Heat Work Experience: Take 1

I must apologise for being MIA recently - it's been quite a hectic last couple of weeks. If my unimaginative post-title wasn't clue enough, my lack of posts have been down to doing work experience at Heat magazine's fashion and beauty department. Since graduating, I've been applying for every work experience opp/internship/job vacancy under the sun which involved journalism in some capacity and getting pretty fed up with the lack of success I was having. Then, low and behold, my application for work experience at Heat was successful and I was suddenly off to take my first-ever furrow into magazine journalism. To say I was excited is a complete understatement. Not only that, but I couldn't have come up with a better excuse to adorn my wardrobe with lovely new clothes. Shopping was a big part of my prep for work experience because I wanted to look the part and, well...I love shopping. Judge me!

The Sunday before my first day was spent planning outfits and taking pictures of them so I wouldn't be in a flap over what to wear at any point. I don't think I've ever been that organised. Anyway, after planning and packing I was off to stay with family, ready for my first morning. Needless to say, I barely slept that night; I was terrified I'd over sleep and I was just so excited! I planned to blog every night so I could keep track of what I'd been up to and what I'd been wearing but if I'm honest, the whole week passed in such a whirlwind that I just didn't get the chance.

Rather than go through each day and what I did (to be honest, it's hard to distinguish between the days now so I couldn't even if I wanted) I thought I'd give you a round-up of my time there and the outfits that, after countless shopping trips, multiple returns and various panicky moments, were what I like to call 'The Chosen Ones'.

In a nutshell, Heat was brilliant. I honestly loved it. You know all those horror stories you hear about workies (yep, that's what I was called) being treated as the office tea lady and general skivvy? Yep? Well, forget them. I was involved from the beginning and the whole Style team were lovely and made me feel part of the team. So what did I actually do? I checked the courier room regularly for packages - it's like Christmas everyday there, magical. I wrote a few 'Who Wore It Best' articles for heatworld.com (which you can read here, here and here) which was awesome because I actually have published work! I spent quite a lot of time doing celebrity trend research which was really fun but terrible for those of us who, ahem, are a little looser with their dosh. I was also in touch with PR companies, calling in samples for features and keeping the fashion/beauty cupboard organised. It was such a range of things that I never got bored and I actually felt like I was helping, rather than just getting in the way! 

Now, onto the outfits. I must apologise in advance for the mediocre/terrible quality of some of the pictures; they were taken on my phone and towards the end of the week they became a little more rushed and grainy but hopefully you can get the idea. I was told the dress code was 'Casual'. Yep, make of that what you will. It basically meant that anything goes (within reason of course, put those nipple tassels away) so employees were as casual/dressy as they liked.

Day 1: Leather & Check

Coat: Zara (old) // Shirt: H&M Kids (bargain & they go up to 14yrs+) // Leggings: Dorothy Perkins (old) // Chelsea Boots: Topshop // Bag: Topshop

Day 2: Tartan & Lace

Coat: Zara (old) // Shorts: Zara (similar - ideal if, like me, you love shorts but not so much your thighs because they're loose) // Shirt: ASOS // Jumper: Zara // Shoes: Primark (similar) // Bag: Topshop

Day 3: Turtleneck & Check

Coat: New Look (similar) // Poloneck: H&M // Smock Dress: ASOS // Chelsea Boots: Topshop // Bag: Topshop

Day 4: Denim & (Faux) Fur

Coat: New Look (similar) // Shirt: H&M (similar) // Fur Gilet: Topshop (old - similar) // Jeans: Whistles // Shoes: Primark (similar)

Day 5: Converse & Pleather

Coat: New Look (similar) // Jumper: H&M (similar) // Necklace: Topshop (old) // Leather Skirt: H&M (sale - similar) // Converse: Office

What do you think of my choices? What is your favourite outfit?

Chem x

p.s. Look out for a 'Take 2' coming soon!

OOTN: Feeling Blue

As you might have guessed by the title, this outfit is completely blue. Conveniently, colour blocking is still all of the range and I think the monochromatic blues (yep, I googled it!) really work.  

I saw Rosie from The Londoner wearing a similar blue cotton shirt with blue denim jeans and I decided I needed one in my life ASAP. I unexpectedly came across this gem in GAP, and with a 30% off discount code I knew it was pretty much fate.

