Fools on Parade

Lately all I've been wanting to do is go out, take millions of photos on a disposable camera and find a way to create something so visually appealling with them that I cannot express my thoughts in words, bit deep but you get me? I've been scrolling through tumblr a lot lately just drooling over all of these photos. It makes me want to go out & explore all the places in my area that I've never been to before and just capture every moment. Cutting out the crap and just taking plain, simple photos of the environment and objects that sit in front of me. Creating art out of the everyday things that we, or should I say 'I' take for granted. I've been a fool for not realising the beauty of the things I see each day & so I thought I'd write this little rambly, chatty post for today to pretty much express my new found appreciation of everything. I've also only just noticed that all of the photos above are blue,  I guess I've been drawn to that colour today - cool!

I think I'll leave you with some songs to listen to that match my philosophical (if that's what you'd call it) mood:

Arctic Monkeys- Secret Door (title inspo) // Foals - Milk & Black Spiders

*all photos taken from Tumblr

Moody Monday 03

I've been loving the whole tartan craze this season and i think it's fair to say that I am borderline OBSESSED! I mean, who could resist red & green plaid? I know I can't! This collection of tartan beauties is just a tiny portion of some of the stuff I've been eyeing up lately.

The first being a tartan pinafore-y playsuit thing from New Look. How cute is this?? Chuck me over a pair of docs or chunky boots & a simple tee and this is a winner in my eyes! Paired with a leather jacket, this could quite possibly be the cool outfit on the planet (in my opinion).

This PVC and tartan dress from Topshop is another treasure I've spotted. Grungy, cute and versatile rolled into one, this piece is perfect for all those not too casual, not too dressy days. Paired with chunky boots, tights and a tee this look is pretty with a hint of edginess - AMAZING!!

My favourite of all the pieces has got to be these tartan cigarette style trousers. Quirky yet elegant, these trousers are a must have (for me anyway).  Styled with a simple back cami and gold jewellery these are perfect for any occasion, I love em'!

Finally, this collared tartan top from Zara is so darn cute! It's peplum style makes it perfect for any shape or size & it's collar adds that extra little hint of prettiness! I just need it! Paired with black trousers and heels, this top can look both dressy & casual - result!

Have you been liking the tartan trend? 

Moody Moody 02

It's been a week since my last post (I've been pretty busy!) & so today you'll be seeing another 'Moody Monday' post, woo (or not!)!

I've been loving florals & in particular, floral trousers - I just gotta have a pair! I especially love this pair because (if you don't already know) I love blue! I've also been on the hunt for a pair of really fitted (with a little bit of baggy-ness) trousers & so these combine 2 in 1, result!
As for tops, I'd definitely keep it kinda cool and wear a black cami (this one is from Topshop) just to tone it down a little make the trousers more of a statement.
I'd also pair it with chunky boots from H&M to add a little edginess and make it more me (plus, who doesn't want to wear comfy shoes??)!
I've also been loving cuffs (they're just AMAZING!!!), this one is pretty plain & adds a little hint of elegance.

So that's it for this weeks 'Moody Monday'  some songs I've been listening to are;

Alt-J - Fitzpleasure // Bastille - These Streets // Arctic Monkeys - Old Yellow Bricks

Moody Monday

So, I've decided that I'm going to start little mood board posts on this blog every Monday (maybe not every, but I'll try!). I'm going to call it 'Moody Monday' because: 1.on Monday I'm pretty moody & 2. I'm bad at puns but I thought this one fitted quite well (haha!).

This past year I've developed a real love for vintage/biker/grunge style clothing. I don't mean I like to dress in black leather from head to toe, but I do like to sprinkle some of it into my outfits (just to edge it up a little). Leather jackets in particular have become a staple, I picked up the 'Clean Biker Jacket' from Topshop back in January & now every time I wear it I feel like I need a moped or motorbike to complete me (probably not the greatest idea)!

I've also been loving chunky boots! Whether they be Chelsea, Biker or Cutout - I've been feelin' the need to try on every single pair (well, maybe that's an exaggeration but I just love em'!). This pair from Boohoo.com are next on my list - that platform, eh? AMAZING!

