SS17 Style Update

It's finally here, the season that everyone has been anticipating since September's Fashion Weeks...SS17! And as we've swiftly passed the 20th of March, the official date for Spring, we are now striding into the months that will bring us longer days and warmer months HOORAAAAH! To celebrate I've created this SS17 Style Update of trends that I will be channeling this season...

Bows, Bows, Bows
Here's a trend that has definitely taken over my wardrobe. Sweet little decorative bows, an intricate or large details that give your outfit a little extra va va voom. This is one that can be worn at the workplace, weekends and in the evenings! The following are just two examples of this trend currently in my wardrobe.


Slingbacks
Everybody's wearing them, your boss, your mates, that super-cool stylish lady on the tube. Unfortunately, not me... YET. Payday has arrived and I'm pretty sure I'll be treating myself to the following, a complete gem from Next.

Ruffles and Frills 
Another trend I just can't seem to get enough of, perfect for giving your outfit either a little or big statement. I've covered this one before in my Statement Sleeves post, but it's still on my list. My favourite Ruffled item has to be this little H&M number.

Slippers
Perfect for work and paired with some fishnet socks, slippers are a comfortable alternative this Spring, and as I can't resist a bit of metallic here are my top pick from ASOS. 

Statement Earrings
This one has really excited me. I've delved into my old jewellery box and dug out the old hoops! Here are some new statement earrings I picked up from H&M, a perfect addition to a simple and classic outfit. You could even add a pair to your work outfit for dinner and drinks to change your whole ensemble's vibe. 

Shakets

All I am going to do with this trend is leave you with this gorgeous Patched Camo from Mango... enough said.

Statement Sleeves

I'm not sure whether you guys have noticed, but statement sleeves are a big deal at the moment, and definitely a trend that I've jumped on board with! I can't help it, I do love a simple top that has a certain flair which makes it unique. I love this trend so much that I think I'm going to have to force myself to stop buying statement sleeve tops. Hopefully this trend isn't a fad that's going to go out of fashion soon, as I've invested a bit too much money in it. 

I've recently started my new job as a Junior Product Stylist for Net-a-Porter, and since getting the role have treated myself to a bit of retail therapy. Here are a few of my statement sleeves that I'm loving at the moment...

My simple ribbed top from H&M with ruffled sleeves.

My oldest statement sleeve purchase from December. A black jumper from Warehouse with sheer oversized and frilled sleeves. 

A cute little gingham number from ASOS.

Probably the most casual of the bunch, a grey jumper with shirt sleeves from Next.

And last but not least, this grey sweater with flute sleeves from Marks & Specers - it's super soft, I could wear it every day! 

Summer Trends 2016

SUMMER IS HERE! Okay I know it doesn't really look like it outside, but we did have a two-day heat wave last week, its England, how much sun were you expecting?! This post is to share my top 5 wearable Summer 2016 trends from the catwalk to the highstreet...

1. Pleats 

Catwalk

Adam Lippes, Balenciaga, Céline

Highstreet

Boohoo, Asos, Topshop

2. Off-the-Shoulder 

Catwalk

Simone Rocha, Adam Lippes, Alexander McQueen

Highstreet

New Look, Asos, Urban Outfitters

3. Net/Mesh

Catwalk

Acne Studios, Simone Rocha, Alexander McQueen 

Highstreet

Urban Outfitters, Asos, River Island

4. Victoriana 

Catwalk

Erdem, Rodarte, Philosophy de Lorenzo Serafini

Highstreet

Warehouse, Topshop, Asos

5. Nightwear as Daywear 

Catwalk

Calvin Klein Collection, Burberry, Balenziaga 

Highstreet

Urban Outfitters, Asos, Topshop

Hope this give you inspo from this seasons catwalk trends, and helps you to rock the looks in day-to-day life!

K.

Legs, Bums & Tums

So summer is just around the corner, and if you're like me you'll be thinking 'How am I going to get my booty looking amazing in such little time?!' and 'I wanna be getting that hot bikini bod for my holiday!' Well fear not! with some hard work and training it's still possible to get your body looking fineeee. To help with your progress I thought i'd share one of my favourite workouts which targets all those areas that girls want to 'tone' for the summer... 

Squats: 3x10

Kettle-bell dead-lifts: 3x15

Leg extensions: 3 sets until failure

Sit-ups (with a medicine ball): 3x15

Glute bridges (with or without a powerbag): 3x20

Mountain climbers: 3x20 second sprints

Donkey kicks: 3x15 each leg

Plank: hold until failure

Push yourself and you'll achieve! 

