Tag: Denim

Moments From The Weekend

Boots – M&S | Jeans – Asos | Roll Neck – Asos (similar here) | Faux Fur Coat – Storm & Marie | Bag – Kate Spade (similar here) | Watch – Thomas Sabo | Bee Necklace – French Connection | Belt – Dr Martens

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A Saturday Vibe

At the moment I’m enjoying my weekends more than ever. Being self employed it’s sometimes hard to strike balance between when the working week starts and ends because let’s face it, for a lot of self employed folk, it never really does. When modelling was solely my full time job, I found it easier to get to Friday and go into full weekend mode but now that blogging and creating content is a job for me too, I constantly find myself thinking about ideas and what my next piece of content will be.

A good thing about what I do in the realm of blogging, is that all aspects of life can inspire me and sometimes I do love utilising my weekends to think up ideas and create new content.

At the moment I’m really enjoying capturing my shots more candidly. Most of the outfits I share here on my blog are things that I was actually wearing on that particular day, however I often tend to shoot quite statically, which doesn’t give as much of a vibe of my overall day. Obviously depending on who I’m with or what I’m doing, it’s not always possible to shoot this way but I really like this style of capturing different moments from my day to not only show what I was wearing but what I got up to whilst wearing that outfit too.

Last Saturday was one of those really good, not overly planned days. I headed out with Damien and other than having a meal booked in for the afternoon, we didn’t have any particular plans and so we decided to wonder around town and go for a few drinks.

For our meal we went to Mr Cooper’s in The Midland Hotel and had a delicious three course meal. I had the calamari to start and it was some of the best calamari I’ve had in Manchester for a while. Damien went for chicken wings and then for our mains, I went for the snapper and Damien went for the steak. We both really enjoyed our mains and then for our desserts we shared chocolate salted caramel slice and elderberry pavlova. All three courses were really good.

After our meal we met up with our friend Cameron and after a few drinks a couple more friends joined us and before we knew it we were dancing the night away. Impromptu nights out like that are my favourite and all in all, it was a pretty perfect Saturday, creating content, spending time with Damien, catching up with friends and having fun.

Samio x

November 23, 2017
Inspired By Home

I hadn’t intended this to be a home/interior post but I’m going to start by talking about it anyway, because as I look through these images I realise that this is actually the first (although small) look into our house, here on my blog.

These images were actually shot a couple of weeks ago now, one miserable Saturday when Damien and I didn’t fancy venturing outside to get outfit shots and so, we decided to capture this outfit inside instead. And although impromptu, I’m pretty happy with how the shots turned out.

If you’ve read my blog for a while you’ll know that a couple of years ago Damien and I bought our first house together and since then it’s been a long process of major house renovations, most of which Damien and his dad have done themselves between working full time (hence the longevity of this project). So now that things are finally begining to take shape, our house is finally feeling like a home.

I really love the vibe of our home now and I’m feeling so happy with how it’s all coming together. The interiors and the decor really reflect a combination of both of our personalities and for me, in a totally different way to how my personal style does.

I feel relaxed in this space and most surprisingly I feel inspired. And I think this has reflected in how I’ve been feeling when putting outfits together recently.

Whilst I haven’t added many new items into my wardrobe recently, I’ve really been enjoying playing around with my different pieces and mix and matching garments that I wouldn’t have initially planned to go together. I guess it’s stepping out of my comfort zone slightly whilst still being very me.

If you watch my YouTube videos you’ll likely know that I’m obsessed with the velvet blazer I purchased a couple of months back now from Topshop’s London Fashion Week collection (I seem to manage to squeeze it into nearly every styling video). Little did I know at the time that it would be such a trend piece but I feel the style of a tuxedo blazer is one that will never truly go out of style altogether and regardless, I’m pretty sure I’ll keep wearing it anyway.

I’m usually drawn to opting for a quite put together look when grabbing for this blazer but on this occasion I was in the mood to mix all textures and styles. Like I mentioned in a recent post, I’ve fallen in love with my & Other Stories flared denim jeans all over again and so it only felt right to try the two pieces together…and voilà we had a look.

