The Secret Diary Of A Fashion Blogger

There's probably nothing quite as tempting as the prospect of reading someone else's diary is there? So in honour of nosey parkers everywhere (Confession: I'm very much one) here's a day in my life.

7am

The struggle is very very real for me to get up. I am most definitely not a morning person. My brain needs time to wake up, and so does my body. The very first thing I do is charge my phone, and my two (count 'em) iPads. I then dive straight into brekkie. I actually have the same thing everyday coz a) I'm dull like that, b) I'm obsessed with it and c) appaz everyone does it. So what is my breakfast of choice? A bowl of organic oats, some organic oat milk and a mug of organic decaf black tea. I like to read the T2 section of The Times while I'm eating, and not hurry. (I'm trying to make myself eat more slowly at the moment). 

8am

I try and catch the news headlines on tv (generally the BBC for me), and have a glance at the Daily Mail's sidebar of shame. I'm totally addicted to the comments on there (anyone else?), and then I tackle Instagram. I go through the whole overnight feed and reply to any DMs. I also check emails (real life ones, not blogger ones) and then start to get ready.

9am

My outfit is the easiest part of getting ready for me, but my hair and make-up take foreverrrrr. Wash and go I am not (sadly). Having a combination of bad skin and crazy frizzy hair means that my work is cut out. I usually pop in a tooth whitening strip while I'm putting on my face, and also use the time to try and get my mind ready for the day ahead.

10am

I have a ritual of doing errands at around this time, and I combine it with walking as much as I can. Once I've done my post office/supermarket/smoothie stop-offs then I can settle down to work. I write all morning, (in my other guise as a journalist), so everything bloggerish has to wait until lunch.

SHOP THE LOOK

1pm

Then I start shooting pics through lunch. I always feel like the clock is against me, and I'm constantly frustrated by so many factors- that I have no-one to shoot my images for me, that I have a very basic camera, an old phone (that hits storage on the daily) and an even older face. But I just adore clothes, and I'm constantly excited by the thought of new outfits, new hauls and the possibility that maybe, just maybe, I might be able to come up with a cool(ish) photo now and again. So I keep coming back for more. (This lack of logic puts me in mind me of the old joke- a woman goes to the doctor and says 'Help me, my husband thinks he's chicken!' and the doctor says 'Just tell him straight- he's not', and the woman replies 'I can't, we need the eggs').

3pm

I finally have lunch at 3, (sometimes it's even 3.30pm to be honest) and it usually comprises of a bowl of organic quinoa, and some organic greens- either broccoli or spinach. I then get as many mugs of organic decaf green down my neck as poss (I'm totally addicted to the stuff), whilst going through blogger emails. Sometimes I get a lot, sometimes I get hardly any, but I do try and reply to everyone. Then I start thinking about what I wanna put on InstaStories that day. I have totally mixed feelings about Storying- sometimes I feel like it's fun and more of an opportunity to have a laugh and some #bantz with everyone, but more often than not I just feel enormously pressurized to come up with something, anything. Because I don't live a particularly riveting life (no shit!) I feel like what I churn out is embarrassingly repetitive and limited, but the risk is that the algorithm will start hating on you if you don't play all the silly games that Zuck wants you to.

5.30pm

At this time I start to prep my main IG post of the day. I'll already have it filtered and saved and have gathered as many RewardStyle links as I can in order to share what I'm wearing in a shoppable way. (Hark at me, the little selling robot). I scroll through the whole feed before I post and I honestly get scared every time I put a new pic out there. Why? I dunno, it just gives me the fear. I'm rarely proud of any images I come up with, and if I do actually like summat I've done, chances are, everyone else won't. (I believe Alanis Morisette wrote a song about this once). At this point, I'm so done with IG (well, for a while). I need a break and I don't look at it again for a few hours. (That's my version of so done anyway).

6.30pm

I break for supper now (I never ever look at my phone when I'm eating), and I generally have avo on organic rye toast with a green salad. At about 8pm I come back to IG and look how my pic is doing, and then start planning out my picture for the next day and editing that. (And trust me when I say I need a lot of editing).

9.30pm

I'll run a bath while I'm still prepping snaps and then hop in at 10pm. I like to soak and relax and wind-down. Hell for me would be to get into bed covered in the day's dirt. I absolutely cannot contemplate going to sleep without a clean face, a clean bod and my hair up and out the way.

