Day Forty Two

Claire is wearing a black suede ribbon choker with a blue eye [Chinese bazaar, Spain], blue graduated top with shoulder cut-outs [Primark, from table top sale], black leggings [Primark], black thermal socks [George at Asda] and black canvas hi-top trainers [Dunlop, from Sports Direct].
Covadonga is wearing lilac and blue ribbons [Leeds Kirkgate Market].

I look decisively 90s today, and I'm enjoying it immensely. 

Chokers are great, they're such practical adornments! Once you've mastered the correct tightness of your knot to allow easy breathing with the choker as high as you need it, they won't bother you. No dangling and bumping on your chest when you bounce around. The little charm just lightly hangs off my neck happily, bothering no one. Mine is an eye, because I think they're pretty cool, and bit different to the usual charms of elephants, gems or shapes. 

The top I am wearing has actually been altered! I procured it cheaply because I liked the colour fade thing it had going on. It also had spikes stuck on around the shoulder cut-out sections, with one missing. Luckily, it's Primark, so I just pulled them all off and it looks much better and less try-hard. Remember alteration is easier than you may think and the beauty of reinvention is that you can buy someone's cheap ok items and make them your cheap fantastic items just with some patience!

The shoulder cut-outs are intriguing, and I think, edgeh. My shoulders are not yet colder than the rest of me, but I did accidentally put my arm through it instead of the actual wrist hole while dressing myself.

It's all quite comfy today.

Night Forty One

Claire is a wearing crown [homemade, paper and Sainbury's plastic bag], champagne ruffled dress [Charity shop] and grey leopard print thermal socks [George at Asda]. 

Covadonga is wearing a crown [homemade, paper] and light gold gauze wrap scarf [came with dress, charity shop].

Behold Queen Cov and Princess Pard! 
Our house hosted a 'Princess Night', without any real conception of what it would entail given that none of the guests were under 21. There was a crown making competition, curry and a Project Runway-esque competition to make a princess gown from plastic bags, bubble wrap and straws in 10 minutes. Of course, we all made an effort to look as princessesy as possible as well.
My dress was a lucky find pre-new year, in the evening wear section of a local charity shop. They had begun to reduce the prices of their evening wear to try and get rid of it. They then slashed the prices by half, so I got my puffball exceedingly cheaply. 
It's all very fancy dress prom. It's quite circular and the ruffles are voluminous, there are two strips to tie at the back in a bow and the waist gathering is quite a focal point. It has adjustable thin, spaghetti straps (I love that term!) which I think is wonderful, as they're subtle but there's no danger of it being pulled down like a strapless ruffly dress. It is elastically ruched at the back, which does look more pleasant and in keeping than I have described...
The colour is quite odd, a it bland but also sheeny and metallic it has photographed well, marvelously in comparison to the actual reality!
But who cares, it's a princess dress, I look like Belle and sometimes it's great to be frivolous and wear special evening wear just to sit in the basement and eat curry amidst carrier bags.

Day Forty One

Claire is wearing a men's denim shirt [charity shop], black patent leather belt with gold buckle [charity shop], Klimt print on black long skirt [Leeds Kirkgate Market], grey leopard print thermal socks [George at Asda] and  tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a black and white bandanna.

Off to the workplace today, having enjoyed a half term break as much as the students. I'm doubtful if this is formal enough. But I wanted to wear my skirt again and my shirt was on my chair this morning. And they go together. So here I am.

I have recently started saving an item after I've worn it to wear again a day or two later! I used to just wear the same thing for a few days in a row, I know I still do too, but now I'm putting it aside to reunite later in the week. It's great! I've been informed by my housemates that lots of people do this, but my love of laundry has stopped me previously.

The over-sized shirt and long skirt combo continues well. The belt pulls everything in to stop me looking like a poorly inflated column, especially in the awkward tuck zone, which is situated in a band shape, about 6 inches wide just below the belt. It's where the shirt's hem can look oddly lumpy under the skirt, it can also widen your hips, but bigger hips equals smaller waist, so not all bad!

