Tag: Office

Stop Scrolling, Start Doing…

Another New Motto

Recently here on my blog I’ve spoken about mottos to live by in 2018. So far they have been proving to be rather good reminders to keep me on track in day to day life. Well today I have another motto to add to that list and it’s one I’m surprised I haven’t thought of sooner and it’s this – Stop Scrolling, Start Doing.

We’ve all been there. Those periods of procrastination where anything seems more appealing than what we’re actually meant to be doing in that moment. Our phones have become our best friends and our enemies. Whilst in some ways they have made doing many things much easier, they have also become the distraction that eats into our time and stops us getting a lot of other things done.

Last year my scrolling addiction hit an all time phone junkie high. I didn’t even think I spent that much time on my phone but the evidence stated otherwise. (Seriously, go into your phone settings, check the battery section and see how much time you’ve spent on certain apps in the last 24 hours to 7 days…you may be surprised.)

In 2018 realised that I used Facebook a lot as a time filler. Whilst I honestly have no interest in watching videos of dogs doing back flips, or in seeing Janine’s 3D baby scan pictures, I still found myself mindlessly scrolling through. So I deleted the Facebook app off of my phone and despite missing cues to wish Happy Birthday to ‘friends’ I haven’t spoken to or seen in real life for over five years, I realise I really haven’t actually missed much.

Now whilst removing one app from my phone seemed to do the trick, when it came to the likes of Instagram I decided to use sheer willpower alone. And surprisingly it worked…for a time. Actually I weaned myself off of Instagram scrolling surprisingly easy. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I went two whole weeks over the festive period without posting one Instagram image, which is a pretty big deal when it’s actually part of what you do as your job.

Whilst now I’m back to my usual daily posts on Instagram, I still don’t think that should make for an excuse to slip into old habits of spending too much time on there. However I feel myself grabbing for the phone in regular intervals once again. I know what it is, it’s procrastination, plain and simple and whilst my phone is the catalyst, I am still very much culpable.

So I’ve decided it’s time to nip this bad habit in the bud and so I think the best way to attempt to do that is to give myself a friendly little daily reminder, by adding another motto to my list. Let’s see where we end up with these, by the end of the year I might have worked up quite the list.

Do you use your phone to procrastinate? Or are you good at staying focused and ignoring distractions? If you’re the latter, give me your tips please!

Samio x

Boots – Office (similar here) | Jeans – Weekday Ami Jeans (different shade here) | Roll Neck (similar here) | Blazer – Topshop (similar here) | Coat – Jigsaw (sold out, similar here) | Bag – All Saints

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January 17, 2018
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
A Minimal 70’s Vibe

Nothing New

I’ve been feeling rather uninspired by my wardrobe over the past week or so. I think it comes down to the swift change in seasons and me not being quite ready for this colder Autumnal weather. I often find myself getting into this little rut around this time of year, which in part I feel comes down to my outfit focus shifting mainly towards practicality (and more so than usual). I find myself wearing the same outer layers and opting for that one trusty roll neck (seriously I have one roll neck that is trusty as heck) that I know will keep me warm.

I hate being cold, so layering is a must but I will admit that when pulling out my autumn/winter staples from previous seasons I do easily fall into the habit of wearing the same go to combinations (queue the trusty roll neck).

The other day I pulled out some of my favourite pieces, both from this summer and last winter and decided to mix and match a few items to see how different combinations could work. I don’t always find something new to be the solution for how I’m feeling about my outfits but instead I often just need to try something different with what I already have.

The first look I threw on – and I literally mean, I didn’t give it much thought at all – was this combination. Initially I’d thrown the blazer over the shoulders and thought it looked cool and effortless but when walking around today I put it on properly because lets face it, this is real life and nobody actually walks around with a jacket on their shoulders (do they?). Styling alterations aside, I felt pretty happy throwing this outfit on again to head out today. There’s nothing new in this outfit combination but there is definitely a different vibe to my usual combinations. I’m not a huge trend follower but I must admit I’ve surprised myself with how much I’ve been into the 70s vibes lately. These & Other Stories cropped flared jeans were a go to for a good part of the summer and it looks like that will continue into autumn and winter.

I feel I’ve found a combination that I love which is sort of minimal 70’s. I’m not sure if that’s a thing but that’s what I’m going with, so I guess it is now.

Speaking of changing things up, I’ve been doing so with some of my content too. As I mentioned I tried on a few different outfits the other day and after doing so I decided to style them up in a short lookbook video. Again I wanted the vibe to be different than my usual lookbooks and as I was at home alone at the time, I decided to do a self filmed lookbook which I then had a lot of fun getting creative with whilst editing. The video is at the bottom of the post if you’d like to check it out.

