We could be the worst of all

Jessie Ware "Wildest Moments" (Zed Bias remix)

Holiday is only 2 days away. My earlier holiday packing fail has been completely rectified. I even have a few spare kilos knocking about, extra shoes, another dress... the possibilities are endless! This of course will go completely against my meticulous holiday planning that saw me try on all my outfits complete with jewellery and shoes so in the absence of a full length mirror I would be able to get dressed without a second thought-the ultimate in efficiency and prolonging my time in the sun. (Clearly I get-off on organisation. Meh! There are worser things I could be into to get my kicks.)

So besides packing, the other P's I have completed include preening, pruning, plucking and painting:

Holiday toes!

I used Barry M Ice Cream and No.17 Mint Choc Chip, and loosely followed the tutorial on 'Ombre Nails' from Sammy at The Nailsaurus here. If anyone knows how to artistically capture feet on a camera phone then I would like to meet them, so please excuse my prehistoric looking finger toes.

For fellow jewellery lovers, my holiday packing tip would be money bags. Bag your jewellery individually in money bags that you get from the bank for loose coins and this should hopefully stop it getting all tangled during travelling. It will also make it easier to see what  you taken with you when you arrive.

As I fly on Tuesday my intentions are to do a holiday post ( or 3) when I land in what I hope by then will be sunny ol' England. So a scheduled blogging break.

KDx

But are you really too busy for a sun tan?

Dizzee Rascal "Holiday"

If the title of this post didn't give it away, then this might come as a bit of a surprise to learn that I am only 6 days away from my holiday. Not that I have mentioned it before or anything...

In-keeping with my holiday related posts (there may have been a couple already) I thought I'd ponder over the beach cover-up, one that will take you from beach to bar and back again.

Forget for a moment the kaftans frequented by middle-aged women disguising wobbly bits. This is about covering up enough to feel like you are dressed, without the added layers that are needed in the evening when the temperature drops a little.

The hidden gem:

Matalan Jersey Racer Back Playsuit £6

Now this might not look like much in the picture, but I discovered this on a 'on-the-way-home-from-work-trip' to Matalan a couple of weeks ago, and now it seems appropriate to share it. This lightweight cotton playsuit will work unbuttoned with a patterned strapless bikini underneath. I did have to buy a size up to get a little extra in the length to avoid any crotch traumas. (This being the reason I was put off trousers in the first place: awkward crotchal dilemmas.)

Under £10:

Asos Top With Extreme Dipped Back in Blurred Floral £8

If I hadn't already brought too much stuff to cram in to my case, then this would be next on my to-buy list. I think the brave could even get away with nothing more than a pair of bikini bottoms and sandals to take this from the bar straight to a club. This will also work back in unpredictable England with a pair of skinnies, or denim shorts.

Under £15:

New Look Stone Chiffon Side Split Maxi £12

Light weight, sheer enough to show some skin through and just the right amount of coverage. Again, another item that will work once the holiday has ended (Sadly, everyday is not a holiday,) tuck in a battered band tee, some ankle boots and a leather jacket and you're ready for Autumn.

And finally 

Under £20:

River Island Pink Floral Lightweight Duster Jacket £15

This for me is the modern take on a kaftan; add a belt and wrap it over like a dressing gown and you have a cute lightweight dress, or wear it open to show of your newly acquired tan. This can also be worn to dress up a bar outfit on you return home, white fitted vest, blue jeans and black pointed courts. Done.

I'm not one for wishing my life away, but I do hope these next 6 days fly by. I think I have my outfits nailed, whether or not I can take all I want to pack is a different story. Next on my to-do list is holiday nails, I need to decide on a Ibiza home pedi to tackle!

KDx

Swimsuit issues with my toes curled in the grooves

Friendly Fires "Jump in the pool"

Apologies for the blogger hiatus, I hadn't 'gone fishing,' I just have had a lot of stuff to get did. But back to the task in hand and what I do know, Ibiza is a mere 9 days away. 

In line with my suggestions of a statement necklace in my previous post here, you might just need something to wear it with. Admittedly in the impending heat I am expectant hopeful of, I am  planning on keeping clothing to a minimal. 

The swimsuit is having a bit of a moment in fash-land. In the land of everyone outside the warm fuzzy clothing bubble, it means that retailers have taken note and the design teams have given this often much neglected piece of swimwear a glam-over. For a long time the beloved cozzie was the go-to piece for anyone who didn't feel that they were beach ready or had something to hide, but this left the wearer widely regarded with suspicion, what are they trying to hide? Instead of allowing the wearer to remain inconspicuous, the opposite was the result; you can't help but admire the wearer who has chosen to swathe themselves in skin tight lycra in a bid to hide their most loathed attribute.

Oh how the tables have turned. Swimsuits have been cut-out, laser cut, laced-up, lace backed, criss-crossed, crossed-over and then some. These are cozzies to be seen in, and demand attention. Warning: Confidence not supplied.

Here are my pick of the bunch. 

