same jumble sale, I picked up two options for blouses.

I don’t feel so guilty indulging in trends when I’m buying them secondhand (trends = mass consumption/mass production), so when I, my mum spotted a sheer ruffled cover-up, almost lingerie style blouse at the same seller’s stall, I knew it would make a great textural contrast against the satin. Plus, white and navy is a really crisp and sharp colour combination and will work really well for an evening event (did I say something about a cruise?). The second blouse is another satin piece but in a light purple. Although contrasts are nice, I thought it would blend in nicely as a more fitted and ‘proper’ shirt with the suit.

Rings: Middle Finger (Unknown) // Index Finger (Arezzo D’oro Diamond Cut Stacker Ring – Gemporia)*

Speaking of that ruffled blouse, it looks great with the evening dress I managed to pick up! I know not many people are fans of lurex fabric, but I think if worn in the right way, it can look just as elegant as any other sparkly material. As you would have seen in my last outfit post, I love layering slip dresses, and it looks great with any kind of texture or colour. The black shade means I’ll be able to wear it to dinner, but also be able to go for a slightly grungier look in the day. Versatile, non?

Oh and yes, yes that is a cashmere ‘granny jumper’. It was one of those purchases which I was unsure about at first, so I left the charity shop empty handed before going back again and trying it on because it just seemed too tempting. It will work with jeans, it will work with a dress and who knows, maybe it will even work with the suit? I love muted pink, as you will already know if you’ve read my whole post basically dedicated to it.

Oh and that jacket? Another item which I had to go back for. In fact there was shopping drama with this one! I asked the seller if he’d give me a deal because I wasn’t that willing to buy it for his original price of €40 (even though it is vintage leather), so he said he’d drop it to €35, final price. I mulled it over, he put it back out on a rail, and somebody else tried it on… and luckily, they didn’t want it, so I bought it, but only just before another lady asked to try it on. It was a faff, but I have it on my shoulders (and of course, on my arms when I’m actually wearing it out and about). A good point to remember though – jumble or carboot sale shopping allows for bargaining. 

So there we have it! All secondhand. I hope you liked reading about my recent shopping experiences. The reason I do these ‘ethical wardrobe‘ posts, is to try and share with you how easy it is to create a collection you enjoy wearing without having to effect the world and environment around us. Buying secondhand means recycling, giving back to charity and supporting your local communities. Give it a go! See what you can find for £80…

Although my style is definitely heading into more versatile, bohemian territory, it’s always fun to revisit different styles and aesthetics, so in today’s outfit post, that’s exactly what I’m doing! With the help of a novelty Skinnydip number of course…

WHAT I WORE: Embroidered Blouse (Charity Shop) // Mom Jeans (Pull & Bear) // Strappy Buckle Heels (New Look – old)* // Sunglasses (Topshop – old) // Liquid Sarcasm Bag (Skinnydip London @ House of Fraser)*

I haven’t worn a ‘kitsch’ outfit in a while, but there are definitely still elements of styling cutesy things up that I enjoy, like mixing bright colours with monochrome and denim. White and black work well with any colour and any texture, hence why everything in this outfit seems to blend perfectly, even though the blouse has western almost cowboy-like influences and the heels are modern with silver buckles.

Speaking of that blouse – as you can tell, I’m really not slowing down on this blouse obsession! Although this post lacks in ethical brands, I will let you know that every blouse I own (bar one) is second-hand or from ASOS Africa… so although I’m buying them at a ridiculous rate, they’re not doing any harm. Few!

I’m still loving my mom jeans too… although, I haven’t really worn them other than in this post recently because it has been about 100 billion degrees outside (slight exaggeration there, Tolly) and I am not going to risk melting myself to death… hm. Really, I’ve been opting for a floaty off the shoulder gypsy blouse and a pair of my Reclaimed Vintage mosaic trousers  (yes, you read that right ‘a pair’, because I own two as they’re just too good).

I actually just want to make a note and say that I recently tweeted ASOS to ask where their Reclaimed Vintage pieces are made and I had a response from their manufacturer to say that all of the pieces are made in England. Pretty cool, huh? I’m going to have to take their word for it because as soon as my next pay day comes around (heh – blogging life, who knows when that will be?)… well, let’s just say there’s a dress I have my eyes on.

