Spring..?

I feel like I haven't had time for any of my usual activities in the past couple of weeks, blogging definitely included.. I don't understand why because nothing has been that different! I suppose I haven't really had time to myself, to just check all those boxes. I was walking to my car yesterday evening, absolutely exhausted, and there was a really eerie feeling about the weather.. the wind was a swirling one that kind of stirred all the branches in the upper echelons of the trees and whipped your hair about your face, and the sky was a sunny sort of grey - the kind that looks like something is brewing, casting a peculiar light everywhere. It got me wondering if even the weather is sick of itself, and as if Spring is fighting a battle with a very stubborn Winter, trying to push its way through! I can't remember an Easter time so cold as this one has been. Everyone is more than ready for a Summery shift, hell, even a Spring-y shift will more than do to banish everyone's moods! So, the eternal British question remains - what exactly are you supposed to wear when you cannot stand the sight of another knitted jumper, winter coat or pair of boots but the weather is an ever-resilient 6 degrees celsius? Well, to be quite honest, I've been wearing whatever the heck I want - and paying the price. I can't remember when I last arrived somewhere from walking and wasn't shocking pink from the cold! This may all sound absolutely ridiculous, but I'm beyond caring anymore. Give my my over-sized tees, leather jacket and ballet flats! Hand me my sunglasses, fake tan and lacy tops! I am a British girl sick of the British weather! It really makes me wonder how everyone hasn't just emigrated entirely from places much colder than this all year round. So, enough of the rant-like tone that definitely wasn't intentional but is definitely present...Spring is here. Because I say so. Warmth will return to my limbs, eventually.

xo.

Perfume Collection Update: Miss Dior

Sooo.. the latest addition to my perfume collection is probably the most exciting yet - I finally have a bottle of 'Miss Dior'! This perfume has been on the top of my wishlist for SO long now, but it was always that little bit too expensive or seemed that little bit too extravagant to get as a present or buy for myself.. until now!

 I got this for Valentine's Day, and there was a 10% off promotion on in Boots at the time on fragrance which was great, and I also offered to put in £10 to get the 50ml size instead of the 30ml (I know it was my present, but I'd rather contribute a tiny bit to get nearly 50% more!). It's such a feminine fragrance that, in my opinion, is kind of a classic now and coveted by many! It was originally 'Miss Dior Cherie' but got renamed 'Miss Dior' for the modern era, and its original that it stemmed from has now become 'Miss Dior Originale' (the 1947 verison) and is a yellowy colour as opposed to the current 'Miss Dior' which is light pink in colour. 

It was only launched in 2005, which is ridiculous to think as it has accumulated such a cult status after only a few years! I got the eau de parfum version, but I believe there are also eau de toilette and le parfum versions as well. It has essence of Indian patchouli base notes, Arabian jasmine absolute heart notes, and essence of Italian mandarin top notes according to the Dior website. They also use phrases such as "bold and elegant" and "timeless chic", which could be translated as classic, noticeable and feminine, all of which I completely agree with. I'm so pleased I finally have a bottle, and I'm so in love with it already!

The packaging is also really cute; the box is a textured pink cardboard with silver script mimicking the bottle, which is a classic cuboid shape with the same script on it and a silver bow for the lid - adorable! Worth the money (it retails at £64 for 50ml at Boots currently) and one that I know I will buy again and again. 

Have you ever tried Miss Dior? What's your ultimate favourite scent?!

xo.

'Trend' Thrift: Caviar Nails

I'm always on the hunt for the next nail trend, and went through a huge nail art phase last year where I couldn't stop adding patterns, designs and various embellishments to my fingertips! Lately, I have been sticking to good old colour blocking nail-wise (mainly due to a lack of time) with my favourite colours du jour, but the other day I spotted these in Primark and couldn't resist! I've heard a lot about nail caviar already as I'm sure you have, and I'm pretty sure it was beauty brand Ciaté that introduced it to the manicure world. It always seemed quite costly (Ciaté's caviar nail varnish and sets are retailing at between £14-£18 on ASOS currently), and I know other brands have interpreted it but it was still similarly priced all the same. That was until I stumbled across a bargain version in good old Primark - with a £2.50 price tag! There was no excuse not to give it a go with that price sticker on it, and I ended up buying two sets as I couldn't decide on one! There was one more colour that I didn't buy which was a silver polish with pink and silver metallic beads, but I ended up with a pearlised white varnish with white beads, and a hot pink varnish with turquoise, pink and various multi-coloured beads! 

