Wishing for Chanel...

I'm Moving! | Wishing For Chanel is moving to Wordpress!

2014-08-09T15:49:00.000+01:00

Hellooooo everybody!

Just a quickie little blog post to say that I'll be bidding adieu to Blogger this weekend to switch on over to Wordpress AND a brand new domain name!

Update you records kiddies wishing-for-chanel.blogspot.co.uk will soon be no more (and thank God what a mouthful!) and I'll be blogging over at wishingforchanel.com :)

Things will be a bit shaky for a day or two, but stick with me. Regularly blogging will resume very, very soon!

R.xoxo[twitter][tumblr][IFB][instagram][BlogLovin]

Review | Sephora Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation

2014-08-04T10:00:00.000+01:00

Sephora Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation, $28, Sephora

Pre-warning, rave review ahead! :P

Aerosol foundations are the being hailed as the next 'on trend' beauty product, so it makes sense Sephora of all brands are stepping up their game with their new Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation. This product is essentially a foundation spray and does exactly what it says on the tin (or spray can lol).

The formula, which uses ultra fine pigments of colour, is super light making it perfect for the current muggy Summer climate. Despite it's light texture, the pigmentation is great, giving off a smooth and airbrushed look that will actually leave your skin looking like skin! If you're worried about coverage, I've found it really easy to build up colour by simply using more spray and as the formula is so light there's no cake-y feel if you want to cover up a bit more.

The real treat of using this product is the sheer novelty of it being a spray on foundation. It definitely takes some getting used to but after two or three more tries I was left wondering why on earth no one thought of this sooner! Though the website will tell you to spray straight onto your face, the make-up artist in Sephora that I tested this with advised against it to avoid streaky application and messy foundation marks on your clothes and hair. After shaking up the can for a couple of seconds to apply you can either, spray straight onto the head of your make-up brush, or spray into a small dish or the back of your hand then pick up the foundation with your brush to apply. I prefer the spray on the brush method, as it's quicker and picks up more of the foundation - just remember to hold the brush away from your clothes! I personally also use a little bit of primer just to keep it on at the moment, though I blame this more on the Summer heat than the actual foundation at the moment.

All in all, though the application takes some getting used to, this is slowly becoming my go-to day to day foundation at the moment. It's super light, super quick to get on and leaves your skin looking naturally even. The foundation is available in 9 different shades and you can get colour matched for it at Sephora, or pick it up online - I'd say because of the sheer nature of the product you're pretty safe to get a shade that matches the closest to your skin tone.

R.xoxo
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June/July | In Books

2014-08-03T10:00:00.000+01:00

June reading got swept up in all my New York trip excitement and July got crazy hectic with Graduation and being hurled headfirst into my new job! But now life has settled a little and I now have weekends free, I'm back on track with reading and need to pick up the pace to hit my goal of 50 books by the end of the year!

The Virgin Suicides | Jeffrey Eugenides
Set in the suburbs of 1970s America, The Virgin Suicides tells the story of the lives and losses of the Lisbon family over the course of 13 months. I say the lives and losses, as the novel chronicles the suicides of the 5 Lisbon girls, Therese, Mary, Bonnie, Lux, Cecilia, over the course of that year through the eyes of the neighbourhood boys who watched them fall.

Moving, haunting and thought provoking, all in all only one quote sticks in my mind that really summarises the voyeuristic nature of the book: “In the end we had the pieces of the puzzle, but no matter how we put them together, gaps remained, oddly shaped emptinesses mapped by what surrounded them, like countries we couldn't name.” The Virgin Suicides was a harrowing 'outside looking in' glimpse of mental health and suicide in the 70s, but ultimately this is secondary to the almost dreamlike glimpse into the highs and lows of adolescent life.

Check out my full review on Blogger's Bookshelf.

We Were Liars | E. Lockhart
Meet the Sinclair family. Elusive, exclusive and beautiful. We Were Liars follows their Summers on their secluded private island. Boring pretense for a book? Keep reading. As with any family there are lies, hushed whispers, and terrible secrets. As much as I want to give you a detailed plot summary I can't say much or I'll spoil the whole story!

This was my first foray into E Lockhart and I have to say I'm impressed. The book itself was and is pretty hyped up, but all I can say is that I would have to agree with everyone else praising the heck out of it. With such a captivating storyline and mysterious characters with hidden agendas, it's such a page turner, I finished it within about 2 days. Highly recommend if you're after a quick summer read and love a good mystery novel.

Attachments | Rainbow Rowell
Fresh out of his latest graduate degree, Lincoln O’Neill is a down and out 28-year-old who’s landed a job at a small town newspaper as their Internet Security Officer, flagging inappropriate employee emails on the night shift. Lincoln’s job is mind-numbingly boring but at least it keeps his mind off his end of a relationship blues/existential crisis.

That’s until, he spots Beth and Jennifer’s emails start getting flagged in the system. Normally he’d send the two a warning, but their chatting yet charming exchanges about work, relationships and their personal life have him grinning from ear to ear as he reads them. Beth’s emails in particular catch his eye, and very soon Lincoln finds himself falling hard for someone he’s never even met.

Attachments was a really lovely and super quick contemporary read, with a timeless story, great characters and great comedic moments. The emails between Beth and Jennifer in particular were some of my definite highlights and if you have a soft spot for happy endings or are already a fan of Rainbow Rowell's unique writing style, you'll love it.

Check out my full review on Blogger's Bookshelf.

Say Her Name | James Dawson

Roberta 'Bobbie' Rowe, isn't easily spooked, especially when she and her best friend Naya and adorable, local boy Caine are roped into doing the silly old 'Bloody Mary' dare on a Halloween night by the IT girls at her boarding school. Low and behold after saying Mary's name in the mirror five times, nothing seems to happen...or so she thinks. The next day Bobbie finds 'FIVE DAYS' emblazoned on the steamed up bathroom mirror, and things only get stranger and more terrifying from then on...

Holy mother of all was this nightmare-ish in the best way possible. James Dawson has managed to nail the horror genre right on the head, with twists, turns, and page turning suspense. My only gripe is that the characters, particularly Bobbie, feel a little secondary to what is a really engaging plotline and inventive take on the Bloody Mary myth (or is it a myth? I don't know...oh God I'm scary myself again). Nevertheless, I definitely urge you all to read it, if you dare. The ending will certainly have you looking over your shoulder from here on out!

