Lip a L'Orange

From vivid neons to soft corals, Spring/Summer 2014 is all about the orange lip colours. It may not feel like summer just yet, but with lips this bright, maybe the weather will take the hint?

Dennis Basso SS14

Rag & Bone SS14

 John Galliano SS14

The lip colours in the SS14 shows ranged from matte to glossy, and everything in between, but the shade was usually bold and in-your-face. This colour can work amazingly for an exciting twist on an evening look - I love Mac's "Morange" - just make sure to keep everything else simple, nothing more than dewy skin and a bit of mascara.

"Morange" by MAC

However, sometimes we need to make adjustments when translating beauty trends to our everyday lives. Amidst our hectic schedules, and those endless cups of coffee, trying to make such a bold lip colour work in real life can be difficult (and messy!)

Here are some options for a more toned down, chaos-friendly version of this look:

Revlon Matte Balm Stain in "Audacious"

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté in #32 "Corail Jalouse"

Revlon Lip Butter in "Juicy Papaya" 

L. x

B. at Superdrug

The B. brand at Superdrug has been around for a while now, and for some reason I have never given their products a go. But this week I took the plunge in the name of research, and here are my findings!

Vivid Eyeshadow in "Nougat"

My least favourite of the products I tried form B., the pigmentation of this eye shadow was good - not brilliant, but good. But this minor flaw is forgiven because "Nougat" is such a gorgeous colour, the perfect shade of shimmery taupe/ champagne for everyday wear, or as a base for a darker eye look. 

Shimmer Block in "Just Peachy"

This blush is my favourite of the products I tried from B. Part highlighter, part blush, the shimmer block looks beautiful on the apples of the cheeks blended up to the temples. It gives good colour payoff (you only need a little on your brush), and the glowing finish reminds me of Benefit's "Rockateur", with a less hefty price tag! The peach colour is perfect for spring, but the product also comes in pink and bronze shades. 

Vibrant Eye Shimmer in "Rockstar"

This cream shadow reminds me a lot of the Maybelline "Colour Tattoos", however the formulation is a lot more creamy and doesn't dry out at quickly (Tip: always store cream eyeshadows lid down to stop them getting dry). I use my fingers to apply the "Colour Tattoos", whereas this product is much easier to blend with a brush. Another good everyday neutral, "Rockstar" can be used as a sheer wash of colour all over the lid, or as a darker contour in the crease to give dimension. 

Happy shopping! 

L.x

What a Let Down!

As much as I enjoy writing about the products I love, I think it’s just as important to talk about the huge disappointments I have encountered as a beauty-addict. Here are 3 products that I have found underwhelming, not worth the money, or just simply didn’t work for me! 

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel for Oily Sensitive Skin

I am a longing standing Effaclar Duo devotee, so when I picked up the face wash in the same line from La Roche-Posay, I had high hopes. As a higher end brand, I expected to feel pampered using this product, and quite honestly it did nothing for me. The product has no scent, which is understandable since it is marketed for sensitive skin, but there was nothing luxurious about the experience of using it - for all I knew I could have been using washing up liquid to cleanse my face. I saw no improvements in my skin, and was generally disappointed. A definite thumbs down! 

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour

Laura Mercier cosmetics are generally amazing quality, so when I tried this cream eye shadow stick in the shade "Sugar Frost", I was expecting it to be a beautiful inner corner and brow bone highlight. I was wrong. I found that although the colour payoff is okay, this product is near impossible to blend! It gives a lovely solid colour when first applied, but as soon as I attempt to blend the shadow with either fingers or a brush, the colour disintegrates into sparse glitter. It might be possible to work with it as a base, if no blending were involved, but at over £20 it's just not worth it. 

Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara 

I believe that good eyebrows are the foundation of any makeup look (watch out for a post coming soon!), and I am always willing to try a new brow product. Clear brow gel is an essential in my makeup bag, so I was excited by the prospect of skipping a step in my brow routine and using a tinted "brow mascara". However, I found this gel to be FAR too heavy, and the applicator left smudges and blobs of product -  it was a messy experience from start to finish. I want Lily Collins, not Frida Kahlo. Give me my clear gel and powder back. 

