Mini Haul: Primark, Barry M and Palmers

Primark Haul 7 Group

I popped into town today for ‘one or two bits’ and, of course, got a tad carried away. In my defence, I didn’t spend that much. The fact that it was still money I don’t have is neither here nor there (in fact I think it’s there, way way way over there…)

So I thought I’d share with you what I picked up.

Primark Haul 5

This is one of the bog standard Primark skater dresses that they sell for a ridiculously good FIVE ENGLISH POUNDS. I have one of the t-shirt versions and it’s good enough quality – it shrunk in the wash, but this was most probably my fault because I shrink everything, and I don’t mind anyway because it made it a slightly nicer length for my dwarfish frame. I like the bright blue of this dress and, although it’s nothing too exciting, I’m sure I’ll be happyI bought it on a sunny day soon (not today; the strong winds meant that the shoppers in Coventry city centre have had quite enough of my butt cheeks for one weekend).

Primark Haul 4

Baragainous little crop top for a mere £2. TWO ENGLISH POUNDS. Okay, I’ll stop doing that now. But still! I already have cropped vests from Primark in white and grey so thought this neon orange/coral one would be a good addition to the collection.

Primark Haul 3

I think this is actually my favourite thing I’ve bought today. It’s a white crop top (no shit, Sherlock) but it’s got a beaut low back that makes it a lot more dressy. A word of advice, the sizes come up quite big on this if you’re a small-boobed girl like myself; the 8 was really baggy so I ended up getting a 6. I think I’m going to wear this on a night out next weekend with my new Topshop denim skater skirt and maybe some neon-esque accessories. Oh, and this too only cost a fiver. Suh-weet.

Primark Haul 1

Multi-packs like this are so useful, and really good value for money too. The rings were £2.50 and the bracelets were £4. I love the turquoise and silver combo that I’m seeing around quite a bit at the moment, and I’m glad to see the grungey cross/skull trend still seems to be hanging about (mainly as I’ve got quite a few pieces like this so I’m not ready to give them all up and be an untrendy Wendy again).

Primark Haul 6

Ah, black flats: one of those essential-but-boring items you need to replace now and then. Primark had so many really nice flats in, lots of cutaway detailing, peep toes, and lovely nude shades of tan and stone. But alas, I needed to replace my ruined black flats and so had to make the decision to get these instead. I suppose they’re not too boring, but… wah. I also got some frilly ankle socks; these aren’t something I’ve worn before, but I thought I’d give them a little go with my Converse and try not to feel like too much of a massive tit.

Primark Haul 2

I eventually stepped away from Primark (after trying loads of other stuff on that thankfully didn’t suit me when on) and headed to some makeup shops. I initially went into Superdrug to get a few bits for our first ever GIVEAWAY (which we should be launching today or tomorrow, keep your eyes peeled and be sure to follow us on Twitter @StylingoUK). But I of course got distracted by the Barry M stand. All of the nail varnishes had been removed from my local Boots last weekend – I asked the bloggers on Twitter, and apparently they had been recalled due to an issue with the current batch of bottles as they kept smashing. Either the issue has been resolved, or Superdrug just aren’t as bothered about protecting our little fingers as they had a beautiful fully-stocked nail section. Insert the ‘loveheart eyes’ emoji here. I’ve been wanting to try the new confetti range for ages, so chose this nice blue to start with.

I also picked up the Palmers Cocoa Butter gradual tanner after reading quite a few positive reviews about it. I occasionally use the Dove gradual tanner (which is a million times better than Johnsons – which, to use a retro insult, WHOMPS) but I’ve heard that Palmers one is quite a bit darker so I wanted to give it a whirl. I’ll do full reviews of these two products once I’ve given them a fair go.

And that is it! What do you all think of this mini haul? What have you been buying lately?

Primark @ Asos – Favourite Pieces

It was only a couple of weeks ago that I wrote a post on Primark’s S/S collection and cried to the gods about Primark not offering an online shopping option. Well, sacrificing all those little lambs must have worked, because just a few days later the news started spreading on Twitter that my beloved Asos were now stocking Primark.

