I'm in love with this dress!
It looks even more gorgeous in the shop too. Its perfect for the summer, and has a cute little tie at the back. Can be dressed up and down, would look amazing with a pair of gladiator sandals and maybe a quilted bag.
And for £35 from Topshop, its not exactly cheap, but is more reasonable than a lot of the things in there. A great investment I think, you'd get pleanty of wear out of it in the summer months.

About

Rimmel London's new mascara, Black Extreme Volume Flash instant thickening mascara is a recent addition to my makeup bag. It looks pretty impressive, packaging-wise, lets see how it rates.

Whats Right With It?

• It's certainly volumizing, my lashes were thicker and fuller after just one coat.
• It creates great length, especially with repeated application.
• The extreme black-ness of it creates a great lash line, and when applied from right at the roots of your lashes eyeliner is barely necessary.

Whats Wrong With It?

• The bristles on the brush are too short, with too many gaps between them. This mean a lot of mascara builds up, and while it may be good for coverage, it also clumps very easily.
• It dries pretty slowly and I was left with bits of mascara around my eyes when I blinked.

Verdict

Its a great mascara as far as length and volume are concerned. It certainly gets the job done, leaving you with a thick, long lash line. My only real concern is the clumping, but as long as you sort this with a lash comb before applying an extra layer, no major complaints!

Out of 10: 8

I know you've all been there. I find myself frequently staring at a gorgeous dress or amazing skirt, trying to magically create some money with my mind so I could afford it. This often happens in places like Topshop and River Island, when even if I could afford it, I find myself incredibly unwilling to pay £32 for a glorified vest.
This is why I love it when I find an item of clothing that is broken instore. This may sound a bit skanky, but its a great tip. Buying the items that are ripped or have stains on can save you so much money! Shops are going to be keen to get rid of these items, as they make the clothing appear of a bad quality.

Case Study

Trawling through New Look, I'd been admiring their selection of party dresses for a while now. And not one to outfit-repeat on a night out, I was incredibly keen to buy one. I came across this dress, which I'd seen on another girl while out clubbing. Really flattering and I loved the pattern. Price tag: £25. I don't know what I was expecting, but I couldn't bring myself to part with the cash. Putting it sadly back on the shelf, I retired home.
On my next visit to town, I once again visited New Look. And what did I see on the sale rail, but my dress! And in my size! There was a catch - the zipper was broken. Still, I purchased for £10, a nice £15 saving. I then headed off to the market, purchased an identical zip for 75p, sewed it on myself and hey presto! Good as new.




A Few Tips...

• Don't buy something thats near enough ripped in half. You won't salavage it, no matter how good you are on a sewing machine.
• Only purchase an item that's stained if youre sure once in the washing machine will get it out- this means oil based stains are probably a bad idea.
• Small tears are fine, but only if in an area that no one will notice.
• Never buy broken shoes, you won't be able to fix them.
• Never buy items that aren't your size just because they're reduced. This will double your workload as not only will you have to fix the fault, you'll have to alter the clothes to make them fit you too.
• Make sure you wont have to spend loads fixing the item- if you do you may as well just buy it new.
  

I'm just about to go out, and before I do I think it's my duty to inform you of this excellent product. I've been using it for ages now, and I think it's fairly undiscovered.
It's happened to us all. Woke up a bit late with a mop like a chip pan, no time to wash it and faced with little options but to go out looking like you haven't showered for days. Here is the end of all that!
All you do is spray it on, leave it for a minute or two, then rub or brush it out, leaving clean, fresh smelling locks behind. A word of warning however, make sure you get it all out! I didn't check once before leaving the house, then I was faced with a few 'Erm, why is your hair grey?' comments. Don't make the same mistake.
It comes in three varieties, original, blush and tropical. I can't decide which is my favourite scent. Orignal smells a bit like Refreshers sweets I think, while tropical is coconutty and blush is lovely and floral.
This should be in everyones bedroom, its so helpful. And its only £2.05 from Boots. What more could you ask for?
On top of that, its really handy for adding texture to your hair when you need that second day feel for up-dos and messy looks.
All in all, this is a great product. Shame my mum always steals mine!

