A/W14 Jumpers

As the summer is nearly over and we say goodbye to shorts, strappy tops and sandals and replace them with jumpers, coats and trousers, I decided to create some posts on this years' A/W essentials. As we all start to pack away our summer clothes and start to dig up the old cosy jumpers, I thought I would show you some of this season's trends and just in case, you wanted to go on a little shopping trip in order to buy some jumpers, this post gives you a little heads up on what is out there on the high street.

Autumn is one of my favourite seasons. I love wearing over sized jumpers, boots, big coats and snuggling up under blankets with a cup of tea. Therefore, I cannot wait for the season to change so I can start to enjoy autumn.

One of my favourite pieces of clothing is wearing jumpers. I think that a jumper can transform an outfit from being quite simple to more sophisticated and smart. It can also add a splash of colour and keep you warm at the same time!

1) Light Blue Boucle Slouchy Jumper - £25 - River Island 

Pastel colours are really in this A/W and this duck-egg blue colour is perfect. I think this is the perfect transitional jumper to take you from summer to autumn due to the light colour and mid-length arms. This would look perfect either by itself or with a blouse underneath paired with jeans for a casual look or a pencil/skater skirt for a more smart look. The over sized slouchy jumper makes it more comfortable and less clingy, enabling you to move around in it more without feeling restricted.

2) Pink Knit Brushed Texture Jumper - £19.99 - New Look 

Another pastel toned jumper for you guys, but this time in a blushed pink colour. If you aren't keen on this colour, then check out the one in Mint Green. This jumper looks super cosy for the A/W and would be very versatile to make casual or smart. I loved the look of the material of this particular jumper as it has quite big holes to add more texture and made it look super comfortable and slouchy. Perfect for a cold winter night!

3) Navy Pembridge and Rose Flecked Cable Knit Crop Jumper - £19.99 - New Look

This jumper reminds me of an old grandpa knitted jumper, which I love. This jumper is different than the previous two as it is cropped with mid-length arms, however, this would be another perfect transitional piece for A/W. Although the material does appear quite thick, this would be great for cold mornings, just to quickly put on and keep you warm until the day brightens up in the afternoon. The mid-length arms allows you to have a bit of air to prevent you from getting too hot. Also, the fact that the jumper is cropped also prevents you from getting hot making you more comfortable throughout the day. If you are not sure about the colour of this jumper, then check it out in Cream and Wedgewood Blue. 

4) Vero Moda Red Contrast Knitted Jumper - £19.99 - New Look 

As you have probably noticed this is another New Look jumper. I think that New Look is my favourite high-street shop at the moment, they have so great stuff in store and online. I can go into any New Look store and always find something, no matter what (whether that is a good thing or not I don't know). But, it was so hard to pick jumpers for this post as I just saw so many that I loved and wanted to feature but we would be here all day if I did that. However, go and check out the web site now and see for yourself, you are guaranteed to find something you love. Anyway, this jumper is another slouchy and over sized jumper, but I think this is probably my favourite one out of all 5 jumpers featured. I really love the bright red and dark brown contrast on this jumper that simply represents autumn to me. I could see myself wearing this jumper with some leggings and boots and being super comfortable and cosy at the same time. If you don't like these colours, then check it out in Black Pattern. 

5) Necklace Jumper - £46 - Topshop

I felt that I had to put a high-end jumper on the list as well, just to even things up. This jumper from Topshop is quite a plain grey material but it has a cute statement necklace piece. This enables you not to have to pair any jewellery with the outfit as the neckline adds plenty of sparkle and drama to the jumper. This would be ideal for a smart look paired with a skirt or trousers.

Hope you enjoyed this post and gave you some ideas for jumpers this A/W. 

This Summer's Bikini Guide: Part 3

Although the summer has nearly finished for another year, I still needed to upload the final part of my Summer Bikini Guide. Most of us are heading back to school/college/uni or work soon, or you might already be back. In that case, this blog post might be a bit out-of-date for now, but I'm sure it will come in handy next year if you are heading abroad and need a few ideas swimwear wise!

For those of you that are heading on holiday soon or going away for a hot weekend, then this is my final part of my Swimwear Guide.

The final part is focussing on more covered up bikini/swimwear. Some females aren't confident enough to have all their wears and tears showing, so I have chosen and picked out the perfect cover-up swimsuits, so you still look beautiful, fashionable, but, most importantly, feel confident in your swimwear.


