Love, Life and Labels

How To Have A Magical Monday

2014-08-10T17:06:00.000+01:00

Monday is the happiest day of my week. I know what you're thinking - she's crazy, let's all go back to bed! Whilst I would love an extra five hours sleep on a Monday morning followed by a whole day of not going back to work, it's just not going to happen. Like all good things, the weekend has to end at some point and we have to move on so we can reminisce and make plans for an even better one the week after. This year I've been taking a new outlook onto the most hated day of the week by thinking of it as a opportunity to do the following:

1. Start the week as I mean it to go on. A fresh, organised and vibrant week needs to start somewhere so why not right at the beginning?

2. Brighten up the day of those around me. I'm more likely to make colourful outfit choices on a Monday just to add a little sunshine to the office and streets.

3. Be super motivational. Sending tweets and messages to friends urging them to 'kick their email inbox's ass' gives me thrills on the bus to work.

I admit that this all sounds like sticky sweetness with a cherry-on-top and that these opportunities are not to everyone's tastes. We're all powered by motivation so the trick is to find that tiny bit of motivation to not only get yourself through Monday but to enjoy it too. And if that sounds impossible, maybe you should be asking yourself a few serious questions about what you can change about your lifestyle to make 14.29% of your week just as vibrant as the rest of it.

Here's a few fun ideas to make Mondays a little more magical.

Pack a special packed lunch full of your favourite foods.
Make a Monday playlist filled with uplifting tunes. Mine contains Katy Perry's Roar and KT Tunstall's Suddenly I See.
Make after work plans with your friends as a reward for getting through the day.
Go to bed early on Sunday so you wake up super refreshed in the morning.
Eat strawberries - it's impossible to be sad whilst eating strawberries.
Have a proper lunch break - get out of the office, take a walk, soak up the sunshine whilst it is still beautiful.
Write a manageable to-do list to get focused for the week.
Reach out to your friends - don't be alone, give them a call for a five minute chat when you need a boost.
Compliment people - admiring shoes and new haircuts is the best way to raise a smile or two.
Celebrate the conquering of Monday - cook your favourite food and chill out in the evening knowing that you have kicked the ass of the 'worst day of the week'.

Marketing - Louis Vuitton - The Spirit Of Travel S/S 2014

2014-04-25T10:30:00.000+01:00

I'm starting to think that I am the only one that enjoys the many pages of adverts at the start of fashion magazines. I love seeing how brands choose to market themselves in one double page spread that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to make and insert in the magazine. This season I have been truly captivated by the Louis Vuitton campaign featuring Karen Elson and Edie Campbell.

So why do I like this campaign? I like the throwback to Louis Vuitton's traditional luggage line and the sense of travel, escape and experience it gives. It also feels luxurious and expensive - associations Louis Vuitton would have been aiming for. I suppose anyone can shoot a collection in a studio, but Louis Vuitton makes it an adventure.

I am also in love with the giraffe image and I end up staring at it for a while whenever it appears in front of me in magazines. Today I also discovered the beautiful fashion film below that captures more precious moments of the shoot. I just wish the models looked a little more captivated, especially Edie.

The entire story is also evident on the Louis Vuitton website where you can watch the film in glorious full screen and HD, see more from the campaign and of course shop the collection. The taglines are also graphically shown including "to travel is to live" which I'm sure can be found on many a poster on Etsy.

After exploring the website it seems that the models each have a different style of handbag. Whilst I'm sure they needed to add in the commerce element, it seems a little thrown in. I hadn't noticed the handbags in any of the adverts so I'm wondering whether the selling point was needed at all - they are one of the biggest brands in the world after all. However, I guess online isn't the place to purchase a three thousand pound luggage case so a simple handbag would fit the bill.

21 amazing things I did when I was 21

2014-04-22T10:30:00.000+01:00

Graduated from university with a First.

Held a seriously pretty garden party.
Saw the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
Dreamed about and visited Paris.
Climbed the Eiffel Tower.
Had a Tiffany's Bond Street moment.
Bought the most perfect red sequinned dress.
Got a great job.
Moved out of my parent's house.
Recommended a book to a stranger in Paris.
Almost got killed by fangirls on the Sherlock filming set.
Stood inches away from Karlie Kloss.
Got inspired by Luella Bartley and Katie Hillier.
Did my first solo gig and saw Gabrielle Aplin.
Fell in love with Once The Musical.
Got a WAH manicure.
Found Vogue from the month I was born.
Had the night of my life at the Taylor Swift Red Tour.
Got domesticated.
Restarted dance classes.

Got my spark back.

Tomorrow I turn 22 years old. This last year has been the best in my life. I'm so incredibly proud of all of the above because most of them have been moments when I thought to myself "why the hell not?!" when considering them. I used to be sad when a great period of my life was over but this year I've learnt to look forward and just do everything I want to do.

My mantra for 22? Kick it up a notch!

Swooning over my Marc Jacobs Beauty haul

2014-04-21T10:06:00.001+01:00

So here it finally is - the unboxing of Marc Jacobs Beauty! I bought the gel eye crayon in 'Blacquer' and the lip gel in 'Neo-Noir'. You can find out more about where to buy Marc Jacobs Beauty, the in store display and prices here.

This post is 85% pretty images because I'm a strong believer in letting design do the talking sometimes. However I do have a few points to make on these beauties..

The packaging is glossy with a mirrored logo. I'm hopelessly in love with the monochrome look as it looks fantastic on my desk. The typography on the side is also striking especially the lip gel - irresistible, colourful and habit forming are definitely words I would use to describe my strong feelings about the collection.

The lip gel has a magnetic close which makes it feel extremely well made and gives that peace of mind that I won't find smears of red in my handbag.

