photography

It’s tradition on my blog to do a little celebratory post when the number in all of my social media bios changes so here we are again; another year! This time around I’m turning seventeen, making me a whole six years older than I was when I started writing. I wanted to shoot a more creative set of photos in honour of my birthday (I quite like them, if I do say so myself) and catch-up with you all…

WHAT I WORE: Dress (Jumble Sale) // Tattoos (DIY) // Rings (Unknown & Gemporia*) // Glitter (Claire’s)*

Being my age is rather odd, I’ve realised. I think growing up with older siblings confused my young mind because what I saw in them at my age, isn’t what I see in myself. My family will probably read this and be shouting ‘obviously’ at the screen because I’m my own individual but I suppose what I mean is, I don’t feel how seventeen seemed to me then. I used to think being in your late teens made you a super mature young adult who worked hard and played hard but upon turning seventeen myself, I’ve realised that perhaps comes down to how little I could do, being so much younger.

Being seventeen means you can do an awful lot but it also means you can do an awful little. Or maybe that’s just me. I’m pretty sure I’m actually seventeen going on seventy in my head. I like eating cheese and honey on its own and drinking cups of tea at all times of the day and I have a jacket that reminds everyone of my grandma. I’m excited by the idea of getting older. I think I was listening to a podcast recently that really struck a chord with me and has made me relax over how much I’ve achieved. Unfortunately, I can’t remember the exact source of this inspiration but it roughly went through the idea of peaking at a later age. And I suppose; I don’t want to peak now! I want to peak when I’m older so that I’m not sat around thinking; now what?

For someone growing up online and being filled with different ideas and ways to compare myself, this realisation has definitely helped me. As much as achieving a lot while you’re young is an outstanding, I don’t think any young people should be pressurised into feeling like they have to.

It’s helped me more specifically with my future career aspirations too; I went through a phase of feeling really bogged down and worthless. I’ve cried over not feeling like I’m doing enough for my age but now I know that I want to continue learning before really going for it. Which I suppose, is exactly what my blog is for! I am achieving some great things – in fact, that’s part of the reason I’ve been quiet online recently – but I’m also gearing up for when I can achieve even more at a later stage. That’s what it’s like to be seventeen… it’s gearing up for everything.

BIRTHDAY PLAYLIST:
Would You Be So Kind? Live (Dodie)  
Hard Times (Paramore)
Shut Up Kiss Me (Angel Olsen)
Total Entertainment Forever (Father John Misty) 
Five Years (David Bowie) 

For my seventeenth birthday, I’ll be wondering around Florence in Italy and dining at a Greek restaurant for dinner. Hopefully, I’ll be able to share some of the exciting things I’m currently gearing up to, but for now, thank you so much for celebrating with me and for following along for as long as you have been. I think eleven-year-old Tolly would be quite proud of what this place has become!

Whilst I haven’t been blogging as much as usual, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about what I’m doing on here, what I plan to do and what I’ve done so far, and it’s made me start to think about how the labels I’ve used have started to change and have started to develop. One of my biggest blogging characteristics is my age – I’m still a teen blogger, but I’ve started to realise that’s not what defines my presence on the internet anymore.

When I started blogging there were only a few teen, or tween, bloggers (aged from about 11-16) that were well known within the online world. It wasn’t a commonly known thing, so whenever I was asked about my blog and how young I was, there used to always be an element of surprise and intrigue, as well as questions about how I was coping at such a young age of 11. I was asked about what my parents thought and how they handled things; I was asked whether I knew how to cope with bullying and the other darker, scarier parts of the internet. It wasn’t really about what I wrote – it was about who I was as I wrote it.

You can still read my very first blog posts; they’re still live and I haven’t archived them even though there’s been a great temptation to do so. Looking at them now as a sixteen-year-old who’s been writing and creating for almost five years, they make me cringe and cave into that tempting thought of wiping the slate clean. I used to write about how you could recreate celebrity style when five years later I still genuinely don’t know who the Kardashian’s are and why they’re such a big deal.

