Weekly Summary #6

1. Cute Laduree gifts from my parents' trip to London- the key ring is just too cute!, 2. Think i've found my new winter boots in this studded pair from Aldo , 3. Adorable Anna Sui notecards from TKMAXX, 4. Wrapping up for college (check out my lookbook here),  5. Rebecca's first outing!, 6. Wearing my new Hollister shirt, 7. Rediscovering one of my favourite vampy nail colours for the winter (post here), 8. Another TKMAXX find, 9. Keeping organised with my VS planner- coming in very handy at the moment! 

I hope you've all had a lovely week,
Love, Claudia x

NOTD: OPI Lincoln Park After Dark

As the colder months are fast approaching, i've been rediscovering some of my favourite autumn/winter nail colours. Although i do enjoy trying out some of the limited edition colours that come around each year, i always have a few favourites that i go back to. A colour that's permanently in my collection, is OPIs 'Lincoln Park After Dark'. It's one of OPIs best selling colours, and supposedly a favourite of  the fashion icon, Twiggy. The colour is very unique, and although it's such a dark colour, it still looks incredibly elegant and 'clean' on the nails- i think it's a very classy colour. 

The plum tones prevent this deep shade from being too 'goth', and it's equally wearable for day and night time occasions. If you like wearing dark nail colours during the winter time, then i highly suggest trying this one. It's a colour that never goes out of style, and always looks good with the a/w fashion trends. 

Love, Claudia x

Clothing Haul: Hollister, Zara, Aldo & Romwe

I did a little shopping yesterday, and thought i'd share the things that i picked up. I've been loving the autumn/winter trends this year, so i didn't struggle to find things that i liked! 

My first stop was Hollister, as being at college five days of the week, requires a lot of everyday casual basics. Hollister is perfect for those everyday wardrobe staples, and i just love the preppy style. I picked up another pair of the 'super skinny jeans' as i wear mine all the time! They're so comfortable and i wear them with practically everything. I also loved this check shirt in a super soft, cotton fabric. It's very warm and soft, and will be perfect for wearing underneath wool jumpers during the colder months. 

I took some trousers back to Zara, and decided to exchange them for these burgundy skinny jeans instead. I love the on-trend berry shade, and the slim fit is very flattering. I think they make a nice change to the usual black skinny jeans that i rely on during the winter, and add a nice touch of colour to an A/W outfit. 

I also picked up these studded ankle boots from Aldo. I had been on the hunt for a pair just like these and seen similar styles from many high street stores, but these were my favourite. The heel height is just right for everyday, and i love the stud detail around the heel of the boot. They're real leather and a great style for pairing with skinny jeans, or cute dresses and tights. 

Lastly, my latest pieces from Romwe also arrived in the post yesterday. They kindly gave me another gift card to spend on the website, and i picked these two tops. As you can see, i was liking the tassle trend a lot that day! I love the black tassle shirt- especially the gold, studded buttons. I think it will look great paired with the Zara burgundy jeans, and my new boots! I also picked this grey, oversized t shirt, again with some tassle detailing across the front! It's long enough to wear with some thick leggings, and would also look great with my new boots. Both pieces are very well made, and great quality for the affordable price. I'm sure i've seen items practically identical in Zara recently too- yet Romwe is much more affordable. 

I also wanted to let you know about the Romwe competition that's currently being held. For the chance to win a party dress from Romwe's Facebook page, just follow the instructions here. There will be five winners selected each day between the 20th of September to the 4th of October. It's definitely worth a try!

What are your favourite A/W trends?

Love, Claudia x

Budget Beauty: Batiste Dry Shampoo for Brown Hair

After my recent experience with the Bumble & Bumble Black Hair Powder, i wasn't too keen on trying any other tinted dry shampoo's (read more about that experience here!). However, i was kindly sent the Batiste Dry Shampoo for Dark and Deep Brown hair recently, and very intrigued to see how it worked in comparison. I've tried a few of the Batiste products before, but never anything from the tinted range. I always liked the original, but the grey-ish tint of the powder didn't work well with my dark brown hair. However, the tinted alternative is much better suited for my hair colour, and far superior to the awful B&B product that i tried!