Day Forty

Claire is wearing a men's denim shirt [charity shop], leopard print leggings [H&M, from a charity shop], grey thermal socks [George at Asda] and  tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a leopard print scarf [vintage sale].

After a long sleepless day behind me and a long screen and swivel chair filled day ahead, I have opted for comfort today. 

My over-sized plain shirt, which is denim because denim goes with basically everything without being too dark or boring a colour, lets me breathe and wriggle around comfortably without exposing any side of me. My leggings, I have since yesterday discovered, are rather comfy too. The waistband is higher and actually sits on the waist, rare in leggings, so my bake sale cake filled stomach is not under threat from a mark inducing waistband.

Comfy basic coloured casuals for everyday wear. With orange lipstick. 

Because some days need to be functional, and you only have to make a small effort to put the 'fun' in functional!

Day Thirty Nine

Claire is wearing flower corsages [mixed origins: Peacocks, Spanish chinese bazaar, charity shop], ribbons (in hair) [Leeds Kirkgate Market], gold hoop earrings [Superdrug], leopard heads and print crop top [Topshop], black studded bumbag [Primark], gold thin knit jumper (hanging form bumbag) [Laura Ashley, form a charity shop], leopard print leggings [H&M, from a charity shop], black thermal socks [George at Asda] and black canvas hi-top trainers [Dunlop, from Sports Direct]. 
Covadonga is wearing a red poppy flower garland [Topshop] and a silver and black tasseled scarf [charity shop].

Today I got up at 5am and went to a morning rave. While there I did some yoga, I had a massage in a disco, I ate vegan chocolate cake in a disco, I had a smoothie and I danced. It was a great alternative way to start my day! 

The dress code said sparkly and fabulous, so I took my gold top. I wore leggings so I'd be comfy, and bendy enough for yoga and dance bouncing. I brightened up my hair so I would be fabulous and visible in the crowd. 

My bumbag is one of my favorite, most practical items! Hands-free dancing and none of that dancing in a circle around your bags here, oh no. All my essentials are within easy reach too!

I also had to wear my ensemble to do my shopping afterwards. Going about town before going home, I got a few stares and a stall holder complimented me and said I was 'one of them funky ones' and in Morrisons, two cashiers asked me about my flowers. To record that fashion fearlessness is real and that everyone can do it, here is a photo of me after being up for nearly 6 hours at 11am in Morrisons, by the tinned tomatoes.

RAVE ON STYLISH ONES!

Day Thirty Eight

Claire is wearing a blue men's t-shirt [Primark], black patent leather belt with gold buckle [charity shop], Klimt print on black long skirt [Leeds Kirkgate Market], black tights [Spanish hosiery shop] and tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a teal scarf with navy pattern [vintage sale].

The sun is shining again, through intermittent bursts of drizzle, maybe we'll have a rainbow today. Maybe not.

I'm erring on the side of caution and wearing my own, just in case. This skirt was a great buy. It was on the £2 rail on an outside stall among other second-hand bits and bobs, and it took me a while to remember what it reminded me of. The pattern is like a combination of the intricate background of Klimt's paintings, but with a hint of 80s patterning. There are small wonky squares of colour, swirls, semi-circles in rectangles, circles and splodges that look like flowers, grids, triangles, wriggly lines and different wavy lines that look like eyes with circles between them. It's all going on today! It's nice to wear something arty, especially as there's so many different patterns in all kinds of art, other than Aztec patterning which appears to be particularity prevalent in the last few years, waiting to be stitched in or glued onto garments.

Finally, the co-ordination continues! I am matching my top with one colour from my skirt today to avoid looking too eyesore-ish! 

Day Thirty Seven

Claire is wearing an orange-edged scarf with blue and pink flowers [Spanish charity shop], orange tassel earrings [handmade with tassels from Leeds Kirkgate Market], burnt orange cropped jumper [Primark], denim sack dress [Topshop], black tights [Spanish hosiery shop] and tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing orange flower clips [Chinese bazaar, Spain].

Orange is such a great colour, probably my favorite! It's not as bright and loud as red and unlike yellow...well, it's just a fantastic medium between the two. There's neon, burnt orange, sunny orange, egg yolk orange, reddy orange: there's one for everyone! It's a happy colour and it's named after a fruit rich in vitamin C. 

