Collective Beauty & Fashion Shoplog: Lush, MAC, ZARA, Sting, H&M & more

Yup, it’s that time again: I went shopping. In The Hague to be exact. The Hague is a city near me and they have a bunch of store Leiden doesn’t have, such as Lush, Sephora and ZARA, a more extensive H&M with the Trend collection and some other bits and bobs. I go The Hague once a month to get my allergy shot and before or afterwards I usually go into town to check out the stores I can’t get to regularly. I also bought some items from the H&M website since they still have a sale going on. Needless to say, I found plenty of cool items and today I’ll be showing you everything I purchased. There are some beauty and fashion items, and I will just post these in a random order. Sit back, relax and enjoy the craziness, because I bought quite few things!

Black straw Trilby hat (H&M)

I sorted through all of my accessories the other week and actually threw out a woolen Trilby that I had lying about for ages. It was too warm for summer, not practical enough for winter. This is much more of a summer hat. It makes me want to go to festivals: lying in the grass while listening to music.

Black faux fur shawl (H&M)

This comes from the online H&M sale. I used this as a cover up for my roaring 20s party look. It’s the only reason why I bought this, but I think I’ll be able to peruse this again next winter. And if I don’t, at less than 5 euros, it’s not exactly a waste.

Silver choker necklace (H&M)

I contemplated buying this for such a long time and never did. Then it sold out everywhere and I regretted not getting it. So when I found it in The Hague and it was the last one there, I didn’t hesitate and picked it up immediately.

Lush hair mask in Jasmin & Henna Fluff-Eaze

Hair mask. Not something I have used before. I use face masks alright, but hair mask have never been part of my routine. The hairdresser did use a delicious mask on my hair when I got it cut and that asked for more. So I bought this one because it smells divine and I was curious about it. I have yet to try it and I will probably do a review when I like it.

Big comb, curlers, make up remover (Afro shop & Sephora)

The Hague is the proud owner of a very special beauty shop. It’s called the Afro & Indian Beauty Market and they sell tons of brands and products you can’t find in regular Dutch drug stores. I had heard they had all different types of curlers and since I wanted to curl my hair for the 1920s party I decided to give these a try. My favorite (eye)make up remover is the Sephora brand one and since I was nearly out I repurchased it.

LA Girl lipliner in Currant, MAC lipstick in Impassioned (Amplified), MAC Select Moisture Cover in NW 20

A few other make up items I purchased. I needed a dark plummy colored lip pencil to go with my dark lipstick for the 1920s party. Regular drugstores didn’t carry any plums and when they did they were too light or too expensive. The LA Girl one I found at the Afro shop for less than 3 euros. I went to MAC in search of a new concealer/ foundation for summer. My Studio Sculpt concealer in NW 15 has become too light for my skin and it’s also too creamy and heavy for the warmer weather. The make up artist pulled out this one and I wore it for some time while shopping. It didn’t feel heavy, stayed on great and it didn’t make me itch so I decided to just go with it. Swatches:

Lipliner in Currant, MAC Impassioned, MAC Select Moisture Cover

The lipstick is a hot coral pink color. It’s an Amplified lipstick meaning the color is very in your face. The color is very opaque and it looked great on. I just picked this up while waiting for someone to help me and decided to swatch it. The minute I put it on I went: Wow. I will feature this in a face or look of the day some time soon I’m sure.

White Ginger Eau de Toilette (H&M)

For summer H&M has released a new body product line including some new perfumes. At only 5 euros a piece these aren’t expensive, but the scents have to be your cup of tea. Many of the H&M perfumes are sickly sweet. When I smelled this one I was pleasantly surprised. This scent has a bit of spunk to it. I’m guessing it’s the ginger.

Mint colored belt (ZARA)

Mint is my favorite color this season! I already own a few shirts in this color, have a pair of earrings in this color, so a belt is a very logical follow up.

Pot holder with print (Xenos)

How cute are these? Cupcakes, pretzels, tomatoes, cooking utensils? I just couldn’t pass these up. I needed new ones anyway as my housemate made my other ones magically disappear!

Beige/ light gray blazer (H&M)

A light colored blazer had been on my wishlist for some time. I tried on a few white ones in the past, but those just made me look dead. Then H&M had a 25% offer off of 1 item. When I saw this blazer I was a bit skeptical because of the color, but I decided that with 25% I could at least give it a try. I could always send it back if anything. Lucky me: the color is great, it is comfortable and it looks great on.

Coral crochet top (ZARA)

My other favorite color this season: coral! This a bright coral color with a crochet look to it. In the back there is a fastening with green lining, which I thought was a nice touch. It’s slightly baggy and a bit see through, but with a top underneath it will be no problem. Here’s a close up of the pattern:

Mint colored sleeveless button down (H&M)

This top is more of a pastel blue color, but I think it can still pass for mint. Apart from it having my favorite seasonal color it also taps into another love of mine: button downs! I have a bunch with long sleeves, but short sleeves, or sleeveless? Not that much. This changes that. I think this will go nice with the pastel galaxy ombre leggings I bought from River Island in Antwerp not too long ago.

Coral short sleeved button down (Sting)

Another button down, but this time with short sleeves and in coral. They also sold these in several other pastel/ on trend colors such as mint, but I thought this color looked best on me. I also had more minty items than coral ones and this evens out the score quite nicely.

Summer dresses (Zeeman)

These two dresses are identical, but of course have a different color scheme to them. The one on the top has a blue top and a floral bottom with blue and coral/ peachy colors. The other one is plain gray on top and dark blue at the bottom. I bought these at Zeeman. For those of you unfamiliar with the store: it’s a super super cheap store. These dresses only cost €4.95 each. Now that to me is a bargain!

Dark brown heels with ankle strap and block heel (H&M)

Again an H&M sale item. These had been reduced to less than half price. They are pretty high, but the sturdy block heel makes them surprisingly easy to walk in. The ankle strap is a nice touch and I love the 70s retro vibe these give off. I’m sure my mom must have owned a pair of shoes like these way back in the day.

