Bits & pieces.

Here is the perfect example of how completely scatter-brained and slapdash I am getting in pretty much every area of my life (I am blaming exam-season pressure) - this post is a bit of a random one compiled of odds and ends that I had every intention of blogging in the last few weeks and just didn't get around to. I kind of feel like it would be better to leave these things un-blogged, but the perfectionist in me with her mild OCD is insisting that I catch up, and catch up now. And to be fair, it is bothering me a little.

So first up is a random little purchase I made in Topshop sometime last week..

These gorgeous neon-pink hotpants were such a bargain for Topshop and they caught my eye as soon as I walked in to the store! I literally could not resist them. I adore the bright colour, which will be perfect for injecting a bit of summer into my wardrobe from now on. Also, how much do they look like Kylie's encore shorts from the Anti Tour? These are quite similar to a pair of raspberry shorts from Topshop that I already own, which is why I didn't even have to try them on to know they would suit me. Cannot wait to break these out, probably with tights for now..

Next is this cute hairclip that I picked up in Primark for some ridiculously cheap price. This probably means the quality is iffy at best, but I just wanted a different way to style my hair up and if it doesn't work I won't feel bad about wasting money this way. If the heat ever properly kicks in I will need new ways to put my hair up and this clip is super-cute. I love the scalloped edges and the vintage-style floral print. If this works out for me, I think I'll be getting some more of these!

Now I'm continuing my Kylie-craze by finally posting photos of the merchandise I bought. I literally fought my way over to the stand to get these, and the pictures have been sitting on my memory card for over a week, unblogged.

Firstly these cute little button badges, I couldn't resist! There were 4 in the set but I actually gave 2 to Becca so we could have some each. 

I got this cute canvas bag because I can always use a good bag for shopping etc. I have already used this several times because it is so roomy - perfect for throwing my things in and going! I don't care if I look like a crazy fan - that's just me.

My last piece of merch was this gorgeous t-shirt, which you have already seen me wearing. I buy a t-shirt from nearly every concert I go to, but this one is one of the only ones I wear in public! I am not usually a tee girl, but I make an exception for Kylie's gorgeous face.

Finally, my last little bit of catching up comes in the form of something even more beautiful than everything so far put together. You remember I got all overexcited because we met Kylie last Monday before one of the shows, and I gave her a letter? Well, I got my signed poster back in the post earlier this week!

We are currently scoping out a frame for this so that the writing doesn't fade, I want to keep it fresh forever! This is now one of my most prized possessions (I'm a bit pathetic aren't I?) and it made me so happy to get it back.

One last piece of news - on September 11th, Becca and I will be at the Born This Way Ball seeing Lady Gaga! This is a week full of good news! I can't wait for this tour, to see the outfits, hear the music, and be inspired by being in the same room as Stefani Germanotta.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Fashion Confession.

I'm not sure if I want to own up to this, since the entire fashion universe seems to be in love with it, but..

I don't really get the sports luxe thing.

Yes, I understand that since trends are predicted over a year in advance, the major events of the year they are style-casting provide inspiration, and looking at 2012 there is only one thing on everyone's minds.. But it still shocks me how the London Olympics have created not only a look, but possibly the biggest trend of the year. In every magazine I read at the moment there is sportswear screaming out at me, and I cannot make myself like it. As a self-confessed fashion victim I want to be all over the hottest trends like a rash, but I just won't be working this one.

Maybe it is because I spent about 8 years of my life in leotards and tracksuits as a gymnast that those kinds of apparel hold no appeal to me, except the potential nostalgia that envelops me when I throw on my old gymnastics hoodie (in bed, at home, never in public). However many times people tell me that neoprene and sweatshirts can be made to look glamorous, and however many times I see the pictures of the Alexander Wang collection, I can never shake the connotations of some of my most unnattractive moments happening in sportswear. It will forever be associated with either an intense training session, or being literally coated in glittery hairspray at competitions - not really fashionable moments for me to be honest..

