Saturday, 24 November 2012

UK (and 1 US!) Black Friday Weekend Offers: Update

Normal programming will resume shortly, but I've come across a few more special offers for this weekend that I think you should know about... All (19!) offers in my previous post are also still valid until midnight on Sunday, so be sure to scroll down and check them out if you haven't already, but hot-off-the-press are the following deals...


Clarins: Free gift worth £15 with every order with code FRIDAY12 - if you spend £60 or more, you'll also get a free gift worth over £22 (pictured above).

Debenhams: 10% off with code XL27 (includes sale and offers)

Feel Unique: 20% off selected fragrances, plus free delivery (no code necessary)

Selfridges: 20% off with code SELF20

And if you hail from across the pond, my lucky US readers can get 25% off at ASOS with code BLACKFRIDAYBONUS - outraged that this offer hasn't been extended to the site's home country - who got you where you are eh?

More offer news and codes coming your way for Cyber Monday - dust off your debit card! I'll be tweeting any last minute offers that don't make it into a post, so follow me to make sure you don't miss out on anything.

Follow Me:

 Follow Me On Bloglovin’RSS FeedFacebookTwitterInstagramPinterest

Friday, 23 November 2012

Black Friday Fashion, Beauty and Gift Deal Special

Apparently today marks the "official" start of Christmas shopping season (the term "Black Friday" was coined in Philadelphia in the 1960s, if you're interested - it referred to the disruptive increase in shopping traffic on the first Friday after Thanksgiving). It seems the concept has now jumped across the pond, giving us good reason to be thankful for yet more deals and special offers!

I've rounded up some of the best deals available online this weekend, between today and "Cyber Monday" (most of these offers end at midnight on Sunday, but Monday is traditionally the busiest day of the year for online retailers, so look out for more offers popping up then!). From luxury choccies to outrageous beauty booty to lust-have party wear, I've got you covered (click on retailer names to hop over to the sites)...

1 & 4: AX Paris at Republic, 2: Madam Rage, 3 & 6: A|Wear, 5 & 8: Kurt Geiger, 7: Accessorize

Accessorize: 20% off full price merchandise with code TREAT20

Anthropologie: Up to 10% off home and 20% off clothing and accessories (no code required)

A|Wear: 25% off selected party wear (no code required)

Bliss: 25% off full-size Bliss products with code BLS25NOV, plus 2 free stocking fillers if you spend £50 (no code required)

Bloomingdales (UK Shipping): Site-wide sale - up to 50% off designer clothes, shoes and bags

Boohoo: Free next day delivery with code FREENEXT

Cult Beauty: Free goody bag with orders over £40 with code GOODYBAG, including:

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Genius (2.2g)
2. Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel (15ml)
3. Bliss Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask (10ml)
4. Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Bath & Shower Oil (3ml)
5. Eve Lom Rescue Mask (5ml)
6. DuWop Mini Lip Venom
7. Jouer Cosmetics Mini Essential Lip Enhancer
8. Kai Perfume Oil Vial (1ml)
9. Alison Raffaele Mini Reality Base Foundation

(They also send you fab free samples with any order over £25)

Elemis: 25% off full-size Elemis products with code ELE25NOV

Forever 21: 30% off sweaters with code SWEATERS30

Fortnum & Mason: 25% off Jubilee Marc de Champagne Truffles (no code required)

Glamorous: 20% off with code GLAMOROUS20

Kurt Geiger: 20% off with code KGXMAS20

Links of London: 20% off with code LINKSFNF (plus get a free gift worth £45 if you spend £150)

Madam Rage: 30% off all LBDs with code LBDMR

Monsoon: Free delivery, plus up to up to £60 off dresses, £50 off coats and jackets, £20 off tops, £20 off skirts and trousers and £15 off childrenswear

Republic: Free delivery (no code required)

The Body Shop: 35% off plus free delivery when you spend £5 or more with code SECRET; 50% off hand caddies with code CADDY

TRIA: £65 off their hair removal laser with code HAIRFREE65; £75 off their skin rejuvenating laser with code NEWYOU75

And don't forget you can still get 25% off at Motel Rocks right up 'til 30th November with code VCMOTEL11... Your Litas are calling...


Follow Me:

 Follow Me On Bloglovin’RSS FeedFacebookTwitterInstagramPinterest

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

DIY: Studded Dress

As a child, I was crafty in the extreme (there was nothing I couldn't do with an empty loo roll) but spending a year being chased along school corriders and threatened by my GCSE textiles teacher effectively curbed my appetite for DIY. However this post on Hattie's Hideaway rekindled my urges, and in recent months, my obsession with spiked shoulders has grown to a level at which I just couldn't hold out any longer. In the absence of the perfect ready-made studded garment at what I deemed an acceptable price, I finally invested in these studs from eBay (a bargainous £2.85 plus £1.00 postage for 50 studs - I'm pretty sure they'll all be gone within a couple of weeks, so think I'll nab 100 for £3.95 next time!), and got customising...

