30 of the Best Black Friday Fashion Deals

It’s that time of year again - Black Friday is almost upon us! An American tradition following Thanksgiving on the third Thursday of November, the UK has hopped upon the Black Friday bandwagon for the last few years - and this year isn't any different.

It’s one of the most helpful shopping periods of the year for everyone, situated right before Christmas, so we can buy gifts for our loved ones for up to half the price of what we’d normally pay for them.

However, it’s especially loved by fashionistas nationwide, as it means that we can buy ourselves those cheeky early Christmas presents we’ve had our beady eyes on and lined up on our wishlists for weeks now.

Let us at ‘em!

Without further ado, here are 30 of the best Black Friday fashion deals. (You’re welcome!)

1. All Saints

30% off everything site-wide until Tuesday 28th November.

2. Amazon

Black Friday Preview began on Friday 17th November, with new deals being added to the site daily.

3. ASOS

New deals daily (up to 60% off shoes and accessories at the time of writing) but hinting to newsletter members that the best deals will go live on Black Friday.

4. Accessorize

30% off evening bags and 3-for-2 Christmas decorations at the moment.

5. Barbour

Free exclusive lambswool scarf that’s worth £34.95 when you spend £150 or more, both in-store and online from 12:01am on Black Friday.

6. Boohoo

30% off everything site-wide this Black Friday week.

7. Cheap Monday

25% off everything across the site from Friday 24th until Monday 27th November.

8. Dorothy Perkins

Up to 50% off selected items online until Monday 27th November.

9. Debenhams

"7 Days of Amazing Deals" is happening with 30% off every department currently, plus further daily discounts.

10. Dune

Up to 20% off everything, both in-store and online, during the Black Friday period.

11. Forever 21

40% off shoes and accessories as a "Black Friday Warm-up" and free delivery on orders over £50.

12. French Connection

Up to 50% off men's and women's clothing, 20% off tableware, and 3-for-2 gift sets which are ideal for family stocking fillers.

13. GAP

40% off everything that’s full price, excluding leather, suede, and cashmere, and a further 25% off sale items from Thursday 23rd until Sunday 26th November.

14. H&M

Up to 40% off and free delivery on women’s fashion, with an extra 10% off for H&M club members.

15. Hobbs

20% off everything site-wide, with more deals added every day across different categories, until Monday 27th. 

16. Hunter

20% off everything at the moment for Black Friday, so time to purchase some of their famous, fashionable wellies perhaps?

17. Karen Millen

25% off everything in-store and online, with new deals being added to the sale daily, until Monday 27th November.

18. Levis

30% off everything at the moment which will change to 40% on Black Friday (early access to 40% off available to newsletter members).

19. Miss Pap

30% off everything and free delivery over £50 via Miss Pap’s website.

20. Miss Selfridge

50% off selected lines, both in-store and online, as part of their “Black Friday Preview” indicating there are more deals to come.

21. Motel Rocks

Up to 40% off everything site-wide, with further deals on actual Black Friday.

22. Nasty Gal

Up to 50% off everything on their site, including sale, with free next day delivery.

23. New Look

25% off footwear and accessories at the moment, as part of their "Black Friday Warm-Up".

24. Oasis

30% off selected winter warmers on their site presently, consisting of knits, dresses, and outerwear.

25. Office

20% off everything both in-store and online.

26. Pretty Little Thing

30% off everything except the Kourtney Kardashian collection, which has 50% off on Wednesday 23rd.

27. River Island

Up to 40% off selected lines site-wide, with an indication that there will be more deals on Black Friday.

28. Topshop

Up to 50% off, plus free worldwide delivery, from Wednesday 22nd until Monday 27th November.

29. Urban Outfitters

Buy one get one 50% off everything from Thursday 23rd until midnight on Sunday 26th November.

30. Warehouse

Up to 30% off some of their Autumnal favourites and best sellers throughout this Black Friday period.

Shopaholics, rejoice!

5 of My Favourite Articles That I Wrote in October

Hey, guys!

If you're new to this blog - welcome. If you're a loyal reader - welcome back.

The latter will know that I recently started doing a round-up every four weeks of my favourite articles that I'd written as a freelance writer during that particular month. (If you missed the July, August and September instalments, catch up on them here, here and here.)

I'll also start including a little overview of how things are going with my business Dream Scribe for those who are interested! #freelancewriterclub

October was a great month for me and my biz. In fact, it marked six months since I started this whole freelance writing thang. And, I have to say, it's going swimmingly!

