Check clothes for winter? Check!!

Hello!

Not sure how many people are still following this shambles of a blog! Sorry I haven't posted in so long, I've been so busy at work and uni!

Anyway, I haven't bought anything in a while and recently saw ASOS stock new look items! I'd seen a skirt and top on the new look website that only had 14 and 16 left, I then went onto asos and found it on there in all sizes with the top reduced! 

I've been wanting something checked for ages and been waiting for the right thing to come along as I am quite small and petite I wanted something that fit me but that I also really liked too! 

Then my beauties arrived today and here they are..

Both from new look but purchased from Asos! They're a nice thick cosy material so perfect for winter and even spring keeping you up to date with fashion for  a long time! 

Anyone else got any check items? I'd love to see hem and hesr about them!

Sorry for not blogging in a while again, I'll try and do it more often!

Francesca

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Back to uni / what do you need to take to uni?

In September I will be going into my second year of university.
Below are a few things I've purchased for when I go back! p.s please note I am a stationary geek!!

Here are all my new purchases and will go into detail, these are just a few refresh purchases such as stationary etc.

There is also new bedding, mug, boxes, revision cards and a holder, weekly planner and some lunch boxes.

This is a weekly planner from Paperchase, includes space to write under every day with a notes section that you can tear off at the end of every week. Even though I have a 2014 diary, this will be a useful to do list, details of when I'm working and what university work I have to do!

These are some cute storage boxes for uni to store stationary, make up and other bits and bobs and bits of clutter I seem to come across whist at uni. I also love the cute colourful lids, they are from wilkinsons.

Look at these! Cute lunch boxes!! The one on the right is for my sandwich only, it keeps it fresh without me having to wrap it up in foil or cling film which will also stop it from becoming squished! And then on the left is another lunch box to put the rest of my lunch in to keep it separate from my sandwich. I also bought them because they were pink, from asda!

Other items you will need are bedding, duvet, pillows, washing basket, bath mat, towels, plates, bowls, cutlery, cooking utensils, pots and pans, food, washing up stuff, bathroom toiletries, stationary, laptop, speakers, music and more! My mind has gone blank haha but if I think of anything else I will add!

Francesca

x

Love new uniform time at work!

So I may have mentioned I work in River Island and we have just had our new uniform period! I love it, I want to get excited about the clothes and wear something a bit different and try out new things and not just get a top and some jeans for the sake of it!

After trying on several items I came across this outfit..

Now in the picture is a pair of some dark navy Molly Jeggings. They are the comfiest jeans I have ever worn and every pair I have had last really well and I still wear them! They're fabulous, so soft and comfortable and compliment every fit!

Next up I teamed a champagne grey colour racer back cami top with a crop ribbed top underneath!

I wanted to experiment and doubling up a ribbed top underneath a top/dress is a new style statement this season. 

I think it adds such a lovely look to the outfit and jazzes it up abit rather than just a cami and some denim!

I have had so many compliments and I hope by wearing it at work other people will take notice and encourage others to try out this look too. 

In River Island there is a leather look dress (very similar to this top) and you could team that up with a grey ribbed top underneath too. 2 outfits in one, wear the dress on its own and with a ribbed top enabling you to wear it differently day and night!

With my work outfit I also thought a silver statement necklace would complete the look. This is my favourite outfit at the minute it looks lovely on, believe me!

Ribbed crop top - (Grey, couldn't find the white!), http://www.riverisland.com/women/tops/crop-tops--bralets--bandeau-tops/Grey-marl-rib-34-sleeve-crop-top-659795

Grey cami - http://www.riverisland.com/women/tops/cami--sleeveless-tops/Light-grey-silky-longline-cami-top-659841

Molly jeggings - http://www.riverisland.com/women/jeans/jeggings/Dark-wash-Molly-jeggings-660491

Hope you liked it! Let me know what you think and I will post more outfit and looks together!

Francesca

x

Autumn/Winter ready!

So we are saying goodbye summer and hello A/W 14! I'm quite excited, I love being all cosy in winter wearing lovely knitted jumpers, scarves, hats, gloves, winter coats and boots!

