THE WHITE SHIRT: OWNING MY AGE

Getting older is an inevitability of life, but sometimes it feels like more of an unfortunate side effect. The last time I remember being genuinely excited about getting older, was on my 18th birthday. That was *gulp* 8 years ago. Since then birthdays have involved much cake and ever worsening hangovers. But there was something about this birthday that invoked much panic and evaluation of life thus far.    

I'm the un-fun side of 25. I recently had to fill in a form and I'm officially in the '26 - 34' box. To add to my unease I recently found out that the demographic for Radio 1 is '18 - 26 year olds', so the countdown begins for the switchover to Radio 2. 

However, it's not all doom and gloom (or so I'm trying to convince myself). I have recently decided to embrace this ageing lark by wearing an item that I previously felt left me resembling a school child - the white shirt. 

A white shirt is a classic. A staple piece, wear with anything, everything and nothing if you so wish. Dress down with jeans, dress up with stilettos, use as a beach cover-up, pop to the shops, tucked in smart, tied up around the waist, worn low on the shoulders, unbuttoned, sleeves tied around the bust, asymmetrically done up. One shirt, a multitude of ways to wear it.

However, up until this point in my life, the only thing I associated with a white shirt was my school uniform. So at the turn of my 26th birthday, I bought one as a token of embracing my new age. It makes me feel decidedly 'put together' and the fact that to this date I have yet to spill anything on it, makes me feel like a real grown up. 

I was feeling pretty into my older self in this white shirted rendition, until I read that the on-set of wrinkles begin at 26 -ugh. Ah well, at least I'm be well dressed as my decreasing collagen levels and gravity go to work on me...

(All pictures via Pinterest)

  

ARE BOOBS OFFICE WEAR APPROPRIATE?

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This week I did something truly shocking. In fact you should sit down. 

I dared to wear an egg on my boob and not only that, I dared to wear it into work.

"Have I lost my mind?!", I hear you ask.

In short, no I have not. But I'm pretty sure that everyone else has.

Now you may remember that I have previously written about my 'wear anything' office. In short - wear whatever you like, whatever you're comfortable in and most importantly, whatever is clean.

However, I seem to have found the exception to the rule, in my usually 'rule-less' office.

An egg upon the chest is seemingly just too salacious. Now I feel it important to point out here, that I didn't actually have a real egg atop my breast. That would be far too messy - although, if I read that it in someway increased longevity of life, I may be swayed to give it a go, though perhaps not in working hours...

No, it was a cute white tee with a little fried egg just below my clavicle, slightly to the left, in the general region that I have fondly come to know as my breast. Underneath the offending egg was the phrase 'keep it sunny' - how cute, right?  

Not so much, in fact it was just too much.

I am completely aware of the connotations that a fried egg has, especially when located in this area. I guess I just thought that it would go unnoticed, but the amount of second glances and double takes that I received, got me to thinking. 

My boobs are a constant to my body, like an arm or a leg. They are a physiological signifier that I am a woman. They will one day nurture my children. They sometimes hurt when I run down the stairs and sleeping on my front can sometimes be uncomfortable, but generally we get on well. Yet it seems that despite their permanent status, the mere reminder of their residency on my body seemed problematic.

The offending t-shirt is not brazenly demanding that any and every one should look at my tits. It really is a tongue-in-cheek, high neck, slightly oversize, muscle tee, that without the little motif, would be rather boring. 

My intention was not to be provocative; I'm definitely not awake enough to make any kind of social statement at that hour of the morning, my focus centring more so on remembering how to drive my car whilst my eyes are glued shut. Yet I do find it interesting that something as innocent as a mere fried egg, (the nucleus of which resembles a nipple in as much they're both spherical-ish), could bring about the quiet commotion of shifty eyes and confused glances.  

I'm not sure if this particular t-shirt will make an appearance in my office again, I'd hate to see productivity plummet by my seemingly distracting fashion choices. I've now relegated it to my weekend wear so I'll get shifty looks from strangers now instead - much better! 

