A GREAT BIG THANK YOU

This year has been such an insane one for me. When I officially set myself up as a business at the start of the year, I never would have dreamt I would be illustrating in Vogue by December. If someone would have told me that in January, I would have laughed right in their mother chuffin' face and maybe even given them a slight slap. I have never been the most confident person, so for me to achieve this all on my own is just crazy. I don't want to toot my own horn, but I tell you what I deserve it. I have worked so hard all year. My days off from my other job are spent painting or sorting out my paperwork 99% of the time. I get up early and sit behind a table all day with a paintbrush because this really is what I want to do. I know in my last post I spoke a lot about how this has affected my blog, and how it's had to take a bit of a back seat, but really sometimes the two things go hand in hand. This is my platform to share my life, and this is obviously a massive part of my life which I love sharing with you guys. I know I don't post about it that much mind you, because at the end of the day this is supposed to be a fashion blog, but it's nice to be able to share my passion (second to dogs obvs) with my readers.

 

Aside from what this year has had to offer, this post was mostly to say thank you. It's a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who has supported me. Wether you've shared my posts, brought a print or commission, visited me at my markets or liked a photo. I really am a one woman band and work so hard so I can do something I love. Your encouragement will never go unnoticed. I think being part of the blogging community gives me that extra support to. This little internet circle really crushed my stereotype of people in fashion being pretentious and dare I say, a bit stuck up. I've had nothing but nice comments and encouragement from other bloggers since I started blogging and illustrating. I have to mention the absolute babe that is Chloe from The Little Plum. Now she is someone that I'm sure most brands are dying to work with, she's sassy, clever and beautiful... but this year she has featured my work on her blog and Instagram a few times and written some really lovely words. It's support like this that means the world to me. It makes me clutch my hand to my heart and let out a little "awh". I really believe in girl power and building each other up as women and Chloe has really shown those two things to me this year. So thank you gal.

 

To celebrate this wondrous year that has been 2016 (despite all those celeb deaths) I am giving everyone 20% off everything in my shop until 2nd January. Just visit www.helenhird.co.uk/shop and get clicking!

 

I cant wait to see what 2017 has to offer!

 

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FAUX SHEARLING

 

Glamorous Cropped Tan Biker Jacket  c/o | Gucci Double G Belt  | Asos Farleigh Jeans  | Asos Long Sleeve Striped Tee (similar) | Topshop Boots (similar)

I haven't been able to blog for a couple of weeks. The combination of working in retail at Christmas and having a business where I have my most orders of the year to get out in time for the big day has proved somewhat tiring. I say tiring, I mean horrific. (that might be a slight exaggeration, but it has been hectic!) It stresses me out when I can't blog, I'm sure a lot of you will relate. Although in the circumstances, I do have to prioritise and learn not to freak out about it. I have had to learn to understand that I am only one person. It is not less important to me, but something has to give. I by no means think of my blog as a career, there are tones of amazing bloggers and influencers that I look up to that have managed to make a living from it, but for me it is a hobby. If I had the time I would love to make it my number one priority, I absolutely love working with brands and connecting with likeminded people, but I have to be realistic and I just don't have the time. This might seem like I'm shooting myself in the foot a bit and I don't want to sound unenthusiastic, but I have to be realistic about it. My business will always have to come first. Saying that, I still want to develop my blog as much as I can, and put is as much time and effort as physically possible. It's something I love doing, something that has brought me great opportunities and something I wont be giving it up anytime soon. I think writing this paragraph is just a bit of therapy for me! It's me declaring that it's ok not be able to be wonder woman and manage 3 big things in my life equally. I feel better for it.

 

 

On another, less thought provoking note, how nice is this jacket? I've been after a tan shearling one for ages, but the ones I liked would have cost me an arm and a leg. So although this Glamorous one is still £80, they nearly always have discount codes floating about. If they're not promoted on their site pay our good ol' pal Vouchercodes a visit. I think they have a £50% off dresses promo on at the moment. They don't do any of this 15% shit... they go in the with big guns.