Under £5

H&M Swimsuit £4.49

This arrived on my doorstep today, it has sold out online in black now, but may still be available in stores. I'm 5ft 10 and proportionally wise I can get away with it... just. It's fair to say I will be keeping my musical appreciative arm raises to a minimum to save my graces. I will be wearing this and channelling my inner 1950s film star, wearing it with a gold gladiator-esque vintage rope belt and cat-eye sunglasses. (I didn't say these swimsuits would be for swimming!)

Brigitte Bardot at Cannes in 1953 

Photo courtesy of the telegraph.co.uk

Under £15

Another sale bargain

River Island Pink Palm Swimsuit £15

This swimsuit looks like it could be a body, which is how I would wear it away from the pool, with some denim shorts, a cocktail in hand, an air of nonchalance and some pastel coloured wayfarers. Think Club Tropicana...

Another under £15

ASOS Lattice Back Swimsuit £14

I'd wear this one with a a statement fluro necklace and a pair of colour pop wedges in pink or orange to really play against the cobalt blue of this swimsuit.

And for the dreamers:

We Are Handsome Vacation palm sunset swimsuit £190

If I wanted to spend more on swimwear than my holiday, a couple of We Are Handsome swimsuits would easily do it.

I've just put a few things in my case in intrepid anticipation of the upcoming holiday in question. I thought I'd weigh it, just to see how I was doing...Already at 11 of my 15kg limit. I honestly thought I was right on the money this time packing. Amateur at work clearly.

Now to unpack and re-pack. A cycle I am sure will continue throughout the week.

KDx

...And your ma' is good looking

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong "Summertime" 

The official countdown to Ibiza has begun! (In all honesty it started as soon as it was booked in late January) 2 weeks and 6 days until myself and 7 of my nearest and dearest descend on the White Isle. It appears that we aren't the only ones with the Ibiza bug as I have already spotted Elle and Company magazine featuring Ibiza street style on their websites, which is just the kind of outfit inspiration I need. 

Of course, holiday style is just your style, but with less clothes and an awesome tan. However, I think there are a few key items that can really ensure your outfit still cuts the mustard despite the sweltering climate. (Lest we forget Monica Geller's hair in Barbados; sometimes a great outfit is all you can count on with an unknown climate!)

The statement necklace is a suitcase essential, besides the obvious bikinis and lashings of SPF. 


My top picks are:


Save: Under £10

H&M £6.99

Spend: Under £15

Forever 21 Circle Bib Necklace £10.65

Zara Necklace with chains and neon coloured stones £12.99

Splurge: Over £20

Urban Outfitters Sweet Scandal Neon Necklace £40

How to wear:

• Wear with your hair up to really show off the necklace, which is handy for when you want to keep cool. Personally I never feel as 'dressed-up' with my hair up as I do when I wear it down, so I hoping this will be the missing link. (Pardon the necklace related pun!)
• Keep everything else simple, a boobtube/strapless top will work for maximum impact and to really let the necklace be the stand-out item.
• A statement necklace can work during the day: Up the ante and add some pool side glamour to your bikini outfit and wear with your swimwear in the day.
• A bib style necklace such as the one from Forever 21 looks killer when worn with a plunging neckline or swimsuit.
• Go bold: This Miss Selfridge extra long necklace will look great with a white vest and denim shorts or a bandeau dress.
• A statement necklace is a great way to introduce colour for the colour-phobes.
• If you are feeling brave, contrast your outfit and your jewellery, colours that really pop are turquoise and coral, orange and pink, and cobalt blue and yellow.
• Don't forget: colour is less harsh with a tan, so what might seem a bit crazy in your 'light-bulb-lit-bedroom' with the rain hammering down outside will really work when you're sunning yourself is some far off climes. 

KDx

Every day is like a battle

Wookie "Battle" ft.Lain Grey

What to wear on a pub crawl? Think practical, think easy, and think about how many times you are going to have to go pee, all important logistics to consider when getting dressed I find. Knowing me, and I do by now, quite well, the uncontrollable urge to gambol (that's a forward roll for anyone outside of the Midlands) at any given opportunity is always high on the agenda. 

So here's what I went for:

Levi's cut offs and Converse via ebay, charity shop belt, New Look vest, Topshop bra, various jewellery bits Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Topshop and H&M

On my shopping list are a pair of low Converse All Stars, seeing as they are the comfiest shoes I own, and they slowly being incorporated into almost every outfit, I think they'll even make their way over to Ibiza with me when I go. (Just over 3 weeks now!) In the meantime I have resorted to folding down my high tops.

Undoubtedly the most impressive part of my outfit were my nails, inspired by Fruit Salad sweets, from left to right: Rimmel Lasting Finish 025 'Strawberry Fizz', YCC Nail Enamel 103, Barry M 309 'Strawberry Ice Cream', Collection 2000 232 'Pink Passion', No.7 250 'Me!Me!Me!', Rimmel Lasting Finish 060 'Hot & Spicy', Collection 2000 43 'Fruit Salad', Rimmel Lasting Finish 705 'Tangy Tangerine', Collection 2000 28 'Hip Hip', and No.7 241 'Cheeky Chops'.

Apologies for my blogging being a little sporadic this week but there's been some big changes at work along with 3 events. It's not the busyness necessarily that's been keeping me away from blogging, moreso the tiredness... Hopefully my routine will return and with it a mid-week post! Until then.

KDx