My Top 5 Favourite Winter pieces

I like to update my winter wardrobe with a few key pieces each season, and these take me from the school run, to running errands, to my evening plans.

Favourite Winter Pieces by laurenmoore-ii featuring skinny jeans

Please excuse my less than amazing photos- I usually have to snap these shots when I am running out the door and it is still dark. 

First up is this Ava Metallic Pleated Skirt, so fun ans sparkly in real life and easily paired with a variety of layers on top. Teamed with tights and boots, I can still keep warm but add a bit of sparkle to my day!



These Leopard Skinny Jeans are ridiculously comfortable, and work perfectly as a neutral piece. Here I have teamed it with more grey and black items for a monochrome look, but you could just as easily wear a bright jersey. Add a black top and heels for night time and you are good to go!



I have a lot of scarves in my wardrobe for this time of year, and this Lightweight Coloured Scarf goes perfectly with most of my neutral tops. I can also wear this as a belt in summer.



I wear the Sandy Zip Boot a lot in winter, as I walk everywhere and these are a perfect flat boot. Here I am wearing them with my denim skirt and a Loose Striped Jumper (sold out in berry but still available in black/cream) as everyone needs a cozy winter knit.



Which piece is your favourite? Is there anything you would add to your winter wardrobe?

Boohoo Fit- Fashionable Fitness

I always find it easier to exercise if I am inspired by my workout clothes, and so when I saw the new Boohoo Fit range I was very excited to see what they had to offer.

Mystery Case is also hosting the Fit Fashion Finds challenge, so this was a perfect opportunity to take part in her challenge and try out some new exercise gear at the same time!

My main needs for workout fashion are coverage, stretch and compatiblity with all types of weather. I quite often run outdoors, so layering pieces in fabrics that will keep me warm or cool are a must.

I decided to try out the Vicky Zip Through Bomber (on sale now!) and matching Loren Sports Legging.

The best time for me to test these out was during a run and stretch at a nearby park. I am just getting back into exercise after surgery, and so I need to take it easy.

These leggings are perfect for light workouts. They keep my lower half cool and do not constrict my movements. The panel adds enough interest without being boring or too over the top, and the shades of blue look great and go with my existing workout gear.



This jacket goes well with the Loren Boohoo Fit leggings, but also works well with jeans or black pants as an extra layer to wear in the cooler weather. The sleeves and body of the jacket are the perfect length for me, and it keeps me warm without being too heavy. It wears well, and I can put it in my bag to pull out after a workout without worrying about it wrinkling.



Isn't this print fun?



It is pretty hard to get a good photo of me running, but these leggings were perfect for the slightly overcast day. The move with my body and do not give me a muffin top or cause me to wriggle around every five minutes trying to get comfortable.



After a run, it is back on with the Vicky Jacket. I love matchy matchy items, so this is my happy place!



The wide waistband on the Loren Print Leggings means that I get a comfortable fit, and it keeps my tummy at bay!



These items are so comfortable that I could stay in them all day. They fit my body so well, and when I do take them off they wash beautifully. I have washed these leggings three times since I got them and they have had no colour fade at all.

I am wearing a generic workout top in these shoots, as when I first looked at the Boohoo Fit range they only had crop tops or racerback tops, both of which are not my cup of tea when working out. However, I see that they now have a Breathable Sports T-Shirt, so I know what my next purchase is!

If you love Fit Fashion Finds, be sure to check out the Boohoo Fit range as they are affordable, fashionable and functional.

Folkloric Fashion for Autumn

One of the big trends coming up for Autumn is Folklore- think fur coats, tapestry inspired jackets, flared pants, blanket cardigans and coats, maxi dresses, winter shorts and floaty blouses.

I can't see myself in some of these items, but it is definitely a trend that I will have some fun with as the days transition from cool, to warm, then cool again.

One of the best things about this trend is the materials. The combination of soft and heavy fabrics such as silk, fur, chiffon and wool can be very versatile for layering. This comes in handy when the days start out chilly and then the sun breaks through at 10am.

