Kate Moss for Topshop Collection

All images from Topshop 

And after all the hype and excitement surrounding Kate Moss' next collection for Topshop, it's finally arrived. As expected, it didn't disappoint. Falling into four categories: Balearic Dressing, Cocktail Hour, Pyjama Dressing and Tailoring Noir, it's all been beautifully created to suit all tastes. In recent interviews Kate has spoken about taking her well-loved and classic pieces from her own wardrobe and recreating them into a modern style capsule collection and it's clear to see where she gets her inspiration from. 

Turns out my favourite collection (Pyjama Dressing) is actually my 'most suited' according to the Topshop quiz, which isn't such a bad thing, pyjama's at work? Yes please! I've put together a few of my favourite pieces, and it's only a few because I basically loved everything. 

Anything leather and fringed gets a massive tick from me, so to say I need this jacket is an understatement. I kinda of like the trousers in a they're-so-cool-but-I'll-never-wear-them sort of way! Perhaps the dress is more versatile, but the trousers are definitely the coolest. A pyjama top is yet to creep into my wardrobe, but I adore the concept of them. I'd probably stylethis one with a pair of black skinny jeans (surprise surprise), brown brogues and a distressed denim jacket for a smart/casual outfit. 

Kate is known for her love of great tailoring and all black sleek outfits, with this playsuit being no exception. If it's good enough for Cara Delevingne, it's good enough for me. The beautiful detailing of this smock dress had me swooning before I even knew it, it would be a gorgeous cover-up at the beach or styled up for a summer night out. And finally, who can resist a bit of Gastby-esque flapper dress? Like a shimmery gold fountain of beads, Kate has got the whole collection down to a T.

What do you think of the collection? What's your favourite piece?

Thanks for reading!

Rhiannon xx

Sidenote: How crazy is it that some the pieces sold out in minutes and are on Ebay for well over £700?!

The Long Awaited Gingham Dress

Coat: Asos

Dress: Primark

Cardigan: New Look

Boots: Topshop

So I've finally wacked out the gingham dress! It feels like a while since I actually bought it and did a haul on here, but I eventually got round to it! What I love about this dress is that it's quite thick and comfortable for a £10 dress from Primark, plus the shape is quite flattering on me. A high neckline and shift dress shape makes me look like I actually have curves for once. And it's one of those dresses that you can just throw on with minimal effort or accessories, which is a bonus for lazy morning people like me.

Recently I've been feeling so tired and lazy in the mornings, probably because I've been going to bed late most nights and I'm not use to getting up at 6:30am after the Easter break! I have missed Brighton terribly so it's nice to be back down there, even if it did mean taking a horrible reporting exam yesterday (don't ask...) But it's good to be back in the old routine, even with the early starts and rush hour trains I'm still smiling to myself.

Thanks for reading!

Rhiannon xx

Love Me Beauty Box April Edition

This month's Love Me Beauty Box I more or less bought on a whim, after seeing so many bloggers positive posts and all the lovely products that are actually really good value for money! I've seen a few bloggers do this post already, but I wanted to give a proper and thorough review of each product at the end of the month!

Redken Colour Extend Conditioner, Sample Size 25ml, RRP £9.99

Review: This was probably the product I was the most unsure about, mainly because I don't have coloured hair and I don't know whether it performs better in conjunction with the shampoo. It did detangle and give my hair a smooth finish, but obviously I didn't notice a difference in my hair colour! I did share it with my mum, who has coloured hair, to try it out and she loved it. The colour did bring out her highlights and kept the colour for longer, so it does keep to all of its promises!

Verdict: I probably won't be buying this again, even though it does stick to what it says, my Aussie conditioner is my staple product that suits my hair and never leaves it greasy

Betty Hula Secret Wonder Oil, Full Size, RRP £6.25

Review: I adored this product! Usually I shy away from oils, the old myth that they clog up your pores and just leave your skin feeling greasy ran through my mind, but this is something else. It's light and refreshing floral-ish smell was attractive and the fact that it doesn't linger on the skin is a massive bonus. I've been using it on my stretch marks and any dry patches but mainly on my scar on my arm (more about that here), which won't ever really fade away, this oil has slightly improved the appearance. So far I've only used the tiniest bit of it, so I know it'll last me!