(Girl Stole London has a range of boob synonyms emblazoned on t-shirts in a bid to "tackle the cancer taboo. To stop being so afraid to talk about the fucker. To encourage ya’ll to take responsibility for your bodies. And most importantly to save some bastard lives!"  I <3 her lots)

However, I have noticed a growing trend in t-shirts not just alluding but defiantly promoting boobs. Perhaps it's the effects of the 'Free the Nipple' campaign, or maybe it's just time for women to celebrate their bodies. Whatever the reason, I love it. Just maybe not during 9-5, I'd hate to detract from the excitement of spreadsheets after all... 

(Photos: Pinterest & girlstolelondon)

I FINISHED PRETTY LITTLE LIARS & NOW I WANT A NEW JACKET

Pretty Little Liars encouraged distrust and intrigue, and that was only my reaction to their outfits.

Much like 'Sex & The City', clothing exists as an omnipotent character amongst the foursome, acting as an extension and exemplification of the differing traits that come to epitomise each of the girls. It errs on caricature at times, the belts, the jewellery, the seeming infatuation with animal emblazoned t-shirts, more is more is more. The personality of each character is summarised in their outfits in a very literal sense which is often too obvious. Aria is the 'kooky' one, see here how kooky she is by her seemingly mad-hat outfits, and look there, Spencer likes books and ponies, she therefore cannot be seen out of a polo shirt and brogues. 

Yet, something happened in Season 6. Their character troupes materialised through their clothing in a less blatant manner. As much as I understand the theatrical license afforded and expected on TV, there was something disappointing about how unbelievable their outfits were. Am I the only one who didn't wear 6" platforms to school?! And their funeral wear, hmm questionable. 

After seasons of ignoring their distracting outfits, it was refreshing to take inspiration from a show that is largely founded on multiple unbelievable situations, a host of genius-physcopaths and (spoiler alert) an unknown evil twin (please feel free to write your thoughts on that 'English' accent below). 

As much as I loved Emily's mix of leather trousers and plaid, Aria's endless collection of statement jackets aided me greatly in this 'in-between seasons' time of year. 

If you ever thought that all you needed was a black leather jacket, you are sorely mistaken. Why settle on black when pastel iterations exist to instil outfits with unexpected verve and fun. Sometimes these jackets were solid block colours, other times they were multi-hued. Moto style, bomber style, embellished, patterned, denim, even tie-dyed. She wore it all and now I want it all. 

With the weather as changeable as it has been and I assume, still will be (this is the UK after all), I find her penchant for cover-ups very apt and totally accessible. Her outfits remain decidedly 'kooky' but far more fashion and a little less costume. It marks a definite shift in her character's progression in both age and style, one that is completely relatable. Some of my outfit's past are definitely both lol-worthy and cringe-inducing. Clothing is so much a signifier of personal development and I see experimentation with jackets as a very timely style update. 

Classics benefit from a little panache at times. Jeans and a t-shirt speak of an undying cool, but basic is sometimes uninspiring and requires a little zhuzh. Take for example Aria's blue jeans and red body, which in enough itself speaks of a Riviera insouciance, but teamed with a black leather jacket replete with leopard print sleeves and POW! a double-take worthy outfit is made. And her yellow tassel earrings up the ante further. Secondly, take my next example - though blue and green supposedly should never be seen without a colour in-between, Aria's outfit scoffs at this mantra. A simple baby blue body and skinny jeans are revved up with a vibrant green embroidered bomber jacket, accessorised with an of-the-moment name plate necklace. Both outfits are simple enough to be recreated tout suite with a little assistance from your jacket friend.
     

