Red Carpet Inspiration

With only a week to go until my Graduation Ball, I still don't have a dress and am beginning to panic!

In order to get some inspiration I have been looking at LOADS of pictures over the last few days of celebrities' red carpet looks, to see just what makes a great outfit for such a special occasion. From my extensive research I've identified what I believe are the three most important elements of the perfect look, and the celebrities who embody them the most.

Kate Beckinsale's elegance...

So I have never seen Kate Beckinsale in a film (and don't actually know what films she has been in), but I do know one thing about her - she always looks amazing on the red carpet. After any awards ceremony she is the first person whose outfit I look for on the internet the next day. I love how she keeps things so simple yet doesn't fade into the background. Her up-do's and strapless/one-shoulder dresses show-off her elegant neck and shoulders, and she holds herself beautifully. Other stars who I think always look elegant are Dita Von Teese and Anne Hathaway. I definitely want an elegant dress for the ball, as I don't want to feel that I am wearing something I could wear on just any other night out.

Kelly Brook's sex appeal...

Kelly Brook has the most amazing womanly figure and she really knows how to show it off. And why not?! If you've got it, flaunt it! She does sexy without flaunting too much flesh, and really accentuates her hourglass figure. Two other celebrities who I think also exude sex appeal on the red carpet are Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce. I think even if you don't have the show stopping curves of Kelly (and let's face it, most of us don't!) you can still take a leaf out of her book by showing off your best assets, whatever they may be.

Rihanna's individuality...

Rihanna is one lady who certainly isn't afraid to make an impact on the red carpet, and I love that. I'm not saying I would pick any of these three particular outfits to wear myself, but I like how she doesn't always play it safe. Sure it means she has a few faux pas now and then, but hey, life's too short to blend in. Other stars who also show some real personality and stand out from the crowd are Lady GaGa (of course!) and Katy Perry. One thing I'm dreading about the ball is wearing the same as someone else, so even if I do end up with a dress from the high street, I want to at least add my own accessories and hair/make-up look to make it a little bit different from everyone else, just in case!

So now I know what I want, I just need to figure out how I am going to achieve it without the celebrity bank balance and personal stylist... I'll keep you updated on my hunt (and stress levels!)...

xx

Celebrate good times

So, after a 4-year slog... or to be more honest 3 years of averagely difficult work and 1 year of work so hard at times I wanted to kill myself... (ok, that was a little bit dramatic)... last night it was finally time to celebrate!

The university had hired out a bar in the Arcadian in Birmingham for all the final years to party. I wanted a new outfit for the occasion, but because I didn't know what other people would be wearing, having never gone there before, I wasn't really sure what to go for.

I traipsed round the shops for ages and eventually settled for an outfit that was mostly from New Look. I thought it would be fine as if people were dressed quite casually I wouldn't look too OTT, but it would be dressy enough if people had glammed-up for the occasion. As it were, there was a whole range of outfits from the rest of the final years so I fitted in just fine.

(I apologise for the state of me in this picture - I forgot to take one before I went out, so this was taken at 4.30am after a rather heavy night!)

I loved the outfit, and had quite a few comments from people who thought it was 'cute'.

The shorts were my favourite item, new from New Look for £20. They are lilac and look kind of like a skirt but are actually the loose fitting shorts that seem to be everywhere at the moment. They have a bow at the front which is stitched in place so you don't have to think about tying it nicely. I have to say though that they did crease very easily, but they were so comfy and will be very versatile, so I think it's a small price to pay.

The top is just a simple white strappy top with some embroidery and silver stitching, again from New Look for £8. It is really useful and I think I will wear it a lot this summer.

The cardigan is also from New Look and they have it in loads of colours. Wearing this over the top and shorts gave the outfit the casual, summery look I was going for.

Finally the shoes are my old personal favourites, tan heels from Dorothy Perkins. Perfect as they are quite high but really comfy.

I kept my nails 'Sherbet Lemon' and wore my new ring from Miss Selfridge, as well as an older blue heart ring also from Miss Selfridge. I think that adding chunky, clashing rings to this outfit helped make it look a lot more eclectic and less 'put together', which was good as it avoided me looking too matchy matchy, which I could easily have done with the lilac shorts and cardigan.

All in all, a brilliant time was had by all! Drinks were flowing, sun was shining and music was pumping - what more could you want?!

Next stop is to find an outfit for my Graduation Ball which is in less than 2 weeks. I don't just want to go to somewhere on the high street as I will probably end up in the same dress as someone else, but on the other hand I don't have too much money floating around at the moment! Any ideas?!

xx

Blingin' While Ringin'!

