Style Swaps 001

Pinterest image found at vogueandcoffee.tumblr.com

Tshirt: Cos; Cuff: Cheap Monday; Trousers: ASOS; Shoes: ASOS; Clutch: Whistles

Wilkommen! (Is that how you spell it… hmm… debatable) I love to be inspired outfit-wise by others. I’m a lazy bones when it comes to creating my own sassy yet stylish outfits so I tend to take inspiration (read: steal) other people’s ideas. This is what Style Swaps will be about. I used to be inspired by celebs but more and more I’m finding Pinterest to be a  great source of style-tastic greatness so expect a lot of my outfits to come from there. Enjoy!

This week I have been loving the chic all-in-white look. Now, as previously mentioned, were I ACTUALLY to wear this, it wouldn’t stay white for long… But in my head I waft elegantly to and from important meetings in the manner of a babe’in ice queen. Perhaps a la Frozen.

~Lesley-Jane~

I Want That 001

Liberty Print Blazers: Nike; Kimono: Topshop; Silk Skirt: COS; Kate Moss for Topshop Dress: Topshop; Sandals: Birkenstock

 

Welcome to my first ever I Want That post… As of next week it will be on a Monday but I didn’t want you to miss out this week. Essentially it’ll be a place where I can share what’s been languishing in my online shopping baskets for the past week, whispering that I buy it…

When the Liberty Print Nikes came out last year, I pined and pined for them. I did not think so much yearning could exist for a shoe but hey, whaddayaknow? This year’s offerings are not QUITE as spectacular but these fairly low-key ones would snuggle up quite nicely with my already-quite-large trainer collection.

 The kimono trend is something I attempt to dip in to every summer and usually end up failing at… I’ve never found one that’s the perfect length for my short torso and dinky legs (I’m being kind to my body here). This Topshop beauty from the petite range comes pretty close though and makes me want to wear it whilst lounging by the pool, sipping on pina coladas.

 Kate Moss’ much anticipated Topshop collection hasn’t disappointed once again. Can Mossy do no wrong?! This dress was without a doubt my fav. It’s perfect for lazy picnics in the sunshine. (As a side note, I think if I actually attempted any picnics in it, there’d be Fanta stains and Hobnob crumbs down it within seconds but  let’s keep up the pretence, shall we?)

 I love Cos for the simple fact that they do ‘hiding a jelly belly’ style to perfection. Just eaten a full Nandos platter to yourself? No problem. Couldn’t decide between cake or ice cream so had both? That’s ok! Their forgiving silhouettes mean I’m always drawn to them and, as an avid Nandos/cake/ice cream lover, this silk skater skirt has all my summer-time munching needs covered.

 The leopard-print Birkies are probably the epitome of ugly-shoe-wearing that’s sweeping the fash world right now. I do not care. I do not care so much that I’ve actually already purchased these and am eagerly awaiting their  arrival. Join the ugly-shoe revolution with me! (Or not… I hear gladiators are back this summer)

 What have you been lusting after this week?

 ~Lesley-Jane~

What I Thought Of… Rimmel London Wake Me Up foundation

In my never-ending quest to find a foundation that transforms my skin from drab to fab, I thought I’d give the drug-store brands a try. If it’s good enough for Kate Moss…

Packaging: Well it’s no Chanel or YSL but then the proof is never necessarily in the packaging. The curved glass bottle is fairly ergonomically pleasing and the tangerine orange lid certainly made it easier to find again whenever it had been cast to the depths of my handbag. Definitely deducting points though for having a suction pump prone to breaking and no mechanism to push all the product to the top of the bottle (what IS that called??).

Quality: The whole idea of the foundation is that it seeks to make you look as though you’ve had 12 hours sleep in a fluffy, feather-lined cloud whilst harpists strum softly in the background (I presume). Whilst I wouldn’t go that far in terms of performance, it certainly perked up my tired, essay-ravaged skin and helped me look the right side of ‘almost awake’. It’s smooth and doesn’t settle in any pores or indentations you may have but I was fairly disappointed with just how its ‘wake me up’ technology works. Like many of the cheaper brands, it incorporates, dare I say it, glitter in to the mix. Now from a distance this does make you look glowing but close up… well, I felt a little too sparkly for my liking.

