style posts

UPDATE: Life Overhaul

August 27, 2014

You may notice that I infamously promised that I’d be back on the blogging scene sometime last month, and mysteriously vanished shortly after making such a bold claim – I apologise, but I HAVE MUCHOS NEWS. After my fight (which sometimes felt disturbingly literal) to secure a graduate job without drowning to the bottom of too many merlot bottles first, I happened to get an interview for a very exciting position on the still rather new and incredibly dynamic Web Team for Primark.com – and guess who got the flipping position as Womens/Kidswear Content Assistant? That would be me! *Insert many streamer emoticons*

So, since the 3rd August, I’ve been trying to get my head around a completely different town in a completely different part of the country: I’m now a big ol’Southerner and I live in Reading. Bit of a wander from the likes of Lancaster and Manchester that I’m used to haunting, but I’m finally starting to get my bearings and have just put down the deposit for a gorgeous studio apartment that I snapped up this morning – so all systems are go – go – go with regards to new life planning! Since I got here (less than a month ago!), I’ve already experienced some amazing times: snagging a Saturday day ticket to Reading Festival and going with a complete stranger (who turned out to be fabulaaaarse and I can’t wait to hang out with her again), a whirlwind work trip to Dublin and far, far too many bottles of red wine (happy bottles though – makes all the damn difference!).

I just thought I’d drop in and remind you all that I still know how to type and (hopefully) construct reasonably interesting posts – and will be doing far more proactive things with my blog now that I’m officially part of the fashion industry and incidentally, have developed an absolute obsession with buying new (Primark) clothes. So if you want to know anything Primark-related from hereon in; I’m your girl. Once I get settled in my new apartment (which is totally OOTD-background friendly, woo), I’m going to be setting up my tripod (wheey) and posting more fashion-focused posts, rather than my verbose ramblings. You can thank me later.

 

 It’s good to be back. xo

Miley Cyrus Bares All (Again) For W Magazine

February 7, 2014

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Pretty sure I’ve seen more of Miley Cyrus’ skin than I have my own, of late. The infamous pop sensation just can’t seem to keep enough of her clothes on – despite having a bank balance that would easily dress half of Europe in Chanel. As something of a self-proclaimed Miley-cynic, I usually can’t help myself from writing scathing pieces about her latest faux-pas but today, I’ve hit a crisis: I may actually like these images.

For once, Cyrus’ new look is almost, dare I say it: tasteful. Instead of tacky barely-there Santa girl costumes, or hideously niptastic fishnet monstrosities, this shoot is stripped back in all the right ways. Yes, she may be completely starkers but this time, she’s looking more Donatella Versace than dirt cheap, right? And even better, there’s not a hint of Robin Thicke in sight.

Of course, the subtlety of her sexuality on the cover doesn’t last long, as the inner spread reveals shots of her getting back into that aforementioned ‘niptastic’ mode. However, even though I’m caught face-to-face (or should I say nip-to-face) with her ‘bangerz’, I don’t want to start pelting things at my laptop screen in disgust this time. Maybe it’s because her tongue is well and truly at bay, or maybe it’s because of the artsy monochrome effects – maybe it’s simply because those bleached brows slightly disguise the fact that she’s actually Miley Cyrus. I just can’t hate it.

If this was some foresight into a new era of Miley, I may actually end up hanging up my bitch crown and becoming – perish the thought… a fan. Admittedly, amidst jealousy and judgement, it’s sometimes too easy to forget that Miley is just a young 20-something, just like me. Saying which: you wouldn’t find me licking sledgehammers on your average Friday night. I guess all I’m trying to say is: keep doing what you’re doing, girl – we’ve all seen enough of your nether regions by now.

Over to you guys: are you a fan of this side of Miley? Have W Magazine helped change your tune, too? Drop me a comment or hit me up @Ebzo – I can talk about this girl all day, trust me…

 

 

WISHLIST: February’s Fancies and Image Overhaul.

February 4, 2014

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Revlon ColourBurst Matte Lip Balm £7.99 (on 3 for 2) – Boots | Pastel White Mini Satchel £6 – Primark

Lavish Alice Mint Green Pointed Collar Dress £41.99 – Ark | ALLSORTS Chelsea Boots £45 – Topshop | Retro Patterned Co-Ord Set £19.59 – Choies

Read more ›

LUST: Shop Dixi Stackable Rings Picks

February 1, 2014

dixi-ring-collection-ss14If you have a little scroll-y on down, you’ll spot my first ring ‘LUST’ post: Accessorize. Dixi is a bit like Accessorize’s grungy older sister, and she’s a tad more expensive too. However, when I’m feeling flush, I will definitely be treating myself, painstakingly one-by-one, to these gorgeous pieces to add to my budding stackable ring collection. There is nothing better than disguising stubby fingers with a slick of grey/black/burgundy nail varnish and some distractingly purrrdy rings.

