What I Wore: featuring Zara Vest Top

| Vest, Zara | Trousers, Romwe | Shoes (just seen), Topshop | Sunglasses, Ray Ban | 

As most of you are aware the UK has being having somewhat of a heat wave - I think this is what they call summer but I can't be sure as it usually leaves as quick as it came. I bought this vest from Zara at the weekend, again adding to my ever expanding skull themed clothing. The see no, hear no, speak no evil skull men are really cool - the material is also really light so it is perfect for hot days. I teamed this up with my trousers from Romwe, they have a concealed pair of shorts. I wouldn't be rocking them without anything underneath, don't worry. I've had these ray bans for about 8 years, I love that they have never gone out of fashion and probably never will. I like this outfit as it isn't too revealing but still keeps me cool. I hate the fact that whenever there is a hint of sun, the British seem to get as much out on display as they can, oh the array of white pasties! 

What have you all been wearing to keep cool? 

Event: Wizard of Oz with Illamasqua

On Thursday I attended the Wizard of Oz event at the Victoria Quarter in Leeds. All the stores had 20% off and were doing various fun things to draw in customers. Myself and the lovely Sheree, from Glitz and Grime, were actually heading down to Illamasqua to get our make-up done, which I needed after the heat through the day. We managed to stop in a couple of shops along the way - well who can pass up free champagne? I came straight from the office, so my outfit wasn't mega exciting. I was repping the LFW as a camera carrier. 

Illamasqua were handing out these fabulous glasses of champagne - who can resist with these awesome colours? How awesome is the make-up on this lovely lady from Illamasqua she really is rocking those blue eyebrows. Both myself and Sheree were then treated to a lovely make-up by the lovely ladies at Illamasqua. Below you can see my make-up artist, Emma, in action. I think this picture is the least make-up I've ever been seen in on here, so please be kind. I also got a picture of Sheree getting her luscious lips lined.




I was really pleased with the final look and bought a couple of the products for myself. I like the bare face and the dark contrasting lips. The product used for my lips was actually a cream pigment in the colour Mould. What do you think of my makeover?

Make-up Storage: My Set Up

Readers of this little blog have often asked about my make-up storage having seen it hanging in the background of many a picture. Well John Lewis  have asked me 'is your beauty storage beautiful?' I keep all my essentials on top of my dressing table. I have other make-up but these are the things that I reach for most often - plus my other make-up storage isn't as tidy right now. The draw to my dressing table holds a whole host of things - but make-up wise mainly palettes. 

I use this clear plastic storage which I bought from Muji - I think it is important to be able to see what products you have. It saves me rummaging around in the drawers or opening every drawer to find what I'm looking for. I also think if you have spent a fair bit of money on a product you wouldn't want it hidden away as you are less likely to use it. I've also sectioned off things as best as I could - although there are a few eye products in the lip draw because I ran out of space. I don't have as vast a collection as some people out there but this suits my needs for most occasions. I tend to wear a brown smokey eye for everyday make-up.
You can see a couple of my perfumes on one of the above pictures. I only keep the ones out that I'm using at the moment, I don't have enough room on my dresser for all of them. My Liz Earle products are also out on the top as they are something I reach for everyday.

What does your make-up storage consist of? 

Fashion In Music: Kate Bush

The 'fashion in music' post is back - I was racking my brains as to who I would feature. I settled on the one and only Kate Bush. Not only has she inspired generations with her voice but also her wacky sense of style. Whether it be a crazy jumpsuit, some seriously tight pants or something covered in sequins, Kate had it all in her outfits. One of her most famous outfits has to be the above white dress from the 'Wuthering Heights' video - the background of the above collage is actually taken from the moors where Wuthering Heights was set, by yours truly. Fact.




This got me to thinking there has to be plenty this season that Kate Bush would rock on stage. Of course I had to have some sort of mad jumpsuit in this ensemble. This geometric print one from Miss Selfridge would be perfect for the new age Kate Bush stage style. I had to add sequins which came in the form of this jacket from Missguided which I thought was really nice and would go over so many outfits. Silver shoes complete this look, from Topshop, maybe go some way to prove people's theories that Kate is actually an alien from outer-space. I topped it all off with these earrings from ASOS to complete the Kate Bush stage outfit. What do you think?

