Friday's Frock #6 & Instagram Insights!

Hello my lovelies! Once again, I have failed at blogging due to exhaustion, I will get used to this whole working thing right??? But to make up for my lack of posts this week, I am back with another Friday's Frock! The picture isn't great as it was an instagram snap this morning (ignore the horrific wet hair style...):

Dress: Vero Moda

Cardigan: H&M

Belt: New Look

Now, I'm just going to throw this out there, but I think this dress is in my top 5 favourite dresses of all time - I just love how diversely it can be styled! Today, I decided to go for the mix of patterns look that I have done before paired with bright red pumps & hairband to throw in a bit of colour. This dress is ideal in everyway - not only with the nautical themed stripes, but the way it is designed that the contrasting stripes have quite a slimming effect & the cute scoop neckline emphasises all my curves in the right places whilst still remaining tasteful! If anyone is visiting a Vero Moda anytime soon, I would definitely recommend this dress as for only £16 its something perfect for both summer & winter wardrobes! 

So with Friday's Frock out of the way, here are some more Instagram moments of the week (and last weekend) that wanted to share with you lovelies... Prepare yourself for the excitement:

1) My little cutie Mia. 2) Feeling Spring with Chanel's 'May' Nail Varnish. 3) Back to Blonde. 4) Congratulation flowers from daddy & David. 5) Celebration cupcakes made by mum & Dani. 6) Fortnum & Mason's Eggs Benedict. 7) Fortnum & Mason's Afternoon Tea. 8) My new Owl Professor Charm from David. 9) New Playsuit from TK Maxx via Ebay. 

After an interview I had on Thursday in Mayfair, my lovely boyfriend took me for Afternoon Tea at Fortnum & Mason's where I decided to splurge and get myself the incredible Eggs Benedict that they do - nom! I may have felt a tiny bit queasy after having scones with clotted cream afterwards, but it was sooooooo worth it! I love Mayfair, it is literally like being taken back to the Golden Age of Hollywood with the fantastic restaurants & shops and it is one of my most loved places in London for indulging myself. I've also heard through the grapevine that there are three secret gardens in Mayfair that you cannot find on a map, so that is now on my list of things to do!

I've also been trying to conserve my money a little before payday, and have therefore been scouring eBay to fix my shopping addiction. I was not disappointed when I found this super cute polka dot playsuit from TK Maxx for only £1, and then bought two new Dorothy Perkins dresses for about £10 combined together! I don't know about you, but I love eBay as I can always find items that I wanted from a year or so ago for a lower price - as the saying goes, patience is a virtue. 

How is everyone's week going? Are you eBay hunters too? 

Love,

The Work Week Outfits in Instagram #1

Hello my lovelies! I am so sorry for my abscence from blogging pretty much all this week, it has been one hectic week and everytime I got home from work I just wanted to sleep! Firstly, some exciting news to share with all my lovely readers that I found out on Thursday...

I have gained a place on a History Graduate Teacher Program!! Eeeeeek! I'm incredibly excited about this as the competition was ridiculously high for history this year and from over fifty applicants to this particular training provider, only two places were being awarded, and I was one of the lucky two to get a place. I start in September, and so by 2013 I shall be a qualified teacher! I'm nervous about the year to come with all the extra work & studying, but cannot wait to begin teaching my own lessons and only working in history!

Anyway, during the week I don't really get the chance to take outfit pictures in the morning as I always want those extra ten minutes in bed and then end up rushing around to get out in time - this is where Instagram has come to save the day! Literally just before I am heading out, I take a quick picture of my outfit to where I look, you know, respectable and not dishevelled which is how I end the day. So here is this week's work outfits:

1) Friday's Frock! Dress: ASOS; Belt: New Look; Cardigan: New Look. 2) Dress: Dorothy Perkins; Cardigan: Abercrombie & Fitch; Sequin Pumps: New Look. 3) Dress: Dorothy Perkins; Cardigan: H&M. 4) Dress: Dorothy Perkins; Cardigan: New Look. 5) Dress: Vero Moda; Cardigan: Hollister. 

 It shouldn't really be a surprise to any of you that my entire work wardrobe is 98% made up of dresses and cardigans - considering generally when I go shopping I will come home with more dresses than anything else, despite not having any more room! It has once again been a winter week and so haven't really managed to get out of the black tights - bah! But on Friday I did, and went for the favourite ASOS midi dress with the striped skirt that just makes it feel like Spring for me!

I also got to debut my new Dorothy Perkins dress (3) this week which I snagged in their sale for £20, and absolutely love! The mix of nude base colour and then ink polka dots just means it can be matched with so many different cardigans and has now given me the excuse to go nude wedge shoe shopping to go with it! 

How do you dress for work in the week? 

Love,

Sunday's OOTD - Adventure is out there!

So, the Bank Holiday comes to an end and it has all gone by way too fast! Although I am loving the fact that it is going to be only a four day week before the next weekend though - woohoo! 

Anyway, after forgetting to take my camera wire down to the boyfriend's this week I have only just managed to upload my pictures from my adventure in Twickenham! We went to the York Gardens which was a little treasure all hidden away but well worth the wandering to find. It had a wonderland-esque feel with hedges and alot of little paths & bright flowers - loved it. What better location to try for some sneaky outfit pictures, eh?

