CAFIN Clothing #ootd

I first heard of the brand CAFIN when they started following me on Instagram. They would like the odd post and it made sure that their name stayed in the front of my mind. Eventually I got curious, checked out their website, and really liked what I saw.

CAFIN - or Catching a Fish in Norway - are an ethical streetwear brand. This means that they manufacture clothing in a fair trade and carbon neutral manner, with a certain percentage of their profits going towards supporting emerging artists. All of these are things I can really get behind, and for more information about the work the brand does - as well as to buy the clothes - you can check out their website.

After a couple of months of dillydallying for no good reason, I took the plunge and ordered a couple of items from their collection. The first was one of their long sleeved white t-shirts and the second a black sweatshirt. Both of them feature the classic CAFIN fish print. I placed the order on a Saturday and the clothes came the following Thursday, which I thought was a pretty good delivery time!

I tried on the t-shirt first. This came up slightly longer than I was expecting it to, although considering it is a unisex fit I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. I love the relaxed fit, though, and the material feels really good quality. I've decided to wear it with the sleeves slightly rolled up, although in the winter the longer sleeve length will be perfect! It is a true white tee, so ignore the blue tint in the photos - that's just the result of the lighting!

Next I pulled on the sweater. If the tee was longer length than I was expecting then the sweatshirt was perfect! Its really soft on the inside and again the material feels like it's good quality. The cuffs are fairly tightly elasticated, so if you have chunkier wrists it might feel a little tight for the first couple of wears.

I'm really looking forward to wearing these in the coming months. Although they are not technically office clothing, I reckon I could get away with it since I currently work in the fishing tackle business!

I couldn't help but take a few shots in my new Watsky hat. I went to see him when he performed last week in London and it was hands down one of the best gigs I've been to. The energy in the room was outstanding and his stage prescience worked perfectly for the venue. I love this beanie, too, especially it's cute light bulb design.

If you like what you've seen definitely go and check out CAFIN!

Blogmas 19: Christmas Jumpers

*This article was originally published by Concrete Fashion*

With less than a week till Christmas, we are well and truly in the festive season. Tinsel, fairy lights and mince pies are all well and good, but what is more festive than the good old fashioned Christmas jumper? At home anything goes, and even the cheesiest of Christmas jumpers can be worn with matching leggings and Rudolph socks, but for those of us who aren’t confident enough to pull off that look on campus Venue is here to show you how to style up the Christmas jumper for everyday wear. Whether you are a fan of the-tackier-the-better or prefer a more conservative nod towards the season of good will, there is a Christmas jumper out there for you.

The ‘So-Tacky-Its-Trendy’

For the confident Christmas enthusiast this is a winter must have. Anything that plays a song or lights up when you press a button falls under this category, and should be worn with care. Finish your look with classic black or navy jeans, ankle boots and a wool coat in a deep grey. With a jumper this loud, you can let it do all the talking, and matching it with darker items will really make the colours pop. Primark have a huge range of these jumpers in at the moment so you can get into the Christmas spirit without breaking the bank.

The Santa

For people who like to show a bit of Christmas love, this is the perfect jumper. Whether it’s emblazoned with Old Saint Nick’s rosy cheeks, Rudolph’s shining nose or a snowman in his scarf, you can guarantee this will be sequinned, glittered and pom-pom-ed to the max. This is another jumper that speaks for itself, so wear with neutral toned jeans, boots and coat. Showing a hint of a crisp white collar is a great way to smarten up this look.

The Slogan

Slightly subtler than ‘The Santa’, you need to read this jumper to see its full Christmas potential. Lyrics to classic Christmas songs, hilarious elf-based puns (who’s taking an #elfie this Christmas?) and everything in between can be found written across these jumpers. Pair this with ripped jeans, biker boots and top with a bobble hat. BooHoo have a huge range of these out, and with that 10% student discount you can’t go wrong!

The Winter Animal

Over Christmas, robins, polar bears and penguins tend to find their way onto our jumpers. Whilst not strictly Christmas-related, these jumpers give a cheeky wink towards the holiday season. These types of jumper tend to come on a sweater fabric rather than a wool, so you can cover yourself with knitted accessories without looking like a giant ball of wool! A mid-length black skirt and a faux fur headband would look great with this. If you’re a little more on the daring side, pleather trousers or skirts would contrast well with the cuteness and fluff of the jumper.

The Fairisle

A Christmas classic, this is one of our most conservative looks for the holiday season. Reindeers and snowflakes can be easily smuggled onto this jumper, and with its nod towards our Scandinavian friends this jumper can be worn all through the winter months. You can wear this with your new favourite skort and thick woollen tights (or corduroy trousers for that stylish Geography teacher look). And remember, Christmas knitwear doesn’t only come in jumper form; this print can be found on leggings, skirts and gloves too – although we wouldn’t recommend wearing them all at once!

