TREND EXPOSED: THE JELLY SHOE

What you hear is true. The jelly shoes are back and bigger than ever, and I'm trying to contain my excitement, but I can't! I had to write a post on these beauties, although they are a very love or hate trend they can be found in every single shop for Spring/Summer, because lets face it, who doesn't want sparkling jelly magic under their toes? They definitely remind me of my childhood as I used to live in these things-mainly the glittery fabulous kind, and seeing them everywhere has brought back such fond memories. I'm seriously excited to get myself a pair, (preferably heeled because I'm short) and rock them with pastel socks, pretty lace socks or just bare feet in summer. 

I found a varied selection from a few high street and online shops and I won't lie- I want them all. These are the kind of spring shoe that you can grab in a few different colors because they're so very versatile, can add a pop to any outfit and are very inexpensive. I must say that my favorites have to be  numbers '5',6'&'7' from the River Island collection, I love the glittery ones as well as the more simplistic transparent style which has a more sophisticated edge plus they have that chunky block heel that I always go for.  

Topshop's Jelly Satchel- £34 

Topshop are embracing the jelly trend head on, considering they have a huge selection of jelly sandals as well as these amazing jelly satchels (that I must get my hands on). I've loved the 'transparent'/'perspex' trend for so long and I really wanted one of the boxy perspex clutches that everyone seems to have, but I think I've found the most practical alternative. This satchel is cute, on trend-obviously and practical for everyday use. It is a great piece for those who are not daring enough for a pair of bright jelly sandals but want to channel those bright summer vibes.  

Find it here

Details of the shoes featured in my collage:

1. Topshop- HUEY2 Jelly Sandals- £20

2. Topshop- NINA Heeled Jelly Sandals- £26

3. Topshop- NINA Heeled Jelly Sandals-£26

4. Topshop- NINA Jelly Sandals- £24

5. River Island- Pink Glitter Block Heel- £18

6. River Island- Green Glitter Block Heel- £18

7. River Island- Black Transparent Block Heel- £22

8. River Island- Coral Block Heel- £18

9. Missguided.co.uk- Paquita Cut Out in Leopard Print- £11.99

10.Missguided.co.uk- Paquita Cut Out In Neon Yellow- £11.99

11.Boohoo.com- Nude Tilly Flat Fisherman- £10 

12.Boohoo.com- Lilac Tilly Flat Fisherman- £10

13.Topshop- NINA Heeled Jelly Sandals- £26

14.Topshop- HUEY2 Jelly Sandals- £20

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OOTD: KING TUTANKHAMUN

(Just to clarify, in this picture, a pigeon flew dangerously close to my face. I. Hate. Pigeons.It's more of a phobia actually..anyway, irrelevant.)  

I had my eye on this sweater for a while, and because I enjoyed wearing my 'The Birth of Venus' one so much (see first ever OOTD) I decided to snap this one up too. It was relatively cheap, about £15 I believe, from Sheinside and I know for that price I shouldn't really complain, but the quality is a world away from 'The Birth of Venus' sweater that I purchased from Romwe, perhaps understandable as I paid around £26 for that; it washed well, the colors are amazingly vibrant and it has this fleece-type lining inside. The 'Tutankhamun' print is nice, somewhat garish- but that's me! If you want a good, sturdy, nice quality print sweat that will keep you warm too, then check out Romwe.com 

Now, I'm not really a fan of shorts in winter because the thought of freezing knees and butt cheeks brings tears to my eyes, but, it was relatively warm today, so I bit the bullet and tried it. The reason I went with shorts, is actually because I tried the sweatshirt with various trouser combinations, but nothing seemed to be working...perhaps its the boxy style of the sweater. 

To brighten things up, I went with a white blouse and white belt for once (rather than black, black, black all the time), and I like the way it broke up the darker shades. Shoes-wise, my trusty Doc Marten Serena's, with a simple necklace not to interfere with the awesomely dazzling face of Tutankhamun.  

Printed Sweatshirt- Sheinside.com 

Moto Denim Shorts- Topshop.com 

White Collared Blouse- Primark (primark.com - you can't shop but you can see what's new in, bloggers picks etc.)

