Current Feather Trend

Feathers executed in the right way, can really add a bit of luxury to any outfit and alot of the current trends remind me of the movie stars from the 40's and 50's who often wore feather-adorned dresses or feather accessories.  There's a somewhat 'showgirl' feel to this trend and you could imagine the likes of Rita Hayworth or Marilyn Monroe shimmy-ing around in alot of the designs.  I guess this is not a trend for people who don't like to stand out in a crowd, because there's something about the feather trend that says "look at me"! I just wanted to go through my thoughts on the trend and some of my favourite translations of it on the high street.

I think if you are going to take a foray into this current trend, you need to consider that the feathers will add alot of detail to your look so you may have to tone down the accessories.  A feather skirt is best paired with a fitted, plainer top to balance out your shape because it will add bulk to your lower half.  If you wore anything too flouncy or floaty on top then you would just end up looking alot bigger than you actually are.  I think that any feathers concentrated on the bust area would be a mistake for bigger chested girls as it will instantly draw attention and make your chest look even bigger! Dresses that concentrate the feathers on the bottom half would be a much better option like this gorgeous tunic dress from Next which almost has a retro 'flapper' feel to it.  I love the contrast of soft feathers with a harder, edgy shoe...

Another stunning dress that flirts with the feather trend is a new dress from Monsoon which is strapless and fitted at the top, but flows down to wispy feathers at the hem.  I love the delicate grey colour and intricate embellishments...so pretty! This would be an incredible dress for the festive season because it gives a nod to the trend without looking over the top.  It would be great for curvy girls as it would skim over the body and also great for pear shapes who want to disguise wider hips/thighs....

If you like a bit of glitz then this number from Lipsy would be great for the party season because it spells full on glamour to me.  This would especially great on girl's with a smaller frame as it would accentuate the chest by adding bulk with heavy embellishment, show off slim arms and add a little bit of bulk to the hip area and add some curves to your sillouette...

I think this dress from Warehouse is a fantastic way to wear feathers in a really subtle way.  The pencil shape of the dress would be really flattering on most figures and the feather detail on the front would camouflage your tummy is you are self conscious about that part of your body.  Given all the detail on the dress, I think it would be best to stick to more simple accessories so as not to overpower the whole look...

If you are a little bit scared of this trend and are not confident enough to go to town on the look, then you can always add accents to your outfit.  This soft nude feather bag from Next is incredibly delicate and would add a bit of glamour to your usual going out attire...

So what do you think of this trend? Love it or hate it?

FOTD, OOTD & A Couple Of Reviews

I went out last night with my bestie, Pamela and it was the perfect excuse to wear my new ASOS dress!  I am so happy with this dress because it the most gorgeous colour and it's so flattering.  Sorry the pics aren't the greatest quality but they were kinda rushed. 

I wanted to cinch the waist to give me a bit more shape and this nude belt seemed like the perfect option.  It's one I got ages ago from Next in their sale, it's been so handy because it goes with everything in my wardrobe!

I love this bag I got from Coast a couple of years ago, it's so unique and I've never seen anything like it since.  It's almost art deco style and the only downside is that it's really small so you can only fit the bare essentials in there.  I hope I can keep it in good enough shape so I have it forever!  Sorry about my freakishly long, thin fingers! My mum said the doctors and nurses all commented on them when I was born!ha ha.  The nail polish I'm wearing is YSL La Lacque in no.42, a really rich deep purple...love it! I feel really sophisticated wearing this polish because the colour feels 'grown up'.

I actually chose to wear my wedding shoes from Faith because a) I love them and b) their neutral colour went perfectly with the dress and added a bit of glitz.  I'm such a magpie when it comes to clothes and shoes...any embellishment and I go nuts for it!  Thankfully the heel on these isn't massive so my feet were still in tact after a night of dancing!

Here's the makeup I wore last night.  I went for a subtle smokey eye, glowy skin with a really natural lip.

