A Spoiled Brat Rockin' MinkPink...

A Spoiled Brat Rockin' MinkPink...

Sunday 30 September 2012

9 comments

We've officially been 'Spoiled Brats' for well over 2 years now. Spoiled Brat is one of our favourite online stores, not only is the customer service absolutely incredible, it stocks the hottest brands from across the globe. Whenever we spot an awesome new US/Australian brand, we know it won't be long before Spoiled Brat will be selling it.

That being said, I am happy to announce that we've been given the HUGE honour of being their guest bloggers for September! Huzzah!

The guys at Spoiled Brat very kindly sent me this beautiful Mink Pink Hendrix Poncho (Was £120, Now £48) to style in an outfit post. I've been a huge fan of MinkPink for years and when I spotted this bad boy I immediately wanted it on me.

I decided to pair it with my Queen B Tee (£35) from quirky London-based brand Off Dutee. Whenever I wear this tee I think of Britney Spears, Blair Waldorf and Beyonce. They are THE Queen B's! It's super soft and oversized, just how I like it. I'm also wearing my Star Struck Skinny Mini Denim Leggings by Charley 5.0, as seen on Katy Perry! They are covered in little gems and perfect for A/W.

I'm rarely seen without Doc Martens these days. These black long ones are my current favourites and add a bit of a rocker edge to my look. While I was living in Sydney, almost all of the Aussie girls would rock black boots and black hats... even in the summer! Those girls have style & boy do they love their MinkPink.

My hat is from Marks and Spencer (£19.50) & I'm wearing my favourite Bjorg x UO necklace & assorted jewelz.

I'm a little bit in love with this poncho, I wore it to Bristol Fashion Week on Friday and got quite a few compliments on it! It doubles as a blanket so not only does it look good, it's rather practical.

Have you ever shopped at Spoiled Brat? Anybody else a huge MinkPink fan?

T - A MinkPink/Dr Martens lover who's a Spoiled Brat! XoX

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Sunshine On A Superdry Day :)

Sunshine On A Superdry Day :)

Saturday 29 September 2012

7 comments

A few weeks ago I won an amazing Superdry goodybag on Twitter (jammed full of clothes, accessories and nail polish!) so I've been waiting for a chance to wear some of the contents, and today was that day!

Skirt - Superdry, Top - Superdry, Bag - Superdry, Leggings - Romwe, Shoes - Tribeca Shoes, Jacket - The Ragged Priest at AdHoc London.

 

 

The boyfriend and I have been Superdry fans for years, but he has continued to add to his tees, shorts and hoodies collection whilst mine slowed down, so it's really nice to get some new stuff to kick start the love again!

If you're on Twitter, I definitely recommend following @Superdry and looking out for their regular RT competitions, the prizes are amazing!

J - Super lucky!

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New Autumn/Winter Shoes At Daniel Footwear + £50 Giveaway!

New Autumn/Winter Shoes At Daniel Footwear + £50 Giveaway!

Friday 28 September 2012

139 comments

Whenever we're in need of some shiny new sneaks or the latest pair of on-trend boots, Daniel Footwear is one of the first online stores we head to. They are home to top footwear brands such as Ash, Jeffrey Campbell, Sam Edelman & Vivienne Westwood. If that wasn't enough, they even sell bags (we need all of the studded ones) & super cute accessories!

This Autumn/Winter they've upped the ante in the hot shoe stakes by stocking some of the most desirable foot candy around. After we finished drooling all over their new in's, we picked our favourites and make our very first Christmas list.

Dear Santa, we would like...

Ash Deanash Leather Biker Boots - £299

OMGosh, they just ooze awesomeness. They are the most perfect boots ever created, we would definitely trade Jade's signed Robert Pattinson poster to own these bad boys. Thanking you kindly Mr Claus.

Ash Suede Cool Wedge - £189

Oh look, Ash again. Wedge sneakers will continue to be a massive trend this A/W and these are right on the money. They'd look amazing with skinny jeans, shorts & tights, as well as cute dresses! Make like Beyonce and nab yourself a pair immediately. OR just ask St Nick like us.