The sun hasn't been out as much but I can still live in hope, right? So I thought I'd include these sunnies into the mix as they're just too cute! I'm loving the bridge bar - so retro, plus the round frame gives that effortless vintage (HAIM sister - esque) vibe! Love it!

I guess that's it for my first 'Moody Monday' post. I might just leave a couple of songs below for you to listen to if you're feelin' like a bit of music.

M83 - Outro // Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension // Foals - Providence

twitter//bloglovin'

Brilliant Buys

I've been a little reckless when it comes to shopping these past couple of weeks. Last week I did a haul (that you can find here) on bits & pieces I picked up in Primark. So...yeah, I've gone a little mad on the shopping front (forgive me!).
I dropped into H&M on Saturday & had no intention of buying anything until I spotted these Wine Corduroys on the 'Sale' rail. I couldn't believe my luck because they were in my size (which is very, very rare) plus, they were reduced from £35 down to *drum roll please*, £7 (what a bargain!).
I also picked up this black cut-out dip hem dress. It was really hard to get a good photo of it because it is super long but I think I'll give a little post of it's own! It was £19.99 & I spotted it a month ago and decided not to buy it (I gave in!).

If you've been keeping up with my blog you'll know that I have developed a slight love for rings. I've been on the hunt for a pack of midi rings because they're so cute! So when I spotted these delicate little midi rings I just couldn't say 'No!'

Just received this, this morning but I also bought 'Submarine' by Joe Dunthorne on Amazon. I literally searched for this in every book shop (around me, obviously) & couldn't track it down so I had to give up the ongoing battle & buy it online!

So...yeah! That's my little haul!

Have you been shopping lately? 

Links: twitter // bloglovin'

Shopping Splurge + Update

Hi guys, it's been a while! Well, I guess 3 days isn't that long but it certainly feels much longer! As you can probably tell from the title, this post is going to be filled with lots of goodies I picked up whilst in the city. I took a glance in my wardrobe recently & felt like melting at the sight of all my sweaters, jumpers and jackets (I really underestimated this heatwave) so I was in need of some light, sun-suitable clothing that could see me through the heat. I stopped at Primark first (which explains why this post is so 'primark heavy') & picked up quite a lot of bits.

I've been in need of more basic t-shirts and tops as I just throw them on when I'm lounging around & decided to pick up a couple of 'boyfriend t-shirts' basically, baggy t-shirts! I'm a huge fan of baggy tees & love wearing them tucked into skinny jeans or skirts - these cost £4.00 so I couldn't resist (they're the two tops at the bottom by the way!)!
 I also picked up two cropped sweaters which I liked (they are the next two in the picture) as I thought they'd be great to chuck on at the beach when it starts to get a little cooler - as far as I can remember these were £6.00 (not bad!).
And lastly I grabbed two turtleneck crop tops. As these were £2.50 I just thought 'Why Not?' & threw them into my basket - I guess I can dress them up with high waisted trousers, shorts or a skirt.

While I was walking around I spotted these tribal print leggings and thought they were amazing! I also kinda got them to wear with the black crop top & because I don't ever really buy jazzy trousers. Then, to tone it down I grabbed these 'acid wash' or light denim jeggings - as they're so comfortable and easy to wear with anything, perfect for warm weather!

To top off the clothing I purchased this little ring in the style of a spring (ooh! That rhymes!) it was only £1.50 & if you've been reading my previous posts you'll know that recently I've been loving gold rings! As well as gold rings, I've been loving chains & spikes and when I saw both of these combined in this necklace I knew I had to get it, plus, it was only £2.50!

After Primark, I went for a little browse in HMV. I've been loving The Strokes recently and decided to buy their album 'Angles' which was £8.99 (woo!). I also went ahead and bought Arctic Monkeys 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' - I was debating whether or not to buy this because I already know all of the songs on it but it's that good of an album I couldn't say no! 

So... yeah! That rounds up my haul, well done if you made it this far! But on a serious note, Primark have some really nice things in at the moment - so if you haven't already, I would definitely recommend going for a browse! 

