YDELTUYT

Rings!

It seems everyone has gone mad for rings just now - the more the merrier too and all at once.

I have always been a bit mad for costume jewellery especially rings and have a multitude hidden away in numerous jewellery boxes. I never tire of adding to the collection.

2010 seen everyone go ballistic over the YSL arty ring. So too did I but decided against jumping on the same wagon and avoided buying it. I wanted something less popular, something that people would have to ask 'where did you get that from?'. Luckily I found some gems on my recent travels but also discovered a fabulous website where I could order a plethora of beauties online.

YDELTUYT is an independent jewellery retailer based in the Netherlands and is the creation of Simone Zuurveld.

I purchased these gorgeous rings from the website, they are real statement rings and made from beautiful materials. Simone at Ydeltuyt was also kind enough to include this cute tiger ring which is just adorable and looks great worn together with other rings.

Ydeltuyt stock not only rings but bracelets, earrings and even sunglasses and at super reasonable prices.

Of course, the rings have caught my eye most and there are so many more I want to order, especially some of the ornate looking skull rings.

Ydeltuyt ships internationally and the jewellery available rivals larger retailers and in my opinion offers something a little bit different and more unique.

Has anyone else discovered the wonders of Ydeltuyt yet?

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

Botox in a jar!

I was sent this little jar of magic months ago ... why I haven't blogged about it sooner, I really don't know.

Instant Forehead Smoother from Bremenn Research Labs.

You see, the concept of this product and imagery from a packaging perspective, the objective seems nigh on impossible.

It promises to 'Reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles and pronounced expression lines'. Sounds a bit too good to be true, doesn't it?
Surprisingly, it's a lovely, rich, moisturising cream to start with, not much of a scent and seems to take a lifetime to finish the jar which at £60 odd quid is actually a bit of a blessing.

I don't think this is a permanent fix for those looking for a needle free botox fix ... instead i think there may be a bit of an optical illusion going on. Once applied to the forehead the appearance of any fine lines are magically reduced ... it literally is an instant result that leaves your skin feeling hydrated and smooth.

To be honest, I probably don't have a lot to work on in the way of testing and revealing via photographic evidence the results of this product as the lines I do have, only I seem to notice. However, as I am hitting 30 this year, i think this little pot may become my new best friend in times of need.

I do notice a significant difference after application and if you do have pronounced expression lines i'd suggest giving this a go as you should notice an instant result although it would be highly unlikely the result would remain permanent. Easier and less daunting than needles though. You can buy this product from Salonskincare.

x

She wears a short black leather skirt

Over the festive period, I hardly think there was a night that I didn't have a party to go to or a gathering to attend. Needless to say my liver will need some time to recover as will my muffin top.

A small gathering at my place called for a relaxed glamour that included leather (naturally) and sequins.
Sequin Tee: French Connection (sales purchase); Faux Leather Skirt: Miss Selfridge; Black suedette wedge heels: New Look; French Moustache necklace: Cherry Loco (as seen in a previous post)
Accessories were simple again, once I was a bit of a magpie but I have toned down my costume jewellery in fear of looking a little bit tacky ... of course, a bit of tack can be good in small doses though. I stuck to a couple of bangles and my gorgeous new turquoise ring which was purchased recently in Egypt. It has become my replacement for the YSL ring since I decided not to buy it.
My make up look has been quite samey for the last wee while, as mentioned in my favourites post I have stuck to the Estee Lauder Extravagant Gold palette and this night was no different. I used the bronze shade from the palette all over and the darker brown to add definition and pearlised shade for highlight. I added MAC lashes in no.34 ... wow, are these impact lashes ... pretty full on while remaining demure at the same time.
Illamasqua Erzule was added to Nars Laguna to create another bronzed cheek and MACs Sun & Moon as blush, this time with MACs Belightful to highlight. A simple lipgloss again with Estee Lauders Extravagant Ruby pure colour gloss.
Again, I had my hair in a top bun ... it's the easiest hairstyle to pull off when you are out as many nights on the trot ... no fussing or overstyling although I am looking forward to letting the hair down again.

x

My favourite cosmetics of 2010

My favourite's list this year is not exhaustive... this year I have probably spent the least ever on cosmetics as I tried to cut back and be realistic about what I wear.

Truth is, when i like something - i wear it to death ... so my picks are the things I have used the most over the last year and will probably continue to wear into 2011.

From left to right:

Estee lauder Extravagant Gold eye palette. I posted about this a while back and since then it's practically been the only shadows I have used. Either used together or seperately, this neutral palette has the most wearable shades. It has been perfect for my winter make up but equally amazing when I went to Egypt ... creating fabulous summery looking smokey eyes. I have also found no need to purchase the Urban Decay naked palette now I have this ...

