Hush Pyjamas

I read a post by Ruth Crilly on A Model Recommends that claimed that the best pyjama bottoms in world were from Hush. Now I am quite fussy about my pyjamas but have also spent a lot of money on pyjama bottoms that shrink in the wash, don’t hang well and generally are a huge disappointment. So this post made me curious enough to risk ordering a pair. I went for these blue floral print in M/L Long. They are perfect. I have to totally agree with Ruth. They are the perfect length, fit and cut. The material is both light and warm. The pattern is beautiful and grown up. I love these and am going to find it very hard to not live in them everyday, so basically I think I am going to need another pair whilst these are in the wash!! Highly recommended!

COS and & Other Stories – A Swedish Affair

The recent launch by the H&M group of their new line & Other Stories had me very very excited! I am a huge fan of H&M and COS so was extremely intrigued to see what & Other Stories had to offer. They went online on 8th March and I was straight on there!

The collection is quite varied, everything from very structured pieces to flowy dresses. I really liked the simple lines and colours. I also really liked that it was quite different to what you would find on the high street but the prices were definitely high street! I am a COS fan which is fairly similar to this new line, although I think COS is a little more “severe” (in a good way)!

I did feel that it was hard to get a feel for what the clothes would actaully look like without visiting the store and seeing the clothes in the flesh! So the next time I was in London and I hotfooted it straight to their new store in Regent Street. Well the store is very Scandinavian chic. Clean and industrial, clothes are laid out in groups according to their themes and accessories are scattered throughout. In the middle is the makeup and skincare section with stools, mirrors and testers of everything to try! I loved that bit especially!!

OK enough rambling, what did I get? Well after a lot of deliberation and trying on I finally decided to go for this lovely midi dress in a floral print. I just loved the fit and the way it hangs on my body. For £39.00 I thought it was a bit of bargain!

After my lovely experience in & Other Stories I decided to visit COS just to have a quick look around. Well, shortly after walking in I spotted this dress and couldn’t resist. Its a beautiful mossy green knit top with a navy silk skirt. It’s very cute and just looks lovely on. It was much more expensive at £69.00 but over the years I have bought a fair number of dresses from COS and they just last and last and last and they never go out of style. So I see it as a sort of investment piece!

I have to say I am impressed with & Other Stories. There’s something fresh and different about it that I really liked. I have a feeling this is going to be another of my favourite shops for years to come…

Swimsuit for a larger bust!

I have been on an eternal hunt for the perfect swimsuit. One that provides good support for my ample bust, a little help in the tummy area and actually fits the rest of my body that isn’t in proportion to my bust size! I am a 32G but am otherwise a size 12-14. This presents many problems when swimsuit shopping as I find that when it fits my bust the rest is baggy and unflattering.

In preparation for a long weekend away at a lovely country house where I intend to spend a lot of time in a hot tub and heated pool I went in search of a new swimsuit and one that I would be comfortable wearing in company! I ordered a wide selection from Figleaves which was delivered to a ByBox less than 24hrs later. In the end there was only one that was worth trying and thankfully keeping – a halter neck printed swimsuit by Sophina.

It was £50.00 – quite pricey but I have to say worth every penny. The bust support was perfect – an inbuilt bra. The halter neck surprisingly flattering, the tummy ruching gave a perfect amount of support and coverage. The only slight drawback is the possibility of a back fat situation where there is circular cutout on the back, which to be honest didnt really bother me that much.

I have to say I was even more pleased that I didn’t end up in a boring black swimsuit which is what I was fully expecting! The pattern is modern and very flattering. Basically I LOVE it and am more than pleased. I have to say I think this is one of the best swimsuits I have ever owned!!

I apologise for not putting a picture of me in my swimsuit. There are limits…

Summer Clothes – Hoping for Better Weather

Just before a weekend away I popped into Primark to see if there was anything that caught my eye. Two things did – a long striped maxi skirt and a sheer floral long blouse. Both made me think of summer and warmer weather ahead (hopefully!). The skirt was £14 and is great mix of the monochrome and colour blocking trend. The floral top was £10 and works well with jeans and maybe even a beach cover up?!

