Tried and Tested... Lush Big Shampoo

Big Shampoo

I'd heard good things about Lush Big shampoo but I was a bit unsure about buying a large pot of it as I hadn't tried any of Lush's hair care range before. I was offered a sample to take away which I tried out over the following week and then headed straight back to buy the full size tub! 

Big is a volumising sea salt shampoo ideal for boosting limp locks that need a lift. It contains seaweed and coconut to soften your hair and is infused with lemon and lime to add shine. It's fragranced with mandarin, orange flower absolute and vanilla making it smell good too! 

Lush recommends that you need just two fingerfuls of Big on each application. Though this doesn't seem a lot it really is plenty, the sea salt crystals dissolve as you massage it in and easily form a lather. 

After the first time I used it I noticed a difference in my hair right away, it felt squeaky clean and as well as looking more volumised it looked shinier and was easier to style. 

I use mine with Lush's Veganese conditioner which has a lovely lemony scent and is designed not to weigh down your hair.

As it's quite a large tub and you only need to use a small amount each time I'm sure it'll last me a while.

Big shampoo retails at £10.95 for a 330g pot and you can buy online at Lush

Have you tried any of Lush's hair products? 

Blaze of Glory: S/S '12 Blazers

I seem to have developed a bit of a blazer habit recently buying three in as many days! Blazers are ideal for the spring season when it's not warm enough to go out without a jacket but too warm for your winter coat. 

They look great styled with a dress on a night out and can smarten up your favourite pair of jeans. 

These are some of my favourites from the high street:

Pale Peach Longline Blazer - Topshop - £65.00

Blue & White Striped Blazer - H&M - £24.99

Scarf Print Blazer - River Island - £40.00

Black Drape Tux Blazer - Miss Selfridge - £45.00

Gold Sequin Blazer - Oasis - £95.00

Bright Pink Blazer - H&M - £24.99

Spot Print Blazer - Oasis - £35.00

Navy & Stone Tux Blazer - Dorothy Perkins - £39.00

Mint Green Lace Blazer - River Island - £45.00

Bright Blue Longline Blazer - Warehouse - £60.00

I love the gold sequin blazer. It's quite pricey but it's a real investment piece that you could wear year after year, and would be ideal during the festive season! It'd look great worn over your favourite LBD. 

I really like the longline shape of the Topshop blazer. The pale peach colour is ideal for summer. It'd be a great way to incorporate the pastel trend into your wardrobe. 

I'm sure next time I'm in H&M I'll be hunting for the pink blazer. It's a gorgeous bright cerise pink and a great price too! 

Are you a blazer addict? 

Which is your favourite style? 

Get The Look... Louis Vuitton Lace

I was recently helping a friend search for a dress to wear to a wedding she's attending when I stumbled across this little gem on the Apricot website. 

The swirly lace design instantly reminded me of the pretty lace patterns in Louis Vuitton's Spring/Summer 2012 collection which was one of my catwalk favourites of the season.

Louis Vuitton S/S '12

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And now for those on a more modest budget! ...

Swirly Lace Dress - Apricot - £28.00

The swirly lace floral pattern is very similar to Louis Vuitton's cut out lace designs. I love the skater style shape of the dress, it's flattering to your figure and easy to style. 

The dress is also available in aqua, perfect for this season's popular pastel trend. 

Have you found any designer inspired pieces lately?

Tried and Tested... Benefit: The POREfessional

I hadn't tried anything by Benefit until last year and now I'm fast becoming hooked on the brand!

The POREfessional is a PRO balm designed to minimise the appearance of pores. Benefit describes it as oil free, lightweight, translucent and silky. After using it these last few days I have to say I agree!

It's designed as a dual action product, to be used to prime the skin in the morning and as a touch up to apply over make up during the day. 

You only need to use a small amount each time, apply a thin layer concentrating on your t zone and lightly pat using your fingertips to blend it in.

The balm is a beige colour when squeezed out of the tube but quickly turns translucent when applied.

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It feels light, leaves your skin feeling really soft and silky smooth, and helps with any imperfections giving you a flawless finish. I find it helps my make up last longer during the day. 

Although it is quite pricey I think it's a great primer and it leaves your skin feeling gorgeous so I would consider re-purchasing it in future.

The POREfessional retails at £23.50 for 22ml and you can buy online at Benefit

Have you tried the POREfessional?

Are you a Benefit addict?

Lush Easter

Lush have released a range of limited edition Easter bath products which would make perfect gifts for those avoiding chocolate this year or if you're a Lush fan looking to treat yourself! 

Fluffy Egg - £2.95

If you like candy scents this egg shaped bath bomb is ideal for creating a sweet smelling bath. The fluffy egg is bright pink and decorated with a candy flower. It's fragranced with candy fluff dusting powder and works well when used in combination with the sweet smelling rock star soap for sweet smelling skin! It smells like a cross between The Godmother and Snow Fairy which are two of my favourite Lush scents. 