Now on to the update! I've reached 50 followers (woop woop!) I just want to say thanks to everyone for following me - I appreciate every follower & comment left and think it's so cool that people actually like my blog & read my posts! So, thanks guys for helping me reach my first milestone!

Bold In Gold

I've really been loving gold lately; gold necklaces, gold rings & now gold eyeshadow. I never really bother with eyeshadow, but when I do I like to keep it subtle & I find that this gold shade by Barry M does the job perfectly! As you can probably tell from my previous posts I am a huge fan of Barry M products - I just think they're great quality and super affordable (everything I want in a brand!). As far as I can remember I bought this shadow in Boots for in and around £4.50 (which I think is reasonable enough). It's in the shade 09 & think it's called 'Tan', but I'm not sure. What I do know however, is that it is reallyyy shimmery & is quite heavily pigmented - brilliant! 

I've had this for roughly 10 months and have used it sparingly (because a little goes a long way) & I haven't even created the slightest dent - great! I also love love love the packaging! It's super sturdy and doesn't feel like it's going to crack or break any time soon & so does a great job of protecting the eye shadow (great if your clumsy like me!). 

Have you tried this product?

I put some new shoes on & suddenly everything is right

Hello there! Last week I was taking a bit of a browse at shoes on SportsDirect.com, I didn't really intend on buying a pair... until I saw these bad boys! To be completely honest, it wasn't the actual style of the shoe that made me want them, it was the colour (as sad as that sounds!)! I’m a real sucker for pastel colours & this pastel blue (almost duck egg blue) had me sold! The best thing was however, the fact that they were reduced from £29.99 to £17.99 (what a bargain!!)! Unfortunately, I can't find them on the website to link them!

So, the shoes are suede and so soft – amazing! The design is pretty plain which means they’ll practically go with anything, but as you can probably tell from the above photos I’ll more likely be wearing them on days when I feel a little casual! I guess you could probably wear them with a bright dress if you wanted to tone it down a little during the day and keep it comfy! They’re lace up, but for some reason I think they look better with the laces tucked in (but that's just me!), they're super comfortable and so soft on the inside, so your feet aren't going to blister (woo!)! I'm not usually one for wearing trainers, but I love these! What do you think?

Also, I'll leave you with some shoe related songs that you can check out if ya feel like it!

Paolo Nutini - New Shoes // Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks // U2 - Get on your Boots  // Mac Miller - Nikes on my Feet

Rimmel | Lasting Finish Kate Moss Lipstick

I haven't posted in a while (a little while too long) & so thought I'd do a little post on a product I've been loving at the minute - Rimmel's Lasting Finish Kate Moss Lipstick in 08. I've never been one for wearing lipsticks or tints, I've always been a Vaseline or Chapstick kinda gal and so I was curious to see what lip colours would suit my complexion (plus I kind of wanted to brighten up my makeup routine!). I rummaged through all of the Rimmel lipsticks before choosing this one & I mean they have a fantastic range of different shades and formulas for fantastic prices! 

Shade 08 can only be described as a blue-toned pink shade and personally I think it looks quite berry-ish on the lips. I bought this thinking it wasn't going to be very pigmented, but I was surprised by the quality of it and discovered that a little goes a long way - amazing! On me this colour looks very natural - it happens to be a tiny bit darker than my natural lip colour and so just emphasises my lips a little. The finish is quite shimmery & dewy, it reflects light making the lips appear fuller and  it just generally adds a pop of brightness to my everyday makeup look during the summer.

The packaging of the product is sleek and durable allowing it to withstand the many obstacles & objects that are kept in your handbag. My only issue with this product is the fact that the shades aren't given names - a cute name would be much more memorable than a number & would make it easier to find a shade if it was recommended to you! For £5.49 I think this lipstick is brilliant (a real bargain!) & I will definitely be repurchasing this shade and some of the others in the future - I would definitely recommend this product!

Have you tried this product before?

