Blossoming flowers are spring’s trademark. Whenever I think of spring or summer, my mind fills up with images of beautiful flowers in many bright colors. In fashion, Florals is the trend that embodies the very essence of spring and summer. I know that, as Miranda Priestly remarked in Devil Wears Prada, Florals are not the most groundbreaking spring trend; if anything they are an expected one. However, there would be no spring fashion without any Florals. Just because something is expected it doesn’t mean it is ordinary and uninteresting. I love Florals because they add a girly vibe to an outfit. This year, designers have added their own romantic twist to this old trend by creating more delicate patterns, which in turn add femininity to a look. From clothes and shoes to jewelry and accessories, this season’s Florals have a more romantic, ethereal and playful twist. Below are some of my favorite ways to add some flowers to your spring/summer wardrobe.
Tops and Jackets
Match a floral top to a pair of jeans or shorts for the perfect fresh, casual look. Add a floral jacket and spice up even the simplest outfit.
A floral skirt or a pair of floral shorts are another way to add a spring inspired, girly touch to a casual outfit. Match them with one-color tops for a more balanced look or with patterned ones for the bolder souls.
If you don’t want the floral pattern to have a strong place in your look but a more discreet one, you can add a few touches with a beautiful floral bag, a pair of killer blossoming shoes or even a nice flower-inspired piece of jewelery. Viva the accessories ladies!
Beautiful floral prints on shoes, tops, skirts and dresses, are one of the most popular trends for this season. I love wearing a flower inspired piece with a pair of jeans for a casual yet ultra feminine look. I am in love with all the pieces above; I even have some like the wonderful off-the-shoulder ZARA top and they cute New Look playsuit. What are your favorite floral pieces? Also don’t forget to hit me up on my Instagram (@vogueandmacarons) and Twitter (@vogueandmacaron). I would love to hear from you guys!
Spring has arrived for a while now, bringing the festival season with it. From Coachella to Glastonbury, festivals are a great place to listen to some amazing music, dance like crazy and basically have the greatest time of your life. What I also love about festivals though, is the clothes; those boho, relaxed, hippie festival outfits and looks, just fill my heart with joy. With a festival look, you have to combine style with comfort, as you are going to be walking around in the same clothes for hours in any kind of weather. Below I share my personal festival style must haves so you can be the queen of coolness without sacrificing your comfort.
Denim is the first thing that pops in mind when thinking of being comfortable. Since spring and summer are the hot seasons of the year, a nice pair of denim shorts would be the perfect choice for an outfit. High-waisted hot pants for a boho 70’s vibe or looser and distressed for a more rock 80’s vibe, shorts are the most relaxed and casual piece I know – besides my pyjamas. You can style them with basically whatever top you like from bralets and crochet tops to denim shirts (I love double denim) and sweatshirts. Another denim piece I consider a festival must is the denim jacket. The weather can be pretty unpredictable even in the hot summer; therefore a denim jacket is a cool way to keep yourself warm while dancing.
A flowy, skater dress is another perfect festival attire. It is easy to dance in and can be a statement piece. Fringe, boho prints and off shoulders are my personal favorite styles. Nothing embodies the 70’s better than a beautiful dress with fringes or exposed shoulders, and we all know how the 70’s rule the festival season. Another option for the bolder souls out there, are the crochet dresses combined with a plain bodysuit or a swimsuit. A crochet dress basically is made either for festivals or the beach! It has a very relaxed vibe to it and it is perfect for the hot weather.
Accessories play an important part in a festival outfit. They make the outfit special and festival appropriate plus they are also practical and helpful. Sunglasses are really important as well as a hat since you will be dancing and wandering around under the hot sun. Also the bag you will bring with you is a very important accessory. A nice backpack with tassels will be a great choice as it adds to the bohemian vibe but also has enough space to fit a few important things for the festival like water, phone, portable charger, snacks and sunscreen. If you don’t intend to carry a lot during the day, then a funnypack will be perfect as it fits the major necessities and you will have your hands free to move around. Jewels are also important festival accessories, because they compliment the outfit and top up the final look. Big, chunky necklaces and arm cuffs are some of the 7o’s inspired jewels perfect for a music festival.
Another important part of a festival outfit is the shoes; the shoes have to be comfortable and without lacking any style. My personal choice would be a pair of sneakers, as they are the most comfortable shoes for walking and dancing. But since the weather is quite warm, sneakers might prove to be a bit too hot to wear for hours. Therefore, I would choose a nice pair of espadrilles which are still very comfortable and stylish but not too hot. Or a pair of sandals would be a nice summery choice. Sandals are the most stylish choice as they add to the whole 70’s bohemian look and they are quite comfortable. Or a pair of wellies if the weather is not hot as expected but rainy and chilly instead. Wellies are a trend when it comes to bad weather or festivals.