Michael Kors Chelsea Messenger - £220

You can never go wrong with Michael Kors & just staring at this bag warms our Rawr Girl hearts. Made in a sumptuous leather & finished with a rockstar chain trim, even Gwen Stefani would be proud to own this little beauty! We've been good girls, promise...

Daniel Lauper High Heeled Ankle Boot - £249

Introducing the perfect party shoe! We adore this mixture of leather/suede and these skyscraper boots are guaranteed to give any outfit a touch of RAWR. The thick, durable sole will help to stop any unwanted trips at the office Christmas party leaving you looking ultra glam, as per usual.

If you fancy a pre-Christmas splurge at Daniel Footwear, you're in luck! We are offering YOU the chance to win a £50 gift voucher. Uhhh, how cool!?

To enter, all you need to do is follow the simple instructions below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This contest will end on 05/10 and is only open to **UK residents**. The prize is 1 x £50 gift voucher to be used at www.danielfootwear.com (valid against full priced items only). All entries must be made via Rafflecopter. The winner will be notified on the day of the draw.

Good luck.

J & T - Counting down the days (88) until Christmas. Please shower us in shoes Santa! XoX

ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions

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The M&S Style Challenge - What To Wear For A Job Interview - Outfit 1!

The M&S Style Challenge - What To Wear For A Job Interview - Outfit 1!

Tuesday 25 September 2012

31 comments

Ever had the thrill of an impending interview for that dream job only to have nerves set in when you think about what to wear? How should I present myself? Should I find out if they have a dress policy at the company and lean towards that? What is the best way to make an impression for all the right reasons? Well, we know exactly how that feels, so when M&S invited us to be part of their latest blogger style challenge - What To Wear For An Interview, we jumped at the chance!

Marks & Spencer have challenged 10 bloggers (guys and girls) to take one M&S dress or suit, and style it to four different interview scenario briefs over a month. I chose a gorgeous, super chic Contrast Collar & Cuff Shift Dress, £39.50. This dress is classically cool, it's just the right length and skims my curves without being inappropriate - perfect! Plus, contrasting collar and cuff dresses were all over New York and London Fashion Week, and I thought this one was very Victoria Beckham-esque with good potential for lending itself to any interview situation with some clever accessorising!

This week's brief is 'Creative but classy - create an interview outfit for a fashion role at a well-known UK fashion brand (e.g. a design role, salesperson, marketing exec, buyer).'

And this is how I would bag that job!

I think when it comes to a fashion role, you should make a bit of a quiet statement! You want to convey an obvious knowledge of fashion and a killer personal style, but you still need to keep it formal so this dress is an ideal base to make my mark in.

 

So how have I styled this up to stand out in the interview room? Starting with my grooming, I'd make sure my make up was light and natural, but with a pop of personality - in this case, my bright pink lipstick. This bright colour also looks great against the monochromatic dress!

 

 

Secondly, I think it's important to keep jewellery to a minimum. You don't want to be jangling around like an Accessorize trolley dash with every gesture! I would keep it to either one statement piece, or the bare minimum, say one ring or one necklace, and earrings should ALWAYS be discreet at any interview! The collar on the dress means I can go without a necklace, and as the cuffs are also a snappy feature I decided to just go with a smart watch. The bag, also from M&S, looks professional and modern. I'm loving the size of this one, and the stud and zipper features are trend led whilst not being over the top. To add a touch of my own personality I've added my fave designer scarf to the handle, it also matches the strap on my watch and I think someone in the fashion industry would notice and appreciate the effort.

   

My boots are quirky yes, but they are still very smart, confidence inducing and they are going to help me stand out. I would rather be 'the girl with the cat boots and the black dress', than just 'the girl with the black dress', should they come to discuss us quickly inbetween interviewees ;)

   

Outfit Details : Dress - c/o Marks & Spencer. Bag - c/o Marks & Spencer. Boots - Jeffrey Campbell. Watch - Daniel Wellington. Scarf - Vivienne Westwood. Lipstick - MAC Viva Glam Nicki Minaj.

