The Autumn Tag

I wasn't tagged in this but I fancied giving it ago. If you want to do it then I tag YOU!

  1) Favourite thing about Autumn

The clothes! I love wearing burgundy and lots of skater skirts with woolly tights. I also love having new boots and picking out a new style each year, but I must say a firm favourite with me is a classic pair of lace up military boots.

2) Favourite drink
This is a toughie. I love a good Starbucks but I like to drink herbal and fruit tea a lot. I'm going to have to say Teapigs Lemon and Ginger tea-it is divine! One great thing about Teapigs is that they sell sample boxes for £1.19, which contain two tea bags, so you can sample the flavour before you commit to a whole box!

3) Favourite scent/candle
I don't tend to use candles but I really like reed diffusers as they are long lasting and give off delicious subtle scents. I am a big fan of the Stoneglow White Bouquet diffuser. It has lasted me from Spring into Autumn and smells beautifully floral and fresh.

4) Best lipstick
Well, I was going to say my favourite Max Factor lipstick, in the shade Lilac Wine (655), but it seems to be no longer in existence so I'd better use mine sparingly! It's the perfect purple shade that is nor too dark or too light and has a beautiful shimmer. However, Max Factor do a range of other, similar, colours, and the formula is of a very good quality.

5) Go-to moisturiser  
Hands down Garnier moisture match. This product comes in a range of different kinds, to match skin type e.g oily/dry. I received a sample online so I could try out a small amount of each moisturiser before concluding which suited me best. I eventually chose the product in the yellow packet which is for 'normal skin' but gives glow to the face. I love this. It cleared away loads of breakouts and made my skin so soft. Just don't get it in your eyes because it hurts like crazy! I think where I have been wearing it so much, the effects have somehow 'worn off' as my skin has become used to it, so I have switched to a different variation of the same line of products which is for normal to dry skin.

6) Go-to colours for the eyes
I stick to shimmery, neutral shades all year round. I love wearing white or pink on the lid and adding definition with darker shades. I often throw in a little shimmery, burnt orange for a more autumnal look.

7) Favourite band/singer to listen to
I don't really mind, I have an eclectic taste. I've always wanted to be a fangirl, totally in love with a band, but it just hasn't happened. I might do a playlist type thing for autumn at some stage and list some of my favourite music

8) Favourite outfit to wear
Well, I practically live in skater skirts and dresses, so I like to pair them with scarves and add bulk by wearing my thick green parka and worn, leather, ankle boots.

9) Autumn treat
Hmm..well I absolutely love toffee apples during Autumn. When I was younger I used to peck all of the toffee off and leave the apple haha! I also think I will be treating myself to some of the Whittard mulled wine flavour instant tea as it just tastes like Autumn/Winter; it is a little pricey but definitely worth it! Another thing I love at the moment is the Cadbury chocolate pretzels or the Milka chocolate coated popcorn. I eat 2/4 of these all year round but I really like these at the moment!

10) Favourite place to be
I love being outside when all the leaves start to fall, but I love being wrapped up warm, with a cup of tea and baking something or watching a movie.

Autumn outfit formula

I was recently using a formula for this, that and the other and wondered...what if there was a formula for other things in life rather than for mathematic and scientific reasons? 

Then, I came up with the autumn outfit formula. This combination of clothing is pretty much fool proof if you follow the rules! 

Shirt + Cardigan/Jumper + Skater skirt = Autumn outfit

The only thing I would say is if you have a busy or printed item in the formula, make sure the other two items are plain; otherwise the outfit will look over the top. You can experiment with printed skirts, shirts and cardis to find the look that suits you best. To prove how easy this is, I put together several outfits:

Outfit no. 1

This outfit consists of a Primark shirt, a Primark skirt and umm a Primark cardigan. It proves you can still put together new outfits for Autumn on a budget! I love this skirt as it has a waffle texture to it, plus it was under a tenner when I bought it! Make sure you wear a cami or top under the shirt as it is sheer, I balanced out the translucency from the top with a heavy, beige cardigan which goes with pretty much everything! As you can see, the skirt is what draws the eye to the outfit, so I kept the rest of the components muted and neutral.