I liked this outfit combination, I felt cool in it. It has a real, I’m really not trying to go for any particular look but this is now a look, vibe (that’s the only way I can describe it). So there we have it, that’s a low down on this outfit and a sneak peek look into our house so far. If you’d like to see more you can check out my home renovations/tour video below and of course, more home/interior related content shall be coming to the blog soon! But for now, I’ll say ciao!

Samio x

Boots – Office (old, similar here) | Jeans – & Other Stories | Top – Topshop (in black, here) | Blazer – Topshop (sold out, similar here)

November 14, 2017
How To Stop Comparing Your Work To Other People’s

If you’re someone who works as a creative/in the creative industry, it’s normal to go through periods of self doubt when you feel like your work isn’t quite up to scratch or not yet to the level you’d like it to be. Those feelings are natural and quite frankly something we need to all feel at times in order to grow and push ourselves creatively. The problem comes however when we get too entwined in these thoughts and being to look to those around us for examples of how our work should be. Yes it can be good to seek inspiration from our peers but when we start to use other people’s work as a tool to decipher the level of our own, this is when it becomes problematic for our own thought process and in turn our work as a creative. Whichever field you’re in, I’m sure you’ve likely gone through moments of comparing your work to others at times, I know I have, and so in this post I’m going to take you through a list of things that helped stopped me from doing just that…

Understand That We Each Have a Different Purpose

Once you understand that your purpose is different to someone else’s then you’ll inevitably realise that comparison is in the end, pointless.

Two people can do something similar but their purpose can be entirely different and at the same time, two people can do two things completely different but their purpose can be similar.
I’ll give you an example here: Two musicians can create the same genre of music and even have a similar style and overall aesthetic, however I might listen to one for their out of this world vocals (and as a backing track to my shower singing) and then to the other when I want deep thinking and a real connection with their awe-inspiring lyrics. Both can be great in their own right but for each person interpreting their work (and maybe even for themselves), they have a different purpose.

Think about what the purpose of your work is. Is it to educate, to entertain, to inspire, to help people…It could be a combination of things but whatever it is, focus on it and don’t worry about what anyone else is doing.

Realise There is Room For Everyone

Do you think the second ever author on the planet stopped themselves from writing a book just because one had already been written prior to theirs? (okay that example was a bit silly but it still makes a point) In clearer context, imagine if J. K. Rowling had never sat down to pen Harry Potter because she thought there were enough fantasy novels out there and that she wouldn’t be as good as other authors. The point is, there is always room for someone else to interpret an idea in a new way, however big or small.

Know That It’s Okay To Be In Your Own Lane

Sometimes looking for comparisons between your own work and other people’s whom you maybe admire, can actually be a way of seeking a form comfort. If you know Joe Bloggs has been just been booked to photograph a big campaign and you feel that your work is quite similar, you’re onto a winner right?…wrong. Okay, not to shoot you down before you’ve started here but sometimes what works for someone else may not necessarily work for you and it’s always important to remember circumstance and timing (which, hardwork aside, can often play a huge part to a persons success).

If you feel like you’re the black sheep in your line of work, that can actually work in your favour. If you’re different you’re more likely to stand out right? And sometimes it can be the things that set you apart that make what you do truly special.

As creatives we have to be just that – creative. If we constantly compare our work to other’s it can easily begin to manifest in our own work. It can feel scary to be different and make you feel vulnerable when you’re the odd one out trying something new but the word creative itself means ‘the use of the imagination or original ideas to create something’. So go, do it, be you and create.

Samio x

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November 8, 2017
The New Blue Blazer

Something New & Blue

It’s not often that I have any super new in pieces to share, in part because I often like to mull things over before finally taking the plunge and deciding to make the purchase and in part because, well, I don’t shop that often. I say this but then I have been a little bit spendy as of late, but that’s one I’ll leave for another blog post. Anywaaaay, back to today’s subject which is this new in Topshop blazer and when I say new in, I mean I purchased it the day it became available online, which was Monday and it’s now Wednesday.

This blazer was part of the Topshop London Fashion Week collection, which I hadn’t even realised when I’d purchased it because aside from it being a bit pricey for a Topshop blazer (£95), I had no clue and just thought it was a marvellous little jacket, which was just what I’d been after. And it seems that this one has been pretty popular too because I’ve noticed that it’s already completely sold out online. So it’s a bit annoying that the one time I have something really new to share with you, it’s out of stock because it’s been too darn popular.

