Spring 2012 1960's

There's been a huge 1970's revival that designers and all of the high street are raving over! Spring 2012 is now hoping to revive the 1960's trends- amazing! We're already starting to see it happen within Burberry; with block colour coats and structured, short hemmed dresses. Although the swinging 60's is starting to make an appearance in numerous editorials during A/W 2011, spring should completely knock us all out with some incredible new trends! Including...

...60's folk fashion! It's set to make a huge return in spring 2012, it's much more softer and elegant than MOD 60's fashion (think Twiggy- big lashes; bright block colours; graphic prints; penny loafers; swing/cape coats). 60's folk would be anything made of lace, short hem-lines, monochrome colours (white; cream; black), and plenty of effortless sexiness with slick hair and one flick eyes. 

A good buy for MOD fashion on the high street would be this fabulous yellow and black colour block dress (now only £12.99). It will work better if you have a smaller chest, or if you're very petite as the colour blocking may not compliment a curvy figure, because it's so square. 

Haul #6

I've never really been one to splash the pennies on products like that of 'Lush' or 'The Body Shop' because the cosmetics have never really benefited me when it comes to skin/blemish coverage or oil control, as the products seem to be lighter and silkier than that of 'Rimmel' or 'Revlon'. But I recently went to a 'Body Shop at home' party where there was vast amounts of information about the different products and opportunities to actually try the products with receiving facials in the comfort of your own home. Not only was it relaxing and lots of fun, I was convinced that 3 of the products actually worked...


First of all I tried the Warming mineral mask, it's a rich thick cream that uses a warming technique to open up your pores and deeply cleanse. It has natural ginger and cinnamon oils in it to leave your skin feeling conditioned and feeling smooth. I use it about 3 times a week (or more if i'm feeling stressed) and I leave it on for about 5-10 minutes, then just wash it off with warm water and, depending on the time of day in which you use it in, use a rich night cream to keep in your natural oils and leave your skin feeling and looking bright and dewy. 

If you're using the Warming Mask in the mornings and want to apply make-up straight afterwards I recommend applying The Body Shop's Vitamin C skin reviver gel. It acts like a make up base, but instead of leaving your skin feeling oily and heavy, it leaves your natural sun spot areas (the areas where you usually tan the most) glowing- leaving you with a healthy glow even when you've applied your foundation. I also recommend using a bronzer to accentuate your glowing areas.

I never usually like my face to be incredibly sun kissed- so I avoid tanning it. I found myself intrigued by The Body Shop's 'Honey Bronze' collection, The Body Shop swears to be natural and against animal testing so I figured this tanning gel wouldn't irritate my skin too much and would look natural and healthy. I purchased the Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel. You only need to use a pea size amount on the apple of each cheek and your T Zone area as it's quite rich and quite intense. I only really use it when i'm looking a bit tired or if i'm going on girls a night out, not only does it give you a healthy glow but it adds a bit of life and leave you feeling great about yourself. 

ALL OF THE BODY SHOP PRODUCTS ARE NOW 30% OFF SO BUY THEM NOW!

I'm a big fan of New Look and recently all of the new A/W coats have come in stock and they are absolutely gorgeous! I recently bought a beautiful Leopard Collar Melton Coat for £44.99- perfect for the new A/W fetish look! The collar is leopard faux fur and the shape of the coat would genuinely compliment any shape and any size. It's perfect if you're fashion forward but not brave enough to go all out on the faux fur this A/W. I don't have a picture but check out www.newlook.com for more/similar products.

Also from New Look I purchased some bright purple flannelette peg trousers, they're very outrageous but at the same time so east to dress down! I recommend wearing them with a simple vest top and some country inspired equestrian, knee-high boots. again, they're not on the website as of yet but here's a picture of some navy flannelette's to give you an idea of the shape, style and price (24.99).

Haul #5. New Look.

Recently New Look has become more fashion forward and in with the latest trends, for example, selling embellished items; 1960's/70's inspired mini-skirts in block colours (orange, pink, brown & red); Victorian like felt Fedora hats (which look fabulous on women with all hair lengths); platform heels with a disco and 70's approach; coloured skinny jeans in all different block colours- these look great on all body types, they're affordable and really compliment your figure and complexion if chosen the correct colour. 


