Autumn Archives - With love from Lou

6 Ways To Cosy Up Your Bedroom For Autumn

25/09/2019 by Louise Leave a Comment

With summer officially over it’s time to embrace the transition of autumn into winter and prepare your home for the darker days and colder months ahead. Decorating for the autumn months is all about bringing warmth back into the home and cosying things up to create homely spaces that you can’t wait to spend time in. So here are six ways that you can cosy up your bedroom to make it your go-to bolthole this autumn.

01. GO FOR SOFT AMBER LIGHTING

Getting the lighting right in your bedroom is so important so give your bedroom a golden glow by using soft amber lighting rather than traditional bright white bulbs. The amber light will bring a sense of warmth to the room and is much softer than the overly bright bulbs which makes it less harsh on the eyes when it’s dark outside.

02. INCORPORATE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT LIGHT SOURCES

As the days get darker you will find yourself needing differing types of light depending on what you are doing in your room, a soft glow from fairy lights entwined around a wrought iron bed frame will provide enough visibility for a relaxing evening in bed, but you may need a lamp for extra light when reading if you don’t want to have to turn your full ceiling light on. Try to have a few different lighting options around your room to make the space enjoyable at all times of the day.

03. CHOOSE SOFT FLANNEL OR JERSEY BEDDING

One way to instantly cosy up your bedroom is to put the cool cotton bedding into storage and opt for warm jersey or soft flannel bedding in a pattern or colour that evokes the spirit of autumn. Reds, oranges, yellows and mustard colours evoke the changing colour of the leaves and will add some colour to your room. Alternatively go for neutral browns and beiges and add a pop of colour through your use of cushions and throws.

04. LAYER UP WITH EXTRA BLANKETS

As the temperature begins to drop you’ll be finding yourself reaching for blankets and throws but besides also keeping you warm they look great at the end of you bed or thrown casually across the back of a chair. Choose a couple with different textures, such as a soft fleece blanket and a chunky knit and layer them together for maximum cosiness as well as stylistic effect.

05. CLEAR SPACE FOR CANDLES

Nothing says autumn like the gentle flicker of a flame from a beautifully scented candle. Candles add a sense of warmth to any space and will also make your room smell divine. Opt for autumnal scents such as cinnamon, spice or apple pie, just be sure to blow them out before you go to sleep and keep them away from anything they could set fire to. If you don’t want to bring fire into your bedroom then diffusers are another great way to make your room smell beautiful and electric candles can offer a soft flickering glow.

06. LAY DOWN A RUG

Just as you’re adding texture to your bed don’t forget to add texture to your floor with a soft, fluffy rug to sink your toes into. Softening the floor will make your bedroom feel truly nest like and if you have hardwood floors then putting down a rug will also save your feet from a cold surprise in the morning.

Do you have any other tips for cosying up your bedroom this autumn?
If so, be sure to let me know in the comments below!
With love from Lou Signature Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram | Pinterest

Collaborative Post

My Look of the Day Autumn Fashion Wishlist

11/11/2017 by Louise 37 Comments

It’s that time of year again. The weather is getting colder by the second, and my summer tops and t-shirts have been replaced with cosy knitted jumpers, hats, scarves, and gloves. I noticed recently that some of the pieces in my autumn wardrobe were starting to look a little tatty, so I’ve been making a wishlist of some new bits and bobs I’d like to buy from one of my new favourite online clothing stores, LOTD, also known as ‘Look of the Day’.

And because I know you guys thoroughly enjoy a good old fashion wishlist, I thought I’d share it here on my blog with you. I’ve tried to choose a nice mix of different items, from jumpers and t-shirts to dresses and coats. So, are you sitting comfortably? Then let’s dive right in and let me show you my top 10 picks for fall …

Black Cut Out Detail Sleeve Jumper – £20

One of my favourite things about Autumn is that you can snuggle up in cosy jumpers to keep warm. And I absolutely love this black one from Look of the Day. It has a crew neck, long sleeves with cut out details on them, and just looks a lot more expensive than it actually is! The jumper comes in loads of different colours, but I think I’d go for the black one because it would go with loads of my different coloured jeans – black, blue, burgundy and even khaki. I could see me getting a lot of wear out of it if I was lucky enough to pick one up before they sell out!