I am so in love with these iPhone cases it is ridiculous!

I have been browsing on Lux Addiction's website recently (www.luxaddiction.com) and they have the most amazing range of phone cases (not just for iPhones, but other models too including Blackberries). Each case is hand crafted and so every one is unique.

Each design is so cute and you can tell real thought has been put into them. Each case contains a mix of authentic Swarovski crystals, 'bling' Australian crystals and special made accessories/decorations. From cases featuring cute little cakes and biscuits, to others with zebra print and feathers, there's something for everyone.

My absolute favourite though has to be this Little Mermaid one - it's adorable! I know its childish and pretty tacky, but I really don't care! I really wanted to be Ariel when I was younger and with this case I could pay homage to my favourite Disney princess.

Priced at $79.95, which is about £55, they don't come particularly cheap, but the attention to detail is amazing and they would provide a real talking point.

Although I'm not sure if I would want to use it all the time (I wouldn't particularly want to crack out such an 'in your face' crystal case at a sophisticated event or job interview) I am definitely putting the Little Mermaid one on my birthday wishlist!

Maybe I need to think about getting an actual iPhone first though...

xx

Festival Fever

So, I well and truly have festival fever... although I'm not actually going to one this year!

Despite my lack of planned festival action I've been browsing online and have put together 3 festival looks I think are really cool. They are each really different and would suit different people and different festivals.

The first look is cool and edgy. The fringed shorts are amazing - they are from River Island and I think £29.99 is a really reasonable price as not only would they be great for a festival, but they would be useful all through summer and could be worn day or night. The bright red wellies are a real statement and give the whole outfit some real impact. I think it's really worth investing in a good pair of wellies if hitting a festival this year, and the funkier the better! The scarf, trilby and earrings accessorise the outfit well without being too fussy - fussiness is definitely to be avoided if getting ready in a tent and spending all day outside!

Silk Bird Print Bobble Trim Scarf - Warehouse - £25

Red Wellington Boots - Evercreatures - £29.99

Ok Print Crop Tee - River Island - £14.99

Fringed Hotpants - River Island - £29.99

Diamond Weave Purple Trilby - Accessorize - £17

Khaki Feather Drop Earrings - Dorothy Perkins - £12

This second look is more cutesy and girly, and I can see it being worn to more of a T4 on the Beach style festival than a Glastonbury kind of occasion. It is not too big a statement to say I am actually in love with the sunglasses - the colour of the frames and shape of the arms are really retro, and I will definitely be buying them as soon as funds allow! The loose fitting shorts would be comfy to wear all day and as the sandals do up with buckles they're not going to come off in the sand. Beware though, if the festival's muddy these are far too nice to get ruined!

Paris Barbie Vest - Miss Selfridge - £20

Peach Plastic Sunglasses - Dorothy Perkins - £15

Ditsy Corsage Trilby - Accessorize - £17

Sherbet Heart Print Shorts - Topshop - £35

White Tribal Cuff Sandals - Miss Selfridge - £35

Pink Satin Corsage - New Look - £3

The final outfit I put together is more toned down and natural. Playsuits are everywhere at the moment and the strong red in the print of this one stops the whole outfit looking too neutral, beige and boring. The floppy hat is not only really in-keeping with the outfit, but practical too to stop the rays (if indeed we get any sun this year!). The statement bangle with its stones and mirrors adds a bit of glamour to the outfit without being unnecessarily fussy.

Mocha Zig Zag Scarf Trim Floppy - Accessorize - £20

Geri Nature Woven Sandals - Accessorize - £35

Hibiscus Printed Playsuit - Topshop - £45

Stone Set Mirror Bangle - Miss Selfridge - £12

Weave Box Cross Body Bag - Topshop - £30

Overall I think the key to any festival look is to wear something you are comfortable in. Obviously everyone wants to look nice, but fiddling with too much jewellery, attempting to keep heels on in the mud and generally trying to be someone you're not is really not a good look. Relaxed and natural is definitely the way to go.

I love all three of these outfits and could see myself wearing all of them depending on where I was going.

In hindsight maybe it is a good idea that I'm not going to any festivals, as based on this wishlist I seem to have developed it could prove very expensive indeed!

xx

Two is better than one

With all the lovely things in the shops, I don't know why I do this so often...

Because I am loving my new Miss Selfridge ring I bought a few days ago so much, I decided I just had to get it in the other colour too!

