Swimsuit or Bodysuit? Can you tell the difference?

First, it was wearing lingerie outside and now it’s swimsuits! And I’m absolutely living for it! For those of us who live in cold and wet climates, swimsuits, bikinis, tankinis and other pieces of clothing with -kini tacked onto the end are only brought out during unexpected heat waves and the yearly summer holiday to porteventura. However, it doesn’t have to be like that. 

Swimsuits resemble Bodysuits, and bikini tops resemble crop tops. The only big difference is the material. Which is an added benefit it my eyes because when the girl in front of you accidentally elbows you and spills your fluorescent colored cocktail all over your new outfit , you won’t feel like a wet seal as the material will soak it up and you can continue to dance the night away. 

I bought this monochrome swimsuit during the heat wave here but sadly by the time it arrived the hot weather was nowhere to be seen ( don’t you just love Irish weather...). And since I wasn’t going on any foreign exotic holiday this summer it was banished to the bottom of my wardrobe until the next time the sun reappeared. It wasn’t until I was cleaning out my closet, that I realised it would make a cute bodysuit.....and alas here we are.   

Outfit 1

For the first outfit, I decided to go with a classic black and white look by pairing the swimsuit with a black and white denim skirt. The “Girl” slogan on the skirt creates a contemporary air to the look and adds dimension to the outfit. 

If you’ve read my other blog posts you’ll know that I love adding fur to my outfits to add a touch of effortless glamour. Here, I wore my black faux fur gilet and it completely transformed the look.

I accessorized with a simple gold necklace and a teddy hat.

Outfit 2

One of the fun things about this swimsuit was the belt, you could tie it in different ways and I decided to wear it around my neck as a choker. 

To add a pop of colour, I paired the swimsuit with brightly coloured neon culottes. To some the pants may be a bit too o.t.t but the black and white of the swimsuit balance the bright colour of the pants perfectly.

Since my middle name is in fact “o.t.t”, I finished off the look by wearing a pair of similar coloured sandals. 

Outfit 3 

In my opinion, denim on denim is always in fashion but only if you style it correctly. Both the denim jacket and skirt were a combination of different coloured denim which added a stylish contrast to the two toned swimsuit. Wear a pair of chunky white trainers such as the fila disrupters (which are next on my to buy list), to make the outfit more trendy or dress it up by wearing lace up high heels or heeled knee high boots. 

That’s it for now, hopefully this blog post will encourage you to be more creative with your swimwear and maybe I’ll see a bit more people wearing their swimsuits outside! Don’t forget to subscribe and follow my instagram @culchiecouture. 

See you next time, Aisha xx

Outfit 1

Swimsuit - PrettyLittleThing

Denim Skirt - Topshop 

Hat - Penneys 

Necklace - Penneys 

Outfit 2

Culottes - Topshop 

Sandals - Dunnes Stores 

Outfit 3

Denim skirt - Zara

Denim jacket - not mine but you should be able to find similar ones 

A Culchie Goes To: Galway City

This was my first trip to Galway city and I fell in love with the cobbled streets and lively pubs.

 Galway is the perfect mix of urban and country life and it’s no wonder why it’s so popular with tourists.

We were lucky that when we went the weather was wonderful unlike how it’s been recently. On the first day I decided to go casual and wear my favourite mom jeans from pull & bear and a fun pink crop top I picked up from forever 21. As I wanted to be comfortable during my bus ride yet still chic enough to explore Galway city with style. I definitely recommend buying jeans from pull & bear as I’ve had mine for a while and it’s still to show any signs of wear and tear.

Short breaks are all about how to fit as much clothes as possible into the littlest of space. So that’s why I brought my go to sandals for the summer with me. There not everyone’s taste and there certainly not my usual style but I wanted to try something that was a bit outside of my comfort zone and I’m so glad I did! They are completely different from the usual black and brown sandals I already own but can be worn with a variety of different outfits. So why don’t you take a step out of your comfort zone (big or small) and get yourself a pair of statement sandals. You certainly won’t regret it!

For going out, I decided to wear this checkered playsuit from Zaful I’ve been wanting to wear for some time. I loved the pattern and the style of the playsuit plus the material was very light which allowed me to move with ease during the warm night. I got the playsuit in a size bigger as was recommended but it ended up being way to big and I had to get it taken in. So I’d advise being very careful with sizing when buying from Zaful. Other than that I loved it! And will definitely be wearing it again sometime soon.

For the second day, I decided to pair a simple textured denim skirt from Zara with a trendy love heart bralet I purchased for €2 at Penneys (such a style steal!). I covered up with a see through sparkly t-shirt to add a touch of glam to my outfit.