When it comes to tops, I love chrochet and off-the-shoulder tops with aztec print because they have a 70’s hippie vibe. Tassels and fringe tops are also a great choice as well as bralets! Style them with shorts or maxi skirts and you will look like you jumped right out of a 70’s magazine. Top them of with a long kimono or a crochet cardigan for a complete boho look.
Festival season has arrived and I couldn’t be more excited although I am not going to any *insert sad face*. Festival outfits should be fun and comfortable and they should express your festive spirit. However, no matter what you wear just remember to have fun, because that’s what festivals are all about. Comment below and share your favorite festival pieces or outfits. Also don’t forget to connect with me via my Instagram (@vogueandmacarons) and Twitter (@vogueandmacaron)!
Every time I see a top with the shoulders exposed, my inner Esmeralda (Hunchback of Notre Dame) awakes. I love the bohemian and gypsy vibes that an off-shoulder blouse gives. Wearing an off-shoulder dress or top, is a very sexy way of showing some skin without revealing too much. It is an elegant and playful look. The off-shoulder neckline has been popular for decades with style icons like Brigitte Bardot and Jane Birkin rocking the style. Lately, with the whole 70’s trend comeback, the off-shoulders tops have been everywhere. They are versatile pieces you can match to a pair of jeans or shorts for a boho look, or to a pair of black pants or skirt for a more sophisticated and elegant look. I love how you can basically dress them up and down. Apart from the tops, equally popular are the off-shoulder dresses. They create a sultry look which I personally love. I am actually an off-shoulder girl more than a cleavage girl. I feel sexier in a midi dress with my shoulders exposed than in a midi dress with low cleavage. Also lets not forget the playsuits. An off-shoulder playsuit is a perfect alternative to a two-pieces look. It channels a very playful and carefree vibe. It is the perfect easy outfit for a day where you just can’t put an outfit together. With spring slowly setting in, off-shoulder tops, dresses and playsuits are a wardrobe must. Below are some of my favorite picks that are perfect for channeling your inner bohemian girl or gypsy queen.
I absolutely love all the pieces pictured above. From the cute bohemian ones to the more structured and sophisticated ones, all these pieces are spring-summer wardrobe essentials. Don’t be afraid to embrace the bare-shoulders trend ladies! It’s one of the hottest of the season. Are you guys in favor of the off-shoulders trend or not? I know I am! Let’s connect! Pop over my Instagram (@vogueandmacarons) and Twitter (@vogueandmacaron) and say hello!
March has arrived and we all what that means: spring has arrived as well! Maybe not fully yet, since the weather is still a bit chilly occasionally, but undoubtedly spring is slowly setting in. Just in a few weeks from now, the weather will be much warmer and brighter than currently and your wardrobe has to be ready to match the new wonderful weather. These 6 pieces are inspired by the powdery, pastel palette and they are the perfect pieces to take you from the cold and gloomy winter to the warm and vivid spring. I absolutely love powdery colors, especially pink; therefore, I am very excited to incorporate these pieces to my own wardrobe. The pieces include clothes as well as accessories, because an outfit is incomplete without accessories.
The powdery blue coat
Image2: www.asos.comImage1: www.missguided.com
Now you all know how much I love pastel pink; from all the pastel colors it is my favorite. However, this year, in order to stir up the routine, a lovely pastel blue coat is a great choice. Blue is very versatile color, as it works incredibly well with denim. It could easily replace the casual denim jacket and transform the look into something a little more sophisticated. It is also a lighter version of the navy blue coat. Blue is the color of the spring, cloudless sky. This Missguided cocoon coat (image1) in pastel blue and this ASOS below-the-knee coat (image2) in the same color are great alternatives to the usual pink coat. They are quite simple therefore perfect for daytime and casual outfits.
The baby pink flats
Image2: www.asos.comImage1: www.asos.com
I am a flat shoe lover. Being tall makes quite inconvenient for me to walk around 4 inch heels every day, plus I would totally look like a giant. I like how flat shoes apart from being very comfortable, they are also very girly and minimal. They complete my dreamy spring casual look. A pair of baby pink flats will be perfect for a pastel inspired spring outfit. They match with a variety of colors, which makes them a very versatile choice. These ASOS ballet flats with cutouts (image1) and these beautiful dusty pink lace-up flats from ASOS (image2) as well, have really caught my eye. They will look amazing with a cute, skater dress or even a pair of jeans. I love how they add a girly vibe to any plain outfit. Both pairs are simply gorgeous.
