Blog 19: How I tackle summer jewellery

I'm aware that I haven't done a jewellery blog like ever... so this could be interesting. To be perfectly honest with you I don't like to wear that much jewellery and I'm certainly not a guru on all things gold. However coming up to the summer, I have found some pieces that I would actual wear and you might even see me in. I know this isn't as shocking as #KimExposedTaylor but for me it's something new that I want to share with you. I have devised two looks. One which has silver jewellery and one which has Gold. These are just my personal picks for this summer which aren't really keeping in mind trends but oh well. Also before you ask, the dress is from Miss Selfridges on £15 reduced now! But more on the dress later in another blog. Here's my jewellery picks for the summer...

 

The Silver Jewellery

 

 

 

The Gold Jewellery

 

 

The Silver Jewellery:

 

 

Cherry Blossom Pandora Bead

 

 

Pandora cherry blossom bead £30

 

This is one of the most beautiful things I own. Its so pretty and delicate and looks stunning on the Pandora bracelet (creds to my sister for the bracelet, don't have my own :( ) This is a nice season charm and it is perfect for summer as it is light and floral. I know it is quite expensive for a little bead but they are so worth it because the dupes are nothing alike and they are a lot lighter. For anyone with a Pandora bracelet I highly recommend this charm because it is just so beautiful!

 

Link: https://www.thbaker.co.uk/pandora-cherry-blossom-murano-bead-790947

 

I also received this charm from T.H.Baker which is such a great website to go through because they have super fast delivery and it saves you from having to go into a Pandora store.

 

Barbara Chollet bracelet

I know I featured this recently but I honestly just love this bracelet. The colour is so diverse and it goes with anything. I love how it gives a cool girl vibe yet it is very sophisticated and modern. It will work well with summer evening dresses or festival outfits. The opportunities are endless.

Link: http://instagram.com/barbara_chollet
Other Blog: http://theamateursguidetofashion.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/blog-17-how-i-tackle-june-favourites.html

My grans old ring

I have no idea what brand this is but I thought I would share it with you for the style element of it. It was given to me and my sister by my gran while she was clearing out her jewellery box and we love it. The pattern around the band reminds me of a Greek vase which would work perfectly for a old-school retro festival outfit (brainstorming outfits right now)

The Gold Jewellery

The Coconut lane bangle

 

Coconut lane gold leaf bangle £11

 

This gold bangle is gorgeous not only because of the detailing but also because of the quality. I chose this because of the leaf detailing which seemed so delicate and pretty and I was even more shocked when I put it on as it didn't feel like a cheap plastic bangle but more of a weighted quality one. At only £11 for this level of quality is amazing. I really love the brand as well. So much so that I got you guys a discount code for 20% off: theamateursguide20

When you use it tell me what you get!

Link: http://www.coconut-lane.com/jewellery/gold-leaf-bangle

 

 

 

Accessorize Gold bangles

 

 

Now you really need a staple pack of gold bangles because they go with everything and they are an essential for a jewellery box. I got a pack of 15 for £10 which are great and they are perfect for by the beach to eveningwear. Honestly, if you are a jewellery virgin, start with these please. You need them. Unfortunately they are no longer in stock but I've given you a link to another 15 pack that you maybe interested in! Enjoy:
Link: http://uk.accessorize.com/view/product/uk_catalog/acc_2.2/1842137000

Primark floral ring

Primark pack of 5 ring set £1

I need to cater to a range of different budgets and believe me, I think you can afford this one. For only £1 you can get a set of 5 floral, viney rings they are surprisingly good quality for primark. Let me assure you that these are no wedding rings but they are not like plastic childrens rings. They actually have some weight to them and the detailing isn't too bad! It's like finding a Michael Kors handbag in your local charity shop.

The choker

Primark pack of 3 for £2

I'm not normally one for strangling myself but this is worth the pain. It looks sooooooo good with a Bardot top or dress and I beg you to buy this style of outfit. Ngl I have been looking for a cheap version of this choker ever since I saw one in Topshop but for £8 for a strip of velvet, no thanks. It got a bit better when I saw one in New Look but it was still £5 and I wasn't willing to part with an money. Finally I ran into primark to find A PACK OF 3 CHOKERS FOR £2. Sold. Well unless you want to pay £8 for a strip of fabric and the name of topshop.