The items at the moment seem to be going live a couple at a time: on the first day there were only about 8 things to browse, a couple of days later there were 20 and so on. There’s now around 30 I think, and they’ve introduced some men’s pieces too (though I don’t think Primark has ever really got our male counterparts quite as giddy as it gets us, has it?)

Here are a few of my fave Primark pieces that are currently available to buy on Asos:

AsosMiamiPrimark ‘Miami’ Hockey T-Shirt – £6

I’ve banged on in great detail about my love for the current varsity trend, and this cheap and cheerful Primark jersey is a really easy way to incorporate it into your wardrobe. I love the slouchy fit and light colours of this top, and would wear it as the model does here with light denim.

 

AsosPrimarkGrafittiPrimark Grafitti Print Midi Skirt – £8

I wasn’t entirely sure about the graffiti print trend when it first appeared (why would you WANT to look like a wall..?) but I think this monochrome version really works. I am also a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge fan of the midi length, though I usually have to buy petite versions so whether this one would actually suit me remains to be seen (shall I maybe start sacrificing more small animals in the hope of Primark bringing out a Petite range?)

PrimarkDenimShirtPrimark Denim Shirt – £10

This, for me, is a classic example of what Primark do best: a simple basic, which is indistinguishable from other brands but so much cheaper.

AsosNudeMeshPrimark Mesh Sweetheart Dress – £15

They do this dress in black too, but I think the nude version is the perfect option for summer. Though that’s not to say I probably wouldn’t pick up the black one too, just in case…
What do you all think of Asos now selling Primark? What are your favourite pieces?

What to Wear: My Night Out Wishlist.

I’m currently having a terrible panic that my entire wardrobe is terrible and that if I don’t invest in some new clothes quickly my whole life will become meaningless. Some might say this is slightly over-reactive but to them I say, NAY YOU SIMPLY DON’T UNDERSTAND.

Backing up ever so slightly, I haven’t bought many new clothes of late because I was saving up for my big move from Cheshire to Coventry. Now that I have my lovely new job, a wonderful (if a bit broken and untidy) house with Claire and have finally got my life together, I have a bit of extra cash to play with. I say a bit, I don’t really have any but I feel like a baller and what is a baller without a good wardrobe?

Next week, we are having some of our university pals to stay. The story is quite tragic, mostly because my old housemate is having to move back to Dubai and we may never see her again, sob. So we’re having a bit of a hoorah at our house to say farewell and also to catch up after the long and upsetting months we have been apart. As you can tell, it is an important occasion that will definitely be fuelled by wine, tequila and a lot of cry hugging. Partly because my wardrobe is in such a pathetic state and also because it’s an excuse to buy something new, I’ve been all organised and decided to plan a few options of what to wear. I’m loving the UK fashion trends at the moment, so it’s going to be an excellent time to invest in a few key staples.

I’ve been inspired by a lot of fashion and beauty blogs that have been featuring neon pieces recently, so I think this is the main trend I’m going for when I eventually go shopping. Unfortunately, I’m having to coordinate with Claire who’s going for a neon crop top and denim skater skirt so I’m a bit limited (she’s a selfish one, isn’t she). As you might know (if you’d read my fashion tragedy post), I bought these New Look platform sandals last week and managed to break them within an hour of wearing. I’m hoping to replace them this weekend so they are my shoes of choice while I’m looking for outfits!

Screen Shot 2013-06-06 at 13.58.31Floral Midi Skirt: Missguided.  White Cropped Tshirt: Topshop.  Gold Chain: Topshop.  Yellow Nail Varnish: Barry M.  Platform Sandals: New Look.

Screen Shot 2013-06-06 at 14.28.27Printed Shorts: Boohoo.  Gold Earrings: Topshop.  Pink Lipstick: Topshop.  Shoulder Cutout Body: Missguided.  Platform Sandals: New Look.

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Monochrome Skater Dress: Missguided.  Neon Satchel: H&M.  Geometric Earrings: Topshop.  Platform Sandals: New Look.  Black Lipstick: Barry M.