Now I am going to show you my latest purchases and show you what my current autumn winter purchases are for this year and where they're from with prices.

Now since working at  River Island I have started to become a bag person! I can't stop buying bags, so many I want. A girl can never have too many bags right? So I saw this one below and I loved the colours, it has handles so I can use it as a handbag or a shoulder strap to wear on my shoulder. I also HAD to get the matching purse too!

Bag - River Island, £40

Purse, River Island, £17

Next up! My gorgeous winter coat! I am in loveeeeee. I originally bought a lovely one from new look but the size 6 was so big it drowned me. I was so disappointed, being so small and petite is not as good as everyone thinks. Although everyone is like I want to be thin, no! You don't it's a nightmare buying clothes that fit nice!

Anyway enough of that rant. This coat is from the Topshop petite range! I ended up getting an 8 as I wanted room to wear my thick knitted jumpers and a petite 8 is like the equivalent of a 6 normal. It fit like a glove, and so did the hood! Hoods are always too big on me but this one was perfect.

I also bought a pastel tartan scarf. I thought the pastels would compliment the navy of the coat and I just loved the pattern and colour of the scarf, I feel I can wear it with so many other items. It's really soft too.

Coat - Topshop Petite, £65

Scarf - River Island, £15

Now we move onto footwear. I already own so many different types of boots such as ugg boots, chelsea boots, military boots, ankle boots. But I just wanted a couple more pairs.

So the knee high boots I actually found in the River Island sale, I am quite lucky as I never find my size in footwear and anything I like either. They were meant to be £60 but in the sale I got them for £18! Bargain.

Then I came across these ankle boots in the kids section, as they were only £22 so were nice to just wear to work. They're really comfy, and they do have some very similar in the adults. It's good because I'm a size 4 and kids go up to a size 4 too!

Knee high boots - River Island, £18 sale

Ankle boots - River Island, £22

Now these beauties.. I have so many heels but I came across these and couldn't help myself! The 'barely there' sandals are so in this season! And I loved the asymmetric strap also going across the shoe giving it  a slightly different look. Cannot wait to wear them.

                                      

Heels - Miss Selfridge, £39

No just a couple of cute pretty tops. If anyone knows me personally will know these are so me! The one on the left is a pastel pink sleeveless top with a floral collar from Topshop. There are so many other colours in it too such as white, grey, black, blue etc! It's a really versatile top so thought it would be nice to wear to uni and things.

The one on the right is a boxy crop top from River Island. It isn't too cropped which I like and fits really nice too. I have had so many compliments whilst wearing it and have noticed it's also been really popular in store too.

Pink top - Topshop, £16

Floral top - River Island, £26

And you'll be glad to know this is my last purchase!! Got to love a biker jacket! My other one from Miss Selfridge lasted me 2-3 years and I got my wear out of it. 

Biker jacket - Miss Selfridge, £49

Sorry about not posting in a while, been so busy at work!

My next post is about back to uni/uni checklist!

Francesca 

x

Another kimono?! Oops!

Sorry I haven't been on in a while posting, I still need to make videos with Anna too! I just work so much and I haven't been very well lately either. So I will start posting more often now!

Okay so this is my last purchase for a whileeeee. I need to stop!
This is a new line and when I arrived at work the other day I just had to have it.

I just saw it and had to have it! Here it is.

It features such a lovely floral pattern on consisting of two gorgeous colours, pink and burgundy which both complement each other lovely. It also has long sleeves which is different to my other kimonos so that's a nice little change. I cannot wait to wear it, I am in love! 

Kimono: River Island, £40

What do you think?

Do you have any nice kimonos, where from?

Francesca 

x

What a bargain!!

So yesterday I came across a pair of gorgeous glitter sandals with a slight heel. They were £20 in the sale and used to be £40 when full price!

HOWEVER, I got these beauties for £5!!
Because one shoe was a 4 and one was a 3 which is perfect I am both a 3 and 4! It varies in different shops and with different shoes but I tried them on and they fit perfectly and you can't tell.

My friend thought the size 3 was actually the 4 so it's all good!

