Dolly Rockin' It's Pop-Up Store

Ciao ♥ Long time no see. How are you? It’s been just over two weeks since I last published a post but I have a valid excuse, I swear. I was away in Egypt sunning it up and had very limited access to WiFi. I told you it was valid :P Despite experiencing social media withdrawal symptoms I had an amazing time and cannot wait to share it all with you. Keep your eyes peeled as I’ll be showing you guys what I got up to and what I wore on a day-to-day basis in the next few posts. For those who’d like to have a sneak peek make sure you check out my Instagram as I’ve already uploaded some photos and videos.

Upon returning back to the UK on Friday morning I thought I'd have a quiet-ish type of weekend before returning to work on Monday morning. Ha! Oh how wrong I was. On Saturday afternoon I went to Portobello and in the evening I went to Shaka Zulu. On Sunday I was kindly invited along to Dolly Rockin’It’s pop-up store where I got to meet the founder of the brand and have an exclusive look at her collection. Oh, but the fun didn’t end there as I shamelessly put my pouting skills to good use in the photo-booth, gulped down three cups full of slush and had my nails done by the lovely Erika. There was also a tanning bar for those ladies who wanted to radiate a sun-kissed glow.

Everything in the store was beautifully presented and organised using an elegant range of shabby chic furniture. People walking by were clearly intrigued by what was on show as they couldn’t help but pop in even though the store wasn’t officially open at the time to the public. If you guys are around the North London area (more specifically North Finchley) then make sure you pay Dolly Rockin’It a visit.

All garments sold come in an array of sizes as well as a range of colours so there's something for everyone. They also stock accessories such as clutches, jewellery and keyrings. The only thing that you might need to take into consideration is that some sizes tend to sell out fairly quickly. Thankfully, I managed to get my hands on a white tee which I cannot wait to style.

What do you guys think?

Ciao ♥ Xx 

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SS15 Fashion Trend #3

Ciao ♥ Welcome to the third and most exciting instalment of my SS15 Fashion Trends blog post series. In this post I will be focusing upon the upcoming festival season which will soon be in full swing. Eek! How exciting! Before I begin, if anyone is interested in having a read of either of the first two instalments, simply select: Flared Trousers or The 70s, but do hurry back though as I can barely control my excitement #FestivalJunkieAlert.

When it comes to fashion, festivals are the perfect place for y'all to go all out and experiment as much as your wee heart desires. There are no restrictions as to what is considered fashionable or stylishly correct. You can be as adventurous and wild as you want. All within reason of course. I certainly wouldn't want my encouraging words of wildness to be responsible for anyone roaming around topless. "Don't be silly" you mutter under your breath. Ha! You'd be surprised by the things that go down at festivals :P In all seriousness, don't be afraid of wearing something that is outside of your comfort zone. Give it a go. Festivals are a great way of enabling you to express your creativity as you can be as bold, flamboyant and daring as you'd like.

 

Festivals are usually correlated to a bohemian/70s vibe and are the perfect place to channel your inner flower child. Isabel Lucas, Nicole Richie, Rachel Bilson and Vanessa Hudgens are just some of our generation's style icons who perfect this look on a day-to-day basis. If this is a look you are hoping to replicate then simply incorporate some of the following into your outfit: fringing, tassels, suede, lace and crochet. It really is that simple. You can also add some character and edge to your outfit by accessorising it with floral head pieces, layers and stacking of jewellery, body art (i.e. temporary tattoos), bindis and a statement floppy hat or a pair of sunglasses. Accessories really are a girl's best friend at any festival. Oh and it's very much the more, the better.

One of the main factors to take into consideration when choosing a festival outfit is the weather. Fingers crossed the sun will be on its best behaviour as I certainly don't want my festival weekend to be plagued with the stereotypical British weather. However, if worse comes to worse and it's pouring down (definitely something to consider but let's not jinx it), do not let this dampen your mood. Sod it! All you have to do is switch your outfit up a little bit. Swap your distressed denim shorts or flowy mini dress for a pair of high-waisted jeans, flares or culottes. Not only will these be kinder to your legs and keep you warm but you will also still be bang on trend in the fashion stakes.

