TRENDS | COTTON ON

Happy Saturday!

I just wanted to do a quicky post on some amazing items I spotted at Tygervalley Cape Town's new Cotton On store. Walking in I was greeted with a beautiful array of pastels and monochrome prints. The pastels were surprising to see as we head into the colder months but nevertheless refreshing.

Another trend I've been spotting lately are the multi-textured and multi-toned jackets. I have seen a number of outerwear pieces have a (for example) military print body and leather sleeves. Of course these multi-textured and multi-toned combos can be mixed with a variety of different patterns and textures. For example: lace/denim and leather/cotton.

I managed to snap one or two photo's so have a look below.

Also do let me know if you enjoy quicky posts. I really enjoy it because I don't feel the formality of having to slog it behind a laptop computer.

cynthia

STYLE | CHUCK TAYLOR

Happy Saturday beauties!

Lately I have found myself heading straight toward the sneaker shelf whilst shopping. At the moment, you could say that I am obsessed with hi-top Chuck Taylor's. I love them because they are undoubtedly a classic shoe. The most fun comes with coming up with different ways of how to dress them up (or down). So below I have put together a couple of looks for rocking the classic sneaker, whether its just hanging with your girls, a fun night out or in the office (depending where it is you work of course).

1. Hanging with the girls

View this set here

Hand in hand with my obsession of the Chuck Taylor is the bodycon midi-skirt/midi-dress. I love it in grey because it is a versatile colour and any colour is fit to complement it. The length of the classic midi is flattering on all body shapes as it elongates the torso. If of course you wish to tone down the appearance of your curves, its best to opt for a midi that has some sort of verticle pattern and vise-verse if you are looking for the opposite effect (for a wider waist = horizontal pattern). 

This look is great for hanging with the girls because its super comfortable and not overstated. Bright accessories make up for not wearing spiked JC's or the Rihanna inspired ankle strap sandals that have gone viral. The cropped denim vest is girly and flattering and of course a colourful snood to keep you warm this autumn.  

2. Casual Day

The second look featuring the Chuck's has interesting an elegant pieces. A short-sleeve turtle neck with which you would normally pair a pencil skirt (at the office) has been chosen to complement a pair of simple black high-waist skinnys. The Chuck's keep you warm with a fur lining and you can choose to either have the flap up or down to add more colour and contrast to the dark jeans. 

Especially for office looks, when going casual, it helps to make sure that your shoes match the colour of your pants. It keeps the whole outfit together.

3. Party Party Party

Off all the looks, this is my favourite. When using simple pieces, you have the option to experiment with different textures. Black leather looks great alongside a decent denim shirt and complete the look with a faux fur vest. I decided to make the outfit fun by adding trendy leggings and of course the Chuck's.

I hope this gives you some great ideas on how to style Chuck Taylors.

cynthia

BEAUTY | ST GERMAIN X CANDY YUM YUM

Today I walked into MAC hoping to get their Candy Yum Yum but naturally... they were sold out. That has been the case the past three times I have attempted to buy CYY. This obviously comes as no surprise because it is an unbelievably popular lipstick and what kind of blogger would I be not to talk about it. 

Naturally after being unlucky on several occasions, I decided to research some dupes and found that NYX Shocking Pink might be a close enough match. But of course, NYX currently only has stands in CLICKS stores coutry wide and their range of Matte lipsticks are not displayed. Judging from what I have researched though, it is important to know that NYX Shocking Pink is a blue toned hot pink while CYY is a bright, almost warm neon pink. Both do have matte finishes and I guess that is why they are so lovable. I prefer matte lipticks over anything, especially when opting for a bold colour like your reds, deep purples, burgandys and Barbie pinks. 

When I did get a chance to try CYY, I was not comfortable with the brightness. I figured that it may not be a lipstick I reach for often and so I found that it would be a waste of money. Knowing myself, I would constantly look for excuses not to wear it as this has been the pattern with other lipsticks. I continued looking around the MAC store and came across ST GERMAIN. Now I found this lipstick to be equally as loud as CYY. The macgirl on duty told me I could get a shade close to CYY by mixing the MAC Magenta lip pencil with ST GERMAIN. Still shocking, still bright. 

After thinking about it, I decided to go for it and this was my reasoning. 

1. ST GERMAIN was a more forgiving pink with regards to the fact that it is an Amplified Creme Lipstick. Creme is important because it wouldn't expose dry and cracked lips as a Matte Lipstick would. After application, my lips still felt moisturized and healthy
2. A couple of months ago I misplaced my PINK NOUVEAU for which I am utterly devasted about because it has been discontinued.

