Blowout vs. Budget

Fur jackets are a hot trend for every winter so why not update your winter outfit while combining both style and comfort. Fur jackets can add a rock and roll edge or instant glamour depending what they are worn with making them versatile and the warmest item in your wardrobe!

Ankle boots are a vital item not only for Autumn and Winter but all year round. These Prada lace up boots are a great staple piece for your wardrobe.. however your bank account may not agree. These beauties from DUNE are a great alternative and the scalloped edging adds really cute detail to the boot. Channel biker chic into your look by teaming these boots with leather trousers or leggings. 

ASOS 20% OFF EDIT

1. ASOS Boudoir Underwear Set
ASOS Boudoir Satin and Lace Demi Cup Bra - £16.00

ASOS Boudoir Satin and Lace Brazilian - £9.60

What girl doesn't love underwear?! Love this ASOS underwear set in festive colours. 

2. ASOS Jumpsuit with Strap Detail - £40.00 
Love this simple black jumpsuit for Christmas nights out.

3. NARS Travel Brush Set - £44.00
Great size to take on trips or holidays & a super useful gift!

4. Tangle Teezer Chrome Compact Detangling Brush - £12.00
This little brush is a life saver for anyone with long hair! Makes a cute stocking filler or secret santa gift.

5. Illamasqua Snow Glitter - £12.00
This festive nail varnish is the perfect way to add a bit of sparkle to any look this Winter. 

Get your 20% OFF student discount through UNIDAYS here.

** All prices shown include a 20% discount

Sparkle Season

With the festive season here, there's an excuse to buy anything with a bit of sparkle or shine. Metallics are a huge trend for this Winter and can instantly update a monochrome outfit. Here are my favourite metallic pieces this season to wear day or night - proving metallics are not just for after dark! 

1. Arianna Metallic Brocade Contrast Skort in Silver - £19.99

2. TOPSHOP Metallic Snake Print Cigarette Trousers - £42

3. Natsumi Metallic Brocade Boxy Top in Silver - £17.99

4. STELLA MCCARTNEY Falabella Tote - £680 via Harvey Nichols

5. ZARA high heel strappy sandals in GOLD - £59.99

6. TOM FORD Polish in Burnt Topaz - £26 via Harvey Nichols

7. STELLA & DOT Pegasus Necklace in Silver - £220

8. KURT GEIGER LONDON Gold Leather Pouch - £40

9. FRENCH CONNECTION Spectacular Sparkle Maxi Dress - £180

(20% off till 23/11/2013 using code: STFC20)

Festivity Fun

Lets be honest, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the Crackers! No, not the ones with the rubbish jokes and paper hats...

...But these beauty crackers! These luxurious beauty crackers are great as stocking fillers or just as a classic table decoration or gift!

1. Number 1 from Cowshed includes Grumpy Cow Uplififting bath and Shower Gel and Knackered Cow Relaxing Bath and Shower Gel.

2. Number 2 from Jo Malone includes  Tart-juicy Blackberry & Bay Cologne, reviving Lime Basil & Mandarin Body & Hand Wash and enlivening Grapefruit Body Crème.

3. Number 3 is this cute cracker from Nails inc. Nails inc includes 6 crackers in a pack making them around £5 per cracker, which includes nail varnish and a fashion quote. Colours of varnish include: 
Mayfair Mews – navy Fibre Optic polish
Baker Street – cobalt blue
Marylebone Lane – red full coverage glitter polish
King’s Road – rose gold Foil effect polish
Kensington High Street - deep wine polish
Trafalgar Crescent – silver Galaxy polish

Nars Creamy Concealer Review

Before buying this concealer I had heard so many good reviews on it so I thought I would give it a shot. Nars is definitely one of my favourite beauty brands and I love all their products I have tried and this one didn't fail to impress. It has a really nice consistency - not too thick which I have found with other concealers but it gives you really good coverage so you would only need to apply it once or twice a day. 

The shade I chose was 'Ginger' which is considered to be 'medium'. I would recommend buying this shade if you have a medium complexion with yellow tones. I think I could have gone for 'Custard' too which is for slightly lighter skin tones but 'Ginger' is pretty much the perfect colour for me. 

