Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
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What I Wore: Bats
2
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
ASOS Flared Sleeve Dress / Primark Bat Leggings / Primark Stretch Tee / Everything5Pounds Stud Boots / Alchemy Bat Necklace / Fitbit Charge
Spooky season is well and truly upon us! Which, much to my delight, means that the shops are currently full of Halloween themed goodies. For me, Halloween is better than Christmas, so like a lot of people love to spend December wearing ugly Christmas sweaters, I like to wear Halloween clothing throughout October!
My first Halloween purchase this year is this pair of monochrome bat print leggings from Primark. Bats are actually one of my favourite creatures, so when I spotted these they went straight into my shopping basket. I was slightly worried that they wouldn’t work for me as Primark leggings don’t always fit me right, but these are pretty damn perfect. They’re true to size, and the fabric is also lovely and soft.
To continue the bat theme I threw on my Alchemy bat necklace, over this cute ASOS dress. I actually bought this during the summer sale, but have only just started wearing it for some reason. The long flared sleeves remind me of bat wings, and the length is perfect for showing off patterned leggings such as these.
The studded biker boots are from Everything5Pounds and were, you guessed it, only £5! Despite the low price tag they’re excellent quality, and are great for leaf kicking.
Naomi x
Autumn Coat Wishlist
1
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
It’s now officially coat weather here in the UK, and I’ve been trying to find a couple of new ones for Autumn, as my current coat is looking a bit worse for wear. So, I headed to my favourite websites to window shop their collections of Jackets and Coats (here), and I was not let down by this season’s offerings.
All of the above coats and jackets are from SammyDress; an incredibly affordable online store that’s had everyone talking lately. As my regular readers will know, I wear a lot of black, and in my opinion you can’t go wrong with a black coat, as it will go with just about anything. As you can see, most of them also have a draped effect, which I love at this time of year, as loose draped items are fantastic for layering and keeping warm on cold days. My particular favourite is the maxi coat in the centre as it’s so vampy and elegant. I could easily see myself wearing this dressed down with black jeans and stompy boots for a walk through the woods, or dressed up with a beautiful dress for an evening meal out with my other half.
Every single one of these coats and jackets costs under £30 each, so even if you bought all of them you’d still probably be spending less than if you bought a coat from the high street!
Which coat is your favourite?
Naomi x
What I Wore: Grunge
0
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Primark Tartan Shirt / Primark Skinny Trousers / bonprix Long Sleeve Top / Dr Martens Crackle Suede Pascal Boots / Handcrafted Silver Bat Skull Necklace
My black and red tartan collection continues to grow, as I recently added this oversized shirt to my autumn/winter wardrobe. I picked this up from the men’s section in Primark for a tenner, and it perfectly fits the slouchy grunge aesthetic I tend to go for during the colder months. I actually do a lot of my clothes shopping in the men’s sections at this time of year, as I find that men’s jumpers and shirts tend to be better made than those designed for women, and are also warmer, thicker, and most of the time cheaper.
I also recently invested in my annual pair of Dr Martens. I own quite a few pairs of Docs already, and this time I wanted some basic black ones, but I decided to go for a pair with a twist. These Pascal boots are made of crackle suede, and though they’re black, from different angles they have a metallic petrol effect, shimmering purple and green in the right light. They’re ideal for adding texture and a bit of colour to dark autumn outfits, and I managed to break them in in one (painful!) outing, so they’re ready to see me through the next few months.
The skinny trousers and bonprix long sleeve top are two of the core pieces from my wardrobe, that transition well all year round, as they can be paired and layered in endless combinations. Finished with my handcrafted silver bat skull necklace, this simple outfit is quick and easy for cosy autumnal days.
You can see how else I recently styled black and red tartan here!
Naomi x
*This bonprix top was sent to me for styling purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
bonprix: Style a Summer Look for A/W
0
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
A few weeks ago I was contacted by the bonprix team, asking me to take part in a fun fashion challenge – to style a Summer look for Autumn/Winter. Autumn has always been my favourite time of year, and I’m quite partial to layering up my summer dresses to keep me warm on colder days, so I was definitely up for taking part.
