How to Rock Mens Comfy Casuals

Ever noticed how calm and laid back men look? Let me tell you for free, it is their clothing. How are women meant to be happy with shoes pinching, bras scratching and false fibres itching. Forget it, head to the mens aisle for greener pastures. Today I decided to do it like a dude, heading to the Zara mens section to pick up this 100% cotton (yes, see how they treat men?) natural fibre comfy as hell black sweater which worked nicely as a dress for me.  I paired the look with leggings and the best accessory in the world, my minimal Zara leather back pack and finished with plimsolls from Primark. Happy As Larry!

This Bag is THE BAG! I have received so many compliments. It is so handy and at only £19.99 I love it. It also comes in Stone colour and is still in certain Zara stores but not online. Keep your eyes peeled, the last place I saw one was in Chelsea Dukes Square Zara!

Loves & Finds : Joy 2 Piece Crop Top and Skirt Set

I fell in love with this twin set from Joy. I happen to live a stones throw away from Joy, and on my hunt for a wedding outfit, they were my first stop. I loved this set straight away, but obviously you can't buy the first thing you see, I had not even got to Central London yet. So I waved it goodbye and headed to all the top spots but you know what? After a day of trawling the best London has to offer, this was the best I found. I love the fact it is 2 in 1. Weddings are so expensive and who wants to buy a frilly frock thats too fancy to wear again. With this 50s style piece I was able to re work the separates to pair with separate outfits (which I did in Paris later, see pics below). The other thing I loved about this piece is that it is figure flattering to my hour glass shape. The crop shows off my waist while the skirt hides my belly. R E S U L T.

Another great thing is that this set is STILL available at Joy and on sale :D !!! Shop here 

Summer Silver Hair Top Tips

This season as the sun gets brighter the hair is getting lighter. Blame it on Danerys, but the mother of dragons has everyone from all colour tones coveting cool silver tones. I, not being exempt from the list have finally perfected the coveted silver hair. 

How to get the look

1. This look was created by placing Loreal silver shampoo on Platinum hair. leave for 20 mins. 

2. Apply black dye to the roots and mid way down pre dyed platinum hair for the ombre black roots.  Then when the dye has been in for 10 mins ( not set) wash out with silver shampoo. Because the colour hasn't set as it washes out it makes the hair go from dark lilac to pale lilac. 

I was so happy when I achieved this look- through  my trials and tribulations I have learned the following tipa

Tip 1.

Dye hair as far as it will go to platinum blonde. If you are starting from dark, one 

Dye will not do. So don't be lazy!

Tip 2

Tone out the brassy yellow. For silver it is not your friend. Don't cut corners! Get out all that brassy orange tones. Try Wella T50 it will tone hair silver.

Tip 3 

If you are weaving hair, it is much easier to start from ready dyed platinum hair and then just dye the roots as black as you would like

Tip 4

Loreal silver shampoo can actually semi permanently dye your hair lilac/silver if you leave it on for 20 mins. This is quite drying so is not a long term solution. Leave on for 20 mins only once to get the colour, then when uou wash the hair leave the shampoo on for only a regular washing time and condition with white conditioner to maintain the colour.

For more hints and tips for more colours, view my hair blog law and miaw, 

Law and Miaw is one of the many ventures I have been working on this year. I'm now selling colouring and styling hair. For more info info@lawandmiaw.com

Portugal Summer Destination SS15

If you have't made plans to go to Portugal this summer I suggest you get to it pronto. This year, I have the pleasure of going to Portugal for a hen do of my girl Wendy. It was only a 3 day trip so I packed light and still felt like it was too much. Flying into Faro we stayed in Portimão which is a lovely beach town with beach side bars and lounges.

The accommodation was an apartment instead of a hotel which was a much better option it was so roomy and plush. We got up to paddle boarding, late brunches by the beach side (the food over there is amazing & cheap) cheeky afternoon drinks by the pool, and more than a few Irish bars (they are everywhere).

Margarita's by the sea, obviously

This is the hair I chose to install for this holiday. It is kinky straight hair from my hair company Law + Miaw and it was perfect for abroad as it matched my natural texture in humidity. I ombre'd the ends with 20 vol developer and bleach for that sun kissed look. Contact www.lawandmiaw.com to buy and customise

The group went paddle boarding. At first I was like hell naw (because of my weave) but it looked like they were having so much fun I had to join in. Plus no one fell off or got wet. Imagine a water activity which you can stay dry during. I think I have found my perfect sport!

