Outfit Of The Day: CLARKS #FREEYOURFEET CHALLENGE!

Hellooo!

What absolutely gorgeous weather we're having and as per usual I'm cooped up inside a shopping centre for the best part of the day and unable to enjoy the sunshine boo!

However yesterday was my Mumma's birthday so I made a surprise journey back to the Lake District to spend the afternoon with the birthday lady! We ended up going to the local park which is lovely at this time of year as all the bluebells are out and everything is colourful :)

I was kindly sent these sandals from Clarks so I could take part in the blogger #freeyourfeet challenge. I have to admit, I don't like my feet so it's rare that they actually get to see daylight-saying that a couple of coats of  Barry M-Green Berry polish and a generous helping of body butter and they don't look too bad!

The 'Studio Beat' sandals are really great quality as you would expect from Clarks. The metallic leather is really on trend & I love the simplistic T-bar design. They are also super comfy thanks to the padded insoles and softwear technology. Another point to mention is that Clarks are amazing as they always do half sizes. I must have odd shaped feet as I'm usually a 7-8 (hello bigfoot!) so these sandals in a 7.5 are perfect :)

Clarks have a bit of a rep for being a bit old-fashioned but their latest collections are really trend-inspired. I'm loving the hot pink, snakeskin & buckled ankle strap details in the new summer range!

Cropped tee: Primark

Silk Skirt: Oilily via Charity Shop

Denim Jacket: Charity Shop

Sandals: Studio Beat, Clarks

So my outfit is reflective of every outfit I will be wearing this summer. A cropped tee & high-waist skirt/shorts is pretty much my go-to outfit topped off with my denim jacket.

I found this gorgeous Oilily skirt in the charity shop last week. I originally saw it in the kids section and picked it up for my little sister but when I got home I tried it on and it fits me! The pattern is really cute and it is made of silk. On the website they cost around 50 euros but this one was only £1.99! I LOVE it when that happens.

Thanks to Clarks for sending me these lovely sandals. Also thanks to my mum for taking these photos! Darn it I wish I had a photographer & a gorgeous location all the time for outfit posts...

Have you had chance to #freeyourfeet yet? Do you wear Clarks shoes?

Thanks for reading :)

Rachelle xxx

Charity Shop Chic: BUMPER EDITION!

Hello everyone,

 So I've been a bit lapse on the whole charity shop blogging, although that doesn't mean I've not found anything! I did attempt to make a video showing all the things I'd managed to find but I just look like such a goon, hopefully I'll feel more confident doing them in the future. Until then here are my favourite buys from the last few weeks...

St Michael Houndstooth Jacket £2.00: Really cute 60s inspired jacket. There was a teeny mark on the cardigan in the shop so she let me have it for £2, nothing a bit of Vanish couldn't sort out :) I love the gold buttons!
Jaeger Wool Cardigan £3.50: This cardigan is much brighter than the photo and its a lovely thick quilted wool material. Great for the transition from coat to thinner outer layers for spring (haha it's peeing it down as I type this!) Again I must've been having a thing for gold buttons that day as this one has them too!

Floral Crop Top £3: Not sure what brand this is but I'm guessing it's just a high street cheapy. I used to be very particular about not buying high street brands in charity shops unless it was decent quality but I've worn this little crop top so much already and it's still looks new!
Polka Dot Crop Top £2: I've worn this polka dot number so many times too! It's actually a size 16 (I'm more of an 8-10) and has a big square neck but I just wear it backwards and it's a relaxed, oversized crop shape :)

Fred Perry Tee £2.99: I'm having a bit of a Fred Perry moment, I bought my Fred Perry dress from TKMaxx a few weeks ago for a bargain of £25 and then I spotted this beauty in the mens section of the charity shop a couple of days ago! It looks really cute with my denim shorts. I was contemplating whether to go a bit scissor happy and cut the sleeves and length a bit but I've decided against that, instead I'm going to appreciate it's classic t-shirt shape.
Tie Dye Sweater £1.99: If you follow me on Instagram (which you totally should by the way!) you will have noticed this tie dye top getting a lot of attention! I wear it so much! I remember being in Oxfam thinking 'it's awful but I love it' so for a measly £1.99 I just couldn't leave it behind.

Printed Shorts £1.50: Ok so these shorts are actually pyjama shorts however I think on a sunny day I can totally get away with wearing them as daywear. I love the monochrome 'fleur de lis' print, and they are a sturdy cotton material with an elasticated high-waist :)
Diesel Dungaree Dress £3.50: Eeee when I saw these in the charity shop I actually did a happy dance (When I got into the changing room where no-one could see me!) I've been looking for a black dungaree dress for aages. I just couldn't bring myself to go into Topshop and pay ridiculous amounts for something that is having a moment in the fashion world. It fits perfectly although is a little on the short side, but hey that's the story of my life-thanks giraffe legs!

