The last couple days I spent in Scotland exploring the diverse and breathtakingly beautiful countryside as well as the capital of Edinburgh and its surroundings. I have always been majorly fascinated by the power of nature and its impact on us and our well being and never have I ever visited a place which had such a cleansing and relaxing effect on me. 

The highlands are a magical place full of history where sky and earth melt together in perfect harmony and create a landscape that so beautiful that it might not be possible to find the right words for a description that would do the beauty of nature justice. At first I was scared to travel Scotland during autumn due to the unpredictable weather the UK is generally haunted by. It turned out to be the best idea I have ever had because the intensity of the autumn colours that accompanied us on our way through the highlands all the way up north to Loch Ness and Inverness just added to the magical atmosphere we experienced. The various shades of yellow, green, red and orange extended every colour spectrum and left you speechless while letting your eyes trail over the landscape trying to take in every little piece of its inherited magic. 

Travelling the highlands felt like entering a different world far off our hectic, strict society and I had a weird but satisfying feeling of infinite freedom I certainly didn’t want to leave behind. Loch Ness itself was hidden beneath a heavy, grey duvet of fog and quickly moving clouds creating an atmosphere of mystery and secrecy. 

Edinburgh is a city coming straight out of an old fairytale. The historic houses and the significant architecture make the city a place you grow fond of immediately. The centre of Edinburgh is small and perfect to explore entirely by foot with the infamous castle being the very heart of the historic city, majestically enthroned on a hill, guarding the modern version of what it once was, the home to Mary, Queen of Scots and the rest of the Royal family. The city is guarded by the river Fourth joining the North Sea on the one side and by Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat on the other. Not only was Edinburgh home to the Royal Family but also to J.K. Rowling who wrote her first Harry Potter book in the cutest little coffeeshop called “spoon” before switching to the infamous “Elephant House” for book three and four. 

Scotland is a place for fairytales, a place full of wonders and legends and history too vast to explore on one single trip. 

Accessories are essential. No matter if it’s bags or rings or necklaces or bracelets, those tiny pieces of glitter and shimmer make every outfit special. The one accessory that has always been seen as a practical addition to an outfit has now started to get more attention - the belt. Throughout the whole year of 2016 belts have increased in their importance for fashion again and have owned back their spot in the list of most important accessories. Gucci have already jumped on the bandwagon a while ago but also smaller, more affordable brands have created their image amongst the wide market of belts. Especially in autumn there are numerous possibilities to combine belts with simple and plain but also elegant outfits just to give the look a bit more edge and the needed piece of glamour. One of my favourite ways to use a belt is to combine it with a cozy, loose sweater dress so you can actually put emphasis on your waist. I teamed up with Johnny Loves Rosie London and created four looks with two belts that can easily be recreated. To perfect the looks I combined them with my latest favourite shoes, some velvet loafers with a golden heel which resemble the glamour the belts radiate.

Look 1

Jeans and a plain white shirt might not be anything special on first sight but combining it with shiny accessories and a silver belt creates a chic but still casual everyday look. 

(Jeans: H&M, Shirt: Mango, Belt: Johnny Loves Rosie*, Sunglasses: Ray Ban)

Look 2

Dungarees have become my favourite item to wear this season as they are comfortable and incredibly diverse in terms of how to style them. To glam up the plain black look adding a silver belt is the perfect option. 

(Dungarees: Pimkie, Turtleneck Shirt: H&M, Shoes: Topshop, Belt: Johnny Loves Rosie*, Sunglasses: Ray Ban)

Look 3

I have already voiced my love for sweater dresses and have already stocked up my wardrobe with yet another one of those cozy, warm pieces that are perfect for autumn and winter. The belt around the waist creates another amazing look that adds new edge to the sweater dress.

(Sweater Dress: H&M, Shoes: Topshop, Tights: Primark, Belt: Johnny Loves Rosie*, Sunglasses: Ray Ban)

Look 4

Nothing suits a glamorous occasion better than a dress. Instead of adding multiple pieces of jewellery, a belt is a perfect alternative and also draws attention to you waist which automatically makes you appear slimmer. 

