RECENT PURCHASES | June 2014

It wouldn't be a Stateside visit if I didn't take advantage of how much cheaper make up is over here. I probably own more make up than any reasonable person could ever need in their life. I'm running out of lipstick shades - I seem to own them all. But there were still a few items I wanted to cross off my wish list.

The item I was most eager to get my hands on was the Lorac Pro Palette. My eyeshadow palette collection is absurd and probably deserves a blog post all of its own one day. This was the last palette I wanted to finish off the collection, so to speak. I'm sure something else will crop up that I'll want soon enough but for now, I feel content. I've seen countless YouTubers and bloggers recommend it and, after a few days of regular use, I can already tell why. It's quickly becoming my favourite palette I own.

Naturally, I also had to buy some lipsticks too. The Make Up Forever Aqua Rouge Waterproof Lip Colour (try saying that five times fast) were also something I'd seen recommended by one of my favourite YouTubers, Rachel Whitehurst. I'm on the hunt for the perfect long-wearing, kiss-proof lipstick and this seemed to tick all the boxes. I got mine in shade 9 - a dark vampy red. Look out for a blog post comparing a few I've tried in the near future.

Then I picked up two other traditional lipsticks, one from Bite Cosmetics and the other from MAC. I'd had MAC Chili on my wishlist for some time now, inspired by a friend who often wears it. It's a beautiful dark burnt-red with a matte finish. Whereas Bite Violet has a glossier finish. I've never tried anything from Bite before but heard good things, so when this vibrant purple caught my eye I decided to give it a try.

OUTFIT | #224

necklace: Gogo Philip; top: ASOS; dungarees: Primark; watch: Casio; sandals: River Island

I have a little backlog of posts I took pictures for before I went to the US. Then I got lazy and didn't schedule them while I was away anyway. This should be the last of them. This was from my last day before I went away. I just popped to campus to print off my tickets and have lunch with a pal. Along the way, I managed to rip my last pair of tights too. Not the most eventful of excursions. 

Looking at this now, as I've spent the last two weeks experiencing 28 degree weather every day, it looks like I'm dressing for mid-winter, not June. British summer is an odd creature. When I get back from my travels, I'm working in an office all summer though so I suppose it doesn't matter to me one way or the other if it's sunny or not. I'll be indoors, enjoying the air-conditioning, regardless.

SHOES | Birkenstock Sandals

Birkenstock Arizona

The other day my mum came up to visit me and take me out for lunch. During the course of the day, we did some shopping and she asked me if I had thought about what I wanted for an early graduation present. Every summer I struggle to find sandals I like and I've liked Birkenstocks for several years now. They've always been on my wish list. So I told her and now I'm the lucky owner of a pair of Birkenstock Arizona sandals. In black, naturally.

Now, I know Birkenstocks aren't to everyone's taste. They're kind of the Marmite of footwear. But I really like them. Are they particularly gorgeous? No. And I like that. If you've been following me for a while now, you'll know about my penchant for the somewhat ugly. Lately I've been trying to adopt a 'Fuck Flattering' motto and dress however I feel comfortable and my Birkenstocks are definitely among the comfiest sandals I've owned. I've worn them with shorts, jeans, and dresses and I like them with everything. When I'm back from travelling, I'll make sure to take some pictures to show you how I wear them.

INSTAGRAM | #9

pulled pork sandwiches; finally found my graduation dress; goodbye meal with the housemates

new summer sandals; a quick break in Cornwall; early evening beach strolls

eggs for breakfast every day; sunny days in the plantation gardens; picnic treats

The last few weeks have been really lovely. While it's been sad to know that uni really is coming to an end and everyone is going their separate ways, I've had so many days out with friends. Eating good food, dancing until the early hours, even a little trip to Newquay (that was cut short by a job interview). It's been a great way to spend the last couple of weeks of my undergraduate years. Now I'm off to see some family in the States and popping to Berlin for a quick city break with my friend Bridie, then I'm graduating. Part of me is tempted to blog about graduate life a bit. Perhaps on here or on another blog. But I think it will certainly be an interesting ride.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram for more of what I get up to during the summer.

OUTFIT | #223

jacket: my sister's wardrobe; top: Topshop; skirt: ASOS; sandals: River Island; bag: Zara

Two new purchases in this blog post: the skirt and the sandals. I think my summer wardrobe purchases are pretty much at capacity now. I'm going to visit family in the States next week but after that, I think it's time for a fairly strict spending ban. Graduates are meant to start trying to save money, right? People keep saying scary things to me about property ladders and how all my friends are going to start getting married now and it's kind of freaking me out. 

