Thursday 28 December 2017

the sales wish list

It's that time of year again... I don't know about you but I can get a bit overwhelmed by all the sales emails flooding in, and I barely know where to start. That's why I try to minimise the madness by making a list beforehand, either of specific pieces I've had my eye on, or the kind of things I want to look out for.


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Monday 11 December 2017

december beauty favourites

decbeautyfaves2017

Here are my beauty picks for this month...
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Sunday 26 November 2017

the christmas wish list

I'm never one of those smug people who have their Christmas shopping all wrapped up by mid-November. To be honest, it's only when I start seeing the endless flood of Black Friday emails in my inbox (so many - kill me now) that I start to think: hmm, should I start actually shopping for other people? Invariably I buy approximately one Christmas gift on Black Friday and about eight things for myself... But it does make me realise that it's about time to put together my annual Christmas wish list post. So here it is: everything I want for Christmas, handily divided into under £50 and under £100 categories. Just don't buy them all for yourself, yeah? I hear it's frowned upon.

under £50


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Sunday 29 October 2017

the october wish list

Autumn is my favourite time of year, and it's a great time for shopping too. The virtual shelves are full of cosy coats, warm scarves and Christmas gift sets galore. Here are a few of the things I'm lusting after currently.


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Wednesday 27 September 2017

nerd alert

Saint Laurent black shopper bag

If you have good eyesight, you really don't know how lucky you are. I can't imagine being able to just see, without spending £20 a month on contacts and £300+ on each pair of glasses. (Yeah, you didn't realise it was that expensive, right?) That's not to mention the annoyance of contacts drying your eyes out or glasses getting smudged. But what's also very frustrating is trying to find a pair of glasses that you actually like. This is the accessory I wear more than anything else, yet over the years I've struggled to find a pair I'm happy with.
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Thursday 21 September 2017

beauty review: lip balms

I'm always saying that I'm not a beauty expert, but actually I do consider myself a bit of a pro when it comes to lip balms. Ever since I took a course of Roaccutane for my skin around seven years ago (I won't go into it here but suffice it to say that I absolutely recommend it for any acne sufferers), one of the long-term side effects for me has been dry lips. It's annoying, yes, but I consider it a small price to pay for clear skin (if you've ever had really bad skin, you'll know that it's hard to underestimate the joy of that).

beauty review lip balms
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Saturday 26 August 2017

august beauty favourites

august beauty favourites

Here are my beauty picks for this month...
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Saturday 29 July 2017

hands free

Zara black jumpsuit

I'm kind of obsessed with this rucksack. It's pretty much got everything going for it. It's large enough to fit all your essentials in, yet not so large as to be cumbersome. It's got all the hands free benefits of a rucksack, but is still smart, chic and work appropriate. It's butter soft leather and a beautiful pale shade of grey. And it was in the sale! OK, I'll stop now, but you can tell why this baby has barely left the crook of my arm since I bought it...
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Thursday 13 July 2017

the july wish list

July's wish list includes some big earrings, because I can't get enough of those right now, a beautiful bronzing palette and a luxurious silk kimono, because who doesn't need one of those?


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Saturday 1 July 2017

cactus addict

cacti

If you follow me on Instagram you'll realise I have a pretty obsessive personality, and that is mostly evident in my taste in interiors. Two things you will find hundreds of in my flat: Diptyque candles and cacti. I probably only bought my first cactus about three years ago, and it wasn't until I moved into my flat a year and a half ago that I really started stocking up. But since then my obsession has steadily grown, to the point where I buy one probably every other week and I've pretty much reached saturation point. Two things struck me when I assembled them all for these photos: firstly, yeah I do have a lot of cacti crammed into a two bed flat, don't I? And secondly: how empty and lifeless the rest of my flat looks without them.
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Saturday 24 June 2017

june beauty favourites

beauty favourites june 2017
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Saturday 17 June 2017

the joy of the jumpsuit

Zara black jumpsuit, Mango perspex sandals and 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli medium burgundy bag

