bloomzy /

OOTD: Denim Lady

(Denim Shirt: Primark, Dress: Topshop, Shoes: Urban Outfitters, Accessories: Topshop & Urban Outfitters)

On Saturday I went for coffee and brunch with my younger sister, and then to a surprise party.
Since one of the events was casual, and the other a bit more dressy, I decided to put together an outfit that would fit both occassions but not look odd at either. Well, I think I accomplished that – I wore my tiered lace dress (dressy) and paired it with a denim shirt (casual), and some hipster-esque accessories. 
I hope you’re enjoying the more ‘commercial’ photo on the left.
I picked up some delicious special bread from the deli (thanks Toni & Gaby) and had to pose with it.
I know, I know, don’t give up the day job – the bread may outshine me but it had to be done.
Also, as a bonus – a make-up shot!
 I don’t often include them but I also wanted to show off the earrings a bit more.
A few people on Instagram shared their love for them – they’re from Urban Outfitters.
bloomzy /

Photo Diary: Holiday in Provence 1

 
Photos around Provence, South of France

Here is the first of my photo diaries from my recent holiday in Provence, in the South of France.
I love France and Provence is somewhere I have visited a couple of times for it’s weather, scenery and good food.
So I wanted to show a little bit of Provence in the few photos I included this time.
We have; cakes, animals, coffee, architecture and…a pink bike, of course.
The cakes just looked so inviting, and I’m a big fan of French decaffeinated espressos because I can’t have caffeine and they’re still rich with flavour, compared to British decafe coffee anyway. The cute kitty was the ‘village cat’ that wandered around – I took that photo when we were sat having dinner. As for the dog, I don’t know who it belonged to as it was in a different town but he was really friendly – I was taking an outfit photo when he came over and photobombed me. It’s safe to say I forgave him. Hmm…I think the rest is self explanatory, except for the pink bicycle, which was just a prop to advertise for a nearby Pizzeria.
I haven’t done a photo diary for a little while, so I hope you still enjoy them!
bloomzy /

For the love of shoes!

Leopard head embellished court shoes*
Recently I’ve been on a bit of a shoe binge.
Usually I buy shoes that are practical, and only when I need a pair.
However over the last few weeks I’ve found myself becoming a bit obsessed with shoes.
In the last month I’ve bought/been bought 6 pairs of shoes.
Ok that probably doesn’t seem like much for the average shoeholic, but it is for me!
As I said before, I tend to only buy shoes when I need them, rather than want them.
So I started wondering why my shopping habits have changed so much recently.
Well, it’s pretty simple actually; the stores are bringing out some gorgeous shoes this season!
That, and some online shoe stores are having some amazing sales.
I’m currently in love with the leopard head court heels pictured above, from Oasap.
They’re just the right amount of glam and attitude, with a small heel so they’re comfortable and cute.

My favourite stores for shoes (& sales!) right now are: Oasap, River Island, Daisy Street and ASOS.
Don’t forget to visit Oasap and use discount code: ‘bloomzy’ for 35% off!
bloomzy /

Giveaway: Qcumber Clothing

Qcumber is a quirky and fun UK clothing company whose jumpers are inspired by fruit & vegetables.
There are currently 21 colourful designs for women & men to choose from, such as: strawberries, cucumbers, pineapples and their new watermelon print. They also offer the opportunity to request your favourite fruit or veg as their next design.
Fans of unique and comfortable clothing will love them, and with a tag line like ‘QCumber jumpers are the perfect garnish to any wardrobe’ you gotta love them.


What can you win?
Your choice of a Qcumber Jumper (from the webstore, here)
How to enter:
1. Follow ‘Bloomzy’ via GFC/Bloglovin.
3. Leave a blog post comment letting us know ‘your favourite fruit, which you would wear as a hat‘.
3. Earn extra entries by following Qcumber clothing on Twitter, or by tweeting about the giveaway.
This giveaway has ended!

