Secret Cinema | Back To The Future

Back To The Future is one of those fabulous Sunday films you can watch a million times and always get swept up in the 80's hairstyles and 50's glamour. So whilst I'd known about Secret Cinema events for a while, it wasn't until this one rolled around that I actually stumped up the cash for one. On the 1st August myself, Tomas and my friend Nancy took the DeLorean with flux capacitor set to our destination - Hill Valley circa 1955!

Getting ready for this evening was an event in itself. From the frocks to pomade slicked hair, I have to say this was definitely an era we all relished taking part in (and, let's be honest we all have wished we could dress like this every day!) We were each assigned characters to play (this didn't amount to anything in the end but it was a nice quirk I guess) and luckily we all became High School Seniors going to the Enchanted Under The Sea Dance. Fabulous! So for the evening Nancy became Joan, Tomas turned into Richard and I to 'Shaquanna Nettles'. Yeah I'm not sure I quite fitted the persona either!

The town had everything from a diner serving Byron burgers and shakes to Hill Valley High School where a real-life prom was being held, with swing dancers aplenty. There was a promenade of shops where you could pick up a tonne of vintage goodies or make yourself a little crafty souvenir to remember the night. To top it off there was even a working fun fair. Of course the graphic designer in my boyfriend ensured we walked away with a hand printed, super cool letter press poster for our flat. Nancy and I however were smitten with the corsage stool and enjoyed glue-gun-fun making high quality wrist foliage! 

I think though one of the big highlights of the night had to be our time spent as cheerleaders, all three of us really showed off our moves but for some reason only Nancy & I were documented shaking our pom poms..!

Genuinely, though expensive, for the immersive experience you get in going back to the 1950's this was totally worth it. There was definite room for improvement with certain aspects of crowd control, technical hitches during the show (we went to the second performance so there were a few rough edges) and for out of towners' the journey to deepest darkest Hackney was a little much, but overall the night gets a 7/10 from me.

Did any of you folks make your way down to this event? I know this attire would work perfectly for the Goodwood Revival which I went to last year so definitely let me know if you rate our 1950's get ups!

Lily x

P.s. Sorry for the blogging break! Life got a little bit crazy for a few weeks, there was a storm which took out our internet for 2 weeks too but I promise not to leave it this long again! 

A Shy Girl's Guide To Flashing Tummy | Primark Highwaisted Trousers

If you'd have told me 6 months ago I'd be flashing my tummy to the world on my own little blog I would have laughed in your face. My tummy is my worst feature in my opinion. So when the whole tummy 'cleavage/slither?!' trend came about I was sure I'd be giving that a wide birth! However after a fair few months' working my butt off with Nancy in boxcercise, I finally felt brave enough to dip my toe in. 

Now the beauty of this trend is that it doesn't call for a Britney Spear's style flesh flash, no no no with a good highwaist and a long crop top you end up showing the slimmest part of the tummy - hurrah!

I picked up these gorgeous blue (they also come in black), gingham, high-waisted trousers from Primark recently for £13 and they could not be better quality! They have the feel of Topshop Leigh Jeans but with a slightly thicker material (great for hiding lumps & bumps!). I got a size 10 in the end but they have so much stretch in them I would recommend down sizing if you pick these up. 

Paired quite simply with a H&M long crop top (a bargain at £2.99!) and of course my trusty, well loved, 'white' Converse and we are done!

Let me know what you think of this look, how you'll wear this trend and if you think I can justify buying the black pair too...!

Lily x

Topshop White Summer Dress | Birthday Outfit

Less than a week before my Birthday I realised I had a wardrobe full of nothing I could possibly wear. Well at least that's what I told myself..! So obviously I sought solace in Topshop.com and went hunting for a crisp white summer dress. I knew as soon as I laid eyes on this beauty that we were meant to be. When I picked this up, the subtle embroidery in the fabric really was so much more perfect in real life. The quality and weight in the fabric warrants the £34 price tag and has already washed incredibly well. I also love how there is detail upon detail in this dress, from the delicate button fastening and cut-out back panel, to the double shoulder straps. Size wise, I ordered a size 10 and I would say it's a true size 10 (not the usual 'Topshop 10' that I'd struggle to get my calf into..). As you can tell I'm utterly smitten and can safely say this is an investment you should all make!

Are you a summer dress fiend like myself? Let me know any must have pieces and I'll try and resist ordering another 'essential'...!

Lily x

Spring Office Look | The Pencil Skirt

Just A Walk In The Park | Springtime Saturday

Sometimes the best days are unplanned. I've not been feeling myself the last few weeks and have been quite ill. Feeling slightly better, yesterday I attempted a boxcercise session and then proceeded to recover at home watching Spice World The Movie (totally still know all the dance moves!), baking a little something for an Easter post and watching the rabbits play in their castle. 

