WHAT TO WEAR - Late August/Early September

You may have realised that recently, 1970s fashion has made a comeback, massively! I predict that by Autumn this year, the 1970s look will be in full swing, as A/W 2015 fashion weeks were full of flared trousers and garish floral prints, that you only see in a charity shop. Even though some trends from the 70s seem impossible to wear now without looking quite frankly like a clown, here is piece that is easy to pull off.

Denim A-line skirts, are one of the most flattering styles the 70s bought us. Denim skirts with buttons down the front and pockets at the front are particularly fun and add something special to an otherwise plain skirt. As with all other denim, skirts made from this material are extremely easy to pair with tops and shoes. If you usually shy away from skirts because of their usually bright prints and shapes, think of this skirt being as easy to pair with a top as jeans! 

When going into autumn and the weather beginning to turn rainy and cold, wearing an oversized jumper and slightly heeled ankle boots. As most of these skirts sport mustard coloured stitching, a jumper in a similar colour, pairs perfectly with the denim piece.

Zara skirt - £29.99                                   Monki Jumper - £30

WHY ARE WE SO OBSESSED WITH VINTAGE?

So recently, I've been thinking, why do I like old stuff so much? Do I think it's cool? Do I think it makes me look interesting and quirky? To be really honest, I'm not completely sure why I gravitate towards things that are more 30 years old, or why anyone does either, but I have a few ideas.

First of all, in the past, things tended (or seemed to be) better made. To us, it looks like everything had better craftsmanship (if that's the word). A lot more things were made in Britain, which adds to the appeal now, as very little is made here.

Secondly, patterns and styles, were way more interesting and out there then now, or so we believe. I suppose now, we see the same stuff so often, it must get boring. Things that are vintage, are usually things that haven't been in the main stream for a while. Everyone has forgotten about them, and it's refreshing to find them.

Nostalgia, also compeles people who lived when the certain items were around, to buy them, as it reminds them of the past and usually youth. This leads me to younger people wanted to feel connected to past decades buy having and wearing vintage items. To many people who didn't live for example in the 60s and 70s, find those eras cool.

When you think about the big picture, trends always repeat, so in many ways vintage are just old versions of fashion now. Although some things haven't made a comeback (yet,). Trends and styles are always repeated.

REVIEW- CAMBRIDGE SATCHEL 15 INCH

First of all, satchels are one of the most versatile bags you can own. They are great for use at work, school, shopping and anything else your life may entail. When purchasing a Cambridge Satchel in the colour Oxblood and the 15 inch size, almost two years ago I was very pleased with the quality of the bag I had received. For the past two years I have experienced the pros and cons of owning a Cambridge Satchel. I do hope that this review will help you decide whether a satchel is the right bag for you or not. 

     

PROS-

• My 15 inch bag can easily fit a 13 inch macbook (and any other brand I presume, maybe not chunky laptops). It can also fit around two ring binder folders. 
• Perfect for shopping as you can just chuck stuff in it. There aren't any compartments apart from the front pocket.
• Great bag for anyone who's wardrobe contains vintage clothes.
• Sturdy and durable, won't suddenly break or get squashed (more likely that it will hurt someone else!)

      CONS-

• The colour on my bag began to crack very quickly ( within 4 months), leaving patches of black and sometimes sparkly leather around the buckle areas especially.
• Things get lost in the bag very easily as there aren't any pockets inside, this also makes have expensive things in the bag vulnerable to damage from larger and sharp items in bag (keys can scratch things like phones etc.)
• Can't fill the bag full of stuff. The bag has to be at least 1/4 empty in order for the buckles to fasten normally and not make the bag bulge.
• After over filling my bag a few times the front flap of the satchels has become misshaped.
• Not a very light weight bag. If you usually carry very heavy things already, this bag will put a real strain on your shoulders sometimes.

After two years of using my bag at least five days every week, I do accept that it may not look in its best shape. It is a lovely bag different from the usual commuter backpack, however if you like your bags looking great and looking unworn, this probably isn't the bag for you. On the other hand, if you don't mind your satchel looking a bit worn and are fine with having no compartments for smaller objects in your bag, then I would really recommend this bag. It makes work/school that little more stylish!

TOP THREE - Lips

This season, the corals are back in, and the glossy lip is here to stay. These are my three favourite lip product for this month. Anything goes at the moment (apart from dark berry shades, however I'm sure you could pull one off somehow), all of my top threes are great for people on a budget and can all be worn everyday and also at events.

