Pick up a Party Bag

Kate Spade Gold Coast Small Georgina

It's about time i filled you all in on the beautys that were my 21st birthday presents. There was all sorts of lovely toiletries, stationary and make up bits galore but i thought it best to keep the posts to the two main gifts i received. So, here we go! 

I thought long and hard about what i wanted for my birthday. For a very long time i was completely clueless about something special i'd like for my 21st. There's so much pressure about 21st birthday presents, especially as it's traditional to be gifted something that you're going to cherish and keep forever. Now, although i did end up with jewellery as well, i knew i didn't want jewellery to be my special gift because, frankly, i'm just too forgetful. I love costume jewellery but anything fancy, especially bracelets, i often even forget to put on.

I finally decided i knew what i wanted, and i didn't know why i hadn't thought of it sooner. A bag. I've forever been a bag-a-holic and my parents have forever joked about my rather large selection of them. So once i had decided on the type of gift, it began the long, hard task of finding the one - and trust me when i say it was long, and it was hard. I scoured every designer from every country. I didn't have a huge budget, when it comes to designer bags anyway, so i settled on looking at my favourite American designers that are somewhere between highstreet and designer.

Watching Youtube teaches me everything from new beauty launches to brands i've never heard of, and watching my favourite American Youtube gurus talking about cult bag brands gave me the idea to look a little further into my two favourites - Rebecca Minkoff and Kate Spade. I love Rebecca Minkoff but her bags are very thin in width and i wanted something that i could fit everything i needed in. So, after trawling Kate Spade's online site i fell in love with this little beauty.

Long story short, i looked in John Lewis', Debenhams' and even took a trip to Bicester Village - looking in the Kate Spade outlet there too - but nothing quite lived up to the Georgina. Luckily, i found out that Kate Spade has a few stores located in London ad i'm lucky enough to have a dad who works away in London quite often. So, with one quick call to Kate Spade Sloane Square, my beautiful little bag was saved ready for my dad to pick up the next day - and the rest is history.

I could not be happier about my choice, it's exactly what i wanted. I, like everyone else, am in love with the classic Chanel quilted flap bags but with a price tag well out of my budget it was never quite going to be. This, however, is an amazing alternative. I was a little concerned about the size as you never can be quite sure about measurements when you haven't got the bag right in front of you but it's perfect. It's larger at the bottom and comes up into a, sort of, triangular shape with the top being a little thinner but it's not at all a problem. It fits everything i need to carry day to day, like an umbrella, a cardigan, sunglasses, a notepad and, of course, my huge River Island purse with space for a few other bits. It's just so stylish and brings together any outfit. I love that it has small handles and a cross body style handle, so i can be worn a variety of ways.

Overall i could not be happier with this bag, it's amazing quality and the customer service, start to finish, with Kate Spade was smooth and easy. I'd highly recommend checking them out if you're new to the brand or to take that plunge if you've been lusting after one for a while. It really will be worth the wait!

K|xo

P.S: I'm trying out a new posting schedule; now i'm home for Summer i'm going to try to post twice weekly - let me know what you think!

#OOTD LRD Day to Night - Nighttime Look

Dress: H&M | Jacket: H&M | Belt: Topshop | Necklace: Topshop | Tights: Primark | Shoes: River Island

I'm back with my second look for my day to night styling! This just shows that by simply changing the colour palette and adding different accessories you can totally transform an outfit.

I decided to steer away from the very gold and stark white colouring to cooler tones of blacks and greys which dresses it up, for the evening. I adore this jacket from H&M, it's so versatile. I love wearing it in the day for something a little different and to make a more casual outfit a little more interesting, and for the evening to dress everything up and pull it all together.

I think adding a belt really gives the outfit from structure, and shape. It takes from a block red to shaping my waist and showing some detail. And as for these gorgeous shoes, they're so simple but very flattering. I don't wear them too often as they're quite tall and i'm tall enough as it is, but they're my favourite pair of heels. Although they're more of a boot, they actually work nicely throughout the seasons because they're just so classic.

What are your go-tos for dressing up an outfit?