Next I had quick look in New Look and saw this light knit on sale for £13. I just loved the colours and easy shape. Again a very summery piece! Jeans in both are my Zara jeans.

Makeup Purchases – Urban Decay, Sleek and L’Oreal

I bought a few new bits of makeup recently, some are things that have been around for ages and some are new releases.

First up is the iconic Urban Decay Naked Palette. I know everyone has already got this so I finally relented and I have to say I love it. The colours are amazing and really suit me and I can use it for the day and night. It’s a bit pricey at £36.00 but now that I have it I think it’s worth the money.

 

Next I got this blusher from Sleek Makeup (£4.49). I am definitely a major Sleek fan and have got quite a few things from them. This is a powder blusher with a slight shimmer. The colour is Pomegranate and its quite a blue toned pink. Its quite strong so a little goes a long way. I really love it and really suits my skin tone.

Next I got two L’Oreal Glam Shine Stain Splash lip colours in 101 Lolita and 103 Marilyn (£7.99 each). These are recent releases and come in a range of colours. These are to me perfect dupes of the YSL Pur Couture Glossy Lip Stain – I have one and it was about £23! Even the applicator brush is almost exactly the same. The colours I got a really were subtle and natural but I will probably get the darker colours soon! This is like a lip stain and gloss in one. I dont find it as drying as most lip stains and yet the colours seem to last really well. If you want the gloss to last you probably have apply it a bit more often.

103 Marilyn on left and 101 Lolita on right.

New Look Top & Primark Scarf

Yesterday, on Mother’s day, I had a little browse around Winchester on my own, read a magazine in Starbucks with a lovely Caramel Latte and bought two little presents for myself!

First I got this t-shirt from New Look for £7.99. It says “Now or Never” on it and I just really liked it. It sort of reminds me of the Black Score t-shirts which I am lusting after (waiting for the LFW 2013 versions to come out!). It’s sleeveless but I would probably only wear it with a jacket or a cardigan. I decided to pair it with my Zara trousers, Jigsaw jacket and my Clarks Kendra August ankle boots. I think it looks quite smart even though it’s just a t-shirt.

Next I got this skull scarf from Primark for £4. I really liked the print and the colours. I also like the fact that it’s quite large.

Lovely Mother’s Day treats…

Zara Purchases

I went into Zara recently and found quite a few items I liked. I seem to have quite a monochrome theme going with some flashes of colour!

First up is this striped fine knit top (£35.99). Its really light and easy to wear. I love the drape and the simple black and white combination.

Next is this lovely dress (£25.99), again in black white. It’s also very light and drapes well and has pockets which I love!

Next is this laser cut cream a-line skirt (£39.99) paired with a beautiful gold sequin top (£40.00) which I found in River Island.

And finally also from Zara is this bright yellow draped shirt (£29.99). I really like the wrap style and the colour.

Kiehls Original Musk EDP

I have been using this perfume on and off for many years now and it’s one that I definitely keep coming back to. The scent is a mixture of Bergamot Nectar, Orange Blossom, Rose, Lily, Ylang-Ylang, Neroli, Tonka Bean, White Patchouli and, of course, Musk. Its a beautiful scent that does have a musky element but is more of a warm oriental scent.

Whenever I wear this people ask me what scent I am wearing. It’s one of my all time favourite perfumes and one that I always buy again and again.

Kiehls Original Musk EDP – £38.50.

Marks and Spencer Lip and Cheek Tint

I popped into Marks and Spencer and found this lovely Lip and Cheek Tint for £5 from their Limited Collection.

I got “Heather” which is a lovely sheer plummy pink with a shimmery finish. It’s quite subtle but I like the texture and finish and it looks good on lips too!