I actually had my first four-figure month (mini Mexican wave in celebration of me - a-woohoo) which is a milestone I'm so happy to have reached in such a short space of time.

I'm still writing primarily in the fashion and travel niches, but I've also branched out further into the lifestyle/happiness/self-help sector, which I hope will continue to progress. As a 27-year-old millennial woman who's been through a helluva lot (haven't we all?), I have plenty of stories to tell and tips to share on how we could all live our best lives!

Without further ado, here are 5 of my favourite articles that I wrote in October.

Fashion

1. How to Choose the Right Clothing for a Gift

With Christmas around the corner, I thought this article was very fitting for October's round-up. 

I don't know about you guys, but I really struggle with buying gifts for other people sometimes - especially when it involves clothing. In this article for Love to Know, I share my knowledge and expertise to make sure you purchase a clothing gift that your loved one will not only wear, but wear with pride.

Beauty

2. You're Going to Love These AW17 Beauty Trends

Sure, I love to explore fashion trends season upon season (check out my AW17 fashion trend round-up here), but I also adore seeing what's new in the world of beauty.

As an avid make-up lover, I was only too happy to write this trends-based article for fashion retailer Obsessory, which includes details from the AW17 designer runways. You're welcome, fellow beauty fanatics!

Dating and Relationships

3. Ladies, Chill Out! Let Him Miss You

My friends always tend to come to me with their dating and relationships problems. Why, I hear you ask? Well, they say that I give good advice.

One of my friends (who will remain She Who Shall Not Be Named) was recently making a lot of mistakes when it came to guys, bless her. She wasn't giving the guys that she was dating any opportunities to miss her. Therefore, she inspired this article for women's lifestyle magazine The Bolde, in the hope that other ladies out there will also benefit from it.

Mental Health

4. From Socialite to Recluse: Depression and My College Years

This article was an incredibly personal one for me to write. I was first diagnosed with depression during my university years, and I have battled with it on and off ever since.

I wanted to share my story through mental health community Sad Runner, solely for the reason that it might help someone out who currently in a similar situation as I was. 

Remember, depression is an illness and we must fight back!

Family

5. 10 Important Questions to Ask Your Dad

Let's end this on a feel-good note, shall we?

Your Dad is one of the most significant and influential people in your life. In this article, I explore 10 subjects that you should ask your Dad about whilst you can. Trust me, it'll make you want to go give your Dad a big ol' hug. 

That's all for this month, folks! Hope you lovelies all had a fabulous Halloween and have an even better Bonfire Night!

Let the Christmas countdown begin.

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7 Reasons Why Fall is the Best Time of Year

It's that time of year again.

The weather's getting colder, the leaves are changing, and hot drinks are back in abundance (okay, perhaps they never even left for all my fellow tea and coffee addicts out there!)

Yay, fall is upon us! And I personally couldn't be happier about it.

Why, I hear you ask?

Because fall is awesome.

Need convincing? Here are 7 reasons why fall is the best time of year.

1. The sexy colours.

New season, new colours.

I'm talking about those burnt oranges, winey reds and mustard-like yellows that we see not just in fashion, but on the trees when we leave the house everyday!

A stark contrast to the summer greenery of the fields, let's not pretend that they're not an absolute treat for the eyes in EVERY. POSSIBLE. WAY.

*Heart-eyed emoji*

2. The cool, crisp mornings.

It's getting colder come September/October time, but not too cold that it causes you to exclaim "OMG it's freezing" every time you step foot outside.

After a pretty humid summer all around, how great does it feel to actually experience some cool air?

Well, I'll tell ya.

It feels bloomin' amazing! 

I can actually breathe again! And, you know, that's always nice.

3. The new season of fashion.

With colder weather comes the need for soft, snugly jumpers and thousands upon thousands of layers.

(Okay *slight* exaggeration - just the one thousand will do.)

But it's true - fall is the one of the only times of year where we can pile on our whole wardrobe a la Joey from Friends when he's trying to get back at Chandler by wearing everything he owns.

In addition to being able to sling on our favourite comfy jumper, we can also experiment with the whole new AW17 season of fashion.

The best trends I've seen so far are androgyny, hippie chic, tomato red and sci-fi cool - but watch out for a full trend report coming soon on the blog!

4. Halloween is coming!

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Christmas. Christmas is also one of my favourite times of year.

But Halloween is like Christmas' cool, quirky younger sister - and I can't help but adore her!

When you're at school, college and/or university, you have plenty of opportunities to dress up in costumes and go to parties. However, as you get older, Halloween becomes the only chance you get to pretend you're someone or something else for the day and party the night away!

