Cute but Casual Summer Outfit: Guess Lookbook

Happy Easter for all of you that celebrate it! I hope you're enjoying your spring holidays or "spring break". So the other day, the sun appeared and so it was nice and warm and short appropriate weather! I found myself wearing my vintage, Guess shorts out in the garden and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to add another outfit to my look book.

I wasn't too sure what to call this outfit, in the end I settled for Cute but Casual. Because I went with some bold and colourful accessories I felt like wearing a plain, basic, black t-shirt from H&M. 

Of course, since 'the' bag has entered my life, it had to make an appearance in-action! I love the contrast it has against the black top and I think it's very summery and adds a pop of colour. 

To go with the bag, I went for two bracelets; one is a loom bracelet and the other is just a pretty, bright pink bracelet from a market in Spain.

I also feel that the loom bracelet ties in with these cute little pumps from Peacocks that are really comfy and handy for summer because of the little holes in them for your feet to breathe a bit more.

The sun started to get in my eyes so I grabbed my blue shades that were part of my previous look with the shorts. I've used these again because they are my go-to sunglasses this spring.

I think this is a sweet yet chilled out look for summer and just show how versatile these shorts are in comparison to my last look of 'smart-casual'. I hope you enjoyed this post and enjoy your Easter and/or holidays!

My New Summer Bag!

Hold on folks, a new bag has arrived. Many women spend days, weeks even months finding their perfect spring/summer bag - i was lucky to have found mine when i wasn't even looking or planning in buying a bag! I was shopping in Belfast the other day with no intention of buying a bag as I haven't really seen anything on the high street worth buying. But, i was passing Accessorize and in the window, displayed beautifully was my bag. I knew that it would be my bag the second i saw it! Although being so indecisive i debated whether to buy it or not... After some convincing by my friend, mum and myself i handed over £25 at the till and it was mine!

Yellow isn't even a colour I'd normally go for, I dont think i own anything yellow so I've definitely stepped out of my comfort zone but I'm so happy i have. The structure is so gorgeous and is again different for me since i usually go for a satchel or Cath Kidston handbag without much structure. So all-in-all, this is an out-of-comfort-zone purchase:P


I think this will go with everything as it's a pastel-muted yellow. Also, there's an extension strap inside which will turn it into a more casual bag, sitting just below the waist. The quality is really good and definitely worth the money (and more!) and I know I'll use this everyday of the summer!

This may not be the bag for you for whatever reason but i highly recommend Accessorize for bags this season as they have a beautiful selection of different styles and colours. So if you're struggling finding your perfect bag for a reasonable price then head over to accessorize and it should help!

The Festival Look

I personally love the festival look. It's a true trend of the summer and will continue to be a trend for many years to come. Although we have very untrustworthy weather here in the UK, the sun usually makes an appearance for most festivals like Glastonbury or Wireless. Therefore, it's time to get your shorts out, flower bands on and you hippy-florals on.

The spirit of festivals and the atmosphere itself at festivals are enough to keep you smiling, but knowing you're wearing one of the most-loved trends should make you even happier! I have some picks from the high-street (mainly New Look as you can shop the Festival Trend online) that I feel fit the Festival Trend.

1. The Kimono - An item that is really on trend this season and so pretty. This is practical yet stylish, it will protect your shoulders from the sun on boiling hot festival days whilst the fringe lace detail adds style and that festival feel. You can find kimonos in nearly every high street store at the moment since they are bang on trend, I chose this coral pink colour because coral of course is back again and it's a lovely, bright summer shade!

2. & 8. The Crop Top - An essential. Whether you're planning on wearing something high-waisted so you aren't so exposed or that you want to flaunt your tummy whilst dancing a crop top is such a good accessory to wear because you can style it in so many different ways! I chose two different styles and patterns to suit different styles and I thought these were the cutest ones that would last many festivals to come!

3. Piles of Braided Bracelets - They're probably the most worn accessories in the Summer because no matter what pattern or colour, they automatically go with everything! They're so reasonable and definitely a staple to accessorize your hippy-chic outfit.

