Wednesday 14 August 2013

A/W 2013 Fashion Trends: Monochrome!

Hello again everyone!

I'm back today with another fashion trend for this coming season. Now, this particular trend has seen the test of time and can be worn by everyone.

So what is this amazing, timeless fashion trend, I hear you say? Well, it is 'Monochrome'.

I have picked out a few pieces from the high street and online that you can try to work this trend!

The golden rule (one of many) is that every woman should have a LBD (little black dress, in case you didn't know) in their wardrobe. So, why not branch out into an LMD? If you are quick on my little pun there, you'll know that means Little Monochrome Dress.

I love this dress from ASOS.com as it is very form fitting and has a flattering neckline. This dress would be great for nights out with your friends, you'll definitely get the right kind of attention in this. It's currently in the sale right now and is a bargain at £20!

ASOS.com, £20

For a more casual look, I've chosen this playsuit that also features a lovely monochrome pattern. Playsuits are so comfortable to wear as you don't have to worry about any awkward up lifts of the skirt from the wind; yes we've all had one of these moments!

ASOS.com,  £35

This can be paired with some black ankle boots and a cute boho-style drawstring bag. The print I find, is also very flattering on the body as it's not too large that it smothers your frame.

I've also picked out a camisole that features this trend and can be easily paired with some black jeans, smart skinny trousers or even a midi-bodycon skirt.

River Island, £15
I love the print of this blouse as it is has a taste of aztec which was very popular last season. These camisole tops are also very flattering as they draw the attention to the shoulders and bust but the loose fit also conceals the stomach; if you have tummy hang-ups. If you have a boyish frame, this top will also suit you as the loose fabric and busy print gives you added curves!

Moving onto accessories, I have chosen these classic black ankle strap heels. These type of shoes have been incredibly popular in the last season and look set to stay into the colder months.

ASOS.com, £42

One piece of advice that I would give with wearing these type of shoes is to make sure your feet are well manicured and moisturised. As there isn't a lot of coverage, the colder weather could dry your feet out and cause unsightly dry skin on your heels. 


So there you have it! I hope you have enjoyed reading this post and have gotten an idea about what you can incorporate into your wardrobe this season. Monochrome is such an easy but stylish trend to wear, so don't be afraid of it!

Thank you for reading and I'll see you in my next post!




Friday 9 August 2013

A/W 2013 Fashion Trends: Androgyny!

Hello everyone :)

I am writing this post about Autumn and Winter fashion and hold on, it's August. What?! Where did our summer go? Fashion is so crazy sometimes, I can't believe that shops are now stocking winter clothes. I've just whipped out my bikini!

Without further ado, let's get into this! I have been doing a bit of research on the ol' tinternet about what kind of trends we'll be seeing in the shops very imminently if not already. Just remember that you don't have to buy a whole new wardrobe, you can pick and choose which trends you like because let's face it, we're not gonna love everything we see.

ANDROGYNY

First up, it's all about androgyny. Nab your boyfriends or brother's tailored jackets and add you're own feminine twist on them. Razor-sharp tailored suits, skirts and blazers are key this season. However, this doesn't mean you don't still look like a woman. If like me, you're a bit unsure of how to pull of this look, then ease yourself gently into it. Why not pair a cute, clean-cut blazer with a cute dress? That way you still maintain your femininity but you're still on trend!


Here are a few pieces I have found from the internet that can help you achieve this look! (P.S. I've made sure that all these pieces are kept on a budget. I understand that there's no point in me telling you about things if I wouldn't or couldn't afford to buy them myself!)


River Island, £50


I fell in love with this River Island blazer! It has the clean cut lines but is still girly with the hot pink colour and the jacquard print! Love, love, love this!

Missguided.com, £29.99


This is a gorgeous fitted blazer which is suitable for the workplace over a smart dress or even for dinner over a cute skater dress. For an incredible price, I like the fit on this as it brings in the waist and flatters over the hips.

