Burn Saviour

Okay so I may have mentioned that I got burnt on Sunday whilst at the Primrose Hill fete. I'm not someone that ever gets burnt really (I'm talking a handful of times in my whole life) and so I was quite annoyed if I'm honest. So much for being Italian eh? But anyway, I've come to realise that having a burnt back and shoulders can be quite painful! I have to admit, I'm not burnt that badly but it's still red enough and hurts enough to make me grab the aftersun.

Originally bought to preserve my tan, my bottle of Garnier After Sun has served me well over these last few days. It really has cooled my back a lot (which has resulted in me using it several times a day) and I would highly recommend it! Anyone else who has suffered in the sun these last few days, and I know there are a lot of you out there, should definitely give this a go!

If I've got time, I may post some before and after photos just to give you a laugh and hopefully to make you envious of the tan this burn should eventually turn in to!

Garnier After Sun

BREAKING NEWS: Kristen Stewart pictured looking half decent

It's no secret that, despite her global fame and heart-throb boyfriend, Kristen Stewart struggles to get it right when it comes to dressing well. Why magazines praise her for being 'refreshingly different' with her choice of red carpet attire is beyond me. Isn't it just obvious that the girl can't dress?! 

Anyway, for her latest red carpet appearance, Kristen was pictured wearing a red Balenciaga dress that actually got my attention for the right reasons. This low cut red maxi dress with lace insert detail is absolutely stunning and super flattering. Okay, so she decided to stick with her awkward pose and constipated grin, but at least she got her outfit right for once - Rome wasn't built in a day remember.

So, does this signal the beginning of a well-dressed Kristen? My guess is no, but at least she will have one decent picture to look back on once she is no longer famous. And judging by her (lack of) acting skills, that shouldn't be too far away! Miaow.

Kirsten Stewart in red Balenciaga dress

Can you tell that I am not a Kristen Stewart fan? And by the way, it's nothing to do with her boyfriend. For the record, I don't think Robert Pattinson is all that either! Sorry girls.

Daisy Summer Days

Finally the sunshine is here and the weather this week has been just gorgeous! Unfortunately I didn't get to enjoy it until today but it was worth the wait (despite getting a bit burnt on my back, ouchy) But now that the summer weather is finally here, I realised I don't actually have many of my summer clothes with me at uni and so dressing for summer isn't as fun as I had hoped. Hot weather and no sandals = smelly ballet pumps. And so I took to Asos in search of summer outfits and stumbled upon this beauty. 

You could say that this dress is perfect for me. It's a skater dress and, as most of you will know by now, I generally only buy skater dresses and skirts. It's white which is great for showcasing a summer tan (which I will have once this burn subsides). And it's adorned with gorgeous daisies, which are my favourite flower! Okay so there is one thing holding me back, the pricetag. At £120 it looks as if this is going to be another item added to my wishlist in the hope that one day soon I will win the lottery. A girl can dream you know.

Instagram: A week in food

As a new user of instagram (I know, where have I been right?!) I have become slightly (read: a lot) addicted to the photo filter app. So, I thought I'd put my photos to good use and share them with you. I mostly have just been taking photos of all the nice food I've been eating lately - I've been trying to vary my diet lately which normally consists of mostly bagels. Hope you like them!

Clockwise from top left: Samba Swirl frozen yoghurt, M&S Jubilee drink and dessert, Gingerbread Colada at Barrio North, Italian Deli Sandwich at Benugo, Red Velvet Cupcake at Sweet Things, Pork Tacos at Benitos Hat

Twinkle Toes

The stresses of launching a magazine, website and supporting film are making me crave a glittery treat and what better way to add some sparkle to my day than with these glitter heel ankle boots from New Look. Similar to those glitter heel boots from Topshop which sold out before Christmas, these leather boots are far cheaper but just as gorgeous! Tempting as they may be, I still think I am better investing in some new sandals, especially with weather as lovely as todays. Hello sun!

