'Swan' Clements Ribeiro for Evans

Hi lovelies!

I know everybody else has already been well hot on this and I apologise I am a little bit slow with my round-up, I've had my head stuck in The Hunger Games for the past 2 days.

Anyway, on Monday I spent a beautifully sunny day en-route to London town to hit up Evans HQ to get a sneaky preview of the new range designed exclusively by design duo Clements Ribeiro. Snippets of this have been lingering around on the grapevine for a while, keeping us teased, so I was thrilled to get a sneaky look at the collection along with some other lovely blogger ladies just before it's big release on Saturday! Oh and I was also thrilled to get to wear my new stripey dress...

Stripey Dress & Neon Belt - New Look Inspire
Cardigan - New Look Inspire
Patent Flat Shoes - New Look
Skull Scarf - Primark
Necklace - New Look

The collection is a great mix of very vintage feeling, classic pieces, the kind of pieces that will last you a lifetime, season after season. Perfect little black dresses, bold colours and gorgeous detailing. I also felt it worked really well at trying to bridge the gap in target audience for Evans, whether you are looking for young quirky fun pieces or smart, sophisticated dressing this range fills this margin well with its use of cuts and prints.

It was great to get to touch and feel the items and get to see the other blogger girlies try them on and give an idea of fit. One of the main questions a lot of us asked was 'is the range duel sized?' I know duel sizing is a bug bear for most of us but, the answer, yes, some of the stretchy jersey pieces are duel sized, but the fitted dresses are individually sized in order for you to get the best fit. The range is priced between £40-£99, so a bit of an investment but if you really love an item and get wear after wear after wear out of it then I don't think it's so bad, right?

Anyway here's my little picture round-up....

And my favourite 3 pieces from the range have to be.....

The little black dress

Rosie modelling the Heart Print Tunic (doesn't she look utterly adorable?)

And my absolute fave, the Black & Gold dress! (Love this!)

The range is released online on Saturday 31st March 2012 and will be available in just 10 stores from Monday 2nd April! Keep an eye out and let me know what your favourite pieces are!

Big thanks again to the Evans team for inviting me down, always great to see you guys!

Big Love
xoxoxox

Sunday Round Up......

Evenin' my lovelies!

Just dropping in and giving you all a little hello!

I've had a right busy week, on Monday I popped out for an evening at the theatre, how many of you remember Birds of a Feather? I know right! The 3 main cast members have gotten back together to do a tour and I have to say, they were as fabulous as ever, the original Essex girls as far as I'm concerned, gimme Chigwell over Towie any day! I mean check out that fabulous 80's style, Dorien gimme that hot pink blazer, NOW!

Tuesday I headed out for yummy munch at Miller & Carter with my lovely boys and girls from work, much wine and birthday cake was consumed and I went to work on Wednesday feeling rather worse for wear but enjoyed every minute and on Wednesday evening I had some lovely friends over for nails and gossip.

My main killer this past week has been the fact that it has been dress down ALL WEEK at work! Now, don't get me wrong, I have a ginormous wardrobe bursting to the brim with clothes, but the moment you ask me to choose a different outfit everyday I am totally bazingered! But I did notice something, I am a full on creature of habit and I am a total sucker for 3 classic trends, nautical, leopard print and florals. Every outfit has consisted of one of those trends I wish I had taken pictures but alas, I am a little bit camera shy at the moment, I had my hair extensions taken out last week and I am just getting used to my face without my long locks, feeling like a right munter!

Other things I have been upto just recently are......

Hanging around awesome market stalls eyeing up cute jewellery.....


Buying awesome new items from New Look Inspire & ASOS Curve.....

New Look Inspire

ASOS Curve

Scouring the t'interweb for my perfect pair of Converse......

Receiving awesome items to try out for my reviews week from Simply Be and Chubby Cartwheels.....

Chubby Cartwheels

Simply Be

Playing far too much 'Draw Something' and realising I cannot draw for shiz, if you want to have a laugh at my lack of artistic talent, my username is naomi_griffiths....

Trying desperately to find the perfect outfit to head down to Evans HQ tomorrow for the preview of 'Swan' by Clements Ribeiro......


Getting excited over heading over to Sutton Coldfield Vintage & Arts Fair next weekend.....