 

My dream job would be in the fashion industry, so I hope my interpretation of a stylish 'give that girl a job' look makes the cut! 

 

Stay tuned next week for another interview outfit starring our new fave M&S dress!

 

J - Working Girl.

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A Total Brat in Keds.

A Total Brat in Keds.

Monday 24 September 2012

16 comments

Summer may be over but I am clinging onto bare legs for as long as I possibly can! I've recently discovered a severe lack of skirts, I only have 1 that isn't dip-hemmed and it doesn't go with my favourite Brat & Suzie tee!

 

...Topshop to the rescue! I decided to pair this Long Sleeve Polar Bear Top (£33) with my Topshop Skater Dress (£20). I really think it works, it's rather schoolgirl-esque.

I'm such a huge Brat & Suzie fan, I wish I could afford to buy everything! Their latest collection is definitely the cutest yet. I love all types of animal print clothing but was instantly drawn to this little polar bear, he's such a dork!

My lilac nail polish is from Primark and was about £3ish, it has such a nice consistency and only takes one coat! I really like this LeiVanKash bracelet (£140), string bracelets are my fave! Oh and in case you're wondering, this super cute Sparkling Gold Glitter Bow Ring (£4) is by Mood at Debenhams...Yeah, bargain.

I started wearing Keds back in 2007 after Mischa Barton was snapped wearing some with a L.A.M.B dress. They really are the classic plimsole, they go with everything and are always in style. I think they look with this outfit! This style is called Champion (£33) at Schuh.co.uk but JohnLewis.com is also listed as another online stockist.

A dog rather tragically jumped on them after this photo was taken, luckily a cloth and some soapy water sorted them out!! Crisis averted.

What do you guys think? Are you a fan of Brat & Suzie or Keds?

T - A RawrGirl Brat. XoX

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WIN a ghd Air Hairdryer - #ghdairboutique Liverpool!

WIN a ghd Air Hairdryer - #ghdairboutique Liverpool!

Sunday 23 September 2012

383 comments

Yesterday I took a trip to Liverpool to see the #ghdairboutique pop up salon, a travelling hair salon on wheels, packed full of amazing ghd products and a super talented team of stylists!

When I got there at midday there was quite a queue and once inside I totally understood why. Given the space and capacity situation, I was expecting a 5 minute restyle per person tops but each stylist was totally giving their all with each client enjoying a complete makeover of about 20-30 mins using ghd styling products, straighteners and the amazing new hairdryer - ghd Air! I even saw some ladies getting their hair washed before styling so we're talking about a full on salon treatment here, for absolutely free!

 

Once sat down with my stylist, I requested a wavy, messy look because curling with ghd's totally eludes me and I badly needed tips! It took maybe 15 minutes for my restyle to go from blah to ta-dah, with the stylist explaining everything as she expertly went along, including products used and easy to understand advice on getting a good wave rather than a ringlet! I loved my finished look!

You can follow the #ghdairboutique's whereabouts on the @ghd Twitter feed, and if it's coming to a city near you I definitely recommend popping in for a look! It was a beautiful sunny day in the city, which makes a change because every time I get my hair done it seems to rain, so I took my new hair out for a wander around the shops for some extra credit outfit snaps :)



 

Top - Wildfox, Skirt - Oasis, Boots - Dr Martens, Bag - L.A.M.B.

  

ANYHOO, for your hairstyling pleasure, ghd have very kindly given us one of their new, super amazing (yes, that good!) ghd Air hair dryers, worth a whopping £99.99, to give away to one of you lucky people!

It's really easy to enter! GO!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This contest will end at 11.59pm on 06/10 and is only open to **UK residents**. The prize is 1 x ghd Air Hairdryer set worth £99.99 from ghd. All entries must be made via Rafflecopter. The winner will be notified on the day of the draw.

J - Good Hair Day.

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A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes...

A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes...

Friday 21 September 2012

19 comments

It's officially Autumn tomorrow and there is definitely a chill in the air! I'm excited to wear knits and ponchos but a bit sad about saying goodbye to bare legs and sandals.