I am adding an extra layer to my triangle today and playing with proportion because it's a loose jumper, so I'm extra baggy today. I look like a colour block cone.

Moreover, I enjoyed my tassels so much yesterday I found some more to wear. I bought some of those cheap earring hooks and then simply threaded the tassels from a haberdashery store through the loop on the end. I have been asked if they're from curtains (they may well have been designed for that purpose), but I like upholstery and homeware. The only downside is that they swing quite frequently near my eyes when descending stairs and near my mouth when it's windy outside.   

Day Thirty Six

Claire is wearing a large flowered red tassel-edged scarf [charity shop], denim sack dress [Topshop], gold bracelet [jumble sale], black tights [Spanish hosiery shop] and black canvas hi-top trainers [Dunlop, from Sports Direct]. 
Covadonga is wearing a hand knitted light pink cardigan [charity shop].

More favourable shape comparisons today, this time to the female toilet emblem owing to the triangular nature of her dress. I have been told I resemble a Russian peasant, an edgeh Russian peasant as well. 

The weather is awful and cold and wet and the only thing to do, if you have nothing else to do, is to stay indoors and curl up. We've both added extra layers today, well, Covadonga is rather swamped, but warm nonetheless. The lack of fabric at the top of this dress (obviously compensated for beneath) requires coverage, so I have triangle folded it over my shoulders and then wrapped the ends around my waist. This does however leave a triangle of dress showing on my back, but never-mind, I'm planning on reclining a lot today anyway. If needs be I can untie it and drape it over myself for extra warmth and naps. 

Red and blue combinations work quite well, especially as denim is a good base for all kinds of patterns and colours. I look quite vivid and the pattern adds extra interest, as do the tassels, which I love, because clothing should be tactile. Imagine if babies would like it or not! Is it colourful or print-iful enough, does have those mini mirror discs, or bells, or sequins or tassels or a mix of textures?!

Children are largely fearless with dressing, they're honest and ruthless, and make odd pairings of things. The ultimate true hipsters.

Day Thirty Five

Claire is wearing a pear necklace [charity shop], denim sack dress [Topshop], gold charm bracelet [Camisetas Asturias, Spain], black tights [Spanish hosiery shop] and black canvas hi-top trainers [Dunlop, from Sports Direct]. 
Covadonga is wearing a dark denim shirt [vintage Next, from a charity shop] and a pink, blue and green dappled scarf [charity shop].

Today I am triangular. The best kind of shape, like Toblerone and pyramids. 

I am wearing a sack dress, which as you can probably gather is baggy and sack-like, mine being denim has a more triangular shape to it as the fabric holds up better. Sack dresses are great! They're airy in summer, they hide everything from the bust down, without making you look fat because the viewer knows the dress is designed as such and they're just delightfully comfy. No waist band to dig in or thin straps to slide around, it's like wearing a pleasant carrier bag! This kind of dress is also nicely childish, you can run and jump around without the top really budging; it's designed with movement in mind!

Following on from the childishness, I am wearing several charms today. I have a charm bracelet, dedicated to the Spanish region Asturias where I lived last year, which has cows, an apple and the flag dangling from it (it was a dairy county that also produced cider). My necklace, which I obsessed over earlier this year has a green pear on a thin gold chain. It's so playful and fun, and who doesn't like a good pear!

Let us begin the charm offensive fellow stylish ones.

Day Thirty Four

Claire is wearing gold hoop earrings [Superdrug], thin gold chain [charity shop], gold chain [charity shop], long red dress with black and white flowers [Leeds Vintage Kilo Sale], grey leopard print thermal socks [George at Asda] and black canvas hi-top trainers [Dunlop, from Sports Direct]. 
Covadonga is wearing a red paisley scarf [charity shop] and chunky gold chain [Claire's Accessories]. 

Today I resemble a young Lily Allen, which is very edgeh, if I do say so myself. 

