Swimwear has never been my sartorial strong point. I don’t think I have ever felt particularly happy with how I look by the pool or on the beach on holiday, not always because I have not been body confident at the time but because I have never really found the right style of swimwear for my body shape. I used to think that I had to wear the skimpiest of bikinis at every opportunity in order for maximum tanning and to avoid unsightly white marks. However, as I have grown older (sob), I have come to realise that returning from holiday with a great tan is not the benchmark of a fantastic holiday and in turn my attitude to swimwear has changed.
I have not bought new swimwear (except for a Speedo swimming costume for actually swimming) for years and years. Bikinis on the high street are so expensive when you consider that the cost per wear is very low – unless you live by a beach or go on A LOT of holidays! So I have been very reluctant to invest. Plus, I struggle to find swimwear (especially bikinis) that suits me, despite having what I consider a pretty standard body type – slightly above average height with big hips, a small waist and average size boobs. So why is it so hard?!
SWIMSUIT: VINTAGE | SUNGLASSES: RAY BAN | EARRINGS: VINTAGE
With that in mind and no longer feeling the need to spend hours upon hours roasting my skin in the hot sun for a tan, I have finally started opting for swimsuits. This vintage swimsuit* cost a mere $5 but if I hadn't been so lucky with this incredible find, I would definitely have been more likely to invest in a nice swimsuit than a bikini. They’re more versatile and can double up as a cute body too!
*A side note: second hand swimwear – gross or totally fine? As long as you check for any unwanted stains and if the swimsuit or bikini is in good condition, personally I am completely ok with wearing vintage swimwear. Totally your prerogative though!
Although I’m still not sure if it is super flattering on me, that doesn’t matter because I feel great in it and that is the key to feeling body confident in swimwear. The shape is completely what I look for, in what I call a “fashion swimsuit” (as a keen swimmer, I cannot refer to it otherwise because I would never swim seriously in this!). The low back adds a touch of sexiness to the look and is a great way of showing a bit of skin if, like me, you’re not too keen on having too much boob or stomach on show. The cross over effect at the front allows the perfect amount of cleavage and, most importantly, draws emphasis to my small waist.
I absolutely love the cobalt blue colour; its crinkled texture is so interesting and the white trim and solo button are key details that add so much to this amazing swimsuit. Its seriously retro vibe made me want to create a whole look to wear by the pool, which is something I have never really considered when wearing swimwear. Adding my trusty Ray Ban round metal sunglasses and these awesome sixties white earrings - the latest addition to my statement earring collection - meant I felt more like myself, which in turn helped me feel body confident in swimwear.
So there are my tips to help you feel body confident in swimwear this summer - wear as much or as little as you feel comfortable (sometimes less is more when it comes to baring skin); pick a piece of swimwear that makes you feel really good; add accessories such as statement earrings, sunglasses or a hat to make you feel more like you.
I hope you have enjoyed this post! I would love to hear your tips to feel body confident in swimwear and also what you'll be wearing by the pool this summer. Check out my favourite swimsuit picks from the high street below. X
As I am sure you are aware, Glastonbury Festival 2017, the most important event in any music lover's calendar, took place at the weekend with a cracking line up made up of some big name headliners and smaller indie bands. I was lucky enough to bag myself a last minute wristband and on Friday I made the short trip from Bristol to Somerset for my eighth time on the beautiful Worthy Farm. Having attended Glastonbury Festival almost every year since 2008 (the year when it didn't even sell out until the gates opened!), I really feel so at home there and have loved seeing the festival grow and change every year.
After a couple of years of average line ups and the terrible weather that Glastonbury is known for (last year was a total mud bath from start to finish), I was so so excited to head to the festival knowing the ground would be fit for Converse after the recent UK heatwave. Furthermore, the line up was amazing and for months I had had the biggest envy of anyone with a ticket so I thank my lucky stars (and my dad's connection!) that I managed to get a wristband.
