November Detox | The Grey Jumpers

Between the spooky parties of Halloween and the festivities of Christmas, lies little cold November. Our first month off since summer and the perfect time to just take it easy and prepare for December. 


I call this a detox month because it's my detox from colour, the transition from autumn to winter. This year in particularly i've noticed a little bit of a trend.....when I say a trend I mean a pretty much identical occurrence. I like grey, grey jumpers to be precise. 


Now you may be thinking whats the problem with liking or having grey jumpers? How about having five. That's right I brought five different grey jumpers on five separate occasions in the past year. If that doesn't scream "i've got a bit of an obsession" i don't know what does. 

Top to bottom: H&M, Topshop, H&M, Forever21, Cotton On

Being the neutral between black and white, grey is the perfect shade (was going to say colour but I remembered all those people who used be like "IT'S NOT A COLOUR ITS A SHADE").  


It's subtleness can make your outfit blend into the winter morning. You can dress grey up but personally I prefer to keep it beautifully simple. With a small silver chain and black jeans you are keeping it basic yet looking rather chic. 

Textures are just as different as colours and very noticeable with grey. From knitted wool to soft fluffy cotton, a noticeable texture can proved that little touch your outfit needs to be perfect. 


Now comes to my explanation for having five, firstly each one is different: a hoodie, a sleeveless one, one is longer at the back, a fluffy one and a knitted one. Secondly it goes amazingly well with black and we all know that many of us live in black jeans or leggings as soon as it gets cold. 

Maybe the grey reminds me of snow? or maybe I just want to give my wardrobe a slight change from all the black? Whatever the reason it's happened and I'm not mad about it, in fact I want to encourage you who don't have one to give it a try. xx

The 12 Nail Polishes Of Christmas

 13 days until Christmas 

Christmas is a time of magic and sparkle. From dressing up for christmas parties, to having a cozy nights in watching christmas movies. The best way to dress up any outfit is through nail polish, a simple black dress can be transformed into a christmas classic with some glistening gold nails. So I'd thought i'd give you a few simple ideas to make you nails party ready! And of course there's 12 nail polishes because I like to play on words like that ;) 

1 Polish Wonders 

Sharon- Andrea Fullerton 

Paired with a white coat or black jumper, a simple grey can really add a classy touch to an outfit. It also adds a subtle winter wonderland feel without being to in your face christmasy. 

Jingle Bells- Barry M 

Talking about in your face christmasy, even the name of this nail polish is OTT christmas, with a black dress this polish will glisten and sparkle. The occasion flecks of red really make this polish stand out. 

Crush- Barry M 

A classic all red nail is always a christmas favorite. This matt nail polish will stand out beautifully against a cream cardigan or even go with your cringe christmas jumper. 

Frozen 

Bottom Coat: Office - American Apparel 

Top Coat: Aqua Glitter - Barry M 

A true Elsa nail polish look for you Frozen fans! I know most of you wont have a blue dress made out of ice hanging in your wardrobe but don't worry, these nails will add a glistening winter touch to an all white or black outfit. 

Tinsel Town 

Bottom Coat: Don't Pretzel My Buttons- OPI

Top Coat: Sugar Crystals- Maybelline 

Simple, classy and a touch of sparkle, who wouldn't love this combination? Anything from a leopard print skirt to a onesie this colour will literally go with anything and give you a gorgeous twinkle when they catch the light. 

New Years Eve 

Purple: Ice Queen - Maybelline 

Silver- Light Up - Maybelline

Although these are christmas nails, I think this combination will be a perfect New Years look. The bright purple will contrast against the silver and add a real sense of party to go with your new outfit. 

Chocolate Truffle 

Gold: Oil Slick- Accessorize

Brown: Wooden Shoe Like To Know - OPI

Everyone loves a chocolatey treat during the holiday, even your nails. If you want to be christmasy without too much sparkle or red then this look is perfect for you. Against white or cream will give you a cozy winter look. 

Candy Cane Lane 

Bottom Coat: Crush- Barry M 

Top Coat: Light Up- Maybelline

Christmas wouldn't be christmas without a candy cane, too sugary and sweet but so pepperminty and delicious. Your nails will bring the party to any gathering, paired with red the silver will shine against both the nails and your outfit. 

