Love Her Style: Jessica Alba

My long-standing girl crush on Jessica Alba has come to fruition in this post, which will see me drooling over various clothes she puts on her amazing body, and generally make me look like I'm in love with her! I'm pretty sure I first self-diagnosed myself with Alba-itis when I saw 'Honey' (and those abs), which was obviously every teenage girl in the noughties' favourite film - that and Mean Girls (duh). Ever since then I've noticed Jessica's street style cred get better and better, and I'm definitely not alone. Her selfless contribution to best-dressed lists worldwide has enabled her to achieve the current hardcore girl crush status she has!

Starting off with my favourite look of hers, Jessica caught everyone's eye when she left a Ralph Lauren show in a candy pink midi skirt, cropped black jumper and strappy sandals. Her simple up-do, sparkly earrings and nude lip accessorise this look into the next level of best-dressed lists. Looking like America's sweetheart, never has the word perfection been so well personified!?

Next is total girlish charm in this asymmetrical black top, floral skater skirt and boots combo. Complete tomboy schoolgirl chic, she still looks like she means business with her folder and iPhone to boot. 

 Yep. Then there's the body. Just let this one sink in for a while. Totally cute bikini too, by the way.

This look is so easy and understated, but Jessica can pull off just about anything and make it look ridiculously good. Over-sized scarves are something of her trademark, and this casual bad girl outfit is so cool, and very easy to recreate! Black and grey are the subtle grungy tones of the look, but her lime Birkin adds a pop of colour, and those heavy studs add the fashion edge.

This look is so great for its simplicity, and is useful as outfit inspiration for work, going shopping or going out for dinner. On-trend neon peach makes this look stand out, but keeps the rest totally simple with a white shirt, dark jeans and nude wedges.

Yep, there it is again. She even looks fantastic at the beach (unlike some of us, who tend to be frizzy-haired, red-faced horror stories with a patchy burn) with a fringed turquoise kimono, straw hat and minimalist jewellery.

I love this. Powder blue and black combine in one serious working woman floral get up. So professional and stylish at the same time. *Googles floral trousers*

More down days are spent in comfy fabrics with more over-sized scarves to keep it casual and cosy. A palette of white and beige lets her olive skin and brunette locks do the talking as she looks bright, fresh and relaxed.

Which of these is your favourite look? Whose style are you loving lately?!


xo.

Fashion Week Round Up: New York A/W '15/'16

I'm a teeny tiny bit late in getting round to this, but I feel compelled to cover the fashion weeks properly for A/W '15/'16! New York fashion week ended with a bang thanks to Marc Jacobs on 19th February, and it did not disappoint. There was an overwhelming sexy/modern/working-woman vibe, accessorised by a hell of a lot of dark furs and tartan prints. Monochrome looks took over in all kinds of textures from leather to satin, and the odd splash of tangerine, royal blue or plum added zing to what was really a macabre, vamp-y sexual feel! You were either in tribe hourglass or tribe masculine, with Prabal Gurung flashing us some serious thigh, to the Olsens showing us exactly how to do androgyny. One thing is for certain, New York's winter woman means business.

I've rounded up my favourite looks from some of the collections (which was so hard as there were some shows that had it all going on and more - looking at you Zac) and I've attempted to pick looks that show off the season's vibe, summed up that collection in particular, and really said what New York wanted you to hear. Listen up.

Tommy Hilfiger celebrates 30 years with
sporty-sister-meets-Blair Waldorf vibes.

Feminine masculinity as seen at Vera Wang.

Alek Wek looking like a goddess in Zac Posen. 

Ralph Lauren makes brown look like the only colour I need. Perfection.

The Row favours masculine, simple and expensive looks.
Those girls love a velvet mule!

Oh hey, Donna Karan. *drools* 

Prabal Gurung gives us some winter sunshine.

Marc Jacobs vamps it up.

Rodarte's women are strong, sexy and sizzling.
This was one of those shows that makes you want to buy
everything, and be the woman wearing it too!

Which collections are you loving?!

xo.



Images: Vogue

A cheeky MAC visit..!

Hey hey...so, I happened to recently acquire some new MAC goodies I have to show off (obvs)! I only bought two things (such self-restraint) but they're two products I really love..

Firstly is the lipstick. I wasn't really setting out to purchase a new lipstick as I'm not a massive lip colour person, and much prefer a nude lip, WHICH it turns out, is why this product suits me so well! It's exactly the kind of thing I was after, but without knowing it. It's a 'glaze' variety lipstick called 'Hue' and is just a pale baby/nude pink, but as it's a glaze, it applies very sheer and also quite shiny. This is perfect for me as I usually just use the tiniest amount of foundation on my lips (as they are naturally so red) and this lipstick adds a lovely moisturising finish to my everyday look! See the swatch and on-the-lips look below..

Next up is this beautiful shimmer blush named 'Trace Gold'. It's not my first shimmer blush I've had from MAC, but I was excited to try out a new colour. This adds a subtle glow and a nice sheen to my cheeks without being too overpowering (unlike the mineralize skinfinishes). I tried to get a good picture of it on my cheeks but just couldn't get the lighting quite right! This can be applied subtly or built up to create a more dramatic look. I know a lot of people prefer a shimmer blush in the evenings, but this is just right for creating that glowing day time look and is very easy to wear! It looks a lot more shimmery in real life than in this picture (lighting issues!).

What do you think of shimmer blushes and/or a nude lip? Are you a super fan of MAC like myself?!


xo.

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.

'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.