'Death of the polaroid' A Manics Family Album, photo of Nina in Harris & Hoole

Another dreary, bitterly cold day here in London. Been quite anxious lately for a variety of reasons, so thought why not cheer myself up by looking at all the things I’ve been truly loving and enjoying over the last couple of months. Let’s get cracking!

My favourite piece of artwork of all time - Donovan 'Sunshine Superman' by Martin Sharp (this has been the screensaver on my phone for months now) 

My pizza addiction is well and truly back (this is Homeslice in Neals Yard, one of the ultimate pizza spots in London)

This smoked mozzarella, yellow tomato and nduja pizza from Rossopomodoro is potentially the best pizza I have ever had...

Been loving wearing my classic hi-top converse with super thick socks lately.

The Rialto poetry magazine - perfect for nights in bed with a cuppa, flicking through amazing new poetry work.

Got my favourite vintage Levi’s repaired recently and haven’t taken them off since. Nothing feels as good as vintage denim on the skin.

’Where to draw the line’ - I borrowed this from a friend of mine recently and it is honestly brilliant. I’m definitely going to be ordering my own copy! It’s a great book to have for days when you’re unsure of things around you, and when you feel like your boundaries are being pushed. A great reminder that you need to do what’s right for YOU and OWN it.
The yellow notebook was a cheap as chips purchase from a random stationary store in Ealing Broadway called Neon Sheep. I love their selection of super bright, uplifting notebooks, and for £2, you can’t go wrong.
Start where you are was a beautiful gift from a friend of mine for my birthday, and I started filling it in a couple of weeks ago. It’s great for moments when you feel like you’re not yourself and you need a pick me up.

I’ve always been a huge fan of NARS makeup, and this foundation, the Natural Radiant Longwear foundation, is by far the best I have ever used. It’s pricey, but certainly worth it if you want silky soft, naturally glowing skin, with buildable coverage. I’ve had so many compliments on my skin already which is such a plus for me as I’ve always struggled with dry, acne prone skin. I wear the shade ‘Mont Blanc’.

I bought this ‘Danielle Ficus’ in Sainsbury’s recently, and it only cost seven quid (this included the pot!) I love houseplants and this one looks so lovely on the shelf above my bed.

I went to Sketch for afternoon tea for my mums birthday, and honestly, what an experience. The food is incredible, not to mention the stunning interiors and beautiful atmosphere. This is well worth the wait and to be honest, as pricey as it was, it was an unforgettablet magical experience.

I can’t lie, as controversial as it is, I adore the pop-up Goop store on Westbourne Grove. It’s so eclectic and beautifully curated, it’s definitely worth the visit! And not every product will break the bank - there’s plenty of affordable items, too.

I saw this display on South Milton Street and had a little chuckle to myself.

These. Shoes. A post dedicated solely (hehe punny) to them will be coming your way soon!

I used to read magazines every week, and only recently did I realise that I haven’t picked one up in months! So I decided to pick up a copy of ES magazine two weeks ago, and it honestly brightened my day. So many great articles and interviews, and I cannot wait to pick one up every week. One of London’s greatest (free!) luxuries.

Lush bath bombs and oils have been a staple in my life as of recently. I often find that a beautifully colourful bathtub (this particular bath bomb was ‘Over & Over’, but my current favourite is by far ‘Cheer up, buttercup’) paired with a copy of the Evening Standard magazine (see above) is the epitome of a relaxing evening. And ofcourse the scent of Diptyque ‘Benjoin’ flickering alongside the tub.

Cannot WAIT to go and see this exhibition at the RA! I haven’t been in so long and really miss my yearly membership. Maybe I’ll have to bring it back...

And finally, this bunch of loons. The kindest, most supportive and craziest cast I have ever had the pleasure of working with, all of whom I now consider integral people in my life. Cannot wait to see a bunch of them tomorrow!

As I’ve been really obsessed with vintage looking knitwear recently, I’ve decided to start a Winter series documenting my random knitwear discoveries (in my mums guest-room wardrobe of clothes that haven’t seen the light of day since 2002). It’s the perfect time of year to be looking for new colours and styles to brighten up your everyday wardrobe, and I thought this would be a fun way to show some of my favourite discoveries, and where you can find similar styles on the high street today.

This jumper is particularly cosy and was incredibly effective in keeping out the icy winds on this rather frosty day in London. I’m also a huge fan of pairing yellow with navy, so my Zara unlined wool coat (complete with gold buttons, another great touch paired with yellow), a navy and gold accented belt, men’s 501’s and black converse was the casual combination of the day. This particular jumper is an old Polo Ralph Lauren piece, and is synonymous with the classic style that Ralph Lauren have become known for.

