Dutchess Roz

New sunnies: Tortoise RayBan Wayfarers #

2012-05-25T10:47:00.000+01:00

For a while now I have been lusting after some RayBan Wayfarer sunglasses and with summer coming up I wanted to bite the bullet and splurge on some new sunnies. I found my perfect pair online at SmartBuy Glasses.

RayBan Tortoise (RB4105) Folding Wayfarers (link)

Denim Jacket by Bershka

Gold scarf by LK Bennett

Earrings by Regina Pierallini (link)

I just love them!! I have always been a fan of the Wayfarers shape but I found that the RayBans original frames have quite a predominant slant to them which doesn’t really suit my face shape. That’s why I am so happy I discovered the folding Wayfarer style because they are a very similar shape to the originals but without the heavy slant. The soft tortoise design is also a nice change from the standard black I think.

The lenses are also polarized which means they reduce glare reflected at some angles off shiny non-metallic surfaces such as water, aka perfect for my upcoming sailing holiday in Croatia this summer :)

These sunnies are really light weight and you might be wondering 'folding' sunglasses, what does that mean? Well it means they fold down so you can store them easily in your back pocket or handbag - very convenient for travel I think!

Do you like my new glasses and are you eyeing up any new sunnies this summer? xoxo

Run Roxy Run: my favourite running iPhone apps!

2012-05-23T08:30:00.000+01:00

As much as exercising has always been a part of my life, I have never been much of a runner. Growing up I was into team sports with field hockey being my sport of choice. Only a couple of years ago (when I needed to lose a few kilos) I started working out at the gym but I would mainly go to classes, do weight & core exercises or work out on the cross trainer. Running was just something I wasn't good at and couldn't motivate myself to get into.

However, since moving to London I found so many of my friends were into running and it is such a great, healthy and outdoorsy way to work out I decided to get over my running 'fear' and set myself a challenge! One of my new years resolutions for for 2012 was to take part in a 10km run and once winter was over I found myself entering the London BUPA 10km run to motivate me to reach my goal. So this meant getting out there and train, train, train! However as much as I thought I was pretty fit and healthy I was really struggling to run for more than 10 minutes without being completely puffed and exhausted. So I decided to look for help....and I found it in a couple of nifty little iPhone apps!

Neon Coral iPhone4 Cover by H&M

These apps have really helped me train and I recommend you trying them if you want to get off the couch and get running :)

♥ Get Running App (Couch to 5K) - £1.99 (link)
This is the first app I got to get myself ready from huffing and puffing after 10 minutes to be able to run for 30 minutes in one go! It claims that "With three enjoyable workouts a week, in nine weeks you will be running continuously for half an hour, even if getting off the couch is a struggle today! Get Running breaks through the “beginning barrier” with its popular Couch to 5k running plan. In week one’s workouts you'll alternate one minute of running with 90 seconds of walking. With each new week, Get Running’s human voice coach gradually builds up your pace, until you’re running for a whole half-hour!"

I absolutely loved this app because it coached me like a personal trainer would with lots of recorded progress and encouragement prompts like 'well done, you have run for 20 minutes now - only 10 more minutes to go!'

♥ Map my Run - FREE (link)
Run, record and track your workouts. It works with the GPS on your iPhone and tracks your route on a live map, records your distance and pace and time. You can set it to give you voice prompts every five minutes so let you know how long you've run and how many km's you have done which for me is a great motivator when I set myself a time/distance goal for that day!

♥ Bridge to 10K App - £1.99 (link)
"Specifically designed for 5K app graduates. Pick up where the 5K app leaves off and get to running a 10K (6.2 mile) race in just 6 weeks."

With all of the above iPhone apps you can keep your iTunes music playing at the same time. I find playing upbeat music really helps me keep energised and pumped to complete my runs :) You know how people say running becomes like a drug, well I always thought people were a little nuts when they said that....but maybe I am starting to believe it. The feeling when you've completed a good run is amazing...exhausting but so satisfying! I am happy to say that I can now run around 8-9km and this weekend brings my big challenge for the London 10km BUPA run

I decided to run this race for charity and I just want to say THANK YOU to all my generous friends and colleagues that have donated so far. I am running for the 'Beating Bowl Cancer' charity because several members of my family have unfortunately been personally affected by this horrible illness and I think the work this charity does to raise awareness is fantastic.

My Just Giving Charity Page (link) if you want to support this worthy cause!

Happy Hump day everyone and wish me luck for Sunday!! ;) xoxo

New arm candy: my four-leaf clover bracelet!

2012-05-21T09:29:00.000+01:00

I spotted this cute bracelet online in gold on Valerie's (cool) blog www.mirroroffashion.com a few weeks back. I straight away went to the online shop 'Echt iets voor mij' (which means 'truly something for me' in Dutch) and fell in love with the jewellery range by LOTT. Gioielli.

I got myself the same delicate four leaf clover charm bracelet but in silver.

This bracelet hasn't left my arm since...I am hoping it will bring me luck in life ;)

Length: 17.5cm, Silver (925) at €37.50 (link)

I love wearing it on its own for a more simple, delicate look or next to my watch on my left wrist or I mix it in with all my other bracelets on my right wrist. They also have this bracelet plated in gold or rose gold if you prefer that. Plus check out the other cute charm designs in the same collection; I love all of them!

Silver Skull (link)

Gold Bow (link)

Gold Cross (link)

Rose Gold Butterfly (link)

Do you like my new arm candy? xoxo

Note: The 'Echt iets voor mij' website says they ship to the Netherlands and Belgium but if you want to buy something I'd say tweet them directly to see if they will ship internationally because I think they definitely can ship to the UK!

