BUTTERFLIES & BBQs

White Kimono - New Look (sold out) | Butterfly Dress - Primark | Gold Leaf Necklace - Forever21 | Maxi Low Jelly Shoes - JuJu | 'Grafea Dupe' Rucksack - Primark

I always know it's officially summer when barbecuing dinner becomes a regular occurrence. This weather has been amazing & just makes me want to buy lots of dresses! I'd seen a very similar dress to this one in Next recently & almost picked it up so I'm quite glad I had my sensible shopping head on that day since I bagged this cute shift dress from Primark for only £13! I don't know about anyone else but when I shop in Primark I forget that I'm spending actual money since everything's so cheap I use this as the excuse to just take everything I pick - it's a bit of a problem! I pop in for one thing & end up with at least one thing from every department. (and the usual bobby pins, hair bobbles, nail files, lashes etc..) Please tell me I'm not the only one. 

The white lace kimono is a new favourite although I've worn it a couple of times now & it doesn't wash very well. The tassles get all tangled and it loses it's shape a little but once it's ironed & the strands have been straightened out it's not so bad! 

I think this is the first that my JuJu jelly shoes have made an appearance on my blog. They're really comfortable & I think they look really cute. Sometimes in the Summer it's difficult to wear a full shoe without looking too clumpy but I think that jelly shoes with their cut-out details serve as a good in-betweeny from a sandal & a shoe. Plus as we already know I class a pastel pink as a neutral so I've had plenty of wear from these.

I hope everyone has been taking advantage of this beautiful weather! Have a great week.

PASTEL PINK BIKER & RIPPED KNEES

Top, Pink Pastel Biker & White Rucksack - Primark | Jeans & Sliders - Matalan  

For those of you who follow my instagram (here!) you'll know that I'm super pleased with this little find. I'd had my heart set on the pastel pink biker from Zara from the minute I laid eyes on it. At the time, I thought it was a bit crazy to pay the price for such a heavy jacket given the fact Summer was approaching & I didn't know what our Glasgow weather had in store. It's safe to say I'm happy that I did leave it since I found this beautiful lil number in Primark at a fraction of the price! It's a great dupe in terms of the colour and the stitching detail however the Zara one is collarless which to be honest I'm not as big a fan of so this was such a winning buy. Even though it's PU, it's really soft so there's no squeaking from the arms when walking around. 

I'm loving ripped jeans just now - they're so chic & summery! Admittedly I have been grudging buying a pair of ripped knee denims because I have plenty of pairs at home that could do with a make-over anyway. This was a last minute effort when I literally just took a pair of scissors and snipped away. If you're looking to achieve this look then note that you should cut straight across but then take away a little material too, this will help to show some more skin. Simply pick the edge to fray it & you're look is complete! 

I've co-ordinated my favourite white sliders & this beautiful white backpack to keep the look fresh and bright. This is probably going to be a wardrobe staple for me this summer because I can fit sooo much in it - including my camera which is perfect. It's a pity I can't fit that my gorgeous wee Lola in it, she's always such a poser when I'm snapping my blog pictures - couldn't resist posting it!

What do you think of this look? Have you got a good Summer dupe you'd like to share?

LASTING LASHES

Waterproof mascara was never really something I'd considered until this year. For me, I think of stubborn formulas that won't budge when you want to remove your make-up and flakes when you'd prefer it to stay on! Since we've had a few nice days in Glasgow, I've noticed that in the beautiful heat, sometimes my mascara on my lower lashes tends to bleed a little on to my under eye area & that's just no use! 

In a bid to salvage my days make-up, I headed to Superdrug where I spotted this new product from Bourjois. I picked up the product in black & as you'll see from the photographs it's a plastic combed brush - something I was never a fan of until recently! I think the study material of these type of applicators tends to have the strength required to really lift the lashes when applying such a heavy amount of product for a fuller effect. 

Unlike many products of this nature, Volume 1 Seconde really lives up to it's quick and voluminous claims. I could literally do one swipe to each eye if I was running late and have a thick, long-lasting look. Working in such a busy environment & working long hours means that the product has really been put through it's paces. No flaking or bleeding the entire day & when it comes to removing it comes off like butter when using the correct kind of make-up removal.

I'd say this not only a poolside/beach essential  but also everyday if like me you're looking for something to stay all day.

SUMMER WHITES

Daisy Top - H&M | Pleated Trousers - ZARA | Boston Bag - Gucci | Sliders - Matalan | Necklace - New Look 

This week has been a total whirlwind! I finally graduated from uni with a degree in Fashion Business, I'm over the moon! Lots of hard work, sleepless nights, sacrifices & stress was completely worth it in the end. So between graduating & a busy time at work I've not had much chance to catch a breath & write my blog. This kind of relaxed Summer look is what I wore on my trip to Glasgow in search of a Graduation dress, a much more challenging task that I anticipated - try finding a neutral, simple dark dress in the middle of the Summer & during the sales - nightmare to say the least! Nevertheless, I managed to find a little beauty that I'll post during the week but I felt totally comfortable in this little combo throughout my shopping trip. 

