Spring has well and truly sprung

Ireland is currently experiencing a bit of a heat wave.......and it is still only March! It has put everybody in such a great mood, it's amazing how good weather can do that. Hopefully this is a sign of a beautiful warm summer ahead so we can get the most out of our summer wardrobe. This fabulous weather has me in the mood to go shopping for all the gorgeous spring clothes that have hit the shops in the last couple of weeks, roll on payday Friday!

Oh Blake....

Not usually a huge fan of Blake Lively's style but I absolutely adore this image of her. Super chic. She reminds me of a modern Brigitte Bardot.

fade away

photo via bohemianchic

I don't have any tattoos. It's not that I have an aversion to them, nor am I afraid of needles. ( I donate blood every three months!) The simple reason being is that I'm too indecisive, too fickle. I often grow tired of things quickly and change my mind at the blink of an eye. Tattoos are too definite, too long term, too 'there for life'.

One other reason that I have never gone down the path of getting 'inked'  is perhaps that I've never been so inspired by an idea or seen a tattoo that I absolutely adore or found something meaningful that I want on me for life.

However....the above image caught my eye a while ago and every time I come across it, I'm growing more and more attached. It's so beautiful, so liberating, I just love it.

I recently heard someone describe their tattoos, as being part of their body, like their nose or their hands. I never thought of it like that before.

What do you think of tattoos?

Peplums

1. striped jacket - Tibi
2. black top - Mango
3. purple dress - Miss Selfridge
4. beige jacked - Oasis
5. navy cutout dress - Jane Norman
6. black skirt with leather detail - nastygal.com
7. grey cardigan - Mint Velvet
8. blue skirt - Topshop

Olivia Palermo wearing a Peplum

The peplum is going to be huge for Spring Summer 2012  and as usual the exquisite Olivia Palermo is already ahead of the game and has been sporting the trend. Whether on a skirt, dress, jacket or blouse, the peplum was all over the catwalks and will be the 'must have' shape for the upcoming season. Be on the look out for peplums now! I will do a post soon on peplum shapes available on the highstreet.

the polka leopard xxx

Mulberry - LFW

photo via Kate's-Closet.

What a turn out at the Mulberry show. Right up front my two favourite style inspirations at the moment - Elizabeth Olsen and Lana Del Rey. They are the ones to watch.....

Sunday Best

1. mint jumper-acne, jeans - topshop
2. cream jumper - topshop, jeans - current/elliott
3. grey jumper - H&M, jeans - topshop

This is my typical Sunday uniform, skinny jeans and a cosy warm knit jumper! great for a brisk walk with the dog and then for curling up beside the fire with a cup of tea after!

Chanel has got me in the mood for spring

In the couple of weeks, when choosing a colour for my nails, I've been attracted to bright summery colours or soft pastels, but never actually painting them on as i felt it was a little too early!The weather is too cold and it still feels wintery out. Last week I had a dark burgundy on my nails and every time I looked at them they didn't feel right. It's time to bust out the spring colours! So yesterday I painted my nails in a bright mint green and I feel so refreshed! Spring has sprung, at least as far as my nails are concerned.

Velentine's Day playlist

1. Lana Del Rey - Video Games
2. Alison Krauss - Baby Now That I Found You
3. Chris Isaak - Wicked Game
4. Des'ree - Kissing You
5. Flaming Lips - Do you Realize?
6. Queen - You're my Best Friend
7. The Stone Roses - Ten Storey Love Song
8. The Sundays - Wild Horses
9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps
10. The Smiths - There is a Light that Never Goes Out
11. Pete Doherty - For Lovers
12. The Cure - Lovecats
13. Bob Dylan - Lay Lady Lay
14. The Pogues - Love you til the End
15. Regina Spektor - Samson
16. The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
17. The Beatles - Something
18. The Beatles - Oh! Darling
19. The Beatles - When I'm Sixty-Four
20. The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
21. Hellogoodbye - Here in your Arms
22. Blur - Tender
23. The Carpenters - Close to You
24. Etta James - At Last
25. Peggy Lee - Fever
26. Don Henley - Taking you Home
27. Bon Ivor - Skinny Love
28. Noah and the Whale - 5 Years Time
29. Coldplay - The Scientist
30. Six Pence None the Richer - Kiss Me