I hope this inspires your summer jewellery box and I hope you liked the items I recommended. Would really love you to use the discount code if you purchase anything from Coconut Lane!
Thanks for reading! Until next time,

Ciao xxx

Blog 18: ZARA HAUL

I'm going to start by saying I'm seriously impressed with Zara. This sale has been incredible and it's still on so get yourself to your nearest Zara because you will find the holy grail of fashion inside. A few months ago I had never even entered Zara. I was too sceptical of their oddly-functioning website and their catwalk copies. I thought it was just an overpriced store with weird items that people bought just for the label but never actually wore. I had heard from many people that the current summer sale was just the best thing that had ever happened since chocolate so obviously I had to man up and go into the unknown. And I'm so glad I did. I fricking love Zara now. Every time I go shopping I'm asking where the nearest Zara is. Zara is my life. I call this a haul but really I only got 4 items but they were at amazing prices and the quality is always high at Zara. For my first really spurge at Zara I was very impressed and I love all the items. Without further ado....

The dress

Dress £25.99

Also known as the primary school nun dress, I like to wear this on formal occasions. I was VERY worried about the midi dress length and my legs were hidden and lets be honest they are my only asset. However I loved the puffy sleeves that to quote my bf make me look like "a 12 year old school girl" which tbf I do but they are sweet. The tie around is really needed or I would look like a stripy floaty balloon and the print is so classy. Overall I do really love this dress and although I was going to take it up I may decide to keep it midi length... Let me know your thoughts below!

The crochet top

Crochet top £7.99

These are so on trend right now so I needed one! No doubt you will see this up on my "How to tackle crochet" blog soon which will give you even more detail as to why I liked it. All I'm saying for now is that the sizing was a little awkward as it didn't want me to have a small waist and a big bust. So I had to go for a size Small which hopefully with keep everything in....

 

The Bodysuit

Bodysuit £3.99

Again another one you will see up again on my blog! I just loved it because it was so casual and effortless and you don't really need to think about what you wear with it to make yourself look stylish. I didn't even try it on, I just knew I was going to wear it loads whether it fitted properly or not! I got this in a size Small.

The crop top

Crop top £3.99

There were soooooooo many striped crop tops and it was seriously had to choose just one! However this one did stand out because 1. I could actually get into it without getting entangle in multiple straps and 2. £3.99 is always a bargain and so it's a yes from me. I loved the pattern as it looks like a good quality stripe (if ygm) and therefore looks so much more expensive than £4. Also the thickness and quality of the material was amazing so I was so drawn to it. Definitely one I'll be wearing to Sardinia!

Go check out the last of the Zara sale if you can! Let me know what you've got below!
Thanks

Ciao xxx

Blog 17: How I tackle June favourites

June has been an eventful month filled with positives and negatives. A firm negative has been getting back exam results which have made me want to quit life and become a Buddhist monk. However I'm really not a calm person and would probably end up teaching karate to flowers. Maybe I should take up Morris dancing? But as you know, I can't stand the on-going jingling of bells and I would probably go crazy. Maybe it's best to sit tight and just do A-levels. One seriously exciting thing that's been happening this month is the fact that a few extremely lovely brands have sent me some of their products to try out. Honestly you should see my face when a parcel gets delivered addressed to me. It's a cross between 'OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW LUCKY I AM' and a creepy china doll face. They are such amazing products that they have all made it into my June favourites. So a massive thank you to all the brands again as they were so kind to send me these items and I totally recommend them all for you!

The silk scarf

Holding my own little Amur leopard  

Not that this blog is in any particular order but this is probably one of the most beautiful things ever sent to me. This is a silk scarf from the company K&K labs. It is part of the range which was created as a dedication to endangered animals. The designs are hand drawn to show the peace and beauty of the creature and 10% of each purchase goes to charity. I was lucky enough to receive the Red Amur Leopard Scarf which will feature more times throughout my blogging days as it is a gorgeous scarf made from such good quality silk and I feel honoured to be able to promote such a beautiful piece. I really hope you will look at their website and see how much good they are doing. The link to my scarf is here: http://kklabs.co.uk/shop/kk-treasures-red-amur-leopards-silk-scarf/
Thank you to K&K labs and Kim for giving me this amazing gift.

