Tuesday 31 December 2013

These are a few of my favorite things , 2013


 


To sum up 2013 in a few words can be tough but I only need one; change. Finishing college, finding a new job, making some big decisions regarding travelling, friends and a career, its been stressful but now has led to a very confident and positive  mind set for 2014. This is not something that I tend to do, look back on the year and highlight my favorite moments, styles or purchases but for the purpose of this blog I am giving it a go (this blog has been the biggest highlight of 2013 personally). So here we go....

Feeling the free love: Kimono's 


Discovering your own style is something that can absolutely take years, particularly to perfect. In my time I have tried to experiment with as many styles, looks, prints etc, as I could to determine what I am most comfortable in and find out what I REALLY wanted to wear. As a women, clothes are such a personal aspect of your personality and this has taken me a really long time to completely understand. Thankfully, I unveiled certain aspects of this in 2013. Boho is an area that completely grabbed my fashion attention this year and really felt myself when dressed in this style. Investing in good clothes is something I took seriously also and I bought a few kimonos that will 100% see me right through to 2015. Paired with skinny jeans, ankle platform shoes and a fedora and I'm sold. 

She's The Man: Masculine Tailoring 


Back in September I sat down one day to write up a post and blank, nothing came to mind. So I left it for a few hours and revisited the topic later in the day. I've always wanted to write about styles and trends that I love and want to wear but for some reason, just could not reflect it on that day. So like always when I am looking for inspiration for anything, I turn to Pinterest! My style board is my pride and joy, so while browsing this folder I realized the pure beauty of clean cut tailoring. This has reflected in my work so much but I had never realized. So the topic for the post was born but little did I know that this not only became a style focus for me personally from that day on but it also was Factory F's most popular post of 2013. This is also one of my favorites from the bunch, just in case you missed it Girl Meets Boy.



Bring the Bitching: The Face 



Every so often a TV show comes along that grabs my attention, all of it. 2013 was no different but this time it was in the form of Naomi Campbell s bitchy back slaps, wanting to be Erin O' Connors best friend and having my fingers crossed that Caroline Winbergs team loose, yes that's right, it was The Face. Every Monday evening I was hooked and just couldn't bring myself to miss it. The platform is a mix between The X Factor meets Americas Next Top Model. The American series (which will also feature Naomi Campbell) airs in January so if you haven't had a chance to see any of it here's your chance. 

Music to my Ears: Spotify 


Starting life as a grown up means that I had to take that leap and find full time work, sad face! But this has meant that I can now afford to pay for Spotify Premium now, happy face! Finding new music has really never been so easy and as I write this I am listening to Dry The River, a brilliant band that I discovered on the website. It has been a great year for music but a handful of albums had me playing them on repeat over the past few months.

Lorde: Pure Heroine
The 1975: The 1975
MS MR: Secondhand Rapture
Chvrches: The Bones of What You Believe
Artic Monkeys: AM
 James Arthur: James Arthur
Grimes: Visions
Fleetwood Mac: Rumours
Hozier: Take me to Church

All amazing albums which I highly recommend anyone to get their hands on. A little old school with Fleetwood Mac but one of the highlights of my year was going to see them in Paris in October and the love rekindled. I'm hoping 2014 brings another year of great music and live gigs, so far I have tickets for The 1975 in February and One Direction in May (Well I have eyes)!  My sights are set on Hozier having a massive year and I cannot wait for his debut album. 

Discovery is an art: Factory F & Your Style Forecast 



This year I took a massive step in achieving personal ambitions and started this blog. I am
fully aware of how cheesy that sounds but it's true. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to write and work in fashion, and if this year has proved anything for me is that it is up to me to make that happen. After about a month of writing I was asked to start contributing to Your Style Forecast, which has been going brilliantly. While saving to move away this has allowed me to gain more experience in a field where I wish to work, it's perfect. To be paid for doing this is the dream! At first it can be really hard to tell people what you are doing and why you want to do it (it took me ages to tell people) but once I did they were all very supportive and encouraging, which definitely helps your confidence going forward. One of my biggest resolutions/hopes for 2014 is to give Factory F and Your Style Forecast 110%. Hopefully others will enjoy this blog as much as I enjoy writing it.

Read my lips: MAC Media & Clinique "Stay Matte" 



Finding make up that suits your skin tone and style can be a challenge but it can also be lots of fun; experimenting with colours, products, layout, it's all in the name of beauty. There are a few beauty discoveries I made in 2013; Clinique "Stay Matte" in my best foundation friend and an oxblood lip is much more appealing than the classic red. The later statement is not so much of a discovery than a re-defined statement but once the perfect shade is found than it is a whole different ball game altogether. MAC Media to sum up in a shade is gothic deep purple with a hint of burgundy. Surprising, it goes with everything as well! Therefore it is an investment, no? Well, I tried. But I have been converted and I now see the light. My personal beauty discover has been that the red lip doesn't appeal/suit me the way it does others and I am not bitter about this at all because I honestly believe that I am on to something good here. Here's to experimenting with more oxblood shades in 2014!






Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Love C X 

Friday 20 December 2013

Shoeniverse





So I'm looking back on this past year in a slightly different way than traditional means, I am going to do it through shoes. 2013 was a different to most because it was the one year I found myself asking "Are those shoes too high??" and this made me feel old! My style transformed from college student to young adult and the great benefit from this is wearing heeled boots during the day. Now I did this at college as well but now it seems okay to wear the higher heeled boots. They also go with EVERYTHING! Seriously, try it, they really do. When heading on a night out with friends now we all seem to stick to a lower heeled boot in comparison to the sky scrapper heels which we lived in before. So are we coming of age with sensibility or is this a trend? 

My guess is that this is obviously fashion focused. Why would we just so happen to want to wear platform boots when the best collection just happens to arrive in the shop?

Untitled #23

When it comes to footwear, particularly boots, I find myself drawn to black. I don't know know if this is due to the shade complimenting most of my clothes or that it is perfect for the "minimal" look which I loved in 2013. But either way, they were the clear winner for me during these past few months. Pull and Bears black booties which are featured int he shoeniverse image above in the left corner are my footwear crush at the minute. All the links to the boots featured in that image will be featured at the bottom of this post.




This year Christmas I asked for a pair of black (shocking) pair of boots from River Island. I've already checked that they are not going into sale so I won't feel cheated for buying at full price. If you follow me on instagram (@CiCiJewels) you will definitely get a look of these boots as I will be posting pictures of them.



Hope you all receive lovely shoes for Christmas .

Love C X 

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Best Beauty Brand of 2013



As all hard working women know, it can often be difficult to find a make that will last all day. By biggest issue is the effect that make up leaves after it has begun to fade; scaly, dry and overall unattractive.  So I have been searching for products and tips which can improve the length of my make up since I began to wearing it. During this time I have tried and tested almost every make up brand in the form of foundations, powders, bronzers, lipsticks or eye beauty, which could not only go the distance but have the consistency to continue to give me the look that made me fall in love with a brand.

One day while browsing in Penney's I decided to have a look at the beauty counter which is usually just by the till, primarily Catrice, Essence and NYC products.  Now I love buying new make products and I especially love a bargain so this was the perfect combination. The first brand that I starting picking up products was Catrice and I think on that first day I bought eyeliner, mascara, foundation and an eye shadow, and the best part was the total was around 10 Euro. Not only did I love the price but I went on to love the products.





I started using the "matte mousse" first and loved the results. It gives great results for a flawless effect and lasted longer than most foundations for a reasonable 4.50 Euro, although I think the price may be slightly higher these days. I no longer use this product because I found after time I realized this was not the best foundation for my skin type (combination). My skin feels its best when using "matte" foundations so I now use Clinque "Stay Matte" and the results are amazing. Also with this Catrice foundation it only lasts for about 2-3 weeks which can be irritating having to constantly go in and buy more! The eye shadows are also extremely great value and the brand offer a vast range of colours and tones to choose from.




But it was the following product which was the clear winner for me; Catrice Prime and Fine Smoothing Refiner. I had previously used Smashbox Primer as it is suppose to have the best results but I wasn't sold. It was alright but it was definitely not worth the money and didn't have that much of an impact on my make up so I couldn't understand the obsession and it mad be reluctant to try primers again. But I did! This primer not only kept my make up on ALL day but it retained that smooth, just applied look also. It is by far my favorite beauty find of 2013. 




The brands lip liners are also very effective. As a newbie to the lip liner world I dare not compare it to the effects of larger brands products but it converted me. My grads was a few months ago and it was my first experience using it with lip stick. I went for the nude effect and was very impressed with the  results; long lasting and beautiful natural tones. 





So there you have it, another year and another beauty discovery. Let me know if any of you are using any of Catrices products and what you think of them.


Love C X 

Monday 16 December 2013

Jump... For my Love

Jump... For my Love



Over Christmas we are faced with lots of nights with friends and events to attend to but also faced with the dilemma of "nothing to wear". My fix quick solution to this is investing in jumpsuits. Not only are they really comfortable and stylish but they also fix the top and bottom solution, perfect! A black jumpsuit will never let you down and will always be there for anything it is you need to attend, be it birthdays, weddings, drinks with friends or interviews. With that said it is also nice to step away from the classic black and venture for something bright and colorful, which is exactly what I have done here. Above are some of my favorites this season which include a healthy mix of dark and electric tones. All the links to the featured jumpsuits will be featured at the bottom of this post. 