It's not that I have anything against other people wearing the look. Kind of like being a vegetarian who doesn't mind her omnivorous friends chowing down on that bacon sandwich within her sensory range, I am happy to say, yes, you wear that neon, neoprene t-shirt or those fitted pants with the sporty stripe down the side, but try and force me to wear them and there will be trouble. You can make it out of the best quality fabrics, in the hottest SS'12 colours, slap a designer label on it and show me ways to make the look work beautifully, and something in me will still resist. I'll be sticking to my uber-prints and super-girlie outfits, thankyou.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Cirque du ciel.

Yesterday I went to the theatre with Mum, which sounds pretty upper-class and posh to a country girl like me. But we didn't go all out to a musical or an opera in the evening, and we weren't surrounded by people dripping diamonds and dressed to the nines - this was a small local theatre where we caught the matinee performance by a Chinese circus called ShangHi. The group was amazing, full of entertainment, gorgeous costumes and incredible acrobatics. I really appreciated how talented the performers were because as an ex-gymnast I know just how hard their stunts were. It was a brilliant afternoon and I am so glad we went, especially since we were seated in the middle of the front row and could see it all close up. If these guys come near you, go see them, without a doubt!

Since it was a matinee I didn't want to go over the top with my outfit, but I did want to still make an effort.

Shirt, Skirt & Ring - H&M; Shoes - New Look; Tights - Primark; Earrings - Topshop.

I love this floral shirt because it is the perfect transitional piece - it covers you enough to go out sans coat in spring, yet the fabric is light enough that you can take the heat. The print is also totally gorgeous and makes a real statement, which is why I felt confident enough to combine it with a plain black bodycon skirt, plain tights and some coral slippers. Some large statement jewellery and a pop of lipstick upped the ante just enough to make this ensemble look pulled-together instead of thrown-on, which is a must for me.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Unexpected mini-haul.

I wasn't really supposed to be going shopping yesterday, or at least not actually buying much. That's because as college draws to an end I need to be saving up to fund my time jetting around Asia (aka my gap year) and putting some money away for university - neither of which are happening now. At the moment I seem to be investing heavily in my wardrobe. I am honestly going to try cutting back the spending a little, and yesterday doesn't count. I didn't actually spend that much, and I got some gorgeous stuff.

The first thing I was drawn to was the new Maybelline Spring/Summer collection, after seeing a video on youtube from one of my favourite bloggers, Anna Saccone. She got to experiment with loads of items from the new collection and her positive review really made me keen to buy some things. Check out her blog annasaccone.com and watch her vlogs on youtube under the name TheStyleDiet.

First of all I picked up some gorgeous new nail polishes. On the left is Maybelline Express Finish in Turquoise Green which fits in really well with the 'Under The Sea' trend with that stunning iridescent colour. On the right is Maybelline Forever Strong Pro in Ceramic Blue, perfect for the pastel hues trend that I am in love with right now. These are both new shades and I can't wait to get them on my nails.

Next up is one of their new Popsticks lipsticks in Cherry Pop. By now you must have noticed that I am a sucker for a good lipstick, and after seeing how cute these Popsticks were I just had to have one. I tested them all out in the shop, but I found the others a little too light - I am a fan of really bright, pigmented lipsticks personally, and Cherry Pop came out the brightest.

The last of the makeup haul is the Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24hr Eyeshadow in Eternal Gold. This one came highly recommended by Anna Saccone and in the store it was the one that caught my eye the most. I am really keen to see if this stunning colour really will last for 24 hours, because if it does this will become one of my favourite beauty products.

After stocking up my beauty bag I went into New Look, which is always dangerous territory for my bank card, and ended up being caught by a few pieces..

The first thing I picked up was this gorgeous cream chiffon sleeveless shirt. I have said many times that I buy too many shirts, but they are just so versatile! This particular one is ideal for SS'12 because it will go with absolutely everything, and will be light enough to wear in the middle of summer, as well as being a perfect layering piece for the colder days. The cost-per-wear on this shirt is going to be ridiculously low..