The eye crayon is a reflective with the crisp black logo. The only downfall is that it is prone to smudgy fingermarks which isn't a huge deal but might annoy neat people.

Whilst I was at the store I took orders for my friends and had the most fun delivering their little Marc Jacobs gems when I got back the Leicester. Here's the amazing blush in Naughty' with photos from @floeastoe!

Inside the box is a branded protective pouch containing the brush compact and small brush.

The compact also features a lid to protect the blush and the mirror from damaging each other.

What will you choose from the collection?

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Marc Jacobs Beauty has officially landed in the UK (and here's the proof, photos and prices!)

2014-04-03T13:08:00.000+01:00

In June 2013 Marc Jacobs Beauty was announced and with it came obvious happiness and excitement mixed with the devastation that it would not be reaching the UK in the distant future. My Instagram was soon filled with the beautiful product and packaging and I found myself swallowing back my tears every time I double tapped to like the photos.

One month ago, something magical happened - the beauty line was suddenly available in Paris and I received a tweet from Marc Jacobs HQ promising a UK debut 'soon'. I've never wanted to go to Paris so much in my whole life and I am somebody that dreams about the city in black and white on a weekly basis.

This weekend I was in London for Vogue Festival but before my trip I decided to do some casual internet browsing and discovered the best Tumblr post ever (probably) - WAH Nails had posted from the UK launch party. After a small dance I decided to play it cool as I hadn't heard anything official in the media or on the marc Jacobs HQ Twitter feed.

Let's just say.. playing it cool did not happen. I may have freaked out slightly when I walked into the store and spotted it.

I'm pleased and super excited to announce that Marc Jacobs beauty is available in the brand's London store on Mount Street - a ten minute walk from Selfridges. Excuse me whilst I do a happy dance on the spot.

The staff inside were a dream and answered all of my questions and chatted to me about all of the marketing behind it. It launched last week and there have been calls to put Lolita on hold by many a Marc Jacobs lover.

I initially went for a red lipstick (of course!) in the shape of the lipgel in Neo-Noir. The next day I went back, armed with several friend's shopping lists and bagged an eyeliner in Blacquer. Stay tuned for an in depth packaging post but I will reveal one thing - it looks and feels expensive and luxurious.

What's that? You want to know prices? Ok, but as long as you don't quote me on it - I hastily typed these out in the store on my iPhone notes.

Liquid Foundation £32

Concealer £25

Powder £30

Foundation Brush £32

Blusher £24

Mini Palettes £26

Large palettes (including Lolita) £40

Lipgloss £20

Lipgel 23

Lip Liner £17

Eyeliner £18

Mascara £21

Time for a marketing blast - the point of sale counter was beautiful. The backlit Marc Jacobs Beauty sign in the mirror looked amazing with the products and was a great light for testing. I did find however that the mirror was a little too far away for proper testing, I would have liked a handheld or pull out mirror. The way the products were arranged was incredibly chic and I'm still getting excited twitches every time I look at the photos in this post. The way the fragrance lines were woven into the display also made so much sense and it all felt like a full circle and a full beauty collection.

In terms of roll out across the country, I don't think it will be anytime soon unfortunately due to the fact that the UK does not have a Sephora. However I don't find myself sad about this. Whilst I want my friends to get the excitement and buzz from visiting the counter soon, I loved the luxe environment and the fact that BookMarc (a great collection of eclectic books) is a mere ten steps away from the counter. I suspect this will come in very useful for those with friends and boyfriends that are not as amused by a lipstick as I was (shoutout to my sister and her boyfriend!). Don't forget to take the two minute walk to Marc By Marc Jacobs whilst you are there - your purse may cry a little but your fashion heart will swoon for hours after.

Click here for part 2 of my Marc Jacobs Beauty posts featuring seriously pretty photos of my haul!

So, what do you think? What will you be purchasing when you're next in London? Let me know in the comments and on Twitter!

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What to wear to the Taylor Swift Red Tour

2014-02-10T10:30:00.000+00:00

The Taylor Swift Red Tour, AKA the best night ever. I've never danced or sang so hard in my entire life. As soon as I bought the tickets I realised I had to find the right outfit and I knew that it had to be red AND sparkly. Thankfully I spotted the perfect dress for £22 (!) in the New Look sale! I've always wanted a dress covered in sequins so it's fate!

Dress - New Look // Jacket - Forever 21 // Boots - Clarks // Headband and sunglasses - eBay // Mascara - Benefit

Lip Stain - Sephora // Bracelet - Keds and MyFlashTrash*

Nails by WAH Nails C/O Keds

Valentine Gifts For Your Single Best Friend

2014-02-08T10:00:00.000+00:00

Crown and Glory Headband // Populaire DVD // Next blog t-shirt

Feminist Ryan Gosling // Happy Jackson lunchbox // XOXO Post-its

// Twizzlers // Chanel Taboo // Heart sunglasses

I go through two stages of Valentine's Day emotions. It begins with utter disgust at the cards and gifts arriving in stores in December but soon turns into product lust as every store is filled with red products and happiness. Damn you Paperchase.

Yes, February 14th has been blown out of proportion with consumerism and gift pressure but I'm pretty cool with celebrating it my way - being grateful for the people I love around me and blowing as many kisses as I can. All of these actions will be directed at my friends so I decided to forgo the impersonal boyfriend/girlfriend gift guide and go for something a little different. I figured everyone loves a little sparkle, a lot of Gosling and a lunchbox to brighten up the rainiest of days.

And if any of that doesn't work for you..

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm super ill and here are my favourite products right now

2014-01-05T16:21:00.002+00:00

I'm on day five of the flu and it's pretty nasty. I can't remember what my usual voice sounds like, I can't wear mascara for fear of a massive coughing fit and everything hurts. However, every cloud has a silver lining - at least 2014 will definitely get betterfrom here and I've managed to put together a kick-ass collection of products to keep me sane. You also get a rare beauty post from me (I'm a novice and scared of how many types of foundation brushes there are).