People used to like what I wrote though because I had feedback and interaction and there was obviously an interest because I was getting asked to feature in magazines and travel to London for events and to film a pilot for a TV show, and all these sorts of exciting things… however, all of these features and all of this interest was mainly being given to me because of one thing – my age.

WHAT I WORE: Blue Floral Blouse (Jumble Sale) // Sparkly Black Maxi Dress (Charity Shop) // Vagabond Dioon (Mastershoe My-Shu)* // Jewellery (Unknown & Claire’s) 

I was a ‘tween’ blogger and it was what became my niche, even if it wasn’t intended. My content wasn’t necessarily unique or ground-breaking, but it supposedly was because the ground-breaking thing was who it was being written by. I wouldn’t usually share statistical matters with just anyone but if you must know, my biggest click back and referral to my website is still the article about teen bloggers I was featured in by The Telegraph Magazine. I was 12 years old, I was wearing what was technically a culturally appropriated piece of headwear and I was shooting most of my blog posts on an iPhone 3G.

I’m not trying to say that it’s all been an illusion and I don’t deserve the successes I’ve been given because trust me, it’s not been easy. Blogging isn’t easy. Being an 11-year-old and constantly updating a website and maintaining it, isn’t easy, and I can see why I was unique and ‘inspiring’, and why I still am in my own right.

In fact, all of the stresses and long nights of writing blog posts have made me understand why bigger names and voices get frustrated over the fact that their hard work is often overseen because no matter how big the industry is becoming now, it’s still seen as a hobby and something that anyone can do (well, technically anyone can, but not many are ready for the commitment).

What I’m trying to say is – now that I’m older, I’m growing out of that label. In fact, in about two years’ time, it won’t even be factually correct, because I’ll be an adult (yes, this blog is going to have seen my full transition from an 11-year-old to a fully-fledged ‘adult’), and guess what? You don’t really hear anyone calling themselves an ‘adult blogger’ do you? Unless, you know… you’re into that kind of thing.

And these days, I know I’m not the only one who soon won’t have a blog to base upon their original niche. Although there were only a few popular teen bloggers in 2012, there were still many opening up blogs and Tumblr accounts to give it a shot (I have proof in the form of dozens of emails asking for advice and guidance).

Teen bloggers aren’t a niche anymore because it’s so easy to start something at the click of a button. I’ve found out that a lot of my readers of the same age and younger are bloggers themselves, just by clicking on their Twitter profiles after receiving a reply or a like.

I don’t get asked whether I’m coping with cyberbullying or hate anymore; my parents are barely mentioned when I’m answering interview questions, and it’s all because five years on, people know of these issues and how they work. They’ve seen it hundreds of times over. Young people can make blogs and code their own social media platforms. It’s not new anymore, and that’s a hard honest fact to come to terms with.

So, if you’re reading this as a teen blogger (a blogger who is within the age range of around 11-16 years old), how do we redefine ourselves? How do we stand out and make sure that our young voices don’t get drowned out by the hundreds of others doing the same thing? How do we grow up as a teen blogger?

Ask yourself, why are you blogging?

If you’re known for being a young blogger, or your readers are young and they look up to you for the fact that they can relate to what you’re saying, you need to make sure that you’ve defined the niche that yourself and your readers will be able to grow up with. For me, it’s been a journey. I now class myself as an ethical fashion blogger (and aspiring fashion designer) because that’s what is important to me. If you write about teen beauty, specify what your core focus is on. You don’t have to label yourself as a ‘confidence blogger’ or an ‘acne blogger’, but make your core focus a key message throughout everything you do (more on this in the next point).

Labels aren’t everything, though. You don’t have to feel like you’re fixed in one position, because of the fact you’re going to change. You’re what you are in this specific moment in time, not forever.

