Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : designer

Step into Spring

The hype of London Fashion Week is gradually dying down and we are all looking towards spring for our next fashion inspiration. Many people look at Fashion Week as just a series of fashion shows and a prestigious event in which celebrities attend, but there are so many things people often forget. If it wasn't for fashion week, the designs we see in the stores - high street and high end would cease to exist. Fashion Weeks are a platform in which buyers can go invest in upcoming trends and supply us, the consumers with fresh, new inspiring clothing that will get us from season to season. This post is inspired by one of my favourite designers Orla Kiely. Just over two years ago, I entered a competition that popped up on Twitter to win an Orla Kiely handbag. Admittedly I knew nothing about the designer at the time, but the handbag looked wonderful and was priced at £500 - who wouldn't want to win a brand new, expensive handbag? Luckily for me, I won the handbag and with the handbag, came my new love for Orla Kiely.

I began researching more about the designer and found out her style is really feminine and evokes a vintage vibe - two things I look for when picking my day to day clothing. Her intricate use of fabrics and patterns excites me and I love how each collection tells a story. The pastel colours featured in the Spring/Summer 2014 have been my favourite Orla Kiely designs so far and today, I thought I would show you a little outfit I created with inspiration deriving from the Orla Kiely collection.

From the age of approximately 12 years old, I have always shopped in New Look*. It is a great way of getting affordable, quality fashion and they always have at least one item that grabs my attention in store. I find their heels exceptionally comfy and all my favourite pairs of jeans come from New Look. As I currently do not have the biggest clothing budget, I turned to one of my favourite, trusted stores to search for an outfit similar to those featured in the Orla Kiely S/S collection and was amazed by how many similar items I found. This outfit consists of this lovely floral print 'Boxy T-Shirt' at £14.99, the 'Pink Crepe A-line Mini Skirt' at £14.99 again, the tan handbag - which is the first item I really want to buy, which is priced at £24.99 and finally the 'Nude Patent Court Shoes' at £14.99. That is a designer duplicate outfit at less than £60 and even cheaper if you have student discount. I honestly cannot wait until payday.

What items are you looking to buy in the near future?

I've been a wearer of glasses since I was six years old and I've never really thought they suited me. I would look in the mirror and frequently think my face looks wider, I look too geeky and that I should probably pretend to lose them so I don't have to endure the pain of walking outside wearing them. These thoughts mainly derived from my first pair of glasses that were a pink and yellow polka dot pair that my mum picked and as I was a chubby child I always thought I resembled Mr Blobby. It wasn't until I reached the age of seventeen that I took wearing glasses rather seriously and as fashion changed I noticed glasses became quite trendy. Looking closely at adverts it seemed that glasses were seen as quite sophisticated when you're a grown woman, rather than the childhood illusion of being dorky. It was since then that I've quite liked wearing glasses and with the wide range of choices available on the high street and the internet, my love for glasses shopping has flourished.

My latest pair of glasses were gifted to me by MyOptique for review purposes. MyOptique offers luxury glasses at affordable prices. Their highly qualified and experienced staff can help you choose the glasses that will suit you face shape, assist with any prescription queries and help ensure you receive the best help possible when selecting your glasses. MyOptique sells a variety of brands including: Burberry, Michael Kors, Gucci, Prada and many more. These glasses are known as the 'Fitzrovia' glasses by a brand called 'London Retro'.

London Retro specialises in vintage inspired glasses all with a London Metropolitan vibe. The new line is available exclusively from MyOptique.com and every item is named after an inconic place in London. Being obsessed with London, I knew I had to have a pair of these glasses. I collect Nail Inc nail polishes for the fact that they are associated with London. These Fitzrovia glasses are face flattering, easy to wear and surprisingly fitted perfectly when I received them with no adjustments needed to the arms. My prescription was sent along with my order and with it being the first time I've ordered prescription glasses over the internet and not in store, I was pleasantly surprised to have my eyesight perfectly restored upon wearing my new frames. I always feel like I have new eyes when I put my glasses on. Everything seems clearer, more defined and above all I don't have to squint all the time.