Black skater skirt (H&M)

This last item isn’t all that interesting but I thought I’d share because I got a good deal on it. I already owned a plain black skater skirt, but I ruined it by spilling chlorine/ bleach onto it while DIYing my jeans shorts. I was bummed so I searched for a cheap skirt and they had these in the H&M sale for roughly €5. And you know what: I like these more than the ones I originally had!

That’s it! Those are the things I bought in the past couple of weeks. I got some good deals as well as some things I needed, plus of course a bunch of things I don’t necessarily need, but which I do love. It’s just one of those years where styles, cuts and colors are exactly to my liking. So I’m stocking up in case next years trends are hideous!

What trends are you loving?

My favorite stores for shopping clothes

If you hadn’t noticed already I love to shop. I’m not an expensive shopper, which is one of the reason why I can buy quite a lot of things. If I spend more than 50 euros on a single item of clothing it’s a lot and then it better be good too. I will only spend 50 euros or more on items that I deem special enough to be worth the money. This means that it’s usually limited to dresses, the occasional blazer or cardigan and a pair of jeans. I make exceptions for shoes though, as a good pair of shoes is usually a bit more expensive. Which is why I usually end up going to the same stores and why I like getting a good deal (on sale or just in general). Over the years I have thus developed a few favorites and that is why I thought it would be fun to give you a list of my favorite places to shop for fashion. Here are my 5 favorites.

Source: weheartit.com

H&M

This blog has featured plenty of hauls from H&M. It’s easily accessible and not expensive. I have to say that H&M can be a bit hit or miss at times, especially when you order something online, but my experiences overall have been good so far. I think that most of my clothing comes from the Swedish mega company. I just love how they have good basics in the colors that are trendy that season, as well as some more trendy items that seem to be taken straight from the catwalk. You can get dressed from head to toe under 50 euros using only H&M as they also have great accessories, shoes, bags, underwear etc. And not in the least bit important: I exactly know my size so I usually know right off the bat which size I need. Biggest disadvantage: everyone and their mother wears it.

Asos

This website I usually only use for window shopping. Just to get inspiration. I don’t always find the price/ quality combination worthwhile on Asos, but they do have some great, more different items that not everyone in your town will be wearing. It is also huge. I think that if I were to spend an entire week on that website I would still not have been able to see everything that is on there. Another thing I love is how they actually have a catwalk video for all the items so you can see how the clothing moves: whether it’s stiff or flowy etc. You usually cannot see that in a picture.

ZARA

What I love about ZARA is how they are usually very quickly with translating trends from the runway into consumer fashion. If you read about a trend today, chances are ZARA is selling it tomorrow. I also like how they have a lot of more business casual clothing at affordable prices. I know that if I ever need to buy smarter clothes for a future job, all I have to do is hit up ZARA and I’ll be set and ready to go within minutes. They usually have a great selection of blazers and dressy shirts but the TRF/ Trafaluc line is definitely edgier, with more trendy pieces. The main downside with ZARA for me is that the sizes can run a bit small and sometimes a large won’t even fit.

Topshop

Topshop is not yet available in Holland, nor anywhere near it, but every time I go to London I have to have a peek. You don’t go to Topshop for basics, but for the more trendy items they sell. Especially because that is where you can get the best deals. A t-shirt at Topshop can easily cost you 25 punds, which for a t-shirt is quite expensive if you ask me. However, I bought two knits in February and both cost around 30 – 35 pounds each, which for a thick knit sweater that not everyone and their mother will wear is definitely not bad. Out of all the stores in this post I think Topshop is also the most trendy one. They seem to sell the trends before they become trends, if you know what I mean. It is not only great for clothes, but also for shoes, accessories, make up and everything else you need to put together a complete look.

Urban Outfitters

Last but not least is Urban Outfitters. This US store (which is also located in Antwerp by the way) is not for basics. It’s trendy, but slightly more edgy and rough and tough looking than Topshop. If there is one thing for sure it’s that you will not find a standard item in the store. The cuts are always slightly different, so are the colors, the textures, well everything. That is probably why it is expensive. A knit cardigan can set you back 75 euros in one go and basic looking t-shirts can cost as much as 30 – 40 euros. However, some of my most loved items (little black dress, comfiest cardigan and one of my favorite t-shirts) all come from this store. So if you’re willing to make an investment and you like slightly quirky clothing items this is the place for you. And even if you think the clothes are too expensive: have a look at their accessories, books, and quirky pop culture items that are also being sold there.

Collective haul: Forever 21, H&M, River Island, Urban Outfitters & Primark (among others)

So spring is in the air, which means that I have this sudden urge to shop till I drop. Not only has the sun been showing it’s happy face, but also the mid season sale has started, I needed a few basics, I had a vacation and I still wanted to go to Antwerp with my best friend. Unfortunately for my bank account, these 5 things happened to coincide in the past 2 weeks or so. That’s right, I went shopping, online, offline, multiple times on multiple occasions and so I thought I’d show you. I initially wanted to make this into several posts, but since some people on Twitter asked me not to, I decided to show you everything in one go nonetheless. So sit back, relax, grab a cuppa and brace yourselves for a massive collective shopping haul from all over the place. Enjoy!

Most of this haul will consist of fashion, so I thought I’d start with the few odd beauty products and accessories I laid my hands on in the past few weeks. Let’s start with beauty products first:

Kerastase Leave-in conditioner, Catrice Revoltaire LE lipstick in Colour Bomb, Essence Nail Art Special Effects Top Coats in Night in Vegas & Copper’ized Me

Yesterday I got a hair cut (post will be up tomorrow!) and my leave-in conditioner is running out. Since my hair got really dry over winter, I decided to go for the good stuff and bought the one my hairdresser sells. I came away with the softest and shiniest hair I have ever had, so I have good faith this will work. Catrice came out with a new limited edition and I wanted to try this matte coral colored lipstick. It’s coral, it’s matte and so I love it. Oh and girl can never have enough glittery/ flaky top coats. Night in Vegas is apparently a dupe for Shake it or Flake, a limited edition polish from the Catrice Million Styles collection. I will write a post on that soon.