Write a mission statement…

If you want to make a point about what you’re doing and you want to stand up for what you believe in, shout it! Write a mission statement and make it clear and precise as to what your goal is. Your readers will know what they’re there for and what they’ll be gaining at the same time. Start defining what part of being a teen blogger is most important to you. Here’s mine from my about page…

Let things change…

Don’t feel like you have to stick to a certain style or to a certain aesthetic just because that’s what you started with. I believe in creating a strong branding, but that doesn’t mean you can’t branch out and become the blogger and person you truly are. Allow your blog to grow up organically. Don’t force yourself into writing content just attract a certain audience. Let things change and develop. Think of yourself and your blog as a flower – you need to blossom and bloom.

…and accept it.

The hardest part is knowing that things have got harder and that being someone young online isn’t going to cause a stir. It might not have been why you started out, but it might have been what got you off the ground. It caused attention and it created your audience, but it might not necessarily do that anymore. It’s not just because of your age, it’s because of how much more choice there is. You have to accept the path things go, which is in fact, part of blossoming and blooming.

I’ve started to take this quote on board a lot, whether it’s to do with confidence or life in general – flowers are pretty but so are fairy lights and they look nothing alike. You can still have your own unique voice and still bloom into something individual and undefined by your age or another part of your personality or general being, and be successful and stand out. It really is about knowing what that is to you and watching people follow. In fact, I guess it’s about growing up in general – you have to work out who you are, first.

If you’re a teen blogger – how are you growing up online? Let’s chat in the comments!

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!

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about ‘making your mark’ or leaving your personal imprint in the world, in terms of how we look back on ourselves from a certain point in our lives. That sounds a bit odd, but the idea came to me when my dad stated something a while back over dinner…

WHAT I WORE: Faux Leather Jacket (Peacocks – old)* // Floral Blouse (Jumble Sale) // Bohemian Maxi Dress (Pull & Bear) // 1B99 Dr Martens (Mastershoe My-Shu)* // Rings (Various Stores)

“It’s funny really, when you’re older and we look back, we won’t have many pictures of you in summer dresses, will we Tolly?” is what he said.

What he said really stuck with me, but not for the wrong reasons (just in case you’re worried Papa Posh!). It got me thinking about the idea of our future and past selves and how in the digital age of instantly uploadable photographs and Facebook ‘Memories’, we’re always looking at what we were like then and now, and how it will be so much easier to compare our past selves and cringe over decisions we made ‘back in the day’ when we have this back log of data and endless streams of photos and saved moments in the future.

What my dad was saying was true – when people look back on my younger self, there won’t be any floral dresses or what some might label as ‘girly’ photos of me, because I’m just not that kind of person. I’m not a tomboy or anything like that (I mean, I’m wearing a dress in these photos and my blog is covered in pink and purple – ugh, *eye roll* 🙄 to stereotypes) but I’ve never been the average kind of gal to prance around in little ankle socks and daisy chain printed skirts.

Having the means to digitalise memories and have them saved onto your laptops and phones (or ‘in the cloud’) means we can see all of the changes and transitions happening, and I think what we need to do is accept that. Things do change. We all change.

For people my age, this is probably one of the hardest things to accept. The idea that we don’t stay as this set person and we don’t always end up being the person we thought we’d be. We can try our best to mould ourselves into what we want to be, but there’s always going to be things that we can’t help doing differently. The reason I’m connecting the dot between this and what my dad said, is because I evolve constantly. I don’t wear summery items of clothing because I’m wearing faux-leather jackets and utility dresses one minute and then blouses and bohemian dresses the next. That’s part of becoming who I am – and part of that is realising, I won’t be able to look back on myself and see this one type of person. No matter how hard I try to create this one aesthetic, there will always be multiple, because I’m still changing.

As a blogger and someone who uses social media rather often, I know what it means to be putting out this specific persona and display of yourself. You probably do too, whether it’s because of what you’re posting or what others are posting. How many Instagram accounts do you go on which are neatly laid out and in a specific colour scheme? Dozens, maybe hundreds, probably… and that’s great; it’s creative and uniform and part of art, but do you know what the biggest struggle is when you start to do that? Adapting to change.

