The New Face.

It seems that all of my posts start with an unfortunate need to apologise for my absence. There's been a lot going on in my little bubble lately - some exciting, some more of an annoyance but hey ho, that's life; we roll with the punches and throw them back when needed. Anyway, I've got a quick announcement and then I'll proceed to profess my love for my new favourite cosmetics - I've quit my day job. This is less reckless than it first seems, because I do actually have a new job lined up but not for a couple of weeks. Basically, writing is all I've ever wanted to do (aside from being a Disney princess) and I'm at a point where I just really want to give it my all and see how it pans out; I could fall spectacularly on my face and end up rummaging for pennies in the darkest folds of my sofa but I'm going to give it a shot. So yeah, the security blanket of regular income and 9-5 life has been temporarily abandoned. 

Anyway, I made the oh so sensible decision to have a bit of a splurge on the Selfridges website last week to take full advantage of their 20% discount. In a bid to make myself feel a little bit better about the bomb which hit my bank account, I decided to write a post about my purchases because that just totally justifies me blowing a significant proportion of my final paycheck, right? I thought so. Here goes...

 1. The Foundation.

I've wanted to try the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation for what feels like a lifetime. It's held in such high regard by so many of the top beauty bloggers, particularly by my all time favourite - ViviannaDoesMakeup. In terms of finish, it's difficult to describe, it's not like any other foundation I've used - in the best way possible! It's quite matte without being cakey, and most importantly it's still got that dewy, luminosity about it. In short, I love how this sits on my skin. I'm notorious for liking quite a full coverage foundation but that often comes at the price of feeling like I've got an extra 5 layers of skin on my face, yet this one feels light as air whilst still giving me that much needed coverage. A final note? This foundation contains no SPF which makes it great for nights out because you won't get that dreaded white-face-tanned-body look in your photos. I mean, who wants to spend £34 on a foundation and have it ruin their #selfie game on Instagram? Nobody. But on a serious note, because of the lack of SPF, if you are going to wear this foundation in the sun then you need to layer it over some sun protection. 

2. The New Nude.

I confess, when it comes to lipstick, red will always be my colour of choice. For the past few years, the red pigment on my lips has been as consistent as the rain in Wales. I don't actually remember how this great love affair began, but it's reached a point where I don't even feel like myself if my lips are missing their signature coat of crimson. Yes, I realise that this sounds absolutely ridiculous, which is why I'm trying to change it up a little. Enter Charlotte Tilbury and her K.i.s.s.i.n.g lipstick in Penelope Pink. Now, I do love a nude lip on other people, I think it looks so glamorous when paired with a smokey eye whereas red can sometimes look a little too over the top. I admit, I'm still trying to get used to myself with a nude lip - hence the lack of photo of me sporting my lovely new cosmetics. However, it has been two whole days since I reached for my beloved Mac Ruby Woo, and trust me - that's quite the accomplishment. One of my favourite things about the K.i.s.s.i.n.g lipstick is its formula; it's enriched with an anti-oxidant that naturally protects lips from UV damage and external pollution, yet it's also blended with special waxes and light-diffusing pigments which give the impression of fuller lips. I've been using this on top of the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Pencil in Iconic Nude, so the longevity of the colour has been perfect - I barely have to touch it up throughout the day. 

3. The Perfect Contour.

First things first, we all know it's what's on the inside that counts - but can we please forget that for a moment and admire this packaging? I was smitten with this palette before even opening it - I honestly became something akin to Gollum in LOTR, stroking my new "precious." Anyway, I eventually got a grip and opened Charlotte Tilbury's Filmstar Bronze & Glow, and fell further in love. Let's rewind a little to the fateful day that I bought these products - this palette was the one thing I was unsure of. I didn't know if I could justify the rather hefty price tag, but it's something I've wanted to try for so long. I mean, how much difference can one highlighter really make? Apparently, quite the difference. Admittedly, I still don't have cheekbones to rival Cara Delevingne but this product definitely helped. The smallest amount of product goes a long way, the powder is so pigmented. The Filmstar Bronze & Glow palette really helps you transform your facial framework; you can sculpt, define, shorten, slim and highlight your features all whilst gaining a truly lovely golden finish. I've only used it twice so far, and I want to watch more videos of Charlotte using it so I can really maximise the product and get the best results, but once I'm a little bit more familiar with this product, I'll write another post and put in a few pictures so you can see what I mean - I'll even use my new nude lipstick! 

