The Official Colour of 2015: Get The Look

Ta da! The colour of 2015 is Marsala, and Pantone promises it to be "robust, earthy, sophisticated, hearty, stylish and fulfilling". Sounds like a colour you need in your life... here's some products that will meet those Marsala-y needs!

Spice It Up Lipstick, Mac

This is such a lovely lipstick, and oozes marsala. It's a "lustre" lipstick, so if you're not into a bold red lip, this could be right up your street as it is a dewy formula. It's also pretty subdued and wearable, just like Pantone's colour of the year. Definitely something everyone can wear!

New York Eyeshadow, Nars

I do love myself some Nars eyeshadows, and New York is going to be right on trend for 2015! A beautiful bruised red colour that will be perfect to warm up a smoky eye

Downtown Brown Nailpolish, Essie

This is like no other brown... mostly because it's not brown but a lovely rich mahogany that is practically the same as marsala. Since it's super festive, it'll look perfect with a LBD and heels for a Christmas party.

What's The Hype With Cinderella?

Yesterday the trailer for the live action version of Cinderella was released, and created a storm of bibbity-bobbity-boo over the internet. And it's not difficult to see why!

There have been a myriad of "Cinderella stories", but none quite meeting the standard of Disney's classic animation of Charles Perrault's story. There's been: A Cinderella Story, plus it's sequel's, Ella Enchanted, Ever After, and of course the version with Brandy and Whitney Houston (yes, I still have it in my video collection!).

The 2015, Disney's live action version will be added to the list of works inspired by the fairy tale, but I can't help but feel a little more excited for this release for the following reason's, and so should you!

Helena Bonham Carter is the Fairy Godmother

This is an interesting casting, as we know Helena mostly for her darker and eccentric roles, which would make her perfect for the wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine. But in the trailer she is rocking it and looks fabulous with blonde hair, I must admit! From what I can tell, the character has been crafted in such a way to provide comic relief, and now that the trailer has been released, I can't imagine anyone else in the role! What an amazing addition to the cast! But it doesn't stop there, because...

...Robb Stark is Prince Charming

Well not quite Robb Stark, but the actor who plays him- Richard Madden is! And he's almost unrecognisable without his beard and GOT costume. And he's actually really charming. Jenna Coleman is a very lucky woman. This is another casting that's a little bit of a red herring: a Scottish guy, who played a tough, cursing Stark, but it appears to work strangely well. Maybe that's because...

...Kenneth Branagh is the Director!

I can't think of anyone else better to direct this movie. You might know him better as Gilderoy Lockhart in the Harry Potter movies, but he is also a great director! Thor? Iron Man 2? Yup, that was him! He's also an amazing Shakespearean actor, which will put him in a good position for bringing out the classical elements of Cinderella. 

The Costume Department Are Amazing

Lily James, who plays the titular character, get's to wear the dress every girl has imagined: a beautiful baby blue, with more than a dozen layers of skirt, and of course matching glass slippers, that the Fairy Godmother insists are comfortable.


And of course there are the wicked Step Mother and Sisters' costumes, which have been designed to be "a bit too much", according to Sandy Powell, the Oscar winning costume designer

The Winter Coat Everyone Needs!

The weather all of a sudden has gotten so cold, and my cropped leather jacket just wasn't keeping me warm enough now... sigh, it really is winter now, and autumn is over.

So, the hunt for a winter coat was on. I initially thought perhaps a throw on camel coat would do the job, but quickly realised 1: they're not waterproof and have no hood, so it's definitely not Scotland proof, and 2: the throw on style was not going to keep me warm. In short, super cute for autumn and less wet seasons, just not suitable for minus conditions!

I had been looking in Zara, where I got my fabulous leather jacket, aforementioned, that I've been wearing for the last four months, and I spotted the most gorgeous coat! It comes in several colours, has down padding so it feels like you're walking about with a duvet on, a hood and is extremely waterproof.

It is a little pricey at £106, but if there's such a thing as an investment piece, this is one. Did I mention it's super flattering with the belt?!

You can find it here one Zara.com or in your local store

My Halloween Costume Tutorial, Duh!

Halloween is just around the corner, and although it's not huge in the UK, I absolutely love it! Strange since it originated in Ireland and Scotland, where I live. The creative decorations, fun parties, Thriller on repeat and of course the costumes.
This year I decided to go as Cher Horowitz, having had the idea in the back of my head for the last five or six years, only being put off by not many people knowing what she was from. But of course, this year saw Iggy Azalea bring Cher to life in the music video for Fancy, and it seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to finally dress up as Miss Horowitz.

