DANCE ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT

Finally found somewhere cheap(ish) to stay in Barcelona for SONAR FESTIVAL WHICH WILL BE AMAZING OH MY GOD I'M SO EXCITED. But what to wear?

In my dreams I would pull off something like this:

LOT OF LOVE FOR MARGAUX IN THERE...even though we are essentially physical opposites, I can't stop wishing that I could look like that.
Most of the pics are from the always inspirational knightcat and jakandjil.

Parma Violet Spree

Just bought the Topshop nail varnish I was stalking, and grabbed the sun-shower crayon and a maxi skirt and a ruffle AMAZING top while I was there. Argh why do I do this? Of course, this was after a spree in H&M where I nearly had to body slam a woman out of the way to get the last one of this beaut...

[H&M, £39.99]

I swear, as soon as you buy one little thing, it loosens you up and then you just don't get a chance to shut your damn purse. Well, this happens to me anyway... i'm a spendy spendaholic. Some of my spoils...

[Topshop, fiver]

[H&M, £9.99]

[Topshop, £25]

There was more, dear reader, but you care not. Also, I don't want to document the true extent of my shopping addiction in a public place.

The last photo shows what I think may be the most amazing top I have ever owned. I would never normally buy a full price top from Toppers, as they are usually overpriced, but the detail on this, and the soft fabric, and the fact that it's in lilac pas-tell, and it goes so nice with the navy maxi skirt I bought...I just had to.

H&M have got lots of plain (and not so plain) skirts and tops for £2.99...and little dresses for £4.99, so I stocked up on some of those bad boys in preperation for Barcelona, and SONAR festival. Too excited.

Just finished reading 'Modern Baptists' by James Wilcox. It made me want to move to the American South and go to dusty bars with guys called FX and girls called Burma (I'm pretty sure this was not the author's intention). It was very funny, anyway.

MMM, wedges...

 

Only £40 at Asos, bargs.

Maxi choice

When I find something I like, I can never have just the one version of it. When I got a cheap denim jacket from H&M, I liked it so much I bought FIVE, yes FIVE, types of denim jacket from ebay. I think that counts as a problem. If I was on Spendaholics, (which I really wish was still on, although obvs not with me on it) they would probably use these multiple denim jackets to illustrate my terrible spending habit. They would hang loads of denim jackets from hundreds of hangers all over the ceiling, then Benjamin would step forward to tell me how much I had spent on denim jackets, and white t-shirts, and striped breton tops (approx A BILLION POUNDS) and then blame it all on my repressed anger towards my father. He always blamed the father, did Benjamin.

Therefore the maxi dress situation is worrying me, as it could potentially become very expensive if I decide to indulge. It is essentially inevitable that I will buy a maxi skirt, because they will be perfect for this half-summer, shitty weather. Maxi skirts should be perfect for me as I have two christmas hams for legs, and they would be best served in a swathe of material that totally conceals them. However, as I am nowhere near statuesque or willowy, I'm not convinced that a long skirt/dress would be the best move for me. Black would be the best option, but this isn't very summery, and it might make me look like a squat druid. White is a no go area with my eating habits/dislike of dental floss underwear. So grey then, yeah?

These are the ONES I MUST HAVE TO COVER ALL MAXI EVENTUALITIES:

[Topshop Unique]

[Asos blue marl]

[Minkpink at Asos]

[New Look tee maxi]

[Boohoo tie-dye]

Oh gosh darn it...the list could have gone on much longer! But I realised that they are all verrryy similar...jersey in greyish tones. Except the Unique beaut that I can't afford. Anyhoo, these were the most affordable ones that caught my eye. Pleasantly surprised by boohoo by the way. Not a usual stop off during my internet trawls but there was some good stuff in there. Maxi time tomorrow.

Gratuitous Booty Shot

[New Look, £40]

So late to the game with these - if the blogosphere is anything to go by - but it does not make me love them any less.

Back with a bump

Even though everyone keeps saying that I've brought the sun back with me, it really doesn't feel that way. One minute you're looking out to a turquoise sea without a care in the world...the next you're opening a student loans letter and realising that David Cameron: "C3PO from Star Wars - made out of ham" (I quote Caitlin Moran) is running the country. Fo sho. Sigh.

In happier news, I didn't get sunburnt for the FIRST TIME EVER. To mark this momentous occasion I am going to review my recent goodies.

Ahem.

Urban Outfitters Nail Varnish in Taupe 1:

I also got this in Matte Grey, but this colour is absolute perfection. This is a word I am going to use a lot for my new ladylike character that has been brought about by the nail varnish's sophistication, which apparently means I will talk in italics. Anyhoo, the consistency is great, which is something I never really thought as being important for nail varnish, but now I see that it has a sort of elasticity to it that means it doesn't chip or peel easily, as well as being very easy to apply. The colour is best approximated as a grey/brown, I think Grazia would call it greige. I really wish they would give up with the portmanteau-ing (clearly not a word).

A few crappy photos to attempt to illustrate its greatness:

My new romance with Revlon continues with their Bronzer:

I am not a massive fan of bronzer/fake tan stuff, but I bought this for my holiday and was pleasantly surprised. The colour is subtle and not too shimmery, and builds up nicely. However, I bought it mostly for the super cool compact - there is a little button inside that you press down to make a mirror pop out the side. This makes a satisfying sound and happens really quickly, and reminds me of some sort of spy gadget. Even if in reality it is just a mirror that allows you to see if you are going a tad too terracota, it is still enough to keep me amused.

