Pretty Casual

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Finally I was able to get a pretty top on today and not feel freezing cold! I have so many spring/summer tops that have just been hanging in my wardrobe waiting for this awful weather to pass.

It had to be this floaty chiffon number from Zara today. The print is so pretty, it has a pink, blue and purple flower print all over with flared sleeves that stop just below the elbow. It is V-neck, quite low so you could wear a bralette or vest underneath. https://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/tops/view-all/floral-print-blouse-c719021p4517551.html

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I wanted to dress it down a little so I paired it with my H&M divided frayed hem jeans, which are a great fit. They are a mid-rise skinny jean with stretch and hold my tummy in too (bonus) http://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0448515001.html#Denim blue

Pair the jeans and blouse with some white trainers for that casual sunday feel.

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Lets talk about the purple sunnies! I do love a good pair of sunglasses, and I have some lovely Gucci and Coach ones, but Primark are great for fashion sunglasses and at £2 you cant go wrong. You could buy a pair in every colour at that price! Purple, pink or blue and a choice of gold and silver too. I’m always scratching or loosing sunglasses on holiday so I always like to take a couple of cheap pairs to wear at the pool and the beach. https://www.primark.com/en/homepage

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My handbag today doesn’t really need an introduction as she has been popping up in my little squares on Instagram lately. Beautiful cream leather Gucci Marmont cross body, its such a good size and looks great with all the florals around at the moment. https://www.gucci.com/uk/en_gb/

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My watch is a leopard print calf hair with leather strap and mother of pearl face. I wasn’t sure the leopard print would work with the florals, but when I put the outfit together it just looked so pretty. The watch is available from http://www.stelladot.co.uk/shop/en_gb/p/jewelry/watches/pyramid-tank-watch-exotic

My bracelets are the Camden bracelets from https://www.buckleylondon.com/camden-bracelets they are on 3 for 2 and come in a choice of different colours, I wore the rose and the grey today.

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The above photo is a close up of the print, as you can see its a beauty.

I wish you all a lovely evening, Joanna x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topshop dress of dreams

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I wanted to post this today as I feel like we need to see more dresses to keep us excited for the good weather that we are hopefully going to get!!! Seriously, there has been snow, hail, wind and rain all in the past two days, come on spring where are you??

I fell in love with this Topshop dress as soon as I tried it on. I actually didn’t buy it first time round, I put it back on the rail and walked out the shop. I went for a coffee and had a look around for other maxi dresses, but nothing came close to this one. I couldn’t stop thinking about it so I had to go back and buy it. I always say to myself, ‘if you cant stop thinking about it, buy it’.

The fit is so flattering the way it falls over your curves, and the material is so lovely. There are also frills, a split at the front and a pretty tie-up detail at the back of the dress.

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The ring/tie-up detail at the back means you can adjust the size over the bust a bit which is good for us ladies with a larger cup size. This would also make a great dress for a christening or a wedding.

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It fits where it should fit, I have curves and I loved the way it showed them off..

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The biker jacket is from Mango http://shop.mango.com/GB/p0/woman/clothing/jackets/biker-jackets/leather-biker-jacket?id=83080046_CG&n=1&s=prendas.chaquetas £119.99

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Black studded ankle boots from Office http://www.office.co.uk/view/product/office_catalog/2,10/2549005750 These are now on sale at £60

This is definitely my favourite buy so far, I’m going to be able to wear it so many different ways, so I should get my moneys worth!

Splice D ring midaxi dress available at http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/dresses-442/splice-d-ring-midaxi-dress-6279178?bi=280&ps=20 £59

Have a lovely day, Joanna x

Boho dress

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It should be getting warmer and my summer holiday has been booked, so now’s the time to buy a nice beach dress (right?) I have been looking for a nice cream boho off the shoulder style dress for a while now, but they have all been a little too short. I tried this one on from Primark and was surprised at how lovely it was, it certainly didn’t look £13 that’s for sure. It has a tiered effect with little straps, and an elasticated off the shoulder detail with flared sleeves just below the elbow. It also has an underskirt so its not see through. I think this looks great with flat sliders for a daytime look like the ones I’m wearing, or some gold or even red wedge espadrilles for a smarter night time look on holiday. I really love this, its floaty and easy to pull on, you do need to size down though as it comes up big. I have included a few more photos and some links below.

