Book Review | The Stylist by Rosie Nixon

My book reading has suffered from my lack of a London Underground commute of late so I'll refer back to a book I was sent last year and did actually manage to read, that book is The Stylist* by Rosie Nixon. 

If you are a fan of Rachel Zoe Project, Fashion Police of E's Red Carpet coverage and immersed in awards season right now you'll love this book. Mona Armstrong is the stylist to the stars with a diva like attitude who needs an assistant and sweeps Amber Green off her feet and whisks her to LA for Awards Season.

This is an easy read, it's nothing too complex but its a worthy read and a page turner which I read very quickly. Amber isn't your traditional ditsy character in this sort of scenario, she feels 'just like me', slightly flawed but not ridiculously so. Of course she doesn't plan to have her head turned, she's meeting and being mixed up with glitz and not so glamourous glamour so it is understandable she falls down a few rabbit holes. 

Of course there is the ensuing love story although it doesn't over take the story and is a little bit cheesy and predictable in it's nature but enjoyably so. All the characters in The Stylist leap off the page and I defy you to not to try and work out who characters are perhaps based on.

And if you're into such things this is the first HarperCollins book with a 3D cover; download the free app and The Stylist will come to life and there's many ways to share your red carpet experiences on social media. 

My reading might have suffered but being at home I've been able to test products that I would be less likely to reach for such as La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+ Unifiant, Medium*. You'll be familiar with my love for the La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo in it's original form but last year they released a tinted version for those with blemishes they wish to conceal but without heavy make up.

I find that I'm comfortable enough in my bare skin for a quick pop to the shops at the weekend but that is obviously because I do not suffer from any serious or particularly 'visual' skin conditions or blemishes but others are not and it's great that there is now a product on the market that will assist them in their quest.

Despite my comfort in my own skin I have found that whilst being at home and perhaps rather than popping out to the shops I am heading into town for some more serious shopping I don't want a full face of make up but I am looking to look a little more polished and thats when I have been using La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Unifant*. I don't find it is a particularly high coverage but my complexiion is 'unified' and an imperfections or discolouration are visibly reduced. My skin has certainly improved in the time I have been off work in part from wearing less make up and using a product such as this which will still provide all the benefits of using the Effaclar Duo in its original form.

The Unifant comes in Light and Medium shades and is easily applied with fingers so it's great for travel and on the go. You'll find it quickly absorbs into your skin and pores do not become blocked. In 24 hours you will notice a reduction in your blemishes. If you're suffering from blemishes or redness this is definitely a product you should seek out to try.

Would either of these products be of interest to you?

*this book contains press samples and / or affiliate links 

Sponsored Post | Daniel Footwear

After the success of my Michael Kors Pouch whilst on holiday earlier in the year I decided I needed another for my trip to Italy, a gold one to be specific. With a christening to attend and not wanting to incur Ryanair excess baggage charges and have multiple bags I thought that one of the Michael Kors Pouches would be perfect for both day and night events. After no luck at Lewis Yates another local stockist, Daniel Footwear had the bag in stock - I must add this was all decided a matter of days before departure - and my holiday wardrobe was saved from disaster.

Daniel Footwear is a brand familiar to me through the aforementioned local branch but they have a fantastic website stocking many luxury brands offering their footwear and handbag ranges such as Michael Kors. including at present, a silver coloured pouch in the style I've come to love.

One of my favourite features of the website is it's ability to search exactly what I might want or need. Earlier in the Summer I was trying to find a replacement for a pair of red sandals I love and it was so frustrating when I'd look online and often online retailers would not offer the full range of search options at first click, particularly in reference to colour. At Daniel Footwear I can easily search at any starting point whether its colour, size or style.

Daniel Footwear offer all style and design of shoes you could wish for, in fact as I write this post and am clicking back and forth on the site I'm making a rather long wish list. More comfort over style is the infamous Ugg brand. Typically I pick up Uggs in the US and was tempted with a black pair of Classic Short Uggs to wear this Winter but the exchange rate being what it was it didn't make sense to purchase on my recent trip to Las Vegas. Now I know I can hit 'add to bag' or pop down to the local brand and purchase a pair there. For now I'm making do with my love them or hate them leopard print version I brought a few years ago and wear about the house as slippers but perhaps I should just buy these instead.

*this post is sponsored by Daniel Footwear

Currently Loving | June 2016

There are a lot of products and 'things' I've enjoyed using this month that a monthly favourites post would be too long. Instead you'll have today's currently loving and I also have a holiday favourites post coming up as long as some more detailed reviews.

Days before I flew out to Menorca for a week with friends I had a handbag panic. My dad would have said are you kidding me but there wasn't a bag in my collection that would compliment all my outfits and with an Easyjet luggage allowance I need to be strict with my packing.

