Sunday 30 April 2017

10 places I want to travel to next



I'm so lucky and grateful to have travelled to lots of countries all over the world. From America to India and from Europe to Morocco, Dubai and Thailand, I feel very grateful that I've had the opportunity to travel so much in my early twenties. That being said, there's still a lot of the world that I haven't seen and I have my own personal list of places that are still on my ever increasing to-do list. Below are ten places that I want to travel to in no particular order. There's still lots more places on my list, but here's just ten for now!

1. San Francisco, Las Vegas and LA


Many people visit these three places in one trip which is why I have bunched them together. When travelling to that part of America, I would love to see LA, Vegas and San Francisco over a two or three week holiday. The bright lights of Vegas, the fascinating streets of San Francisco and the glamour of LA all give me so much excitement! I can't wait to explore that side of America, as I've only ever been to New York.

2. Australia


This has been a dream of mine since I was very young. Seeing the Sydney Opera House in the flesh would be an absolute dream, as well as exploring the Outback, Melbourne and Brisbane. Again I think I would ideally want that to be a long trip of maybe three weeks or a whole month.

3. Canada


Canada has always been fascinating to me and specifically Toronto and seeing the natural beauty of Niagara Falls are both high on my bucket list.

4. South Africa


It would be amazing to go on an actual safari! I also really want to stay in Cape Town and visit Johannesburg to get a real vibe of the culture in South Africa.

5. Japan


As well as being a great fashion city, Japan's cosmopolitan nature would be a dream to experience. Tokyo is well known for its skyscrapers and I would also want to visit the temples national parks in Japan.

6. Brazil and Argentina


Another point on my bucket list is going to the Rio Carnival. I would love to visit Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana beach, the iconic Christ the Redeemer Statue and even dance in the streets of Rio with the locals.

7. Iceland


I'm usually someone that loves to visit hot countries, but Iceland is a must for me! Specifically the Blue Lagoon which is a geothermal hot spa would be amazing to bathe in.

8. Malaysia


I would love to see all of the skyscrapers as well as the remote areas and really get a sense of the culture. I'm also really excited to try the food as well!

9. Singapore


This exotic country is another one of those on the bucket list and the photos I have seen look amazing. The busy city life excites me as well as the green spaces, so I would love to go and explore the place in detail.

10. Austria


In particular Vienna is on my top list as it looks like such a lovely city. However, I would also really like to see the rivers and lakes and maybe even go on a walking or hiking trip in Austria!


There's so many more countries on my list but for now I thought I would narrow it down to ten. The world is an amazing place so it's always been a vision of mine since I was very young to travel as much as I could.

What countries or places are on your travel bucket list?

Photography by Kirstie Melville.

Tuesday 25 April 2017

How accessories can transform your outfit

How accessories can transform your outfit


If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that I always mention the importance of accessories in any outfit post. They literally transform your outfit, whether it's a designer handbag with your favourite dress, or a piece of statement jewellery with a casual day look.

I recently discovered the brand Johnny Loves Rosie who specialise in premium statement jewellery and accessories. I've collaborated* with them on this blog post to show you how adding accessories can transform your everyday outfits.

How accessories can transform your outfit

The outfit 


In this look, I'm wearing a berry coloured dress which is great for a casual day look, or can be smartened up for work with a black blazer. I decided to add Johnny Loves Rosie accessories to brighten the outfit. My make up was very minimal for this day look, as I wanted the focus to be on the accessories.

How accessories can transform your outfit


Headbands


My favourite piece from the whole Johnny Loves Rosie collection is this stunning Aurora Embellished Headband. It's encrusted with green jewels and pearls and I think it looks absolutely beautiful. I have received so many lovely compliments when I've worn this headband including that I look like a modern day princess! I'm quite happy about that!

How accessories can transform your outfit


How accessories can transform your outfit


Belts 


Belts are great accessories for drawing attention to your waist and they can help to pull in dresses so that they look more flattering. This Rose Gold Belt looks great with this outfit but I also think it will pair well with lots of dresses in my wardrobe. The rose gold tint adds a touch of subtle glamour and elegance. I really like the chain at the back of the belt as it's something different, and again helps to draw attention to it.

