Surania Custom Swimwear

Surania are an online Spanish swimwear brand who offer their customers the opportunity to design their own swimsuits or bikinis. They make swimwear for men, women & children in hundreds of different styles so you can choose something entirely unique to you. A little while ago they asked me if I would like to create my very own bikini & I jumped at the chance! I was immediately intrigued by the concept of their website as I've often struggled to find swimwear that I like & that looks good on my body. Surania kindly sent me a gift voucher so that I could try out the website for myself & design my dream bikini.



After looking through all the different styles available I decided to order the bandeau balconette flounce bikini top & the high waist fixed bikini bottoms. Coming up with your own unique design is the best part! It's so much fun & I could spend hours playing about on their website. They have so many different colours & patterns to choose from, the possibilities are endless! To complete your design you just click on a section of the bikini template & then click on your chosen fabric. As much as I wanted to design something bright & colourful, I figured I would be more body confident in something monochrome. I fell in love with the pretty floral design of the Vitoria fabric so I used it all over with a couple of black & white accents. After finalising your design you need to choose the sizes. Surania's swimsuits aren't just designed to your specifications, they are tailor-made to fit your exact measurements! Buying swimwear off the rack can be nightmare because most of us will need a different sized top & bottom. They tend not to accommodate for large boobs or bums either so Surania is a great place to look if you want something that will fit you perfectly.




I had to wait about three weeks for my bikini to be delivered. They provide fast shipping all over the world using DHL but of course you have to wait for your custom bikini to actually be made. Once it arrived on my doorstep I couldn't wait to see how it looked in real life! This is my bikini set & it's everything I was hoping for. It's so cool to see something you've designed become a finished product. I wanted a top with an underwire & I love the cute flounce trim. High waisted bottoms are great if you have a bit of a flabby tummy & they hide my laparoscopy scars. I'm really happy with the styles I chose & the fabric looks lovely too. It's really thick & fully lined so it helps to hold you in. Best of all the fit is spot on! Surania offer a perfect fit guarantee so if you didn't measure yourself correctly, they'll happily exchange your order within 30 days of receipt. It might be a bit more expensive than the average bikini but this is no average bikini. Swimwear of this calibre is worth every penny.




Bikini - Surania* / Kimono - eBay / Sandals - New Look / Hat - River Island / Sunglasses - Quay Australia
I never thought I would be posting bikini pics on the internet but here I am! I've spent most of my life hating my body after being bullied over it at school & even though I lost a lot of weight I was never happy with myself. Over the last year I've gained a stone from not exercising enough & eating whole share bags of chocolate buttons in one sitting. August is the worst month for me food-wise because I always pig out at the Huddersfield Food Festival & have a few indulgent meals for my birthday. I'm currently the biggest I've been in a long time but I'm just tired of being down on myself for it. I'm planning on joining Slimming World when Chloe goes back to school on Wednesday but in the name of body positivity I decided to take some pictures of my current beach body. As you can see the Surania bikini is such a great fit on me & the style is flattering on my shape. Wearing it definitely makes me feel more confident in my body & I'm not ashamed to go out in public like this. To go with the monochrome design I paired it with some black & white accessories. I bought this kimono from eBay & it's a fab beach coverup. I adore the tassels on the sleeves & bottom edge! I also wore my white New Look sandals & black straw fedora from River Island. I've bought so many pairs of sunglasses from Quay Australia this Summer! These are the Invader sunglasses & I love their cut-out cat eye shape.

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Black Magic

Top - River Island / Trousers - Patrizia Pepe* / Sandals - New Look / Necklace - Rock 'N' Rose
Watch - JORD* / Bracelet - H&M / Rings - Regal Rose & River Island

I'm probably wearing more black clothing here than most would deem suitable for the Summer but I like to indulge in my gothic tendencies all year round! Cold shoulder tops aren't normally my thing as I'm quite broad but I thought the shape of this one from River Island was really cute. The body is relaxed & floaty so it's very comfortable to wear when the weather is hot. I love the neckline & it dips down at the back as well. I definitely want to get it in a few more colours & they've just brought out a lovely polka dot version too! I think it looks great with jeans or trousers so I paired it with these black Patrizia Pepe jeggings from Repertoire Fashion. For some reason I've avoided jeggings in the past but these are such brilliant quality. They're so well made & very flattering on my figure. I don't think regular leggings are acceptable as trousers but these are completely opaque & quite thick so they really hold you in. They also look smart enough to pass off as work trousers whilst providing all the comfort of leggings. Repertoire Fashion offer some amazing discounts on designer brands. The jeggings normally cost £109 but Repertoire Fashion sell them for just 40 quid so it's well worth checking out all the designer bargains on their website!