I was completely entranced by these Art Deco style earrings by Roam, on sale in New Look. For such a reasonably priced pair of earrings, they look very classy and chic. It's probably no secret that I am getting completely obsessed with the golden age of Hollywood, from the 1920s to the 1960s and these costume-jewellery style earrings are straight out of the jazz age.

Okay, while I love the unashamed glamour of the golden era of Hollywood, the child in me simply cannot resist a good flower headband. These New Look headbands instantly make me think of hazy summer days with blue skies overhead and bare feet in the grass.. The smaller yellow one seems more festival-appropriate, whereas the large rosebud headband is reminiscent of some of Lana Del Rey's 1950s video incarnations, and I love them both. A friend asked me recently if I would be breaking out the floral headbands again this summer, and the answer is a resounding yes.

The last items in this mini-haul are actually just more indulgence - I decided that now would be the right time to treat myself to some new underwear, so I hit the Ann Summers sale.

These two bras come from the Knickerbox line at Ann Summers and are possibly now the prettiest ones I own. I love the purple one with the peacock print because it is just so cute and girlie, whereas the black leopard print one is more fierce (and no I didn't just buy that one because it was called The Bardot Bra). It's almost a shame that these beauties are going to be covered up and hidden by my clothes all the time..

And there you have it, my slightly eclectic mini-haul! I love all of my buys because they are just so summery, and are making me long for the days of sunshine again.. On a slightly less fun note, if I get a bit lax and lazy with blogging in the weeks to come it is because exam season is nearly upon me and it is time for crazy revision to take over my life.

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Because we're little monsters.

I feel kind of bad because this post is literally going to be more life-based, rather than fashion-oriented, and you probably don't care that much about some random 17-year-old's life. Not that my wardrobe can be of that much interest either, but ah well.. a bit of trend analysis is always fun. But not today - today I have been inspired by the announcement that tickets for Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball go on sale on Friday to put up the photos from my weekend with Becca! We had been planning for Born This Way for so long that suddenly having that Kylie weekend was literally amazing.

So don't say you haven't been warned - this post contains many stupid, irrelevant, gorgeous photos of me and my best friend. I will do a quick run-down of what I was wearing for the photos, but this is mostly self-indulgence.. and sheer laziness because I am lacking the motivation to post my shopping haul tonight - it will be up tomorrow!

All dressed up and ready for Kylie!

We are clearly Britain's next top models..

Posing with our (unnecessary) glasses.

Getting our Gaga on.

We just came to say hey.

Aren't we such posers!

This is honestly my favourite photo at the moment. Love.

Simply because Becca's a babe.

Paws up!

Okay, to try and make this fashion-y here is the lowdown on my outfit..

Top - Primark; Jeans - H&M; Bracelets - Accessorize & Lola Rose; Necklace - Accessorize; Earrings - Accessorize; Ring - Topshop.

This was just a simple, hanging-out-around-the-house outfit, one of the least complex you will ever see me in. But I like the way the gold jeans make it special, and a Gaga top is always anything but boring. It was the tour announcement that made me think of these since we had both got our Gaga on for this little snapping session.. I also just want to say how much I love Becca's gorgeous tie-dye shorts. And just to clarify, no we're not vain - we just love a bit of photography! As Lady Gaga says "nothing's wrong with being just a little bit vain, we need a little pretty cause this country's insane" (in the song 'Fashion').

I will be back on top fashion form tomorrow, with my mini haul from the shopping trip today - but I hope you enjoyed my little bit of vanity!

Love and kisses, Tara xox

Star Style Obsession - Marina Diamandis

I haven't done a style obsession post in what feels like forever, there has just been too much going on! But since I have gotten most of my planned posts up and shared with the world (well, the small part of it that actually reads what I write), I decided to talk about a girl that I am seriously loving right now.

