Buying And Decorating Our Christmas Tree

Happy Friday all! It's not long now until the big day, and Mike and I took a trip out this week to buy our Christmas tree from a nearby forest. It definitely got us in the festive spirit! Of course I took the opportunity to vlog the occasion - this is as close to vlogmas as I was ever going to get this year!

When it comes to decorating the tree, I've stuck to a colour theme for the past few years - mostly gold, silver and white, with a few touches of red here and there. I always really like how this combination turns out. If you want to see, you can watch the video on YouTube, or right here.



Is your tree up yet? And how have you decorated it?

Kate x
Christmas Gift Guide: Accessories And Sleepwear
We are just over two weeks away from Christmas, so I guess that makes this something of a "last minute" gift guide. I can't quite believe I'm saying that, but here we are. Time flies! For this year's offering, I decided to focus on the type of gifts I tend to give and/or receive myself, which mostly fall into the accessories and sleepwear categories. I honestly think there is nothing nicer than finding some lovely silky pyjamas, cosy slippers or a stylish pair of gloves under the tree!

For Finishing Off Your Look


Christmas Gift Guide: Accessories, Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Jewellery, Handbags

Silk hair tie - Would also look lovely tied around the handles of a bag.

Burgundy fedora - I love how chic fedoras are and this is such a pretty colour.

Gold earrings - I don't really wear statement earrings but I'm loving seeing them all over Instagram.

Grey bag - I'm obsessed with that faux fur trim.

Embellished beret - How cute is this?! I love the little diamantés.

Two tone handbag - Beautiful colours and looks a lot more expensive than it is.

Resin earrings - These are so striking.

Yellow bag - I can't get enough of this colour right now.

Tassel earrings - Annoyingly vanished from the website. These are similar in style.

Pink gloves - The mix of suede and leather makes these look really smart.

Pearl embellished gloves - So pretty and feminine.

Silver earrings - These would be amazing for a big night out. Maybe New Year's Eve?

Pink clutch - You can hold this by slipping your hand under the bow - makes a real style statement.

For Cosying Up At Home


Christmas Gift Guide: Sleepwear, Stationery, Slippers, Books

Burgundy pyjamas - My favourite pyjama style.

Rose gold pen with Swarovski crystals - For making notes in style.

Mermaid notebook - See above!

Grey loungewear - I would love to curl up on the sofa in this!

Pink bathrobe - Fleecey and soft as a dream.

The New Fashion Rules - All about the digital revolution in fashion, written by Inthefrow.

Criss cross slippers - Look just like the Emu ones. A fraction of the price.

Pink pyjamas - I already have these in two different colour ways and they are beautiful!

Sparkly charging cable - Because sometimes it's all about the little things!

Boot slippers - A winter essential.


Did any of these items catch your eye? And have you got any shopping left to do?

Kate x

Some links may be affiliate links. All opinions, as always, are my own.
3 Christmas Party Dresses Under £50 (And How To Style Them)

It's no secret that I love an opportunity to dress up. And Christmas is perfect for it - work parties, get togethers with friends, it's a very social time of year and a time when celebrating is high on the agenda. The only problem is, other things are high on the agenda as well. Buying presents, stocking up on food and travelling to visit loved ones can all put an extra strain on the bank balance, and when you add party wear into the mix, it can all start to get a bit too much.

So, as so often in life, I find the high street to be my best friend! In today's video, I've styled up three very different party dresses, all of which are under £50. I hope it helps give you a few ideas of party looks you can create without breaking the bank this year.

You can watch the video on YouTube or right here, and if you like what you see, I would love it if you subscribed to my channel, although I promise I won't be offended if you don't!



Which look was your favourite? And do you have any parties coming up this festive season?

Kate x
Today I have one last Christmas gift guide for you, just in case any of you still have shopping to do. (I still have and I'm trying not to panic!) I've decided to dedicate this one to homeware. Some of you might remember that I moved house this year, so I have decorating on the brain! I've picked a real mixture of things from some of my favourite homeware stores, so hopefully there's something here that takes your fancy, whether you're still shopping for presents or maybe looking to treat yourself.

