Style Crush: Katie Shillingford

I decided to feature Katie Shillingford, super talented stylist and Fashion Editor of Dazed & Confused for 2 reasons:

a) My previous post on dip dyed hair.  It's quite possible that Katie was the real trendsetter for this having sported dipped ends for quite a few years it seems
b) She recently made headlines for her absolutely drop dead gorgeous Gareth Pugh wedding dress at her recent nuptials

Like so many editorial big wigs in the world of fashion she exudes that super cool exterior with a to-die-for wardrobe.  I guess it comes with the territory.

And now for 'that' wedding dress...

Isn't it divine?  Pale grey, gothically romantic with a 1930's deco vibe.  It drapes over her shape perfectly and the sets of her pale pink locks perfectly.  I love how she has styled her bridesmaids to beautifully complement her own dress without being overly similar or contrived.

It's obvious Katie loves to experiment with hair colour but pink hair on your wedding day, now that is brave.

x

My jewellery stash

I was a bit dubious when I was requested to post about my jewellery collection.  Most of what I own is costume jewellery with only a few stand out pieces that I wear on a day to day basis.  I tend not to buy a lot of great quality items as I tire so easily of it.

I will keep this post as short as I can but will take you through the layers of my collection.  You will notice that my bling is stored in no particular order, I have no dressing table so I literally throw everything into shoe boxes (as carefully as possible, 'course!)

I have heavily reduced the amount of jewellery I own in recent times as so much of it was hoarded and never worn.   The bulk of my stash is made up of rings.  All mostly the type that turn your fingers green!

Lots of floral rings, gems and pearls

Some more bling, precious stones and even plastic

Floral rings seem to be popular in my collection although I very rarely wear them.  I usually go for large statement rings or anything that looks slightly unusual.   Many of these were purchased in markets, on holiday, a couple have been inherited and there are a few expensive and some designer ones in there too, that I treasure.  Some are tacky and others more ethnic or rustic looking ... it's a real mish mash of styles but there is always something I can find to suit any outfit.

earrings, bangles, necklace 

I de-cluttered most of my bangles and earrings a couple of months ago.  I used to always wear big statement earrings but I find the older I get, they suit me less so I save them for big nights out and sometimes then they don't see the light of day.  I have kept the bare bones of my earring stash and in honesty they haven't been touched since I last re-organised them, not even my studs.

I hardly wear bangles these day but some of them are too cute to get rid of so I save them in the hope I fall back in with the bangle trend.  I figure bangles are more of a summer accessory so maybe they will be of more use then.  I mostly stick to chain bracelets, beads or friendship bracelets these days.

Necklaces - I have quite a dire selection and seem to stick to the same ethnic style H&M pendant with every outfit I wear.  I keep a hold of what I do have, beads, chains with pendants, medallions ... I just never seem to find long length necklaces that I like or look good to really add to the collection.  Any recommendations girls?

The best of my collection is saved for my wedding jewellery and some vintage or more expensive pieces.  I have pearls, swarovski crystal earrings and a stunning mantilla comb from my wedding day.  My vintage Chanel earrings that were a gift from a friend and some vintage necklaces have sentimental meaning to me and I hope to not part with them.

I also make a point of owning LOTS of pearls in the form of necklaces, earrings and bracelets, cheap or expensive.  I use them for decorating around the house (even used them to decorate my wedding venue), for fancy dress or simply to dress up a plain outfit.

My absolute love however are my wedding rings which are the single most precious items I own.  They are absolutely to my own taste with an art deco vintage feel.

So there's a nosey in my jewellery stash, not much to rave about really but lots of blingy, colourful things to see nonetheless.

x

Cocktail creations

If you follow me on twitter you may have noticed a lot of hen night chat.

I am a bridesmaid for my sister in law in a few weeks and myself and the brides sis had the gruelling task of arranging the hen do.  After going over many options, we decided on a spa day, a relaxing cocktail afternoon and an evening of singing and dancing - we liked to call it 'Spa & Sparkle' :)

I am all about the detail so I tasked myself with arranging the favours for the day/night.  Our spa day started early and as we provided food for the guests, cupcakes were the obvious option as our daytime treat.  I bought a gorgeous little cakestand and set up our buffet style sweet and savoury treats in the spa area that had been cordoned off for our party.

After the morning of pampering,  an afternoon of champagne, chat and girly fun while getting ready for our big night out seemed more than appropriate.

