teen blogger

Very recently I have become truly mesmerized by the beauty of which is, Valentino. I feel like I should have been a big fan ever since I became interested in Fashion, but only recently has it really occurred to me to look deeper into the latest collections and the in’s and out’s of the fashion house. I’ve more specifically fallen in love with Valentino’s Pre collections. If you don’t know what that is… it’s another full (or half) collection inbetween a season. It could also be called a “Resort” collection too!

~ VALENTINO PRE SPRING/SUMMER 2016 ~
(Images via Vogue.co.uk)

First, let’s discuss the most recent ‘pre-collection’; Spring/Summer 2016. I recently read a comment on an article where somebody was saying that Valentino was getting boring. I can see why (and you will probably) but I personally can push through all of that, starting with this collection. It is utterly divine.

It’s the most intricate mix of South American inspired pieces, heavily embellished and embroidered florals and sleek silhouettes. As you will see from the other highlights in this post, my heart always falls for the embellishments and embroidery. It honestly makes me squeal inside and I almost find it making me feel speechless. There is something so beautiful about fashion when it becomes more of an art form, and this in my opinion, is a great example.

~ VALENTINO PRE AUTUMN/WINTER 2015 ~
(Images via Vogue.co.uk)

This was really the collection that started my adoration for Valentino, and it’s the latest Autumn/Winter edition. When a collection is so clear in direction, it’s another way to make my mouth fall open in awe. I love what Valentino did with the pieces… inspiration coming from both the sky and the Earth, with the beautiful patterns of botanical plants and flowers, and (of course) the embroidery of the stars and planets.

There are also the more simpler and wearable pieces which I believe are representing the “core” of both the collection and the world. The collection was meant to emphasise the fact that fashion can’t change the world, but peace and love can. Honestly the thing that makes me smile the most, is the sheer amount of detail that goes into every piece. It’s beautiful.

~ VALENTINO PRE SPRING/SUMMER 2015 ~
(Images via Vogue.co.uk)

I think this collection shows that Valentino still has the cool factor. There maybe a few repetitive styles (including the ridiculously amazing embroidered dresses), but the collections are still fresh and modern. With this being the collection that most people would be wearing currently (…feels weird seeing as this was on show such a long time ago…), the seventies vibes are spread on thinly throughout every piece.

But, if you go and take a look at the collection for yourself, you’ll see that the real showstopping pieces didn’t feature any suede tassels. A wave of bold prints in rainbow colours attract the most attention. What do you think of the sudden twist in the Valentino Pre Spring/Summer collection? Did it fit in or was it too much of a daring contrast? I like it!

Which Valentino “Pre” collection has been your favourite? I can’t decide! Let me know in the comments…

I’m sorry for the rather boring title of this post but I really had no other ideas on how to describe this one! The thing is, I’m in a bit of a pickle… well, not literally; my head is not inside a small chunk of gherkin (although do feel free to imagine that scenario)… I’m just in a bit of a puzzle about blogging… once again, not literally, but do feel free to imagine that as well!

~ OOH, AN UPDATE ~

The weird thing is, a few weeks ago I was actually rather stressed about my blog and I was panicking over pleasing brands and not cramming too much in… and now I’m at the complete opposite end of the scale.

I’m not having a “blogger’s block” but I’m completely dried up. I’ve been busy with my offline life and suddenly my online one feels a bit deserted. My blog schedule has been empty and when I go to write a post, the idea has gone and the motivation has been used for something else.

I strive to make this blog interesting… I know that it has the capability to develop even more so I have to have 100% concentration, and right now I don’t. I’m one of those people who gets stuck in ruts very quickly and it’s a real shame because I have definitely not given up or anything like that.

WHAT I WORE: Crochet Top (Jumble Sale) // Zebra Top (Jumble Sale) // Necklace (Chelsea Doll) // Bun Crown (DIY)

I believe one of the main reasons I’ve been quiet is because of the very exciting thing that is, Mooi en Lief by TDP. It’s all coming together and I know that once it’s off the ground I’m going to be full of energy again. It’s like watching a big wave come towards you. You know it’s coming but when the water crashes, you realise that you rather underestimated the size of it. I guess I just really don’t want that to happen.