L. x

In The Press #001

Style Icon Sunday #002

Every girl I know has a bit of a wcw on Alicia Silverstone after Clueless, I mean 'duhhh!' But after watching 'Vamps' this week I now have a massive girl crush on her co-star Krysten Ritter.

Vamps is about two best friend vampires, Goody (Alicia) and Stacy (Krysten), in NYC. I am not about to write a film review but its basically a fun, easy to watch film about dating and vampires. Krysten also plays a starring role in 'Breaking Bad' but as I have an issue committing to series I haven't actually seen any of this, shocking I know

As a former Goth in my early 20s. I have carried small influences of this into my style now. Although now I am very much trend led I always have a background goth / rocker / indie elements so for example this season I am loving the amount of black leather tassels around. I firmly believe that you should adapt the current trends to suit your own style. 

7 years ago - Already pouting back then too! 

Krysten has made me want to dye my hair dark again, cut in a fringe and wear head to toe black but I keep reminding myself that colour is good too! 

During the club scene she wears an incredible dress that looks industrially put together with metal fastenings. I need this dress in my life! 

S. x

Shoe shop gone wrong

On Monday I am very excited to announce that I will be starting a new job as an online merchandiser. It is my first 'real job' since graduating and by that I mean 9-5,inside a real office building. I have previously worked freelance from home as well as for small start-ups.

Today I decided that I would need a pair of new shoes, to make the right impression of course! The dress code is smart-casual however I'm not sure this stretches to a pair of Birkenstocks - much to my disappointment. 

I made a good start focusing myself, repeating the word 'footwear' so as to not be distracted with all the shiny offerings. It went well, for a time. 

Spotted these in New Look straight away and thought they were perfect but at £65 I feel it's a little pricey for the brand - what do you think? 

Then it all went very wrong. Miss Selfridge is always my downfall. For many, many years now it is like they are in my head as far as style is concerned. I always find something that I like and that seems to fit perfectly to my shape. 

Within about five minutes I was in the changing room with three items. Oops. 

Well I do need some work clothes! The two dresses I tried first although they are both similar in shape, both with 90s style necklines, they give such different feels and could easily be worn for days, work or evenings. 

90s Geo Printed Midi Dress - £25

Salt and Pepper 90s Dress - £18

Then came the jumpsuit. I have tried on so many jumpsuits and dungarees and they NEVER fit. My top is a size 8 whilst the bottom is a 10 so I have to opt for a bit of boob falling out or to be nearly sliced in half underneath - sorry to be so graphic! This one fit! Perfectly! Some kind of Miss Selfridge magic!? I found after I went to the till to purchase that I had accidentally picked up a petite size. Is never considered trying this at 5'6" but apparently this worked - brilliant! It has great double strap detailing too. 

Petites Black Strappy Jumpsuit - £42

So finding that I has mistakenly spent pretty much all of my money I then just wandered to Topshop and River Island for a browse. These were the best I saw, most completely not office appropriate! 

Unsuccessful yet successful shopping trip!

S. x

 p.s. I will be doing a summer shoe dedicated post very soon\

Have you heard about Depop?

So as you may already know, or not, I sell via 'My Wardrobe' on Asos. As a bit (lot) of a shopaholic I find it is the only way to be able to fit new items into my ever full, actual wardrobe. The toxic mix occurs when, like me, you are a shopaholic who hates waste. If you enter my bedroom there is forever a pile of 'to sell' items that I just couldn't bare to simply discard. Every few months I make the trip to the charity shop to donate, were I usually find a number of gems that I simply can't resist, and the rest I sell on Asos.

However, one of my close friends recently introduced me to a new app, Depop. It is a blend of Instagram's interface, Asos Marketplace's photographic style and the ease of use of Ebay. I love it! It is by far the quickest way to list items for sale I have found and once I started this evening I simply could not stop. I am selling under the name @thestylingforecast so go check the items out.