K.

Bold, Bright & Blonde!

Due to the rapid change in weather (will we ever see Summer?!) , I've decided to do a post on brightening shampoos. My hair has been really dull and dark recently, and being a natural blonde i'm always looking forward to the Summer to get some rays through my hair. Unfortunately, British weather isn't looking too good recently and i've resorted to trying some colour enhancing shampoos, to give my hair the little lift it needs. I thought i'd share three of the shampoos that i've been using, and give them a quick review...

Bleach London : Silver Shampoo (£5.00)

After having been recommended this product from my housemate I had high hopes for this. I used it a few weeks ago when I was in desperate need of brightening my hair before my University Summer Ball. I used it 3 days straight, and left it in for 5 minutes before washing it out. It's great! I know it suggests using the product every other day, but I was on a tight schedule and decided to ignore the bottle (silly I know). Due to using it three days in a row my hair felt unhealthy and dry. Overall this is a super product, it's perfect for anyone looking to brighten their hair over a week-two week process.

Pro:Voke : Touch of Silver (£3.19)

Alike the previous product I had heard many people praise this shampoo, and decided to give it a go myself. I used this product over the Christmas period, and unfortunately didn't see any improvement in the colour or brightness of my hair. Although it's a great price, you're better off buying a good quality shampoo for a pound or two more. 

Charles Worthington : Violet Shampoo (£5.99)

I love this shampoo! Although it doesn't work as fast as Bleach London, it's perfect as a weekly shampoo. Unlike other brightening products it keeps your hair hydrated whilst also giving it that extra glow. 

WINNER: Charles Worthington! 

Hope this helps anyone looking to give their hair a sun-kissed glow.

K.

Summer Bronzers 101

So this post may be slightly pre-emeted, but I just can't wait for Summer 2016! So let's get those summer vibes going with my top 6 Bronzers to give yourself that sun kissed glow...

Benefit

£23.50

Just turned 15! Hoola is benefit's world-wide loved matte bronzer. I can't get enough of it, I use it all-year-round! It's great for stroking over your cheeks to wake up your skin, I also use it when contouring for nights out.

Too Faced

£25.00

This is another beaut! Slightly dimmer than benefit's hole but suits all complexions, giving a chocolatey layer that can be used all over your face to help give you a more chic than bright-and-cheap look.

Rimmel

£5.99

This just has to be one of the best bronzers, as well as one of the cheapest, this is a definite steal! whether your 12 and buying your first bronzer or a 22 year old off to work, this is great for day-to-day wear. 

the Balm

£15.00

Now unfortunately I have not had the pleasure of trying the Balm's Bahama Mama, so this feature should alternatively be on the I WANT list. I have only heard great reviews, suggesting its on par with the likes of Benefit. So when I get my hands on this one you guys will be the first to know!

Bourjois

£6.39

This was probably my second love, after Rimmel, a timeless classic that will be there for me through and through. Whenever times are hard and i'm low on cash this is the best bronzer to give me my daily need.

Bobbi Brown

£33.00

This one is slightly cheeky of me, as Its not actually a frequent member of my own makeup bag, it's always in my mums! I can't help sneaking it into my clutch for a night out when i'm in a shimmer bronzer mood, rather than my usual matte (sorry mum!).

K.

Summer Fitspiration

Yes ladies it's that time again... the beach body scare. If you started your Summer-body gym routine in January then you have absolutely nothing to worry about, but if you, alike myself, lost track of the dates and have now realised your holiday is only a few weeks away, don't fear! Here's a few tips to help yourself feel more comfortable slipping into that bikini... 

1. The Motivation

If you've got the motivation to get into your gym gear and start some exercise, you are already half way there. I can't count the amount of times i've cancelled a gym session due to sheer laziness. I find that sometimes just by buying myself a new item of fitness wear I am more keen to get myself to the gym, this has been as little as a new sports bra from Gap fit.

2. Goals

We need to be realistic with our goals, but this doesn't mean you can make excuses for not having enough time! Up your workout sessions by one or two extra a week, and if this isn't possible you could still do a 30 min workout in your living room. There are plenty of ab, leg and chest workout tips and tricks on Pinterest that you can do in the comfort of your own home. 

3. Fitness partner

This is also a form of motivation. I go to the gym with either one of my girl pals or my boyfriend, although I have been made aware many people wouldn't set foot in a gym along with their other half. I find that having two people I can train with helps enormously. This is because you are not merely letting yourself down if you don't go, but also the other person. When training with a friend you can do routine exercises that involve two people and if you miss one of these sessions then that other person has been left to train on their own. 