Here is an outfit I put together to take advantage of the trend, featuring a sheer blouse, fun tapestry jacket and flared jeans. Some pink accents in the necklace, shoes and handbag keep the jacket from overpowering the look, and I am loving soft pink and navy together at the moment!

Folkloric Fashion by laurenmoore-ii featuring a black flat top

This outfit can take me from school run to coffee dates and then to a craft evening, as the top layer could be easily removed from this outfit and you will still have a polished look. The cardigan fits the tapestry trend without being too over the top, and this particular style of flared jean is wonderful for those of us who are a bit shorter as the flare isn't too dramatic.

Do you have any folklore inspired items on your wishlist for Autumn?

Sweater Weather

One of my hobbies is online clothes browsing, and I recently discovered that a website my American friends rave about ships to New Zealand! Modcloth has unique and cute clothes, and their website got me thinking about winter and autumn layering.

One of my colours is deep teal, so when I was browsing through sweaters and saw this, I immediately knew it would fit perfectly in my wardrobe. The Couldn't Task For More Sweater looks like it was made for me! (Another thing I like about Modcloth; all their clothes have such fun names!)The loose fit will lend itself well to layering, and it has a slight sheen to it. It even has a hood on the back, great for those days when I need to pop to the shops and the wind gets a bit chilly.

Modcloth Feature Sweater by laurenmoore-ii featuring a bohemian necklace

Being sheer, this sweater would look great with different pops of colour showing through. However, I have gone with a monochromatic look since this colour is one of my favourites and I want the sweater to be the hero of this outfit. A simple teal camisole will provide some warmth, and this button down top won't add too much extra bulk but is detailed enough to stand on its own if you need to take off your sweater. A slightly higher collar on the top will make the layering of this outfit look polished, without being too sombre and boring.

Usually I would pair teal with grey, but when I saw the beautiful bird weekender bag I knew I had to complement it with brown booties and some light brown pants. I also added a bird inspired necklace as a longline necklace is always flattering!

Modcloth now ship to over 50 countries, and with detailed descriptions and customer reviews on the website I am highly confident about ordering my dream outfit.  I would love to know which item you would order- or if there is anything else on the Modcloth website that takes your fancy!

Travellin' Light

I am soon to head off for a week's summer holiday, and have been trying to figure out what to pack. I want to pack a small amount, but where I am heading it can be hot yet pouring with rain, so I have to work with variable weather conditions!

As per my Pinterest Resolutions, I wanted to create a capsule wardrobe with minimal fuss.

Here is what I packed (excluding underwear, pajamas, running gear and a pair of togs). 3 dresses, 2 cardigans, four tops, two skirts, two shorts, four pairs of shoes and four jewellery sets.

I have worked out 24 combos- more than enough to get me through seven days, weather changes and activities! My days will be varied between walking, swimming, being on a boat, wine trails, speedway racing and going out for diner, so I also need a mix of casual and dressy outfits. I am sure there are more that 24 combinations possible when you take into account change of shoes, jewellery and adding one of the tops, but these are the combinations I am planning to wear for different occasions.

This is my first time trying flat lays- but I have discovered that they can be extremely helpful when planning outfits!

My maxi is paired with gold, with or without a drape bolero. My basic monochrome outfit is my black blouse, patterned black and white skirt, and black accessories.

My monochrome outfit can be glammed up with a chunky necklace and heels, or dressed up with my bolero and gold accents. Going back to basics I can pair it with my white blouse instead of black.

Black and white can also be changed by layering with a black bolero or my grey cardigan. Then I can add colour interest with my green t-shirt and bold green jewellery.

This top goes well with my other bottom options; the patterned skirt, denim shorts and beige cargoes.

This blue tank can work with either my cargoes or the coloured skirt, keeping with the blue accessories. My cargoes will also go with the white top and gold jewellery for when it gets really hot!

This top will keep me cool with the patterned skirt, either with gold or blue accents. I can also pair it with the denim shorts for a casual look.