In terms of accessories in this post, I finally own a classic Skinnydip London bag! It was a lovely little treat from House of Fraser and I have to say that’s it rather photogenic! Plus, I’m like totally not sarcastic or anything, so this bag totally doesn’t match up to my personality or anything… nope.

Also, on top of the novelty handbag, can I just point out our cliche pool donuts? I had my eyes on them for a while so it was quite a fun treat when they arrived in the post from Mama Posh! That actually is a positive to the amazing weather right now… going in the pool for days on end!

This blog post felt rather chatty, which is quite nice after my recent posts! I hope you’ve been enjoying this boost in quality (over quantity) and that you’re looking forward to the next weeks and months to come! July is quite an exciting one as my sister is due with her second baby in a couple of weeks time which will make me an aunty to two! And then we have August which is a month for family, visiting the David Bowie Is exhibition in Bologna (finally – I cannot wait!) and waiting nervously for something rather exciting I was recently filmed for, to be released into the world. Stay tuned!

Also – so! many! exclamation! marks! Tolly! When! will! it! ever! end?!

What have you been wearing recently? Have you ever gone back to an old style? Let me know in the comments!

Hey you! I really hope your holiday has been going well and you’re excited to ring in the New Year this evening! Last year I rounded up some of my favourite blog posts, so today, I thought I’d do the same for 2015! You can check out last year’s round-up here, but for now… let’s take a look at the year of two-thousand-and-fifteen…

Please do let me know which blog posts have been your faves of 2015! I’d love to know in the comments 🙂 Happy New Year if we don’t speak again, I hope 2016 is filled with thousands of lovely memories once again! See you on the other side…

Today, I have a very exciting post indeed. There are two reasons why it is an exciting one… firstly, it’s a fashion/trend/inspiration/outfit idea post, which I miss writing, and secondly, I’ve teamed up with ASOS *fan girls* You guys know how much I love them, so I am truly excited to be sharing with you a little bit of style inspiration. Not any kind of style though, I’ll be talking all about ‘Scandimania’ and those hip girls in Scandinavia…

Jumper – Bag – Leather Skirt – Jeans – Cropped Shirt – Blue Brogues – Flats – Wrap Skirt – Oversized Blouse

For me, Scandinavian style has always made me think of folk prints, but after a quick Pinterest session, I came to the conclusion that I was simply wrong. ‘Scandi style’ is all about simplicity, and masculinity… sorry to stereotype if you are actually Scandinavian… it’s all about getting that balance between chic and casual. Another bonus is the fact it’s the perfect style for travel, and holidaying. It has that comfort factor with the baggy oversized shapes, but you won’t look too under dressed when you pair a slouchy shirt with some patent brogues. It’s all about the finishing touches! I personally quite like the whole look and feel of the sorts of outfits that they can think up… I’m just not sure how well it would work on a small 14 year old like me!

I made the little grid above into a sort of mix and match board for some inspiration. It works vertically and horizontally so if you are in need of some ‘Scandimania’ outfit inspiration, ASOS and I have you sorted! My favourite combination is probably the ripped jeans and cropped shirt. It’s simple and sophisticated but has that slight masculine toughness the whole way through. What’s your favourite combo? Let me know in the comments 🙂 

(This is a sponsored post. I may have been paid/gifted by ASOS to write and publish this post, but opinions are 100% honest – you know they are, I am a crazy ASOS lady. Read my full disclaimer here.)

Howdy! So we’re now 2 days into LFW, and although not a lot of you will be actually attending (if you are, I’m so jealous!), I thought I would put together a few ideas for what shoes you could wear to the shows… it may just give you some footwear inspiration even if you are not hitting up LFW anytime soon!

NIKE FREE TR FIT 5.0 – JD SPORTS* – SOLD OUT

You have probably seen these babies on my blog before, but if not, let me introduce you… these are my bright neon leopard print Nike trainers. The reason they are included is because of how bold they are. I totally push the idea of wearing what you would usually wear to LFW, but if you do want at least one chance of getting street style snapped, I would totally recommend going for a bold shoe, and these are most definitely that! Surprisingly enough, these are actually quite versatile… yup! I love them for both style and comfort. Walking around all day probably means you want a comfortable shoe, so definitely look out for an awesome pair of trainers!

