Style Icons: Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West

Kim and Kanye are arguably one of the world's most famous and culturally relevant couples, and I am personally a massive fan.  What I admire the most about them though, is their recent interest in high fashion and their changing styles.  Kanye has long since been a style icon of mine, and I think his influence on Kimberley's stylistic choices has made the duo effortlessly chic, elegant and understated. The recently married pair have made themselves into a brand, and their ensembles (which often co-ordinate) represent them as an attractive couple of substance and relevance.  

Their fashion choices are always sophisticated and glam- an idea and style I'd love to replicate in my day to day wardrobe.  If there is one word to describe their style it's 'minimalist'- a huge trend for 2014/15 and an assured way of achieving an effortlessly understated look.

Minimalism: The concept of minimalist architecture is to strip everything down to its essential quality and achieve simplicity.The idea is not completely without ornamentation, but that all parts, details and joinery are considered as reduced to a stage where no one can remove anything further to improve the design. [source]

Below I have gathered a collection of some of my favourite 'paired down' looks that Kim and Kanye have worn. If this doesn't give you 'stylespiration' I don't know what will. 

Don't forget to find me of twitter, instagram and to follow my blog on bloglovin (all the links are at the top of the page). Comment below who your fashion crushes are, I love gaining inspiration from celebrity style and current designers. Thankyou for reading. 

What's In My Shower

I know that some of you would be interested in a tour (snoop around) of my new uni flat, and I thought the best and most interesting place to start would be in my little en-suite. Often, I am asked what products I use- and if I am honest I haven't altered my morning/night-time routine for a long time. For those who are interested, here's a sneak peak into my shower, and a review of some of my current faves.

Original Source shower gels really are your best bet if like me, you need a burst of energy and zest on those cold, early mornings. I've been obsessed with both the lemon and lime products which really pack a punch when it comes to scent and freshness.  Amazingly, forty real limes are crammed into this citrus shower gel, and the zesty scent stays with you even after you've rinsed the product away. The miniature lemon shower gel I own came free as part of a 'starter kit' when I arrived at the uni. After giving it a go I was not disappointed. The products are vegan and friendly to the environment- another bonus to the shower gels which are currently unrivalled in terms of scent and quality. I've been reserving my coconut scented bottle for the evening time, as this particular body wash is creamier and more luxurious than its fruitier counterparts. I've found it to be very relaxing after stressful days running from lecture to lecture, maybe it could do the same for you! The products are available to view here, and are widely available in most high-street drugstores and supermarkets.

When focussing on skincare, I am still using my 'holy grail' combination of St. Ives Apricot Scrub and Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Wash.  If you're interested in knowing further details and a more in-depth review of these products, check out this blogpost from earlier in the year. For me, this facial scrub and daily wash seem to work together well, and keep my skin feeling fresh and noticeably clearer with regular use. Until I hear about something that works just as well, I'm planning to re-purchase these particular brands time and time again. What kind of products are you enjoying?

The priciest items in my shower are hair lightening shampoos by John Frieda (available here). These 'Go Blonder' treatments have been very effective in gently brightening the lighter parts of my hair, and have given me a naturally, visibly blonder look. I use the shampoo in isolation, as I feel my hair is soft and fine enough without need for additional conditioning. In my experience, the John Frieda products work fantastically well alone, and don't necessarily require their sister product (shampoo + conditioner combo) to have a dramatic lightning effect on your hair. I would certainly recommend these products, and believe them to be well worth their price. If you're feeling thrifty, wait for the range to be on offer, or explore shops such as Body Care to try and grab a bargain with your toiletries. 

If you'd like me to write a full post about my hair lightening experience, let me know in the comments or on Twitter. I've used three different products in order to achieve a sun kissed look, and avoiding the use of bleach had enabled me to maintain soft and healthy hair. 

As always, thankyou for reading and continuing to tweet about and support my blog. I've been tremendously busy at university, settling in and getting to grips with my course. Freshers week really took its tole on my body and skin, and I think a full detox is definitely required to get back to feeling healthy, active and well! Studying English as I do, I'm very determined to keep up to date with my blog, and keep you informed about what I'm up to! Thankyou for reading. 

