Friday 29 August 2014

Style Edit: Graphic Prints

Hello everyone! I thought I'd share another style edit with you guys, this is my take on the graphic prints trend we're seeing a lot of this AW14. Enjoy :)






What I'm Wearing

Playsuit - River Island
Chelsea Boots - Schuh
Watch - River Island
I am so impressed with River Island's AW14 collection, I think they can be quite hit and miss but this season's collection is my favourite on the high street by far. For a high street store, everything is such great quality and looks far more expensive that it is, I have a feeling that a lot of the pieces in my Autumn wardrobe will be coming from RI so I would definitely recommend you check it out! Graphic prints are everywhere this Autumn, we're starting to say goodbye to dainty summer prints and hello to big, bold prints and loud colours. This playsuit from River Island is one of my favourite graphic print pieces I've seen. I love how eye catching this piece is, it's so easy to wear a lot of black in the Autumn months but I wanted to inject some colour into my Autumn wardrobe. I love wearing playsuits and I know I'll get great wear out of this; it's such a staple piece that I will definitely wear on nights out. I think this would look great paired with a piece of statement head jewellery and an oversized clutch or if you are feeling particularly bold, you could dress it down for the day time with thick black tights and a duster coat. As always, I'll put the links for each of the pieces in the 'What I'm Wearing' section if you're interested in any of the pieces shown.
What do you think of River Island's new collection and what are your favourite pieces?
Tam x

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Review: DiorShow Fusion Mono, Long-Wear Professional Mirror-Shine Eyeshadow

Hello everyone! I'm back from holiday now so I'll be putting up a few more blog posts soon, including a couple of Style Edits, so look out for those! I thought I'd start off by sharing another beauty review though, this is another high end product, the Dior Fusion Mono Eyeshadow, if you'd like me to do a few drug store make-up reviews then let me know. Enjoy :)







About the product


This is officially my new favourite eyeshadow for an evening look. The shade I have is '381 - Millenium' which is a beautiful grey/black shade with delicate gold glitter. Don't be put off by the word glitter though, it's not the cheap-looking chunky glitter that you'd expect from a Barry M product, this is so finely milled that it creates more of a subtle, shimmer effect. (My pictures definitely don't do this justice). However, this is also available in a matte finish if you prefer matte shadows. I love this product for so many reasons. Firstly, I often find with creamy, pot eyeshadows that they crease after a few hours and end up looking awful; this even happens with my MAC shadow pots! However, this Dior shadow stays in place, doesn't crease and doesn't smudge. I also love this product because my favourite eye look is a smokey eye but I often find that creating a smokey eye takes a lot of time and effort, believe it or not this creates a smokey eye without needing any other products, it's a one pot wonder! For a soft smokey eye, I simply apply it with my finger tip and then smudge the outside with a MAC 217 brush. If you want a more intense look simply wet the applicator that comes in the box and apply to get a really deep, dark lamé effect.

Texture


Dior describe this as a 'gel-foam' texture. It's definitely not a typical powdery texture; it feels so buttery soft when you apply it with your fingers. If you have used either the Maybelline 24hour Colour Tattoo or any of the MAC cream colour bases, the Dior shadow is not as wet as these formulas and I think that's why it doesn't crease.

Affordability


As this is a high end product, it does have a high end price tag. However, this is probably going to be the only eyeshadow I use for a night out make-up look now so I'll definitely get my money's worth. This may just be me trying to justify my purchases but I'm of the opinion that it's far better to splurge on one item that will last than to buy loads of poor quality shadows that will only last a few hours and end up smudging down your face.

Packaging


Well done Dior! This packaging is absolutely beautiful, everything about the product says luxury. For starters, the pot is made of glass which may seem inconsequential but it honestly makes such a difference and the shimmery, midnight blue lid had the famous Christian Dior logo in metallic lettering which looks so sophisticated. I also love the fact that it comes with its own applicator, which is great quality by the way, it's not very often that I will actually use the applicator that comes with the product because they are usually cheap and awful. Its little details like this that you are paying for and which make it stand out from a drug store shadow.

Do you have any other pot eyeshadow recommendations for me? Leave me a comment to let me know your favourites :)

Friday 8 August 2014

Review: Guerlain Meteorites

Hello everyone! So I thought I'd post my first ever make-up review today. I love beauty products and have an addiction to buying make-up so let me know if you guys like this post and I'll make sure to do some more beauty reviews in the future. Enjoy :)







About the product

This is actually the first and only product I have ever bought from Guerlain and I'm so glad that I purchased it! These beautiful illuminating pearls are by far the most luxurious make-up item I own. I have the shade '02 - Clair' which is the lightest shade but they also do medium and dark shades for different skin tones. Guerlain describe this product as an 'illuminating powder' which you can use all over to set your makeup or as a very subtle highlight. I have quite oily skin and I find that I do have to re-apply my powder after a couple of hours if I use it to set my base so I often just use it as a highlight but if you have normal or dry skin I'm sure this would look lovely as an all over face powder. I would recommend you use this if you ever feel your makeup looks flat or your face looks lifeless because it instantly refreshes your complexion and adds a certain amount of dew to the skin, giving it a natural glow and radiance.

