Jewellery.

I like to say that I follow fashion, I may not like it or wear it, but I certainly know what is in trend. It has partly to do with the fact that I work for Lisa Angel where I am surrounded by trends, and then all the magazines that I read.

I follow the clothes trends, but what I really like to keep up with (and buy a lot of) is the jewellery, I am obsessed. 

I have most jewellery trends, like semi precious stones, geometrics and boho chic, there's not much I don't like. 

Here are some of my wonderful geometric pieces, my gold and diamante double band ring, my gold circle necklace and silver triangle necklace:

                                                       

I love to wear these pieces with my flowy dresses, it really gives the outfit a bit of edge. The silver triangle in particular is great with the V- neck style tops/dresses. I wore my ring today actually, I teamed it with a long black chiffon dress, just to give it that extra sparkle. 

The trend I think I like the most is semi precious stones, I love that they come in all shapes, sizes and colours. 

Here's my favourite, my blue druzy necklace:

This is just gorgeous, I found it through Instagram from Blood Moon Jewellery. I was so happy when it arrived and I couldn't wait to wear it. This was worn loads over the winter months, I teamed it with my high necked jumpers to give them a little bit of colour and glam.

When I wear this necklace I like to wear it with these beautiful rings. First is a hand casted sterling silver ring with a blue agate stone in the middle and the other is also sterling silver with a simple infinity symbol design.

A trend I've seen becoming ever more popular is birthstone jewellery. Fortunately for me March is an aquamarine stone, and blue is my favourite colour. Here are two bracelets I have from Lisa Angel: 

A tassel bracelet and stone bracelet, the tassel one has rose gold beads too which is also a very popular colour right now. They also come in gold and silver, so I treated myself to 3 different ones, with three different birthstone colours too;- rose gold and blue, gold and green and yellow and silver.

These bracelets combine both the birthstone trend and the ever lasting boho chic look. I cannot get enough of hippy styling, and if I had it my way, I would been born a long time ago so I could have been teenager in the 60s! 

You can't beat wearing your longest, flowiest dress, a funky cardi and some great comfy sandals. And when I do this, I have to complete the look with some laid back hippy jewellery. 

On the left is my dream catcher necklace, I know for a fact I have had this for 11 years, it could be longer. I can't tell you wear I got it from, but I must have known it would never go out of style, because I have loved it all these years! On the right is a lovely semi precious stone necklace in the 'bullet' style which I wear with so many of my outfits.

Next I have a beautiful, striking, statement necklace. This was a gift from Marks and Spencer's for Christmas. I wear it with my shirts, mainly my white/cream ones, I do the buttons up to the top and then add the necklace under the collar so it pokes out and gives a huge eye catcher to your outfit. 

                       

And finally, you wouldn't have a complete jewellery collection without your geek item. For me it has to be something Harry Potter related, I love that series more than anything! I have a small replica book necklace, a 'poly juice' potion necklace, a golden snitch watch necklace, a deathly hallows ring, a snitch bracelet and this amazing deathly hallows necklace.

I decided to show this necklace because I literally wear it every day. I like to think it goes with anything, but hey, even if it doesn't, I make it! 

Sorrento, Italy 2015.

Have you ever been to a place that when you leave you have to soak in every view in case you never return? A place that fills you with joy, radiates beauty and is everything you ever imagined it to be?

I have, and for me that is Italy. 

My first visit was when I was 11, and it was my first holiday abroad. We flew to Tuscany, rented a car and drove to the top of a hill shrouded in mystery to find our perfect little rented house. This house was in a heart of a quaint village where we soaked in the Italian culture, this started the love I felt for the amazing country. 

On June 8th 2015 the fire in my heart was ignited once more when me and my fiance landed in Sorrento. 

Day 1

We were up at 6am sharp ready for a long day of travelling. By 11:30 we were at Birmingham Airport which is a lovely airport to get around and before we knew it we were on the plane, by 7 we were in Naples on the coach for the drive to Sorrento and then finally at 9:30 we were at the hotel, where we were greeted by the staff who had kept the kitchen open so we could have tea. We stayed at the lovely Hotel Admiral which was nestled into the cliff on the Marina Grande. I cannot recommend this hotel enough, it had excellent food, very lovely and welcoming staff and the BEST views.

