Confessions of an Over-packer

So I have an exciting three day trip coming up, but here's the catch; only hand luggage! So being the indecisive person that I am I know that a bit of effort is going to have to be taken in order for me to fit minimal clothes in a small carry on suitcase. 

I'm pretty sure overpacking is either in your genes or it's not... I've inherited the curse from my mum who also doesn't quite understand the idea of 'travelling lightly', haha. If you are also cursed; you will understand the questions that run through your head whilst packing. 

"What if the weather isn't nice, I'll need a few cardigans"

"We're only going for one week but I'll definitely need enough clothes for 3 weeks... Just in case"

You know what I mean, right !?

So I've been brainstorming on some ways for us over packers to finally learn how to 'travel lightly' or 'lighter'. 

Tip 1. Pre plan outfits; the biggest mistake you can make when packing is not pre planning outfits as you end up throwing random items in your suitcase 'just in case'. So the best thing to do is to look up the weather for the period of time your going away and then lay out outfits on your floor. I'm going for three days so I'm going to take four or five outfits (give me a little leeway remember I'm a recovering Over-packer). An app I often use when planning out outfits is polyvore it allows you to copy and paste a piece of clothing from any website so you can get an idea of what a whole outfit it will look like. 

Tip 2. This is a tip that my cousin told me and I've seen around a lot recently - it's rolling up your clothes. When my cousin told me this I was a bit confused as I thought "wouldn't that just wrinkle your clothes" but apparently not so this will definitely be a tip I'll be using for my upcoming trip so I can hopefully fit more in my little suitcase.

Tip 3. Always remember shoes are heavy so it's always best to keep to minimal pairs of shoes, especially on short trips. If your going on a beach holidays your most likely to pack sandals and very light shoes yet on my short trip I will be doing a lot of walking so I will mostly likely take a pair of slip ons or something comfy - something that will also match with most outfits.

Tip 4. Toiletries; wherever your going they will always have shampoo, conditioner and body wash, so remember if they're taking up too much space buy them when your at your destination.

Tip 5. And lastly we have to totally erase the phrase "just in case" from our brains as we will most likely never need that "just in case" jumper or pair of jeans. 

I hope everyone has a lovely summer, where are you taking a holiday to this year ? I'm currently counting down the days till mine begins.

kisses,

Maija Lily Xx

One of those days

So last night I finally sorted out my wardrobe (after just a little nagging from my mum) and I'm not going to lie; I found a lot of clothes I forgot I even had! These denim Dungaree's being one of the items.

I think it is the cutest, easiest outfit ever. I paired my shorts dungarees with a plain white t-shirt and of course the infamous leopard slip-ons (you guys are probably starting to think I don't have any other shoes, haha). 

Its sunday today and the weather is finally starting to get better - its supposed to be like 21'c today -  so I decided I really didn't want to sleep in and waste the day away (even though I did that exact thing yesterday… oops). 

Even though the sun is shining brightly today I've actually got to do some revision for some GCSE science exams I have during the week… how fun, but I might revise outside if its not too windy! So its just really going to be one of those days where I've got boring stuff to do but I still want to look at least half presentable, haha.

On a happier note, tomorrow will be exactly one month until I break up for the summer holidays, yayyy! Ive definitely got some exiting things coming up in the summer so theres lots to look forward to. 

Have a lovely sunday everyone!

Kisses,

Maija Lily Xx

An Endless Love Affair With The City

As I said in a previous blog; I've been religiously watching sex and the city - well actually I've just finished watching the series, after watching it episode after episode after episode. I mean, between Carrie's endless love affair with Manolo Blahniks and New York City its kind of impossible not to fall in love with not only the character played by Sarah Jessica Parker but also her apartment, her friends; Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda, her closet and oh course we can't forget Mr Big. 

Cities intrigue me, the constant rush. My mum always tells me I'm a city girl, every now and then I'll say "I would love to live in the county and be a 'southern belle'" but my mum tells me I couldn't live without a city... And to be honest I think she's right.

Fashion and the city go hand in hand. One of my favourite things to do is people watch (in a totally non creepy kind of way, haha) I love 'inspecting' people's outfits who pass me on the street - on the busy streets of Oxford Circus, or on the cobbled roads of Covent garden. The diversity in style is amazing; there's outfits I see that I wish were available in my wardrobe and outfits that I would never consider putting together but I know it's a persons style, and I know that they are happy with their choice of clothing. Cities inspire people to gain individuality. 

You know when you're on holiday, and it's night and your laying in your bed- everything is so quiet just a few crickets whistling and a couple bugs buzzing, it's so different to the constant sound of cars, sirens and people that cities are so familiar with. Yet why does the city madness still sound so calm?

In the series (satc) it would be abnormal for the girls to not meet for one of their regular brunch dates, Miranda didn't even miss one - even with a newborn baby. The idea of meeting your besties for brunch is such a 'city thing' to do, I love it - the idea of getting brunch then wondering around the streets of Notting Hill or taking a sneaky peak in the shops. 

To me, the city is a confidence booster. The streets of London are endearing and although I'm so small compared to the busy city I feel so big when walking the streets. You know in sex and the city, normally at the end of an episode there is Carrie walking back to her apartment late at night maybe returning from an event or a busy a-list night club and she just walks in the middle of the street, and although the dark streets should appear scary they just look so welcoming.

