bloomzy /

OOTD: London Fashion Week – Sick Day

Jacket – H&M | Dress – Topshop | Boots* – UGG | Backpack – Zara | Necklace – Primark | Watch – Marc by Marc Jacobs

I was pretty sad I didn’t get to make it to London Fashion Week this season. I’m not a massive fan of catwalks but I do enjoy seeing everyone’s street style. I had been hoping to pop down and take some photos of everyone this time round. Unfortunately I’m stuck inside and have been told not to go out by my doctor. I did go out for 5 minutes though as I really wanted to make an outfit post.
UGG recently sent me over a pair of their boots to keep me comfy and warm this LFW. Whereas unfortunately I won’t be able to run about Somerset House in them, I still love them. I’ve never owned a pair of UGG boots before, mainly due to seeing so many poor rip-offs on the high-street. After wearing these Classic Leather UGG Boots though I can definitely see what all the fuss is about. They’re incredibly comfortable and looked cute worn with my striped Topshop Drop Waist Tunic Dress. Of course I choose to accessorise with a few bits of bling here and there, and my new Zara backpack. I’m so in love with how fashionable, yet functional this backpack is – well done Zara!
Did you head to London Fashion Week?
Send me your links to your street snaps, as I’d love to see them!
bloomzy /

London Fashion Week: Opening Ceremony x René Magritte Collaboration

I’m an art lover, especially surrealist art.
So of course I got more than a little excited with this London Fashion Week collab.
Unfortunately I am stuck at home sick, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still blog about it.
Opening Ceremony’s latest collaboration is with the Magritte Foundation.
A Women’s (and Men’s) ready-to-wear collection will feature Magritte-inspired imagery.
It doesn’t end with dresses or shirts though, as three big-name shoe brands get in on the collab too.
Manolo Blahnik, Birkenstocks, and Vans will all be getting a piece of the action, with a capsule collection.
The previews are already coming out thick and fast and I for one can’t get enough of it!
Being a fan of Magritte’s work adds a little extra something to an already amazing collection.
I already have my eyes on the Vans on the bottom left, and pretty much all of the clothing.
This is a fun, yet insightful collaboration, which will certainly be turning heads…disembodied or not.
The collection will be available in Opening Ceremony stores from May.
Source: 1, 2
bloomzy /

Review: Boujies London Candles

Boujies London Earl Grey and Black Ginger Candles*

Last week Boujies sent me a couple of their candles.
Now I am a massive candle addict so this was wonderful.
I can’t resist buying a candle in a particular scent that I adore.
These two definitely fit that bill; Earl Grey and Black Ginger.
Ginger and Earl Grey tea are two of my favourites scents!
Boujies started out just down the road from me at Spitalfields market in 2009.
They believe in using 100% natural wax in their candles, which they manufacture in Britain.
Their range of 7 scents are expertly chosen and feature fragrances such as Indian Vetiver and Black Dahlia.
The candles start at £14 and the diffusers start at £19, with prices going up to £68 for gift sets.
For luxury scented candles hand-poured in England, the pricing is pretty amazing.
I was so excited to receive these and see if they smelt as good as they sounded.
The packaging was the first thing I noticed – I really like the minimalist approach.
The mini candles have a paint pot type lid that you need to pry off before lighting them.
These ones in particular burn for around 20 hours, so they may look tiny but they have a good life.
The scents from both these candles is completely spot on and they absolutely smell amazing.
Part of me wants to burn these all day so my apartment smells like Earl Grey tea or Ginger.
The other part of me wants to save them because I don’t want to use them up completely.
You can purchase both the Earl Grey candle and the Black Ginger candle at Boujies.
bloomzy /

Review: Bobbi Brown Crystal Eye Palette


Bobbi Brown Crystal Eye Palette, from the Nude Glow Collection
I’ve been lusting after this palette
since it’s release.
So after a couple of weeks of thinking ‘I
need this’, I finally bought it.
The Nude Glow Collection is Bobbi Brown’s grown-up
take on sparkles and shimmer.
Out of the 3 eyeshadow palettes
available, Crystal Eyes was the one that stood out to me.
Pros:
+ Good pigmentation
+ Gorgeous packaging
+ Complimentary colours
+ Matte and shimmer shadows
+ Shades are subtle yet noticeable
+ Great for travelling/keeping in
handbag
Cons:
– Shades may not suit everyone
– Limited edition
Notes:
This palette is everything I wanted it
to be. I have been using matte browns and cream shades for so long
that I had forgotten all about pinks, and sparkly shadows. I’m not
going to lie, the advertising for the Nude Glow Collection was a
major factor in me purchasing it. Katie Holmes looks almost ethereal
in the campaign and as a fellow pale lady I felt that if Joey Potter
could work it, then maybe I could too. These shades may be subtle but
they are perfect for brightening up your eyes. I’m not usually a fan
of shimmer shades but these almost look as if you’re wearing teeny
tiny crystals on your eye lids…well done Bobbi! I think this
palette would suit most people, but understandably not everyone is a
fan of pink and shimmers. I wasn’t even really, but I’ve been won
over by these. The Nude Glow Collection is limited edition and this
particular palette is selling out fast, so it may be a case of
tracking it down online or at your local Bobbi Brown concession asap,
before they’re all snapped up!