My point is: Halloween is always fun, no matter what age you are.

Whether you're a kid going trick-or-treating, a student going on a themed club night, or an adult heading to a costume party with your friends, Halloween is light-hearted, it's fun and there are always laughs to be had. (Mostly at the expense of your boyfriend's brother Dennis, who dresses up as Cousin It from the Addams family EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR.)

Plus, I love the Hocus Pocus movie. #justsaying

5. Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back.

Oh for the love of Starbucks, how I do miss Pumpkin Spice Lattes when they're not in season!

Actually - how I do miss pumpkin-flavoured anything when pumpkins aren't in season!

Basically, if you hadn't already guessed, I love the taste of pumpkins - which means I sure do love the taste of Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

Starbucks, you babe.

6. The cosy nights in.

Another thing I love about fall is that staying in on a Saturday night is actually considered acceptable.

If you tell people you're staying in on a weekend in the summer, they're all like "OMG what, it's supposed to be, like, 100 degrees - aren't you at least going to sit in a beer garden for a bit?"

Look, guys - I enjoy a night out once in a while. I really do. But I'm getting old now.

If I want to stay in during fall and snuggle with a blanket and a hot water bottle whilst watching endless episodes of Power on Netflix - there ain't no shame in that.

'Kay? 'Kay.

7. The return of the Sunday roast.

Oh, how I miss a good ol' traditional Yorkshire roast dinner during the summer months.

There's nothing better than popping around to your Mum's on a Sunday during fall for a massive catchup and some good scran.

I'm talking about mashed potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, onion gravy, veg, meat of some kind...

...Hubba Hubba, come to Mumma!

SRSLY, what's not to love about fall?


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5 of My Favourite Articles That I Wrote in September

What's going on, guys and gals?

So, in August, I decided to introduce a post showcasing my favourite articles that I'd written during the month prior - sort of like a round-up of my freelance writing biz kinda thang. (You can find the September sequel here.)

It's just nice for me to share with you guys the kinds of content I'm pushing out on a monthly basis for Dream Scribe - my professional freelance writing entity - alongside this personal blog.

Needless to say, I'm putting a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears into my business at the moment (no, not actually - it's just a weird sayin') so I want my writing to reach as many people as possible. Gone are the days where I just write for myself; nowadays, I write for myself and other people. I like being able to give advice through my written words, offer a helping hand, or even just make someone smile with a personal anecdote or two. It's why I love writing so much.

Without further ado, here are 5 of my favourite articles that I wrote in September.

Fashion

1. 5 Fashion Pieces Women Should Try from Men's Wardrobes

Ah, androgyny. Who doesn't love dressing like a man when it comes to fashion? No? Just me then.

With androgyny being one of this seasons hottest trends, I wrote this piece for fashion retailer Obsessory in order to let you gals know which pieces you should most definitely be stealing from your man's wardrobe this AW17. You're welcome.

Travel

2. 5 Struggles That Every Solo Female Traveller Faces

Travelling can be quite a challenge at times regardless of your gender. But, sometimes, there are things us lasses have to go through when travelling that men simply don't have to.

Light-hearted and fun, I wrote this piece for travel blog The Fun Ways based on my own backpacking experiences.

3. 5 Top Tips if You're a Backpacking Newbie

Continuing with the backpacking theme, I also wrote this piece for The Fun Ways.

If you've never been backpacking before and are soon to embark upon your very first adventure, you can better prepare yourself by reading through my top tips. Basically, I've done all the hard work and learned some key lessons from my own backpacking experiences - so that you don't have to.

4. 10 Cities to Visit Around the World if You Love to Party

Another piece that I wrote for The Fun Ways, I compiled this list based on my own knowledge and experiences. 

There are so many amazing party capitals of the world that it was difficult to narrow it down to just 10 - but I think I did okay! If you've got other suggestions, tweet me @kdavieswrites.

Dating and Wellness

5. I've Never Felt This Way Before - I Think I'm In Love... With Myself

One of my favourite pieces to date, I wrote this for women's lifestyle magazine The Bolde.

I talk about how your perspective of yourself changes as you get older for the better - and it's a pretty liberating feeling. Am I right or am I right?

That's all for this month, folks! Watch out for the October round-up at the beginning of next month.

Happy reading!

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5 of My Favourite Articles I Wrote in August

What's goin' on, guys and gals?

I don't know if you saw, but last month I wrote a blog post telling you all about 5 of my favourite articles that I'd written during my freelance writing journey thus far.

