Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Posts tagged Shop
Ted Baker iPad Case Giveaway
21
7 years
To celebrate the opening of the new Cruise Fashion store in Leicester, I have teamed up with Cruise to bring you another exciting giveaway! Cruise specialise in luxury designer clothing and accessories from iconic international designers, and are offering one of you lucky readers the chance to win a pink and black Ted Baker iPad Case worth £50!
The giveaway will run for one week, starting today, and will end at midnight on 20th December, so the winner should hopefully have their prize in time for Christmas! To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. The first two entries are mandatory, and your email address will be passed on to Cruise to be added to their mailing list, and there are several other optional entries to give you a few extra chances of winning. The giveaway is open to UK residents only (sorry to my international readers!), and the winner will be chosen at random via Rafflecopter once the competition closes, and their entry has been verified. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The new Cruise Fashion store in Leicester is located in the beautiful 19th Century building on the corner of Church Gate (opposite the clock tower), so stop by if you get the chance!
Naomi x
Victoria British Boutique Vintage Charity Fashion Show
3On Tuesday, my sister, my mum and I headed down to the Leicester Tigers rugby stadium for a special event – a Vintage Charity Fashion Show organised by Victoria British Boutique. The fashion show was in aid of “20-20 Voice” Cancer Appeal, a charity who provide support for head and neck cancer sufferers, with the aim of purchasing new, up to the minute camera technology with the money they raise, so hospitals can detect such cancers early.
Victoria British Boutique (VBB) is a vintage boutique owned by the lovely Vikkie, which specialises in a mix of unique, vintage pieces and current, stylish designs, both evening and day wear, all of which are British. The boutique is situated online, on eBay, so people from all over the country can browse and buy from Vikkie’s store. The boutique also prides itself on aiming for 100% customer satisfaction, so you know you’re going to get good service when you buy from VBB.
On the night there were a lot of one-of-a-kind outfits and items of clothing for sale at very reasonable prices, with most of them being modelled on the catwalk by six gorgeous nurses who work at local hospitals. I was lucky enough to get a front seat next to the catwalk so I had a really good view of the show and the clothes on offer. There were some really lovely pieces for sale, including a purple floral dress and a green and purple skirt suit which you can see below. I just wish they were my size! The models did a great job and were really well-received by the audience, and the show was a lot of fun to watch – well done, ladies!
As mentioned earlier, the aim of the evening was to raise as much money as possible for the “20-20 Voice” Cancer Appeal, so there were also stalls selling handmade jewellery and other goodies, and there were several raffles and competitions to join in with. Unfortunately we didn’t win anything, but congratulations to everyone who did!
Overall, all three of us had a great evening at the Victoria British Boutique Vintage Charity Fashion Show and I hope it raised a lot of money for such an excellent cause. You can find out more about the “20-20 Voice” Cancer Appeal here, and you can find Victoria British Boutique here. You can also follow Vikkie’s boutique on Facebook and Twitter if you want to keep up-to-date with all the latest news from VBB!
Naomi x
Zatchels Factory Shop VIP Launch Event
7Last Friday I was among a few lucky bloggers and press who got to attend the Zatchels Factory Shop VIP launch event in Leicester. For those who don’t know (and I’m sure there aren’t many) Zatchels are a fashion brand who design and create leather satchels, saddle bags, barrel bags, duffel bags and other accessories, using traditional British manufacturing methods. Their factory is located in Leicester, where highly skilled staff make every single bag by hand, and everything is made to order. Leicester used to have a thriving manufacturing industry, which many of my relatives worked in, so as a Leicester girl born and bred I like to see a Leicester brand doing so well, and I was very keen to support them on their factory shop launch day.
The event started with a chance to meet the brains behind the brand, including Company Directors Dean Clarke and Brian Brady, and Zatchels Creative Director and celebrity stylist Gemma Sheppard, who it was great to meet. We also got to preview some bags from a few new collections which are yet to be launched, and they are absolutely stunning! This pretty little thing was my particular favourite…
Once everyone had arrived Dean and Brian took us on a tour of the Zatchels factory, which had a friendly atmosphere and bright interior, what with all the piles of different leathers – it was amazing to see! We got to watch how each bag is made by hand, from selecting the leather, cutting it and putting all the parts together, right up to quality control and packing. It was so interesting to see the process from start to finish, and I can assure you that so much care and effort is put into every single product.
After the tour, we were taken to the factory shop for its official opening. There were some yummy ‘Best of British’ nibbles on offer, including Zatchels cupcakes from Bitsy’s Cupcakery and Sweet Eve strawberries, and we had the opportunity to browse the bags on offer and have another chat with the other guests and Zatchels directors.
The Zatchels Factory Shop is based at 10 Charter Street, Leicester, which is located very close to the city centre (about a 5 minute walk) and has ample parking. The shop will be open every Wednesday to Friday from 12pm until 6pm, and Saturday 10am until 5pm, and there is a mix of factory seconds and sample bags for sale, as well as quality retail products. Every bag in the shop has been graded and priced accordingly, as follows:
Grade A – Perfect Quality – Full Price
Grade B – Slight Imperfections – 30% off
Grade C – Stitching Imperfections or Scratches – 40% off
I checked lots of the bags over myself to see how noticeable the imperfections are, and even the Grade C bags are still brilliant quality (I could barely find anything wrong with them) so you really can get yourself a bargain.