And last but not least, the shots. Onyi and I had a coffee shop working day today, which was great because I’m always left feeling super inspired when we hang out. She suggested that I take a more candid approach to today’s outfit pictures and I really loved the idea. Rather than standing in one spot and taking multiple images all at once, we causally just took a few shots here and there throughout the day and the results are something I really love. So I guess this post is a bit of a photo diary of my day as well as an outfit post and a waffling essay about clothes.

That’s my queue to wrap things up here. Thanks for stopping by. Ciao for now!

Samio x

Boots – Office (similar here) | Jeans – & Other Stories | Jumper – Samsøe & Samsøe (similar here) | Blazer – Topshop (similar here) | Backpack – River Island (similar here)

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November 1, 2017
4 Summer Shoe Alternatives

When we think summer shoes, we most likely immediately think cute strappy sandals, however, one thing you’ll know if you live in the UK (or anywhere with a similar climate), is that sandals during summer aren’t always practical. I know, crazy right!? Living in a place where the weather can be highly temperamental does mean that we don’t always end up dressing appropriately to the seasons but it doesn’t mean we can’t be inventive with our clothing/footwear choices and still feel summery in our own kind of way. Here are four of my favourite footwear choices that I am loving wearing on repeat this spring/summer.

Mules

You may be sick of hearing about them by now but whether you’re a lover or a hater, theirs no denying that once you find the perfect pair of mules to slip your feet into, you’ve likely just found the comfiest pair of shoes you’ll own…I am obsessed with my heeled mules from Clarks, I’ll repeat OBSESSED. Not only are they a great summer alternative to a full on strappy sandal but I think they are just about the comfiest pair of heels I have ever owned…EVER. They are my go to shoes for any remotely dressy occasion but at the same time they aren’t too formal, so are great for when I’m going for a more casual vibe too.

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Converse

Converse are probably the most classic casual footwear you can own. I myself joined the Converse crew a little (more like very) late and only purchased my first ever pair this year in fact. Since then they have become my Spring/Summer shoes of choice. Come rain or shine I find these have fast become a firm favourite to throw on my feet. I love how versatile they are and whether I’m going for my favourite combination with my slim fit mom jeans, or braving it with bare legs in a dress, they seem to go with just about anything…not forgetting that they are super practical too!

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Superga

How I have resisted the temptation of buying a pair of Superga in every colour under the sun, I do not know. I’ve had my classic 2750 style in baby pink pair for around three years now and I find myself pulling them out every summer…More recently I was tempted by this fabulous white pair, which are a funky spin on the classic Superga, with a wedge espadrill sole. Unfortunately for me, I stupidly got a size too big and will be sending these ones back. Even more to my disappointment the white ones now seem to be sold out – no surprise there! – So I can’t even exchange them for a smaller size, but I’ve been eyeing them up in the navy as another great summer alternative, so we shall see, but for now my pink 2750’s are still going strong.

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Boots

During the winter, whilst looking for style inspiration, I always find myself stumbling across a multitude of images where women are looking super cool, wearing boots with bare legs but then I’m left feeling disappointed knowing that it’s not a practical outfit choice when the temperature here is in the minuses. Fast forward to summer however, and hello cute tan boots that I never got to wear during the winter in fear of ruining them. Yes the boots are out and the legs are out are too…and that tan suede pair finally have their time to shine.

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What are your favourite go to shoes this summer?

Samio x

July 11, 2016
A Slow Start To Summer

Hello summer, hello…winter boots!? Okay so summer is finally here, it’s official but unfortunately the weather here in the UK still has quite a bit of catching up to do. I didn’t quite expect to be pulling out a pair of my black winter boots in the middle of June but a pro to the weather situation is that it’s buying me a little more time whilst I figure out exactly which summer pieces I’d like to add to my wardrobe.

Since downsizing my wardrobe quite considerably over these past few months, I’m finding it hard to now let new pieces in. I feel like I’ve tried on so many clothes and made so many summer orders, all of which haven’t been right or I have sent back, as I’m finding it hard to buy or keep things unless I absolutely love them. I’m guessing this can only be a good thing but at the same time I’m finding it harder than I had expected to transition my wardrobe for summer…In the mean time though I’ll continue to mix and match my current pieces, whilst still on the hunt for a few of those all important summer essential, because when the sun does finally decide to show its face, I plan to be ready!

Jeans – Topshop | Denim jacket – Pieces | T-shirt – (Similar here) | Skinny Scarf – Topshop, old (Similar here) | Boots – Office | Bag – Matt & Nat (in gravel)

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Samio x

June 22, 2016
Black Skinny Trousers & Heeled Boots

I’ve been back from Paris exactly two weeks now but this is finally the last outfit instalment of my trip. Although this is a pretty plain outfit, I really enjoyed wearing this combination and I’ve been loving these skinny trousers recently. I’ve been getting a lot of wear out of them as they are super comfortable and I’ve been enjoying wearing them both dressy and casual. On this occasion I decided to team my skinny trousers with my current favourite boots to finish of my all black (unintentional cartoon cat burglar) look.

