Meet Ryan

Ryan, a 22 year old footwear sales associate at Topman from Cardiff.

Do you remember me mentioning my love for Vans? My first pair were some Classic Slip On's and I've gradually built up my collection with zero regrets.  With celebrities like the lovely Pharrell wearing them and Whitney Port being named 'best dressed celebrity' in her sassy pair, it is living proof that Vans are essential.  During this lurk I found Ryan wearing a pair of red Old Skool vans, my fave! Us lurkers must not forget that Vans started out as a skating shoe company,  making their style of shoe extremely sturdy. Who doesn't enjoy a sturdy shoe? By teaming his Vans with an oversized baggy shirt, Ryan shows us how a laid back approach can win many style points.

P.s: This shirt Ryan is wearing is from the lovely Hatt's Vintage Emporium, which you can probably remember me doing a cheeky little lurk on. Check out their Facebook and Twitter for updates so you don't miss out on new stock. 

Girls Shop Shirts and Vans:

Topshop Shirt 1 / Topshop Shirt 2 / Topshop Shirt 3 / J.Crew Slip On Skate Shoes / Vans Purple High Top Sneaker /
 Vans White Sneaker / Vans Floral Print Shoes/ 80s Sunglasses

• I've had Vans for as long as I can remember.  If you fancy getting your claws into a pair check out the Vans website here, or alternatively lurk on Asos to get yourself a cheeky 10% student discount off.  We all love a discount right? Especially when there are so many styles up for grabs! Whats your favourite style?
• Luckily us girls have been blessed and can play around with length when it comes to style. And who doesn't enjoy a lovely little crop top? New York Fashion week definitely did! If the fashion experts love it, I guess we do too! So why not play around with shirts and go for a cropped one like this, it would look super cute this Spring with a fabulous pair of vans.

Boys Shop Shirts and Vans:

Madewell Black and White Shoes / Vans Leather Shoes/ Madewell Navy Shoes / Ray-Bans ray / J.Crew Vintage Oxford Shirt in Solid / 
Fred Perry Authentic Fred Perry Stewart Tartan Shirt / Topman Black Twill Pocket T-Shirt/ 
Vans Classic Slip On Black.

• I do enjoy a baggy shirt like the one Ryan is wearing and would probably recommend having a lurk in places such as Cardiff Fashion Quarter to find yours. They look effortlessly cool and could be one of your staple wardrobe pieces!
• Baggy shirts work so well when it comes to layering up. Wear a t-shirt underneath with buttons undone to create a whole new look. Who would have guessed that you could do so much with a shirt?
• When it comes to Vans boys,  you get the same advice as girls// lurk on their website. Or why not pop into store and try before you buy?

Do you think that Vans are #offthewall ?

  Related Links:

 |Vogue on the Over Sized Shirt| Sneaker Freaker on Vans| The Telegraph on Vans |

Meet Lillian

Lillian, a 22 year old student in Cardiff.

We all have that one thing that we cannot live without right? Mine is pastel. I love it. It's a perfect trend when it comes to those Spring strolls into town and those nights out when you want to make a cheeky stylish statement. Pastel is very versatile. High fashion labels are all over it right now and if you fancy splashing some cash check out this Valentino number, I am in love with it. It's gorgeous isn't it? But don't worry my fellow lurkers, the high street love this trend too. Check out Miss Guided ASAP, they have so many pastel treats up for grabs! 

Lillian has done so well by teaming a pastel blazer with a floral dress, it looks so elegantly feminine and NY Fashion Week were huggge fans of floral prints this time round!  Not forgetting her over sized sunglasses, they give Lillian extra style points too. Is it me or do they have some magical power that just make any outfit look a billion times more glamorous? We're always bombarded with pictures of celebrities like Alexa Chung and Josh Beech looking sassy in a pair of sunnies, if they can do it then why can't we?