It is a relatively new app so although I've found it super easy to use and made one sale I certainly will not be abandoning Asos anytime soon.

Here are a few items up for sale - If you don't have it go download the app and follow me!

S. x

Ready, Set, Glow!

A spring beauty trend that comes around year after year is that dewy, glowing, i-just-woke-up-like-this skin, and Spring/Summer 2014 was no exception - the look was seen at Alexander Wang, Christopher Kane, and Giambattista Valli, to name a few.

Alexander Wang S/S 14

Christopher Kane S/S 14

Giambattista Valli S/S 14

Think this look is down to flawless genetics? Think again. 
As natural and fresh as this trend is, creating it is the opposite of a lazy no-makeup day. Let’s take a look at some of my favourites for looking like you made no effort at all.

Bourgeois Healthy Mix Foundation

I have never found a drugstore/ high street foundation that I love as much as this one. It’s low/medium coverage, which is great for spring as we want our real skin to shine through, and it sinks in to leave such a smooth, natural finish that it will feel like you have nothing on at all. Plus, it smells very pretty! 

Benefit Rockateur Blush 

If a highlighter and a blush had a baby, they would create Benefit’s newest boxed blush. "Rockateur" is a natural rosy colour with a golden sheen, which makes you look glowing and healthy, without looking unnatural. Use a fluffy blush brush to swirl it on the apples of your cheeks, but bear in mind that a little goes a long way. 

Face Stockholm Cream Highlighter in "Dignity"

Face Stockholm is not a brand that I often hear a lot about, but I think it’s an unsung hero! Their cream highlight in “Dignity” is gorgeous, iridescent and easily blended, and the packaging is simple but classy. For this look, I much prefer a cream highlight over a powder as it gives a dewy, fresh finish. Put a little on the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, your brow bones, and your cupids bow. 

Dior "Creme de Rose" Lip Balm

Lip balm is an essential in every make up bag, and especially when doing a no-make-up look it is vital - luminous skin and chapped lips aren't quite a match made in heaven. Whilst this one is pricy, it works wonders and smells divine. I am always a fan of a multi-purpose product, and this lip balm is not just for lips! I use my "Creme de Rose" to tame my eyebrows and on the top of my cheekbones so give some extra dewy-ness. 

L. x

Summer Bummer

It was my sisters birthday at the weekend and as we are going to Glastonbury together this summer she asked for a gift that tied in with that. She gave a few hints and options, phone charger - boooorrrinnggg, waterproof jacket - meh, sleeping bag - kill me now, bum bag - ding ding ding we have a winner!

So, I started to trawl through websites in search for something appropriate. She usually has quite a subtle style but wanted something colourful for the summer. I was really surprised to find such a limited choice on my regular 'go to' websites - Asos, Missguided, Boohoo. They had relatively reserved pieces and I was looking for something more 'Mr Motivator'-esque.

I ventured deeper into the world of fashion online and on my way through I made a stopover at Etsy. To my surprise there was the biggest selection of bum bags I had as yet found anywhere else by far, with a wide range of colours and styles. These are a pick of my favourites:

Butchi and Gosmos Shiny Bumbag - £22

Kokomo Fanny Pack - £15.27

90s Hi-Tech Fanny Pack - £15

Sea Life Bumbag - £18.99

Sequinned Unicorns Fanny Pack - £27.49

and this is the one I chose for her present - hopefully she won't see this before she receives it tomorrow - It is from a brand called Butchi and Gosmos (£19) and was completely hand made. The African pattering is screen printed and you are able to pick your own zipper, I opted for black. It arrived after just over a week and it beautiful, I had to resist stealing it for myself! I will be sure to take a picture of her with it at Glasto.

S. x

Fashion Flashback

Super, bold 90s style is having a comeback so, if you don't remember 'Clarissa Explains It All' you really need to check it out for some 90s style inspiration..