The Bikini Edit

Whether your jet setting off to a tropical hotspot or a spur of the moment city break, this summer has sprung upon us rather quickly (if only the weather would kindly catch up) and now is the perfect time to start planning your holiday wardrobe.

Long-term readers will have read my post last year all about finding the perfect bikini to suit your style, shape and comfort level. And to bring you slap bang up to date, it would be rude not to highlight this seasons S/S13 offerings, in keeping my strict bikini rules in mind!

When it comes to shopping for pretty bikinis for the summer months, not only do I famously leave it to the last minute and have a mad dash/frantic panic for the last pair in my size, I am also incredibly fussy. 

Strutting your stuff on the beach or around a pool is serious business, and I for one have my tummy sucking in technique down to a T. Until of course, I've had a cocktail and think - sod it, I'll never see these people again. However, that is not to say that choosing any old bikini is on the cards, it's time to get to grips with my bikini edit...

 Halter Neck      

Seafolly Goddess Bikini (from £54.00) / Vix Swimwear Solid Tube Bikini (from £95.00) / Seafolly Tropical Beat Bikini (from £54.00)  

The halter neck bikini is hailed as the ultimate beach staple, a true classic! Long gone are the days when all it resembled two scary bits of material held together with a slither of string! Well-structured straps delivering support to bigger busts are now on the cards - nothing of the heavy lifting boring sort, but on-trend flattering styles that are feminine and pretty. As well as lending a helping hand to the smaller busted ladies, a few cheeky padded inserts to boost your assets and give you a fuller rounded bust without providing a blown-up chin rest.

Just remember to practice your trusty Girl Guide knots to prevent any mishaps! We've all been there...

 Bandeau      

Seafolly Rococo Rose Bikini (from £53.00) / Melissa Obadash Martinque Bikini (from £79.00) / Gossard Tequila Sunrise Bikini (from £38.00)

The bandeau bikini is not for the faint hearted, but be brave and ban those pesky tan lines! It is essential - no, crucial however that you find the correct size to fit you properly. You do not want to spend the majority of your holiday hoisting up your boobs; neither do I want to see your rack on display.

Jokes aside, you want to feel comfortable - even more so stepping into bikini territory. Find one with underwired cups if you want to feel a little more support, most balconette bras (see below) will have removable straps, so it's all about doing your research.

 Balconette      

Figleaves Midnight Grace Noir Bikini (from £28.00) / Marie Meili Ursula Bikini (from £16.00) / Seafolly Rococo Rose Bikini (from £76.00)

A balconette style bikini is effectively your everyday bra, but waterproof. A personal favourite of mine over the years, it's trusty with no danger of a nip slip in sight! Helping those with little assets (yours truly) to scoop the most of what they've got, as well as providing support and lift to ladies with a larger bust. 

Comfy and fool proof for swimming/beach adventures, you're in no serious danger of flashing the entire resort. And to be honest, it’s simple and easy to wear - you really can't go wrong. 

All of the above styles are from online store Figleaves, with a strong recommendation from a friend who swears by Sea Folly (hello Rushka!). I was delighted to see the range of swimwear on offer. 

Playing host to a wide assortment of brands, the number of good quality bikinis in a various styles and trends is endless! I found it super easy to whittle down my absolute favourites (hand's up who think's I should splurge of the beautiful retro Seafolly Rococo Bikini (swoon!). 

Top brownie points for being able to mix and match sizes top and bottom, whilst I may be small on top that surely doesn't mirror my hip size! Amen to online shopping, never has it been so appealing to shop for bikinis (an absolute chore otherwise if you ask me).

Have you started your holiday swimwear shopping or have you purchased from Figleaves before? Now I've found my bikinis - I just need to book the holiday crushing over my last holiday post. And as always, because sharing is caring, you can get free delivery on Figleaves with the code

'FREE DELIVERY' - easy as pie! 

Mulberry O'Clock

Lily Medium - Mulberry

Let me warmly introduce you to the newest addiction in my life, the Medium Mulberry Lily. Coming right at you with the signature postman's lock, Chanel-esk interwoven chain and leather straps, not forgetting the buttery soft leather - she has officially stolen my heart. Roomy enough for those of us who like to stash rather alarming amounts of our prized possessions (read: junk) she offers a whole host of room to be used from daywear to evening. Never have I swooned so. Armed with a rather tidy sum of Selfridges vouchers I won (thank-you Michelle) and my eBay profit (see here) I am so very temped. But alas, which colour? 

