Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts

GTB: Gym, Tan, Blog

GTB, did you see what I did there?
Gym, tan and blogging are three things that I simply could not live without and the combination of the three leads to a healthier, happier Ellie!
But honestly, I am being serious.

As I am currently away, I do not always have access to a gym but I still try to do my best! It has been particularly tricky whilst I have been at the beach however, I have done my best. Every day of this holiday I have kayaked in the sea for an hour in the morning followed by an hour of swimming. Then in the afternoon I swim again for an hour however I incorporate some aqua exercises that strengthens and tones thighs and abs!
I love kayaking especially in the sea as the wind and current makes you work even harder which works them arms! Goodbye bingo wings!

I used to hate working out and considered it a chore but now I love the feeling afterwards! This is due to the endorphins released during exercise. The hard part is getting off the couch!

I bet you all are wondering how I fit in the tanning part, well the benefits of swimming and kayaking are they are both out in the sun which means you tan as you work out! Great combo!

Finally, the blogging. I blog primarily at night purely because it enables me to think about potential topics during the day and how I want to phrase them! 

Fashion Feature: MANGO Spring/Summer 2012 Collection


MANGO is one of my favourite clothing brands!I adore the way they integrate urban street style with the latest fashions!  I therefore decided to post a review regarding their Spring/Summer 2012 collection! This may seem rather late but if you click on the MANGO advert on the left side, any orders over £30 get free shipping! 

You may notice that I have grouped various looks together by means of colour or style which will help me to summarise the overall patterns.



Coral and Salmon colours are incredibly popular this summer. Often paired with a plain top, they add a pop of colour to any ensemble. Above you can see that coral and beige have been used to provide a contrast and highlight the separate pieces.
The dress and belted skirt really epitomise the current pleated maxi skirt trend. As the same material has been used, the dress has a similar look to the standard maxi skirt due to the belt. 
However, I love the palazzo pants and envy all those who can pull them off easily! I love how elegant and simple they are; making any outfit appear sophisticated.

Canary yellow has to be one of my favourite colours of the season however, I can only wear it as a skirt or trousers due to my complexion. 
My favourite ensemble from above has to be the pleated maxi skirt. The style has been seen on Dianne Agron repeatedly and I love the effortless glam; it can be worn with a plain t-shirt yet still appear


Tie-dye shirts are a trend that I am in love with. The DIY feel adds a boho twist that I adore. My personal style is rather eclectic and I lust after the perfect outfit that intertwines a tie-dye piece.



I am currently craving a good blazer which I shall hopefully find when I go to Singapore (fingers crossed!). A simple blazer can dress-up any outfit and I feel that the dress mimics the blazer style.


I hate to blow my own horn, but I can really wear cobalt blue. It is one colour that I am guaranteed to look good in. I think it is an ingenious idea to combine a denim jacket with a palazzo jump suit even though the jumpsuit looks great as a stand alone piece.

Denim has really made a comeback and has caused us all to reminisce back to the times of Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears' matching denim outfits. 
But seriously, the pairing of denim with denim is a very hard look to pull of without coming across as a Britney/Justin wannabe. 
One thing to bear in mind is that if you plan on wearing a double denim outfit, buy the pieces together or bring half of the outfit with you when purchasing the other.  


Once again, MANGO has used the blazer to create that timeless effect. A blazer will never go out of fashion so I urge all my readers to purchase one! Go! Go! Go! 
I am lusting after that white blazer which is guaranteed to go with anything!

As I have previously mentioned, camel and beige tones are very much 'in' however, it is very hard to pull of an all beige ensemble without looking like a colonial soldier!



Shorts are great and definitely are a wardrobe staple. The combination of a longer sleeved top with the shorts really adds another dimension to the outfit; a touch of class.



This collection of outfits is slightly jumbled as it has no obvious theme, however they are all typical casual wear.
All of the above could be worn on a daily basis which adds to the appeal!


I do apologise for this rather long post but I just had to share MANGO's latest looks!

I now urge you to take advantage of their latest free shipping deal! Please go and bathe yourself in the tasteful styles that MANGO has created.
Go on, indulge yourself. I know I will.