I've since decided to make this into a monthly thang, because my freelance writing work seems to be a topic of interest to you all at the moment! A lot of you want to know all the juicy details regarding how I'm getting on, the pieces I'm writing on a daily basis, and the types of clients I'm actually writing for.

Well, I'm happy to oblige!

My advice to you, after reading this post of course, is to start with my freelance writing blog. Then simply go from there!

As for me, I'm still writing in the fashion, travel and dating niches as a general rule. However, last month, I actually wrote primarily in the fashion and dating/relationships niches. Here are 5 of my favourite articles I wrote in August.

Fashion

1. SS17: The Season of Texture

This was a trend-based piece for luxury Italian fashion brand Scarci, where I talk through the key textures of the Spring/Summer season. 

I used the menswear SS17 designer catwalks as inspiration and tied it in with Scarci's current collections.


2. What is High Street Fashion?

Many Americans aren't quite familiar with British term 'high street fashion'.

In this piece, I explore what is meant by this term, where it originated from and the key fashion brands that are on the high street at the moment.


3. In Her Closet: Katie Davies' 5 Fashion Must-Haves

I was initially approached through this blog by fashion retailer Obsessory. The aim was to do a guest post based on the 5 fashion staples I believe all women should have in their wardrobes.

I define the rationale for each of my 5 choices, including where you can currently get your hands on these items! I also posted the article on this blog here.

Dating and Relationships

4. 12 Things That are Guaranteed to Happen on a Single Girls' Night Out

Side note: I'm really enjoying writing for women's online magazine The Bolde, which is all about empowering women in their relationships, and in their lives in general.

This article was super fun to write! We all remember those crazy single nights out we've had with our friends... I mean - how could we forget them, right? I talk about 12 things that always seem to occur on said nights out, when you and your gals are all out together, having fun, and likely intoxicated.


5. I Wear the Pants In My Relationship and I Wouldn't Have it Any Other Way

(Or trousers, if you're British.)

In a relationship, there's always one of you who's considered the leader. The one in charge. The one that wears the pants/trousers.

In this article, I talk about why I class myself as the one in charge in my relationship and why I'm so very happy about it! (Sorry, boyfriend - but I'm not sorry!)


That's all for this one, folks! I hope you enjoy reading some of my recent articles, and I'll be posting more of my published work next month!

If you can't wait that long, check out my portfolio page here, as I try to update that as regularly as I can.

Oh and, if you need a writer for anything, anything at all - then hit me up at dreamscribe.co.uk.

As always, thanks for reading! And thanks for all your support, you babes. YOU DA BEST <3


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5 of My All-Time Favourite American Sportswear Fashion Trends

There’s no denying that the lines between sportswear and fashion are somewhat blurred of late. From women choosing to wear active-wear just to meet a friend for coffee, to men slinging on a sports cap for work when they’re having bad hair day, sportswear in the fashion world has become the norm.

Why, I hear you ask?

Sportswear is so comfortable and practical. It’s not too try-hard. It requires less effort to wear - and yet still looks just as good.

Influenced by some of the most-loved American sports, sportswear fashion is undoubtedly on the rise in the UK. Being an average English girl who regularly visits her boyfriend in the US, I’ve massively picked up on this in the last couple of seasons.

Here are my 5 all-time favourite American sportswear fashion trends.

1. Converse trainers.

Do you remember when Converse first came out and everybody went crazy? Well, no you wouldn’t, because you weren’t born back then.

Famous American basketball player Chuck Taylor might have started wearing and selling the shoes in the 1920s, but the hype still remains strong two decades after the sneakers retro-ed in the 1980s.

Basketball trainers have always been a “thing”, but they really became more of a “thing” when Chuck Taylor released them in dozens of colours in the 1980s. Originally designed to be a high performance athletic shoe for basketball games, their rubber sole and upper canvas makes them seriously comfy.

I have one trusty white pair at the moment that I wear with everything. They’re so easy to fall in love with that I’m considering going out and buying like, five more pairs.

2. Baseball caps.

More popular with men than women, but still worn by both sexes, American-style baseball caps show no signs of going out of style.

Dating back to 1860, the baseball cap was first designed to keep the sun out of players’ eyes whilst they were playing a game. The baseball cap was also an important means of identifying a team.

Fast forward 157 years, the baseball cap has become a cool way to show off your dedication to your sports team, yet practical to wear in the warm weather. And sales of baseball caps continue to grow, even in the UK.

My boyfriend practically lives in his.

3. Varsity jackets.

Varsity jackets, baseball jackets, letterman jackets; call them what you like, varsity jackets are still very much a forefront trend in the fashion world.