The pastel bag
Image2: www.zara.comImage1: www.michaelkors.com
In order to complete a sugary-colored outfit, you need a bag in a candy color; blue, pink, lavender or yellow, it doesn’t really matter as all these colors are wonderful and they all magically match to each other. My personal favorite is either pink or blue, because I find these colors the easiest to match and combine. I also love lilac a lot but it is neither as popular as pink nor as easy as to incorporate into an outfit. I am absolutely in love with this Michael Kors baby blue bag (image1). It is very simple with no pockets or compartments; just one zipper. I love its simplicity and convenience. It is a very pretty bag yet due to its color it definitely stands out. A more affordable option is this lovely salmon colored ZARA bag (image2). I actually have the winter version of this bag, which is black and brown. I really like this color as I don’t find it very ordinary. I have way too many bags but surprisingly none in this color. I think it’s a beautiful and elegant color, perfect for a casual spring look.
The lavender dress
Image1: www.asos.comImage2: www.missguided.com
A cute skater dress in a pastel color is the perfect choice for spring. It is very girly and playful like the spring weather. I really love purple and all the shades of it. Lavender/lilac is my favorite shade. I love it because it is a romantic color but a little edgier than pink. This gorgeous ASOS skater dress (image1) is very simple; no decorations or special cuts. Just a plain, long sleeve skater dress, whose color alone makes it stand out. Also I really like this Missguided knit off-shoulder lilac dress (image2). It has a casual and relaxed vibe, but the exposed shoulder adds sexiness to it. A pair of thigh-high boots and this dress would make a killer outfit.
The pink-gold sunglasses
Image1: www.rayban.comImage2: www.katespade.com
A pair of sunglasses is a necessary accessory of a warm-weather outfit. Not only it is convenient due to the sunny weather, it also tops off the entire look. This pair of the original Rayban aviator shades (image1) is simply beautiful; perfect bright pink shades with a delicate gold frame. The pair shades any girl needs for her joyful spring looks. These Kate Spade sunglasses (image2) are also a lovely spring choice. They come out in baby pink and mint color, which are the perfect spring pastels. Their cat-eye shape differs from the classic aviator one; it is a bit more feminine and sophisticated. I really like both pairs as they both stand out.
A look is not complete without jewellery. A bracelet, a ring or a necklace is the finishing touch to any outfit; they polish it. Since the pastel colors are this season’s must, a bracelet with all these lovely colors, is the best jewellery you could have this spring. This gorgeous Kate Spade bracelet (image1)combines all the colors mentioned above and then some. Therefore, it goes with practically everything. It is so bright and vivid; perfect for spring. Another alternative would be another cute Kate Spade bracelet (image2), which instead of many different stripes of color has many colorful ice creams. This is such a lovely and unique bracelet!
March is the first month of spring; the season where the flowers bloom and the weather just gets warmer and warmer. Therefore, a wardrobe change is necessary. It is time to slowly move from the dark and gloomy colors of winter to brighter and lighter colors. When it comes to spring and summer color palette, pastel shades never go out of fashion. Who doesn’t love candy-color inspired clothes and accessories? From romantic dresses and shoes to playful accessories, pastel shades are a season must. They are the best choice for moving on to the new season. Comment down below and share your favorite pastel shade. You know mine is pink! Also don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@vocgueandmacarons) and Twitter (@vogueandmacaron) and say hello!
Have you ever went through a day where you felt that your casual and comfortable outfit is just a little too “plain”? Did you feel that it is nice and stylish but it doesn’t stand out much? Yet you didn’t want to sacrifice your much-needed day-comfort for something too”out there” or “too much” for the daytime? Well this year the rules are thrown out of the window; glaming up your casual look is a trend and it looks amazing. Whoever said that you can’t match dazzling pieces with simple comfy ones, could not be more wrong. Even I am drawn more and more to glamorous, metallic pieces that I could just incorporate to my casual daily looks, so I can spice them up a bit. These 4 pieces are perfect for those who don’t want to step out of their comfort zone much but they do want to glam up their routine.
The metallic bag
Image1: www.asos.com
Image2: www.net-a-porter.com
Imagine wearing a pair of your favorite jeans with a jumper and a pair of ankle boots; a pretty plain and simple outfit we all wear in the daytime. Now replace your favorite day bag with a nice metallic colored one; let’s say a silver one. How much different will this outfit look? Instantly it will be transformed. A silver-colored bag will glam it up and catch everyone’s attention. The outfit won’t be plain anymore; it will be more special but not in a tacky way. No matter how much I love this metallicChloe Drew bag(image2), this beautiful silver ASOS(image1) one is much more affordable and simply stunning.
