Cardiff Fashion Week- Beginning

Ever wanted to see what goes on behind a fashion photo shoot or runway show?  Are you itching to find out how to achieve that top model hair style or make-up artist finish? Want to meet the designers themselves? Well this week is your chance as Cardiff hosts its first ever Fashion week.  Models and designers will take place at various locations around the city, including Mermaid Quay and The Royal Arcade, from the 20^th to the 31^st giving us a whopping 9 days of fashion-filled fun. 

Event director, Claire Birt, shed some light on how the fashion week came about, “An official fashion week for Cardiff is long overdue. The city has a phenomenal shopping and fashion product and is listed as the sixth best shopping destination in the UK.” Anyone who has stepped foot in St Davids Shopping Centre cannot dispute that our Welsh capital deserves some recognition.

A selection of the events includes a chance to meet the designers behind the brand at Joie de Vivre on the 25/10/201 or go behind the scenes of a RedHanded  photo shoot at Mill Lane followed by catwalk evening at Mocka Lounge on the 26/10/2012. Boots will be offering many fashion tutorials including ‘Boots Most Stylish’ on the 23/10/2012 and ‘Boots Hair Styling Master Classes’ on the 26/10/2012. Retailers such as Debenhams, House of Fraser and John Lewis will also be taking part. The climax of the fashion week will be The St David’s Fashion Show spanning over two days starting from the 27/10/2012.

On the eve of Cardiff Fashion Week the city centre was struck by tragedy with many injured and a life lost during a series of hit and run attacks. A statement from Cardiff Fashion Week comments “The models taking part in the first Cardiff Fashion Week event on Saturday 20th October will wear a white flower as a mark of respect.”.

Hannah
XO

Anything Goes Apparel- Clothing with REAL attitude

 Tattoos, pin up girls, zombie horror films? Check out the killer range of printed tees and vests from Anything Goes Apparel for some alternative, quirky additions to your wardrobe. The online store caters for both men and women and frequently publishes promotions, savings and deals- bank balance friendly!
This up and coming brand definitely ticks all my boxes as it produces fun, sexy uniquely designed clothing at amazingly low prices- and when I say amazingly low I mean grab tees for less than £10 in their current sale! What impresses me further is the commitment and dedication of the owner as pretty much all of the profit made by one range goes straight into the designing and production of the next set of tees. 

 Martyn Brown started Anything Goes Apparel in February 2012 after playing with the idea of printing his illustrations onto T shirts- "I wanted to create designs that I would personally want to wear but also appeal to others so I went with my own interests of old school tattoos, pin up girls and zombie/horror films" With two ranges in seven months and a new winter range due to debut in November it is clear that Anything Goes is in high demand and has no intentions of slowing down.

However, running a successful alternative clothing company definitely has it's challenges, "On this new range of clothes I am trying to expand the variety of designs but also keep the hand illustrated, down to earth vibe that has been apparent in other ranges. The winter range will also feature garments I haven't printed onto before so this will provide new challenges". Martyn is also hoping to opening up the company to a new niche of customers and promises to bring in some ladies fit garments due to popular demand.
All designs are statement making and eye catching so show it off by making it the centerpiece of your outfit. The genius of these tees is the fact that even though the designs are by no means simple, they are still extremely versatile so you can work it however you want, whatever your style.  Rock it up with ripped denim and lashings of leather or make it casual with baggy knitwear and a cute headband. The mens vests would make a lovely little stocking filler for your other half as they are less mainstream and, I'm sure you'll agree, a lot cooler than the ones on offer in TopMan, FootAsylum etc. 

Wear your Anything Goes with pride!

Hannah
XO

Store - http://anythinggoesapparel.bigcartel.com/
Twitter - @Anything_GoesUK
Tumblr - http://anythinggoesapparel.tumblr.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/anythinggoesdesignandapparel
Instagram - @anythinggoesapparel

Keep summer alive by rocking the Grecian look at freshers!

Boohoo £25.00

 Been on an 18 to 30s this year? Zante? Somewhere like that? (just somewhere hot will do). I don't know about you but I'm just not ready to crack out the Uggs and winter parkas just yet. The weather definitely isn't helping but I'm so up for clinging onto a little bit of summer for a few days so if you still have some killer tan-lines why not bring a little Grecian touch to freshers week?

