OOTD: Baby shower in Chi Chi

I have purchased 2 dresses from Chi Chi this Summer and after the first one I posted was so well received I thought it would be a shame not to show you the second! I wore this Nessa high neck laser cut prom dress to my friend's baby shower (blue for boy) a few weeks ago and got so many lovely compliments on it. It's so girlie and fun and completely effortless to wear!

Dress: currently £65 on Chi Chi London and ASOS

 

This dress gives you a great shape as it nips in at the waist and flares out in all the right places. The lining is nude, but gives a slight v neck illusion, plus it has built in support so there is no need for a bra.

With the mummy to be!

 

Have you ever tried Chi Chi London? I can't wait to have an occasion that would give me the perfect excuse to order another one of their dresses! 

OOTD: Workwear

With the heatwave we have been experiencing in London appropriate workwear has been tricky. I commute by tube each day so I am very sympathetic with most Londoners sweltering underground. However, at times like these the temperature in the office is arctic as the aircon desperately tries to overcompensate and ensure that the guys in their 3 piece suits are catered for. I therefore wanted to share some outfits from the last week of how I dress for work and try to remain professional (and not look like I'm off to the beach), but still comfortable.

The first dress I have been loving is a sale purchase from Ted Baker. It's very comfortable and though it has a lining the fabric is pretty stretchy so it never feels tight. The pattern is very Summery, but the demure length still makes it office appropriate.

Dress on sale from Ted Baker here

This outfit is super comfortable and easy to wear. The floaty fabric is cool, but the length of the skirt makes it work appropriate and traditional.

Top and Skirt from French Connection on sale here

 

The last outfit is a super comfortable dress from Reiss. It's light, but not at all see through. It moulds effortlessly to your shape and the side detail is very flattering skimming the contours of your body. It's not too short or too low for the office, but is not at all restrictive.



Dress on sale from Reiss here

 

I love Summer and the hot weather so I always try to make the most of it while it lasts... even if it is just in short lunch hour stints while I am stuck in the office, or walking between meetings. :)

OOTD: Meeting Christian Louboutin

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending a lecture by the fabulous Christian Louboutin as part of the Vogue festival. Christian is an amazing character with real vivacity and passion for life. He is incredibly charming, inspiring and his energy is just infectious! I would definitely recommend meeting him or attending any of his talks if you get the opportunity to do so as he is just wonderful and gave me all the more reason (as if I needed any more) to love the brand that he built through his talent and hard work.

Since my Saturday mornings are usually spent at the gym this was a rare chance for me to dress up so I decided to try something a little different! A little nod to the festival theme, despite being set in central London in the rain...

I paired a heavily beaded sheer tunic/ dress from Karen Millen (worn with a slip underneath) with some grey suede boots from Russell & Bromley. Sadly I couldn't wear any of my Louboutins as it was raining and I just couldn't bear to ruin any of my precious pairs! As beautiful as they are they do need a lot care!

I have had these R&B boots for years and honestly they are the most comfortable pair I have ever owned. Despite being suede they have lasted really well. I was running about in these from 10am till late, which I very rarely do in heels! I am currently lusting after their over the knee version as they have a very similar structure and look absolutely amazing! I need to start saving!

OOTD: Date Night

This week my usual 7pm Friday conference call (love working across time zones!) was rescheduled so the hubby and I celebrated my unexpected evening freedom with a long overdue date night!

Dress: Roland Mouret for Banana Republic

Shoes: Christian Louboutin

OOTD: Easter

 

 Dress: Whistles (on sale on Asos)

Shoes: Melissa

Bag: Chanel

Hair: curled in small sections using the Babyliss Curling Wand Pro

I hope you are all having a wonderful Easter break!

OOTD: Lace and Lime

While scrolling through the Topshop website recently I noticed a very familiar looking lace skirt, which is very similar to one I absolutely loved wearing on my honeymoon last Summer!

It's such a gorgeous, versatile piece that can easily take you from day to night. In the photo above I paired it with a simple green camisole, similar to this one from Oasis.

Topshop's latest offering is a lovely cream lace number that's perfect for Spring! You can find it on their website here for £75.

OOTD: Reiss

With the lovely weather we have been having in London on Friday I finally felt brave enough to hang up my Winter coat and take my new jacket (originally puchased in the Christmas sales) out of hibernation!

I love the light grey colour as my recent grey obsession continues. It's fitted really well, which makes it perfect for work, but it's thick enough to protect you from the City wind (and if you have stood next to the Walkie Talky building  you will know what I mean)!

The Porter fitted coat is currently on sale in Reiss for £95 here.

