Denim Dreams at Trilogy

Is there any style blogger out there who doesn’t have (at least secret) admiration for Alexa Chung? She so rarely makes a sartorial slip-up so when it was announced that she was launching a range in collaboration with AG jeans I couldn’t wait to see it. Sadly it’s about as far out of my reach as waking up and looking like Ms Chung herself, but I couldn’t resist popping together a wish list of my favourite pieces, all in stock at Trilogy Stores.
The collection has more than a touch of Seventies about it and rarely, for me there isn’t a piece that I wouldn’t consider wearing. Stand-outs to me are the olive green pinafore, the ruffled denim dress and those black denim dungarees. Have you checked out the collection yet, which piece would you most like to wear?

Talk to me about celebrity style icons.

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Gazelle

I’ve been really digging trainers lately. Wearing nothing but this sporty style throughout my teenage years as soon as I discovered high heels and a more feminine style I ditched my old faithfuls and didn’t look back.

With the fashion world saturated with trainers lately, from the ever popular New Balance to the latest on the scene Adidas Superstar Colour range it was inevitable I was going to cave at some point and although I did almost purchase a pink pair of the Superstar trainers in the end I opted for something a little bit more classic and something I’ve had my eye on for quite a while.

Tee: Uniqlo | Skirt: New Look | Trainers: Adidas at ASOS

I love the retro look of the Adidas Gazelle shoes and this pink pair went in to the ASOS sale a few weeks ago at a bargain price of £40. This colour (and price) is no longer available but there are plenty of alternatives should you be unable to resist like I was! They make the perfect partner for this A-Line denim skirt from New Look. The perfect A-Line skirt has been on my Spring wish list since they first started hitting shops but I couldn’t bring myself to part with the cash that some shops are asking for. At £19.99 this one from New Look had both the right price AND the right length (my other main issue) and I see this becoming a real wardrobe staple over the next few months.
This set of photos was another that Ben and I took when we went up to Melton Mowbray before my birthday. It was freezing cold when we took them but as we drove past the alleyway leading to the vast open field we couldn’t help but stop and grab some shots. It might not be the interesting city scenes that most bloggers favour but there is something so charming about the English countryside that I’m always drawn to taking photos there- that and I’m not quite brave enough to just pose and prance about in the streets for fear of people thinking I’ve lost the plot.

Are you a fan of trainers? I’ve since purchased a pair of New Balance as well (oops) and I’m quite afraid my Summer sandals won’t get a look in this year!

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KiK the habit?

I’ve never hidden the fact that I’m a smoker on the blog, I’m well aware it’s a disgusting and dangerous habit to have and over the last couple of years I’ve started to hate it more and more. Hating it is all well and good, but alone it’s hasn’t been enough to get me ditching the habit for good. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve tried and failed despite trying various methods and strategies. Inspired by Corinne’s post and a timely email from the team at Kik I’ve gone in to a new territory on my mission to be cigarette free- the Vape Kit.
I was sent this kit to try out as well as a selection of the liquids to add. The flavours of the liquids are all really appealing and I like how there are different strengths of nicotine available so you can start off higher (as I plan to) and wean down.

The Vape Stick itself is quite sleek looking but not as subtle as I might have hoped. It’s fine to use at home but I’m a bit hesitant to use it in public. To combat this I need to make sure I buy no cigarettes so I can’t have a crafty one whilst walking home from work, or get braver at using the Vape Stick. At home it’s been brilliant. Currently I am still smoking regular cigarettes too but the number of these has dropped and I am ready to reduce this further.

I’m not advocating “vape-ing” as something cool to do, or for a non-smoker to pick up but I can see how it might be the strategy I need to quit the cigarettes and the wean off of the nicotine addiction. For me, I find the hand to mouth action and the inhalation the most addictive part of smoking so being able to have a nicotine free alternative appeals hugely.

Has anyone else successfully quit with one of these? I’d love to know.

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Boho with Bahimi

Being a blogger as Summer rolls around inevitably means an influx of swimwear based press releases arriving in your inbox. I try to read and respond to each and every one, but as much as I appreciate a good bikini I can’t find myself getting truly excited about them when I’m not a fan of wearing them myself. Recently an e-mail popped up that featured Bahimi. I clicked through to the website and had a browse and whilst the bikinis are rather lovely it was the collection of jewellery that really grabbed my attention.

Dress: Topshop (here) | Shoes: Primark (current stock) | Necklace c/o Bahimi

I purchased both the dress and the shoes when I went over to Cardiff on my birthday and had some pennies to spend however I wished. The dress was £25 in the Topshop sale and I fell head over heels for the paisley print and the high-low hem line. I was on the lookout for more summery pieces but I couldn’t leave this behind, the relaxed fit and longer sleeves make it perfect for this in-between weather we’ve been having lately.

I had seen the shoes featured on a few blogs lately so when I saw these at £10 I just couldn’t resist- so much for streamlining my shoe collection! I also picked up another pair of sandals in Primark so the five pairs I sold on ebay how now entirely been replaced, oops!

The necklace from Bahimi seemed to work perfectly with this slightly boho outfit. At £9 it’s excellent value for such a detailed and heavy piece and I have had fun amusing the cat with the jangling noise when I walk! I have my eye on a few pieces on the website, enough for a seperate wish list post I think as well as a couple of the bikinis should I get brave enough to wear one when I hopefully get away later in the year!

What have you been buying lots of lately?

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The ultimate tips to get your skin summer-ready

While the weather might not exactly be roasting in Britain right now, winter is definitely
over. With the skies clearing up and temperatures rising slowly but surely, your skin is also waking up from a few long months spent under wraps. Here are a few tips to stay fresh-faced and all-round fabulous all summer long, or even longer.

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No shine on me

We’re not talking about the sun here, which we’d actually gladly welcome in our back garden at the moment. However, with the temperatures rising the skin’s sebaceous glands start producing more sebum, which can make your skin shiny, or a little greasy-looking. And that’s the last thing you want for not all those holiday Instagram snaps.

Thankfully though, the remedies are quite straight-forward. Just start by washing your face regularly with a skin care product that’s right for your own skin type (normal, dry, oily or a combination) to clear the pores and prevent breakouts.

Don’t hesitate to splurge a little more than you normally would on quality skincare products: applying a little Proactiv cleanser twice a day can really go a long way towards keeping your skin healthy.

You can also use a mattifying serum right after to make the effects last a little longer and/or mattifying blotting sheets that will discreetly fit inside any purse and can be used for small touch-ups during the day.

Eat and drink well

Of course, such precious advice would be all for naught if you’re not eating and drinking the right stuff in the first place. But there’s still no need to suddenly turn into a health freak! You might just need to be reminded of a few simple tips after having indulged a bit too much over the last few months.

So you’d better cut back on cheese, cured meats and chocolate (sadly!), and make sure you reach your five-a-day as often as possible. Combined with the recommended daily intake of 9 cups a day of water, a balanced diet will guarantee all the vitamins your skin needs to get sun-ready.

Protection and other hot weather tips

If your skin is prone to breakouts and pimples, don’t get too excited when they all seem to disappear after a few days under the sun. It’s an illusion that won’t last very long: UV rays tend to thicken the skin’s surface and trap in all the sebum in the process, which can eventually lead to a skin disaster once your tan starts wearing out.

Whether you’re lucky enough to jet off somewhere hot in the next few weeks or you’re opting for a more convenient staycation, UV protection is a must. We all know it is quite common for Britons to get a little overenthusiastic under the sun and forgo all kind of sun protection: to avoid sunburns and melanomas you should never hit the beach without applying some high factor sun cream first.

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