5 Accessories I'm Loving This Autumn | GUEST POST

September has just about arrived. Although it still feels a little early, we're already seeing countless exhibitions of autumn style. A lot of the focus this time of year tends to surround extensive lists of clothing items and ideas for totally transformed wardrobes. But if you're like me, you don't actually go out and revamp your entire closet every time the temperature changes! A few new clothing items here and there will suffice for keeping up with the trends. What I really enjoy instead is making sure I'm up on the latest accessories. These are the smaller, more affordable pieces that can bring a look together, and which tend to change more from season to season anyway!

With that said, here are some of the accessories I'm loving for the autumn of 2015.

Sculptural Jewellery

I wasn't entirely sure what the term "sculptural jewellery" referred to until I started seeing it mentioned among the season's trends, and now I can't get enough of it. Style.com has a number of examples of this type of jewellery from designers including Kenzo, Eddie Borgo, and others. The basic idea is that each item is like a piece of art, generally featuring bent and shaped metals that resemble small, wearable sculptures.

Spray-On Boots

This is the term Marie Claire used to define what looks to be a pretty popular trend for the coming autumn and winter seasons: skin-tight, thigh-high boots. Versace, Christian Dior, and others were mentioned in conjunction with the movement, which includes various colours and designs printed onto boots that almost double as leggings. It may not be the most comfortable accessory idea for 2015, but it's a fun look.

Ladies' Loafers

Sticking with footwear, and moving to a more comfortable option, I can't get enough of the ladies' loafers that seem so prominent on the runways this year. Lyst called them "the chosen flats for fall" and it's no wonder they're taking over given the various ways in which we're seeing them dressed up and down. More casual versions include simple boat shoe-style loafers that work like sandal alternatives, and for dressing up we're even seeing heeled ladies' loafers making the rounds.

Opera Gloves

This is another trend pointed out by Marie Claire, and it is essentially the upper-body version of the spray-on boot idea. Opera-length gloves have been spotted on various runways from a slew of different designers this season. While they can appear almost costume-like, there's something undeniably fun about them for the autumn. Given that these gloves tend to be fairly light and thin, they're also a perfect option for comfort as the weather cools but isn't necessarily "cold."

Collar Bows

There have been a lot of bows and ribbons tied around collars on the AW runways, and I love the way Popsugar defined the trend: "a hint of femininity in your workplace wardrobe." Moving from the carefree, fun styles of summer into the stiffer and colder looks that so often arrive with autumn, it's easy to end up with outfits that look slightly uptight. Any sort of ribbon or bow tied around a collar is a great way to keep things fun and feminine.

With these five enjoyable and affordable accessory ideas, you can liven up your autumn wardrobe without even getting into new garments. Have fun putting together some new looks!

3 Wearable Ways to Braids | BEAUTY

Hello!

sources (clockwise from top) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
"it's a nice way to princess-ify your hair,"

Do you remember when I told you about me becoming slightly (okay a lot) obsessed with Once Upon a Time? The show, thankfully on Netflix, has been my go-to and the one thing I couldn't get over while watching it was Elsa's hair. 

"What? Elsa, as in Frozen Elsa?" you may ask - yes, I say, Elsa from Frozen featured in Once Upon a Time and she looked gorgeous! I couldn't not write a post inspired by it, so here we go! 

"easily recreate-able with a simple side braid"

Braids are one of my favourite ways to style hair. Not only does it allow hair to be out of your face, but it also looks super pretty! For the hot, summer months, you may opt for an up-do, and what better way to spice up that up-do than with a braid?

Blake Lively created a beautiful style, which is easily recreate-able with a simple side braid and a bun. She pulls the boho look off nicely.

As well as a bun, throw your hair into a pony tail instead and you're good to go!

"one I'll definitely be resorting to this summer!"

The third style is the one shown above. Although slightly different, both styles consist of the same idea. Either a braid, and the other with a twist, it's a nice way to princess-ify your hair, and one I'll definitely be resorting to this summer!

Tell me, are you a braid fan, or is another style your go-to?

The BEST Pant Trend this Summer | FASHION

Hello!

