This Fashion Is Mine...

Pretty Floral Nails Tutorial

2012-03-05T19:11:00.000Z

The warmer sunnier weather we've been getting recently has inspired me to create a Spring floral nail design using white as a back drop and pretty little pink flowers. There are so many great floral nail designs out there and this is just my take on the trend. Keep reading if you want to paint the design yourself!

Start off with white nails, I used two coats of OPI's Alpine Snow. Wait for it to dry completely. Take a pastel pink, mine is MUA Shade 16 and using a cotton bud, dot on varying spots of the colour. Be sure not to make the spots too close together....

Using a white nail art pen (or regular white polish with a thin paintbrush) add some white over the pink spots, blend these in slightly. It adds highlights and gives a 3-dimensional effect to the flowers.

Using a green nail art pen (or regular green polish and thin paintbrush) add leaves to either side of your flowers.

Finish with a top coat of your choice and enjoy your vintage floral nails!

Ways to Wear a Denim Shirt

2012-03-02T19:11:00.000Z

The Denim Shirt - Topshop

This oversized boyfriend fit pale denim shirt from Topshop has become a wardrobe staple for me, I don't quite know how I lived without one. I think it appeals to me most due to the fact I feel like a painter in mine - a real artist! I'm going to show you a few ways I like to wear mine and hopefully inspire you to get the most out of your classic denim shirt....

The Layered Jumper

Silver Metallic Jumper with Zip Back - H&M

Black Leggings - H&M

Studded Slipper Shoes - Topshop

Orange Loose Knit Jumper - New Look

Leggings - as before

Shoes - as before

Layering your shirt with a jumper or cardigan adds the extra warmth needed for chilly days and buttoning your shirt up to the top adds interest and gives off that geek-chic vibe. I like to wear these outfits to lectures, I feel comfortable but still stylish. You can tuck the bottom of the shirt in for a more polished look.

The Casual Sunday

Freedom Newspaper Tee - Zara

Converse Leather Hi-tops

Leggings - as before

This outfit is perfect for lazy Sundays - a print tee, open shirt, converse and lots of chunky jewellery are perfect for slobbing about in or meeting up with friends for a chat. You can also see me wearing this outfit here.

The Shirt & Skirt

Black Drape Back Skirt - Primark

Shoes - as before

I think this might be the first outfit post of 2012 featuring bare legs! Of course, I'll be wearing this with tights if the weather's not great. I bought this skirt last week and I'm finding I can pair it with almost anything.

Roll your shirt sleeves up for a artsy relaxed look and add jewellery here and there.

The Leathers

Heart Print Dress/Top - H&M

Leather Jacket - Peacocks

Chelsea Boots - H&M

Belt - H&M

Another way to layer your denim shirt - pop it over a printed tea dress and add a chunky belt to tie it all together. Cropped leather jackets look great over shirts and I've paired mine with leather boots for a harder edge, grunge look.

Hopefully I've inspired some of you - I'd love to know which is your favourite outfit and how you wear your denim shirts. I'm currently on the look out for one in a dark denim and I even think this summer I'll be purchasing a denim jacket which I've always been opposed to in the past!

Floral Delight

2012-02-29T16:41:00.002Z

Daisy Bead Cami - Topshop

Leather Look Leggings - Ebay

Fringed Necklace - Topshop

I apologise for the absence of details about this outfit - it was part of a fashion shoot I did with a friend a few weeks back and she supplied the clothes (apart from the leggings which are mine.) I love this Topshop cami its perfect for summer and I may end up purchasing my own before long. Her theme was 'florals' and as you can see I think she hit the nail on the head with her fashion styling. I loved the long lace sleeveless cardigan and felt very Florence and the Machine swishing around in it.

I'm happy to get involved with anything photography and fashion related, I'm not used to being the model, I'm usually the one on the other side of the camera - but taking outfit photos and self portraits for my blog has upped my confidence in being in front of the lens.

I'm definitely going to bring out my hippy-chic side this summer and invest in some cream and white lace, delicate camis, fringing and floral headbands.

Bring on Spring 2012!

Dreamy Pastel Nails

2012-02-28T19:11:00.000Z

The above photos don't do these nails justice! They are beautifully dreamy, pastel-soft feminine creations and are so easy to do. Start with a white base, I used OPI's Alpine Snow (two coats.) Using pieces of sponge, dab on a pale pink/lilac shade, I used Model Own's Utopia. Cover about two thirds of your nail. I then lightly sponged on a purple shade I bought from Claire's and added a touch of Pale Blue by Barry M to the tips.

When sponging, paint the tip of your sponge with the nail polish, then dab lightly on to a piece of paper to remove excess polish. Use pale pastel shades to achieve this look - or bright acid shades for a bold design.

Finish off with a clear top coat while the polish is still a little wet, this will blend the colours together and leave a high shine finish. I used OPI's Nail Envy which means my polish will last much longer without chipping.

Ways to Wear a Scarf

2012-02-24T19:12:00.001Z

Look #1

Come As You Are

Wear your scarf loose around your neck to add a splash of colour to an all black outfit.

Look #2

The Turban

Start with a triangle shape - roll the scarf up to create a long tube

From underneath the hair, wrap the scarf around your head until it meets at the front.

Twist the two lengths around each other and then secure at the back of the head in a knot.

Look #3

The Hippy Turban

Tie as before but this time pull the scarf around your hair rather than under it.

Pull loose strands free at the front and puff up the back as necessary.

Look #4

The Giant Bow

Start under the hair, pull the scarf round and tie at the front or to one side in a huge bow.

Arrange the ends and leave to fall where it will.

Look #5

The Classic Head Wrap

With your hair tied up wrap the scarf around your head twice starting from the front.

The ends should meet at the front again and be tied into a tight knot. Tuck away the ends.

Look #6

The Pirate

Tie the scarf over your hair, knotting at the back and leaving the ends to hang free.

Look #7

The Low Bow

With your hair tied back in a messy style, wrap the scarf around your head fastening just behind one ear.

Tie a messy knot or bow and adjust.

I love this scarf from Primark it was only a few pounds and really livens up any block-colour outfit. Its large enough to wear in a variety of ways and the silk-like material doesn't slip or slide through the hair like you might think. Which is your favourite headscarf look?

Out Of This World

2012-02-23T13:39:00.000Z

Orange Jumper - New Look

White Tee - ASOS

Galaxy Print Leggings - hand-made DIY

Boots - Doc Martens

Watch - Urban Outfitters

Bangles - River Island

Cross Necklace - Topshop

Today I'm showing off my new DIY galaxy print leggings - if you've seen this post on how to make your own galaxy tee, I used the exact same technique but on a pair of thick H&M leggings. I like the way they've turned out its just difficult finding things to wear them with. This bright orange slouchy jumper is an all time favourite of mine and it fits the bill perfectly.

I know the shop has been quiet, I've not had the time or patience to make any more tees, but there is still a bodycon dress left in a Size 10. I've been getting emails asking when things will be back in stock. Hopefully in a few weeks I will have some new items. If you'd be interested in purchasing a pair of these leggings then let me know and I might consider selling them.

My lecture was cancelled today so I have a day free to blogging! I'm also planning some wild things photography/uni wise and wondering if I'm giving myself too much to do.

This weekend I'll be working lots and saving up my pennies for 'USA 2012' but its difficult when there are so many lovely things in the shops. I'm being forced to go shopping on Saturday at The Rock in Bury. It has a great Topshop and the Primark there rivals Manchester's but I'm going to restrain myself from going mad and spending loads.

Glossybox February

2012-02-22T16:01:00.000Z

My Monday mornings are always enlightened by the arrival of a Glossybox. This months selection includes...

imPress Press on Manicure
The company describe it as 'revolutionary nail technology' stating 'THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING' on their packaging. Is it just me or have press on false nails been around for, well forever? I won't be using these unfortunately, I have sworn never to use false nails again after the damage they cause my real nails and I'm working hard to grow my own. The black shade is fine, classic and something I would choose to wear - but these are going in my 'gift box' box. Plus I've never heard great things about pre-glued nails but if anyone had tried them out then let me know!

Paul Mitchell Hair Styling Treatment Oil
Glossybox are putting another hair oil in this months box but rightly so. Hair oils are huge right now and personally I'm interested in trying out lots of different brands. This one is thicker in consistency to Loreal's Mythic Oil but works in a similar way. Doesn't weigh down the hair and makes it lovely and soft.
Well done to Glossybox for seeing the interest in hair oils and providing samples in their boxes.

Invigorate Shower Gel
I was not impressed with yet another shower gel. It's hard to get excited over shower gel.

DuWop Venom Gloss in 'Buttercup'
I'm not a big fan of lipglosses but I immediatley liked the colour of this one. A pale pink-nude that comes out quite sheer on the lips. Its sticky to begin with but softens up and moisturises quite well. Will be nice to wear over lipsticks like Hue or just on its own for an added shine.

BM Beauty Eyeshadow in 'Dusty Road'
I love this shade - a shimmery gold (a bit lighter than appears in the photo) which looks great for building up over other shadows for a night out or wear alone for a more subtle day look. The pot of product is small but will last a long time.

After last months success I feel a little bit disappointed - only really liking 2 of the 5 products.
Glossybox also included a card advertising next month's 'mystery box' - I'm not quite sure how it will work seen as though the items inside each month's box are supposed to be a secret anyway... but we can find out on 24th February here.
What do you girls think of this month's box? Will you be staying subbed for the Mystery March Box or giving up on Glossybox?

x

Luxury Jewelled Nails

2012-02-17T16:58:00.000Z

A while ago I spotted Heather from effiesmakeupbox had filmed a DIY tutorial on how to achieve these rhinestone and glitter nails and I knew I had to give it a go myself! I've pretty much taken her tutorial step by step but used gold and silver rhinestones instead of orange and pink ones.
They are surprisingly easy to do but take a while due to all the layers of clear top coat! They're perfect for a special occasion or night out - although all I'll be doing tonight is eating pizza and watching girly films with some friends!
I bought my rhinestones and nail glitter from ebay, just search 'nail gems' and you can get a wheel full of lovely colours. I'm going to try out this design using silver glitter and lilac/purple rhinestones for a more girly look.

x

Spring 2012 Wish List

2012-02-16T15:23:00.000Z

Lavender Jeans - Miss Selfridge £36.00

Mint Green Shorts - New Look £14.99

Pleat Bodice Dress - Miss Selfridge £50.00

Denim Jacket - Topshop £40.00

Print Kimono - Miss Selfridge £40.00

Leather Colour Block Purse - Topshop £16.00

Cream Lace Shorts - Topshop £32.00

Floral Skirt - Topshop £20.00

Navy Classic Vans - Schuh £40.00

Daisy Bead Cami - Topshop £36.00

The highstreet is full of the first signs of Spring. I'm not quite ready to start handing over my cash for denim shorts and strappy camis yet but I'm certainly starting to think about what I want to be wearing this Spring and Summer. At the end of July last year I started to compile a list of everything I was looking forward 'wardrobe-wise' for the new Autumn/Winter season. So I'm doing the same again this time around.
These things have been making my short list.

I actually wore the Topshop Daisy Bead Cami in a recent photoshoot and its beautiful. Its definitely a versatile item that can be dressed up for a night out or worn during the day. I love the idea of a whole new colour palette and I've never really been a big fan of pastels. But this year I'm going to try something new.
I'm also heading to DC and California in late August early September so hopefully my summer sun will be extended a little to make excuse for me to buy lots of pretty things.

I won't be going mad though - I'm going to dig out all last years skirts and maxi dresses and make sure I get good use out of them. Splashing out on summer items seems silly in this country when we have about 3 hot days per year. What do you guys think of the pastel trends? Any must have items on your wish lists?

x

Romance and Flowers

2012-02-14T21:12:00.001Z

I thought seen as though today is Valentines Day - (and I couldn't just ignore it now could I!) I thought I'd share some recent images taken by a friend of mine. She's a Fashion & Styling student and I modelled for her last week under the theme of 'Floral' and the whole morning got me into such a lovely mood ready for Spring it was quite heart breaking to walk out into a downpour.

