OOTD // Fitting Room Diaries

Primark Limited Edition Blue Snakeskin Lace Up Heels 

River Island "Ashley" Slim Boyfriend Jeans with Busted Knees

Topshop Black Knit Jumper

H&M Leather-Look Skinny Jeans

Mango Plaid Scarf

Urban Outfitters Pins and Needles Checked Lumberjack Shirt

Chanel Bag

Isabel Marant "Bobby" Sneakers in Black

Topshop Faux Sheerling Teddy Coat

Zara Grey Tee

Daniel Wellington "St Andrews" Watch

Out and about over the last week...

-R-

Beauty // NARS Virtual Domination Palette Review

NARS Virtual Domination Palette from Space NK

I had to snap up the limited edition NARS Virtual Domination Palette as soon as I had a second! I have been wanted to try the cult Laguna Bronzer forever, and this palette had me at hello - the bronzer pan in it is actually deeper than in the stand alone product. Plus three decent size blushes (including bestselling Deep Throat that I love in the summer) and one highlighter it's amazing value for money at £45.

I am a sucker for packaging and I love that NARS have done something different. I find their rubber cases don't last well in a crammed bag on the go (whats with the peeling?!), and I like to take palettes out and about as they are so versatile. I am also someone who likes the inside of my bag to look as pretty as the outside, so this palette is a winner on all counts. LOVE! Get yours at Space NK or Sephora before it's gone... 

-R-

OOTD // Call me when it's summer...

Scarf - Primark 

Trilby - H&M

The only good thing about winter is the knitwear.

-R-

Inspo // Little Lusts

Word

No Parking

Proenza Schouler Stunners! 

Washed Out Violet Hairspo

Snap

Fashionology Tiny Collection

Badass Finger Stack


Some of my favorite Instagram snaps from the past few weeks! 
-R-

Beauty // Bleached - Bleach London Review

I've been rocking something like a sun-kissed dip-dye since the mid-00s (get me), and so when I first heard about Bleach London setting up in Topshop Oxford Circus way back in 2011, I was first in line. Now, I wouldn't consider going anywhere else for a colour. Who better to execute an ombre than the guys who pretty much invented it right? I really hate the not-so-chic block two-tone colour you see an awful lot of now dip-dyes have had their day, however Bleach achieve that perfect last-years-sun look, and the key is all in the blending. On my last visit, the lovely Beth spent an hour perfectly positioning the bleach with a complex system of backcombing and the result is perfect subtle lightening of the ends without ever actually detecting anything like a line. I am not one for perfect hair, the messier the better in my book (am I the only person who likes the odd split end?!), and I feel ombre lends it's self well to bed-head. LOVE.

Now to try their (not so) new range of prods in Boots...

-R-

OOTD // Space NK + Louis Vuitton Kinda Day

Just splurged on the flawless Nars Virtual Domination palette... I had to get one before they sold out right? Review to follow soon... 

-R-

NEW // Arm Candy - Daniel Wellington St Andrews Watch

Daniel Wellington St Andrews Watch in Rose Gold 

Purchasing watch is a very personal thing. Being a very picky person doesn't make the quest any easier. However, I think I have found "The One" in Daniel Wellington. Simple, chic and clean, I opted for the St Andrews model with a brown leather strap (huh! not black! what!). The super slim face and rose gold accents make this the perfect classic. 

-R-

What's In My Bag // Alexander Wang Rocco with Black Hardware

{Bottom to Top}

Alexander Wang "Rocco" duffle bag in black with black hardware

Can't-go-anywhere-without headphones

Creme de la Mer "The Lip Balm"

The Body Shop Coconut Lip Butter

MAC Lipstick in Honeylove

MAC Prep + Prime BB Cream in Medium Plus

Tom Ford Lip Colour in Blush Nude

OGX Nourishing Coconut Oil Weightless Hydrating Oil Mist

Toni&Guy Casual Sea Salt Texturising Spray

Aveda Pure Abundance Volumising Hairspray

Mentos Fruit 3 Gum in Blackberry-Kiwi-Strawberry

MAC Lipstick in Blankety

Chanel quilted glasses case

Sleek Matte Me Ultra Smooth Lip Cream in Birthday Suit

House keys and keys to my Mini One, with grey suede tassel keychain from The White Company

MAC Lip Conditioner

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour No 2

Mulberry "Cookie" Wallet in Black

The Body Shop Coconut Hand Cleanse Gel

The Body Shop Coconut Hand Cream

Wow, I have learned I carry around WAY too much stuff - and I am obsessed with coconut! Sounds about right! 

-R-

NEW // Topshop Rachel {All In} Black Strappy Heels

Topshop "Rachel" Strappy High Black Sandals 

I couldn't turn down a pair of strappy black suede sandals bearing my name now could I? They're RIGHT up my street and if they're good enough for  Cara... 

-R-

Beauty // Drug Store Picks for Kylie Jenner Lips

Having worked for several luxury beauty brands, a question I frequently get asked is "is high-end make up and skin care really worth the cash?" 

It's a tricky question to answer as everyone's skin is so different and colours are so challenging to match that I do feel everyone has to find what works best for them. Personally, while Chanel and MAC will always dominate my collection there are some high-street, mass market and drug store picks that I love and feel perform better than their high-end counterparts. Browsing the aisles in Boots and Superdrug is such a source of inspiration for me, as I feel mass market brands react so much more quickly to trends and the product range can be so much more diverse. 

