Warning: this post features kitten heels

I apologise in advance for this post. I know that kitten heels aren't for everyone.

I understand and sometimes I am not keen myself. It's strange really because there was a time (circa 1999) when I was all over LK Bennett and those little pointy-toed heels. They gave a little lift and a little smartness.

But then the platform and the skyscraper heel took over and kitten heels became a thing of the past.

Well it seems that I am officially bringing them back into my wardrobe. I spied these Louboutin rip-offs in Zara over the weekend and immediately thought "workwear".

It's a practical shoe - I am not denying that - but they are incredibly comfortable and do actually feel quite elegant. I think the key is all in the mini metal heel and pointed toe. 

I wore them today - first outing and no blisters to report - and dressed them down. Cue jeans and a blazer :)

Jeans: Cheap Monday
Top: Urban Outfitters tank
Blazer: H&M
Shoes: Zara - Link!
Bag: Miu Miu
Sunglasses: RayBan

The perfume that I wore today - and have been obsessed with ever since I got it in last week's GlamBox is Mon Parfum by M. Micallef.


In the words of Vince Vaughan in Swingers (one of my favourite films of all time!) this is "money".

It smells rich in a way that commercial fragrances seldom do. Another word could be gourmand. It's passionfruit, vanilla and caramel all mixed into a sweet musky concoction. It's like nothing else I have tried which is no doubt why I can't fully describe it - look to Luckyscent

Sadly this little sample is spent - thanks to a handbag spillage - and it's going to be a while before I feel prepared to spend $240 on a bottle of perfume :)

I hope you are all well! After my weekend in the UK I am back in Dubai and ready with lots of posts. Next up is some very pretty and very affordable dainty jewellery I have found on etsy and ebay :)

See you all very soon - i.e., tomorrow!

Forgive the cheese but...hair we go again!

Look past that achingly faux smile in the photo. I was not pleased with my hair today. You see, this morning I had a brain wave and decided to straighten it. I haven't done that for months and I wanted to see what it looked like/how long it was.

And the verdict once complete?

Ewwww.

When straightened it took on a totally different look and feel. In other words:

* The colour looked brassy
* The look was flat and lank

It's funny how different it made me feel. Whereas the wavy hair makes me feel confident and pretty, this made me feel depressed and drab.

I was "this" close to cutting bangs/fringe in an effort to make it feel more exciting when I thought of the video below...watch it all (as it is funny) but specifically focus on 1 min 41 - 1 min 48. That IS ME when it comes to fringes. I want it, I get it, I hate it :)

Despite that I am still thinking about cutting in some layers. To go professional or to DIY? :)

Onto some perfume

I wanted to give this a mention as I have been wearing it constantly since I got it.

This was a perfume exchange with one of my oldest friends in Dubai - old as in I have known him for a long time by the way (we worked together) and not in age.

We are both perfume nuts and agreed to exchange for Christmas. This I highly recommend you do with any similar minded friends. There is nothing more special than receiving a perfume from someone who picked it out because it reminded them of you.

He got Bulgari Black and I got...Ferre eau de parfum by Gianfranco Ferre.

This was released a while ago and reminds me of Calvin Klein Beauty in it's notes.

Think of soft, misty florals and fruits sitting atop a warm sensual base. It's unassuming and inoffensive. Iris lies at the heart of the notes and for that reason it has been compared favourably with F. Malle's Iris Poudre. If you like that, and you like these soft fragrances that have a hint of powder about them then you will adore this.  

And finally...

I got my first GlamBox today. Yes, the beauty box phenomenon has hit the UAE.

I will spare you the review right now - I know how exciting and original beauty box review posts are - but this had a couple of nice products in it, including an Arden lipstick I wore in the post above.

I still can't make up my mind about these programmes though. Part of my brain screams "scam" and the other coos at the thought of monthly parcels winging their way to me. I might do a thought piece on it soon so prepare yourselves :)

Hope the week started well for you!