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RIVER ISLAND Gold chain tropical envelope clutch £20. (bought in the Newcastle store)This tropical print one is not on their website but here is the link for the leopard print one  https://www.riverisland.com/women/bags–purses/cross-body-bags/beige-leopard-print-envelope-chain-bag-699921

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You can see the detail on the sleeve its very pretty

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Black studded sliders from RIVER ISLAND £32 These are so comfy and look really stylish https://www.riverisland.com/women/shoes–boots/sandals/black-cross-strap-stud-sliders-694713

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This photo shows the tiered detail and the sleeve detail the best, it really is a lovely dress and its a great price too, even if you only wear it on holiday its worth the money.

Hopefully your local Primark will have one in your size!

Happy shopping, Joanna x

Red, Black and Gold

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Red, Black and Gold.. three of my favourite colours in one outfit. This red pleated skirt is such a lovely silky material and the red is a really bright pinky red which I love. Its also a great length as it just covers your knees. This skirt is from H&M and is £17.99 http://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.0478156002.html#Red

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This black Badasss tee from Harls & Ted looks great with the red skirt it really sets the colour off. Good quality tee and a fun slogan too. Available from http://harlsandted.com/products/badass-mother-tee for £19.99

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These River Island black studded sliders are so comfy and look really stylish, they really stand out with the red skirt and are £32 https://www.riverisland.com/women/shoes–boots/sandals/black-cross-strap-stud-sliders-694713

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This black and gold bag is a great lightweight cross body, the flash of gold and the initials really set it off and makes it personal too. Paint your toes red for that extra flash of red with the sliders. I love this outfit its one of my faves! Bag available at https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/509911233/cross-body-bagmetallic?ref=shop_home_active_10

Hope you liked my outfit today, it was nice to get a skirt on for a change!

Have a lovely evening, Joanna x

Paris is always a good idea

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If you follow my Instagram you will know that I used to live in Paris and I always like to go back and visit every now and then.

I went back to Paris for bank holiday weekend with my family and my parents. We decided to go last summer when the BBC series Versailles started, my mum and I got a little excited and booked a hotel in Versailles right next to the Chateau De Versailles. I have been to the Palace twice already but I don’t think I could ever get bored of visiting this magnificent place.

Below is a brief description about the Palace. (all photos are my own)

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The Palace of Versailles has been listed as a World Heritage Site for 30 years and is one of the greatest achievements in French 17th century art. Louis XIII’s old hunting pavilion was transformed and extended by his son, Louis XIV, when he installed the court and government there in 1682 (link is external). A succession of kings continued to embellish the Palace up until the French Revolution.

Today the Palace contains 2,300 rooms spread over 63,154 m2.

In 1789, the French Revolution forced Louis XVI to leave Versailles for Paris. The Palace would never again be a royal residence and a new role was assigned to it in the 19th century, when it became the Museum of the History of France in 1837 by order of King Louis-Philippe (link is external), who came to the throne in 1830. The rooms of the Palace were then devoted to housing new collections of paintings and sculptures representing great figures and important events that had marked the History of France. These collections continued to be expanded until the early 20th century at which time, under the influence of its most eminent curator, Pierre de Nolhac, the Palace rediscovered its historical role when the whole central part was restored to the appearance it had had as a royal residence during the Ancien Régime.

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The Palace of Versailles never played the protective role of a medieval stronghold. Beginning in the Renaissance period, the term “chateau” was used to refer to the rural location of a luxurious residence, as opposed to an urban palace. It was thus common to speak of the Louvre “Palais” in the heart of Paris, and the “Château” of Versailles out in the country. Versailles was only a village at the time. It was destroyed in 1673 to make way for the new town Louis XIV wished to create. Currently the centrepiece of Versailles urban planning, the Palace now seems a far cry from the countryside residence it once was. Nevertheless, the garden end on the west side of the Estate of Versailles is still adjoined by woods and agriculture.

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The detail in everything is just exquisite, and I have tried to capture this in my photos.

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The Hall of Mirrors is my favourite room, I can just imagine Louis walking through here in his amazing clothes and shoes.

