Currently Trending - Summer Essentials

Summer is quite obviously everyone's favourite season, though dressing for a day out when you can't rely on the sunshine is beginning to turn into a bit of a chore. My most common mistake is pessimistically judging the weather and going out in a winter coat when it's nearing 20 degrees and sunny. 

Here are a few staples for summer, which can be dressed up or down and be worn in rain or shine. 

No. 1: Graphic Print Sheer Pom-Pom Hemmed Top

This top is such a gorgeous print! It reminds me of a snake/Amazonian style. The picture really doesn't do it justice as the pinks and yellows really brighten it up and give it a cool summer feel. The pom-pom hem adds some femininity and a definite wow factor. This could be worn with black jeans for an edgy look, black skirt on a summers evening out or even on the beach on top of a bikini as a fake kaftan.

2: Boat Shoes + A Little Added NEON

I'm starting to become an absolute shoe addict. These gorgeous boat shoes are from River Island and I got them at a bargain for around £13. The colour is a dark navy though the cut out style adds a level of texture and stops them from looking anything close to boring. The added bright yellow, neon stripe is probably my favourite feature of these summer perfect shoes. Neon is so on trend and the strip along the sole is the perfect amount of brightness. 

3: Statement Necklace and Chunky Brights 

Favourite summer piece alert! I am so in love with this statement necklace from Primark. The gunmetal silver spikes and turquoise and coral beads are the perfect combination and really compliment each other. I'm usually wearing this necklace with a plain white t-shirt and orange cardigan, both from H&M, jeggings and the shoes above. A plain white t-shirt is a great staple for a summer wardrobe, it goes with anything and always looks fresh and timeless. 

I Love Revlon

Revlon is most definitely one of my favourite affordable make-up brands. And with Emma Stone now fronting their ad campaigns, the products have never appeared so on trend and lust-worthy. 

The Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Balm Stain is the best lip product I've tried in ages. It is the ultimate chubby crayon. The packaging appearance is sleek, understated and the colour swatch is a true representation. (Sadly the writing on my tube have worn away, probably due to me fishing it out of my bag and constantly reapplying). The smell is fresh and subtle, the taste is neutral and it's so simple to apply. 

I chose shade 045 Romantic and I love it. It can be worn as a striking cherry red or a lighter pale pink - depending on how much you apply and what look you are aiming for. Unlike many other lip stains the colour actually stays all over the lip. As generally I find with normal stains, the colour begins to fade from the centre of my mouth out and I end up looking like I've applied a really horrid lip pencil! The moisturising qualities are to die for and I honestly think, do just as well as a slick of old faithful vaseline. 

Holiday Shop

Image source: babasu via Compfight cc

Spring is here and with summer looming around the corner, it's time to dust off your gladiator sandals, tan your white bits and hit the gym to rediscover your bikini body! 

As a season dedicated to bright colours, floral prints and lady-like skirts and dresses, here's a peak into the key pieces, on sale in the hottest places. All of which you will more than likely be lusting over for your summer '13 wardrobe. 

River Island is my favourite store for summer styles. I'm generally a HUGE fan anyway but something happens to me when summer arrives and I'm out on the town in a tropical print, body-con, midi dress from River Island. 

First of my lusted summer pieces is a chiffon, v-neck, double layered, crop-top. 

                                    

Chiffon is an all round, key material for summer. It's flirtatious, feminine, and flattering. The three key Fs! For an evening look, I would wear this with black skinny jeans and heels, as suggested by River Island. Or team it with light denim jeans or shorts and beaded sandals for a summery daytime style. This top is a bargain and will keep you looking on trend for the whole season. At only £20.00, why not stock up and buy it in lemon too? - a key summer shade. 

Secondly, an embroidered, tassel hemmed, kimono jacket.

I'm SO into Kimono. Especially when you can nab a jacket as versatile as this River Island beauty! Wear it alone with a bright bikini on the beach, team it with distressed denim shorts or jeans or even squeeze into a pair of disco pants and a crop top, for a modern twist on the traditional kimono style. 

Finally, my absolute MUST have bikini for this year... 

I absolutely adore this bikini. Though its not a traditional 'summer shade' and totally opposes the bright pinks, oranges and turquoises, that are colour-popping their way down catwalks everywhere, I love it. Paired with a golden tan and bronze or gold accessories - you''ll be beach ready in seconds. This stunning bikini is from Topshop and is on sale now.