In the future I would like to look into having laser eye surgery if I could afford it, but for now I'm happy wearing glasses, in particularly my new pair. It's amazing how one pair of glasses can alter your entire style and right now I'm happy channelling 'geek chic'. The London Retro Metropolitan range can be purchased MyOptique for £79.

Do you wear glasses?

It's the end of a very long week and I'm feeling a mixture of emotions. Today saw the end of my one week placement at the Best British Bloggers headquarters, where all week I've been sourcing beauty bloggers for them, writing blog posts and doing PR related things that I love. Although I've only been there a few, I feel like I've learnt so much and even though getting up at 6am for the train every morning was really hard work, I'm totally going to miss my life as a PR intern in Leeds.

To reward myself for all the hard work I've done this week (any excuse for a bit of shopping), I ran full speed across town to Debenhams in my lunch break, where I finally picked up the perfume I've been longing for the last few weeks - The Jimmy Choo Exotic. I took my first sniff of this perfume whilst in the duty free area at Manchester Airport, waiting to board for Ibiza. This perfume had me addicted and all week I was clutching the tiniest bit of paper I sprayed hoping that when I got to the end of my holiday I could go buy it. Unfortunately due living in a pretty small town, the Jimmy Choo Exotic isn't sold in my area and the 'exotic' scent I fell in love with a few weeks ago had fazed out. I began debating all sorts of theories as to whether I should buy it online or go to my nearest city to have a look round. It then dawned on me that I had a week coming up in the glorious city of Leeds and with many department stores within distance of work, it was my opportunity to finally get it.

My love affair with Jimmy Choo fragrances first started when the original Eau De Parfum first came out. Many girls dream of owning a piece of Jimmy Choo and as a 19 year old girl the Jimmy Choo perfume was the closest I was going to get. Since I first got my Jimmy Choo perfume, I've never looked back and somewhere lingering in my draws, there has always been a bottle there, even if I was going through other perfume phases. The Jimmy Choo 60ml Limited Edition Exotic is very different to the previous perfumes. It's much sweeter and vibrant in colour. The colour reminds me of a Ruby - very striking and beautiful to look at. The scent is a mixture of Blackcurrant's and Grapefruits - which overall combines to give a summer fruits zesty vibe. I've heard many people say that the Exotic is a little bit too sweet for them, but it's mainly down to personal preference. I like my perfume more fruity than floral and I love fragrances that give the illusion of sweet and innocent girl - although I'm very far from it.

The Jimmy Choo Exotic is only available in 60ml and costs £44. This is quite a steal to say that the original, much older perfume is £49 for a 60ml and not limited edition. From my past experience with the perfume range, I can say that Jimmy Choo are usually long lasting fragrances and you won't go through the bottle as easy as you would do other brands. I've always found this perfume quite cost efficient and this is coming from someone that wears perfume every single day, not just for special occasions.

If this review has managed to tickle your Jimmy Choo sweet tooth, I'd definitely give it a try! In all fairness, can a girl ever go wrong with Jimmy Choo?

It's a fact, I think my eyesight is getting progressively worse. I've been walking into things lately, my eyes are always squinting and I was having problems reading number plates the other day. Unfortunately these problems are entirely my stubborn fault. I've been told regularly to wear my glasses so it trains my eyes to get better, however I always leave the house without them due to habit. One day I'll take my optician seriously and surrender to life as a 'specky four eyes' (what I was constantly called as a child at school). One of my opticians also suggest Laser Eye Surgery and the thought of having that treatment gives me nightmares. I'm very squeamish when it comes to eyes and although my uncle has had it done and it's changed his life forever, I don't know whether I'd be able to go through with it, so glasses are probably my best bet for the moment.

The additional advice that came from my optician was that I should wear sunglasses more to prevent eye strain. I have big problems with focusing my eyes and it generally gets worse in the summer. I've been advised to invest in a pair of higher end sunglasses that would be able to give me adequate UV protection.

