SS14 coat: the perfect choies

It's been a long hard 3 weeks but my coat from Choies has finally arrived! All the way from America, it's taken it's sweet time but I've finally had the chance to style it up! When I first saw the price of $72.79, I thought it would be really expensive. But after using my converter app to find out what it was in pounds, I realised it wasn't actually too bad. Then with it being my first order, Choies gave me 15% off and I selected the free delivery option (which is why I had to wait so long) so my order ended up being only $61.87 (which is roughly £36)! The colour is to-die-for and fits into my pastel wardrobe perfectly and the long style with the slightly cropped sleeves makes it perfect for this time of year. I was unsure on the sizing, even though they provided a size chart, so I went with a medium. It does fit really nicely although I think I probably should've gone with a small because it's a bit wide on the shoulders but just go with whichever you think will be best. I wanted to show just how versatile it is by styling it for lots of different occasions, and I tried to use clothes that I haven't really featured before so you get an insight into my wardrobe (I've actually got 2 double ones and 2 single ones that are all full but that's beside the point).

With all my skirts and heeled boots and pastel coats, casual grunge isn't a look I ever really channel but I thought it was time to try something different. I'm touring the west coast of America in July and I'm pretty sure that a pair of denim shorts will be essential so I thought some practise in styling them couldn't do me any harm. I am so past the whole cheek-peek-denim-shorts phase (I left that behind in 2012), so I like that this pair are a bit longer and the floral trim adds some femininity. This pair were from Miss Selfridge for around £35 (sorry I got them ages ago so I don't know the exact price) and I love the high waisted style and pale denim fabric. I paired them with this edgy crop top from river island (I think it was about £20) which is the perfect length when worn with the shorts. To keep the look dressed down, I wore white leather converse (£55 from Schuh) and while frilly socks, and I avoided adding any jewellery (although you don't really need any with this top because of the beading).

Back to my usual girly, florally, pastelly style for this outfit. I've had this playsuit for ages but I still love it so much; the print is lush and the fit and length are really nice too. It was originally £25 from River Island but I got it on sale for £10 (bargain!!!). I added a thin brown belt to it (I got this one free with a different playsuit but you can get them anywhere and everywhere) and my white La Moda sandals which were £24. I think the coat looks great with it because the colour matches the green bits on the playsuit and I like when the coat is slightly longer than what's underneath. I also added my rose-gold Identity London watch, and the 3/4 length sleeves means your watch is never covered by your coat (an added bonus). I finished the look with a glossy pink lipstick; Revlon Colorburst in 050 Berry smoothie is one of my all-time favourites.

What with so much happening in summer, I thought this was a great occasion outfit. Whether it's for graduation or a celebratory meal, this playsuit looks really nice and the 3/4 sleeves are really flattering. I love monochrome and the pastel coat makes this the perfect monopastel outfit. The playsuit was £29.99 from missguided, and although I had to have a wrestling match with myself to do the zip all the way up to the top by myself (I was the only one in the house so I had no other option; maybe I should become a contortionist then the task would be a simple one), it's a really nice fit when it's on. I added my trusty new look heels (£35) and my new look gold watch, aswell as a red colour-pop lip. My lipstick of choice is L'Oreal Color riche in 461 Scarlett crème because it goes on really nicely and lasts all day. I've also got a MAC one which is really nice but it's a matte one and I prefer red lips to be shiny.

Even though we're going into summer and we've had so much nice weather over the last week or so, days like today prove that when in Britain, no season is a sure thing. We get heat waves in October and rain storms in July and August so you have to be prepared for any weather all-year round; hence why I styled an outfit with jeans in it. This top was another river island bargain and was only £15 (I seem to have included a lot of river island stuff actually). The Paris print and rolled sleeves keep it casual while the longer length makes it easy to dress up a bit when paired with heels. Most people would probably wear this with black leggings but seeing as I don't actually own a pair (a fact that I'm very proud of and am considering adding to my CV), I've added jeans. Just a little FYI; leggings are not trousers! (adapted from Blair Waldorf's American version; tights are not pants). These jeans are obviously Joni by Topshop (£36), as most of my jeans are, and I've worn them rolled up at the ankles so the shoes can be seen better. I am so in love with these shoes from Missguided (£34.99) as they're just the perfect inbetween of shoe and boot and work equally well for daytime or a night out.

Of all of them; this look was my personal favourite. The top is one that you've actually seen before; my missguided fine-knit crop top that was £14.99 and is the most perfect shade of pink that any girly-girl could dream of. I created another monopastel outfit by pairing it with these floral-print Topshop shorts (£34). I love long-sleeved tops with shorts because I think the balance looks really flattering and the addition of heels makes your legs look longer. I wore these missguided cut-out heeled boots again to show they worked just as well in a dressier outfit, and I added my favourite accessorize necklace and new look gold hoop earrings. I take a lot of time on my outfit's each day and to say I only wear eye make-up, it still takes me 20 minutes each morning, so by the time I get to my hair I never bother. I'm really lazy when it comes to my hair; I figure that after spending half an hour washing it, 20 minutes drying it and 10 minutes straightening it, I've already spent enough time on it never mind doing anything else with it. But I decided to do something other than leaving it down for once in my life. I didn't want to put it completely up because I thought the top looked better with my hair down, so I pinned two chunks from the sides of my face, twisting them backwards and securing them with hair slides or bobby pins or whatever you want to call them. It also meant you could see my earrings for once! I finished off the look with deep pink lips; Natural collection Moisture shine in Raspberry is one of my favourites, but my newest No7 one would've looked just as good.