Day 2

We headed to the welcome talk provided by Thomson at 10am situated in a lovely restaurant, this was for the reps to introduce themselves, to sell the excursions and answer any questions. This was really helpful and we booked in for the Vesuvius and Pompeii day trip. They also provided a tour of Sorrento that lasted about 2 and a half hours. We wandered through all the delightful streets, sampled the amazing ice cream, drank Limoncello and Prosecco and soaked in the glorious views. This was very helpful as after the tour we felt we already knew the little city of Sorrento and could find our way round with no trouble. After the tour, me and Sam wanted to head down to the Marina Piccolo to see all the boats and try for some lunch. We walked down literally the side of the cliff down steps and slopes to the bottom, one left turn and we were sat on the beach eating pizza - perfect!

After our lunch we headed back up the hill (oh my god!) to do some mooching around the shops. I treated myself to a bottle of Limoncello which looked like a cute potion bottle and a lovely little blue jug with famous Sorrento Lemons on it. We headed back to the hotel to have a little rest and sun ourselves for a bit, this didn't last long as we found ourselves in the middle of a thunderstorm!

After the storm calmed we went back up into the city to get some headache tablets (boo) and water, on the way back we decided to venture up the other side of Marina Grande, we found these wonderful steps taking you under
ancient arch ways and we were able to take beautiful photos of the Marina lit up at night. This was the perfect end to our first day out in Sorrento.



Day 3

Due to the unexpected thunderstorm the previous evening, we had some sun time to make up for. We awoke at 8am and had the lovely breakfast buffet, we changed into some swim gear and perched our bums on the sunbeds. Absolutely beautiful morning out on the decking, with the sun above, the pool to the right and a view of Vesuvius to your left, we knew right then it would be hard leaving that place! We stayed out for about 3 hours, topping up our tan, having a swim and reading our magazines (Sam; Empire, me: Look). I may have slept for a bit too..

After our pool session we headed back to Marina Piccolo, paid for our ferry and hopped on the boat to Capri. It only took about 30 minutes to get there and we arrived at the beautiful island ready to explore. We headed up the hill and saw a turn to the left for 'Centro', we walked in that direction completely unaware that the walk was a very steep hill with lots of steps, and no shade!

It was worth it though for the beautiful view and a lovely array of shops, not that we shopped in any, Prada and Gucci are a little out of my price range! We were at Capri for a couple of hours and then headed back to the hotel, I was suffering from another headache so had a little power nap to recuperate. Then it was our first proper meal in the hotel, very nice food! We then decided to go back out on that beautiful walk from the night before, but this time with Sam's snazzy camera so he could get some fabulous photos.

Day 4

Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius time!! Ever since booking it we had been looking forward to this day! We woke early to get the bus at 8am en route to Pompeii, we had a lovely tour guide who was spewing out the facts from the minute we got on the bus, it was great! We arrived at Pompeii and followed the guide through the amazing ruins. It was incredible just being there, walking down the streets that were once bustling with people going about their everyday lives. We saw an old bakery, loads of houses and even a brothel! It was phenomenal to see what was still standing, which was a lot. We had a walkie talkie hooked up to what the guide was saying so we could hear her no matter where she was, which was really handy. There were moments when I would look at the ruins and then look up at the background to see Vesuvius looming behind, as if he was looking at the damage he had done.

Next it was on to the man himself, we went back on the coach and travelled up the mountain. Bearing in mind this was a massive coach and there are windy roads, it was pretty scary and the coach went practically to the top to drop us off! Italians aren't as bad drivers as people make out! We paid the £10 to start our climb to the top. After 30 minutes of climbing up the sandy/ashy terrain we arrived at the top, and after catching our breaths we looked out at the beautiful view. It was without a doubt something I will never forget, it is utterly breathtaking to think I have stood on a volcano and peered into its core!

            

We were allowed to spend an hour up Vesuvius and take in all its glory before heading back to the coach and back into Sorrento. By about 6pm we were back at the hotel and feeling very hungry!

