Ok so I have been really good...

... and in nearly two months I don't think I've bought anything that I don't really need, and I have completely changed my views on clothing due to deep investigative research into my final major project and dissertation concepts at uni.  So I'm deciding to stop conforming to the constant buzz of the high street and invest my money better and elsewhere.  I am quite keen to turn my fashion expenditure spending habits towards that of smaller ethical or sustainable brands and the one hot on my list is Antithesis.  Their carry on closet capsule collection is amazing, completely original and innovative you can have a neb here http://antithesis.co/collection/carry-on-closet/.  I just think that this sort of thinking should really be at the forefront of the fashion industry not only is it a complete breath of fresh air in terms of design, but the fashion industry is currently locked in an unsustainable cycle that is generating huge amounts of waste.
So ill be doing my bit by putting these lovelies next on my shopping list, if I should feel the urge for something new:

• The multi-way piece.  It doesn't look like much but looks can be deceiving.  Its actually 7 garments in one so its pretty versatile.  I could wear it everyday of the week creating a completely different look each time.  Actually that's not a bad idea... check if don't believe me http://www.antithesisstore.com/collections/home/products/no-06-the-multi-way-piece

• The two-piece blouse.  I just think the design is lovely, clean, classical and contemporary just how you want this wardrobe staple to be.  It can be worn two ways with or without sleeves and with a variation of two collars.  A great transitional piece through the seasons perhaps?

So what do you think?  Any food for thought?

SPENDING BAN...

... ok so as every fashion/style/beauty blogger tends to do I am inflicting a spending ban upon myself.  I do feel as though I have enough clothes/ makeup to last me through the winter season (or a lifetime) & should I feel the desperate necessity for anything I could put in a few cheeky requests for birthday & christmas!
I have everything a girl could want and need and I have got myself caught in a very flamboyant way of expenditure.  So today I paid off all my debts, which has subsequently left me a little poor, but any monies now is to only be spent on resources for my final year of uni & obvious necessities (saving for christmas pressies :) ).  Proud? I think so.  So here's to the new me, I am determined not to stray after I have a new phone sorted and thats it!  Has anyone else felt the need to curb their spending habits?

RayBan love

I love Ray Ban's, they are absolutely timeless and I have yearned for a pair for years.  I'm not particularly overly hooked on designer labels but I think any wardrobe can benefit from some classic staple pieces/accessories.  The problem I always have is what style to choose aviator or wayfarer?  Last year I took the plunge to purchase and came away empty handed, still unable to make a decision.  So after choosing a pair of cheaper alternatives in both styles I can honestly say the winner is the wayfarer! These classic black frames with a colourful twist on the inner are my new wants :) !
You can find them here at smartbuyglasses.co.uk.  
A bargain at £80!

Miss Selfridge wants...

After a mini shopping excursion today I am totally in love 

with this burgundy dress I think £37 is a bit steep which is 

the only thing that out me off but I think its a great transitional

 piece from now into A/W. Also the triangular necklace is 

AMAZING it looks like a spider when its on and is a 

refreshing take on the spiked ones that seem to be on 

everyone at the minute

Nicole Richie inspired

Nicole Richie inspired by jessica1420 featuring lace tops

Skincare wants

Skincare wants by jessica1420 on polyvore.com

Theory of Evolution - Parsley Seed Skin Care | Aesop | FREE UK...
$290 - beautyexpert.co.uk

Caudalie Beauty Elixir (100ml) | lookfantastic.com
$50 - lookfantastic.com

Ren Clearcalm 3 Clarity Restoring Mask (50ml)
$47 - lookfantastic.com

Caudalie Vinosource SOS Serum 30ml | lookfantastic.com
$45 - lookfantastic.com

All used up...

... I love these kinds of posts as its a great way to review a selection of products after a good usage... of the entire thing of course. So things I have used up this month:

•  Caudalie beauty elixir- I'm not going to bore you with a massive in depth review as you're probably sick of hearing about it but I really did like it and can say It has benefited my complexion. I purchased the 30ml bottle as it was cheaper and I didn't want to commit to the £32 spend of the 100ml one.  It seemed to last me a decent length of time to say I used it everyday, as a couple of spritzes hydrated, calmed and refreshed my skin leaving it smooth and refined.  I do miss it (as I am currently experiencing a horrific break out and I am not sure if it has anything to do with this being absent in my routine) and I would purchase the larger bottle as it works out more cost effective, having said that though I am yet to part with the cash.

• Dove visible effects body lotion supreme moisture multi layer complex- Now this is a bit of a cheat as it isn't technically used up...I am binning it because it's horrible it leaves me feeling sticky all day and never seems to completely sink into the skin.  I normally love Dove products it has the usual lovely Dove fragrance but a slightly gel/lotion consistency does not get on with my skin at all.

