Yearly Archives 2013

Beauty Haul & Lancôme L’Absolu Velours Review

Luxury Beauty from Chanel and Lancome 002

It’s that most wonderful time of the year.. The time where I treat myself to a Christmas splurge in Boots!

After some careful loyalty card point juggling I got a couple of things I’ve been saving for – some new Chanel Coco Mademoiselle (om nom) and a Lancôme L’Absolu Velours in Velours de Grenade to try out. I also randomly bought something I definitely didn’t need, just to get more points (I am such a sucka for buy 3 get so and so points deals!); this was the Chanel Crayon de Levres in 24 ‘Rouge’ to try and start to prevent the messy bleed I get when using the multitude of red lipsticks I now own.

Lancome LAbsolu Velours Bright Red Lip Gloss 001

I’d read about the Lancôme Matte Lip Gloss collection (nice oxymoron there) on pretty much every beauty blog in the last few weeks, and as a devout Matte lipstick fan, I decided to give it a try.

I chose the shade ‘Velours de Grenade’ which is a slightly darker, bright red with blue undertones. While I’m still not very good at matching the right red to my natural lip colour and skin tone, I thought this would be a safe bet in terms of wearability both day and night. The packaging is great; feels expensive (and bloody well it should, this lip gloss tips the high end of the scale at £20) and I feel like that you get quite a lot of product in terms of volume.

The description on launch describes the collection as “offering the richness and application of a gloss and the coverage and hold of a lipstick”. I guess by richness they mean texture; upon first application I was slightly concerned about how liquid the gloss was when applying and prepared myself to make a right old mess. But as you can see from the picture below, I did alright in the end!

Lancome Red Lip Make Up Look 002

Kohl Eye Liner // Benefit BADGal Waterproof Black Eyeliner
Mascara // Benefit BADGal Waterpoof Mascara
Eye Shadow // Urban Decay in Chopper
Blush // Benefit Benetint
Lipgloss // Lancome L’Absolu Velours in Velours de Grenade

Overall, I’d give the product 9/10. Colour that slides on but goes Matte? Sounds too good to be true; but it is true – Lancome have proved it.

Chanel Le Crayon Levres Lip Pencil in Red 001

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Eau De Parfum 001

New Hair: Ombre Shoulder Length Bangs

HeadShot Look 1

I’ve been ‘umming and ahhing’ (no idea how to type that..) about doing something CRAZY with my hair for the last couple of months. After skirting the boundaries of what is safe for me (getting a blunt fringe, cutting my hair into a long bob), I finally decided to take the plunge this weekend and get some colour put in my hair. Professionally, this is only the second time ever, and the first was some rather misguided stripy highlights at age 14. So, yes, as the slightly camp hairdresser said, I would describe myself as a colour virgin.

I asked to go blonder, but I think we both knew that with how thick and dark my hair was as a base, without ruining the texture, blonde wasn’t on the cards. So instead we opted for ombre, and although it didn’t come out quite like I imagined (i.e. it’s RED!?) I still kind of like it when it’s wavy.

Next time: Chocolate brown (for real) and lighter at the tips!

PS. The outfit and dodgy gothic (or maybe 90s!) make up is a sign of things to come over the next week..

Isabel Marant Pour H&M: Suede Boots

Isabel Marant Suede Fringe Boots 005

Parting is such sweet sorrow that I’ll say good night until tonight becomes tomorrow…

I managed to avoid all the previous H&M designer collaborations, but then Versace and Anna Del Russo aren’t so much my cup of tea. The Isabel Marant collection however, caught my eye, and I got up early and trotted into work so that I could nab a pair of her suede fringe boots when they came on sale online at 9am on a Thursday (fashion fortune favours those who don’t have real jobs and / or a management role). It nearly wasn’t to be; I got them into my basket and entered my credit card details, and then all internet hell broke lose. Luckily, my lovely boyfriend managed to find a flaw in their queueing system, logged into my account and put the order through. Hurrah!

