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.

Autumnal Neutral Hues // Classic Outfit

So, it wasn't until after all the photos were taken that I realised how TERRIBLE my hair looks in every s i n g l e o  n  e. So the first one isn't so bad, I guess. 

The second one clearly had to be cropped - and oh, how needed it was!

This has been officially classified as my 'chic classic' autumn outfit. 

I feel it's necessary to have a classic, timeless collective to throw on and walk and be all 

'Hey, yep you, look how chic I can be'. 

Maybe.

Anyhoo, I love these pants. They add to the classic edged lines of the outfit so nicely. The colour is beautiful - autumnal and warm and beautifully tailored. Hello, my Polo Ralph Lauren trousers! 

(Serious exciting fashion stuff!)

No. Don't be too excited. They were passed down from my auntie. Forget that, though, because, frankly, who freaking cares? They're Polo Ralph Lauren. I care about that. As should you.

The shirt finishes off the tailoring perfectly and I like its slight sheerness (slight.), paired with my edgier nude buckle sandals for an ideal silhouetted outfit. 

10 Brownie points for whoever can spot the teddy bear plaster. It's seriously rad.

Autumnal Go-To Outfit

So, um, on a scale of 1 to 10 of how rebellious I felt - I would go for a firm 8.5 of a rebel chick. 

I photo-shot in the road. That's pretty unruly. 

I would have been up there with the 10s but I still skipped away when the cars came and tried to make as if I was crossing the road in case anyone saw me and felt inclined to become confused. I skip, it's how I get around. That knocked off 1.5 points.

Rocking out aside, this really is my go-to comfort outfit. 

I am seriously considering marking these jeans out as being crafted by unicorns with the tears of fluffy bunny rabbits and faeries. They are so so soft. Like soft white bread. 

And everyone needs a comfort look - other than the pyjamas-till-4 look, though that works just fine most days. Comfort is how I roll. Sassy comfort. It gives you the ability and deep-rooted power to whip out any item from your wardrobe and know you can turn some heads but you feel all day as though sleeping with the teddy bears. That's a professional skill, if you own it, milk it, thoroughly. 

Oh, and then the lighting changed. Meet Daniela the Vampire.

This top is the newest addition to my wardrobe, a seriously sexy one. I love love love getting a bargain - more than you. Seriously, what is better than nabbing a amazingly perfect Karen Millen evening top for 50p? 50-freaking-p! 

I'm bowing and you can applaud me later.

I love the crotchet effect on the top and I love how it's simple but effective slit in the lower side hem shows off a little skin, though not too much, so you can still utilise it as a chic day time top. I like that. I also happen to be head over heels for the colour; a metallic grey, not really silver though. Houses should be painted that colour. I want my room that colour. Take my money!

For me, when the cold weather makes an appearance, I like to rock up the red lipsticks and statement lips. I love the contrasting colours of the autumnal blues, greens and golds in the blanket scarf (my love for these beauties has reached worrying new heights), clashing with the matte cherry of the lipstick. 

Vans are not my vibe, really. I can get into these slip on faux leather shoes, though. They are so simplistically relaxed and monochrome - which I can totally get into - and seem to get into the groove of almost any outfit. I am truly loving the slip-on shoe trend this autumn. 

Metallic Midi Skirt // Woodland Photoshooting

Never mind the icy starts and pretty colour-changing leaves; Daniela decided to photoshoot in the scary outdoors. I'm getting brownie points to do serious damage with. I got goosebumps, since you asked.

This outfit started as 'Daniela-we're-leaving-in-twenty-minutes-are-you-awake?',

and roughly worked itself out. 

I particularly enjoy the spattered mud stained on my Converse. 

Woodland couture.

Also, apparently there was something really interesting on the floor as I happen to be looking down there in nearly all of the photos.

#Bambi, take 2.

Where this post is going, I have no idea. 

I'm sure I'll realise it when we arrive, though. 

Till then, I've made a list of certain thoughts I reflected on over these photos.

1. This outfit is totally rocking the metalic trend. Or... was that only a summer trend.

2. I'm going to wear metallic at least 6/7 times a week, anyway.

3. It's also getting waaaaay ahead of the midi skirt trend. 

4. Blurred photos look really cool.

5. You should definitely look at all my blurred photos on Instagram.

6. Can we talk about this skirt? The pale pink trend is one I can really get into, on Wednesdays. 

Pink, perfect. Talk over.

7. That's a pretty freakin' sassy elephant bag.

8. There are only 93 days left till Christmas. Im. So. Excited! 

9. That means we can accessorise our house with lights again. This year we should 100% do every room in the house. I think it gives us a unique flare from the other houses on the street. 

10. It's not often one sees a house lit up on November 20th. 

Ps. See, it got there. This post was about Christmas. Apparently.

Marchesa LFW 14 // Review

I could write several blog posts, 

each detailing another love of this gorgeous collection of 'Ready-to-Wear' 

(how could I possibly wear these outdoors?)

Spring/Summer by Marchesa. 

I could, but I'm not. 

I'm infusing you with one love in one post, 

double whammy style. 

I have managed to successfully list 500000+ reasons why I am head over heels for this collection and why I love Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig 

(undeniably cool-people names) 

for bringing it to London from America. 

And I see no reason to stop listing reasons. 

In fact, I shall list them here. 

I happen to be phasing a love of tulle, and all things netted, textured etc. 

This just happens to be the collection ranging from heavy tulle dresses,

to the most beautiful chiffon 

and silk 

and something that highly resembles plastic/fabric flowers. 

Fake flowers on a dress is fashion at it's greatest, my friend.

And then the serious addition of florals to the fabrics is just perfect. 

I love the transition to spring and summer in fashion world,

when the us-people world have just entered autumn. 

It's really really great. 

And I love the large posies in stand-out colours

- statements are in. 

Who decided? I decided. 

I, too, am truly adoring the classical, vintage, feminine, slightly bohemian

but ultra-chic whimsical-ness of the whole styling 

and the secret garden vibe channelling. 

I love love love the pastels paired with the deep crimsons and magentas 

(who knew? It works so good!). 

Lastly, anything/anyone wearing or possessing a floral crown must become my friend this moment. They're just so unbelievably pretty and summery

and perfect for wearing at every possible opportunity

- sleeping, homework, taking out the bins - everything.