Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts

Thursday, 25 October 2012

Pudsey gets a makeover

There's always at least one thing that cheers up a drab, cold, miserable November....Children In Need! I've watched it every year on television since I can remember and it's one of my favourite yearly charity shows. Not just the sheer amount of money raised which is fantastic, but the music acts, comedy sketches, incredible stories and of course not forgetting the cute Pudsey bear.

However 2012 sees the redesign of Pudsey himself as 30 established designers have reinvented the original Pudsey, all in the name of charity. Awww.

These bears will be on display in Selfridges London and Manchester until November, when they'll be auctioned off with all proceeds going to CIN. Don't panic if you don't have the purse to bid for one though, as miniture versions will also be sold in stores; win-win!

Some of my favourite Pudsey designs include:
Louis Vuitton (left),
Alexander McQueen (right),


Sunday, 21 October 2012

Berry nice

Berry nice

The windy days, red noses and cheeks, ugg boots and brollies, it can only mean Autumn has officiallyarrived. Besides the gorgeous colours of trees that look like they're on fire and the steaming mugof hot chocolate, it can be quite miserable knowing that dark nights are ahead of us for the next four months. Thank god we have fall fashion trends then to keep us going. And this season it's all about the berry shade. So autumn! Whether you use it head to toe or flash it here and there, to make it the statement colour, if it's berry, then it'sright. It has such a warm tone to it, it's making me feel cosier already.

Sunday, 30 September 2012

Victoria's Secret no longer a secret

As you may have heard, earlier this summer the flagship store for Victoria's Secret finally opene its doors on London's famous Bond Street. On the 29th August, one of the most anticipated launches finally took off. Originally planned to open prior to the Olympics, the enormous 40,386 sqaure foot heaven opened a month after the much smaller Westfield branch, having been delayed by over a year. But it has been every bit worth the wait. For those Victoria virgins of you, this lingerie brand puts La Senza to shame! Every bit exclusive, glamourous and luxerious as it looks.

The store consists of an impressive four floors to feast your eyes on. This is one shop that won't be a quick 'pop in pop out' stop. The glamour of the brand is visible in the exquisite choice of interior design with gorgeous sofas in rainbow array of colours with a touch of vintage charm. Polished, shiny floors, pink and white chandeliers, a mirrored-effect, grand staircase, Victoria's Secret will make you feel every inch the celebrity.

Large, glossy posters of the famous 'Angels' adorn the walls throughout the store all of which are signed personally by each model including Miranda Kerr, Heidi Klum and Karlie Kloss. Phew! That's one heck of a gorgeous, legs-to-die-for line up.

However it can be somewhat intimidating to those who are less body confident than these 6ft tall, size 6 models. Tiny figures and bodies are photographed everywhere which I personally feel could put girls off from buying the lingerie as it can leave you feeling a tad conscious of your own figure and certainly I feel that plus size girls may even be put off from entering the store in the first place as there seems to be such an emphasis on this marketing these model figures, which aren't representative of real girls everywhere. For me this element takes over more than the actual lingerie itself which is a real shame because the products are simply beautiful. But surely the point is to push the product, not the models and their physical attractiveness?

I find it really sad that they don't feature any curvy models or even your 'average girl' model. Despite the elegant and stunning setting of the store visually (which don't get me wrong, looks fantastic), I can't help but feel that this brand is typically very American in pushing the outer, physical appearence instead of providing our society with what we need more of - realism.



The 4th floor is a dedicated VIP section. No standing around for any tagging along men!  -
 Oh hi Miranda - this would make me so depressed whilst shopping!

 

Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Shoe Love

Oh My Days! I am officially in love. Forget boys - shoes are far better, more reliable and lets face it, much, much prettier :) These babies are the latest addition to my ever-growing shoe collection. I bought them from Zara for £19.99 - bargain! I was instantly attracted to the spikes as these are everywhere right now; whether used for shoulder detailing or on leather handbags, it's a great way to get the biker chic look. I'll be wearing mine with jeans, leggings, skirts and dresses - so everything basically! The colour is perfect for transitioning from summer (what summer?) to winter and I'm going to mix them with purple colours as this is set to be the colour 'de jour' for this new season.