This one is silver as opposed to gold, and the disk has a purple background with blue flower. Again it was in the sale, reduced from £6 to £2, in the Bullring in Birmingham.

If I really like something I often end up buying it in more than one colour. It seems a bit silly, but I figure if its not broke don't fix it, and if you get your wear out of the first item, you'll probably find the same with the second one.

(My nail varnish is 'Sherbet Lemon' by 17 which is in the same 'Candy Collection' as the 'Mint Choc Chip' I reviewed in March.)

I'm loving Miss Selfridge's jewellery at the moment. These are a couple of my favourite pieces...

These 'Filigree Fan Earrings' are £9. The subtle colours mean they would go with everything, and as they'e not too plain nor too 'in your face', I think they'd take you from day to night perfectly.

I think this 'Pink Flamingo Brooch' is absolutely amazing, priced at £5. The bright colours would add a 'pop' to any outfit and I think with this on your blazer, scarf or even hat, you'd feel instantly ready for summer! They do the same flamingo design as stud earrings if you're not a brooch wearer.

So if you're shopping this week I suggest you take a look in Miss Selfridge as you might just find a little treat for yourself!

xx

One man's trash is another man's treasure

I recently got hold of some vintage dresses and they are awesome! However they're not really my style, so as cool as I think they are I've decided to sell them on ebay, as I figure someone else will be able to get better use out of them than me.

I go through real phases of selling things on ebay. I can have a couple of weeks where I am OBSESSED with selling things, but then I can easily forget about it for a few months before starting again.

Here are two of the dresses I've put up for sale:

I think the blue one is stunning. I think because of how well cut it is it could be worn in the evening, perhaps even to a summer ball or prom if it were dressed up with the right accessories for something a little different.

The pink/peach coloured dress is perfect for the summer as it is quite lightweight, but I can see it also been worn in the winter with boots, tights and a chunky cardigan.

My seller name is 'caldweet' if you fancy taking a look at what I've got for sale, and the auctions end on Monday evening.

While I'm on there I'll definitely be looking for a few bargains myself, and if I find any good ones I'll put them on here. I always hear of friends getting awesome buys on there, but I never seem to get anything really special myself. Have any of you ever got any good bargains on ebay?

xx

Time for a change

With exams over at uni I have been able to address all the pressing issues in my life that have somewhat fallen by the wayside recently, namely wardrobe, nails and hair! I dealt with nails and wardrobe myself but felt the hair needed more professional input, so I headed to the salon.

I really felt like a change in the hair department. My natural colour is light brown, but after Christmas I decided to go blonde. Although it was done really well, I just wasn't very keen on it. I just didn't think it did anything for me. So this time round I asked to go dark. However, as in the past when I've had dark hair it has looked a bit dull, I wanted a hint of red to make it a bit more interesting.

Here are before and after pictures:

I am soooo pleased with it! I love it so much! It is just the change I was after and I think it suits my skin tone much better and is far more flattering! I think changing your hair to whatever colour just makes you feel so different it gives you a new lease of life.

I'm still at the stage where I have to keep looking in the mirror because I love it so much! Does anyone else do this or is it just me?!

I had it done at Big Apple in Birmingham. I've been there for my last three appointments and think its great. It has a nice atmosphere, friendly staff and each time they have actually given me what I wanted (which based on many other hairdressers I have been to, this is quite rare!). If anyone is looking for a good hairdressers in Birmingham I can highly recommend it.

xx

Degree Over...Life Back

My finals are over, and not only does this mean freedom, but it also means I can get back to shopping!

I hit the shops straight after my final exam and it was a beautiful day so I was after some summer clothes to put me in the mood.

As is always the way though, when I wanted to spend some money to treat myself after a hard month or two of revision, nothing seemed to fit and I couldn't find anything that caught my eye (in my price range anyway!).

However, I did pick up this gorgeous ring in the Miss Selfridge sale, reduced from £6 to £2. It's really chunky with a gold finish, and the disk on top is peach with a pink flower. I think it should finish off any summer outfit pretty nicely...

The nail varnish I'm wearing is 'Mint Choc Chip' by 17 which I am still loving since I reviewed it below back in March.

Please also notice MASSIVE lump on finger from all the writing I have been doing in my exams - proof that a degree doesn't come easy!

By the way, this picture was taken with the 'Hipstamatic' app on the iPhone. The app costs £1.19 and allows you to try out all different kinds of cool tints, styles and lenses. I'll be playing around with it for a while so expect lots of my future photos to be somewhat arty!

xx