Kleenex Mansize

On Friday I sneezed and came up with a marketing concept: Kleenex - like sneezing on a cloud. After 2 boxes of regular tissues I converted over to Kleenex to save my poor nose. Yes they cost more but they're oh so luxurious.

SteamCream

If I wrote a '2013 favourites' beauty post this would be number one on my list. SteamCream is the most moisturising thing I've ever touched and feels like heaven on my poor chapped nose. It goes such a long way (I've have my tin since April) and never lets me down when I have dehydrated skin. The tins are adorably pretty too.

Nuxe Rêve de Miel Ultra Nourishing Lip Balm

I got this pot of honey flavoured joy in Paris in September alongside 2 more pots and the stick version. One pot is sold every 28 seconds throughout the world due to it's repairing and nourishing properties. It's packed full of honey, plant oils, shea butter and grapefruit essence and feels amazing on my sore lips. Marks and Spencer now stock this upcoming cult product and I think I'd consider murder if anyone tried to steal my pot right now.

Lush Santa Baby Lip Stain

I picked this lip stain up before Christmas when I needed a lip colour that wouldn't flake in an air conditioned office. This week I've been turning to this due to my theory that nothing bad can happen when you're wearing red lipstick. If I'm going to leave the house looking terrible I'm damn going to do it with red lips.

Collection 2000 Illuminating Touch Concealer

Dark circles are getting me down and my foundation just doesn't like me being ill. This concealer is the only thing keeping me going coverage wise, especially around my eyes. It's so easy to apply and never lets me down. It's also fairly cheap at £4.99!

Massive slippers

If I'm going to relax, I'm going to do it properly! I got this pair for Christmas and makes me feel like I have pillows attached to the soles of my feet.

Have I missed anything? If anyone needs me I'll be curled up marathoning Mad Men..

25 Favourite Posts From 2013

2013-12-29T17:00:00.000+00:00

Love, Life & Labels in 2013
This year I feel like my blog flourished. I may not have a huge amount of followers but I am proud of the posts and content that I have published. This year I went to 2 blogger events and decided to find my own voice and direction in the bloggersphere. I also rebranded the blog using fresh new colours and a new logo and defined the categories I write about - fashion, lifestyle, marketing and now travel.

Coming up in 2014
In 2014 you can look forward to original content, more travel and marketing pieces and some surprises! I have decided that I don't want to be a blogger that copies 'tags' or does regular features that I can't keep up with or are just boring. I want to create content that isn't already out there and inspires a few people. Due to my lack of free time now I have a full-time job I might be posting less but the quality is definitely going to stay high. Hopefully more interviews and behind the scenes tours are on the cards alongside a (terrifying) switch from Blogger to Wordpress. Hit that Bloglovin' button and join the ride!

Marketing
Virgin Airlines Television Advert
Nike Campaign
Banana Republic Window Display
Liberty Scarves Email Campaign
Sodastream Banned Advert

Personal
The Unrealistic Things I Wanted For My 21st Birthday
This Is How I Work - My App and Productivity Tips
I Graduated From University!
Graduation Party Details
I Embraced Going To The Cinema Alone And You Should Too

Fashion
The Dior Exhibition At Harrods
Zatchels Factory Shop In Leicester
Style inspiration - Taylor Swift
Breaking My Spending Ban In Bicester Village
What I Wore In Paris!

Lifestyle
The Kate Spade Book Is Divine!
An Interview With My Favourite Author - Lindsey Kelk
50 Things To Do Before The Summer Ends
I Saw Sherlock Filming On Baker Street
Motivational Art Prints on Etsy

Travel
The Perfect French Market In Paris
Everything I bought In Paris
Grosvenor Hotel - London Victoria
5 Reasons Why Sephora Is Really Great
9 Things I Did In London This Week

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Lindsey Kelk On.. Books, Fashion and Zombie Invasions

2013-12-23T13:41:00.001+00:00

In 2009 I picked up Lindsey Kelk's first novel 'I Heart New York', fell hopelessly in love with it and pretty much forgot about all other chick-lit authors. Since then Lindsey has released seven other books, an ebook and has made me giggle out loud more than any other author has. Lindsey's new novel 'I Heart Christmas' is the sixth book in the hilarious and swoonworthy 'I Heart..' series that follows Angela Clark as she discovers New York, new friends and a beautiful Marc Jacobs handbag. Trust me, you won't be able to put the books down.

I met Lindsey for the second time two weeks ago and we ended up chatting for ten minutes about everything from Dairy Milk to Marc Jacobs whilst a huge queue of adoring fans waited behind us. I definitely couldn't pass up the opportunity to interview my favourite author on a whole range of topics including time travel, life tips and what's in her handbag..

- How would you describe the 'I Heart' series to someone that has never heard of them before?

They’re fun, funny books about a British girl who unexpectedly finds herself navigating life in New York City. While they’re often classified as romance novels, for me, they’ve always been bigger than that – Angela’s career, her family and her friends are just as important as whoever she’s sleeping with. I think that’s definitely very obvious in I Heart Christmas.

- What is your favourite thing about book tours?

I love meeting all the people I talk to on social media. It’s awesome to put a face to a name. Plus the constant standing up and sitting down for photos is an excellent thigh workout.

- Do you have any rituals when it comes to either writing or publication day?

If I’m at home in NYC for publication, I usually do a nice dinner with my friends. If I’m in England, there’s usually a launch event of some kind which is always really lovely. When it comes to writing, the only ritual is procrastination. Eeek.