The metallic shoes
Image1: www.topshop.com
Image2: www.neimanmarcus.com
A touch of metal is the perfect way to glam up a casual outfit. It doesn’t always need to be a bag. Although a bag could be the safest choice for those who don’t like stepping out of their comfort zone, another choice could be the shoes or even the clothes of the look. The shoes are my other favorite option besides the bag. They are more daring and unconventional but the whole result could easily look tacky. However, with the right amount of metal and the right styling, the casual outfit would look more glamorous and you wouldn’t feel like you are in a futuristic movie. I love silver more than gold in an outfit, because it seems closer to white and it is more toned down. Therefore, I would love to add these Topshop loafer style silver flats(image1) to my casual outfit. Their price tag is incredible and they look so pretty. Not that I wouldn’t mind theseYves Saint Laurent pumps(image2) but their out of my reach. Plus I don’t feel comfortable with high heels on day basis. But boy do they look breathtaking!
The embellished skirt
Image1: www.asos.com
Image2: www.asos.com
Moving on a little from the metallic accessories, another way to glam up a casual look would be an embellished skirt. It could be embellished with gems, rhinestones, sequins or even studs. Pairing a skirt like that with a nice jumper or a t-shirt and a pair of flats or even sneakers, would result in an unusual everyday look. If the skirt is entirely made of sequins then I suppose it might be a little too much, but a nice pattern with gems, like this gorgeous lavender ASOS skirt (look at the price!) (image1), would look adorable. Or how about this grey Monki jersey skirtwith gemstones (image2)? I can picture it with a pair of white sneakers and a jumper already!
The necklace
Image1: www.asos.com
Image2: www.asos.com
Lastly, another much simpler way of glaming up a casual look, would be the most obvious: a piece of jewellery. Adding a statement necklace to a plain white jumper, or a t-shirt or even a shirt, would jazz up the look on the spot. It wouldn’t be as dramatic as the previous choices, nor as daring, but it would be eye-catching nonetheless; like this gorgeous From St. Xavier gold necklace(image1), which is simple yet definitely eye-catching. I would love to match it to a cream or navy jumper. Or how about this New Look crystal necklace(image2)? We all know that a crystal necklace is a perfect classy and glamorous addition to any look. This necklace will turn even a simple t-shirt/jeans outfit into a more sophisticated and elegant one.
Adding some sparkle to an otherwise plain, casual outfit is an easy way to change and spice up your dressing routine. Without changing your style much or leaving your comfort zone, with these 4 pieces you can glam up your look and feel more special and dazzling even in the middle of the day. A casual outfit doesn’t mean it has to be plain or boring; it can be fun and interesting. How do you guys glam up your daily casual outfit? I would love to hear from you so don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and say hi!
The chain bag has always been a statement piece of a woman’s wardrobe. The pioneer who introduced it to the fashion world was none other but the amazing Coco Chanel, who was looking for an alternative, more comfortable way of carrying her bag. This resulted in the creation of the most iconic chain bag, the Chanel 2.55. In my opinion, it is the ultimate elegant bag. It is simple and comfortable, yet classy. Not every look needs to be loud; I always believed that elegance equals minimalism. A flap bag, in a quilted diamond pattern with a double chain strap, can complete any look. Even when you’re wearing a pair of jeans and a jumper or a sweatshirt, carrying a chain a bag will make you look more put together and more elegant. It simply has the power of transformation. Another thing I love about this bag, is that you can dress it up and down. It is very versatile. You can carry it in the daytime but also at night, as the perfect company of a lovely dress and a pair of sexy heels. The bag’s success and popularity have turned it into a symbol of power, femininity and class.
Image: www.moschino.com
However, we all know that this bag doesn’t come cheap; it actually worths thousands of dollars. Even though this is a price many are willing and able to afford, there are many others – me among them – who can’t or don’t want to. However, a beautiful chain strap bag is a key piece for many looks and should be part of any wardrobe. If you long for a gorgeous chain bag but at an affordable price, do not worry; there are many quite similar alternatives at a much lower price. My personal favorite that I have, I love, have and I aspire to get in many other colors, is from Moschino. I love that Love Moschino quilted bag with a chain strap. It really reminds me of the Chanel one. It doesn’t have the number of pockets the Chanel has, but it has enough space for all the necessary items I always carry with me. It is light, stylish, simple, convenient and much more affordable. I have received so many compliments on mine!
Image: www.zara.com
Another, more affordable, beautiful chain bag is the ZARA Chain City bag. It is a beautiful black bag with a heavy chain detail and strap. It is very elegant but with some edge. It is much cheaper from both the Chanel and the Love Moschino ones, but it doesn’t have bad quality. I actually am really fond of Zara’s bags. I like its how stylish and modern its designs are plus some timeless pieces it has every year. The City bag is exactly that; a timeless stylish yet classy bag. And at a great price!
