Wednesday Wishlist: The Beach Essentials

Summer Beauty Saviours

Did you survive the heatwave? Yes? Good. It's hard work dealing with temperatures past a certain point isn't it - especially when that point is sitting out in the garden at 10pm because the brisk of air is cooler than your front room with all the windows open and a house representing Bug's Life. When it's hot in Britain, it's hard to handle so imagine how parched your skin gets in its daily exposure to sun (okay, what I really mean is when you're on holiday or enjoying the three days of warm weather at home). 

How To Pack and Prepare Your Summer Holiday Outfits

The build up to a holiday abroad is, in my eyes, one of the best parts. The thought of taking a trip out of reality to a placid place with only unwinding relaxation, scorching sunshine, photo opportunities and the exploration of exciting locations on your to-do list is enough to boost your spirits no matter what's going on around you but of course, with a holiday comes organisation and with organisation comes a bedroom resembling a warehouse, clothes piled up in a measly sized suitcase with a cram and hope it doesn't exceed the luggage limit mantra and a last minute panic on if you've managed to gather enough unique, appropriate, contemporary fashion to fill your insta content for the fortnight.

Wednesday Wishlist: Summer Sandals

RIVER ISLAND GOLD SLIDERS | MANGO APPLIQUÉ LEATHER SANDALS | BERSHKA RED KNOT FLAT SANDALS | TOPSHOP GOLD ANKLE TIE SANDALS | & OTHER STORIES BLACK ROUND CUT SANDALS | H&M BROWN SNAKE SKIN SANDALS | FOREVER 21 NUDE FAUX LEATHER SANDALS | COS IVORY KNOTTED LEATHER SANDALS | ZARA MULTICOLOUR METAL FLATS | STRADIVARIUS WHITE LACE UP SANDALS | WAREHOUSE TAN LACE UP FLAT SANDAL | NEW LOOK CREAM SUEDETTE RIBBON SANDALS | ASOS SUEDE TIE FRINGE SANDALS | MANGO GOLD STRAP CORD SANDALS | ZARA BURGUNDY CROSSOVER SANDALS | OFFICE BATHING BEAUTY SANDALS | UO JUNE MINT KNOT FLATS | ASOS NUDE/BLACK LEATHER SANDALS | ZARA BLACK BRAIDED SANDALS | STRADIVARIUS ASYMMETRICAL FLAT SANDALS | ASOS SILVER TIE LEG ESPADRILLE SANDALS |  ASOS METALLIC LACE UP SANDALS | NEW LOOK CANVAS ANKLE TIE ESPADRILLES | TOPSHOP TAN ANKLE TIE SANDALS | MANGO NUDE KNOT FLAT SANDALS | ASOS EMBROIDERED TIE LEG SANDALS | ZARA GOLD METALLIC SLIDERS | ASOS WESTERN FLAT SANDALS

Wednesday Wishlist: Twenty Something Sunglasses

(FROM COLUMN TO COLUMN) TOPSHOP PORTUGAL SUNGLASSES | & OTHER STORIES BRONZE METAL SUNGLASSES | MANGO MIRRORED LENS SUNGLASSES | NEW LOOK ORANGE RECTANGLE SUNGLASSES | BRIDGE LESS SLIM FLAT SUNGLASSES | ASOS ROUND MARBLE FINISH SUNGLASSES | FOREVER 21 CAT EYE PRINTED SUNGLASSES | QUAY LANA ROSE GOLD SUNGLASSES | SWATCH THE EYES OF AUDREY SUNGLASSES | QUAY GEMINI BLACK SUNGLASSES | QUAY WHITE RHYMES SUNGLASSES | STRADIVARIUS CAT EYE SUNGLASSES |  JEEPERS PEEPERS BLACK METAL BRIDGE SUNGLASSES | BOOHOO GOLD AVIATOR SUNGLASSES | MISSGUIDED MIRRORED SILVER METAL AVIATOR SUNGLASSES | ROSE GOLD FLAT LENS METAL FRAME SUNGLASSES | RIVER ISLAND GOLD TONE DARK YELLOW ROUND SUNGLASSES | H&M BLACK ROUND SUNGLASSES | ZARA METALLIC SUNGLASSES | ASOS CAT EYE WIRE HIGHBROW SUNGLASSES | URBAN OUTFITTERS TAUPE CAT EYE SUNGLASSES | QUAY SORRY NOT SORRY ROSE GOLD MIRROR LENS SUNGLASSES | BERSHKA 70S SUNGLASSES 

Wednesday Wishlist: River Island new season picks

bardot jumper | denim culottes | stripe turtle neck top | trench jacket | denim patchwork skirt | beige turtle neck top | grey kimono sleeve dress | stripe jumpsuit | stripe lace up dress | faux suede patchwork skirt | suede wrap heeled sandals | brown patchwork bag | patent ankle boot | frilly victoriana blouse | black pleated trousers | grey midi skirt

The holiday lookbook: daywear week 2

Finally, after getting back on track, I've moved on to the second part of my holiday lookbook which is the day-wear part two. The outfits featured are definitely some of my favourite of the bulk lot. Not just because my tan was more noticeable (crying into my pillow because that's now completely vanished) but because the locations are so blog-ready and I strangely felt much more ship-shaped going into the second week. Typically, it got hotter in Spain as the weeks went by so I had to keep the clothing to a minimal and I think the choice of styling fit the bill and kept heat exhaustion to a minimum (trust me when I say I had a serious case of that on a daily basis). So, without keeping a conversation pointlessly rolling, I'll crack on with showing you what I wore.

DAY 11 -

 That H&M dress was the perfect choice for a day at the beach. Light, white AND appealing.