OOTD - Collar Tips and Bright Lights

Turquoise and gun metal silver earrings and ring - Primark 

Bracelet stack - Primark 

Black shirt with orange and yellow Aztec detailing - Primark 

Navy jeggin jean - NewLook

Egyptian print dolly shoes -  Primark               

Everyday outfit for easy, no fuss wear. I love detailing. Whether it's a collar tip, statement shoe or colour pop jewel. Even the slightest of hints can transform an entire outfit. 

This outfit is mostly sourced from Primark so its an absolute bargain.

(Champagne taste lemonade budget!)  

xxx

Modern Pastel Manicure: Nail Art

Here's a modern take on the traditional French manicure. I love nail art but am never very adventurous, so here is what came of me playing around with a couple complimenting nail varnishes and some sellotape. 

                  

I used this varnish as a base, called Berry Ice by Barry M, as you can see its a pastel lilac and its quickly become one of my favourite shades. Barry M not only offer affordable varnishes in on trend shades, the consistency is perfect, meaning you can apply several layers for a thick, Gelish look or keep it thin for barely there colour. It also dries quickly and I have never had problems with lumps or gunk. 

                   

I think I've mentioned this nail varnish before, called Blooboo by Models Own, it just looks modern and fresh. Slightly thicker than the Barry M varnish, its a bit harder to apply and achieve great coverage but the thickness does grant a fantastic, vibrant colour. I used this for the tips of my nails, considering the consistency of the two varnishes, it probably would have made more sense to have applied the other way round but I preferred the colours this way.

Essential Eye Make-Up

Here are a few of the products I use everyday on my eyes, for a basic, well groomed look.

GROOMED BROWS

I must admit, I did only start using these tweezers today as I left my normal ones in my Bournemouth home. But as a cheap replacement, from Superdrug at only £1.99, I'm very impressed! I might even go as far to say that I prefer them to my regular Body Shop tweezers. 

The slanted nib is sharp and thin, allowing me to get a great amount of control and precision. The grip around the body of the tweezer keeps me from slipping and the plain black design looks sleek and professional, I doubt anyone would guess they cost me under £2.

As far as eyebrow advice goes, whether your a threader, waxer or plucker, there is no excuse for messy looking brows. I have tried a few different techniques to get a good outline, like using white eye liner to draw the outline of my desired shape of brow, or getting them waxed or threaded professionally and following that guide. But would say that simply having a good amount of light and steady hand are the best tips to be given for DIY plucking.

Buy these tweezers from Superdrug online here.

MAINTAINED AND GROOMED

Filling in eyebrows is a really skilful trick to master, whether your using a gel or pencil getting it right can make you look a lot more youthful and frame your face creating a well groomed impression. The pencil I use is completely cheap and cheerful, it costs £1 by MUA and to be honest does the trick. The double ended tool comes with a brow brush on one end and pencil on the other. The colour matches the tester colour and glides on easily. I also use the brush to smudge in the pencil lines, to create a more natural look, especially if I have applied too heavy handedly. 

CONCEALED EYES

Eye bags, be gone! Anyone who has ever been stressed in their life, will have had eye bags and will know how much they can drain your face, making you look exhausted and lacklustre. 
Garnier is a great brand and I have used this eye roll on for as long as I can remember. However one thing I would say is that I have begun applying with a concealer brush rather than just rolling on. I used to find that applying with the roll on left me with far too much product and after 5/10 minutes, I would have a line of excess concealer in the crease beneath my eye. I use medium, even though I am really pale, somehow the medium shade suits me better, especially when applying with bronzer.

LIQUID CAT EYES 

Here's another cheepy product that I love! 2true is the cheapest of the cheap. I will never splash out on liquid eye-liner, my belief is that if you can apply your eye-liner well, then you can get away with using a cheaper product. When applying I would advise to keep your eyes open, when I was young and foolish I would shut my eye of the lid I was applying and ended up with awfully wonky lines. As for flicks, mine genuinely look different everyday! I honestly think its just trial and error on that front. 

PHAT LASHES

My eyelashes are my own worst enemy. They are short, thin and not very dark. I used to leave them and accept I wasn't gifted in that area but recently I've started using mascara and curling everyday. This new regime is most definitely really bad for them and just making my case worse but using mascara and eyelash curlers seems to make my eyes pop... I use Soap and Glory's Thick and Fast mascara and the curlers are Superdrug's own. 

