The Button Down Dress Edit

Every season brings its own trends. Some are exciting, new and different, and some are subtle reworking of old classics. Right now, I'm crushing hard on one of the latter - button down dresses. Well, as a matter of fact, I'm loving button down everything right now - tops, skirts, even trousers - especially with those distinctive, slightly oversized horn buttons that seem to be popping up all over the high street. But with the weather having been so warm lately, it's dresses I'm most focussed on, so I thought I would put together my own little edit of the button down dresses I'm most loving on the high street right now.

Not least is this cute blue dress from Topshop. Perfect for summer holidays and just as useful for warmer days at home, it could not be easier to wear. The fabric is actually a very thin denim, but you'd never guess as it feels so soft, light and cool. The frilled sleeves and those gorgeous horn buttons add just enough in the way of design details, while the A-line cut and tie back ensure that it retains a flattering shape. I've accessorised with my favourite cream circle bag - I'm warning you now, you are going to be sick of the sight of this by the end of the summer! - as well as some lace up flat sandals and oversized sunglasses. Perfect for warm sunny days, whether you're strolling through a field of bluebells or not.

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I've also recently purchased the midi length, black linen bardot dress, another Topshop find, which you'll spot in the edit below. Again, I had summer holidays in mind when I bought this. I'm going away at the beginning of September and, as much as I don't want to wish the intervening months away, I can't wait! The black dress has such a chic and elegant vibe about it, yet it's effortless too. Definitely one to take you from day to evening.

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I will admit to being quite greedy when it comes to clothes, and there are so many more button down dresses I am lusting after right now - most of which you will find in my edit! Still on the summer holiday theme, the fresh white and nautical striped options would be ideal, while I love the idea of the sleek lemon dress with the buttons to one side for an evening out or even a wedding.

Looking well put together without having to make much effort is such a great feeling, and in my opinion, button down dresses are perfect for this. You could quite easily take any one of the dresses I've selected, add sandals, shades and a straw bag, and you'd have yourself an outfit that's both classic and bang on trend. Who knew fashion could be so easy?!

Are you a fan of button down dresses?

Kate x

Some links may be affiliate links. This poses no extra cost to you, the customer. All opinions, as always, are my own.

My First Ever Vlog!

A couple of weeks back I went to get my hair done, and decided it might be fun to use the opportunity as a practise run for vlogging, which is something I've not yet attempted on my YouTube channel. I never intended to actually upload this, but once I'd finished editing it I thought, why not? It's fairly haphazardly thrown together on my iPhone, but I hope you'll enjoy this little snippet of my day. As well as getting my roots lightened, I share my first impressions of a new drugstore foundation, heat up a pizza, and somehow manage to completely miss the Tour de Yorkshire on the day it passes through my town. Now if that's not entertainment, I don't know what is!

You can watch the vlog on YouTube or right here. Enjoy!

Kate x

Yardley London Lily Of The Valley And English Bluebell

As anyone who's visited my blog before will probably know, I'm a huge fan of floral fragrances. I'm also a sucker for pretty packaging, so when this lovely delivery from Yardley London arrived on my doorstep last week, it made my day. I've reviewed some similar products from the brand in recent months (check out my timeless beauty gift sets post if you missed it), so I'll keep this short and sweet, but Yardley do these little affordable luxuries so well that I just had to share. This time, they were kind enough to send me body washes and body lotions from two very spring appropriate ranges - Lily  Of The Valley and English Bluebell.

Body Washes

My favourite thing about Yardley body washes is that they are equally good used as a shower gel or a bubble bath. They foam up beautifully, and leave behind a lovely floral fragrance that lingers subtly on the skin. As tempted as I am to use them up myself, I think I'm going to leave them in my guest bathroom. They look beautiful lined up on the shelf, and I always think it makes visitors feel more at home to have some nice toiletries available for them to use.

Body Lotions

Lightweight but hydrating, these body lotions are ideal for the warmer months, or whenever you want to smell like spring flowers! Just like the body washes, the floral fragrances are beautiful without being overpowering. Again, I think these would make a lovely addition to a guest bathroom. Often, when I'm visiting friends or family for a night or two, I'll travel light and maybe skip a body lotion as a non-essential item for a short trip. On those sort of occasions, it's lovely to find one sitting ready for me in the bathroom.

I love both the Lily Of The Valley and the English Bluebell fragrances, and it's such a nice idea to use them now while both are in bloom across the UK. I actually took some outfit photos with a backdrop of bluebells recently and they'll be coming to the blog soon!

Whether you keep them for yourself or offer them to guests, these products are a pleasure to use, smell wonderful and are really affordable too, with each one coming in at well under £10.

Are you a fan of floral fragranced products?

Kate x

*Gifted item. All opinions, as always, are my own.

