2015

Caring for and cleaning your Pandora.

Pandora bracelets and charms are made from sterling silver or gold. It is important to look after your bracelet to keep it looking it’s best. Silver like some other pure metals can tarnish with age leaving a dark black or green residue on the surface reducing the sheen and appeal of your jewelry.

I wanted to share with you how I cleaned my charms and bracelet. So I have a double strap grey leather bracelet as well as a silver bracelet. Recently I have been wearing all my charms on my leather bracelet so the silver bracelet has been in its box. while I haven’t been wearing it, it has really discoloured and oxidized, it was defiantly time to clean and refresh my bracelet and charms.

I have tried a few different cleaning products; a silver polishing cloth -did nothing, a liquid solution you submerge your jewelry in -also did nothing. Then I discovered Silvo. It works so well and it’s so easy.

Silvo is a little tin of cloth that has been soaked in cleaning polish. It’s so easy to use.

First remove all your charms from your bracelet.

Tear off a small wodge of the pink Silvo cloth and simply rub over your bracelet, the black tarnish with immediately lift from the silver. Continue until you have rubbed down the entirety of the bracelet and the charms.

Next buff off the cleaning residue with a white kitchen towel and even more dirt will lift and the jewelry will gain shine.

So simple. Even charms that didn’t seem dirty came out brighter and shinier.

I brought my Silvo from Sainsbury’s for £2.50 and I am sure it is available in most stores in the cleaning ales.

My Christmas List.

I’m back!! It has been so long since I did a post. I’m sorry my blog had pretty much come to a stand still as I’ve been busy with my final year of uni. But I am back and I’m gonna try and be disciplined enough to post every few days especially as we are getting closer to Christmas (my favourite time of the year) I really want to share with you my Christmas must haves and ideas for the winter months.

This year I have been super organized -or maybe just a bit too keen, but I have written my Christmas list. I like putting a list together, it helps friends and family have an idea or the sorts of things I am after and it also gives me some things to look forward to and not just buy them for myself -which is me all over, if I see something I like I always find a way to justify buying it.

My birthday is on Boxing Day so I have to wait the whole year for pressies, but it does make Christmas time doubly, extra special for me 🙂 while everyone gets the Christmas blues on boxing day morning I wake up to even more gifts hehe.

katies christmas list

As you can see it’s a mixture of all sorts of things, jewelry, clothes, tec and home wear. I know some people have one main something they are after but for me it’s lots of smaller things catch my eye.

I’d love to add a few more charms to my gorgeous Pandora bracelet and these, mostly taken from the spring 2015 collection with the white flowers are so pretty and make great additions to my grey leather bracelet.

I love my Canon camera but this lens with its shallow depth of field would make portraits extra special.

Marc Jacobs Decadence is to literally die for, each time a pass a store with a bottle on display I always give a little spritz and melt a little inside.

Lingerie and nightwear is an area of my wardrobe I don’t spend much money on but a matching set always makes you feel more pretty.

Ahhh a thick, fluffy feather duvet mmmm luxury especially now its colder outside.

This Diva Mac lipstick is the perfect autumn shade as well as gorgeous for Christmas.

And finally anything french bulldog, ggah I am obsessed with their little squished faces.

So there you go a little run down of a few things that have made it on to my Christmas and Birthday List.

Have you written a list yet? Maybe I’ve inspired you, there’s only 6 weeks to Christmas so the count down has begun.

Be a Savvy Shopper.

Making your money go further appeals to everyone, but sometimes a new pair of shoes here and a new dress there all adds up to more than you were expecting. Here are my top tips for saving you money…

Shopping online isn’t for everyone but I really think it has its perks. Online you can short the products low to high, compare similar items from different stores in browser tabs and view sale items refined to your size without the rummaging through a disorganised and messy clothes rail.

Picture1

An absolute must for me is to google a discount code for the site. There are lots of different websites and forums where people post discount codes for online stores and it is crazy how much you can save by simply finding a code.

http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk & https://www.vouchercloud.com   are a couple of sites that often have a valid code running. The other day I saved 25% with a code I found for Newlook just my simply googling “newlook discount code”.

