Beauty. Fashion. Lifestyle.
Posts tagged Summer
What I Wore: Arura
0
6 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Arura Nini Heavy Knit Cardigan / Wrap London Lace Front Dress / Dr Martens Hazil Virginia Boots / Primark Tights / Sam Ryde Onyx Moon Pendant /
If you’ve been following my blog for a while then you’ll probably know that I like my wardrobe to have a combination of cheap and cheerful, as well as luxury investment pieces, and I feel this outfit combines the two well!
This gorgeous heavy knit Nini cardigan was recently sent to me by a local luxury knitwear brand called Arura. Arura was founded in 2016, and specialises in creating diverse clothing and accessories, crafted on a limited basis in the UK and Europe.
The craftsmanship of the cardigan is fantastic, and it looks and feels so well made, as the wool is top quality with a softness and weight to it, and it’s also lined with a silky fabric. I just know this is going to be a staple piece in my wardrobe throughout autumn and winter as it’s so comfy and cosy, but I’m also getting use out of it during Spring. It makes for great outerwear on chilly days and evenings when a coat would be too much.
For this look I teamed the cardigan with a dress by Wrap London, which brand new would probably have cost around £100, but I managed to bag this one from a charity shop for just £3! As my outfits tend to consist of mostly black, I like to add interest by mixing textures or flashes of colour, and I love how the lace panel looks against the knit of the cardigan.
What would you pair the Nini cardigan with? Keep an eye out for future posts to see how else I style it!
Naomi x
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.*
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.*
Waffle Sundae
3
8 years
by Naomi in Food
It might still be a bit chilly out some days, but it’s slowly but surely becoming more like summer, and what better way to enjoy the sun than with an ice cream sundae?
I’m not one for eating ice cream plain, I love it piled high with sweet, sticky toppings, and sundaes are a fun way to customise your pudding just the way you want it. I recently got hold of these cute little sundae glasses which are made to look like waffle cones, so to stick to the theme I wanted to share with you my easy but delicious waffle sundae!
Ingredients (Serves 2):
2 Belgian Chocolate Waffles
Carte Dor Vanilla Ice Cream
Askeys Toffee Sauce
This isn’t a recipe as such as it’s so simple to make. You just chop the waffle into bite size pieces (you can warm it through first for extra melty luxury), and then layer as much ice cream, waffle and toffee sauce as you like! Minimum effort, maximum deliciousness.
The sundae glasses are from Drinkstuff, and cost £9.99 for a set of four. They’re made of thick acrylic, which is supposed to keep the ice cream cooler for longer, and I can definitely vouch for the fact that my incredibly soft scoop Carte Dor didn’t melt before I finished my sundae. I quite like the fact that they’re made of plastic as they’re almost impossible to break, which is perfect for clumsy souls like myself, especially when eating outside on the patio! They’re the ideal size for a generous single serving, and you’ll be pleased to hear that you can even get your sundae spoon right to the bottom to dig out the last morsels of yum!
What are your perfect sundae toppings?
Naomi x
Follow me on Polyvore
0
9 years
After seeing loads of Polyvore sets on Tumblr and wishing I could create some myself, earlier this week I took the plunge and signed up. For those who don’t know, Polyvore is a website (and now app) where you can discover and shop fashion, beauty and home items that you love, and put them together in collages to create different looks.
Being able to browse items from all over the internet, with the ability to filter out specific items and colours, is such a great way to explore your own personal style. I’ve been finding Polyvore a great source of inspiration for future purchases and outfit combinations, and even though I can’t really afford a lot of the items I style, it gives me an idea of dupes to look out for on the high street! Also, I’ve mostly been using Polyvore on my phone via their app, and it’s so much fun, and a brilliant way to pass the time when waiting for the bus or travelling.
To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, here’s one of my recent sets, which has a suitably summery theme, but still makes the most of my favourite clothing colour – black!
Black Sands by bewitchery featuring a gucci shawl
Bordelle black bathing suit
£275 – luisaviaroma.com
£275 – luisaviaroma.com
Ancient Greek Sandals strappy leather sandals
£160 – anotherlove.com.au
£160 – anotherlove.com.au
Patrizia Pepe vintage black purse
yoox.com
yoox.com
Gucci shawl
£195 – yoox.com
£195 – yoox.com
Wide straw hat
£5.29 – amazon.com
£5.29 – amazon.com
Rounded glasses
£8.24 – 80spurple.com
£8.24 – 80spurple.com
If you’re already a Polyvore user, please comment below with your username so I can follow you! Also, if you want to view my page or follow me, click here. As usual, my username is bewitchery.
Naomi x
What I Wore: Stormy
2
9 years
by Naomi in Fashion
One of my favourite things about summer is the storms. The rain that cools the air down, the thunder, the lightning – it’s all so exciting! This weekend has been particularly unpredictable, with amazing storms one minute, and bright, hot sun the next, which though nice, makes it difficult to know what to wear.
New Look Multi Strap Skater Dress / Everything5Pounds Waterfall Jacket / Alexander McQueen Cateye Sunglasses / Primark Tights / New Look Stud Pumps / Topshop Leather Stud Bag (Thrifted) / Accessories Boutique Heavy Spike Bracelet
The key for me has been light layers that can be added/removed accordingly. A dress makes a great base for this kind of look, as it’s cool enough for the sun, but can be made rain and wind proof with a jacket and tights. I went for this New Look Multi Strap Skater Dress that I bought in the last ASOS sale, and added a pair of basic sheer black tights from Primark to avoid flashing my undies in the wind, and a lovely waterfall jacket from Everything5Pounds. I absolutely love this jacket as it’s really comfortable, and is perfect for warm weather as a cover as the fabric is so lightweight.
