Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Posts tagged Dr Martens
My Week on Instagram #2
0This week was a rather relaxed week for me, as I had a week off work and decided to do as little as possible. I let myself have some much needed me time, with nice food, a bit of retail therapy, and quality time spent with my fiancé and pets. Here are just a few photos of my week taken from Instagram.
Dopper Water Bottles for my GIVEAWAY / A mini shopping haul from my Christmas shopping trip on Wednesday / Homemade Tempura Vegetables with noodles and sweet chilli dip / Miggley and Mog in their cuddle pouch / New nail varnish from Asda, which I reviewed and swatched here / Kisses with Mog the Rat / Snibston Discovery Museum in Coalville, where my fiancé and I spent the day on Friday / My new leather look leggings with heeled Dr Martens / Dad’s new Crested Gecko, Ylno Tixe. He’s lovely!
If you’d like to follow me on Instagram and see more of my photos, my username is bewitchery_. Please comment on this post with your usernames too as I’m always looking for new accounts to follow, especially fashion and beauty ones!
Naomi x
Birthday Wish List
4
4 years
Evening all!
Firstly, I would like to apologise for my elusiveness lately. January has been an incredibly busy month for me but it seems to have dragged on forever – I’m sure many of you can relate to that feeling! On top of starting back at work after Christmas, I had an important assignment to do for my Master’s Degree this month, so I spent most of my evenings researching, writing and editing, hence my lack of blog posts. Luckily, I handed the assignment in yesterday so I’ll have a bit more time on my hands now (although I do have a dissertation proposal to complete…), so expect to see a lot more from me during February!
Hopefully February will be a bit more fun than January has been. On Sunday my fiancé and I are going to London, just for one night, but we have a lot planned. I will be taking my camera on the trip so expect a rather photo heavy post when I get back! Also, Bewitchery turns one year old on the 7th of February, which is very exciting indeed. The main event in February for me though is my birthday! On the 14th of February I turn 23, and (fingers crossed) I won’t be working that day, so I am going to spend the next couple of weeks planning fun things to do! Birthdays for me are mostly about surprises, cake and having a nice time with my loved ones, but I do have a few things on my Birthday Wish List this year, so I thought I would share them with you here…
Dr Martens Grace Denise 8 Big Eye Boots
If you’ve read this post, you’ll know that I’m a Dr Martens fangirl, and I have been lusting after this pair for months now. I recently noticed that they were in the Schuh sale, so I dropped a massive hint with my dad and I think these babies will be mine in two weeks time!
Layla Hologram Effect Nail Polish
I know I’m extremely late to the hologram polish party, but I really love the look of Layla’s hologram range, especially this Ultra Violet shade.
Real Techniques Core Collection
I’ve been after a decent set of make up brushes for a long, long time (my current set are falling apart), and lots of you lovely beauty bloggers have recommended Real Techniques’ Core Collection. I’ve done some research, and they really do look like a quality set of brushes, so these are now on my list. They pass the cruelty free test too!
Real Techniques Starter Set
Because my eyes deserve fabulous brushes too… And they’re purple!
Kate Bush T-Shirt
Kate Brush is my hero, and has been since I was tiny, so this t-shirt is perfect for me. The design is just so pretty!
Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Smother
This is one of Sleek’s newest shades in their True Colour Lipstick range. It’s an extremely pretty pinky purple colour (it’s actually a bit darker in reality than it looks in the picture), and every time I go to Superdrug I can’t resist swatching it on my hand.
Naomi x
January Sales Haul
3Since Christmas it has been January Sales galore, both on the high street and on the internet, and I (along with millions of other shoppers, I’m sure) couldn’t resist a browse. My main aim was to hunt out a couple of pairs of shoes suitable for Spring/Summer, as well as a few items of clothing. I prefer to relax with my family on Boxing Day, rather than go shopping, but on January 27th I braved it and went into town, but soon gave up as there were far, far too many people for my liking. So, that evening I sat down with my laptop, a box of chocolates and a cup of tea and browsed the web to my heart’s content. I must say, I wasn’t that impressed by the quality of the sales this year, but luckily I succeeded in my shoe and clothes buying mission! I managed to resist binging on make up and perfume gift sets in the Superdrug and Boots sales, but I did get a couple of beauty accessories.
