What Even is Summer Smart Casual?

ASOS Flare Trouser | Oh My Love High Neck Crop Tee in Baby Deer Print | ASOS TALL Sleeveless Blouse with Contrast Piping

So with the promise of an internship or a job or similar looming for me in summer I started to worry about what I'd wear. I don't know about you guys but I thought it was a fancy blazer jacket with snazzy pants and shoes but with it being summer it's going to be hot and I faint if I get even the slightest bit overheated so I can't wear that. Brad also mentioned most of my shoes aren't smart casual so what actually is smart casual... help? Apparently smart casual to Google is neat, conventional clothes, yet relatively informal in style. That pretty much summed up most clothes I feel? But I also feel like most of my clothes wouldn't be suitable in a regular smart casual work environment. I know a few of the design companies around Wellington are more casual than the office but on the off chance the one I may work at isn't I thought I'd get prepared!

After scrolling through thousands and thousands of photos on Pinterest I thought I'd fly over to ASOS and check out if they had anything summery while still fitting the smart casual bracket, seen as their summer items are starting to hit the sales. I found a few things that may work and how gorgeous is this baby deer print top though? If this is classed as smart casual I am so tempted to buy it. Although the trousers, I'm not too sure about, I don't know if I could live in trousers in summer I feel they'd only make me too warm. I suppose if I found the right pair that are thin enough it may work, anyone know where I can get them?

ASOS PETITE Dress with D-Ring Belt | ASOS Tailored A-Line Shorts | ASOS Ponte Blazer

Now shorts are more what I was looking for, I find it's really hard to make shorts smart casual though. According to Tara's advice over on this post on Shop Style Conquer a casual element can work as long as you match it with something that's more dress, I suppose similar to the top worn with the shorts above would work. The blazer however I feel adds some formality to any outfit so maybe I could even get away with some high waisted shorts as long as the top half was more formal, and they of course weren't too short! So I think I need a blazer, but ya know a light one for the heat.

New Look Patent Flat Loafer | ASOS MAKE MY DAY Pointed Flat Shoes

Oh onto the shooooooes! I hate buying summer shoes though I absolutely love winter shoe shopping but summer shoes no way. I have tiny feet and I can't wear shoes with a toe bar (like jandals) so summer shoe shopping is just awful for me. These shoes however I can totally enjoy shopping for; I can wear them for a start. The pair on the right remind me of the shoes I used to wear for school back in year 8 in my English secondary school; they weren't too picky with shoes as long as they were black, and these types of pointy shoes were all the range for us 13 year olds... we must've looked so lame!

So what do you think? Are any of these suitable enough for me to buy them for summer? Or do you have any suggestions, please let me know in the comments I really need help!

I want to dissect your brains...

Since the semester is over I thought I'd share some work I've done over the last 12 weeks. To new readers; hi I study Graphic Design! This was by far my favourite project I've worked on this semester, closely followed by App class where, as you've probably guessed, we had to design an app. For print however we had to design our own conference which from that we were to create a poster, a 12 page brochure, two banners, and a fourth item - I chose a hoodie and t-shirt combination. My conference, Dissect, is a typography based conference concentrating on the structure of type. I wanted to imply the idea of peeling back layers to really understand type. 

I thought this might give outsiders a look into what a normal six week project looks like for a third year designer! Makes me wonder what other professions would do? Other than essays of course. 

Top of my Topshop shopping list

1. Moto Black Short Dungarees - £32.00 2. Kitten Ankle Socks - £3.50 3. Margot Pinstud Boots - £75.00 4. Contrast Bobble Beanie Hat - £14.00 5. Lipstick in Wicked - £8.00 6. Lipstick in The Damned - £8.00 7. Velvet Lace Shorts - £20.00 8. Cat Print Pyjama Set - £28.00

While lying in bed sick with the flu and avoiding the coursework looming over me I took to internet shopping, I did actually make an order on iHerb oops but it was mainly window shopping. Now if you're not from New Zealand or if you've been hiding under a rock you may not know that we recently got ourselves our own Topshop. However seen as it's in Auckland I'm still stuck online shopping so here's some of my favourite things on their site. (Prices in Pounds although the NZ pricing is a little bit more expensive than Glassons for you wondering). 

Following the NZBloggers chat two weeks ago I mentioned I was going to try wear things a little more out of my comfort zone so a few of these items are inspired by that. Now I do love everything on this list but damn those studded boots I need them like seriously need them even though I don't know if they'd suit me and they're hella expensive! 