If you are a student then I’m sure you already have UniDays, if not then why not… download it now! -It gives you discounts and deal at hundreds on high street retailers online and in store. If you are thinking of buying something online don’t forget to check for student discounts.

If you have found something you are considering ordering I think it is always a good idea to wait a couple of days; sites such as boohoo.com or missguided.com often have flash sales such as 20% of dress and so on. Keep checking a website for a few days as you could get lucky and get it cheaper. Same with free delivery. Delivery costs are often what put people off shopping online but free click & collect from store and free delivery codes make it hassle free and literally free to deliver products to your door or local store.

Check whether the store offer free returns. Asos, Boohoo, Newlook, riverisland, topshop, ect offer free returns with collect plus (you drop your return off at your local corner shops and they collect it from there, making it easier than ever to return unwanted packages) or free returns to store when you keep the invoice. This means you can order two sizes to ensure a good fit and simply and easily return the unwanted pieces.

Sign up for the newsletter. Sites often offer an introductory discount to people who sign up with their email. Sign up with a different email each time to get the code over and over.

Keep the tags on!! You often have 30 days to return something so keep the tags on until you wish to wear it just encase something better/ cheaper comes up somewhere else.

Be critical. Try something on at home. If it’s not right for you -return it, its silly to keep something and not wear it when you can simply return it for a full refund.

Know the market. Even if I am going shopping I like to look online first to get an idea of what they will have in store. This way I will be prepared and I can create aims to ensure I don’t buy unnecessary pieces.

I hope this will help everyone to find a good deal and save you money.

Check out my post on how to create the perfect wardrobe and put your money saving skills to the test. https://katielouisaclarke.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/the-perfect-wardrobe/

The Perfect Wearable Wardrobe.

The key to the perfect wardrobe is creating a succinct collection of versatile pieces you can mix and match to build any look for any occasion.

It all comes down to making considered purchases instead of buying everything you see or like -too much clutter only makes it harder to find something to wear.

It’s important to really know and understand your style and the look you are going for, so you can really know what to look out for when your shopping. This should help keep a theme running through your wardrobe allowing you to mix and match in so many more combination.

Next, have a sort out. The season has just changed so now is a perfect time to go through your clothes. If you haven’t worn it in ages, or you don’t think you’l wear it again then loose it -why do you need to keep something you never wear.

On the bottom: I think you need a classic pair of blue skinnys for the casual days a pair of black jeans to dress it up slightly and a pair of smart trousers. Also consider a couple of skirts, a simple mini skirt, a midi pencil and a button through A line skirt.

bottoms

On your feet I would say a pair of Nike Roshe runs, then a pair of Loafers, heeled boots and then the strappy heels/ stilettos will work with any outfit and take you from popping to the shops, to a lunch date, to night on the town.

shoes

On top the choices are more open but my advise is go for a selection of versatile pieces. Get a couple of camis, a sweater, a couple of long sleeve tops in different styles and a selection of vests and jumpers. Try to get a mix of different, lengths, sleeves, fabrics and colours. Try to avoid getting similar tops in the same colour.

tops

Dresses wise go for a fitted midi little black dress, this will work perfectly for any evening look then go for a couple of shift/ t shirt dresses that you can dress up or down with heels and a clutch or flats and a tote/shopper.

dresses

Accessories: Find a warm scarf that goes colour wise with everything a neutral colours works well such as grey, black or khaki works well for me, then find a large clutch for the nights and a tote/ shopper for the day. Then finally coats and jackets are really important, I would say invest is a smart coat shorter coat and a long warm wrap up coat,

acsessories and coat

Ta dah! that’s it.

