OOTD: Workwear

With the heatwave we have been experiencing in London appropriate workwear has been tricky. I commute by tube each day so I am very sympathetic with most Londoners sweltering underground. However, at times like these the temperature in the office is arctic as the aircon desperately tries to overcompensate and ensure that the guys in their 3 piece suits are catered for. I therefore wanted to share some outfits from the last week of how I dress for work and try to remain professional (and not look like I'm off to the beach), but still comfortable.

The first dress I have been loving is a sale purchase from Ted Baker. It's very comfortable and though it has a lining the fabric is pretty stretchy so it never feels tight. The pattern is very Summery, but the demure length still makes it office appropriate.

Dress on sale from Ted Baker here

This outfit is super comfortable and easy to wear. The floaty fabric is cool, but the length of the skirt makes it work appropriate and traditional.

Top and Skirt from French Connection on sale here

 

The last outfit is a super comfortable dress from Reiss. It's light, but not at all see through. It moulds effortlessly to your shape and the side detail is very flattering skimming the contours of your body. It's not too short or too low for the office, but is not at all restrictive.



Dress on sale from Reiss here

 

I love Summer and the hot weather so I always try to make the most of it while it lasts... even if it is just in short lunch hour stints while I am stuck in the office, or walking between meetings. :)

Work It Out: Lace

On Friday my fiance and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary! Since I had to go straight from work to play (pre-theatre dinner at The Balcon followed by Viva Forever) I did make a little bit of effort to make my outfit less boardroom boring, while still being office appropriate. I decided to pair a a feminine, form fitting lace dress with a more formal structured peplum jacket.

 Lace dress: French Connection, Peplum jacket: LK Bennett.

I also blow dried my hair using the Babyliss Big Hair in a side swoop, giving my hair a little more volume and bounce.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend! xxx

Work It Out: Ribbon Knit

I usually steer away from horizonal stripes, but I just couldn't resist this dress in the French Connection sale. The material is so comfortable, and even though it is tight fitting and pretty 'slinky' being rayon it has a lot of stretch. The ombre style with contrasting panels becoming darker towards the bottom is also surprisingly flattering and works well to smooth curves.

 Dress: French Connection (On sale for £57.50 here), Shoes: Kurt Geiger.

The modest length of this dress makes it easy workwear, while the form fitting style can also translate to post work drinks. This is the perfect piece to take you from day to night!

Have you picked up anything from the FCUK sale this season? Are you a fan of horizontal stripes? xxx

OOTD: Paris

Back in January I whizzed over to Paris for a short (work) trip. As I was travelling solo I was able to choose my own accommodation and decided to stay at the newly opened Le Pavillon des Lettres, which is an amazing boutique hotel near Madeleine. Each of the 26 rooms corresponds to a different letter of the alphabet, encompassing the spirit of a poet, a writer, an impassioned virtuoso or a genius, with extracts of each chosen artist printed on the walls. My room was X for Xenophon.

Despite the drizzle and cold I took full advantage of the few hours I had spare between meetings to wonder the streets and do a teeny tiny spot of shopping. In the evening I made a quick dash back to the hotel to freshen up for a client event. My experience last year taught me that this was quite a formal affair, less like the cocktail party described on the invitation, and more of a corporate networking evening. Rather than opting for the same grey/ black suit I decided to wear a lace dress accented by a formal, well fitting tuxedo style blazer.

French Connection Angela Lace dress (On Sale £55 here).

Despite my lack of sightseeing time during the day as the event was held in the enchanting Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine museum I was lucky enough to have an amazing view of the Eiffel tower on my stroll back to the hotel.

Bisous xxx

New Year's Eve Outfit

A few of you have requested that I post some pictures of my Christmas and New Year's celebrations, especially as I took a little break from the internet over the festive season. Since my Christmas was pretty low key there are no pictures to speak of, but I did manage to convince the bf to take a few snaps before heading out to celebrate the beginning of what will hopefully be an amazing year!

On the night itself I chose to wear an old dress from French Connection (circa 2005!) with opaque tights and the most obnoxiously glittery shoes that I had picked up in the Ted Baker sale a few days earlier.

