GREY DOUBLE DENIM

Snapback - Raccon Brand
Grey Denim Shirt and Jeans - Primark
Biker Boots - New Look

Sorry it has been so long. I had been working very hard to make sure I could make Christmas pretty special, and it was. I've also been spending a lot of time with my niece, which has been the most special thing of all. She can pee, poop and vomit all over me, and I still think she is the cutest thing alive - that must be the definition of real love. She even gets bits of my pizza, my actual pizza...and you know how I feel about melted cheese.

Well fashion wise, I have been dressing down a lot. With no man to pretend I want to impress, with increasing laziness, it is so much more desirable to throw on jeans, as opposed to carefully planning out an outfit, and perhaps having to use the iron....the horror.

How was Christmas and New Year for all my blogger chums?

Gems x

WINTER IS COMING

How do I know when winter has arrived? I start tucking my tops into my underwear, instead of just my trousers, as I feel like I need that extra layer of protection. Winter is here, as my tops are now all firmly tucked into my knickers to prevent any drafts, or as my grandma used to say "cold on your kidneys" - she didnt like those low slung jeans me and my sister wore in our teenage years.

So the parka has come has come out of storage (i.e. where it has been crammed under my bed), the biker boots are on, and the wooly hats that make me feel like a cute little gnome adorn my head daily...I don't deal well with the cold, or the heat for that matter, like a typical Brit. I want to be room temperature at all times...I'm not your typical Geordie that will go out without a coat on in a blizzard, well not anymore.

Parka, Noisy May - Similar Here.
Tartan Tee, Select -  Similar Here.
Faux Leather Trousers, H&M - Similar Here
Biker Boots, New Look - Similar Here.

Wrap up because, Baby it's cold outside...

Gems x

SHE'S SO BARDOT

Bardot Dress, Belt and Earrings, New Look.
Heels, Primark.

It's not often you see scruffy old me all dressed up, so you really should make the most of this one - Gemma looking all sophisticated, is rarer than Kanye "I'm a lyrical genius" West being humble. But since I was going to a wedding, I didn't think casual jumpsuits, or teenage streetwear, would cut the mustard. So I went for a pretty dress, heels and I'm even wearing earring...in my actual ears, can you believe it?

I caught a guy at least twice my age, starring at the butt in a mirror as I walked, so I'm gonna count that as a win.

How are my little lovelies doing? I hope you have been enjoying the sun, at the expense of your career like me!

Gems x

FORGOTTEN OUTFITS OF THE DAY: PART 3

I know I've been a terrible blogger of late, especially to all of my lovely girls, you know who you are. I guess I have just been focusing on other aspects of my life - work, new friendships and thinking about all the things I need before moving into the new place. On what planet is an iron a fun purchase? And thinking about decorating just sends me into panic mode, everytime I'm in the wallpaper section of B&Q I want to crawl into the foetal position, until someone picks for me.

I'm still in need of a new photographer so there are no new outfit posts for me to share with you right now, so i't time for another batch of pictures that were rejected because I hated my face. But, to treat you to something new, here is a picture of me, dressed as Jareth, The Goblin King from Labyrinth...just something I wear om your average Tuesday...

Seriously, I would wear this everyday - why did the pirate shirt ever go out of fashion? Anyway, back to the non-ridiculous (well mostly)...

Feeling a little like a French Prostitute in: Dress, H&M

Being annoyed by the wing in : Jacket, USC
Preppy Tee, Primark
Leatherette Trousers, H&M

Showing some cat lady chic in: Coat, Next
Tie Dye Dress, Primark
Leatherette Trousers, H&M
Satchel, Next.

Playing in the old back yard in: Dress, H&M
Leatherette Jacket, Matalan.
Jumper, Dorothy Perkins
Belt, New Look

Sucking in, wearing the world's tightest pants from H&M
Sporty Tee and Bag, Primark.
Leatherette Jacket, Matalan.

Any suggestions on where I could find a new photographer, and how many outfit posts do you dismiss?

Gems x

CHEEKY

This outfit is a fairly old one, before I had the haircut, but I'm still in need of a new photographer. Applicants will be greatly recieved, preferably non creepy or at least only marginally creepy, no photoshopping my head onto naked bodies, unless the body is better than mine of course.

By the way, if you get a chance to try some Persian food, you need too. People may tell you that garlic has become your main scent, but it is totally worth that, and the meat sweats that come with it.

Any other world foods I should be trying.

