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

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. 

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. 

Beauty Review - Barry M Nail Paint

Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint in Blood Orange and Pastel Texture Nail Paint in Ridley Road

Innovative nail paint styles from Barry M

I was so excited to try these amazing new polish textures - particularly considering the more than reasonable price tag in comparison to similar style varnishes by Nails Inc. In at £3.99 each or (on promotion in Superdrug) two for £6, these bottles of brilliance are an absolute bargain.

The first of the pair I've chosen, is a high shine, blood red shade. Promised to achieve professional Shellac/Gelish manicure results, I can't wait to get painting! 

I am a great fan of DIY-ing when the quality of product enables users to gain a professional level look. After applying the first coat its obvious how great this varnish is going to look, its easy to apply, glides onto the nail evenly and shines from first application. The only difference from this Barry M polish to a professional Gelish manicure is the thickness, after two relatively thin coats the ridges of an un-buffed nail are still visible, though this could be easily avoided by buffing and applying a base coat, or applying more than two coats of the varnish. 

I think this shade would  look stunning with a LBD like this one from River Island or slogan tee, like the one I mentioned in this post, with blue denim jeans. Overall this varnish is a perfect all rounder, and makes a reliable and easy wearing, sexy red polish - something every girl needs in her collection. 

The second polish is a textured, pastel baby-blue, similar to Nails Inc. Concrete Polish but a third of the price at £3.99! Its a little tricky trying to get the hang of applying this varnish but when its done right, the look is super cool. Two coats achieve the best result as one looks a little too transparent, though be careful as too much polish will ruin the concrete style texture. 

The shade is perfect for spring and would look dahhhling with a vintage stlye, smart white shirt like this one, summer dress (see here) or on toes with flip flops or wedges! Pastel shade varnishes and textured nails are bang on trend at the moment so why not rock two key season styles in one go?!

Statement necklaces

Black & Gold Statement Necklaces

These statement necklaces can offer a bit of sparkle to a less than bland ensemble... 

Teamed with complimenting counterparts these necklaces can be stunning, here they are worn with bare necks, but can be teamed over a t-shirt, jumper or blouse. I used to feel statement necklaces were accessories more suited to evening wear, but after this seasons fever for statement jewellery, I can't get enough. See how the celebs have been making their statements here. Possibly my favourite thing about neck wear is that it just draws attention to the shoulders and collar bone (taking attention away from problem chins) and creates an uber feminine, flattering and sophisticated look in a flash. The top Grecian style necklace pictured above was £4 from Primark  (similar here) and the Egyptian gold and black crystal piece was £6 from New Look (similar here).

Peter Pan Cutesy Collars 

These Peter Pan collar necklaces are the perfect accessory and affordable enough to buy one in every colour. You can ensure your neck is never bare again! 

The two I've chosen here are particularly adaptable, both from New Look - left the navy blue beaded collar was £4 in the Christmas sales, I do love a bargain... Similar here. And the cream lace number, with pearl embellishments was £7 - similar style from ASOS here. I have worn them both with a black, velvet peplum top to add a bit more sparkle but could truly go with almost anything. I like the idea of wearing the lace one with soft pinks, pastels and chiffon materials to give a vintage luxe feel. And the navy with darker colours and maybe with gold accessories (earrings and rings), to create an edgier look.