Moonstone Poison Box Ring – £32 | My Little Moon Ring – £26

Silver Wishbone Midi Ring – £8 | Kingdom Turquoise Amulet Ring – £16

LUST: Accessorize Sterling Silver Ring Picks

February 1, 2014

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This year, rings became my super-duper, #1 jewellery priority, after spending pretty much the entirety of 2013 lusting over perfectly decorated hands following the 90s goth trend. Now, I’ve already started my mission to collect a number of stackable and mix-‘n’-match-y rings – you can find that post here. However, after buying a moonstone sterling silver ring from last season’s collection, and watching as the other cheaper ones discolour around it, whilst it remains shiny and new – it’s got me hooked on buying more. I mean, if I’m going to be wearing them everyday: they should be of good quality, right? These are my favourite picks of the current season:

Sterling Silver 3x Bands Ring Set – £12 | Sterling Silver Sirocco Mop Ring £12

Sterling Silver Mandarin Turquoise Ring £12 | Sterling Silver x2 Ethnic Midi Rings £10

PREVIEW: Primark SS14 Lingerie Collection

January 31, 2014

Primark are doing it ever so right this season – I may even abandon my first love Ann Summers in favour of some of these adorable sets. And, unlike AS – these sets are only TEN POUNDS each. I may never have to wash my underwear again. Vivienne Westwood said you never had to wash a bra anyway, right? Check out these beauties and get looking out for them in your nearest Prazzamarni:

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PREVIEW: Matalan SS14 Collection Picks

January 31, 2014

I’m going to start this post with: Matalan, please start stocking Size 6 (please point me in the right direction if I’m wrong, but I’ve never found any in my local stores)! Pastel is looking to be absolutely mega this season, with uber-girly malibu pinks being the apparent colour of choice. As a general fan of a currently quite ‘The Coven’-esque wardrobe, this might take some getting used to, but the promise of sun and cocktails is seeeeriously getting me hyped up. Fudge off January: nobody likes you. Here are my favourite picks for Matalan SS14:

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  • Cocoon Pink Dress – £16

Just give me a second to wipe the dribble off my lip… For £16, I will most definitely be snapping up this little beaut. The beading around the collar, at least from this picture, is delicate and tasteful, the coral colour will suit pale ladies like myself to the hills and back, and the geometric pattern is hitting the trend nail right on the head.

  • Gingham Full Skirt – £16

That panelling, guys. That panelling. Usually, if you threw the word gingham at me, it’d conjure bittersweet memories of school summer dresses – namely, playing ‘horses’ in them and managing to become the subject of most parents’ distaste as I always pulled the ties off my friends’ dresses – bit carried away. Aaaanyway, this dress knocks that literally oldskwl misconception out of the park: this skirt is sophisticated, fun and has already got me mentally running for lace white socks. I’d even consider layering this skirt over the cocoon dress – pretty sure that’d work.

  • Pink jacket – £40

Pink jackets are the shit right now, if you don’t own one: you shouldn’t even be here (I don’t have one yet either). Channel your inner Regina George, bring her into SS14 and embrace that colour palette: it’s only going to do wonders for your complexion, daaarling. There is an IT pink coat floating around right now, I was in a frenzied blogger discussion at a LUSH even about it last night – we’re thinking Coast or ZARA, but this is a bargain dupe.

  • Full Skirt – £16

It’s like the pink ladies have been teleported into the 21st Century. I’d team this with a lemon or mint green fluffy jumper and a visit to the new American diner that just opened in Lancaster: the new drink of choice is a strawberry milkshake this season, ladies.

 

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  • Printed T-Shirt – £14

If you’re anything like me, you’ll have had several metaphoric knicker-changing sessions already this pre-season, wetting yourself over the incredible amount of actually wearable co-ord sets coming out to play. For those days where milkshakes and Lana Del Rey aren’t making your heart soar, this moodier hue will definitely keep you ticking on-trend boxes. And at £30 for the set? Oh boy.

  • Printed Skirt – £12

There are no words, apart from: I now need to buy a new leather jacket.

  • Graphic High Neck Blouse – £10

Graphic monochrome will just forever remind me of Gwen Stefani circa. The Sweet Escape, which is never a bad thing. Are chunky gold chain necklaces here to stay then, too? The question on everyone’s lips: will monochrome ever die?

  • Black Cocoon Dress – £16

The darker sister to our opening dress, I’ll be channelling my inner Edie Sedgwick and Twiggy in this 60’s inspired number. Styling tip: stick to full monochrome with cobalt blue nails to be painfully on-trend.

Which pieces have got you already reaching for your debit card?

Fan of American Apparel?