• Clarisonic gentle hydro cleanser for all skin types-  This is the freebie cleanser that came with my Clarisonic Mia, it has taken me forever to use it as I just didn't see it benefit my skin at all and I much prefer to use one of my own specifically for my own skin type.

• Herbal Essences tousle me softly conditioner for wavy hair- I don't use any special hair products as such but my products of choice have been Herbal Essences shampoo and conditioner for a long time.  My hair can get rather greasy in between washes but this stuff balances me out perfectly so I only tend to wash my hair 2-3 times a week.  Also it smells scrumptious! However  I've cut my longer locks to more a mid length it tends to be falling rather straight so I have just recently switched to the curly one to see if I can help encourage my natural waves to come back.

• No 7 Beautiful skin melting gel cleanser- (No picture sorry it was chucked before I decided on this post but you can see it here.) Now as things tend to change over time, my 'cannot recommend' enough tag has differed somewhat and now I have ventured further into the world of skincare.  Only since I have started taking a more avid interest in blogging has my skin care expanded, and my use of products was fairly limited when I discovered this cleanser.  My thoughts on it now are that although it is a great dislodger of makeup (after fairly intensive rubbing and you have to add a little water to get it moving but not too much as it turns into a useless milky substance), it never completely removes it or leaves my skin feeling clean.  Although I tend to double cleanse anyway if I'm wearing makeup I prefer something like my Bioderma solution its quicker and does at least make my skin feel cleansed.

Skincare Blogging...

... now I love blogging don't get me wrong and I love my 8, well actually 7 followers as I have miraculously managed to follow myself??  But how to make a successful, interesting and inspiring blog as I am trying to do and get readers engaged?  At the moment Ive been a little lazy, I have no idea whats going on with me but Ive been busy doing not very much and am becoming completely demotivated since the end of uni, so this is my self kick up the butt to get myself into action.
I love blogging in general for a whole host of reasons: they are inspiring and also a great way to get opinions and insight on a whole host of things.  Blogs I tend to follow and read are anything to do with beauty, fashion or crafty/artsy things, but what I am finding is that a lot of my favourite bloggers seem to blog about exactly the same things, like they go to the same events etc... so they get the same freebies/gifts or are sent similar products to review, and as much as I love hearing various opinions about the same things it does make me sigh when I see the same stuff coming up on my news feed.
So I bet your wondering where does the skin care tag come into all of this?  Basically, although as much as I hate hearing about the same products, I wouldn't have knowledge about half of the fantastic products that have made their way into my routine if I hadn't started blogging.  I have always been a great believer in looking after your skin as I think its really important to love the skin your in, after all you have it for life.  So I have never minded at all splashing a little extra cash as I really do think in terms of most products you get what you pay for.  Ive also been through the skin care mill probably like most as I had acne in my teens, which has left me with a little but rather unnoticeable scarring thanks to my skin care miracle: my freckles, which hide a multitude of sins.  My common problems with skincare are my sensitivity and combination skin, meaning I am prone to dry and oily areas, its all about finding the right balance without finding anything too harsh to do this.

Now don't be alarmed at the amount of stuff I have: I get a lot of stick already!

 Im not going to go through everything in full detail now, I might do in future posts as all my products I obviously don't use at once *wow that would be lengthly* I use them all at different times whether it be day/night, in several combinations and frequencies throughout a weekly/monthly period.


What I haven't included on here is the No.7 skincare range which I blogged about previously here and I was raving about it back in February and after I used up the minis I did re purchase the day/night moisturisers and another melting gel cleaner.  But after a comprehensive test of a few months I can honestly say I won't be repurchasing from the beautiful skin range again.  So when the pots are empty I will do a full review as to my reasons why.  Having said that I still do love No.7 so it is by no means a bashing of their products it will just be my honest opinions in relation to my skin type which may be of some use to others.

Marina Mermaid...

... a recent purchase which I thought I would share are my new nails courtesy of effie. If you haven't already heard of her within the blogosphere *where have you been hiding* check out her blog she is one incredibly creative lady.  I am so glad that these are available to purchase as I for one love having beautiful talons but I simply do not have the patience or the skill to produce them as well as these lovelies have been crafted.

My fingers at present look the most fun and crazy I have ever had them and I love it!!  I chose the Marina Mermaid design but to be honest I'll be going back for more as there are so many to choose from!  They are a gorgeous two tone aqua and purple in colour finished with glitter and rhinestones.  I think they are fantastic value as there is so much detail packed into the set and to top it all off they are completely unique and original, quite a change from what you normally would get at a salon.  I am not normally a fan of false nails but unsurprisingly these were just too gorgeous to pass up.  I did trim them down a little as I'm just not accustomed to having them too long, but to be honest I'm a convert and I don't think I ever want to take them off.