Gold Chain Necklace, Tights and Socks- Primark

White Belt- H&M

Dr. Marten Serena Boots- Find them here 

Lips- Kate Moss for Rimmel shade 107 

Nails( featured in 'Feb. Monthly Must-Haves')- Colorama Coral 

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OOTD: FOREST FRUITS

 I feel like this outfit epitomizes my personal style: aspects of elegance mixed with a retro touch and a dash of urban expression. I based the outfit upon  these stunning burgundy leather trousers from River Island. I chose a simple blouse in a lighter raspberry shade, so that it would give a definite sense of cohesion hence the forest fruits color palette.  I also chose a deep berry shade lipstick (Kate Moss for Rimmel, it's amazing and I love it) to compliment the look. 

I purchased the two-toned blouse from Primark, as well as the geometric chain necklace, and I think these are two of my best buys from Primark..ever. Like most people, I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Primark because sometimes you can go in and look through the piles of 'fash trash' for hours and leave with nothing but a 5-pack of tights, and other times you can go in and find some seriously in-expensive, yet unique and beautiful pieces. The way I look at it, although I like to buy the more simple pieces from there, if you spend a few pounds on something that you're only going to wear a couple of times, it doesn't even matter because its so cheap! Having said that most things (pyjamas, sweaters, tights, socks, t-shirts), in my experience remain in surprisingly great condition.  I'm truly chuffed with these two new pieces! 

To complete the look, a silk bomber with a stunning botanical/oriental print, and my white high-top wedges, both from Zara, and for my retro edge a silk scarf used as a hair wrap. 

Leather Trousers- River Island

Blouse- Primark 

Necklace- Primark

Silk Bomber Jacket- Zara

Trainer Wedges- Zara

Silk Headscarf- La Rinascente (Italian store) 

Lips- Kate Moss for Rimmel shade 107

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LOVE LIST FOR MARCH

I am so insanely excited for spring as it's been a long and drawn out soggy winter.  I've chosen a few picks that I would totally love to have for spring , with a very fresh color palette. I'm so bored of dark colors and heavy coats I can't wait to experiment with whites, brights and pastels. 

1. H&M CHUNKY KNIT CROPPED SWEATER- £34.99 
This cropped sweat is a spring essential. The color screams spring, and it's great for those chilly evenings or April showers. The good thing about it is that it is made up of 60% cotton, which means that it should be oh so comfy, not itchy  (like most polyester jumpers) and a classic piece to have. 

Find it here


2. TOPSHOP FLOWER LACE PLASTIC MAC- £48.00
I have wanted a transparent-style raincoat for THE longest time, and this one is the epitome of all things me; lace, yellow, floral, unusual. I must have it. Living in England one would hope to own a decent raincoat, and I've been yet to find one that I feel is worth investing in until now. 
Find it here

3. MONKI GREEN ROUND LENS SHADES- £8
These will be a cool addition to any spring or summer outfit. I'd use them to add a pop of color to a simple outfit or use them in conjunction with any of the above pieces because I'm really fond of the monotone look-its very high-fashion.
Find it here


4. ESSIE NAIL POLISH IN MINT CANDY APPLE- £7.99
Essie varnishes have been all the rave in the blogger world, and I've been meaning to get my hands on one of their polishes for a while, and I think now would be the perfect time because they have the most wonderfully extensive collection of summer shades.
Check out the shades at Essie
or 
Find it here


5. H&M LEAF PRINT PLATFORM SNEAKERS- £14.99
I saw these and fell in love. I don't know if the print is of dope leaves or palm leaves, but frankly I don't care. I'm a huge fan of platform sneakers and these are the ideal pair for spring/summer. 
Find them here


6. EOS ICONIC LIP BALM IN HONEYSUCKLE MELON -£7
I've seen these lip balms featured in the videos of so many US youtubers, and it wasn't until now that I'd seen them in the UK. I came across them on +Topshop'S website and I'm really eager to check out the hype. They claim to be rich in vitamin E, shea butter and jojoba oil which sounds like it would be amazing on the lips. 
Find it here

7. ZARA TUBE SKIRT WITH SHEER DETAIL - £17.99
To me this skirt is a must have. It features the 'blurred lines' trend (sheer detailing), goes with so much for the season and seems very in-expensive for Zara. It is a wardrobe essential and generally a classic and classy piece, especially if you want to try out the all-white trend(it does also come in black). 
Find it here