A relaxing weekend in the countryside: Bibury %

2012-05-19T23:20:00.001+01:00

During the UK May Bank weekend I decided to escape the city for two nights to the countryside. Me and three friends booked a wee cottage in the charming town of Bibury for a bit of R&R! Bibury is a picturesque village in the Cotswolds, which is only about 1,5 hours out of London.

This was our little home for the long weekend, how cute right!

Exploring Bibury...

I think it looks a bit like 'the Shire' from Lord of the Rings haha!

We even were able to enjoy breakfast in the little garden one morning!!

Our cottage was right behind the luxury Bibury Court Hotel...

This hotel is truly amazing!! It would be the perfect place for a romantic weekend escape ♥

They serve a yummy high tea by the fireplace in the 'Study' room which we unfortunately didn't get a chance to enjoy but I am sure I will be back here some day! Add Bibury Court Hotel to the to-do list; check ;)

We just had the best weekend including...road trips in a convertible...Perfecting my swing at the golf course....Delicious Sunday Roast at the Village Pub in Barnsley...

Walks in the pretty country side..

Plus nights by the fireplace reading books and playing Risk and Pictionery!

I came back to London after this weekend feeling all re-charged and refreshed :)

Conclusion? The Cotswolds are good for the mind, body and soul.

There seem to be many more amazing things to do in the Cotswolds so I will come here for sure :)

Have you ever been to the Cotswolds and if so is there thing you'd recommend in this area? xoxo

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Capri Collection

2012-05-18T14:28:00.001+01:00

Yes it’s that time of the year again where in the lead up to summer, Estée Lauder launches their annual Bronze Goddess collection! I absolutely love their Bronze Goddess products so was very excited to get to preview the 2012 collection last month in London. You can read my review of the 2011 Bronze Goddess ‘Soleil’ Collection here (link) This years collection was inspired by the seductive beauty of the Isle of Capri.
The Capri makeup look is sexy yet sophisticated including warm, glimmering gold and metallic hues and sun-kissed tones, complemented by rich brown and bright white. I think the collection definitely captures the feeling of summer, can please take me on a holiday there now?? ;)

Every year the collections includes their popular ‘Bronze Goddess’ fragrance plus a brand new limited edition. The Bronze Goddess Capri fragrance has a gorgeous warm summery but fresh scent which reminds me of being on holidays by the ocean.

The fragrance includes top notes of Lemon Leaves, Mandarin and Cassis, heart notes of Peony and Jasmine Samabac and base notes of creamy vanilla, amber wood, patchouli and musk.

I adore the smell and also love the styling of the bottle. On recent sunny days I have sprayed myself with the stuff to get me in summer spirit and I am definitely packing this for my sunshine holidays this year.

NEW Bronze Goddess Capri Eau Fraiche/Skinscent, 100ml £40.00

Also in the Bronze Goddess Capri collection in the Pure Colour Illuminating Powder Gelee in Shimmering sands which is a gorgeous bronze shimmer powder for a beautiful warm sun-kissed glow. With clever prisma shine technology, featuring a tri-brid formula of liquid, powder and gel, the luminescent formula delivers a naturally radiant finish.

You can apply the product dry (as bronzer or highlight) or wet for a more vibrant look for example as an eye shadow or blended out on your collarbones for a sexy golden glow on your chest area.

Swatched: Top; dry and bottom; wet

The limited edition nail lacquer from the Capri collection is ‘Molton Lava’

Its a deep purple taupe with pinkish gold shimmer that runs throughout vanish! See some great swatches here (link). Think this will look especially smashing on my toes over summer time :)

The full Bronze Goddess Capri Makeup Collection includes:

For Face:
NEW Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee in Shimmering Sands, £28.00

Bronze Goddess Luminous Liquid Bronzer, 30ml £21.50
Bronze Goddess Soft Matte Bronzer, £27.00
Bronze Goddess Soft Shimmer Bronzer, £27.00
Bronze Goddess Soft Duo Bronzer, £27.00

For Lips:
NEW Pure Color Gloss in Shimmering Mirage, £16.00
Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Tiger Eye, £18.50
Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Urban Auburn, £18.50

For Eyes:
NEW Pure Color Five Color Gelee Powder EyeShadow Palette in Bronze Sands, £35.00
NEW Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon Duo in White Sands/Molten Lava, £18.00
Sumptuous Waterproof Bold Volume™ Lifting Mascara in Black, £19.50

For Nails:

NEW Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Molten Lava, £14.00

Another standout item from this collection for me would be the limited edition Five Color Gelee Powder EyeShadow Palette in Bronze Sands. I love last years eyeshadow palette from the Bronze Goddess Soleil collection (read my review here) and I use it all the time! I like using a bronze/golden shade all over the lid and then popping a bright blue on my lower lash line.

I also really like this 'pop of aqua' look I created last summer; you can read the full post here (link)

The Bronze Goddess 2012 Capri Collection is available at Estée Lauder counters nationwide and at www.esteelauder.co.uk now. So what do you think of Estee Lauders' Bronze Goddess Capri collection this year; are you eyeing up any pieces in particular? xoxo

The Hunger Games

2012-05-16T14:52:00.000+01:00

When the Hunger Games movie came out in the UK I was one of many (girls) very keen to see it. Not to the die-hard extend of lining up for hours to get a ticket or anything because I hadn’t read the books but had seen the previews and reviews which all looked great. So as soon as it was out at the end of March me and my flatmate went to our local favourite cinema, the Electric in Notting Hill, to soak up some adventure, romance and si-fi action! We both really enjoyed the film and our next plan of action was to buy the books and read them all straight away!!