You can purchase yours here for £8.00 and see the rest of effie's amazing designs!

[candid pants picture] shiny shiny

Long time no blog...

... well I finally have my life back (thankgod) after the most hectic year of my life at uni, and I haven't even finished yet, still a year to go.  So back to blogging, I am so determined to get back on track and blog about all the exciting things I've been up to and the amazing opportunities I've had.  One of which was a couple of months back when I had the most amazing day working as an assistant stylist on a S/S shoot for fellow blogger Josie Marie at Mannequin.  I have always wanted to have a bash at styling and I can honestly say I loved it! Josie's blog is beautiful, she has created her own innovative editorials to compliment current trends, and I am so thrilled I got to work with her!

You can find the end result here...

Mini splurge...

... in preparation for my Germany trip next week I've had a little shopping trip to restock on a few things, like my No7 beautiful skin cleanser, which I've blogged about before and cannot recommend enough.

Im also giving the exfoliator a go as its the only thing in the range I haven't tried yet, and I really could do with not stealing my boyfriends shaving scrub anymore at the result of smelling like a man.

No7 Eyelash curlers- as Ive not owned a pair for years, since my last ones died or went missing I'm not sure which.  Either way the 3 for 2 offer in Boots is always a great way for me to end up with something that Ive wanted or fancied trying for ages.

Total bargain!!! Current season Marc Jacobs sunnies £29.99 thank you TK Maxx :) can not believe it! they are AMASING, only snag being they aren't in a matching box so I ended up with Missoni one, but I can't complain with a hefty bit of saving from the RRP £110

Magma Fashion sketchbook- another TK Maxx find, literally saw it just before I got to the till, quite a cool little book, has nice quality recyclable sketching paper and handy little finds throughout such as templates, measurement sheets and other bits and bobs.

Last but by no means least-  Smashbox Photo Finish Primer.  I have never used a primer before other than my Urban Decay primer potion.  But thats just for around the eyes and after being amased at the lasting results and growing tired of slidey makeup days I thought it was about time to invest in some for my face.  It was a toss up between this and Benefit's Porefessional, which I had sampled and loved but didn't want to pay the £20+ price tag.  I had noticed that the Smashbox primer was coming soon on buyapowa.com so Im glad I stuck it out as I only ended up paying £13 wahoo!  So I'm really excited to try this out.

By the way if you haven't checked it out already, you really need to have a look at buyapowa its rather addictive! And besides who doesn't love high end products at lower prices?

Missing art...

... so feeling a little inspired through doing my uni work *sigh* and being completely egged on by the amasing Malia's artwork (http://deepfriedfreckles.blogspot.co.uk/) I have really come to appreciate how much I miss doing any form of painting, drawing or digital media. Sometimes I feel like all the fun and appreciation is taken from it when I do it for uni, because everything is required within such tight and constricted deadlines. I seem to do something and hand it in before I get the chance to look back and reflect on what Ive produced. So I did just that and dug out some old work! And after getting bogged down with everything thats going on and the minute I had a little moment to appreciate that damn I did do alright actually...

....if I do say so myself.

Wonder Woman Converse High Tops X Reebok | Nike High Tops For Girls

Wonder Woman Converse High Tops X Reebok | Nike High Tops For Girls

Wonder Woman Converse High Tops X Reebok | Nike High Tops For Girls

Wonder Woman Converse High Tops X Reebok | Nike High Tops For Girls

Rainy day for me...

.... so some lovely blog comments (thankyou so much!) have spurred me on to post again, its been nearly a month since my last post and I know its the most over used excuse in history but I have been super busy! Seriously, its not a cop out I have so much to tell and share about my excursions over the last few weeks, its only when I look back at my photos that I really remember how much I have done. So in summary since my last post I have been to Paris, completed a brief including a garment to be proud of, eaten scrummy baking that my best friend keeps making, made the decision to do a juice detox, had an amazing opportunity to be assistant on a S/S fashion shoot, had a lovely break away in Amsterdam with my mr, plenty of snuggles with the puggles, gorgeous family day for my wonderful mum's birthday, shopped, and found my love of art again thus proving that: damn I can paint :) Phew! So will try to do posts on everything soon!

New wants

New wants by jessica1420 featuring long sleeve tops

River Island short sleeve top
£30 - riverisland.com

Topshop long sleeve top
$68 - topshop.com

Slouchy Pug Tee + Shorts
$36 - topshop.com

H&m pants
£7.99 - hm.com

ASOS peep toe sandals
$72 - asos.com

Heart jewelry
$15 - topshop.com

turquoise searhorse print tank top - vests - t shirts / vests / sweats...
£15 - riverisland.com

New nail colour.....