Now, side story: So I wore the blazer for the first time today when I headed to a wonderful breakfast event with Carven (thanks to Onyi for these snaps this morning). I was so excited to wear the blazer that the tags were straight off and I was heading out of the door. I couldn’t help notice though that this felt considerably shorter than what it had looked like online but initially I dismissed this and put it down to the fact of me having an extra long torso. Anyway, it’s only after I returned home that I decided to have another look at it online again because something was really niggling me about it, and then I noticed that it is in fact a different blazer than I had ordered. The fabric and product code is the same but the blazer I’ve received is significantly shorter and has one pocket less on either side. Now I’m in a slight predicament because I had initially hoped for a longline blazer and that’s not what I’ve ended up with. In fact, I couldn’t find the blazer that I’ve received anywhere online. Obviously it’s not the end of the world but it’s a bit of a weird one. Anyway, I’ll leave the link here incase it does come back in stock, or incase you’re wondering what I’m nattering on about and fancy a nosy. So now the question is, do I return this one and explain the predicament in hope that it will come back in stock and I’ll somehow end up with the longline version eventually, or do I stick with this one – I’m just wondering where this jacket has actually come from and how I’ve ended up with this random variant of the one I ordered. Have you ever had anything like this happen when ordering online before?

Anyway, that’s enough rambling about this jacket for one post. I do love a good blazer but I didn’t think I could speak about one quite so much. Hopefully I’ll be able keep you updated on the blazer situation in a future post (if anyone is even interested), but for now that’s it from me. Ciao for now!

Samio x

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September 20, 2017
The Need For Balance & A Social Time Out

Maybe There Is Such Thing As Too Much Fun

I well and truly feel like I’ve burnt the candle at both ends. You know that friend that will say yes to social plans 95% of the time, even the super last minute ones, well that’s me. The problem is, not being one to say no means I’m like this even when I have a thousand other things on my plate and eventually it often leads me to grinding to a complete and utter halt. I say this, but obviously work still needs to carry on, previously made social plans are still in the diary and meanwhile my mind is ready to switch off, I’m left feeling unmotivated and the most appealing option is to go into hibernation.

I think a big part of this comes down to not wanting to disappoint and trying to always be there for the people around me. When I say no to something or have to cancel plans I’m always left feeling so guilty, when in reality I know my friends and loved ones would understand, but I just can’t help feeling bad. There’s also the occasional fear of missing out and for the most part I just love having fun, so will rarely pass up the opportunity.

And that’s the thing, I do have a lot of fun. I can think of so many memories from this year alone that will set me off giggling just thinking about them. I’ve been able to spend some quality time and make great memories with some of my favourite people and I’ve had a lot of pretty cool adventures.

Whilst I sometimes do well with juggling it all, I need to remember that I occasionally need to stop in order to prevent me from eventually dropping everything. Saying no and easing up my social calendar is something I’ve never been great at and I absolutely love making plans, but it’s vital I get better at it in order to allow myself to have some rest and recuperation.

They talk about the work/life balance but I feel like I need ‘time out’ thrown in there too. I don’t mean stopping everything altogether, I just mean giving myself periods where I take a step back from social engagements and focus on work and me time, instead of trying to fit everything in all at once and eventually burning out altogether. This is just a reminder to myself that it’s okay to say no, it’s okay to not be available for everything and it’s okay to have those days that you might not have other plans but that you keep free anyway, even just to have a day for yourself.

Samio x

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September 1, 2017
Flared Denim

Something New

A week away from denim and I have to say that I actually missed wearing my new jeans (as sad as that sounds). If you didn’t already know I was on holiday in Porto, for just short of a week where I allowed myself to switch off from emails and all work related stuff – hence the lack of posting. Needless to say it was sheer bliss and a photo heavy Porto post will soon follow but for my first post back in over a week, I wanted to talk about my new jeans.

