University application update

Just a quick update to let everyone know that I've been offered 3 conditional places at Solent for my top 3 courses: fashion styling, beauty promotion and hair & makeup design! Thanks for all the support the last few months 💖

Today is a multiple cups of coffee kind of day

Whilst still trying to get rid of my holiday blues, i've been dreaming of hot weather and days where I don't need to worry about wrapping up warm! So today I bared the cold, stepped out in a t-shirt (goosebumps and all) and got a new outfit post for you guys.

I've been wanting to show off this clutch since christmas, but have sucked at keeping up with my blog because of uni prep and deadlines at sixth form. Sorry! But anyway, this gem is from New Look and I am soo in love. It's actually got tons of space in it and can easily be worn casually during the day - bonus. 

Anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis will have seen I did a Zara TRF post a while back on one of their t-shirts; this is another I got ages ago, which perfectly describes most of my Sundays! I'm not really a t-shirt girl but their simple ones are so on point. 

Okay, these boots are actually perfection. I got them before Christmas but haven't had the chance to wear them yet, so today was my chance to get them out and show them off! Usually I am awful at walking in stiletto type heels, but these are so supportive and I will defo be wearing these while the cold weather lasts! They look so chic with all black, but I wanted to try styling them a little differently for this post. 

Warning: Not to do with my outfit but a personal bit requested about me... 

I was pretty surprised the other day to get an email with the subject 'tattoo', but one of my fab readers wanted me to post a picture on here and explain the meaning behind what I got. Basically, my 18th was on the 3rd and ever since I was 12 I had watched LA ink (Kat Von D's programme) and other tattoo programmes and loved how people were getting pieces of art on their body. 

For year's I had the idea of getting mine and my mum's favorite flowers but I could never decide on mine, plus mum's was a lily which I didn't really want as a tattoo - sorry mum! So we came to the mutual agreement on cherry blossoms; they are known to symbolise power, new beginnings and the passing of things - completely relevant to me! The elephant doesn't really have a meaning, but they have always been my favorite animal and they symbolise strength. Elephant's also are stuck with their trunk, how I feel about my nose, so I guess that has some significance. 

The most important part of my tattoo is the wording, last year for my 17th birthday my parents bought me a ring which has faith written around it, I wear it every day (apart from when my nails look horrible - then I avoid drawing attention to my hands!) but it was really meaningful to me because I was going through a really low point, the past year has really changed me so I wanted to have this with me permanently to remind me that I managed to overcome everything. 

My design isn't finished yet, I need to have the cherry blossom's shaded pink, but I absolutely adore it so far and it can only get better! 

Sunkissed Bronzing review

Being super pale, i'm no stranger to fake tan. Anyone who knows me has at one point told me how pale I am! I've tried so many lotions and gels, instant and developing, but all tend to go streaky, smell gross and feel super drying!

So I was super lucky when Nisha from Sunkissed Bronzing agreed to send me a bottle of their tanning mousse.

I'd never tried a mousse tan before, so was excited to try something different! I'd seen sunkissed products on the shelves before, but hadn't heard any reviews about it, so wasn't sure how it was going to go on or develop. 

Straight after applying it to one leg, I took a couple of snaps to compare the colour - you can clearly see a big difference. I also fell in love with the smell; I adore coconut so was really happy when I realised that was the scent, it smells amazing and honestly, unlike other products, you'd never guess it was the smell of fake tan! 

After an hour I took another picture to show how it had developed, I was soo impressed with the quality of the tan. There are literally 0 streaks and my legs feel really moisturised!

After just 4 hour's I am looking very sunkissed (no pun intended) and feel very confident with the look of my bronze legs! 

I'd 100% recommend the mousse for anyone who uses self tanners, it smells great and looks fab! Will definitely be supporting it for bare-legged nights out! Just make sure you apply it with a tanning mitt to ensure it goes on streak free and even! I used the mousse in medium, but will be topping up with another layer later tonight - you could easily get away with using the dark one if you're aiming to be really brown. 

Massive thanks to Nisha! x

Longbeach lovin' - Uni portfolio prep

I'm definitely sad to be back from South Africa, especially with this grim weather! But while we were away I managed to get some of my portfolio prep done ready for sending off to one of my uni choices. 

Staying in Kommetjie defo worked to my advantage as the setting of  the beach is stunning! Plus my sister has done some photography work before, so hopefully i've got some good imagery to send off!  

I'm completing 3 mini projects for my first portfolio, and these photos are for my Monochrome project. I haven't yet chosen my final 2 photos, but I thought this was also the perfect opportunity for a different outfit post. 

The outfit I styled was inspired by a Polyvore set I created, for each project I am styling a page of 6 Polyvore sets to show inspiration and my thought process.

I absolutely love the idea of layering pleats. So I actually paired my Topshop bralet with some H&M shorts I got a few years back. The shorts actually look like a pleated mini skirt, plus they're sparkly which is very cute. 