Girls Shop Pastel Power :

Strapless Cotton Dress / Pink Cocktail Dress/ Leather satchel / Nixon Watch /  Oversized Heart Sunglasses /

 Accessorize Flower Garland / Topshop Nail Polish

• If you can't quite afford Valentino, the high street is a great alternative! Lillian got her pastel coat from Zara, and trust me they have so much to offer! Lillian's is out of stock, but this one is just as lovely.
• Floral prints are essential this Spring. Boy oh boy are Topshop doing well with floral right now. This floral texture flippy dress is absolutely stunning!  Sign up to their mail list, and they will send you cheeky little discount codes straight to your inbox, marvelous.

Boys Shop Pastel Power:

 Light Green Oxford Shirt/ Giuliano Fujiwara Long Sleeve Shirt / Paul Smith Laced Shoes/

 RAY-BAN /  Pastel Dot Slim Tie

• Pastel shirts for boys are so lovely. They look so summery and this one from River Island is definitely up there when it comes to pastel! 
• Afraid of doing too much pastel? Reckon its too feminine?  Solution: don't be afraid of adding a tiny hint of pastel in your outfit to avoid going OTT. A pastel tie will brighten up your outfit so much,  one like this defo deserves a place in your tie draw!

Don't be afraid to play around with pastel colours. They are ridiculously fun, and can say a lot about your personality and defo my top pick for #SpringStyle. So go on, what are your pastel faves?

  Related Links:

|Stylist on Pastel Trend|Marie Claire on Pastel | Trend Hunter Fashion on Men and Pastel | Fashion Weekly on Pastel |

Lurking Down Cardiff Bay

I am a city girl. Always have been and always will be - thats a fact! But Cardiff Bay somehow seems like an escape from the hectic city life that can sometimes catch up with you. It is literally sometimes like a mad rat race. Away from all of the uni work and the business of the city centre, the bay offers to be an adventurous treat away from chaos. Although the weather was gloomy and windy here are a few snaps from my last visit!

Meet Liam

Liam, a 20 year old student from Swansea studying in Cardiff.

It's quite tough when it's sunny outside but not quite acceptable to wear summer clothes don't you think? I definitely find it one of the toughest situations ever!  Liam has managed to work around this sticky situation that we often find ourselves in by choosing light colours that fit the summer mood, yet covered up with a lovely gingham shirt that acts as a handy stylish feature when it becomes slightly too breezy. Gingham is up there with one of my favourite prints, it is so simple yet out there. This is why his attire is fabulous for a chilled out day look as well as for the spontaneous cheeky few drinks that somehow always pop up when the sun is shining! The desert boots are a key feature in the wardrobe for both you boys and girls, Robert Pattinson teams his up with his comfies, whilst Florence shows us how sassy they can look with a dress too.  

Don't be afraid to let me know how you wrap up yet look summery, the more tips the better!

Girls Shop The Desert Boot:

Checked shirt /  Skinny Jeans, / Clarks Boots/ Truffle Lace Up Ankle Boots / 

Floral Print Shoes

• Girls desert boots are great when it comes looking effortless and sleek. There are so many different colours out there and patterns, don't be afraid to be loud and make a statement with your shoes! The louder the better. Give a cheeky little browse on Office Shoes, it is like a desert boot haven. 
• Girls can play around with gingham really well. You probably have realised that I love a bit of a bargain, and often I find lovely gingham shirts in charity shops and vintage stalls. Check out Cardiff Fashion Quarter, they will offer many different styles of the gingham print. Get your hands on it ASAP, once its gone its gone!
• Light skinny jeans are perfecto, even I have a pair and I'm guilty of normally just wearing the colour black! Girls check out these, Topshop jeans are amazing quality and they have so many different styles, playing around with the 'mom jean' gives a more bohemian laid back look. 

