Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Posts tagged Leather
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
Harvey Nichols Ankle Boot Wishlist
4This year I have developed a real thing for black heeled ankle boots, my collection of which is rapidly expanding. Over the last few days I have spent some time browsing Harvey Nichols’ range of designer shoes online, and their range of styles and designers is incredible. I spotted so many pairs of ankle boots that I would absolutely love to add to my hoard, so I thought I’d put together a little Harvey Nichols wishlist to share with you all, featuring some of my favourite pieces from the site.
ACNE Cypress Leather and Suede / Rag and Bone Classic Harrow Leather / Valentino Studded Leather / Chloé Folded Leather / McQ Alexander McQueen Pointed Leather / Ash Hello Wedge Leather / Tod’s Suede and Patent Leather / Camilla Skovgaard Flame Leather / Lanvin Lizard Effect Leather and Neoprene
Leather boots like these are just so versatile as, as we all know, black goes with anything, and the unusual details and designs featured here would make any simple outfit that little bit more interesting. My particular favourite pair are the McQ Alexander McQueen Pointed Leather Ankle boots, which are the ones in the very centre of the grid. Alexander McQueen is one of my favourite designers as his pieces are always so edgy and chic, and these are no different. They’d look amazing this Autumn/Winter with tight black leggings or jeans, and big faux fur jacket. Want!
All of the above ankle boots are available to buy on the Harvey Nichols website. Which one is your favourite?
Naomi x
*This post is a collaboration.*
DUO Black Helvin Boots
2
3 years
by Naomi in Fashion
I was recently given the opportunity to choose a pair of boots to review from a brand called DUO Boots. DUO Boots specialise in ‘beautifully tailored design’, selling high quality, women’s boots and shoes, all of which are hand crafted and made-to-measure, to bring you perfect fitting boots whatever your size. I practically live in boots, whether they’re shoe boots, ankle boots, chunky boots or high boots, so I was really excited to take my pick of the site! After much deliberation and changing my mind, I finally settled for a pair that are unlike any other pair of boots I have ever owned, the Helvin Fitted Knee High boots in granite black, and I am extremely pleased with my choice.
What first drew me to the Helvins was their shape and unusual ankle detail. They are cut asymmetrically at the top which looks really elegant on the leg, and the criss cross buckle straps give them that Gothic, Edward Scissorhands-esque look that I absolutely love.
The boots are crafted from granite black leather which, from its soft, supple texture to its flawless appearance, oozes quality. I’m really into black and leather this season, and have been having a lot of fun experimenting with textures rather than colours, and these boots have been (and will continue to be!) a fantastic addition to my Autumn/Winter wardrobe. They’re warm, stylish and very versatile, looking great with short or long dresses, but also with skinny jeans.
The heel height on these boots is 7.5cm, so they’re extremely easy to walk in, aided too by the fact that they have a block heel, and cushioned insoles. They also fit perfectly as they (and all of the other boots on the site) come in a range of shoe sizes and calf fittings. There’s even a video guide available to help you measure your calves, so you’ll always get the right size – ideal when you’re ordering online and can’t try them on!
Being leather, it’s essential to care properly for your DUO Boots, and they came boxed with a leaflet of care instructions. I spray all of my leather boots with a leather protect spray to prevent them scuffing or fading, but they also need a polish every now and then to keep them looking new. In terms of storage, I like to keep my shoes and boots in their boxes, but DUO sell boot trees for knee high boots so you can store them upright so they keep their shape.
Overall, I am incredibly impressed with my Helvins from DUO Boots. They’re classy, beautiful and versatile, I feel amazing when I wear them, and they feel that extra bit special as they’re tailored to fit me. The Helvin boots are available in black or rust brown, and retail for £185, which for such a quality pair of boots is an excellent price. You can check out the rest of DUO’s wonderful range of boots here.
Naomi x
*These Helvin Fitted Knee High boots were sent to me for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Student Fashion Essentials: Boots
0
3 years
This week’s Student Fashion Essentials post focuses on one of my all-time favourite fashion items – boots.
A pair of comfortable, warm and waterproof boots are essential for all the walking to, from, and around campus you’ll be doing during the cold Autumn and Winter months, but that doesn’t mean they have to look like you’ve come straight from a building site or hiking expedition. If you go for quality leather boots, they’re almost guaranteed to fulfil the above criteria, and with this season’s biker leather trend there are currently hundreds of amazing, stylish boots out there to choose from.
My pick of the boots this season are these black Studded Leather Biker Boots from F&F, which are not only gorgeous and bang on trend, but also incredibly kind on the student pocket, coming in at a thrifty £35.00.
