Initial Jewellery

Ever since way back in the days of Carrie in Sex and the City where the obsession for name necklaces grew - the trend has continued and evolved in different forms.

Instead of full names emblazoned on our decolletage, the minimalist approach has been introduced, reducing it to just an initial.

From scrabble jewellery to dainty necklaces, there is always a new and unique way to combine our accessories with our identity.

Scrabble ring sourced from Folksy

sourced from Etsy

Sourced from Urban Outfitters

For me this has come in the form of these cute little rings from Urban Outfitters.
Despite the fact they turn my finger green (nothing that can't be fixed with some clear nail polish), at £8 each they look lovely stacked and worn alongside bigger rings.

Do you wear initial or named jewellery/accessories?  How do you wear yours?

x

On my way to Geordie Shore

With my holiday still a long way off, I am breaking up a bit of summer with a trip to Newcastle to visit some special girls in my life.

Well, Gateshead to be exact then a trip to Leeds for a big birthday bash!  Today I have made mental notes, sketches and lists of what to wear, what make up will be required and what needs to be done in prep.  This is how I stay organised.

As well as the DIY mani, pedi, hair zshoosh and fake tanning sesh this evening, I need to pack my pre-styled outfits into one measly hand carrier.

Instead of preaching to you on packing light ... (I am still in the process of mastering this but will hopefully have some tips by my next big holiday) I thought I would show you some of the outfits I will be taking for day and evening.

I have been assured by Mr Weatherman that the weather will hold out and we will indeed be in for a sunny weekend so I think it's probably a good time to get the legs out again.

White denim shirt dress: Motel at ASOS
Studded belt: purchased in Philadelphia
Crossover stone bag: Topshop
Multi colour beaded bracelet: Mango.
Trainers: Nike at Urban Outfitters

During the day I expect we will be doing a bit of shopping, lunching and the odd cocktail.  Comfort is always the key when you are up to a bit of shenanigans so I have gone for a simple summer dress that is reminiscent of Wimbledon season.

Fringed Top: ASOS
Denim studded shorts: Miss Selfridge
Fringed sandals: Warehouse
Bag: Topshop
Bangle: Miss Selfridge
Ring: Ydeltuyt
Necklace: H&M

Another daytime outfit tailored for comfort again.  I love wearing this for afternoons in a beer garden and the odd boat rave when they come around.  It is such a comfy combo that it will serve me well for farewell drinks and my train home.  The top was a bargain purchase a few years ago from ASOS and it has to be my most worn item of clothing - it can be worn in many different ways, casual and glam.  I adore fringing reflected on the top and sandals - gah, I am so 80's sometimes!

I love this bag, it was a gift from my friend Stacie. It's so versatile and seems to go with everything.  It has a real festival feel about it and I think the blue stone in the centre is just gorgeous.

Brazilian print dress: Warehouse
Blue platform shoes:  Carvela
Blue clutch bag:  Zara
Bangles and cuff: Mango and Warehouse
Earrings:  Miss Selfridge
Selection of rings from H&M, Primark, Ydeltuyt and Accessories Online

It wouldn't be a big fat Geordie weekend without a party outfit in tow.  This dress is a recent purchase from Warehouse, I love the clashing pattern and colours throughout so I have tried to clash some of the accessories too without becoming too much of a muddle.  There is a slight twist in the front of the dress and so too in the bag which complements it nicely.

So all there is for it now is to get the vino chilled, the falsies at the ready and an endless supply of instant fake tan for these pasty ol' legs of mine!!

Lessons on how to be demure

My good friend Fiona MaCrae (watch this space, she is gonna be a star) ... deserved an outfit spot with this lovely playsuit.

I am the biggest fan of playsuits/jumpsuits and I thought this one was so pretty and worn so stylishly by Miss Fi.
Jumpsuit: Urban Outfitters; Shoes: New Look; Swallow necklace: Accessorize
Fiona teamed her look with a gorgeous shearling style jacket which I do believe is from Topshop.

Do you think playsuits will still be hot in 2011?

I hope so.

x

Halloween .....oooooohh!

This year for Halloween I went to my friends party in Newcastle. Jen dressed as Ursula from The Little Mermaid and I went along as Queen of Hearts. If I do say so myself, our outfits were pretty cool but I was mostly impressed with our make up which I did myself for us both.

I had tweeted a lot about this over the weekend so I thought I would show you the results.

Meet Ursula and Queen of Hearts ...
Depending how you look at it either Jen is teeny or I am massive. I am sticking to Jen being teeny, okay?! ;)

The unfortunate thing about going as Queen of Hearts and having loveheart shaped lips is that I looked permanently p****d off the whole night. Oh well, I guess it made me look a little scary in the spirit of Halloween of course.

Onto the make up ... ahhh I was so pleased with the make up...
I will give you a quick summary of the products I used:
FACE: EL Doublewear foundation in Al Fresco (this shows up a little pink on my skin and doesn't photograph too well), MAC select cover up, MAC MSF Natural
CHEEKS: Nars Laguna, Illamasqua blush in unrequited, MAC pearl highlighter
EYES: Bourjois pale blue shadow over the lid, Teal from EL Blue Dahlia collection under eye and in crease, Alice from UD AIW palette over lid and under eye, illamasqua sadist in crease, illamasqua roulette blended out at crease along with Queen from UD AIW palette and FINALLY illamasqua immortal on browbone. All this teamed with MUFE smokey lash mascara, Nadine Girls aloud lashes, Mac fluidline in blacktrack .... phew!
LIPS: Illamasqua lip pencil (unsure of name), MAC russian red

The heart gems above my eyebrow and on my cheek placed as a beauty spot was from a set of Broadway nails, nail & body art kit. I also used these on my nails. Nails in China Glaze Ruby Pumps, NYC white polish in manhattan and a glitter polish over the top.

This kit really deserves its own mention, the gems are still on my nails 4 days later and they show no signs of budging.
Now onto Ursulas make up. Ursula in the movie is obviously purple but I didn't want to paint Jen's face purple otherwise we might lose the effect and we also still wanted her to look attractive despite playing the role of a villain for the evening.
Make up summary
FACE: MUFE HD Foundation in 125, MAC MSF Natural
EYEBROWS: Lined with MAC carbon
EYES: Urban Outfitters blue eyeshadow all over lid, Zara purple duo shadow blended into crease and underneath the eye, MAC fluidline in black track to line the eye, a purple glitter liner underneath the eye, Sarah Girls Aloud party lashes (not shown in this photo)
LIPS: Lined with an illamasqua pencil, Gosh red lipstick
I then shaded and contoured Jen's face with the zara purple duo eyeshadow. This doesn't show up so well under the flash but looked fantastic on the night. Ursula's beauty spot was filled in using Urban Decay liner in zero.

Thats the finished look. I have to say I was a bit gutted to wash all that make up off after the effort that went into creating it but it has definitely got me in the mood for being more creative.

Did you dress up for Halloween?

x