ULTIMATE & REALISTIC - MAY 2014

SUGARED ALMOND ADDITION

You know what I love? Sugared almonds! That thick sugar shell and soft, sweet nut within - eat ten of them and your halfway to diabetes town, but I challenge you to just eat one. Not only are they delicious, but the look bloody lovely too - I would love a mini prom dress made out of sugared almonds, might be some bare flesh by the end of the day, having a little snack when I'm hungry.

All those lovely candy shells in pastel shades are so hot right now - you can't move through the highstreet without feeling the sugary vibes from all the sweet shades. Usually I am a fan of greys or bold and bright, but I think pastel shades have won me over, I have already bought a pair of mint jeans and once I have more than lint in my pockets I plan to buy more....most likely on the realistic side of things.

ULTIMATE: Tate Dress, Goat - £450; Durham Green Leather Biker, J Brand - £829.50; Leather Pumps, Gianvito Rossi - £415; The Rockstud Medium Neon Leather Trapeze Bag, Valentino - £1,465.
Total: £3159.50

REALISTIC:  Lace Cape Dress, Warehouse - £58, Light Green Cropped Biker Jacket, River Island - £60; New Look Turret Purple Sling Back Heels, ASOS - £17.99; PU Shopper Bag, Next - £28.
Total: £163.99

Just a saving of 3 grand, I'm not sure it's worth it!

What do you prefer, the Ultimate look or the Realistic look?

Gems x

SORRY FOR MY ABSENCE

I want to say a huge apology for my delay - life sometimes gets in the way of doing something you really love, which for me is blogging. I was going to crate a blog on Friday because I knew I was going to be busy at the weekend, working and visiting family, but in the end it seemed like Friday had other plans for me - plans of the disastrous variety.

In the morning I started to feel really anxious, for no real reason, but those of you out there that have issues with anxiety will know that there doesn't have to be a reason for antipoverty to pitch up, it is a bitch like that. Well later on that day I needed to go up and pick up by repeat prescription for my crazy pills - Boots handle it for me so I just have to go in store to pick it up.

But when I get to Boots to pick it up I'm told not only is there no prescription for me (not the first time it has happened), but I have also been kicked out of my doctors surgery following my move without being informed. When I rang the doctors they told me they had sent me a letter informing me of the situation, but they sent it to the wrong address. They couldn't blame me for that because the doctor wrote down my address - so faced with no doctor and no prescription the water works kicked in - I did not want to go through medication withdrawal.

Thankfully everything was sorted and I have a new doctor now who seems quite nice, so my old doctors surgery, who lost prescriptions and just took items off prescriptions for no reason, can kindly suck it!

So, that is why there has been a slight delay in posting - I have been a little bit stressed! Here is some fashion stuff, dress and boots rather standard - *Saying fashion things*

Dress - River Island via eBay - Similar Here.
Boots - New Look - Similar Here.

What stops you from doing what you love?

Gems x

CHARITY AND EBAY HAUL ACTION

Money has been tight recently, but as a fashion blogger, I feel constant pressure to be always wearing something new and my bank balance can't handle that, plus the cobwebs that line my pockets are getting lonely for the company of money. I'm probably not the only fashion blogger to feel this way and it probably isn't right - The vast majority of us don't have big collaborations with retailers and everything we buy has to come out of our own pocket.

With finances not at their best, I have been spending a lot less recently and when I do buy something, it has to be a great deal, or something from eBay or a charity shop.

 I have to say I have been seriously impressed with the quality of clothing in the charity shops - long gone are the days of musty smelling pieces you are sure someone must have died in. Their death was caused by the frightfulness of their hideous clothes. I bought two gorgeous Primark dresses from the British Heart Foundation shop for just £5 each - one of them was brand new and the other was in great condition, so I don't think anyone died in them, which is a bonus.

I have worn both and I love them, so keep a eye out for some outfit posts coming in the future. The yellow and monochrome shift dress is particularly lovely on, it's one of my new faves.

Now to eBay - how difficult is it to go crazy bidding on some heinous crap, just because you don't want anyone else to beat you. Well I have managed to curb that competitive instinct and have learned to put a maximum bid on a desirable piece and then just walking away. I have been so lucky recently, paying no more than £4 for any of these dresses and the Topshop number I got for free as my sister bought it from eBay, but it was too small for her.