Face: Virgin Vie Skin Dew mixed with moisturiser

Lancome La Base Pro as a primer

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Fresco

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque under eyes

Estee Lauder Maximum Cover Foundation in Medium used as a concealer

Benefit Hello Flawless Powder in Honey (light dusting to set makeup)

Dior Matte Sunshine Bronzer in Honey Matte all over face

Sleek Contour Kit to define cheekbones

Benefit Coralista

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige on cheekbones on down nose

Eyes: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Shadow Creme in Silver Star as a base

Korres Eyeshadow in White all over lid (pale silver shade)

Mac e/s in Print in crease and drawn out past outer corners and slightly under the eyes

Mac e/s in Vanilla on browbone

palest shade in Sleek Bad Girl palette used as a highlight in inner corners

Estee Lauder Double Wear Eyeliner pencil in Onyx along top lashline

Mac e/s in Carbon to tidy up eyeliner

Lancome Cils Booster to help volumise lashes

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara in Black

Lips: GOSH Darling Lipstick

Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in 236 (Satin Peach)

I just wanted to give a couple of products I used a special mention for their downright fab-ness!

Bobbi Brown Corrector is a fantastic product for anyone who suffers from darkness under their eyes, whether it's hereditary or from lack of sleep.  It's pinky salmon tone cancels out any blue/purple tones under the eye and I like to use it as a base, then apply my usual concealer over the top. 

If you do this in very thin layers then you will have bright eyes in no time!  I find the tried and tested 'triangle' technique works best for me.  Click here to read my previous post on how to deal with dark under eye circles. 

The Bobbi Brown Corrector has a really creamy consistency which means it doesn't dry out the delicate skin on your eye area.  It never creases on my eyes and I attribute this to applying it in a very thin layer as said before.  It lasts all day with no need for touch ups and it has become an everyday staple in my makeup routine.

I look like a proper dumb blonde in the above photo! It made me laugh because I have really vacant expression! ha ha.

My search for the perfect bronzer has come to an end with the incredible Dior Bronze Matte Sunshine Bronzer in Honey Matte.  This bronzer is EVERYTHING you could ever wish for.  It has a matte formula that looks super natural on the skin (essential for that subtle winter glow), it lasts all day, the powder itself is really smooth and incredibly blendable, it has an SPF20 and the packaging is gorgeous!

I much prefer matte bronzers for the daytime, especially in winter because the light is so much more stark and 'white' in the colder months so you want something that will work with your skin and not just sit on top.  This bronzer really works with your skintone and gives you a glow, rather than looking you're wearing a bronzing product.

It feels comfortable and moisturising on the skin and never ever looks powdery.  You get alot of product for your money and given the high quality of the bronzer, it's definitely worth paying extra for this one.  If you prefer a bit of shimmer in your bronzer, Dior also do a version that would appeal to you.  I know I will repurchase this product repeatedly because it's so reliable and always creates the look I want with minimal effort.  I love the fact that it enables you to just swipe your face quickly with a big powder brush and go!

It truly deserves holy grail status!

There's always been something that draws me to highlighters, they excite me like no other makeup product, they look beautiful and they are like a magical tool to transform your skin from dull to radiant in 5 seconds.  I have always heard loads of things about the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks and it's one of those products you see repeatedly featured in magazine beauty sections.  Everyone seems to go crazy over any new limited edition Shimmer Bricks.  I have been using and loving my Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond that I bought a few months back but curiosity got the better of me (fellow makeup lemmings will understand this!).

However, because Dior Amber Diamond is a more peachy toned highlighter, it's always nice to have another variation and this Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige is a great way to get that really polished look but with more gold tones.   The product itself looks beautiful in the pan...

And when you swatch it, you can then see why so many people go nuts over it, because it has the prettiest iridescent gold glow that reflects light beautifully.  I got excited after swatching this because if it looks this great in a swatch, just imagine how good it will look on your face!

I always find that highlighter is essential if you want to create sculpted cheekbones, I like to place the product on the highest part of my cheeks so it catches the light.  I avoid the apples of my cheeks as this can make you look too shiny.  The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick is definitely SLIGHTLY more shimmery than the Dior powder and is more obvious once applied.  But as long as you use a light hand and place the product in the right areas, it can really awaken your face and give you a healthy glow. 