Image: www.asos.com
Lastly, another even more affordable alternative, would be the ASOS Quilted Lock Cross body bag. It is very similar to the Chanel 2.55, with the quilted design and the chain strap. Very minimal without any details, it stays true to the effortless and simple Chanel style. Plus, it is the cheapest alternative of the three, which is great. Who says that you can be stylish, classy and on trend only if you splurge on it? You can easily recreate the classy and sophisticated Chanel look with this gorgeous bag.
A plain quilted chain strap bag, is an important part of a woman’s wardrobe. It can accompany many outfits, from casual to dressed up ones. It can turn any look into classier and more elegant, without losing the relaxed and effortless vibe. Although the queen of this bag category is the iconic Chanel 2.55, nowadays there are many alternatives of different price ranges. In the end it doesn’t matter how expensive your bag is, but how you carry it. You can always look fabulous and stylish without breaking the bank. Comment down below and share your favorite chain strap bag. Also don’t forget to pop over my Insragram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) to say hi!
Flipping through the pages of my favorite magazines while looking for some inspiration, I always come across some amazing looks that sadly cost a fortune. Therefore, I enjoy recreating those high-end looks with more affordable pieces. Who said that you can’t look like a million bucks with pieces that cost way less? Looking chic and on-Pointe doesn’t always mean that you have to spend every last penny you own; picking the right pieces at the right price can have the same gorgeous effect. One look that really caught my attention was a mixture of denim and grey. I like the simplicity of this casual look and how versatile it can be. To add my own twist to the look, I incorporated a blue denim jacket. Let’s take a better look of the 5 Key Pieces of this outfit!
Low heel shoes
Images: www.en.vogue.fr, www.topshop.com
Low heel pumps are quite the emerging trend right now. Not that they weren’t before, but lately more and more brands are coming up with statement low-heeled shoes. These Topshop Soft Glove Mid heels, are a great alternative to the beautiful two-tone Chanel ones. I love how the Topshop ones are minimal with no details and have a ballet-style design with the high front. They are perfect for the sophisticated casual look he more expensive choice has. Although I went for the light grey version of them, they come in many colors from black and grey to red and coral.
Two-tone bag
Images: www.selfridges.com, www.katespade.com
One of the hottest trends of this season, are the two-tone patterns. You can find them on shoes as well as bags. The contrasted color duo spices up any simple outfit without being too “loud”. Although I am a fan of one-color bags, this two-toned Chloe is simply to-die-for. It actually combines two seasonal trends: the two-tone design and the saddle style. Such a chic purse, which can accompany any look! A great dupe to this gorgeous bag would be this Kate Spade navy and powdery blue one. It is a lovely combination of two different shades of blue, that works really well with denim and the grey shoes.
High-waist mom jeans
Taking a break from the most popular skinny jeans, this casual, laid-back look features a pair of high-waist mom jeans. Mom jeans are an 80’s trend that in the last few years has made a comeback. I personally love how relaxed a pair of mom jeans is. They are comfortable and flattering, especially if they are high-waist ones. I love high-waist jeans because they elongate the legs and draw attention to the slim waist. Although the expensive version featured these quite pretty Whistle skinny jeans, I decided to replace them with a pair of mom jeans just to spice the look up a little bit. Skinny jeans are amazing, but a change every now and then is good. This pair of ASOS Farleigh High Waist Mom jeans in this vivid blue shade will look amazing with the blue two-tone blue bag.
Grey jumper
Images: www.selfridges.com, www.asos.com
Grey is my favorite winter color right after the all-time favorite black. I love wearing pastel shades of it, because they can be worn all year round. A grey jumper is a great alternative to a white or even a black one. In this look, I decided to add a switch to the usual blue and white navy style, by replacing the white, nautical-themed Max Mara jumper with this grey ribbed New Look one. I love how it matches the shoes but not in a tacky matching way, and how it just brings the look together and adds to its overall simplicity.
Denim jacket
Image: www.asos.com
Although the original high-end look didn’t have any outwear, I believe that a nice denim jacket would actually complete the whole look. Lately I am exploring the denim-on-denim style and I have to admit I really like it. A nice, oversized denim jacket in a similar shade to the jeans, it would an 80’s tone to this outfit. I really like this ASOS denim jacket with the fur lining. It can keep you warm like a coat would, but it is more simple and casual than a coat, which is why it really completes the look.
Although I love the lovely looks with high-end pieces that are featured in the fashion magazines, I don’t believe you can’t achieve the same style without breaking the bank. You can always recreate the look with more affordable dupe pieces and look equally dashing. This specific look is an all time classic nautical blue and white one. It is elegant and timeless. However, I decided to twist it up a little bit by replacing white with light grey. I love the combination of grey and blue! It is minimalistic and classy. I would love to know what you guys think of the look! Also don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and say hi!
