How to Wear Sequins, Part 2 - The Midi

Eep - festive and theatrical obligations have forced me to take nearly a month off blogging duties (well, someone has to test out London's outdoor ice rinks, gales and floods or no... then drink vats of medicinal mulled wine) and the outfit photos are piling up, so it's time to get back on the horse... First things first, before the chimes herald in 2014, I felt it my duty to share this year's take on sequins...

I'd had my eye on this £12 Primark midi for some time, and, having initially written it off as a shameless seasonal extravagance, finally made up my mind to invest the week before Christmas - sparkles and my current favourite skirt shape? Only Scrooge could resist... It's a rung up from last year's Princess Sparkle T-shirt ensemble on the ladder towards sartorial adulthood anyway, right (see here)? Although I may have, ahem, slipped a new My Little Pony number into the basket at the same time...

Glam Rocks

Skirt (Current): Primark, T-Shirt (Current) and Jacket: Both New Look, Boots: Boohoo

On its first outing, for birthday pizza, prosecco and snowball doughballs with mum, I decided to give my midi a hi-lo '70s rock twist (yes, Pizza Express rawks when we're in the house), to tone down the "I belong on top of the Christmas tree" vibe...

Christmas Cracker

Skirt: As Above, Shirt: Primark (Past Season), Shoes: Office (Past Season)

...But if you can't do double (OK, triple) sequins on Christmas Day, when can you? For pulling the crackers over the roasted Quorn fillets, I decided, in a fit of festive inspiration, to dig out last year's sequin-collared shirt along with 2005's sadly neglected velvet-trimmed, sparkle-encrusted courts, for a zhuzhed-up take on ladylike luxe. And no, none of my relations were in the least bit surprised by the sight of my barely concealed bra at the dinner table... an occupational hazard for bloggers' friends and family, I suppose, alongside temporary sequin-induced blindness.

Keeping it Casual

Skirt: As Above, Sweatshirt (Current): Primark, Trainers: Skechers

Making sequins pre-cocktail-hour-appropriate remains a challenge I am unable to resist... This outfit would surely inject a little more fun into sales shopping... or a little more comfort into travelling to a NYE party!

Have you invested in any sequinned buys this season? How are you wearing them?

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Primark Button-Back Cropped Heart Print Shirt

If you've read my recent heart print dress post, I'm sure you'll be relieved to hear that I have now managed to get my hands on the matching blouse. The fact that it cost £2 more than the dress is slightly perplexing, but since it is so cute (and still only £10), I don't really care! Loving the button-back twist (although it's not too clear in these photos, I'm afraid), which also, happily, means no "cleavage gape" issues to necessitate sizing up! Having said that, though, the buttons aren't sewn on particularly well, and a quick emergency mend was required to stop one from popping open every time I leaned over, and eventually falling off completely!

Once all was safe and sound, thanks to Mummy Muses' handiwork, a little mono print mixing was top of the agenda... nope, not bored yet!

Top, Skirt (Past Season) and Shoes: All Primark

How are you doing heart print this season?

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The Primark Cranberry Fedora

Thought I'd come up with another, slightly more festive, alternative to "oxblood" (yeugh), since I finally managed to complete my hat collection with this long-awaited burgundy fedora. I'm not finding her quite as versatile as my trusty bowler so far, but she is the perfect topping for a late Autumn/early Winter '70s boho look!

Hat, Dress, Jacket and Boots: All Primark; Gilet: New Look (Past Season)

Have you invested in a fedora yet?

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How to Wear... Triple Patent Leather

This week, I finally completed my eagerly-anticipated haul of crackle patent (p)leather separates from Primark's AW13 collection, with the purchase of this bralet, reduced from £10 to £5! It's no exaggeration to say that I've been waiting for 3 pieces like this for years now, so to nab them all with change from £30 was pretty darn exciting (the pencil skirt is £10 and the A-line midi £14, at full price). I know I have scoffed at the idea of even double leather in the past, and I did have to put some thought into my accessorising in order to bypass the dungeon mistress connotations, but of course I had to try them all out together... with some patent footwear thrown in for good measure!

Sports Luxe

Bralet, Skirt, Sweatshirt and Boots: All Primark (Current)

Yup, I also managed to nab the fishnet sweater from the AW13 lookbook, reduced from £6 to £3 *smugface* - perfect for toning down leather with an instant throw-on hit of sports luxe...

Grunge Luxe

Bralet, Skirt, Sweatshirt and Boots: All Primark (Current), Belt: New Look (from Shirt, Past Season)

Or indeed an instant throw-on hit of '90s grunge appeal - simply belt up and stud.

Lady Luxe

Bralet, Skirt, Cardigan and Belt: All Primark (Current), Shoes: Pied a Terre (Past Season)

OK, time to whip the sweatshirt off: just add whip and get cracking... no, no... how could I channel more lady and less, er, tramp?! Inspiration struck in the form of my newly acquired Chanel-a-like chain trim cardi - playing up the ladylike cut of the skirt whilst forming a pleasing textural contrast... belted (with co-ordinating waist-cincher, natch) over or under, depending on desired level of insulation/propriety - job done.

Are you going high shine this season?

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