- What UK beauty products do you stock up on when you visit?

I really like Hydralauron so I always pick up a couple of tubes when I’m over. Other than that, there’s not much else you can’t get in the States, really.

- What has been your most extravagant purchase ever and how did you reassure yourself enough to buy it?

My oversize Mulberry Alexa satchel. I bought it in the airport (where most of my ridiculous purchases occur) and I convinced myself it was a book release gift and that I would use it every day. I don’t. It’s fucking massive.

- How would you describe your style in one sentence?

My style changes every day! Probably, shorts, stripes and Peter Pan collars.

- What are your three best travel tips?

Just be prepared! I get anxious when I travel. Alternatively, don’t travel with me.

- Which city other than NY or London have you fallen head over heels for?

Now I know it better, I love LA. Once you find your way around, it’s pretty wonderful.

- Where are you planning to travel in 2014?

No big plans at the moment but definitely New Orleans, LA and Hawaii – which I realize is pretty big. I want to go to Japan and Alaska but I’m not sure I’ll make them both in the next 12 months.

- How valuable would you be in a zombie invasion? What are your skills?

A friend once told me I was on his zombie survival team because I’m smart, resourceful and ruthless. I think that’s pretty fair.

- What's in your handbag RIGHT NOW?

Oh god… wallet, phone, keys, four lip glosses, a lipstick, a lip balm, MAC powder, a concealer, perfume, chewing gum, painkillers, so much Sudafed I could start a meth lab and the business card of an extremely attractive gentleman.

- What television shows are you addicted to?

All of them? All of them. Um, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Family Guy, American Dad, David Tutera Unveiled, The Vampire Diaries and everything WWE. Everything.

- What films are you looking forward to seeing?

I love films and would literally go every day if I could. I’m really excited about the new X-Men movie and I really want to see Kill Your Darlings with Daniel Radcliffe. They filmed it near me and I love a local film.

- If you could write for one television show, what would it be and what would you do?

I’d totally join the creative team at WWE. They need me, it’s ridiculous that I’m not there already.

- What's the best advice you've ever been given?

Nothing good ever happens after two am.

- What advice would you give to your 21 year old self if we could time travel?

Nothing good ever happens after two am.

- If we had a TARDIS and could travel anywhere in time, where would you go and why?

I don’t know, I worry that if I went anywhere in the past I’d end up cocking up and starting the apocalypse or something. Maybe I’d pop back and accidentally lock myself in the house before a couple of dates… save myself some time and heartache later on.

- What are the last 5 photos you took?

The National singing Christmas carols on The Colbert Report.

My friend's amazing dog. I love him so much.

Halfway through Christmas decorating (and watching American Dad).

Lobsters trying to reach for Christmas freedom.

Arriving home in New York City!

'I Heart Christmas' is the 6th novel in the 'I Heart..' series and is out NOW in all good bookstores. You should totally buy it from an actual bookstore but if you can't wait that long here's a nice amazon link from me to you. Merry Christmas!

The post Lindsey Kelk On.. Books, Fashion and Zombie Invasions appeared first on Lovelifeandlabels.co.uk.

9 Unrealistic Things I Would Like For Christmas

2013-12-22T15:24:00.000+00:00

In April I decided the 9 unrealistic things I would like for my birthday. Weirdly and amazingly, some of them came true! I'm also sick of pretty christmas wishlists littering the bloggersphere mostly due to the fact I'm not really bothered. So Santa, if you're reading list here's what I would like for Christmas (along side Chanel Taboo nail polish and OPI Pirouette My Whistle).

1. For the tagline 'New Year, New You' to be banned from all New Year marketing campaigns.

It's not original, and you should have to wait until the new year to make any adjustments to yourself. Thank you.

2. A 'Stop Your Fringe Growing' potion.

Whilst I love my fringe, I hate that it manages to grow approximately an inch every month. Thankfully, my salon offers fringe trims. Unfortunately it's located a 50 minute bus ride away. *flicks hair from eyes*

3. The end of 'Blogger Hype'.

If you are not aware of blogger hype, here's a quick explanation - a new product (mostly a beauty product) comes out, almost every blogger must have it, tweet about it, instagram it, 'review' it. The best part is when it's not as good as the hype (hello Maybelline Baby Lips). I would love to be part of a marketing team that makes this kind of crazy happen but I can't help but think about the girls that read these blogs and spend their well earned and little money on products that probably don't suit them or that they don't need. Some of the products are probably great (I'm yet to try a Naked Palette) but until them I'm not ready to spend £50 on a candle just because it's so Instagrammable.

4. Marc Jacobs, Karlie Kloss, Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington at Vogue Festival

I'm aiming to go to The Vogue Festival in February because I finally might be able to afford the crazy ticket prices. All I'm asking for is Marc, Karlie, Anna and Grace to come over and inspire me for an hour and my fashion dreams will probably be completed (100% completed if Karlie agrees to be my best friend for life).

5. Appreciation for my favourite television shows (everyone watch them now!)

I'm talking The Mindy Project, Homeland, Mad Men, Girls, Parks and Recreation and more! I know some of these are super popular in the US but I need my family and friends to watch them so I don't have to fangirl on my own!

6. A Muji, Urban Outfitter and UniQlo in Leicester.

Dear Highcross shopping centre and the Leicester mayor, please create these excellent stores in Leicester as I adore them very much and think they would be highly successful amongst a wide variety of visitor demographics. I also believe it would make us extremely competitive against Nottingham and Birmingham as a shopping destination. It would also make me really really happy and really really bankrupt. <3 nbsp="" p="">
7. To learn to drive quickly and cheaply.