Accepting that change and realising that looking back on what you were then compared to now, is so important. I was listening to a podcast recently (Ladies Who Lunch, if you’re curious) and one of the ladies (who lunches, heh – Cat, I believe) said that she – as a YouTuber and online influencer – is glad that she has the ability to look back and see where she came from, because it’s an archive of her life and her journey.

We have this incredible ability to store the outfits and the hairstyles and the make-up looks and the places we went and the inspiration we found in our own personal archives. We are the curators of our own archives. It’s scary, sure… the idea that we’ll look back and regret decisions or cringe over them, but that’s the great thing about storing it all and utilising these tools – we can gradually accept change and we can look back after a few weeks and start going ‘Oh, well I wouldn’t do that now’. We have time to process change, and we really need to take advantage of that.

In response to my dad’s statement – you’re right. You won’t see many pictures of me in fluttery dresses and cardigans, but what you will see, is a timeline of the person I’ll become and a record of what not wearing those summery prints, means to me.

Do you find it hard to accept the fact you aren’t the same person you were last year? Are you happy with your personal archive so far? Let me know in the comments!

Today’s “My Style“ post is slightly more editorial hence the slightly wider post and the ‘read more’ button for those of you on my homepage. I’m super happy with these photos, so here’s a big shout out to Papa Posh and all his hard work. He’s been my photographer since the beginning and he’s come such a long way. I won’t be talking too much in this post, so just appreciate the mini shoot… and also a little give-away at the end!

Accessories: Scotch R’Belle* ~ Dress: Spiritual Hippie ~ Trainers: Nike Leopard TR Fit 5.0 (JD Sports)*

DESERT REBELLE SOUNDTRACK:
Come (Jain) 🎶
Makeba (Jain) 🎶
Flashbulb Eyes – Dennis Bovell Remix (Arcade Fire) 🎶
Late Night in Kauai (Childish Gambino) 🎶

Not only is this actual shoot rather editorial, but the outfit itself is kinda’ high-fashion inspired in my opinion. It’s mainly inspired by the desert with my gorgeous new Scotch R’Belle cap which itself has a desert inspired print with camels and pyramids making an appearance. It’s also got those floaty, wind catching vibes with the dress (which is one of my favourite recent purchases).

It’s still not perfectly warm and sunny at the moment, so I have a pair of leggings underneath, topped off with my trusty Nike trainers to tie in all of the colours. It’s sporty, it’s simple, but it still has a lot of depth and texture going on throughout. My new favourite combination, I think!

Scotch R’Belle is actually the teen range of Scotch & Soda who also have Maison Scotch under their name; I’ve owned one of their blouses for a while now so to have some more specifically teen focused items in my wardrobe from them, makes me particularly happy. Everything’s such lovely quality too, and because of that, I’m going to give away a little something for you! Scroll on down for more details…

~ GIVE-AWAY ~
To win this leather iPhone 6 case, use the Rafflecopter below to enter! European only… all T&Cs below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions: European only. The prize will be sent out by Tolly Dolly Posh but was gifted by Scotch R’Belle. The give-away ends on April 17th. Mandatory Rafflecopter entries must be completed for a chance of winning. If you are 13 years old or under, please make sure you have your parent/guardian’s permission as Tolly Dolly Posh will need your postal address. 

Good Luck! Let me know what you thought of this shoot in the comments and how you’d style up the cap and scarf yourself (that’s a give-away entry already!) I hope you liked this post as much as I did…

(This is not a sponsored post, although I was gifted a few samples from Scotch R’Belle. You can read my full disclaimer here.)

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…

Yes, you read that right… today I am not going to be writing this post, in fact, my dad/father/père, also known as, Papa Posh, is taking control! If you didn’t know already, from day 1 (I’m talking iPhone photography days), my dad has taken my outfit photos (no idea why, it’s just stuck), so I thought it might be helpful to get him to write about what he’s learnt, in the form of a ‘Blogger’s Guide to Photography’! Hopefully this will help any of you fellow bloggers and your (family members) photographers! Take it away Papa Posh… (Please note that I don’t have internet at the moment and am using McDonalds as a second home! Ha! I will reply to comments and emails as soon as I can, don’t fear!)

