50 Shades of Blue

If I had a penny for every time my mother moaned at me for having an all-black wardrobe, I could probably afford to pay off my student loan by now. However over the last few weeks I have emigrated away from my LBD's and black ripped jeans and landed on the not-so-distant shores of... navy blue. 

The February Edit.

February is one of those in-between months where we are ready to banish the January blues and put away our chunky knits but unfortunately Spring isn't quite ready to grace us with it's presence. Alas, we must compromise by wrapping up warm whilst attempting to accessorize with a few chic pieces that say "I'm ready for Spring but I'm aware it's too soon to wear florals". 

My wardrobe pretty much consists of three things; monochrome, stripes and ripped jeans... and maybe some more monochrome for good measure. So, imagine my delight when I realised that all the shops are going mad for monochrome stripes right now, and that ripped jeans have managed to avoid being banished to fashion jail for another season (although I'm not looking forward to another few months of  shocked expressions from aghast parents asking me,"did you buy your jeans with those holes in them?!"). 

In amongst all the monochrome-stripes-ripped-jeans madness, rose gold has decided to make a reappearance this season; this time in a subtle, accessory-based form. Oh, and also in the form of these Adidas trainers which I am seriously coveting. Fedora hats, tortoiseshell  sunglasses and tasselled boots give a subtle nod towards spring, as do the AH-MAZING Olivia Burton watches. The H&M turtle-neck largely features because I'm a big fan of adorning my chest with the names of beautiful cities that I've never visited... it makes me look cultured, right?

I hope this gives you a little glimmer of inspiration for the next month; all items are linked below.

Thanks for reading!

KJ.  

1. Backpack - £80: Topshop // 2. Enchanted Garden Watch - £80: Olivia Burton on ASOS // 3. Woodland Watch - £80: Olivia Burton on ASOS // 4. Sheepskin Mittens - £10: Topsop // 5. Fringe Ankle Boots - £35: ASOS // 6. Ripped Hayden Jeans - £42: Topshop // 7. Turtle-neck Sweater - £19.99: H&M // 8. Stripe A-Line Skirt - £17.99: New Look // 9. Adidas Originals Superstar 80's Rose Gold - £90: ASOS // 10. Rose Gold Plated Heart Necklace - £24.99: ASOS // 11.  Ted Baker 'Kiara' Sunglasses - £65: ASOS // 12. Jacquard-Weave Coat - £49.99: H&M // 13. 'Layla' Headphones - £140: Urban Outfitters // 14. Wide-Brim Fedora Hat - £25: Topshop. 

Dressing Table Delights

This Summer I decided it was time to overhaul my bedroom; I said goodbye to the headache-inducing duck-egg blue walls and the shelves made out of Ikea plywood scraps. In their place is sleek oak furniture, calming off-white walls and a LOT of trinkets. Most of these trinkets have landed on my dressing table - a beautiful wooden trunk bought from a local reclamation yard (apparently my haggling skills aren't as good as I thought they were because the vendor refused to throw in a hand-shaped jewellery stand with it). This little corner is without a doubt my favourite part of my new room; filled with treasures that have been gifted to me, made for me or passed down through the generations, these are a few of my favourite things...

The Festival Edit

 1. T-Shirt with Crossover Back - Zara, £17.99 // 2. Daddy Cool Trainers - ASOS, £45 // 3. Felt Pork Pie Hat - ASOS, £22 // 4. Mesh Bow Scrunchie - ASOS, £8 // 5. Tapestry Bum Bag - Urban Outfitters, £20 // 6. Vintage Pattern Ring - Rings And Tings, £6.50 // 7. Fringed Kimono - H&M, £29.99 // 8. Daisy Chain Watch - ASOS, £18 // 9. Slogan T-Shirt - Zara, £12.99 // 10. Purple Acid Wash Denim Shorts - Miss Selfridge, £25 // 11. Sequin Nails in "White" - Barry M, £3.99

Birthday Haul: Part Two

A few days ago I posted a Haul, sharing with you some of the things I was lucky enough to receive for my birthday. Of course, after every girl's special day there comes a lot of shopping; we have to find somewhere to deposit all those notes that flutter so generously out of cards from long lost relatives, right?!

Maybe purchasing just three items of clothing, a bag, a pair of shoes, a lipstick and a nail varnish doesn't seem that extreme, but I seriously felt like I'd gone rogue as I crept from shop to shop, trying to resist all the gorgeous Summer stock. 

How I Style: Converse Hi Tops

Hi Top Converse are notoriously hard to style, unless you're Tumblr famous and wearing a crisp white pair alongside some Levi cut-offs and a figure hugging crop top. 

For Christmas I received this bright red pair, and it may have taken me a few months, but I've finally figured out all the funkiest ways in which to wear them. When I first unwrapped these bad boys, my inner extrovert who likes to sport holographic flatforms and flamboyant t-shirts was exhilarated by the challenge of working a shoe that's so easy to get wrong. My inner sensible fashionista, however, was not so thrilled at the fact I may unwittingly end up looking like Kristen Stewart on a bad day.