Texture and Smell

The texture of this powder is really fine and it goes on to the skin so smoothly, everything about it says high end! The smell! Where do I start? Oh my gosh! This is THE best smelling make-up product I have ever come across. I'm usually awful at describing smells but these candy looking pearls smell exactly like parma violet sweets which is probably half the reason why I love them. I know that people with sensitive skin are often scared to use scented products on their face but I have very sensitive, spot prone skin and this product has never caused me to have any adverse reactions. If, however, you just don't like having scented face products in general then this isn't one to go for because the scent does linger, which I love because I think the smell is addictive, but I know that it's not for everyone.

Affordability

As expected of a Guerlain product, the only downside to this is the price. It's definitely something to treat yourself to or to buy as a special gift for someone; this isn't any normal drug store powder but I do think that when it comes to make-up, you get what you pay for!

Packaging

My favourite thing about these pearls, other than the smell, is the packaging. It's so glamorous and makes me feel like a Hollywood movie star when I get it out of my vanity table; this is definitely one to put on display and if you finish using the product, the tin would be great to keep little trinkets or bobby pins in. Maybe this is just me but I'm totally won over by sophisticated looking make-up packaging.

Let me know if you have any other Guerlain product recommendations for me. Tam x

Thursday 7 August 2014

Style Edit: Tropical Trends

Hello Everyone! I've got another Style Edit to share with you today to give you some summer style inspiration. Enjoy :)









What I'm Wearing

Co-Ords - AX Paris
Flower Crown - Primark

Unfortunately the weather here in the UK has been less than tropical but I'm definitely not ready to say goodbye to cheerful summer prints and hello to chunky knits yet. These tropical printed co-ords make me feel as if I'm sipping sangria in the sun even if I'm desperately trying to catch the last rays of sun in my back garden. I'm so obsessed with the co-ords trend and these instantly caught my eye on the AX Paris website; you don't often see such bright prints on the high street and these are even brighter than they appear in the pictures. Definitely not anything to wear if you want to blend into the background! I also think the bright green would look fabulous against darker skin tones too and this would make a great day-to-night outfit for holiday. I love the pom-pom detailing on the hems, it's little details like this that I always look out for when buying from the internet as it always makes items look much more expensive than they are. These are actually sold as a set too which I much prefer as it often works out cheaper than buying the top and bottoms separately. All in all, I would definitely recommend these to anyone who is off on holiday soon or if you simply want to feel as if you're in the Maldives when you're really in the Midlands.

What are your favourites outfits to stand out in a crowd?


Tam x

Wednesday 6 August 2014

A Summer Wedding

Hello Everyone! Last month I had the honour of being chief bridesmaid at my big sister's wedding, it was an absolutely beautiful day and I can honestly say it was the best wedding I've ever been to (even if I am slightly biased) so I thought I'd show you some pictures taken on the day to give some wedding style inspiration to anyone planning their own wedding. Enjoy :)













The wedding was held at Stockbridge Farm Barn in Sherborne which was the most beautiful location for a summer, countryside wedding. The inside was very rustic and was decorated with twinkly fairy lights and bunting which made the venue look so magical. The crockery was vintage and mismatched which suited the venue perfectly and every guest had their own miniature teacup and saucer which was so cute and kitsch! There were also vintage looking cake stands filled with little cupcakes and scones and wedding favours of little paper bags filled with old school sweets, everything was delicious and I probably ate far too much cake and sweets for one person.

The grounds of the barn were absolutely stunning and even though there was a torrential downpour the day before the wedding, thankfully it was beautifully sunny on the day which made for some lovely pictures of the venue.

Our hair and makeup (including the bride's) was done by a lovely local makeup artist called Kirsten Sare, her website is www.kirstensare.co.uk; if you are from the Dorset area and are looking for a make-up artist or hair stylist for any event then I would definitely recommend you look at her work.

What The Bridesmaids Wore

Dresses - Lipsy (Similar Here)
Seamless Tights - Pretty Polly


The whole day was perfect; it was a quintessential English wedding in the countryside and I'm so thankful that I was involved. I hope you enjoyed seeing the pictures and hearing about the day.


 Tam x