It's a gorgeous lip colour and I am enjoying wearing it!

[P.S. When opting for bright lips, its important to make sure your lips are in tip-top condition. Bold colours have no mercy when it comes to exposing dry, flakey and cracked lips so like I did, watch ItsMyRaeRae school you on how to get baby soft lips.]

FOLLOW ME ON KEEK! http://www.keek.com/cynthy

cynthia

HAIR | NEXSHEEN ARGANICS

Happy Friday!

Today I wanted to let you guys in on my new and latest obsession.  

Of late, I have got into the routine of installing weaves. Mostly because I love the break it gives my natural hair when cornrowed and also because I have grown to prefer the look of weave over braids. The problem I have had with maintaining a weave however, is the fact that it tends to become rather dry and brittle. So for a long time I had opted for braids because in comparison they were hassle-free, and easier to wash and maintain. 

But I decided to give a weave another go. And surely after some time the hair became dry and brittle. I became pretty frustrated until my mum introduced me to Nexsheen Arganics Polishing Hair Serum. I was told this product is great for weaves (synthetic and human hair) as well as for natural hair.

I poured a small amount into my hands and gradually spread the serum all over my hair. Afterwards I combed through it, blew it out (to detangle) and then flat ironed to perfection. I was more than satisfied with the result. My hair was on its way to looking like it did when I first purchased it.  

(In case this may sound like Nexsheen asked me to review their product, they didn't. I am genuinely pleased with the result)

Nexsheen Arganics

Other products I am keen on trying is ORS Weave RX range. It is a bit difficult to find the full range of ORS products in South Africa but I am still searching high and low. 

cynthia

001 | CHAPTER ONE

After a four month long hiatus, I decided to make my return to Blogging.

I figured that now may be the right time because I have come from closing a big chapter in my life and there is nothing better than focusing your spare time on something that you love. Personally, I have got a long and difficult journey ahead of me so you could say this is the start of me getting all of my ducks in a row and starting over.

| QUICK LIFE UPDATE |

YAY! I will be graduating in June of this year. I am super excited because I feel as though I have been at UCT forever (since 2009)! I will be graduating with a BA in Media and Writing and Film Studies. I've completed both my majors so right now I'm busy doing electives (Philosophy, Economic History and Sociology). 

At this moment, I spend most of my days looking for jobs in London. Part of my new start involves me moving to a new city and I am so excited! Its been a dream of mine to live in the UK and I feel as though  there is no better time than now. I'm praying to God that the VISA application, the process of settling in and finding an apartment all come stress-free. I'll keep my readers updated and let you know how things are shaping up.

That's it for now. I have a couple of exciting posts lined up so keep visiting my page for trend forecasts, beauty tips and more.

cynthia

BEAUTY | MINI HAUL

Greetings Dolls!

I tried to do a video for you guys but the editing just is not coming together! I will keep having a go at it until I am satisfied with the result. What happened was that I recorded in HD and I use Windows Movie Maker to edit. I was forced to convert the file because Windows Movie Maker couldn't read it. Now, the result of the converted file has distorted the quality of the video slightly and I am unsure as to how I can fix it. BLEH. That's technology for you. Perhaps if anyone has any recommendations for HD Editing software I can buy? I tried going the cheap route by downloading free software from AVS but the output file comes with their watermark! Super Annoying. However, I decided that I would for now, tell you about what I purchased.

The items in this haul have been purchased collectively over the past +/- 6 weeks and the majority of which are beauty items and of which I purchased at Dis-Chem Pharmacy.  I am slightly obsessed with Dis-Chem just because I believe for it to be an underrated pharmacy/cosmetics store. Dis-Chem is my number one go-to store when I don't want to burn wholes in my pocket or when I am looking to try out new drugstore products. I am one always open to trying out new things and I did that especially when purchasing from the Catrice Cosmetics stand and also from L.A Girls Cosmetics. 

I have for a long time advised friends and family members to always run to Dis-Chem before heading over to Clicks. Yes, I love Clicks but I have often found that their prices range slightly higher than those found at Dis-Chem. Note that in terms of cosmetics, both stores stock 95% of the same brands and products. However, my newest and latest obsession NYX Cosmetics, is only found at Clicks and not at Dis-Chem stores, but Dis-Chem stocks a wider variety of beauty care products. For example, false eyelashes - I had been purchasing mine at Clicks stores for some time (what I thought then to be standard pricing)  at prices ranging between R70-R90. I then decided to try and see if Dis-Chem stocked falsies and they had such a WIDER variety - offering Eylure's top and bottom lashes; double lashes, thin-to-full and short, medium to long individual lashes - most of which were below the R75 price range. That in a nutshell is why I have fallen in love with Dis-Chem.