The jeans are also a recent addition to my wardrobe- they are the Topshop 'Joni' Jean in 'Dark Vintage'. I purchased a black pair a while back (as shown in this post) but I ended up taking them back because the white seam was just too annoying. This pair, however, I really do love. I don't know whether they've changed the fabric but these are so much nicer. They're a stretchy denim, just like the Leigh jeans, which make them super comfy as well as being super sucky-in which is always a bonus. Definitely try before you buy because the stretch of the fabric means you can (in my experience) size down and reduce the potential for the dreaded saggy-bottom-look. They are also full length but I rolled them up.

I finished the outfit off with two pieces from my graduation outfit (which I spoke about here); the bag and the heels because I thought they went well with the colour scheme of the outfit. This is more of a dinner type outfit because of the heels, but I've worn it in the day and subbed in Converse high tops and an over the shoulder bag for a more casual look. I'm so pleased with the shirt and the jeans - they're both so versatile. I also decided to whack on some orange lippy to set the blue off. I'm wearing Revlon's ColorBurst Lipbutter in 'Tutti Frutti' which is great for a wash of orange but I've got my eye on something brighter for next time; I'm talking MAC's 'Morange'.

Shirt: Gap

Jeans: Topshop

Shoes: Office

What do you think of colour blocking? Have you tried the Joni jeans?

Chem x

Street Style Steal #2: Monochrome & Clashing Prints

This girls outfit caught my eye whilst I was mooching around in Kingston the other week. I managed to muster up enough courage to ask her if she'd mind me taking a picture of her and (obviously) she very kindly obliged. Unfortunately, in my haste to leave her alone and avoid a 'weirdo' label, I forgot to ask her where any of it was from and I didn't even get her name! Sigh. Nevertheless, I have compiled these pieces which I think can be put together to recreate the striking look.

I have to say, this is an outfit which I'm unlikely to wear myself. I'm not quite confident enough to pull off the clashing-prints combo and I've never ventured into the world of 'wide-leg' or 'flares' - I'm well and truly a slave to my skinny's. That being said, whilst the monochrome and print trends continue to feature in the A/W fashions, there are certainly elements I'll be incorporating into my own outfits and as I've shown before in this post, I'm a huge fan of monochrome.

1. Polka Dot Wide Leg Trousers - This pair gives a more casual vibe due to the smaller polkadots and comfy (looking) material. Ideal for the daytime. 

2. Chiffon Sleeve Baseball Top - Next have outdone themselves with this top; I love the twist on the classic baseball top. Very cool. This is definitely on my 'wish list'.

3. Geo Face Watch - I love the simplicity of this and the black and silver is in keeping with the whole monochrome look. That being said, a pop of colour on the watch strap would also have made a lovely contrast.

4. Buckle Flatform Plimsolls - Continuing my love affair flatforms... I really like these because they're a more girlie and interesting take on your classic lace-ups. They also give some height (ideal for wide-leg trousers) without being too dressy. Perfect.

5. Pearl Peter Pan Collar - If you imagined this outfit in your head, you'd think that a pearl collar necklace would look waaay too fussy with all the other things going on. In reality it actually adds a little something to the outfit - there are loads of these on eBay for bargain prices so take your pick!

6. Chiffon Polka Dot Trousers - these are actually black even though they do look navy! These are definitely more of a night-time choice due to the sheer legs and the knicker-shorts.

7. Contrast Panel Tee - I've actually just seen that this is out of stock, which is a shame because it's gorgeous but hopefully they'll restock. If not, New Look have a similar one here. Alternatively (and for a different 'look', chuck on a neon top - gorgeous!) 

8. Quilted Pumps - Chanel eat your heart out, I think these are adorable and look much more expensive than they are!

So, there you have it - my second 'Street Style Steal'! What do you think of this look - have you ever tried wearing two different prints in one outfit? Is this an outfit you'd like to recreate?

Chem x

OOTN: Leather & Lime

I wore this ensemble for a long awaited night out with my friends. I snapped up the leather ('pleather') skirt in the H&M sale for a jaw-dropping £5 which I was chuffed with. Leather is still on trend for AW13 so this versatile piece will see me right through the seasons.

I paired it with a lime green Topshop cami which I picked up on a whim thinking that together they'd make a perfect outfit. I love the contrast of the black and the neon, and the top brightens up what would otherwise be quite a plain outfit. I think I'll definitely be picking up this top in some more colours!

I wore my Bertie platform ankle boots which you cant see that well in the picture but I have featured them before in this post. I really like the contrasting 'toughness' of the boots and the leather skirt with delicate top. 