I’m a perfectionist too, so I always like to make sure what I do is tip-top-a-roo, and letting down people can really make me feel rather paranoid. So, I suppose this is me saying to you that you should just hold your breath whilst this wave comes because I promise you it’ll be worth the wait… does that make any sense at all?!

Here’s to the next month or more and this blog taking on new and exciting adventures. Sometimes it’s nice to take a breather even if it’s unexpected, hey? …seriously, I have genuinely know idea if any of this made a single bit of sense!

…also, here’s to new profile pictures! Cheers 😉

Growing up means growing up in size, which also means growing out of clothes you love. Sadly this means having to pass on my favourite ever pair of denim mom jeans to the charity shop. They cost me under £5 and were the most perfect fit and colour you could ever imagine. I loved them *sob sob*… and I am currently lost without them. I’ve looked in the shops but I think the online world might just be the answer. Here are 9 pairs of my fave mom jeans on the market!

1-3 : Washed and ripped…

As you can probably tell by all of the above (minus 1 pair) I’m on the hunt for a washed out, pale blue pair of mom jeans. I have come to realise though, that mom jeans usually have rips in them?! I’m unsure on how the two go together, especially in a pale blue shade. I found the Levi’s on House of Fraser… they have an awesome selection of women’s jeans!

1 – LEVI’S 501 RIPPED JEANS (HOUSE OF FRASER)* // 2 – MOTO BLEACH MOM JEANS (TOPSHOP) // 3 – MOTO ICE RIP JEANS (TOPSHOP)

4-6 : Plain and simple…

The next set of three are all very plain and simple. I’m unsure of the colour of these, but I would be interested in the fit. Another thing with mom jeans seems to be that the better the fit, the erm worse the price (#TeenLife)… do share any cheaper versions though, I’d love to know! 

4 – FRENCH CONNECTION JEANS (HOUSE OF FRASER)* // 5 – LEE SLIM JEAN (HOUSE OF FRASER)* // 6 – DONNA DREAM JEANS (CHEAP MONDAY)

7-9 : Something special…

The final 3 pairs are all a little bit different. There’s a slightly dark pair which I actually kinda’ love, and 2 pairs with a little bit of something special. Of course they couldn’t come from anywhere else but The Ragged Priest! I love the mix of sequins and frayed egdes. It’s a girly and edgy combo… what do you think?

7 – FARLEIGH MOM JEANS (ASOS) // 8 – SCREW UP JEANS (THE RAGGED PRIEST) // 9 – BEETLEJUICE MOM JEANS (THE RAGGED PRIEST)

(This post features sponsored content in collaboration with House of Fraser. All opinions are 100% honest. Read my full disclaimer here.)

Ah! My first outfit post as a 15 year old… how weird?! This post actually has a couple of my birthday prezzies in it, which I absolutely love (and obviously am very grateful for). Thanks for all the birthday wishes by the way, and all of your awesome comments on my 15 things blog posts… it really makes me smile when you take the time to leave one, so don’t stop, okay? 😉 Want to hear my thoughts on how to dress for spring? Carry on reading…

WHAT I WORE: Mesh Grid Top £18.00 (Blue Vanilla)* // Beige Top – Underneath – (Jennyfer) // Blue Skirt (H&M) // Apple Juice Bag (Accessorize) // Floral Headband (Accessorize) // Necklace (Accessorize) Suede Flats (Accessorize)

This an outfit which I’m actually really happy with. It’s pretty cutesy but then it still caters for my style and the simple elements of things which I’m loving right now. It also caters for the weather perfectly… it’s finally warm enough for my legs to be out without tights, and my arms to be (almost) sleeve free! YAY!

