Styled by Helen: Tropical Girlgang Weekender

As the nights start to draw in and you're debating whether or not to put the heating on, we decided to pretend like summer wasn't coming to an end. The best way to do this? - have a full on tropical themed shoot with our girl gang ladies Miss Vicky Viola and Miss West End Girl.  It had been feeling like forever since our wee girl gang had hung out, so a sleepover at Vicky's new pad was the perfect remedy to that. And, being all together, we couldn't miss the opportunity for a fun photoshoot. Enlisting the help of the ever amazing Mint and Chillies we headed to the Royal Botanic Garden with as much colour as we could manage.

Jumpsuit | borrowed from Nicely Eclectic
Bag | Accesorize
Shoes | New Look
Sunglasses | Ebay
Necklace | Lucky Dip Club

It certainly pays off to have friends in vintage places. The lovely Pat of Nicely Eclectic kindly let me raid her summer stock for something suitable for our theme. When she handed me this crazy jumpsuit I have to admit I was slightly skeptical. The pattern screamed 90's bed sheet (in the best way) but I wasn't sure I could pull it off. When I tried it on though I was very pleasantly surprised. The top half fitted rather nicely and I loved the scalloped neckline detail. Matching it with some high, high heels made for a more flattering shape and I added just a few accessories to allow the print to do the talking.

While the other girls were piling on the fruit I decided to go for more of a tropical tourist look and accessorized my crazy pattern with my novelty camera bag. The only way I could've added to the comedy tourist look would've been to add a bum bag and some socks under my shoes, but maybe I'll save that for my next actual holiday. I did have a bit of a go with the fruit, DIYing a sparkly pineapple fascinator. This was a last minute attempt which resulted in me getting glue in my hair. In the end I didn't really like it with the rest of the outfit and ended up hiding it in my bag after a few shots. All that glue based trauma for nothing! 

A huge thanks goes to Mint and Chillies for the awesome photographs and just being great fun to hang out with. Also big thanks to Vicky for the awesome Girl Gang sleepover and to Lynsay for just being so darn colourful. You can check out there fabulously fruity posts here and here.

Styled by Kimberley: Tropical Girlgang Weekender

Lately we've been thinking that we haven't got together with our blogging girl gang in aaaages. So we set about rectifying that and created this shoot with Lynsay from Miss West End Girl and Vicky aka Miss Vicky Viola.. As four girls who love a quirky outfit with a sprinkle of humour and a touch of sass, we knew we could come up with a theme to suit us all. This time it wasn't a spooky photo shoot on the cards but a last chance at catching those colourful summer vibes; something we all give out in spades. This summer we all have a thing about anything fruity so we piled on the novelty pineapples, bananas and watermelons to create a Girl Gang fruit salad.
To capture the energy of the day we enlisted our fave daylight photographers to help us capture our tropical paradise- the wonderful Mint and Chillies. If you've been reading for a while you'll be familiar with Paulina's beautiful portraiture. She created our pastel themed profile pics amongst other beautiful shoots. It's great working with a photographer that you're comfortable to be in front of, and trust to produce phenomenal results. And I'm sure you'll agree she's worked her magic.

Now, not to give away the illusion but we in fact weren't in a tropical paradise, surrounded by giant rhubarb (say what?). We were actually exploring the amazing Royal Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh. I've only been here once before but it was brilliant to stroll around on a Sunday morning. I'm not really a nature kinda gal but who wouldn't be impressed by the exotic flora on show here? Plus, I felt like a tiny tropical borrower hiding among the giant leaves.

Top | Topshop
Dress (worn as skirt) | H&M
Shoes | Clarks
Flower Crown | Claire's
Bag | H&M

Could my outfit be any more summery- even my tshirt pineapples are wearing sunglasses! I dug it out after looking over one of last year's posts (how long was my hair?!) but I swapped the banana leaf skirt for this palm dress I wore to Blogtacular in June. Cute and casual. Obviously when looking for a flower crown I headed straight to the queen of headwear- Lynsay! She brought a whole stack with her, so it seemed rude not to. And what a beaut this peachy pink number is.
I've just realised that my shoes barely feature but they are sooo pretty. From my fave granny shop, Clarks, they're a nude mule shape with cut-out and peep toe. Yes, I'm in love. Unfortunately, my shoe crushes seem to override the part of my brain that remembers that my ankle is still weak from an injury and I can't actually wear them to walk any where. Taxi!

As is always they way when you combine blogging with really fun people, we had a blast creating these images and our awesome group shots, which we are sharing over on our Facebook page. We think you will agree that we would make the most adorable 90's girl band. We even managed to style out running from bees!

With huge thanks to Paulina and Stan of Mint and Chillies for making our Club Tropicana dreams come true. Helen's photos will be popping up on Wednesday. And be sure to check out Lynsay and Vicky's photos too. They're dreamy.
No plants were harmed in the making of these photos.

September Wishlist

1.) Leopard Faux Fur Coat | Mango
Bold earrings, fur jacket- Pat Butcher is a major force in my fashion decisions. I've seen this coat pop up in a few magazines and it catches my eye every time. The smaller spots and sleek finish to this jacket will make you look more chic that walkin' the streets. A total classic under £90!