We checked the board for what was on for dinner and saw that it was the Gala dinner with entertainment, so we got suited and booted for dinner with pretty much everyone in the hotel out on the terrace, with the sea underneath our seats. We were treated to a 4 course meal that was given to us without choosing on a menu (!) and then the entertainment was in between each meal, have a watch below! This was the perfect end to the perfect day.

Day 5

After the long day that was yesterday, we wanted to chill for a bit! We woke for breakfast and then nabbed ourselves a sun lounger to sun ourselves for a good while, it was so nice relaxing. Our plan for day 5 involved trying out the train service in Sorrento, the Circumvesuviana. Piece of advice - do not try this train service! The place we got the ticket from was fine, very helpful lady, but the minute we stepped foot on the platforms we had no clue! There were no maps, no signs on the platforms and no direction of where the trains were going when they arrived, it was a nightmare. I asked 3 different people if it was the train to 'Ercalano' and finally we knew we were on the right one. The trains themselves are disgusting, they are very tatty and have graffiti everywhere, and there is graffiti on the signs at the different stops so you don't even know if you're at the right stop! Anyway, disappointment aside we finally got off at Herculaneum and made our way to the ruin.

On arrival to Herculaneum we were amazed and gobsmacked. There was so much of it preserved and in my honest opinion it was better than Pompeii, you could see more of it so you really got a sense of what life was like, it was literally like walking around a city still standing. I would highly recommend going there, I mean do Pompeii too, but don't miss out on Herculaneum because it's the same kind of thing, because it's actually better.We walked around for a good few hours, and then braved the horrid train again (more confusion) before getting back to Sorrento. We stopped off for an ice cream at our favourite place and then made our way back to the hotel for dinner. 

There was a young couple the same age as us that we had been speaking to (and we went to Pompeii with them) and they came and sat with us after for a drink and chatter, we stayed up chatting for like 3 hours before heading back to our rooms at midnight! We chatted about everything, practically our life stories, it was so lovely! (never actually got their numbers though, whoops). 

Day 6

The penultimate full day in Sorrento, boo! We wanted to use the last two days to majorly chill as we had done everything else we had wanted to do. So up we were, down for breakfast and then straight out on the sun beds! At this point we could literally stay there forever! We sunned our selves for a very long time and then we went into the town to do some shopping for presents. We wanted to make sure we explored all of Sorrento (which we did) so we took some purposeful wrong turns and ended up down this amazing little street where we bought everything we had been looking for! I got a little ceramic vase with lemons on for the house, a bottle of Limoncello, two lovely tops from this

amazing shop, a brilliant painting of Sorrento, some cheese and pasta and here's the best bit...THERE WAS A HARRY POTTER SHOP! (I got a snitch bracelet). Sam also found his favourite shop which contained all things football, so he bought a Napoli FC t-shirt! We then got our parents some Pecorino cheese, some pasta, a Murano figurine, some coffee, and a jar of Lemon Spread - there was a theme! 

We spent a while getting all these bits and pieces, it took us a good hour to find the awesome street! So it was about 6 when we got back to the hotel and the dinner for that night was the buffet, yay! I had been wanting to try the buffet since I got there so I was really excited haha. Our terrace looked right down onto the decking where the tables were being laid out again and I could see the HUGE line of tables for where the food was going, and when we got out there, it was just food EVERYWHERE! We had a huge plate of food with everything ever made in Italy, it was awesome! We ended the day of very successful shopping with the most food ever and drinks in the evening, t'was perfect :)

Day 7

Our last day!! (internally crying as I remember) We again spent all morning/midday sunning ourselves, adamant to relax as much as possible before going back to the real, annoying life back in England. So again it was quite late before we headed out, and the only plan for the day was to go to the panoramic view we were told about on day 1. This was a very long walk to a spot over the other side where you could see all the way to our hotel, and everything in between! Lets just say it was bloody amazing and worth the walk.

                                 

Standing in that spot looking out at the view I started to soak in everything I could, so as to not forget what I felt in that moment. This was pretty much what the say was to be honest, just walking around enjoying everything for one last time and making photographic memories. As it was our last day we saw it fit that we have a meal out instead, we went to a restaurant on the marina, right on the beach, that we had walked past everyday. I had Crab Ravioli and Sam had Prawn Linguine, both were delicious and it was a lovely last night. 