Beaten silver short necklace (Primark)

The reason I love Primark: the accessories. Unfortunately when I was there yesterday, they didn’t have many good things and a lot of accessories were gone. I did manage to pick up this short silver looking necklace. If you watch this spot you know I love any necklace that is short and I thought this would make a good addition to the growing collection.

Floral sunglasses (Primark)

Floral patterns are everywhere, every year for summer. I don’t own many floral pieces, mainly because it has to be the right floral for me to be able to pull it off. Luckily, this time round I found a few fun floral pieces, starting with this pair of retro inspired sunglasses. At only €1.50 I couldn’t leave these at the store.

Floral patterned Ked like flats/ sneakers (Primark)

Shoes!!! If you have seen any other shopping hauls on here you know I cannot go shopping without buying shoes. Primark carries this type of flat every year it seems. I already have a basic grey pair as well as a blueish grey one and these floral ones are very ditsy looking. I think they will look nice with some shorts or under a dress.

Aztec/ tribal print backpack (Primark)

Another print that will be featured in this post, as well as in summer fashion is the Aztec/ Tribal print. Primark was filled to the brim with different types of backpacks and when I found this printed one I thought it would be just different enough for it not to remind me of elementary school too much. Just a fun bag to carry around your stuff when you go to a festival or whatever.

Nude strappy wedges (H&M)

Ever since I saw these shoes on Jenn from clothesencounters I wanted these. They looked so comfy, yet every time I went into H&M they were not available in my size and online they were sold out all the time. Until I walked into H&M the other day not looking for anything particular. Lo and behold, there were only two pairs and one of which was in my size too! Best part: they are now part of the mid season sale and so they only cost me 10 euros! Woot!! I found myself the perfect pair of summer shoes.

Dark gray woolen cable knit sweater (H&M)

Huh? A woolen cable knit sweater? In May? Yes, of course! It was on sale for only 10 euros so I couldn’t pass up on it. I had been eyeballing this sweater for ages but at 30 euros I thought it would be too expensive to buy another bulky sweater this winter. However, of all the bulky sweaters I bought not one was a dark color and I really wanted another cable knit one. It will have to sit in my closet until next winter, but with Dutch summers you never know what happens so I may have to bust it out earlier.

Light denim men’s button down shirt (H&M)

A staple that was missing from my extensive wardrobe: a denim shirt. I have one with short sleeves, but honestly long sleeves are so much more useful where I live. My main problem for not having one: shirts cut for girls never fit me right. They usually don’t have enough space in the chest area if you know what I mean, so I decided to check the men’s department this time. This shirt fits like a glove (it’s a size M). It’s baggy, but that’s how I like it. I’m thinking: leggings, + crop top, + denim shirt = ultimate summer look.

Bandeau crop tops in gray, purple/ flowers, aqua, (Forever 21) nude lace (Pieces) and black (Asos)

So I went on a bit of a bandeau crop top kick. These will be perfect for layering underneath some of the sheer shirts I have and in combination with highwaisted pants/ leggings/ shorts/ skirts they will make a great outfit for summer (see description of the picture above). They are inexpensive and look really nice on too. I will make a outfit of a day post so you can see what I mean.

Bodycon gray geometric print mini skirt (Forever 21)

This skirt is amazingly tight, but therefore it looks amazingly good on. It fits like a glove and will look nice with a pair of high heels, opaque black tight, a plain top and colorful scarf.

Floral print playsuit (Forever 21)

I bought a playsuit from Urban Outfitters last year, which I love, but can’t wear to work as it’s too low cut. This one covers things up nicely and with a pair of tights I can even pull these off in fall.

Cobalt blue treggings (Forever 21)

I hardly wear actual pants anymore. It’s usually leggings, jeggins or treggings that I am wearing. These are just perfect. They are tight but of a very light material and they are the perfect blue color. I had been looking for a great, bright blue pair of pants, but none of the blues I had seen till now struck me as blue enough. This however, definitely made the cut.

Speckled sweater tights (Urban Outfitters)

The minute I saw these tights I knew I had to have them. The fact that they are black with yellow, red and blue specks in them makes them original and give you just a pop to go with a boring, basic skirt or dress. Plus they were on sale!

Aztec/ tribal print leggings (Urban Outfitters)

While shopping in Antwerp I had hoped to find a pair of fun, printed bottoms. I have been seeing them all over youtube and thought they would add a touch of fun to my wardrobe. At Urban Outfitters I found these, also on sale and a perfect fit. You throw on a button down on top, pair it with some boots and you instantly have casual/ edgy outfit. Me likes!

Multicolored pastel ombre/ tiedye jeggins (River Island)

Antwerp brought me not one, but two fun pairs of bottoms. These jeggins instantly caught my eye. I initially thought they had a galaxy print on them, but upon close inspection they have more this ombre/ tiedye effect going on. And they’re pastel. Hitting two trends in one go! Just throw on a basic white shirt and some sneakers and it will be simple yet eyecatching outfit.

Aqua/ mint colored cardigan (New Yorker)

I have a bunch of cardigans, but most of them are for winter. I have none which are lightweight and easy to put on even during summer. This one is thin and a bit on the sheer side even. The color is very summery too as it’s a bright mint/ aqua color. This will look good with those River Island jeggins I just showed you.

Strawberry & cherry print t-shirt (Primark)

The minute I saw this t-shirt I knew I had to have it. It’s super cute and even though they only had one left 5 sizes too big for me I had to have it. It now just is a baggy shirt, but that’s what I like anyway.

