Friday 14 November 2014

Very.co.uk Party In Style Event with Company and Cosmopolitian magazine.


 























It's party season, which means it's time to make way for sequins, glitter and shimmer galore. 

Last night I attended Very.co.uk's Very In Style event featuring Cosmopolitan, Company and Reveal. 

The event was showcasing Very's Party Edit collection, some of which was designed by TOWIE's Sam Faiers. 

Held in London's OXO Tower, the entire event overlooked the illuminated Thames whilst us guests had a good ol' browse. 

I must say I was really surprised by the collection. I've never really considered Very.co.uk as a place to shop before, and I always struggle around this time of year to find a party outfit that suits my grungier sense of style, but there was so much in this collection that I wanted. 

Champagne in hand, I scoured the rails taking in the surprising amount of bright shades featured in this collection. Yellows, greens, reds, pinks and blues all made an appearance, which I find quite unusual for a Winter collection of any sort. I'm pro colour for winter, so I was really pleased by this. 

I had my eye on one particular dress which I've singled out in a picture above: the green baroque style mid-length bodycon. It's so me, and since dying my hair purple, I think it would make quite a statement piece. 

The event was so lively, with DJ Fabienne playing some awesome music (walking in to Bootylicious put me in the perfect mood) , whilst we all drank champagne, ate canapes and had our hair and makeup done by Babyliss and Bourjois. 

I spotted some gorgeous ladies whose outfits I adored, so I just had to take a picture; one of them being the stunning Leanne Lim Walker. 

The runway show was the perfect end to the night, giving us all ideas on how to style our party wardrobe this season. 


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Tuesday 21 October 2014

Mary Kay 'At Play' Collection



Make-up time! I haven't done a make-up post in a while now, so I was quite excited about this one. A few months ago Mary Kay sent me their At Play collection, and since them I've been having a good play around and getting used to them. 

I think the best way to sum this collection up is FUN! When I first saw this collection it did remind me of some of the make-up collections I'd get in my free Go Girl magazine back in the 90s. There definitely is an element of nostalgia here. But then it dawned on me that there's no reason why adult make-up shouldn't be fun. The colours featured here are bright, but Mary Kay have carefully created shades that stand out whilst complementing an adult look. 

All of these eyeliners look amazing with eyeshadows in complementing hues, but I thought I'd show you what they're like in their purest form. 


   Gold Metal: This shade really brightens up the eye and goes with absolutely everything. Perfect for        
   Christmas. I've tried it with a few pinky eye shadows too and it works so well.  
  


  The Real Teal: I'm not entirely sure if this shade of green suits my skin tone, as it is quite cool. However 
    this would look amazing on anyone with a paler complexion. It's a subtle burst of metallic colour. 
     


    Blue My Mind: This is the only matte shade out of the four, and I love it. It's so striking and dramatic. Make 
    this your statement piece of make-up, and make the rest of your face as bare as possible. 



    Hello Violet: This one is my ultimate favourite. With Halloween coming up I could see a lot of creative 
    potential, but at the same time, I thought it made such a nice change to the normal black eyeliner. 
    Feminine with a grunge twist. 




    Triple Layered Tinted Balms: (Top: In the Plum Bottom: Atomic)  
These are perfect for those times when you just want a hint of colour on your lips. They're incredibly moisturising and smell amazing. I can see these making lovely 
    stocking fillers. 



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Thursday 16 October 2014

Marks & Spencers Autumn / Winter Collection

 As a 22 year old, when I think of Marks and Spencers, I think food. Amazing, innuendo inspiring food (those adverts are coming back by the way, prepare yourself) that gives Nigella a run for her money. 

Never in my life have I seen M&S as a trend-setting brand leading the way in high street fashion. I don't even think M&S saw itself like that, but it wasn't for want of trying. Just last year, they hit the headlines with a massive drop in profit due to a disappointing fashion range. It goes to show that you can put anyone from Twiggy to Ellie Goulding in your adverts, but if people walk through your shop or look on your website and aren't inspired, the whole thing is a waste of time and money. 

Now I've taken many a venture through the M&S clothing department, but admittedly it's only ever to get to the food section for a cheeky meal deal, BUT there have been times (depending on what store I'm in) where something has caught my eye. The more I've paid attention to them, the more I've come to the conclusion that M&S do have fashion potentioal, and yes, I do mean for people my age. 

I'll say now that they are god awful at marketing their fashion and the styling on their website leaves a lot to be desired, but I don't think our high streets can cope with another major chain going bust. There are so many of us that are disappointed and apathetic towards our high streets, when really it's only us that can change things around. 

So in true Mary Portas fashion, I thought I'd show M&S how it's done (in a non-braggy way of course). 

Using the amazing Polyvore collage creator, I've put together 5 outfits that consist solely of M&S's A//W 14 collection. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, because I want all of it. 

School Girl Chic



Floral Elegance


Winter Pastels


Merry Gothmas



Quilts and Pleats









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Wednesday 15 October 2014

Autumn / Winter Nails with Topshop






At the risk of being unpopular here, I'll just say it: I'm enjoying this weather. I'm loving wrapping up warm and getting all cosy on the sofa with the boyfriend and watching movies.
I'm also really into this season's colour palette. When it comes to nail varnishes, I really prefer A/W colours, They have a depth to them that I love, and considering I'm a monochrome addict, they go with the majority of  my wardrobe. Some of my favourite additions to my nail varnish collection have been from Topshops latest A/W collection. I received these for my birthday, and have worn them non-stop. 
These three shades in particular work so well together, and individually. 

