BLUE MONDAY

We are well into April and apparently it's spring. I feel at the moment it is really hard to dress for this time of year after the recent visit from the Beast from the East. I want to dress weather appropriate but I also want to wear something season appropriate. So I have decided to cover up while adding a pop of colour into the mix. Okay, I know these aren't the usual colours you would wear for spring. Believe me, I am dying to wear pastel pinks and purples! I felt royal blue was a good colour to go to right now. It is a bright version of a darker shade so it matches this miserable weather while being S/S18. Since moving to London, my style has changed to smart 24/7. Don't get me wrong, I love a cosy jumper as much as the next person, but I'm a city girl now and that's the style that surrounds me in this beautiful city. 

This blazer is versatile as it can go from day to night so easily. From going for a catch up with the girls or going to an important formal event, this blazer will suit every occasion. The bodysuit is from Carli Bybel's collection with Miss Guided. Carli Bybel was probably the first blogger I followed and is such an inspiration for me from her style to her make up. She is stunning, sophisticated and I wish I could look like her! I was so excited when I found out she was collaborating with Miss Guided and her collection didn't disappoint. The lace detail on the bodysuit is gorgeous and is really comfortable too. Not sure if it is just me, but I do struggle to find bodysuits that are comfortable in certain areas. I matched the bodysuit with a pair of classic black high waisted jeans and old skool Vans regularly seen on the Kardashian sisters. To turn this day look into night, I would swap the Vans for black barely there heels.

BLAZER - Quiz / BODYSUIT - Miss Guided / JEANS - Topshop / SHOES - Vans

THE GORGEOUS GILET

You know it's winter time when the faux fur comes out. Always faux, never real. Last year we saw gilets really coming into fashion, and once again they are back in full force. I love these because they keep you nice and warm, even if you have your arms out. Perfect to throw on or dress up any basic outfit. For this post I've decided to wear one of my many gilets in a more causal style. They are wonderful to use in both smart and casual outfits. Under my gilet I am wearing a basic black turtle neck top from Quiz. Quiz have an array of these tops in different colours including camel, khaki and stone at only under a tenner! Bargin. 

To match the colour of the faux fur in my gilet, I wore brown flat boots. These boots are perfect for winter as they keep your feet dry and in addition they are easy to clean after treks along muddy trails. You can also wear nice warm fluffy socks underneath and no one would know a thing! To complete this casual look, I wore a pair of ripped Leigh jeans from Topshop. Topshop sell different styles and lengths of jeans which means there are always a pair a jeans perfect for someone. I prefer Leighs as they have a bit of stretch to them so they can fit over my muscular dancer legs and Beyonce booty. 

GILET - H&M / TOP - Quiz / JEANS - Topshop / SHOES - Topshop / JEWELRY - Pandora

CAMEL & TURTLE

As the temperature drops, it's officially time to dust off our winter coats ready to face the next season upon us. I think it's a great idea to have a neutral colour when picking a coat as that way you will always be able to wear it over any outfit. I came across this coat in the petite section in New Look. The style of the coat gives it a smart look which means this coat will always make you look fashionable while you are trying to stay warm. Sometime coats can leave us looking a bit frumpy but this coat is styled and fitted smartly, and therefore will leave us looking lovely. 

As it has only just entered December, England isn't at it's coldest yet (unfortunately) but it does mean we don't need to dig out our hat, scarves and gloves just yet. Therefore, to keep the chill off my neck I've opted for a turtle neck jumper. This jumper from Topshop's petite section fits perfectly with the lapels of the coat. Nothing beats a cosy jumper during the thick of winter to keep you warm. To finish off this casual look, I added a pair of ripped skinny jean and brown ankle boots. Now you are winter ready!

COAT - New Look / JUMPER - Topshop / JEANS - Topshop / SHOES - Topshop

Photos by Laura Howell

BLUE MOSQUE

In this post we visited The Sultan Ahmed Mosque also known as the Blue Mosque. It's nickname 'The Blue Mosque' comes from the blue tiles adorning the walls in the interior. Before entering the mosque, we had to put on a headscarf and take off our shoes. Once we had made our way into the mosque, the view was absolutely breath taking. The tiling design in the interior was beautiful and it was something you wouldn't come across often.

Dungarees have been the height of fashion this summer, which have been seen on many celebrities on both sides of the pond. They have been seen in array of colours, lengths and styles. Dungarees are great because they are comfy and can be warn both casually and smartly. As purple is my favourite colour, as soon as I saw these purple dungarees on ASOS (which were also in the sale too for £16) I just had to have them. I decided to wear a plain white t-shirt underneath my dungarees as in Istanbul it is respectable to have shoulders covered. When wearing this outfit at home, I often opt for a vest top rather than t-shirt underneath. To match my white top, I wore my white Vans trainers. Lastly, to complete the outfit, decided to take my red handbag to keep the outfit colourful as well as colour blocking.

 DUNGAREES - ASOS / TOP - River Island / SHOES - Vans / BAG - Lipsy London / SUNGLASSES - Primark

LONDON BY MY HEART

Although we were born and bred in the quiet countryside, we are city girls by heart. People say home is where the heart is but I can't help but feel that my heart belongs in the middle of the hustle and bustle of London. While having a quick browse through the New Look jewellery sale, this necklace suddenly caught my eye. Seeing the word 'London' on the necklace meant I knew I had to buy it as it relates to my life. Anyone who knows me knows how much I'm in love with the big city and hopefully one day I will be able to call London my home again. 

Strolling around our village, I decided to stick to a more casual outfit. Throwing on a baggy jumper over a basic outfit will allow you to look stylish without having to put much thought into it. This jumper is from the Topshop Basic range and is available in a range of colours. I feel this colour of jumper best suits people with dark hair and therefore blonde hair people would need a different coloured jumper to compliment their hair. Dark coloured jeans flatter the darkness of the jumper and white Plimsolls adds a bit of light colour without becoming overpowering. Lastly I decided to add a bold necklace to break up the basic look of the outfit, and what better necklace is there than one with the name of my favourite city.

JUMPER - Topshop / JEANS - Primark / SHOES - Vans / NECKLACE - New Look

PANDA WATCH

One lazy Sunday afternoon, some of my close friends and I decided to head to our local Primark in Lewisham. All of a sudden I hear my best friend shout "LORENNN!" at the top of her voice as she runs over holding this blazer. As soon as I saw the Panda detail, I had to have it. Being from Primark you know you won't be faced with a huge price tag, which was handy as I was a student at the time. A student living London meant little money, so finding great bargains was vital. 

What I love about this blazer is that the pandas aren't overwhelming which keeps the blazer looking sophisticated. This means you can still wear this to the most formal events. Even though the detail on the blazer is subtle, I feel the rest of the outfit should be kept simple. Therefore I added a plain white vest top and a pair of jeans. For footwear I chose brown flats for a smart/casual look. A pair of plain black heels could be warn instead for a smarter occasion such as a night out. 

BLAZER - Primark / TOP - River Island / JEANS - New Look / SHOES - New Look / WATCH - River Island