DENIM SHORTS: VINTAGE LEVI'S | SHIRT: SECONDHAND | SHOES: CONVERSE | NECKSCARF: VINTAGE | BAKER BOY CAP: VINTAGE
The Park has always been my favourite area of Glastonbury Festival. Created by Emily Eavis in 2007 (the year before I went for the first time), The Park stage showcases a mix of up and coming bands during the day; well known headliners and the odd secret set, if you're lucky. I headed straight there on Friday to meet friends for Hamilton Leithauser's mid-afternoon set, which was a great way to kick off the festival. The Park is a great place to chill out and watch some new bands, whether that be from the little slope in front of the stage or from further up the big hill past the ribbon tower towards the Glastonbury sign, where you also get a stunning view over the massive festival. The Park also has some really cool bars and some amazing food stalls so if you're ever stuck with something to do, just head to The Park.
Similarly to last year (with the EU referendum taking place during the festival), politics played a key role at Glastonbury Festival. I saw flags mocking Theresa May, people sporting Corbyn t-shirts and not to mention that "Oh, Jeremy Corbyn" chant that erupted countless times across the weekend. Of course, the man of the moment appeared on the Pyramid Stage himself on Saturday afternoon between Craig David (who was excellent!) and Run The Jewels. Corbyn, introduced by Michael Eavis, pulled an absolutely massive crowd and gave an incredible speech. In a time of such political uncertainty, Glastonbury is always such a great place to be, being surrounded by like-minded left wingers.
SKIRT: OLD URBAN OUTFITTERS | TOP: VINTAGE | FAUX FUR WAISTCOAT: OLD H&M | SUNGLASSES: VINTAGE | WELLIES: HUNTER
Now let's talk music! As I said, the line up was incredible this year and although I am usually funny about seeing stuff on my own, this year I had to fully embrace it. Some of my favourite bands were playing that none of my friends wanted to see with me so I just went on my todd and actually really enjoyed it! Of course I would have much rather Lewis had been with me to see some of our favourite bands together but I found it strangely liberating and I'm glad I know now that I have no qualms with doing it.
After an incredible Friday night watching Radiohead with friends, I got myself up early to watch Whitney on my own at 12pm on the Other Stage. I discovered Whitney a few months back and my love for them grew when I saw them play Boston Calling last month and has grown even more since seeing them at Glastonbury. They have a great surfer/folk vibe with the singer singing falsetto while playing the drums. Love it!
Another band I was not going to miss were Haim. I am fully fully obsessed with the Haim sisters from their quirky pop/indie songs and fun stage presence to their incredible fashion sense. I went full fan-girl, got a spot near the front and danced Sunday afternoon away with other big Haim fans and loved it. Just look at them - they are wearing black PVC kick flares and floral blouses - I die!
Other highlights included: watching half of Liam Gallagher's Oasis heavy set followed by the second half of Katy Perry poptastic show (the clash of the weekend); catching up with my old friend Josie to The National and partying with her to Phoenix's headline John Peel slot; singing along to Craig David classics and listening to Jeremy Corbyn; and finishing off the weekend in the sun at the Pyramid Stage watching Biffy Clyro.
So that's it! Another year, another Glastonbury Festival and (apart from missing Lewis hugely) it was one of the best yet. It's a fallow year next year so I'll see you in 2019, Glastonbury! What the hell are we going to do next year?! X
Hello from my hometown of Bristol. Apologies for the lack of blog and Instagram posts last week but the last ten days have been some of the worst of my whole life. I received some devastating news about someone very close to me, which meant taking a last minute plane back to the UK from Canada. I don’t think I am quite ready to speak about this in depth but I am sure I will one day so please bear with me. But, when tragedy strikes, as it does in someone’s personal life every day, sometimes all we can do is try to bring a sense of normality to our life and for me that is creating outfits and writing about them.
I call this look “British Summer In The City”. Although it has been absolutely glorious for most of the last week or so here in the UK, with temperatures reaching well above 25 degrees (pass me the fan!), most of the time British summer weather is rather up and down. One minute the sun is shining and the next minute a cloud covers it and it can feel rather chilly once again. So getting dressed can be quite a challenge, never knowing what Mr Weatherman might throw at us that day or how much skin we should bare.
Enter the shorts and long sleeve shirt combination – the perfect British summer outfit for a sunny afternoon in the city of Bristol, showing just enough skin to keep me cool but not feeling overexposed in this lovely loose fitting shirt. To be honest, I have no qualms with wearing short shorts and a cami on a hot British summer day spent in the city – when it’s hot, it’s hot and I think we need to wear whatever we want to feel comfortable. But for those days of unpredictable weather or for those of you who prefer to keep the skin bearing for holidays only, this look is a great compromise.