I finished it off with an old Topshop leather clutch bag with metal detailing, and a pair of statement earrings. I ended up wearing a white blazer too (which you can be seen here) which really finished off the outfit.

It's definitely an outfit I'll be coming backing to time and again!

Cami: Topshop

Leather Skirt: H&M sale (similar here)

Boots: Bertie, John Lewis sale (similar here)

Chem x

p.s. As you can see, the cat decided to get in on the action again!
p.p.s. I'll be working making my stance a little more ladylike! 

OOTD: Urban Outfitters' Shift Dress

Can I just start off by saying that I bloody love this dress. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it, I took it home and we've lived happily ever since. There were second dates with this little number.

It's your classic shift dress, simple and chic. It falls really nicely, skimming over most of the lumps and bumps, and the pattern is gorgeous. It's super comfy and soft, and although it wasn't cheap (£42) I've worn it to death already and I've only had it for a couple of months. Teamed with tights and a white collared shirt underneath, it'll even see me through winter.

This dress also comes in a navy colour with a daisy design on it, which I stupidly didn't buy when I saw it, but I'm desperately trying to get my hands on as we speak. I literally want this dress in every colour!

I teamed it with a pair of black leather boots with gold detailing. They're basically a rip-off of the Chloé ankle boots that everyone wanted to get their hands on last year! I nabbed these in New Look sale earlier this year for...wait for it... £5. Yes, you read that right AND they're real leather. They're actually a size 3 (I'm usually a 4) but I made them fit and they're actually not too bad.

The jacket is also a New Look sale find. It's a parka style jacket, but really light-weight and thin. A perfect summer jacket.

I did my hair in a half-up/half-down style in a classic 90's tribute. I'm actually really enjoying wearing my hair like this at the moment; it keeps it out of my face but it's more exciting that a ponytail.

You can find this dress on the Urban Outfitters website.

What do you think of the dress? Are you a fan of shift dresses?

Chem x

p.s. Next door's cat wanted in on the photoshoot so naturally I obliged - isn't he cute?!

Clothing Crush: Flatform Sandals

So you could say that I'm a bit late to the party re. flatforms, but you'll have to forgive me. Albeit not being to everyone's taste, flatforms showed their practical-yet-stylish face about 2 years ago, and have continued to loiter in our shops ever since.  

I've only recently ventured into the sphere of flatforms in the form of your classic white plimsoll (a bargain from eBay which you can find here) but after seeing a colleague rocking a particularly delectable pair of flatform sandals (the Topshop 'Woohoo') my head has been filled with images of these little beauties.

With that in mind I thought I'd show you my favourite pairs which are out there at the moment...

1. 'Pink Ties' from & Other Stories £23 - These are actually in the sale and have sadly sold out of my size but they have most other sizes. I just thought they were too pretty not too include - the fabric ankle ties are such a nice touch and so different to anything else I've come across.

2. 'Red' from & Other Stories £45 - Perhaps not strictly 'flatforms' but as good as. I really like the bright colour and the plastic strap across the toes give them a slight twist.

3. 'Monochrome' from Zara £19.99 - I love the chunky-ness (?!) of these shoes and the monochrome colour scheme. The white stripe really makes them stand out and I think they'd be perfect for day wear or a night out. What's even better is that they are such a bargain and they'd look so good in my wardrobe...

4. 'Sparkle' from Zara £59.99 - These are the priciest of the lot but I think the glitter is so pretty! I love the nude tones and they'd look great on the end of some bronzed limbs. Gorgeous.

5. 'Raffia' from Topshop £45.00 - These are really versatile and I really like the contrast of the raffia and leather.

6. 'All Black' from Topshop £40.00 - Your classic black flatform, perfect for any outfit and any occassion. Out of all of them, you'd probably get the most wear out of these. I love their simplicity.

In a nutshell, flatforms can be worn with, well... anything! They will give a cute summer dress a slight edge, dress-up a pair of skinny jeans and a slouchy top, or even look great on a night out. With the weather taking a slight U-turn at the moment (read: wind and rain), I'm reluctant to purchase any of these beauties but if a pair happens to fall into my hands I'll be sure to show you some outfits with them.

What are you thoughts on flatforms? Which pair is your favourite?

Chem x

OOTD: The Graduate

When I say finding my graduation outfit took months, I'm not exaggerating. I've been searching since April for 'The One' (read: perfect outfit) and my searches had remained unfruitful until the end of June.

