Monday 27 May 2013

White Denim



My husband's ultimate girl crush is Liz Hurley. The age defying, white denim wearing, British bombshell Elizabeth Hurley. Well, I can't look like her, but I can certainly try to rock some white jeans.
These are from Mango and are a lovely snug fit with artfully arranged rips.
I teamed them up with my sparkly  Louboutins and silk sweater from Zara.
I wore:
Sweater: Zara
Vest top: Zara
Sunnies: Ray-Ban
Jeans: Mango
Leather bracelet: Gorjana
White and gold necklace worn as a bracelet: with thanks to LA Kaiser
Blue and gold bracelet: with thanks to LA Kaiser
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Nails: Nicole by OPI "Listen To Your Momager"

Sunday 26 May 2013

Birchbox And Glossybox- March



Since I'm a bit behind with my beauty box posts, I decided to consolidate both boxes I get into one monthly review post. I also think it'll be easier to compare them if they are in one post if you are thinking about getting a subscription and you don't know which of the boxes to get.
So without further ado, here are my thoughts on both the Birchbox and Glossybox-March edition.
My Birchbox had a theme "Role Models" to tie in with the Mother's Day here in the UK.
It contained the following:
1) Laura Geller waterproof gel liner (2.5 g sample worth £12)-I can't say I'm a dab hand with eyeliners, but this comes with the cute little brush and it's the darkest, blackest black. It's a good sized sample as little goes a long way with liners.
2) Molton Brown Valbonne fragrance (2ml sample worth £2.6)-A unisex fragrance that smells divine.
3) RMK cleansing balm (25g sample worth £7.25)-This smells of roses, looks super greasy in the pot and I really shouldn't love it, but I do. It removes make up beautifully.
4) La Sultane De Saba body lotion (30ml sample worth £5.3)-This lotion is made with argan oil and it smells gorgeous. My only complaint is that I wanted more of it.
5) Yu-Be moisturizer (3g sample worth £0.8)-Smells like primrose and it does what it says on the tin. I didn't find it super special, but apparently it's a big bestseller in Japan.
6) Sanctuary mask (sachet sample worth £6.30)-This is super expensive and I did get it in one of the previous boxes. Alas, whilst it's nice to use, it's very difficult to judge long term benefits as a sachet size sample only allows for one application.
7) Lindt chocolates (full size worth £2.9)- I ate them. That says it all as far as I'm concerned. :D
The same month's Glossybox had a theme of "City Chic" celebrating polished look that city girls have.
It contained:
1) Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream (7ml sample worth £3.5)-This cult cream is a bestseller but I'm afraid it's lost on me. I did buy it previously, but I just wasn't wowed by it I guess. Other people, on the other hand, swear by it. I guess you can't please everyone all the time.
2) Nails Inc nail polish (4ml sample worth £4.4)-I have to say I don't like teeny tiny fiddly brushes on any nail colour samples, but the colour of this polish ticks all the boxes so I'll forgive them the brush. The colour is Bruton St and it's the perfect dusky pink.
3) L'Occitane Immortelle cream (15ml sample worth £12.9)-I love this. Even the sample size feels and looks luxurious. It's an amazing anti ageing cream and it smells gorgeous.
4) Jelly Pong Pong lip blush (full size worth £12)-It's a lip stain and moisturizer in one, the colour is nice, but I just don't like any of the chubby sticks for lips...They're a bit of a waste of time as far as I'm concerned. Give me a lippy or give me a balm. Together...I'm just not so sure.
5) Tresemme hair spray (100ml sample worth £0.9)-It's a hairspray that we can all find in supermarkets. Not a particularly luxe product, but it will do.

I did overall like both of the boxes; they had a good mix of various products and with the exception of lip blush I will use them all even though I like some things more than the others. My Birchbox contained £37 worth of products and my favourites were the body lotion and the perfume sample. Glossybox contained £33.7 worth of product and my favourite was the L'Occitane cream.
Did you try any of these products and what did you think of them?