I rediscovered this cream cable knit jumper lurking in the back of my wardrobe this morning, and suddenly felt an instant urge to take it out on the town today. It’s such a classic cut and works so well with my style, I honestly don’t know why I haven’t been wearing it! There’s something so simple, so stylish, and very much retro about wearing a cream cable knit tucked into a pair of vintage 501’s (speaking of which, I finally got my 501’s repaired and honestly I don’t know how I survived the last couple of months without them) and it’s a look that I know isn’t the most flattering for my height, but I honestly don’t really care.

I love simple outfits like these that encompass all my favourite styles and cuts - it’s a great feeling going out for the day in an outfit you truly love no matter how relaxed or simply it’s been thrown together. A pair of heeled ankle boots, a straight cut trench coat and a cool belt to tie it all together - this is a style and a look I will be recreating throughout the Winter (minus the thin trench coat, today was surprisingly warm but that is apparently not set to last due to the snow predictions...)

Some simple gold pieces really add a little extra touch to an outfit like this, I find. It helps make that “effortless” look seem even more lived in. I’m not a huge fan of big costume jewellery anymore for the very reason that it makes an outfit feel too put together. The necklace is a newer favourite from Rock N’ Rose, the rings are both &OtherStories sales finds, and the tortoiseshell earrings are from Whistles.

Yesterdays weather: gloomy, grey and drizzly. Not ideal outfit shooting weather. So I thought, what better than to 'write' another Shots on 35mm segment! Coming at you today with a roll from April this year. Enjoy xx

The first half of the roll I shot in Belgrade (capital city of Serbia, my home town) in April when the weather was bright, sunny and warm. I absolutely adore the city of Belgrade - its bustling, homely and in many ways, very rustic. This makes for extremely photogenic moments. April was also when I got my first tattoo (at 'Vivid Tattoo' Belgrade)  so I attempted a self portrait style photograph in the reflection of my mothers large mirror.
The second half of the roll was shot in Ealing Common, where I grew up, with my friend Sophie on a beautifully golden sunny day in late April. It was very warm and we evidently couldn't stop ourselves from lying around in the long grass and taking photo's on my camera.

I hope you enjoyed this segment as much as I did xx

*all photo's shot on the Pentax ME Super with Lomography 400 ISO film

This Autumn has been pretty darn beautiful if I do say so myself. We’ve been really lucky to have such lovely sunshine and prolonged warm weather (although I am currently writing this whilst bundled up under lots of blankets as the icier weather returned only a couple of days ago) and it’s been so nice to be able to continue wearing some of my favourite staple pieces from the Summer mixed in with some new accessories and warmer items. I’ve been particularly enjoying being able to wear a t-shirt or long sleeve top with a cashmere cardigan and no jacket or coat over the top.

I’ve been busy rehearsing for a play and doing my best to work part time in between, so I’ve been mainly reaching for really casual, comfy outfits or outfits that I can take from the rehearsal space to the pub afterwards. So I thought I’d do a little round up of my three favourite outfits from this October period and why I’ve been wearing these combinations on repeat.

Obsessed with these new high waisted jeans from Weekday that I got a couple of weeks ago. They're super long (so I rolled them up twice here) but a great colour and really durable denim, so they fit perfectly in my wardrobe. I've always been really into wearing cardigans, especially vintage ones. This navy blue one belonged to my Mum, and it's been in my wardrobe ever since I was born, really, so it means a lot to me. It's also super comfy and 100% Scottish cashmere, so when it's a little warmer outside (unlike today, which is 12 degrees and raining) I love to just go out in a t-shirt and cardigan.

This has been one of my favourite looks to wear from the daytime to casual dinners out or evening events. I usually don't wear skinny jeans, but I have to say these are some of my favourite jeans. I'm a huge advocate for Whistles denim as they're really durable and flattering (although I did have to take to these with scissors to give them the frayed ends). I'm also loving hats at the moment, and this beret is definitely my favourite at the moment. Chic, as well as great for cooler evenings! 

I tend to wear these jeans more in the Summer due to their cut and colour, but I've also been really enjoying wearing them with cropped knits, trainers and a leather jacket for a super comfortable and 'layerable' outfit for day to day. This has definitely been my most worn combination for rehearsal days/nights. I love baggier jeans, but what I love about these is how unusual the 'barrel' leg shape is. They're definitely a statement.