Wearing lots of gold jewelry in the early 2000s was considered quite chavvy, but nowadays it's fairly hip and hipster. I love gold things! I feel gold goes with more things than silver too. I speak like I own real gold (I don't...), but if I did I could end my eternal search for gold hoops that don't fade to pewter in a few months.

Long dresses like this are great for dressing up and dressing down. During summer, this could be everyday wear, but (and if I remember to fix the button holes) I could also wear it for going out with the right accessories and shoes.

Finally let's hear it for dresses and trainers in combo! Lily got it right, comfort and comfort. Long means I can layer up underneath and my shoes mean I can pad around  being busy all day. 

Chav chic!

Day Thirty Three

Claire is wearing a black woolly hat [Swansea City FC Official Club Store], grey cotton sweater [Leeds Kirkgate Market], long red dress with black and white flowers [Leeds Vintage Kilo Sale], grey thermal socks [George at Asda] and tan leather boots [Topshop].
Covadonga is wearing  a red edged jungle and animal print scarf [Spanish charity shop]. 

Today's hair requires hat to cover it. My roots were just not up to scrutiny today and they are hiding under my football team's logo instead. The hat is one of those awkward types that some hipsters wear, and get away with, despite it looking like a condom. I think I have successfully passed the hipster test, although I had no real choice... 

The grey sweater that goes with everything is back in force as my go-to extra layer for today's cold, it also matches my socks nicely. The black off my hat co-ordinates with the flowers on my dress as well.

My dress is buttoned all down the front, but some of the lower buttons always escape, so leggings were essential. It's also quite summery, and it's obviously not summer right now. Seasons should not stop you mixing from across the seasons, a repetitive phrase but you get the idea. Bright colours and lighter fabrics do not only belong in summer meanwhile boots and dark tones are not owned exclusively by winter. As long as you're warm or cool enough you can mix and match seasonal wear at your whim. Today it's pretty great, because when I come home to the warmth of the central heating, I can wander around like it is in fact June (what can I say, we pay all inclusive, and the boiler needs to earn its keep surely...).

Day Thirty Two

Claire is wearing a flowered shirt with leopards and hearts [vintage sale], gold circle scarf clip, [Leeds Kirkgate Market], black leggings [Primark], zebra print thermal socks [George at Asda] and tan leather boots [Topshop]
Covadonga is wearing a dark blue tie front top with white flowers [Dash, from a charity shop].

Today we venture into loud shirt territory. An area which requires less confidence than one would assume. The great thing about fabulously printed shirts is that they are the centre piece, they can detract from everything else and you can keep everything else simple. Mine has leopards (or cheetahs, as they are spotted not rosette-ed creatures) and swirly flowers and a large red heart on the back. Vintage shops are chock-a-block with wildly printed men's shirts, and they're so easy to wear. I've slung mine over my leggings and clashed with my thermal socks. Minimal effort required when collar to belt is busy with pattern already! 

My first hipster problem of the day was encountered early on. The top button on this item is missing, and I have yet to replace it myself, therefore I cannot button up to my neck. Instead, I have entrusted my scarf clip to hold it in place and maintain my hipster neckline for me. I love buttoning all the buttons! I mean, if it's there do it up, and in the cold, it'll stop the wind howling down your top. 

Plus, as your mum would say, it'll make your collar look straighter.

Day Thirty One

Claire is wearing a red paisley scarf [charity shop], dark red rain coat [Shore Leave, from Urban Outfitters], cotton grey sweater [Leeds Kirkgate Market] (just seen), red long wide-leg culottes with purple and magenta flowers and purple dots [vintage, from Pop Boutique Manchester] and tan leather boots [Topshop].
Covadonga is wearing a red, yellow and green flowered body [Spanish charity shop].

I witnessed another incentive for wearing bright colours this morning on my stomp onto campus. The amount of people wearing black coats! And grey coats and navy coats. With black leggings and tights, navy jeans and grey jeans. It's all very sombre. Invest in a tastefully but loud coloured coat and you will never be defeated by the winter blues at the door. You'll also brighten other people's day, as well as induce their envy.
Today I look like a mismatched beacon. I have guessed, and now decided, that over-co-ordination is most definitely a thing. And a good one. I feel it's an achievable aim for  those of us, myself included, who are still mastering the art of co-ordination. I have chosen red as my colour today: the empowerment! 
But! I have paired all the red with a simple grey top, to avoid looking too much like a tomato...