Longevity: So-so. I found that after a few hours it had started to wear off my cheeks (where I need it most) and it doesn’t mix well with oilier skin types. To be fair, all it needed was a little touch up and I was good to go again but I have used other foundations with better staying power.

Price: Extremely bank -balance friendly… thank goodness! Usually retails at £8.99 for a 30ml bottle but Boots actually have an offer online at the minute, meaning it’s now £5.99. Snap it up if you want a cheap and cheerful alternative to the higher-end products but don’t expect miracles.

Lesley-Jane
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Am I being a meanie/brand snob? Probably. Let me know in the comments below!

What I Thought Of… Clinique Superdefense SPF 25 Age Defense Moisturiser

Phewf, what a moutful! Also, is ‘defense’ the American spelling of ‘defence’? The English Language student within wants to correct it so badly…

 

Packaging: Very cool and slick, feels kinda space-age with the chrome-esque lid… just me?

Quality: I’ve completely fallen in love with this moisturiser and have used it religiously for months. Don’t think just because something’s ‘anti-ageing’ that you can’t use it on youthful skin too, it can’t hurt to get a head start now can it? Really lovely consistency, and absorbs into the skin very quickly so you don’t have that annoying stickiness after application that some moisturisers can give. The smell is so-so, perhaps a bit too ‘mediciney’ for my liking but I know loads of people love it so I guess it’s just personal preference. I got the dry combination version so go for whichever suits your skin type, it certainly hasn’t over-saturated my skin so seems pretty true to form.

Longevity: Most moisturisers are pretty rubbish at keeping my combination skin the right side of glowing.  They either completely overload it, leaving it oily, or they work for a few hours and then leave me with dry skin again on my cheeks and nose. This product is different in that it really does keep the skin soft and supple all day with no additional oilyness… perfect! The added bonus of SPF 25 is great too, I’m pleased to see more and more skincare brands making this a component in their products as you can never be too wary of the sun!

Price: It’s a bit of purse squeezer (did I just make that up?) at the eye-watering £37 for a 50ml tub. Interestingly, on the Clinique website you can get 30ml tubs for £20 but only in the dry combination type. I’m not too sure why this is. Bottom line, while it IS a brilliant product, I recommend putting this on the Christmas list or saving it for a pay day splurge. £37 for moisturiser is a little extravagant, although you really do get what you pay for with Clinique.

 

Lesley-Jane
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Have any of you guys tried this before? Think the price doesn’t match the product? Let me know in the comments below!

A week on Instagram 001

This first post is technically a lie as the photos below are from the last 4 weeks. I haven’t instagrammed that much, but I plan to here on in (brownie promise).

1. We made Nigella Lawson’s Chocolate Olive Oil Cake 2. Working my love of cats into my uni work 3. New fluffy H&M jumper 4. Bunny jumper from Camden market 5. Cosy nights 6. Home-made tie-dye fun 7. Showing off my River Island ‘sack dress’ before attending a lecture hosted by Alan Rusbridger

Lesley-Jane
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What I Thought Of… Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation

Welcome to my new little feature! Essentially this is all about beauty so if you’re looking for a quick review of a whole plethora of products, you can find it here. Let’s crack on shall we?

Packaging: Spot on. So pleased more foundations are utilising the special pump thingy that means all the product is sort of scraped upwards and nothing is wasted (ever so eloquent there, Lesley). It’s sleek, simple and aesthetically pleasing. I love  clean, neat, fuss-free packing. *OCD alert*

Quality: I was very pleased with it actually. It really freshened up my skin and made it look pleasantly dewy without being overly oily. Coverage is medium to full, I’d say. Was particularly good at hiding the pigmentation I have around my nose and on my cheeks. Consistency was perhaps a little too runny; it did result in me pumping too much product out on occasion and it having to  be wiped away. I hate wastage 😦

Longevity: Fantastic. Survived long, full days at uni and would only need to be touched up if I was going out after a particularly gruelling shift at work. Seems to have pretty brilliant staying power.