 

If I don't get another chance to blog before Christmas, having an amazing time. Eat and drink what ever the hell you want and give all your loved ones big kisses under the mistletoe. If you want to keep updated with my goings on between posts & over Christmas you can follow me on Instagram @helen_hird 

 

 

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MY DREAM CARDI

 

Muru Gold Coin Necklace  - c/o Tienne Jewellery | Cable Knit Cardi - H&M | Silk Blend Tee - H&M | Shawl Collar Coat -  Missguided | Topshop Boots - Similar

 

 

I'm not going to lie, I wish I had worn this outfit with denim jeans. I think I was having one of those days where I'd have a few too many mince pies the night before and felt a tad larger than normal, we all get it, I'm sure even you size 6 gals feel like that sometimes to.. I tend to reach for these jeans when I feel a bit bluurgh. They're the skinniest ones I own and make me feel a little slimmer than my ol' straight leg denim jeans that are a bit wider at the ankles. Paired with a slight heeled boot as well, they give me a bit more height than my trusty Stan Smiths. I still wanted to post this though, mostly because I'm obsessed with this cardi. I'm usually more of a jumper kind of gal, but I have not stopped wearing this. I wear it out, dressed up a bit and I wear it working from home with a pair of joggers because it's super warm and cosy. It's such an all round winner and such a bargain. So you'll probably see a lot more of it this season on my social media... I even wondered about wearing on a night out with just a lace bralet underneath (& trousers obviously)... would that be too much? Step to far d'ya think?

Time will tell. A few pre drinks in me and it's a strong possibility.

 

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ILLUSTRATING FOR GLAMOUR & VOGUE

The following post is a shout out to my old tutor who told me I wouldn't get anywhere in fashion without a degree.

The last year or so, since I properly registered myself as a business I have literally worked my metaphorical balls off. I know I go on about my lack of spare time constantly, and I promise not to moan so much anymore... but literally, if I'm not at work (my retail job) I'm painting. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a chore. I love working from home. I get up early, have a bath, make myself a big coffee and paint for hours with the company of my now very good friends Lorraine Kelly, Jeremy Kyle, Holly Willoughby & Philip Schofield. Doing what I love all day is hardly something to complain about, the hard part comes when I don't see some of my real life friends for weeks on end & feel I'm in a never ending cycle of being either at home or at work. Sometimes I get to go to the post office to post orders, which is somewhat of a luxury.

 

Recently, all off this hard work majorly paid off. I was approached by my favourite magazine since I was a teenager, Glamour, to illustrate a two page spread in their December issue about Vente Privee , which if you haven't already checked out then you need to. In the fashion world, you're supposed to play things cool, but I made no secret to them of the fact I was super excited about this. After a lot of long days and late nights getting all my illustrations ready, they were really happy with the piece. So much so, that they wanted the feature to be printed in the Vogue December issue to (they have the same publishers.) At this point I was a bit past excited and more in a dream like state. Which to be honest, I haven't really snapped out of. I thought the whole thing would feel more real when I paid Mr Tesco a visit to pick up my copies... but I still felt like someone was playing a very elaborate joke on me. I thought it was more likely that Ashton Kutcher might jump out and me and tell me I'd been Punk'd. Still no sign of Ashton though, so I'm starting to think this in fact isn't a prank and I can share it with you.  

 

I have to lastly mention, I could not have achieved what I have in the last year without the support of my gal pals and family. It is my business & I'm very much a one woman band, but their constant advice, help and support has just been invaluable. I'm useless with technical things, so they help me with graphics and anything technology related, they come and sit with me at my markets so I can go for a tinkle and eat some lunch and they generally help me to believe in myself and make me push myself. The amount of friends and family that brought the magazines the day they came out and sent me photos was so overwhelming. Y'all made a girl feel very loved. I recently read a quote; "Behind every successful women is a tribe of other successful women who have her back"... now I'm not really one for a motivational quotes, they generally make me feel a bit sick,  but this is was the most relevant and true thing I had read all year.