Thursday 23 May 2013

LA Kaiser Jewellery



 I love championing smaller designers and when they also have an ethical side to them, it's even more of a plus. Because of that I am really excited to collaborate with jewellery brand LA Kaiser. LA Kaiser was founded by Cindy Kaiser, a graduate of Creative Jewellery and Metal Design from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. She further honed her skills in the USA and has worked with Michael Schmidt Studios helping design stage costumes and accessories for a number of A-list celebrities including Rihanna and Madonna. After that she founded her own company LA Kaiser and is designing and making truly amazing pieces with precious metals and stones. But the thing that I love the most is that her jewellery is ethical and part of all profits is donated to scholarship fund in Zimbabwe helping kids get an education and better their lives.
Hence the company's motto: "Designed in Zurich. Hand-crafted in the USA. Helping Africa."
 Cindy was kind enough to send me 2 gorgeous pieces from her current Cape Collection and I cannot wait to wear them. They came in an elegant grey pouch and box with a golden stamp. Both pieces are wonderfully detailed and beautifully made.
And since I like being a bit nosy and I also thought it would be interesting for the readers of my blog, I asked Cindy a few questions about her brand.
1) Hi Cindy, could you please tell us a little about yourself and how and why did you decide to pursue jewellery design?
I've always been a very creative/ hands on type of person. When I was a child, I was always making things : gifts, clothes, jewelry and basically anything and everything! I couldn't see myself having a career that was not based on creative work and I wanted to do what I love, so that's why I initially went on to obtain a degree in Visual Arts at college. That experience further cemented the fact that I was on the right path and that if I continued along this path,  I would be able to fulfill my dreams. 
2) You have studied both in United States and South Africa, which jewellery design schools would you recommend to young people interested to pursue that line of work?
Well, I guess I may be biased due to the fact that I grew up in Africa.. but I would definitely say that the four years I spent at Stellenbosch in South Africa studying jewelry design, was an irreplaceable experience and the knowledge and techniques we walked away with at the end of the day was rather impressive. We were a small and focused class of only 20 students during the four years and we really did receive top quality education. That being said my time spent at FIDM in Los Angeles, has proven to be extremely useful and beneficial as I walked away with valuable knowledge on how to start up and run a fashion/design business, as well as learning about all the ins and outs of the fashion industry in the USA - which was really helpful. 
 3) What are your designs inspired by? Where do you draw your inspiration from? 
 My designs are predominately influenced by travel. I spend a lot of time in Zurich each year with family and during this time I like to design, as I am always surrounded by such inspiring aesthetic beauty - gorgeous architecture, exquisite lakes and mountains and lush countryside. I could sit outside all day with a pen and paper and just let my mind go into design mode. It's addictive. 
4) What kind of person wears your jewellery and how does it feel when you see someone wearing your designs? 
 Women who appreciate fine and unique design, as well as simplicity tend to go for my pieces. It's a women who is looking for quality over quantity and who enjoys a little bold color from time to time. It feels fantastic when you see/know someone who is wearing your piece and even more satisfying when you see them wearing it  over and over again. It's such a rewarding feeling to know that you have created something that they really like and looks great on them too. 
5) What advice would you give someone entering jewellery design business nowadays?
 Don't give up!!!! It's a crazy roller coaster ride, especially in the beginning... but you just got to keep on pushing and persevering every day. You got to believe that you deserve success and go after it with all you got.
You can have a look through the current collection of LA Kaiser HERE and friend them on Facebook HERE.






Tuesday 21 May 2013

Trench Coat



You gotta love England...if nothing else, the weather is consistent. Consistently awful, that is...always hovering between 5-15 degrees no matter the season. Hence, whilst the rest of the bloggers are showing of their summer apparel, us British bloggers are still in trench coats, coats, boots, etc...
Summer clothes? Well, I occasionally give them a gentle, loving stroke while they peacefully hang in my closet waiting for sunnier times.
You have seen this trench in my last outfit post...I've basically been wearing it to death as it's perfect for the weather we're having. I paired it slightly differently this time...with Zara booties and striped top.
And while I do love it, let's hope my next outfit post will not feature a trench, coat or boots. I cannot take much more of this cold weather.
I wore:
Trench coat: ASOS
Striped top: Zara
Vest top: Zara
Belt: Ralph Lauren
Boyfriend jeans: Mango
Bag: Cleobella
Booties: Zara
Ring: Isharya
Bracelets: Made
Sunnies: Ray-Ban
Nails: OPI "I don't give a Rotterdam"