It provided the volume and texture that i was after, without leaving any obvious white marks. It's still not completely tinted but it does leave your hair significantly less 'grey' than the average, non-tinted dry shampoo does.
It blends into the hair effortlessly, and the rubbing motion works well at providing volume in the roots. It doesn't make my hair heavy, sticky or greasy at all- the powder is actually very lightweight and can be easily brushed out at the end of the day. I like to use it mainly for volume/texture, but of course, it also works well to instantly refresh your hair when it's in need of washing or looking a bit limp.
So, it's definitely a good option for darker hair colours if you want something that will provide volume, texture and absorb any oil- without leaving an obvious white cast. Plus, its very affordable at just £3.99. It works so much better than the awful B&B dry shampoo, yet it's a fraction of the price! So if you've been on the hunt for a tinted dry shampoo, then i definitely recommend this purse-friendly option, that does exactly what it says on the tin.

Love, Claudia x

Weekly Summary #5

1. Wearing my new studded shirt from Romwe (check out my OOTD here) , 2. My new bag! I've been wanting a Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac for so long, and my parents bought me this one for doing well with my exam results, 3. Shopping trip to London- first stop, Victoria's Secret on New Bond Street, 4. Lunch at The Fifth Floor in Harvey Nichols- very yummy asian duck salad with peach iced tea,  5. Cute VS PINK doggies, 6. Pretty roses- i want a lipstick in this colour!, 7. More Pink!, 8. Victoria's Secret goodies (haul here), 9. Subway time! The Sweet Onion sauce is delicious- love it!

I hope you've all had a lovely week,
Love, Claudia x

New In: Romwe Studded Collar Shirt

After my first successful experience with Romwe a few weeks ago, i couldn't wait to try more from their site! When i found this beautiful studded shirt, i knew what i wanted to pick. I love the stud trend that began this summer, and it's set to continue through to the A/W. I had seen shirts very similar to this in Zara recently, but the Romwe shirt is much more affordable, yet equal in terms of quality. I paired it with a pair of burgundy skinny jeans (burgundy is another key trend this A/W!) and my new Rebecca Minkoff bag. It's such a versatile piece that you can dress up or down. I love to layer embellished shirts underneath jumpers for a casual look, or with a tailored blazer for an evening look. 

Shirt- c/o Romwe
Jeans- Warehouse
Belt- Primark
Bag- Rebecca Minkoff
Ring & Earrings- Tiffany and Co.
Flats- Tory Burch

You can find the shirt here, at Romwe for £31.55. It's extremely well made and great quality for a high-street brand. Plus, it incorporates one of autumn's biggest trends!

Love, Claudia x

London Haul: Victoria's Secret & Rebecca Minkoff

Yesterday, i went on a little shopping trip to London with my mum. We had a wander around Harvey Nichols, and i found my exam congratulation gift. My parents wanted to give me something to celebrate my recent exam results with, and i finally found it as i was looking through the handbag department...

I've loved the Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C's, since i first layed eyes on them. However, i thought that i'd have to wait until my next trip to the US until i could purchase one. They're so hard to find in the UK, but Harvey Nichols do have them available in-store. So when i spotted them, and in this colour, i knew what i wanted to pick! Burgundy is the colour for the upcoming season and one of my favourite winter colours. It's a great shade to break up an all-black outfit, when tends to happen a lot during the cold winter months. The Mini M.A.C is such a great style for hands-free shopping, and days in the city.    The zipped compartments make it a very secure, and comfortable bag. I love the gold hardware, stud detail and chain strap. The strap can be removed to create a clutch, or it can be doubled up to make a smaller shoulder strap. 

I couldn't visit London without stopping by the new Victoria's Secret store on New Bond Street. The store had four different floors, and was furnished beautifully- very pink, very glamourous and very VS! The pricing was roughly $ to £, so much more expensive than it is in the States. I didn't go too crazy, just because it's so much more expensive here in the UK and the amount of merchandise, was quite overwhelming. Plus, they didn't have everything that the US stores have- no swimwear, bedroom furnishings, or certain makeup products such as the infamous hairspray, anti-bacs and cosmetics. However, i did pick up a few things- a grey PINK sweat shirt which will come in very handy during cold days indoors! I also fell in love with the PINK school planner, which will be cute and practical for my final year at college. Lastly i had to pick up at least one pair of cute pants- i went for leopard print! 