Verdict: Once I've finished this bottle, I can safely say I'll be buying this one again. It's great for travelling and has made a significant difference to my skin. But for now, I've seen that they also sell handcreams and body moisturisers, tempting....

Models Own Nail Polish in 'Coral Reef', Full Size, RRP £5

Review: Now who can really resist a new coral nail polish, especially from Models Own? I'll admit now, I've never tried a Models Own nail polish *hides behind cushion* and I have no idea why not! The instructions said apply one or two coats, which I was a bit sceptical of at first, but boy doesn't not chip! I wore it with a base coat and two thin coats for a good couple of days at work and only got a few tiny chips on the edges. Mind blown.

Verdict: 100% definitely going to purchase more Models Own nail polishes! I've already had a peak online and their ranges are just amazing. If only I had more nails to paint....

Neal & Wolf Silk Smoothing Blow-Dry Balm, Full Size, RRP £12.50

Review: Saving the best until last! I hadn't heard of this brand before, but I'm so glad I chose this one. Said to end tangles and create smooth and silk-like hair, it's a firm favourite of mine now! I apply it alongside my heat protector spray and oil, then blow-dry with a hair roller brush. The smell is just AMAZING, I can't quite describe it, but it's gorgeous. The packaging confused me a bit (but then again, I'm easily confused) but it's quite nifty and clever as the pump doesn't create any messy and won't explode everywhere.

Verdict: Again, I'll 100% be repurchasing this again. I've seen a noticeable difference in my hair, there's less frizz and it's a lot silkier and shiny than before. Plus I've heard a lot of good things about the other products, so I'm pleased that I've finally found out about them!

What do you think of these products? 

Thanks for reading!

Rhiannon xxx. 

Exams and a Quote

Source

Unfortunately I've had to miss this week's Instagram post, mainly because it's been another super busy week and I have a reporting exam tomorrow, which means I've been revising like crazy! So there probably won't be a post tomorrow either, but hopefully by Tuesday I'll be back on track again! I'll leave you with one of my favourite quotes I found recently :)

Hope you all have a lovely week!

Rhiannon xx

All Grown Up

Mac: H&M

Dress and Belt: Primark

Shoes: New Look

I felt all proper and grown up when I worn this! Finally a sensible length and fabric, that keeps you warm and easy to iron. God, thank sounds like my mum! You must excuse the weird lighting in the first image, can't control mother nature, although I'm not complaining about the sun coming back! I wore this to my internship the other day and got quite a few compliments on it, so well done Primark!

The dress has a subtle texture and by adding the purple velvet belt and leopard print shoes, it just brings it all together. And my lovely Mac coat has come back! I remember spending ages finding one that's suitable for all types of weather and H&M came up with this one for only £30, so I know I'll be getting a lot of wear for my money! I think this outfit it quite ideal for work or an interview, as it's still smart but super comfy at the same time. Best of both worlds!

What's your ideal interview or work outfit?

Thanks for reading!
Rhiannon xx

The Very Inspiring Blogger Award

The lovely Kate over at DaytoDayDreamer nominated my blog for this award, for which I am very grateful for, so thank you Kate! As always there's a few rules to follow:

• Display the award certificate on your website
• Announce your win with a post and a link to whoever presented you with the award
• Present fifteen awards to deserving bloggers
• Drop them a comment and link them in your post
• Share seven interesting facts about yourself in a blog post

Should be easy, right? I'll tell you now, I'm not a very 'interesting' person! But we'll see how we go with these facts....

1. I have a large-ish scar on my left arm. The whole thing is probably about four inches long and takes quite a chunk out of my arm! Long story short, I had a birthmark there which got infected, so they had to remove it when I was about 11 years old (turns out it was nothing serious anyway!).Apparently I used to say a baby shark bit me, which I think is a much better story!

2. On the other arm I have a swallow tattoo, which I've had for about five months or so now and no regrets still. I did a post here on it, but it was something that I had wanted for years and all I was waiting for was to turn 18! For me, swallows present freedom and as it was common for sailors to have one, it's said that if a sailor drowns, their swallow would take them to heaven. 