Hello lovelies! I never was a craft-friendly person. I am terrible at drawing and at anything that involves glue, scissors and paint. Therefore, I am not very good at DIY projects, not matter how I excited I am and willing to give them a try. With that in mind, once I found a picture of this Chanel inspired lamp on Pinterest, I instantly fell in love. It is a cute little lamp that can totally transform a plain room and add some character to it. As a fashion blogger, I love anything that is brand related; from mugs and candles to pencils and paintings. This lamp although it looks easy and simple enough to make, it was a bit of a challenge to someone who hasn’t been into DIY projects much. I only just recently started to warm up to the idea of creating bits and bobs on my own for my house.
This lamp is quite easy to make and not demanding at all. You will need a canvas (I chose a rectangular one because I feel it is better for the design and also with some width), some black paint, a brush, a pair of scissors, some LED fairy lights (mine are a 12 pack from IKEA and they are battery-powered), a ruler and a pair of compasses.
STEP 1
For this step you basically design your entwined Cs. Use your ruler to measure the distance of your two Cs from the sides of the canvas. You have to be very specific and careful with your measurements because the Cs must be mirroring each other. After you measure the space and decide where you would be happy with your Cs, use your pair of compasses to design them. It is much easier than what it seems, trust me!
STEP 2
Once you have designed your Cs then you need to paint them. I used an acrylic black paint and I mixed it with some water. I didn’t mix it too much because I like the paint to be a bit on the thicker side. Gently and using a small brush paint the two Cs. It doesn’t matter much how you are going to paint them, but it will look better and less messy if the strokes have the same direction. Once you finishing painting the Chanel logo, let the canvas dry. It will dry pretty fast but I let mine for a couple of hours, just to make sure and to avoid making smudges.
STEP 3
This step is going to be a little harder. Once your painting is completely dry, get your ruler and measure the spots where you are going to put your lights. So if you have 12 fairy lights, you need to space them out equally on the 2 Cs. With your ruler you will measure equal spaces between every two lights. Once you mark the spots, get your scissors and start creating holes on each spot. You need the scissors as the canvas has fibers that you will have to cut. Carefully start creating the holes. I found that using the pointy tip of my pair of compasses and create many tiny holes at first, makes easier for my scissors to cut through the canvas. In order to avoid making your holes too big, try to insert the fairy light and if it barely fits, then your hole is ready. Once you finish all the holes, just push the lights through them and you are done! Last thing is to put batteries and tuck in the cables at the back of the painting so they are not in the way.
I know it is not a major DIY project but I love its simplicity. It is perfect for the bedroom and living room and it adds a touch of “couture” to every space. You can use other logos if Chanel is not your favorite brand but they have to be logos with plain letters and not full words, because in that case you would need a big canvas and more lights. Plus, it would look so cluttered in my opinion. Also you can use whatever colors you like although, no other color expresses Chanel better than black. What do you guys think of the lamp? If you guys create the lamp or something inspired, upload it on Instagram with the hashtag #mycooldiy. I would love to see what you guys have made! Also don’t forget to pop over my Instagram (@blueberrylover) and Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) to say hi!
Hello lovelies! I can’t believe Christmas is just around the corner! I am so excited thinking of all the food and sweets and just how fun that day will be. For a festive day like this, a festive look is appropriate. However, I am not a huge fan of extravagant makeup looks; I mostly like subtle yet glamorous makeup that does not look heavy on the face. I really like the old school Hollywood stars make up, where lips are the centre of the entire look. For this festive Christmas look, I will go for shimmery eyes but not too loud, and for bold lips. I am torn between red and purple, as I love purple lipstick a lot however, I believe red lipstick puts the F in Festive! So let’s get started shall we?
The face
In order to look extra glamorous and fresh on Christmas day, I moisturized my face using Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream. I really love how smooth and hydrated my skin feels afterwards. Then I used MAC’s Prep and Prime primer to prime my face so the makeup will not crease and stay in place for the day. In order to achieve a dewy base, I used a tiny bit of my Nars Sheer Glow foundation in the shade Mont Blanc, which I applied with a damp sponge. For under my eyes, I used my Bobbi Brown Corrector in the shade Bisque to cover my dark circles, and then I applied my Nars Radiant creamy concealer in the shade Vanilla. To set the base I used my Rimmel Stay Matte powder in the shade Transparent. Once everything is set, it’s time for the highlighter and blush. For blush I used MAC’s Breath of Plum because I find it a lovely winter color that ties well with gold shimmery shades. For highlighter I used my Physician’s Formula “Natural Nude” palette. I love this multipurpose palette and especially the top white colors for highlighting. I applied the highlighter on my cheekbones, inner eye corners and my cupid’s bow. I am not a huge fan of contouring and bronzing however, I used my Anastasia Beverly Hills contour kit palette to bring some warmth to my pale face. I used the middle bottom shade because it is perfect for very pale skin, and I applied it on the hollows of my cheeks and my forehead; but only a little because I didn’t want to end up with darker face than body. And with that the face is finished.