Back to basics with my black top, black accessories and cargo pants, or with my denim shorts. Onto my grey dress, I will keep it simple with black shoes and let my necklace be the focal point.

This dress can be worn casually, but I am planning to wear it out for heels for a large dinner we have planned. If we end up going out another night to somewhere fancy, my grey dress will be fancied up with my bolero, statement necklace and heels.

If you still need more inspiration, the lovely Nikki has also written a great guide to packing clothes for a holiday. I took on board her suggestions of going monochrome with pops of colour, considering my activities, packing some active wear and checking the weather. Thanks Nikki!

Linking up with Wardrobe Wednesday, What Wives Wear and Fashionomics Friday.

Ezibuy under $50

When I was growing up, my mum always had an Ezibuy catalogue by the phone. Lately, these catalogues have been appearing in my mailbpox since I did an online order with them.

I tended to think of Ezibuy as being a bit outdated, but I was quite surprised when I flicked through their latest catalogue, The company seems to be on trend with some of the picks for this season, and their range has expanded dramatically from when I would flick through the pages as a teenager.

My fashion budget is very tight, and so I have picked out a few items that are all $50 and under.

Ezibuy Tops and Dresses by laurenmoore-ii on Polyvore

This Aztec tee is such a fun print, and available in a yellow or pink colour. At $29.99, you could even get all of them!

The purple fit and flare dress is very flattering- I have tried this on in person and I could wear this all day, every day! The colour is also a little bit different and does stand out. You could easily dress this down for a day at the beach, or add some heels and a statement necklace for a night out, which means that at $35 this dress is a real bargain!

The shift dress is at the top end of the budget at $49.99, but I do love my navy dresses and this one would be another great dress for a variety of occasions.


Now we move onto bottoms- I have realised that I am in desperate need of shorts to see me through the rest of this season.

Ezibuy Shorts and pants by laurenmoore-ii on Polyvore

The white shorts are an easy wear roll-up cargo style, but once again they are at the top end of the $50 budget at $49.99, although other colours are on sale. However, white is extremely versatile and goes with everything, so these shorts would get more than enough wear!

The pink denim shorts look so comfortable, and they are a great hue for summer. The waistband looks like it can handle the post Christmas bulge, and I like the length of them. Down to $29.99, they are also available in white, black and yellow.

I can't resist a good pair of patterned pants, and reading the reviews for these Charcoal print pants has me convinced that these could be the most comfortable pants in my wardrobe. At $44.99 these aren't the cheapest patterned pants I have come across, but the length and fit seem to be spot on, with lots of happy customers.

Help me expand my wardrobe- which two items would you pick to add to your summer clothing collection?

Shorts on a Shoestring Budget

When I saw that The Fashionable Mum and Agent Mystery Case were featuring #shareyourshorts and embracing their legs for summer, I went to my wardrobe and was a bit embarrased to see that the only shorts I owned were three very similar pairs of denim shorts.

Thanks to these two ladies, I have been inspired to find some shorts bargains for summer!

I turned to one of my favourite websites, Boohoo, as they have great prices and a fabulous selection.

Shorts on a Budget by laurenmoore-ii featuring lace shorts

All of these shorts are under $25, and are fun enough to wear during the day but can be glammed up with heels and a black shirt for any evening event. I love those lace tailored shorts so much that I want them in lemon and navy! I

 have included both short and long styles, as I am aware that some occasions call for less leg on show. I can still get away with shorter styles (I think!) but the checked long shorts with the sipper detail would be great for evening occasions or dressier events.

I have also featured a playsuit that comes with leopard shorts- so cute! I can see myself wearing this outfit on playdates with black sandals and a gold chunky necklace. In fact, I can see myself wearing all of these shorts! One of them is even called the Lauren Geo short, so it must be a sign.

Which of these shorts is your favourite pair? Let me know and give me some suggestions on how you would style them.

NB: This is not a sponsored post, I just love Boohoo clothes!

Linking up with Fashionomics Friday.