I smell of Diesel Loverdose

Another ode to perfume rests below...I know it's just smelly water but my God, I love it!
_______________________________________________________________________________
This is a true guilty pleasure perfume - one of those uber-commercial fragrances that you know you shouldn't really like, but you just do.

It's bottle, with more than a design nod to Vera Wang's Princess, shrieks "teen market". The marketing blurb - about how it possesses molecules that stimulate hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for attraction and lust - is stuff to make the eyes roll. And the fragrance itself initially opens just like another Angel-esque clone - sweet, spicy and warm.

But despite all of this, I enjoyed it from the first sniff back in August and put it on my Christmas wishlist. And there is a very specific reason why.

Liquorice. (UK spelling by the way although licorice is far easier to type :)

Yes the Bertie Bassett liquorice note that rests between the woody amber/vanilla base and the bright, sharp mandarin and star anise top notes makes it stand out from the rest of those generic sweet scents.

So here's the perfume journey...

When you first spray it, I will admit, it smells like a load of chemicals. Delightful.

But then within seconds the liquorice emerges. It's strong and almost bitter and when mixed with the vanilla creates a dense, creaminess that mitigates the overt sweetness of the star anise. It's hard to describe - I'm trying and failing here - but after an hour or two your skin smells like a warm and robust cocoa.  And after four hours it's pretty much gone.

Oddly it smells better on my neck that it does on my wrists...in fact right now I am trying to contort my head to smell it so that I can better describe it for you.

Now I don't think it's ground-breaking - and the use of liquorice isn't particularly new: comparisons online refer to Lolita Lempicka, Black XS and Escada Magnetism - but there is something quite interesting and most of all, fun about Loverdose.

Of course it's not going to win any awards for sophistication any time soon - the heart shaped pink glassed bottle saw to that - but it's the kind of perfume that will keep you warm and comforted on a winter's night.

Loverdose has also absolutely confirmed that I need to take the plunge and get Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille. This fragrance has haunted me for about 18 months and yet I still haven't bought it. Why is that? A vanilla scent with liquorice, sandalwood and coconut? I should be ashamed! :)

So, what are you smelling of today? Did you get any perfumes for Christmas?

Voyage d'Hermes - nicely done!

I briefly referred to this perfume a few posts ago and now I have time to give it a thorough and wordy review. Having said that, it's notes could just as easily be summarised in a few simple words: fresh, unisex, sophisticated, citrus, warm, balanced...okay now this is getting complicated.

Give me a few paragraphs - in which I will most likely sound very pretentious - to explain...

Voyage d'Hermes is a relatively recent creation by Hermes head perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena. I read that he tries to create fragrances that effortlessly flow - never overpowering the wearer but elegantly enveloping them and softening as the notes mould to their body chemistry. If that's true then Voyage d'Hermes would be the personification of that aim.

It's certainly not overpowering - whether the wearer is male or female it fades to a complimentary citrus scent, stabilised by the use of some cedar. The notes are just so refreshing and almost shocking in their simplicity. I have heard it described as a "slap in the face with cold water" and akin to the initial sip of a gin and tonic on a scorching summer day.

Expect top notes of citrus, grapefruit, tea (! yes really!) and black pepper with a spicy dry down of cardamon and a little cedar.

It doesn't sound ground-breaking does it? And in truth it really isn't.

The notes themselves are almost generic and as soon as I tried it I thought of D&G Light Blue - that fresh lemon-pepper. The different with Voyage d'Hermes however, is that it's decades more sophisticated. It's still fresh, it's not too grown up but like all things Hermes it smells....expensively fresh - like you own a yacht and permanently live in the summer.

And whilst this does get a massive thumbs up I do have two major/minor criticisms:

1) The very nature of the notes makes the longevity a bit poor - yes you will smell expensive and fresh but wait a few hours and you will be back to your old plebby self :)
2) The bottle is in some ways really impressive - hinting at a classic Hermes purse design - and in others deeply, deeply annoying. I don't know. I am a big fan of a classic bottle and lid combo and all this requires is a spin to open and close. It's not difficult but it's not convention. I guess they have managed to de-sex the bottle though and that's very much in-line with the idea that this is a unisex creation.

