Autumn/ Winter 14 Lookbook

I wanted to reflect two elements of Autumn & Winter fashion: Indoors by the fireside and outside in the elements. This Lookbook incorporates warm and dark tones, smokey purple-hued makeup and on trend styles. Scroll down for video.

Eye shadow - Two Faced Matte Eye Collection

Turtle Neck Jumper - Topman

 

Bag - Tommy Hilfiger

Sleeveless Urban Vest - Zara

Jeans - Topshop Jamie

Two-tone Raincoat - Primark

 

 

Photography by Olivia Whittle

Sweater Weather - Autumn/Winter Q&A Tag

Since we're now well into Autumn, I thought it would be a bit of fun to do the Sweater Weather tag. Enjoy :)

 

Favourite Candle Scent?

Anyone who knows me well enough, knows I have an OBSESSION with candles. I burn them all year round, but get most excited about them around this colder time of year. My favourite brand of candle will quite obviously be Yankee Candle. With such a range of different scents from spices to flowers to foods, there's something for everyone. I know it's a bit early to be burning it already, but I just couldn't help myself with my newest festive edition 'Christmas Memories.' It literally smells like gingerbread and mulled wine all rolled into one berry coloured candle.

 I also love burning my 'Christmas Tree' candle which smells just like a christmas tree but is also quite pepperminty. When I'm opting to save rather than slurge I head straight for the Glade scented candles. At such a cheap price they come in the cutest glass containers and you can get them pretty much everywhere (try your local Tesco's). I also love the cinammon and spices spray that they do.

Favourite Fall Drink?

Coffee is my all year round favourite. I find going to coffee shops such a social, inviting experience, and with that being said who can resist it when it's cold outside and there's the release of the special autumn/winter drinks. If I'm going for a pick me up I just get an Americano, but if I'm feeling a sweet-tooth frenzy coming on I'll grab a Gingerbread Latte no cream or a Pumpkin Spiced Latte.

 

Mulled wine is by far the most incredible drink to have at this time of year, it's just a shame it's alcoholic and I can't drink it all day. If you like mulled wine just as much as me, why not try mulled cider...their's some great recipes out there, such as this one below:

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 pts/2L dry cider or alternatively, fresh apple juice
• 2 apples studded with cloves
• 4-6 cinnamon sticks
• zest of 1 orange
• slices of apple for garnish

1. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan and simmer gently for 30 minutes - do not boil.
2. Transfer to a heatproof bowl and ladle into glass mugs. Garnish with apple slices to serve.

What's your best fall/winter memory?

I have so many happy fall memories from when I lived in Canada, from jumping in leaf piles, to watching huskies run across frozen lakes, to flying in a ski plane.

Dark Lips or Winged Eyeliner?

Winged liner is an everyday essential for me, but I have such an obsession with dark lips. I love light plums and rich wine reds as they best match my skin tone.

What is Autumn weather like where you live?

I wish it was more exciting, but in England it's either rainy and cold, or just cloudy.

Must have nail polish?

I got some great fall coloured polishes for Christmas last year in the Fearne Cotton gift set. I don't know whether they're still available but they're so pretty and are very pigmented.

Is Pumpkin Spice worth the hype?

I would say so. It's just one of those things that get's you so excited for the colder, winter months.

Favourite TV Series?

I think my all time favourite TV Series has to be Frasier. It's just such a good quality show, set in Seattle, with it's fair amount of Christmas episodes (which are obviously my faves). Definitely worth the watch!

Boots or Uggs?

Is this even a question...boots every single time! I just have nightmares when I remember back to the time when my 11 year old self actually owned a pair of Uggs (not real ones) but these £15 one's from Claires which over the period of a month of wet weather, deteriorated to the point where my feet were slanting, and there was no longer the suede effect. It was from that point onwards, that I vowed never to go there again. 

But with Boots...well there's just so much choice, and I think they can be used to really dress up and outfit, or really dress it down.

What songs/albums remind you of Autumn?

It's got to be Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood

Most worn sweater?