Outfit of the Day: Styled Maxi Dress

I am completely obsessed with Maxi-dresses for summer! I love how cool (literally!) they are. Beach holidays are great, although I do tire of that near constant trickle of sweat down your back. I love this maxi dress in particular because of the material it is made from; cheesecake linen. It isn't clingy and has quite a low back which once again adds to the cooling affect. 

I often style my maxi dresses as I hate having my shoulders uncovered! As a result, I often wear a sheer crop top over them so I feel slightly more decent!

I bought the maxi-dress in a little shop in Manchester called 'Shout!' but it has been renamed to 'Urban Edge'. The sheer crop top is from Forever 21. If you want to see a close up of the top, check out my new purchase post linked below.





This is just a brief look at the maxi dress without the crop top to show the style and design. 

It's summer, that calls for a wardrobe update - fancy any of these summer dresses anyone?




Summer Fashion: Handling the Heat

I hate humidity. Don’t get me wrong, I love a beautiful summer day just like everyone else, but I can not stand the feeling of sweat dripping down my back, clothing clinging to me, or having to constantly re-adjust due to the uncomfortableness heat forces on me. Clothing should allow you to express yourself and sometimes the high temperatures can make it seem almost impossible to do so. Luckily, there are many different stylish options to combat the heat all at very reasonable prices. As you all know by now, I am on a beach holiday so some of these looks may not be able to be worn in the city!
Just like maxi dresses but cooler…literally. The high-low silhouette is super on trend this season and a great way to beat summer heat. Long flowy fabrics create a breeze within the garment and pairing them with a shorter hem just enhances this. High-low dresses can be found at every extreme, from long trains to super short front and everything in between. Also, because of their versatility, these dresses can easily be dressed up, for a date night, or dressed down, for a music or art festival. What’s not to love?

Shorts, and bottoms in general, are really taking center stage this season. Shorts can be found in many different styles this summer. From different prints, prints, colors, materials– shorts leave you with endless options for a cool summer look. With the right length, shorts can remain classy while still giving your legs room to breathe.
There are many different styles of tops this season to beat the summer heat. Crop tops are making a huge come back and are a fantastic way to stay chic and cool. These type of tops also provide an opportunity for a fun DIY project. Try taking some of your old tees and cutting them up to make your very own crop/cut-out top!
Whether worn alone or under tops, like the ones described above, bandeaus are the perfect solution to tastefully show some skin. Because bandeaus can be worn alone, they give you the ability to not have to deal with the inconvenience of wearing camisoles or tanks under your tops, which can really add on heat in the summer. A bandeau does suffice as an undergarment but it should not be regarded in the same way. Unlike a bra, It’s ok, and actually kind of encouraged, to have your bandeau show through your top.
Rompers, like dresses, are a super easy way to stay comfortably cool in the summer. However, unlike dresses, rompers give you the freedom to move around anyway you want, which can make all the difference when it’s hot out. Rompers are a  whole outfit in one and are effortlessly cool. With the right styling, they can be appropriate for a number of occasions.
Wide brim hats are not only super stylish but they’re also practical. The wide brim of the hat will give you the protection and shade that you need from the hot summer sun. Although these hats are definitely a statement piece, they’re extremely easy to integrate into your everyday look. For a feminine vibe, try a light-colored hat in white, tan, or a pastel, and pin a hair flower around the band. For an edgier look, try tying a scarf in a bold color or print, around a hat in a contrasting colour.
You can beat the heat and stay cool this summer without sacrificing style or putting a strain on your wallet. Which way is your favorite to dress for this scorching weather?

Festival Fashion Style Idol: Millie Mackintosh

Made in Chelsea is one of my favourite shows and Millie Mackintosh is definitely my favourite character! 
I absolutely adore everything she does and love her fashion sense. Recently, the tabloids have been full of her festival exploits and her outfits of choice, I decided to compile a post which includes my favourite festival looks of hers. 
*Note* Not all outfits are from 2012*



Making dressing for downpours and mud-soaked fields look like a walk in the park, Millie has nailed festival style. 

Key to her look? Non-try-hard pieces like denim shorts and classic Hunter wellies – with a little bit of Chelsea bling in the form of silver studs – and the finishing touch, an amazing statement jacket. What, no cag in a bag? As if!