As this is quite a plain black outfit I wanted to dress it up a bit with my accessories. I went for my gorgeous white sandals from New Look which I consider to be the perfect Summer shoes. I got these last year but they have some similar ones in store now. They're so comfy & easy to walk in. I love a good statement necklace & it doesn't get much bolder than this gold pentagram choker from Rock 'N' Rose. I've become completely obsessed with Quay Australia sunglasses lately. The Kitti glasses are one of my fave styles but the matte black material sometimes leaves black marks on my face, boo! Red lipstick goes beautifully with a black outfit & Illamasqua Tramp is the ultimate. Sadly I think they've discontinued it now but they do loads of other fab red lippies too.




Womens Wood Watches
One of my newest acquisitions is this wooden JORD watch. I think it looks absolutely stunning & so unique! I've never seen anything like it before. The watches are all handcrafted in the USA. Each watch also looks slightly different due to the nature of the wood so you end up with a one of a kind timepiece. I chose the Ely Cherry watch as I loved the colour of the wood & I like to have a date window on the clock face. It feels incredibly light & comfortable to wear. The style is elegant & goes with everything. It has a smaller dial & band than some of their other watches so it's perfect for my delicate wrists. One thing I dislike about buying a new watch is having to get it sized at a jewellers. For just $10 JORD will actually take care of this for you. Simply measure your wrist before ordering & your watch will arrive ready to wear. It's an excellent service & I'd definitely recommend taking advantage of it. I had no problems with UK customs which is something I often worry about when ordering from abroad & delivery was extremely quick too! I'm completely in love with this watch & I've had so many comments about it lately. A wooden watch certainly attracts lots of attention. If you're after something a bit unusual or want to get someone a very unique gift then I'd highly recommend taking a look at all the wonderful wooden watches that JORD have to offer.

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#MCM Man Crush Monday With New Look

Leather Jacket / Check Shirt / Black Skinny Jeans / Snakeskin Plimsolls / Belt / Leather Wrap Bracelet / Watch

It's Monday & #MCM means it's time to fawn over some hot men, yay! My current top three 'man crushes' would have to be Joe Gilgun from This Is England/Misfits, Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age and Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro. I clearly have a thing for men with tattoos & nice hair. In general I'd say I have a pretty weird taste in men (Steve Buscemi anyone?) but I imagine some of you will fancy at least one of those three. Of course a well dressed man is always more attractive to me. I tend to like guys with indie style sensibilities as I feel like that best compliments my own fashion choices. New Look have recently relaunched their menswear collection & to celebrate they wanted to see how I would style up my man crush. I think that any of the above guys would look great in what I've chosen. However my ultimate man crush would have to be my boyfriend Andy (gag haha!) & he is definitely in need of some new clothes. He's actually a fashion retail manager so he mainly just wears whatever uniform he's chosen for work. I wish I could get him to wear something like this but he's very stuck in his ways. Whenever I buy him something he nearly always returns it. I practically begged him to get the leather jacket but he point blank refused. He's just turned 30 so he thought that he would be too old for it. He's such a goon, I think he'd look amazing in it! So instead I let him have free reign of the New Look website & as he was in need of a new coat he chose this navy parka jacket*.



The jacket is a nice smart cover up that he can wear for work or on his days off. It's very practical for the coming season. Andy's fashion sense doesn't really extend beyond being practical so I guess that's why he chose it! Hopefully I can persuade him to go for some of the other pieces I've chosen from New Look as his wardrobe could really do with a revamp. First of all though I need to tackle that dreadful goatee...

Who's your pick for Man Crush Monday?

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The Throwback Dress

We all have those clothes in our wardrobes that we just can't seem to get rid of. I have a hard time letting go of old clothes even if they don't fit me anymore. New Look are currently running a 'throwback dress' campaign to celebrate those wardrobe favourites you've been hoarding for years. My throwback dress has to be this pansy print tea dress from Topshop. It was from Kate Moss' first ever collection for Topshop back in May 2007. I remember staying up all night for a college deadline & I'd just finished my work as the collection launched online. I treated myself to this dress and the rest is history. I love the floral pattern & the shape is so incredibly flattering. It's actually a couple of sizes too big for me but for some reason it looks fantastic no matter how much weight I gain or lose. I've worn this countless times for evenings out but whenever the sun starts to shine it's one of those dresses I always reach for. It's still going strong after seven whole years so it was well worth the £45.