ROUGE BRUSH

All black rouge brush - Barbara Hofmann Professional

To be completely honest with you, I am not sure if I know who Barbara Hofmann is... I hadn't heard of her or her products until now so I decided to put my trust in Google. These are German products judging from their website specializing in Beauty tools such as your brushes et cetera. These brushes are gorgeous! I found two types, black brushes that come with a black handle and black bristles as well as brushes with a wooden handle and natural brownish bristles. 

Barbara Hofmann Professional

I used brush for the first time today for contouring purposes. It worked like a dream, picking up my contour powder effortlessly and applying it smoothly. For the environmentally concsious, I am not to sure whether or not these are organic and I am not 100 percent clued up on their animal testing policies, but I am sure the website can clarify that. 

NAIL LACQUER

I then purchased two breathtakingly pretty nail polishes from the Catrice Cosmetics stand in Dis-Chem. As you may well know, it is the season to experiment with bright and  colourful nail polishes and so consequently as I am every summer, obsessed with corals, pastels and of course neons. Catrice Cosmetics is affordable selling their nail lacquers for R35. The price attracted me, then the colour (:

The first colour is #030 Meet Me In Coral Island and the second is #875 It's All I Can Blue - perculiar name but gorgeous. The picture to the far right is what I posted on Instagram this morning. I couldn't wait to give it a go. By the way, the brushes in these Catrice nail polishes are thick meaning quicker and mess-free application.

FAT MARKER

So lately I have been seeking alternatives to using Liquid Liner on my lids because more often than not my eyes become irritated from the stinging wetness upon application. The first marker I purchased some months ago was another drugstore product - Essence. It wasn't a bad purchase and I still make use of it today. I did, however, come across Fat Markers on the NYX stand but decided to give it a pass, especially because I didn't necessarily need it. But then L.A Girl Cosmetics had theirs on display and I couldn't resist. 

To be honest, this marker is not as pigmented as the Essence marker I use. Perhaps I was also disillusioned with the greatness I associated with thicker eyeliner markers. It is much more difficult to construct a smooth, neat line. I guess if one wishes to go for a dramatic eye, a fat marker would be ideal, but it certainly is not when going for a simple, clean look.

CONTOUR POWDER
My third purchase from Dis-Chem was a pressed powder by L.A Girl Cosmetics. I decided on a dark pigmented powder (Dark Cocoa) because I wanted to use it for contouring. I must say it works like a dream and the powder picks up well on my skin tone. I use this powder on top of a Clinique Concealer in 11 Deep and to apply it, I use my new rouge brush by Barbara Hofmann. Once again, L.A Girl impressed me and so I am reluctant to change or try other pressed powders.

FALSE EYELASHES
Next up are my Eylure Individual Eyelashes. I have never really tried individual lashes. I have used strip eyelashes for sometime but wanted to try something semi-permanent and more natural looking. I did make the mistake however of purchasing ALL medium lashes. Eylure packs can come with short, medium and long  lengths so I will be sure to make the swap soon, or just buy a brand new pack. I believe that one can wear these lashes during the day, the strip eyelashes are less ideal for everyday wear as they often appear too heavy or too fake. But I suppose it also depends on the intensity you choose when selecting a pack.

EYE-SHADOW PALLETS
NYX Cosmetics now has stands in Clicks stores nationwide. I am obsessed with NYX because their products are just perfection and very affordable. So my first purchase from their beauty stand were my two eye-shadow pallets  I thought for these to be an amazing deal because each pallet came with ten colours and the product itself is very well pigmented. I am obsessed with gold so I definitely decided on my first pallet to have gold and glittery colours.

NYX 10 COLOUR PALETTE | THE RUNWAY COLLECTION | SECRET WORLD 

As you can tell from the Secret World palette, I have hardly made use of the bottom half. I am a bit skeptical when it comes to applying bright colours on my lids. I have not mastered the art of applying eye-shadow and so I have been easing into it by making use of the top half of the palette.

NYX 10 COLOUR PALETTE | THE RUNWAY COLLECTION |  CAVIAR AND BUBBLES

The second pallet I then purchased had more neutral tones than anything else. To be honest, I have not made much use of it but I do sometimes experiment with the neutral tones as they all compliment each other beautifully. With this palette however, it is possible to combine several colours to construct a smoke eye. Especially with the options provided in the bottom five colours. I definitely look forward to creating videos and doing tutorials once I feel as though I can successfully attempt the dramatic smokey eye.
NYX has a great collection of eyeshadow palettes with each one consisting of a unique set of colours. Each palette sells for R169 at Clicks stores - GREAT DEAL!