The Great British Blowdry

On Thursday I was very kindly invited to experience the "Great British Blowdry", a quintessentially British salon experience which is now on offer at Jo Hansford's Salon in Mayfair for a limited time to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Photos I took at the event, including the tiara which was won by Lilly Melrose of LLMLRS

As if being greeted by a glass of Pimms wasn't enough, we were also treated to a selection of adorable cupcakes, teacakes and London themed biscuits to enjoy whilst we learnt about the three royal hairstyles on offer. After a demonstration of each style from the lovely Nicole, Ansha and Steve, we were tasked with trying to re-create one of the styles ourselves. As someone who never adventures too far with her hair (with the weight and length of my mane I find it near impossible to attempt anything much past a ponytail) I decided that I would attempt what I deemed the trickiest of the three whilst I had the help and guidance of a celebrity stylist. And so I chose 'The Royal High-Nest", a style inspired by Eugenie's "cinderella moment" as she graced the cover of Tatler. (See image below for my attempt at the style)

Those of you who know me will know that I often wear my hair half up half down. I do this mostly to try and create the illusion of some volume, although my hair never ends up as voluminous as I'd like. But, thanks to some insider tips from Nicole, I was able to create a bouffant to be proud of. Despite the temptation to not divulge the secret to this volume, I feel it is my duty as a blogger and as someone who has longed for knowledge like this for so long to tell you how you can do the same.

My attempt at the "Royal High-Nest"

Step 1: Take a small section from the top of your head and clip to the side. Also clip to medium sized sections of hair from the sides of your head.

Step 2: Section a larger piece of hair from the crown of your head and backcomb in a hooking motion along the entire length of your hair - really go for it!

Step 3: Hold onto this section you have just backcombed and roll it around your hand.

Step 4: Using hairpins, pin the roll into place on the crown of your head. (Tip: Weave the hairpin in for a better hold)

Step 5: Release the top section you had clipped to the side and place over the bouffant you have created. Spread it over nice and evenly.

Step 6: Tie all your hair into a ponytail. Alternatively you can leave the ponytail as a loop by not pulling it through entirely.

Step 7: Twist the hair into a bun and pin in place using the weaving method mentioned earlier. Or if you'd rather, just pin the hair back in whichever way you prefer.

Step 8: Release the two side sections you had clipped away and pull them back gently to the back and grip in place. 

It is important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to put your hair up when doing this style because it will never come out the same way twice. Be experimental and be messy!

Let me know what you think of my attempt and please show me pictures of your attempts as well!

- - - - - - - - - -

Essentially, the "Great British Blowdry" is the perfect mini makeover. Choose your favourite hairstyle, get your nails manicured and enjoy British drinks and nibbles while you do so. Who better to help you get your hair fit for the Queen than the Jo Hansford team, who have treated many a royal mane in their time? Choose between the three styles pictured below, all of which are perfect for a chic daytime look or equally glamorous for a night out. I've definitely been inspired to give all three a go!

The three styles on offer as part of the Great British Blowdry
(Quotes from Steve Carr, Ansha Iqbal and Nicole Whittock)

Apparently the secret to perfecting these style is to use Jo Hansford's Illuminoil beforehand. I was lucky enough to be given a bottle to try myself so I will be giving it a go at some point in the coming weeks and will be sure to review it once I have.

So, if you are thinking of treating yourself or a loved one to the "Great British Blowdry", then it will set you back by £100. But, when you get a gorgeous hairstyle like these, a Kate Middleton-esque manicure, as well as a glass of Pimms or three (they don't judge - although English tea is also available) and a selection of British nibbles, I can honestly say that it is worth the money - as a special jubilee treat of course.

Once more, a big thank you to the Jo Hansford team & the Beauty Seen PR girls for a lovely night! x

Revlon Glitter Fade Nails

Apologies for not uploading a pic of my nails last week but I just didn't get time to do anything exciting with them so thought it best to wait until I had. In preparation for a photoshoot I am going on tomorrow for the magazine my team and I will be launching soon (more info to come shortly) I chose one of my favourite designs, the glitter fade. And yes it is one of the quicker and easier designs to do as well which is always a bonus!

To create this design I used 'Elle grey' by Mavala, which I believe was a limited edition shade released in September/October. But is also one of my favourite polishes so I couldn't resist using it. Plus it goes very well with my new Revlon glitter polish in 'radiant' blue! Definitely think I'll be using the pink one next as these polishes are just too gorgeous to resist. In fact, I'd say the pink in particular is pretty much made for me. 

Revlon Glitter Polishes* in 261 'sparkling' (pink) and 441 'radiant' (blue)

As a glitter polish obsessive, I absolutely adore these polishes and in comparison with rivalling glitter polishes, I would score these particularly high. Firstly, this is because of the range of colours available. The shades are strong and vibrant which makes them far more striking and eye catching than the standard silvers and golds that are everywhere. In fact I have long been searching for a great blue glitter polish and this one most certainly fits the bill! Secondly, what separates these from their competition is the fact that these polishes are made up of micro glitter and larger chunks of glitter too. This means that your nails catch the light more and adds an extra sparkle.