I bought mine from the House of Fraser click and collect store in Aberdeen and it was £21 (students now actually get a 10% discount at House of Fraser!). This is fairly pricey for a concealer but I do think it's worth investing in as it is an essential in your make up bag!

Statement Necklaces - 25 for £25 or less

Statement necklaces are ideal for dressing up any outfit or adding that finishing touch to your look. I absolutely love a statement necklace and think they are great as a gift or stocking filler this Christmas! I have found the best 25 on the high street and online right now... hope this gives you a little gift inspiration, even if it is just for you!

Aaaaand my absolute favourite has to be this TOPSHOP beauty which I saw in store last week. 

Kurt Geiger Party Edit

With December coming up this can only mean one thing... a Kurt Geiger promotion! I am a huge fan of Kurt Geiger and I can find about a million things I want already from their A/W collection. Luckily, in the December issue of Elle you will be able to get a huge 25% off (or 30% if you are an Elle subscriber). So you are basically saving money.. right? Here are my top picks for the party season. 

1. CROC EMBOSSED LEATHER POUCH - Kurt Geiger London - BLACK - £65.00
This will be definitely going on my Christmas list! I would use this as a day or night clutch, to keep make up in or to store my iPad.

2. GLANCE - Carvela Kurt Geiger - £120

Add a splash of neon to your party look with Kurt Geiger Glance cut out boots. Cut out boots can be worn day or night to add glamour to any outfit and the neon sole updates a LBD. 

3. RED OCTANE ITALIAN LEATHER FOLD OVER BAG - Kurt Geiger London -£200.00

Love the chain strap on this bag making it wearable for day as a bag or night as a clutch and the wine colour is perfect for winter.

4. BLACK PONYSKIN BOX CLUTCH - Kurt Geiger London - £90.00

Ponyskin has been seen all over the catwalk for A/W and this cute little clutch is a great way to wear the trend.

5. DINO POUCH - Kurt Geiger London - £70.00
Love how Kurt Geiger has combined two big trends, monochrome and colour blocking and the clutch is still simple and chic. 

6. 2 POCKET POUCH BAG - Kurt Geiger London - £120.00

7. GEN PLATFORM SANDALS - Kurt Geiger London - £210.00


8. GLIDE - Carvela Kurt Geiger - £130.00
Love the gold metal detailing which instantly updates this black sandal heel. 

9. GRACE - KG Kurt Geiger - £140.00
These croc-effect sandals can instantly dress up cropped trousers for a sophisticated look.

10. CROC ZIP AROUND WALLET - Kurt Geiger London - £80.00
Such a cute wallet and ideal size for keeping all cards, change and notes in.

11. LEATHER CHAIN CUFF - Kurt Geiger London - £60.00
This leather chain cuff can add an edgy look to even a simple outfit. 
Also comes in black print and red.

All original prices shown.  

High End Vs High Street

I thought I would do a little post on some of my favourite items I've seen online recently and show some alternative cheaper options. With the party season coming up there are so many gorgeous going-out pieces coming in.. sadly not all of them are exactly purse-friendly. 

I love this navy jumpsuit from brand Three Floor recently worn by Nicole Scherzinger. Until Christmas comes this jumpsuit may need to stay on my wishlist rather than my wardrobe. Cry.

You can buy the 'Sky High' Jumpsuit here for £145. Brand 'Little Mistress' at Very do a similar sweetheart jumpsuit (pictured below) for £52 which can be bought here.

The single sole heel has made a huge comeback and can dress up any outfit, especially a jumpsuit! Alexander Wangs black leather single sole sandal heels are sophisticated and timeless, with their understated look they are a great staple piece for your wardrobe and would look great teamed with the Three Floor bandeau jumpsuit or dressed down with jeans. They can be bought via Net-A-Porter here for £445. Missguided offer a cheaper alternative in their Kazumi Leather heeled sandals in black and at £24.99 who could resist!

