Style

Do you ever walk down the street and see somebody so immaculately styled your jaw can’t help but drop open? Your intrigued by the way there outfit has so effortlessly been put together.

Style has always been a difficult one for me. I don’t know, I think growing up, I was so engrossed in it all, I got a little lost. There was a part of me that wanted to scream individuality, yet the other part of me that wanted to look right on trend. I studied my Elles and Vogues like a text book, yet now I wonder if it was all just a blurry dream.

I think sometimes, not just with clothes, you can try so hard, get too caught up in the whole affair that it takes the actual goodness out of it. I think things definatly change when you get older, you realise you have a whole different set of priority’s and spending money on clothes that can only be worn on one ‘set occasion’ is slightly ridiculous even by Carrie Bradshaw standards.

People always say to appreciate something; you have to miss it first. So I guess you could say my break from fashion should ultimately make me more inclined to jump right back in. The thing is I feel more relaxed now. I’m not saying I dress in a scruffy way, I’m just saying what I do wear, isn’t styled for hours on end, and I don’t seem to worry about what people think as much anymore.

I think that was one of my biggest problems, what I often thought looked great, would result in me either feeling unconfident later on in the day or I’d simply regret putting those ‘argyle’ trousers on.

Don’t get me wrong there will always be a place in my life for fashion, I love reading fashion magazines, I love browsing the net, just so I can analyse where fashion is these days. But I just think for me personally, I just can wear what I feel like wearing and be happy.

Book Of Shadows Vol. II

Dear Father Christmas,

I am writing to you to let you know I have been such a good girl this year, and I would be eternally grateful if you got me the following.


P.S I know it is only the end of August, but I would just like to remind you of the popularity of the original Book of Shadows last Christmas. I went last minute shopping on the 22nd December in search of the said book, and I was told it had completely sold out and there was no chance of getting hold of it.

I spent many long months longing for this book and it wasn’t until May it magically appeared on my pillow.

Yours Sincerely

Alice xXxXxXxXxXxXx

10 Facts Tag

I was tagged by icecoldlily :)

1)I love Sex and the City, so much so I watched 19 episodes in one day. Carrie is my favourite, though I screamed at the TV when she dumped Aiden and subsequently married Big. I also have the nameplate necklace.



2)I have a black and white cat called Charlie.

3)I only wear black underwear and Tiffany jewellery, picky much? I just like what I like.

4)I like collecting vintage/nostalgic items that have some sort of relevance to me. Particularly perfume bottles, tins, and compact mirrors.



5)I love Gwen Stefani, and everything about this woman. She is my biggest inspiration in life. I’ve also seen her live in concert.

6)I collect Anna Sui perfumes simply because there too cute

7)I make scrapbooks; my first scrapbook consisted of an S Club 7 homemade front cover, and a very messy attempt at collage inside. Luckily I soon grew out of throwing glue just about everywhere, and invested in prick stick. My last scrapbook project I used a clear A4 display binder, so it wouldn’t get tatty and I think this is my best book to date.



8)I used to have real long hair, down to the bottom of my back, then last December I cut it all off, a lot of the time I secretly yearn for it back.

9)Toy Story is my favourite Disney Film.

10)I’ve only just invested in GHD hair straightners. I opted for the ‘rare’ edition, a girl who can’t resist leopard print.



I Tag anyone who wants to do it :) there's a lot of tags going around at the moment!
x

Car Boot Sale

Having spent many an afternoon charity shop browsing, or going to the local Wednesday flea market for many years, car boots are just something I’ve never really been to. Mainly due to transport and not really knowing of any local ones. Ebay for a long time has been my ‘car boot’ as I like to think, I’m forever on that site scouring for any sort of nostalgia, cute necessity or down right bargain.

Having been dragged out of bed by my boyfriend, we set off to a car boot this morning :) It was at a place called OldCotes, but don’t ask me where that is, cause I’m rubbish with directions.

Getting lost down one of the many aisles, without my mobile phone was not one of my finest moments; I’d gone back to a stall and left my boyfriend where I thought I would be able to get back to. But somehow I managed to get lost. Having to kindly ask a woman on a stall whether I could borrow her phone. For a split second I actually thought I was never going to find him, but turns out the car is the best meeting place, in future.