It is now about a month later and I have just finished reading ‘the Mockingjay’ which is the last book of the trilogy by Suzanne Collins. From the moment I picked up the first book I have been completely hooked and would spend any free moment of my days reading to find out what would happen to Katniss!!

Without giving too much away, the book is written in the voice of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem where the countries of North America once existed. The Capitol, a highly advanced metropolis, holds domination over the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games are an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12 to 18 from each of the 12 districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle until only one person is left.

The Hunger Games is the first novel in The Hunger Games series, followed by Catching Fire (my favourite) and Mockingjay. It is rated young-adult but I don’t think it’s that teenyboppy and think most people will enjoy these books! So if you want gripping, easy to read books to lose yourself in for the next few weeks then I definitely recommend picking up the Hunger Games series!

“Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!”

Here are the three main movie stars from the Hunger Games movie at the LA premiere.

Josh Hutcherson (Peeta), Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) and Liam Hemsworth (Gale)
I think Jennifer is absolutely stunning and well-cast as Katniss!

How stunning is her bronzed/golden make-up here?

So have you read the Hunger Games series or are you planning too?

I was super obsessed with the books so this makes me very curious to see if I will still like the next two movies now that I have read the books. It’s always such a shame when you love a book so much and then movie doesn’t quite match up! But in saying that….

Happy Hump Day xoxo

Seriously lusting after LK Bennett Crocus Bag

2012-05-15T14:14:00.000+01:00

I’ve completely falling in love with these gorgeous L.K. Bennett Crocus Bags! They're available in a range of stunning shades from black pink, citrus yellow and nude.

But I think especially the aqua blue one has my name written all over it!!

Unfortunately at £245 each they're a bit out of my budget at the moment.

Maybe I should start saving? Or anyone feeling generous; gifts are always welcome ;) xoxo

How to wear neon this summer #

2012-05-12T13:37:00.001+01:00

One of the trends for spring/summer 2012 is neon! Now this trend is definitely not for wall-flowers because you are bound to stand out in such bold colours. Neon can be tricky to pull off and I can understand you might be a little nervous about looking too teenybopper or feeling like an '80s train wreck! However I think by adding some sophisticated neon numbers to your spring/summer wardrobe, it can give just the right kind of 'shock value' to your look.

I recently got this neon jumper from ZARA and every time I wear it I just feel so happy :)

ZARA Jumper with front cable ribbon in neon green/yellow (link)

White t-shirt by H&M

Blue skinny jeans by ZARA basics

Michael Kors watch

RayBan aviator sunglasses (as seen here)

I'm also loving my new Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars in white with double navy tongue (link)

They are super comfortable and white trainers are the perfect accessory with jeans for summer time.

Here are some neon/brights items I am loving that I think would add the right amount of POP to any look!

La Mer Neon wrap watch (link)

ZARA Denim shorts with neon detailing (link)

Cooperative Neon Open Weave Scarf (link)

ASOS skinny belt (link)

Christian Louboutin Pigalle Neon Pump

ZARA Neon shorts (link)

Cambridge Satchel Company Neon Coral Satchel (link)

ZARA Neon shorts (link)

ESSIE Neon nail polishes

ZARA Yellow Blazer (link)

ZARA Lace dress with crossover back (link)

I recommend only wearing one or two neon items at a time. Neons pair well with neutrals like white, tan or black. Neons are not for the faint hearted, but by trying one or two pieces, you can wear the neon trend with confidence! Do you think you will give the neon trend a go this summer? xoxo

Best & Worst: Met Gala 2012 =

2012-05-10T21:28:00.000+01:00

The Costume Institute Gala held at the New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art is often referred to as the "fashion's Oscars"with famous faces from the big and small screens, the music industry, and the fashion world all stepping out in their finest. This year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art honours Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada in an exhibition which draws parallels between the two Italian designers. But on Monday night all eyes were on who rocked the best frocks at the launch party. Here are my personal best and worst picks of the event!

BEST

♥ Kate Bosworth in Prada. Kate’s two-tone flapper dress is just divine.

Her effortless hair together with striking makeup make this my favourite the look of the night.

♥ Gwyneth is showing off her amazing pins in this fun but classy short backless Prada dress.

♥ Emily Blunt looks stunning in this pink Calvin Klein dress.

Its simplicity is very elegant plus I love the back, the colour and think it fits her like perfectly.

♥ Jessica Alba shines in this gold metallic Grecian gown by Michael Kors.

♥ Ashley Greene looks angelic in a Donna Karan Atelier white grecian dress.

♥ Emma Stone sparkled in a red satin dress with embroidered flowers made byAlber Elbaz for Lanvin.

She just looks super cute, glowing and love the fit and colour on her!

♥ Camilla Belle channels old school Hollywood glamour in Ralph Lauren.

The dress also had a gorgeous low cut back and the dark lipstick really suits the overall look.

♥ Love January Jones in this sculptural lemon Versace gown with a vintage diamond-and turquoise necklace.

Yellow is very in trend at the moment and January can definitely pull off this bright gown!

Backless dresses proved a popular look and these ladies definitely rocked it!

♥ Renee Zellweger goes all out in a black Pucci dress with a super-long train.

♥ Nina Dobrev in a black and silver Donna Karan Atelier

♥ Cameron Diaz sparkled in Stella McCartney

♥ Rihanna looked edgy and glamorous in crocodile dress from Tom Ford’s Autumn 2012 collection

♥ Karolina Kurkova in a sequin Rachel Zoe dress and turban.

Now onto the worst dressed of the night; to be honest there were quite a few so this is just a small selection....

WORST

♥ Coco Rocha in Givency. A bright pink pant suit…..with matching pink hair extensions and bright yellow top. What on earth was she thinking?

♥ Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte…..Booooorrrrrrrriiiinnnggggg and not red carpet appropriate!

