Bunny Hops

Readers, it's that time of year. Cue the chocolate. Well, maybe not the only time of year; there is Christmas, Valentine's day, birthdays, anniversaries, and so on that involve gorging, but nevertheless Easter is right around the corner. Let us not forget the the true message of Easter; rebirth. So freshen up your style and throw a few unexpected spanners in the works. I've currently, as you may have seen on my instagram, sorted through my wardrobe, which I highly recommend you do before Easter. I've found so many hidden gems I forgot I had! I present to you my Easter edit, all the things you need for this Easter weekend!

(From Top Left)

New Look Denim Pearl Trim Collar, £7.99
Collars aren't going anywhere. Lend your old, plain dress or t-shirt a fresh touch with this one from New Look. The pearls add a touch of elegance, whilst the denim screams Alexa Chung cool.

Rimmel 60 Second Nail Polish in 'Ring a Ring O Roses', £3.69
This pearly pink shade is a delight. Wear alone or as part of a french manicure, it would be a shame not to.

Mango Striped Shorts, £24.99
If the Louis Vuitton show, the Balenciaga campaign, and the word of several fashion editors was anything to go by then monochrome is the colour scheme of Spring/Summer 2013. These Mango shorts are gorgeous; I can just envisage them with pointy flats and a crisp, white blazer. Easy, breezy, beautiful.

MAC Lipstick in 'Speed Dial', £14
Oh my MAC. 'Speed Dial' is the perfect, creamy, pink colour. Perfect for the Easter weekend; it's a fun, young shade and for a bonus it will last during your Easter dinner.

Splash Scottie Dog Print Wellies, £24.99
I couldn't resist. It may be the time for daffodils and blossom but in the north of England it's all slush and snow at the moment. So if you happen to venture out these cute, monochrome (see above) wellies are essential.

(Bottom, from left)

Topshop Embellished Swing Dress, £85
Alongside monochrome, the 60's are swinging this season and what better way to incorporate it into your wardrobe than with this dress? Granted it's pricey, but isn't the embellishment so pretty?

Mini Eggs
Oh, what is Easter without chocolate?

TRESemme Keratin Mask, £2.95
Keratin nourishes hair for maximum repair. I really didn't mean for that to rhyme.

ASOS Premium Cat Eye Sunglasses, £20
If I ever did see a piece that evoked 50's old Hollywood glamour then this was it. The sun ain't shining where I'm sat, but hey, these ASOS babies are too stunning to save only for the sunshine. So sip a martini in the snow and just imagine you're in Cannes. Just don't go too far with a bikini.

Missguided Handle Clutch in 'Blush', £22.99
The handle is practical, yet adds a touch of extra detail. The gold studs add contrast to the sweet, pastel shade. What's not to love?

Maybelline Falsies Black Drama Mascara, £7.99
My ultimate essential for this weekend, and anytime in fact is big, dramatic lashes. The bolder the better. This mascara gives length and volume, whilst not breaking the bank.

 Happy Easter!


NG <3

The Tale of Two Balls

I've had a very exciting past few weeks at University, leading up to the end of the term tomorrow but I can't wait to get back home, see all my friends and, most importantly, spend all day in my onsie watching 'The Big Bang Theory'. But out of my idleness and into the real world; this term I have been lucky enough to attend two balls, which is thrilling for me as I have never attended one before. Naturally, I had to share what I wore with you.

 

Here I am wearing a New Look dress that cost the extortionate sum of £7. That's right ladies and gents, £7.Such a great bargain!

This was the ball I attended last night. I'm wearing Missguided dress, Jon Richard necklace and Primark earrings.  Sorry for the quality of the pictures!

In other news, google reader is soon closing down, which means google friend connect has a very uncertain future. It would be a shame to lose contact with all of my lovely followers so make sure you follow my bloglovin' for updates!

Keep on going-it's the weekend soon!