Donnay Purple Canvas Ballet Pumps – £3.50 (£3.49 saving) – SportsDirect.com
Skechers Sunset Pink and Black Canvas Shoes – £20.00 (£14.99 saving) – SportsDirect.com
Dr Martens Aldgate Floral Canvas Shoes – £30.00 (£15.00 saving) – Dr Martens
Purple Metallic Manicure Set – £0.99p (saving unknown) – Superdrug
Unwind Cherry Stone Relaxation Pillow – £0.99p (saving unknown) – Superdrug
Purple Heart Knit Dress – £10.00 (£4.99 saving) – Store Twenty One
Blue Paisley Print Top – £5.00 (£4.99 saving) – Store Twenty One
A rather humble haul I know, but I managed to get everything I wanted! What did you get in the sales this year?
Naomi x
Winterlicious Tag Post
8
Last week I was tagged in a Winterlicious Tag Post by the lovely Proper Sweetie (you should check out her blog, it’s awesome). I really enjoy doing posts like this every now and then, so I have finally got round to answering the tag questions, and will be tagging a few of you at the end. So, if you’d like to answer the questions yourself, please feel free!
1) Favourite winter nail polish?
My favourite nail polishes this winter are from the new Models Own Wonderland collection. They’re all SO pretty and glittery and perfect for Christmas, with their festive names. They remind me of snow and ice and Christmas decorations. I currently own three of the five – Jack Frost, Southern Lights and Northern Lights (which I reviewed here).
2) Favourite winter lip product?
Montagne Jeunesse’s Natural Beeswax Lip Balms have been life savers for me these last few months. I always get really sore, dry lips during the autumn and winter so I need to use a good lip balm every day to protect them. Montagne Jeunesse’s lip balms are really rich and moisturising, but not greasy, so they sit easy on the lips and do an amazing job. In fact, I forgot to use it for a couple of days and my lips got sore, but after a few applications of this lip balm my lips were as good as new. They come in a few different flavours as well which are suited to different lip problems.
3) Most worn winter clothing piece?
My purple shimmer Dr Martens boots. As you may have read in this post, I am a Dr Martens addict, and I always look forward to autumn and winter so I can get my big chunky boots out again. My purple ones are the classic 8-hole style boot and, without fail, they keep my feet warm and dry all winter. I love the colour and the shimmer factor – they’re just a little bit different to your normal winter boot!
4) Most worn winter accessory?
This year it has to be my cute Robin Print Snood! I bought it a couple of months ago from Primark for only £4, and I have been wearing it every day since under my coat. It’s made of quite thin fabric, but it’s really big so it wraps round nicely and is lovely and snuggly. The beauty of a snood is you can put it over your head without looking daft when it gets cold and you don’t have a hat/hood, but it also looks great accessorised with any outfit!
5) Favourite winter scent/candle?
At Christmas we tend to burn our usual Yankee candles, which always smell gorgeous, but yesterday my mum bought a cheap Glade candle from their winter collection and it’s divine! I do believe it was Spiced Apple scented.
6) Favourite winter beverage?
It has to be the classic hot chocolate or mulled wine. Although, I should hopefully be trying Chai Tea Latte soon which is lightly spiced, and I have a feeling that may become this year’s favourite winter beverage…
7) All time favourite Christmas/holiday movie?
The Polar Express! I have it on DVD and watch it every year. The end makes me cry every time, just because it’s so lovely, and it always gets me in the Christmas spirit. I want to watch it on Christmas Eve this year… I still believe!
8) Favourite Christmas/holiday song?
I hate to admit it but Last Christmas by Wham! is one of my ultimate guilty pleasures! Although, when I was a baby, the only song that would calm me down and put me to sleep was Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, at any time of year 
9) Favourite holiday food/treat?
This one is hard to answer as Christmas is a time for indulgence and there are SO many yummy things I love to eat at this time of year! One of my favourites though has to be Lebkuchen, a traditional German baked treat which is a cross between a biscuit and a cake. It tastes like cinnamon and ginger, is sprinkled with icing sugar and is best dipped in dark chocolate!
10) What is your favourite Christmas decoration this year?
We haven’t actually put our Christmas decorations up yet this year, but at the weekend my mum bought a real Christmas tree which is going to sit in a pot outside on our patio all year round It’s covered in solar-powered coloured lights at the minute and it looks lovely.
One of my old favourite Christmas decorations was a huge purple and silver glass bauble. I loved it for years, since I was tiny, but it broke a few years ago so we had to throw away 
Thinking about it going still makes me sad! RIP pretty purple bauble.
11) What’s at the top of your wish list?
In all honesty, I’ve been struggling to think of things I want for Christmas this year, so I just want a few nice surprises. Although a bat detector and a Batman onesie wouldn’t go amiss 😉 (Geeky as hell, I know).
12) What are your plans for the holidays this year?
