It’s not often I take pictures of my weekend outfits – denim features regularly, usually paired with a chunky knit and boots. Hardly the most inspiring of combinations! But after purchasing this striped sweater from Next on Saturday, I felt its first outing deserved a little more care and attention.

These boyfriend jeans are usually relegated to my not-leaving-the-house days, but as skinny jeans and Sundays just don’t mix, I pulled them out, belted them up and added a printed scarf and plaited belt. An outfit that’s roomy enough to accommodate a chicken pitta with chips, AND looks kinda cute to boot? Done!

PS – Just before Christmas the lovely girls at Cellardoor Magazine featured me in their Meet The Blogger post. You can read my interview here, and make sure you check out the magazine too – so cute.

On Tuesday I travelled to Leicester for the Next blogging day – a fantastic experience which I’ll blog about in more detail in another post. I was lucky enough to meet some really amazing bloggers, some whose blogs I’ve been reading since I started out and others who I couldn’t wait to get to know better.

I get most of my outfit inspiration from real people so it was a treat to be surrounded by so many stylish ladies, and it was clear that one trend was a favourite. Kristabel, Jazmine, Jill and Lucy were all wearing one. When the Next designers showed us a few from their upcoming Spring 11 range, a collective ‘ooohhhh’ could be heard. The bloggers have spoken – sheer, oversized shirts (especially ones with pointy collars) are officially lovely.

Please excuse the weird orange glow on my face. It’s not badly applied bronzer, just the street light that was glaring down on me. Stupid dark mornings. 

Wearing: H&M sheer shirt, Primark cardigan, ASOS jeans, French Connection shoes, Mango ring
On: Wednesday 12th January
For: Back at my desk, dreaming of sipping champagne and rushing around a Next store trying on clothes

I bought this khaki shirt last summer but have never really got the hang of styling it. Loose, baggy silhouettes are my worst enemy, but belting this piece just ruins the romance. So I popped this buttoned-up cardigan on over the top to add shape (and tone down the sheerness… no one needs to see a bra at 9am) and teamed it with simple black skinnies and my new favourite shoes.

I really love this look and think the shirt (along with a few more in different colours that I plan on buying) will become a spring staple.

Who’s inspiring you today?

Remember Red or Dead? If you were a 90s fashionista, you probably owned a piece from their collection. I had a pair of neon blue and yellow foam wedge sandals (bought for a year 9 disco) and the infamous rainbow striped kitten heel slingbacks – a copy of a pair Carrie wore on Sex and the City.

The brand, started by Wayne Hemingway and his wife Geraldine in 1982, exploded in the 90s but petered out as fashion moved on. Things have been quiet until recently, when Red or Dead resurfaced.

I was contacted by the Red or Dead PR team who asked if I’d like to choose an item from their clothing collection and a pair of tights from their range. Initially it was nostalgia that interested me – would they rework that rainbow stripe for 2011? But after looking at the range I was thoroughly impressed. Here’s what I chose:

Wearing: Red or Dead chocolate brown trench coat, Topshop jeans, Steve Madden boots, Mango ring
On: Saturday 8th January
For: Hunting for bargains in my favourite charity shop

It’s the attention to detail that makes this coat spectacular. Everything from the silky printed lining inside to the adorable zebra medal pinned to the lapel. The heavy cotton means it’s warm enough for even the coldest of days and the sharp, military-style silhouette is so elegant, even over jeans and a t-shirt.

I’ve yet to wear the tights but anything that comes in a pink package emblazoned with the phrase ‘glorious gussets’ is bound to be wonderful, so I have high hopes.

I’m really impressed with the quality and design of the things I’ve seen from Red or Dead. Although the brand is synonymous with the 90s, they’ve created pieces that are relevant right now. I especially love the swimwear and handbag collections, although some of the clothing is a little too ‘graphic print jersey’ for me. One thing I really don’t like is the website – what’s going on there?!

Are you familiar with Red or Dead? What do you think of the range?