What to wear when you're Tall

I've been asked several times about the best places for taller girls to shop so I decided to enlist the help of one of my followers, Rachel, who is 5'11 with an inside leg measurement of 36" <envy>
Rachel was good enough to send me pictures of some of her outfits and share her shopping tips. The first of Rachel's recommendations is New Look's tall range. She also loves New Look's shoe selection which she finds great for bigger feet.

New Look Tall Skinny Jeans - £9.99
New Look Patent Loafers (old)
Boden Essential Top (old)
Necklace by Uniquely Different - £24
here's a close up of the necklace...

Flooding & Leaf Print

What a week - somebody remind me this is June? I'm battling on however with my bright colours and prints as it's one way to keep the spirits up...

A Favourite Dress

This post was inspired by a photo on Avenue 57, where Fiona was wearing a dress bought 5 years ago that she loves and wears throughout the year. I got to thinking about my favourite dress - the one I wear most often, winter and summer - you've seen it before here but never in such a ridiculous pose...

LK Bennett Competition - NOW CLOSED!

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

Big shout out to The Outlet at Banbridge for this fab LK Bennett competition. 

You may remember my trip to The Outlet to find an outfit for the Ramada QUB Boat Races? Well the guys there were so pleased with the response to that blog post (was my most popular post in May!), they have given me a pair of these LK Bennett Amalfi Shoes in a size 39 (6/6.5) to give away to one of my fabulous followers!

Just one thing to note - there is only one pair in only a 39(6/6.5) and they have been worn on a fashion shoot so there is some scuffing to the sole. Not only are you getting an amazing pair of shoes - they are a FAMOUS pair of shoes too! 


What do I do to win I hear you all say. You can do one or all of the things below...if you do one = 1 entry, two = 2 entries....you know the drill by now! 


1. Follow the blog using the 'Join this site' Google Friend Connect button on the right (and down a bit) side of this page. Now I know this might not mean much to the non-bloggers out there but GFC is an important measure in the blogging world. If you have a Google account, it's easy to do and it's a great way of following a lot of blogs - you can see them all together in one place.


AND/OR


2. Check out The Outlet Village website and leave a comment below to tell me which shop would be your first port of call if you visited.


Also, get yourself over to my Facebook page and tag yourself in this picture and while you're there, give The Outlet Village, Banbridge a like too!


Entries close on Friday 6th July and I'll draw the winner and announce it via Sunday's blog. Good luck everyone and remember, if they're not your size, you can give them to a friend or sell them on eBay!! No excuse for not entering :)

Neon Scarf Print & Cream Boucle

Check me - really getting into my neons lately. I picked this top up last week at the H&M sale for just £3 (no idea why it is £4.99 online). Wasn't sure about it but I figured if I got it home and still wasn't sure, I'd not mourn the cost of a Vente Latte. I love it. But wear with a tan. Never do neon without a tan. It is the law.

H&M Scarf Print Top - £4.99
Necklace - Boots - £4
White Vest (underneath) - Kaleidoscope - £12

So, photos were a problem today. 3 year old David Baily wannabe was more interested in Mr Maker and I had to have 'words' with her which resulted in these reluctant shots. Seriously! It was a repeat - even I know how to make those rubber glove puppets and I've only ever heard it in the background <sigh>

The top is square-shaped but is stitched down the side so it it actually sits quite nicely on. In the second photo, you can see I wore it with the cream boucle jacket I picked up at Pearl's gently used clothes sale. Seeing as Mr Maker had lured small girl away while I was lamenting the blurry pictures, I resorted to a trusty mirror photo to show you the jacket a bit closer up..

It's got a bit of a Chanel vibe going on so while I like it, I'm not sure if it works with this outfit. But I wore it all the same on a trip to buy last minute teacher presents (playgroup finishes tomorrow and primary school on Friday....aaarrggghh!!). Tried to find a similar jacket but the closest I could find was this Lanvin number. But unless you have £2500 to spare, you better not click on that link! 
Wearing with my Primark skinnies & my Clarks patent mary-janes. 

I'm heading into Belfast tomorrow morning to return a few things to H&M but I might have a tiny peek at the sales again....all in the interests of research of course. See you tomorrow!

Shades of Grey

Not 50 however, just 5 or 6 and a MUCH better read in my hands in the form of the Sunday Times Style Magazine! 

Stella & Dot Winners!

Thank you to everyone who entered my Stella & Dot competition for a chance to win one of two silver Corso cuffs, courtesy of Grainne Maskey, Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot in Northern Ireland.

The two winners, chosen at random are:

Lily McGonagle

and 

Amy - blogger over at Yummy Step Mummy

Well done girls, please message me with your address details so that Grainne can send you your new bracelets and don't forget to send me through a photo when you receive them!


If you didn't win, never worry as if you live in Northern Ireland, you can earn free jewellery and discounts if you have a trunk party in your home with Grainne. Contact Grainne via her Stella & Dot Facebook page to find out more!


Thanks for all the entries to this competition - the next one's a good un...I've some shoes to give away! Full details later in the week!

The Merrell Wakefield Coat - BEST BUY EVER!