1) Purple Aztec Crochet Cut Out Swimsuit - £19.99 - New Look

I really loved this swimsuit when I first saw it and I couldn't help sharing it with you guys. I love the fall autumny colours: the browns, greens, beige and purples. I think this swimsuit would be perfect if you are going away during the autumn. It has two cut-out panels on the sides and an exposed back, so if you are confident showing off your body then this would be perfect for you!

2) Kelly Brook Navy and White Polka Dot Frill Swimsuit - WAS £24.99 - NOW £14.00 - New Look

This blue and white polka dot swimsuit reminds me of 40s swimwear, with the frilly skirt and the bows. This swimsuit is perfect for those of you who want to be covered up a bit more but still look feminine and girly.

3) Minkpink Daisy Print Swimsuit - £68.00 - Urban Outfitters

Another swimsuit I really loved is this navy blue one with daisies on it. This is more on the higher end of swimsuits and is expensive but if you go on holiday a lot or travelling this year, then you probably would get a lot of wear out of it. Plus, normally if it is quite expensive it usually is very good quality as well, which is what you want from a swimsuit. This swimsuit gives a lot more support than the previous ones as it is a very simple shape and style but with the daisies added on it, it just makes it look so much more exciting rather than simple.

4) Black Floral Mesh Insert Swimsuit - £30.00 - River Island

A more subtle swimsuit is this black floral strapless swimsuit. This is perfect for those of you that want something more sophisticated yet classy and also not too loud. It is quite fitted and also features a mesh detailing around the waist. It also comes with detachable straps, so you can add these when you are in the pool and then remove them to prevent any tan lines from occurring.

5) Kelly Brook Red Polka Dot Open Back Swimsuit - WAS £24.99 - NOW £14.00 - New Look

Another 40s swimsuit, however this time it is in this bright red colour. This swimsuit is similar to the blue one above, however does not feature the frilly bit or the bow.

6) Bright Pink Poly Skin Studded Slipper Shoe - £45.00 - River Island

The first accessory I chose for these swimsuits are these bright pink slipper shoes. I loved the bright colour of these shoes making them stand out from the rest of the outfit. I really liked the little silver studs added on them as well, which makes them less girly. Also, I think you could wear these not only in the summer but also in the autumn/winter months as well. Pair them with some black skinny jeans and a striped jumper for a really cool and on-trend look. If you don't like the bright pink pair then they are also in Brown Animal and Silver Glittery.

7) Palolem Beach Shorts in Turquoise Print - WAS £30.00 - NOW £15.00 - Urban Outfitters 

I love these shorts when I first saw them. Firstly I really liked the colours as turquoise is my favourite colour so that was so good. I think they would be perfect to throw on after you get out of the pool, or just to quickly put on if you are heading somewhere on your holiday, either going to the beach, shopping or sightseeing. They don't look clingy and so would be really comfortable to wear, especially when it is really hot outside.

Hope you enjoyed my guide on this summer's bikinis and I hope it has helped some of you out this summer as well. 

My 17th Birthday

I know this post is long overdue, but I really wanted to do it, so here it is.

On 19th August it was my 17th birthday. I have been waiting for this day for a long time, especially as I am one of the young ones in my year at school, so everybody is already 17 and learning how to drive and some already have cars, so I always felt like I missed out. But, I have finally reached that age when I can get onto the roads. As I am writing this post, I have booked my first driving lesson for next Tuesday, which I am so excited and nervous about at the same time.

Being 17 I feel so much older than being 16. I will start applying for universities in the autumn, deciding whether I want to go to a uni closer to home or move away from my parents and friends. I already know I want to take a gap year out as I need a little break from education for a bit but also to experience something different.

I really want to do some travelling during that time, but as most of my friends are not taking a gap year I don't really have anybody to go with. I also need to get a job for that year and I might also do some volunteering as this will really stand out on my CV. Also, it will be my final year at school, so it will be sad having to say goodbye to people that I have known for 7 years, but I personally think I am now ready to move on from secondary school and take the massive step into the world.

Anyway, for my birthday I went to Brighton for the day with my parents and my cousin, Hannah. I love Brighton so much, therefore it was a great place to spend my birthday.

A view from the pier

Once we arrived, we were all really hungry so we decided to have something to eat. I decided on fish & chips, because when you are by the beach, the old English delicacy is the way to go.

After eating, me and Hannah went off shopping while my parents headed to the pier. We walked all the way up to the high street shops and had a quick look in Urban Outfitters (my favourite shop ever!), H&M and New Look.