WARNING: potentially dangerous spikes (make for a very good weapon when in need)

Friday, 7 September 2012

Ode to Barogue

Untitled #2

One of my new season trends: BAROGUE! So I decided to make a little mood board on Polyvore devoted to it. How gorgeous does Jessica Chastain look in Alexander McQueen?
 
Bag: D&G (wish list!!)
Cardigan: River Island £40
Dress: Topshop £39
Ring: Topsop £8.50

Revlon Lips

Have any of you tried some of Revlon's new beauty products? Well I decided to try out their new 'Colorburst Lip Butter' and the 'Just bitten kissable balm stain' (that was a mouth full wasn't it!).

I bought one of each and decided that I wanted to buy a similar colour, to see if there was any difference between the two products, as it can be really confusing with so many different types now; lipsticks, lip glosses, lip balms, lip stains! So this is my verdict.

I bought the Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti for £7.99. I chose this one because I've seen coral coloured lips everywhere at the moment so really wanted to start wearing a current, on-trend lipstick.
It went on really smoothy, with no trouble at all and the colour itself when on is really eye-popping. I had two different people comment on how nice it looked which is definitely a bonus. I also really loved the packaging of this product. It looks a little bit more sophisticated and luxe than some other brands, so I felt like I wanted to just carry it around in my hand on display! The lipstick itself stayed on really well. I only needed to top up after I had eaten lunch - about 5 hours after initially applying it. It's available in 14 different shades so I will definitely be investing in some other colours.




The Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti on the left and Just Bitten Kissale Balm Stain in Rendevous Rendevous on the right  
 
 



The following day I tried the Kissable balm which was also £7.99, in the colour of Rendevous Rendevous. This takes a little more applicatons to initially put the colour on, otherwise you can't see the colour so well. The colour itself is not as vibrant and eye-popping as the lip butter, however is still the coral shade I'm loving right now. This therefore is ideal if you want your lips to look a little bit more natural and subtle. What I really LOVED about this one is that even after my lunch and drinking continuously all day, the lip balm still stayed on! By the time I got home I had been wearing it for eight and a half hours and it still looked as though I had just applied it 5 minutes ago. Majorly.Impressed. I urge you to go buy this product. A smaller range of 8 colours available but it's so worth it. By far the best 'stay-on' lip product I've ever bought.
 
Here's me wearing both products. I've not applied any techniques to the photos so you can see the real colour. I am wearing the lip butter in the top 2 photos and the balm in the bottom 2. Not sure if you can tell, but the lip butter is a brighter pop of colour, with the balm being more subtle. LOVE IT.
 
 
 

Monday, 3 September 2012

Discount at Motel Rocks

Eeeeekkk! I'm so excited! I've officially become part of the Motel Rocks Street Team, which means anyone can now enjoy 20% off on any and every order they make, using the code 'bethypops.'
You may have come across some of Motel Rocks' clothing before as Topshop stock part of their range. Purse-friendly and uber stylish, Motel Rocks is fast becoming one of my favourite fashion outlets.What's even more fantastic is that you can use the code as many times as you like, unlike some discount codes which can only be used once per person.All the more reason to buy more beautiful clothes! Hmmm bank accounts beware!
I've picked some of my current favourite pieces below:



Tie-dye denim dip hem shirt: £38 - tie-dye to die for! So easy to dress down AND up!






Aztec print leggings: £21 - no need for me to point out how popular the aztec print has been lately. It's everywhere! Wear with a simple, plain top to bring all the attention onto that print.









Monochrome body con skirt in barogue: £35 - barogue is going to be BIG this Autumn/Winter. Not just big, HUGE! It was seen all over the catwalks and thankfully for us has trickled its way down to the high street. This trend can be worn head-to-toe for the more daring fashionista, but for those who just want a small dose, choose just one piece.


Bodycon Dress in Gothic Placement print: £35 - this dress just screams 'wear me!' With its nod to the gothic print style, another big winter trend, this dress is perfect for that Saturday night out. It would look great with a black, leather biker jacket and boots.