Coat: H&M

Cardigan: H&M

T-Shirt: Hollister

Skirt: ASOS

Tights: M&S

Shoes: H! by Henry Holland

Leather Flower Bag: Next

Albeit, not my finest photos or outfit but I quite liked the casual look for an adventure day and the matching of the lipstick to the t-shirt! I love wearing this ASOS skirt on this weekends as its too short for work and gives me something that is especially for the weekend, something when the majority of my wardrobe has been taken over for work is nice to have something just for chilling out in. I have become so attached these H! pumps, it is definitely the striped bows that have won me over to try and fit them in with whatever outfit I can! 

Anyway, here are some pictures from York Gardens:

The Squirrel and I having a stand-off...

What did you lovelies get up to over the Bank Holiday weekend??

Love,

MAC'Lovin - My MAC Must-Haves.

Hi lovelies, hope you are enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend! This weekend could not have come soon enough, it has been an exhausting few weeks back at work and the extra day is definitely appreciated! How you all spending yours? The boyfriend and I are off out to York Gardens today in Twickenham, so hopefully even with the clouds, might get some awesome pictures to share of pretty fountains. Before I get on with the MAC Wishlist just wanted to share the exciting news that I was one of the ten lucky gals to become an Aussie Angel, and am absolutely thrilled about it! Congrats to everyone that were given their wings, and look forward to meeting you all in the future!

Now onto the post, as I am currently staying at the boyfriend's house, outfit posts might be a bit limited (which is why this week's Friday's Frock has gone amiss) but I am hoping for a little sunshine tomorrow so I can take some outside. So instead, I am just sharing my current MAC wishlight - which has grown since swatching the new Hey Sailor collection!

Firstly, we have the timeless MAC Russian Red Lipstick - £12.50

Images from maccosmetics.com

Since buying my first MAC lipstick last weekend, I have been desperate to add this little beaut to my collection, even more so since wearing my Gabrielle Chanel lipstick everyday this week! I swatched it again when I was in the MAC store yesterday, and just love the deepness of this red that has that sultry, starlet look to it. At £12.50 and with such long-lasting power (I could still see the swatch faintly on my hand last night despite having washed them several times since swatching) I feel this is a much more reasonable daily lipstick than Chanel which is over £20. 

Secondly, the Hey Sailor collection caught my eye, obviously with my love for all things nautical, and with the added bonus of the gorgeous packaging & pin-up colours I couldn't resist not swatching the new collection with the 'Jaunty' eyeshadow being one of my favourites:

 Images from maccosmetics.com

 I swatched this for the first time today and absolutely loved it! If anyone has 'Sin' from the Naked2 Palette, it is alot like that shimmery light pink/gold colour and would make an excellent highlighter! Personally, I would use it as an everyday eyeshadow as its such a neutral colour but the shimmer gives it that added glamour effect. At £12.50, might just have to treat myself to it if I find it again, but its a worry at how fast the stock is all going!

Finally, what seems to be the most sought after piece of the Hey Sailor collection, is the MAC 'Red Racer' lipstick:

 Images from maccosmetics.com

This seems to be sold out EVERYWHERE! I have looked online, I have looked in stores, and I have even turned to eBay but have had no luck so far which is just making me want it more! It looks like the ideal pin-up red, with instead of being a deep red like 'Russian Red' its more bright and eye-catching - perfect for the 50s pin-up theme. I am determined to find it somewhere, and when I do it shall be miiiiiine.

Anyway, there is endless amount of MAC products I want, but this is currently topping the list. 

What is on your MAC list? Are you loving the Sailor collection or not?

Love,

Polka Dots & Stripes - Nicely Nautical OOTD/FOTD

Hello my lovelies - how is your week going? We have hit the middle of the week yay!! Two more days to go before three whole days off - so excited for that! 

Anyway, this is technically not today's look, it is yesterday's look, but as I was seeing Avengers Assemble for the second time after work I hadn't the chance to come and blog about it! I'm actually quite proud of how I styled all these different pieces to create my ideal nautical look. My students were even impressed by all the co-ordination that went into this outfit - always a nice to thing to hear at work!

Firstly, the outfit:

Dress: Vero Moda

Cardigan: H&M

Eiffel Tower Necklace: Unknown (giveaway prize)

Belt: New Look

Hairband: New Look

Red Leather Pumps: New Look

I'm really into the nautical look at the moment - I love stripes especially with this dress that has a mix of both diagonal and horizontal ones, and mixing patters with a light grey polka dot cardigan. The red was just a last minute addition as I wanted to make the outfit a bit more bright & striking, and went the whole hog matching the hairband, nails (styled to be like Dorothy's stunning ruby slippers), and shoes for that little bit of glam in my day.

Then the make-up & 'Ruby Slipper' themed nails:

 Nails: Chanel's 'Dragon', Models Own 'Scarlet Sparkle'

Make-Up: No7 Creme Touch Powder in Translucent; MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation in NC15; Benefit's Stay Put Primer; Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in Gabrielle; Benefit's Thrrrob blush; Inika Brown Eyeliner; Urban Decay's Eyeshadow in Sin; Benefit's High Beam.

 After receiving this month's Glossybox (review to come later), I fell back in love with my first year university eye make-up which was just using a brown kohl pencil to do my flicks & a litle under eye outlining. I find this a much softer look for the daytime, especially with the neutral eyeshadow shades, that allows me to go dramatic with the lips & really widens my eyes. Usually, I only use my Chanel lipstick for special occasions but this week it has been getting used daily, letting me have my sneaky 1950s style at work. My big focus with make-up is emphasising my eyes and lips, so I've found this combination has it down perfectly for me without being too dramatic. What made me the happiest was my students telling me that I looked like I was from the 50s and how pretty I looked - unusual praise from them I have to admit!

Do you have a lipstick you feel glamourous in? What feature do you like to emphasise the most?

Love,