Monthly Archives: April 2020

My Favourites Of The Month: Quarantine Edition

Photos by Michaela Efford

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Most of you are in the same situation as me, so I don’t have to explain the up’s and downs of lockdown to you. There is no doubt that it’s been a strange month but I will continue to repeat my mantra of “This too shall pass.” At the same time, I’ve discovered some favourites that I wanted to share with you guys. Monthly favourites were something I used to do a lot on my blog and as we are all realising our love for the simpler things again, I thought it would be nice to bring this back, to give us all something to smile about at the end of the month.

As I am sure I am not the only one dealing with some quarantine breakouts, I managed to get on a facetime call with my dermatologist in India who has given me some amazing advice regarding the best face masks to clear up acne which I have shared with you below.

I will also admit that I have done a bit of shopping this past month for a few bits to wear for the rest of lockdown but also some bits that I want to wear when the lockdown is lifted! I’ve shared some of my favourite outfits of the month with you below as well. Which one is your favourite? Of course, there has been more going on than face masks and cute WFH outfits so I just wanted to send some good vibes your way with a dose of what has been inspiring me this month from a few good reads to beautiful imagery. I hope that it makes you smile!

So here’s to another month guys! Hoping for better and brighter days in May and hopefully, some of these bits below can help you get there!

My Favourite…

BEAUTY BITS

Like I said, I have been struggling with my acne again this month. Of course not being able to exercise as much or get as much as sunshine or fresh air as we usually would has contributed to this but most of all I think stress is the major culprit. One part of solving this issue is gaining a better control of my mind and my thoughts, but there are of course more tangible things you can do if you’re in the same boat as me. I have been advised to mask 3-4 times a week (every other day) and to alternate between a few masks that I have. I am LOVING this routine and my skin is really loving it as well. I also have been suffering from severely dry hands and very little actually helps – funnily enough one of my face masks, The Summer Friday Jet Lag Mask is what has really helped my skin get back to normal! Find all my favourite masks of the month below.

My Favourite…

OUTFIT MOMENTS

One of the things that I have appreciated about lockdown is that I have been able to let my creative juices flow and really get back in touch with what I love about fashion and style. There was a point before all of this where I felt almost overwhelmed by all the imagery and noise around me and I needed a moment to step back and get back in touch with my own sense of style and love for fashion. I’ve been forced to get creative in the space that I have and to find new and unique ways to show you guys what I’m wearing. There have been so many moments from this journey so far that I’ve been really proud of and some outfits that I’m so happy I got to share with you! What has been your favourite WFH fashion moment? You can grab some of my favourite pieces below.

A little dose of

INSPIRATION

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The Chicest Shoes To Brighten Up Your Work From Home Outfit…

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While we are all starting to take work from home life in our stride (I hope! Of course, I still have my very low days, it’s a work in progress) I’ve still got one eye on the future. With a bit more time on my hands, I can’t help but browse online for one of my weaknesses… shoes. Cue: Shoes… Let’s get some shoes…

From the perfect pairs of shoes to wear around the house and still look chic to the pairs I can’t wait to wear out once we get past this time, I’ve shared them all with you below. One of the biggest trends I’m seeing for shoes is super strappy sandals and slippers – the ideal 90’s babe style!

The “dad” sandal has gotten a major fashion update and now comes in so many styles that are sure to have you channelling Rosie Huntington Whiteley. No complaints because its the kind of style you can invest in now, wear around the house and then rock out as well. There’s also a big rise in beautiful coloured heels which sits super well with me because we all know how much I love a coloured pair.

I can’t wait to hear which ones you love, are adding to your wishlist or treating yourself too!

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How To Wear The Best Spring 2020 Fashion Trends At Home

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Okay, so usually at this time of year I’m creating an ultimate guide to the fashion trends of the season just for you. This year is a little different. I always say that fashion and style is a means of expression, so even in times like these, I look to the world of fashion for inspiration and positivity. So, just as we are all adapting to the new (but temporary) quarantine normal, I am adapting my bi-annual trend guide this year as well. If you felt like you were missing out on being able to style all those adorable spring/summer trends for 2020, then this is for you! Here are my styling tips on how to wear the cutest (and wearable) spring summer 2020 fashion trends at home!

