ULTIMATE & REALISTIC: JANUARY 2013

LET IT SNOW EDITION

All my UK chums cannot have failed to notice that Britain is in the icy grip of a cold snap that will be sticking around for quite some time. This has got me thinking once again about having to wrap up to brave the outdoors - of course this doesn't mean you can't wrap up in style, heaven forbid. So wrapping up in chic is the focus of my January 2013 Ultimate & Realistic outfit choices...I hope you are inspired.

ULTIMATE:
Burberry London Wool and Cashmere-blend Trench - £1,095, Ksubi Skinny Pins Coated Jeans - £200, Theory Abner B Cotton-Blend Sweater - £225, Jimmy Choo Leather Biker Boots - £595, Alexander Wang Diego Textured-leather Shoulder Bag - £690.
TOTAL: £2805

REALISTIC:
Topshop Premium Military Coat - £125, H&M Slim Regular Jeans - £19.99, New Look Dark Grain Red 3/4 Sleeve Top - £14.99, Barratts Studded Biker Boots - £35, H&M Bag - £19.99.
TOTAL: £214.97

There is no denying that the Burberry military trench is pretty close to perfection, but let's face it I have more chance of flying to the moon in a home made Diet Coke and Mentos rocket, than I have of affording this beauty.

So guys, what is your favourite look - The Ultimate or the Realistic?

Gems x

STARS & STRIPES

I'm sorry to say that this outfit is a few months old...the pictures were taken just before I entered my blogging and life funk and I just never got round to posting them. Well hopefully this CBT will give me the kick up the bum I need to put the icing on the cake on what is a really good life. Next phone appointment is on Monday and the following Monday I will meet my therapist in person to start the really hard work...just gotta ignore the urge to run down the street screaming and flailing my arms.

So I wore this outfit for a fab meal out to an Indian restaurant...I swear the waiter was one of the most beautiful men I had ever seen, it made blush a little bit, much to my boyfriend's amusement.

Shirt - Glamorous
Shorts & Bag - H&M
Tights - Missguided
Shoes - Tribeca

So chums, does anyone have any exciting plans for the weekend - think I might bunker down with a good book and some movies and ride the cold weather out!

Gems x

POLKA DOTTY

The first thing I want to say, is thank you to all those lovely lovelies that were so supportive over my Cognitive Behavior Therapy worries, I had my first phone appointment yesterday and it went well. Still I have to say that I am pretty nervous about confronting my fear head on, but I know now that it is the best thing for me to move on.

So now that's out the way we can get back to something a little more light-hearted. I have loads of outfit posts backed up but I thought I would show you the dress I wore for Christmas day, which I also wore to do head to Wagamama for some foodie delights. The dress is from Glamorous and I was lucky to pick it up half price in the Triple S sale, just before Christmas...Happy Days!

For a casual date night, I teamed it with my old faithful converse and H! by Henry Holland biker jacket...

Dress, Glamorous - Similar Here.
Old Faithful Converse

Jacket, H! by Henry Holland - Similar Here.

Isn't the dress cute as a button, I just love it and it's a big plus that it is versatile so I can get a lot of wear out of it since a big writing contract came to an abrupt end...no spending for Gemma now! Least I did well in the sales and for Christmas.

So anyway, I'm interested to know what you guys wore over the festive period, put your links below so I can check them out.

Gems

I'M BACK BABY!

Well it has been a crazy few months, but I'm so glad I found my motivation to get back to blogging, even if it did come at the expense of my longest running writing contracts coming to an abrupt end (the online publishing industry is so cut-throat).

 So anyway to catch you up, I have finally found the strength to get my anxiety issues sorted and will be starting Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Monday - I'm pooping my pants over it but determined that 2013 is the year to get healthy. Christmas and New Year was great, I was spoiled rotten and my sister got engaged and I'm honoured she picked me to be one of her bridesmaids (she has great taste so I'm not worried about a poofy, blancmange monstrosity).

So I may as well start off 2013 with a wee little outfit post...these pants are one of my faves ever, except zipping them over my big round bottom can be a bit of an ordeal, it does require an extra pair of hands, but my boyfriend is happy to oblige :)

Printed Pants and Collar - H&M
Shirt - Glamorous
Biker Jacket and Loafers - Matalan

So how was everyone's festive season? Fabulous I hope!

And going on a tangent, can any of my fashionable friends tell me where I can get a good white shirt to wear with statement jeans?

Gems x

MY SQUEAKY PANTS

For so long I have been searching for the perfect pair of leatherette pants. I thought I had found them when I saw the perfect pair of leatherette jeans on the H&M website - I ordered them in a size then as I knew their trews were small fitting. The thing is when they arrived I would have needed a pound of lard and forklift to get them over my fat ass...gutted.
After several more unsuccessful attempts in New Look, River Island and Primark, I had almost given up, resigned myself to the fact that leatherette pants and my disproportionately large bum were never going to give in, then I was saved by the miracle that is elasticated waistband. Thank you jeggings for making the waistband acceptable once again - the elasticated waistband made the £15 leather trousers from H&M fit perfectly.

Although they do squeak a bit when I walk, they are comfortable, look awesome and I love them...can't wear them enough!

Jumper, New Look
Trousers, H&M
Shirt, Shoes and Bracelet, Matalan

What has been your favourite item of clothing recently?

Sorry I have been so bad blogging recently, I'm just so down on myself after finding my hours as a freelance writer reduced. I'm trying to get back to myself I swear.

Gems x

FILM CLUB: SINISTER

There are two things in life that I love: a good scare and Ethan Hawke's lovely weird teeth. So when they both came together with the release of scarefest 'Sinister', I was pretty darn excited. The movie follows egotistical true crime author Ellison Oswalt (I know I don't know where they got that name from either) as he moves his family into a murder house to write his latest book on the previous owners who were all hung in the backyard. Apart from one of the children that is, who has since been missing.

It isn't long before Ellison finds some horrifying home movies in the attic, showing not only the fate of the family he is investigating, but also many other families, all linked by the mysterious 'Mr Boogie'. Instead of going to the police with his findings, Ellison keeps it secret hoping it will lead to success with his latest work, to see him once again in the spotlight he so craves. Of course, this was not a smart move and cue scares a plenty.

I have to say, I haven't seen a horror movie this good in a very long time - one moment I was on the edge of my seat, the next I was being scared right out of it. There was tension throughout the movie that grew and grew with each scene to the shocking conclusion. It is a must see for fans of the horror movie genre.

I leave you with the tantalizing trailer and a few words...Once you have seen him, nothing can save you!


Have any of you guys seen it, and what did you think?

Gems

I AM LEOPARD HERE ME ROAR!

I am so sorry bloggers, I know I have been terrible recently, I have just been so low on motivation recently after some problems with work. As a result I am rather far behind on outfit (and any other kind of posting). Being a long-time sufferer of depression I take set-backs really personally, letting them really hit my self esteem - luckily I have an amazing boyfriend and family, which help me get right out of that funk.

So anyway, excuses over - I promise I will really try to be better for you guys and get back to my blogging best. So this is a super cute little dress I bought recently in the Missguided sale - yes my addiction to leopard print is as strong as ever - it is just perfect for all occasions.

Dress, Missguided - same here.
Shoes, Matalan - same here.

How do you guys deal with blogging funk?

I don't want things to affect something that I really love so an advice would be appreciated.

Gems x