House of Fraser Blogger Style Challenge

I recently saw this competition on a fellow blogger's page and just couldn't resist taking part myself!

House of Fraser are offering the generous prize of a £200 in-store shopping spree to the best blogger outfit made up of products sold by HoF.  As far as I'm concerned finding clothes I love in House of Fraser really isn't a challenge!  I remember going in with my mum in my youth and stroking the soft leather handbags...!  Enough of that though!  Here are my AW 12/13 picks!

1. Phase Eight - Daria Sequin Jumper £65

Metallics are going to be big this season and what better way to showcase them than on some knitwear?

I love the texture of this jumper and also the fact that it can be dressed up with a leather skirt or down with jeans or leggings.

2. Oasis - Faux Leather Biker Mini £45

This is a lovely little skirt with biker style quilting on the sides and zip details taking it away from your usual leather body con. Love!  Leather is always a good purchase as it comes in season after season and will be one of the hardest working items you own.

3. Head Over Heels - Pashy Zip Boots With Studs £49

These boots are an absolute steal!  They look really high end with the studs, zips and detailing but come in very cheaply compared to their Topshop, Asos counterparts.  My ankle boots are most definitely my footwear of choice at the minute and are a must buy for AW 12/13

4. Decadorn - Prussian Leather Wrap Bracelet £36

A lovely metallic bracelet to create an instant arm party!  Will match everything.

5. Coast - Robin Necklace £35

A chunky necklace can jazz up any outfit.  Mixed metallics are girl-grungy and will match all outfits perfectly. I particularly like the rings on this lovely Coast number.

6. Nars - Duo Eyeshadow in Hula Hula £23.50

This beautiful duo of shimmering gold and rose is the perfect way to give yourself a glossy party eye.  Nars shadows are famously well pigmented and these gorgeous shades will certainly be well used.

7. Bobbi Brown - Creamy Eye Pencil in Jet £15.50

A classic black kohl will add just the right amount of grunge to this shimmering metallic look.  This pencil from Bobbi Brown is creamy, smooth on application and has a sponge on the other end for that lust-worthy smoky eyed look. Perfect!

8. MAC - Lipstick in Shanghai Spice £14

You can't go wrong with a MAC lippie and this gorgeous pinky shade will offset a smoky eye perfectly.

9. Nails Inc - Nail Polish in Victoria £11

Victoria is a BIG favourite of mine.  It is probably my most worn shade and I couldn't resist including it here!  It is feminine but dark and the polish itself has great coverage after just one coat.  A MUST BUY.

10. Viktor and Rolf - Flowerbomb Eau de Parfum £48

Last (but most certainly not least) is Flowerbomb.  A cult perfume and my FAVOURITE.  It gives a gorgeous, feminine scent which is spicy enough for Winter and floral enough for Summer.  It has to feature here!

And there you have it.  What do you think?

Will you be heading to House of Fraser this week?  I know I will!

Return of the rays...

What a lovely day!

I must admit I was a little confused when I woke up to Summer sun this morning since I thought that the time for chunky knits and winter clothes was upon us.

If in doubt, throw on a dress. That's my motto anyway..!

This silky turquoise number is from Topshop.  Really easy to dress up and down but best of all, so comfortable!

I like to wear gold accessories with turquoise so I popped on this necklace from Topshop.  It's one of my favourites and gets LOTS of wear because it adds a little but of interest to any outfit.  But my FAVOURITE new purchase is this adorable little belt from NW3 at Hobbs...

When purchasing this belt the shop assistant informed me his name was 'Derek' which is rather hilarious!  But 'Derek' is seriously versatile and going to take me all the way through AW 12/13 and beyond..!

It costs £39... yes. That's a lot. But it really will last and is already being worn on an almost day to day basis.

How have you been enjoying the sun?  And more importantly, will you be purchasing Derek?!

A day at the park...

Dress: Topshop

Necklace: Topshop

Shoes: Topshop (...!)

Bracelet: bought at Nottingham Vintage Fair

Here are some snaps from my day in the park.  When the British weather decides to reward us like this there's really only one place to be: OUTSIDE!  Armed with the camera I was given for my birthday I got very snap happy and pestered my boyfriend while he attempted to learn the words for his final singing recital on Tuesday.  As I've now handed in the final essay of my degree (eek!) it's offically Summer. Here's to lots more lovely weather and days in the sun!

