Holiday Essentials - Kaftan Chic

Forget the denim shorts and vest tops you have been taking on holiday for the last two years or so as your swimsuit cover-up, yes they serve a purpose and are great for daytrips or a walk around the local market but when it comes to pool or beachside glamour, nothing cranks up the glam factor more than a Kaftan.

Just imagine a day on the beach in St Barts wearing a floaty Pucci number, well we can all dream can't we? But in truth you don't need to spend a fortune to achieve the celebrity look, just look at Coleen Rooney who is just as comfortable in this River Island number from their Pacha collection as she is wearing Melissa Odabash or Missoni.

The traditional Kaftan is full length but a mini or midi length version is a light and chic way to conduct some serious posing in the pool/beach bar area or make for a sassy cover up when you fancy a paddle.

Plain or patterned, Kaftans suit every age, just look at Elle and Cindy, don't they look fab?

Get the Celebrity look on a budget with my top picks from the High Street........

White Zig Zag Tie Waisted Kaftan £19.99 New Look. Aztec Geo Full Length Kaftan £24 Dorothy Perkins. Paradise Print Kaftan £20.00 Dorothy Perkins. Blue Mojito Kaftan £135.00 from John Lewis. Autograph Snakeprint Kaftan £39.50 Marks and Spencer. Juliet Dunn Kaftan £95 at John Lewis.

Are you a shorts, beach dress or kaftan kinda gal?

Product Junkie - Beauty Buys, Freebies And Bargains

Lots of fabulous beauty freebies with the June Glossies!  I bought Elle magazine as I was in need of a new mascara to see me through till I visit the Duty Free Chanel counter and have only heard good things about the Benefit one, which although isn't a full size product, still works out to be worth in the region of £9. Instyle have a choice of Nails Inc colours, red, pink or peach tones and Red magazine have a selection of Aromatherapy Associates products, I opted for the Rose moisturiser.



I picked up this Inecto Coconut Body Butter in my local Tesco the other evening for the princely sum of 50p! What a bargain, and the product is completely paraben free which is good news for my skin!
My May Glossy Box arrived and I got another mascara, this time by Jelly Pong Pong and a nail polish by a brand I have never heard of but needs to be taken into serious consideration for the holiday mani/pedi which colour do I choose  dilemma. Summer 2012 was all about Holiday and the previous year, Orange Fizz so maybe Fracas should be the one, I just can't decide.  I really wanted a bottle of China Glaze Flip Flop Fantasy but haven't been able to get one and have stupidly left it too late to order online.  For me, it looks like the perfect holiday colour.

 

Mani/Pedi update - after an instagram and twitter shout out for nail colour advice, I went against what most of you suggested and opted for Orange Fizz in the end!


What are your favourite beauty buys or magazine freebies this month?

   

Thank God It's Friday

Although it ain't over yet. I'm working all weekend as well, so by the time I actually get to Marbella on Wednesday, I think I will sleep for a week and will never again text my regular clients reminding them to book in before I go away, it was not a smart move in hindsight!

 

So this week the coffee machine has been working overtime.

 

I spent hours decorating my beauty room for a bridal party booking where I prepared tasty treats,
cocktails and added a sprinkling of confetti.

 

Got my daughter to pick me up a cobalt blue maxi dress I had seen in Gap after convincing myself I didn't need anything new for my holiday.

   

Deciding which summer sandals to take away with me. I can never resist a bit of sparkle in the sunshine!

 

At least some members of the family had time to laze around soaking up the sunshine.

Oh and if you don't already have it, download Viber for your phone to send and receive free calls and text whilst abroad and eliminate those horrendous mobile phone bill charges. Find out more here and get all your friends and family to join too.

Wishing you all a happy and relaxing weekend.

Out With The Pugs Wearing New Uggs

I have always been a huge fan of Ugg boots and have built up quite a collection over the years.  Most are classic in style and colour, although I couldn't resist a leopard print pair a few years back and am always looking at updated new season styles as soon as they hit the stores.

