Wednesday Winners: A Wintry Edition

Hey!

We know that Wednesday Winners is a firm favourite amongst our readers so we hope that you like this week's Winter edition. As we have been reaching for the thermostat this week, we have also been seeking out our favourite winter must haves, for it seems that the cooler temps are here to stay!


Naomi's Picks:
So after announcing my love for the puffa jacket a couple of weeks ago I have received a string of abuse from my friends and family. One 'friend' informed me that purchasing a puffa would give him the right to call me Bianca Butcher (from EastEnders), now I don't watch EastEnders but I had a google and concluded that this is sad, but true - he would have every right to call me Biancs!  So with a heavy heart I have accepted and mourned the loss of the toasty sensation that could have been this Winter and carried on my search for a comfy but fashionable Winter coat. 

For this week's Wednesday Winners I am presenting to you my top 5 (warning: no puffas allowed) 

Reiss Lois Soft Blue Oversized Jacket £245
I love the style of this pea coat. The oversized cocoony look is a big trend this AW and it seems like it would be really cosy (almost as cosy as a puffa?!). 78% wool will definitely keep you toasty too! Pair this up with skinny jeans to contrast the size proportions. I also think the pale blue colour is an amazing pretty colour for Winter - step away from the glum grey/black/navy and brighten up your day with this coat! You must!

H&M Fake Fur Jacket £34.99
I love love love the colour of this fur. I would say that this jacket is more for aesthetics than functionality as I doubt there is much of a warmth factor to this! 

Topshop Navy Bound Seam Duffle Coat £89
A duffle had to make it in to the top 5! A classic coat that is always good to have in the wardrobe. I love the checked lining of this Topshop one. Did you know that the name derives from a town called Duffle in Belgium, where the Duffle material originates? Yep this is true, also, Duffle bags were orginally made from this duffle material.  

Whistles Jaime Animal Car Coat £295
You may have seen my tweet about this - I have been eyeing it up for a while. I have never heard of a car coat before, but I love it! I love the slouchyness and animal print is one of my favourite prints! 

Monki Mella Jacket £60
This coat is all about the colour! A gorgeous blue that is bound to stand out in the gloomy-ness of Winter! The collarless feature and shape make this an elegant little number! Wrap up and stay warm!

P.S. Don't fancy a coat? What about a coatigan? That's right, coatigan. 

Button Back Throw on Coatigan Throw on that coatigan and go...

Chelsea's Picks:

I feel I should apologise as I very much doubt I can throw in the casual historic fact as well as Bianca Naomi has but I do hope you like these wintry must have to accompany your coat!

1. Mulberry Jacquard Logo Scarf Pink Merino £120


I am probably not living in reality when I think £120 is good value for this scarf but it is MULBS!! My absolute fave! I can guarantee this will be the softest ever wool - there is nothing worse than an itchy scarf!! And it has pink on it. Perfection!

2. Marc by Marc Jacobs Logo Print Umbrella £55

Umbrellas are a bit of a nightmare as they just blow inside out or make it hard for you to walk or see where you're going etc but I have faith that this one will be pretty robust. And it's a nice bright colour to cheer up a rainy day. Did you know that umbrellas were invented in a town called Umbrella where it rains every day of the year?*

3. Topshop Chunky Zip Leather Gloves £24

I love a nice pair of leather gloves; warmth, grip and moisture protection! Enough said!

4. Miss Pom Pom cable headband at ASOS £18

I'm not really a fan of hats as they totes mess your hair up but I think the headband is a good alternative! I love cable knit and your ears are sure to stay cosy! This one is pretty understated so will look great with almost any coat!

5. Paul Smith Fairisle Socks £17

I love these socks! The fairisle print looks a bit like little bunny rabbits going round the edge which is super cute!


*I have definitely made this fact up in order to compete with Bianca Naomi (coincidently, Bianca was mine and Naomi's fave school teacher ;-))

So now you have no excuse to be cold this winter!