THE FENDORA HAT

THE A- LINE MINI SKIRT

THE COLOURED SKINNY JEAN

Metallic knitwear is really in for A/W, it's tough to 'get it right' as shimmer effects in knitted garments can actually look quite cheap and tacky. I had been searching for a gold knitted jumper for quite a while and I actually found a gorgeous one in New Look for 19.99. It has 3/4 length sleeves with a baggy neckline so one has the choice to wear it asymmetrically. The gold is very subtle (which I like) and woven into the beige/camel coloured jumper. It's not too heavy so it can be worn in the summer (on a cooler day) with shorts and some converse; but it can also be layered up nicely with long sleeves or with a pair of maroon coloured jeans and some high leg riding boots (also available at New Look). 

I mentioned wearing riding boots with jeans, the equestrian inspired style in a big hit with 'country' this A/W, I recently bought some for £40 from New Look. They are brown leather with a chunky heel and a hard wearing sole (so they will last through til next year), they have an elasticated panel at the back on the boot which gives it that country inspired look and visually makes them a high fashion product. Definitely worth purchasing.

I'm loving duffle (slouch) shoulder bags at the moment too, they don't have many compartments or look terribly high fashion but they are perfect if you're wanting to go for that boho look. They're also great for travelling and for practical trips. I bought one from New Look, only 19.99, it has paneling all over with different patterns and country inspired designs. This isn't the exact bag as it's not available online, but it gives you an idea of the shape and style of the duffle/slouch bag.

Nina Ricci; Accessorize; Sex & The City

I recently went on a shopping spree in search for new, more expensive and designer cosmetics so that i can compare them to the high street brands (e.g. Rimmel London) and really find out what all the fuss is about. I hate to admit it but the designer products really are so much better. I went into House of Fraser and found lots of Nina Ricci products for a very decent price. 


First of all I bought a Nina Ricci bronzer in the shade Orange Poudre, it comes with a little mirror and is perfect if, like me, you like to build up that summer glow along the cheekbones and jawline. It lasts for hours and there is no need to reapply throughout the day! 

All of the Nina Ricci products in House of Fraser are 2 for 1 at the moment so I decided to try a foundation too. I purchased a darker foundation in Apricot so that I have a suitable foundation to match the tan that I have got. I don't usually like really light or liquid foundations as they don't sit well on my oily skin and this foundation is a bit too oily for me. If you have very dry skin then this would be perfect as it adds an extra touch of moisture as well as a summery glow. It comes in a little glass bottle and looks very expensive- which is always nice.

Recently Accessorize have been launching some more beauty products, i've always been a huge fan of their nail polishes as they're long lasting and come in all different colours! I noticed they're selling lipsticks now and figured there would be some outrageous tints, so I took a gander! I purchased A bright pink lipstick in Velvet Pink, it's a really intense colour but it's really thick and creamy and feels wonderful on my lips, giving off that matte look. It comes in a little silver tube with a pretty diamante jewel on the top on the applicator.  

I love trying out different perfumes and I recently noticed a huge end of summer sale on the Sex & The City scents. It's a gift box set inc. 2 perfumes; a shower gel and a moisturizer. It was only £10 and I just couldn't resist! I purchased 'Sex in The City LOVE', it's got a pink theme running through it and it smells divine! The perfume is quite a light fragrance but it's perfect for keeping in your handbag to freshen yourself up on a night out or on a hot day. It's an ideal gift if you have a friend who's very girly and loves a sweet flowery scent. 

Haul #3

Today I did another big shop (seeing as it's payday) and got some gorgeous products and interesting pieces to add to my jam packed wardrobe...


First of all I headed to New Look and purchased a beautiful Japanese inspired print satin blouse. It's navy blue with a white flower/swallow print. The smooth satin material just drapes beautifully, perfect for wearing with leggings or tight skinny jeans. It's only 22.99 and perfect for those of you that are value driven but still want to look on trend.

