The iPhone Diaries ...

It has been a struggle to dedicate time to blogging this week, I have been too busy setting up my business website, facebook, twitter, arranging and buying more goodies for  my kit and taking on board all the advice from Sam and Nic after completing the Pixiwoo intensive training.

I am dying to tell you all about it and about my transition to working as a make up artist as it's been on the cards for a long time and something I have actively pursued over the last 10 years but simply hadn't had any formal training or the guts to actually pursue it as a career.

Anyway instead of yabbering on, here's a peek at what I have been getting up to recently through the eyes of my i-phone ...

A bit of chunky bling from Primarni ... I quite liked that it was tacky with a mix of feminine and masculine shapes and material.  Sometimes you have to place tongue firmly in cheek when it comes to accessories.

Airport shopping, on my way home from Norwich I had a bit of a boring wait at Stansted Airport (that was until Danny Dyer ended up on my flight! Schwing!) .  I amused myself at MAC, Mulberry and my favourite but overpriced All Saints.  I was lucky, it was sale time, I picked up a maxi kaftan for my upcoming trip to Morocco :) 

I tried these wedges on in All Saints.  Loved them but didn't purchase.  Regret.

Yoo Moo! Something else Stansted had me hooked on.  I had never had this brand of frozen yoghurt where you fill your cup add some toppings, weigh then pay ... bit like pic'n'mix.  It was delicious and I've been craving it ever since I got home.  Is Yoo Moo available in Glasgow?  If you know, inform me! 

A somewhat shameful purchase.  A 'fake' bag!!!  I feel dirty to even admit it.  But you know, the Celine Boston Tote is somewhere in the region of £2k and it would take me until 2020 to a) save up for it b) justify that gut wrenching cost on a bag.  So, with the help of eBay I picked myself up a real leather version for £50.  Feel free to judge.

Aaah Chanel D'Illusion Ombres.  Everyone is raving about them, me included.  The latest souffle like eye cream/shadow/mousse from Chanel come in an array of metallic shades and are part of their permanent line.  I used some on the Pixiwoo course last week and loved them so picked up Epatant this week.  I did a bit of midnight make up experimenting and I can safely say it is beautiful worn alone (bottom pic) but also does a wicked job of creating a dark, dramatic smokey eye when layered and blended with a darker shade (top pic).  In this case I used MAC blackground.  Think I may go for this smokey look tonight.

In other news, this time next week, I will be flying to Morocco so I need to get myself organised and packed.  I am planning on taking minimal make up but not sure I can kid myself on by trying to downsize on the wardrobe.   I also got my first DSLR this week - the Canon EOS 600D.  I am still learning how to use it but hopefully you will see much better quality images here from now on.

Hope you are all having a fun weekend!!

x

An affordable Mulberry alternative

Everyone has been going crazy for the Mulberry Alexa for what feels like forever now however with a price reaching into the hundreds it's not the most accessible or realistic option when it comes to a bag purchase.

I happened to be having a wee browse in Zara yesterday ... I say a wee browse but it turned into a full on sale success when I came away 3 dresses, a top and a bag later.  Anyway, I came across a bag that was not unlike the Alexa but was still had the Zara touch so not to be an exact copy.

I don't believe it was a sale item but it did have a 'Special Price' tag attached to it.  I am not sure if this is a new thing in Zara as I have never noticed it before but certain items seem to have these tags and true to it's word, is usually a reasonable priced item.

Anyway, there was the bag seducing me with a price tag of £19.99.  Bargaintastic if I do say so myself.  Now I know that New Look and even Primark had Alexa look-a-likes in store but with a Zara bag, from experience, I believe you are guaranteed quality and something a little sturdier than budget offerings.

So here it is in all it's glory.  The Glasgow store where I purchased it only had one colour this dark tan shade so I don't know if other colours are available.  There is pleated/woven detailing on the straps and on the inside rim and lots of handy little pockets inside which is always a must for me.  I tend to lose things when a bag is just one big pocket in itself.

