Wednesday 5 November 2014

ss15 for your aw14 wardrobes.

Okay, so the clocks going back last week and this awful weather outside is all the warning signs you need to see that summer is officially over. You won't get any complaints here from me as I love Autumn/Winter. I love being cold, being able to layer up my clothes, and I also love that it is once again socially acceptable to be in all black, head to toe.

With the Fashion Week season being over and press days being in full swing, I can now confirm that the upcoming Spring/Summer fashion is my all-time favourite. There are hardly any excessive floral prints and pastel colours are not as prominent. With this, it is so easy to keep those Spring/Summer vibes in your daily wear during these gloomy days...or you could just prepare yourself incredibly early for the next season.

You can take a look at some of my favourite looks as well as find out how I'll be injecting some of these trends into my current wardrobe.


 NEW YORK

 
DKNY / Monique Lhuillier / J. Crew / Nicholas K 

The cold and the rain allows knitwear to be a constant necessity, so adding prints/patterns to your monochromatic look as well as layering with a scarf and a leather jacket is a must. For those of us who go about our daily lives in tailored work wear, do so with style adding metallic touches or colourfully accessorising.

LONDON

 
Mother of Pearl / Mary Katrantzou / Markus Lupfer / Trager Delaney 

The sports luxe trend shall never die in my eyes, but be sure to be unique about it. Sweats and hoodies can be the standout of any outfit if done right, so for this season you can try pairing them with tailored pieces in sharp colours, contrasting with the darkness of the rest of your outfit.  

MILAN

 
Iceberg / Gucci / Les Copains / Fausto Puglisi 

Is it just me, or is army green a colour for this season anyway? Make your attire that much more interesting by playing with textures and embellishments, while still layering. Also don't be scared to have one statement piece, whether it be an array of bright colours in your top or an oversized jacket to add a bit of personality. 

PARIS

 
Veronique Leroy / Andrew GN / Barabara Bui / Dries Van Noten

I know, right? I thought colour blocking was a thing of the past too, but when it's done to animate an ensemble, it adds character like you would not believe. It can also be done with dark, autumnal colours too. Long coats are a good investment because they are such transitional pieces, so you can break out of your comfort zone a little knowing you can cover up with your contemporary outerwear.

How are you dressing up SS15 trends? Are you saving them all for the season?

my wardrobe transforms, never changes, jayj x.

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Friday 31 October 2014

christmas shopping all on one app.

I'm not really one who's hot on Halloween, so I thought I'd use this as the perfect time to start on my Christmas shopping.

I like to get things for people that are a bit unique, not generic things that you'd find in regular high street stores...you know, something different. It can be one of THE hardest things to do, so if there is anything that will make it that bit easier, I'll take it.


So imagine different types of businesses from different countries put their products on one app where you can shop. You can choose from several categories including shoes, jewellery and gadgets and it will show you the different items available wherever they may be in the world.


And seeing as it's Christmas, here's a little wish list of some cool things I'd like to receive.
 


Be sure to find all of this and more on the Tictail app, and if you have your own business, you can even set it up and sell your stuff on there!

Are there any other apps you're using for Christmas shopping?

no fuss, jayj x.

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Wednesday 8 October 2014

quick nail post #12.

 
OPI - Get in the Expresso Lane / Revlon - Amethyst

Check out all my past nail posts here!

all holographic everything, jayj x.


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Monday 29 September 2014

topshop boutique layering.

After a Topshop fashion show, I go a little insane and want everything that every single model is wearing. But seeing as they just showcased SS15, I can't quite do that yet...

What I CAN do is hit up the website and see what the boutique has to currently offer me for this season.

 
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

This season is all about layering as the cold weather hits us, so my plan is to update my basics to Boutique quality and get to layering!


everything that I wear is oversized, jayj x.

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Tuesday 16 September 2014

black boot hunt.

As AW14 is here, I am now officially on the hunt for the perfect pair of black boots for the season. Trying to steer away from something that I already own, I'm going to have a bunch to choose from...then I can pick my favourite.
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 

Okay, so these aren't specifically my style but I still think they're quite cool! An everyday wedge would be very different for me, and we all know I love to make a statement, so these chained boots from Zara are damn near perfect. The hi-top slip-ons need no explanation (I currently have an unhealthy obsession with slip-ons), and these Topshop boots are an awkward mix between trainers and Doc's, so obviously a win.