Benefit | How To Look The Best At Everything

I've had this little makeup kit lying around in my room for quite a while. It's the 'How To Look The Best At Everything' set by Benefit and I must say the packaging is so cute (it looks like a little book!)!  As you can probably see, the set is in 'Medium' which is bad news if you are a pasty white chick like myself but perfect for those blessed with sun kissed skin (or those who like to opt for the orange face, white neck look). The set includes sample sizes of;

The POREfessional (7.5ml) - I must say, this is my favourite product ever!
'Hello Flawless Oxygen WOW' Brightening makeup (7ml) in 'I'm so money' honey
'Boi-ing' Industrial strength concealer in 02 & 03 
'Hello Flawless!' powder cover up in 'I'm cute as a bunny' honey
Plus, you get a little brush!

On top of the cute packaging and amazing products, the kit includes a 'Tips & Tricks' booklet attached! It gives tips on applying concealer, foundation and powder making it fool-proof!

I haven't used much of the foundation or concealer as the shades are too dark and they appear orange on my skin (which is never a good thing) but the application is smooth and the quality is brilliant! I would definitely purchase a full bottle of the foundation in a lighter shade as well as lighter shades in the concealer as both products live up to the hype! I am also planning on repurchasing 'The POREfessional' as it is sooo good and keeps my makeup on all day! (result!)

Have you got a favourite Benefit product?

H&M

Yesterday morning I popped into Specsavers to grab some contact lenses (because yes, I am blind as a bat!).  I received H&M's new 'Summer Season' catalogue (with Beyoncé on the cover!!) in the post earlier that morning and so wanted to go for a little browse on my way out to see what they had in store. As I am lucky enough to be going to a music festival later in the month I wanted to buy some jewellery to go with my outfit. And so I did! I ended up making the very tough decision to buy earrings and a pack of rings (I was also going to buy a gold chain but came to the conclusion that I would never wear it).

I bought a set of 9 rings - I don't have many rings and these were only £3.99 so I thought Why Not? I love how they vary in size and because they are plain they will go with practically anything! I also purchased a pack of earrings and ear cuffs - I have developed a slight love for hooped earrings recently (I don't know why) as well as earcuffs as I feel they give an edgy element to any look and are pretty much effortless to put on (no fiddly earring backs... result!). These cost me £4.99 which I guess isn't bad considering they are good quality and don't look like they are going to break or snap anytime soon!

A quick side note for any fashion lovers... the H&M Life page on the H&M website is amazing for seeing any new trends or updates from your favourite style icons. Plus, it's updated daily to keep you right up to date on everything going on!

Thanks! x

Haul│Boots

Today I went on a little trip to boots. I had a list of things I wanted to buy in my head but I was distracted by the glowing cosmetics section (as always). As I am constantly on the lookout for good 'fair' coloured foundations, I had a peek at some of the brands I normally don't bother with.  I found this 'Miracle Matte Foundation' in the shade soft ivory, it was priced at £5.99 and so I thought 'Hey! Why not?'. I also just ran out of my Revlon PhotoReady Concealer but couldn't find it anywhere in Boots so I thought I'd pick up this 'Stay Time' Concealer as a slightly cheaper alternative and give it a go! I also bought my first Barry M nail polish today (woop woop)... I decided to grab 'Ice Cream Purple' and 'Peach Melba' as I don't usually wear bright nail polish and thought that it would be a nice change for the spring.

Night Sky

I'm loving dark colours at the minute and since I have nothing better to do I decided to create an elegant evening look. 

I spotted this beautiful peter pan collared dress from Dorothy Perkins, I love the contrast of the navy and cream and the shape looks like it is made to flatter any figure. The dress is mid length so it is definitely a summer friendly dress - perfect for warm weather. Next, the shoes caught my eye! These black heels are amazing! The shape is so unique and unusual and would really compliment the shape of the dress to create the perfect evening outfit. The nail colour 'Rain in Flowers' by MAC matches the dress and accessories perfectly giving your fingers and toes a touch of beauty too, tying all of the element together to create the look! 

Daisy by Marc Jacobs is the perfect scent for summer - light and youthful and will complete the elegant feel of the look!

Dorothy Perkins peter pan dress

Flat wedge

Diane von Furstenberg metallic clutch

Vintage style earring

Kara by Kara Ross amethyst ring

Marc Jacobs daisy perfume

MAC Cosmetics nail lacquer

Rachaeleeno

♥