The eyes
Moving on to the eyes, I went for a shimmery yet subtle look. I wanted to keep the eyes bright and glamorous but not very strong as to overshadow the lips. To create the festive look I was going for I used two of my favorite palettes: Naked 2 (p1) by Urban Decay and Everything Nice (p2) by Too Faced. These palettes are extremely pigmented, which means you really need a small quantity each time on your brush. First I applied the color Turtle Dove (p2), which is a creamy matte white, all over my lid and up to my brow bone, in order to create the perfect base. Then from the first palette (p1) I used the color Bootycall (I know right?) on my lid. This is a nude-peachy metallic color, which is going to deepen my lid a bit. Then, from the second palette (p2) I applied the color Shinny Happy on the centre of my lid. This is a shimmery, cool toned gold. It sets the base for the glamorous part. With a fluffy brush I blended the color Suspect (p1), which is a silvery gold, on the edge of my crease to brighten the eye a bit. Lastly I used the color Don’t Settle (p2), which is a brown-gold color, on the outer corner of my eye and all the way to the middle, to make the look a little bolder and tie everything in. On the inner corner of my eye, as mentioned before, I used my highlighter. On my lower lashline, I used the color Don’t Settle (p2) to enhance the look and make it a little more dramatic. I am not a big fan of liquid liner or eye liner in general, because I feel it looks heavy on my droopy eyes. Therefore, I choose to use a black eye shadow with an angled brush and I create a small wing which I bring to the middle of my lid and smudge it a little bit. I also connect the wing to my lower lashline until the middle as well. I don’t use fake lashes as I am rubbish at it however, I love mascara! I curled my lashes with my H&M curler and then I used Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye mascara. It makes the lashes longer and much fuller, perfect for a festive look. Of course we should never forget our eye brows. My eye brow routine is very simple. I brush them with a spoolie, then I fill them in a little with my Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown and I set them with a clear brow gel.
The lips
Last but not least, the lips. Remember the lips are the centre of the whole look. It’s the holidays so I decided after some conflict to use a lovely bright red lip color. First I muted my lips with some powder and then I used my MAC lip liner in Ruby Woo to line my lips slightly. I don’t go over my lips with my liner; I simple go over my natural lines and accentuate my cupids bow. I absolutely love red lipsticks. For this look I wanted a bright red but not orangey, so I used Rimmel’s Kate Moss number 10. Such a beautiful creamy red! It is not very matte or very glossy. If you want to go full on, then you can add some red or even clear lipstick on the top. To make sure my makeup will last and look amazing after a couple of hours, I set it with MAC’s Fix Plus spray.
I love how festive this look is, without being over the top. The eye makeup is a cool toned gold, paired with a bold and bright red lipstick. It is a look that can carry you throughout the day and night. You can have it on the Christmas table and the bar you might pop at night. It is flattering for everyone, as you can never go wrong with a red lipstick. I hope you like the look as much as I do. If you recreate it, share it on Instagram(@blueberrylover) and Twitter(@vickyinlalaland) with the hashtag #myshinyxmas.
Following my previous post, Christmas Gift Guide for Her, this post is going to be a Christmas Gift Guide for Him. It is a suggestion of what I consider great Christmas presents for the special guys in your life. I am so excited for the gift guide posts, because I love sharing lovely things I would definitely get for the people I care about. You guys already know how much I enjoy getting gifts for the people I love, so these posts are really fun for me and hopefully for you too! I always found shopping for a guy much harder than for a girl, mostly because I am quite unfamiliar with what a guy might like, plus guys have a smaller variety of categories of products they use. However, in this gift guide I have picked out some pretty cool things that I believe they would put a big smile on that special someone’s face.
Photo credit: www1.bloomingdales.com
A perfume set is always a lovely and safe choice of a present. I love perfumes, especially the male ones, because I love strong scents just like my mom. I absolutely love Dior’s Sauvage Coffret gift set. It features Dior’s newest perfume (yes the one with the Johnny Depp ad), which just happens to be amazing. Also it has the aftershave lotion, which is perfect for grooming and a small pocket spray you can actually refill. It is great for carrying around or travelling. I know it’s on the pricey side but it is truly an amazing and luxurious gift. Dior perfumes are among my favorite ones!
