Category: Style

The Weather Struggle & Playing With Textures

I really enjoy playing with different textures with my outfits, especially in the winter. This faux fur scarf has been a go to piece for me recently; whether I’m rocking it with my biker jacket, wearing it with my long wool coat or alone over a knit like this, it seems to be my go to winter wrap.

The faux leather skirt I’d spotted on Asos back in November and instantly fell in love with it. They also do the skirt in a gorgeous grey colour but I opted for black as I thought it would be more versatile when creating different outfits, however now I’m starting to think I want the one in stone too (don’t be greedy Samio). This is one of those skirts that totally makes an outfit and I can’t wait to wear it more over the coming months.

It was a bit of a challenge shooting my outfit on this occasion, due to the extreme wind and so these images nearly didn’t make it to my blog. However, as outfit posts are my favourite and something I want to share more here on my blog this year, I decided to try and not be so critical and let these images make the cut… We often do have to battle with the elements here in England during the winter, so I guess it’s only true to life. As much as you want to walk around looking perfectly put together, it doesn’t always happen, so that’s bound to reflect in my style shots from time to time, especially during the U.K winter.

What I Wore:
Leather look black midi wrap skirt – Asos (here) & in grey (here)
Faux fur tippet/scarp – Oasis (similar here )
Grey knit – Asos (similar here )
Black ankle boots – Aldo (here)

Samio x

January 4, 2016
Whistles Longline Shirt Dress

Happy New Year! Its seems that 2015 went by like a blur and if it taught me anything, it’s to embrace every moment and to enjoy life to the fullest. I’m all set to begin 2016. I’m feeling ambitious, motivated and excited to see what this year has to offer.

I decided to kick this year off on my blog with my favourite type of post; an outfit post. I recently purchased this longline Whistles shirt dress, which I’d spotted in store quite some time ago. I’d originally resisted the temptation of purchasing the dress, until it went on sale at Asos (it had been in my saved list for quite some time) and it made it the perfect time to buy it.

I really love how versatile this dress is. Although it’s simple, it’s one of those garments that I know I’ll get plenty of wear out of. It hangs loose and straight but on this occasion I cinched it in at the waist by adding a skinny waist belt. It also looks good worn loose for a more relaxed look and could easily be worn casual with a pair of trainers.

Just before Christmas I was given the chance to take part in a Blogger’s Secret Santa with online jewellery store Gemporia. I was gifted this pretty little bracelet from blogger Kat from Tales Of A Pale Face.

I don’t tend to wear much jewellery, but this bracelet that Kat picked out is actually perfect as I’ve been wanting to purchase some delicate pieces like this that I can wear everyday.

What I Wore:
Dress – Whistles (here)
Belt – Asos (similar here)
Heels – Asos (here)
Bracelet – Gemporia (here)

Samio x

January 1, 2016
Snake Print & Faux Fur

Usually when my boyfriend and I head out for ‘date night’, it’s on an evening. Last week however, Damien had a couple of days off work, so we decided to go out during the day, which of course meant I could get some outfit snaps whilst it was still light out.

We finally went to the new(ish) Burger & Lobster in Manchester. It’s the first one to open in my city and so as expected it’s been very popular. I ordered lobster whilst Damien ordered the burger and then after visiting one shop, we deicide to ditch the Christmas shopping and go for cocktails instead.

It was a great opportunity to wear my new dress from Ark. I recently attended the Ark #YuleBelieve blogger Christmas party, where we did Secret Santa and I was gifted with a burnt orange dress from another blogger. Unfortunately, after trying the dress on I found that it plunged far too low at the front and didn’t look right on me. I then swapped my gifted dress for this snake print shirt dress. I think I went for a good replacement as I know I’ll get plenty of wear out of this one and I love the print.

As you can see, I teamed the dress with tights, heeled ankle boots and a faux fur shrug for a casual/dressy daytime look, but it could be easily be worn for an evening out. If I wanted to brave the cold and go tight-less, I think it would look good on a night out with a pair of cute stilettos, or even some killer thigh high boots (even though I don’t actually own a pair of those…yet).

What I Wore:
Snake print shirt dress – Ark (here)
Ankle Boots – TKMaxx (similar here)
Faux Fur Shrug – (similar here)
Bag – Whistles (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.

December 2, 2015
Simply Styled – The Black Shirt Dress

It’s November, time to dress in head to toe black – just kidding. Although this is my second outfit post in a row in which I am actually wearing all black, adding just a hint of colour with my shoes. Sometimes all black styling simplifies life just a little bit though, and it can allow you to play with coloured accessories instead, like I have done with these shoes.

