Summer Outfit

Summer by emilyrodgers18 featuring vintage jewelry

I always like playing around with mood boards, and this is an outfit I made, which I like, and hope to be wearing soon when the sun finally shows up. 

The dress is from Cow, which was my all time favourite shop in manchester. You can access their website here. It's one of those shops where all the stuff is vintagey and thrifty and it smells like your nans attic, and you feel like you've stepped into a macklemore/house indy convention, and I love it. 

The bag is from Boohoo surprisingly, I love the tapestry fabric pattern and it reminds me of a bag I bought from urban outfitters years ago and still love as much today. 

These items are pretty full on pattern and colour, so the rest is fairly simple. 

Ballin'

I had my Summer Grad Ball at the Hilton last Saturday, so naturally thought I'd share the experience with you all.

It was a glamourous evening, with a glass of free champers on arrival, a 3 course meal, and a D-Jay to finish off. 

Being on a fashion course you can only imagine the parade we were expecting, girl after girl dressed to the nines. Some with loubi's, some carrying Chanel, and the not so subtle stares from head to toe, with a "what does she look like?" or "that dress does NOT suit her" to follow. 

Yes, it was bitchy.

My dress was from ASOS, it was a bargain I thought at £55, however having sent it to Jersey by accident (home), and my Mum having to send it back here, it got a nice VAT charge, which I was fuming about! 

I had my hair highlighted, and curled it myself (v.proud) and did my nails (below) and did my make up using my Benefit 'Primpcess" kit. 

I even wore heels! 

All in all it was a lovely send off, I even had a dance with my finance teacher!

Below is a mood board of the accessories and things I used for the night.

Ball by emilyrodgers18 featuring chinese laundry pumps

21st Birthday Weekend!

The birthday blues are upon me!

Last weekend it was my 21st, and it was truly the best birthday to date!

My family came up to see me in Manchester, which meant I got to wake up in a hotel on the day, had a leisurely morning and then went to town for a shopping spree with my mum. She bought me my birthday dress and a few other goodies (including those velvet shorts I was coveted a few posts ago!)

Then I went to meet my dad at the Hilton, where my little sisters and my cousin surprised me which was so nice! 

Followed by more amazing gifts and a stunning meal at Australasia.

Below are a few pictures from the day!

This is the dress I wore before the meal, part of my stud obsessed collection!

My beautiful sisters and cousin, I cried when they popped out of the wardrobe!

My sister bought me this gorgeous vintage pendant from 1880, and she put these adorable photos inside!

We all shared this bottle with some strawberries!

I also got 2 more bottles of champagne as well as chocolates! 

My friend baked me this cake! 

It was amazing!

And then I was given this one by my housemates!

So much cake! 

My Auntie gave me this Pink Vodka with gold flakes in this personalised bottle, so nice!

This is an awful photo but this is the dress I wore on my birthday night out. 

It's one of the brands in Topshop, and I wore it with an urban outfitters belt.

My friends from home all came up for the weekend from around the country and gave me this lovely pandora charm.

I was well and truly spoilt! 

But the best part I am going to save and write an entire post on because (although materialistic) its one of the most special things I have been given!

Mamma Knows Best

When at home, I like to root through my mothers things, jewellery, clothes, mainly old stuff, just because its fascinating. From what I'm finding it turns out I inherited my interest in fashion from her. 'It's amazing what comes back into fashion', something we hear all the time, but its true! 

Below are a few things I've found of hers that I love, some retro, some classic, and some back in style!

I recommend having a look into your mum's wardrobes to see if you can dig out anything that you fancy, or even anything which you used to wear. Theres always a way of revamping it.

A selection of old broaches. 

(taken with Instagram) 

This one is my favourite, very art deco, which I know my mum loves. 

 A set of pearls, I used to play dress up with these when I was little, now they would make a nice addition to an evening dress for a summer occasion or even an elegant ensemble to casual day wear.

These watches are everywhere at the moment, I recently bought one just like this from Urban Outfitters, when there was one sitting in my mums draw this whole time!

I've always loved this selection of retro earrings she has, she used to wear them in the eighties a lot. 

Bucket with mini spade and fork!

 Tiny pink telephone!

 Another painted wooden parrot. 

I'm not brave enough to wear these myself, maybe one day for fancy dress!

 I often borrow this Moschino belt for nights out or to wear with high waisted skirts. Everyone always asks me if its real, of course its not, but I love it as if it were!

This chippy belt is also a cute one to wrap around your waist with a skirt or dress. 

Something else from the 80's. This padded quilt bad with gold chain is very chanel-esque. Petite and perfect for a day out.

She gave me this selection of silk scarves when I started Uni, they were just coming back into fashion and she had loads, so I didn't have to go out and buy any!

I am a lover of big knitted cardi's and jumpers, which is why I adore this pink oversized jumper with rose detail. 

 And finally, this tweed pink jacket. You may have seen my post the other week about the range of these in zara at the moment, now I don't need to buy one! I was ecstatic when I found this, also very Chanel. 

(Apologies for the shoddy quality photos, cannot wait to get my hands on a DSLR!)

So why not try and dig up some old treasures, you never know what you might find!