You've probably seen this hashtag floating around the blogosphere quite a lot recently so I thought I'd jump on the band wagon and share my top 9 insta posts. I'll add in the links to each one so you can read the full post if you're interested too.
y so Left to right: 1. My fave lips of the year: the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet Liquid! 2. My gorgeous Olivia Burton watch that I got with my work bonus points - see post here! 3. This halloween, when I dressed up as Cruella De Vil - such fun! 4. From my Parisienne pour un jour post - oh how I love the french style. 5. A small insight as to how i spent the whole month of May - in bed watching Pretty Little Liars 6. In October I was lucky enough to win tickets to Stylist Live! 7. My OOTN before I saw Florence Welch live 8. A sneak peek of my outfit when I was in Prague 9. One of my favourite posts this year: The Vampy Lip Edit I hope you all had a lovely Christmas time! Do share your top 9 with me on Twitter or Instagram - I'm @leblogderosy on both!
I love cold weather because it welcomes back my wooly winter wardrobe! Today I've teamed up with FatFace to show how you can style a Christmas jumper two different ways, and quite possibly all year round prolonging your festivity.
I picked this lovely grey Fairisle jumper*, with festive patterns across the yoke. I think this jumper is quite versatile, as Grey basically goes with everything, especially in my case as half my wardrobe is black and white!
Jumper & Jeggings - FatFace* Brogues - Zara Bag - H&M Watch - Olivia Burton
This morning I went to the library to crack on with some uni work, so I paired it with these gorgeous Black Chord Jeggings*, alos FatFace, my chunky burgundy brogues and my black H&M handbag. A laidback daytime look, perfect for keeping you warm whilst also looking stylish.
Tonight, I'm going out with a few friends, so I've swapped the leggings for a chord skirt and some little heels, paired with my Tres Chic clutch bag. See, whoever thought a wooly jumper couldn't be dressed up thought wrong!
Here are a few other lovely knits available from the new FatFace Winter Collection, full of lots of cosy jumpers and cardigans appropriate all year wear. I have my eye in this :
I don't normally share my uni assignments on here, but this one was quite personal and I really enjoyed putting it together. It's a fashion memoir with an accompanying slideshow (also, in the brief) and sadly the only way to submit the video was to upload it to YouTube - eek! It's possible that I'll take it down before the end of the year but I'd like to share it with you first. Let me know what you think. Here goes . . .
Guess what I inherited from my family
gene pool? Not my Dad’s killer smile, or my Mum’s good looks but thanks to the
pair of them, I’m blind as a bat.
Wearing glasses can be a real hassle. I mean there are
pros, don’t get me wrong. I’ve got the Ann Robinson slide and wink, down to a T
and I have a guaranteed disguise for my alter ego. But they can be a real pain.
You see the elements are never in your favour. They’ll
steam up, they’ll be blown off and they’ll deprive you of a glorious suntan. And
people often take them just for a laugh. But even if you do look ridiculous, I
can’t share in the hilarity because I can’t see!
I
think I’ve always been very aware of the fact that I have these big chunky,
uncomfortable frames hanging from my ears, causing me to look like a real-life
Ugly Betty.
Looking
through old photos of me in various styles and frames one word comes to mind:
“CRINGE,” and shortly after “WHY MUM, WHY?”
I’ve
had a new pair of spectacles at least once a year for the last decade, unless I
was happy with the ones I had, where they’d leave me to wander aimlessly around
town until they had replaced the lenses.
But
on choosing new frames I was at a slight disadvantage, as I couldn’t actually
see without my prescription glasses. Therefore I had to rely on friends and
family to confirm they looked acceptable on my little pea-head.
I
mean I’ve had some cracking styles, (and by cracking I mean gut-wrenchingly
awful!) I had a thin, box-like pair from Red Or Dead. Need I say more? Let’s
just say they were too wide for my head: what a nightmare that was.
The
monochromatic Tommy Hilfiger pair came next with gems on the sides.Yeah, let’s just say all of those photos were
erased for a reason.
After
that I decided that bigger was better and chose some giant frames that totally
took over my face. Think Gretchen from Recess. With these you’re in luck as
there are plenty of photos of me sporting those frames as I made the decision
to keep them for a full three years because I was so fond of them (at the time!)