I bought myself a gold statement necklace from H&M and some skinny tight trousers with a burgundy, black and white checked design on them, which are so comfortable and lovely.

Afterwards, we really wanted to find the Lanes, as I had never been to them before so it was new for me as well. We found this little knick-knacky shop where I bought a little stand to put on the wall to hang my necklaces on.

We were both really tired after all the shopping so we went back to the pier to find my parents and had a rest. Then, we went on some rides and played some games in the arcade.

It was a really great day and feels weird being 17 at last.

My feet on the pier with my tanned legs. 

Me sitting on the pier

 Hope you enjoyed this post!                                          

My Daily Nail Routine

Over the summer I have been trying endlessly to grow my nails. I always try and unfortunately fail at keeping my nails looking long and healthy. However, I end up breaking one and then this has a domino effect. Since being on holiday I found that my nails have got stronger due to the sun and therefore growing! 

I always find the only way I can succeed in getting my nails to grow and maintain themselves is if I apply nail polish and shape my nails. 

So, this blog post is going to be on my daily nail routine. I do this routine every time I get bored of the colour on my nails, so I'm going to take you through my step-by-step guide to maintaining healthy and fairly strong nails. 

Hope you enjoy! 

I thought I would show you what products I use on my nails first. 

1. The first thing I do is pick out the nail polish I want to use on my nails. This happened to be a bright, neon dark pink (it looks more red in the pictures but on the bottle it is pink.) 
2. I have my nail polish remover. Personally, I think it doesn't matter what remover you use, whether it is expensive or not, in my mind it all does the same job. My remover is from Tesco. 
3. I have a clear nail polish which I am going to use as my base coat. 
4. I have a Top Coat nail polish, which explains what it does basically. 
5. 2 cotton pads. I prefer to use cotton pads rather than wool because I find it easier and less stringy. 
6. A cuticle tool. I don't really know what it is called but it pushes down your cuticles. 
7. Finally, a nail file. This is to get rid of unevenness and to leave your nails smooth and well-shaped. 

After having taken you through the products I am going to use, I am just going to show you what my nails look like at the moment. I currently have on Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint By Barry M in Blood Orange. 

                                           

Next, I'm going to remove my nail polish with the cotton pads. I use one pad for each hand. 

Then, I use my cuticle tool to push down my cuticles. It is important to push back your cuticles because it can lead to stronger, healthier nails. 

                                            

After I have done my cuticles, I file my nails. This gets rid of any unevenness in your nails, shapes them and smooths them. This is really good if you have broken your nail and need to sort it out. 

                                             

Once filed, I quickly go to the bathroom and wash my hands under some water. This is to remove any nail dust that has accumulated when filing. 

                                            

Once washed and dried, it's time to put on a base coat. I am using a clear normal nail varnish for this. The nail polish I am using is one I got on my holiday. 

                                           

Nails after the base coat...

Now time for the fun part, you finally get to paint your nails in your chosen colour. I also apply 2 coats to my nails, to ensure that all my nails are completely covered and so the colour stands out.

It does take a lot of practise and time to get your nails perfect and to avoid smudges. The amount of times I have smudged my nails or accidentally gone onto my skin, but keeping trying and you will eventually get the hang of it. 

Wait about 10 minutes until your nails feel a little dry and then add your Top Coat. This makes your nail polish last longer and avoids chipping. It also leaves a high gloss to your nails as well. 

                                                     

There we have your finished nails. Hope you enjoyed this blog post. 

The British Tag!

I have arrived back from my holiday in Turkey today. I have not slept since 11 last night as my flight was at 2.30am and did not really sleep on the plane. As a result, I am shattered but am too overtired to sleep, so I thought I would do a simple and easy blog post today. Sorry I haven't put the last part of my bikini summer guide up yet, but don't worry I will try and get round to that very soon.

As my holiday is unfortunately over, I now need to try and get back into the swing of things. My A2 school work needs to be completed (now, that I have my results!), my 17th birthday is coming up, which has been a long time coming, and I am so excited to finally learn how to drive! I need to come up with a regular schedule for my blog and make a list of some ideas for future posts. (If you have any ideas, don't hesitate to leave a comment, I would love to hear what you would like me to post). So, over the next couple of weeks I will be organising myself and my life.

However, today is going to be a lazy day as I cannot concentrate for too long before my eyelids start to slowly shut down. Therefore, this post is going to be quick and easy!

