Today I'm wearing (wind beaten edition)

The sun came out, kind of, well at least you could justify wearing sunglasses but had to have a brolly as back up. Today's outfit du jour was taken on the cobbled streets of Cresswell Lane as I coveted large leather chairs & antique kitchen dressers before gorging on the most amazing afternoon tea at Cup. I am such an old lady give me an earl grey & a good fruit scone & I am a happy lady. Hope you all had a good weekend. 

(trench - vintage Burberry from Portobello market, dress - New Look sale *my buy of the week*, belt - vintage, bag - vintage, brogues - Topshop)

I am loving this double collared, polka dot dress that I snagged in the New Look sale last week. I am not normally a New Look fan, a bit too much neon & see through fabrics for my liking, but I was so excited to grab this dress at a bargain for £10. You can't see too clearly from these but it is navy with mint polka dot print & a cute double collar. Did anyone manage to get anything in the sales this week? xxx

Sunday loving

The sunshine made an unexpected appearance with me this weekend so it was time for a tidy out & re-organising (to the soundtrack of Miles Davies, jazz is good to organise to I think). I love that feeling when you feel things are a bit more in order & I always discover hidden beauties that I forgot I had! I was hopefully packing away boots and fur stoles in favour of sandals & sun hats (a girl can be optimistic).

 1. I went on a summery H&M haul this week. I loved the colour of this clutch, it is honey coloured leather with a pop of bright pink on the front & on the tassel - all bags should have tassels I think. I thought this would add some summer charm to some of my dresses. It was safely organised into my clutch bag shelf.

 2. Under the bed I found my summer reading, if only they went in during some sort of osmosis process while I was sleeping. They are now on my bedside cabinet & I am hoping this daily visual will make me get through them a bit quicker.

 3. Vintage skirts - I am terrible in that if I can't see my clothes, I tend to forget about them. I uncovered these patterned beauties on the floor of my wardrobe (it is like Narnia exists in there). I will be working these into my wardrobe again over the coming weeks with a plain tee or two.

4. Dusting off the sandals. These are my favourite battered & certainly pre-loved vintage sandals. I feel like a 1940s heroine running down the street in them, they have a very wearable stacked heel. I will be teaming these with tights & my big trench coat for the coming weeks but I am holding out hope of bare legs soon (mental note to self must book pedicure first).

 5. I re-organised my dressing table (or at least my half - the joys of living with a boy), I was able to organise all my jewellery into boxes & put all my perfumes together in this vintage tray that I spied in a charity shop. I like having all my little bits & bobs out, clutter & I are life-long friends & minimalism & I are destined not to get on so well.

Has anyone else been spring cleaning & organising? I know I am getting old because the upcoming bank holiday makes me want to list all the domestic jobs we need to do & even contemplate a trip to Ikea! xxx

Picture Perfect

It has reached the happy Friday times. I have had a busy week dodging the rain, looking at daffodils, eating & more eating (I fell off the healthy bandwagon & I am finding it impossible to get back on), fulfilling my bridesmaid duties by looking at pretty vintage dresses & working (lots).

1. I am all about the mint nails this week. It was my nod to Spring when the weather has been dismal outside.
2. Bridesmaid duties, it was tough going looking at all the pretty vintage dresses - kid in a vintage wedding candy shop.
3. I was lucky enough to go along to Martha's (my lunch place of choice) with my friend Jen, to sample their new summer menu, it was ace, especially the noodledoodle salad and lamb koftas.
4. Loving my huge vase of daffodils, they are just a friendly faced flower.
5. Wearing my hipster hat in the rain, I am never sure about it, especially when random people come up in the train station & mention my hat...but heck I am persevering.
6. My make-up haul this week, can't wait to play with it all. I have been coveting a Naked palette in forever.
7. Cultural outings, I love the design of the new Riverside Museum, the building is so interesting.
8. First outing of the year for my Chloe satchel, Spring must be here, right?

Come check out my daily shenanigans on Instagram @taffetarambles

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend, I am picturing a lot of cake outings in mine xxx

Wednesday Wants

It has reached the stage in the month when no non-essential purchases can be made & eating the food already in the cupboards is the only option (I really should be better at this budgeting nonsense by now, I am a grown up after all) but anyways it doesn't mean I can't look, swoon & covet. These are my picks:

Zara blazer - would love a bright blazer for Spring. £69.99

Cos - skinny jean in minty goodness - 69euros

How comfy does this Monki dress look? I am loving the Scandinavian feel of this dress - 35euros

Topshop 'Mel' brogues - I love these shoes & sob they don't have them in my size or I would have broken the plastic out - £32

Asos Kimono in floral print - I love, love, love this for adding some spring colours to my wardrobe - £40

Daisysteet 'Sammy' espadrille platform - love this for a nod to summer coming - £30

What is everyone else praying for payday for? xxx

Today I'm Wearing

Happy Monday, I hope everyone had a lovely weekend & is all set for a brand new week. I am half ready, the other half of me would rather still be drinking French Martinis & looking forward to a long lie. I had a jolly weekend, cocktails with the chums on Friday night, day of fun with the in-laws on Saturday and I hit a wedding show on Sunday in my official role as bridesmaid (so many sequins, shiny silks & perma-tanned ladies).