Boys Shop The Desert Boot:

 Checkered Shirt / Skinny Jeans/ Linen Crew Neck T-Shirt / Clarks Originals Desert Boot / 

NEIL BARRETT Perforated Desert Boots / MISSONI Suede Desert Boots / Jigsaw Suede Desert Boot

• Defo invest in a pair of desert boots, my favourite are from Clarks as they have such a broad range of styles, so have a cheeky little lurk on their website.
• So much gingham print is out there right now but Fred Perry I believe do gingham extremely well.  Every boy needs a bit of Fred Perry in their life. This shirt is absolutely beautiful, and girls you can wear it too. I'm guessing I'm not the only girl out there who always wears boys clothes right? P.s don't be afraid to pop your shirt over a tee for extra layers and warmth!
• Light skinny jeans are also amazing for boys, they seem much more appropriate for sunny days. Check these out, I insist.

Are you a fan of the desert boot?

  Related Links:

|Fashion Beans on Gingham|Vogue on the Perfect Jean| Telegraph Fashion on the Desert Boot | Office Shoes on the Desert Boot | 

Lurking Tips

Where can I lurk? That is a very good question that hopefully I can answer through out this blog. There is so much potential when it comes to lurking I promise, but I guess my job here is to give you some tips to help you live a successful lurking life!

Tip Number 1:

Keep your eye out for flyers, be alert at all times. Even when you don't expect a cheeky little flyer, something will crop up. For example, I came across a flyer at Milgi's for a jumble sale that was happening, and boy was I happy I came across it! It was a £1 jumble sale, everything for £1 so of course I couldn't resist lurking around to treat myself. They had everything from clothing to accessories to households, it was fabulous. The best thing about this is that they happen every month, the next one is on the 16th March so get yourself there!

Tip Number 2:

All of the places that you love, follow their Twitter, follow them on Instagram and befriend them on Facebook. Reason why? If you're in that circle, you are invited to the events they hold which means you get an inside lurk on things others may not. For example Cardiff Fashion Quarter have had student nights which are exciting when it comes to finding bargains!

Tip Number 3:

If you've found something and you're in two minds over getting it, defo get it! I've always figured in this instance that if you realise that it is a bargain and part of you wants it, you need it! Even if you do get home and hate yourself for buying it you can always pop it on Ebay or post pictures up on your social network accounts and see if you're friends want to make offers. Moral of this tip is NEVER say no to bargains (maybe this is why I'm so poor woopsy).

Tip Number 4:

Try to get out of your comfort zone. Often my favourite thing about lurking is finding something/somewhere on accident, and then it becomes one of your favourite places. Grab a friend and go on an adventure, you will be surprised to see what is out there when you can learn to leave your comfort zone!

I hope these lurking tips have helped or even just showed you why I love lurking so much! If you've got any other lurking tips then go ahead and comment, I'm always up for a lurking challenge!

Related Links:

|Number 1| Number 2| Number 3|

Meet Tanya

Tanya, a 20 year old student in Cardiff.

There's nothing worse than rain right? Especially when the suns been teasing us with a few cheeky appearances the past few days, I have been getting stupidly excited for Summer. But boy oh boy was there a lot of rain today! It ruins everything and I literally wanted to cry as soon as I stepped out of the front door this morning, I knew it would make todays lurking adventure ridiculously hard. I guessed that the most of you would have been cooped up indoors to avoid the hassle that comes hand in hand with rain. I don't blame you, I would have done the exact same if I didn't have lectures today. You lucky little devils! 

I've always found that the best thing to do when the weather is so horrible is to fix up something simple to wear, thats for both you boys and girls!  Sticking to a simple pair of black skinny jeans, grey knitwear, a leather jacket and a pair of chelsea boots, Tanya shows us how less is more. You probably remember me talking about how essential a pair of black skinny jeans are in everyones wardrobe when we met Jack, but I guess it's time to mention how fabulous a pair of chelsea boots can be in your wardrobe too. Guys I guarantee if I tell you that Beckham has a pair you will realise the seriousness of this situation. I understood the seriousness as soon as images of my style crush, Alexa Chung, were plastered everywhere in cute little pairs of chelsea boots. Don't be afraid to work the 'less is more' look with statement jewellery like Tanya has done with her earrings, instant style points for extreme levels of sassiness.