If you read my last outfit post on WHITE JEANS, you will not be surprised to see the first outfit styled from my “home wardrobe” features this amazing pair of white denim cut off shorts. I am so happy to be reunited with them, as they are a great alternative from the usual blue ones, and are definitely coming back to Montreal with me. I bought this white shirt off a friend in Paris but have never gotten round to styling it properly, until now. To create an interesting silhouette, I tucked it into the shorts on one side – and this ensures people know I was wearing shorts as this shirt is at that awkward length that could leave people guessing!
I really like this simple white look. Recently I have been enjoying putting together relatively basic outfits, leaving the cut, styling and, most importantly, the accessories, to do the talking. This vintage tan leather cat bag is another item with which I have been reunited in England and I bloody love it. I bought it years ago in Paris for €5 just because I love cats but have never really worn it. It adds a touch of fun to the outfit and its colour is a nice contrast to the all white ensemble and compliments my beloved red Nike Cortez perfectly. I finished off the look with a red lip, my round beige sunglasses and these oval gold hoops. I'm getting more and more into earrings as it's such a simple way of updating an outfit and these are one of the most recent additions to my growing statement earring collection.
Wow that felt good to get back in the blogging game and write some nonsense about fashion! My next post will probably be next week because I am going to a spa in Devon today and then…I’M GOING THE GLASTONBURY! That’s right, I somehow managed to secure myself a last minute Glastonbury ticket so I’ll be heading down to Worthy Farm for the eighth time on Friday and I cannot wait! Make sure to follow my adventures over on INSTAGRAM @izziehardy – business is back up and running – and thank you for reading ☺
After years of searching and a recent surge of high street versions that simply do not fit me, I have finally found a pair of white jeans. Imagine my joy when I popped into a local vintage shop to see a pair of white Levi’s 501 jeans in my size hanging out like a dream come true amongst the small selection of denim. So, I’m supposed to be on a spending ban but when the fashion gods land such a miracle right in your lap, it’s impossible to resist. As I said, I have been searching for the perfect white jeans for years – no exaggeration – so I was not about to walk away from a pair in the ultimate vintage cut of jeans and hence sentencing myself to more years of searching.
I must admit, when I first tried them on I was hesitant. There are so many reasons why one should not buy white jeans. Although they are easy to style, they are hard to wear - you have to know that it won’t rain or you won’t accidentally sit in something or spill tea down yourself, just to mention a few ways you might ruin your white jeans with a big, nasty stain. So wearing and buying white jeans is quite a commitment. Furthermore, for some reason, I think wearing white jeans takes some getting used to, especially if you not used to seeing your legs clad in such a bright and light colour. Even if they are perhaps only a tad lighter than your favourite blue jeans and even if the creases we are so used to appearing around our bum and crotch area in blue or black jeans are the same, somehow, white jeans look very different.
As I said, styling-wise, I think white jeans are so easy. Perhaps that is because I have had years of imagining what to wear with them or that I have always taken inspiration from people wearing white trousers. But yeah, white jeans are as simple to style as black jeans and just as an all black outfit can look awesome with the right accessories, so can an all white look, which is the base of today’s outfit. I’m wearing a simple white t-shirt tucked into the white Levi’s jeans and quite frankly I could have thrown on some old black Converse and been pretty happy with the outfit. But instead, I wanted to jazz up this all-white base with some blocks of my current favourite colours for spring/summer.
Let’s start with the shoes. I picked up these beautiful yellow platform espadrille sandals (woah, what a mouthful) last summer and I am still so obsessed. Espadrilles are having a real moment right now; they are all over my Instagram in varying styles and I am definitely looking into buying another pair before the summer is up. Yellow is also a big colour this season and together with the complimenting sand colour of the espadrille platform, these shoes look just perfect with the white jeans and white t-shirt combo - even more so than with blue jeans and a white t-shirt, which is how I first styled them last year.
The orange denim jacket and pink bag are recent vintage finds, which I have struggled somewhat to inject into my daily outfits, until now. The orange jacket looks so much better with white jeans than blue or black – although navy blue trousers have served as a nice alternative – and I think that is because of the more neutral base and the white stitching in the jacket. I really love this jacket – it’s so different to wear such a bright summer jacket rather than the usual blue one and I am hoping to find more ways to make it work in my wardrobe (suggestions on a postcard, or ya know, in the comments below).