Someone once said to me; "you live in London! Why do you want to go to New York so bad, all cities are the same" and in all honesty I think my mouth did that thing characters in cartoons do where their mouths literally fall to the ground. All cities may have the same 'constant rush' yet every city is so so different. Think of Paris; just one city holds so much culture, and although again it is a city which holds such an attraction to people it somehow remains with such a relaxed, calm aura. London; a city most likely on everybody 'bucket list' a city that holds centuries of history, as well as new buildings, shopping - we can't forget about the shopping, Big Ben, the London eye, Buckingham Palace. The list is endless. So if I'm So content with the beautiful city that is London, why do I want to visit the intriguing city of New York you may wonder? Well, I want to see Times Square (however much of a tourist attraction it is), I want to strut down fifth avenue, my arms full of shopping bags, I want to eat pizza from a typical New York pizza truck, and I want to stand at the top of the Empire State Building and look over the amazing 'island' of New York in wonder, I want to see what NYC has to offer to me that London doesn't. 

Again, a sex and the city reference, but I want to live in a tiny apartment -my best friend and I- where our clothes take up the majority of the shoebox of an apartment, filling every nook and cranny. Carrie filled her kitchen with shoes, as well as her heart with them as well. 

I want a love affair with a city whether it be London, New York, Paris, Rome, etc. (preferably NYC), I just want to have my very own slightly chaotic never simple city experience.   

Kisses,

Maija Lily Xx

p.s. sorry this is more of a 'wordy' blogpost. I've been debating whether to post it or not for a while and finally decided to post it. I hope you enjoy it and maybe share the same enthusiasm towards a city lifestyle as I do and if not a city life style maybe just sex and the city, haha. 

Met Gala 2015 - My favourite looks

Ok, so if you're on my blog- looking at this post, I'm going to presume you may have a slight interest in fashion… maybe, haha. So, again i'll presume you've already studied each and every dress worn at the Met Gala like my mum and I did. I'm also sure you saw the "wow!!!" dresses as well as the "really???" dresses. Here are some of my favourites from the night…

So on the night of the 'China: through the looking glass' themed Met Gala which took place in New York, there was an obvious time difference between NYC and London (where I live) and I kept telling myself to go to bed (the dresses would still be there in the morning) yet my body kept subconsciously waking up in order for me to check every new dress that walked up the 'red carpet stairs'… what can I say - I'm dedicated, haha.

Anyway Ive gone over and over the 'vogue best dressed list' for the night of the  Gala yet I still can't quite seem to pick my favourite.

Ok, Ive decided. Kendall Jenner in a custom Calvin Klein is my favourite from the night. How gorgeous is that green and the encrusted crystals and beads!

How could you not love a look worn by the gorgeous SJP? Its no secret that Sarah is a fan of a extravagant headpiece... and its also no secret that she knows exactly how to pull them off, especially this one by Philip Treacy! I love how different the custom H&M gown looks with its one shoulder and 'kimono esk vibe' 

Not that there's ever a time that Rosie Huntington-whitely doesn't look amazing, but how gorgeous does she look in this Versace gown. Even with the cut outs and side slit the dress still seems so elegant!

Gigi Hadid. So, I may have a little obsession with her at the moment but I mean… how glowing does she look in this absolutely stunning Diane Von Furstenburg gown. How gorgeous is this dress it remains so simple and elegant even with the flower embellishment!

Kim Kardashian-West's dress had mixed reactions to say the least. I mean, I love it, I think this Roberto Cavalli gown is so gorgeous with its intricate embellishment and feather trail.

Maybe winning on my virtual best 'coloured' dress list. How beautiful is this soft blue colour, worn by Lily Aldridge and designed by Carolina Herra. So so elegant, right !?

Following in Sarah Jessica Parkers footsteps Selena Gomez also wore a gorgeous headpiece along with this gorgeous minimalist white Vera Wang gown. Love love love it.

If you can't tell from my 'favourite picks' above, I love a nice simple dress - 'less is more'. Reese Witherspoon looks gorgeous in the red dress by Jason Wu, with a slit to break it up a little as it is a block colour. 

Totally contradicting myself, I love this crazy print dress… its so out there with the lovely bright colour and like SJP's dress it also has a Kimono vibe to it. Lauren Santo Domingo in Proenza Schoulder. 

I have been loving Louis Vuitton's pieces at the moment and Miranda Kerr looks especially gorgeous in the Louis Vuitton dress!

I am in love with Beyonce's Givenchy dress, honestly I think it is so gorgeous with the all the embellished colours and details, yet I just don't think its the right dress for the Met Gala… events aside the dress in absolutely gorgeous though!

Last but not least I think Jennifer Lawrence looks stunning in this Dior Haute Couture dress. I love the simplicity of it and the cut out which adds that 'little something'

I think attending a Met Gala would be my absolute dream… can you imagine; getting dressed by a designer, walking along the red carpet, the fashion around you… wouldn't it be the dream. Maybe one day, hey!

Have you got any favourite's from the night? Or is anyone on your 'worst dressed list'?

Maija Lily Xx

Double Denim

A fashion faux pas? Not any more. I mean I'm not saying we should go all out Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake like back in 2001, no I don't think anyone should try that...

I'm talking the early 90's when - as my mum always reminds me- "everyone was rocking the double denim". 

I guess denim on denim can still be classed as a "rule breaker" like my style stalking fashion book puts it. But, also like the book says; styled the right way it can look oh so elegant. 

I have been searching for ever for the perfect denim shirt. I didn't want it to be too light of a wash or too dark of a wash, then I finally found this denim shirt from new look when searching the asos website.

I styled my denim shirt with a pair of darker wash skinny jeans and my slip ons. But another way I love to style double denim is with a pair of distressed boyfriend jeans and court heels. 

Shirt - New Look

Jeans - Topshop

Shoes - Zara (once again… I just can't get enough of these shoes.)

Are you going to 'break the fashion rules' this season and sport a double denim look or as my mum puts it "rock the double denim?"

Kisses,

Maija Lily Xx