 
Dress: Primark, Belt: New Look, Leggings: H&M, Boots: Peacocks (All Past Seasons)


Tips and Tricks


  • I chose claw rather than screw-type studs for maximum ease (when working with woven fabrics, you can just poke their little legs through and then tuck them under, without making holes first - with something like leather, I assume screw-backs would be best).
  • Shoulder pads help to maximise visual impact, keep your spikes pointing in the right direction and cushion your skin against the fastenings - I was really lucky that this dress (which you can see in its original incarnation in this post) already had shoulder pads sewn in along just one edge, so it was easy to flip them up to secure the studs, but I'd definitely consider adding my own in future.

How To


  • Decide where you want to position your studs - I wanted a cluster on each shoulder for a bit more impact, but used a baseline of 6 along each top-seam as a starting point. If you want to be a perfectionist about it, get your tape measure out and try marking where you want the studs to go with a highlighter or something (inside) - I was far too impatient for this, but my more haphazard method did result in quite a few errors and re-dos before I was happy!
  • Carefully poke the stud's "legs" through the fabric, flip garment inside out and press legs down and in to secure (I used a knife handle).
  • That's it! Turn your masterpiece inside out and pop it into a pillowcase or "bra bag" on a handwash cycle when it's dirty, but other than that, just try not to poke anyone's eye out!


I'm really pleased with the results, and think this could very easily turn into a bit of an addiction - I already have a mental list a mile long of other things in my wardrobe to attack! And I've got lace, pearls and enamel flowers lined up ready for a day when my newfound inner craftress might be feeling a bit less dominatrix and a bit more Disney princess - watch this space!

How do you feel about DIY? What projects are on your to do list?


Follow Me:

 Follow Me On Bloglovin’RSS FeedFacebookTwitterInstagramPinterest

Saturday, 17 November 2012

Yet More Amazing Last Chance Fashion and Beauty Deals!

I know I've already told you about some of the fantastic special offers available online this week (see this post for deets/codes/inspiration regarding Benefit, Dorothy Perkins, Madam Rage, Wallis and Wonderbra), but I've heard about so many more since then that I felt it was my duty to share them with you (in alphabetical order, FYI)!

25% off Litas? Yes, please Santa!

Fashion


A|Wear have taken 25% off denim and selected peplum styles, and you can get 10% off Christmas gifts, including a selection of bags, coats and knits, with code GRABAGIFT (for a limited time).

icon
One of the many beautiful peplum-ified items on special offer at A|Wear at the moment (£40 £30)

EDIT: Nearly forgot this very important one! 20% off at Boohoo with code GLAM20 (ends Sunday 18th November)

Debenhams will knock 10% off your order, including items in the 25% Christmas Spectacular, with code NB43 (ends Sunday 18th November)

Feeling festively flirty yet? Figleaves will give you 15% off their luxuriously decadent Christmas selections this weekend with code SANTA15.

Monsoon are offering 20% off at checkout with the code CHRISTMAS2012 (ends Sunday 18th November).

Motel Rocks will give you an amazing 25% off with code VCMOTEL11 until Sunday 30th November (grab those Litas while you can!).

Oasis will take 20% off orders when you use the code NOVTREATS (ends Sunday 18th November).

Chilly? Republic will give you 25% off knitwear with the code OMGFREEZING until 22nd November.

Beauty


If you're spending £60 or more at Benefit, and don't fancy a free full-size Hervana powder (using code HEAVEN), you can grab a free Bella Bamba instead, with code BAMBA.

Bliss are giving away free kits worth £24 - full of fabulous skincare products (fabulips lip plumper, incredi-'peel' pad, triple oxygen instant energizing cleansing foam and triple oxygen instant energizing mask) - to get you ready for party season - use code PARTY when you spend £50 or more (ends 30th November).

Who doesn't love the frankly incredible Boots 3 For 2 gift selections at this time of year (even if you are self-gifting)? Make it even better by getting £10 off when you spend £90 (on anything, not just gifts!) with code VCXET190 (ends Sunday 18th November). There are also a heap of other deals on their website at the moment, including £10 off when you spend £50 on fragrance (no code necessary), and special offers on electrical beauty stuff.

Phew - is that enough to be going on with?

Follow Me:

 Follow Me On Bloglovin’RSS FeedFacebookTwitterInstagramPinterest

Liebster Award

Last week, I had an email from Lauren at Indecisive and Getting Somewhere, telling me that she had nominated me for a Liebster Award. For anyone who's confused, it's an award given to bloggers by bloggers, for "up and coming" blogs with fewer than 200 followers, to help introduce new blogs and their authors to the blogging community. Being nominated is also a great excuse for a gratuitous "all about me" post!