The inspiration initially came from baseball attire in the US, with the premise being to wear the jacket to represent your favourite baseball team. This then expanded to American football, high school and college sports teams, and now the jacket has been given a contemporary, fashion twist.

From their initial showing on designer catwalks back in 2015, varsity jackets have not only stuck around ever since, but they have developed globally each season.

You can now buy these jackets in a variety of colors, textures and fabrics – including polyester, leather, and cotton. However, the most successful type still remains the traditional wool jacket, with one colour for the body, another color for the sleeves, and banded stripe detailing on both the collar and hems.

I’m massively crushing over them.

4. Basketball jerseys.

Basketball jerseys, in the form of vests, remain a common style choice for the warmer summer months.

When basketball jersey vests first came on the scene in the US, like with varsity jackets, the idea behind them was to show up to games wearing the one that represented your team. However, as time has gone on, people have chosen to wear their basketball jerseys outside of games - to the “mall”, in a bar on a Saturday night, to their partner’s cousin’s birthday dinner. And no, I’m not exaggerating!

It’s not just the official basketball team jerseys. There’s a variation of them on the fashion market, even internationally.

Not too long ago, for example, US basketball team-inspired jerseys reigned supreme in some of my favourite UK fashion-forward stores - such as Topshop.

In other words, basketball jerseys are vastly becoming a fashion phenomenon worldwide.

5. American football jerseys.

Basketball jersey vests might be great for summer when it’s warm outside, but what about those colder months? Goodbye, basketball jerseys. Hello, American football jerseys.

With the longer sleeve length and hem length, these jerseys make for a perfect Autumnal alternative. Then you can simply layer them up over a long sleeved shirt for wintery weather.

In the US, it’s very common to casually wear your favourite American football team’s official jersey when you’re out buying your weekly supply of groceries on a Sunday. And not only wear it, but wear it with pride.

Perhaps not quite as popular internationally as basketball jerseys, I’ve still spotted a fair few American football jerseys on the UK high street. Primark - I’m looking at you, kid.

Varsity Jacket - £410 - modalist.com

American Football Jersey - £92 - popmap.com

Baseball Cap - £12 - boohoo.com

American Flag Converse - £27 - gilt.com

Basketball Jersey - £40 - modalist.com

Whether you’ve already bought into some of these trends, or you’re an American sportswear virgin, you might as well embrace sports fashion - like, pronto. It’s fun, it’s easy to wear and, most importantly, it looks like it’s here to stay.

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5 Wardrobe Staples That Every Woman Should Own

Everybody has fashion staples in their wardrobe that they wear repeatedly. They form the base of most of your looks and one key piece can prove to be the starting point of 10 different outfits. And, it doesn’t even matter whether they’ve only been purchased recently, or been hanging there for the last however many years. These wardrobe essentials are likely to sustain the test of time for a specific reason or to fulfill a certain purpose. If I could pick just 5 to create my own personal capsule collection, here’s what would make it to the shopping list:

1. 100% Cotton Classic White T-Shirt

Project Social T Tiny Crew Neck Tee, £23.84

This is THE wardrobe staple of wardrobe staples; there’s no way you can mess up with a classic white t-shirt. I prefer to invest in the 100% cotton variety. It might be a little more expensive than a cheap fabric equivalent, but it’s worth the investment considering how many uses you get out of it. It will last you many washes without losing vibrancy, shape, fit, or colour.

Pair your white t-shirt with a pretty printed high-waisted floral skirt during summer and your favourite flats, or layer it up during winter with jeans, sneakers and an oversized bomber jacket.

2. Levi’s Skinny Jeans

Levi’s Mile High Super Skinny Jeans, £75.35

Pretty much the ruler of the denim world with jeans as its best offering, Levi’s has always been my go-to for a good pair of jeans that fit like a dream. The brand produces superior-quality, long-lasting denim in a variety of colours, washes, cuts, and styles. Levi’s is loved by both sexes across the globe for its ability to keep on delivering, season after season.

My evergreen staple is a pair of high-waisted Levi’s skinny jeans that flatter my pear-shaped body. I team them with a camisole vest and oversized sunglasses during the day, and then switch over to a structured blouse and sky high heels when I’m taking my skinny jeans out for the night.

3. Black Leather Backpack

Michael Michael Kors Rhea Backpack, £331

In case I haven’t mentioned it yet, I’m an avid traveller and have been bitten by the travel bug pretty bad. This means I’m always jet setting to new cities, countries, sometimes even continents.

