September Favourites | 2015

September, the start of a new season, the month of New York, London and Milan fashion weeks, as well as my birthday! In my opinion this is one of the most exciting times of the year.

Most of my favourites this month were gifts from my fab friends for my birthday!

L'OREAL Miss Manga Mega Volume Mascara -  I was on the hunt for a new mascara, so when I opened this for my birthday I was super happy. This is by far the best mascara I have EVER used. 1000% recommend. It gives lashes volume and length, and holds all day with no smudge or fall down.

L'OREAL Super Liner Perfect Slim - I have loved using this, it is super easy to apply and lasts all day without 'cracking'. I've found applying liner so much quicker using this pen.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge - LOVE this. I have dry skin and find this perfect for applying foundation when the sponge is damp. It also gives an airbrushed look when blending out concealer on top of foundation. *My sponge looks gross, needs a wash asap, ha.

MAC Blusher in 'Harmony' - I've been loving wearing this on my eyes, I love the orange undertone, it's perfect to wear as a base for a brown smokey eye.

MAC Lipstick in 'Captive' - This is a great season transition colour, the berry tone is not too dark, a perfect early autumnal shade.

Hair Elastics - Since having my hair cut reasonably shorter recently, I have found using my regular bobbles a bit big, so I've been using elastics. These are great for putting short hair up, they are practically invisible in the hair!

Colouring Book For Adults - This was a gift for my birthday, I have been getting this out before I go to bed, and colouring in whilst watching tv. I find it so calming! I just need to get myself some good pens.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES!!!! - I cannot rave more about this show, I LOVE it so much. This month I watched the whole of season 6 back to back in anticipation for season 7 which starts soon! EXCITED.

What have you been loving this month? Is there anything you would recommend me trying out? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading :)

Shannon x

Bedroom Inspiration

I have been using Polyvore recently, putting together ideas to decorate my bedroom. I am especially loving the combination of greys, mauve, dusky pink and copper, which, inevitably  have been the colour palette that I have been working with.

BEDROOM 1 - The marble canvas with the copper swirled into it matches perfectly with the grey marble print cushion, giving a contemporary feel to a soft girly styled room. I love the 'More Issues Than Vogue' print, I think it adds a nice touch and would bring personality to the room.

BEDROOM 2 - Taking on more of a grey and lilac influence, this idea evokes luxury and warmth. It almost makes you want to jump into the screen and snuggle up in fur throws and light up the candles, perfect for this time of year, as the nights grow in quicker.

BEDROOM 3 - The copper light fixings are my favourite items in this room, I think they add a great touch to the perfect mixture of pale pinks and greys.

You can find these sets over on my Polyvore here.

Do you have a Polyvore page? Comment below with a link to your page! Which bedroom collage is your favourite? Let me know in the comments!!

Thanks for reading :)

Shannon x

Style Post | Long Boots

Long, over the knee boots are this season's must have, and if they elongate the leg then what's not to love?!

I've been loving Pinterest this week to get some inspiration of how to style long boots, below are a few images that I really like.

You can find these, along with other pins, over on my Pinterest board here.

After gathering some style inspo, I decided to put together a couple of outfits of how I would style a pair of over the knee boots!

TALKIN' TASSELS - This outfit is all about the tassels, keeping the colour scheme to two base colours allows for the extra detailing of the boots and bag. Long, chunky knitted socks and a pair of tights would also look great with the pinafore and boots.

SINGIN' IN SUEDE - The suede accessories give this outfit a definite nod to the 70's, the blue on the dress is a nice contrast with the brown earth tones.

* * *

An alternative to try first, if you are a bit scared to don the long boot or like me and not too sure whether the look will suit, is to wear some knee high socks with a pair of ankle boots. They will still give you the overall look of a long boot, but if you lose confidence throughout the day you can roll down the socks.

What is your favourite way of styling a long boot? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading

Shannon x

London Fashion Week Favourites!

Here's a round up of my favourite garms that made their way down the catwalk at this years London fashion week, previewing designer's collections for Spring/Summer 2016.

Bora Aksu

Julien Macdonald

Issa

Temperley London

Burberry

After seeing the collections from lfw, I am excited to see how the high street will interpret them into their designs for the Spring/Summer season!

Is there a collection that you have fallen in love with? Let me know in the comments!