Isabel Marant Suede Fringe Boots Label 002

A week later (and several thoughts that they might not *actually* be coming), they turned up in their lovely branded box complete with tote bag. And I tried them on. And then I came to the realisation that I probably wouldn’t wear them, and that they’d sit in my wardrobe and gather dust while I stalked around in my flat loafers and desert boots. For even though they look like they have a manageable heel, they’re actually quite bloody hard to stay upright in.

Isabel Marant Suede Fringe Boots Front On 003

So, it was off to Ebay with them. £100 profit later and a pair of these babies (OH MY GOD, literally the most comfortable boots ever..!), I am happy as larry with my decision, only to be regretted in a few years time when inevitably they will be worth hundreds.

Ever invested in something like that and made a profit? I can’t wait for the next collaboration now, Versace or not..!

Flapper Style

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Funny how styles go ‘out of fashion’ but kind of still stay in fashion.

Our work Christmas dinner is a 20′s themed speakeasy type do.. but for the life of me I can’t find a flapper dress on the high street that isn’t sold out. When you look on Ebay though, there’s a plethora from last year, pre-gatsby, which are all selling at double what they cost to buy. Ridiculous. I wish I had the foresight to buy, and patience to sell clothes on eBay!

This Jigsaw dress is one that is still in stock, however it’s a little bit pricey for a one off wear…about 5 times too pricey! It is beautiful though, and has sleeves, and shiny things and..*drool*. Put the credit card away Allie.

I also spied this art deco necklace in French Connection today, which is something I definitely wouldn’t only wear once so I might splurge on that if I’m feeling spendy.

The shoes from Debenhams are also super cheap. I might just bloody buy them; they almost also look like they’d be comfortable.

Anyone else found a good dress yet? Or seen a flapper dress they love?

All American Winter

Boden Topshop Outfit Day 115

It’s well and truly feeling like Winter now, and it’s been a very quiet month from me. Leaving for work in the dark, coming home in the dark and still trying to ‘bring up’ this small dog that I have acquired is making taking photos one of the lower things on my priority list.

Which is a shame, because I’ve brought some cracking clothes recently. I spent the entirety of last Winter in summer dresses, tights and one cardigan; but this year I’ve gone jumper-happy and god damn, I feel warm. Hurray! This cardigan is from Boden – and I can’t wait to show you my other purchases, I literally could have (and did) spent a fortune when I ordered. It’s really warm, has cute detailing like the velvet button holes, and is grey. I’m very into grey at the moment.

One of the girls at work described this Zara necklace as ‘Insane’. I’m still not sure whether she meant in a good or crazy way, and it’s also very spiky and slightly dangerous, so acquire with caution.

Converse Dog Graffiti 118

Cardigan – Boden
Shirt – Urban Outfitters (old)
Skirt – Topshop
Necklace – Zara
High Tops – Converse

This outfit post actually comes courtesy of John Lewis who very kindly sent me some vouchers to acquire and style some Converse. Unfortunately, I already own the best Converse (pictured), so I’ve gone renegade and will just use these ones instead. Naughty.

I haven’t quite worked out the converse and skinny jeans combination, but I do love wearing my all-blacks with a skirt to add a very casual overtone to what could be quite a prim outfit.

Raybans Ruby Woo Portrait 116

I caved and finally brought Mac’s ‘Ruby Woo’, the red lipstick that apparently suits all skin tones. I’m still not sold as to whether it suits me or not, but it stayed on all day which is a miracle in itself. I usually put lipstick on, walk to work, grab a Nero, drink said coffee and that’s the 20 minutes of lipstick gone.

PS. I know it’s winter, and I’m not supposed to be wearing sunglasses, but I was going for the all-American look with the denim shirt and trying to not look so weird with my hair up. Don’t judge me.

Big Eva Dachshund 117

Speaking of the dog, she’s pretty big now. I looked at some of my old pics of her recently and she was very tiny when we got her. She’s really noisy and stubborn, but still looks cute so I melt every time she frustrates the living hell out of me :)