Birthday Haul

On Saturday, I celebrated my 19th birthday; it was probably my most enjoyable birthday to date and I spent way too much time eating cake, leaving no time for me to photograph the celebrations. So, instead of a post all about how I spent my birthday, I decided to share with you some of the things I was lucky enough to receive. I was delighted to find I'd been gifted a couple of things from my birthday wishlist, as well as some lovely, thoughtful surprises. 

Lovin' Burgers

 Last night, me and my friends decided to dine at a new spot in town; The Love Inn. By day it's a trendy little bar that serves an array of brunch dishes and by night it's a minuscule club that all the hipsters flock to, in order to dance the night away to "fresh beats". By evening, however, it serves a select few burgers and pizzas (and they may just be the best damn burgers I've ever had!). 

They menu is not hugely extensive, with just seven burgers, five pizzas and two desserts on offer. Nevertheless, the flavour combinations available are quite original and a refreshing change from the usual hamburger/chicken burger/veggie burger. It was a tough choice between The Cheeseburger Deluxe, The Bacon Swiss and The Chicken Caesar, made only tougher when I realised there was a Rosemary Chicken and a Spinach and Ricotta pizza on the other side of the menu.
After placing our orders, I was reassured that it would be acceptable to snap a few photos because it's an "arty place" where "people do that sort of thing", so off I went...

Paella and Pudding

Last night, me and the girls headed over to my friend Alex's house to celebrate her birthday with what promised to be a glorious feast prepared by her mother, the original hostess with the mostess. Alex's birthday usually consists of frozen margaritas, a variety of salads and breads, posh meats and macarons. I was therefore extremely eager to see what was on offer this year and it's safe to say I was not disappointed. 

InstaDiary: Week 16

Purdy kitty | Jordans Country Crisp; the best snack ever | Using my only talent (sticking photos on bedroom walls) to help Joe brighten up his room | My two favourite boys | Rocking the Rae Earl look | My favourite snap from the film I got developed | Snazzy hot chocolate at the Cider Press | Realising how much hair I actually have when I tried out a Katniss Everdeen style braid and saw how gigantic it was | Pancakes galore.

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram: KathrynJamshidi !

KJ xo

Pancakes, Please

Today me and Joe had a slightly belated Pancake Day and of course, I couldn't resist whipping out my camera and snapping a few shots of our sweet treats in the hope of capturing at least one truly worthy of the "foodporn" hashtag.

Putting a Spring in my Step

What with Spring just around the corner and the sun making a few more appearances, I've slowly been transitioning from my cosy (sloppy) Winter outfits to my much more feminine Spring wardrobe. Whilst doing so, I realised that I basically don't have any Spring shoes; I own a lot of Converse and flatform trainers, and whilst there's nothing wrong with rocking the Lily Allen look once in a while, I decided I need to invest in something more... Spring-y. 

So, I hit up all my favourite shops and put together a little list of Spring appropriate footwear that I would like to purchase. I've always been a fan of loafers, but am yet to actually bite the bullet and invest in a pair. These Topshop ones are adorable, and I wouldn't mind the challenge of trying to figure out how to style such a bold colour. The H&M sandals are a great staple shoe, as they can be worn with dresses and skirts, or with boyfriend jeans for a more casual look. Whilst they're a bit pricey for a less than practical shoe, I couldn't help adding these Urban Outfitters roller-blades to the list. I think we can all agree that they are very cute and we wouldn't mind having a go on them, sort of like the Chace Crawford of shoes. I also added some ASOS plimsolls and jelly shoes to the list, as they were both nice and summery and are more casual than the others. Let's be honest; I can dream about wearing chic, sophisticated shoes, but at the end of the day comfort always comes first!

1. KIKI Suede Tassel Loafers - Topshop, £42 // 2. Sandals - H&M, £24.99 // 3. Rookie Bella Rollerskates - Urban Outfitters, £70 // 4. Dockland Plimsolls - ASOS, £18 // 5. Jelly Sandals - Topshop, £20.

Have you started experimenting with your Spring wardrobe yet?
KJ xo

H&M Sportswear: Review

 Since I joined the gym about six or seven weeks ago, I've been working out in an old, loose pair of jersey shorts, an M&S sports bra and an oversized Bristol Half Marathon t-shirt that I got given for free at a DofE tent-putting-up competition a few years back. Seeing as I've been exercising four to five days a week, it's not really ideal for me to only have one outfit to get all hot and sweaty in (Honestly, at the end of a session I look like a tomato that's been put through it's paces). So, I finally got round to hitting up H&M and purchasing a whole new set of workout gear; I put together this sassy little combo which came to just under £30 all together, not too shabby if you ask me!