The Carrot - £4.95

The Carrot is a bubble bar designed to be used like the popular Snow Fairy Bubble Wand. Simply swish The Carrot through the water to create lots of bubbles then leave it to dry and it can be re-used again and again. The Carrot features a new scent made up of buchu oil giving it a blackcurrant fragrance and lemon and bergamot oil creating a tropical touch. These essential oils combine to create fruity scented bubbles to fill your bath. 

The Immaculate Eggception - £7.00

The Immaculate Eggception is a real treat for Lush fans. Crack open the giant egg to reveal either a little Easter chick or bunny bath bomb nestled inside. Break into chunks and drop in to your bath, the giant egg is big enough to last for numerous baths. Watch it fizz away as it fills the bathroom with a chocolatey scent which is ideal if you want a chocolate fix this Easter without the calories! It contains grapefruit oil which is refreshing and ideal for waking you up, lemon oil that provides a zesty uplifting aroma and has brightening, cleansing and toning properties, and vanilla absolute which adds to the warm chocolate scent of the egg. The Immaculate Eggception is available in pink with a little Easter chick or yellow with a bunny hiding inside.

The limited edition Easter range is available to buy in store or online at Lush

Have you tried any of the Lush Easter products? 

Orla Kiely for Uniqlo

Uniqlo have released numerous designer collaborations over the past few years including the popular Cath Kidston collection last spring and the current Laura Ashley range. Designer Orla Kiely has teamed up with the chain to release a limited edition collection that launches in stores and online in the UK today and is already available in America.

The collection features her trademark bold and colourful floral and geometric patterns on graphic print tees and vests, shirts, summer dresses and stoles. Her prints are easy to wear and are perfect for adding a splash of colour to your outfit. Prices start at £9.90/$12.90.

Graphic Tee - £14.90/$19.90

Graphic Vest - £14.90/$19.90

Stole - £9.90/$12.90

Shop the collection online at Uniqlo

I'm hoping to visit Uniqlo before the collection sells out to snap up some of her print pieces at high street prices!  

Are you a fan of Orla Kiely's designs? 

Will you be buying anything from the collection? 

Armery

I was shopping in House Of Fraser on Oxford Street when this display in the Mary Portas collection caught my eye. I was intrigued to discover Armey, described by the retail queen herself as "sculptwear for arms."

Armery is a collaboration between Mary and hosiery specialists Charnos.

Many women feel self conscious about baring the tops of their arms meaning they are limited with their fashion choices, opting to cover up in a dress with sleeves or reaching yet again for a cardigan to hide their arms. 

Armery seeks to resolve this problem by providing a versatile cover up for arms designed to be worn under a sleeveless dress or top. They fit around your shoulders like a shrug.

They can give a new look to an outfit and are a great alternative cover up to the usual cardigan. 

 

Armery

They are available in plain black ideal for work wear, and bright magenta and indigo to add a splash of colour to your outfit. They're priced at £17.50.

There is also a lace design which is perfect for adding to evening wear available at £21.00.

You can shop the range online or at selected House Of Fraser stores. 

What do you think of the concept behind Armery? 

Would you wear Armery as part of an outfit? 

Republic S/S 12

High street store Republic houses numerous brands. Their Spring/Summer campaign highlights some of this seasons hottest trends. It's somewhere I'd overlooked in the past when out shopping but after exploring their new collection I'm sure I'll be visiting more in future!

Soul Cal, Crafted, Miso and White Label have put together some key looks for Spring/Summer featuring bold bright colours and prints perfect for summer days! 

Bold stars and stripes prints feature heavily throughout the collection. These outfits make me long for a summer road trip! 

A graphic print jumper paired with denim cut offs is perfect for relaxing in the park. 

The floral vintage style playsuit is ideal for a day at the beach. Add a bleached look denim gilet and some accessories and you're ready to hit the shops!

The Americana look is toughed up and adapted to be suitable for a smarter occasion by adding another summer staple, a bold coloured blazer.

I love all the aztec prints in the shops at the moment. The geometric patterns can jazz up a plainer outfit and are perfect for festival chic style.

The sleeveless embellished shirt is great for layering over tops or dresses. The embroidered print detailing is a subtle way of trying out the trend. 

I've been looking for some aztec tops and the ombre aztec vest is going straight to the top of my wish list! I love the design and ombre effect with the colours. 

The aztec print jeans are perfect for creating a bold statement look. Style with a simple white shirt to let the pattern stand out. 

I have lots of floral prints in my wardrobe and love the idea of teaming them with bright neon colours to update them for the season. 

One of my favourite pieces from the collections is the floral shirt. It looks great paired with coloured jeans and I'm sure it's something I'd wear again and again.

These are some of my favourite picks from Miso's Spring/Summer collection

Aztec Bandeau Maxi Dress - £36.00

Bow Bag - £20.00

Pastel Pink Jeans - £30.00

Aztec Maxi Dress - £35.00

Belted Spot Dress - £25.00

Aztec Halter Neck Playsuit - £26.00

Floral Dipped Hem Skirt - £22.00

Double Strap Mary Janes - £30.00

The pastel pink jeans are the perfect way to incorporate this seasons popular pastel trend into your wardrobe.