It's a shame that this review comes in November because this is such a great Spring/Summer fragrance. If you are currently snuggled up in knits and need a flash of summer freshness to cling on to then head to the perfume counter and give yourself a little pick-me-up ;)

And breathe!

Blimey, that was quite a full-on review wasn't it? Once again, perfume passion took over and verboseness became the only way :)

Sorry about that!

Before I forget...

Here are some of the pictures taken at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. I know that the vote was split - some of you couldn't give a stuff and others are big F1/Jenson Button fans.

Ah Jenson.....

Yes there are lots of pictures of cars but there are also some amazing pictures of skies (I am obsessed with sunsets and skies FYI) and the Yas Island hotel which glows beautifully at night.

It is well worth the 3 day ticket price and fingers crossed I get to go next year :)  Of course these photos are weak because until you have heard an F1 race in real life you really have no idea of the noise - ear plugs are handed out as standard for a reason!

For these pictures I used my Canon 550d as always and alternated between a 50mm and 300mm Canon lenses.

Back to more important fashion related things next post - promise! :)

Getting my nails done and contemplating adding more highlight "flashes" this weekend so watch this space :)

Deliciously generic

So there I was, getting my mani and pedi on at Tips and Toes in JBR and the technician asked me what colour I wanted on my nails.

We all know that when it comes to Gelish I play it safe...a two week commitment requires some considered thought. This time I went safer than safe. I went for a French.

It's been a long time since I sported this look and whilst it's very "done" and generic, I cannot deny that I like it's polished appearance. Playing it safe has never felt so good :)

The Perfume Project

I am also secretly quite pleased to have used up a couple of perfumes - Tom Ford's Black Orchid and Balenciaga...whilst they are fantastic fragrances I have only two left here in Dubai...Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy and Gucci's Flora...

This is comforting because:

a) It doesn't make me feel like such an intense hoarder :) and
b) I know that by Christmas I will be fully justified in my purchase of Hermes Ambre Narguile - Merry Christmas Laura, Lots of Love Laura

You know what the funny thing is about this "project"? I have never even so much as sniffed Ambre Narguile - I just know that I will love it :) I hope after all this effort I am right :)

What's your next perfume purchase?

...from the archives

Yesterday I wore one of my favourite skirts of all time. I have had this for at least 4 years and it's from Reiss.

Reiss is one of those brands I really like - but rarely buy from. I always find the fit of their clothes a bit odd (sometimes vanity sized and sometimes tight in weird places - might just be my body of course!) and the prices too high.

At sale time though I am all over it - and I remember buying this skirt for less than a third of the original price. I loved the colour - a blue that manages to be bright and soft at the same time - and the delicate frills that cover it. 

I wore this out for lunch/coffee and just paired it simply with white tee, sandals and of course, the grey Focco - which by the way remains one of my favourite bags :)

Tee: Forever 21Skirt: Reiss
Bag: Focco!!! :)
Shoes: (out of shot but Kurt Geiger)
Bracelets: Forever 21 and one vintage (ie, pilfered from mother's jewellery collection - 'ave it!)

Also the perfume I wore yesterday was...



This was in the bargain bin section of BABW - which is generally the land of yucky, seasonal scents that have not sold well. I suppose not everyone would like this but to me its so fresh and light and perfect for hot, summer days.  

Cue me spraying it every 5 minutes.

I think I need to get my hands on the Sensual Amber body splash....in fact I want everything Sensual Amber :) That and Twilight Woods (especially the men''s version) are my favourite BABW scents.

Final thoughts

a) This is what I made for breakfast yesterday - completely pointless to include but just looking (and eating) it makes me happy.

Pancakes + blueberres + syrup + cream + the Jamie Oliver style to presentation (ie, pile that shizz on a plate!)

b) I am busy contemplating a manicure and wondering:

Regular manicure or Gelish manicure

Gelish is what they do in the salon nearest me and I do like it - I have had it many times...but after a while it's as bad for your nails as anything artificial....but the trouble is it looks sooooo good.