Here's a picture.

Let me know what you think.

Have you ever found any bargains?! I'd love to know.

Sandals.. River Island £20 x

Francesca 

x

Co ords

So thought I would make a post on one of the most in pieces this season!

Co ords!

I have been after a co ord for so long but was waiting for the right one. I wasn't sure whether I wanted a matching top and bottom, or bottom and jacket, decisions!

So one day I bought a skirt from River Island. It's an A line skirt, they're my favourite! Anyway shortly after a matching jacket came out! But I never bought it because either I couldn't find my size or I couldn't afford to purchase it.

So I was on the look for another co ord as the jacket was no longer in store after a while but I had no luck in finding one. I really wasn't sure what I wanted. When the River Island sale launched Thursday 10th July, before work I had a quick browse and found the jacket to match my skirt I had bought previously!

I was so shocked, they had every size and it was in the sale at £25 and previously was £50! So I was really happy. So here is my co ord..

Both from River Island of course. The skirt was full price at £25 when I bought it and is now in the sale at £15 I think and the jacket was full price at £50 and now £25 in the sale.

I can't wait to wear it!

Let me know what you think and if you have any co ords, if so where from?! 

Would love to see other co ords!

Francesca 

x 

My love/hate relationship with sales

Sales.. yay or nay?

Ok so I never usually have the patience or effort to look through sales and if I have they've never had my size so I sort of gave up!

But for working at River Island when I have to tidy sale it has given me the excuse to look whilst I'm doing it! And by working nearly everyday I can look before or after seen as I know where everything will be.

So at River Island we launched our sale last Thursday.. 10th July. I must admit it has been really good, had loads of this season items go in and for such a good price too! Even the customers have said the same, it's really good so go check it out if you haven't already. It's also online too and you get free delivery to any store!

I picked up two items.

I have had my eye on these for a while so when they went into sale I was like hmmm might as well! Why not eh?!

The top would go lovely with a black leather look A line skirt I also have from River Island, I could tuck the bottom black bit in so that will be nice!

And the jacket!!

I bought the skirt ages ago and they match. Fell in love with the skirt and I hardly ever saw the jacket when we had it in store or if they had my size! So when it went into sale I went straight over to it and they had my size! So shocked, I have been looking for a blazer/jacket for a while and this is perfect. It has cropped sleeves and a zip fasten. Now £25 from £50!! And the top is now £12 from £22 I think.

Bargains! I knew what I was looking for and found them straight away but I was in Topshop the other day, looked at the sale and I just couldn't, I much prefer to look online and refine the search to my size!

So after picking up a lovely summery blazer/jacket I now have a co ord! Been after one for ages! And now I have one it's perfect, just what I was looking for!

Let me know if you've picked up any sale bargains or what you think of sales! Some people love them and after working in River Island it has definitely improved my opinion of sales after the bargains I've found!

Francesca 

x

Confessions of a shopaholic

The title says it all!

So you may think.. what has she bought now?! I'm known as a shopaholic to everyone, my friends and everyone I work with!

Now I will share my latest purchases with you.

On Sunday I discovered Outfit. Well Saturday I did, a customer came into work with an Outfit bag and I was like what is that place! Because on the bag it also had Miss Selfridge, Topshop, Oasis, Dorothy Perkins etc. So when I finished I googled it and was amazed! A store which has all arcadia group shops in it! My favourite shops Miss Selfridge and Topshop and my mums favourite shops Oasis Dorothy Perkins so we were in love!

Above are my purchases! Fell in love with this playsuit from Miss Selfridge, its black and has a white crochet sort of pattern on the top which the white bit on top is open back but still has the black playsuit underneath so nothing is seen!

The top on the top right is from Topshop, I have so many pretty tops like this especially in white. It's a lovely crochet pattern, did I mention I also love crochet? 

Underneath the top is like a thick knitted cardigan/jacket from Miss Selfridge. It's so warm and comfy and is a black and white pattern. Can't wait to wear it!

Then on the bottom is a skirt also from Miss Selfridge! It's such a lovely floral pattern is a really floaty and comfy skirt which is slightly longer at the back and has buttons going down the front, it's so cute!!