Here, Millie completely embodies rocker festival chic with a teeny tiny pair of denim shorts, a purple gilet, aviator sunglasses, studded hunter wellies and a trilby hat.

New Purchase!

I was recently in Kuala Lumpur on a flight stopover and was able to squeeze in a bit of shopping, however I was only able to buy one shirt due to monetary reasons! 
It is a sheer over shirt that requires a singlet or crop top to be worn underneath but is so cute!


 It has three-quarter length sleeves that pull in with a band, making them slightly puffy.
It has a slight 'mullet' look with the back being longer than the front!

It has the cutest teardrop cutouts on the back which mean that I constantly have to be aware of my hair positioning! 
This top is definitely one of my new favourites and I dont know how I lived without it! 
It ties in with both the current sheer trend as well as the girly florals as seen in recent fashion weeks.

Summer Lovin'

Tomorrow I am leaving for my summer break so I decided to do a quick post on my summer suitcase.
I am going away for four weeks to various locations that include Chiang Mai (a mountainous region), Hua Hin (a beach town) and Vietnam. This means that my suitcase item choices may appear to be slightly unusual! 



Obviously I will be bringing more than listed, but I could hardly post the contents of my entire suitcase!
Have a great summer!

Jubilee Fashion: Millie Mackintosh, Amy Childs, Next and Aspinal

You should be ashamed of yourself if you haven't heard of the Queen's Jubilee celebration. Lots of designers are taking this onboard and interweaving this throughout their designs. Here are some of my favourites:

Millie Mackintosh for St Tropez:




Amy Childs Jubilee Collection: (not a fan, but she goes with the theme)







Robert Sanderson:



Hobbs:



Hunter:


Aspinal of London:



Next:



Summer Lips


Garnetfrost Lipstick by Mary Kay
Pink Orchid Lipstick by Mary Kay
Red Drama Longlasting Lipstick by Clinque


Pink Fruity Lasting Fix Lipgloss by 17



Glamshine Angel Sparkle Lipstick by Clinque 
Tea Time Tan Lipstick by Mary Kay
Toffee Waffle Lasting Fix Lipstick by 17


Mango & Papaya glossy lip balm by I love...
Mediterranean grape olive & nectarine Moistering Lip Butter by Boots
Lemon Citrus and Strawberry by LipIce

These are all my favourite looks for summer both day and night. Usually I can't be bothered watching my lipstick so I rarely wear it but I always wear lipbalm of some sort. LipIce lipbalm makes your lips tingle which is amazing! But the Boots lip butter is amazingly moisturising so is also one of my favourite.
My ultimate favourite lipstick is Red Drama by Clinque as I love the deep scarlet colour. However, if I was just going out for the day, I wear either Tea time Tan or Angel sparkle because they are really subtle.

I know this post is really short but there are a lot of photos so I hope it's acceptable :)

My Perfume Collection

Dreams Unlimited Eau de Parfum by The Body Shop

Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Mist by The Body Shop

Neroli Jasmine Body Mist by The Body Shop

Beauty Rush Cupquake by Victorias Secret


The majority of my perfumes are from The Body Shop purely because I have this whole thing for anti animal testing and as the Body Shop is against animal testing there was no questioning which cosmetics shop became my favourite.
My Dreams Unlimited and Japanese Cherry scents are new as I got them for my birthday in May whereas the Neroli Jasmine I was given last birthday and the Cupquake Beauty Rush, I bought in Singapore two years ago.
As can be seen by the amount of liquid left in the bottles, I hardly use them as I savour them. I use the Neroli Jasime frequently when I go out whereas the Cupquake I only use when I wear shorts or a skirt because it is an emulsion mixture which I spray on my legs to make them shiny.

Dreams Unlimited is a nice and crisp scent that is very much a daily perfume. Although there are floral undertones, they do not overpower the scent. 
Neroli Jasmine is a seductive scent and apparently Jasmine was a princess from India's favourite smell.
Japanese Cherry Blossom is a sweet, floral scent yet not overpowering. 
Cupquake is also very sweet so if I wear too much, it is a bit overpowering.
For all the body shop fragrances I also own the body wash and for Japanese Cherry Blossom I have the body butter as well. However, not for Cupquake.

Ciao!