 

Case in point, this seasons "Meet Me In Marrakesh" collection which not only consists of stunning sandals and wedges for warmer weather (there are a few pairs on my lust list) but also features a classic mid style boot with pretty Moroccan tile inspired floral embroidery, so when I got the offer of reviewing a pair, it was an opportunity I would be a fool to have turned down from one of my favourite footwear brands.

I never fail to remember how wonderful it feels to pull on a new pair for the very first time, the ultra soft and comfy sheepskin feels heavenly underfoot and I love the shorter style with it's deep sheepskin cuff for all to see.

 

I took them out for a test drive on a cliff top walk with the pugs last week and it seems Poppy was more than a little impressed by my new footwear.......

The embroidered mid boot comes in three colours, Chestnut, Sand and Sea and costs £210.  Buy here.

 

Summer Loving at Joe Browns

I am a huge fan of bright colours, florals and prints when it comes to summer dresses.  A dress that is bright and bold can be worn by women of any age, the floral trouser trend, not so much.

I love the simplicity of summer dresses worn with a pair of flat strappy sandals and how wearing one on a hot summers day turns the daily outfit dilemma into a breeze. School runs, throw on a dress and your done, trips into town, ditto.

It was an instagram status by Joe Browns which led me to investigate their summer day dress/holiday attire options and I have been both pleasantly surprised by the prints, styles and more importantly when you have a holiday looming, the price points.

£27.95.

£24.95

£32.95

Team any of these with metallic footwear and a matching bangle and banish any thoughts of winter layers to the back of your mind. Well for a month or two at least!

What do you think of my three favourites and what is your top brand when looking to buy a reasonably priced summer dress?

Take a look at all the Joe Browns dresses here.

Mini Vacation Haul

I was convinced I didn't need any new clothes for my holiday, until I got all of last summers clothes out, that is.  I don't know what I wore last year but I don't seem to have anywhere near as much as I thought I did. I think Moths might have eaten some whole garments, after all it was an extra long winter and they were probably really hungry.

I was however, in need of a new hat. The Panama I bought a few years back has now lost it's shape which is a shame as it was great quality and I have always taken great care to fill it with my smalls (if you can call them that) when packing, and I had tried on an M&S one a few weeks back in Canterbury which fitted my rather large head so knew that was the one I would get.

I had also become a tad enamoured with their harem trousers having previously used them in a styling post for a reader heading off to Benidorm for a hen weekend, so when I ordered the hat, having previously resisted the printed/floral trouser trend, I opted for the patterned pair.

The t-shirts should have been in a basics and replacements post really as they are exactly that and were only a fiver each in the sale and are from the Limited Collection range.

Let's face it, it's hard to go on vacation without having anything new isn't it?

Oh and just my luck, as it all arrived earlier today, I then noticed that M&S had 20% off full priced items for today only, oh and free delivery, so I am toying with the idea of re-ordering the whole lot tonight and returning this little lot tomorrow.  The 20% off now makes the snakeprint sandals I blogged about last week £44 instead of £55 - tempted much?

Lights, Camera, Action

Pretty pink Tulips from a thoughtful friend after a very traumatic day. The branch line train which goes backwards and forwards all day to the Island where we live. The devils in the detail with an old Accessorize ring and the cuff of my Gap Trench.  They are not just any old Profiteroles, they are M&S Profiteroles.  The Pugeltons taking an afternoon nap.  Last years Chanel mirrored sunglasses, a definite accessories investment.



Trusty daytime uniform of Baukjen Joggers and Jigsaw Satin Trainers. The pretty print of a new dress from Cos. My new completely unaffordable skincare obsession.  Passing blossom on a walk to the beach.  One of Shellacs new shades for summer, Pink Bikini. Mid afternoon macaroon tea break.

 
Chocolate and Raspberry Brownies (Blondies), the 12 year old boy loves cooking. The perfect outfit from Hobbs for a leopard print lover. Finally swapping winter boots for studded leopard flats. April Glossybox, the Nip and Fab Body Butter smells divine. Rhododendrons are making a comeback according to Saturdays Guardian and I am already regretting not buying this pretty pink shrub from the Farm Shop garden section yesterday. Mini Superdrug haul, looking forward to trying out the Ultimate Beauty Oil.

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