The pleated front trousers from Zara are literally like wearing a pair of PJ bottoms but with a little more sophistication! They're cut beautifully & fit like a dream. I really like the look of linen trouser in the Summer months but really can't handle how awful it looks when it crushes so these serve as a great alternative. I also really like that all fastenings are concealed meaning I can accessorise in either gold or silver, they're already proving to be a very versatile item in this Summer's wardrobe as this is their second outing! 

I love this daisy lace top from H&M. Daisies just ooze Summer and let's be honest, when can you ever go wrong with a little floral touch? The nude/blush colour of this is great too for is versatility & I think it would be nice on holiday during the day too as you can reveal you bikini underneath to if you like to experiment with layering. 

I hope you like this simple look. I'm sorry that you can't see the shoes in the pictures, I find it difficult to get a full shot when I'm taking my own photos. I'm looking to invest in a good tripod so if you have any recommendations or tips on how to easily take your own outfit photos please leave a comment below.

BEAUTY GIVEAWAY

I'd like to say a huge thanks to everyone who has read my blog! I started it as a wee hobby & can't believe how much it's become part of my life. The people I've met & the experiences I've had in this short period of time amazing! I had no idea how much I'd fall in love with blogging. I've got a little give-away here as a thank-you. Enter for your chance to win! It's super simple but if you're struggling to enter then just send me an email fairyfatale@hotmail.co.uk or tweet me @fairyfatalex 

*All items are brand new & unused. This is valid for those living in the UK & giveaway robots/site entries will not be considered.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FLOATY FEATHER PRINT

Maxi - H&M | Gold Metallic Birk Style Sandals - River Island | Cream Clutch - Primark | Statement Necklace - New Look | Sunglasses - Ray-Ban | Gelly Nail Polish in 'Sugar Apple' - Barry M

Hello Summer! It feels so lovely to bring back the maxi dress into my everyday dressing - I'd forgotten how easy it was to throw one on with some sandals & head out for the day! The beauty of a maxi dress is that it is so effortless yet looks the complete opposite. Soooo many people complimented this little H&M number when I wore it that I just had to blog it!

It's made from a floaty, wind-catching fabric in this beautiful shades of blue feather print. As it's so sheer it has a little tight underskirt which is perfect for allowing the rest of the dress float in the breeze worry-free. I Love the loose bishop sleeve too as it allows a lot of freedom of movement, ideal for when I took Lola a walk with Fraser yesterday. 

I spotted these Birkenstock-like double strap gold sandals in River Island & had to have them. They are literally the comfiest things I've put on my feet & they look so chic! What a versatile bit of footwear, I'm sure you'll see these numbers popping up in my future posts. This combo was a total win-win for me, comfortable , effortless & stylish! 

REVIEW | MAYBELLINE BABY SKIN PRIMER

Maybelline Baby Skin Primer - £7.99

In the last couple of weeks I've been experimenting with drugstore brands that I would probably not have bothered with otherwise. Admittedly, I never try out the popular brands that you see on the TV ads, I usually just stick to my M.A.C, Benefit or such-like. So in a bid to be a bit more adventurous, I took advantage of the Superdrug 3 for 2 offer and picked this up in my combination. 

I have tried make-up primers before, one being Benefit's Porefessional which similarly to this has a very strange consistency & texture that take some time to get used to. Baby Skin from Maybelline has a nozzle for precision application. If like myself you struggle with a few open pores and a little acne scarring, these products are great once you get the hang of them. 

On the first few applications I really didn't like this product. I would put some on my face & work in using my fingertips. Disaster soon started when I would then go to apply my foundation, my once smooth & poreless skin would then look streaky, uneven & feel very heavy - contrary to it's 'lightweight' claims! However, I kept trying. I knew that there was a way to make this primer work.

I reached success when I applied a slightly lesser amount to exfoliated & moiturised skin and blended it in using a stipple brush. I think that the technique of using my fingertips was partly to blame in the streaky look I acheived before so I was delighted when the blending motion of the brush completely smoothed out my look. Since this product has a fairly powdery finish albeit a translucent gel, you can actually use a powder brush to blend it into the skin too without it causing your brushes any harm!

This works equally well on its own as it does a make-up primer & with the minimal price tag it's totally worth a try! 