 

I'm going to sign off now before I start crying, but if you'd like to view or buy any of my work you can visit my website here.

 

Over & Out

 

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THE COSY LIFE

Asos Check Oversized Coat | Adidas Stan Smith Trainers | Asos Farleigh Jeans  | Asos Handmade Sunglasses

 

 

I know I banged on about it in my last post, but I've had the proper winter lurgy for nearly 2 weeks... so other than pyjamas this is pretty much the only outfit I've been living it. Skinny jeans were too much for my feeble little hair follicles to take, so I've been opting for my trusty Asos Farliegh jeans along with my Stan Smiths and this Asos check coat AKA the love of my life.

I feel like I'm never going to dress normally again. It's kind of like when you've been abroad on holiday and you cant imagine wearing anything but flips flops for the rest of your life, apart from I don't have a tan and I have not had a nice time.

I promise I will post something marginally more exciting soon, but for now this is my #OOTD, or #OOESD (outfit of every single day, see what I did there)

 

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PAYDAY WISHLIST

Oliver Bonas Print | Zara Rolling Stones Tee | Topshop Heritidge Coat  | Made.com Aurelia Clock | Topshop Scarf | Vivienne Westwood Divinia Bag | Topsgop Flared Heel Red Boots  | Gucci Belt  | Topshop Leopard Boots

 

 

I'm off work this week on Holiday. I went to Center Parcs with my family for a long weekend for my mums 60th at the start of the week which was so lovely. I just chilled out with my family, went to the spa and ate & drank way too much. I thought it come back all relaxed and refreshed for the rest of the week. I was going to catch up with loads of my friends, get my hair done, get lots of work done for my markets I have coming up & I also wanted to do loads of blog posts. I've mentioned before the struggle of being employed, having my own business and running a blog. It doesn't leave me with too much time to daytime socialise or outfit post as regularly as I would like. So I saw this week as a really good opportunity to do all those things that I cant normally do when I'm trying to balance my retail job to. Guess what? I've been really poorly since Tuesday. For the last 2 days I have literally only left my duvet to crawl to the toilet or to get a Lemsip. Today I feel a little better and have left the sofa for more than half an hour at a time... but I'm still very much in pyjama mode, and no one wants to see that. I don't even have those pyjamas that good bloggers have, when they take photos of themselves sat on their bed in a gorgeous silky matching set casually reading a vogue. Y'know the ones. Mine are mismatched, have holes in the knees and are covered in dog hair. Not an image I want shoot or show anyone.

So I thought I'd share with you a few of my lusts this month instead. I haven't done that for a while, and while it's not an outfit post, I still enjoyed putting it together. Although it has given me the overwhelming urge to online shop now. I'm getting paid for a big, exciting project that I have been working on recently (I will share with you when I can) and I want to buy myself something a little more special than normal. This Gucci belt was my item of choice... but it appears it's out of stock everywhere at the moment!

This is just not my lucky week.

 

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LOAFER DILEMMAS

Zara Seamed Jumper  | Asos Farliegh Jeans | Topshop Kendall Loafers | Zara Bag (similar) | Asos Premium Sunglasses

 

 