3. I was named after a Fleetwood Mac song. My parents were literally that imaginative! It was either Rhiannon or Rosie and apparently I didn't look 'girlie enough' to be a Rosie! It's so cringe listening to it, as well as having some people singing it to me...

4. My bucketlist is two pages long and counting. I've got countries I want to visit on there, stuff like cross continents by bike, boat or foot and run 14 marathons (lucky number!) I've already done a few, like learn how to sail and visit New York, but there's a lot more to do!

5. At least two or three times a year, my family and I hold charity coffee mornings, raising money for our local hospice. We've participated in Race For Life a few times and more local charity runs, but we do this on our own accord with help from family and friends and raise a couple of hundred pounds each time, selling cakes, crafts, plants and loads of other things!

6. I've lived in the same town since I was born. My mum decided to have me a home and we lived in that house until I was six, then moved and now I'm just outside that town, so still kinda part of it! In the end, you get to know all the different areas and shortcuts, and the general community, which is quite nice.

7. Since starting my journalism course last September, I've been lucky enough to have interviews with Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Jahmeme Douglas, write about the London Fashion Week Trends and a loads of other bits and bobs for BN1 and Latest 7. I've loved doing this course and feel so happy that I decided to do this instead of uni, just got to make a real go of it now!

And these facts have definitely prove I'm not an 'interesting' person! Definitely harder than it looks to come up with that list!

Now for the fifteen inspiring and lovely bloggers I've come across in my time here:

Collette at Shrewd Fox
Lizzie at Cupcakes and Cosmetics
Myriam at Edgy Wonderland
Ellie at Ellies favourite things
Jess at Gingerly Pale
Emma at Highland Fling
Lu at If You See Lu
Josie at Josie's Journal
Antoinette at Letters To Antoinette
Laura at Lolly Loves
Patricia at Peexo
Chaitra at Pink Pot
Sarah at Simply Sarah
Jess at The Daily Ramblings of a Dork
Celine at Vintage Teapot

Once again, thanks to Kate for nominating and thank you all for reading!

Rhiannon xx

Review: PS, I Love You

PS, I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

This review has been a long awaited one, as I finished the book about a month ago! But with all the crazy things happening at the moment, I haven't had to chance to actually write it yet. So on to the review...

I had really high hopes for this book, as I first came across Cecelia Ahern in How to Fall in Love (review here) and I absolutely loved it! Despite not seeing the film, I heard a lot of positive hype around it anyway, so I was a bit disappointed to say the least. I think the thing that disheartened me the most was probably the ending, I was like 'Oh is that it?!' The whole story seemed a bit too chick-lit for me, and that's saying something! It did keep me captivated though, probably because I was waiting for the big surprise at the end (obviously I knew he wasn't going to come back, but I expected something better!) and I was always wondering what the next note said.

Overall, I liked the book, it's a good escapism but I probably won't be picking it up again. The concept was well thought out and I loved all the characters, I just wish there was something more, it felt like the ending was missing almost!

Have you read this book or any other Cecelia Ahern books? What did you think of it?

Thanks for reading!

Rhiannon xx

Wardrobe Malfunction

Cardigan and Jeans: M&S

Top: Primark

Boots: Topshop

Necklace: Forever 21

This is probably one of the most uninspiring outfits to have graced my blog in a long time, but sometimes simplicity is good right? Despite spring cleaning my wardrobe and finding some old gems I guess I'm in a style rut at the moment! I'm forever in this grey t-shirt and black skinny jeans, so I'll try to shake things up a bit more!

There are a few reasons for the plain outfit; first day back to college, raining (as usual) and I had to get up earlier to buy my train tickets. So that might make up for it?! My necklace decided to break on me at the last minute, but pliers to the rescue! I managed to tighten up the ring quickly and without any help from a man *pats self on back* Boy is this necklace heavy though! It's a pretty coral coral, plaited with gold beads, so I know I'll definitely get some more wear out of this in the summer.

Have you ever had any wardrobe malfunctions? My sole and heel of my shoe once ripped off, so I had to borrow a pair of my friends boots!

Thanks for reading

Rhiannon xx

Sample Stash #1

I fancied doing something a bit different for today's post. As this blog is a bit of a mixture i.e. fashion, beauty, lifestyle, reviews and anything else, so whenever an idea comes to mind for a post I just can't wait to share it. 

