Outfits

Pleats and Bows

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Dress Paprika / Jewellery Temporary:Secretary / Nail Colour: Rimmel
I have seen lots of cool black pleated skirts lately and I want every single one of them! I’m always buying black skirts in all sorts of styles, they go with everything! This dress is from Paprika and it is also available in cream and white. I like the girly details (pleats and a bow). I thought I’d choose black as it’s probably the easiest colour to wear during winter. The dress arrived a couple of days after I ordered it (with a voucher), such quick delivery. When I first tried it on, I felt a bit “Morticia” in it. Especially when I had my hair down at the time! I tried it on again but with lighter make up and hair in ponytail. Once I start wearing dark colours, I find it difficult to wear brighter colour again! Will try stay out of that rut. It will make a nice change to wear darker colours now anyway, I keep standing out like a sore thumb with the autumn florals and bright fabric that I’ve been wearing recently
I have had some emails and tweets enquiring about what camera I use, what lens I use, and how I get my photos looking bright during a dark day without using flash. I use different equipment for different things (namely blog, webshop, and landscape) but I do usually take a lot of outfit photos all in one go mid week, I pick a day that is bright. I’m not sure how I go about doing a tutorial as I’m not a professional. Far from it! I know how things work but I don’t know how to explain them, technical things like aperture/f.stop, depth of field, all the different lenses, shooting format, etc. At uni, we had a few photography modules but I wasn’t interested at the time, I didn’t think it was something that would benefit me (after all, how would I ever afford a DSLR after uni! I was getting on just fine with my little silver point and shoot) Everything I’ve learned with DSLR is typically either self taught – by that, I mean turning all the buttons and pressing *everything* until I get it right!

Basically, in brief: For the blog, we both shoot with Nikon D90 or D40 and generally use a 50mm lens for overcloud. This is because you can set a lower f/stop and this will let more light in to the lens – which gives you brighter images. Our preference is to shoot in RAW format, which allows you do adjust the exposure, white balance and brightness with more versatility. For instance, on a gloomy day (overcloud), if you shoot in RAW, you can correct the white balance and exposure afterwards. Pop over to Gem’s blog because she is a professional photographer, she knows what she is talking about (unlike me!) and this tutorial that Gem posted is really useful. 

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72 thoughts on “Pleats and Bows”

  9. you look lovely! I'm thinking of getting a Nikon… D3100- any advice? I'm confused about whether to do for a Nikon or Cannon too but your pictures come out really well x

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  10. Lovely outfit, it really suits you! + really love the colour of your nail varnish! Such a wonderful pop of colour in the coming winter 🙂 xxx

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  16. Aaah Sarah the dress is lovely- especially with that ribbon tie! I'd love a photography tutorial if you or Niki ever got the chance. Just to learn more about all of the terms etc- as much as I love photography, and like how my pics turn out, It's be useful to know why they turn out that way! x

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  20. Ah this makes me want to buy an SLR and fling my crummy pink compact camera in the bin (but I'll peel off all the pink crystals I've stuck onto it first haha, gotta save the bling!).

    I am saving for an SLR though so hopefully I can pick up some tips from everyone! The dress is really cute, I bet it would look awesome with a brightly coloured ribbon too!

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  22. You looks so pretty! Love that dress, looks lovely on you. I'm exactly the same with my camera, I taught myself by pressing all the buttons until it looked how I wanted it too 🙂 xx

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  24. I didn't realise this was a dress at first, I thought it was separates! It looks lovely on you and not at all Morticia like! I really like the pleated skirt. x

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  27. That outfit is really cute I like bows too even though I'm not very girly haha. I really like the color of your nails compared to the color of your dress nice contrast. And thanks for the mini camera tutorial tips thing I'm getting a Nikon D3100 for Christmas so I definitely will need to learn how to use it to it's fullest potential!
    -Farrah

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  30. Lovely outfit, I love the little bow detail it's really cute. I'm also in love with your glasses, I wish bigger frames like this suited me!

    L x

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  32. I always like the photos you take for your blog, they look so good. Like you though, I usually just press all the buttons until it looks like the picture will come out alright. I love the dress, the pleats and the neck tie are lovely, and I really like the pop of colour with the yellow nail varnish. About the order: No worries, I just really liked the jewellery you sell on your shop and I'd been wanting to buy some for a while now. I'll be taking lots of pictures of the event too, I'm so glad that there will be quite a few people going! xo

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  36. I ADORE the pleats on this, you look absolutely gorgeous! I wish I could have my hair in a high preppy ponytail like that too, it looks lovely!

    Maria xxx

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  43. Really love your outfit, I'm a bit like you except in the opposite. once i wear light colours i cant go back to wearing dark 😛 i guess cos right now where i live its pretty warm 🙂 xx

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  50. That dress is beautiful and you look stunning in it.
    Also, I did look out for you in Leyburn the other day when I was in town just in case I happened to spot you. Hope that's creepy! I am in London now in the big world but I hope that one day we might chance to meet in Richmond. Maybe at the big new years thing at the obelisk if you go to it!

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  51. Another gorgeous outfit dear!

    Thanks for all the camera info, I'm having a nightmare trying to figure it all out at the moment, but I want to invest in a good camera with my redundancy money xx

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  53. oh my gosh.. THAT dress. wow i love it!!! i also love how you belted it and everything. it's perfect! you look gorgeous, as always :).

    i also love love love your photography, and those are the exact tips and tricks to get it just right! i'm still fumbling around with my tripod, self timer, and remote. i can't quite get the focus right doing all of that myself, but i'm learning! lol :).

    xx
    lyndsey of hellolyndsey

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  58. I feel the same way about wearing dark colors!! Its like you get stuck!! I need to get out of it too. And thanks for the link to the tutorial, seriously needed help with photos. 🙂

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  59. this dress is SO lovely, i would love to wear pleated skirts but it draws too much attention to my wide hips – i think thats why i love seeing them on other people, its a sense of longing! that blusher is also stunning on you honey. I have just discovered your blog after your comment on my cath kidston post, and boy am i glad you did. your posts are fantastic and your style is right up my street 🙂

    keep them coming! i am your newwest follower 😀

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  63. LOVE this dress. im the same with black skirts, i own too many but just ordered another one from ebay and saw one in a shop the other day that i want. cant get enough, but they are so classic and go with absolutely everything so who cares right?

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  69. Holy shEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! Your posts really are amazing, this dress looks GREAT! I tried a similar one on in New Look, and it just looked awful, hips galore. You pull this off perfectly, and your hair.. YOUR HAIR! So thick and lively!

    Sorry, my comments are probably getting so boring! haha x

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  70. you are so pretty and talented! love your blog… and love your style. i just followed you on twitter and facebook… and via google. 🙂 hope you can follow-back if you like my blog. 🙂

    cheers, and have a great wknd!
    jasmine
    adamalexmommy.com

    Reply

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