The one thing that sees me through it all is my trusty leather backpack. Yes, no flimsy handbags for me. In case you didn’t know, backpacks are big in 2017; they were THE thing in the 90s, and they will continue to be resurrected by fashion houses as a staple piece because they are as functional as they are attractive.

My backpack holds all my important travel documents and essentials which is why I invest in a reputed brand. With good quality leather and make, you don’t have to worry about accidentally overloading because it’s built to last.

Also, black because the colour is so classic - it goes with everything! The silver studs on the MK backpack appeal to my edgy fashion aesthetics which are a bit more rock chic than the average fashionista.

4. Converse Sneakers

Converse Animal Hi Tops, £28

Also ideal for travelling, I don’t think I’d survive without a great pair of sneakers. Sometimes I can spend the entire day venturing around a new city, which means that comfortable shoes are a must.

My favourite: Converse sneakers—I wish I could buy every style on the shelves. Not only do they fit well and are very kind to the tootsies, but they come in a range of extremely eye-catching prints and colours.

Mine are actually monochrome animal print, as I can’t resist a good print. Plus, monochrome complements any colour way, no matter what I’m wearing on my top and bottom half.

Sometimes I throw them on with my classic white tee and Levi’s jeans for a casual, yet fashionable look, and sometimes I dress them up for a dinner out with friends with a skater-style dress.

5. Short-Sleeved Plain Shift Dress

Boohoo Harriet High Neck Shift Dress, £6

My final wardrobe staple is a plain shift dress that’s cut just above the knee in length. I prefer short sleeves as they’re more flattering on my curvier arms, and you can wear the style over a pair of leggings or stockings during the colder months (like a tunic). It also can be layered with a jacket for spring.

In terms of palette, it’s best to choose a colour that suits your skin tone. I usually go for something out of the ordinary like wine red or royal blue because it helps add a bit of vibrancy to my pale complexion. And then there are always classic shades like nudes, greys, blacks for those who prefer to play it safe.

I dress my plain shift dress up with a black blazer, black tights and statement necklace for the office or smart casual occasion - then apply a bold lip to up the ante; I’m absolutely addicted to matte liquid lipstick.

I alternatively throw on a denim jacket, a long bohemian-style necklace, and sandals for ‘everyday casual cool’ during the summer months. Très chic.


Whether you’re all set with your wardrobe staples, or are currently in the process of building them up, I believe you should take your time to invest in good-quality pieces that suit your personal style and body shape. But also, have fun with fashion!


Original article written for Obsessory.com. Images courtesy of Obsessory.com.

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5 of My Favourite Articles I've Written Recently

If you haven't already heard, gurl's been workin' her butt off as a freelance writer for around three months now.

There's been highs, there's been lows - but overall I'm having an absolute blast. I absolutely love working for myself, making my own hours, and deciding who I want to work with - I feel like I was meant to have my own business and be a solopreneur!

I feel fortunate in the sense that I've already written for a number of businesses and publications in different niches. My favourite niches to write in are, of course, fashion and travel. But I'm also really enjoying drawing from my own experiences in the psychology, dating and relationships niche. Just call me the next Carrie Bradshaw! (I wish.)

I realise that I'm not sharing my work with you lovely lot as much as I probably should - or, rather, I haven't yet. Therefore, I'm thinking of making this post a monthly thang. Let me know if you're keen? You can comment below or just hit me up on Twitter @kdavieswrites.

Oh, and you're very welcome to check out my business blog if you're interested in how freelance writing works behind the scenes. I had to do so much research into it before I kickstarted my business, and it's super interesting!

Without further ado, here are just a few of my favourite articles I've written recently.

Fashion

1. 'What is Sustainable and Ethical Fashion?'

I actually wrote this piece back in May for fashion eyewear brand Zylina. (And I've just recently joined the team as a regular writer - woo! But I digress.)

In this article, I explore the subject of sustainable and ethical fashion, and what we can do as consumers to help with both the environmental and ethical issues that are still a concern in the industry today.

Travel

2. 8 Things You Must Do in Singapore

If you're a regular reader of KatieKat, you'll know that I absolutely adore Singapore. It's one of my favourite places that I've been to in the world so far!

In this piece for adventure blog At Home on the Go, I talk about how's best to spend your time in this amazing metropolis as a first-time visitor.

Life and Happiness

3. 5 Sayings We Should All Live By

I was a regular writer for psychology, dating and general advice blog Practical Pie throughout the whole of last month. 

It was my idea to write this article as a fun little reminder of what life is all about! I really enjoyed producing this piece so I hope you enjoy reading it!

