Elegant Touch Launch: Little Mix Do NAILS!!

You ladies might have noticed that, in recent months, there has been a major upping of the nail posts on this blog! A) Because my nails are finally back to their former pre-kitchen-job glory and B) Because there are so many exciting new nail products being released this year and I just can't help myself!! Last night I went along to see the latest Elegant Touch and New Look collaboration with the lovely girlies from Little Mix and couldn't wait to play with the range!! Little Mix are a complete mash-up style wise and each girl has her own individual style within the group. I didn't know what to expect!

I was greeted by each girl's designs laid out with New Look outfits selected to complement each girl's individual style. The girls worked very closely with nail artists and New Look stylists to create their ranges and had input on every level so the nails and wraps themselves are completely personal to them. I just love this outfit above that was selected for Leigh-Anne! I'm adoring monochrome print with pastels this season! I may have to make another trip to New Look hehe. Anyways, I was thrilled to go home with the full product range and I'm here tonight to share them with you!

I'm going to take you through each girl's products one by one and give you a bit of a rundown of what inspired the designs and what they represent for the girls. 

  Leigh-Anne

Leigh-Anne wanted her range to be all about 'Fresh and Funky Glamour'. It was important to her to pay tribute to her Jamaican heritage, but also to express her love of urban street style. The obvious salute to the Caribbean comes with the press-on nails she chose. Leigh-Anne's choice of wrap designs is obviously a reference to her more playful side.

 Jade

Jade chose pretty, girlie, multitonal designs incorperating her favourite things including hearts, bows and braces. I totally approve of her love of black and gold as a combination and her press-on nails are perfect for nights out. The wraps are obviously aimed at seriously GIRLY girls. She's not scrimped on the glitter thats for sure!! It was important to her that no nail was the same and that her designs represented her unique style.

Jesy

I think most would agree that Jesy is the bolshy, urban child of the group. She's gone all out in her nail designs incorporating everything from chains to spikes to street art. It's a style all of her own and makes her selections perfect for those who like to go the extra mile to make a statement. Jesy took inspiration from the likes of Gwen Stefani and Missy Elliot to create a set of products that were both fresh AND fierce.

 Perrie

Out of all the girls' choices, it was definitely Perrie that got it spot on for me. Perrie loves to combine elements of hippy boho AND rock chick, so it was no surprise that she came up with a fantastic combination of designs. She's thought of everything and not left anything out. The girlie galaxy press-on nails are soooo on trend and who doesn't love an edgy combo of roses, skulls, studs and glitter?? I also love that, like me, Perrie openly admits to being very clumsy when it comes to fiddly nail art and her nail wraps are a great solution!

It was Perrie's nail wraps that I opted to have applied at the event last night....

I'm very impressed with how sturdy these wraps are and I love how glossy the finish is. I really hope I can apply them on myself just as perfectly. I have limited experience when it comes to nail wraps haha.They seem very easy to apply and remove though so I have high hopes. I love that they're not just aimed at younger fans of the group. There are styles to flatter a 30yr old like me too!!

Elegant Touch Little Mix Press-On Nails and Wraps retail for £6 and are Exclusively Available from New Look stores and were launched TODAY!! So, whatever your style, I'd definitely recommend having a play. They really are a great accessory and finish off any outfit perfectly. Also, because they're Elegant Touch, you know they're durable and great quality.

 

 

Do you like your nails to make a statement?? Which of these styles and products best represents your style?? Will you be trying them out?? 

Little Black Love Affair at New Look

Everybody loves a Little Black Dress. It's one of those items in a lady's wardrobe which can be relied upon to fall back on when that flamboyant, spangly pink number you fell in love with and just had to have at the time (because you were gonna wear it TONS) turns out to be... well... a bit too scary. It's always hanging there, reliable and wearable, to provide solution to any outfit wobble. There are many shapes, sizes and styles out there to choose from but today I'd like to give you a look through  Little Black Dresses at New Look** and what they have to offer this season.

Smart and Versatile

I love New Look. This is a well known fact. I look forward to seeing their take on the latest trends each season and, whilst researching for this post, was very impressed with how varied and different these dresses are. Yes, they're all little, they're all black and they're all dresses, but they could not be more individual. New Look have added styles from brands such as Ax Paris and Madam Rage to their own collection to make their selection shine. It mixes flattering, girly a-line shapes with KILLER wet-look and bodycon, with tulip skirts and tassles thrown in for good measure! 

Girls' Night Out

New Look really have covered all bases here. What's the best thing?? It's a LBD and you can style it with whatever you want! Keep it smart and tailored with a houndstooth blazer for some serious office chic, add a bit of BLING or bold coloured accessories for the ultimate girls' night out or soften it with a cardi, curls and a smile for a hot date.

For SS13 Style it with....

So, whether you're looking for the perfect party dress, something to wow the bosses at work or just a simple piece that can be styled a multitude of ways and survive through season after season, New Look definitely has something for everyone. There are styles to flatter all shapes and sizes and they are all UNDER £30!!

You can find all the dresses and accessories featured in this post over at newlook.com or instore.

 Do you rate New Look for versatile fashion?? What's your LBD style??  What will you be wearing it with this season??

**Sponsored Post

Title Image: Google
All other images provided by New Look

Birthday Shopping, Instagramming and HAUL!!

Afternoon lovelies!!

For some bizarre reason there's been a massive gap in my posting again. I've actually got no excuse this time but I've since done a Virgo and gotten myself organised and written a list of all the posts i want to do so hopefully September will be a great month for Brunette Beauty Banter! 