Whilst you can just paint your nails entirely in one of these polishes, it would take a fair few layers to build up an even coating of glitter, so I would recommend using them on top of a base colour. If you want to cheat the all over glitter look quickly, then try to find a base colour of the same shade, paint your nails in a coat of that first and then layer with glitter.

I hope you like this weeks design and that you check back next time as I am planning to attempt either caviar nails or the Wah! nails bow detailed nails. Which would you prefer to see? Let me know by commenting below!

Blog Hopping

So I've found out about a blog hopping event organised by the lovely Rachel of Island Girl Insights and I thought it sounded like it was worth giving a go! Now I've never done one of these before, so I'm not too sure exactly what to expect, but it sounds like a great opportunity to meet other likeminded bloggers and so I'm definitely up for giving it a go.

Watch The Sun Come Up

Buy the dress here

Looking through the offerings of my latest online discovery www.nastygal.com, an American site which ships internationally, I came across this dress and I literally froze. Okay so maybe I'm being a little dramatic, but it definitely stopped me in my tracks, which is no mean feat when you are a highly trained super speedy scroller like me. 

I know, I know, I don't usually go for yellows - I don't feel as if they do anything for my skintone unfortunately - but this dress has got me nervously hovering over the add to basket button. With it's waterfall pleats, side cut-out detailing and midi/maxi length (I just can't bring myself to use the term 'mullet hemline' - how anyone thinks that can sell a dress or skirt is beyond me), it is proving to be a little bit irresistible. 

However, and as you might have guessed, I shall be adding it to my wishlist instead, an ever-expanding folder of items that I save in the hope that one day I can make them a part of my wardrobe. Whilst most of them don't make it, it does feel as though you have bought them, well for that night anyway, and that way you only buy the things you remember, ie the ones that are worth investing in. Shopaholics, you should seriously consider giving this tactic a go!

Monday Pick Me Up

This weeks Monday Pick Me Up is this gorgeous lilac shimmer skater dress from Topshop. In one of Spring/Summer's hottest hues, this glitzy dress is great for a smarter daytime look and for nights out too. Skater dresses are known for being super flattering and with this longer length sleeves, this dress is perfect for curvy girls as it will hide a multitude of sins. But equally it will look great on girls with a more boyish figure as the skater skirt will create and emphasise your waist.

Jubilee Fever

With the Queen's Diamond Jubilee fast approaching (2nd - 5th June everyone), it seems as though the whole on Britain has a gone a little bit jubilee crazy. Many brands have released special jubilee edition versions of popular products or even completely new limited edition products to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 60 year reign. Here are some of my favourites: 

Bond No.9 Diamond Jubilee Fragrance £290, Nails Inc. Jubilee Glitter Polish £15,  Chapstick Union Jack Edition £1.22

Top of my wishlist is Bond No.9's Diamond Jubilee fragrance. A combination of amber, musk and sandalwood, this limited edition fragrance is decorated with an adorable illustration of Buckingham Palace. And at £290 a bottle, you'll definitely want to keep this one. If you're looking for something a little cheaper to get you in the Jubilee mood, then why not try Nails Inc's Jubilee glitter polish? Everyone loves a bit of glitter right and after a couple of coats of this, you'll be jubilee ready in no time. Or, if you're really scrimping this Summer, treat yourself to a Union Jack edition Chap Stick. A charming British take on an American classic, it'll keep your lips soft long after the Jubilee is over.

Tangle Teezer £13.99, Rimmel Union Jack Eyeshadow Palette £6.99, Butter London Jubilee Edition Polish £12, Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips £3.99, Benefit "That Gal" with Jubilee Packaging £21.50, Cath Kidston Mug and Spoon Set £12

Make-up brands are feeling the Jubilee feeling the most with lots of union jack themed products such as Rimmel London eyeshadow palette (see above) and Vaseline Lip Therapy's Rosy Lips balm (see above), as well as Butter London's special edition polish and Benefit's Jubilee packaging for one of its most popular products "that gal". If you're looking for something a little bit different, then why not invest in a Union Jack compact tangleteezer or a Cath Kidston mug & spoon set. In fact, Cath Kidston has plenty of Jubilee offerings that are all really cute and you'll find it difficult not to be tempted by any of them.

A delightful day in London

Making the most of my day off uni, my mum and I hit Oxford Street yesterday for a bit of shopping. But somehow, we ended up spending most of our time eating! Our first stop was a great American diner in Soho, aptly called The Diner, for some lunch. I honestly could've chosen anything off that menu and I know I would've loved it, but the blueberry pancakes were just calling to me. With a heavenly vanilla milkshake on the side, this was most definitely the best meal I've had since my trip to America last month!

