Monthly Archives: July 2017

Casual to the Max(i)

14th July 2017
I love a good maxi dress although it occurred to me the other day that I only ever seem to wear them when I’m on holiday. With the recent good weather that made it feel like we were anywhere but the UK (humidity and flying ants aside) it seemed as good as time as any to re-unite myself with a Summer wardrobe favourite, especially as I had the chance to add a new dress to my collection recently.

Dress & Denim Jacket c/o Krisp Clothing | Converse: Schuh

I’m trying to build myself a good selection of wardrobe staples and I think this grey jersey maxi dress from Krisp Clothing’s basics range is an absolute steal at £14.99. It has potential to be dressed up as well as worn casually like I have here- teamed with my trusty Converse and new denim jacket this made the ideal ensemble for an early evening dinner date.

Krisp Clothing isn’t a website I’ve shopped with before so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I’m a creature of habit when it comes to buying clothes and don’t often branch out from a handful of shops. I’m impressed though, the quality of these pieces is great, especially at these kind of prices and they have a great range of both basic pieces and more trend led designs, perfect for keeping up to date on the latest fashions without breaking the bank.

I did suffer a (more than) slight crisis of confidence whilst wearing this dress…I think I mentioned before that I’m at that stange in recovery from anorexia that the weight gain becomes noticeable, both to myself and to other people and the elasticated waist only seemed to emphasise this in my eyes. After squashing down that negative train of thought with a good and hearty Italian dinner though I suddenly became thankful for that elastic and it’s forgiving nature as it made my blossoming food baby that bit more discreet.

I’ll definitely be re-visiting Krisp Clothing when I’m next in a position for a bit of a shop, there are a few more pieces from their basics range I’d like to pick up and they seem to have regular new arrivals and promotions which make it even more tempting.

Have you shopped with Krisp before? Which pieces would you pick out?

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Posted in dresses, fashion, life stuff, outfits, personal style, recovery, shopping

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The rise of WiFi: music festival connectivity*

13th July 2017

As WiFi has become a seemingly essential part of our lives it has become impossible to imagine a world where we don’t connect to the internet every day. These days there are very few places where we can’t connect to WiFi or use our mobile phones as a connected device, however festivals remain one of the few places where WiFi isn’t fully operational across a whole festival site for the entire event.

Festival organisers are seeking to change this and although there has been limited connectivity across festival sites in the past, full-connectivity from mobile devices is set to be a normal part of the festival experience. Together with KBR, specialist WiFi installers we explore what the festival industry is set to gain from staying connected, and how this industry can implement reliable WiFi infrastructures in the future.

(Photo by Aranxa Esteve on Unsplash)

Why have WiFi at a Festival?
Since the turn of the century the number of people attending music festivals has grown massively. From 2004 to 2013 the number of festivals 100 to 700. Alongside this, in 2014 alone festivals generated £3.1bn. Due to the market being so financially successful there is huge competition within the industry. What this means is that festival organisers need to establish a competitive edge and a USP — with this USP being WiFi.

For festival organisers investing in a WiFi connection is not a wasted cost- 90% of all festival goers are smartphone users making an event with free WiFi more appealing than one without. In an age where people regularly stay connected and share their plans and memories with each other via social media it is no surprise that WiFi for such popular events like festivals is becoming a must have for those who attend.

How are WiFi structures reliably implemented?
Because festivals usually take place in remote locations establishing a reliable WiFi connection is no easy task. In response there are a number of specialist companies that have been established in order to keep festival goers connected.
Of course, given the size of the site and the sheer number of people trying to connect to the WiFi network, at present it’s difficult to provide a festival-wide connection. This means that using the connection in your tent is still widely unavailable but WiFi hotspots are being created.
One of the most notable examples of these hotspots was the ‘WiFi cows’ that popped up across Glastonbury in 2014. These fibreglass cows acted as a 4G hotspot provided by EE, allowing festival-goers to get connected in true outrageous festival style. The WiFi structure also enabled contactless card payments across the festival’s 25 bars.
In the future, and as our dependence on digital grows it’s likely that festival WiFi will become even more widespread- eventually turning each site into a hotspot. You can use a service such as viasat internet plans to ensure you are always connected no matter how remote your location.

