How To Do The Doll

Asylums are spooky, right? So whilst putting on a performance, it's not just the acting you want to cause chills. It's how you look. Before a drama play I put on with some of my friends at school, we had to get ready. This was the end result!

Step one: get some white face paint! 

Playing a child, a slightly mental one at least, we used white facepaint to create a  pale, ill treated effect. Do this first as the base of your makeup! 

Then I dabbed fading black to brown eyeshadow under my eyes extending it down to the cheek line so I looked seriously tired. 

To achieve a neglected and fragile doll like look, contour your cheekbones to emphasize those hidden babies and use a light and bright pink lipstick - even paint on a spiked upper lip - for the doll from your nightmare illusion. 

To finish, put on your everyday eye makeup (if you want!) and put your hair into high bunchies and secure with a hairband and tie ribbon around them. 

Forget to mention that Halloween gave me a second visit this year - how lovely! 

Chloe. xxx

Katniss Everdeen Hair Steps: The Hunger Games

Katniss sure knows that her signature braid does the trick; no one can make do with a loose strand or the seemingly inevitable hair-in-face whilst battling and clutching for that last thread of survival in a deadly arena. I don't know about you, but fighting for my life (and killing others in the process) certainly is not on my agenda! But a date with the hair department is.

Inspired by the latest Hunger Games film "Catching Fire"- featuring the only mildly admirable Finnick Odair - in which I caught frequent glimpses of the slick plait worn day to day by Katniss Everdeen, I thought 'I could do with a hairstyle like that' so I put fingers to laptop and indeed googled it!

Seeing as the back braid is pretty tricky (although not as tricky as using a bow and arrow to point perfection) I've found a good YouTube tutorial if the steps I've provided aren't as easy to follow.

1) Brush your hair out so there are no knots or tangles! This is so important, as French plaiting is ten times harder if you have knotty hair. Make a side parting.

2) Begin a side French plait, starting on the opposite side to your parting. This isn't a regular French plait, but also more commonly known as the 'Dutch braid' or 'reverse French plait' in which you French plait under instead of over. Unclear? There are lots of YouTube tutorials to check out.

3) Continue this braid around the head so it crosses the back of your head diagonally and bring it all the way round to the front before securing with an elastic band.

4) To create the texture Katniss does, pull the tops of your hair outwards so it looks a little looser and bigger! This hairstyle is great for bangs, as you can leave them out and curl them too.

5) Spray! (If you want.)

This hairstyle might just be the key to survival we all need in this exhausting game which we endure everyday: life! 

Chloe. xxx

Uh Oh - Fashion Crisis!

For the sake of it, I'm going to write a personal anecdote from when I was about 10 years old and stuck in a fashion pit. It's taken me a while to actually understand how to put together an outfit and there is one day I can remember very clearly - which my mum doesn't stop reminding me about! Only now do I look back and shudder at those painful days - when I was a youngster, I really would be happy shoving anything on and didn't care one bit about how I looked!

2008. Inset day. My mum had called me to ask whether I could help out at school and I willingly said yes. 'Hmm, what to wear?' I thought as I glanced through my wardrobe. There really wasn't much! (Of course there was, I just couldn't put two and two together to think that maybe something was hanging up on a radiator or folded on the side) so I literally saw my favourite white cargo three quarter lengths and a flimsy purple strappy top and though't that'll do. Purple and white, that's nice. I was genuinely proud of my assemble. You may be thinking, well that's not awful, but wait. It's coming. 

With 5 minutes left before I needed to go, I suddenly realised I really did have to have shoes on for the journey there (doh) so I thought I'll wear my navy/grey ugg boots, I knew that mum would be very proud of the consideration I had put into making sure my feet were toasty and warm. But remember the purple thin top? This is a cold + warm = what? and purple + navy/grey = areyoumad concoction.

With the sponge and the icing to ultimate perfection, I now had to add the cherry on top. May as well. A coat! Collecting my dark, dark blue duffle coat from the banister I was ready to strut the red carpet, in my opinion. To show you just how awful this outfit was, see this photo which I've made to see roughly how I looked.

You could even see my legs in the small gap between the boots and three quarter lengths - ha!