So, what do you all think? Any favourites? I’ve officially got a week before the girls come over so it’s definitely time to start planning and buying!

 

2013 Bikinis: Best on the UK High Street

It is with a slightly heavy heart that I sit down to write this post, and I want you all to know that it’s only because of my dedication to this here fashion blog that I am even bothering to write it. For today I am writing a post on the best bikinis for holidays this summer – AND I AM NOT EVEN GOING ON HOLIDAY MYSELF.

I’ve been on girls’ holidays every summer for around the last five years, but saving to move into my new house this year has meant that a holiday is firmly off the cards. Especially seeing as I’m now 22 so would have had to go somewhere respectable that doesn’t do a fishbowl, two cocktails and a round of shots for a fiver (oh Magalluf you will always have a special, though tacky, place in my heart).

So, no hot holiday this year means no bikini shopping. But, like the trooper I am, I’ve scoured the web to track down some of the best swimwear available on the high street right now. THE THINGS I DO FOR LOVE, EH?

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Asos Bikini / Topshop Bikini / River Island Bikini @ Asos

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Topshop Bikini / New Look Bikini / Missguided Bikini

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New Look Bikini / Boohoo Bikini / Forever 21 Bikini

Well, this has thoroughly depressed me.

Outfits of the Day: Double Denim & Summer Pastels

HEY THERE HELLO. This is just going to be a quick little Outfit of the Day post. It is, in fact, our first proper OOTD entry that hasn’t involved mirror snaps or pictures where we are happily obscuring our faces. I would like to apologise for a few things:

• The quality of the photos. We are finally going to start using a proper camera (and a tripod – look how serious we have become) so these will improve!
• My awkward photo face. I am awful at having my photo taken, I usually end up doing a creepy smile that is most often found on the faces of sex offenders on Crimewatch. Again, I think that the tripod and practice will make this better over time.
Our messy floor – no real excuse there though, I’m afraid. We just messy.

Claire

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Lace Body: Topshop
Vest: Primark
Gold chain: eBay
Watch: Casio
Lavendar skinny jeans: Primark
Shoes: Converse

I decided to wear quite a summery-coloured outfit today, possibly as a reaction to wearing all black yesterday and nearly boiling in the heat. Before, I never would have dreamed of wearing a pastel pair of jeans as I was convinced they would be the least flattering thing for my shape ever. As you can see, I was incredibly correct about this. BUT I’m going through a new phase where I’m trying to embrace my natural body shape and so getting The Hips (epic enough to deserve capital letters) out in lavender is now something I am just rolling with.

Lauren

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Blouse: Missguided
Denim shirt: Primark
Jeans: Topshop
Shoes: New Look

We recently published a post all about double denim where we asked whether you dared to do it. Well, Lauren dared. She says this was a result of me telling her we needed to do an OOTD post and her panicking with the need to wear something interesting – BUT I think it works marvelously. Fun fact: these glittery pumps proceeded to give Lauren huge blisters on our way into work, causing her to stop off and wear her bright (and I mean BRIGHT) pink gym trainers for the rest of the journey. Of course I didn’t laugh. Of course.

 

15 of the Best Fashion & Style Quotes

No matter how witty or philosophical we try to be, sometimes we have to face facts that somebody has already said what we want to say – and they have probably said it better. Below are some of the best quotes about fashion, beauty and style from the people who know best: designers, writers and fictional hero (but frequent idiot) Carrie Bradshaw. Enjoy!

“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”
– Oscar Wilde

“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”
– Coco Chanel

“Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.”
– Orson Welles

“To me, clothing is a form of self-expression – there are hints about who you are in what you wear.”
– Mark Jacobs

“It’s a new era in fashion – there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together.”
– Alexander McQueen

“One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a Little Black Dress.”
– Karl Lagerfeld

“Girls do not dress for boys. They dress for themselves and, of course, each other. If girls dressed for boys they’d just walk around naked at all times.”
– Betsey Johnson

“Whoever said that money can’t buy happiness, simply didn’t know where to go shopping.”
– Bo Derek