I had such a fun day at the Zatchels VIP event. It was really nice to meet some other Leicester bloggers and chat to the Zatchels team, and I loved having a look behind the scenes at the process that goes into making every single Zatchels bag. All guests left with a goody bag too, which was a really nice touch. I plan on doing another post soon with advice on how to style your Zatchels bag, so keep an eye out for that!
Naomi x
Pixie Chains Fantasy Pink Locket
3A couple of months ago I was very kindly gifted a beautiful locket by Pixie Chains – an independent jewellery brand specialising in cheap, retro, vintage style jewellery with a unique edge. The brains behind Pixie Chains is eighteen year old Matilda Littler from Derbyshire, an A Level student with a keen interest in fashion and photography, who makes a lot of the jewellery she sells herself.
The locket I was sent is the Fantasy Pink Locket, a gorgeous oversized gold tone locket which costs just £3.99 – a small price tag for a lot of necklace that is worth every penny.
The locket itself is excellent quality. It has a good weight to it without being too heavy, so it’s comfortable to wear, and it fastens securely so you can keep your secrets safe. The details are also really pretty and feminine, with a silhouetted rabbit on a pink background, chunky gem-style front, raised patterning all over and to top it all off, a large, girly bow. There is also a quote on the front of the locket which is slightly obscured, but the bit I can see properly reads ‘I was green and I like kangaroos’. The whole design reminds me of Alice in Wonderland, an old favourite of mine.
I’m a big fan of statement pieces of jewellery, and this is definitely that. It hangs on a long chain and sits below my chest, and is so versatile it looks great with anything – whether a t-shirt and jeans or a dress and heels. Here is how I wore it today, with a pinky purple jumper and black skinnies, it made a basic outfit look bold and brilliant.
All of Matilda’s pieces really are lovely and her business is growing fast, so if you want to keep up with her progress and be the first to see her latest pieces, you can follow her on Twitter and via her blog, and order items from her Etsy store. Here are a few of my favourite bargain pieces from her store…
Beatrix Potter Collection Miniature Book Earrings – £3.99 per pair
Oreo Biscuit Cookie Necklace – £3.99
Vintage Comics Avengers Charm Bracelet – £5.99
Which Pixie Chains piece if your favourite?
Naomi x
*This Fantasy Pink Locket was sent to me by Pixie Chains for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
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
Kindred Sole – Shoes for the Soul!
11
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Ladies, allow me to introduce you to an exciting online shopping experience and the only shoe shop you will ever need – Kindred Sole. Kindred Sole is run by two lovely girls named Beth and Lizze, who both recently graduated from the same university that I used to go to, and who decided to follow their passion for shoes and set up business together. Kindred Sole sell their large selection of shoes exclusively online, in a wide range of sizes, and specialise in seeking only the best, high-quality footwear from talented new designers, as well as established brands. Whether you’re looking for a new pair of warm boots for the winter, a gorgeous pair of killer heels for a party, some pretty sandals for a sunny holiday or some funky flats for the office, Kindred Sole will have a unique pair perfect for you.
Earlier this week, Kindred Sole kindly sent me a pair of shoes to review so that I could experience their amazing shoes and service for myself, and I wasn’t disappointed. Yesterday morning there was a bang on the door and I was presented with a nicely packaged pair or brand new shoes. Needless to say, I was very excited, and also massively impressed with Kindred Sole’s quick delivery. The company aims to please its customers and they go out of their way to provide fantastic customer service by offering FREE, trackable next day delivery on all orders within the UK, and they also offer Saturday and worldwide delivery.
The shoes I received were these – a pair of Mel Tangerine Bow Caramel Shoes. Aren’t they beautiful?
Mel is a Brazilian company and these Tangerine Bow Caramel Shoes are made of recycled PVC and are Vegan friendly. As a Vegetarian myself I was pleased to discover the ethical nature of these shoes, but my happiness didn’t stop there…
As soon as I opened the box and saw the shoes inside, I was instantly taken by how cute and stylish they look! The bright, glossy yellow colour and large bow detail on the front are so fun and playful, and the shoes have such a nostalgic essence of childhood about them as they are reminiscent of the plastic jelly shoes that all of us 80s/90s kids used to wear. However, Mel’s shoes are rather more grown up!
The shoes are lined with a soft, cushioned sole, so they don’t make your feet sweat like some jelly shoes do. Rather, they are VERY comfortable. When I first put them on I actually couldn’t believe how amazingly lovely they felt on my feet, and they’re also warm and waterproof so your feet can still look pretty even on cold days.
