The Winner Is ...

2 weeks ago I launched my first competition and what a cracker it was.  I invited you all to send me photographs of you rocking in red in order to raise awareness for The British Heart Foundation.  It seems that a lot of us have personal stories about heart disease and I was thrilled with all the entries via Facebook and Twitter.  In return for sending me your photo I would enter you into a prize draw to win a Radley Limited Edition RED hand bag.

I had no idea how to pick a winner because from stylish ladies, to dogs, to children I just couldn't pick ONE.  So I used this fab site to help me.

I entered all the names of the entries as they were sent to me in date order

And then hit randomise and it picked a winner for me! I know you can't see the small print but I PROMISE YOU the winner is Nicola Baker - congratulations, the bag will be sent to you shortly!

Here is Nicola in her winning #rockupinred outfit

And here are all the other entries, in no particular order

Thank you to each and everyone of you and don't forget that Friday 1st February is the official day that the BHF invite us all to wear red!  Looking forward to seeing all the photos on Avenue 57 on Friday!

Fiona
xoxo

A shirt into a dress?

I was going through some old Facebook photos of mine and came across a few in 2011 where I took one my fathers shirts and made it into a dress - yes really I did!

Inspired by this video on You Tube I thought I'd have a go .. the results are ...

Now I'm not sure I'd actually be brave enough to ever wear out in public but was a whole load of fun one silly Sunday afternoon with my parents!

What crazy things have you done where you take one item and make it into another?

Fiona
xoxo

Win a Radley Handbag #rockupinred

I am HUGELY excited to be getting involved in this year's Rock Up In Red in conjunction with The British Heart Foundation.  

Rock Up in Red - what is it?

On February 1st, The British Heart Foundation is encouraging anyone and everyone to get together with colleagues, friends and/or family to wear red, have fun and help raise awareness and money to fight heart and circulatory disease.  I would imagine that someone you know has been affected by heart disease - the UK's BIGGEST killer.  They are asking that collectively we all do something involving red on February 1st and raise as much money as we can.  Even a £1 could make the difference, come on .. £1 - surely together, we can make a difference?  DONATE NOW - do not delay, do it now!

If you want to get involved with those around you on Feb 1st then take a look at the website, it's fun, it's easy to look around and you can download a fundraising pack and get loads of help with planning your own event.

WIN  A Red LIMITED EDITION cross body RADLEY HANDBAG

This gorgeous bag could be yours - VERY jealous because it can't be mine!  If you would like to win this Radley Handbag all I need you to do is upload via Instagram/Flickr  (or similar) using the hashtag #rockupinred and #avenue57. 

If uploading directly is a problem then don't worry - email me and I will do it on your behalf.  Just email me your photo - bhf@avenue57.com and I will upload for you.  Here are some ideas for your photo - red nails, red jeans, red jumper, red vest, red hair, red earrings, red necklace, red cheeks - red red red red - that's all!  I might just add that I am not advising you do all of these together in the one photo!

Among many other people raising awareness are 2 of my all time favourite bloggers School Gate Style and Does my bum look 40 in this? - you can enter your photo on all 3 websites - just use the hashtag #rockupinred and #schoolgatestyle and/or #dmbl40 and not forgetting #avenue57 - if you don't tag the photo I can't find you, if I can't find you I can't pick you out as the winner (maybe!)

To kick it all off here I am in red.   What do you have in red that you can share with me in a photograph?

So .. get sending/uploading/downloading fundraising pack - NOW!

Fiona
xoxo

The legal stuff, it's got to be done!  Rock Up In Red – Blog Competition Terms and Conditions

1. The Promoter is Avenue 57 Blog - http://wwwavenue57.blogspot.co.uk/
2. Entrants must be aged 18 or over and a UK resident. Only one entry per person.
3. The competition opens on 14th January and closes at midnight on Tuesday 29th January, all entries must be submitted within these dates to be eligible to win.
4. The prize is a Radley handbag, no purchase necessary.
5. There is only one Radley handbag per winner.
6. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and subject to availability. The Promoter reserves the right to change the prize or cancel the draw at any time.
7. The Promoter's decision is final and binding in all matters.
8. The winner will be judged by the Promoter and the judge’s decision is final.
9. Only the winner will be notified.
10. All BHF employees, associates and direct suppliers are ineligible to enter.
11. If the winner cannot be contacted by midnight, 18^th February 2013, the Promoter reserves the right to select a substitute winner.
12. The Promoter will not be responsible for any delay or failure to submit entries before the competition closing date.
13. The name of the winner will notified by the Promoter after the competition closing date.
14. Entry into the competition will be deemed to constitute acceptance of these terms and conditions.
15. Any data collected is for prize draw purposes and to contact and notify the winner only.

What to wear to a meeting?

Today I had a meeting in London.  For me (live in country) it's a BIG thing.  I always feel very grown up getting up early, getting ready, arriving (anally) early for the train so I don't miss it, trying to look so grown up and confident whilst really checking, double checking and checking again that I am on the right train!

