Introducing: The Happy Ten
/
Introducing The Happy Ten!
What is The Happy Ten?
Introducing a brand new blog feature - The Happy Ten. Quite simply, The Happy Ten will include ten (or so) things that have made me happy this week! I should add that there may not always be ten things, in which case its name will change to The Happy One, Two, Three… you get the picture.
As you would expect, I’ll mostly be sticking to items of clothing and accessories I’ve spotted but I’ll also be adding the occasional skincare product, makeup, film, TV programme, podcast, event - whatever has made me heart skip a beat.
This first one is a doozy and we’ll start with some gold boots. I literally cannot walk past a pair of gold boots without drooling. Strangely I don’t own any! I once bought some from Topshop and all the gold peeled off after one wear. I was terribly sad and the staff at Topshop actually made me cry with frustration, as they insisted this was normal wear and tear and not a fault. Put me off Topshop for a long time, but I have ventured back in since obviously. Not into the branch in question though, I’ll be avoiding that one! Nice one Bromley Topshop!
So without further ado, here are my top ten things that made me happy this week, all with links. I hope that you find this inspiring and please let me know if you see anything you think I’d like. There is quite a remarkable lack of yellow items in this first list, I will have to rectify that next time!
Be still, my beating heart. These Zara boots have got my name written all over them and yet not my lifestyle. So it’s hello and goodbye and thanks for the memories for you. But aren’t they amazing? If you can wear 3.7” heels (yes I checked), then these might be for you. Gold is better for warm skintones but honestly these are a complete dramatic personality dream and the rules would probably be broken for them.
A slightly more practical choice, this faux leather midi skirt from Monsoon is beautiful quality in real life. This shape would suit X and A shapes best, but any shape other than an O could give it a try. I would probably class this is as an edgy work skirt, but it could be equally dressed down for the weekend - there are no rules anymore. It’s technically a cool green, and would be great with blues, lilacs and of course, neutrals. Knee boots or ankle boots would both work, or some Dad trainers for a more casual look. Be careful with red that it doesn’t look too Christmassy (would be perfect for Christmas Day though)!
I haven’t seen this coat in real life, as I don’t live near an Asda. But if the photos are anything to go by, it’s a great way to dip your toe into the bright coat thing. Outerwear is so important as we enter Winter and what better to cheer up a dreary British morning than a brightly coloured coat. Colour lifts your mood! You’ll stand out and get compliments, what more could you ask for? This coat is particularly great for H shapes.
I spotted this in H&M this week and I surprised myself as I really liked it - I’m not a big fan of pearls or embellishments but this one was subtle enough for my taste. Detail on a jumper like this is great, as it acts as an accessory! Colour-wise it would be perfect for anyone in the Intriguing palette, which is next door to the Spicy palette I’m in. So it’s a little too soft and muted for my palette, but I would still wear it.
There’s nothing completely outstanding about this picture, but I did really like the styling and the colours. Mainly because I have a red jumper and a red coat and it inspired me to wear them together.
I’m no skincare expert at all, but this was recommended to me and then I happened to spot it in Superdrug. I have been using it as a night cream most nights, and my skin definitely feels more hydrated and has a smoother texture than before. I’ve made a couple of other changes too as I had ‘hormonal’ spots for over a month and realised it was probably one product in particular causing the issue. I’ve also been bingeing on Caroline Hirons blog (go and check her out if you are clueless about skincare like me)!
As the caption says, I once said I’d never wear lilac - my Grandma Phillips loved lilac and so I saw it as a Grandmotherly shade. This is a different ballgame though! I saw it on a fellow stylist and I love it - only available in limited sizes now but &Other Stories have some amazing knitwear if your budget allows, so worth having a look if you want some investment pieces.
This was a revelation - I own one black bag I bought from Primark for a wedding and that’s it. I haven’t owned a black bag since Trinny & Susannah said that a brown bag would go better with everything. But there was a matt softness to the black in this bag and this quilted style is, as they say, bang on trend! So it would add a modern edge to any outfit. I can’t stop thinking about this bag if I’m honest. But I know that it wouldn’t really go with my wardrobe!
Ah, now here we are with something very sensible but modern and edgy -a good alternative to a leopard print boot. Heel height looks wearable, style looks comfortable and these would go with anything, particularly if you have a warm palette. If you have a cool palette, try a grey/black snakeskin. My Mum is terrified of snakes and she’s struggling with my snakeskin bag, so beware of scaring people!
And finally, a book! This isn’t a book about the sort of colour analysis I do, it’s about colour psychology and how to use colour in your life, whether that’s clothes, interiors or otherwise. It’s so beautifully written and designed and the pages are a lovely weight and they smell nice too. Is that a weird thing to say about a book?
OK, that’s all for this inaugural The Happy Ten. I’m fairly sure next week will return with The Happy Less Than Ten, but I’d love to know if you’ve enjoyed this!