Dark Grey Dip Hem Dress (£30) River Island - Red Crepe Open Front Blazer (£24.99) New Look - Armour Ring (£10) Topshop - Limited Collection Pure Wool Bowler Hat (£19.50) Marks and Spencer - 'A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes' necklace (£45) Disney Couture

I also need to learn to embrace my paleness again, I wish I could jet off for some winter sun! This dip hem dress from River Island is nice and thick so I can pair it with tights as it gets colder. I know I seem to be wearing this hat in every outfit post lately but I love it, I can't wait to buy more and more hats, especially woolly ones.

Are you ready to embrace Autumn!? It will be Christmas before we know it.

T - Working on my Christmas list. XoX

P.S How cute is this Berry jacket!?

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ChloBo Popping On My Wrist!

ChloBo Popping On My Wrist!

Thursday 20 September 2012

3 comments

The ChloBo story is a tad inspirational. Designer Chloe Moss travelled to Bali and was taken with the hand crafted silver and laidback island life ethos. Meeting a woman on a beach who was beading intricate silver bracelets made Chloe realise she had found her calling and she decided to put an idea into motion on her arrival back in the UK. Silversmith suppliers in Bali were sourced, designs were finalised and ChloBo Jewellery was born!

I've stared at the gorgeous designs for ages now, but finally got my paws on a piece of ChloBo Jewellery, courtesy of the goodybag I picked up from last month's fun blogger event at The Editeur in Chester!

It was the second time I've met the gorgeous and talented Chloe Moss at an event run by The Editeur, and she is a true sweetheart, so it was an amazing surprise to find a yummy ChloBo piece in our bags that night!

Judging by a quick and excited scan around the room, it seemed like each blogger got a different design which was a nice touch, mine was perfect for my style - a ChloBo Ice Pop Skull Bracelet - SQUEEEE!

A bit of understated sparkle with a cool edgy twist, I adore it and have barely taken it off since I took it out of the hot pink giftbag!




Cute huh? I'm a lucky girl ;) The only thing is that ChloBo is designed to stack, and now I have one, I feel like I want more! There's so many to choose from in all sorts of bead, silver and charm options, including this Jade Mini Hamsa Hand bracelet I have my eye on. It's JADE!


Never has 'If I was a rich girl' been more apt. Check out the range and Chloe's blog at ChloBo Jewellery!

J - Na na na na na na na na na na naaaaaaa!

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Boux Avenue Comes to Bristol! When Tara Met Theo Paphitis...

Boux Avenue Comes to Bristol! When Tara Met Theo Paphitis...

Wednesday 19 September 2012

7 comments

Last Thursday was a pretty exciting day for me, not only was it the TK Maxx A/W 2012 event in the evening, in the morning I was at the Bristol Boux Avenue press preview! I was really looking forward to seeing the new store and meeting lots of other local bloggers.


I've been waiting patiently for Bristol to get a Boux Avenue since last year when this super stylish lingerie brand first launched. Boux Avenue is the brain child of my favourite 'Dragon' Theo Paphitis but before Thursday, I had only ever seen it online.


Upon entering the new store, I was struck by how bright and welcoming it is (ignore my pinhole camera setting). It has a fantastic layout, there are lots of drawers and tables decorated with bell jars and shelves adorned with little trinkets and beauty products. The lingerie is displayed clearly and it isn't overstocked which makes choosing what you want easier.


The staff are amazing. They all wear black dresses but are allowed to accessorize however they want, which really allows them to show their personality. The idea is that the customer will find it easier to relate to at least one person as everyone is different. Customer service is key here, they even go up to a 40H which is fantastic.



They sell the perfect mix of sexy lingerie and basics all at affordable prices. The store looks like a french boudoir which makes you feel like you're buying something very special. They also a free concierge service with complimentary expert bra fittings! The fitting rooms are extremely plush, they even allow you to select 1 of 3 types of lighting; day, dusk and night. Each room has a different name such as 'Satin' and is fitted with an intercom for getting the attention of the staff.

Adorable nightwear.