♥Kristen Stewart, as the newest face of Balenciaga wears a dress by the fashion house by designer Nicolas Ghesquière. The dress isn't too bad but the combination with the shoes and the messy hair, fail!

♥ Eva Mendes in Prada. I love the colour but not a fan of the shape and design; its unflattering on her.

And no this is not me being jealous of her dating Ryan Gosling ;)

♥ Milla Yovovich's in Prada. Not loving the fringe and detailing on this dress.

♥ Sarah Jessica Parker in Valentino. Frumpy and check out the the matching shoes, urgh!

♥ Jessica Biel in Prada. She is such a beautiful woman and this dress is nice, but c’mon Jessica you are young and stunning! I just would have liked to seen a bit more ‘oomph’ in her look!

♥ Leighton Meester, in Marchesa. The shade, the shape, the hair, the makeup…all of it. Fail.

♥ Elizabeth Banks in Mary Katrantzou. Don’t think an explanation is required here?

♥ Alexa Chung in Marc Jacobs.

Fashion forward and edgy but not quite the right look for an event such as the Met Ball.

And as much as the Met Gala is a time to experiment with fashion; model Anja Rubik took experimenting to a whole new level on Monday night!

She showed up in a cream coloured satin dress by designer Anthony Vaccarello. The dress had a ridiculously hip-high split and cut-away chest holes. Maybe she was aiming for her hipbones to be an accessory. There had to be some magic tape holding that dress together to prevent a fashion mishap on the night. Some people seemed to love this look but for me it's just too much...or should I say too little? ;)

So what were your best and worst looks from the 2012 Met Ball in NYC? I'd love to hear! xoxo

Queens day Amsterdam..ridiculously amazing!

2012-05-09T10:57:00.000+01:00

It's that time of the week already....Happy Hump Day!!

Queens Day 2012 in Amsterdam was....well......ridiculously amazing!! There's no other way to describe it. As promised here some pictures of this awesome day filled with friends, music, sunshine and music. We got so lucky with the weather because it rained before and after Queens Day but on the day itself we were blessed with blue skies and 23 degrees, unbelievable!

Warning these images contain a lot of.....ORANGE!!!! ;)

I had the best day and have some amazing memories that will stay with me forever ♥

People always ask me lots questions about the Netherlands so I thought I’d give you all some (fun) interesting facts about my home country!

♥ "the Netherlands" and "Holland" are used to describe the same country!
♥ Why do Dutchies like orange so much? It's the name of our royal family the "House of Orange".
♥ The Dutch are the tallest people in the world. Men average at 1.84m and women at 1.7m. I am 1.74m tall so just above average for a Dutch girl :)
♥ The Netherlands has the highest population density (493 inhabitants per square km - water included) of any European country with over 1 million inhabitants.
♥ The Netherlands means 'Low Country' in Dutch. About half of its surface area is less than 1 meter above sea level and one quarter of the Netherlands is actually below sea level. When your plane arrives at Schiphol Airport, it lands 4.5 metres below sea level
♥ A large part of Holland has been reclaimed including the world’s largest man-made island Flevoland. This led to the Dutch saying "God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands".
♥ With only 0.008% of the world’s area, the Netherlands is the world’s third largest agricultural exporter
♥ The Netherlands highest point is 323 metres high and is therefore called a ‘mountain’!
♥ The Dutch are the next biggest coffee drinkers – after the Scandinavians
♥ There are people from 200 different nationalities living in Amsterdam
♥ Amsterdam has 1,281 bridges.
♥ Because Amsterdam's soil consists of a thick layer of fen and clay, all buildings are built on wooden poles that are fixed in a sandy layer that is 11 meters deep on average. The Royal Palace at Dam Square is built on no less than 13,659 wooden poles.
♥ The Netherlands has nearly 1,000 museums, with 42 in Amsterdam alone and you can see 22 paintings by Rembrandt and 206 by van Gogh in Amsterdam.
♥ Almost every person in the Netherlands has a bicycle (over 16 million bikes!) and there are twice as many bikes as cars
♥ The Netherlands has at least 15,000km of cycle tracks
♥ the Netherlands still has about 1,000 traditional working windmills
♥ The Dutch love flowers; you’ll find a bunch of flowers in almost every living room!

Note the 30th April in your diary because it's our Queen's Birthday and the best party day ever! You won't want to miss it next year! I will be there again that's for sure :) xoxo

Smokey eye & dewy glow FOTN $

2012-05-07T22:15:00.000+01:00

This is one of my current favourite night time looks; soft smokey grey eyes with a glowy complexion...

Products used on face:

♥ Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation (review here)

♥ MAC Bronzer in Golden

♥ MAC Springsheen (blush)

♥ Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All over Radiance

Products used eyes:

♥ MAC Knight Divine eyeshadow (all over lid and lower lash line)

♥ MAC Haux eyeshadow (blended into crease to soften the grey)

♥ Kajal eyeliner in Pure Black (review here)

♥ L'Oreal Super Liner, perfect slim - love this precision felt-tip eyeliner (link)

♥ Blink & Go Mascara (received as part of my December Glossybox)

♥ Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All over Radiance (browbone highlight)

Lips: MAC & Marcel Wanders lipgloss in 'Julia'

The product I am absolutely loving at the moment to give me this 'glowy' look is my Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow all over Radiance Crème. I'd read many raving reviews about this product so I finally decided to add it to my makeup collection, and oh boy, am I glad I did!

Multi-purpose and versatile, Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Crème is a light-diffusing crème for lustrous skin. Wear all-over the face, under or over foundation or simply on bare skin. It has the added moisturising agent Jojoba to protect and hydrate your skin. It comes it two shades; 01 - Iced Gold and 02 - Rose Gold. I went for Iced Gold for more of a cold/golden glow.