After
the monstrous frames from hell, I tried contact lenses, and thank the Lord they
hit the spot. I’ve worn them on and off for four years but full time for two,
and honestly I love it when someone says: “Gosh, I didn’t know you wore
glasses!”
Last
year I got some snazzy Gok Wan frames that I absolutely loved but sadly they
fell off the bathroom shelf and snapped. So now I have some burgundy and navy
specs that I only really wear when I’m working or tired, but I’ve come to terms
with wearing them.
Although
I will always feel like I’m being lazy when wearing them, I will continue to, because
they represent me, and my preppy personal style. Despite this, contacts are a
definite confidence booster so I prefer to wear them, but to others I probably
don’t look much different so really, it’s just all in my head.
~~~
I hope you don't mind this different kind of post. It's not often I's share my work on my blog, but since the video is up anyway, why shouldn't you see it?
If you enjoyed this kinda thing then check out Fashion North, where this will be published in the near future!
My favourite thing about winter is that no one questions my dark attire, as for once it's acceptable to be dressed in dark colours. Hooray for winter weather. Here are a few items on my current wishlist, and shock horror: they're all black or burgundy.
Once again, this week has been hectic and I'm finding it tricky to keep on top of it all.
Uni deadlines are creeping up and Thursday brought about our christmas drinks launch at work which was crazy busy. Although there are some fab christmas drinks on hand, so if you're out and about make sure you pick up a White Hot Chocolate - they're the bomb! Today is my first day off in a while where I have nothing planned, so I'm thinking a lazy day is my best bet. I'm currently watching Young Victoria, then I might pop out for afternoon tea later with the girls.
1-6 left to right: 1.Halloween! 2. We got our fun netball photo back! 3. Quick stop in Cafe Nero with Hello Fashion! 4. Two Pride&Prejudice badges I picked up the other day - so cute! 5. My Work shirt for christmas time! 6. Shorthand -something that I'm finally getting the hang of but have to constantly practice!
Sorry this hasn't been my usual kinda post, I've got a few planned for next week since I'm off wahoo! So do be sure to check back soon.
Happy Frankenstein's day everyone! And we all know what that means: it's halloween tomorrow Woo! Or should I say Boo! This time of year always tends to get busy, I can't believe how fast October has gone by. It's likely that you'll have got caught up in all the work you're buried under, or I am at least.
So here I have a easy last minute Halloween dress up idea for you: Cruella De Vil! All you'll need is: - A black dress - any one you've got in your wardrobe will do! - Black & White coloured hair spray - the killer look! - A black clutch bag - Something Dalmatian I picked up the two hair spray's for only £1.99 each on the market, where I also found a few pieces of dalmatian fabric, which I've sewn together to create a little shawl. If you have a bit more time on your hands you could pick up some red gloves to complete the look. Don't forget to go all out with the hair spray, after all, her hair is her most recognisable feature, so don't be afraid to backcomb it all and spray away for the DE VIL look!
And that's it! A cheap and easy halloween costume all for under £10! Don't forget to follow me on Instagram @leblogderosy and on Facebook to see the finished look.
After such an extremely stressful time last week, I was super happy to be surprised with two tickets to Stylist Live in London.
You see, Stylist is by far my favourite magazine, but I'd already ruled the event out after my student budget couldn't reach that far, to get me a ticket and all the way to London. So a couple of weeks ago I entered a competition on their twitter page and magically, I won! My friend Lucy and I got the train from Newcastle in the early hours only to arrive in London with an hour and a half to spare, so we popped into Kings Cross so that I could get my 'Platform 9 3/4 picture,' which for some reason I'd never done before! Then after a lot of tube-hopping and google-mapping, we finally arrived at Islington Business centre ready for the day ahead! It was fabulous to say the least. We got VIP seats at the catwalk show where the ASOS styling team showcased next seasons trends: Sweet and Sour, Supercharged Tweed, 80s Glam, Décor Dressing, and my personal favourite: Period Dressing! We attended several talks and Q&As including one between Lucy Mangan and Bridget Christie, who even signed my book! We treated ourselves to a manicure and one three glasses of complementary bubbly, then ended the day with a Q&A with makeup artist, Lisa Eldridge. Honestly, it was so jam-packed and went by so quickly it's hard to believe that only two days ago I was in the capital. But I have the pictures to prove it, so it must have happened!
