Life's a beach

I don't want to be one of those boring people who go on and on about how amazing and culturally enriching their holidays are, luckily then that my recent trip was to the wonderful Brits abroad city of Alicante. This really is a completely separate point however.

The one simple piece of learning that I wanted to pass on is this:

Despite the exercising and dieting and fretting, the frantic bikini shopping, last minute daily tanning and excessive consumption of green tea... the moment you get on the sand wearing the same old bikini you always do, none of it matters anymore. So my belly is a belly not a washboard, my boobs aren't mountains and my hips are bigger than they should be... so what? I'm in the sun and along with the truly intoxicating smell of my factor 30 I'm happy.

This is what it comes down to at the end of the day. You will always be bigger than some and smaller than others.

Instead of thinking about the wobbling tummy instead I turned my attention to crazy tanned Germans in thongs (a man!) and people taking a dip actually wearing their underwear (seriously see-through) and countless other weird and wonderful things.... and not once did I regret having eaten that fish finger sandwich before I left.

Now that I'm home however, all the old insecurities are back, they are an inevitable part of who I am but at least now I can see that half the battle is in my head... the other half? Most probably needs to get back on the cross trainer.

Florence chic

Yesterday I went to see Florence live at Hammersmith, so I thought I'd make a little Florence inspired tableaux... I totally wore flowered tights and plastic flowers in my hair. Love It.

What to wear to see Florence by Ellie_Girl featuring Monsoon accessories

If you had to...

Seeing as my blog doesn't really touch on the political very often (read: ever) I thought that I'd extend a fun office game to my blog. The rules are fairly simple: if you had to, which of our country's top political leaders would you take back to your castle/bedroom/duck house (delete as appropriate) ?

'Down with the kids' David?


Nick 'Number 2' Clegg?


Or David 'pick me' Miliband?

I know who gets my vote (tee hee) who gets yours?

And people say politics isn't sexy....

Rainbow nails

In my attempt to start at awesome new trend, I've been painting my nails in a rainbow of colours recently. Above is my latest go... a trend worth following if I ever saw one...

C'mon, you know you want to.

Topshop gives good face

OMG's all round... So I'm a week late off the mark but I thought I'd inform everyone just how much I LOVE Topshop's new makeup range. Last Thursday lunchtime about eight fellow fashionistas and I ventured to our closest branch of the holy fashion store to sample the sacred goods. We weren't disappointed. Featuring a range of glitter-filled, rainbow-bright, deliciously gooey concoctions and a nail varnish collection that makes Barry M look gaudy and brash (sorry Barry!) I had to set myself a budget.

So after working my way through the green glitter eye crayon and trying nearly every shade of the mint flavoured lip glosses, including orange which in conjunction with the green eyeliner = not so good, I finally decided on my £15 worth of purchases. A black glitter eye crayon, coral nail varnish and 'Hollywood' pink lipgloss later, and £1 over budget its all I'm going to be able to do not to go back again in a few days for my next hit.

Prices start at a teeny weeny £4 and I have it on good authority that they are being made by the wonderful fairies at the MAC factory (oh yes!) these are well worth the money.

Is it Aladdin? Is it Captain Jack? No, it's my harem pants...

I finally caved to the fashion deities and bought a pair of harem pants a few weeks ago, and as Saturday proved warm enough to show leg flesh, I thought I'd take them for a spin...

Much to the amusement of my family.

I teamed them with a striped cropped T-shirt and white plimsolls to which my mother artfully observed 'I see you've gone for a Parisian pirate look...' Not completely encouraging.

This however was nothing compared to the belly shaking guffaws coming from my sister's boyfriend. Hugely amusing comments along the lines of 'Would you like a sword with that?', 'Where's Abu?' and 'You're not going to tuck them into boots are you?' (Mum) made my house descend into a veritable asylum-worthy laughing fit.

Not to be confused for somebody who takes fashion too seriously, and can't laugh at themselves... I promptly walked out.(On a side note, whilst searching for relevant Aladdin images I've learned that there are some sick people out there who clearly have very strange compulsions to give cartoons body parts they really shouldn't have...)

Uniqlo shopping event

Upon being informed that thanks to replying to a marketing email from Uniqlo I had 'won' a ticket to their shopping event, I thought I'd drag a friend along for a peruse..