Chloe. xxx

Winter Coats, but Which?

Sub zero temperatures signal the bright green light for you to drive (not walk - brr.) down to the nearest shopping centre and grab yourself a winter coat. But which one, that is the question? For your benefit and mine, I have put together a photo collection of my favourite winter coats I have seen so far - and it's not even December!

I love this regal puffer jacket, and what's better than in navy, which goes with anything and everything!

Simple and stylish: the trench coat. 

My personal favourites are coats which you can tie up the front to achieve that hourglass figure! Maybe not super warm, but definitely super. 

Last but not least we have - once again - tartan! No, my love for tartan has not in the slightest faded since my last post about my lovely scarf and here we are again. Tartan, everybody! I just can't get enough.

A good idea for coat shopping is to wait until after Christmas for those bargain brandishing sales. But if you're like me and can't wait a tick when it comes to clothes, there's nothing stopping you from going on a bargain hunt of your own. Keep your eyes peeled!

Chloe. xxx

Why I Love My Tartan Scarf

I've just heard that the forecast for Wednesday is snow. And one of my three responses, amongst 'yay!' 'It's going to be freezing.' was '...already?'

I'm scared of the way the cold has chased us down this early, but with winter on the way and Christmas and New Years too I can't say I'm not looking forward to it! And why not embrace these next few months in style? With a pinch of tartan in your closet, you'll feel as ready as ever for this chilly season.

Browsing Pinterest this morning, I didn't have to look hard for my next blog post as I came across this pin: and the funny thing was, I wouldn't have to had looked any further beyond my wardrobe either!

Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only snugly tartan scarf. I was rejoicing quietly inside when I saw this pin, knowing that I actually owned the scarf itself! I wear it every day to school, at the weekends, and it wins the warmest item of the year award from me. Plus, the chicest!

What drew my eye to this scarf whilst in Zara that day was its berry and beige colours. In winter when your face gets dry and pale, your colour palette limits to moody earthy colours, there's nothing like a pop of these plum and caramel tones to lighten up your face and you when you're out and about! Stand out in the crowd with this cosy mass of softness, after all, who'd a thought you could look cool and be warm at the same time?

My tartan scarf from Zara has served me well and it's my little product I cannot help but love. Click the link, if you love it too.

Don't freeze this winter!

Chloe. xxx

The Longer, Fuller Ponytail

Short hair equals sometimes, big problems.

This being one of them: length is just not an option when it comes to styling! You have to go with peppy and neat, instead of long and adventurous. 

But who says that rules cannot be broken? A simple, innocent ponytail could never be the culprit for such a devious scandal like this one. It just couldn't. Unless you've made the right decision by coming to this post and reading on...

The secret: maybe 'a ponytail' is being unambitious - what if you can do two? That's exactly what you can do. But shhhh. (evil laugh). 

I introduce the longer, and much more textured ponytail for those who seek volume or length! (or both!) 

SO quick to do, and everything you could possibly want from a ponytail. Fortunately, very easy too! Simply tie the top layer of your hair up in the same way you would do a usual ponytail and spruce it up a little. Then, do the same forming another mini ponytail using the bottom layer of hair, but for the most discreet and natural look make sure the top layer has more hair than the bottom so it thinnens out towards the bottom of the pony and drags out the length of it too. 

Something to avoid: it's essential that you make the top pony big and wild and all things poof: you don't want a hair crisis and be named the wandering weirdo (I've never been much of a name caller) after walking around with two blatant ponytails, sitting on top of one another. Not good. But with a few trial and improvements, this will become a hairstyle that's in your daily routine, and nothing other than good! 

Happy sprucing! 

Chloe. xxx

29 Hairstyling Hacks Every Girl Should Know

A brilliant web page can subsitute for all the tricks kept up your sleeve. Just like this one. Every girl wants to be the one that can do even better than those doing better, and in the beauty department, this post can give you all the know-how that you need! For all these secrets and specials that you will be dying to know, click the photo below.

Chloe. xxx

5 Uses For Old Tights

Tights. From red to white and inside to out, these can be a treat, but often the opposite!

