Alexi Accessories and DUPE Naked 3 Palette Giveaway!

After a whirlwind week of getting exam results, going for job interviews and being busy doing nothing - I have finally found the time to you some exciting news that is going to benefit you reading this!

The lovely ladies at Alexi Accessories have kindly given me the chance to do my first ever giveaway! (cue lots of cheering and clapping form moi!) The item that I chose to giveaway is the same piece that I will do a review about next week! It is the simple yet elegant rose gold plated mini hollow necklace. It is sterling silver with a 4 carat rose gold plating that has a hollowed circle at the centre of the necklace that is covered in cubic zirconia's. For one lucky reader this is a huge steal of a prize as the RRP is £46.50!

This necklace is one of my favourite pieces taken from the Signature Collection because it is such a timeless look that can be worn day-to-day through to the evening and not look out of place anywhere!

You can look at the whole collection on the Alexi Accessories site by clicking on the Alexi badge along the right of my blog!

Not only will you receive a necklace fit for an old Hollywood actress, you will also receive a dupe of the Urban Decay Naked 3 Eye Palette that I blogged about! (link here to my review). The dupe palette is virtually the same to the original however not even a fraction of the price!

To enter to win these fabulous prizes, all you have to do is enter the giveaway located below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I wish you all the best and good luck!

T&C's

- You must like Alexi Accessories Facebook page through the giveaway

- You must follow me on twitter and/or instagram (username: mollyburnettx)

- This is an International Giveaway, so anyone can enter

- The competition will run until the 1st September 2014 (12AM GMT)

- The winner will have 48 hours to reply, if a reply has not been received then a winner will be chosen at random

Everybody, Welcome Alexi Accessories!

There is nothing I find more challenging in the shopping world than trying to find jewellery that I am happy to wear and willingly spend the money on. Whilst I will always volunteer to waste hours roaming the wide web and make perfect baskets of clothes and shoes that I would snap up in an instant, my attention always becomes particularly thin when trying to do the same with jewellery.

Now, I want to make it clear that this does not mean I do not like jewellery, just that I do not trust my initial instincts to commit to buying any! 

However, all of this changed when I came across the brand spanking new brand Alexi Accessories! Not only do I wish there was a way I could "illegally download" every piece on the site, I feel happy to have found a brand of jewellery that is timeless, feminine and edgy all in one beautiful bundle.

A little about the brand: Alexi Accessories

Alexi Accessories are a British-based jewellery company that offers pieces that are inspired by the simplistically that nature has to offer with a strong romantic feel. Each piece of jewellery is as delicate and feminine as the brand's name itself. 

The brand so far has two main collections: the Signature Collection and the Brooke Collection. You can expect what you think form the Signature Collection - classic styles that ooze a sense of elegance that will instantly bring out your inner Audrey Hepburn. The Brooke Collection carries the strong nature inspired element of the brand; taken from the site itself Alexi describes it [Brooke] as being "influenced by the essential elements of life; sweet silver streams gently gushing over rocks, dappled sunlight on a spring morning, pearly raindrops gently falling on a soft summer's day."

The price for all of the jewellery range between £15 - £75; this is perfect for any occasion that you may be buying; whether it be a small and delicate treat for a loved one to make them feel special or if you really want to splash out on a major treat for you once pay day arrives. 

You can get a direct link to the site by click on the "ALEXI" badge to the right of the page!
Now that is enough of me talking - go and feast your eyes upon the beauty itself.. go on, GO!
X

FASHION HAUL: Primark

It has felt long since I last posted, however spending near a week of travelling to Scotland and going to T in the Park - it is safe to say I have been preoccupied! The festival was unreal (with Calvin Harris being the obvious highlight!) and the weekend was perfect to share laughs in some great company. So after coming back from Scotland yesterday and having MAJOR festival blues... what better way to pick yourself up than a shopping trip to Primark! 

My opinion of Primark has changed more times than Taylor Swift's relationship status as Primark usually feels more like a jumble sale and my OCD immediately kicks in as I walk through the door; however, my love for the store was at an all time high today and I managed to pick up some great pieces! 