NG <3

Hair and Make-up how to: Jessica Chastain at the Oscars

It's been a short while since the Oscars but I've had this post planned for ages and thought it would be a shame to disregard it. This brings me onto my apology; sorry that I have disappeared off the blogosphere for over a week, I've been quite busy with uni work but the Easter holidays are coming up so I've got lots of great posts planned (and maybe even a few videos!). 

I always love looking at the Oscars' beauty trends for looks to replicate on nights out. This year I loved Jessica Chastain's simple, elegant and timeless hair and make-up, which was inspired by the 40's and old Hollywood. Here is my take on the look.

The Make-up;

Step One: Prep your skin by applying moisturiser, followed by a smoothing  primer (I love the L'Oreal primer),  and then your chosen foundation and powder. I'm using Clinique Stay Matte foundation and my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder. Then dust an icy/shimmering white shade all over your eyelids. I'm using the white shade from my Accessorize palette. Jessica's eyes had a slight golden shade on the inner corners. Use your smallest finger to apply this, gently dabbing in the inner corners, then blend. I used the gold shade from my Accessorize palette.

Step Two: Apply black gel or liquid liner very close to your top lash line. Build up definition around you longer lashes, like Jessica's eye make-up. I'm using Maybelline gel eyeliner in 'Intense Black'.

Step Three: The rest of Jessica's eyes are simply outlined. I used Maybelline Smoky Eyes pencil eyeliner in 'Brown' to line my lower lash line and the inner corners of the upper lid.

Step Four: Jennifer is wearing false lashes and I particularly love Eyelure Naturalites in '101' for this look. However to create this look I used a  mascara instead. Clinique High Intense Extreme Volume Mascara is a wonder. I built up the mascara in  layers using a lash comb to get out excess clumps.

Step Five: Apply concealer under the eyes and to blemishes and blend in. I'm using Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in Ivory.

Step Six: Apply a peachy shade of blusher to the apples of your cheeks in a swirling motion.

Step Seven: Apply a stroke of highlighter to your cheeks and then blend in for Jessica's shimmering cheeks. I'm a big fan of Benefit High Beam.

Step Eight: Fill in brows with a subtle colour that is similar to your original brow colour. I swear by Benefit Brow Zings wax. Them groom with with a brow brush.

Step Nine: Line the edge of your lips with a lip liner. I use Maybelline Colour Sensational in Hollywood red, the same shade as my lipstick.

Step Ten: Fill in your lips with an intense red colour.














The hair;

Step One: Style hair into a side parting and spray with a heat protection spray. Tie hair up leaving a small section from the under layers of your hair down, as shown in the picture. I'm using the Babyliss Pro Curl 210 curling tong which has a smaller barrel as my hair is shorter than Jessica's so the the curls will be tighter but to recreate the look fully I recommend Babyliss Glamour Waves curling tong. Take a small section of hair and place the end of the section between the clamps before winding the tong upwards in a spiral motion. Hold for ten-twelve seconds and then release the section of hair.

Step Two: Repeat step one until one section is done. Then let hair loose  and re-tie the bobble again, leaving another layer down and repeat the motion of using the curling tongs on this section.

Step Three: Repeat step two until all of your hair is curled.

Step Four: I have already explained that this will differ slightly to Jessica's look due to my hair length and cut. I curled my fringe even though Jessica doesn't have one, but by curling it I really get the loose, side swept curls effect.

Step Five: Run your hair brush through the curls. Then apply serum to smooth the hair and define the curls. I always use Aussie Curl Definition serum.

Step Six: Set the hair back, like Jessica's and apply hairspray for hold.















The results?

NG <3

Somewhere Under the Rainbow

If, like me, you adore your jewellery then I have a treat for you! 'Somewhere Under the Rainbow' produces beautiful, handmade pieces and unique designs that I can't get enough of at the moment. From scrumptious cupcake earrings, to delicate, pastel macaroon necklaces and there's even key chains for the fellas too! Each piece can be personalised and takes up to a maximum of a week to produce. Whats more, alongside owning your own unique jewellery you can also feel good about it as all purchases go towards fundraising for 'Hope for Children', if the gorgeous designs weren't incentive enough. All pieces are priced between £5-£8 and collection is situated on the University of Nottingham campus. If your interested please head to the facebook page here to place an order. I know I will be!

