Friday 5 December 2014

Fabulous Friday: Party Favours

Happy Friday! How was your week? As we are now firmly in to December, I felt it was definitely time for a post about party wear!
There's some amazing pieces out there and lots of brands have offers on party stuff at the moment so it's a great opportunity to invest in that Christmas party piece. Here's a small selection of my favourite pieces which I think are festively fit for the season!

1. Lavish Alice Black Sequinned Cropped Centre Split Maxi Dress- £58 If you want to make an entrance then this is the perfect dress to do so. It's chic and classy and will definitely turn some heads!

2. Missguided Feather Trim Crop Top- was £24.99, now £19.99, and Mini Skirt was £24.99, now £19.99. I love this co-ord set! It's so cute but perfect for a party, and moving away from the standard LBD.

3. Dorothy Perkins Bronze Sequin Shift Dress- was £65, now £45.50. You can't have the festive season without some sparkle, and this dress is perfect. I love the winter berry colour and the fit is very classic.

4. Parisian at New Look Black Embellished Dress- £29.99. This super cute embellished LBD is a great staple to have in your wardrobe and would make a great go-to party dress. A brilliant price too!

5. Michelle Keegan for Lipsy Embroidered Playsuit- £55. I love this playsuit! It's super versatile as you could wear this in the summer too due to the colour mix of black and nude.




So which one would you pick? Have you already got your party outfit sorted? I have a couple coming up and still need to get sorted! Enjoy your parties and wrap up warm!

Friday 28 November 2014

Fabulous Friday: Black Friday Fashion

Happy Black Friday!

Have you braved the madness in the shops? Or are you waiting in the queue to get access to a website? Either way everyone is out to grab the best deals in the preparation for Christmas.
This Friday's post has brought together a few fashionable items that I feel are worth investing in on this discount day! Of course this is a mere drop in the ocean of what's available out there but these are my favourite winter picks, which I feel are great wardrobe additions. Don't hang around!




1. Topshop Fairisle Yoke Jumper: £25 (was £36). I love love love this jumper! It's very festive and appropriate for the time of year, but it's traditional so will last you through many winters to come and still look on trend! A great price at £25 too.

2. Zara 70s Doll T-shirt: £15.99 (was £19.99). Super cute and a bit Moschino-esqu! Although the reduction isn't huge, this T-shirt is a great piece to update your basic t-shirts with.

3. Cooperative Teddy Coat in Navy: £77 (was £110) Available at Urban Outfitters. This coat is so now! Fluffy and soft but in a classic navy colour which makes it a little more versatile than the pastel colours we are seeing elsewhere. A reasonable price  for an investment coat too!

4. Zara Chain Detail Boots: £47.99 (was £59.99). These boots are so classic and at less than £50 you can't resist them! Classic black with subtle chain detail around the heel. These are too good to be left in the shop!!!


5. Urban Outfitters Faux Fur Pom Hat in Brown: £14 (was £28). I love the vintage feel to this UO hat. The faux fur looks real and the cute pom on top adds a bit of fun to a more formal looking hat than your average fluffy pom pom knitted hat.



So what do you think? Let me know what deals you manage to get! There's loads out there but don't go crazy!
The following are also offering amazing deals not to be missed!:
Asos: 20% off
Banana Republic: 30% off instore
Boden: 30% off
Cath Kidston: 15% off
House of Fraser: up to 40% off
Kurt Geiger: 20% off until midnight Sunday.
Miss Selfridge: up to 50% off
River Island: 20% off between 11am and 3pm today
Tobi: 50% off
Warehouse: 25% off
Whistles: 25% off
Wildfox: 20% off
Selfridges: 20% off

Good luck and Happy Shopping!




Friday 14 November 2014

Fabulous Friday: Love the Fluff

Happy Friday everyone! How have you all been?
I've had a really busy week starting a new job. It has been quite challenging.
My Friday post this week is all about fluff and fur! I love wrapping up in a faux fur scarf or hat. And coats!!! This winter I have noticed so much more effort going in to fur designs- bags, keyrings, shoes. You can get practically anything with a touch of fluff to it!
I've picked a mix of real and faux fur. Real fur on sale today is still somewhat controversial, but the choice ultimately comes down to you. I have included designer Charlotte Simone who has real and faux fur alternatives to her designs. So here it is:

1. River Island Cream Faux Fur Oversized Coat- £100. RI are really on form with the faux fur this season. This coat looks super luxe and more expensive than £100. It's got a classic feel to it and won't go out of style after this winter season. A safe sure investment for your winter wardrobe!

2. Monki Furia Faux Fur Cross Body Bag- £25. Quirky camo pattern on faux fur. The colours are easy to pair with most outfits but are something different from basic black. A super affordable price too! Available at ASOS.

3. Charlotte Simone Popsicle Fur Scarf- £299. I love these scarves so much, and there is one definitely on my Christmas list. The great thing about Charlotte Simone designs is that the choice is yours- real fur or faux fur. More colours and designs available.

4. Dune faux fur keyrings- Jangles and Jaffa- both £15. The little balls of fluff look great on a handbag, or on the zip of a furry clutch for complete fur impact! A really affordable wardrobe update. Jangles is available in black and berry, Jaffa is available in Berry, Teal and Black.


