FIVE WORK OUT TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

The Bleep Test has a lot to answer for. Ask any millennial with an ineptitude for sport and they’ll probably cite it as the reason they skipped PE class for the next decade.  As a teen I always thought exercise wasn’t for me – it was something ‘other people did’. Then, in my early twenties, I moved to London and discovered I had unintentionally upped sticks to the sportiest area of the city - you can’t move for joggers and protein shakes in Clapham. And so the exercise bug infected me (albeit very slowly), but not without it’s teething problems. As a total novice, I was clueless about working out and made every mistake in the book (HI SPORTS INJURIES). So I thought I’d share the tips that I wish I’d had to guide me along the way: 

FIVE DATING MISTAKES I MADE IN 2016

My most read blog of 2016? August's dating post, by a mile. Post-publishing, several lovely things happened to me. I received a couple of job offers. I was sent some kind messages complimenting my writing (which meant the world, words have always been my passion). And - most encouraging of all - single acquaintances, some close, some distant, some male, some female, began to confide in me. When you're in a relationship, it's easy to forget that being single can be a lonely business, which is why opening the conversation, sharing advice, laughing at the disasters, are an important part of the process. 

I'm not sure where to begin when I review the 6 months of dating that followed my previous blog. It's been eventful, but rest assured my 'love life' (I'm using this term loosely) is as tragicomedy as ever. Dating in a small pool - (don't be deceived by square footage - London is an incestuous hotbed) delivers a plethora of comedic moments. In December alone I bumped into a grand total of three ghosts of my Tinder past - in the club, in the pub, at Sainsbury's self checkouts... if Dickens had been alive today it would have made a compelling narrative for Christmas Carol; The Sequel. 

And so to a new year and new chapter...although I already have a weird sense of dating deja vu - the characters are new, but the stories are the same. In an effort to impede groundhog day, I've put fingers to keyboard and typed up the dating mistakes I made in 2016 that I'm vowing not to repeat 2017. And if you're also single, hopefully you can learn from my mistakes, too! 

STYLE CLASSICS TO BUY IN THE JANUARY SALES

The sales are either a good place to buy two types of purchase - crazy trends for dirt cheap, or style classics that won't be reduced greatly but can be worn again and again.  With limited wardrobe space, the latter is definitely my priority, so I have put together an edit of some of my favourite staples to buy in the January sales. Leather, striped t-shirts, navy coats, blue shirts, jumper dresses, you can't go wrong when investing in wear-forever pieces: 

LEATHER & SUEDE:

FINE JEWELLERY: 

BRETON TOP:

NAVY COAT:

BLUE SHIRT:

DESIGNER BAG:

JUMPER DRESS:

LBD's:

WHY DYING MY HAIR RED WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I’VE DONE FOR MY CONFIDENCE

Four years ago, I made my most drastic image change to date, dying my hair a vivid hue of auburn red with the help of Headmasters (you can read the original post here to see the transformation in full). It was something I had wanted to do in forever, but hairdressers had always advised against, on the basis that reaching for the bleach could seriously damage my hair. 

Then, (to cut a long story short) my long-term boyfriend ended things, out of the blue - and like so many post-break up, I felt the need for a drastic image overhaul. It’s at this point that experts would probably advise against cultivating a new look, arguing it’s not possible to make balanced judgements when your life is in free fall.

My only regret? Not taking the plunge sooner.

HOW TO WEAR VANS OLD SKOOL TRAINERS

New to the fashion crowd, but a staple amongst skater boys, Vans Old Skool Shoes were the trainers at the feet of every fashion body at the SS17 shows. And I can see why. Having tried on a pair recently,  as a self-proclaimed sneaker freak, I can confirm they are truly a thing of beauty. The sole height is perfect - there's a slight platform (higher than a Converse pump,  but not lower than  a Superga platform), they're affordable, they're cool and there's a myriad of colours to choose from. The way to wear your Vans is with some unexpected pairings - think pretty silk dresses and you're on the right lines. Here's how I'd style my Vans Old Skool sneaks for work, weekend and play: 

WORK from top to bottom: Navy drop waist dress, Ganni. Chelsea crossbody bag, Loxley England. Petit Ella stud earrings, RUIFIER. Prada frames, Glasses123. White Old Skool Vans, Zalando. WEEKEND from top to bottom: Loxley star jumper, Baukjen. Highwaisted denim skirt, Topshop. 'Pristine' red leather bag, Manu Atelier. Lips in Don't Cry For Me, Topshop. Black Old Skool Vans, Zalando. PLAY from top to bottom: Gemma printed dress, Rixo London. Black & navy glitter Milner crossbody bag, Sophie Hulme. Star hoop earrings, Tada and Toy. Nails in Rage, Topshop. Rose gold Old Skool Vans, ASOS. 

MORE TO LOVE:

SEXY? NO, NO, NO…?

I have been meaning to write a blog post about ‘dressing sexy’. Yes – you read that right. 

Sexy isn’t a word I attach to myself, or the way I dress easily. It's also an adjective that makes me balk when used to describe any of the following – food, cars, interiors, PR strategies, Paul Hollywood…you get the idea. Having said that, something happened when I entered my mid twenties...

I'm wearing the Rosemere dress from Baukjen here. LFF readers can enjoy 20% off Baukjen using the code FASHIONFOLIE20 (valid until 29.11.15).   

5 WAYS TO WEAR A SHIRT THIS WINTER

Having developed a shirt-buying addiction in 2016, I now have a wardrobe stocked with all variations; crisp white cotton, soft blue chambray, the perfect ode to an 1980s oxford via Uniqlo...the list goes on. Now that winter is here, and the temperatures I'm dropping (I'm sipping a toffee nut latte from a Starbucks red cup as type) my shirts have been hanging forlornly in my wardrobe for a few weeks. So I decided to do gather some styling research to uncover a few styling tips and tricks to bring my shirts and blouses into the new season. Here's 5 shirt style stories to try this winter >