Saturday 18 May 2013

Something New



I love candles and if it was up to me, I would bring in a decree which would make it obligatory to burn smelly candles in all public places. By smelly I don't mean foul smelling, but lovely, fresh, scented kind of smelly. My favourites are Diptyque candles, but alas my bank balance doesn't always stretch to them so I'm always on a lookout for alternatives too. After hearing everyone and their mother rave about Yankee Candle I took a plunge and ordered 2 jars expecting great things. Well, I have no idea what all the hype is about...they're just not that great and certainly not a patch on Diptyque. After burning them for a while, I could barely smell them and I have a great nose even if I do say so myself. :D
I also bought 2 tins of Lily Flame candles. I bought one of their candles on ASOS (I think) quite a while back and really loved it so I bought two more flavours to see how I get on. I have to say they're really lovely. Great choice of scents that really linger in the air making my whole house fragrant. The candles come in really cute tins that look great on my bedside table. I can't wait to try some more. Plus, it's a small British company and I do like to support those.
I also bought white slouchy Zara sweater... It's made of mulberry silk and cotton and it's both light and warm so perfect for transitional weather that we are (still!!!) having in England. It feels wonderful on the skin...like the lightest puff of cloud and I've been wearing it a lot.
Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend.

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Miss Lilya



A slightly different post today...the one where I'm pimping my photography skills. :D
These are from a recent client shoot with wonderful Lilya who wanted to have some sensual photos of herself done. I did the styling and photography and Lilya was pretty happy with the results. So much so, she let me plaster her all over da internets. :D
Make up was done by Victoria Leanne .
I hope you enjoy the photos and if you want to book something similar for yourself, do get in touch.


Monday 13 May 2013

Birthday Day



It was my birthday this saturday and seeing that I'm not very rock'n'roll at all I chose to spend it by going to pet show and a quick meal. The evening was spent curled up in bed with a cup of tea and a good book. See, rock'n'roll! LOL
The weather, as English weather so usually is, was highly uncooperative and was partially sunny, partially cloudy and partially rainy. Such fickleness deserves fickle wardrobe so I wore both sandals and a trench coat. 
I wore:
Trench coat: ASOS
Bag: Cleobella
Boyfriend jeans: Mango
Sandals: Zara
Scarf: FCUK
Nail varnish: OPI Dating A Royal
As for the pet show....it featured dogs, chickens, rabbits, hamsters, snakes, lizards, fish and my favourite...CATS! I was particularly taken in by the grumpy gentleman below and a beautiful sphynx who stole my heart. Sphynx feels like the softest chamois leather and I now want one of my own so I can bother it and stroke it continuously. My sphynx would wear the finest cat clothes and would be sporting a diamante collar. It would be the purrfectest little cat.
After the pet show we walked around a bit, stopped for a lunch at Lebanese "Maroush" and then it was back home for that tea drinking and book reading session.



Sunday 5 May 2013

Hero Products



These are the products I've been using a lot lately and I love.
First up is Ciate nail polish in "Espadrilles". Even though Ciate brand is well known for gimmicky nail finishes (caviar, chalk, foil etc...) they do some lovely more...erm...conservative polishes too. The colours are gorgeous and the brush is nice and wide (just like the OPI brush). My current favourite is a lovely coppery shimmery colour. I imagine it would look even more amazing with a tan, but alas I'm as pasty as a chedar cheese so all I can do is imagine it...
I'm also loving a Nars bronzing powder in Laguna (What? I told you I'm pasty. I definitely need some bronzer or me. Or a ton of blusher. Or both.). I heart it because it makes me look like a sun kissed human rather than a Tangoed Oompa Loompa and that is always a good thing.
Last but not least....MAC  Paint pot in Painterly. I'm aware that the entire world has already discovered these little wonderpots, but I figure better late to the party than never. Painterly is a very neutral colour and it will definitely help your eyeshadow pop and hide any skin discoloration (yay!). I also suffer from very greasy eyelids and this definitely keeps the eye make up stay put that little bit longer.
Do you guys use Paint pots? Which are your favourites?



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