We got back to the hotel at about half 9, and as we needed to be up at 5 for the transfer in the morning, we went to bed not long after. 

The last thing we did in Sorrento was head out onto the terrace and just look. I remember my heart aching for what I was leaving behind, we both stood there and said to ourselves that we wanted to stay forever. We will definitely go back, but for the time being I am very sad to not be there. 

It has been about a month since I arrived and all I have done since is feel the withdrawal symptoms. During the day I find myself walking down the Sorrento streets or looking at the view from the terrace. I often look back over my pictures and my heart does a little flutter.

It was without a doubt the best holiday I have been on. I have been to Italy 4 times before, all amazing, but being in the country I love the most with the guy I love the most was something special. 

                     

Wedding: tips and tricks.

                                                 

Congratulations, you are engaged!

While the champagne is flowing and the celebrations are in full swing, your plans have probably already begun formulating in your head. Every teenage girl has their idea of the dream wedding, so here is a little post filled with wedding fever for you to get tips and tricks from.

Now then, where do you start? The first plan of action is probably to conjure up a rough figure of what you are prepared to spend, and then you will need to decide on what you want to spend the most on, so what is more important to you. I am currently planning my wedding (so I know how you feel!), and we have allocated the venue, photography and food to be our top priorities.

Booking your venue is most likely the best place to start, you then know what money you have left (as this will probably be the most expensive spend), how much time you have to plan and you can start planning the decorations/entertainment that will be inside.

Here are some lovely venue ideas:

• A grandeur hotel in all its finery
• A rustic barn
• A nature inspired marquee in a garden
• A cosy pub/restaurant

The ideas don’t stop there though; check out this wedding in an aquarium, if you are aquatically inclined!

                                            

Onto a more fun part of the planning is getting stuck in to the decorations, flowers and colour scheme (if you have one). I have scoured the internet and found some lovely decorations, here are some if you fancy a traditional white wedding:

                   Personalised Garland            Tassel balloon          Personalised decorative heart

Or perhaps you’d like a full on glitzy, glamorous wedding? Check out these beauties…  

                            Sequin candles           Giant martini glass      Faceted crystal decoration

A trend I have noticed that is becoming vastly popular is the use of mason jars. You can use them for storage in your kitchen, a toothbrush holder and (especially for a wedding) putting flowers in. I am planning to take full advantage of this trend and will adorn my wedding (and future house) with mason jars for my center pieces. Here are a couple of mason jars that could be used at your wedding:

Colours

Most people will obviously choose their favourite colour to have for their wedding, but some don’t have a preference and just want to look for some inspiration. Here is a lovely array of colour pallets to browse through.

Popular colours for this year are blue hues, particularly teal. I am a lover of blue anyway and I was planning on having electric blue, but I have seen the lovely teal colours and this is now going to be my wedding colour of choice. 

                                      

A day probably considered most special for the bride is choosing her gorgeous dress, some like to buy in advance and some are more spontaneous and nearer the date. This is something I am doing for my wedding; I am not getting my dress until at least 6 months before because knowing me, I will find the perfect one and stare at it for a year and get bored of it! So while you, like me, might not be looking at dresses yet, here are some lovely ideas to help you accessorise!

   

       Personalised pearl bracelets     Personalised infinity necklace    Personalised wedding ring

Now then, if you happen to be reading this and you have been invited to a wedding, you are probably wondering what presents to get them, i'm going to a wedding myself soon and I have been trawling the internet for something to buy, here are some awesome things I found:

       

                              Bride to be glass              Grape vine cart       Bespoke wooden map letters

I do hope I have provided you with some helpful tips and tricks to plan your wedding, and put your mind a little at ease! A few last minute tips:

• food is important, guests will remember what they ate at your wedding
• consider being un-traditional and not having an open bar, people don't expect the bride and groom to pay for drinks as well anymore
• call your suppliers at least 3 times nearer the date to double check everything
• have a supply of tissues on hand 
• a travel sewing kit can come in very handy

Finally - the bride is always right :D (tehe)

My healthy venture.