The Shimmer Brick is slightly more powdery than the Dior one and it does shed more when the brush comes into contact with it.  So my only warning about this product would be to dab the brush in it rather than swirling it around as that may create a mess!  Overall I love this highlighter and it definitely comes in the top three I have ever used, together with the Dior Shimmer Powder and Benefit's liquid highlighter High Beam.

H&M Haul and Sleek Blush Review

Now that H&M have an online store, I decided to have a looky at what was currently on sale...I love me a bargain! I love H&M for my casual wear because they do alot of nice t-shirts, cardigans, leggings and shirts that have on-trend details whilst being extremely affordable.  In my eyes, there's no point spending a fortune on a piece of current trend clothing if it's going to go out of fashion within a couple of months.  So, I spend more money on classical basics like well fitting jeans, blazers, winter coats etc.  These items will last you for years so they are more of an investment.

I already have a longline white cotton shirt from H&M that I picked up for £14.99 in the summer and I wear it all the time so I wanted to get another variation to wear with dark blue jeggings.  I spotted this blue fine stripe empire line shirt with rolled up sleeves for only £7.99! Into my basket it went...you can't beat these shirts for a bit of smart casual wear! 

Then this light batwing beige top with 3 quarter length sleeves and shoulder detail caught my attention.  I always look for tops that have a bit of interest about them whether it's embellishment or appliques.  It prevents them from looking too plain.  This one was £14.99.  I got size small because the top is made to be very loose but I prefer it to be a bit more fitted or it would end up looking like a tent on me and that's never flattering on the figure! This soft cotton top will be perfect with some of the skirts I have, thick tights and my New Look sheep skin trim boots. 

I already owned the pale apricot shade of the above t-shirt but it somehow got a small hole in the front of it that just grew bigger in size with each wash.  That always happens to your favourite tops doesn't it!  I was delighted to see that not only was my top on sale, but they had added more colours to the line.  Hurrah! And what do you do if you find a top you like??? Why buy it in three colours of course!

I got the soft cotton top with shoulder embellishments in Turquoise, Apricot and Black.  They were bargainous at only £5.99 each!  I love wearing them either tucked into a skirt with a thick belt to cinch me in at the waist OR loose over my jeggings, leggings or skinny jeans. 

Now that it's winter, I have found myself increasingly requiring extra layers to my outfits to keep me toasty and you can never go wrong with a cardigan.  This black one is longline with tiny pearl embellishments all over it (sorry about the bleached out colour in the pic!).  The little pearls are a really pretty detail and prevent this from just being a boring black cardigan.  It was only £17.99 and will be teamed with a dark grey silk dress I have from Warehouse, black tights and black shoes boots from Dune .

So, as you know, I only just started wearing jeggings last month...I know! Where have I been?! It took me a while to get into them but I soon discovered that they are a gift from the gods.  They give the look of skinny jeans with none of the discomfort i.e. you can wear them to a meal and not have to worry about busting out of them before you even hit the dessert!  I picked up these dark navy blue jeggings for only £9.99.  They have a side zip at the waist and a twisted seam that runs slightly down the front of the leg from the knee down.  That detail gives them a kind of utility edge which is very 'now'.

I was in my local H&M store recently on the search for the gorgeous aviator jacket shown below for just £24.99! I asked a sales assistant but she told me that it sold out within the first week they got it in stock...darn it!  My face visibly dropped.  These jackets are everywhere at the moment in various stores and I have convinced myself that I NEED it in my life.  I remember seeing it online though so I may get it next week...watch this space!

Sleek have undoubtedly become one of the best bets for affordable, great quality makeup.  I love their i-Divine palettes and their Contour Kit is a daily essential for me.  I had yet to try their new Blush shades and Rose Gold seemed like a good place to start.

I had seen the shades available in the Sleek line of blushes but none had ever appealed to me in the past.  I tend to go for peachy toned blush as this seems to be the most flattering on my skin tone.  Any vivid bright blushes are a big no-no for me.  As Sleek's powder products are always buttery smooth and really well pigmented, I had high hopes for their blush.