Is WiFi at a festival really beneficial?
As many celebrate the availability of WiFi at these events some people are questioning whether this new level of connectivity will detract from the overall festival experience. If attendees are too busy tweeting and posting about their experience are they truly experiencing it?

However the many benefits of WiFi outweigh this slight negative. WiFi not only helps promote a festival through attendee social coverage it also helps festival-goers stay connected with their friends at the event (potentially increasing safety) and those at home. Clearly festival WiFi is the way forwards and here to stay.

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Posted in lifestyle

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Festival Fun with Essence

12th July 2017
Festivals are a real excuse to go wild with your makeup- not that I’ve been to any festivals in the last few years but that doesn’t mean I can’t embrace the spirit a bit and brighten up my look for the Summer. Especially not when you have a brand like Essence who not only excel at bright and bold products but also are so reasonably priced you won’t mind if you end up losing them in the inevitable mud bath of a camp site.
I was recently sent a selection of new and cult Essence products and I’ve popped together a little guide to some of my favourite festival essentials.
There were a few products in this selection I was especially excited for- that highlighter? I had such high hopes…and prismatic lipgloss is exactly what I’ve been craving in my lip product arsenal.
Coloured eyeliners are such an easy way to add a pop of colour to your look and Essence’s kajal range costs just £1 each. I’m loving the shade “beach bum” at the moment, it’s great for jazzing up my usually subtle every day makeup and for such a cheap product it applies, and lasts so well.

Waterproof mascara isn’t a product I’ve ever really rated but even I’ll concede it’s been incredibly useful lately with this crazy humid weather we’ve been experiencing here in the UK. I’m already a fan of Essence’s “all eyes on me mascara” so the waterproof version was never going to let me down. You really can’t beat a multi-effect mascara at just £2.

Essence nail products are one of the highlights of the entire brand in my opinion. I was particularly excited by the “out of space stories” polish with it’s amazing iridescent effect. The range also includes holographic and metallic polishes and I can’t wait to try them all.

Other highlights include these cut out manicure stencils. I’m hopeless at nail art so to have such a fool proof way to achieve it is great. This is a 51 piece set, amazing for £1 and the design potential is endless. Major motivation to a) grow my nails and b) actually paint them more often right there!

I have a real weak spot for prismatic effect makeup at the moment so both the lip gloss and highlighter were the products I was most desperate to try. The lipgloss in the shade “smile, sparkle, shine” is a gorgeous wet look baby pink with just enough prismatic effect to add a little something extra but still be wearable enough for every day.

The highlighter looks a bit daunting in it’s packaging with it’s bright and bold packaging, but applied with a light hand the shades blend together seamlessly to provide a gorgeous, prismatic glow. I’m really impressed with this, especially as it only costs £3.50- the quality and finish it provides would have you believe it’s from a much more high-end brand.

So there we have it. As ever Essence have bowled me over with their clever combination of high fashion makeup and crazy low prices.
This is a brand that really excites me, I’m always looking forward to seeing what they come out with next.

Available in selected Wilko stores and from Wilko.com . Products sent to me for blog consideration but opinions are my own. Let me know if you decide to give any of these a go or if you’ve discovered any gems lately.

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Posted in beauty, brands I love, make up, review

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Globenfeld Men’s Chronograph Watch review & giveaway

10th July 2017
It’s always a bonus when the benefits that sometimes come with having a blog can be extended to your nearest and dearest. I was recently given the opportunity to receive a Men’s watch from Globenfeld which I took great pleasure in being able to give to my boyfriend who had not all that long ago made noises about wanting a watch.

Now, I’m no expert on Men’s watches, although my obsession with Women’s ones are well documented but between us we decided we’re a fan of this particular one. Big fans. So much of a fan that boyfriend has managed not to lose it yet- impressive with his track record!

It’s a chunky and weighty looking watch although actually it is quite light to wear thanks to the durable rubber strap. It makes a statement without being too in your face and also appears to be highly durable, although at present this hasn’t been truly tested (it’s only a matter of time, I’m telling you).