I have come to a time in my life where I probably need to learn to drive due to the fact I now live in the countryside miles away from my friends. However, the thought of spending £20 a lesson for 6 months and £150 in admin and tests is really making me think about investing in a yearly bus ticket. All I need is a little car that can take me to and from Bicester whenever there is a good drop in Kate Spade. Is that much to ask?

8. The Marc Jacobs Beauty collection.

WHY are you not in Europe yet? WHY?! I'm dying to get my hands on the red gel lipstick. I'm going to be first in line even if it goes to Paris first..

9. A kick-ass outfit for when I go to see Taylor Swift

This is the ideal outfit I would want to wear but I will settle for a red sequined blazer, tour shirt and black sequin shorts. I'm not even kidding.

A Life Update, in GIFs

2013-11-25T10:30:00.000+00:00

It rains every time I have good hair.

Walking home from work in the dark

Leicester City Centre on a Saturday

When I found out that Lush Snow Fairy is now a perfume

Finding a £30 trench coat in Zara

Cake in the office

Friday night bus home

When I finally get to my house after TWO HOURS on the bus in rush hour traffic on a Friday night

Wearing a onesie to bed

When I saw someone using a tester lipgloss as actual make-up on the bus

When my friend left the iPhone club

When I realise that it's a year until the next Hunger Games movie and the next season of Bake Off

When a MASSIVE spider infiltrated the bungalow

When I got my first official full-time work payslip

When I read how much Mr Tax Man has stolen from me

We got a dishwasher

What I wore to watch the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special

I don't know how to use this Gif but it's amazing.

The Reading List - Inspiring documentaries, polarising articles and beautiful branding

2013-11-17T11:41:00.001+00:00

So I've been gone a while and I promise to explain everything to you next week. Until then, here's some articles I found interesting over the last month. Have a relaxing Sunday!

A Love Letter To Mascara, and those that see me wear it.
I know these costumes are for children but I really want to be Anna Wintour ok?!
This guide to Paris is divine! I wept, and put a parental block on the Eurostar website after reading it.
My favourite graphic designer/blogger launched her own company and her branding is perfection.
Lindsey Kelk ponders her dilemma over sacrificing her morals for love.
Stop everything and listen to the Once The Musical mini EP on Soundcloud NOW. Close your eyes and listen to 'Gold' and 'Falling Slowly', wow.
These 16 struggles of being the eldest sibling are TRUE!
Alexandra Frazen is one of my new favourite bloggers, here's 50 ways to be amazingly generous - I dare you to attempt every single one!
XoVain went to Bite Beauty to get a custom lipstick. Why isn't this in London yet? (My bank account is begging it to stay the other side of the Atlantic)
This list of 18 things to make time for is making me rethink my life.
Kate Spade is the Queen of digital marketing. We already knew this, but now they officially get a crown!
Speaking of marketing, this spoof witness appeal for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D is great!
Gala Darling recommended 5 documentaries to fire you up - I 100% recommend Katy Perry Part of Me!
If you love theatre you'll love this report on audience data, it's an interesting read (go Once The Musical!)
iOS7 getting you down? Here's some pretty iPhone wallpapers as a silver lining.
This playlist on 8Tracks is perfect for insomnia, early mornings and quiet moments.
Should we be taking our husband's surname when married? I'm still polarised.
5 ways Lily Allen's new music video slays Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines (eugh I'm gagging just typing his name).

The 2013 M&S Christmas ad is here! Featuring Helena Bonham-Carter and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley!

2013-11-05T10:30:00.000+00:00

I've been avoiding it for so long but I think it's time to embrace it - it's Christmas! As well as the gift-giving, sparkly everything and party food, I of course adore the Christmas adverts!

Today the Marks and Spencer Christmas ad was released and unlike the last few years, I actually like it! Maybe it's my penchant for narrative ads, or my love for Helena Bonham Carter..

See it for yourself here!

My only wish is for more Helena and more clothing and food shots. I know they want to market like John Lewis but I can't help but feel that they can't afford to based on their sales and growth history.

Now we wait for the John Lewis ad.. meep!

Style Inspiration - Taylor Swift!

2013-10-18T10:30:00.000+01:00

Aside from the brilliant albums (I'm a huge fan), Taylor Swift has become a quiet style inspiration over the last few years and I've found her to be popping up on my Pinterest boards and feed more and more. Here's my ongoing style board dedicated to the singer.

What I love about Taylor's wardrobe is that she always dresses for the occasion. Unlike other artists, she has boundaries. When the camera is on her in her daily life she isn't theatrical (Lady Gaga), on stage she actually wears clothes (Miley Cyrus) and on the red carpet she isn't outrageous (Nicki Minaj). The fact that she dresses like 'real people' is what appeals to me the most and is why she seems so genuine. Even when the media casts unfair shadows on her life, she doesn't act out, she just goes on with her day. Instead of choosing a high end designer to collaborate with for a fashion collection, she chose affordable Keds and designed shoes that you can actually wear.

So what can we learn from this style inspiration? Dress perfectly for the occasion, stay true to who you are and mix trends to find your personal style. Here's the mix of Taylor's trends..

1. Vintage

2. Sparkle

3. Spots

4. Stripes

5. Drama

Standby for more Taylor Swift posts! I'm very very very excited to go to the Red Tour in February and I'm currently deciding on the perfect outfit/costume!

I Go To The Cinema Alone And I Think You Should Too.

2013-10-14T10:30:00.000+01:00

This year I've been very focused on challenging myself to do the things I really want to do and to be generally braver in everyday life. Going to the cinema alone is wrongly labelled as being lonely and not having a life. I want to stop this stereotype right now. This post contains my experiences with solo cinema visits, an attempt at breaking your fears as well as some tips. I can't help but feel that this stereotype was created by a bully or a judgemental person that didn't have enough courage to do something so normal.