I was holding out for that love-at-first sight, fitting-eachother-like-a-glove moment, and I wasn't prepared to settle for anything less. Yes, I am still talking about clothes, not finding my life partner although it felt just as important!

Eventually I found the dress that you see before you today; a bright yellow pleated midi dress from Topshop. I didn't have a particular colour in mind and yellow would never have been my first choice but I love it. It fits brilliantly and is a modest but chic length. It was also such a nice contrast against the black gown. On a side note: yes, wearing the hat and gown is just as exciting as you think it would be, although I could never have predicted how much it would make me sweat!

Next were the shoes. Oh, the shoes! They were by far my greatest worry. I was plagued by nightmares of toppling in front of hundreds of people as I collected my certificate (I didn't, phew. ) Anyway, usually I'm a platform wedge-wearer but I realised that they couldn't be anything like that. Not only did I think they'd look clumpy, but I knew that the heel height coupled with a wedge would leave me open to going over on my ankle, especially without the usual help of vodka induced confidence that one gets on a night-out (I know you know what I'm talking about)! After much Cinderella-style shoe trying, I decided on these blue strappy shoes. Comfy, secure, a good height and damn right sexy - Office , you nailed it. I also know I'll definitely get more use out of them than just on this one occasion.

Finally, I stumbled across this really cool floral clutch bag in the Dorothy Perkins sale. It tied in the colours perfectly and was a steal at £10.

So there you have it, my complete graduation outfit. To all you future graduates, my advice would be... start early! If you thought your dissertation was difficult, you ain't seen nothing yet.

What do you think of the outfit? What did you/will you wear to your graduation?

Chem x

Beauty Favourite #1: Topshop 'Hazard' Lipstick

So, I'm back. After a shameful and extended break in blog posts, I have finally crawled out of my dissertation and revision cave (yay!) and have entered the real world once again. This time it's forever too, as I've completed university and I am a actual graduate. I won't lie, it's terrifying, very sad, and a little exciting all at the same time. Needless to say I just don't know how to feel, so until I figure that out, I have my first 'favourite' for you, and this time it's personal beauty related.

I bought the Topshop lipstick in the shade 'Hazard' probably around a year and a half ago, after hearing The Persian Babe talking about it in one of her videos. Before this, I'd never really been into lipsticks and I had certainly never owned a red lipstick so I bit the bullet (geddit?) and purchased it. Since then it has become my go-to lipstick; if I fancy adding a pop of colour to a muted outfit, or if I want to lay off the smoky eye for a night, this is always my number one choice. 

I have to say, I've never worn this lipstick during the day as it is a very red red and I don't know if I'd quite pull it off. On a night out though, I love it. It's extremely long lasting; it has stood the test of multiple drinks (ahem) and a hell of a lot of dancing. It really doesn't budge which is brilliant because I can forget about it instead of wandering all night about whether my lipstick is on my forehead. On top of that, although it is matte, it isn't drying (and that's coming from someone who is prone to dry lips) and it doesn't cling to flakiness although a slick of vaseline before applying it never goes amiss.

The colour is beautiful - it's a dark, cool toned red which I think would suit any skin tone. It's so difficult to show the actual colour so the above pictures reflect how it looked away from a window (Left) and in front of a window (Right).

It's definitely my favourite lipstick that I own, and I plan on trying out some other Topshop lipsticks because I think they're such good quality as well as being affordable.

What do you think of red lipstick? Are there any Topshop lipstick shades which you'd recommend?

Chem x 

Bloglovin'

So this isn't a very interesting post (there is one on it's way, I promise!) but it's definitely pretty important!

As I'm sure you know, Google Reader and Google Friend Connect are being shut down in the near future. For this reason I'm setting my blog up in conjunction with Bloglovin' so if you'd like to follow me (and I'd really love it if you did!) then please click the link below and it will direct you! I also have a button you can use on the right hand side.

>>>Follow my blog with Bloglovin<<<<

Chem x

Nail Rock Nail Caviar Manicure

Since Ciaté released their innovative caviar manicure sets at the beginning of last year, I've heard quite a lot about these curiously beady creations. To be honest, I was never that taken with the trend. I thought it would be a bit tedious to do and I wasn't sure if I liked the effect; think hundreds and thousands clinging to your nails - was that a good look?

Despite this, when I opened up the birthday presents which my lovely housemates had spoilt me with, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the 'Nail Rock Nail Caviar Manicure' was one of them. I was suddenly very excited to try out the craze which I'd seen and heard so much about; the set they'd chosen (bright green nail varnish, with green and purple beads) was right up my street and there was definitely something strangely alluring about the tiny little beads.