Make Up

  

The aim of the look was to appear, young and fresh faced, I mean Cher is meant to be 15 in the movie! That's the job of the Strobe Cream (1), and the Face and Body foundation (2). I then used the Pro Conceal and Correct Pallet (3) where necessary to clear up those nasty spots or areas of redness... Alicia Silverstone has gorgeous clear skin, I however need a little help.

The Select Moisturecover (4) concealer is great to illuminate the under eyes. I did so by placing a long triangle, from the inner corner of my eyes, right down to nearly the bottom of my nose and right back up to the outer corner. This will lengthen my face, and minimise the roundness, since Cher has an oval shape. I blotted this in with a Real Techniques Contour Brush, as it's a great size to get right into the corners.

I gently contoured my face with the Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Deep, and Powder Blush in Peaches (5). I did so by creating a high tilted angle along my cheekbone with the Mineralize Skinfinish and blending the blusher from the cheekbone to the apple.

To create a longer and straighter nose, I used the Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown (6) to recreate a straight thin line. I then used the Hazel (lighter) Professional Eyebrow Pencil (6) to fill in my brows to recreate Cher's flatter, full ones.

Lastly, to create a hollow, round eye, I cut the crease with Buck and Darkhouse, from my Naked Pallet (7) mixed together and blended it with my 217 MAC brush. I also used Sin in the inner corners of my eyes, sweeping it down onto my waterline, using the brush that came with the pallet.

For the lips, I slightly overlined them with the Boldly Bare lip pencil (8) to create Cher's famous pouty lip, before filling it in with MAC's bestseller Velvet Teddy lipstick (8): the perfect rasin 90's lip!

And for the final look, what do you think?

Outfit

Top to Bottom:

Wig- £18.99 from Amazon

White Blouse- Old school shirt from Topshop

Crop Top- from New Look (any crop top will really work)

Tartan Skirt- 50AUD (about £36, just a note, there was also a surprise £20 customs charge) from Blackmilk

Shoes- Black heeled loafers from New Look

The beauty of going as Cher is that you'll probably have most of the costume already. The yellow tartan skirt is a great, iconic piece and people will know exactly who you are, but if you don't have the time why not go for a few of her other looks that are easier to recreate? Here's a few pictures to inspire you!

What is it you're going as this year? Let me know below!

Sweater Weather: the 10 best looks on the highstreet

The cold weather has definitely hit, and all I want to do in the morning is wrap myself up in a duvet and go to university like a human taco. Apparently that's not acceptable, so I've been on the hunt for some jumpers. Here is a list of my favourites:

1.

Fluffy Jumper by Love from Topshop: £38

I am a complete sucker for pastels and love a good fluffy knit, so how could this possibly not make the list? The colours remind me of Frozen the movie, in particular Elsa. The jumper's a little on the pricey side at £38, but if it makes singing Let it Go feel more authentic, I'll be getting it for winter!

2.

Cameo Rose Cream V Neck Chunky Knit Jumper from New Look: £24.99

This is such a cute, fun piece. I've never seen a jumper in this shape before, and with such a flattering neckline too. I can only see this working in the more temperate, Autumn months though, since it has small cut out squares, and the crop which could result in a chilly midriff in Winter!

3.

Sheer Windowpane Sweater from Forever21: £15

Forever21 really are one of my favourites for jumpers. Remember those fabulous Disney poster jumpers? My Lion King one got worn non stop last year! Anyway, this sweater really stood out to me for it's unique design. As I've mentioned before, I don't  generally wear many accessories and would rather have a statement coming from the clothes, and this jumper certainly has a statement... just think how fabulous this would look with a leather skirt and heels?! At £15, I can't complain about price either.

4.

Patterned Sweatshirt from H&M: £19.99

This sweatshirt oozes Autumn: lovely, rich, warm colours. It's also super casual and a good price; perfect for those cozy nights on the sofa watching reality tv.

5.

Pink Coffee Print Contrast Sleeve Jumper from River Island: £35

Another really interesting jumper! Although this would go perfectly with your everyday skinny jeans to create a cute day outfit, the leather sleeves really vamp it up, so pair it with a pair of black boots to pull it all together.

6.

Check Wool Blend Sweatshirt from Mango: £19.99

Super cosy and has obligatory Christmas colours: put this on and you're set for the next few months. It's also super cheap for what you get! I love Mango, but sometimes I find it can be expensive and generally out of budget for teenagers and students alike. But since this is only £19.99, I feel like it can be completely justified, and will definitely be making a guest appearance in my wardrobe.

7.