“The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy.”
– Yves Saint-Laurent

“You can never take too much care over the choice of your shoes. Too many women think that they are unimportant, but the real proof of an elegant woman is what is on her feet.”
– Christian Dior

Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their days off that are the most intriguing.”
– Alexander Wang

“Shoes transform your body language and attitude. They lift you physically and emotionally.”
– Christian Louboutin

“What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.”
– Miuccia Prada

“Vain trifles as they seem, clothes have, they say, more important offices than to merely keep us warm. They change our view of the world and the world’s view of us.”
– Virginia Woolf

“When I first moved to New York and I was totally broke, sometimes I bought Vogue instead of dinner. I found it fed me more.”
– Carrie Bradshaw

You may notice that some style icons are notably absent from this selection of quotes, namely those fabulous bitches known as Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. This is not to say that we don’t love these chicas; au contraire, our house is full – some may say festooned – with posters of them. However, I simply can’t cope with how over-quoted they are on social media sites. If I read ‘I’m selfish, impatient, and a little insecure’ one more time on Twitter of Facebook then I cannot be held responsible for my actions.  For this reason, I have had to exclude them and their wise words from my list. I am terribly sorry.

What are your favourite quotes about fashion and style? 

My Outfit of the Day and a Fashion Tragedy.

I had a quarter life crisis last week (much like Claire and her strange purple dip-dye phase) and decided to overhaul my general appearance in my eternal quest to become a trendy wendy. This meant dashing to the hairdresser in my lunch break on Friday and carefully explaining that I wanted a fringe cut well above my eyebrows, so that all the effort I spend drawing them on is not wasted. After a disdainful “that’s a bit short isn’t it…’ and my hairdresser deciding not to charge me (probably because she thought it looked horrible and I was upset by it. I wasn’t, I love it and I got a free haircut), my new look is on its way to being complete. For those of you who follow us on Instragram, you may have seen a picture but here is the final result anyway:

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I’m also lying slightly when I say outfit of the day because this was actually my outfit on Saturday. However, I generally look slightly trampy at work because I get ready at 6am and forget how to dress myself, so there will rarely be a good outfit post here. Anywhoo, this was my favourite outfit from the weekend (the rest of the time was spent in a tshirt with a strange Jamaican man on it) and I wore it to do a spot of shopping in Birmingham.

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Neon skirt: H&M 

Lace top: Next

Box bag: Primark (its hilariously old so I wont even attempt a link)

Black boots: Dorothy Perkins 

I also have to share with you all possibly the worst fash trag (also know as a fashion tragedy) that has happened to me yet. On my shopping ventures on Saturday, I bought these absolute stunners from New Look. I’m a big fan of New Look heels in general (although I don’t love their clothes) and these ones are bang on the mark in every single way. I can’t describe to you how much I love(d) them; my day, NAY MY LIFE, was infinitely improved. They were only £24.99 too, so literally the biggest bargain of my entire human life.

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So, my shoes and I should have lived happily ever after. We had all the makings of a perfect couple. I wore them out on Saturday night for a casual one at Snobs and things were going swimmingly. They were comfy. I was tall. It was a most exciting time. HOWEVER, being the literal clumsy idiot I am and also blaming New Look somewhat, I managed to break ALL of the straps on one of the shoes. I wasn’t even vigorously dancing; I managed to break my shoes by simply standing up. Obviously, I was more upset about the fact my shoes had broken than the fact that I had to spend a million pounds to go home, get another pair of shoes and come back out. I’m going to replace them this weekend and hope that the next pair survives longer than an hour because I really, really can’t live without them!

Fashion and Beauty Tips We Can Take From Game of Thrones.

So, Claire and I have a bit of a confession to make. While we are big believers in Fake Tan Thursdays (gotta get ready for the weekend, y’all) and spend far too much of our lives discussing what lipstick to wear, we are secret geeks. I’m an unashamed Lord of the Rings fanatic and Claire has been known to read some George Martin on the commute home from work. Both of us, much like the rest of the world, also like to sit down with a cup of tea and watch a bit of Game of Thrones. Our Thrones evenings are productively spent with me shutting my eyes during the scary bits (go home, white walkers, you are drunk) and wondering when Jon Snow is going to take his top off.