Phew I know that seems like a lot and a bit complicated but I hope it helps. As you can see from my wardrobe I like simple shapes and minimal pieces. Tan, Khaki, denim and black are my autumn go to colours. I tend to stay away from patterns for some reason but create interest by mixing fabrics and textures so leather, croc, suede and patent which feature heavily throughout. All the pieces are very interchangeable and work from everyday casual to a night out.

Clothes featured can be found at Asos, Newlook, Pretty Little Thing, Missguided, H&M, Riverisland and Forever21.

For more details please leave me a question in the comments below.

Wrap up Warm.

The weather has taken a turn for the worst and I feel this wet and windiness might be here for a little while.The good thing to remember about this change in the weather is it gives you a chance to change your wardrobe. You can bring out the coats and knits from last year and start considering some new pieces.

Here is my low down on the best coats this season.

For me it has to be Khaki or Camel. These two colours are so on trend this season, very autumnal and both go so well with any outfit. There are four main styles to look out for; the waterfall coat, the trench coat, the duster and the boyfriend jacket.

Here are my affordable favouites.

The khaki trench coat £39.99 Newlook

Newlook trent

This coat is so gorgeous, its a midium to light weight coat perfect to dress up or down.

Waterfall Camel Coat Missguided £30missguided waterful coat

This shape is very flattering and feminine and looks so nice undone and relaxed.

Suede Duster £50 in Chestnut Boohoo.com

boohoo suede duster

Suede is a key fabric for this autumn so why not really get your 70’s on with this maxi duster.

Khaki Boufriend Jacket Newlook £29

newlook boyfriend jacket

This coat is perfect for adding a more formal feel to you look day or night. It looks so good here over a leather skirt a ribbed high neck knit.

This season is all about textures; suedes, ribbed knits, cords, leather. pair a leather A line skirt with a ribbed sweater under a suede jacket and you are away.

All the links are below. Let me know what you think in the comments section.

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jackets-and-coats/khaki-drape-belted-trench-coat-_333499434

http://www.boohoo.com/restofworld/new-in/boutique-bonded-suedette-duster/invt/azz01713

https://www.missguided.co.uk/clothing/category/coats-jackets/belted-waterfall-coat-camel-camel

http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jackets-and-coats/khaki-textured-boyfriend-coat-_347282034

Holiday Blues.

We got back from Egypt earlier this week and have now finally sorted all the washing and got unpacked and we are now feeling the holiday blues setting in. Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt is honestly one of the most amazing places to go on holiday. Its just Sun. Sand and Sea. The temperatures were up in the high 30s every day with the sea breeze giving a refreshing relief. The beaches where we were, in Sharks Bay were clean with sand stretching across the whole coast line. And then there is the sea- The Red Sea with the most amazing corral reefs and marine life. We went snorkeling and scuba diving at Ras Mohammed National Park, it is the second best rated coral reef in the whole world after the Great Barbour Reef in Australia and is the most amazing place I have ever been. We also were so lucky to get to see wild dolphins, about 20 in total, we took a speed boat out at sunset and came across them, they played with the boats wake, swimming along side us and one guy even did a flip for us, twice!

ras mohammed

When we weren’t at the beach or out at sea we chilled at the hotel, lapping up the sun, getting our tan on and taking full advantage of all inclusive. Cobra Libre was our drink of choice- Rum, Coke and lime juice -Delicious! we would spend the day basking in the sun and then cooling off with a splash in the pool. Sharm is honestly the best balance of chilling doing nothing and being adventurous and exploring the gorgeous Red Sea.

Solymar-Sharks-Bay

Now we are back in the UK and typically it starting to rain as we landed. It’s now back to reality, I start my new job on Tuesday and I am just enjoying the last few days of nothing before the 6am alarm has to be set.

We have been to Sharm for the past two years so we have said next year we have to go somewhere different. Any suggestions?? next year is a long way off so we have plenty of time to think and plan. 🙂

I’l leave you with our holiday video and I’l cry a little as I watch and wish I was back there.

Hope everyone is having a great summer. For those of you heading off on holiday soon have an amazing time. And for those of you here stay tuned for more posts coming soon.