Spring Haul: Wardrobe Re-style

Cherry blossoms below my apartment. 

Spring has finally sprung here and I've been turning my wardrobe upside down trying to put together outfits suitable for the suddenly warm weather. Of course, even though I have more than enough clothing, somehow I feel like I have nothing to wear, it's all old! I'm sure you've all stood and looked at your wardrobe and thought that at least once or twice right?!

If you saw the room that has become my walk-in closet you'd know I really don't need to go out and start buying a whole new spring wardrobe though. I decided to go out and pick up just a couple of new items to try and shake the idea of doing just that. The aim being to re-invigorate what I already have instead. Sometimes I find that just by getting a few new things I suddenly have so many more options incorporating older clothes.

Since Zara always has a habit of sucking my bank balance dry and is 20-30% more expensive here in Korea (talk about adding insult to injury!), I made a pact with myself not to go near it. Instead I headed to H&M and Forever 21, both much more wallet friendly. Turns out there's a fair amount of stuff I liked in there too...surprise, surprise!! I managed to exercise a little restraint though, a pretty amazing feat for me!

Here's the items I decided could re-invigorate my wardrobe for spring:

Cream Dipped High Low Hem Dress - F21. This is my favourite buy, I'm sure it'll become my 'go to' summer dress.
It'll work for evening or dressed down with sandals and tan accessories for a summer day.

Black Short Flared Skirt - H&M. A basic staple that'll work with so many tops and jackets, again day or night.
Big floppy hat - Forever 21. These babies add glamour and style to just about any outfit.

Purple and Blue Floral Skirt - H&M. Bright, summery and a very cute option for day with sandals or dressed up with some wedges for a summer evening out.

Accessories can absolutely make or break any outfit so of course I had to pick up a few new options.
Turquoise Headband, spiked bracelet and gold bangles - F21. Long tassled necklace - H&M.

These few additions have really helped to refresh my wardrobe and the way I'm looking at it. I feel like I can combine the new items with older pieces to make lots of brand new outfits now!

Blackout.

When I was a teenager I hated wearing black. I thought it was a dull, lifeless colour and associated it in my head with funerals. Nowadays my opinions completely changed. In the last week I seem to have gone a little crazy about black though, purchasing several new black items. The fact they say black is slimming may have played a small part in that, haha!  Black's also possibly the easiest colour to wear. What it lacks in colour can be made up for by varied fabrics and textured details. Black can also be worn in a beautifully simplistic way.

I've never been one for simple though so on my latest shopping trip as soon as I caught a glimpse of shimmering black sequins in Forever 21 I had to try it on. I'd been wanting some kind of snazzy black jacket, especially with party season approaching and I'm sure you've all worked out I love sparkly stuff by now, right?! So...a fully sequined black jacket was perfect for me. I love it and of course it was a steal since it came from F21.

Black sequin jacket - F21

I was aimlessly browsing the Internet when I came across my next black purchase. It actually arrived on my birthday which was nice timing. I'd wanted a new black handbag for ages now, mainly because I've been ruining my favourite, rather expensive black Bally handbag by taking it to work everyday. I didn't want anything expensive but I did want something cool looking.

Wedge Bootie Love - Forever & Today.

Say hi to my new loves. Wedge booties have been on my mind for a while now. I specifically was after a black suede pair. They have the ability to lengthen your legs beyond belief and yet they remain fairly practical. They can be dressed up or down. Pretty tunic dress or skinny jeans, they'll look equally great with both.  

With all the above in mind I've been scouring the internet for a pair because most stores here don't have my size, only a US9 I hasten to add. I checked every online shoe store I know. There was a cute pair on Steve Madden but I couldn't really commit without trying the size first. Then a friend of mine who I'd mentioned this to said she'd seen a pair in Forever 21. I had to go look. As soon as I got to the footwear I spotted them. They were perfect; but then I remembered where I was and how my feet are bigger than the average man's here (they have small feet, I do not have clown feet)! There was only three pairs there and as I turned them over to check sizes I was willing them to be my size. They were! Yey! 

In fact, I guess F21 stocks my size and has next to no demand for it because they had loads of shoes in my size. I couldn't help myself from picking up the leopard print peep-toe ones too. After all, two pairs at Forever 21 still costs less than one pair just about anywhere else.

Now, I know some people hate leopard print but I'm having a serious print obsession moment. Worn with a classy non-slutty outfit a touch of print can look great. Here's my proof for you;

Maybe not appropriate for winter in Korea though. Sigh.