80s Leather Jacket £15: Ahhh another beautiful find! I've been on a quest for the perfect leather jacket for  like, ever. Here it is folks! Found in the mens section of a charity shop in Grange. It always pays to check out all the sections! It is really 80s, has gorgeous flocked leather panels, a leather tie belt and even a top gun lining!! £15 is such a bargain for a real leather jacket and I'm planning on getting it altered so that it fits perfectly and I can wear it forever I.D.S.T.
Tan & Black Stag Bag £2.50: I found this last week, and although it isn't vintage (Accessorize if you were wondering) it still has vintage charm. It looks like new and the gold stag head it super cute! I don't usually wear brown bags but this is a sweet exception :) I found it online and although it went in the sale and is now sold out, it's original RRP was £32 BOOM!

Oasis Checked Trousers £3: As I mentioned before my giraffe legs don't always make trouser shopping the easiest of activities, hence why I usually stick to tights and skirts/shorts combos. These trousers are just the most flattering shape I have ever worn! They are tight enough on my tiny waist, skim over my shapely bottom haha *adecdote time* Once whilst I was waiting at the train station with my headphones in but not on (anti-social) I heard a group of girls say 'Wow her bum is so out of proportion to her body, she's skinny but her butt is like HUGE!' Some people would be mortified at that comment not me though, I like my big bum! Although 'huge' is a massive exaggeration! Anyway, then the trousers taper down to a skinny leg that finish below my actual ankle instead of mid calf like most trousers-hooray for longer length! They are from Oasis, no idea how long ago though. they are a size 12L which makes me think they are quite old as it is a very small 12!

I hope you like these kind of posts, I often get asked by my friends and family if I could charity shop on behalf of them, it is difficult to shop for other people anyway especially even more so when charity shopping as you never know what you're gonna find and the sizing is so unpredictable! I genuinely wish I could be a professional charity shopper. I wonder if such a job exists...

Which is you favourite item from my 'haul'? Do you enjoy charity shopping?

Thanks for reading :)

Rachelle xxx

Obsessed: NEW FIRMOO GLASSES!

Hello Everyone,

I just have to share my new glasses with y'all, I have actually had them for a while now but I hadn't had a chance to take any decent photos of them!

They are from Firmoo, I am genuinely in love with them! I like bold, tortoiseshell glasses best and the wooden arms are an unusual design detail. They are also available in a white leopard print design, which I'm also considering adding to my collection...

 This is my second order from Firmoo, the first pair here I was sent to review and after browsing the site I decided I needed to buy this pair! They are £46.92 after the currency conversion and usually another £10-£15 postage depending on where in the world you are! They were running a promotion when I bought these (obviously, I never buy anything full price!) so I got an extra 30% off the frames so I think in total I paid £36 including prescription lenses and postage-which is amazing considering they look like an expensive pair of designer glasses. Delivery is always really fast with Firmoo considering they come from the other side of the world. 

My only niggle, and this is me being a little 'spoilt brat' is that on the website they are pictured with a pretty map design glasses case and I was sent a boring clear one with bubble wrap inside :( 

Here is my face! I'd like to think that they suit me (if I do say so myself) I am wearing my trusty 'Eurydice' lipstick from Illamasqua and my tie-dye sweater I picked up from Oxfam for a bargain of £2 :)

Because I'm super nice, I searched for a discount code for you. If you type in: EXTRA20  at the checkout you get 20% off! So head to the online store here & have a look :)

Have you ordered from Firmoo before? What do you think about online glasses companies?

Thanks for reading :)

Rachelle xxx

Vintage Love: WONDERLAND, PRESTON

Hello!

For those who have read my blog since the wee days you may remember this post about Wonderland. A lot has changed since then! Last year the old Wonderland closed down and once again Preston was left 'vintageshopless'.

 Jo, the owner and creator of all that is Wonderland continued to trade at Afflecks Palace in Manchester but when a shop became available just down the road from the previous Wonderland she said she couldn't resist having an actual shop again! 

The new Wonderland is very different to the previous, much more spacious and industrial looking. The clothing and accessories have room to show their beauty! 

Hanging branch rails and old crates house Jo's customised creations, carefully selected vintage and Pop Boutique & Lazy Oaf brands.

Admittedly it took me far too long to actually visit, working typical shop hours and commuting to Preston doesn't leave much time for mooching the shops. So when I finally visited I was super-impressed! Jo was busy in the sewing corner making gorgeous kimono jackets, all the stock looked really inviting and trend-inspired. Not like some typical vintage shops where it is full to the brim of unwearable pieces. I adored the Plumen lighting and the table at the front was a real focal point showing off the latest looks.

I think it's fantastic to have such a lovely, unique independent shop in Preston & Jo is such a talented lady, I wish her every success.

If you don't live in Preston but would still like a slice of Wonderland to spruce up your wardrobe or home check out the new online store. Also like them on Facebook to keep updated.

Wonderland is situated on Friargate, near Wetherspoons :)

Have you visited Wonderland before? What is your favourite part of the shop?

Thanks for reading :)

Rachelle xxx

Outfit Of The Day: COMMUNITY PROJECT WITH THE BODY SHOP

Hello Hello!