How accessories can transform your outfit


How accessories can transform your outfit


Other accessories such as watches, earrings and bracelets can also help to transform your look. I'm wearing my Hugo Boss watch in this look, which is super smart and actually pairs well with the other two accessories.

Johnny Loves Rosie also sell bags, earrings, necklaces and watches. They even have a wedding shop section on their website showcasing bridal jewellery and accessories for bridesmaids too.

How accessories can transform your outfit


What are your favourite accessories to wear?

Photography by Kirstie Melville.

* Thank you to the team at Johnny Loves Rosie who kindly gifted me the headband and belt. All views are honest and my own, as always.

Wednesday 19 April 2017

What to wear at an Indian wedding



The Ramada Park Hall Hotel and Spa, provided the perfect setting for my cousin's wedding a couple of weeks ago. The hotel is a grade 2 listed building, which is perfect for a summer wedding.

Choosing the right outfit for an Indian wedding can be tricky, as there are so many outfits and styles to choose from, including saris and lenghas (a skirt and matching top). My cousin's wedding was in April and luckily the weather was on our side as it was a hot and sunny day.



The outfit


My outfit was this gorgeous pink and white lengha from a shop called the Saree Mandir. It has short sleeves, which is perfect for hot and sunny days. The pink skirt is floor length, making the whole outfit very sophisticated. The colours attracted me to this outfit the most, as I think pink and white work really well together. I also think the stunning embroidery and gem stones all over the outfit made it both elegant and glamourous.





Accessories


As there were already quite a lot of gems on my outfit I decided to keep my jewellery simple and wore some smaller pink indian earrings. I paired this with my gold clutch bag which is perfect for when you don't need to carry lots of things around with you.



It was a lovely day and many congratulations to the happy couple!

Photography by Geeta Parashar.

Sunday 16 April 2017

Discovering Kiehl's skincare

Discovering Kiehl's skincare


Kiehl's skincare is a brand I have seen and heard of, but never actually tried. I was lucky enough to be invited to a Kiehl's blogger event where I had the opportunity to sample lots of products and have a really good introduction to the brand by Hannah and Saffia, who are brand representatives.

About Kiehl's 


Since 1851, Kiehl's have been providing good quality skincare and haircare products. The brand actually started as an old world apothecary in New York, and has now become a worldwide beauty brand.

As a new concession was opening in the Highcross shopping centre on that day, the first part of the bloggers event took place at the 'Kiehl's on Wheels' pop up, which was a branded Kiehl's van full of products to discover. A spread of the best Kiehl's products were laid out on a long table where all of the bloggers were invited to take a seat.

Discovering Kiehl's skincare


Discovering Kiehl's skincare


Discovering Kiehl's skincare


Products with natural ingredients 


We were very lucky to try lots of the best selling products. My favourites included the Midnight Recovery Concentrate, the Ultra Facial Cream and the Tumeric and Cranberry Seed Energising Masque. I could really instantly see the difference in my skin after trying these, which is why I was drawn to them.

In the second part of the event, we went into the brand new concession that had just opened in Debenhams to have a quick look around. The counter looked fantastic, with a real apothecary feel to it! There's even a skeleton in there called Mr Bones! I would highly recommend taking a look around any Kiehl's store if you haven't before, as their skincare is of a high quality and contains natural ingredients.

Discovering Kiehl's skincare


I'm very grateful that I was given a bloggers goodie bag with lots of samples to try, as well as products such as the Amino Acid Shampoo, the Amino Acid Conditioner and the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash. Thank you so much to the Kiehl's team for inviting me to this event and spoiling me with lovely products to try.

Discovering Kiehl's skincare


Wednesday 12 April 2017

Transitioning your work outfit to an evening look



We all have those occasions where we need to go out straight from work. This happens to me at least twice a week, but I really enjoy those days where I go out straight from the office. This can be for blogger events or just drinks after work with colleagues. Over the years, I have mastered some great tips for transitioning your look from smart office wear to an evening outfit, so read on to see how I like to change my look for night time.


