Lifestyle Blogs Pick

 (Note: a completely irrelevant photo, which felt quintessentially autumnal and it was a really good pizza. If autumn is your forte, check out this and this. Many wins.)

I've really been switching up the blogs I read lately. Sometimes I drift from my regulars to newly discovered babies, and then back again. The thing about blogs is, I love them. I love snooping into other peoples lives and listing new mid-week resolutions I would like to copy (never actually works out). I love getting inspiration and ideas and seeing everyone else's Pinterest lives. 

And it's autumn now, (is it really still autun, though?) which changes the whole game. Thing is, I'm way ahead of the game. For example, yesterday I wore woollen tights. Point proven. 

Also, that means my blog list has to change - all according to the seasons - albeit not really relevant to the season in any way. 

So I've been loving lifestyle blogs, which is really just a code name for a bit of everything with really nice photos. YES PLEASE. 

And it must be a side effect of blogging because I don't really go for blogs that don't write/read well. The writing as well as the photos have to grab me. I'm totally fine with that though, it thrusts me into the world of radical, sassy, sensational, groovy and other very exciting words, and it makes me try new things. 

Like Joy's blog. Joy The Baker has been on the list for months and months now. I am in love with her Let it be Sunday series and I love actually reading her posts. Bonus: She bakes and makes food heaven too. 

I don't know what took me so long to become this crazy about these blogs but seriously, it is too far overdue. Anna and Lily are literally amazing and their blogs just happen to be jam packed with delicious lifestyle-y goodness - so just a bit of everything, then. I've really been digging their beauty posts and holiday packing guides. Good stuff. 

I am happy Daniela whenever Ellie posts something new. Ellie's Favourite Things is a mixture between a fashion and lifestyle blog - really excellent then. I have a deep-rooted love for her posts, but really, her Uni room did enough to convince me, so gold stars all round. I quite especially love her outfit inspiration. 

Quintessentially-Autumnal Comfort

Right. So when I look at this outfit, I see autumn. Autumn is for wearing no bra (except I most definitely was wearing a bra), and pairing every shoe ensemble with hidden knitted socks beneath them. This outfit essencially screams autumn - what with the super-comfy denim and sleeveless high-necked sweater (you like?). I like. This outfit is casual and comfortable and doesn't read 'I just threw on my wardrobe' per say. It's much more 'I woke up like dis', in distinction. which is good because you really pull of the whole sassy but not really trying vibe. Brown, red, classic, simple, and a subtle vintage feel. The eyeliner was thrown in for a necessary head-turn... 

Autumn plays so many mind games with us - like, is it even autumn still. We're nearly in November,people, I think I'm still managing to cling on quite well. I think the real question is, when does it become socially acceptable to walk around in your Halloween costume - before Halloween? 

I've spoken too much.

Bright on the Tartan Trend // Autumn

So I went a little overboard with the tartan trend. So what. I sensibly and intelligently selected to wear this aqua blue tartan skirt, in a very right mind frame and completely serious. I think it turned out pretty well. I hope your tartan trend life is as aggressivly aesthetic as this. 

Consider me an occasional fan of polo necks. Its totally an autumn/winter thing. I love a good, cosy polo neck to pair with any wintery ensamble, and a really minimalistic, clean poloneck is the perfect addition to a denim edit. My parents were early adopters of polo necks - back in the day. I think I wore a decent amount of them as a child and the pattern continues nicely.

Out of the wardrobe came this tartan skirt and this polo neck together, so I obviously had try them together. I am genuinely pleased. The denim jacket is an optional, but I kinda like the overall effect. The bright cherry lips pull out the pinks in the skirt, plus I feel all swish and sassy so, #whynot? The converse add to the whole 90's trend and really tones down the outfit to way below the casual marker. I like that. 

PS. Follow me on everything. bloglovin/twitter/pinterest/instagram

Top Autumn Make-Up Trends

Autumn.

