Ball and Chain

Black Cut Out Boots // Ark // £17 Sale

Ball and Chain. Sometimes this is how i see fashion and shopping. DO NOT get me wrong fashion is probably the biggest part of my life and yes, i love it and could not live without it. However, when you're living on a limited budget and every spare moment I have I'm either popping to the shops or searching the internet for my next purchase it becomes an issue. I think I am definitely verging on an addiction (yes this is possible). I'm not stupid enough to get myself in a load of debt or buy things that are completely out of my league (no matter how tempting a Burberry trench or Prada handbag are) but every spare bit of cash I have I always spend on clothes, beauty or accessories. 

Anyway back on track to what I am posting about. The link between the whole 'ball and chain' reference is obviously the chain on my new shiny pair of boots! These super comfy chunky heels with cut outs and a chain are from Ark and were reduced to £17 from £30 in the sale! What a bargain! I'm not usually keen on chunky chains but because of the dull silver colour I actually like these. The chain adds to the boot and makes them slightly more eye catching but isn't too in your face. 

Head over to the Ark website to grab yourself a cheeky pair of new boots. Can't wait to wear them tomorrow!

New Home

A not so fashion related post but here we go...

Over the last few weeks i've been moving into my very own (rented but still I like to think it's mine) new flat!! Exciting times! It's in Manchester where I'm studying and it's a quirky little basement flat with one HUGE bedroom, a nice bathroom and kitchen and a really big lounge/dining room. I'm still working on it and it was already part furnished and being a student means I don't have an overload of cash to buy pretty vintage furniture, but I think i've made it my own with what I do have! 

I like to think I'm the greatest bargain hunter ever. I can usually find home furnishings that look good for a cheap price. A lot of the things in the pictures are IKEA and I'm not even ashamed to admit that because if you pick and choose from there and put it with other (nicer) things I think you can get away with the flat packed delights! 

I'm going mainly for a black/white/grey theme to keep it simple and chic, obviously with hints of colour in things like fairy lights, bunting, candles etc. So far I've even sorted it all out myself. Hung all my own pictures and mirrors, set up the internet and TV and other the other bits and bobs which I'm very proud of! Not so much of a daddy's girl any more.. more of an independent young woman haha. 

Anyway I'll probably post more about my flat as I gradually get it looking perfect! 

Coat Updates

Mint Boyfriend Coat // £50 // Bank

Fur Lined Biker Jacket // £80 // River Island 

One of my very first posts was about coats and here we are again at that time of year! For some reason this winter I have a bit of an addiction to coats and every time I go shopping I see one I want! I must admit Primark have stepped up their coat game and have had loads in recently that are spot on, however they have always sold out of small sizes so I haven't managed to grab myself a bargain unfortunately but I will keep looking every time I go in! 

These are my first two coat purchases this year. The pictures of the boyfriend coat don't really do it justice. Its a really lovely fresh colour and it's made from wool so has a nice texture to it. It fits over anything and makes any outfit a bit more jazzy! It was a brave purchase for me because I usually play safe with black or grey but I'm so glad I bought it now and I've worn it loads already! 

I've wanted a waxed Barbour for the last few years but never justified the money or found one I really want. Spotted this biker jacket in River Island and thought it was kind of similar to a waxed style jacket with the pockets and belt. It's made from a matte finish leather and the sleeves are fabric so it look really smart. I love the cream fur as well as it gives it a bit of a shearling type look. It covers my bum and is really warm and snug and I'm sure will be an amazing winter purchase! 

Both of these are still available on the websites so get yours before they go. 

best beauty buys

YSL Touche Eclat // £25 // Boots

Clinique Even Better Foundation // £24.50 // Boots

Collection 2000 Extreme Eyeliner // £2.99 // Boots

Heading away from fashion a bit recently and going towards a beauty / lifestyle blog as well as the fashion stuff. Makes it a bit more varied and gives me more to post about! So here is just a few of my best beauty buys...

 I recently invested in the YSL Touche Eclat highlighter pen and it was one of the best beauty investments I have made in a while. Although it is VERY expensive for a small tube of what would seem like a skin coloured liquid it is worth every penny. (I have quoted boots but shop around as I found mine much cheaper!) I use it as both a concealer and a highlighter for under my eyes as it works both ways!

I have been using Clinique Even Better foundation for a while now. I must admit (slightly shamefully) that I haven't really shopped around or tried any other brands for foundation. I used to just use cheap ones like Maybelline but I have always had skin problems with acne and lots of imperfections so I think investing in a decent foundation is pretty key for a great complexion. I've been happy with Clinique so haven't felt the need to try any others although one day I might go and get some advice from different beauty counters and see if there's any I might prefer. £24.50 is a mid-range price which also draws me to stay with Clinique as I know that a lot of the other recommended good brands such as Chanel or YSL the prices shoots up a fair amount which stings a bit!