The '90s throwback look made mainstream by a Kylie Jenner Inc. is, for me, a clear example of high street dominating. It is widely rumored that MAC Brave is her go-to lipstick shade, however I disagree, and have found alternatives on the high street that provide that matte, sultry, grungy look at a snip of a price: 

Sleek Matte Me Ultra Smooth Lip Cream in Birthday Suit 

For me this is the closest match to Kylie's holy grail matte mauve/brown/nude shade. The pigment is so solid and it stays put like a dream. Also, I can't bear lipstick and gloss that is floral or heavily scented, but thankfully this is fragrance free. 

Rimmel Exaggerate Lip Liner in Epic

I use this along side my Sleek Matte Me Lip Cream - it's a brown-nude and provides the perfect base for an exaggerated '90s lip. 

Maybelline Brow Satin in Dark Brown

A new player on the brow market - which has expanded as much as brows themselves (thanks Cara!). I LOVE this product. One end is a old-school brow pencil, but its really fine and really firm, so you can achieve perfect natural looking strokes without it blending. The other end features a fab brow powder to fill in any gaps and finish with a matte effect. A sell out for sure. 

Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer in Nude

I prefer this concealer to YSL Touch Eclat, Clinique Airbrush Concealer and MAC Studio Finish. And that's saying something. The amazing sponge end applicator makes me wonder how I ever lived without one and it provides the perfect level of natural "you-but-better" coverage. It sets with a matte finish. I use this not only around my dark eye area, but also around my nose and on blemishes when I want to go without foundation. 

What will you be trying?

-R-

OOTD // Fitting Room Diaries

    

H&M Black Knit with Leather Sleeves

Topshop "Hayden" Destroyed Boyfriends

Isabel Marant "Bobby" Sneakers

New Look Silver Glitter Barely There Heels

H&M Chunky Grey Marl Knit

H&M Warsaw to Vienna Sweatshirt

Chanel Eyewear

-R-

OOTD // WOULD LOVE TO WEAR

SAINT LAURENT Studded Cotton-Jersey Sweatshirt

ONE TEASPOON Awsome Baggies Destroyed Denim

SAINT LAURENT Minaudière Leather Shoulder Bag

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN So Kate 120 Watersnake Pumps

SAINT LAURENT Monogramme Gold-Plated Cuff

MAC Lipstick in Kinda Sexy

A girl can dream, right? 

-R-

Beauty // Tom Ford Fragrance: Black, White + Violet

Tom Ford //

White Patchouli

Black Orchid

Violet Blond

When it comes to the classic and uber-luxe, one rarely has to look much further Mr Ford. It's widely rumored that he wears a box-fresh white shirt every day - who has time for laundry right?!

I've coveted his fragrances for years - the sleek packaging and heavy, old-school, 1920s glamour scents are right up my street. I'm very picky when it comes to fragrance - I find many the vast majority far too sickly sweet - however TF is always a winner for me.

- R -

OOTD // Cosy From The Ankles Up

H&M Oversized Peppered Knit Cardigan, Grey Knit Sweater and Leather-Look Denim 

Mango Plaid Scarf

Cos Breton Stripe Vest

Mulberry "Medium Lily" Bag

River Island "Barely There" Heels 

Chanel Glasses

Embracing winter everywhere but my feet!

-R-

Beauty // Beach Waves: Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray vs Toni&Guy Casual Sea Salt Spray + Lee Stafford Curling Tongs

I make no secret of the fact I am OBSESSED with all things Elle Ferguson (one half of They All Hate Us, and a flawless casual-chic babe). The main source of my obsession, despite her on-point use of a denim short and serious Chanel wardrobe, is her HAIR. She has absolutely nailed the beachy done-but-not-done wave. A look I have been trying to emulate since the age of 12.

Over the years, I have honed my toolkit to achieve (while never matching the flawless Elle) something close to this look. One budget-friendly find has been Lee Stafford's Jumbo Lazy Curl and Nourish curling wand - which comes in at only £29.99 with fantastic results - and is hands down the best curling wand I have ever owned. Another staple is Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, and having (until 9 months ago) worked in the beauty industry, I had a healthy supply of this hair-whisperer on tap at highly discounted prices. A move into fashion has meant my source has dried up and I am now faced with the £21.50 price tag for a 125ml bottle I blast through in a month. Always ready to try something new, I am giving Toni&Guy's Casual Sea Salt Spray a whirl. I  have seen it all over the bblogger-sphere and I am expecting big things!

Watch this space!

-R-

OOTD // Around

 

 

Alexander McQueen Silk Skull Scarves

Mulberry Medium Lily Bag in Black

Topshop "Hayden" Destroyed + Bleached Boyfriend Jeans
Isabel Marant "Betty" Sneakers

Daniel Wellington "St Andrews" Watch

Zara Sheepskin Jacket
Ray Ban "Erika" Shades

River Island "Super Model" Tshirt
H&M Leather-Look Jeans
Primark Western Belt

 

A few snaps from the last few days! Topshop and River Island fitting rooms and out and about - plus a new Chanel goodie I will share soon!

 

-R-

Favourite // *Gold Dipped* YSL Arty Ring

The Saint Laurent Arty rings have been doing the rounds for years now but I love mine as much as ever! It is the perfect amount of chunky and feels a lil pirate, so it's all good with me. The only irritation I have with designer "costume" jewellery is the quality - this ring is gold plated and the colour has tarnished badly over time - I hold my hands up that I have owned this for years (back when Yves was still a feature!), however I would expect more for the £180 pricetag. 

Still, it's so pretty I forgive it <3

-R-

Beauty // The Body Shop Banana Shampoo + Conditioner Review

The Body Shop Banana Shampoo and Conditioner 

The Body Shop delivers again. I am OBSESSED with this banana shampoo and conditioner combo. Both products smell divine and leave my hair super manageable, soft and full of volume. LOVE!

- R -