Firstly, I know I have been terrible this last week and not blogged once, but I have a few interesting posts lined up for this week so stay tuned. I have been swamped with uni work and have three (yes three!!!) essays due in. How unfair is that? The realities of second year have well and truly hit me! Anyway, as the title suggests, I have apparently turned into Thelma from Scoobydoo...I've been told this three times today so I think I'll just have to accept that I will never be Daphne. 

I decided to take a day off from essay writing (which I should still be doing now) and do a bit of well deserved retail therapy. I had been quite good with money until now and went a bit crazy. You'll have to wait and see in future posts what I bought though, because I'm mean like that. So yes, I was a little bit naughty with spending this week (sorry mum) and here is the first outfit I bought.

Again, where is this Mod vibe coming from?! I think I must have lived in the 60's in a previous life because its coming out of me from nowhere! I have to blame River Island for this combination as If they hadn't been displayed next to each other, I would NEVER have thought it would work. I'm still not 100% that this does go together but It's definitely growing on me.

POLONECK: River Island
SKIRT: River Island
BOOTS: Primark
NAILS: Topshop, Awol

Okay so as you've probably realised, I am a really terrible student, I just never go out. Clubbing that is, I'm not that socially inept. As my housemates get ready to paint the town red, I just want to stay home with my electric blanket. Hearing the music booming from downstairs however seems to get me in the party mood. Instead of actually going out and facing the blistering cold, I have found a much better solution. The next best thing is to just get dressed up with them (which gives me the opportunity to have an oh so loved rifle through their clothes).

You could call this a bit of a cheat post as technically I'm not leaving the house and will be back in my pyjamas in no time (such a saddo!) but I will most definitely be wearing this outfit sometime in the near future. Courtesy of Lauren for lending me this dress; I say she lent it to me but it was more that she didn't object to me dragging it out of her wardrobe. What are friends for eh?
So they've al left now and I'm sitting here all dolled up eating a crumpet and blogging. Oh the glamorous life of a student.

DRESS: H&M
SHOES: Zara
NECKLACE: Topshop
CLUTCH: Topshop

October is the month for everything spooky so its only right that we start to plan our Halloween outfits right? I am a fancy dress freak and never miss an opportunity to raid the charity shops and haberdasheries for potential costumes. However, it's not socially acceptable to walk through the streets dressed as a zombie in early October (though Manchester probably wouldn't notice as it's full of weirdos to start with) so my alternative (and poor excuse for another new purchase) is to channel my inner cat woman with this jumpsuit. I did climb over a desk today so that pretty much confirms it. Halle Berry eat your heart out!

Anyway...as I would probably scare more people in a latex bodysuit than an actual halloween costume, I opted for a glamorous Misguided jumpsuit.

I think that the fit on the legs on this is what sold it for me. I have very difficult hips that look elephantine  when the cut is wrong so to find a leg that wasn't too tight or too balloony was perfect. These photos are after an alteration was made to make the neckline less clevagey. A press stud was sown in to make it more day time wearable but can easily be opened up for an evening look. Girls, GET TO MISGUIDED! 

JUMPSUIT:Misguided
BELT: Miss Selfridge 
BOOTS: H&M
COAT : H&M

Its time to really embrace the cold! That's easier said than done when you're freezing your bits off but with the cold comes a whole load of winter wardrobe trends! This mini trend forecast will help transform your summer garments into winter wonders! 

Its not every night you go to Manchester's gay capital, so it's an excuse to dress however you like and no one will bat an eyelid; bat their false eyelashes they might though. 

Not wanting to dress like a burlesque queen or pageant queen for that matter, we opted more them more muted look. Bold jewelry and some animal print! The party range from trainers and jeans to bikinis and corsets so this outfit is a [very] happy medium. Got my trusty housemate Charlotte to model her outfit tonight so all appreciation must go to her savvy styling. 

CAMI: Topshop
SKIRT: Asos
BELT: Misguided 
SHOES: Zara
NECKLACE: Topshop

Rio Maddison - Designer at Misguided / Emma Pitt - Buyer for Morgan Clare / Katie Curran - Head PR for Boohoo / Laura Puddy - Fashion stylist and columnist / Niki Proctor - Head PR at Gorgeous Couture

Follow them on Twitter!     @LouiseCosmoEd     /     @stylelaura     /     @nikiprocktor

Very exciting post for you this today - I won two tickets to Cosom's Fashion Forum hosted in London and Manchester by LOUISE COURT (Cosmopolitan Magazine editor) alongside a panel of experts where budding fashionistas like me, go to meet the specialists and ask questions to understand the industry we're trying to break into. It was a great to ask all the questions we were dying to know and of course, being a blogger, photograph some of the gorge outfits that came to watch.