Day Thirty

Claire is wearing  a pink men's t-shirt [Primark], wide ox-blood leather woven [charity shop], red long wide-leg culottes with purple and magenta flowers and purple dots [vintage, from Pop Boutique Manchester] and tan leather boots [Topshop].
Covadonga is wearing a red football shirt [the centenary shirt to be precise, Swansea City FC official shop].

The culottes' sneakiness continues, as my housemate was surprised to learn I had in fact been wearing a kind of trouser, not a skirt. She then proceeded to call them clown trousers, from the 1970s but emphasised at least that they were nicely coloured and patterned clown trousers.
I reminded myself of a yogurt today, one of those fancy ones, which has a layer of raspberry yogurt with fruity sauce with bits in at the bottom. I do like yogurt.
I have continued my personal campaign to wear more pink and brought out my craved-for t-shirt again. I have heard that red and pink should be mixed with caution. However, referring back to my yogurt analogy, the lighter red that pink can be, or the lighter purple that lilac can be, I think complements the more fierce tones of both.
Furthermore, previously dubious about tan or brown and pink, I have been proved wrong. My tan boots, I don't think, look too out of place today. I put my more in-keeping coloured belt to continue the brown leather theme, so they wouldn't look quite so stuck on. I would compare myself to a strawberry crème at this point, but I feel I'd need more chocolate and less pink syrup to work that look.
And I've mentally consumed enough e-numbers referring to pink colouring already.

Day Twenty Nine

Claire is wearing a light grey men's t-shirt [Primark], black patent leather belt with gold buckle [charity shop], red long wide-leg culottes with purple and magenta flowers and purple dots [vintage, from Pop Boutique Manchester], and black canvas hi-top trainers [Dunlop, from Sports Direct]. 
Covadonga is wearing a large flowered red tassel-edged scarf [charity shop].

Culottes are not only very comfortable, but they are also very sneaky. Mine remained hidden under the guise for a skirt for a good while today until someone questioned me. My culottes revival continues with this relatively new and bright addition. Red is a good shout, as per, and if you're worried about face rosiness being enhanced by wearing the colour near it, then bottom half is equally as effective at attention grabbing.

Today mine are also quite long, which makes me feel a little more sophisticated than just wearing big shorts, as they feel a bit like plazzo trousers (but designed for someone even shorter than me). 

The belt is holding them up today; good rule of thumb when vintage shopping, always wear a belt as most vintage garments were made without the concern, or lack there of, for the modern body shape. That, or as there's not one in every size, it's over-sized pulled in by belt or nothing!

I don't normally go in for polka dots, but I was too taken with the colour clash and the flowers to really notice at first. They're a pair of happy trousers, are these! They remind me of summer and I can generally float around feeling boyishly trouser-ed and skirt-edly feminine at the same time!

Day Twenty Eight

Claire is wearing a light-peach thin cotton knit t-shirt [jumble sale], carnations on burnt orange skirt [Laura Ashley, from a charity shop] and tan leather boots [Topshop].  
Covadonga is wearing a men's pink t-shirt [Primark].

Today is St Valentine's Day, and in the spirit of all things commercialised and heart-shaped, we are blending in with some pink and peach.

My lipstick from yesterday (obviously re-applied, think of the wine like marks on you pillowcase if not) is becoming a new favorite.

My t-shirt today is an odd shimmery number. It appears to be made from some kind of cotton-polyester blend with thicker fibres as you can see the knitted pattern. It's quite cooling and its gentle sheen is pleasing on the eye, and I think it enlivens the colour peach. The only downsides are the slipperiness of the fabric and the cap sleeves. I'm not a fan of the cap sleeve. They can make your arms look fatter as they can dig in and armpit suffocation increases tenth-fold! Mine are looser, but now they occasionally slip up and I look like I have some kind of underarm growth/ bunching issue. As a synthetic shirt goes though, it's quite breathable and pleasant.

If you're going to enjoy Valentine's day, breathing is, I would say, pretty essential. 