I am your typical girl- obsessed with bags, shoes and belts. I just love accessories. They make the outfit. A simple black dress can be instantly transformed into a red carpet worthy outfit just through adding an amazing pair of shoes and a bangle here and there.

I thought I'd share my extensive accessory collection with the rest of the world, and show you where you can get some amazing bargains that look great with all outfits. It's all about visualizing what somethings going to look like with a certain outfit. It may not look to great on the shelf, but teamed with that new dress you just bought it could look amazing.

Here are some of my personal favourites.


I absolutely LOVE this bag. Its so on trend. I love the quilted detail and chain handle, and the colour is amazing. Plus, I just love patent. The little gold badge just makes it look that little bit more expensive, and it huge, big enough to fit all my school stuff in. The front pocket is handy too. It was only £17.99 from new shop Internationale, which I believe has bought out the MK chain. Pretty much the same stuff in there, with the extra few items that are actually worth buying.

This bag was another amazing find. Its absolutely huge (remember the bigger your bag is, the smaller you look!), and I love the front pockets with gold lock detail. Its black patent and ooooooh worthy. I must say though, the best part about this bag was the price. Wandering around Tesco, little did I know I'd find such a nice bag! It was £12, reduced to £6, then had an extra 25% off, so I snagged it for £4. Quite the bargain if you ask me! It'll be perfect for school next year, or maybe even the odd ambitious shopping trip or two :)



This is another padded, chain handle bag. As you can tell, I'm a big fan! Unfortunately, Chanel is slightly out of my price range, so cheaper alternatives will have to do. I use this bag for night outs, its just the right size, and I like the heart detail, a modern twist on a classic. Again, it was a bargain. I found this in Peacocks for £8, and the straps can be pulled through and used as a long, across the body bag. 2 in 1!




This picture really does the bag no justice (as you can tell, I'm a far cry from being a photographer). It's real leather with gold rings on the handle. It's an almost exact replica of one from Topshop that was going for about £35, and that one wasn't even leather. Of course, its Primark. Where else can you get a big, real leather bag for under £40?



These shoes were excellent value, and are so this season. The pumps are quilted with a patent tip on the toe, another cheap Topshop knock-off. I love the gladiator sandals, I also have them in tan, and they're perfect for the upcoming summer months. Both Primark, and at £4 each pair, you can afford to buy them in every colour - God knows you'd want to.



This is a selection of my favourite belts. I love belts, they're a great tool for creating a waistline. From left to right, Topshop, £3 in the sale, H&M, £9.99, Select, £4 (if there isn't a Select near you, Topshop do an identical version for a pricier £15), Primark, £1.50 and Primark again £2. A belt can instantly complete an outfit, and can make any outfit look even more flattering.



I hope this has inspired you to go out bargain hunting instead of succumbing to the first pretty thing that catches your eye. All these great finds are proof that you don't have to pay a fortune to find great, good quality clothes!

Labels: bags, bargains, belts, Primark, shoes

Now, we're all excited for the summer. Admittedly, the British summer often leaves much to be desired, but according to the Met Office, we're in for a hot one this year! We had our first glimpse of this yesterday, and so of course I abused this as much as I could. I look rather bronzed this morning, if I do say so myself.
Summer, to me, just rings as an opportunity to get my legs out, throw on a pair of oversized sunnies and go shopping in style. One of this summers, and last's, hottest trends were gladiator sandals.
I must admit, at first I wasn't much of a fan. On the self they just look far too... strappy. Then of course everyone started throwing tassles at them, and I even saw a few hideous creations in neon. I soon came to realise that despite their less than impressive appearance on the shelf, once on they could look so good.
Of course, there is still a right way and a wrong way to do them.

Wrong

Too tall, and wayyy too strappy.
Don't even get me started on the bizzare colours. At what point would anyone think that knee high, strappy, green leather shoes would be a good idea?
And anyway, after going out in them for the day, taking them off is going to be a sweaty, and most probably rather difficult, experience.
Plus, just think of the odd looking tan lines!
A word of advice, unless youre Beyonce, the tall gladiator sandals are going to be rather difficult to pull off- I'd steer clear.