Illamasqua Lipstick in Obey:

This lipstick was one of my many Lisa Eldridge inspired purchases. I haven't actually road tested it yet on a night out, but I have been well impressed with how it looks while I slob around my room, trying on all my make up. First off, the packaging is very nice, very sleek and all that. The colour is wow - really bright peach and 60's/70's looking - and went well with both my pre-holiday paleness and my post-beach complexion. The texture is as matte as it gets, which is what I wanted from the lipstick, but be warned; it requires serious prepping of the lips before you can apply it. Having said that, if you get a little on your finger and dab it on you get a nice hint of the colour without having to do anything complicated. The best thing about it is how the colour builds; as you add more it doesn't get darker, it gets brighter and lighter.

This is because it has an almost white base, and the more you obliterate your natural lip-tone with it, the more the peach colour comes through. Overall, I'm very impressed, and as it's such an unusual and fun colour I feel it was worth the expense - £15 + postage.

                    

                                                       

Time for a nice cup of post-ibiza tea.                                               

I'm Leaving On a Jet Plane...

Going to Ibiza. I haven't packed yet, and I am silently panicking that I will forget something essential, like my camera, but arrive with 12 pairs of shorts.

-Au Revoir Danny, Brett.

- See you soon!

- Please, don't go.

Don't look so sad, Brett. I'll be back in a week, and we can discuss more cravat options then.

I leave you with a classic Persuaders quote:

Danny Wilde: OK, come on, give me the map, let me be the navigator.

Lord Brett Sinclair: Thank you, Daniel, I remember the last time we went to Berlin.

Danny Wilde: So?

Lord Brett Sinclair: We were supposed to be going to Madrid.

Danny Wilde: Well, nobody's perfect, kid!

Lord Brett Sinclair: Certainly not you.

Topshop make-up out today

It all looks as good expected, check it out here at the Topshop website. Most excited about their lilac nail varnish, named after my favourite sweet: Parma Violets. Now to get me some (make-up and sweets that is).

Cheeky ASOS

These look familiar...

[ASOS sunglasses]

Tin foil tips would complete the look - a bit of customising, and bob's your uncle. A little project for anyone wanting Wang/Farrow on the cheap?

Treats

[ASOS Fox ring, Nicola Roberts for Jelly Pong Pong eyeshadow, Urban Outfitters nail varnish]

The Asos fox ring and Dainty Doll eyeshadow were things I added to my ASOS basket to get it up to £20 when I bought the Illamasqua Obey lipstick. That I am supposed to have reviewed by now. Oops, bad blogging. I got the fox ring because I'm from Leicester and so I love foxes, obvs. I got the eyeshadow because it was reduced, and also because as a pale person I have been wanting to try a range for us pale-o's for a while. It's actually really great, you get a nice creamy gold toned primer to put underneath the apricot eyeshadow, which makes the shadow stay put all day. The colour is super - I think there are two others, check them out here at ASOS.

Nail varnish in Taupe and Matte Grey from Urban Outfitters. The packaging sold these to me, and I have wanted to try a matte nail varnish ever since WAH nails did a matte black/shiny black leopard print on their blog. The muted colours are waayyy more sophisticated than I am. I can't find my nail varnish remover at the moment so I have 9 lilac nails (chewed, badly painted) and 1 matte grey nail (couldn't wait to try the colour so painted over the lilac). Need to become more grown up and take proper care of my nails like a true lady, and do the posh nail varnish justice.

"What I'm Gonna Be Wearin, Baby"

Due to the rubbish weather, and the thought of going shopping anywhere in London on a bank holiday weekend, I have purchased a lot of things from ebay. Hopefully, Royal Mail allowing, I will soon be wearing:

[Topshop White Pippa Jeans - buy it now for a tenner]

 [The Gap dress Alexa Chung wore a zillion seasons ago. For the bargain price of £7.25. Yay for ebay!]

 [Vintage camel coat - £20]

What I'm Wearing

Rainy London has tried its best to ruin all my summer outfit plans. I don't know about you, but once it starts to rain I just add opaque tights to whatever I was going to wear anyway. It's the only practical option as there is nothing worse than traipsing round in sodden jeans that suction onto your thighs, or having dubious wet patches on a grey marl maxi skirt, or trackie bottoms so heavy with water they start to fall down.

Anyway, for this rather miserable bank holiday weekend I have mostly been wearing...

...this H&M T-shirt dress. It was a total bargain at £12, and I have worn it every week in the couple of months since I bought it. Apologies for the terrible photography, it means you can't see the nice detail on the sleeves, which are quite fitted and nicely cuffed. 

These are my two latest purchases that I just can't reconcile with opaque tights and massive dirty puddles, respectively. The Topshop pleat shorts are what I like to call my 'archaeologist' shorts. I'm thinking about getting some tortoiseshell flip up sunglasses like these to go with them. I bought the Office jelly shoes about a month ago while I was waiting around in Covent Garden, a bit of an impulse purchase, and I have only got to wear them once. They were pretty comfy and left the most amazing patterns on my feet once I took them off! Absolutely perfect for my upcoming holiday - now I can paddle in the sea with shoes on, neatly negating the worry of stepping on a jellyfish or sea urchin while also looking super-stylin.