Diary of a London Girl: A smile can go a long way…

Since moving to London last September for university, my eyes have been opened to new ways of living; contrasting cultures that have pushed me out of my comfort zone and a fresh view on life- a clean slate you may call it. I'm just a girl born and raised from Essex- and whatever you have heard, it's not true. We have brains and don't walk around in heels with our miniature dogs in ginormous bags (unlike the outrageous stereotypes portrayed in TOWIE). 

What better way to share my London experience than in the form of blogging. From Essex girl to London girl, my little diary will provide an outsiders perspective of the big city- with a little sprinkle of fashion, beauty and lifestyle, of course.  

London has always had a stereotype. From a young age, I remember having family outings to museums, theatres, sightseeing- the usual touristy business that can be considered every body's guilty pleasure… you know it's true. But I couldn't help but notice the tall, stern business men and women, suited and booted in their shiny shoes and flamboyant suits. The image couldn't be more magnificent, a world away from what you'd see on the streets of Essex. But there seemed to be one thing missing… a smile. 

Of course not every Londoner or commuter has stern features, but the beauty of a smile when passing others still seems to be absent. You know that old saying that laughter is infectious- the same can be said for smiling. So, me being experimental and as curious as I am, I decided to put this to the test. 

On my treacherous journey to uni- the same day this epitome struck me- I wore my biggest smile. Grinning at all of the busy business men and women that walked past, I received some casual nods- a reaction that acknowledged my friendly gesture but a grade down from the smiles I was looking for.  

Everybody seemed so caught up in getting to work on time or dashing to catch the bus or tube, that a simple second to smile seemed an inconvenience- after all, time is money, right? 

But as I entered a lift with a woman sporting a pencil skirt and black patent Jimmy Choo peep toes - a situation that British people find typically awkward- there was a revelation. My grin was reciprocated! Without avoiding eye contact or forcing the friendly atmosphere, I blurted out: "I love your shoes". Had I gone a step too far? The woman gave a soft laugh with a warm smile and went on to say that she loved my emerald, checked jacket- a charity shop find I have to add! 

Whilst stepping out of the lift, she looked back and smiled. My mission was complete! A simple Essex girl and stereotypical business woman had come together for those few seconds as if two worlds had collided. 

It goes to show how much a simple smile can make somebodies day. From a soft grin to a compliment, the friendly acknowledgement allows us to step back for a second, away form the hustle and bustle form the streets of London and experience a euphoric feeling of content. A smile can go a long way and like the old wives tales say, smiling can actually be contagious. 

After all of that, isn't it amazing how women can bond so quickly over fashion… just fabulous!

Dress to impress your Valentines date!

‘The look of love’…

Whether you love it or loath it, Valentines Day is looming and the oh so famous ‘look of love’ has never been so desired; the romantic movies that promise love at first sight, fireworks and butterflies- realistically, everybody has to embrace their inner Bridget Jones… minus the big knickers.

From makeup, hairstyles and innumerable ensembles waiting to be worn, every woman wants to look their best to impress their lucky date!

Of course, confidence is the key, but a little makeup here and illusion there never hurts- shhh nobody has to know!

Dressing gowns and hair rollers at the ready, the first step is makeup.

Predominately for a romantic date, either with your boyfriend or a blind date, a makeup look can either go two ways: a natural glow or glamorous and sexy. Glam will always get those heads turning but if you want to achieve that flawless finish and show the true you, my natural look is ideal.

This look is all about creating a natural glow, the perfect way to create a beautiful shimmer over a romantic, candlelit dinner.

Simply apply your ol’ loyal, high coverage skin products from foundations to concealers to provide a base for your glowing look, and then onto highlighter- my favourite as you can probably tell.

I created my look using the Sleek-contouring pallet; the highlighter is perfect and isn’t too overpowering. Simply sweep it over your cheeks, cupids bow and brow bone to create that illuminating, romantic look.

Tie the look together with a natural lip and eye pallet. I went for the beautiful shimmery, earthy tones in particular because they create definition, making the eyes pop whilst not overpowering your natural look.