Although I am sitting here writing a trend guide for you, there is one thing you should know about me, and fashion trends. I love fashion but what I love more is style. I think it’s great to keep up with what’s “trending” and what colours are “in” and “out” but ultimately it’s about what speaks to you.

If there’s something that everyone is supposedly wearing but looks terrible on you, my advice would be to ditch it and wear what suits you. That is what I always do and it’s always worked well for me! The world of fashion is moving towards a more trendless, seasonless cycle and it would be a lie to say that this was an unexpected shift. Granted, Covid19 is pushing us there much faster than before, but it’s a welcome change I think for a lot of us. I predict that “trends” will last longer, become more classic and timeless and that personal style will reign supreme!

Okay okay, I will stop predicting and start sharing. With the above in mind, here are my favourite wearable trends that you can make yours at home this spring

CROCHET

I love crochet. One of my earliest memories of crochet was discovering a gold crochet dress that my grandmother knitted but this material has gotten a very high fashion update (PS: my grandmother’s crochet dress is still ultra chic by the way). From colours to sets, crochet is a new vibe. I even wore a rainbow crochet set on my birthday!

SHORT SHORTS

Wear them high or low waisted, as long as they are short! Short shorts are all the rage and although this can seem like an intimidating style to wear, they are super comfortable and kind of empowering. I just got a pair of bright pink ones that I intend on wearing around the house! If I was wearing them out, I would pair them with a t-shirt and a cute blazer but for home? An oversized tie dye hoodie will do the trick!

BRALETTE

Guys, I was so happy when I got your amazing DM’s and reactions to my Dior bralette and shorts unboxing! I love a good bralette because of all the ways you can wear them. Wear it under a sheer shirt or open your favourite cardigan at home for a supermodel off duty look.

BRIGHT COLOURS

I think this is an example of how trends are going to evolve. Neon has been around for a while now and it’s not going anywhere! Bright colours are such an easy way to spice up your style when you’re at home. Put the black away and reach for one of these instead. PS: Easy breezy dresses are a DREAM to wear at home!! They look good and feel comfortable.

LEATHER

I don’t know if I’m the minority on this but I find soft-touch leather to be so comfortable and so many amazing high street brands are making the most gorgeous faux leather pieces that are super easy to style at home. From Bermuda shorts to tanks, here are my favourites.

POLKA DOTS

Polka dots and I, have a funny relationship. Sometimes I love them, sometimes I just can’t stand them. It all depends on the colour and styling I think. I always find that smaller prints or colours look nicer than the traditional big printed polka dot pieces. Patterns are always an easy way to style a trend for a season while still letting your own style speak! Here are some cute polka dot pieces for home.

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7 Easy Ways To Elevate Your Work From Home Outfit

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Hands up if you’ve been struggling to dress up for work from home outfits? As much as I’ve been pushing for all of us to keep dressing up to feel good, even I’ve had days in the last month where the only thing I want to wear were track pants (Luckily, I created an edit of the cutest loungewear pieces around that I recently updated. Click here) Even so, I realised that small changes to my outfit every day instantly elevated my cute and cosy work from home looks to serious spring outfit inspiration! I’ve been loving letting my creativity unleash in this time and really dressing according to how I feel.

It’s helped me further understand what I really like and come up with so many cute little hacks that I never thought of before! I guess there really is something to be said for allowing yourself to get bored – you never know what might come out of it! (Thank’s dad, now I totally get what you’ve been trying to tell me all these years!) So if you’re bored with your latest work from home look and are looking to take it to the next level with minimal effort, here are my 7 tips to elevate that outfit:

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A Pop Of Colour Brightens Everything

Someone once told me that when they think of me they think of a monotone outfit. I found that so funny because I LOVE to wear colour! Adding a touch of colour to your outfit no matter how big or small will instantly lift your mood and elevate the look too. No matter tie-dye is trending! Don’t worry, my tie-dye edit is coming soon!

Put On Your Jewellery

Sitting at home during the week means we sometimes forget about the pieces we would wear every day. Putting on my everyday jewellery, even when I’m at home helps me feel more normal and also makes my outfit look cooler. I’ve been adding little necklaces and rings to my looks every day!

