Tag: ootd

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
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
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