Friday 30 December 2016

Seasonal Shine // Winter Style Beauty Edition

Winter is upon us, the frost glimmers from the bare branches and the late afternoon sunshine reminds us of the oncoming of a brand new year about to begin.


Whether you're snuggled up in doors wrapped in a mermaid tail blanket (thank you Santa) sipping on yet another hot chocolate, or if you've cracked out the glitter eyeliner and heels ready to party your way through the Wintery start of a new year- I've gathered together a whole heap of lovelies to add a special little something to the season ahead!


Voluminous, long waves, coppery dashes of glitter, worn casual with your woolies or poshed up with a slick of lippy- all bases of Winter Style are covered here!


Long and Loose


I love the appeal of sleepy curls, they give a sultry not too try hard effect yet are super versatile enough to rock in the evening. Add a high shine product or treat yourself to some new clip in hair extensions to boost the volume and leave it long and loose to get this look.


Pony Tail Princess


This sophisticated upgrade from a standard pony tail can be taken in many directions. This season keep things simple by twisting a long strand of hair around your pony, by taking things high on top or create a tangle of turns by adding tiny elastics and pulling sections of the hair out as you go. 


Snow Angel Plaits


The trend for braids shows no signs of slowing down as we enter 2017, so why not take full opportunity of all the inspiration around you and find your very own plaited preference. You can really have fun with this style keeping things casual for the day or by spicing it up for party time. This look can be worked into most hair lengths and with a little youtube assistance even the most complex of patterns will be yours in no time! 


Tied in a Bow


A personal favourite of mine. You can't beat a touch of luxe this time of year and by adding velvet or satin to your Winter wardrobe you're enhancing the texture whilst winning in the accessories stakes. Create a hair band by tying a piece of ribbon around your head or simply spruce up a low ponytail; I like to take a short piece of ribbon, make it into a bow then attach it to a hair grip to then use at the top of a bun or when pinning a small section of hair to the side.


Winter Warmth


Coppers, rusts, deep berry reds and a healthy dash of sparkle- there is something about these warm shades that fire me up ready for the cold days of Winter. This look is perfect for any evening shindigs as it oozes vampy glamour but can be easily toned down for a subtle daytime look by patting a dark lipstick onto the lips then blending out with a little lip balm or by blending a simple sweep of eyeshadow around the eye to create a soft and smoky liner. Who says glitter isn't for day time too, add a touch to the inner corners of your eyes or throw handfuls of the stuff all around the room... Come on, we all need a little lift this season!


So there you have my Winter Style Beauty Edition, I can't wait to try out some of those twisty plaited looks and am covered in enough glitter to last a lifetime until Spring. Check out my Winter Style Fashion Edition for some tips on how to keep warm whilst working thems there layers and be sure to ditch those resolutions and strut into this new year with your head held high and with excitement and adventure in your heart!
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Thursday 22 December 2016

Baby It's Cold Outside // Winter Style- Fashion Edition

Winter Style. What is not to love? We're talking layers and layers of cosy texture, sumptuously soft accessories and strutting your stuff in a trusty pair of boots. I love me some cold weather fashion and what a treat have I for you, my lovelies, as I've rounded up some of the top looks to try out this season!


Bold and Beautiful


When the weather is a little grey and grumpy why not pack a punch into your day and choose a bright coloured statement jacket. Whatever your flavour, adding a much-needed ray of sunshine will brighten up your day, and anyone you come across, no doubt! These lovelies show this point perfectly! A soft feminine pink is playful and pretty, the rusty orange adds depth and gives a twist to an otherwise classic outfit and this gorgeous sea green freshens up any day to day look!


Sharp Tailoring


How about smartening up your act? Choosing a sharply tailored coat will cut you a mighty fine silhouette with minimal effort and allow you to bring your entire outfit up a notch. You can diversify this touch by opting for equally clean-cut accessories, elevating your look making it easily transferable to night time/ business attire or level things out with some casual pieces paired in. This classic camel coat lets the details do the talking and my what a speech! The crisp, dark pea coat sharpens up an otherwise casual collection and the combination of deep sumptuous red colour and luxurious wool fabric create an overall look perfect for neatening up this Winter.


Layer It Up


This is a favourite element of mine, dressing in multiple layers! There's something deliciously snug about burying yourself in lots of textures and getting to show off much more of your wardrobe than usual is also a plus! Take a leaf from this book and opt for contrasting lengths and colours, play with fabric textures and throw the rule book out of the window altogether, switching things up a bit! A simple take on keeping warm yet looking styled to perfection with an over coat and long scarf, go over sized with your outer layers and add quirky accessories to bring it all together or try wearing your shorter layers on the top, for a distinct fashion upgrade!


Accessorise


The fun thing about Winter is all the goodies to decorate your outfit with and the practicality of staying warm whilst out and about! You can really change up your look by playing with accessories- go for contrasting colours to make things pop, add classic leather to bring a grown up edge and fully embrace the cold with all things woolly! Try adding a sharp, simple long scarf to create clean lines, keeping length to your overall appearance, a classic beanie will keep you warm whilst keeping things casual and youthful, and chunky knits in complimentary colours work wonders to bring an outfit together!

Step On It

// Chelsea Black // Suede Sunrise // Ankle Tan //

What better excuse to treat yourself to a new pair of booties than the imminent blustery weather? Investing in a great pair of boots will see you through many seasons whilst ensuring a bad ass, grounded look despite battling the chill. There are so many styles on offer to suit many a budget, my personal favourite will always be an ankle boot, just so versatile! I love a classic Chelsea boot and this black pair are calling my name, but playing with texture is always a great idea for Winter and suedes or velvets can add a special touch of luxe to your tootsies! But if we're talking a boot for all looks, then it really has to be a tan brown, am I right? This pair, with it's slight point and nicely tapered top helps elongate the leg and keeps things nice and neat, allowing you to wear these bad boys from day right through to night!