K|xo

#OOTD LRD Day to Night - Daytime Look

Dress: H&M | Cardigan: H&M | Necklace: Dorothy Perkins | Tights: Primark | Shoes: Converse

This is i look one of two, i'm going to be showing you how i would take a simple red dress and dress it for daytime and then for night.

As i'm growing up and i'm learning my own style, as it evolves with me, i'm certainly picking more versatile pieces to put in my wardrobe. I love clothes that can be dressed up or down and worn for smart or casual. I still love statement colours, patterns and details but i'm loving learning how to work pieces to their full potential. This dress is one of those dresses.

I love red, i think it's such a versatile colour. It's also one of those colours that i think just suits me; i've come to learn that i'm not a pastels kinda gal, i need bright and vibrant colours that don't wash me out. This is probably because of my very pale skin tone, but i'm more than happy to rock the brights and the neons. This dress is in such a staple shape for me, i love your classic skater dresses but usually they need to be a tall for me otherwise i feel like i'll be flashing my knickers after one gust of wind. Luckily this H&M number isn't on the short side, so i can get away with it. This style is so flattering, keeping things tight on the top and skimming over all the bits i'm a little bit conscious of. 

I love pairing solid colour with a pattern, whether it be on my jacket or my shoes but i adore red and leopard print, i think it looks so fun. I've had this H&M cardigan for a long time and i just love how easily it jazzes up an outfit. For the everyday i like to let the dress and the pattern speak for itself, so i simply paired it with my white converse and a chunky gold pendant.

K|xo

Shop the Stash #01

Good Things Deep Pore Anti Blemish Cleanser

After falling in love with the Clean & Clear Deep Cleanser from my Skincare Shake Up i started looking into similar products. I came across this little number from Good Things and realised i actually already owned it. I am a loyal customer of the Good Things brand and have received amazing customer service from them on Twitter. I religiously use their Stay Clear Anti Blemish Cleanser which does wonders for my skin and cleans the remainder of my make up off amazingly. So when i saw this, i thought why not give it another chance rather than leave it to get dusty at the back of my rather extensive skincare collection.

It basically does the same thing as the Clean & Clear cleanser except this product makes me me feel like i'm not just wiping chemicals across my face. Since joining the blogging world i've been introduced to all things paraben and chemical, and i'm now very cautious of products containing them - not that it always puts me off. This is free from sulphates, mineral oils, animal products and parabens which is a huge thumbs up if you ask me. It also contains fig and strawberry extracts which are great natural resources. Seeing as it produces the same kind of results as the Clean & Clear product i'm probably likely to repurchase this in the future, especially as i don't feel it's as drying. However, the Clean & Clear one does feel slightly more heavy duty but i'm willing to go for the cleaner product in the end.

K|xo

#OOTD Disco Pants

Top: Topshop | Disco Pants: Glamorous | Scarf: H&M | Necklace: Rock N Rose | Shoes: Topshop

Here's another of my Spring time get ups and, honestly, disco pants and a comfortable top is one of my favourites. There's just something about disco pants that is a combination of funky, - yes, i did just say funky - put together and flattering that makes them perfect for every occasion. Not to mention the fact they come in an abundance of colours. I love them, and i would recommend them to everyone. They have this knack of making you look like you've really tried hard and thought about what you were going to wear this morning but in actual fact you've thrown them on because they don't show the wrinkles and the flatter your figure. They're ultra comfortable and really suit all shapes and sizes, perfect for all seasons.

As for the top, i have this particular number in a lot of different colours becuase, honestly, it's insanly comfortable and really flattering. It's tight on the arms but loose in the body, and they are certainly my favourite style of top. Even though it's loose in the body it still some how manages not to make you look far bigger than you are and all in all, they're really very comfortable. Can you see a theme emerging? I'm going to be honest, when it comes to university i love things that make it look like i've really tried hard but in actual fact are just really comfortable.

And as for my shoes, you know you've got good shoes when your lecturer compliments you quite excitedly, asking where they're from. I love the style and the pattern of these shoes, so much so i got them in two colours which i'm sure you'll see soon enough.

K|xo