Gah! There's so much I could talk about but we'd be here all friggin' day so I'm going to quickly speed through some of the best festival hairstyles. Plaits are always a winner as they can be styled in several different ways (i.e. fish or french plait and halo braids), are hella easy to do and require very little time and effort. They're particularly favoured by those attending a weekend festival as they can be kept in for the duration of the time and still look tidy. Loose waves are another festival staple and look great with a floral headpiece, head chain, turban or a floppy hat. Finally, a messy chignon and top knot bun are great for those ladies who want their hair whipped back and out of their face.

Having popped my festival cherry last year I've already experienced the whole "Omg! What do I wear?", "Do you think this outfit is okay?" and "I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO WEAR" kinda dilemma. I know what works and what doesn't so allow me to offer you some helpful tips.

• #FestivalTip1:  When it comes to footwear ensure you wear something that is comfortable as you'll be on your feet for the entire day. I'd also suggest you wear something that you don't mind getting dirty as there's likely to be mud and you're likely to get your feet stepped on at least once. Why not opt for a pair of biker boots, chelsea boots, wellington boots (that's enough of the boots, I promise) or trainers.
• #FestivalTip2: Whether you're festivaling for a day or a weekend ensure you only pack the bare necessities. Also, don't forget to choose a style of bag you wouldn't mind carrying all day long. Last year I wore a rucksack and let's just say, never again. I found it to be slightly annoying as all I wanted to do was have a good ol' boogie so I had to constantly take off my rucksack and rest it on the ground. This year I've chosen to wear a small-medium sized cross-body bag as it won't weigh me down as much. Remember, DO NOT overpack as you'll regret it.
• #FestivalTip3: Make sure you bring enough money to see you through the duration of the festival. It's sensible to bring that tad bit more rather than not bringing enough as you will not be able to leave and re-enter the festival grounds.

Below is a collection of my favourite festival season finds from the high-street and online stores, all of which are currently available to purchase. I've fallen head over heels in love with the suede dungaree and 70s bell sleeve playsuit ♥ What are your favourite pieces from this selection?

The Libby Kimono - £45 from Oasis (click here to view)

Bead Drop Tikka Hair Slide - £6.50 from Topshop (click here to view)

Hairband With Flowers - £9.99 from H&M (click here to view)

Tile Border Print Culottes - £36 from Topshop (click here to view)

4-Pack Ear Decorations - £7.99 from H&M (click here to view)

Mid Wash 70s Button A-Line Denim Skirt - £35 from River Island (click here to view)

Women's Original Short Fringe Wellington Boots - £130 from Hunter (click here to view)

Suede Dungaree - £75 from Miss Selfridge (click here to view)

Neutral Suede Rucksack - £62 from Next (click here to view)

Brown Smart 70s Bell Sleeve Playsuit - £45 from River Island (click here to view)

Metal Bridge Sunglasses - £17.99 from Mango (click here to view)

Watermelon Across Body Bag - £29 from Accessorize (click here to view)

Stone Stripe Floppy Hat - £12.99 from New Look (click here to view)

Metallic Temporary Tattoos - £3.47 from TotesU (click here to view)

Pearl Mini Bindi - £4.50 from Topshop (click here to view)

Arid Fringe Ankle Boots - £78 from Topshop (click here to view)

 

Are you going to a festival this year? Have you guys got any festival tips? If so, leave them in the comment box below :) Also, make sure you follow my blog as I'll be putting together a bunch of festival outfits over the next two weeks. I'd honestly hate for you guys to miss out.

Ciao ♥ Xx

Product Review | L'Oreal True Match Foundation

Ciao ♥ How are you? I hope you're all doing well. I'm back today with a review on one of my current go-to make-up products: L'Oreal's True Match Foundation.

This might come as a slight surprise (or not lol) to those beauty enthusiasts who have been using this product day in, day out, ever since you first discovered your love for make-up. So basically foundation is all pretty new to me. Yes! Despite being nearly 23 years of age I've only just recently started to incorporate it into my every other day make-up routine. Initially, I only wore foundation on certain occasions (i.e. going out for dinner or on a night out) as I disliked the idea of caking my face in something that I felt my good skin could do without. Instead I would often opt for a BB cream due to its light and natural-looking finish.