Kicking off with something simple, but extremely glam and lush, this vibrant orange maxi from BooHoo is perfect for a day-to-night situation or one of those really annoying nights when you only pop to the pub for a few but end up fist pumping in on the dance floor all night long! The sleeveless dress has loose, light material with a belt round the waist nipping your divine figure however this can be doubled up with a gold waist belt truly fit for the gods. This waist tie also comes in handy if you find yourself too short and the dress is dragging on the floor- all you need to do is bunch the material up a tiny bit under the tie. The pleats and high neckline give this dress a Grecian touch but if you still feel that it's a bit plain dig out a chunky gold statement bangle or necklace and at a bargain £25.00 you can't refuse this divine intervention!                                                                                                                                            

£30.00 from BooHoo

If you can't decide between a maxi or a midi number go for this dipped hem dress also from BooHoo. Like the above dress this item clinches the waist allowing a feminine, sexy shape giving Aphrodite a run for her money. The pleats are patterned, thicker and more defined which makes the dress a little more edgy than the above so if you're planning to make a statement this is the dress for you. The high neckline is detailed and metallic, standing out from the rest of the dress so don't worry about a necklace. Accessorize with a large detailed bangle (the ones that wrap around the wrist normally in flower or vine design) or a simple gold armlet. The dipped hem affect creates a stage for your shoes so what ever pair you pick make them count! Killer heals, gladiator sandals, shoe boots the choice is up to you but make them stand out. The dark colors also gives you the option of going loud and proud with a color clash.

Goddiva.co.uk £35.00

Bring a little fight to your wardrobe with this gladiator-esque dress from my newly discovered  http://www.goddiva.co.uk/  (the clues in the name) which offers a selection of unique, stylish clothes without the bulky price tag. The body con central structure of this dress is paneled with studs bringing in some statement and attitude. The one shouldered and extra drape material is slightly darker in color and pleated which we know emits that authentic Grecian feel. This dress won't make you completely butch and spartan though- the pink coral color is flirty, fun and feminine. When it comes to accessories go thin and petite. Or a simple headband with the top section of your hair backcombed into a half- beehive with the hair below your crown falling in loose, big, bouncy curls.  

If you'd prefer to rock the Grecian look in something a little more subtle then this is the choice for you. This gorgeous embellished shift dress from Lipsy retails at £55.00 but, like anything from Lipsy, it's worth saving your pennies for. The crisp white color will accentuate and almost double your tan color and if you're lacking in color a little trip to St Moriz or San Tropez won't hurt! This dress would compliment an athletic build but for a pear shape, like me, it wouldn't do so many favors. Because this dress is simple you can work it however you want! Match it up with a statement print blazer for a lunch or dinner date or glam it up with killer heels and over-sized clutch for a night on the town.

Stuck for heels? Check out these beauts from Miss Selfridge- bringing out your inner goddess and you haven't even reached for your razor ;)

Hannah
XO

£35.00

£55.00

Let me impart some wisdom to the wise...... DO NOT MISS THIS!

My other half..

I wouldn't normally write a post about myself but this is a fashion blunder worthy of a blog post. Girls, if you've committed this crime then I totally understand your pain- if not then count yourself lucky.
It's 20 past midnight, me and Rhys (my other half) have just staggered home from a "quiet" night on the town. A few glasses of vino, lots of gin and a vat of cider and I'm a little worse for wear. He's worse mind - he's currently trying to change the channel with my mobile phone. We've been out for our anniversary and went for a meal at tapas bar along the seafront so naturally I wanted to look nice......
Following my last post, I decided to go for an oyster nude chiffon shift dress from Nautilus. It had a high empire line so the material fell loosely under my bust hiding my lovely food baby. I accessorized with tan wedges, belt and bag complete with a low bun and sleek 20's hair do and minimal make up (bar some fake eyelashes).                                                    
 We arrived at the restaurant, ordered too much food, drank too much cider- everything was fine! Right up until my bladder felt a little full and I needed to pop to the ladies. So I excused myself and gracefully waltzed up to the ladies room. Now, the way the restaurant is set out, the entrance is in one corner and the toilets on the adjacent wall to the left of the entrance. We were sat diagonally across from the entrance so in order to reach the toilets I had to cross the dining room in everyone's view.
I sat on the toilet having my piddle thinking to myself "Awwww this is nice! Nice food! Nice dress! Nice drink! Just nice!". Now I don't know if you girls think the same but once I'm out and had a few drinks I think I'm the Queen of Sheba- I'll have a little pout in the mirror and think I'm "it" when I'm really far from it. I go back through to the dining room and EVERYONE is staring at me and I think to myself  "Awww how nice people are actually taking note of me, maybe for once I've actually emerged from my house decent looking". I sat down and continued my meal, everything was cushty. Oh no....
A woman, wearing leggings, uggs, and a lot of foundation approached me and Rhys from the other side of the dining room. She parked herself right next to me on my chair ( I was like "What the f...) and she blurted "I'm so sorry, I'm only telling you because I'd be really, really, really embarrassed..." then I was thinking "Oh F*** my F****** life what the F*** have I done????" and she took my hand and looked my in the eye and said "Babe, your dress is tucked right into your knickers and everyone can see your arse". BOOM. I was so shell shocked the only words I could muster were "Oh.. Thanks" and she walked off. I turned round to Rhys in untter disbelief, stood up, turned round to show him and sure enough there it was- a full moon. For everyone to see.
I was so mortified we had to wait til everyone in the dining room had left before we could make a dash for the exit! If I had one piece of advice to avoid a complete and utter wardrobe malfunction......
ALWAYS CHECK YOUR DRESS ISN'T TUCKED INTO YOUR KNICK-KNACKS ONCE YOU'VE HAD A PIDDLE LADIES! <3