They may not be for everyone, but I absolutely love them... they make me feel quite the modern Dorothy ;). If you are looking for a glitter shoe that is just that little bit more sophisticated (and I use that term very loosely) than the chunkier versions all over the high street then I highly recommend you check these out. They are currently available in red, black and my favourite rose gold colour on sale for £67 on the Ted Baker website here.

Continuing on the rose gold theme I also wore my new Folli Follie rose gold Heart 4 Heart key necklace. Unfortunately this is no longer available for purchase alone, but you can still find it as part of a special edition set here. I wear the plainer key for work by shortening the chain, and keep the crystal one (worn above) for occasions that require a little more sparkle!

I styled my hair with a new curling iron that I have been experimenting with over the last couple of weeks - the Enrapture Totem Styler, which has three separate heat setting for different areas of the barrel. I set mine at 3-2-3 for defined curls and back combed my hair at the root to create lots of volume.

Makeup wise I wore a smokey eye similar to the one I created for my birthday party. The main focus was MAC's reflects antique gold glitter applied over the lid, with a shimmery brown eyeshadow smoked into the crease and below the lower lashline. I then brightened the lower lashline and inner corner using Urban Decay's heavy metal glitter eyeliner in baked. I completed the eye look using the You Complete Me mink lashes from Velour.

On my cheeks I used a mix of NARS Angelika and MAC Well Dressed blush with MAC's Perfect Topping MSF to highlight. On my lips I applied MAC's Hue lipstick, followed by my favourite gloss, the absolutely delicious Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in No.2 Apricot Shimmer (£12.15 here).

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and celebrated the beginning of the New Year in style!! xxx

Work It Out: Instalment Trente

As far as wardrobe staples go a white jacket is high on my list. I have a couple in my wardrobe, a structured Zara blazer for work, a light cotton for throwing effortlessly over summer dresses and a stripy one perfect for spicing up a simple look. I spotted this pseudo jacket in River Island this weekend and knew it had to be mine. This jacket makes a perfect piece for layering and a great transition piece into Spring. I love the structure of the top half, with shoulder pads and sleek lapels, paired with the light material, longer length and 3/4 sleeves giving it the casual feel of a cardigan.

 Jacket - River Island, Midnight blue dress - French Connection, Brown leather belt - Oasis.

I think it will also look great over a longline t-shirt with jeans/leggings or a classic A-line dress.

What are your wardrobe staples for Spring? xxx

OOTD - Tassels

While browsing through my wardrobe on Saturday night I stumbled upon one of my favourite little LBDs. This dress always reminds me of the scene where Carey goes on her first date with her Russian 'luva' (Mikhail Borishnokov).

Tassels, fringing, whatever you may call it, they make the perfect dancing partner!

For makeup, I stuck to a basic smokey eye using MAC bronze and espresso eyeshadows, with a natural lip gloss from Beaute.

Being short on time I left my hair natural, but added volume by blasting it with a hairdryer with my head upside down and tying it up in a bun while it cooled (leaving time for makeup). If you have naturally wavy hair this is a great trick to add some movement and bounce!

Do you have a secret love of tassels? xxx

Work It Out: Instalment Vingt-Sept

Sometimes it's better to keep it simple. When wearing monochrome it's always fun to spice it up with a pattern or a modern twist on an old classic.

Blouse: French Connection. Skirt and patent belt: M&S

How do you wear monochrome? xxx

Gifts for You

In the third and final installment of my gift guide we come to Gifts for You! You have worked hard, you deserve a treat too ;). Plus you can't be sure that your mother/ friend/ other half has read my 'gifts for her' post so they may not get you what you really need... ;).

Xen-Tan Dark Tanning Lotion Trio (Special offer trio - £28.94) - Preparation is key, so when it comes to looking good for that Christmas party you may need a night to yourself. Having recently tried Xen Tan for the first time I am still very much excited about it. I really enjoyed the scent of the lotion, which reminded me of marzipan. Even though the notorious 'fake tan smell' was still noticeable in the morning (I always slather it on before bed), at least the application in my tiny bathroom was pleasant. The body scrub in this trio also works well for a gentle all over exfoliation, but as my winter skin is currently a little dry I used a harsher scrub on some areas, such as the knees and elbows, to achieve a smoother application. The tan itself developed beautifully over night to a natural, albeit deep tan and the mitt provided ensured it was even and streak free.