I also did a few shots for some other friends too so hopefully I can give you a peek at those soon. I can't say I'm much of a model but anything to do with photography and fashion intrigues me and some beautiful images were taken (even with my infamous 'I'm wasted' look.)

I've been quite busy at Uni recently but I've hit a bit of a creative wall. Unfortunately this effects both my blog and my coursework. I'm sure to get back into my stride soon though and you'll be seeing more blog posts soon. In exciting news, I've treated myself to some new MAC products courtesy of Brand Alley's discounted prices (a Valentine's gift to myself) so go and check out the sale for yourself it ends tomorrow!

I'm also currently engrossed in The Hunger Games and half way through the 2nd book. I almost don't want to finish the trilogy just because then it will all be over!

What's on my Wrist?

2012-02-10T15:52:00.000Z

Watch - River Island

Letter Bracelets - H&M

Gold Bangles - River Island

Beaded Bracelet - Primark

Stacking and layering wrist wear is back with a vengeance. Did it ever really go away? I've spotted friendship bracelets, heavy cuff bangles and chunky oversized watches everywhere. The latest issues of ASOS and ELLE are talking about everyone wearing colourful skinny friendship bracelets made from a mix of thread and metal. I have quite a collection which I've built up over the years and used to stack bracelets up and down each wrist everyday when I was going through that 'emo' phase.

I can't wait to pull them all out again and go for that festival-vibe every day. I'm even considering investing in some colourful ankle bracelets for when its warmer.

H&M are great for multi-packs of skinny bracelets and I also picked up some very colourful beaded ones recently which I can't wait to wear in the Spring. Or maybe to brighten up an all black outfit in the Winter too.

This watch is the closest I'll probably get to a Michael Kors but its a pretty nice alternative. The fact that its gold and silver is perfect, just what I've been looking for - it means I can wear it with both types of jewellery. It also looks cool enough to wear throughout the day but special enough to wear on a night out with a dress.

(Having friends in RI also means I get to use their cheeky discount!)

Seeing all the new season stuff in shops makes me crave for Spring. The problem being this is England and our Springs are still chilly and wet, so its not like I'll get much use out of this daisy bead cami any time soon. It would be nice to not have to wear a huge coat everyday though...

Little Pieces of Gold

2012-02-07T16:25:00.000Z

Back in October my sister gave me some Birthday vouchers to spend at Galibardy.com. I've always kept my eye on their jewellery and love their unique and statement designs. The vouchers expired after 6 months so I held of buying something straight away and a few weeks ago I purchased two beautiful necklaces. Inspired by origami these are little metal gold versions of paper planes and paper boats. I love the way they hang and the chains are very long - perfect for layering with other necklaces.

As you can see, my cat Spike is also a big fan. That's him sulking after I've taken away his necklaces...

They don't currently have these two necklaces in stock, but if you send a nice email they'll get straight back to you when they are in the shop. I also like this one and this ring.
I've been wearing gold jewellery a lot more often recently and picked up a new watch on Saturday which I can't wait to wear. Has anyone else bought items from Galibardy? What do you think of their online shop?

x

Hunter Wellies

2012-02-03T15:43:00.000Z

Short Hunter Wellies in Pewter

Tweed Coat - New Look

Black Leggings - H&M

Scarf - H&M

I've wanted a pair of Hunter Wellies since last years festival season. But the huge price tag has always put me off a little. These short ones retail at £65.00 but I stumbled across them at a bargain price on BrandAlley.co.uk for just £35. I already had a £10 voucher code for their website (you get one each time a friend makes a purchase from your recommendation) so really I got these beats for just £25!

I'd recommend their website, they have a new designer sale almost everyday and you can pick up some amazing clothes, shoes and bags for cheap. The delivery takes ages though, I didn't wait too long for these wellies, but on average they take 2-4 weeks to even ship your item.

They're super comfy and strong sturdy wellies which should last a lifetime - I've already taken them out on a walk to splash through puddles! We're due some snow up here in Manchester so I think I'll be getting some good use out of them soon enough. I'm also hoping to wear them lots in the Summer with bare legs and shorts for outdoor activities, festivals, long walks - that sort of thing. I quite like the shorter style, they come up at just below calf length which is plenty tall enough for me. And the colour is a little more unique than plain black ones.

Looking forward to a takeaway tonight in front of Come Dine With Me (I know one of the contestants!) and then popping out for a drink to celebrate my friend's birthday! Enjoy your weekends girls.

x

Barry M Croc Effects

2012-02-02T17:52:00.000Z

*NEW* Barry M Croc Effects Nail Paint - £3.99

I saw this new Barry M effects polish a few days ago in Company Magazine and was amazed that Barry M had yet again produced another amazing polish and found a new way for polish to crack. Very clever. The next day I went into Boots but couldn't find it anywhere - I started to think I had dreamt it. But as I was popping through Superdrug this morning I spotted a whole shelf full!

It works in the same way as the shatter polishes, paint on your base coat (I used Models Own Utopia) and when dry, paint a thin coat over the nail and wait with baited breath for the design to appear!

The main difference is that this Croc Effects takes ages to start appearing. At one point I almost thought I'd been cheated out of my £3.99 because nothing was happening. You have to wait a good 3-4 minutes (when the polish is almost completely dry) for the 'croc skin' to appear.

I'm impressed with the formula, its a thin liquid which is very easy to apply and very pigmented. This means three careful swipes across my nail leaves a deep black solid application. I found the original shatter polishes to be thicker in consistency, a little dull or even dark grey in colour.

I'd have liked the effect to have spread across my nail even more to reveal the polish underneath. I'd suggest using a very bright bold colour for the pattern to really stand out. My nude base works okay but its not very eye catching. From far away the nails just look black. I think it would look great over a bright green polish, so I'm going to try that out next!

Has anyone else tried the Croc Effects Nail Paint?

Shadows and Silhouettes

2012-02-01T17:01:00.000Z

Heart Print Dress - H&M

Cardigan- New Look

Boots - Doc Martens

Cross Necklace - Etsy

Paper Boats Necklace - Galibardy

Watch - Urban Outfitters

Nails - Models Own Utopia with Juicy Jules

The weather in the UK right now is crazy. Its freezing cold outside (this morning -1°C) but its beautifully sunny. I added a chunky knit scarf, gloves and a parka before going out. The sun was beaming through my window this afternoon, as you can see. But I didn't want to miss an outfit opportunity and quite like the strong shadows and warm light. It definitely makes for an alternative outfit-of-the-day.

You can see me wearing this dress here - but I prefer wearing it open due to the gaping button problem and I've even put a simple black body-con skirt underneath because I'm a little paranoid its too short. The cardigan is last years sale and I love it. Its a very slouchy boyfriend-fit which I think slobs down any posher outfit. I'm planning on doing a more in-depth post about my new Galibardy jewellery and a little review on their website, but this origami boat necklace is so cute. I also have the paper planes version.

My DMs are my go-to boots when its this cold and icy outside. Add a pair of leggings/tights/skinny jeans and you have my 'January outfit'. I'm actually looking forward to some warmer weather so I can ditch the huge coat and the outside world can see what clothes I'm wearing.

I'm addicted to this song by Gotye at the moment and often go to bed with it playing in my head and wake up with it still there. If you've not heard it, be warned - its catchy.

A Glossy Box Valentine

2012-01-30T15:04:00.000Z

I was having a crappy morning today, I'd just received my next assignment at Uni and wasn't feeling very excited about it. But when I got home to find a Glossy Box parcel I was over the moon! I'm sure you've seen lots of these reviews already, but each box varies slightly so I still wanted to show you what was in mine...

First off, this months box comes in a hot pink colour in spirit of Valentines Day all parcelled up so beautifully, so whether you're loved up or not its a great way of treating yourself to some new beauty goodies.

What's In Mine?....

Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in Emerald Green

Murad Skin Perfecting Primer

Weleda One Step Cleanser and Toner

First Aid Beauty Gentle Body Wash

Orly Nail Polish in Ruby

Murad Primer
I'm not actually a fan of primers. Any I have tried in the past have broken me out and made foundation application even worse rather than better. I have quite sensitive skin and I think primers just sit in my pores and cause spots. BUT I'm still going to give this one a go, I've heard good things about Murad and they are a skin company making products for all types of skin so fingers crossed its my new holy grail product because I feel very left out when everyone talks about their favourite primers.

Eyeko Skinny Liner
I was very happy to see a new Eyeko product in this months box. Since their re-launch I've not tried anything out, and although lots of people are unhappy about their price increases I was still intrigued by a few products. I don't own a green eyeliner but I'm excited to give this one a go. I can see me wearing it on nights out with black in the waterline, or just on its own in the Spring for a fresher look. The long silver handle is a bit unnecessary but it makes for nice packaging and the product itself is very soft. Plus is retails at £9.50 and this is a full size product so well worth it!

Weleda Cleanser and Toner
Weleda are a brand introduced to me by Glossy Box but after being a little repulsed by the Pomegranate Body Oil I was unsure about this cleanser and toner. I'll let you know how I get on, at least this one smells nice - it reminds me of ginger biscuits.

First Aid Beauty Body Wash
First Aid Beauty are new to me and I'm a fan of their retro packaging. This is one sample I'll stick in the shower and test out but I can't see it being spectacular, after all its only a body wash and they all do the same thing.

Orly Nail Polish
Last but not least a Orly Nail Polish in Ruby. A lovely deep red shade that's perfect for Valentines Day. I don't own many reds so its nice to add some to my collection. Oh...and a very cute Glossy Sweet!

For me, Glossy Boxes are a way to try out products I wouldn't normally purchase as well as receiving samples of the ones I would. For example the Murad Primer, I normally wouldn't risk it, but by getting a sample size to try out first I might just discover my new favourite product.
You can purchase your Valentine's Glossy Box here, or even buy one for a friend. I think the Glossy Boxes for men make a perfect Valentine's gift for your other half too.

x

DIY Studded Phone Case

2012-01-25T17:45:00.000Z

I've seen these studded phone cases everywhere recently, so here is my attempt! I think it really jazzes up my ageing Nokia e63. I bought my silicone black case from ebay for a few pounds and the studs were pulled off an old belt. Basically, you just shove studs through with your fingers and fold down the back firmly as not to scratch your phone. I don't know how long I'll keep it on, phone cases annoy me but I quite like the chunky and heaviness to this one. Plus its handmade and is sure to catch a few eyes! They are so easy to make and you can whip the case off if you get bored of it or shove it back on for a night out/special occasion.
I'd also like to try this with lots of tiny studs, it would take forever to do but I think it would create a completely different look.
Has anyone else self-studded their phone? Leave me a link in the comments!

x

Fashion Now 2

2012-01-24T19:29:00.000Z

I love treating myself to an expensive glossy fashion magazine every now and again, but something that lasts even longer are fashion books. If you've ever wandered around the book section in Urban Outfitters wishing you owned every single one, then listen up!

Fashion Now 2 is a A-Z of 160 fashion designers, selected by i-D magazine and was given to me as a birthday present from one of my best friends last year. Its a huge thick heavy book and painful to hold up after a while, so not one for reading in the bath!

Its full of inspiration and ideas, and for anyone that's interested in fashion like myself will love to have a read of this. Being a high-street girl at heart I'm not so clued up on my designers so I found this book really useful, its introduced me to designers I've never heard of before as well as giving me a little more background info on the ones I already love. Each page includes a mini interview with the designers themselves, some gorgeous editorial shoots and occasionally some behind the scenes snaps of the models.