Photo credit: www.sephora.com
Another gift I consider very important for a guy, would be a shaving kit. I love getting my boyfriend different shaving kits so he can try out a few products from the range of different brands and decide the one which works best for him. The 4 Elements of the Perfect Shave Carry-On from The Art of Shaving, is one of my personal favorites. I got this for my boyfriend and he really enjoyed it. This kit is the carry on version which is half price from the regular one, and the products are travel sized. I believe it is a good introduction to the brand and in case it doesn’t work 100% for your guy, he can just keep the set for travelling purposes. The set has a pre-shave oil, a shaving cream, an after shave balm and a shaving brush. It basically is a complete set of everything necessary for the perfect shave! I really love the shaving brush; it adds such a splash of luxury and pampering. The set comes in an unscented version and in a lavender-scented one. But just to be fair, if your guy is on the beardy side, you could get him a beard grooming kit. I would recommend Jack Black’s Beard Grooming kit which contains an all over wash, a beard oil, a beard conditioning lube and a beard comb. My boyfriend has used Jack Black’s products before and he always was satisfied. The price is a plus as well!
Photo credit: www.aesop.com
While we are still in the grooming-pampering area, I believe another great Christmas gift would be a skin care set. A good skin care routine is not only a female issue; men should take good care of their skin as well. I would recommend Aesop’s Collective Care for Combination Skin. It’s a lovely set that consists of a face cleanser, a balancing toner and a rehydrating cream. Aesop is a skin care brand with plant-based products. I haven’t tried the brand yet although I am about to get my first product soon and I can’t wait. It has amazing reviews and it is highly recommended. I know it is quite pricey, but it will be a luxurious set that your special man will definitely enjoy!
Photo credit: www.playstation.com, www.amazon.com
Moving on from grooming products, I don’t know a single guy who does not love video games. I know it may sound such a cliché, but boy oh boy do they love video games! Mine does for sure. So it goes without saying that a video game related gift would be amazing! Since I am totally clueless when it comes to video games (I only have a Wii and Mario games), I would recommend 2 different game related gifts. First a Playstation Plus subscription sounds amazing. For a yearly subscription, he could get free games, discounts and game trials. I don’t know much but this sounds quite lovely! My second recommendation would be a 2-part gift; a game of your choice and an extra controller. How cool would that be right? I have no idea about games to recommend one from personal experience, but Fallout 4 is quite hyped and I really like the DualShock 4 Wireless controller in black color. This little duo would be an excellent gift for a PS lover.
Photo credit: www.amazon.com
Another lovely and vintage style present would be a Polaroid ZIP Mobile Printer. This little gadget that I have been lasting over for ages, allows you to print pictures from your phone on paper like an instant camera. I am really into the whole self-printing technology that is quite trending lately. I have a Fujifilm Instax camera and I absolutely love it. I like how all the pictures we snap on a daily basis on our phones, instead of keeping them in our computers or phones forever, we can print them out and put them around us so we can cherish the memories they bring. I find this gift really amazing. Just don’t forget to get a little pack of paper to go along with the printer!
The list gift I would recommend, as I did in the Hers gift guide, would be a big stocking filled with lovely smaller gifts. Imagine his surprise when he opens the stocking and finds all the little goodies inside. You could fill it in with Selfridges Men Grooming Kit, which 8 travel size products, a razor and of course the travel bag. This kit is so cute and it has everything a man needs when traveling from shaving to showering and moisturizing. Another lovely gift would be a leather wallet-phone case like Urban Outfitter’s Understated Leather Wallet Case. You can carry your phone, cards and cash plus I really like the color of it the design of the moon on the front. Such a pretty and masculine case. Or how about his own Makerskit Mason Cocktail Kit by Urban Outiftters which includes everything needed to make your own cool cocktails! As a huge mug lover, there are so many lovely mugs you could get as stocking fillers like this cool Star Wars mug from Urban outfitters. I love Star Wars and I have to admit Darth Vader is ultra cool! Or how about this Brooklyn Brew Shop Beer Making Kit by Urban Outfitters, which includes almost everything he needs to make his own beer. Now how cool does this gift round, right? There are so many amazing things out there you guys could use to fill your big stocking; just don’t forget the Christmas candy!
I absolutely love Christmas; it is my favorite time of the year. I love the gift giving spirit and how happy people are once they receive their gifts. All the above gifts sound so amazing and I would love to get my special man something from above. As a matter of fact I have already decided which one I will get him 😉 I hope you enjoy my gift guide for Him and if you have a special girl and you are looking for gift ideas, you should check out my Christmas Guide for Her post. Are any of those gifts on your wish list or do you even have any of these and if so what do you think of them? Also don’t forget to pop over Twitter (@vickyinlalaland) and Instagram (@blueberrylover) and say hi!