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The above photo is the Master bedroom, there are stairs up to the bed and the chandeliers are just stunning.

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The above photo is of the gardens, this is the view from inside the Palace.

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This photo just shoes the detail of the shoes that he used to wear, and the photo below is of a pair of shoes in Gucci today..

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We also went into Paris for the day as my daughter wanted to do a hand stand in front of the Eiffel Tower. We didn’t go up this time as we have been up twice before and I must admit I’m not very good with heights, but I’m blown away every time I see it!

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So as you may know I popped into Gucci and my hubby bought me my early birthday present, a GG shoulder bag in an off white that I absolutely love.

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We also had a lovely walk around the Versailles Market where there is fruit, veg, chicken, cheese, wine, fish, meat and flowers like you’ve never seen before. The fruit is so perfect looking and is so fresh. The chickens are cooked in big rotisseries along with huge pans of potatoes with bacon and onions, the food just tastes amazing.

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I had an amazing time and it was lovely to spend some quality time with my parents. I hope you enjoyed my photos.

Have a lovely evening, Joanna x

Armani Beauty Makeover

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If you saw my Instagram post yesterday you would know that I had a lovely experience at the Armani Beauty counter in House of Fraser. I was invited to have a full makeover by the lovely Claudia, she immediately made me feel relaxed and at ease. She talked me through every product she was using and made sure she used the right products for my skin type.

Claudia started by taking off my makeup using the Giorgio Armani cleansing range. The products used are listed below:

Mineral Cleansing Milk £35 and Eye make-up remover £23

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Then she used the Luminessence Bright Primer Essence-in-lotion which felt amazing on my skin. The product is below:

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Luminessence Bright Primer Essence-in-lotion £67

Claudia then applied Luminous Silk Foundation in 3.5, this gave a great coverage but didn’t feel heavy at all. This was applied using the Designer brush and Blender brush. Product details below:

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Luminous Silk Foundation £40

Claudia then applied the High Precision Retouch in number 3 applied with the Concealer brush. She then applied the Luminous Silk Compact Loose Powder in 01 with their Face Brush. Product details below:

High Precision Retouch £28 Luminous Silk Loose Powder £33

Bronzer was then applied using Sun Fabric in 400 using the Sculpting Brush. Product below:

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Sun Fabric Bronzer in 400 £50

Cheek fabric blusher was then applied using the Blush Brush. Product below:

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Cheek Fabric in 506 £35

We then moved onto the eyes where Claudia used the Eyes To Kill Classico and the Eyes To Kill Intense number 8. Sunset Cruise collection palette. Product details below:

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Cruise Collection Sunset and Sunrise palettes used as eyeshadow and bronzer.

Eyes To Kill Classico £28 and Eyes To Kill Intense £28

My brows were defined using the High Precision Brow pencil in 01. Product below:

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Brow pencil £25

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A lovely silky lipstick and lip liner was applied using the Smooth Silk Lip Liner in 9 and Rouge D’armani lipstick in 501 peony. Product details below:

Lip Pencil £19 and lipstick £28

The whole look was then finished of with the Prima Finishing Spray which holds your make-up in place. Product below:

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Finishing spray £30

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My finished look was perfect with a lovely smoky eye that wasn’t too heavy for an everyday look. If you are local to the House of Fraser Metrocentre then please pop in to see Claudia.

All products can be found via this link  https://www.houseoffraser.co.uk/beauty/makeup/giorgio-armani/01.100.0.0033933373.0.0.pl

Have a lovely evening, Joanna x

Eleven Boutique

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I came across this gorgeous boutique through Instagram and couldn’t believe it was only 20 minutes away from where I live!

Eleven Boutique is a fashion and lifestyle boutique which opened in November 2014 and is located in the old village in Cramlington, Northumberland. The boutique is light and welcoming and has 2 spacious fitting rooms. The staff immediately make you feel welcome and offer great fashion and outfit inspiration. They stock a great range of clothing, footwear and accessories with stylish on trend brands including, ICHI, Silvian Heach, A Postcard from Brighton, Mos Mosh, NU Denmark, Black Lily, B.Young and Saint Tropez. They also stock local brands Tutti & Co and Rose Mae Jewellery.

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They are also launching homeware which will form part of their Eleven Living range, including candles, and I know we all love a nice candle.