 
5 / 6 / 7 / 8 

These last four are definitely styles that you would catch me in. The fact that I all I wear now are slightly cropped black jeans or riding pants, these short ankle boots with gold hardware would add such a badass touch. Again, no explanation needed for Chelsea boots. There isn't anyone that doesn't look cool in some Chelsea boots. And am I the only one that just really wants some Vagabonds? They are the go-to brand for the ultimate lightweight chunky shoe. I chose this style as they're not like anything else I own.


Have you found your perfect Autumn/Winter black boots? Any more suggestions?

I'd wear colour, but I think I'm allergic, jayj x.

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Wednesday 10 September 2014

an essence nail haul.

Ever since it was announced that Essence would be sold in the UK, I have been wanting to get my hands on some particular products. My search is not yet complete, but here are the nail polishes that I managed to pick up from the store at Westfield as well as my local Wilko's.

 
 
 As well as a nail base, I got some textured polishes in Skyfall and 101 Dalmations.
 My favourite nail blogger, The Nailasaurus, spoke about this top coat AGES ago and I've been wanting to try it since. It was literally the first thing I grabbed when I got to the stand.

Be sure to look out for these in future nail posts/reviews!

it was essential, jayj x.

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Tuesday 9 September 2014

blog post ideas.

As a blogger, it can sometimes be quite hard to think of what to write. Sometimes you lose inspiration and sometimes you just feel as though everything has been done. 
For myself (and some of my blogger friends out there), I'm going to make a list of blog post ideas so that I can refer to it whenever I get stuck for ideas.

1. Favourite nail polishes
2. What's in my makeup bag?
3. Skincare favourites
4. Empties
5. Favourite foundations
6. Beauty/non-beauty favourites
7. Fashion inspiration

Do you have any other blog post ideas?

writer's block sucks, jayj x.

ps. expect a proper post tomorrow!


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Monday 1 September 2014

top 5 holiday destinations.

The beginning of September has arrived and that means kids are going back to school and the end of the summer holiday is officially here.
Thinking that, I've always got my next trip planned in my head, so I've compiled a list of the top five places that I'd like to visit (in no particular order).
Paris - I've been to Paris loads of times before, but now that I'm older I feel as though I will love the experience even more. It's one of those sophisticated cities where I can explore the nightlife and shop until I drop (literally).

LA - The more YouTube I watch, the more I have this constant need to be in LA. It's mostly the food that's calling me, but the atmosphere just seems so chilled and it's somewhere that I definitely need to go soon.

Japan - Okay, this is a huge one and definitely not realistic at the moment, but I don't think that there is anyone who doesn't want to visit Japan in their lifetime. Everything seems so advanced; there are countless places to explore, and again, the food...

Dubai - Going back to Dubai is a must for me, especially when I have an insane amount of spending money at my disposal. There is so much to learn about the culture, which makes it somewhere that you can enjoy with both family and friends. I will be sure to take full advantage next time.

Baltimore - This is more like my second home but I have not been back in SO long and I really miss it. From what I remember, it is quite chilled with so many places to see in the city as well as in the surrounding areas. The Inner Harbor, Aquarium, many museums, and we can't forget my favourite, outlet malls.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

the 'J' is for jet-setter, jayj x.

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Friday 4 July 2014

the body shop - instablur review.

 Instablur - £14
 
After reading a few reviews, the excitement alone forced me to go out and buy the famous Instablur by The Body Shop. I wasn't expecting amazing results as primers don't normally work too well for me, but as it claimed to be a 5 in 1, I thought I'd try my luck.

With my main skin problems being that I have an incredibly oily t-zone and also enlarged pores around my nose, the girl that was helping me out at the store recommended I try it as it 'acts as a Polyfilla for your skin'...that obviously sold me.

Having used the product for a few weeks now, I love the results that it gives me. It reduces the size of my pores dramatically, and along with my matte moisturiser, I feel as though my face doesn't get as oily throughout the day. It doesn't necessarily make my makeup last any longer, but you can't win 'em all.

Overall, for someone who is trying to combat oily skin, I think I've found a temporary solution.


Have you tried Instablur? What were your intial reactions?

a little less oily, jayj x.



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Monday 5 May 2014

quick nail post #11.

Hey, look...#ManiMonday!

 
OPI - Can't Let Go (Liquid Sand) / Kiko - 347

Even though the warmer months are approaching, I can't steer away from my dark colour palette when it comes to my nails, and this OPI liquid sand formula is one of my favourites at the moment.

share your #ManiMonday's! jayj x.

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Monday 21 April 2014

spring/summer watch wish list.

It's definitely that time of year when everyone is wanting to prepare their Spring/Summer wardrobes by buying new pieces to go with the new season. I'm not someone who personally does this as I wear mostly dark colours the whole year round, but what I do like to do is change up my accessories and the way that I put my outfits together.