For about 3 years now I have been a member of a gym, I have always eaten a balanced diet, some days being more healthy than others, and I have always made a point to be active. While working at Primark I was biking to work everyday and even though I now live a 45 mins walk from the city, I always walk in. 

For me, being healthy has always been a big thing and something I always try to be on top of it. Some days it is harder as I will have a girls night out, or a birthday, and Christmas almost makes it impossible. 

Recently I have made a big change, and I have quit the gym. I was unhappy going on my own, I didn't like how crowded it was I didn't like the stuffy, artificial 'air con' air. It was getting warmer and I wanted to run outside again, I instantly enjoyed it and from that moment I haven't wanted to get back on a treadmill. 

This has been a huge success, I joined a running club and starting running each week after work, each time increasing the distance, then one night I was stuck in traffic and late home so I went for a run without the club, and out of nowhere I completed a 5k run without stopping or getting a stitch! Result!

This has hugely motivated me, I now regularly run both in the group and on my own and have completed another 5k run. It has made me motivated to change parts of my diet too, here is what I have done:

• changed rice/cous cous to bulgar wheat or quinoa 
• opted for brown bread instead of white when I eat it
• mainly have wraps instead of bread
• changed white potatoes to sweet potatoes 
• replaced all sweets/chocolate in the house with fruit/oat bars/natural yoghurt
• introduced lots of spinach and kale to my meals

I really enjoyed eating something other than cous cous and salad, for me salad can get really boring and I struggle to make it interesting, and I don't always have the ingredients to had. I fail quite often to get full from a salad so this is when I would eat a chocolate bar. I tried bulgar wheat and really loved it! It had a nutty taste to it and I added cucumber, peppers, cheese and carrots, lovely!

Something else I have done is bought a bottle infuser to have lemon water while at work, this detoxes you and curbs your hunger in the morning to stop you snacking. I found myself doing this despite always eating cereal, and now I don't. 

It has also made me drink more, which is part of the success of losing weight. I don't just use lemons either, I have experimented with frozen berries which make nice cold berry water! 

I have also aimed to have a smoothie a week, normally for breakfast, I have been making mine green. And the other day I had green tea too, just to add to the detox, it was actually not too bad! 

So far I have kept up a good routine of running, eating healthy food and always choosing fruit over chocolate. I am actually starting to see some results too, which is always a positive, you know you are making a difference to your body.                                                                                                                                                                               I wanted to post this to tell you my journey and what steps I have taken to make me healthier and fitter. My end aim is to run the GEAR 10k in Kings Lynn, and see the wobbles on my thighs gone!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Now then, I am off to do a mixture of lunges, planking and squats! 

Arts and Crafts.

I believe I have mentioned before that I love doing crafts. My 'expertise' lie with jewellery making and the other day I sat down and before I knew it I had made 10 pairs of earrings.

For me, doing crafts is simply a hobby to do in my spare time. For others it is a release from the stress of everyday life, and for some it's a way of making a living. 

There are also many people out there who do arts and crafts as a therapy. And for a lot of people, this kind of therapy is because they have been suffering with a disability that has rendered them unable to work. 

If you are suffering with a disability and it gets to the point where you are unable to work or have a complete social life, it does get you down. I have been speaking to a lot of people who use arts a crafts as a way out of this, or as a way to still earn a living.

Sian Cowley, from Rock Ferry has a physical condition called E.D.S (Ehlers Danlos) Complex Rare Condition that affects the heart, other organs, blood and the bones. "I'm in a wheelchair as I can no longer walk and also suffer from severe depression, personality disorder and used to self harm," she says. 

"I got referred to art therapy where I learnt I could show how I felt through paintings or drawings. Crafts such as sewing and card making helped to distract me from my thoughts and block out the pain. it keeps me sane and busy and it gives me an outlet to put my feelings into. 

The photo on the right is a pastel drawing of a person lying in the fetal position. "I chose to draw with pastel because at the time I felt like I blended into the background," explains Sian. 

"Since starting art therapy I haven't had a hospital admission for mental health. Craft blocks the pain, it has saved me many times and there's not a lot I can do in my wheelchair, but I can do craft and it makes me feel useful."


