Let me catch my breath

Disclosure "Control" Ft.Ria Ritchie

Seriously suffering from a bad case of holiday hangover. I'm sure I am not alone. In fact I know I'm not as I can pretty confidently vouch for the other 7 girls I went with. I love being at home, but I'd like it to be more of a pit stop between holidays, opposed to a long stop between short holidays. But enough of the post holiday blues.

What did we learn in Ibiza? 

Well, the last time I went to Ibiza, when I say last that was the first time three years ago at the tender age of 21, fresh out of uni as a graduate, practically still clutching my 2:1 degree.... I've noticed things have changed somewhat. Not least of all the fact that food is more important this time around. I cannot live on the yummy mallowy goodness of a flump and a pizza alone on a daily basis.When you take the time to realise there are restaurants selling damn good food at a reasonable price, you wonder why you would let the crap cut it. (The flumps were still welcome though!). Definitely a sign that my head is closing the age gap between itself and my actual age.

Ibiza fashion has changed. There is definitely a distinctive 'look' that has developed, both for the guys and girls; there are a lot of cross overs. Here's a break down:

Sunglasses: Only wayfarers will do. Any colour, preferably real, but it's hard to tell amongst the plethora of fakes being thrust upon you at every opportunity. So if you are going and you haven't had chance to buy your Ray Bons, or Rey Bans (other versions are available) ebay is the place to go. Buy them cheap and don't get attached to them.

Footwear: The ladies tended to lean more towards Converse hi-tops, but a few low tops still made an appearance. And for the gents, Nikes. A hi or mid Blazer, or a Dunk high top, but preferably in tonal colours, I saw a few green on greens, blue on blue and red on burgundys. Whatever they were they had to be suede-which considering what people tend to get up to in Ibiza is crazy. But then maybe it was a good sign if they managed to keep them clean? I have no intention of doing a shoe analysis.

Shorts: Were short. Both men and women had lost a few inches off the hem line. Ladies were flashing a bit of cheek at every opportunity, irrelevant to the perkiness of the behind, but always in denim. Ripped, studded, adorned with jewels and tie-dyed, just make sure it's denim. As for the boys, brightly coloured running style shorts cutting more at mid thigh length to knee length, worn with nothing but a ripped torso.

Bags: The bum bag was the bag du jour for both sexes, wore low slung in leather leaning towards the more 90s style, opposed to tourist practicality.

Socks: The curve ball look of the holiday that couldn't go unnoticed, despite my concern over awkward tan lines they were white, calf length with two or three sports stripes in varying colours.

So with that in mind here's a little holiday shopping list if you're planning on making a trip to the White Isle and want to look part of the set as soon as your Converse wearing feet touch down:

Stripe Calf-High Sock £7 from American Apparel

Nike Blazer Hi Suede Vntage Aqua Green £66.99 from Office

BDG Studded Cheeky Short £45 from Urban Outfitters

Colour Wayfarer Sunglasses now £3 from Asos

Teal Swim Short £22 from Topman

Bum Bag now £12.99 from Amazon

Converse All Stars £45 from Schuh

What do you think to the 'Ibiza' style? Would you rock this look on holiday? Have you ever re-visited a place and noticed how the style has changed?

KDx

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