Get the lighting right…

The most important thing is light. I’ve seen the difference the light can make between a duff shot and one that leaps off the page. Try and capture the light and beautiful photos will follow I guarantee it. For your outfit posts or pictures of people, the best time of day to photograph is the ‘Golden Hour,’ which is the last hour or two of sunlight in the day. You can pose with the sun slightly behind or to one side of you to make you glow, which flatters every skin tone.

I’ve noticed a hugh difference doing this when sometimes we set out to shoot at the wrong time of day knowing from the first few images that it’s not going to work and that we need to come back to it later.

Compose your shot…

Much of the editing out of an image can be done with image editors but you’ll never be able to change the angle of the shot once it’s taken so getting the composition right in the first place makes a huge difference. Be very aware of what to leave in and out of the frame… One mistake I made early on was where to stand in relation to Tolly; I’m 6′ 4” tall so I had a habit of not bending my knees to take the shot of Tolly’s outfit shots, which made her head look too large (whoops!).

So, have your photographer bend their knees a bit so that the camera lens focuses on the centre of the body. On the other hand if they bend down too far, your feet will look huge and your head tiny so be careful unless that’s the effect you crave!

Get a decent camera and a nice lens…

Now I know we can all use a smart phone to take photos but you can’t beat the ease of using a DSLR. These cameras give you so much more freedom and precision to snap away in an instant. That’s not to say an iPhone (other brands available) will not deliver the great shot, but your trusty DSLR will be much more practical – it is after all a camera not a phone.

I also recommend investing in a nice lens… for outfit photos and close up shots, I’d now recommend a 50mm or 35mm f/1.8 lenses to give the depth of focus that makes everything look that much better (bare in mind that a 50mm is less practical for full length shots, but it does the job well for the price). Tolly’s deleted more images than I’d like, due to my focus not being as crisp as she needs… so take note of that too. Fussy or what!?

Choose an interesting location or backdrop…

Try and find some interesting walls for your backdrop so that you can quickly and easily pop to the location and take some shots. Use a garage or barn door or make use of natural surroundings. Use everyday props in your shots to add some interest and intrigue! I’ve taken shots of Tolly at markets, on the beach, abandoned tennis courts, antique stalls, next to vintage cars, alongside graffiti… in fact anywhere where she thinks the background will add to the message she’s trying to deliver. So pay attention to what’s around you, and with a little care, your images will add interest for your readers every time!

Avoid using flash…

This is a common mistake to make when you have an all singing all dancing camera that wants to get it right for you, and then doesn’t. Just turn off your automatic flash. Auto flash makes the photo look flat and washed out, don’t let this happen to your photos. Natural light is perfect, so take advantage of it even if this take several attempts. I know it can be frustrating but be patient and you will be rewarded with an image to be proud of.

Hopefully this has helped you and your photographer, and will make your photography sessions a whole lot easier and quicker to get through. Let us know how you get on in the comments! Who knows, you might just see Mama Posh writing a post sometime soon…

OUTFITS FEATURED: A La Plage // Chanel A/W Inspired // Fat vs Thin Debate // Tennis Court

Hello everyone, WOW 2nd post of the day (first one is here)! If you have been following me on Twitter/Instagram, you won’t know that my oldest brother recently moved out, leaving the perfect of rooms for me to have a blog studio! I know it might sound crazy to have a room just for blogging, but I promise I don’t just blog in it haha! This post is going to show you round it and a few bits and pieces that I have bought recently! I also made a YouTube video, just to see it in more detail!

