In Vogue: July

In calendar terms, we’re at the height of summer, which technically should equal pub gardens after work, debuting bright new summer buys, and only feeling guilty about eating 3 Magnums when you realise you have to cram yourself into an itsy-bitsy bikini in a few weeks.

But hang on, this is England, and there seems to be very little sign of the above, unless the pub gardens include darting under an umbrella…

Never mind, I won’t let a bit of overcast sky stop me from singling out a brand new coral dress, and ankle strap heels in pastel shades, oh, and 3 new maxi split skirts. Yes, I could only be talking about the holy grail, Primarni, which takes this month’s In Vogue title.

On a recent trip to London I dared venture into the Oxford Street branch, aka hell on Earth. I picked up a basket at the door, which actually doubled as a pulley trolley, but 10 seconds in and someone had already tripped over it. Safe to say that was left by the first table I approached.

I could happily spend hours in here, but I feel I’m often the fool enticed by the tiny pricetag, only to arrive at the till and be faced with a hefty bill ‘cos I’ve picked up 60 things with tiny pricetags. Either way, I decided on a few items this time not going too crazy. My favourite is this stunning (£10 – making it even more appealing), strappy coral sundress, perfect for my holiday in September, or warmer days in Blighty with a cute cardigan.

What I ❤ most about this is the frills at the front, adding a slightly more glamorous touch to a simple dress, as well as the gold bars which are laced into the straps. Not forgetting the ultra feminine cross-over back, this is possibly my favourite buy of the last few weeks.

I’d love to know what you all think, and if you’ve bagged any bargains from Primark recently, too! 🙂

 

Sale Purchases Don’t Count..

…do they?

Well, they certainly don’t when it’s a case of £6 for a dress, and £14 for a paid of cute leather floral embellished sandals! On a flying visit to Boots this Saturday, I took a detour past New Look and spotted a few sale rails in the window, so obviously I had to pop in and take a look…

I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but thought this dress will look fantastic when the sun finally decides to show its face, teamed with the sandals themselves, or tan wedge. I love the frilly bardot neckline, so I don’t think neckwear would be needed – simply a selection of wooden/gold bangles (I find Primark always has loads, for £2 and under).  Bardot is a favourite style of mine – so elegant and perfect for dressing up or down.

From Boots, I picked up a miniature version of Benefit’s High Beam – a product I’d tried out in the past but never re-purchased for whatever reason. I find this works perfectly when worked gently on top of your foundation, to give a dewy, fresh-faced look (even if you’ve only had 3 hours shut eye!). I also opted to try out a new Pearl Drops 4d Instant White Plus (is 4d even a thing?!) – results to come…

 

Finally, I needed some more tan now spring seems to be in the air. I’ve always been a firm fan of St Tropez, their range is perfect for any skin type and always leaves an even, golden finish. I usually go for their dark range, but this time I spotted the newly-launched ‘Express’ mouse, which promises a light tan if used for 1 hour, golden for 2, and darker for 3. Keep your eye out for my next entry for the results, I’m hoping to test over the bank holiday weekend – especially as it doesn’t involve the standard 8 hour overnight and orange sheets!

That’s all for now fashionistas – follow the links in the wording to purchase any of my new buys (for the tan I’ve linked to Boots – think of the points!)  🙂 x x x

 

Always Use Protection

For many years, I’m not ashamed to admit I should have taken better care of my skin when it came to sun protection. For one, I didn’t always invest in a high protection moisturiser, which now I am coming to regret slightly as I travel into my (gulp) late twenties! I also didn’t always use a high enough factor on my face when on holiday – the results of which are unfortunately likely to surface when I’m older.

Luckily, I’m now wise enough to know protection is ten times more important than a deep tan on your face (which I like to fake!), I also learnt in addition to a high-factor face cream, you should prime your skin with a light sunscreen – even in the depths of winter!

I’ve always had quite sensitive skin, and the last thing I wanted to do was trigger any breakouts, which I’ve had in the past from slapping greasy sunscreen all over my face. So, after a lot of research, and a bit of guidance from one of the lovely ladies at my work, I splashed out on a lightweight, high factor SkinCeuticals UV defence cream, to use as a base under my moisturiser.

Even after a week’s worth of use, I have to say it’s one of the best face products I’ve ever invested in. At £30 a tube, it’s by no means a steal, but I’m certain it will last for ages and surely you can’t put a price on looking after your skin.

For a daily step by step, first apply the suncream, taking extra care to areas such as nose, cheeks and forehead. Secondly, apply moisturiser, making sure this also has a factor of at least 15. I use the Simple Kind To Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser (SPF 15). Then, prime, and continue with your daily make up regime.

Margarita, Mamacita?

It’s been just over a month since I travelled to Mexico for an autumn break. My boyfriend and I had spent hours trawling the web for just the right getaway spot, eventually settling on the crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and good-time vibes of Cancun. I already have way too many clothes, especially when it comes to holidays, but obviously I couldn’t resist a further few items for the occasion…

First things first – some new bikinis (essential, of course). A combination from H&M bargains and a couple of splurges from Victoria’s Secret helped complete my collection. I opted for a couple of different styles and colours pending the tan situation, as well as a sexy low-cut costume from ASOS. I chose white (daring, I know), but only for when I’d already had a few days of sun.

Following the bikini splurge, I treated myself to a couple of new dresses, one of which was a gorgeous flowing black backless maxi from Ashanti Brazil. To accessorise, some beautiful (and purse-friendly) jewellery pieces from H&M. I’m not usually one for gold, but I feel it always bodes well on holiday, especially when teamed with a healthy glow and a bright dress.

We were only staying in Mexico for a week, but it gave me enough time to showcase my new swimwear, and a few different outfit styles at night. My favourites included my black maxi split skirt with ASOS floral peplum, which I teamed with jewelled sandals and a fishtail plait. Not forgetting one of my all-time go-to’s – a floral midi stretch dress from Zara, which Kim Sears wore to Wimbledon last year (securing it’s place as a sell-out item just hours later). I usually team this with one of my favourite belts from Ted Baker, to clinch and shape the waist further, and tousled beachy waves.

I also made sure to pack my cute white tulip dress, which I purchased during my time at University for a last minute trip to Ibiza, and wore with statement earrings and a bright pink lip. A simple black midi dress and my Moschino letter belt also looked great mid-week, especially with a deep red lip. My favourite is Eva’s Pure Red, from the L’Oreal Color Riche collection. Unlike some, it lasts for hours and goes on as a thick matte for a bolder, more statement colour.

Finally, my ASOS floral hitchcock dress, which I bought at the bargain price of £15, teamed with Accessorize sandals, a high bun and a nude lip (thank you Charlotte Tilbury!) provided me with instant summertime chic on our last night. However, the tight-fitting waist wasn’t as friendly as I’d hoped after several cocktails and a 3 course dinner!