THE FINISHED PRODUCT... (Excuse the cross-eyed-ness)

Money Saving Beauty

1 - No.1 spot treatment 

This has got to be the best thrifty, beauty tip to ever have been given. I always used to read in magazines that crushed up aspirin tablets mixed with a few drops of water would work miracles on spots, repairing broken skin and reducing redness, and to be honest I was a little sceptical. Until I tried it myself. 

I use one crushed tablet when my skin has flared up on my problem areas, mix it with water till a smoothish consistency and leave over night. It is a bit of a pain as when the water has dried away, the tablet gets flakey and will fall everywhere! Though believe me, the little mess it makes, is well worth the result, especially considering you can pick up a pack of 16 for under 30p! 

2 - Home-made smoothing exfoliator salt scrub

For an instant dose of smooth skin use this DIY salt scrub! Its cheap and cheerful and can be made up quickly of the essentials hiding in your kitchen cupboard. My mum and I swear by this and have been using this clever trick for a very long time!
Simply mix the salt and oil until a smooth paste is formed, rub onto dry or wet skin and wash off. The salt helps to remove dead skin and the oil leaves you feeling smooth and silky. For an extra indulgent treat, add a couple drops of your favourite essential oil, my personal favourites to go with this scrub are almond and jasmine oils. 

3 - Desperate fix, eye make-up remover

For desperate measures when your out of facial wipes, don't go using shower gel to take off your eye make up! Soap in your eyes is really painful and shower gels are often really drying for your delicate eye area. Instead take a cotton pad and use a really gentle moisturiser like Nivea, without putting too much on the pad and getting it stuck on your lashes or into your eyes, carefully swipe away your mascara and eye-liner. 

                                                          4 - Lash nutrition

People are always saying that putting Vaseline on your lashes makes them grow longer, now that's a beauty myth. But it does nourish them allowing them to repair from mascara wear and curling, giving them the potential to grow longer. For glossy, nourished eye lases put a little Vaseline on before bed and wipe off in the morning, after a week or twos use you should be able to notice the difference.

Also if your false eyelashes are looking a little worse for wear, but you can't make the shops to buy another pair, try putting some Vaseline on a cotton wool pad and carefully wiping off the excess glue and mascara from last times use!

5 - Eyelash and brow comb 

Need something to comb your lashes with after applying a clumpy mascara? Try washing out an old mascara brush to swipe off excess mascara or even to comb your eyebrows. Maintained eyebrows are a big beauty statement as of late with models at the recent London Fashion Week seen sporting the BIG brow look. Just be sure to clean the brush properly and often as old bacteria and colour could be left on. 

Vintage popularity - Why I love vintage

Living in Bournemouth is totally feeding my new found love for vintage. With the vintage fairs and shops on offer in the area and surrounding towns, its no wonder I'm quickly falling out of love with the high street. Here are three reasons why I love vintage:

1. The majority of the time its a lot cheaper than high street, sometimes items can be pricey but if you know what to expect and where to shop, your a winner. 
2. It lasts much longer than high street. 'The proof is in the pudding' if its lasted long enough for you to purchase it as vintage its likely going to be a hard-wearing piece and will have a whole lotta life left. 
3. Its unlikely you will have the same outfit as your best friend. There's nothing worse than turning up to a party and deciding who is going to leave/change/stay in a darkened corner. 

The above photos were taken in a vintage, Alice in Wonderland themed boutique in Boscombe, quirkily named 'What Alice Found'. 

Owned and run by Nicki Grainger, a vintage and general fashion goddess, this little shop is the perfect hideaway and could brighten up even the dreariest of afternoons. After visiting the wonderland a handful of times, I can safely say I am a dedicated fan and will be sure to feed my latest obsession - by visiting once a month! 

 (I must apologise for the poor picture quality! Admittedly I forgot to take my camera to this event so these images are snapshots from my filmed footage)

THE VINTAGE FAIR

This is THE vintage event to attend, its the largest travelling vintage fair in the UK, housing over 50 stalls, which stock pieces from the 40's to the 80's and there are is even a vintage themed tea room and hair salon. The atmospheric music and brightly coloured stalls are exciting and paint a really retro picture,

Another difference between high street and vintage are the people involved, I met Gina Walters (pictured below) and she was absolutely lovely! I always find that vintage traders are much friendlier and care a lot more about their customers and product. 

Beauty review - Elemis softly, softly daily moisturiser

(The size pictured is a trial size)

Elemis is a high end, luxury skincare brand found in spas and salons, all over the world. Moisturiser is the single most important beauty product to be be armed with - I’ve tried and tested luxury spa and skincare favourite, Elemis’ daily skin saviour.

