How can June already be over?

It is already the 13th July and yet still I am thinking that we are in June!  I guess part of me wants to desperately cling on to June for another couple of weeks, because seriously - where did those days go?

Anyway, here are my top 10 favourite items from June and then before you know it, it will be August... Noooo! 

1.  White Arizona Birkenstocks

I have always wanted to own a pair of these shoes and I was noticing a lot of people sporting them, so I just had to join in!  They come up incredibly big so I recommend going down a size.  (I had to go down to a size 3 would you believe it?)  They are £55 from Schuh which is where I purchased them from but, because they are extremely comfortable I think that these are a great investment buy! 

2.  Lena Dunham 'Not that kind of Girl' book.

Lena Dunham has always been somebody that I admire greatly, due to her feminine views, super personality, her living life to the full motto as well as not caring about what other people think of her. Also, with being a massive fan of 'Girls', I just knew that this would be a great read! 

3.  Real Technique bold metals brushes. 

When I saw these brushes being featured on the blog 'Zoella' by Zoe Sugg, I was in awe of the shapes of the brushes and of course the gold detailing on the handles.  Like Zoe Sugg, I too am addicted to rose gold!  There are I think six brushes in the collection, but the three that I opted for were;- 301 contour brush, 100 setting powder brush and 201 pointed crease shadow brush.  All three of these brushes have been incredibly useful to me and I use them to do my daily makeup routine.  They are lightweight and the brushes are extremely soft and gentle for the face.  I have always been a huge fan 

of Nicky and Sam's Real Technique brushes, but I feel that this collection is one of their best ranges 

yet! 

4.  No 7 shadow sticks.

The other day I went into my nearest No 7 counter as I had a voucher for £3 off any makeup and I saw these shadow sticks looking at me!  Having been swayed by the 'By Terry Ombré Blackstar' shadow sticks, (I now have four of them and counting), I really didn't think that these No 7 ones would come anywhere close.  Oh how I was wrong!  These in my opinion are the perfect dupes for the By Terry range as they are a cream based shadow that stays on for hours, leaving no need for reapplying!  They come in five colours but I bought these two as I prefer to wear a more natural makeup!  The colours I went for are: Pewter Shine and Bronze.

5.  Phenomen oil by Jessica.

I rely heavily on getting my nails professionally manicured at my local salon 'Beauty Box', as although I love painting my nails, it just never seems to last very long (no matter what top coat I use!)    So instead I always go for Shellac nail varnishes as I find gel based nail polishes last up to four weeks, with intense shine and help my nails to stop breaking!  I decided to buy phenomen oil from 'Jessica' as I was told that it strengthens and repairs your nail beds, whilst encouraging re-growth.  It also smells of marzipan which is an added bonus! 

6.  St Tropez Gradual tan in Shower.

As you might have guessed from my previous blog, I am head over heels in love with this product!  The quality, the overall look and the simplicity of this item makes it a real must have!  I look like I've been away on holiday and believe me, I really haven't!  Check out my blog post about St Tropez Gradual tan in shower, where I tell you all about my experience and how to use it.

7.  Black pointed shoes from Primark.

The other day I popped into Primark where I was on the lookout for some smart heels.  Although there were some lovely stilettos, I was after something that was chic yet practical.  Then I found these babies and at £10 - what a bargain!  They came in two colours but of course, you know me I went for the black!  They are the perfect sling back shoes with a 2inch block heel, making them incredibly comfortable.  The pointed toe instantly turns them into a smarter shoe that can be worn for work or going out in the evening! 

8.  Earrings from 'Red Ghekko' in Brighton. 

When I go to Brighton (which in my case is a rarity), I always make sure to stop by my favourite boutique 'Red Ghekko'.  They sell the most unique jewellery and every time I pop in I always come out with at least three pieces.  I think it may have something to do with the promotion that they always tend to use which is "3 for the price of 2 on all jewellery".  That offer is way too good to miss!  The other day I went to Brighton and I purchased these earrings.  All of them are studs that can very easily dress up any outfit! 

9.  Clinique Colour Pop lipstick in shade 'Poppy Pop'.

Clinique brought out a new range of lipsticks that were high pigmented in colour but also had a primer inside, making them nourishing for the lips and strong in colour.  There were over 16 shades op lipsticks and I really could have bought all of them, but for me my favourite has to be 'Poppy Pop'.  It's the perfect combination of red and orange, whilst still being a perfect bright shade for Summer!

10.  'Alex' sunglasses from Jigsaw. 

Having lusted over these sunglasses for a while now I plucked up the courage and bought them!  They are a little bit expensive as they are £60 but I think that they are super stylish and worth every penny!