Full review on Blogger's Bookshelf coming soon!

Of Scars & Stardust | Andrea Hannah (c/o NetGalley/Flux)

It's been two years since Claire Graham moved to Manhattan, haunted and wracked with guilt at the memory of the tragedy which left her sister, Ella, scarred, bloody and only just alive in a cornfield in her former hometown in Amble, Ohio. Though written off as an accident, Claire is convinced it was the bloodthirsty infamous Amble wolves that tried to take Ella's life.

Now Ella's missing again, and Claire returns to the sleepy small town to follow the clues Ella has left behind.

I felt a little mislead by the description of this, which made it out to be a paranormal mystery, than the psychological thriller it turned out to be, and I'm still a little conflicted with how I feel about this book. As the story is written in a first person narrative, the audience essentially lives out the entire story as Claire experiences it. This style is great for preserving the real mystery of what happened right until the end, but for the most part the story weaved round in so many circles that I personally was left a little lost at what was even happening. All in all, it was a bit hit and miss for me, but may be one to take at a slower pace on a re-read.

Full review on Blogger's Bookshelf coming soon!

Currently reading...

The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

Norwegian Wood by Murakami

R.xoxo
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July | Insta-life round up

2014-07-30T10:00:00.001+01:00

//new running shoes//Newsies of New York!//LFCC & YALC tickets//enjoying a cold cide in the sunshine//LFCC//Sherlock set!//Cosplays galore//Doctor x5//1st Class Honours//New do'//Meeting Rainbow Rowell with Erin//So kawaii//Graduate!//with the 'rents//sunny Saturday//humid day make-up//

Another month gone! Can you believe we're already over halfway through the year now? As if June wasn't hectic enough July, seems to have also flown by in the blink of an eye. From the crazy travel month of June, I ran headfirst into graduate life and a graduate job! Nothing like moving straight back into the workplace to keep you on your toes right? As I'm officially back into the 9-5, it also means ending an era and leaving my retail job at New Look, which I held since I was 16! Crazy stuff, but it does mean I've finally got my weekends free after so many years of shift work.

Oh and of course there was the small matter of actually graduating from University this month. I wrote a mini post about the day already and despite now being in a working routine, I still feel like I'm in some sort of post-grad haze of 'what am I doing with my life'.

Like you guys care? You'll wanna know what's going down on the blog right? It's slowly dawning on me that I will have been running Wishing For Chanel for almost four years come December. And whilst I'm happy just bobbing along and writing and posting as I like, now I have some time to focus on my hobbies again I'm keen to kick it up a notch on the blog. I'm looking at a platform switch, some new design work and possibly a domain, but have been waiting for the dust to settle on real life to get any of this done! Not to mention I've also got Blogger's Bookshelf and, having had a bit of hiatus, will be rekindling my writing up on Feminist [In Training] too.

So yeah, the Uni era of my life may be up but that doesn't mean things are slowing down in the slightest. Onwards and upwards I say!

Links to <3

Sprinkle of Glitter got kittens and they are the most adorable things in the world!

Allie's post on books and 'when the hype lies to you', very fitting considering this was basically my dissertation topic!

Anjali shows off the strange bookmarks she's collected since working in a library.

Bess from Thoroughly English offers a little advice to bloggers from a PR, a must read!

Extreme home decor envy over this artist's studio turned living space from Artcream.

Olivia's brilliantly candid piece on not graduating from University.

R.xoxo
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Blog Of The Month | Sailboat

2014-07-28T10:00:00.000+01:00

Sailboat

Run by...totally down to earth, country girl Jennie
In 3...beauty, bunnies & books!
Why I keep going back...I feel like I've been following Jennie's blog for the longest time, but she's definitely one of those blogs I can rely on for really good content pretty much 100% of the time. Concise and eloquent, Jennie manages to strike that oh so golden balance of professional and personable in her posts. Speaking of posts, there's really something for everyone. Though her focus has always been towards beauty, she now covers lifestyle, writing and - my personal favourite - books. In fact more often than not books she's reviewed positively have gone straight into my Goodreads 'to read' list.

Favourite post...two favourites 'On writing, spelling, grammar & making your own rules' and her post on her Capsule Make-Up Collection and parting with some products.

R.xoxo
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Battle of the primers | Tarte BB Tinted Primer vs Benefit Porefessional

2014-07-27T10:00:00.001+01:00

Tarte, BB tinted treatment primer, approx £20, Sephora//Benefit, Porefessional primer, £24.50, Boots

I've never thought twice about using primers, until this Summer hit and I was desperate to find a way of keeping my foundation on my face reasonably set. I definitely can't call myself a beauty expert but I do have some opinions on two I've found to be on par with each other on the surface.

In the blue corner...cult favourite Benefit's 'Porefessional'
I'm sure you all have heard why there's so much love for Porefessional already! Super light, silky smooth coverage and great pigmentation, it's a cult favourite amongst beauty bloggers. It's definitely more of a base product to target problem areas than an all over product, but it sits well under pretty much every single type of foundation I've got in my make up drawer. The downside is the price tag, £24.50 for 22ml for a primer can seem pretty steep!

In the red corner...from across the pond, Tarte's BB Tinted Primer
A relative unknown from an up and coming brand, Tarte's offering in the primer market is more of a tinted moisturiser than a base and because of this the pigmentation on this product is amazing. It's also super moisturising, has a built in SPF30 sunblock and works as a great substitution for your normal foundation on days when you're after a low key look. As it's fairly moisturising it's pretty perfect for dry skin, but not so great on oilier complexions - despite it saying it's oil free! It retails at an ok-ish price, the full size bottle is about £20 [the one pictured above is their travel sized version which I think retailed at about £10 in Sephora], is slightly bigger than the full sized Porefessional, and comes in a range of different shades.

And the winner is...

Benefit's Porefessional!

Despite the price tag you simply can't beat the quality of Benefit's primer. It works like a charm and feels like a better investment make-up product if you're after something that will give you smooth coverage every time. Not to mention Glamour magazine usually give away a sample of it every year! That's not to say Tarte's primer isn't great! If you want an all over/one stop shop type of primer, head to Sephora asap, but those with oilier skin types should be a little wary.

R.xoxo
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First Class | My Graduation Day!