Now I’ve talked about how I cut down on wearing denim as a little bit of a self-styling challenge not too long ago and after a break away from wearing jeans almost everyday, my love for denim was refreshed and I felt keen to try out some new styles. Since the purchase of my last pair of jeans back in May, my obsession with jeans seems to be back in full force. Not only am I loving wearing denim again at every opportunity, I’ve also got brave enough to try out some different styles and fits too.

Here is where I introduce my latest denim addition, purchased not too long before I went away, which are these cropped flared jeans. Never did I think I’d be adding flared jeans into my wardrobe but on a recent trip into & Other Stories, whilst waiting for my friend to try on jeans, just on a whim, I decided to try on a pair too.

Now I mentioned in my previous denim post how I hate jean shopping and usually I have to try on about a thousand pairs before I can find a perfect fit and one that suits my body shape. So once again I was surprised to find a fit that I actually love and in a completely different style too. So although I’m not usually one for impulse purchases, I made my second impulse jean purchase in the space of 4 months and I have to say I’m very pleased with that decision.

I wore these jeans near enough everyday since buying them, prior to heading on holiday and this was one of those occasions. Now I’m back I can’t wait to get wearing them again. I just love the versatility of jeans and that is one of the main reasons I missed wearing them so much.

These flared jeans are surprisingly flattering and I’ve been loving styling them up in lots of different ways. On this occasions I was meeting Onyi in town to spend the afternoon working in a coffeeshop. These are some of the comfiest jeans I’ve ever owned and they worked perfectly thrown on with my new vans, a simple tee and my biker jacket for a super casual day look.

These jeans are also true to size and I’m glad to say that they do odd number sizes, as usually I have to jump between a 26 or 28 in jeans, but on this occasion I was able to get my exact fit, which is a 27 and the fit is perfect. The denim is thick but with a good stretch and I’m super impressed with the shape and quality. I’ll definitely be checking out & Other Stories for my next pair of denim jeans, that’s for sure.

Samio x

Trainers – Vans | Jeans – & Other Stories | T-Shirt – Asos | Biker Jacket – Topshop | Sunglasses – Vintage Dior (similar here) | Watch – Kartel

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August 26, 2017
5 Things…And A Transitional Trench Coat

A Ramble

Today’s post is going to be a rambling one, as whilst I’d had every intention of making this post a deep and meaningful one, it’s late, I have a 5:30am call time tomorrow (yes you read that right, 5:30AM!) and I have about a zillion other things on my mind, which unfortunately don’t provide much in terms of deep and meaningful topics of conversations. I can however treat you to the delights of my current brain activity with a spew of whatever pops into my head. So welcome to the second instalment of 5 (very random) things, with a new outfit post thrown in to boot.

1. The thing in the forefront of my mind is tomorrows shoot. Two shoots in fact! I have two bookings in one day, both coincidentally for sportswear/fitness clients and one after another. Apparently the first job will involve running, so I’m just hoping I won’t end up a big sweaty mess by the afternoon. Either way I’ll require a few coffees to help me through the day I’m sure because it’s going to be a long one.

2. The second thing on my mind is my holiday on Friday. I almost said trip but this one I am actually allowing myself to call a holiday. It’s going to be my 8th (I think) trip abroad this year and the 3rd trip Damien and I have had away together this year too. I’m really hoping to relax on this trip and switch off a bit. I feel like I haven’t done it in so long and I’m really ready to just chill the heck out. Out of office will be going on and I won’t be taking any phone calls!

3. Okay notice how I didn’t say ‘switch off completely’ there. The last time I switched off completely was when Damien and I went to Kos last October and I put my phone on airplane mode for a week – it was pure bliss! This time however, with it being a really busy time for work and with stuff constantly coming in, I already know I’ll find myself having to respond to at least one email. But I’m putting a restriction to it, along with how frequent I even allow myself to check my emails in the first place, because this is going to be a hol-i-dayyy after all.

4. Topic changer, but the green guitar I mentioned in my last 5 Things post, is now settled into our living room, and yes, I have been picking it up to practice on too. Now I’m no rockstar just yet but I have learnt two cords. Yes, two whole cords. As unimpressive as that may sound, it’s actually a lot further than I ever got the first time around, back when I had my uni guitar (you know the one that broke). I’m making a concious effort to pick it up and practice a bit everyday. I’ve put it out there now so this is pressure on me to have made some real progress in a year from now.