It saddens us all that Primark does not have an online shopping site yet so pieces can be hard to come across again; all the pieces were brought from the Oxford City Primark so all bits featured should be there! 

Comments and feedback is always appreciated - enjoy! X

Blue Drawn Crombie Coat - £23

Okay, so I know that we are in July but that does not mean that when I see a coat this good-looking I am going to walk away! With AW14/15 fast approaching, delicate colours are going to be a hit for outerwear - so this coat is going to be perfect! It is the classic boyfriend coat with poppers for buttons however I prefer my coats undone. The coat is almost like a very short-cut fur coat as it is so soft; for £23 I was glad to bring this baby home.

 Pink Strappy Cami - £10 reduced to £5

When I saw this dress, I thought it was almost like a 90's wannabe take on Rihanna's dress worn to the CFDA Awards. Of course it is not made from Swarovski Crystal, nor will I look anything like Rihanna - but a girl can dream. The dress is quite see through and was not something I realised until I got home (Primark's light deceived me!!) however for £5 you can't go wrong. This is something that is easily versatile between both day and night and fits in well with the 90's throwback trend happening now. 

Green Crepe Wrap Skirt - £10 reduced to £5

6 days out of 7 you will catch me wearing a dress or skirt so I like to keep variety on the ones I have; I always find that my bottoms can really fluctuate between sizes in Primark so I usually stick to tops from there. I found this lonely sucker mixed in with all the fitness gear and absolutely love what I can only describe as the "Quality Street Triangle" colour. It's vibrant without having a god awful neon tinge and the skater shape is flattering on my Himalayan hips. I was happy to find that when I got to the cashier, the skirt had been marked down by 50% - happy days!

Tie Dye Bikini Top - £6 // Tie Dye Bikini Bottoms - £4 // Zig Zag Bikini Top - £6 // Zig Zag Bikini Bottoms - £4

I would rather shove pins in my eyes whilst walking over hot coals than go swimwear shopping; it's awkward, it's tedious and you never look as good as Kim Kardashian in the changing room. Unfortunately if you are wanting to get some colour on your skin it is a requirement. I'm pretty clueless when it comes to bikini styles and what is a good bikini as opposed to a bad bikini so in a fast movement today, I picked up these two beauties and moved quickly onto the shoe section. Fortunately they fitted and I was quite happy - this still did not make the experience more pleasant! 

Laser Cut PU Shoes - £8

There are so many nice pairs of shoes in Primark at the moment so if you get the chance go see what they have to offer! I thought these shoes looked so cute and they reminded me of ones I used to wear to primary school. I'm not a massive fan of the jelly shoe as painful memories from wearing them as a child still haunt me to this day so these for me, are like an alternative! The shoes are really comfortable and for £8 they are something that I will be buying more of once this pair starts to wear through. Make these shoes a perfect throwback to primary school with frilly little ankle socks!

Twistlock Mini Pink Bag - £8

Ahh how cute?! Handbags are a definite weakness of mine and are something that I would willingly buy over food. I haven't got a mini bag however it is surprisingly spacious and can fit in more than meets the eye. A bag this size is perfect if you are going out for the day and you want to limit your to what you are taking out. They also do the bag in lemon, burnt orange and blue with purses to match so you can buy the whole set without feeling guilty!

Flower Ziptop Clutch - £3

I'm limited on clutch bags so when I usually go out, I tend to use only two that I do have... not anymore! The 3D flowers are a take on from the Burberry Prorsum trend and abode well with the monochrome that is guaranteed to move into the fall. The clutch can easily transition from day to night and is just the right size to use as an alternative to a handbag. 

Lasercut Make-Up Bag - £3

I hate wasting a lot of money on make-up bags as mine tend to usually break, rip, or get dirty easily however it was time I brought a new one. I love the lasercut detail on the bag and the bag is plenty big enough to carry all my face make-up in - and at £3 a bargain too!