This jumpsuit is one of those pieces which after wearing it a few times, you realise it's so perfect you wish you'd bought two. It's that elusive combination of smart yet comfortable and versatile yet standout. Whenever I'm travelling with work I'll always wear this on the last day, because it's ideal workwear but still comfortable enough to fly home in. Paired with my new absolute favourite Perspex strap shoes - which are also beautiful yet supremely comfortable - it's pretty much my go-to outfit in this warm weather.
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Saturday 3 June 2017

bronzed make-up tutorial

Bronzed make-up tutorial

In case you haven't figured it out, I went on holiday to Mexico recently (what, you knew?!) Anyway, I try not to tan my face because I don't want any more wrinkles/sagging than I already have (the struggle is real post-25, my friends). So when I get back I inevitably have a paler face than body and need to use make-up to rectify this.
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Wednesday 24 May 2017

frill seeker

Zara black frilled top, Whistles Fairhope sandals and Topshop Boutique leather croc skirt

I would never have thought I'd wear a top with frill sleeves. I think I retired my last remnant of ruffles about five years ago, if not longer. Since then it's been clean lines and simple cuts all the way in my wardrobe. But we all know that you can never say never when it comes to fashion. I mostly blame Ellery for bringing back oversized proportions and making mega sleeves and frilled layers suddenly seem cool again. This has now filtered down to the high street and Zara for one is full to the brim with all things frilly right now.
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Sunday 14 May 2017

the may wish list

May's wish list includes the perfect jumpsuit, some relaxed khaki silk and the best high street shoes I've seen in a long time: all the ingredients you need to deal with our inconsistent British weather right now...


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Sunday 30 April 2017

black and navy

& Other Stories black dress, Larsson & Jennings silver Lugano watch and Saint Laurent black shopper

I hate rules for the sake of rules in fashion. Saying you shouldn't put black with navy is the worst one, in my opinion. I mean, why not? Who invented that? I absolutely love black with navy. The navy somehow softens the harshness of the black, while the black makes the navy just that little more classic.
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Wednesday 26 April 2017

everyday make-up tutorial




So I thought I'd try something new: a make-up tutorial video. I'm not sure why; maybe I was in a blog rut and lacking a little inspiration. Maybe I thought that my blog can sometimes be a little impersonal, and I wanted to show you a little bit more about who I am. I also just really like watching make-up tutorials myself. So, I thought I'd give it a go.

I've never done any kind of a video before save a snippet or two on my Instastories, so this was quite a strange experience for me, and I felt quite vulnerable putting my make-up free face out there for everyone to see (eek). But I really enjoyed making it, and my hope is that one or two people will enjoy watching it.

So please let me know what you think (unless it's eugh, don't show us your make-up free face again!) Any constructive feedback welcomed. It may be a one-off, or I may decide to do some more. Anyway, if you do take the time to watch it - thank you so much and I hope you enjoy! All the products are linked below.


---- shop the post ----



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Friday 7 April 2017

the april wish list

I'm off on holiday to Mexico in May (can't wait can't wait) so this month's wish list has a distinct holiday theme. So I'm #sorrynotsorry if you're going to be stuck in rainy England for the foreseeable future. Although, having said that, the forecast tells us we'll be in for some actual real life sun soon, so maybe you can wear these pieces down by your local canal, or something...?



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Sunday 2 April 2017

discovering great plains

Great Plains khaki tencel shirt, Topshop Jamie raw hem jeans and Reiss neoprene mules

It's always exciting to discover a new brand. I have to say that when Great Plains kindly offered to let me try out a couple of pieces from their latest collection, I was not hugely familiar with the brand. I didn't realise they were a sister company to French Connection and I also didn't realise they stocked a streamlined collection of sleek, sophisticated and understated pieces which totally appeal to my minimalist tendencies.
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Sunday 26 March 2017

march beauty favourites

This month's beauty picks include two haircare products (thanks to learning how to style my new 'do), a life-changing toner and a classic perfume. Read on to see what I thought of them all.

