My Glastonbury Festival 2011

Two Door Cinema Club

Mumford and Sons

Cee Lo Green

Jessie J

Chemical Brothers

Chemical Brothers

Noisettes

Blue Skies, sigh

Pendulum, boo you mosh pit (although you did drift us closer to Beyonce)

What an amazing, amazing weekend. I want to go back already. Post-Glastonbury blues anyone? We got to see some amazing bands, see incredible (often very bizarre) sights and also discover some awe-inducing talent in the Poetry and Words tent. Beyonce (of course), Chemical Brothers, Mumford & Sons and Katy B were my musical highlights, as well as Jessie J who was surprisingly funny in person. 

I miss being surrounded by people dressing, speaking and dancing however they please without raising so much as a pink, bejewelled eyebrow. Reality is far less inspiring.

Beyonce photos coming soon! x

It's the end of an era

I'm wearing a Topshop tunic and an H&M blazer.

Last night was my last night out in Manchester for a long while, as I'm moving back home to do some job searching now that I've finished uni (home is in Devon). It feels so surreal that it's all over. Uni is such a unique experience, and you do so much that you'll probably never do again (which is a good thing in some ways!). It feels like the fastest three years of my life, but when I think about everything I've done and the people I've met along the way, I realise how much has changed and how much I've changed. Don't worry, I'm not gonna get all deep with you here, but I'm really sad it's over. I think it's scarier that I don't really have too much control over what's going to happen next as in what jobs will come my way and when, but I'm just hoping I'll find something where I can use my English degree and which will lift my feet onto the first rung of the fashion career ladder. 

I've posted a bit more about what I do in my day to day life recently. I don't know if you like that or hate it or if it's only interesting to me!, but I thought I'd share it with you anyway! I'd love to know what you'd like to see more of (or less of) on my blog. I'd really love to do outfit posts, but I'm so photo-phobic. I only managed to get photos of the night out last night after a few too many wines and a couple of nasty, nasty Jaegers (man, have I paid for that today!). 

Anyway, I'm going to try not to wallow in the fact it's 'the end' and am instead going to stuff my hungover face with strawberry laces and chocolate cake!

Have a great weekend! If anyone wants to come over and pack for me feel absolutely free. I will provide snacks!

P.S Is anyone watching Gaga on Paul O'Grady at the moment? Has she seriously shaved her head?

June So Far

The last few weeks have been pretty eventful, yet I don't seem to have many photos as evidence! I'm such a poor photographer, and I really hate having my own photo taken, which means I don't have one single, full length photo of me in my Grad Ball dress or the outfit I wore to Paris - bad blogger! I didn't even get the clichéd shots of food etc, but I'll share with you the little lot I did get. I'm going to Glastonbury next week and I promise I'll try and do better then!

Post-makeup on the Eurostar

Laurie

Notre Dame

Me outside the Notre Dame - had to wear stupid grey sweater over my dress because it was absolutely freezing :(

Huge Louis Vuitton store in Paris

The view from the top of the Eiffel Tower - makes me feel faint just looking at it!

Mime in Covent Garden, who made both of these children cry! He was quite funny though....

This week I:

*Successfully navigated my way across Paris despite only ever pretending to be able to read a map

*Ate more fast food than should ever be allowed as well as copious amounts of Starbucks hot chocolate and Cafe Nero ice milkshakes

*Accidentally found myself wandering around Grazia's building in London...oops!

*Discovered French people really do say 'Oh la la!'

*Nearly fainted/vomited at the top of the Eiffel Tower

*Learnt how to use the tube, although not quite how to end up where I intended

*Failed to pull of Parisian chic while shivering under a feeble sweater on top of my dress, while accessorising with lips rapidly turning blue

*Took photos of some stunning sights around Paris

*Failed to remember what 75% of those sights were called....

*Paid a visit to Lily Allen's store, Lucy In Disguise, and was quite surprised to find everything was pretty affordable and nice. Some really quirky vintage pieces in there....

All in all I've had an amazing week! Will definitely be heading back to Paris again soon. Although it's quite chaotic (traffic wise), it definitely felt a lot more chilled out compared to London. People were a lot friendlier and happier to make conversation, whereas London always feels like everyone is too busy to smile. Also, I realised how much I will miss Manchester's Selfridges. Although London beats it hands down for size, products etc, the snob factor was incredibly rude/infuriating! 