What do you think?

Schlepp

I was working from home today. It's a curious thing working from home. It sounds so restful and relaxing - the ultimate freedom....but then you end up working 12 hours a day - rather than 8.

Nevermind. The upside of course is wearing whatever you damn well want to. Today I pulled on my very favourite lazy pieces and to make it interesting I wore some obnoxiously bright shoes :)

See I told you they were obnoxious, didn't I? :)

Tee: American Eagle
Cardigan: American Apparel
Shorts: H&M (my favourite denim shorts everrr...although I must share some studded ones that I got for my birthday from Topshop :)
Shoes: Tory Burch (from theoutnet.com as always: I think these were less than £60, reduced from a crazy £180)
Bag: Miu Miu
Sunglasses: yes they are permanently on my face - Gucci :)
Big volume hair recovering from yesterday's blowdry: Model's Own


WTF

On a perfume note I am NOT impressed by my beloved Jo Malone Vanilla and Rose Cologne. A few weeks ago I noticed it had most definitely turned and I have only had it a few months. Is this normal for this brand? Let me know!

It's not all bad though...I am absolutely loving Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture. It's fruity, summery goodness that feels right here. It doesn't last all that long but it remind me of Marc Jacobs Daisy - not in scent of course but because as soon as you spray it you feel fresh and clean.



I noticed recently that Escada's Taj Sunset is Viva La Juicy's "cracked out cousin" equivalent - ie, an overdose of fruity notes. Can't deny - I have been tempted to purchase that one in duty free...but it's not part of my collection....yet :p

Hope you are all doing well!

x
L

The Custom Purchase

I am rather fond of the custom purchase - or CP, if you will.

Give someone else some cash-ola and a list of demands - and they do the shopping for you. It all sounds like an exceptional deal :) 

This time I asked for one specific thing - more of that in a bit - and perhaps  "a Sephora OPI polish...anyone will do, I just like them". That's about as specific as I got. So I was well and truly shocked then when I received 5 of the things!

The pretties!!!



From L-R:

* Opening Night - a potent dark blue. This is unlike anything else I have
* Caffeine Fix - the darkest dark brown I have ever seen, richer than Essie's Little Brown Dress, and it has to be said, with a much better name.
* Studs & Stilettos - wearing this now and this is Particuliere's darker toned cousin: stunning!
* Eve-y on the Eyes - another rich tone, this time an opaque darkened violet.
* Screen Test - a pinker and brighter version of OPI's I'm Not Really a Waitress.

I have to admit - and this is a bit sad - that I just like looking at them all lined up :)

PS. Someone messaged me to ask what I do with my nails - maintenance wise. Well um....I cut them very short and use a Natural Collection 4-way buffer. Occasionally I apply cuticle oil  - but only if I am feeling very organised and beauty-dedicated. Otherwise? Pretty much naff all :)

The Specific Thing

So the reason for the CP was to bravely get hold of a perfume. I use the word bravely as I have never tried this perfume before.

Yep, it's that Boyfriend perfume - produced by actress Kate Walsh (Confession: Had to Google her...what can I say? I haven't devoted enough time to Grey's Anatomy.)

The promotional copy talks of the "sexual scent of a man" - oo-err - and accords of vanilla, amber and fresh woods. I was utterly convinced I would love it.

So here it is....



...and?

It's absolutely nothing special. It's not unpleasant but it's not AT ALL original. I say this because it is almost a dead ringer - in my mind - for Santa Maria Novella's Vanilla Cologne: an arrid vanilla that is not overly feminine but dripping with notes of cloves and amber.

It's therefore neither too sweet nor too woody. It doesn't smell too old nor too young. The balance is all there and on paper it fits, but for me, the fact that it reminds me so much of another scent - and one I tried 10 years ago - leaves me a little disappointed. Couple this with the fact that the longevity is non-existent on my skin and it's a thumbs down.

Yes, the advertising campaign is fun and the concept behind it is very interesting but you want my two cents?