For Vicky Haigh, from Rotheram, it acted as a distraction; "I started knitting a few years ago while suffering from bulimia, I knitted after every meal and it helped me towards recovery as it distracted me and gave me something positive to work towards," she says.

"I simply saw on Facebook that a friend of mine was knitting a scarf; she said she didn't realise how long the scarf took her but that it took a long time. I decided to teach myself by You-tubing the steps, and before I knew it I had spent 2 hours knitting...it's very calming and fulfilling." 

Art/craft therapy is an outlet for people to express complex and confusing emotions that they might not feel as though they can do verbally.

I researched into Art Therapy and looked into careers and sessions in my area, I think it's something that could be pushed further to really help more people with what they are going through. 

It's got me wanting to hold little crafting sessions in my living room, not in a professional way, but people can come and unwind, it all helps :) 

Breast Feeding.

I told my mum I was going to do a blog post about the view on breastfeeding in public. She had a look of confusion on her face and asked me; "Why do you need to write about that, it's perfectly normal, who cares about it?" 

Now then, you'd think that would be the way it is, but the truth is very different. 

Recently we have seen stories in the papers/online of mothers who have been called a 'slut' for breastfeeding in public, and kicked out of shops for doing it. This article on the Daily Mail tells of a woman being told to leave Sports Direct for feeding her son: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2612017/Young-mother-ordered-leave-Sports-Direct-shop-breastfeeding-three-month-old-son-member-staff-said-against-company-policy.html

What's interesting is this is the top comment on this story: "Another woman making a big issue out of nothing. I breast fed my daughter until she was one year old and did so when I was out and about. The difference being that I appreciated that not everyone wanted to share the experience with me and so I always looked for mother and baby rooms or a shielded spot., and yes, a baby is capable of waiting the 10 minutes it takes to find a suitable, clean, relaxing place.To be honest shops like Sports Direct are mainly full of young teenagers and I wouldn't want to breast feed with such an audience." 

In comparison to this story I found one about a mum who was called a 'slut' in Costa Coffee for breastfeeding. The top comment on this story, (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2650556/Mother-tears-called-slut-two-customers-breastfeeding-son-Costa-coffee.html ) however, was this: "Babies won't wait to be fed, if baby needed feeding then baby needed feeding. End of story." 

It is widely known of the benefits of breastfeeding, for example; it's healthier for the baby and you, its free, it gives you a great bond with the baby and it protects your baby from infections and disease. 

To help with new mothers and to understand that you will want to leave the house with your newborn, and still breastfeed them, the Equality Act 2010 has made it illegal for anyone to ask a breastfeeding woman to leave a public place such as a cafe, shop or public transport. 

It is one of those topics that, despite breastfeeding being completely natural, has garnered much debate about whether we want to see it in public. 

"It's one of the most natural things in the world so I can't understand why people have such an issue against it. I will definitely be breastfeeding when our baby is born, even if it is when I'm out. If he's hungry, then he'll need feeding, and I will feed him wherever I am." says Elizabeth Clarke, 21. 

"Breasts have been changed by the media, originally they were meant just for breastfeeding but now we have to deal with the fact that people see them in other ways. I don't want to see them in broad daylight, it's fine doing it [breastfeeding], just don't parade it in our faces." says Steph Butler, 21. 

Tanya Marie Allen, 23, says that she plans to breast feed and brings up the point of animals feeding their young; "we wouldn't make a dog/cat/monkey etc go into an enclosed room away from the public". She also mentions that "there are far worse sights walking round the streets but we don't see people complaining about that in the papers."

'Worse sights' could be referring to the ever increasing number of young girls walking around with shorts so short they could be underwear, or tops so revealing that you may as well be in your bra. And it's not just everyday girls wearing clothes such as this, it's celebrities too.

Jessica Moger, 21 points out that; "Models and celebrities have their butts and boobs out and yet it is okay to do so. Breastfeeding is natural, breasts were for your babies, now people look at them like sexual objects." 