Recently, I have seen many YouTubers and bloggers posting "The British Tag!" and as a fellow Brit myself, I thought I would join in the trend. I have also down a TMI Tag which you can see here if you would like to learn more about me.

1) How many cups of tea do you have a day and how many sugars?

I have one cup of tea every morning to wake me up and prepare me for the rest of the day. I can get very grumpy if I don't have my morning cuppa! Another cup around late morning. One at lunch. One at late afternoon and one in the evening after my dinner. In total, I have five cups of tea. However, this can vary depending on the seasons as I will have more tea during the winter in order to warm myself up and less in the summer. Also, I drink a lot of tea to get me through exam season and revision. I do not have any sugars in my tea as I think it tastes disgusting.

2) Favourite part of your roast?

My favourite part of my roast dinner are the roast potatoes (crispy, of course!), gravy (mmmmmmm!!!) and Yorkshire Pudding (yum!).

3) Favourite dunking biscuit?

I tend to go through different stages of eating biscuits with my tea. But, my favourite dunking biscuit would probably have to be a Custard Cream.

4) Favourite quintessentially British pastime?

My favourite British pastime is going down to Swanage with my family. Sitting on the beach, hearing the waves, smelling the sea salt, eating fish & chips (obvious, that is the most British thing!) Also, Swanage do the best fish & chips ever. Then, finishing the day off with wasting my money in the arcade on stupid 2p machines and eating proper vanilla ice cream.

5) Favourite word?

I really like the word "giggle" for some reason, I have no idea why, but I just like the sound of it. I also really like the word "mango", even though I don't eat mangoes. Weird.

6) Cockney slang rhyme?

I actually don't know any except "up the apples and pears" which is stairs, but I think everybody knows that one.

7) Favourite sweet?

My favourite sweet by far has to be Cherry Drops. I absolutely love them! They are the best sweets ever! But, they don't sell them in most shops, so when I do eventually find them I end up buying quite a few packets. Other sweets I like are the Haribo Fangtastics, Flying Saucers, Lips & Teeth, Strawberry Laces etc.

8) What would your pub be called?

Ummm... that's tough. The Flying Saucer. I have no idea why, it was the first thing that came into my head. Probably because of the previous question.

9) No. 1 British person?

I have no idea. Probably, Prince Harry because he is a bit of bad boy but is also adorable at the same time.

10) Favourite shop or restuarant?

Topshop. Every time I step into Topshop there is always something I can find. If I could only shop at one shop it would have to be Topshop. I really like Bill's Restaurant which is quite expensive but the food is so yummy that it is worth the money. Also Ed's Diner, which is like a old American diner, with red booths, black and white checked floor, and on each table is a little juke box machine which you can put money in and play old songs. Plus, there burgers and milkshakes are really good.

11) What British song pops into your head?

"Never Forget" - Take That

12) Marmite?

No way! I hate the smell and the taste of it so much.

Hope you enjoyed this blog post, it was a little bit different from previous posts, but I do like to mix it up once in a while. Let me know if you like these type of posts and if you would like to see more. 

This Summer's Bikini Guide: Part 2

Just before, I go on holiday tomorrow, I thought I would post the second edition of my Summer Bikini Guide. This blog post focuses on the bikini bottom. (For, the bikini top, click here.) This season, there are so many different designs, patterns and styles of bottom for your bikini. From the high-waisted to the cut out, there is something for everyone.

I have been searching the Internet for as many different styles and colours for you guys to choose from, even supplying you with the links, so you can check them out for yourself if you are interested, and also the prices, so you know exactly what sort of money you would be spending. I have also given you two additional options that you could pair with your bikini this summer. However, in this post I have included some luggage, so you can travel in style.

So, without further ado, let's take a peek at This Summer's Bikini Guide: Part 2!

1) Coral Hawaiian Print Tie Side Bikini Bottoms - New Look - £7.99

These bikini bottoms scream out summer for me. It has a perfect Hawaiian print on the bottoms which look so cute and perfect for lounging by the pool in. I really like the bow detail at the side, adding a little bit of style to these otherwise quite plain bottoms. The back of the bottoms cover your bum, so you don't have that on show (perfect, if you aren't that confident showing it off!). As well as the beautiful colours and design of these bottoms, the price is avoidable which makes them even more endearing! 

