Day 203: Beige and brown

• Cowal neck top: Gap
• Sleeveless cardi: Gap
• Jeggings: Marks and Spencer
• Pumps: Primark

I had a bit of a lazy day today as wasn't feeling too well. I felt as if I was coming down with something, a bit headachy, and just a bit blah - maybe I overheated yesterday? That's a first living in Scotland! Hopefully it won't come to anything and I will wake up tomorrow good as new.





Day 202: Spring/Summer 2011 trend challenge - Gathering

This is the penultimate look for my Vogue challenge to create all their key Spring/Summer 2011 trends from the clothes I already have in my wardrobe, since I'm banned from shopping. Today the theme is gathering and I have incorporated a touch of this in to my outfit.

The gathered look is all about folds, pleats and gathers.

Vogue UK's Spring/Summer 2011 catwalk report

• White blouse: Marks and Spencer
• Peach cami: Marks and Spencer
• Grey jeggings: Marks and Spencer
• Silver pumps: Primark
• Heart necklace: Next

I actually did not plan to try and create a look to fit this key trend today I just got dressed as normal and then realised the gathered detail on the blouse might just count. I was expecting this look to really test me but I sort of lucked in to it.

It was a beautiful day, really warm and sunny however as it wasn't forecast to stay that way I put together this look to meet any weather eventuality. The sun shone, however, and I was rather hot walking around town. These jeggings are rather tight and don't have much give in them and I have rarely worn them as I think the light colour is unforgiving and I only put them on today as the shirt was long enough to cover my modesty. I felt ok for most of the day but late in the afternoon I was walking through the gardens and I swear I caught someone eyeing my thighs with a rather distasteful look on their face. Now I usually fly under the radar and am not normally one to be effected by others but I got a rather nasty dose of the paranoias. I then felt sure that I caught a few more looks and catching sight of myself in shop windows I just wanted to get home so I could change. I haven't had a crisis in confidence in a long time and it didn't feel good. Whilst I liked the look I am not sure how quickly I will get back in to these trousers again and maybe they should be more of an undergarment item!

I have one more look to go - flowing.

I think in the case of Lori's Wardrobe versus gathers that whilst I didn't wear it head to toe this season's trend can be created without a visit to the High Street.

Day 201: Museum musings

• Striped T: Marks and Spencer
• Grey cardi: Marks and Spencer
• Black trousers: Marks and Spencer
• Beads: East
• Shoes: Clarks

This was a fairly relaxed Friday outfit but I think this cardi looks better with a trouser with a narrower leg.

 

Had a good day today as my work team went to the reopening of the Royal Museum which has just undergone a major refurbishment. It was lovely to see it back open and the building is looking stunning which is the perfect backdrop to show off the wonderful collections. It was really well attended as the people of Edinburgh have very much been missing their museum. It was a great way to start a three day long bank holiday weekend
and I am looking forward to going back to look round properly at my leisure. I see many cold rainy Sundays ahead being spent wandering round the galleries come winter.

Day 200: Dressing dilema

• Grey t shirt: Gap
• Black skinnies: Marks and Spencer
• Pink cardi: Debenhams
• Pumps: Primark

I liked the look of this outfit as I finally found a way to wear this Gap top which is the ideal length to wear with skinny jeans. The problem with it however, is that it has very odd gathering just in the middle section of the front with ties to pull it in which I think are supposed to tie at the back. When I bought it last year I thought I would be able to find a way to wear it but very soon realised that there was no obvious solution and when researching online I discovered that Gap's website was full of plenty of others as confused as me. I think the answer is not to pull it in too tight but mainly not to fret about it as there are no rules in fashion and I am free to do with it exactly as I wish.

Day 199: Work affair

• Brown dress: Gap
• Black cardi: Marks and Spencer
• Black wedges: Clarks

This was the second of two outfits I wore today. The first was usual work attire and then I changed in to this dress to go to a party after work at the newly reopened museum. It is always difficult knowing what to wear to a work do however virtually anything would have gone at the event, which was fabulous, thanks for asking!

Day 198: Only an excuse

• White lst: Matalan
• Linen trousers: Marks and Spencer
• Cardi: Marks and Spencer
• Pumps: Primark
• Necklace: The Pier

I did say I was going to ditch this cardi, as it is too big, and stop taking the lazy option by mixing black trousers with various tops. Obviously I went back on my word. However, these are not my usual work trousers which look tired and shapeless, these are linen and have barely been worn and look new and much smarter. Ok excuses over.