Barbara Chollet Bracelets

These gorgeous bracelets are handmade and customised to your choice of colour. I love my colours and the bracelet is a really high quality. I'm going to wear them with a formal summer dress and they will be featured in many more blogs! Watch out for them! They are such luxury looking items that come at a reasonable price and they are so worth the money. These beautiful bracelets flatter any wrist size making you look elegant and gentle. Definitely one for the dinner parties. Thank you so much to Barbara Chollet for sending me these pieces. I love them so much and you should definitely check them out!
Link: http://instagram.com/barbara_chollet

Gold tattoos 

I was so excited to receive these! Ever since they started trending last year, I have been trying to get my hands on them. I'm so grateful that Shop Modern Boho sent me two packs each with 6 sheets of tattoos! These are only testers but they will be featured in my festival blog. They applied so easily to my skin and they were a vibrant shiny gold. I'm so impressed with how long they lasted. I had my bracelet one on for two weeks! Thanks to Shop Modern Boho for these gorgeous tats that I will be using so much over the summer.
Link: http://www.shopmodernboho.com/

 

Lipstick 

Before you say anything, it isn't for creating grass like effects on your lips. This is the latest in makeup technology. As soon as you apply it on your lips, it changes to best red colour that suits your lips. It's so clever and they are even introducing 'green' blush and eyeshadow. The lipstick works amazingly and I love the colour. As for the others? I'll keep you posted...
Link: https://www.barrym.com/product/Genie 

 

Old English cards

Cards make my birthday. Who doesn't love getting a cheeky card filled with great memories but that also has a great cover? These funny cards are perfect for birthdays or thank you cards. They are great quality and very cheap for something that people will keep forever. Thanks to the Old English prints team for sending me these lovely cards. They will brighten up anyone's day.

Link: http://oldenglishprints.com/collections/cards

Seba med 

These little washes are great for sensitive skin and for balancing out your pH. They try to protect your skin from harsh chemicals as well so they are perfect for all areas of your body. All 3 products worked so well with my skin and now my skin feels so soft and not itchy at all. They have really put a lot of research into their products and they are so good. I would highly recommend trying it out for yourself! Thanks to Seba Me for these products.
Link: http://www.sebamed.com/

 

Zeste d'orient bracelet 

This was an out-of-the-blue delivery so thanks a lot for this. This bracelet is perfect to match with any hippy 70's style clothing. It so cute, especially when on your wrist as its quite delicate but statement at the same time. Its adjustable as well so it can fit any wrist size which is great for me because I have huge hands and a tiny wrist so most things just fall off. Would highly recommend going and checking out what else they have to offer as they have some amazing cute bracelets perfect for not just festivals but holidays too. Thanks again!

Link: https://www.facebook.com/zestedorient/

I'm so thankful for everything sent to me on here. I hope everyone takes the time to see what each brand has to offer. I hope everyone's June was good and now lets just get to the summer hols!
Thanks for reading, love you all

Ciao xxx

Blog 16: How I tackle VR makeup

I remember when I had a huge issue with makeup. I was totally against people using it as I thought they were covering up who they really were. I now reflect back on that frustration on the fact that I couldn't work out how to make makeup look nice on myself. My eyeliner wasn't really eyeliner, more like charcoal rubbings in wobbly drunken lines. My Contour was like I had rubbed dirt on my cheeks and tbh I had no idea what highlighter was. I made a breakthrough when I finally sat down and concentrated really hard. Finally! I had achieved the perfect cat flick. Ok, I do admit that it probably took me a few months more to get my other eye sort of symmetrical but after that I was convinced I should quit school and become a beautician. I think its fair to say I'm loving makeup. Although I never really wear it for school, I do love getting ready for parties and spending hours choosing the right shade of eyeshadow. (Disclaimer: I wear makeup for myself) I literally love shopping in Superdrug now and seeing the new products and then how expensive they are and buying a relatively cheaper version of it. I especially love it when I find new brands! When I got contacted by VR makeup I was seriously excited to try out their products. I honestly thought they were going to send me some fake eyelashes and a lipstick but no! I got an entire range of products and I loved them so much that I thought they deserved an entire blog! I have of course done a quick video on how I applied and tested the products and the reviews are below! Enjoy!

