ShopStyle Festival Outfit Challenge.

So yesterday, a lovely little email popped up on my inbox from the guys at iCrossing telling me about the ShopStyle competition. Basically, to get your hands on a cool £1,000 all you have to do is design a festival outfit for less than £200!

Here is my attempt.

Dungarees - River Island | Sunglasses - Urban Outfitters | Top - Miss Selfridge | Raincoat - Topshop | Bag - Topshop | Wellies - Joules

What do you think? I love it. I wanted to use the dungarees as the talking point because of their ombre styling so I kept the top underneath a plain grey. The wellies, bright and colourful - perfect for running around muddied fields but still looking fabulous. Thrown on for accessories is some rounded sunglasses and a safari patterned rucksack. I chose a rucksack because it's easy enough to swing it over your shoulder and has enough space for all necessities come rain or shine. And just incase there is rain, my favourite part of the outfit is the clear raincoat - there is nothing I hate more than wearing a fabulous outfit for it to be covered by a big, stuffy coat. Alas, you needn't worry about that any more. Put this over your outfit to keep dry and let everyone see how fashionable you are underneath!

To enter the competition, you better be quick though as it finished on Friday 21st June.

But all you need to do it:

- Create your own outfit and post it on your blog. Make sure it costs no more than £200!

- Email it to shopping challenger@popsugar.com

- Comment on Natasha's post letting her know you have entered

What To Wear...On The Beach

It's almost here, holidays are coming! Nearly time to put on that bikini and walk along the golden sands of some exotic country. Or, maybe just along your local beach dodgy those typical British grey clouds?

Either way, beachwear.

What do you wear? I've gone for something cool and casual - obviously, it's the beach not a fashion show. But looking good is important, as always.

Cover Up - Topshop | Bikini - Miss Selfridge | Sunglasses - River Island | Sandals - New Look | Bag - Accessorize

The main theme is white, pulled together with a lovely bluebell coloured lacy playsuit. Perfect for covering up but keeping cool at the same time. And, it's see through so you can see the bikini underneath - in this case, a snow leopard printed one. How cool is it? It's got the cheeky face on the top and on the bum, piercing eyes and plenty of detail. 

To keep the rest of the outfit subtle I went for the standard gold and tortoise aviators, paired with leather plaited sandals and a big white bag that's perfect for throwing everything you may need in.

Don't forget the suncream! The bag ever has an 'inner bag' with a secure drawstring. Perfect - now you don't have to worry about anyone's unwanted hands having a dip into your bag!

To the beach!

We Meet Again, Hello.

Here I am again!

I've moved back home for the Summer now after a hectic couple of weeks at uni, deadlines were met and all goodbyes were said. But not for long, I'm off to Manchester at the weekend to celebrate the 21st birthday of one of my girls.

The question raised is, what do I wear?!

The day will be spent sipping (who sips these days? knocking back!) many cocktails, wine, champagne and probably a little bit of vodka in there somewhere.

Excited doesn't even cover it. I've never been to Manchester before but I can assure you Revolution is on my list. I think an aim to visit as many Revs as possible is a challenge I am willing to accept. Currently on my Revs bucket list is Sunderland and Cambridge. Maybe by the end of the year there will be a couple more on there? Mission begins.

So, Manchester. What on earth do I wear? Smart, but casual, but not too casual is the look I'm wanting to go for. Oh, and hopefully something with a bit of colour as I'm hoping for the sun to shine.

Topshop - Topshop - Internacionale - River Island

I absolutely love the colour coral, orange what ever it's called - I love it! So the lace dress is definitely a winner. The mesh panelled dress is from Internacionale, not a place I would think of looking for a night out dress but I've not seen anything like this before. Long sleeved though, will it be too hot for a night out? The same goes for the fluorescent pink dress from Topshop. Look at the mini thigh slit though! And it has a cut out in the back. I love cut out pieces! The graphic dress is lovely too, probably only for the daring. At first I wasn't sure if that orangey circle was on the dress or a mark on the picture - it's meant to be there though. Dressing like some sort of board game could be on the cards. 

What Zoe Did #3

Another week, another update. Not much to say this week because unfortunately I've been holed up writing essays like there's no tomorrow.

Here is a quick one though.

me and Steph | 90s night: crimped hair and Take That tshirt in full force | toffee popcorn

revolution platter | yet another night out, essay breaks | party chicks

first football match ever | me and 'Paolo Di Canio' | free ride home in a shopping trolley

Hello May, Where Did You Come From?

Can anyone else believe that it's May already?! This time next month we will be half way through the year, pretty frightening don't you think? Where has the time gone? It feels like only a matter of weeks ago I was toasting a vodka to the new year and here we are, five months into it.

What else does May mean? Yep, end of the uni year. Wow, I'm almost a second year which is also pretty frightening. But along with the end of the year, comes plenty of essays and for those unfortunate few, exams. Oh how lucky us journalists are. So while I'm stacked to my eyeballs with essays to write and a portfolio of my year to put together I can't help but think how quickly the past nine months have gone. 

On one hand, I can't remember not being a uni student, but on the other hand, it feels like only a week or so since I first nervously stepped through those big doors with 'University of Sunderland' written above. Scary. When it all comes down to it, it feels like this year has flown over, but when I think of all the friends I've made, I feel like I've known them forever.

Although I've only known them for nine months, and some even less than than, I'd say they were on the same level as those friends from back home who I've known for a good 10 years. Soppy Zo. 

This is merely just me reflecting on the past year, how much things have changed and how fast it's all gone by. And also, I probably am only writing this to procrastinate from this essay. Once again, hoping to stare at the page and the words to write themselves. But I'm using the excuse of 'I haven't blogged for five days' as a reason to close that word document for a little while.

Here's to another two years at uni, pass the wine.

The Perfect Match

Popping up all over seems to be these matching outfits, top and bottom with the same pattern. What do you think? I'm currently on the fence, some I love, some I hate. But then again, I'm fussy with patterns. After trawling websites and shops I've managed to find only three than I actually like. Not persuading me with this trend much, but here it goes. At least I've found some.

Topshop - River Island - Topshop

My favourites are the two skirted pieces, for different occasions. I love the pattern of the first set, and I love the style of the third set. The middle piece is a bit more 'in your face' and definitely only for those brave ones out there. Alone, I love them but together.. I'm not sure I can see it. Maybe it's the trousers, although I love them and have recently bought myself a pair of patterned trousers, I'm still finding it difficult to style them up. Help, someone, please.

The more I look at them, the more easily I'm tempted. I think I need a cute little skirt and top suit to draw me in. Yep, just persuaded myself - going to get one. I'll report back in due course.

What do you think of these 'co-ords'? Perfect match or forever alone?