5 More Ways to Wear the Peplum

If you've read my original How to Wear the Peplum post, or indeed much of the rest of my blog (e.g. my recent How to Wear Sequins or How to Wear Disco Pants posts - check out all my peplum-labelled posts for more), you'll probably know me as a self-confessed peplum fanatic... So here are 5 ways I've been wearing 2 new additions to my collection of beloved beauties this season:

The Sheer Lace Top

Gothica

Peplum Top and Shoes: Primark (Current), Skirt and Bandeau Top: Jane Norman (Past Season)

For a romantic feel, I decided to layer one of my new sheer lace peplum tops over a sweetheart-necked bandeau top (and my favourite swishy pleated maxi), adding a cute, girly touch with matching ankle socks and glittery slippers peeking out.

Colour Pop

Top: Primark (Current), Jeans: Primark (Past Season), Belt: H&M (Past Season), Shoes: Marks & Spencer (Past Season)

Yes, I did get the same top in white too - they were £6 each, it would have been rude not to! For Forever 21's Coloured Denim Day back when I was taking part in their #21DaysOfStyle Instagram challenge, I teamed it with plum skinnies and cute matching accessories, for a winter-appropriate whites and brights look which will also be perfect for transitioning into S/S.

The Pencil Skirt

Office Chic

Skirt: Primark (Current), Jacket: Forever 21 (Past Season), Body: New Look (Past Season), Shoes: Dorothy Perkins (Past Season)

Aaand my prediction re: accumulating a new peplum skirt came true - spooky! A peplum pencil is perfect with a simple, sleek body and cropped jacket for easy statement-smart style - I'd love to try tucking in a skinny knit too, for a classic Marilyn-esque feel.

The Pussybow-Pencil Colour Block

Skirt: Primark (As Above), Blouse: Primark (Past Season), Tights: Primark, Shoes: Marks & Spencer, Coat: New Look (Past Season)

Trying out some plum-based tonal colour blocking for a twist on the classic pussybow blouse-pencil skirt combination, and a double dose of peplum with a vintage-inspired jacket - a little bit forties, a little bit eighties!

Rock Chick

Skirt: Primark (As Above), Top: H&M (Past Season), Boots: Primark (Past Season)

And to drag it into the 21st century... an experimental juxtaposition of lady with diva, courtesy of my newly rediscovered studded crop top (first featured in How to Wear Disco Pants). I think my peplum pencil skirt will look great with cutesy '50s style bralets come summer, but for now I feel the need to toughen up a little!

What's Next for the Peplum?

The peplum ain't going anywhere (yay!) - stay tuned to see me rocking my new Boohoo peplum belt with anything and everything... We should be seeing softer, more relaxed-fitting peplums and experiencing a deluge of pep-hems as S/S approaches - as much as I love the classic waisted version, I'm excited to see what the new season brings!

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5 More Ways to Wear a Mini on Winter Days

Taking a breather from showering you with seasonal discount codes (more to come later in the week though!) to get back to the outfits... It's been a couple of months now since my original How to Wear the Mini Skirt and How to Wear the Mini Dress (During Daylight Hours) posts, so I thought I'd share a few of my more wintry ensembles from the last few weeks with you.

'60s Shift

Dress: eBay (originally Primark); Top: New Look (Past Season); Boots: Primark (Current - £15 £10)

I created this outfit for "White" Day as part of Forever 21's 21 Days of Style Instagram challenge, layering a black roll neck and tights under a summery shift for a '60s-inspired monochrome look - no way I could resist finishing it off with my new '20s gangster boots!

Lana the Leopard

Shirt and Skirt: Primark (Past Seasons); Tights: Accessorize (Past Season); Creepers: New Look (Current - £19.99)

Yes, this was for Leopard Day - I wouldn't normally take it this far (although you may beg to disagree if you've read my How to Wear Animal Print post!) but fashion should be fun right? This is my first and only pair of creepers - I'm not a big fan of the corrugated plastic sole/huge metal eyelets type (can't shake the orthopaedic associations!) but I loved the cute, feminine feel of these (and no, the leopard print didn't hurt!).

Statement Stripes

Sweater Dress: Peacocks (Past Season); Tights: River Island (Past Season); Boots: Primark (Past Season)

Mmhm, you guessed - Stripes Day! I am a huge fan of the sweater dress, and have been for some years - accompanied by tights and your choice of boots, it's the easiest throw-it-on option you could find for winter dressing, and you can get one to fit any occasion and mood - chic fitted black for work/evening, relaxed for comfort, brightly coloured to cheer you up, or printed/embellished to make a statement, like this one, for those times when you want cosiness without sacrificing your edge!