1. The season after summer and before winter.

2. The best time to model warm toned make-up.

I’m not much of a big makeup wearer – skin coverage wise – but I do love to sport a statement lip or eye set, a heavy brow, or rosy cheeks – while still showing a clear natural skin palette. This season I have been leaning towards a few subtle yet audacious looks. I've been a total sucker for late-night Pinterest inspiration finding. Pinterest is such a funky place - it's like a rabbit hole of creativity controlled by smoothie enthusiasts and crazy-amazing DIY-ists. (In short, follow my Pinterest).

All the autumnal hues and colours are so warming and dark – slightly gothic, while still sweet with a Snow White appearance. I seem to choose winey purples, deep reds, golds, browns, olivey greens and indigo blues, when selecting aesthetic colours. Good stuff.

Editing autumn beauty down to a few key trends, I am 500% loving the dark blotted stained lip look – absolutely PERFECT for autumn, golden eyes (which make me feel, like, 8.5/10 pro make up artist – despite their super simple smudge application), heavy set defining brows and rosy pink cheeks. I’m getting brownie points to do serious damage with. The simple clear skin trend is so time-saving and flawless to recreate. 

80's Tartan Reign // Autumn

I am fully enjoying the sartorial throwback to all things vintage – 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s. I am loving midi skirts this season –it’s a good season - and am completely letting polo neck reign supreme in my wardrobe – which is 100% OK. 

I am totally crushing on being able to take one very vintage, unique and aesthetically crazy statement piece; and pair it with much more simpler, under-key, modern tastes to tone down the outfit. (It is absolutely socially acceptable to live in the vintage trend, please go ahead.).

I added this skirt to my collection after it had been worn for decades by my mom and made by my granny, years before. I wholly dig the idea of being able to revamp and recycle something otherwise out of style that would most definitely have ended up in the rubbish.  I think I put a casual and edgy 80’s twist on the midi tartan skirt – so mission complete.

Other perks? This outfit is the real deal: so strangely comfortable and wearable, I hit the autumn trends and I especially love the headscarf, vintage denim jacket, black biker boots and bright cherry lips – perfect for autumn 500% (HUZZAH!)

Sixties Trend Inspiration

When you're desperate for a hippo, all you do is look at pictures of hippos. When you want to get a pet stick insect, you maniacally search stick insect collar tags, right? The sixties trend is my best friend at the moment. I am majorly digging the swing dresses and high-knee boots and polo-neck sweatshirts are developing my autumn game big time. So when you want to look like you hopped in a time machine and walked out from the sixties, you just go Pinterest-crazy on the trend inspiration. I do. 

I want to give myself mini goals to get out of this urban fashion nonsense. I'm getting into berets and I'm not fighting it. I also want to conquer the idea of knee-high socks and I am super doting on cat-eye flicked eyeliner and pale stockings. And dang gurl, they had some sassy bouffant hairstyles!

Cat-eye flicked eyelier seems like a good idea to begin with, but then somewhere along the line I get suspicious of my inability to match the lines. I really just need a full-time make up artist. 

PS. You should definitely follow my Pinterest so you can keep up with all this to-do

(Photos 'borrowed' from Pinterest)

60's Inspired Swing Dress // Autumn

My family are more of a summer kin. That's where I stick out - I happen to be very much an autumn girl. I just want to put on my wellies and raincoat and go and play in the rain. No shame there.

I've been yet to join in the high-boot/ over-the-knee boot game. I was unusually reluctant to play with that game, for obvious reasons. I have now, however, fully thrust myself into the autumnal footwear trend scene, what with my new ADORABLE boots! If there is one outfit that deserves to be in the spotlight, it's this one. 

Over-the-knee boots are the bombshell when it comes to footwear. I am majorly crushing on my newly found elongated legs - *why thank you* - and the slim fit is super flattering. I really want to wear them with extra-skinny jeans or black sheer stockings and an oversized jumper.

So many outfits, so little autumn...

