Chatty Everyday Makeup Vlog

Hello Lovelies,

First up, Happy Monday to you!
I held off uploading this as the lighting is so terrible (hello wintry dark dank days!), but my husband literally made me upload it.. and i mean pinned me down until i agreed to do it... hes supportive like that 😂
But the thing to remember, just like when i first started blogging i guess, is that we all start somewhere and amateur vlogging is making a comeback apparently haha!
Anyway, my everyday makeup routine is here for your perusal.
Enjoy (and subscribe too, that would be swell!)

Autumnal Florals ( & #Passion4Fashion Linkup)

Oh Autumn, you are magnificent. The palette of dreams and the feeling of change in the air is something i will never grow tired of and is the reason why Autumn is my favourite season. The fact that the fashion for autumn is always magnificent may also have something to do with it too, as i am a girl who lives for beautiful boots, gorgeous chunky knitwear and captivating coats.

I've teamed up with Great Plains this week and chosen my favourite items for autumn.

Florals for Autumn

I think I am a girl who actually prefers a dark floral palette than summery toned florals. For me they are intrinsically more wearable, a little less pretty-pretty and more approachable and re-mixable.

This gorgeous floral print ruffle skirt is autumn personified. The dark colours contrast beautifully with the frilly cut of the skirt making this such a wonderful item to dress up or down and has the girly cut mixed perfectly with the navy and copper print. Because there are a number of colours in this skirt, all based on a neutral background of navy, it means there are many different remixing options to be worn with it.

I love the idea of mixing in some greys or creams for the top half or also adding in some burgundy, whether that be with a coat or some boots. All of those colours will just make this skirt sing!

Knitwear

Is there anything more wonderful than an autumnal coloured jumper/sweater?!
I have to say i am a knitwear floozy and flirt with different jumpers regularly, but this rusty orange jumper with swing sleeves has barely left my back since it arrives. Some days i've even been getting home and changing out of that days outfit, opting for comfort indoors of course, and popping on some comfy leggings and this gorgeously comfy mohair jumper.
Be sure to check out the great selection of ladies jumpers Great Plains has, because if this beauty is anything to go by, then they're fabulous i can assure you.
As well as working seamlessly with the skirt (and my indoor leggings for loungin' around!) this jumper works perfectly with jeans and also culottes. I plan on wearing it with my navy culottes and baker boy hat really soon.

 Finishing Touches

I added some black in to the mix with my boots and jacket, as i love navy and contrasting black at the moment. 

The biker jacket always lends a touch of toughness to a girly look. which for me, is the ideal balance of feminine and masculine in an outfit.

One of my favourite styles right now is knee high boots and midi skirts. It's a revival of that 70's look that never goes out of fashion and, I find, makes wearing skirts extremely practical and easy(no legs on show, no worries about tights, legs covered from the cold.. the practicalities go on).

The navy bag and bobble earrings finish the look and bring in all the colours from throughout the outfit.

My favourite Autumnal outfit so far this season, and i can't wait to wear each piece separately too.
What are you favourite items to wear in autumn?

 Shop The Look:
Jumper
Skirt
Boots: super old so i've been eyeing up those linked as a replacement
Biker: Try this
Navy Bag: Laura Ashley

 *In collaboration with the wonderful brand Great Plains who i throughly enjoy working with and showcasing their gorgeous pieces to you.

An InLinkz Link-up

Discussion: The growing trend of androgynous fashion

Fashion is inherently creative and forward-thinking. Ahead of the times and constantly reflecting societal changes, clothing is going through a transformation of gender-neutrality that is reinventing how we look at women’s fashion. Alongside Trilogy, a London-based boutique, we explore how – and why – women are opting to fill their wardrobes with traditionally men’s clothing styles.

Fashion freedom

Climbing the career ladder and becoming a success in our professions seems to be more important now than ever before. However, many men are still holding various managerial positions and some women find it is difficult to get noticed at work. By dressing in more masculine pieces of clothing, such as a suit, this can break down the differences between men and women and allow for a more equal playing field.

A bonus is the versatility of the suit, which helps eliminate buying multiple outfits or spending time picking one out on a morning. A couple of pairs of trousers, few shirts and a blazer or two is easily mixed and matched to create a new outfit with minimal effort.

