Ananas & Palm Trees.

I had a spare hour or so this week in between lots of reading, writing and tiki business to go shopping. I'd been informed by some people over on Facebook that Topshop had some great tiki stuff in. Well, that was excuse enough for me! My work wardrobe needed a bit of spruce up anyway, and topped off with the lovely spring weather that has finally arrived, it was off to town I went!

First off I spotted this pineapple design dress in their beachware section. I think it's supposed to be a beach dress you wear over a swimsuit, but it works fine as a regular dress too - if a little short! I was most surprised by a) the price (a mere £25!) and b) the size (usually I am at least a medium in Topshop, sometimes reaching over into the large spectrum). I went off to the changing room with a medium and a large but had to ask the assistant for a small! I can't deny that it didn't feel good! It is pretty much backless, and I'm sure with the right bikini top it'll look fab, but for now I've just teamed it with a bandeau top from New Look.

(I must apologise for my hair in these photos; I'm trying out a new Aussie product which combines texturing and conditioning so its a little beachy at the moment)

Secondly I found this dress with a cut out midriff. I expected to be a 14 because Topshop busts  in a 12 are usually too small for me, but alas the 14 was too big and so I tried the 12. Perfect! I love the design of Polynesian beach houses and palm trees, and the colouring is bright enough for work but not too garish to wear elsewhere! This one was slightly more expensive, but within the regular range of Topshop dresses, at £36. The amount of wear I'll get out of it though makes it completely worth that extra £11!

Other outfit additions:

Bamboo bangles by Bow & Crossbones

Hair Orchid by me

What do you think?

Have you found an tiki treats out there this spring?

Mahalo xx

Sunday Soundtrack.

Sunday for me is all about mellow music to help me recover from the hectic nature of the Saturday night before. Ever since I was little this soundtrack was usually brought in the form of some kind of jazz, and I've continued this onto my adult life. And, as it would be her 98th birthday today, this Sunday's soundtrack is brought to you by Billie Holiday. If I could sound like anyone when I sing, it would be this amazing lady...

'Summertime'

'Them There Eyes'

'A Sailboat In the Moonlight'

Poster Girl.

I'm currently in the process of buying little tit bits to decorate my new house with - y'know, that house I haven't got yet, but have designed in my head. Come the end of June, I'm no longer a student living in digs, but hopefully a fully matured 'adult' living in a proper abode. Terrifying. Anyway, yesterday on a trip to Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth I bought these mounted posters from a stall in their little market place called Southsea Gallery (you can shop online or visit them in their shop in Southsea). They were £5 each, or 5 for £20.

I plan on finding some cheap frames to fit them so they can hang proudly on my walls!

Spring Forward.

Do I dare? Did I just jinx it? Humblest apologies if I have, but it seems the south has got the springtime bug - it took long enough! I'm home in Southampton for Easter, but it's back off up to Liverpool on Friday for what I can only describe as seven weeks of hell. From 8th April to the 1st June I plan on being in the library most of the time as all my final, final, final deadlines all descend on me at once! I have 20,000 words to research and write so this blog will probably take a bit of a back seat until freedom is in sight.

If I do get a breather I might do a little recap of what's been going on on my Instagram  like I'm doing now...

So when I left Liverpool last Wednesday the photo on the left was what I saw from my window. Snow. Yes, snow. Only Britain couldn't have a White Christmas but a White Easter instead! But then just less than one week later look at those lovely springtime skies! Yes, the trees are still bare, but seeing as that photo was just taken after 6pm, I think at least the feeling of spring is there.

Last Saturday me and the parents went out to a rockabilly night at The Talking Heads in Southampton to catch up with some people and to see some bands play (The Ace Trio were as ace as usual!); this is my outfit for the night, my new Freddies of Pinewood jeans, an old gingham strapless top (which needs the bones taking out because they bend too much and make me look large...) and a bikini because I forgot my strapless bra. Also, check out the bumper bangs! I'm getting much better at them!

I got some lovely new things at Ikea including these tiki-esque glasses amongst other things that I'm keeping under wraps for a while. I have to move house at the end of June and plan on living by myself so I can really let my style develop, hopefully the things I bought today will aid that.

I posted on Instagram way back in January that I was looking for a peachy coral lipstick but my search had been unsuccessful until I found the new Rimmel Apocalips in Luna. It's a perfect colour, but I'm not too keen on the texture - unlike the advert it isn't quite as opaque as a lipstick and you have to have really smooth lips for it it not to show up an chapped skin.

Easter obviously meant the end of my vegetarianism so...McDonalds it was! I know, I know, its horribly processed gunk but I have been craving a Big Mac for weeks!

Finally, I travelled back in style last week. I could really get used to this first class malarky! Free lunch and, more importantly, free wine! Oh yes, very pleasant!

(One last thing, the competition I mentioned in my last post ended on the 1st April. Sadly, I didn't win, but I did come fourth so I must thank all those who voted for me! Congratulations to the winner, and good luck Bettina Scarlett for the event!)