Outfit no. 2 

Again I wore my Primark shirt, I'm telling you now, I wear this in all of the looks to save my virtual breath. My burgundy skater skirt and caramel leopard cardigan are both from new look and are staple pieces in my wardrobe. I love how the light caramel compliments the warm maroon in this outfit; the colours encapsulate the tone of Autumn so well.

Outfit no. 3

I love this outfit; it looks preppy yet has a modern twist with the leopard cardigan. The outfit features a lot of brown tones that work well together. The skirt and belt are from Primark and my bag is from the Cambridge Satchel Company.

Outfit no. 4

This outfit features my black skater skirt from Topshop and my Primark cardigan. The shades in this outfit are quite simple, so I love the pop of red from the cardi. This outfit proves that you can mix cheaper and more expensive high street brands to achieve your desired look. I don't normally go to Topshop for bits and bobs but, if I save up, I get great staple pieces from there like my black skater skirt that will go with pretty much anything.

Outfit no. 5

This outfit is versatile as you can wear the jumper around your waist, or if it's a little colder outside, you can wear it with the collar sticking out. I am also wearing my Topshop skirt that featured in the previous outfit. I love this teal jumper, which I bought from Bank last year, but it reminds of Wallace's from Wallace and Grommit!

Anyway, that's all from me for now, I hope you enjoyed reading this post! 

More cheese Grommit? ;-) 

(Photo on left from thedrum.com)

Autumn/Winter nails

First things first, we need to clear something up. I am AWFUL, I repeat AWFUL at painting nails (excuse the capitals; I am virtually shouting for emphasis). But I felt like blogging about some new products I have recently bought, so here goes!

For this manicure I have two 'statement' nails and the rest are painted gold. One nail is a fur textured nail and the other has a crackle polish. This look features a lot of warm colours and is perfect for an event or simply to be worn during the day.

First, paint all of your nails (except the one you want to be furry) in a gold coloured polish. I used a mini polish from 17 however the choice is yours as to which polish you choose! 

For the furry nail I used MUA's fur effect nails in the shade 'Fluff & Cuddles' which is a gorgeous burgundy colour. Paint your nail in a shade that matches the fur you will be using, I used a random red colour I found in my room as it was the closest I have to burgundy! Apply two coats and whilst the second is wet, pop on the nail fur. Now, I have been reading so many blogs about this product, before I went to buy it, and a lot of them suggest to remove the plastic sieve and to use tweezers to apply the fluff. Following their advice, I covered my nail in a mountain of fur. Don't worry if it looks lumpy at this stage-trust me! Then after allowing a few moments for the polish to dry a little, brush off the excess back into the pot. I use a benefit blush brush that came with my Coralista powder and it definitely does the trick! Applying the nail fur takes a bit of practice, however at £3 each they are a bargain buy for adorable autumn nails! I found the blogs 'Mademoiselle LaLa' and 'Little Gemm' useful, when learning to use the nail fur!

 

Pick another nail that you want to be a "statement nail", I chose my index finger. Once your gold polish has dried, apply a shatter polish on top. I used OPI's 'Superbass Shatter' polish, which leads me to believe it's from the Nicki Minaj range. I actually picked up this polish from the 99p store, yes you heard that right the 99p store! I have always seen OPI as quite a high end brand, so I jumped at the chance of owning a nail polish from their brand as they are renowned for making fab products. Apply a thin coat of the polish and watch the magic happen. Don't worry if the polish looks too thin, just wait for it to shatter, if you reapply you'll ruin the effect! Although the colour isn't nearly as gorgeous on the nail, as it is in the bottle, you can't really go wrong for 99p can you? Lastly, I applied a glitter polish from Primark for an extra sparkle! 

