catching up with coachella

I'm sorry for the delay! it now seems Coachella was so long ago, but the weeks since have flown by and I've been busy moving my life back up to uni in Newcastle to prepare for final deadlines that I haven't found any time! My best friend came to visit me and I've loved having her here to gossip, pamper and catch up. Originally a Geordie lass she settled right in so no introductions or guides were necessary. Also, with a laptop near to the ends of its life plus no charger, blogging has certainly been off the table!

But finally, charged up and ready, lets talk Coachella!

Coachella pulls off every year being America's best musical festival, seeing pretty much all our favourite celebrities, bloggers and even designers strutting their stuff in the cleanest field I have ever seen. MUCH different to English Glasto or LoveBox, everyone looks immaculate 98% of the time, has a top to toe 10/10 outfit and never have mud fights. Some may say mud fights are the epitome of any festival, marking it as a friendship finder or stand-out moment of the whole weekend, but personally... I'd rather be looking nice, sipping wine in a clean, sunny field. What would you prefer?

This year Rihanna was caught on camera and splashed out to the papers taking drugs (not like we didn't know) and we were richly entertained by Justin Bieber being kicked out of the festival trying to get into Drake's set, which consisted of Madonna slurping the face off poor Drake in another Madonna moment to be remembered. Drama kicked off as Twitter fued between Khloe Kardashian and Amber Rose broke out into reality when Kendall and friends got Amber kicked out of an exclusive event...eesh. But on a high, Kylie Jen looked her finest at Khloe's Coachella party, setting our summer up for braid mania, teaming hair with coloured extensions, fine braids and feathers! 

Above all we seriously missed Vanessa Hudgens! 

Every year she sets the bar higher as indie goddess but this year we missed out with her starring on broadway. However never fear, be sure to look to her Instagram for summer inspiration as its sure to be booming with style to die for! 

Kendall J, Millie Mackintosh and Jourdan Dunn went with 70s vibes. See Urban Outfitters for your perfect 70s summer wardrobe featuring cute dungarees, lace bralettes and fringed jackets.

Summer screams for colour as Kylie went blue, pink and black for the weekend and Miss Dunn oozed candy floss purple. Beach curls, loose plaits and easy middle partings are set for summers quick hair to go.

(Clockwise) Priya Kapoor, Zara Martin, Millie Mackintosh, Jourdan Dunn, 

Kendall Jenner, Kylie Kenner and Alessandra Ambrosio.

sunday style

The last couple of weeks have certainly been rich in emotion and a LOT of energy. I constantly feel exhausted at the end of every evening which leads to an amazing nights sleep - which obviously I can't explain. I'm used to lying awake until the early hours creating memory lists of everything I need to do, only to wake with a guilty lie-in the next morning and feel constantly behind.
Every day has started early, shower, porridge, washing/chores and sitting down to do uni work by 12. Then usually ending the day with an evening shift at my new workplace where I'm trying my hardest not to eat on every shift - Mexican food every day before summer is a no no... Unfortunately, I've been neglecting my fruit and veg and wearing make up most days my skin has been slowly disliking me.

So now, Sunday is here and with a new week ahead I have pampered myself silly and read a tonne of magazines, catching up on the latest Rihanna goss and Coachella catch-up. The weather's been gorgeous so I headed to town to treat myself with some MAC and not-so MAC goodies... a drink at a local wine bar and a huge curry I'm not even sorry for!

Feeling refreshed and my head re-screwed on I will treat my body like a temple, eating only what it should have e.g. no more easter eggs at 11pm and more smoothies, sun and fitness. A catch-up of politics is needed, I feel ridiculously left out with current events, as my friend constantly tells me off for not having the BBC app. I am in the process of renewing my CV for future employment, fingers crossed for the summer !! and feeling hopeful of all the things I have set to do on my list of 100 things to do!

On my next post which is set to go out Saturday, I'll be summing up the best of Coachella, 70s chic by Miss Kendall Jenner, why we seriously missed Vanessa Hudgens, as well as the hairstyles that will set us up for summer 2015!

all about that wedge

after writing the heading for this blog post I haven't been able to stop singing Meghan Trainor's first hit and replacing the words... so maybe now, you might too annoyingly have this bouncing round your head (sorry). Even though I do not agree with her style choice of leopard print bralet with blue PVC skirt, her newest song 'Dear Future Husband' has me singing along to in seconds. Even, Carly R.J is back with another catchy tune 'I Really Like You' featuring Tom Hanks, cheesy emoji texting and major product placement ..eek.

Minus today, the spring has slowly been showing its face. Even in muggy Newcastle, blue skies are becoming the norm. As a result, winter boots are beginning to see the back of the wardrobe. Enter the sandal - strappy, wedged, colourful, FUN!
Whether you wear them with skinny jeans and a baggy coat on a windy day or a strappy dress and leather jacket on the odd summery day these will set you up for summer -

No pictures for Primark but really go see it, their shoe collection is booming!!