Chiffon Meets Wool

Dress & Sunnies: Primark (Past Season); Faux Fur Collar & Socks: Primark (Current); Creepers: New Look (Current)

This was Sunnies Day! Living in the UK, I don't think I've ever considered wearing sunglasses beyond October before, but they were all over the AW runways, and I actually quite like the contrast with winter fabrics like wool and fur. This dress is all-in-one (aside from the collar!), but layering a chiffon skirt or dress under a long jumper or short jumper dress is a great way to add interest (or length!), as well as that much-coveted pep-hem.

Knitted Skirt

Skirt and Boots: Primark (Current); Jacket: Primark (Past Season - but there are some very similar styles in store now)

One of my first "free-choice" outfits after the challenge ended! I wore this for a spot of Black Friday shopping and a Cherry & Almond Costa muffin last week. I grew to adore knitted pencil skirts last winter (see this post for evidence), but wasn't convinced by their little siblings until it was too late, so made sure I snapped my first one up early this season! I like the balancing factor of the jacket's thickness and volume, but think the skirt would also work with a fitted sweater or roll neck, or maybe a shirt for a bit of contrast.

More maxi, mixi, peplum and velvet outfits are currently awaiting future posts... plus the introduction of my first pair of disco pants - yay!

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Seven Days in Style

A week's worth of outfits, showcasing some of my latest purchases, along with some old favourites... I am still playing around (read: tearing my hair out) with camera settings, flashes and lighting, so please excuse the somewhat variable quality of the shots!

Day 1: My DIY Leather-Sleeved Mac

I wasn't sure about the leather-sleeve trend at first, but I am so smug about having invested in a sleeveless trench coat last year now! Layered over a leather jacket, it's one brand new coat for the price of none! With a jumper layered underneath too, it is very snug (i.e. contains little room to speak of for movement)! Perfect for November days though.

Sleeveless Mac and Leather Jacket: Both Primark (Past Seasons)

Shoes: Peacocks (Past Season)

Day 2: Doing the Polka

Digging out my trusty statement shouldered trophy jacket again for Blazer Day in the 21 Days of Style Instagram challenge. The first outing for my very first bowler, and for my crazy-good-value high-waisted polka dot shorts.

Hat: Primark (Current - £8)
Shorts: Primark (Current - £5, reduced from £12)
Jumper and Blazer: Primark (Past Season)
Shoes: Dorothy Perkins (Past Season)

Day 3: Go West

A (somewhat) wintry cowgirl look for Western Day, swapping denim for leather and adding cosy socks... I couldn't love my new pleather skater skirt any more - well worth scouring the shops for a year for!

Skirt: Primark (Current - £12)
Socks: Primark (Current - £2.50 for 1 navy and 1 burgundy pair)
Boots and Scarf: Primark (Past Season)
Shirt: Freemans (Past Season)

Day 4: Monochrome Mixing

Contrasting monochrome florals against spots for Prints Day. I love this peplum top (first seen teamed with neon in this post) and can't believe I haven't worn it more! Yes, I did try two different styles of polka dot skirt with it! I think the pencil skirt look is sleeker and slightly more sophisticated, but I love the girliness and frivolity of the circle skirt version.

Top: Primark (Past Season)
Shoes: Marks & Spencer (Current - £15)
Pencil Skirt: Jane Norman (Past Season)
Circle Skirt: Primark (Past Season)

Day 5: Plaid and Lurex

Today was Plaid Day, which gave me an excuse to dig out this fabulous gathered knickerbocker-style skirt. I think it needs a lot of black and a slight edge to tone it down, or it can all go a bit Andy Pandy (believe me, I have the pictures to prove it...) but I'm really pleased with how the black opaques and polo/metallic knit combination turned out (I did try layering a floaty white top over the polo to start with, but it turned out a bit like a vicar in reverse!).

Skirt: Primark (Past Season)
Polo Neck Top: New Look (Past Season)
Jumper: H&M (Past Season)
Shoes: Peacocks (Past Season - Just realising how often I'm wearing these at the moment!)

Day 6: Fur and Leather

Whoop whoop - I got the studded pleather dress I was after (first lusted after in my How To Wear Leather post) on my big birthday shop up in Oxford Street! I am now craving the all-over fringed version to complete my collection... I added my trusty faux fur gilet and bowler (which I am loving more than I ever dreamed possible) to add a bit of a boho vibe.