I'm absolutely exhausted today from travelling (we had to check in for our train to Paris at 4am!), so I'm just going to crack on making my CV look fancy. I really need to put together a portfolio of my creative writing, but I'm not really sure how it should look. Anybody have any knowledge in that area, feel free to share!

Make Your Own Sunshine

This week I went shopping with one of my best friends, who's a real bad influence. Everything I shouldn't buy, or really can't afford to buy, she tells me I have to buy, so I ended up with more than I probably should have this weekend. On the plus side, I bought a dress for Paris (my passport arrived today, so I'm definitely going!). I tried on the aqua one I featured here, but although it was pretty, it just wasn't my style at all. Hidden just behind it on the rail, however, was a dress absolutely perfect for me. I'm known amongst my friends for having a minor obsession with black dresses. My wardrobe is colour co-ordinated, so I'm well aware of my not-so-secret penchant, but if it was good enough for Coco Chanel, it's good enough for me, right? The dress I found was, of course, black, which my friend was none too pleased about, but as she had to admit when I tried it on, it really was 'me' and happened to be the best fitting dress I'd tried on all day! 

Dorothy Perkins

It doesn't look all too special here, but it really is gorgeous and I think the perfect fit is what makes it so right for me. I'm thinking of accessorising it with either some summer brights, or classic white/creams Chanel style. What do you think?

I also picked up a lipstick I've coveted for a little way, but which I've been too unsure of to purchase. It's 'Quite Cute' by Mac, and is a pretty, pastel lilac shade. I've never worn a lilac lipstick (haven't seen anyone wearing one either), so I was a bit wary, but it's actually a really flattering shade and I'm now addicted. I definitely recommend it!

Tonight I'm going to my uni's Graduation Ball. I picked up the Miss Selfridge 'Lily' dress I showed you before, but I needed some simple flats to go with it as it's not quite long enough for me to wear heels. I went to New Look and found some gold flats for £14, which I was happy with until I went to Primark and found an almost identical pair for £2.50, so it's safe to say the New Look ones were swiftly returned. Feeling pretty pleased with my bargain find, I then undermined it by picking up some wedge espadrilles, which I've had my eye on since seeing them in numerous magazines.

Primark

Primark

I'm currently in the process of preening for the ball, but I'll definitely try and get some photos to share with you later this week. I'm also trying to gather some ideas on how to do my makeup. The dress is so floaty and summery, I really need something pretty and soft, but I'm an addict to a black smokey eye, so I'm at a loss of what to do. If you have any ideas, or know of any good video tutorials please let me know! Until then, I'm going through the archives of my make-up guru, Lisa Eldridge. 

These Days Are Spent

...reading Coco Chanel's biography by Justine Picardie and the latest ELLE magazine, wrapped up indoors because the weather is far too hostile outside. What is up with the weather at the moment? It's typical that there was too much sunshine when I had essays to write, and now there's none. Every day is like a winter afternoon! 

On a plus note, with the last of my student loans I managed to replenish my rapidly depleting makeup stocks. On Flying Saucer's recommendation I bought Rimmel's Lasting Finish (25hour!) foundation, which is working out quite well at the moment. I have dry to combination skin and this gives a dewy finish without looking oily. It also gives good coverage, which is a saver as I've run out of concealer. 

If you're a fake tan lover then I have a must-have recommendation for you. Palmers (the brand which brings us the delicious smelling cocoa butter moisturisers) has just brought out their own brand of tanning moisturiser. It was on offer in Boots for £3.79 when I bought it, but I think it's now gone up to a fiver, which still isn't bad considering you get quite a hefty bottle. I apply it with a tan mitt and it gives me a really good, even cover after just one application. It doesn't have a horrible fake tan smell to it either, just plain cocoa butter. I would say for the price and the amount you get, the fact it doesn't smell, and the depth of colour it gives, this is a real winner and I don't think I'll be going back to buying standard fake tans again. (Tip: the bronzing butter is £3.99 in BodyCare if you have one near you!). 

I also picked up MaxFactor's new False Lash Effect 'Fusion' mascara. Their original false lash is my ultimate favourite mascara, and that's after trying out numerous High Street and high end brands. This mascara is pretty much exactly the same as the original, just a little....wetter, if that can ever be an adequate description. It still makes my lashes super long and full, but it's clumpier so I would go back to the original. Also, No7 are offering their £5 vouchers when you spend over £5 in Boots, which always makes me happy, so I picked up their face wipes, which come to a bargain of £2 with the vouchers.

What beauty brands have you tried out recently? Any goodies? Any recommendations for concealers?