JULY MUST-BUYS: CLOTHING, BEAUTY, ACCESSORIES ETC.

Hello everyone! Seeing as now we are a few days into July, i just couldn't not keep up with my new monthly tradition this year of my monthly must-buys post. Just in-case you didn't know what i mean by must-buys, it is basically all of the things i have either purchased or want to purchased towards the end of the previous month/the upcoming month from clothes to homeware and even books...

1. l'Oréal chocolats matte liquid lipstick in the shade sweet tooth | £7.99 |

So i had actually spotted these on Instagram last month and as soon as i saw the shades i was like, yep those are for me (once a nude lipstick hoarder, always a nude lipstick hoarder ha ha). I actually placed an order yesterday on Superdrug and picked myself one up in the shade sweet tooth, which is the most beautiful shade.

2. missguided pink pom pom and tassel wicker shopper bag | £20 |

I have mentioned in a few other fashion related posts how much i am living for the whole straw/wicker style bags and i think i found the one that i love the most, out of all the others i have laid eyes on. This bag from Missguided to me literally screams summer/beach bag, as well as being slightly different and also £20 is such a bargain!

3. worth the risk by k.bromberg (kindle) | £2.99 |

So if you caught my goodreads summer/beach holiday romance must-reads post, then you will have read me talking about this specific book by K.Bromberg (aka one of my new favourite authors). I am completely obsessed with the Driven series, which i have completely binge-read as it was that gripping and addictive. So this is book by the same author, which is her latest release is definitely at the top of my next book purchase list.

4. yankee candle sandalwood vanilla large candle jar | £23.99 |

Yankee Candles are by far my favourite brand of candle, so naturally i am going to be intrigued by their latest launch/limited edition candles. This particular candle Sandalwood Vanilla, is that perfect summers evening scented candle as it has all the notes that scream beach days, mixed with the vanilla notes that throw off a warming scent.

5. asos cami tops (upto 70% off sale) | from £2 |

So for a couple of weeks now ASOS have had a upto 70% off sale on selected items, with new items being added daily and i of course decided to take advantage of that by picking up some new cami style tops for summer. I picked up a total of 6 tops all ranging from a sale price of £7-£15 each (majority out of stock now). I definitely recommend visiting the site, because you could bag yourself some bargains.

6. dyefor personalised marble iphone case | £9 |

I was in desperate need of a new phone case and i wasn't feeling any on the Skinnydip site, so i decided to look else where and i came across the dyefor site and what sold me was how much variety they had, as well as being able to personalise your case. This is the particular case i went with, i love the mixture of marble and light pink design and obviously i had Katie written on it because that is my name ha!

7. shein kimono tops | from £5.99 |

Another one of my favourite clothing pieces for summer and also holiday are kimono's, as they can not only easily change the way a plain outfit looks but they are great just to cover up if you don't want to burn your shoulders yet they are still super lightweight and not hot in the slightest. You can get so many different styles from so many different brands but this year Shein have so many beautiful ones, that are super affordable.

8. shein gold plated buckled open bracelet | £2.25 |

Finally also when i placed an order recently on Shein, i had a quick look at their accessories section and i noticed how many great affordable versions of high-end bracelets they had. I am all about simple jewellery and i love different gold bracelets, that are simple but i don't want to break the bank doing it. So Shein is a must-look place if you are looking for something similar to this, as well you must look at their bag section.

Catch up on a similar post HERE...

xo.

TIPS + TRICKS | HOW TO STAY STYLISH FOR LESS

Hello everyone! Staying "on-trend"/up to date on style could be seriously costly, but it honestly doesn't have to be that way at all and there are so many ways to stay stylish for less money. This doesn't just count for clothing, style is more than just clothes it is also accessories, lifestyle choices and beauty. With that in mind for today's post, i thought i would share with you some of my tips and tricks on how to stay stylish on a budget...

1. swap designer labels for high-street pieces

You might think you are getting the best by spending the extra cash on a designer bag or clothing, yet you might be surprised what you can get on the high-street or online for a lot less. If you are a lover of designer handbags, then a way to get your hands on something super similar is by shopping on shein. This is where i picked up my "chanel boy bag" dupe from and the quality of the bags are really good for the price point. 

2. wait until there is a discount code or sale

When it comes to shopping online the best thing to usually do is wait it out, especially until there is a discount code or the item comes on sale. Clothing sites which have so many affordable versions of on trend pieces such as Boohoo, MissGuided and PrettyLittleThing have discount codes available weekly if not daily. This way you can pick up some items you have your eye one and save money by doing so.

