Instagram Week #30

New colour combos // Leopard print jumpsuit // Dark skies // New perfume // Chilling // New shoes // Zara bag // Flowers // Fave nail polish

This week I have really been enjoying the sunshine, it's been glorious and it's such a treat to be able to wear bare legs and sandals and not feel cold; in fact quite the opposite, it's been so hot! I've found a new favourite colour combination of khaki, cream and grey; neutrals I can wear which aren't bright but still feel summery. 

I am obsessed with some other plain shades which, again, whilst not neon summery colours are still inherently summery to me; tan and rose pink. The tan sandals from Carvela have already made a debut on the blog and I am going to paint my nails this evening with this Collection polish in 'Antique Rose.' I love these polishes, they apply so smoothly and last for ages without chipping. And they're only £2.99 I think!

I got some new fragrances this week which I will probably review in more depth on my blog; they are so different but both are lovely. I'm really not into celebrity fragrances but this Lady Gaga offering is actually really nice; it lacks the overwhelming sweetness of most celebrity scents and it really is a bit different and quite refreshing. The Gres Cabotine Rose is a classic rose scent with a touch of citrus which makes it perfect for summer. 

XO Amie

Ipanema Competition: Giveaway CLOSED

Thank you to everyone who entered the Ipanema competition on my blog last week!

The lucky winner of a pair of flip flops to the value of £50 is:

Tracey Peach!

Well done!

XO Amie

Charity Shop find of the Week #8

Leather Backpack £6.99 Oxfam

I spent so long looking for a leather back pack in charity shops and never found one. I'd wanted one for my holiday to Barcelona but ended up just getting a regular canvas one instead, but I stumbled across this one in a charity shop last week and snapped it up. It was £6.99; cheaper than the faux-leather one I considered in Primark and much, much nicer.

I am really pleased with this, definitely a better find!

XO Amie

Products I've Used Up #6

Empties: Botanics All Bright Moisturiser and All Bright Face Scrub, B.Clean Melting Gel Cleanser, Per Una Originale Rosa Spray, Yardley English Rose Spray, Estee Lauder Mascara, Seventeen Doll'd Up Mascara, Seventeen Miracle Matte Primer, Elemis Fresh Skin Exfoliator, Collection Felt Tip Eyeliner, Caudalie Fleur De Vigne Perfume Spray, No.7 Extreme Length Waterproof Mascara

I last wrote an 'empties' post back in May, which you can read here, and since then I have built up a veritable collection of products I've finished using. I have to say I was probably almost through a lot of these when I was prepping my last 'empties' blog, so it's not like I've just used them all up since May; some of them have been a bit longer lasting!

There are picks here that I'll rave about; notably the 'forever repurchased' felt tip eyeliner from Seventeen which is my all time favourite eyeliner, and the Boots Botanics range which, despite having not re-invested in this time, I will probably go back to at some point. I didn't re-buy it because I felt my skin had got a bit used to it, and there was an amazing offer on Garnier (2 for £12 or something, when one pot of day cream is usually £10 alone) so it actually worked out cheaper for me to try a different brand.

There are some that are also not so great; well, actually I think it's just the No.7 mascara that wasn't that amazing this time but I still used it up so it must have been pretty passable. It was never going to perform that well against two of my other faves, the 'Doll'd Up' by Seventeen and an Estee Lauder one which I've used so frequently the writing has rubbed off the packaging! It was a really good one overall though!

Despite getting stick for it being a granny scent, this Yardley 'English Rose' spray has been in my handbag and had a lot of use; it's from Boots and costs about £1.99. I love these really heritage brands and this scent is exactly what it says on the tin; plain English Rose, no frills, but a lovely simple scent you can layer or use to refresh. I really rate this and will definitely be buying it again. I also liked the 'Originale Rosa' by Per Una from M&S, which is also rose but with a twist, less classic than the Yardley version but still very wearable.

Probably my favourite of all these empties is the vial of Caudalie 'Fleur de Vigne' which is a beautiful, fresh and invigorating fragrance. I used this a lot and got a lot of compliments when wearing it! I think this one came with a Glossybox but I would definitely re-buy it and wear it again.