Deer Brown would suit me so, being a tan girl through and through. Perfect for summer & all seasons. But black looks so.. classic. Answers on a post card?

(I left the pricetag off this post, on purpose)

H&M Summer Drop

Last Thursday I kindly tagged along with Aisling to the H&M High Summer Press Day, which basically translates to I saw, I conquered, I NEED! A press day is technically suppose to be for you (the reader's) benefit, but quite frankly I marked the occasion as one big mental shopping list. A tropical haven of prints, colour and summer all rolled into one...

H&M always have a fabulous array of bikinis on offer, whatever style you desire - they have it catered for. On trend, good quality and an affordable price tag - you cannot beat it. It's really worth hunting out them out while the season is still young, judging by previous years they sell out pretty much pronto - espesh with Beyonce as the cover girl (swoon!). I also made a strict beeline for the amazing jewels on offer, big fat tribal statement necklaces and chunky cocktail rings are clearly the serving of the summer. One particular item I'm itching to get my hands on is the beautiful mint maxi skirt (peaking through on the rail in the 1st picture) get H&M on speed dial I need that pastel goodness in my life!

Thoughts on H&M's new summer drop? Did you spot the Pineapple Beach bag? Madness! But I kinda like it.. sort of! And because sharing is caring ladies, 25% off one item on the H&M site with the code 0483 - my bank account weeps. 

Yellow Daisy

Floral Print Peplum Top - River Island (£18.00)

Shady Instagram Fitting Room Shot - Model's Own (Priceless)

After a delightfully sunny afternoon on Sunday I have somehow zoomed straight forward into Sumer wardrobe mode, out came the bottle of trusty fake tan (thanking you Xen Tan Luxe!) and off I trawled for a little 'window shopping.' I came across this very pretty pastel yellow, silky cami scattered with dainty blue daises. I can't really be sure as to why it caught my eye, but theres just something about it. I'm not really one for camisoles, but this is surprisingly flattering - i'm tempted to book my holiday to justify it. Yay or Nay?

Have you thought about your summer wardrobe just yet? 

Primers #101

Primers are a funny old thing in my eyes, I'm far too lazy to bother really. But in the last year, four have happened to pop on my radar and I'm really starting to enjoy the effect it has on the overall finish on my make-up. Primers are as the name suggests, an after-moisturiser, pre-make-up application that can help do a range of things. From ensuring your make-up lasts all day to minimising pores, keeping shininess at bay or giving a luminous finish, for every problem you may want to overcome there is sure enough a primer to achieve this. I tried and tested four of the top recommended primers, all having different purposes, to report back on what I thinks worth not only the extra step, but also the added cost.

Foundation Primer - Laura Mercier (£18.50)

This dinky sample sized Laura Mercier Foundation Primer made it's way to me as part of a special edition set. Being a firm fan of the LM Tinted Moisturiser I had high hopes for this bad boy. The first thing that struck me was the scent, slightly not right. A rather metallic like smell that was off putting (and just weird really - robot scented?), it's fairly easy to overcome but still. Application wise, this glides on like a... moisturiser. Easy to spread it instantly creates a soft, subtle base for make-up - without feeling too synthetic or 'fake.' Allowing foundation to slide on, it adds a natural slightly dewy finish. Not greasy or shiny - just strictly healthy. One to definitely indulge in if you find your skin has dry patches or you need a ever so slight radiance lift.

Beauty Flash Balms - Clarins (£29.00)

With countless beauty awards under it's belt, the Clarin's Beauty Flash Balm is hailed as a skincare hero. This much loved (read: completed bashed) tube has lasted me well over the years, savouring what's left, this beauty balm slash primer is a godsend. Not something I would use on a daily basis, I use the BFB on days where I resemble a Zombie extra from Shaun of the Dead. Whether it be the mother of all hangovers, a late night or recovering from a cold, this baby can have you looking from zero to hero in a matter of minutes. Smoothing over the skin, it instantly creates a dewy brightening base. Looking fresh as a daisy, passing off as someone whose had a dreamy, relaxing 8 hr sleep, every girl/woman should have a tube of this stashed away for emergencies. Or if you have a fancy occasion approaching, invest!