I was given a budget of up to £50 to choose items from the bonprix holiday shop, to be used to create a summer look so it’s transitional for Autumn/Winter.
bonprix Tile Print Skater Dress / Primark Black Flats / Primark Mini Shoulder Bag / Alexander McQueen Cat Eye Sunglasses
The main item I chose was this tile print skater dress for £39.99, in the black on white colourway. I don’t often wear white, but I loved the print so much I decided to find out whether I could pull it off! For Summer I styled it with a pair of black flats, a cute mini box bag, and my Alexander McQueen sunglasses. Simple, but why add more than you need to when the print speaks for itself?
bonprix Tile Print Skater Dress / New Look Black Leather Jacket / Blonde + Blonde Lace Up Block Heel Boots / Primark Super Soft Tights / Primark Mini Shoulder Bag
And having such a bold print, it didn’t take much effort to transition this gorgeous dress into an Autumn/Winter look. To make the outfit more suitable for the cooler weather I added some super soft tights, and my trusty leather jacket. I also removed the sunglasses and swapped the flats for a pair of chunky heeled boots, which are far more rain-resistant – very important at this time of year!
The dress is incredibly comfortable as the scuba fabric is stretchy and soft, and the classic fit and flare cut is ideal for day or night, dressed up or down.
How would you style a summer dress for Autumn/Winter?
Naomi x
*This Tile Print Skater Dress was sent to me by bonprix for style challenge purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Loot Crate Villains 2
1
8 years
It’s been a while since I last signed up to a (non-edible!) subscription box, and I’d been missing that buzz of getting a nice surprise through the post each month, so lately I’ve been on the lookout for a new one to trial. I was looking for something featuring collectible items rather than beauty products or anything like that, and I knew exactly where to turn for recommendations. One of my favourite bloggers, Chrissie of Plus10Kapow, regularly reviews popular subscription boxes, and after seeing her publish several positive reviews about Loot Crate, I decided to take the plunge and sign up for a one-off box, just to see whether I like it or not.
Loot Crate are a US-based company founded in 2012, who each month ‘ships a themed mystery box of the best geek, gaming, and pop culture gear to a subscriber base of over 100,000 Looters’. From what I’ve seen their boxes are always well thought out and beautifully curated to suit a theme – something that a lot of other subscription services just don’t quite manage to get the hang of. The box I signed up for was the August Villains 2 box, which is quite possibly one of the best themes for me as I do love myself a supervillain! Loot Crate released their first Villains box last year, and this one is the sequel to that.
I ordered my crate on 19th August, and after much impatient waiting it finally arrived on 1st September, which was a little later than most people’s, so it was incredibly difficult to avoid content spoilers online!
I was expecting to find six or seven items in the box, as this seems to be the norm according to the reviews I’ve seen, but this month there were only four (plus the usual magazine and badge). However, all four items are high-end and good quality, and according to Chrissie’s calculations are worth a whopping £65.04 if bought separately online!
So, here’s all the loot!
Captain America Hydra Pin Badge
Pins and badges are one of the many things that I collect, so it was nice to find one of such great quality in the box. This Hydra pin is very well made, and has a double pin on the back. I reckon this would look awesome on a simple black jacket.
DC Collectibles Wooden Joker
As a lifelong Batman fan this wooden Joker figure was my absolute favourite item in the crate. There’s just something so nostalgic about it as I remember having toys like this when I was younger, and the changeable faces and poseable arms make this figure even more fun. I can see myself collecting more of these in the future (I’ve got my eye on a Batman one I’ve seen), but this one is extra special as it’s a Loot Crate exclusive.
Carnage 16oz Mug
There were two villainous mug designs being sent out in this crate – Venom, and Carnage, which is the one I received. My fiancé is more of a Marvel fan than I am (I’m a DC girl), so he was especially pleased with this. The mug is a good size and makes a nice addition to our ever-expanding mug collection, although for some reason I can see it being used for make up brushes or pens rather than tea!