Red polka dot sundress/ bikini cover up (Primark)

I still love my polka dots, as you can see here and in the picture below. This dress is actually more of a bikini cover up than anything else, but I think it will make a fun summer dress. This will be perfect for vacation.

Sea foam polka dot sleeveless button down shirt with waist tie (Primark)

If you thought that aztec print backpack was retro, check out this shirt! How 90s is that?! I still love my button downs and my polka dots and sea foam green is my favorite color this season (along with mint) so with that many loves combined into one shirt, I thought I could afford to go all Saved by the Bell/ 90210 for a change.

Ditsy floral print night gown (Primark)

I didn’t have any night gowns, until now. I always prefer wearing shirts and pants when I’m sleeping, with sleeve and pant leg length varying per season, but this one looked too cute and comfy to pass up on. I think it will be perfect for these transitional phases where it’s too hot to be sleeping in long pants, but too cold to be sleeping in shorts.

Basic gray and orange shirt (Forever 21, H&M)

Like I said, I also needed some basics. So I grabbed a gray shirt from Forever 21, as I only have one and whenever I need it, it’s in the wash. I love how this gray one isn’t just gray but has this speckled look to it. The orange shirt is from H&M and even though they call that color orange I think it’s more of a like coral or a bright peach. Anyhow: there is too much pink in that color for it to be a real orange.

Basic black shirts (H&M)

I was in dire need of new plain black t-shirts. I wear these so often that they are the first items in my wardrobe to actually need replacement (nothing else really does, I wonder why? ). I just picked up two slightly different ones from H&M, so I will have enough stock for a little while to come.

And that’s it! How about you? Have you bought anything during this mid season sale season? Or perhaps you just needed a few things? Tell me about it in the comments below!

Amsterdam shoplog: Inglot, MAC, River Island, H&M etc

Yesterday I went shopping in Amsterdam. I hadn’t been there in months. The last time I was there at all was November and I last went shopping there almost 6 months ago. Since yesterday would be the last semi-decent day till who knows when I decided to head out do some shopping. It’s not a massive haul, but I think I got some pretty cool things. Here it goes!

Black patterned wallet (Sasha)

I had decided that I needed a new wallet. My old one just wasn’t very practical. For one it was humongous and secondly money kept falling out. That’s why I wanted to look for something smaller, handier. When I spotted this one at Sasha at half price I knew it would be perfect. It fits all my stuff and is only half the size of my old one, so I’m good to go for a while again.

Short silver/ gold geometrical necklace (H&M)

This season I’m loving all the short chunky necklaces that have been hitting stores. I hadn’t seen this one yet but instantly loved it. This will immediately give an edge to any outfit. I like pairing such a necklace with a clean button down: adds instant spunk!

Short black sweatpants (H&M)

Since spring is happening, my work out pants are all becoming too hot to wear as they are all full length. I do have shorts, but they are well, short. I only wear them with leggings and soon, that will also be too warm to wear in a gym or dance class. I have seen plenty of people wearing longish short sweatpants, though I had never found them. While browsing around H&M, I found these in the men’s section. That’s right: the men’s section. They hit me just above the knee and will be perfect to work out in during the warmer months.

Black & white striped leggings/ pants (River Island)

When I saw these I wasn’t sure what to think. When I put them on they were actually really cool. Like this, they also look like a regular pair of pants, while actually they are thick leggings. They look like pants on as well so I decided to run with it. I think this will look good with a black or white button down, or a brighter colored shirt. Since they’re leggings I could even pair them with a simple black skirt or shorts. Some black biker boots to top it off and it will instantly make any outfit more interesting.

White distressed t-shirt with black studded cross (New Yorker)

Another look I love are distressed t-shirts. Unfortunately I find most of them too sheer to pull it off, but this one is textured enough for it to not look like it has been eaten by mots. I was immediately drawn to it because of the big black cross. And when I saw it was studded, it was just an added bonus. It’s a loose fitting top and I actually wanted it a size smaller, but they had run out. I still bought it because I loved it too much. Boyfriend jeans, this top and black low rise Converse sneakers = perfect laid back outfit.

Sheer black/ grey/ white leopard print button down (H&M Divided)

Amsterdam has roughly 10 different H&Ms and my initial plan was to go into only one. However, I ended up visiting all of them, as I saw this shirt at the first one and decided to not get it. It looked great on, but not being sure when or where I’d wear this, I put it back. Half way through my shopping trip I started regretting that decision and went looking for the shirt everywhere. Finally, in the last H&M I knew they sold the Divided collection I found it again (it had sold out everywhere else). It’s a button down. It’s sheer. It’s got a contrast collar. It’s got leopard print. What’s not to love? (Note: I used to hate leopard print, but I think that in this grey color it looks much classier than in the traditional brownish hue).

Coconut & Mint M&Ms (Eichholtz US & UK Foods)

During my shopping spree I also found a small concession store selling mainly US, UK and Dutch delicatessen. They also sold different types of M&Ms. I had never tried these yet, so decided to pick up a bag of each. I especially liked the minty ones!

H&M nail polish in Peppermint Fusion, MAC Eyeshadow in Patina, Yves Rocher hand cream

I have yet to try H&M nail polish. I had spotted this color online, but it had unfortunately sold out. It’s a very pretty lavender color with a very subtle shimmer to it. Great for spring. At MAC, I didn’t buy that much this time. The only thing high on my wishlist was Patina eyeshadow in pan form. Last time I was there it had sold out so I decided to get it now. I was also in need of new hand cream and Yves Rocher just recently reopened a store in Amsterdam and they had a special discount on several items. This hand cream was one of them.