 

Hart and Home

I recently purchased something from Hart & Home, who sell home wear, interior and lifestyle goods as well as beautiful accessories. The products have a real vintage feel to them but with a modern twist. What really caught my eye was their selection of macaroon trinket boxes for only £5 a pop. They come in an array of mouth-watering pastel shades; however the mint green took my fancy. The box fastens with a cute little gold bow at the front. The macaroon holds my favourite ring on my dressing table to I can always find it without that flush of panic, thinking I've lost it!

Another selection of products also took my fancy; Hart and Home have the most gorgeous selection of porcelain animal necklaces, featuring anything from ducks to giraffes. These statement, yet simplistic, pieces are only £15 each and would certainly add vintage/shabby chic vibe to any outfit! They also have many other animal themed items including porcelain fox rings and an array of pug and bulldog necklaces that certainly have character! Another popular product is their vintage looking engraved silver cutlery that looks just fantastic and would spruce up any table.

If anything has caught your eye or want to continue browsing the Aladdin's cave that is Hart and Home, click here to reach their Tumblr page. They are currently working on a website, however if you are interested in any products, there is a contact information of the page! 

 

 

Get the look: Ruby Tandoh

I don't know about those of you reading this, but I am an avid viewer of 'The Great British Bake Off'. I have watched series upon series, however 2013 contestant Ruby's outfit really stood out to me in one of the first episodes.

Photo from Daily Mail website (BBC)

I think her look gives off laid-back and bohemian vibes and I really wanted to try and emulate her style. 

For make up, I went back to basics, applying a neutral shadow with a darker brown liner on my upper and lower lids. I filled in my eyebrows, for extra definition and added a few coats of mascara. To finish, I popped some concealer some of my blemishes and added a light pink blusher to the apples of my cheeks.

For hair, I created a centre parting, and as I have completely straight hair I decided to curl it. Using the 'Babyliss pro hairdressing' wand, I curled the front sections of hair that frame my face. I then ran my fingers through the ringlets, that I created by curling small pieces of hair, to ensure the curls looked natural and fluffy. I then gathered the hair into a low bun, against the back of my neck. This look would also look well with a loose plait I think! 

Finally, for the outfit! I wore my Miss Selfridge blue marble wash jeans. For me, they were a bit of a splurge but they are good quality and I know that they will be a long-lasting staple piece in my wardrobe. Plus, they're super comfy!  Although Ruby wears a white tank top on the show, I am wearing a black long sleeved t-shirt to adapt the look so it's suitable for Autumn and Winter. I fell in love with Ruby's bo-ho cardigan and I was able to find a similar one in good old Primarni. This grey and earth tone cardi was only £14 and I love the way it fits. It feels baggy and comfy yet fitted at the same time which is always a good thing as you get the best of both worlds! 

Finally, I topped off the look with a pair of gold hoops. Ruby's are silver, but I only had gold-plus I think that the colour ties I really nicely with the earth tones of the cardigan. 

Thank you for reading and putting up with an especially long babble this time! 

Punk but not punk

So according to some source in the fashion world, punk is back. That's right, think 70s, safety pins, tartan etc. But, as a fairly "girly girl", I wanted to put my own spin on the trend.

 I wore my favourite dress of all time: a tartan skater style number that I picked up for £12 on a sale rail in New Look last year. The dress showcases the pattern but in a feminine way. I wore my "well loved" (falling to pieces) creepers, which are also from New Look, and paired them with rolled down thick knee socks from, you guessed it, New Look. For accessories I threw on my Topshop beanie, a classic autumn/winter staple that will keep your head toasty warm and give a comfy and effortless look to your outfit. As a self-confessed Primark addict, I looked for a beanie in-store but to my disappointment, hat that I liked, in the rather eclectic assortment, didn't fit the huge head of mine. Topshop beanies are a little bit of a splurge at a tenner a throw, in comparison to Primark's thrifty alternatives, but they are great quality and bang on trend. Finally, I wore my trusty Cambridge Satchel which accompanies me just about everywhere. It's the perfect size for the bare minimum that I carry around with me and is a timeless staple that will last forever, if taken care of, and will go with pretty much any outfit.

Click here for Topshop hats