This post contains affiliate links, which are marked "AD". Read my full disclaimer here.

It's no secret that I love a floral print - long term readers of this blog will no doubt have seen me wearing them time and again over the years. Often seen as more of a spring or summer thing, I have always been more than happy to wear florals all year round, so I'm thrilled that this autumn/winter season, autumnal florals are officially a Trend.

I've seen a lot of my favourite youtubers and bloggers talking about the craze for Dark Florals that's taking this season by storm, and I have been quite literally drooling at all the stunning prints that fall into that category that are currently gracing the high street. There are, however, plenty of "Light Florals" with a decidedly autumnal vibe too - including this fabulous H&M dress which I've been loving as a transitional piece this past few weeks.

A ridiculously affordable £17.99, I can safely say that I have already had my money's worth from this dress and no doubt will get plenty more when I take it away on holiday with me next month. It's an elegant, flattering cut, super easy to wear and I honestly can't get enough of the print. It reminds me of a 1970s wallpaper, in the best possible way. The fabric is light as a feather, meaning that I've been able to enjoy it during the warmer weather with a pair of sandals and a straw bag, but thanks to the lovely autumnal print, it's going to work just as well layered up with jackets, tights and boots too.

Just as well, as I don't want to stop wearing it any time soon!

Just as I start to give up on summer it seems there might be a new spell of clement weather around the corner! Even so, the shops are starting to gear up for the new season, and I thought a little mooch around H&M might be in order. I picked up a few interesting and super affordable pieces to style up and show you, all with the transition of summer into autumn in mind. Hope you enjoy the haul (you can watch here on YouTube if you prefer) and do let me know if you're starting to think about new season clothes yet!

What was your favourite look?

Kate x

This post contains affiliate links, which are marked "Ad". Read my full disclaimer here. 

I'd like to introduce you to my latest obsession - the peasant blouse. A piece of clothing with which you can make a real style statement, yet appear totally relaxed at the same time. I ask you, what's not to love about that?! Tuck it into mom jeans and add flat sandals for everyday chic, or pair with an A-line skirt and sky high wedges for a smart-casual night out look. Going on holiday? The peasant blouse also makes a beautiful beach cover up. Throw it on over your bikini and add distressed denim shorts when it's time to head back into town.

My blouse is from H&M and currently on sale, but just in case you feel like browsing a few others, I've listed some of my favourites below. Enjoy!

1 (AD), 2 (AD), 3, 4, 5

1 (AD), 2 (AD), 3 (AD), 4 (AD), 5 (AD)

Is there a peasant blouse in your wardrobe? If so, I'd love to know your favourite way to style it!

Kate x

This post contains gifted items from Pretty Little Thing, and affiliate links. All gifts and affiliate links are marked "AD".

As you might remember from my Blog Overhaul Post from the end of last year, I'm on a bit of a mission to bring more useful content to my blog and social channels in 2019. A big part of that is going to involve bringing you more fashion related posts, looking at what's on trend, and translating that into outfits that look fab, but also function as wearable clothing for the average 40 plus woman. (Or at least, that's the aim!) So when Pretty Little Thing got in touch to ask if I'd like to collaborate on a dresses post with them, I did my research first. And, as a result, each of the three dresses I've picked ticks off not one but two key trends for 2019, making them real must have pieces for this year, especially when spring comes along.

Dress 1: Leopard Print And Prairie (AD)

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's thrilled that animal print styles are going nowhere fast! There's something so playful and fun about them, yet they can also look super chic when done right. Another trend that seems to be growing in popularity is the Prairie trend, and the style of this dress definitely gives me cowgirl vibes! I've teamed mine with high heeled ankle boots, as my short legs tend to need a height boost when dresses hit me mid calf. I've also added a thin waist belt, my current favourite bag - apologies if you're already sick of seeing it - and rolled up the sleeves.

This dress works really well with a slim fitting black turtle neck top underneath and thick black tights, which is great in this bitterly cold weather, but I can also see it in spring with a nice pair of wedges or mules. Or, if you're really feeling the Prairie thing, you could always team it with cowboy boots. Definitely a versatile piece, and one I'll be getting plenty of wear out of from now until the summer.

Style With (AD)

Dress 2: Sunset Orange And Feminine Shape (AD)

Have you noticed how longer length dresses and elegant, feminine cuts seem to be everywhere lately? Great news as far as I'm concerned, as I find this type of dress so flattering and easy to wear. The shape of this one in particular - flowing skirt, shirt style bodice, side split - reminds me of one of the must have dresses from earlier on in the season. I can't remember where that one was from, but it had polka dots and used to pop up every third photo or so on my Instagram feed! I was always admiring it, so I'm thrilled that the style is still very much in vogue and that I'm now able to enjoy it for myself with this Pretty Little Thing number!


The second trend box this dress ticks is the colour - this lovely sunset orange is going to be big news in 2019 and I can see myself loving it, especially when the weather gets a bit warmer. I have paired the dress with a simple cream bag and flat mules, letting the gorgeous vibrant colour do all the talking. I also think it would work beautifully with tan accessories - for example some tan suede over the knee boots would look great with it and also be more weather appropriate right about now!

Style With (AD)

Dress 3: Dusky Pink And Pleats (AD)

My final must have dress from Pretty Little Thing is definitely more of an occasion piece, and without question more suited to spring and summer - I almost froze to death getting these photos! This is just the kind of dress I love to have waiting in the wings for any weddings or special parties that might pop up during the warmer months - just add heels and a clutch bag in a metallic hue and you are good to go! The dusky pink colour (kind of like millennial pink, but a touch more muted) is very much on trend for 2019. Good news for me, but if you're not a fan, it also comes in black!