Fresh outlook

Now, we’re seeing clothing tailored to the individual, not the gender. And like we said earlier, fashion imitates society. American media company, Fusion, carried out a survey and discovered that 50% of individuals claimed gender was not limited to male and female. Could it be this shift in attitude that has led to a growing number of women feeling more comfortable in adding stereotypically men’s clothing to their wardrobe?

Aside from the suit, other examples of women’s fashion inspired by traditional male clothing, include designer boyfriend jeans. The popularity of these on the high street has risen recently, perhaps partly due to public figures encouraging the gender-neutral shift. From snaps of Jaden Smith wearing skirts to rapper Young Thug’s public claims that there is no “such thing as gender”, androgynous fashion is supported far beyond the catwalk. And it’s not limited to adult fashion. Even Teen Vogue offers an advice column on gender identity.

How to make genderless fashion work for you

If you want in on the trend, a suit is a great way to feel confident and stylish. To make the most of this look, try ankle-skimming trousers with a slim-fit jacket, teamed with an open-collar shirt. Trousers, the most traditional of all men’s clothing, can actually make you look taller, too. Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, is a notable figure when it comes to power dressing, often pictured in a pair of slim-fit navy trousers, with a matching blazer and neck-tie.

Going for the casual look? Designer boyfriend jeans are a good style to opt for — and really comfortable! The looser, the better – but try to get a pair that are tapered at the leg when you can. To complement this look, try an oversized t-shirt tucked in at one side, helping to complement your figure and give your style credentials a boost.

It looks like gender-neutral clothing is a trend set to stick around. I think its something that i personally love to dabble with by adding one of two pieces in to my outfit.

Is this a trend you would try?

Images via Pintrest

Work in collaboration :)

Polka Dot Maxi Dress (& #Passion4Fashion Linkup)

Next to stripes and leopard print, polka dots are a big pattern love of mine, in-fact i really feel i don't own enough polka dots and need some more in my life, and at the moment they're having a bit of a fashion thing so there are lots of lovely options out there.

I picked -this maxi dress- up at the very beginning of September and then left it there hanging, just longing to be worn. Sometimes i categorise my clothing in to 'Places i can wear it', which is silly of course, but then sometimes i am a bit silly i guess. So this dress was in my silly mental category of 'Lunch with the girls' and due to busy schedules that day didn't come around until this week.
But oh i was so glad it did as firstly, the company and food were of course wonderful, and secondly it was great to wear this dress out for the first time. I paired the navy polka dot maxi with black, which is definitely a favourite combination of mine (I know some people cringe at black and navy together but i absolutely love it) and layered a cami under and wore tights and boots as the autumn chill has certainly snuck in this week.

That's the great thing about winter maxi dresses, you can layer under and over and there is no need to be cold or sacrifice wearing lovely dresses. Its a win win!

And just to talk boots for a second: if you're looking for a small block heel comfy sock boot that doesn't go too far up the calf (i find some of them can be very unflattering!) then the ones -i'm wearing here -are from asos and they are amazingly comfy and very flattering!

Are you a fan of polka dots?

Shop Polka Dot Dress Options

Outfit Details:
Mango Dress
Biker Jacket
Bag
Asos Black sock Boots
Lola Rose Green bracelet

An InLinkz Link-up

Life Hacks: How To Make Your Diamond Ring Sparkle

We wouldn’t dream of putting on the same outfit day after day without washing it, yet it rarely enters our minds to consider cleaning our jewellery.

Jewellery we wear on our hands, like diamond rings, are especially vulnerable to picking up dirt and grime as time goes on. Solitaire diamonds, for example, are often worn as engagement rings every day, so are worryingly even more likely to get grubby and lose their shine.

It’s essential to clean diamond rings properly to avoid damage and keep this valuable piece of jewellery in its best condition for as long as possible. So, how do you spruce up your diamond ring and restore its shop-bought shine?

Where to start

Remember to focus on the back of the ring setting and not just the stone when cleaning. The ring’s setting is the section that sits on your finger, and as you can imagine, collects the most grime. Not only does this make the entire ring look dirty after time, but the setting can also cause skin irritation if left.

Different ways to clean your diamond ring

Equipment

To begin, you need to use the right equipment to make sure you don’t cause any damage. The best thing for cleaning a diamond is a cheap, soft bristled toothbrush — similar to one you might buy for a child to use. The bristles will allow you to properly clean around all diamond facets and types of settings, while not harming the shine of the stone.