Finally, the Collection 2000 Extreme Black Felt Tip Liner. This is something I am over the moon about finding! I have ALWAYS struggled with finding an eyeliner that suits me. I tried lots of pencil eyeliners but they always seem to smudge during the day and don't stay true black. I moved on to liquid liner which I find hard to put on and also found most of them cracked and flaked off throughout the day which looks worse than pencil! After a while I only used eyeliner when I was going out somewhere nice or into town and just left my daytime look more natural with just mascara... however... when i found this felt tip liner it was like eyeliner heaven! It is solo easy to apply and it stays on all day with no fading or smudging! It is really easy to get a natural line or the day time and can be thickened up for a heavier evening look. It rubs off easy with a makeup wipe so no sore eyes at the end of the night as well. My ONLY draw back on it is that it runs out moderately quickly and I have to replace it probably every few weeks. I don't really mind though because it's pretty cheap as well!

a trip to a cute french town

Floral Bikini // Dorothy Perkins

It was ageeees ago now but at the end of the summer I went to France with one of my best friends as her grandparents live over there in a little town called Josselin. We were a bit worried because the weather forecast was looking like rain and cloud but fortunately there is a god (!) and it was sunny and about 24 degrees every day! Bliss! It was lovely just to get away and lay in he sunshine every day reading, eating, sleeping and all that. As you can see from the pictures the town was really cute and very pretty!

Oh and they also had two cats and a very cute dog! 

The Hair Tag

as you might have seen from my previous posts, i have really long thick hair. my friend alex ( at http://champagneandlemonadeox.blogspot.co.uk) tagged me in a hair post so here goes some insight into my hair routine...

my current hair - hasn't changed much for a long time so i'll only put this one photo on!

1.WHAT IS YOUR NATURAL HAIR COLOUR?  Light(ish) BROWN
2.WHAT COLOUR IS YOUR HAIR CURRENTLY? Light(ish) brown with blonde highlights

3.WHAT HAIR COLOUR WOULD YOU LOVE TO HAVE?

How it is now with lighter highlights

4.WHAT IS YOUR EVERYDAY HAIR STYLE?

usually straight with my fringe held back in various ways 

5.HOW OFTEN DO YOU DYE YOUR HAIR?

hardly ever - maybe once a year for highlights

6.IS THERE A HAIR STYLE YOU WOULD LOVE TO HAVE, BUT CAN'T DO?

Natural loose curls (or a bob but i'm not brave enough)  

7.HONESTLY, HOW OFTEN DO YOU VISIT THE HAIRDRESSERS?

HARDLY EVER! Usually twice a year if i'm feeling EXTRAVAGANT

8.WHAT'S THE WORST HAIR STYLE YOU EVER HAD?

fringe that wasn't full enough

9.ANY HAIR DISASTERS?

I CUT MY OWN FRINGE WHEN I WAS ABOUT 7

10.WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST THINGS YOU'VE LEARNED ABOUT HAIR CARE?

using too much heat kills the ends and makes it stop growing! 

11.ANY SHAMPOOS AND CONDITIONERS YOU SWEAR BY?

aussie when i can afford it - v05 otherwise 

12.ANYTHING YOU REGRET?

no way - you learn from mistakes and it's something to look back and laugh about 

13.HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR HAIR HAPPY AND HEALTHY?

Don't use many products or wash it too often or too little. try and keep straightening/curling to a minimum so it stays healthy. 

October Wishlist

Black Ankle Boots  £69.99  Zara // Shearling Coat & Grey Fur Gilet both Forever 21 // Black Ankle Boots Same as Before // Fedora hat  £12  Boohoo & Cream Fur Gilet  £25  Boohoo

This is my October Wishlist. It's a condensed version as there is loads of things I want to buy at the moment. 

First the boots. I fell in love with the Zara boots the moment I saw them on the website. They were the first pair I'd seen since looking for some so I decided to wait and see what else came out in other shops. By the time I had decided I wanted these and I was completely in love with them guess what... they had sold out of my size. I know Zara don't usually get stock back in either so I think I've probably pushed my luck now but I've got them on here anyway to remind myself and everyone else how amazing they are. Cry :( 

I saw the forever 21 picture on their Instagram feed and I've wanted both a shearling jacket and a fur gilet for winter since the Autumn stock came out. However, I have checked their website and been into the Trafford centre store and can't find the shearling jacket. There is a product code on the picture but that didn't bring anything up on the website. Just another thing I can't get my hands on - probably a good thing for my bank balance! 

The final picture is another Instagram steal. This time from boohoo. I realllly want to get a fedora hat but I'm just not brave enough! I got a bowler hat last year and haven't worn it that much so don't know whether to take the plunge and get one or hold fire. Another fur gilet here as well. Boohoo have quite a big selection of different fur gilet's in different styles and colours so head on over if you want one!