Los Pollos Hermanos Apron
I love Breaking Bad and I do a lot of cooking, so this apron was a great addition to the box. The quality of the apron is really high, and the colours are nice and vibrant (although you can’t tell in the picture… my camera dislikes yellow for some reason!). This is something that I’d probably buy myself, and the exact same apron is currently being sold on Amazon for over £14.
Badge and Magazine
Every Loot Crate includes a badge to match the monthly theme, and a magazine. This month’s badge feature’s Venom’s spiky smile, and I absolutely love the Joker art on the front of the magazine. When I first saw the magazine at the bottom of the box I thought it was a print, which really excited me as I’d definitely hang this on my wall. In fact, I was slightly disappointed that it wasn’t. Perhaps something for Loot Crate to consider in the future?
So, after receiving my first Loot Crate I must say I’m impressed. Everything about it is fantastic – the premium items, the attention to detail, even the fun design inside the box. A monthly subscription to Loot Crate costs just under $30 (about £20), or you can sign up for 3 month, 6 month of yearly packages at a discounted rate. I had a $3 off discount code and ordered a monthly box, making this one $26.95 (a little over £18), with free delivery. For what you get, and the combined total worth of each item, the Villains 2 box was without a doubt worth the money. I’m definitely considering keeping my subscription open for longer!
Are you signed up to Loot Crate? What were your thoughts on the Villains 2 crate?
Naomi x
What I Wore: Luxemme
2
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Luxemme Melba Tie Waist Jacket / Primark Lace Panel Top / Primark Vest / Primark Skinny Trousers / New Look Shoe Boots / FitBit Charge
Only two more sleeps until September, and judging by the weather lately, and the new season clothing on the highstreet, Autumn is well and truly on its way – yay! At this time of year I often struggle to know what to wear, as one minute it can be windy and wet, and the next ridiculously sunny and humid. Usually I end up wearing several thin layers which can be taken away and added when needed, and lately I’ve added a few lightweight jackets to my wardrobe to see me through the coming season.
One such jacket is this Melba Tie Waist from Luxemme. Luxemme are a ‘forward thinking fashion brand combining Parisian chic with Manchester street style’. Their online boutique is full of sleek and stylish pieces which are luxury in quality and appearance, but also affordable. Their Melba jacket has flattering 3/4 sleeves, a tie waist which gives a great fit, and oversized lapels which drape elegantly. Yesterday evening I went out for food before going to a local cinema event, and I teamed the jacket with my favourite summer top, a pair of classic black skinny trousers, and my New Look shoe boots, for a simple but chic evening look.
Which is your favourite piece from Luxemme’s range?
Naomi x
*This Melba Tie Waist Jacket was sent to me by Luxemme for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
What I Wore: Tartan
0
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Guinness T Shirt / Papaya Tartan Skirt / Primark Tights / Converse Hi Tops / Topshop Leather Bag
Ever since I saw the gorgeous tartan pieces from Alexander McQueen’s ‘The Girl Who Lived in the Tree’ collection, at the V&A Savage Beauty exhibition, I’ve been looking for red and black tartan items to add to my wardrobe. I thrifted this skirt from eBay a few weeks ago, and though it isn’t MacQueen tartan, I still love it. The sash at the waist and net underskirt give it more of a modern twist than your traditional kilt skirt, and I also really like the fullness the net gives it.
I picked the Guinness t shirt up in a gift shop in Dublin a couple of weeks ago, specifically to wear with this skirt, and I think they look pretty good together. The patterning is so pretty, and the red font is another twist on the traditional.
I can see this outfit transitioning really well into autumn, layered with a leather jacket, thicker tights and biker boots, so hopefully I’ll get a lot of wear out of both pieces before the year is out!
Naomi x
Thrifty Finds No. 7: Charity Shops
0
8 years
by Naomi in Uncategorized
For most of this week I’ve had a well earned break from work, and on Wednesday afternoon my mum and I went thrift shopping for the first time in months. We decided to head to two local towns to browse the charity shops, and it was well worth the trip, as I managed to find some fantastic bargains!