Similarly to white jeans, this pink bag was a bit of a risk, being made of a fine silk fabric and having a beautiful wicker handle I haven’t wanted to wear it on rainy days. Furthermore, as this bag has to be carried either in hand or in the nook of the arm it makes it less practical than my usual choice of a backpack or cross body bag. Despite all this, the bag is so beautiful that couldn’t not buy it and although I had envisaged wearing it solely with monochrome outfits, I think it works really well with this clashing but complimentary blocks of yellow and orange.
I hope you like this bold but also quite simple outfit! Are you on the hunt for the perfect pair of white jeans? Check out my top high street picks below. Or perhaps you have been wearing white jeans for years? Let me know your highs and lows of wearing white jeans – I’d love to know! X
TWO PIECE: VINTAGE | SHOES: OLD ASOS (SIMILAR VIA CASTAÑER) | CLUTCH: VINTAGE | SUNGLASSES: VINTAGE (SIMILAR VIA MONKI)
It’s that time of year again – wedding season is a go and even though I don’t have a wedding to attend (actually I did last Friday but I couldn’t get the time off to go back to England), I wanted to share this alternative wedding guest outfit anyway. Because it is pretty bloody awesome, if I do say so myself! I think that weddings and summer occasion dressing in general are a great opportunity to get creative with styling and I will rise to the challenge every time to find something quirky yet still me. Last year, my alternative summer wedding outfit comprised of a simple Zara denim shirtdress, yellow espadrille platform sandals and a straw clutch bag, which I wore to Lewis’ sister’s wedding. I got so many compliments and felt super comfortable in the loose dress – meaning I could consume much more of the delicious food than my stomach could really handle! I’m certainly not knocking the usual dress and heels combo that we commonly think of for wedding guest attire but as I do not get to go to many fancy parties, I would want to go all out and wear something rather special.
As time goes on, I am becoming more and more obsessed with suits, co-ords and anything that matches, so much so that I have a Pinterest board totally dedicated to this kind of styling. What I love about a two-piece is how easy it is to look put-together but you don’t actually have to think too much about styling because most of it is done for you! Furthermore, I think jumpsuits and playsuits are also a great alternative for a wedding dress outfit but I struggle to find ones that fit (do I have an abnormally long body? – I don’t think so!) so if I can get that all-in-one look with the comfort of a co-ord then it’s a win in my eyes.
I think the shape of this two-piece is so flattering, much more so than it looked on the hanger. The top nips in slightly at the waist and then skims out over the hips, coming to the perfect length and in turn complimenting my hourglass shape. I also love the wide leg of the trousers – it looks great and makes the whole ensemble a bit more relaxed. Plus it covers all bases weather-wise, which is necessary if you live in an unpredictable climate like here in Montreal or are not counting on British summer time to bring good weather. Making trousers (or a jumpsuit) part of your wedding guest outfit gives that all important coverage if it happens to fall on a chillier day and the loose cut means you won’t get too hot if the sun does decide to shine. I do always like to be prepared for all weather eventualities.
Navy and white is a pretty easy colour palette to work with when it comes to accessorising this outfit. Due to my recent love for pairing primary colours, I chose yellow as my third key colour, although I think fuchsia pink, hot red or a complimenting pastel blue would look equally incredible. I wore these ASOS yellow sandals to a wedding last year and they were so comfy! In my eyes there is not point tottering around in a pair of painful shoes all day, especially when dancing could be involved. I am not good with heels because I hardly ever get the chance to practice wearing them, so if you are the same I would definitely recommend opting for platforms to give that height we all crave to make us feel “dressed up”. Espadrilles are all the rage right now and add a nice summer touch to any outfit. To keep with the matchy matchy theme, I finished off the look with my adorable yellow bead bag and some white-rimmed sunglasses. The clutch goes perfectly with the shoes and the round form of the sunglasses compliments to the spots, both adding more retro elements to the already vintage vibe.
[parallax-scroll id="1117"]
What do you think of this alternative wedding guest outfit? I hope I have given you some inspiration if you are currently having a “what am I going to wear to their wedding?” stress! Let me know if you’ll be rocking something unusual – I would love to hear about your wedding looks! X