Nonetheless, I still wanted to find the perfect foundation for my skin and so the hunt began. Okay, so foundation is a product that I am willing to spend however much money on. Ha! Go ahead and call me crazy but isn't it crazy not to? After all it's worn on your face which is usually the first thing that people notice about you. I feel it's something that all users should consider as an investment. This isn't to say that you should rule out using a drugstore foundation but more so to promote the importance of trying both high-end and drugstore products. What many people fail to realise is that not every foundation, no matter how much it's raved about, is going to suit or compliment your skin.

Thereby, in order to find the perfect foundation I think it's wise to try out a few to see which one works best for you. Roll your eyes at me not as you don't have to spend a darn penny to do so. Most luxury brands are more than willing to provide you with a sample so you can try the product out before purchasing it :) Gah! I'm rambling now. Long story short, upon being introduced to the market I heard lots of positive reviews on L'Oreal's True Match Foundation. Not only did this intrigue me but it also made me extremely keen to find out what the hype was about and boy am I happy I did.

The L'Oreal True Match Foundation is available in 18 shades ranging from light to dark and warm to neutral to cool. It contains SPF 17, comes in a 30ml bottle with a pump and retails at £9.99. It provides a lightweight coverage which can easily be built up to a medium coverage by using an extra half a pump of product. I start off by applying a few dabs of the foundation (shade C2 Rose Vanilla) around my face and use my Real Techniques Stippling Brush to blend it all in. I find that together these two work like a dream as the foundation buffs into my skin effortlessly leaving me with a natural and matte finish.

This is what my skin looked liked after wearing the foundation for 5+ hours.

Have any of you guys tried this foundation before? If so, what are your thoughts? I'd also love for you guys to suggest any other foundations that you feel are worth a purchase :) You can also read my previous Mehr Mac lipstick review by clicking here.

Ciao ♥ Xx

Sale Picks | River Island

 Black Colour Block Leather Biker Jacket - £130/£65 (click here to view)

Light Pink Satin Box Pleat Midi Skirt - £60/£15 (click here to view)

Black Leather Slip Dress - £100/£60 (click here to view)

Light Green Lace Spot Sheer Body - £22/£10 (click here to view)

Nude Patent Leather Platform Sandals - £85/£40 (click here to view)

Grey Leather-Look Mini Skirt - £25/£12 (click here to view)

Lilac Monogolian Fur Skinny Tippet - £55/£25 (click here to view)

Beige Stripe Faux Fur Coat - £110/£60 (click here to view)

Red Embellished Curved Tote Bag - £30/£15 (click here to view)

What are you favourite pieces?  

Ciao ♥ Xx

Stocking Filler Gifts - For Him

Ciao ♥ Two days ago I put together a selection of goodies that will make fabulous stocking filler gifts for the ladies. You can view this over HERE. Today I'm back with the guy version.

Before you feast your eyes on the gift ideas I have to offer allow me to remind you that House of Fraser will be hosting a 12 days of  'Christmas Offers' event which will be starting on the 24th December and will run until the 4th January. This event will involve a different well-known brand offer reduced each day, and then everything reduced on the 4th. Whoop! Exciting stuff right? For those who are interested I suggest you keep an eye on the House of Fraser website and their social media platforms during those dates to find out more. I know I most certainly will be. Oh and remember, it's Christmas so why not treat yourself :) 

Okay, let's get on with it. Below are a selection of goodies that I think will make fabulous stocking filler gifts. All of these can currently be found on the high-street or online. What do you guys think? Oo and before I forget, I also recently published a post on Secret Santa gift ideas For Her and For Him which you guys might find helpful too. Happy shopping!

Beetle Playing Cards - £15 from Ted Baker (click here to view)

Pack Of Two Grey 'Marvel' Socks - £10 from Debenhams (click here to view)

Challenge Xtreme 40 Piece Stubby Tool Kit - £12.99/£10.39 from Argos (click here to view)

Barbour Tartan Lambswool Scarf - £30 from House of Fraser (click here to view)

Nike Men's England Home Stadium Shirt 2014 - £30 from John Lewis (click here to view)

Gillette Fusion Proglide Razor Gift Set With Holder - £20 from Boots (click here to view) 

Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Pony Beanie Hat - £42/£29.40 from House of Fraser (click here to view)

Paco Rabanne Invictus Gift Set 50ml - £35.99 from Fragrance Direct (click here to view)

Calvin Klein 3 Pack Contrast Waistband - £36/£28.20 from House of Fraser (click here to view)

FIFA 15 PS4 Game - £44 from Tesco (click here to view)

Ted Baker Leather Brogue Pen - £19.99/£11 from ASOS (click here to view) 

What product out of these would you be happy to gift and also to receive?

