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 

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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 

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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 

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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 

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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

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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

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