This is definitely not a problem, I love wearing sunglasses and I would give for any excuse to get my Gucci's out of their case. The only issues with my sunglasses collection is that they are literally all the same. I have a pair of Whistles sunglasses and my Gucci's, both are almost identical and apart from the name tag on the side, my fiance keeps asking why I bought two identical pairs, but maybe that's some men for you. It is this reason as to why I'm looking into investing in a new pair. Something different, classic and definitely designer - I break high street glasses so easily and my Gucci's are the only pair that have survived being dropped on the pavement copious amounts of times.

So here's my current sunglasses wish list from Optical Express. I chose to do an Optical Express wish list because they are one of the only big known optical brands in my area that sells high end designer glasses and if I wanted to try some on without venturing outside my town, this is most likely the place to go. I'm usually a Specsavers customer out of habit, but I really think it may be time to broaden my glasses horizons.

Jimmy Choo Mali/S Sunglasses

Jimmy Choo never goes wrong. I've always been fascinated by their shoes, perfume and handbags, now I'm even more in love with the brands sunglasses. Before I got my Gucci's, I highly contemplated buying some Jimmy Choo, however the shades I really wanted were out of stock. I long to have a pair of Jimmy Choo sunglasses in the future as I believe they're effortlessly stylish and completely versatile.

Dior Mystery in Tortoise Shell

These sunglasses are something a little bit different for me. I'm usually the type to go for big rimmed jet black glasses, but I think it's time I invest in some colour. Tortoise Shell glasses are a classic and they rise through every decade as an influential colour for sunglasses. I like the look of these as they're simplistic and the gold 'Dior' logo looks really pretty.

Bvlgari 8092B

These sunglasses look like they should have been at an old Hollywood pool party as the design clearly is vintage inspired and classic. The sunglasses ooze sex appeal and all I can envision is a curly haired blonde supermodel in a red bikini wearing these - yep I would totally love to be her.

It could be quite a long time until I save enough money to buy another designer pair, so for now, I suppose I could wear these heart shaped glasses for variation. A little bit over the top for everyday wear? Yeah, I'm thinking so too.

Do you wear glasses?

*All sunglasses images taken from the Optical Express website and do not belong to me.

Airport Luxury Fashion

As you all know I'm going to Ibiza in the next few days and I'm get overly excited. This will be my first proper adult holiday abroad and mine and my partners first couple holiday. I know what a lot of you may think - Ibiza? Couple holiday? Well Ibiza doesn't have much of a reputation for family holidays either, but I fell in love with the island when I was 12 on family vacation and couldn't wait to go back and show my partner. Whilst packing my suitcase, my head has been in a complete whirl about what to wear. When you're on holiday, it's inevitable that you're going to end up with sea salted hair and not looking your best by the end of it, but my intentions are to look glamorous throughout the whole five days...starting with the airport.

We're so used to seeing celebrities waltz into the airport looking like they've been styled to perfection for days. Especially Victoria Beckham, who looks effortlessly chic on any outing. Although I'm not a celebrity and have nowhere near a celebrity budget, a girl is allowed dreams and I thought i'd share them with you.

For the next five minutes, imagine what you would wear if you had endless cash. Would you be strutting through the private lounge with Louboutins or Jimmy Choo? Wearing a printed Cavalli dress or Marc Jacobs?

Leather Jacket by Gucci
Jumpsuit by Azzaro
Handbag by Saint Laurent

When I'm dreaming of leading an extravagant life far from my own, I usually try to find a website that can give me inspiration. These outfit choices have come from Cruise Fashion - perfect for those looking for some holiday luxury. Cruise Fashion is one of the UK's leading luxury retailers with a vast selection of designer brands, including a girls best friend - designer handbags and designer shoes.

The outfit above is simple classic and makes me think of sipping cocktails on the French Rivera. Red is one of my favourite colours and teamed up with white, it gives a bold colour statement.

Handbag by Givenchy
Alexander McQueen Dress
Jimmy Choo Shoes

This second outfit makes me think of a Moroccan destination or somewhere heavily infused with culture. I love Alexander McQueen prints and the way the brand can make the most simplest of outfits a piece of art.

I may not have the latest Alexander McQueen dress or those beautiful Jimmy Choo's, but for now I have my Gucci sunglasses and an abundance of beautiful high street clothes. I can't wait.