Being a photography student its also ideal for researching fashion photographers, as each photographer is listed next to their image, as well as the stylist that was on set.
For anyone interested in fashion, photography or make-up this book is packed full of beautiful pictures to get your creative brain in gear. You can get it on Amazon.co.uk for about £8.99 so its a bargain price for such a huge book.

Let me know if you'd like to see more posts like this one, I have loads of fashion-related reads that I can recommend to anyone wanting to expand their collection!

x

Oatmeal and Raisin Cookies

2012-01-23T16:07:00.000Z

When I visited New York last year, Oatmeal and Raisin Cookies were a diet staple. Every time we stopped for coffee I'd find a gigantic one of these to snack on. Surprisingly oatmeal is hard to get hold of in the UK (its not the same as porridge oats) but I found a small bag in Morrisons yesterday and knew I had to try and make my own cookies! They are really easy to make and take just 15mins in the oven. When hot they are soft and crumbly, when cool they are slightly chewy and very oaty! Delicious.

You Need:

85g soft butter
115g demerara sugar
1 beaten egg
115g self-raising flour
55g oatmeal
170g raisins

(Makes 18 small cookies)

1. Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy and pale.
2. Gradually add the beaten egg and mix well.
3. Sift in the flour and fold into the mixture.
4. Add the oatmeal and raisins until well combined.
5. Drop heaped teaspoons of mix onto a baking sheet (3 baking sheets in total)
6. Bake in a pre-heated oven at Gas Mark 6 for 10-15mins.
7. They will be golden brown when done... then eat!

And that's it! Enjoy with a cup of tea.

x

The Real Her

2012-01-20T20:19:00.000Z

Denim Shirt - Topshop/Ebay

Freedom Tee - Zara

Leggings - H&M

Converse White Leather

Jewellery - Fashionology

I've been wanting to get a denim shirt for years and years. For some reason I never felt compelled to spend the money when I've seen them, even in places like Primark, I just didn't feel I'd wear it often enough.
But finally I went ahead and bought a Topshop one on ebay, for about £12. It's a size 10 but in an oversized fit so its really baggy and boyish which I like. Its a super soft pale denim which Primark ones aren't so I'd suggest paying a bit more for better quality, and fastens with pearl poppers all the way up the front and around the cuffs. I just wore it with a loose fit tee, leggings and converse for a casual day look.

By layering up the silver jewellery I felt like Caggie Dunlop and now all I need is the accent (and the money.)

I'm looking forward to wearing it with so many other things, I think I'll even get away with doing the whole double-denim thing in the spring, dark jeans only though. If anyone has any ideas or tips I'd love to hear them.

I've been listening to Drake's latest album so much at the moment (hence the post title) which is not usually my type of music but his voice is therapeutic and so different from other artists in the same genre. My fave tracks being Shot For Me and Make Me Proud. (and Headlines) jeez its just too hard to choose!

x

My Favourite Lipsticks

2012-01-19T22:05:00.000Z

MAC Snob, MAC Angel, MAC Hue

MAC has to be my all time favourite brand for lipsticks. They are smooth, creamy and smell amazing! But because of the price tag I don't buy them very often. These are three of my favourites, and you'll notice a pattern within my favourite lipsticks, I tend to always wear nudes and pinks...

Snob - built up can look a bit full on, but a nice thin layer gives a great pop of lilac-pink for nights out.

Angel - a perfect light pink, classic and great for everyday. Leaves a nice sheen on the lips.

Hue - a pink-nude which suits all skin types. I wear this so often, especially with a smokey dark eye.

Rimmel 020 Shake Up Pink, Natural Collection Crimson, Revlon 002 Pink Pout

Shake Up Pink by Rimmel - a matte bright pink great for a shock of colour and smells so fruity!

Crimson by Natural Collection - one of the best classic red lipsticks I've ever found and its so cheap too.

Pink Pout - another matte blue-toned pink, very similar to Snob but a little more natural for everyday wear.

MAC Snob with Revlon Pink Pout and MAC Angel

What are you're favourites? I'm looking for some new MAC lippies to invest in but I'm always looking for the next best drug store lipstick too...

x

My Love for OPI

2012-01-17T19:46:00.001Z

OPI are a brand I've always been interested in and known about through Youtube beauty gurus and beauty blogs but their products are so expensive (especially in the UK) I've never been encouraged to try them out.
My first OPI purchase came in the form of Nail Envy, a treatment polish designed to harden and strengthen your natural nails and stop peeling, breaking or damage. You can see my review on the first 4 weeks of using the product here. Since that review my feelings have changed a little, for the better. And I feel 10x more positive about Nail Envy. I'm so glad I carried on using it.

If you follow me on Twitter you'll know how much I have been raving about my new nails and might have seen this twitpic I posted the other day...

I've been using it since the beginning of December, determined to get long strong nails for Christmas without having to wear acrylics which are so bad for your own nails. After the initial 4 week trial, I'm now using Nail Envy about 2 times and week, sometimes just once a week between changing nail polish.
The results have been amazing. My nails are longer than they have ever been and stronger and thicker than I ever thought possible! Let me list the torture I've put my nails under recently...

1. A Boxercise class, wearing boxing gloves and hitting things repeatedly.
2. Three days a week at work, where I smash glasses, hammer at the till and scrub away at the shelves.
3. Daily typing, whether its my computer keyboard, or my phone buttons (I text with my nails, oops)
4. Various sticker peeling
5. Baking, cooking, other household chores.

All the while my nails have not broken, cracked, peeled or chipped. Everytime I whack my nails off a hard surface or catch them on a stiff handle I brace myself to look down expecting to see a broken nail, ruining all my hard work and the look of my entire manicure. But so far so good, I've been pleasantly surprised.
Ok, ok, so I think by now you realise how much I love this product and will continue to buy bottles of the stuff for the rest of my life. Well done OPI, gold star. Just never stop making the stuff!

With the foundations of lovely long, squared off nails - I can get on with painting my own french manicure to replicate the french acrylics I love the look of. What better to use than my miniature Little Romantics set from OPI. I used Alpine Snow for the tips and a thin coat of Sweet Heart over the top.

I know a few of you have been encouraged to go out and get a bottle for yourselves, I'd suggest ebay or Amazon for the best deal, no need to spend the full £18. Let me know how Nail Envy goes for you, I hope its a success with others too, especially after all the praise I've been giving it!

x

p.s. I am in no way affiliated with OPI and this is not a sponsored post, all opinions are genuine, honest and my own.

What I Wear to the Gym

2012-01-12T20:28:00.000Z

Leggings - H&M

Nike Tshirt - Sports Direct

Reebok Dry Fit Tee - Sports Direct

Trainers - Ebay

Yoga Mat - Pineapple

I bought a few new gym items today so I thought I'd share them with you guys. I've recently started Pilates classes and they are going really well so I needed a few new tops dedicated for fitness classes so I don't keep wearing my regular t-shirts. Sports Direct always have a HUGE sale in January (last year I picked up a running top and swimming costume) so I popped in again today and got a fairly good deal.
I always feel so lost in the Manchester Arndale store and most things are up on the walls 8 feet off the ground and I get lost just looking for the tills.

I prefer to wear stretchy leggings rather than sweat pants or tracksuit bottoms and these ones are from H&M. They were £7.99 and they are fairly thick so no issues about everyone knowing what underwear I'm wearing.

I bought these trainers in the summer after going running with friends in crappy Primark pumps for a few weeks. What an idiot. They were so flat my feet were slapping against the ground really hard and after every run I'd have aching ankles. I knew I needed to invest in some proper running trainers but I didn't want to fork out for brand new ones. I got these on ebay 'only worn once' and when they arrived they looked brand new. I don't go out running in these colder months but I still get use out of my trainers for indoor fitness.
I've also had the bright pink yoga mat for years and years. I bought it when I was about 14 along with a 'at home yoga' book which I think I've used twice. Hah! But its a great quality one and hopefully I'll get a bit more use out of it now.

I'm popping along to a Boxercise class tomorrow, which I've never done before, does anyone have any idea what its like? My Pilates class by the way, is amazing. Its actually a mixture of Thai Chi, Yoga and Pilates and it works every inch of muscle. You don't get all out of breath, but you do sweat. Afterwards I always feel so relaxed, peaceful and ready for a nap! I'd recommend it to anyone.

x

Tiny Hearts

2012-01-11T15:59:00.002Z

Shirt Dress - H&M

Jumper - New Look

Belt - H&M

Lipstick - Mac Snob

This dress is not something I would normally wear - the tea dress style and tiny heart print is different from anything else I own but I really like it. I think with my hair up and the shape of the dress I look ready for a day in beauty school so I threw a jumper over the top for a more casual look. The problem I have with it, being a shirt, the buttons are quite far apart and it tends to gape a little at the chest. I don't even have much of a chest so it seems a bit silly that I should have this issue, and it didn't do it in the fitting rooms so I think it depends on the bra I'm wearing. For any bigger boobed ladies, I'd suggest to try these on before buying! H&M also have these in a deer print, polka dots and a bird print.

I handed my assignment in today and turned in my essay online last night so that's a huge weight off my mind! Just a final presentation to go (next Tue) and then I can completely turn my attention on to the next project.

I do actually enjoy Uni work and education in general but these past 3 months I seem to have been dragging these three projects around with me and I'm excited to start something new.

I have so many ideas for blog posts at the moment but it's hard finding time to get them done. By the time I get home from Uni (or wake up) its usually too dark outside to take decent photographs. But, coming soon is..

2011 Wardrobe Favourites - all the best pieces I bought in 2011, my most worn and most loved.

Not Another Shirt and Jumper Combo

2012-01-07T15:11:00.000Z

Jumper - H&M

Shirt - Primark

Jeans - Vera Moda, ASOS

Wedges - New Look

Chain Necklace - New Look

Black Stone Ring - H&M

Feather and Cross Ring - Fashionology

Nails - Upotia by Models Own

This jumper is a new favourite and I've got quite a few wears out of it in the past couple of weeks. It's a medium grey chunky knit with lots of metallic silver threads running through it and a short zip at the back near the neck. H&M had a few other colours before Christmas and if they have any left I'd consider getting the whole range. We did have a near-disaster the other day when it came out of the wash with a huge pull across the front. Fortunately my mum is a clothes wizard and got out a huge knitting needle and fixed it! I was ready to say goodbye to it, so thanks mum!
I'm looking for more heavy statement collar necklaces like this one, they're great to wear with plain dresses but also with high neck jumpers or shirts. Or both.
I wore this outfit for 'Bon Voyage' drinks at our local last night as a friend is moving to Australia so we were saying our goodbyes!

I've got three hand-in dates at Uni next week so I'm working hard to get everything done. In fact I should be working right now, so I'm going to get this posted and start making some final decisions about which images to put forward. Weekends are for slobbing about so I won't be getting out of my joggers or Harvard tee today. Enjoy your Saturdays!

x

My Personalised Amazon Kindle

2012-01-04T15:37:00.002Z

Amazon Kindle - Latest Edition - £89.00

Custom Gelaskin - £15.00

I'd been admiring the Kindle for a while - both my parents and sister have one of the originals (with the keyboard) and although I loved the idea of having hundreds of books stored in one place, I wasn't too keen on the dark grey colour with unnecessary full keyboard. And yes, the Kindle is not just about aesthetic qualities (after all its not a Apple creation) but I decided I didn't want to spend over £100 on an e-reader I didn't like the look of.

So I was over joyed when the latest Kindle design launched in November - a light silvery grey sleek e-reader with minimal buttons - smaller - lighter but with the same screen size. Perfect.

I actually bought mine in the US over Amazon.com for $79 which came to around £50 instead of the UK price of £89. Saving me nearly £40! If you're lucky enough to have a relation or friend who can bring one over for you from the States its worth it, you'll save a fortune. My sister who lives in Washington was coming home for Christmas so she kindly packed my Kindle in her suitcase and delivered it safely as an early Christmas present.