I was lucky enough (eeek!) to be given an interview with the main man himself, Theo Paphitis. I was a little nervous at first but had no reason to be, this is what I asked him:

How did Boux Avenue come about?
Boux Avenue came about from 5 million, trillion, thousand years of lingerie experience by a whole group of people who have all worked together for a long time in lingerie. When we sold the previous business La Senza in 2006, we were out of the market for quite a while. In discussion one day we said wouldn't it be nice if we designed the ultimate, mass market but opulent lingerie store that you could afford to go into and get spoilt? But I don't want to pay more than Marks and Spencer prices...We laughed.

Then we went away and slowly, the plan was born and basically the inspiration came. We looked at it originally and thought, we're never going to be able to afford this and we worked and worked and worked, until we could create the ultimate lingerie store.

What makes Boux Avenue different to other lingerie stores?
There isn't anything like Boux Avenue in the UK, it's about the way the product is displayed and stored. I know we've already been copied by others but that's flattery, I don't mind that other people are now fitting out their stores to the same standards.

It's all about experience, it's about buying your very intimate apparel in a wonderful environment so that when you get it home and you put it on, it feels the same special way as when you bought it. If you buy your lingerie and it's in a plastic bag with the cooked chicken, coleslaw and a few cocktail sausages, when you get it home that's how it's going to feel.

Here you're going to have an experience, you're going to feel good as you browse around the store, you're going to get good service. The changing rooms are exquisite, everything about it is about spoiling you and making you feel good and making you want to come back. Also when you buy your product, take it home and put it on, we want you to feel like the store, special.

Why did you choose Bristol as the location for your newest store?
We wanted to open here a year ago and we never managed it, it was this exact store actually. It took forever and it fell through. We went elsewhere, carried on opening other stores and then we got the phone call; "You know that store that fell through? Would you like it?" - Yes please! This part of the world is very important to us, we've got Bath and Cardiff so we've got good coverage but you can't just be in both Cardiff and Bath, you need to be in Bristol.

How involved are you in the design process?
I've been involved from start to finish and not only is it my money that has given birth to this baby, but it's part of my vision along with the team.

Will we ever see a celebrity endorsed line at Boux Avenue?
Well I'm not sure, we've had celebrity models so far, our last model was Ola Jordan from Strictly [Come Dancing] and then we had the lovely Stacey Solomon. I would say there's every chance that at some stage we will have some guest designers.

Is there any one celebrity in particular you'd like to work with?
Loads, absolutely loads!

Do you see Boux Avenue branching out into other fashion area and doing lingerie fashion shows like Victoria's Secret does in the US?
I think there's every chance of that, we're a new brand (about 18 months old), we're growing and we should be up to about 21 stores by March. As we grow and get the coverage around the United Kingdom, then maybe that would be the sensible thing to do.

How would you describe a 'Boux Avenue' woman?
The Boux Avenue woman is brilliant because she is the mass market. She could be anything between 16 and 60, it doesn't matter, it's about a mental attitude. If you've got that mental attitude and you want to be feminine, spoilt, feel good, feel sassy and feel sexy, then that's the Boux girl.


Theo & I!

He is the nicest guy ever, I was a little intimidated at first after watching him on Dragon's Den but he is a total softie and is sooo passionate about Boux. He even commented that with my leopard shoes I could work there...Those Boux girls have style! ;) I'm glad I've finally found my favourite lingerie store. The (UK) Victoria's Secret is a bit overrated and double the price of Boux, which is why it's second best.

It was so great to meet the Fluorescent PR girls and these gorgeous bloggers: Laura,Vicky, Grace, Lily, Milly, Katie, & Hayley. I'm looking forward to seeing some of you again at Bristol Fashion Week!



T - Now officially a Boux Girl! XoX

P.S Thanks to Boux Avenue and Fluorescent PR for the invite, I also looove my goody bag (don't act like you aren't jealous).

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TK Maxx A/W 2012 Preview at Somerset House!

TK Maxx A/W 2012 Preview at Somerset House!

Tuesday 18 September 2012

21 comments

Last Thursday, TK Maxx invited us to dinner at Tom's Kitchen in Somerset house. On show was a selection of A/W 2012 pieces for us bloggers to drool over.