beauty favourites march 2017
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Saturday 18 March 2017

short hair don't care

Whistles Toscana jacket, Zara cream top and Zara black cropped trousers

When I was about 15 I had an awful haircut (foolishly modelled on Chloe from the TV show Smallville) which was a horrendous, short layered disaster. To be honest, everything about my appearance at that stage of my life was a disaster, but that's what being a teenager is about, right? Learning what works and what doesn't work for you, and gradually refining your personal style as you get older. (At least that's what I tell myself when I look back on photos and cringe...) Anyway, it really put me off having short hair. From that moment on I religiously grew and grew my hair, allowing myself only minimal trims and the occasional flirtation with a fringe (another bad idea given my round face). It wasn't until last year, when my hair was finally pretty ridiculously long (check this out if you don't believe me), that I started to get bored of it and wonder if shorter hair might actually be a little more chic. Don't get me wrong: I adored my long hair for a while. At a certain point, though, it started to get straggly and I felt - to be honest - like I might be getting too old for it. While some older women can rock long hair, for me I've realised I feel more sophisticated with a shorter cut.
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Sunday 12 March 2017

investing in classics

There's something about getting older (and hopefully a little wiser) that makes you want to invest in items which still stand the test of time over cheap-trend led pieces. Don't get me wrong: I still pick up the odd piece from Zara or Topshop to pep up my wardrobe. But I don't really love those items. Not in the way I do when I dream of a beautiful designer piece for months before finally deciding to invest in it. And these don't have to be pieces which are particularly striking; in fact they are often utterly, beautifully simple.

saint laurent shopper bag sigerson morrison patent leather boots


So it is with this divine Saint Laurent bag. Nothing very eye-catching about it: it's a simple black tote bag. But I still fell totally in love with it. And I know that I'll be using it forever.

The boots were a slightly different story, in that I immediately had to have them (well, you can't hang around with the Outnet anyway: pieces sell out straightaway). But I've always been partial to a good patent boot, so I'm sure these will prove just as timeless for me. (A word of caution if you do snap these up: don't believe the Outnet's US to UK shoe size guide - look it up elsewhere.)

Sometimes, the cost per wear equation really does make more sense and honestly, I'll be wearing these beauties a hundred times more than any high street piece.


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Thursday 2 March 2017

for the love of marble

Interior trends come and go, but there are some which stand the test of time. If you're looking to deck your house in a way which will prove enduringly stylish, look no further than the perennially sophisticated material that is marble.

marble interiors
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Saturday 25 February 2017

duvet dressing

Zara black duvet coat, Alexander Wang Prisma tote and Whistles grey suede heels

I think I've said it before, but one of the things I love most about fashion is its ability to totally change your mind. Even a year ago I would have turned my nose up at puffer jackets as the preserve of the super-rich wrapped up in Moncler at ski resorts, or the totally unstylish dressed in Primark. I wouldn't have been seen dead in one. But fashion has turned the connotations of this humble, practical piece of outerwear on its head, and now you can't move for them throughout the high street and designer stores alike.
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Monday 20 February 2017

the perils of wearing white

Topshop black t-shirt, Zara white jacket and 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli bag
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Monday 13 February 2017

beauty review: hand creams

If you know me, you'll know I am literally never without three things: my iPhone, lip balm and hand cream. The problem with lip balm and hand cream is that once you start using them, you can't stop. Or at least I can't; maybe my skin is just totally addicted to them now. So it goes without saying that I have tried a lot of hand creams in my time. I have one in every room of my flat, my bag, my car and my desk at work. I'm pretty confident, therefore, that I know what makes a good hand cream and I'm definitely qualified to rate and review them. As always with my reviews, nothing here has been sponsored, gifted or otherwise biased. These reviews are totally my opinions so take them as you will. I hope they're useful!

beauty review hand creams
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Wednesday 8 February 2017

waiting for spring

Topshop shearling aviator jacket, 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli medium and Whistles black suede heels

Somehow after Christmas we just expect to leap suddenly into spring and be happy leaving the house in ankle-baring trousers and little jackets. We forget that, actually, December in the UK is pretty mild and it's January and February that are freezing as. Well, I seem to forget that anyway.

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Wednesday 1 February 2017

the february wish list

Finally the last dregs of the sales have disappeared and the shops are full of shiny new stock. However, it's that awkward time of year when the high street is trying to convince us it's spring already, peddling us open-toed shoes and flimsy jackets, while the weather tells a very different story. So here are some winter-appropriate things to spend your pay check on this month. And remember: it's never not the right time of year for a candle.