Thank for reading!

Shannon x

Autumn Accessories

Autumn almost feels like it's here, I feel like now is the time to dig out the coat and get ready for chilly mornings!
September is my favourite month of the year (not just because it's my birthday :D ), it's when you realise it's time to pack away the sandals and immerse yourself in the autumnal trends.

I thought I would pick out three of my favourite accessories that are sure to be a hit right through into winter!

A BERRY LIPSTICK
The perfect way to transition from summer is to swap up those pinks and brights for a dark plum/berry colour, this adds an instant autumnal feel to any outfit!

LONG BOOTS
Long boots, either over the knee or thigh high's are back! This trend was seen last year and it looks like it's not going away. Styling a long pair of boots with a mini skirt and tights (or without if your're feeling brave) or dress will instantly give you the 60s look which is a key trend this season.
*All of the boots below are available from Public Desire.

HATS
A fedora in camel, plum and browns as opposed to the classic black, is a way to switch up your look and embrace this season's colour palette.
*The first hat is from Topshop, the rest can be found on ASOS.

I hope this has helped you to get ready for Autumn! What are your favourite accessories to rock in Autumn?

Thanks for reading :)

Shannon x

Review | Revolution Redemption Palette Iconic 3

I have heard so many great things about this palette, and at just £4 I thought I would give it a whirl.

Being an avid lover and user of the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, I was always keen to try the Naked 3 but wasn't too sure whether I'd wear the pinky tones as much - and being just short of £40 I couldn't bring myself to purchase it. When I saw that the Iconic 3 palette was a dupe for the Naked 3, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out the colours.

Firstly I'll mention the downside to the shadows. The shimmery shades don't pick up well with a brush and tend to leave small bits of glitter spread across the lid, I also experienced some fall down. 

The palette comes with a double ended sponge applicator which at first I dismissed, however when using the shimmery shades I find it gives a much more pigmented look, which I am happy about as I was disappointed when these didn't transfer well.

The matte shades are well pigmented and pick up well with a brush, there is minimal fall down which makes this product a dream.

The packaging is small and compact making it easy to chuck in your make up bag for travelling. It would have been great if it had a mirror built in the lid, but at only £4 I can’t really grumble.

I have swatched three of the shimmer shades that are my favourite, the copper/orange shade being my daily go to!

The Revolution palette is something I'm glad I trialled, the quality is beyond the £4 I spent – definitely worth a try if you like the look of the Naked 3 by Urban Decay!

I purchased the palette here.

Hope this post was helpful!

Thanks for reading J

-         Shannon

My Make Up Wishlist!

There are so many make up products I learn of whilst reading beauty blogs and watching You Tube vids, so I thought I would write a list of a few I really want to try out! Compiling a list will help me whittle down which I really need (I need them all, I really do!!) and which I could maybe try in the future.

1. MAX FACTOR Facefinity 3 in 1 Foundation - Claiming to be a primer, concealer and foundation, I am deeply interested to see if this product lives up to expectations!

2. TOO FACED Chocolate Bar Eye shadow Palette - Mmmm just look at the colours! I like all the colours and can think of so many different looks I could create. The smell of cocoa is also a massive selling point to me - who can say no to a bit of chocolate.

3. URBAN DECAY Eye Pencil in shade 'Deep End' - I think this would look fab on the water line to add a pop of colour to my eyes! This would be perfect to try out in summer.

4. SLEEK Face Contour Kit - I want to start contouring properly, I have been using a bronzer to contour with but it has a orange tone to it and isn't much cop. I love sleek products and heard a lot about this kit, the small compact is ideal for travel too!

5. MAC Strobe Cream - There is nothing worse than drying flaky foundation! I have really dry skin and currently use a moisturiser by simple before applying my foundation. However, I am always on the lookout for products to improve my skin and give me a nice dewy complexion, and when I saw this on a beauty blog I knew I immediately wanted it.

6. CLINIQUE Chubby Stick sculpting contour - As I have previously said, I would really like to up my contour game. I came across this chubby stick whilst watching one of 'imhereforever' YouTube videos.


I like to read these type of posts, hopefully you've discovered something you would also like to try out, or maybe you already have tried some of the products? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

-Shannon.

June Favourites | 2015

So..here are all the things I've been loving this month!