However, we have also noticed that Thrones is actually very informative about life in general. Where else would you learn not to judge a book by it’s cover (we’re looking at you, Khal Drogo, may you rest in peace) and that being an independent woman who owns dragons is ok? With this in mind, we’ve also realised that Thrones can give us some essential fashion and beauty tips to take away from Westeros and apply to our everyday lives.

Whatever anyone says, maxi dresses will never go out of style:

Maxi dresses are pretty much a wardrobe staple these days. They’re on-trend and delightfully ladylike (because nothing quite says ‘I am a lady’ than flashing your ankle at attractive men and wondering if they will be your boyfriends). However, I feel like the simple maxi dress has not been getting the attention it deserves recently. With the rise of the midi dress/skirt, fashionable women everywhere have been wondering whether the time of the maxi dress has ended and if their summer staple has been replaced.

Thankfully, Fashionable Women, Game of Thrones has reminded us that maxi dresses are freakin’ sweet. Whether it’s Daenerys in her (quite frankly) stunning chiffon numbers or Margery in her saucy cut away dresses, we’re reminded that there is literally nothing better than a casual maxi to make life infinitely better.

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Putting some effort into your hair makes a world of difference:

Has anyone noticed that pretty much all of the gals at Kings Landing have great hair? No wonder it’s the place everyone wants to be (though I’m not sure that Stannis has the capability for great hair). My general theory is that if you put effort into your hair, the rest will follow. So, take some tips from the girls from Thrones and get some extensions, shine spray and a nice pair of curling irons. Unless you are beyond the Wall. Then you have other things to think about and brushing your hair can take a back seat (don’t worry, Gilly, no judgement).

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Blonde is not always better:

Claire will probably cut me in my sleep for this, but Game of Thrones has definitely taught us that blonde is not necessarily better and they certainly don’t always have more fun. While Daenerys is pretty much the epitome of perfect and her hair cannot be faulted in any way, the other blonde characters leave something to be desired. Cersei in particular has many faults, namely having intimate relations with her brother and being nasty to pretty much everyone. We don’t even need to start on Joffrey, he is just a twisted young fellow who doesn’t give blondes a good name at all.

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Ultimately, the hair colour tips we can take from Thrones is that being ginger is great and will get you many a fine young man (or just one. Named Jon). Having brown hair isn’t too bad either, but what we all should be aiming for is silver.

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Dragons are a great fashion accessory:

Putting the right accessories to an outfit is one of life’s most difficult problems for women. The number of times I’ve had to ask Claire if my giant gold earrings, chunky gold chain and knuckle-duster are too much have been too many (apparently they were too much, who knew). Our pals at Game of Thrones have come up with a brilliant solution. Dragons.

If, like Daenerys, you have accidentally misplaced your clothes in a bonfire, simply perch a few dragons on your shoulder to complete the look. If you’re taking a cruise and are unsure what accessories are ship appropriate, having some dragons nearby will make your outfit truly stand out. Daenerys always looks great and our theory is that it is because she accessorises carefully with her fire-breathing friends. Great style work, HBO!

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Dressing appropriately for the weather is a good idea:

Here in Britain, we are constantly plagued by weather that can’t make up its mind. It may officially be summer, but I’m finding myself having to dig out my winter coats to fight the sob-worthy chill. It may be tempting to shout ‘I JUST DON’T CARE ANYMORE’ and don a crop top and a mini skirt, but Game of Thrones says otherwise. At Kings Landing, the girls get away with skimpier clothes (shoulders, ooo-er) and rightly so because it’s hot. But beyond the Wall, our favourite fashionista Ygritte wears some pretty interesting puffa jackets. While these might look slightly hideous, she is most definitely avoiding frostbite. So ladies, the moral of the story is to put on a coat if it is cold, even if you’re going out and claim that you have your tequila jacket on. Because if winter is coming, then tequila jackets won’t be very much use against our white walker pals, will they?!

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