ANYHOW I must say a little daunting at first, but there are some real bargains to be had. I just find the quantity of stuff for sale so crazy, you really do have to have a good eye to spot things. And there’s always the slightly inappropriate things people are tying to sell, used bra’s anyone?

The boyfriend bought some vinyls, whilst the girlfriend bought a nice selection of beauty/cosmetic items!

So here’s what I picked up, all together I spent £1.80

Benefit VIP Lip Glosses £1- Anything Benefit is always a must



Soap and Glory Spray-On Body Moisturising Mist - 50p, couldn’t resist buying this; I’ve heard so many positive things about this brand



Virgin Vie Lipstick in shade Nude- 5p! I couldn’t believe it either



Burts Bees Lip Balm- 5p



And finally this, I think the best bargain of the morning :)
Betseyville handbag, brand new with original tag – 20p!



So all in all a pretty good experience (apart from getting lost!)x

XFactor

I don't know why but I always get addicted to this program every single year. I don't particularly like some of the music on the show, but it's just such good viewing.

And all eyes will be on Cheryls much ever changing wardrobe. I remember the glorious Dolce and Gabanna Leopord print ensmeble last year, being just one of a few statment pieces. Aparently it could all be about the hair this year...

Let the circus begin all over again.
:)

Jewellery Box to Make-up box?

I think I live in a world were nothing will ever be organised the way I want it. When it comes to my wardrobe I have no idea where anything is, nor do I care. I seem to forever live with clothes all over the place, I know in the long run this isn’t healthy nor practical but I guess were only young once, and every girl dreams of a Carrie closet one day.

When it comes to make-up however, I have to have it stored, not just stored but stored in a way which I can see everything, know where things are etc. Well somewhere down the line, I just never seem to have been able to be satisfied with my storage system. For a while I was using a trolley, but dust was my nemesis. I also latched onto the idea of using a large draw, dividing sections up. But it just semt strange it all being hidden away in the back of beyond.

Well I have made the decision to transfer to my jewellery box. When I say jewellery box, I mean a box designed to keep jewellery in. This is my dilemma. Should I ethically be doing this? Well fact is I don’t have half as much jewellery as I used to, and the bits I do have are either broken or cheap primark-esque findings. My most expensive jewellery I wear on a daily basis, therefore no box needed.

My brother bought me this 3 draw set a few years back, I think somewhere down the line my mum might have had something to do with it! Ha
I’ve always loved Venetian, and I love how it’s a pretty and delicate exterior but has a mammoth storage capacity.




So I’ve took the plunge and decided to go for it, I know my make-ups safe, and for once I know everything’s all together in one place. I’m hoping things don’t get too messy, the last thing I would want to do is wreck the lining. Hmmm

What do you think? x

A Girl And Her Purse

How come it’s a girl’s prerogative to change her purse more times than she changes her currency?

Well somewhere between a nothing out the ordinary Primark purse, an Eastpak wallet and a vintage clutch in between, I’m now full circle and have arrived back at this Pacha wallet.

I bought this wallet in the January sales 2007, from House of Fraser; it was in a gift set, down from £30 to £15 :)
I loved using it so much, I even went back and bought one of my best friends one, because I knew she loved it.

Me on the other hand loved it so much I stopped using it (please tell me it’s not just me who does this)

Long story short, I’m back using it :) and it’s as good as new.

x

Style Icon 2: Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams



There’s just something about this woman that is enchanting. Off screen and on screen her beauty shines through, yet I feel she isn’t the stereotypical Hollywood siren, infact I think she’s in a class all of her own.

It was her portrayal of Allie in the Notebook that really captured my heart. I love the whole era of that film, I love Allie’s character and I love her infamous relationship with Noah.

Her costumes were particularly interesting, high waisted shorts are not something I usually appreciate but somehow she manages to pull them off alongside matching headband, in the scene (If you’re a bird, I’m a bird)



My favourite outfit of the whole film, is that of the DVD cover, the blue dress, it’s so sophisticated yet so flattering and is… the dress, if you’ve seen the film you’ll know what I mean, without being too rude!