2014-07-25T10:00:00.000+01:00

This past Wednesday, my family and I woke up bright and early, got all suited and booted, before making the drive down to Portsmouth for my big Graduation day!

The sun was out in full force, which made for some great shots outside Portsmouth Guildhall, where the main ceremony was held. And as my ceremony was in the morning, we just managed to avoid the absolute scorching heat towards midday too!

Rather amusingly this will be my first proper personal style post for I think about 2 years? Under the gown I'm wearing my gorgeous cream dress I bought whilst in Artists and Fleas in Chelsea Market in New York. My court shoes were from Topshop and the necklace I snagged in the Dorothy Perkins sale last week. The clutch is a loan from my mum and the drop ivory earrings was a graduation present from my Uncle.

The ceremony was great - and I didn't fall off the stage! - and it was lovely to see all of my course mates all in one place one last time.

After cooling off at home we headed out for a meal at the Chilworth Arms ordering a healthy dose of Pims and toffee ice cream for dessert!

I've definitely had a more unusual experience at University than others I know of - something which I'm keen to write about at some point when I get the chance to actually form literate words - but it was so rewarding to finally get to this point after 4 years of seriously tough work.

Oh and did I mention I somehow managed to get a first class honours out of all that work? - please don't ask me how I did it, I question the sanity of the examiners marking my work.

R.xoxo
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Art Appreciation | A Newbie's Guide To Loving Art Galleries

2014-07-21T11:00:00.000+01:00

Summer can be a great time to tap into your cultural side and with the British weather as erratic as it is, sheltering from the rain in an art gallery can be the best way to spend a day out. To some people galleries are difficult places to enjoy, and I agree that there can be a certain amount of snobbery surrounding them that can be off-putting for many. But art doesn't need to be inaccessible.
Here are my top tips to start your journey to becoming an art gallery enthusiast.

Broaden your definition of 'art' | When you think of art you normally associate it with things like the classical painters or even post-modern pieces, but what the world now considers art is actually pretty broad. If you're finding yourself bored looking at more traditional pieces, switch it up! There's a whole wealth of artwork that includes and isn't limited to sculpture, interactive pieces, photography, moving image, installations and more. Don't limit yourself to the bigger galleries either, the smaller ones will usually feature more unusual pieces or lesser known artists too.

Focus on art that you're drawn to | First of all excuse the pun! A big piece of advice if you're planning on going around a gallery unguided is to let your mind and eyes wander to pieces that intrigue you. There's not much point dwelling on a piece of art you don't get excited by - even if it is Starry Night by Van Gogh - when you could be looking at pieces that hold your attention better. When you see something that catches your eye, ask yourself, why? Who painted it? What style or era does this belong to? Take a quick photo - if you're allowed! - and then Google the artist or ask a guide what the piece is about.

Pick up a guide | I can't stress how good museum and gallery audio guides can be. Though the initial price may seem steep on top of your admission, if you really have no clue on what to expect from an art gallery it's a staple to pick up. Not only will you get a full run down on art that interests you, but they can also be useful to block out the sounds of babbling tourists too ;)

Wander into the travelling exhibition area | Usually in addition to the permanently housed pieces, larger galleries will play host to a touring exhibitions. These artworks may only be on display for a limited time, but as they usually just focus on one artist, theme or era, they tend to go into a bit more depth. Look at the art gallery's website to see which ones will be set to arrive and when. They'll also usually list a bit of background information on the artists and which pieces you'll expect to see.

Take it slow | In my opinion, art is not meant to be enjoyed at high speed. A lot of people tend to try and hit art galleries quickly but I'd advise giving yourself at least a full morning or afternoon for smaller galleries, and a whole day if it's something like the The Met or the Tate Modern. Rushing through rooms and barely looking at pieces is pointless, unless you're going for a specific piece or artist. And even then you could be missing out on some great artwork. Walk slowly, listen to music as you wander, take your time, take a seat, and bring a notepad or sketchbook to scribble in if you're feeling inspired.

Get home and Google | Your first port of call after you get home after a day at an art gallery is Google. Search the pieces you found interesting and see if there's any information on Wikipedia or the gallery website on them. You may even want to pick up a print online - usually as cheaper option than buying the museum shop! Getting on those search engines straight away is a great way of remembering the pieces you've seen and will help you reflect on why you enjoy them!

These tips may seem obvious, but they're baby steps to really getting into any kind of art form. The one thing to remember is to not feel pressured to like something. Art is totally subjective, so concentrate on finding art that you really love.

R.xoxo
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Review | Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Palette

2014-07-20T10:00:00.000+01:00

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Palette (5 pan) 'The Naked Truth'

Wet n' Wild is a brand I've pop up on multiple blogs and vlogs, usually when a Brit blogger has raided CVS in the States for a bargain. I actually stumbled upon these in the beauty section of the Duane Reade by my hotel and picked a palette up on a whim, but boy oh boy am I glad I did!

Wet n' Wild preach high quality at low cost and the only brand I can think of likening them to here in the UK would be something like Rimmel or maybe Boots' No7 range.

The palette I picked up is part of their 5 pan eyeshadow collection, which conveniently gives you an almost step by step process of where each shade should sit for a full look. I went for a pretty standard palette of nudes and browns called 'The Naked Truth', but it would be very easy to mix and match these shades with the others in the range and comes in at around $3-4 (depending on where you pick it up).

For me this palette hits all the right notes. The texture is buttery soft, it blends remarkably well, and the pigmentation is fantastic. I seriously haven't come a palette like it at such a low price in a very long time. The downside is it isn't stocked in the UK - for all you American lovelies can luckily grab them in most drugstores! - though a quick Google comes up with some official eBay sellers, some bits and pieces on Amazon or smaller online stockists that ship Internationally.

Fingers crossed they get a bit more popular so Superdrug or Boots can start bringing them over the Pond!

Or....you can enter my current giveaway and win a similar mini palette all for yourself! :P Better be quick though, the giveaway ends 30th July!

R.xoxo
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Diploma-Ready Dresses | Graduation Appropriate Dresses

2014-07-18T10:00:00.000+01:00

Graduation is so hard to dress for! On one hand you need an outfit that will still look great under those billowing grad gowns, but you also need something that will stand out on it's own once you've finished the official ceremony!

Never fear! If you're struggling for a last minute outfit, here are 3 fail-safe dress styles to search for that will look great on the day...

