Fashion Launch: Aciq Fall 2013 at the W Hotel

Fashion label Aciq recently launched their Fall Capsule collection 'The End of the Beginning' at the W Hotel on the 8th of May. I write for a magazine so was sent to cover this on their behalf. I brought Charlotte as a plus one (I mentioned in a previous post we interned together at Vogue) and it was such a lovely evening. We even bumped into someone from the Vogue team and got chatting - he passed on some really helpful career advice!

[Tips included:

- It's better to have 'meatier' experience on your CV than lots of short placements - try to get at least one 3 month long placement rather than just one month. 

- If you're struggling financially, put your dignity aside and get a part-time evening job as a waitress or bar staff, so that you can gain experience during the day and work for funds afterwards. It's what a lot of people do to make ends meet while interning; I waitressed for 6 months to subsidise writing for my local paper (I was an Arts Critic which was unpaid except for free theatre tickets)!]

If you haven't been to the W Hotel before, it's on Leicester Square, and is definitely worth a visit. They have hotels in Paris and Barcelona among other locations. So far I've also been to their hotel in Paris for a fashion week event, and would love to see other buildings in the future.

Wish List: Chloe and Stella McCartney Bag Lust

Working at Liberty London, I spend a lot of my time wandering the shop floor during my lunchbreak. It's so easy to while away the time looking at the beautiful and unusual brands on display, and I'm developing a serious case of fashion lust. 

Their bag department is incredible and the staff really friendly. They know I work in the building so hopefully they don't think I'm too strange always mooning over the handbags around midday...

This is some of the new stock setting my pulse a flutter and heart a racin'. 

Chloe Sally Small Frame Studs Shoulder Bag in Blue

Spotted: OB for Shu Uemura

Spotted today while wandering the Liberty beauty department on my lunch break: the OB for Shu Uemura collection. I don't do girly on my body and prefer a tomboyish/androgynous style, so my torrid and secret love of pink cute things inevitably gets unleashed in my blog and make up collection. This had my inner girly girl doing the merengue, Fifty Shades of Grey style.

Oh the pretty pretty things. Reminds me of my teenage years spent avidly reading Sailor Moon and Fruits Basket. I spent a good fifteen minutes hovering around the stand, and chatting to the salesman about the products. 

Parisian Pharmacy: Nivea Waterlily and Oil Shower Gel

Ok, I guess this doesn't really count as a Parisian pharmacy buy anymore as the Nivea Waterlily and Oil shower gel has been released in the UK since I found my bottle at a Monoprix in Paris. However, there was a time this pretty as a picture shower gel could only be found in Europe and was utterly thrilling to stumble across. Yes, you heard me. Thrilling. 

Apparently this has Hydra IQ moisture space age 3000 technology in it (I may have made that last bit up) to give you soft as a baby's bottom skin. There are also 'pampering oil pearls'. All I know is it smells incredible; soft and floral in a lush non-fusty way; and looks just as nice. The oil aspect is lovely too - a bit like using baby oil in the shower (which is apparently a thing). Definitely good for skin in need of a moisture hit.

Now available at bog-standard, British-as-they-come Boots for £1.24, you can purchase online HERE.

Nars: Love Thrill Gift Set

A week or so ago ASOS had a flash beauty sale, and I picked up the Nars Love Thrill Gift Set for 20% off. It's already a bargain at RRP £45, which is 20% off the price full size blush, lipstick and matte lip pencil were you to buy them separately.

I was iffy on whether to get this, as Nars isn't a brand I've used much, despite hearing rave reviews, and I wasn't sold on the colours on screen or in blog swatches (I'm such a beauty geek I always research products on the blogosphere before buying). I was pleasantly surprised however and all three of these items are in my handbag for daily use.

Splendours: Clarins Summer 2013 Colour Quartet and Eyeliner Palette

I haven't mentioned this in any previous blog posts (I signed a confidentiality contract before starting) but I recently had the amazing opportunity to intern at British Vogue. It was an incredible experience, the staff were really lovely - not at all Devil Wears Prada-ish - and I found a lot of friends in the other interns.

The beauty intern, Charlotte, and I bonded pretty much instantly. It must be the shared obsession with beauty products. She recently moved to London from Canada to pursue her dream of working in fashion and editorial, and as a leaving present she was allowed to raid the Vogue Beauty closet (a.k.a the beauty blogger's land of dreams). I seriously recommend checking out her blog, The Crimson Coat.

We were such soul sisters we even turned up one day in matching outfits (no fore-planning involved, I swear)

We went for drinks on the same day to celebrate/mourn the end of our internships, and after I practically had an aneurysm over this palette she very kindly gave it to me! It's the Clarins Colour Quartet & Eyeliner Palette from the Summer 2013 Splendours collection. 

Cheap and Cheerful: Essential Waitrose Bath Crème

Monday morning blues getting you down? Pop over to Waitrose to pick up one of their own brand bubble baths; a long soak in some of this will cheer you up in no time. Of course, if you're currently in the UK and enjoying your bank holiday, they'll wait until next Monday ;)

I adore their Cinnamon Cakes bath crème; using it is like taking a bath in a bakery; and was so impressed I recently purchased Ginger & Clementine too. These seem far more high quality than their price tag (RRP. £1.49). The scent is gorgeous and not synthetic-smelling (most likely due to the real cinnamon / ginger root and mandarin extracts used), the formula doesn't affect my sensitive skin, and creates a thickly luxurious layer of bubbles. 

Better still, these are currently on offer at only £1 each. Ooh the bubbles the bubbles the bubbles.



Purchase online HERE.

***Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.