"I can wear the comfiest form of pants out in public and still look pretty pulled together"

As mentioned a million and one times on this blog, Summer is coming. Summer is not what it is without some floral print, am I right? Basically my summer wardrobe has a lot of florals. Though, it had lots of floral tops and floral dresses, yet no floral... pants.
Before we go on, let's clarify: I mean pants standing for bottoms/trousers not underwear :)

LEFT TO RIGHT: TopShop, Asda by George

I love the way these look. They're almost chinos but not quite in that category. The pants pictured on the right are from TopShop who name them 'cigarette' trousers. Well, I don't really want to call them that but you get the point - they're different. You can choose to dress them up with some heels or dress them down with a casual/plain top and some flats (possibly toms).

LEFT TO RIGHT: Forever21, TopShop

As well as these beauties in the trouser, more structured, form, you can totally opt for the, well, less-structured form: the joggers! Who doesn't like joggers?! If you tell me I can wear the comfiest form of pants out in public and still look pretty pulled together - I'm sold. Let me tell you, I might just have about a million pairs by the end of the summer and I won't judge you if you do too! ;)

So, what do you think of the 'trend'? 

Fuchsia with a bit of Glitter | MANICURE MONDAY

Hello!

"a lovely shade that screams 'ME'"

Spring is well and truly upon us, and if you caught a glimpse of the Spring Nail Colour Picks, and had a little look at the Spring Inspiration Board, you'd know this colour is definitely a go-to Spring shade. Oh, and what better way to spice it up than with a bit of glitter, ey? :)

The combination is one of those, you know, the ones that you do not want to get rid of, even if it's chipping from left, right and centre? Yep, one of those! You can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be wearing this shade, if not the combo, again sometime this season.

"what better way to spice it up than with a bit of glitter, ey? :)"

In all honesty, I was going for the gold glitter, but as I only had a candle lit and the lamp on in my room (you know, to create a nice atmosphere and all), I blindly picked out the silver glitter instead. However, I loved the way it looked - everything happens for a reason, right?! 

All in all, the fuchsia is a lovely shade that screams 'ME'. Shame it was a limited edition, though! Nonetheless, I'll enjoy it while it lasts!

Tell me, if you were to pick one 'ME' shade, what would it be? 

Rimmel by Kate - MARS: POTW

Hello!

"Here's to another Red!"

Although the ultimate red nail season is gone, bye-bye autumn, in all honestly, Red is a colour that will last all year round. It's a classic, a staple in every girls nail collection and one that will never go old.

The good thing about the Rimmel Salon Pro range is the brush. The width is large and makes it a lot quicker, and easier to apply the colour. It's the same brush as the one I've talked about in this post, and seriously, the overall effect is great. Who wouldn't want a fabulous manicure in a matter of minutes?

"Who wouldn't want a fabulous manicure in a matter of minutes?"

So, is it just another red added to the collection or something special? Well, I haven't yet tried it out but when I do, you might just see it on Instagram!

Here's to another Red!

Do you have a favourite red polish?

TREND: Mid-Length Hair

Hello! 

"you're about to see the result of the big chop!"

Hair trends are forever changing in the world of today - from the oh-so colourful rainbow colour phase (which some say is still going strong) to the ever-lasting ombré... well, there's now more to the list of hair trends and you're about to see the result of the big chop!

With the likes of Taylor Swift, Kim K and Ciara undergoing the snip, how could we miss it?!

source 1 2 3
"it's a lot easier for the women themselves!"

The chop has made the ladies look a lot more fun, with a chilled vibe. I love how healthy their hair looks and I'm sure it's a lot easier for the women themselves!

source 1 2 3
 "isn't too short that you can't do much"

It's nice that the cut isn't too short that you can't do much in terms of hair-styles, yet not too long, either!

Summer generally calls for short hair - yet this time, A/W 2014 is calling for it, too!

Would you go for the chop this season - Why?

Yes/No: Short Hair Trend?

Hello! 

If you're like me, you may have noticed the crazy amount of people that have cut their long hair recently, such as the likes of Kim Kardashian, Jessica Alba and Kylie Jenner. The thought of cutting off a lot of ones lovely long hair is slightly terrifying... until I went and did it myself.

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6
 'blond short hair girls have more fun'

Last Tuesday (8th July) was the day 4 and a half inches of my locks were chopped off. Was I scared? No. Did I think it through? No. Would I recommend it? YES.

It's kind of like 'Blonde girls have more fun' but it should be: 'short hair girls have more fun' which is kind of true because it is a lot easier to manage! Though you can't do as many hair styles as you can with long hair.

I wouldn't be able to go for a pixie cut like Emma Watson but the length shown in the pictures above is perfect!