10 Freedom System eyeshadow palette, square (Inglot)

Now the reason why I really wanted to go to Amsterdam: to buy another Inglot eyeshadow palette filled with matte spring colors. The last time I went shopping in Amsterdam I also paid Inglot a visit and I am still in love with the 5 eyeshadow palette I created at the time. Inglot has some great matte eyeshadows and since I love matte shadows, and since they let you create your own palette, I thought it would be a great combination. There are a few shimmery colors in there (3 in total) but the rest are all matte. They are perfect for spring and together with the palette I already have it is also a great combination. I will make a separate post on the palette in a few days.

So that’s it: my Amsterdam shoplog. As you can tell, it’s not that much, but I still had a great shopping spree. I started at Inglot in the Van Baerlestraat and made my way to the railway station via PC Hooftstraat, 9 straatjes, Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk. And can you spot the theme in the clothing items I’ve been buying lately? First I had a haul with only taupes, last week it was brights, and now it’s all black and white. I only realized that when I got home. I will try to make a lookbook/ outfit of the day type thing with some of the stuff I’ve been hauling some time soon.

Enjoy your day and leave a comment below telling me what you think of these items. Would you wear the stripy leggings? How about the leopard shirt?

Shoplog: a bit over the taupe

First of all: Happy Spring everyone! Today marks the official start of spring so yay for that! Over here the weather is getting a bit nicer and so I’m stoked on wearing all of the spring trends. One trend you surely will not have missed is the fact that this time around bright colors are the way to go for spring & summer. Personally I like combining these bright reds, pinks, greens, yellows and purples with neutral colors for a more toned down look. Color blocking is cool but not always work appropriate. So that’s why I decided to buy some more neutrals to up the anti. H&M had a nice discount the other week where your most expensive item was 25% off so I hit up their online store. Here’s what I got.

Taupe sheer button down (H&M)

If you follow this blog, then you will know that this isn’t the first button down I’ve purchased in the past couple of months. In fact it seems to be all I’m buying this past couple of seasons. The reason being is that many of these shirts now come in a baggier fit and in straight cuts which make them very wearable. Because the blouse is sheer, the color is a bit more muted than a full on taupe and is gearing more towards a nude. The color looks great on and I love how it has the breast pocket and hidden buttons down the front. Price tag: € 19.95.

Basic beige t-shirt (H&M)

This really isn’t worth mentioning, but since I was taking pictures anyway I decided to throw this in here too. It’s just a basic beige/ taupe colored t-shirt. Great for layering and combining with printed bottoms. Price: € 4.95

Taupe colored medium sized messenger bag (H&M)

The minute I spotted this bag I knew I’d have to have it. It’s slightly bigger than a purse, but smaller than a full on bag which will make it perfect for shopping or just going out for the day. It has a short handle as well as a long shoulder strap which will make it easy to carry around. Those weren’t the selling points for me though. No, it were the details that did it for me. Let’s have a look!

Rose gold clasp close up

Rose gold detailing

As you can see the details on this bag aren’t just silver, or gold, but rose gold. It’s fake of course, but I really thought that was a nice touch that makes this bag just a tad different. Original price is € 19.95, but with the discount this was € 14.95.

Skinny taupe & orange belt (H&M)

Detail of belt

I love skinny belts and I don’t have that many in neutral colors yet. I have tan, brown and black mostly and then some brights, but nothing like this. I thought this one was a fun little piece to add to my growing belt collection as I don’t have any skinny belts in a greyish/ taupe color and I think the orange adds just a pop of color to make it work with more toned down outfits. And it wasn’t expensive as it retails for € 4.95.

That concludes my short but sweet H&M shoplog. As you can see I love button downs and taupe. What have you been liking? Anything you bought? Share it in a comment.

London Shoplog # 2: Shoes & Fashion

A few days ago I already showed you some of the stuff I bought during my London trip. That post featured books, CDs, make up, beauty products and accessories. But that wasn’t all I got as I also bought a bunch of clothes and yes, as a shoe freak I also got some shoes. So stay tuned and check out part 2 of my London haul.

Let’s first have a look at the shoes I bought. The first day in London I went to Spital Fields/ Bricklane and found these two great pairs of shoes at a vintage store called Blitz for only 10 pounds each:

Dark grayish blue tasseled loafers

Burgundy lace up loafers

As you can see I got two pairs of loafers. I already have two pairs of brogues which I bought last year and I love how they can give an outfit this nerdy/ boyish look to outfits. That is why I really hoped to find a nice pair of loafers as they give an outfit a nerdy/ preppy/ grandma vibe. Both of them are made out of real leather and the blueish gray ones have hardly been worn as the soles are in great condition. The burgundy ones are a lot more beat up but oh so soft and comfy because of it.

Now as you may remember I left for London with a bit of a wish list in mind. I am glad to say that I found some of the things on there and then some. Here’s the first thing I ticked of my list: colored shirts.

Primark t-shirts in peach, green and gray

Primark t-shirts in yellow, mint green and bright blue.

You’re just gonna have to trust me when I say that one shirt is green and not blue. I’m afraid my camera didn’t pick up on the color all that well. Anywho: I found the colored shirts I wanted. Only two of them have prints on them. The rest are all basic, boring, plain t-shirts, but these will look great when paired with patterned bottoms but they can also be paired with other colors. The way I see it: you can never do without a good set of basic shirts.

Green skinny jeans (Forever 21)

These pants look a bit weird in the picture. Again, I blame my camera, but they are a solid grass green pair of skinny jeans. And again, I wanted a pair of green pants so hip hip hooray for that. You’ll be seeing more of this green color in this post as my wardrobe was in desperate need of a pop of green. The color in the picture isn’t true to the color of the actual pants. They are more like the color of these pants. Other than that they are just a pair of plain low rise stretchy skinny jeans. I am thinking of pairing this with gray or yellow and maybe a bit of pink to tap into the color blocking trend.