 

Here's a quick link to the website: http://vrmakeup.com.au/

 

The kit

The tweezers

To be perfectly honest, there's not a lot you can say about tweezers apart from that they sufficiently pluck hairs well. They have a good grip on the end so you definitely pull the hair out in one go. They were great for shaping my eyebrows. Sorry there's no price as there wasn't one on the website but 10/10

The contour kit

 

Contour Kit, £12

 

If you don't know, I invest heavily into my contouring makeup so it take a lot to impress me. This was amazing. I used all of the shades apart from the really dark brown and they were fabulous. I started off using a mixture between the two brown shades in the middle and on the left to contour. They were a lovely powder and blended really easily not making a muddy brown at all. The yellow was helpful for making under the contour look more highlighted and natural. The highlighter is beautiful and perfect for a subtle highlighter. It gorgeous and gives a beautiful finish topped with the rose blush. Its a great palette that I will be using again! 10/10

 

 

The eyeshadow palette

 

 

Eyeshadow palette, £10

This is my 7th eyeshadow palette and there is a lot of competition in the eyeshadow department of my dressing table. Unfortunately for me, it just wasn't the best. The colours weren't that pigmented and they were really hard to blend. However, the colour range on the palette is impressive and I really love certain colours that I will be using again, especially bottom left. It is at a great price as well so 7/10

The eyelashes

 

 

Eyelashes, £3

 

Unfortunately I haven't had time to try these out but they look gorgeous and not fake at all. They will add so much volume and extension to my eyelashes and I can't wait to try them on a night out. For £3 these are a bargain and for any fake eyelash addict, these are what you want! 9/10

 

 

The lipsticks

 

Lipsticks, £7.25

 

I LOVE LIPSTICKS! So naturally when I got these I was slightly ecstatic. There are 10 different shades to choose from and I love the colours that I got sent (Raspberry on the left, Violaceous on the right). The lipsticks are very pigmented which I love and have a smooth texture to them which I love when applying them to my lips. For that 10/10

Overall I highly recommend VR makeup as they are really good quality items at cheap prices. Plus I love the packaging as it makes it look really sleek and professional.
Thanks again to VR makeup for sending me this beautiful collection.

http://vrmakeup.com.au/

Sorry this was posted on Monday not sunday! Got a bit lost in my weekend! Love you all,

Ciao xxx

Blog 15: How I tackle the summer dress

WANTED: Gardener. Will be paid in Mac Lipsticks 

I had everything sorted this weekend. I was planning on having a nice Sunday having a good balance between work and Love Island. Instead, after waking up in a great mood and bounding to breakfast, I was met with the one phrase I never want to hear. 

"We are doing gardening today"

If there is one thing I hate most in the world, it is gardening. So I spent most of my Sunday shovelling grass into heaps at the bottom of the garden which not only led to my back breaking but also led to blisters the size of volcanoes on my hands. I hope you're happy that I can't even hold a pencil. So as my Sunday went by I got increasingly irritated as the never ending pile of grass that kept coming but I kept scooping. However during this painful test of the gods, it did come to me that really this was the beginning of summer! (Which made me slightly less pissed off).  I then started thinking about swimming and sun! From then on I did cheer up a bit and I even smiled slightly when my sister (on the sit-on-mower) chased my mum around the garden. So good things can come out of bad things (sometimes). This blog is on summer dresses because they are probably my favourite thing to wear in the summer. Don't ask me how many I have, it's a shameful amount. There is such a range of different summer dresses you can get but personally I go for the pretty, cute, making you look like a year 8 look! They are also great because you can enjoy getting a tan while wearing them but also they aren't close fitting so they can air you off a bit if it's humid. I don't know why boys aren't wearing them! So here are my favourite summer dresses:

 

 

Dress 1

 

 

 

Lace shift dress Allegra K £9.50

 

Let me introduce you to Allegra K the amazing brand that sent me this gorgeous dress. It has a high neckline with lace inserts and made with chiffon material that is such good quality! To prove that, I'm actually wearing black pants underneath and you can't even tell, its amazing. The quality for the price is fantastic and I would wear this on the beach over my bikini or in the evening on holiday. Its a shift dress so it's super floating and perfect in the humidity. It also is so soft to wear and I love the feel of the material. Unfortunetly for me it is a little short but I am wearing a size S (UK6) . 9/10