Planning


If you know that you have a night out after work, it's best to plan the night before what you are going to wear to work in the morning, what shoes to wear and also what kind of handbag to take. This is the most important step, as you can ensure your outfit is suitable for both day and night and you can take suitable shoes. For work, I usually take a large Zara bag which fits pretty much everything in. However, if I know that I will be going out after work, I usually take a handbag that is suitable for evening wear. In this outfit, I've chosen my DKNY handbag along with this black and white patterned dress. I love wearing this dress to the office with a black blazer, as it looks so smart, but I think it also looks great in the evening.





Adjusting your outfit


As soon as it's 5pm you can start to think about getting ready! Rather than getting changed, I often just wear the same dress but change the look slightly. For example, with this dress I'm currently wearing, I usually style it with black tights for work. However, I changed into clear tights for my evening look. This adds a bit more sophistication to the look.




Make up


Last but definitely not least, you can easily touch up your make up in the bathroom before heading out after work. I usually add a bold lipstick and re-apply some concealer if needed. And you're good to go!





Do you have any tips for transitioning from your work look to an evening look? 

Photography by Kirstie Melville.

Sunday 9 April 2017

Luxury spa day at Sofitel The Palm Dubai



After partying hard in Dubai for days, there's nothing better than a luxury spa day to revive and rejuvenate yourself. I love going to different spas and having massages and treatments, so when I visited the So Spa at the Sofitel hotel with my friend Gemma, we knew our day would be amazing.


The spa facilities


The luxury So Spa has excellent facilities including therapeutic pools, a sauna, steam room, hammam and relaxation areas both indoors and outdoors. As soon as I walked in, I could feel myself automatically relaxing and switching off from the world outside. The scent of lavender filled the whole spa area, and the candles and lighting made it feel like I had been transported somewhere far away.

My favourite facilities were the steam room and the outdoor relaxation area. The steam room is so refreshing and makes my skin feel cleansed and soft afterwards. It was great to be able to relax outside after my treatment by the pool, and Gemma and I ordered some lunch which we had outside too.




The treatment


I decided to have a full body massage known as the Polynesian Taurumi Massage which lasted for one hour. My therapist was excellent and she really helped me to relax and unwind during my treatment. The massage included a head massage, as well as head to toe deep tissue massage. I felt very zen afterwards and relaxed by the pool with a cup of herbal tea and some almonds.





I would highly recommend the So Spa at the Sofitel The Palm if you're looking to treat yourself whilst in Dubai.  

Tuesday 4 April 2017

How to look put together in a rush

How to look put together in a rush


We all have those days or evenings where we need to be somewhere but we don't have as much time as we would like to get ready. It could be an event you're going to straight after work, or that you've simply left getting ready for your Saturday night out too late. This often happens to me so I thought I would share a few tips on still looking good and put together when in a rush.

How to look put together in a rush


How to look put together in a rush

Make up 


Make up is key when you're in a rush but that doesn't mean you need to spend hours on it. Once your base is complete I recommend adding a bold lip colour as this becomes the focus and means you don't need much eye make up. In this look, I've opted for a classic red lip as for me, that means you can't go wrong.

How to look put together in a rush


How to look put together in a rush



Choosing your outfit


In a rush it's much easier to reach for a one piece outfit such as a dress. However it's good to choose a dress that's distinctive either in the design or pattern. For example, this red dress I have chosen has an interesting cut at the bottom, as well as having a distinctive line detail all the way through. It also exposes my neck and shoulders which adds a touch of elegance to an evening look. I actually feel a bit like a Disney princess when I wear this!

How to look put together in a rush


How to look put together in a rush


Accessorising 


I always say that accessories are your best friend, especially when you're in a rush. I've chosen a clutch bag, my Hugo Boss watch and pearl earrings which compliment this look perfectly. Add some perfume and you're good to go!

How to look put together in a rush


How to look put together in a rush


Do you have any tips for looking put together in a rush?

Photography by Kirstie Melville.