The Rose Gold shade is an intense peachy coral with glorious shimmer and it definitely looks extremely appealing in the pan...

Alot of people have compared Rose Gold to Benefit's Coralista in the past but the Sleek blush is definitely a couple of shades darker and with more concentrated shimmer.  This is not a product that will appeal to you if you like matte blush.  However, I like a bit of luminous shimmer in my blush so it's all good with me!  Here's a pic of Benefit Coralista so you can directly compare the two.  As you can see, Coralista's shimmer is extremely fine...

I am not a fan of clarting on the blush because I have naturally rosy cheeks so all I want is a bit of a glow.  Because the Sleek blush comes with high pigmentation, I really have to be light handed with a very soft brush.  You only need to dab the pan once to get enough colour because it would be easy to overdo it.  This obviously means that you are getting great value for money since you're getting alot of product for only £4.99! 

Although there is more shimmer in the Sleek Rose Gold Blush, it transfers to the skin smoothly and without any gritty, glittery particles.  With light application, it gives my cheeks a lovely glow.  I love the golden sheen you get from this product so it can double up as a highlighter as well.  The powder itself is extremely smooth, easily to blend and lasts all day without having to be re-applied.

So there you have it, you CAN absolutely get fantastic quality products that are readily accessible and purse friendly.

Glamour & Marie Claire Magazines

I popped out this morning for an oh-so-glamourous trip to the store round the corner to pick up some toilet paper...yes my life is made up of glitter and gold.ha ha.  Anyway, I always take a fleeting glance at the magazine shelves to see if anything catches me eye and today I noticed Glamour Magazine and Marie Claire had freebies attached.  Now...9 times out of 10, I'm not one for magazine freebies because if it's makeup, it's never the right shade for me, if it's a piece of clothing, it's always a size XS and if it's jewellery, it's always flimsy and a bit cheap looking.  I mean, what do we expect when we are getting it for free?

However, today I noticed a rather pretty baby pink Nails Inc varnish attached to the front of Glamour which I read on a regular basis anyway so I thought...why the hell not!  The polish is called Warwick Avenue and it's a perfect everyday shade for me because I prefer the nude, glossy shades for that more natural look.  I know, I know...I REALLY need to branch out when it comes to nail polish but I promise I will be embarking on an experimental phase very soon!  I also saw a rich red/burgundy shade as well so if that's your bag, then go check it out.

Happy clutching my issue of Glamour, I then noticed the new issue of Marie Claire...how pretty is Rihanna's makeup on the cover...sigh! I love the contrast of girly pinks with her vivid red hair.  With this issue, there was a thin double bangle with charms up for grabs but I bought the magazine more for it's contents.

The bangle itself is pretty flimsy if I'm being completely honest and you can see where it has been fused together.  It is from http://www.made.uk.com/, so I decided to take a gander at the site to see what the company was all about as it seemed to be a good cause.  I know from experience that when they give away jewellery as a freebie for a magazine, it's seldom made to the same standard as the pieces you buy from the company (this probably has something to do with them having to mass produce them to a ridiculous scale to give away in the publication). 

The MADE site states "We're about producing gorgeously unique, high quality designer accessories for style-savvy shoppers. But in doing this we're able to radically improve the lives of impoverished communities in developing countries.  All made products are designed by influential designers, then sourced and created within disadvantaged communities across East Africa.  Following the principles of fair trade we train local artisans in new skills, providing fair wages and support at every level. Via this 'trade not aid' ethos we believe we can help break the cycle of poverty and empower the people who create our products".

On taking a look at the other jewellery, I spotted some really unique, interesting stuff and there were a few pieces that really stood out for me, the first being this statement necklace...

I could totally see this necklace worn with a hot pink silk blouse, skinny jeans and a black blazer!  It would really finish off an outfit and I love that it has a raw feeling to it.  The next thing that caught my eye was this gorgeous bracelet...

I will definitely be taking a closer look at this website because I'm all for supporting companies that help people in impoverished areas of the world, not only to make a living for themselves and their families, but teaching them new skills and trades.

Now I'm going to kick back, relax and read my mags...ahh bliss!