Jumper - Whistles (old, similar here) /
Skirt - Vintage Laura Ashley (similar here) /
Trainers - Adidas (similar here) /
Bag - Coccinelle /
​Sunglasses - Rayban
Jewellery bits n bobs: Necklace - Rock n' Rose / Bracelet - Thomas Sabo / K charm - Thomas Sabo / Earrings - Whistles

The sun has got it's hat on - hip hip hooray! The weather has massively warmed up over the last week, and this was the perfect excuse for me to whip out my favourite piece from the Summer, this vintage Laura Ashley skirt. 
I've always struggled with skirts - having been quite the tomboy at primary school and then always thinking that my being short was a hindrance. However, over the last year or so, I have been so into midi length skirts, I think they are a beautifully flattering style and such a versatile addition. Enter this beautiful vintage Laura Ashley skirt that used to belong to my mum - a beautiful floral pattern, and the length and fit is perfect for casual days out, as well as for Summer evenings. And it was the perfect skirt to wear on a day out with my mum, paired with a relaxed navy blue knit, some gold jewellery and a pair of all-white trainers - brilliant for a sunny, breezy Autumn day. 

I'm having a pretty bad day today, but I really wanted to blog something. Whilst skimming through my documents on my laptop, I came across my archive of 35mm photographs taken on my Pentax ME Super, and looking at these photographs really brings me a sense of peace and happiness. I love film photography so much, and I honestly don't know what I'd do without my Pentax, so I've decided to start a new series on this blog called 'Shots on 35mm', where I share with you a roll of film, or a collection of photographs, taken on my camera. I will only post when I feel inspired to do so, or I feel like sharing these personal snippets of my life, and today it just felt right, so without further ado, here is a roll of film that I shot back in February. I hope you enjoy!

Hello, one and all - I am back, and with a photo diary, this time of my disposable camera pictures from my trips abroad this Summer. I am rarely one to go on more than one trip during the Summer, but this year I went on three. Twice to Spain, and once to my home country of Serbia. Whilst I absolutely adore my home country, particularly the capital city of Belgrade, this was a somewhat difficult trip for me this year (for many reasons that I will not bore you with), and I felt uninspired to photograph whilst there. However, during my two trips to Spain, I really enjoyed snapping away on my cheap-as-chips Boots disposable camera. I used to snap away on disposables all the time when I was a teenager, but since I got into using fully manual 35mm cameras, I have given disposables a miss for a while now. I was, however, inclined to use one this Summer, and I'm really glad I did as I love the way the photo's turned out. The first trip was to Alicante with my gal-friends, and the second trip was to the nearby town of Moraira, in-between Valencia and Alicante, visiting my parents in their villa with my childhood friend, Nina. Both trips were really lovely and relaxing, and I honestly can't recommend Spain enough. So here we go - some snaps from the holidays, writing this whilst wrapped up in a cosy knit and drinking hot soup out of a mug. Oh Autumn, you came so fast. 

Sophie looking beaut on our first night in Alicante

Our first night of tapas

Alicante beach

Keeks on the beach

Our favourite square in Alicante

We found a cereal café called 'Cereal Heaps' in Alicante - obviously, I had to go

Night-times in Alicante

Moraira

Calpe beach

Valencia

DISCLAIMER: Apologies for the delay in posts yet again - I've been away for the last few weeks with very dodgy internet and no way of developing any film, so haven't been able to post anything new. I wrote this post over a month ago and COMPLETELY forgot to post it! I know Summer is now well and truly over in England, but these shoes were incredibly well loved and well worn this year, so I thought they still deserved a post of their own in mid-September... enjoy!

Whenever Summer rolls along, I often try to plan outfits around a pair of statement shoes in the hopes that I can whip my spindley designer heels out of their boxes and magically transform myself into Carrie Bradshaw. But alas, this isn't New York - this is London we're talking about, often raining or extremely sticky, and much more surface area than that of Manhatten. This year, funnily enough, the weather has been unlike any British summer I can recall. Consistently hot, very very little rain, and not as sticky as usual. So I wanted to invest in a pair of summer sandals that could see me through the whole season, would go with any outfit, and would be a little easier to walk in. Enter, 'the red shoes' - the ultimate summer sandal.

This particular pair that I will be sharing with you lot are these beautiful faux snake sandals from Topshop. These are potentially some of the most affordable shoes I own at a whopping £29 (£26 with my student discount!) and are surprisingly comfortable and easy to walk in. The heel is only 2.5 inches so they’re perfect if you want to wear them for the whole day as they will barely pinch. I sized up for myself as I have wide feet (I usually wear a 38/38 1/2 so I purchased these in a 39) and this proved extremely helpful as the front strap was even more roomy, perfect for hot days when your feet swell up a tad. I never really delve into Topshop’s shoe section, but honestly, I’m surprised at the level of comfort and style in this pair, so I’m definitely going to be looking into their collection more often from now on.