Friday's OOTD

Just a quick little post as I am sitting here waiting for the clock to strike midnight and the beginning of my Birthday! Yes, I am turning 23.. in approximately 1 hour and 9 mins ;) eek!!

This is what I wore for dinner and drinks with friends on Friday.

Dress: white sequin from French Connection

Opaque tights and boots to dress it down :).

As you can tell, I am still in love with the conical wand. I use it pretty much every time I go out to curl my hair and I can't recommend it enough!!

Oooh.. 53 minutes to go till my Birthday ;). I am excited!! xxx

Quick OOTD

I really wanted to do a tutorial today, but since my eye is still looking horrible and puffy (I got an infection while I was in Moscow.. not pretty!) and I can't wear makeup yet, I thought I would post a quick outfit of the day instead as these seem to be quite popular with you guys!

Top: French Connection plain silk camisole (just to contrast textures with the jacket)

Jacket: Mango (I love the way this is fitted as it nips in at the waist to give a lovely silhouette)

Tan jeans: Zara

Brown Suede and patent leather boots: Nine West

 

Once again I apologise profusely for the awful quality of photos, but I really do find it impossible to do these full body shots without the aid of my old school camera remote. 

Hope you are all having a great week :). xxx

FOTD/ OOTD

Today was another long, hectic day of Visa chasing around London. If you have ever tried going to Russia with a UK passport you will know what I am talking about... they make it very difficult and expensive for you! Though, I did meet a friend for lunch and managed to have a very brief stroll around Selfridges, which always cheers me up!

The makeup today was done in a hurry, but I thought I would share it with you anyway.

Face:

Revlon Colourstay- I never seem to get on with this foundation, though many people love it :(

MUFE concealer

ELF complection perfecting powder to set (the one where they have 4 colours).

NARS laguna bronzer

MAC melba blush  

 

Eyes:

UDPP

MAC holiday pallette- using the grey, silver and nude highlight as well as shale

GOSH lime green eyeliner in waterline

Revlon liquid liner

L'Oreal Voluminous mascara

Lips: MAC Vegas Volt with a little peachy pink pigment on top, which ensured it stayed ALL day. I didn't have to touch up once, not even after lunch! Woop!

Since I was running about I wanted to be cosy and warm so I opted for a wool strapless dress from FCUK, with a long sleeved black jersey top underneath. I am sorry the quality is so awful, as the only way I can take these photos is with my video camera (it has a handy remote).

Hope you guys are having a good day and are looking forward to the weekend. I am off to Moscow for my grandmother's Birthday so I will be away till Wednesday. Time for me to go and pack those thermals ;).

Natalya xxx

Somehow I never manage to get it right...

This is what I wore yesterday for a dinner and movie date in Cambridge. Unfortunately I did not dress for the right weather as when we were walking home it was 5oC and I absolutely froze!! Having these kind of temperatures in October really makes me wonder about global warming... After catching the train back this morning I spent the rest of the day tucked up in bed with a cup of tea, hoping to catch my developing cold in its early stages.

Dress: Asos

Belt: Taken off a Mango dress from last season

Leopard print tights: M&S

I am also wearing flat black knee high boots from Dune.

However, the worst part of my trip was that I unfortunately managed to mistakenly take my bf's glasses with me back to London, and since he desperately needs them tomorrow I will be spending my entire Saturday on the train. To say that I am annoyed would be an understatement, but at least I will be well prepared with my thermals on this time!!

Smart OOTD and high-waisted trousers?

A few days ago I had an appointment and had to look professional. I am probably one of very few people who loves power dressing, and always feels more confident in sky high heels and a tailored suit, but I didn't want to over do it this time. Instead I opted for a floaty cream blouse tucked into navy high-waisted trousers.

Being a curvy girl with an hourglass figure I love the comfort of high-waisted trousers. They almost feel like a corset as they nip me in at the waist while holding my tummy in and ensuring I can sit down without worrying about anything riding down or digging into my hips. After all we have all seen those awful muffin tops in the back of Glamour, which still give me nightmares!

For some these may be a massive no no as they can make your bottom look flat and generally alter your proportions. However, for me they hug in all the right places and fit my shape much better than regular or low rise trousers.

Blouse: ASOS

Trousers: Penelope and Monica Cruz for Mango

What do you guys think of high-waisted trousers? Do you find them flattering?

OOTD

It seems that summer is truly over in London, even before it ever really began. Yesterday the weather was horrendous so in order to stay warm and dry I had to dive into my autumn wardrobe, which was quite a contrast to the strappy tops and hot pants I have been wearing for the last six weeks.

(Please ignore the background.. I still have not properly unpacked and I really hate having so much mess around me.. eeek!)