Saying this, I am currently lusting after watches like crazy! I feel like designers have launched new styles that can be classy but different and I always love something with a bit of an edge.
 
Tresor Paris Precision Chronograph / Swarovski Octea Classica / Karl Lagerfeld Karl 7 / Vivienne Westwood Kensington / Swatch Charcoal Medal Rose

Also, this amazingness I tried on at a Tresor Paris event recently!

I can always justify spending a bit more money on my accessories as I tend to drift towards timeless pieces that never really go out of style.

I'm hoping to get one soon so what are your thoughts? Which one is your favourite? Any other recommendations?

never not watching watches, jayj x.

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Monday 14 April 2014

an empty review - boots botanics face wipes.

I know right...I'm about to write a review on face wipes, but that's how you know they are epic and have completely changed the face wipe game.

Boots Botanics Cleansing Wipes - £3.49

I'm not one that's normally too fussed about what I use to initially wipe my makeup off. I normally just get these 99p ones or whatever is on offer at the time, which is how I came across the Boots Botanics ones (always pay attention to vouchers that come with your receipt!).

The first thing I noticed about them are that they are thicker than standard wipes and they have a lot of moisture in them, but not too much. This balance helps to get most, if not all of your makeup off with just one wipe, saving you on facial wash in the long run. The texture of the wipes also have exfoliating qualities in them, so as well as clean skin, it helps unclog the pores clearing your skin of the impurities.

The best way to get the most out of these wipes is to use them as part of your daily skincare routine, using them to take off your makeup at the end of your day. You can then go on to use a facial wash to get off any excess makeup (if you feel like you need to), and then follow with a toner to restore the balance of your skin.

You need to try them to know what I mean, and trust me, it will be SO worth it.


Have you ever tried them? Are there any other face wipes you would recommend?

no more cleansing problems, jayj x.

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Monday 7 April 2014

april beauty wish list.

It's not too often that I make a specific wish list, but I feel as though the beauty junkie in me has taken over and there are so many products that I simply just NEED.

I've got three main aims at the moment that I wish to achieve with my skin:
  • make my skin feel/look smooth
  • keep my t-zone oil-free during the day
  • maintain full and flawless coverage for the whole day

So with that, I have compiled a list of things that I feel would be good for me to try.
 
To help maintain the balance of moisture in my skin, it sounds crazy, but I've heard that putting oil on your skin can help do just that. So using the NUDE progenius after cleansing at night, I'm hoping will help with the oil that produces on my t-zone throughout the day. Along with this, in the morning as my daily moisturiser I can either use the Clinique moisturizing gel or the Superfacialist mattifying moisturiser. I've used mattifying moisturisers in the past, but nothing that has made a significant difference, and I have read that gel formulas are better for oily skin and keeping the skin matte under makeup. To finish up my routine, I can mix the highly concentrated Kevyn Aucoin skin enhancer with the Becca matte skin foundation to give me fuller but more natural looking coverage and even out my skin tone.

...and I've just convinced myself that I need to have ALL of these products as part of my skincare routine.


Have you tried any of these and would you recommend them? Any other products that you think I could you for my current skin concerns?
 
I have expensive taste in skincare, jayj x.

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Wednesday 19 March 2014

mother's day gift guide.

Mother's Day is slowly but surely creeping up on us, and is it just me, or are there reminders EVERYWHERE this year? I dunno...

For those of us who have a little more money to splurge on our wonderful mother's, or for those of us whose mothers have incredibly expensive taste (me!), I thought I'd compile a little gift guide that could help some of you.

I think accessories are probably the easiest thing to drift towards when looking for a gift, so depending on your mum's taste, maybe jewellery is her thing...
 

Or perhaps she's more into her bags and purses...
 
ASOS leather bag - £75 / DKNY purse - £60 / Zara bag - £79.99 / Fiorelli purse - £32

Or is she possibly more into her shoes?
 
New Look court shoes - £19.99 / Office loafers - £58 / Zara heels - £59.99 / Russell & Bromley flats - £99.50

Whatever you choose to get your mum this Mother's Day, make it something that you know she'll love and appreciate...hopefully we'll get the same love on our next birthday!

What are you planning to get your mum?

I love my mama, jayj x.

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Monday 17 March 2014

fashion week aw14 trends: shoes.

Carrying on with the trends...

Shoes are just as important as any item of clothing in our outfit, and for some of us, we like to make our statement through our shoes.

