cos Archives - Bloomzy

bloomzy / December 31, 2016

My 2016 Style Evolution aka The Year of Living Stylishly

It’s the end of 2016, and I think we’ve all had pretty much enough this year. Still, some great things have come out of it too. And I prefer to look back on the good stuff, rather than the bad. So it’s time for my annual style evolution post. Or as I’m so aptly naming it – the year of living stylishly.

2016 Style Evolution

I’ve always wished for a time where I could feel stylish from day-to-day. Not for anyone else, but for myself. I love to play with fashion, and when I look good, I feel good. This year I’ve made a real effort to only purchase quality items. This means saving up for items I’ve coveted or simply found (luckily). On my recent trip to Copenhagen I bought a few staple pieces, and I’ve worn them at least once a week since I got back.

It’s safe to say, my wardrobe is now full of items I can easily turn into a smart-casual look. After all, you never know when you’re going to meet a friend for ‘a drink’ and end up at an after party with Richard Ayoade (this actually happened).

The Year of Living Stylishly

In last year’s style evolution post, I said my goal was to be happier in my style. I think I’ve done pretty well, and I really do feel it. My style has become slightly more refined – if I do say so myself. Black and stripes have been prevalent, oh and I lost my favourite Blake Ldn beanie. Obviously it’s been a year of fashion ups and downs.

To be serious for a minute though, it has actually been a tough year for me. Even so, I’m not letting it get me down. Fashion is a great escape for me, and I hope I can continue to enjoy it all the way through 2017.

Check out this year’s style posts here.

bloomzy / December 12, 2016

Sorry but Christmas style ain’t my thing…

Biker Jacket: Zara| Jumper: COS | Shirt: & Other Stories | Trousers: Warehouse* | Trainers: Adidas

Every year I try to convince myself that I can do Christmas style. It’s either “buy that sequin dress” or “pop on that Christmas jumper”. But it always seems like I’m putting on a bit of a show for others. My problem is I get Christmas fever – it’s a real thing, trust me. I love the anticipation, the food, the mulled wine… And with the hype of the season – and all of the Christmas parties – my style is inevitably affected. I feel like I have to make the effort and dress up, otherwise I’m letting people down. And let’s be honest, my personal style is not exactly what you’d deem Christmas style friendly.

Sorry but Christmas style ain’t my thing…

This year was no different. I was searching for an outfit for the Christmas party, and of course I wanted to buy something new. But I took a minute to stop and think about it. The party was going to feel no more or less like Christmas if I came dressed in a glittery all-in-one or not. Let’s be honest, the only way it could be more Christmas-y is if I turned up in a sexy tree costume (how is that actually a thing?!). So I stuck with one of my favourite LBDs. And you know what? The party was amazing.

So no, you won’t find any Christmas jumper posts this year. Nor will you see me in sequins – as hilarious as that would be. I guess what I’m trying to say is, you shouldn’t feel pressured to “dress-up” or put on a ton more make-up than you would any other time of year. If you fancy going all out, then go for it. But don’t let anyone tell you that you have to “coz it’s Christmas”. You’re fabulous just as you are. After all, this is the time of year to reflect, chill out, and eat a ton of awesome food. And what better way to do it, than dressed in something that makes you happy.

Check out my previous style posts here.
Photos of me are taken by Van Anh Le Thi

bloomzy / November 21, 2016

The Fashion Addict’s Christmas Gift Guide

It’s that time of the year again when we all start worrying what we should buy our loved ones. To help things go a bit more smoothly this year, I have put together a few gift guides. Each Christmas gift guide has been carefully curated by yours truly, to showcase the perfect gift guide for a fashion addict. I’ve looked high and low, and put together some of my favourite pieces right now. Each guide has an emphasis on quality and affordability, with a unique take. So grab a coffee, relax, and let me do all the hard work for you.