11.30pm

By this time I'm usually going through everyone else's InstaStories. I like to get the full sweep of someone's day- it usually makes more sense to me that way. (That's the other thing with my own Stories- I feel like I can barely post them without people jumping straight on them- and whilst it's lovely to know that everyone is interested- it's that pressurized feeling that freaks me out a bit). I then get into bed and read a few pages of Vogue or Elle. Finally, I play a very silly (and some would say greedy) little game. I compile a wish list of bags and shoes and anything I've seen in the mag I'm reading that I love and wish that it appears beautifully wrapped at the end of my bed by the morning. That normally helps me drift off and have very sweet dreams. (I'm still baffled though why nothing is actually there for me the next day).

Jumper- H&M //Similar- Here

Jeans- Zara// Similar- Here

Mules- And Other Stories // Similar- Here

Bag- Etsy // Similar- Here

Necklace- Cinco Store // Similar- Here

Instagram Outtakes 2015

Most of my Instagrams never get shared. I either get cold feet, or I just don't think they're all that. (I know, I know- 'What the fuck is she discarding if her IG is full of the ones she's pleased with?!', you're thinking. To which I can only say- 'hearin' you, feelin' you'). This has been the year where I've had constant storage issues with my phone, so it's really quite 'lucky' that I've even got these few dribs n drabs to show. (I've basically had to hit delete more times a day than The Daily Mail has declared that someone is putting on 'a leggy display'). So let's have a quick chinwag about these ones that never made the grade.

Soho Disco

Looking at this shot now, it's not striking me as particularly rubbish. At the time I maybe thought it was just a touch too minimal (say whattt?!) and a bit like 'here's my bag, innit good?' I dunno, I just thought it needed another element.

Boyfriends Are Overrated

This tee struck a bit of a chord, what with me being the most undateable girl in the history of humankind, so I spent shit loads of time in H&M trying to get a good picture of it. I did actually post a cropped, close-up version in the end, but it tanked. Then it struck me it was probably very arrogant of me to go around declaring such things in a 'plastered-across-my-chest' kinda way and that the top was actually aimed at girls with boyfriends. Maybe. And I looked fat.

Tea And Sympathy

I took this snap with the idea of tagging 'CoffeenClothes' and trying to get a regram. (Yes!! I am that cynical/tactical/dreadful!!). Then I realised tea isn't coffee, nor does it look like coffee. And that boyfriend jeans deffo did not go with those snakey H&M mules, and also that the pic was pretty poor quality. Next.

Ballin'

I fell in love with this baseball dress in And Other Stories. I hadn't seen anything else like it anywhere else, and I also thought that it might, just might, make an IG. But when I went to put it on I couldn't actually do the buttons up (hence why my grey sports bra top is showing). It had one of those placket thingies and it was just super-fiddly. Plus, it was hot and the queue of people waiting to get into the changing room was epic,  and in the end I took this one frame then gave up and went to get a smoothie from The Good Life Eatery.

Mr Blue Sky

Remember that one, random, amazingly hot Saturday in September? It was 30 degrees and I was hanging out with my sis on the balcony of her new flat. We just had the nicest time- chatting and bitching- and just generally doing what sisters do. I reallllly wanted to post this shot but in the end I didn't have the balls. I actually like a priddy sky pic or a lush sunset, but bailing seemed like the best option at the time.

Les Culottes

I loved these Topshop denim culottes which made an appearance in the sale at only fifteen quid. Sold! But coz I don't have a decent mirror at home I hung around for ages trying to get a good snap of them to throw onto IG. Whilst I was there making a tit of myself, Faye Ripley the actress, and her daughter wandered into the next changing room and I was utterly distracted ear-wigging on their whole conversation. This one never made it coz again I thought it was a) a touch boring and b) I looked fat.

Cos You Like It

I found myself in Cos one Saturday for a bit of a try-on, as you do. For the fashion-blogger, an Instagram of you in the Cos changing-room is an absolute rite-of-passage. Again, I spent forever in there, sitting down, standing-up, flinging my hair hither and thither, all to no avail. I literally cannot do good selfies and I should probably give up.