Fashion week saw footwear creating a trend of its own this coming Autumn/Winter. With a mixture of different textures, pops of colour to complement a darker colour palette and an aray of embellishments,  we saw classic styles with a difference. There was a twist on classic boot styles, monochromatic flats and cut-outs unimaginable.

 
Ashish / Chanel / Devastee
 Barbara Bui / Stella Jean / Yohji Yamamoto
 Christopher Kane / DSquared2 / Valentino
MSGM / Fausto Puglisi / Tracy Reese

As a tall girl I'm not mad on heels, but I am a lover of trainers, boots and a statement flat, so I will most certainly take these as inspiration when making future footwear purchases.

What do you think of shoes as a trend on it's own?

always step in style, jayj x.

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check out my post on colours & prints as a trend!

Tuesday 11 March 2014

fashion week aw14 trends: colours & prints.

After attending LFW a few weeks back and catching up on all of the fashion shows from New York, Milan and Paris, there are a few trends that have really stuck out to me. 
Over the next week or so, you will see a few posts from me highlighting these trends. So if you missed out on the fashion week festivities, be sure to check out these posts as I'll be sharing images from loads of designers including all the greats.

First up...colours and prints.

In Autumn/Winter we always expect a darker colour palette and nothing too out of the ordinary. People tend to focus on layering to prepare for the cold weather ahead and make their statements through accessories, but we can definitely expect the opposite for 2014. Expect splashes of colour on simple silhouettes, thick and unusual textures and unexpected colour blocking.

Chanel / Xiao Li
 Louis Vuitton / Valentino
 
Kenzo
 Alexander McQueen / ChloĆ©
 
Paul & Joe / Burberry Prorsum

As someone who is always in dark colours, this coming AW14 will definitely give me the opportunity to explore new areas in fashion without it looking too out of the ordinary.

What do you think of colours and prints in Autumn/Winter?

Be sure to come back for more aw14 trends!


I will stop living in black and grey clothes, jayj x.

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Thursday 27 February 2014

the review - british plus-size fashion weekend 2014.

As you saw on a previous post, I was invited along to the media day of the BPSFW. This particular event went down on Friday 14th February, along with so many other events...so it was definitely a successful day.

I had the chance to speak to designers and models and get an insight to new and current plus-size fashion and I learned SO much. It was amazing to be in a room full of people where being plus-size was being embraced and celebrated.

Simply Be.
Dynasty London - Viviana.
 Dear Curves.
 Syreeta Badu.
 Remi Ray. (wearing my new favourite tee!)
 
Here is an instagram pic of me and the amazing Whitney from ANTM!

 Be sure to check out all the links to see more from each designer.

Apologies for the picture heavy post! I also tried to get a video up of the catwalk but I am having mad technical issues so stay tuned for that in a separate post.

Did you make it to the event? What do you think of all the plus-size designers?


everyday is a plus-size fashion day, jayj x.


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Wednesday 19 February 2014

one can dream...

I have a few posts that I need to get up for you guys within the next few days, but due to some technical difficulties and the fact that I am currently having the time of my life in Lisbon, these posts may just have to wait for a second.

Anyone who knows me will know that I have a weakness for designer items. When I have my eye on something, I won't let go until I get it or find a more reasonable alternative to fill its space.

With my two best friends fast asleep behind me, I thought I'd do what I do best and explore the internet for new things to buy and blog about it.
Here are my current obsessions:

Saint Laurent tote / Alexander Wang iPad clutch / Saint Laurent loafers / Kenzo tote

One can most definitely dream...

I never stop shopping, jayj x.


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Tuesday 18 February 2014

crossEyes london event.

February 14th...Valentine's day, the beginning of London Fashion Week, media day at British Plus-Size Fashion Weekend and the CrossEyes London blogger's event...I was a busy girl.

As a fellow four-eyes, being invited to a blogger's event for a glasses brand was like being at home away from home. I was surrounded by designer frames of all different shapes, sizes, materials and styles...and all at my disposal to try on.


CrossEyes is a Danish chain of opticians that specialize in creating a personal atmosphere and experience for each and every customer. All of the frames are placed very openly in the store, allowing you the freedom to try on every frame and find what you need to suit your taste and style. You then get a free eye test and then get your glasses made for you, all with a very personable service.


I like my glasses to reflect my personality as well as my facial features so I am always looking for big, fun and quirky looking frames. 


 I think I must have tried on every single pair of glasses that they had in that store, but I must say my favourite were probably this style; fun and quirky, yet, sophisticated.

Be sure to check out their official website, twitter and Instagram to check out their concept and find your own favourite style.

fashion forward four-eyed fox, jayj x.


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