River Island, £22


I think this hat is SO cute and can finish off any outfit and give it that boy-ish twist. Add it with a skater dress and some boots and a bag for that boy-girl look :) Even paired with a blazer will look great!


Mango, £16.99

Collars aren't just for the men in the office. Us ladies can rock a collar. I love this embellished sleeveless blouse from Mango, it's still got that masculine feel but the beading and cute pussy-bow just makes it that bit more girly.

ASOS.com, £30

I really love these trousers. You can pair them with a shirt like the model or with a cami and blazer if you don't want the all over masculine look!


So there you are, the first insight into what this season has in store for us! I will be posting every 3 days a new fashion and beauty trend for you to make sure you are up to date and know how to shop for your Autumn/Winter wardrobe!


Thank you for reading and see you in my next post! All the links for these products are down below!

Paris x

LINKS FOR PIECES MENTIONED:

Pink River Island Blazer: http://www.riverisland.com/women/coats--jackets/blazers/Pink-jacquard-unfastened-blazer-643250

Missguided Black Blazer: http://www.missguided.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/73694/s/starla-leather-trim-blazer/category/589/

River Island Hat: http://www.riverisland.com/women/accessories/hats/Dark-red-bright-trim-fedora-hat-642599

Mango Blouse: http://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Mango+Embellished+collar+blouse/178563528,default,pd.html?cm_mmc=ShopStyle-_-Women-_-Tops-_-Embellished+collar+blouse&_$ja=tsid%3a45090%7ckw%3aShopStyle+UK%7ccgn%3a79682&awinDCS=3100_1375888631_7860e4a7081e14c743a5a43138701458%7c%7c0%7c%7c0%7c%7c0%7c%7c751464624&awc=3100_1375888631_7860e4a7081e14c743a5a43138701458&cm_mmc=AWIN-_-Deeplink-_-NULL-_-NULL&istCompanyId=17910aed-1bae-4362-9580-b523eb87a91e&istItemId=imrqpqmx&istBid=t

ASOS trousers: http://www.asos.com/ASOS-Petite/ASOS-PETITE-High-Waist-Evening-Trousers/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3181781&SearchQuery=womens%20trousers&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Black


Tuesday 6 August 2013

My Daily Skincare Routine!

Hello again everyone :)

Growing up and going through the wonders of puberty, my skin went from baby soft and blemish free to horrendously oily and broken out. Thanks, hormones! My skin since then has always been a problem for me and I've tried many a treatment to give it a helping hand and make it look as flawless as it once did look. My journey to perfect-again skin has and still is a work in progress but I have definitely gained a new knowledge about skin care and what works best with my skin. So, with that knowledge, I have been able to put together a routine made up of products that my skin likes and do a good job at controlling oil build-up and minimising break-outs. Hurrah!

Now let's start from the beginning, waaaay back when. At around 13-14 years of age, my skin became SUPER oily and I was breaking out all over the shop. I was very concerned that I was going to experience the same level of acne that my older brother had when he was my age. Thankfully, mine was not as severe but it still made me self-conscious and unhappy. So, with very little knowledge about skincare, I went out and bought a few products that were very harsh on my skin. Whilst they dried up my spots, they also dried out the rest of my skin that wasn't affected. I thought having oily skin was bad, but having extremely dry skin that was difficult to hydrate again was horrible!

I then decided to go a little easier on my skin and work with less abrasive products. As I was still a teenager, I didn't want to spend a load of money on products that I didn't have much knowledge about. Plus the fact that I wanted to spend my money on clothes, shoes, handbags etc etc. I guess I had other priorities at that age.

Fast forward to now. I'm 20 years old and I still have problem skin. However, I have discovered an array of products that have been a blessing to me and my skin.