Love

Naomi and Chelsea x

Monday Makeover: Face Haul

Hey Guys

I thought I would share with you a recent make up haul for face products. I spent a great deal of time researching products before my wedding by reading blogs and reviews and in the end bought the following products. I am sure there are cheaper products that do the trick but I am yet to research those so sorry for the price tags! However, I do love these products so much they're pretty much part of my regular routine!

 

 

So I took a trip to Birmingham and hit the make up counters. For the face, I think it's good to have a decent primer to make sure everything stays in place. Now, Naomi will moisturise before applying make up but I'm really bad and don't bother a lot of the time - I guess it's about doing whatever suits you!

 

I start by making sure my face is nice and clean and then using this Benefit primer:

 



Everyone loves Benefit packaging but what's good about this product is it actually works well too. That Gal gives a good base for applying make up, evens out minor blemishes (not generally to be used for this) and lasts for aggggggeeees - like months and months!!

Next, I cover up blemishes and spots with some concealer. I also use this under my eyes when my Bobbi Brown eye brightener runs out - which is pretty frequently as you'll know if you saw our post a few weeks ago!

There are a range of colours to match skin tone obviously and I would say this product offers a 8/10 amount of coverage. It does wear during the day though.

Next, I move on to foundation and this is my absolute fave ever foundation so I feel it is worth £30-£36 (depending how much you shop around).

The picture shows Chanel Pro Lumiere but it has since been replaced with Perfection Lumiere. It offers medium coverage, I have normal skin but I would say this would be better for normal/dry. It's not really oily or greasy but I can imagine it might be on oilier skin as it has a kind of gloss to it. However, you could always try...

Mac prep and prime powder. Now, this is a setting powder so keeps everything in place nicely - basically it stops your make up falling off your face throughout the day. It's bright white but appears translucent and also takes the sheen off any foundation. I also apply it after gel eyeliner as I find that can sometimes leave a mark on the upper lid but eyes are for another post...

So I hope you enjoyed the face post - we have so much more to tell you about cheeks, eyes and lips so keep checking back!

Chelsea xx

Who's that Girl? News

Hello readers!

We have decided to come at you less frequently but with greater impact - you know, quality over quantity. We were starting to feel rushed and pressured to write the daily blog posts and felt that it was compromising our ability to bring you meaningful and comprehensive information. We will still be writing according to the themed days, but just not everyday. We hope that you agree with this decision, but any protest then let your voice be heard and add a comment.

Now, dry those eyes with some New Girl - Season 2 has just started with a double episode :)

Love

Naomi & Chelsea

 

Wednesday Winners: French Connection Edition

Hey!

Today we have decided to bring you our favourite new arrivals at French Connection. They are currently promoting a 20% discount so we wanted you to be able to take advantage of this! To receive the discount just enter 20STYLIST at checkout. We're not sure how long this discount will last - so if you see something that you like then act quickly!

Naomi's Picks:

Arrow Beading Round Neck Top £97
This top is expensive for what it is (100% Viscose), but it does have a zipped back? Team it up with a pair of tailored trousers for a smart and sophisticated look. 

The London Dress £40
The lace and length appealed to me here. It consists of an inner strapless fitted dress with a lace overlay. 

Sub Zero Slim Fit Trouser £82 
Jazz up your AW collection with these trousers. Pretty sure wearing these will perk up your day!

Grand Art Dress £130
A versatile LBD - you know this will get good wear! The zipped front adds even more versatility. 

Deerhunter Collarless Jacket £125
Who could hunt deer I don't know, but I love this quilted pleather jacket. Throw it on over a sweater and wrap up with a snood or scarf. 

Chelsea's Picks:

My picks are on the pricey side this week so I won't be snapping them all up (not that I ever do this anyway!) but if you were thinking of making a purchase, it seems there's no better time than now!

Spiegal Sequins Tunic Dress £275

I love this dress!! The combination of sequins and sleeves make this the perfect Christmas party dress. I would love to wear it on a night out on my upcoming trip to Vegas but fear the weight of the sequins would tip me over my 20kg! It's a lot for a dress but I do have a FC sequin dress and can let you know the sequins have stayed put and it's excellent quality. The discount cushions the blow!