Mel Tangerine Bow Caramel Shoes look fab dressed down with skinny jeans, or even teamed with a girly dress and tights for an Autumn evening look. They are available here from Kindred Sole for just £31.99, which is a fantastic price for such a high-quality pair of on-trend shoes, and they also come in a lovely nude shade. However, you could get them even cheaper if you take advantage of Kindred Sole’s Birthday offer…
On 31st October Kindred Sole celebrated their third birthday, so as a special thank you to their customers, new and old, they are currently offering 33% off ALL shoes, which is an extremely generous discount! The offer runs until Sunday 4th November, and can be used by entering the code ‘HAPPYB33‘ at the checkout. Amazing, right?
To get you in the shopping mood, here a few of my favourite shoes and boots from the Kindred Sole website…
Ugly Duckling Hand Made Shoes
£59.99 (£40.19 with discount)
Beyond Skin Sirene Peacock Glitter Shoes
£130 (£87.10 with discount)
Redfoot Folding Patent Black Welly Boots
£29.99 (£20.09 with discount)
Love From Australia Tibetan Cupid Caramel Sheepskin Boots
£189 (£126.63 with discount)
Redfoot Cheryl Damson Fold Up Shoes
£34.99 (£23.44 with discount)
I hope you enjoy your vibrant Kindred Sole shopping experience! To keep up to date with all the latest Kindred Sole news, you can follow them on Twitter and on Facebook. They are currently running a Facebook competition to win your favourite pair of shoes from their website, so get liking!
Naomi x
Who Made Your Pants? Needs YOUR Help!
6
8 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Wonderful women of all shapes and sizes, this little post is aimed at YOU!
Who Made Your Pants? are a Southampton-based lingerie company who hand-craft amazing, ethical pants for amazing women. But they’re not just any lingerie brand, they’re a campaigning lingerie brand, which is what makes them very special. The company creates rewarding jobs for vulnerable women from all over the world, and gives them a chance to learn useful new skills. To keep costs low so that they can put more money back in to wages, training, support and advice, Who Made Your Pants? use material sold off by the lingerie industry at the end of the season to make their pants, and they can tell you exactly who made every pair of pants that they sell.
I’m sure you’d all agree that Who Made Your Pants? are an incredible brand, so in order to keep up the good work, WMYP need to keep selling lovely pants to amazing women like you! There are many different designs and colours of pants available to buy from Who Made Your Pants?, starting at just £12.50 per pair. So, if you can spare a few pounds, please consider purchasing a pair of pretty panties, not only for yourself but to help the brand and the women who work there! Also, please pass on the word about Who Made Your Pants? in any way you can (blog post, Twitter, Facebook, through friends), as word of mouth is a powerful tool.
Here are just a few of my favourite pairs of pants from the Who Made Your Pants? website…
Brilliant Black – £12.50
Pirate Pink – £23.00
Something Blue – £18.00
Perfectly Pretty Light Purple – £18.00
Black and Caramel – £25.00
You can also buy gift sets, gift vouchers and even yearly pant subscriptions!
Thanks for reading, and please don’t forget to spread the word about Who Made Your Pants?!
Naomi x
PS. You can also follow Who Made Your Pants? on Twitter and ‘Like’ them on Facebook!
Bargain Alert! Sally Hansen Continuous Treatment Products
0
8 years
by Naomi in Nails
Just a heads up to my UK readers who might like a bargain or two… I recently discovered that B&M Stores are an unlikely place to find branded beauty products on a budget. It’s the kind of shop you expect to just sell furniture and garden stuff, but the one near me has a whole aisle of cut price cosmetics and toiletries. I went for a browse on Sunday and I picked up these two Sally Hansen Continuous Treatments for only £1.49 each! I’ve seen them retail in other shops for a lot more, sometimes around £6-£7, so you’re really saving quite a bit. I got the Base & Top Coat and the Time-Released Strength Formula. I’ve only tried the Strength Formula so far (and so far, so good!) but I’ll be reviewing both once I’ve given them a good go. I spotted several other brands in the shop too, including Maybelline, Nivea, Garnier and Lypsyl… You just have to keep an eye out!
Happy Bargain Shopping 
Naomi x
Summer Sale Clothes Shopping Haul
5Hi all!
Today I decided to go clothes shopping for the first time in a long time. The summer sales have been on for a while now so I wasn’t expecting to find anything amazing, but I did manage to get a few pieces that I really love! I didn’t come home with a lot, but that just means I can buy more next time 😉 In fact, despite going in quite a few shops, I only bought things from two (H&M and Primark). Anyway, here is what I bought – apologies for the rubbish pictures…
Strawberry Print Dress from H&M. Was £12.99, bought for £5.
Floral Bodycon Dress from H&M. Was £12.99, bought for £7.
Purple and Mustard Boob Tube from Primark. Was £3, bought for £1.
Dark Purple Skinny Jeans with Silver Belt from Primark. £11.
Turquoise Skinny Jeans with Gold Belt from Primark. £11.
In total, this haul cost £35, saving me about £16 which isn’t bad. Hopefully I’ll be going back for more in the week when the shops are less busy. What have you bought in the summer sales so far?
Naomi x