So whether you love them or whether the whole season makes you want to grumble ‘Bah! Humbug’, there’s no denying that in the Christmas jumper is in style and here to stay – at least until Boxing Day.

Blogmas 10: #LibraryLooks

This the what I wore when I went to work in the library on Sunday. It had been miserable all morning, but it brightened up after lunch so I put some face on and cycled onto campus.

Face -  B. Illuminating Primer, B. Under-eye Concealer in Light/Medium, ELF Pressed Powder in Sand  (all over face). Buff (Contour), M&M Limited Collection Blush in Cinnamon
Brows - B. Eyebrow Kit in Brown,
Lips - Barry M Lip Liner Pencil in 119 Mullberry, Hema Longer Lasting Lipstick in 06
Eyes - Avon Nocturnal Pallet [no shade listed] (all over lid),  ELF Liquid Eyeliner in Black, ELF Waterproof Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara in Black

This is about as natural as my eye make-up gets. I really like this nude shadow from Avon, it is only slightly darker than my skin tone so it looks very natural. Avon is not cruelty free though, so I won't be re-purchasing when I hit pad. I had to wear my red lips - loving the red lipped look this season!

Shirt - BooHoo.Com

 I was a bit skeptical when I got this shirt through, but today I've tucked it into a full length black skirt (from Miss Selfridge last year, sorry I didn't get a picture of it my my room isn't wide enough to get a full length shot from this angle. Because it was past midday and sunny, I decided to take pictures standing under my window rather than standing against my wardrobe). As you can see, this is my 'TS: 1989' pose!

Glasses - Asos
Scarf - H&M (similar here)
Jacket - TopShop

I fell in love with these sunglasses when I saw Estee wear them in a video. I decided to throw on a scarf because it looked a bit chilly out, and I paired it with my biker jacket that I got in last years January sales from TopShop.

So that was my Sunday #LibraryLook. What's yours? Tweet me @VickiMaitland or leave a comment below!

Blogmas 3: OOTD #LibraryLooks

So for you guys it is the third day of Blogmas, but for me it feels like its only the first as its the first time I'll be writing and posting on the same day! Today's post is part of an outfit of the day (OOTD) series that I'd like to start called #LibraryLooks. As a student I spend a lot of time in the library - particularly towards the end of term when it almost becomes a second home to me (and that's not just because its warmer than my house). I like to look smart when I work in the library as I always feel like I work harder if I look like I'm ready to work hard - if that makes sense! I'll try to link everything I can, but some stuff is from last years stock, or was a gift.

Shirt - H&M, Jumper H&M, Locket -Gift, Jeans - Miss Sefridge, Boots Clarks.

I am absolutely in love with this jumper - it is so soft and cuddly, so it brings a little bit of home comfort to a library trip. I only got it this season, but I couldn't find it on the H&M website. These jeans are from last years Miss Selfridge sale, and are really soft and stretchy. My boots have lasted me the past two winters, and although I had to replace the laces this year I fully expect them to last for a few more years yet!

Brows - B. Eyebrow Kit in Brown,
Eyes - Estee Lauder Shadow in Ivory Box (Highlighter), Honey Drop (Lid), ELF shadow in Natural [no specific shade listed] (Crease), ELF Liquid Eyeliner in Black, ELF Waterproof Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara in Black
Face- B. Illuminating Primer, B. Under-eye Concealer in Light/Medium, ELF Pressed Powder in Sand  (all over face). Buff (Contour), M&M Limited Collection Blush in Cinnamon
Lips - Barry M Lip Liner Pencil in 119 Mullberry, Hema Longer Lasting Lipstick in 06

You might think this is a lot of make-up for your average day at the library - and I have put a little more on than usual so it would show up on camera - but I love the process of applying make-up and for me it really gets me in the right mind frame for the day. I've been loving the bold red lip - it's super festive. Apart from the Estee Lauder all of this make-up is cruelty free.

Shirt, Jumper and Jeans as before, Coat - Zara.

I've had this coat a couple of years too. I love how shapeless and baggy it is, and I can put loads of layers underneath it if I need too.

Everything as before, Bag - Kanken Forest Green 15" Laptop

And what would a trip to the library be without my rucksack! I love this bag, and my review of it will be up later this month. It fits everything in it - and I can't forget a nice bottle of water to keep my hydrated during my studies.

Show me your library wear using the #LibraryLooks on twitter, or tweet me @VickiMaitland!

(HUGE) Back to School/ Autumn Haulbook

It feels like I've been waiting for weeks to post this, but I just kept ordering more bits and bobs and I wanted to wait until everything came through before I showed it off. I never normally go this crazy with buying clothes - I'm very frugal and, though I buy the odd item semi-regularly, my last 'big splurge' was in March when I bought myself 3 dresses and a top from the BooHoo sale (an order which totalled in at less than £40). This whopping haul is made up of 17 items (3 pairs of shoes, 5 shirts, 1 pair of corduroy trousers, 1 pair of flares, 1 skirt, 1 cardigan and 5 dresses) and I don't want to think how much it all cost. I've roughly paired them up in the way I think I'll most likely wear them, though I will be mixing and matching with things I already own. I've let myself go a little crazy in the hope that I won't need to spend money on clothes in the Autumn term, so I don't have to budget it in. Its also worth noting that my grandma and my mum gave me some money to buy new clothes and shoes (thanks guys!), so this wasn't all from my own pocket. I also worked a part time job during the summer and as I love clothes I thought this was an appropriate way to spend some of my extra cash.