(Left to Right)

ASOS - £30 (free postage and returns) Topshop - £30 (also in black + free Easter delivery)

ASOS - £10 (!)  New Look -  £34.99

luisaviaroma.com - £56  Boohoo - £25

Dune - £69  ASOS - £39

OK. I will class the last pair of shoes as a wedge heel but they are so pretty I couldn't resist...

Have fun shoe shopping this Easter weekend and don't forget the free postage + returns practically everywhere you look - how could you say no to that?

fashion week : HIGHLIGHTS

once again three of the most talked about Fashion events of the year have flown by and I believe we have all been stunned by the A-mazing line ups presented in New York, London and Milan which left us lusting after oversized furs at Michael Kors and dreading Summer dressing. Still with Paris to go street stylers, bloggers and celebs dress to the 9's to finalise Fashion Week before kick starting back again in September.

New comers approached Fashion Week comfortably amongst the elite and international talent made a splash as predicted. 

Each year becoming more competitive :  runway design, choice of model, star studded front rows, innovation of garments and even elaborate forms of invitation ... there was no room to hold back this year. 

New York Fashion Week - 

Lacoste, DKNY, Michael Kors.

London Fashion Week - 

Julian McDonald, Henry Holland, Beth Postle.

Milan Fashion Week - 

Moschino, Max Mara, Fendi. 

Details - 

Chloe gifts, Hugo Boss show invitation, Diesel AW15 shows space, Fendi eye-liner.

NYFW - Look out for those Lacoste sleeves this Autumn, they will be EVERYwhere. Michael Kors mixing the colour palette of the season with our favourite camels, tree greens and rusty grey.

LFW - We saw Kimmy K step out wearing Julian McDonald's work at the Brits last night in simple seduction. Forget the catwalk strut, Henry Holland rotated his models round the catwalk on a conveyor belt. Not forgetting, seeing the rise of young talent, Beth Postle who, is Vogue's top 3 ones to watch. 

MFW - Moschino delivered. Hints to the previous collection of modern Barbie, see that teddy bear print boom this year. With a nod to tradition and 70s houswife Max Mara stepped out with classic beauty.

and finally, for 2015 Fendi eye-liner will transform your make up experience. Banish the flick, be free and blur that thing.

camping in february..(post cont)

the last time I spoke to you I was preparing myself for the surprises that lay ahead. And as much as I love a surprise there is nothing worse then not knowing what to dress for whether your heels are too dressy, coat too casual, dress too formal AND men have no idea..
   Having left everything until last minute I was rushing around putting the finishing touches together for my gift, ending up curling eyelashes whilst dragging a mattress onto the floor (not like curling ones eyelashes isn't difficult enough) and wrapping presents on the last square of floor left on show.

   Much to my surprise and delight, for dinner we revisited the Miller and Carter Steakhouse where we originally ventured on my birthday over Christmas. Another great visit with friendly, helpful staff and delicious food! This time we went all out. My boyfriend ordered champagne, I indulged in a fruity cocktail, we ate steak and larger-than-life burgers and I left feeling horrifically full.

I wore - Black polo neck - Topshop & Pleated skirt - MissGuided

First for everything - Very own DKNY and All Saints plain V neck top 

On the return home I dismissed my barely-there sandals for flats I had stowed in my clutch and simply limped back (the price we girls pay)... grateful to find my camp was still intact and all I had to do was flick on the lights and hit the playlist button and we were ago. My boyfriend was overwhelmed with the transformation of one rather dingy uni room (it did look pretty cool if I'm honest) and how I stole his favourite DVD and downloaded our favourite song of the moment for the unveiling- Salted Wound by Sia - from the 50 Shades of Grey album - its a masterpiece.

- If you too have parents or landlords moaning you can't have candles in your room because it will set off the fire alarms try my fail-safe method of jars!
    I've tried out each jar safely by sitting nearby while the tea light has been lit and the jar has never burnt, smoked or melted. Simply wash and peel off labels, £1 tea lights from IKEA and you're ago!

- For the camp I hung scraps of materials - lace, netting, silks I had lying around (you could get for cheap from charity shops), draped my sheets over chairs and the mop! and printed photos and hung from the ceiling on sewing thread. 45 photos cost me £2 from FreePrints (a hidden website gem) so now there's no excuse not to set up your own albums as it was done in the 90s.

   We enjoyed two nights in the camp until sadly I had to do some work and couldn't function in my room at all, and so the camp came down. Yet,the photos have remained, as even though they wisp my face every time I pass, its nice seeing our memories suspended in front of me.

Stage 1 of Fashion Trend work complete, I'm so happy with the outcomes of my two trend packages. They have been so interesting and exciting to complete and although the colour mixing drove me slightly crazy I have picked up a new skill. Next, the design process!