I'm a really big fan of big chunky statement rings at the moment, so, again from New Look, I purchased a grand looking golden knuckle-duster ring with a baby pink opal-like gem in the middle to accentuate the elegance of the ring. The only problem is that it's quite uncomfortable to wear, so it's only really suitable for a night out or a special occasion. 

I also had a gander on the New Look website and ordered some gorgeous acid pink skinny jeans, they're only 27.99 and perfect if you're going for that country look with a bit of an edge- they're very versatile and perfect for either a night out, a date, a festival or even to wear to work. New Look also do these in an even lighter pink; a shocking pink; lemon yellow; blue; cream and grey...

Next I went to boots to stock up on fragrance and beauty essentials. Without a shadow of a doubt you can always guarantee that i'll be wearing perfume/body spray. My all time favourite fragrance is 'Chanel Coco Eau de Parfume spray', it's such a sophisticated scent and the bottle will keep for a long time as you only need a tiny spritz for the smell to last all day. I didn't have the time or money to splash out on my favourite Chanel so I went around looking for some bargain buys. I found one that smelt sweet and fruity and it was only £4.95. It's called 'Charlie pink- by revlon', it doesn't last very long so i found myself having to spray a vast amount for the scent to stick- but it's definitely worth it.

A LITTLE TIP: Before spraying the perfume, add a few blobs of body butter onto your skin, you'll find the scent lasts longer and you get a nice smelling moisturizer- if like me you have sensitive skin and can't often use the scented moisturizers. 

I have very long eye lashes and don't often need to wear layers and layers of mascara, but on a night out i love to really go for it and go all out with my eye make-up. I absolutely love the new 'million lashes' by L'Oreal but it's more of a day time mascara and it isn't water proof. The one I found and absolutely adore is Bourjois' 'volume clubbing ultra black' mascara. It's got a really intense thick brush and I only need to apply one layer of it to give me that glamorous look. It's only 5.99 instead of 10.99 at the moment- so go buy it!

Unfortunately I have very sensitive skin and am allergic to certain fake tans. I always smother my skin in palmer's body butter before i go to bed as it's extremely soothing and firms the skin. There's a new gradual tan out that palmer's have just introduced, I haven't used fake tan in a very long time but Palmer's has always been good to my skin so I thought i'd give this one a go! It's called 'Natural Bronze' and it seriously works within about an hour of applying. There's only one shade and it adjusts itself to your skin tone, it smells like the normal moisturizer so there's none of that dreaded fake bake after smell. It pretty much does what it says on the bottle, and hasn't irritated my skin one bit. Perfect! 

My love for Juste.

I've been watching Britain and Irelands Next Top Model and have completely fallen in love with Juste and her amazing look! In the naked photoshoot her skin, her features,and her body looked absolutely mesmerizing. She proves that being fake tanned and covered in make-up is not attractive in the slightest! In fact I might go out and get this haircut myself...

In the most recent shoot they had to show real emotion, cry and still look beautiful at the same time. Some of the girls just looked bored and uneasy but Juste managed to nail absolutely everything! I don't have a picture but catch the episode on the internet or on 'anytime' on Sky- it's well worth a watch. 

Haul #2

I've always fallen for purchasing those expensive 'teeth whitening' toothpastes and gels but none of them seem to do much but make them feel heavier and 'fluffy'. The other day I, again, saw a whitening mouthwash and thought 'well, I might aswell give it a go', but amazingly IT WORKS! It's called Colgate anti-plaque whitening mouthwash, it's around £2.99 and really does give your teeth a healthy look and the illusion that they are whiter and a lot more cleaner. It doesn't contain as many chemicals or alcohol as, for example listerine, which is always a bonus!

I had another mooch around New Look a few days ago and purchased some gorgeous items! One item was a beautiful chiffon yellow shirt, it was only £14.99 and it is perfect for a night out and to wear to work- also bang on trend and perfect for those of you who like to go for a bargain buy. It also comes in red, navy, and leopard print.