Lots of people asking me about my Merrell Wakefield and where to pick one up at the best price. As well as wearing mine this week (too depressing to share on the blog), I've also worn it here and here. 

This coat is SERIOUSLY waterproof, covers your bum and is nicely fitted at the waistline with a great hood. I wear the size Small, which is a 10 but if you are blessed with norkage and in between sizes, you will want to size up as it is snug at the bust. If black is not your thing, it's available in red on the Taunton Leisure website for £96.99 with free UK delivery.

In Ink Heather:

Or in the greeny/grey colour I have at Nevisport for £110:

It will serve you well in this awful weather - I speak from experience! x

Too Bling for Saturday Shopping?

I hope so! In defiance of the weather, I've donned my orange jeans & navy sequin top from H&M. Fed up of all the winter gear being worn again and as it's dry today, I'm going for it!
Check out my gorgeous Uniquely Different necklace, which was on the catwalk only a month or so ago and now I own it! Check out UD's Facebook page to see all the new pieces Karen & Claire have been making..

Also wearing my Marks & Spencer denim jacket. Out of stock now unfortunately but it was such a find - in Per Una, where I don't normally look but was glad I did that one day back in May.
Off now to buy a birthday present ahead of a Hello Kitty themed birthday party later. My girls are beside themselves with excitement....please let there be wine and cakes for the mummies!

Pampered Feet at Medi Cosmetic

You saw me sorting out my finger nails last week and this week it was the turn of my toes. For this treatment, I headed to Medi Cosmetic on Bloomfield Avenue, Belfast and into the capable hands of Rosanne. 

The only difficult moment of the evening was choosing a colour. Medi Cosmetic use the OPI Nailcare Range, including their Axxuim gels and there was an amazing range of colours available with really great names. I chose Lincoln Park After Dark - a super dark purple shade as a contrast to my neutral fingers.

I then got to sit back and relax for an hour while Rosanne painstakingly applied this colour. A big plus for me when going to a salon is having a therapist that you can chat to easily. Rosanne definitely fitted the bill here. She was knowledgeable about the treatment, giving me plenty of advice about maintaining my gel pedicure and filling me in on each step of the process. And here's the finished product. Stand back if you're not keen on seeing toes up close!

And here's my before and after photos so you can truly appreciate the transformation..

Gel is perfect for feet. It's tough and therefore resistant to chips but also, as the toenails grow so slowly, it lasts much longer than a manicure would. In fact, my pedicure should last me for most of the summer! 
As well as offering the standard Mani/Pedi, waxing and facials, Medi Cosmetic also offers a range of non-invasive procedures to target lots of skin conditions, including ageing, acne and pigmentation. Rosanne told me the treatment that she has seen the most impressive results from is the Omnilux Pure Red Light facial which works to counteract the effects of ageing by actually repairing the skin's structure. I like the sound of this!
And for a product junkie like me, I had a great time checking out the different creams and potions for sale in the salon:

Environ Products

Thalgo Products

OPI Products - including their fab cuticle oil which I bought!

Jane Iredale Make Up 

I was particularly interested in the Jane Iredale Make-Up range as I'd heard about it being free of chemicals and great for allergic skin. Known as the Skin Care Make-Up, it's recommended by plastic surgeons and dermatologists throughout the world. If you are prone to reactions to make-up, this is a range you should explore.

Check out the Medi Cosmetic site for more information on these and the other services they offer, including surgical procedures, laser treatments and body toning/anti-cellulite treatments. Also, make sure you 'like' Medi Cosmetic's Facebook page so you are first to hear about their last minute offers and monthly specials.

Thanks to Medi Cosmetic and Nicola at 1Vision PR for inviting me to choose a treatment and agreeing that I should only blog about it if totally happy with the experience. I can honestly say, I'll be back for some more pampering. 
Note : Medi Cosmetic has a second salon in Jordanstown.

More Sale Bargains!

Here comes the second part of my summer sale bargains. This time I've included some higher end high street shops as the sales are the best time for bargain hunters like me to pick up a high-end bargain. Starting this selection with Whistles where you can check out all the sale lines on this link. I'm loving this green zip back t-shirt (also in other colours), brown leather cross body bag and this timeless navy blazer down from £125 to £65.

All Saints is another store that I wish I could buy more in. The cut and quality of their clothes is lovely so sale time offers an opportunity to pick up some beautiful pieces like this Arundel Jacket or this grey Jagger Godiva Jumper. And the Quartz Clutch is a stunning piece. I think it would be a brilliant birthday present for a friend.

Summer Party in Metallics

Today was a momentous occasion...our last day at Toddler Group!! The girls move to nursery 5 days a week from September so no more Tuesday mornings at the church. Instead, I may have to work or clean my house but let's not think about that now :)
I decided to work some metallics today as a total change from the soft neutrals of yesterday. Nothing like some Northern Ireland 'slegging'* to make you wish you hadn't planned to do blog photos at Toddler Group. There were only 2 usable photos as I was laughing so much! 
(*teasing/winding up/bringing someone right back down to earth!)

Shopping in Nudes!

