Work it Out: Installment tres

Another hot day, another summer dress converted to workwear. I have had this French Connection dress for a while, never thinking it was special enough I didn't put it to much use. However, today I actually had compliments from three different girls at work, so I guess it is something nice and different!

Do you ever do that? Buy something and let it hang in your wardrobe for months/ years and then rediscover its potential.

Dress: French Connection (about 2 years ago). Cardigan: M&S, I have these in so many different colours, love them! Belt: Miss Selfridge (I think).

 Although I'm not a great fan of stripes (esp. horizontal), the shape of the top is flattering and form fitting, while the A-Line diagonal stripes on the skirt skim over any bumps ;).

What do we think of stripes? Sexy sailor or Dennis the Menace? xxx

Perez Hilton - One Night in London

I association with Gay Pride weekend last Saturday Perez hosted One Night in London at the O2. My friend won two tickets and invited me to come along. It was such a fun night! I just thought I would share a few photos with you guys. We somehow ended up being at the front and actually met Perez, who was absolutely lovely, though very skinny!

I am not one to complain, especially when we got free tickets, but the event was pretty poorly organised. A lot of the time was spent warming the crowd up with the DJ, who we liked, but still my back and feet were crying out in pain after 5 hours of standing and being pushed around, so we ended up sneaking off  a little early.. lol! With 6.30am starts every day I feel like my late night stamina has withered away :(.

Check out the deep V-Neck for max tattoo exposure ;). At first we just thought he had a hairy chest... lol!

The Hoosiers - Perhaps I'm not 'down with the kids', but I had very little idea of who they were. You can check out their song Choices (my fave) here. Ignore the silly video, they were fantastic live!

Diana Vickers was lovely and bubbly as ever! She seemed very excited and comfortable on stage, a world away from X-factor. She managed to dance, shimmy and jump all the way through, and still had enough energy to showcase her unique voice. Although her music isn't what I usually listen to I love her individual style and the fact that she is not trying to fit into a stereotype, like so many other pop artists. Oh and she constantly refers to herself as 'Vickers', you just can't help but love her for her 'kookiness'.

Rather picture heavy, so I shall stop here.. sort of ;).

Dress from Zara (last season), makeup as featured in my recent Bronze Goddess tutorial.
(Please ignore the dirty mirror, I was playing with Maxie before this was taken and between his paw marks and my fingers we ended making quite a mess!)

Work it Out: Installment deux

I am not a morning person. I am not even a day person. If left to my own devices I would lead the life of a vampire and only wake up at sunset. So getting up 5 mins early this morning was tough... but a promise, is a promise. So many of you requested work outfits of the day, so here goes. I hope you enjoy my blurry eyed photos :).

Dress Zara (2 years ago - as you can see it creases like crazy, but I love the colour and shape), scarf Zara (current season), Watch Dior, Bracelet (one of Lorraine Stanick's necklaces looped over about 5 times).

A silk scarf is such a lovely way to add a little colour and texture to an outfit. They don't have to be expensive either! Plus, if I get bored of it throughout the day I tie it around a handle on my bag and create a fun accessory.

What are your thoughts on silk scarves? A little granny and prim or fun? xxx

Bronze Goddess

I have been wearing this look pretty much every weekend/ evening, you could say I am a little obsessed. Now that I have a bit of a tan going (come on English sun.. stay with us!), I am finding the love for golds, peaches and bronze. This look is so versatile and easily takes you from day to night. Just amp up the liner and lashes for a sultry, sexy summer evening, or keep it light and glossy for the day.

Night time:

Day Time:

I hope you guys enjoy!



Products used:
Dior forever spf 25 foundation (shade 20) - perfect foundation for summer!
NARS Laguna bronzer
MAC ripe peach blush

UDPP
BarryM dazzledust no. 39
MAC bronze eyeshadow
Bessame face powder (from www.cocobeau.co.uk)*
UD 24/7 liner in zero
Estee Lauder sumptuous volume black mascara (currently my every day mascara)*

The Body Shop lipstick no.42*

Dear FTC: All products marked with * were given to me at events or sent to me for review/ use in tutorials, but I don't discriminate.