 The pieces make such sweet gifts-these earrings are perfect for Easter!

NG <3

February Favourites 2013

February has been a cold, cold month enhanced slightly by the purely profit-enhancing day that belongs to St. Valentine; the fashion month runway and street style pictures; the revealing of the hotly anticipated Academy Awards winners; and the emergence of Spring clothing, in a high street shop near you now. As per usual I've been hitting the shops in search of great buys so, without further ado, here are the products I've coveted most this month.

Clinique Stay Matte Foundation in 'Albaster' and Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer in 'Ivory'
This foundation is a miracle. It's lightweight yet provides a lot of coverage but I would stay away if you have dry skin. When I first started using the foundation I had a few dry patches due to a spot treatment and the product enhanced the dry flakes. My skin is usually very oily though and the biggest issue I have with foundations is the length they stay put for and also how greasy they are. This is great in these regards.
This concealer really does what it says on the tube. I was a little disappointed with my old concealer and I saw Tanya Burr using this on a makeup tutorial so I decided to give it a go. It provides great coverage for blemishes and under the eyes without the dreaded panda effect.

Clinque Lipstick in Pink-a-boo
It's bonus time! This basically means that if you buy two Clinque products at Debanhams you get an amazing tin full of beauty treats. This luscious lipstick was one of them this time round. A perfectly pink, subtle shade with an added hint of glimmer makes for a great finish.

Soap and Glory Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk
I shunned the typical Valentine's gifts of flowers (I don't have a vase in my uni room) and chocolates (I'm on a bit of a health kick at the minute) and asked my boyfriend to get me a few pamper bits instead. Luckily he has good taste and this was one of my presents. I've never tried a cleansing milk before but I will certainly be buying this again. It left skin feeling smooth and refreshed and the gorgeous smell is a huge bonus too.

Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
I was lucky enough to attend a guest lecture at uni from the author of this book. She was so inspirational and modest over her talents whilst giving some invaluable advice to an aspiring writer like me. The book tells a fictional tale behind the famous Vemeer portrait. I highly recommend you read this wonderful tale of forbidden love, deception and lust.

River Island Collar Pins
I've raved about my love of collar pins before and these are my favourites. Such a simple touch can have a big impact and I love the quirky idea as an alternative to a necklace. I usually team this classic style with a more casual shirt to create a contrast.

I hope you have had a wonderful, stylish month!


NG <3

Academy Awards 2013 Style

Time to put the razzle dazzle on. Last night, as I'm sure you do not need me to tell you, was the Academy Awards, or Oscars, if you prefer. Ah yes, the end of February sees the grand finale of the awards season, and what a season it's been. From rumoured dress malfunctions (yes, that Dior dress was meant to have a split effect), to well deserved wins (what a win for Christophe Waltz, if you haven't seen Django Unchained yet I urge you to!), the Academy Awards is the cherry on top of the cake. It's not just about what goes on in the theatre though, the world's attention is captivated by the fabulousness of the famous route in; the red carpet. Year after year everyone from emerging starlets to Hollywood heavyweights dresses to impress. This year? No different. Here are my top five 2013 Oscar looks.

 Jennifer Lawrence in Dior, Anne Hathaway in Prada, Olivia Munn in Marchesa, Amanda Seyfried in Alexander McQueen and Jessica Chastain in Armani Prive.

What was your favourite look of the night?


NG <3

Spring Clean

In a week it will be March and, although the weather will undoubtedly not change, it's time to start thinking about your Spring Wardrobe. Florals and pastels come as standard but, as with every new season, there are fresh, exciting takes in stores as well as edgy separates to perk up your wardrobe.

(Top from left)

1. Boohoo Dress, £15.
A tropical floral print. An exotic turquoise colour; the blue of the Maldives' coast on a hot summer's day. An effortlessly cool off the shoulder cut. This is the perfect dress to take you through to spring and summer. Cold day? Just add tights, ankle boots and long, gold pendants.

