Friday 30 October 2015

When you realise tomorrows that Halloween party and you’ve nothing to wear

If you look at that title and say “yep, that’s me” then yeah keep reading!
I hope this helps all of you out there that are panicking, running around the kitchen dreading that moment when you turn up in a room full of ghosts, wearing jeans and a bright pink tee. Chances are if you’re in that situation you won’t be looking at my lil’ blog but anyways…. it might help someone, somewhere at some point. Today I was planning to do a vampire face-paint tutorial, but then that sorta spiraled and now I have tons of Halloween ideas so you got this instead! Hopefully after reading this, you will look dead gorgeous tomorrow (excuse the feeble pun….I just couldn’t resist).


For the ghost look:


Using a white blusher, foundation or sponge with white face paint on, cover your entire face with a light coat. Now use a light grey colour and make a sweeping motion up your cheekbones. Using a finger blend with the white, until it looks like your cheeks are hollowed out. You may need to put another dusting of white over the top for it to look fully natural. Do the same around the eyes, being very careful. Take a black eyeshadow and apply just to the eyelids. Above this put on a thin layer of grey eyeshadow, using the black eyeshadow brush to blend together creating a smoky look. Apply thick black mascara, eyeliner and a dark burgundy lipstick to complete the look! It might be cool to put some white streaks in your hair (make sure whatever you use can be washed off!!) then scoop half of your hair into a messy bun then twist the other half up and around it, in separate strands, bulking it out and crazifying it. You could attach some long strips of netting to a skirt and wear with long gloves and a little veil.

To make a skirt:

Take the biggest piece of white netting you can find and do a running stitch along the whole of the longest side. Make sure you use one entire length of thread because we are now going to gather it all up by pulling on one end of the thread and scrunching it up to the other end. Arrange the gathers so that there is enough material left to go around your waist. Attach the gathered side to an already existing skirt then sew up the sides.

To make a veil:

Scrunch up a piece of white material into a flower shape and put a few stitches through it. Cut out a square of white netting and fold one edge around a metal headband, stitch or glue to secure. Glue the flower on to the headband off to one side along with a bow made of lace scraps. You could make more than one flower and have a whole cluster of them, or alternately you could use fake flowers.

Off-duty vampire

Layer black and grey eyeshadow, like I did for the ghost look, but make it darker than before. Apply a thick layer of black eyeliner with decent sized flicks and mascara. Wear with dark lips in burgundy, red or if you’re feeling brave try black. If you want to go that tiny bit over the top use grey blusher along your cheekbones to hollow them out. Wear with “Just-woke-up hair” with a few strands plaited and pinned at the back of your head and a black-on-black outfit.

China doll

Cover your entire face with a thick layer of white blusher. Using a thin brush with black face paint on it or a black eyeliner draw lots of little cracks coming out of your hairline and along your cheeks like you’ve been dropped several times but always not quite broken. Apply white lipstick then using a stand-out pink lip-liner draw a lil’ rosebud heart in the middle of your mouth that goes over both lips. Using the black again draw two cracks going out sideways on each side of your mouth. Pale blue eyeshadow and black lashes. Do neat bunches with ribbons tied around in loopy bows. Wear with several full skirts layered underneath a dress, preferably in a pastel colour. Sew strips of lace around the hem of the skirts so they peek out from underneath the dress to look like petticoats. Lace sleeves or puffed sleeves could really complete the whole Miss Perfect thing.

Go out and kill the party (*cringe* I'm so not funny!) with your awesome outfit tomorrow.


Monday 19 October 2015

Please don't pull a stupid face and close the page - Double denim

Double denim. Boom. Don’t think I have to explain ‘cause it kinda speaks for itself :/ Please, don’t pull a stupid face and close the page, just hold on a moment and hear me out, Ok? Ok.

I noticed quite a few predictions about double denim (or DD as I am now calling it) appearing in the trend forecasts at the beginning of the season and I was really excited to see how they would bring it back, but…. It hasn’t seemed to happen which is a bit of a disappointment.
    I guess it’s the whole “scary ‘80’s thing” but I’m going to try to change your – or at least my small amount of readers- minds. So I am urging you to dig out your jeans and jackets and…. Wait for it…. Wear them at the SAME TIME! *Shock horror*

If you’re not entirely comfortable about wearing dd straight out (and frankly I don’t blame you) then here are some ideas on how to modernize this look and totally own it.