These heels have been featured on my blog numerous times, they are those sturdy staples that seem to go with so much and have a quality that doesn’t seem to wear easily. I’m trying to purchase more items like that these days. For example my bag is a recent purchase and those of you who may have watched my most recent YouTube video, will know that it’s one of my new favourites. Like the shoes, you’ll be seeing a lot more of this bag in my future outfit posts. I plan on slowly introducing more good quality pieces into my wardrobe that I can wear and use time and time again.

With a piece like this black shirt dress from Ark, it’s also a great item to wear time and time again. On this occasion I was heading to the cinema but it could easily be worn for work, or styled casually with a pair of trainers. It’s currently been quite mild here in England, so a jacket wasn’t needed on this occasion, which is just as well because I’m yet to find the perfect winter coat.

What I wore – Shop the look
Dress – Ark (here)
Shoes – Urban Outfitters (old)
Bag – Whistles (here) – (or on sale in burgundy, here)

At the moment I’m really enjoying simple styling. Owning several items that are mostly interchangeable makes getting dressed so much easier.

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.

November 2, 2015
Hugo Boss The Scent Fragrance Launch

Earlier this month I went along to the fragrance launch of The Scent, a new fragrance for men by Hugo Boss. I was rather excited for this event as I was going along with fellow blogger L’Oréal and it was at Manchester’s Hotel Gotham in their private members bar, Club Brass.

As soon as we entered we were served with cocktails that were perfectly fitting to the theme of the event, with ingredients similar to those in The Scent and small squares of leather clipped onto the straws to give the leathery essence.

We were given a fragrance master class by fragrance scientist William Andrews, who helped develop The Scent. It was really interesting to learn about the process that goes into creating a fragrance. I had no idea how long it took to create the finished product, which can often be a few years.

The Scent is all about seduction. The fragrance has a sweet yet masculine scent; There’s a tingle of ginger, fresh lavender scent and then the leather smell comes later. So did the fragrance seduce me? Well it’s like William Andrews said ‘It’s the scent plus the man that makes the seduction’, so it’s a good job I got a bottle to take home to my boyfriend.

What I wore:
Culotte Jumpsuit – (Similar Here)
Sleeveless Jacket – (Similar Here)
Heels – (Similar Here)

Samio x

A perfect Christmas gift for the other half, shop The Scent here.

October 28, 2015
Taylor Morris Eyewear

Let’s talk about designer eyewear… If I’m being completely honest I’ve never been one to obsess over eyewear, unless you count that one time when I was around five. I cried when the optician told me I didn’t need glasses because it meant I couldn’t have the rainbow rimmed spectacles I’d been dreaming about… When I think about it, that was probably the last time I strongly desired a particular pair of glasses. Whilst as a teen, some of my friends couldn’t wait to purchase the latest designer shades, I was rocking the same one pound pair that I’d had for about three years and it never really bothered me…

Eventually vintage designer sunglasses became my thing, as I always love the idea of recycling fashion from the past. Although my eyewear collection had somewhat evolved since my teens, it wasn’t until very recently, when I was introduced to Taylor Morris eyewear, that I really started to appreciate the fascination with well designed and crafted eyewear.

I was invited along to the Taylor Morris Spring Summer 2016 Collection Presentation, along with a small group of bloggers and press for a champagne breakfast at Harvey Nichols in Manchester. Hugo Taylor and Charlie Morris, who founded the brand in 2013, talked us through their new collection and gave us an insight into Taylor Morris Eyewear.

I was truly fascinated by all the detail that goes into designing each pair of sunglasses to the highest standard. Even the name of each pair of shades has a story behind it, which is something I particularly like.

I bumped into the fabulous L’Oréal again.

I got the chance to pick out my own pair of shades and after trying on a few different styles, I then went for the Vivien shades in half Havana & half Amber acetate. I tried them on and fell in love with them. They are a different shape to what I’d normally go for but the style just won me over, as I love the brown gradient effect with the beautiful gold detailing inside the rim.

You could see that both Hugo and Charlie have a real passion for eyewear, which is something that is translated in their designs. There is something very classic yet unique about each piece and although new designs are set to come and go each season, there is certainly a sort of timelessness in their collections. I’m sure I’ll get plenty of wear out of my fabulous Vivien shades, especially when I go on holiday next week.

What I wore:
Blazer – Zara (Similar here)
Jeans – tophsop here
Heels – Pretty Little Thing (similar here)
Bag – Zara (similar here)

Shop Taylor Morris Eyewear here.

Samio x

October 13, 2015
Clarks Anniston Vale Outfit – Competition

Recently I’ve been talking a lot about how I’ve been wanting to downsize my wardrobe and invest in good quality items that I can get plenty of wear out of – less is more as they say.

These jeans were a recent purchase and so far I’ve been getting plenty of wear out of them but the star of the show with this outfit were definitely my Clarks Anniston Vale loafers.