I was incredibly intrigued reading this post from another blogger, and I wasn't disappointed. The one thing that I hate with a passion is when you buy new tights and somehow, whether it be that they caught on the door, a stray wire, or you tugged on a loose stitch, they get holey.

Instinct is to throw them away, right?

You'll be surprised - or not so surprised, given the title of this post - that there are actually a few things you can do with a pair of useless tights. Don't despair, my little ones! (This happens too frequently for me to kick myself that I threw a pair out the other day, I'm sure another mishap is just around the corner).

1) Cut a loop from the leg and tie it as a headband to use whilst taking your make up off or doing a face mask. Luckily you can use thick tights as an emergency eye mask, too!

2) They make for great wrapping paper storage!

3) To keep those detestable moths outside where they should be, and not inside your wardrobe, make lavender sachets! Cut a loop from the tights of about 5 inches and stuff it with lavender before tying a knot to secure the lavender and hang it up in your wardrobe, for refreshingly beautiful smelling clothes, too.

4) Fill a foot of the tights with cheap oats and tie the rest of the leg around the hot tap of the bath. End result: a delicious and moisturising bath.

5) If, or should I say when, you lose a small earring stud or something tiny and inconveniently hard to see, put a leg of the tights over the end of the hoover and secure with an elastic band. Hoover around where you dropped it, and the item should be picked up without being sucked up!

Chloe. xxx

Firework Night Fever

Although the door to October has been closed, there's still a hint of draft seeping through preparing us for the November chill. In the early days of this premature month, people do their winter shopping, coffee drinking, and that's right, celebrating. Did someone say bonfire night?

Guy Fawks was most unfortunately caught out, clearly not ready for braving the big task of blowing up Parliament but this month, I'm going to protect you from doing just that in spite of all the cold and jittery limbs. Firework night is always a night to remember - whether it be with friends or family - but who wants to remember their frozen toes and half shut eyes. Let me get you prepped for this brilliant autumn night - the good way!

As a spectator of these fiery lights myself (since last night) I endured the cold and managed to enjoy the colourful show so many people came to see. How did I do this?

My first tip for you is to layer up.
Big chance is, you'll be wearing a coat (I'd strongly worry if you didn't) so no matter how trendy you want to look, and even if you do, your outfit is most likely covered by a massive duffel. So I advise you to get out those vests and thin t-shirts until you're wearing at least 3/4 layers - when you're outside and exposed to weather of 8 degrees, looking a bit on the puffy-belly side was the least of my worries and hopefully yours!

My next piece of advise is to bring a raincoat. 
I know what you're going to tell me. "I checked the weather and the forecast for tonight is clear skies and no rain!" That might be so. But raincoats are surprisingly (or not so surprisingly) good at keeping warmth in and letting no lethal breeze pop in to say hello. And if it does rain, then who are you to complain!

Wear hat, scarves, gloves, the lot. Please.
Don't object. You can thank me later.

It's a good idea to keep hair up and out of your face. 
Even if this means wearing a headband, this looks ever so cute, and hair down can get in the way of your coat and scarves and most likely will be ruined by the beating wind anyway! It's much more convenient to simply braid two pieces of hair up the side and into a dainty ponytail or messy bun. Jazz it up with a red bow or some earrings too.

My penultimate tip for you is to wear thick and as casual-as-acceptable footwear. 
Whatever you do, don't reach into your shoe cupboard and pull out your Oxfords or Timberlands, I would strongly recommend sleek glossy wellies or trainers, or a pair of shoes you really don't mind getting grubby. To avoid danger, firework displays are often performed in a vast grassy area or large clear space and it's likely the rain will have made a show a few night prior to the event. You don't want to return home with muddy shoes you can't clean. Even if you're desperate to show off your brand new babies then wait!

Lastly, bring money, and yes I realise this isn't really a fashion tip. (at all).
All you need is a fiver, but you'll be glad of it once your fingers are numb and your teeth are chattering. Firework displays (the big ones) should usually have burger and hot drink stalls and you don't want to be the one left to wither, green eyed as your friend sips a tasty hot chocolate.

The most important thing is to have fun. Hopefully with these tips, you'll have nothing to worry about and instead look forward to the wonderful memory crafting night you've planned with your mates.

Chloe. xxx