I'm a sucker for TOWIE and have been searching for a 'reem' or 'well jel' vest top for ages, and it made my day finding one in New Look! There's not a picture on the internet but I've taken a picture of myself wearing it. It's only 9.99 and surprisingly isn't tacky and looks really good with hotpant shorts or blue light wash skinny jeans.

Barry M has always been my favourite brand for nail polish (along with accessorize) and at the moment there's a '2 for 4.99' deal on any nail polish or lip gloss. I'm loving the bright colour blocking at the moment- hence my yellow shirt- so I purchased a purple colour in 'fuchsia' and a barbie pink colour in 'bright pink'. They are both gorgeous and go really well together if you want to mix it up a bit.

Haul #1

I recently took a trip to Bicester Village (Designer outlet) to blag a few bargain buys and take inspiration from some top designers. 
One item I purchased was a pure cotton flared multi-coloured stripey skirt from French Connection, I don't remember how much it was but it is very versatile and can be worn during A/W with knit-black tights, a vest top tucked in, and a simple cardie over the top.

I quite often try out different skin products and make up removal creams and cleansers as my skin is very sensitive and I find it difficult to find the right one. Recently I discovered that the product I was looking all that time isn't a branded cleanser or cream, in-fact just simple baby wipes! I bought them to try out as they are batched for sensitive skin and replenishing a dirty surface on the skin. They are perfect! They smell gorgeous, they remove ALL make-up (even water proof mascara and stain based lipsticks)and they're only 89p from your local boots or superdrug. I definitely recommend using these instead of the harsh facial wipes that are actually completely full of chemicals- which aren't good for the skin, and they often dry your skin out! Plus, you get more wipes in the baby sensitive packet than say, a dermatelogica pack. So stock up on these!

I'm a sucker for nice underwear and often spend a little bit too much on Lingerie. Recently New Look have introduced a 'super push up' bra to their lingerie collection, the prints on the bra's are gorgeous and believe it or not- they work a treat! They also don't go out of shape in the wash, another added bonus! I actually bought two Bra's from the super-push up collection:

This pink satin lace bra comes with matching briefs and they look expensive on and gorgeous with a tan. Some people think electric pink looks tacky, but the satin effect and the detailing on the seams add a richer feel to it.

I'm also a bit of a mad one for Leopard print and I think I own one too many Leopard print Bra's. This is also gorgeous with a tan and comes with matching briefs but my favourite detail is the little red bow in the middle, there's also a little bow on the briefs to match. It makes it stand out and gives it that cutesy feel, taking you away from the more outrageous print. 

I always used to wear 'dream matte mousse' for greater coverage and to try and get that 'airbrush' effect over my face. But it clogs up pores even more than any other foundation and leaves you with dryer skin when removed. On a night out I love high coverage and all blemishes to be hidden, so I use Max Factor's 'Pan Stick'. It's a really think cream stick that can be applied all over with a foundation brush or to cover up a blemish with a smaller concealer brush.It lasts all night and I hardly ever need to reapply through the duration.

During the day I don't usually wear as much foundation as I would on a night out, so i use Bourjois healthy mix foundation, it's claims to give your skin 'fruit therapy': apricot- for radiance; Melon- for hydration; Apple- for antioxidants; and ginger to give you skin an energy boost. It really does work and gives your skin a healthy glow, it's not too heavy and it pretty much does what it says on the packet.

That's my most recent haul and i'll probably do another soon :)

Gaga IS a goddess

Lady Gaga might be a bit extravagant and out there for a lot of people but she still looks amazing in whatever she throws together, literally (even the meat dress)! We never know what she's going to be wearing next and that's one of the many reasons why she's such a big role model and style icon today. She's recently been spotted in a dress, designed by a Birmingham University graduate, at a recent press event. 

Despite the ever lasting weird barnet, Gaga looked poised and elegant in this beautiful, very minimalistic dress. Although it's a simple design, the structure of it is very edgy and surprisingly compliments Gaga's up-do. This is definitely one of Gaga's best looks yet, she look gorgeous and credit to Rebecca Short who created the garment. 

I still think my favourite Gaga outfit has to be her 2009 MTV awards black lace dress with a feathered collar and the beautifully embellished golden neck piece. You would think the pink hair would make this outfit look tacky and spoiled, but with the black hat and her own artistic approach with her make up, she looked graceful and definitely stood out as the best dressed.