This post is defo different to my usual composition, I usually try to show how I incorporate Alexandra Fullerton's approach of using a background which work's with the styling, whereas for this I went for something completely contrasting. Trying something so different was really fun to shoot, and I got some very funny looks at the beach! 

Some of the images aren't so flattering, but I think it was necessary for the entire look to work. Shooting from below was something I was super unsure of - everyone know's its probably one of the worst angles, although it gave some of the best outcomes for showing off the clothing. 

I wasn't originally planning on wearing sunglasses, but the light was so bright because the sun was setting that I didn't have much choice. Hair and makeup really wasn't considered as much as I would have liked, if wearing this out I would go for a slick top knot or relaxed curls sweeping over the face! (Thought i'd give an option for an updo or having it down) Simple makeup including a strong matte lip would look fab with this, matching with a thick feline eyeliner.

 A clutch works so well with this, especially my fave holographic one! It caught the light perfectly and adds an extra element of glam for a night out! Keeping to just 2 accessories is one of my fave pieces of fashion advice; pairing my clutch with some simple bracelets as an arm cuff gave a bit of an edgy vibe without looking too glitzy. 

Simple chunky shoes really worked with this, even though they weren't ideal for standing on the sand! 

When I did my first uni application update I had received 3 portfolio viewings/ interviews, but while I was away I got my final 2! Blogging has definitely helped me to put ideas together and inspired me to work even harder, so thanks to everyone who reads on a regular basis! 

Outfit details: 

Bralet- Topshop, 

Shorts- H&M, 

Shoes- New Look, 

Bag- Topshop, 

Bracelets- H&M, 

Sunglasses- Topshop. 

UH HUH HONEY - Chapman's peak/ Parlotone's concert

For anyone who regularly reads my blog, you'll know that on new years day I visited my fave place (Chapman's peak) completely hungover, and stood freezing in my bra while Damien took photos.. not a very happy bunny! So today on our way to a concert we drove past, sober, and got some photos of our own. 

Sigma's - Nobody to love, video actually starts off at Chapman's peak (Hence the post title), random fact! But honestly, anyone who ever visits SA should 100% do the drive! 

 

Outfit details: Bralet - Topshop, Skort - H&M, Shoes - Topshop

I'd never heard of the Parlotone's before, so when my sister bought us tickets for their concert in Kirstenbosch I was very skeptical. We got to the botanical gardens and I was super surprised with the amount of people that turned up! 

View from the stage

 

The Parlotone's are a South African rock band, with 4 members (2 quite attractive in real life: not what I had seen on the internet!) and I actually had such a fab evening! Their music is definitely worth checking out if you haven't heard them before! 

Obviously we had to take some family selfies!

Plus some other photo's of us all.. 

I hope everyone has had a great start to 2015!

Only 9623km away from England!

Happy new year! How I spent my nye

First of all, happy new year everybody! I know it's a bit late, but still; I hope you all had a fab start to the year, and even a cheeky nye kiss!

This nye was very different for me. Usually me and my parents spend it at our family friends having a few drinks then stumble home after midnight, last year I spent it with complete strangers who all spoke Afrikaans - not so great! But this year I spent it with two fab guys from SA, who I actually met through social media, in Cape Town at a street festival.

 

I was smart enough to wear flat shoes, which allowed me to dance the night away (not so well).. and strategically planned ahead by taking a jumper that later came in handy as a blanket!

As Pendulum's DJ set began I was definitely excited for the countdown to the new year, I made so many changes in 2014 and couldn't wait to begin a new year. Definitely surprised as the clock struck midnight (the first time - on one of the guys phones) and I got my nye kiss, even more surprised when the actual countdown began and I then got another kiss!

After midnight is a bit of a blur, shots of tequila are not my friend. Confused to say the least, when I woke up in the morning laid across the back seat of the car in my bra with my dress almost around my waist (so classy).

Chapman's peak is the most beautiful place I have ever been to, so I was very happy to drive past it there and back from the party. Although being completely hungover, and standing freezing cold in my bra wasn't how I pictured revisiting my favorite place!

I can't really complain about new years day though, as I got to spend it in 26 degrees at long beach.

I've sucked so bad at keeping up with outfit posts while I've been away but I wanted to show you all this fab bikini top I got out in SA at Cotton On. It's actually a bra but feels just like bikini fabric, and looks exactly like a Triangl bikini! There was sooo many colours to choose from and even other styles similar to Triangle.

The bottoms aren't the ones I bought over here, just some H&M floral ones, but they match perfectly!

 

After everything I went through and experienced in 2014, i'm super up for what is coming my way this year. Starting my blog, and applying for university has seriously boosted my confidence and helped me to start changing myself for the best. My friendship with Flo has become more of a sisterly relationship and I couldn't live without her! I have 100% began to take care of myself a lot better and done exactly what I wanted for myself which I hope to continue in the future.

Thanks to everyone who has supported my blog so far, I couldn't have kept it up without you all. Super excited for bigger and better things this year!