The attention to detail on this watch is great- from it’s textured dial to the illuminated hands and numerals. It also features a calendar and stop watch function which is something I had previously associated with only digital watches.

The watch also comes very well presented in it’s box meaning it’d make the perfect gift, as far as watches go it is reasonably priced at just under £70 (a significant reduction on the £375 RRP!) and comes with a 90 day money back guarantee- just in case.

Now the real perk of this particular blog post is that not only did I get to pass on a perk to my boyfriend, I also get to pass one along to a lucky reader. I have a second watch to giveaway and if you fancy your chances then just follow the simple entry steps below.

Win a Globenfeld Chrono Watch #1

Good Luck!

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Posted in accessories, giveaway, review

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The rise of men’s clothing in women’s fashion: the genderless shift*

08th July 2017
As gender fluidity becomes more commonplace within mainstream society it’s having a significant impact on the fashion industry.
For many women, dressing conventionally as a ‘woman’ through gendered stereotypes is becoming less relevant- and many can feel a sense of dysphoria in conforming to how society thinks they should dress.
With this in mind a rise in popularity of the humble the suit and designer boyfriend jeans is happening. They are becoming more and more popular on the high street and within the world of fashion. Trilogy Stores- retailers of quality denim explore how – and why – women are opting for men’s styles to satisfy their need to explore new areas of clothing that help them express who they are.

Photo by Cole Patrick on Unsplash

A rising trend
In the US a survey conducted by Fusion found that 50% of those asked claimed that gender was not limited to male and female and this change in attitude has led to many women feeling as though they are entitled to wear men’s clothing as part of their wardrobe.
This shift in attitude and trend towards women embracing their identity through clothing comes as no surprise. In a time when popular-figures such as Jaden Smith wear skirts, the rapper Young Thug claims there’s no ‘such thing as gender’ and Teen Vogue offers an advice column on gender identity many women feel that now is the time to wear whatever makes them feel most comfortable in themselves.

Breaking the glass ceiling
For many women working in big cities surrounded by men who are often in positions of authority it can be difficult to get noticed. Wearing more masculine pieces of clothing, such as a suit can sometimes break down the differences between men and women allowing them to feel more empowered and equal.
The idea that women can sit alongside men in the same clothes becomes infectious, leading them to feel differently about themselves and do things they wouldn’t normally do with added confidence.
By opting for a suit the pressure of finding the perfect outfit disappears – as they only need to contend with a couple of pairs of trousers, shirts, ties and a blazer that can be mixed and matched. In the world of contemporary fashion then, hyper-femininity seems to be losing it’s appeal and clothing appears to be more tailored to the individual as opposed to the gendered group than it ever has been before. Many high street retailers are now offering unisex ranges for example.
In the past the trend has been for women to wear masculine silhouettes – now – many are simply heading to the men’s section of the store.

What to wear
As already covered a suit can make you feel empowered among the men and with one on there’s nothing separating you from them along gendered lines. To make the most of this look try ankle-skimming trousers with a slimming, abbreviated jacket teamed with a polo neck or loose fitting shirt.
Trousers should always make you feel at your best – extending your height and creating a sense of sophistication. Christine Lagarde, a French lawyer and head of the International Monetary Fund is a notable figure when it comes to women and power dressing. She can often be spotted in a pair of slim-fit navy trousers with a matching blazer and neck-tie.
As well as a suit boyfriend-cuts are what to wear when you want to sport casual denim. The looser the better – but try to get a pair that are tapered at the leg when you can. To complement this look try an oversized t-shirt tucked in at one side- helping to complement your figure and give your street and style credentials a well-deserved boost. More than anything wear clothes that make you feel like you.

Personally I love nothing more than borrowing a jumper from the boyfriend to wear with my jeans, and I often find myself browsing menswear departments for items with a looser, cooler fit. I don’t tend to think of my clothing as “his” and “hers” if you will, I just go for what makes me feel good when I wear it. What’s your take in this new direction in fashion?

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Posted in fashion, trends

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