XO Amie

From Britain to Barbados with Debenhams! #britaintobarbados

Wearing: Phase Eight dress c/o Debenhams Topshop desert boots Zara jacket Gap hat Daniella Draper rings

When Debenhams got in touch and asked if I would like to take part in a styling challenge, I was both excited and a little nervous. The brief was to style a look; specifically a maxi dress, to be worn both in Britain and in Barbados. I was lucky enough to be able to choose the dress and a pair of sandals from the extensive collection on the Debenhams website and this made me feel a little less nervous, as I was sure I would be able to find something that worked with my own personal style. So often maxi's are floor length and brightly coloured, neither style of which features highly in the way I like to dress! So I was thrilled to find a summer-suitable dress in black from one of my favourite brands, Phase Eight. This elise ellipse hem dress is a maxi with a twist, it is long at the back (like a mullet!) but shorter at the front so you can show a bit of leg and not feel that you look stumpy (something maxis always make me feel, as I'm fairly short!) Also, no risk of tripping over the thing as you're striding along; fashion and function is perfectly paralleled here!

To style the dress for the British climes, I paired it with a jacket that would be completely unnecessary given the tropical heatwave currently gripping the UK; I actually took the 'Britain' photo's last week as the dress arrived before the shoes did and I wanted to get started. However, usually even in the British summertime a jacket is handy and this lightweight one from Zara is perfect to throw over the dress for evening. I added my ever-present straw hat and kept my jewellery minimal with a vintage bangle and Daniella Draper rings. I added the desert boots for a festival vibe and to keep the look quite casual. This would definitely be a day look that I would reach for; I'd probably swap out the boots for ballet pumps but I have worn my ballet pumps so frequently on the blog I thought it would be nice to show some different footwear for a change!

Wearing: Dress as before Carvela Sandals c/o Debenhams Zara bag ASOS sunglasses Bracelet as before Hat as before Whistles ring

Now, I've never been to Barbados so I wouldn't really know what to expect other than it would be hot! In retrospect I would probably tie my hair up as I think I would get far too hot with it loose and sticking to my back, ugh! This aside, I think this could be a good look for strolling in the city or chilling at the beach (although I'd kick off the sandals for that part!) 

This dress is such an easy wear, you just chuck it on and you're good to go. I love this simple dressing, and I think when you are off on holiday it's important to have things you can just throw on and not worry about having to match with other things; you can just go and enjoy the holiday. I have quite eclectic style and I love to add in a quirky accessory; I have also styled these sandals with a wicker basket bag for a more traditional beachy look but I love the element of fun that this bright red bag from Zara brings to the outfit. It's playful and actually a really great size for everyday. 

The Carvela sandals are definitely my new favourites; they have the perfect heel height to make them comfortable to wear all day and because they aren't a flat they dress the look up a little. I like the gold hardware especially and referenced it in my jewellery choices. The spike ring from Whistles adds an edgy vibe.

I really enjoyed this style challenge and I think I've managed to make each look quite different; I was worried that with the dress being such a simple piece that both looks would be too samey but I think I managed to make one dress two outfits!

XO Amie

Instagram Week #29

New (to me) Chanel // Perfume Empties // Fave hand cream // Outfit // New Uniform // Sunset // GIVEAWAY! // Prepping blog posts // Credit Crunch find of the week!

Finally, an Instagram round up that doesn't include too many pairs of shoes! I had to share this vintage pair I bought from eBay; after all, they are Chanel, and also amazing! My vintage Chanel shoe collection is looking quite good now but these are definitely my favourite pair!

I am also hosting a giveaway on behalf of Ipanema flip flops this week with the prize of a pair of flip flops to the value of £50! Check out the post below for full details and how to enter; the prize is ideal for the heatwave week of weather Britain is currently enjoying!

I got some new work uniform this week in the form of this silver foil skirt. It's so pretty and also great at reflecting the heat! I love the way it moves and catches the light. I think metallics are a really easy way to add interest to your look, especially for someone like me who doesn't wear much colour. Metallics can really lift a neutral look and make it more edgy.

I've talked a bit about beauty on the blog this week, too, with a post around my favourite Body Shop perfumes (which I've used up!) and another absolute favourite, the Hemp hand cream. I'm on the look out for some new perfumes now!

XO Amie

Giveaway with Ipanema!

You might remember a post I wrote a couple of weeks ago about Ipanema flip flops. They have very kindly offered to giveaway a prize to my readers of a pair of flip flops up to the value of £50! Enter using the widget below and good luck!

 XO Amie

 a Rafflecopter giveaway