Next..

Also in Outfit I spotted a gorgeous CROCHET! dress in Topshop! I'd seen it online before and thought that's nice but I never got it and didn't see it in any stores. Anyway they had my size and tried it on but it was slightly puffy on the sides where my shoulder was as it was sleeveless. Anyway I then went in the Topshop in the shopping centre where I work and found a size 6 normal and an 8 petite. I'm always a 6 or 4 but decided to give the petite a try. It did fit but was really big at the back however, tried the 6 normal on like I did in Outfit and there was a massive split in the back next to the zip! Was so upset because there was make up on the size 8 petite even though I did want the 6 normal. Anyway I bought the 8 petite and decided to go on a mission for the dress seen as it's sold out online, it's been really popular. 

Anyway I went in the Topshop in the city centre and they had all 10s, 12s and 14s. So I then went to Debenhams in the city centre too as they have a Topshop concession in there. They have always had my sizes before because not many people know they're there! So I was like pleaseeeee have the dress and they did! Two size 6s all in perfect condition too as well as every other size! So glad I went so I finally have the dress. Shop assistants have all said it has been really popular too so lucky to find it.

I also picked up a blazer oops! I have had my eye on it for ages though so it's ok. It's a lovely mint colour with a scalloped bottom and long sleeves. They also do it in white and lilac too, it's gorgeous.

So enough of me rambling on like a crazy shopaholic!!

Here they are! The dress and blazer, planned when I'm going to wear them so excited!

Let me know what you think!

Francesca

x

I benefit from benefit

Benefit make-up

So this is a blog about benefit make up, and hence the title I benefit well my face does from using benefit make up!

I mainly focus on fashion but thought I would also do a post about my favourite make up brand and items! Then after this I promise I'll stick to fashion :)

Sooooo.. here are all my benefit items

Firstly, lips! I've wanted a lipstick I can wear during the day that isn't too bright and quite subtle but still adds a bit of colour. So the top left is the lipstick I know it's a bit messy oops! Ok so I know it looks quite bright and red but it isn't! It's more of a coral and does not go on as bright as it looks! And it's partly my camera as I took it on my phone. The lipstick is called tutti-cutie I believe!

Also in this picture is the posie balm. I wanted a lip balm as whilst I am at work my lips become quite dry and the balms by benefit also have a slight tint of colour in too which is perfect! I don't want to wear lipstick to work as I don't want it to smudge or anything as I can't top it up and also my lips become quite dry when I wear lipstick. However, the posie balm solves all these problems! Prevents my lips from becoming dry whilst also adding a slight hint of colour to my lips.

 Next up we have.. eyes and face!

 So the top left is brow zings! I've always wanted to fill my eyebrows but didn't want them to look too dark/fake I still wanted a natural sort of look and brow zings does that! I can fill them in as light/dark as I want. I also didn't want such a distinct sharp line of my brows and wanted them to look natural still but add a bit of colour to them too so I got the medium brow zings. Next is the world famous neutrals. One of my first benefit products and it's my favourite eye shadow palette ever!I have 4 shadows and 2 more liquid type colours which are really shimmery and glittery which you apply before the eye shadows. I have used it so many times and I've hardly made a mark on them they also stay on for ages too so don't have to worry about them once I've done it! Neutrals are my favourite colour to wear in eye shadows!

Finally is the pore fessional! The UK's #1 best selling primer I believe?

But anyway.. must have! It's fab!

And finally.. the best! My first two benefit products! My mum introduced me to benefit as the was using the foundation and once I found it, it was goodbye Loreal and hello Benefit!

I have honey. When I was looking in the shop the lady ended up putting it all on me and it looked amazing. Due to the foundation been a liquid I got the powder to match and not only does it make my foundation stay on longer it matches my skin tone so well! So happy it keeps my make up on whilst working as I can't top it up until I finish or go for my break but the powder does certainly make a difference!

So since saying hello to Benefit and goodbye to cheaper high street make up brands I have spent a lot more money but I have definitely benefited from using Benefit make up so the price is definitely worth it!