Up until last Autumn I had always gone to the cinema with somebody else, that's just the way it always was. The tradition broke when I desperately wanted to see The Perks Of Being A Wallflower again in October 2012 and nobody was available for the 11am showing. If I had stuck with tradition I would have been upset that I had been denied the chance to see a really great movie again (for £3!) and would have had to wait until the middle of February to get it on DVD. This is just sad. After mulling it over for a while (and blowing up my friends' inboxes with desperate requests to join me) I decided to bite the bullet and go for it.

I admit, I was a little scared.

Should I have been scared? Hell no. I scooted into the cinema, asked for one ticket and slipped into the dark room as if someone was with me. And guess what? The film was excellent and I came out into the sunshine smiling and proud.

I don't know what the big deal is. So I asked a few people to give me some scary aspects about the whole experience.

Buying one ticket is weird.

I always buy one ticket when I'm visiting with my friends as it's just so much easier than counting pennies in the dark whilst waiting for the film. If this is still a little too weird, opt for the self-serve electronic ticket machines as it's often quicker than queuing and won't feel judged. The only downside to this is paper flimsy tickets and maybe no Odeon Premiere points. Boo.

I don't like the idea of sitting in the dark on my own.

This is a tough one to answer because you're comfortable or you're not. I'm pretty comfortable in new situations because I travel a lot and challenge myself even more. However, I would suggest going to a cinema that you regularly visit so you're not stepping into a completely unknown place.

People will look at me.

This is one of the main fears about going to the cinema alone. It's inevitable that people will think to themselves 'oh she's sitting alone'. I have a few thoughts about this..

There will always be someone that thinks to themselves 'wow, she's really brave, I'd never be able to do that'. This notion gives me a sense of pride as I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something that not everyone is brave enough to do. Whenever I feel like this I often set myself even harder challenges like dining or travelling alone, both of which I do often.
Someone will think you're lonely. So what?! They're rather rude if they're making untrue assumptions about you without finding out the real truth. Also, you're probably never going to run into these people again.
Sometimes people just look at you, it's human nature - you might be wearing a fierce jacket, carrying way too many bags or reading a book in the middle of the street. I think it would be a sad place if people didn't look at other people and not notice their individualism or crazy great style. If people didn't notice other people then 'street style' wouldn't be a thing and we'd all never fall in love. I digress. The main point is that you shouldn't care what other people think, if you're doing something that makes you happy then everything is peachy.
Just don't look at people. The cinema is dark for a reason..

I don't have anyone to talk about the movie with after.

Sometimes this is a major downfall. After seeing The Bling Ring and Monsters University, none of the people around me had any views so I couldn't validate my opinions. However, social media was my silver lining and I soon started long Twitter conversations and reclaimed any 'real-life' conversation that I might have had.

It is also important to note that there is no worse feeling than dragging someone to see a movie and then realising that they hated it. It's painful.

Pro tips!

Get amazing snacks - I've started a new tradition where I eat Twizzlers every time I go alone because they're crazy good and because everyone gets jealous.
Consider an independent cinema - It's usually full of 'more intellectual' people and not annoying youths. This alone is very comforting. They will also show obscure and indie films that you can't see at the Odeon or other major cinema chain. In Leicester I love visiting The Phoenix as the staff are lovely and the cake is wonderful.
Zoom into the screen right on time - If you're anxious about people looking at you just walk in whilst the adverts are on. Other people will probably not notice you as they are watching the screen and not paying attention to the aisles. You also won't have an awkward wait out or inside with the popcorn guy..
Be proud of yourself for accomplishing something amazing.

Maybe you just have to think..

It would be incredibly sad if the only person stopping you is yourself.

What do you think about this challenge? Would you do it? Have you seen someone else do it?

Sparkle, Sparkle And A Touch Of The 60's - An October Wish list

2013-10-10T10:30:00.000+01:00

This month I'm craving all things glittery, leather detail and chevrons! I'm hopelessly in love with this Crown and Glory headband and ASOS dress. I've also been turning to the decor retailers as I start thinking about furnishing my own place in a few months time. H&M home is stylish and affordable - definitely one I'll be using, and this print from Made.com makes me want to teleport the 60s. The chevron scarf is from Modcloth, an American retailer with cute dresses I'm obsessed with already - I have itchy spending fingers on that site.. Finally a touch more sparkle with the Marc By Marc Jacobs necklace and some reliable comfortable wedges from Clarks that I tried on in Bicester. I'm still mourning that they didn't have my size..

ASOS red faux leather dress
$56 - asos.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs necklace
net-a-porter.com

Scarve
modcloth.com

Home decor
$48 - made.com

H M glass vase
$13 - hm.com

Dameslaarzen casual Nice Melody
$150 - clarks.co.uk

Up Close And Personal - Zatchels Jacky Tsai Collection

2013-10-09T10:30:00.001+01:00

This summer was invited to the grand opening of Zatchels Factory Store in Leicester and whilst there I got to preview a few of the new collections. One that I instantly fell in love with is the collaboration with Jacky Tsai and in particular the skull design. Tsai is a contemporary Chinese artist that worked on patterns and prints at Alexander McQueen and produced the iconic floral skull for the brand. He's currently working on his eponymous collection that he debuted in London in 2010 as well as innovating with different patterns and materials to create more conceptual art.

His involvement with Zatchels is a new direction for the Leicester based leather bag and accessories manufacturer as they have yet to work with such an esteemed designer, choosing up to work with well known brands such as Hello Kitty and Where's Wally up to this point. I hope the brand continues to work with designers to differentiate from their competitors. Whilst the market is difficult, I truly believe that innovation and exclusive collections is what could make Zatchels a fully well-known name in fashion.