In my opinion, the best thing about this dress is its beautiful, finely pleated skirt, and again this is a style detail that is bang on trend for 2019. It's definitely something of a princess dress, so I would recommend going slightly more "grown up" with your choice of footwear - nothing too chunky!

Style With (AD)

Which is your favourite of the three dresses? And which trends do you think you'll be embracing in 2019?

Kate x 

Today's post is the latest in my series on working with brands. So far, I've covered how to decipher and deal with brand/PR emails relating to both unpaid collaborations and paid opportunities, and in the next couple of instalments, I'm going to guide you step by step through the process of working with a brand on a sponsored post.

As I've mentioned previously, I'm no Fleur De Force, but I do have a fair bit of experience in working with brands. As a small blogger myself, I feel that navigating the world of sponsored posts is harder for us than for the big successful influencers. Blogging full time is out of the question for most of us. We haven't got the weight of huge followings, a network or agent behind us, we can't afford/justify a professional photographer, etc. That's why I've specifically tailored my advice to smaller bloggers, and I really hope you find it useful.


In today's instalment, I'm going to be focussing on the initial stage of the process. I'm talking about the moment you receive email correspondence from a brand, telling you that they love the content you create and would like to offer you paid work. This can be very exciting, especially for us smaller bloggers who perhaps don't get to experience it as often as we would like, and it can be so tempting to fire off an immediate response, agreeing to everything before they change their mind. Don't! Before you even think about saying yes, you need to be absolutely sure that you and the brand are on the same page, and that means understanding exactly what is being asked of you.

In my experience, the correspondence from PRs when discussing sponsored posts can often be vague and confusing, so it's really important that you ask the right questions. Through trial and error, I have learned that it's essential to be clear on the following six points before agreeing to start work on a sponsored post. Some of them are questions for the brand, while others are things you need to ask yourself. One thing is for sure, though - taking the time to consider them at the outset could save you a whole host of problems further down the line.

6 Questions To Ask Before Accepting A Sponsored Post

1. Is the brand and product a good fit for my blog? 

Our blogs are built on our audiences, who come to us because they enjoy the type of content we create. That doesn't mean we shouldn't embrace a little variety every now and then, but if I were to write a post about light bulbs, for instance, I don't think it would be very exciting for my fashion and beauty loving readers! The post wouldn't do well, the brand wouldn't be happy, and more importantly, I would risk alienating my audience for the longer term. The product you're being asked to write about doesn't have to be your favourite in the whole wide world, but you do need to be interested in it. If you're not, chances are it's not a natural fit for your blog and probably not the right collaboration for you.

2. What is the nature of the campaign, and can I deliver the content required? 

In some cases, sponsored posts can be very straightforward. You might be sent products to try out or asked to select clothing from the brand website, after which you will be free to take photos and create a blog post around the items as you normally would. Sometimes, though, there are more specific requirements to take into account. For example, when I worked with No7, I had to set up a giveaway using Rafflecopter. It wasn't something I was familiar with, so it took a little more preparation than usual. A House Of Fraser campaign I worked on earlier this year was fairly simple, but there was a requirement to focus the content on styling an outfit for a wedding, so I had to take that into account. 

When I worked on this campaign with TK Maxx, the requirements were a lot more complex. First I had to go into store with my photographer (read: husband), to meet the PR and put together a clothing rail of my favourite items. That took a good few hours, at the end of which I was gifted an outfit to style. I then had to set up a second photoshoot wearing that outfit (again, with my husband) all before actually writing the post. I don't have full time hours to devote to my blog, and Mike definitely doesn't, so it took some careful thinking and planning before I was in a position to agree.

On yet another occasion, part of the campaign involved making a short teaser video for the brand's social media pages. This was before I had started my YouTube channel, so it wasn't an easy task for me, although I eventually found a way to do it.

What I'm trying to say here is that you need to be sure from the outset exactly what you are being asked to do. Can you find the time and do you have the necessary skills and equipment? If not, you run the risk of it all ending in tears later on.

3. What is the deadline? 

I've probably covered this in point 2, but it's vitally important to know how much time you have to play with. Chances are, as a small blogger you will be working around your day job, so you need to sit down with your diary (and possibly, as in my TK Maxx example, your husband's diary!) and work out exactly when you can fit in the tasks required.

6. Will there be a contract to sign?

I have worked on paid campaigns both with and without contracts. Usually, it is in the interests of both parties to have one as it offers mutual security. Make sure you read every word, though, because sometimes brands put requirements in there that they may not have discussed with you previously. For example, they might ask you not to work with any rival brands during the campaign and for a certain period of time after the post goes live. If there is anything you are not sure about, ask before you sign.

If there isn't a contract, I will email them something like, "Could you please confirm that I will be doing X, X and X and that you will pay me £X?" and wait for their positive response before starting any work. That way, I have written evidence of what has been agreed on in case of any problems later.

Shop The Look

In my experience, being clear in your mind on these six important questions can help to make working on a sponsored post a much more pleasant and worry free experience. After all, getting paid work through your blog is a fantastic achievement and definitely one you should be able to enjoy!

Some links may be affiliate links. This poses no extra cost to you, the customer. All opinions, as always, are my own.