After committing more time than I care to admit finishing all 7 Seasons, my take-aways are: 

1. That I will never look at a black hoodie without shuddering again.

2. That I will always be nice to people - especially twins...

3. That I have a new-found desire to multiply my jacket collection. I figure that the simple addition of a jacket increases the outfit possibilities of my pre-existing basics. Therefore increasing my entire wardrobe's cost per wear. So, effectively spending money in the short term, saves me money in the long term. 

Was that convincing? Regardless, I'm off to buy this and find my next Netflix addiction...

(Photos: taylor-miller.com, glamour.com, stepupanddressup.com, accesshollywood.com, pinterest & H&M.com) 

AN ODE TO GETTING OLD BUT NEVER GROWING UP

This week it was my birthday.

(Here's one I made earlier...)

I am now at an age where I will forget the specifics and refer to myself rather as a twenty-something.

They say that age is but a number. Yet ageing is a real bummer. As I fall ever further into my twenties, I feel each passing year becomes a countdown of sorts. Like a timer set for a specific purpose, that remains elusive to me. It's an anxiety that despite the celebrations and copious amounts of chocolate cake, plagues me.

Milestones encourage reflection, a pin in the map of your life. Think of all the New Year's resolutions to do better, be better, read more, drink less, save, spend on experiences, be active, be grateful... Promises founded on good intentions but often come to act as a means of measuring short comings.

Setting goals is a healthy part of personal development, as is self reflection, but perspective is important when evaluating your accomplishments. I think a lot of feeling like an under achiever is due in part to our social media inundated lives, the Instagram effect if you will. It's hard not to live comparatively to the filtered lives of everyone else - who are obviously having more fun, more success and more luck at taking selfies than you.

Herein lies the need for perspective. I don't really know what other people do in their day-to-day lives. But I'm pretty sure that they all have days when their hair is reminiscent of Edward Scissor Hands, that there skin resembles a craggy rock surface and that their day is as exciting as watching grass grow. What I'm also sure of is that these are the moments that won't make it on to their curated profiles. And I don't blame them. Putting your best life out there is the norm. These are moments worth capturing, reliving and reflecting on. It's like a montage of your best bits. But the worst bits, though not Insta-worthy, are worth remembering if only to acknowledge the less than ideal moments that you've overcome. 

Ageing is inevitable. Living everyday to the fullest is unrealistic. Some days will suck, others will suck less. At times you'll feel like you're winning, in the next minute not so much. But the peak might be higher than the pit is low. And that is life. Our quest is to find fulfilment, whatever that may be. Year by year we might get closer or realise that our 'end goal' is just the beginning, it may change as we develop or remain a stalwart that we work towards.

Consider every wrinkle a new patch in the quilt of life. Every set back a rerouting to an unknown adventure. Every bad day a precursor to a better one. Let the ticking clock be the beat that you dance to. And that elusive end goal the thing that empowers you. Have a day in bed. Let your hair be unwashed. Forgo makeup. Life is best lived in those in-between moments that are often overlooked.

Here's to many more years, many more hair styles (bad and good), many more laughs and just as many tears. I hope that 26 is just as exciting and equally mundane as 25 was.

(Photos: @brokentart & unknown)

THE BEST £12.00 I'VE EVER SPENT

So good in fact that I bought more than one...

It happened in Zara. 

And yes I know, this blog is in part a repetitious musing on my love of Zara. However, not to sound saccharine, but Zara really does offer affordable trend driven pieces. Allowing any and all to 'try out' their every fashion whim, without fear of having to sell a kidney or take in a strange lodger. But what I like even more than Zara's existing affordability is their very generous sale discounts.

There is nothing more satisfying than scoring something for a fraction of the price. Some items are always worth picking up come sale time, think basic tees for example. Some items afford you the opportunity to try out a trend with zero commitment or £££'s wasted. And then there are those items that have resided on your lust list for as long as you can remember, only them to finally be realised with the coming of the Zara sale. 

