|| Jumper Collection ||

So what with the Winter season dawning upon us and also Christmas, it seems that jumpers are the perfect thing for these cold cold months.

I, myself, own many and are all from charity shops and vintage stores and I love every single one I own.

One of the most wonderful things about oversized jumpers is they can be worn with almost anything. Some (if long enough) can be worn just with a pair of tights in a dress style, others over leggings, jeans, shorts, skirts and they can be worn just to comfy and warm and others to wear out.

Wooly jumpers are perfect for this season as they feel so Christmassy and wintery.

Here are some of the ones I own.

This one I bought in Cotswold Care Hopsice and I absolutely love it. I love how Christmassy it looks and also the length is great - mid thigh so it can be worn as a jumper-dress or tucked into jeans.

  I got this one in Sue Ryder Care. I really like the pattern on it and the colours. Its a normal length but baggy so go well over leggings and skirts, and also tucked into high wasted jeans/shorts.

I got this one in Paris in a vintage shop. I noticed they now sell a similar one in H&M.

This one I got in The British Heart Foundation. It's absolutely massive but is one of the comfiest things I own. I love the little print on the front, much like a golf print.

                

I've had this one for about 2 years now, and I love  the size and colour of it. 
It's baggy but not too long so goes best with leggings.

This one belongs to my sister and she got it in a Sue Ryder. 

Its a lovely green colour and has stripes down the front which give it an army feel.

|| Charity Shop Find - 60's Dress ||

 So as you all know I do love my charity shops and I recently found this little number - and I absolutely love it. I found it in one of my local charity shops (sadly I can't remember which one) and was originally floor length and extra long.
I cut it to just above the knee, and this gave it a 60's look. The fabric is absolutely beautiful, it's really soft and silky. The main colour seen in purple, but there are also yellows, black, and blues visible. The pattern involves lots of swirls and flowers and reminds me of the Cubism Art Movement.

The gold necklace shown in the picture is from my local vintage shop - SheUnique - and I got it for £1. (It had lost it's clip but I attached an old strap at the back which gives it versatility in length.) It looks like chain mail and each hoop is linked to all the others and forms a quirky triangle shape and the original strap has small gold metal balls hanging on it - beautiful.

|| 1960s Fashion ||

The 1960's were a time where fashion was really starting to change and become something much more exciting and interesting. It was a decade that broke many fashion traditions, mirroring social movements during the period. The 1960's was a decade for rebellion, peace making and of course, the famous 'hippy movement.' The 'hippy movement' late in the decade also had a strong influence on women's style, including bell-bottom & flared jeans, the iconic Mary Quant mini-skirt, tie-dye, and batik fabrics, as well as the famous paisley prints. During the sixties, accessories became less important and not as popular due to people focusing more on colours and tones. They were dressing in psychedelic prints, bright and vibrant colours, and mismatched patterns.

The 1960's were a time for fun and the world needed a brighter and more uplifted makeover after the war. And that's just what the sixties had. All their clothes oozed with colour, vibrancy and pattern. They matched, or they clashed. They were revealing or try weren't. But overall the sixties seemed to be a decade that fashion had been given a face lift and people were swung into new an exciting things.

Women were inspired by the top models of the day which included Twiggy, Colleen Corby and Penelope Tree. Corsets, seamed tights, and skirts covering the knees had been abolished. The idea of buying urbanised clothing, which could be worn with separate pieces, was intriguing to women of the era in comparison to previously only buying specific outfits for specific occasions.

In 1964, bell-bottomed trousers were a total fashion craze. They were usually worn with chiffon blouses, polo-necked ribbed jumpers or tops that bared the midriff.

Pixie Haircut on Audrey Hepburn in the 1960's
and on Emma Watson in 2011.

Another style that's come back into fashion. The 1960's is one of those styles that never goes out of style. It keeps coming back, whether it's just for one designers fashion show or one that sweeps the nation and it's found from your most favoured designers to your most trusted high street stores. Jennifer Lopez is never one to shy away from a sexy outfit, particularly here as she mimics the 60's style mixed with a more current animal print and matching thigh-high boots. This mimics the how the 1960's were with fashion, they were becoming more revealing and provocative with what they were wearing.

fanpop.com

wikipedia.org

|| Costume Jewellery ||

There is something quite quintessentially chic and beautiful about costume jewellery. They have a slight excitement and joy about them, whether they have history with them or an heirloom, or just a beautiful piece of jewellery. I have a bit of a personal obsession with them and both my grandmothers enjoy very muchly going through their bags of old jewellery with me. I spend hours looking at them, and learning the stories behind some of them. And now that I'm older, and have a bit more appreciation for such things, I have been allowed certain items.

Costume jewelry came into being in the 1930s as a cheap, disposable accessory meant to be worn with a specific outfit. It was intended to be fashionable for a short period of time, outdate itself, and then be repurchased to fit with a new outfit or new fashion style. Its main use is in fashion, as opposed to "real" (fine) jewelry which may be regarded primarily as collectibles, keepsakes, or investments. Costume jewelry is made of less valuable materials including base metals, glass, plastic, and synthetic stones; in place of more valuable materials such as precious metals and gems.

I am a lover of vintage fashion, as are many others, and scouring the high street stores I never really find myself completely satisfied, and I don't end up buying anything unless from a charity shop or a vintage shop. For those who turn your noses up at the thought of second hand clothes - you are wrong. You will never know the joys of second hand shopping until you try it. I personally love it a great deal, and you can find the most amazing deals/bargains and sometimes you may find some sort of designer item which would've originally been out I your price range but is now only £2.50 it seems silly to miss out!