Which outfit would you choose?

http://www.cruisefashion.co.uk/

The weather is getting hotter and the sun is getting brighter. If you haven't got a pair of sunglasses, now is the time to invest in them. I've always been a fan of big rimmed sunnies as they remind me of A list celebrities sunbathing in exotic locations. Victoria Beckham's sunglasses collection is one I definitely envy and even though they take up the majority of her face, I think they make her look mysterious and sexy. One of the big questions when buying a pair of sunglasses is do you go for an expensive pair or pick up several from Primark? My opinion is that you should always have a cheaper pair on hand, but designer is the way to go.

There are many online retailers now offering designer sunglasses at a fraction of the price you would buy them in store. It's a minefield trying to find which shops sell the real deal and which shops are secret phoney dealers, but if you read the reviews carefully, you'll discover that. Pretavoir is an online designer sunglasses retailer that has been running since 2009. They sell an array of beautiful designer sunglasses at a lower price than their high-street rivals. Pretavoir approached me to do a review on their service and having wanted to purchase a new pair of sunglasses, I agreed. I fell in love with this pair from Gucci when I first discovered them in Harvey Nichols, so I knew these were the ones for me and suited my face shape.

When I received the sunglasses, they looked faultless and you could tell they were authentic by the serial number I was given and the design/number printed on the inside of the arms. The glasses came with a Gucci sunglass case, which is recycling friendly and also a Gucci duster - perfect.

When trying them on, I noticed that the glasses were sturdy and fitted really well. They really suit my face shape and although the rims are slightly big for my face, I think they are one of my favourite pairs of sunglasses I own. The glasses came to £125 and the price I saw them at in store a few months, maybe a year ago was approximately £180, so there's a generous saving to be made at Pretavoir.

I love my new sunglasses and can't wait to get out in the sun with them today for the first time. Pretavoir have been a reliable company and made buying my sunglasses a pleasant experience, I would definitely do this again.

Snobby sunglasses pose...everyone has to do it.

www.pretavoir.co.uk

As many of you know, I've been engaged since April 2012 and I have some exciting news to tell you all. As of yesterday evening, me and my partner James have placed the deposit down on our wedding reception. I'm beyond excited and I seem to have gone into wedding overdrive. I'm not getting married until 2014, but it's great that we're so prepared and we can have a gradual planning session rather than doing the whole 'Don't Tell The Bride' thing of booking a wedding within 3 weeks. Of course, being a really girly girl, I'm so excited about trying on wedding dresses in the near future, so I decided to celebrate by showing you some of my favourites online.

My wedding theme is 1950s/60s. Me and my partner can't choose with decade we really prefer, so we're going for the turn of the decade. Think Dreamboats and Petticoats and early Beatles. I'm looking for a dress with plenty of elegant lace and quite big. This top dress is from the Maggie Sottero range. I love the beautiful lace top half and how the lace trails along the bottom. I have slightly bigger hips so I like the fact that this dress goes in at the wait then out again.

This second dress still has the lace elements that I really like, but it's much more slimline. I'm not overly keen on the gloves, but the dress looks beautiful. It's simple, yet incredibly elegant.

The final dress is known as the 'Snow White' dress. I love the floral decoration on the top and the fact that it looks so retro. Right now if I had to choose one dress, this would definitely be it.

Whilst we were discussing wedding plans at the hotel last night, we were told that the hotel is pet friendly and that guests are allowed to bring dogs if they are struggling for accommodation. Words cannot describe how happy I am to hear that my little yorkshire terrier, Ozzy, can be a guest at my wedding. Of course he isn't allowed in the reception room, but he can be in my wedding pictures and have a lie down upstairs whilst we all party. I definitely need to look at dog tuxedos...

Which dress would you choose?

New Discoveries: Champagne and Lemonade

Shopping is my favourite hobby...besides water sports, playing guitar and of course, being with my fiance. I spent on average at least four hours a week window shopping and as soon as payday comes around, my allocated spending money is quickly distributed through shopping outlets and Ebay. Although the high-street can give you an array of clothing and high end stores leave you gazing into the windows, there's something about going on an internet spree that gives me a buzz. The internet has a vast amount of clothing stores, accessories and everything you want, you can browse for. You can shop around for hours whilst you paint your nails, listen to music and get excited about your new deliveries. You can stumble across new stores that you wouldn't particularly see in your hometown and search for new, innovative designs from smaller companies. To really highlight the wonders of internet shopping, I'm bringing you my latest set of features - The New Discoveries. Each week I will profile a new store that has really grasped my attention and invite you all to the places that you may not know.

