Why don't clothes fit me?

Picture the scene. You walk into a highstreet store and pick up a pair of your size jeans, skinny, dark blue with rose gold stitching on the pockets. But you can't just pay for them and leave. You have to try them on. You have to know they fit. So you walk into the changing room, confident in your selection. You close the curtain. Old jeans off. New jeans on.

But wait. You can't get them over your thigh. You put your foot through other leg in the hope something has just gone a little bit wrong and you only need the nifty little wiggle and your perfect jeans will fit. You wiggle. You shake. You dance fingers in the belt hooks for the next five minutes until you stare at your horrible fat ugly wobbly self in the downlit mirror, a shadow cast on all your imperfections, wishing you could chops off your flub just to get these jeans to fit. 

But deep down in your heart you know these jeans are never going to fit. No matter what you do, you can't buy these jeans in your size because your size isn't your size in this shop. You're another size. A bigger size. You don't understand. I had on a size 12 pair of jeans and they fit just fine. I've already bought a dress today in a size 12. So why don't these jeans fit?! You ask yourself.

You give up and with deep regret hand them back to the assistant. And you leave. 

You go into the next shop. 

Jeans. Size 12. Skinny. Light blue with ripped detail. You pick them up and head straight for the changing room. You hope and pray that these will be the perfect jeans. Old jeans off. New jeans on. You pull your left leg through. Then the right. They slide on with ease. Up over your thighs and smoothly over your bum. You do up the buckle and stare at yourself in the mirror. 

They sag at the knees. Your crotch hangs half way down your thighs. You have a gape at the back big enough to fit another person. You stare at yourself. Why don't they fit? They're the same size as the jeans before. I don't understand. 

You take off the baggy jeans. Put old jeans on. Leave the shop. And go home. 

Topshop November Wishlist

It's the final Monday of the month can you even believe it? October seems to have gone by in a flash. Next thing we know it'll be January and we'll all be stewing in our post Christmas blues. 

This month I simply cannot get enough of Topshop. They're winter collection is absolutely beautiful with a touch of pastel and an obvious hark back to the 90's. All we need now is a bit of a Spice Girls Christmas medley. 

You might have guessed by now that I love a bit of ostentacious jewellery and I desperately need to add to my collection. And if I don't get my hands on that headband I just don't know what I might do. 

I love everything about winter, even the darker nights and sludge of the leaves mulched and trampled into the ground. Winter means sparkly dresses for surprise Christmas parties, ear muffs your grandma gave you 7 years ago that you still insist fit on your head even though you know they don't and garish Christmas jumpers that make you feel amazing but if not a little bit strange at the same time. 

Jacket 

Scarf

Shoes 

Jumper 

Necklace 

Scrunchie 

Headband

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored.

11 fashion problems

1) Is it raining? What if it's that sticky rain that makes your hair frizzy so I'll need a hood. But my hood coat isn't warm enough. Shall I wear a jumper underneath? But I can't have massive jumper because that makes my arms look fat.

2) Why do all my pairs of tights have a hole in the toe? I am fairly confident I haven't turned into big foot over night.

3) Zara is so expensive yet beautiful. How can I resist that cashmere fairisle scarf with the tassel trim?

4) Because 30 hand bags is clearly not enough.

5) How hot is it today? Can I risk no cardigan? What If I'm out for longer than I expect. Better pack a cardigan in my handbag just in case. But make it a small light one so that I don't look like i've packed for a weekend away.

6) White t-shirts and fake tan.

7) How come boys get deep pockets and girls have to deal with a half pocket that doesn't even fit your phone in?! Oh the rage.

8) Maybe it's all a ruse to get us to buy more handbags.

9) Does this headband make me look like a 5 year old or am I channelling my inner Blair Waldorf?

10) Slippers. Why aren't these an acceptable form of outdoor footwear? It's the 21st century.

11) A kimono has no purpose. Sheer fabric pretending to be a jacket.




Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored.

I have a passion for Pinterest.

I love Pinterest as much as the next person, maybe a little bit more. It is the perfect place for scrolling through endless pictures of your dream home, beautiful photos of fashionable women and food that wouldn't look out of place in an m&s advert. But with Pinterest comes a great sense of responsibility... A Pinterest board.

Now I've been using Pinterest for about three years and in that time I have never created a board. Crazy right?! How is this even possible you might ask? Well quite simply, I didn't know how to do it. I was worried I'd end up with multiple different photos all in one place like the iPhone camera roll or something would go wrong and I'd never be able find that photo of the baby sitting in a pumpkin ever again. Thinking back now, it is quite literally ridiculous. 

But on one fateful night last week when I was scanning through all the beautiful photos of autumn Pinterest had to offer I felt it was time to conquer my fear. 

I've now created 4 boards... So far and I'm adding to them every day! I feel like I've just discovered something amazing and new but really everyone's been using it for years and wondering who's the crazy girl with the million likes and no boards. Well look who's back in the game.

If you want to see what I'm up to just search for brettlesblog and a wonderland of autumn and Christmas will await you. 

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored. 

Taking a break!

You might have noticed by this point to blog post isn't about something wonderful I've bought or some opinion I've had this week but rather I'm taking a mini holiday away from blogging. But only for a week!