I've worn this skirt countless times since I bought it. I love the super simple A-Line cut and how summery the denim makes it feel. Denim seems to be my new thing of late. I'm wearing a ton of it. Although I keep wishing I had a grey or black denim jacket to pair with it all. I'm not super into matchy-matchy denim. The sandals, while not denim, are still lovely. I saw them on ASOS in brown but we all know how I feel about brown. They were in store at River Island in black though and I snapped them up. I like sturdier sandals without too much toe-exposure. No flip flops or gladiators over here, thanks.

OUTFIT | #222

dungarees: Primark; top: ASOS; boots: River Island; watch: Casio

Continuing with the whole 'Fuck Flattering' theme I've got going on lately, here's some dungarees for you all. I regularly throw these on when I wake up late and need to get going. Which happens a lot lately because without a degree I have no routine and it's thrown my whole life out of whack. However sometimes it ends up looking unintentionally really cute. Like this particular day. The new turtleneck I'd ordered from ASOS had just arrived so I paired it with the dungarees and some signature black boots and I was a big fan of how it looked.

Looking at this outfit, I'm pretty struck by how much my style has changed in the past year or so. With graduation looming, I keep looking through old pictures of when I first came to university and how I dressed. It isn't wholly different but I never would have worn a turtleneck or this dungaree dress back then. I was super in bodycon and this is anything but. It's kind of cool to see what I'm wearing now compared to back then. That's one of my main reasons for keeping this blog, to be honest.

OUTFIT | #221

jumper: Cheap Monday; jeans, top (worn underneath): Topshop; shoes: Nike Blazers; watch: Casio

I never thought Mom jeans would be something I'd find myself buying but the other day I went to get my hair cut. I tried out a new place (The Egg in Norwich - would highly recommend) and while I was there, I kept seeing a girl who worked there wearing these pale wash Mom-style jeans. She looked fantastic in them. After my hair cut, I had some time to kill so I found myself in Topshop trying them on. And I really liked them. Maybe it's part of this whole changing-up-my-wardrobe phase I'm going through right now but I'm into them. They're nice thick denim, which I prefer to the jegging-style material Topshop tend to favour in their jeans, and they're also incredibly comfortable.

Are they incredibly flattering? I guess not. I think they make my butt look cute but if you don't agree, then that's cool. I'm just glad I finally found a pair of pale wash jeans that I actually like. It's been a long search, y'all. I took these babies on their first outing for a round of drinks with some friends to celebrate the end of (their) exams. And I managed not to spill a drop of Snakebite on them (Yes, I drink Snakebites. I'm secretly an 18 year old boy). Success!

OUTFIT | #220

shirt, shorts: Topshop; shoes: Nike Blazers; bag: Zara; jacket: my sister's wardrobe

Lots of sun lately means shorts all day, every day. I tend to tan pretty well so I've already lost the pasty winter legs I usually sport. Denim shorts are the staple of my summer wardrobe. I probably own more pairs than any one person needs. Another section of my wardrobe that probably needs a clear out.

Always a fan of layering, I still like to attempt to keep things interesting and layered even in the warmer months. I was out all day with friends celebrating the end of their exams so I brought the leather jacket along for when it got chilly in the evening. Top of my wishlist is a really great moto jacket. This one was a hand-me-down from my sister but I'm still holding out for a soft buttery leather number.

OUTFIT | #219

jacket: Levi's; blouse: charity shop; skirt, boots: Topshop; bag: Rebecca Minkoff; watch: Casio

This blouse is one of the few items I own from a charity shop. People are always telling me to check them out more but I tend to shop with a clear aim of what I'm going in to purchase. Charity shops are a lot more effort than I'm often willing to put into a shopping trip. However I do really love this blouse. I wore it on a dinner date and it was described as a very 'WW2-esque'. I'm not sure if that was the look I was going for but I'll take it.

In other news, I've been going through my wardrobe a lot lately and pulling out a plethora of old and unworn items to donate to charity. I fancy a bit of a fresh start and getting rid of the clothes I haven't worn for months, sometimes years. Goodbye old bodycon dresses that are starting to show their age, low-rise jeans I wouldn't be caught dead in, odd-fitting jumpers, etc. I'm also desperately in need of a hair cut but that is an entirely separate issue to be addressed at another time.