Finally it was time to head to our venue - the gorgeous Corinthian in Glasgow.  It has recently went through a refurb and is absolutely stunning ... shame I can't say the same about some of it's clientele but that's another story.

After having cocktails in the main bar we were escorted our private room for an evening of nibbles, cocktails and karaoke.  Myself and Katie (The Chief) had sneaked into the room beforehand to decorate it with our favours and other pink goodness as per the Brides favourite colour.  Check out the amazing chairs in the room ... they were so comfy to sit in.  I don't think the Bride's throne was quite as enjoyable to sit in but it sure looked good too.

Onto the favours ... I had a sudden brainwave one evening to give everyone a cocktail glass filled with goodies.  I sourced some glasses (plastic) from Ebay but upon receipt of them was dismayed to see how plain and dull they looked.  Back on Ebay I sourced some pink and pearl gems and went on to painstakingly glue gems to the base of 16 cocktail glasses.  After finding some loveheart shaped sweets and wands (Valentines day remnants were a blessing) I was able to fill the glasses along with a pink nail polish and party popper for everyone.  A butterfly was also placed on each glass with the Brides favourite cocktail recipe scribbled (literally, I was running out of time) on the back.  Thanks to Claire for this tip! :)

Obviously a hen night isn't a hen night without willies and although the Bride asked for a classy do ... we just couldn't resist and before we knew it willies were flying everywhere ... even landing in drinks to the surprise of some hens.  

 I couldn't leave this post without a group photo of all the hens together ... this was just before we headed to the club downstairs and I hope you agree we still look fairly glam for having downed the equivalent of a half bottle of sambucca each along with various other cocktails of vodka, tequila and gin.

The Hens (Bride is 3rd gal in with the lilac dress)

Sunday was most certainly a day of recovery and reminiscing over a fabulous day of fun and frolics.

x

If I were a Bride ....

... again!

When I was getting married I bought a beautiful and modest pair of ivory peeptoe heels with floral diamante detailing from Dune which complemented my dress wonderfully.  However, even after only 3 short years I look back and know where I would style the whole look differently.

One thing I might have had my eye on at the time would have been these wonderful Alexander McQueen heart peep toe satin pumps. 

Beautifully simple in design with a glamorous, classic shape and romantic love heart peep toe. They are the perfect addition to bridal wear.  At £375 they are pricey but so charming and enchanting that you can't help but be swept away by them.

Heck, I want them now and my wedding planning days are far behind me.  They would look wonderful dyed a different colour against the backdrop of a pure and whistful wedding dress for further allure.

Exclusive to Net-a-Porter you might just find that they are not a common choice either making your bridal footwear stand out from the crowd.

x

Who's with me? ...

Yup, you got it ... Tonight, 9pm, Channel 4, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.  I'm all over this bad boy.

Last week it had me glued to the screen in awe of gypsy culture and specifically their dating rituals that involve 'Grabbing' (sexual assault, much?!) and their over the top weddings where the Bride gets to dress as the biggest loo roll holder ever!! Lucky girl.

My favourite part of last weeks episode was when this particular girl started lapdancing while waiting on her limo to the Church.  Yes, you heard me, lapdancing ... well she wasn't on anyones lap but she was obviously practising for later!?  ... aherm. 

Yes, that's right, that's a massive split up the front of her dress!

And my jaw dropped in horror at this wee girls Holy Communion when she and her mates got to ride in a limo sans chaperone having a proper rave up with fake champagne (why?), karaoke and booming music. Rezpect.

Her brother... not her Husband.  They do it young, but not that young.

I won't even mention the dress and tiara!!

We have another 4 episodes of this to go so every Tuesday at 9pm is blocked out in my diary until it's finished.

Best. TV. Ever.

x

My new Maxi ....

I didn't mention in the previous post but while I was out shopping today I returned 2 dresses from Coast. I originally bought them for a wedding but they just aren't suitable, one is slightly on the big side the other on the small side so they both went back. Anyway, while I was in I noticed this maxi dress in the sale which to be honest I have had my eye on for ages but could never find in my size!


Well today, there it was! I tried it, I liked it, i bought it! It was in the sale from £175 to £85 ... still pricey but I will get my use out of it. One problem though I have pretty big 'girls' if you know what I mean?! It fits up top but with a bra it becomes a little restrictive so I am on the hunt for a seamstress this week to sort it out! Wish me Luck!