 

Go check out the dress here and explore their website for more amazing deals:

http://www.allegra-k.com/ladies/skirts-dresses/dresses/woman-lace-panel-long-bell-sleeves-round-neck-pullover-chiffon-dress.html?___SID=U

 

 

Dress 2

 

 

Rose Skater dress H&M £8

 

This dress makes me feel all 50's and paired with the red lips makes this a classy look. I love the large rose print as it isn't too much but still keeps it chic. I also love the skater dress design as it is a classic style and reflects the 50's style but with a modern twist. For the price this was a bargain. Its made out of a good quality material and I receive compliments every time I wear it! 10/10

 

Dress 3

 

 

Aztec boho dress Forever 21 £20

 

For more of a modern twist, this Aztec dress is perfect. The print is gorgeous and I love the colour. The top half is elasticated which means it hugs to your figure flattering any shape. The material at the bottom is very light and does sometimes float up which isn't great. But again for the price 8/10

 

The makeup

Just in case you want to know my makeup; my eyeliner is the Waterproof Barry M liquid eyeliner which was only £4.99. Honestly it doesn't budge, I've slept in it after a party and woken up with it still on perfectly! My lipstick is Mac in the shade Angel given to me by my boyfriend. Perfect for a subtle nude colour. My necklace which has featured in nearly all the photographs was given to me by Touchstone accessories!

http://touchstoneaccessories.com/index.html

 

Thanks for reading! I've put up a tracker with the amount of views my blog has so I don't need to keep tell you! As always any suggestions just leave in the comments below.

 

Instagram: @theamateursguidetofashion

 

Facebook: www.facebook.co.uk/theamateursguidetofashion

 

Love you all

 

Ciao xxx

Blog 14: How I tackle the playsuit

As usual I have to start with a weather comment. Literally its disgusting and unpredictable. Might as well just take my entire wardrobe wherever I go so I can change just like the weather.
The humidity does make you feel like you're in a small sauna with a very sweaty old man but it does give me an excuse to get out the summer wardrobe (for the very few days we can in the UK). A personal favourite of mine (which I can get my white legs out for) is the Playsuit. They can be quite formal and quite casual but they cool you down in the humidity. Also no risk of it flying up if its windy! I have multiple playsuits (not jumpsuits, shorter ones) but I have chosen my favourite formal and casual playsuit to show you.

 

The casual playsuit

 

New Look Playsuit £23

This playsuit makes me what to live in the Caribbean all year round. I love the print which is what first drew me too it as it isn't in your face but still quite bold. I love the way it flares out at the hips as it makes you look very curvy and your waist tiny! The extra crochet on the hem, waist and neckline really complete the outfit to make it look quite different to any other playsuit. You can wear it to dinner in the evening or over your costume when you get out the see-through Caribbean waters.
I would personally style this with nude pumps and maybe a white flower garland and suede fringe shoulder bag for a festival look.

 

The Formal Playsuit

 

 

Zara Playsuit £8

Now this isn't probably what you are expecting. I found this and I immediately loved it, however the gapping back makes it very difficult. I had to purchase a bra with a plastic strap around the back just to be able to think about wearing it. But it was worth the investment! It looks so classy and so cute on and its such an unique good quality item and I can't believe the price on it. Probably one of my favourite items from Zara. I would style this up with a long pendant gold necklace and black boots with straightened hair.

Thanks for reading! 38.1K views so far!
Instagram: @theamateursguidetofashion
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theamateursguidetofashion/

Ciao xxx

Blog 13: How I tackle Seventeen Cosmetics

So it was my (17th) birthday last week and my sister thought it would be hilarious to buy me a haul from the makeup brand Seventeen. I honestly don't know a lot about the brand but I occasionally see it on a revolving podium in boots or Superdrug but, to be honest, everyone just walks passed it and goes to the gleaming aisles of Broadway branded banners occasionally featuring grumpy sales assistants which would honestly try to murder you if you were within 10 metres of their products. Being relatively new to makeup I tend to stick to the big brands that I know I can rely on and I never really venture out. However this has forced me to step out of my comfort zone and try something completely new. For any guys reading, yes changing from one makeup brand to another is a BIG DEAL. Well it is for me. It's the difference between looking like that pretty contoured snapchat filter and being a orange covered in marker pen. I got 6 items from the brand and just a quick comment on first impressions; they looked really sleek and expensive which was very appealing. I also need to say I filmed doing my makeup which is online on YouTube if you want to check it out:

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpaoK-abKqI

 

All the items (All prices from boots)

My eyebrows

 

 

£5.99

 

£4.69

Firstly can I say, I never really do my eyebrows. They are a feature I like to forget because I honestly don't know how to save them. They are both different shapes but I can't decide which one I like better so they are just uneven and it kinda makes me look like I'm constantly judging everything. So with that in mind, probably don't copy my tutorial. I started off with using the Clear definition mascara/brow brush to brush up the hairs into a shape I liked. I then followed the instructions from inside the brow kit using the wax first then the colour then the setting powder (used under and at front of eyebrow). For a first time properly giving my brows a go I don't think it was too disastrous. I have to rave about the Clear definition gel as it made my eyebrows calm down and have a sense of direction rather than the bushes they normally are. I'm giving it a 10/10! It is so worth the investment and it can be used as a clear mascara as well! The brow kit is also a great investment for someone who has no idea about brows. It has great instructions which won't make you look like you plucked two slugs out of the garden and stuck them to your face. 8/10

The contour

 

£5.99

Oh the joys of contouring. Believe me, its taken me a while to work out how to blend properly... but this palette is not only bronzer but can be used as a highlighter as well!!! The excitement! I started using the deepest brown as I wanted a really defined contour which was a little bit orange but with about 5 minutes of blending we got a good result. I used the lightest shade for a highlighter and it looked wonderful and I was really pleased with it. Unfortunately I've just purchased an Elizabeth Arden bronzer which blends effortlessly and matches my skin tone perfectly so the Seventeen brand bronzer wasn't really competition. However I would definitely recommend it as an affordable and inexpensive bronzer. 7/10

 

The eyeshadow

 

 

£5.99

For any of you who know me, I love love love eyeshadow and this was my 6th palette! 'Easy on the eye' comes with 8 matte shades and 4 creams. I'm very picky about my eyeshadows as I like they very pigmented and very blendable and this palette had compete with my well established other palettes. I first tried the matte shades, 'Onyx black' first which came out as a dark blue then blended it with 'twilight blue'. I say blended...more like stabbing my eye with my brush because the matte eyeshadows DO NOT BLEND to my disappointment. I was feeling kinda down about this because I do love eyeshadow so I began to use the creams in the corners of my eyes and OMG, life had meaning again. The cream eyeshadows ARE AMAZING. They are so pigmented and, obviously being a cream, easy to blend. I absolutely love the colours and I will definitely be using them again. Overall 7/10

The eyeliner

 

£3.99

It looks so funky and came in the most amazing packaging. I didn't have long to film the video so I didn't do a spectacular job of my eyeliner but I gave it a go. It has the tiniest tip to draw with which is perfect and it offers a bit of flexibility as well, slightly too much though as I nearly drifted up to my eyebrows! What shocked me was that it was almost instantly drying which is perfect for me because I always blink then I have to remove it which removed the eyeshadow then I do it all again then I blink again... etc. It was a wet look finish which I really liked considering I'm not normally a fan of it. Overall 9/10

The lipstick 

 

£4.49

Again, funky packaging! I really loved the outside of it and I would love my lipstick rack to be full of that design. I got the colour 'Rule Breaker' which I loved the colour of. As you can see it comes out in a bright berry colour which is so me. I also really liked the shape of it as it made it easy to cover my cupids bow. I was expecting it to be a matte but it surprised me and instead was really glossy and smooth. This product had no negative feedback as far as I'm aware! 10/10

So here are a few photos from after the completed look. Of course I wouldn't wear everything together as it would be a bit too bold but I really liked experimenting with this new brand and its something I would like to do again! Got any ideas as to what I should do next? I've made the comment section open below so anyone can comment so please feel free to suggest or comment on this blog!

Thank you all again! Last I checked I'm at 37k views!
Love you all

Ciao xxx