How To Wear Coloured Jeans

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I spend most of my day-to-day life in jeans. They're comfortable, practical and suitable for just about every non-fancy occasion, which to be honest equates to about 90% of my life! The average pair of jeans doesn't require much thought when it comes to styling, and that's the beauty of them - they just work with everything. But a recent scroll through the Topshop website presented me with a bit of a dilemma. I fell in love with a pair of jeans that wasn't my usual "type". Pastel pink and covered in tiny diamanté studs, they're about as far away from practical as you could possibly get. Nevertheless, I loved the summery vibe of them, so I decided I just had to make them work. As a result, I've come up with a few tips on how to wear coloured jeans, and because one new obsession tends to spark another, I've also put together a few of my favourite coloured denim pieces that are available on the high street right now.

Choose The Colour And Style That Works For You

This might sound a bit obvious from the outset, but I think it can be easy to get carried away by the idea of trying something radically different when it comes to choosing coloured jeans. Picking a colour that you already know works well for you, and that will fit into your existing wardrobe, makes it a lot more likely that you're going to love and actually wear your new coloured jeans. The same goes for the cut. In my case, skinnies are my comfort zone, so that's what I've gone for here.

Build The Outfit Around The Jeans

Standard blue, black or even white jeans tend to be a bit of a fall-back item. When I'm planning an outfit, I'll generally choose the top I want to wear first and the jeans get thrown in as an afterthought, because I know they'll work with anything. Coloured denim turns this on its head. Whether they're rainbow bright or soft and pastel, coloured jeans are a statement piece, so you need to build the outfit around them.

Neutrals Always Work

There's a bit of a trend at the moment for wearing different bright colours together and if that's something that looks good on you, go for it. It's a look I really admire on other people, but not one I can pull off myself. Neutrals, however, are always going to work. My relaxed fit white shirt is the perfect partner for these pink jeans, although I think a soft lacy top in the same hue would work just as well. In fact, I think that white tops and jackets in general would look great with any pastel coloured jeans - I love the idea of lemon or lilac. If brights are more your thing, red jeans with a Breton striped top and navy blazer would work beautifully - you cannot beat a classic nautical combination - while black or grey would look amazing with cobalt blue. 

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Coloured Jeans Are Not Just For Kids

Before I bought my pink jeans, I was of the opinion that coloured jeans were more of a "young" trend, but now I think it's all in the styling. Having had mine for a couple of weeks, I actually think it's quite easy to make coloured jeans look grown up. For me, the key is to add at least one smart piece into the mix. A tailored shirt, blazer or Chanel style jacket would do the trick, or perhaps a structured handbag or a smart pair of shoes. Just one piece like this adds instant sophistication and polish to your outfit and makes you look like a grown up, even if you are wearing bubblegum pink jeans covered in tiny diamanté studs.

I'm definitely a convert to coloured denim now, and not just for jeans. Below, I've put together a little collection of some of my favourite coloured denim on the high street right now. I am seriously tempted by the pink skirt. 

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Are you a fan of coloured jeans, or coloured denim in general? Do you agree with my styling tips, and do you have any of your own to add? I would love to know!

Kate x

Some links may be affiliate links. This poses no extra cost to you, the customer. All opinions, as always, are my own.

April Favourites

This is a little bit belated, but on the other hand, is there ever a bad time to share a few of my favourite things with you? Didn't think so! This month, some accessories I've been wearing to death, a couple of new beauty discoveries I'm obsessed with and the TV show that's been the highlight of Saturday nights spent chilling at home.

You can watch my April Favourites on my YouTube channel or right here if you prefer.

What have you been loving lately?

Kate x

The 2 Hero Products You Need For Summer Ready Feet

As much as I welcome the arrival of sunshine and warmer weather with open arms, they do bring with them certain concerns. Have I topped up that tan? Am I going to feel body confident in a bikini on that beach holiday that's suddenly around the corner? And are my feet fit to be seen in summer sandals after what feels like an eternity in boots? When it comes to the latter, I have to admit to being a little lazy over the winter months. The UK was treated to a mini heatwave a couple of weeks back after months on end of freezing weather, and let's just say that my feet in strappy sandals were most definitely not fit for a princess. Obviously, something had to be done about this, and fast. So I headed straight back to basics, and back to the place that I find pretty much impossible to beat when it comes to products for getting your feet summer ready - The Body Shop.

Hero Product 1 - File A Foot

This is about as basic as it gets, but in my opinion, you really cannot beat this simple £5 foot file. Resembling an oversized nail file, it has a rougher side and a smoother side and is incredibly effective at sloughing away that unpleasant, tough dry skin that can build up on feet, especially heels, if we neglect them. While I have tried one of the fancier battery operated foot exfoliators in the past - and found it excellent - the effortless simplicity of this foot file seems to suit me best right now. You don't have to faff around with changing batteries or rollers and it gives you pretty much instantaneous results.

The first time I used this after a winter of neglect, I couldn't believe how much softer my feet felt. Having used these in the past, I know that it will last a long time before I need to replace it, and I'm very happy to have this low tech but super efficient little tool back in my routine. I'm using it every morning before jumping in the shower, and even if I did nothing else, it makes a world of difference by itself to the state of my feet.