If you really want the sexual scent of a man go straight out and buy Terre d'Hermes. Now that is what you want your boyfriend - and you - to smell like :)

Happy Friday all!

x

New jacket + ramble? Standard.

I am a broken record but is it me or is Topshop getting more expensive?

I still love it of course and it can be the cause of many exciting retail moments, but the prices?? They are definitely on the rise.

A recent-ish purchase from there is a wee cropped collarless tuxedo jacket with three quarter length sleeves and silky lapels....oooh.

It was £58 and I think it's probably £10 more than it needs to be. Having said that it's one of those MUST HAVE pieces for anyone who works in a smart-casual office environment. 

Those words often leave people confused but I think smart casual simply translates to: "make some semblance of an effort". This does the trick. I think the key is the mini padding at the shoulders. It's not Dallas-esque - it's just enough to create an elegant line.

Jacket: Topshop (Link!)
Top: H&M (love the little sparkles - this was about £7.99: that's more like it pricewise :))
Belt: American Apparel
Skirt: sort of out of shot but sheer cream/pink long skirt from H&M

Other stuff I like at the moment

I took this photo this other day and it represents all my little recommendations of the day/week/moment 9 excluding the makeup ones of course:



* Sparkling water with cucumber - sadly not as refreshing as Hendricks gin and tonic (DIVINE people DIVINE) but it helps make drinking water just that little more interesting. Plus you also get to effectively eat a salad. Win-win.

* Ray-ban Aviators - for years I though I wouldn't suit aviators and then last year the assistant in Sunglasses Hut at Heathrow encouraged me to try these. Changed for life! Gold frame, pinky lenses...if I could read mini-teeny-tiny writing I would give you the code. These are lovely....I do love Ray-bans: they are an affordable superbrand: classless and timeless.

* One Day by David Nicholls - Warning: Tangent: I love reading and I normally read on my Kindle. But I was at the airport and realised I forgot it on Saturday...so I had to actually buy a physical book! Retro! It made me realise that although the Kindle is a fantastic invention, and reading on it is wonderful, the process of shopping for a book is just not the same. I miss that buying experience because I enjoy provisionally flipping through a title, checking out the artwork, reading the description - it's a comforting act that's just not the same when you have a downloadable device. Back on track: This book is one of those ones you see in the bookshop for months, ignore, then when you do buy it devour in 2 days. I recommend this to women and men alike. Read it before the film comes out if you haven't already (I know alot of people have).

* Stella McCartney perfume in the Fashion Edition range - I was sent this - I think because of my Stella Sheer review. I also think the Sheer has adjusted my palette in favour of a stronger rose (well that and my beloved Jo Malone) because now I like the original version. There are two strong notes - rose and amber. It's simple and summery. I wore it all weekend.

However, the reason why I wanted to include it here is for one reason and one reason only: the packaging!

It almost feels antique to me - yes I am nodding to myself as I write this. It looks like a special treasure from a different era.

These are little 30ml bottles - there are three to collect - and they come in the most beautiful prints. This by the way is look 3.

What are some of your favourite things of the moment? :)

Any book recommendations very much welcome! 

Jo Malone Rose Water & Vanilla Cologne

So here is the story:

I have followed Jo Malone for about a decade - pre-Lauder buyout. I would describe myself as interested by the concept of her brand but never tempted enough by any of the scents.

Last week whilst killing time in Gatwick North I popped into the shop. I am a HUGE fan of the Sweet Amber and Orange candle so sniffed that...and then spied three new additions to the Malone collection towards the back of the store.

Housed in black glass they immediately hinted at a deeper and more sensual offering - and that's exactly what they are.

Called the Cologne Intense range, I am told that they were originally aimed at the lucrative Middle Eastern market - but due to popularity have extended everywhere else and have now become a permanent fixture in store.

I am well out of the loop - they were launched in 2010.

There are 4 different scents in total - although Oud Bergamot (which I am EXTREMELY KEEN to try as a huge fan of both Oud and Bergamot and is meant to be quite similar to Tom Ford's Azure Lime) was completely sold out did not even have a tester on show - and they all seem lovely.