Wine High Neck Waffle Jumper with Side Split – £10

At this time of year, I’m always drawn towards deep wine colours, so I just couldn’t resist adding this gorgeous high neck waffle jumper with a side split to my wishlist! This particular jumper is very different to any of the others in my wardrobe. I mean, I usually go for longer jumpers, a bit like the one I talked about above, whereas this one is more of a cropped style. It definitely wouldn’t hide my big bum, but I love it anyway. I think I’d probably team it with some black trousers or jeans and some black boots, but I also think it would look great over a little black work dress with black tights and a nice pair of shoes for a stylish office look. It’s such a lovely, versatile piece.

Red Wild Child Slogan T-Shirt – £8

I’ve always loved a good slogan slogan tee, and this red one with ‘Wild Child’ printed on the front is right up my street! It’s sure to inject a little bit of fun into whatever I team it with, whether it be a pair of jeans or jeggings for a casual daytime look, or tucked into a sexy leather mini skirt for a night out on the town. I know I’d get lots and lots of wear out of it. I just love it!

Khaki Mid-Rise Skinny Jeans – £12

I noticed recently that my old pair of khaki coloured jeans are starting to lose their colour, and look super shabby. So I would love to replace them with this pair from Look of the Day. They are a skinny style, which are my favourites as I wear boots quite a lot in the autumn/winter months and like to tuck my jeans inside. And they have a mid-rise waist, buttons and pockets as well. I love that Look of the Day jeans are as affordable as they are – it means I could treat myself to quite a few pairs, and still have a bit of money left over to treat myself to something else!

Black Zip Pocket Trousers – £8

I’m currently in need of a new pair of plain black trousers, but I’m not wanting to spend loads of money on them as I don’t tend to wear them very often, which makes this pair from Look of the Day just perfect as they’re only £8! And, yes, you read that right. They’re a lovely, stylish, full-length pair of trousers with zip detail pockets on each side. They’re just lovely. What more can I really say?!

Black Lace High Neck Ruffle Mini Dress – £25

It’s a well-known fact that the little black dress is the one fashion staple that never goes out of style, and I absolutely love this take on one. It’s a layered ruffle mini dress with a high neck that’s fun, flirty, and like nothing else I currently have in my wardrobe! The dress is a beautiful skater style, which I have to say is one of my faves. And it has 3/4 length sleeves made of sheer lace. I would team this particular dress with a pair of sexy high-heeled boots and a little black clutch for a look that’s sure to be remembered for years to come.

Black Cold Shoulder Frill Jumpsuit – £15

I’ve got lots of family birthday parties and nights out coming up over the next couple of months, so I’m definitely in need of a new outfit to go to one of them in. And I’d that to be this gorgeous black cold shoulder frill jumpsuit. How nice is it?! The jumpsuit is really on-trend with the frill detailing, but it’s quite minimal compared to similar ones I’ve seen, which I’m pleased about. The jumpsuit is a great alternative to wearing a dress, and I’m sure it would help me stand out in the crowd. I think I’d team it with killer heels and a sparkly clutch bag. It’s so pretty!

Gold Sequin Jacket – £20

With Christmas Party Season almost upon us, I’d love to treat myself to something sparkly without breaking the bank. That’s why I’ve got my eye on this stunning gold sequin jacket! It’s perfect for adding a glam finish to pretty much any going-out look and is in a kimono style with 3/4 sleeves, which is right up my street. I’d style it with a little black dress and heels for a night on the town, or with a black top and leather-look leggings for a meal out with friends or family. I just love it, and it’s only £20. Bargain!