My outfit post is of me visiting the Riverside Museum on Saturday afternoon (I was mostly in it for the food afterwards but it was a fun packed afternoon, I got to play on trains, trams & buses & look at lots of amazing 50s cocktail dresses.) My post today does make me wish it was time for bare legs, alas I am still sporting the 100 denier, any day now I am sure! Today I'm wearing:

(skirt - vintage, jumper - Whistles, belt - vintage, leather jacket - vintage, shoes - Topshop, bag - Mulberry Tillie, scarf - Zara)

Getting summer ready

I love that feeling you have when you come back from your holidays that you can take on the world - I am trying to hold onto it. Maybe this is just me, but I always feel like I need a beauty overhaul when I get home after being in the sun & slathered in suntan lotion. I have a pretty set beauty regime & don't ever spend too much time buffing & beautifying, so I had to put in some extra work, it also feels like the perfect time to change up for summer. So I have invested in a new body brush, been breaking out the intensive moisturiser, investigated cuticle care & sought hair salvation.

My friend Michelle (who knows everything beauty as she is a bride to be) recommended I try Berber Oils for my hair. Mr Taffeta Ramblings was out last night so I started the transformation with some Gossip Girl on in the background (guilty pleasure). Using the Osmo Berber Oils seemed like a little bit of luxury in my bathroom, I tried the shampoo & oil hair treatment. I normally condition everytime I wash my hair & I am always cautious of my hair being too weighed down by other treatments but it felt nice & light and most importantly for my sun bleached hair it seemed really moisturising. So this morning I feel all swishy and shiny, like there should be a poppy soundtrack as I move along the pavement. I am going to try the intensive mask next week in my attempt at hair rescue. Since they come in a cute travel size, I might just be organised & take them with me next time.

I have also been looking for some face masks & eye creams to try, does anyone have any recommendations? I am a Liz Earle fanatic & use their eye cream before bed, but in an effort to try & look less puffy & fight off the emerging wrinkles I am thinking I should maybe look into a day eye cream & a more heavy duty night one.

I have also been trying more colour in a bid to brighten up for summer. I normally favour quite a neutral palette (with the exception of a generous helping of Nars 'Orgasm' blush) with a focus on a healthy complexion. I am loving Mac's 'So Chaud' lipstick, I am thinking of investigating in their 'Costa Chic' coral colour this weekend. I have also been loving splashes of colours on my nails, my favourite this week is 

These are my summer essentials so far in my beauty mission:

ps. Come say hi on Instagram - find me at 'taffetarambles' xxx

Holiday highlights

It is definitely back to reality with a bump this week (the hailstones yesterday were just a lovely added bonus!) I am trying desperately to hold onto that holiday high feeling that you always come home with and I don't just mean the increase in freckles. I had a great couple of weeks worrying about nothing in particular, drinking at lunchtimes and exploring new places, oh & did I mention the food - pasta nearly everyday did nothing for my Blake Lively beach body aims! These are some of my holiday highlights:

J'adore Claudie Pierlot

Spending the afternoon last week scouring the rails of Galleries Lafayette, I fell in love with the retro, playful designs of Claudie Pierlot. Positioned besides the best in French contemporary fashion, Sandro and Maje, I had never heard of the brand before. In a 'I've fallen head over heels for a dress moment but they don't have it in my size', I came straight home & started looking into the brand.

I love the print mixing, playful polka dots & stripes & the postcard print is my favourite (up above). The only UK stockist I could find was a few pieces in Urban Outfitters. I ordered the postcard print in the playsuit (it seemed like fate since Urban Outfitters had their 20% off day last week). Can't wait to receive it & carry on my French aspirations on the mean streets of Blighty. xxx

Today I am wearing...

I hope everyone is having a lovely week, I am still sunning myself & making the most of the proximity to the patisserie (fat seat belt home anyone?) I have been reading stacks of books that I never otherwise get around to, drinking at lunch time (just like the French) & day tripping all over the place. The weather has been a bit up & down but there is nothing like a cafe stop to dodge the passing clouds. On a sightseeing day in Cannes this is what I wore:

(Blazer - Topshop, top - Marni for h&m, shorts - vintage, bag - Marc Jacobs, sunglasses - vintage)

(Cannes was a wonderous place, filled with winding streets in the old town, huge boats in the port & cafe culture on every pavement. Oh and did I mention the shops... Miu Miu, Chanel and Prada within 100 yards of each other, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and Dior, oh my. After pawing my way around everything shiny & luxurious, the boy led me to Galleries Lafayette, here I could at least feel that I could touch items & there was no security guard to watch & see whether I five finger discounted this season's must have Chanel tote. So alas until the day I can buy without looking at the price ticket I will be simply day tripping to Cannes & dreaming on the train home of that Miu Miu clutch & Hermes silk scarf.) xxx

En vacance

Hope you had a good weekend. I am having a lovely time in the sunshine, reading books, drinking kir & eating more fromage than can possibly be good for you. I really do think that the French just have a nice way of life, with food & fashion being high up on the priority list. Some snap shots from my week so far:

What did everyone else get up to over the weekend? xxx

Today I am wearing...

I have fled the snow filled skies of home & headed off for a much needed holiday in the South of France. I plan on doing no more than deciding what book to read or what restaurant to eat dinner in, the taxing things in life. I hope everyone is getting ready for the Easter bunny & eating their body weight in chocolate.

Today I am enjoying a day out looking in art galleries & museums with a long lunch planned in the sunshine. Happy Friday xxx

(cardigan - Topshop, top - Urban Outfitters, shorts - Vintage Levis, bag - Marc Jacobs, scarf- Spitalfields Market) 

Wednesday smiles

Sometimes you just need something to get you in the mood for the rest of the week. This week I am loving that everything is coming into full bloom, I am wearing dotty tights instead of 100 denier black numbers, my nails are a bright pastel pink colour & I have been skipping about in my ballet slippers rather than my ankle boots. What is making you smile this week?

Daisy filled mason jars - source

Vintage tumblers from etsy - source

Topshop nail varnish - source

Le Cafe mug from etsy - source

Marc Jacobs 'Katie' bracelet - source

Calligraphy perfection - source