One more day until the weekend, hold tight!

week 2 February

for the first time in a week I am enjoying sitting in my white fluffy bed with oversized Homies jumper, falling-apart joggers and hair swished in a higher than life bun to do nothing. ABSOLUTELY nothing. 

   Every day this week has been the same - Wake up regretting staying up so late, porridge with 15 minutes allocated TV time to Loose Women, following a day spent glued to my desk painting colour chips (which are so much harder then you would believe) and making fabric samples for my trend module, sketching as research for a new collection for another module, whilst planning my Valentines weekend and 2 year anniversary with my boyfriend. 

Happy to say I have completed everything, as well as going to cheer training or a run each evening. 

The weather held out for my trip around Newcastle on Tuesday while I snapped some photos for my magazine module, as Fifty Shades convinced and left me on a cliff hanger Friday and 24 roses landed in my room Saturday night - here's what I wore ...

TUESDAY - Shopping for gifts - 

Top - Primark

Shorts and Fur - Topshop

FRIDAY - Cinema - 

Coat -  Dorothy Perkins

Top - Miss Guided

SATURDAY - Dinner -

Top and Jacket - Topshop

Skirt - Miss Guided 

Shoes - New Look 

Scarf  - H&M

 Today is our anniversary and my boyfriend is whisking me off for dinner at 7 and I too have a surprise up my sleeve for the master of surprises... (all will be posted later in the week)

Now I'm not a Tumblr girl but love some of the images on there and in the week whilst doing the usual Pinterest roaming I stumbled across this Gorgeous page: If you can't do anything today but scroll, click here : http://waitingforteaagain.tumblr.com/

Happy Monday!

hair resolved

So February 2015 is almost here and this week has been busy at Uni having being introduced to our new modules. I'm really excited to start our 'Brand and Message' module where we have to produce a magazine on anything we like, creating most of the imagery ourselves which is really exciting so lots of location trips in planning. Before Christmas in 'Design Realisation' we made a toille of a shirt which we designed, illustrated and made which I am happy to say I have now finished! I am so happy to see the back of the embellishment machine, that thing drove me in circles (literally).

Jumper - Primark

Dress - Topshop sale

Shoes - River Island

Now just to cut out the rest of those tedious circles and design the photo shoot!

In other modules we are creating two collections for 2016. Here is my current work situation - 

Safe to say fashion students will do a lot for each other - here's my friend who were both crying with laughter at as I smothered her in her own hair and her false eye lashes became jammed together. 

+ Onto HAIR  - 

Probably like yours my hair never wants to play when I want it to, especially during windy, rainy and Northern blizzard days. So here is my easy resolutions : 

   I'm a big fan of hair up so do a lot of ponytails as it's a quick and easy thing anyone can do. 

1 )  For longer hair with less layers - Scrape your hair using a tail comb, gel and hairspray to minimise any fly-aways and tie hair tightly in a high ponytail so the top of the ponytail shows over your head. Tighten and back comb gently(no pulled through a bush lookalikes)

To Backcomb - Lift a thin group of hair that covers the width of your fingers and pull up to the ceiling. Using a thin tail comb insert it half way through the underside of the hair and push firmly down to the root to form a tight clump -  this will give the most volume - Continue where needed and smooth with a flat brush.

2 )  If you have a bit more time - Curl ends of hair before. I like to use my straighteners but wands and curlers are just as effective.

To Curl with Straighteners- Brush hair thoroughly before. Hold a thin group of hair horizontally away from you. Clip your straighteners half way up your hair and slowly begin to turn away from you so the hair loops around the heated plates. When you almost reach the end keep the straighteners closed and pull them vertically standing so the hair pops out hopefully in a beautiful curl! (Don't worry if you dont achieve it the first time, it takes practise.)

Add a cute bow for added glam -  

3 )  For shorter hair go Made in Chelsea - Divide your hair down the middle giving you a sweeet 70s parting. Using a tail comb the hair down into a low ponytail. Back comb hair to the hair band to create volume in the ponytail.

4 )  If you're not a fan of hair up go for a half up half down which can look seriously good on girlies with shorter hair, add a bow or curl for added glam - Same as ponytail but divide hair into top and bottom section using a tail comb. Start at your ears and part hair up to half way up your head. Back comb to add volume or smooth for an Ariana Grande-esk look. 

5 )  For a Kourtney K top-knot (which I love to go to makeup-less to the gym, a job interview or for a neat night out look)  Same steps as (1). Then, hold all of ponytail and twist into a unicorn horn, hairspray and hold tight as you tie hair around ponytail. Tie with a hair band or use pins. Wiggle hair roughly around to form a shape you like and hair spray. (This can still take me a long time sometimes so does take practise - straight out of a shower silky hair isn't great for this look as it doesn't always want to sit in place)

- Add a front fringe, plait your ponytail before twisting or french plait sides for added style -

There, hair resolved. Have a great weekend and helloo February