Wool & cashmere red blazer (Blitz)

Wishlist item no. 3: check! Check out this cool red blazer. It has a very straight, men’s like cut to it which is what I had hoped to find. I had never bought a boyfriend cut blazer as none of the ones at H&M or other places ever looked good on me. They made me look bulky and the fabrics were usually pretty loose which just doesn’t make for a good look on me. This blazer however, fits like a glove and is super soft because of the material used. It’s very sturdy too which means it keeps is shape nicely when it’s on rather than turning into a straight hot mess.

Navy woolen cardigan with side pocket (Vintage stall at Old Truman Brewery)

This navy cardi just jumped right at me when I was browsing to the racks on my vintage shopping spree on Sunday. It’s a great fitting button down which I’m suspecting may even have been knitted by someone’s grandma as there are not tags in the sweater, nor are there any signs of any tags ever having been attached to it. It does show some pilling, but nearly all woolen items get that after a few washes. All I know is that it’s super comfy and not in the least bit unimportant: it’s warm too.

Oversized navy Aztec print sweater (Primark – men’s section)

Here we go again: another item I can tick off my wishlist. I found my bulky dark colored sweater! At Primark. For 10 pounds. In the men’s section. Yes, you read that right: the men’s section. This is a size XL men’s sweatshirt. It looks great on though. I plan on wearing this as a sweater dress with a pair of leggings and some booties or sneakers or brogues or loafers or whatever shoes I feel like. The print is super fun and in style right now so I’m a happy bunny.

Black & white bouclé sweater(Topshop)

The Topshop on Oxford Street is massive and it took me quite some time to browse through it. In the past I was always able to find the cutest dresses there, but this time round this sweater and the one below were the things that caught my eye. This sweater is again super comfy but it’s not super bulky. It’s not exactly tailored, but has a relaxed fit and will look good with nearly anything: riding pants, jeans, those green pants I showed you earlier. You name it and you can make this sweater work somehow. The black and white combined with the fuzziness also gives it a fun textured look.

Multi-colored pastel bulky knit sweater (Topshop)

Say hello to bulky sweater no. 2! The minute I saw this sweater I fell in love. If you look at it from a distance it looks like it could be a light gray sweater right? Now look more closely… There’s the slightest pop of color there. See what I mean?

Close up of Topshop pastel colored sweater

As you can see in this picture, the thread actually consists of different pastel colors: pinks, blues, yellows, greens, purples and creams. Your eyes blend it to make it look gray when you’re standing too far away. Sort of like a pointillist painting, only in sweater form. This is a very loose fitting sweater and I even bought it a size larger than I needed because I just thought it looked better on. It has rolled cuffs and has a nicely relaxed fit. Again, this sweater is soft and warm and it makes me want to cuddle up on the couch with a hot cocoa just by looking at it.

Green polka dot skater dress with pussy bow (Monki @ Selfridges)

This dress combines 4 things I am currently loving into one: 1.) it’s a skater dress, 2.) it’s green, 3.) it has polka dots (I now own 5 or 6 polka dot dresses oops), 4.) it has a bow. I just think it looks super cute and I look cute in it (not unimportant). As with the green pants, the color is washed out as it is a much perkier green in real life. I did find it on the Monki website though so take a peep there if you want to see what the color actually looks like.

Green skater dress (Forever 21)

Last but not least I found another great green dress. See, I didn’t lie when I told you green would feature quite a bit in this post huh? This one is from Forever 21 and the green is a bit perkier than the one from Monki. I also loved the detail on the neckline and the thicker waistband gives this dress a slightly different look. It is very plain and simple but I’m thinking paired with some fun tights and shoes I can make this a casual or a more formal outfit.

And that’s it! That’s all I bought in London. Let me know in a comment below which item you like best. Also let me know which, if any, of these items you would like to see on. Perhaps I can make a bit of a lookbook with some of it or at least an Outfit of the Day. Have a good Sunday!

London 2012: Day 3

Day 3 of my trip would be devoted to more walking and plenty of shopping. I hit up Oxford Street and Soho and ticked off plenty from my fashion wish list to make a shoplog once I get back. So keep your eyes peeled for that but now let me just tell you what I exactly did on Day 3.

Marble Arch

My day started with a crowded subway ride during London’s rush hour. Perhaps not the best idea, but I was a girl with a mission: hit up Primark before everyone else did. I took the tube to Marble Arch and since I had never been able to take a proper picture of that monument I decided to go ahead and do just that before going to Primark. Luckily for me Primark was quiet when I got there and so I could browse to my heart’s content without having to step over people or be pushed around by crowds.

After Primark I hit up some more major store chains, which is what you do when you shop on Oxford Street. I went to Forever 21, TopShop, Urban Outfitters and Monki (in Selfridges). I found green pants (yay!), not 1 but 3 (!) bulky sweaters and two really cute dresses. I had also found out where the MAC Pro Store was located (in Carnaby Street) and browsed around there too. As I now found myself in Soho, I walked around some more into the general direction of Leicester Square and also found Make Up Store AND Illamasqua shops located in the Carnaby Street area. So, if you like make up and you are shopping in London, go to Carnaby Street!

Since it was only 4 PM I tried to see which movies were showing at that time, but again found nothing good playing so I just got onto the tube again and headed back to the hotel. My feet desperately needed a rest and I just watched some TV while reading blogs and writing a few of my own (including this one). I decided on having sushi for dinner and going to bed on time to get ready for my final day in London.

And so that was day 3. Not much to say unless you want the entire relay of my shopping experience. It’s just high street shopping, which is something you like or you don’t. I loved hitting up the vintage stores and markets in East London a few days ago, but also the boutique style stores in Covent Garden on Monday. Oxford Street has all major chains with some flagship stores (Primark & Topshop) which are huge you feel you’ll get lost.