Ruby Lace for Winter Weddings

Dress (comes with belt) - Hearts and Bows at Ark (£17!)

Shoes - Topshop

Nails - Nails Inc in Bruton Street

Deborah Lippmann in Happy Birthday

Foundation - Illamasqua Skin Base in SB06

Concealer - Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Concealer in 2

Blush - Topshop Makeup in Head Over Heels

Lips - Maybelline ColorSensation Lip Stain in Tender Rose

Brows - Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown

So, as those of you who follow me on Twitter will know, I sang at a wedding today!  I have a choral scholarship at the cathedral near uni which means I get asked to sing at a LOT of weddings but I must say it's my favourite kind of 'gig' (so to speak!).  I always try and dress up a little to do this, you would stick out like a sore thumb otherwise! This is what I went for. This dress is an absolute bargain.  I bought it on a bit of a whim (without trying on, as ever!) and its turned out to be one of my favourites this season.  The colour has come out a little funny in the full length photos, it's probably closer to the other photos underneath.

The shoes I have had for a while and always get a bit worried about wearing them out because they're VERY high and I am VERY clumsy but all went fine with them today.

I also managed to get my hands on the Deborah Lippmann 'Happy Birthday' polish which is almost a perfect dupe for OPI's Rainbow Connection. Review to come tomorrow!

Topshop: Neon and Nudes

Just a few snapshots of my trip to Topshop, Oxford Circus.

I am loving the combination of neon brights with muted nudes and monochrome as well as the combination of softer textures like chiffon with chunky knitwear.

Gorgeous.

Have you go your eye on anything?

Warm Jewel Tones for Chilly Winter Weather...

I am fresh back from a trip to London to forage in the British Library and write an essay on Chivalry in Arthurian Literature.... which was as boring as it sounds.  But London was vibrant and exciting as ever.
Best of all, I found myself a lovely new coat!

Coat: Topshop

I've been looking for a new coat for almost the last 12 months!  I've been very picky as in my head I'd imagined my dream coat to be camel and was being quite stubborn about looking at anything else, until I saw this beauty.  These photos really don't do the bottle green tweed justice.  It is beautiful.  I've already had so many compliments on it!

It also comes with a detachable fur stole which can be worn with chunky knit jumpers or on top of any other coats you might have!

Jumper, Coat, Leggings and Shoes: Topshop (Yes, I have a problem!)

Bit of a mismatch of photos there but wanted to give you a good view of this gorgeous coat and how well it matches the shades, textures and patterns of my existing winter wardrobe.

Another new discovery is this lovely rust nail polish from Nails Inc, called Fenchurch Street.

This shade is the perfect winter warmer for your nails!  It is versatile enough to look cosy in the day time but classy in the evening and is wonderfully pigmented.  One coat was enough to give an even all over colour (but I did two just in case!) and finished with Nails Inc Kensington Caviar Top Coat.

Sorry for the slightly disjointed post, I still have MUCH of my Christmas goodies to review so please bear with me..!

Also wanted to say thanks as I had my most views ever 2 days ago, I'll endeavour to keep you entertained..!

P.s. Don't forget that the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette goes on sale on Debenhams.com at midnight tonight (Friday 6th Jan), I will most definitely be trying to get my hands on one!

NYE: Day to Night

So, first things first.... HAPPY 2012!

Vest, blazer and jeans: Topshop
Trainers: Converse.  (I actually got these in China some time circa. 2006...!)
Fur: Topshop
Bracelet and Necklace: Thomas Sabo

Hope everyone had a great New Years Eve and here's to the year ahead...
This is what I wore during the day AND night for New Years Eve, with a few minor adjustments...!  Because I had a 2 and a half hour drive up the M6 to Manchester for my celebrations I needed to travel light and be ready for a quick change on arrival.  So, I packed my trusty Miss Selfridge 'Acne-a-like' boots to add a bit of height and my brand spanking new Too Faced 'In Your Dreams' palette and I was good to go...

Foundation: Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NC25

Bronzer: Mac in Refined Golden

Blusher: Too Faced in Wanna Play?

