bloomzy /

Style: His and Hers Glasses

Glasses aren’t the easiest accessories to choose, especially when they’re something you need to wear everyday. That’s why it was so difficult for Ben when it came to choosing a new pair of frames. We looked at store after store, but nothing seemed to catch his eye (haha, get it?). In the end he told me that he wanted a pair like mine “…but in black”. Something which I now wish he’d told me at the beginning of our search, as I knew exactly how to solve our problem. To the internet!

I’ve never been much of a fan of online shopping, especially for items such as glasses. How on earth are you supposed to know if they fit right, or even suit you? That’s where Glasses Direct come in handy. They offer a free home trial, which a friend of mine tried out last year. She chose 4 pairs of glasses – in different styles – and simply tried them on at home. She actually ended up loving a couple of the pairs, but finally decided on just one. At the time I thought it was a pretty good idea, especially when online glasses stores seem to be able to offer a variety of styles at reasonable prices. Thankfully Ben didn’t need to try any out as he had already mentioned the style he wanted, but it was good to know what kind of quality and service he could expect.

Choosing the right pair was pretty easy, as I offered up a little style advise. In the end though it was all down to him, so he ordered the London Retro Carnaby frames, in black – a slightly smaller version of my own. They arrived about a week ago now and he hasn’t taken them off since. This is a guy who has worn solely contacts for about 5 years. I think the fact that he feels pretty stylish in them helps. All down to me, of course.

bloomzy /

OOTD: Power Play

Shirt* – Hawes & Curtis | Jeans – Topshop | Shoes – Urban Outfitters | Clutch* – Persun

Shirts and blouses will forever remind me of high school. Whereas a lot of my friends preferred polo shirts, I chose a crisp white blouse. Truthfully I didn’t fully realise the potential of them at the time. Now my style is slightly more mature, and I appreciate them in a different way. There’s something quite sexy and chic about a well fitted shirt. I feel pretty powerful when I’m wearing one.

Some people may try to make you believe a shirt is only for school or business, but I beg to differ. Hawes and Curtis are one of London’s best stores for luxury shirts, if only for their choice of styles and fits. I chose this one in particular because polka dots will always be a favourite of mine, and I happen to think they look quite smart too. I paired my shirt with some well fitted jeans from Topshop and my court shoes from Urban Outfitters. I went for gold detailing with my accessories, matching them to my heels. Admittedly I did add the clutch bag as it looked similar to a file, playing around with the ‘business’ idea – making it more casual and wearable.

bloomzy /

Review: Heir Atelier Ultimate Make-up Prep Primer

Heir Atelier Ultimate Make-up Prep Primer*

I’d probably have my beauty blogger membership revoked if I admitted that I only started using primers around 1-2 years ago. I never saw the point and would just opt for moisturisers instead. Now I can’t imagine how I even got my make-up to stay on without one. I’ve tried a few since I switched over and when my most recent one ran out I decided it was time to try a new product. Heir Atelier’s Ultimate Make-up Prep is as interesting as it is beautiful. This little beauty wonder moisturisers and primes your skin for make-up, so you have one less step in your regime to worry about. The primer is “paraben free and formulated with anti-ageing peptides, Jojoba Oil and vitamins C and E” – sounds good to me!

Pros:
+ Applies well and easily
+ Creates smooth base
+ Concealer/Powder stayed on
+ Good texture
+ Nice fragrance
+ Moisturising


Cons:
– Eyeliner didn’t last all day when using this as a primer (see ETA)


Notes:
Look at that bottle! If that isn’t a beautiful beauty product then I don’t know what is. After removing the lid you may notice that the pump is hidden. That’s because it only pops up when the bottle is twisted. So it’s not only easy on the eye, but it’s also practical and clean. The texture of the primer is very similar to others I have used, although I have found that two pumps are needed for enough product to cover the whole face (others have only required one). It applies easily and leaves a smooth base for your make-up. I’m not a fan of fragrance in face products but this does smell nice and my skin seems to like it, so no complaints there. Unfortunately I noticed that my eyeliner didn’t last as long as it usually does, but my concealer lasted just fine. Overall, I think it’s a good product but at £28 for only 15ml, it’s very unlikely I would purchase it, especially when I am a fan of cheaper alternatives that work better (on my skin). The product itself is great, but the eyeliner problem is just too big of a con for me.

