Category: Style

Inexpensive Intimates

I love pretty underwear but I often find myself drooling over gorgeous sets that are way out of my price range. It is nice to occasionally buy yourself something a little more pricer, however when trying to regularly budget for pretty lingerie sets, it doesn’t have to break the bank and inexpensive doesn’t have to mean ‘cheap’.

Okay, so I appreciate that for some women with a bigger bust, it can often mean that forking out a little extra cash for appropriately sized bras is essential. However I am noticing more high street stores are starting to accommodate for a wider range of bust sizes, which means that we can all still have a fabulous underwear collection on a budget.

I recently did some inexpensive lingerie shopping of my own and although I only picked up a few pieces, I absolutely love my purchases…

Whilst in Forever 21 I bought this little lacy number. I wasn’t looking for underwear but this pretty bralet caught my eye and it was only £6.50, so I knew I had to get it! It actually looks so cute on and it makes a change from wearing an under-wired bra. Obviously this isn’t going to be the right bra for everyday but you can get away with wearing it under a loose fit tee and it’s one of those cutesy ones that you can wear around the house.

I also picked up some pieces in Primark. I’m sure with many people, lingerie isn’t the first thing that pops into mind when they think of Primark but they actually have quite a large selection (including larger bra sizes) and for me it’s a place I’ve regularly gone back to in order to pick up some cute affordable sets.

I am so in love with my two most recent sets that I picked up in store. This monochrome lacy set has the most gorgeous detailing and the pale pink set is so pretty and feminine, plus each set cost under £10, which is awesome!

I recently took these along to a test shoot that I had with one of my favourite photographers, Jamie Cowlishaw. He really knows how to shoot a woman’s body and he’s my go to photographer when I need new lingerie shots in for my portfolio.

Have you purchased any cute sets/lingerie from Forever 21 or Primark? Where do you like to shop for intimates?

Samio x

The images of me wearing the lingerie were shot by the talented Jamie Cowlishaw. For bookings email – info@jamiecowlishaw.co.uk

July 24, 2015
Date Night Designer Desires With Lyst

For someone who loves clothes, it’s strange that I’ve never been much of a ‘designer person’. By that, I mean that in the past I’ve never really lusted over designer items or felt the need to own them. It might be the fact that I always wanted to get the bigger things purchased first, like the house, etc and since recently doing that, I have noticed myself start to eye up a few designer items.

One thing I’ve really been wanting to do is create some looks with the pieces I’ve been eyeing up and since recently collaborating with Lyst.co.uk, I’ve been able to do just that. It’s a great way for me to shop, create and save looks with items from some of my favorite shops and designers. I won’t be splashing the cash on a YSL bag just yet but a girl can dream and in the mean time, plan some of my favourite looks using Lyst.

I decided for my first Lyst that I wanted to create a date night look, which includes a few designer items that have caught my eye recently. Let’s be honest, this look is super fancy for your average date night (he ain’t taking you to Nandos in this outfit, that’s for sure!) but what girl doesn’t like to feel head to toe fabulous for at least one night and for this look I had in mind an evening when I go out for a fancy meal and cocktails with the boyfriend.

How absolutely divine are these Self-Portrait dresses and the best part is that they are actually the most affordable pieces on my Lyst. I couldn’t just pick one favourite dress for this ideal date night look, so opted for two instead and decided to style them up with a few simple yet stunning accessories and a couple of bags that I am seriously desiring!

I really like how on Lyst it’s easy to create all types of looks too. They don’t just Lyst designers but also your favorite high street brands and even Asos (perfect). You can follow the brands you love and then each time you log in, it shows the latest pieces from your favorite stores in the ‘New For You’ section.

I could honestly spend hours putting together looks (and probably will now), for me it’s a great way to pre plan a look before I buy or even creat an unlitmate want Lyst – which I’ll probably do next!

How about you, would you think of making your own Lysts? If you do sign up, you can follow me here.

You can also check out my Date Night Lyst here.

Samio x

July 1, 2015
The Versatile Jumpsuit – Casual OOTD

I love owning garments that are super versatile. What better way to simplify your wardrobe than by purchasing items that can be worn for a variety of occasions.

You may recognise this jumpsuit from my previous blog post, where I styled it for a Wedding look. It’s funny how just by losing the bling and throwing on simple pumps and a cropped denim jacket, it’s instantly transformed into a cute and casual day to day outfit.

I wore this whilst wondering around Hamburg last weekend and was able to keep it casual whilst still feeling elegant.

I’ve been wearing this jumpsuit a lot recently and I’m already seeing it become a staple piece in my wardrobe. It’s so versatile and I love how I can wear it casual or dressy and even a simple jacket switch can change the look completely.