Not included in this post are the clothes that I purchased over the last 6 six weeks. Nothing really special except for a couple of maxi dresses and sandals for summer. Otherwise I hope you enjoyed this post and feel free to comment if you would like for me to do more, just want to share your opinion or have any questions.

Til Later

TUMBLR | ESTRELLA

Greetings Dolls! I hope this post finds you lot well (:

This is basically a PSA  to inform everyone that I decided to re-launch my Tumblr page. My account had been suspended for some odd reason but I chose to look at it as an opportunity to make it bigger and better.

The URL is now: estrelablog.tumblr.com. I hope you enjoy viewing the pictures I post up. As you (tumblr users) know, Tumblr is HIGHLY addictive. I have already spent a couple of hours on it this evening. But alas, its time for bed.

If you love it or hate it let me know. TUMBLR allows you the option to "Ask Me Anything" regarding the page and anything I post.

Love ya!

STYLE | ZOOEY DESCHANEL

Don't you just LOVE Zooey Deschanel?! I am obsessed with her in her [fairly] new day-time comedy (now on Season 3) New Girl. Her bubbly and quirky character onscreen is always a laugh to look at, and her cute and preppy wardrobe is even more adorable. Zooey's character Jess has been dealt a raw deal concerning her love-life which resulted in her moving into a loft with three, equally offbeat guys. Besides the flawless comedy executed by the cast, I am mostly in love with cute and whimsical Jess's wardrobe. 

Something tells me that Zooey is much like her onscreen character so I'm always Google-ing her latest red carpet looks for inspiration and ideas. The majority of the images featured in this post have been taken from THIS TUMBLR dedicated to New Girl. It's fun to look at, especially the GIFs that take you back to specific scenes.

  New Girl

W.W.J.W? [What Would Jess Wear?]

So what I have noticed is that Jess ADORES flirty and flattering dresses, skirts and play-suits. Her innocence is slightly ambiguous as she shows us a fair share of skin on the show. However, her subtle sexiness is balanced out with her quirky personality. It is quite rare to find Jess in the odd pair of jeans and t-shirt. She is the ultimate girly girl and I suppose this is to further emphasize the meaning behind the title of the series. We see Jess experiment with prints often. Polka-dot sundresses and floral blouses share center stage. 

1. Rompers / PlaySuits

First and foremost, if you wish to dress a little like Jess, it is imperative to incorporate her love for rompers and mini dresses into your wardrobe. A piece as simple as this commands the attention of the room  with its short, fun and flirty features. Whether going for a solid colour or deciding on prints, the outcome will most often than not be gorgeous! On a chilly day, be sure to pair your playsuit/romper/dress with a complimentary cardigan and cute and simple ballet flats (#5).

2. Sweaters / Jerseys

Jess is careful to not wear pieces of frumpy clothing. This is extended to her sweaters. More often than not, I have seen her in figure-hugging, form-fitting sweaters. In an array of colours, these sweaters have the potential to turn ant dull outfit into a fun and bright one. Sweaters are also no longer just plain, they have on them different characters, prints and pictures. Be sure to pick one as it may serve as a statement in any outfit.

3. Shorts

High-waist shorts feature quite a bit on the camera. The high-waist makes the short-short look elegant and it is definitely flattering on the waist and does a great service for your legs. Remember that high-waist shorts help your legs appear longer if you consider yourself to be below "average" height ;)

4. Accessories

Jess's most common and possibly only accessory are her spectacles. Her face is busy with her long brunet locks and , yet her over-sized geeky glasses furnish her look. If you of course don't have an eyesight problem, get non-prescription glasses. These can be found for a mere R40 at your street corner sun glass vendor.

5. Ballet Flats

Jess LIVES to die in these. While they are super comfy, I'm pretty sure she has a million pairs all in a vast array of rainbow inspired colours.

If you like Zooey Deschanel as Jess like I do, I hope you found this post a fun and inspiring read. I feel tempted to head out and get Jess-like pieces myself.

Til Later!

STYLE | WELCOME BACK X SUMMER

Hello Loves :)

I'm SO excited to be back online and writing for you all! I decided to cut all ties with the blog'-sphere temporarily seeing that finals were approaching.I'm super glad I'm done with exams and now my three  month holiday has begun :) I hope to bring you fun and exciting looks to inspire for the sunny season.