Hannah
XO

Make the most of today's promotion from Miss Selfridge! Look sexy this winter in nude and vintage!

Fancy some on trend, beautiful clothes for your new winter wardrobe at university? Refresh your collection and WOW your friends with these picks from the lovely people from Miss Selfridge and they're so generous they're even giving FREE NEXT DAY DELIVERY for orders before 6pm AND 20% FOR STUDENTS!! Lovely stuff.

Following London Fashion Week and a trip to the high street to see all the winter promotions in stores from New Look, River Island, TopShop and more I have feeling that one of the winter essentials this season is delicate, feminine nude items with lashings of cool vintage here and there- whether through cute prints or pretty embellishment. Kelly Brook is a fan, rocking up with this skin tight body-con nude number. Plus, mix it up like Kelly with a subtle, color clash using a statement nail polish or little clutch. Lets see what Miss Selfridge has to offer....

WOW your friends with this playsuit

This first item captures my point above to a T! This playsuit retails at £60.00 - the pastel nudes and peter-pan collar complete with buttons give it the feminine vintage feel. What really makes this item special is the embellishment set on the cream shirt. Without it, the playsuit would be an average, nice piece but with the extra embellishment the playsuit transforms into a unique looking, gorgeous item suitable for lunch with friends, the work place or even a cheeky night on the town! The playsuit also clinches in at the waist giving it a beautiful feminine shape but if you want to accentuate your assets even more add a very simple plain waist belt. When it comes to matching shoes anything too bold, such as black, will be too harsh for the look. I'd recommend some simple gentle colored brogues (grey, pale nude, pink, peach ect.) to complete the vintage feel or if it's a night out you're looking for grab some nude heels or wedged shoeboots- there's plenty out there!

Wardrobe essential for only £30.00!

 How lush is this! This jacket could be your perfect partner in crime,  bringing the feminine nude look to almost any outfit as it can accompany almost anything! It is a wardrobe essential for this winter for sure. The pattern-less, neutral color acts as a black canvas for your outfit meaning you can go as bold as you want underneath. I would recommend items to go with it but there's so many to chose from. The jacket would look classy over a peplum or bodycon dress keeping you warm when you're standing in the queue for a club on a night out. You could work it with dark denim or bold print jeans and light top for a casual look perfect for spritzing yourself up before lectures. You could totally put a spin on the nude feminine look if you want to rough it up a bit and go for khaki chinos, workman boots, plain scoop neck top revealing a little cleavage and do your hair in a messy up do. Get a tomboy look with feminine elements in it! Confusing huh! Basically this jacket is so versatile you can work it however you want!

Classic feminine cut!

Wouldn't this dress go beautifully with the jacket above? It'd be a shame not to buy the pair of them! At £42.00 this dress is a little bit pricier than most bodycon dresses out there but I think it's just too good NOT to purchase! Thanks to the feminine cut the dress will hug your all your curves giving you a killer, sexy shape (if you're like me and a little lumpy then grab yourself a pair of good old fashioned granny pants to make the most of this dress- New Look sell some great ones with no visible panty line).We've seen a lot of loud, bright patterns over the summer in this style of dress but the dark color palette tones the pattern down suitable for winter. The pattern also gives the dress a baroque, romantic feel.
If any of these items from Miss Selfridge tickle your fancy or you fancy a browse yourself head online- order before 6PM and get free next day delivery and have your NUS card at the ready for a generous 20% off!
Hannah
XO

Here's some other nude, winter items from other retailers!