In my honest opinion I feel the high street offers a vast range of styles for jumpsuits, be it in colours and prints so I have no fear that you will have difficulty finding one that suits your own style and personality. I don't think I could pull of the canary yellow jumpsuit as seen above but I do love this photo, a girl can dream! Rachel Zoe is also featured above wearing a black jumpsuit accompanied with a gold waist belt. She is a personal style icon for me and can wear anything and look great so it is no wonder that she works this look so well.


Below are links to my favorite  jumpsuits which were seen in the first image of this post.

Matthew Williamson jumpsuits romper

River Island romper


Warehouse jumpsuits romper

Topshop jumpsuits romper

Topshop jumpsuits romper

Boohoo jumpsuits romper


Love C X 

Friday 13 December 2013

Jewel Citizen

Jewel Design

I've been saying this for awhile now but I definitely want to start designing my own jewels. This is the perfect way of making the necklace, ring or bracelet that is exactly how you want or to accessorise an outfit that you have in mind. Over the past few months I have collected and researched various different techniques on how to make a range of pieces and today I am going to share one with you.

What I enjoy most when it comes to my personal jewellery is a statement, particularly with neck pieces. Bold colours, beads and gold is definitely a winner. Below is a guide on how to create this costume neck piece. The colour of beads that you choose to use is completely optional and I think I may venture for a deep purple tone when posting my own edition. 




The best place to gather supplies for crafting your own jewels is etsy. Here you will be able to buy your cable wire, pliers, beads, and chains, and all at very affordable prices. My favourite bead tone at the minute is seen below. 



As soon as I start making a few of my own bits in the new year I will make sure to share with you guys but for now I will share with you a few of my favourite jewel pics of the past few months. 








Love C X 


Monday 9 December 2013

December Loves...

December Loves...

BB Dakota Jumpsuits, 81 Euro, karmaloop.com
Vila Black Romper, 44.96 Euro, vila.com
Warehouse Black Floral Jumpsuit, 40 Euro, johnlewis.com
Block Heel Sandals, $2,090, alexandermcqueen.com
Floral Clutch Bag, $1,715, ssense.com
Pink YSL Clutch, $890, ysl.com
Skull Ring, $550, eleonorabonucci.com
Marc by Marc Jacobs Black Watch, $175, forzieri.com
Gold Earrings, $270, monnierfreres.co.uk




Love C X 

Friday 6 December 2013

A Touch of Silver: Review


For the past month I have been trying out this new shampoo called "A Touch of Silver" which is specifically for brighter blonder hair. The reason I decided to give this a go is because I had heard such great things about it from people who I know I have used it before. I love having blonde hair but the one thing that really frustrates me is the up keep! I have to get it touched up every six weeks to maintain that fresh blonde look that I love. So really I have nothing to loose by simply giving this a go. I've decided to do this review in stages, this being stage one (based on a four week period). I will go through each week with you and how I think using this shampoo has made a difference.






Products 


A Touch of Silver, Dry Shampoo, 3.50 Euro 
A Touch of Silver , Twice-A-Week Shampoo, 3.17 Euro 

 I wash my hair three times a week so every second wash was used with this product. On the alternative wash I used my regular shampoo which is L'oreal. Between washed I used the dry shampoo to revive the freshness and it smells amazing!

Week One 

My hair was due a cut and colour so once I had done this I decided to begin using the shampoo. I thought this best as it would give a clearer indication of how good the product actually is depending on how long it would be before having  to get it done again. Just to note, a women told me that she didn't have to get her hair done for 7 months once she started using this product, so I have high hopes!

So my hair was initially bright and fresh starting this trial so I found it difficult to determine any significance of the product but my hair did smell really really nice from the dry shampoo.

This was my hair after being done and starting to use the product.


Week Two 


So my hair had slightly started to gain roots by week two (this is normal for my hair) but maintained that bright effect which would have usually faded by now. Being a natural brunette means that sometimes my hair looses that white blonde result when I dye my hair very quickly. But it did last that bit longer thanks to this shampoo. 

Week Three 


As you can tell from the picture my roots have not darkened much in the week, which I am really happy about it. At this point I am usually at my half way mark of needing to get my hair done but if it continues like this I will definitely get longer than normal. The brightness has maintained also and I have to say my hair feels and looks really healthy, considering how much I have coloured it over the previous two years. For my hair I wanted to achieve the "white blonde" look rather than the dirty blonde and this shampoo definitely adheres to this style of blonde.


Week Four 


So my hair has darkended a little but you can tell that the brightness has remained in the body. So far I am really happy with the product and will be continuing this review over the next few weeks to determine how long this great effect will continue for. Coming up to Christmas is an expensive time of the year and I am trying to hold off having to get it coloured before the new year (it ain't cheap being blonde) but I am definitely feelingt hat I am going to get longer than my average six weeks.


Keep an eye out for the next post review on "A Touch of Silver" and if you are a blondie give it a try. It's so cheap you won't even notice the money has gone!


Love C X