I found this contrast colour block bra whilst over in Portugal. It was great because it kept my boobs under control which made me feel slimmer. You can get the same one from New Look : 

Attention seeking Accessories

This season, it is all about expressive accessories.  Anya Hindmarch leads the way, as she has been for some seasons following her recent popart handbag collections. For SS15 highstreet retailers follow suit as New Look and River Island offer a great selection of cheeky accessories to inject some humour and personality into your summer wardrobe.

Top left: Anya Hindmarch Matches Fashion £250, Right River Island Phone Case £10, Hold me bag, River Island £55, Bottom left Anya Hindmarch £895

SERGE DE NIMES SS15 LAUNCH

Following his spiritual AW14 collection "the wolf within" this week Proudlock unveiled his  SS15 collection.The unisex collection consisted of bold lines, symbols and geometric patterns and reminded me of urban tribal wear, pieces to suit the varied creative appreciators of Serge De Nimes- An international collection of cool kids- united by their love of art, expression and freedom.

The collection was launched at the Hoxton Hotel Apartments with an intimate event which had an old school house party vibe. Biggie, 2Pac and Outkast was on the playlist and the grand finale of the event was a MC performance by UK rapper Mikill Pane.

The Collection

LAW + MIAW Sister Post

I have started a blog with my sister aka twin, Michela. It is called LAW+MIAW and is a sort of memoir. Iconic pictures that speak to a time and a blog that should be a snap shot of our generation. The blog will also feature interviews with brands, film makers, fashion designers and other creatives who are up and coming, and doing their thing in the art world. Check us out: www.lawandmiaw.tumblr.com

I'm wearing:

Cos Dress
Zara Jacket

My sister wears:
Banana Republic Jacket
Primark Leggings
Top Shop Shoes.

Photography by Kyle Isaac Williams

Portraits. The way we were

Here is to the first half of my 20s in all its wide eyed discoveries & triumphs. 

 

Picture 2 (body)

Jeans: Dorothy Perkins £20

Crop Top: Kilburn (one of those tacky urban shops)

Fur Puncho: Portobello Market.

Picture 1 face

Make up 

Bare Minerals Liquid Foundation in Bare Buff

Lipstick, Mac Verve

Eyeshadow: Benefit.

Punk Rebellion

This weekend I thought why not inject a little punk rock rebellion into my wardrobe? Wearing my favourite boots from Zara an tartan pants from riverisland I worked my way up to create a punky yet fabulous outfit.

Shoes: Zara
Trousers: River Island
Trench: Zara
Jumper: H&M

Ootd Throw Back Thursday

3 weeks into the new year and two of those weeks have been spent wrapped up in bed fighting off the plague. I had such better plans for 2015. The first day I recovered enough to don heels you know what I did ? Hobbled my ass down to Zara to see the last of those sales. I picked myself up this jacket for £49.99 and the necklace for £7.99. Here is a tip for sales - to avoid going nuts buying things you don't really want or need - always remember you will never regret a coat- it can be accessorised several different ways and can easily dress up a plain outfit. 

Today I headed to shoreditch to prove just that dressed, as my friend on Instagram Pointed out,  like a pilgrim - perhaps it's because I felt like a survivor :)  

Galliano Debut for Margiela : My Verdict

Back in 2011 nothing got the fashion birds in a tweeting frenzy more than John Galliano's dismissal from Dior and subsequent excommunication from the fashion world following his bizarre anti Semitic comments. Yet here we are in 2015 and it seems the fickle world of fashion has forgiven Galliano, or at least, anger has made way for curiosity. 4.30 yesterday, fashion designers, journalists and elites hot footed it after the Burberry show (Christopher Bailey included) and gathered anxiously to catch a glimpse of Galliano's anticipated debut collection for Maison Martin Margiela.

Whilst many have been reticent to forgive, my self included, no one can deny that fashion has sourly missed this scorned genius. One question was on everyones minds, "Is this collection enough to see him rise back to the top Phoenix style?"  My answer, in a word is yes.

