Until Further Notice

Hey guys. This may be obvious since I haven't posted in quite a long while, but I've decided not to continue writing my blog. It had started to feel a bit too much like work, which I have enough of already. I may start things up again if I regain my inspiration. I will, of course, leave up all my posts for you to carry on viewing.

Lots of love and lipgloss,

5 Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Mother's day, in the UK at least, is in two days time. I hope anybody who has a loving mother has gotten her a present already, but if you haven't (or need ideas for next year) and want some ideas outside of the standard flowers and "world's best mum" mugs, then I hope this guide can help you!

1. Beauty treatment voucher
If your mum likes being pampered and your local salon (or whoever does beauty treatments near you) does vouchers, then this could be a nice idea for her. If you're stuck on what treatment to get her then you could go for a pedicure or manicure.

2. Concert tickets
If your mother has a favourite band or artist who is family friendly then it could be a nice day out - if you have siblings you can split the costs between you. This wasn't for mother's day, but as a present for my mum's birthday we went to see the band Take That, one of my mum's favourite (and most fancied) bands!

3. Origami gifts
There are tons of tutorials out there which teach you how to make different kinds of origami boxes, which you could then decorate and fill with a few little treats such as mini bottles of perfume, mini bottles of nail polish in her favourite colour, chocolates, or other nice little things.

4. For the fashionista
Does your mum have a signature item that she can't get enough of? Handbags? Shoes? For my mum it's scarves - a pretty new scarf is always a safe bet for a present for her.

5. Something she will actually use
While novelty presents are fun, the enjoyment gained from them in the long term is a lot less compared to something she'll actually use. If your mother loves baking then get her some sort of kitchen equipment she doesn't already have, if she loves wearing jewelry then get her a pretty new jewelry box, something along those lines.

This post is to get the ball rolling. Make it personal to your mum, of course, and give it to her with a card and, most importantly, a big hug!

Lots of love,

Shops List

This post will serve as a list of all fairly affordable clothing and accessory shops I've found both online and on the high street. If you have any suggestions for shops to be added then post them in the comments below and I'll consider them. I'll update this post each time I find more shops, and I'll try and update the list to make it more readable too, so this is an ongoing work in progress. Hope you find this useful!

Style Winners At The Oscars 2013

Sunday night was the night of The Oscars 2013! We found out who won the awards, but which ladies were the style winners? Here are my top picks from the red carpet.

THE DARK
Adele / Salma Hayek / Sandra Bullock
Black is classic, and these ladies were just that.
My favourite: Adele, who looked every inch the bond girl in her Jenny Packham gown.

THE LIGHT
Charlize Theron / Jennifer Lawrence / Amanda Seyfried
Light pinks and purples, as well as whites, were very popular on the red carpet this year.
My favourite: Charlize Theron. A look that was simple but absolutely stunning. Looking forward to seeing a whole lot more white this spring!

 THE BRIGHT
Jennifer Garner / Kerry Washington / Jennifer Aniston
There were slim pickings for bright coloured gowns this year, but most of the ladies who did wear them got it right.
My favourite: Jennifer Aniston, who looked as vibrant as her dress. What a beautiful lady!

THE SPARKLING
 Catherine Zeta Jones / Jessica Chastain / Halle Berry
These starlets barely needed their metallic gowns to sparkle.
My favourite: Jessica Chastain. She rocked the old hollywood glamour look with this dress, hair and makeup. She may not have won Best Actress but she certainly was a winner style-wise in my books!

This post was created as part of IFB Project #84.
 So, those are my picks, but who wore your favourite looks that evening? Comments always appreciated.
Lots of love and designer gowns,

Top 5 Spring Makeup Trends 2013

Hi there. Spring most definitely has not sprung quite yet, but I'm sure we all want to be prepared for when it does. So here are some beauty trends that I'll be looking forward to for this spring!

1. Matte Lips
 Giles / Burberry Prorsum / Missoni
Drop that lip gloss - the lip texture for this spring is matte. Think velvety and smooth rather than dry. I particularly love the bright coral shade used by Missoni (on the right).

2. Think Pink
 Peter Som / Donna Karan / Costello Tagliapietra

Pink is the colour of this spring beauty-wise, whether it's a pale shade or a vibrant one. The bright pink mascara might be a little much, so instead wear a bright pop of fuchsia on your lips, go for a pink eyeshadow that suits your eye colour, or go a little crazy with the pink blush.