How It Works:


1. List 11 facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you by the blogger who nominated you.
3. Create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer.
4. Choose 11 blogs you follow with fewer than 200 followers to nominate and link to them in your post - you can't nominate the blogger who nominated you.
5. Let each blogger know you've nominated them.
6. Once you've fulfilled all of the above, you can save the Liebster Award graphic to use as a widget on your blog, et voila - you are the proud winner of the most exciting award since the Oscar!

11 Facts About Me


1. As well as a dancer/model/actress, I have previously worked as a tutor and therapist for children with autistic spectrum conditions, assistant research psychologist investigating psychosis, pay-on-foot machine attendant (for 2 days – never again!), and question answerer for one of those “Ask us anything/Find out what we know about you/What should you have for dinner?” texting services you see advertised on Channel 4 at midnight.

2. In 2010, I belly danced live on Channel 4, and co-hosted a mini masterclass for Lenny Henry and, er, Stacey Solomon (who weren't exactly naturals; that's me in the white).


3. I have a small part in Ron Howard’s latest film, Rush, coming out next year (as long as it doesn’t end up on the cutting room floor!) in which I enjoy a little skin-on-skin time with Chris Hemsworth, but sadly sport horrendous ‘70s fringe flicks.

4. My top 5 albums of all time are Progress (Take That), Ceremonials (Florence + The Machine), Born To Die – The Paradise Edition (Lana Del Rey), Bad (Michael Jackson) and... well I'm not really sure on the 5th, but I'll lay an educated bet on Rihanna's new one!

5. My favourite film is Pearl Harbour – it’s unjustly maligned!

6. I think Neighbours is the best thing on TV, ever - it started the year I was born, and I've barely missed an episode since.

7. While we're talking best things ever, Primark is at the very pinnacle of my list (I have no time for "I won't touch anything under £50" snobs).

8. As a teenager, 75% of my wardrobe was pink, and my most worn item was a velour tracksuit in the afore-mentioned hue.

9. My nickname at school was Barbie.

10. Top 10 on my current fantasy fashion wishlist are the following: tapestry print mini, tartan midi, fedora (preferably feathered), velvet pencil skirt, velvet leggings, coloured velvet skater dress, galaxy print jeans, mirror print pencil skirt, crombie coat, leather top.

11. If I had to swap hair with anyone else on earth, it would be Michelle Williams, but I’m too fearful that chopping off that many inches would trigger post-traumatic stress disorder!

My 11 Questions to Answer


1. What is your dream?

To choreograph and perform in my own West End dance spectacular, do some groundbreaking psychological research and/or be the next (female) Gok Wan.

2. How do you take your tea? Dare I ask...do you even like tea?

Milk, no sugar, and about 8 times a day! Preferably Twinings Rose Garden or Lavender Earl Grey.

3. Have you got any pets?

A 12-year-old cat called Geri who still looks and acts like a kitten and is treated as my (rather spoilt) younger sibling, rather than as a pet in any way.


4. When did you start your blog?

1 September 2012, after much procrastination and 11 months of daily outfit photography!

5. What are the biggest obstacles your blog has faced?

My own perfectionism, especially regarding photography! An outlay of £500+ so far, and the winter light is still besting me, argh! Also a laptop which is feeling the strain... and leaving me enough time to do anything else!

6. Favourite make-up product?

Rimmel liquid liners – I have to flick daily!

7. What are your thoughts on the number 7?

I tend to prefer even numbers... although I have a soft spot for 3.

8. Where are you from?

The outskirts of London, England... close enough to the Oxford Street Primark double whammy not to feel deprived, but far enough away to remain solvent.

9. Favourite flavour of ice-cream?

Ben & Jerry’s Oh My! Apple Pie... Ohhhh yes.

10. Do you like the cows or the carrots or c+c? (meat eater or veggie or both)

Carrots, all the way (well, along with Quorn, cheese and chocolate – not together though). In fact, I have a borderline obsession with carrots – I treat them like sweeties.

11. Where's Wally/Waldo?

He’s on the run sporting an ingenious disguise – I lent him a cloche and disco pants to replace the bobble hat and stripes.

My 11 Questions For You


1. How would you describe your style in 3 words?
2. How tall are you?
3. If you had to marry a celebrity of your choice, who would it be?
4. What did you have for breakfast?
5. What’s your most worn item of clothing this season?
6. What was your most worn item of clothing last season?
7. What was the last song/album you bought or downloaded?
8. What’s on your Christmas list (if you celebrate Christmas, or your payday treat list if you don't)?
9. Cats or dogs?
10. Velvet or leather?
11. If you could only take 3 things to a desert island, what would they be?

My 11 Nominations


2 in da House
Anatomia de Estilo
Aryanna Style
Becca Talks Beauty
BōW
La Dulcie Vita
Réflexions dans le Petit Trianon
Shoegal Out In The World
Shoes and Gloss
SRSLYLou
We Are The Wild At Heart


Follow Me:

 Follow Me On Bloglovin’RSS FeedFacebookTwitterInstagramPinterest