With the money I saved I bought this amazing stick-on-skin from Gelaskins, finding an image I liked from Pinintrest I made my own custom skin and although it took agesss to arrive, it was well worth the wait.

I think it adds a personal touch and I'll be proud to pull this out and show it off on the train.

Kindle Review

So what do I actually think of the Kindle? Well, its lighter and thinner than I imagined, its easy to hold and the page turner buttons are well placed, 2 on each side for flipping forwards and backwards.

My eyes don't feel tired when reading from it like they do after reading through lots of blog posts online. This is due to its specially designed E-Ink display. Read more here.

I found I got through a book much quicker using the Kindle (but that could be down to a great book.) I've recently finished 'Never Let Me Go' by Kazuo Ishiguro which is brilliant by the way I fully recommend it.

I'm currently reading 'When God Was a Rabbit' by Sarah Winman and having a new toy to read with encourages me to read more often.

The only problem is that many of the Kindle Books from the Kindle Store are quite expensive. I tend not to spend over £4 on a e-book especially if you're getting through them quite quickly and needing to buy another. There are free e-books available from the Kindle store although not many, and they tend to be classics such as Pride and Prejudice rather than new releases or best sellers.

Amazon's Kindle Store does have daily offers and sales, which is where I picked up 'When God Was a Rabbit' for just £2.99.

But if you're the type of go out and buy a brand new best seller from Waterstones anyway, you'll save yourself a fortune by buying the Kindle edition instead. Every book you buy stays stored on your Amazon account meaning if you loose or break your Kindle, you still have all your books.

You can access the Kindle store straight from your Kindle, mine is WiFi enabled meaning as long as there is an internet connection I can connect to, I'm good to go. Its not great for exploring web pages or blogs (I just found mine for fun!) but its not a computer tablet like the iPad, its an e-reader.

GelaSkins Review

There are a few online companies out there who produce customised skins for laptops, phones or kindles but Gelaskins really appealled to me. The site is designed beautifully and its very easy to navigate around and use.

There are loads of designs to choose from, including artwork from various well known artists or you can create your own using a photo, illustration or pattern. I uploaded this birds in the sky image after finding it online and I love the way it looks on my Kindle. I paid $19.95 plus shipping and it all came to about £15.

I'm really impressed with the quality - its basically a big sticker that you place on your Kindle but it can be peeled off again to leave no residue or damage to your Kindle. I received mine in the post this morning and found it really easy to apply and I could peel it off again in places to re-position no problem. No air bubbles either.
But as its being shipped from the US it takes ages to arrive. Mine went past the estimated 20 days (maybe due to Xmas post) but when I contacted the people at Gelaskins they were really helpful and offered to send out another straight away with a faster shipping option.

Final Thoughts

If you're still on the fence about getting one because your not a 'big reader' then I'd probably encourage you not to buy one. If you don't enjoy reading in the first place the Amazon Kindle will not magically turn you into a bookworm. But if like me you love reading and wish you read more often then the Kindle is for you. Its 10x easier to actually buy books, read reviews, even try out the first chapter for free (which you can't exactly do in a bookshop!) and you can pop it into your bag wherever you go. Delayed train? Get out the Kindle. Doctor's waiting room? Get out the Kindle. Time to yourself in a coffee shop? Kindle. You get the idea.

I'll be carting mine around with me to Uni everyday for those moments where there is nothing else to do but wait around, you may as well be reading a good book!

(I am in no way affiliated with Amazon Kindle or Gelaskins and this post was not sponsored. All opinions are my own.)

Cupcake Skulls with Brains

2012-01-03T21:44:00.000Z

Skull Shapes Silicone Cupcake Moulds Set of 4

For Christmas my big brother gave me these cute skull shaped cupcake cases! As it was his birthday today I thought I'd make use of them and made chocolate brownie cupcakes with white chocolate chunks and pink cream piped on for brains! Mmmm brains...

Tweed Boyfriend Coat

2012-01-02T15:45:00.000Z

Tweed Blazer Coat - New Look

Cream Aran Jumper - Primark

Paperbag Waist Shorts - ASOS

I've finally got around to taking some photos of this coat. I first spotted it back in November and searched every New Look across the land for it but had no luck. I tried on a very similar one in Topshop and I was even considering the £80 price tag which is quite a lot for an impulse buy.
With huge effort, I put the Topshop one down and mooched off to New Look for one last look. It must have been fate when I found it.... for half the price!! They didn't have any size 10s left, so I went for the 12 to make room for thick jumpers or layers. And managed to knock a further 10% off for a small 'fault' (loose threads) at the back. So in total I paid under £18.00

I've hardly taken it off and although I've bought a few coats this Autumn/Winter, this one has to be my favourite. I love the looser 'boyfriend' fit and the whole androgynous look really appeals to me, especially in the colder months. I'll be wearing this with skinny jeans, boots, shirts and collars. It also looks great slung over a pretty dress and its surprisingly thick and warm. I wore this today to take photographs at the airport (long story) and it makes my everyday clothes feel a little smarter.

x

The Wardrobe of 2011

2012-01-01T16:23:00.000Z

Happy 2012 Everyone! I thought I'd make my first post of this year a look-back at last years outfit photos. Last year around Spring time I started thinking a little more seriously about my blog and I wanted to include outfit posts regularly. In fact one of my New Year's resolutions is to blog outfit posts more often, setting myself the goal of posting at least 1 a week!
I'm also going to have a little re-jig of the blog. I'm not going to change too much but I'm a bit bored with the design at the moment.
I've been taking a bit of a break from blogging over Christmas but I'll soon be back on track! Of course I'm always on Twitter, you can stay up to date with any changes or new blog posts by following me on there.
I'd love to read your 2012 posts or 'looking back on 2011' posts so leave any links in the comments!

x

New Year's Eve Glitter Nails

2011-12-29T14:11:00.001Z

Servin' Up Sparkle - OPI

White French Tip Polish - Rimmel London

French Tip Guides - Ebay

I'm a big fan of glittery nails, especially at this time of year! This one from OPI is a new favourite. This is the perfect way to add some glamour to a classic French Manicure. I always use these French Tip Guides when painting my nails this way and I'm also wearing two coats of OPI's Servin' Up Sparkle which is full of fine holographic glitter and the occasional big chunk of glitter too. These photos do not do it justice, it really sparkles in the light! A possible contender for this Saturday night....

x

Christmas Cards DIY

2011-12-23T14:48:00.001Z

I fancied making some more personalised Christmas cards this year for my friends and this design is so easy. All you need is some nice quality paper, mini colourful pegs, a selection of gold paper, ribbon and some glue. There's not long left till Christmas, so maybe you could create Happy New Year cards? Or use this style for Birthday cards too...

I cut out the little square of fancy quality paper on which I stuck Christmassy designs. The mini pegs are stuck on with a cut-down sticky foam pad (double sided tape) and I attached a little piece of ribbon to each peg, the kind you can find in the shoulders of your clothes! Just cut them off carefully (they're annoying anyway) and re-use them!
The pegs hold the square of card with your design (or personalised message/photograph) and I think its a sweet way of making something that looks fairly professional. I gave these to my four best friends this year as something a bit different than a shop bought card.

x

A Little Topshop Dress

2011-12-22T19:07:00.001Z

Dress - Topshop

Tights - Primark

Rings - Fashionology

Razzle Dazzle Nail Polish - Deborah Lippmann

I bought this Topshop dress last week, taking advantage of their free online delivery. It arrived just in time for a Christmas get-together with friends and I'm already in love with it. The low dip back is just high enough to cover my bra strap and it actually stays on my shoulders! It's a dark grey almost black covered in teeny coloured metallic threads that sparkle under the light. It's stretchy and breathable and perfect for eating lots in one sitting!

Just like last year we got together to swap presents and enjoy a three course Christmas meal. I just wore my Topshop Vectras and New Look blazer-coat (which I need to photograph soon!) to dress it down a bit.

This nail polish came in this month's GlossyBox and was a star addition for me.(more on this soon) It's my first Deborah Lippmann polish in such a beautiful colour for the holiday season. My mum and sister have already requested to wear it over Xmas.

I apologise for the quality of these pics, that's one thing I won't miss about Winter - the dark evenings! Come Spring I promise lots more outfit posts of better quality.

I'm also wearing my hair extensions for the first time in months and if you follow me on Twitter you'll know I dyed them so they'd actually match my hair colour. I think I did a pretty good job.

I'm looking forward to the rest of this weekend's festivities, trying desperately to fend off illness as everyone in my house seems to have suffered or still is suffering from colds and flu. I'm writing this from work whilst drinking a Lemsip Max!

Nails of 2011

2011-12-16T16:30:00.000Z

Fimo Flower Nails

Multi-Coloured Nails

Peach Leopard Print Nails

Bonfire Night Shatter Nails

Dalmatian Print Nails

Traditional Leopard Print Nails

Christmas Nails

Galaxy Nails

Tropical Shatter Nails

Vintage Floral Nails

A few of my favourite nail designs from the Year 2011, my personal favourites being the Dalmatian Print and the Blue and Peach Leopard Print. 2011 has been all about nail art and I've enjoyed practising and sharing different designs on my blog. Click on the links above to see the individual blog posts.

How will you be painting your nails this Christmas?

Christmas Countdown

2011-12-14T17:11:00.001Z

Jumper - Primark

Skirt - New Look

Shirt - Primark

I apologise for the plastic appearance of these photos - my ISO was accidentally set really high when I took these meaning they came out gritty. I've had to messily soften them up a bit.
Wah la, me in doll form.
It was my last day at Uni today before the Christmas holidays, (even though I'm popping back in tomorrow for the feedback from my first assignment and to borrow some camera equipment) so I wanted to wrap up warm for sitting in a breezy studio. I'm wearing two pairs of tights. It works wonders.
I'm afraid everything is quite old, I've been spending my money on other silly things like fairy lights and a Kindle. (more on this soon!)
Two winners from my giveaway were selected at the weekend but failed to respond within the allocated 48 hours (girllss!) so I've had to pick two new winners... check your inboxes!

x

OPI Nail Envy Review

2011-12-13T18:26:00.000Z

As I'm not a beauty blogger, I rarely review any products on my blog. But OPI's Nail Envy is a product that everyone can relate too, anyone that has always wanted stronger natural nails.

In a bid to get longer, stronger and healthier nails by Christmas, I bought OPI Nail Envy on a friend's recommendation. After previously trying a few Sally Hansen nail strengtheners that hadn't really worked for me I wanted to try something different.
I managed to find the full size 15ml on ebay for around £7 and tracked my progress over 3-4 weeks. I'm currently into my 4th week of using the nail treatment as is instructed on the packet.

Apply two coats to a fresh clean nail, and then one coat over the top every other day for 1 week. After 1 week remove all polish and start again.

These photos show my own nails wearing just 2 coats of Nail Envy. As you can see (or can't see) there seems to be little difference between each image. In three weeks, my nails seem to have grown at an abnormally slow rate. I'd go as far to say that the Nail Envy might have even been preventing nail growth.

So if you're looking for a product that will also make your nails grow faster and longer, this is not it.

However, the results I saw in terms of the strength of my nails was quite good. I started with peeling, breaking, weak nails and after 2 weeks saw real improvement to their strength. My nails did not peel, the 'corners' of my squared off shape stayed strong and chip-proof. Not a single nail bent or broke.

In this past week I have suffered from two near-fatal nail disasters. One corner on a thumb nail suddenly had a huge chip out of it. I was pretty mortified, however the piece of nail that chipped away still left behind a lot of nail underneath - showing how thick my nails seem to have grown. Almost doubled in thickness.

I also noticed one nail was peeling which my nails hadn't done since I started using the product so I was quite disappointed.