Shopping high street stores is a beast on its own and my only advice is to go there early enough before major crowds show up. If you plan on shopping London’s Oxford Street I can highly recommend starting from Marble Arch and working your way eastward towards Tottenham Court Road. You’ll find yourself coming across Primark, Forever 21, H&M (several times), Dorothy Perkins (several times), Pull & Bear, Aldo, Topshop, Urban Outfitters, Super Drug, Boots and department stores such as Selfridges, Debenhams and House of Fraser. In case of a rainy day, you can also go to Westfield Shopping Mall at Shepherd’s Bush. It has most of the stores you will find on Oxford Street, but you won’t get wet.

Where do you prefer to shop: vintage stores, boutiques or the high street?

Fashion Wish List

So many cool trends have been happening lately and that is why my fashion wishlist has been growing quite a bit. Because of my London trip I’ve refrained from buying too many new things as I want to see what is available at stores that I cannot get to on a regular basis. I hope to find items that are just a tad different from what I would be able to find in my local shopping street. This goes mainly for clothes and accessories and here’s what I hope to find.

Source: weheartit.com

1. Basic colored shirts

Number one on the list are basic colored t-shirts/ tops. I have a ton of plain nude colored shirts, but no brights or pastel colored ones. I have plenty of colored shirts with prints on them, but NOTHING that is just a shirt without too much going on. Since colors are a must have this spring I’m hoping there will be enough to go around and find them.

2. Dark colored bulky sweater

I’m totally digging the trend of wearing tight (riding) pants with a bulky sweater on top. You know, the ones that look like your boyfriend might have lived in it for a while. I have light colored ones, but no dark one. I tend found this sweater by American Apparel and fell in love. It is pricey though so I will go check it out and if it really is as good as it looks on the picture I will just splurge on it.

3. Skater or shift dress

I would really like a skater or shift dress. I bought a skater dress the other day, but that one is a mustard yellow with dark blue polka dots. What I’m really missing in my wardrobe is a plain gray dress. What I am hoping is that I will find a gray skater dress or possible one in that great sea foam green color that I’ve been spotting everywhere lately.

4. Short necklaces

Short necklaces are making a huge comeback. I still have a few from way back in the day, but there are new styles out right now that I’m loving. Most of them are very plain and simple and look great paired with a button down shirt. I will definitely try to hit up Primark and Forever 21 and I think I will find something that suits me there.

5. Colored pants

Another thing I’d love to find are green or bright blue pants. I bought a pair of pink ones in January, but I remember owning a pair of green pants a few years ago and loving them to pieces. I had to throw them out because they were too big, so finding a new pair would be nice. So far, I haven’t found a pair of pants that has the right color, though I spotted a nice green colored pair of treggings at pieces the other day. I may just have to go with that if I can’t find it in London.

6. A red blazer

I love blazers but I’m very picky when it comes to them. I’ve been trying to find a red blazer for over a year now, but have yet to find the perfect one. There is always something that wrong: wrong cut, wrong shade, or it’s too tight around my shoulders. I know it’s a long shot but I hope to finally find a comfy red blazer that doesn’t make me look pasty.

7. Some items for DIY projects

I’ve found so many great DIY clothing tutorials on Youtube and I’m dying to try my hand at a few. However, I don’t want to risk ruining a perfectly fine brand new shirt. That is why I really want to go to Primark. As their stuff is cheap it won’t have cost me tons when things go bad. It totally depends on what I’ll find what I’ll be able to do with it and I will let you know if it all worked out and make some posts on the DIY stuff when I get to it.

What’s on your fashion wishlist?

Shoplog: Zara, Bershka, MAC & Urban Decay

Yesterday I took another trip to The Hague to see my allergy doctor. This time not only to get my shot, but also to find out whether I have an intolerance for gluten. Luckily I don’t and these monthly trips usually entail hitting up some stores that I cannot get to on a regular basis as they are not in my town. I had already spotted some neat blouses on the ZARA website in their spring collection so I had my mind set on going there and just couldn’t help picking up a few other trinkets on my way there. Scroll down to see my purchases.

Tribal/ Aztec print sweater dress (Bershka)

My first stop actually wasn’t ZARA but Bershka, ZARA’s little sister and I bought a few things there. They still had a sale going on, so I picked up this sweater dress with this very neat Aztec/ Tribal inspired print for 10 euros. With sweater dresses it’s always a bit hit or miss for me. I tried on a different one in the store which looked hideous on me but the same on the hanger as this one. When I tried this one on it fit perfectly. The mannequin makes it look a bit weird at the bottom but you get the general idea. Here’s a close up of the print:

This type of print is going to be pretty hot this year. It already was for autumn, but for spring and summer I’ve been spotting it too. I think the green & purple give this dress just that little extra that makes it perfect for winter, but also spring as the colors can go with that season too.

Mustard yellow/ blue polka dot skater dress (Bershka)

Another dress I found was this mustard colored dress with dark blue velvety polka dots. I wanted to get a dress in this particular cut as it is very flattering when you’ve got a narrow waistline but are bigger at the top and bottom. They also had a black one with stars, but since I already own a few black dress I decided to go with some color instead. This dress was only €6 on sale.

Mustard colored narrow belt with bow detail (Bershka)

The last sale item I found was this mustard colored belt. At only €2.99 and with that incredibly cute bow I couldn’t pass up on it! I will be wearing this as a narrow waist belt.

Sea foam colored button down shirt with balloon hemline (Bershka)

Of course all of the spring collections are in stores by now too and I have to say that all those pastels aren’t really my thing. However, this dark sea foam colored shirt hits everything right on the dot. It is not too fitty as it is meant to be quite baggy looking and the color is spot on. It makes for a nice contrast with my blonde hair and I think it will go nicely with the petrol colored pants I bought last month. This button down shirt cost €15.99.

Mint green sheer polka dot button down (ZARA)

Finally my stuff from ZARA which actually isn’t too much. I had already spotted this very nice minty green color on their webshop last week and so when I went to the store that was what I was looking for. I said before that I don’t like pastels but this is the ONLY pastel color I can pull off without it making me look dead. I had seen several items on their website and tried all of them on. When I put on this shirt it was perfect straight away. Yes, it’s sheer, but it will be perfect over the bustier I bought on sale at H&M for €4. And sheer is another trend that is definitely going to be around this spring. Price: €25.