Illamasqua Powedered Metal in Erzule - this is the newest of my picks, only purchased last week but is already a firm favourite and can't believe I have only just discovered it. I lost a bit of love for Illamasqua for a while but it is definitely back on my radar. I had always been told this was for darker skintones but I find it absolutely lovely on my paley walley skin. It is lovely both on the eye and cheeks, although a lighter hand is needed for cheeks. This is also fabulous when used with a damp brush to the eye, creating a gorgeous metallic effect. Lush.

Another Illamasqua pick is their nail varnish in Boosh. This was sent to me by the lovely Mizzworthy who knowing I had a love for the Mighty Boosh and illamasqua nail varnish ... she knew I would love it. It is a tar like polish, the blackest of black and is fully opaque after one coat. Illa really do make the best nail varnish - they are always top of my list and well worth their price.

MACs Sun & Moon mineralised blush took a while to grow on me but once it did I couldn't resist it. It came out with one of their collections, unfortunately I can't remember which one... please remind me if you know. It is a lovely bronzed effect blush with hints of burnished pink. It adds a lovely glow to a bronzed look and for me was a perfect holiday colour.

My best discovery of the year was the Shu Uemura painting liners. My particular favourite and most worn being night blue. These liners are just so smooth and flawless to apply. They don't budge or fade at all throughout the day.
Surprise favourites for 2010 is the Topshop make up range. Cream blush in Neon Rose is an absolute love of mine ... I wore it all Summer and it gave a gorgeous glow of colour to the cheeks. So much so I have now hit pan on it (first blush I have ever hit pan on) and needs replacing. The highlight in Sunbeam is another favourite. Great pigment with a lovely sheen that can be worn during the day without too much glitter or shimmer cheapening your look.

What are your favourite make up choices of 2010?
Do any of these feature on yours?

x

There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow

New Year was brought in at a friends club night - Compact Disco at the Black Sparrow. Great night, great tunes, great company ... and a very very sore head and poor memory the next day.

As one of the many changes I would like to make to my blog this year ... Outfit posts are one of the main things I want to introduce. What better way to start than to show you my New Year get up. In keeping with a bird theme I went for full on feathers ... and of course as mentioned in a previous post ... my love for leather is still going strong. Feather and Leather. Nice ring to it.
Feather cape: ASOS; Black Boob tube: Topshop; Leather trousers: River Island; Moc Croc bag: Mango; Wedge heels: New Look

I went with the comfiest shoes I could find as it was a night of dancing, fun and frolics ... normally I would have gone for a long skinny heel with these trousers.
Accessories were kept low key as the feather cape was the statement piece of the outfit.
Bauble bracelet: Mango; Friendship bracelet: Links of London; Rolex: FAKE; Bling Ring: Marc Jacobs

Make up was quite bronzed using Illamasqua powdered metal in Erzule on cheeks and eyes. I used MACs Deep Truth (gorgeous dark blue/navy) underneath the eye and lined with Shu Uemura painting liner in night blue, using the Kimberley Walsh festival lashes by eyelure to finish off (I cut off the end feathers from the lashes to suit).

Lips were simply glossed using Estee Lauder extravagant ruby. I used Mac's sun moon and stars as a blush and cream colour base in Pearl to highlight the inner corner of the eye.

My finished look was statement while remaining comfortable enough for a night of fun twinkling my toes on the dancefloor.

How did everyone else spend Hogmanay?

x

She looks absolutely fine!

Russell Brand posts a pic of Katy Perry on twitter sans make up and all of a sudden all the bitchy women of the world peek out from every nook and cranny claiming 'I knew it! She's U-G-L-Y!'

Other comments I've seen:

'Katy is hideous without make up'
'Ugh, she needs a faceplant'
'Katy proves how deceiving make up can be'

YOU.WRETCHED.PEOPLE.

I am assuming that all the comments came from all the natural stunners out there otherwise, why else would you comment?

For the record, her skin looks pretty darn good and despite being in her natural state, looks absolutely fine. I don't gasp in disgust or feel like throwing up when I look at this photo so what's the problem? seriously.

I'm glad no ones posted my make up free photos online for all the perfect people to start a witch hunt for being hideously imperfect. It would be lovely not to need a bit of mascara or concealer but for the majority of women that's not the case, we all require and even like to wear a bit of warpaint.

Obviously with a bit of foundation, bronzer, blush, liner, false eyelashes, lipliner, gloss, highlighter ... (do you want me to go on? ) I look half decent too and if I could look as amazing as Katy with make up on then I have to say I'd feel pretty damn chuffed with myself.

Women of the world, you need to learn to respect each other rather than hate on each other. It's not pretty, clever or classy.

x