Hero Product 2 - Heavy Duty Hemp Moisturiser

The Body Shop moisturisers in general are some of my all time favourites, and the hemp range is their most intensive. Dubbed the "heavy duty" moisturiser, it really does feel incredibly thick, rich and nourishing on the skin. It doesn't have a beautiful scent like many of their other body butters and it's that little bit more expensive too, but trust me, if you're suffering with any areas of persistent dry skin anywhere on your body, this is the stuff that will sort it out. There is a dedicated foot cream in this range, but I've gone for the body butter version instead. I actually prefer the more solid texture of this and feel as though it's the most effective at moisturising my feet. Not only that, but it's twice the size of the foot cream yet considerably less than twice the price, so it's better value for money too. (This is just my personal preference, and I'm sure the actual foot cream is also wonderful.) I love slathering my feet in a generous amount of this and then popping some fluffy socks on until it has sunk in.

I only reintroduced these products into my routine a few days ago, but already my feet feel so much softer and look so much nicer. All I need now is some pretty polish on my toe nails and they will be ready for summer and all those open sandals!

What are some of your favourite products for getting your feet summer ready? And which nail polish colours will you be rocking on your toes throughout the warmer months?

Kate x

Do You Know Your Dosha? An Introduction To Samaya Ayurvedic Skincare

Until recently, Ayurveda was something I had only vaguely heard of. I was aware that it was an ancient tradition that had to do with keeping the body in balance, and I was aware that there was such a thing as Ayurvedic skincare, but that was about it. When a brand called Samaya got in touch with me, offering to help me discover my Dosha and thus the most appropriate Ayurvedic skincare for me, my first thought was, "what on earth is a Dosha?" After reading into it a little bit more, I was fascinated by the concept. So I gave it a try, and naturally, I'm going to share my thoughts with you.

What Is Ayurvedic Skincare, And What Is A Dosha?

The core concept of Ayurveda is the pursuit of balance between mind, body and soul. When these three elements are in harmony with one another, we are physically healthier, feel more at peace, and our skin is at its most radiant. Ayurvedic principles hold that each of us falls into one of three Doshas, or types - Vata (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (earth/water). Each Dosha has its own recommended practices for lifestyle, exercise, diet, beneficial herbs and more, including skincare ingredients. By knowing our Dosha, the theory is that we can make the best choices for ourselves in all these areas and thus achieve balance.

How To Find Your Dosha

Samaya's website features a short questionnaire which you can work your way through in order to discover your Dosha. In keeping with Ayurveda's holistic approach to self care, the questions cover everything from body type to hair texture and even your sleeping patterns. Most people will find that they are a unique combination of all three, but one Dosha will be more dominant than the other two. After completing the questionnaire, I was informed that I fell into the Vata Dosha, with 70% of my responses placing me in that category. The description of Vata is as follows:

"Energetic and creative in balance, but worried, tired and indecisive when out of balance. Often of slender build and suffers from cold hands and feet. Tends to have delicate dry skin and hair, which may need extra moisturising and nourishment to keep it glowing and healthy."

This fits me perfectly except for one thing - my oil-prone t-zone (mostly my chin.) Samaya had very kindly offered to send me a skincare product to test, and I was slightly worried that skincare designed to fit the Vata category might actually be too rich for my skin. Nevertheless, the concept intrigued me, and particularly when I discovered that rose was a key ingredient of the Vata products. Apparently, you are most drawn to the aromas that fit with your Dosha, and we all know how I feel about anything that smells of roses!

The Vata Hydrating Cleanser

The Product I was sent was the Vata Hydrating Cleanser*. As you can see from the packaging, this is an award winning product, and it's not hard to see why. Housed in an elegant glass bottle, it's beautiful to look at, and while it isn't cheap, using it feels more like a luxurious spa experience than simply cleansing your face. It's a creamy product and you can really feel the rich, nourishing moisturisers in it as you massage it into your skin. It cleanses effectively, but hydrates at the same time, while the beautiful rose fragrance makes me feel relaxed by the simple act of opening the bottle.

I started using this right around the time that we were experiencing some unseasonably cold weather in the UK. The conditions were making my skin dull and dry, and the Vata Hydrating Cleanser felt like an indulgent treat that helped it to look and feel so much better. However, I know from experience that overuse of rich cleansers can cause my chin to become too oily and/or break out, so I have since stopped using this every day. Instead, I keep it in my bathroom for use once or twice a week or whenever I feel like I could use some extra hydration, and it works well for me this way.

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While I don't think the Dosha concept is a foolproof way of determining exactly what your skin type is, I also don't think it's necessarily meant as that. Instead, it's a holistic approach to discovering certain ingredients that are beneficial to you, and by combining that knowledge with what you already know about your own skin, chances are you will find products that work for you.

What do you think? Have you tried Ayurvedic skincare, or is it something you would like to try? And do you know your Dosha?

Kate x

*Gifted item. Some links may be affiliate links. This poses no extra cost to you, the customer. All opinions, as always, are my own.