With three or four coats of Nail Envy, my nails were rock hard and very thick (almost like acrylics) which I liked. My bare nails were thinner, but still strong and had noticeably improved.

As you can see from the photos above, I still have LOADS of product left, even when I was applying a coat every other day (sometimes every day - oops) so I'd estimate having a whole 6 months or more left from just this bottle of polish. Great value for money.

So, would I buy again? I'm going to keep using Nail Envy whenever I feel I need it, also using it as a top and base coat as it adds a gorgeous shine over the nails and keeps polish from chipping for much longer.

When the bottle runs out I would consider purchasing another. Or maybe trying a new nail treatment. I found OPI miles better than Sally Hansen's treatment polishes.

It's not a miracle worker - but it does a decent job. I'd recommend anyone to buy this if they were looking for something to stop the peeling or breaking of longer nails and to also produce a high-shine effect.

In a Week...

2011-12-11T16:30:00.000Z

Mocha and Lunch with my Dad / New Hair

Photos in the City / Pentax Mz5N Film Camera / Skies

Manchester Town Hall / Christmas Lights / Glitter Berry J20 / Night Sky

New Hair

2011-12-09T20:57:00.000Z

I decided to go for it and get my hair dyed a darker blonde today. My hairdresser somehow managed to persuade me into reddy-brown low lights and a fringe too. It looks very dark in these photographs and for a while I was having a 'omgwhathaveIdone' moment. But after a week or so it will lighten up from washing and I did want a change for the winter. The center parting is also back! For now.

This rather fabulous festive jumper is from Primark Mens. It's lovely and soft and looked a bit wild in the shop which only encouraged me to buy it. They have a few other festive jumpers too but I'm glad I got this one I'm going to wear it all Christmas Eve!

Eating Out and Baggy Jeans

2011-12-06T13:47:00.002Z

Orange Cardigan - New Look

Striped Tee - H&M

Jeans - Topshop

Feather Necklace, Cross Ring, Feather Ring - Fashionology

Turquoise Stone Ring - Vintage Jewellers

It's my day off Uni and even though I'm supposed to be working on a project I'm going out for a late lunch with a friend instead! It's freezing outside so I'll be wrapping up in a big parka coat and scarf before leaving the house. My topshop jeans/jeggings have now become so baggy around the waist and bum I can only really wear them on casual days. I'll have to have a look for another pair in a smaller size - has anyone else experienced this problem with topshop jeans? The best jeans I have ever bought were from Berska about 5 years ago and they died a miserable death a few years ago. I wore them until they split at the knees.

This is the Fashionology feather necklace I won through their Twitter comps. It was lovely of them to give away so many goodies, and I love my new necklace (I am quite a fan of feathers) it matches my feather ring perfectly.

You can still enter my giveaway for a chance to ring an Arty ring look-alike and one of my Galaxy Print tees. There's also a runners up prize! Ending on Saturday 10th - so enter now!

500 Followers Giveaway!

2011-12-03T14:10:00.000Z

A huge huge HUGE thank you to every one who reads, comments and appreciates ThisFashionIsMine. Without the support of my followers I wouldn't have the drive to keep posting, so I suppose you lot make this blog what it is!
I recently hit a whopping 500 followers which is quite amazing and I'm over the moon!

To say thanks, I've arranged a little giveaway. Theres a prize for the overall winner and a little something for the runner up to!
Here's what you could win....

Winner's Prizes...
Turquoise and Gold Statement Ring
- similar to the YSL Arty Ring, a beautiful replica, solid chunky design, detailed turquoise stone. Size 7 (Medium)
One of the best look-alike YSL rings on the market, looks and feels expensive.

And...

One custom made Galaxy Print Tee in Oversized Fit (will fit sizes 8-14)

- visit thisfashionismine.bigcartel.com to see all the t-shirt designs. Pick you're favourite! (t-shirts only)

Here are just a few examples, see the shop for more!

Runner Up's Prize...
Deep Turquoise and Gold Statement Ring
- similar to the Winner's ring but a gorgeous deep mottled turquoise like the YSL Arty Ring, Size 7 (Medium)

How to Enter

There are two ways to enter this competition...

1. Leave ONE comment on this post stating the t-shirt design you'd like to win and your email address so I can contact you.

2. Tweet about this giveaway directing your tweet to me by using @ThisFashionTwit

For example: "@ThisFashionTwit is giving away an Arty Ring and Galaxy Print Tee on her blog!"

3. Do Both! One Comment and One Tweet will count for 2 entries!

(You will be automatically entered for both the Winners Prize and the Runners Up Prize!)

Rules

- You must be a follower of ThisFashionIsMine.blogspot.com

- No multiple comments on this post please girls, just one per person!

- Make sure you include all the correct info in your comment below, email address and choice of tee

- This give away is open internationally! So anyone can enter.
- I will select the two winners, the 1st will win the ring and custom tee, the 2nd will win the ring.

- The winners will be selected at random using Random.org

- If you should win, please respond to your email within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected.

- You're prize will be shipped to you in time for Christmas, perfect for those Xmas parties!

- The giveaway will run for 1 week - ending on Saturday 10th December 2011 at Midnight GMT

Good Luck Girls!

Galaxy Shop - What's New?

2011-12-02T17:09:00.000Z

thisfashionismine.bigcartel.com

Girls - I finally have new stock! Yey! For all those of you who have been emailing asking when you can get your hands on a Galaxy Tee, well now you can. My stock is limited, so if you want one, buy now!

I'm also very pleased to announce I'm now selling Galaxy Print Dresses at a slightly higher price of £15.00. The design goes all the way around the dress, they are perfect for the upcoming part season or even just to wear through the day with a leather jacket, tights and boots.

I've been super busy with Uni work, and you know, sleeping - and I make each t-shirt myself, therefore stock numbers tend to be low. I'm going to run a survey to see which tshirt (or dress) sells the best and then will promise to make lots more of that design rather than trying to make a million different tees.
Also size variation is a little limited, if I do not have your size in stock then let me know! Ideally I want to have dresses and tees for every customer. You can always email me at gwen@gwenmcmullin.co.uk and request (nicely) a t-shirt or dress design you'd like in the perfect size for you.

Enjoy shopping!
thisfashionismine.bigcartel.com

x

On The First Day of Christmas...

2011-12-01T19:10:00.000Z

Christmas Holly French Manicure

Nail Guides - Ebay

Nail Tip White Polish - Rimmel

Nail Art Pens - Ebay

Lemon Butterfly Cupcakes

2011-11-30T13:34:00.000Z

I'm quite a fan of baking. Cakes and cupcakes are my favourites and what I'm best at. I'm still working on my biscuits and desserts. I even have a whole Recipes section on my blog (you can find it by clicking on the link in the left hand side bar.) So for my birthday this year my parents bought me lots of baking goodies. These colourful silicone cupcake cases included, and a recipe book just for cupcakes!
This recipe is taken from there, these Lemon Butterfly Cupcakes are so easy to make and you only need a few basic ingredients.

What You Need:

150g Self Rising Flour

Half teaspoon Baking Powder

100g Margarine

2 Eggs

150g Caster Sugar

1 Lemon Rind

Icing Sugar

Method

Beat the sugar and butter together in a bowl until light and fluffy
Sift in the flour and baking powder alternating with the beaten eggs, mixing as you go.
When everything is well mixed, fold in the lemon rind.
You now have your cake batter so pour into your cupcake cases!
Pop them in the oven for 15-20mins on Gas Mark 4

To make the frosting, mix 50g of Butter with 100g of Icing Sugar
The mix will not be stiff but not too runny.
Add a squirt of lemon juice.

When the cakes are cool, using a sharp serrated knife, cut out round circles from the top of each cupcake
Then cut these shapes in half.
Smooth the frosting over each cupcake, and wedge the 'butterfly' wings back into the top
Dust with icing sugar and then devour!

In a Week...

2011-11-27T14:01:00.000Z

Exhibitions and Notes / OPI Nail Envy / Triple Chocolate Muffins / Manchester Christmas Markets / Urban Walk / Photography Work

I've not done a 'In a Week...' post in quite some time, but I've actually been so busy over the past few weeks I felt as though I had something to talk about.

On Tuesday I went along to a Photography Workshop hosted by Andrew Brooks, a well known photographer from the Manchester area. It was held at MOSI and the museum kindly let us explore the store rooms for bits and bobs to photograph, and Andrew Brooks gave us an introduction to how he produces his images. The workshop wasn't free, it was pretty pricey but it was insightful and worth it.
Some of these photos were taken at the Dark Matters exhibition at Whitworth Art Gallery, I only got a few snaps before being told about the 'no cameras' rule. Oops.
I purchased OPI's Nail Envy on a friend's recommendation and so far so good. Although I can't really be sure if its making my nails stronger, its giving them a lovely shine.
I made these triple chocolate mini muffins this week and they were all gone in a matter of days. I can't wait to start making mince pies and Christmas cookies.
The Christmas Markets in Manchester are always worth spending a few hours at, mulled wine and German cooking!
And then finally these are just a few images from my current Uni assignment. They were just taken on a walk around the city centre, I'm still a bit stuck for ideas. I'm not much of a landscape photographer but I'm finding myself drawn that way for this City brief.

x

Saturday Night Gig

2011-11-26T17:45:00.000Z

Make-up: Urban Decay NAKED palette, Collection 200 concealer, Laura Mercier Mineral Foundation, Natural Collection Apple Blossom Lipstick, Topshop Powdered Blusher, Maybelline Collosal Mascara, Elf Gel Liner, HD Brows

Jewellery:

Watch - Urban Outfitters

Orange Wrap Around - H&M

Chain Wrap Around - Primark

Beads - Primark

Rings - H&M

Cross Necklace - Etsy

Just quickly posting this up, my face hair and jewellery for the night. I'm off to see Frank Turner at Manchester Apollo! What's everyone up to this Saturday night? I'm just happy I'm not working and instead spending the night with friends and Frank.

New Buys...

2011-11-25T19:31:00.000Z

Silver Grey Jumper - H&M £14.99

Brown Bobble Hat - Topshop £14.00

Fur Hat - Primark £3.50

Black Belt - H&M £7.99

Powdered Blusher - Topshop £6.00

I went shopping with one of my best friends today, and I always end up spending money when I'm with her! I also got some Christmas presents (not included here) so not everything I bought is for me!

This sparkly silver/grey jumper is ten times nicer in real life, its perfect for those relaxed Christmas parties or family gatherings. I'm planning on wearing it to one coming up soon or on Boxing Day (or both). It's got a zip running down the back for about 4 inches which is a nice touch.

I've wanted these two hats for a while so they were not an impulse buy. I saw a girl on the train wearing this Topshop Fur Pom Hat and had to have it! Although I do think £14.00 is a little extravagant for a bobble hat! Lucky I have my student discount. The belt is also something I've been after for ages, its just a simple black and gold waist belt, the perfect width. I'm going to wear it with dresses both day and night and use it to pull in other baggy items.

This Topshop blusher is a powder rather than a cream blush like they used to make. I love the colour its a perfectly bright light pink with blue undertones - great for fair skin and you can build it up as much as you like for a sort of 'dolly' effect! It sits in between Mac Well Dressed and my other Topshop Blusher in Flush - this one being a shade between the two, but brighter! It appears to have been named 'Powdered' unless that's just the description in which case it has no name at all.

GlossyBox November

2011-11-24T17:29:00.000Z

GlossyBox November

Monu Moisturiser

+FC5 Hand Cream

Dead Sea Spa Magik Bath Salts

Illamasqua Perfume Sample - Freak

Nail Rock Wraps

Ok so this month's box...to be entirely honest I wasn't overwhelmed by any of the products in the way I have been in the past. But it was still a nice collection of samples and I was looking forward to trying everything out. I've found some brilliant products through GlossyBox and I just love receiving a beautiful surprise package through the post!