Lip Gloss: Too Faced in Give it Up

Brows: Benefit Brow Zing in Light

Mascara: Benefit Bad Gal Lash

On arrival I simply reapplied foundation around my T zone and under my eyes, added a few extra lashings of mascara and opted for a classic purple smoky eye.

Eyes: 

Lid to brow bone: Too Faced Eye Shadow in Full Moon (silver shimmer)

Lid: Too Faced Eye Shadow in Dream On (dark violet)

Crease and Lash Line: Too Faced Eye Shadow in Seduce (midnight blue)

This is the first time I have used this combination as instructed in the beautiful palette and I was really pleased with the result.  Although I was initially concerned as the shadows weren't as pigmented as they appeared in the palette, as I began to layer them up they blended beautifully and were actually just dark enough to create a dramatic yet classy smoky eye.  The purple really made my hazel eyes pop!

I'm becoming quite a fan of Too Faced shadows, have you tried any before? Are there any I need in my collection?

Happy New Year everyone!

Comfort is Key...!

So. It's that time of year again.  The excitement of Christmas has been and gone and no longer can we lazy students ignore the impending doom of essay deadlines and January exams!
Unfortunately for me, this means I have been spending most of my life in the library.  As you can imagine, turning up to the library in floaty dresses furs and sparkles isn't really the done thing (... maybe I should change this?!)  so I've been making use of cosy jumpers to keep snug and comfortable!

Jumper: River Island

Boots: Miss Selfridge

Vest: Topshop

Cable knit jumpers are big news this season and this one is a personal favourite.  I found it in River Island a few months ago and was drawn to its unusual swing cut.  The shape is really easy to wear and just an interesting new take on an old classic.  I must admit however that my arms tend to get a little cold when I wear this so it probably isn't the most practical of warm jumpers but a favourite none the less!

I also got a chance to try out my new La-Tweez illuminating tweezers and must say I am VERY impressed!  Will be posting about those tomorrow, a nice little break from essay hell...!

Hope you're not working too hard, any revision tips out there?!

Until next time...

Boxing Day and Review: Enrapture Encode Totem Styler

I am currently writing this filled to the brim with food and drink, sat by the fire and surrounded by family...  HAPPY PLACE!
In my family, Boxing Day is almost more important than Christmas day as it's the day when the whole of my dad's family comes to visit.  Because of that I always make an extra effort to look smart and ready to entertain!

Dress: Urban Outfitters
Boots: Miss Selfridge

This dress is my absolute favourite recent purchase!
After singing at a wedding I had 2 hours to kill in Bath and, being me, decided to do so in the city's shopping centre!  Since there's no Urban Outfitter in Nottingham or in Ye Olde Countryside, that was my first port of call! And there it was.
I really love the colour of this dress.  The print is discrete and the shape is ladylike but also fun with the cut out panels in the back.  I paired it with opaques and my black Acne style ankle boots from Miss Selfridge (I wear these TO DEATH) to keep it reasonably casual but it could easily be dressed up with bare legs and peep toes.  I know I will be wearing this again at the first possible opportunity!

I kept my makeup simple with my usual day to day look, a a little bronzer, a little blusher and some added High Beam (highlighter) to give my skin a dewy glow.

It's also the first day I've been able to play with my Christmas goodies!

I went straight for the Enrapture Encode Totem Styler.

EXCITING.

I have been looking for hair curlers for a while but when I read about these online I knew they were the ones for me!  The unique barrel tong has three sections which can be set to different temperatures to create the perfect curl, as loose or as tight as you'd like them to be!

Just spin the dial to set the temperature of your choice.  I opted for 1-2-1 giving me a defined curl that starts and ends gradually.  I used the flipper to clamp my hair at the bottom and curl it away from my face and held it there for about 10 seconds per curl.

As you can see, I'm really quite pleased with the result!  I curled my hair at around 10:30 this morning and as I am typing this 12 hours later my curls are just as defined and bouncy!

Overall I am really pleased with these curlers.  They heat up quickly, the flipper holds the hair in place unlike other curlers I have used in the past and the results are just what I was looking for.  I can't wait to try out different combinations and styles, I'm sure I'll be posting again.

Have you used these curlers before? Or will you be buying them in the future?

Hope everyone has had a lovely Boxing Day!