Topshop//H&M//Zara//Next

Low key but high impact | The minimalist look is very on trend at the moment and it's easy to see why. Single colour or colour blocked dresses are a good choice if you're after a dress you can dress up or down, depending on how formal or informal your ceremony is. To keep this look interesting add a statement necklace - think chunky jewels or a layered boho styles.

Next//AX Paris//Very//French Connection

Smart but chic | You're a graduate who means business and ready to take on the world, so reach for a dress that reflects your new Sandberg-esque attitude. The 'pencil' dress is simple yet super flattering, so you really can't go wrong with any of these. And when you've finished up with graduation, you'll be able to break this out for those all important post-grad interviews and around the office of your first big adult-world too.

ASOS//H&M//Wallis//Miss Selfridge//

Popping prints | This style is all about giving people something extra to look at in between the folds of your dark ceremonial gowns. Florals are a safe bet especially for Summer ceremonies, but bold geometric or photographic prints are also all the rage right now too. And for an extra something to make this look stand out, contrast your dress colour with the colour of your grad gown.

Whatever you choose, the key is comfort. Graduation is big day and it'll be a long day, so make sure you're in something that'll make you look and feel great!

R.xoxo
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Wishlist | Summer Sale Picks

2014-07-11T10:00:00.000+01:00

boots, Topshop//skirt, River Island//ring set, Urban Outfitters//coin necklace, H&M//maxi dress, Monki//shorts, Miss Selfridge//floral dress, Monki//patent handbag, Topshop//crop top, H&M//heels, ASOS

Back to regular programming ;) and I'm lusting over some fast fashion pieces at even cheaper prices. Summer sales are all over the shop (har de har), so I've done some snooping online and picked out some of my favourites I've spotted.

Despite not heading to any festivals any time soon I always get swept away with the boho trend that rolls around every year - must be my inner hipster or something - so maxis, florals and desert boots (to wear with floaty dresses) do make an appearance. One the opposite end of the scale, I'm loving the minimalist trends that are now becoming more prominent on the high street, shown here in the form of patent accessories and block coloured clothing.

R.xoxo
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Summer Souvenirs Giveaway!

2014-07-09T10:00:00.000+01:00

As my little NYC series has drawn to a close here on the blog and I've also hit a couple of really cool milestones (over 300+ followers on Twitter, 100 followers on BlogLovin and 150 followers on Instagram! Crazy!), I thought it would be nice to give a little bit back to all you lovely people :)

So I have a mini souvenir giveaway for you with some goodies from my trip to NYC.

Cool souvenir magnets I found in both Strand Bookshops in Soho and the New York Public Library
A compact Wet n' Wild eyeshadow ['Walking on eggshells'] which is a small version of the one I featured in my US beauty haul
Not from NYC, but a little pocket travel notebook from Paperchase, for when you go on your own adventures!

I'll be running the giveaway until the 30th July and you can enter the giveaway through the Rafflecopter entry form below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

On a sentimental note, I'd just want to say thanks to all of you guys for sticking with me during my crazy final year at University. As much as I loved school I'm super excited to get right back into blogging again, with some exciting plans in the works for the next few months!

R.xoxo
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Travels | NYC Series | Iconic Sights

2014-07-07T10:00:00.001+01:00

Now as much as my experience of NYC has been a little different to some others, there are many sights you can't quite escape. And why would you? New York City is filled to the brim of ready-made landmarks straight from the big and small screen. Growing up in England, sure, I'm a train ride away from the London skyline or Brighton pier...but the New York skyline and Empire State Building at sunset? Lady Liberty from the ferry on a misty morning? The bright lights of Times Square? So for my last New York blog post for this series here are just some of the places that took my breath away...

New York I <3 You

R.xoxo

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Travels | NYC Series | Broadway Baby

2014-07-06T10:00:00.000+01:00

You really didn't think I could do a NYC series without mentioning a little theatre right? ;) One of the many reasons I was so excited for this trip was the potential to experience some seriously incredible Broadway theatre! The Great White Way is a mecca any musical theatre fan and as luck would have it, not only would I get the chance to watch some great shows but I would also be in town for theatre-land's biggest award night, The Tony's!

I ended up seeing a total of three Broadway shows over the course of my time in the city!
The first, and one I booked way in advance, was Newsies. I'd been wanting to see this musical ever since their impressive performance at The Tony Awards back in 2012, I've also had a soft spot for the musical film since I learnt a few songs from it when I used to go to Saturday theatre classes. Getting to watch the show was an incredible feeling, but the highlight for me was getting to meet cast members I'd only seen and heard on Youtube in grainy bootleg videos for the past 2 years!

The second show was the revival of the musical Pippin. I managed to get these tickets through lining up for the Broadway 'rush', which basically meant me waiting for the box office booth at the theatre before it opened at 10am for super cheap tickets. Depending on the show, these tickets go fast - the new Les Mis revival only releases about 30 tickets, and people I met queued from about 6am to get them! Luckily I managed to get ticket for only $30 for a box seat! The show itself was spectacular and, I again, got to meet some of the cast at stage door. I was particularly excited to meet Kyle Dean Massey (Pippin), I'd been a fan of his since his Next To Normal days :)

The last show I went to see was a last minute decision after queuing up at the Times Square TKTS booth.

After much deliberation - and some back and forth debate with a girl from L.A. in the queue lol - I ended up getting tickets for Kinky Boots at the Al Hirschfield Theatre. I was super excited for this show and in a totally ironic twist the show is actually set in Northampton, England ^_^.

As I mentioned by absolute luck I'd also managed to time my trip alongside Broadway's biggest night, The Tony Awards. Whilst I unfortunately didn't have the funds for a proper ticket inside Radio City Music Hall on the day, I did make sure to grab a seat in Times Square for the now annual simulcast for the show. The outdoor screening was hosted by Justin Guarini and Kerry Butler, who performed a couple of songs during the ad breaks. The whole night was amazing. Simply being in the same place as so many theatre fans, cheering for the winners and applauding performances by Neil Patrick Harris and Idina Menzel on the big screen, was so cool and the atmosphere was just infectious.

Even if you're not a fan of live theatre I'd still recommend seeing a show if you're ever in New York. Broadway really is a once in a lifetime experience, especially considering how expensive tickets are lol, so get your butts down there if you're in the city!!