Ciao ♥ Xx

Stocking Filler Gifts - For Her

Ciao ♥ How are you? I hope you're all well and not letting this miserable, bone-chilling, cold weather get to you. If it is then simply remind yourself that Christmas is in exactly 8 days time. Yes! Only 8 days. Cheered you up a little? Haha! I thought so :P

As crazy as it may sound I'm already looking forward to grabbing some one too many bargains during the Boxing Day and January sale. One Boxing Day, a long time ago, I mistakenly went shopping on Oxford Street. Erm, NEVER again. Instead I will be shopping online in the comfort and warmth of my own home. Perfect! I've already started to search through the high-street and online websites, picking out things I'm hoping will get reduced, so that I can make a cheeky purchase when the time does come. Two websites I know for sure I'll be raiding left, right and centre is Zara and House of Fraser. Okay, so when it comes to Zara I'm pretty sure I don't really need to explain why as I'm literally like a walking advertisement for that place. It's my favourite clothing brand by far.

As for House of Fraser they will be hosting a 12 days of  'Christmas Offers' event which will be starting on the 24th December and will run until the 4th January. This event will involve a different well-known brand offer reduced each day, and then everything reduced on the 4th. Whoop! Exciting stuff right? Especially as they pretty much stock every single desirable brand you can possibly think of including Bobbi Brown, Chanel, MAC, Nars and YSL, etc. For those who are interested I suggest you keep an eye on the House of Fraser website and their social media platforms during those dates to find out more. I know I most certainly will be. Oh and remember, it's Christmas so why not treat yourself :)

But before you do that you're going to have to ensure that you've bought all of your presents. I recently published a post on Secret Santa gift ideas For Her and For Him. Following up from those two posts, below are a selection of goodies that I think will make fabulous stocking filler gifts. All of these can currently be found on the high-street or online. What do you guys think?

Baylis & Harding Sweet Mandarin & Grapefruit Gown Set - £45/£22.50 from House of Fraser (click here to view)

Casio Black & Gold Mini Digital Watch LA670WEGA-1EF - £35 from ASOS (click here to view)

Key To Freedom Silk Make-Up Bag - £19 from Topshop (click here to view)

Origins Super Set Sampler - £35 from House of Fraser (click here to view)

Verismo Vanilla Latte Kit - £9.24 from Starbucks (click here to view)

Alexa Chung: It Book - £16.99 from Urban Outfitters (click here to view)

Mehr Lipstick - £15.50 from MAC (click here to view)

Real Techniques Nics Picks Make-Up Brush Set - £29.99 from Boots (click here to view)

Necklace With Floral Pendants - £19.99 from H&M (click here to view)

Embroidered Pouch - £29.99 from Zara (click here to view)

Burt's Bees Honey Pot Bodycare Gift Set - £7.99 from John Lewis (click here to view)

Rugrats Print Pyjama Set - £20 from Topshop (click here to view)

Floral Jewellery Box - £15 from M&S (click here to view)

No.1 Noir Candle - £17/£13.60 from Laura Ashley (click here to view)

What product out of these would you be happy to gift and also to receive?

Ciao ♥ Xx

Christmas Party Outfit Ideas

Ciao ♥ How are all of my lovely readers doing today? I hope you're all well and enjoying the exciting lead up to Christmas :) Over the next week or so many of you will be partying it up as it's Christmas parties galore. In my previous post I mentioned that I attended my first one of the year a few days ago. You can see what I wore HERE.

I know just as much as you do that finding the perfect dress can be quite daunting, especially when nothing screams out "You've found me. I'm the one". So, being the good little Santa's helper that I am, I've put together three different outfits that will hopefully give you ladies some inspiration and will help ease your panic and frustration at not yet finding your party frock. I've done my best to ensure that there's a style to suit you all so you can either opt for a sexy, cute or elegant look. Which one of the three is your favourite? 