5. Finally, a bit of fluffy fun! This New Look Pink Faux Fur Cat Clutch is so cute!!! It adds a bit of humour to a day or night time outfit but still looks stylish! Also comes in Black- £19.99.



So what do you think of my selection? There's so much great faux and fantasy fur out there at the moment, plus some amazing vintage fur pieces available at vintage fairs and online, you're spoilt for choice! What would you pick? Where can you recommend some great faux fur pieces?

Have a fab weekend!

Friday 7 November 2014

Fabulous Friday: Jazzy Jackets

How have you all been this week? I think we've all noticed the drop in temperature lately! I love winter so I'm feeling happier now I can start to bring out my proper winter wardrobe. Boots, scarves, hats, gloves and big handbags! Like many I have still been rushing around everywhere so haven't really found it suitable to get my full-on, longer winter coats out. A warm jacket with hat and scarf has sufficed. So this week I'm picking out 5 of the best jackets around (in my opinion!) with some lovely scarves to accessorise with!




Jackets

1. Joules Moredale Quilted Jacket in Deep Pink- £89.95. The quilted jacket is a wardrobe basic these days, and many brands offer the same types of jacket. I love this Joules one because of the pink colour. It's girly without being sickly. If you're not a fan though it also comes in black, navy and green.

2. Whistles Cassie Boucle Knitted Jacket- £155. With wool and mohair mixed in to the composition of this jacket, this is perfect for dashing around the city as it will keep you warm but is easy to throw on and off. This would look great dressed up with a fur scarf or kept casual with a cotton wrap. It's very classic too so will last you through some seasons.

3. Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Tartan Print Jacket- £59.90. Tartan and checks are 'so in' this winter (if you haven't already noticed!) so this jacket is a practical and functional way of getting in on the trend. It gives a nod to Moschino tartan a few years ago, and due to its super light nature, this jacket is easy to put in your bag if you don't need it when you're out and about.


4. French Connection Felix Checkered Cape £185. Capes are huge right now so I couldn't not include one in this post. This FC cape is subtle but on trend and would look great with jeans and boots or dressed up with leather trousers and heels.

5. Topshop Ultimate Faux Leather Biker Jacket- £58. I have loved this every since I saw it a couple of months ago. It's the perfect jacket to layer up with a jumper and the faux fur collar will keep your neck warm!

Scarves

Zara Checked Scarf- £19.99. This is a wardrobe staple! It will look amazing swathed around your neck and shoulders and is so versatile.

Banana Republic Cashmere Scarf- £79.50. A timeless luxurious scarf that will definitely keep your neck warm year after year. Comes in 5 colours- Black, pale pink, ivory, heather grey and dark anthracite.

Jack Wills Welbury Snood- £24.50. Simple but stylish, this snood comes in 3 colours- grey, petrol and white. Perfect with a quilted jacket.

Zara Faux Fur Snood in Contrast Dot print- £29.99. A glam faux fur snood to add to a boyfriend coat or blazer gives a great laid back luxe look. At only £29.99, this Zara one is perfect.

So which jacket and scarf would you pick? What have you been wearing this week?

Have a warm weekend!

Friday 31 October 2014

Fabulous Friday: Feeling Fit

Happy Friday and Happy Halloween to everyone!
Today's post is centred around work out gear! I've never been one for sport but never favoured being out of shape, and I love chocolate far too much to give it up! I never really found a sport that suited me, but when I went to uni I found that the gym suited me. I could go at my own pace, I wasn't feeling pressured by other team members and if something didn't go to plan then I would only let myself down and not a load of other people.
As I wasn't so fond of exercise though, I did struggle to find good work out gear that didn't cost me a fortune. I wanted good quality stuff but not your Nike and Adidas mega £££ stuff. Sure, sports direct was great for a while but so boring when everyone has the same things as you.
Last week I signed up to the new Kate Hudson range- Fabletics. You get 2 to 3 pieces for 1 price starting at £44 and you can get new stuff every month. If you don't want anything one month, you'll need to remember to 'skip' so that you don't pay anything that month. New customers get a set for £22 so I thought it was worth a try.

I chose the 'Volt' set which includes:
- Oula tank top
- Salar Capri bottoms
- Ayni Sports bra


When they arrived I was really pleased. The fabric is really good quality, thick and stretchy with the sweat wicking technology you expect as a standard these days. The patterns are really good too- they don't thin when you stretch the fabrics and are different without being too 'in your face'. The sizes fit really well too.

You can sign up to Fabletics here.

If you're not sure, I've picked out some other great sportswear pieces at reasonable prices:



1. H&M Sports Tights £19.99. I love the pattern of these, plus the waistband is super comfy and the pocket at the back is perfect for essentials!
2. Sweaty Betty Double time run tank £60. A bit more pricey than the rest but an unusual and high quality top that is worth the investment!
3. F&F Active Space Print Trim Vest £15. A basic top which is a necessity to any work out! Great to jazz up a plain gym outfit with the galaxy print trim.