So keep checking back and I should have some interesting things to talk to you about v.soon!

BIG LOVE
XOXOXOX

Ferry 'cross the Mersey! Scouse OOTD!

Evenin' lovelies!

Are you well?! I hope so! I must admit I've had a really stressful week or two but I was really happy to get away for a few days last weekend and just try and relax a bit.

Me and Mr Naomi toddled off to Liverpool last Saturday for a little break away. We stayed in Parr Street Studio's which is renowned for being the place where some all time greats recorded some of their best works. The hotel is really quirky, fun and a super friendly place to stay, housed the fabulously lively area of the city just 5 minutes walk away from awesome shopping it was definitely the perfect place for a little party head, shopaholic like moi!

We shopped (after Mr had a big snooze and kept me waiting!), ate yummy food, drank lots of cocktails, braved a proper touristy bus, apparently got caught on camera whilst channel 4 were filming the next series of Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and headed home on Sunday evening very tired but very content!

Disgruntled 'Wake up Mr Naomi' face...

Whilst shopping (I sent Mr off to get his mop cut, so I was free to take as much time as I liked!) I got to have a nosey around the Liverpool One Simply Be store which was a pleasure. I didn't come away with much just 2 new bras and matching knickers as I was after new jeans but their selection in short leg lengths was rather disappointing unfortunately, better luck next time. Then I wandered off to New Look, I was really impressed with the Inspire section in the Liverpool One store. They had the new 'Koko' range stocked and also had a new label called 'Ruby's Closet' there too which I noticed was AX Paris re-branded, but it was nice to try it on and see a little more selection in a plus size concession. I picked up 2 super stretchy mini-skirts which I am working on how to wear as they are a brave move for me, my mom (as predicted) instantly turned her nose up at them in a judgmental "there's no way you can wear that" fashion, surprise surprise but I WILL wear them! Promise!

Anyway here are a few snaps of the weekend....

Off we go.....

Sweeties for the journey

Me outside some awesome street art!

Albert Docks

'Teddies'

Yummy food in The Shipping Forecast

...and me wearing some clothes, wooooo! LOL!

Chiffon Jacket - New Look Inspire
Stripe Maxi Skirt - Yours Clothing
Black Vest - H&M+
Biker Jacket - Evans
Clutch - Primark
Gold Necklace - Primark

I am properly in love with this maxi skirt it's just so bright and versatile! I can even pull it up over my bust and wear as a midi dress, you are def going to be seeing a lot of this on the blog. I picked it up from Yours Clothing recently in their sale after having my eye on it for ages. Teamed it up with a simple black vest, chiffon shrug and some metallic flats from H&M and I felt glam enough to face all those Scouse brows and super tans.

I had a lovely weekend and I honestly cannot wait to visit the Liverpudlians again, such a friendly city, absolutely loved it! What's your fave city?

Big love my lovelies
xoxoxoxox

Saturday Splurge & Evans Bird Print Dress Review.

Evenin' my lovelies!

Another post so soon? You lucky devils! ;) It's only cause I actually have some things to witter on about. As I mentioned in my last post, on Saturday I went for a mooch around Merry Hill Shopping Centre and had me a bit of a splurge and I wanted to show you my little haul...

Maybelline Gel Eyeliner - I am an eyeliner fiend, I pretty much won't leave my house unless I'm wearing it. I had a Sleek gel liner a while ago which was fab, but I lost it, so I primped for a new one, the brush that comes with it is brill!

Boots 17 Solo eyeshadows in Funfair & Statuesque - not tried them yet but I love the colours of these!

Boots 17 Hide Away Concealer - again something else I can't live without!

Primark Skull Scarf - this Alexander McQueen looky likey scarf was a bargain £4! I felt a little bit guilty for buying a copy but I promise I will buy the real thing soon, it's on my list of 'WANTS'. For now, this little baby will do.

Primark Bird Print Snood - we are all a bit giddy for bird print just recently, this was a must to go in the basket!

Primark Floral Print Bow Necklace - so adorable.

Primark Earrings - I love cute studs, these rock chickesque and super girly ones needed a home with moi!

Primark Pink Heart Diamante Ring - pretty pretty!