Cream colored sheer dress shirt with buttons & pussy bow (ZARA)

Another sheer shirt, which again looked amazing on. I love the fact that it has a pussybow AND polkadots. Two of my favorite things put together. Again I intend on wearing this over a bustier or a nude colored tank and possible with highwaisted pants or skirt. This shirt also cost €25. The polka dots up close: cuteness!

MAC Fresh Honey blusher (Naturally collection), Urban Decay Naked 2 eyeshadow palette

I also bought a few make up items. I’ve been wanting to get a MAC mineralized blush for some time now, but I actually didn’t like the ones they stock in their regular collection as they are quite shimmery. When I heard the mineralized blushes in the limited edition Naturally collection released this Saturday are void of shimmer and super pigmented I had to pick one up. I went with Fresh Honey: a warm peach colored blush that gives just the right amount of glow without making me look like Christmas decoration.

And then quite possibly the most coveted item in this entire haul post: the Urban Decay Naked 2 eyeshadow palette. It’s here already. I really thought we’d have to wait a year until it would be released in The Netherlands, but then the palette was spotted in Rotterdam last week and now I found it at Sephora in The Hague. I am so excited!  I will show you the palette in a separate post including swatches. It is too gorgeous not to devote a separate post on it.

So there we go! I had told myself to not buy anything until my London trip, but these are things I would have picked up there anywayz. It will just save me some weight in my suitcase. I can at least take the skater dress, mint colored shirt and the UD Naked 2 palette from my wish list.

Which spring fashion trends are you looking forward to adding to your wardrobe?

Last round of sale shopping

Sale usually goes in cycles. Reductions go down more and more as the sale progresses and usually more styles (read: out of season styles, last items) will be added the closer you get to the end of the sale period. So when I had to run some errands yesterday, I not only got what I needed, but I also visited a bunch of stores I usually don’t frequent. It’s stores I only go to when it’s sale time because I usually find them too expensive. However, during final sales I usually find some good deals there. Here’s what I bought.

The Body Shop White Musk Libertine Gift Set

This is from TBS’s latest White Musk line. I loved this fragrance and bought a shower gel pretty much right after it came out. Then I liked it so much that I also wanted to get the perfume. However, at almost 30 euros for a tiny bottle I decided against it. That is, until I found this gift set on the TBS website. It was now 50% off and because I had an extra discount code for free shipping, an extra 20% off AND my TBS membership discount of 10% this gift set ended up costing me 10 euros! And it comes with another shower gel, which bought separately costs more than that. Good deal if you ask me.

Toothbrush Oral B Indicator (Op=Op Voordeelshop)

Now the reason why I set out shopping in the first place: a new toothbrush! I use an electric toothbrush only once a day, as my gums don’t like electric when used twice a day. So that’s why I use these simple straightforward toothbrushes in the morning. I bought this 3 pack at a local discount store where they sell cosmetics for cheap when you buy them in bulk. This pack cost €2.75.

Labello (Nivea) Sensitive Protect & Purol Bees Wax lip balms (Op=Op Voordeelshop)

The discount place also sells a bunch of lipbalms not readily available on the Dutch market and so I always find a few that I would like to try. The Purol one brings back memories of child hood because it smells just like the Purol cream I used to rub on some eczema that I had when I was 10. These were part of a 3 for €5 deal, but the other thing I bought as part of it was a pack of tampons. Not very appropriate to picture on a blog methinks.

Dr. van der Hoog Face Masks (Op=Op Voordeelshop)

Possibly my favorite brand for facial masks is Dr. van der Hoog. This brand just recently relaunched all of their products with new packaging so my discount store now sells the remaining old stock for cheap. I have yet to try the dead sea face mask, but the peach and chocolate ones I’ve tried before and I really liked those. 3 for €4.

Embellished cross necklace & rhine stone ring (Six)

One place that usually has a great final sale round is Six which is a store for accessories. All jewelry was €1 and all winter textiles (hats, scarves, gloves) were €3. The minute I saw the cross I loved it and I don’t have any jewelry with any sort of major bling going on and I thought this was a great piece. I love the detailing on this. So yes, I paid €2 for both the necklace and the ring.

Dark gray denim shirt (ICHI – Men at Work)

Men at Work is one of those stores that I like, but that I usually deem too expensive. It’s filled with brand clothes which is why. This shirt is long and baggy, but it looked very cool on. I love how it’s not your standard blue denim shirt. The gray gives it more of an edge. This will look great with leggings and heels or tucked into black jeans with some boots. If I pair it with my spare leather jacket I’ll totally have that grungy feel going on. Price tag: €19.95.

Highwaisted denim jeans (Object – VILA)

These jeans are the best ever! I finally found a pair of long pants that are highwaisted. I have been wanting a pair for a while, but I always thought they were too expensive at full price. These pants were super comfy when I tried them on. They fit like a pair of highwaisted chinos but they are made of denim, not linen. Only thing is that I think they are supposed to be capris or ankle huggers, but on me they look like regular narrow leg jeans. The inseam is 32″ and that’s usually too long on me, but now they hit me just right. Price: €30.

Petrol highwaisted chinos with paperbag waist (VILA)

As an extra bonus I did not find one, but TWO pairs of highwaisted pants. They are chinos, but a bit thicker as they are for winter. I think the petrol color is very pretty and it makes the pants versatile as it’s neither green nor blue. I rolled up the pant legs as it was of course way too long, but with these kinds of pants that is no problem. I think these will look great with my tan brogues. Price: free! I bought these together with the jeans and the store was having a buy one get one free offer.

So there you have it my final round of sale shopping. Make sure to also check out my other rounds of sale shopping from this season: here, here and here.

Where/ When do you find the best deals? Let me know in the comments.