#OOTD Tartan Loving

Back to work after all the festive cheer and what better way burn off those Christmas calories than by doing a load of exercising... by walking around hundreds of shops :)

I wanted an outfit that was sophisticated and in-season that looked chic and expensive but I could afford it by using my mere pittance left over after all my Christmas shopping - so where better to head than Primark for an entire outfit!

I wanted to have tartan but needed to make sure the pattern and colour worked with my skin complexion, so I managed to find a dark blue tartan with very thin red and green tied in - the blue also goes with most of my wardrobe!

To pull out the blue and green in the trousers, I wore a chiffon long-sleeved collared blouse, done up to the top button and tucked it in for a smart-casual look.

I finished it off with a pair of powder blue frilly ankle socks, paired with black patent cut-out brogues and added a silver chain necklace to pick up my silver Michael Kors watch and midi-rings.

Ultimately, I love this look, and also mixed it with my dark blue and green tartan blanket scarf/cape so I was warm in the winter but also an apparent tartan worshipper.

                           Turquoise blouse - Primark, Silver chain necklace - eBay boutique

Tartan trousers - Primark, Silver Watch - Michael Kors, Midi rings - Primark

Powder blue frill socks - Primark, Black patent brogues - New Look

Tartan blanket scarf - Christmas gift (New Look)

Tartan trousers close up - Primark 

#OOTD Christmas Sparkle

So I had a Christmas do to attend and wanted to look fabulous but not OTT so I raided my wardrobe and decided it was definitely time for a new outfit... It is the festive season after all, time for giving (to myself!) so I did a bit of shopping.

I wanted something comfortable that didn't restrict my stomach (as we were attending a three-course meal, so I wanted room for my inevitable food baby) and I decided on a pair of sparkly, black and silver harem pants (elasticated waists should be on every item of clothing...).

Then to fit with this year's tomboy look, I went for a loose fitting, off the shoulder top from New Look in bright orange with an oriental pastel blue sequin print. This is the first orange top I have ever bought, usually I look horrible and blotchy in reds and fiery oranges but the pastel blue toned it down, and as I paired it with a blue statement necklace and matching pastel clutch (courtesy of Hemsley London), it still looked wonderfully vibrant but not too in-your-face.

Finally I finished off the look with a pair of Kim-Kardashianesque black stiletto sandals and my silver Michael Kors Chronograph watch that picked up the silver from my harem pants and the sequins from the top.

Everyone seemed to love this look, and the general consensus for my trousers were that not only did they look fabulous, but apparently also made me look slim - so a win-win on my part!

See below for the photos, and let me know about your Christmas outfits - go on and treat yourself to a new Christmas outfit, you deserve it!

Tweet your looks to @ellcakes and I will feature you on my blog!

Harem pants - Next (just £26!), Top - New Look, Necklace - River Island, Clutch - Hemsley London (part of the Hemsley Slice Lunchbox Range), Shoes - Forever 21 (NY store), Watch - Michael Kors  

The Hemsley Lunchbox - perfect as a fashion statement lunch box and as a clutch bag!

Michael Kors Chronograph - pearlescent face and Swarovski crystal numerics 

#DOINGAMILEY

So having been frequenting London Fashion Week for the past few days, I definitely got caught up in the fashion vibe and decided to radicalise my look... and chop off all my hair. All seventeen inches of it (yes, the hairdresser measured it!)

So it went from this:

To this...

To this...

And finally to this...

Necklace - River Island, Kimono - Primark, Chiffon vest - H&M

It was a huge shock, and although I miss being able to swish about my long locks, or pile it in a top knot when it is irritatingly heavy and thick, I must say I adore my shoulder-length chop.

Apart from making me look older (I was definitely mistaken for being a fifteen year old two weeks ago at a wedding) it feels so much more flirty and playful, but maintains the volume and layering I love.

Thank you so much to the Toni & Guy team in the Blow-Out Bar at LFW... Without you I would still be dithering on whether to have half an inch, or a whole inch taken off! You did a fabulous job, and although I had quite a few sips of vino for confidence, I am delighted that I listened to your scissor-happy advice.