What do you think?  A reasonable alternative to the Alexa?

x

What about Lunch?

Wooaah I am on a roll here!

This is what I wore on a rather hungover day to go for lunch with some old friends. Bad quality photos but I am hoping to have a new camera soon ... then I can up the ante.

I tweeted about this particular tee-shirt, if you can call it that and had a few of my twitter pals show some interest in what it looked like.

It's faux leather from H&M and a sale bargain at £7! It's a great twist on a casual look. I wore it with a grey H&M vest underneath, dark wash Primark jeans (yes, primark - i really do love their jeans), Warehouse leopard print scarf and Black suedette boots from Matalan - another bargain buy!

I teamed with my gorgeously cosy Gharani Strok fur jacket that I picked up in TK Maxx a couple of months ago. Anyone else remember Gharani Strok? I also wore my wonderful vintage Gucci bag that my husband picked up in LA ... which I blogged about here. I still haven't had the zip fixed yet so will need to do that soon.
Accessories wise I went for my gorgeous Mulberry bracelet that unfortunately scratched to bits after I had a bit of a fall while wearing it :( my gold Swatch watch which always gets a compliment and no one can ever believe it's swatch ... and my pink Mango ring which I really should wear more often.A fabulous lunch was had by all but seriously this time of year really takes it out you. 2011 has seen me bedridden with flu which seems to have morphed into tonsilitis :( - must get better and back on track with a decent healthy diet and a strict exercise regime.

x

My Vintage Wardrobe ...

It's been a while since I delved into the realms of my wardrobe and pulled out some of my most treasured items.

The most treasured items I own are mostly those that are designer - I have worked damn hard to afford them, or vintage finds that stand the test of time and add a bit of retro magic to any outfit.

Today's show and tell is a bit of both but it is also a fairly new addition to my closet.

I didn't even buy it myself, my gem of a Husband stumbled across it while on business in LA (where he was also smart enough to pick up some Mulberry for Target bags).

When I got this bag I was initially a little bit excited despite it being quite a tired looking bad. In a good way, of course, it looks like it has a story to tell and it certainly lights up any outfit being of a classic Gucci monogram design and shape. However, I then started to worry that it might be fake.

After all, my other half doesn't know the signs and markings to look for in a bag. He spotted it, he liked it, he bought it ... assuming it was genuine. So I decided to have it authenticated and through the knowledgeable ladies on twitter, I was directed to the purse blog forum.

I posted pics of the bag along with all its marking and branding and much to my joy, the experts of the forum came back to confirm it was indeed an authentic Gucci bag. I also found out it was more than likely to be from the 70's (love!) with someone advising it could even be from as far back as the 60's. A true vintage.

To be honest, this bag does have such a chic and stylish presence I probably would have been happy enough to wear it even if it was fake but now I can walk confidently with my vintage Gucci on my arm :)

x

Mulberry for Target

Mulberry's budget collection for Target hit stores this week in the US.

Unfortunately for us Brits, Target won't be shipping to the UK however, my luck was in as my husband just happens to be in LA this week and being the clever shopper that he is, he has managed to pick me up a few.

Yes, not just one, he has picked up a little selection to choose from.

Although the bags are not made from real leather, especially that butter soft Mulberry leather we have grown to know and love, the brand have promised that there is no scrimping on quality and design.

Although I wasn't there to choose my bag my husband has made a good job of describing each bag and ensuring he picks up what he feels will be the stand outs in the collection - I might as well be married to Tim Gunn :)

He even emailed me photos of him modelling the bags, wearing them daintily over his forearm just like I would. I wonder if I should be worried about him, he looked far too comfortable in pink leopard print! ;)

I'll be honest and say until I see these bags in person, I am not entirely sure I will like them. Being fake leather, they may look a little cheap, even looking like fake bags especially for us in the UK where it won't be common knowledge to non Mulberry fans of the high street collaboration.

The Mister is back next week so I will have to wait until then but I'll be sure to keep you posted on my thoughts.

In the meantime, what do you think of this collaboration? Do you have a favourite style?

x