METALLIC SILVER ‘JAIDA’ FLATS – NEW LOOK* – £17.99

Moving on from the more casual option of trainers, we have some awesome metallic flats. These have actually only just recently launched in the New Look 915 range (teens), and I love them! I love all the little details from the scalloped edging to the almost two tone sole. I think they definitely look a lot more expensive than they are and would look awesome with most outfits. I would definitely invest in some cute socks for these too, you can read more about the fast food ones here.

SILVER PLATFORM HEELS – ASOS – SOLD OUT

Now we’re talking… or perhaps not if you really don’t want to move away from comfort… these aren’t necessarily uncomfortable seeing as they have a platform, but you would probably want a pair of flats in your handbag! I love them though because they have that sort of ‘off duty model’ vibe going on. I love to wear them with my spotty dungarees (ASOS, surprise surprise), but I’d like to know what you’d wear them with! Let me know in a comment 🙂

HOLOGRAPHIC ‘ROCK’ HEELS – NEW LOOK* – OCTOBER 1st RELEASE

Finally, we have the most risky, show-stopper’y’ pair of the lot. Real, heels. As you may know I am a huge fan of anything holographic so these also really caught my eye. This is a super big sneak peek though, so lucky you! I’m sure these would definitely catch the attention of some eager bloggers/photographers. They look so pretty! They will for sure be an A/W staple for me.

Oh my. Oh my. Oh my. Okay, I need to stop with the ‘Oh my’ thing, but… I am SO excited for this post for 3 reasons. 1 – My chicken pox are gone off ma’ face, 2 – I have my NEW lens and 3 – it includes a give-away! WOW WOW WOW *insert mind blown GIF* But seriously… eee! I’m very very happy! 😀 Anyway, I should stop my really over excited introduction, and get on with this post! Oh wait, one more thing… I have made the images bigger because I think it will make them look even more awesome and snazzy, so yah.

What I Wore: Polka Dot Dungarees £8.00 (ASOS), Winter Floral Sweater £10.00 (Peacocks)*, Silver & White Chunky Heels (ASOS) & Black Leather Watch (Shuttersong)*

I’m sorry, but please admire that bokeh and those whisps of hair that actually look alright in front of my face. It’s amazing what a different piece of glass can do… Honestly though I feel like I could become a LookBook.nu professional… jokes jokes. The clothes Tolly, talk about the clothes… well… I LOVE this outfit, honestly it’s super comfortable and is perfect for this time of the year. I picked up this amazing dungarees in the ASOS sale and it’s super slouchy and adjustable which means I can wear it like jumbo, or nice and snug. I also adore this sweater I got sent from Peacocks. I think it looks gorgeous with the polka dots, and it’s  the perfect piece you could take through from summer to winter. It’s not a piece I would usually think of as from Peacocks, but as I have said before, they’re really stepping up their game!

Papa Posh thought it would be hilarious for me to include that picture above… I guess it does show how slouchy the dungarees are though… hmm 😉 Ooh and look who made an appearance again! My super awesome silver heels that I won. They’re the perfect accessory for an outfit like this because they just add that little bit of ‘formal’ to it. I’m also really liking having my hair up half down. When I was younger at school I used to always do it but I then had it cut shorter and it didn’t look as good, but now it’s grown back and I think it looks just right! You’ll be shocked in the next pictures… I have no nail polish on. A blogger with no nice manicure?! My word! (Jokes… but seriously, I can never be bothered) Oh and you know I mentioned a give-away? Well, I’m re-opening my Shuttersong watch give-away. Unfortunately their weren’t many entries on Facebook, so I thought I’d give you lovely blog readers a chance to win! Scroll down to find out more…

What You Will Win: A Shuttersong Branded Leather Watch
Who Can Enter: Anyone at an address in: UK & IRE, France, Spain, Germany or Italy
Rules: Enter with the widget below. You must have parental permission if you are under 16 years of age. No ‘Give-Away’ social media accounts will be accepted

