Lou Lou's Vintage Fair in Cardiff

Morning!

If you hadn't heard, Lou Lou's Vintage Fair are one of the biggest vintage fairs in the UK and they regularly visit Cardiff's City Hall. I was meant to go a few months ago but last minute plans changed things, so this weekend i was determined to go.

I had no idea what to expect, how much things would be, if I could haggle etc. It was a whole new experience and I loved every second. I picked up some lovely things so here they are:

Both of these bags were from the same stall, they were from the 1980s and cost £25 each. They have a few marks on them from small wear and tear but are in really good condition, especially the black one. I'm hoping with a bit of leather treatment they will come up good as new.

I'm hoping the black bag will be my new work bag, it's perfect for keeping A4 paper in and has compartments in.

I absolutely love emerald green and have been looking for a coat this colour for a while. It seems to be a rare colour though as I've only seen them for £160. This one is from C&A all those years ago and is actually a size or 2 too big for me. However it's a gorgeous warm coat and seems to look better oversized. It has a button missing but I think I'll take off the top button and move it to the bottom to replace the missing one and it will be good as new. It cost me £35 which is a bargain!

Another stall had leather jackets on sale for £10......TEN POUND! They were all genuine leather too, and this one was in really good condition. Its in the style of a blazer and has pockets which are always handy. The tie at the waist also make it more flattering on me, I always need to be cinched in at the waist and can even swap this out for a waist belt.

This beautiful ring was so pretty I couldn't leave it behind. It fitted my finger perfectly and it's real silver. i don't wear many rings but I've recently been wearing ones that look similar to this, I think they make a really nice statement piece.

The earrings below were also a bargain find. I rarely wear earrings as all of my small ones have been cheap and have therefore broken and I just haven't replaced them. Normally I wear diamond looking ones but pearl ones are also just as classic and for £6 i couldn't resist.

What do you think? 

I think they're my new favourites!

I have to wait for some of these as my mum got me them for Christmas presents, though I am allowed to fix them up with the treatments and new buttons.

What do you think of vintage fairs? Do you love hunting out a bargain?

The next fair is in January and I will definitely be saving some Christmas money for it!

L xxx

Kamigata Party!

Happy Sunday morning to you all!

Fingers crossed you're feeling pretty fresh this morning and not too hungover....if not, a cup of tea will soon help sort it!

Last week we both went to the Kamigata Aveda salon in St Davids 2 in Cardiff to celebrate their 4th birthday with them. Luckily for us they'd roped in their next door neighbours to help them celebrate and this was none other than Vivienne Westwood so we were treated to a catwalk from them throughout the salon whilst indulging in complimentary treatments.

This is my favourite photo of the evening, all of their clothes in all of their glory!

I NEED that navy dress in my life, what a gorgeous cut! And what gorgeous models too, they had amazing hair which you'd expect in a salon but it really did look so healthy and I wanted to book myself in straight away.

As I've never been to the salon it was lovely to wander round and see all of the treatments they offer. The salon is decorated really well and feels comforting as opposed to clinical which i always prefer.

I had a complimentary eye brow shape and the lady was really nice. I'd attempted to do my own brows a week or so before hand so they needed some attention and she tidied up my mess for me!

The following 2 pictures show my other favourite looks from the night; i do love a good coat and statement bag. I love the black one in particular as black is my friend but the brown coat and bag also look stunning. If only my purse would stretch to VW!

 

The bags and coats on display were generally beautiful, I really loved seeing all the shapes, sizes, colours and patterns of all of them.
I'd love to be able to pull off an outfit like the one below, so pretty and perfect for winter!

I've never seen the infamous Melissa shoes before but they didn't disappoint. There were a variety on show including one with a tartan heart which was so cute for winter!

Amongst other treatments we also had our chakras done which was really interesting and we came away with our very own personalised spray of essential oils to balance our 7 chakras. I love essential oils for their different properties so this was really interesting. Here's Martyne having hers read:

It was a lovely evening and whenever I get paid from my new job I'll be sure to call in and get a treatment done at the salon. They are very professional and I look forward to choosing one from the list!

On a side note....the stylists from Vivienne Westwood were there and wandering around the store at different points. Check out those SHOES!!!

I absolutely love them, what a statement and they look like they're such good quality. I think I'd quite like a pair myself!

Have you tried the services from Kamigata? Are you a Vivienne Westwood fan too?

L & M xxx

10 Forever Wardrobe Pieces

Hi there!

I've been browsing websites and magazines for the last 2 weeks whilst off and have been loving catching up with celeb gossip and changing fashions. It's got to the point when I read them and think 'who on earth is this?!' My celeb radar has clearly been off for a while!

Whilst browsing though i have come across an interesting article on Cosmopolitan called '10 Forever Pieces you need in your Wardrobe' It's pretty self explanatory but I wasn't sure about some of their choices.....so decided to make my own list.