This idea came to light when I was rummaging around in my 'beauty box', which is just all my spare stuff that I'm not using at the moment, when I found a few sample packets that I hadn't used yet. I've picked something from each category as such, skincare, haircare and make-up. I'll say this now, I'm not a beauty guru or blogger, but just dabble in that area once and in a while! On to the point....

Garnier Moisture Match Dry to Very Dry Skin £5.99

Review: Across many beauty blogs I've seen, this product has popped up an awful lot. Claiming to keep your skin hydrated for up to 24 hours in a rich but non-greasy formula, it's done pretty well in my books. I have dry-ish skin on most days, so it did help combat those patches well and it wasn't too greasy either, like it promised. But I don't feel like it kept my skin hydrated for a whole 24 hours, as I had to re-apply after cleansing but whilst I used it it worked surprisingly well.

Verdict: I probably would buy this moisturiser again. The price is good for how much you get and what it's like on the skin, but I'm loving my Korres moisturiser at the moment, so once that's gone I might have to try this one out!

Nivea Rich Firming Body Moisturiser with Q10 Plus £3.50

Review: Nivea Q10 has made a massive difference to my skincare routine, I'm putting it out there. Since I discovered it a few years ago when my mum didn't want it anymore, it's been the one body skincare product that I always revert back to. Promising to firm and tone your skin, this actually made a noticeable difference to my skin, although you have to be persistent with it and not expect miracles over night. It smells lovely and is very light, so when you apply it you don't have to wait for ages for it to dry. It is quite lotion-y (surprisingly!) but what I mean is that it's runny and can get quite messy sometimes. 

Verdict: I'll 100% be purchasing this product again, in fact, I think I have a spare one somewhere that was on offer a while ago. But this is a basic body lotion that I'd recommend to any one with any skin type!

Garnier Skin Perfector Daily All-In-One BB £9.99

Review: First of all, I'm sorry about the horrible sample! I had the idea for the post after I started using this one, hence the missing top part! In my opinion, this is more of a foundation than BB cream. It's a lot heavier and gives a medium coverage, which is great for those days when you want a bit more, but I'm definitely a less is more person! It's very runny and as you can see, I managed to get it everywhere. I'd say it's just a standard foundation really. The colour matches my skin quite well, but it clings to every single dry skin patch, so its not very forgiving in that sense but its very long lasting

Verdict: I'm not sure I'd buy this product again, the price is okay-ish but it's definitely not a summer foundation or BB cream, so I may be tempted in the winter if I'm in need of a new foundation. 

John Frieda Frizz Ease Smooth Start Shampoo, Conditioner and Original Serum £8.99, Serum: £6.29

Review: I more or less tried these out on a whim after I got them free in a magazine and didn't really expect much! As a firm lover of the Aussie haircare range (and forever will be!) I didn't think I'd like these products as much as I did. The shampoo and condition were a bit 'meh', smelt quite a lot like the strong hair salon smell but the overall result was quite pleasing. I don't actually have frizzy hair as such, more wavy than anything, but applying the serum made a lot of difference to the texture of my hair. It's clear gel formula was easy to apply and did what it said on the tin!

Verdict: I won't be buying the shampoo and condition again, not because they're bad products but just because they don't live up to my Aussie favourites! But I'll more than likely get the serum once my current product has run out, as it's good value for money and made a noticeable difference to my hair.

What did you guys think of this post? Is this something you'd like to see more of?

Thanks for reading!

Rhiannon xx

The Shard, Lewes and Easter Chocolate!

The weekly Instagram update is looking pretty good this week, but now I'm back to college in Brighton this week I can't promise that it'll be as interesting as this week was! I'm over on Twitter and Instagram for more of my daily musings (always wanted to throw that word in a blog post!)

My week started off with a yummy breakfast at The Shard with a beautiful view. There's more on this post here, but I'd really recommend doing this if you get the chance! It costs about £25 to go to the top or about the same if you go halfway (and still get an amazing view) and get breakfast!

I did a little OOTD this week with a few old bits I found when spring cleaning my wardrobe. Like shopping again but without having to spend anything! On the bright side, my feet have slowly recovered from my loafer experience!