(Dress: Zara, Blazer: H&M, Watch: Marc Jacobs, Shoes: Topshop, Sunglasses: Ray Ban, Belt: Johnny Loves Rosie*)

Get The Looks: 

Look 1:                             Look 2:

Jeans                                 Dungarees 

Shirt                                  Turtleneck Shirt

Belt*                                  Shoes

                                            Belt* 

                                            Sunglasses

Look 3:                              Look 4:

Sweater Dress                  Dress (similar)

Shoes                                  Shoes

Belt*                                   Blazer 

Sunglasses                         Sunglasses

      (pictures are ©MomentousMoments 2016, the brands are mentioned beneath the pictures, credits to the designers, products marked with a * are sponsored)

I spent this Friday roaming and exploring Birmingham with two friends of mine and got to experience the culture and vibes the town in the Midlands of England has to offer. A two hour bus ride from Manchester, the city seems to be nothing special first but once you start exploring the city centre it’s starting to become quite obvious that Birmingham is pretty special. Walking through Birmingham is like travelling through multiple European cities in a time span of a couple hours. The canals take you to Amsterdam and Hamburg, you come across ancient Roman and Greek architecture and Gothic style cathedrals and a minute later you find yourself in the middle of London’s Westminster or Kensington. A quick lunch stop at Saint Kitchen on St. Peter's Square is much needed after strolling through the city for hours.

The city might not be the biggest in the UK but it might be one of the most diverse. While Manchester is still mainly an industrial city with a skyline mainly dominated by old red bricked warehouses, Birmingham has experimented a lot in terms of how they present the image of their city. As a coffee lover I obviously also enjoyed the various coffee shops which are spread all over Birmingham and are defined by their individual interior and looks. 

Fall has arrived once more and we’re back to gloomy, foggy mornings, autumnal colours and unpredictable weather. Especially for fashion lovers autumn creates a heavenly space to expand the definition of layering and create different looks by combining multiple pieces together that wouldn’t serve the purpose of keeping us warm on their own. It’s not only the weather but also the majorly reddish, orangey colours of nature that fuel the urge to not only be warm but also comfortable throughout the day and enable us to pretend being snuggled up in bed with a steaming cup of our favourite tea and a good book resting in our lap. This year’s fall fashion is a saviour in terms of delivering comfortable and cozy opportunities to dress and make it through a rough, windy and cold autumn day. Fashion has once revived the term “sweater weather” and created a lot more elegant option than the casual sweater/jeans combination. 

The sweater dress has turned out to be a must have in every wardrobe as it’s not only basically a wearable blanket but additionally a weather resistent alternative for dress lovers who are already wishing summer to come back. Combined with a pair of overknees or simple ankle boots, a casual but still elegant look is created. Depending on personal preference, the sweater dress is perfect to be paired with a vintage leather jacket or a cute coat. My latest purchase was a turtle neck sweater dress in a stunning olive green, which I fell in love with while exploring one of my new favourite stores I have come across here in Manchester. The fabric is soft and warm but not too thick, which makes it perfect for unpredictable English weather. &otherStories’ autumn collection offers a wide range of autumn colours and pieces made of high quality fabrics. I must admit that it is a brand that tends to be more expensive but it is totally worth the money. If I had to compare their clothing range with other of my favourite brands, I would describe them as a combination of YSL, Acne and Zara, offering not only basics but also unique prints and extraordinary cuts. 

Dress: &otherStories; Shoes: Zara; Scarf & Tights: H&M; Coat: Rich & Royal

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Dress

Shoes (similar)

Scarf (similar)

Coat

Blackpool is one of those picturesque places you come to and don't easily forget anymore. Located just by the sea in the heart of Lancashire, the town presents itself with an astoundingly beautiful seaside you just want to enjoy all day. 

Pleasure Beach is an amusement park that is worth the 30 pounds for a whole day. I overcame my insane fear of high roller coasters but not without losing my voice while screaming my heart out.

I witnessed the power of ebb and flow, got to walk beneath massive piers and had to be scared of seagulls potentially pooping on me. 

Infinite horizon spreading in front of you, accompanied by the steady, calming sound of the waves - never could I ever think of anything better. 

(pictures: ©MomentousMoments 2016)