Christmas Gift Guide, for the fashion addict

Sweater Dress, by Gestuz @ Octer*
Biker Jacket, by Zara
Constellation Earrings, by & Other Stories
Circular Stud Earrings, by COS
Handbag, by Marc B*
Commuter A Watch, by Paulin
Leather Wash Bag, by Marks & Spencer

Well there you have it, my 2016 Christmas Gift Guide, for the fashion addict in your life. Whilst choosing the featured items, I kept several things in mind: affordability, quality, and accessibility. For me, all of these things are important. But of course we all want to get something a little bit special for our friends and family. That’s why I chose a selection of items that can be found on the high street, in department stores, and online. Fashion itself is very subjective, so it can be difficult to purchase clothing or accessories for someone else. However I’m trusting that you know your loved ones pretty well. And after all, there will always be pieces that transcend styles and trends. They’re the ones that can fit into pretty much any wardrobe. For me it’s a unique take on a sweater dress, minimalist jewellery, a quality watch to match a faux leather jacket, a make-up bag, and a handbag to throw everything into.

Keep an eye out for more Christmas Git Guides, coming soon!

bloomzy / July 5, 2016

An Urban Jungle at Kew Gardens | Style (OOTD)

T-shirt: COS | Jeans: Topshop | Shoes: COS

Continuing my natural Mori Gal vibe, I recently headed to Kew Gardens for the afternoon, with VA and Dodo. Kew Gardens is somewhere I’ve been planning to go and shoot for a year or so now. The gardens are vast, however it’s the conservatories that interest me the most. They house a variety of plants, big and small, and are absolutely stunning. I love stopping by the Prince of Wales conservatory, but the Palm House is my number one recommendation when visiting Kew.

The Palm House was designed by Decimus Burton during early Victorian times. The original structure is still standing now, and is the most important surviving Victorian iron and glass structure in the world. It’s difficult to explain just how awe inspiring it is, not only for architecture geeks like myself, but for anyone. I just couldn’t wait to do a photoshoot there.

An Urban Jungle at Kew Gardens

Finding a fitting outfit for the Palm House was difficult. Part of me wanted to go all out, and wear something overtly feminine and elegant. Something along the lines of an evening gown straight out of 1950s Hollywood. But let’s be serious, I don’t own anything like that. So I went for my new kicks, with matching t-shirt from COS. I actually bought these items separately, but my current love for dusky pink, and COS’s own colour palette meant I ended up accidentally coordinating. Maybe it was the relaxing atmosphere, or the way my off-pink outfit blended nicely with the wrought iron fixtures. I felt like I belonged. Well it certainly wasn’t the humidity, either way.

Check out my previous style posts here.
Thanks to V.A (Chopstickpanorama) for the photos of me.

bloomzy / April 6, 2016

COS Superstar | Style (OOTD)

Dress: COS | Trousers: Topshop | Shoes: Converse x Comme des Garcon

You ever have one of those moments when you just grab something from the shelf of a store – to try on for the fun of it – even though you know it will never suit you? That’s actually how I found this dress. Whilst wandering around COS one afternoon I spotted this little black number. I told myself, “it’s too long” and “it’s too big”, but I wanted to see it on anyway. I’m a sucker for punishment when it comes to gorgeous clothes. And maybe it’s the slits down the side, or the way the bottom of the dress floats like an angel…but something made me fall in love with this dress on that day. Truth be told, I’ve not fallen out of love since.

In all honesty, it’s most likely the way it so easily layers with other items of clothing. Even the COS website suggests pairing it with a turtleneck – something I’ll never do as my own neck is practically non-existent – so that’s saying something. We’ve reached that part of Spring (in the UK) when it’s neither warm nor cold, so I like to layer. Well, that and I love the way certain cuts and fabrics flow together.