When viewing the collections I immediately gravitated towards the skull saddle bag and ferociously emailed photos to my friends exclaiming my love for it. I think it's the perfect size as an accompaniment on a night out and has that nice edgy luxury feel rarely found on the high street.

Two other prints complete the mini collection which includes the floral print satchel above. I'm someone that tends to shy away from cutesy floral print but I like the alternative cool vibe from this print. I can imagine this being toted around by cool art students and people that aren't afraid to throw a pop of colour into their outfit.

The Jacky Tsai collection is launched TODAY on the Zatchels website with prices starting at £85. Satchels can now also be ordered with a backpack strap online.

Press images

Coming soon to Love Life & Labels.. a behind the scenes look at the Zatchels factory.

Follow on Bloglovin' to make sure you don't miss it!

Nike - Just Do It / Endless Possibilities

2013-10-08T10:30:00.000+01:00

As soon as I saw this ad I knew I wanted to feature it. I'm not a sporty person but I love the motivational and fearless attitude behind it. I love that it probably features the audience's favourite sport (hurray gymnastics!) and challenges everyone to add a little more effort to achieve something great. I heard a snippet of the radio ad yesterday and I instantly knew that it was Nike after seeing the television advert once. I love marketing. Jessie J also features as a new spokeswoman which is a great idea to target a younger female oriented market. She also looks great in the sportswear because you don't get too distracted by her fierce hair.

I Broke My Spending Ban In Bicester Designer Outlet (+Haul!)

2013-10-07T10:30:00.000+01:00

Last month I got a call from my Uncle at 8pm asking if I wanted to go to Bicester Outlet Village the next day. The only downfall? I had to leave my house at 7am. After deliberating for approximately three minutes and considering the Christmas present roll that I'm on I said those two magical words - It's ON.

What is Bicester?

If you don't know what Bicester is you haven't lived! It's a designer outlet shopping village near Oxford. You might have been to the McArthurGlen outlet villages before but Bicester make them look like Primark, trust me.

What brands are there?

I like to describe Bicester as shopping the pages of Vogue but discounted. Brands include Vivienne Westwood, Gucci, Ralph Lauren (separate stores for home, women, men and children), Mulberry, Prada, Kate Spade Walford, Emma Bridgewater, Jack Wills, Cath Kidston, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Fendi and many more (see the list here). There's also The Cosmetic Company Store which has discounted discontinued Mac collections (this time Archie's Girls, Marilyn and Wonder Woman collections), Bumble & Bumble, Bobbi Brown and Clinique etc.

How much discount can I get?

To put it bluntly, you're not going to get a Mulberry bag for under £300 but you will get one for £200-300 off the retail price. If you've been saving for a long time you will be very very happy but if you haven't I'm afraid it's just not attainable. However, all brands must have cheaper products in their product line so you might get lucky on some high-end accessories. I spotted some Mulberry string (unbranded) friendship bracelets for £20 so it's possible. If you really can't afford the high end brands there's very few 'cheaper' stores including Jack Wills, Cath Kidston, Joules and Emma Bridgewater. My parents hated Bicester for this very reason.

Any tips?

Only go at the weekend in extreme cases as it's CRAZY. I'm not exaggerating - I went on an August Saturday two years ago and I almost got knocked out by shopping numerous times because it was so busy. If you do have to go at the weekend I would get there as soon as it opens. My photos show how empty it was when it opened at 9am on a Friday but it soon got very busy and they had to put plush velvet queue ropes up to get into Gucci. There's also valet parking, an overspill car park with free coaches for the 3 minute walk, a coach from London to Bicester and a variety of restaurants. There's a Krispy Kreme concession at the Tesco next door, you're welcome.

What did you buy?

Before Bicester I was very proud of my spending limits - I was only shopping once a week for essentials and I have cut down on eating out and online subscriptions. Thankfully I have pulled a few extra shifts at work which more than covered my shopping adventure!

Anya Hindmarsh Camera bag - £90 down to £30

Kate Spade Leather Passport Case - £55 down to £33

Ralph Lauren shirt - £12.50 (unknown before)

Cath Kidston double oven mitt - £8 (unknown before)

Krispy Kremes!

I loved the merchandising in Smythson and the fact that they seem to have a perfect notebook for everyone and every occasion. I bought a notebook from here on my first ever visit and I still cherish it now

My Fortnight In Gifs #2

2013-09-30T10:30:00.000+01:00

Not much happened last week but this week was crazy busy so I condensed it all into one post. It's been a roller coaster!

Getting the all clear from the dentist

Trying to see where the dragonfly at work disappeared to..

Another engagement announcement on facebook

Downton Abbey is BACK!

When a customer called me 'lad'.

None of my Emmy predictions were right.

Finding out that there's a Kate Spade at Bicester

Getting emotional at Project Runway

Finding out that Taylor Swift Red Tour is coming to the UK in 4 months time

When I thought I had broken the lift at work

1st birthday party!

5 Reasons Why Sephora Is Really Great (Especially For Customer Experience)

2013-09-24T13:44:00.003+01:00

When I came back from France in April I was feeling a little underwhelmed by Sephora, mostly because I hadn't mentally prepared myself properly and because I had little research. This time I had months to prepare, read reviews and obsess on the website. It was a really successful trip and I haven't stopped raving about the fantastic customer experience since.

I shopped in Sephora at Champs Elysée and Opera.

1. HUGE range

This picture shows just one out of three dedicated Sephora branded lip stations. Crazy right? At every station there is also 2 different make-up removers (the ease of use of the Sephora branded one is excellent), cotton pads and a bin. Of course Sephora doesn't just sell their own brands, they also retail products for all the price ranges going up to premium brands Chanel, Dior and Clinique from Mac, Make Up Forever and Benefit. They also sell bath and body products, hair products, beauty tools and accessories and skincare.