Pssst! Remeber enter 'bethypops' for a fabulous 20% discount. Now there's no excuse not treat yourself :D






Monday, 27 August 2012

Working Girl

Working Girl

 
Fed up of wearing the same old thing to work? Need a killer outfit for that interview? Well here is my 'Working Girl' spread which I designed on Polyvore (my new favourite website - trust me go visit it NOW...after finishing my post of course!) I have created an outfit that in my opinion not only will have heads turning and compliments flying your way, but also includes THE key trends due to hit this Autumn/Winter 2012.
 
White Shirt with applique collar - £49.99 - Zara: A classic white shirt with one essential detail - the studded collar. Set to be huge this season whether it be pearls, studs or sequins, if it adorns the collar or neckline, then it's got the fashion approval. All the attention should fall on this area so avoid wearing a necklace and keep other jewellery to a minimum.
 
Prnt Trousers - £25.99 - Zara: A bargain for a pair of stylish, cropped trousers. Print isn't going anyway this season as was proved by the super, big designers Prada, Miu Miu and Chanel who all showcased prints on their catwalks. The black, white and grey colour scheme keeps the tone neutral which is particulrly good for those who have a strict dress policy at work.
 
Red Blazer - £385 - Flannels: A tad too painful for my purse, but there are great versions from Zara, Topshop and Oasis. The blazer gives you that formal, I-mean-business style which is a key trend (as this months ELLE reminds us). It's all about the masculinity with its structured shoulders. The red colour also breaks up the white and black theme and will make you stand out more (that girl in the red blazer).
 
Brown Heels - Pilot Fashion: Click clack, click, clack across the floor -one sure sign to tell people you're on your way. What I love about these heels is that they're perfect for going straight from the office to after-work drinks. Not a fan of sore, blistered feet for work? A par of beige or brown, laced loafers will work just as well and keep that masculine tone.
 
Tan Tote Bag - £50 - Zara: I am so 'totes' in love with this bag! Probably my favourite piece of this outfit along with the appliqued shirt. And the blazer. And trousers...and shoes!! Big enough to fit in all our necessary 'junk' (if you're anything like me then you need enough room to fit in your entire bedroom), AND a beauiful colour match with the shoes. This provides a change to the usual black bag, black shoes, black trousers, black black black black!!! It breaks up the colour and makes it more eye-poppig as well as looking gorgeous against the red blazer.
 
Black geek glasses - £10 - boohoo.com: If you want to go all the way and don't actually wear glasses, (that's me then) nothing says office chic geek mre than these frames do. A great accessory to the outfit AND it makes you look smarter; win, win.
 
 
 
 

Saturday, 11 August 2012

Happy Birthday Dainty Ballerina

Wow. This is an awesome day. Why I hear you think (or rather not hear, but imagine). Well today is the birth of my blog, Dainty Ballerina. I'm sorry it's not more exciting but it IS exciting for me because I've been thinking of stating one of these things for ages but never really got round to it before now.

So here are a few things I can tell you about Dainty Ballerina and moi.

1. I came up with the name because I am a ballet dancer and thus love all things ballet
2. Another major love of mine is fashion and anything to do with it (to the point that yes I do spend until I'm so overdrawn my father confiscates my credit card...not good!)
3. Whilst I was originally training to be a ballerina, due to a back injury back in 2009, I was forced to give up on that dream (and keep it as a hobby) and therefore created a new one - I am now a psychology graduate from the University of Birmingham and will be studying for a masters in the same subject this September.
4. I think I may have mentioned else where that I am now 22 years old (and feeling scarily old).
5. Finally why have I started this thing? Well I felt there are so many things I love and want to shout out about that I thought why not shout out about it online. There are also some things that I feel very strongly about and thought this would be a 'perf' (sorry I love saying that word) way of venting my opinions

And that's all folks as they say at Warner Brothers.

If you're still reading, I applaud you and if you choose to follow Dainty Ballerina, well, that's just going to make me do this - :D

X