JUMBO HAIRSPRAY (DIY)//COMPANY BAG (BLOG AWARDS)//RUCKSACK (JUMBLE SALE)//PURSE (NEW LOOK)//VARIOUS MAGAZINES//NIKE TRAINERS (JD SPORTS)*//DR MARTENS (MASTERSHOE)*

Backdrop Decor & Bed Area: This is one of the main parts of the room I wanted to focus on. Now I have my soft boxes, I want to start doing more YouTube videos as an added extra, so having a good backdrop space was key. There’s a sort of trough against the wall, which is a perfect space for putting bits and pieces, and of course I had to put some of my favourite shoes, magazines and accessories. I think it looks really colourful but definitely still portrays the whole ‘blogging room’ feel.

NYTTJA FRAMES (IKEA)//OLD FRENCH PRINT (JUMBLE SALE)

Backdrop Wall: When I saw this print, I was instantly drawn in by it. It has such a nice, fresh, colourful and illustrative feel to it, and it was only 5 euros. It’s the perfect size, and compliments my magazine clippings really well. I knew I had to pop these frames up, and they only cost about 6 euros for all three. I would definitely recommend them as they are cheap as chips and aren’t too shiny so they don’t glare in bright lights – one of the reasons I love them so much for my backdrop! 

COLOURFUL JARS (JUMBLE SALE)//QUOTE WOODBLOCK//TV & SKY BOX

TV Shelf: Seeing as the room is still being used as a spare bedroom, the TV is staying where it was before. I added a cute little decoration which I stole from Mama Posh (she still hasn’t realised… shhh!), and placed my little quote wood block there too. It just makes the shelf a bit less boring and takes the ugliness away from the old clunky Sky box.

DESK//ADDE CHAIR (IKEA)//SPOTTY BOX//CANVAS (DIY)//MIRROR (MAKIES)*//SKURAR PLANT POT (IKEA)//NOTEPAD (OXFAM)//PERFUMES (MUSIC TO MY NOSE)*//PHOTOBOOTH PICTURES (BLOG AWARDS)

Blogging Zone: This is obviously where the magic happens… or where the blogging happens. I switched my brother’s old clunky office chair, for this super duper cheap IKEA chair… less than 10 euros! Don’t forget the blogger essential… lace trim style plant pot! I’ve had this canvas for a while now, it used to be in our living room… slightly out of place, but now it looks perfect! I also love the cute reminder of the Company Blog Awards! It reminds me of why I love blogging so much 🙂 Shame there is no iMac really… one day… one day! The good thing about this area though is that it can be used as a second backdrop! Bonus points!

WHITEBOARD (STAPLES)//FRAMSTALA GIFT RIBBON (IKEA)//MALA WHITEBOARD PENS (IKEA)

Blogging Whiteboard: I was going to have to buy a new one of these whiteboards, but my brother was kind enough to leave his for me. Although I use Google Docs to keep my blog schedule updated, this will be super helpful. I can just look up at it and know exactly what I need to do next. I simply taped some of this IKEA ribbon into a grid, and wrote in the spaces! Super easy 🙂 Sneaky peak of my… old schedule haha 😉 I love how the whiteboard pens match the ribbon too… cute details!

MULIG VALET RAIL (IKEA)//NEON ACCESSORIES (CLAIRES)*//JUNK FOOD NECKLACE (CHELSEA DOLL)*//BAG & FABRIC (LIBERTY LONDON)*

Samples Rail: I hope I don’t come across like I am showing off, but I do get sent things as gifts for my blog from time to time (..the things with the * by them..), so having a place to keep track of new pieces is really handy as a blogger. I was originally going to get some hooks, but this little rail is super handy! It has spaces to hang clothes, as well as a space to put small bits and bobs. I love the colour too! They do it in white as well if you’re wondering! The one thing I would say is that it doesn’t come with wheels! It’s super cute though and I can look at all the pretty things on it easily enough 🙂

SOFT BOXES (EBAY)//DR MARTENS (MASTERSHOE)*//LACK SIDE TABLE (IKEA)

Photography: As I’ve already mentioned, I recently invested in some soft boxes. One of my next blog posts will explain why, but I thought I’d show them here too! They’ve been so good so far, and I’m super happy I got them now! I don’t need more clothes… so these sorted that out! Haha! Along with my lights, I picked up one of the IKEA side tables. I never knew they did matte versions, so I chose the blue one. It’s perfect for taking pictures of products and makes it look so sleek and professional. I also got some IKEA wrapping paper just in-case I want to swap the blue for a cute print instead. I love the way it looks and I am extremely happy with the colour choice… even after my little panic before paying!