1) Leather Jacket

There really is nothing better than a leather jacket. I would absolutely die and go crazy if I got my hands on a 100% soft buttery leather jacket in a timeless style from somewhere like All Saints. I'd love one, although I'd be wary that my long body would not allow one from there to fit me....sigh.
If I could pick though, it would be something like this:

Unfortunately I don't have £358 lying around tho. Sob.

2) Jeans

You absolutely cannot go wrong with some well fitting dark indigo jeans. I've found a perfect pair for me recently, having started my gym life a few years ago my glutes have suitably increased in size (Kardashian level not quite reached yet though). My current faves are therefore Levi's curve ID jeans in Demi curve which fit my derriere quite nicely.
I think in future a few more colours will be necessary but currently the dark indigo colour is perfect.

3) LBD
A Little Black Dress is a staple that no one would deny. Whatever your shape there's one to suit you, in fact there's probably 10 to suit you and that's the best part. I have a few faithful ones but it's going to be time for me to get a new one soon. A lot of dresses recently have been quite high neck so I think it's time to show a bit more cleavage, though I do really like a shift dress for simplicity and comfort!

4) LCD

Sometimes you just get fed up of wearing black. I've worn black dresses for about 10 years and I'm trying to add a bit more colour to my wardrobe, not least because it's boring to wear the same thing all the time but also because coloured dresses look awesome! not only that but as well as colour blocking which was what got me into wearing colour again, there are some amazing patterns to get your hands on.

The three above are all from Warehouse, would suit most shapes and are all under £50. Might have already picked up the bottom one....

5) Blazer

I'm in love with my blazer; a beautiful black Ralph Lauren military style blazer with emblem and gold buttons on the sleeves and the front. I couldn't be without it and it goes with so many things and gets me so many compliments - because it's so beautiful not because I'm wearing it. If it's good enough for Kate Middleton....

6) Handbag

The handbag is a tough choice for me. Having been a black leather lover all my life I've recently found myself branching out and had a dusky pink one for my birthday that has shown me the lighter side. Regardless, you need a fairly sizeable bag for daily life and here's a few on my wishlist:

 

You cannot beat simplicity.

7) Heels/Wedges
I could gaze at heels for hours, but as a lady of 5'9 and a very short patience span they just don't work for me. I found wedges about 2 years ago and haven't looked back. They allow me to gain some good looking leg muscles plus some extra chic points without crippling my feet (once they've been broken in obviously). They're like magic shoes!

 

Oh come on, who on earth wouldn't go for Louboutins by choice??

8) Flats
Following on from above it means I also clearly wear a lot of flats. I have an amazing pair of black brogues from Clarks that are so perfect for work and after a year still look new without any polishing whatsoever and I could cry with happiness at finding them. That aside, I love trainers too and am very much lusting over some new 'kicks' with some bright colours, or something that comes up with a high top like these:

I just need another spare £100 to snap them up!

9) Shirt/Blouse
Cosmo have a white shirt on their list. Whilst I love them....they don't love me. My boobs tend to get in the way of that and I can never find ones to fit, not that they're even that big which is why it's so frustrating. I've been wearing my black sheer loose fitting blouse for years and its so perfect for work, interviews and the pub with jeans. Sheer shirts like this are my haven, they skim over everything and flatter and hide in all the right places. Winning.

This ones from Zara for £30.


10) The coat.
I'm quite a fan of a coat. There are so many styles that part of me thought maybe this also included blazers and leather jackets but lets not include it for now.... I always think that nobody of any age or body shape can go wrong with a trench coat style or any style where the coat is above knee length and belted at the waist.This year I'm on the hunt for an emerald green coat so hopefully one will appear in the next few weeks. I've spied this one from Nina Ricci:

Stunning green and a leather belt at the waist.
But let's face it; if I can't afford the £100 for some trainers the £1880 price tag for this beauty certainly isn't happening. But if I win the lottery......? First on my list!!!


So what do you think? Are your top 10 classics similar to mine?
The only category I'm doubtful on is the trainers.....but even those will come back around again in the vintage category!

If you make your own lists let me know, I love reading them!

L xxx

Latest Buys

When I've been doing some Christmas shopping the past few weeks I've not been able to resist picking up myself a few bits. After reading EssJays blog Mission Me which is one of my favourites I instantly fell in love with a coat she recently published about.

I was surprised to find out it was from Primark, and then made it my mission to find it in my size. I even braved Oxford Street Primark on a Saturday in Decemeber!! (never again). When I got back to Cardiff I found it in my size! I was really surprised in the difference in size between the coats. I thought I'd have got away with going one size bigger but I definitely couldn't.

It's an amazing gorgeous black double breasted coat. I love how soft the material is for this type of material and hasn't been at all itchy which I find some cheaper coats. The waist belt really pulls you in and the bottom half is a really full skater skirt style. I love this shape and find it looks most flattering on me! I was so drawn to it. Simple but classic and the sleeve detail just meant I couldn't leave it. I really love the stud detail and how they make a simple coat interesting. It does cost £32 which at first I thought was expensive but for a coat it's really not that bad!