The top is a number I received from Blue Vanilla, and it’s actually surprisingly awesome. I do have to admit that the fabric is rather plastic-y and when I originally unfolded it from the packaging, I had to actually pull it apart. Other than that, the design is lovely and I like the mix between grid, mesh and florals.

One of my birthday presents was this absolutely adorable across-body bag in the shape and style of an apple juice carton… HOW CUTE?! I’d actually seen this on the Accessorize site before so when I peeled back the wrapping paper I was so happy to see it was underneath.

I also realised that the colours on the bag matched the rest of the outfit perfectly. The wording is dark blue just like the Changing With The Seasons, H&M skirt (you guys voted for it!) and the tiny little leaf detailing matches the mint from the top. The little details people, it’s all about the little details…

~ SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE ~

Finally, even more details. My shoes are my new favourite pair; another birthday gift which I am obsessed with. I’d say they’re my first pair of proper grown up flats, as usually they don’t fit due to my feet being so skinny mini, but luckily these fit like a dream with no rubbing. They’re also suede which makes them look super fancy. I just love them!

I also have this super cute necklace which was another birthday treat which I picked out myself. My sister has a similar one, so when I saw this blue version I knew it had to be mine! It matches all the colours once again, and I like how it compliments my floral headband too. Ahh, can you tell I like this outfit?

I thought it would be a good time to write up a new blogging advice post! It’s been a nice gap since the last one (which you can read here), so here we are again! This post is about dealing with something I personally deal with quite a bit and that is when a blog post goes wrong, or at least when it doesn’t go according to plan. It’s a really irritating situation so I thought it would be good to help out those of you who also suffer with the same thing. Let’s do this!

Don’t get in a fluster…

One of the biggest things I struggle with in this situation is getting stressed. When I have a perfect vision of how a blog post should be, I can get quite irritated with myself (and other people…) when it doesn’t go to plan. The best thing to do is to step back and think. Take yourself out of the situation and re-evaluate what you’re doing! This leads me onto the next step…

Put yourself in a different mindset…

Just like I said above, you need to think. Stop and think about how you could do things differently. Let’s say you’re taking outfit pictures; Is it the background that looks odd? Do you need to add an extra accessory to balance everything out? Do you simply need to tweak some settings on your camera?

Simple thoughts like this can help you decide whether the blog post has really gone wrong. Most of the time it’s just one small detail that’s out of place, so just ask yourself a few of those sorts of questions.

Change what you’re trying to achieve…

It might sound weird but the main problem may just be what you’re trying to achieve. Let’s say this time that you’re taking pictures of your favourite shoes and you might be wearing them on your feet in the pictures, and it just isn’t working; Why not include them in outfit grids instead? Pop them on a plain floor and do different outfits! Or maybe try and achieve a cool, abstract photoshoot by putting them on your hands and editing the way it’s put together.

It sounds weird but just changing the main look and feel of a post can totally shift how you’re feeling about it. It might not be the way you had imagined it to work out, but it might just be the way that works out best.

If nothing seems to be going right, don’t waste what you’ve already done…

I know the temptation of wanting to delete all of the pictures and throw away all of the notes you had already drafted up, but don’t! When it all seems to be going wrong, what you’ve done so far might be perfect for something else. Let’s take this blog post for example! You see these pictures I’ve used? Well, I didn’t get enough of them to make them into a full outfit post (you can see that here… different location!) but I kept the ones I had, and now they’re here!

Don’t waste good work, even if it doesn’t seem good enough in the moment. Keep those ideas, pictures and notes close by, to transform them into something else that is completely different altogether.

If you’re feeling under pressure, STOP!

Last but not least, if you really can’t help but get flustered, stop. It might just be that you’re rushing the idea, or it just wasn’t meant to be! Recently I was planning a blog post and because I was working with brands on it, I really got myself stressed over it not turning out perfect, so I ended up turning it into something I can manage; I took it from one great big post and chopped it up into a series (*cough* I mean my Fast Food Fashion outfit *cough*).

I really hoped this helped some of you! If it did, please make sure to leave a comment below! They’re now non-Disqus so you can leave one whenever and whoever you are! I’d love to know what you thought of these tips.