I will most likely wear this to a wedding i am going to this weekend but it will be great on holiday with my husband. I thought I would give you an idea of how I will wear this for both occasions. Nothing exciting and to be honest a dress like this doesn't need too much styling as it speaks for itself!

holiday maxi by saskiathesalsafairy
Wedding Maxi by saskiathesalsafairy featuring Alexis Bittar jewelry

This is roughly how I plan to wear it to this weekends wedding. I will wear wedges or heels to add a bit of height (I am 5'4 so I just get away with a maxi and no more) ... embellished bag and bangles to add a bit of pzazz and possibly some flowers in my hair. It's not my usual wedding guest outfit, it's more of a relaxed chic look.

What do you think of both styles? Any advice on fitting the 'girls' in is most welcome too ;)

x

Wedding guest style ...

So, this is the penultimate post of my wedding series ... and it's for wedding guests rather than the Bride.

Since a young age, I must have gone to an average of 3-4 weddings a year but it doesn't make choosing an outfit any easier. A lot of Brides advise a dress code with their invite but what if they don't? How do you know what to wear? I thought it might be helful to put together some ideas for guest attire for different styles of wedding - hope it helps.

Country Chic Wedding - for a country wedding it's best to keep it light and flirty, florals are always a winner but equally so a plain dress with some well chosen accessories looks great. Keep it feminine and fresh for that Summer feel. Hats and fascinators work well at country setting weddings too but if they are not your thing then perhaps a lovely hair accessory or just big voluminous waves would work a treat!

Country Chic Wedding by saskiathesalsafairy

City Chic Wedding - for a more urban setting you can be a little adventurous. Seperates work well, a tailored skirt and silk vest top perhaps with a statement hat - don't feel you always have to stick to a dress. Mixing fabrics and texture can give your outfit an edge befitting of an urban setting. You can also bring out the glitz as City weddings tend to be very chic and luxe - think Carrie's wedding in SATC.

City Chic wedding by saskiathesalsafairy featuring Roberto Cavalli shoes

Black Tie/Formal Wedding - Some black tie weddings insinuate very formal dress for the female guest which would normally suggest long evening gowns. However most formal weddings I have attended haven't been quite so strict on dress code. Darker colours are much more accepted at formal weddings if that is your preference. Your look should be sophisticated and where you can keep it classic. A lot of Brides can prefer if you wear a hat but this is purely down to comfort on the guests part, if you are not comfortable wearing something it will show so don't feel any pressure. With a formal wedding there is often a crossover with city or country style too so you can mix it up a little.

Formal Wedding


There are no hard and fast rules to dressing for a wedding but these are my ideas and perceptions. Other advice I would give is to try avoid wearing cream or white - some Brides feel you will upstage them - although this is impossible! It really does depend on the Bride though as I have seen guests carry off cream at weddings beautifully. Also if you are attending a Church wedding and have bare shoulders, take something to cover them through the ceremony as a mark of respect and because Churches do get cold. Also, maybe try and avoid skirts or dresses that are too short, unless you can carry it off with sophistication.

Hope this helps - now I just need to find an outfit for my friends wedding in a few weeks!

x

Wedding Beauty

Here we go with part 3 of the wedding series ... the all important wedding beauty.

In the run up to your wedding I would suggest a bit of pampering. Not only does this help relieve any stress or tension from planning it will also rejuvinate your skin. If you don't want to go to a salon for a facial it's easy to do a d.i.y one at home. Essentially it is just a deep cleanse, tone and moisturise whilst massaging the face to help hydrate, exfoliate and moisturise. This helps prepare your skin for the day and if done regularly you will start to notice a natural luminous glow to your skin.

Whether or not you use a professional make up artist be sure to practise your make up application before the day. I have been to so many weddings where the make up has let the Bride and Bridesmaids down. One in particular had the bride looking like Brian May in drag!! Poor girl. Also, orange tide lines are something I see often. It seems that some MUA's believe that they need to pack inches of foundation on your skin so that it lasts all day and 'shows up' in photos!!