I really love this updated version of the classic black leather clutch bag. The ZARA version is my personal favourite as it can be worn day or night as it has a useful handle and I love the gold against the black as well as it being an absolute bargain at £19.99! Definitely something to put on your Christmas list. The Maison Martin Margiela is equally beautiful, especially with the suede interior which I prefer to the Zara versions lining (still, can't complain for £20). 

If you have a good look online you can get some really good bargains and designer-dupes. Have you found any good bargains recently? Which do you prefer from these three picks, High End or High Street?

Thanks for reading! Christina x

Get Your Tan On!

Lets face it, life is better with a tan! It is hard enough trying to get a tan in summer in the UK, let alone winter, so the best way to get a quick fix for a winter tan is to fake it. A tan is definitely not just for summer and a winter glow can be the perfect accessory for this grey weather. 

I've found my top 3 favourite tans to wear in these freezing winter months:

1. All Year Round TanFakebake 'Flawless' is a great all year round tan and works for any skin tone as it can be built up to achieve the colour you want. It comes in a spray bottle so it is easy to apply all over the body and the cosmetic guide allows you to see the colour when applying, avoiding any of those streaks you don't want! Many fake tans can have a nasty biscuit-like smell but this smells like summer in a bottle with its coconut scent - another reason you should make this tan part of your winter beauty regime. Flawless can be purchased for £18 at feelunique.com which often has great discounts on many beauty, skincare and electrical items so it is worth checking out.

2.  Dark Tan

Another one of my favourites is the 'Moroccan Tan' from brand Xen-Tan. This is said to be a 'medium' colour tan, however I think it could be considered as dark so it is more suited to darker skin tones. One of the tans ingredients is argan oil, which keeps your skin hydrated and allows the lotion to go on smoothly and evenly. All Xen-Tan products give a really nice olive (NOT orange) glow to the skin and don't dry your skin out. Xen Tan is considered a premium brand however this tan can be bought at a discounted price at feelunique.com for £20.95.

3.  Perfect Face Tanner
This wash off instant face tanner by St Tropez can be applied using a mitt/gloves or a foundation brush  and can be mixed with foundation or moisturiser to give you a radiant glow. This is currently on offer at boots for £6.86 so buy one while the discount is still running!

Thanks for reading everyone! Happy tanning x

Cut it out

So when it comes down to impulse buys, mine are definitely shoes. There are so many things I love about fashion, but shoes is definitely up at the top. One trend I love for A/W 2013 is cut out boots. They are the right mix of edgy and feminine with the combination of leather, chunky buckles and a heel. These boots can be dressed up or down, worn day or night and all year round, making them a great staple piece for any girls wardrobe.  


These are my top 4 picks. 

1. This casual pair from Kurt Geiger would be great for wearing shopping or to uni (plus at the moment there is a 20% discount offer running with The Sunday Times making the price tag a little more affordable*) - £130 
2. My personal favourite is this statement River Island pair. Love the gold metal plated detailing on the heel which would complete any outfit. - £65
3. For you savvy shoppers out there this Missguided pair may be up your street with the price tag of £39.99 (student discount making it £36!)
4. If you love this trend and will be wearing it for seasons to come then the 'Shilling boot' by Carvela is the one for you. - £150 (£120 with Sunday Times discount code)



Credit for each image goes to the websites in the links listed below. 

1. http://www.kurtgeiger.com/agnes-black-leather-41-carvela-kurt-geiger-shoe.html £130
2. http://www.riverisland.com/women/shoes--boots/ankle-boots/Black-metal-heel-cut-out-shoe-boots-638778 £65
3. http://www.missguided.co.uk/shawnee-leather-buckled-cut-out-boots-88499 £39.99
4. http://www.kurtgeiger.com/shilling-black-leather-41-carvela-kurt-geiger-shoe.html £150


* STS20

Welcome to my blog!

Hi everyone! I'm Christina, a 19 year old Fashion Management student from Edinburgh currently studying in Aberdeen. As part of our coursework we have to start a fashion blog so its given me a little push to finally start writing one! As well as loving all things fashion I love my beauty products so I will be posting a mix of both beauty and style inspiration, my opinions on latest trends as well as my own recent buys. If you want to know a little more about me then you can follow my instagram @christina2894 Thanks for reading!

Christina x