2. New Look Bomber Jacket, £39.99
Forget a conventional leather jacket. This is the jacket shape of  spring. Use it to toughen up a pretty tea dress or go for full-on edge with grey skinnies and worn in boots. Motorcycle helmet optional.

3. Asos Wedges, £16
Aren't they pretty? Probably the most glamorous way to incorporate florals into your spring/summer wardrobe. I can just picture it now; these wedges+ a crisp, white blazer + some navy shorts = a St Tropez dream.

4. Boohoo Jeans, £25
In case you missed the memo; monochrome is huge this season. But it can get a little boring. The flashy, harlequin print of these Boohoo jeans is anything but. Leave the rest simple because these babies are just the right amount of bold.

(Bottom from left)

5. Topshop Shirt, £32
Simply beautiful. Or beautifully simple. A very pretty shirt with subtle detail perfect to counteract to bright colours this season.

6. Miu Miu Earrings, £230
As they say up my way 'a right bobby dazzler'. Basically an absolute stunner. And leave it to Miucca Prada to create these exquisite beauties. Quite literally drooling now.

7. Topshop Dress, £85
The little white dress is having a moment. The embellishment on this one adds ultimate glamour while the skater cut of the dress is super flattering. Just don't get too sloppy with that glass of rioja.

8. New Look Collar Pins, £4.99
Collar pins are big news. Attach to a simple shirt for a quirky, thoughtful touch. Repeat after me: it's all in the details.

9. Boohoo clutch, £18
Monochrome is at one end of the scale. Neon is at the other, so naturally neon is also a big hit this season. Add a flash of colour with this simple, yet bold clutch. Plus the bag's name is 'Tasha', which is my nickname, so it's bound to be a winner. In my books anyway.

So you've got the wardrobe, now it's time to add some sparkle to your beauty routine. For the lowdown on bright pigments, candy pastels and floral scents, read on.

 (Top from left)

1. Topshop Lip Crayon in 'Clueless', £7
I tried  this the other day and I loved it. The colour is extremely vivid, perfect for juxtaposing the monochrome trend. For a subtle look apply to the center of lips and then blend in to the sides. Two in one? Even more justification for your purse.

2. Biore Ice Fighting Cleanser, £4.99
It's Spring. It's time to wake up and revive your complexion with this cleanser. It's so refreshing-especially early morning-and leaves skin smooth and soft.

3. Maybelline Colour 24hr Tattoo Eyeshadow in 'Endless Purple', £5
Lilac eyes are pretty, but a little cliche for spring. This deep, lively purple is perfect for adding colour to smoky eyes.

4. Jessica Nail Colour 'Gelato Mio' Collection, £8.30 each
If you simply must have pastel shades in your beauty routine these are the colours the go for. A rich spectrum of shades to suit any Macaroon-infused moment.

(Bottom from left)

5. Aussie Colour Mate Conditioner, £5
Oh Aussie, you do it every time. This leaves hair shiny, smooth, restored and, for a bonus point, beautifully scented. This product is also ideal for summer too, treating coloured hair that needs extra care in the sun.

6. Benefit Fine One One, £23.50
Benefit's new product is a wonder one. An illuminating brightener combines with two luscious shades to blend into a dreamy, summer colour for lips and cheeks.

7. Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb Eau De Parfum 30ml, £49
Think a bouquet of fresh flowers in a bottle. Only it lasts much, much longer and you have a whimsical floral scent in your midst all day.

8. Dove Summer Glow Body Lotion, £5
It's almost summer so there's no reason to hide your legs away. This is by far the best gradual tan I have used, it adds a light touch of colour while the shimmer effect is so flattering. Just remember to exfoliate before use for a streak-free finish.

9. Accessorize Merged Eyeshadow in 'Molten Copper', £4
It may not be the warmest outside but you can still look hot with this shimmering, copper colour. The perfect finish to a sun kissed look.


NG <3

What's in my bag?

