Summer In The City

Unlike most of my friends and colleagues, I'm staying in London this Summer and sadly not jetting off anywhere tropical. With beach and holiday style edits ubiquitous across fashion magazines and websites, I felt I needed to create some summer-in-the-city style inspiration. This Summer it's all about embracing a fusion of tropicalia and chic European city style.

1. In the office

1.  V-wrap back shell top, £34, Topshop

2. Wide leg ditsy print trousers, £17.99, New Look

3. Leather sandals, £420, Chloe

4. Trilogy leather shopper, £1340, Lanvin

5. Smoke and mirrors idiom bangle, £28, Kate Spade

2. Weekend brunch

1. Handmade acertate retro sunglasses, £35, ASOS

2. Strappy v-neck cami, £18, Topshop

3. A-line double crepe skirt, £278, Carven

4. Monogramme quilted leather shoulder bag, £1290, Saint Laurent

5. Sandals, £19.99, H&M

3. Evening cocktails

1. Cross back jumpsuit, £40, Topshop

2. Harlow clutch, £405, Michael Kors

3. Fancay tan sandals, £79, Dune

4. Cookies and cream nail polish, £9, Ciate

This Summer I'm focusing on bringing holiday style to my wardrobe and soaking up the sun in London. When the sun is out, who doesn't love a British Summer?

- A.T.

Hump Day Treat

I haven't posted a recipe for my weekly Hump Day Treats yet so today is THE day.

With it being summer and our more health-conscious sides coming out, it's always good to know a recipe that sneakily embodies an unhealthy taste and feel, but in actuality is not too bad.

So, the product: cookie dough butter! I know this will go down a treat because A) everyone loves cookie dough and B) who wouldn't want to snack on it? Think Ben and Jerry's cookie dough but fresher and sweeter. And hella less carby.

The recipe for this promises to be low carb and gluten free, and contains cinnamon which is amazing for your metabolism - as well as adding that peculiar but amazing taste.

Click on the picture below for the wonder-recipe itself and step-by-step guide, and also check out other great recipes from Girl Gone Country. Enjoy!

- A.T.

Passing the Torch & Sealing the Chapter

As it's the last day of June, I've been reflecting all day on what a strange month it has been. It has been great in so many ways, but strange because it made me realise that the past 9 months have flown by way too quickly.

This month I got my degree result, had many 'lasts' in Nottingham (nights out, last work shift, trip to the library, drink at the SU bar...), and I also had to face the slow realisation that this was it. My 4 years at the University of Nottingham had come to an end. It has been an amazing 4 years and I wouldn't change a single thing about my experience. My year abroad was also an incredible cherry on top of a diligently iced cake.

Another thing that occurred was that Maddie and I, who founded Her Campus Nottingham and managed kept it going all year, met with the new Co-Editor-in-Chiefs and Head of Publicity & Social Media. We had a nice lunch with them whilst discussing the ins-and-outs of their duties, what it takes to keep HC Nottingham going, and future plans for the year ahead. We also gave them some presents that we have no use for anymore (including a brand new HC banner, shown in the picture below.)

This meeting was the point at which I realised that things in Nottingham were coming to an end. I'd been in the comfort of my position all year, and suddenly had the realisation that HC Nottingham was now out of my and Maddie's hands. I think we did a great job though, and couldn't have done it without an enthusiastic and talented team. I'm looking forward to seeing HC Nottingham grow next year and will probably check the website regularly, like a mother looking out for her chicks!

Meeting with the new exec of HC Nottingham was only one of several things this month to bring out my sentimental side. Going out or heading to the park in the sun meant that I was spending some precious last hours in Nottingham with friends new and old, and even though we will keep in touch and see each other in the future, Nottingham will no longer be our playground.

Settling in at home hasn't been nearly as bad as I imagined - although my university bed is 100% irreplaceable. It has almost been a week and instead of hiding under my bed-covers everyday, I've been relatively active and doing research into possible ventures or career paths. I can't sit still for too long - that's my problem!

How would I describe my degree at Nottingham in one phrase? Life-changing. As that chapter closes with my graduation on July 9th, I'm already raring to go with the next chapter. As my parents have said, I'm like a boomerang - I never stay at home for TOO long. Where will the next stop be - London? South America? New Zealand? I'm excited to get planning.

- A.T.

To tie-dye or not to tie-dye?

When I discovered that tie-dye was making a comeback for spring/summer, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. My first thought was 'oh god no'; I remember wearing brightly coloured tie-dye t-shirts as a child and only ever looking back with regret. My second thought was that surely only the sartorially challenged would go for tie-dye. However, my opinion has changed. I've found some tie-dye items that actually look really cool and that I'm tempted to add to my wardrobe.

I think the key with tie-dye is to wear it right and choose colours that will look good. I'm not a fan of the rainbow-coloured tie-dye items as I feel that those are the types of clothes we wore back in the 90s - and, for me at least, when I was a kid.

I've thrown together a tie-dye mood board with my favourite finds from internet fashion sites. Tie-dye can look subtle and sophisticated, so the thing to remember is to keep the colour scheme to one or two colours and to avoid garish colour palettes.

There are some trends that should be left in the decades they first surfaced - this was my original thought on tie-dye, but I'm now thinking that tie-dye and summer will go hand-in-hand perfectly this year. It was a major part of Versace's catwalk event showcasing their S/S 2013 collection, so we can't argue with what such fashion powerhouses dictate. Tie-dye doesn't have to mean dressing hippy-esque and certainly shouldn't be confined to just festivals. It's a throwback, but one I feel we can embrace. My verdict: to tie-dye.

- A.T.

This week I'm loving...

Thigh-split maxi skirts/ dresses

I get a huge amount of wardrobe inspiration from Pinterest, and this week I noticed that I'd been drawn to pinning a lot of thigh-split maxi skirts and dresses (we can thank Angelina Jolie's left leg for kick-starting this growing trend). They are the ultimate item for summer: showing a little bit of leg and thigh but tailoring the rest of the outfit to not give everything away. I also noticed how figure-flattering a lot of the dresses were. Here are my favourite finds:

I know that ASOS have a great collection of thigh-split maxi skirts and dresses at the moment, and I've actually purchased one of their dresses for an upcoming graduation ball (pictures soon!) Whether you choose bold colours or go for neutrals, a thigh-split maxi skirt/ dress should definitely be a staple for your wardrobe this summer. Here are some suggestions:

Skirts

Dresses

Having the thigh-split makes you feel and look incredibly good without having to show off loads of skin - who doesn't want that? I recommend.

- A.T.

Hump Day Treat

As a mid-week pick me up I'm going to start posting a 'Hump Day Treat' every Wednesday, which could be anything from an inspirational quote or recipe idea to a news item or upcoming event that I want to share.

This week I'm sharing a discovery I made recently - the Beyoncé as Mrs. Carter collection for H&M. I'm a self-professed H&M addict - after all, it's cheap and chic clothing that works well with my student budget. I find their new S/S 2013 collection to be right on trend with brushstroke prints, crop-tops and florals amongst other designs that reflect the S/S 2013 catwalks. The Beyonce as Mrs. Carter collection adds to this but goes that bit further by going completely tropical. Beyonce models the items on the beach and poolside, and looks fabulous. It's great to see such an inspiring woman as the face of a collection for H&M. As if I didn't need another reason to shop there.

The much-anticipated collection, released 2nd May, includes dresses, bikinis and shoes in bold colours, tribal prints and tie-dye which all fit perfectly with the quickly approaching summer months. I've picked out my favourite three items from the collection:

My advice is to get to the collection before it sells out. Happy shopping!

- A.T.