For anyone doing their own make up or wanting to make sure their MUA is giving the correct advice, check out some of these tips;

- Choose a foundation with a yellow undertone as this works well with flash photography
- Avoid any products that are too shimmery or have light reflective properties again this will not work well with flash photography
- Double blush. Without looking like Aunt Sally, apply more blush than you would normally - wears off fast on the day.
- Avoid YSL Touche eclat
- Line your lips to help lipstick stay put for longer. Remember to blend it well so to avoid the Pammie look
- Wear an eyeshadow primer to avoid your eyeshadow creasing and will also help it last longer
- Warm the skin with a light dusting of bronzer. This will also avoid a washed out look on camera
- If you want luscious lashes, why not get your own permed or have semi-permanent extensions added. Alternatively, wear false lashes or false single lashes. It can really make the difference.

If you do not want to go down the natural 'bridal' look and opt for something a little more dramatic, try to keep it as simple and clean as possible. For example, simple make up with red lips or alternatively nude lips with a smokey eye. Or you can even stick to a natural look but add some drama with bright red nails. Whatever happens, you want your make up to be beautiful but you don't want it to take over your gown, hair or accessories. Everything should compliment each other in a very organic style.

Take inspiration from pictures you see online or in magazines. Tear them out and keep them in a file so you can look back to them for reference or so you can show your MUA. If you are using a MUA, be sure that they do a trial a few months before the Big Day and also let them see swatches of your dress and colour scheme. This will help them determine the right colours to use to compliment your day. When you have your trial make sure you get someone to take photos of you so you can judge how you should look using flash photography.

celebrity make up inspiration by saskiathesalsafairy on Polyvore.com

I did my own make up for my Wedding. I had up to 6 make up trials and was not happy with any of them. I also had various consultations at beauty counters - some good some bad. In the end I chose a mixture of Bobbi Brown and Mac products and was very pleased with the result. Bobbi Brown can sometimes seem a bit of a safe option but I highly recommend their foundation stick, creamy concealer and blusher. I used Mac eyeshadows to give myself a soft smokey eye. Of course any look of mine would not be complete without my Nars Laguna and I wore lipliner blended into my lip with a Lancome juicy tube (this was before i wore lipstick!!).

Most of you will know Pixiwoo from You Tube. Admittedly, they are my favourite guru's and at the moment they are doing a series of wedding turorials. If anyone is best to tell you about the do's and dont's of wedding make up, it is Sam and Nicola so I seriously advise you to go and have a look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvwRO8xY2-c

xx

Wedding Style

As promised, this is the second in my little series of wedding posts focussing on wedding style. Hopefully this may give you ideas of how you can tie in colour schemes, decor and flowers. There are also some ideas for hair. I get a little embarrassed doing posts like this. I like putting ideas together for any outfits (although i usually do my own drawings) but I really do not prophess to be a great stylist or a know it all about weddings at all - I am simply giving you an idea of the thought process I went through for my own wedding and hopefully it could help some other Brides.

The most important decision you will probably make is choosing a dress. I would stress to you not to get too caught up in finding 'the one'. Not every Bride finds 'the one'. I didn't. I did, however, find a dress that I really loved, was comfortable and flattering to wear and suited my personality and the style of my day. If I were to get married next week I would chose a completely different dress. Usually your dress will determine your jewellery and accessories so don't try to choose these items before you have chosen the dress.

I would suggest choosing a theme. Themes conjur up different ideas for everyone. Some people may want a Disney Princess theme others may want simply a Romantic theme ... regardless, try and make sure you base everything around this. For example, I had a Romantic Vintage theme - I carried this through from my wedding stationery to my hair comb. You don't have to be too strict with it but you will find it will benefit the overall aesthetic of the day and it will really help you stay focussed when it comes to choosing the cake, decor and any other special touches to your day.

When it comes to your hair (I will do make up in a later post) .... I would opt for something a little bit different from what you normally wear. You don't want to look like a different person on your wedding day but you do want to look special. If i wore my hair as I do everyday, it would have taken away from the look of my dress. I normally wear my hair down and straight so I always knew I would either have an updo or a volumised curly style to add that something special.

Anyway instead of me rambling on, here are some moodboards from Polyvore that might help inspire you. It is safe to say I am a Polyvore novice. It's soooo time consuming and I can never find what I want. I haven't yet mastered uploading my own photos but I am sure you get the jist.

Vintage chic - This is ever so slightly similar to what I based my own wedding on. Everything is soft and light and very romantic. It is classic without being overly traditional.

