London / Miss Selfridge SS15 Event

London is my most favourite place in the world; everything about it is just perfect and I feel like I belong there. I love cities: the shopping, the lifestyle and most of all, the opportunities. Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the Miss Selfridge SS15 Collection Launch event. This was my first ever blogger event, so as you can imagine, I was a big ball of nerves. So, I popped down to the heart of the UK to go to the event where I got to see the gorgeous new collection and meet some lovely people.

I headed down to London from Newcastle on Tuesday afternoon. The journey took about 3 and a half hours but I had my Glamour magazine and salted caramel latte to keep me company. Actually, I really enjoy travelling; it's kind of therapeutic.

I arrived quite late but not too late that I couldn't do a spot of shopping - so that's exactly what I did! Of course, it's necessary that when in London, you simply must go to Harrods - there's no question about it. Harrods is a heavenly place full of dreams (literally). However, I am a student and can't, and probably never will, be able to afford half of the stuff in there, so it was just a look about. If you're visiting London, I definitely recommend going to Harrods. It's such a pretty building at night, too.

I also looooove looking at all the scrummy looking cakes in the patisserie's. There's nothing like that up in Newcastle so I had to take full advantage. 

Me and my Aunty then went for dinner at Bella Italia to finish the day, which was lovely.

The next day, before the event, I had some time to kill so I thought I might as well do some more browsing along Oxford Street/Regent Street. Last time I was in London, I didn't dare step into any of the designer shops because I was wearing converse and felt too poor, but this time I looked half decent so I grew some balls and went in - also managed to get some cheeky snaps too. I am so in love with everything Burberry. The store was my heaven on Earth; multiple floors of pure beauty. I am 100% sure that my first major investment will be something from Burberry. I spotted a gorgeous little pink bag and I've also been dying for one of the famous trench coat's (pictured below) for months. One day, I swear! I also popped into Karl Lagerfeld and fell in love with the bags. I was expecting them to be extortionately priced, but they were rather reasonable - I say reasonable however they were still quite pricey but cheaper than other brands like Mulberry etc. So, I now have one of them popped down on my wish list. I really need more bags anyways so it'd be acceptable to buy one since I've been using the same, old one for God knows how long now!

I then headed off to the event at the gorgeous space known as 19 Greek Street. It was a lovely, chic building just off Soho square. Here was my OOTD:

 Turtle Neck from Missguided
Coated Joni Jeans from Topshop
Heeled Boots from New Look
Faux Fur Jacket from Miss Selfridge
Bag from H&M

I walked into a room full of one of the most gorgeous collections I have ever seen. What I loved mostly was that there was so much variety, from floral two pieces to suede skirts, crocheted bralets to embellished dresses. Miss Selfridge has a niche for creating pieces I love. I think I wanted everything there! The collection truly was amazing. They channeled many different trends such as the popular 70's trend consisting of suede and mini dresses, and festival fashion including the likes of crochet and fringed bags. In the words of Miss Selfridge, the collection is described as, "Clean lines and minimal shapes sit alongside dreamy, gypset pieces and heavy embroidery. Artisanal prints and embroidery lend themselves to co-ordinates and pretty sun dresses, creating wanderlust. Denim is updated - just jeans will no longer do. Festival styling is sewn up with crochet shift dresses and lace Bardot playsuits. Fringed suede jackets and playsuits pave the way to the 70's". The colour scheme for the collection was mainly neutrals, including beige's, browns and whites, but there were also lots of more eccentric pieces including a yellow co-ordinate and many khaki coloured pieces. The jewellery featured was also full of detail and elegance with a boho chic feel.

At the event, I also got the chance to give tie-dying a go thanks to the lovely ladies at Dylon. It felt as if the 70's was being brought back as I created my very own blue tie-dyed tee. It was such a fun experience, even though mine was a bit pants!

I had such a great time at the event and the collection was just stunning. Thank you so much to the PR girls at Miss Selfridge for inviting me!

The full SS15 collection will be released soon and I suggest you get your hands on it quick as I can just tell they'll sell out so quickly. I know I will be!

Jordan x

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January Favourites

Jeez, I can't believe it's February already! I can just tell this whole year is going to fly over like it did last year. Where does time even go these days? Anyways, a new month calls for a post featuring my favourites from last month featuring some beauty, fashion and other random bits and bobs. 

My first January favourite, is the Mac Pigment in the shade 'Vanilla'. I've been loving using this little beauty gem. This little tub costs £17, which seems pricy for such a small product, but it packs so much inside. I literally don't think it'll ever run out. I've been loving using this, whether it's in my everyday makeup or for glamming up an evening look. It's great to use in the inner corners of your eyes and just under the arch of your brows to highlight and lift.

Next is this brand new Benefit Roller Lash. I actually got this mini with this month's Elle Magazine. I've never actually read Elle magazine, but JustJessicaBlog 's Instagram post inspired me to buy it just so I could try this mascara...and I have to say, it's amazing! It's definitely up there as one of my favourite mascara's. It gives the ultimate curl and length to your eyelashes. I 100% recommend this mascara to anyone, or even just to buy Elle if you want to try it!

Jewellery has never been my thing, but I picked this beauty up in the Miss Selfridge sale for only £3.50!! I've always been super picky with necklaces so I was so happy to find this one. It suits me to a T and it's everything I look for in a statement necklace. I love that it's black and not too flashy so it can be worn with just about any outfit.

Also, in the Miss Selfridge sale, I grabbed a bargain with this perfect faux fur jacket. I've wanted one of these jackets for a while but everyone has one so I didn't bother buying one. But then, I saw this sassy little piece and I just had to buy it; like I would have died if I didn't. It was only £40, reduced from £80 so I couldn't resist. Best investment ever.