What about you guys? Any new make-up wonder products that I need to know about? As much as my bank account hates me for it, I'm always on the hunt. 

Thanks for reading

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xx

The Wanderer Returns...

First things first...I feel I should apologise for my little six week hiatus. I'd very much like to pretend that it's been an exciting few weeks of adventure and travelling, but I am not a very talented liar. Basically, I was ill for a little while and then had a mountain of freelance work that I needed to catch up on, which ultimately meant that I spent a fair amount of time lounging around my house in a pair of oh so flattering Topman PJs (yes...I'm aware that it is the male counterpart of Topshop). I wasn't so sure if anybody would want to read a post entitled "How To Dress Like A Male Slob", so my personal blog sadly took a bit of a backseat, but anyway...I have returned; healthy, triumphant and back in women's clothes. 

(Dress - ASOS,Shoes - Missguided, Bag - Primark, Cuff - New Look, Necklace - Vintage)

I wore this outfit a few weekends ago for a night out in Cardiff with friends, it's a little lower and clingier than I normally go for sans gym-body, but a girl needs to feel feminine after spending so much time in Topman PJs! You'll have to forgive the photos, I was about to miss my train and my father isn't much of a photographer so the lighting is simply horrendous. Oh, and you can also see that my dip-dye is no more! I've gone back to my roots ready for winter, it's a little darker than I initially planned and left me feeling a little washed out, however I found the perfect solution for this: the Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick in Ibiza. I first bought some Charlotte Tilbury cosmetics on a whim when I was last in London, I fell in love with an eye palette of hers, then when I saw Millie Mackintosh post a photo using the Ibiza beach stick, I was on the Selfridges website just as quickly as I would have been on a trip to the white isle itself. The consistency is lovely and creamy; it doubles up as a lipstick as well as being flattering on the cheeks and giving a killer glow. Whilst it is a little pricey, a little goes a long way so it is a worthy investment. I'm also thinking of doing a full post about the make-up products I use and my favourite products if any of you would be interested. 

Also, seems as I've been away for a little while, I haven't had a chance to share my other blog with you. I've recently started working with a local vintage store; I've created a blog for them and will be posting weekly articles about vintage dressing and inspiration if any of you fancy taking a look and following the blog then it would be greatly appreciated. You can find it here.

Thanks for reading!

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xx

Snow White.

I'm not going to lie, the thing that stood out most to me when I looked at these photos was my deathly pale skin. I worked until 5.30 this evening, and then had to get ready in about 40 minutes to head to a gig....hence my lack of fake bake. I probably should have pretended that my paleness was intentional, shouldn't I? Oh well - you live and you learn. I went to see Kids In Glass Houses tonight, for possibly the millionth time. Incase you haven't heard of them, they're a Welsh band who are currently preparing for what will be their final tour; this is a depressing thought - not just because they're a talented band, but also because it makes me feel incredibly old....I've been going to their gigs since I was around 15 years old - it's like the end of an era! In terms of the venue, it was a relatively small and intimate gig, but once they started playing, you could have easily forgot that; their stage presence and energy is simply phenomenal, they have a profound ability to liven up even the most neglected of bars. I'll probably post a couple of photos on my Instagram account, I took them on my phone so the quality isn't sharp enough for my blog, sadly.  A quick tip: if you haven't heard Kids In Glass Houses before, give them a quick search on YouTube. "Drive" is my song of choice.

 

Kimono - River Island, T-Shirt - River Island, Skirt - ASOS, Boots - Kurt Geiger, Bag - Urban Outfitters, Necklaces - River Island, Cuff - New Look

I wasn't really too sure what to wear, it was an indoor gig so I went for something relatively cool. I  think the whole outfit would have worked a little better with a different choice of shoe, but I knew the entire place was going to be crammed, and I didn't want my poor little tootsies to get crushed. So, instead of focusing on my rather boring and mismatched outfit, I'm going to bang on about my hair for a little while. I've had a couple of private messages asking me what I do to style it, and the answer is frustratingly simple....I hardly do anything to it. My hair has a natural kink to it, which used to be the bane of my life. Nowadays I embrace it. I normally wash my hair, and then put it in a very loose and messy bun on top of my head until it's 80% dry, then I blast my hairdryer over it and rough straighten my "curtains". I then tip my head upside down and spray a little Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray through the ends and scrunch it in before combing through it all roughly. Voilà! That's basically it; my answer to scruffy, grunge hair! Oh, and another question I've had lately - "Do you wear extensions?" No, my hair is naturally this length. I'm always more than happy to answer questions about my style and/or beauty routine, so do feel free to tweet/comment/instagram/send smoke signals if you want to know anything more. Actually, maybe not smoke signals....I'm not sure if I'm fluent enough in smoke yet.