Burgundy Harry Potter Hogwarts Print Jumper from New Look: £22.99

I know logo jumper or novelty jumpers may not be everyone's cup of tea, but who doesn't like a bit of Harry Potter?! Plus, when you wear this you can pretend to be like Harry and Ron getting their jumpers from Mrs Weasley at Christmas. Unleash your inner nerd A/W 14-15!

8.

Embellished Tie Back Jumper from Miss Selfridge: £39

You can always count on Miss Selfridge for a bit of glamour. The jumper is such a classic shape but the bejewelled neckline adds a bit off femininity, as does the bow at the back of the neck. It's a little bit expensive, but sometimes you just have to pretend you never saw the price tag when you buy something so pretty and versatile.

9.

Cropped Crotchet Sweater from Forever21: £19

Yes, another Forever21 bargin buy. Like number eight above, this has a stunning neckline, but is a little different to others. Most, from what I've seen, have a gem style collar which can make it quite "blingy". But this is effortless and boho, making it great for days out with friends and drinking pumpkin lattes (yes I knocked one off my Autumn bucket list!)

10.

Louche Unicorn Intarsia Jumper from JOY: £45

Finally, my favourite. If one store encapsulated my taste in clothes, it would be JOY, and their jumpers are some of their best clothes in stock. A unicorn jumper you ask? But all the best people have a garment with the magical creature plastered on it. Remember the t shirt Taylor Swift wore while performing at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards? Exactly. I know it's a little cookie, but if you're going to have a sweater collection you might as well go out and have one that's a little novelty!

Click here for more fashion posts!

Glasgow Student Takeover Haul

On Friday I went to a "student takeover", or "student lock-in" as they're sometimes called at Buchanan Galleries. It has nothing to do with world domination by generation y, or anything. Basically it's when stores in a shopping centre join together for the night to have amazing discounts for students. There can also be DJs playing, a bar, and some competitions as last night had.

As you can imagine, I couldn't help but go and have a small splurge. Here's my buys below!

1. Grey Floral Satin Trousers, River Island: Was £42, reduced to £33.60

2. Black Block Heel Ankle Boots, River Island: Were £40, reduced to £32

I absolutely love these two new purchases; both are so versatile, yet so different. Here I matched the trousers up with a crop top from ASOS, as mentioned in my back to university haul, which brought them back to a casual look. I can imagine I'll wear them with a lacy crop top and some sandal stilettos for going to a bar. These boots are also a god send and very comfortable. The gold band where the heel meets the shoe differentiates them from a standard ankle boot and can easily be worn for a night out when the colder weather really starts to creep in.

3. Black Ribbed Turtle Neck Top, River Island: Was £18, reduced to £14.40

There's no denying that there's a 90s revival going on just now, from the Kylie Jenner raisin lip to tattoo chokers. I know I don't wear it as well as Steve Jobs did, but still, the shape and fit of the top is so flattering! It really could go with anything and for any occasion: work, a bar, club, shopping, the list goes on. Here I paired it with a velour skirt and houndstooth blazer, both from Topshop (no longer available), and plain black stiletto sandals from New Look (NLA).

4. Black Denim Collar Jumper, River Island: Was £35, reduced to £28

The main thing I love about this jumper is that it's so soft and comfy. The collar doesn't reach further that the join, so it's not overly thick and frumpy. I've put it with a pair of lace and denim shorts (NLA), to embrace double denim in a subtle way, and chunky white platforms (NLA), both from New Look.

5. Green Split Back Blouse, River Island: Was £32, reduced to £25.60

6. Gold Tone Plate Necklace, River Island: Was £8, reduced to £6.40

7. Revel Bold Curve Skinny Jeans in Pressed Dark, Levi's: Were £90, reduced to £63

These three purchases work so well together to create an outfit suitable for many occasions. The satin texture in the blouse is so glamorous and the slits up the back, vamp it up. In general, I'm not big on accessorising and will opt for the statement to be in the clothes, but I have been craving a necklace like this for ages and can imagine it helping to quickly glam up a day outfit. Finally, the Levi's: I have several other pairs that are all at least two years old. They have only just began to wear out at the knee and slightly lose shape, so that's why I decided to invest in another pair. There was an amazing 30% off, that I couldn't miss out on, especially for a wardrobe staple like skinny jeans.