You can buy the Heir Atelier Ultimate Make-up Prep at Blow Ltd.

ETA: Kendra Richards is the lady behind Heir Atlier and she reached out to me via my blog and Twitter to let me know a little more about the brand, and my eyeliner concerns. The product is primarily for the face and she apologised for not making that more clear. She hopes to be able to communicate this better in the future, and was incredibly personable. This is her “baby”, which she created for the models and actors she works with, so I can understand that not everything is going to be spot on. That said, this feels like a high quality product and I’m very impressed that it’s so new. Not only that but I think it’s amazing that she contacted me and took on my comments. It has really changed my mind about the product and I can’t wait to see how the brand grows.

bloomzy /

OOTD: Keep Cool

Top* – Persun | Slip Dress – Primark | Bag – Zara | Sandals* – Fitflop | Sunglasses* – Playn
 
It hasn’t exactly been easy in this heatwave, trying to figure out which items of clothing won’t leave me melting into a puddle. I do however have a few items I know I can rely on to keep me cool and stylish. Well, as stylish as I’m going to get anyway.
My number one favourite item right now is my little black slip dress from Primark. You’re probably wondering why on earth I would even consider black in this heat. Honestly I have no better excuse than “…because it goes with everything.” It is a little plain by itself though so I’ve been layering it with loose fitting/cotton tees, to add a bit of dimension to my outfits. Of course sandals are a must in this heat, as are sunglasses so I’ve entrusted both of those tasks to two brands I know and love: Fitflop, and Playn Eyewear. As far as accessories go, my watch and my new camera are the only ones I need. However I do need something to carry a heavy DSLR around in, so I opted for my Zara backpack.
I’ve been hanging in there and thankfully I haven’t combusted just yet. If it wasn’t for loose tops and sandals I think I’d have got that pixie cut I’ve been dreaming of for the past few years and hidden myself away in a cave.
Thanks to Chopstickpanorama for taking my photos.
bloomzy /

Wishlist: Beauty Base Perfumes

I’ve always been a sucker for a good perfume. It wasn’t until I moved away to university though that I realised just how big my problem was. I placed each beautifully bottled scent on my shelf, until there was no more space. It was then that I decided I would slim my collection down, only buying a select few perfumes, the kind that I would want to wear everyday. In recent years I’ve done pretty well at keeping that promise to myself. Instead I buy one or two perfumes during the year, whilst trying out mini sample size scents to determine my next purchase. Once a perfume has run out I buy my favourite of the samples. However that doesn’t mean I can’t dream a little, so I’ve put together a wishlist of some old and new favourites from Beauty Base. 
Vivienne Westwood has some great perfumes, but Boudoir has to be my favourite. Marc Jacobs is another sensible choice, and if the beautifully adorned bottle doesn’t sell it to you, maybe the fruity, floral fragrance will. Speaking of beautiful bottles, I do like my perfumes to look as good as they smell. That’s why Salvatore Ferragamo’s Signorina Eleganza is on the list. Two samples that I’ve almost used up completely in recent months are Dolce by Dolce & Gabanna, and Prada Candy Florale. Both scents are perfectly suited to me and my perfume collection. I may have resigned myself to only buying a couple of bottles of perfume a year, but that doesn’t mean I can’t ask for the others as gifts. 
Source: 1
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This post is in collaboration with Beauty Base, however all views and words are my own.