Baking soda

Standard baking soda is an answer to many cleaning problems for diamond solitaire rings that you can pick up at the supermarket. When combined with water to form a thick paste, it becomes an effective cleaning solution for the stone and metal settings. Just remember to rinse the ring with warm water to remove any residue after you’re finished.

Alcohol

Yes, there’s another handy purpose for alcohol. A strong, clear, grain-based alcohol — like vodka or gin — is a fast and effective solution for cleaning diamonds. The science behind it is that the high level of ethanol is a natural solvent that will chemically remove any stray dirt on the surface of the diamond or trapped inside the setting of the ring.

Soap and water

If you want something even simpler to clean your diamond ring in a hurry, how about soap and water? Any household soap, including hand soap or washing up liquid, will do. As with other cleaning jobs, leaving the jewellery to soak is preferable, because this helps to loosen solidified particles in hard-to-reach areas.

Professional cleaning

Then again, you can always cut out the work and get your diamond ring professionally cleaned by a jeweller. This is arguably the best and most thorough method of cleaning diamond solitaire rings, and a decent jeweller will also check the diamond’s settings, as well as use an ultrasonic system to clean it. An ultrasonic system is a specialised tank filled with liquid. The jewellery is submersed and high-frequency sound waves are used to disturb and remove tiny dirt particles from almost unreachable parts of the jewellery. Some jewellery companies, like AC Silver, offer free services that will make sure your ring stays sparkling, too.

Hopefully, you have a few tips here to get your diamond ring back to its gleaming best. Make sure you stay clear of bleach or any corrosive solution. These can damage your precious diamond and its metal setting — and it could be irreversible.

Working in a happy Collaboration

#NoSpendOctober Over Halfway

A couple of weeks a go I published a post Not keeping Up with the Instajones': Stopping the constant buying and it seemed to resonate with, well, quite a lot of ladies.
I was happy to find out i wasn't alone on this but sad to find out that actually so very many of us constantly feel the need to keep up, keep shopping and making those purchases week after week, leaving many items unworn and unloved.
Women are renowned for only wearing a small percentage of the clothes they hold in their wardrobe, but with social media constantly showing us new pretty goods, the temptation to shop gets too much and we end up falling in to the habit of buy, buy, buy.
After talking about this to some ladies on Insta we formed our #NoSpendOctober group and hashtag and have not shopped for the month of October so far.
Now for those of you who have been around these parts with me for some time you'll know i've previously taken it upon myself to do exercises like this before, with two lots of #100daynospend (not consecutively i might add) and a whole year with a seasonal capsule wardrobe I know how it feels to not shop, to limit myself and to walk away from the beautiful dress thats just begging to come with you.
But the reason for me doing it this time was slightly different, as mentioned in my the previous post, i don't want to have to feel the need to keep buying the latest instagram trends all the time. I don't want to feel like i'm not as good as so and so if i don't have X in my wardrobe. And just to clarify, no one is making me feel like this apart from me. It was also a case of showing that i don't always have money or the need to justify new clothes every week. I have plenty of things i love and need to get the wear out of them.

And so here we are half way through, and as much as its not been super difficult (we've had lots on in the house with decorating and things) I would be lying if i said i don't want to shop.
The non shopping has made me evaluate what i have and what i dont have, what i need vs what i want, and that's certainly a good thing.
I've mentioned before, but i am an emotional shopper, and that goes for any emotion; Happy, i shop with glee, sad or feeling down, i shop to cheer myself up, proud or elated, i shop congratulatory to myself... you get the point.
As always though, tis been good to get some wear out of what i already own and take enjoyment in the fact that i have not spent a penny so far this month on clothes.

In total there are approximately 80-100 wonderful ladies doing #NoSpendOctober and they are all doing a mighty fine job too.
It has been an absolute pleasure to see so many ladies from so many different walks of life come together to support and encourage each other. Its also lovely to see how many of us are so like minded with our shopping habits and to not feel bad or alone in this.
And even if there have been some hiccups along the way, then we are just getting straight back on the no spend wagon with no judgement, just encouragement. Sometimes the justification of buying X makes complete sense, why would you walk away from something that you have longed for and is now half off... that would just be lunacy 😂.
This month is just about creating better spending habits going forward, less knee jerk purchases and more thoughtful spending. Its about working with what you have and adding in what you need, but obviously the occasional special item is ok too as, after all, you only live once 😉

I've created a link up below for all those wanting to add your instagram links so we can all go around and see each other and follow if you so wish.
Please add your link below (its super easy to do, click the blue add link button and instructions are given, or gimme a message and i can add you!)