3. Fresh Faced Minimalism
Alexander Wang / Rag & Bone / Oscar De La Renta
Not exactly ground-breaking stuff, but this is a look that's refreshing to see after all the oxblood-stained lips of autumn and winter. It's all about pretty, glowing skin, bronzer and blusher, and possibly (gasp) bare lashes!

4. Stand-Out Liner
Michael Kors / Marc Jacobs / Fendi
Whether its the sixties-inspired look from Marc Jacobs or the bold, bright coloured liner from Michael Kors, this spring is the time to experiment with your liner. Try looking up makeup tutorials for ideas on what you can do with your eyeliner - there's tons of them!

5. Bold, Dark Eyebrows
Jason Wu / Moschino / Marc Jacobs
Go easy on the plucking, and have your eyebrow pencil handy. Bold eyebrows have been in for quite some time now, which is good news if you're like me and have naturally fairly thick brows. As seen on model of the moment Cara Delevingne (she's on the right in the stand-out liner picture).

So what are you looking forward to this spring beauty-wise? Feel free to leave your comments below.

Lots of love and eyeliner,

Liebster Award

Hey there everybody. I was very kindly nominated for the Liebster Award by Britt of Lizzie and Jane! I think I've been nominated for this a couple of times in the past, but for some reason never quite got round to actually participating. That's all changing with this post.

About the Liebster Award:
The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers. Bloggers are nominated by other bloggers as a way to network and recognize newcomers to the blogging world!

Rules:

1. List 11 facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions that the blogger who nominated you gave you.
3. Ask 11 new questions for your nominees to answer.
4. Nominate 11 more bloggers with less than 200 followers.
5. Let each blogger you've nominated know that you have chosen him or her for the award.
6. Thank the blogger who nominated you and put a link back to his or her blog in your post.

11 Facts About Me:

1. I'm English, born and raised.

2. I'll be turning 18 in April this year.

3. I'm a little bit obsessed with the TV show Doctor Who.

4. I will (hopefully) begin studying Computer Science at university in September.

5. I have a love for pastel colours.

6. I am most definitely a dog person.

7. I have phobias of spiders and small spaces.

8. I speak a bit of French and German.

9. My top bucket list items are to travel around Europe, get a book published, and learn how to cook.

10. When I was little I used to make pretend magazines with my fashion designs in them!

11. I don't have a middle name - I wish I did.

Questions From Brittany:

1. Do you prefer coffee or tea?

Neither. I'll have a hot chocolate if I need a warm drink!
2. What is your favorite place you've ever visited and why?

Disney World, Florida. Need I say more?! It was so much fun, I'm lucky enough to be going there again later on this year.
3. Who is your favorite designer or style icon?

It's difficult to choose just one! I suppose my ultimate style icon would be Audrey Hepburn, she was the epitome of class.
4. Would you choose a beach or mountain vacation and why?

Beach. I'm a chilled out kind of girl, not a mountain climber.
5. What are three items that you have in your bag at all times?

My phone, my house keys and my purse.
6. What is your favorite quote and why?

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." It's a good reminder that if you want your life to turn out a certain way, you have to take action - you can't simply let life pass you by and expect everything to fall into place. It's something we all need to be reminded of sometimes.

7. Do you have a signature item? If so, what is it? (piece of jewelry, color, bag, etc.)

I have a little owl coin purse that I usually take with me in my bag. I've never seen anybody else with one like it!
8. How would you describe your personal style in three words?

Casual, comfortable, chic.
9. Who is your favorite author or the most influential book you've read?

Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell were interesting reads. I'm a sucker for good dystopian fiction.
10. What motivated or inspired you to start your blog?

I've always loved writing and have wanted to start a blog for ages, and I've always loved fashion, and once the two came together in my head I knew I just had to! I've really enjoyed my blogging experience so far.
11. What do you think is the most important thing to remember about blogging?
Do it because you enjoy it - don't blog for anybody other than yourself.

My Nominees:

1. A Simple Statement

2. The 2nd Avenue

3. The Guilty Hyena

4. A Brit Greek

5. Smashing Style

6. The Chic Addict

7. Informed Style

8. I Am Turquoise

9. Emphatically Elle

10. La Dulcie Vita

11. River City Chic

Questions For My Nominees:

1. What are your favourite places to shop?

2. Where in the world would you most love to visit and why?

3. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

4. What's your guilty pleasure?
5. What's your favourite song right now?

6. What are your favourite colours?

7. Are you an impulse buyer?

8. If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

9. What would be your dream job?
10. If you could steal any celebrity's closet, whose would it be?

11. What's your favourite thing about being a blogger?

Sorry to my nominees if I miscounted your followers or you have taken part in this before.
Thanks again to Britt for nominating me! Don't forget to check out her blog as well as the above nominees. This is a really great way to spread the word about up and coming blogs, so I hope my nominees will want to participate.
Mit viel Liebe,

Links à la Mode!