                                                                    Source: quid-est-veritas.tumblr.com via Amelia on Pinterest

Have I convinced you?

 

I tried to find the boots on the website to link them up for you guys but unfortunately I couldn't so you may have to go check out your local F21. Even if they don't have the boots you're bound to find something you want. I can't seem to get out of there without buying at least two or three things. I also picked up a cute knitted scarf and some bangles on this trip.

More Forever 21 finds

Leather studded bangle set. Gold 'Love' bangle. Knitted scarf with metallic gold thread.

Leave me a comment and let me know your take then go tempt yourself on Forever21.com

xxx

A Ring Thing.

Lately I've been gravitating towards rings. Previously I never even bothered to look at rings, this was for a couple of reasons.

Firstly because my boyfriend said his ex-girlfriend used to wear really tacky ones and that rings remind him of her. Clearly reminding him of her just wasn't something I wanted to be doing.

Second reason is because I've always felt I have odd hands.

No doubt the later is just in my crazy paranoid brain and since I've now reached the awesome I-don't-actually-care-about-you're-ex-girlfriend-anymore phase I seem to have started taking an interest in rings.

Recently I went shopping and picked up four new ones. My favourite of them is a gold and black leopard.



My new favourite accessories to buy - rings. Bracelet - Swarovski.



Rarrghhh!

He looks pretty damn cool even if I do say so myself. What's even cooler is he only cost me about $5 from Forever 21! They have a lot of very awesome rings in right now. I had to stop myself from buying about ten that I wanted. In the end I wittled it down to just three :'(

Domed Jewel Ring - Forever 21

Love Ring - Forever 21.

No doubt I'll just end up buying the others when I'm next there though. I really can't help myself when they're so cheap.

I picked up the fourth at H&M.

Black and Silver Chunky Ring - H&M

It was also a bargain. Let's face it though, you don't have to spend a fortune on accessories when you can buy ones that look great at shops like these.

I recommend you save your money for gorgeous real leather handbags instead. Pleather and P.V.C handbags at these kind of shops are sadly not such a great buy or look!

Please follow me. I'll be posting about color blocking tomorrow!

Ta ra for now xxx

Stress relief.

Another week has passed. I didn't mean to post so little this week but it seems that time got away from me. Earlier in the week I wrote about my 'Terrible Tuesday'. Because of that and because he's also lovely my boyfriend thought it would be nice to take me for a picnic by the river here in Seoul. He figured some vitamin D and fresh air (we live in a city of over 10 million people) might help cheer me up. I'm pleased to say he was right and the week has picked up a lot since then!

Casual and comfortable. Cream vest-H&M. Floral cream trimmed top-Forever 21. Denim skirt-Diesel.

Handbag-Zara.

Heart clasp bracelet-Boutique in Seoul. Tasseled crystal bracelet-Accessorize. Watch-Rolex. Assorted Bracelets-H&M

The lovely man with the plan! ♥

The grateful and now happier lady.

We ate our picnic laid on the grass watching the people go by. We stayed until the sun disappeared behind the city horizon. Sometimes I feel like I never switch off except for when I sleep. Internet, blogging, TV, phone, working, you know how it is. It was nice just to be still and quiet for a while.

Afterwards Steve drove us to Starbucks for a coffee hit. On the way we stopped and picked up one of my all-time favourite naughty treats, a cupcake! ☺ I guess Steve deemed it acceptable to be the enabler given my stressful week. They might not be healthy diet friendly food but boy they sure do make me happy!!

Non-fat latte with full fat cupcake. Haha!

'Funky Berry' cupcake.

Sadly for me the deal was I had to share the cupcake with Steve to save myself from the full calorie whack! At least now my sweet cravings have been satiated for a while. That's what I'm telling myself anyway.

So all in all it was a beautiful afternoon, a pleasant interlude during the weekly rat race.

It really helped me relax and step back from everything for long enough to realize that I have no real reason for getting stressed, it does no good. In fact I highly recommend you switch off you're computer now and go do something to help yourself relax and tune out. If you're feeling really stressed treat yourself to a little (yes, little..not a lot) of whatever makes you smile. It will work wonders.

Actually, I think on that note I'm going to switch off now. Don't worry I'll be back to share more soon. I'm going out tonight for my friends birthday. So excited to get dressed up. Pictures will follow soon I'm sure!