2.) Embellished Spot Bag | ASOS
From small spots to giant ones, this Henry Holland-esque bag by ASOS makes polkadots a bit louder with iridescent sequin spots. This is a perfect day-to-night buy that'll amp up any outfit with ease.

3.) Be Bold Print | Rita Gomes for Howkapow
I like this playful print by Portuguese illustrator Rita Gomes, aka Wasted Rita. Cute, slightly sloppy typography against an adorable saying, it fits the bill for me for prints.

4.) Apple Playsuit | Dead Sleekit
Glasgow- based designer Iain Macdonald has taken his exquisite illustrations and produced a limited edition wearable clothing collection that looks way more luxe than it costs. I already own some of his earlier scarves and tshirts but these pieces have been calling to me since their creation. He has recently started stocking in Scottish stores (we hear whispers of Godiva Edinburgh) so I'm hoping i can try on very soon. Even if I don't suit the short shorts of this gorgeous playsuit, the classic pencil skirt of the green nest of sparrows co-ord is a near second favourite.

5.) Face Knit Sweater | Leah Goren
I can't resist ugly face prints. I love primary-school style illustrations- and they are deceptively difficult to get right. Leah Goren can't put a foot wrong when it comes to her cute prints and ceramics but this knitted twist is an cross-seasonal dream.



1.) Audrey II Sweat Dress | Clashist
Clashist certainly know how to do a fun pattern. I've been eyeing them up forever but when I saw this one it jumped straight to the top of my wishlist. The colours are fab, the print is full on and it references Little Shop of Horror. Print perfection!

2.) Summoning Hands Necklace | Sugar & Vice
It might not be October yet but I am already excited for Halloween. Luckily for me there are quite a few of my favourite brands getting in on the act and releasing spooky collections to help me get me prepare. Sugar & Vice know how to do a good creepy collection and this one is no exception. I especially like this hands necklace. Maybe I'll have to borrow Kimberley's Psychic outfit from last year to go with it.

3.) Creep Sweater | Brat & Suzie
This is another piece from a Halloween mini collection, though I think it would work all year round. I'm a big fan of a dripping font and this sweater looks super comfy and cosy. Great for dark evenings and a bit of trick or treating.

4.) PatsyAnimal Print Faux Leather Loafers | Golden Ponies
I always love seeing Golden Ponies latest offerings and the collection for A/W 15 is a super strong one. I was especially drawn to these beauties. The pinky snake print looks great with the gold heel and the wee tassel just finishes them off perfectly.

5.) The Observer Art Print | Natalie Foss
Always being on the look out for beautiful illustrations to adorn my walls, I hit the jackpot when I came across Natalie Foss on Instagram. The colours are stunning and there's a slightly creepy, otherworldly element to them that I love. This one even features an eye print. You know how much I love an eye motif.

Dundee Pop Up Market

Dundee is becoming a great place for a pop up. There seems to have been a wealth of markets, fairs and other exciting goings on over this last month. I for one have been thoroughly enjoying it. The start of the month saw a pop up market in the city square bursting with crafts, art, food and fashion. Set up by Pop Up Dundee this marks the start of a design led initiative to show off the cities creative community through pop up events across Dundee. Something I am very enthusiastic about.

Perfectly situated in city square, the place was buzzing with visitors. A bit of sunshine on the day helped to add to the atmosphere. There were a dozen covered stalls, selling everything from knitwear to healthy whole foods. My first port of call was the Pop Dundee space. Pop Dundee are another pop up crew who specialise in showing off the work of DJCAD students. There stall was full of colourful illustrations and with a new flat to decorate I was straight in there. I especially loved the work of Alice Carnegie. She takes inspiration from pop icons, movies and tv shows (aka some of my favourite things). I already have a set of postcards by her featuring David Bowie, cowboys, fruit and space. I also enjoy her colourful badges featuring a variety of awesome girls with excellent hair. You gotta love a colourful girl gang.




While the sun may have been shining, I was dreaming of winter thanks to the Mitchell & Black stand. An array of textured knitted scarves in berry shades and colour pops welcomed me in. All seriously soft and snuggly.  Plus their knitted bangles provided an accessories suitable for all year round.

Another of my favourite stalls was (of course) Dreamland. Designer Ruby Coyne is fast becoming the Dundee pop up queen. Rifling through the Dreamland vintage I got even more excited for winter thanks to a fine range of vintage knitwear. Mustard coloured zig zags, yes please! I refrained from embracing the cold just yet and instead treated myself to a Dreamland belt. After all that clothing excitement it was time to relax and grab some food. Luckily there was a fine selection on offer. After getting some tasty free samples of beer, pizza and salad from sister restaurants Italian Grill and Meat House we then feasted on some halloumi burgers and cocktails from the The Tinsmith. All enjoyed while chilling at a picnic table in the sun. Not a bad Saturday afternoon at all.