Top - Whistles / Jeans - Whistles / Sunglasses - Rayban / Sandals  - Topshop (attached version is the wide fit style, which was not available when I purchased the shoe)

I have been loving wearing these sandals to brighten up really simple everyday looks. They look brilliant with a pair of barrell leg jeans (see above) or with vintage Levi's and a printed t-shirt or vest (see below). Having said that, they also look great with more evening looks as well. I wore them to my boyfriends graduation in a black sparkly Whistles jumpsuit, and for dinner with a black Armani suit and leopard print vest, and they were such a comfortable and uplifting option. This style of sandal is perfect for a Summer in the city - they're versatile, comfortable and don't substitute on style. I can't wait to keep styling these year after year (although I wouldn't be surprised if I had to repurchase these as they were very cheap, but frankly I would be happy with up to five pairs on rotation considering how often I wear them!) There are also lots of other colour options available on the Topshop website in this style, including leopard print and dusty pink suede, so if red isn't quite for you, I'm sure there'll be something else that is. Here are a couple of outfits I've been wearing these sandals with over the past few weeks:

This Summer has been so unbearably hot half of the time that I've resorted to purely wearing denim shorts, floaty trousers and baggy t-shirts for the majority of days. The weather has generally cooled down a bit, with the rain finally making a well-deserved appearance as well, and I've found myself being able to bring back some of my favourite wardrobe items, as well as some new-in pieces that I have acquired, so I decided to snap some photo's of some of my favourite outfits at the moment.

I have been so excited to be able to wear my favourite blazer again! I really love pairing tailored pieces with casual wear, and this checked blazer paired with vintage 501's, white adidas trainers and a leopard print vest has been one of my favourite combinations on cooler days. It'll be the perfect colour-palette for warm Autumn days, too. I randomly found this vest recently in my wardrobe, it used to belong to my sister, but she hasn't worn it in over seven years so I thought I'd give it a try to incorporate some leopard print into my outfits. It's flattering, comfortable, and I love how the pattern clashes with the blue and yellow thread in the blazer. It's one of those items I find myself reaching for on casual days and on dressier occasions (I wore it with a black Armani suit and I can't even describe to you the satisfaction I got from wearing this instead of a smart shirt). It's also a Dolce & Gabbana piece, so need I say more?

Blazer - Massimo Dutti (similar here)/ Vest - Dolce & Gabbana (old) / Jeans - Vintage Levi 501's via Asos Marketplace / Trainers - Adidas (via charity shop) 

This blouse has been a huge love of mine this Summer due to it's incredible (and excessive) floatiness and thin material. I snapped it up in the Topshop sale a couple of weeks ago, and I'm pretty sure it's price has been reduced even further since then, so I would highly recommend going for it while it's still available. It's super comfy, albeit the shape of the shirt is a little odd, and as I am quite heavy chested, I've had to experiment a little bit styling wise to make sure it's flattering. I've loved wearing it super casually with denim shorts and trainers, but I've also loved wearing it with my Topshop straight leg jeans (although I cut mine so they're not very straight leg at all, I'll need to be repurchasing a pair soon) and my new beloved Topshop sandals. I've written an entire post dedicated to these shoes which I will be posting very soon, so as you can see, I'm a big fan. The subtle print on this shirt is definitely what makes it for me - the retro, clustered floral pattern is so beautiful in the slightly sheer material. 

Blouse - Topshop (sale) / Jeans - Topshop / Sandals - Topshop (more sizes available in the wide fit) / Sunglasses - Rayban (round)

I think this denim jumpsuit from Leon & Harper has been the purchase of the year for me. It is probably one of the most unique items I have in my wardrobe, and it's something I've been lusting over for months now. I only managed to scrape enough money for this as it was heavily reduced in the sale, but it was still a hefty purchase. As a lover of retro and seventies style clothing (hence the name 'the modern retro'), a denim jumpsuit is high up on the list of things I have lusted over for years, and this one ticks all the boxes. I love the pale wash of the fabric, it's perfect for the Summer, and the softness of the denim makes it feel as if the jumpsuit has moulded specifically to your body without compromising the fit. It's been really easy to style with different shoes too, including heeled sandals, flat trainers, and even ankle boots, but on this occasion I chose to go for another seventies classic - creepers, for that extra bit of height, and a little colour match to the embroidered label on the waist - it's all about the details for me.

Jumpsuit - Leon & Harper (found in American Pie on Chiswick High Road, sourced on Smallable online) / Shoes - Underground / 

Been really obsessed with floaty, viscose camisole tops in the overbearing heat, as they're the only kind of tops I've been finding super comfy when it's humid. This one I nabbed in the Topshop sale for a bloomin' fiver, and I can't lie to you, I feel a bit like a fruit salad sweet when I wear it, and I don't think it's the most flattering item for my shape, but my God is it comfortable, and fun! It's been another great piece to wear with 501's when it's not overly hot out, and with sandals. I love the bright pink and orange stripes, especially when combined with the bright red sandals - I definitely feel like I'm preparing myself for Notting Hill carnival in these colours!

Camisole - Topshop (sale) / Jeans - Levi 501's via Asos Marketplace / Sandals - Topshop (more sizes available in the wide fit) / Sunglasses - Rayban (round)