Right

Now, this is better. Here are three perfect examples of how to pull them off.
Lets go from left to right. I love these black high heeled numbers, just the right amount of straps, not too high. They'd look perfect with any little dress on a night out.
The subtle embellishment on the centre pair add a hint of class, and make them look expensive (to be fair, they probably are, but I've seen a great similar pair in Primark which im sure cost a hell of a lot less!)
I love the simplicity of the third pair. Teamed with the plain white dress, they're the minimalist kind of style thats incredibly easy to do if you have the right ingredients.

Where Can I get Some?

I've seen a great selection of glads around the high street, all at fairly reasonable prices. The first place I really have to mention is Primark. They have some great sandals, in a range of colours and styles too. I loved this pair so much I bought them in both tan and black, and at only £4 a pair, how could I resist? (Excuse my skanky feet, I'm far from being a foot model!)

Labels: Dorothy Perkins, gladiator sandals, Matalan, New look, Primark, summer

Many are claiming the worldwide eBay craze has passed. I disagree.
I must admit a bit of an eBay addiction. When I'm not buying, I'm selling, and when I'm not selling I'm seeking out new items and waiting for them to end. eBay is an amazing tool, whether you want to find that sold out pair of Topshop jeans, or discounted designer, eBay is sure to have it.
As a seasoned eBayer, I've compiled a few hints an tips when it comes to buying and selling, just so you don't lose out.


Buying

• If buying on a budget, make sure you set your price limits on the left hand toolbar. This will stop you being tempted by that incredibly pricey jacket. If you can't see the listing, you can't impulse buy.
• Once you've found that must-have item, the worst thing you can do it bid on it. This makes others who are interested try and bid more than you, and you could end up in the middle of a costly bidding war. Instead, wait until the last few minutes of the auction, last few seconds if possible (clicking 'Watch this Item' will make sure you don't forget or lose the page). If you can't be at a computer at the time the auction closes, make use of helpful sniper sites which will bid for you in the last few seconds. My favourite free sniper is Goofbay.
• There are millions of sellers on eBay. And about 50% of them can't spell. Always check for common ways to misspell something you're looking for (eg. Tposhop instead of Topshop). Again, there are sites which will do this for you, Goofbay offers a misspelled words search and also a handy 'not in the title' search. These tools will get you bargains, as less people will see the listings, meaning less bids and less competition for you.
• If buying more than one item from the same seller, if they don't offer it already, always message them and ask for a postage discount. It may not be much, but every little helps.
• In some listings, sellers may forget to put important details down such as size and measurements. If you're interested in the item, always message the seller asking them. People may leave such items because they can't be bothered to mail the seller. Never buy an item if you dont know the size- likelyhood is it won't fit you.
• If there are a few different pieces you're interested in but don't want to over pay, see how much other similar items have sold for. To do this simply go on the advanced search feature, type in your criteria and check 'Completed Listings'. Try to not pay much more than similar items have gone for.
• Always check how much things originally cost, if possible. For example, if the listing claims a certain River Island top is still in store, check the website out. You don't want to end up paying more for it on eBay than you would've done if you had just gone to the shop or bought it online. A great example of this is Primark clothes. Certain sell-out items go for up to 5 times more than the RRP on eBay! Be realistic- does anything from Primark actually cost £39.99? Seek out cheaper alternatives.
• Never forget about postage fees! You may be marveling at the incredibly low price of a certain item, but is it really that cheap when you take into account the £7.50 postage costs?
• Paypal is very important, and this applies to both buying and selling. Many buyers will not buy an item if the seller doesn't offer the choice to pay via Paypal, and visa versa. It offers both parties security if something goes wrong, and is also just easier and quicker.
  