3. save money on having your nails done by diy'ing them at home

Having a manicure/acrylics/gel nails every couple of weeks or once a month can quickly become costly at around £30 a time, save yourself money by giving yourself a manicure at home. Whether that be simply painting them, or adding your own acrylics which are simple to apply and can be picked up from as little as £1 from Primark (they are my favourites). Even if you like to get creative with nail art, watch tutorials or search Pinterest for easy step by step guides on how to re-create it on your own nails.

4. choose drugstore makeup over high-end makeup

When it comes to makeup i do love a good high-end product but there are definitely a lot of drugstore products that i love even more, especially when it comes to foundations. Wearing high-end makeup every single day can become costly, especially because you are going through things quicker so swap out your high-end foundation/concealer for everyday use and limit using high-end to weekends/special occasions. 

5. choose pieces that will go with multiple things

If you are going to invest in something, make sure before buying it is something that is going to go with more than one thing. There is no point in wasting your money on something you can wear only once, or with only one outfit. One of my favourite things to do is wear a simple outfit and switch up the way it looks with a different jacket, coat, cardigan and shoes. 

6. style your hair different

Another really easy step to look put together/stylish is to put in a little more effort when it comes to your hair, you could be wearing a simple pair of jeans and top but look really put together with a really easy to do hairstyle. My favourite thing to do is a easy DIY salon looking blow-dry at home, which i mentioned in a recent beauty hacks i swear by post. I also love doing voluminous waves, which can be super quick and easy to do by placing your hair in a high pony-tail and curling as you normally would before removing the hair-tie. 

7. how to afford luxury fragrances

Smelling good is sometimes as good if not the perfect way to finish off a stylish look and perfume can be super expensive, but there are ways to dodge the cost. A great tip is to shop/search for designer fragrance dupes from places such as Next, M&S, Primark and New Look for a lot less. Other great ways are to try out a fragrance subscription service or even shop duty free/sales. 

8. make your old clothes new again

Another great way to switch up some of your current wardrobe pieces is to do a little DIY on them, whether that be adding rips to a plain pair of jeans or making them into shorts. There are so many great step by step ways on how to DIY your clothing/accessories on Pinterest, which you would be surprised at how simple they are to do. If DIY isn't really your thing, you can also add things to an existing outfit such as a belt.

Catch up on my previous tips + tricks post HERE...

xo.

MY JANUARY MUST-BUYS | CLOTHING, ACCESSORIES + BEAUTY

Hello everyone! Now that we are in January things tend to go either way when it comes to that "after Christmas spending" period, some do no-spend January and some save their money for January, more specifically for the new-in items or sale items. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you a selection of things that are my personal favourite must-buy items this January, which is a mixture of things i have already bought and some that i still want to pick up. *some items linked are similar or limited stock on the sale items*

1. | missguided tan roll neck knitted jumper | £20 |

Now that it is January and we are well into winter, something warm, cosy and that is great for layering is going to be your best friend. This particular missguided number is perfect for doing just that, as it is such a neutral colour it will go with a so many different items all depending how you want to style it.

2. | dkny bryant park leather purse | was £90 now £60 |

If you are looking into investing or picking up a more "designer branded" purse then January is definitely the time to do so, as the majority of the department stores always have sales on. I was super lucky with mine as it was the last one in stock and i can't find it anywhere online now, but they have similar styles available.

3. | real techniques filtered face set | was £80 now £40 |

Just like i mentioned with the purses, the same applies with makeup brushes (which lets face it they can have a hefty price tag). Earlier this week i picked up this bargain half price real techniques set for just £40 instead of £80, which is such a good deal as it includes three different sponges (usually £5+ each), a brush holder and eight brushes (usually around £6+ each). I also received a different set also by Real Techniques for Christmas, which really inspired me to have a good clear out/brush replacement session.

4. | shein detail flap chain bag (chanel boy dupe) | £20.37 |

I have seen so many people talk about a site called Shein for a few months now and a fair few people have done hauls from the brand, so i decided to take a look for myself and i picked up this Chanel Boy bag dupe in the beginning of December. This particular bag is probably the closest dupe to the ever so expensive bag i have seen and to begin with before it arrived i wasn't too sure what the quality was going to be like, but i was proven wrong and now it is my go-to everyday bag at the moment. 

5. | st.tropez self tan luxe dry oil | £19.50 |

Seeing as we are in winter and we have all virtually lost our summer glow, more often than non we have to fake it and that can become a chore as all you want to do in the evenings is snuggle up in your cosy pyjamas in bed. That being said i love to stay tanned all year round, as it just makes me feel better within myself and this particular self tan dry oil is perfect for not only giving your that bronzed skin but also super hydrated skin.