Colour Vintage Midi Ring - £1.50

Midi Rings - £1.50

I love my junk jewellery and my over-the-top earrings but sometimes you need something a little more delicate. These midi rings were like something you would find in Miss Selfridge but for a fraction of the price with each pack coming to £1.50 each! 

Trend Favourite: Co-ords

It is safe to say that when Co-ordinate clothing hit the high street, I was 100% skeptical of the idea; if you wanted to wear the same pattern on your top and bottoms, why don't you just buy a dress?! However, once Topshop released a collection at the beginning of the year, I was of course sold on the idea that it was a good thing to wear matchy-matchy prints! Co-ords are a fabulous item to invest in as you can be out of your comfort zone in the suit together or mix and match with other clothing for a more subtle approach. I have seen the light into how versatile they can be and how a co-ordinate is the perfect choice for any scenario or event. From a night out to a stroll around town, the perfect co-ord is the best companion. Below are my favourite matched pieces; all links and prices will appear below. 

I would love to hear what you think, so feedback through my blog or my social media sites would be greatly appreciated! Enjoy. X 

ARK CLOTHING

Ark Black Sunflower Crop Top click here
Ark Black Sunflower Shorts click here

Sunflowers, shorts, and an opened back crop top - what's not to love?! Ark have got some great co-ord pieces this season; the one thing that I love most about this one is how easily it will transition into AW14/15 as well. The co-ord has a haunting look with the sunflowers colour toned down and then set against the black background, this could easily be worn with a pair of OTT black boots and a long boyfriend coat in winter or with chunky flatform sandals and a pair of eye-catching sunnies now!

Hearts & Bows Cream Crochet Crop Top click here
Hearts & Bows Cream Crochet Shorts click here

Whilst this may not be the most practical of co-ords you cannot help but love its effortless look. Perfect for the time now and if you are going away somewhere that isn't the United Kingdom or in fact a festival, then this would be a great piece to throw on. The crochet paisley detailing along the bottom of the shorts and top adds an elegant touch to the two piece. It does remind me of something that I would wear to bed but if you can pull it off out the open I dare you to do it! I would leave shoes and accessories to a minimum on this just because it is so delicate - you do not want to take the attention away from that!

DAHLIA FASHION

Laura Polka Dot Organza Set click here

I first came across Dahlia Fashion on a trip to Carnaby Street and when I walked into the store, it was like they had stole all of my dreams and presented them to me in a beautifully merchandised room. Every single piece from the jewellery to the dresses are elegant and classy with an edge of rebellion. This crop top and midi set is perfect for the summer months we have left and no doubt will still look as chic next year as it does now. The high waisted full skirt will flatten even those who feel conscious about their midriff. Even though it is great to be able to buy a full set, Dahlia do not usually sell their co-ords separately so if you wanted just the one item, you can't! Fortunately, it makes it the perfect excuse to buy the full set, agree?

Hoxton Gingham Rose Print Set click here

Do you see what I mean by Dahlia being a dream? I mean, seriously. The overlay of the rose print adds a shedload of 'girlyness' to the pastel pink gingham underneath. This co-ord is bang on this season with the gingham, pastels and florals all ticked off in this dainty two piece. With an elasticated waist, this skirt ensures that it is acceptable to have that last slice of pizza that you would usually feel guilty about! The print of this Dahlia two piece is extremely distinctive and something that I have not seen a great deal of this summer. This could easily be a summer's dream with a pair of blue sandals (may I suggest these from New Look) and a blue clutch to match.  

If you haven't already, then you should definitely check out www.dahliafashion.com - they have a brilliant sale at the moment with 50% off!

TOPSHOP

Paisley Print Kimono and Trouser Set click here

Ah, the heaven of all high street stores: TOPSHOP. I could not do a post of my favourite pieces without featuring something from Topshop because lets face it, when do Topshop ever slack in anything? I understand that most people who would pull this set off together would be 5"10 slim runway model look-a-likes but... a girl can dream right? This set really represents everything about the trend: daring, bold and effortless; with a small bandeau underneath, any girl (or man for that matter) would look a dream in this set. Bravo. 