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Thursday 26 January 2017

birthday suit

Before you get worried about clicking through to this post, don't fret: I just mean this is the outfit I wore on my birthday last week. I don't know about you, but as I get older, I get more and more confident in the way I dress.

Zara navy swing top, Topshop white skinny jeans and Whistles black suede heels
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Saturday 21 January 2017

shelf life

I'll be honest: arranging candles and succulents on shelves and windowsills throughout my flat is pretty much my favourite past time (I'm pretty rock and roll in case you hadn't already figured it out). But it can be difficult to know where to start. There's nothing that lets your decor down like a messy shelf bursting full of mismatched books and uncoordinated items. So here are a few tips to achieving the perfect "shelfie".

shelfie2
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Sunday 15 January 2017

beauty review: face serums

I don't know about you, but I'm totally addicted to trying new beauty products. I amass hundreds of samples and can't bear to throw any of them away. Face serums and face oils are a particular addiction of mine. I have quite dry skin and I'm always on the hunt for a rich extra layer of hydration to sit under my moisturiser. So I thought I would sum up my opinions on a few of those I've tried. Just a disclaimer: these are my thoughts after using these products intermittently - I haven't been religiously trialling them, so I'm commenting more on how they make my skin feel immediately rather than any long-term effects. Nothing is sponsored, gifted or otherwise biased. I hope you enjoy reading my reviews in any case. If you've tried any of these serums, I'd love to know what you think of them in the comments.

beauty review face serums
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Saturday 7 January 2017

a different silhouette

Whistles shearling leather jacket and Zara wide legged trousers

Even a couple of years ago I would never have been seen in wide-legged trousers. After all, there's something so comfortingly familiar about a skinny trouser or jean. You know where you are with it: it won't give you any surprises and it won't cause any raised eyebrows. But playing it safe is not what fashion is about. I would never want to be one of those people who's happy in the same tried and tested combination every day. Don't get me wrong: I have beloved pieces in my wardrobe that I wear over and over, and often you will find me in the same formula of skinny trousers and a chunky jumper. But damn, it feels good to shake that up every now and then.
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Sunday 1 January 2017

the sales wish list part two

Happy new year everyone! If I'm honest, I'm getting kind of bored of the sales now. Trawling through pages and pages of reduced items, shuffling through sales racks - I'm pretty much over it and ready for some brand new shiny stock to arrive. However, if you can persevere, a couple of weeks into the sales is actually the best time to shop. Sure, you'll have missed any super-popular bargains, but this is the point at which many retailers drop prices further, so if you can hold your nerve, you're more likely to cash in. Take Zara and Whistles: both only drop some prices by around 20-30% initially, waiting until a couple of weeks down the line to slash prices to 50-70% off. So here are my picks of what's still available to be snapped up. Hurry though, because you don't have long until the sales racks are cleared in favour of shiny new spring '17 wares (exciting)...




Larsson & Jennings Lugano watch / £129 (reduced from £215)
As you will probably know by now, I'm a big fan of Swedish/British watch brand Larsson & Jennings. The sale is the perfect time to invest in one of their classic designs, and this cream/gold beauty is a steal.

Mango Premium leather ankle boot / £79.99 (reduced from £159.99)
You can't go wrong with a classic heeled ankle boot. I love the simple elegance of this pair.

Kurt Geiger Saffiano Chelsea tote / £115 (reduced from £230)
If you're looking for a classic work bag but you have enough black, try this wine coloured tote as a very reasonably priced option.

Made Starkey table lamp / £35 (reduced from £45)
I'm a sucker for an industrial lamp. I love the simple black lines of this one from Made.com and the hint of brass with the exposed bulb.

Eyeshadow sets don't get more decadent than this. Snap it up now and give as a gift to one of your nearest and dearest: they'll thank you for it, trust me.

Topshop tux suit jacket / £45 (reduced from £85)
If you don't already have a jacket like this in your wardrobe, why on earth not? Luckily you can now right that wrong with this half-price beaut.


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