White Ripped High Waisted Jeans - I've practically lived in these throughout May and June, they have been a summery substitute for my trusty black ripped skinny's. I love that they are high waisted, allowing for more outfit options, styled with a strappy crop top these can easily been worn for a night out. 

Venus Snap Razor - This little razor is thee best. Full stop. It's little snap box feature and it's petite size is incredibly handy when it comes to travelling around. Something which I have been doing a lot of recently due to the fact of moving out of my Uni house and going abroad on holiday.

Naked 2 Urban Decay Palette - The Naked 2 eye shadow palette is nothing new to me as I regularly use it. However, more recently I have been experimenting with a golden eye look, taking 'half baked' under my eye on the lower lash line. I find this compliments my eye colour (blue) and looks great with sun kissed skin (fake or the real thing).

MUA Lipstick 'Bare' - I have been loving this nudey/pink lip colour this month, especially when I went abroad at the beginning of June, it acts as a balm as well as a lipstick, which was great for my drying lips.

Rose Gold Earrings* - My love of rose gold has grown this month, whilst originally looking for a new watch I came across these little beauty's. I have a thing for not mixing silver and gold when wearing jewellery, but this can be hard especially when it comes to matching these with details on clothing and shoes. I figured I could get away with the mixing of gold and silver if I wear these (which I hopefully did as I have worn them to death!).

*I can no longer find the exact earrings I have, hopefully these would be a good alternative.

Sugar Crush Soap & Glory Body Cream  - The smell of this body cream sold it for me, the citrus smell literally smells so good you could almost mistake it for some kind of desert! Keeping skin soft and smelling great makes this the perfect addition to any beauty routine, I use it straight out of the shower.

What have you been loving this month?? Is there any recommendations you think I should try? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

- Shannon xo

Style Post | Day To Night

Here's a style post to transform a day outfit into one for a night full of cocktails!

I have lived in my white jeans these last couple of months, wearing them through the day and for a night out. The easiest way to transform an outfit so it transitions from day to night is to swap your flats for a nice pair of heels! Another way is to ditch the big bag for a clutch and grab a bold lipstick to dramatically change your make up look.

How would you re style a day outfit so it would transition for a night out? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading :)!

- Shannon xo

Review | MUA Lip Liner in Caramel Nougat

After carelessly picking up this cheap lip liner from a Superdrug store whilst shopping in Manchester, I've never looked back!

I'm not a massive lip liner fanatic, usually reaching out for a one when opting to wear a dark colour lipstick, to stop it from bleeding. However, after spending what seemed a lifetime in Superdrug looking for something new to try I saw the lip liners and thought I'd try out a nude shade for everyday (or when I choose a subtle lip look for a night out).

The colour 'Caramel Nougat' is the perfect nude shade that will compliment most colour lipsticks,glosses and skin tones. I use it most days to define the shape of my lips and to give them a slightly fuller look, often filling in my lips and wearing with a slick of gloss on top.

The creamy consistency of the pencil makes for an easy application, allowing you to apply it as quickly as you please. I find it gives a matte finish when applied over the whole lip, which looks great and doesn't feel too drying like other matte lip products. It also has a sharpener built in the lid which is a dream as I always seem to loose my sharpeners!!

A little niggle I have with this product is that because its quite creamy it becomes blunt quickly, which can be expected when paying only £1.00 for it. Despite this, I find the product overall a really good buy and will definitely purchase another!

I bought my MUA (Makeup Academy) lip liner in Caramel Nougat from Superdrug.
Click here for the link to the MUA website where it can also be purchased online - you will be charged postage fee so it might be worthwhile popping into your local Superdrug.

Is there any colours you would recommend me try from the MUA brand? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for reading

Shannon xo

Top 3 Places I Want Visit

There are many many many places and attractions I want to see, here is my top 3 destinations that I would love to jet off to!

1. Hawaii -  ALOHA The hot weather and amazing scenery is something I very much would like to experience! The idea of stepping off the plane and arranging to be greeted with a flower garland is something that excites me a lot.

2. New York - Seeing the Statue of Liberty, shopping down Fifth and even going to watch a show, I just want to do it all! 

3. Santorini - This Greek island looks like the perfect place to relax, with its tranquil settings of blue skies, whitewashed buildings and clear waters. 

Have you been to any of these places? Let me know your top destinations to get away to in the comments!