I hope you are all having a good start to the week! xxx

Work it Out

Hello my lovelies,

It's been a long week hasn't it? Or it sure feels like it... Recently I have been failing to get to bed on time and to prevent myself from pressing snooze 6 times in a row! Perhaps it's the heat, though I shan't complain as I love summer and hot weather and hope that it carries on indefinitely.

Having spent a lot of time in tropical climates, through travel/ extended holidays and living in a very hot part of the world for a number of years when I was younger, I feel prepared for hot weather. However, I have been struggling recently with my summer wardrobe of all things. Now, let me just begin by saying that i have a wardrobe of summer dresses. I can't help it, I love them! Brights, pastels, whites, neons, florals, floaty, sexy, drapey, maxie... I can't get enough! Whenever I go into any shop I walk straight over to dresses, everything else seems like a little bit of a chore.

However, none of these are really suitable for work. Since I work in a conservative office environment I can't really wear anything too bright, bold or short, but I refuse to compromise and be boring, which is why I feel I have to tread a very fine line. This seems to be problematic especially in summer, when there is just too much temptation (and trust me I have seen some very inappropriate things floating down the streets)!

Also, what throws me off about summer office dressing is the completely unintuitive temperature change. While the heat is sweltering on the tube and outside the air con inside is desperately over compensating and blasting you with arctic air. What I have come to realise is, no matter what I wear, or how hot it is during the day, our office will always be freezing. Therefore, I can afford to be a little more skimpy on my way to work, at lunch, or on my way to client meetings, but keep a cardigan or pashmina with me at all times for indoors. Luckily, my job involves a fair bit walking outside so I do get to see the sun now and then ;), though it seems silly really to carry a warm jacket/ cardigan with me wherever I go!

My usual style has come to be a fitted/ structured dress, mostly sleeveless, (which I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing in the office, but is perfect when outside) coupled with a cardigan. Not exactly exciting, but it beats suits hands down. At times like these I feel sorry for men as they have absolutely no choice in the matter :(, and despite a few strange, strange individuals I have seen I know linen on men will (should) never catch on.

Dress from H&M (years ago), cardigan from Juicy Couture, who surprisingly have some really nice work appropriate pieces such as blouses, skirts and I even some suits... I guess they are not all about velour trackies after all ;).


As for makeup and hair. Well I seem to be stuck in a routine. I have got the time down perfectly every morning so it's easy to stop being adventurous.

Makeup wise I keep it neutral:
Dior Forever Foundation spf 25 - an absolute God send in summer as it stays put through the heat,
NARS Laguna bronzer,
Any peach/ pink blush - recently loving MAC's ripe peach,
2 shadows - something light and shimmery on lid and matte creamy brown in crease eg. MAC wedge
Liquid liner - either Eyeko or Dulce Cosmetics as both are 'marker pen' style so super quick to use,
Estee Lauder Sumptuous Volume Mascara/ Chanel Exceptionel waterproof - black, volumising, stays put
Lip balm- Anatomicals stop cracking up, amazingly moisturising, non-sticky and looks like a vinyl clear gloss.

 

Hair is even more simple. I curl large sections using the Babyliss conical wand, then separate the curls, twist/ braid/ clip back the front portion and hairspray it to death to elude the humidity and Tada! 

Sorry for the jumbled post, I just love reading people's every day routines and get a sneak peak into the inner working of their hair/ makeup/ wardrobe.

Would you guys be interested in more outfit of the day posts that are work appropriate? If enough of you reply I shall maybe set my alarm 5 minutes earlier so I can have time to take photos... or just hit the snooze a few times less ;).

Enjoy the weekend my lovelies and happy gay pride weekend for those involved!! Is anyone going to see Perez at the 02 tomorrow? xxx