Yearly Archives: 2015

Heist

26th October 2015
Once upon a time I was known for my love of tights and regularly blogged about my extensive collection. These days my choices are a little more reserved and I mostly stick to my trusty black opaques, that’s not to say I don’t appreciate luxury hosiery though and I am forever on a quest to find tights that will last more than two or three wears. Enter Heist who launched only last Friday. A luxury brand designed in London and made in Italy the team spent a year working with a collective of 67 women to design the perfect pair of black tights and when they asked if I’d like to try out a pair I was more than happy to oblige.

Dress: H&M (here) | Boots: Stylist Pick | Tights c/o Heist

These aren’t your ordinary tights, for starters there are no seams which given them a wonderfully smooth look under any outfit. The yarn count is five times that of any other tights making them extremely durable (not to mention a pleasure to wear) and then there is the revolutionary waistband that’s made on a separate machine and hand sewn on to each pair of tights, you can even pick from a high waist or a low waist depending on how you want to wear them.

I opted for a 50 denier low waist pair (£20) which may feel pricey for a pair of tights but these really, really aren’t just any old pair of tights. They arrive in a super luxe black box and slip on like a dream. They feel far more substantial than my usual Primark staples and there is no fear of causing a ladder just putting them on. The waist band is super comfortable and the low waist means they slip under skirts with no band peeking out of the top and despite putting them through their paces there are no signs of wear and tear.

The other styles available are a 50 denier high wait (£22) or for a sheer approach a 30 denier style also in a high waist (£21) or a low waist (£19). As I mentioned, these might seem pricey initially but give them a try and I think you’ll see they are well worth their price tag. Convinced? The team at Heist have generously offered readers of my blog a generous £5 off of their first purchase when they use code HeistLovesDaisyChain. Use this code to get £5 towards your first purchase from Heist Studios at www.heist-studios.com. The code is valid on first time purchases for 14 days from the date of first publication (until 9th November) and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. For more information, please refer to the T&Cs at www.heist-studios.com.

See more from the brand and follow their journey by checking them out on instagram or on twitter. Also please take a moment to appreciate my bargain H&M dress, a real Autumn/Winter winner.

Be sure to let me know if you try out Heist tights, it’d be great to know if you’re as impressed as I’ve been with the brand.

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Posted in brands I love, outfits, review, tights

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Getting Personal

25th October 2015

Once October rolls around (and indeed it’s now nearly rolled out again) my hunt for the perfect Christmas gifts starts in earnest. I can easily while away a couple of hours in the evening seeking out something unique and meaningful for my loved ones and I like to share some of my favourite finds on the blog in hopes of providing inspiration for others as well.

I was recently contacted by Getting Personal who offered to send me a gift of my choice from their vast selection of personalised goodies. Anyone who knows me well will already know what theme I rolled with and I happen to think I picked the perfect piece for gifting any fellow feline fans.

Mug c/o Getting Personal (get yours here!)

“Love me love my cat” is pretty much my motto in life and despite trying to put a silencer on it I just can’t help but talk about Mae to anyone and everyone. I think this mug makes the perfect present for anyone who is obsessed with their pet. It can be personalised with any message of your choice too to give it that extra special touch.

I’m delighted with my new mug and also with the Getting Personal website. I had heard of them before but hadn’t used them, thanks to their well timed e-mail I’ve found gifts for a few of the trickier to buy for people in my life (and there may be a few little presents to me, from me finding their way in to my basket as well).

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Posted in christmas, gifts, inspiration

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Mae Reviews: Purrfect Box

24th October 2015
It’s not just me that benefits from one of the perks of blogging. Much to the postman’s amusement we sometimes get a package addressed to Mae as well and she loves it! This is the third time we’ve been sent a Purrfect Box to review and we still think it’s a brilliant idea. The Purrfect Box is a monthly subscription which costs £19.90 a month, or £15.90 per month if you take out a years subscription. The contents of the box are guaranteed to be worth at least £30 with 4-6 premium products inside so it’s a pretty sweet deal, especially as each box is catered to your feline’s needs and preferences. Let me know if you’d decide to treat your feline friend to a box- I’ll be picking up a few on a one off basis throughout the year, I can’t afford it on a monthly basis but as an every so often treat I think it’s wonderful!
I won’t lie, Mae is not an easy cat to please. She knows what she likes and point blank ignores anything that doesn’t take her fancy. She’s also not prone to showing enthusiasm so when I bought the box upstairs to open up I was really quite surprised that she jumped straight in, literally.

Her favourite item was hands down the laser toy by Ethical. Her last laser toy broke and she has missed it. She actually pulled this out of the box and started pawing at it for me to get it open faster for her before haring around like a maniac after that elusive red dot for a good twenty minutes. Some people really dislike laser toys for cats but I think used sensibly they are really good fun for both cat and owner.

Another firm favourite was the dragonfly toy also by Ethical. Toys are one of those items she either loves or hates and she has her favourites for sure. I’ve watched her root through her toy basket countless times trying to seek out a hidden favourite in favour of nice shiny new toys so it was touch and go whether she’d give this dragonfly the time of day. The two have barely been parted for the last few days so I think it’s fair to say it’s a winner in our eyes (apart from at 3am when it’s been thrown against my bedroom door).