Excited about the free offerings from Yo! Sushi, Paul & Joe makeovers and Vitamin water, and ever so slightly miffed at the fact that they weren't offering any sort of discount, my friend and I joined the mad crowds gathering by the candy coloured jeans (vaguely remeniscant of fruit Mentos btw) . After consuming a tiny (chicken) sushi thing, and collecting my water, my disappointment was almost tangible, until that is we stumbled upon the Paul & Joe Beaute UT T-shirt collection.

Floral, retro and super feminine, I picked a Parisian-esque cat and stripes tee for £12.99, my friend the floral number above, which in turn enabled us to pick up our goody bags (yay!).

How I miss the days that goody bags were de rigeur!

Inside this one:

• Jelly Belly jelly beans (yum!)

• Malteasers

• A romantic chick-lit novel

• Aveeno body cream sample

• Red 'Victoria & Albert' Nails Inc. nail varnish

• Special K cereal bites (eaten before I could take a photo!)

• Various vouchers for makeovers I will never claim and discounts I'll never use
  

The sheer amount of food involved (very un fashion darling) makes me wonder what kind of audience this event was aimed at... the fact I have since consumed all three (sorry diet) means it was probably perfect for me.

Nautical stuff and nonsense

Spring Stripes by Ellie_Girl featuring Chanel bags

Items in this set:
Acne Wonder stripe t-shirt, 65 GBP
Nautical Striped Sweater Top, $16
Striped cotton skirt, $165
Red Nautical Denim Rope Wedges by See by Chloe Shoes, 165 GBP
Classic nautical loafer, 35 GBP

Double Take

Work slightly questionable and possibly very ironic cowboy chic this summer...

Above the cool much sought after D&G cowboy boot vest top £90... Below New Look's attempt to ride this trend like the bad wild horse that it is £10.

Yeeha!

Possibly.. Could it work?

(Red Shoes £22 - Topshop, Stick-on rhinestones, Black Shoes - £wayoutofmypricerange - Chloé)

Nudes, florals and... sports couture?

Today as the sun was out and the temperature was pushing 10 degrees (bliss) I decided to test out a new spring look... So here I am working nudes, florals and a teeny bit of urban sports chic (hmm..), all completely from the highstreet. The floral tank dress is an impulse purchase from good old DP last summer which looks like it might work well this year too.

Also take a second to appreciate my new Ash wedges from Office, my poor attempt at trying to be 'on trend' with this whole sporty cool wedge thing that's going on this season... not sure if I've hit the mark yet, but I shall endeavour to keep trying!

On another note, managed to find a tummy-holding booby-padded onepiece from Matalan for only £10 for my upcoming weekend in Norfolk. Seeing as my body isn't anywhere near being summer ready, this is a fabulous new development.

(Dress - Dorothy Perkins, T-shirt - Urban Outfitters, Tights - Tabio, Boots - Ash, Cardigan - Uniqlo)

Spring nudity

Nudes by Ellie_Girl featuring Miu Miu bags

Items in this set:
Nude Drape Pick Up Shirt, 30 GBP
Acne shorts, 135 GBP
Lantern Skirt by Rare**, $60
Lace Vintage Button Shorts, $30
Nude Pull On Mini Skirt, 22 GBP

Nail art

Since I posted about my spotted blue and white nails a few weeks ago, an obsession has taken hold. Here are just a few examples of my attempts at dotty nail art recently... there's even an attempt at a leopard print toe.

Apprently the likeness is uncanny

A girl can dream I suppose...

Asos have now jumped on the Barbie bandwagon. Not quite as imaginatively as Christian Louboutin, but with a wide range of these lovely ladies in all their trim, toned and beautiful plastic-ness, there's one to suit all tastes.

Clad in a simple LBD, but with the option to buy a whole range of extras, she's a highstreet vixen who can wield the power of a good accessory (a girl after my own heart).

There's sure to be one that looks almost like a taller, skinner version of you (sorry boys there's no Ken), so £30 really isn't all that much for a little piece of fantasy.

Like everyone else...

... My somewhat pathetic attempt to jump on the Alice in Wonderland bandwagon...

Alice inspired by Ellie_Girl featuring Disney Couture jewelry

Items in this set:
Alice in Wonderland Charm Bracelet by Tom Binn's for Disney Couture, $125
lesjumellesboutique — Alice in Wonderland inspired, 23 EUR
I Heart Tea Necklace - Hannah Zakari, 16 GBP
Alice In Wonderland Filigree Ring - Hannah Zakari, 14 GBP
Rose in plastic, 6 GBP