Burgundy is my colour. It always has been and it always will be. But you know what, after over three years of blogging, it seems I must've used up almost every burgundy synonym that I could possibly find to name my post, which explains why i found this one so hard to name.
However, Judy Garland was just mentioned on the telly, which reminded me of her ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz (all time fave!) and although mine aren't quite delicate time-travelling slippers, they're pretty dang cool, and they even have that ruby colouring. Saying that though, they came at a magical price of £12 in the Zara sale!
Today was the usual Thursday, however I woke up with a rather bad headache with having varsity yesterday. It was such a fun day, despite the losses, and the night out was class - we dressed up as cartoon characters.
Then I popped off to uni for an hour of shorthand followed by a meeting for Fashion North - which I've just been named Deputy Editor, of - so go have a read, yes now! Exciting times lie ahead!!
Top - Primark
Scarf - Vintage
Skirt- F&F @ Tesco
Shoes - Zara
Bag - Mary Portas
As for this week, it's basically over for me, as I have work tomorrow and Saturday, then Sunday will be spent practising shorthand and catching up on some much needed zzzzzzzz's.
Just over a week ago I moved back to Sunderland for my second year of university and so far I think it's safe to say I've been thrown in at the deep end.
I saw this quote earlier today and thought it cool: 'Sometimes we need fantasy to escape reality.'
My timetable is, thankfully, much busier than last year and my modules already seem more intense. I'm happy for that though, as it's challenging so I'll be pushed to work harder, as last semester I was only in six hours a week.
Netball is just starting again; we're having our second round of trials tonight, which seem promising. I'm second team captain this year which is so exciting but also so nerve racking. The gals are all lovely as well so this year it'll be fabulous being back playing with them.
Today I pitched for a role on the Fashion North team which was TERRIFYING. I was shaking so much I'm surprising I didn't pass out. Let's just say public speaking is not my forte. BUT it's a fab site that I'd love to be more involved with. {Check it out here}
As for work, I started back at the coffee shop this weekend. Hopefully I'll get back into the routine of things pretty quickly, as it took me way too long to adjust last year!
I'm sorry if this post seemed a bit rambly. I've got a lot on my mind at the moment and I'm getting quite anxious about it all.
I have a few posts ideas such as: a tour of my new room (new house) and an little insight in my fashion journalism course that I might do soon. If you have any thing you'd like to see just let me know, as always, in the comments below.
As far as nail varnish goes I rarely ever leave my comfort zone so I'll normally just sport a muted neutral beige or a baby pink. However if I do, I'll go all out, usually with a dark deep vampire red.
I adore the ox blood colour, especially from the Sally Hansen range. They're by far my favourite brand as they dry quickly and since they're so thick only need one coat. They also have 14ml, which is far more than your average polish.
Over the last few weeks I have just been switching between these three lovely shades: Wine Not, Red Zin and Angel Bite - aren't the names just fabulous?
I'm currently wearing 'Wine Not' which is slightly more shimmery than Red Zin, which is a true dark red. Whereas Angel Bite has more purple-y undertones.
I've also noticed that they sell these in the pound shop as well, so if you're on a budget and can't afford their usual £6.99, I'd definitely recommend taking a look, because they have some fab colours.
Last night was the best night of my life. I was so so lucky to be able to attend Florence and The Machine's UK tour, live in Nottingham, with two of my bestest friends. Florence has such a true delicate voice and a beautiful awe-inspiring belt that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on edge, then sway to the music as you dance. You can see a short clip of her performance here on my Instagram.
Top & Skirt - New Look
Brogues - Zara
Bag - Miss Selfridge
Watch - Olivia Burton
Dog Days was by far my favourite of the night, the atmosphere was sensational with the whole crowd on their feet, singing along. It couldn't have gotten any better, it was truly a night to remember. If only I could do it all again tomorrow...