Go Monotone

Opting for a top to toe in one colour can be super chic especially when that colour is NOT black. I like to pair my denim with a blue top or my white bottoms with a white top. You can even go bold and wear full colour! After all, this is a great time to experiment with your colourful pieces and gain some confidence in them!

Add Hair Accessories

Want to get your hair out of your face? Opt for that super chic headband! Want to tie your hair? Why not go for a super fun and colourful scrunchie. Adding that little pop of glam to your look is such an easy way to add some fun to your spring look.

Dress Up Your Joggers

No, I’m not asking you to add a blazer to your look – even I would struggle with that at home I think but there are so many other ways to dress up your joggers! Pair them with a spring blouse you’ve been wanting to wear, or a shirt that you just tie up on your waist. Effortless and elegant.

Go For Pattern Over Plain

The easiest way to elevate your look is to opt for some sort of pattern in your look. Whether it’s an animal print, stripes or even florals to celebrate spring, now is the time to get those patterns out around the house!

Matching Sets Always Work

A matching set is always a great thing to add to your wardrobe. Not only because matching sets look effortless and elegant no matter what (like my rainbow birthday one!) but because you can also easily mix and match the pieces for lots of new outfits later on as well.

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How To Tell If Your Beauty Products Have Expired

Whether it’s makeup or skincare, we all like to make sure that our skin is looking good. The one thing we aren’t always so diligent about is if the product has expired yet or not. It can be very challenging to know if your favourite cream that you’ve been savouring or that perfect shade of lipstick has gone off but I’ve gathered some great tips to help you tell. There is a lot of debate about whether makeup and skincare really expire but trust me it does; depending on the ingredients, you might have a bit of an active reaction or, more likely, it just won’t work at all for your skin and that totally defeats the purpose of having a beauty routine. So, here’s how to tell when to throw away / replace those beauty products.

PS: If you want to see what beauty items I just can’t do without during quarantine, click here.

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Outfit Details

Vintage Chanel Jacket,Belt & Shoes

Tiered Skirt (similar)

Sunglasses

Sunglasses Chain

Check The Expiry Date

All beaut products have an expiry date. Turn the item over and around until you find a little symbol that looks like a pot with a number in it. It will say something like 12M or 6M. This is the best before date of this product and you should aim to finish using it within that time. I would follow that date so that the effectiveness of the product doesn’t wear off! With makeup you might have a bit more room before it starts to go off but more on that later.

It’s All In the Smell

When a product starts to smell off, that’s when you really know it’s off. This applies to makeup and skincare! I can always tell when it’s time to say goodbye to a loved lipstick when it starts to smell a bit funky. Another great way to test the product is with the texture of it. You’ll notice a change in it and that’s when you know you need to replace it!

Be Aware of Active Ingredients

Anything with active ingredients, Vitamin C or Vitamin A, are products to watch. Be aware of the date you opened it, the use-by date and the feel of the product over time to make sure that it is still effective and not go off as these products can sometimes wear off faster.

Usual Dates

As a little guide, here is how long most make up products last:
Mascara and liquid eye liner: 3 months
Liquid foundations and concealer: 6 months
Lip gloss, cream products, brow products: 12 months
Lip sticks and liners: 18 months
Powder products: 24 months (store in a cool dry spot)

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My Quarantine Birthday Wishlist

Photos by Michaela Efford

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I would say that this birthday has been a very different one. I never imagined that I would celebrate a birthday in quarantine during a worldwide pandemic but I suppose life has a way of surprising you. It’s been an odd few days with some sad news for our family however Shiv wanted to celebrate my birthday regardless – the reasoning being that now more than ever it’s important to celebrate every special moment in whatever way we can. This year, if anyone would ask me what I really want for my birthday is for there to be a tangible solution to what the world is going through right now.

I still make it a point to maintain hope and positivity that we will find one soon. I wish for lots of positivity and hope to spread to everyone and for us to come together and be there for each other. It makes me so sad to see the spread of negativity and fake news which just spreads fear – I hope that we can all be more understanding and more conscious of our choices.On a lighter note – a little retail therapy on your birthday never hurts (don’t worry we are sanitizing everything) and here are a few fun things you can add to your closet OR gift the Aries in your life.