Surviving Freshers and Settling In

The short-term absence of posts from my blog has been a consequence of me starting university, which has been the scariest and best time of my life.  Experiencing freshers has been crazy, and I feel like I'm now qualified enough to give you some advice on how to survive the manic first week and finally feel at home. Whether you're feeling a little homesick, or starting to feel the effects of the all-nighters, here's my personal tips for getting settled; 

Get Out There:

The only way to meet new people and introduce yourself to other students is to get out there and socialise.  You'll be surprised how many people are out there looking for new friendships- make them now before people get stuck into their studies later down the line!  I made it my plan to learn someone's name every where I went, so don't be too shy to jump into conversations and ask questions of your own.  It doesn't need to be awkward or formal at all, avoid cringe-worthy introductions at all costs. Just get chatting about nights out, university or moving out- everyone's in the same boat after all.

Pace Yourself:

It's no lie that there is a subliminal pressure to party, drink and go wild every night of freshers and I've tried my best to make the most of the cheap drinks and clubbing atmosphere. I think I've drank more wine this week than I ever have in my entire life, and when you're twerking to Anaconda by Nicki Minaj at 3am you know it's a good night. However, unless you're some kind of unstoppable party animal- the late nights will catch up with you and you'll need to allow yourself time to relax. One night midweek, my flat all went shopping and ordered a late night Domino's pizza- you can still have fun without downing a bottle of wine beforehand...  My advice would be: don't be afraid to get stuck in, but also know your limits.  I've ended up feeling a little run down and worse for wear but my week has been fantastic.

Plan Ahead:

On my first day of university talks I woke up at death's door. It's fair to say we all went a little far at the opening night, which was a beach themed party at the accommodation's central bar/club.  In light of this I'd advice you to plan ahead, and let loose only on nights where you're guaranteed a lie in the next morning. I'm not saying never have fun or drink ever again, there have been nights where my flatmates have been passed out with their head in the freezer door... but make sure you're prepared for what's to come the next day. The same rule will apply for the rest of your time at uni really, it's all just about thinking ahead and saving yourself the tortures of a lecture when you can't even see straight (trust me, it's not pretty). 

Relax:

My final tip is simply to relax and enjoy yourself.  There will be times when you have a little wobble, wishing you were at home in your own bed, and it's important to know that everyone is feeling it behind closed doors. If it all gets too much, confide in a friend and tell people how you feel- everyone in my flat has been so caring towards one-another it's almost too much to be believed.  I've been up at 5am unable to sleep, when I can see and hear drunken lads running around outside in their boxers, but it's all just part of the fun.  Relax and calm down, and if you can't beat them, join them. 

How To: Bake Giant Chocolate Cookies

With the rising popularity of baking amongst Brits, and tv shows like The Great British Bake Off dominating the airwaves, it's no longer uncool to home make some delicious sweet treats every now and then. I recently saw youtuber Tanya Burr's video tutorial where she made some delicious looking chocolate chip cookies, and I had to give them a go. Believe me when I say these cookies are GIANT and irresistible. I used large chunks of chocolate bar as opposed to miniature chocolate chips- I've listed the ingredients and recipe below. Give them a go! 

Ingredients:

200g unsalted butter

300g caster sugar

1 egg

325g self raising flour

dash of milk (if needed)

300-400g of chocolate

Firstly preset your oven to 200°c, and gather all your ingredients together. These cookies take almost no time at all to prepare, and bake just as fast.  After allowing your butter to reach room temperature, cream it together with your caster sugar until it creates a smooth consistency. Then, after resisting the urge to taste your butter cream, whisk in the egg. The next step is to add in the flour, and I would advise adding it in approx 100g lots so as to not overload the mixture. You'll begin to think it's looking too thick, but remember you're making a dough and not a cake batter! (if the dough refuses to bind and is too powdery and loose, you can throw in a dash of milk at this stage).

The only think to do now is to toss in chunks of chocolate, and don't feel the need to break it up into tiny chips- bite size squares make the cookies chunky and indulgent. I used a standard milk chocolate, but you could experiment with white chocolate or even something a little different such as Daim or Terry's Choloate Orange... imagine. Give the dough a thorough mix with your hands to ensure the chocolate chunks are evenly distributed. I bet you can't resist a taste test at this point... you'd have to be strong willed not to!