Hello flawless!

x 

Kimono crrrrrrazy!

So.. I know I haven't posted in a while! I have been so busy, I have been working full time lately and doing lots of overtime and also volunteered at the Tour de France last weekend! 

I have lots of exciting blog post ideas and really looking forward to getting into them more and making more time for them whilst also making youtube videos with my friend Anna! So lots of things to look forward to.

This blog will be about kimonos as you can see from the title! You may not know I work at River Island, which is why so many of my clothes are from there! I only work part time whilst at university but during holidays I do a lot more hours so I'm extremely busy.

For a while I have wanted a kimono but never found the right one that caught my eye! I tried one on in River Island last year and me being small and petite, the size 6 came up really big on me and looked awful so it sort of put me off as it drowned me and looked so big. However, whilst at work one day a lovely purple flower kimono with a slight black and white debra style print on caught my eye! I tried it on and fell in love! This was the source of my love for kimonos!

 So I think my picture really does do it justice! You get such a good feel of the colour, it really complements many outfits! I have worn it so many times to work with so many different things! I think a kimono just adds such a gorgeous addition to any outfit adding to the summer looks and styles!

Here is the link to purchase it..

http://www.riverisland.com/women/coats--jackets/kimonos/Purple-lily-print-colour-block-kimono-657647

Next up!

So after my first kimono I fell in love and spotted these two beauties!

The one on the right, the yellow floral one is also River Island! One Saturday morning walking into work at 8am it was placed right in the front zone and it caught my eye IMMEDIATELY! I was like I have to get! Even though I am trying to cut down as I am a shopaholic. Pffft I make it sound like a bad thing!

Of course, I purchased. I got it home and I was unsure. I think it was the yellow as I have never been a yellow person and don't own anything yellow! But I remembered when I walked into work the yellow was such a lovely colour and the floral print on it definitely complements it and I wore it to work the next day and I have never received so many compliments before! From both people I work with and customers! As soon as I put it on I am so glad I did keep it and didn't let my doubt of yellow scare me away! I need to try new things. I want to wear it all the time, this kimono also includes an aspect of monochrome with a black and white embellishment which really catches your eye!

Here is the link to purchase this gorgeous number! The picture on the website doesn't do it as much justice as mine! If you would like more pictures let me know.

http://www.riverisland.com/women/coats--jackets/kimonos/Yellow-floral-embellished-kimono-656507

Aaaaaaaand finally you'll be glad to know as I'll stop blabbing about kimonos! Is the amazing black floral print kimono from Miss Selfridge! Aside from River Island because I work there, Miss Selfridge is my favourite shop! So I pretty much go in Miss Selfridge all the time, I can't resist! This one is a petite, I did try a similar one from Miss Selfridge in the normal section but it was unreal how big it was on me but this petite size 6 fitted perfectly. On the website it is classed as a jacket under the petite section but it's definitely a kimono!

What I like about this one is that it's black with the floral patterns and has long sleeves. I can style this kimono up to wear with more dressy and classy outfits which I really like!

Here is the link for the Miss Selfridge one! http://www.missselfridge.com/en/msuk/product/petites-299051/petite-coats-jackets-299120/petites-dark-floral-jacket-3092161?bi=1&ps=40

To round up..

I love kimonos and every kimono we have in store in River Island is flying off the shelves! They are so popular! Whether you're going on holiday or not, they are an outfit must this season! They do really add the finishing touch to any outfit! 

Keep an eye out for my future blog posts! I have been jotting down so many exciting ideas! I may even write one tomorrow, but which one do I do first?!

Let me know what you think about kimonos and where you have found any nice ones!

Francesca

x

Skirts, skirts and more skirts

Okay, so I'm really new to this and trying to get my head round it! For the summer I was looking for a hobby but I am really enjoying this even though no one sees it, it's nice to just write about things I've bought, fashion, clothes, make up, shoes and accessories.