I think it’s great when you find garments that you can get lots of use out of, it often makes things so much easier when you have a ‘go to outfit’ to hand.

What I Wore/Shop The Look:
Culotte Jumpsuit – M&Co
Cropped Denim Jacket – H&M (Similar Here)
Necklace – Timeless Junk
Crochet bag – gift (Similar here)
Ballet flats – Gap (Similar here)

Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

June 29, 2015
Wedding Guest Worthy? – The Black Culotte Jumpsuit

They say ‘never wear white to A wedding’ but what about black?

For a time I would have said black was far too morbid a shade to wear to a wedding. I love my brights, so any excuse I have to wear them and I usually jump at the chance (prints galore). Recently however, I’ve been seeing how simpler pieces can sometimes be a good investment, as they can be worn for more than one occasion.

Styling a classic black dress, or in this case a jumpsuit, the right way can easily make it wedding guest worthy. I’d say the key is to liven up your outfit with brighter accessories and avoid black shoes/accessories if possible. Remember you’re not going to a funeral and if it looks like you could be, change it!

The great thing about wearing black is that you have more opportunity to play with colours and patterns when picking out your accessories. A statement pair of shoes can really add that wow factor to an otherwise simple outfit. I went for this bold metallic pair that I recently purchased from Primark and this gorgeous gold/pearlescent effect bag from The Vintage styler. My gold chunky necklace added just a bit of bling and finished off my outfit perfectly.

What I Wore – Shop The Look:

Culotte Jumpsuit – M&Co
Necklace – Timeless Junk
Pearlescent Box Bag – Vintage Styler
Heels – Primark (In store only)

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Samio x

Some of the items may have been sent to me for review purposes, however this does not affect my opinions – check out my disclaimer for further information.

June 28, 2015
All Black Attire & Nike Air Max

There once was a time when you had to pick style or comfort and rarely did the two things go hand in hand. I also remember a point in my life when I wouldn’t allow myself to wear anything but heels (I actually don’t know how I coped looking back) but now I feel a lot more relaxed about being, well, relaxed. It’s probably partly got something to do with the current trends and the fact that the more casual look is currently being embraced.

For a while I’ve been seeing trainers becoming a part of everyday outfits. At first I wasn’t quite sure if it was for me but then when you’ve endured many days in the likes of London, running round to castings all day, you see why people have adopted this trend and suddenly you want to jump on the band wagon.

Now I finally own a pair of trainers (that aren’t just my gym ones) and I cannot stop wearing them. I love rocking them with an all black look and I feel that wearing them with a more fitted jacket, like this sleeveless blazer I picked up recently in Primark, gives them a smarter edge.

These trainers make the perfect footwear for day around the city and they kept me comfortable last Sunday when I wore this outfit round Hamburg whilst exploring the city before jetting home.

I can finally say that I have been converted to the ultimate comfort shoes. I’m not about to throw away all of my heels just yet but I’ll be keeping my trainers to hand for those for those days when I’m doing lots of walking, that’s for sure!

What I Wore/Shop The Look
Jeans – Asos
Tank top – Primark in store only (Similar here)
Sleeveless Blazer – Primark in store only (Similar here)
Bag – H&M
Trainers – Nike Air Max

Samio x

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June 26, 2015
Primark Mini Jewellery Haul

I recently popped into Primark to pick up some jewellery and to generally have a browse. I often find myself heading to Primark for accessories like belts and jewellery and things, as they are always so affordable there, that I find I always get a lot for my money and this time was no exception.

Although I have loads of necklaces, I currently have a thing for really delicate pieces, so I’ve been slowly adding some like this to my collection. I spotted the dainty initial necklaces and thought that they were so cute and they were only £1.50 each.

I decided to get the matching initial earrings set too. Although I already had some similar ‘S’ earrings, for the price of just £1.50 for a three pack, it was worth paying just to get the other two that I didn’t have.

I knew I wanted to pick up some rings, as rings are something I’m seriously lacking in my jewellery collection. I was in luck when I spotted this super cute set of eight for just £2.50. The quirky yet feminine designs immediately caught my eye and I absolutely love them. There were a number of other designs available too but these were my favourite.

My final purchase was this gold cheetah head (I think it’s a cheetah) keyring. Okay, so this one isn’t technically jewellery but it was in the jewellery section and it was cute and I needed a new keyring, so I bought it (it was £1). I’m waiting until our new door gets fitted and once I have my new house keys I’ll be using this.

In total I spent £6.50 on all of these items. It wasn’t the biggest jewellery haul ever but for what I spent I certainly think I got a lot for my money and I love these cute little pieces.

What do you think? Have you purchased any jewellery from Primark recently?