Be Beau Studded Cardigan – £1.00
Jaeger Striped Shirt – £1.00
Omen Skeleton T Shirt – £1.00
Lipsy Lace Bolero – £3.00
Living Dead Souls Leopard Print Cardigan – £3.50
Zara Shirt – £3.75
Farhi Maxi Skirt – 99p
Books – 75p and 50p
Total Spend: £15.49
I’m really pleased with this haul as I managed to get pieces for work and leisure, from some great brands. My two favourites are the Zara shirt, which looks great with black skinnies and heels, and the Lipsy lace bolero. The bolero still had its tags attached so is brand new, and was actually £15.00 in the Lipsy sale, so at £3.00 was an absolute steal!
Naomi x
Alexander McQueen Autumn Winter Wishlist
0
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Folded Drape Mini Skirt / Ladder High Neck Dress / Rouched Knit Crew Neck Jumper / Long Handkerchief Skirt / Silk Chiffon Creased Roses Scarf / Studded Heeled Bootie / Legend Bag / Draped Sleeve Flare Dress / Petal Sleeve Double Breasted Coat / Studded Continental Wallet / Folded Drape Mini Dress / Studded Heroine Bag
I’ve always been more of an Autumn/Winter fan than a Spring/Summer one (which is probably just as well considering I live in chilly little England!), so although I’m enjoying the longer days, blue skies and lush landscapes of the current months, I can’t help but get a little bit excited about the up and coming Autumn/Winter collections from my favourite shops and designers. Walking around the Highcross last week, I’ve already started to notice a slow trickle of thicker fabrics and darker colours coming in and, much to my delight, Alexander McQueen have also just launched their Pre Autumn Winter 2015, and Autumn Winter 2015 collections. There are some absolutely stunning pieces in both collections, but unfortunately I’m far too poor to afford any of it! So I thought I’d share with you my McQueen Autumn/Winter wishlist, so that you can see how beautiful it all is, but also so I can come back to it during the end of year sale to remind myself of what I want, in the hope that I will then be able to afford it!
Which is your favourite piece?
Naomi x
Rustics Love It Box
1
8 years
Rustics is a small subscription box company with a difference, as most of the items in the box are lovingly handcrafted using eco-friendly materials, by the very talented Nic. She also tries to source products locally where possible, and all boxes are packaged from her home studio.
Every box contains around seven to ten items, such as stationery, craft kits and gift items, with an approximate value of £30. The items inside the box are kept as a surprise, but Nic releases sneak peeks of the contents on her website and social media (you can find her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).
A limited number of boxes are launched at 8pm on the 1st of each month. The first box – a heart themed Love It Box – was launched in June, and I was lucky enough to receive one through my letter box (the boxes are the perfect size to fit through, so you don’t have to worry about missing a delivery!)
The first thing that struck me when I opened the box was how nicely it was packaged. The box was sealed with monochrome heart washi tape, and the contents inside were carefully wrapped with tissue paper. The monochrome heart theme continued with the items inside, and there was far more crammed into that little box than I was expecting!
So what did I get? Well, inside was two handmade heart greetings cards, a hand printed cotton tote bag, a decopatch wooden heart craft kit, two mini wooden heart tags, a heart pencil, a handmade jasmine tea bag, a ‘You Are Something Special’ print, and some heart-shaped confetti.
Everything in the box is fantastic quality, and the theme is impressively consistent and carried off well. There’s nothing in the box that I don’t like, and it’s hard to pick a favourite item, but I must say I’m really looking forward to having a go at the decopatch kit when I have a free weekend!
There are three payment options for the boxes – a buy now single payment is £17, a monthly subscription is £15 a month, or a three-month single payment is £40 – and all come with free delivery. But however you choose to pay for your subscription, Nic will donate £1 from each box to a different charity each month.
I’m so impressed with Nic’s boxes as they’re so different from any I’ve seen before, and it’s obvious how much love and thought goes into every single item. If you want to bag one for yourself, check out the Rustics website.
Naomi x