Separating the mixture into 8-10 small fist sized portions, spread them evenly on a tin foil lined baking tray before popping them in the oven for 10-12 minutes. A handy tip to remember is that the raw cookie dough balls can be frozen at this stage, and baked at a later date when you're craving a freshly baked treat.  

Don't wait until the cookies look brown or solid, take them out when they're starting to golden and allow them to rest. Trust me, the cookies harden slightly as they cool- and you want them to be soft and chewy. Ten to twelve minutes at 200g is the optimum baking time! 

When they come out of the oven, allow them to cool for around 25 minutes before you tuck in. They're most delicious when they are still slightly warm and the chocolate is still gooey... You need to give this recipe a go, it's difficult to get wrong and the outcome is so good. 

If you've given this recipe a go let me know in the comments. I find baking really fun and enjoyable when I have a free afternoon, is it still viewed as something for just OAPs? I'd say don't knock it until you've tried it- and you HAVE TO try these!  I'll leave a link to Tanya's youtube here, I gained my inspiration for this bake from her recipe- so thankyou Tanya! 

As always, don't forget to follow me on bloglovin, twitter and instagram. I love hearing from people who've ready my blog! Liam x

University Checklist / Preparation

If you're my age and going to univeristy, the next two weeks are probably going to be the busiest and most anxious as we prepare to move out of our family home and into halls of residence with a set of other students we have not yet met. In all honesty I'm very excited. I'm not viewing it as 'moving out' or leaving my entire life behind, but putting it into perspective- I'm merely going to uni! I'll probably be home every other weekend- I'm never more than a couple of hours from home. So no need to stress. 

What could be stressful though is preparing the colossal amount of things we need to take with us- from bedding to laptops; it can all get very confusing. Recently my parents and I had a visit to Asda Living, and there we filled four large baskets with homeware, bedroom decorations and kitchen utensils. These are the kind of expenses a student loan doesn't cover and the things we don't always think about when planning to go to uni- but these items really are essential. 

For the bedroom, you'll probably need a new duvet, quilt cover, pillows and bedding. Another item I'd highly recommend is a mattress topper- they're fairly inexpensive and ensure a comfortable and clean base- you never know who's been living in that room before you... ugh. Other than that, have you thought about storage? Maybe plastic boxes, laundry baskets and extra shelving would come in handy- I suppose it's all very personal to your requirements. To make my room cosy, I'm planning on buying a couple of soft cushions, maybe some fairy lights and photo frames to make everything feel warm and homely. The last thing I want is a cold shell of a room- it needs to feel like a place of my own. 

Aswell as all of that, there's the kitchen utensils to think about. I walked down the aisle and literally filled my basket- you'll be surprised how much there is and how much you'll need. Cutlery, bottle openers, tin openers, baking trays and tongues- my accomodation is self-catered so I'm planning on rustling up some (hopefully) impressive and affordable meals. I also picked up some glasses and mugs, plates and bowls. There's so much to remember! 

Electricals. Depending on your course, other items you'll need in your flat are a laptop, printer, small tv and even a desk lamp. These are things most of us have already, but I've had to buy a new laptop and tv. Moving to univeristy can be expensive, but look for the best deals and buy items that will last you the duration of your studies. I bought a white Samsung TV and Toshiba laptop in a matching colour, I'm so thrilled and think they look so pretty; I'm in love. 

After collecting an enormous pile of bits and bobs, I also began to prepare for other aspects of my time at univeristy.  The English department sent me a reading list- the names of 6 or 7 books I am expected to purchase (and in some cases read... argh) before I arrive. This is something to bear in mind, does your course require any kind of preparation? My department have even given me a few 'tasks' to complete before my induction... homework before I even get there! I suppose I've gotten lazy over summer and the thought of educational work intimidates me slightly! I'll soon get back into the rhythm of things once I move in- I'm looking forward to it. 

Hope some of you found this post useful and interesting, even if you're not going to univeristy and just fancied a nosey. Make sure you follow me on twitter, I'm always posting on there about univeristy plans and what I'm up to... What kind of posts would you like to see next, an insight into the items I bought, advice about moving away? Let me know in the comments below. 