Recently, I’ve been trying to get into wearing more jewellery and Penneys has been the place to go as their jewellery is cheap yet still fashionable and If I decide that jewellery isn’t really for me, I can easily get rid of it. So I paired all my outfits with their layered gold necklaces.

I think what really differentiates Galway’s nightlife from other places is the amount of pubs and bars. I really enjoyed hopping from bar to bar trying different drinks and dancing to different genres of music. It’s quite different from what I’m used to in Dublin where I usually just go to one nightclub and stay there for the night. It was certainly refreshing. 

I loved Galway and can't wait to go back soon to explore more of the beautiful county. Don’t forget to check out my Instagram @culchiecouture for more updates on what I’m doing and my latest outfits.

Love Aisha xx

Jeans - Pull & Bear

Crop Top - Forever 21

Denim Skirt - Zara

Bralet - Penneys

Sandals - PrettyLittleThing

Necklaces - Penneys

A Culchie Goes To: Amsterdam

Well well well it’s been a while. I’m not going to offer any excuses because frankly I have no excuse, I just haven’t felt like writing any blog posts. However, my latest trip to Amsterdam has encouraged me to return to the world of blogging. So here we go.

We arrived Sunday afternoon and quickly made our way to the hostel we were staying. A hostel! (Yes i know) I can already imagine your exclamations. However to my complete surprise the hostel was fabulous for the price we paid. We stayed in the stayokay hostel in Zeeburg, which is around 10 minutes away by tram to Amsterdam central and less than 15 minutes to Dam square. The hostel location was brilliant.

One of my biggest problems before going on my trip was packing! I really don’t seem to understand how to pack lightly. So for this trip I challenged myself and surprisingly I achieved it. I planned all my outfits in advance and this ensured I had less clothes to keep track of or cluttering up my suitcase.

Amsterdam was freezing but what’s beauty without a little pain! On our first day I wore a pair of navy culottes and a flower patterned silk shirt which added a bit of life to my otherwise plain outfit.

The next day I decided to defy the weather and wear a skirt and of course the weather was even worse than the previous day. At least I looked fab before I became drenched by the rain.The beret I wore pulled the whole outfit together and turned my minimalist outfit into modern Parisian chic. I’m not a huge fan of accessories but I’ve recently started loving hats and I’m looking forward to adding more to my collection.

For the last day, I decided to be a bit more prepared for the weather (well my version of being prepared for the weather). Plaid was very in this winter and I decided to have a go at the trend. I paired these plaid culottes with a white off the shoulder blouse. Sadly you can’t really see the beauty of the blouse because it’s was raining and although I don’t mind braving a bit of the cold, I wasn’t really interested in catching pneumonia.

 Even though the weather in Amsterdam was less than ideal. I wore two wrap dresses during my trip. Wrap dresses are one of my travelling essentials because they take up barely any space in your suitcase! Also you can easily dress them up by slipping on some heels and a pair diamond earrings or down by teaming them with your favorite chucks and a denim jacket. I wore mine with wool tights and fishnets when I was feeling a bit adventurous. I also added a bit of glam by wearing my trusty faux fur coat and a pair of knee high boots. I am truly of the belief that faux fur can turn even the most mud loving hillbilly into a city girl dashing out for cocktails with the girls. If you don’t have at least one faux fur coat, I suggest you go out and buy one (or many) while the winter sales are still going on as shops try to clear out the winter stock for spring.

Amsterdam is known for its beautiful canals and I wasn’t let down. The canals are the perfect background for selfies or group photos. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to do a canal cruise but at least that gives me an actual reason to return to Amsterdam besides just loving the city.

I also had the opportunity to go to the Ice Bar. When I say it’s cold believe me it’s cold! I could barely stay our full allocated time. One little tip try to take your selfies as quick as possible unless you want your fingers to fall off with frost bite! As part of the ticket you also get three drinks which helps a small bit to warm you up or make you a bit too drunk to not care that your eyelashes are turning into icicles.

While in Amsterdam also take the time to go to a market. Markets are the best places to see Dutch culture at its finest and get the best deals. I got some really nice souvenirs for half the price of what they were being sold in the city. Markets are also a good place to try some Dutch delicacies. I’m pretty sure I had the best waffle in the world while I was at a market and I’ll surely return for that reason alone.

Visiting the Anne Frank House was perhaps the most memorable part of the trip. As you walk through a reconstructed version of the house Anne Frank lived for two years while in hiding, her story will both inspire you and make your cry as you hear the hopes and dreams of a young girl whose life was shortened by a force that sought to oppress her just because of her faith. Whether your an atheist or a staunch believer, Black or white or any race, Anne Frank’s story will touch a part of you that you never knew existed or hoped to hide.

