Who to follow on Instagram | Fashion

Atlantic Pacific – one of the first fashion bloggers I followed. Her outfits are so chic and flawlessly put together.

SincerelyJules –If you love casual, comfy style as much as I do, you need to be following this girls account.

 Julia Hengel of Gal Meets Glam – from my favorite city, San Francisco, she combines travel and fashion flawlessly and I can’t stop staring at her beautifully girly outfits, or the incredible background of whatever amazing destination she’s at.

Late Afternoon – I love her style. I love her hair. She is easily one of my favorite style bloggers and I always look to her account for outfit inspiration.

Pink Peonies – Rach Parcell has a beautiful home, an incredible walk-in closet and the sweetest Labrador called Dasher. Combined with her enviable girly fashion sense, I just want to steal her life.

Insta life

Clockwise from top left: Sunset in Yzerfontein; Amazing cotton leggings I use as pjs from Pick 'n Pay; My new favourite reusable coffee cup my bestie brought back from her travels; My new favourite lippie - an Elizabeth Arden matte lipstick in 'Chocolate'

By the time you read this I'll be somewhere in Chicago, probably shovelling deep dish pizza into my face, while holding a bucket of Garretts popcorn in my free arm. There's no escaping the fact that a trip to America is going to come with a little pudginess around the waist. Oh well...

It has been incredibly busy leading up to this trip. Launching a new business and working on a new blog has kept me out of mischief, and also out of the social scene. I am looking forward to resurfacing in June again. A few weeks back we spent a heavenly weekend in Yzerfontein playing Trivia Pursuit, drinking lots of wine and walking on the beach - those are the kind of things I wish we did more often.

Clockwise from top left: Sunset at Clifton 4th beach; My hero and my everything doing his thing at the ITU triathlon; Harley, a pup I rescued (and is being fostered by a phenomenal charity called Fallen Angels, google them and support!); My beloved SWEAT1000 gym, where I go repent after a weekend of sinning.

I hope you're all having a fabulous week and keeping out of trouble and shopping up a storm in my absence. The economy needs you!

xx
Leigh

Steal vs Splurge

Every girl would love a little Kate Spade classic like their Emerson handbag, and I am honestly toying with the idea of tossing caution to the wind, along with my savings, and buying one next week while we’re on holiday. I love their bright colours and structured silhouette. But given I’m busy launching a women's finance blog (watch this space!), I need to keep it real and think practically. Managing a fashion blog along with a women’s finance blog isn’t going to be an easy line to tread, because as much as my heart wants to shop, and tell you to do the same, my head is reminding me of my goals in terms of savings a for travel, future business and home plans and of course, retirement. And while its not as much fun as shopping, I’ll certainly be encouraging you guys to read up and be smart too. Its all about balance when you’re aspiring to live le good life I guess..

So if you’ve got the budget for the Kate Spade (at around R5000), lucky you. But if you’re looking for a dead ringer, in a great quality leather, Erato has the perfect substitute for a third of the price.