The Dead Sea Spa Magik Bath Salts were a great product to include! Who doesn't love to indulge in a hot bath, and having something new like this gets me even more excited to relax after a long day at Uni. I'm yet to try these but I'm sure I'll like them, I love anything bath-related.

The Monu Moisturiser I've found a little tacky on my skin, it doesn't smooth on easily and I don't like the smell. I'm pretty picky about my skincare though, I have sensitive skin and I don't always trust new skin products that don't say 'for sensitive skin' all over them!

I like the smell of the perfume from Illamasqua. But I don't love it. They are a brand I'm always willing to try out, I wouldn't buy their full priced items so its lovely to receive a bit of luxury like this in the box.

Nail Rock Wraps appearing for their 2nd time in the GlossyBox, but I received a nicer design this time, I'm definitely going to give them a go. This black and white stripy design is something that's super difficult to paint on.

Finally, the +FC5 hand cream. It has a very organic smell and leaves my hands feeling fresh and soft without being sticky or greasy. I need a hand cream that sinks right into the skin but actually makes a difference, and this does. I don't think I'd buy the full size though, hand cream is not something I'm crazy about.

What I found quite exciting is that GlossyBox are now selling boxes for men! It's 4 boxes a year which include 7 sample products. This sounds like a fantastic idea for boyfriends, brothers or even dad's who are into grooming. I don't think every man would admit it but secretly they love a bit of pampering and may feel a bit uncomfortable about shopping for lots of products - this way, the box is delivered to their home and they can test out beauty stuff in secret! The only draw back is that it is £15 plus postage for every box. I think the Glossy team may consider lowering the price if lots and lots of men signed up. My suspicions tell me the higher price might just be to see how it goes.

What are you're opinions of this month's box? I'm always curious to find out and see what other people got!

Ring Collection

2011-11-20T19:12:00.000Z

Purple Stone Ring - Ebay

Three Loop Ring - Unknown

Stud Ring Set - H&M

Cross Double Finger Ring - Urban Outfitters

Cross Ring - Fashionology

Deep Blue Stone Ring - Ebay

Long Turquoise Stone Ring - Primark

Feather Ring - Fashionology

Above the Knuckle Ring - Fashionology

Small Turquoise Stone Ring - Jewellers in Yorkshire

Large Turquoise Stone Ring - H&M

Silver Ridge Ring - Unkown

Skull Ring - Ebay

I did a post featuring my ring collection back in March you can read it here but I've since acquired a few more rings and found myself wearing them much more often. All of the rings above are listed and I've tried to link them up accurately to their place of purchase. Of course, some were given to me as presents and I have no idea where they are from!

I have a big place in my heart for Fashionology jewellery. It may be a little more expensive than say Topshop or H&M but the quality is so much better - the rings are sterling silver, chunky, well made and won't turn your finger green. I like to treat myself on their website every so often, the feather and cross ring arrived the other week.

I've recently discovered an amazing jewellery shop on Ebay, 'eorangehill' who sell beautifully large stone rings in every colour imaginable. They are based in South Korea but my items arrived within a week, nicely wrapped and better than I imagined!

Urban Outfitters is another favourite place of mine to shop for jewellery. Although, I do sometimes think their stuff can be overpriced for the quality. They constantly update their jewellery range though so I discover something new to lust after every time I go in.

What's your go-to place for jewellery?

Fimo Flower Nails

2011-11-19T14:33:00.000Z

These fimo flower pieces came free with some nail art pens I bought on ebay years ago. I never got around to testing them out although I'd googled fimo nail designs and been impressed with what I'd found.

I did these whilst watching Children In Need last night and didn't expect them to even stay on! I used an eyelash glue and tweezers to stick each individual fimo slice on to the nail (but nail glue would probably be stronger) and then I painted over the whole nail with a clear top coat, about 2 or three layers.
I like the way they have turned out, although not very in-season but girlie and cute. I'm looking for some Christmassy fimo slices to create a more festive design!

The real test will some tonight at work...will they all fall off? I'd use these again in the future but perhaps for one off occasions, parties, nights out etc rather than for everyday wear.
What do you guys think? Has anyone tried fimo nail art before?

x

P.S. I've recently reached a massive 500 followers, and it hasn't gone unnoticed! Thank you so much to everyone that's a reader of ThisFashionIsMine you've made my week! I'm planning a little giveaway soon to say a proper thank you, once all the prizes have been organised I'll be posting more about it - so stay tuned!

City Life

2011-11-17T20:43:00.000Z

Leather Jacket - Peacocks

Plaid Shirt - New Look

Plaid Scarf - Primark

Cardigan - New Look

Jeans - Topshop

White Leather Converse

Hat - H&M

Cross Ring - Fashionology

Stone Ring - Ebay

(please ignore chipped nail polish!)

Today I bus'd it to Oxford Road to visit Whitworth Art Gallery and see an exhibition on 'Dark Matters' and I found myself dressing as a boy to do so. I can't wear this shirt without a leather jacket, I feel like too much of a lumberjack if I wear it alone, but more punk rock with the leather. Maybe the tartan scarf was too much but I need to wrap up warm today.

I'm not a hat person so I imagined myself throwing this one off in frustration ten minutes into my journey but I didn't, it stayed on, kept me warm and I actually really like it. Its an old one from 2 years ago, I rediscovered it this morning when I had greasy roots and no time to wash my hair.

I won't talk to much about my rings, they're both new but I'm planning a whole ring collection post soon where I'll go into more detail. After visiting the gallery I trundled into the city centre to do some shopping (avoiding the H&M-Versace ordeal. And anyway, everything was sold out in 2 hours!)

Did anyone actually manage to get any Versace goodies? My friend managed to get the shirt he wanted but he queued from 8am!!

Friday's are my free days but I'm heading into Uni non the less to hand in some library books and hopefully get some work done. A main assignment for us right now is focusing on the city, so everyday I'm thinking of things to photograph. I might even take a few cameras into Manchester tomorrow and snap some pictures of the famous and wonderful Christmas Markets!

Banana Bread

2011-11-15T19:24:00.000Z

Today I baked my first banana bread loaf. I've never even tried banana bread before but the thought of banana in cake has always interested me. I used a recipe from the bbc website, strangely donated from John Barrowman of all people, but it turned out great! Its very simple and has a great flavour. I was a bit worried the banana flavour would overwhelm everything else but it was quite subtle, just the right amount.

If you want to try this for yourself you can follow the recipe here and my top tips and recommendations....

I used 4 small-medium bananas. The recipe calls for over-ripe ones but I actually can't stand the taste of over-ripe fruit so I mashed up some perfectly ripe ones, nice and yellow, not too hard.
Before adding the flour, the mixture is very very runny. The flour adds density and don't worry, it will come together.
The recipe states 1 hour in the oven on Gas Mark 4, but the top of the bread started to catch a little after 45mins, so I lowered the temperature to Gas Mark 3, and placed a piece of tin foil loosely over the cake to prevent it from burning.
Check on your banana bread every so often, but don't waft the oven door about, it will cause it to fall! Stick a long skewer into the bread to check its done. It will come out fairly clean with a few crumbs when it is ready.
The banana helps to keep the bread really moist, so it can be a little gooey - as long as its had an hour it will be fine!

Good luck! If you're trying this for the first time like me, follow the recipe carefully. Next time I'm going to add some cinnamon for a more festive banana bread. It would be lovely served warm with custard too!

x

Multi-Coloured Nails

2011-11-12T15:34:00.001Z

If anyone follows me on Twitter you will have seen my endless Made In Chelsea tweets over the past few weeks or so. I'm a huge fan of the show, (yes TOWIE too) but in particular the girls fashion sense and style in Made in Chelsea is something to be admired.

So when Cags (Caggie Dunlop) turned up to say goodbye to Spencer at the end of series one and I spotted her multi-coloured nails I knew I had to re-create them. It seems a lot of celebrities are painting their nails this way e.g Fearne Cotton, Pixie Lott and Lauren Conrad...

I stuck to block pastels, two blues, a yellow, a green and a coral. But this will work with all sorts of colours as long as they aren't metallics or two-toned polishes.

Models Own - Lemon Meringue

Models Own - Top Turquoise

Barry M - Pale Blue

MUA - Shade 9

Barry M - Peach Melba

Turquoise Ring - Primark

Spike Ring - H&M

Knuckle Ring - Fashionology

The Galaxy Tee Shop NOW OPEN!

2011-11-10T19:41:00.002Z

A few weeks ago I posted this DIY tutorial on how to make a galaxy print t-shirt. I got some lovely comments and lots of you said you especially liked the cross galaxy design. Keeping this in mind I decided I'd make a few more, open a web-shop and sell them to you guys! I've started off making just the odd few, if they are successful I will definitely make more. So each t-shirt on the web-shop is just ONE product, I don't have multiples but I am prepared to note down an order for more of a certain design :)

Take a look at a few of the designs for sale...

Galaxy Cross and Upside Down Galaxy Cross V Neck Tees

Galaxy Triangle Round Neck Tees

Galaxy Skull Boy-Fit Tee and Pink and Navy Galaxy Print V Neck Tee

I'm so excited to open this online shop. Each t-shirt is designed by myself, and I hand make each print. I buy a few tshirts at a time and take special care over each one. I'm using no machinery, no production line, which means each tshirt is individual, unique and one of a kind. This also means I'm flexible when it comes to customization. If you have any ideas for future designs or something you would love to buy, let me know and I'll see what I can do!

You can visit the shop for yourself here at ThisFashionIsMine.bigcartel.com and feel free to make a purchase! All tees are ready and waiting to be shipped to new homes.
Tees are at a special introductory offer of £8.50 with £1.50 shipping costs, meaning its just £10 in total to make an order at ThisFashionIsMine.
Delivery to the UK should take 3-5 business days.
Delivery outside of the UK will cost £3.00 and may take up to 14 business days.

If you have any questions please ask in the below comments or email me on gwen@gwenmcmullin.co.uk

x

Bonfire Night Shatter Nails

2011-11-08T18:52:00.000Z

I know I'm a bit late with this tutorial, Bonfire Night was last Saturday and in actual fact I was going to call this nail design 'Sunset Nails' but they remind me far more of fire, flames and fireworks.
If you've read my blog for a while you might remember I did something very similar as a guest blogger over on Fleur De Force's (old) blog in the summer. You can see those Tropical Ombre Nails here

Using the same idea, I'm putting two bright colours together and laying a coat of Barry M's Shatter Polish in black over the top....it gives the impression you spent ages designing your nails when in fact it takes about ten minutes. You can do it with any colour, I thought this red and yellow ombre was perfect for this time of year.

Staring off with the deep orange, or bright red colour, I'm using Models Own Coral Reef paint the whole nail as normal. Wait for it to dry before starting with the next colour. You can paint two coats if you think necessary.

Using a little piece of sponge (mine is cut from a household scouring pad) dab on the yellow polish. I'm using Models Own Lemon Meringue. Start off with a small amount on your sponge, blend the yellow down to the middle of the nail as to avoid a sharp line. Add a little more to the tips of the nails for a stronger shade of yellow. Wait for this to dry. Right now, your nails will look messy and not very pleasing to the eye. But wait...

Using a shatter polish, I think black works the best here, it dulls down the bright in-your-face colours and pulls the two together. If you were using muted shades, maybe going for a white shatter polish would be a good idea. This shatter polish really brings the whole design together.

You can finish with a top coat if you like but I prefer this slightly matte look.