Mostly I try to avoid this type of dress. And even though I’d usually feel like I was wearing a bag in this cut, I actually really like the way it sits on my body. It accentuates my curves, but it doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable. I dislike it when people say “that won’t suit your body, skin type etc etc” but I do believe in feeling confident in the clothing you wear. And I definitely do. This dress is a superstar in the making!

Check out my previous style posts: OOTD
Thanks to V.A (Chopstickpanorama) for the photos of me.

bloomzy / July 26, 2015

A Date with the Style Doctor

Westfield Style Doctors Lounge

According to my parents I have been trying to dress myself since I could grasp the concept. It’s true, I’ve always been very opinionated and expressive when it comes to my personal style. Therefore you can imagine that I’ve never really been one to consider a personal stylist. Sure I’ve wished that somehow my clothes would magically be laid out for me every morning, but that’s about it. However recently my wardrobe philosophy (yes that’s a thing) has changed. Late last year I decided to start purchasing fewer pieces of higher quality – I was left with a wardrobe that I used only about 1/3 of. So when I was contacted by the Westfield Style Doctors about meeting with one of their personal stylists, part of me was curious to see if they could help me with my new outlook.

When I arrived for my appointment, I was greeted by Kellie – one of the newer members of the team. She automatically made me feel at ease as we chatted about my personal style, and what I would like to achieve from our meeting. We both agreed on adding some colour to my monochrome wardrobe. Kellie had already hunted down around 10 items that she had in mind for me. Her research was based on my style and body shape, something which I covered in the questionnaire I had to fill out before my session. As we walked around Westfield we chatted about style, food, our jobs…it felt like I was shopping with a friend! The time flew by, however we still managed to visit Topshop, Mango, Warehouse, COS and Oasis.

Now I don’t want to bore you with a run-down of everything I tried on. Instead I want to summarise my experience, and tell you what I came away with. As I tried on the items Kellie had chosen, she explained why each one would work for me; how to accentuate my body shape, and compliment my skin and hair tones. Now I’ve always believed that you should wear what you want, regardless of whether someone thinks it suits you. But the Style Doctors think this too! At the end of the day I realised that Kellie just wanted me to go away with an outfit I was happy in. It’s her job to offer the best advice she can, and honestly she was pretty spot on (apart from maybe one outfit that I felt was “too mature”). I went away with five items, and a better understanding of the shapes and colours that compliment me. I love that I now know how to emphasise my waist and make myself look taller. It doesn’t mean I won’t still buy something if it doesn’t do this. But it does mean that I feel more confident and comfortable in my choices.

The Westfield Style Doctors are a team of experienced personal stylists. They offer appointments to anyone through their booking system. Sessions start at just £50 and can be held at either Westfield Stratford City, or Westfield White City. Find booking details here.

bloomzy / June 26, 2015

OOTD: The Caped Crusader

Sleeveless Duster: Topshop | T-shirt: COS | Jeans: Topshop | Heels: Clarks*

It’s safe to say I’m not a heels kinda gal. My feet ache just thinking about them. To think I wore them religiously whilst living in Japan – I don’t know how I did it. Despite my dislike for wearing heels, I love how they look…and how they make my legs look. This leaves me in a very awkward position. That position is usually staring at beautiful heels online, but never adding them to my basket. However when I spotted these beauties on Shoetique I decided to finally go for it. After all, Clarks are well known for quality, comfortable shoes.

Naturally I chose a pair of black and white heels, and I think they look damn good. I’ve become a bit of a monochrome master, if I do say so myself. I’ve even managed to match my outfits to my location. Did you spot that? Ok so I didn’t really do it on purpose, but I did actually scout the location beforehand. I’d seen a few photos of the new Crossrail Place Bridge, and I wanted to join in too. So me and V.A headed there last weekend for a photography afternoon. The whole area is shiny and new, and surprisingly quiet. We were able to shoot pretty easily, and get THAT shot of the bridge. For something that looks like it’s made of corrugated iron, it’s eerily beautiful.

Thank you to V.A who took the photos of me.