Dress: Primark (Current - £22)
Hat: Primark (Current - £8)
Gilet: New Look (Past Season)
Boots: Peacocks (Past Season)

Day 7: Peaches and Cream

Another birthday buy - this is the nude version of the black skirt I featured in my Wish List post a little while ago. In the AW12 Primark look book, it was styled up with Converse-style trainers and a sloppy knit, but I decided to give it a slightly more glam feel with a skinny angora knit and heeled brogues. I was kinda suprised to see this colour (coupled with dual thigh-high splits) in an AW collection, but actually love the contrast of the sheer chiffon against snuggly wool - and it'll still be worth its weight in gold come summer! When it gets a bit colder (or I have to actually leave the house), I think I'll add cream lace tights.

Skirt (with belt): Primark (Current)
Jumper: Jane Norman (Past Season)
Shoes: Peacocks (Past Season)
Scarf: Primark (Past Season)

So that's the end of my latest series of bouts with the camera - onto the next one! Which outfit do you like best? Do you prefer seeing new outfit posts every day, or do you like being able to see several looks at once?

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What's Red, White and Leopard Print All Over? #21DaysOfStyle Begin...

I decided to take part in Forever 21's 21 Days of Style Instagram challenge this month, which runs for the first 3 weeks of November. As an Instagram (and relative blogging) newbie, it's the first time I've taken part in a challenge, but I've always loved the idea - being pushed out of your comfort zone, to reconsider how to work potential gems that have been lying dejected in the back of your wardrobe (or at the bottom of a shopping bag). I've already re-discovered my love for statement rings, and resurrected 2 tops which hadn't seen the light of day for 6 months plus, as well as finding the perfect use to put one of my newest accessories to... I thought I'd share my first 2 complete outfits in this post - I'll be updating later on, but follow me on Instagram (Sam_Muses) to see all the pics.

Day 1 - Knits
 

Faux Fur Collar: Primark (Current - £6)
Jumper: Bay (Past Season)
Skirt: Primark (Recent - see more of it in How To Wear The Mixi and How To Wear Animal Print)
Shoes: Marks & Spencer (Current - £15)

Maybe I should have saved this for "leopard" day, but I just couldn't wait! The fur collar is one of my latest buys - I'd been imagining it over a coat, but was inspired by a vintage-style fur collared dress to use it to add a bit of ladylike luxury to a demure daywear combo, and I absolutely love it over this scoop-neck knit! I think it will be great for adding a bit of an edge to a classic black shift dress too...

The shoes seem to have almost instantaneously sold out online, but you may be lucky enough to find a pair in your local M&S - the mid-heel makes for the perfect go-anywhere (without having to call a taxi) style. The colour is best for olive or (fake) tanned skin tones, and you'll likely need to take half a size larger than usual (so if you're a 7.5, you're in luck - click quick!!).

Day 3 - Reds
 

Top: Primark (Past Season)

Skirt: Jane Norman (Past Season)

Belt: Unbranded (Past Season)

Shoes: Peacocks (Past Season)

Still stuck in my mid-twentieth-century-inspired groove, I dug out the first peplum top I'd ever bought, back in the salad days of early SS12, to team with one of my favourite wiggle (or hobble, as it actually said on the label) skirts. I'd originally paired it with a pleated red swing-style midi (see my How to Wear... The Peplum post), and can't believe that may have been the first and only time I'd worn it up to now (the peplum addiction took hold quickly, and the consequently constant flow of new arrivals must have pushed it to the back of my mind, as well as my wardrobe).

I'm still having lots of "fun" figuring out how to make my new camera best behave itself - the first outfit was photographed using the mini flash included with the body, whilst my new bounce flash had arrived in time for the second set... I was quite pleased with these results, taken early-mid afternoon, but, in the absence of daylight, I'm finding it rather like an unfamiliar shower - impossible to find the middle ground between freezing/darkness and scalding/white-out - oh well, I will figure it out eventually... I hope!

As a side note, now that I can show a bit more detail in my images, I'd be interested to know what kind of size you prefer - larger, like these ones (or even larger still?), or slightly smaller so that you can see the whole image without scrolling, as in the previous post? I always imagined that being able to see an outfit head-to-toe, all at once would be best, but then realised that many other bloggers use larger photos which require scrolling, and in many cases I hadn't even noticed until I decided to research the matter!

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