OOTD: Wisteria, Woven Baskets & Black On Black

After putting it off for many weeks, I've finally made the wardrobe swap. I do the same every year: buy lots of new things that I see tempting me in shops, only to realise that I do indeed have three cases of summer clothes in the cupboard already. But you can never have too many shoes, dresses, bags or sunglasses eh? Although we've had a few days of sunshine, right now the weather is as unpredictable as the political landscape - which in turn means that black layers are my go to. You can't go wrong with a lightweight cotton black dress to keep you cool but covered up, a little pair of black sandals and a super on-trend straw basket to add a nod to warmer weather. Often I agonize over an outfit for so long and it still looks a bit naff, but other times it's utterly effortless and just works; this was definitely one of those times. (I'm so pleased with how the pictures have come out too... Although I felt like a bit of a cliche standing in front of a coloured wall holding flowers, I think I'm getting into the swing of this fashion blogger malarkey.)

HAIR UP

So first things first, lets discuss my hair. When I was a kid I was rarely allowed my hair down; it was always either up in a ponytail or french plait for school, or in the evening and weekends it was up in a bun for ballet class. I spent most of my first decade with rock solid hair and high on perfume fumes, which may or may not have had an impact on my intelligence. Because I always had my hair up and away from my face I somewhat rebelled in later teenage years, refusing to pin it up other than when I had to. I guess that's had an impact on me as an adult, where it doesn't really occur to me to put up my hair for anything other than the gym and down days working from home; there's something a bit more 'I'm ready to rock' about a 'do that's all wavy, voluminous and fabulous. But hey ho, I decided to change it up by pinning up my two day old hair - and by gosh, I quite like it. What are the chances?  

M&S ARE KILLING IT RIGHT NOW 

You may associate Marks and Sparks with your Nan, school uniforms and rather posh lunch choices, but I urge you to walk through the clothing section when you're next stocking up on Percy Pigs - because they're killing it in the fashion department right now. In the last month I've bought three dresses, a skirt, two tops and a handful of sandals, proving that there's always something to tickle your fancy. I find that M&S cut their dresses to cut boobs, hips and bum (hoorah!) and have managed to channel trends while keeping them super wearable and comfy too. This black cotton dress is so effortless, plus was pretty affordable at £55.00 too; I picked a very similar style up in a delicate blue and white stripe too and have already worn that more times than most things I own. Expect more Marks on here soon!

BARGAIN SUNGLASSES 

I do love a great pair of sunnies; they can instantly lift a look and make you feel Greta Garbo fabulous. Although I have some classic frames from Prada, Tom Ford and Miu Miu, most of those that have been getting an outing of late have come from ASOS (you can't sniff at glasses that cost a tenner!) However, after a little rummage I rediscovered these tortoiseshell beauties I picked up from Century 21 in New York last year. (If you haven't been, it's worth the plane fare just to see what bargains you can nab; I've come away with some incredible savings and designer pieces that I still cherish.) The quality is fab and I love the subtle Burberry Check detail on the arm, giving a nod to the brand but not being too garish. If you've not checked out Burberry sunglasses before and fancy a splurge, I can thoroughly recommend them: their styles are so flattering and classic without being boring.

MY NEW SHOES 

One of my favourite things about summer is getting my toes out. I love sandals and all the beautiful colours, patterns and shapes they come in; why have a boring black pair when you can have them in all the different styles and give your outfit an added edge? Even a pair of jeans and a plain white tee looks so much better with a pair of fabulously OTT sandals, so my collection is ever expanding as I constantly seek new ways to decorate my feet. These sandals are actually part of the Ellie Goulding collection for Deichmann (most random collab of the year?) and they're oh so comfy. They have a slightly padded base which stops your feet from getting sore, while the design doesn't cut or chafe my delicate tootsies at all; I wore these all day and could easily keep them on all night. I really like the metallic 'aztec' design as a way to lift an otherwise plain look - plus they're less than twenty quid. Bargain alert! 

STRAW SATCHELS 

I spent half of last summer searching for the perfect straw bag to take on holiday, but by the time I realised I needed one they'd all sold out. (Massive regret right there.) This year I jumped on them as soon as they started to appear in stores, stocking up on a few different styles and designs that I know will take me from London street to Bali bar with ease. As most don't last much longer than a year or two (the nature of the material means it can fray and break) it's not worth spending a fortune, so this £12.00 number from Primark fits the bill perfectly. It's super roomy and comfortable to carry, plus the stripe detail make it great for wearing with black or white... It's the simple things!

M&S Pure Cotton Broderie Shift Dress | £28.00 | LINK

Deichmann Ellie Goulding Sandals | £19.99 | LINK

Primark Straw Bucket Bag | £12.00 | SIMILAR HERE

Oasis Leather Jacket | £165.00 | LINK

Pandora Rose Gold Rings | £70.00 | LINK

Burberry Sunglasses (bought in NYC) | £45.00 | SIMILAR HERE

Henry London Watch | £135.00 | LINK

Thanks to Kirsty from Fashion For Lunch for the photos!

SHOP THE LOOK 

 Features PR samples unless otherwise stated. To read my full disclaimer, click here.