Classic Christmas 

Gold: Gold Flash- American Apparel 

Red: Crush - Barry M 

You can never go wrong with the classic christmas colours red and gold. The red matt colour will be a subtle touch but paired with a gorgeous gold you'll be ready to collect a kiss from under the mistletoe. Paired with black or any other dark colour will really make them stand out. 

Hope you are all up to date with your christmas shopping and decorating. Which nails are your favorite? xx 

Statement Coats and Jackets

Since I'm studying in Sunderland, coats are still very much a necessity if I want to stay warm when being outside. I've seen a lot of different styles and patterns on the catwalks my favorite being PPQ's Autumn/ Winter 2013 collection of vibrant, bold and colourful winter coats.  When wearing a coat like this you don't need to dress it up with jewelry or a fancy purse, as the coat speaks for itself. The neon yellows and fluorescent pinks featured on the catwalk were accompanied by bold patterns and daring cuts to make the show and outfits more extravagant. 

I decided to purchase my own extravagant coat, a little less designer and a little more high-street. I was looking for patterns rather than colour as a personal preference,  I've always been a huge fan of leopard print and ever since Harry Styles wore a Burberry leopard print shirt to The London Fashion Week last year, it seems that everything now comes in black, white and leopard print. I thought I struck gold when I popped into Miss Selfridge and found a gorgeous leopard print coat had been reduced from £75 to just £25 as well as it being the last one available in my size! So without a doubt I snatched it up and carried it around with me all day, and of course taking it out the bag to stare at it on the train home. 

Since yesterday was my first time wearing it, I wanted to do a little outfit of the day and share my excitement with you all. I paired the coat with a long sleeved black dress, black tights and brown boots so that the coat would stand out and accessorize my outfit for me. 

And of course, Sunderland being Sunderland the wind caused a lot of retakes! Hope you enjoyed this post xx  

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My Obsession With: MAC Love Thing Blusher

As you can probably tell I'm really loving red this season, maybe its the post christmas depression still lingering inside me or maybe it's just because red is a great colour! 

This blusher caught my eye at the MAC stand back in November, but just my luck they didn't have it in stock. After going back to Hong Kong for christmas I had a lot of time to think, do I really need another blusher? Of course my answer was yes, so in early January I picked up Love Thing. 

And oh my, I really do love this thing (excuse the cheesy pun), the red is such a gorgeous wine red with specs of gold and sparkle, once I brought it, I kept taking it out the bag and staring at it. 

What I love most about MAC colours, is that they are so pigmented that you only need the slightest touch with a brush to get enough to colour your cheek. As you can see the blush sits beautifully on pale skin, making you look and feel like an old Hollywood movie star. 

Without a doubt this is my favorite product for January, I think red is perfect for the colder months so you stand out against the grey gloom. It may not be as suited for the summer months, but theres always next year.  

This product is a little pricey at £20, but you'll get load of use out of it! xx 

How To Get Easy Wavy Volumized Hair

 I'm one of those girls who has to suffer with naturally straight hair, especially in winter. Although it's some peoples dream to have straight hair, it does get boring after a while. I also can't really be bothered spending hours curling, teasing and putting all sorts of chemicals in my hair to make it do something. But I have now discovered a new hair routine that only needs 3 tools, 2 brushes and a hair dryer!

 I decided to try out Aussie shampoo and conditioner because not only have I heard great things about the company but also because they have so many unique treatments for all types of hair (trust me, they work wonders!)  I picked up the "Luscious Long Conditioner" as I have been having trouble keeping the ends of my hair moist and smooth, so a deep condition will do them some good. I also got the "Aussome Volume Shampoo" a shampoo that comes with cheesy jokes, what more could you want? These products were wonderful to use in the shower, they smell delicious and lather up very well. 

Once finished in the shower towel dry your hair and begin to blow dry the ends before gathering your  tools (A brushs and hair dryer). First brush out all the knots and tangles out your hair using just your normal hair brush. Then with a small curling brush, brush down the front and back of your hair making sure you puff out your damp hair and add a little volume.