Luckily for me my friend and travel companion Lewis Yates owns a shop and after a quick look around his website I had this Michael Kors beauty in Grapefruit on hold for me.  This was my first Michael Kors handbag purchase as despite eyeing up their bags before and with a price point that is 'affordable' compared to other higher end brands it was only now I was tempted to part with my cash.

Pouch, clutch, wristlet call it what you will but aside from the gorgeous colour this was a fantastic purchase and one I loved using on my holiday. When I use a clutch bag I want it to hold money, keys, lipstick, my iPhone and a pack of cigarettes - aside from health reasons I need to give up the bad habit as it limits my clutch bag sizes! The Michael Kors wristlet was perfect. Flying out I was able to put my passport and other travel documents here and then pop that in my larger bag, pulling out when I needed and/or popping on my wrist when I literally needed it to hand. I didn't need a purse as there are card slots and a small pocket for any loose change and it's fair to say this bag was hanging off my wrist morning and night. I could pop it in my beach bag and when we'd head out for lunch I'd just grab this rather than needing to take the larger bag filled with suncreams and books. We also travelled with two small children so having this bag on the wrist made having hands free for carrying duties. The only problem now is I want to buy them in every different colour and pick up the matching sandals.

Since dyeing my hair I've been able to enjoy the luxury of second day hair, something that was unheard of before (unless I wanted to look a greasy mess). Bastiste Dry Shampoo in Marrakech* and Palmers Manuka Flower Honey Leave-In Conditioner* have been the duo that have helped me achieve this. Firstly I'll spray some Batiste dry shampoo in my roots and brush my hair out and then I reach for the Palmers Conditioner and spray over my hair which is often a little wild from being tied up. Once my hair has been dampened I'm able to pick up the hairdryer, brush and style the unruly waves so that I am presentable. I've used a slightly different duo whilst on holiday which I'll be telling you about in another post but back home this was what I was using on a regular basis.

As a flamingo lover I happily jumped on the inflatable bandwagon and treated myself to the Flamingo Drinks Holder for my recent trip. I really wanted the larger inflatable but luggage allowance woes stopped me. Now I'm home and two months away from my next trip I'm thinking about picking up the Pineapple Inflatable as I'll be spending the week around my friends villa and as we'll in Italy I'm going to treat them to the Pizza one. Whilst I loved Florence the Flamingo (of course we named her) I was always a little too nervous about putting a drink in there although it was pretty sturdy.

*this post contains press samples and affiliate links

Bicester Village Shopping Haul #2

Last week during a day off of work my mum and I took a trip to Bicester Village shopping outlet to once again snap up some bargains for ourselves.

I don't think it's any surprise to any of my regular readers that I love a handbag so when I saw the Michael Kors bag for 34% discount I couldn't resist treating myself to a new Christmas bag. Red is my favourite colour and the size and style of the bag will be perfect for the festive season. One of the chain straps can be worn long on the shoulder, across the body or both for a shorter handheld style. 

I can actually remember admiring this bag in the Michael Kors store on Regent Street on a shopping trip with my mum some time ago so it was great to pick it up for a bargain price and was certainly cheaper than the Mulberry bags I spent some time swooning over.

I always have an idea of the sort of things I'd like to find at Bicester Village. Of course as a shopping outlet it's not something you can rely on but I try to think positively and send some good vibes out to the shopping fairies and on this occasion they were smiling down on me. 

I wanted a thinner, lighter Swarovski pen to use in my filofax (original post here) as the one I already owned (original post here) is quite heavy to use but I love writing with it. I really hit gold on this occasion as there was a gift set, original intended as a wedding gift available for the same price as buying one pen direct from a Swarovski store - a whopping 40% discount - bargain.

And the final treat for myself was a hand cream from Cowshed. For only £5 compared to the usual £8 and as a lover of hand cream how could I resist?

You can find my first Bicester Village shopping haul here

OOTD - Ode to Margaret Thatcher

(Blazer: H&M, Necklace: Topshop, Jumper: Ted Baker, Watch: Michael Kors, Bag: Prada, Jeans: Warehouse)

It wasn't a conscious decision to channel Margaret Thatcher for a shopping trip to Westfield Stratford City at the weekend but I certainly think she would approve of my blue blazer! I rarely buy clothing from H&M as I am not a fan of shopping in their stores but am often drawn online and decided to take the leap and place an order. I was dubious to the quality of a blazer for £24.99 but pleasantly surprised. A lightweight jersey it was ideal for the warmer weather at the weekend whilst there was still a breeze in the air. Always cold and not a fan of the cardigan I find a blazer suits me much better and is a great throw on with jeans and all variety of tops. I definitely think I'll be added other colours from this range to my wardrobe. 

The necklace was added to my outfit immediately as soon as I'd handed over payment in store and of course the splash of red from my newly purchased Prada bag meant that both political parties were represented!

Do pop back for a visit tomorrow and you can see what else was purchased on my shopping trip.