The boots are crafted from beautifully soft, high quality leather which give them excellent flexibility for ultimate comfort, and the fact that they’re made from leather means they keep your feet warm and dry too, so they can withstand any kind of weather without getting soaked or falling to bits. Also, usually when I wear new boots they tend to rub and cause blisters until they’re broken in, but I haven’t had that with these at all, even after wearing them all day at work, as the strong soles and low block heel make them easy to walk in.
In terms of aesthetics, these boots are perfect for this season’s biker trend, with their double straps and silver dome stud detail. They’re also very versatile and look great with a variety of outfits. They work really well with a simple dress and a pair of black tights, and their wide tops mean they can be worn with skinny jeans on colder days. I mostly team my pair with black skinnies, a simple top and a leather jacket for a chic look that’s effortless but edgy.
If you’re looking for a quality pair of leather boots for this season that are practical but affordable, then these are definitely for you. You can order your pair of Studded Leather Biker Boots from F&F here.
Naomi x
*These Studded Leather Biker Boots were sent to me on behalf of F&F for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Long Black Dress: Summer into Autumn
2
3 years
by Naomi in Fashion
One of my staple items of clothing this Summer has been a long black dress from Damart. The dress is lovely and soft and extremely flattering, and the classic cut makes it a very versatile piece, so much so that I can’t wait to style it from Summer into Autumn. Throughout the Summer months I have been keeping it simple with my favourite accessories and a pair of cut out boots from New Look, but it also works amazingly well with a leather jacket and some chunky Dr Martens, which will look great throughout the cooler months to come.
Dress – Damart
Leather Jacket – Vintage
Bag – Everything5Pounds
Cut Out Boots – New Look
Bracelets – eBay, Primark, Gifted
Necklace – Handmade by Me
The dress was originally £35, but is currently on sale at Damart for just £14, and it comes in black, navy or print and in sizes 10-22. Damart may not usually be your first choice for fashion, but give them a chance! They’re brilliant for affordable, basic pieces that can be styled up to suit your mood, and the weather, as you can see.
Naomi x
*This dress was sent to me by Damart for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Nails Inc Bling It On Leather & Skulls
162013 is set to be another big year for textured nails, and the latest trend is the unusual leather look. Nails Inc recently launched their Bling It On Leather & Skulls set, and it has been causing a big buzz in the world of beauty. I am always keen to try out new and exciting nail effects and I was really intrigued by this when I first heard about it, so I was very pleased to be sent a set to review, from lookfantastic.com.
Bling It On Leather is available in Black or Tan (which is the shade I have), and the set contains a 10ml bottle of Leather Effect polish, four skull embellishments, a 3g bottle of nail glue and a cuticle stick – everything you need to create gorgeous, stand-out nails!
The nail polish shade in the tan set is called Soho Mews, and is a lovely caramel brown colour, tinged with orange. The polish itself is very creamy and highly pigmented, and I found it only took one coat to achieve an opaque, even finish. However, I applied two coats as the instructions suggest. Getting the leather look is very simple, as the polish does all the work for you. Like a crackle varnish, Leather Effect goes on glossy, and before your eyes it develops a leathery textured, matte finish in just seconds. Once the effect has formed, the polish is also completely dry, which is really quite impressive.
If you wanted to dress the Leather Look down for work or day wear you could stop there, but the set also contains four skulls which would be perfect for an evening look. The skull embellishments are made of a gold coloured metal and are studded with tiny crystal gems. They’re actually surprisingly detailed and beautiful for a nail embellishment, and give the leather effect a glamorous yet rocky edge. The instructions say to pick the skulls up with tweezers, before applying a small amount of the glue to the corners and centre of the skull before placing it on to your chosen nail. If you’re careful, you won’t make a mess with the glue, and the skull will stay put. If you’re extra careful, you can remove the skull before taking the varnish off and use it again!
The final look you get with the leather polish and skulls is one of beauty. If, like me, you do everything in your power to keep your newly painted nails glossy and smudge-free, the Leather Effect may take some getting used to, but it really does look like leather and the colour is stunning! Here are two swatch photos to show you how fabulous this look is.
Without skull, to show the Leather Effect.
With skull.
The only downside to the Leather Effect is that it soon chips. To keep the matte finish I didn’t apply a top coat, and within 24 hours the varnish had chipped. However, if you change your varnish regularly this shouldn’t be much of an issue, and if you’re wearing it for a night out then chances are you’ll be removing it within a day anyway.
If you like the look of Nails Inc Bling It On Leather & Skulls, you can order it now for £19 (with FREE worldwide delivery) from LookFantastic, in the classy shade of black – a worthy investment for fans of chic nails and current trends! LookFantastic also stock many other nail brands, including O.P.I, Essie and Butter London. To view their full range, visit here!
Naomi x
*This Nails Inc Bling It On Leather & Skulls set was sent to me by lookfantastic.com for review purposes. All opinions expressed in this post are honest and my own.*