This is the product swatched on my hand.

As you can see it creates the loveliest natural sheen; a true shimmer not glitter!

I normally apply the crème on top of my liquid foundation on my cheekbones, the bridge on my nose, as a brow highlight plus a tiny bit on my lip cupid's bow. You only need a small amount and the creamy texture is so easy to apply, I either dot it on with my fingers or use a small stippling brush. This is definitely my favourite highlighter at the moment!

I got my Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Crème for £17.00 online at FeelUnique.com (link) or you can purchase this product, or any others from the Jemma Kidd range, direct from the Jemma Kidd Makeup School website here.

1 Seconde Nail Enamel by Bourjois

2012-05-03T21:53:00.004+01:00

In June 2012 Bourjois will launch their new '1 Seconde Nail Enamel' collection. A few weeks ago I got a preview to this new collection which contains a new gel silicone-enriched formula allowing the polish to glide on perfectly, offering maximised contouring and an ultra-glossy finish to the nail....in record drying time!

Check out the three lovely colours I chose to take home withe me...

From left to right:

N°13 Figue Chic; a muted easy to wear lavender

N°04 Taupe Classy; a beautiful grey, warmed with brown notes for an elegant look

N°05 Corail Féérique; a fresh coral sprinkled with golden micro particles for a vibrant radiance.

The only thing is, I am not quite sure why they have called this '1 Seconde' because it's fast drying but definitely not that quick! I'd say it dries in about 50 seconds leaving you with super shiny nails and still plenty of time to spare ;)

This is N°05 Corail Féérique which I just love :)

The pigmentation of the formula is great; non-streaky and awesome coverage in just 2 coats.

The 1 Seconde Nail Enamel collection comes with a newly designed 'fan effect' brush that by pressing down lightly or heavily against the nail adjusts to its size and shape. Meaning one stroke and the whole surface is coated in a neat finish!

1 Seconde Nail Enamel will be available in 10 lovely shades (£5.99/ €7.99 each) ranging from trendy pastels, stylish reds and pretty soft nudes.

Plus as part of their 'Sweet Paris' Spring Trend 2012 collection they also added two lovely new colours to their 10 Days Nail enamel range:

Left: 26, a pastel pinky-mauve

Right: 25, a spring pastel coral

All these lovely polishes are available from your locals Boots or Superdrug or find out more stockist information at www.bourjois.co.uk. So do any of these new nail polishes tickle your fancy? xoxo

I am back!

2012-05-02T14:08:00.000+01:00

Hey everyone,
Sorry for my recent disappearance from the blog; life has been pretty busy! Last week I was away with work followed by a four day weekend back home in the Netherlands. It was that time of the year again for the annual celebration of Dutch Queens Day in Amsterdam. You can see some of my photos from last year here (link).

I got back to London last night and now back at work to catch up on the (many many) emails! :(
After three days of partying my body definitely feels a little broken so this week will be detox week; healthy food, exercise, no drinking and trying to catch up on sleep. But I agree with the below....

Which means the partying was all worth it because you only live once and I have so many amazing memories from this weekend that I will cherish forever :) I will post some pictures of my EPIC Queens Day weekend in the next few days. Hope you all have a great week. Happy Hump Day! xoxo

PS: The COR Soap Giveaway has now closed. Thank you for all your entries!! I will contact the five lucky winners this week so they can receive their free Silver Soap starter packs.

Pin it?

2012-04-25T10:24:00.002+01:00

Have you heard of Pinterest yet? Ever since I discovered this brilliant website, I am completely addicted.....

"Pinterest is a website that lets you organise and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.
Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests."

Basically it's an online place to create your own mood boards! I pin a bit of everything that takes my fancy.....

♥ Fashion inspirations ♥

♥ Hair and Beauty ♥

♥ Food Love & Recipes ♥

♥ Home/Craft♥

♥ Quotes & Sayings ♥

(aka Happy Hump Day inspirations...)

These are some of my Boards on Pinterest!

So are you on Pinterest yet?

I definitely recommend checking it out!

Find (and follow) me on Pinterest here

http://pinterest.com/dutchess_roz

Happy Hump Day! xoxo

New summer jackets: suede & denim

2012-04-22T10:38:00.000+01:00

When I was in Barcelona I did end up doing a little bit of shopping and two things I picked up were some lovely new summery jackets. I found both of them in the shop Bershka. We have this chain in London too but I admit I don't visit it often but am thinking should because when I was in Barcelona there were so many things inside the shop that I loved.

The first thing I got was this cream suede leather 'biker style' jacket. I spotted this in the window of the shop on one of the days the stores were closed and loved it so much I just had to try to find this jacket once the shop opened the next day...

♥ Bershka suede Jacket (link)

♥ White long tank top (Primark)

♥ Coral Maxi Skirt by River Island, as seen here

♥ Samantha Wills Triple Threat Necklace, as seen here

♥ Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses, as seen here

The beautiful Barcelona street tiles!

I love the fit and feel of this jacket and because of its light colour I think this will get lots of use over summer, paired with dresses, skirts or jeans.

I also found my perfect denim jacket for summer in Berhska. I had been looked for a denim jacket for a while but hadn't found one quite right; they were always a little too dark or a little too light toned. For me this shade was just perfect denim blue!

♥ Berskha BSK denim jacket (link)

Paired here with my favourite bright coral jeans!

I think a denim jacket is a definite closet- must have! It's layerable, light weight which means easy to carry around with you and it doesn't crease so you can just throw it in your bag and reach for it when it gets cold. It's such a transitional piece and blue denim will go with pretty much everything! A well-fitting denim jacket couldn’t be more classic or useful. Pair it with dresses, shorts or jeans and depending on the style, it can instantly transform your look creating new possibilities for certain items sitting in your closet.