I decided to go back to basics with black skinny jeans (Rock&Republic) and leather boots (Dune). To brighten the outfit up and add a girlie twist I wore a simple white vest (ZARA) with a lacey short sleeved camisole (ASOS) over it. I then added a structured wool mix blazer (FCUK) to contrast with the feminine top and pushed the sleeves up to make it more modern and casual.

You all know how much I love a big bag, and this one from Coccinelle is pefect for wet weather as it can be firmly closed at the top to protect the inside from the rain, and has a handy zip on the side with a hidden compartment where you can put your umbrella without soaking everything else.

Are you sad to be letting go of your summer wardrobe, or are you tired of dresses and playsuits? I certainly feel like I have been brought back to reality with a bump! Now, let us pray for an Indian summer ;),

Playsuit?

I can't believe it is 28oC in London! It is so hot and sunny, that in true English style everyone has stripped off to the bare essentials, and who am I to question it? Although I am really not a fan of over sharing ie. flabby men walking around with their tops off (why oh why must they subject us to the sight of their beer bellies?) this is the one time I would agree that girls can get away with showing legs and a bit of decolletage during the day while still looking cute.

Today I am off to the park to catch some sun, with my trusty garnier SPF30 in hand, as no amount of tan is worth risking sun damage. Since playsuits are such a hot trend this summer, and perfect for running around in this weather, I wanted to customise this trend and make it my own. I chose this playsuit (from ASOS) for its feminine floral design, that really lends itself to a skirt or dress. I also like the fitted bra top, which has a 50's feel to it with its curved stitching. It is 97% cotton, with 3% elastane so keeps you cool, while having a bit of stretch for comfort. The back is also ruffled which helps it fit in all the right places and not feel too stiff, as can often happen with all-in-ones as it is difficult to create a flattering shape that will fit everyone.
What do you guys think of playsuits? Will you be wearing one this summer?

Saturday night da-da-da-dadee-da-da-da

On Saturday I went out for drinks and a little dance in Amika. It was a fun night, though we left quite early as my friend has Law School exams starting today so she had to be well rested. Also, our table was right on the dance floor and it was getting far too hot and crowded. Especially now that it is warmer I really wish someone would catch on and open a club with a sizable outside area (holiday style)!! I am thinking large, white seating area, Moroccan lamps, exotic cocktails... Perhaps i should pitch this idea to someone as there is nothing worse than being couped up in a hot basement on these rare, but lovely warm nights.

Anyway ramble over, I thought I would share with you my outfit for the night as I personally love to see OOTD posts (Gosh, I am a bit of a stalker huh?).I straightened my hair and braided the front. I kept my makeup pretty simple (well, for me) as this dress is a statement colour (more coral than orange in real life). I paired neutral eyes with a bright coral lip to compliment the dress.

Unfortunately my hair is covering it here but the detail at the front of this Warehouse dress is really lovely. The lighter fabric is folded and it creates a great contrast with the smooth skirt of the dress. At the back there is also a black bow, which adds a girly twist to the structured front.

My bag is from FCUK and shoes are from Zara a couple of seasons ago.

Oh and the faux glow is courtesy of Dove moisturiser with a hint of sunless tan. Perfect for those of us with ghostly complexions as it is very subtle, and can be built up over a couple of days to prevent any patches or streaking hazards :).

I wonder how many of you will get the song I am referring to in my title hehe ;).
xxx

Guess where this dress came from...

Today it is another gorgeous Summer day in London, so I decided to go all girly and wear a frilly butterfly print dress.

This dress makes me feel extremely secure given it is a strapless dress. As those of us with larger busts (I'm a 32D) know, sometimes it can be a bit of a struggle keeping the girls hidden when sudden gusts of wind and annoying tube train drivers are determined to free them ;). However, this one has good ribbing and a waist that goes in perfectly to keep everything secure and prevent the bustier from moving up or down when you walk.

All in all it is surprisingly comfortable, and even though it is pretty cutesy it has a silver metal zip detail at the back, which makes it a little more modern. Paired with silver flats and large shades I think it's great for the Summer.

And where did I get this dress you may ask? Well, to my utter shame, it came from M&S. Yes, the shop where everyone and their grandma buy their tights and flab fighting control pants. Perhaps, I am a little bit prejudiced, but I always considered it to be a store aimed at the older generation (my granny loves their nighties.. eeek!!), but yesterday I was surprised to find a few pieces that I really liked. I even picked up a couple of bikinis (once again good support, as I am no longer interested in non-existant triangles that do nothing to protect my modesty when waves are about). These may show up in a latter post- if any of you are interested :).

What do you guys think of M&S overhauling their image? Drab or fab?