The indulgent products are said to be a new found favourite among celebrities, particularly Anna Friel, a regular visitor at the London based, urban spa and Victoria Beckham, who famously tweeted about the £27.00, Japanese Camellia Body Oil Blend, during her pregnancy - as a tip for avoiding stretch marks.

The Softly, Softly Daily Moisturiser is a bit on the expensive side at £20.00 for 50ml but for a product this scrumptious and hydrating, I would be prepared to splash out.

Infused with essential oils rosehip, almond and lavender, the cream smells sweet yet sensuous and slightly like Turkish delight. Rosehip and almond both work to soften and hydrate the skin, providing a much needed boost. Lavender has calming properties, perfect for use before bed or to create a soothing feeling, ahead of a stressful day.

The suggested directions advise to smooth onto skin after cleansing, which leaves a light, fresh and hydrated feeling. Though this product is so versatile, I’ve even used it as a base under foundation to create a dewy skin look, which is totally on trend for spring/summer.

The only thing I would say about this product is if you’re looking for a thorough moisturiser, for dry or damaged skin, to pick a more intense cream, as the creams light consistency would not have much of an impact on skin in need of substantial hydration. 

If you’re not completely sure about the right level of moisture your skin craves, visit an Elemis counter within a department store, a spa stocking the brand, or purchase trial sizes. This way you can insure to get the right product for you, before parting with your cash!

Currently trending - Little black dresses

1 - ONE ARM CUT OUT: 

AX Paris crochet trim one shoulder dress - £30.00

I adore this cut. As a modern, edgy take on the classic one shouldered dress, its perfect. After seeing a similar maxi style worn by Lousie on Made in Chelsea, I had to have one! The dress pictured above is a mini version, with crochet detailing on the outer seams. The material is refreshingly thick for a high street clothing outlet and it fits well. AX Paris stock affordable 'Friday night dresses' and I have generally had good experiences wearing their pieces. However I would advise people with 'bingo wing' worries not to go for a dress of this style as it extenuates arms, necks and busts. Wear this with: killer heels, bright lipstick and BIG earrings.

2 - THE HALTER NECK: Motel dalphine dress - £42.00

This dress is my old-faithful, whenever I'm stuck for an outfit, I can always depend on this dress to look great. I love halter necks because they exude femininity and flatter endlessly: think Marilyn Monroe. By Motel, one of my favourite brands, its comfortable, washes well and fits perfectly - all of which I believe are a constant trend in the label's pieces. They have also developed an awesome edgy, modern yet vintage look which runs through the line and its just lush! The versatility of this dress also makes it an all-rounder, dressed down with thick tights, army boots and a denim jacket (like this one) or dressed up with heels, lipstick and statement earrings - I really like these from Asos.  

3 - MOCK STRAPLESS: 

AX Paris mock strapless polka mesh sleeve dress - £29.99

This is possibly one of my favourite modern dress neckline styles. Long sleeves on a night out can create  a big impact and look great on anyone. Mesh sleeved, mock strapless dresses are subtle yet sexy, allowing you to bare all without really baring anything! Also as you might be able to tell I'm also a fan of polka dots. They seem to be able to fit into any fashion age perfectly and look different every time! This dress gives the polka trend a breath of fresh air looking totally modern and cutting edge. 

4 - SCOOP NECK AND BACK: 

H&M embellished scoop neck body-con dress - £14.99

CLASSIC. As an hourglass shape, this is the style of dress that suits me best. You can't go wrong with a classic, sophisticated scoop neck body con dress. Especially when the top half is covered in sparkle! H&M always pleasantly surprise me at what they have in store for such reasonable prices, whether your looking for a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, an interview outfit or going out dress, there will nearly always be plenty of options, in a range of shades and sizes. 

Handbags: Styles for every occasion

Black mock leather, gold chain and tassel, slouch shoulder bag - NewLook

I am so obsessed with handbags, they are most definitely my weakness. Clutch bags, shoppers, slouches, satchels, purses, bowlers, totes, buckets... You name it, I have it in abundance. Sadly, coming to university meant I was only able to pack my favourites, so here they are, the finalists! Roll on the handbags... 