So we are well into Spring and Summer is around the corner. Last night, the Cape Town skies were at war with thunder, rain and lightning raging. I've, however, decided to take that in a positive light and assume a favorable change in weather from now on. 

While on my almost two month hiatus, I came across a few fashion bloggers and guru's that I have just fallen in love with. One in particular is Aimee Song. Her style is just super impeccable and I forever look forward to reading about her new fashion conquests and posts on her blog. While she is an interior designer, she unfailingly manages to bring her creativity and innovative nature into her wardrobe. On her blog you will see a lot of legs - she has a great pair and enjoys showing them off and you will inspired by her fetish for arm candy. 

Follow Aimee

Lookbook

Twitter

Pinterest

Aimee in Teen Vogue

Maxi Dress season is here - my second favorite time of the year. Of course this seasons skirts and associated summer floral dresses have come with a slight twist on the hem - the high-low. I believe for it to be lovely and lady-like trend for it definitely flatters all body shapes and sizes.  Its super easy and effortless to dress the look up or down - an evening dinner date or a surf's up [kinda] beach day :) Although the set below doesn't illustrate much styling, I will definitely do a follow-up post with some ideas to wet your appetite.

For now, however, enjoy the last remaining days of Spring, and for anyone that is still writing exams, All The Best!

Til Later 

TREND | NAILS X NAIL ART

Greetings friendlings...

So boredom found me this sunny Wednesday evening... and I decided to paint my nails... :) If you follow my Instagram page you would have noticed that I'm a little nail polish crazy right now. I've managed to purchase at least two every time I leave a Clicks or Dis-chem (Pray For Me). Well, its not all for nothing really, it seems Spring is in full-swing in Cape Town and so its time to break out the brightest colours to create some GORCHESS nail candy :)

With that being said, its a well good idea to purchase neon's and pastels... Throw in some glitter if you must - it will come in handy when you feel the need to be creative when thinking of different prints and designs to have on your nails. Most important to buying stunning colours is to be aware of the nail polish BRAND you are keen on. The cheaper the nail polish, the more easily it will chip away, also, application may be a bit poor and nail polishes that often require you to apply more than two coats can be a bit of a problem. I of course have a couple of favourite brands - well two to be exact. The first is Tip Top which is available at any Click's store in South Africa and it without a doubt suits a student's budget. If I remember correctly, all Tip Top nail polishes are under R40 - not precise on the price because I often just grab-and-go. Second on my list is Revlon - just because their colours are so mesmerizing to look at when stacked together. Revlon prices aren't too bad, available mostly anywhere but Clicks prices are often higher than Dis-chem prices so be sure to stop at Dis-chem first.

Tip Top Nail Polish to create Candy Ice Cream Nails - Done by  @EstrelaEvra

To create this look I used three different colours from the Tip Top line. For the base I applied two coats of Cream Puff (901). After that dried completely I used a KABAB stick (LOL) to draw the squiggly lines you see. You could use a toothpick, or any other "tool" you may find appropriate. The blue colour is Cha Cha Cha (980) which is a very new colour from the Tip Top range, came just in time for Spring!. And Sexy Bikini (913) to complete the bubblegum/candy coated look. 

If you're into creating cool designs with your nail polishes let me know what and how in the comments below.

Til Later

TREND | DEPARTMENT STORES

Greetings Dolls

So after my training session at the gym today I thought I would do a little browsing by having a look at some of the merchandise stores have begun to stock for Spring. I was left extremely impressed, especially by the larger department stores such as Woolworths and Foschini. These are places young people often don't tend to shop and are sometimes instead viewed as places to where mum's and aunts flock.    

A couple of posts back I spoke about how much I am in love with Zara and the items that they stock - Trending At Zara. With respect to the shoes, I found look-a-like pairs in the shelves of Woolworths! Although I have loved the design for being so simplistic and pretty, I've always assumed they must be a nightmare to walk in, especially since the ball of your foot would be directly on the ground, however, and again to my surprise, they weren't too bad. 

Heeled Sandals at Woolworths

The straps fit so snuggly and securely around your ankle and foot that its as though you're walking on air. Granted a little bit of pain is expected after walking or standing for hours, but then again, when have heels ever not hurt? As eager as I was to give them a whirl, I took of my trainers and socks and put these babies on! (Pics can be viewed at the end of this post)

Country Road at Woolies is also stocking some amazing pieces for spring. Plenty blouses of a vast array of colours and textures. I noticed a lot of pastel, at Foschini too, as well as deep corals and exciting prints.