ELF Party Eyeshadow Palette (£3.50) - With 6 gorgeous colours this palette is perfect for creating a beautiful wintry eye look. As I was kindly sent this for review a few weeks ago I can assure you that the shadows are pigmented and blendable. I especially like the sparkly black to add a little bit of definition and glitter!

Soap & Glory Pink Tote Bag (Originally £60, currently £25!) - When I spotted this bag full of goodies on the Boots website I knew it had to be mine! The re-usable pink bag contains:

• Clean On Me Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel (500ml)
• The Righteous Butter Body Butter (300ml)
• Flake Away Body Scrub (300ml)
• Girligo Scented Body Moisturising Mist (100ml)
• Glad Hair Day Ultra-Shine Super-Shampoo (250ml)
• The Breakfast Scrub Body Smoother (300ml)
• Hand Food Hydrating Hand Cream (125ml)
• Scrub Your Nose In It Face Scrub And Mask (125ml)
• Super Colour Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss in ‘Pink Apricot,’ (7ml)
• Off Your Face Cleansing Wipes (25 wipes)
• Giant Super Sudsy Shower Puff

This is probably the best offer of 2010 ladies, so hurry as I'm sure supplies won't last long ;).

Rapid Lash Serum (£39.99) - Want longer lashes come March without breaking the bank? I have already reviewed Rapidlash (read the review here) and this stuff works! The results are not as dramatic as other lash growth serums such as Lilash, but neither is the price. One tube lasts 3-4 months of daily use along the lashline and you will usually start to see results after 4 weeks.

Eyelure Lashes (£4.35) - In the meantime why not stick to false lashes? No party makeup is complete without them and if taken care of they will last you the whole season! My favourites are the Nicola lashes as they are full and wispy, without being too long and spidery, and have a sexy flick on the side, which will elongate and lift any eye shape!

Karen Millen Statement Spotted Dress (On Sale £89.95, down from £180) Why not skip the LBD this year and treat yourself to a statement dress with style? Luckily many stores are having pre-Christmas sales, so you can easily pick up a stunning new dress for that special party at half the price!

Karen Millen Frayed Silk Dress (On Sale for £175, down from £250).

 Miss Selfridge Nude Beaded Shift Dress (£150).

Aqua Victory Mini Dress (£100)

ASOS Black One Shoulder Organza Tape Dress (On Sale for £60, down from £85).

French Connection Pretty Penelope Dress (On Sale £110, down from £140).

Bare Escentuals SPF 15 Matte Foundation (£20.40) - Now that you have your dress and tan sorted, all you need is the perfect base to last the night. I have been testing out the latest foundation from Bare Escentuals and have to say that it is fantastic. The new click and lock sifter makes application on the go neat and simple, taking the worry out of mineral makeup. The foundation itself blends into the skin beautifully when used with a little kabuki. It has great coverage, yet looks natural and works hard to absorb excess oil and keep you looking matte and polished. A little goes a long way, so be careful not to apply this too liberally, especially as the SPF15 can create a white cast in some photos.

I hope this three part series has given you some ideas and that you have enough time to treat yourselves this Christmas my lovelies! What will you be purchasing in the last few days in the run up to Christmas? xxx

Gifts for Him!

In the second installment of my perfect gifts guide we are going to talk about the boys, the mice and the men ;). Males of any age are notoriously difficult to buy for unless you are blessed with a guy that possesses a genuine passion for something... anything other than beer and 'insert appropriate sport here'. In my experience once a boy reaches the age of 13 he is interested in little but girls anyway...