Ta-da! Apologises for the bits of polish around my nails, these rub away with a little bit of nail varnish remover on a cotton bud. Let me know if you try this out, its one of the quickest and easiest ways I like to paint my nails and it still looks like I've made some effort.

x

November Wishlist

2011-11-07T17:56:00.000Z

1. Aztec Leggings
These leather look aztec printed leggings are beautiful. I'm considering going into my nearest store to try these on. If I can get away with them during the day time I'll buy them.
2. Gold Sequin Dress
Something for New Years Eve - yes I'm looking already! I want something similar - very sparkly and over the top.
3. Gold Ring
I like this battered metal effect in my jewellery and these long rings are everywhere. Recently made a big order on fashionology for some new rings!
4. OPI Polishes
Bit of a cheat 'wish list' product as I've actually already bought these! I got them at a great price on BrandAlley.com and after seeing various online swatches I can't wait for them to arrive. Perfect for winter.
5. Thanx Jumper
A great one to wear on Christmas Day perhaps? Whilst being given lots of presents.
6. Stackable Letter Rings
I love these and I want at least 3 or 4 to wear all at once, but at £8 each they're pretty pricey, so I'm hoping Urbs will put them in the sale.
7. Turquoise Stone Cuff
Any chunky jewellery with turquoise stones and its mine. This one is currently on sale at Topshop, down from £120!
8. Chanel Inspired Bag
You can get this here on ebay. There are a few sellers with different varieties so have a look around. This might have to do until I can afford the real thing.
9. Combined Dress
WANT this dress so much, its a heavy sequined embellished skirt with a light sheer black shirt on top.

x

Turning 20 & Gaining Super Powers

2011-11-04T19:47:00.000Z

Last Saturday was my birthday and I've finally got around to showing you the photos we snapped before going out...it was a fancy dress theme, being so close to Halloween and all. I think you can guess who we are!

We had a great night out, everyone in Manchester seemed to be in costume but I didn't find another Wonder Woman! I had a dark brown wig but it just looked awful so I went with being a blonde version of Wonder Woman. I also wanted to show you my nails of the night and the £6 glitter-crazy gold clutch I took out with me...

Red Polish - Nails Inc

Gold Nail Glitter - Ebay

Clutch - Primark

My mum liked my sparkly nail so much she asked me to paint one of hers the same! I had a lovely birthday, was given some great presents, lots of baking goodies so expect more cupcake recipes! My friends bought me Soap and Glory things, Fashion Now Volume II and a Tangle Teezer (which I requested) lots of other bits and pieces and I have enough alcohol to last me way up until Christmas in the fridge.

I've been so busy with Uni work but I'm handing in the whole first module on Monday morning so I'll have a little more time to do some blogging (and baking) that is until we are briefed on the next module of work on Wednesday!

How did you spend your Halloween weekend? Looking forward to Bonfire Night? I'll be working but I've bought a few sparklers to celebrate the occasion!

Happy Birthday to Me!

2011-10-29T13:59:00.000+01:00

Today is my 20th Birthday!

It's also National Cat Day so to celebrate here is a photo of all my cats...

Molly, Monty, Michael, Max and Minnie

This was taken a while ago, Monty is now HUGE and fat like the rest!

I may do a birthday post with some photos from tonight, I'm going out in fancy dress with some friends!

DIY Galaxy Print Tee

2011-10-27T20:41:00.002+01:00

After copious amounts of exposure to galaxy prints on the web or on the high street I decided I couldn't ignore the trend any longer! I've already made a stab at Galaxy Nails but I've been searching for a way to make my own galaxy print for clothing and was inspired by a few diy tutorials so I decided to give it a go and make one of my own too.

Ashley Gail from wise-rabbit-says.blogspot.com posted a wonderful step by step guide to creating your own galaxy t-shirt. I mainly stuck to her rules but added a few of my own ideas too....

The Finished Result:

How To Create Your Own...

plain black t-shirt

bleach in a spray bottle

fabric paint or acrylic paint in white

an old toothbrush

an old paintbrush

hairdryer

small piece of sponge

gloves (optional)

plastic sheet to protect the carpet

plastic bag for inside your shirt

1. Lay out your t-shirt on a large bin bag or another plastic protective sheet. Place the plastic bag inside so any bleach does not seep through to the other side.

2. Start by spraying carefully but randomly with the bleach (you can also use baby sterilizing liquid like I did, almost the same thing.)

3. You will see rusty red/orange marks begin to appear as if by magic. Speed up this process with your hairdryer on a low setting.

4. Once you have achieved a nice pattern, you can twist the fabric in the middle of the shirt to create a galaxy or star cluster.

5. Spray the centre of the twist liberally with bleach until desired effect has been reached.

6. Keep spraying wherever you need to - don't over do it though, less is sometimes more.

7. Using white paint (fabric paint will not wash out) flick 'stars' on to the shirt using a stiff paintbrush or old toothbrush. Be careful but firm with your flicking action - larger gloops of paint just look like planets!

8. Add bigger white star clusters with your paintbrush or drip blobs of bleach on to the shirt to form a lovely constellation effect.

9. You can sponge on other colours of paint if you like, adding a bit of purple gives depth to your galaxy.

10. Leave to dry in a flat area overnight. Rinse with cold water the next day to get rid of the bleach smell.

Wear your new handmade galaxy tee with pride. Worthy of Urban Outfitters or even Christopher Kane!

Notes:

Fabric Paints/Acrylic Paints may fade with time and through washing.

If working inside open ALL windows.

Try not to create perfection, a untidy splatter will look much more realistic.

Wear gloves if your bothered. Wash hands afterwards

I love how it turned out, and I already had all the items at home. I bought my t-shirts from Primark, in sizes too large for me so they would slightly loose. I also had a go using a navy blue tee, the bleach stained it a lovely pinky peach colour and I dabbed on purple paint with a sponge.

I also created this cross design using a stencil and being careful not to splatter the rest of the t-shirt. It's such a cheap and easy method to creating something unique and individual that no one else will own. You can try different colours of t-shirt to bleach to gain different effects, or different garments. This would work just as well on a pair of leggings or a little black dress (which is my next project!)

I'm thinking of making a few more galaxy print tees for selling if anyone would be interested in buying one? Let me know in the comments what you think...

**EDIT - I NOW MAKE AND SELL THE ODD FEW GALAXY TEE OVER IN MY SHOP, thisfashionismine.bigcartel.com DON'T BE AFRAID TO VISIT!**

Leopard Print Nails in Peach

2011-10-24T22:33:00.000+01:00

Barry M - Peach Melba

Models Own - Utopia

Black Nail Art Pen

(see leopard print nail tutorial here)

Monki October and Online Store

2011-10-18T16:23:00.000+01:00

You may have come across the Swedish brand Monki, and if not you can read my first post about them here. The October issue of their free magazine came through my letterbox the other day. The images inside are beautiful and very inspirational for any aspiring stylist, designer, photographer or make up artist. The photoshoots are just stunning (an no I'm not being paid to say any of this!)

I was pretty excited when I spotted they were now selling their clothes online! If you're lucky enough to live in London, they have a store open in Selfridges on Oxford Street but us lot up here in the North are still waiting. I had a little look at the online store and picked out my favourites...

Everything is very affordable, similar to H&M prices. I'm a big fan of Swedish music, Robyn, Jose Gonzalez, The Hives, or Lykke Li anyone? So if they have great taste in fashion as well I might just have to move there!

Any thoughts on this brand? I'll be placing a little order as soon as I've got some money to spend :)

x

Cheap Frills

2011-10-16T13:55:00.000+01:00

About a week ago I was contacted by the lovely Georgia from Cheap Frills and then not long after these beauties flew through my letterbox and I wanted to share them with you guys! Cheap Frills is a little online jewellery store specialising in vintage pieces.

I think they speak for themselves and I love them! Unfortunately my Queen Bee ring is missing a gem stone but I can get over it, its such a cute ring, unlike any others I own. Even though its not so big at 3cm wide, its the perfect statement ring, and I'll be wearing it just with a little black dress.
The 'Oui' necklace is probably my favourite, its the perfect length and perfect for layering up with other necklaces.

The prices are very reasonable, their lowest priced item is £6 and their highest is just £14. I'm not sure that I would personally pay £10 for the Oui Necklace but then again I would pay over £6 for this Bee Ring! Check out their other pieces, my favourites being these Cat Ears Rings and this Duchess Cameo Necklace

What do you think? Found any unique online jewellery stores recently, I'm always on the look out for more!

x

Skull Print

2011-10-13T19:01:00.000+01:00

Blue Shirt - Primark

Skull Scarf - Primark

Leather Look Leggings - Ebay

Cross Necklace - Etsy

Charm Necklace - H&M

Watch - Urban Outfitters

I wore this today to a three hour lecture on 'Fact & Fiction in Photography'. I needed a nice bright outfit to encourage me to actually leave the house for it. The skull scarf is a new addition after falling in love with my old black and white McQueen inspired one. Its very silky and looks much more expensive than the £3 I paid. I also picked up a red tartan/plaid scarf from Primark which is perfect for the Autumn months.

The blue shirt I've worn before (and really need to remove the care label from!) and these leather look leggings are a go to item for me now. I may have worn these already this week but I just love them! They didn't photograph so well but they are a sheen material, not too shiny and not too matte.

I've been on a bit of a spending spree recently and have now bought my costume for Halloween! It's my birthday on the 29th so we'll be going out celebrating in fancy dress! I'm keeping quiet for now as to what or who I am going as...

Also bought myself a parka coat from New Look which I've been eyeing up for ages. It was £44.99 but I managed to wiggle the price down to £32 after 20% student discount and a left over store credit.

Anyone else getting excited for Halloween? Or is it something you never even think about? Any plans?

Away From Desk

2011-10-12T15:37:00.000+01:00

You guys might have been wondering what I've actually been up to these past few weeks. I'm sharing a few snaps taken at Uni so you can see that I am actually working!

The images below show a few things I've taken recently. We've been doing a lot of work in the studio and practising with lights.
I have a product and portrait assignment coming up next week so I'm practising my product set-ups.
I'll make sure to keep you posted with how it all goes and of course I'm always tweeting about anything exciting (e.g today's tweet about dropped sandwich)

Its nice to keep you guys who read ThisFashionIsMine updated on my personal life too. Sometimes I imagine all my favourite bloggers don't move much between their computer screens and the shopping centres. Of course this isn't true, we do actually have lives!

I miss this blog and I've not been able to give it the care and attention it needs recently. But I have a few post ideas waiting to happen so I'll get straight on them....

Library

2011-10-09T21:36:00.000+01:00

Black Cut Out Top - ROMWE

Maroon Trousers - River Island

Cross Necklace - Fashionology

Spike Necklace - ASOS

Hamsa Hand Necklace - Etsy

Turquoise Ring - H&M

Watch - Urban Outfitters

I'll just skip past the shame of not blogging for a whole 9 days and just say I've been working like crazy at a million assignments at once and I've spent most days in lectures or the library. My internet has also been down this weekend, resulting in treks around my town looking for free WiFi access (there are less places than you might think!)
But here's something I wore to Uni this week, I love these colours they are perfect for Autumn and layering necklaces is one of my favourite ways to dress up a plain top.

I have some exciting photography projects lined up and I've decided I might show you some of the outcomes on here so you can see what I'm up to when I'm not in the library or WiFi hunting.

x

September Heat

2011-10-01T16:26:00.000+01:00

Dress - H&M

Belt - Primark

Chain - Unknown

Hamsa Hand Necklace- Gemsinvogue

Now there's two words I never thought I'd put together! One minute I'm wearing 80 denier tights and chunky knits and the next I'm baring legs and arms again! The British weather has a lot to answer for. Not that I can stay too mad, because bright warm days always lift my mood.

I've packed away most of my summer clothes so I had to improvise for this burst of hot weather. I bought this H&M dress back in May as a rush buy before jetting off to the USA and as it turns out I love it lots. It falls really nicely and when cinched in at the waist with a belt it makes me feel all floaty and hippyish.