What do you think of my new jackets...are you eyeing up any new jackets for summer time? xoxo

Bourjois 1 Second Nail Polish Remover

2012-04-19T09:01:00.001+01:00

This week Bourjois will launch their latest ingenious invention for removing nail polish in an instant!!

Let me introduce you to their '1 second' nail polish removal bottle. Now this is not a totally new concept but it is by far best one I have tried. Magic 1 Second Nail Polish remover by Bourjois is my favourite product at the moment because it makes taking off my nail polish a breeze. All you do is dip your finger into the sponge filled bottle, hold it here for a second (or two) twist it round, and pull it out again....TADA varnish free nails and no cotton wool required!!

But that's not all...the formula is acetone free, paraben free and is packed full of sweet almond oil to nourish your nails and cuticles. My fingers actually feel fresh and almost moisturized after removing my nail polish which is a first for me!

This is what the inside of the pink bottle looks like, a black formula-soaked sponge.

Another great thing about their nail polish remover is the scent. As expected, when you first remove your finger from the jar it smells strongly of nail polish remover but the scent it leaves on your nails afterwards is completely different...they smell of red fruit and vanilla. How nice is that?!

I am definitely in love with this product and will re-buy again and again because now changing my nail colour to suit my daily mood has become a 1 second job ♥ Merci Bourjois :)

The Bourjois 1 Second Nail Polish Remover will be available from Boots and Superdrug this week for £4.99.

Do you think you'll pick this up? xoxo

Nobu London; a birthday treat!

2012-04-18T15:22:00.001+01:00

Last Wednesday was the birthday of one of my best friends so we decided to celebrate this together in style. London has many excellent and world class restaurants and Michelin starred Nobu had been on my to-go-to list ever since I moved here. It can be quite tricky to secure a booking for these kind of restaurants that are quite the magnet for the rich, famous and beautiful people but we managed to actually get a table for 9pm on her birthday. Ok 9pm is a bit later than my usual dinner time but this meal was worth waiting for!

After a lot of umm-ing and ahh-ing about what to order from their HUGE menu we decided to share some of their famous signature dishes.

To start we got the essential glass of champagne to say ‘cheers’ and happy birthday!

My gorgeous friend on her birthday!

First up was the yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno...

Then probably my favourite dish of the night was the Beef Tenderloin Tataki with Ponzu & Garlic Chips...

The beef was seared to perfection and the ponzu sauce with tiny dried garlic chips on top complimented the meat beautifully!

Up next the The Rock Shrimp Tempura with all sauces...

This was like perfect hot prawn popcorn. So crispy, non-greasy and delicious!

The Nobu world famous signature dish; the black cod with miso...

The black cod is marinated for 2-3 days in a sweet miso sauce which makes the fish sweet and caramelised out on the outside with a silky delicious texture on the inside. This one piece of fish will set you back £42 which is definitely not cheap for what you get, but we just couldn’t go to Nobu and not try their speciality delicacy dish and I must say it was very tasty!

To finish off we had the Chocolate Bento Box which contains a flourless chocolate fondant served with green tea ice cream.

Chocolate fondant is my favourite dessert ever…you can wake me up any time of the night for one of these babies! Nobu’s fondant was cooked to perfection with the chocolate oozing out on touch!! Trust me when I say this dessert disappeared within seconds!

I absolutely loved our evening at Nobu! If you ever find yourself at Nobu in London, or any of their restaurants worldwide then do be prepared to spend a bit of money because it is not cheap but I think if you can’t splurge out on birthdays, then when can you right? ;)

Nobu London
www.noburestaurants.com

And on that note.....

Happy Hump Day everyone :) xoxo

123 Perfect Foundation - Face of the Day

2012-04-16T08:47:00.000+01:00

As far as drugstore foundations go I have to say Bourjois seem to know their stuff! I love their Healthy Mix Gel Serum foundation (review here) and the Bourjois 10hour sleep effect foundation. Their latest foundation '123 Perfection' is no exemption to their winning foundation formula.

The new liquid foundation contains 3 colour pigments to give you a beautiful even complexion!

1. A yellow concealing pigment to cover dark circles for a rested complexion

2. A mauve radiance boosting pigment to light up your skin

3 A green anti-redness pigment to eliminate high colour and even the tone

And just like that 1,2,3 Perfect ;)

The foundation is available in 5 shades; 51 (vanilla clair) - 52 (vanille) - 53 (beige clair) - 54 (beige) - 56 (beige rosé). For me 52 is a great match but may need 53 as I get a bit more tanned in summer.

The formula is very smooth and perfectly blends into my skin providing me with medium coverage. I apply the product by buffing it in flawlessly with my Stigma stippling brush (link). The foundation has 24-hour hydrating benefits which means it lets the skin breathe and it contains SPF10 to protect you from UV rays.

Plus I just love it when foundations come with a pump to dispense the product!

But my favourite thing about this foundation is that it has a beautiful soft matte finish which means I have not been using any powder on top which has been a really nice change for me.

Here is a recent FOTD.....

MAC Studio Finish concealer NC20

Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation in 52

Bourjois' Délice de Poudre bronzing powder (as seen here)

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Sea Star Bronzing Blush (as seen here)

HD Brows kit (review here)

NARS Silk Road eyeshadow (lid)

NARS Abyssina eyeshadow (browbone & tearduct)

Urban Decay Snakeskin eyeshadow (outer V & lower lash line)

Blink & Go mascara

Bourjois 123 Perfect Foundation will be available from mid April 2012 and will retail at Boots for £10.99. Do you think you'll try this new foundation? xoxo

Stripes and sequins >

2012-04-14T10:47:00.001+01:00

Out and about in South Kensington on a lovely spring Sunday a few weekends ago....