Christmas Gift Guide - The Huge Homeware Edit 2016

1. Zara Bathroom Accessories Set - How chic are these?! 
2. Zara Glass Jar - I'd store cotton wool pads in this and keep it on a bathroom shelf.
3. Zara Dish - Perfect for jewellery, trinkets or keys.
7. Zara Mother of Pearl Photo Frame - Zara Home photo frames are my favourite! 
8. Zara Lantern - How beautiful would this look next to a fireplace with a big candle burning inside? 
9. Zara Jug 10. Zara Mirror
11. Next Glasses - I actually own these, and they're gorgeous.
12. H&M Tray 13. Zara Lamp - The perfect bedside lamp.
14. The White Company Hand & Nail Gift Set 15. H&M Salad Servers
16. The White Company Pomegranate Candle - Almost too pretty to burn.
17. The White Company Mirror
18. The White Company Faux Fur Throw - Possibly more luxurious than the Zara one. Definitely more expensive!
19. H&M Cushion 20. The White Company Oven Dish
21. The White Company Bed Linen - Fit for a swanky hotel, or your bedroom. 22. H&M Candle
23. Next Tea Towels -  Cute as a stocking filler. 24. Zara Mug
25. Next Bed Linen - Two sets in a pack, both reversible. 26. Homebase Wall Clock
27. Dunelm Mirror - I have this as well! Love it. 28. The White Company Rug
29. H&M Carafe - Looks way more expensive than it really is.
30. Zara Photo Frame - Did I mention I love Zara photo frames?!

Well, that wraps up my final gift guide of 2016. Will you be giving anyone any homeware themed gifts this Christmas, or hoping to receive any yourself?

Kate x
A couple of weeks ago, I published my Beauty Lovers' Christmas Gift Guide. Since I think most girls aged 15 to 150 would find something they like there, I've decided to dedicate this next one to all the gorgeous men in our lives. After all, men are notoriously harder to shop for, right? I've put a mixed bag together here, so hopefully there's some nice ideas that would work for anyone's partner/dad/brother etc. There's also a mix of price points and brands, although I do feel I should apologise for the amount of Hugo Boss stuff I've included - it's a favourite of my husband's, and, apparently, of mine!


Men's Christmas Gift Guide 2016

1. Howick Jumper - I love buying knitwear for Mike at Christmas, as it's something he doesn't often buy for himself. This style is so classic I think it would suit most guys, and it's available in grey as well if you're not crazy about the blue. A "goes with everything" winner.

2. Sony Headphones - If he commutes to work and hates it, these could help. They're noise cancelling, wireless and have an impressive battery life. I think they're quite stylish too, and reasonably priced compared to some other brands.

3. Clinique For Men Gift Set - This set has a face scrub, soothing aloe shave gel, a face wash and a moisturiser with SPF, all wrapped up in this smart toilet bag. Very handy for travelling. 

4. Skate Hut New Era beanie hat - You can't go wrong with a beanie hat. Classic, warm and cosy and definitely a necessity throughout the winter months! I really like the colour of this one, and the flecked detail.

5. Linea Scarf - To go with the hat!

6. Ray Ban Sunglasses - I know I would love to receive sunglasses as a gift, so I'm sure guys would too! Ray Ban is always a surefire people pleaser, whoever you're shopping for. 

7. Hugo Boss Kimono Robe - There's something a little bit James Bond about this dressing gown, no?!

8. Hugo Boss Gloves - Real leather gloves always make a nice little luxurious gift at Christmas time. These are wool lined and I like the cuff detail - perfect for keeping his wrists warm.

9. Professor Puzzle Tangram - No, I didn't know what a tangram was either. Apparently it's a brain teaser, where you take all these wooden shapes out of a frame and then attempt to fit them all back in again. I think puzzles make a nice change as a gift, and they can come in handy on Christmas Day when people get bored!

10. Hugo Boss Watch - A slightly swankier gift, yet this is still reasonably priced considering how nice it is. I really love the simplicity of this style and think a lot of guys would love it.

11. Hugo Boss Holdall - This is expensive, but would last a lifetime. My husband has something similar to this and loves using it for weekends away. (I, on the other hand, need a full size suitcase and a massive tote bag.)

12. Hugo Boss Socks - Always useful, always smart. The perfect stocking filler.

Are the men in your life difficult to buy for? What will you be getting them this Christmas?

Kate x

*This post is in collaboration with Skate Hut. All opinions, as always, are my own.
Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 1

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 2 
One of my favourite things about Christmas is the parties leading up to it. I love the glitz and glamour of a smart venue, getting together with friends for a natter and a giggle over drinks and nibbles, and of course, the excuse to get glammed up! I've always loved the ritual of getting ready for a night out - to be honest, for me it's as much fun as the event itself. In my ideal world, that ritual involves a bubble bath and a glass of champagne, followed by hours wrapped in a silk kimono while I apply scented body cream, do my nails... you get the picture.

