Dress Your Mate To Get A Date (pt 3)...

This Wednesday afternoon I felt like a true lady of leisure! Working in the morning and then a spot of window shopping (well, actual shopping) at lunchtime, before heading off for a relaxing spa treatment. I treated myself to my first ever reflexology session - where I must say, you are never too old to have someone wash and massage your feet for you! And, after discovering that I had "tight ovaries" and "crunchy lungs" I decided that an evening of retail therapy was just the ticket!

So, Zozee and I hopped on a train to Stratford and headed towards the bright lights of Westfield shopping centre to splurge our hard earned pennies in high end establishments like Primarni! And, the power was in her hands as she had full reign over my next fashion purchase. A pair of £11 skinnys and a spotty shirt later and I was set for my next Friday night!

But, disappointingly, our most expensive extravagance was on dinner that evening! And, after trawling the food court and spending a good ten minutes debating whether to have Mexican, Thai or good old bangers and mash, we finally decided that spring rolls, noodles and crispy duck would tickle our taste buds that evening!

And, while I was content with my purchases from Primark, I had set my sights on a dress from Topshop. Not wanting to seem greedy, we decided to plan my next outfit around the little t-shirt dress. Ever the fashionista, Zozee suggested putting it with my new chelsea boots, her leather jacket and my latest accessory obsession - a pork pie hat! So, when my next pay packet rocks around, I'll be investing in this staple piece and putting it to the test!

Mother knows best...

This weekend was spent with some of my closest pals - enjoying a pub lunch in the countryside, exchanging light-hearted banter, hearing about my friend's new Victorian pad and gazing at the newest addition to our friendship group - baby Oscar!

But, it was when relaying my afternoon activities to mummy dearest, that it became apparent that I am ever increasingly becoming more and more like the most famous fictional singleton in modern history - but unlike Miss Jones, I keep a blog rather than a diary!

You know you're life has taken a turn for the sad and desperate when your mother is offering you fashion/dating advice on a Saturday night! "A nice pair of skinny jeans, with one of those tops with the Peter Pan collar and some ankle boots!"

And, just when I thought I'd side-stepped the cringe-factor - we popped up to Tesco for a few leafy greens and juicy fruits to kick start my new clean and lean diet - and not even two minutes through the doors and Mrs T has pointed out a potential suitor for her first born! And, after hovering over at the magazine stand and trying to persuade me to get in the queue so that I can "chat him up" - I looked more like a potential shop lifter than love interest! Red cheeks, flicking through various glossy titles and glancing over my shoulder at the tall, dark and handsome stranger - and to make matters worse, he was a policeman! So, I'm lucky I wasn't suspected of petty theft as well as sheer embarrassment!

Dress Your Mate To Get A Date (part two)...

After the first outfit was put to the test, it's time for the next brave soul to select an ensemble for me to take out on the town. So, I am very much looking forward to a Westfield date with my trend-setting P.I.C (partner in crime)!

And, so ahead of our mid-week road trip, here are a few of my favourite looks from the latest spring/summer collections...

Pretty prints and pastels from Primark

Quirky scarf prints and vintage glam from Miss Selfridge

All the dresses from Topshop!

Whatever seasonal updaters the Gossip Hound adds to my wardrobe, it's sure to be a fashion hit, rather than a miss!

Dress your mate to get a date...

First dates, first loves and first break-ups - compare notes with your girlfriends and you've probably all ticked every cliche to ever grace a chick flic! And, I too, am guilty of ticking such boxes when it comes to relationships. After a heart-wrenching first break-up, I went through all the motions; copious amounts of alcohol, jumped into bed with the next guy to show an interest, got a "make-over" and had an emotional melt down three months down the line! So, it was after the failure of my second relationship that I decided not to let history repeat itself. 

This time, I was off men for good (well for a while at least!) and after feeling let down by all of man kind, I seemed to don a "piss off and don't talk to me" look with every outfit. It was then that I realised I needed some time out to work on my relationship with myself before I took my bag of past issues into the next relationship.

But, after 18 months of soul searching I was finally ready to mingle again! Yet, I'd noticed over the past year and half I had not been getting any attention - not even a wink! My usual ensemble of ditsy tea dress and brogues was clearly not working in my favour! So, I decided to make the call...to my fashionista sister to ask for her styling advice. I no longer wanted to look "nice" - nice doesn't get you noticed - but looking "hot" is not a look I feel entirely comfortable with. So, once my outfit, hair style and make-up had all been selected I felt a strange wave of confidence knowing that I could only wear this on my next night out.

The big day soon rocked around, and I slipped into my leather-look leggings, white shirt and killer heels. Hair tousled and barely-there make-up and I was ready to hit the town! And, it wasn't long before my winning outfit started working it's magic. I noticed him straight away, across the crowded bar and we instantly hit it off - talking (or, shouting information) at each other over the blaring music - and awkwardly exchanging details before tottering off home.

And, it wasn't long before "Mr pink shirt and glasses" had asked me out on a date. A date! Finally, after 18 months of waiting out the dating game, I had succeeded with the first outfit. Nervous, but excited I headed out for what seemed like a relaxed and enjoyable evening - having a lot in common the conversation flowed all night - until it was time to go home and exchange awkward goodbyes and a peck on the cheek (it's no end of date snog, but a step in the right direction!) I felt positive about the possibility of going on a second date...but the chemistry seemed to fizzle rather than sizzle quite quickly after that. After a short wave of disappointment, I decided to put this one down to experience - I was back on the dating horse again afterall!

So, it's on to the next outfit - who will be brave enough to pick my next one?