Day 197: Plantlife

• Dress: Wallis
• Leggings: Dorothy Perkins
• Cardi: marks and Spencer
• Pumps: Primark

Now that the 30 for 30 is over I am more free in my outfit choices for work. I have only worn this leaf patterned dress a couple of times but I don't recall ever wearing it to work. It isn't clear from the picture but there is a long tie at the front which I am confused over what to do with. I tied it in a long double bow today as it is so long that if I left it hanging loose it falls way below the hem of the skirt. I also wondered if it should be tied at the back but I don't know how it is then supposed to lie at the front. I am contemplating getting the scissors out and drastically shortening it so it is more practical.

I wore leggings with the dress as didn't want to go bare legged or do tights. I am not sure whether I really like mixing these two as it definitey makes the whole look a lot more casual. Maybe leggings work better with a shorter top layer?

Day 196: Spring/Summer 2011 trend challenge - White

This is now my third day creating a look for my Vogue challenge to create all their key Spring/Summer 2011 trends from the clothes I already have in my wardrobe, since I'm banned from shopping. Today I am working the first of the last three and white is the theme of the day.

The white look this season is all about elegance, crisp, clean tailoring and perfect lines.

Vogue UK's Spring/Summer 2011 catwalk report

• White T: als
• Linen trousers: Oasis
• Tan wedges: Clarks
• Wooden beads: Primark

I don't own much white and certainly would not normally wear it head to toe. It was therefore difficult enough for me to create a white ensemble never mind take account of the specifics of the styling such as tailoring and elegance, still I did the best I could.

Whilst this is maybe not a hugely successful take on the look there is no denying it is white therefore I think I have proven in the case of Lori's wardrobe versus white that this season's trend can be created without a visit to the High Street.

Day 195: Spring/Summer 2011 trend challenge - Tangerine

Today I am creating another look for my Vogue challenge to create all their key Spring/Summer 2011 trends from the clothes I already have in my wardrobe, since I'm banned from shopping. I now have three left which I think are likely to be the most challenging: gathering; flowing and white although I have to say today's look tangerine was a bit of a stretch.

The tangerine look is an extension of the bright shades and colour blocking trends of the season and is all about the vibrant citrus hues of orange.

Vogue UK's Spring/Summer 2011 catwalk report

• T shirt: East
• Trousers: Gap
• Sandals: Clarks

This was about the best I could do in interpreting the tangerine trend. It is far from spot on but definitley in the right ball park. I do like the shade but own very little of it mainly because I am not in the habit of embracing such bright colours.

I think in the case of Lori's Wardrobe versus tangerine that the jury's still out!

Day 194: Spring/Summer 2011 trend challenge - Eastern

I have now completed 12 looks of my Vogue challenge to create all their key Spring/Summer 2011 trends from the clothes I already have in my wardrobe, since I'm banned from shopping. I have five to go which are: gathering; flowing; white; tangerine and eastern.

Today I am creating an eastern inspired look.

Vogue UK's Spring/Summer 2011 catwalk report

• Pink jacket
• Grey trousers: New Look
• White lst: Matalan
• Mules: George @Asda

I have had this little Chinese jacket for years and whilst it is really too small I was a bit stuck as to how to create an eastern look from the items in my wardrobe so on it went. I love the bright colour and the embroidered bird detailing is a really unusual touch. The mules are also very pretty however, unfortunately, they are pretty uncomfortable so I can't wear them for long walks.

I wish I had seen Kendi's scarf post before I created this look as the possibilities could be endless. How clever is that to create a little jacket from a tied scarf, I must try that out?

I think I have proven in the case of Lori's wardrobe versus eastern inspired style that this season's trend can be created without a visit to the High Street.

Day 193: 30s end

• Striped T: Gap
• Grey trousers: New Look
• Shoeboots: Clarks
• Necklace: Primark

This is the last look of the 30 for 30 challenge and as the rules were slightly more lax this time I did not find it too painful at all. I started on the 18 June and was done today, 33 days later so I pretty much stuck to the program. I was more adventurous in the 30 items that I chose compared to last time and the outfits I created were more creative.

First 10

I planned some of the outfits to help me pick the 30 items so I knew there would be plenty of options but I didn't stick to the plan for long.

Hits - Day 1's light and summery look and Day 7's colour bravery

Misses - The skirt length on Day 8 is just not right 

Favourite look - Day 7

 

Second 10
Realising I was one item short I included the pink and white pattered short sleeved blouse in my 30.

Hits - Day 20's layering looked worked well

Misses - The looks for Day 11 and Day 18 are a bit too similar despite having different  tops and accessories

Favourite look - Day 20

 

Final 10

The last 10 included some of the best looks.

Hits - Day 24 and Day 25 are favourites

Misses - Day 22 was just a bit blah!

Favourite look - Day 25 as this was clour and pattern clashing at its best for me.