Price: We all know Benefit is a little pricey and at £24.50, it might be worth getting a free sample before you commit to buying. I still would highly recommend though and I will be repurchasing once I’ve been paid. (Friday 26th could not come sooner!)

Lesley-Jane
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So what do you guys think?  Have you used this foundation before or are you considering it? Let me know in the comments below!

Vintage garb

Ahhh, ‘vintage’. For wine connoisseurs, the phrase probably conjures up images of dusty wine bottles in an aging cellar; a bottle of “Chateau de poop” sat on a rustic looking table longing to be accompanied by a chunk of crusty baguette.  For car enthusiasts, we’re talking more 1950’s motorcar in British racing green, with little windscreen wipers and faded leather interiors.

But for a fashion lover, what does the term ‘vintage’ really say? Well for starters I think it’s a concept that’s bandied about a tad too easily. It holds this kind of prestige and so people are just DYING to tell you that the polka-dot skirt they picked up from Help The Aged for 50p is in fact ‘ a little vintage number’. What they really meant was “it was cheap and had been worn before, I’m not going to tell you it’s last year’s Primark, I’m going to have you believe I dug it out of some little treasure trove in a trendy back alley in Brixton”. Do I sound ranty? I don’t mean to be. I just mean you KNOW when you’ve found real vintage. And I think that’s something to be cherished.

Equally, I’m not saying that charity-shopping is any less worthy of attention or said ‘prestige’, flippin’ heck some of the best stuff I’ve bought has cost me less than a McDonald’s and been from Oxfam. I’m just saying, you know, vintage items feel kind of special, don’t they? Like you’re holding onto a little bit of a forgotten era.

Enough of the Disney crap, time for a bath.

Lesley-Jane
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What are your thoughts on vintage clothing, do you rate it over charity shop finds?

Monday Bargain-Fest: Ashley Olsen!

Yeah, yeah it’s Tuesday… hush up!

http://ilovewildfox.com/what-to-wear/2009/10/30/olsen.html

(FYI: Ashley is on the right… but you totally knew that)

Oh, Miss Ashley. Mary-Kate may be the more “popular” twin, but I will forever love you for your timeless elegance, button nose and IRRESISTIBLE style. Right, enough of the love lament, on with the clothes!

 

 

 

Ashley Olsen by xljx ❤ featuring shoes

Clutch Bags – Find the perfect trendy clutch handbags | New Look
13 GBP – newlook.com

Fab Concealed Platform Shoe – Priceless Shoes
15 GBP – pricelessshoes.co.uk
Shoes »

Clothing at Tesco | F&F Herringbone trousers > trousers formal >…
18 GBP – clothingattesco.com

Cross Diamante Necklace-Womens fashion jewellery necklace – Includes…
4.99 GBP – amazon.co.uk

Carla Satin Trim Vest Top at boohoo.com
4 GBP – boohoo.com

Et voila! I know the trousers aren’t strictly the right colour but Herringbone-wise it’s all there. Also, I searched high and low for an acid orange clutch to no avail, if anyone finds one let me know! I’m not a MASSIVE fan of the cross pendant I found but all the suitable gold options available were extremely expensive (again, let me know if you find an affordable one).

Anyways, here’s a look Miss Ashley herself would be proud of, hope you liked!

 

Lesley-Jane
x

 

(grr can’t seem to change this font when I insert from polyvore… any techies fancy helping?)

Monday Bargain-Fest: Clemence Poesy

GUYS. GUYS. GUYS.

Late with my first feature of 2011. Shocking I know. Clearly was doing VERY important things *cough* Tool Academy *cough*

PROMISE it won’t happen again, my follower count went down from 2 to 1 and everything… 😦

Let’s crack on.  My first lovely lady is Clemence Poesy. Some may recognise her as the cherub-faced French beauty, Fleur Delacour, in the Harry Potter films; others will probably feel a twinge of recognition when watching Chloe’s self titled perfume ad from 2008. Yes, SHE’s the goddess swishing her blonde locks around with indie-film-princess, Chloe Sevigny and a similarly gorgeous model whose name escapes me.