2. Readily available knowledgeable sales assistants

I admit, sometimes sales assistants that ask you questions as you're trying to shop can be annoying (hello PC World). The staff in Sephora were located in almost every aisle but I didn't feel rushed or attacked, instead I felt like they were ready and waiting for any question or query that I had. They also spoke English which is excellent because I don't know the french term for 'lip stain'. The store is also open till midnight or 1AM which just blows my mind.

3. Sephora Card

The Sephora card is available for anybody that makes a purchase. As far as I can tell, it is different to it's American counterpart. When you sign up you receive a free Sephora branded Nail Polish immediately and on your 4th transaction you get 10% off! This was a great surprise at the till point! According to the French Sephora website there are 3 tiers of card so now I'm anxiously waiting to see if I'm going to qualify for an upgrade..

4. Samples

When you get to the till point, and if you're nice to the sales assistant/have a loyalty card you get free samples! So far the ones I have collected have been premium brands - Chanel and YSL. I think it's little things like this that really make the customer experience great and keep customers coming back to the store. I'd love to see beauty counters doing more of this.

5. Complementary gift boxing

Last but definitely not least is gift boxing. I knew this existed on my first visit in April but I had a very strict luggage allowance because I flew to France. This time I really went for it. As far as I understand, you can get anything gift boxed for free (I might be wrong through..). This was a great opportunity to use my french language skills to depict the colour of box I wanted. Rouge! Rouge! Bleu! The boxes came in super helpful when packing the breakable items in my case, although when it got searched at customs the guard wasn't very amused..

Marketing - IRO - First Brand Impressions & Opinion

2013-09-23T12:43:00.001+01:00

This marketing post is a little different because before I saw these ads, I had no impression, recall or thoughts on the fashion brand IRO. I spotted the print advert above in French Vogue and didn't flick past the page like I had for the other unmemorable adverts. It was refreshing to see an advert for an unknown brand as I was able to make my own assumptions and then check them against their current marketing messages and reputation. Yes, I am a marketing nerd and yes, I enjoy it.

What were your very first impressions?

All I could think of initially was 'cool, this girl is cool'. Then I assumed street-wear and probably a little grungy because of the black and white nature.

'IRO' didn't mean anything to me so I decided it must be a brand that isn't completely new but trying to increase awareness. I decided the latter part of this because of their use of Karlie Kloss in the campaign - they have enough capital to hire such a well known supermodel and are aiming to get a high amount of exposure in the press and with knowledgeable fashion followers. They can also afford to place an ad in the September Issue of French Vogue - probably one of the most expensive publications and issue month.

What did your research show?

According to Net-A-Porter..

"French brothers Laurent and Arik Bitton started their casualwear line IRO in 2004, fusing edgy street style with classic Parisian chic to create laid-back staples with a feminine feel. Star pieces include long-sleeved silk playsuits, graphic printed tunic dresses and boyish blazers."

Final Comments?

I really like the IRO ads because of the minimalism and of course the clothes. However, their website contains little copy telling me about the brand and their social media channels are all in French. Whilst they are doing a good job in print, they might want to step up their game in other types of marketing to attract more of an international market.

Monogram Me - Etsy Picks

2013-09-19T16:06:00.000+01:00

Every season it seems all of the big fashion editors get gifted a monogrammed clutch or bag. This year it was ASOS (I'm doing daily prayers that it goes onto the site) and it got me thinking about my current obsession with getting a current possession monogrammed or trying to do it myself if I can pluck up the courage. Out of my current possessions I would love to get my Moleskine diary, Filofax and Zatchels stamped with my initials.

Alternatively I could buy something already personalised and I rushed over to the big names (Smythson, Whistles etc) before retreating when I saw the prices and skipping over to Etsy. Each of these categories I have fallen in love with over the last few months and I've wussled out after not being able to decide as they are all so damn pretty. As usual, all prices are quoted without postage.

Leather goods

Monogrammed leather is probably the most luxurious and desirable of them all. I've been after a beautiful passport case for a while and the red one below has stolen my heart.

Fold Over Monogram Clutch - £54.07 // Mia Initial Leather Passport Holder - £14 // Red Leather Passport Case and Tag Gift Set - £31.81

Jewellery

Lowercase initial gold necklace - £9.54 // Rose Gold Initial Necklace - £17.18 //
Delicate Gold and Silver Letter Friendship Bracelet - £8.92

Stamps

With all the technology communication today, I wish people around me still sent notecards. Although most of these are family or couple related, I think they'd also be great for simple but chic business cards so you could make them as and when you need them.

Circle Custom Address stamp - £19.05 // Custom Address Stamp - £18.42
Initial Rubber Stamp - £3.98 // Customer Address Stamp - £15.24
Customer Wax Initial Rubber Stamp - £22.27 // Customer Address Stamp - £15.90

Stationery

Some of this stationary reminds me of the Kate Spade line I fell in love with in the Covent Garden store. I love the notecards as they also have the name on the bottom of them.

Personalised Stationery Set - £9.54 // Personalised Flat Cards - £19.09

Personal Notecards (with name on the bottom) - £12.72 // Traditional Personalised Notecard Set - £9.54

French Vogue + Parisian Clichés = Beautiful Images I Want On My Wall

2013-09-18T11:22:00.000+01:00

Last night was French Vogue's Fashion Night Out in Paris. To promote the event they ran a feature of stunning images using clothes from the event participants shot around Paris. To me they represent the way a girl dreams of Paris - running around the city wearing and shopping for beautiful clothes, romancing cute French men and hanging out with our dogs. Yes they are a cliché, but they are a pretty cliché and I'm struggling to decide which one to put on my wall of inspiration. What do you think?