4. Fad Diets

I personally am very against numerous fad diets such as teatoxing, juicing and all these so called 'cleansing' courses. These are not a healthy way to loose weight and can cause serious harm to your body. Juicing is a great way to get multiple vitamins in one go, but should be done in addition to a healthy diet, not on it's own. instead of teatoxing try drinking more water, attempt to drink around two litres a day, this will make sure you keep hydrated and that you aren't feeling hungry due to dehydration. If you want to try any fad diets I recommend doing A LOT of research beforehand. 

5. Enjoy it!

Try and find a form of exercise you enjoy. Research shows that if you enjoy your exercise you are far more likely to benefit from it as you put more effort into the routine. Whilst at the gym I enjoy doing circuits but when these start to feel repetitive or boring I like to go to Body-Combat classes, Yoga or go for a run. I believe variety is key for an enjoyable fitness routine.  


K.

2015 Trends: Stripes

This Spring/Summer is all about stripes! 

and to celebrate this trend here are a few of my favourite looks from various collections for Spring/Summer 2015...

 Asos, Co-ord stripe shirt, £25, and Co-ord skater skirt, £28,

Cynthia Rowley Duchess Satin Mesh Insert Midi Skirt, $325.00, Duchess Satin Mesh Insert Crop Top,$250.00

Yigal Azrouël, Pedro del Hierro Madrid

Hope this has given you some style inspo and helps you rock this trend for Spring!

K.

'Wedding Dresses 1774 - 2014' at the V&A

When being sent to the Victoria and Albert Museum for research for my internship, I took the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Not only was it lovely to go to the V&A on such a warm summer's day, admire the museum and its surroundings, but I also got to go view an exhibition which i'd been wanting to visit for quite a while now: 'Wedding Dresses 1774-2014'. 

Upon entering the two floor exhibition you are presented with an explanation of what it intends to do. This was one thing that remained in my head whilst walking round the showing, that it was not merely a display of wedding dresses, but that it aims to capture the magical experience of each individual bride's wedding day. It showcased a variety of dresses expanding over culture and time to demonstrate that each bride is different, not only displaying dresses of celebrities but also those of every-day women. The entire experience enkindles the essence of which each bride's personality is echoed through their wedding dress. 

Here are a few of my favourites....

One of my favourites had to be this gown. Ian Stuart's 'Flower Bomb', due to its creativity and craftsmanship.

Another is Vivienne Westwood's dress, designed specifically for Deeta Von Teese. Although it's not your typical coloured wedding dress, it visually displays her personality.

This Dress was neither designed nor worn by anyone famous but is a classic example of asian culture, and how it is still present in festivities in today's society. This gown was worn by Anjali Bulley, an employee at the V&A.

Finally, my absolute favourite. Kate Moss's dress which was designed by John Galliano. This dress is stunning, no photo could do it justice. It took 701 hours to embroider the dress and 253 for the veil. 270,000 gold sequins were hand sewn onto the gown along with 120,000 paillons and 2800 pearl beads. It shimmered with each touch of the light. 

I would recommend this exhibition to anyone interested in fashion, looking for wedding inspiration or even those intrigued by the historical aspect.

K.

Skincare In The Sun

Ahhh Rome - Pizza, Pasta, Gelato, Ruins, Romance and most importantly SUN. There's no chance of me experiencing this on off weather that is a contestant bother here in England. Therefore, i am packing for hot weather, sun and sightseeing. 

As i'm off on Sunday I thought it would be nice to share a sneak peak into my holiday essentials.  

As well as packing all my clothes, shoes and bags I took a few quick tips off S for what creams and oils are best for keeping my skin protected and moisturised. Here are my top three skin essentials... 

1. Soap and Glory Heel Genius: This cream is amazing for using after a long days walking as well as after a day at the beach, protecting your heels from cracking and dry skin.

2. Neal's Yard Frankensense Hydrating Cream: I use this on my legs, as this is the one place on my body where I suffer from dry skin. It helps reduce the dry and keep my legs silky smooth. 

3. Hawaiin Tropic Silk Hydration Sun Screen: This sun cream not only protects your skin from burning but also contains hydrating ribbons to prevent your skin from drying out, unlike other sun cream which often leave your skin dry and damaged. 

4. Hawaiin Tropic After Sun: This is a perfect moisturiser after your skin has been out in the sun. The sweet smell of coconut accompanied with a smooth and soft skin coverage rehydrates and nourishes.

Keep a look out on our Instagram page for frequent updates on what I'm getting up to on my trip - SANDKSBLOG 

K.