... The colour is from the Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides OPI mini set, which was my little Duty Free treat on the way back from my recent trip to Paris. The set consist of 4 gorgeous spring appropriate shades, that all seemingly have a grungy twist that I think is great for something a little more unique.

Shade name: Stranger Tides ... although my boyfriend says that it looks like I've had my fingers up my nose.... I still love it

Feeling blue....

.... quick break from the mammoth pile of work I ought to be tackling. But I have got loads of compliments today about this little cutie....

and a lil bargain it was too £22.99 from MissGuided.co.uk here's the link:
http://www.missguided.co.uk/simmone-geometric-print-playsuit-5

I ordered quite a few bits as the prices were so reasonable but once the order came I was a little disappointed with some items been a little cheap looking. Having said that what do I expect for fast fashion? In the end I kept this geometric print playsuit as it was so flattering. I often find as I am long in the body & have short legs that I struggle with playsuits even resorting to making my own, however this one doesn't cling to my chunkier thighs and fits the length of my torso lovely. The print is really fun and bang on trend for this season. I chose to compliment mine with tights and brogues today as it was a little chilly brrrrr not quite summer... yet.

eeeek I couldn't help it!

Ok ok so I have gone & made a tiny weeny purchase, but I am going to Paris soon so I do want to look tres chic for my little trip. So I have been searching high & low for some reasonably priced straight legged coloured jeans (they are all skinny & they don't suit my petit pear shaped frame at all, they make me look like a chunky monkey) but in the end I've just found these babies :)

Straight leg tie dye & pink, with a gorgeous little zip detail. I will hopefully be teaming them with these fiercely amazing pumps
So excited: need to stop spending!!

Secondly....

..... as I have curbed my spending habits on fashion for the time being I seem to have taken to spring cleaning my beauty regime.  I always love to try something new especially if it has been well reviewed from a reliable source, so as my beloved Garnier BB cream was running low and I had a £5 No7 voucher, compliments of my Beautiful skin mini trio, I decided to give theirs a whirl.  I haven't tried it as of yet so ill perhaps post a comparison when I do.  I'm a bit of a No7 convert at the minute this particular range is amazing and seems to be working incredibly on my skin.  I have picked the normal/dry combination for my skin but it also caters to other types too.  The Day/Night creams feel lovely they aren't too oily on the skin just leaving it perfectly hydrated making a great base for makeup.  The Cleaning lotion provides a surprisingly delicate but deep clean for the skin, I was shocked at the impurities coming out onto the cotton wool pad even after washing my face with my usual face wash.  This spurred me on to try the Melting Gel Cleanser as I began to wonder about the effectiveness of my usual product.  The cleanser exits the tube as a gel, turns to an oil on the skin and then washes off almost like a milk.  So genius as it once again provides great results leaving your skin perfect.  I can not rate this Beautiful Skin range enough it just feels so lovely and smells good too!

Before bed blogging....

 .... so before I curl up with my kindle and enter the land of nod I wanted to share a few things.  Firstly my gorgeous flowers!!  Although I like to think that me and my fella show our appreciation, affection and adoration for one another the other 364 days of the year it is a nice to have a little bit of something on that most 'romantic' of days.  Behold my beautiful bouquet....  Made up byView Blog my personal florist, my mum :) They both know me so well, as its very reminiscent of the Liberty bouquet I kept banging on about.

So if you like please support their business via their little Facebook page linked below!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Petals-and-Gems/242423795826668

Really awful photo doesn't do it justice really

Girl crush....

Effortlessly stunning

New obsessions...

... so its been months & I haven't posted again ooopsie.  Maybe ill be more dedicated in the summer when I have some time on my hands.At the moment I'm extremely excited with all the spring/summer collections surfacing in the shops, the only thing thats holding me back from a mega splurge is the weather.  It may look sunny but its freezing here not good for sheer blouses, printed vest or pastel shorts just yet.  So I'm hanging on but there is some beautiful stuff out there.  Also being a fashion student I've had my hands on images of the current runway collections for ages so its great to see them in the glossy editorials, Vogue has been extremely pretty for the last 3 months!  So new my new obsession is: black milk clothing! Ive heard about them for ages as I follow a few you tubers who are massive fans but only just had a sneak peek at their website and I love it!!

 I know perhaps the look is slightly contradictory to my spring/summer excitement, but although they are more grungy I do think that Black Milk have a distinctively unique fun edge, which I love and can be perfect for any time of year (like now for example with the transitional period we are going through weather wise) This also answers the question to where Kat von D's quirky leggings came from which she frequently sports on Instagram.  Personally I prefer the skirt version but wouldn't mind either way if any of these lovelies were to make their way into my wardrobe.