 

Girls Shop Less is More:

River Island Sweater/ River Island blue top / Faux Leather Jacket /Block Heel Ankle Boots / Grenson Beatle Boots / 

Swarovski Crystal Earrings

• Like Tanya has, I would defo invest in a cheeky little leather jacket. I have one with a faux fur collar and it is amazing during the day and when it comes to layering up for a night out. I really like this one from River Island, it is absolutely stunning and talk about a statement jacket!
• There are so many different styles of chelsea boots out there! Perhaps you fancy a flat pair, I am a huge fan of these ones they are fab and look so so comfy. But don't be afraid to play around with heeled chelsea boots either like these from Topshop, I've been lusting over em for such a long long time! Theres just something about Topshop and their ability to make such lovely shoes. Oh also, chunky heeled chelsea boots are incredibly comfortable and I myself wear them for hours on end during the day.
• Everybody loves pastel and knitwear, especially Zara. Often I find myself wondering how do they just do everything so well?!  Tanya stuck to a light grey knitted jumper, but Zara show us how to work knitwear in pastel shades to brighten up our outfit and to keep us warm at the same time. I'm super keen on this pull over, it is so dainty and delicate, taking femininity to the next level. 
• Tanya shows us that no girl can ever have too much jewellery. Go all out and check ASOS out, they are affordable and stylish which is a win win situation don't you think? I promise that you will never regret it. Plus 10% student discount, how on earth can you say no?!

Boys Shop Less is More:

     Black Sweater / Jersey/ Washed Merinos Knit / Chocolate Chelsea Boots/Chelsea Boots in Leather / 

Dr Martens Chelsea Smooth Boots

• Knitwear is amazing for boys too, I am a huge fan of it when it is super ugly and oversized. Check out Cow, when I lived in Birmingham I literally found treats in there all of the time. They have so much to offer, it is absolute knitwear heaven! The uglier the jumper the better I say! 
• When it comes to chelsea boots you guys are super lucky and there are so many different styles on the cards too! Dr Martens offer a lovely pair of chelsea boots, they are sturdy and worth every single penny, so get saving ASAP. They will probably be one your best investments ever. But guess what? Chelsea boots are extremely versatile. So why not check out a fancy pair like these from Topman too? Bring out your inner Miles Kane, I dare you. 

Got any other tips for us lurkers? Don't be afraid to drop a comment and share them. After all, sharing is caring right?

 Related Links:

|Glamour Magazine on Chelsea Boots |Return of the Chelsea Boot on Fashion Beans|Harpers Bazaar on Statement Jewellery|

Different City Feature// Lurking in Bristol

I genuinely think this flu is taking over my life right now. I've had days in bed and zero nights out in hope of getting back to my normal self for my day trip to Bristol. Unfortunately the days in bed have not worked, I'm blogging from my bed right now with a cup of tea and silly amounts of medication scattered around me.

Although the bed days didn't fix me up, I could not miss the chance to go to Bristol. It is such a lovely city, and after my last visit I kept telling myself I would go back, but with busy timetables and working in retail, I seriously just had no time whatsoever. So I dragged myself out of bed to get a return train ticket for only £12, which is absolutely amazing! Luckily the weather was lovely, the sun was shining which made the day trip feel a thousand times better and lift me out of my ill state. I was surrounded by many different places to eat, cute little arcades, amazing vintage shops, typically English looking pubs and just lovely scenery. It is more than worth a visit!

I did go to Bristol with the idea to snap up some photos of people, but I think they would have been scared if they were approached by me with how ill I looked and sounded! So instead I snapped up a few pictures of pretty things in Bristol for you to look at, in hope to inspire you to have your own little lurk to the city. If I have inspired you to take a trip let me know how your day goes, I could talk about Bristol forever!

Although it is lovely to just go on an adventure in a city you don't know, perhaps you want to plan your day, so click here for advice on your trip to Bristol.

Other cities that I love to lurk in:
|London| Birmingham| Brighton| Manchester | Stratford-Upon-Avon|