We were introduced to all the hottest trends from this upcoming season and I snapped some pics of my favourites:


'English Heritage' - To me this is the THE trend for A/W. I'm a huge fan of tweed and like style queen Gwen Stefani, I always rock houndstooth in the colder months. I tried on a gorgeous Ralph Lauren herringbone jacket in TK Maxx last week (pray it's still there), which I can imagine pairing with some jodhpurs leggings and riding boots...Rah Rah dahhhling! ;)

Coat £99.99 - Ruffle Shirt £19.99 - Purple Skinny Jean £19.99

This Green Tweed Coat proved hugely popular with the bloggers. It's nicely lined & I really like the faux fur trimming. For £99.99 (instead of RRP £450.00) it's the perfect coat for keeping warm in winter while totally stylin'.


Another awesome trend is 'Bourgeois'. Lace, leather and embellishment are some of our all time favourite things (along with RPattz), we just love a bit of gothic romance! How cute is this quilted jacket? I had to fight the urge to runaway with it.

The spikey bra was possibly the most talked about piece of the evening, Lady Gaga would be proud! I wish I could pull it off, it would look awesome with some faux leather skinnies and the dreamy quilted jacket.


'Folklore' is a trend for the free spirited! Embrace your inner boho girl with chunky patchwork knits mixed with floaty lace dresses. It's all about layering and feeling care-free.

Caridgan £34.99 - Dress £19.99 - Leather Bag £49.99

I can't believe this yummy houndstooth cardigan is only £34.99! I'm definitely going to be working this trend, the model looks amazing.
Other trends to look for are Military, Modernist (60's retro prints/cuts), Empress (lots of embellishment, textured fabrics & digital prints) and Pastels (but with chunkier fabrics & faux fur).

Pictures: Me winning a £100 giftcard, nommy Rosemary Roasted Peppers, Becky & I.

It was really cool to meet loads of London bloggers including Becky from life.style.flash, Ree from ReallyRee.com & Lois from Bunnipunch. I had such a wonderful evening and the food was absolutely delicious. If you haven't been to Tom's Kitchen before then I would certainly recommend it, I can't wait to eat there again!

I must say a HUGE thank you to TK Maxx and Fluorescent PR for inviting us to the event and thanks again for the £100 giftcard. J and I will be having a mini splurge this week!

T - Has made another TK Maxx shopping list! XoX

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Sunday Style - Wet Look, Wet Day!

Sunday Style - Wet Look, Wet Day!

Sunday 16 September 2012

19 comments

Typically, Saturday was a gloriously sunny day, but I decided Sunday would be my outfit piccing day and guess what? RAIN. But this works in our favour because I get to show you my new Meltin' Pot Marcelle leather look skinnies. Silver lining and all that ;)

Tara and I love Meltin' Pot jeans because they do a mean line in skinnies, our fave style, and they fit so well. These ones are a super shiny stretch cotton designed to look like leather, and they're one of the more convincing wet look jeans I've seen because they don't have that 'glittery' finish that coated cotton sometimes has. I love the little split ankle feature too, it makes a nice change from my usual bunched up skinny problem!


The jumper is my new fave Wildfox Couture Cat Faces sweater that I bought about 2 months ago from Black Label Boutique. It's SO light and gorgeous, it cost a small fortune but it's definitely a lifetime piece so my pounds per wear calculations say it technically costs about 2p. Ahem. Black Label Boutique are a long time fave online store from USA, they have all the best brands and the best prices, plus we have our own personal 20% discount code - check the side bar!


I've accessorised with a double finger cross ring I picked up in the Dorothy Perkins sale for £1 (squee!) and this gorgeous Voodoo Rose Bracelet from The Pretty Junk. I'm a sucker for skulls and rose gold is going to be massive this season :)




The boots are my ever faithful Jeffrey Campbell Cat Lita's. Yes, I am a crazy old cat lady.


It's been a while since I've done an outfit post featuring jeans and a jumper, feels good to be back in the autumn/winter game!

J - Slicker than the average.

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