One Step Correct - Stila (£24.00)

Stila's One Step primer hit the beauty radar last year, with its impressive 'oooh ahh' pump mechanism, it distributes a pump of all the three diferent coloured primers intertwined. With the green counteracting redness, purple counteracting sallowness and pink overcoming yellow tones, the final splurt is a rather rank mixture of the above.. that seems to do, well, nothing. Smoothed onto the face it creates a luminous sheen, not like the Clarins above where it evokes an inner glow, this just leaves a sheen on your skin. Seroously not nice. After serious dusting of powder, the sheen fights through and leaves you looking rather oily in minutes. With no actual 'correcting' taking place, this overpriced primer is more of a nuisance than that of a cult product status.

 Porefessional - Benefit (£24.50)

With many of you swearing by the infamous Benefit's Porefessional, I was super excited to give this product a whirl. With rather large pores surrounding my nozzel, I'm always on the hunt for a solution to conceal these pesky fellows. This nude tinted balm instantly blurs the skin, it doesn't completely minimise the appearance of large pores, and really after a few hours they soon become noticeable again. But what I will say about this primer, is that it creates a wonderfully soft base for make-up application. If you are spot prone, have scarring or dry skin, this creates a beautiful silky base that allows foundation to glide upon. Something I hadn't quite found with the above primers. Top marks for creating the perfect base!

So there you have it - my round up of primers! Have you tried any of the above or have any recommendations? I already have a sneaky new primer purchase waiting to be trailed - so be sure to keep your eyes peeled! 

All That Glitters

Star Ring (£270) / Cadenza Ring (£80) / Milky Aquamarine Ring (£125) / Timbrel Ring (£140) /  Yellow Discoball Ring (£245) /Morganite Tea Room Ring (£1,250) / Rose Gold Star Ring (£650) / Morganite Ring (£850) / Ametheyst Ring (£110) / Diamond Star Ring (£395) / Eternity Ring (£195) / Mini Luna Ring (£80) / swooning & sobbing (priceless)

Not one for being able to resist anything sparkly, I simply had to indulge in some serious window browsing, a true feast for my magpie tendencies! With cocktail rings being a complete guilty pleasure of mine, there's no harm in doing a little research right? Frankly ignoring the price tags, I find myself seriously finding the urge to purchase a Monica Vinader cocktail ring. Rose gold plated with a look-at-me gem, I'm swooning. In-fact I'll have them all. Thanking you.

Have you ever purchased a Monica Vinader ring? Am I silly to be worried they are only gold plated? Being a snob (admittedly) I only buy the real business at my favourite jewellers - it begs the question.. will my finger turn green and fall off? Scurvy fingers aside, if you were to pick a ring above, what would you have? 

Supermarket Sweep

Perfectly pretty, this simple chiffon shift dress is understandably one of the most beautiful dresses i have acquired. With a design resembling the english countryside, dotted with blossoming blooms, perching little birds and intricate butterflies, this dress was love at first sight. Neatly lined, fitting perfectly and sitting nice and tidy just above the knee. Asking politely to be paired with a soft cream blazer and a whispy up-do, this will be my outfit of choice for an important afternoon tea date I have in the summer.

It must be Zara I hear you cry, those genius Spanish are quite on top form. No? Right, clearly the likes of whimsical Ted Baker or French Connection... Again, no? 

Casually browsing through my local supermarket, mainly for the Crispy Creams, I stumbled across this absolute beauty. My jaw hit the ground, I gasped - bobs your uncle, I grabbed my size faster than you can scoff down a ring donut in one. All I can say is, by heck, you may have been horsing around (geddit?) Tesco, but your clothing line is on fire!

Floral Print Dress - Tesco (£16.00)

Have you ever found yourself a super market steal?

Serious Lusting #1

With spring/summer fashions hitting the high-street in full force, I'm finding it seriously hard to not bookmark every lust-worthy item. Never having been a girl crazy for shoes (handbag addict through and through) I'm finding myself pouring over the latest new-in additions and sussing out which summer appropriate footwear tickles my fancy. Of course, with summer weather feeling like a miracle-waiting-to-happen at the moment, I'll be sure to keep these bookmarked.. just in case the sun should appear or I book a holiday. Both as unlikely as the other however.