Thanks for reading :)

Shannon xo

Style Post | One Dress, Three Outfits

Finding that perfect dress which fits and looks great on us girls is something to be achieved not too often - especially in my case. The usual scenario is the dress will be worn once then pushed to the back of the wardrobe, where it sits sadly waiting to be worn again. I think the fear of outfit repeating is the most common reason for not donning the same dress more than once.

A key way to get the most wear out of a dress or another piece of clothing is to style it for different occasions. I have styled a dress in three ways, for separate occasions, which may inspire you to dig out that dress and give it another day/night out!

Dress: Miss Selfridge.

For a more casual look, I have styled the dress with a denim waistcoat (denim is a great way to dress down an outfit), converse, and a fringe bag. Adding a pop of colour to the nails and accessories is a good way to update the dress and transition it through to a new season. 

Keeping it simple is key for work wear. Styling the dress with a fitted blazer and tights makes it much more appropriate and formal looking for work.

Styled for a wedding or a day at the races, accessorise with a flower in the hair and match to the colour of your clutch. Adding some simple heels and a statement lip will rock this dress for any special occasion. 

Thanks for reading :)

Shannon xo

Top 5 Styling Tips for Petites

Life can be be a struggle when it comes to dressing for your body shape and size, so I thought I would try to help all those petite framed women out there with some tips I swear by!

A high waist is your best friend. Should you opt for a skirt or trouser, the waistline will create the illusion of longer legs which can add height and be very flattering on short people. 

Vertical stripes will elongate the whole body, making you appear taller! The pattern of vertical lines are a popular trend for s/s 15 so why not give it a go, introducing a striped tee with some plain coloured jeans could be a simple way to work it into your wardrobe.

Matching the colour of your shoes to your trousers or tights will give the illusion of longer legs, wearing a nude shoe that matches your skin tone when your legs are on show is also another good tip. Wearing brightly coloured shoes can attract peoples eyes to your feet which in turn will get them to notice more rapidly the length of your legs, breaking the illusion.

Creating the right silhouette is essential for any body shape or size, this can easily be achieved by using a belt to draw in the waist adding curves to slender frame.

Yes, as simple as it sounds, styling your hair high up in a sleek bun or ponytail can transform the overall look of an outfit and give you a little extra height.

This post is to give you some tips and ideas on how to style up if you are like me and living the petite life. It is also important to remember to embrace your body shape and size and dress how you feel comfortable!

Thanks for reading!

-SJA xo

February Favourites!

I've only ever done one favourites post and that waaaay back last year, so I thought I'd give it another go.

Here are all the things I've been loving in Feb!

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

This product is an absolute god send. I had ran out of this concealer so went back to using a couple of old ones (which were probably out of date) and they never quite worked as well as the collection one, so I re purchased it and fell in love all over again. On a good spot free day, I can just wear this concealer with a bit of moisturiser and it will give me all the coverage I need, giving my skin a break from foundation.

Pro;Voke Touch Of Silver Shampoo

This is another product I have picked back up after not using it for a while. I had forgotten how good it is at taking away the brassy undertones in my hair, using this every other wash has made my hair so much more shiny and blonde!

MAC Lipstick - Please Me

I have been wearing this shade a lot recently, along with a berry lip liner. I feel like I'm late to the party on the whole Kylie Jenner lip, but I'm loving it! This shade is so versatile and easy to wear, for a casual daytime look I wear it by itself, then for a more exaggerated lip look I wear it with the berry lip liner.

Topshop Ripped Skinny Jeans

I love love love my ripped skinny jeans, if I could live in them then I would. They are the perfect fit for a start, which is my main issue when trying to find the perfect jeans. I like how I can just stick these on with a plain tee and they still look interesting with the ripped knees adding a grungy feel. I made mine myself by just cutting the knees out of an old pair I already had.

Taylor Swift's Elie Saab Dress

The Grammys were held at the beginning of Feb, with a whole host of other red carpet events such as the Oscars and The Brits following behind, and of course I was checking out 'who wore what'.
Taylor Swift definitely won the 'best dressed' award in my opinion, her Elie Saab dress in teal/turquoise was unreal! I loved everything about it, the ombre colour, the cut, the back and the fuchsia heels it was styled with. I'm all for anything Saab!

What things were you loving in February? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading,

-SJA xo