[Side Note]: Taking pictures of the garments was a bit of a spontaneous move hence they were taken with my Blackberry which happened to have a drained battery! I will head back to these stores as soon as I get the chance to take amazing pictures, for now however, use your imagination!

I am more of a simple girl myself. I enjoy pairing really simple pieces with loud accents. Accents could be accesories such as jewelry or a handbag, or in some cases, accents could be a bright coral blazer on top of a black or white ensemble. Either way, as I stumbled into Foschini, my eye cought these pretty little blazers!

    

While we are speaking of department stores, I of course had to step in to Edgars. To be honest, I wasn't left too impressed by their new pieces.The floor was flooded with dark colours, the only element of spring I saw was in their skinny's, but still, nothing new. I spotted a lot of animal print clothing which I believe to be a complete fad and a total NO-GO during spring-time. However, I did manage to leave somewhat pleased with a new lipstick by MAC - Creme Cup (Cremesheen finish). I needed an urgent replacement for Angel (Frost finish) which I realised was too much of a white pink, and this would show unflatteringly against my complexion. I love nude lipsticks that have a little bit of a pink tint to them. The pink in Creme Cup is quite subtle so its still possible to have a heavy eye and rosey cheeks.

MAC cremesheen lipstick in Creme Cup

In my post yesterday, I mentioned a nail colour that I ordered as part of my purchases from Zando. I was super eager to try it on and show it to you lot [BELOW]. Its a perfect nude that looks to compliment all skin tones beautifully. It is Cookies and Cream by Ciate and I love, love, love it! 

Ciate nail laquer in Cookies and Cream

Below is a picture I took wearing the heels at Woolworths! I especially loved the neon accent on the mini platform. There is also a nude pair contrasted with different coloured brown straps. Just above this make were grey heels with electric blue elastic straps. Also worth the buy :-)

I will definitely head back to get them as they are retailing for only R245. Such an AMAZING deal!

Thank you so much for reading loves! Enjoy the rest of your eve!

Till Later!

XO

REVIEW | ZANDO

Greetings Dolls

So I just wanted to tell you lot about my recent and FIRST online shopping experience [I know right - DELAYED]. I have always had my concerns about online shopping - is it safe? As in, the idea of putting ur Credit Card information on the internet; Can the service itself be trusted? As in, what if what shows up at the door is not exactly what I ordered, or worse, what if nothing shows up at all!. But alas, I went ahead anyway and I just recieved my purchases from ZANDO!

Zando Site Review

Zando is currently South Africa's leading online retail store, stocking over three hundred local and international brands ranging from Beyonce's House of Dereon, Jeffery Campbell and Jimmy Choo to more wallet-friendly brands like Levi's, Nike and my personal favourite (and slight obsession) Zoom Footwear.I thoroughly enjoyed browsing through all the different categories made on offer to South African online shoppers. These categories varried from shoes such as ankle boots and ballet flats to clothing such as cardigans and sweaters, playsuits and jumpsuits, sportswear; a beauty section and even home decor!

The ZANDO website is super easy to navigate through, giving you a chance to preview items before adding them to your shopping cart.  The only "problem" I can say I had was deciding on what to pick out! There are just too many options, and that can be one of life's greatest obstacles if you're the type of person that just WANTS EVERYTHING! Ultimately I decided on purchasing items for the gym. I have been living there lately (figuratively of course) and I am seriously into my workouts so why not!. I did however manage to sneak in a cute and simple grey T from Utopia and Ciate nail laquer in Cookies and Cream :-)

Nike water bottle ; Nike training gloves; Utopia T-Shirt; Ciate Nail Laquer

Zando Delivery

I was most impressed by the fact that I placed my order on Sunday night I recieved it on Tuesday afternoon. All Zando deliveries are promised within four days of purchase so ultimately, its a rather impressive deal; plus its FREE! In addition, Zando has made the lives of online shoppers so much easier by providing five different methods of payment: Cash on delivery, Electronic funds transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card and eBucks.

Zando TV Commercial 

With all the buzz Zando has created, it comes as no surprise that they are to soon launch their very first TV Commercial. Inflitrating all arenas of the media world, Zando is definitely taking it a step further in creating a name for themselves and not merely restricting themselves to web-based marketing.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Zando Crew prepping in Hair & Makeup

The above behind-the-scene TV ad pictures have been taken by Zando personnel.  You can also catch an exclusive behind-the-scenes video on thier Youtube page as well as other fashion snippets. I hope that this is informative to all my South African readers! Online shopping has never been made so fun yet simplistic.

