Battle The Post-Christmas Blues

The month of January is difficult for all of us. Taking down the Christmas decorations, putting away the Bublé crimbo CD until the following year and still facing the decidedly less than pleasing wintry weather outside.

After already having gorged for the past 2 weeks, although all you want to do is turn to yet another piece of cake and down half a bottle of wine, we know deep down it's for the best to join others for depressing "dry January" and head over to the gym. GRIM!

Well that's not the only possible answer to the post-Christmas blues. The sales are still on with bargains to be bought, so turn to fashion to lift your mood!

A bright new frock can't fail to bring a smile to your face, especially when it's a price which can keep your purse happy too.

I love this 'Leader Of The Pack' floral satin dress by Finders Keepers. I can't resist using a cheeky pun as it really does pack a punch - ouch... and reduced from £145 to £58 (Available at harveynichols.com) so it won't hit your bank account too hard.

The print is bold and blues-bursting with colour, but in tones which keep it muted and perfect for casual day wear or dressed up for the evening. It's multi-seasonal too, as it would look so cute with a pair of sandals on a summer's day, but equally with tights and ankle boots if you're daring to face the outdoors this Winter.

So don't turn to the biscuit tin - again! - to deal with the turmoil of getting back to work and re-entering reality. Use your wardrobe to add colour to your life and give you the boost to start 2014 looking fab!

Back To Reality

Having returned from a brilliant, action-packed family holiday to gorgeous Galicia in Spain, the post-holiday blues have really hit. Adjusting from glorious weather and days spent basking in the sun, desperately attempting to tan despite the stubbornness of my genes leaving me pasty white, it has not been easy.

The great British welcome of rain and wind was awaiting as we arrived back in the UK. Nothing screams 'back to reality' and 'the holiday is truly over' than that. Wonderful.

However, as we all know, clothes have the power to lift our mood and distract our minds. I could spend hours looking through the catalogue of these patterned Black Milk beauties. The leggings in particular transform your waist down from a pair of mediocre legs, useful but not particularly awe-inspiring, into a piece of walking graphic art.

Wish you could dazzle a bit more and evoke a real celestial heavenly vibe? Then a pair of these stained-glass window leggings are all you need.

Any feeling you want to express or any aspect of your personality you want to literally display to others, Black Milk will have the design printed on a pair of skin-skimming ultra-cool leggings, swimsuit, bodysuit, you name it - they'll have it! If most people won the lottery they may go out and buy a house as well as a flash car to scream 'I've got more money than sense'. Not me. I'd be straight on Black Milk and buy one of everything to ensure I could step out of the house and scream whatever I felt like shouting, without saying a word. Leggings speak louder than words, FACT.