Black mock leather, gold chain and tassel, slouch shoulder bag - NewLook

This my newest bag, which joined the collection just after Christmas. It was a bargain buy in the sales, costing £12. This bag is a perfect all-rounder, big enough to carry all the days essentials but small enough to still look great! I especially love the gold chaining detail - I'm a big fan of gold and am hardly ever caught wearing silver jewellery or any item with silver embellishment. I also think this bag has a bit of a designer feel about it, I'm always keen to achieve a great look at as minimal cost possible. The slouch style definitely reminds me of Mulberry's Daria Medium Hobo bag, and the gold detailing almost feels like a modern take on the classic Chanel style.

Strawberry, mock ostrich skin, doctor bag £49.99 - River Island

This is my all time favourite bag! Not just because of the gorgeous, bright colour and chic-vintage style, but because of the memories it comes with. My friends all clubbed together on my 16th birthday to be able to buy this for me. Despite being having the surprise coming my way hinted several times by friends, I was more than chuffed! Despite the bold colour, I feel I could wear this bag with almost anything. It effortlessly adds sophistication and style to any outfit. I believe a doctor style bag is something every girl needs in her collection. (The scarf with this bag is vintage).

Orange mock snakeskin, gold clasp and chain clutch bag - NewLook & Pink and gold embellished  purse - River Island

Sorry, its another bright one! This clutch/chain strap bag is gorgeous and makes a perfect statement, in addition to a plain LBD like this. I love contrasting pink and orange and this purse is the best accompaniment. I wouldn't usually take my whole purse out to a club but when they look this good together its hard to resist. This bag is perfect for any occasion, as a bit of an optical illusion it can actually hold quite a bit! I could definitely fit my night out essentials in here and look great carrying them. 

Style round-up: Trainer mismatch and Hindu God stretch bracelet

Trend No.1 - mismatch trainers 

A recent piece in Look Magazine has left me unconvinced - mismatching trainers? I've never been to greater fan of the 'sport luxe' look. That being said, I still enjoy kicking back in my scruffy, old Vans and dressing down on the weekend, with a pair of Topshop jeans, funky, printed slogan tee like this and accessories like the bracelets below. But wearing odd shoes? Surely that's too much. The piece in I read in Look said that stars like Beyonce had been spotted working the look, I adore Beyonce, her style and all she stands for but I'm afraid I will not be on board with this latest trend. 

The Vans above are RRP £47.00 and available to buy from the Official Vans Shop Online here.

Trend No.2 - Hindu God stretch bracelets 

These bracelets are everywhere at the moment and I'm more than happy to admit to jumping on the band wagon! Middle Eastern style inspirations are massive in accessories right now, with high street brands producing affordable, bang on trend pieces to mix and match. The bracelets above are a mixture from NewLook and Primark, with the Hindu God styled ones coming in at £2.50 from Primark, a great price for a quirky accessory to top off an outfit. They can compliment a casual everyday look (like the style mentioned above) or even jazz up an evening dress (like this) - the possibilities are endless! 

The nail varnish I'm wearing in the picture above is Blooboo from Models Own.

Mock-leather sleeve jacket: DIY ways to wear

Mock-leather sleeve jackets are everywhere this season - ranging from parka styles, macs and boyfriend tweed trenches. I recently saw a girl in Bournemouth wearing a style which featured a large black fur collar and burgundy tweed underlay, so thought I'd try to work the style without spending any extra cash on new outerwear. Why not layer jackets?!

H&M - Wool blend jacket with large fake fur collar £39.99 

Available here

This jacket is by far one of the nicest I've ever owned! It wasn't overly expensive, looks great with most colours and after the autumn/winter hasn't showed any sings of wear and tear. The large fur collar holds a sophisticated vintage style and adds glamour to any outfit. I wear this coat with outfits from super casual - jeans and a girly blouse (like this) to a formal dress (like this) and it always works with whatever I pair it with! An easy wearing coat with oodles of glamour. 

Zara -Mock leather biker jacket 

 

Zara - Mock leather biker jacket layered with vintage fur collar

This jacker is such an all rounder. In a plain black, PU leather, biker style, it can be teamed with anything from pretty, girly summer dresses (like this) to jeans and converse and look utterly cool. I think a decent leather (or pleather) jacket is a must have for every girls wardrobe, if you want an edgier look buy slightly larger in a biker style, or if you prefer a more polished look buy a tighter fit with an off centred zip. 

LAYERED UP

Here's the end result! I had to make a few minor adjustments to the jacket underneath, like safety pinning the button loops to the inside as when they were sticking out I felt it didn't look right. I also removed the belt from the jacket underneath as it also made the look appear unfinished and sloppy. Overall a result - great way to refresh your autumn/winter wardrobe.