Flat Sandals - Zara (£39.99) / Flaunt Sanals - Topshop (£50.00) / Toe Post Sandals - Topshop (£18.00) / Fliss Embellished Sandals - Topshop (£45.00) / Brown Embellished Strap Sandals - River Island (£35.00) / Marnie Pointed Flats - Topshop (£28.00) / Wedge Shoes - Zara (£29.99) / Mallika Pumps - Topshop (£24.00) / Strappy Sandals - Zara (£19.99) / Lanie Platforms - Topshop (£65.00)

Which pair are your favourite?

Brown Eyed Girl

When it comes to sussing out my make-up collection, it truly baffles me how I have managed accumulate a good thousand eyeliners - slight exaggeration clearly. Heck I even own a bright turquoise Urban Decay liner, just in case I get stranded on to a dessert island I suppose? Who knows. Over the past few months, I ditched my trusty L'Oreal Super Liquid Liner in deepest darkest carbon, fearing that a slick of black was really too much for daytime. Moving on to something more softer and subtle, I found myself purchasing Topshop's Sable kohl liner in favour of dark brown defined eye. Pleasantly surprised with the amazing quality of this coffee shade liner, it has come to be an every day favourite. 

Sable Kohl - Topshop (£4.00)

Incredibly pigmented, this dark brown shade has an ever so slightest hint of copper. It's soft kohl application adds a delicate definition to any look. A steal at £4, it has amazing wear time during the day and also works incredibly well and long-lasting on the waterline. I simply run this across my top lash line, concentrating on the outer half of the eye following the natural line. Working amazingly well for a smokey eye, as it can be buffed out and smudged easily. Brown liner really does add a softer look and quite frankly, Sable will be taking a permanent residence in my make-up bag. And you really know you've found an amazing product, when you purchased a back-up before you've run out.

Have you tried this? What other Topshop products do you recommend? 

Spring Kickstart

Armed with a 20% off H&M voucher in the latest issue of Glamour (April edition, January Jones cover) I decided to kick-start my Spring wardrobe. Having sold most of my un-worn items on eBay (see here) my wardrobe was looking rather lacklustre and uninspiring. Intent on picking up a few key pieces, I somehow managed to spend quite the small fortune. H&M really is a treasure chest of affordable but fabulous guilt-free pieces. 

Boucle Jacket (£24.99) (similar here)

First up was this boucle biker style jacket, it's clean collarless yet structured lines caught my eye. Simple, without being to fussy. This jacket looks way more expensive that the steal worthy price I paid. It fits beautifully, perfectly fitted with the lapel hanging just right. 

Jumper (£14.99 - in-store)

Following on with the boucle theme, this marl grey studded jumper is a perfect transitional piece. Its soft material works well alongside the tough studded detailing, creating a comfy yet stylish throw on knit.

Jumper (£14.99)

A true pop of mint green, this jumper really isn't as bright as the above photos suggest. However Matthew does seem to think I resemble an 80's toddler, meh what do boys know! Cannot wait to pair this with light was denim jeans.. or even denim cut offs. Pass the fake tan please.

Top (£6.99)

Now on to the basics, H&M do a fab range of basic t-shirts. When I happened upon this marl grey v-neck top I instantly thought of the infamous American Apparel v-neck. Owning two disgustingly overpriced AA tees myself, I can definitely say H&M sits legions above the AA's. Silky soft material, they hang perfectly (not clingy, eurgh) and for £6.99, I'll have them all. 

Selection of bras (from £7.99)

Whilst clearly on a spree, I thought I may as well take full advantage of the discount and snap up some much needed new underwear. With some very pretty offerings on the bra front, I came away six! Then even went back to purchase two more in the sale - well it would be rude not to, eh?

Have you hit up H&M recently? If not, be sure to dig out your voucher from Glamour if you have the latest issue. However, fear not - use the codes: 0395 (25% off one item) 1304 (£5 off your order) together to get a double whammy discount when ordering online. Tempted?

Mascara #101

Being a fully self-confessed mascara snob, I became borderline traumatised when I calculated that my pricey high-end mascara habit was costing a small fortune each year - so I set myself on a mission. Strolling in to Boots with £30 in my purse, I set about purchasing five of the most recommended mascaras on my twitter stream. Could they rival the likes of my YSL Shocking mascara or even overtake my beloved DiorShow in the long lashes stakes? Over a good month I have trial and tested these five high-street mascaras, putting them through my critical analysis and dramatic claims.