4. Jellies - The 90's legend is The Jelly Shoe and it's back! Because of the block heel they're so comfy and will give you height so you can see the performance better:P Whilst rocking the trend! You can get these in lots of different colours but i thought these baby pink ones were the most versatile and cute!

5. Tribal style necklace - The statement necklace is here to stay! But this time with brighter more pastel colours - perfect for Summer! Any statement necklace completes an outfit and this one stood out to me among the rest so this is definitely my necklace pick for the Festival Trend.

6. Daisy earphones - This is a bit of a silly one because if you're at a festival, chances are you don't need these because the music's so loud:P But these were too adorable to not include and it will get you in the spirit and build your excitement!

7. Floral Ring Band - You need at least one of these in your collection. They aren't expensive and they actually suit everybody! It will brighten up any outfit and even brighten up your experience! Essential!

9. Stylish Wellies - Despite our hope for sun there is always the chance of muddy, boggy fields. You must come prepared. These coral Chelsea Boot Wellies are very similar to my pair that I mentioned before here
 and honestly they are a life saver! I don't need to worry about ruining any suede shoes or boots when it rains because I have wellies-in-disguise (I just made a shoe sound like a Transformer oh dear). So the fact that New Look are selling the same style in coral, well that's just fantastic!

That's it for my picks on the Festival Trend. If you'd like to see more items then feel free to go look at the trend on New Look's Website here. I hope you enjoyed and talk soon! Au revoir!

Perfectly Perfecting Wonder Balm - Percy & Reed

What a statement. When I glanced at this for the first time I was expecting wondrous things. Usually I don't really bother with much product other than shampoo and conditioner (and the occasional mask) for my hair because I never really try anything new to prevent any damage - I have a horrific-hair-phobia. When I slowly digested the information on the back I realised that this probably wouldn't do any damage, if anything it would prevent damage! In simple terms, it's a leave-in balm for your hair which is a huge plus since I hate having to get back in the shower to wash off a mask! And it's supposed to keep your hair looking beautiful, healthy and flawless - thumbs up.

First of all; the packaging. I think it looks very cute and pretty with the font and the slender woman in a chic outfit. It definitely has a big statement on the bottle that could fulfill or disappoint - let's just say now, I was not disappointed. The only problem I have with this packaging is that the product runs out of the hole in the tube - don't worry it doesn't leak per say... it just sort of escapes a bit and fills the center of the cap.

This is primarily because of the texture of it I feel. It's not a mousse by far, but it isn't a gel-like texture either, it feels like a thicker serum that's flowing - evidently. Nonetheless, because of this texture it's nice and easy to apply, there's no need to spend ages working it in which is "perfect" as they claim! 

Now for the super important part - the final look. The first time I tried it out, I asked some of my friends if they'd noticed anything different about my hair and they all said it looked more shiny (of course in a non greasy way:P) and healthier so I was very very pleased with outcome. The greatest part is that it stays this way ALL DAY so you can have silky soft and healthier looking hair for hours on end! 

This product is £18 which some would argue is too pricey but at the end of the day, it is a high-end hair care product and I think it is worth it - especially if you're willing to splash out on hair products. I would highly recommend this to, well anyone really, I don't think there's a quality about it that won't work with a hair-type. 

"I believe in miracles" - so do i now!

The Neglected Jewelry Piece

Pendants. Ever since the statement, chunky necklace took it's spot in the limelight I rarely see people wearing lovely long pendants anymore! I do love making a statement, but sometimes It's nice to keep things subtle with the ever-so divine pendant.

To me, a pendant is timeless. Although it may not always be 'it' or on trend I feel that no one will ever make the comment "omg that's so last season" on this piece. Whenever I'm creating an outfit and can't seem to point out what's missing, I 99.7% of the time grab either a silver or a gold-rustic pendant.

I do actually have a Top 3, the pendant's I wear on a weekly basis because they go with absolutely anything and everything!

 In 3rd...

This to me is almost a statement necklace in pendant form because it has so many different little shapes and textures on top of the big rustic-styled heart. It goes with everything and although I don't wear it as often as the other two, I always come back to it - especially in Summer!


2nd...