I am really really excited (and kinda’ freaked out) to say that my blog has turned 3 today! 3 years old. Wow. I seriously find that absolutely mad to think about. I honestly cannot thank you enough for supporting me for this long and giving me so many amazing opportunities, it’s been an awesome experience. You may remember last year on this very same day, I put up a post answering the question, ‘Why Do I Blog?‘, so this year I thought I’d answer ‘How Do I Blog?’. To celebrate my 619th blog post and 1095 days of Tolly Dolly Posh Fashion, here’s a little insight into my creative process… (excuse the messy/curly hair by the way… curls just don’t work with me!)…

~ STEP 1 – THE INSPIRATION ~

The first place I go to for blogging inspiration when I’m a bit of a rut is magazines. I find them really inspiring to flick through. Back in the day I used to love Company Magazine (as most of my posts were celebrity style etc etc) but now-a-days I love more photographic and editorial magazines like VOGUE, Glamour and more recently, Wonderland.

I also love to scroll through places like Business of Fashion and Pinterest because you can find some really interesting articles and just one idea or thought can spiral into hundreds (okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration) of others.

TOP TIP: Put on some headphones, listen to some music which you love and flick through your favourite magazine. I always end up in a different mindset for new ideas after the album/playlist ends.

~ STEP 2 – JOTTING & DRAFTING ~

Next up is to get jotting down notes. I find it super helpful to have everything planned out before hand, especially if I’m taking pictures. I don’t usually do this for wishlists or the actual writing (although, I do, do that for long, chatty posts… like this one!) but either way, I would definitely recommend this if you’re also a blogger.

I have a notepad for this and some pens specifically set aside but if you’re an online-tech-obsessive then I recommend Evernote. I didn’t actually use a notepad for this post but I in fact used the web app for Evernote and thoroughly enjoyed typing it out. When I haven’t taken my pictures, I usually prefer to do it out of my actual blog so it’s free of the frills and extra bits and bobs that is behind the scenes usually.

TOP TIP: Have a notebook set aside just for your blog. Label everything clearly and fold down pages when you’ve published a post you’ve written down. It’s such a handy and easy way to stay organised.

~ STEP 3: PHOTOGRAPHY ~

These days I would say a good 90% of my blog posts have photographs I have taken myself included within them, so my 3rd step is to get ‘shooting’ (I have to say, I feel most bloggers use this term just to sound a bit more fancy… “Ooh, I’m off to shoot an outfit post…”). As most of you will know, Papa Posh (my dad), usually takes all of my outfit posts, but if I’m not in the picture, then I’m sure to be behind the lens. I will say though that most of these pictures and my prom outfit post were mainly taken by my big bro!

I use the Nikon D3200 with my trusty 35mm f/1.8 DX lens (Phyllis is her name), and they’re a nifty little combo. A few other items in my ‘kit’ are an IKEA side table – it’s perfect for taking pictures of things like my scrapbook –, a set of 2 soft box lights – great for when I sometimes dabble in YouTube and for photos I take inside – a white wall – for posing in front of – and a very large memory card.

TOP TIP: For outfits, read what my dad has learnt whilst taking my pictures, and for other sorts of pictures, just remember to have clear daylight… not too bright, no harsh shadows and not too much clutter… unless you want that kinda’ look!

I’m so excited to share this post with you! You may remember at the very start of this year, I popped up a little ‘Let’s Get To Know Each Other‘ survey! I was pleasantly surprised when all of your entries came in… there were loads! It’s actually been the most interesting thing I have done and I would push every blogger to get their readers to do the same. So obviously I wanted to share my reader survey results with you! Enjoy… 🙂

87% of you said you read blogs in bed…

I kind of knew that you guys would be sloths like me, but I was surprised that it was pretty much all of you, who read blogs in bed. Doctors and sleeping experts (pffft, I’m probably one of them…) would probably be a bit annoyed but hey, I’m cool with it?! What I really want to know now is… what drink is on your bedside table? Hot chocolate, tea, coffee? Let me know!

