Laura Ashley Press Day AW13

A few weeks ago I was very kindly invited along to the Laura Ashley press day to see what wares they had coming up next season. Held in a ultra swish venue in central London - Il Bottaccio in case you were wondering -, the selection  of clothes were very impressive indeed.  From patterned trousers to leather jackets everything seem to catch my eye and I built up a mental wishlist as long as my arm.  The red duffle coat above received a massive thumbs up from me and i've now decided my new winter coat will have to be a duffle. Paddington Bear is the ultimate style icon don't you agree? The company seemed to be embracing all the winter trends and showed that the patterned trousers craze really isn't showing any signs of slowing down. Statement necklaces also made a welcomed appearance. They're great for jazzing up your outfit when you're a little short of cash.

Laura Ashley is also famous for it's amazing homeware. It may be a little pricey but you really do get what you pay for - the quality looks fantastic. This glass dressing table was without a doubt my favourite piece. It is such a pretty rose gold colour and really does takes centre point. it's certainly a talking point. With lots of beautiful little trinkets on offer, you don't have to spend a fortune to inject a little glamour into your home.

Finally we were given a little sneaky peak into the Laura Ashley 60 exhibition. The company reaches the grand old age of 60 this year and have opened their archives. It was so interesting to hear how the company has evolved and look at products through the ages. How cute are the matching sailor inspired dresses?! Laura Ashley have incorporated some designs from the past into the present collection so you get a real vintage feel.

Do you shop in Laura Ashley?

Read more

May/June Empties

A joint month this time as I ran out of time in May and only used two products up!

Soap and Glory Calm One Calm All bubble bath
My family and friends all know me inside out and always buy me a batch of Soap and Glory products for Christmas and birthdays. This is one of my favourite products. It creates an amazing set of bubbles in such a little amount and has such a gorgeous sweet smell. It has the added bonus of having a built-in moisturiser so you come out feeling silky smooth. It really is the perfect for a long soak on a Sunday night before the working week starts again.

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo

Garnier Skin Naturals Moisture Match

I swiped this out of the beauty cupboard at work when I was running out of my No7 faithful. It really doesn't seem to last very long but I don't know if that's because I'm over generous. This particular one is suitable for normal to dry skin and I'm not really sure it's made a difference. It didn't make me break out - always a plus - but it didn't leave my skin feel brilliantly hydrated. It is a good size though to keep in your handbag should you require an emergency touch up when the dreaded dry skin appears.

Soap and Glory Girlgo Body Moisturising Mist

Yet another Soap and Glory gift. I use this straight after a shower on my arms to help keep them feeling soft. It works amazingly well and I really do notice the difference if I get lazy and don't apply it for a few days, It soaks in almost immediately and feels very lightweight on your skin. It's definitely a keeper!

Mark Hill Get Gorgeous Quick Fix Dry Shampoo

I received this in a goody bag when I popped along to a Boots event at the beginning of the year. All I can say is I'm very glad I didn't pay for it! It's very overpriced in my opinion and doesn't do nowhere near as good a job as Batiste does. It needs a lot of product to make a difference and towards the end of the day your hair is feeling greasy again. It was such a disappointment.


Sanctuary Body Butter

I much prefer butters over lotions and this one didn't disappoint. The lovely thick texture glides onto your skin and doesn't take an age to sink in. It's brilliant on dry patches such as knees and heels. The cocoa butter smell completely won me over and it'll definitely be something I'll be buying again.

Have you used any of these products?

Read more

This week i'm loving - Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray

Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray - c/o

As far as cult products go, Surf Spray is probably the most famous in the blogging world. Bumble and Bumble is an American company founded way back in 1977 by unknown hairdresser Michael Gordon and the Surf Spray itself was introduced in 2001.  It's a very popular salon brand, in fact my uncle uses the shampoo and conditioner in his hairdressing business.

I'd only really used it once when I stayed at a friends house so wasn't really sure if it was going to live up to the hype. After using it every other day for the past three weeks I can safely say I've been sucked into the hype. I use it on roughly dried hair and dry the rest of it upside down. I squirt it a few times on the crown and then evenly spray it around the bottom of my hair. I then tie it in a bun and give it a few blasts with the hairdryer. My hair is quite thick so it doesn't quite go as tousled as I'd like but it helps to break up my layers and make them look more prominent. It just helps to make it look less flat and lifeless. I'm still yet to try it on dry hair but that is next on my list!  I also need to find time to let my hair dry naturally with the product in. I never get up early enough in the mornings! At £20.50 it's not the cheapest of products but it really is worth the investment to be honest. I've found it makes a real different unlike a few other salt sprays I've tried.

Have you ever tried the Surf Spray?

Read more