bloomzy /

Photo Diary: What do you want to see?

Jizo statues at a temple in Tokyo, Japan

If you’re a regular to my blog, you will know that I often post ‘photo diaries’.
These are just a small collection of photos from my travels, or events that I have attended etc.
I plan to continue with my Japan & Paris photo diaries as I have plenty more photos to post.
However I thought it might make a change if I did a couple of ‘personal’ photo diary entries.

Leave a comment with something you would like to see a photo of from my daily life.
e.g. My favourite item of clothing, the view from my window, a funny sign etc.
bloomzy /

OOTD: Black & Gold

Top & Skirt: Bought in Japan | Shoes: ASOS

I used to wear this skirt quite often when I was in Japan, but I’d forgotten about it. So I decided to base this outfit around it, because I love the look of ‘Black & Gold’. It’s actually pretty simple but I think all the elements, even down to my earrings, tied in pretty well.

This was actually yesterday’s outfit, but I didn’t have the time to post it.
I think you can all forgive me though, right?
bloomzy /

Wish List: Wandering Minds

Items from Wandering Minds
Wandering Minds is a new webstore set up by a group of friends.
The items in the store have been hand-picked by the girls themselves, who have flown to 
some amazing fashion capitals, such as Seoul, Tokyo, and Paris. 
In fact, they travel all year long, finding new emerging designers. 
I think you can tell why this store called out to me.
Fashion + Travel = ♥

The items from their new ‘Seoul Collection‘ feature some wonderful basics that would suit most styles.
As you probably guessed, these items are from Korean designers. The girls chose these as they loved the simple, but effortlessly fashionable looks they saw on the streets of Seoul. I personally, want their job!!
To me, the looks are reminiscent of American Apparel, Topshop and some of the stores on Gmarket.
I definitely want to add all of the above items to my wardrobe!
You can shop the collections here.
bloomzy /

My Favourite Asian Beauty Products

After being asked over the weekend about my favourite Japanese beauty products,

I thought it might make a change to post about some of my favourite Asian beauty products.
I know I have done it in the past, but I hope this will help my new readers and those who don’t know much about them.
I’ve decided to make it simple and pick my favourite make-up brands, for certain products.
I have chosen items that I use everyday. I don’t use items such as bronzer etc. so they won’t be included. 
It’s also worth mentioning that even though I have used a lot of Asian beauty products I haven’t tried out every single brand, and I do prefer Western brands for certain products so where there are gaps, this is why.
Also, I have not only chosen Asian brands, but brands that are also popular in the Asian beauty market.
A lot of the ‘Western’ beauty brands that are popular often carry lines that are only available in Asia.

I have linked each product to where you can purchase it online.

Face

Concealer: Candydoll / Sana
BB Cream: Skin79 Hot Pink / Skin79 Diamond Collection
Contouring: Diamond Beauty / Canmake
Loose Powder: Diamond Beauty

Blush: Canmake
Highlight: Canmake

Eyes

Primer: Canmake
Eyeshadow: Dollywink / Canmake
Eyeliner: KATE / Dollywink
Eyelashes: Diamond Lash / Eyemazing
Mascara: Dollywink

Lips
Lip Care: Paul & Joe
Lip Gloss: Candydoll / B & C
Lip Balm: Happy Bath Day

Nude Lipsticks: Candydoll / Canmake
Other Lipsticks: Anna Sui
I hope this has helped a few people who want to venture into the Asian beauty market.
I don’t know everything about Asian beauty products but my time living in Japan, and importing products from Asian companies has helped me a lot. My favourite place to shop online is Sasa, the prices are reasonable (not marked up as high as other stores), they offer a very large selection and are reliable. Alpha Beauty Store on eBay also offer a wide variety of Asian Beauty products, including most of those listed above.

Source; 1
bloomzy /

OOTD: Back to Black

(Top; bought in Kyoto – eBay, Shorts; H&M, Tights; Alta, Shinjuku, Shoes; ASOS, Accessories; Topshop)

As the title says, I’m back to wearing black. I was doing so well! I guess it’s true when they say, old habits die hard.
At least I’m wearing red on my lips. By the way, the ‘kissing photo’ was actually due to the fiancé. He took my photos this time (rather than me and a tripod), and he told me to mess around a bit.
I’m so quirky and original!
The top I bought in my last few days in Japan before I moved back to England. It was from a small store in Kyoto, but a few months ago I found the exact same one from an English eBay seller – pretty cool. I included a link in the description under the photo. It’s just a pretty cool shirt in general actually.  The skull is made up of famous last words such as: “Shoot Coward! You are only going to kill a man” – Che Guevara

My favourite part of the top has to be the chains and holes across the back and shoulders though. I was going for a fun, rock-ish vibe and I think it suits that well. I think it would have looked better if I had been able to get the tights to actually sit straight – one of my peeves when it comes to hosiery.
Finally, do you like the haircut? Nothing new, but it needed a trim.
bloomzy /

OOTD: Silhouette

Sweater Top: bought in Japan | Skirt: Primark | Accessories: H&M

Here we go again, another week has begun, and I’m still layering up. I really am praying for warmer weather! I was teased with it when I went back home (down South) and when I went to London recently. I know we have nice weather, it just doesn’t favour my uni town apparently.
I really liked the silhouette of this outfit, which is surprising as I’m not a fan of layering this skirt over other items.  Why? Well actually it sticks out a bit under the elastic at the top (only noticed this with Primark skirts), which has put me off in the past. However, today, I manned up and I kinda liked the results. The top I bought when I was living in Japan. It’s a sweater-dress-top as I like to call it.  In Japan it was acceptable as a dress, but it’s ridiculously short by British standards…in my opinion.
And for those who think I may just have a black tight fetish, you’re not wrong I should explain;
My knee is still pretty messy after my fall a few weeks ago so I’ve been hiding/protecting it in tights etc.
bloomzy /

Presents from Taiwan

(Face Masks; Sasa, Green Tea Powder, Happie Nuts Magazine & Rienda Pouch)

Recently my mum went over to Hong Kong to visit my sister, who is currently living there with her boyfriend.
Whilst she was there they decided to take a trip to Taiwan, as they’d been before and really love the country.
In-between visiting friends, and eating some amazing food, my mum picked me up a few gifts.
She’s calling these ‘belated birthday presents’, but I already received some money and chocolate from my parents, so I wasn’t expecting anything else. 
What did I get?
+ Japanese Cherry Blossom Sheet Face Masks
+ Apricot Sheet Face Masks
+ Green Tea Powder Sachets
+ Happie Nuts Magazine
The face masks are from a store named Sasa. They have quite a few stores in Asia, but they also sell their products online, here. They ship internationally, and are one of the best places online to find Asian beauty products.
Happie Nuts for my readers who don’t know, is a Japanese fashion magazine. It’s mainly aimed at women in their 20s and predominantly features ‘gyaru’ or ‘gal’ fashion, which some of you may know I was a fan of. I still enjoy reading Happie Nuts though, as I find the fashion and beauty articles are more on trend with Western styles. 
For my new readers, I do speak and read Japanese (competently, not fluently).

Finally, the green tea power sachets (Matcha) are just because I love Matcha so much, which you’ve probably heard me mention a thousand times before. I’m like a broken record!