Day Twenty Seven

Claire is wearing a men's cream shirt [Leeds Vintage Kilo Sale], carnations on burnt orange skirt [Laura Ashley, from a charity shop] and tan leather boots [Topshop].  
Covadonga is wearing a corn patterned white scarf [charity shop].

Yet another floral. I know, this will end soon, but in the meantime, florals!! This skirt is from the queen of floral designs, Laura Ashley, who nowadays also sells curtains and other home-wares and whose clothing designs are much more modern, sadly. I have inherited some full length, slightly puffy and wonderfully vibrant dresses from my Mum. Her (Laura not Mum) prints are quite timeless and tasteful. Invest if you can! 

I have once again attempted to trial my advice by pairing my shirt colour with the carnations on my skirt. Carnations are also a fab flower, very long lasting, lots of colour variety. 

I also bought some new lippy today at the market! It's a burgundy, I am branching into the berry palette, and like any child with a new toy, it was out of its packaging after my pound was over the counter and I wore it home. Don't wait, why wait?! I'm guilty of this far too often and I am learning not to be such a hoarder. If you buy something start wearing it as soon as possible! The novelty will keep on giving longer, I assure you, than if it sits unworn for a few weeks first.

Day Twenty Six

Claire is wearing a dark orange men's cotton t-shirt [Primark], yellow flowered chocolate brown skirt [charity shop] and  tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a brown, white and orange silk scarf [charity shop] and a nude coloured rose [Peacocks].

Don't be afraid of brown! It's a bit of an odd colour I think. For instance, no-one would get really excited if you said they suited it, and some tones are really not that appealingly named (sludge, mud...). That said, it's a good staple, I promise!

The richness of the brown in question is important, a dull beige isn't any better than the soggy rich tea biscuit it resembles. Chocolate, as I have labeled my skirt, tobacco, tan, coffee, sienna and burnt umber all sound quite nice to me. I feel that rich, dark browns are a more casual alternative to black, and they all look great with copper and gold metallics! 

Moreover, earthy tones don't have to be hippy, it's all about the cut and the fabric. Admittedly, my skit looks quite hippy-esque, but if it was a thicker cotton or corduroy A-line, it would look nicely 60s, rather than swirly 70s.

Day Twenty Five

Claire is wearing a mustard cotton jumper [Leeds Vintage Kilo Sale], a orange and yellow flowered chocolate brown skirt [charity shop] and  tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a white, pink bordered and orange flowered scarf [Spanish charity shop].

Another day, another floral. Today we're going to the 1970s! 

My skirt is another sweeper, but more muted. It came with a matching shirt (how very 70s of it) which I have not worn today. It is a marvelous creation partly because it has pockets on both sides and it has buttons all down the front. I feel this summer I will be able to half un-button it, from the bottom up naturally to avoid being uncovered from my bottom down. It would add extra swish no doubt. Therein lies today's problem, if there must be a problem. The extra power symbol of fabric is without a doubt fantastic, except it sometimes wants to hide underneath you or spread over an extra bus seats or just cower between your legs like a small child. Fabric bunches in all sorts of unexpected ways and places so be careful if you are rushing somewhere or need to look attractive and elegant while doing so.

Again, I have matched the top to the flower and even my ribbon today, because I felt otherwise, quite unadorned. 

One should avoid feeling unadorned as much as unamored (an early St Valentines pun, I admit...)

Day Twenty Four

Claire is wearing a mustard cotton jumper [Leeds Vintage Kilo Sale], fuchsia yellow flowered skirt [Leeds Vintage Kilo sale] and  tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a pink, orange and beige flowered silk scarf [charity shop].

Another cold, although not too grey, day is upon us. I have been beating the cold, and the stress of my hideous Tuesday timetable, while joining the sun with my colour matching. I have, as I suggested yesterday, matched my top with a colour within the flowers on my skirt. This makes me look bold, yet co-ordinated at the same time! Also, it would be a bit silly to give advice and not follow it, now wouldn't it...
Another bonus point for long skirts in winter is that you can hide your layers of insulation underneath! If black leggings don't go, or you've run out of plain tights and have none that match, don't worry, the hem line does the worrying and remedying for you. I could have pantaloons underneath it and no one ( except anyone I was literally, and perhaps metaphorically, head over heels for) would ever know. 
I was told today I looked Spanish in my colour palette, traditionally so mind, as current Spanish fashion can be rather hit and miss, as anyone who has shopped in Desigual will understand.

