OOTD feat. Revolve

There's no greater feeling as a fashion blogger, than one of your favourite brands dropping you an email looking to collaborate. I've followed Revolve on Instagram for years now, always ogling over their beautiful photography, sunny locations and unique pieces. 

This is one of two outfit posts this month featuring an item each from the brand. I instantly chose this Lovers + Friends bomber jacket to style, as I'm obsessed with Los Angeles, as you all know, and the embroidered map of the city on the back of it is so, so gorgeous! 

I generally tend to style bomber jackets super casually, so I matched the jacket with raw-hem skinnies, Creeper shoes and a scrunchie, to tie in the with the slightly-80's theme.

CLICK TO SHOP: Los Angeles bomber jacket* - Lovers + Friends x Revolve | Crop top - Boohoo | Jeans - ASOS | Creepers* - Underground | Fishnet tights - ASOS | Sunglasses* - Killstar | Choker - ASOS | Hoop earrings - H&M (similar) | Leopard-print scrunchie - American Apparel (similar)

Photography - Niamh O'Donoghue & Jake McCabe @ CUPL

SHOP THE LOOK

Get The Gucci Look - On A Budget

Since Alessandro Michele was appointed Gucci's creative director in early 2015, it's safe to say the fashion world has gone Gucci crazy all over again. His granny-chic, colourful, eccentric collections and coveted accessories, have made the Italian brand the 'go-to' for the fashion conscious worldwide. 

The 'Gucci look' isn't attainable for all, however, but the essence of it is. Michele's Gucci is all about clashing colours, erratic prints, unconventional layering and desirable accessories - particularly shoes, logo belts and handbags - that wear well season after season. 

This shoppable post features some of my favourite looks from the AW17 and Resort 2018 collections; I've selected various high-street pieces that'll give you that Gucci Girl vibe in a heartbeat, without the hefty price tag. Don't be afraid to clash colours and textures, experiment with layering and see what works best for you.

THE REAL DEAL

OOTD FEAT. FOLKSTER & MISSGUIDED

Well, well, well... here's my first outfit post since October! What one might call a very 'Leanne' look. You can see I'm channelling some serious Bratz doll/ Shania Twain vibes. The Noughties have been creeping into 2017's trends and I was adamant I'd avoid everything pre-2010, until this top happened. Now look at me! I'll be wearing lip gloss, Von Dutch and rara skirts come next week.

CLICK TO SHOP: Leopard-print cardigan* - Folkster | Harley Davidson tee - vintage (similar) | Lace-up jeans* - Missguided | Denim boots* - Public Desire | Hat - ASOS | Sunglasses - Primark | Rings - assortment (similar)

Photography - Niamh O'Donoghue & Jake McCabe @ CUPL

SHOP THE LOOK

A Fresh Start

Long time, no see! I have returned from a four month break, with a clearer head and a newfound enthusiasm. I temporarily stepped back from Thunder and Threads in February to concentrate on the last hurdle of my degree; it was inevitably the right decision. Putting some aspects of my life on hold to concentrate on finishing college was essential for me for maintaining a calm mindset and giving it my all.

I'm thrilled to let you all know that I got an honours in my degree! I put my heart and soul into my course, despite knowing it'd hinder my online work, as I wasn't able to work on my blog full-time during the academic year. I knew I had to juggle my priorities around. I'm incredibly proud of myself and my classmates. Completing a degree surrounded by likeminded, feminist women was an honour and it made my college experience extremely special and worthwhile to me. 

I finished college in May and hastily escaped to Paris and Rome for a week each, to give myself the headspace and break to think about future endeavours. I was determined to get straight back into blogging but I was lacking the confidence and drive, somewhat.

This industry has changed dramatically over the last few years, which I've discussed before. Although many see this as a negative - I admittedly did and sometimes do, too - I think it's the perfect opportunity to reinvent and renew yourself and your content. Blogging is an oversaturated world but in an oversaturated world, uniqueness stands out and shines bright. 

I've been planning my blog relaunch for a while now. I didn't want to start blogging immediately last month, as my goals weren't clear and my head was still spinning from countless essays and a thesis. I knuckled down recently though and with the help of Ann-Marie Deady, a fantastically talented budding Irish graphic designer, I started to see Thunder and Threads in a fresh light. 

Thunder and Threads' new design is clean and crisp, offering a blank canvas to my content. It's also incredibly easier to navigate (on both a desktop and mobile). The layout of blogs is changing, alongside the industry. I wanted to keep my blog looking like a 'blog', without it morphing into an online magazine hybrid. I hope you'll all agree that it looks great! I'm over the moon with it.

I'm approaching my 8th blogging anniversary and it's a brilliant feeling to see myself still adoring all of this and planning ahead, nearly a decade on. I'll end this post and keep it short and sweet by saying a huge thank you to my readers for sticking around - and your constant support. It doesn't go amiss.

I hope you enjoy the new Thunder and Threads as much as I do! 

Time Off & Repeal Chain

Greetings, dear blog readers! I've been so out of touch with everyone on my blog for the last while due to college, that I thought I'd address it. I'm currently halfway through my final semester of my degree and to say I'm drowning in work (and stress) would be an understatement.

Unfortunately my blog and the like have "suffered" over the last year or so due to my studies; my degree has been a priority of mine since the get-go and being able to work in an industry such as blogging/ social media has been a student's dream: I can work my own hours, I'm my own boss and I can control my own content. However, it also means I've had to say 'no' to a lot of incredible opportunities because of college and most content has had to be put on hold for now.

I don't see this as a negative, as such. My blog and platform have always been there. I'm always interacting with my followers; I haven't lost touch with it. I've just had to rejig my time and priorities. I'm excited to launch into everything full-steam ahead when I finish college. I have so many ideas, that I've a pile of notebooks packed full of projects and blog posts building up beside my bed.

We're coming to the end of February so I thought it was an appropriate time to give you guys a big heads up: from now until early June, my blog will be put on hold(ish). Not entirely, I'll still do a blog post here and there if I can. (I also need to earn an income, of course, so if a 'blog job' pops up that's doable for my schedule, I'll welcome it with open arms!) 

I'm forever tweeting, forever snapping and forever instagramming so do follow me on those platforms if you want to stay updated and whatnot! Thanks for your patience, as always.

You might have noticed a new page tab above. I'm collaborating with my wonderful friend Dearbhla for a final year project called 'Repeal Chain'. It's a social media awareness project aiming to spread the message about Irish women's current fight for abortion rights in 2017's Ireland. We're determined and passionate about educating those in Ireland, and abroad, about our current struggle for safe, legal and free abortion services: a right and choice every woman should have.

Irish women are currently seen as vessels and it's wholly repugnant and a extreme breach of human rights. We cannot wait any longer for a right and service that should be available without judgement, without fear and without the weight of a 14 year jail sentence hanging over our heads.

Please do check the page out for further information and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We have so many exciting things planned for the project and we hope to get as many people involved in it as possible. #repealthe8th