Whilst in Primark I found myself browsing as I had a date to go on yesterday and even though I have loads of clothes I fancied something new. I was surprised when rooting through a sale rack to find these two amazing dresses and both of them were only £5!

I love the teal colour on this dress and the combination of the black lace with it. It fits great and has a soft flowing skirt. It has a ribbon to draw more attention into at the waist. It's really comfy and not to clingy!

I was instantly draw to the pattern on this dress. It's almost like a cross stitch pattern of the flowers. It drapes well when on and has an elasticated waist! I think this will be perfect for holidays and Glastonbury next year!

Lastly while picking up my nieces Christmas presents in H and M I ended up picking myself up some bits. If you've got any children's clothes to get I really suggest looking in there as there sale has some bargains in.

When in the kids section I saw these amazing tops and they looked pretty big. For only £2 each I had to grab them. The pink top is age 12-14 and the green one is 14+. The age 12-14 actually fits better. I definitely need to look in kids sections more for cheaper clothes. The tops are perfect for everyday with jeans or leggings as they cover the bum but are loose and comfy!

I couldn't resist picking up the Nars creamy concealer when I was in London. I'm sure I'll be sharing my thoughts on it soon with you!!

Have you managed to resist picking up treats when you've been shopping?

Love M

xxx

Winter Staples

Hello!

I've been loving the colder weather recently, not so much the storms and the rain but my favourite clothes are winter ones. I just love wrapping up in layers and putting on chunky knits, boots and coats.

I thought I'd share my favourite winter clothing items today to see if yours are the same!

Leather Jacket:

I absolutely love wearing my leather jacket. It seems to go with everything I choose to wear, and for every occasion. Admittedly it's not normally the warmest item of clothing I have in my wardrobe but the fact you can layer it up means it is still a staple, and can help with the transition between months and the outdoors/indoors.

I love casually slinging it on, if only it looked as good on me as in the picture above!

Chunky knits:

You can't possibly go through winter without involving a chunky knit item in your wardrobe.
Scarves are an easy addition and fully functional, as if you needed any excuse to buy something!

I find the bigger the better when it comes to chunky knits, they're definitely more snuggly.

These jumpers from Zara are amazing, I'm hoping they're not from a previous season so I can get my hands on them. They're perfect for trousers for work and with jeans for weekends, plus with the added bit of sparkle can be worn during evenings too!

I always stick with neutral colours as I find them easy to mix and match and I find they suit me most.

Lastly, nobody can be without a hat during the winter.
I used to be firmly in the 'terrified' camp for hats, but having bought myself a huge furry one last year this year it was time for a chunky knit bobble hat.

I've fallen in love with it already and cannot wait to wear it more often.


Boots:

 

I adore boots.

I spent a lot of money on them a few years ago and now they've fallen apart or gone out of fashion. I've tried to be more sensible with my choices this time and have recently picked up a pair of knee high leather boots which are a classic style and hopefully they will last a long time.

They seem to make any outfit come together and can keep your feet a whole lot warmer than other shoes during winter, and more importantly in Britain....drier!

I tend to steer clear of suede purely for the rain reasons, suede boots are beautiful but I refuse to ruin shoes with a puddle again. Leather is definitely my friend.

These boots are beautiful and I'd love to get my hands on some like this!

Mine are similar in design apart from there's no gold bit and they have buckles at the calf level which you can adjust if necessary. They're so comfortable and were definitely a good purchase!

Coats:

Ahhhhh possibly my favourite of the lot.

Coats are amazing, I love my dressing gown and I feel like they're an outside version.

Trench coats are my particular favorite because I'm curvy and need to belt the waist to make me look like I have any shape at all.

Wool coats are definitely worth the investment and I'd love to get my hands on the black one above. It's so chic and the collar is beautiful.

Blacks, tans, greys and khaki colours are all wearable and I'd snap up any that I'd see given half a chance.
The above khaki coloured cape from Zara is beautiful with the leather details, maybe I'll add a cape to my wardrobe this year, but I'd need to find one with holes for hands so I can still function!

I feel like I've been quite boring with my choice of colours for this post but I really am a neutral and classic kind of person. However I absolutely love the bottle greens, deep reds and jewel colours such as maroons and purples and teals. I also love adding some sparkle with embellished tops and accessories.

What do you think of my Winter Staples? Are yours the same?

What kind of boots and coats do you prefer?

I cannot wait to go shopping in the sales, I can't afford much right now but I'm hoping to pick up some bargains this year. Fingers crossed I can pick up some wardrobe staples like a wool coat or different style of leather boot. What will you be looking for?

(all pictures are from Pinterest and none are my own, that site has the best pictures - I could spend hours on it!)

L xxx