In The Spotlight: CLICLOC

| Watches available in 9 colours, Clicloc * | 

I have never been much of a watch person - I've had them bought for me but I never really wear them. I have never found the right one and I didn't like the same old cliched 'bling' watches. I was really pleased when these watches from Clicloc were sent over to me. You can get them from www.clicclocwatch.com  - also the Tate Modern are exhibiting them and stocking them. 

They are made from silicone and fit to any wrist - it makes them a perfect present, as there is no guessing wrist sizes.  I like that they look great with other bracelets which makes them ideal for stacking. I've stacked mine with colourful bracelets from New Look, a leather bracelet from H&M and a 'saints' bracelet from a market in Lanzarote. I'm not sure I'll have this black one for long as my other half already has his eye on it.

Do you have a favourite watch? 

Holiday Essentials: Summer Holiday

Whenever it gets round to this time of year I always think of summer holidays - mainly because I usually try and ditch this country for a week to actually get some sun. Said holiday usually brings up the age old question - what do I take with me? So many years I have packed so much stuff that when I get there I find that none if it actually makes a valid outfit. I'm determined to reign it in this year and create a capsule holiday wardrobe. So in an effort to try and actually stick to the plan I decided to create a blog post centered around it. I hope this helps some of you too - I'll be referencing this again come July. 

I love the dip dyed hem top from Miss Selfridge - it would look perfect with the shorts or over the strapless dress. I think the key thing with a holiday wardrobe is to make sure your pieces are easy to mix and match. You could easily wear the kimono dress from Zara over your bikini, dress or shorts. I love these neon nail varnishes from American Apparel - they will look especially good with a tan. I love this fruit print bikini from New Look, they have such a great range. This backpack from ASOS is big enough for all your holiday essentials - towel, sun cream and a good book!

What will you be packing this summer? 

What I Wore: featuring Rianna Phillips

| Dress, River Island | Bag, Rianna Phillips |

Here I am again with another 'What I Wore' - can you tell I love Rianna Phillips by now? I'm a firm believer in championing brands that you love. I wore this when I went out for a meal this week - I thought the pastels all complimented each other nicely. I love this digital print dress from River Island - it reminds me of Stella McCartney's print for Spring 2012.
I'm not really on board with their AW12 'Blogger' look. I know we have a few cliches but there are so many different bloggers out there - we don't all dress the same? The point of being a blogger is being able to show off your own individuality and celebrate it. Also this belief that we all wear designer labels kind of gets on my wick. All my designer items came from The Outnet - all three of them. It kind of saddens me that people have this view of bloggers - although I did see many people at fashion week who were just clamoring to get photographed. That being said these people weren't all bloggers - the boom of the phenomenon that is 'street style' has made people constantly bring out their A-game at these kind of events.

What do you think to River Island cashing in on the 'fashion blogger'? 

What I Wore: featuring Ibnia

| Shirt, Zara | Jeans, Topshop | Bag, Ibnia* | 

I love this bag from Ibnia - it has made its way to me all they way from South Korea. I really like finding out about brands from other countries - Ibnia is also stocked in the Netherlands. I love this bright yellow bag for summer, it is the perfect size for me. It fits my macbook inside which makes it easier to transport. This bag also comes in black, red and grey - I have to say yellow is my favourite. the bag also has some rather hand slots inside for your phone and cards. I think it looks great with this shirt from Zara - this has become a wardrobe staple for me. I posted a picture of this bag on Instagram and had a fair few requests on its origin, so all is now revealed. 

Ibnia also sent me their joyheel bag - this is a bag I would use more when I am going away for a night, as you can fit an extra pair of shoes in the top compartment, how handy! I'm always way at the weekend so this will be perfect for me. What bag do you use for weekends away? 

How To Colour Hair: Red Hair At Home

I often get asked if I get my hair dyed in a salon - the answer is no. Although it would be lovely to have someone do it all for me, I have being doing my hair myself for about 2 years. Red can be one of the hardest colours to get right - mainly because if you have dark hair (like I did) most people's advice is that you lighten it first before adding any red. I didn't actually put bleach anywhere near mine I just started to dye it red and it has gradually gotten lighter which in turn has made the red appear brighter. 