5. Back to the topic of holiday I actually can’t wait to get away and enjoy some sunshine because the weather here over the past couple of weeks hasn’t been the best. I can hardly call it summer weather and I’ve already starting pulling out those transitional pieces, like this satin trench coat I’m wearing in the pics. I’m not altogether thrilled that our UK Summer seems to be getting cut abruptly short but at the same time I must admit that a part of me is excited for Autumn clothes and pulling a few of my old jumpers back out (ughr can’t believe I actually just said that).

Okay that’s it. I’m done. This has been a most rambling, random and inconsequential blog post (I’m tired can you tell) and if you made it to the end, then hurrah and if not then hopefully you enjoyed the pictures and got something out of this outfit post. Ciao for now!

Samio x

Shoes – Topshop | Jeans – Weekday (in lighter denim here) | T-shirt – Cos | Trench Coat – Lavish Alice | Watch – Thomas Sabo | Bag – All Saints

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August 16, 2017
Jeans For Every Day of The Week

Finding A New Fit

When I was in Hamburg back in June (it’s crazy that it now feels like forever ago) I bought a pair of jeans whilst in browsing in Weekday. Now if you’re a regular to my blog or Youtube channel, you’ll know that at the start of the summer, I made a concious effort to move away from wearing jeans quite so much. I started incorporating more trousers into my wardrobe to create more styling alternatives.

Now don’t get me wrong I’ve totally loved getting more experimental and stepping out of my usual style routine by playing around with trousers, but, I must admit that there are times when you just can’t beat a good of pair of denim jeans.

I’d relied on my favourite Asos Farleigh slim fit mom jeans for such a long time and I finally decided it was time to try something different. I have to say right now, that I absolutely loathe jeans shopping – nothing ever seems to fit right and it makes me hate everything. So when I tried on these Ami style jeans and immediately loved the fit, it was a no brainer to me that I make the purchase.

Since then I have been getting so much wear out of these jeans that dare I say it, they seem to have even knocked my favourite Farleigh jeans off of top spot! The mid rise waist on the Ami jeans make a nice change to the super high waisted styles that I usually go for and I love the cropped straight leg on these too.

Just as I thought I’d discovered a whole new style of jeans that work for me, I realised that I actually have these exact same jeans in oatmeal that I’d bought from Weekday last year. Now it’s not that I have a great abundance of denim and don’t know where I’m up to, but I’d presumed that they were a different fit because they look completely different in the oatmeal shade (or at least they did to me). It was only out of curiosity the other day that I decided to check the fit by reading the label on my oatmeal coloured ones and discovered that they are the Ami style too. It seems to have only helped rekindle my love for my oatmeal ones and so now I have two pairs of jeans in my new (not really new) favourite style.

Anyway that’s enough rambling about one (actually two) pair of jeans for one post. I’m sure you’ll be seeing lots more of these on my blog, if you haven’t seen them already plastered all over my Instagram, as they have fast become a day to day favourite. I’ll let the blog pics do the rest of the talking and you can see two recent ways I’ve worn my new Weekday Ami jeans, whilst out and about.

Samio x

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OUTFIT 1: Jeans – Weekday (in darker blue, here) | Shoes – River Island | Shirt – Y.A.S (old, similar here) | Lace Bralet – Topshop | Bag – Pinko (similar here) | Earrings – Alona

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OUTFIT 2: Jeans – Weekday (in a lighter blue, here) | Heels – Whistles (in grey, here) | Top – River Island | Skinny Scarf (old, similar here) | Bag – (old, similar here)

August 4, 2017
How To Elevate Your Everyday Look

From Simple To Chic

As you may already know, when it comes to my everyday dressing, I like to keep my style pretty simple. I have my go to basics and a selection of versatile pieces that I like to mix and match. So for me I find accessorising a great way to easily add to these everyday looks and I love how the right pieces of jewellery can instantly elevate an otherwise basic outfit.

In more recent years I’ve moved away from the dress jewellery I was once fond of and I now prefer investing in a selection of more timeless pieces that I know will really help to improve each outfit I wear.