Day Twenty Three

Claire is wearing a grey shirt [Leeds Kirkgate Market], red, brown and tan plastic flowered necklace [Topshop], black leggings [Primark], grey leopard print thermal socks [George at Asda] and tan leather boots [Topshop].
Covadonga is wearing a red poppy flower garland [Topshop].

Today was another day in need of practicality (this instance involved carrying a heavy rucksack, like a tortoise around uni). But I didn't want to be a block tri-colour pillar. I stuck to my basic favourites of black, grey and tan, but, and here's the key, I added a statement accessory in a complimenting hue. 

My necklace is made of a large plastic chain with gold fastenings. The flowers are plastic and bowl-shaped, edged with black; in the centre of each there's a gold stamen tipped with five diamante points. It's very beautiful! But, not only is it a visual statement! The noise it makes as I prowl around the library rivals my stomp with its rustling and clanking. 

I have even matched my lipstick in this effort of co-ordination! I discovered bronze lipstick a few weeks ago and haven't looked back. It's close enough to gold to be dazzling, but subtle enough in colour to be daytime demure. Mine is, imaginatively, called 'Bronze' and is made by 'Miss Beauty UK'; I procured it from a cosmetic stall in Leeds Kirkgate Market, bargain at £1.50! The only doubt I had upon opening the tube was the oddly familiar smell, which we have since realised is the smell of our 6 year-old selves' fake children's 'make-up'.

Still, no allergic reaction yet!

Day Twenty Two

Claire is wearing a yellow wooden-beaded necklace [Spanish table top sale], light grey men's t-shirt [Primark], long red-fuchsia yellow flowered skirt [vintage sale] and black canvas hi-top trainers [Dunlop, from Sports Direct]. 
Covadonga is wearing a hot pink sheer scarf with purple edging [charity shop].

Today is a sunny day! Therefore, it is time for the brights to bloom.

I always think winter colour palettes are one excuse too many to indulge in head to toe black and big black coats and big black shoes. It's all so dark, I mean, it is a dark time of year but I don't see how blending in is any help, especially in regard to road safety. I like this time of year on a good day like today, where it's cold but sunny, clear and bright. We are nearing spring, so I feel extra justified for wearing bright clothing.

Florals are great fun for all year round. The useful thing about them is the multiplicity of colour means you can match them with several different other garments, all in-keeping with the floral item. My flowers are yellow, but have purple bases, blue centres and green stems, so a spectrum of colour matching is open to me! 

Long skirts are also a year round winner. The extra fabric in winter and autumn insulates, but in summer and spring it swirls and looks fab without you having put any though into it. They're great for movement, which ensures they elevate the simplest of outfits just by your walking.

Remember stylish ones, fabric is a power symbol to be used wisely. Too much and you will be swamped and hem tripping, and too little and you'll be too cold and self-conscious to use any of your superpower. The middle ground we seek contains enough swish, swirl and swashbuckle to tower above everyone else, and leave them gasping in awe as you saunter on through.

Day Twenty One

Claire is wearing a a men's pink t-shirt [Primark], men's grey jogging bottoms [Nike, from a charity shop] and black canvas hi-top trainers [Dunlop, from Sports Direct].
Covadonga is wearing a grey cotton t-shirt [table top sale].

Today is one of those days. A day requiring comfort, because the endless to-do list insists you have to get out of bed. As you cannot wear your duvet all day, joggers are the comfy alternative, without the cumbersome structure of a onesie (i.e. you can remove them without removing your top half coverage). Mine are fitted to the waist: great for your silhouette, granted that may be the last thing on your mind on one of these days, but still, it has to be said! Likewise, the nipped in ankles save you tripping over your trainers or other obstacles. Mine also have pockets with Velcro, presumably to stop valuables running off when you're distracted by exercise, but it is a little abrasive on the paws. 