MAYBELLINE COLOR ELIXIR (NUDE ILLUSION) - £6.99

The first of the top three is the Maybelline Color Elixir in the shade nude illusion. This lipgloss is a versatile shade, that can be worn all year round, and achieves a natural yet chic look. The gloss is surprisingly not very sticky, however still makes thew lips look glossy and applies smoothly on the lips.  I also found it quite hydrating on the lips. For the price it is outstanding! If you've never been one for lipgloss, you will be pleasantly surprised with this lipgloss, and if you are like me, this lipgloss will show you that not all lip glosses are bright pink, sticky and packed with glitter.

RIMMEL LONDON APOCALIPS/SHOW OFF LIP LACQUER (AURORA) - £6.49

This product is also a lip gloss, however is more of a mix of lipstick and a lipgloss. If you want your lips to be slightly glossy, but not obviously shiny, this lip gloss is a great choice. The colour is a rich, dark pinky shade and quite a statement lip, but still easy to wear on a day to day basis. It looks great with subtle winged eyeliner, but not so great with bold eyeshadow look. 

RIMMEL LONDON KATE MOSS LASTING FINISH LIPSTICK (110) - £5.49

If you are searching great lipsticks on a budget, the Kate Moss lipstick range is one of the best. The range contains all of the colours and effects you would possibly want in any lipstick. The coral shade 110 is a summer essential, brightening up any look, and perfect for holidays. The lipstick lasts quite a while, however you may need to reapply once or twice throughout the day. The effect is almost matte with a little shine, however dabbing the lipstick on your lips with your finger, or blotting with a tissue after application, will banish any shine.

FAVOURITE: Oh Comely Magazine

I first stumbled across this quirky magazine, while in WHSmith in Waterloo Station, hastily trying my best to find something vaguely interesting to read. Most magazines in a news agents usually include the dialogue of hacked phone calls of celebrities, or tips about how to achieve a new hairstyle fad. Scanning the shelves as best as I possibly could, nothing seemed to interest me in the slightest, until... behind a Vogue magazine, Oh Comely, with the simplest of covers showed its face. With only 5 minutes before my train left, I grabbed it on a whim, went to the till and bought some strawberry Smints.

Pleased with myself that I had found a seat, I sat on the train, and opened the magazine in front of me. I had no idea what to expect. I was so surprised, I had never seen nothing like it before, on the first page I read there were pictures of letters, the readers had sent, with stickers covering every inch of the envelopes. The articles were actually interesting and the images so thoughtful. One page warned me that "this magazine will make you smile", however this caution was said too late, the magazine had already made me smile, several times! Some of the pictures were quite frankly, very strange, but they made me think differently about the simplest objects.

It was the kind of magazine that you could read again and again like a book, and never get bored. The  artwork was the kind you could easily frame. After reading the magazine, cover to cover, I realised I hadn't bought the latest edition, but that didn't matter.

REVIEW: L'oréal Infallible Matte Foundation

L'oréal Infallible Matte Foundation- £6.99

Recently, I have been trying out the L'oréal Infallible Matte Foundation in the shade Porcelain. I was amazed that I didn't need a powder to set it, as I have oily skin, and have never before felt able to not set my foundation with a powder. If like me you have oily skin, I would recommend this foundation. The price point of this foundation is great, and I think it is a bargain! In general, L'oréal has the best selection of foundation colours at drugstore and seems to be the only brand that has a shade that actually matches pale skin. The foundation lasts quite a while on the skin, however after about 6 hours, it became a little shiny around the t-zone area, nothing a touch of powder could sort out. The coverage of this foundation is great, and I only felt I needed to add a little concealer under my eyes, as I have dark circles.

I wouldn't recommend this foundation to anyone with dry skin, as I have one or two dry areas on my face and the foundation seemed to cake around these areas. Although, adding moisturiser straight before putting on the foundation did seem to help.

MOULDY MAPS

A couple of weeks ago I picked up some really beautiful maps from an old bookshop. Much to my amazement some of the maps were from the 1920s! My favourite map was only £4, and is a motoring map of the UK from the twenties. These maps are perfect for craft, keep sakes and also just for the fun of looking at! In the past I have decopauged various pieces of furniture with old maps and it gives the pieces a new lease of life. So if you have any pieces of boring furniture in your house, sticking maps to them will make them look unique and amazing!