Thanks for reading!

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xx

Liebster Award

I was nominated for the Liebster award by Sophie from As Seen On Sophie. I'm relatively new to the blogging world so it was lovely to be nominated for something. The Liebster award is basically a way for new bloggers to connect with other bloggers, and it's also a good way to get your blog out there by answering questions about yourself. The rules are as follows:

You must answer all 11 questions given to you by the person who nominated you.

You must link back to the person that nominated you.

After completing these questions you must nominate 11 bloggers (with under 200 followers) and give them 11 questions of your choice.

You can not nominate the person who nominated you.

Okay, here we go. These were the questions I was given...

.1. What has been your favourite moment this year?

Hmm, I assume this means within 2014, but I'm going to take it as "the past twelve months" ha - just so I can use my favourite memory of finally getting to see Kings of Leon in the most incredible atmosphere of V Festival. I've been to so many gigs, but seeing a band you love in a festival setting is such an experience. If I was to answer the question properly though, my highlight of 2014 so far is probably visiting Liverpool. I booked it on a bit of a whim for Easter weekend, but I had such an incredible time in the Cavern Club - pretending I was living it up in the 60s, ha.

V Festival 2013

2. What are you looking forward to most this summer?

I'll be honest, this summer pales in comparison to last summer where I swanned off to Ibiza, lived it up in V Festival and had several weekends away, ha. But I can't complain too much, I'm hoping to book a mini-break to Newquay for August Bank Holiday weekend, and I've got a couple of small gigs lined up such as Kids In Glass Houses, Taking Back Sunday and Reel Big Fish. Plus, I'm hoping to go to Iceland in November to see the Northern Lights and make up for my lack of summer holiday this year.

3. What got you in to blogging?

People had been telling me to blog for ages, and it was always something I was interested in but kept pushing to the bottom of my to do list. Then one day, I was moaning about the lack of fashion writing opportunities in my hometown, and I just thought that I should make my own platform rather than way for somebody to allow me share theirs. 

4. Sweet or savoury?

Sweet, 100%. My goal of having a body akin to that of  a Victoria's Secret model drifts further and further away every single day.

5. Cats or Dogs?

Dogs. I have two - a malamute and a springer spaniel. Currently waiting for somebody to buy me a Saint Bernard.

Me and my dogs...trying not to be cruel and refer to my sister as a dog too, ha. Not the most fashionable of photos, but sometimes (just sometimes) warmth comes first...mainly just in times when you're not expecting a camera in your face.

6.If you could be anyone for the day, who would you be?

Valentina Muntoni....without a shadow of a doubt. 

Valentina Muntoni: The definition of "utter babe"

7. If you had to choose which one would it be, fashion or make-up?

This is so hard, ha. I'm going to go with fashion....I could probably hide my scary make-up free face behind a gigantic pair of Chanel sunglasses that way. 

8. What's your favourite TV show?

Friends, even though it ended over a decade ago, ha. Rachel and Ross stole my heart! I am partial to a bit of Made in Chelsea though, it's my guilty pleasure. 

9. What's the worst experience you've gone through that you have learnt from?

I don't really want to bring too much negativity to my blog by answering this question, so I'm just going to answer with something I've struggled with recently rather than my worst experience (I know - what a cop out!) I found life after university a lot harder than I thought it would be; I assumed that I'd have landed my dream job by now and be well on my way to paying off my rather huge student loans. But I just don't think that's realistic for anyone thesedays. In my last year of university, I realised that a degree isn't worth as much as it used to be; employers want real experience nowadays. So I've spent the last couple of  years trying my best to balance university work, a job whilst also trying to freelance as often as I could, at one point I was trying to finish my dissertation whilst working unpaid for Closer Magazine in London (4 hours away from my university campus and home), because I just really wanted to get myself as much experience as I could. Luckily, I've graduated now so the intensity has lifted somewhat, but even now I still write between 8-12 articles a week whilst working 37.5 hours a week and trying to blog as often as I can - so forgive me if my posts are sometimes few and far between, ha.