The collection was rich in drama, as you would expect from Galliano, bold silhouettes were complimented with a generous use of chiffon- granting the theatrics of movement. The strict black and red palette, embellished breast plates, masks and makeup gave collection a look of ferocious beauty, perhaps hinting to a designer on the defence yet confident in his craft.

It is evident that he came ready, he came fighting, and he came to stay.

Life Hack : Overcoming Fear

If you're naturally an anxious person, there is no doubt that you have been told by well meaning peppy friends that the best way to overcome fear is to just "feel the fear and go for it" you know, do it anyway. This sounds great in principle, like an inspirational quote that should be written on a poster with panther, however in practice it's not so easy to silence your fears and positively push on.

My anxious friends, I feel you- there is certainly a scale of anxiety, and for those of you who are most severe, I strongly suggest seeking medical help, as severe anxiety is no joke, but for those moderates, I have come across a tactic that just might help you muster the courage and go for it.

The premise of this trick is inspired by Eckhart Tolle's, The Power of Now (a great book, must read). The central premise is, you are not your mind. Meaning there is a you that is infinitely powerful, and there is your mind. Your mind is full of worry, pain of past hurt and fear, it is the voice by which you evaluate situations. Eckhart encourages you to silence your mind and learn that sometimes it can be your biggest enemy.

Now it is difficult to silence your mind, some say its impossible, however after some consideration I decided that there is indeed some merit to separating your self (you at your best, who you were meant to be) from your weak, fretting mind. I decided to try something. To separate the thinking negative into one person in my mind (weakness) and develop another voice of strength. The voice of strength is focussed on what I want in life, and fed by my visualisations of a better life. The voice of weakness is that inevitable fearful voice, that gets in the way and usually psyches me out of doing what I need to do. Now that I had separated the two, negative thoughts could not run riot without being consciously checked. This is so important, as anyone with anxiety will know that left unchecked, one fearful thought will grow to a deafening riot. See your negative thoughts as bullies, bullies that given half the chance will have you living in fear, and never realising the life you were meant for. See your positive thoughts as your best friend, sticking up for you against the bullies and reminding you of why you're here, and that you can do it, pit the two against each other, and mindful of what you want out of life, ensure your best you wins!

I find this really helps me in situations where I feel fear getting the best of me and I hope it helps you too. I guess sometimes spilt personalities can be a good thing ;)

Bare Minerals Liquid Foundation & Concealer Review

Ladies ! I have discovered the holy grail of foundation, like most great discovers of the ages, I simply can't wait or keep this to my self- hence the low budget iPad selfie to accompany this, but don't worry when I'm back from Ireland I will review this properly - for now though here is my heads up for a flawless new year...

Ok so what I wanted was a foundation which looked flawless, was undetectable and covered blemishes. I had heard of bare minerals products before , but stayed away because I thought they had very little coverage and were mainly for people with near perfect skin. How wrong I was...

My main reason for foundation is to cover my uneven skin tone (hyper pigmentation ) and dark marks, I just happened past the bare minerals counter and on a whim thought- let's see what you got.

The makeup artist suggested liquid for me, which is in line with the natural dewy finish I love. The foundation used is called, Bare Minerals Brightening Serum Foundation, and is applied with an unusual buffer brush- this brush is crucial for application, and although I was sceptical about paying out for new foundation plus brush, now I have applied it at home, I can guarantee this to be a needed component. The brush just makes it ridiculously flawless and easy to apply.

How I used it
To prep -
Moisturiser : Mac Strobe Cream
Primer : Mac Natural Radiance (yellow tone)

Application

Foundation : Shake the bare minerals foundation well, as it does not contain mixants, drop 2 -3 drops in the centre of the brush, and then buffer on in circular motion. Add more drops and buffer as needed.I was so impressed with the level of coverage this foundation gives , all the while looking and feeling lightweight- like I had nothing on!

Concealer: bare minerals concealer was just dreamy. Although a solid cream it glides on mad does not cake! In addition to bare minerals under the eye I added the tiniest drop of Mac prolong wear in NC20 for a dramatic highlight under the eye and on cheek bones.

To finish the look I used my new Mac Format Frost Powder Blush and Mac Verve lipstick mixed with Sleek Dare. To set it all I used the Mac Finishing Powder.

All in all this foundation gets 5 stars, it's a must try- I'm in love!