H&M Conscious Collection

River Island

Topshop

But i have done the tiniest little bit of high street shopping. I fell in love with this minty kimono in H&M a few weeks ago and at just £9.99 I knew it would be a great investment for summer, now I just need some sun.

Kimono, H&M - Same Here.

 What do you guys think of eBay and charity shops?

Gems x

TRENT ALERT - MOODY BLUES

Yes, yes, I now I can be quite the mood cow, but this has nothing to do with my epic tantrums - I just don't see why animals are used in advertising alright, a bumble bee can't use a mobile phone and a dog can't apply for a mortgage, it's just stupid. OK rant over!

The title refers to the beautiful blue shades that are just flooding the high street at the minute and making my empty pockets ache. Gorgeous sky, cornflower and placid blues are everywhere and as they suit most skin tones and pretty much every hair shade, they can be worn by anyone and everyone.

Wear them head-to-toe or just dip a toe in with calming blue accessories. If you are worried about fading into the crowd with too many cooling tones, mix your blues with hot pink and mustard yellows for a real stand out look.

1) Rhinestone Necklace,  Zara.
2) Cross Body Bag with Sleek Curb Chain, ASOS.
3) Cami Dress by TFNC, Topshop.
4) Blueberry Muffin and Cornflower Gleam by Models Own.
5) Blue Leather Trench Coat, River Island.
6) Light Blue Patent Block Heels,  New Look.
7) Pleat Back Top, Warehouse.
8) Blue Cotton Skinny Crop Trousers, Dorothy Perkins.

So what do you think? Will you be joining the blue man group?

Gems x

ULTIMATE AND REALISTIC - MARCH 2014

'I LOVE YOU MAM' EDITION

Mother's Day is coming up, and whilst I still have no idea what to get her, I still wanted to pay tribute to her in my own way. I know everyone says that their mum is the best and for them that is probably true, but my mum (or mam as us Geordies say) really is the best. During my struggles with mental illness she was always there to take care of me - she made a lot of sacrifices and I am incredibly grateful.

I joke a lot of the time with my mam about her fashion choices - it's not that they are bad, she always looks great to me, but she does kind of stick to her trademark look. Then again, she has found a style that works for her and sticks with it, there is nothing wrong with that, and she has certainly had less fashion disaster than me, who can't stick to one look.

My mam loves a good pair of black trousers and all things monochrome, so inspired by that (and the fact that I love my mam a great deal), here is my Ultimate and Realistic wish lists for March 2014. However, since I am a leather fiend, I had to choose leather, instead of a simple black pair of tailored trousers....

Ultimate: Cycle Printed Stretch-Organza Top, Dion Lee £425; Leather Trousers, J Brand £879; Typhoon Leather Pumps, Jimmy Choo £450; Flower Clasp Leather Clutch, Red Valentino £396; Windows Gold-Tone Resin Ring, Marc By Marc Jacobs £50.
TOTAL: £2,200

Realistic: Imitation Leather Trousers, H&M £24.99; White Blurred Zebra Print Woven Vest, River Island £16; Upper East Pointed Court Shoes By CJG, Topshop £115; Pink Oval Diamante Clutch, Quiz £29.99; Black and Gold Raised Diamond Ring, New Look £4.99.
TOTAL: 190.97

A saving of a measly £2,000, it's hardly worth it! I actually prefer the shoes from Topshop, but if I has the money I know I would splurge on a pair of Jimmy Choo's, not to wear I'd wreck them, but just to look at and show people that came round.

So what has been on your wishlist this March.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Gems x

TREND ALERT - PEP HEMS

Peplums have been everywhere for the past few seasons, and although I can't deny that they are so chic and glam, they just aren't for me. For my frame I do have quite wide hips and I'm not in a rush to draw attention to them, don't want no thunder thighs on the loose now do we?

But there is an updated version of Peplum that is slowly filtering through, which is much more my bag - it's the PEP HEM. The Pep Hem is just the peplum but lower, instead going around the bottom hem of a skirt or dress, or around a dropped waist, instead of being just above the hip. The reason I love it so much is that they perfectly balance out broad shoulders and hips, creating quite the slimming effect, while putting the figure into proportion.

So, as nice as I am, I am sharing with you some of my favourite Pep Hem dresses so you can get ahead of the fashion pack and pick up one of these fab little numbers.

So which one is your favourite - I'm seriously pining for the squirrel print number from Topshop, it is so adorable!

Hope your weekend has been fantabulous!