R.xoxo
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Travels | NYC Series | Art, Culture & Education

2014-07-04T10:00:00.000+01:00

Just because this NYC was timed as a graduation present to myself, doesn't mean I didn't want to bank some knowledge whilst I was in town...

One of the places I knew I had to hit up was the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Charles James: Beyond Fashion exhibition. I had already read some fantastic reviews on the exhibition, which showcases pieces from James' work throughout his career, and it certainly didn't disappoint.

I'm not able to showcase too much - I was told off twice by security for taking sneaky photos #Oops - but as you can see the reproductions of the James' designs are set against a spotlit all black backdrop, reminiscent of a runway show and dissected on small screen in front of each model.The whole exhibition was fascinating but was just the tip of the iceberg that was the entire Met Museum!

I didn't have a guide or specific part of the museum I wanted to visit, so I let myself roam the corridors for pretty much the entire day. The great thing I soon found out about The Met is the ability to walk down one corridor and find yourself surrounded by medieval armoury and artifacts, then walk down another see a 10ft huge Ancient Egyptian temple, and then down another find yourself face to face with works by Picasso or an entire wall of Chinese calligraphy.

Another museum I found that was great for this type of browsing and finding wonderful things was the Museum of Modern Art, in Midtown Manhattan. I went on a particularly rainy day and was content to while away the hours wandering the floors and stumbling upon some fantastic artwork by the likes of Pollack, Monet and Mondrian. My absolute favourite moment was walking into an exhibition area with a crowd of people and seeing 'Starry Night' by Van Gogh front and center! MoMA is also a great place to discover lesser known works, I know I personally found myself drawn to their Lygia Clarke and Sigma Polke exhibitions.

The last big museum I hit up was the Natural History Museum. Again, like the Met and MoMA, it was a great places to let yourself wander and discover different parts of the exhibits as and when you came across them. I did book in some time to go to the Hayden Planetarium to see a screening of Dark Universe, which immerses you in a surround screen arena and makes you feel like you're flying through space. I also spent some time under the belly of the famous big Blue Whale in Ocean Life hall - if you ever visit the museum I highly recommend lying on the floor underneath it (loads of people do it so you won't look weird!), space out for a minute or two. It's oddly relaxing.

Despite the museums being some of the highlights from my trip, it's so easy to just walk the streets of New York and spot some cultural sites and random pieces of art for yourself in the city. I got spend some time in Chinatown and Little Italy with some relatives, recommend hopping on one of the many open top bus tours if you want a little more historical or cultural insight into the city sights, and, of course, taking in a Broadway show - but more on that in an upcoming post ;).

One of the great things about New York is that it's such a hub and melting pot of people, so the best ways to experience it is by talking to locals and other knowledgeable tourists whilst you're there. Of course as a solo traveller, I had to be a bit wary of what I was telling them but the longer I was in the city the more I found myself chatting to others in queues (how British of me!) for the TKTS booth, waiting at stage door at shows, sat in cafes, and whilst browsing Chelsea Market (one of the stall owners loved my Ravenclaw necklace ^_^), I was even got chatting to a family from Belfast on the open top bus tour!

R.xoxo
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Travels | NYC Series | Somewhere That's Green

2014-07-02T10:00:00.000+01:00

In the sprawling metropolis that its Manhattan and the outer boroughs of New York City it's easy to perceive it as a complete concrete jungle of steel, brick and glass structure. But amongst the towering skyscrapers and bustling streets are some of the best parks in the world.

Of course the biggest and most impressive to see was Central Park. I visited early on a quiet Sunday morning when the only other park goers were enthusiastic runners (I definitely regret not bringing my trainers to run the routes!), small families, an occasional tourist and some early rising softball players. I picked the perfect day to wander round as the sun shone the entire time, with the trees providing just the right amount of shade from the heat. I, of course, had a few places I wanted to see and photograph but for the most part I let the paths lead me to quieter spots and surprise landmarks.

Amongst my favourite spots were Bow Bridge, made famous by countless rom-coms and where I spotted a newly married couple taking their wedding photos ^-^; Wagner Cove, just by Bow Bridge, it was a small little alcove with a shaded veranda by the lake; and Bestheda Fountain and Terrace, another gorgeous piece of architecture and sculpture.

As well as taking in the sunshine, by far one of my favourite moments whilst in the park was at Strawberry Fields. I was expecting a place of complete peace and quiet but as I approached the path I could hear the faint sounds of 'I wanna hold your hand' being played by a busker. There was quite a group gathered by the time I reached the Imagine mosaic and whilst waiting my turn to take a photo a school choir had struck up a conversation with the busker and started singing along to 'Let It Be' with him. It was a really touching moment and I found myself glad the so called 'designated quiet zone' rule wasn't heavily enforced that day! (You can see a little clip of it on my Instagram!)

I also visit the park on a rainy day in search of a couple of literary landmarks I didn't get to on that previous Sunday morning. I found both the Hans Christian Anderson and the Alice in Wonderland statues, and allowed myself some time to read the Lewis Carroll quotes from the novel around the statue.

Whilst Central Park is certainly the most famous park in the city, if you're in town I'd also highly - har de har - recommend the High Line. Suspended over Chelsea, the newly renovated, formerly disused railway line was a really lovely way to spend my early afternoon, having spent some time in Chelsea Market. The whole layout and structure of the High Line feels so fresh and modern compared to a lot of the parks in New York, and it's also a really cool way of seeing the city views. I also loved the little alcoves and wooden seating areas all along the route, seriously made me wish there were more places like this around England!