Hello lovelies! I was lucky enough to be featured in IFB's Links à la Mode for the second time! My post on different ways to mix prints was featured in the February 14th edition of the weekly round-up, along with some absolutely fantastic other blogs. Check their posts out below! In other news, I now have an official About page. You can check that out in the navigation above if you want to get to know me a little bit better.

Love, Prints & Inspired Style

Edited By: Taylor Davies

This week’s IFB Links a la Mode round up is a mish-mash of things that have me feeling very inspired on this Valentine’s Day. Some posts are about love and love stories (talk about fashionable couples!) some are all about amazing prints, and some are drawing inspiration from cult classic films (Clueless!) and chic new exhibits in New York. Enjoy the round up and have a love-filled day!

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup: February 14th

5 Dimes For 9 Lives: ’As If’ Clueless-Inspired Post
Anjelais: Tomboy Aeternus: A Style Journey
Cosmolawlitan: I’ll Pass – Some Labels Skipping New York Fashion Week
Elegant Idiosyncracy: Confessions of a Fashion Obsessed Art Student
Fashion Moriarty: The Fetishisation of Youth in Fashion
Floral Mess: 5 Ways To Mix Prints
Flounces and Flashes: Oscar De La Renta Gives Galliano A Comeback
House of Jeffers: IFB Conference February 2013
IFB: Amy Odell Asks Jennine Jacob & Others About ‘Finding The Next Bryanboy’
Informed Style: Fashion Love Stories Pt. 1
Miss City Chic: DIY Simple Tassel Bracelet
Nothing to Wear: Dirty Thirty
Style Curated: Shoe Obsession: A Preview
Style Sizzle: Embrace Spring’s Fashion Trends Without Spending A Dime
River City Chic: A Girly-Girl’s Guide to Leather
Runway To Style: Victoria Beckham’s Lengthy Sensuality
TLV Birdie: Live it Local #9: Black & White By Castro
The PhotoGramps: Tribal on Trial
Undercover Dress Up Lover: Snakes
What Would You Wear If: …You Were A Hitchcock Heroine

Much love,

5 Ways To Wear A Little Red Dress

Valentine's Day was pretty much a non-event for me, seeing as I don't have a boyfriend and no super hot secret admirers felt the need to present themselves to me (so, if any good-looking, single guys around my age happen to be reading this post... get out while you have the chance, I am a notorious sweet addict, your confectionery will never be safe again).
So, basically, this is as close to a Valentine's day themed blog post as you're going to get from me, red being the colour of love. The gorgeous dress featured in all of these looks comes from Modcloth, but you can probably get a little red dress from most clothing stores.

Casual
Cardigan / Boots / Bracelets / Belt

Going Out
Shoes / Bracelets / Belt

Business Casual
Blazer / Brogues / Necklace

Dark
Leather Jacket / Shoes / Bracelets

Cutesy
Ballet Flats / Hairband / Cardigan

On a different note, you may have noticed I've enabled word verification for comments on my blog. This isn't because I'm a big meanie who wants you to jump through hoops. This is because the blog's been getting a lot of spam recently. Not all of those comments got automatically filtered, and unfortunately it seemed to be the most inappropriate comments that were getting through. I try to keep this blog appropriate in case a young fashion-lover happens to find it, and it's very tedious going through every comment to weed out the spam, so I'm refusing to put up with it!
Buckets of love,

Alternatives To Wearing Heels

I am not a graceful lady.

My feet turn slightly sideways when I walk, I am forever bumping into things and in general I am incredibly awkward when it comes to walking anywhere. This is all while wearing flat shoes, so I dread to think what would happen if I wore heels in public, but I have no doubt it would result in broken bones (either mine from toppling over, or someone else's from me standing on them) and a whole lot of blisters. But what about when heels are the norm, and I'm forbidden from stomping around in my clunky boots? That's basically the reasoning behind this post - a guide to classy looking alternatives to wearing high heels.

Ballet Flats

These are a classic. You probably already own a pair - or several in different colours - because they're so versatile. I recommend owning at least a black, peachy-pink and metallic pair. The pair featured are £11.00 from Forever 21.

Cute Sandals

...Not your cheap pair of flip-flops though! Owning a nice pair of sandals is perfect for the summer, and should be a must if you plan on going on holiday somewhere hot. I recommend FitFlops if you want them to be extra comfy too. The embellished sandals featured above are £12.99 from New Look.