CRABTREE & EVELYN

Joni Jeans - Topshop £36 | Oversized Top - H&M | White Blazer - Primark | Gold Brogues - Matalan | Bag - River Island | Necklace - New Look

I was invited to a little bloggers event in Crabtree & Evelyn, Edinburgh. At first I didn't know what I was more excited for - looking at all of the gorgeous products, catching up with blogging friends or a wee trip to the capital with Eilidh.. basically all of the above!

I kept my look casual but summery wearing my Topshop Joni jeans & oversized metallic effect top from H&M. This bag from River Island was a gift from Fraser's Mum & Dad that had been safely packed away when we moved so I'm happy to have it back in my life!

We had a lovely warm welcome at the store where I got the chance to meet some of the girls that I've spoken to online in real life which was soo nice! The Handy Tips theme of the evening enabled us to share little beauty secrets with one another. We wrote them on a paper leaf & attached it to the tree that you can see in my last picture - which by the way is a Polaroid Picture that we all got to keep as a souvenir - how cute?!  

I was invited to try some of the hand therapy products with the help of one of the assistants who kindly carried out a buff and moisturise using some of the Gardeners range. They felt super soft and very clean afterwards, I was pretty impressed with how different they felt after a day of carry shopping bags, a heavy camera & coffee!

For those who haven't tried Crabtree & Evelyn I'd recommend their hand creams & nail polishes. I've had a couple to try so I'll post my review shortly to let you see.

REVIEW || OPI 'TICKLE MY FRANCE'

OPI 'Tickle My France' - £11.95 here

I've been making such a conscious effort recently to grow my nails. After years of acrylic extensions & removing them incorrectly I have been left with unhealthy nails complete with ridges and poor strength. Although it has been challenging to grow them  (to say the least) I'm now enjoying maintaining them & using various polishes.

 I have been a fan of OPI for years and this nude colour is one that never quite looked right on nails with no edge or length. So after filing them down to a much more manageable length and keeping them fairly square, I decided to pop on this barely there shade. I was a bit concerned with the first coat as it basically just looking like a clear base coat but after another application I was pleasantly surprised with how the colour deepened. With this particular look I've applied 3 coats although I think you could probably get away with just 2. I find the product itself easy to apply as its quite fluid. If you apply in thin coats it will dry in the time that it takes you to do the other hand. I was always so impatient when doing my nails before & thought that by applying thicker coats it would save me time which would often result in smudges so this is a must! 

Top tip:  My mum always told me to keep my polishes in the fridge to preserve them & stop them going gloopy... it totally works! They fit perfectly in the door where you should keep the eggs but this tip is too good to ignore so give those eggs an upgrade to a shelf and keep your shades for longer! 

What's your go-to polish shade?

MALIBU BBQ ♡

Cream Cardigan £10, Cami £6 & Sunglasses - Matalan | Floral Shorts, Nude Sandals & Necklace  Primark | Bag - River Island

I went to my Mum & Dad's on Friday with Fraser for an unplanned little BBQ dinner! Since I found out when I was just finishing work at 5pm, I knew I had hardly any time to plan an outfit other than spending my train journey home visualising combos. In all honesty, I'd actually forgotten that I'd bought these gorgeous little floral shorts from Primark! I'd been putting off wearing them as I was still undecided on which kind of top would go on best with them. I think this turquoise cami matches in perfectly as it's a tone of the blue on the shorts. I've accessorised with my pink bag from River Island and threw on my favourite nude sandals which literally go with everthing! Having only 20 minutes to come home & get ready, my result isn't too bad actually! 

Have you ever had to rush an outfit together? 

SNAKESKIN & MONOCHROME

Black Shirt £12 | White Skinny Jeans £14 | Snakeskin Bag £15 | White Sliders £15 | Pilot Sunglasses £3  

This weekend I was looking for a few new bits & pieces when I just so happened to buy a complete outfit from Matalan. I was originally looking for a new pair of white jeans to try a DIY ripped knees look but I ended up just keeping them as they are. Although I anticipate that I'll be doing this later!

For me, white jeans totally scream Summer! They look so effortless and chic no matter what you pair them with. I decided to go for a Monochrome look this weekend and prayed that it wouldn't look 'officey'. Since the look Monochrome is simply the option of two colours, black & white, I've changed things up by adding in a print. This beautiful faux snakeskin cross body really wouldn't look out of place in somewhere like Zara or Topshop so when I found it in a discount retailer like Matalan I was so impressed  & had to add it to my collection. The silver details are something new for me since I'm a gold accessories kinda gal but I'm thinking this might become a regular thing for me over the summer. 

I picked up this black utility blouse too, it's so light & tucks into jeans perfectly! I left the back un-tucked for a more laidback look. Teaming this with simple white sliders kept it relaxed, summery & very comfortable. I was planning on picking up a similar pair from Zara this week which admittedly are a little smarter but this pair are great dupes for a casual weekend. 

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend, let me know what you think below!