1. Put an oversize shirt (Not white, otherwise you are actually adding to the ‘80’s feel!) hanging open underneath your jacket, over a grey tee with a stand out slogan or graphic print to tone it down a touch. To take part of the attention away from the jeans and jacket, wear brightly coloured converse style shoes, or boots with coloured laces (You all know how much I love DM style boots!).

2. If you're wearing denim shorts then try brightly patterned tights or knee-highs.

3. For colder days, a eye-catching beanie is a must, along with several layers under your jacket in the form of a brushed cotton shirt, a thick cardigan and a thin hoody in a block colour that complements the shirt. Is that too much to remember? Sorry. These are just suggestions to give you a bit of inspiration, the most important thing is to keep your own unique style shining through.

As promised here are your pictures and I’ve actually tried doing an outfit grid this time, which is kinda exciting for me, so I hope you like them and are inspired to try double denim yourself!






Denim jacket: Levis
Jeans: H&M
Red shirt: H&M
Purple shirt; H&M
Boots: Internet
Beanie: Peacocks
Born to dance t-shirt: Covent Garden stall (can't remember the name)
Purple cardigan: H&M
Navy hoody: H&M

I don't only shop at H&M, it's just a coincidence!!

Sunday 18 October 2015

Saw your face in a crowded place....

Hi, remember my last Music to try out post? Well this is the next one, showing you what I listen to, hopefully introducing you to some new stuff and rediscovering all those old favourites you haven't heard in ages!!

You're Beautiful by James Blunt
Remember this one? Personally I think it's one of his best ever songs - This and Postcards which is amazing too- I recently rediscovered it and now I can't stop singing the thing!

Shut up and Dance by Walk the Moon
Ok you probably know this one but anyway's you have to admit it is pretty awesome! The video is soooo cool! I want a flashing all-in-one suit thingy too!!

Drive By by Train
I bet when you listen to this you will remember the tune and be like ooooohhhhh I remember this, I used to love this song, but you won't for the life of you be able to remember the title or band (at least that's what I did!) I also love Train's song Hey Soul Sister. That intro's so catchy, you can't stop singing it for weeks!

Will update again soon. Probably very soon knowing how quickly my taste in music changes!

BTW Superheros by the Script is still my favourite song!!


Monday 12 October 2015

Rainbow cous-cous

This gorgeous, easy to make, healthy dish is perfect for munching on at a picnic, soaking up the last of the sun and if your family is anything like mine and try to kiss you whenever anyone says cous-cous (kiss-kiss, get it?) it will provide endless entertainment!

You will need:

Just add water plain cous- cous
Cucumber
Tomato
Colourful peppers
Onion
Olive oil
Lemon juice


Top tip: You can use whatever vegetables you find knocking around your fridge, the more the merrier! Whole olives might be nice.

How to make:
1. Pour boiling water over the cous-cous following the instructions on the back of the packet.
2. While the cous-cous is soaking up the water, cut up all the vegatables (minus the lemon)
    into tiny pieces.

 3.Put all the chopped up veg in with the cous-cous and mix with a drizzle of olive oil and lemon.


 Serve with a smile (cheesy I know, but hey!)!



Saturday 10 October 2015

Cropped trousers and how to wear

Hey, so I’ve noticed a lot (I mean a lot) of cropped trousers on the street recently, which is kinda cool, ‘cause they are amazing, real chic when worn the right way. When worn the wrong way…. Well…. Don’t even go there…. But, below I’ve put some ideas and tips ‘n’ tricks on how to
do it right!

The casual "just threw this on and still look amazing"
Try frayed jeans with a wide fold-up paired with a white button down shirt that's half tucked in. For
a more "laid-back" feel throw on a brightly coloured oversize sweater. Have a go at a messy up-do to finish it off, Messy ballerina bun This link goes to my instructions. Not self-promotion or anything, but, it does look pretty awesome so have a go. Tell me how it went if you like, ‘cause I love reading comments :D

One of those office days
Neat pastel colours with perfect creases and a pair of black or nude heels make this style great for work as well as play – well not play as such, ‘cause for 1. You can’t really do the monkey bars in heels and 2. When you fall off you’d uncrease your trousers (and we wouldn’t want that now would we).  An open blazer in a darker colour adds to this appeal.

Classic mademoiselle
A one-size too big white shirt that has neat creases, tucked into a pair of - practically any colour as long as its pale - chino style trousers with a scarf tied at the side around your neck, is just the picture of classic French style. Top it off – French (Dutch, whatever) braid your hair or even better, twist the braids round your head, traditional milkmaid girl.


Sorry about the distinct lack of photos everyone *sheepish grin* will try to get some for next time.