♥ Red skinny Jeans by ZARA (cropped with gold zips) as seen here

♥ Thigh high flat boots from Oasis

♥ Ginatricot Bag as seen here

♥ Blue Stripe Sequin Top from River Island (link)

♥ Watch by Michael Kors

Me, the 'stripes addict' that I am, spotted this top at River Island and fell in love instantly. Stripes and sequins, now what better combo could a girl wish for?My friend and I met up at one of our regular brunch places in South Kensington; Le Pain Quotidien When we go here we always order a large bowl of honey banana porridge, it's the best!My Ray Ban Aviator Sunglasses (link)

Cor Silver Soap

2012-04-12T21:21:00.000+01:00

The lovely people at COR recently sent me a sample of their Silver Soap to try. I’d read bits and pieces about this soap because many celebs like Jessica Biel, Nicole Sherzinger, Sarah Jessica Parker and Reese Witherspoon have raved about it and it sold out in the US when it launched last year.
Until recently it wasn't available in the UK but now it is here for all of us to enjoy!

But what is this soap and what’s so special about it?

“Cor's silver soap is a great multi-taker product because it can be used to transform stressed out skin suffering from acne, eczema, pigmentation and even fine lines and wrinkles to leave you with a glowing, clear and youthful complexion at the same time!”

The star ingredient of this soap is that it contains the patented formula of nano-silver with silica and they are derived from natural sources.

Silver: is one of the best antibacterial agents. It blocks the bactera’s ability to transfer oxygen through its cell walls. Silver also has healing properties and has been used by doctors to speed cell repair.
Silica: prepares the skin to accept the ingredients of Cor. The sponge-like nature of Silica draws the Silver and other active ingredients into its particles so that it can richly nourish the skin.

Other ingredients include:
Glycerin: derived from natural palm oil which is a renewable source of glycerin most often used in high end soaps.
Marine Collagen from Japan: Cor’s collagen can add a more youthful apperance to one’s face.
Sericin: is a natural, soluble protein made from silk. Highly moisture-binding and film-forming.
Chitosan: is a natural fibre that acts to even out skin tone, and helps to balance out the skin’s oil levels.
Pomegranate Extract: helps to reduce the effect of aging and fight free radicals.
The soap is amber coloured and comes in cased in a stylish box to preserve the soap and has a fresh slightly citrusy fragrance.

I have been using this soap for a few weeks now and my skin is certainly not complaining. I have to say I am blessed with pretty good skin so I am not someone that suffers from a lot of breakouts or anything so I can’t really judge that aspect of the soap. The soap lathers and foams with use and leaves my skin ‘squeeky’ clean – I am serious, my skin actually makes that noise with this soap! It removes all my make up without stripping any natural oils and thereore and my skin feels fresh and glowing. I like that Cor Silver Soap contains no parabens or preservatives and that it is suitable for sensitive skin.
Cor Silver Soap’s are available now from Corsilver.co.uk with prices starting from £15.

So are you keen to try this product? Well you can!! I am giving away FIVE Silver Soap starter packs, which include a 15g soap plus samples of the their Anytime Moisturiser, Wrinkle Serum and Eye Cream, worth £24 each.

To enter, simply complete the following steps:
♥ Like my DutchessRoz FaceBook Fanpage (link)
♥ Leave a comment and your email address on the Cor Silver Soap photo as posted on my Facebook FanPage timeline (link)
♥ And for an extra entry RT the following on twitter 'Enter to #win 1 of 5 amazing Cor Silver Soaps with @dutchess_roz here http://t.co/aaOXpLQE'

Also I am able to offer you all a unique 10% discount on any orders via Cor’s Facebook Social Store (link) by entering the unique code ROZ4.

The competition is open until the 30th of April, when I will pick 5x lucky winners. Good luck! xoxo

UPDATE: This competition has now closed. Winners have been notified.

Hola Guapas, I am back!

2012-04-11T15:24:00.001+01:00

Hola guapa(s) means hello beautiful in Spanish! Sorry for my lack of blogging recently but I was away on holiday and really needed the break. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter break. I got back from Barcelona late on Monday night and have to say I had the BEST weekend. Everyone told me I was going to love Barcelona and they were right…….it was amazing!!

Here some (ok quite a few....sorry!) photos of my lovely long weekend….

Casa Batlló by Gaudi

Churros con Chocolate....OMG delicious!

Casa Mila or 'La Padrera'

Exploring the city....

The very impressive Sagrada Familia

Parc Guell

Our usual breakfast in the sun; croissants, coffee and fresh fruit..

I loved visiting the 'La Boqueria' market. The fresh amount of fruit, meat and produce was amazing!

We definitely consumed a LOT of amazing food during our Spanish weekend....

Paella and Sangria!

Sugary donuts 'Rosquillas'

Lots and lots of Tapas!

Chocolate covered Churros ♥

My gorgeous friend at the Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe

Cava in the sunshine by the beach!

We were very sad when we had to say 'Adios' to Barcelona again to head back to London. I definitely want to visit Barcelona again soon, think it's one of my favourite places in Europe.
I saw this in one of the streets in Barcelona and think it summed up our weekend rather well.....

Happy Hump Day everyone :) xoxo Roz

Adios London, Hola Barcelona!

2012-04-05T21:45:00.002+01:00

Hi everyone, sorry there won't be any updates on the blog for the next few days because I will be away for the long Easter weekend to the beautiful city of Barcelona!