The Bobbi Brown Crystal Eyeshadow Palette is sold out at most online stockists.
If you would like to purchase it, I would suggest heading to your local Bobbi Brown concession.

bloomzy /

Review: Canmake Lip Care Essence

Canmake Lip Care Essence

This is a product I’ve kept hidden from you all for a while. But I can’t be selfish any longer, so I’ve decided to review it for you. Canmake are a Japanese drugstore-equivalent beauty brand. They can be found in most stores across Japan that stock beauty products. They are also available in some stores across other parts of Asia, and online. The collections are usually very well priced for the quality of the goods. I’ve been using Canmake products for around 6 years now and I love them.

Pros:
+ Very moisturising
+ Helped when I had chapped lips
+ Great base for lipstick
+ Cute packaging
+ Can be used as a gloss

Cons:
– Sticky

Notes:
As an avid user of lip balms I wasn’t expecting much from a gloss lip care product. Yet Canmake have won me over again with this one. This gloss is an amazing all rounder product that works great for general lip-care but is also good as a base for lipsticks, or to get a natural gloss look on lips. It can be sticky, like all glosses, so probably best to avoid wearing it on a windy day – trust me, I know from experience. However it has kept my lips chap free, and even helped when I had chapped lips recently. It’s a great size so it would fit into any handbag easily, but there’s plenty of product. It leaves my lips hydrated, soft and smooth, and doesn’t stay sticky for too long. It’s worth mentioning that this has a very very light pink tone to it, and there is also a cherry toned one. This was bought in Japan for a very reasonable 680円 (around £4.10). You can buy this particular product online but unfortunately like most imported products, prices have been hiked up.

You can buy Canmake’s Lip Care Essence on eBay and at YesStyle.

bloomzy /

Valentine’s Day: Lingerie Gift Set from F&F

Valentine’s Day gift from F & F Clothing*
 
When I told the fiancé someone had sent me some lingerie as a Valentine’s gift he was appalled.
He calmed down though when I told him it was from the lovely people at F & F Clothing, at Tesco.
Not only do I feel lucky to be receiving presents from someone other than him, but look at these beauties!
The lingerie set is so cute, and as you know I’m not a massive fan of pink.
However when I tried this set on, I was taken aback at how lovely it looked on.
Not to be too cliché, but this set just seems so perfect as a Valentine’s Day gift.
The floral pattern, diamante detail and the small cut-out works really well together.
The set comes off as pretty, sexy and classy all in one, which I don’t think is very easy to do.
Not only is it lovely, but it fit perfectly too, which can be difficult with the variety in sizing.
The bra comes in an array of sizes from a B cup to all the way up to a G cup – nice one!
I’m sure a lot of you know how annoying it is when a gorgeous bra doesn’t come in your size.
Well done F & F for covering all the bases there. A lot of ladies will be very happy with that.
I’m really won over by the quality of this set, and am very thankful.
Not only was the bra a nice surprise but look at the rest of these goodies!
Chocolate, check. Selection of appropriate beauty products, check.
This is the perfect gift to keep me looking fabulous this Valentine’s day.
You can purchase the Miranda Embroided Bra set in sizes 34DD – 40G at F&F Clothing.
You can also find sizes 32B – 38DD at F&F Clothing.
bloomzy /

Review: Collection Work The Colour Nude Eye Palette

Collection Work The Colour Nude Eye Palette

You may remember this palette from my recent haul post.
Well I’ve had it and have been using it for a couple of weeks now.
I know a lot of people were intrigued by it and wanted a review, so here we go!
Swatches…yeah, I don’t know why I did it that way either.
Pros:
+ Stays put during the day
+ Shadows are fairly pigmented
+ Packaging is handy/good for travelling
+ Shadows apply ok without a primer
+ Removes easily with make-up remover

Cons:
– Shades could be more varied
– Didn’t blend as well as I’d hoped for
– Matte shadows would have been better
– Highlighter is too ‘white’

Notes:
I really had high hopes for this palette, but as you can see, unfortunately the pros and cons have just about levelled out. I really love the concept that Collection came up with for these, but it just doesn’t seem to play out well in person. The shadows aren’t varied enough for my liking – the numbers on the bottom two rows are basically the same as each other (i.e. both 2s are similar, boths 3s etc.), and they’re all glitter shadows. I love a good nude eye and whereas glitter shadows can add a little something, I think it’s important to have a few mattes in there too, but there are none in this palette. The cream highlighter is a good idea and the way it has a little cover to stop shadow falling in is very handy. However it’s a bit too white, and looked odd when I applied it. Maybe because I’m so pale? I don’t know. Anyway, I ended up using the first #1 shadow as it works better as a highlighter for me. These shadows aren’t bad and for only £2.99 I wouldn’t say it’s a waste of money for an eyeshadow palette, I just think it could have been done better.
You can buy Collection’s Work The Colour Nude Eye Palette at Superdrug.