To accessorise, I wore my Alexander McQueen Cateye Sunglasses, that are an absolute essential when the sun is shining, and I also gave my New Look stud pumps a first outing. Of course my trusty thrifted Topshop leather bag was a necessity too, and I added a heavy spike bracelet from Accessories Boutique to bring the stud theme of the outfit together.
What have you been styling during this stormy summer weekend?
Naomi x
Summer Saviour: Superdrug Buzz Off Mosquito Bite Relief
0
9 years
Over the next couple of months I’ll be publishing a series of short posts about my ‘Summer Saviours’ – those absolute essentials that make summer’s little niggles that little bit easier to deal with.
Today’s post is about Superdrug‘s Buzz Off Mosquito Bite Relief, which doesn’t leave my side during the summer months. Unfortunately for me, I am really prone to insect bites at this time of year, especially as I tend to spend a lot of time outdoors in nature. Mosquitos, spiders, horseflies – you name it, they love me, and boy do their bites itch! Every time I get bitten I end up with a massive, swollen, red, itchy bite that lasts for weeks and usually scars, and up until this year I hadn’t found anything to stop the itch. I tried pretty much everything on this Wiki; ice packs, hot water, ointments, hot spoons, toothpaste, deodorant. But nothing worked, until I tried Superdrug’s little contraption…
To use the Mosquito Bite Relief, you have to press the end directly onto the bite, and press the button five times to administer five tiny zaps. It may sound painful, and it does feel slightly uncomfortable, but it’s no way near as bad as the discomfort caused by a bite, so it’s definitely worth it! And surprisingly, those little zaps are a miracle cure, as they localise the poison in the bite, and prevent the release of histamine, which causes itching. It’s best to use the Bite Relief as soon as you can after being bitten, and if you do it can even stop the swelling, and it truly works!
Superdrug’s Mosquito Bite Relief can be used on any kind of insect bite, and can treat up to 1000 bites, without the use of batteries. It’s also completely safe, non-allergenic, and free of chemicals, so is perfect for use on any skin type. I carry mine with me wherever I go, and it’s been an absolute blessing. A summer must at just £4.99, especially if you’re going travelling!
Naomi x
*This Superdrug Buzz Off Mosquito Bite Relief was sent to me by Superdrug for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
What I Wore: Polly Peplum
3
9 years
by Naomi in Fashion
At the minute my wardrobe is full of dresses, skirts, jeans, t shirts and jackets, but for some odd reason I am seriously lacking in nice tops! I recently made the decision to rectify the issue, and one of my new additions is this gorgeous Polly Peplum Frill Lace Top from Missy Empire.
I usually shy away from peplums as they don’t always suit my shape, but the soft, flowing cut of the fabric and fitted waist means this one looks very flattering, and does a great job at accentuating curves in all the right places.
The fabric is textured, and studded with small black sequins, and the sleeves and chest panel are made from a pretty floral sheer lace, which is stretchy and incredibly comfortable to wear.
I adore everything about this top. The sweetheart neckline and delicate lace are especially elegant, and it looks and feels so sophisticated. It’s also a really versatile piece, and being black it’s easy to wear and style in a variety of ways. In the photos above I’m wearing it casually with leggings and flats, but it also looks great with skinny jeans. For smarter looks it can be paired with tailored trousers or a pencil skirt with basic court shoes, or for a night out, a shorter skirt and sky high heels.
Missy Empire’s Polly Peplum Frill Lace Top is available in a range of sizes and shades, and is available here for £16.99. You can also follow Missy Empire on Facebook on Twitter for news about giveaways, new products and special offers!
Check back soon to see how I style this beauty throughout the summer!
Naomi x
*This Polly Peplum Frill Lace Top was sent to me by Missy Empire for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*
What I Wore: Foxton Locks
2
9 years
by Naomi in Fashion
Today my fiancé and I visited Foxton Locks with my sister and her boyfriend. Foxton Locks are ten canal locks on the Leicester line of the Grand Union Canal, and the whole area is so lovely and green. I’ve always enjoyed visiting the Locks, ever since I was a child, but today’s trip was extra special as it was the first time my fiancé had been. We all had a nice time and had a little picnic whilst we watched the boats go by, before going for a walk along the canal paths.
As April’s weather is usually unpredictable, I thought layers would be best, so I wore my favourite Primark skater dress (which is becoming a Spring wardrobe staple of mine), and teamed it with my trusty faux leather biker jacket and some basic leggings. Over this I wore an oversized but light floral skull scarf which I thrifted last year, for an extra bit of warmth if necessary. As it happens, the weather was gorgeous and the sun was shining, but luckily it didn’t get too hot.
Primark Faux Leather Biker Jacket / Primark Faux Leather Cap Sleeve Skater Dress / Primark Leggings / Dr Martens 1460 W Purple Shimmer Boots / Abandon Floral Skull Scarf (thrifted) / Topshop Leather Stud Bag (thrifted)
As I knew we’d be walking a lot, I thought it best to throw on my Dr Martens, which was definitely the right call, and I also took another thrifty find of mine – my Topshop leather stud bag. The perfect size to carry my camera and picnic food.
I’m so pleased that Spring is finally underway as I love being out and about enjoying the nice weather, and today was a great opportunity to do so! Have you been taking advantage of the sunshine lately?
Naomi x
Long Black Dress: Summer into Autumn
2
10 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.*