10. Who is your favourite blogger and why?

Lydia from Fashion Influx. I've followed her for years, and I like how she's stayed true to her style. She also finds the best bargains.....which makes you forgive her for her seriously enviable figure!

11. What do you love about blogging? 

As much as it sounds like a cliche, blogging allows me to bring my two greatest passions together - writing and fashion. When I started my blog, I was always a little concerned that people would assume it was a bit narcissistic in that "look at me and how awesome I think my fashion sense is", but I think personal style blogs are such an interesting platform for creativity, I love how people showcase their outfits - even if it's in a style that I personally wouldn't wear. I just really do believe that fashion is a form of self- expression in the same way that music is; fashion is a culture that we all immerse ourselves in every single day.

Here are my nominations:

www.gracesbeautyspace.blogspot.co.uk

www.farhfromordinary.com/blog/

www.vogueandvigour.blogspot.co.uk/

www.anikamiller.blogspot.co.uk/

www.yourdailydoseofstyle.blogspot.co.uk/

www.sophiedeedoesbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/

www.themodelcachet.blogspot.co.uk/

www.freyablendell.blogspot.co.uk/

www.simplesassysultry.blogspot.com

www.rockmyboots.blogspot.com.es/

www.hellolupi.blogspot.co.uk/

And, here are your questions for you:

1. What has been your highlight of the past 12 months?
2. What are your top 3 summer fashion essentials?

3. How did you get in to blogging?

4.  If you were on a desert island, what would your 3 beauty essentials be?

5. What is your key festival outfit?

6.If you could visit anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?

7. If you had to choose which one would it be, fashion or make-up?

8. What's your guilty pleasure?

9. What is your dream career?

10. Who is your favourite blogger and why?

11. What do you love most about blogging? 

Thanks for reading!

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xx

Grungin' It Up In Gingham.

This is probably the first photo of me wearing a pink ensemble since I was about 7 years old, so drink it up. I think I have had a bit of an unfair aversion to pink clothing for the last few years, choosing to associate it with Barbie-esque hair extensions and a heavy spray tan; but when I saw this dress on Motel, I fell a little bit in love with it. I've made no secret of the fact that I like my outfits to have an element of grunge to them, and not look too "overdone", so with this in mind I was a little worried about how I could make pink work for me - but I do love a challenge. As always, I layered my favourite necklaces over it which are from ASOS and Empty Casket. This had the desired effect of taking me away from that dreaded Barbie route. I was originally going to team it with my JC Lita's, but it was so warm yesterday that I opted for my new La Moda sliders. This whole outfit was for a mini music festival that my local pub hosts every year, so the loose fit of this slip dress was a real winner when I spied the giant BBQ. Aside from the occasional "why are you wearing PJs?" comments, I was happy with how this outfit worked out and surprisingly didn't feel out of my comfort zone by not wearing my atypical outfit of 95% black.

(Dress - Motel Rocks, Shoes - La Moda, Choker - ASOS, Necklace - Empty Casket, Bag - H&M, bangle - Topshop, Rings - Primark)

As for my make-up, I kept it fairly simple but I opted for a purple toned lipstick for a more 90s feel, rather than my signature red lip, and my hair - as always- pretty much did its own thing. I let it dry naturally in the sun and then scrunched some Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray into the ends before flicking my straighteners over my fringe/curtains. Also, I apologise for the rather boring setting of my photos, I was running late as always. 

Another thing - if any of you choose to buy anything from Motel Rocks, you can get 20% discount off your orders with the code "RHIANSD24"

Thanks for reading, please follow the links below for more from me.

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xx

Bohemian Vibes.

I feel a little self conscious writing another post about this kimono seems as I did one not too long ago - I think it's just such a statement piece that it remains rather fresh in my mind, but it's simply too pretty to end up being a "one time wonder" piece of clothing that I castaway to the far depths of my overflowing wardrobe. I went for a couple (okay - a lot) of drinks for a friend's birthday last night. We only headed down to our local pub, but regardless of that, I didn't really want to go for the "full slob" kinda look. Seems as it was the hottest day of the year to date, I thought I'd opt for a dress of sorts - however the problem which lies within this decision is that I have a rather unhealthy obsession with black clothing. Albeit, this is hardly an apocalyptic issue, but it does make summer dressing a little boring sometimes. That's why I think that this Rat and Boa kimono is perfect for those of us with a penchant for darker colours; it's sheer, lightweight and really lifts an otherwise boring outfit. It adds a great deal of colour and dimension to an outfit without being overpowering.