Roll Neck – Asos | Sleeveless Jacket – (similar here) | Skinny Trousers – Asos | Boots – Office

Samio x

March 14, 2016
Shirt Dress Layering – Paris Style

This time last week I was wondering around the streets of Paris taking in the sights. A photo diary of my wonderful trip will be sure to follow soon, however first I wanted to share one of my outfits from my trip.

Although the skies were clear and we were lucky enough to have good weather for the entirety of our trip (by good weather I mean no rain!), layering was a must as it was certainly very crisp. It may look like I’m simply wearing a dress, tights and jacket but underneath that dress I was wearing legging shorts, a roll neck and concealed below my biker jacket, a denim shirt for an added layer. Layering doesn’t always have to be bulky and on this occasion, I think I did pretty well at layering on the down low so that I could still feel warm enough in my favourite shirt dress.

Dress – Whistles (in navy) | Boots Office | Tote bag Whistles | Biker Jacket – Zara (similar here) | Scarf – & Other Stories (similar here)

If you’d like to see what I got up to in Paris you can check out my vlog here.

Samio x

March 6, 2016
Fred Perry Polo Shirt & Polka Dots

On Friday I met up with my friend Dale and we headed for lunch before I helped him spend some money clothes shopping (my speciality). For lunch we had planned on burgers but after a last minute change of plan we opted for Zizzi. I went for the Pulled Pork Rustica pizza while Dale opted for a calzone. As delicious as our dishes sounded and looked, we were both pretty disappointed with our meals. There was nothing wrong with them as such, we just found that they were both pretty bland for our pallets. I’d only been to Zizi once prior to this occasion and had gone for the calzone containing meatballs, which I think I enjoyed. I guess it was just a case of wrong choice for both of us on this occasion.

To make up for our failed lunch however, we later headed to the Northern Quarter for some tea and cake and both opted for a slice of carrot cake each and traditional English tea. I can’t remember the name of the cafe we went in but it’s on Oldham Street right next to Afflecks Palace and I walk past it all the time but this is the first time I popped in. Anyway, it cost only £3.50 for a tea and a slice of cake, which is pretty good and the carrot cake was really tasty too.

Later we saw street style blogger The Mancorialist and got a few snaps. I’ve been photographed by The Mancorialist a number of times and always like the cool and quirky street style shots. You can check out The Mancorialist here.

Here’s a shot of Dale captured by The Mancorialist.

What I wore:
Polo shirt – Fred Perry
Skirt – Asos (last summer)
Shoes – Office

Samio x

March 4, 2015
The Pink Vintage Shirt

Today has been a delightful day, it’s been a delightful weekend in fact and now I can’t believe that it is March already! It feels like only the other day that I was writing my first blog post of the year on the first day of January. Anyway, here we are and I’m pleased to be slowly working outfit posts back onto my blog. Brighter days and slightly better weather mean I’m getting more opportunities to get some of my outfits snapped. Today was no exception and we got these shots done literally seconds before it began to pour it down. Despite the wet weather, it was certainly not putting a dampener on my day as I’d met up with one of my best friend’s, Lydia and her mother Hazel, as we headed to Frurt to attend their Barakah Food Aid event.

We spent the afternoon sipping coffee, sampling tasty cake and of course frozen yoghurt. Lydia and I tried our first taste of kanafeh, which is a cheese pastry soaked in sweet sugar based syrup. It was unusual, yet enjoyable nonetheless. We also enjoyed a delicious Nutella hot chocolate each, which of course was amazing! It was certainly a sugar filled afternoon and an enjoyable one at that.

What I wore:
Shirt – Vintage
Skirt – H&M
Belt – Primark
Necklace – Ebay
Shoes – Office

Samio x

March 1, 2015
Black Faux Fur and Snake Print Trousers

As talked about in my previous blog post, last weekend I was in London. Afterwards I was home for two days and then today I’m off to London again, this time however I’m back to work mode.

Last Saturday I spent the day with my friends shopping on Oxford Street. Although I didn’t actually do much shopping myself, I had such a fun day spending time with my ex Barcelona flat mates and also having long over due catch ups.

Before we lost the last bit of light (it begins to go dark in England at around 3:30pm during winter), we weaved down a few side streets and I managed to get a few outfit snaps of what I was wearing that day.

What I wore:
Faux Fur Jacket – H&M
Tote bag – Aldo
Necklace – H&M
Sweatshirt – H&M
Snake Look Treggings – Topshop
Patent Brogues – Office (similar here)

Samio x

December 12, 2014