Could This Be The Answer To Voluminous Hair???

Because I have very fine hair, I'm always on the look out for products or appliances that can offer a helping hand to make my hair look full and lustrous.  I spotted an advert for the first time on TV today for the Babyliss Root Boost...it's an ingenious device that crimps your hair JUST at the roots to create all the volume of back-combing without the frizz or tangled hair!  How amazing does that sound!? I would never have thought of crimping my roots to create volume but it sounds like the perfect way to boost your hair in a quick and easy manner.  I'm not sure how long this product has been around for but I've certainly never seen it before.

Apparently the Root Boost has three heat settings depending on the thickness of your hair, it heats up to 200oC and has the all important auto shut off.  I think we have all experienced the panicky feeling when we head out..."did I switch off my hair straighteners????".  The Babyliss Root Boost is priced at around £29.99 which I think is a decent amount of money if it can live up to it's claims.

On checking reviews, it seems to have had a great write up with girls saying that you can straighten your hair to create super smoothness and shine, then use the Root Boost to create the volume you need to stop your hair falling flat...sounds pretty darn perfecto to me!

I am really tempted to go out and get me some va-va-volume but I thought I would check on here first to see if anyone had tried it out already? If so, gimme all the deets! I am dying to know if it works because it could be the answer to my hair prayers!

Dior Lip Products For A Natural Defined Look

There's something about Dior lip products that gets me all excited, especially the Diorific High Fashion Lipsticks.  I mean, this could have something to do with the super luxe, glamourous packaging...

But mostly, it's to do with the great formula that feels so comfortable on my lips.  Alot of lipsticks can be drying, which can be exacerbated by the cold weather of these winter months.  Believe me, my By Terry Rose De Baume and Korres Guava Lip Butter have been my best friends of late to ensure my mouth doesn't become parched and flaky...not a good look!  I have been slathering these on like there's no tomorrow!

The Diorific High Fashion Lipstick in Soft Rap Tan is a slightly darker nude than the ones I normally wear such as Estee Lauder's Pure Color Lipstick in Vanilla Truffle.  However, sometimes I feel like wearing a slightly darker nude as it works better with eyeshadow shades that would normally wash you out if worn with a pale lip.

The Diorific High Fashion Lipstick shades have some amazing vivid, bold colours like Roulette Red or Dolce Vita Red that would be gorgeous used as part of the Pin Up look in my previous post.  This lipstick is very long lasting too, it was a good 6 hours before I had to re-apply, which is a good performance in my opinion.

I have owned a couple of Dior Addict glosses in my time and they have to be up there with the best lip glosses I have ever tried.  First off, the packaging is gorgeous AND practical with a high quality brush applicator that doesn't splay out over time.  The formulation of this Dior Addict Ultra Gloss is just divine and has been created with "the Spotlight Shine complex, a blend of glass microbeads coated in a crystalline elixir".  This lipgloss is apparently designed to be ultra shiny and impart a volumising effect to lips.  The shade shown above, Satin Peach, is just gorgeous and right up my street...a soft peachy pink with shimmer so tiny, it's not visible on the lips.  I love these kind of glosses for the daytime because you don't want chunky glitter or anything too 'holographic' when you're trying to look effortlessly natural!  You can see from the example pic below that there isn't even a hint of glitter...

This gloss feels like heaven once applied because there's no grittiness, no sticky feeling and no residue that lies in the area where your lips meet.  No one wants that scum build up on their lips! The formulation is also really light so you don't even feel like you're wearing a gloss, it feels more like a liquid balm.  It didn't dry out my lips and I only have good things to say about it!

Have you tried these lip products? Which is your favourite lipstick/gloss of the moment?

And just for fun, here's a pic of my mum and dad's two Golden Retrievers, Hamish & Findlay.  I just got back from a few days at home and although they stay at my parent's place, I still think of them as my dogs as well, since I lived with them as they were growing up.  They are both so well behaved but they can both be lunatics sometimes!

They are brothers so they are happiest when they're together and they often sleep like this! So cute!  I can't imagine a life without dogs...I can't wait until me and Chris can get a couple of dogs of our own!