So I didn't actually post this on Instagram, I did a photo collage instead of doing numerous photos of Lewes! It was such a beautiful day and all the blossom and spring flowers were out, which got me all happy! I did a more thorough post of Lewes if you want to have a gander! 

Oooh look at all the antique nick-nacks (another word I've always wanted to use...) If only I had the house to decorate....

At the moment I have managed to restrain myself from only eating one egg and soldier and a few mini Lindt bunnies, which is an achievement! Easter is always an indulgence for me and involves lots of family visits and dinners together, lovely memories. 

Happy Easter and thanks for reading!

What's been your highlight of the week?

Rhiannon xx

Spotty Shirt and Comfortable Coatagain

Coatagain: ASOS

Cardigan: Zara

Shirt: Primark

Jeans and Shoes: New Look

Shirts will forever be to go to piece when wanting to look smart at work or my internship. I've pretty much got a rainbow of patterns, shapes and sizes in my wardrobe right now, and I don't see that ever changing! This shirt came from Primark last summer and I'm still in love with it. Cropped and pastel blue with spots, it's an easy throw on. Although these jeans aren't actually high waisted, I make them that way just for the shirt! 

And my loafers are no longer the comfiest shoes in the world, they gave me the worst blister from London the other week and it's in the right wrong place, so I'll be stuck in my Converse for the next few weeks, not surprisingly. Also, I'm sure this coatagain will be making a few more appearances this spring as the weather turns warmer. It's such a smart shape, but really slouchy and comfortable too, so its the best of both worlds really. 

Have you got a favourite spring piece that you're looking forward to wearing?

Thanks for reading!

Rhiannon xx

The Lovely Lewes Town

As I mentioned in the OOTD last post, I thought I'd share some pictures of one of my favourite towns, Lewes. It's in East Sussex, not too far away from Brighton or Eastbourne and about a 45 minute car journey for us. 

We visit almost on a monthly basis, mainly because we have family in that area and it's just the perfect traditional English town. My mum and sister grew up there, my grandad and grandma use to live there and most of my uncle and aunties live in or outside the area, so it holds a lot of special memories for out family! 

There are a million places to eat in Lewes. From all the chain restaurants like Pizza Express to the local cafes. We always stop at Robsons of Lewes for a cake and coffee, mainly because it's supporting local businesses but also because they do the best cake selection! I chose the Easter Cake, plain sponge with butter icing... yum.

 Then we'll go on to the Riverside cafe which do a wide range of sandwiches and pannis that are THE best. I always have the Bacon, Mozzarella and Tomato Chutney panni because I'm yet to find a sandwich that beats it! The second photo shows the entrance to the cafe, where they've also got a florist, butchers, fishmonger and sweet shop, all locally sourced. And just down the road is Bills cafe, the original one! Mum always shows off that they used to be in the same class at school together and how small he had started out as.

Lewes is probably best known for its Harveys Brewery (and also its Bonfire Nights!) My mum would always tell me stories about what the town looked like when she was a child, which makes me wish we still lived there! When the Brewery is working (like it was that day) the air absolutely stinks. What of I don't know, but it smells horrible! 

Along the cobbled high street is various antique flea markets, which we love having a nosey around. I literally can't count the number of flea markets on both hands there's so many! There's always some great bargains in there, like my silk bird paintings, and we've collected many a things in this particular one.

Usually on our way home we'll stop by the cemetery to leave flowers for my grandad, grandma and other family members. On clear days like this, all the blossom and flowers come out and the views are amazing. You can see part of the South Downs and the whole of Lewes from some areas!

There's still so much more I can blab on about at Lewes but I don't want to bore you! It's a really spectacular place which holds a lot of childhood memories for me and I'll continue to visit for a long time coming, I'm sure of that.

Have you guys been to Lewes before? What's one of your favourite things about it?

Thanks for reading!

Rhiannon xxx 

Distressed jeans

Jacket: Topshop

Top and Shoes: Primark

Jeans and Bag: H&M

Watch: Oliver Bonas

Sometimes the most plain outfits are the best. Primark have been on form for the past few months, this top was in the sale for a fiver and I think the t-bar shoes were under £10! Although its not the same quality as Topshop or New Look, their styles are right on trend so I'll keep shopping there until.... well until they close (God, imagine that day?!) I wore this to go to a town called Lewes yesterday and ended up taking off the jacket for most of it as it was so sunny. I love the contrast between the distressed jeans and tough biker jacket to the pretty pink top and girly shoes, represents my classical style on most days!