Disco Leopard Flared Skirt £95

I think this skirt is really fun. I like that it's not conventional leopard colours but nice and bright - perfect for a party! I would deffo wear this with some shoe boots (if only I could settle on a pair!)

Wonderland Wool Collarless Coat £165

With the 20% off, this coat is not a bad price for a good quality, warm winter coat. I bet this coat is super cosy since it's wool. The lack of collar gives it a 60's feel - very Jackie O I think!

Ogopogo Print Top £120

Without seeing this top in the flesh, I can't say it is worth the £120 - it does seem a lot for a basic print top. However, it is a really nice print and I am a fan of the loose fitting style.

Pirahna Drape Trousers £77

I like two things about these trousers - the length with the cute turn up so they will sit nicely on the ankle and the textured look created by the almost jacquard effect. A dress up or down wardrobe essential!


So there's our pick from French Connection. Do you agree with our winners or have you found yourself another must have item? Let us know!

Lots of love

Naomi and Chelsea

Tuesday Shoesday: Black Shoe Boots

So this is a bit of a boring post but it is practical so I won't apologise! Many of our regular readers will know that I have been searching the the perfect pair of black high heeled shoe boots ever since I had to send my beloved ASOS Tweedy pair off to shoe heaven! I am still kicking myself that I didn't purchase another pair when they were still available as they were only about £40, good height, good style and soooooo comfy! However, I must move on so have narrowed the choice down to the following options:

Miss Selfridge Benji Black Shoe Boot £40

Pros:

• Price - down from £50 in the sale
• Heel height - just perfect
• Platform - small platform means more comfortable (usually)

Cons:

• Zip at back - I have another pair like this and the zip digs in or causes holes in tights
• Design - pretty plain

Miss Selfridge Bling Bling Black Embellished Boot £55

Pros:

• Design - love the sparkles on the back
• Good heel height
• Side zip

Cons:

• Design - bit blingy for day wear
• They just don't LOOK comfortable!

Aldo Frosacc Studded Shoe Boots £85

Pros:

• Design - love the studs on the back - very Sam Edelman
• Heel height - not too high
• Boot height - I like how it will sit low on the ankle like proper shoe boots

Cons:

• Price - more expensive than the others
• Design - too dressy?

 

ASOS Toronto Shoe Boot £28

 

Pros:

• Price - you really can'to go wrong at £28
• Style - hidden platform for comfort and cool heel

Cons:

 

• Not sure the thin heel lends itself well to all night comfort
• Look a bit chunky due to the hidden platform

 

 

 

 

Oasis Nina Shoe Boot £70

 

Pros:

 

• Oasis is my shop of the moment as I can vouch for their high quality boots
• They look comfortable (although I cannot verify this!)

Cons:

 

• Slightly more expensive than the others
• Not sure on the pointier toe

 

 

 

So these are the ones that make my short list after weeding out too chunky, too skinny, too cheap, too expensive, too much detail, too plain, too much of a boot boot etc. etc.

 

As you can see, I'm not really any nearer to finding my perfect pair and I may have to accept that I need two pairs! I am drawn to the Aldo ones (always drawn to the most expensive :-() but then maybe I can get a more basic pair too?! What a predicament!

 

Lots of suggestion seeking love,

 

Chelsea x

Monday Makeover: Hair Time and a Mascara Update

Happy Monday to everybody! I hope you are all managing to stay dry in this horrific monsoon weather, but if like me your umbrella blew inside out and your hair has been exposed to the dampness, then read on, as today's blog post provides you with some weapons to ensure that you win the battle against rain-induced frizzy poof!

Today I am going to run you through my favourite hair products at the moment. 
NB: these products work well on my hair which is long, thick, coloured and dry. 

