February Fancies.

Alina Lingerie - Agent Provocateur | Leather Jacket - Whistles | Black Orchid EDP -  Tom Ford | "Love" Rose Gold Necklace - Astley Clarke | Saffiano Clutch - Vivienne Westwood | Labradorite Friendship Bracelet - Astley Clarke | Atlas of Remote Islands Book - Amazon | Adventurers Journal - Cottonon.com

Ah, valentine's day - the most romantic day of the year, apparently.

 February 14th dictates that it must be the most romantic day of the year, thereby making it the least romantic. What happened to spontaneity, ey? I'm not a big lover of the clichés when it comes to Valentine's day; I think the small gestures go a lot further. An overpriced restaurant full of anxious men getting down on one knee? No thanks. Breakfast in bed just because? That's more like it. However, with that being said, I am still a big believer in luxurious treats from time to time, but I think more and more women need reminding that you don't need a partner to shower you with gifts; you deserve to spoil yourself every once in a while! I've been single at Valentine's day, and it's only natural to feel a little bit left out when you're bombarded with photos of roses and little blue Tiffany boxes on Instagram come February 14th. So, this year why don't you all treat yourselves to a little luxury in February? January is normally the most depressing month in the calender. It brings with it the end of the festivites, the sickeningly long wait until payday and we've all grown sick of the freezing cold mornings and the incessant rain. Don't we all need deserve a little pick me up after that?

So, don't wait for a man to come along and spoil you this Valentine's day, do it yourself. I've compiled a list of all the little luxuries that I'll be dreaming of this February. Sadly, my bank balance isn't quite healthy enough to justify purchasing all of these little indulgences, but I think I will treat myself to some Astley Clarke jewellery, I've been lusting after a simplistic rose gold necklace for a while now, and this one was just love at first sight. An apt gift to myself this Valentine's day, don't you think? After all, rose gold will always outlive a real rose.

What are all of you lusting after this Valentine's day? 

80's Vibes.

(Top - Sweet Sorrow Vintage, skirt - Topshop, shoes - La Moda, watch - Marc Jacobs, necklace - Missguided, bag - Primark)

What's this? Two posts in a week? It's almost unheard of for me! I'm feeling a bit more organised and I'm slowly starting to find a routine to get me back into regular blogging so hopefully I'll keep this up. For those of you who don't know, I'm quite the busy little bee and I also run a blog for a vintage boutique which you can read here, and I'm a contributing writer for the award-winning Bonafide Supernova. 

I went out last night, and this is what I wore. I'm currently in the middle of that gruelling January dryathlon so it was sadly a night spent sober amongst a sea of drunk people; it was insightful if nothing else. I'm still in the process of losing some Christmas weight, so I wasn't feeling quite brave enough to break out the bodycon skirt until I decided to team it with a slightly more loose-fitting top. I bought this original 1980's top from Sweet Sorrow Vintage on a bit of a whim, I was buying some 1970's stuff and this top caught my eye. I'm not much of an 80's girl, but I was inexplicably drawn to this, and I tend to go with my instincts when it comes to vintage. I'm quite happy with it, I think it adds a bit of edge to my personal "all black everything" palette. Admittedly, I felt a little bit like Peg Bundy at first but it was nice to mix up my style a little bit. Now, I just need to shift these christmas pounds and break out the 70's bodycon mini-dress I bought. It's a beauty.

Khaki & clichés.

(Sleeveless cardigan - Primark, faux fur piece - Primark, dress - H&M, necklace - Primark, boots - La Moda, watch - Marc Jacobs)

First things first: Happy new year!! Better late than never, right?

I know, I know - I'm a terrible blogger. How many times have I come sheepishly crawling back professing my commitment to this site, and then disappeared in a Houdini-esque manner? Too many. Although this time I do have a valid excuse, my camera seemed to be giving up on life last month, but I think it's just about fixed now. It was a Christmas miracle of sorts. So, these few snaps were basically just a trial to see if everything was back in working order.

Anyway, I'm going to keep it short and sweet today because this outfit is a little bit bland, but I am in love with these La Moda boots; they're quite literally heaven in boot form. They've got a fairly modest platform, and a chunky heel which means they give us short girls a subtle boost on those casual days when a stiletto seems like too much effort. Oh, and did I mention that they are so comfortable? I wore them to tackle the January sales, and my feet were still in tact after a gruelling 8 hours on the battlefield that is Topshop. Quite the feat, ey? 

In terms of belated new year's resolutions, I have all of the clichés on my list; lose weight, get fit, etc. I also intend on clearing out my ever expanding wardrobes, I'm half expecting to find a portal to Narnia in the midst of that oblivion. Ultimately, the goal is to condense it all down to the bare minimum, and to then try and introduce more vintage pieces. I do love the high street, but I quite like the idea of having a little bit more variety this year, especially seems as there's going to be quite the 70's revival according to Vogue. And, you know what they say; you'll never beat the original. 

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