What do you think of the short hair trend: YES/NO? 

Manicure Monday: Pastels are Back - Ice Cream Purple

Hello!

What is THE biggest trend for Summer pretty much every year?

Yep it's Pastels. That means there are pastel bags, pastel clothes and.... inevitably pastel nails! 

Pastels are said to make one look tanner and more summer ready! The most popular pastels would probably be the pastel pinks and whites - you know what I mean if you read this post. 

I was going for a pastel pink but opted for a pastel PURPLE this time round and I love it! It's slightly different yet also in the same pastel family.

This particular shade is Barry M Nail Paint in Ice Cream Purple - I've always loved Barry M for their quality and for this shade I needed 2 coats for an opaque finish.

What's on your favourite Pastel shade?

Manicure Monday: Goddess - Rimmel by Kate Moss

Hello!

The sun is peaking out from behind the clouds (about time, it IS June) in the UK and quite possibly where you are too! That means the darker shades are to be put away and lighter, brighter shades bought out for the season. Being a fan of Nudes and Taupes, this was a lovely colour I was dying to try since receiving it with the Rimmel by Kate Mascara - see post here.

It's a lovely shade, less coral than I would have adored but a lovely shade, anyway. It is basically a complete white with a tiny bit of orangey/pink added to it - know what I mean?

In terms of applying it, the brush is SUPER wide but short, so you cover a large amount of nail at a time - making it really quick to do your polish! 

See the Shimmer?

You can just about see it, but the shade has a slight pearly shimmer (see picture above) which you cannot spot when on your nails. In fact, the colour looks more matte on the nails. 

Have you tried the Rimmel by Kate Moss line yet?

Mani Monday: April Picks

Hello!

Being it the 1st of April tomorrow, OMG I just clicked it's April Fools Day *gasp*, I thought it would be fun to see what nails colours stand out for the month of April!





This is the month where it can either rain or the time or be super duper sunny in London, and let's be honest here, the weather does affect the colour of nail polish you're wearing - it's not just me, right?!

Cobalt Blue

I thought this colour would be gorgeous for the season, the picture doesn't do it justice, but Essie Mesmerize, is a bright blue - yet not a pastel blue that's more for the July months, if you see what I mean! I think this would be the colour I paint my nails this week! 

Duo-Tone

Barry M has launch a new collection! It has aquarium inspired shades and has a few two-tone polishes which are to die for - so why not give the duo-tone trend a go for April? 

Nude

I'm always up for nude, and this polish from the Brazil Collection is no different!

Confetti/Sparkle (matte)

The Confetti trend came out a while ago, yet it's very much like sparkle polish - and a girl can never get enough of it! I haven't worn sparkle in a while, so might pick that out for April!

I hope you enjoyed reading this - what is your go-to April shade?  

1 // 2 // 3 // 4

SS14 Wearable Fashion Trends - From the Catwalk to your Wardrobe.

Hello!

The sun is ACTUALLY popping out from behind the clouds, and you know what that means? The SS14 Trends can go into action. Well, if you have been looking at the trends seen on the catwalk, not many are actually wearable for day-to-day, think Kendall Jenner and her nip-through top - not gonna happen.

Well, we still want to be wearing the trends seen on the runways and girls, when there's a will there's a way!

1. The trend that pops by every year! 

Links to Items: 1, 2, 3, 4

I love pastels, from nails to jumpers to handbags! I love the mix and match of pastel colours too, in this case the mint jumper with the pastel pink pants. To not bring the look to overload, I toned down the outfit with nude pumps - but to bring up the bling, the coral (pastel) and gold necklace felt like the perfect touch. This outfit is getting me excited for the summer!!

2. THE colour of the Season

Links to Items: 1, 2, 3, 4

 Yellow. The colour of sunshine, the colour of happiness. This bright colour is such a lovely one to put on during the warmer months. Being spotted as one of the hottest colours from OPI's new Summer Collection, this one is going to be huge. The black/yellow floral dress has a gorgeous neckline. I feel yellow works really well with gold jewellery and as this dress is almost sleeveless, I felt the arms would feel bare without a bracelet. The shoes kept simply but effective the black heels and obviously another HUGE pop of colour with the bag - which I love!

3. Keep it Pure 

Links to Items: 1, 2, 3, 4

White on White worked for winter and is set for the summer months too. I love the slight gold accent in this outfit on the belt. It would work well with the shorts, blazer and pure white top! The white shoes would make the outfit look like an overall dream.