Food wise again I have a fickle beast but the chicken ‘n fish treats from Filous and the sachet of food from Equilibre and Instinct were both wolfed down in moments. Mae has a bit of a weak spot when it comes to treats so these are being closely rationed but I think we’ve found a new favourite here! Less enthusiastically received was the tube of salmon cream by Trixie. Meant as some kind of pudding for cats Mae won’t even get close enough to this to sniff it so I can’t really give this a fair review.

The last couple of products still have the jury out. I think the catnip tray will be a hit once it has grown as Mae loves nothing more than chowing down on plants in the garden. Whether she’ll be as taken with something she’s actually allowed to eat I don’t know but we shall see! I haven’t quite got round to testing out the shampoo from Nilaqua yet although my moggy certainly needs a good wash thanks to her love of rolling around in the mud. This is a no rinse shampoo that can be removed with simple towel drying so it sounds fantastic on paper. In reality the chances of Mae tolerating a good rub down with a towel are slim to none!

Have you given Purrfect Box a try before? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Even though there were a couple of products that are wasted on Mae I know plenty of other felines who will appreciate them so I think any box I purchased in the future certainly wouldn’t go to waste!

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Posted in brands I love, Mae, review

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Garment Quarter Wish List*

23rd October 2015
I love shopping in Bristol, alongside all of the usual high street suspects there are also some truly amazing independent shops and brands. I popped in to town the other day having not paid a visit for a while and couldn’t resist a peek in to a long time favourite of mine- Garment Quarter who I’ve called in to regularly since they opened in 2010 for a swoon over the luxury goods on offer.

The shop is absolute heaven for any fan of Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith or Comme des Garcons to name but a few and I’ve popped together a little wish list of their current offerings that I would be snapping up if I were a rich girl. Sadly I’m not but a piece or two may wing it’s way on to my Christmas list and perhaps yours too (for those not living in Bristol you won’t miss out as you can also shop online, you can thank me later).

A good two thirds of this wish list is made up of Vivienne Westwood pieces, her jewellery especially as I can’t get enough of that ubiquitous orb. I think the rose gold necklace is such a pretty piece and the silver ring is exactly what my fingers need!

With winter in mind the checked scarf would go with all of my winter coats although at £125 probably costs as much as most of them so I might have to seek out a cheaper alternative.

Out of the entire collage though I think the piece I fancy the most is the stunning little black dress by self portrait. If I had £200 right now I’d be investing in this for sure as I just love the toughened up take on a party season classic, perfect for this year and for years to come!

Who are some of your favourite designers? Has anything on this list caught your eye? Make sure to enter this fabulous competition for your chance to win a £500 online spending spree!

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Posted in brands I love, bristol, gifts, shopping, wish list

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Four beauty tips that will make you the belle of the ball this Christmas*

22nd October 2015
With the festive season fast approaching, now’s the time to start getting yourself in party mode. To ensure you’re the belle of the ball this Christmas, here are four easy to follow beauty tips that should help you turn heads for all the right reasons.
1) Forget the LBD and go bold with colour

The LBD may be a fashion staple at this time of year, but rather than going back to black this winter, why not add a splash of colour with an altogether bolder choice? Vibrant hues like reds, pinks, greens and purples can work perfectly, and for a playful look, choose a peplum dress. With their pleated strips at the waist, these outfits create striking silhouettes, making them perfect for Christmas parties. White is also bang on trend right now, and to recreate the red carpet look, go head to toe with a shift dress, jewellery and heels in this classic colour.

2) Enhance your look with shape defining lingerie

Don’t just focus on your outerwear. To shine in your ensemble, consider using shape defining lingerie as well. There are a whole range of options to choose from, including elegant waist cinchers and corsets that can help to give you the ultimate hourglass figure. If you’re not sure which style of lingerie to go for, you can search online for inspiration. Sites like Tights and More showcase a range of different options that are designed to give you curves in all the right places. As well as helping you to look fab, these sexy underwear combinations can give you a big confidence boost.

3) Try out a textured hairstyle

Forget straighteners and pristine hairstyles this festive season. To really wow, think about mixing things up with a more textured look. If your locks are bob-length, consider creating defined waves that frame your face. You can achieve this style by blow drying your hair across your face and applying some polishing wax to give added definition and shape. If your hair is longer, take inspiration from Taylor Swift. The singer has been showcasing the classic ‘70s feathery, flyaway shoulder-length layers originally sported by the likes of Farrah Fawcett.  For added drama, apply a volumising mist to your roots before blow drying and use a round brush to smooth your tresses in different directions.  

4) Add some shimmer to your makeup

Another tip is to bring some extra glamour to your makeup by using glittering powder on the inner corners of your eyes and across your cheekbones. If you have darker skin, look out for highlighters with golden tones, but if your complexion is pale, you may be better off opting for pink-based powders instead.

Remember, a little prep goes a long when it comes to looking good for the party season but don’t leave it to the last minute to get ready. From booking your hair and nail appointments to adding outfits to your ‘I-need-this-in-my-life’ Pinterest board, there’s plenty you can do now to ensure that you stun at all Christmas bashes in your calendar this year.

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Posted in beauty, christmas

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