Dress - H&M | Hat - H&M | Bag - H&M | Sliders - Primark | Sunnies -  River Island

DAY 12 -

I love layering but the only suitable layering abroad is sleeveless on sleeveless. Camel on black is what I went for here.

Dress - Forever 21 | Sleeveless Jacket - Miss Pap | Hat - H&M | Belt - ASOS | Shoes - Primark

DAY 13 -

This ASOS dress was a definite all round vacay dress. Adding in some contrast, delicate accessories jazzed it up a little.

Dress - ASOS | Sandals - Mango | Bag - H&M | Sunglasses - Primark | Necklace - New Look

DAY 14 -

Back at the apartment I always opted for a safe choice of a camisole and shorts. Square necks are so complimenting.

Top - H&M | Shorts - Stradivarius | Shoes - Primark

DAY 15 -

Jersey dresses allow you to still have breathing space whilst being a step bolder and classier when exploring. 

Dress - H&M | Hat - (a Spanish own) | Sandals - Forever 21 | Bag - H&M

DAY 16 -

A lightweight stripe number is a must. The clean cut, crisp white colours matched the Spanish streets effortlessly. 

Dress - New Look | Bag - Primark | Shoes - Forever 21 | Hat - H&M

DAY 17 -

Reaching out for my girly side, the neutral whites and pinky nudes were in full swing with this pretty fringed blouse.

*Top - C/O DressLink | Shorts - Forever 21 | Hat - Primark | Sunglasses - Stradivarius

DAY 18 - 

Finding that 1 pair of shorts and wearing them to death is necessary. Crop top/shorts are the ultimate holiday combo.

Top - New Look | Shorts - Stradivarius | Bralet - Primark | Sunnies - Primark | Hat - H&M

DAY 19 -

When wearing a stand out print on the bottom half, a more simple bralet to throw on is a great way to mix it up.

Bralet - Primark | Shorts - Topshop

DAY 20 -

I love a good tanned shoulder so showing them off in this beautiful bardot piece made me feel oh so sophisticated.

Dress - Bershka | Sandals - Mango 

DAY 21 -

I often swap outfits at the beach so carrying featherweight, barely there pieces with me was a grand decision. 

Beach outfit 1: Bikini - H&M | Kimono - Primark | Hat - H&M

Beach outfit 2: Bralet - eBay | Shorts -  ASOS | Hat - H&M 

If you want to recap on the first daywear lookbook, you can find it here! Stay tuned as evening wear part one will be posted soon (definitely sooner than the gap between these two).

Bridie x

Life: my holiday photo diary in sunny Spain

Holiday blues: the depression and boredom that follows when you arrive back from a holiday. 

It's been well over a week now and I'm still suffering greatly with the above definition. I'm currently in the state of mourning over my peeling skin and discolouring tan, moaning about the supposed British (Northern) summer, and making reference to what would have been happening if I was back on the Costa Blanca (y'know the whole 'this time two weeks ago' kinda dialect). After 17 days of nothing but bliss and relaxation in the glorious sunshine, reality really does hit once you're back boarding the plane like a typical grumpy tourist and it seems to have unintentionally affected my blog schedule. I feel like I need to apologise for being absent throughout the whole of July. My motivation seemed to have completely vanished along with the pre-holiday bikini bod I worked so hard on (here's back to having an extremely sweet tooth and telling myself there's absolutely no reason for me to continue with the strict diet). 

Taking away from the fact I'm admittedly a little grouchy (but also gradually finding my way back to normality), I did once again have the best time with the best people. Our trip to Torrevieja in the Orihuela Costa happens every year. We stay at the same location, visit the same places and do the same things and despite what some may think, it never ever gets boring. Family time is something I value the most; so along with waking up to bright blue skies, devouring delicious food in our favourite restaurants, getting a free Bailey's from our fraternal Italian bar owner every night, treasuring the peacefulness, and even sweating as soon as we've glammed and freshened up on an evening (hello extreme hair frizz encountered humidity), being with the people I love the most, meeting some new friendly faces along the way, and belly laughing to the point of tears is unbeatable. 

We stay in Playa Flamenca continuously and I'm a huge fan of the quietness and the familiar surroundings. It's not chaotic, over populated, nor materialistic. In fact it's the complete opposite and is more like a home from home. Some days we ate our body weight in all the carbs possible, some days we stayed in, watched the soaps and then sat out on the scorching patio chatting till gone midnight (it was still just below 30 degrees at that time!). We strolled along the beach, the central harbour (with an ice cream of course), and the dainty market stalls, burnt our feet on the red hot sand, attempted to play a good few rounds of pool without dehydrating, admired the beautiful Spanish architecture, dedicated an evening to spending and shopping till we drop in Spain's most recent (and most captivating) open rooftop boulevard and sat round the pool, everyday without fail, without a care in the world, head in a book and ears filled with freshly updated music. It's a different world when you're abroad and there's something about the sea air that tends to make me feel 100 times better, happier and healthier than back home. It's a shame holidays can't last forever. You seem to wait for that build up to the day for months down the line, yet the actual vacation flies by. Saying that, I do appreciate the opportunity of experiencing nothing but sunshine and exploration, and before I delve into sorrow, will now let the photos do the talking. Warning, very picture heavy post.

As you can see, finding photo opportunities is always easy. Although I've been reoccurring my holidays to the same location, it makes no difference to how snap happy I become. You think you know the place inside out but there's always something new and a discovery of the hidden gems. I also became more adventurous with the capturing of my outfits this year. Stopping at certain locations for a photo (or should I say more like a group of them which you turn out hating) drove my brother insane but with some gentle persuasion and returned favours, I managed to widen the spectrum so stay tuned for lots more fashion-based photos to come!

Hope you're all having a lovely week! I'm glad I've finally managed to prepare a post as I've missed the blogging community. It feels good to be back!

Bridie x