Statement Earrings

Believe it or not, those famous 'Pat Butcher' earrings are making a new appearance! Think big, gold, chunky, bright, something weird and wonderful to compliment the matte and camel colour for A/W. 

These beautiful statement earrings from Oasis, only 20.00, would be perfect to compliment this beautiful camel fringe leather dress from Warehouse. All of the tiny detailing in the embellishment of the earrings matches the fringing and camel colour beautifully. It's the little things that people notice...

These gorgeous vintage statement earrings, from glitzysecrets.com, would be ideal for a formal event and  amazing for matching them with that little black dress.

Sticking with the new leather look in for A/W I would team these earring with a Robert Rodriguez black leather dress. It's pricey, but the leather bow detailing around the waist of the dress will accentuate curves as this dress is more aimed towards a column figure.

Victorian Fashion

It seems like a little bit of everything from every fashion era is coming back for 2011/2012! Victorian inspired fashion is said to be making an appearance- think woolen capes; lace; flamboyant shirts and velvet. Alexander McQueen (Kate Middleton's dress also had a hint of the Victorian look with the beautiful white lace)  and Tory Burch have a fantastic collection. At New York fashion week one described this look as 'Victorian gone grunge', and it looks absolutely amazing! 

There are some perfect black leather gold buckle boots from Office that would go amazingly well with Leather trousers and lace- a gorgeous Victorian gothic look for Autumn...

To finish off the new look, I would go for a Bobbi Brown (or any other brand that suits you best) lipstick, in 'Hot cocoa'.

Two-tone: Do or don't?

Two-tone lipstick is seen to be more popular on the catwalk than for your everyday trip to the shops. But believe it or not, this look is coming in! M.A.C cosmetics have incredible lipsticks perfect for the two-tone look and matte finish.

It's a very bold and intense look to go for and if you have darker skin and like to wear brown and plum colours on your lips, this look could be quite eery and gothic looking- but on the other hand it would go perfectly with the animal print collection this autumn! This look also looks fabulous in photographs and would make you stand out of the crowd on a night out. Not only is this an interesting look, it will go perfectly this summer with mixing brights with matte colours...

...it won't make you look as bland as you would if you were wearing a clear sheer gloss. I'll definitely be trying out the red/plum two-tone look!

Christian Louboutin: New Collection

I always keep a close eye on the Christian Louboutin website for amazing new products and of course those infamous, glamorous heels that every girl wants to own. Recently I noticed a unique handbag from the Lou Boston collection. It's all leather and absolutely gorgeous- definitely beating a PB handbag! The bag has a transparent touch to it, guaranteed to make you stand out in the crowd. I can't access a picture as it's on the official Louboutin website, but follow this link, click on the 'day bags' tab on the website and you will not miss the bright and vibrant beauty! 


http://www.christianlouboutin.com/#/the_collection

1950's fashion is back!

Military was big last season but now there's going to be a 1950's feminine approach for the 2011 fall collection- designer and both high street! The 1950's fashion is coming back, think of Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley's style. I'm loving the Louis Vuitton collection at the moment, the petticoat inspired skirts and dresses, and the pastel and matte colours for next season. Beautiful!

1950's fashion shouts polka-dots, big hair and frills. Dior are bang on with mixing the animal prints (another big trend for the fall collections), and the 1950's inspired polka-dot sheer skirts and dresses. Weirdly this look is incredible and the contrasting prints work brilliantly- i'll definitely be experimenting with this!

If the designer labels are a bit out of your price range, but like me you love this look, here's some high street bargain buys when you can perfect this  look...

...this polka-dot midi skirt from ASOS is perfect, and only 28.00!

The top I would team with this isn't high street but I absolutely adore it, it is Dolce and Gabbana and it's £537.95, but it would go perfectly with the high street midi skirt. It's easy to find well fitted, corset-like, leopard print tops that are high street as many stores will be selling animal prints on many products.

Be daring and mix up your style, the designers are saying 'DO IT'!