So that’s it! That’s my blogging room! As I love blogging, I love using it and having the lights up makes me feel extra cool! Haha 🙂 It also makes my bedroom feel much more relaxing than it used to because now it can be my ‘chill room’. What do you think of it? What would you put in your blog room? Speaking of blogging, the Company Style Blogger Awards voting end on May 23rd! WHAT?! It would be amazing if you could click here and vote for me on Tab 8! Thank you so much!

Before I start this new My Style OOTD, I would just like to say how happy I am with my blog right now. I feel very excited about the content I am pushing out and what I have to come. The only thing I would say is that I would love if you guys could give some more feedback! I’d love to know if you enjoy my recent posts as much as I do! It would mean a lot. Thank you guys! Love you all 🙂 Exciting news too… I just purchased some soft box lights for YouTube and taking other kinds of images *gulps* 😀

What I Wore: Pretty Pleat Blouse (Sugarhill Boutique)*, Pastel Blue Petticoat Tutu £20.00 (Marks & Spencer), SOLDIER Heels (ASOS), Squared Round Sunglasses (Topshop – Sold Out), Gold Camera Necklace (Gift – Don’t know where from!) & Wingspan Bird Ring £5.50 (Rings & Tings)*

As soon as this gorgeous (and sheer – the reason for the vest…) blouse from Sugarhill Boutique arrived, I knew I had to pair it with a light blue skirt. Originally I was going to opt for my ASOS pleated midi skirt, but it was a bit crinkled and I was in a hurry, so I threw on my tutu instead, and I am glad I did! To be honest, this outfit is slightly out of my comfort zone in a way… it’s very floaty but I think the way I accessorised it, makes it more me and a bit more funk-ay! The blouse isn’t just how it seems though… it has other secrets which I will mention later on 😉 Ooh ooh, I’m wearing my hair how I used to ages and ages ago! I went through a phase of wearing it like this every single day and I’m falling back in love with it!

I TOLD YOU IT HAD SECRETS! HOW GORGEOUS?!
It’s beautiful! I didn’t even realise it was pleated on the back until I took it out the packet. I think it just makes it even more amazing. It looks like a normal sheer blouse from the front (with a cute little heart pocket and matching top button), but then BOOM! A pleated back! As you’ll probably know from the amount of times I have said, I’m on a blouse high, and this is such a gorgeous addition. It could be worn in so many different ways, even more casually as the back really does most of the talking. I think when the weather perks up a bit more (saying that, it was beautiful today), I will have to invest in a bandeau because my vest really doesn’t make it look particularly amazing… 😉 Unfortunately I cannot wear a ‘sex-ay’ bra because um…. yup… *cries with laughter*

Let’s talk accessories shall we? My beautiful sister (who I can now officially ‘plug’ because she has her own blog – baby/mummy related) got me this little gold necklace a while back as a present, and I think it is so cute because it has a little camera on (i.e a refrence to my blawg), and it looks adorable with the gold heart button! This outfit was probably one of the first times I have mixed jewellery colours too! I’ve always thought that gold and silver would look funny together, but I think my ring actually compliments the whole look!

I ordered these awesome (and now sold out) Topshop sunglasses along with two other things (haul coming soon!), after a wish I wished for (ha) got actioned on Crowdwish! If you don’t know what I am talking about, Crowdwish is a site where you can post wishes/vote for wishes, and the ones which get the most votes, will be actioned! I’ve so far got a £30 Topshop voucher, and one of my own personal wishes actioned! Pretty cool huh? You can literally wish for anything as long as you think other people will vote for it too… so don’t go wishing for your brother’s girlfriend’s aunty’s granddad’s godmother to be able to fly… I wish you good luck on that one! 😉 The sunglasses remind me of the Jeremy Scott wing ones, so I’m really chuffed that I ordered them!