Evans Leather Ankle Boots - my sale bargain, I know the weather is supposed to be warming up, but lets be fair, this is England a decent pair of boots is essential no matter what the season!

Primark Handbag - love this little handbag but when I got home I realised the strap was a lot shorter than I would like, am thinking some customisation may be in order!

H&M Metallic Peeptoe Flats - these are my love! I'm not really a fan of flip flops so I am thrilled that every year H&M never fails to bring out an awesome pair of peeptoe flats for the summer, this year they haven't failed to disappoint. They have lots of other colours online and instore too and I am destined to own them all!

I also picked up a nautical navy and white striped top from Yours Clothing and a stripey vest top from H&M+ which I haven't shown you here but I know I will use for outfit posts soon.

Lastly, whilst on my travels I popped into Evans. The store in Merry Hill is probably one of Evans' better ones, it regularly has their new in items and is generally quite well stocked. I knew I wanted to catch sight of their take on the bird print dress, everywhere seems to have given us one and finally Evans has caught on. I first saw it online and I have to say, I wasn't particularly impressed, priced at £45 for a basic jersey cut in comparison to New Looks recent version it wasn't really ever going to get me excited.

As I walked into the store the dress was hanging on a point of sale rail at the forefront, I picked up a Uk 26/28 (Evans infamous duel sizing *ICK*) and toddled off to the changing rooms to take some snaps for you....

At first touch the material is thin and not particularly amazing quality considering the £45 price tag I would have at least expected a thicker more ponte like jersey material. The print is nice, a ditsy swallow print in pastel shades but again, it looked a bit cheap. The cut is generous and you definitely wouldn't need to size up at all.

I personally wasn't keen on the cut of the dress, I would have liked a deeper neckline and a shorter length I felt the dress seemed a bit 'mumsy' and that it wasn't quite sure of what it was meant to be and whom it is aimed at. The print suggests fast fashion for a young audience, whilst the cut screams 50+ mum! I'm not just saying this because I want to just have a go at Evans, I really want Evans to do well and start belting out some awesome pieces like what used to be offered from their Seven range, but I really was unimpressed. I know me and if I had loved that dress £45 price or not, it would have been bagged up and on the bus home with me, but all in all it was just 'luke warm'. It's a no frills, rushed job of a fast fashion piece which they have thrown at the rails in order to jump on the trend without even really thinking about what it is or who it is for. Maximum price for minimum effort or style.

In comparison to the recent New Look Inspire version it doesn't even come close and yet it is nearly double the price. Maybe if it comes up in the sale I would think about it, but that quality, for that price, for that cut, sorry Evans but me no likey! I understand that larger sized clothes require more material and will generally cost us a little more, but if New Look can cut a similar item up to a size 26 for £25 surely this one from Evans could have been a bit more reasonably priced? Lets hope your Clements Ribeiro range wets our whistles and our wallets!

That's all from me this evening m'dears! Let me know your thoughts on the Evans dress.

Big Love
xoxoxox

Same Shirt, Different Day.

Ello my lovelies!

I was planning on having a full on lazy PJ day today, but I somehow was lured to my local Westfield shopping centre, how does that happen? I had a good old mooch around Primark and got lots of cute little goodies, tried on loads of stuff in Yours clothing whom I must say are coming out with some really nice pieces at the moment, their wine coloured jeans are brilliant, purchased cute flats from H&M and tried on that bird print dress in Evans. Will definitely give you an update and some pics of it all in a day or 2!

But anyway to do it all I wore some clothes, I threw on this little outfit.....

Denim Shirt - New Look Inspire
Leopard Print Vest Top - Evans
Red Leggings - New Look Inspire
Belt - Evans
Leopard Print Scarf - H&M
Shoes - New Look
Stag Necklace - Primark

I know, I know, I wore this shirt in my last outfit of the day, but the thing is, whenever the spring starts to poke through the atmosphere and those little sunbeams come out to play, this is my go to item! I picked it up a few years ago from New Look Inspire and it has become my spring through to summer wardrobe staple! Guaranteed that whenever the earth begins to start warming up this shirt is out and about! It was well worth the £20 I paid for it way back when, I don't see it leaving my wardrobe anytime soon!

What are your wardrobe staples? The things you wear year on year?

Big Love
xoxoxox