Bit of a weird, random one, but this hot chocolate is the most perfect thing I have ever tasted. I've been drinking copious amounts of it since buying it and I'm in love. I love anything coconutty so this is the best thing ever for me. I love to indulge in a mug of this, mixed with a bit almond milk, and topped with whipped cream and mini marshmallows whilst relaxing on an evening. The perfect night time treat.

In January, my favourite show EVER 'Pretty Little Liars' started up again. I love January because all the shows return. So along with American Horror Story, my month consisted of planning my schedule around watching Pretty Little Liars. Basically, if you've never watched it before, it's about a group of girls, who are being taunted by an anonymous 'A' after the disappearance of their friend Ali, but there's so many twists to the story. Ahhh it's so amazing, everyone needs to watch this! It's on Netflix, if you'd like to watch it.

So that's my January favourites. What were yours?

Jordan x

SS15 New Season Trends

If, like me, January has left you feeling blue, then all you'll be thinking about is Spring/Summer: warmth, bright colours and no more jumpers! With all the new season stock coming into stores, that means it's time to start buying, ready for the new season to start. Here's the ultimate guide to Spring/Summer 2015, from boho chic à la Chloé to delightful denim, there's so much choice this upcoming season.

Monochrome Stripes
You heard it, stripes are back! And in every way, shape and form. Whether they're vertical on a Altuzarra dress, or diagonal on a monochrome Alexander Wang bandeau, stripes are the pattern of the season.

Giambattista Valli / Altuzarra / Alexander Wang

The Off-The-Shoulder Dress

Do you dare to bare the shoulder? This sensual look was sported by designers such as Topshop Unique, who's designs were elegant and girly, whereas Balenciaga showcased sleek and powerful designs. 

Topshop Unique / Balenciaga

That Seventies Show

#fashionflashback or what? It's time to rewind and return to the seventies: flares, fringing, suede, a higher neckline and art prints. This trend has been seen throughout the SS15 collections, making it a big one. From House of Hollands Flower Power Girl to Karen Walker's retro Festival-Goer, these looks are sure to make you feel nostalgic.

Saint Laurent / House of Holland / Tommy Hilfiger

Denim

I know what you're thinking, denim has always been a SS trend, right? Right, but this season it's all about reinvented denim: textures, colours, cuts. Denim has arrived again, but this time, it's with a twist.

Burberry / Stella McCartney / Gucci

Culottes

Are they trousers? Are they shorts? Nope, they're culottes (3/4 length flared-trouser type things). Culottes have only just recently emerged and have been featured by numerous designers ever since. These unusual styled trousers are the perfect number for your bottom half when it's too warm for jeans, but too cold for shorts. Wear culottes to widen your stride and elongate your silhouette.

Street Style

Funky Florals

It's no longer about ditsy, pastel, daisy prints, but bold, colourful florals this season. Branching out from the usual, these pieces have added edge and flare to create the perfect garden party.

Hippie Boho

This season, release your inner flower child and roam the fields in these beautiful, dreamy boho pieces. Full of effortlessness, these floaty designs are fresh and feminine. Chloé never fail to create the most perfect bohemian-styled pieces: chic and laid-back.

Chloé

Jordan x

How To Contour

Everyone knows contouring is the beauty craze at the minute. I mean, who wouldn't want a defined and sculptured face? Although it looks hard and time consuming, it really isn't and doesn't have to be! I've only been contouring since Christmas and It's really so simple. Once you get it, you've got it, easy as pie. So, here's a tutorial on how to contour. *Pre-warning* my photo's are terrible at the minute as the light in my room is pathetic and there literally isn't any natural lighting; so these will have to do for now!

First of all, moisturise, prime and apply your foundation and powder as usual. I've already done this part to save time. Next, take a concealer, one shade lighter than your skin tone, and apply it under your eyes, in a triangle shape, to eliminate dark circles. I'm using Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer. Seriously, this concealer is amazing despite the brand and being so cheap; I couldn't use anything else! I then buff it in using a Zoeva 142 Concealer Buffer Brush.

For the next stage, I'm using the darkest shade, in the bottom right hand corner, from my Zoeva Concealer Palette. (My Palette is a bit dirty I do apologise). I apply this in the areas shown in the pictures below, using the brush that comes with the palette. The colour should be applied in the following areas: under the chin/on the jawline, under the cheekbone, at each side of the bridge of the nose, in a triangle on the tip on the nose, the hairline and slightly inwards from the hairline. I then blend it all in using a Zoeva 110 Face Shape Brush.

Next, I highlight my face on the bridge of my nose, in the middle of my forehead, the bow of my lip and under my brows using the lightest shade, in the top right hand corner, also from my Zoeva Concealer Palette. Pictures showing areas which areas should be covered are below. Once again, my palette is very dirty and this shade should be white. I apply this using just a random brush, and blend it in using the 110 brush from before.

To add some extra highlight, I apply Benefit's High Beam just on my cheek bones, and blend it in using my finger.

Finally, I apply Mac's Pigment in the shade Vanilla just under my brows, using a plain eyeshadow brush, to give them some more lift.

To finish off your look, add some brown, smoky eye makeup and some nude lipstick (I'm wearing a Max Factor Lip Liner in Mauve Moment and a Mac Lipstick in Brave) and voila: a gorgeous, bronzed, contoured look! Here's my final result. As I mentioned before, the lighting in my house isn't great so you can't see the full effects of the contouring but it's so much more intense in real life, trust  me! My palette is the best thing in my life. I love to contour now and I wouldn't be the same without it.

Let me know if you try out this look and how you found it!

Jordan x