I am SO excited!! Bring on all the beautiful architecture, great city atmosphere and delicious spanish tapas!

Are you going away for the Easter holidays at all? Wishing you all a lovely break xoxo

Trends: I heart coral! >

2012-04-02T23:33:00.000+01:00

Another huge colour trend for Spring/Summer this year is coral. Designers and high street stores have all been adding lots of this shade to their collections for summer ranging from the subtlest pastel coral to a brighter neon hot pink/coral. Coral is a mix between pink and orange and also one of my all-time-favourite colours!

I can’t think of a better way to bring some zing to your summer time wardrobe then by adding a few pieces drenched in this lovely shade. Seeing coral everywhere makes me so happy! Loving all of this....

The only problem with having my favourite colour splashed all over the shops means that everytime I see something in coral I just get a little crazy and have to buy it. Oh oh I think we have a problem! ;)

Here some coral pieces I picked up in the shops recently!

Bright coral skinny jeans from River Island - only £20 (link)

One piece I really really wanted was a bright coral flowing maxi skirt but I looked everywhere and they were all sold out. Until I just randomly saw it in a 'last chance to buy' rack at River Island. It must have been my lucky day because it was the only one left, in my size and on sale for only £15; score!!

I cant wait to wear this with a simple white singlet and some gold sandals ♥

A slightly more pinkish coral top with pleated shoulders from ZARA (link)

Online in the UK they seem to only have this in a light orange and white colour but in store they have it in more shades like this pretty coral one. I love the gold star button details at the back! I will wear this to work with suit or black trousers or on the weekend with dark skinny jeans for a nice day or nighttime outfit!

Maje & Sandro are two of my favourite French stores! Their clothing is a little pricey but their garments are always amazing quality and their collections just stunning. I got this dress in the Selfridges sale back in January and knew I just had to have it for summer. It looks a bit like a loose shift dress on the hanger but once on it's actually got a really nice tight fit and the low V neckline and high padded shoulders makes it short and sassy. I haven't had a chance to wear this yet but hopefully I will soon! Actually both Sandro and Maje have some gorgeous coral pieces in their current summer collection so I better avoid those shops for a little while.....

I think coral has a great blend of femininity and edginess that will works in any girl’s wardrobe! Don't be afraid to play with this trend in big doses...the more vibrant the hue, the better! As intimidating as bright corals may look, it's actually a very feminine and fresh look. For a bold look, go head-to-toe coral but if you're not ready to commit on this scale, just tone it down with neutral separates. Nude, caramel, khaki, gold and teal/turquoise go fabulously with coral; although black, white and silver are also a stylish alternative if you prefer a stronger contrast. You can also update neutral outfits you own with vivid coral accessories; a bold orange bag to brighten up your ensemble, or a coral belt or necklace to a little white dress for example makes for a chic and on trend accent!

I definitely ♥ coral. Will you be shining bright in coral this summer? xoxo

Essie: Mint Candy Apple nails %

2012-04-01T21:38:00.000+01:00

As you know I am loving anything in the colour mint at the moment so this was something that I just HAD to add to my nail polish collection....

Yep we are talking MINT nail polish!

I think Essie's Mint Candy Apple is the perfect shade for spring 2012 or just imagine it on feet with sand between your toes, while on the beach..... oh yeah baby bring on summer :)This could have been just my bottle but the formula of Mint Candy Apple was a little thick for me which made application a bit tricky. You definitely need 2-3 coats for smooth/opaque cover.

Oh and my lovely flattie also got me a little gift from her recent holiday trip to Dubai.... .....in the form of a mini mint nail polish from Sephora....oh she knows me SO well :)

Teeny Bikini nail polish by Sephora (link) is a lovely mint shade.

It's a little more green than Essie's Mint Candy Apple.

It has a great, non-streaky formula and the mini size makes it super easy to just pop into your handbag for a quick mint fix anytime, anywhere :) xoxo

Burberry lipcover in Rosewood

2012-03-30T10:13:00.002+01:00

I am currently loving my Burberry lipstick in the shade Rosewood; seriously how gorgeous is this lippy?

I discovered this lipstick because it was one of the items in my March 'The Harrods Edition' Glossybox.

I have to say the March Glossybox was filled with some amazing products:

♥ Ojon Restorative Hair Serum

♥ Clarins Extra firming body cream

♥ 4ml Eau De Toilette of Fendi's new Fandi fragrance

♥ Erno Laszlo - 5 piece cream gift set

..but this mini Burberry lipstick was definitely my favourite!

Isn't this the cutest and tiniest lipstick you have ever seen?

The packaging of the mini version is exactly the same as their full sized lipsticks with its polished gunmetal case and Burberry check embossed lipstick bullet.

It's a rosy brown shade that I think would suit most skin-tones. It's a quite a natural look but it does give a nice touch of elegant colour to your lips. The formula is 'soft satin' which feels very light whilst being creamy and moisturizing. The lasting power is really good and it has a pretty satin/glossy finish to it.

Other products I used for this look:

CID i-Perfect Foundation

MAC Peachykeen blush

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder

MAC Belightful highlighter

Estee Lauder stay-in-place shadowcreme in Golden Sands

Urban Decay NAKED2 Palette (Suspect & Snakeskin)

Estee Lauder Pure color Kajal eyeliner in Pure Black

Blink+Go Mascara

What do you think of the Burberry lipcover in Rosewood? A full sized version of this lipstick retails for £23 (link) which isn't cheap but this is a shade that is very timeless so probably worth the investment!

I always love the makeup looks as seen on the models on the Burberry runways or in their advertising campaigns so this lipstick has got me excited about trying more from their beauty collection. Do you have any Burberry beauty products that you would recommend? xoxo