Elemis Daily Men's Grooming Collection (£27 -10% at feelunique.com) - For the man who is a little tentative when it comes to skincare this set makes a perfect beginning to a routine. My very low maintanence bf has been testing this out for 2 weeks and has provided me with some valuable (albeit typically manly) feedback, though bless him for trying! He absolutely loved the skin soothe shave gel (and even asked me to get him some more!) as the foam is thick and firm it allows the blade to glide smoothly and gives a very close shave. The deep cleanse facial wash 'did a good job' and cleansed the skin without making it feel dry. The daily moisture boost was perfect for use after shaving and he found it lightweight and soothing, without being greasy or breaking him out. Overall he really enjoyed the set, and given that he normally rejects every product I attack him with... ahem.. let him try, I highly recommend it!

Armani Code Gift Set (£45) and Bleu de Chanel (£42). My two favourite men's fragrances for the season. The Armani code was purchased for the bf last year and is a great all rounder - a masculine contemporary fragrance with citrus and olive tree blossom that belnds into a slightly woody finish. Bleu de Chanel was a recent purchase that I just couldn't resist. This fragrance really reminds me of the original Abecrombie eau de toilette, but with a sophisticated twist. Incredibly sexy and fresh with notes of sandalwood, jasmine, citrus and incense it wears well and lasts through the day. The bf has given me great feedback and so have many of his female colleagues... perhaps one too many ;)?

Call Of Duty Black Ops (£39.99) - As much as I hate being woken every Saturday morning by the sounds of gunfire I can't deny the fact that pretty much every guy I know loves this game. Whether he has an X-box, PS3 or even a Wii the new COD will occupy him for hours ;). I usually use this time to blog, read or even have a little pamper so it's a win all around!

Ted Baker Shield Wool Winter Coat (£350) - If you want to really treat that special boy and keep him warm, while looking stylish this winter a coat would be a great purchase. The deep navy colour is flattering on any skin tone and does not look as harsh as black, or as 'tatty' as brown. Of course my choice had nothing to do with the doe-eyed male model, but you can't deny he looks gorgeous! The sharp lines and military inspired detailing keep this classic shape modern and sophisticated, while slimming the figure.. for the gentlemen who require a little streamlining ;).

FCUK Brown Leather Belt (£12.99 down from £30) - I always think it's a bit cheeky buying a present on sale, but hey, I won't tell if you don't. Every guy needs a smart belt and though it may not be a very exciting present it will be a useful one that he will probably wear every day!

 

Remington Groom Innovation Navigator All in One Kit (£29.99) - For the man who takes a little more care of himself this is an absolutely fantastic set to cover all his needs (some of which you may not want to know about... nose and ear trimmer anyone?). This kit includes the PG520 unit with up to 60 minutes of cordless usage (that's a whole hour of nose hair trimming!) as well as 5 attachment heads, a body hair trimmer, wide trimmer, fine trimmer, mini-foil shaver, nose & ear trimmer, 3 combs for different hair lengths (1 – 20 mm), charging stand, cleaning brush & oil bottle. Amazing value for so many tools, and you can be sure that he will find something he can use, or something you can convince him to use in the New Year ;)!

TIGI Bed Head for Men Matte Separation Workable Wax (£8.45) - We all know that guy at school, university, in the office that uses too much hair gel. The 90's are over boys, it's time to update your look! This pliable, matte wax will leave hair looking natural, sorry Westlife, and give it a secure hold without looking greasy or setting stiff and crunchy. If you no longer want sticky fingers after running your hands through his hair, sorry Ross from Friends, this may be the budget friendly hint.. umm... gift you are looking for!

I recently read the results of a poll that announced the gift most men want is that of experience, while girls prefer clothes, jewelry, cosmetics and other tangible items (go figure!). I completely agree with this, and even though it may take a little more organisation an 'experience' is a fantastic present. Of course you can chose something your man is already interested in (Super Car Driving, Golf), but I prefer to try something new such as learning a new skill (Cooking Lessons, Wine tasting, Clay Pigeon Shooting - went down a storm for the bf's bday!). Or why not try something unique such as Feeding Big Cats by Hand or a Flying Lesson?

I hope this gives you some ideas ladies! Good Luck and let me know if you have any recommendations :). xxx