You know I like a bit of eccentricity in my fashion, and for that reason I can't resist someone who dares to be different and play around with their look - no wonder I am getting a bit of a girl crush on Marina. It's not just the fact that I adored her first album 'The Family Jewels' and am waiting with baited breath for 'Electra Heart' to be released, with Prima Donna on repeat, I adore her image too. She has always stood out from the crowd, with a really individual, retro-inspired style and is always experimenting with colour and print. Marina doesn't always get it right, but that's part of fashion! Whatever she wears, it is always gorgeous, playful and completely unique.

Cerca The Family Jewels Marina was a brilliant brunette, and I loved her style back then, so here are some oldies..

I love bright colour, and will forever be in awe of someone who can make pink and red work together. This is so eye-catching and bold, and I especially like the way she has matched her pink lipstick to that gorgeous dress. The little gloves remind me of a 1980s Madonna - in the best way possible.

Usually I am not a playsuit girl (I'm not sure why, I just dislike them), but I can't get over how well Marina has styled hers. The actual playsuit has a cute, soft, retro feel with that little collar, yet she has successfully transformed it with a tough leather jacket and some tie-dye neon accessories. Yet again, this is like the best of the 80s colliding with current trends and a bold beauty look - love it.

This street style look is the epitome of thrown-together chic. Those accessories should logically be competing with each other and not work, but with a dark dress and jacket they all seem to work in an eclectically harmonious way. I am now inspired to break out my floral headbands and quirky sunglasses.. bring on the sun!

Yet more encouragement to put on my statement sunglasses - this electric blue pair is gorgeous on Marina. I love the quirky piano print scarf and American flag bag too, they both make for the perfect festival look. I am not convinced by heels at a festival, but if she can walk on grass in them, kudos.

Recently Marina went blonde, and her style became even more like that of a Hollywood screen siren. I love both of the developments to her look, and slightly wish I was brave enough to go blonde myself.. The retro style I can try to steal. My obsession with vintage Hollywood is growing, and I absolutely love this look. Cream satin can be a tricky one to pull off, but she does it oh-so well, and manages to pull the look into the 21st century by keeping her Marcel-esque waves loose and opting for orange lipstick instead of siren-red.

Looking like she should be hanging out in a 1950s American diner, Marina is practically unrecognisable. I adore this look, from the kitsch round sunglasses to the flared skirt and pink cardigan combo, all the way down to her cute ankle socks with heels. This just oozes 1950s nostalgia and is so cute I don't want to look away.

I adore the faux fur collar on this jacket, it makes for the perfect mix of retro and modern, especially when teamed with vintage-style hair, bare legs and gorgeous tan accessories. Her makeup is so sweet too, especially the little heart under her eye - I would look foolish, yet she just looks cute.

More cuteness coming your way, courtesy of Marina Diamandis. This baby-pink lace fit-and-flare dress hits the vintage Americana trend head on, and is perfectly accessorized with a sweet bow and nude courts. Once again her blonde bombshell hair and retro makeup complements her dress beautifully - oh, what I would give to have her wardrobe, looks and style.

The thing that really put Marina on my mind at the moment however was her latest video, for Prima Donna. In it she is if possible even more retro-fabulous, in a variety of 1950s style attire, working the camera to perfection.

 

These are some of my favourite stills from the video - the outfits are gorgeous and kitsch, as is her hair and makeup. I just keep watching it! Now here is the actual video.. Tell me what you think of her image, and the actual song?

 

So now I hope you can see why I am loving Marina and her style right now. She is deliciously original with her look, and her playful approach to accessorizing captivates me. I also love the way her image has evolved and grown up as she does, into a glamorous 1950s pin up transported to 2012 with a perfect blend of modern and retro. Marina Diamandis is a complete inspiration to me right now, and I hope to be dressing a little more like her as soon as possible!

Love and kisses, Tara xox