At the start of the summer I made a promise to myself that I'd step up my reading game since I had the summer to spare. I used to be an avid reader, getting through one a week, but since starting uni; work, social events, homework and sleep were prioritised. And I hate to admit it, but The Scarlet Letter sat on my bed stand for at least four months: unfinished. But fear not book lovers, I have rekindled my love for the classic written word and gotten through quite a few these past few months (Six in fact!) So here I will share with you a few of my recent faves, and hope that you too will enjoy them as much as I did.
Jane Austen - Northanger Abbey Now if you know me, you'll know I'm a true lit nerd. My favourite books of all time are the true classics especially Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. Northanger Abbey is about a young girl named Catherine Morland who is invited to Bath with family friends. There we see her meet many a people including a young man that she has her heart set on. As per with an Austen novel, it's full of scandal and twists which I'll not spoil for you. But I'll say this: if you're a fan of Pride and Prejudice, then you'll love this! Caitlin Moran - Moranthology & How To Be A Woman I've always loved Caitlin Moran. She is a very funny woman with fabulous hair. (I'm really hoping that I can bag some tickets to see her at Stylist Live! But back to books!) On my pre-holiday visit to Waterstones I went to pick up her new book, How to Build a Girl, and came out with two more. I read How to Be a Woman, first, and was in fits of laughter chapter after chapter. She truly has a way with words which makes her storytelling sublime. Her stories are crazy and often unbelievable - I mean who else do you know that went clubbing with GaGa? After whizzing through (HTBAW) I moved onto Moranthology which is made up of many of Moran's articles. It's more chatty and laid-back but the subjects are just as fun. She covers nicknames, stolen haircuts, party bags and a whole lotta Sherlock-love. Deffo worth a read. I truly can't wait to get cracking with How To Build A Girl.
I even finished The Scarlet Letter - shocker! Another I'm currently loving is Anjelica Huston's autobiography - it's a gem!
What have you been reading this summer? Or have you read one of these, how did you find it? Leave me a note in the comments below or tweet me @leblogderosy
This is probably the quickest blogpost I've ever written as we're leaving for the airport in a matter of minutes but I totally forgot to pre-write this post . . oops! Today I'm off on a family holiday to Tenerife, which should be lovely as it's been a long time since we had one together. Here's my OOTD. I opted for comfort whilst sticking to my colour scheme: Navy and Tan.
These trousers are probably the best thing i've ever picked up in a charity shop as they were only £4! Can you believe it? And the sandals are so so comfy. I practically lived in them on our trip to Prague and at 14.99 a pair, I'll most definitely be going back for more! Top - Topshop Watch - Olivia Burton Earrings - Claire's Cardigan & Necklace - Dorothy Perkins Sandals - Deichmann Trrousers - Charity Shop
I'd originally planned to name this post after my newest addition to my makeup collection:the bourjois eyeshadow in 54 que j'adore! But sadly it was named Marron Glace. Yeah . . . slightly boring.
In french it translates to 'Chestnut Ice', but then that sends a whole different message and bringing trees into the equation is even more confusing.
So if you're wondering, the Bronze Magic is the name of my trusty Lancôme bronzer, and it sort of ties in with my colour scheme hehe!
This makeup look is from yesterday when Claire, Frances and I went to the cinema to see Paper Towns. Basically I just wanted an excuse to wear my new eyeshadow (such a child really!)
What's on my face?
- Mac Studio Fix Fluid in NW10
- They're Real Mascara
- H&M's Eye Pen in 'Pink'
- Bourjois Eyeshadow pot in '54/Marron Glace'
- Bourjois Blush por in 'Rose de Jaspe'
- Lancôme's Magie Bronzer in '02 Bronze Magic'
- Sleek Brow Kit in Dark 81 - Mac Peach Blossom Lipstick
I'm all about the warm tones at the moment and I seem to have accumulated many tan/bronzey coloured items of clothing all of a sudden, oops!
I picked up this little bourjois eyeshadow in a sale at McArthurGlen Outlet and snapped it up straight away. It's highly pigmented and layers easily without smudging, which is fab if you've got a long day ahead!
I also only recently discovered this Sleek Brow Kit, but after consulting my friend Emma who has fabulous brows, she suggested this lil kit, and I've been using it ever since! It has a soft gel on the left and a lighter powder to apply afterwards, creating a fantastic brow shape! Em also has a wonderful blog too - so go follow her (here) asap!