Blueberry Pancakes and Vanilla Milkshake at The Diner in Soho

After a spot of shopping in Topshop, we stopped for a quick drink in Joe & The Juice, a cute little coffee shop/juice bar on Regent Street that comes with excellent recommendations from my good friend and fellow blogger Shona of SW Fashion. Both my mum and me opted for a small 'Pick Me Up' juice which consisted of Raspberries, Banana and Apple and tasted absolutely delicious!

'Pick Me Up' Juice at Joe & The Juice on Regent Street

It was lovely of my mum to surprise me with a little pink spotted gift bag with a box of twirly marshmallows inside - my favourite! These have proven to be a little bit too irresistible and is now only a half a box of marshmallows; although I am determined to make the rest last a little bit longer!

Marshmallows from Mum

Team Pippa

Yesterday I went to a Handpicked Media and TLG brands event at the beautiful Charlotte Street Hotel, which showcased a selection of bags from the latest Modalu, Fiorelli and Nica Autumn/Winter collections. The hotel was a dream setting for such an event and we were treated to scrumptious canapes and drinks while we took a closer look at the collections. Whilst Fiorelli had a couple of cute bags that caught my eye, it was the Modalu collection that had me swooning with it's quintessentially British style.

Modalu's Pippa Bags

Now I may not be a fan of Pippa Middleton (overrated much?) but I am a huge fan of Modalu's Pippa bags. I spent a lot of time trying to decide which colour was my favourite, fuschia or emerald green, fuschia or emerald green... Eventually the fuschia won. With three main zip compartments this bag is perfect if you're like me and your bag isn't always as organised as it should be. No more hunting around for 5 mins to find your phone or diary. At £195 these bags aren't cheap, but since when were quality leather bags ever cheap? Actually, they are a fraction of the price of high-end designer bags, so really I would be saving myself a lot of money by investing in a Pippa bag. Maybe I'll use that as my excuse to treat myself to one! It would certainly be an investment piece that would see me through next season an beyond.

Some of Modalu's fabric offerings

At a more affordable price-points are Modalu's fabric offerings which are just as stylish but are made from a gorgeous tweed and have already caught the attention of the likes of Elle and Harper's. I particularly like the the cosmetics pouch which is a practical size and would also work well as a cute clutch.

Tweed Cosmetics Pouch 

The Tyler bag

Another favourite of mine was the Tyler bag which looks set to be a bestseller next season. With its suede quilted panelling and gem shaped lock, this bag is both chic and sophisticated and it's particularly tempting in the coveted 'shark' shade (top of image above).

Taupe Ombre Bag

Larger bags are big news for autumn/winter '12 and if you are looking for a larger bag, then the Henley is the one for you. Leather is hand sprayed to create an ombre effect which looks both luxe and super stylish. This isn't your ordinary bag. In a classic tote shape, the Henley is practical and traditional, but with this unique finish, it becomes the ultimate day accessory.

The evening itself was delightful and it was great to be introduced to the Modalu brand as I wasn't too familiar with it before last night. Now I am certainly a fan and look forward to seeing what the future holds for this inspiring British brand.

Three Floor Fashion Steps it Up a Notch

Clicking onto the website of one of my favourite up-and-coming brands Three Floor Fashion, I was greeted by a whole new look website and boy do I love it! Not only is there a host of new clothing available but there is also the new season lookbook available which has definitely got me swooning!

My favourite item has got to be this gorgeous white skater dress (below). Really don't know how I'm going to be able to resist this one!!!

And check out these gorgeous images from their lookbook. Oh I do love you Three Floor Fashion!

Oooh... I say!

As soon as I heard that there would be a Mulberry ice-cream van visiting Westfield I kept my Thursday morning free. No way would I be missing out on a free Mulberry canvas bag and ice-cream from an adorable vintage ice-cream van just by purchasing a copy of Tatler.

The flavours on offer were delicious and the strawberries and cream was particularly tasty! And check out the cute canvas bag I got which also included novelty glasses and stickers inside. Oh Mulberry, you do know how to please me! Shame the Sun chose not to make an appearance, but that was never going to stop me from eating ice-cream. Even if it was 11:00am!

Heart tipped nails

Inspired by a post on one of my favourite blogs Liana Beauty, I decided to give these Sophy Robson heart tipped nails a go. I stuck with the gorgeous pink and red combination but opted for a gold line so that they were a bit more glitzy and because then my nails would coordinate with my jewellery (I only wear gold - is that weird?)