8. Red Check Contrast Sleeve Shift Dress, River Island: Was £45, reduced to £36

9. Dark Red Zig Zag Quilted Purse, River Island: Was £17, reduced to £13.60

10. Chigwell Jelly Dome Bag, Accessorize: Was £42, reduced to £33.60

I spotted this dress on the "last chance to buy" rack and I had to snap it up when I saw my size. You can help but feel like Cher Horowitz in some tartan, and thanks to Iggy Azalea it has rocketed the look back into peoples wardrobes. The purse I'm holding in the left picture is a beautiful oxblood colour and has many sections to keep everything organised. Finally the handbag on the right hand side could possibly be my favourite of all my purchases. It is a beautiful rose gold colour, with a Louis Vuitton-esque print of hearts, letters and stars  and is made from a jelly material: so different to all my other bags, this one will have a special place in my heart.

Want to know if there's a Student Lock In coming to your city? Have a look at StudentLockIn.com which is holding many throughout the UK, or your local mall's website, chances are if there is one being held, it will be all over there!

Happy shopping!

-Jen

TEDucation Tuesdays: Isaac Mizrahi, Fashion and Creativity

This TED talk really caught my eye as I skimmed through the selection on the website, as it revolved around fashion and creativity, opposed to some of the more technical or scientific talks, which were more alien.

Isaac Mizrahi is a well established fashion designer, but when you see the man behind the clothes, you finally understand where the flair comes from. He talks about topic after topic, in particular how quickly bored he becomes and his dislike for research. Clearly, his thirst for the future, opposed to the past has been a great catalyst for innovation and creativity. The way his mind works is incredibly refreshing and inspiring, as shown in the above video, get watching!


-Jen

Click here for last week's TED talk

ASOS Haul: F/W 14-15 must haves for going back to university

It's September, that time of year where students creep out of their duvets and into their cars, back to university. Yes, summer is almost over (although weather-wise, it ended a month ago), and that means a new wardrobe.

For me, it will be a strange transition back to casual clothes after a summer of more formal clothing for my internship (more on that later!). I can't deny that I will miss the smart tailoring: an A-line midi skirt, blouse and brogues isn't exactly finance tutorial attire.

But that doesn't mean that I'll be ridding my wardrobe of formal clothes completely. I'm far from a joggy bottoms and hoodie girl!

A couple of days ago I went on a huge ASOS haul since they had a big 25% off for students that I got through Unidays, which, for those of you who are fresher's, I'll explain later on a thrifty students post.

I also find shopping on ASOS a lot more fruitful than I do going into town and physically looking for clothes, contrary to many other's opinions. To me, internet shopping gives a clear view of what your purchasing and can prevent an overspend.

Anyway, let's get onto my must haves:

1. CO-RDS

I bought this set after months of debating whether to or not. The beautiful colour seemed to match Pantone's rich aurora red that is promised to be in for the F/W 14-15 season, and in the end I couldn't stop myself. The quirky stripe around the neck also seemed to be right on trend with the "street meets sport" look that appears to be everywhere right now.

The main thing I love about co-ords is, is that it's like a 3 for 1. If you're like me, you probably feel excited wearing something new, and with co-ords you can wear the matching outfit together, or otherwise, making it feel different each time.

2. Sheer Blouses

I love, love, love all of these blouses! I have purchased a couple of them in the b,c, and d cut before, and I adored how flattering they are. Plus, how cute are these quirky prints? They are a brilliant way to smarten up a pair of jeans, I know these will be a definite "go to" in the mornings.

A is something a little different for me... "who wears cheetah, that's so ratchet", I hear you cry. But there's no denying its vibrant, in trend colours set it apart from a standard animal print.

3. Leather Skirts

I already have a couple of leather skirts, albeit, in different shapes. There's one common factor I really like about each of them, and that is how warm they are.

Living in the UK basically means winter starting in September, so I'm always looking for feminine pieces that keep me warm for the frosty mornings, and leather skirts do the trick. I love how adaptable this will be, perhaps I'll pair it with blouse b, above.

4. Camisoles

Camisoles have been one of my staple items this summer, and on cooler days I'd layer it up with a cardigan. What I love most about them is how effortlessly pretty they are, as they frame the decolletage (that collar-boneish bit) perfectly.

The one above is right on trend with Pantone's gorgeous sangria colour and hopefully will last me way into next summer. A great cheap buy!

5. Chunky Cardigans

Ah, chunky cardigans, a must have for me all the way back to my school days. They are a brilliant way to bring a summer wardrobe into the next season easily and cheaply.

As I mentioned above, I love to wear cardigans with camisoles as it's such a simple way to look on trend and channel Alexa Chung, New York chic style. I purchased the above in black and can't wait to wear it with all my other buys, it really does go with everything!

Anyway, there's my haul! You can find all pictures and items on the ASOS website. Let me know in the comments what you'll be wearing, going back to uni, or even just in general for the coming season.

More coming soon

-Jen