In reality, there might be time for a quick shower before I throw my dress on and go straight into the hair and makeup. Everything else needs to be done the night before, or else it probably isn't happening!

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 3

I was really excited when Boohoo invited me to their Christmas party at the W Hotel in Leicester Square this year. It sounded like a fantastic venue, I'd get to say hi to a few bloggers I'd met before, and best of all, plus ones were allowed, so I was able to bring my sister with me. Boohoo also very kindly offered to gift me a dress for the occasion. What more could any girl want?

Preparation began a week or so before with my favourite tanning routine. The dress I was going to wear was quite demure, but there was still going to be a bit of flesh on show, so I wanted a bit of a glow. Often, instead of a regular fake tan, I'll use Dove Summer Revived for a few days leading up to an event. It's much less hassle to apply and gives a similar effect if you let the colour build up over a few applications.

Next, nails. I always find that manicures take me the longest time to do, and there's nothing worse than rushing it and going out with a smudged nail (first world problems!) Often, I'll give myself a mani pedi the night before an event, so I have time to do it properly. This time, I went for the shade I'm Not Really A Waitress by OPI - a gorgeous ruby red with a pearlescent finish that's just perfect for this time of year.

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 4 - OPI Nail Polish in I'm Not Really A Waitress

As my dress was black, I decided to go for a red lip, and in fact the makeup I ended up wearing for the occasion was very similar to the look I posted here. The biggest difference was that I used Mary Lou Manizer by theBalm as a highlight instead of Mac Soft and Gentle, as it packs a bit more of a punch. I didn't do anything different with my hair - just curled it like I always do and applied half a can of hairspray to protect it from any weather related mishaps on the journey there.

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 5 - Makeup

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 6 - Makeup

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 7

With my dress being quite simple and understated, I allowed myself a little bit of sparkle when it came to accessories. The gold clutch bag and ring are years old, but I did treat myself to some new shoes from Topshop. How gorgeous are these? The shape of them is just perfect, and I'm completely in love with the beautiful embroidery and ballerina style ribbon ties. I honestly think the detail on these makes them look so much more expensive than they really are, and thanks to the block heel I can actually walk in them too! They're also available in plain black velvet and a sort of mermaid-esque shimmer finish. The embroidered ones are definitely my favourites, but given how amazing the shape is I'm seriously tempted to buy the plain black as well.

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 8 - Topshop Sparkly Heels

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 9 - Topshop Sparkly Heels

Of course, in the middle of getting ready, you need to take a quick break to check social media. It's compulsory.

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 10

Then put your shoes on...

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 11

Dress* - Boohoo, Shoes (Reduced to £40!) - Topshop

And when you're finally ready, you need to take a blurry as hell mirror selfie. Because otherwise, you're missing the point.

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 12 - OOTN featuring Boohoo Dress, Topshop Shoes

Haven't Boohoo done an amazing job with this dress? It's so pretty and easy to wear. I felt like a princess in it, but also super comfortable. I actually don't think the pictures on the website do it justice. Because Boohoo clothes in general are really affordable, it does leave you wondering about the quality, but I was pleasantly surprised when I received this. The dress feels weighty and soft to the touch, and I love the sheer striped overlay on the skirt. At just £25 I think it's a brilliant buy, and I'm tempted to snap it up in another colour, possibly the white.

The party itself was so much fun. Held in the glamorous and very cool nightclub on the first floor of the W hotel, the atmosphere was buzzing. There was champagne aplenty, and all sorts of delicious food to snap up as it whizzed by on trays, including adorable mini cones of fish and chips. There was a photobooth, fabulous glittering face paint, great music and more. The following set of photos was taken by Boohoo, so thanks to them for allowing me to share them here, not to mention inviting me to such a great party!

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 13

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 14

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 15

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 16

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 17

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 18

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 19

I didn't steal the balloons. Honestly.

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 20

When the night was finally over, I was so happy I'd invested in this Zara Faux Fur (featured in my Coat Wishlist) to cosy up in on the way home. Not only did it look great over the dress, it worked equally well over jeans and a jumper the following day. This is yet another piece that looks and feels so much more expensive than its price tag would suggest, coming in at well under £100.

Boohoo Christmas Party After Party 21 - OOTN featuring Boohoo Dress, Topshop Shoes, Zara Coat

Have you got any Christmas parties planned in the coming weeks? And if so, what are you going to wear?

Kate x

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