So yesterday I posted pictures of my week 25 purchases and from River Island was one of my many A line skirts. The picture below does not feature my new skirt due to been taken a couple of weeks ago. But basically I posted yesterday about how I love River Islands A line skirts as the fit is so complementary to any fit and both the textures, colours and patterns are beautiful. Working there is a good and bad thing as I have my job perks but also I see all the new beautiful clothes which are new in everyday and as I'm a shopaholic I just cannot stop spending!

So here are my other A line skirts.. all from River Island! 

So here they are! This is a picture I posted on instagram but chose to have no filter just so everyone can see the true colour and detail of them. All were £25 apart from the sequin one on the far right. That was originally £35 but I was tidying the sale at work and came across it in the sale in my size for £17! 

The first one on the far left with the poppy/floral print is absolutely gorgeous and can be dressed up or down! The next is a black faux leather skirt, it's one of my favourites! The fit is gorgeous and because it's black goes with almost anything! The next is the white texture floral print skirt. I haven't worn this yet but looking forward to wearing it. It's really summery and they do a matching jacket too so would have loved to have bought that, lovely co ord. The next is the pink faux leather skirt, it's the same as the black one in a pastel pink. I just had to buy it! So excited to wear it, it's waiting to be worn on my next night out!

I never used to be much of a fan of skirts as I'd prefer dresses as I'd always struggle to choose what top to wear with the skirt as with dresses you don't have that problem! But I am improving and now have a wider diverse range of clothes since working in retail and such a better knowledge of fashion too so I am now addicted to skirts as you can change the top to wear with it and it's a different outfit!

x

Week 25 purchases!

The week of payday! Also known as week 25..

So although its 00:43 (technically Saturday) on Friday it was payday for us! So ahead of payday I have been spending quite a lot this week.. oops! I firstly went on a spree in Miss Selfridge on their website with unidays 10% student discount and then whilst the England match was on there was a flash sale of 20% off all of their site! So I ended up ordering twice! My first order consisted of..

The ultra soft blue jeans are so gorgeous! Wanted them for ages and they never had my size and before work I went in and they had them in 5 different places in the store but still didn't have my size! Eventually got them online though, think they have been quite popular as they were sold out online for a while too. On the top left is a basic with a beautiful floral print cami which I just had to have! Then the blouse on the bottom I had to return unfortunately! I tried size 6 on instore and it was huge! So I ordered the size 4 online and even that was massive too, so upset it was a beautiful botanical floral print with pink, black and lime green floral prints on.

My next Miss Selfridge purchase!..

So as I said there was a flash sale with 20% off and I saw these two beautiful embellished camis. They were similar in terms of the pattern but completely identical. I couldn't decide what colour I wanted online so ordered both so I could choose when I got them in person! At first I thought I would have kept the pink one when I saw it online but when I received it, it was quite bright! The grey cami did look a lot nicer in person too so that decision was quite easy thankfully!

So my last purchase of the week you'll be pleased to know!

On my way to work on Wednesday I think it was, I noticed my top had a hole in! So I went to purchase the top on the right before my shift but they didn't have my size! But luckily it wasn't too noticeable and I purchased the top after my shift as my size was then available. Whilst at work I noticed it had been really popular. It was on the front zone which customers saw as soon as they entered the store and with such the bright complementary colours it was so eye catching for customers as such a gorgeous summery top. I fell in love! I then wore it to work the next day! Whilst on my way to the fitting room I also noticed the skirt on the left. I am in love with my A line skirts River Island sell! This is my 6th! The fit is so complementary to any figure. What caught my eye about this one is the material of it and the gold statement belt. I told myself not to buy any more skirts as I have enough but I couldn't leave this one! So this is my last skirt purchase for a while I think! Both from River Island.. skirt £25 and top £22.

Another shopping spree!

Summer shopping spree.. x

I can't stop buying clothes.. I just love spotting new things in stores and putting together outfits with my old and new clothes and bringing accessories, shoes and bags into the process!
Here is my new bag I bought earlier. Loving pastels at the minute! It's from oasis, £38.
Here is what I also bought the other day, it's a blue and white floral playsuit from Miss Selfridge, Mint coloured top with flower detail and gold necklace from Lipsy and a lovely white cami halter neck top from Topshop.