Kimono - Rat and Boa, Dress - ASOS, Shoes - La Moda, Anklet - Ebay, Rings - Primark, Watch - Marc Jacobs, Bag - Urban Outfitters, Choker - ASOS

I'm so glad that I finally got a hold of a pair of these La Moda shoes as well, especially because they went down to half price in the sale; they are just the most versatile shoe I have ever bought. Plus, I can finally give you all a break from my much-loved Primark sandals now. Oh - and as you can all probably tell by now, I do tend to recycle the same accessories over and over again. It's ridiculous, because I have so much jewellery and keep buying more, but I always go back to the same key pieces. Does anyone else do that? 

Thighs & Tie Dye

Ah, Rat and Boa.....what would my wardrobe be like without you? I'm not sure that these photos really do a good job of showcasing this skirt, but I was rather limited with space to take photos...plus I didn't really feel like taking my camera out for a night out in Brighton - who knows what images would have been captured?! My guess is that it would have been something akin to the photo reel at the end of The Hangover. Anywho...this was another of my loose fitting outfits in a bid to reduce the pain of sunburn. The hat was added as something of an after thought - sunburn & straighteners are not a fun combination so I was forced to dig out the Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray and let my hair do its own thing. 

Hat - ASOS, Crop Top - Topshop, Skirt - Rat and Boa, Shoes - Primark, Watch - Marc Jacobs, Choker - ASOS, Necklace - Empty Casket

To be honest, this whole look panned out a little better than I was expecting considering I went for comfort and practicality above anything else. I think the best outfits are often the ones without too much thought behind them. I do, however, wish that my face had been a little less shiny, ha. I suppose there is only so much magic that make-up can do after a day of frying your skin though.

These photos were taken on our last night in Brighton, which was spent in an Open Mic night. I've mentioned before that my boyfriend is a singer/songwriter, so he got all excited when he saw a random advert for an Open Mic night just up the road from our hotel. Of course, I was forced to attend after dragging him around endless vintage boutiques and what not all week - but it surprisingly turned out to be one of the best nights of our "holiday". The Open Mic night in question was held in The Bee's Mouth - a bar I'd never even heard of. The bar itself was completely quirky and endlessly fascinating with an eccentric décor which manages to encapsulate both the weird and the wonderful; it just felt instantly cosy, particularly with the aromatic scent of burning incense in each of the dimly lit rooms. 

Anyway, as you can imagine, I get dragged to more than my fair share of Open Mic nights and music venues - and don't get me wrong, I really do love to hear new music from fresh talent; I find it both invigorating and inspiring. I love the sense of excitement that overcomes me when I hear something new which moves me in a way that radio simply can't. I feel lucky to be exposed to all of this raw talent; a musician's most honest and "real" material generally comes from the early part of their career before they get tweaked and refined to meet radio standards and regulations - there really is nothing better than seeing them in all their raw, vehement glory. The Bee's Mouth seemed to truly encapsulate everything that's good about live music; the amount of talent to be held within one small room was truly inspirational, and every single person there watching seemed to be truly interested and moved by each performance. Honestly, the vibe there was electric. I couldn't recommend it more as a venue - definitely worth a look if you ever find yourself in Brighton. 

Sunflowers & Sunburn.

There's a lot of things which make summer the best season of the year.....sunburn, however, is not one of them. The beach breeze in Brighton is absolutely lethal, I spent the majority of our first day lounging around in my bikini with goosebumps over my skin - I was adamant that my phone was lying to me and that the weather wasn't actually sunbathing weather, but I'm stubborn and continued to lay there in a desperate attempt to tan....and boy, did I tan. We all know that sunburnt skin is not chic; luckily my sunburn hasn't shown up too badly in the photos, but I assure you that even something as simple as sitting down became painful. With this in mind, tight fitting clothes were off the menu which meant I finally got a chance to wear this Motel Rocks sunflower print dress; it's loose fitting and something akin to a smock which is generally a style that I steer clear of out of fear of looking pregnant. I'm pretty short (5"4) so I normally wear something which gives me a bit of shape so that I don't look like a complete toddler running riot around the place; but I have to admit, I kinda liked the floaty shape to this dress in the end. I'm not much of a "girly girl" when it comes to dresses, I like to toughen things up with heavier accessories and chunky shoes but I left this outfit fairly minimalistic and I think it worked well for an effortless, holiday look. Obviously I couldn't resist layering on a choker and an Empty Casket necklace for good measure though.