Did you buy any good products last month?  If so, what were they?  Let me know your opinions on any products that wowed you! 

Self tanning... My go to product of the year!

ST TROPEZ - GRADUAL TAN IN SHOWER

I have never been the type of person to rely on tanning products or even have professional spray tans... The majority of the time I am either milky white or ghostly pale, depending on my mood!  If I ever gain a tan it usually becomes the result of a hardcore sunbathing marathon for roughly 3 hours, which I then have to repeat at least twice a week.  With me being in full time employment, that regular time off just never seems to turn up!

It wasn't until my sister told me about a new tanning product, that is both easy to use, whilst giving a natural glowing tan!  I was very at first as I didn't want to turn out like a lobster, like I had done many years ago, when my spray tan went a little too orange and left me looking like an Oompa Loompa... (Not a good look right?) but once she reassured me that the lightest colour gives great results, I was instantly hooked!

St Tropez have released a brand new product "Gradual tan in shower", which incorporates a natural looking tan whilst in the shower.

The method behind this product is so simple.  Firstly, have a shower but keep your hair dry or if you have washed your hair, make sure you towel dry it properly and tie it up away from your face, as you don't want dripping hair to spoil your new tan!  Then turn the shower off and whilst your skin is still wet apply the cream all over your body massaging it into your skin using circular movements.  Make sure that you wash the palms of your hands after that.  Once applied to your whole body set a timer for 3 minutes, or brush your teeth, (or in my case listen to a 3 minute song on Spotify).  Once the 3 minutes is up, turn on your shower and gently wash off the product until your skin feels soft!  Pat dry your body using a towel and get changed.  This product takes a couple of hours to take effect so I would thoroughly recommend you to apply it the night before you have a special event, as the tan would have all day to develop.

I have been utterly wowed by this product and I definitely think that this is St Tropez's best self tanning cream to date!  Not only does it make you look like you've had a 2 week holiday in Spain (which I desperately need right now, oh and please excuse my white mark on my wrist that is from my watch), but it is also streak free and leaves no after smell... Hallelujah!  I must confess though, once I first used this, I became attached very quickly and so 2 more bottles were purchased!  After all Boots were doing an exclusive sale of 1/3 off the usual price of £15, making it only £9.50.... What's not to buy? 

So that's my new tanning product of the year - I definitely recommend this to all of you and if you are like me and usually very adamant against fake tans, then I assure you, this product will not let you down!  Give it a try and let me know your opinions on it!  Go on... I dare you! 

My top 5 shoes for Summer!

With Summer fast approaching, I thought it would be best to share with you my top five shoes for the season.  So let's get started!


1.  Nude heels from MISS SELFRIDGE

Every woman should own a pair of nude heels to add to their ever growing shoe collection!  I feel that this is a necessity... Nude heels can literally take you anywhere!  From dressing up a pair of jeans to accompanying a colourful dress - these shoes are ideal for the Summer!

2.  Black heels from KURT GEIGER

Along with nude heels, another must have shoe is the infamous black heel!  These shoes are incredibly versatile due to the colouring and again they go with any item of clothing and any colour too.  I always think that black shoes look really smart and complete any outfit! 

3.  Espadrille wedges from NEW LOOK

For those of you who find it difficult to walk in heels, I present to you the Espadrille wedge.  This shoe is incredibly easy to walk in and extremely comfortable, because the sole is made up of a platform, which reduces the height of the heel.  These shoes are great for holidays too, as they are light weight and stylish.  I would style these with a pair of denim shorts or a sun dress. 

4.  Espadrille slip ons from JIGSAW 

I recently bought these from Jigsaw the other day and I haven't stopped wearing them since!  They're like a smart version of flip flops with the added comfort of slippers... So what's not to like?  They are a holiday must have and I am definitely taking them with me when I go away!  I like to style these with ankle grazer trousers or rolled up jeans. 

5.  Smart flat pumps - gladiator flats in black from OFFICE 

Gladiator flats have been the hottest topic this season what with their versatile look and endless chic style.  I have particularly grown accustomed to the lace up version, where the laces cross over one another and go up the feet to the ankle.  Although I think that tan is a great shade to wear gladiators in, I always get drawn to the colour black!  Maybe it is, because I know that they are smarter and can be worn in the evening when going out.  I would wear these with either jeans or a tight pencil skirt.

So that's my lowdown on the perfect shoes for this season.  But what are your favourite shoes to wear in Summer?  And what was the last pair of shoes you bought recently? 

M x

The 50 facts about me challenge!

Today I have decided to write a "50 facts about me post", because I have always enjoyed reading and finding out new things about my favourite bloggers and therefore I wanted all of you to find out more about me! 