 

Lily Bodycon Dress - £99 from Miss Selfridge (click here to view) 

Dune Black Feather Clutch Bag - £69 from Debenhams (click here to view)

Crackled Leather High Heel Sandal - £49.99 from Zara (click here to view)

Made Mini Shilai Katoto Round Disc Earrings - £15/£12 from ASOS (click here to view)

Ruby Woo Lipstick - £15.50 from MAC (click here to view)

 Patterned Organza Dress - £24.99 from H&M (click here to view)
Kilgallen Earrings - £12 from Aldo (click here to view)
Beaded Box Clutch - £39.99 from Zara (click here to view)
On Top White Leather High Heels - £65 from Office (click here to view)
Eylure Volume 101 Pre Glued Lashes - £5.35/£3.50 from Superdrug (click here to view)
Tom Ford Lip Colour in Spanish Pink - £33.30 from John Lewis (click here to view)

Freda Embellished Monochrome Dress - £265 from Reiss (click here to view)
Rachel Strappy High Sandals - £46 from Topshop (click here to view)
Bibita 1 Clutch - £116 from Pinko (click here to view)
Black Jewel Earrings - £12.99 from Zara (click here to view)
Eylure Exaggerate 140 Lashes - £6.99/£4.84 from Superdrug (click here to view)
YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Pourpre Intouchable - £22.50 from John Lewis (click here to view)

 For those ladies who are still in desperate need of some more inspiration, feast your eyes on these beauties below :)

Ciao ♥ Xx

AW14 Fashion Trend #3

Ciao ♥ It's just gone past midnight and I'm currently snuggled up with an oversized blanket as I sip on a hot cup of cinnamon tea. Rather than doing the norm of heading off to bed, I want nothing more to do than to get this blog post published. So guess what... I'm back today with the third installment of my AW14 Fashion Trends blog post series. Can I get a whoop?

So far I've received an amazing response to the first two installments which fashionably focused on the swingin' 60s and faux fur. Hopefully Trend #3 will go down just as well with you guys although I do have a slight inkling that some of you will be thinking, ERM REALLY? :/ Roll your eyes at me not as I can assure you that once you've read this post, you'll be scanning the websites of your favourite high-street stores, hoping to update your wardrobe in accordance to this trend.

The third trend of this series is ever so sparkly and glitzy as it's glitter. I'm sure that isn't quite what some of you expected to hear, nor is it something that many of you would ever dare to incorporate into your everyday outfits. Don't worry, I get it. None of us ladies want to resemble a six year old after they've been handed some PVA glue and glitter tubes. However, this is a trend that you are sure to see more and more of as it's perfect for the festive and Christmas party season which will be upon our doorstep within the next couple of days.

For those who are still in doubt as to whether glitter is actually trending in the fashion world (I promise I'm not making this up) feast your eyes on a selection of my favourite looks from the catwalk. Yes! Glitter was sprinkled all over the runway as it appeared in the AW14-15 collections of Christian Dior, Marc Jacobs, Mary Katrantzou, Rochas, Rodarte and many more. Convinced now? :)

 

The glitter trend is not something that needs to be excessively worn in order to receive an instant wow factor. Glitter, no matter how much or how little, can instantly glamourise any outfit and helps to transform it into something that is dressy uppy. For those who wish to incorporate just a hint of this trend, why not opt for some glitter embellishment jewellery or glitter accessories such as a hair scrunchie, clutch or belt.

Below is a collection of my favourite glitter finds from the high-street and online stores, all of which are currently available to purchase. What are you favourite pieces from this selection? I'm loving the glitter jacquard pelmet skirt and the metallic pointed courts ♥

 Pink 3D & Glitter Flower Statement Necklace - £15 from Matalan (click here to view)

Glitter Box Clutch - £39.99 from Zara (click here to view)

Glitter Jacquard Pelmet Skirt - £36 from Topshop (click here to view) 

2 Pack Silver & Black Glitter Skinny Belts - £4.99 from New Look (click here to view)

Burst Metallic Pointed Toe Court Shoe - £85 from Dune (click here to view)  

Gold Glitter Animal Print Bangle Set - £5.99 from New Look (click here to view)

Sweatshirt With Motif - £14.99 from H&M (click here to view)

Lulu Guinness ASOS Exclusive Glitter Lipstick Make-Up Bag - £65 from ASOS (click here to view)