Cherry On Top


The crowning glory to any layered up look- a wide brimmed hat! This touch is so simple yet really adds a special something- if you're ballsy enough to really go for it! Keep it dark and classic and pair it down with casual knits and short jackets for an easy day to day look or go super glam matching your crisp brim with a statement coat in jewel colours will stand you apart from the crowd.


Whatever way you decide to stay warm this Winter, perhaps playing with your usual style by adding a bold colour, trying a new accessory or by simply swapping up the order in which you layer, I wish you a snuggly and stylish season, full to the brim with hot chocolate and crisp, morning strolls!



Wednesday 14 December 2016

Rocking Around The Christmas Tree // Ideas for Festive Gatherings

Christmas is a time to make memories with loved ones, reach out to people and bring them together and to share a warm toasty room, plentiful food and oh so much merriment. In short, it's all about the festive fun!


A great way to share this sparkling Christmas spirit is to organise a jolly shindig! Whether you're into festive frolics through the snow or a swanky soiree, the options really are endless! I've come up with a few helpful suggestions to get you on your way, all that's left to do is to hop over to the gorgeous Paperless Post to pick out one of their design-focused Christmas cards online or printed invites and get this party started!


Gingerbread House Build-Off



Crank up the jingle bells and let your competitive side fly free as you battle your way to the Gingerbread House Building Championships! This is a super fun and tasty activity but surprisingly challenging, depending on how ambitious your architectural aspirations are of course! Something for the whole family that is almost too good to eat... almost!


Merry Movie Marathon



Popcorn and pjs are an essential during this next joyful gathering, why not snuggle together for a back to back running of your favourite festive films? See how creative you can be with your movie of choice or stick to the classics, there are plenty to choose from and please all viewers.


Christmas Cookie Swap



Now this one has my name written all over it. Fairly self-explanatory, I mean- cookies!! Invite your favourite sugar coated buddies over for an afternoon of sweet treats. Each party-goer could bring a different type of cookie (home baked or otherwise, we're not judgy round these parts!) and swap recipes and biscuits to your heart's content. You could even set up a decorating station to jazz up a selection of plain ones, using sprinkles and candy and icing and so on. Just don't forget the milk!


Jolly Jumper Mash-Up



This is a silly fun, crafty activity for all ages, simply choose your weapon of choice (tinsel, glitter, knitted reindeer?) and go to town on a thrifted or ancient beloved sweater, then proceed to wear the beauties for rest of the evening revelling in your creations! You could even set up a photo booth area complete with props and errythang, and let the hilarity ensue!


Caroling Karaoke



What do we love more, this time of year, than singing along to those awful, cheesy, classic tunes? Make it a Christmas celebration to remember and take the vocal route! I insist that you combine this with a Mistletoe Mixer or two (festive themed cocktails anyone?), you could even get creative and make teams or red buttons/ scoring cards, hey it's your party!


Workshop Christmas Do



Forget the work's Christmas Do this year and create your very own Elves Workshop party, dressing up your inner Buddy the Elf, stripy tights and all! Deck the halls, throw handfuls of glitter and stock up on candy canes, this is one sweet shindig! You could even arrange activities such as gift wrapping, tree decorating, wreath making, snowball fights! How about decking out your very own hot chocolate bar full of delicious toppings and flavour variations!


So there you have it, creative Christmas gatherings bringing the whole family together to share in the fun. I love this time of year, all the twinkly lights and yummy foods and I'm heading back to the UK for a few days over the holidays, which I'm super excited for, as well as drinking my body weight in hot cocoa whilst dancing around my beautifully lit tree between now and the new year! When it comes to money and presents though, for me a token gift is as far as I go as that's not really what it's all about, but if you were looking for a little inspiration when picking out that perfect something then perhaps my Handmade Gift Guide might be of use!




I invite you all to have a wonderful Christmas and can't wait to hear about all your fun activities and special moments. Stay tuned for some Wintery Style guides and Festive Beauty favourites!
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Thursday 1 December 2016

Wrap It Up // Shop Handmade This Christmas

Tis the season to be jolly, for spending time with loved ones, snuggling up warm, for eating all the foods (Terry's Chocolate Orange and after Eight Mints, get in my belly!) and for hunting down a little something for your favourite peoples. Sometimes it's glorious to spread a little glitter and love, getting together with long distant friends and raising a glass to good times, dusting off the old board games and making new memories with family and giving a thoughtful, unique gift. The easiest way to ensure your present is especially special would be to buy from a small business, from craft markets or even having a go at some DIY home-made badassery yourself.


I've done a little day-dreaming research just to get you off on the right foot and by searching the old faithful, one of a kind, dream gift mecca Etsy I've found a heap of beauties! If it's inspirational quotes to add a punch of positivity to the worrier in your life's day or a customised bookmark for your nerd at heart, a vintage timepiece for your antique lover or a customised watercolour print (for yourself?), whatever it is that makes your loved ones tick, take a mooch below for some serious inspiration!








Here are a few ideas if you were thinking of taking the DIY route:




Most of all, don't stress it. The festive season is all too stuck on money and stacks of monotonous 'presents', keep it small and personal and you're sure to have a happy recipient.


I'm off to whip up a couple handmade bits and bobs for my specials. Question; is it too early to break open the After Eights? Thought not!


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