So my routine starts with Herbal Essences Ignite My Colour Shampoo and Conditioner.  This shampoo and conditioner (separate bottles, not a 2 in 1!) works wonders on my fairly subtle ombre effect hair colour. It makes the blondey ends extra colourful rather than some shampoos which makes it look like I've just got serious growing out issues.  It is a true reflection of it's name, so if your hair colour feels dull and needs a boost, this is for you! Also, as with all Herbal Essence products it smells absolutely delicious. Another bonus is the price - it is cheap and is always involved in some sort of deal somewhere! I've noticed that this seems to be the most popular Herbal Essences shampoo/conditioner and is always sold out first!

Following the wash I apply two products: 

Firstly I run Organix Moroccan Oil through the ends of my hair. It is a lightweight oil used to seal in moisture and prevent heat damage. This is my favourite product at the moment. Another good smeller which makes my hair feel so soft and shiny. Be careful not to add too much or apply to the roots as it could cause a serious grease issue.

Secondly I add Aveda Smooth Infusion Style Prep, another brilliant product for taming frizz and creating smooth locks. This product is made from all natural ingredients and claims to defend from humidity (or in our case damp air) for 12 hours. I can vouch for this as I used it when I was on holiday in the Caribbean and I could not believe how un-poof my hair was! 

It might seem weird to use both products - but I can't tell which one works better and together I think they cover all bases for frizz control, rejuvenating dryness and protection!

******************************************************
Now, on a non-hair related note you may remember my post Mascara Dating. Well I was perfectly happy with the combination that I shared with you (it would seem that I like to combine products), but then I received a sample of Clinique High Impact Mascara and I have to say that it trumps Falsies. With the Clinique Primer and this Mascara my eyelashes look amazing! It is a new winning combination! It's time to upgrade the make-up bag girls!

I hope that I have provided you with some helpful hair product knowledge, and sorry about the change of mascara so soon - it was unexpected for me too!

Sunday Save: Reiss Outlet

Whilst browsing on the Reiss website the other day when picking my Wednesday Winners, I came across Reiss outlet - I never knew this existed!

I love Reiss but it can be pricey so I've picked out my fave purchases from the outlet! They have pretty good discounts and it's not just the super small and super large sizes left over - most things are available in the full range of sizes so hopefully we have something for everyone here!

Saskia Yellow Long Burnout Top £110 £33

Can you believe what an amazing discount this is? Total bargain of the entire post (I probably should have saved until last to build the excitement!)

I love the bright colour - now I am no longer blonde I have opened myself up to a world of yellow clothing and think I may just have to purchase this bargain!

Reina Grey Tailored Cigarette Pants £110 £73

Reiss do tailoring so well and these trousers are no exception. I love cigarette pants for work as I like how they sit above the ankle - maximum shoe on show! I would even match this up with the yellow top above!

Everly Chocolate Ruched Silk Shirt £125 £83

I wasn't sure of this top until I hovered above and saw it on the model (BTW I like websites that offer the alternative view without having to click on to the item - very helpful!) Once you do click on to this shirt it's styled differently but I prefer the casual untucked way of wearing it rather than the smart tucked view. However, it shows it's a versatile top for casual or smart occassions!

Emilly Auburn Lace Shorts £110 £55

You may as well start calling me Caroline Flack because I love shorts lately! Maybe not great purchases just as we're coming into winter but you can always wear them over a pair of opaque tights!

Chloe Rose Cotton Pointelle Jumper £110 £55

I love a bit of knit and a bit of pink - so this is a great combo!

Scout Pale Grey Jacquard Shorts £110 £33

I am really Flacking it now! I just couldn't resist this pair of shorts as they are such a bargain. Maybe best to put away for next year now though!

Bowie Blue Printed Jersey Trousers £79 £45

I love printed trousers and the colours of this pair are right up my street! I think they would look great with a cool t-shirt, a sharp blazer and some heels!

So there's a selection of my fave bargains. There are also lots of good accessories too so I think you should get yourself along to the outlet section of their website asap - especially as they have free delivery and returns at the moment!

Happy bargain hunting!

Chelsea x