Multi Checked Longline Blazer – £15

I’ve been on the lookout for a checkered blazer like this one for a good couple of years now, so I just had to add it to my Look of the Day wishlist when I came across it on their website. It has 3/4 length sleeves, a longline style, is super on-trend, and only costs £15! Can you believe it?! I would wear this with a burgundy jumper and black jeans for a casual, everyday look, or team it with a little black dress and killer heels for a night out with friends.

Wine Quilted Hooded Jacket – £30

And last but certainly not least on my Look of the Day autumn fashion wishlist is this gorgeous quilted hooded jacket in a beautiful wine colour. I think this would be perfect for throwing over my everyday clothes when I’m doing the school run. The jacket fastens with a zip and side pockets, which would be perfect for popping my phone and keys in so I don’t lose them! I like that the jacket isn’t awfully long, as most of the others in my wardrobe are at the moment, so it makes it different enough to warrant buying on my next payday! It’s also available in several different colours. This one just happens to be my favourite as it’s really autumn-y.

And there you have it, my Look of the Day Autumn wishlist. I hope you enjoyed having a read of it as much as I enjoyed putting it together, and that you took away a little bit of fashion inspiration for the season ahead.

Which is your favourite piece from my list?
Let me know in the comments below.
Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram | Pinterest

5 Cosy Autumn Outfit Ideas

06/11/2015 by Louise 16 Comments

With Autumn well and truly upon us, I thought I’d put together a post on 5 Cosy Autumn Outfit Ideas for if you’re looking for a little inspiration for what to wear this fall. I hope you like them …

The first of the 5 outfits I’ve put together would be ideal to wear for lunch with friends, shopping trips or even just for the school run, and I think it looks lovely and sophisticated. It consists of a black textured top from Select, which has 3/4 sleeves with a beautiful crochet detail on them and a pair of plain black jeggings from New Look which have a cute little zip pocket on each side. I then chose a pair of black, high heeled ankle boots from Brantano, which are ruched at the front and have cross straps and buckle trims. They have a lovely, classic look to them, and I think they’d go with lots of different outfits.

Next, I picked out a gorgeous wine coloured coat with contrasting black PU sleeves from a company called SheIn. It has a double lapel and a half zipper, and I think the colour compliments an all-black outfit really well. As it tends to get quite cool during the Autumn months I added a plain black snood in a simple knitted design from Accessorize and a pair of beautiful, fleece lined leather gloves from Gloves on Hand. I have really small, child-like hands and these are one of the only companies I’ve found who actually do gloves in my size. They’re brilliant! And last but not least I thought a black Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac with silver handware and fringing would finish off this look just perfectly. What do you guys think?

Blouse | Jeans | Cape | Boots | Necklace

During the Autumn months I always wear a lot of browns and beige’s, and the second outfit I’ve put together really pays homage to that. It consists of a simple, yet elegant long sleeved pussybow blouse from Dorothy Perkins, which I teamed with a pair of indigo coloured super skinny jeans and a beige fine knitted cape with a tasseled hem from River Island. I love that the cape has made a comeback this year, as it’s something you can just sort of ‘throw on’ over your outfit and look super stylish in a second.

Many of my friends tell me they’re scared to wear capes though because they have no idea how to style them. My top tips would be to make sure you try one on in store before you commit to buying so you don’t pick one up that’s too big, and steer clear of using a shoulder bag when you wear one. It just looks too fussy. I’d recommend either carrying a stylish clutch or buying one with large pockets at the front so you can stick all your essentials in there and be good to go.

Next, I found a pair of gorgeous brown biker-style ankle boots at Brantano that I thought would look fantastic with the rest of the outfit. They have buckle details at the top of the boot and at the ankle and they zip up at the back, which I think is really cute. They also have a cleated sole, which is perfect for this time of year as they’d give some additional grip when it’s icy outside. And finally I added a gorgeous silver hammered ring necklace from Lily Charmed. I’m really in to hammered jewellery at the moment and this is one of my favourite pieces. I think this outfit would be perfect for the many Christmas shopping trips us ladies like to make at this time of year!

