July Wish List

My wish list this month has been building since early June! There are more items than this this month but I thought I'd focus on these, which are my musts for July.

1. NARS Highlighting Powder, Albatross 

Since buying my MUA Shimmer Highlight, which I love, I've been researching to find another highlighting powder that isn't quite as shimmery, that can be worn on a daily basis. I've been recommended the NARS Highlighting Powder in Albatross by Daniella Beauty Junkie and thought it was definitely worth a try. You could buy this from a NARS counter - but unfortunately we don't have one of those in Cornwall, so online it is! I've found it at John Lewis for £21.50.

2. Essie Nail Polish, Cascade Cool

I don't yet own any Essie polishes (chock, horror!) and would really like to get my hands on a couple this month. The first is this sweet dusky pink, Cascade Cool. This is such a pretty colour and could well become a staple for me. I've had a look around online and there are some really great offers on eBay at the moment on Essie nail polishes, with some at just £3.99. Bargain!

3. Embryolisse Lait Creme Concentre

This is something I've heard a lot about over the last few months and has apparently been a staple in most makeup artists kit for years - um, where have I been?! I discovered this again on Daniella's blog. This is a perfect base to makeup, as well as being a smooth, delicate cream that nourishes areas of dryness and protects your skin from environmental aggressors. To me, it sounds like the perfect addition to anyone's skincare and makeup routine. You can get this from Cult Beauty, £18.50.

4. Essie Nail Polish, Butler Please

My second Essie nail polish wish this month is Butler Please, this gorgeous bright blue lacquer. I've never worn a blue nail polish of this bright shade before, so really looking forward to trying it. Again this one can be found on eBay for just £3.99.

5. Marc by Marc Jacobs Watch, model no: MBM 3102

I am obsessed. These watches are simply gorgeous and for about three months now I have been obsessing about when I will be able to get my hands on one. So maybe this month ? Maybe. Ladies Marc Jacobs watches are available in various designs and colours, but my favourite is this one, which is rose gold plated, with chronograph, rose dot hour markers and the Marc Jacobs engraved around the face. Available from John Lewis at £259, I think I might have to save a little. Be worth it thought with this beautiful gem on my arm!

6. New Look, Light Blue Washed Effect Denim Jacket

I actually had a cropped denim jacket a number of years ago and took it to a charity shop a little while back. What?! Stupid me because now I want a new one! This one from New Look is really cute and at £17.99 is great value. Perfect to team with a maxi dress and sandals this summer.

Are any of these wishes on your list too? Would love to hear from you! 

Deetz; A Label to Love

Flicking through a magazine today, I came across a really cool label that I'd not heard of before; Deetz. This print-led line, created by Scottish designers Amy Currie and Lauren Milligan and inspired by Winona Ryder's character in Beetlejuice, launched earlier this year.

The collection includes playsuits, dresses, tops and scarves and with the cost of these gorgeous pieces starting from £205, it's not something I'm going to be able to afford to rush out and buy, BUT, the pieces themselves deserve some attention. It's no wonder in my opinion, that Harvey Nichols has already snapped up the line for it's stores.

I've picked out a few of my favourite pieces, starting with the La Famille Top, £265. This top is made from 100% silk crepe de chine and digitally printed to enhance the brightness of the graphics. 

It has a snakeskin embossed pattern on the front of the top and (my favourite), a detachable leather collar! Wearing it here with a leather, pleated skirt and pointed black boots, it's such a cute, wearable look.

The second piece I particularly like is the Direction Playsuit, £295. With it's all over triangle print, candy colours and green silk collar, it looks really cute with a waist belt and boots. 

I really love the playsuit look and this one is certainly different, which is a huge plus in my opinion. Again, this is made from the highest quality 100 per cent silk crepe de chine and therefore must be dry cleaned, but who cares when the piece is so cute! It's worth the dry cleaning bill, right?

The last piece I particularly like from this collection is the Pixel Parfait Cape Dress, £365. The soft hues of this lavender and pale green dress, plus its detachable 100% leather belt and elasticated neckline, makes this dress truly stunning. 

This dress has so many ticks, it even has an elasticated hem so that you can adjust its length! It's such a shame that the price is totally out of my league!

I really love this collection and think it has something for everyone, so dig deep ladies!

What do you think of this little gem of a label? Would you invest in a key piece for your wardrobe?

Festival Outfit from New Look

It's festival season and with the weather showing some hope for summer, I thought I'd put together a summer festival look, all for under £105, from New Look. 