I’m no stranger to Clarks shoes and over this past year I’ve accumulated a number of different styles, each which I am glad to say I’ve been getting plenty of wear out of. I think there is often a misconception with Clarks, as many people are often surprised after they compliment my shoes and I tell them where they are from. Yes Clarks are known for their comfort and quality but they should be known for their style too. Whoever said you can’t have style and comfort.

I’d been eyeing up these particular loafers since I spotted them at Clarks A/W press day earlier this year. I’d spotted them in black and a gorgeous burgundy shade and knew I’d have to have a pair. I was over the moon when I was given the opportunity not to only have a pair but to choose my own unique colourway for them too! I’d spotted the brushed animal print on another pair of shoes, so chose that to go on the top part and there’s something so classic about patent black, so that made up my mind for the rest of the shoe. I excitedly ripped open the box when they arrived and I could not be more pleased with them.

What I wore:
Shirt – Zara (similar here)
Jeans – Topshop
Shoes – Clarks Anniston Vale loafers

Win a £200 Clarks Voucher

Clarks have been even more amazing and given me the opportunity to spread the shoe love with you guys by giving you the opportunity to win £200 in Clarks Vouchers! All you have to do to enter this fabulous competition is follow both me and Clarks on Instagram – @clarksshoes and @samiorenelda – Then comment below on this blog post with your Instagram name to let me know you’ve entered. The competition ends at midnight on Friday 16th October and the winner will be selected at random and announced on my Instagram on Saturday 17th. This competition is open to UK residents only. Good luck!

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.

Check out my other outfit post featuring some of my favourite Clarks shoes:
Clarks X Orla Kiely
Boyfriend Jeans & Hotel Bustle
Matching Florals

October 6, 2015
Stay Fit Don’t Quit

This time of the year comes around and I usually want to get ready for cosy nights in and at any opportunity, the longer I can stay in bed, the better. This Autumn however, I don’t see much room for that happening; I’ve got a house that’s still got plenty of renovation work to be done on it, work which is busier than ever and a chockablock social life to manage with it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m certainly not complaining but at times when life gets really busy, I can find it hard to switch off, not to mention the struggle to manage my fitness amongst all of it.

At the start of September I took on a fitness challenge where I signed up for 30 days of yoga with Get The Label as part of their #StayFitDontQuit campaign. Little did I know when I signed up that I hadn’t put my name down for any ordinary yoga but Bikram Yoga, which is practiced in 40 degree heat for an hour and a half! Needless to say, I was rather reluctant at first. When I finally pushed myself to attend my first class, I can’t describe my feeling beforehand as anything other than nervous!

Sometimes you just have to take the plunge with these things and often what can seem daunting at first can actually turn out to be something great…

As I stepped into the Bikram Yoga room a blanket of heat hit my face. The humidity made it somewhat bearable but as I sat on my yoga mat before the start of the class, staring at my bewildered looking face in the mirror, I did start to contemplate what I was doing there and if I would survive. The funny part is, my first class actually went by like a blur. I managed to do most of the poses bar a couple and only one made me feel nauseous, due to the bending back in the heat. I came out feeling revitalized, fresh and raring to do it again! And it’s true what they say, each class does get easier and you’re flexibility improves the more you attend the classes.

I’ve still got a bit of work to do on my poses.

And outside of the yoga room I’ve been doing a lot of walking kitted out in my new fitness gear. When I haven’t had time to attend one of the yoga classes I’ve found time to fit in an hours walk instead, which is something I’ve thoroughly been enjoying recently. It’s been very much about making the time for me and looking after myself inside and out. One of the things I have loved most about doing Bikram Yoga is that I’ve been able to switch off from the outside world whilst inside the room and it’s given my mind time to relax.

What I’m wearing:
Tank top – Under Armour here
Leggings – Nike here
Trainers – Adidas here

To say thanks to all the bloggers who took part with #StayFitDontQuit, Get The Label put on a lovely bloggers brunch for us at Proper Tea in Manchester. TempleSpa were there to give us a pampering masterclass and we were each gifted with a Fitbug orb along with lots of other fitness goodies. So now there’s no excuse for me not to keep up with my fitness.

Have you ever tried Bikram Yoga? What’s you’re favorite activity to help you to stay fit?

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.

October 5, 2015
French Style & Taste – Balsamik Launch at 63 Degrees

There is something about French style that is so simple yet chic and so when I was invited along to the UK launch of online French brand Balsamik, I was excited to go along and see what their new A/W collection had to offer.

For the event, myself and a few other bloggers were invited to 63 Degrees, French fine dining restaurant in Manchester. We were treated to a delicious two course meal (and plenty of wine), after being shown a few of the key pieces from Balsamik’s newest collection.

There was a lot of monochrome in the collection and staple pieces that you can build lots of different outfits with. I like this sort of thing as it reminds me of what I’m currently trying to do with my own wardrobe.