My next Autumn outfit is one I picked out for those lovely, rainy days we have here in the UK, and it would be perfect to wear when you have to walk the dog or pick the kids up from school. When Stacey was at primary school I always found it would start pouring it down with rain a few minutes before I had to head out to pick her up, even if it had been lovely and sunny all day before that!

For this outfit I chose a gorgeous super-soft knitted top in a light grey colour, and paired it with some gorgeous black jeans which were both from Topshop. I then found an absolutely amazing khaki canvas jacket from Quiz which has black PU sleeves and a faux fur hood. It’s very much like the jacket I picked up last year but a little more unique, so I really like it.

I’d recommend wearing wellies if you’re going to be anywhere sludgy, and love this black pair from Brantano as they look more like a regular pair of boots than wellingtons. They feature a small heel and buckle at the top of the boot and I think they’re just fab! And since it’s likely to be really cold if it’s raining I’d add this black faux fur pom pom beanie from Amazon and a pair of cable knit gloves from Accessorize to the outfit for warmth. Brr.

This last week quite a few of you have told me that you enjoy walking, so I thought I’d add an Autumn outfit that would be just perfect for you guys to wear while you’re out and about! I started by picking out a pink Karrimor short sleeved t-shirt from Sports Direct that has a round neck, and then I added a pair of black thick padded trousers for warmth and a matching waterproof jacket which has a foldaway hood for when it’s dry outside.

For footwear I would suggest wearing a pair of special trekking socks to ensure the feet stayed protected, and I love the black boots that I picked out from Brantano. They’re lace up ones that have a fur trim around the top of the boot and a fleecy lining to help keep toes toasty warm. I’d also recommend this pair of thick black alpine gloves from Amazon to keep the cold away from your fingers as well.

And finally, you don’t want to be taking a handbag on a walk with you, so I picked out a black and pink backpack to match the rest of the outfit. I think it looks great and would be sure to keep all of your belongings safe no matter how far you’re walking!

And last but certainly not least I’ve put together a gorgeous outfit that I could definitely see myself wearing if it happened to snow this year! I’d start with this cute light pink marl shirt from H&M as a base layer and team it with a pair of mid-wash denim jeans from Diesel, and a super-cosy duffle gilet from a brand called Fat Face, who I really love at the moment. It has a faux fur hood and is lined inside to keep you nice and warm when you’re wearing it.

On my feet I would wear a cute pair of grey ankle boots from Skechers, which have a sock-like ankle part with buckle fastening. They’re really unique and I don’t think I’ve ever come across anything like them when I’ve been out shoe shopping before. I’d probably add a pair of Yaktrax to the bottom of the boots though as I have a back problem called scoliosis, and often find it difficult to stand upright when it’s snowy or icy outside. Yaktrax aid me by gripping onto the ice and snow underfoot and stops me from toppling over. I love them and wouldn’t be without mine nowadays. It’s so nice not to have to stay indoors when everyone else is out having fun!

On my hands I would wear a pair of grey cable knit gloves from Accessorize (can you tell I’m loving the cable knits this year?) and I’d just have to rock a pair of cute grey earmuffs! The ones in the image I created above are from KitSound, and they can connect to your iPod, smartphone or MP3 player so you can listen to your music while looking super stylish at the same time … how cool is that?! And finally, I would carry this gorgeous satchel handbag in a light grey faux-suede that I found it in River Island.

So there you have it, 5 Cosy Autumn Outfit Ideas. I’d love to know what you think of them, so please leave me a message in the comments section below.

What pieces are you guys wearing this Autumn?
Anything like I’ve featured or have you gone for something totally different?

Thanks for reading! Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin | Instagram | YouTube

*Sponsored Post