1. Crepe Sweetheart Crop Top - £20.00 2. Moto Super Ripped Jamie Jeans - £45.00 3. Nail Varnish in Bound - £6.00 4. Nail Varnish in Snow Cone - £6.00 5. Desire Jumper by Religion - £95.00 6. Blanche Ankle Boots - £45.00

Of course I've got me some Jamie jeans on there, they are a Topshop must have! As well as all the Topshop beauty, I've got a few lip products of theirs already and they're excellent so I know I'm going to pick up some more for sure when I get the chance! If anyone can let me know how much the lipsticks are in dollars that would be great! Hopefully I'm in Auckland soon and get a chance to have a look around but otherwise I'll be stuck online for a while. But hey it saves money right? 

Sometimes wishes do comes true!

After looking back at my wishlist from last Christmas I realised I'd bought myself two of the items off it without even realising. So I thought I'd feature another wish list this year but make it a bit more affordable! I've compiled a stack of 13 items from the brand shop Cotton On, I know this brands in Australia and New Zealand and I'm pretty sure it's in some parts of America also but for others there is online shopping woop! All prices are in Australian Dollars. 

1. Disney 2015 Calendar - $9.95 2. Nail Varnish in Mint - $4.95 3. Lipstick in Blood Plum - $6.95 4. Bermuda Heel - $39.95 5. Pen Holder in Fox - $12.95 6. Walk the Plank towel in Big Melon - $29.95 7. Scrabble Cushion in S - $24.95

1. Letter Marquee Light in S - $59.95 2. Hanging Planter - $19.95 3. Poster 40x50 in Sparkle - $14.99 4. Vicki Lace Crop Top in Ditzy Palm Tree - $12.95 5. Freedom Sock in Pineapple - $4.95 6. Nice Cushy in Hamburger - $24.95 7. Squared Stud in Turquoise - $6.95 8. Active Yoga Mat in Summer Red - $29.95

Norma-lly I don't carry something this expensive.

Hola I finally have a proper blog post, one I've been planning since I won this little baby! I'd completely forgotten entering a competition for this cute wallet and honestly at the time I wasn't even that fond of it I've just gotten into the student habit of entering everything that has free stuff. But checking my emails at 10pm one night on the way to a party and seeing I'd won a competition that I didn't even remember entering was a very big plus. Now having received the Norma wallet from Madame Fancy Pants I can tell I was harsh to judge it so early, in fact it's not as bright a pink as I was expecting and it's can store a huge amount of stuff for how big it is. There's a large compartment at the back that can fit an iPhone 5s or below, a large compartment for cash and cards with 4 slots for your handy cards, and a zipped coin section at the front. Frankly I can't get over having just an expensive wallet especially as I'm currently storing it in a um $14 backpack... no Ted Baker to be seen here ladies! Now if you do happen to be in Wellington strolling down Cuba Street make sure to step into this little store and have a look around, they have everything from bags, clothes, and jewellery to prints and other trinkets. My favourite necklace is actually from here so if you have some spending money, go hit this shop! 

All I want for Christmas is Etsy

Leggings l Spoons l Straws l Jumper l Card l Bauble

Day 8 ~

Earlier today I was browsing pintrest when I came across these really cute personalised cards that led me to Etsy. If you don't know what Etsy is it's a online marketplace really where people can sell their mostly handmade creations. There's some really cute things on there and unfortunately its targeted at Americans so most don't ship to outside major countries so all I can do is drool at the amazing things people have created. I've collected a few things from the site today that are really Christmassey and I would love myself as well as love to give to people I know as presents. I really wish I could get personalised cards, I might look into making my own for next Christmas that would be so cute! x 

Fashion bloggers don't scold me!

There's one thing I said to myself when I started up my blog and that was "I wouldn't turn it into a fashion blog". Mainly because I'm not really one for fashion I just wear what I like but as this is my personal lifestyley designy blog thing I thought I would share one of my recent loves. I don't really know if there's a proper name for these types of shorts (told you I wasn't fashiony hehe) but they're just a casual baggy floaty pair of shorts. 

The problem about where I live is it's incredibly windy most of the time so dresses and skirts are a big no no to me as I like to be comfortable and not have to shove my skirt down every few minutes. That is where these shorts come in. The loose fabric means I can get a girlyish look without having to worry about them flying up in whichever direction, it's great! I wear them with pretty much everything and I might be over wearing them a wee bit but who cares. The black ones I can get away with it a lot of the time but the cheetah ones not so much so I think it's obvious I've been wearing the black pair a lot.. 

Don't worry I'll go back to my normal type posts now hehe oh and excuse the artist crap all over the side wall x