Sophisticated Instinct by saskiathesalsafairy featuring Christian Louboutin shoes



Inspiration has been taken from the zebra print here. The clean sharp black and white colour scheme is so sophisticated but has added depth when the apple green is added. Really you can add any colour to black and white. Adding pink usually gives a more modern and funky look, green for sophistication, yellow for a chic summer look or tiffany blue for some classic zing! Keeping the flowers light and simple gives a stunning affect.

Beach Chic by

Inspiration for this was taken from the 'Beach' sign. Incorporating the blue with the sand and brown tones. The invitation with its blue polka pattern adds a litle fun and offers a more laidback approach to the affair. Beach brides should dress appropriately ... anything too heavy or bustled will usually be too warm, so the lighter and floatier the dress, the better.

Fairytale Romance by saskiathesalsafairy featuring Christian Louboutin shoes

Inspired by Fairytale romance, the huge dress and traditionally romantic red roses make this the perfect chic princess look. Flowing locks keep it young and fresh. An unusual cake and birdcages for decor keep the fairytale vibe going.

Alternative Wedding Ideas by saskiathesalsafairy featuring David Yurman jewelry

Lets not forget though, not every Bride wants a big white dress, 4-tiered wedding cake and a big Church wedding. When I started planning I was positive I wanted something very alternative ... in the end I veered toward the traditional. You can add your own stamp on your weddingstyle in many ways, it can be as daring as a different coloured dress or as subtle as a pair of leopard print shoes under your gown.

Whatever the case, when it comes to your wedding, always be true to yourself.

Xx

Wedding Season!

Earlier on this week Lottie of Pretty Geeky (check out her blog - she creates amazing looks and also does requests - ace!) ... asked me if I would do some posts on Wedding planning and style. I got married last year and I don't claim to know everything about weddings but I did take to the planning & creative side of it like a duck to water and have since thought about looking into a career in event planning - although I don't see this happening anytime soon.

So, this will be a little series of posts focussing on elements of the Wedding day and the planning process, hopefully it will give some helpful hints and tips and some ideas on styling - hair/make-up and even some inspiration for wedding guests and the dreaded 'what should I wear?' dilemna!

• First up, for all you brides to be ... stay organised - even if it means keeping a checklist/spreadsheet. Also keep a wedding folder or scrapbook where you can jot down ideas or rip out pictures from magazine and file them. When i was planning I would very often draw what the ceremony room would look like or draw key features of my day, like my table centrepieces, candy station, room decor, cake etc. Being able to visualise your thoughts makes it all the easier.

• Don't feel pressurised. Family and friends can try and make demands on you when it comes to your Big Day. Remember, it is YOUR day not theirs. Sometimes this can be difficult when parents are paying for the day or even just certain aspects so it can be useful to politely lay down some ground rules at the very beginning.
  

• Don't get caught up in the concept that your wedding day will be the best day of your life. This can be a particularly daunting thought for a Bride and Groom ... there is always a worry of an anti-climax at the end of it all. Don't fret. Your wedding will be a fantastic day regardless, the commitment you are making and what it symbolises to you is what is important. It should be one of many brilliant days in your life. Would you really want your wedding day to happen at all if it was going to be the best day of your whole life not to be superceded by any other? I know I wouldn't. I viewed it as the start of a whole new amazing life worth of fabulous days with my husband.

• Bargain Hunt! Weddings are an expensive business with the average wedding in the UK costing £21,000. However, just because that is the average cost, it doesn't mean you need to spend that much to have a gorgeous wedding. Businesses with charge through the roof for anything wedding related but guaranteed you can always get the same thing or similar for cheaper, you just need to use some savvy. For example, for my wedding I managed to find 12 candelabras for my centrepieces for £20 - amazing value. I then draped them in reams of pearls which I bought from various stores like Primark/Claires for only £1 a pop. I bought some votives, candles and mirrors from Ikea then added a few flowers. Also, get creative, design your own stationery or create your own favours. Don't be afraid to negotiate with suppliers either. They are all fighting off competition so you can barter with them. Sift out what you want from what you need. I wanted blue swarovski crystals on the soles of my shoes in the shape of mine and my husbands initials - a company was charging £80 for this, I couldn't justify the cost - so i decided to do it myself at the cost of £3! Fantastic.

• Do your research. Not only research about Weddings but also wedding suppliers. Don't sign on the dotted line or pay a deposit until you are comfortable with your supplier and you are happy with what they are offering you. Most importantly, make sure that there is no one else who offers the same for cheaper. Once you have chosen a supplier, keep in touch and communicate all your requirements to them. They are not mind readers and every couple want something different from their day so make sure you talk to them.
  