Minty fresh



1. Watch - Michael Kors
2. Bag - Zara
3. Sunglasses - H&M
4. Blouse - Topshop
5. Jeans - farfetch.com
6. Necklace - Pandora
7. Shoes - Zara

photo via tuulavintage.blogspot.com

On the Wishlist - snakeskin shoes

Just spotted these beauties on topshop.com 

 I love them so much, It's the pointy heel, the snake print, the height, everything. They would be perfect paired with my blue skinny jeans, loose black jersey top and some statement earrings. I would buy them but I don't go out enough to justify adding to my heel collection, and sadly I'm not one of those glamourous ladies who wears heels during the day.

Maybe I'll treat myself at the end of February if they are still in stock.

Pretty things



picture from pinterest

Sorry I have been away for so long. I honestly haven't had the time to blog regularly. I want to be more dedicated and start blogging every other day.

So I was looking through my inspiration folder and came across this picture I must have saved ages ago. It's is just so inspiring and the perfect way to store jewellery! You could pick these type of little cups and saucers up at flea markets and vintage shops! so pretty! I'm going to try and collect some little bits and pieces and have a go at this myself.

What do you think?

Heroin Chic

Heroin chic, a controversial fashion trend became popular in the mid 1990's, it encompassed waif like models, frail and pale with sunken cheeks and dark eyes, messy hair, and dressed in over sized clothes but in a manner which often exposed skin. think Kate Moss when she was with Johnny Depp, Courtney Love, or Jaime King.

Depicting a 'glamourous' side to substance abuse, it caused a stir in the media, giving the fashion world a visual of models appearing strung out.

The trend gained attention serving as a vastly different look to the overly perfected and beautified models of the 1980's. This juxtapositon was stark.

The emergence of Heroin Chic in fashion photgraphy gave us the visual culture of aspects of society at the time,especially in the fashion world. The photographer Davide Sorrenti championed the look, shooting both Moss and his girlfriend Jaime King in this manner, Ironically he later died as a result of  heroin abuse.

Although it portrayed a very unhealthy image, there was certainly something sexy and unique about the trend. It was artistic and edgy. And I loved the photographs.

Today I'm wearing



Blouse -Primark, Brooch -Topshop

Snake Print

Snake Print by thepolkaleopard featuring flat pumps

Orange Crush

Orange Crush by thepolkaleopard

Inspired by the lovely Andy Torres from Style Scrapbook

October Purchases

H&M

Add caption

H&M

Topshop  'Ambush'

Penneys (Primark)

Topshop 'Abe'

Went on a bit of a boot buying craze in October. I am really happy with all of these items so far, I have already worn my Ambush boots from Topshop to death!! They are unbelievably comfy,even though they have a small heel, my feet are actually less sore wearing these for a whole day in work than when I wear my converse. Ah-Mazing . Think I'm going on a shopping free month for November....... try and save some money for New York and Christmas, both of which are approaching very quickly. Come on bank account , fatten yourself up!

Be Inspired

pic via The Vogue Diaries

Miranda Kerr getting it spot on here. What a perfect Autumn outfit! Cosy and chic, she demonstrates how you can look fabulous in all black using a small pop of colour to catch our eyes with her rust red bag. Just gorgeous but what else would you expect from the beautiful model.

Apologies for the lack of posts of late, have been travelling a lot in the last few weeks and I'm off to Germany on Friday. Hopefully will be back in action next week!

Had an amazing time in London last weekend visiting my best friend! What an amazing city, everytime I visit, I fall more in love  with lovely London.

beauty blush

beauty blush by thepolkaleopard