I adore this wine coloured tea dress, it's cape detailing is understatedly pretty. Very versatile for the unsual September sunshine, and hopefully with thick knitted tights when winter really sets in! I've done an horrendous amount of overtime recently, so it was lovely just spend the day in the garden sprawled out on a blanket reading and i'm now off out to a mexican dinner with the boy, yum!
In my last post i mentioned i had won tickets to London Fashion Weekend, not going to lie i was completely clueless to what the whole shebang entailed. From what i gather its a lead on even from LFW at Somerset House which is open to the public, apart from that i'm still oblivious to it's purpose to be frank - a big shopping event? It has a series of the same catwalk shows running throughout the day, and basically hundreds of stalls selling 'designer items.' Although i am thankful for winning the tickets, i'm also glad i didn't waste £16.50 to be hard-sold a number of brands i had never heard of. You also have to pay extra for a goody bag (which completely baffles me?) and repetitive catwalk show. Sarah and i literally spent less than an hour at the event, where we were mostly bombarded and harassed (especially by Burts Bee's - which saddens me quite a bit). The only designers we checked out were Olivia Rubin (great reductions but the awkward never sell pieces) and lots of overpriced jewellery stands that i would never look twice at the discount price. However, we did hotfoot it over to Alex Monroe which happened to be the highlight of the day!
Alex Monroe is one my favourite British jeweerlly designers, his designs are inspired by where he grew up in Sulfolk, the fields, nature and rivers surrounding him. Alex's designs are whimsical, dainty, awfully pretty and feminine. I was lucky enough to recieve a key pendant last year for my birthday, and ever since i have always enjoyed gazing over his latest collections. The stand at LFWeekend not only presented his latest collections, of which have completely fallen head of heels in love with this ring, but a reduced range.
Snow Drop Ring - Alex Monrow (£60.00)
This particular ring caught my eye, its very dainty with a twisted rope like gold plated band with a series of silver flower buds and a glittering stone. Its delicate, intricate design is what makes it so entirely unique. It also wears well on my left hand, as on my right i wear my cocktail ring, which is pretty much right up in your face, nice to meet you. I was more than happy to pay the reduced price, simply because his items are rather expensive and i imagine the initial selling price was almost double what i paid. An early birthday present to one's self, i really have to stop buying myself presents..
Have you been caught up with Alex Monroes jewellery before?
Also quick mention, i did a guest review on my lovely friend Charlottes blog Lipglossiping all about my eyebrows, yes thats right, you heard, my brows! How did i go from nada to Brooke Shields? If i were you i'd go for the awful up close, scrutinising mug shots.
Another final note, Sarah and i after leaving the rather naff London Fashion Week head off to the National Portrait Gallery where we checked out the Glamour of the Gods exhibition, a collection of photos of the old Hollywood stars and starlettes - think Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. A definite must to visit
I'm the first to admit it and i know its seriously horrendous, but i'm a nail biter. Dear lord, i've tried all sorts to combat it - but nada. Fowl tasting lotions & potions, i'm still a nibbler. But, when Models Own recently had their 50% off sale online (off which i completely missed as i tried to place it ten whole minutes after the deadline - pah), i felt sorry for myself and ordered Pink Fizz anyway. Three weeks later after repeatedly applying over Ciate's Guestlist, i have a full set of nicely grown, but neatly short nails - hurrah! Clearly long nails triumphed over having a right gob full of pink glitter, gross but true.
Birthday
As much as the thought of turning twenty two horrifies me (i swear i've only bee 21 ten minutes and really, what a boring age to be) i'm utterly excited at the prospect of a drawn out week of birthday celebrations. It's sad to think that this time last year i was off to Paris, but i've eagerly booked a mini-break (a night) in Brighton with the boy, basically so i can scoff those hot yummy doughnuts on the pier and scour the lanes for hidden shopping gems. Not forgetting a night of bad dancing, strong cocktails and 80's tunes with my close friends.
At the Jardon du Luxembourg last year - would love to get married here.
London Fashion Weekend
Some-how, some-where, theres an almightily fairy god mother dishing me out some serious luck. Just after winning a Kindle, i managed to nab some London Fashion Weekend tickets and a few goodies from Debenams from one of their beauty twitter comps! They do say, you can't win a competition if you don't enter, and i'm a serial competition enterer. But i'm pretty clueless to London Fashion Weekend, some one care to enlighten me? Any tips?
Being a Graduate
Currently i'm practically working full-time at my part-time retail job, i've found a few vacancies in PR and Publishing, but really, there's not much out there in the magazine world. I'm a firm believer in waiting for the right job to crop up rather that taking anything that swings your way. I'm perfectly happy plodding along serving my grannies till i see the right position.
Birthday
Did i mention i'm turning 22? Twenty Two? Before you know it you turn 23, then twenty-five when every one expects you to flounce up the alise, then flirty thirty when people eye up your womb expecting babies left right and centre, don't get me start on the middle-age hot flushes, then your retired and the only thing your life revolves around is WI and baking. Well if that isn't depressing, who knows what is.
I'll leave you with something sweeter to leave you with, My Girl by The Temptations.
Any recommendations for glittery varnishes will be much appreciated?
Before i begin, let me just note that these snaps were taken in such haste due to the large quantity of builders sitting in the Tesco cafe having a good ponder at me as i whipped out my iPhone. Full English's aside, i LOVE this coat! Evoking my inner Kate Middleton, i've always, always lusted over a clean cut classic cream winter coat. The no-collar just screams 50's prim and proper, something a bit special. And where did i find one? Oh just ya know, stocking up groceries (sweets and magazines) in my local Tesco for a barginous £40, as a lovely sales assistant thrust a five pound off voucher in my face. Perfect.
I have a rather alarming stash of coats already, but really lets think rationally here. Let me put on my glasses. Lets coin the term Coat-Cost-Per-Wear. We live in bloody England, its always sodding raining and pouring. What keeps us going the winter months, apart from copious cups of tea and leaving our beloved pyjamas on the radiator, its a good winter coat. You practically wear it solidly right from October to February, so technically they become cheap as chips. God good, was that a long enough excuse? Just nod, and feel free to pass it off as your own.
Tesco currently have a promo running online, by entering AW-LFW to save £10 off £40 purchases. Which is i dare say rather tempting, especially with these TS look-a-like shift dress and black boots, which are in my eyes a steal at that price.
Have you decided what coat trend you'll be wearing this year? I'm still partial to my previous buys, including a pillar box red duffle and my endless faux fur fitted navy coats. This coral 60's coat by Warehouse is another sneaky purchase i'm planning, what a way to jazz up the morning commute.