But back to costume jewellery, if you know where to go for it, you can get amazing deals. The local vintage shop near me has the most amazing beauties and treasures and I can literally spend hours in there. You can also find some in charity shops, however the best place to get authentic costume jewellery is from your family. They may have a story behind them, or they might just be more exciting to know that your grandmother once wore it.

|| How to Organise Your Wardobe ||

Photo/Domino Magazine

For someone who lives in England, I experience a place with drastic weather changes (almost bipolar you could say). One minute it will be raining like crazy, and the suddenly it will dry up and then become sunny - not warm mind you. So, like may fellow Brits, my wardrobe is very varied with clothes to fit all types of weather conditions. I have think woolly jumpers and cardigans that can be worn over most items of clothing and are absolutely fab for keeping me warm in the bitter winters. Then, if you wade yourself through the mountains of clothes you will find my summer things; shorts, skirts and summery dresses. However, for someone who is still growing (I think?!) you would think that I have thousands of clothes, but the truth of the matter is, is that half of them don't fit me anymore, or I just don't like them and will never actually wear them. (Mainly gifts from people I don't see much, or something I've had a while and my style has changed) And my problem is, is that I can't throw things away - especially clothes! I find myself thinking, "No, I'll wear it at some point.." or "I just can't through this away, such and such gave it to me.." I also am not very lucky with my wardrobe, continuously ferrying my clothes from home back to boarding school and I end up having such a mess of a wardrobe as I never really put things away and a lot of it just ends up of the floor.

For the person who continually thinks; "a girl can never have too many shoes/clothes etc" here is a bullet proof way of keeping your thousands of clothes and shoes together in one tidy, organised space.

• By Season: whether it's one section for each season (Summer, Winter, Autumn etc) or a more basic one such as just Winter and Summer.
• By Categories: such as 'going out wear' or 'party' or 'formal' etc. This will be easier to find what you are looking for.
• Decide which clothes need to be on shelves and which need to be hung up. (Eg. jeans folded, dresses hung etc.
• Place socks in drawer and make sure you don't have any loose one floating around randomely.
• Use boxes, cubbies, shelves, or a hanging organiser to sort shoes
  
  
  
  

  

  Photo/Walnut and Platinum Alpha Closet

  
  
  
  
  

|| Pretty Little Liars - Aria Montgomery Look ||

A look I'm really loving at the moment is the character from Pretty Little Liars called Aria Montgomery. She is played by Lucy Hale, and is by far my favorite in the fashion stakes. If you don't watch the show, Aria recently moved back to Rosewood after living in Iceland for a year, she happens to be dating her English teacher Ezra Fitz, and also has some issues at home. Also, if you don't watch the show: watch it!                                                 Aria's clothes consist of lots of dark colours such as dark plum, reds, browns and lots of black. Accessories are very important for achieving this look, think long pendant necklaces, or maybe wearing more than one. Also long earrings in all kinds of designs; feathers, hoops, anything! And belts! She wears lots of girly dresses that are fitted around the waist and finish just above the knee, but she makes this girly look edgyer with aspects such as leather jackets, boots and bold hoisery. Aria wears lots of patterned tights and socks, she will often be seen in knee high socks. (Topshop are great for them!)

As for her make-up, Aria wears quite dark  eye make-up one day and the next she will  be quite natural. Play around with your  make-up, and try and grasp how to do  smokey eyes (there are many tutorials on  YouTube). If you want your hair to be styled  in the same way, curl the ends with big  curling tongs to make a more natural curl, rather than using small curling tongs.

The key aspect to getting this look right is the colours, you will never see her wearing bright  colours! Layering is also important. But most importantly, be bold!

Here are three outfits I have put together.

Libby xoxo

Look One: Topshop

(Photo Credit - Topshop)

Look Two: H&M

(Photo Credit - H&M)

Look Three: Urban Outfitters

|| Review || Witch Anit-Blemish Tinted Moisturiser ||

Hello hello!
So this is my first ever post and review and it's quite exciting! So here goes: so I got this tinted moisturiser for my birthday from my mum. I love it, so I thought I'd say what I love about it.

Personally I am quite a spotty person and have tried hundreds of skin care products and have finally found the right routine (with some help from the doctor), but being prone to spots its been hard to find a foundation or concealer that is one: in my price range, two: the right colour, and three: doesn't make my spots worse. I haven't been very productive, but I'm sure the more expensive ones are great and work well but I obviously cannot afford them... But then my mum got me this. I have quite a dry face, and without enough moisturiser my skin becomes tight and dry so I do need a lot, and for me this doesn't have enough moisture in it to satisfy my face so I use my normal Simple everyday moisturiser and then the tinted. But it may be okay for you, so I recommend trying it before you jump right in.
They have an okay range of colours, but for my funny skin they have a great colour. I use 01 Light and it seems to work well for me. I have quite a pale, but slightly pinky complexion so this works well at giving me a more matte look. I find that if you have an area that you really want covered (a large blemish, or bags etc), add a dab of foundation or concealer with your finger to the area works well just as long as the colour is right!

WARNING: remember it isn't foundation so it isn't going to cover your face, and all the pimples - what it does is give you a more matte look, control shine and provide medium coverage and moisturisation.

Why Buy:
- It has witch hazel as a main ingredient. Witch hazel is a well known ingredient used for helping treat spots and blemishes.
-  The colour is good. It gives good coverage without being cake like and orange.
- Controls shine. Gives a more matte look, controlling the shine on your face.
- Has antibacterial activities. Great!
- It's only £5.99 (In Boots)

Why Not Buy:

- It isn't very moisturising. I need to use moisturiser as well as it.

- Doesn't last that long. It does fade after a while.

In conclusion I would recommend buying this product. It's great! If your young, or if you don't like wearing foundation this will be great for you. It's a really good price, but make sure you get the right colour for you skin other wise it wont be good and you could end up looking quite orange...

Libby

xoxo