Champagne and Lemonade is an online store that came to my attention as I searched for Hollywood glamour on a budget. They are a fashion broker team, that specialise in pre-loved designer clothing and accessories. With London Fashion Week just around the corner, everyone's searching for the next big thing in the industry. We are lusting after designer clothes more than ever, but not necessarily having the budget. I admit that every time I look at my Alexander McQueen scarf, my mind attempts to justify why I spent £185 on a small pink skull scarf that I barely wear. But when I wear it, my heart gets the flutters, I love feeling the Italian silk draped round my neck and it instantly becomes priceless.

This is where Champagne and Lemonade have managed to get my attention. Their prices are reasonable and for a student with an interest in high end fashion, it makes purchasing an item with a designer label far more achievable. The majority of clothing from the site is pre-loved - which personally I don't mind. I like to think of it as buying a piece of history, even if it's only a few years or several months old. The person that wore it before could have travelled the world, dined with the royals or simply hung it in their wardrobe for hours, but its the guessing that opens the imagination and brings the item to life. If you're struggling to see things through my outlook, there's also a section on the site named 'Never Worn Once', which as the title states, the clothing has never been worn before, but is still sold at a discounted price. All the items in store are authentic and have a free returns policy if you're unhappy with the items. Here's several looks that I've created to get you in the shopping mood.

Vintage Inspired

1960s secretary chic with lemon yellows, black cape coats, lace dresses and kitten heels. Vintage clothing is on the comeback this fall and there's lots of beautifully crafted chiffon dresses on the market and fitted cloaks for you to get your hands on.

Evening Glamour

Sparkle is on it's way for Christmas and the gothic look is back for the autumn. High end makeup looks are currently featuring smokey black eyes, bright red lipsticks and the fashion teams are using leather pants and glitter to channel a rock'n' roll vibe. The neon green clutch adds a burst of vibrant colour to the outfit.

Cocktail Hour

Cocktail hour has to be my favourite. The Jonathan Saunders dress has a bold, impressionable print that would be great for cocktails with friends or to be dressed up for a formal event. It is bound to grab attention and the figure hugging design will leave you with a body to envy. Words cannot explain how much I'm in love with this dress.

I seriously can't wait until I get paid as I can see so many items I would like to buy.

http://champagneandlemonade.com/

What do you think of this website?

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*All photographs were taken from the site and not by me. Please do not copy or paste these images - ask for permission from the website first.

Spring is just around the corner and if you're anything like me, you'll soon be planning a spring or summer holiday. Today, I managed to see the first glimpse of sun as I walked to University and I couldn't help, but dream of being somewhere hot and for the first time, getting into a bikini.

Here is the new 2012 swimwear collection by young designer, Tatjana Anika. The swimwear is produced in Italy using the finest fabrics to enhance the beautiful female silhouette. I was drawn to this collection, due to the beautiful display of bold colours and the fabric that looked to move effortlessly in the photographs.

Tatjana Anika has recently worked with the spanish born international supermodel Eugenia Silva on her latest clothing range.

Luckily, I was able to get a quick question and answer session with the lovely designer and here is what she had to say about her love for fashion and the experiences along the way.

When did you start developing a love for fashion?

I do not even remember the time I started to love fashion, I think its been a part of me and who I am as far back as I can remember! every memory I have, I pretty much know that clothing and what I was wearing was a main topic of discussion or argument with my mother!

Why did you decide to become a designer?

I wanted to have the opportunity to make things that I really wanted to wear and that I couldn't find or could only find in random, and sometimes very far away places, it started off with that simple reason. Then the more I researched and understood the market, the more I wanted to design and find my place within the beachwear industry. I find that designing really keeps me focused and I get very excited about ideas while working, thats when I know I made the right decision becoming a designer. It really fulfils me and makes me happy.