Another park I really loved was Washington Square Park. Famous for it's tribute to the Arch De Triumph and fountains, the park is in the heart of the NYU campus - so if you visit the city during term time you can be it's populated by cool New York Uni students! Again, my time there was totally relaxing, having spent the morning hitting some bigger tourist spots, and the long park benches were just beckoning me to sit down and chillax...at least for a minute before I let the concrete jungle swallow me up again ;)

R.xoxo
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June | Insta-life round up

2014-06-30T10:00:00.000+01:00

//excited at stupid o'clock face//pre-flight cafine//first glimpse of Manhattan//Times Square//Cheeky little trip to Sephora//Rockerfeller//Shrimp Ten Don Nom!//My cousin's adorable cat//my first Broadway rush line//Pippin the musical//Lunch in with my Uncle//SoHo//Freedom Tower//Bow Bridge//Imagine Memorial//NEWSIES EFF YEAH//Tony Awards red carpet ;P//Tony Awards Simulcast in Times Square//Charles James at The Met//Grand Central//NYPL//Little Italy with my relatives//American Museum of Natural History//Midtown Comics//Schmackerys!//Lady Liberty//STRAND! BOOKS! OMG!//Alice in Central Park//MoMA//Artwork at MoMA//9/11 Memorial//Drinks in Brooklyn with my cousin//Chelsea Market//The High Line in the sunshine//Kinky Boots on Broadway//Last brunch in Brooklyn//New York skyline//Arriving home to Takota t-shirt//Casual sobbing at TFIOS//...what book ban?//

Blimey is June done already? Not gonna lie it's been a complete whirlwind month. Unless you've been hiding under a rock (or have been avoiding my Twitter/Instagram feeds!) then you'll know I've been off travelling solo at the beginning of the month to New York! I can quite honestly say it was the one of the coolest things I've ever done and I ticked so many things off my life-long bucket list. I've started up a little series about my trip on the blog - done two posts already with a few more to go! - so if you fancy reliving the experience with me be sure to keep an eye out in the next few weeks for more.
Aside from this whole travelling thing I also finished my entire University degree and am now in semi-graduate limbo until the official cap-n-gown ceremony mid-July. It's crazy to think that's me done for formal education, potentially for life too, but I'm excited to see what's ahead. For now I'm working a temp role and getting back on this blogging thing properly when I get a minute. My brain's been buzzing with ideas about new layout designs, platform switches, streamlining content, ad/pr plans and even url changes here and I had the itch for a big overhaul all the way through my third year at Uni.
So I guess it's all change and delving into the deep end of uncertainty. I'm trying to convince my inner control freak/worrier that this is exciting, maybe you guys can give me a hand too :P

Links to <3

Becca's brilliant post on University and whether it's right for you. Definitely a must read for all of you going through A-Levels and even those who are feeling a little lost after finishing their first year at Uni too!

My lovely friends Erin and Skye have launched their new blog, Eight & Sixteen, and I want all of these film/TV quote banners strung up in my bedroom please ^_^ - also please follow them, I want them to become the Brit versions of A Beautiful Mess ;)

Tom's (Daydream in Blue) really thoughtful post on the beauty of simplicity.

Two of my favourite Youtubers, Sanne and Estee, collaborated and listed off their favourite 'Easy Reads'. I can definitely back them up with recommending Never Let Me Go, We Were Liars, TFIOS (duh), Paper Towns and The Virgin Suicides, as fantastic books to get into this Summer!

Getting a little holiday-sick (is that a thing?) seeing Carrie's recent post and stunning photos of Brooklyn, and Emma's round up of her trip to NYC. Take me back!

Also getting major vacation envy reading Gem's post about her trip to Chicago...am starting to think this should be next on my travel bucket list!

R.xoxo
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Blog Of The Month | Josie's Journal

2014-06-29T10:00:00.000+01:00

Josie's Journal

Run by...Brit blogger Josie who hates tea but loves shoes.
In 3...inspiringly personal, unassuming, and back-to-basics style
Why I keep going back...I honestly can't remember how I stumbled across Josie's blog, but I'm definitely glad I did. Style-wise she's got that effortless indie/Alexa Chung vibe that I want to try and recreate in my own wardrobe but I'm not as cool :P As well as having a case of total style envy every time I spy one of her outfit posts, what I really stay on for is her honest thoughts on living with Cystic Fibrosis. Though CF can be a difficult to live with, Josie's outlook on life is inspiring and her dedication to chronicling her journey and raising awareness on her blog is eye-opening too.
Favourite post...I don't have particular favourite outfit post but I love scrolling through her 'outfit' tag for style inspiration! Also her continuing series of posts centred around others living with Cystic Fibrosis

R.xoxo
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Haul | US Beauty + Fashion

2014-06-27T10:00:00.000+01:00

When I talked about the hidden gems from the New York trip in my last post I mentioned a few of the little places where I'd been shopping. So, of course, I couldn't resist breaking up my NYC series with a little bit of a haul focused on the US beauty and fashion buys I scored whilst I was out there (and taking advantage of the rather generous £ to $ exchange rate lol).

As you can tell from the header, beauty products were high up on my list and one of the first places I spent some serious dollar at was Sephora - surprise surprise! I actually tried out their foundation match service, which is free in store, as well as tried out two types of foundation and the one I was eventually won over by was Sephora's 'perfection mist airbrush foundation' (medium). It's actually a spray on foundation but the make up artist I worked with heavily suggested first spraying it onto the back of your hand or a small dish and using a foundation to buff the formula on for a more natural look. Spray foundations are apparently the 'next big thing' so I'm definitely keen to try this one out! Whilst at Sephora I also picked up Tarte's BB treatment primer (medium) and Make Up Forever's Make Up Setting Spray. These are the travel sizes, so they're perfect for us bloggers who like to try before committing to the full sized thing! I've heard some great stuff about Tarte so I'm particularly keen to try this primer out. I also couldn't resist picking up Tarte's 'Lights, camera, lashes' mascara in the checkout aisle - it's so tiny - as well as a nifty Sephora brow grooming kit, rather amusingly called 'The Shape Shifter' - I've started using the kit already!

As well as hitting Sephora, I stumbled upon the E.L.F. store by Union Square as I left the Subway station. E.L.F's not a new brand by any standards but seeing as they're mostly based online it's rare you get to actually swatch many of the products before you put them in your basket on the website! I picked up their Tone Correcting Powder after eyeing it up on the site for months and I'm glad I got to swatch it as I nearly bought a shade far far too light for me! Other E.L.F purchases were the Mineral Lip Tint in Rose, the Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick in Bali Bound, and a super cheap small angled make up brush.

I had some time to pick up a drugstore beauty favourite I've spotted on a few beauty blogger's sites in the past few month in the form of Wet n' Wild's eyeshadow palette (again amusingly called The Naked Truth). I don't need another 'natural' eyeshadow palette but I'm keen to see how this one compares to similar British brands.

One last beauty bit I didn't buy, was a little Bobbi Brown blush in 'Desert Pink', this was a sweet little present from my Great Aunt who I visited whilst I was in town ^_^.

