Grey Clothes for a Grey Day

                                                 Dress,Waistcoat & Hat all Vintage.  



A grey rainy autumn day well spent strolling round antique shops and eating cupcakes. Two of my favourite pastimes!

Tender, Loving Skin Care.

I thought I would share my quick solution to skin suffering from post-dissertation/exam stress/poor diet/late nights/caffeine and chocolate and haribo overload, pretty much neglected skin. I have always been prone to outbreaks especially on my chin, however, the following routine has worked a treat for me and worked very quickly at that too! 

Step 1. Product: No.7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser for Normal/Dry Skin Priced at £9.00 for 150ml. 

I was recommended this new No.7 product when the cleanser I had been relying on for years was discontinued. Although I would normally choose cleansers for oily skin I was pleasantly surprised by how well this filled it's shoes. As you massage the gel onto damp skin it turns into an oil which successfully washes away make-up without drying out the skin. My skin is left clean, while remaining soft. The product also has a lovely sweet and refreshing smell which I think cleansers usually lack which tops it off and makes it my new favourite cleanser. 

Step 2. Product: No. 7 Purifying Sauna Mask  Priced at £11.00 for 75ml. 

This is a recent discovery and oh man I am so glad I came across this saviour of a product. It is ideal for blemish prone skin as it is gentle yet leaves your skin feeling clean and fresh. It is super easy to use as you simple massage it onto damp skin, the product warms up when in contact with water which feels lovely and refreshing! You then leave it on for 2-3 minutes then splash it off with warm water. Afterwords, my skin is left not only feeling pampered but the blemishes I have on my chin were notably faded and really dried up, this was all after one use! 

The above two products are a really good combination as the gel wipes away make-up and moisturises while the sauna mask exfoliates and deeply cleanses. So at this point the skin is left feeling ultra clean! 

Step 3. Product: Simple Spotless Skin Anti-Blemish Moisturiser Priced at £4.99 for 75ml. 

I usually use a No.7 day sorbet to moisturise but as I am trying to budget the funds I thought I would try something a bit more affordable. I have always been a fan of Simple moisturisers since I was a teenager as they are cheap and essentially do the job. This new product is actually pretty impressive, it sinks into the skin immediately which to me is important as I do not have the patience to rub and rub my face until the lotion finally absorbs. So, if like me you are on a budget I would recommend this as it is certainly value for money.  

As you can see, the above products are affordable and relatively cheap in the skin care market and coming from someone who has blemish prone skin they really are effective! 

Hope some of you find this useful :) 

Hollie x 

Flippy-Floppy Felt Hat.

Hat: New Look. Top: Forever 21. Skirt: Primark. 

That is it, all this rain and wind has officially taken it's toll so I decided it was time to inject some sort of summery-ness into my outfits. An easy option was to wear my flippy-floppy felt hat which not only makes me feel summery but acts as a substitute to an umbrella. Instead of battling the elements with a flimsy umbrella I have to clutch the hat firmly to my head, but you can't have it all can you! 

The aztec jumper is one of my many purchases from Forever 21 in the US. I could not believe how cheap everything was there and as such ended up spending over an hour in the store. 

The wooden cuff I am wearing was a gift the boy took me back from his trip to South Africa last summer, I love the delicate and subtle design, for me it is the perfect summer accessory. I do love a wooden cuff. 

Hollie x 

A Little Bit of Sun.

 Crochet Top: H&M. Chinos and Shoes: New Look. Cardigan: Charity Shop. 

Since I unfortunately ripped the only jeans I own (owned) up the crotch while horse-riding in the US, I have been living in these trousers. I have yet to purchase a new pair of denims and although I miss them I think these navy chino style trousers are a good substitute. 

These sunglasses were a purchase from an amazing vintage shop in Virginia and the little clock necklace is one of my favourite pieces from a flea market in Amsterdam.

I am in the middle of doing a huge clear out as I am soon moving house so I will have a selection of unworn/ old vintage-esque clothing and accessories to get rid of, mostly bags, jewellery some dresses and shoe s aswell. I will probably do it through ebay but if anyone is interested give me a shout :) 

Antiques and Inspiration.

I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful 1920s bag from my boyfriend who purchased it on a recent trip to Dublin. The 20s is my favourite era and clothing/accessories from the glorious age are becoming harder to find. So I am delighted with this find and I think the boy deserves a pat on the back for this one don't you? 

I love embroidered bags and would quite happily wear an embroidered dress, yes, yes I would. 

Post-dissertation reading has led me to these books. It feels SO good to actually enjoy what I am reading as opposed to forcing myself to read over a can of red bull. It is a good idea to look beyond magazines and check out the fashion section in your local library and I bet you will find some gems, there is an abundance  of  fashion books on Amazon which you can get your teeth stuck into for some good old inspiration. I would recommend Valerie Steele's work for anyone who has an interest in the history of fashion. 

Have a lovely weekend.

PS. If it is sunny where you are please send some my way, I am in desperate need for sun as I have yet to get my milk-bottle legs out and I don't think I can take this miserable weather much longer. 

Hollie x 

A Visit to Washington DC.

I have recently returned from an internship in Washington DC, and oh my, what a trip it was. The internship at the US Naval and Heritage Command is offered to all history students in their final year of study but due to the awkward timing (it takes place the three weeks before our dissertations our due) only a small number of the more 'adventurous' took part.

Highlights of the trip included getting merry in the US Capitol, horse-riding in Virginia, my first ride on a motor bike (pictured above), a mad-hatter's tea party (also pictured above) and going on one of the fastest roller-coasters in the world (thankfully, not pictured above). Such highlights, combined with an abundance of museums, antique shops, vintage stores, and constantly eating my way through American cuisine made it a trip I will never forget. 

Seeing the world and experiencing new cultures is so important, and if like me, you are not sure what career path you want to take it, it is the perfect way of opening your eyes to the variety of opportunities which are available to you if you look further afield. I  have a new found love for the US and am already planning my next travels. So, start planning those trips guys! 

I also have a collection of purchases from the trip to share with you guys including a paisley blouse, dungarees and tacky US t-shirts. So stay tuned! 

Raspberry Chinos and a Birthday at the Beach

                                      Chinos: New Look. Coat: H&M. Jumper: H&M.

Here are some snaps taken on my boyfriends 23rd birthday. We treated ourselves to the whole day off uni work and spent the morning eating cake and the afternoon at Stonehaven which is a lovely little seaside town just outside of Aberdeen. It was my favourite type of weather, it was warm enough to sit outside the harbour bar, people watching and sipping cold magners but it was chilly enough to stay cosy in layers.

It was not the best idea to wear a bowler hat to the beach as the whole time was spent with one hand keeping it in place.

The above raspberry chinos are one of the few pairs I purchased in New Look for my trip to Washington as we have been informed that the dress code is "business casual", I don't really know what that means but I think a pair of chinos and a smart jumper is about as 'business' as I can go.

Hope you's all had a lovely weekend x x