4. TWO trends in One

Links to Items: 1, 2, 3, 4

The Wide-Leg Pants trends is a total new one. One which I am reluctant to try. However, it would work well with the geometric print top. Being it a navy colour with white detailing, I feel it works well with the white pants. To add a little more dimension to the outfit, the boxed black shoulder/hand bag seems like a perfect fit. To not draw attention away from the pants and geometric pattern, I paired the outfit with black flats.


I hope you enjoyed the 'from the catwalk to your wardrobe' edition of the Spring/Summer Fashions Trends and let me know what you think of the layout!

What's your favourite summer trend?

New OPI Brazil Collection - SS14

Hello! 

The sun is finally peaking out from behind the clouds now meaning it's a good time to talk about Brazil. Well, OPI's new Brazil SS14 Collection, that is! 

I am a huge fan of OPI for many a reasons, one being the very creative names on probably every nail colour they have and the second being how on point they are with the trends of the season. Now, don't get me wrong, this doesn't mean I buy every new OPI Nail Polish released, in fact most of my polish are not OPI, yet I do find myself painting my nails in similar shades to their recent collections!

So, these are the colours for Spring Summer 2014:

The Brazil Collection consists of mostly creme finishes with both neutrals and brights. I have seen the bright yellow colour in many SS14 collections, so that will be a bit hit this season.

Out of this collection my favourites would be 'I Såo Paulo Over There' and 'Toucan Do It If You Try' - see what I mean by the names?! I love taupes and coral, so these shades are 'right up my alley'.

What do you think of the collection and your favourite shades?

Polish Images Source

New OPI Collection: Raw Granite

Hello!

Happy Monday!  For the last week or so (feels like forever) I've left my nails bare - so, it's definitely time to give them a fresh coat! I was looking for some new nail colours that are out right now to give me inspiration on what colour to paint my nails next and came across this beautiful collection by OPI: Raw Granite.

You may have heard of Granite being used as one of the more expensive counter tops for your kitchen, yet heard of OPI's new collection: Raw Granite?
Well, the shades are worth looking into and reading about!

via OPI

These all have a Matte Textured finish and have Diamond Dust in them too - doesn't that sound lovely!
These polishes can either go edgy with a matte look or you can go elegant by applying a top coat and letting the diamond dust do its magic!

via source

"Lapis" and "Pewter" are the late comers in terms of this collection and have recently been released. The gorgeous gunmetal and navy shades are perfect for Winter 2014 and have already been a big hit.

I love the way these look and if you have a similar colour at home, but not in a matte finish, do what I did in my other Mani Monday post and apply a matte top coat - trust me, it does wanders and makes the polish you're wearing look a different colour! I will try it and let you know how it looks!

Oh, and before I leave you with a question of the day, let's just admire the beauty of the packing that OPI have come up with!

What do you think of Diamond Dust in nail polish? Over the top or pretty cool? 

Haul: New Bag!

Hello!

This season brings about more reds, deep greens, black and.... camel!
Remember when camel/mustard was THE colour, like it was EVERYWHERE! Anyway, so I decided that although camel is not THE colour, it's still a colour for the winter months and whats better than a bag to spice up any outfit with the colour?

The quilted bag reminds me of the Chanel bags, yet a LOT less cheaper but still as classy!

It's also very versetile as it can be a shoulder bag with the chain doubled up or...

You can make it a longer, slightly daintier bag with a single chain!

It even has a secret back pocket, perfect for your phone!

Here's a similar bag on the TopShop website.
And here's a red version on Forever 21.
You can get also get this colour in many bags including a longchamp bag here, which I have a taupe version of, seen here.

I actually bought it from a local boutique which I buy a lot things from as it stocks a lot of clothing that are trendy! However, it is easy to find dupes for them, so it's all good!

So tell me, what's your go-to bag colour at the moment? The usual neutrals or something bold?

NOTD: Sparkles in the Dark

Hello!

Yet another NOTD is written on this blog, which is not long after my last one here. I had a (short) phase whereby I wasn't feeling very up for painting my nails but now I am more into it again! To be honest, I love wearing darker colours on my nails, and the winter means it is appropriate to do so, hereby bringing todays nail post!

I absolutely love the gold on black.

The gold Barry M topcoat looks amazing on many shades...

...and adds a bit of glamour!

What shade are you nailing at the moment?