I've now done away with facial wipes as I have learnt that they don't actually help remove all of the make-up from our skin. Thinking about it, a percentage of my break outs are due to make-up residue clogging my pores! So, I have been trying out Micellar waters. My last post you will have seen that I reviewed the B. Pure Micellar Solution. I do like this product but it did sting my eyes a little. I saw MissGlamorazzi (over on YouTube) rave about the L'Oréal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution. I've been using it for about 5 days now and I really like it, it's very gentle around the eyes which is great and it's really good at removing make-up. I've also changed to using the cotton pads from the baby section in Boots. They're the same price I think as the normal ones but twice the size!



Once I've used the micellar water, I move on to a scrub. I use the Simple Oil-Balancing Scrub to remove any dead skin that could clog up my pores and generally freshen my skin up. It's a creamy consistency and gentle enough to use everyday. When I need something a bit more abrasive, I will use the Lemon and Aspirin DIY mask I blogged about a few weeks ago. This is more 'gritty' and I'll do this as an end of week or Sunday treatment just to really clean my skin.




So now I'm all scrubbed and feeling fresh, I will move on to moisturiser. I have used a range of moisturisers that have all claimed to be oil-free but these have been from budget brands and I can assure you, they are NOT oil-free. I broke out with them like no one's business! I decided to spend a little more money on a higher end brand. I fell in love with the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo earlier this year thanks to the matte finish it gave my skin and the way it controlled excess sebum (that really is a horrible word). I revisited the stand in Boot's and decided to go for the Effaclar Mat Sebo-Regulating Moisturizer, which if memory serves me correctly, is priced at £13.50. Not breaking the bank I know, but it's still more than my teenage self would be prepared to pay! I've got to say, I do adore this moisturiser! It's specially formulated for oily-skin and just does an absolutely great job! I will definitely re-purchase this when it run's out!


There you have it! I'm still wanting to try out different products for my skin. I do want to venture into the conspicuous world of eye creams as I am quite honestly terrified of wrinkles and not looking as youthful (ha, says the 20 year old).. but you know what I mean!! Do you have any recommendations for me?

I would also like to try some of the Michael Todd skincare products as I've heard a lot about them and they look really effective! Plus I love anything organic! If you have tried them and have oily skin like me, what were your favourite products?

Thank you for reading and I will see you soon on here or on my YouTube channel!

Paris x

Monday 5 August 2013

REVIEW: B. Pure Micellar Water

Hello everyone :)

I've been trying to branch away from using face wipes to remove my make-up simply because they do a good job on the surface, I still go to bed with make-up on which the wipe hasn't removed.

I've always known about Bioderma and the wonders it does for beauty bloggers and vloggers alike but it is not readily available in the UK... yet. So I saw this little bottle by the brand B. Pure in Superdrug and I thought I'd give it a whirl!




It does a good job of removing all traces of make-up from my face that a face wipe could not. It also has an added bonus of cleansing the skin as well. I use cotton pads with this product and with my eye make-up, I will leave the pads on my eyes to dissolve my mascara and eyeliner rather than rubbing at the sensitive skin around my eyes. One word of warning and whilst it may seem obvious, make sure your eyes are completely shut when applying to your eyes as it will sting slightly when in contact with eyes.

The product feels very clean and fresh on the skin which is great for when you've been wearing make-up all day and you just want to have that fresh feeling again.

Overall, this is a lovely little product and I would recommend this if you too are new to beauty waters and don't want to splash out on a high-end product that may not work for you.

You can buy the B. Pure Micellar Water at Superdrug for £3.49 (Bargain!)

Thank you for reading this post and let me know if you have tried this and what you thought of it! :)

Paris x

Saturday 3 August 2013

July Favourites! New YouTube Video!

Helloooo :D

So with August upon us, it's time for my July Favourites! I just uploaded the video to my beauty channel where I chat about my favourite make-up, skincare, fashion and music picks from July.




I hope you enjoy it and like the video, subscribe to see more of my ramblings :)

Paris x