2) Minkpink Baby Blue High-Waisted Bikini Briefs - Urban Outfitters - £35

The second pair of bikini bottoms I have picked out are these high-waisted bikini briefs from Urban Outfitters. These bikini bottoms are on the higher end of the spectrum, but let's not talk about the price just yet. Firstly, the high-waisted bikini bottoms are bang on trend this season. In whatever high-street shop you step into nowadays, you are bound to find a pair of high-waisted bikini bottoms, scattered around somewhere. I adore the high-waisted trend, as I think it is perfect for those of you, like me, that doesn't like the show their bum area to much! They cover just the right amount of flesh without you looking like a complete granny. The print of these bottoms are ultra feminine and are adorable for the summer time. I love the baby blue colour and I also like how the pattern is not all over the briefs, but are just focused on the middle, making them not too overbearing. Now, let's talk about the price. At £35 these bottoms are expensive, and personally, I would not pay that amount of money, but if you are travelling this year or you go away quite a lot (which involves the sun, water or the beach!) then I think these would be perfect and maybe you should invest in them, as I think you would get so much wear out of them! If you are interested in these bottoms, then they are an online exclusive, so they will not be supplied in any stores. 

3) Pink Box Pleat Bikini Pants - Topshop - £12 

The next pair of bottoms are from Topshop and are quite simple. These pale pink block colour pants are perfect for those of you that like to keep it simple and not too over the top. I love the colour of these bottoms to start with, as I think that pastel colours are on trend, but are better than a really bright block colour. For an added bit of detail, these pants have a little cream frilly detail at the top of the bottoms, which makes them so much more feminine and unusual. Plus, if you are into this season's mix-and-match trend, then you could pair these bottoms pretty much with any top you wanted. At £12 I think they are at a reasonable price for Topshop and you would get so much wear out of these as well. If you are not a pink lover, then no worries, as they have them in Mint, (which is my favourite colour!) 

4) Blue Frilly Bikini Bottoms - River Island - WAS £10 THEN £5 NOW £3

Another pair of frilly bottoms for y'all. However, the fringing of these are more noticeable than the Topshop ones. Again, if you prefer block colours, then these bottoms are made for you. Plus, at only £3, that is such a bargain! These bottoms are more mini, then the others, but if you are more confident with your body and don't mind showing a bit more flesh, then I would recommend this style of bikini bottom for you.  

5) Black Floral Cut Out Side Bikini Bottoms - River Island - £12

The last pair of bikini bottoms I discovered were these floral ones. Another style of bikini bottom is the cut-out. However, I think that these bottoms embrace two of this season's trends which are obviously the cut-out, but also the high-waisted. Although, these don't have such a high-waist as the Urban Outfitters ones, they do have a slight raised pant effect to them. The pattern of these remind me of an oriental design (sort of the type of pattern you would get on a kimono) which I think looks so sophisticated and elegant. You can't really see the cut-out, which I think is quite good as it doesn't appear to be a massive cut-out, which I think would be a bit OTT. These bottoms have quite a subdued more grown-up look to them, than the other designs but still perfect for the summer. 

Now, for the accessories...

6) HOTBED Two Part Footbed Sandals - Topshop - £26 

When I saw these sandals I instantly fell in love, not only because they are in mint green, but also the style of the sandal. I really liked the cross over front at the bottom of the sandal as it adds a bit of a subtle design, without being too outrageous. I also liked the fact there wasn't that bit which goes in between your toes, as I personally prefer sandals which you can just slip on. I really liked the buckle as I prefer a simple buckle, rather than lots of buckles, which gets a bit annoying after a while. These sandals add a pop of colour to any outfit and they look so comfortable as well. If you are not keen on Mint Green, then they also have them in Orange. 

7) Red Snake Print Wheelie Suitcase - River Island - £65 

The last item is a little bit different. Don't just let your bikinis do the talking, why not get a stylish suitcase to put all of your beautiful bikinis in. I love the pattern and snake-skin effect on this suitcase from River Island and for only £65, I didn't think that was too bad for a suitcase like this. It has a zip around fastening and exterior pocket, making it extra safe for your belongings. I love the block colours that accompany the snake-skin pattern, the deep burgundy, black and beige really makes the suitcase come alive. Another bonus of getting this suitcase is that when you come to collect your luggage on the conveyor belt, you will instantly see your suitcase coming as it will stand out from the crowd of black and grey luggage. 

Well, that is my second edition of my summer bikini guide and I hope you enjoyed it. I will have one more edition of the guide to do, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Unfortunately, it won't be out for a couple of weeks, as I am going on holiday tomorrow for two weeks, so it will be out shortly after that.