The magic of this particular sale is that the bounty seems to runn'eth over the cup shop floor. Each visit brings about new finds. The stock un-merchandised, rammed on to every rail. T-shirts, jumpers, skirts, all hanging together, the potential in each waiting to be discovered. It's a trove of zeitgeisty slogan t-shirts, gingham and voluminous sleeves bigger than a Kardashian's derriere. There is the occasional curve-ball, something so outrageous as to cause a pause in the meticulous search for the next new thing. A purple t-shirt with a toucan splashed across the front, replete with yellow fluff is such an example. Needless to say that didn't make it into my basket. 

(Minus the designer labels & about a couple of thou, this is how I felt after my Zara mad dash and I still had change for a coffee)

 

But it seems that my best buys all came in the very welcome price bracket of '£12.00'. And I'm not talking about your standard t-shirts that tend to hover in the realm of this price come sale time. No, I'm talking faux leather trousers, the most perfect structured white shirt, two pairs of 3/4 length black trousers (that are anything but basic, featuring exposed zippers, thigh splits and flares so wide as to make me think them a complete right-off should the wind pick up) and lastly, a pair of metallic copper coloured brogues. Not your everyday cast-off sale items ey?

£12.00 used to be but a number, four trips to Starbucks, 1,200 penny sweets, a new release DVD... but now it is an emblem of possibility, of discovery and of my forever love of Zara, amen.

(Photos via: Pinterest)    

YOU'VE HEARD OF MILLENNIAL PINK, BUT WHAT ABOUT PURPLE?

You'd be forgiven for thinking that everyone is walking around in rose tinted glasses recently. Everything features a rosy hue, pink becoming a relative neutral for today's millennial set. Pink is as prolific as fake tan is on TOWIE. But please don't mistake this as a roast. It's not. It's an exploration of colours new, a horizon that goes beyond the flush of pink and ventures into a haze of purple.

I'm thinking, lets give pink the boot

Maybe it's the weather - the UK was lucky enough to see the sun for three whole consecutive days last week and we moaned for exactly that same amount of time. Yet that flirtation with Summer was enough to get me hooked on all things purple. 

Much like my dalliance with yellow, I wasn't immediately taken with purple. I couldn't think of three ways to style it - which is my rule to live by. I moved on and went about my life. Although I didn't really. Before I knew it, every rail of clothes I stood before, I found myself drawn to any and everything purple. I'd walk away knowing that it was wrong, a partnership that would never work in the long haul. However, I started thinking. Maybe we could work together. 

I sat, deep in thought and had a long chat with myself, 'could I make purple work for me?' The answer after much soul searching was 'Yes!' 

I started small with a basic crew neck lilac t-shirt. I then thought hard for the second time that day... How exactly would I style this proclamation of rebellion? I was standing alone amongst a sea of blush coloured millennials. My deliberate detachment had to make an impression, or I'd risk looking like I didn't get the memo of the 2017 dress code of life, or that my colours had run in the wash.

I turned to the internet and got lost in the black hole of possibility. Here's what I found:

Yes, it is technically Summer, but UK weather. Tiffany Hsu makes a good case for wearing a blanket as an overcoat and an efficient street sweep. Side note: purple & orange = thumbs up.

What better way to be inducted into purple than in a comfy, oversized jumper? I wouldn't quite recommend this exact one - it's Vetements, synonymous with unnecessarily exorbitantly priced goods  *see the DHL t-shirts*. But the mix of high/low is truly inspired. I need a purple jumper like, yesterday & a beaded shrug the day before. 

Take a low maintenance basic, e.g the tracksuit pant. Add in a vibrant hue to prevent boredom from setting in. Pair with one minimalistic pair'a pointed toe boots, an unassuming hoodie that may or may not have originated in the mens department, et voila!

I feel like this outfit exemplifies the sporadicity of life/the weather right now. There's something refreshing in bearing your navel, yet hiding your arms/hands in what appears to be a disfiguring purple marshmallow. I laaaav eeet. The florals, the blue pop, the texture. Yes.