A little present from me to you... I'M BACK!

So... Santa brought me a camera charger. Wonderful news for my poor neglected blog.  Luckily enough I haven't completely forgotten how to type or take photos so I hope my little break hasnt changed anything too drastically!

First things first, A BIG FAT MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you!
I have been well and truly spoilt which means plenty of updates over the next few days!
I have much to share...

This is what I wore today,

Dress: Dress Up Topshop
Boots: Miss Selfridge
Necklace and Bracelet: Thomas Sabo

Nice and simple as you can see.  I ordered this dress online for the Uni Music Society's Christmas Do and couldn't have been happier with it when it arrived!  The material is thick and the shape is flattering.  I usually steer away from backless dresses, I tend to think they're meant for skinny girls but actually this one is fine and has become one of my favourites!

In my stocking was a lovely set from Nails Inc (thanks Mum!) and I couldnt wait to try them out.

St Pancras - A tomato red, burgundy shade.
Paddington - Slate Gray, green undertones
Fenchurch Street - Brick orange
Charing Cross - Orangey Red

I opted for Paddington, a gorgeous shade of slate grey with green undertones.  I topped it up with the Nails Inc Kensington Topcoat for some added shine.  It really is a lovely shade and I know it is going to match my dress for tomorrow just as well as it has worked today, very versatile!
The coverage is great, a thin bottom layer and a second slightly thicker layer was all I needed for a good opague splash of colour.  I can't wait to try out the rest!

Did you get any exciting Christmas goodies?
Tomorrow I am going to try my new Encode Totem Styler (Curling tongs!) review will follow shortly after.

Until next time.... (promise not to leave it too long..!!)

...me again!

Hello all!
So, on Monday I moved back up to university into a new house with 5 other girls (EXCITING!) hence why I have been quiet over the last few days!  There is so much unpacking to do and I have an inordinate/embarrassing amount of cosmetics/beauty products/clothes/general crap that I probably don't need!  So, considering how busy I've been, I've not had a whole lot of time to post.  With that in mind, I thought I'd give you a snippet of my room and the general mess I'm living in!

As you can see, it's all very much a work in progress but it's exciting to be able to put your stamp on a room and do something different and new.
My wardrobe is absolutely STUFFED.  It's a struggle to get anything in/out of there.  Just done a huge clear out but I think I'll have to do another...


The only other thing I have been up to is a cheeky bit of baking for my friend Sam's birthday.  I donned my Cath Kidston apron and whipped up some red velvet cupcakes.

Ingredients

60g butter at room temperature

1 egg

150g caster sugar

10g cocoa

10ml red food colouring

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

120ml buttermilk

150g plain flour

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp white wine vinegar

Frosting

300g icing sugar, sifted

50g butter at room temperature

125g cream cheese, chilled

1. Preheat the oven to 180C.

2. Cream the butter, egg and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. In a separate bowl mix the cocoa powder, food colouring and vanilla extract. Once mixed add to the creamed mixture.

4. Mix carefully until combined and then add half the buttermilk, mix further and add half the flour and the baking powder. Mix thoroughly before adding the remainder of the buttermilk and flour and mixing further.

5. Add the white wine vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and salt and mix thoroughly for at least 5 mins.

6. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 mins or until the cupcakes spring back slightly when touched.

7. Allow the cupcakes to cool slightly before turning out onto a wire cooling rack.

8. In the meantime, to make the frosting cream the icing sugar and butter together until well mixed.

9. Add the cream cheese and mix until it is incorporated. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy for at least 5 mins.

10. Use a spatula to layer the frosting on top of the cupcakes.

EAT! and show off to your friends.  The red colour of the sponge always surprises people and they taste great.

More from me soon, sorry again for my mini hiatus!  I am attempting to build an ikea bookcase today... wish me luck!

A snippet of London

I'm back from the most fabulous mini trip to London!  Very tired today but it was worth it.  I kept falling asleep on the train home and waking up to a man watching me. Alarming. But THAT is how tired I am!
I started the day at Paddington, ready to peruse Topshop on Oxford Street (and embarrassingly head to toe in recent Topshop purchases...!)