(Dress - Motel Rocks, Choker - ASOS, Necklace - Empty Casket, Bangles - Primark, Ring - Primark, Sandals - Primark, Watch - Marc Jacobs, Anklet - Ebay)

I do feel as though I should draw attention to the fact that my legs are a completely different colour to the rest of my body - I am the most uneven tanner that you will ever meet, it's something of a curse. Also, you can get 20% off this Motel Rocks dress, or any other full price product on their website if you enter my discount code "RHIANSD24" at checkout. 

Brighton

(Hat - ASOS, T-Shirt/Dress - Rat and Boa, Bag - Urban Outfitters, Sunglasses - Peacocks....and yes, I am wearing a bikini underneath but nonetheless - hello buttocks, ha)

Apologies for the lack of posts in the past two weeks; I've been relatively busy in work and planned to catch up with my blogging during my week off in Brighton, however a lousy internet connection in our hotel soon put an end to that plan. Anyway, I'm back in rainy old Wales now, sporting a fetching stereotypical British sunglasses tan and laden with cheap souvenirs and a backlog of blogposts.

So....Brighton. First things first - I will admit that I struggled with the concept of not having a holiday abroad this year and acted like a true princess, resigning myself to a summer of fake tan and bitterness; but when I finally got a grip on reality and stopped being so negative, I thought to myself "why not have a good, old-fashioned, British holiday?" And thus - Brighton was booked on a complete and utter whim. And, do you know what? I can honestly say that it was potentially one of the best little holidays that I've had. I think we get so bogged down with the idea of seeing the world, adding all the exotic holiday destinations to the top of our bucket lists and ticking off all the biggies such as Thailand, Australia etc, that we sometimes forget about the sense of wanderlust that can be experienced so close to home. The UK has some truly remarkable, and beautiful places nestled within itself which we forget about due to an obsession with chasing tropical temperatures; some of the greatest places in the world are right on our doorsteps more often that not. Before I go off on a tangent here, I should probably add that I'm not trying to portray Brighton as a cultural, life-changing vacation on which I truly "found myself" or anything even remotely like that. My point is simply that the UK has a lot to offer in terms of sightseeing. So, here are a couple of my personal highlights of Brighton, and the things that defined my time there.

The Royal Pavilion. 

The Royal Pavilion is literally one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever clapped eyes on....it's like a mini Taj Mahal in the middle of a seaside village. It blew my mind that something so architecturally wondrous could be found tucked away next to a bustling town centre.

(Sunglasses - Peacocks, Shorts - River Island, Crop Top - Topshop, Shirt - Vintage, Bag - Urban Outfitters, Sandals - Primark)

The Lanes.

I have an innate fear of getting lost anywhere - the very thought of not knowing where I am makes me want to curl into the foetal position and cry until somebody finds me. Yet, even I enjoyed getting lost in the narrow, winding lanes of Brighton. The Lanes are basically a labyrinth of vintage boutiques, quaint pubs, incredible street art and antique jewellers. I'm unsure how the high street will ever compare to this charming array of vintage shops and jewellers. The Lanes have well and truly stolen my heart....a sentence which sounds more seedy than I would like it to. Oh, and the reward for finding your way through The Lanes? Choccywoccydoodah. Honestly, I cannot even begin to tell you just how good it is....it's essentially a cafe which serves nothing but chocolate. Literally thought I'd died and gone to heaven. You know that scene in Ice Age where Scrat dies and goes to a heaven full of acorns? Yep. That's basically how I felt.

The Pier

Brighton Pier somehow manages to find the perfect balance of being both shamelessly tacky and absolutely mesmerising. There's something quintessentially British and therefore heart-warming about the sound of the tireless arcade combined with the scent of fresh doughnuts on a sunny day. I felt so nostalgic walking around the pier and looking at all of the retro funfair rides, making my boyfriend waste money in an attempt to win a cheap stuffed toy which could be bought for half the price of what it costs to eventually win at one of those stalls...whilst I stood idly by - stuffing my face with a bag of doughnuts which were "to share" (totally worth the calories).