Turtlenecks.

Favourite Autumn food?

Chorizo Soup with homemade bread

What book are you currently reading? 

My favourite scene in Donnie Darko

The Mistletoe Bride and Other Haunting Tales - Kate Mosse 

Favourite Fall Movies?

• Donnie Darko - Such an intense and somewhat confusing cult thriller that you must see. A very clever movie

• The more festive The Nightmare Before Christmas

• Planes Trains and Automobiles

Seoul Sister Jackie JS Lee opens SS15 London Fashion Week

Right angles, sharp lines, and strong edges, J.JS Lee's SS15 show offered a new age of geometry. But we don't need to do the maths to know that this trend is here to stay. Sitting amongst a spectrum of fashion moguls, pen poised, my eyes scanned the room for ample photo opportunities. Indeed, I did selfie at LFW, well because...why ever not?

A white wash backdrop covered in layered white and cream rectangles gave hint to what was to come in the collection. Atmospheric music synthesised and resonated throughout the room as pristine figures glided along the grey catwalk. 

Extreme, blue winged liner clashed with their fresh dewy skin and light application of pink blush. Hair was swept tightly back and a half bun was secured at the nape of the neck, but was incomplete so that the ends of the hair fanned out underneath. This smart and casual contrast from the hair and makeup parallelled the material of the garments and the shape and fit. 

The geometric construction of the bags was most eye catching. Black handbags had solid rectangular frames for the handles. The solidity and structure of the bags themselves shaped how formal the look was, and the use of just one frame, enhanced its unconventional yet inspiring form.

What I find most interesting, is that Seoul-born designer Jackie Lee never compromised on femininity. She still managed to deliver oversized boyish cuts and two toned neutrals, whilst remaining quirky. For me, Lee succeeded to combine delicate materials with the practicality of everyday wear.


Unfortunately I was unable to add the pictures I took for this specific blogpost, however, I have been able to find a a video of the complete show. Do check it out, it's a show packed with inspiration...SS15 is not as far away as you think!

Stay Sweet,

Alice xx

 

My Bootea Teatox Experience

Dear Readers, 

I'm still pretty new to posting consistently, so bear with me on that.

So, being a body-conscious 17 year old I embarked on finding the Bootea Teatox. Originally, I thought you could only buy it online so I was totally shocked when I found it in my local Holland & Barratt. I'd seen the buzz from other bloggers and fellow instagrammers so immediately picked it up. Although it was on the pricier side, I paid £19.99 to drink 14 days worth of their teas.

I guess I went into the whole thing blind in terms of what it was actually made of and what it would do to my body. The night before I was due to start the detox I watched a couple of YouTube reviews, one of which stated that the tea would cause me to desperately need the toilet 8 hours after consuming the tea (this would be due to the laxative equivalent ingredients which are in the night time tea,). At this point I was really quite worried that I would be in one of those awkward "toilet situations"- and that's not great for any woman. However I found this was not the case at all, but I do believe that it will vary from person to person.

Here is my review notes made every 5 days or so:

Disclaimer: Bootea recommends that you cut all meats from your diet and eat fish as an alternative. They also state that you should greatly reduce your intake of breads, pasta, and any heavy carbs. From my experience of this, I found it very hard to not eat these things as I have at least one of these foods in my diet per day. If you are looking for drastic results from this diet, then I advise that you follow their plan, however I do not believe it is the safest for long term use. As stated prior, I bought this as an aid to shaping up for my holiday. 

Day 1:
Drank my first cup today - I had heard that the tea doesn't taste too great but I found the morning tea very pleasant on it's own (I drink a lot of green tea so that's perhaps why). I love experimenting with what I add to my herbal teas so I decided to go with one of my favourites - I enhanced the taste by throwing in a slice of lemon. Alternatively you could add cut strawberries, lime, mint, cucumber or honey (for you sweet-toothed people out there). I had this alongside a handful of strawberries and Greek yogurt. I love my fruit so this was a typical breakfast choice for me.