They come fully equipped with varnish, beads, funnel and plastic tray in order to get the look, and the idea is to choose which nail(s) you would like your caviar on and paint them with a couple of coats, but before the second one is dry pour the beads on when hovering over the tray so they simply stick to the wet polish. This is kind of messy so I'd advise doing it on a flat surface! I kind of felt like a kid in a primary school art lesson, but it's quite fun! You then simply put the funnel back in the bead pot, and pour your excess beads back in so you don't waste any.

The nail varnish itself won't be winning any awards any time soon, but it could've been worse. It was quite gloopy and I often find it's hard to make metallics look attractive anyway, so that didn't help! It also took way too long to dry in my opinion - give me Barry M anyday! Of course you can match the beads with whatever colours you would like, and I was thinking a nice on-trend pastel pink (or any pastel) would look really good with these pearly beads. It came out better than I thought it would to be honest, but having had them on for a short while, they're falling off when I do anything remotely vigorous which isn't great, but it was expected! 1; because it's Primark, and 2; I'm atrocious at keeping even the hardest-wearing nail polish chip-free! I'd recommend Primark's efforts to anyone wanting to give the trend a go, but if you're really into it and want a lasting look then I'd say fork out the £14 and get Ciaté's version for the quality!

What do you think of nail caviar? Have you tried it out for yourself before?

xo.

Spring Fashion Haul!

The high street is bursting with new season clothes and accessories now, and it's definitely a welcome change to my wardrobe! Even though the weather is staying resiliently below 5°C, I think there's no need to stay stuck in winter fashion-wise. Sometimes, when you're having a down day or feeling low, I think a new piece of clothing can really brighten up your mood and make you feel so much better (even if it is a fleeting feeling) and I love the transformation clothes and accessories can have on someone. So in the past few weeks I've been shopping around when I've had a few minutes on lunch breaks and days off, and these are some of the things I've bought! 

As mentioned in the last post, I went into H&M to see which bright jumper I liked best and ended up buying the first one I picked up! I fell in love with it instantly and it's an amazing neon peachy-type colour in an over-sized loose knit. 

H&M, £14.99

Next, I went to Primark and also saw these shorts as soon as I walked in the door! I'm not sure exactly when I was thinking I could wear them at the moment (haha) but possibly on a night out, or with tights!? If not, they'll just have to stay stashed away until the sun comes out! They're an acid wash ripped/frayed denim with some (really big!) silver studs on the left-hand side and I just thought they were too cool to resist!

Primark, £12

I also wanted a turquoise/mint-coloured jumper, and I found this thin one for a really good price also in Primark that I thought was perfect! I bought it in a size up so it would also be slouchy.

Primark, £6

I saw these boots ages ago but just didn't want to commit at the time! When I realised how much I needed some nice black ankle boots, I finally went ahead and bought them online, as the ones in-store only had a beige heel but I wanted the all-black version. They're perfect for going for a nice meal or drinks, and they're also so comfy which is worth a mention!

New Look, £24.99

I saw this black wet-look skater skirt online and thought it was such a bargain, I didn't hesitate adding it to the basket. I thought it would be so versatile and easy to wear for nights out.

Missguided, £9.99

I was going into H&M quite a few weeks ago now to return something, and spotted this really cute blazer on sale for only £10 - bargain! I ended up swapping my return for this which I was really pleased with. I loved the colour blocking on it as I thought it was still smart, but fashionably different.

H&M, £10 (Sale)

I love the stretchy tops that Jack Wills do, and they usually bring out a few different ones every year and they always come in useful. I thought this season's was really cute, and I loved the colours and floral design.

Jack Wills, £34.50

Jack Wills also have really nice fashionable tops throughout the year, and I loved this one and thought the navy was something different and the lace was really pretty for wearing to nice occasions! 

Jack Wills, £59.50

I know everyone has this bag, and I'm obviously no different, but I really love it and it's so versatile. Nude and gold will go with nearly everything I have for a night out, and it's also a bargain! As you can tell, I love items that I can use over and over again with loads of looks, and I usually stay away from the more risky fashion trends/items as I hate buying things I know I won't wear! 

Primark, £6

I bought this belt with my Missguided order as I thought it would be useful, and I've wanted a nice but inexpensive studded belt for a while now so I committed to this one!

Missguided, £4.99

This necklace is another Primark buy, and I've seen this style of necklace on a couple of people and wanted my own. Primark is perfect for having cheap items that let you try out a trend and see what you like! I'm a sucker for a bargain, too!

Primark, £2 (ish!)

So there are a few of the things I've bought so far as we transition into spring! What have you been buying so far, and what're your favourite items!?

xo.