After giving it a try on my new nail wheel, which I have invested in due to my recent obsession for nail art, I realised this would be quite tricky to do on my own nails. However, I had become too excited to have beautiful heart tipped nails that I gave it a go anyway and I'm so glad I did! They aren't actually that difficult to do, providing you have a steady hand and the finished outcome is just so pretty that it makes it all worth it.

To achieve this look yourself, follow these steps:

1) Paint nails in two coats of your desired base colour

2) Use the brush of the red polish to draw two large strokes onto the end of your nails

3) Try and ensure the ends of these strokes are slightly rounded as this will make drawing the line on far easier

4) Grab your gold nail art pen (or any colour pen you fancy) and with a very steady hand, draw a line around the two strokes you painted so as to create a heart shape. When drawing this line you can generally cover any mistakes or rough edges you may have created when painting on the red strokes which is handy.

5) Add a top coat and voila! Gorgeous heart tipped nails are all yours

Obviously when doing your right hand (or left if you are left-handed) this design becomes a lot trickiet so make sure you have a nice steady hand. Good luck!

I used Barry M nail paint in 309 Strawberry Ice Cream, Bourjois nail paint in Rouge Escarpin and a Wah! nails gold nail art pen.

Scarlett Hearts

I love nothing more than discovering new brands and when I stumbled upon Scarlett Hearts I knew I'd found something wonderful. This small online boutique sells handmade jewellery and accessories that are not only extremely cute, but also very reasonably priced as well. Take a look a the site and you'll see just how many covetable items there are on sale. Here is a selection of my favourites:

Prices range from £3.50 - £6.00

3 guesses as to which is my favourite piece... Okay so that's not exactly a tricky one, but on a more serious note, I really think I am becoming a flamingo addict.

Sweet Dreams are made of these...

So what if I'm 19 and still love Hello Kitty? Have you not heard that for Easter 2012, Laduree, the uber chic and quintessentially French macaroon brand, launched a Hello Kitty collection full of cute stationary, stickers and of course scrumptious macaroons. Still think that Kitty is for kids?

It's like these were made for me

On the rare occasion that I stop and treat myself to a Laduree macaroon, I always choose a salted caramel or vanilla, not because I am boring, but because I love these flavours so much that I just can't resist them. I think I'm a bit afraid that if I try another flavour they just won't match up with the deliciousness that is the salted caramel and the vanilla. However, these Hello Kitty inspired macaroons are certainly tempting me to go a little crazy and try something new. Oh what troubles I have!

I could just eat all of these right now

 As delightful to look at as they are to eat (although I'm sorry I'd definitely chose eating one over looking at one every time) these pastel treats have got me looking forward to sunny days eating summer goodies in the park with friends. If only the sun would hurry up!

Apologies - Another flamingo related post

Apologies! I know I've posted enough flamingo related posts in the last week but I just keep finding more and more. And this dress, look at it. I probably should buy it...

Pink Flamingo Long Dress - American Retro available at Asos £80

We are handsome

Finding the perfect swimwear for is one of those great challenges in life. Along with finding the right job and the right partner, the right swimsuit for you is out there somewhere, it just takes a lot of searching before you actually find it. And just like you have to try a few jobs before you land your dream position and kiss a few frogs before you find that special someone, it takes many holidays in ill-
fitting swimwear before that right one comes along.


Okay so maybe I'm being a tad dramatic. It's not impossible to find a swimsuit that looks good and fits right. Heck for some of us, finding the perfect bikini is just a case of picking up the first one they see in Topshop because they can look good in anything (well lucky you). But I think I speak for most of us when I say swimwear shopping isn't always an easy task. 


If you are different sizes on top and bottom then finding a bikini that looks good and isn't a set isn't easy, although the high street is getting a little better at addressing this issue recently. For girls with a big bust it can prove near impossible to find a set that fits and they too have to resort to mix and match bikini's, where the choice is usually just between colours rather than designs. And if you are someone who dreads wearing a bikini and would much rather stay covered in a swimsuit, then your challenge is even greater when it comes to finding a fashionable swimsuit. A plain black ruched swimsuit is easy to find, but what about those of us who want the coverage of a swimsuit but still want something that isn't quite so boring?


Let's face it, what we are really looking for is swimwear that is different, swimwear with personality. And if that is the case, then you need to head to We are Handsome. Headed by design duo Indhra Chagoury and Jeremy J Somers, We are Handsome breaks the swimwear mould and provides individual pieces with bold statement prints and graphic images that will turn heads on the beach for all the right reasons. This is swimwear to get you noticed and I love it! 

My favourite piece in the collection #iwantitnow

We are Handsome is sold on Net-A-Porter, La Nouvelle Vague and Shop Bop