I didn't go too crazy in terms of fashion but I knew I had to hit up Forever 21 whilst I was in the States! I picked up a nude sleeveless blouse and a navy blue Summer dress whilst browsing, but could've easily spent my entire NYC budget in the store.
I mentioned in my last post I found my graduation dress in Chelsea's Artists & Fleas Market, and you can see it above on the left! It's actually a really flowy, one size fits all swing dress, but add the matching belt and it turns into the prettiest draping tea dress shape. The stall I bought it from is called Nanako Clothing, they do have an online store but the dress I bought isn't on there, but they do some really cool boho style dresses and clothing if you fancy a look! I also popped into a vintage store called Olly Oxen Free in Williamsburg and bought an cool tie-dye print Anne Taylor t-shirt and off the shoulder crop top.

R.xoxo
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Travels | NYC Series | Hidden Gems

2014-06-25T10:00:00.000+01:00

When people talk about their trips to New York City and the surrounding boroughs, you often see a rattled off list of the typical tourist hot spots – Empire State Building, Times Square, Statue of Liberty etc etc. Not that there’s anything wrong with this but when I was planning this trip I knew I wanted to do little bit more exploring than usual. Now don't worry I certainly hit up the breathtaking sights we know and love – more of that in a few blog posts time! – but I also found a few hidden gems of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn that I fell for.

Chelsea Market | If you cast your minds back to my NYC bucket list, both Chelsea Market and the High Line were on the list for me to visit during my stay. Thanks to the unpredictable weather I did manage to get down there for one of the sunnier days in the city and boy do I regret not revisiting the area more. This area on the west side of Manhattan is in a booming regeneration phase and is one of the more picturesque and ‘artsier’ areas of the city. Chelsea Market is a central hub for this borough and total foodie heaven! Walking through you’ll definitely find your mouth watering at the diverse range of restaurants, cafes and bakeries. I settled on fresh pasta…and then proceeded to the doughnut stand – where they batter and cook mini doughnuts with cinnamon and icing toppings fresh on the day ^_^. The whole market has a really cool underground Camden feel and ends with ‘Artists & Fleas’ of Chelsea, a collective of indie stalls with local boutique businesses selling jewelry, art and clothing (it’s also where I finally picked up my graduation dress!).

Bookish Finds | I soon discovered New York to be a city were I just ‘stumbled upon’ literary sights walking around the streets to get to the ‘bigger’ tourist spots. My finds included the Charles Scribner Building along 5th Avenue (you have to crane your neck to see the sign!), an exhibition on children’s books at the New York Public Library (see more about it in my Blogger’s Bookshelf post!); the SoHo Scholastic Building and store (which had a cool statuette of Harry Potter from the US editions of the book in foyer!); and for all you comic book nerds, Midtown Comics just by Times Square. Then there was, of course, Strand Bookstore with ‘over 18 miles of books’, stacked in shelves that reached the ceiling and lined entire walls across three whole floors.

Charles Scribner building//The ABC of it exhibition//Harry Potter statue at Scholastic//Truffle oil pasta at Chelsea Market//Midtown Comics//A quiet park in Williamsburg//Brooklyn Mac//Duck Duck in Williamsburg with my cousin

Brooklyn’s Here | My cousin was also lovely enough to let me stay with her in Brooklyn and I found myself wandering round Williamsburg on a sunny morning taking in the area. I eventually found a park and indulged in a little writing, plus some proper American mac and cheese at Brooklyn Mac (yes, there is an entire diner dedicated to mac and cheese). Brooklyn, and more specifically the Bed-Stuy area, is another area I really want to explore more. It’s full of boutique shops and local cafés, plus the bar scene – which I only got to experience very briefly wandering round with another cousin – is much less crowded than the central Manhattan area!

‘Stumble Upon’ in IRL | Other casual finds during the trip were Rivington Street (formerly home to a young Lady Gaga); incredible street of the famous ‘kissing sailor and nurse’ whilst walking along the High Line; and a little kiosk branch of Strand Books right by Central Park.

So those are my little finds from exploring New York, there's obviously plenty more where that came from so keep an eye out for more in this series!

R.xoxo
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Travels | NYC Series | The Crossroads of Old & New

2014-06-23T10:00:00.000+01:00

Hey hey! Back in the UK and back into blogging and writing up what I got up to in New York. I managed to pack in quite a lot over the time I was there, but I know you guys don’t wanna hear me bang on and on about it! So I’ve condensed all the highlights into a nifty little series of posts for your enjoyment. So sit back and relax…

One of the first things that’s apparent about New York as a city is it’s sheer size. With over 1.6 million inhabitants spread over the tiny island of Manhattan alone there’s very little space to move on the ground, so where else is there to go but up? By constantly craning your neck to the skies you can see that the city has been building up and out since it’s earliest days, so much so that the city is now a veritable melting pot of new and old architecture and sculpture.

Walk down one street and there’s the famous steel giants, housing corporations and suited business folk, then walk down another and there’s columned buildings dating back to the early 19th Century. The High Line Park, parts of downtown Manhattan and a lot of Brooklyn are examples of this crossroads, where there’s a constant hum of regeneration amidst buildings and structures that are sometimes hundreds of years old. The work currently happening to rejuvenate of parts of Times Square and the entire structure of St Patrick’s Cathedral are working demonstrations of the city’s need to change with the times, but also it’s need to hold onto the it’s history too.

R.xoxo
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June Guest Post Round Up!

2014-06-20T11:00:00.000+01:00

I'm back and still rather jet lagged and snowed under about 1,500 photos from NYC to sort through for blog posts (and I thought I had loads from LeakyCon last year =S). So rather than jumping on this blogging bandwagon again, I thought I'd round up some of, quite frankly, fabulous posts from the lovely ladies who have been taking care of Wishing For Chanel whilst I've been gallivanting around New York!

Laura started off the run with a little mini house tour of her new home, gotta love the comic book feature wall.

My lovely friend, Hannah, gives us the low down on how to delve into Vintage. Having known Hannah for number of years I can vouch for her expertise on the subject and suggest you pay attention!

Anjali compiled a swoon-worthy wish list based on her current colour crush, lavender. I love this shade too, such a lovely Summer shade.

