STYLE CRUSH #5: Caroline Flack

My latest style crush is Caroline Flack from The X Factor. She has ombre hair, a year round tan and Olly Murs on her arm. What's not to like? She tends to have the same outfit staples: a dress, ankle boots and lots of leg on show. It's simple, doesn't look too try hard but still manages to look absolutely stunning. Not only is she gorgeous but she's also hilarious and not afraid to be silly in public. This is standard requirement for me to like anyone!


In love with the giant red bag and the accompanying large glass of wine. A girl after my own heart!

Festival looks

Love:

• the yellow kaftan (left) 
• the tie up boots (right)
• the aviators (below)

 Chunky boots, hand on hip and leopard print. Amaze.

And finally, I really, really want her and Olly Murs to hurry up and get married! They are so cute it's ridiculous and if anyone is going to take the Murs off the market then I think she should be the lady to do it. The only requirement is that she begs him to wear some more appropriate trousers.

#mursforloosetrews

Movember

It's that time of year when men get an excuse to look like idiots and women feel an overwhelming urge to tell every passer by that you are not dating a man with a Hulk Hogan obsession. Despite the embarrassing various facial hair arrangements, Movember is for a good cause and that shouldn't be forgotten in all the tache excitement.

Movember might only be for one month but there is actually a World Beard and Moustache Championship which involves much more commitment. I kid you not. There are even categories, including 'Imperial Moustache' and 'Sideburns Freestyle'.

Here are a few impressive/scary/itchy looking moustaches:

 I think it may also be a requirement to have a quizzical look on your face at all times.

If you fancy a look at more moustaches, see the Movember website and click 'Mo Photos'

Hello November.

The start of November signals the beginning of cosy evenings in, stodgy comfort food and the opportunity to wrap up warm in fur and ridiculously oversized cardigans. Well, that's what it means for me anyway. Not only that, but I love Bonfire Night and Christmas so much that I instantly turn into a six year old again who runs around shops squealing at everything glittery. The tackier it is, the more excited I am. I have been witnessed publicly dancing to a musical Christmas tie in the middle of a supermarket. Not my proudest moment.

I think I've always loved this time of year purely because of the atmosphere and the excuse to be that little bit more lethargic and relaxed about everything. I remember being so scared of fireworks when I was little that I used to cry every time one of them made a noise. The ones that screech as they go up into the sky and then spread out into a big plume as they explode were a nightmare for me. I have strong memories of sitting on my Dad's shoulders and screaming my little heart out until I was pacified with some kind of toffee apple or sausage sandwich. Perhaps a sausage sandwich isn't traditional Bonfire Night fare, but I loved it. I can even remember holding the tin foil inbetween my gloves and feeling comforted by the heat coming from it. Wearing gloves whilst writing my name with a sparkler was also one of my favourite activities. Strange how you remember these things.

Fireworks don't traumatise me anymore (alright, maybe I jump a little) but they have always had my full attention one way or another. The colour against the dark sky and the shimmer as they fall back down is just mesmerising. Hopefully I can go and see a big display this year and attempt to recreate some kind of tin foil sandwich situation.

Pieces form the whole.

 I think most people would agree that Stephen Fry is an absolute legend. Not only is he ridiculously intelligent, charming, self-deprecating and witty but he is also humble and speaks openly about his bipolar disorder. There should be more people like him in this world! His current tv series The Word is brilliant - particularly the episode 'Uses and Abuses' which looks at the way taboo and swearing feature in our lives. I've been watching back on iPlayer and laughing along with him but also feeling the need to ask more questions about society and language itself. I know I'm an English and Media teacher and I'm bound to be interested in this kind of thing but it genuinely is very interesting and the series covers so many issues and ideas that people need to think about. The Uses and Abuses episode  also looks at racism and homosexuality and how certain words can offend different groups. This is something I feel really strongly about and wish more people knew what is acceptable and what clearly isn't. Plus, hearing him try and speak 'hip hop' language is worth it just for that! Go and watch the wisdom of Fry as he swears his way through an hour of television. Follow him on twitter @stephenfry for some of his fantastic tweets. His latest one says: 'Apology and embarrassment are the twin pillars of British culture. We even apologise for apologising. Sorry about that.'
 

Talking of abuses, half term, halloween, bonfire night and Christmas are fast approaching. This can only mean lots of social events and the need to buy new clothes, hence heavily abusing my bank account. Tenuous?

I realise that my shopping could be seen as excessive by some but as I'm not addicted to anything else, I think it's acceptable. The only problem is that I hate shopping in busy places when people will basically wrestle clothes out of your hands and barge you out of the way. Internet shopping is my friend. I don't actually order from the internet all that often but I look online at shops first and then know what I'm looking for when I am brave enough to head into town. It stops me spending hours in there and also makes me less likely to buy random things I didn't have on my list. However, there are a few online shops that could definitely convince me to stay in and order clothes to my door...

Pretaportobello.com - This is one of my favourite online sites. I can always see something on there that I like and feel the need to save up for. I'm yet to actually buy something from there but it won't be long before I'm pulled in. I need that bag in my life.

 

Urban Outfitters- I know this is a high street shop but as far as I'm aware, there isn't one in Nottingham yet. I love their accessories and handbags but the shoes aren't really my thing! They're a bit big and clompy for my taste.

Another of my favourites (Yayer.co.uk) has some beautiful outfits at the moment. Stripy maxi dress and arrow necklace. LOVE.

The shopping has to take a backseat at the moment as I'm concentrating on a self improvement mission. This involves a variety of things that I've decided to do such as read more books (three new ones have just arrived in the post), watch more films (hello free lovefilm subscription), cook more (new cake tin avec mini santa and chocolate stars bought in preparation for a Christmas cake) and also just to do more things in general. I get bored if I have nothing new to accomplish so these are my mini missions for a while! I also rearranged my blog homepage when I was bored so if you've managed to navigate yourself here then hopefully it isn't too confusing...

I have been singing this song all week so I thought it was only fair that I inflict it on others.