Loves and Finds: Crop Bustier from H and M

                    

Who says lingerie is just for wearing underneath?  I came across this crop bustier from H&M and thought it was just to beautiful to conceal!

Great with a high waisted skirt, jeans or trousers, this crop supports the boobs and dramatises an hour glass shape, whilst offering killer support.

I got mine from H&M who have some great bustiers for really reasonable prices. Check in store or see my favourites below.

Lace Bustier, £14.99

For those with a smaller chest, this is perfect. Also comes in white and nude!

Non wire, lace bustier £12.99

Sequined Bustier £12.99

Inner Space: Positive Thinking Class 1

I have recently determined myself to embark on a positive thinking journey, because I have realised that it is so important to not let life just happen. Just letting things happen= becoming a victim of life, and as powerful beings and intelligent creations, none of us should play that role, especially not in our own life! I have chosen to own the power I have to consciously steer my mind and my life upwards, so I have begun a mission of enlightenment and I invite you to join as I share my experiences and what I learn.

Inner Space Covent Garden: Positive Thinking Course, Week 1 Review

Yesterday Anna & I proactively headed to Covent Garden to listen in on a positive thinking talk run by InnerSpace. Their classes are free & run by volunteers, who are passionate about creating a happier, fulfilled planet. You can check their classes here : http://www.innerspace.org.uk/event_category/courses-in-covent-garden/

I really enjoyed the class, and learned some worthwhile principals I simply must share:

The Garden.

Thoughts are seeds.

A good thought = good fruit
A bad thought= bad fruit.

A bad seed will not reap good positive fruits in your life and will lead to a negative mind.

Your mind is your garden. This makes you the gardener. 

It is important to realise and own the fact that YOU are in charge of your mind, your thoughts, emotions and how you feel. No one can make you plant a seed, ie you do not have to let someone else's negativity grow in your garden.

The Fence=  is your filter

Your mind is precious, and must be protected. Don't just let people chuck litter in your garden and then accept it. For example, someone can be negative to you, but it is up to you whether or not you choose to let that seed grow in your garden, or weed it out. It is up to you to tend to your mind. If you want a positive mindset and a positive mind you will have to work for it.

Analysing thoughts, ie. the seeds:

It is important to recognise the importance of your thoughts. Whether you believe in the law of attraction or spirituality, all agree that everything starts with a thought. The Law Of Attraction goes as far to say that "thoughts become things". Meaning negativity reaps negativity & positivity reaps positivity whilst spiritualists believe that thoughts become your mindset and can lead to a positive, healthy mind, or a negative unhealthy mind. In any case, it is important you evaluate your thoughts constantly.

Yesterday I learned that there are 4 kinds of thoughts.

Negative: things like envy, anger, hate, worry and jealousy
Positive: love, appreciation, gratefulness and happiness
Waste: non productive thoughts, mind wandering, planning things you don't need to worry about
Necessary: the thoughts you need to function.

The aim is to be mindful of what kind of thought you are having before you continue wandering down a path. It is also important to know that sometimes a good thought can lead to a bad one if you are not mindful of your thoughts.

For example:

"Wow she has beautiful hair" (appreciation) can become "I wish I had her hair" ( envy) "My hair sucks"- (self hate and not helpful)

I reasoned that a good practise is to measure each thought against gratefulness, as gratefulness is the root of happiness and the magic of the law of attraction. A negative thought is in essence ungrateful. In this state, good things do not happen.

Take Away Nugget

I have learnt that firstly it is crucially important that I acknowledge that I am in control of my emotions, my thoughts and my mood. This is how I can learn to be effect life instead of have it affect me. This means that I have power over my life, and you have power over yours. Powerlessness is a lie. Every time you take on someones negativity and let that seed grow, you are giving away your power and selling yourself short. So this week I want to challenge you with the same task they gave me :

Approach every circumstance and every thought  this week using SOS.

S= Stand Back
O= Observe
S= Steer

Stand back, away from the emotions of the moment, or craziness,
Observe the thoughts you are having where they are going, how they are shifting your mood.
Steer your mind into a more positive place, remembering that you are in control over YOUR life and YOUR mind.

I am going back to the class next Tuesday & look forward to sharing more. Anyone I can bring along with me on the journey to positivity I will :)

Have a fantastically powerful week.