But thank you ladies, you are all amazing.

An InLinkz Link-up

Come Shop With Me: Skirts

With #NoSpendOctober in full swing (more on that in Wednesdays post) I have been wearing all things that i already own (obvs) and with no new items in the old wardrobe it has given me fresh eyes to see what i may be lacking in, what my wardrobe needs and what i don't need any more of.

One of those things is skirts. I don't have many at all and yet they are game changers when it comes to remixing. My problem is that i love buying dresses, but really a dress can only be remixed a couple of ways, and yes that all fine and good to keep wearing them the same two ways but being able to remix something multiple ways usually means I will get more wear out of it because, well, that to me is useful!

So skirt window shopping i went. Now i am super super fussy when it comes to skirts, hence why i don't have many. I usually find shops to be lacking in anything majorly gorgeous in the skirt department and there's never many i love enough for me to want to buy it.

Well guess what.. Skirts just got more interesting! Skirts seem to be in abundance this season and d'you know what there are some mighty fine options out there ladies!

Here are my findings and favourites:

 {Print Pleated Skirt}Next

I started with Next as their gorgeous window display drew me in. Inside there shop was split in to pinks and greys(which were lovely) and autunmal reds rusts and  greys. 

These two (above and below) had me swooning as soon as i walked through those doors. 

The pleated skirt is quite a thick density of fabric which makes the pleats fairly rigid and fall well, but at the same time it was very comfy and hung perfectly as a skirt should.

Below was the skirt that made me swoon BIG time. The fabric is a soft satin type finish that glides and doesn't cling, the colour is a soft rust and the flow of the skirt is beautiful. It was swishy, And therefore my swishy loving heart feels this could be true love. It worked perfectly well with my boots and the black fine knit that i was wearing, but i think with a breton, a blazer and shoes or even an orange sweater, a denim shirt or a big cable knit cardigan this could prove to be an incredible asset to your wardrobe!

 {Tan Maxi Skirt}Next

A little bit of fun with some black lace and netting, i love that this can be dressed up or down and even though its a bit of mesh/tulle it could easily be worn in day or night time and it was very comfy.

{Black Mesh Skirt}Next

Khaki A line

This was a gorgeous khaki a line skirt, i like the idea of this for smart day time but also really nice for weekend wear too

I then headed to M&S and, once again, i was spoiled for choice! 

So the pleated midi velvet skirt is just the most wonderful fabric; stretchy, thick, and vibrant.

The skirt comes in red, gold or navy and i literally could not decide which was my favourite.

Again, these would work so well for so many occasions, dress them up, dress them down add some stripes or add some sparkle, trainers or boots they just work so very well.

But what colour would you go for??

For me the red is just christmas and festive season personified. The gold is so cheerful and daring yet will work with many things, but my head says navy is the most practical. I love how it would work with lots i already own.

{M&S Velvet Pleated Midi Skirt in Red, Navy or Gold}

M&S Floral Chiffon Midi

 I didn't think i'd like this, but picked it up in the name of interest, it turned out to be really really nice on, it skims and flatters and adds a fun bit of interest. The print is pretty and is an item that does all the talking for you, enabling you to keep everything else pretty simple.

{ M&S Flared lace midi skirt}

This was again something a little different as its not a shape i go for as a hippy pear shaped lady, but it was lovely on. Fitted at the waist and really lady like. I think i a bit to fancy for my day to day but if you're looking for something for office to bar this could be perfect.

{M&S Collection Checked Mini}

And lastly another favourite, just because it fits like a glove. I tend to steer clear of minis these days, opting more for the midis as i find them more wearable (read: not gonna flash my pants) but there was something so gorgeous about this one, something so comfy with its thick fabric and flattering length that made me just love it. But its a statement piece that can't be remixed a whole lot of ways, but still, sometimes that's just what the heart wants.

Other note worthy skirts from M&S that i loved the look of but weren't in my size

Leopard Print A line

Scarf Print Ruffle

 Collection Ruffle Midi

Tiered Mesh & Pearl layered Midi

So there we have it, a plethora of divine skirts. 
Are you a skirt fan? Do you own many and enjoy wearing them?
Do you like any of these beauties?