Samio x

June 19, 2015
Boyfriend Jeans & Striped Tee

Some days it’s nice to go for an easy relaxed Tee and a loose fit pair of boyfriend jeans for the ultimate comfy day, when you still have to leave the house.

This summer I’m loving wearing my Clarks Hotel Bustle sandals. They are really comfy to wear and I feel that they bring a slightly smart finish to this otherwise super chilled outfit.

For days when I’m running errands, I tend to go for this more relaxed type of look and find it good to have a few easy to wear tees that are good to throw on when I need to leave the house in a hurry or just nip to the shops.

Although on these more casual days comfort is the priority, I find finishing off my outfit with a pair of smart yet comfy sandals like these, helps my outfit look that little bit more thought out, even if it wasn’t

What I wore:
T-Shirt – Zara (Similar here)
Boyfriend Jeans – Zara (Similar here)
Sandals – Clarks

What are your go to, on the go ‘comfy day’ items of clothing?

Samio x

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June 15, 2015
Tie Top & Mom Jeans

The weather has been glorious in England this week! I know that I often talk about the weather in my posts (how very British of me) but when you come from a place like England, where the weather can determine your outfits on a daily basis, it’s hard not to mention it when it’s being particularly fabulous for once. And by fabulous, I mean sunny!

Okay so it’s rarely hot, hot in England but it’s still so satisfying when it gets warm enough that you can wear your summer pieces and step out of the house without taking a jacket or coat.

Crop tops are some of those cute summer items that I love to wear. I especially love the cute tie top ones like this one that I’m wearing. I originally got this as a two piece which I previously posted here and this time I decided to switch it up by pairing the top with a casual pair of Mom Jeans. I’m a little late on the Mom Jean tred but I am loving these as they are so comfy, making them a nice and relaxed changed from super tight skinnies.

What I wore:
Sandals – Clarks
Cropped shirt – H&M (Similar here)
Jeans – H&M (Similar here)

What items of clothing do you love to rock in the summer weather?

Samio x

June 12, 2015
White Ripped Skinny Jeans & The Camel Twist Top

Recently I’ve been a bit daring with some of my clothing choices and for me a pair of white skinnies make no exception. Okay, so this is far from the most off the wall outfit ever (especially compared to some of the crazy prints I’ve worn), however for me, wearing white always takes a bit of courage. I’m known for being quite clumsy and wearing the most strain prone shade ever is never usually a good choice for me. Lately though, I’ve not been doing too badly and after recently wearing a white dress and managing to stay stain free for the day, I decided to jump on board the white jean trend and get myself a pair.

Aside from the fact of being scared of stupidly spilling something on my lap whilst wearing white, I was actually worried that these jeans may have been a bit see through. Luckily enough however, I was happy to find that they are surprisingly non transparent and my fear of unwillingly showing my underwear has diminished.

To go with my new white skinnies I went for this camel coloured twist front top and these fabulous lazer cut out faux leather heels.

I absolutely love these shoes and although you can’t see it here, they actually wrap and tie around the ankle which makes them look so elegant. I can’t wait to rock them with a cute dress.

What I Wore/Shop The Look:
White Skinny Jeans – Pretty Little Thing
Camel Twist Front Top – Pretty Little Thing
Tan Lazer Cut Heels – Pretty Little Thing
Necklace – Ebay (old)

What item(s) have been a daring purchase for you recently?

Samio x

June 8, 2015
A Polka Dot Midi Dress in London

On Sunday I was in London, for the second time in the space of three days. For the bank holiday though, I was purely down for fun rather than castings or work and I was able to take the trip down with my boyfriend, Damien, which made a nice change from going alone.

We headed to London primarily for my auntie’s 40th birthday party, which was taking place that Sunday evening. To make the most of our trip, we caught an early train down and after checking in at our hotel, we then went to the Tate Modern which was only a short walk from where we were staying.

After spending some time looking around the art gallery, we went to Proky’s BBQ, where we both filled up on Porky Burgers, topped with pulled pork, streaky bacon & jack cheese along with a shared side of pork scratchings.

It was overcast on Sunday in London, however it was quite warm and so I threw on a simple polka dot midi dress which I had purchased from River Island last year. Although I’d had this dress for almost a year, this was actually the first time I wore it and I’m surprised I hadn’t worn it out sooner. It’s one of those ‘easy to wear’ type dresses that you can just throw on and it’s nice and loose (which makes it perfect for eating burgers in).

What I wore:
Dress – River Island (Similar Here)
Ballet Pumps – Topshop (Here)
Locket Necklace – George (I think)
Shoulder Bag – H&M (here)

Samio x

May 27, 2015