• Don't sweat the small stuff. Most Brides experience sleepless nights in the run up to their wedding, stressing that something may go wrong. Do you know what? It might, it often does but either no one else will know except you or you might not even know! Also, by the time your day is here, you are so excited and so happy that nothing really matters, you won't really care if the bar runs out of ice or the band arrives late .. you will be on cloud 9. Obviously, you can deal with any supplier shortcomings afterwards but on the day - don't sweat it!
  

• Look after your guests. This is a biggy for me. Of course, you spend a lot of money on your wedding but so do your guests. Think about the costs for a guest - they spend money on hen/stag do's, shell out for a new outfit, buy you a fantastic gift, sometimes they pay for hotel and often transport can be pricey, then on the day of the wedding bar prices can be pretty expensive in some venues. This is why I feel it is important to make sure your guests are comfortable, fed, watered and happy. It can be something simple, for example, one of the things I did was make sure that the toilets at my venue were fully stocked with lovely toiletries for guests. The venue wasn't a hotel so guests had nowhere to go to freshen up so I made sure they had all the essentials - hairspray, deodorant, gel foot pads for over enthusiastic dancers, even clear nail polish for any laddered tights!
  

• Catch it all on camera. Whether or not you can afford a professional photographer and videographer make sure that someone captures your day on camera. There is nothing quite like the feeling of receiving your photographs and excitedly looking through them - the memories all come rushing back! Likewise with a DVD. I was sceptical on getting a DVD for my wedding but I am so glad I did. It is lovely to look back on. I don't watch it everyday like some Brides but knowing it is there and we can show it to family is great. We were lucky as we paid for a videographer but my sister also made her own video which we just love. I would recommend if you are on a budget, ask a friend with a camcorder to capture it all, it really is a fabulous thing to have.
  

• Keep it personal. The best weddings I have been to are the weddings where a lot of thought or personal touches have been added by the Bride and Groom. Weddings can become a bit bog standard so if you can inject your own personality into the day it makes it more interesting for yourself and the guests. This can be making your own stationery, devising your own personalised menu, using table names that are personal to the couple or even just in your music or styling choice. Some of our personal touches: We were engaged in Italy, so we used this as inspiration for our food and drink, we had an Italian menu and served Bellini's as well as Champagne, we also had a cocktail menu where we had created our own cocktails for the day, also our music choices throughout the day was very personal to us and I had made all of the stationery for the day, including love quotes, personalised monogram sweetie bags and favours. You don't have to go that far, the simple things often make the biggest impact.
  

• Enjoy yourself! It is a truly wonderful day ... it is the one day that all your family and friends will be gathered in the one place at the same time so make the most of it!

I hope this information is of some use to Brides-to-be. I could go on and on but I am sure by now most of you will have picked up these tips and will already have your planning in full swing! If by chance, anybody does want to ask any questions about planning their day just leave a comment or send me an email.

Happy Planning!

xx

Farewell Firenze! Warning: Slideshow Geek!!

I got back from Florence yesterday and instead of having a romantic, relaxing 5 days away it was somewhat more stressful and a bit of a struggle. Before I left I came down with a nasty little bug which in all honesty, I thought would be gone within 48 hours at least. Oh no ... it lasted the whole holiday!! I was ill on the plane going to Italy and had to go to bed as soon as we arrived at our apartment. Our apartment was great, perfect location with Miu Miu on one corner of the street and Valentino at the other corner and the Duomo just yards away. The flat itself was a mix of old and new and had quite a vintage Italian feel to it.

Out of the 5 days we managed to salvage 2 and even then they were hardgoing for me. Day 2 was especially difficult as Garrath managed to lock us out of our apartment quite late on in the evening ... there were tears and panic but we managed to get in touch with the owner who had to travel from his home in Prato (about 40 mins away) to let us back in!! We laugh about it now....!!!

We did a couple of shopping days which took real effort on my part (so unlike me) and the rest of the time was spent chilling out around the city. Unfortunately, not as many sites were taken in because of my bug so I was glad this was our second visit to Florence. Big thanks to Daisy at Cupcakes and Cherries for recommending the Pizzeria at Piazza Santo Spirito, it was amazing. It was the only meal I could eat and enjoy the whole holiday ... such a great buzz about the Piazza, thanks!!