I say exercise in the loosest sense, I am dressed for brain exercise today, which requires a certain degree of bodily comfort. 

I have worn my favorite fuchsia lipstick so I feel more put together and in control of my to-do list, to be in keeping with my pink theme and because it's the easiest way to look like you've made an effort on any given day. I think on work at home days, such as revision period house arrests, making an effort, doing your hair or putting some lippy on is sometimes necessary; I feel it sets you up for your day, if you look good and believe you do, you'll feel even better, and hopefully be more productive! 

I have been labeled a chav this morning by my housemates, but I feel I'm more of a gym session Barbie myself.

I am, after mental grammar gym, going to attempt some physical exertion in the form of tennis. I say attempt, as rallying is still a work in progress and I doubt in this cold I will exert myself enough to sweat my lipstick off. 

Day Twenty

Claire is wearing a mullet-hemmed burgundy and black dress [River Island], black tights [Spanish hosiery shop] and tan leather boots [Topshop]. 
Covadonga is wearing a speckled pink, green and blue scarf [charity shop].

A real world day if there was one: up early, a workshop, off to placement, bus home, eat banoffee pie and blog. My clothing today is very simple, partly why I've chosen it for my busy day. As a general rule with simple pieces, they should possess, or you can make the whole look they're based upon have, an interesting aspect: the colour, pattern, texture, fabric pleating or draping. This wrenches them from the hands of uniform! It may be a white shirt, classic that it is, but one that can oh so easily fall prey to the monster of uniform, especially when its escape is hindered by its loyal pairing of black bottom half garments. 

I like to think my dress is interesting enough in its colouring and side panels, and the mullet hem! 

Mullet hems are when the back of the dress is lower than the front, particularly common in floaty fabrics for summer dresses. They became popular about 2 years or so ago and I snapped mine up in the sale. They're great for rear coverage (a phrase it occurs to me I have written several times already, but one which deserves emphasis for the pears among us), and they hang nicely too! More gentle sloping ones like mine are a more subtle way in, but be careful, if you are too subtle with this hem, it may look like you own badly made and hemmed clothes!

A last note on my tan boots, faithfully posing for another photo. I polished them recently so that they can shine nicely for the lens, and remember to take care of your leather shoes too! Polish is fairly cheap, as are brushes. Mine recommend you use circular motions for polish before waiting five minutes to buff them in up-down motions. Very calming I find!

Day Nineteen

Claire is wearing a men's t-shirt with a watercolour style Michelangelo inspired print [Spanish Bershka], men's pink, moss green, blue and cream woven shirt [French Connection, from a jumble sale], black leggings [Primark], grey leopard print thermal socks [George at Asda] and tan leather boots [Topshop].
Covadonga is wearing a leopard print crop top with leopard heads on [Topshop].

Remember at school when it warm and you used to tie your jumper around your waist to avoid carrying it around? There's no reason why the practice can't continue into adult fashion! Nowadays with the hipster and 90s style revival fashion that's occurring, the time is ripe for waist-ed fashion. 

Yesterday's shirt matches the colours in today's t-shirt well, and it's extra rear coverage, as my t-shirt is quiet thin and pale coloured. If I'm cold at some point I'll whip my shirt off and actually wear it, in the meantime it looks like I'm making an edgeh style statement. Win! Moreover, as my shirt has breast pockets, I still have somewhere to hide my tissues should any sniffles require them.

My t-shirt is fab, I love art inspired fashion and this summer Bershka's men's wear had that box well ticked. It's intricate yet blurred, so no-one has to actively stare at my chest to see it in all it's glory. 

One of my biggest clothing peeves is lack of continuous pattern, when you're in a shop and you see a lovely patterned or colourful dress, pick it up, turn it around only to find black material. People will see you from behind, they shouldn't be peering at your behind, but it 

will be seen, and some retailers forget this. Clothing should look good from every angle! My t-shirt has the pattern repeated on the back as well, just in case you missed it as I was zooming towards you the first time. 

Stomp away today and sashay your waist shirts stylish ones!