Have a lovely relaxing weekend and make sure you go make the most of it!

xxx

Practicing self control in Forever 21 and Accessorize. Plus metallic nails!

So with yesterday being the first Saturday after my pay day *woooohoooooo* naturally I decided I had to buy some new things. Not that I don't buy new things during the rest of the month. It just feels necessary and justifiable to do it when you've just been paid!

So, here in Korea there aren't hundreds of shops that stock my size, everyone here is so darn petite!! You can imagine what I look like by comparison, 5'11'' and sadly NOT petite at all :'( *sob sob*

Thankfully they have H&M, Zara, Mango, and Forever 21 here so all is not lost! Actually it's not even close to lost, I LOVE all these stores! Haha! What makes me feel even better is that if I were in England I'd have to be living in Birmingham or London to experience the joy that is Forever 21. The London location only opened on the 27th of July this year.

I read an article on the Daily Mail about the 'scores of shoppers' lining up in the street to get in and it actually made me smile, a little triumphant that I've been shopping in Forever 21 happily line-less for about 2 years here! Hehe!

So here is what I picked up:



Forever 21 - Short floral dress



I love that this dress has built in moulded cups!

The dress I bought is here, it's $22.80. I can't seem to find it on the UK site only the American site, sorry :(

I also bought a scarf. Yes, yes...I know, it's summer! You don't have to tell me that, it's 32 degrees Celsius here today. It's just that I'm kind of obsessed with scarves and when it comes around to autumn I'll want a leopard one just like this and I won't be able to find it in any of the shops. So it seemed to make sense to just buy it now.



It's really light material with a ruched effect.

I actually did amazingly well not to buy a lot LOT LOT LOT more. Forever 21 is more expensive here in Korea than in the U.S. but it's still pretty damn cheap in the scheme of things. Sometimes that fact lures me into a bit of a buying frenzy. It goes like this....

I see something...'ooh that's pretty' I think...I kind of like it....I definitely don't LOVE it. 'No, it's not 'wow', I'm not getting it...I'm walking away now...but...'Oh wait...how much is it?...'It's how much??!!...'Oh what the hell, it's only blah blah £/$s' ...It's in my basket!

I'm finally at the checkout now...the shop assistant says to me: 'The total is $200 (£120)'...My face grimaces....I think to myself...'a a h ...Sh*t! I've done it AGAIN'!!

And that's how Forever 21 goes for me.  Every.  Bloody.  Time.

I actually bought the same maxi dress in two different colors a little while ago along with two maxi skirts that I've worn once. Basically the cheapness usually entirely voids me of my ability to shop discriminately. Do you see the problem I face??!

Anyway...if you're not lucky unlucky enough to live near a Forever 21 like me you can shop on their U.S. website or U.K. website. I warn you, you may spend more money than you mean to!

I also visited my favorite British export here, Accessorize! Another mistake. As the name suggests it's an accessory shop. My lack of control in Forever 21 pales into insignificance when compared with this place. It's just all so sparkly and pretty!!

Accessorize goodies!! The photo doesn't show how nicely
the crystal bracelets twinkle. Trust me though... they're so pretty
and they won't tarnish either (I HATE when that happens!)

Finally, I picked up some new nail polishes to add to my ever growing collection ~ which quite frankly is worrying! My mum said I have a nail polish hoarding problem when she visited and saw how many I have. She's probably right but I'd rather have that problem than the problem of FUGLY hands and feet!! Hehe ;)

I've been hoping to find a place that sells the Minx nails but have yet to do so. If you don't know what Minx Nails are then take a look here but I warn you it may cause serious cases of nail envy!

I think I may have to order from the Internet instead. But I did find these metallic nail polishes to use in the meantime. They create a fairly good shiny metal effect, nothing like Minx does, but it'll have to do in the meantime.

Nail polish from The Face Shop.

I bought these from a Korean store called 'The Face Shop' but I know that they're really similar to metallic polishes that brands like Orly and O.P.I make so you'll be able to find them if you do an Internet search.

Here's what the metallic rose pink looks like (on my feet though, sorry, feet are odd, I'll do finger nails in future!):

Rose pink metallic nail polish - It's no Minx but it is pretty.

Right, I'm off to find other things to spend my pay check on. Please feel free to leave a comment if you read this and follow my blog. I will happily follow you back :)

Have a great Sunday everyone!

xxx