Brogue Shoes

These will not look good with the classiest of gowns, but if you're going for a short, casual but pretty dress then these can add a cute little twist to your outfit. The pair featured are £28.00 and come from Dorothy Perkins.

Loafers
Another classic shoe. These can be worn as a substitute for ballet flats, and patent black pairs like the one featured above could be good for work too. The pair featured are £17.99 from New Look.

Boots
Flat knee-high or ankle boots in a simple design can look classy too! Just avoid combat boots (though they are pretty awesome). The ankle boots featured above are £29.99 from AX Paris.

Small Wedges

And finally, this is kind of cheating, but wedges tend to be a lot easier on your legs and feet than traditional stick thin heels - and going for small wedges is even better. The wedges featured are £15.99 from New Look.

I hope this has helped out any other fellow non-graceful beings. If you have any tips on what to wear instead of heels that I haven't mentioned, please share!

Lots of love and flat sensible shoes,

5 Ways To Mix Prints

One of the best things about fashion is having fun and experimenting with colours, textures and patterns, but mixing two different prints can be a bit of a gamble - you can end up looking either absolutely amazing or catastrophic. In general I would say you should stick to two prints to mix, three at a push, to avoid looking like a walking jumble sale. I decided to make a little guide with some advice on different ways you can try mixing prints!

Patterned denim jeans.

The subtle pattern used on these denim jeans contrasts with the bold floral print of the boots, making the outfit interesting without it giving you a headache.

Subtle pops of pattern.

Adding a couple of subtle pops of print to an an otherwise neutral and plain outfit is a great way to liven it up a little! I think this floral scarf and snakeskin print shoes do just that.

Same print, different style.

Simple - use the same pattern in a different colour or style! Plaid is really great for this - it gives a rustic feel to an outfit. You could also try the same type of pattern on a different scale (e.g. a top with little polka dots and a skirt with larger spots).

Same colours, different pattern.
This is kind of the opposite of the above. I went for a classic black and white colour scheme, using stripes and a floral print, but stripes and polka dots, and subtle colour schemes, could work well together too.

Subtle mixed with bold.
Lace is good for this. Try pairing a subtly printed lacy top with any kind of bold printed skirt. Alternatively, you could try this the same time as the above tips, and pair a bold floral print with a subtler one, or bold and subtle prints in similar colour schemes.

I hope this post has given you some inspiration on how you can try mixing prints in your outfits. Of course, this is just a quick guide, and I'd definitely encourage you to think outside the box - that's what fashion is all about! Please feel free to share any tips, comments or advice you may have about mixing prints in the comments below.
Thanks very much for reading. Until next time, happy print mixing!

Fashion Flashback: 1960s

 

My goodness! I can't believe it's been two weeks since my last post. 2013 has been a pretty damn hectic year for my so far, so as you can see my blog has kind of taken a backseat. But for now, my exams are over and I feel there is a great weight off my shoulders, so I can get back to doing fun things now that I have more free time - like running this blog properly again!

Fashion Flashback is a series of affordable, modern outfits that take inspiration from the fashion of past decades. If you'd like to see my last post on 1950s fashion, check it out here. This time it's all about the 1960s!

The sixties was an important time for fashion. It saw the rise of many items which are still wardrobe staples to this day, such as mini skirts and ballet flats, and fashion was fun and flirty. One of the most famous fashion icons of the decade was fashion model Twiggy, famous for her unique, androgynous look and thin figure.

Items featured:

1. Dress from Topshop / £46.00

2. Bangle from Macy's / £12.29
3. Bangle from Mango / £10.00
4. Earrings from Dorothy Perkins / £5.00
5. Shoes from Republic / £18.00
Total = £91.29

Inspiration pictures taken from here and here.

Both monochrome and bright colours were in fashion during the 1960s, so I wanted this outfit to give a little nod to both. Shift dresses won't look great on everyone, but if you substitute it for a LBD that suits your body shape then I think this makes for a timeless outfit! So, what do you think of the style of the 60s? What's your favourite decade for fashion?

As always, thank you so much for reading, and comments are very much appreciated.

Tons of love,

The Wizard Of Oz

I was watching this film the other week, and I was reminded about how beautiful is. The colours in Oz are so vibrant, and the costumes are fantastic, and it got me inspired to write a blog post inspired by the film. I started out just wanting to recreate Dorothy's iconic outfit, but then I found inspiration in a few other places, and here are the results!
I've linked most of the items included in these outfits underneath each outfit. If you want to see the full list of items then you can find all of these outfits on my Polyvore page.