Health and Well Being

4. How to Combat 5 Common Negative Thoughts

I've never really spoke about this before on this blog, or online in general, so it's kind of a huge deal for me! It makes me nervous, but we really need to get rid of this stigma around mental health.

Throughout my university years, I struggled on and off with depression and anxiety. I still struggle from time to time. (If you'd like me to do a post where I talk about my personal journey with mental illness, then please let me know!)

When the opportunity came up to write for mental health community Sad Runner, I jumped. I wanted to share my own personal battle in order to potentially help someone else with theirs. So I wrote this piece. And Sad Runner loved it enough to publish it.

Dating and Relationships

5. 7 Things About Men That Drive Women Crazy

I've been writing for dating advice blog Go Dates ever since I started this whole freelance writing biz. It's such a laugh!

This article is supposed to be taken with a pinch of salt; it talks about how men will never understand women and women will never understand men! It's a bit of fun, it's tongue-in-cheek, and it was a blast to write.

I think I've sorted you out with enough reading material to get you by for at least a good half an hour - so you better get started! 

Being a newbie when it comes to freelance writing, I still get shy about my work, so please be kind! I'd love to hear your thoughts on these articles but, if I don't hear from you, I'm still very grateful to you for reading the entirety of this post!

Your support means everything to me, so thanks a lot!

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4 Ways to Style an Outfit for a Summery Occasion

We've all been there. We've got that big event coming up. Whether it's your best friend's daughter's christening, your cousin's wedding reception, or your boyfriend's Uncle's birthday BBQ - it's the summer, our wardrobes are giving us headaches, and we've not got a clue what to wear. Do we dress up, do we dress down, or should we just not bother going at all? The struggle is real. I hear ya, sisters. Here's 4 ways to style an outfit for a summery occasion.

1. Dress up a white tee.

 

In summer, you can't go wrong with a classic white t-shirt. No matter what the occasion. White looks smart, it stands out in the sunshine, and it compliments any other hue.

I was heading to a Baptism when I wore this outfit, the sun was shining, and I needed to look dressy without going overboard. I chose to pair my white tee with a floaty floral skirt. Essentially any pattern looks summery with white, but I just can't resist a good floral print! #sorrynotsorry


2. Add colour.

Who wants to stick with neutral colours in the summer months? The sun's out, the days are longer, and everyone's happier - so why not choose joyful colours to wear? If you do decide to go with a white tee, like moi, then make sure you add at least one other bright colour to your outfit.

Personally, I went with a blue, coral and green combo skirt - then I picked out green to accent through my handbag and jewellery.


3. Accessorise to the max. 



Speaking of accessories, when it comes to summer outfits, go big or go home. Seriously. I ain't lyin'.

Adorn your white tee with a bedazzling necklace, or throw on some bling in the form of your earrings and rings. It's the best way to take your outfit from "I'm going food shopping" casual to "I'm looking fabulous at an event" smart casual real quick.


4. Apply a bright lip.

If you're going sassy and summery with your outfit, then you need to go sassy and summery with your make-up too. Obvs.

It's okay to tone your face down if you're going to be out in the sun all day and you'd rather wear your lightweight tinted moisturiser with SPF instead of cake your skin in foundation. However, if you're going to keep it simple with the face and the eyes - because there's a good chance you'll be wearing sunglasses - then go bold with your lip.

Pick a colour from your outfit and then choose a lipstick that will compliment the whole outfit. For my summery occasion, I went with coral. Coral is the perfect summer hue and looks kick-ass with white. It also looks great if you colour block it other loud-and-proud hues, such as blue and green in this case.


Whatever you decide to wear for your summery occasion, wear it with pride. And that confidence will shine through, making you the most unstoppable gal in the room.



White Tee - NEXT

Floral Skirt - Topshop

Nude Sandals - Primark

Green Handbag - FOSSIL

Aviator Sunglasses - Rayban

Earrings - Matalan

Necklace - Primark

Rings - DKNY

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Travelling Brighton: The Perfect OOTD

Hey, dolls! 

So I've been home from my week-long adventure in Brighton and London for almost three weeks now, can you believe it?!

And, just as I was settling back into everyday home life and in the process of accepting that I won't have more time off until September, guess what decides to strike... Only the stomach flu!

That's right, I've been laid up in bed for the past four days. I've had to cancel social plans. I've had to tell freelance writing clients I'm unable to work. Heck, I've even had to cut phone calls short with my long-distance American boyfriend. All because I feel so terrible. 

I haven't felt this poorly in a while - probably since my tonsillitis episode during the last couple of days of Thailand. (Man ALIVE, did that suck.)

