Leopard Thursday

After yesterday's print clash, I've toned it down today with a bit of monochrome minimalism. White shirt + black skirt = classic combo. Add a bright block colour or a flash of print and it suddenly becomes more interesting. And as it's Leopard Week (it's like I'm on Big Cat Diaries or something...), I'm zinging up my monochrome with a simple leopard belt. I feel a bit like I'm channelling the Chung, who loves a bit of black and white herself. Or maybe she's channelling me, as she's an avid reader of It's a Look, apparently. Ha ha, no, really.

Shirt, M&S; skirt, Zara; necklace, Primark; belt, Century 21; multi-buckle wedges, Primark

Leopard Wednesday

Today I'm actually clashing prints (I know, quelle horreur! Although it can totally work) by wearing a floral skater skirt alongside my leopard scarf. I've toned down the clash with a black sweater in betwixt the two, to avoid comparisons with a magic-eye picture, and I'm actually quite enjoying my outfit. Which is always nice. It's simple, it's comfy, but the prints are keeping it interesting. Secret squirrel alert: I'm wearing hubby's rugby socks pulled up to my knee beneath the over-the-knee boots (all thermal and Heat Tech socks are in the laundry). It's fine if no one can see them, right? Still loving the leopard.

Sweater, Zara. Skirt, H&M. Scarf, Avon. Boots, Asos

Leopard week

I'm working at more! magazine this week and while mentally working out what I was going to wear, I realised nearly every outfit included a leopard print item. And I thought to myself, I've probably got enough leopard garments or accessories to rock the look all week, so that's what I decided to do, starting with today's leopard-print jumper. No reason for me doing this, it's purely for my own amusement really. From your perspective, you're probably just thinking, 'Seriously, I like a bit of leopard as much as the next person, but the girl needs to get herself a new print...' Whatevs. It's my blog. Next week: zebra. Just kidding.

Cardi, Primark. Jumper, Matalan. Leggings, Uniqlo. Scarf and wedge boots, Primark

Black-tie winter wedding

Got back yesterday from a lovely, wintry weekend in Stow-on-the-Wold for our friends' wedding. And wow, what an event. It was my first black-tie wedding, and was very chic. The snowy setting just seemed to add to the drama of it all, and everyone looked so glamorous - men in tuxes, women in super-elegant dresses and the bride, Sarah, who looked just stunning in a strapless ivory gown embroidered with sparkly crystals and a fur stole. I wore this gorgeous floor-length blue chiffony floaty dress from Asos, and avoided hypothermia by teaming it with 120 denier opaques, a camisole and a Uniqlo Heat Tech lightweight top underneath, as well as my friend's faux fur jacket over the top. It wasn't easy tottering between venues in platform sandals (what did you expect: Snowjoggers with black tie?!), but once inside for the reception, danger was averted. And despite some pretty nifty temperatures, the whole James-Bondness of a black tie affair is always enough to make you feel fabulous.

It's a Look at another fabulous blogger!

If you like reading my blog (guilty pleasure, anyone?), that might mean you like reading other fabulous blogs, too, so I thought I'd introduce you to one of my faves. As I said in Leopard-print Wednesday, I met up with a lovely friend of mine for cake after work (Hummingbird Bakery in Soho, since you ask), and we gossiped, laughed, caught up and generally annoyed the staff who wanted to close up long before we'd finished gabbing. Well, this lovely friend, Lucy Higgins, is a sub editor/writer/traveller/photographer/photographee and general blogger extraordinaire, and a totally inspiring person who lives and works all over the place, from the Wirral to Berlin to London to Austria to maybe down under... Air Miles are her accessory du jour, basically. Not only did I want to razz on about her because she's lovely and talented, but because she very kindly blogged about yours truly on her own fantastic blog, Eleven Eleven (Wednesday 1 December - A piece of cake).

Lucy's blog is brilliant, and talks about what she's up to at 11.11am/pm every day, and let me tell you, the girl gets up to a lot of stuff. Reading it always puts a smile on my face. And, as she has made it onto my blog for the second time now (see Today's special guests), that also makes her one officially stylish lady. Miss H, you know just how to style a knotted head band, precisely how to style a star jump, and unquestionably how to style out a blog. Special guest indeed. Catch her at http://at-eleven-eleven.blogspot.com.

Lucy's blog

Uniqlo Heat Tech Frenzy!

And the award for services to layering this season goes to... Uniqlo, surely, for it's amazing Heat Tech range, without which, I'd be bundled up in all manner of unflattering uber-padded garments. I stocked up on more of its heat-generating clothing last night just to see me through this wintry burst of weather.

Quick rundown without turning into a press release: basically, Uniqlo's Heat Tech range is a collection of lightweight clothing in fabric that creates heat to insulate you. And when layered underneath normal outfits, they keep you from turning blue (when we all know this season's colours of choice are camel and red, so we don't want that). Simply put, it means you can wear less in winter and avoid turning into a woolly mammoth. There are some good offers on too, as long-sleeved Ts are only £12.99, or buy two for £19.99, as I did last night (you can't beat a black or neutral-coloured long-sleeved scoop neck for layering under jumpers, dresses, etc). Considering the five women in front of me in the queue all had at least one Heat Tech item, too, it's proving a fashion hit.

My haul? The two long-sleeved scoop necks (black and royal blue, in case I need an extra layer underneath my similar colour dress for this weekend's wedding); a pair of grey leggings, £12.99, which I'm wearing underneath a normal pair of leggings today, and a two-pack of knee-length patterned socks for boots. Uniqlo, I salute you.

*NB Uniqlo's also doing a limited offer on pure cashmere sweaters for £49.99 at the moment (normally £69.99). £49.99 for 100% PURE CASHMERE! And free delivery online, too. Seriously, I should be on commission...

Leopard-print Wednesday

I'm meeting a very good friend after work for cake and catch-up, so I wanted to dress up a little today. Don't worry (I know you do), I shall still be layering away for warmth and sporting a long, chunky cardi, but I wanted to add a dash of leopard print for a midweek je ne sais quoi (perhaps adding a hit of red lippy later on - you know how I like red lips with leopard). I'm wearing a long-sleeved top underneath my tunic dress for extra warmth, too. Sadly, the plan was to debut my new over-the-knee boots to work (whit-woo, get me...). These are multitasking little beauties - over-the-knee gives them a cheeky, sexy hit, but they're flat, which stops them being over-the-top for work and means I can walk in them (delightful pregnancy hormones are already giving me backache). Plus, they cover up over half of my legs, adding extra heat, which makes them practical as well as fabulous! However, they are suede, and suede boots without a substantial enough sole in this weather? Even though I was assured by the BBC weather website that there would only be a light dusting of snow today, those pavements are not looking overly friendly to me. So, new boots relegated to the wardrobe and back out with the Snowjoggers, sigh... Safety first and all that *sulks*.

Cardi, tunic dress and skinnies, all Primark. Thermal socks, ski shop. Snowjoggers, Amazon