Mint for Life | Matching Outfits to Beach Huts

You may have noticed a theme with my posts recently - I've gone Spring mad! As a summer baby, I've always been a big fan of the warmer months, but this year my excitement has gotten a little silly. I genuinely believe I may have a problem with bright and pastel spring colours.

Hello my name is Lily and I'm a Mint & Coral Addict.

Last Saturday when Tomas and I decided to take a lazy beach stroll on Hove Promenade I just threw on my comfiest, slouchiest outfit and hit the pebbles!

My latest finds have come from Boohoo.com. This gorgeous Off The Shoulder Mint Jumper joined my knitwear floordrobe last week, along with a Cardigan in the same shade. See I told you I had a problem. Not only were they around £10 each, but Boohoo are always doing Free Delivery and other great offers so how was I to refuse. 

Jeans - H&M £7.99!

Trainers - Primark £3/4

Coral Bag - Primark £8

I think I'll now be purchasing some nail varnish in every Beach Hut colour and going even more mad for Spring. Let me know your Spring obsessions so I know that I'm not alone for Pastel rehab!

Lily x

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Easy, Breezy, Monochrome Outfit

The sun was shining yesterday and like everyone else there was a spring in my step with that warmth on my skin! I even detoured to work just to go along the seafront to see the sun shining over Brighton Pier. 

So with the weekend set to see the sun perk his head out once more, I wanted to share my lighter approach to wearing Monochrome. Yes really it's another monochrome post..! This outfit suits me down to the ground. The Boohoo T-Shirt is loose, baggy and clings just enough to not look I'm still in my PJS. My Leggings however are the key feature. These Topshop beauties were a steal at £24 and are highwaisted & thick enough to feel you're really 'held in'. 

A classic Black Leather Jacket from Miss Selfridge, a Alex McQueen'esque Scarf from eBay, Topshop Month Boots and my Raybans completed this casual, easy breezy look!

Sorry I've been MIA for the last 10days folks! I took a weekend away with my lovely boyfriend to Manchester as a late Christmas present to him and with work being quite busy of late I let my blogging slip. Well no more I promise! This weekend I've got a list as long as my arm of what to plan, shoot and post over the coming weeks! Watch this space!

Lily x

London Fashion Weekend

Yikes another stream of catwalk photos and outfits captured on the cobbles of the iconic Somerset House grounds. Yup I went to London Fashion Weekend! It was my first time at an event like this and what an experience it is! The good, the bad and the ugly took place in this bubble of extravagance and beauty. My Mom and I were in awe when we stepped under the arches and were hit by a tide of women dressed to the nines, huddled under umbrellas and giving everyone 'the eye'. I swear I heard the murmurs of 'Who are you wearing?' fluttering around us. Once we got our bearings, we found our seats at the Trends show and settled down to watch four key trends that'll be adopted by the masses this Spring Summer.

Lace, Luxe Sports, Florals and Metallics. 

So I think as far as losing your fashion show virginity goes, this was a pretty spectacular way to do it. I've never fallen harder for a pair of trousers in my life - Stella McCartney you are a genius. I'm definitely on board with introducing yet more Lace into my wardrobe. However I may take some persuading on Metallics reaching any item other than accessories.

Sports Luxe I can see reaching my own wardrobe soon, as I know I'm definitely becoming quite partial to a pencil skirt teamed with crisp white trainers. 

Florals aren't groundbreaking for a SS14 trend. Heck the streets would look a lot cloudier without this iconic print. Be it bold geometric styles or delicate pastel details, I for one have already dug out my patterns and will be wearing them under my winter coat to try and brighten up this chill.

Once the show was over we rushed to check out the sample sales adorning all of the many rooms littering Somerset House. I was definitely taken in by the bright colours, silks and chiffon that seemed to feature in many designers collections.

Despite falling in love with many pastel coloured blouses, anything in mint and that stunning monochrome dress with the most perfect collar I've ever seen, neither my Mom or I made a purchase. We did however enjoy some 'Beauty Water' claiming to contain collagen to make you younger (it was vile) and an obscene amount of Kinder Buenos in the lounge. All of this was accompanied by plenty of people watching, dodging of sharpened elbows near any rail, and a brutal encounter in the ladies room to rival that of Mean Girls.

My panic over my outfit when attending resulted in me reaching for my monochrome safety net. These Checkered Leggings were £25 from Topshop, as was my much loved Boyfriend Coat, Month Boots and very old, rabbit chewed, Bowler Hat. The Boyfriend t-shirt and Necklaces however were from the home of basics and fad pieces; Primark.

Will you be heading to an event like this next season? Make sure you take your sharpest handbags and enjoy the beauty that is fashion as an art form. 

Lily x

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