So, that's all I'm going to bore you with for tonight, I could honestly drone on about how awesome it was for hours, but I have decided to break my Brighton ramblings into a couple of smaller posts so that it's not too bulky because I've got some outfit photos which will probably become the focus of each individual post from here on out. So, you know what that means? Yep, you guessed it.... you have a whole host of these posts to look forward to - you lucky thing, you. 

Crochet Crush.

First things first....forgive the slightly lame post title, it's a Sunday morning and my head isn't fully in the game yet -it's days like today when I really wish that I liked coffee! I went for a couple of drinks with friends last night and as always, my poor time management skills meant that I was running around like a headless chicken by 8pm, screeching at my father to take photos as quickly as possible, so you'll just have to work with my slightly awkward posing for today. Given that I was running so late, I opted for quite a quirky dress that would do all the talking itself, detracting from my haphazardly slapped on make-up, so this little Rat and Boa number seemed like the perfect choice. Lightweight, summery and unique, it allowed the rest of my outfit to just fall into place fairly naturally - embracing my deeply hated natural curls (dubbed as the "wicked wave" by my father - cheers for that one, Dad!) which were touched up with a quick flick of my straighteners to tousle it all into place and cemented by the lifesaver which is Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray. All in all, I'm fairly happy with how this outfit panned out, although in hindsight, I'd probably team the dress with some chunky boots to toughen it up a little and add a little edge to it but that can be a post for another day!

Dress - Ratandboa.com

Gold cuff - New Look

Bangle & rings - Camden Market

Spiked necklace - River Island

Wishbone necklace - ASOS

Shoes - River Island

Bag - Primark

I think I've gushed about Rat and Boa in almost every one of my blogposts so far, but I really can't help it. For anyone that hasn't checked them out, I couldn't recommend them more. They have such lovely bohemian pieces which are often limited in stock figures, everything on the site sells out really quickly and they rarely restock the same items, so it's nice to be assured that you're spending your hard-earned cash on a really individualistic piece. It was just so lovely to go out last night and not have that recurring nightmare that often happens when you wear a River Island or Topshop dress for a night out....the dreaded realisation that somebody two tables across has the same dress on as you - it really is the worst! It's easy to change the look of a skirt just by wearing a slightly more unusual top with it, but a dress is often the statement piece in itself, that's why I enjoyed knowing that it was extremely unlikely to see somebody in the same dress as me last night, it was somewhat refreshing to stand out from the sea of bodycon dresses for a change. Could any of you recommend any slightly different shops to those on the high street? I'm always on the lookout for more ways to demolish my bank balance.

Curtains.

I have both good, and bad news. Let's start with the good news....I went to the hairdressers yesterday and she has reassured me that I am not going to go bald after my attempt at DIY ombre, apparently it didn't damage my hair at all and there were no split ends in sight. I'm not smug at all, honest. So, I'm now safe to give Loreal a big fat 5 star review. The bad news, you ask? Well, I embraced yet another hair change and opted to relive the haircut of my youth - the centre parting, AKA the "Martin with a centre parting" hairstyle as dubbed by my school back in the day. We were just so witty. The outcome? I won't lie, I feel like something out of a 90s boyband sporting some fetching curtains - I maintain that I could currently photoshop my head into an old photo of Boyzone and blend right in with those young heartthrobs. Don't get me wrong, my hairdresser did an admirable job as always, I just failed to take into account the ramifications of having a spectacularly large forehead. Oh well - you live and you learn, ey?
This is yet another quick outfit that I threw on, I swear at some point I will put together a more exciting outfit post. At least you can all see why my blog title contains the word "underdressed" now, though. I just love a casually thrown together outfit with a bohemian vibe to it - I've always felt that laid-back, understated looks are the most fascinating and inspirational of outfits. I opted for an oversized tee from Rat & Boa, teamed with some black skinny jeans with busted knees. Fun fact: this tee is supposedly a dress, but I'm not quite sure I'm ready to brave exposing that level of flesh. Maybe I'll risk it come festival season, when I'm more suitably armed with a bucket of St Tropez for my pasty limbs.