Tousled Hair

The perfect festival hairstyle is one that doesn't need much maintenance and this look is perfect. The tousled waves are easy to maintain with a 'scrunch and go'. They look relaxed and effortless, letting you enjoy yourself without worrying about where to plug in your straighteners!

Light Blue Dress

This Light Blue Floral Crochet Neck Sleeveless Dress, for just £19.99, comes in brown and navy as well as blue and is really girlie and flirting. The high neck is really cute and I love the crochet detail.

Suede Fringe Bag

You always need somewhere to put you phone, purse, sunglasses, sun cream and rechargeable torch (!) and this cute Tan Suede Fringe Back Pack, £29.99, is perfect for holding all your necessaries.

With this bag being a back pack too, your hands are free! Perfect! The fringe detail is really lovely and adds a sense of festival chic!

Ethnic Necklace

This White and Gold Ethnic Bead Statement Necklace, £14.99,  would look gorgeous layered over the crochet neckline of the light blue dress. Statement necklaces are so on trend right now and with this piece, a statement would definitely be made. 

Leather Boots

These are adorable! Sensible footwear is a must on a festival field and these Tan Leather Glitter Back Ankle Boots, just £25 (reduced from £54.99!), are perfectly girlie, to team up with the light blue dress. 

I love the fact that these boots are plain to the first glance and incredibly sparkly and a feminine on the back. Love these! You'll be the envy of your friends when you have dry, comfortable feet with added sparkle!

Sunglasses

These Nude Diamanté Square Frame Sunglasses, £7.99, are a must for the festival season, especially if the sun stays out! You want to be able to see you favourite bands without squinting and looking pretty cool at the same time. So, what better way than with these cute sunnies!

Cuff Bracelet

I love cuffs and stack bracelets and this Gold and Orange Zig Zag Stretch Cuff, £6.99, is perfect for this festival look. The colour beads tie in with the back pack and boots and finishes off the outfit, with a touch of glam. Perfect!

Let me know if you've bought any of these and whether you're wearing them to a festival this year!

Primark Summer Haul

Popping into the Tottenham Court Road Primark (which is by far my favourite of the Primark  stores in London), I picked up a load of really cute summer bargains, to boost my wardrobe. 

I'm going on holiday soon, so I thought it was about time I started thinking about my holiday wardrobe and thought I'd share some of the bits I bought with you.

The first is this really cute cross body bag, in grey, which was just £7. I like to carry lots of bits and pieces when I'm out and about on holiday, so this bag is perfect, as it has lots of pockets and is cross body, so my hands are free. Always a plus. 

The strap is a good length and is adjustable and I especially like the plait and buckle detail on the front pocket. Very cute. 

I don't seem to be able to go into any store without being drawn to the makeup isle but I have to admit, Primark was not a place I thought I was likely to see any makeup that I would like. However, I did! 

This lovely Eye Shadow & Shades Palette, with eight gorgeous summery shades, mirror and applicator brush, attracted my eye straight away and for just £2.50, I had to buy it!

The colours are gorgeous, ranging through the dusky pinks and greys, to the green, purple and browns. I'm really excited about trialling and reviewing this palette, to see if the shadows are as pigmented as they look!

I also love the fact that some thought has gone into the packaging of this palette, with the cute Japanese inspired pink bird and flower lid. Love this.

The next cute item I picked up and thought I'd share with you is this White & Navy Striped Tube Dress, £8.

The reason I thought I would share this with you is because  if you're like me and under 5'5", you will probably have tried on about a gazillion maxi dresses and skirts and found them all way too long!! 

So when I tried this dress on and found that even when wearing flats, this dress skims my ankles, I leapt into the air and let out a small squeal of excitement! I've finally found a maxi dress that doesn't swamp me! It was a very exciting moment.

What I also love about this dress is the slightly elasticated waist, which creates a lovely shape around the waist and across the bust. I can see how this would look really lovely with a tan coloured belt too, if I want to dress it up a little.

The next item I'm sharing is this really cute Nevada Sunshine Highway Racer Back Vest, which was just £3. 

I bought this item in a much larger size than usual (I'm usually a 10 and I bought a 14), as I wanted this vest to look oversized and relaxed, when wearing it with denim shorts.

I really love printed t-shirts and jumpers at the moment and this vest is the perfect combination of print and gorgeous pastel colours (which are also my favourite as we're coming into warmer months). I'm really looking forward to wearing this with denim shorts, an oversized handbag, flip flops and sunnies at the airport!

The final bargain I'm sharing with you from my Primark Summer Haul are these really cute Paisley Denim Shorts. 