STYLE | DATE NIGHT

Greetings dolls

So I guess its a great time for those in love, or new to love... Especially since its the winter period in the bottom half of the hemisphere. Keeping the Love alive should be pretty high on your list of priorities. And whichever way you choose to do it, make sure you're looking Haut!

My ideal date nights involve a romantic dinner in a dimly lit restaurant, a little jazz playing in the background and a tantalizing glass of crisp champagne right by my side. It is also important that as a couple, you both make an effort on that special day you set aside every week to spend together. Some may give the old timely excuse about how its unnecessary to dress up when going on a date with your Beau - reasons could be you may have been together for some time already hinting that it could be "pointless". 

In my eyes, that all the more reason to get into it and really give it all you've got. Those sexy heels you decide to put on will have him fall him in-love with you all over again. That simple yet chic LBD could have him pining after you the entire night and he won't be able to keep his hand off of you!

Lets not be lazy and get right to it! 

So Look #1 I have created above is just in case you and your other half are the adventurous type. After what may seem to be a mellow and easy going night with the candle-lit dinner and all, you may end up at a sports bar or night club. Better yet, you could decide to take a semi-long stroll back home. The latter would certainly be no fun if you're wearing six-inch heels on the night, and drinking and dancing all night at a bar or pub may be painful if your feet are subject to an awkward angle in an otherwise dazzling stiletto. Believe you me when I say your man will be less than pleased having to carry your shoes all night plus there is nothing more unattractive than a beautiful woman parading the towns dirty and diseased streets barefoot! Can you say BLACK FEET!? You also may not not want to be super dressy for say, going out to watch a movie. Be WISE with your decision my girls!

On the contrary, say your man just LOVES you in heels, by all means, strike a deal with him! "Fine babe, if  I wear these heels you have to be by my side the entire night so I can have something to hold on to when my feet begin to hurt". Fair right? LOL But on a serious note, heels are probably only ideal if you're certain of the itinerary for the night. If you know you'll be seated most of the time, then by all means break out your baddest pair of heels. If however, you are unsure and the events of the night say, remain a "surprise", decide on a versatile outfit where bringing along an extra pair of comfy flats wouldn't ruin anything :) Hence Look #2

Your makeup on Date Night should be simple. Remember he still wants to recognize the person he fell in-love with to begin with. Granted if you're heading out later, it couldn't hurt to darken the smokey eye. At the same time however, I know few men who enjoying seeing their girlfriends faces hidden behind a think blanket of makeup. If doing a red lip, keep your eyes simple. If doing a heavy eye, keep your lips simple. We all know the rules ladies! Don't disappoint!

Side Note: [PG Readers] Finally ladies, do not forget that what is important is what you wear underneath your clothes too! If Date Night runs rather successfully, the both of you should be in the mood for a little night-cap. Indeed so, your clothes will be coming off so don't forget to be a tease in the bedroom too :) *chuckle*

Happy Friday and Have a good one loves!

Til Later!

STYLE | FIGHTING THE COLD

Greetings dolls

I am pretty sure I can say that the winter season is in FULL SWING! It's been SO SO chilly in the Mother City these past couple of days. I don't know whether I am coping or if I'm merely numb from the cold and stopped taking note of it! Either way, we definitely need ways of fighting off those winter chills.

We're living in a season where even though the sun may be out, the air is bitterly cold. Don't shy away from layering stockings and jerseys! But of course, do so ever so fashionably :)

Indulge in thick woolen stockings/socks. Look for them in different colours too to keep your outfits fun and spontaneous. You can be sure to find some at your nearest Woolworths outlet. You may find however that these may still be pretty thin so feel free to wear an extra pair of thick, normal stockings underneath.Pair your thick wooly stockings with either dresses, shorts or fun playsuits. Finish off with a stylish trench, or jersey under an edgy leather jacket.

You can never have too many beanies and scarves. Keep your ears and head warm stylishly this winter by investing in these wooly accessories. If you like to keep it classy, steer towards pastel colours, if you're seeking the attention of the room, invest in bright and playful colours. Fadora's couldn't hurt either, having  multipurpose function, they could either glam up your outfit or keep an already "done-up" look casual. In the same breath, dare to be different and purchase a SpiritHood 

Created via Polyvore: EstrelaEvra

Shawls, shawls, shawls! A.K.A Extra-a-a long cardigans. I love these because they are so versatile and easy to work with. As a little overthrow onto of an already cute outfit, they can make you look fab and on a day when you're keen to hide bulges, a shawl comes in handy! Shirley gives great styling tips on the many ways you can wear one!

Created via Polyvore: EstrelaEvra

Here's a Yay to winter not having to be so bad! Right? Enjoy it  loves!