6. | dorothy perkins mink apurla heeled boots | was £45 now £12 |

These particular boots are my most recent purchase and i am still waiting for them to arrive, but i am living for how stunning they are with the detailing on the block heel and not to mention how much of a bargain they were for just £12. I ordered mine from the Dorothy Perkins site which is now out of stock, but they still might be available in-store or on other Dorothy Perkins stocked sites. I can't wait to wear them already!

7. | boohoo natasha teddy fur biker style jacket | £45 |

I have been looking for a teddy styled jacket or coat for quite a while now and i noticed that Boohoo have quite a few different styles, new-in on their site and this particular one is definitely my favourite. I just love how cosy and warm, yet still stylish and versatile they are to just throw on and head out of the door. 

8. | topshop rio floral embellished cross body bag | £30 |

I am living for the different embellished cross body chained bags on Topshop at the moment, especially this particular style as it would go great with nude/neutral coloured outfits and also black outfits. Having a detailed bag in your collection is great to add a little something different, to an otherwise plain looking outfit.

9. | asos pimkie chunky cardigan | £39.99 |

During the winter months i love me a chunky knit cardigan, as they are just cosy and comfortable, as well as adding something to a plain pair of jeans and top. I really love this particular grey chunky knit cardigan, which is super similar to one i picked up last month in Primark along side a couple of others for just £13 each.

10. | anastasia beverly hills liquid lipstick set | £26 |

If you read my 2017 most read posts post, then you will have seen my review on finally being able to get Anastasia Beverly Hills lip products in the UK, either from their UK site, BeautyBay or Cult Beauty. That being said this particular set of mini liquid lipsticks (dazed, bittersweet and hudson) are great if you simply want to give a couple of shades a try, before picking up a full size or even if you have a friend's birthday coming up this month and are stuck on what to get them.

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

AUTUMN/WINTER KNITWEAR PICKS

Hello everyone! When it comes to the autumn/winter months, there is nothing better than layering up in something cute yet cosy and knitwear is one of my favourite items of clothing to go for. This autumn/winter season there are so many really nice items available online and in-stores, with that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you a selection of my favourite knitwear pieces at the moment.

1. boohoo beige mia all over pearl embellished jumper

Boohoo is actually one of my favourite places for knitwear and i own quite a few different pieces from jumpers to cardigans. I really like how this jumper is simple, cosy yet it still has something different about it with the pearl embellishment. This jumper also comes in blush, as well as grey and retails for £28GBP.

2. h&m light beige marl off-the-shoulder jumper

I love off-the-shoulder tops/jumpers and i really like this one because it isn't too much of a thick knit, yet it would still keep you warm but not over warm. I think this would look really nice paired with some simple black jeans and heeled boots. This jumper also comes in grey and retails for £17.99GBP.

3. new look camel faux pearl ladder knit jumper

As you can probably tell i am a fan of the natural knit jumpers, this camel coloured one from New Look (which also comes in grey) included. This jumper has similar detailing to the Boohoo pearl embellished but this jumper is a ladder knit finish, which is so easy to just throw on and you're comfy and good to go. This jumper retails for £27.99GBP and is available on both New Look in-store and online, as well as ASOS. 

4. topshop camel super soft crew neck jumper

Even though this particular jumper by Topshop is also a "camel" coloured knit, i feel like this one is warmer in tone to the one by New Look and also this one is a different finish of knit. These particular jumpers come in quite a few different colours and are a super soft knit, this jumper retails for £36GPB.

5. boohoo black erin cold-shoulder jumper

Another knitwear piece from Boohoo and another one of my favourite styles just like i mentioned above, i love a classic black cold shoulder piece as they go with everything. I also have a cold-shoulder cardigan which i purchased from Boohoo recently as well. This jumper retails for £20GBP, which is a bargain.

6. shein v neckline twist front sweater

I really like this particular style of jumper that seems to be on-trend this autumn/winter and that is this v neckline jumper with a twisted front, i like how it is simple yet different as i am not into patterns when it comes to jumpers. MissPap also have a really nice one similar to this one (available in three colours) but this one is a bargain, retailing for only £15.60GBP also coming in three colours. 

7. miss selfridge camel frill sleeve knitted jumper

Yet another "camel" coloured jumper, this time one with this beautiful sleeve detailing which is similar to the style of jumpers i love but with a frill detailing. When i was looking on the Miss Selfridge website, there wasn't too many sizes left but you can also get your hands on one from ASOS and it retails for £35GBP.

8. boohoo diana cold shoulder moss stitch jumper

Last but not least we have the bargain of the post and another cold-shoulder/Boohoo combination. This jumper is a classic piece that would go with pretty much anything you paired it with, it also comes in not one, not two but thirteen different colours and retails for only £12.

Catch up on last weeks posts here:

tips & tricks on how to save money/get organised for christmas

music at the moment

  six beauty tricks that actually make a difference

xo.