On Tuesday myself and my fellow body shoppers went to Ashton Park to lend our green fingers to the 'Dig In' project. 'Dig In' is a horticultural therapy charity for war veterans. They have beautiful Victorian gardens that they have completely revamped over the last 12 months. We spent the day in the glorious sunshine, painting fences & planting seeds & potatoes! It's really made me want to utilise the teeny tiny yard that we have but in the bigger picture it's making me want my own little veggie patch even more! Donna who runs 'Dig In' is such an inspiration and she is doing a brilliant job! We all felt very honored to help her with this project and we had so much fun doing it too...

Now obviously I had to make the most of the gorgeous surroundings so I asked the lovely Ness to take a few snaps on her iPhone. So this definitely isn't the most fashion forward look but for gardening it's not too bad! Also you'll have to excuse the minimal make-up and scruffy hair-manual labour chiiic ;) 

Jumper: Charity Shop

Denim Disco Pants-Missguided

Suede Dr Martens: eBay

Hair Bow: Retro Rehab (from the #nwbloggermeetup goody bag!)

Aww my new furry friend, Alfie was such a cutie! Busy being a goon and giving the fence a lick of paint!

Me looking super sexy in my hi-vis jacket! Some photos of the gorgeous gardens!

Donna, Body Shop ladies & the main boss-Alfie!

You can find more photos of us on the day here and if you want to keep up with the 'Dig In North West' events you can 'like' them on Facebook :)

If I had more time I would definitely volunteer my skills for more charities but for now I'll just have to stick to buying obscene amounts from the charity shops to help!

Do you volunteer for any charities/community projects?

Thanks for reading :)

Rachelle xxx

Whimsy Life: MINI ROOM TOUR!

Bonjour!

I know that I am an absolute sucker for room tours, I am a nosy-parker but an interior fiend! I can spend hours looking at room tours on YouTube or interior boards on Pinterest. I spent my childhood watching 'Changing Rooms' and 'The House Doctor' so I think about my living space A LOT! I would absolutely love to share all four corners of my bedroom with you but I'm not happy with how it looks. The landlord needs to give the whole place a lick of paint, new carpets wouldn't go amiss & all of my furniture is completely mismatched. However there are some cute areas of my boudoir that I don't mind sharing with y'all...

My shoe collection//Pretty, crafty books//My comfy bed//Cute storage boxes

Cakestand, marshmallow fluff & toadstool candles//Candle holders & coconut rum//Make-up storage// Mirror and antique plate

So as you can probably tell my room doesn't really have much of a theme but I'd like to think it's a bit bohemian and eclectic :) I get bits and pieces from all over the place but I thought I'd mention where a few bits came from...

Preston Flea Market: My cushions on my bed, the gold mirror and the antique plate all came from the flea market! On different occasions of course but all together the three items cost me less than a tenner! The cushions were cloth tablemats that I sewed together to make cushions!

Bargain High Street Shops: As I mentioned in a previous post Wilkos homeware is looking brilliant at the minute. They very kindly sent me the storage boxes and the tealight holder from their Wilde collection to adorn my little room. My duvet cover is also from Wilkos and is still going strong after nearly 4 years!

I got the 'R' initial mug that holds my make-up brushes from Homebargains and it was only 99p! The little drawers that hold my make-up are from Au Naturale aaages ago! Who remembers Au Naturale-it was amazing! I'm sure these drawers only cost a few quid and they have lasted almost 10 years! I think I'm going to decoupage or spray paint them as they are looking a little tatty now and could use a revamp.

Gifts: Last Christmas I received some really generous, cute homeware from my lovely work colleagues/housemates/friends! Some of the books were gifts, the toadstool candles, cakestands, flamingo make-up bag & initial tealight holder were all amazing presents!

So I hope you enjoyed this little sneak peak into my bedroom and hopefully when I'm happier with the whole look I'll share more photos or even do a cribs style video (I freaking love cribs!)

Do you enjoy room tours?

Thanks for reading :)

Rachelle xxx

Outfit Of The Day: #NWBLOGGERMEETUP

Helloo there!

My goodness what is this? An outfit post?! It has been a long while since my last outfit post and for that I do apologise. I don't have a big enough bedroom, or garden or any real space where I can set up a tripod and get a few snaps of my outfits. That being said I did take these photos in my living room! Usually the fireplace is stacked full of musical equipment so doesn't make the best backdrop. It's still not the greatest but I am trying for you guys :)

So this is the outfit I wore for the North-West Blogger Meet-up. I didn't get any good photos of my outfit at the actual event due to heavy rain and the evil winds of Preston!

 Denim Jacket: Charity Shop

 Polka Dot Crop Top: Charity Shop

Tutu Skirt: Lipsy via eBay

 Hair: Directions-Tulip & Dark Tulip mixed!

Tights: Olddd from M&S

Shoes: Adidas via Amazon

Holographic Nail Varnish: Urban Outfitters (borrowed from my housemate :P)

Kitten Nail Stickers: Claire's Accessories

Rings: eBay, and stolen from mum!

I'm making it my mission to do more outfit posts, so watch this space!

Thanks for reading :)

Rachelle xxx