When I'm on the train I get my kindle out and look like I do this every day.  But I don't and I can't help but people watch and eavesdrop into conversations whilst still looking like I'm just another commuter!  Today I witnessed someone talking to his best friend in Australia on Skype  an executive talking about some £100k deal and the father on his way home after a week away (always gets me when Dads are talking to their children!).

So what do you wear to a semi important but casual meeting these days?  When I was younger it would have been a suit without question.  But times have changed.  I didn't think that jeans would cut it, even with a blazer.  I would have been cold in a shift dress (that is a smidgen too short) so I went for my ANCIENT safe smart but casual attire.

I created the look first on Polyvore and then wore the actual items - this is a new thing of mine - create, wear, show and tell - I love it!

What do you think?  Do I pass as a 'commuter' and a grown up lady?  What do you wear to meetings or does it totally depend on the kind of meeting you're having?

For more looks by gorgeous woman all over the world, check out Avenue 57 - would love to see you on there.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Fiona

xoxo

My favourite outfit

I love being comfortable, I hate being uncomfortable.  If I have to 'get dressed up' for the day you will so often find me 'dressed down' the moment I walk through the door.  Tomorrow I have 2 important meetings in London so I know I'll be semi suited and booted (most uncomfortable) so today I KNEW I'd be wearing old favourites and comfy clothes.

I bought these jeans in TK Maxx a few months ago and could now kick myself that I didn't buy 2 pairs.  Do you ever do that?  Not kick yourself, I mean buy 2 of something that you KNOW you love?  I have 4 pairs of the exact same pair of skinny jeans because they are perfect for me.  3 pairs are now a faded blue but one is still pristine and I wear them when I want smarter jeans look.

I'm also on a bit of spending freeze at the moment due to the annual tax returns I've just done - I HATE THE TAX MAN and all he takes from me each year - if it weren't for him then I'd have an even bigger wardrobe!

I've been digging deep into the wardrobe lately to make good use of what I already own and have been surprised at how much stuff I own if I actually LOOK HARD and get creative.

Here I am today, in what has to be my most favourite comfiest outfits ever, one that I won't change out of as soon as I head back into the house later after a day at work.

Jumper - New Look
Jeans - TK Maxx
Boots - Next (V similar and go with EVERYTHING)
Coat - River Island

Do you have a favourite outfit you wear again and again?  Are you busy spending or are you like me and having a break from spending?  I would love to see your outfit on Avenue 57!

Fiona
xoxo

Looking for a stylish, warm, waterproof coat ...

I have been umming and ahhing about buying a decent waterproof and warm winter coat.  I have been doing this for TWO YEARS now .. seriously I am so bored of hearing my voice talk in my head.

I missed out BIG TIME on the Merrell Wakefield because I was being too tight to spend that amount of money on a coat and when I did have the money and they had been reduced slightly, they'd sold out and that particular design has been discontinued!

So I had to fall in love again with the new model, now called the Merrell Ellenwood.  But it's not the same as the Wakefield, it's missing that something special.  I want a coat that is longish but not floor length long (I'm 5ft 9), have some kind of shape so I don't look like a shapeless blob and be waterproof - a hood is a must have feature.  So it looks as if on screen the Merrell Ellenwood Insulated ticks all the boxes and it does BUT and here we go again ... I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO SPEND ON THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!!  I am going to cry again come next winter when they change the design to something really vile .. 

Why do I have champagne taste on a lemonade budget?  This is just not fair .. perhaps my husband will stumble across this blog and say to himself 'oh my wife is such a darling one, a great mother and works really hard doing all the jobs she does .. I know, I'll just go ahead and buy her this coat as a surprise and treat because I love her so much" .........

Oh and James if you do read this and you are thinking that then you might want a visual and a link to help you.  I would very much like the Ink Heather colour please because the other looks a bit vile (IMHO!)

Thank you!

What winter coat do you swear by to keep you stylish, warm and dry?

Fiona
xoxo

Have you used Polyvore?

I am in two minds about Polyvore.  I can't decide if I love or hate it.  Let me explain why.

LOVE - What an amazing site.  So easy to use and create the most wonderful outfit ideas.  It's like the world’s largest wardrobe that is there for you to use.  I love looking at other people's creations and trying to make them work for me

HATE - I have spent so so so so many hours on there!

Here are some of my favourite creations:

If you would like to follow my creations on Polyvore or Twitter then please feel free – the more the merrier I say, I will follow back.

Does anyone know how to create sets from items ONLY available in the UK?  I seem to be seduced by all these lovely items only to discover they’re all US stockists!

I’d also love to see your creations posted in the I Love This section on Avenue 57 – it’s easy to do!  Email me if you need any help – fiona@avenue57.com

So do you like putting outfits together?  I love playing virtual dress up and only wish I have the budget to buy it all in real life.

Fiona

xoxo