The very stylish Michelle shares how she'll be updating her wardrobe for the Summer, I too have developed a love of barely there shoes and need some in my wardrobe now!

Katie indulged in a little wanderlust and shared some places which look perfect for a weekend escape, inspired in part by one of her favourite childhood stories The Secret Island by Enid Blyton.

My best friend Kath celebrated Father's Day by listing off her Favourite Fiction Fathers. I haven't read all of the books on the list but I can wholeheartedly agree with Arthur Weasley as a kick ass father!

And finally, Erin counted down her Top 5 Reads of 2014 so far. I've spotted Genesis and Ten whilst browsing GoodReads so need to get those on my own TBR pile soon!

Thanks again to the girls for their great posts! Now if you'll excuse me I have a date with Photoshop Editor and some much needed caffeine...

R.xoxo
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Five Favourite Fictional Fathers | Guest Post by Kath

2014-06-15T12:35:00.000+01:00

Hello Wishing for Chanel! I'm Kath, Ria's best friend and book blogger at Sensitivity and Flair. I'm very excited to be posting for you while Ria's gallivanting all about NYC, and making me jealous with all the yummy food she seems to be eating.

In honour of Father's Day, and inspired by todays #bookadayuk question, I'm bringing to you five of my favourite fictional fathers.

The Year of the Rat

While Pearl thinks that her mum dying and the Rat coming along ruined her relationship with her stepfather, by the end of the novel it really only makes it stronger. Her stepfather patiently waits for her to deal with things. He doesn’t always know how to make it better, and he doesn’t always do the next right thing, but he waits.

Geek Girl

I think if there’s anything to say about Harriet’s father, it’s that he’s a good dad. Maybe sometimes a little misguided, but all in all a very good dad. He would follow Harriet to the ends of the earth if it’s what he thought she wanted, and for all intents and purposes, he does just that.

Chaos Walking Trilogy

Cillian and Ben, the surrogate parents of Todd Hewitt are truly excellent fathers to the boy. They essentially sacrifice themselves for him in Chaos Walking, and what we learn about them before and after that event shows that they adored and loved him.

Fangirl

Cath and Wren’s dad poured his heart and soul into the girls when their mother walked out on them. He’s loved them wholly, and them him.

Harry Potter

Arthur Weasley. Do I need to say more?

Massive thanks to Ria for letting me set up camp here for a day. If you want to read more bookish ramblings, feel free to stroll on over to my blog.

Alternatives to a Secret Island | Guest Post by Katie

2014-06-13T07:30:00.000+01:00

Hello lovelies!

I’m Katie, from Hook, Line & Sink Her, and I’m very excited to be covering for Ria today whilst she’s off in NYC being all glamorous and eating cronuts. Thinking about Ria’s jetsetting reminded me of one of my favourite childhood stories; The Secret Island by Enid Blyton. I re-read my copy until it was as dog-eared as the Famous Five’s Timmy, and daydreamed for hours about how fun it would be to run away from everything and live in a house made of willow and bracken, cooking food from my tree-root larder over a fire on the beach.

The great thing about daydreams is that you can escape from reality. In my case, a reality where I don’t like bugs (goodbye bracken-bed), or sand in my dinner (adios, campfire cooking), or sunshine-warmed chocolate (see ya, tree-root larder). I do, however, still love an escape-from-it-all adventure. Albeit ones of the more indoorsy, less spider-infested kind.

I thought I’d share a few of the places I’ve found recently which look perfect for a weekend escape. All they’re missing is a good book, a bottle or two of chilled, fruity cider, and your favourite person to share them with…

For starters, how about getting all Swiss Family Robinson at the Treetops Luxury Tree House in Devon?

Image from The Fox and Hounds Hotel

The woodburning stove, freestanding copper bath, and beautiful fitted kitchen make Treetops look like the perfect bolthole for any time of year- and you don’t even have to get shipwrecked to find it!

If wood ain’t your thing, the Rooftop Rocket airstream parked amongst Bristol’s skyline is a beautifully shiny alternative.

Image from Brooks Guesthouse

Just don’t blame me if you have a sudden urge to get all Dick Van Dyke and start singing amongst the chimney pots.

If you feel summer should be spent by the seaside, then why not set sail towards this gorgeous coastguard cottage on the Isle of Wight?

Image from Stef on airbnb (who I'm hoping isn't always so naked!)

Image from Stef on airbnb

I can just imagine waking up in that beautiful bed with the sun streaming in, looking forward to a lazy day of poking about in rock-pools and eating doorstep sandwiches on the beach after a long cliff-top walk.

Finally, if you don’t fancy a weekend in a tree, then how about a night or two at The Chocolate Boutique Hotel in Bournemouth?

Image from The Chocolate Boutique Hotel

Image from The Chocolate Boutique Hotel And, yes, that is a chocolate fountain on the reception desk.

My favourite part of the hotel's website is the blurb on the home page which includes a description of the hotel’s 15 unique chocolate themed bedrooms; the only text written in capital letters is the words “FREE PARKING”. If you’re excited about a free parking space, you’re definitely visiting for the wrong reasons…

Do you know of any hidden gems which are the perfect location for a weekend adventure? I’d love to hear!

Katie xxx

Wishing for Chanel...

I'm Moving! | Wishing For Chanel is moving to Wordpress!

Review | Sephora Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation

June/July | In Books

July | Insta-life round up

Blog Of The Month | Sailboat

Battle of the primers | Tarte BB Tinted Primer vs Benefit Porefessional

First Class | My Graduation Day!

Art Appreciation | A Newbie's Guide To Loving Art Galleries

Review | Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Palette

Diploma-Ready Dresses | Graduation Appropriate Dresses

Wishlist | Summer Sale Picks

Summer Souvenirs Giveaway!

Travels | NYC Series | Iconic Sights

Travels | NYC Series | Broadway Baby

Travels | NYC Series | Art, Culture & Education

Travels | NYC Series | Somewhere That's Green

June | Insta-life round up

Blog Of The Month | Josie's Journal

Haul | US Beauty + Fashion

Travels | NYC Series | Hidden Gems

Travels | NYC Series | The Crossroads of Old & New

June Guest Post Round Up!

Top 5 Reads Of 2014... so far! | Guest Post by Erin

Five Favourite Fictional Fathers | Guest Post by Kath

Alternatives to a Secret Island | Guest Post by Katie