Asymmetry

 Last S / S everyone especially the blogger went a little crazy over the Zara Skort. Now don't get me wrong I was on this bandwagon and I feel as though this craze will be around for a few seasons more, especially as Zara keep bringing out new colours each season, and retailers such as missguided, boohoo and topshop offer us similar products.

However this season I've found a love for the asymmetric skirt, and here's a few that I would love to get my hands on...





From left to right:
Topshop £100, Finders Keepers £105, DKNY £195, Dion Lee £1735 and ASOS £45.

Atelier Versace: Spring 14 Couture

Think Grace Jones meets Goddess meets Cocktail Chic. All thoughts that came to mind whilst flicking through the slide show of the Atelier Versace Spring 14 Couture show in Paris.

The first look on the runway, for me, embodied strength and femininity, with the structured, black, tuxedo, complimented by the elegant draping of the embellished skirt and the Grace Jones-esque hood. The latter being a signature element of this collection, creating an edgy angle to even the most graceful of evening wear.

 

Versace created barely-there bodices, using geometric shaped crystals, with the aim of them seeming almost tattoo-like. She described tattoos as being a new form of art, that is accessible to all. To me the use of beautiful crystals, to create a these bodices, almost reiterates the point that tattoos or any form of body art can be beautiful and questions the view a lot of people have that it's not art and isn't attractive.

 

The silhouettes created through the hoods and draping, with the addition of the whites, blues and emerald greens, reminded me an ancient goddesses, or Mediterranean princesses. The epitome of femininity, topped with power and strength, much like the things I associate Donatella Versace herself.

 *all images from Style.com

The No Brush Make Up Look

Living such a busy lifestyle, I never really have a day in which I can mope around the house bare faced. However, I still have to clean my Make-up brushes and give them a chance to dry - for some reason my brushes take around 36 hours to fully dry. With this in mind, I had to create a make up look which I can create just using the tool that god gave me, my fingers.

Cream based products was definitely the way to go in terms of this look, as it made it a lot easier to apply and blend to create a natural look, that even included some contouring.

So I started the look with Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Santa Fe and covered my blemishes, dark circles and all other imperfections with Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium 3. I then attempted and hopefully succeeded to contour my cheekbones and bones with Bourjois Bronzing Primer, followed by added a hint of colour to the apples of my cheeks using Kiko Velvet Stick Blush in Verve Peony 05, and finishing using Kiko Dazzling Highlighter in Gleaming Apricot 02 to highlight my cheeks, down my nose and brow bone.

I then filled in my eyebrows using YSL eyebrow pencil in 2 which I love as it defines my brows but in a natural way. To add some colour and definition to my lids, I smothered them with Maybelline 24 hour color tattoo in Permanent Taupe 40, and used Mac Paint Pot in Eclair to define my crease attempting to blend it as much as possible, then on my brow bone and in the corners of my eyes I used Kiko Water Eyeshadow in 200. To add some liner, I used my current favourite, Bourjois Liner Clubbing Liquid Liner, with Sleek Eau La La Liner in Molasses 317 across half of my bottom lash line, that blended into Rimmel Soft Kohl in Pure White 071, which I put on the inner half of my bottom lash line and on my water line. I finished off the whole look with my little tester of Benefit They're Real Mascara, which unfortunately I'm still debating whether I love it or hate it.

Hopefully you've realised that a make up look is possible using just your fingers, I certainly have, however tomorrow I will be returning to using my much loved brush collection.

Long Time No Speak

 

Hello Hello

I know, shock horror right? I’m posting again, but I’ve finally reached a place where I feel I should be able to balance everyday life with regular posting… fingers crossed.

I’m just going to use todays post to give you an update into what I’ve been up to since my last contact. Well I have finally come out of the other side of my illness, for now, and since then a lot changes has happened in my life. I have dropped out of Nottingham Trent and my science course, to pursue a career in Fashion and am now studying a foundation in Art and Design which I am thoroughly enjoying. Leaving Trent and all my friends was hard but I am a regular visitor to the Midlands, and lodger at my friends house. As well as being at college, I have got myself a job and am now working at Victoria’s Secret, which means I am able to purchase lots of goodies, and fun things.

Other than that not much else is going on to be honest, but hopefully I’ll be able to find lots of exciting things to post about, and fill your lives with loads to read.

Until Next Time

Do It Yourself: Floral Crown

At the beginning of this week, I wrote a post about my current love for the festival craze that is the floral crown. (you can find this post here.) Following this post, I thought I would get a bit more creative and attempt a DIY floral crown. My expectations were minimal and I thought the outcome wasn’t going to be to great. However much to my surprise, it turned out ok, so therefore decided to share with you, the results and how I made it.