Try out this season's new dipped hem style mixi skirt with a classic floral print.

The aztec print maxi dress would be great to take away on holiday, it'll see you through a day out sightseeing to dinner and drinks in the evening. 

Shop the collections in store and online at Republic

What's your favourite trend this season? 

What will you be buying for your summer wardrobe? 

Mother's Day Gift Guide

With Mother's day just around the corner I've put together a selection of gift ideas to spoil your mum. 

If you're stuck for ideas and looking for some inspiration read on! They cover a variety of interests and budgets so I hope they help you to find the perfect gift.

1. Ladurée: Sucre: The Recipes - Sainsbury's - £19.99

2. Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy Floral Set - £10.00

3. 'My Darling Mum' 1/2 Pint Mug - Emma Bridgewater - £19.95

4. Butterfly Silk Scarf - Oasis - £14.00

5. Madame Butterfly Bubble Wand - Lush - £4.95

6. Shopping Journal - Paperchase - £7.75

7. Metallic Gold Coin Purse - Aspinal of London - £35.00

8. Flower Power Biscuit Collection - Biscuiteers - £30.00

9. Orla Kiely Mini Scented Candles - John Lewis - £20.00

10. Dior Vernis Nail Varnish - John Lewis - £17.50

11. Relaxing Lavender Collection - L'Occtaine - £39.00

12. Liberty Print Notecards - Liberty - £25.00

13. Perfume Atomiser - John Lewis - £12.00

14. Hermica Stone Necklace - Monsoon - £25.00

15. Spring Bouquet Mini Tote Bag - Cath Kidston - £38.00

Following the success of the snow fairy magic wand at Christmas, Lush have released three special bubble wands in celebration of Mother's day. Madame Butterfly has a Turkish delight rose and lemon scent. There's also Tulip shaped like the flower which smells like chocolate orange and The Mum which contains orange, lime and juniperberry oil creating a citrus bubble bath. 

If your mum's a shopaholic give her the Shopping Journal. It contains sections for outfits, inspirations and gift lists. Maybe treat yourself to one too! 

I love Cath Kidston's prints, you can't go wrong with a classic Floral Tote Bag. 

What will you be treating your mum to this year? 

Paris Fashion Week A/W'12

These are my highlights from the fall collections at Paris fashion week. It's been hard to narrow down my favourites, as the fashion weeks came to a close the collections on show in Paris were most definitely on top!

Christian Dior 

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Bill Gaytten's second ready-to-wear show comprised Dior's masculine tailoring with a feminine edge. He featured houndstooth prints embroidered on jackets. Waists were cinched in with belts. Models wore block pointe platforms with ribbon like straps in keeping with the ballet theme. Mauve, wine and pink shades featured heavily throughout the collection. Many of the designs encompassed midi tu-tu style skirts and pretty pleats. I loved the feminine silhouette conveyed through the designs. The structured evening gowns looked stunning in silks and layers of lace. Sparkling crystal statement necklaces added to the glamorous feel. 

Lanvin

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Lanvin's A/W collection celebrated Alber Elbaz's ten years of success at the brand. The catwalk was awash with rainbow coloured structured dresses featuring ruffles and peplum waists. The collection showed its tougher edge with leather dresses styled with black fur collars and long leather gloves. Gold and black brocade dresses and extravagant jewelled necklaces provided a glamorous touch. The finale saw patterned evening dresses styled with coloured fur stoles and jackets.

Chanel 

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Chanel staged a stunning show transforming The Grand Palais into an ice wonderland complete with giant lavender crystals on the catwalk. Layered skirts were styled over short trousers. There were various colours of tweed. Jackets were left open creating a looser silhouette. Models wore ankle boots with perspex heels and sported bold sparkling glitter and crystal eyebrows. Coats were jewelled and styled with mohair snoods and glitter covered jeans. Chanel conveyed their delicate feminine edge with chiffon pussy bow blouses worn with glitter embellished sheer skirts and jewelled belts and bangles. 

Alexander McQueen 

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Sarah Burton showcased a fantasy collection at Alexander McQueen. Models wore futuristic style visors. Tailored white embellished dresses and jackets with ruched hems and peplum waists were cinched in with metal bow and floral belts. Models wore boots covered in white fur secured with buckles. There was stunning layered lace creations on show, I loved the ivory tiered lace dress. Dramatic fur gowns were accessorised with feathers round the wrists and on the cutaway heel platforms .Wonderful feathered dresses with a tropical feel in reds and pinks became more and more lavish in leading to the finale. 

I also loved Jean Paul Gaultier's glamorous layered looks, Elie Saab's continuously stunning evening wear, Valentino's lace and leather designs, and Marc Jacobs' Louis Vuitton fairy tale fashion train.

Who were your catwalk favourites in Paris?