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OOTD: INTREPID MOTIFS

No more extravagant furry pimp-style winter coats...spring has finally sprung!..I think...maybe....probably not, it's England. Either way I was able to wear less layers than usual.  Today's outfit is very casual. I mixed up a cool old school -style denim jacket with some funky print leggings, metallic high tops, your not-so-average black sweater with my signature chunky gold chain. I think that one of my favorite combinations is denim with red lips, especially for spring and although this outfit is less timeless/classic/chic, I'm at college....I wouldn't want to rock up in a pencil skirt with a blazer and court shoes. Throwing on an oversize jacket instantly gives off that grunge, retro look that I am so terribly fond of.  I feel like this outfit definitely channels an urban 80's vibe, which is an era I would never dispute with. 

Black Sweater- www.sheinside.com

Kaleidoscope  Print Leggings- +Topshop 

Chain Necklace- +Topshop 

High-top Wedges- Zara

Denim Jacket- Vintage Ralph Lauren 

Lips- Dior shade 999

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MONTHLY MUST-HAVES: FEBRUARY

There aren't a lot of monthly favorites on my list for February as I haven't been trying out many new products, or shopping in general, but I have a few bits which I've really been loving, so I thought I'd share them!

   1. Colorama/Risque Nail Varnish

I was very kindly given this wonderful selection of varnishes by my cousin from Brazil (she has her own travel blog - www.vevoyageuk.wordpress.com- check it out). I have never seen this brand of varnish over here in the UK, and I'm not entirely sure that it exists here, however they can probably be found online somewhere, if I find a link I will put it below. Its definitely worth looking for them because they have bright exotic colors as well as the more neutral tones, not only this but they are very durable. 

The only down side, which my cousin actually pointed out, is that the brushes aren't great. The bristles haven't been aligned very well, which makes it hard to get the perfect straight line. Having said this, as you'll see below, each time I've used the varnishes my nails have turned out perfectly well- even if they needed a little clean up around the edges. Its a very minor flaw. 

I have used the metallic black, the berry red and am currently sporting the vintage sage green shade. Mine have lasted approximately 2 weeks almost chip-free. Generally I use a base and top coat just to ensure the durability. I can't wait to try out some of the more eye-popping shades for spring as I do love my colors! 

           2. The Little Black Book Of Style By Nina Garcia 

I purchased this book a while back, but it's one of those timeless reads that I will always go back to every few months. Nina Garcia has written a selection of style related books which are available on +Amazon.co.uk or +eBay I'm sure. 

The Little Black Book of Style encapsulates everything one would need to know about style in it's 144 wittily written pages. Garcia goes through the wardrobe basics, what to wear when, fashion through the decades as well as exclusive interviews with designers (Louboutin, Cavalli, Versace Ralph Lauren, Zac Posen and so many more). 

It's obviously a must read for style addicts but I would even suggest this to those who consider themselves less fashion conscious or those who simply want to educate themselves in this wonderful field.  

                             
                               3. Dior lipstick in shade 999

My love for this product has grown so much over the last few months. Originally I found the color slightly too light for my lips as I tend to go for deeper shades, but I'm so glad I persisted with it and I have good reason to put it onto the monthly favorites list. Many good reasons actually.... 1.- It moisturizes the lips and doesn't leave them feeling dry and cracked. 2.- It lasts for hours on end, doesn't rub off or come loose on the lips. 3. The texture is perfect (butter like)- not too heavy yet not too light. 4. It contains the right amount of pigmentation which can be built up with several coats. 5. Its Dior. 

I know it's on the pricey side, but that is to be expected. Its definitely worth investing in a few good quality lipsticks. The differences between a such like product and something on the cheaper end of the cosmetics market is clear and I'm definitely reaping the rewards from using a lovely quality lipstick. 

4. Batiste dry shampoo

I don't have a great deal to say about this one, but it is a definite must-have. This is a sample that I picked up and I have had quite a lot of use from this tiny spray. Its perfect for those bad hair days when I don't have time to wash this nest of hair, but I want it to feel fresh. 

The con is that although it is supposedly tinted brown, the spray comes out more grey/white than brown, which can leave me looking a lot older than I am! This annoying whiteish color can be brushed out though, so I guess it's not too bad. 

It's a useful product that everyone should own in their beauty cupboard. 

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