I first do my roots with a L'Oreal Feria dye, in the colour 'Spice Power' - I really like these dyes as they don't seem to dry my hair out. It surprises me the amount of people that use the Schwarzkopf Live colours as I found them to be extremely drying for my hair - and was more often than not disappointed with the colour I was left with compared to what was on the box. 

After the dye on my roots has developed I wash this out and then add semi-permanent colour to the rest of my hair. I do this because you can get a brighter more vibrant colour with semi-permanent and it isn't as damaging for your hair. I actually mix two different dyes together to get my desired effect. I use Crazy Colour in 'Fire' and 'Pink Fire' by Creative Image. 

I have to say if you are dying your hair any bright colour be prepared for the clean up and make sure you wear gloves! 

There are a few tips if you want to maintain a healthy head of red hair. You can wash your hair in cold water to keep the colour - I am not a fan of this for obvious reasons but it is said to work wonders. I also try not to wash it too often because the dye will fade quickly. This is when dry shampoo becomes your best friend - I use one by TiGi, which smells really good. I have quite thin and flat hair which means I like products that give me lift and bounce at the roots. I use Redken's Velvet Gelatine at my roots when I blow dry and I like to keep that hold with Aussie's Dual Personality Hi-Hold and Hi-Shine Hairspray.

Who else does their hair at home? 

Review: Rianna Phillips Clutch

A couple of posts ago I talked about designer Rianna Phillips - well I loved the clutch so much I had to buy it. It arrived yesterday and I had to post about it. The bag came in its own lovely dust bag which was branded up with Rianna's logo, which I thought was a nice touch. It also came in an awesome purple bubble warp parcel. I'm a sucker for a well presented purchase and this certainly delivered (boom). 

I had to check if it would fit a copy of Vogue inside (the bag test) - which it did, it's incredibly roomy and I will be able to fit everything I need inside. The workmanship on the bag is excellent too - the top lilac panel is hand dyed and it has a beautiful faded effect. The metallic silver panel on the bottom is the perfect offset for me. 

I really would recommend buying something for yourself and supporting a smaller designer! 

http://www.riannaphillips.com/ 

In The Spotlight: Fox & Rose

It's hard to think about sun, sea and sand at the moment with the terrible weather we have being having in the UK. Personally the thought of warmer weather is actually getting me through the rain and wind. 

I have been asked to look at my favourite beachwear from online boutique, Fox & Rose. They stock designer swimwear and lingerie. Swimwear isn't something I have ever thought to shell out the big bucks on in all honesty. But there are some beautiful pieces on the site - I really liked the floral swimsuit, which I thought you could even wear when your not at the beach with a pair of high waisted shorts. 

I tend to opt for bikinis when buying my swimwear - I like having something to tie too because I find these are an easier fit. This leopard print number caught my eye, which I thought would look great with a tan (I kind of remember what one is). And of course you always need a black and white number in your case - I liked the interesting shape of the top from the Eberjey set. 

What do you look for in your bikini/one piece? 

Instagram: April

I know I know Instagram posts galore around the blogging world - I swear I want do one a week, but once a month is allowed, right? I thought I'd kick the month off with a few shots from April - a month which brought the UK a tremendous amount of rain, I'm so sick of carrying an umbrella around.
Anyway, as you can tell I have been getting more and more into nail art - I can't have any boring old nail anymore. I attempted the Drippy from the WAH Nails book, I have to say I was pretty impressed with the results. I have also being experimenting with various leopard print nails, I really liked the look of these blue and white accent ones. My nails are actually a point of conversation now - everyone wants to know hoe I did them.
My stand out products for the month have to be the Revlon Lip Butters and the Liz Earle Skin Tonic, I'm not sure how I survived without these little beauties. I really want to get some more colours from Revlon's range - any recommendations?
I was approached by a company who wanted to send over some colour bags for me to try - I love being able to do this. I'll give you more information on them in a future post. The yellow shoulder bag is a clear favourite already.
I went out for cocktails with my best friend the other night - so obviously I had to take the token cocktail picture. I think these were 'apple breeze.' I have taken to snapping a picture on a morning in my large silver mirror - I liked my hair in this one as I have finally managed to get it back to a pink/read rather than an orange. This t-shirt is from Urban Outfitters and is something I'll always reach for when I'm not sure what to wear.