September is also my BIRTHDAY month! And the big 3-0 landed on me yesterday so i took the opportunity to shop my ass off and eat lots of naughty food! So i am going to post today about all of the things that made my day so AMAZING! Expect it to be picture heavy... 

Clockwise from Top Left:

1) Started my day with Choc Chip PopTarts from my lovely housemate Sharon. 

2) Woke up to a package full of family birthday cards that my mum had forwarded to London for me.

3) AMAZING Blue Cheese burger and Sweet Potato fries at Ed's Diner with the gorgeous Yu from lets-makeyuup.com. 

4) My birthday present to myself was a new iPhone 4s. I decided to upgrade early as my 3GS really wasn't performing for me anymore. I also treated myself to two new phone cases including this super-cute Penguin case from eBay (complete BARGAIN).

 The biggest surprise of the day was my present from my housemate/landlord. In the next couple of weeks or so we will both be going off to The Ink Parlour in Shepherd's Bush to get new tattoos! It was totally unexpected but i'm so excited because it's given me a kick up the backside. I've been wanting another tattoo for about 5yrs now but never done anything about it. I know exactly what i'm going to have and where i want it so i can't wait to finally go and get it on me! I'm not telling yet though so you'll have to keep an eye on Twitter and Instagram to see what i get!

These were technically pre-birthday treats (i popped up to Streatham High Rd the day before and couldn't resist). I picked up two tops from New Look as well as my first ever purchase from Look Beauty. I got their lipstick in the shade Toffee Cup. Can't wait to post about it!! It was also the first time i've ever seen Batiste XXL in stock ANYWHERE so i grabbed the last one on the shelf and made for the till!! 

So after we'd finished feeding out faces with burgery goodness, Yu and i went for a mooch around Selfridges. I didn't go mad, buying everything i laid eyes on, but i had a good idea of what i wanted before i went in. The names floating around in my head were MAC and Illamasqua and here's what i picked up!!

I FINALLY picked up some MAC Fix+. It's been on my list forever and i've heard so much about it so i knew i wanted to get some while we were in there. I can't wait to use it and i'll probably tell you my thoughts on it at some point, but i think most of us have probably read about it and/or tried it at some point already. I had intended to pick up some eyeshadow pans for my empty MAC palette as well, but decided that that was a mission best left for another day. 

Favourite Birthday purchase by FAR has to be Illamasqua Freak Eau de Parfum. It's been my favourite smell ever since i got my first sample of it in a Glossybox but, until now, i've been surviving from sample to sample and couldn't justify buying the full size bottle. 

 This perfume is stunning in every way. I adore the bottle. It's so dark, yet there's a little snail making his way up to the top. The scent itself is everything i like in a fragrance. It's a blend of what Illamasqua calls 'Forbidden Flowers' including Poison Hemlock and Datura. It's a floral scent but it's definitely 'of the night'. 

Yup, so i had to make a little trip to Primani didn't i. Even though i seem to have spent FOREVER in there lately for various bits and pieces i needed. I wanted to go in to pick up these lush velvet wedge ankle boots i'd spied whilst in there for other things. At £20 they're on the pricier side for Primark i guess, but totally worth it! I had a totter around in them last night and they seem really comfy. I hadn't intended to pick up anything else but i saw a gorgeous baroque-style printed top/dress for £11 and snatched that up as well. 

Last purchase of the day was my first EVER Essie polish. I've seen Essie all over blogs and Instagram but it just doesn't exist where i'm from in Derbyshire. You just CANNOT get it! So when i spotted the Essie display whilst skulking around Superdrug with Yu, i got a little bit giddy! The shade i chose was Fiji as i've admired it for a while and i can't wait to do a NOTD with it!! 

So i hope this post hasn't been too long winded and photo-heavy for you, but i'm really pleased with my purchases, and really wanted to show them all to you. I was trying to go for quality, rather than quantity. The only thing i'd planned to buy, but didn't was the Origins VitaZing and i'm majorly regretting that now. Think a cheeky online purchase may be in order somewhere down the line. 

I had an absolutely AMAZING 30th Birthday and thank you to all of you that Tweeted me, commented on Instagram or wrote to me on Facebook. I felt EXTREMELY loved!!

What have YOU been hauling lately??

DISCOUNT CODE!!! 20% off Brands at New Look!!

Afternoon ladies...

I don't blog that much about fashion, mainly because i live on my own and i SUCK at taking outfit photos of myself. Lately i have been more and more drawn back into the clothes side of things after focusing on makeup and hair for so long. Not a lot of you will know that i spent 3 great years of my life working for New Look and they remain, to this day, one of my FAVOURITE clothing retailers. 

Anyway, a lovely little email popped into my inbox this morning giving me the details of an EXCLUSIVE 20% discount code to use on some of their big online brands...

I'm totally GUTTED because i am too skint to take advantage of this discount as it's only valid TODAY (7th March 2012) but there was no way in hell i was going to delete the email and not let you lot take advantage of it!! I've had a little squizz through the bounty on offer and here are a couple of my picks (had i not had a bitchy text this morning from  my bank telling me i'm almost at my overdraft limit.... Boooooo).

Click image to view on site

Urban Code Cropped Leather Biker Jacket

Click image to view on site

Mischa Barton Colour Block Tote

Click image to view on site

London Rebel Leopard Print Chelsea Boots

ENTER CODE BRANDS20

Hope a few of you find this code helpful. Would love to hear what you guys snapped up so i can live the dream through you. Being a student really does suck sometimes hahaha. 

What are your go-to high street hotspots?? What trends are you loving lately??