I realise that I talk about Lewes quite a lot, so I took a few pictures of my favourite spots to compile in a post tomorrow! It holds a special place in my heart and if I could live there I would! Right now I'm off down to Brighton for my editor's at Latest 7 leaving drinks :( :( and have spent the day doing more work for BN1 magazine, which has been very productive, unlike the rest of the week!

Have you ever visited Lewes before? What's your favourite town or place? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading

Rhiannon xx

The Denim Jacket

Jacket and Cardigan: Primark

Top and Shoes: New Look

Jeans: M&S

Necklace: Forever 21

Bag: H&M

After recently having a spring clean through my wardrobe and jewellery collection, I rediscovered this top. High necklines and V-necks flatter me the most and I remember when the whole 'high-neck' trend came about and everywhere was selling plain high-neck vests. 

This was a very last minute outfit change though! I was wearing a black polka-dot skirt and navy cardigan but the weather didn't seem to be up to much, so I swapped in the end. Thank God I did because London was very windy and adding a skirt to that mix wouldn't have gone down that well....  Although it's finally socially acceptable to wear denim jackets and pumps again, which pleases me to no end. Me and my Primark jacket have shared many times together and I'm so glad I chose it over all the expensive Topshop versions, who knew Primark had some hidden gems up their sleeves?!

Thanks for reading!

Rhiannon xx

P.S Excuse the awful face, I was in a rush, as usual!

Breakfast at The Shard and a wander round London

I'll warn you now, this is going to be a very heavy photo post! But when in Rome and all.... well actually London, again!

As one of my only days off work in a long while, me and my mum fancied treating ourselves to a late brunch at The Shard in London. It actually works out cheaper than travelling right to the top (60th something floor!) as you're already on the 32nd and can see the whole of London, right the way around. 

 I'm sorry if this is making you hungry! We both opted for The Shard Full English, which included basically everything (bacon, egg, spinach, sausages etc.) although it wasn't amazing the smoothies and the view made up for it! It's safe to say that my breakfast view from my bed will never be the same again!

A bathroom with a view....

I won't bore you with all the details but this is how far up we were. Pretty daunting when you look down but, at the same time, literally takes your breath away. It's all so light and airy (if that even makes sense...) being that high up, you can just watch the world go by.

After that we had a wander around Borough Market nearby, which was too good of a photo opportunity to miss! The food there is seriously amazing, not as good as Camden, but it's all so fresh and home made that you just want to eat it all!

Then finally we went along for a tour around The Globe, as we had 2-for-1 tickets. I'm a massive Shakespeare fan and I thank God that my English teachers got me into Shakespeare! It's so inspiring and interesting to see how the plays were set out and the history behind it, so I'm sure I'll definitely be back to see a show soon!

Thanks for reading! I'll be putting up an OOTD in tomorrow's post, so keep your eyes peeled for that one.

Rhiannon xx

Coffee, Camden and Burger

These weekly Instagram posts are probably the longest running series I've done in a while! I'm over on Twitter and Instagram (which I'm becoming highly addicted too), if you wanna follow. Can't promise there will be any witty banter but I'll try my best!

There's always that difficult moment when you're in a coffee shop and they have no clue how to spell your name. I either get Rhianna, which I'm totally use to, Robyn or once I actually got a Raymond. Don't know how they got there! So nowadays I'll just give them another name. This week it was Rosie! Not just me who does this is it?!

God not another 'view' picture.... I basically ate my body weight in all things I'm not suppose to at Camden Market the other day. In the end, my food baby got to about 6 months... See yesterday's post for more pictures :)

Another lovely picture of London in Trafalgar Square (Plus you can see the Houses Of Parliament from here!)

I finally cracked the gingham leggings this week! They've been such a pain to style but I think it's less is more with this pair.

Uhhh, Five Guys burger! Seriously yummy burger that means I'll never look at another McDonalds burger again! If you haven't been I really recommend it, there's one in Covent Garden and a few more opening up across the country!

Thanks for reading!

Rhiannon xx