I'm going away next weekend to visit my friend in Oxford and thought I might as well take a little break and have some real me time (and catch up on some Uni work oops).

Never fear, I've be back on Monday the 20th! 

OOTD #FashionFriday

Turns out I haven't done an OOTD in a while, despite the fact that I do indeed wear clothes everyday! Today finally felt like October. The wind had a slight chill, the leaves are turning to mulch on the ground and there was a good chance of rain - not quite the pinterest ideal we all had in mind. 

This morning I had to go to the bank. Very boring but going outside meant layers. I haven't worn this skater skirt since about December last year and I thought it was time to crack this baby out again. And then I went outside and remembered why I stopped wearing said skirt. #flashing 

Boots, Matalan;  Tights, Primark; Shirt, Primark; Jumper, Bershka. I also wore a leather jacket from Forever 21 that I bought about four years ago. 

     

After said flashing incident I decided that I wanted to maintain my dignity during my trip to Ikea so I opted for this little number. 

Boots, Matalan; Tights, Primark; Dress, Primark, Coat, Sheinside, Bag, LaModa. 

On a side note I am literally so in love with this coat. I was hunting down a pink cashmere style coat at an affordable price and I picked up this one from sheinside for just $30! Bargain. 

I'm now sat in my dressing gown as I write this post. A little less glamorous but a whole lot more cosy.

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored. 

Home Style: Country Bathroom

Home Style is back! Did you miss it? 

When we think of our ideal bathroom we think somewhere clean, efficient and suitable for purpose. But bathrooms don;t have to be all sensible and purpose built, it's still as much a room like any other in your house and often, a space we forget about it. 

(1,2,3,4)

I love the country bathroom look because I think it's simple and stylish with a bit of history thrown in. Why not take a round top bath or a wooden bench and mi it with the modern day power shower with exfoliating jets?

I especially love the jug. I think it screams country chic and would look amazing with some baby's breath on the window sil. Also, why not use the milk bottle jug as a toothbrush holder? 

1) Cabinet
2) Milk Bottle
3) Perfume bottle
4) Mirror
5) Glass container
6) Jug
7) Bath mat
8) Laundry bag
9) Wall art



Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored.

New glasses!

I've been wearing glasses since I was 4 years old and you'd think that by now, after 16 years of eye tests, glasses and contact lenses, I'd be less excited about having new glasses. But no. I still get as excited as I did when I was four and I don't even wear them that much any more. 

These are the Specsavers Farrow frame. A black/brown cat eye frame that costs £65. Now let me tell you a story. 

I went into Specsavers completely out of the blue to choose some sunglasses with my sister, who is as equally blind as myself. On this fateful day Specsavers were offering a free pair of glasses with contact lenses. Yes! 

I had to pay £70 for the glasses overall because I'm so blind that I have to have the lenses thinned down to even be able to wear said glasses. 

BUT WAIT. Unfortunately Specsavers lost my pair of glasses in the post. Very sad. So I had to have another pair of glasses ordered as a replacement. BUT WAIT AGAIN. When I went to pick up my new pair of glasses, both pairs showed up. Brilliant. 

Effectively I got a free pair of glasses. Thanks Specsavers. You always have my back. 

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored by Specsavers. But I am a regular customer. 

One Dress Five Ways

Do you ever get stuck in a rut with your outfits and after a while of owning one piece you can't see past wearing it with only one jacket, or scarf, or a skirt and top combo. Gok Wan famously introduced the capsule wardrobe in his programmes and inspired women not to shop for more but to shop for interchangeable looks and interchangeable styles. Something which we all took on board but failed to actually accomplish. Oh Gok we love you!

So I thought why not bring you the 'One Dress Five Ways' post to see if I can inspire you to look at that boring grey dress or flowery pair of trousers in a whole new way. Maybe pair it with that funky jacket you've had in your wardrobe for the past 5 years. Don't lie, we all have one.

I've chosen Topshop's scallop orange dress as my feature piece for this post. Just because 1) I love scallop and 2) orange reminds me of Halloween.

Going out for dinner doesn't just mean sitting down and eating some food. There's the whole walking to the restaurant and walking to the car when your finished and obviously selfies with your partner and bestfriends. I thought I'd go for a little gold chunky necklace to match the gold buckle on the boot. The leather jacket also gives this dress a little bit of edge. 

Leather jacket 

Boots

Tights

Necklace

This dress isn't typically what I would wear for a night out. I love a crop top and pencil skirt combo but I think this dress would make for a nice sophisticated night out - maybe cocktails with the girls. 

Shoes 

Necklace 

Bag 

Who says you can't wear bright with more bright? I think I might be in love with this coat. It's so easy and cool. And let's face it, no one wants to go shopping and have to deal with tights, scarfs, coats, bags, jewellery flying all over the place when you just want to try on one t-shirt.

Converse

Jacket 

Bag

For an office job you want to look good but also be comfortable. Which is why I think this dress is perfect. It's soft but sophisticated enough that you wouldn't look completely out of place in an important meeting. Paried with a monochrome jacket  and you're set to impress. 

Jacket 

Shoes

Necklace

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored.