Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Posts tagged Polka Dot
What I Wore: Comfy Sunday
2
7 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Today my fiancé and I decided to go out for lunch, to one of my favourite bars (the Orange tree in Leicester – they serve a cracking veggie roast!) Afterwards, we went for a leisurely wander around town, did a spot of shopping and checked out the new Richard III monuments near the cathedral. A lovely casual day called for a casual outfit, so I threw on this gorgeous draped hoodie with a basic tee, and my favourite pair of jeans. I love anything acid wash and polka dots, and these jeans combine the two, and are made of light, stretchy denim so are incredibly comfortable. They’re a real wardrobe staple and have seen me through Spring and Summer, but will also be great for Autumn, worn with a pair of chunky boots.
DressLink.com Draped Hoodie / H&M Polka Dot Acid Wash Jeans / Primark Basic T Shirt / Primark Metal Waist Belt / Primark Canvas Shoes / Thrifted Topshop Leather Stud Bag
I ordered this oversized draped hoodie from DressLink.com a few weeks ago. It was originally intended to be for my mum, but unfortunately it doesn’t quite fit her right, so she let me have it. Believe it or not, this is an XXXL, but Asian sizes are a LOT smaller than our Western sizes, so it fits me, a size 10/12, like a baggy hoodie. There’s no way it’s a UK size 20 like the website suggests!
Tops like this are absolutely perfect for this time of year. It was sunny today, so too warm for a coat, but there was a hint of Autumnal coolness in the air, so it kept me nice and cosy, and the hood is great for when you want an extra bit of warmth. I also really love the length and draped style of the hoodie as it gives it a slightly witchy edge, and though it looks good baggy, I adore the more tailored shape of it when worn with a waist belt over the top.
What pieces will be seeing you through the Summer to Autumn transition?
Naomi x
Collective Haul: Thrifted, H&M, La Senza, Primark
4
7 years
As my regular readers will know, a few weeks ago I was offered a new job, which I start on 8th September. Such good news was a great excuse for me to go shopping, especially as I don’t really have many work-suitable clothes, so over the last week I’ve been buying quite a few new bits. I haven’t done a haul post in a while, so I thought now would be a good time to do one, featuring purchases from a local carboot sale, as well as the stuff I bought yesterday whilst shopping with my mum, from H&M, La Senza, and Primark. Most of what I bought is for my new job, but I’d actually wear most of it out of work too, and I also have a few non-work items. So without further ado, here is my latest collective haul!
Thrifted Papaya Polka Dot Peplum Top £1 / H&M Black Super Stretch Straight Leg Trousers £7.99 / Primark Black Suedette Flat Shoes £6
Primark Long Black Lace Shirt £10 / Primark Black Skinny Jeans £7 each (I bought two pairs, one of which I plan on customising) / Shoes as before
Primark Polka Dot Cardigan £8
Primark Stripe Long Sleeve Top £4
Thrifted Zara Flying Squirrel T Shirt 50p
La Senza Knickers £1 each
Total Spend: £54.49
I also recently placed an order on DressLink.com, but I am going to do a separate post about those purchases (possibly a YouTube video) as I want to share more details about my experience of the site.
What do you think of my new haul items?
Naomi x
Thrifty Finds No.5: Car Boot
2
8 years
Last Sunday I visited my favourite car boot sale once again, and came away with yet another decent fashion haul. I managed to find a few things that I’ve actually been looking for for a while, which I was very pleased about, as well as a few other unexpected items. Here’s what I bought…
Topshop Studded Lace Bralet £5
This cost a bit more than I usually like to spend on items at a car boot sale, but I just couldn’t resist the studs and lace! Topshop bralets seem to be really popular at the moment, and this one has an RRP of £38, so I’m pleased to have found one in my size at a fraction of the price. According to the lady I bought it from it is unworn too, other than being tried on.
New Look Cutout Heart Dress £2
I’ve been wanting a cut out heart dress for ages, so when I spotted this under a huge pile of clothes on one stall, I snapped it up. It’s exactly my size too! I love it, and it looks like it’s never been worn which is a bonus.
Sans Souci Polka Dot Dip Hem Blouse £2
This is one of my favourite finds of the day. I’m currently on the look out for more summer tops, and this will be perfect for warm, sunny days. The dip hem and button back detail are really lovely, and are what caught my eye when I saw it on the rail. Sans Souci isn’t a brand I’m familiar with, but the blouse still had a TK Maxx tag attached, and it cost £9.99 new.
Oasis Leather Studded Waist Belt £1.50
Again, I’ve been trying to source a decent waist belt for a while, so this was another bargain I couldn’t pass up. The belt is made from real leather, and still had its Oasis tags attached so is brand new.
H&M Silver and Grey Jumper £1
It’s not like I need another jumper, but I actually saw a similar jumper to this in H&M last season and wanted one, so I bought it anyway. I thought it’d be itchy, but it’s actually nice and soft, and I know I’ll get plenty of wear out of it.
Next Oversized Polka Dot Shirt 25p
This shirt is three sizes too big for me, but I bought it to wear it as an oversized cardigan during cool summer evenings. And anyway, at 25p I couldn’t say no.
Stuart Little Soft Toy 50p
And just because I have a soft spot for cuddly toys and rodents, I brought Stuart Little home for 50p. He has slightly tatty whiskers and was a little grubby, but after a quick bath he’s now squeaky clean (excuse the pun!)
Total: £12.25
What do you think of my latest thrifty finds? Which piece stands out for you?
Naomi x
David Emanuel Spot Peplum Dress
1
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Up until recently I would never have even considered shopping in Bonmarché. I’d been in there a few times with my mum and grandma, but everything was just a bit too… ‘mature’ for my style. But then I was offered the chance to choose an item from the Bonmarché website to review, and suddenly my opinion was changed. The item I chose is this gorgeous black and white polka dot dress from the new David Emanuel collection. David Emanuel was the designer who created Princess Diana’s internationally loved wedding dress, and since then he has dressed countless female celebrities, and has sold collections in the likes of Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
I absolutely love polka dots so it seemed only natural to go for this dress, and I’m glad I did. The print is bold, but the cut of the dress is very sophisticated, so you can make a statement whilst still looking chic. The front of the dress has a mock wrap effect, and a pretty peplum detail that sits just over the hip; both of which are extremely flattering, and the fabric is soft and stretchy for ultimate comfort.
In terms of sizing, the dress is pretty generous. I’m usually a size 10-12 and opted for a 12 in this style, but it is slightly roomy at the back so I should probably have gone for a 10. This particular dress is available in sizes 10 to 24, and retails for £28 in all sizes.
I perhaps wouldn’t wear this dress casually as it’s a bit too smart for kicking around town in, but it would be absolutely perfect for the office or, as Bonmarché state, an ‘elegant occasion’. It definitely looks the business teamed with a pair of elegant black heels!
Though the majority of Bonmarché’s stock is perhaps not very ‘me’, I’ve definitely learnt that you shouldn’t dismiss a shop based on prejudgments. Even the most unlikely of places can have some hidden gems lurking on the rails, so it’s always worth having a browse to see what you can find!
If you like the look of this dress, or want to see the rest of David Emanuel’s Bonmarché collection, click here.
Naomi x
*This David Emanuel Spot Peplum Dress was sent to me by Bonmarché for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
Rekindling my Love of Converse
3
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
When I was a teenager, my footwear of choice was always Converse. I had bright ones, plain ones, printed ones, even tie dye ones, but for some unknown reason I stopped wearing them a few years ago, and moved on to boots and heels. But all that changed when I spotted this pair of beauties on the John Lewis website…
This particular pair of Hi-Tops are a new style, and are made of soft black suede, so they’re a bit warmer and a bit thicker, but just as comfortable and casual as their canvas counterparts. They also feel really soft and luxurious to the touch. What first drew me to them was the all over polka dot print as I’m crazy about polka dots, and I love the combination of large and small silver dots. The grey laces are also a nice touch, as they blend in better than the usual glaringly white laces.
I’ve worn these almost every day this week, and I’ve had a lot of fun styling them in different ways. One day I wore them with jeans and a jumper, another day with a skater dress and leggings, and yesterday with a somewhat smarter dress, and they looked great with everything. That’s the beauty of Converse… They’re just so versatile!
I’ve well and truly fallen back in love with Converse All Stars, and I’m looking forward to wearing my polka dot pretties all Spring long. I have a new black mini skirt that I can’t wait to pair them with! You can find these and many other Converse styles online at John Lewis.
Naomi x
*These Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Printed Suede Hi-Top Trainers were paid for using vouchers that were sent to me. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
What I Wore: Birthday Celebration with Friends
3
9 years
Next Thursday (Valentine’s Day) is my birthday, and yesterday I went out with four of my closest friends for an early celebration meal. We went to Prezzo for pizza and cheesecake, and had a good old natter, as we always do! I decided to dress down for the evening as we weren’t doing anything too fancy, but I managed to combine polka dots, skulls and bright lips – three of my favourite things!
This is the make up look I went for (apologies for the badly lit photos!)…
Products Used:
Avon Magix Face Perfector
MUA Professional Matte Foundation in Soft Sand
Colortrend Perfect and Hide Concealer in Light
MUA Pressed Powder in Shade 1
MUA Mosaic BlusherModels Own Kohl Eyeliner Pencil in Black
e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner in Black
Bellapierre Lash Building Mascara in Black
Sleek Pout Paint in Port
And here is what I wore…
Dress – Store Twenty One
Leggings – Primark
Boots – Deichmann
Bag – Primark Oxford Street
Necklace – Avon
Naomi x
What I Wore to my Step-Brother’s Wedding
10
10 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Hi everyone 
Yesterday I went to my step-brother’s wedding and it was a lovely day full of happiness, great food, perfect weather and nice company – everything you could hope for at a wedding really! Anyway, as promised, I took a few photos of my outfit, jewellery, accessories and make up so that I could show you all what I wore on the day. The colour scheme turned out to be purple so without knowing I really fit in haha.
Firstly, this photo shows my make up. I didn’t get many close ups of my face unfortunately so it’s not the best shot, but you get the idea. I went for a simple, fresh face with bold lips and 50s eyes. You can also see my necklace, corsage and dress detail quite nicely in this one.
The make up I used was…
Avon Colortrend Fresh Face Oil-Free Foundation in ‘Ivory Beige’
Avon Colortrend Perfect and Hide Concealer in ‘Light’
MUA Pressed Powder in ‘Shade 1′
MUA Blusher in ‘Shade 2′
Avon Glimmerstick Eye Liner in ‘Blackest Black’
e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner in ‘Black’
Avon Colortrend Great Lengths Mascara in ‘Black’
MUA Lip Boom in ‘It’s A Situation’
I chose to wear a couple of bold accessories rather than a few delicate ones, so I went for a statement necklace and a fascinator. This is the necklace I wore, which is from the Alchemy Gothic range and is called ‘The Raven’. It is based on the poem of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe It even has a quote from the poem on the back of the gem which I love. The bead on the bottom is a skull but it’s facing the wrong way – oops!
And this is my fascinator, which my mum bought for me on eBay…
And of course, here is my outfit. Again, apologies for the photograph! I didn’t get many pictures where you could see my dress fully, so this will have to suffice… There was a long gap between the ceremony and the meal, and as you can tell, my sister and I got a bit bored so struck a few poses! Haha.
