barcelona beauty haul.

I went to Barcelona with my best friends not too long ago, so I thought I'd share what I bought on my trip. I know myself way too well, and although I did see a few fashion bits that I loved, I just knew that I would return with beauty products.

 make up forever lipstick - no49 / mac studio fix powder - nw58 / nyx soft matte lip cream - abu dhabi / givenchy nail polish - 184 private taupe / nyx HD studio primer / flormar max lift mascara

I also recently bought a couple of Real Techniques brushes (finally! and also, not from Barcelona) but I thought I'd include them in this haul.

expert face brush / powder brush

What beauty items have you bought recently?

sephora is my weakness, jayj x.

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quick nail post #9.

I recently discovered this nail polish again, and I've once again fallen in love with green. I'm also trying to ease myself into doing matte nails again, so I thought I'd start with a nail polish that is already mattified.

While doing these nails I also discovered that I am incredibly crappy at doing nail art (drawing a straight line appeared to be a challenge), so I admire those of you who can do all the fancy art on your nails!

 revlon - emerald city (matte suede) / essie - school of hard rocks / barry M nail art pen - black

feel free to take a peek at all my previous nail posts, and I've also got more beauty posts in the works so you've got that to look forward to.

my nails are green but the grass appears to be greener, jayj x.

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one year.

I know I’m not one to really write personal posts on my blog, but after someone noticed that I had changed my profile to ‘journalism graduate’ (y’all are observant), and the fact that I haven’t been posting as much as I used to, I thought I’d put up a post to explain and share my experience.

I recently (finally) finished university and graduated after studying journalism for three years at UCA. As much as I would love to say that I enjoyed my uni experience, anyone that knows me will know that my situation was the complete opposite. I initially started uni not thinking that I was smart enough, not knowing what I wanted to do with my life…and although I know that’s a common thing amongst a lot of people, when you’re the one experiencing it you do feel very much alone. During the entire three years I struggled with a lot of my work. I didn’t get a lot of positive feedback or general feedback from my tutors, so I never really knew where I was going wrong. The only thing that I did notice is that I liked the way that I wrote and I thought my writing was constantly improving as I did it more. I am very proud of myself for sticking to it and getting awesome results at the end. If you want something bad enough you gotta put the effort in. 

Studying journalism, and with my course being structured the way that it was, I was often given the freedom to be creative so I wrote about what I love. This mainly consisted of fashion, beauty and music…which leads us here. I started my blog at the end of my 2^nd year when I basically had a meltdown and had no idea what I was good at and what I wanted to do. As much as I sometimes think that my interests are shallow, there are so many people that share the same interests as me and it’s fascinating seeing that people appreciate what I have to say about certain things.

Going to university is something that I felt like I had to do. You go to high school, on to college, and then naturally you apply and go to university. If I had to make the choice again, I would probably not choose to go. Depending on what you want to do with your life and what you want to study, uni is not the only thing that can get you there, and it’s not even guaranteed to take you where you want to be at the end. If there is one piece of advice that I can pass on, it would be to make sure that you do what is best for you. You know you best, right?  

It’s been very wordy so I think it’s best I wrap it up, but for those of you who made it to the end, I’ve just got one last thing to say. I never thought that my blog would grow like this in just a year, and I appreciate every single person that stumbles upon my page, tweets me, emails me, likes my pics on instagram… seriously, I appreciate it very much and I will continue to do posts just for you guys. You’re all amazing.  

I'm one this month, jayj x.

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layering bracelets featuring Tresor Paris.

Long time no see! I won't bore you with my life and university details, but what you do need to know is...I'm back!

and now, back to our regular scheduled programming...

Anyone that knows me knows that my favourite kind of accessory is jewellery. I have always been a fan of jewellery, and now even more so because I work in a jewellery store, but I find that it is the simplest yet most stylish thing that can complete any look. The type of jewellery that you wear and the way in which you wear it can tell a lot about your personal style. Some people like to be quite basic with their jewellery and simply wear minimal and small pieces. Then there are those like me who like to pile on the bracelets, the necklaces and the rings and really make a statement with their jewellery.

I got the chance to see some of the new ranges that Tresor Paris have launched...and oh my, I got so much inspiration!!

 The layering trend is one that has become quite popular in fashion in the past year, and I think it translates the best when it comes to jewellery, especially on your wrists. You are able to take a ton of bracelets and stack them on your wrists along with any watches or bands that you wear. Your arm is not the first thing that people see when they look at you so I find this to be a subtle but pronounced way of showing off your favourite jewellery.

 I then got some people and some bracelets and started stacking!

What's your favourite kind of jewellery to layer? Are you a fan of the crystal bracelets by Tresor Paris?

always stacking, jayj x.

amsterdam, the netherlands.

A little while back I took an awesome trip with an awesome friend to Amsterdam. It was just after my birthday, so it was good to get away, not think about uni or work, and just have some fun.

It was a bit of a fail as I didn't take many pictures (don't shoot me!), but i thought some of you would like to see what the city is like and the general atmosphere.

It's definitely somewhere that everyone has to visit. It's a very unique...and different experience.

Enjoy. (FYI: I kept it clean)

Have you ever been to Amsterdam? How was your experience?

exploring and experimenting is fun, jayj x.

 

red or dead.

The Red or Dead event was their 30th anniversary, celebrating a brand that is famous for their fun and quirky take on British fashion. They are a brand that initially started from a Camden market stall in 1982 and have evolved. Staying true to its origin, Red or Dead remains a brand that characterises young British street style, capturing humorous and lively moments through fashion.

In 2003 Specsavers launched the first collection of Read or Dead frames, allowing individuals to showcase their personal style through their eyewear.

In the 1980s footwear was re-worked, introducing chunky heels to what were classic styles of shoes. Their unique creations became a phenomenon, popular amongst celebrities like the Spice Girls and designers such as John Paul Gautier.

Red or Dead will continue to maintain their vibrant creative energy to create unique ideas within the British fashion industry, reminding us that individual style is the best trend.


british fashion is my favourite fashion, jayj x.

stefanel ss13.

Late last year I attended some awesome press days where I got to see what new looks and styles fashion would bring us in the new season. Let's look at this post as the first of a mini series.

                                                                      

Stefanel did well in presenting to us a familiar but reformed take on Spring/Summer fashion. Classic trends such as pastels, floral prints and bright colours were transformed using trends that are not necessarily characteristic of this season.
Pairing these highlights with fine knits, bold prints, embellishments and darker colours is a very unique approach. Neutral hues are used as a nice balance, with light and flowy materials used to create unstructured silhouettes.
They experimented with colour when creating their accessories, adding texture for a fresher look. We see softer neon tones paired with leather; a fraction of femininity in a look.

Here are some pictures I took from the day, bringing the descriptions to life.

And finally, my favourite looks from the official lookbook.

 (Images courtesy of Connie Filippello Publicity)

Shop the new collection online at Stefanel, or visit one of their concessions or their boutique on Kings Road, London.

What are your favourite SS13 trends so far?

it's spring in my head, jayj x.