bloomzy /

Review: Canmake Stay-On Balm Rouge Lip Colour #3

Canmake Stay On Balm Rouge Lip Colour in #3 Tiny Sweetpea
Canmake is a brand you may have seen me mention before on the blog. Hailing from Japan, they offer quality cosmetics at high street prices, which has made them one of Japan’s leading make-up brands. I have been using their products for almost 5 years, but I still get excited when I see a new launch. Their Stay-On Balm Rouge intrigued me as it claims to be a moisturising lip balm with a rouge tint and UV protection. Now I don’t know about you, but that ticks all the boxes in what I’m looking for in a lip product. It comes in 8 shades, ranging from pinks, to corals and reds. I have shade #3 Tiny Sweetpea.
Pros:
+ Moisturisng
+ Noticeable tint
+ Applies easily
+ Cute packaging
+ Gloss-like finish

Cons:
– Doesn’t stay on when eating/drinking

Notes:
First off I have to say how impressed I am with the packaging. Canmake’s products are usually packaged nicely, but this one feels as if they’ve put in extra effort. The twist function makes the product seem more expensive, and it gives easy access to the balm. As for the balm itself, I was expecting something slightly sheer as that’s how it looked when swatched. However I found the colour to be quite pigmented and noticeable when I applied it to my lips. It felt very moisturising and not sticky at all. I’ve had dry lips recently, and this didn’t irritate them like some of my other tinted balms. My only complaint would be that it doesn’t stay on long when drinking or eating, but then not many lip products do. Priced at 580円 (around £3.35) I would definitely repurchase it, and I’d even buy more shades to add to my collection. As for being able to purchase it in Europe/US, the price has been hiked up, as is the usual with Japanese beauty products. If you managed to grab this in Asia then go for it! Still, if you’d like to buy it online it averages at around £8 (with shipping), which I would still pay for a replacement, once I’ve used this one. 
You can purchase Canmake’s Stay-On Balm Rouge Lip Colour at Alpha Beauty Store.
bloomzy /

Red or Dead – Keep It Cool

Driving through London on the top of a
vintage double decker bus whilst sipping on Pimm’s is my idea of fun.
It becomes all the more exciting when you’re on your way to Red or
Dead’s headquarters, joined by your fellow bloggers. As far as hyping
up events go, RoD have it down to a tee. We arrived to a pink paradise where we
were fed delectable mini treats and watered with refreshing slushies
by Slush Bros. We were then ushered inside for a small talk about the
A/W 14 collection, which is where Creative Director Katie Greenyer told us all about the history
of the brand, and all of the exciting things to come. Red or Dead have managed
to update the brand’s look without losing their sassy, unique vibe.
They’ve created their own trends for the A/W season, but
fashion-conscious people need not worry as the pieces will appeal to
most.

I personally loved all of the
monochrome on offer – always on-trend, always timeless. I know the
inclusion of the two piece sets will keep a lot of bloggers happy,
especially those who were worried that they would have to say goodbye
to them at the end of the Summer. My personal favourite was the striped jumper-skirt combo. The 1950s American high school
inspired pieces called out to my inner vintage vixen (she likes to
make an appearance every now and again),
and sent my brain into a coordinating craze. The midi-skirt and
jacket would look amazing with some bright red heels (dare
I say glitter?) and a beehive.
The shoes and accessories are so perfect that they
could easily make an outfit themselves. No, I’m not encouraging you
all to turn up to your mate’s birthday party sans clothing, holding
the Red or Dead Saturn Clutch (a personal favourite of mine).
I am however encouraging you to think about making a pair of their
brogues, or their vampire clutch bag the point of your outfit.
Basically, the accessories are so on point that you’re going to look
pretty darn cool wearing even the smallest piece of Red or Dead.
Red or
Dead are a brand I remember wearing in the early 2000s. I even had a
pair of the iconic foam wedges, which I wore at any given chance. So
I was pretty excited to find out what the brand had on offer now, and
whether it would suit my current tastes (they’ve changed
quite a bit). Luckily I was not
disappointed and I can see myself wearing about 90% of the new
collection. Whereas I won’t be cycling away on their gorgeous bike
anytime soon, I can definitely see a few key pieces (and
most of the accessories) working
their way into my Autumn-Winter wardrobe.

You
can shop Red or Dead’s A/W 14 collection exclusively at BANK Fashion.
Thank you to V.A for taking the photos of me at the event.