Dress from Collectif
Clutch and Shoes from Peacocks
Naomi xx
Nail Art: The Very Hungry Caterpillar
12I recently bought a set of nail dotters on eBay, so yesterday I took a bit of time out from everything to practise using them! The Very Hungry Caterpillar was one of my favourite books as a child, and I am still just a little bit obsessed with it. I have a Caterpillar calendar, a Caterpillar mug, bowl, plate, Caterpillar toys, Caterpillar plasters, Caterpillar books, a Caterpillar bookmark… all sorts! So it seemed only natural to attempt some Caterpillar themed nails, just for fun. 90 minutes and about 12 nail varnishes later, here is how they turned out…
I have to say, I am SO pleased with the result and I’m actually really proud of this attempt! The design took about 90 minutes in total, including drying time, which I don’t think is that bad considering I did it all freehand. The nails on my other hand all have polka dot tips like my thumb and pinky in this picture. I found the dotting tools surprisingly easy to use so I didn’t have much trouble with the drawing… This is definitely a more adventurous design than my previous ones anyway! The pale blue base is Avon’s Nailwear Pro in ‘Vintage Blue’, and the Caterpillar green is MUA’s ‘Shade 13′.
I have entered my design into Avon’s ‘Perfectly Polished’ competition and so far I only have 2 votes, so if you like my nails please vote for me here! A massive thanks in advance to those that do
What do you think?
Naomi xx
My New Make Up Storage Drawers
11
Since I became an Avon Representative in 2010 and started beauty blogging, I have acquired a LOT of make up. I was quickly running out of space to store it all and ended up with make up scattered all around the house in various places. I had been wanting something nice to store my make up in for a while, and today, whilst out shopping, I spotted this set of small polka dot paper drawers for just £2.99! I fell in love with them instantly and couldn’t wait to get them home and fill them with my things.
Admittedly, they’re not the biggest, but the drawers are surprisingly deep and since most make up products are small and flat, they stack quite nicely and neatly inside. I”ve managed to fit quite a lot of my make up in and there’s even room for more when I have time to sort it all out. The top drawer is for eye products, the middle drawer for lip products (and the overflow from the eye drawer) and the bottom drawer is for face products. I’m planning on getting some more drawers soon so I can organise everything further.
What do you think?
Naomi x
H&M Lip Gloss and Nail Polish
4
For Christmas, my other half and I were given a voucher to spend in the local Highcross shopping centre and today, after our trip to the cinema to see The Woman in Black (which was great by the way), we decided to spend the voucher. To be honest I’m surprised we didn’t spend it sooner! Anyway, with my half of the voucher I got a gorgeous dress from H&M, as well as this nail polish and lip gloss – a bargain at 99p each. I’ve already tried both of them out and this is what I think of them…
Lip Gloss
I absolutely adore the cute black and white polka dot lid on this and it really compliments the vibrant gloss in the tube. The gloss itself has a delicate golden shimmer undertone which gives it a nice shine, and it smells lovely, like strawberries and vanilla. Though the gloss looks very bright in the tube, you need to apply quite a lot of it to achieve such a colour on your lips. I was expecting the gloss to be quite sticky and thick as it was so cheap, but it’s actually quite creamy and moisturising and lasts a long time. I’ve had a glass of water since I put this on and it’s still in place! The only problem I have with this lip gloss is that it tends to sit in the creases of your lips everso slightly, but at 99p it’s definitely a nice little addition to any make up bag.
Here are some swatches:
Nail Polish
This nail polish is a lovely deep aubergine purple called ‘Plum’ and comes in a dainty 7ml bottle. The polish is a little bit gloopy and the brush isn’t the best but it actually applies quite nicely and evenly. I applied two coats to achieve this look but I could have got away with only one coat as the colour is so rich. The polish took a while to dry fully (it was still tacky after a good 10-15 minutes), but once I applied a clear top coat it sped up the drying process. I really like this polish as it has a glossy sheen and the colour is absolutely stunning. Fantastic for only 99p!
Have you ever tried any H&M make up? Which products do you like best?
Naomi x