Eagerly waiting to see The Time Travellers Wife, I saw the photos from the premiere (pictured at the top) and yet again Rachel is a show stopper. I must admit until I saw the photo's I didn’t realise how petite she was, and I know the dress would not suit all body shapes, but for her it’s perfect. And white is such a simple colour. It’s a little a daring, and a somewhat non existent bra, but Rachel McAdams pulls it off with style and elegance, and so she should.

Finally her hair, again not stereotypically Hollywood styled. Infact in Mean Girls I hated her long blonde hair (maybe it was a wig?)



I remember reading an article some years ago asking if women should still be wearing pink in there hair, and at the time it was revering to Rachel McAdams, as she had a period of having pink streaks in her hair. I think this was a brave move and shows a quirky side to her.



Now her hair is more naturally coloured, and styled to perfection, I like her brunette, and I think short hair really does compliment her tiny frame.

This is my absolute favourite photo of her, the dress, the hair, the make-up, need I say more :)



♥

Midnight Cowboy Dupe

Midnight Cowboy by Urban Decay will always remain one of my favourite eye shadows, purely because there’s something simple yet special about this shadow. I remember wearing this shadow for months on end, daytime and night time, I felt I could dress it down or dress it up with startling black lashes and a dark lip or a low key face with a nude lip.


Having hit pan with my individual Midnight Cowboy, I was fortunately re-united with it in the book of shadows. As much as I praise this shadow, the only downside to this one is similar to some of the other UD shadows; they are bursting with glitter, so much so endless amount of times I have ended up with glitter all the way down my face, even with primer on.

So I was surprisingly pleased when I came across this beauty, Eyeko’s Manga Make Up Book in ‘MakeOut Girl’. This retails at £5 on the Eyeko website, I picked this up in Tkmaxx way cheaper, I think for around £2. It was all packaged up and at the time I just grabbed it, due to my slight love affair with Eyeko’s packaging…sigh!



Anyhow back to the makeup, avoiding the left side of the book (lip glosses, concealer, cream blush and the much irrelevant brush applicators) over the past few weeks I’ve been using some of the shadows. Unfortunately they don’t have names, but the one on the top left, is what I would most certainly say a dupe of midnight cowboy. AND I love it :)


Not quite as pigmented as UDs shadows, I still would recommend these, I really like the texture, and the glitter is controllable, thank god!

I know sooner or later I will be revisiting Midnight Cowboy, and maybe in the future purchasing the Midnight Cowboy Rides Again or Midnight Cowgirl and newly released Midnight Cowboy Body Shimmer Lotion. But for now I’m getting my wear out of this dinky Eyeko product :)

DIOR– can anyone help?

Basically I have a dilemma, well more of a hindrance than anything. I bought this ring roughly around 4 years ago; wait for it… off a market stall! I know what your thinking chavvy bling stall, that sells all the fakes, but it wasn’t quite one of those, it was actually from a fairly average seller, from my local flea market (that’s a whole other story) I remember it was a middle-aged woman who was selling it, alongside other personal possessions. It was £4.

To this day I have never worn it, it only just fits on my small finger, but is very small and to be honest when I bought it I had this mad idea to put it on a chain and wear it around my neck but that idea soon went away.

Anyhow I was rummaging through my jewellery box the other day and decided it’s something I really don’t need/want anymore, the 16year old in me isn’t quite there anymore. (Plus Tiffany kind of stole my heart♥)

So long story short, I need to know if this has any value at all? Is it a fake? Is it real? OR is it out of a Christmas cracker?
I payed little for it, so I won’t be disappointed if it’s not worth anything, I just really am intrigued and would like to know :)

It came with a silver Christian Dior drawstring pouch, which I am hoping to dig out, but my closet happens to be unruly at times. I remember using the pouch on nights out, to take my money out in (god forbid taking an actual handbag!)

Also I don’t know if you can see on the picture, but the inner of the ring has a Dior stamp indented, with the r trademark.

Any thoughts let me know :)x