If you missed this event do not fear, there are plenty more Dundee events coming up to get excited about. Just check out this little lot:

• POPDUNDEE Pop Up Shop - BrewDog Dundee | 26th - 27th September
• Lou Lou's Dundee Vintage Fair - Caird Hall | 27th September
• Little White Desk Pop Up - Time Boutique | 3rd October
• Wasps Open Studio Weekend - Meadow Mill | 24th - 25th October

Story of a Pink Lady

Most people have a drastic hair change when they've made a big change in their life. I make a big hair change the moment I've cracked a hairstyle. I wake up one morning thinking "This is finally doing what it's supposed to do. What I need now is some half grown out layers/ patchy faded colour/ untamable bangs". The whole thing is ludicrous. I blame Pinterest for always enticing me into something new.
Since I've been busy cutting a new style (blunt with bangs), I thought I'd share my pink hair journey with you. It's only a matter of time before it's old news, and I'm desperately wishing it was back. Because I never learn. So here is a list of some hair dyes I've used.
FYI: This post isn't in any way sponsored, I'm just sharing my experiences. My natural hair is that sad mousy colour that was white blonde in childhood but has faded to a dirty blonde/light brown depending on how much sun I've had. I'm not a fan of home bleaching but I've listed the bases I've used: 1.) Bleach London Rose
This is the quickest way to do pastel and has been used by every blogger I know. Some of you may remember my first attempt at pastel way back when. I had highlights (done in a salon) but didn't pre-lighten my hair to even it out so the result was a kind of rose gold. I really enjoyed this more apricot colour that I finally achieved with it but good god it was a pain. My hair doesn't take colour very easily (probably because I don't use bleach) so I'd have to keep the lotion on for twice the recommended time, before rinsing with cold water. (This is definitely not recommended! Don't blame your allergic reactions on me.) I'd be lucky if it lasted one wash, followed by a week of random strands of pink. (but fear not, I've also mastered the art of colour removal, see below). The tip to make it 'last' is simply to not wash your hair. Hello Batiste, my old friend.

2.) Crazy Color Candyfloss
Next I attempted Crazy Color. I pre-lightened by hair with a standard chemist blonde permanent hair dye to even out my tones and give my hair a wee lift. I really enjoyed this but again it lasted 2-3 washes before it became patchy. It also left the overall tone of my blonde really brassy.

**Cut to a break of violet and grey which left my hair much more neutral for adding in pastels.**

3.) Schwartzkopf XXL Live
Yep, who knew that the secret to longer lasting pastel colour was those hideous Ultra Brights I used back in my student days for flashes and streaks, In writing this I've just realised Schwartzkopf helpfully have a video tutorial for this but at the time I did this look based on much googling, some beauty bloggers' variable tips and a bit of give-it-ago (my hair styling motto, clearly). I basically mixed up a very diluted formula of a blob of dye to a bowl of cheap white-coloured conditioner (so scientific) until I liked the colour. Bonus if it matched my favourite lip colour!
As my hair isn't prelightened to the extreme of Video Tutorial Girl I kept it on for 8 minutes. Except that one time that I started watching TV and forgot all about it for 25 minutes. Weirdly, the bright purpley pink was one of my best received hair colours but it drew too much attention and was too intense for my everyday life.
However, this has been my favourite way to dye my hair pastel the tube is resealable so lasts for ages and is good value for money. You can vary the strength (on purpose or by accident if you prefer) until you find your favourite shade. AND it lasts much longer and is less patchy than others I've tried, in my opinion.

4.) Stagazer
Saying that, I recently deviated into a peachier pink by way of old school favourite Stargazer that I'd bought a while ago on a whim and found lying around a drawer. The soft corally pink outcome was a dream but the bottle was tiny- barely covered my shoulder length hair- and it lasted 2 washes. Argh, why can nothing good ever last?! If Schwartzkopf could just make a warmer tone of their pink I'd be back on board for sure!

Who knew there could be so many pinks to try out. Now, what next?

With thanks to Miss Vicky Viola for the second last image and  Mint and Chillies for the final image- from our forthcoming Girlgang Weekender shoot. All other images Wardrobe Conversations.

Syled by Helen: Neon

After a rubbish week I came home to a surprise parcel. Inside I found this amazing satchel, sent especially to brighten up my day. It was from my lovely friend Ashley and it certainly did the job. I really do have the best friends. I'm not sure you could find anything brighter than this neon yellow Yoshi bag. I've nicknamed it my safety satchel as it sure makes me visible on the roads. To cheer myself up even more I decided to match it with my most colourful skirt. The best antidote to feeling blue is to add all the other colours too. I topped it all off with a panda tshirt and headed out in the sunshine for a fun filled family day.

Tshirt | Brat & Suzie
Skirt | Monki x Lynnie Zulu
Sandals | Topshop
Satchel | Yoshi

There was sunshine galore as we spent the afternoon having a leisurely lunch at the DCA and then checked out the Roman Singer exhibition. After that it was onto Broughty Ferry for ice cream from Visocchis. I had one scoop of apple and scoop of dragon fruit and it was delicious. After a rather windy walk along the front we were ready for home after a lovely afternoon. It was nice enjoying the sunshine and pretty flowers. None of them out brightened my new bag though.