New Look £39.99

Miss Rebel £14.99

Miss Rebel £19.99

Dry, brittle, bleached hair? Look no further!

I'm no stranger to bleach.

As mentioned in my first blog, my hair has seen more colors than a pack of skittles. I've been  dirty blonde, platinum blonde, purple, blue, red, pink, chocolate brown, iced brown, frosted brown, black, black, more black, poo brown... the lot! And with my hair being naturally black I can only achieve a really dramatic result if I bleach the hair. The first few times I bleached my whole head (THIS IS A VERY BAD IDEA AND DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME) it lightened my hair so much that it gave me a lot more leeway  in what color I put on. Bleaching permanently removes the color pigment from your hair and the chemicals in the bleach opens the cuticle layer and once this happens it never fully closes again. This disrupted cuticle layer is what makes hair look brittle, weak and dull.

I learnt the hard way. Not using the correct protection and treatment products on my bleach hair caused it to split, it looked like cotton wool, and I had to have my locks cut off! Bleaching and coloring your hair is kind of like living with a big lie- it eventually catches up with you!

Six months later and I'm back on the bleach ( I definitely sound like an addict) except this time I'm using my secret weapons and my hair has never felt healthier! Its soft, shiny and glossy because now I know  what happens if I don't look after it when its bleach I take extra care of it. My favorite products to use on my hair when it starts to feel a little brittle after my heated rollers or a big fat blow dry is the Lee Stafford Argan Oil Nourishing collection. Argan oil has taken the hair care nation by storm often being labelled the 'miracle oil'- and people are not wrong! The collection by Stafford contains this gold bullet ingredient allowing you to protect and nourish your locks throughout all your routines by using the shampoo and conditioner (£10.99 each), heat protection spray (£12.99) and serum (£11.99). Compared to the Argan Oil treatments in the salon these products are great value for money and are available at Boots. Even if you just try one out you'll see an improvement in the look and feel of your colored hair as it is nourished, protected and nursed back to health!

Lee Stafford Argan Oil collection

I'm all for being adventurous and swapping my products around so when I finished my latest bottles of Lee Stafford I tried the John Frieda Frizz Ease night creme serum. I slap it on before bed, have a lovely nights kip then in the morning after my shower BINGO! Revitalized, healthy hair. Retailing at £6.59 at most stores you really can't complain although I prefer the consistency of the Stafford collection but my hair is extremely thick anyway!

 If you're looking for a lightweight option or your hair isn't in too bad condition try a heavy duty conditioner or treatment you can use in the shower to give your locks a little pamper. My favorite is the Aussie Three Minute Miracle Deep Treatment- the eucalyptus extract leaves leaves your hair with a divine smell and soft to the touch! With a microscopic price tag of £4.99 this treatment is ideal for any students out there looking to give their hair a little TLC!

LFW Part 1- The end of the bronzer

Behind the scenes at LFW

Blue blush is so cool!

Like many - I've been trying to keep up with all the wonderful and fabulous sights emitting from the London Fashion week. It's reminded me of a school mufti day though- everyone trying to impress each other with their latest collection (mind you I don't think Viv Westwood paired Adidas matching orange tracksuit with a red Kappa jacket complete with greased back hair and un-waxed eyebrows as I did in year 7!) I really don't want to bore you and I am aware I can talk for Great Britain so I've just picked out the innovative trends that have really caught my eye.

This first feature centres around a make up trend rather than clothes, the reason being that Huishan Zhang and the make up artists behind the design really do deserve a medal. Zhang is a well respected designer from Quingdao, China. He describes his ideal client as "Confident, cultured, feminine and elegant!" - my kind of guy! And these elements were certainly evident in his catwalk collection combining bold, pastel pieces with dainty, small floral patterns.

What REALLY caught my eye was the colour palette used to highlight the models' cheek bones- as you can see from the photos this is a far cry from the familiar bronzed tangerine look that I normally go for. I have to admit when I first came across the blue blush look I was taken a back as at first glance it looked a little extraterrestrial but it grew on me so much! It's feminine, sexy and so refreshing! We're so used to seeing harsh browns and all too familiar pink blushes that when compared to the Zhang creations do look a little dull.