I'm crossing all fingers that I nip it in the bud sooner rather than later, as I really miss normality. I miss work. I miss my friends. I miss my three hour long FaceTime seshes with the boyf.

Anyway, I thought I'd cheer myself up by going through my Brighton photos. I'll be doing a Brighton-based travel post shortly when I've kicked this illness' ass, but firstly I just wanted to show you guys one of my purchases from when I was down there. 

For me, I have to be comfortable when I'm travelling. If I'm out all day every day whilst exploring a new place, I have to choose something that's fashionable yet functional.

Leggings, jeggings or stretchy jeans of some kind are a must, as are walking sandals during the summer months.

My walking sandals are from Teva and they've been with me ever since I did my first backpacking trip in 2014. Yes, we're talking three years! Not only do they have staying power, but I can wear them 24/7 and they never rub me or hurt my footsies in any way. That's what I call miracle workers!

Then there's the top half of the outfit. If I'm wearing jeggings or leggings, I tend to choose a tunic over a top so that it covers my bum. Ain't nobody that wants to see all the junk in my trunk.

This little beauty is from Pull & Bear. Chances are, you might have not even heard of this Spanish retailer that's part of the Zara family. They have limited store locations in the UK at present, so I actually went into my first Pull & Bear during my trip to Singapore last October. However, Brighton has one. And gosh it's good! 

Everything Pull & Bear is really pretty but reasonably priced, like this dusty pink floral number. Not only does it have a choker piece, which anybody who knows me will know that I love, but its jersey fabric makes it so comfortable to wear!

Furthermore, the short sleeves and cut-out chest section makes it a perfect garment for a warm, sunny day (which it was in Brighton on that particular day).

I loved this tunic so much that I bought it in black too! (And that's not like me. I usually find people who buy the same item of clothing in multiple colours a bit excessive. HELLO, walking contradiction!) 

Teamed with a half up topknot and half down do, and my wayfarer Raybans, I was ready for a full day of exploring the beautiful southern seaside town.

Tunic - Pull & Bear

Jeggings - Topshop

Sandals - Teva

Handbag - Coach New York

Sunglasses - Rayban

Watch - Skagen

Ear Jackets - Matalan

Rings - Vintage

And explore, we did! Watch out for my upcoming post on what the American and I got up to during our time in Brighty. 

And, in the mean time, wish me luck in defeating this stomach flu! 

Thanks for reading, as always, you lovely lot.

K-xo

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GlassesShop.com Summer Specs

I've been craving some new glasses lately.

You know what it's like, fellow glasses-wearers. You reach a point where you're just absolutely sick at the sight of your old glasses - and you crave a shiny, new pair. A pair that you haven't accidentally sat on, isn't covered in smudges and you haven't been photographed in 2,324 times.

(Okay this might be a slight exaggeration, but you get the point.)

You want a new pair of glasses to add to your collection and you want it now darn it.

I had all of these feels recently. I was about to make an emergency trip to my local Specsavers when an email from the good folks at GlassesShop.com arrived in my inbox. At exactly the right time. (How did you guys even know?)

For those of you who aren't already aware, I introduced y'all to GlassesShop.com back in January. (Y'all? I seem to have turned American - it must be the consequence of dating one.)

GlassesShop.com are an online American retailers specialising in prescription sunglasses and eyeglasses.

They kindly sent me a fabulous pair of floral blue glasses frames late last year from their AW16 collection (which I absolutely adore, still wear and haven't yet sat on - FYI). And this time I got to choose a pair from their sexy SS17 collection.

Usually I play it safe and go for rectangular frames; however, I really fancied something different. As I touched upon earlier, I have an American boyf, and he recently bought a new pair of glasses that were oval-shaped Wayfarer-style.

The top half of the frames is black acetate and the bottom half is metal. And I liked them so much that I decided to copy him.

I saw these black/golden beauties on the website and immediately fell in love. I adore the fusion of textures and the oval frames themselves seem to suit my face shape. Plus, I've seen a lot of glasses on the market recently with this style of frame - they seem to be extremely fashionable for this season - so it's a win, win!

Now this means that the boyf and I are twins - but who cares when my new glasses are this nice! I'm all kitted out, in terms of glasses, for another season. Thank you, GlassesShop.com!

K-xo

(Please note I was sent a product to review by GlassesShop.com for this post, but all opinions are my own. You can use my code 'GSHOT50' at the checkout on GlassesShop.com to get 50% off all eyeglasses and sunglasses with free lenses only. The offer excludes sales frames.)

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