Then twist handfuls of your hair around the brush and begin drying it in place, continue to do this all over your hair until its (almost) completely dry. This helps your hair to collect air which gives you a fuller, wavy and volumized look.

Once your hair is dry give it a last shake and push with your hands and a once over with the curling brush to make sure its the way you want it, before applying hair spray to make sure your hair stays volumized and beautiful all day. 

AND VUALA!
Your hair will look naturally wavy and a whole lot thicker to give you the luscious hair you've always dreamed of, without all the hassle of going to a salon or using heated tools!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, i've never written something like this before so I hope it was helpful xx

8 Reasons Why Brown Boots Are Better.

1. Because brown is a natural and earthly colour it's more likely to go with more outfits and a mixture of colours.

2. They will give your outfit more of an edge because everyone wears black boots, it will give you a chance to stand out.

3. Brown boots will help to mix up the colour range of your outfit, so you can wear and black dress and tights without looking like you're going to a funeral. 

4. Your boots will show up better against black tights and jeans so that everyone can see how gorgeous they are, (possible complements are a bonus with them)


 
5. Brown is a more wearable colour for an everyday informal look, while black is much more formal.

6. They are still a dark colour which makes them as easy to maintain as black boots and if they get dirty it won't show! 

7. Like black, brown will forever be a classy colour, so you don't need to worry about them going out of style.

8. If you're still stuck on what colour boots to get, it gives you a good excuse to buy both (go on treat yourself!) 

Review: Barry M Matte Nail Polish

Having never really been a fan of Barry M nail polishes, I was reluctant to purchase the new matte line that they came out with. But with a "buy one get one half price" offer at Boots, I thought why not give them a go? This wasn't just a random purchase, I have been looking for matte nail polish since I saw Kim Kardashian's Instagram of her black matte nails. What put me off Barry M nail polish originally was that I found the consistency of the polish thick, gooey and cheap. That fact that they sell themselves as "the cheapest drugstore nail polish" doesn't help my case. 

But I was relatively surprised by the quality and look of their matte collection. I brought 2 out of the 5 colours in the collection, Crush and Mocha. 

Left: Crush, Right: Mocha

The nail polish gives you a smooth matte finish every time, is quick drying and doesn't chip easily which is everything you want in a polish. The colours are also bold and because of the matte finish you don't need a top coat. At just £3.99 each these polishes are a real bargain!

(I applied just 2 coats of each nail polish to produce the colours in the photos below. )

Crush

This beautiful deep red wine colour stands out without being to bright. It makes your nails look classy and sophisticated without needing to visit a nail salon. The only downfall with this colour is that if you make a mistake it will slightly stain your skin so you need to clean it up asap! 

Mocha


This colour is gorgeous for a simple tidy look, although it looks more like a cappuccino than a mocha. Since this colour is so light you can add more layers to produce a darker effect but its a great colour to have for the winter but also for spring as its so light. 

I would strongly advise you the purchase these nail polishes if you're looking for a matte finish or just something new to add to your own collection xx 

My Obsession With: Red Lipstick

Whether it's a lunch date or a night out, red lipstick is suited for any occasion, its easy to dress down or dress up. Paired with heels and a little black dress your lipstick gives your outfit a classy touch but with leggings and a denim shirt your lips make a colourful statement. 

Personally I prefer to wear red in the winter season, as it makes a cheerful and bright contrast from the dull wintery weather. 

Here are my two favorite red lipsticks to help me survive the cold, 

On the left is Chanel Rouge Coco number 21, on the right MAC Fresh Moroccan 

Rough Coco 21

This lipstick gives you a solid pure red look, making your lips look bigger and more noticeable. It's surprisingly bright so its best to pair it with natural makeup and let your lips speak for themselves. 

Fresh Moroccan 

This lipstick has a little more sparkle and has a modern twist on the vintage classy red lip look. It has a slight orangey tone to it so paired with a smokey eye look this lipstick glamorizes any outfit. 

So grab yourself a red lipstick an stun any crowed this winter xx