That's all for now, hopefully I'll be back soon! Don't forget to show some love on my Instagram @culchiecouture
Aisha xx

Outfit 1
Culottes - Penneys
Blouse - Zara

Outfit 2
Skirt - Topshop
Halter neck - H & M
Beret - H & M
Boots - Public Desire

Outfit 3 
Culottes - New Look
Blouse - Zara 
Coat - Zara 

Wrap Dresses - Penneys

Sweet Summer

Guess who's back! For good this time (I hope). The LC just completely took over my life and I had no time to blog but the LC is over and I'm ready to start blogging again. I won't try and make any promises I can't keep but I'll hopefully be posting at least once a week! 

This co-ordinate is from zaful. I've seen their adverts on Instagram and I said I'd give them a try. Their clothes seem to be good quality for their price. Their clothes are on the cheap side which is great if your looking for a new outfit but don't have much money to spend. So expect to see a lot more of them on my blog. Their only downfall is their delivery time, It took over two weeks for my clothes to come.

I love co-ords because you can mix and match them. Ensuring that you get more outfits for your buck! 

My Year of Realising Things

It's been a long long long time....like really long, nearly 3 months if you've been counting but 6th year has just taken over my life. It's such a stressful year and in trying to keep up with the workload I've been unable to post. So I said I'd post one more time before we enter the New Year.

This year has been one hell of a roller coaster, a bumpy sleigh ride, a potholed highway whatever you want to call it but It's a fair bet to say 2016 was stressful for most people but hopefully we all end on a high note.

New Years Resolutions?.. I don't think so, I honestly don't think I've ever successfully completed any of my Resolutions, so instead of setting myself up for failure, I decided to take some pointers from Kylie and make 2017 "My Year of Realising Shit". Instead of the usual try to lose weight, get healthier or in my more pathetic moments find a boyfriend. I'm going to spend this year focusing on my myself, my spiritual wellbeing and maybe this sounds selfish but my own happiness above all. I know this may not happen next year or the the year after that but I'm dedicating all my future New Years resolutions to finding myself...until I finally do.

P.S if I actually did gain something this year it's how to be deep af 😂 Happy New Years my lovely followers 💋💋

What's so bad about Nature?

As a teenager you probably spend all your summer indoors or on your phone but what's so bad about going outside? Is it the bugs,the fresh air or the people. I'm a person who enjoys the comfort of staying inside, there's food, there's wifi plus it's warm, what else could a girl want but sometimes I get an urge to release my deeply buried inner adventurer and I encourage you to the same.

Go outside! even if it's for at least 10 minutes. Or invite a friend and make a trip out if it. If your as lucky as I am to live within reasonable distance of forests and lush greenlands, use it. Take advantage of it and don't let it go to waste, you may not always be so lucky.

If you have an open mind you'll find yourself enjoying it more than you thought you would and you might just find yourself going again. 

Studies show that by going outside and embracing nature, our stress levels fall and our attention spans are improved. If this doesn't have you jumping to go outside, do it simply for the cute pictures you can upload to Instagram.

Cycle, walk or crawl! Use whatever method you prefer. It doesn't matter as long as it gets you off your phone and into nature! Plus a little shoutout to my best friend Lauren who was gracious enough to take these magnificent pictures of me!!

Thanks for reading, Aisha xx

Back To Black

The popular saying goes "Don't wear black in the sun" but I've never been a girl who follows the rules. Black is such a wonderful colour and I don't see why it should be blacklisted to only the colder months. I've never been a big fan of summer and maybe that's just my inner reclusive talking. I prefer staying in as the rain hits against my window and a hot cup of tea in my hand.

I'm a complainer and I'm not afraid to say it. Even though I love the winter months you'll still see me complaining about the weather and when summer comes you'll see me complaining even more about the heat. To tell the truth there's no pleasing me. Despite this flaw I try my best to keep my monologues to myself as I understand not everyone appreciates my realistic reviews of current phenomenons and my reactions towards those.

 

Well back to my outfit, everyone needs a simple black dress. Black dresses are just classic and this turtle neck adds a touch of class. I changed up my usual sandals by swapping the straps with a pair of shoelaces. This is a cheap way of getting in on that lace up trend without having to purchase a new pair of sandals. I'm sorry for the lack of accessories but I'm just not a jewellery kind a gal. 

Dress - T.K Maxx

Sandals - New Look

Till next time my lovelies x