Where does your inspiration come from?

The greatest inspirations can come from anywhere. When it comes to the textile designs we use, the inspiration can come from a art book that I see on my brothers coffee table . That is why I always carry around a sketch-book so that I can keep these images and inspirations logged easily. I also flip through magazines religiously to colours and prints that stand out to me. Also looking back on fashion trends and looking at different forms of art also helps widen my perspectives. i've lately been looking at photography to inspire me on the new colour palettes for the next collection. I also get inspired by individuals, from people I see on the street to people I know.

Who would you say is your favourite designer?

There are a few that I really admire so much, but I can narrow it down to my top two who are Riccardo Tisci and Azzedine Alaia.I just love their work, its truly inspiring and original. In my mind they are true artists.

Who would you say is your fashion icon?

There a quite a few, but I must say, one of my favourites is Bridget Bardot, I just love her and her effortless style. She was sexy and cool and she was part of the "gypset culture" that I love. Everytime I watch her or see a photo of her my eye just lingers, her whole being and style are impossible not to lust after!

What was it like working with top supermodel Eugenia Silva?

Eugenia Silva is just one of the loveliest human beings. She lights up the set, is super care-free and is constantly making everyone laugh around her. She is a very good friend of mine and I must say her incredible beauty is only one of her many charms.

Which models and designers would you like to work with in the future?

Well we luckily get to work with Eugenia for another year which is incredible. I really do think she is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen and having her represent my brand is really wonderful . If I were to work with another model, I would love to work with Jessica Hart, there is something so charming about her and I really think her look appeals to a lot of girls, she seems very approachable as well being a stunning girl.

As for designers, I would love to work with so many, I admire so many, its hard to say. I would love to work with someone who is energetic and full of fresh new ideas and shares the same vision.

What have you got planned in the next few months?

The next few months are focused on designing for SS 2013, so we are working on textile designs and new shapes for the new collections, its all very exciting but is probably the most stressful time as you keep wondering how you are doing and if people will like what you are envisioning. But its really my favourite part of the whole process, its a very face paced time of the year and its very fulfilling to see your concepts come alive and hopefully become appreciated.

All the models look beautiful in this photoshoot and Tatjanas designs will look great on the beach this summer, I really can't wait to see more.

http://www.tatjana-anika.com

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Reem Juan studied at London College of Fashion and launched her label in November 2010. Her designs are classic and timeless, drawing inspiration from the likes of Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn.

With soft feminine colours and beautiful soft tailoring, her designs have that elegant touch that everyone needs in their wardrobe.

As soon as I saw these images, I was captivated by their elegance and beauty, using beautiful romantic soft colours that I would love in my wardrobe and tailoring to suit the beautiful female silhouette.

It will be awhile until I'm able to afford any of these amazing designs, but I'm happy to draw inspiration for my 2012 wardrobe from them and hope in the future, that I will one day own one of these remarkable pieces of art.

Prices start from £545 and can be purchased on the website, where customers can directly contact the designer.

www.reemjuan.com

Happy Friday everyone!

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This week has been incredibly busy, but I wouldn't have changed it for the world. I have been to two cities and chilled out at two very fun and glamorous events, Manchester Loves Fashion and the Clothes Show Live. Manchester Loves Fashion was pretty fun and I attended the event with those two glamorous ladies pictured above, my best friends Oliva (on the left) and Emma (on the right). We started the night by dining on Pizza Hut and finished by leaving on the train with a goodie bag of Durex and Makeup samples.

The second event of the week was the Clothes Show Live, which was amazing. It was like a fashionistas and beauty lovers paradise being surrounded by clothes and makeup. I was kindly given a press pass for the day, so I had endless of photograph opportunities, so here's a few of the photographs I took on the day.

The Clothes Show live featured many catwalk shows and besides the main show, the clothes that stuck the most in my mind came from the Diet Coke/Company stage, where many of the people were styled by Fashion Blogger Bip Ling. These beauties that I'm about to show captured the street style of Paris, New York and London, which all looked elegant and exactly the way I would love to dress. This show was quickly followed by a parade of designs by many UK fashion colleges, all of which were incredible.