Anyway, thought I would show you a couple of holiday snaps before I share any of my haul with you. Some of the pics, I look a bit ropey despite being packed in slap!!

A highlight of the holiday ... Jem theme tune playing in the window of Balmain! Truly, truly, truly amazing!!! ;)

The Ponte Vecchio Bridge - where Garrath proposed ... awwwwMe, trying to pose with the Ponte Vecchio in the background. This was the night we got locked out of our apartment..... after the tears! Look at my spooky double hand ...Garrath strolling through the city
Me outside Sephora where i picked up a few bits and bobs!

A girl dressed as 'A Rose Romance' in Mac at CoinIn the Roberto Cavalli Cafe My childish sense of humourScary close up of the happy - even though we don't look it - couple!!xx

Bye bye for now!

So, tomorrow I am off to Florence to celebrate my 1st wedding anniversary. I first visited Florence 2.5 years ago when hubby proposed to me so i think it's apt that we return to celebrate! I would go into detail on my romantic proposal but worry I would have you all gagging so I will pass on that one, lol.
I am so excited about going but disaster struck yesterday when i was hit with a bug! Had to call in sick to work today and spent all day in bed. Still not feeling too hot to be honest. Still haven't packed at all so there will be a busy rush to get everything done this evening. I had hoped to pack light but i'm pretty sure that won't work out! No offence, but there is no chance i will be on here blogging over my holiday, will be too busy soaking up the delights and culture that Florence has to offer. Will hopefully be picking up plenty of inspiration for bloggint though! However, I may take the occasional trip to Twitter to keep up with everyone going to the Barry M event. Can't wait to see you all there!

So bye bye everyone, see you all next week! xx

Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation, Nicola's lashes and a Loch Lomond Wedding!

So as previously mentioned I purchased Illamasqua's Rich Liquid Foundation in shade 205. This is not going to be too detailed a review but will rely on visuals to give you an example of this foundations effectiveness.

On Saturday, I attended a beautiful wedding on the banks of Loch Lomond so it was the perfect opportunity to road test this foundation. As I was getting my hair blow dried in the morning I knew I would not have a lot of time once I got home to do my full face so I made sure my base was on before getting there. Once home I completed the look with liner, lashes, bronzer, blush, lipgloss etc. What I am trying to say is that I applied the foundation at around 8.30am and did not touch up all day.

Here is the foundation in action at around 3pm. No touch ups. (Sorry no pics of when it was first applied)
This is me with my mother-in-law, she is so petite, I look the size of Shrek in comparison. Now when you first apply the rich foundation it seems really thick, almost like it will be impossible to blend but this is all an illusion. I apply it with my fingers to my whole face, then buff it in with a brush. It literally takes me seconds to apply, usually my foundation routine would take a full 5 minutes at least and that would be me in a rush! As soon as it is on, it will look very matte and the coverage looks quite full on. It is a full coverage foundation which I like as it kills the intensity of the freckles on my face. After a few minutes though, it seems to absorb with the oils in your skin to create a full coverage yet natural look. It neither covers matt nor luminous but gives a lovely glow to the skin. It is a thick foundation but feels and looks so light on your skin.

Here I am half way through the evening reception after much dancing! (sorry at this point i started to apply a different lipgloss that clearly didn't match the liner, i blame the drink). Again, no touch up to the foundation only a little touch up of concealer under the eyes, which I must say, was not needed I am just in the habit of ALWAYS doing this!
I would say its still looking pretty good at this point. I also wore my Girls Aloud lashes - Nicola's. Not one person commented on them so I assume they didn't notice they were fake - good sign! Because I had quite a busy dress on, i kept most of my make up low key other than the lashes. On my eyes I wore Mac shroom with satin taupe in the crease and a little Mac Mystery for depth along with fluidline winged liner.So back to the foundation, my final photo is of me at 3am in the morning and I think for nearly 19 hours of wear it held up phenomenally - even if i do look zonked! I can imagine this foundation is not for everyone. I know others have mentioned it is drying and i can understand why that might be. I suffer from dry skin but having wore this since Friday I have seen no negative effects to my skin .. and it pretty much only takes a few days for me to notice this. In my opinion this is the perfect base.

And for anyone wanting to know what my dress looked like, here it is .... just a quick snap taken from my hotel room ... not the best but you get the idea.
Have i sold this foundation to you? What do you think of its staying power?

Promise my next post will not be Illamasqua related!!!

x