For reference, as I find it super helpful when websites write down this kind of information, I am 5ft5" (or 165 cm) and weigh about 55kg (120lb or 8.5st). I mostly wear size 8, but sometimes have to go up to a 10 in shirts to fit my shoulders or a 6 in skirts to fit my waist (I'll let you know what size each item is anyway). My feet muddle between a 5 and 6 UK size.

My hair is dyed using the Directions semi-permanent hair dye in the shade Flamingo Pink. I had dyed it this morning, so it is exceptionally bright! I might write a quick post about hair dying once I've gotten a bit more practised.

Enough chatter, here's the haulbook:

Cardigan - New Look Size 10, Dress - BooHoo Size 10, Shoes - Converse All Stars Size 5

Dress and Shoes as above.

I love this mustard yellow colour, and this dress is a great baggy fit. You can style it with a belt to give a more defined waist or simply wear it loose like I have. I have a similar dress in the same cut in the size 8, but the 10 is noticeably longer whilst only slightly looser. As I work with children this dress has a much more work appropriate feel to it and I'm really happy with it.

Dress - BooHoo Size 8,  Shoes - as above

Dress - BooHoo Size 8,  Shoes - as above

As above

I love the fit of this dress. It skims in all the right places, despite the fact my bust is on the smaller side, and its great to have a dress with long arms. The material of this dress is slightly thicker than all the others too, so this will be great for when it gets a bit cooler.

Shirt - H&M Size 10, Skirt - H&M Size XS, Shoes - as above

As above

 As soon as (I saw the print on this skirt I knew I had to get it. Its made from quilted fabric so is super warm, and I love the curved hemline on the front and back. I got a cropped short sleeved shirt from H&M this summer and loved it, and as a lot of people know I am a huge fan of the white shirt, so this was a match made in heaven for me.

Shirt - as above, Trousers - River Island Size 8, Shoes - M&S Size 5 (last years stock)

As above

I found these trousers in the River Island sale, and as much as I love them I was really worried about getting them. I caved to my desires and I'm so glad I did. These trousers can be dressed up with heels and a shirt like I have here or dressed down with a cropped tee and sandals. A great transition piece between Summer and Autumn. Mum thinks it makes me look very Margo (from The Good Life)!

Dress - BooHoo Size 8, Shoes - New Look Size 5

As above

I love midi length dresses and this one was in a beautiful colour (it almost matches my hair!). The shoes are something I would never normally buy, but I went for it. Thought they aren't exactly the ones I fell in love with in the shop (my fault for not buying them when I saw they were the last pair in the sale) these are as close as I could find. Can I walk in them? It's questionable. Do I love them? Yes.

Dress - Primark Size 10, Shoes - as above

As above

The material this dress is made from is lovely - really silky. It can be dressed up with heels like this or dressed down with tights and converse.

Shirt - H&M Size 10, Trousers - Charity Shop (originally H&M) Size 10, Shoes - Clarks (Busby Fizz in Oxblood) Size 5 1/2

I am a huge fan of shirts, and this is a classic university look for me. I didn't own any trousers like this, and at £4 they were a steal. Like my very wise friend Katie once said, when buying from a charity shop, think of it as donating money and getting a free thing. For example, I donated £4 and got a free pair of trousers!

Shirt - H&M Size 8, Trousers and Shoes - as above

As above

I love the way this shirt hangs. Again this could be dressed up with a smart skirt and heels, and would be perfect for a job interview.

Shirt - Primark Size 10, Trousers and Shoes - as above

Although I'm not entirely convinced by the optical illusion effect this shirt has (the stripes should really get smaller the lower they go rather than the other way) I still really like it.

Shirt - BooHoo Size 10, Jeans - Miss Selfridge Size 8 (last years stock), Shoes -  Converse All Stars Size 5

I love the print on this shirt. I'm slightly concerned it's a tad too oversized on the collar (it was advertised as an oversized shirt), but it looks better than I thought in the photo! I'm not sure I'd wear this with blue jeans, but my dark grey ones are still at uni, and my long black skirt is too!

Shirt - BooHoo Size 10, Jeans and Shoes - as above

As above

Last but not least, this cropped shirt. It's got a lower crop than the other shirt, and I love its pattern. The collar will look great under a thick jumper too!


That's, finally, everything! These sort of posts always feel very self-indulgent and show-offy, but I love reading other people's, so hopefully you've enjoyed mine!