Limited edition black.

I was so lucky to get a Christmas job less than a week after my return so naturally I had to go buying some nice black clothes by way of uniform. I'll be working in quite a posh department store in my town and it's full of young VERY fashionable people so I have to pull up my proverbial fashion socks and make a sartorial effort. Even if I will be stock taking in my new outfits.
I wasn't sure about a long sleeve maxi dress as I don't quite have the figure for it but sometimes if something feels good when you put it on, I just go with it. I'm sure some clever accessorising will do me some favours. This got me thinking. Should you avoid certain clothes if you don't look perfect in them? Or is it acceptable to wear them anyway and go with the imperfections if you feel good regardless? You don't have to answer; it was a rhetorical question.

I have an addiction to rings. I got all these in Istanbul before I left.

Secrets of the British.

I am hooome. I have been so busy leaving Turkey and arriving in England that I've not realised how long its been since I was blogging. I came home Monday morning and Monday afternoon I was in Topshop buying this cardigan that I've had my eye on from the website for literally weeks. I am so so happy with it and it's so damn comfy. And it's the perfect colour. I'm planning a mammoth Winter shopping trip to catch up with all the current season stock. Can't wait.

I was finally able to order the boots from a previous post so excited about receiving them. I went into River Island today to actually touch them and they're so lovely. Especially as the heel on them isn't as high as I thought which is much better for the icy roads.

I have got so many things to post over the next few days I really don't know how I'm going to fit them all in.

Everyone will have a choice.

This is the first item of new clothing I've bought for like aaages and I got ridiculously happy about it. Despite it only being a T shirt. There is a huge shopping centre down the road from where my other half lives named Forum Istanbul and they just opened an H&M there. Again I was ridiculously happy about it. There is a serious lack of fashionable shops here but the new H&M is absolutely full of amazing items of clothing that make me ache to go shopping at home again. The best thing about it though was that I found myself standing in a shop full of really fashionable Istanbul women which, despite my coming here 5 times now and living in Bodrum for a few months, have been non- existent. It gave me hope. God knows where these women are hiding though.
I originally bought a jumper which I exchanged for this T shirt and what a bloody hassle that was! I went into the heaving store- couldn't find the jumper- found the jumper- went to the cashier who stood there looking over my head- she then asked me (in Turkish) if a random vest she was holding was mine- i said no- she put it down and carried on staring past me- I then got a bit annoyed and all but shoved the jumper at her- she took about 20 minutes putting it through- I walk out and set all the alarms off due to the woman leaving the security tags on BOTH my items- the security guard takes my items and comes back ages later sans security tags- I have to nearly run to the doors where my other half was waiting 'just 5 minutes' for me. It so wasn't worth it as I had to take the jumper back.
I took him with me when I exchanged it for the T shirt. Much safer.
This bracelet was just 5 lira from Eyüp. Brownie points for anyone who knows where Eyüp is.

For when I get home.

                               Stuff I want.

Apple tea please.

'Is that the Zara dress again?' I hear you ask? Yes it is because I have a seriously limited wardrobe here. When one packs for a Summer in Bodrum, one doesn't bring much for two weeks in the rather more conservative Istanbul. It is proving slightly difficult to cover up and still look ok with a load of Summer dresses and black tights. Oh and don't forget the trusty red scarf that goes with almost nothing but is permanently stuck to my neck here.
My other half and some of his family went for a walk by a river yesterday and I had the opportunity to take yet more sunset photos to try and distract from the low level outfit shots I'm producing at the moment. Apologies for the srewed- up face. The sun was in my eyes and it was windy. Cue chipmunk face.

see you later

I am having a manic time in Istanbul so no posts for a while I'm afraid.
x

Menemen for dinner again.

These pictures are from Gümüşlük which is a little village by the sea not far from Bodrum. I loved it there and although I couldn't enjoy the amazing fish they have there (I'm a vegetarian), I could enjoy the breathtaking views and calm surroundings. One thing I loved the most about Gümüşlük was the people. In a country where women are hideously oppressed and everyone follows a definite social code, it was so refreshing to see people with dreadlocks and tattoos wearing arty clothes, walking around laughing and seeming genuinely happy, which is a definite contrast to the rest of the Turkey I've seen. I'm really bigging it up I know. The rest of Turkey I mean. I'm being sarcastic.
This dress is from a vintage shop in Leeds I visited a couple of times. I lived right up the road from it but it took until my last term at uni to go in there and I so wish I'd been in there before. It's called The Story Of O and it is truly amazing in there. The dress is actually a nightdress from the 1920s so I have to be careful with it.