With a cute curl in your hair or a sleek up do, this look will give you the confidence to ace any date-whether the date meets your standards or not… oh well, you look fab! 

Confidence is sexy

Now, for all of you that like to make a statement, how about trying my sexy, smoky eye look?

Red. It screams confidence and can empower any woman. You know what they used to say, when times are tough, lather on the red lipstick and you’re ready to conquer the day; you will be sure to smash the sexy look with a loyal stick of red lippy in your purse.

Pink makes the boys wink, but red will go straight to their heads- confidence is the seasons best accessory and will never let you down.

There are so many beautiful shades of rouge for you to try; from rosy reds to deep burgundy, there is a shade for every skin tone. Get testing girls and sport the red lips to complete your sultry look!

It’s time to swap the earthy tones for smoky shades that will compliment any eye shape or colour. Start with the outer section of the eye and blend the shades from dark to light towards the inner corner, adding a shimmery silver to create a glamorous finish.  Add your favourite mascara and black liner to emphasize the length of your lashes- now you can flutter those lashes and flirt all night with my sexy, glam look!

To achieve these looks I used:

·       Urban decay eye shadow pallet- Vice 2

·       Sleek face Contour Kit

·       Estee Lauder (48A33) Hot Kiss Shimmer lipstick

·       (The natural lip shade) Rimmel- Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick in shade 16

The ultimate slimming dress!

This Missguided, zip detailed, bodycon dress is perfect for a romantic date and so slimming for those who want to show off their curves. The front zip and V-neck detailing, elongates the body and creates the illusion of extra height- brilliant for somebody like me who isn’t gifted in the height department, but girls with long legs, you can still effortlessly rock this dress! The zip is also perfect for Valentines, enabling you to control the amount of cleavage on show; unzip if you’re feeling daring or modestly keep it up to leave a little to the imagination!

The extra zip band pulls in the waist and instantly slims, creating the illusion of the oh so desired hour glass figure- whether you have been blessed with curves or a straight up and down figure, this dress will create curves that you never knew you had!

Team with your favourite nude heels and pastel clutch or go bold with some monochrome accessories!

I love this wrap styled, River Island number, a brighter alternative to the nude Missguided dress.

The wrap style creates the illusion of a sexy, slimmer waist whilst the added black belt with rose gold detailing compliments the style of the dress. The detailing also creates an optical illusion, drawing the eyes attention to the belt, complimenting the waist further- who wouldn’t want a slimmer waist?

The plunging neckline is perfect for those who want to show off their assets and the peachy, rose colour is perfect for a date- the sexy shade of love and a potential blossoming romance!

Now you have read my guide to achieving a look that will leave you feeling glamorous and sexy, you can meet your lucky date with confidence, knowing that your new look will make his jaw drop!

River Island Iridescent Clutch!

Introducing everybody to the latest edition of my ever-growing wardrobe- this fabulous little iridescent clutch bag that caught my eye many months ago! 

I originally spotted it in River Island in a sea of pastel bags of all shapes and sizes, and being a bit of a magpie when it comes to shiny things, I just couldn't help myself. It was love at first sight of course, and when our eyes met again on ASOS- it was a sign. I had to purchase! 

Made from a cracked iridescent fabric, I was mainly drawn in by the colour; a gorgeous petrol blue that differs from your usual pastels and neutral shades. It's also over sized which I loved because I don't tend to go for smaller clutches. They're basically the size of a purse so squeezing in a phone, lippy and a compact would be a challenge! This clutch is what I like to call 'sensible', with plenty of space for items not necessarily needed on a night out (but I pack them in anyway), and a gold chain in case I fancy propping it on my shoulder.

So, the colour may be a little… out there, but I can't wait to take this baby out on Friday in all of its shimmering glory! I plan to wear this with a little black playsuit, therefore making the petrol blue clutch my bold statement piece. However, wearing with other bold patterns and colours would add a quirky twist. 

You know what they say, you can't buy love or happiness- but you can buy a new bag!