The latest additions to my jewellery selection are these beautiful pieces from Thomas Sabo. When it comes to Ladies watches Thomas Sabo know how to make classic yet visually stunning time pieces that make a statement. I was instantly drawn to this absolutely gorgeous gold coloured watch, with its eye-catching radiant royal blue face. A watch like this can easily transform any outfit and the way the blue face shimmers as it catches the light, means it won’t go unnoticed when you’re wearing it either.

Thomas Sabo also have an amazing selection of gold bracelets for women. I like to wear more delicate pieces alongside a more standout piece, like the gold watch. The Little Secrets bracelets are the perfect compliment to one of the more bolder watches and it’s a way to easily accessories, as you can stack and build these as your collections grows. For me I love how simple yet elegant this bracelet is and even when worn alone it’s a great way to accessories with minimal effort.

It’s amazing how even some of my old and most worn wardrobe favourites are given a new lease of life with the right accessories. I’ve had this white blazer for around four years now and to be honest I still amaze myself with how I’ve managed to keep it white for so long, because I do wear it a lot. I feel like a plain piece like this works really well with the gold accents and especially the striking blue watch face. Thrown on altogether, along with a grey Tee with some jeans, it gives it an effortless yet chic feel, which I love.

How do you like to try and elevate your everyday look? Are you a fan of accessorising?

Samio x

*This post was sponsored by Thomas Sabo

Watch – Thomas Sabo | Bracelet – Thomas Sabo | Shoes – Clarks (old, similar here) | Jeans – River Island | T-shirt – Asos | Blazer (old, similar here) | Bag – (old, similar here)

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Thanks to Onyi for helping with these snaps!

July 28, 2017
Lately

Most Worn

It’s probably a tad bit inappropriate to post an outfit of me wearing a sweater when it is in fact (for once) boiling in England at the moment but in today’s post I wanted to share some of what’s been going on in my life lately, and this pink jumper is one of those things. Now I realise this jumper doesn’t fit with my usual style but my whole point for buying it was to have something super cosy that I could throw on when travelling or on those chilly early mornings when I’m heading to a shoot and want nothing more to be comfortable. I thought if I’m going down the cosy/comfortable route, I may as well make it fun and so I went for this bold oversized 80’s style sweater from Topshop. I believe it says ‘I am happy’ on the back in French, which I think is très appropriate as I’m often smiling my head off.

Eating Out

I’ve been eating out A LOT. This is something that at the start of the year I said I’d sacrifice somewhat in order to fund my travel addiction but alas that one didn’t last very long and I find myself eating out more than I dare to admit BUT with so many amazing new places forever popping up in Manchester (along with many old favourites), it’s hard not to!

A recent new spot I visited was the Brasserie Abode in Manchester, where I went along with my friend L’Oréal for dinner last Friday. The food and service was excellent. And although I may have gone for one of the least photogenic dishes on the mains menu (fish and chips), I have to say it was really good. My starter was the winning dish for me though, as I went for the Tuna tartare, spicy avocado and it was absolutely delicious! Just thinking about that dish makes my mouth water…after that we were too full to even think about desert but we did manage to wash it down with a tasty champagne cocktail which was the perfect way to start our Friday evening.

Music

I’ve been listing to some new(ish) music recently. I say some and by that I mean the same three albums on repeat, quite literally. I listen to music almost everyday but I must admit I easily get stuck in my ways listening to my firm favourites. Some current tracks I’ve been particularly obsessing over from from of these albums are:
Big For Your Boots – Stormzy
Sweet Dreams – The Last Shadow Puppets
PRIDE. – Kendrick Lamar

I have quite the eclectic taste in music so I never find myself listing to just one genre. Now I’m greatly anticipating the new Lana Del Rey album. So far I’ve been obsessed with every one of her previous albums so I can’t wait to get this new one in my life. Unfortunately it looks like we will have to still wait until the 21st of July for this one but at least we now know the release date.

And that’s it, just a little bit of what I’ve been loving and been up to lately. I’m happy to see that the weather has hotted up here but it probably won’t last long so I best go and make the most of it. Have a great weekend!

Samio x

May 26, 2017