The winner is:

bloomzy /

Introducing: Kanebo Sensai 38°C Mascara

Kanebo Sensai 38°C Mascara & 38°C Separating & Lengthening Mascara
Kanebo’s latest mascara to hit Harrod’s beauty department is the Sensai 38°C.
Coming in both a regular and a separating & lengthening version, the mascaras feature Koishimaru silk extract and Phyto-Squalane for a soft texture. Both are fragrance-free and use a traditional spiral brush, to help separate the lashes, and avoid clumping whilst offering the right amount of coverage.

Kanebo Sensai 38°C Mascara
The 38°C mascara is a new addition to the world of waterproof mascaras.
The name may seem a bit odd, but actually it’s pretty self-explanatory. The unique formula means that it is only removable with water at 38°C (or higher). Even so, this is an essential mascara for those who live in, or are planning on holidaying in a hot climate. Resistant against sweat, tears and high humidity means that you’ll have no worries at all.

Kanebo Sensai 38°C Mascara Separating & Lengthening
Joining the 38°C mascara is the Separating & Lengthening mascara, which separates, conditions and lengthens the lashes whilst still managing to live up to its namesake. If water and humidity resistant wasn’t good enough for you, then maybe big and beautiful eyes will help seal the deal.

You can purchase both mascaras from the Kanebo Sensai 38°C range here.
Or browse the rest of Kanebo’s collection at Harrods here.

——————————– 
This post is in collaboration with Harrods but all views, photos and words are my own.
bloomzy /

[Nail Week] My Favourite Nail Polish Brands

Nail Week is coming to a close, and I decided to end it with a post on my favourite Nail Polish Brands.
Over the years I have tried various brands of polish. Some I’ve not been too keen on, others I’ve become a long-term fan of, and still continue to use today. So I decided to include some of my old favourites and some of the up-and-comers in my personal collection.Why have I chosen the brands that I did?

Maxfactor
A mid-range priced polish that offers great coverage and good colour.
Great application – opaque in 1 coat!
Buy here.

OPI
Such an amazing range of colours, shades and glitter polishes.
If you want a particular colour, OPI will have it.
Buy here.

MUA
Cheap and cheerful.
Polishes start at £1 and come in a variety of shades, including glitters.
Buy here.

Chanel
A high-end polish that doesn’t disappoint.
Application and removal is super easy, whilst the shades are always on-trend.
Buy here.

Barry M
Affordable, vibrant colours that are long-lasting.
They often have discounts and special offers for their large variety of polishes.
Buy here.

Dear Lee
Wonderful colours and cheap too!
I love their selection and the application of the polish.
Buy here.

Miss Sporty
Another cheap, but effective polish.
Buy here.

So there you have it, my favourite go-to nail polish brands.
Of course that doesn’t mean I won’t be experimenting with any new brands.
What’s your favourite nail polish brand?

bloomzy /

[Nail Week] Review: Glitter Nail Art Brushes

Glitter Nail Art Brushes*

Nail art pens and brushes are some of the easiest ways to create a variety of designs.
I’ve experimented with pens in the past, and I think they’re great but some can be a little awkward to use.
So this time I tried out some glitter nail art brushes, just to see if I could get on any easier with them.
These particular ones come in a set of 9; red-pink, purple, blue, orange, green, 2x gold, 2x silver.
There are two for each silver and gold as one is a thin glitter, and one has bigger pieces.
Please note it is very hard to photograph glitter polish – the effect is much better in person.

Creating a gradient effect with the glitter nail art brushes.

Pros:
+ Easy to use
+ Glitter goes on well
+ Colours are vibrant
+ My favourite colours are orange, blue and gold

Cons:
– Can be slightly gloopy
– Takes time to dry
– Has a VERY strong smell (nail polish chemical smell)

Notes:
I really loved the effect I created with these, but I wonder if I’d be able to create more intricate designs with them.
I think if you want something for simple designs (stripes, gradients, polka dots etc) these are great.
However if you wanted to draw with these then I would say it’s probably going to be difficult, and pens would be a better solution. That said, I thought the glitter went on well and it was easy to apply, especially compared to some of the pens I’ve used. The drying time was slightly longer than a nail polish, which is probably due to the ‘gloopy’ formula. 
You can buy these Glitter Nail Art Brushes here.
Or browse BornPrettyStore for other colours in the range.
10% off with code: BLOOMZYK31