Glitter
(left)
I can never own enough black varnishes, and if there's glitter in it I want it even more. I love that there's an iridescence to the glitter in this which gives it another dimension. The only issue I have is that it requires multiple coats before you get a good, opaque coverage. However when you do, it's worth it.
 A good top-coat is needed for any glitter varnish, just to stop it being so rough to the touch (I use Models Own 5 in 1 Top & Base Coat). Once that's applied, you have a really sleek black nail with a feminine twist. 

Miss Dazzle 
(middle)
This is surprisingly my favourite of the bunch. It's so easy to use because it's so thick. One coat is enough to get a full coverage, and the colour is really striking. This is quite a chameleon colour in the sense that it changes depending what light you're in. It can range from a burn orange to a browny-red all of which have a cosy, warm glow. I wore this varnish for an entire week, doing baking and decorating my boyfriend's bedroom, and it barely chipped. This is the only varnish I've found that's lasted that wrong, so I'm going to cherish it with all my heart.

Magpie 
(right)
A varnish like this is a staple for any nail varnish collection I think. Personally, I'd use varnishes like this as a detailed coat on top of another varnish, but I took a picture of it on its own so you could see the size of the glitter. I actually didn't think it looked too bad on it's own. It's very subtle and dainty. However I like something with a bit more oomph. In fact, I actually used Magpie on top of Glitter for my nails at London Fashion Weekend. My nails looked like a Gothic disco ball. 
How many coats you need all depends on how much glitter coverage you want, but it dries so quickly that you wont be waiting around long.


*Nail Painting Tips*
- Ever been frustrated that the colour on your nails differs from that in the pot? Paint your nails white before using the colour you want. The pink of your nails adjusts the shade of the varnish, whereas white brings out it's true tone. 


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Thursday 25 September 2014

LFWEnd Trend Shows - What's Your Favourite?


'Indian Summer' my arse. I don't care what any of those newspapers say, it's cold and I want layers! 
With such enthusiasm for wrapping up warm and the looming winter months, you can imagine my excitement for the London Fashion Weekend's  Autumn/Winter 2014 trend shows. This show was a summary of everything Autumn/Winter showcased at London Fashion Week back in February. so that we can refresh our memories as to what's on trend this season. 

I decided when I started this blog that I was going to try and add more colour to my wardrobe, and that endeavor isn't going to stop just because winter is coming. In fact, the entire fashion world seems  to be embarking on a colour for winter campaign, ditching the browns and beige for a stunning colour spectrum that should bring some light and joy to the dark gloomy days ahead. 

This show was split into four key trends, each with their own unique styles, that are so easy to achieve on a high street budget. These trends were One and Only, Candy Crush, Jungle Fever and Fairytale Ending. 

One and Only 

This trend is all about championing one particular colour. If you've got a fave shade, go for it. Scream and shout it with a head-to-toe ensemble. Whether it's green, yellow or black there's no holding back. I know you're probably thinking this trend is a little bit strange, but take a look at some of the pictures below and note how textures and layering work to separate each item so that they don't just merge into one. Geometric patterns are a brilliant way of distorting your chosen colour so that it doesn't look so bland. I've already mentioned texture, and fluidity is a huge part of that. The way your clothes move is so important. Wearing just one colour, you don't want stiff and rigid lines, you want a flowing softness that creates an interesting silhouette. 

Another way of breaking up the colour is to get tonal. Wearing varying shades of the same colour can actually be more flattering. The shades will compliment each other and add dimension to your outfit. 
Personally, I think the best shades for this trends are pastels, which you'll see more of in the Candy Crush trend. These shades are easier to get away with, and can be broken down with rich and bright notes for impact. 





 








Candy Crush

I think it's so lovely that pastels are remaining steadfast throughout winter. I think they are shades that suit all four seasons and are actually quite timeless, so we really should embrace them. The hues featured in this trend are very soft and natural, which makes them very easy to work with. Again texture and fluidity are important, just to give these shades a bit of life. Lace, silk, cashmere and sequins are just a few of the fabrics/ textures that you can expect to see these shades in and they all work so well together. 

Pleating and layering is a brilliant way of adding some structure, and pearl trimming makes for an elegant adornment. This is a trend that can be dressed up or down. So get out there and find what pastel shade suits you. 













Jungle Fever

I have two words for you: animal print. Yep, that's right, the animal print is coming back full force. From leopard and zebra to snake and crocodile, this trend is a menagerie of prints. 

I fell in love with the colours displayed with this trend because they compliment each other so well, but it's a combination of shades we don't see very often. A palette of orange, brown, green, black and red is what we can expect this season. Break these colours down with animal print belts, bags and shoes. 

If you're not a fan of full-on animal print then stick with accessories, otherwise look out for interesting reworkings of the classic prints we know and love, because they're being worked in such a way that they're evolving into something new. 

A trend that consists of such dramatic hues requires sharp and sleek silhouettes. As you can see below, fabrics such as muslin, organza and silk are contrasted with leather and wool. 











  



Fairy Tale Ending 

This trend has two protagonists: the fairy princess and the evil queen. Whoever you associate with the most, there's something in this trend for everyone. This trend has been trying to push through for years now, but this may be the year that we fully accept these fairy-tale alter egos of ours. I have wanted a cape for years, but have never felt like this trend kicked off enough for it to be socially acceptable for me to wear one. However after seeing this trend in the flesh, I've learnt there are ways of wearing a cape that don't looking like you've just come from a Cosplay convention. 

Organza, silk, lace and anything, ANYTHING sparkly or metallic  and you're half-way there. Neutrals and monochromes are good shades to utilize here so that you don't look like you belong in the Disney store, but more high fashion. 















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