Gems x

SWEATSHIRTS AND SNAPBACKS FROM RACCOON BRAND

RCCN BRND Snapback, c/o Raccoon Brand - Same Here.
The Logo Sweatshirt c/o Raccoon Brand - Same Here.
Human Hair Extensions - Wonderful Hair.

In recent months, I have become seriously fond of streetwear - I have been leaving my dresses and jumpsuits in the wardrobe, swaping them for faux leather trousers, sweatshirts and snapbacks. Maybe it is the cold (North East England sucks when it comes to the wind and rain combo) that has made me crave streetwear layers, but right now it's working for me. Maybe at 31, I am a starting to get a little old for streetwear, but I honestly don't care. Life is too short to wear and do things you think you are supposed to...

Faux Leather Biker, New Look - Same Here.
Faux Leather Trousers, H&M - Similar Here.
Satchel - Nica
Shoes, Asos - Similar Here.

One of my favorite streetwear labels, is the cheeky Raccoon Brand, for their mischevious raccoon prints, high quality and comfort. The sweatshirt has a cool unisex fit (I'm wearing an XS) and has a super soft fleecy inside, perfect for a damp day strolling through town. The snapback is also of pretty sick (street lingo alert) quality, with a durable stitched logo and adjustable strap. I decided to wear back to front as I did grow up in the nineties.

Does anyone think they might be incorporating some streetwear into their wardrobe in 2015? What do you think of Raccoon Brand's quirky style?

Gems x
*Snapback and Sweatshirt provided by Raccoon Brand for purpose of review, all opinions are my own.

 

A WINTER WALK

I have to say a big thank you, for all the support on my previous post. I think for some people it is really difficult to talk about their problems with anxiety or mental illness, so if I can just encourage one person to speak up then it will be worth it. There is no need to be embarrassed or suffer alone, no matter what you feel, there will be someone who understands you.

Since I had been so anxious for a few weeks, all the times I went out felt like a bit of an ordeal (reminder to self: you survived all those 'ordeals'), I felt I deseved a nice winter walk when I felt better. A trip down to the Sunday quayside market, passing through the castle keep, on a cold fresh day, was a real pick me up.

Jumper, White Stuff - Same Here.
Jeans - TK Maxx.
Biker Boots, New Look - Same Here.
Parka, Noisy May - Same Here.
Bobble Hat, Fat Face.
Satchel, Nice - Similar Here.
Hair Extensions - Competition win from Wonderful Hair.

The parka was a fabulous sale find from ASOS and it is now only £20, so get your hands on it quick - it is super warm, and appears to be waterproof, which is going to be useful in the North East of England. Everything else were Christmas gifts (how luck am I?), including the gorgeous satchel from Nica, it was love at first sight. And thanks to the super quality of my real hair extensions from Wonderful Hair, I have realised that bad hair days are a thing of the past. A few clips and I have long glossy locks to make a mermaid spew up her seaweed in jealousy - take that Ariel!!

How have you been keeping warm on these cold winter days?

Gems x

GRUNGE LACE

I'm sorry for my absence the last few weeks. Unfortunately, I have been having a difficult time with anxiety and depression - maybe due to all the pressures of the holiday season. I have been working hard and hopefully I will continue to improve and build my confidence over the next few weeks and get back to myself.

There has been a lot of tears and a lot of fear, but with the help of family, friends, and of course Ryan, I have made it through Christmas and I'm hopefully ready to take on all the challenges that 2015 will bring. If you have been feeling lost over the holiday season, you are not alone. It can be hard to discuss those feelings with loved ones, when everyone is so happy and jolly. But, you have nothing to be ashamed of - don't cut yourself off and pretend everything is OK, it is perfectly OK not to be OK. It isn't your fault, you don't do it to yourself, it is something that happens to you.

So anyway, now that I have got the hard stuff out of the way, I can get back to the good stuff...clothes and shit. You might remember a few weeks ago, that I was all googly-eyed and in love with my lace dress from Lulu's Boutique. I've already worn it in a Gothic style, but for a recent jaunt to the shops, I wanted something more laid back to I looked to the '90s and went grunge.

Layered with a checked shirt and teamed with some knee high boots and a bobble hat, and it was grunge perfection. Of course the look could not be complete with a messy plait, so thank you to Wonderful Hair, for your amazing human hair extensions, for helping me achieve the grunge plait of my dreams.

Lace and Organza Dress, c/o Lulu's Boutique - Same Here.
Checked Shirt, F&F - Similar Here.
Biker Jacket, Matalan - Similar Here.
Over-the-Knee Boots, New Look - Similar Here.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to 2015.

Gems x