The lovely people at New Look offered me the chance to choose a 'future throwback dress' from New Look's range of dresses. As I love the style of my Kate Moss x Topshop dress I decided to go for this red floral tea dress. If something looks flattering on my figure I'm much more likely to keep it around for a long time. The colour & pattern are absolutely stunning. I don't wear a lot of red but I think that this bright tomato shade looks really nice on me - if I do say so myself! I wore it out yesterday and I got so many compliments on it. I love the little bow detailing on the shoulders and the overall quality is brilliant. It's the perfect little dress for the Summer. I simply adore it & I'm sure it'll be sticking around in my wardrobe for as long as my Kate Moss dress has! What's your throwback dress?

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Candy Coated

Coat - Topshop / Dress - In Love With Fashion* / Shirt - New Look / Shoes - Topshop
Necklace - H&M / Bracelet - H&M / Watch - Michael Kors

As someone who often fails to deviate from buying monochrome clothing I've been making a real effort to buy colourful things lately. I love pastel colours so I couldn't resist buying a pastel coat. I originally wanted a pink coat but when I saw this mint green one on the Topshop website it was love. I used to have that sailor swing coat from Topshop & the size 10 still fit me when I was nine months pregnant! As this was a similar shape I went for the size 8 & it's a perfect fit. I had to hunt down the last size 8 in the Trafford Centre & ended up getting the one off the mannequin. It was worth it though! I cringed a lot at the £89 price tag but hey, pretty coats are always a good investment right? I still want a pink coat as well but I'm struggling to find the perfect one. I adore this bright pink coat from Topshop so if they bring out a petite version I'll be snapping it up right away. Let's just ignore the price!

Carrying on with the pastel theme I've been wearing this gorgeous baby pink shift dress a lot lately. I got it from In Love With Fashion. I'm really into LOVE's Spring collection. They have a whole host of beautiful pastel coloured dresses available. I went for this shift dress as it's such a classic & versatile piece. It's so easy to wear during the day and then you can glam it up a bit at night with a leather jacket & some heels. I wore this out to the cinema the other week when we went to see The Wolf Of Wall Street. I absolutely loved it, Leo was robbed! I just wore my pink Topshop T-bars which are one of my favourite pairs of shoes. I keep wearing shirts under dresses too. I think it's because I secretly wish every dress had a collar.

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Object Of Desire: Christmas Jumpers

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

I'm already feeling pretty festive this year, even though it's only November. I love how the cheesy Christmas jumpers of old have now become the coolest thing to sport this Winter. New Look recently got in touch and asked me to write a post about some of their new clothes. I'm loving the incredibly cute collection of Christmas jumpers from New Look & I'm having the hardest time deciding which one to buy! If your grandparents still insist on buying you some new knitwear at Christmas, make sure you point them in this direction.

01. I actually hate the taste of Christmas pudding (& mince pies for that matter) but the jumper I'm most drawn to is this one. I love pastel colours & the little white bobbles attached are really cute. The red & clear gems are a nice finishing touch. I'd wear this just with some skinny jeans & ankle boots.

02. This super fluffy jumper will be great for snuggling up in on cold Winter nights. The sequins give rudolph a very shiny nose indeed!

03. Aww check out this fluffy little penguin with his scarf & bobble hat! The large polka dots on the jumper look like falling snow making this one a really cute choice.

04. I think this one would look lovely worn on Christmas Day with a white shirt underneath and a black skirt. I normally end up wearing something red for Christmas, channeling Santa Claus chic.

05. This one is probably the most wearable is you don't want to look overly festive. I love the mint green fairisle pattern. It's a nice take on the more traditional patterned jumpers.

06. This is another lovely one if you want something something a bit more simple & casual. Who doesn't love spotting robins in the garden?

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Hi There

Jumper - Topshop / Shirt - New Look / Shorts - Topshop / Collar Brooch - Pretty Little Things*
Hair Bow - H&M / Bracelet - Pretty Little Things* / Rings - Topshop

This is officially the coolest collar brooch in existence! I was sent this by Emma, the owner of Pretty Little Things and I am totally in love with it. Think it might have to become a permanent fixture on all my shirts. Its a great way of saying hello if you're feeling a bit shy haha. If you're looking for a quirky collar brooch then definitely check out the Pretty Little Things shop. They sell loads of amazing jewellery, like this cute gold bow bracelet, but the collar brooches are truly the star of the show. They're such a great finishing touch for any collared shirt. Check out their facebook page too for updates on new additions.