Do you feel inspired yet?? 

'Why can't you wear pink and purple' I hear you ask. Well, if you're a fence-sitter then I guess you can. But lets be dramatic and pick a side. It's the biggest thing since Team Edward vs Team Jacob; since smooth peanut butter vs crunchy peanut butter; since The World vs Liv (Love Island)! It's your right to have an opinion, so use it - as long as it's in line with mine. JK :D 

(Photos via: lewismirrett.com, styledumonde.com, harpersbazaar.com, smilingischic.com & shotbygio.com) 

HOW TO: THE NEW 'NOT SO BASIC' BASIC

Of late the fashion forecast wavers between reviving the fashion void that was the Noughties - sported by any and all famous off-spring - and a more-is-more librarian Kooky-chic (see Gucci, Mui Mui & Prada). It's intimidating. How does one get dressed with such a miscellaneous assortment of inspiration on offer. 

(Hoodie & blazer - who'd have thunk it?!)

We had Normcore a while back, championed by the likes of Phoebe Philo and thus every other fashion-y person the world over. It endorsed a streamlined aesthetic, completely nondescript outfits punctuated only by the vibrant green of the Stan Smiths that acted as your 'in' to the upper echelons of fashion-dom.  

(Tip: Elevate your basics with luxe fabrics in rich shades like the above velvet bomber)

However, in quite a reactionary move, personality and panache were served in spades by the likes of Gucci and Dolce & Gabanna. A more is more aesthetic riled against the bland practicality of Normcore. And that's where we find Athleisure, a midway point that sees the elevation of basics in an unexpected and often unconventional way. 

It is a trend of rarefied tastes. Mixing basics with an element of trash; a Juicy Couture tracksuit with a vertiginous stiletto, a sports bra with a blazer, gym leggings with fishnet tights. It shouldn't work but it strangely does - sort of.

(Kendall again, elevating your usual comfy clothes with pointed-toe booties and a chic carry-on, not to mention the risqué transparency making her lounge-wear decidedly luxe)

   

However, proceed with trepidation, styling classic pieces with a touch of bad taste is a tricky line to walk. Also it is essential to remember that models are afforded much more leeway than the average person. Take for example Kendall Jenner's recent transparent airport outfit. The mere mortal will not look chic and daring, they will look like they don't own a mirror, or have friends to warn them that they have an extreme case of VPL. Also leggings should have ALOT of spandex in them to create a sleek, tight silhouette - nothing needs to be flapping around in the wind, that is not the kind of bad taste I'm proposing adopting here! 

With that being said, injecting personality into your basics is easier than you might think if you follow the formula: basic outfit + elevated accessories, or vice versa: elevated outfit + basic accessories. For example, a basic tee, lounge trousers paired with a fantastic heel, red lip and gold hoops. Or, a slinky slip dress with a basic pair of trainers.

(See above: slinky leggings & cargo trousers are zhuzhed up with patent accessories & the strappiest of heels)

Once you've mastered the high/low balance your wardrobe is your oyster. Endless possibilities await: A crew neck tee under a slip dress with a bomber jacket slung nonchalantly over the shoulders, the highest of heels and a messy top knot. A crisp white shirt with boyfriend style denim shorts, a neckerchief and a scrappy sandal. Sports leggings, a bralet and whatever your shoe of choice... 

 (KKW showcasing how to go straight from P.E class to the school disco & Kendall, setting a fine example in elevating a basic white t-shirt & jeans combo)

Though as stated above, the possibilities may be endless, I will stop listing, or this could get awkwardly long. The key is to experiment and now that you're clued in on how to amp a look up or casj a look down, just run with it. And who knows, maybe you'll master the transparent tracksuit - make sure to let me know if you do!

(Photos: pinterest, InStyle, Harpers Bazaar, justjared.com Vogue & WhoWhatWear.co.uk)