I've decided to cut down on the amount of bread I eat, although I will still be eating breads such as wraps and pitta.

Day 5: 
I thought I'd really be experiencing the laxative effect but everything seems normal. I have noticed such a difference in my energy levels with this tea and have found it really gives me a boost in the mornings so much so that I've not needed to have any coffee - which is not like me at all. I'm really enjoying the morning tea, but not as fond when it comes to the night time tea. Maybe it's the peppermint flavouring, but I'm not finding it as easy to drink as the morning blend.

Day 10:
I've had so much energy to workout and just feel really cleansed, and I've noticed a slow improvement in the condition of my skin, because I get really bad breakouts. Energy levels are still high when it comes to working out and as for the night time teas, I make sure to add more slices of lemon.

Day 14:
The Bootea Teatox has been a great aid and motivation to my progress of shaping up and has also made me more conscious of the types of foods I am putting into my body. I have found a great improvement in the quality of my skin and I feel very cleansed.

My Overall Opinion:

I do agree that the Bootea Teatox  has made a difference to my body alongside healthier food choices and small amounts of regular exercise. It is on the pricier side, but I do think that it is worth the spend if you're wishing to shed a couple more pounds before your holiday, party or big event!

Here are some links for buying online: 
http://www.bootea.com/
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/bootea-teatox-60035242

Let me know if this was any help, I'd love to hear from you - or if you'd like to know more about my experience.

Stay healthy & Stay Sweet,

Alice xx

How To: Avoid Overpacking

So after three tedious days I have finally finished packing for my holiday to Cyprus, and it got me thinking; how can I make the packing experience both easy for myself and others stuck in the same situation. 

Being a clothes obsessive I've found it ridiculously hard to whittle down what I'm taking. To make matters harder for myself, over five shopping trips later I've found I've bought enough clothes to fill an entire suitcase with new tops, shorts, swimwear, shoes and accessories before I've even considered the clothes I already own, which I want to take. I guess I'll admit to being a bit of an over-packer. I can pack absolutely everything into one case, landing at my destination with so much regret that on the other side I'm lugging an overweight Tardis of a suitcase which is heaving with clothes I know I won't wear because it's just too hot. But, I'm good at lying to myself about these kind of things, considering an unrealistic scenario that at some point during my holiday I will suddenly need that Zara crew neck jumper. In the most truthful sense, I simply don't need a jumper when it's 30 degrees in the shade.

In order to save you the time I so wastefully spent almost crying whilst I was swamped amongst a heap of garments, I've devised these few tips that will hopefully save you time, effort, and that all important 'weigh-in' at the check-in desk which, if over the 20kg limit, will cost you!

Some of my holiday essentials I've packed

•   Go through everything you own - you'll be surprised what you find lurking in the bottom of your wardrobe
• From the items you've already got, what outfits can be put together- if you find you have a lot of random items then think about what you could buy to complete the ensemble
• Make a list of all the items of clothing which you don't already own but would need/like to wear on holiday- work with the random items you already own to prevent 'buyers remorse'
• When buying an item, think about its versatility and how many different outfits you can make with just one staple piece- a pair of black denim shorts can be paired with almost anything on top. This will make packing 10x easier and will obviously be lighter than taking pink floral shorts that can only be worn with one type of top you own
•  Jewellery and other accessories like belts, and light scarfs/shawls can help switch up an outfit and is very light in your luggage - with a little sprinkle of creativity a scarf can be wrapped around to create a cute cover up or make-shift halter top
• Aim to take the 3 main pairs of shoes for any hot holiday- slip on shoes such as Converse or Vans, Flip-Flops/Sandals, and a cute pair of heels (suitable for those evenings out) - limiting yourself to 3 pairs of shoes will allow you much more space for your clothes, and I've found that shoes are my least worn item of clothing, seeing as I'll spend most of the day by the pool
• Mix n' Match swimwear is a favourite of mine - more looks, less items. Just go wild a combine different bikini pieces to create a unique look.

I hope this can help you when packing your suitcase this summer. 

Stay Sweet xoxo