Til Later

STYLE | FANCY DRESS | BEYONCE

Greetings Dolls

I hope everyone is well. Let me catch you up :)

If you read my last post, you would know that I have been off the raider for a little bit. That was due to exams, and assignment deadlines... Bleh! But that's all over now, Thank God. So it will be just me, myself and my lovely blog for a couple of months.. Yay :) Exams were good, just waiting on results. 

Now however, I'm faced with quite a bit of a challenge. A fun challenge though. A friend of mine is celebrating her birthday in the coming week. We will have a sit down dinner with close friends, but there's a theme: Jay Z and Beyonce. Sounds simple right?

B has SO many looks. There are so many of her styles to choose from. Ranging from the Red Carpet, to looks in her music videos, the ultimate challenge would be picking ONE! So I thought that I would browse the web a bit, and select looks of hers that I can work with, without breaking the bank and also making sure I'm comfortable and able to dance the ENTIRE night :)

LOOK ONE | GLITTER X GOLD

B in Run The World (Music Video)

Let's start off by saying B loves gold! Fortunately I too am overly obsessed with it. So I know for sure I will have elements of gold in my outfit. Either jewelry pieces or a gold sequins purse. It's really all relative to how I will feel on the night!

B also doesn't like wearing pants! I for one would be judged for stepping out commando, so some dire improvisation is needed! Also B's make-up is often natural when her outfits command the attention of the room. Little jewelry and other accessories but a lot of effort is put into accentuating her tiny waist.

TIP: When looking to incorporate strong colours (metallic for example) in your outfit , make an effort to choose different textures. Sequins wins over boring old cotton cloth any day :)

Beyonce performing on stage

LOOK TWO | FUR

It's winter so one can totally get away with wearing fur and B loves it! Fur has the power to bring forth life into any outfit one might consider drab or dull. It too can add volumes to an already OTT outfit, making you look super spectacular. It's easy to burn up in top heavy clothes so its best to start off by wearing an outfit that's still super sexy enough with the coat on or off.

Beyonce in Party (Music Video)

This canary yellow fur coat is a LETHAL pop of colour but she still manages to ROCK it. 

Such a statement piece deserves all the attention. Anything else you where should probably be low-key. This plus a sexy heel, one would look sublime :)

In this look below, B rocks a rather edgy corset. 

Again, she wears no pants, but a sexy corset such as this paired with perhaps black leather leggings, and the cropped fur jacket, would still make the outfit look super. 

Image from 4

LOOK THREE | AVANT GARDE  

When thinking about some of her most outrages looks, I think back to her music video collaboration where she featured Lady Gaga: Telephone. I remember thinking for most of the time about how much she looked like she was in pain. Either way, her fashion choices, alongside Gaga's were rather artistic, and I enjoy going back to have a look and studying them more!

Lady Gaga and Beyonce in Telephone 

LOOK FOUR | MAKEUP

So is Beyonce's makeup ever not flawless?! When she goes for a super sexy smokey eye, or a natural and nude look, she looks amazing. It could have to with her having perfect skin, either way, her makeup makes her look effortlessly beautiful.

Let's have a look at her makeup in "Why Don't You Love Me". I think pulling this look off would be particularly difficult. Even though one would have created the illusion of having mascara running down their face, you would still look like you are having a bad night. I'd give this pass, and perhaps look into it when the date for Halloween nears.

Beyonce's makeup in "Countdown" received quite a bit of attention in the blogosphere. A lot of effort was put into playing around with various eyeshadow colours and also in the technique of applying them. 

Some of my favourite bloggers created makeup tutorials inspired by Beyonce's look in her Countdown video: DulceCandy87 and CarliBel55

A pop of colour on the eyes would best suit any outfit. Keep in mind that when choosing an eyeshadow pigment, decide on one that best complements your eye colour AND skin tone!. It would definitely work more in your favour.

Upclose shot of B in Countdown

LOOK FIVE | HAIR

Finally, B loves big, bouncy and voluminous curls! In creating my look, I most certainly wont shy away from adding clip-on extensions. If you do have thin hair, try teazing your locks. It creates amazing amounts of volume when styling.

TIP: If applying heat to your hair (natural or extensions) be sure to apply a heat protectant gel first. There's nothing worse than working with damaged, dry and brittle hair :(

Have any of you ever attended a Beyonce-like themed party? How did you dress up? I'm really enjoying looking through different looks and ultimately deciding on one! If I'm not shy, I'll be sure to post up a few pictures on how I dressed up on the night! Yay :)

Til Later