January 30, 2014

I’ve just spotted this amazing offer, thanks to @LilyKitten1 on Twitter. Basically, with the wonder that is GroupOn – if you spend £15, they give you a £30 voucher. 50% off at American Apparel? That is not something to be sniffed at: I’ve never seen anything better than a 30% off voucher for there before! Quick people: get on it before they all go. Click the above picture for the link! P.s. Make sure you select the ‘buy online’ option, unless you can get to the Birmingham store!

Drop me a comment with your purchases!

Accessorize 70%-Off Sale Haul.

January 30, 2014

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Somebody needs to extract me from my debit card before there’s real trouble. Yesterday, I popped into town for a well-deserved haircut after around 6 months of dealing with split-end central exploding from my scalp. Given I don’t get my hair cut particularly often, I don’t mind going to the expensive place in town as a treat – so that was already a decent amount of dollaaa spent by the time 1:30pm struck – but no, I was already bitten by the spending bug and believe me, I had it bad. I cavorted around the Body Shop sale, did the infamous beauty blogger Boots raid, even spent five pounds on the veg stall in the market: but then Accessorize happened.

I recently bought an Accessorize bag in the sale and was really disappointed to find that the buckle completely broke within a measly 6 days. Admittedly, despite getting an instore refund, I am still disappointed that I’ve yet to hear back from the online customer care team given I emailed a picture to them. Sort it out, guys. So, with my £17.50 refund card – and a smidge more from my own bank balance, I swiped up all these goodies:

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Tights, tights, tights. At an average of £2.30 for a pack, instead of the usual £8, I was on a spree. Tights are my biggest love and my worst enemy. At present, there is a sprawling monster in my tights drawer, a good twenty pairs of fluff-infested, hole-ridden legs all bundled together – pretty much useless to anyone and so threadbare they’d show up an entire Prada separates suit. This renders my Accessorize tights purchases completely valid and sensible – except maybe the sparkly ones… If you noticed the little pork pie hat in the top picture – that was arguably the biggest steal of them all: got it for £6ish and it was originally £22! Wowza. It looks pretty boss with my new hairdo.

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Jewellery is annoying low on my list of fashionable priorities, and I intend to change that. Picking up these sliiiightly coordinating babies seemed a good place to start. With these alone, I saved an accumulative £15ish – absolute bargain. It only cost around a fiver for all three of them! It’s definitely worth popping in to your nearest store and having a good rummage: the sale’s been on for weeks now and there are still plenty of genuinely wearable pieces that you wouldn’t pass off to your nan or crazy aunt.

Have you picked anything up in the Accessorize sale?

Drop me your haul links in a comment.

PREVIEW: Primark SS14 Collection Picks.

January 30, 2014

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Primark is like that friend we sometimes have, who has a wardrobe of predominant crap, with some real gem pieces – and a lifesaver collection of spare tights. The bulk of their stuff, I just wouldn’t bother buying but, on occasion, I’ve been reeled in to a ‘ZOMG SO MUCH CHEAP’ splurge and walked out with bags laden with £3 ‘bargains’ that I never needed and will probably never wear. However, this all changes at the drop of a new season: Primark gets glam. When the SS14 collection finally drops in the Manchester store, you’ll see me fighting with fellow fashionistas for these pieces:

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Palm Tree Print Scuba Tee – £8

This has got me reaching for invisible cocktails – and I’m still in bed. For this shirt, I want to abandon my Snow White ‘do, go chocolate brown with beach waves, and channel the bejeezus out of Lana Del Rey. I still don’t think I’ll be getting a tan, though…

Palm Tree Scuba Skirt – £6

I was seriously hoping and praying that this was a co-ord set. A co-ord set for £14. Now I just need to pool the cash for a holiday, eh.

Mini Satchel – £6

Urr, are these coming out in various colours? Cause, at that price, I am so ready to start a collection. You cannot beat a good Cambridge Satchel Company dupe for SIX POUNDS. Sign me up, sign me up. Oh, and it’ll totally match that shirt. Win.

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Green Blouse – £10 

The prospect of shedding this horrible weather and my grumpy winter goth wardrobe, has me just dribbling at this shirt. I can see myself being as pastel-mad as my 14-year-old self’s Piczo site, this summer. And for this price, why the hell not?

Embellished Waist Lace Dress – £28 

If this looks as good in the flesh as it does here, I might have to rebel from my usual tendency to avoid white. That detailing is absolutely divine and the ethereal colour palette is so on trend.

Burnout Crop Blouse – £10 

This is another co-ord set that I’ll be snapping up. You’ve gotta love that floaty detailing – can it just be summer, already?

Have you caught the collection yet? What pieces are you looking forward to grabbing?

 


Ebony. 25. Manchester.
Marketing Manager who likes to mouth off on here about stuff she cares about. Expect mental health, Borderline Personality Disorder, and reviews - from restaurants, to books, to fashion. Talks to cats more than people, but seemingly has a lot to say.
ebonylaurenn@gmail.com