Fashion Focus: Neon Brights

I'm always scouring the pages of Elle and Vogue to see what the trends are for the new fashion season. Whilst I'm not always a huge trend follower, I love to give them a go, and sometimes I find you can discover a trend that you end up in love with! The stud/biker chic trend that is everywhere (and appears to be going nowhere) was a huge success when I eventually gave it a go! One of the trends for Spring/Summer '13 appears to be neon brights. I usually only love a neon bright in the heat of the Summer (ie. on holiday!) and as the snow is still melting outside, it's putting me out of my fashion comfort zone pulling out the acid green nails in January! Nonetheless, I love a challenge and I'm going to give it a try. If you are not so brave like me, a flash of neon (as opposed to an entire rainbow-effect outfit) can be the easy way to go, such as a bright pink clutch, a fluorescent yellow hat, or an orange shoe! Inspiration can be found aplenty on the catwalk at the S/S '13 shows. From sixties chequered sunshine yellow at Louis Vuitton, to two-toned coral and aqua blue at DVF, and dip-dyed hot pinks and turquoises at Burberry Prorsom, there's no end to the bright hues the designers have decided we'll be donning this season! My favourite is the hot pink trench - Christopher Bailey has reinvented the Burberry classic in a whole rainbow of different shades to great effect.

Where the high street is concerned, I've already spotted a few neon numbers in the new season collections! H&M have an array of neon jumpers that are all completely affordable; the one I found below comes in at least five different shades - buy a size up and wear it slouchy with statement jewellery. Topshop have a 'Rave New World' collection on their website dedicated to the rave trend, which of course involves fluorescent colours - this is great if you need inspiration. I love the lime green jumper I've featured below, and I think it'll look amazing with a deeply tanned inch of waist on show and some bleached/acid wash skinnies. Zara are always fashion-focused and I struggle to find something I don't like in there! They have a selection of bright trousers on offer for the trend; I've picked two different pairs to show in neon pink and orange which can be made really wearable with a pair of plain ballet flats and a plain, loose fitting shirt, as shown below!

As for accessories, there are plenty of high street offerings. To warm you into a trend, or to see if you enjoy wearing bright colours, these can be a more accessible way of wearing fluorescents! Nails Inc. have a selection of neon-coloured crackle effect nail polishes which will look great over a black or white nail. River Island's satchel just has neon features incorporated into it which is a really subtle way of channeling the trend. However, their heeled buckle shoes a definitely more of a statement for the braver ones amongst the crowd! The Topshop beanie is cute and not too overbearing, and will be great for brightening up those chilly English days I was talking about.

Also worth a mention for the more high-end shopper/day-dreamer is the Selfridges & Co. website which has a 'Bright Now' section; great for a luxurious example of the trend (and also makes for amazing eye candy)! After writing this post, I'm so much more in love with the trend than I ever thought I could be, and I'm definitely going to buy one of those H&M jumpers when pay day finally rolls around! I think neon/bright colours are all about adding a shocking pop of colour, having fun, and being young - and they're a perfect antidote to winter's dominating blacks and plums.

What do you think of neon brights? Will you be brave enough to rock the trend this Spring?!

xo.

Goodbye winter & a cheeky hello to spring!

I have tried in vain to access my old blog from about eight years ago now, to no avail. Why I used a completely random email address and password I'll never know, and now I'll never know what they are! After making this blog six years ago, it's my new year's resolution to use it properly!

So...we are heavily into winter chic now, to the point where summer can really not come quick enough! What's a girl to do when it's 0 degrees outside, yet short sleeves are calling?! The sales are coming to a close, the panic bargain buying is almost at an end, and you can smell the spring high street collections coming! Of course in high fashion land they are well into the swing of summer, and will no doubt have wrapped up next year's A/W '13 lines which is a depressing thought. Fashion is so ahead of itself now more than ever, it'll end up doing a complete 360 degrees and we'll soon be in next summer's clothes, this summer! So, the dilemma is, what to wear when you need a flash of pillar box red instead of burgundy, and you need a jacket instead of your heavy duty (but chic, of course) puffer jacket? Well look no further, I am also keen for a change! This week I scrubbed off my Revlon 'Vixen' nail varnish for a coat of Barry M's 'Berry Ice Cream' to brighten up my finger tips. I got out my white and cream jumpers for a fresh flash of brightness (whilst keeping warmth) instead of my black and grey ones, and I started accessorising more with warmer-looking gold necklaces and bracelets - I had become so involved in the practicalities of being warm in this dreadful cold, looking good was starting to take a major hit! A flash of bright pink lip was also kept me on-trend, but contrasted against the plums and deep reds that had taken over, proving that bright lipstick is an instant pick-me-up for the winter blues! Are you starting to get sick of the sales and the cold now? What are your seasonal transition pieces and tricks?

xo.