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If you cant get to Eleven Boutique that’s not a problem as they deliver nationwide and offer free delivery too! Checkout their Instagram page (elevenboutiquenorthumberland) for outfit inspiration.

You can call or email Sally Oliver on 01670737332/info@elevenboutique.co.uk

I have posted a few photos of some of the gorgeous pieces they have in at the moment.

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Black chiffon dress available now by NU Denmark. Black slip worn underneath (MODELS OWN)

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Gorgeous blue culottes suit by Silvian Heach dressed down with trainers and leather jacket.

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Or dress it up for a night out with heels.

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This cute t-shirt from Saint Tropez with strap detail, great with black jeans and espadrilles.

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I love these trousers by NU Denmark they are so comfy and look perfect with just a plain tee and trainers to set them off.

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Gorgeous black tee with white heart by A Postcard from Brighton, perfect with blue jeans and white trainers

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Lots of beautiful pieces to wear for spring/summer including this stunning dress below which is a beautiful colour and flattering shape, perfect for an upcoming event and you want to make an entrance.

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If you live local then please pop in you wont be disappointed.

Have a lovely evening, Joanna x

 

My favourite floral skirts

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Floral and tulle skirts are all over the high street for spring/summer and I was a little scared of them at first, I suppose I just wasn’t sure how to wear them maybe feeling a little bit too overdressed for daytime. However having tried a few on and styling it differently with trainers or flats, I actually love them and I have to stop myself from buying too many. This one above I did wear with high heels for a night out, but also looked great dressed down with white trainers too. This floral net skirt was only £10 from Primark but looks way more expensive, in fact River Island have an identical one in at the minute which is 3 times that price!

I’m going to link my favourites below with the price, and tell you what I think would look good with them too.

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Black floral print ruffle hem skirt £38. I would wear this with black flat slip-ons and a plain black tee to dress it down a little, this would also look good with a white vest and white trainers.  http://www.riverisland.com/women/skirts/maxi-skirts/black-floral-print-ruffle-hem-wrap-maxi-skirt-698137

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White floral print frill midi skirt £36. I love how they have styled this here with the denim jacket and white pumps it looks perfect, such a pretty skirt that can also be dressed up for a special occasion.  http://www.riverisland.com/women/skirts/midi-skirts/white-floral-print-frill-midi-skirt-703864

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White floral hanky hem skirt £19.99. This is gorgeous and I think this one is best dressed up a little bit, some gold flat gladiator sandals with a blush pink V-neck tee would look great.  http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/skirts/white-floral-print-hanky-hem-skirt-_531188019

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Black floral print midi skater skirt £27.99. Love this skirt and its such a good price too. Style this with black sandals and a black or pink cami for holiday.  http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/skirts/black-floral-print-midi-skater-skirt-_509599809

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Blue stripe floral tie waist midi skirt £35.00. I love this styled with a block heel sandal and an off the shoulder bardot top just like the photo, this is such a pretty look for summer days.  http://www.riverisland.com/women/skirts/midi-skirts/blue-stripe-floral-print-tie-waist-midi-skirt-701642

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Asos midi skirt in satin print £38.00. This looks great with the black high heels, but I think would look stylish with a pair of black trainers and black t-shirt, great skirt for dressing up or down. Available through http://www.asos.com/?hrd=1

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Glamorous maxi skirt with split £28.00. This will look great with trainers, t-shirt and denim jacket for a casual daytime look. I also love the neutral ankle boots with it too for a more dressed up look.  Available from http://www.asos.com/?hrd=1

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Pleated midi skirt £49.99. This is not floral print but I just love the colour, I think this would look great with silver sandals and a white bardot top  http://shop.mango.com/GB/p0/woman/clothing/skirts/midi/pleated-midi-skirt?id=83063056_53&n=1&s=prendas.faldas

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Black floral print midi skirt £35.99. I would definitely dress this one up with black high heeled court shoes and a lace fitted top. This is a gorgeous skirt and well worth the money  http://shop.mango.com/GB/p0/woman/clothing/skirts/midi/fluted-hem-skirt?id=83053611_87&n=1&s=prendas.faldas

I hope you like my skirt choices tonight, wishing you a lovely evening.

Joanna x