So.... Here goes!

1.  I am addicted to watching box sets (once I start, I just can't stop!)

2.  My favourite colour is purple.

3.  My lucky number is 31.

4.  When I was younger I wanted to be a hairdresser (and I used to constantly chop off all of the hair off every single one of my Barbie dolls!)

5.  I used to be a ballerina (I started when I was 3, right up until I was 17 - where I completed all my grades!

6.  My favourite animal is the chimpanzee as not only are they super cute, but they are also part of our ancestors and they are so similar to us - it's uncanny! 

7.  My middle name is Nicholette.

8.  I am engaged and have been for 1 year now (time is seriously racing by!)

9.  My favourite magazines in order of preference are:- Elle, Grazia, Glamour, Vogue and lastly Heat (for when you want to catch up on all celeb gossip!)

10.  I'm a singer and regularly perform covers of songs on my YouTube account (www.youtube.com/user/Mellmeister1) 

11.  I have one dog who is a West Highland terrier.

12.  I am only 5ft tall (and have been this height since I was 15... I am constantly hoping for a growth spurt!) 

13.  My favourite piece of clothing to wear in A/W has to be my black boyfriend blazer from Topshop last year (I wore that piece throughout the season and it still looks amazing now!)

14.  If I could have one super power, it would be to have the ability to freeze time... It would allow you to stop for a minute and enjoy the moment you're currently in, as time nowadays just flies by! 

15.  My favourite TV shows when I was a child used to be:- Tots TV, Tellytubbies and Rosie and Jim.

16.  Talking about Tellytubbies, when I was younger I had a costume of Lala and used to parade around the house in it!

17.  My two favourite fashion idols at the moment are Olivia Palermo and Blake Lively, as their outfits always seem to look so polished and they both have great style!

18.  I am addicted to wearing stripes this year (I have 7 items in my wardrobe and counting!)

19.  I have been with my fiancé since I was 16 and we met at secondary school (childhood sweethearts some would say!)

20.  My favourite hobby is shopping - obviously!

21.  I'm quite good at bowling.

22.  My favourite Netflix original programme is Orange is the New Black (seriously cannot wait for season 3 to come out in June!)

23.  My favourite pizza is the Dominos Meateor (meatballs, ground beef, sausages, pepperoni, smoked bacon rashers and BBQ sauce... Every carnivores dream on a plate!) 

24.  I have size 4 feet (EUR 37) - meaning finding shoes in my size is a challenge in itself! 

25.  Whenever I meet new people I usually tend to hug them rather than shake hands - I'm definitely a hugger!

26.  My favourite perfume at the moment is Yves Saint Lauren Black Opium.

27.  The first gig I ever went to was at Shepherd's Bush Empire, where I saw The Civil Wars play and they were incredible!

28.  The best holidays I've ever had were in Paris 2 years ago and in Cyprus 3 years ago.

29.  My designer label crush is Chanel (one day I will own a Chanel bag, even if it takes a while to save up!

30.  I love listening to upcoming artists and discovering new music.

31.  My favourite West End show is The Book Of Mormon, because I literally laughed every five seconds - it was hilarious and everyone should see it!

32.  My favourite Marvel superhero is Thor (he's so godly and gorgeous!) 

33.  The best place to get a burger and chips is from Meat Market in Covent Garden (the Dead Hippie burger never fails to amaze me!)

34.  I have the loudest laugh.

35.  One day I would love to have 3 kids!

36.  My favourite piece of clothing to wear in Summer has to be a play suit - they're so handy plus they look super cute!

37.  I would love to see P!NK or Sia live in a concert - they are definitely my two favourite singers!

38.  My favourite fruit to eat is Melon.

39.  My favourite coloured nail polish to wear for winter is either Black or burgundy and for summer it has to be either coral or dusky blue.

40.  My favourite TV shows at the moment are:- Big Bang Theory, Revenge, Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead and Orange is the New Black.

41.  My go to kicks are always Vans and Converse trainers, however I am wanting to add to my collection with either a pair of New Balance or Nike!

42.  I broke my collarbone when I was 11 (it didn't help that it was the first day of the summer holidays!)

43.  My biggest pet peeve is when you are on the train and you ask someone to let you pass and instead of getting up and moving to the side so you can safely get out of your seat to leave the train, they just turn their legs whilst remaining seated... There's no way I'm getting past them with the amount of bags I carry around with me - it's just plain rude!

44.  At my primary school, I used to compete in chess tournaments around the County and I was made Chess Champion for 3 years!