44% of you prefer Coca-Cola to Pepsi…

…and 41% of you don’t like fizzy drinks at all! Shocking! I’m definitely a Coca-Cola and all round fizzy drink lover. How can you not like it?! Yes okay, dentists don’t advise you to drink it but I’m afraid I just can’t resist. My current fave combo is lemonade and cherry sirop (in France they call it a ‘diabolo cerise’).

Your favourite blog posts on Tolly Dolly Posh Fashion are My Style outfit posts…

YAY! I’m glad. They’re actually my favourite to put together. I’m such a weirdo that I genuinely enjoy spending a good part of an hour fiddling around on Photoshop making the pictures look even more pretty. They’re also a great way for me to store outfit inspiration so we win all round. Lifestyle & DIYs post come in close second… more on this later!

Your favourite blogger is Zoella…

This was super interesting. I think for bloggers, knowing what other blogs your readers like is super helpful for content ideas. Obviously copying is not what I mean, but taking inspiration from them is always acceptable. There were loads of smaller blogs that I had never heard of, but the most mentioned were some pretty cool girls. Obviously queen of the internet, Zoella, came out on top, but ma’ bae Liv Purvis was pretty close too. (No competition obviously, they’re all beauts). Here’s the list of most mentioned blogs…

• Zoella
• What Olivia Did
• Wish Wish Wish
• Zoe London
• Rose & Vintage

Most of you want to see more outfits, lifestyle + DIYs, and blogging advice on my blog…

I also found this question really interesting. So many of you want to see more outfit posts, and to me this is actually a big shock! I thought I was doing plenty, but obviously not! Of course I take into account how much I can physically do, and whether I want to, but I will take this on board. Lifestyle was also a shocker… I don’t do many lifestyle posts so this was interesting. What I want to know (other than DIYs… I’ll also do more of these, watch this space), is what kind of lifestyle posts? Days out? Photography? Let me know!

67% of you would prefer to stay on Earth than move to Mars or the Moon if you could…

Hmph. Boring! Haha, nooo, I understand why… obviously your scared of aliens, right? Ha! I was surprised. A fun question, but I would have liked to have seen a bit more of an adventurous side in my readers. That 8% who’d like to live on Mars are my kind of people. Comment below if you choose Mars… I shall reward you with (virtual) cookies.

So there you go! Pretty cool, huh? I’m definitely going to take this all into account and start putting your feedback to use in the future 🙂 But for now, I’m just gonna’ blow my nose for the 50th thousandth time today (poorly Tolly)… goodbye! 

1 year ago exactly (even at the same time!) I published ‘The Ultimate Guide To Being A Teenager’. If you don’t know what it was, it was basically a little advice post for teens and people who are of a similar age to me. In the end it was really successful and ended up not just helping teens, but older people too 🙂 I know I’m only 14, I haven’t experienced everything yet, but I personally think it is so helpful to hear opinions from somebody your own age. Sometimes you don’t want to necessarily turn to your friends or your family, you want some new ideas that could help you, so that’s why I decided to write it.

Yup, I did it again! I’ve written ‘The Ultimate Guide To Being A Teenager 2.0‘ 😀 Dah-dah! This time around, instead of focusing on things like looks and physical stuff, I’ve focused mainly on mental topics like motivation and positivity. It’s one of those things which isn’t touched on that much in my opinion, so I gave it some thought. Just like last time, the whole ‘guide’ is on a separate page, so if you do want read it, click here or on the image above! This obviously isn’t a ‘how to be a perfect human’ article, it’s just a few of my thoughts. Don’t forget to leave your thoughts and feedback as I always love hearing it on things like this. I’m thinking of doing this annually on October 5th… what do you think!? Eee, I hope you enjoy it! There is also 2 FREE iPhone & iPad backgrounds for you to download! Aren’t I nice?!

Want to read The Ultimate Guide To Being a Teenager 1.0? Click here.