Barry M Dazzle Dust

The tangerine look you actually want!

I've been scouting around for blue blusher on the internet and even went into my local MAC store but could not find any. I think a little DIY is in order! I have the typical dark hair and dark eye color
combination highlighting my cool skin complexion. I have an almost yellow tinge to mine but cool complexions can range from very very pale to sallow shades therefore my complexion is suited to blushes with blue and pink undertones. I'm not ready to try the blue blush solely on its own so I've used MAC cream blush in Pink Cult (retailing at £17.50) for a neutral pink base. Then I blended a very light layer Barry M Dazzle dust in Block Blue (shade dd93 at a very reasonable £4.59) to create a cute blue blush look which isn't too E.T.

What if you have a warmer complexion? Not to worry! You're probably used to using mauve and golden tones to compliment your complexion but this does certainly not mean you have to completely stay away form the bold Zhang creation. Use the same products but different colors, if I was lucky enough to have lovely warm complexion then I'd go for MAC cream blush in Modern Mandarin which will give you a red-orange base then blend Barry M Dazzle dust in Buff (shade dd101) to give you a fantastic alternative to the normal bronzed look.

If I was to do a little bit of fashion forecasting my prediction would be that we have not seen the last of these blush creations- in the meantime get creative ladies!!! It's so fun and there's so many different combinations you can choose from! Is this the end of bronzer?


Hannah
XO

We're all big babies! The evolution of the onesie.

Cheryl looking super comfy but super stylish!

My bunny onesie from Primark at £9.99- not bad!

This item has been around for awhile! The onesie was originally designed for infants and babies combining both a top and trouser garments that the little tot couldn't pull off easily. It became popular in the 1950s as a means of keeping an infant warm, happy and clean.


The onesie first took America by storm before eventually crossing the Atlantic being readily available to us! Allegedly, the adult styles were a recreation of pale blue long-johns as seen in cowboy films (a style that is recreated a lot in TopMan if you want to get your man one for Christmas) however I remember first seeing them in the simple snowflake/Christmas patterns in Primark or New Look normally found in the sleep or nightwear section of stores. Now, due to booming popularity, it is available in many styles, patterns and colors. If you're feeling creative try http://www.the-all-in-one-company.co.uk/ for a one piece completely unique to you (although it's a little pricey for me).


If we sent the onesie to do a Jeremy Kyle DNA test with the jumpsuit there'd definitely be some biological similarities. Just look at the onesie Cheryl Cole was papped wearing! It looks so comfortable but you definitely can't say she's just waltzed out in her PJs. One thing I'm not so hot on is the body stocking Lorna Bliss wore to her X Factor audition- at least she has balls! And I suppose that's what fashion is at the end of the day and if you think you look great then that's all that matters!

The Stocking

 I'm also seeing the onesie used as an option for fancy dress- minimal effort yet maximum effect! Although it will get quite hot when you're busting a move on the dancefloor...



Hannah
X

Blog virginity taken!

This will probably be the most boring post ever but I have to start somewhere!
I'll tell you a little about me first...

My name is Hannah Richardson and I was born in Newcastle Upon Tyne on the 9/12/1992 making me the ripe old age of 19. I am currently a student studying BA (hons) Communications at Cardiff University therefore I am your typical scrooge when it comes to spending.

If it's one thing I love more than fashion it's chocolate cake!!

And I love my puppy too!!

Unfortunately I have an addiction to fashion- whether it be highstreet best sellers or the crazy but genius combinations seen at the recent London Fashion week 2012 and this does not mix well with the budget I'm on! I've set this up because so you girls can see my best pick of products and items accessible and available to everyone of all budgets.

I have three years of fashion retail experience working for brands such as New Look, SuperDry and my most current position is supervisor at BANK fashion. I have worked with many mainstream brands but I love exploring online boutiques and having a nose in charity shops!

As for the hair and beauty side of things well what can I say! Guilty as charged! My hair has been so many colors it would give Joseph and his technicolored dream coat a run for his money. I've had the pixy cut AND extensions- been there done that! I have to admit I wear a lot of make-up, even to the gym!

I'm a down to earth girl trying to afford a champagne lifestyle on lemonade wages bringing you my findings along the way -
I will do it one day!!!


Hannah
X