45.  My star sign is Aquarius.

46.  Big, chunky necklaces are my favourite type of jewellery as they complete any outfit!

47.  I seem to walk better in heels than I do when I'm in flats (I literally trip over air - it's so strange!) 

48.  I don't know why but I find the sound of someone hoovering somewhat comforting - it makes me sleepy!

49.  I've always had long hair for as long as I can remember!

50.  I would love to have a tattoo one day as I think that done correctly they are beautiful, but I have the worst pain threshold ever... So it's highly unlikely - I can always dream!

There you have it, 50 facts about me!  I hope you enjoyed reading this and I dare you to try it for 

yourself!

M x

Primark Haul - discovering my love for stripes!

It's that time of the year again girlies, where I've noticed that the majority of my wardrobe consists mainly of jumpers, jeans and jackets with colours ranging from black, to burgundy so not very colourful!  Therefore I thought that it was time for a wardrobe update of spring/summer clothes to spruce up my wardrobe and to get me ready for summer.  I decided to pop into Primark (Primarni, as we like to call it) the other day and I just fell in love with their new collection and kind of went a little  mad on a few pieces!  Below I am going to show you the main pieces I purchased and I will also describe to you why I chose them and what the benefits are of each item.  So without further ado, let's gets started!

I spotted this jumper on Zoella's YouTube channel a while ago when she went shopping in Bristol and was so happy to find out that it had been released in the London shops just recently!  This jumper is so perfect for spring as it is made of a light cotton and the black stripes give it that everyday casual wear feel.  But what really sold it to me was actually the back of the jumper funnily enough -  just under the bra line it has a sheer cream silk panel that looks so elegant when it is on and I think that with a pair of black skinny jeans and heeled boots, you can also wear it for an evening out as well! 

  

Once I found out that the stipe jumper worked, I was very impressed to find that it also came in two other shades and so obviously snapped those up as well.  It came in a light charcoal colour and also a navy - I found that because these shades are plain in colour with no added pattern to them, you really notice the sheer panel on the back probably more so than the striped version!  They have a high crew neck and so I like to style them with a statement necklace - here I teamed the navy sweater with a necklace also from Primark that compliments the sweater due to colour co-ordination with the navy and cream elements that the sweater portrays.  This is a great piece with jeans also.

Another sweater that I spotted whilst on my shopping spree was this lovely number!  Summer to me, is all about flowers and anything floral so you can imagine my excitement when I spied this in the corner of my eye!  I like the simplicity of this piece, what with the charcoal base colour but also the squared/boxed shape which makes it perfect for summer as it keeps you cool.  The flower details on the sleeves and hem of the sweater gives it personality and makes it uber feminine - I cannot wait to wear this with my GAP shorts for summer!

Keeping in with the stripes theme going on (I don't know why but this year I seem to have gone stripe crazy... I seriously can't get enough of them), I picked up these cute tank tops to wear with shorts and high waisted jeans.  I love the neckline on these tops because it's in the style if a halter neck, meaning it's super comfortable to wear as it doesn't have normal arm straps.  I think it gives a chic look and it can be teamed up with pretty much anything.  Also, the fact that they are knitted cotton makes them textured and also great for spring as they are not too thin!

Whilst I was in Primark I was mainly on the hunt for a great cooling dress for summer - something I can easily pop on with a pair of sandals but also something I can dress up if I needed too.  This dress ticks all of those boxes and more!  This dress is a fantastic find because it has two ways of wearing it.  You either wear it as a halter neck style (like the one pictured above), or you simply take the straps off and have it completely strapless.  I love how it is two dresses in one but I also love the colour and pattern too.  Navy and white is classic for summer but the fact that it has bottle green running through it makes it more expensive and quirky!  Really looking forward to wearing this when it gets hotter.

And finally I bring you to my last piece that I purchased and I must say that I saved the best till last!  This is quite possibly the most useful and versatile cardigan/kimono I have seen in a long time!  It is of a jersey material making it cooling but also the shape is unconstructed meaning you can wear it over anything.  I absolutely love the fringing at the bottom as not only is it more fashionable but it also adds about three inches more to the length of the item.  The colours are really useful to me as I wear a lot of black and grey and I can definitely wear those colours underneath.  The teal and the pink colours brighten up the cardigan without making the print be too garish and loud!  I would say that this is a brilliant piece as it's on trend without being too bold, as the colours are nice and subtle!

I really hope that this has spurred you on to update your wardrobes and if you haven't already popped down to your nearest Primark, I strongly advise that you do so now!  

Have a great bank holiday weekend!  M x

The long waistcoat... My new best friend!