Dress: Topshop
Cardigan: Topshop
Bag: Topshop
Hat: New Look
Bracelet: Thomas Sabo
Belt: River Island
Lipstick: Topshop in Rumour Has It


This dress is so wearable and comfy but must admit it doesn't cope well with the gusts of wind in the London underground!  I was accidentally giving a bit of an eyeful to passers by all morning, as well as trying to keep hold of my hat!


I walked up and down Oxford street from 11 until 4, soaking up the buzz of fashion week and getting my fill of the high street.  Later, my friend Annabel and I headed to Borough market and found a delightful little tea room in which to indulge in MACARONS! (a personal fave!)

Just look at the size of those meringues! And here are the macarons themselves, vanilla, strawberry and chocolate.

They really were beautiful, and not just to look at!

In the evening, we headed to Clapham for a night on the tiles and we had SUCH a great time.  I wore a black and white polka dot dress (didn't get a pic I'm afraid!) to match my polka dot nails and did my hair and make up like this:

Foundation: Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NC25

Concealer: Benefit Erase Paste in no. 2 Medium

Bronzer: Mac in Refined Golden

Blusher: Topshop in Flushed

Lipstick: Topshop in Pillow Talk

Eyebrows: Benefit Brow-zing!

Mascara: DiorShow Extase

Eyelashes: Eylure Naturalites

I curled my hair using GHDs.

I'm gutted a didnt get a good photo of this dress because I am head over heels for it!  I also have it in a plain Oxblood colour (yes, I know! More Oxblood!) and it really is the most wonderfully flattering shape.  I paired it with black opaques and patent platform heels.

Hope you girls have had a lovely weekend too!

Olivia Palermo at NYFW

When this photo of Olivia Palermo looking stunning at the Tibi Spring 2012 show at New York Fashion Week popped up on my screen I was firstly jealous of those legs (wow!) and that glossy hair (swoon) but also loving how she always manages to mix basic separates and create such glamour.
If you're anything like me, you'll want to emulate this for your next night out on the town or dinner date but Tibi is WELL out of my price range!
With this in mind, hit the high street!

These leather Oasis beauties are pricey but well worth investing it.  Leather is key for the next few seasons and this lovely Taupe shade will match your winter jewel tones and your summer pastels.  If you dont already own a pussy bow blouse, you must!  It will be one of the hardest working items you own.  Dressed up or dressed down, always chic.   These Misguided heels are a dead ringer for Olivia's Charlotte Olympia Pumps at a tenth of the price and with Leopard set to be huge, they will take you straight through the party season.

I love this look and I love Olivia.

What do you think? Can this woman do any wrong?!

Loveee

At a Glance.... HOBBS.

So, as mentioned earlier in the week today was SHOPPING DAY!  And my was it successful!

I got some lovely bits and pieces from Topshop and River Island which I will share in the next few days.

My mum was looking for something nice to wear for work so we decided to pop into Hobbs.  Hobbs is obviously very expensive and I would usually view it as a shop for a slightly older woman but I am so in love with their AW collection that I thought I'd share a quick snapshot of my faves!

The prints and the shapes are just delicious.  It's the right mix of Chelsea cool and 40s glamour.

I particularly love the wool collar, which also comes in scarlet red, that adds a burst of colour and texture to coats, jackets, jumpers etc.

The black, camel and russet blouse has really unusual, lovely, studded leather strap detailing on the collar and the sleeves and would look great with a cigarette pant.  I think I may invest in the hat.  Yes it is pricey but it sits so well (unlike my new look one!) and I simply CAN'T resist!
So, what do you think? Worth the money?

The sun has got his hat on...

This is actually from a few days ago, in case you couldn't tell from the dismal weather of the past few days!

Top: Topshop (old)
Skirt: Ark
Shoes: Tescos
Hat: New Look
Ring: JWLRY


Nail Polish is Models Own in Lilac Dream

Apologies for the squinting but it was just that time of day when the sun hits you right in the eyes! 

I had to take these snaps outside by the fields because they looked so pretty.  I'm going to have to start carrying my camera around because I often see views/outfits/general scenes that I'd love to share.

Because this was a few days ago I have little to share about what I did!  I simply shopped in Stratford Upon Avon with my mum, I can assure you it isn't the retail haven I would like it to be!  Hopefully going shopping on Friday so will let you know if I find anything of note!

Until then...