I lovelovelove my Hamsa Hand Sideways Necklace from Etsy seller Gemsinvogue. Its so tiny I forget I'm wearing it. To be honest I didn't know what the Hamsa Hand stood for until I googled it and found out it was a protection symbol and 'hamsa' in Arabic literally means 'five'. The number 5 has always been my "lucky" number, it springs up a lot in my life. There are also 5 people in my close family so this was a lovely surprise and made the necklace mean even more to me!
You may have noticed I love gemsinvogue jewellery and my recent giveaway (ended last night) was a piece of hers, the infamous sideways cross necklace that I also adore.

No hard work put into this outfit. I've been relaxing in the garden today, I finally finished One Day, and I've been taking a few shots with my new Holga lens. Not to mention working lots on my Uni projects.

Off out for a drink and a catch up with some friends tonight. Just going to sling my Toms on and a cardigan although I don't think I'll need it its so warm!

And the Winner Is....

2011-10-01T14:20:00.000+01:00

A huge thanks to everyone who entered via comment or Twitter mention!

I calculated all the entries fairly and used Random.org to reach my winning number.

115 of you entered but there could only be one winner...

Congratulations to...

ASHLLYD

Ashleigh

I hope you fall in love with your necklace as I have with mine!

Please check your inbox I will have emailed you!

Maroon Stripes and Chelsea Boots

2011-09-27T18:28:00.000+01:00

Burgundy Skirt - New Look

Striped T-shirt - H&M

Vintage Style Watch - Urban Outfitters

Wrap around chain bracelet - Primark

Chelsea Boots - H&M

Nails - Barry M Navy, Models Own Juicy Jules, Revlon Galaxy

I spent most of today in lectures so I wanted something comfy (and yes I'm aware I look like a 10 year old in these photos) I threw on my leather jacket too but the weather is warming up and I think by Friday I wont need a jacket or cardigan at all! What is going on, just as I pack away all my sandals.

My new boots arrived! I was a bit unsure at first because I ordered these online (I only waited 4 days - record time) but tried on a pair in store the next day and wasn't convinced they looked nice.

Turns out they look much better in my own home and they are a cheap alternative to the Topshop Chelsea Boots at just £29.99 (cheeky discount code brought mine down to £22!)

I'm seriously bored of leopard print or nude nails so I whacked on some glitter polishes over a dark navy. They are messy and a bit too dramatic for day time but it makes a change.

I will get around to telling you about my Uni course soon, we're being kept busy and part of our first module is to set up a blog to record our research and ideas, so perfect for me, we're even using Blogger as platform! Winner!

Five Days of Fashion Part 2

2011-09-25T14:05:00.000+01:00

Jumper - Primark

Denim Shorts - Vintage Levis

Dr Marten Boots

Tote Bag - Handmade

Tights - Primark

Black Shirt with DIY studs - H&M

Maroon Skirt - New Look

Black Tights - Primark

Leather Jacket - Peacocks

Studded Slippers - Topshop

Blue Shirt - Primark

Skinny Jeans - Topshop

Navy TOMs

Dark Red Trousers - River Island

Striped Tshirt - H&M

Leather Converse

Quilted Jacket - New Look

Maroon Satchel - Primark

Nude Blazer - H&M

Paperbag waist shorts - ASOS

Cream Long Sleeve Top - Primark

Tights - Primark

Studded Boots - Chockers Shoes

Layered Necklace - Vintage

After a great response to my first Five Days of Fashion I decided to do a second. So here is what I'm most likely going to be wearing all next week at Uni. Putting these posts together actually helps me out loads come Monday morning when I have ten minutes to get dressed. I can see what works beforehand and have the outfit ideas ready in my head. It's like making your lunches for the week ahead!

You might spot some similar pieces from last week, because yes I do actually wear the same thing more than once. But I try to style things differently so I don't look the same.

I'm hoping to put together these lookbooks every so often, and build a sort of catalogue of outfit ideas so I can look back in time and pick and choose from what I have photographed. It's a great way of actually seeing what you have in your wardrobe and rotating your items so you wear everything you own. I'd recommend you give this a go if you're having a 'I have nothing to wear' sort of week.

Which is your favourite day this week?

x

1st Birthday Giveaway: Sideways Cross Necklace

2011-09-23T17:21:00.002+01:00

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

Monday 12th marked my blog's very first Birthday! To celebrate a year of blogging I promised you lot a giveaway, and its finally here! I wanted the prize to be something I personally would love to win. I chose something delicate and classic, yet fashionable and suited to all.

My sideways cross necklace was my first every purchase of Etsy.com and I fell in love. I hardly ever take it off so I'm going to share the love and give one lucky follower the chance to win a sideways cross necklace of their very own (obviously brand new and not my actual necklace!) (The necklace was purchased with my own money.)

This necklace is made by the etsy seller and jewellery maker gemsinvogue and is gold filled and measures 10mm x 15mm. (the smaller version) The entire length of the necklace is 16” which rests nicely between the collarbones and sits in place all day.

These sideways crosses are adored by various celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, Kourtney Kardashian, Audrina Partridge, Vanessa Hudgens, Jessica Biel, Taylor Jacobson and the blogger behind Fashion Toast, Rumi Neely.

I also spotted this particular Etsy design on the beautiful Laura from Lollipop21 on Youtube, now blogging over at Buy Now, Blog Later and then later spotted on the lovely Sara from SWalkerMakeup wearing one.

So it seems the whole blogsphere has been going crazy over these little things and rightly so!

The Prize

Above is the actual necklace one lucky winner will receive and shown side by side with my own. As you can see its a little smaller and daintier but still the same polished gold and the chain length is also the same.

How To Win

If you'd like the chance to win your very own sideways cross necklace in polished gold all you have to do is...

1. Be a Follower of This Fashion Is Mine using Google Friend Connect
2. Write a Comment on this post including your email address so I can get in touch should you win!
3. For a second entry you can Tweet about my giveaway please making sure you use my tag @ThisFashionTwit in your tweet so I can see it, for example: " @ThisFashionTwit is giving away a sideways cross necklace on her blog! "
Also leave your Twitter name in your comment.

1.Follow 2.Comment 3.Tweet

The giveaway is international so anyone can enter!
The giveaway ends on Friday 30th September 2011 at midnight. (one weeks time)
Everyone who leaves a comment will be entered. One entry per person. Those who tweet my giveaway will be entered twice. You must be a follower of my blog to enter.
The winner will be chosen using Random.org and will be notified on Saturday 1st October 2011 via email.

Best of luck!

x

September Glossy Box

2011-09-21T17:59:00.000+01:00

So what's inside my Glossy Box this September?

I'm pretty sure most of you are sick of seeing Glossy Box reviews by now so I'm going to keep it short and sweet! I still love seeing what everyone got and what people think. As this is not a beauty blog I'm not going to go into great detail on each product.

First of all I was so happy to be approached by the Glossy Box Team as I'd had to unsubscribe last month due to being a bit short of cash. I knew I would regret it when the September boxes came around so I was over the moon to be sent one for free. I have paid for boxes in the past and I would pay in the future because I think they're a great idea.

Favourite item this month has to be the HD Brows kit in Foxy. I've been looking for a eyebrow set for ages. This one is super pigmented and all the shades work as eye shadows too. Lovely.

Loreal's Mythic Oil, another highly desired item for me, and it makes me hair feel lovely and soft. The pump only lets out a teeny bit of oil each time which is perfect so you won't over do it or waste product.

Bit unsure about the Nuxe Multi Purpose Oil - I'm yet to give it a try. What do people think?

The Plum perfume sample is nice, a little bit old for me but a classic smell that's not horrible. Might see if my Mum wants it.

And then the StriVectin Anti Ageing Eye-Cream, I'd never really thought about using one seen as though I'm only 19 but I guess it is my birthday soon so maybe its about time!

I heard on the grapevine that Glossy Box will be starting subscription gift packages just in time for Christmas! What a great present to give to a friend, sister or your mum.

What was your favourite item in this months box?

x

Vintage Dr Martens

2011-09-20T14:34:00.000+01:00

I have a new love and it comes in the form of these chunky, thick soled, punk style black boots. A Dr Marten classic. If they look a little beaten around the edges that's because they are. I bought these 2nd hand from ebay for a bargain price of £16.00!

I was on the edge of my sniper's seat as I've lost many a pair of vintage DMs on ebay auctions in the past. The last pair I was in a bidding war for sold for £55.00, yikes. So I'm so happy to have these, even if they are a little 'rustic' with a few paint splatters or scuffs. I'm only going to get them dirty myself, that's what chunky boots are for.
And I've not had to go through the liberal task of breaking the bloody things in. I've heard horror stories about DMs taking weeks and many blisters to become comfortable. As soon as I slid these on there was no pain only gain!

Actually I think they might be a little big for me, but with a few pairs of socks they'll be fine and I'd rather a bit loose than a bit tight. Anyone else who owns Dr Martens, do you find they run a little big? It might be something to bear in mind if I ever buy more, but I'd only go half a size down.

These are my first pair of Dr Marten boots and I wanted to grab a classic pair for as cheap as possible to see if I liked them. My main worry was that they would look ginormous and ridiculous especially on my boat feet. (size 8 *winces in shame*) but all my large foot ladies do not despair! They don't look ridiculous at all, I mean, they're large boots - that's the style. But in no way do they look absurd or too large.

Secondly I worried about the comfort. I can safely say I have worn these all day for trekking through puddles here there and everywhere and my feet stayed pain free and dry! Yes, shoes that actually keep my feet bone dry! Who would have thunk it.

And thirdly I worried about what I could actually wear them with and how they would fit in with my current wardrobe. I'm not about to turn all 90's punk on you girls and stick safety pins into everything, so I'll be wearing them with feminine skirts/dresses to toughen them up or with skinny jeans and a boyish tee if I'm feeling particularly rebellious.

* My favourite wearer of Dr Martens: Sammi from BeautyCrush - she can effortlessly pull them off and I love her white ones so much! ...Hmm maybe one day!

Hopefully you'll see these in a few outfit posts in the near future. I wore these today following 'Monday's Outfit' choice even though its actually Tuesday. Click to see my Five Days of Fashion post if you have no idea what I'm talking about.

x

Five Days of Fashion

2011-09-17T18:45:00.000+01:00

If you're a regular reader of ThisFashionIsMine you'll know that I'm starting University on MONDAY. Yikes. That gives me only 1 evening and 1 full day to prepare. I've been thinking a lot about what I'm actually going to wear. I think it's important to make a good first impression but also dress comfortably and show your own personality. Of course, after the first week I'll probably be slouching in to the library in jeans and a hoody, but I can at least try and be fashionable for the first week!

The following are optional outfits I have put together that would see me through the first five days of University life. Please keep in mind these are only ideas and let me know which is your favourite!

Maroon Long Sleeve Top - Primark

Pink High Waist Skirt - H&M

Tights - Primark

Dr Marten Boots

Silver Cross - Fashionology

Vintage Watch - Urban Outfitters

Burgundy Trousers - River Island

Leather Jacket - Peacocks

Plaid Shirt - New Look

White Tee - ASOS

Studded Slippers - Topshop

Orange Jumper - New Look

Cream and Sequin Shirt - Next

Dark Red Skirt - New Look

Tights - Primark

Selection of leather cuffs - H&M and Primark

Brown Lace Up Boots - Ebay

Camel Dress - Primark

Black Blazer - Vintage

Pale Pink Brogues - Primark

Gold Love Heart Locket - Ebay

Leather/Wet Look Leggings - Ebay

Striped Tee - H&M

Striped Jumper - H&M

Leather Converse Trainers

Gold Chain - Primark

Black Bracelet - H&M

Putting this blogpost together has made me quite excited about wearing some of the new items in my wardrobe! In each photo there is something I've not yet worn. (I'll be talking more about the DMs soon!)

For rainy days I'll be throwing on my Barbour inspired jacket but I'm hoping we don't have many of those....