This year, like every year, I will spend Christmas Eve with my dad, and Christmas Day at home with the rest of my family. We eat lots of food, play lots of games, and share gifts and laughs and generally have lots of fun. I love it!
The people I tag to answer these questions are…
Cowboys and Crossbones
Product Hoochie
Justlikeplasticine
RaRa Reid
Nocturnal Beauty
Happy Blogging!
Naomi x
The Beauty of Dr Martens
20
4 years
by Naomi in Fashion
You may remember that just over a week ago I posted about some of my August purchases, one of which was a pair of boots by Blowfish. Since that post I have only had them on my feet a handful of times, and already both boots are splitting at the sides. I paid over £40 for those boots and I am not impressed – needless to say they are going straight back to the shop for a refund! Though I regret buying them, I must also thank the Blowfish boots for being so terrible, as they have reminded me exactly why I usually wear Dr Martens boots (which I love) religiously throughout Autumn and Winter.
I have been wearing Dr Martens footwear since my childhood. People always say that you never forget your first pair of Dr Martens, and they’re right. I got my first pair in the early 1990s. They were bright red shoes with yellow laces and big, colourful flowers printed all over them. They were garish, but I loved them, and my love for Dr Martens never went away. I currently have five pairs of Dr Martens in my collection, most of which I wear regularly, and these are them…
The styles you see above, starting at the top and going clockwise, are:
- Regina Heeled Boots
- Purple Triumph 1914 Boots
- Black Triumph 1914 Boots
- Purple 1460 Shimmer Boots
- I’ve had this pair for so long I can’t remember what they’re called! Anybody know?
My favourite pair is definitely my purple shimmer boots, which are the latest addition to my collection and my only pair of classic 8-hole Docs.
So, why do I love Dr Martens so much? Allow me to share my reasons…
1. They’re ‘Made in England’
Dr Martens’ air-cushioned soles were invented in Munich, Germany by Dr Martens and Dr Funck, but it was in England (Northamptonshire, in fact) that Dr Martens leather boots were first made for the high street, in 1960 by the Griggs family. Dr Martens soon became popular within youth subcultures and this popularity has grown tremendously over the decades, giving Dr Martens’ boots an iconic image. Dr Martens still manufacture a lot of their boots in England, which makes me proud to be English as they are a brand I have always held very close to my heart.
2. They’re Comfortable
I’ll admit, Dr Martens can cause you some pain when breaking them in (I suggest wearing anticipatory plasters to stop them rubbing), but if you’re willing to put up with a few days of sore feet you will have a pair of boots so comfortable you won’t even know you’re wearing them. The insoles and leather soften, shape and bend with your feet and the air-cushioned (or ‘bouncing’) soles make them light and easy to walk in. As you can probably guess, the specially designed soles contain air which makes them extremely durable and comfortable as they reduce the impact on your feet and ankles when walking.
3. They’re Versatile
Many people still hold the misconception that Dr Martens’ shoes and boots are all black, bulky and worn only by labourers, with the exception of cherry reds, but this is not the case. As you can see in my photographs, and on the Dr Martens website, their range is vast and adorned with many different colours, patterns, styles and designs. There’s a boot there for everybody’s needs, and they can be dressed up or down as you like. I often wear my Dr Martens with girly dresses and tights, skinny jeans and slouchy jumpers or full on hiking gear when I’m out walking, and they look (and feel) good with everything. You can really make a pair of Dr Martens your own, adjusting them to fit your own style and thus making the statement that you want them to make.
4. They’re Long-Lasting
Dr Martens boots are notorious for being hardy, and they really do last a very long time. I’ve been wearing a few of my pairs for over five years, solidly so for two seasons a year, and they’re still going strong. They haven’t split at the sides at all, there are no holes in the soles and they show no sign of giving up any time soon. In fact, with a quick clean and polish they’d probably all look as good as new, but I prefer them to look a bit battered. I used to know somebody who had owned some of her Dr Martens for over twenty years, and she was still wearing them. Amazing!
Many people think that Dr Martens are expensive (mine cost between £75 and £110 each) but for the reasons above they are well worth the price you pay for a pair. Cutting corners and going for a cheaper boot isn’t always a good idea as they rarely last as long as a Dr Marten boot will, so it’s worth investing in one good pair, rather than wasting money on several pairs of lower quality boots! Whether you like them scuffed up like I do, or looking neat and new, you can’t go wrong with a pair of Dr Martens and never again will I stray from the beautiful, trusty brand – I’ve well and truly learnt my lesson!
Do you own any Dr Martens?
Naomi x