Instead of doing all of my nails, I decided to use the 'caviar' on my ring fingers to create an accent nail. I figured having them all done would probably make doing all the usual things a little more tricky and the effect would be a bit much. It was so easy to do; I gave all the nails two coats of the nail varnish so it was opaque, then straight after I'd done the second coat for my ring fingers I put that finger into the pot of beads. They immediately all stick to the wet nail varnish and you press them on to ensure that they stick and the surface is covered.

I was really pleased with how they turned out and it was fun having nails a little different to the usual 'one colour'. One thing that was disappointing, however, was that the desired look only really lasted for about a day. By that time so many of the beads had fallen off, leaving a trail of them wherever I went (just call me Gretel), and it was looking pretty shabby. Although it was nice while it lasted, I'd say the caviar manicure is definitely something to do for a special occasion or a one off because the longevity is poor. I did try putting a clear top coat over them to make them stay for longer but a word of advice: don't. The varnish ended up stripping and smudging the colours off of the beads although the nail I tried it on definitely lasted a lot longer so...every cloud?! If only there was a way of doing it without spoiling the colours... hmm.

I've seen that Ciaté are doing a version with glitter/sequins instead which look really cool, although at £14 a pop it seems a bit steep for something that I think would be relatively easy to recreate for yourself. Perhaps I'll give that a go..!

What do you think of the caviar manicure? Have you ever tried it?

Chem x

Clothing Crush: Graphic Tees

As I mentioned in my previous OOTN post, I've been having a slight love affair with t-shirts recently, particulary graphic t-shirts. I think they're such a simple piece to use in an outfit. They look cool and relaxed with jeans and a leather jacket or can be dressed up a little bit with high-waisted trousers and heels. 

As you can see from the collage, I do generally prefer monochrome colours because they're so simple and stylish. My Mum has always had a slight obsession with white t-shirts so she must be proud! Having said that, it's definitely a case of back to basics with t-shirts so I think it's good to have fun with different colours and graphics if you're making it the focal point of your outfit.

Below are a range of t-shirts that I've stumbled across during my internet browsing (guilty) which I took a shine to and thought I'd share with you. There were so many I could have included but I kept it to a modest six so as not to overwhelm with choice. I hope you like them!

1. Mirrored Flower Print

2. Heart American Flag

3. Star Print

4. Beastie Boys

5. Wild Print

6. NYC

What do you think? Are you a fan of t-shirts?!

Chem x

OOTD: Joni Jeans & Denim Shirt

Another outfit post for you all! This is just a simple outfit I put together to pop into town.

The trousers are the newest addition to my jean family. They're the Topshop 'Joni' which I'm sure you've heard all about. I've been looking for a pair of high-waisted jeans for a while and I'd recently been trying on the American Apparel 'easy jeans' but was really disappointed with their fit, so when I saw these I was thrilled. Although I absolutely love them, I've found the side seam goes white when I wear them which is a bit annoying - has anyone else found this?! I think I may have to take a black marker to them and ignore it! I sized down in these because, as a religious wearer of the 'Leigh' jeans, I knew they'd go a bit baggy. I'm trying to break them in at the moment, and, after sacrificing the odd breath here and there, they're slowly loosening up. Breathing is overrated anyway...

The parka I've had for over two years now and it's really starting to show! It's my go-to coat when it's cold so it's been perfect for the recent snowy days. The denim shirt I don't wear nearly enough, but whenever I do I really like how it looks so I'm definitely going to incorporate it into my outfits more. I've also really been liking frilly socks with boots/converse so I chucked them on to add a little something to the outfit.

I don't wear my hair up very often but hair left to dry over night and rainy days are certainly not my friends so I decided to do a quick and messy ponytail. 

I know the background isn't the most interesting (please excuse the mess) but my housemate kindly took them quickly before popping out. There will be more picturesque photographs in the next outfit posts, I promise! On the upside, I finally worked out how to format my pictures in the way I wanted to; baby steps...!

Parka: Newlook (old - similar here)

Denim Shirt: ASOS (similar in New Look)

Necklace: Dorothy Perkins sale (similar here)

Black Joni Jeans: Topshop

Frilly Socks: ASOS

Boots: Newlook Sale (similar on ASOS)

Bag: River Island (old - couldn't find anything similar!)

Have you tried the 'Joni' jeans? What do you think of denim shirts?

Chem x