All this with a goody bag and a glass of bubbly!

Here are a few Q&A's for you:

How important is it to get work experience in London?
- "Times are changing  and the north is becoming more and more influential in the fashion industry but to start off your career, London is definitely the place to be! Start there, then branch out."

Is it cut throat working in London?
- "You'll have to be strong. It will definitely swallow you and spit you back out but the key is to stay strong and remember, if you can cut it there, you can work anywhere!'

What do you look for when hiring someone to work for a magazine like yours?
- "We look at your enthusiasm and knowledge of the company. Research the company you're applying for and the employer will be very impressed. For journalism and magazine work however, London really is the best place to start as it's the media capital."

What impresses you on a CV?
- "We don't want to see the same old, generic cover letters so just write why you'd like to work for us; your enthusiasm will shine through and be much more refreshing than writing what you think we'd like to hear. Put the most important work experience at the top. We're very busy people so the chances are we won't finish reading a CV if it doesn't catch out attention immediately."

Shall I send you my blog?
- Yes! It shows the applicant has a real initiative and passion for the industry. Also link us to your  Instagram and Twitter profiles (but maybe make a separate account because we won't be impressed with images of you in the gutter!) Remember, any future employers can see anything you post online so keep it clean or it will come back to bite you."

Here are some of my favourite looks from the night!

When I went to Sydney last Christmas, it didn't strike me as a particularly fashion conscious kind of place. Everyone had the too cool, surfer dude kind of vibe going on. 

Now I'm not very cool and so not the girl you'd see pulling a surf board out of a pick up truck! Salt spray is the closest i'll ever get to being a surfer chick. I was delighted when amongst the Billabong's and Roxy's I came across the brand Witchery; sort of an Aussie version of Whistles combined with quirky accessories. It was much more classic than anything I had seen in Australia but maintained a very easy going feel to it. 

This look doesn't exactly scream Australian cool but compared to my love of tailoring It's much more relaxed and loungey, which was perfect for summer nights in AUS!

LEOPARD VEST: Topshop
PULLOVER: Witchery
TROUSERS: Zara
PUMPS: Yilly Wang

My house mate and soon to be Ebay sensation, Charlotte (check out her Instagram! @charlotte1moore) must take full credit for this outfit. As I have been a total slug today and not actually dressed myself, I was feeling that I needed to have a raid of her wardrobe, we are girls after all and sharing a house with seven of them definitely has its advantages in the clothes department!

Years of watching Sex and the City saw Carrie and the girls walk through the snowy streets of Manhattan in what looked like nothing but a fur coat and Manolo's. I have always loved the 'bare legs in winter' look but thought the reality would be more pasty and drafty than the SATC girls let on.

Far from owning Mink or a pair of Manolo Blahnik stilettos, this more rugged and wearable version could easily be worn without looking like a pretentious idiot; and as much i'd love to, I'm not sure I could get away with wearing heels to uni!


FAUX FUR JACKET: H&M
DRESS: H&M
BOOTS: Kurt Geiger

I have a confession to make; this post is a bit of a cheat. The reason for this is that my real OOTD is not fit for observation (unless you want your eyes to burn) I found myself in Liverpool with no clothes, wash bag or make-up. Once I get into a bed, there's just no moving me; even if it is 5pm! I thought being in bed was a better option then getting the train home in the dark, cold night so, instead, decided that an embarrassing journey home would be justified for my comfort and laziness.

Come morning, this meant that I only had my boyfriend's wardrobe to choose from. Normally living in his clothes anyway this didn't phase me too much until I realised that I would have to get the train back to Manchester and go to my 11am lecture in Adidas trackies. So apologies to the 10:13 train, I was a sight to make eyes sore!

Deciding that it would probably be best for everyone that my greasy, 'fresh faced' cross dressing self (kudos to the boyf for actually kissing me goodbye in public) is NEVER published online, I decided to re create an outfit for you.


FAUX FUR GILLET: Jack Wills
SHIRT: Zara
JEANS: Jack Wills
CHELSEA BOOTS: Truffle
HANDBAG: House of Fraser

Mummy came to visit me today and with her came a heap of dry cleaning. What are mums for eh? Being the magpie that I am, you can imagine my delight when I was reunited with my Zara shirt. It's sparkly, minty goodness is just to die for. 

A tad dressy for the day time but I'm a sucker for anything shiny and we were shopping in liverpool, the capital of OTT. Sparkly shirt, yes. Scouse brow? A resounding no!

JACKET: Zara
SHIRT: Zara
TROUSERS: Zara
SHOES: Tory Burch