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck! Will you be entering? What do you think of this outfit? Make sure to leave a comment below! 😀

Hidehidehidehi! (Brownie points to anyone who knows which song that’s from) I have been really bad on the whole ‘real blogging’ kind of thing, with outfit ideas, celebrity style etc, because you guys loved it when I did them, so I’m back with a post for you! I’ve put together a few New Years Eve outfit ideas just in case you need some inspiration! Hope you like it… Just to point out that this will be the last blog post before Christmas Day! I will be back though, but just enjoy this one for now! Don’t forget though, I have a GIVE-AWAY going on to WIN a gorgeous necklace from Punky Pins! Enter it now!

Crocus Dress £68.00 (Topshop), Orange Barely There Heels £45.00 (River Island), Distressed Metallic Clutch £28.00 (ASOS), Lucky Coin Earrings £9.00 (ASOS Sale), Teal Strappy Dress £14.99 (New Look), Teal Ankle Strap Heels £19.99 (New Look), Chained Layer Cuff £9.26 (Nasty Gal) & Flower Chain Headband £8.00 (ASOS)

Cocktail ‘Part-ay’ – This is probably my favourite selection out of the three because they are all so simple, yet they all dip into the ‘elegant’ and ‘statement’ sides of the pool (ooh, nice phrase there 😉 ). I love the Topshop dress because it looks like you are wearing a two piece but…. you’re not (surprise!)! I also love how the ASOS clutch is distressed, I think it makes it look a little bit more expensive, and a bit more ‘edgy’ (I have really gone off that word… eugh). The other dress is a slightly more simple and cheaper option, but it is still as nice as the other in my opinion, the style is also really flattering and ‘great’ for all seasons. Plus, matching heels in the exact same colour? #winnerwinnerchickendinner (#longesthashtagever #ishouldprobablystopnow #yah)

Happy New Year Jumper £15.00 (Boohoo), Tartan Trousers £20.00 (Boohoo), Gunmetal Headband £35.00 (Crown & Glory), iPhone Case/Purse £15.00 (ASOS), Gem Fingerless Gloves £9.00 (ASOS), Black Cami £9.99 (New Look) & Silver Gemstone Necklace £7.99 (New Look)

Casual & Cosy – This is the sort of thing I will be wearing on New Year’s Eve. A little bit of sparkle, but casual and cosy (but, I’ll probably end up in my PJs…)! I love the jumper from Boohoo! They do a classic Home Alone one for Christmas, but this is so cool as it is perfect for New Year! I also really like the trousers, they look really comfy and simple and of course would be really good for any A/W occasion. After seeing one of my favourite bloggers (a.k.a Megan) wearing the gold version of the Crown & Glory headband, I now love it! It’s so sparkly and just… amazing! The necklace goes perfectly, and I must say, for under £10.00, that is pretty good? Although I love the cocktail dresses (previous image), this is what I would wear if I was going out on ‘NYE’.

Sequin & Mesh Skirt £125.00 (Topshop), Pink Fluffy Jumper £34.00 (Topshop), Buckle Boots £38.00 (ASOS), Triangle Necklace £6.00 (ASOS), Sequin Jumpsuit £59.99 (New Look), Felt Boater Hat £18.00 (ASOS), Snowflake Socks £4.00 (ASOS) & Snow Scene Socks £4.00 (ASOS)

Sequins & Sparkle – Ohhh. Myyyy. Just look at that skirt… take a moment to appreciate it… and then sob in sadness at the price… it’s so nice! I’m a big fan of fluffy jumpers over sequins because it looks so nice and the textures look perfect against each other. Paired with some buckled boots to make it more casual, and a dainty little necklace… ohhhh. Then, New Look have a blimming amazing jumpsuit, covered in sequins… for under £60.00, which quite frankly is amazing if that is the closest I can get to an Ashish one! I would wear it all day, every day and nobody would be able to stop me! I’ve always wanted a boater hat, and I think this ‘look’ would make it the cutest accessory. Oh, and don’t forget the novelty socks! 😉