I really liked how the theme of the event ran right through with the food and I was pleased with my choices of starter and main. I went for the Organic poached quail egg to start, followed by the pan fried sea bass and mashed potatoes with basil.

I soon got chatting to a couple of lovely bloggers (L’Oréal on the left & Ellie in the middle) and after our meals we took the opportunity to try on some of the items from the collection.

I had instantly been drawn to this simple yet elegant wrap coat and so I had to try it on. I have to admit I was quite surprised by the garments when I saw them in person. From what I had seen online I felt that the brand represented a slightly older age range than myself. However, after having the chance to have real look at some of the garments, I could definitely see that a lot of these pieces could be worn by a wide range of ages, old and young.

It’s pieces like this coat which I feel are timeless in your wardrobe and could easily be worn by a 40 year old or a 20 year old as it really has no age limit, which is something I really liked about a lot of their pieces I looked at.

In terms of my own style, for the event I went for quite a simple yet chic outfit. I wore a white oversized shirt, black biker jacket, high waisted ripped skinny jeans and a pair of red suede heels for a masculine meets feminine look… It’s also quite coincidental how well the Balsamik wrap coat went with my outfit, I may have to invest! I’m currently trying to simplify my own style and so I definitely appreciated the French inspiration.

Shop my outfit:
White shirt – Gap (similar here)
Biker jacket – Zara (similar here)
Jeans- Topshop
Red suede heels – Aldo (similar here)

Balsamik items featured in this post:
Wrap coat
Monochrome jacquard cardigan
Ankle boots

Thanks to L’Oréal for the outfit snaps.

What are your thoughts on French style?

Samio x

September 21, 2015
Planning a Capsule Wardrobe

I’m currently in the process of downsizing my wardrobe… I say this but my actual wardrobe storage space is due to expand as my our plan for one of the rooms in mine and my boyfriend’s new house is to create a closet space (or walk in wardrobe if you like). This is an absolute girlhood dream come true for me, having a room dedicated to clothes! However, since starting to plan the space and trying to figure out what I want to do with it, I’ve realized one thing I don’t envisage is clutter.

For as long as I can remember I’ve loved to shop and accumulating new things is something I’m very good at. What I’ve noticed recently though is that quantity over quality is not always the best thing and I’m starting to re-evaluate my shopping habits and want to really think about the items that I buy and own. I think that moving to a new house is forcing me to think about the items that I really value and want to bring into a newly refurbished and uncluttered space.

I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a capsule wardrobe. This is something that’s still very new to me and people who know me would laugh at the thought of me surviving with a minimal amount of items in my wardrobe (hello, self confessed shopping addict over here). However it’s just something I feel I should at least think about. I’m already beginning my much needed clothing/shoe/accessory clear out and so whilst browsing online the other day, I thought I’d put together a sample capsule wardrobe that I’d maybe like to create (or take ideas from) for this coming Autumn…

1. Light grey T-Shirt, Topshop Here.
2. Black T-Shirt, Topshop Here.
3. Halter neck crop top, Asos Here.
4. Fred Perry polo shirt, Asos Here.
5. Stripe sweatshirt, Asos Here .
6. Stripe turtleneck, Asos Here.
7. White shirt, Topshop Topshop.
8. Denim shirt, Topshop Here.
9. Fred Perry polo dress, Asos, Here.
10, Stipe bodycon midi dress, River Island at Asos, Here.
11. Black side split dress, Asos, Here.
12. Black A-line mini skirt, Asos, Here.
13. Black midi skirt, Asos, Here.
14. Moto Jamie jeans, Topshop, Here.
15. Moto black Jamie jeans, Topshop, Here.
16. Camel coloured coat, Asos, Here.
17. Tripp NYC leather look biker jacket, Asos, Here.
18. Isle Jacobsen rain man, Coggles, Here.
19. Black knit cardigan, Asos, Here.
20. Oversized square scarf, Asos, Here.
21. McQ Alexander McQueen Chelsea boots, Coggles, Here.
22. Clarks burgundy tassel loafers, Here.
23. Senso Sara heeled boots, Asps, Here .
24. Vans croc slip on trainees, Asos, Here.
25. Dr Martens, Coggles, Here.
26. Purified woven block heels, Coggles, Here
27. Black heels, Office, Here.
28. Ballet pumps, Asos, Here.
29. Aspinal of London, My Bag, Here.
30. Eastpak black leather backpack, Asos, Here.

I feel that the more I plan, the more I’m starting to think seriously about permanently downsizing my wardrobe, it would certainly help me a lot when getting dressed in the morning.

Have you ever thought about creating a capsule wardrobe for each season? What are some pieces that you would include?

Samio x

August 21, 2015