I'm no Brat

I remember when I first found out about Brat & Suzie (probably via one blog or another) and instantly becoming smitted with their cute and quirky tees.

Fast forward a few years and I was contacted asking if I wanted a preview of their S/S12 collection...of course I said yes!

I was sent two cropped vests; a dipped hem one featuring this awesome cat in glasses (I think it's a cat, anyway) and the amazing squirrel one (yep, still squirrel obsessed)

Cropped tops in any form are usually way out of my parameters and an instant no go, but determined to embrace the "feel the fear and do it anyway" approach I had a go at putting together an outfit with the squirrel top...



I teamed it with my faithful Zara denim skirt, that is highwaisted enough to not make me feel all that exposed. You can't see in the photos but the tights are subtle polka-dots and the loafers are from Kate Kanzier.



I'm still pondering how to wear the second vest; perhaps with my Leopard print jeans? Suggestions are welcome...



Are you a Brat & Suzie fan?

What's your take on cropped tops?



xxx

Real Techniques Brush Kit

Real Techniques Core Collection brush set - £21.99

I'm so glad that I have discovered these makeup brushes, they are literally my holy grail of makeup brushes. Well, especially the Buffing Brush (the largest). After asking on Twitter about a new foundation brush, a hell of a lot of people tweeted me back all saying the same thing; "Get the Real Techniques Buffing Brush". I figured that with the amount of girls all saying the same thing, it must be an amazing brush. Even better than the Sigma F80 so they all said.

The kit also comes complete with a case for storage. I was going to store them on my dressing table in my glass jars, but with their orange packaging, they just didn't go with my Dressing Room decor, so I keep them packed away neatly in this carrier case.

The Buffing Brush applies my liquid foundation so well, even better than my previous standard foundation brush by Sigma. The brush itself allows a buffing application, rather than streaky. This allows the foundation to blend into your jawline and neck much better without that tell tale tide line.

Here I am with my foundation applied with the Real Techniques brush, I love it! Well worth investing in!

What foundation brushes do you use? Have you ever tried the Real Techniques range?

Sarenza A-Z: Irregular Choice

Somehow we've reached I in the A-Z...I'm not sure where the weeks have gone to, but here we are. I'm pretty sure nobody predicted that my brand of choice this week would be Irregular Choice; a bit of a marmite brand between bloggers and one I never used to get, but since Alex and Charlotte introduced me, I've become a bit of an addict and own several pairs.

.

Hmm, where has my spring like colour scheme gone?



1. Miaow; possibly one of the most recognised styles by now, they've been around for a few seasons and I still adore them.



2. Otters; cheating somewhat as I own these, but I still love them; they are much more subtle than they appear and really comfortable too!



3. No Photo Please; because a girl can not have too many pairs of glitzy flats.



4. A Night Under the Stars; GLITTER.

They also do some pretty fun bags, too (there, that's more spring like!)



Are you a lover or a loather? What's your "irregular" choice?



xxx



P.S. My second choice brand was the super affordable I Love Shoes, yet another brand that Sarenza introduced me to.

Topshop Sunbeam Highlighter

Topshop Sunbeam Highlighter - £10


When it comes to shimmery makeup, I'm such a magpie. Being drawn in by anything that sparkles in the light. Whilst in Topshop testing out a few different products and becoming covered in stains from swatches, I noticed the Topshop Sunbeam Highlighter. I'm fairly new to highlighters, but as soon as I'd swatched this, my whole hands and arms ended up doused in glittery gold dust. No matter how much I willed to wipe away the dazzling glitter flecks, they remained put. Even in my messy twinkly state, I did think to myself that it must be a long lasting product (when applied correctly) as no matter how much I scrubbed, the glitter wouldn't budge.

What are your favourite highlighters? What have you tried and tested? What don't you rate?

the perfect weekend

Dress c/o Matalan, Tesco tights (which I shamefully discovered had a hole mid thigh whilst out and about), Georgia Rose boots c/o Sarenza.



Yesterday was one of those days that makes you think "this is what the weekends should be like, always". With almost spring-like sunshine beaming down on us, Best.Friend. and I hopped in her car (she's my personal driver, really) and headed down to Clarks Village in Somerset; about an hour away from us. I raved about this place a couple of weeks ago when my parents went, and I will continue to rave. Best.Friend. bought a beautiful dress in the Monsoon outlet at a crazy price to wear to a mutual friend's wedding in May (I am yet to purchase my dress, but know what it will be!) and we both stocked up on undies in M&S (£5.75 for a matching set) and bras in Calvin Klein (3 for £16). The Cadbury shop is always a delight and we came away with chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate, and the surprise winner of the day was Claire's Accessories where I got some much needed silver stud earrings for crazy cheap.



Other shops we looked in and enjoyed were Yumi which had amazing bargains if they had your size; they didn't for me this time, and several places selling handbags. We had a cheap and tasty lunch in Subway and stopped off at a nearby Sainsburys to raid their bakery for a snack.



The evening was spent watching Saturday night TV before falling asleep shamefully early, and today I am hopefully seeing Ellie for one of our Chickpea buying missions with an added trip to Primark. I need to be restrained as I don't get paid until Wednesday, but when shopping opportunities present themself, it'd be rude to refuse.



How's your weekend going? Bought any bargains or done anything especially wonderful?



xxx

zippo meets Fred Butler

(images from fredbutlerstyle blog)

I'd say it's pretty much common knowledge now that I didn't attend London Fashion Week; a bit of better planning on my part means I probably could have done, but to be honest I find it quite over-hyped and the idea of the general chaos and sheer volume of people kind of puts me off.



Saying that, there are a couple of shows/presentations I wish I could have gone to and top of that list was the Fred Butler A/W presentation. Sculptural pastel pieces that look more like props than apparel. Pastel hair. An almost anime feel...I am besotted.



And every fashionista knows that goodie bags are a perk of Fashion Week...for the Fred Butler presentation they broke the mould of tradition by giving out a limited edition Zippo lighter created especially for the event...

 

 

I was very kindly gifted one of these lighters and even as a smoker with a penchant for Zippos I can't quite bring myself to use it. Something so awesome and unique shouldn't really be used for such a filthy habit, right? I think I'll treasure this one as the reminder of the one Fashion Week presentation I am genuinely gutted to have missed.



xxx

with my blue shoes on

Next jumper, Matalan skirt, Superdrug tights, Clarks shoes from a super awesome friend.



Clarks isn't the first place I'd look when searching for shoes, but one evening I was randomly browsing and came across this pair. Tempted to order them next month from Sarenza, I checked with a friend who works in a Clarks shop if they were as nice in real life as they looked online. Well, I guess they figured there was only one way to find out, as a few days later a parcel had arrived for me.



Have I ever mentioned how awesome my friends are?



What's the sweetest thing a friend has ever done for you?



xxx