This week was the week that I finally decided my life could no longer continue without a pair of loafers. A simple problem to solve, you might think... but I have the narrowest feet known to man. When I was a kid at school and everyone had cool ballet pumps and those weird chunky heeled loafer things, I was stuck in a pair of special lace up Victorian looking ankle boots. To this day I can't wear anything that I'm not strapped or laced into. I just walk straight out of them. So I thought my voyage for loafers was going to be quite fruitless, and it was for a little while. I'm a really avid Asos shopper (although I hd the worse customer service from them lately, which has put me off slightly, but that's beside the point) so that was my first port of call. They arrived the next day thanks to our old pal Asos Premier, but alas they were like walking in a pair of rowing boats for me. So back they went. Queue Topshop. I had seen these 'Kendall' loafers knocking around on a few blogs, they're a tad more expensive than in other high street shops... although a lot cheaper than the Gucci ones. £358 cheaper to be precise. So on Saturday I slightly diverted from my Waitrose shop and into the warm bosom of Topshop. I tried the loafers on and it took all of 2 minutes and 3 sales assistants nodding at me for me to buy them. Now, I do love them. I do. Although I've made the classic ol' mistake of not walking up and down in the shop or my carpet in them a bit, and they feel just a tad too small. Which is weird, I'm usually a size 5 or 6 in shoes and these are a 6. I cant want a 7 surely. So for anyone thinking of investing in them, bare it in mind that they come and small. Which is a bit of a blessing for me because they fit my child like skinny feet like a glove width wise, but the toes are so narrow, and I'm sure they're shorter than a 6. I have since read this in the reviews on the website, but that's not much help to me now. As they're leather though I'll just have to hope they will stretch a bit as I wear them. Do any of you guys have them and found the same? Did they stretch?

 

I'm off of a mini holiday this week, so there wont be a post, but you can keep up to date with my goings on my instagram @helen_hird

 

x

 

 

EMBROIDERED

 

Glamorous Floral Embroidered Denim Jacket | Asos Farleigh Jeans  | Stan Smith Trainers | Zara Jumper (similar)

 

 

Since Gucci catapulted embroidered denim into our lives for Fall 2016, I don't think I'm the only one that's become a bit obsessed. Although, saying that I was a bit early to the party and it was Hannah Fincham that got me into embellishment and embroidery a couple of years ago. I was lucky enough to get one of her amazing bespoke jackets for Christmas last year, I've featured it a few times in my posts & it's always on my Instagram so you might know the one I'm talking about. It is my pride & joy, nothing will compare to it. Aside from the fact it was made especially for me, the details in it are stunning, from tiny gold beads nested among pastel pearls to the 80's white embroidered script. Hand on heart I wouldn't swap it for 3 Gucci ones! I have, however, found this super cute little jacket from Glamorous, for those of us that cant quite stretch to Gucci prices! The denim is super soft and I love the nod to the embroidered florals that we've seen splashed all over the catwalk. This one is currently in the sale for about £28 I think, so it's a great little trend piece to see you through the Autumn and Winter. I've kind of broken my own rule on double denim here, but I tried to pair it with black & I just wasn't feeling it. So I am going to channel B*witched and just go with it.

 

C'est la Vie

 

 

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SCARLET

 

Asos Chunky High Neck Jumper | Asos Farliegh Jeans  | Adidas Stan Smiths | Asos Handmade Sunglasses

 

 

In the last couple of weeks I've become obsessed with red. Red knitwear mostly. I'm usually much more of a neutrals kind gal, I love oatmeals, camels, grey and navy, but there's something about this shade of scarlet paired with denim that is really taking my fancy. I think it has come from scrolling through my instagram during fashion week, there has been so much of this colour about and it really stuck with me. I've seen it teamed with leopard print boots or bags as well, which looks amazing. I feel like I really need to invest in a good pair of leopard print boots. These Topshop ones are currently top of my list. They'd look great with some frayed jeans and a basic white tee to.

 

This jumper is an Asos one, I think it might be sold out right now but I'd keep checking back. I kept it in my saved list and when my size finally came back in stock I added that bad boy straight to my bag. Needless to say it was sold out again within an hour or so, but keep checking. I really think it is such a good investment for this Autumn/Winter. It also comes in other colours which i'm really tempted by, it's such a steal at £25 and the neckline is a dream to. I love a high cosy neck, I'm also bringing back the hair tuck!

 

Over & out for now 

 

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