The longest of days in summer spell the start of soaring temperatures, sweltering nights and maddening delirium before sleep. Miles of walking into the sunset of a clear evening prove irresistible; sparkling sands, rippling heat waves and gently lapping tides, carefully creeping forth enough to kiss the shore before quietly retreating away.
Too warm for anything but a light dress I wore this pretty number I bought from Aluna J last year with brown ankle boots, a floral crown from Asos as well as my gorgeous green necklace from Caliz and an assortment of arm candy.
Have you taken a sunset walk along the sand?
Sophie

Make the most of this as it's not my usual style! In a swift departure from floaty dresses and casual shorts I present to you The Little Black Dress. I saw this San Diego dress from French Connection and was rather taken with the simplicity and yet quirky detail. The pinafore top is so unusual, yet perfect for me as I love a high neckline and a fitted waistband is rather welcome too; this dress does volunteer more of a suggestion of a nipped in waist than I rightfully deserve with it's special tailoring. The dress itself is pretty weighty, it's made of lovely thick material with a lining too; the real deal. By far the best quality dress I own and one that will remain a classic for years to come.

Worn with a thin gold belt, pearl necklace as a bracelet, Fiore velvet shoes, Iced Rainbow Daisy necklace (kind of obsessed with this) and heart earrings. The red bag is my absolute favourite from Aluna J, which is so bold yet seems to look right with everything. These pictures were a collaboration between me and the camera, I definitely am less comfortable trying to get shots on my own (and miss the camera expertise Chris has of course). There is something toe curlingly embarrassing about cars driving passed while standing by a field in, arguably, the most inappropriate outfit for the location. There really is no plausible explanation other than just taking pictures of yourself like a weirdo.


The golden hour glow that evening was absolute heaven, it lit up the freshly harvested stubble field as well as me, all very uplifting. Missing your countryside fix? I recommend you head along to Gnowangerup Cottage for a taste of all things delightfully rural, it's a new favourite of mine.

Ready for the weekend? I know I am. Take care everyone.

Sophie

Thanks to French Connection for sending me this dress to review, all opinions my own as always <3 font="">

This song has been in my head right from the very first time I heard it, I connected. There is something about going down to the river that clears your mind, gives you a break from reality and the drag of real life.
There is something about just taking time out by a river that works wonders for the soul.

This gorgeous dress is one I bought from local boutique Aluna J  in in Norwich before it was even available in store after making a debut on Twitter. What do you think? I adore the gorgeous green pattern along with the light summery feel to the dress. It's not often I go for a strappy dress, my usual style is more high line but I have to say I felt comfortable in this neckline, it wasn't too low to cause concern and made for a nice change. If you ask me, summer calls out for a long sheer skirt with a mini underlay, just like the dress I wore for my forest shoot with Jon Clifton. The way the light shines through is kind of magical to me and keeps things that bit more fun that a plain maxi.

I picked the boots up at a local yard sale for £1 and they look brand new as well as smelling suspiciously like leather. Also worn with some walking socks, an arm party and a bird gem necklace.
My hair was acting the goat so I had to tether back the front fronds which has actually made for a serendipitously sweet do, I'll have to try it more often.

If you want to get your sticky paws on this dress or just have a good nosey at what's in store  at Aluna J you certainly can do.
Pictures taken on the Fakenham River walk, more to come from there soon, plenty of wildlife caught on camera to share!
Hugs to you all,
Sophie
Lyrics are those of Ella Henderson’s Ghost

Bodycon. That b*tch.

Bodycon and I have never been BFFs and while we may flirt on and off for a while it's never going to become a full time relationship.

I picked up this dress last year and complained it felt too big for my liking so I guess it went through Sophie's ruthless washing rigmarole and came out a size smaller (as anything delicate has tended to) as upon this wearing it feels and looks pretty fitted. I added the belt for an extra cinch at the waist (long live Gok Wan) and to break up the endless pattern.

Maybe it's the belt, or the way I clenched for dear life but I'm sure I'm starting to nip in at the waist a teensy bit more. My regular bootcamp sessions are supposed to be helping little by little but I do feel like the progress may be starting to show. By working on toning muscle you burn fat as well as re-shaping where it hangs on your body. True that; I have intermittent abs showing (dependent on bloat) and am darn pleased about it. Maybe one day I'll have my dream washboard abs but until then I'll have to employ the 'remain on high alert at all times whilst wearing bodycon' method. A girl can aim high, yes?

I wore this bodycon dress in a practical way that was toughened up by the desert boots. The high neckline and almost masculine shoulder cut meets well with my style and I enjoy keeping this type of dress kind of robust instead of overly feminine. That's just the kind of girl I am.

Dress and necklace – charity shop, belt – eBay, boots – River Island, bag - Aluna J, jewellery – gifts

This weekend has been a half-busy one but I do have plenty of juicy posts to share with you over the coming fortnight so don't stray too far away.

Have a great week, you lovely people!

Sophie

Last week I went 'up the city' to Norwich to have a throrough browse around local independent boutique Aluna J during their open evening. It's a known fact that I'm a nosey parker and the opportunity to be among the first to look through the collection was not to be missed.

The evolution of Aluna J from an alcove with jewellery and accessories has seen them recently expanding into a full blown store with a wonderful range of handbags, scarves, jewellery and ladieswear. The stock was pretty cohesive and the layout was good. Sometimes boutiques can tend to feel rather empty but there was plenty on the rails to oogle over. The Ichi clothes are both stylish and wearable while being that bit different to the samey pieces you find on the high street. Coming soon to the boutique will be Geisha (exclusivity in Norfolk) and I'm excited about that!

There were so many pieces that I oohed and ahhed over; the handbags were right up my street (and I came home with a beauty which I posted about) with everything from mini clutches and ponyskin style purses through to totes with everything in between. This purple satchel caught my eye in all the right ways and the citrus coloured tunic dress called out in no uncertain terms.

I met Jo, the lady at the helm of the ship who had a chat with me about the boutique and the future of the store. It was great to see what they have achieved in such a short period of time and it bodes well for going forwards. The enthusiasm that Jo has for the boutique is infectious, she knows what she's doing and has made a great call with the stock; there were lots of ladies making buys so clearly I wasn't alone. Plus I adored the trousers that Jo was modelling, available in store!

There was a fantastic range of items, from the very affordable to investment pieces which is refreshing. I bought a LOVE bangle for £10 which I do adore and is something I can wear all the time which represents good value to me in the cost per wear. There were so many pretty pieces of jewellery so I didn't dwell for too long for fear of falling in love with more.

The scarves felt soft and flowy and priced at £15-£17.50 represented good buys for the quality and designs. I almost went for a scarf but at the last minute wanted a handbag slightly more.

If you see any pieces here that you fancy that aren't yet on the Aluna J online shop the just give Jo a tweet @Aluna_J and she'll sort you out! I nabbed a gorgeous green dress early which is Iching to be worn. (It made me laugh).

What do you think of the collection? I can't wait to see what delights will be coming from Geisha.

Are you a fan of independent boutiques?

Sophie