Glinda by floral-mess

This first look is inspired by Glinda, the good witch, who wore my favourite costume from this movie, and possibly one of my favourite costumes from any movie. It must've weighed a ton! Glinda's dress is pretty much how I longed to dress every day for the rest of my life when I was about 6 years old.

Items included:
Dress from New Look / £55.00
Oxford Shoes from Splendid / £62.00
Earrings from Accessorize / £3.00
Bracelets from Dorothy Perkins / £15.00

Wicked Witch by floral-mess

The wicked witch had the right idea (in terms of fashion mind you, a little less so in terms of morals) - after all, black is always in fashion. I do think the hat was a bit of a fashion faux pas though - it's just for decoration on here, but you can try and rock it if you're a fan of pointy headgear. Green body paint is also optional.

Items included:
Dress from House Of Fraser / £22.00
Heels from Macy's / £23.00
Skull Ring from Topshop / £8.50
Flower Ring from Etsy / £7.60
Studded Clutch from Awear / £20.00
Nail Polish from SpaRitual / £7.60

Emerald City by floral-mess

This one is a little more abstract, but hey, how often do you see outfits with generous lashings of emerald green in them? Not often enough, I think. Emerald was voted 2013's colour of the year by Pantone, so maybe you'll be seeing a lot more of it this year. The land of Oz itself is so vibrant and colourful in the movie that I thought it deserved an outfit of its own.

Items included:
Jumper from Romwe / £39.00

Jeans from Miss Selfridge / £43.00
Beanie from Allsaints / £35.00
Nail Polish from NARS / £14.00

Dorothy by floral-mess

And last but definitely not least... well, I couldn't resist. Dorothy's outfit is so iconic that I don't doubt many a fashion blogger before me has taken inspiration from it, but I still felt I had to put my own little spin on it. I had to include some ruby red heels, perfect for walking down your own yellow brick road in.

Items included:

Dress from General Pants Co. / £60.00
Blouse from Monki / £12.00
Shoes from Steve Madden / £34.00
Necklace from ASOS / £18.00
Bag from Forever 21 / £16.00
Nail Polish from OPI / £16.00
Socks from Opening Ceremony / £13.00

Do you like posts that are a little more like these? It was so much fun putting this together!

Thank you so much, as ever, for reading. Until next time, keep following that yellow brick road.

Featured in Links á la Mode!

Hi there, everybody! I was thrilled to find this week that my post on the top trends of 2012 had been selected for IFB's January 17th Links á la Mode round up post. This is the first time I've ever been chosen and I admit there was a small amount of chair-dancing done in celebration. Here it is - check it out if you haven't already done so.

Looking Forward 

Edited by: Emily of Sugar and Spice

We’re already halfway through the first month of 2013 but that doesn’t mean bloggers aren’t still in reflective mode: creating resolutions for the coming year and looking to up-coming trends, whilst also looking back on the trends of 2012. There’s also a reflective element in many of the posts this week over blogging and how that might change over the coming year, not just on a personal level but more generally too. There’s also a good dose of travel inspired posts this week for those who are trying to beat the January blues and jet off somewhere sunny. And if you’re not jetting off somewhere away from the cold, make sure to check out the great how to layer below:

LINKS À LA MODE: THE IFB WEEKLY ROUND UP: JANUARY 17TH

Aesthete: Fashion vs Style: Who’s Your Icon?

A Brit Greek: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Perfect Jeans

Avenue M: My Wardrobe Storage and Decorating Ideas
Bougeotte: The New Way to Colorblock
Chocolate Sarcasm: To Do 2013
Fashion On The Line: London Snow Fashion
Floral Mess: Top Trends of 2012
Fly Songbird: Not Doing It For Free
Hopeless Anorak: The Wonder of Marc Jacobs – Can Fashion Talk?
House of Modern Vintage: Travelling in Style
IFB: The Best Tips For Part-Time Bloggers
Incognito: Interview Greta Miliani Italian Blogger
Lifestyles of the Thrifty and Shameless: Savin’ Maven Monday: Packing for Roadtrip
Moi Minnie: 2013
Of Mice and Trend: Simple Winter Layering
Secret Style File: Mad For Monochrome
Style, Saran-Wrapped: Not Colors
Stylonylon: The Anxiety of Blogging – Can You Feel It?
Sugar and Spice: Who Do You Dress For?
We Are The Market: Insiders Guide to Berlin
Youth Savage: The Re-design Issue Part 2: Ethics

Lots of love and lipstick kisses,