My original plan was to do an outfit or beauty post but unfortunately I'm not in any state to be photographed as I am couped up at home with a box of tissues and a very, very red nose. So I decided to do a generic 'what's in my bag?' post.

 

Boohoo Shopper.

Being ill, lemsip and lockets are my handbag essentials at the moment. I have the book Zofloya which I'm reading for my University course so it's quite handy to have it in my bag so when I get a spare moment I can read it. Other reading material? The latest Look magazine. You're probably wondering why I have a random DVD in my bag, but I've come home for the week so I grabbed one of my favourite films Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, because let's face it; daytime TV is pretty dire. Even when I'm ill I still have my beauty touch ups, though not as many as usual. 17 Blusher is a great, inexpensive way to add a quick flush of colour to the apples of my cheeks. I also carry strawberry lip balm and Bourjois 3D effect lip gloss, so I have a choice of lip finish. I also carry Aussie curl definition serum. Even though it's for curly hair I use it when my hair's straight too and it's great to keep in my bag to tame any fly-aways.


What are your day-to-day essentials?



NG <3

The films that define us #1

You may have read my post about the incorporation of film and literature into NG this year and for my first 'The films that define us' post I'm delighted that the gorgeous Victoria of Walk in Your Own Shoes has shared some of her favourite films. You simply must visit her fabulous blog! I loved Victoria's selection and can't wait to watch some of the films recommended which I haven't yet seen.

What film inspires you the most?
"I can pretty much take inspiration from most Disney movies, but the one that stands out the most to me is 'Pollyanna(1)', starring Hayley Mills. The entire message of the film is 'be glad'. It's simple but powerful. It's so important to just live and be thankful for everything, especially in this current day where we forget that happiness is something we're all capable of achieving if we just try. 'Pollyanna' is such a feel-good movie and it would make me so glad if you would watch it, if you haven't already!"

In your opinion, what is the most stylish film?
"I don't think I could answer this question without naming an Audrey Hepburn film. I mean, really. In my mind I'm having an argument with myself over which film is more stylish; 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' or 'Funny Face'? Well, both. However, since they both are too common and I know you've already watched them, I'm going to go ahead and throw the unexpected at you: 'Two for the Road(2)' (starring Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney) is super-duper stylish...like, wow! Audrey encompasses 60's glamour in this film and it's just way too fabulous for me to even begin to describe. Definitely one of Audrey's most underrated films, but one of my faves".


What is your favourite animated film?
"My absolute favourite animated film (here we go again with my Disney obsession) is 'The Rescuers'. It has such a wonderful storyline and an even happier ending and the little mice are just too cute! This is one of the few animated films that still holds my attention to this day (in fact, last year I watched it a total of 3 times and so far, once this year). 'R-E-S-C-U-E, rescue aid society!'".

What is your favourite musical?
"Just like everyone and their sister's cousin's next door neighbour, my favourite musical is definitely 'The Sound of Music'. The music, the story, just everything about that film just takes me to a very happy place. Can you even imagine what life would be like without that musical? Every single time I see an open patch of grass on a hill, I feel inspired and imagine myself swirling around singing "The hills are aliiiive with the sound of music". This film is truly one of my favourite things!".


All quotes are by Victoria.


If, like Victoria, you would love to get involved and share your favourite films or book don't hesitate to email me at booksfilms.ngblog@hotmail.co.uk!




NG <3

Top Gun

Good morning! It's only Tuesday but it's been such a hectic week this week in the world of fashion. We've already witnessed the BAFTAs, the Grammys, the Elle style awards and the ongoing New York fashion week. And my week so far? Well it has pretty much consisted of browsing online shopping websites, reading and watching Revenge in my onsie. How glamorous.

I'm wearing SoCal at Republic shirt, Dorothy Perkins jumper, New Look skirt, Boohoo flats and Primark scarf and tights.

When I am out of my onsie, it usually means lectures. This is one of my key, casual lecture outfits for a no-fuss approach early in the morning.

Hope you're having a fabulous week.


NG <3