Glitter Whisper Strappy Dress - £180/£90 from French Connection (click here to view)

Fashion Icon Barry M Glitter Nail Polish - £4 from River Island (click here to view)

Starlet Barry M Glitter Nail Polish - £4 from River Island (click here to view)

Jasper Gold Glitter Trainers - £85/£49 from Kurt Geiger (click here to view)

Do let me know what you guys think about this particular fashion trend and make sure that you keep an eye out for the remaining trends to come

Ciao ♥ Xx

 

 

SS14 Trend #3

Ciao ♥ Today I present to you the third and extremely long overdue installment of my SS14 Fashion Trends blog post series. I've just checked the date in which I published the installment prior to this one and it has been almost three months. Goody gosh, now that is a long time. To be fair I had been meaning to get this blog post published for quite some time but eventually gave up in doing so as life and work simply got in the way. For those who wish to recap and have a read of the first installment, click here. As for the second installment, click here.

The third trend I will be discussing happens to be a personal favourite of mine and one that I've had in my wardrobe for many years. It is a trend that has had the blogger and YouTuber, Leanne from LLimWalker, talking about in her latest videos. Do you guys have the faintest idea on what it could be? Yes! No! Okay, I'll give you one more clue. It is something that you could create in the very comfort of your own home considering that you have mastered the skill of it. That skill being crochet.

Personally, I don't believe that this is a trend that initially had people rushing out to get their hands on. Instead I feel that it is something that a lot of people have been on the fence about as many refer to crochet as being grandma-like. Some also consider it to be a thing of the past, more specifically a thing of the 70s. This couldn't be further from the truth as the runway experienced a revival of crochet this season as it was incorporated into the collections of designers such as Roberto Cavalli. Shown below are a few of the looks from Cavalli's collection.

For those ladies who are not so keen on wearing an outfit that is fully or heavily crocheted there are several ways in which you can still rock this trend. For instance, several garments have a crochet embellishment whether it being a t-shirt with crochet front detailing, a playsuit with crochet panels or a pair of denim shorts that has a crochet trimming. There are also several accessories and jewellery pieces that are made from this pattern.

• #FashionTrendTip: Due to the delicate nature of crochet it's often advised that extra care be taken (i.e. when wearing jewellery) to prevent the garment from snagging. 

• #FashionTrendTip: If the remainder of your summer consists of going to a festival then this is a fashion trend that will help to give you that carefree and bohemian vibe that many festival-goers attempt to replicate.

Below are some of my current favourite crochet finds from the high-street. What are your favourite pieces from this selection? I'm loving the crochet patch dress and think it would look amazing with the choker necklace :)

Carly Crochet Bikini Top - £19 from Accessorize (click here to view)

Carly Crochet Bikini Brief - £15 from Accessorize (click here to view)

Crochet Flower Bracelets - £6.50/£4.50 from Miss Selfridge (click here to view)

Crochet Patch Dress - £60 from Topshop (click here to view)

Crochet Sandals - £39.99 from Bershka (click here to view)

Daisy Crochet Hoody - £110 from Little White Lies (click here to view)

Crochet Shorts - £24 from Topshop (click here to view)

Limited Edition Crochet Tassel Choker Necklace - £10 from ASOS (click here to view)

Crochet Paper Stetson - £22 from Accessorize (click here to view)

New Look Crochet Skinny Belts 2 Pack - £8.99/£5 from ASOS (click here to view)

What are you views on this particular fashion trend? Is it something you would consider rockin' or is it something you would avoid? Do let me know in the comment box below :) X

Ciao! & lots of love ♥

AW 14-15 Ready-To-Wear | Burberry

We are yet to see the back of summer but already I am lusting over the Autumn/Winter 2014-15 collections that have flowed onto the catwalk. Who knew that I of all people would be getting excited over anything that has some sort of relation to the colder months. I guess that's what fashion does to you, right?

Over the next coming weeks I will be sharing with you some of my favourite collections as some are far too beautiful and deserve to be awed at and drooled over. To kick-start off the showcase of the fabulous fashion visions of AW14-15 I have posted some of my personal favourites of Christopher Bailey's masterpieces. Enjoy! X

What do you guys think? Fashion YES or fashion NO? X

  Ciao! & lots of love ♥