The other day I slipped on my lovely ASOS SOLDIER heels to find out that I no longer fit in them… so I thought. I then realised that I had left the innersoles in them! *slaps forehead* I’ve been wearing them non-stop this past week, and I simply adore them. ASOS shoes are looking good at the moment! I believe these are no longer available, but if you’re wondering just in-case, they’re really comfortable and the chunkiness will toughen up any outfit! Oh and can we admire those gorgeous flowers? Such a beautiful array of colours!

That’s it for me folks! See ya’ soooooon! Only 5 days until the Company Magazine Style Blogger Awards shortlist comes around… let’s all keep our fingers crossed that TDPFashion makes it for the 2nd year in a row *crosses fingers, toes and any other ‘crossable’ body part* 😉

When wondering through the world of Tumblr, I came across the wonderful people of, JUCO, also known as Julia Galdo and Cody Cloud. I instantly fell in love. Unfortunately ‘JUCO’ are very busy at the moment so couldn’t answer any questions for me, but I thought I would share their wonderful work with you anyway in this ‘fashion photography’ post. PLUS, you can get a discount for the Photography Show at the Birmingham NEC for just simply reading this post… so read on down if you want in! (Images via JUCO)

As a lover of colour and prints, I am so glad I found JUCO. Julia & Cody use colour in such a beautiful way and it just gives me a buzz when I see their shots. It actually makes me want to be the man on the Skittles advert where everything he touches turns into sweeties. It makes me feel so happy and just want to live in the sunshine all day everyday. JUCO have worked with people like Apple, Nike, Nylon, Teen Vogue and many more awesome people, and it makes me so motivated to try and find that one special thing in my fashion design that people will like and enjoy, just like people have with the talent that is JUCO.

The way they bring out the character in literally everything is so beautiful. They can do so so many styles and I love how you can see they experiment with their personal things (nudity warning if you take a look!) and really dive into places they feel passionate about. Ahhh, how cool would it be to like make everything just look so utterly perfect with the click of a button? That is why I think things like the Photography Show in Birmingham next month are such great opportunities. You can go and not only learn new tips and tricks, but just being inspired by the little things. Photography is such a great way of capturing life in a more artistic way, and their is never a bad picture because whatever you take will say something. With this code: FUTHND142014 you can get your tickets for £10 instead of £13! Just simply pop in the code when you’re paying and voila! So go treat the fam-a-lam to a day out and save yourself a few pennies! …don’t forget to take your camera!

As I said Julia & Cody have worked with some pretty awesome people as you can see. I just love looking through all of their work, it’s all so darn pretty! Like on Despicable Me… ‘IT’S SO PRETTY!’ Hahah, aww. They really do know to capture the spirit of the shot though don’t they? Yup! That Factory magazine cover has given me my new favourite quote, ‘Dressed to Express’. Too much nice-ness I cannot handle it. TOO MUCH GUYS. IT’S TOO MUCH.

One of my favourite pieces they have done is their personal shoot of ‘painted backgrounds’. They are honestly just so pleasing to the eye. I really want to do something like this for my blog one day, it would be just so fun to create! Julia & Cody hand painted it all themselves which makes it 100 x cooler on the cool scale. I would totally ask JUCO to shoot all my fashion campaigns, hands down, because they are just the kinda’ thing I like. (I would say period now but I’m not American and it kinda’ makes me think of… well you know… so yah’. #AwkwardTurtle)

Don’t forget the code FUTHND142014 because you will save your self quite a few pennies especially if you are wanting to go in a group! GO GO GO! Go for me because I can’t and Rankin is there and that’s the SECOND time I have missed being able to see him. WHY. NOT FAIR. BOOO!(BIES)

(This post is not sponsored by The Photography Show or JUCO. I had the opportunity to get free tickets for a small feature which I had to give away as I will not be able to attend. I was happy to give you guys a discount though!)