Doll'd Up - 17 at Boots (£6.29)

First up we have Doll'd Up by Boots own brand 17, a new mascara to the market I was intrigued. Said to be replacing the Wild Eyes mascara (that I have previously proclaimed my love for) I was interested to see how well it lived up to Wild Eye's impressive nature. The wand itself earns some serious brownie points, it's impressive nature owed alone to its slightly curved brush, it combs through each lash distributing the right amount of product - never clumping, even after many many coats. It has serious lengthening skills right from the word go, see this Instagram snap I took a few weeks back, my jaw hit the ground. Doll'd Up is the perfect mascara for daytime - it can be layered to create long fluttery lashes that pack a serious punch.

The Falsies - Maybelline (£7.99)

Next up was Maybelline the Falsies, constantly raved about I made a beeline to try this baby. The brush on this badboy is as hyped up as its claims, massive. Nothing too technical, it coats lashes with fibre upon fibre leaving you with dramatic, volumised lashes - your ultimate night-out mascara. An absolute nightmare on the messy front, the formula is particularly wet and I tend to spend a while carefully removing excess around my eyes (as seen above!). It creates a pumping volume throughout your lashes, not just boosting at this base, with a good sense of length. If spidery lashes are your go-to, this is right up your street. However, if clumpy is a serious no-go - stay firmly away. Have strictly resigned the Falsies for evenings where I have enough time to perfect my look and want to create a dramatic smokey eye with lashings upon lashings of mascara.

Lash Accelerator - Rimmel (£7.99)

Another new contender to the market, Rimmel's Lash Accelerator has had rather hyped reviews from the beginning. Quite simply - lets put it bluntly - a big fat no from me. All it accelerates in, is being a waste of time and money. The rancid lime green packaging should be taken as warning, for the mascara is nothing more than a wet mess waiting to explode... to nothing. After trying to work through this mascara various times and letting the formula dry out a little, it still leaves me feeling disappointment. Why? It leaves my lashes nothing more than wispy, sticking them together rather unkindly and looking untidy. It attempts to build volume at the base of the lashes, but fails miserably leaving my lashes looking naked at the tips. The brush does nothing to evenly cover the lashes, resembling the effects of the super cheap mascaras I bought with my pocket money back in the day. Don't waste your pennies. 

False Lash Effect - Max Factor (£10.99)

A trusty firm favourite of many, Max Factor's hero product False Lash Effect was a top choice in my twitter poll. Coming in as my favourite of the bunch, FLE is a serious winner. Its thick chunky brush garners top marks, it has little tiny brushes that evenly coat each lash preventing any clumping. After lashings and lashings, they look perfectly full and fluttery with a rather impressive length. It works well for day time, being the most eyeshadow friendly out of the bunch as it doesn't leave any mess or residue around the eyes. Max Factor is a brand I rarely find myself pondering over, but the False Lash Effect is an almighty high-street gem. It's formula ticks all the boxes you would need: volume, length, clump free, full evenly coated lashes without any pesky mess or awkward applicators. Go buy - I'm hooked!

Rocket Waterproof - Maybelline (£7.99)

Maybelline are clearly charting the leader board with their infamous array of mascaras, the Rocket Volume Express was pointed on my radar with strong enthusiasm. Being only able to purchase the waterproof version, it was interesting to see how this fared against other mascaras in the range. Of course, being an absolute pain for removal - even after Bioderma AND facewash this baby powered through - definitely keeping this one aside for my summer holiday! Similar style to the Max Factor brush, this chunky thick brush has slightly longer spikes (which you will poke your eye with - thank god its waterproof so it won't smudge when your eyes water). Again it coated the lashes well, with a good sense of length. Not as voluminous as the Falsies, but good boost for day wear. It did give the appearance of fuller lashes, but more volume at the base of the lashes. Care has to be taken to ensure lashes don't stick together and become too clumpy - but overall a good choice if your in the market for a waterproof mascara.

So there you have it my experiences with some of the highest rated mascaras on the high-street at the moment. If your in need of a new tube, then definitely head over the Max Factor stand for False Lash Effect for trusty results or sample the new Doll'd Eyes mascara by 17 if you're in Boots - however trust me when I say, stay firmly away from Rimmel's Accelerator. Stick the Rocket on your holiday shop list and keep the Falsies strictly for nights out when your in need of serious seductive lashes.

What are your favourite mascaras? What ones should I try next?

Brownie points to Bioderma and Avene to helping me remove each mascara for the sake of this blog post!