These shorts were just £7, have a really cute draw string waist and turn-ups. They're a twist on the standard denim shorts and I absolutely love the paisley print. 

They're a really light weight denim too, so perfect for hot, sticky holiday days or could be dressed up in the evening with a cute white peplum top or swing vest and white pumps.

I hope you like these bits I've shared with you today. Let me know if you've got any of these or whether there are any maxi dresses or skirts out there, suitable for my height, that I may have missed!

June Wish List

There's a definite summer feel to my June wish list! We've had a glimpse of warmer weather these last couple weeks, so I'm hoping it's safe for me to wish in this way!

Vest & Shorts
I'm loving the summer collection at New Look this year and especially this Aztec Front Tank Top vest, £7.99, in it's white, pinks, greens and yellows. It looks gorgeous with the neon pink shorts and would look cute dressed up with jeans and heels too. It's a definite on my summer wardrobe list, along with my other Aztec items!

I also really love their Neon Pink and Neon Orange Shorts. Your wardrobe will certainly pop with these bright neon shades and at £16.99, you can afford to have both colour options in your wardrobe!

Ambre Solaire Golden Protect
This new sun lotion from Ambre Solaire, illuminates the skin with a golden shimmer and to me, that sounds divine! It also claims to leave an irresistible holiday fragrance on the skin, whilst it protects, nourishes and hydrates, which is a winner for me. 

After all, you need to apply so much sun lotion to be safe in the sun, so why not shimmer while you're at it! 

A 200ml bottle of Golden Protect is available at Superdrug for just £7.48, saving a whopping £7.51 (previously £14.99).

Retro Pastel Shades

I really, really want to get my hands on some retro, pastel sunglasses and whilst these Vintage Vienna Line Sunglasses, available from Retro Sun at £170 might be a little out of my price range, I am determined to find my dream pair, just like this, in time for the sun to shine! Wish me luck!

Glossy Box
I would really like this month to sign up to the GlossyBox subscription service, where for £10 a month, you receive a box of five surprise deluxe beauty miniatures to enjoy. 

What I love about this idea is that you get to choose products you mightn't usually and you get to try five of them every month! 

The particular box pictured above is the Glossy Box 2nd Birthday Box and I need it..... now!

Sandals
These Eden Embellished Sandals from Accessorize UK, £32, are simply stunning. I have a similar pair in gold, which I have had for a couple of years, but I especially love the aqua stones amongst the gold sequins and diamanté embellishments on this pair. They are beautiful and a summer must.

What's on your June wish list?

Matalan Aztec Top

I thought I'd share with you a little cheeky purchase I made today from Matalan. I think it's me being hopeful that we WILL get a summer this year, because I was drawn to all the strapless tops, which are so cute when the suns shining and you want to avoid those pesky tan lines!

I'm really loving Aztec print clothes which seem to be taking the fashion world by storm at the moment and my eyes were immediately drawn to this peach and black Aztec print strapless tube top at just £3! I thought it was so cute I just had to have one!

There's no especially exciting design to it, no, it's a straight tube top with a little stitching down the centre of the bust, but it is really cute all the same. I'm picturing it now with black denim shorts and flip flops!

The pattern is really gorgeous and with a hidden support inside will be fantastic for sunny days and sultry evenings. Well, I can wish can't I!

Let me know if you've picked up any Aztec pieces lately!

ASOS Maxi Skirts Galore!

Looking through the ASOS site today, for my much longer maxi skirt, I stumbled across so many lovely designs, that I thought I'd share some of my favourites with you.

1. Maxi Skirt in Floral Print with Splits, £35

I love the bold pattern and colours of this skirt. It looks gorgeously slim fitted and seems something that could be dressed down or dressed up for a work environment.

Made from a soft-touch jersey fabric, stretchy, high waisted, floral print throughout, deep splits to the hem, regular fit.

2. Oh My Love Maxi Skirt in Tall Flowers Print, £35

This beautiful floral skirt looks really floaty and girlie and I can just imagine wearing it on a warm summer evening, with a vest or crop top and flip flops.

Made from delicate sheer chiffon, stretchy, high waist, fluid main with soft pleating, deep side splits, regular fit.

3. Maxi Skirt in Aztec Print, £35

This maxi is really gorgeous. Aztec prints are so popular right now and this skirt would be right on trend. This would look great with gladiator sandals and a simple vest top.

Made from a soft easy-care jersey fabric, geometric print throughout, side split to knee, high waisted, regular fit.

4. Maxi Skirt in Grunge Stripe, £25

Monochrome is very popular right now too and this skirt is really cute. I can see this skirt on a festival field with wellies, or in the office with sandals and a blazer.