Recent Purchases for Autumn/Winter- Topman Haul

With the summer slowing disappearing and the darker nights approaching, I've been excited to start searching for a few items to begin my autumn/winter wardrobe. This season is my favourite time of year clothes-wise, I love to layer and wrap up in darker colours and comfortable materials. So recently I visited the Trafford Centre with the aim to spend a bit of my savings on some key pieces to kick off the fall season. I'm constantly getting asked on twitter and in private messages about how to dress and where to shop, so this post will hopefully be helpful to some of you. If I had one tip it would be keep everything simple, and stick to one colour scheme. For me this year is has to be monochrome: blacks, whites and tonal greys. 

The first item I picked up was this grey/black check skater t-shirt, which I found in Topman for £16 (available here). I was immediately drawn to it because it is made from a much thicker material than the kind of tees you find in store for spring/summer. For this reason it's ideal for the wintery months. I think I'll get a lot of wear out of it too, as it is both comfortbable and easy to style- it should see me right through to summer next year. The one I purchased was in size XXS, something I was shocked about as this size is always much too small for me- I'm almost 6ft! The t-shirt is designed to be oversized, and in order to find a fit I was comfortable with, I opted for this much smaller option. In my opinion, the XXS fits like a normal M, so bear this in mind if you decide to order it online. 

Another staple for autumn/winter is a good pair of black jeans. I've been living in my Topman Super Spray Ons, an extremely tight pair which admittedly sometimes resemble leggins. If this is the look you're going for, I'd say these are the perfect pair. In my personal style, I always think the tighter the better when it comes to denim jeans- avoid bootleg at all costs guys. My size is 28/32, put I'd definitely advise trying these on in store before you buy. Topman/Topshop always have an impressive selection of jeans available, I wouldn't bother looking elsewhere.  Online, the black super spray ons I bought aren't currently available, but a pair of black spray ons are available here for £30. 

Another recent purchase was a pair of black (are you noticing a theme?) desert boot style shoes. The 'suedette lace-up chukka boots' are available here for £40, a price I was impressed with as similar boots from Clarks can retail for up to £100. I'm saving these shoes for nights out and parties in the festive season, as they are a smart and fashionable alternative to a brogue or formal shoe. In addition to this, they are also a change to the black vans that I wear day in day out, perfect for when I feel like switching it up. I've wanted a pair like this for a long time, so I'm really happy with this buy. 

A key trend for this coming winter is the Breton stripe, a style made famous by the iconic French designer Coco Chanel. You can see this type of print everywhere on the high street, and I found this £14 oversized tee in Topman here- which was also available in red and white as opposed to navy. This shirt is a basic, and can be paired with jackets, hoodies, and denim jeans of any colour. If you're looking for a versatile item with a nod to the stipe trend- this is your best bet. If you have a bigger budget or fancy a splurge, have a nosey at the Pretty Green and Fred Perry websites- but for me Topman always clinches it on price alone. 

Thanks for reading guys as always, and don't forget to follow me on bloglovin, twitter and instagram- all my links are on here somewhere! Leave a comment with your favourite trend or items you've been liking, I love hearing from you and I'll reply as soon as I can! 

MTV VMAs 2014: Must See Looks

Last night marked one of the most glamorous events in music, the annual MTV Video Music Awards. It is always my favourite award show, bound to be filled with glitz, drama and stellar performances from world-class artists. This year was no different, with dazzling productions from Jessie J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj and a spotlight stealing super medley from cultural icon Beyoncé. Not all of the attention was focused inside the arena though, as the red carpet was lined with stars dressed up to the nines. Below I have gathered a collection of the must see looks from this years' awards, including J Lo's stunning sequinned number and the Kardsahian's effortless glam. Other noticable looks were Taylor Swift's 'not-so-flattering' blue leotard and Miley's surprisingly dressed down bandeau top with co-ordinate trousers.  Ariana Grande looked hotter than ever in a black leather Moschino minidress and trademark thigh high go-go boots- her cutesy prom girl looks are fast becoming a distant memory. Controversially, Katy Perry arrived at the carpet fashionably late with hiphop rapper RiFF RAFF, sporting a double denim ensemble that was unmistakably an echo of Britney Spears' and Justin Timberlake's now iconic get-up back in the day. Amber Rose also shocked onlookers with a revealing draped bead 'dress' that was reminiscent of Rose McGowan's unforgettable 1998 VMA outfit. All the hottest pictures are below, let me know which is your favourite. 

ps. if you're in the UK, the 2014 VMAs air TONIGHT (Monday 25th August) on MTV! Don't miss it!