I would definitely recommend visiting the VS store if your a big fan like myself. However, it is much more expensive than the States and they don't have the complete collection of merchandise. Even if you don't want to buy anything though, just go and take a look at the store- it's decorated beautifully!

Love, Claudia x

August Beauty Favourites

Surprisingly, i didn't have many beauty favourites for the month of August. I think it's because i've completed my summer makeup shopping (no more bright nail colours for me!), but i don't feel quite ready to bring out my autumn beauty products just yet! So it's a bit of an awkward, in-between time, until autumn arrives. However, i did manage to select a few products that have impressed me recently...

Colour Club 'Modern Pink' Nail Polish:

This has been my go-to, neon nail polish for the past couple of weeks. Colour club is a very inexpensive, American drugstore brand which us Brits can order online. Whilst the formula is not the best in the world (although it is very good for the price), the colour selection is great- especially the bright's and neon's. 'Modern Pink' adds an interesting pop of neon to any boring outfit, and really enhances a summer tan.

Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Scent Spray:

This must be the most refreshing and clean scent that I've come across. It does smell of green tea (in a good way!), and is just the most perfect everyday scent- especially during the summer. It smells so crisp and clean and completely unoffensive- perfect for any time, any where. It's my new favourite!

Borghese Milan Volumizng Mousse:

This is something that i picked up on a whim whilst browsing through TKMAXX. Again, another American brand here, and it's one of the best hair mousse's that I've tried. It gives my naturally wavy hair lots of texture and volume, and also creates a very wavy/beach-y effect. It's perfect for the days when i want to enhance my natural hair, yet control the frizz and also add a little more definition to my waves. It achieves all of this without making my hair sticky or greasy, and it still gives my hair movement- no stiff, crispy curls in sight! Plus it smells great. 

Dior Micellaire Water:

I still love my L'Oreal eye makeup remover as a good drugstore find, but Dior's micellar water is a very good high end option. Micellar waters are my favourite cleansing formula (think Bioderma, La Roche Posay...) and this one is also very effective. It removes my eye makeup brilliantly without causing irritation. It can be used on the face, but since it contains fragrance, i just use it on my eyes. My sensitive skin can break out, when i use products with fragrance. I also love the convenient pump and beautiful packaging!

Estee Lauder Pure Colour Lipsticks:

The new lipstick collection from Estee Lauder did not disappoint- i added two new shades to my collection, 'Mauve Struck' and 'Brilliant Bare'. Both shades are perfect for everyday wear and give my favourite lip effect- nude, pouty and natural! The pigmentation is great, with a smooth, and non-drying formula. 

For my non-beauty favourites, i had to include Lipton's Iced Tea in 'Peach'. I can't believe i haven't tried it up until now- it's so good! It's the perfect refreshment for the summer time. I've also been addicted to Song Pop- a new app that i downloaded for free onto my Ipad. It's a great game that you can play against your friends, and test your knowledge on various music categories. In terms of books, my two favourites for this month have been Captain Corelli's Mandolin- a fantastic, classic novel that everyone should read (so many different elements- love, politics, war and history), and a more girlie, chick-lit option is The Group. It actually inspired Candace Bushnell to write the Sex and The City series. The Group is set in the 1920's with the glamorous backdrop of New York City. Perfect!

What are your favourites for this month?

Love Claudia x

Weekly Summary #4

1. My new studded shirt from Romwe- can't wait to wear it during the autumn/winter time! , 2. Treat time at Cafe Nero- i love their iced milkshakes (strawberry for reference!), 3. My short but sweet August favourites, 4. A successful day of back-to-school shopping at Hollister, Schuh and Mango,  5. The worst hair product that i've ever tried- returned it the following day (review here), 6. Filming my mega haul (watch here), 7. Mum's home made vanilla cupcakes, 8. First time at Yo Sushi!, 9. Wearing my new neon top from Urban Outfitters and leopard skinnies (ootd here)

I hope you've all had a lovely week,
Love, Claudia x