Made from printed jersey, monochrome stripe, stretch waistband, split to reverse, full length maxi cut.

5. Seafolly Brazil Maxi Skirt, £84

A little pricey for a skirt? But it's beautiful. Who can deny that these colours are simply gorgeous and would be sure to make people notice you! This is such a holiday skirt. I love it.

Bold contrast print, stretch shirred waistband, fluid maxi cut.

6. Federation Bonjour Skirt, £95

Again this one is at the much higher price range but is also really gorgeous. I love the contrast waistband too, which would look great with a crop top.

Made from a breathable woven fabric, high-rise waist with a striped waistband, all-over print, fine pleating, regular fit.

If you're more of a dungarees girl than a skirt girl, check out my dungarees post instead!

Now, which one to buy?!

Current Wardrobe Favourties

I go through phases every now and then of having a few pieces in my wardrobe that I wear again and again. At the moment I have three items in particular that are by far my favourites and  I thought I'd share them with you.

My first wardrobe favourite at the moment is my Leather Jacket from Dorothy Perkins. I love this jacket because it's light weight and is perfect for the in between stage of wearing big wool coats or nothing at all. 

I love wearing it with skinny jeans or pencil skirts and blouses but I can also see how it will look gorgeous with flirty summer dresses and boots come the warmer months.

My second favourite at the moment are my coloured jeans and in particular my Pink Love Label Jeans from Very, £25. They are so bright and cheerful and never fail to put a smile on my face. 

They look stunning with a black top and heels, for those days when it's dreary outside and you want to wear a little slice of sunshine and I'm really looking forward to wearing them with white swing vests and sandals in the summer.

My third 'can't live without' item at the moment is my Dorothy Perkins Satchel bag. I really wanted a satchel bag as I've always liked the style but I also wanted something that would fit my IPad and note book, plus all my other gazillion standard handbag items. 

This bag is really gorgeous and with the cross body strap, I can still pick up my daughter without losing my bag. Perfect!

What are your wardrobe favourites at the moment?

Brave enough for Dungarees?

I don’t know about you, but when I think of dungarees, I think of Neneh Cherry, TLC  and NSync (yes, even Justin wore dungarees once – gasp)! They're not something I would imagine blogging about, but, they’re back and some styles are actually really quite nice! With the likes of Jessie J, Rhianna, Alexa Chung and even Kim Kardashian being spotted in a tan coloured take on the classic, who am I to argue!

I've had a look on a number of high street websites to put together a collection of some of my favourite options out there. I started by looking at ASOS, one of my favourite on-line stores. 

What I'm really loving about the dungaree look is that there are loads of options on how to wear it. These three styles are really great. These Vintage Wash Dungarees, with their tapered, turn up leg, still in the classic 'wash' effect we remember, have an extra twist. They look great in this pic with heels but would look really good with Vans or Superga's too. 

The short dungaree is another way of wearing them, which again, has been updated and you can now get short dungarees with some really lovely patterns. Like these Motel Denim Dungarees in Paisley blue print. Cute or what! They have the classic middle front pocket and racer back, like the good old days, but if you went out in these, people would know instantly that you hadn't dug them out of the back of your wardrobe!

The dungaree dress is my favourite way of wearing dungarees. Slightly cheating maybe but really cute and this Joyrich Blossom Dungaree Dress, is right up my street. It incorporates this springs floral look, as talked about in my previous post, plus is just adorable too.

So, next I took at look at Topshop, where I found these two pairs, which are both lovely for different reasons.

          

The Elephant Dungaree Jumpsuit is so cute. It's a take on the classic, with a modern pattern and tapered legs. It's a really bold design and whether I would be brave enough, I'm not sure. I really love it though.

Then there's these classic Moto Vintage Denim Dungarees. Almost just how I remember them originally, just a little shorter! These would look amazing with a t-shirt and trainers. Simple but not understated.

The great thing about dungarees is that they're so versatile. You can dress them up or down. The three examples to follow, found on Glamour's website, show just that.

These great floral dungarees look amazing with a striped jumper. By 'mashing up' the prints, you can update the dungaree look instantly.

By adding a blazer, clutch and heels, you can create a stylish look that would be the envy of anyone else brave enough to do it themselves. 

And how could I forget Alexa. She's been crazy about dungarees for a while now and maybe we should have all listened to her! These blue dungarees, worn with a nautical t-shirt and espadrilles, are the perfect casual look. 

If it's a look you've already embraced or would like to, let me know!