This is what I wore today to do some Christmas shopping. The shorts might've been an error as even my Primark Super Cosy tights, which I swear by, were no match for the cold. My lovely pink jumper from Topshop kept me fairly warm though. I know its not really a Wintery colour but I just can't resist a bit of pink all year round. I think I've bought pretty much all the Christmas presents now which is such a relief! Organisation FTW. Just need to sort out the decorations and buy a tree. Now its actually December I can't wait to start doing all the usual Christmasy stuff. I've already had a bit of Yule Log & mulled wine today!

Apply Some Pressure

Dress - New Look / Shoes - All Saints / Bracelet - Ginger Pickle* / Rings - ASOS & Regal Rose

If there was ever an outfit that could represent me as a person, this would be it. Not sure why, its just a feeling I get when I wear this dress haha. I bought it from New Look a couple of years ago and its still one of my faves because it looks good during the day as well as at night. Plus it has pockets! Any dress with pockets immediately gets a thumbs up from me. My lipstick is one of the Topshop pencils in Powder Room. Really love this colour! These are my go-to dancing shoes. I bought them from All Saints a few years ago hence their battered appearance. They cost about £70 and I adore them so I'm still reluctant to get rid of them even though they've seen better days. I absolutely love my new arrow bracelet from Ginger Pickle. Its so dainty and cute! Jade makes some beautiful pieces with the sweetest packaging ever so definitely check out her shop if you haven't already.

This is what I wore last night when we went to see the bonfire & watch some fireworks. Well, this is what I wore under a hoodie, a coat, a scarf, a hat and some gloves. Its so cold out there! Last night was a bit of fail because while we were walking towards the display Chloe kept saying how much she loved fireworks, then as soon as we got there lots of crying ensued with shouts of 'I don't like fireworks, they're too loud!'. Oops, hopefully she'll enjoy it more next year!

This Night Has Opened My Eyes

Dress - Glamorous* / Shirt - New Look / Jacket - Primark / Hat - Topshop / Boots - Topshop
Bolo Tie - Galibardy / Rings - Regal Rose, H&M, Kukee

Today I'm wearing this dress that I was sent by the lovely people at Glamorous. They describe it as a vest on the website but its definitely long enough to be worn as a dress. I really like the dip hem & anything with a cross on is alright by me! I wore it with a chiffon shirt underneath mainly so I could wear my bolo tie with it. I am obsessed with this tie. After my years of searching for one on ebay, Galibardy came to my rescue with this classic buffalo skull one. I could only ever find really tacky ones meant for cowboy fancy dress costumes so I'm really happy with this purchase. I'm also wearing my witchy boots! I bought these from Topshop a couple of years ago and I totally forgot I had them. Think I'll be having these as this years A/W boots.

I've spent most of today running about trying to get everything organised for Andy's birthday tomorrow. I'm making him a chocolate Smarties cake and it smells so good! Can't wait to decorate it and eat it. Still need to pop out to Sainsburys again when the sponges have finished cooking as I've forgotten to buy him a card, whoops!

PS. First blog photos taken on my new camera, ooh exciting haha!

You Don't Light Me Up Like You Used To

Leotard - New Look / Skirt - American Apparel / Belt - Primark / Hat - Topshop / Shoes - Topshop
Necklace - Lady Luck Rules OK / Bracelets - Black Tied / Rings - Regal Rose & H&M

I totally caved again. I just couldn't resist ordering these shoes from Topshop. White shoes are such a staple in my wardrobe. I think its because I wear so much black that I prefer to have something contrasting on my feet, even if they do attract more dirt. I also ordered the black canvas Vectras and this hat. I tend to shy away from hats because I end up feeling like a bit of tit in them but this one is lovely. Its a tiny bit loose but its not blown away yet so I guess its okay! Nearly every Lookbook photo I like features some kind of hat so I figured it was time to buy one. Now I seriously need to stop buying things if I'm ever gonna save up enough to order a Canon 650D with the 18-135mm STM lens for my birthday next month!

Another item that I'm loving right now is this velvet skirt from American Apparel. I've wanted to buy it for such a long time and my waiting finally paid off as they had a 50% discount on everything last month. I bought one of their tri-blend cardigans for Chloe too. Their whole kids section is so cute and if I had the money I'd buy her everything from there. I wanted to buy her the kids version of this velvet skirt too but knowing her it would last about five minutes before getting completely smothered in chocolate!