Here’s my attempt at trying to re-create that effortless Parisian style without the Chanel price tag:

Clemence Poesy by xljx ❤ featuring chiffon tops

Ladies Oversize Chiffon Blouse
16 GBP – peacocks.co.uk
Chiffon tops »

Ladies Pleated Skirt
18 GBP – peacocks.co.uk
Skirts »

Scrunch Ballerina – Priceless Shoes
8 GBP – pricelessshoes.co.uk

Handbags | Womens bags and handbags | George at ASDA
8 GBP – direct.asda.com

Very proud of this outfit… so much so that I may have to save up for this little number 😉 Props (brrrap) goes out to George at Asda for such a fantastic bag at a minuscule price!

Lesley-Jane

x

Guilty Pleasures

Christmas is nearly upon us and it’s definitely a time for self indulgence and doing naughty things (ooer). With that in mind, I’ve decided to make a guilty pleasures list encompassing a variety of subject areas. Sounds comprehensive but believe me it isn’t, I’m just too tired to blog about blinking pre-xmas sales and battle with wordpress’ ludicrous picture inserting system… woyoyoy it’s a hard life right?

Get on with it! (I hear you cry)…

Music – I’m an indie kid through and through but in my youth, i.e. from the age of 13-16, I was massively into old school hip-hop and rnb. Nowadays I tend to *secretly* bop to poppy, badly-written, generic rubbish. Safe to say if these songs came on at the Plug (Sheffield’s scuzziest clubbing establishment) I would be OUT on that dancefloor…

• Dj got us falling in love again – Usher/Pitbull
• Sexy bitch – Akon/David Guetta
• Dynamite – Taio Cruz
• Commander – Kelly Rowland

Food – I TRY to stick to a fairly balanced diet (hey, Supernoodles can be included in this) but I have a few little snackettes I can’t resist…

• Philadelphia on toast with salsa
• Nutella and strawberry toasties
• Chinese chicken pizza
• Bacon Supernoodles (oh god I could literally eat packets and packets of these)

Places – the cliched places that everyone lurves but are still fairly groovy…

• Topshop (could spend hours and hours wandering around, annoying the sales assistants with questions)
• Oxford Street
• Brighton beach (who needs annoying sand when you have pretty pebbles that you can collect/make pebble angels in?)
• My bed (duh)

Things to do when bored – hope it’s not just me who does these fairly guilty and POINTLESS things when boredom strikes…

• Facebook stalk (come ON… it can’t just be me who checks his wall constantly and gets ridiculously excited/guilty when he pops up on chat EXACTLY at the moment when you’re flicking through his tagged photos??)
• Buy stuff on ebay (I didn’t NEED the jewel-encrusted owl cocktail ring but I WANTED it)
• Make interesting sandwich concoctions (peanut butter, nutella and smarties, anyone?)
• Perfect Rihanna’s Jamaican accent in “What’s My Name” and “Cheers (Drink to That)”… truly is just me that does this I think. I literally sat for about an hour yesterday crooning “heyy boyy I rilly wanna see if you cahn gooh down town wid a gyal like me” (rudimentary phonetic transcription there).

Aaaanyways I feel I have embarrassed myself enough now. Time to finish watching SATC and get excited that it’s Christmas eve tomorrow (today in fact!)

Do you do any of the things above (if you do the Rihanna thing I swear to god you’ll get a mention in the next post) or are there any other guilty pleasures you like to indulge in?

Lesley-Jane
x

p.s. In case you havenae worked it out already, I have twitter! Get following here. I tweet on a regular basis about the little goings on I encounter and such 🙂

p.p.s. Would be lovely to know who reads on a regular basis (if there is anyone) so if you like, follow me on bloglovin’ or comment, I promise I’ll write back! I’m in the process of working out how to put in an RSS Feed so people can follow on google reader. I’m not the most technologically capable so if anyone knows how to do that and also how to see how many followers I have on there that would be splendiferous! 🙂