Selling

• Always begin listings on a Thursday afternoon/evening, and leave them for 10 days. This way your listings will have two weekends for people to view them, and will end on a Sunday evening, the most popular time for eBayers.
• If you can't manage this, at least still begin your item in an evening or lunch hour, as your listing will end at exactly that time a few days later. Many buyers will wait until the last few minutes to bid, and so you don't want your items ending at 3 in the morning when no one is awake to bid on them. It may be worth paying the small fee to arrange a starting time for your listing.
  
• If you expect a certain item to be popular, begin the auction low. Lower starting prices mean less fees for you and also generates more interest with bidders. If you start your item at 99p or less, the listing will be free to set up.
• ALWAYS include a picture with your listing. A picture will give a buyer firstly, an idea of what the item looks like, but also what condition it is, what the colours are like, etc. Listings with pictures sell for up to 30% more, because the buyer knows what they are purchasing.
• If there is a fault with the item, you must make sure you include it in the description. This way the buyer doesn't have a shock when they receive the item, and you remove the risk of a bad feedback score.
• The title is the key part of the listing, as this is what will initially grab your buyer's attention. Make sure you list as many key words in the title, and make it as clear as possible what you're selling. E.g.

Labels: bargains, eBay, second hand, vintage

The same as all good things come to an end, they also have to begin. Ravaged by the urge to fill my spare time with something half way constructive, I have stumbled upon the world of blogging. At first, I found the concept rather monotonous- who is going to want to listen to me ramble on for page after page?
This attitude was quickly changed, however, as through exploring the world of web logs further, I found that the idea of blogging is yes, often used for teenagers like myself to drone on about how life just isn't fair and to provide a medium through which to detail their lives (often, I suspect, due to the fact that they're so boring their friends and family had quickly lost interest), but can also provide hours of fascinating reading, factfinding and discussion. What drew me in was the sheer variety of topics people write about. Cars, gadgets, nature, photography, television. Whatever your interest there is surely a blog to match your tastes. And unlike a book on your subject of choice, there are no chapters- you can just skip the bits you're not too fussed on and get straight to the juicey bits.
That is my downfall you see: boredom. If I feel my interest is waning I quickly give up and move on to something else, as a result I've been victim to many a fad or craze over recent years. At one point I was fascinated by nature. Then I found myself being drawn to gadgets. Then gaming. Then money-making. The list goes on, one obsession followed by the next. Only one thing has really maintained my interests however, and that is why I've chosen it to be the subject of my newly-aquired blog.
I live for fashion. If I come into money its gone the next day, with the satisfying knowledge that I'll have something to wear out on Saturday night or just something pretty to look at in my wardrobe. Shopping is my weakness, when I'm not doing it I crave the rush, and when I am I'm constantly calculating my bank balance in my mind, trying to figure out if it gels with the newly purchased bag of goodies on my arm.
In the corner of my bedroom lives a stack of magazines which grows every month. My Cosmo subscription and weekly dose of Heat magazine, accompanied with any others I just had to have, does nothing at all for my spending addiction. Everything just looks so good on the glossy pages I find it hard to resist making a note of certain items and their price, and making a beeline for that shop the next time I hit the high street. I know it would benefit me from not reading them, but where's the fun in that?
As I said, I am a teenager. Sixteen years old with a spending problem, doesn't really set me up well for later life, does it? That's the purpose of my blog. Despite my lust for an arm full of shopping bags, I have a keen eye for a bargain. Well, I think part of it is my father's fault. He never buys anything unless absolutely necessary! His tightness has passed down to me, I hate spending money. Nothing is ever bought until I'm sure I can't get it for less anywhere else.
I don't understand some of the girls I see wandering around town. Half of them younger than me, yet dripping in the latest gear and with an armful of River Island carrier bags to boot. I don't have a job (but believe me, I'm working on it), and unlike others my parents rarely buy me anything. I get a monthly allowance and have to make my way on that. And I do just fine.
And so here I am, armed with personal experience and my Father's penny-saving mind, to help you do the same. Of course, fashions not all about cheap and cheerful, everyone needs those items that are just too pretty to leave on the shelf, so I'm making it my mission to source out the best from the British high street, and maybe a few online too.

And so the end of my very first blog comes to an end!
Feedback of course, is always welcome, as are ideas for future posts.