This is quite different to any jewelry piece I own but I think it's so pretty and unique and is good to add to an outfit to mute down any bold colours slightly because of its worn-in look and colour. This was briefly mentioned on my blog in my Guess What Style series for Smart Casual if you'd like to read what I usually wear this necklace with.

And Number ONE!

There's a running theme of hearts in my jewelry collection - clearly. I think silver just goes with everything, it never fails me and doesn't ever seem to look cheap if it's silver plated from the high street. Having an auntie who's a silver smith has made my love for silver pieces grow more and more over the years and so I will continue to wear silver pendants - even if it's 50 years from now and we're living in a futuristic world where only neon is acceptable.

I hope this has brought the pendant back into some lives again and I shall write to you next weekend! Bye!

Cities are Full of Secrets

When you think of any capital city nowadays, you must think of shopping centers and high sky buildings. We don't often think of the history behind some cities, with the exception of Rome of course. Although I am aware of this, I had never really bothered to learn about the history, even quite recent history of my closest city, Cardiff.

I really like Cardiff for shopping, it has great high street shops and a fair amount of department stores so there is a large variety to choose from. The main streets, for instance The Hayes have an arcade running through in between some shops, but not everyone knows about them or goes there because there aren't many of the 'big brands' there. But, fear not because this post will be a bit about the arcades in Cardiff.

Walking through the arcade is like walking through an old version of Cardiff, because it is:P Nonetheless, there are some lovely little shops and cafes that are sadly neglected due to the huge food halls and stores that the shopping centers offer.

One of my favourite stores in the arcade is Wally's, an Italian Deli that is so sweet and full of amazing Italian style foods (apart from the pop tarts). The truffles look delightful and the pasta selection is a dream.

The best part about the arcade is the balcony. I never knew how to get up there and didn't even think it was possible until my friend, Carys showed me. There are little shops above the cafe's and independent deli's and shabby chic shops. There aren't many, but they are very sweet and small. The teeny bridge and the entire balcony really gives a sense of history and culture to the city and is really interesting to look at.

The architecture is beautiful and I find it so fascinating that it all is still there! If you ever come to Cardiff, I highly recommend visiting one of the arcades as you can find some lovely cafe's and homeware - my favourite has to be Rossiter's for cute decorations. One of the best cafe's is New York Deli which sells huge hoagies for a reasonable price so great value for money!

I hope you enjoyed these pictures of the arcade and I hope it has given you some ideas on what to do when you visit any city that has some culture behind it!

Who doesn't love a bit of Vintage?

So, I ask you the question - who doesn't love a bit of vintage? Whether it's 1920's jewelry, 1940's skirts or even 1990's grunge, I'm certain all of us have a love for something nostalgic. If you've been reading this blog since I started, you may have guessed that I'm somewhat of a 'girly-girl', I love my skirts and Chelsea Boots as well as tons of lace! But a family member recently came across an old pair of her Guess, high-waisted, turn up shorts from California in the 90's - I was ecstatic.

I've always loved shorts but never ventured into even vintage-looking shorts so to own a vintage pair I felt excited to try out something new this Spring (hopefully) and Summer. As I've been thinking about these shorts since I received them, I've been wondering what outfits and styles I could incorporate them into. There's a lot of ways to say the least and so instead of sharing them all in one painfully long blog post, I thought I'd split them up and every few weeks I'd write about a new style over this season - we'll call it 'Guess what style?' (Apologies for that poor pun).

   
First, smart casual. Sometimes I don't even know what this means. A pencil skirt with a hoodie? Black trousers and a sloppy t-shirt? Or a full on lounge-around-suit with a briefcase in one hand and a black takeaway coffee in the other? Thing is, it's what YOU make of it. With these shorts, I'd say this look is slightly more on the casual side so something ideal to wear on a day out shopping.

The collared white shirt and the cute yet sophisticated ballet pumps make this look more smart and chic.

The light blue sunglasses gives the look a more chilled vibe and the rustic-styled pendant adds a little something to the completed look and keeps it casual as it dangles above the stomach so quite low down, toning the sophistication of the shirt down.

That is the end of part one of the 'lookbook', I hope you enjoy and if you have any tips on styling vintage items, say so in the comments!

Pip pip cheerio!