Are you a gym bunny or a team sports player? What are your favourite items to work out in?


Saturday 25 October 2014

Fabulous Friday: Feeling Frozen

Firstly apologies that this Friday post is coming to you on a Saturday... I do have an excuse! Yesterday I went straight from work to my manager's leaving drinks and didn't get home until it was technically Saturday so didn't get to finish this off. Anyway.
This week I've chosen a frozen inspired theme. Frozen in every sense of the word- the weather and the film! Now as I'm sure you're aware, it's not actually that cold, which is really annoying me. I love the cold and being able to wrap up in a coat, a scarf, a hat and gloves, and this mild weather is not allowing me to do so. Hopefully writing about the cold will coax it to get colder! I love 'Frozen' the Disney film too, and the colours in the outfits of the characters, and the winter have been an inspiration for these picks.


1. Lipsy Embellished Jumper: £38. I love love love this jumper! The colour is so wintery and very Elsa from Frozen. The snowflake sparkle detailing adds something different to this otherwise casual jumper. Get it here.
2. Ted Baker Embellished Collar Cape in Pink: £269. This comes in small, medium and large, so really easy sizing wise. This reminded me a bit of Anna's cape in Frozen but I love the snowy pale pink and the sparkly neck which would look amazing making an entrance at your next party. Available at John Lewis here.
3. Massimo Dutti Apres Ski collection Trousers: This whole collection by MD is ski bunny chic, but these trousers look so comfy and flattering. They dark wolfy grey is a nice change from black. £79.95 from the website.
4. Ugg Australia Igloo Shearling Gloves: Get a good pair of gloves and they will last you for years. With the shearling trim these are definitely worth investing in and have a traditional Nordic feel to them. £133 at Luisa Via Roma.
5. Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Gilet: £39.90. A more sophisticated gilet than your average one, this is packable, squashable yet simple. It looks expensive with the quilt effect and comes in a range of colours but my favourite is this off white colour. Available in store or online.
6. Finally, some sparkle to go with any outfit, be it with the Lipsy jumper under the Uniqlo gilet or with a party dress, this necklace will had some of Frozen's Elsa's sparkle to any outfit. You can't afford to miss it at only £12.50 from BHS.

That's it for this week. What do you think? In the cold weather you need to be warm but you can easily look fabulous too. Accessories really add to any casual outfit so it's always important to remember your add ons. Happy Weekend!

Tuesday 21 October 2014

Glossybox: Pop Art

For my birthday, my wonderful boyfriend got me a year subscription to Glossybox. As you all know from some of my previous posts, I love getting a monthly delivery of make up. It's so exciting waiting for what's going to be new.
October's box was a special edition pop art design, which I loved. The boxes are always useful to store stuff in but I like to have the more special ones out on display storing everyday things I need to use, so this one will be a great addition.

This month I received:
1. Nuxe Creme Fraiche De Beaute Mask (Full size product- 50ml) worth £19.50
2. Etre Belle Cosmetics Liplift Peel (Full size product- 15ml) worth £10.20
3. So Susan Cosmetics Flutter Mascara (Full size product- 4ml) worth £14.95
4. Ciate London Paint Pot (Full size- 13.5ml) worth £9.
5. Yves Rocher France Quelques Notes D'amour (5ml bottle) worth £5.50.
6. Rimmel London BB Cream Matte (8ml bottle) worth £2.

So in total this box was worth £61.15 and I got 4 full sized products which is pretty good!
I've been really excited to use the Nuxe face mask and Etre Belle lip peel as my skin has been suffering lately. I always have dry lips which is really annoying when it comes to wearing lipstick as it just dries them out more, so I'm hoping a few uses of the lip peel will help to solve this!
I'm always excited to get new mascara as it's a basic for me when it comes to make up. Even when I'm feeling a bit ill or I'm just in the house for the day I still always put some mascara on. I'd never heard of So Susan Cosmetics before so I had a look at their website. It looks pretty cool as, like with glossybox, you can earn loyalty points. I haven't cracked open the mascara yet as I have 1 or 2 to use beforehand.

I have loads of Ciate paint pots already but didn't have this colour- PP032 Unrestricted Glam. It's a black colour which is perfect for Halloween coming up but also for the party season. It looks great and as we know, black goes with anything.

When I opened to box and saw the mini perfume, I thought oh dear. Anyone who knows me will be aware that I have a huge amount of perfume... I tend to get bought perfume for any occasion where a gift needs to be given and although it's a lovely gift and I highly appreciate it, I have so many now that I don't think I need to buy perfume for the next 10 years. On smelling this little bottle of Yves Rocher, however, I decided to forget about the stash I have. This honestly smells so amazing. It's got just the right level of floral, without being a bit old lady esque and smells divine. It's meant to have rose, guaiac wood and patchouli. I will definitely be buying this in full size when I've cut down on my perfume hoard.

Finally the Rimmel BB cream- I have to confess I still haven't tried any BB cream, so when I got this mini sized one I thought this was the perfect opportunity. Watch this space!

So overall I can say I'm pretty impressed with this box! Are you a glossybox subscriber? Or do you use another company such as Birchbox? Who do you think is the best?