The other day I popped into London to spend the gift cards that I was given for my birthday... (I know, I know - my birthday was a good 2 and a half months ago now).  You must be thinking "if that was me, I would have used them in a heartbeat!"  But you see, I honestly couldn't decide on anything!   I guess I just wanted to wait till all the new season stock had arrived and to tell you the truth, I am so glad that I did!

I had a couple of vouchers for House of Fraser and so I went into the Oxford Street branch, as it has a wider range of stock.  The brands I usually shop at in House of Fraser are:- Oasis, Miss Selfridge, Mango and Yumi.  So it was a real surprise that the piece I ended up choosing was from Warehouse!

I've always admired the clothes from Warehouse, but seemed to think that they were too office based and a little too grown up for me!  However, their new spring summer collection is the complete opposite!  There are lots of amazing prints and casual wear, as well as smart dresses for work.  I really feel that this year, their clothes are more ageless - meaning that they cover a wider audience as there is something for everyone in their collection! 

After trying on 14 items in the fitting room... (Yes, I really did try on that many), I sifted through the basic sweaters/casual tees, until finally choosing from the smart outerwear!

(Well I didn't want to rush my purchase just because I had a voucher to use!  No, no that's not how I work!)  I think of myself as a methodical shopper - even though I'm a stylist in my profession, when I go shopping I'm usually quite efficient and if I see something I like, I usually purchase it right there, rather than go through all the shops and then come back to it later.

Finally, I tried on the last item, which was a long waistcoat in a light charcoal colour that was made of mainly wool and viscose.  I know what you're thinking - "wool in spring?  Not very practical!"  But you see it is a great alternative to a coat!  It has no buttons and deep pockets, which helps to give a casual unconstructed look! 

I really fell in love with this waistcoat, because I've never had one before and also I have found it so useful already!  The most easiest way to wear it is to team it up with a pair of black jeans and a black polo jumper to stick with the monochrome look! 

However, you can also put it with a shirt, tucked into a high waisted mini skirt and teamed with a pair of high heeled boots.  Or for a more summery look, you can simply put it with rolled up jeans/chinos, a stripe tee and trainers/pumps! 

I absolutely love this item and I think that not only is it perfect for spring, it is also ideal for next autumn too, making it certainly a versatile piece for anyone's wardrobe.  And for £65 I think that it is a total bargain as it looks much more expensive and shadows a lot of the jackets in Whistles' collections too.

I hope you like this blog post and if any of you have long waistcoats like this in your wardrobes, then bring them out and get styling! 

M x

The Scarf - every woman's necessity!

Most mornings, on my way to work on the daily commute, I notice just how cold and brisk it is and so I thought that it would be ideal if I wrote a post about the one piece of outerwear that is so vital at these times.  A piece that we just cannot live without... and that my friends is the scarf!

Here are the three scarves that I used to create my top five looks!

Pom Pom Scarf: Jigsaw £59

Contrast Paisley silk scarf: Jigsaw £39

Inverted print scarf: Jigsaw £59 

Here are my top five favourite ways of how to wear them!

1.  The Knot!  This is by far the quickest style to achieve - I think that it works best with a long silk scarf.  Drape the scarf around your neck and simply crossover the two ends to meet in the middle, creating a knot.  It is really simple and looks stunning over a simple jumper or silk blouse.

2.  The neck tie!  This style works best with a silk scarf, but if you have a thin squared scarf then that would work just the same.  All you have to do with this style is to simply tie the scarf around your neck... I always think that tying it on the side of your neck looks more flattering and stylish! 

3.  The contemporary!   This is probably the most popular way to wear a scarf as not only is it easy to create, but it also looks comfortable and adds another texture to a simple jumper or dress.  To achieve this look take your scarf and wrap it around your neck, making sure that you take both pieces and bring them round to the front.  Then just pull out the neck a little so it becomes less tight and so that you can easily move!

4.  The cravat!  This style can be created with any style of scarf.  Simply drape the scarf around your neck and pull one of the sides so that it becomes longer than the other side.  Then take the longer side and wrap it over the shorter side, making a loop and then pull through, as if you were putting on a tie!   Once pulled through, simply thread the long piece through the loop and voila... A cravat is made!

5.  The bow!  To best achieve this look use a scarf that has a lot of texture to it - I ended up using one with small Pom poms attached to the edges of the scarf.  Simply drape the scarf around your neck so that you have two pieces hanging down either side of you.  Then towards you, put both pieces into the loop but don't pull all the way, as you want the effect to look like a bow! 

So there you have it... Five very simple, yet extremely elegant ways to wear your everyday scarf.  I hope this has become useful to you and that you now have a broader range of styling ideas!

Bring out the scarves from your wardrobes and get creating!

M x