I love the 60's take on this swing dress - I'm really digging the aw14 trends. I have always been into the 60's style, now more than ever - thus the cat-eyed eyeliner and bouffant. With the hint of crisp in the air (AND TODAY IT STORMED AND I WAS SO HAPPY), I've seriously been loving thicker, more textured materials. Hello to the courdrouys, velvets, tweeds. All fingers point to this dress. 

I also am very pleased to report that I did not accessorise at all, because I tried to fit in with the minimalistic crowd. And it worked, I think, for this look, because the individual pieces work together  but all are very much statement pieces alone. All about teamwork. It also allowed me to fit into the 'effortlessly cool' and 'chic' categories.. so, we're winning. 

These boots need to be my autumn staple. Need.

My gorgeous hair is thanks to my lovely best friend, Beatrice;

and the make-up and photography is thanks to my other lovely best friend, Shannon... and her new camera - so thanks Shannon's parents.

Autumn Lifestyle Favourites // Music, Blogs, Books

So, um, October's here! #totallyunprepared I feel all tingly with shock and an amassed desire to use pumpkin in e v e r y t h i n g ! Also, incase you forgot, it's practically Halloween... and Christmas. I doubt you forgot. October is currently conjuring up ideas of perfect Pinterest-worthy hot chocolates, pumpkin spiced everything, slightly crazed Daniela's in witch costumes and many-a leaf printing session. We may manage the crazed Daniela. 

September was great, September edged us slowly into bringing out our jumpers and began to make us feel OK about ditching the watermelon and opting for warmer foods. I feel like, along with taste buds changing - I just really want some sweet potatoes - my favourites are changing every season too. 

I recently discovered the groovy noise of The Noisettes and Melanie Safka. I've also been listening to Bang Bang, I Love Rock N Roll, Fancy and Ain't Nobody - yep, then I start head bopping and the happy dance begins. I'm finger-crossing that it's a regular occurrence because I like to believe we all need a good head bop. The Darling Buds (probably a lot more focused on the Jamie Campbell Bower side of things) are also making the list, my favourite song being Get Your Guns. 

Also, I read a lot this month. My mid-ish-year resolution was to make time to read more. This just so happens to be the same every. s i n g l e. y e a r. I tend to read at a full-power throttle when I discover a series or author I like, and then not so much all the rest of the time. This month, at every possible moment, I could be found reading The Mortal Instruments (another Jamie Campbell Bower reference. Enjoy.). I prefer to read in the bath, before bed at night or on long car journeys - but toilet breaks and the underside of restaurant tables work just as good. 

This month there has been lots of riffraff on the Interweb. Let's talk about blogs. I have been reading A Bent Piece Of Wire - hey there, Justina Sharp (SHE LIKED MY INSTAGRAM PHOTOS!!). She's a cool gal. I also rediscovered my love for Twitter. It's like I adopted a quite big chunk of the Social Internet. 

Good stuff.

PS. Apparently 'plugged-in' in a synonym of 'groovy'. I shall be using that word more often. #favouritewords

Short Fringe Inspiration // Fringespiration

Sometimes I feel really left out because at least half of my DNA did not come from a unicorn. Other days, I'm all about being a cat. Ultimately, my goal would be to be a cat with unicorn powers, living in Hogwarts. I am still waiting for my acceptance letter, by the way - 3 1/2 years on. 

There are many things I would do if things turned out differently. My absolute and dreamiest dream just happens to be possessing a world-class steam cleaner and hiring out my services to those with the disgusting flecks of mould on shower tiles or kitchen taps. I happen to find it all extremely satisfying. 

First thing: I would get a choppy short fringe, ASAP. I have loved them for forever and ever since I first saw them I have dreamed of the many possible looks I could get away with. I love how effortlessly cool and relaxed they look, while still looking chic and slightly vintage. They completely get the tousled aesthetics and they cover all the practicalities of stay-out-of-my-eyes - so COMPLETELY PERFECT THEN.

Unfortunately, I don't have the head to make gorgeous cuts and do's a reality. I seem to have life-hacked a possible escape, by staring at everyone else getting short fridges and merely dreaming what I could do if I got one. 

Like I dream about being a unicorn... Or a cat.