Heart Eyes, As Per

I bought these Adidas Racer Lites primarily because I fancied the bloke who served me. He was mixed-race, covered in tattoos and didn't seem utterly repulsed when he asked me what I was doing that evening and I said I was going to see 1D at the O2. Even if he was pretending, props to him for that. I actually really love these sneaks but they are deffo a 'summer trainer' (being all fabriquey and perforated as they are), and they actually went in the sale on at least half a dozen websites the week after I purchased. Gun Emoji. Anyroad. I took a couple of frames of them for IG, and one flatlay worked quite well so I went with that. (It didn't bomb, just so you have full disclosure). This pic was a close runner-up though. And if anyone has any clue who the hot Brummie bloke is who works at Size on Carnaby Street let me know :)

Marshalling The Arts

Another day, another judo pant. I just couldn't resist 'em. As per my last foray into ninja trews these ones also don't sit particularly straight or flatter quite as they might. Not sure if that's inherent, or more to do with me being a fat little sausage person. Anyroad. I've just gone for a standard grey jumper here to partner up with them, but come warmer temps something a teeny bit more delicate might work well. Are you feeling the whole tie-waisted thing? Lemmie know xx

Pants- Zara//Knit- Zara

Beanie- Accessorize//Sunnies- Other Stories//Sneaks- Adidas

Chanel Friday

When I use my Boots points I like to treat myself. And treat myself I did with these new little Chanel goodies :) All three new season nail colours are floating my boat but I went for the shade Orage which is a deep dark inky bluey grey. I also bought a Rouge Coco Shine in the shade Intime, which is a super soft sheer pink. I am tres contente. Catch you soon xx

Nail Polish & Lipstick- Chanel//Sunnies- And Other Stories//Rings- Topshop

Head To Toe

Ok, so, confession time. My credit card got stopped last week. Ooops. But let's not worry about that right now. Let's just gaze with greedy eyes at my latest little purchases. First up- the heels. Gotta say, they actually looks loads better on. Promise :) And thinking about it, I could've done with the hardware being in silver not gold. But I actually got 25% off and they are insanely comfy. (Bugger, just seen these. Prefer 'em. Gah!). Second up, this striped tank. Personally, I don't mind a low arm-hole, and I will happily pair this with culottes and bermudas all Summer long. Finally, these sunnies. They're a bit more than I'd normally spend (hence the card stoppage), but I reallllly love 'em. So that's alright then. What have you been haulin' recently? Lemmie know! xx

Mr and Mrs Smith

So, finally, a couple of weeks back I managed to find some Stan Smiths in a Size 5. Let's have a partay! I've been wearing them to death (obvs), but as is the way with me, I've now got my eye on some Air Force 1s. Can I possibly justify having three pairs of white sneaks? (Bank Manager: Hell To The No). I also recently picked up this little Breton dress in Zara. Talk about easy peasy breezy Summer wear. Heaven innit :) I couldn't resist these sunnies in And Other Stories either. That place just blows my mind in so many ways. 

(Cheaper than Topshop sunnies too. Just sayin'). What new season purchases have you been making recently? Lemmie know :) xx

Sneaks- Stan Smiths//Dress- Zara//Sunnies- And Other Stories

Hard Habit To Break

So.....it's warmed up.....the weather is lookin' mighty fine....and I'm still wearing a beanie. Ooops. Can't help it. I feel kinda naked without the bastard thing on me heed. SozNotSoz. However....half-way through this shoot I thought I better dip my toe into beanieless waters- and I swapped out my perma-knitted-headwear for- a fedora. I know, hardly ground-breaking. But, I'mma go in babysteps:) Honestly, if I didn't hate my dumb-ass hair so much I wouldn't bother. Anyroad, I must just quickly give severe, intense and majeur props to these jeans. They are ridick and phenom, in the sense of, they are probably the best jeans I've ever owned. There I was wandering round H&M, like a Wordsworthian cloud, telling myself 'Don't buy any jeans, don't buy any jeans', but being the sort of person who doesn't like to be told what to do (even by myself- go figure)- I bought some jeans. And, I love them. So that's fine then. And these slip-ons are insanely comfy, and I know every blogger had got 'em, but they are too good not to purchase. Both of these two together came to summink like £33 (with the Glamour discount card thingy). JD. (That's job done btw, nothing to do with a certain sports shop, or indeed, Jermaine Defoe). Catch you soon dolls xx

PS New bag alert, get yours here annnnd new necklace alert get yours  here

PPS I've finally joined Facebizzle...better late than never :) If you're on there...hit me up!

Jumper- H&M//Jeans- H&M

Skaters- H&M//Bag- And Other Stories

Beanie- Topshop/Fedora- River Island

Sunnies- ASOS//Necklace- Links Of London