I personally went to Hobby craft to get the materials I need to make it, but I’m sure any local craft shop will stock the items needed. What I used was: an assortment of flowers of your personally choice, some jewellery wire (relatively thick), a pair of pliers, some thread and a glue gun.
The way to begin, is to measure the size of your head using the wire, following this form a loop, and wrap the edges around each other in a coil-like effect. Next, using the thread you need to mark where you want the flowers to start and finish. You may prefer the flowers to go all the the around the crown, or just half way across your head more like a headband. Once you have decided where the flowers to go, tie a piece of thread at each point. Now it’s time to start attaching the flowers. I chose light pink, and deep raspberry coloured flowers, and decided before that I would arrange them alternately. I advise buying flowers that have a wire stem, as this came in handy, whilst applying the flowers. For each flower, I placed a dot of glue on the underside, and attached it to the wire. I then wrapped the wire stem around the wire –in the same coil motion- then secure at the end with another small dot of glue. All you need to is repeat this for the rest of the flowers. Once complete make sure each flower is secure, and if needed add a little more glue. Let the glue dry, and you’re ready to wear.
This is what my completed crown looks like and I’m really happy with the results.

Excuse the makeup-less instagram photograph. I cannot wait to wear my crown out.

About A Book | Babble by Charles Saatchi

I bring you a slightly different post today, about a book. You may call me a geek but I love a good book. Genre? I’m not really too specific, although I’m not a fan of romantic novels, and only certain crime-thrillers manage to grasp my attention. Recently, I was sent into Waterstones for older-sister-Jack who is an avid reader, and I noticed a little gem sitting on one of their tables. Whoever says “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” was mistaken when it comes to this read, I was drawn in by the minimalist look of the sleeve. The simple imagery drew me in and I had to pick it up to see what was going on. The title, one word, “Babble”. The author, Charles Saatchi, a man who I admire. A master of the advertising world, and an avid art collector. His gallery, in London, a place I am desperate to visit, and interactive technique to acquiring internship staff – through the submission of a YouTube remake of famous advertising campaigns. I was drawn in. Turning the book over to discover a lack of blurb, just a list of different titles displayed on the back. A number of the titles enticed me, so I decided to purchase, and took it home to read.

This book differs from the other books by Charles Saatchi. His other books tended to be of a question and answer format whereas this was a compilation of opinions and anecdotes over a number of topics. Whilst reading, I felt a lot of the authors personality and humour come across in the book, and it seems as though his opinions are completely uncensored. The fact that the book is a lot of – how I can only describe as – short stories, which are not related at all, meant that in theory I would be able to read one chapter at time, and then be able to put the book down. However this wasn’t the case, I couldn’t put it down, I was intrigued to read more about Charles Saatchi’s opinions. My favourite chapters were titles, “You’re last meal on Death Row”, “Is good luck or bad luck passed on genetically?” and “Do you have a toilet face?”.

I enjoyed reading this book so much, that I was talking about it enough to convince my friends that they needed to read it. I also spent many days researching and entering stores to find out if Charles Saatchi had written any other books which were similar. And now I am recommending it to you.
I picked this up for half price but it retails at £12.99 from most book stores.
What do you think of this type of post? Have you read something good recently and want to recommend?

OOTD: The Yellow Skater

1. OUAH! T-shirt, Zara. 2.Sunglasses, Primark 3. Peace Necklace, Topshop.---> similar here 4. Skater Skirt, H&M ---> similar in black. 5. Elastic strap sandals, Office (last year)
The sun graced the northern parts of the British Isles this weekend, and despite only having plans to chill in the garden with a few pals, followed by the BGT final, I decided to debut my new yellow skater skirt, I purchased the other week. I am a bit of a sucker for layering at the moment (honestly I think it’s because the current medication I am taking has made me completely balloon, to a noticeable level – possibly more on that another time) as it allows me to revamp old gems I keep finding in the back of my wardrobe, hide my lumps and bumps under layers of garments, and I also get to be a little creative with prints, colour and shape without feeling too self-conscious. I purchased this skirt the other week,on a whim. I was out shopping with mother-Jack and both sister-Jacks, and we had some items to return and I honestly couldn’t find much in H&M, which isn’t unusual, I often find it a bit of a bad, jumble sale, but I picked up the skirt. I was a little iffy about the colour but it’s summer so why the heck not. I decided to take a leap out of my dark comfort zone, and bought a bright, jersey, summer garment.