Nathan Pearson, 23 follows on from this by saying; "I just don't see the problem - I would rather see a mother breastfeeding her child than a load of teenage girls wandering around wearing next to nothing."

Amber Douglas, 27 makes an important point; "I think a lot still needs to be done to normalise breastfeeding and  unfortunately until then, a lot of people won't accept it in public." 


Personally I think she's right, with the sexual nature of breasts taking over the media nowadays and the celebrities and models who promote nudity in a sexual way (FHM, nuts) - some people seem to see a breast (even if it's being used to feed a child) and think of what the media has shown us, and not for it's natural use. 

Please comment with your views on breastfeeding in public. Is it ever going to be something no-one cares about? Is it okay to breastfeed in public places, such as coffee shops? 

Wedding Dresses.

As a recently engaged woman, I am surrounding myself with bride magazines and my Pinterest is full of wedding fever. 

I like to get inspirations from celebrities, and then obviously copy them in a much cheaper way! 

Now then, who has just got married, that's right...Kim Kardashian (again), and the first photos of her dress were released yesterday and I can bet you every single woman around the world was judging her choice, me included. 


This is the dress (left). What do we all think? Now then, I am going to start by saying that I really like it, and I am quite surprised to say that to be honest. It has subtle hints of lace that go right down to the arms, it has a high neck which shows modesty (yes, really) and it clinches in at the waist which we emphasizes her hourglass figure. 
I think her hair looks elegant down, and the jewellrey is to an absolute minimum, probably just her ring, which makes the dress the focus of attention. 
Job well done, girl. 

I'm now going to show you some more celebrity wedding dresses that I think worked well. Starting with a personal favorite of mine - Kate Moss. 
 
Now, shes a catwalk model and the face of fashion so I think she knew what she was doing when it came to her dress. 

I really like this dress because of its simplicity. Everything about it compliments Kate - the neckline, the fit and the fabric. It is floaty and light with a beautiful gold embellishment at the bottom. The different layers of fabric show just a hint of leg but in a way that absolutely works. Her hair down and in a tousled fashion makes her look like a beach baby, and makes it all relaxed and fun. 
I guess to round up, she is dressed in a hippy way - which is perfect. 

Another example of a simple dress that I think really works is on Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother). 

A simple white dress with cap sleeves and a simple veil flowing down to her lower back. No massive embellishment, no lace and no massive waist clinchers. And it works. 

This is someone you know felt totally comfortable, completely relaxed and at ease on her special day. Without going over the top on the dress, she oozes elegance and looks so beautiful. Her hair in a pinned back style and slightly curled looks lovely. 

She has gone for simplicity on her day and gone with 'less is more' - and you know what, it certainly is. 

I'm going to end this blog post with pictures of the kind of dress I am going to look for :) 

I want a dress that has a sweetheart shape for the bust and my dress has to have some sort of straps (I don't trust my boobs to make my dress stay put!) I would like some sort of lace effect on the main dress, and the shape of my dress will be A line/princess to fit my figure of 'pear shape'. 


This was the first dress (right) that I found with gorgeous straps, but in a way that they aren't just plain straps. I really like how they will support your dress but also flow a little bit down the shoulder giving you some more embellishment. I do quite like how it clinches at the waist slightly, but I would prefer a sweetheart bust. 

The next (left) is something completely different, no sweetheart bust. Instead is fitted to the top, below the neck. But the fabric and design on this dress is just beautiful. The floral patterns and the lace bit at the top is so nice. This is a dress where you need no jewellery as the dress does all the talking. Unfortunately as you can see, it works best with hair up - something I am not going to have. But this dress is on my Pinterest for the fabric and the perfect A Line style. 

Finally we have a dress that pretty much ticks all the boxes! This has a beautiful neckline (not completely sweetheart) that is much better than just straight across. It has a lovely touch of lace on the bodice and the straps and the back that opens up looks wonderful. The style of dress is perfect and would fit my figure nicely. I like that it is a bit more 'flowy' rather than structured so I would feel very comfortable in it. I'm still not sure whether I prefer the straps from the first dress (above) - hence why it doesn't tick all the boxes! 

So these are the dresses I am loving at the moment. I basically want a bit of design from each of them to make my perfect dress!