What I loved about all of them was the juxtaposition. There is a hint of freshness in the likes of Irish and White Musk but it also comes with a deliciously long-lasting base that brings you to a more exotic place - well more exotic than Gatwick, that's for sure :)

However, it was the Rose Water and Vanilla that blew me away.

I read the description and honestly thought - meh: notes I already have - this would be one of Malone's weak and slightly generic scents. But no. I absolutely frigging love it. I want to buy candles, body lotions, bath oils....I want to enveloped in this scent. I am 100% out of control.

It's creamy (thanks to the vanilla), with a sweetness of the rose that comes through immediately upon application...but what elevates it, and makes it unique is the warmth....it's just so comforting and even Malone's site describes it as "addictive". Plus, in its favour, it lasts ALL DAY...of course it evolves over time but I can still detect it's notes on the day's clothes far into the evening.

I have tried something like this before - Isabey's Fleur Nocturne - and was similarly bewitched by that one but it's super pricey and a little more pure floral than Malone's which manages to have a nice balance with slightly deeper notes.

I paid about £60ish for 100ml - they are normally £80. I know that's a lot for perfume but I URGE you to head to a shop and try them for yourself. This is important because:

a) I want to know what you think about the range; and
b) They smell TOTALLY different on different people. I have obviously been boring those near me with this perfume and sprayed on two friends - male and female - the notes came out totally different. In fact on the man friend it was deep incense and pretty sexy.

Here's the link if you want to find out more:

Link!

Okay, I will shut up now :) 

Stella Sheer...and another new bag?

Meet the most recent addition to the perfume collection:

Stella Sheer

or Sheer Stella - whichever you prefer!

I must say I love the lighter versions of these classic/well known fragrances that emerge at this time of year. Case in point: I am considering the fraiche Marc Jacobs Daisy, Gucci Flora or Chancel Chance as one of the next acquisitions. 

There is just something about them that's almost more confident. They don't need to shout about the notes - they are there - but they are understated. It's clean, honest, light and almost optimistic.

I am starting to waffle here...

Back to Stella

I have sniffed the original Stella's and a lot of my friends cite this as one of their most cherished fragrances. I was never convinced but just like the Chloe, the sheerer and more wearable (for me) version has me in agreement.

Wear this and I would describe you as smelling of lemony, crisp roses. I know, I know...it doesn't sound that great but trust me...there's a sort of subtle sensuality about it that's far from eau de Grandma. It's obviously floral but not obnoxiously so.

The official description talks of: "crisp green apple, frosted lemon and Bulgarian Rose. A heart of peony pulses with the sensuality of amber".

Yep, pretty much! A fantastic day time scent in any case.

Onto the eBay bag

I have been a little bit naughty. You see I bought a bag and it's definitely inspired by another well-known design. The seller doesn't claim to be anything related to the designer but this is quite obviously a Wang-inspired/stolen affair. And as bad as it sounds I don't mind.

The reason I love the Wang Rocco bags is all because of the hardware at the base. All I want is some damn sturdy studs. I was considering buying one on shopbop.com - what the hell I thought - and then I stumbled across an exact copy on modekungen.se for about 130 Euro. But some savvy Tweeters pointed me in the direction of eBay. For £29.99 I thought "why not" and saw it as a bit of an experiment. It's not the same of course but if it feels durable and has my beloved studded feet. Happy days!

First impressions? Very good!

No, it's not real leather, but it does feel sturdy and my beloved studs are there for all to see! I think the lighter leather version - i.e, grey and white - may look pathetic but I think the black plays it safe.

Here come some pics:

Aha! I found the studs!

Mmm....don't you just love the smell of fake leather? 

Hanging out with my bag and a smug expression.

And quite simply - WAHEY!

Of course if it falls apart tomorrow, forget about it - it's a pile of poo. Until then it gets a tentative thumbs up.

I bought it here:

Link!

Hope you are all having a good week!