Spent a fab day in Belfast at Victoria Square with my besties Claire & Catherine and my blograts Katie & Gemma. To get some sunny bright shots of my outfit, we headed right to the top of the centre to the viewing platform, which I can't believe I've never done before in all the times I've been to Victoria Square. What amazing views of Belfast...and the sun came out while we were up there. Yes - it's still there behind those rain filled clouds girls!

A Day at the Museum

It was raining and cold so I put on my best teenager outfit and said 'Whatever' to the weather!

I have never worn Converse style trainers before. I must confess, I don't really like them but this blog has encouraged me to be brave about my style and try lots of different looks. But no way was I forking out for a real pair! I found these in Dunnes Stores for £8.50...and don't they look authentic? It means that if, after wearing a few times, I just cannot warm to the look, I'll not have broken the bank. 

Gorgeous Nails & eBay Clearout!

I have to confess, I'm really bad with my nails. Having had mixed experiences with acrylics and Shellac, I've spent the past 2 years ignoring the state of them and admiring everyone with gorgeous painted nails. But style is about more than clothes, it's about looking after your appearance so this week, I'm taking my nails to task - both feet and hands!
Firstly the hands (feet another day!) - here's my before picture...

I went to my friend Catherine's house to have my fingernails done. I worked with Catherine pre-twins and we've stayed in touch since. I knew she did nails from her home in her spare time so when she shared her new range of Bio Sculpture colours on Facebook, one of the colours took my fancy and I decided to take the plunge!

Hidden Pearls Gently Used Sale

I had a lovely morning at a clothes sale organised by a friend of mine, Pearl Dixon. Pearl sources gently used/new items of clothing for her business 'Hidden Pearls' and sells them at Belfast's George's Market on a Sunday. She also organises clothes sales in your home and at other locations like church halls & school fairs. Now this is right up my street - I love snapping up a designer bargain so I headed (with twins in tow) and this is what greeted me in Pearl's living room...

Summer Sale Time!

Not that it feels much like summer right now but the sales have mostly kicked off this week so I thought I would bring you a selection of what's looking good in some of my favourite stores

Starting with Dune...

Left to right, Gertrude Sandal - £37 (was £75), Loulou Quilted Bag - £38 (was £55) & Golly D Wedge - £52 (was £75) 
I featured Wallis in my wish list last week and their sale is now on:

I'm Supporting - 2012 Paralympics

I was sent a gorgeous memento of this year's 2012 Paralympic Games - an official scarf, designed by Next as part of their support for the London 2012 Games with profits being donated to the British Olympic Association. And I'm in good company as Kate Middleton has one too!

Competition Time - NOW CLOSED

Another great competition for you on School Gate Style! This time I've teamed up with Grainne Maskey, Independent Stella & Dot Stylist to give away not one but two of these gorgeous Corso Silver Cuffs worth almost £70:

And as always, it's super easy to enter. All you have to do is take a look at Grainne's Stella & Dot website and choose your favourite item from The Summer 2012 Collection. Leave a comment below to tell us what it is (remember to add your name if your comment comes up as 'anonymous'). Make sure you give Grainne's Facebook page a like too and if you've any issues with commenting on the blog, just leave your comment there instead.
ALSO everyone who shares this competition on Facebook or gives it a Twitter re-tweet will get an extra entry!
The competition will run until midnight on Friday 22nd June when two random winners will be selected - these winners will be announced on the blog on Sunday 24th! Good luck everyone :)

Coral & Denim

It seemed that Northern Ireland got a good deal on the weather yesterday. While everyone was complaining on Twitter about rain and all my friends at Avenue 57 were getting their wellies and raincoats out, I was out in the garden with the girls & got two lots of washing dried on the line!

Wearing lots of Room31 again today - I just love that shop. Sorry if I'm a bore about it but I have such a tiny clothes budget so it's lovely to find a site with affordable fashion that you're not going to see everyone else wearing at the school gate.

Wearing some slightly faded blue jeans from Room 31 which cost £5 in the sale. You couldn't go wrong! I have become a bit bored of the navy blue skinnies. They are definitely the most flattering colour to wear but I fancied a slightly distressed denim for a change and these are absolutely perfect. They are quite a tight fit but have plenty of stretch. All sizes available still on this link. And they look much better in real life - the website photo does not do them justice (sorry Ruth!)

And I have to tell you about my Matalan sandals. These are another great summer buy. They've just been reduced to £5 in the sale and come in three colours. With the summers we have, I am all for spending your money on boots and shoes and saving your money on sandals!
Finally, my lightweight short sleeved cardi is also from Room 31. Ruth and the team sent it to me for my birthday! What a lovely surprise when it and a couple of other items arrived in the post last week. I'll share the others with you in the next week or so!

After seeing the photos, I decided to add a belt and I think the outfit looks better with it as it brings the sandals into the outfit more. The three year old took this picture and I added some flash so you can see that the cardigan is slightly sheer - lovely for layering.

Remember, you can get 25% off at Room 31 (excluding postage) using SGS25 at the checkout! That makes those jeans only £4 (or a total of £7.99 including postage). Have a great Tuesday :)