Gems x

ULTIMATE AND REALISTIC - AUGUST 2012

OLYMPIC FEVER ADDITION

If you have stopped round here at all in the last few weeks, you would have noticed me mentioning the Olympics - since a child I have a been a huge fan of the sporting extravaganza. So in homage to the spectacle (that has been Britain's most successful since the modern Olympics started) the August edition of the ULTIMATE AND REALISTIC, is quite the patriotic one, with the red, white and blue of the Union Jack! (I need to do something to fill the time, I'm going to be at a total loss until the Paralympics start at the end of the month).

ULTIMATE:
Sophie Shirt, Equipment - £220; Suede Skinny Pants, Rag & Bone - £820; Bekett Leather & Suede Sneakers, Isabel Marant - £385; London 2012 Pandora Clutch, Charlotte Olympia - £595; 18-Karat Gold Star Earrings, Jennifer Meyer - £225.
TOTAL: £2245

REALISTIC:
White Cut-Out Shirt, River Island - £25; Blue Trousers, H&M - £7.99; Kelly High Top Wedges, Tribeca Shoes - £30; Papa- Riazzi Brit Clutch Bag, New Look - £39.99; Star Studs, Punky Pins - £3.00
TOTAL: £105.98

Yes the Charlotte Olympia clutch is amazing, but nothing beats those bargain trousers from H&M, what an amazing deal - they are so on my shopping list.  Loving the Tribeca wedge trainers too, just some awesome shoes on their website at the minute - just indulged in a pair of fab red creepers!

So how did everyone find the Olympics? What was your favourite medal - I have to say that although I am a huge Mo Farah fan, my favourite was Andy Murray's gold. It was the validation he deserved and you could tell it meant so much to him.

Oh and finally I am pleased to announce that the random number generator was in favour of the lovely Sophie from Country Girl Does Norfolk, as she is the winner of the Prairie Charms bracelet. I will be in touch via email shortly!

Gems x

I'M ARMED!

I'm one of those girls that doesn't wear a lot of jewellery, it is all just a little bit too girly for me - it makes me feel too feminine I think and my inner tomboy rebels. But my mind is swaying a little bit with the emergence of stacked bracelets - it takes away the overly ladylike feel of jewellery and gives it a tougher edge, which is something I can get on board with (if I can get said bracelets to stay on my matchstick wrists that is).

Image Courtesy of Refinery29

I love how heavily stacking bracelets can transform a pair of jeans and a simple white tee into a statement outfit that is uniquely you thanks to you combination of bracelets and bangles. I have styled you up a few looks to show you what I mean - the first is something that I would definitely go for, ripped jeans, slubby tee, pair of leopard flats and tons of tough, punky jewellery.

Spike Stretch Bracelet, OASAP; Multi-level Spike Bracelet, Romwe; Gold Tone Spike Bangles, River Island; Gold & Cream Spike Bracelet, Matalan.
Curve Hem Tank, Topshop; Ripped Denim Turn Up Jean, New Look; Rivet Embellished Flats, OASAP.
Verna Studded Rubber Bracelet, Missguided; Cross on Chord Bracelet, Topshop; Peace Charm Bracelet, Tesco; Silver Cuff; H&M; Studded Wrap Bracelet, New Look.

The second look I went for was just a little bit boho, with kick-flare jeans, simple cropped tee and lots of boho, hippy chic arm candy...It's not something I would usually go for, but I have to admit that I love it, once my self imposed spending ban ends on my birthday (6th of July peeps, just a week to go), I am going to go bangle bonkers!

Gold Peace Sign Cuff, River Island; Thread Wrap Bracelet, Miss Selfridge; Gold Love Bangles, River Island.
Button Crop Top, Topshop; Firetrap Blue Jenni Flare Jeans, New Look; Vintage Openwork Wrapped Wedges; OASAP.
Floral Printed Bracelet, Romwe; Leather Woven Bangle Pack, River Island; Sequinned Bangles, New Look.

What do you think of the stacked bracelet trend? Do you love it as much as me?

In the spirit of trying new things, I couldn't let you go without showing you a picture of my first ever Creepers - awesome online brand OASAP kindly credited my account with $10 so they went straight towards an amazing pair of their creepers. I went for the Casual Leopard Lace-up Creepers in the stunning green shade, I seriously can't wait for them to arrive - thank you OASAP, expect an outfit post soon!

Gorgeous OASAP Creepers.

I hope all my UK friends survived the storms yesterday - it was scary huh?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Gems x