Top/Dress- Rat and Boa

Jeans - Topshop (rips - DIY)

Bag- Urban Outfitters

Sandals - Primark

Choker - Asos

Necklace - Empty Casket

Watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Bangles - Primark

Stacking Ring - Pandora

Oversized Ring - Primark

Midi Ring - Primark

A nod to the 90's.

Mesh Jumper - River Island (past season), Skirt - Topshop, Watch - Marc by Marc Jacobs, Midi Ring - Primark, Ring - Pandora, Bracelets - Primark, Clutch Bag, River Island, Choker - ASOS, Boots - Ebay (JC Lita Lookalikes)

So, I had a bit of a moment in work the other day and decided to finally buy into the ombre franchise that's been hanging around the fashion world for a good few years now. There's something about dip-dye that makes me somewhat nostalgic to summers gone by...maybe it's the memory of all the cool kids in primary school whose parents would religiously and relentlessly spray Sun-In to the hair of their offspring until they looked like something out of a GAP advert....I wasn't at all jealous of them, honest. Ahem. Damn my toddler-self for her long, stubborn brunette locks that wouldn't even hold a curl, let alone a colour. But yeah - back to the point. I bought the Loreal Preference Intense Ombre 104 which was £6.99 from Boots. It was pretty simple to follow, even for a hair colouring novice like me. I staggered my applications because I didn't want to end up with an obvious band of colour, I wanted it to be as gradual and natural looking as possible. I applied it in 3 stages: 40 minutes at the very bottom, 30 minutes for the next layer which I took a little higher, and finally 20 minutes for the rest, which I basically just brushed through at uneven lengths with the nifty little brush that came with the kit. The results? A fairly subtle tint of colour through my lengths which has freshened up my rather boring hairstyle. I won't lie -  my hair was a little dry (okay - frazzled is probably a more apt description) afterwards but to be fair, it was in desperate need of a trim anyway, I'm going to the hairdressers tomorrow so I'll give you her verdict on the damage - but for now, I'm happy with the finished product, and will most probably be buying another kit to take it a little lighter in a few weeks.
After my fun day of playing hairdresser, I went to watch my boyfriend's gig down the Brewhouse in Cardiff, which is a bit of a local gem in regard to discovering fresh and upcoming music from some of the local talent. It's free entry and they host an "originals" night every Sunday from 7pm, which is somewhat refreshing in comparison to the majority of venues which will only accommodate to cover bands - definitely worth a look if any of you are ever in the area. I wore a pretty basic outfit, which ended up having a fairly 90s vibe to it thanks to my new ASOS choker. I'm really enjoying the grunge vibe that ASOS are encapsulating into some of their pieces lately, I find this whole 90s revival utterly inspiring. This season's fashion has been one of the best for a while in my opinion. What do you all think?
Oh, and seems as I just randomly dropped the my-boyfriend-is-a-musician thing into this post, I should probably link his music in the hope that some rich and influential producer should happen to stumble across this post and give him a record deal, thus making me rich enough to afford a lovely new wardrobe. A girl can dream, right?

Neon flash.

I'm a bit late putting this post up, given that this was an outfit I wore two weeks ago, but better late than never, ey? There's been a massive white out trend in the fashion world lately, and I've wanted to get on board with it for a while - but my love affair with fake tan left me a little concerned after ruining more than the occasional white top with even the softest brush of an orange limb. Alas, when my eyes fell over this white dress across the exotic shores of my local River Island, I knew it was to mark the greatest (and most dangerous) love affair of our generation. Okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration but you get the gist of it....fake tan lover + white outfit = complete disaster. Anyway, I couldn't leave it there, ignoring the desperate begging of my mother, I strode to the till point and opened my purse without thinking of the catastrophic effect this could have come next laundry day. I teamed the dress with two gold cuffs and spiked gold peep-toe shoes....I suppose this was something akin to battle armour to survive a boozy bank holiday night out.

 

Dress - River Island, Clutch bag - River Island, Gold cuffs - New Look, Shoes - Carvella.

Oh, and for the record -  the dress did manage to remain pretty much unscathed and survived a vodka fuelled night out with only a few battle injuries....which thankfully did come out in the wash. So, there you have it, white isn't just a colour for the most innocent and pure amongst us...providing you have a mother with a good knowledge of stain removal. Cheers Ma!