WEARING: Pink to make the boys wink

The Outfit:

Shirt - Next

Skirt - Topshop

Kimono - River Island

Shoes - New Look (buy similar)

Sunglasses - Ebay

With the sun going strong today, it felt right that pink should be my choice of colour today! 

I brought this pink skirt around 6 months ago and to be honest I wasn't mad about it. This is probably only the third time I have worn it however it is a grower; the colour is so eccentric and my eyes are immediately drawn to it. I definitely think this is something that should be worn in the summer as the sun just makes it look 100% better!

As I come close to leaving Next, it seemed only smart that I should use my discount one last time. This crisp white shirt is a perfect piece of clothing and should be mandatory that women own. Not only is it utterly versatile but it is effortlessly cool as well. In the not so distant future, I will do a blog post on how to style it. 

When wearing the same colour top and bottom, as I am with my skirt and kimono, it is important that if they are not a set that the colours are not the same shade else the palette of colours used can look off and not compliment your outfit!

I had sleepless nights over this kimono. I originally saw it online and was desperate to have it. After umming and ahhing over it (because of the cost) I decided that it was a matter of life or death if I didn't own it! Anyone that knows me can defend the point that I LOVE kimonos. Not only do they look good on anybody, they add an element of elegance to any outfit and can turn something that would usually look quite plain, look incredibly eccentric! I love the velvet lining along the sleeves and body. I wear a kimono probably 4/7 days in a week and they can be easily teamed with skirts, jumpsuit, jeans, shorts, the lot. If you haven't looked at River Island's collection then bag yourself one!

The sunglasses were some that I brought last year and are always my 'go to' glasses whenever it's sunny. They are perfect because as someone who finds sunglass shopping a chore, surprisingly compliment any face shape and for only £2.49 (+ FREE P&P!!) you would be a fool to turn them down. With the white buttoned shirt and pink skirt, the glasses definitely add to that 80's feel. 

To finish this look off, I would add either a monochrome or purple clutch, depending on whether I am wearing the kimono. 

Thanks for reading!

XX

Naked 3 & 2 Palette for £5.23!

It is a girl's dream, wish and hope to own the most prestige products that are on the market (whether that is make up, moisturiser or clothing); however when we look a the price tags of certain products it is a smack across the face with our £1.99 blusher brush, that brings us back down to reality and makes us realise that our purses cannot stretch to the budget we desire. Even though we cannot always afford the best brands, this does not mean we are not allowed to settle for a dupe. May I behold to you the best possible dupe for the most talked about palette on the market: the Urban Decay Naked Palette's!

I have never been one to wear eye shadow as previous disasters have left me resembling more of a Blackpool Drag Queen as opposed to the Kim Kardashian look I tried to reciprocate. With that being said, the Naked palette made me excited about colouring my eyes again! After placing the item in my basket online, I got my debit card out until I saw the total... £37! After a mini-heart attack over how much I was about to spend on eye shadow, I decided to try and find my best bargain I could and voila! I found a dupe for £5.23!

The colours on the dupe are near to exactly the same as the original and when I have worn them on a night out, they have lasted me all night looking just the same as when I first did them! The palettes did come with a brush that has a dual end: one brush that is used to apply the colour on the lid and another end that blends the colours used to make the overall look more 3-dimensional. 

NAKED 3 Palette below:

click here for NAKED 3 palette

NAKED 2 Palette below:

click here for NAKED 2 palette

Search on Pinterest for the best "how-to" guides of the colours!

My personal favourite palette is the Naked 3 - purely because I am in love with the rose gold and metallic tones throughout; they definitely work better with my skin colour and the summer season! However, if you are after a more smokey eye, then the Naked 2 palette is better for that. Once Winter begins to set in, I am sure I will use the 2 palette a lot more as the earthy tones will make my eyes pop!

With free shipping, the palettes were brought and delivered to my house within 5 working days. I wish to still own the actual Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette, but until I am given a generous pay rise, I am more than happy to stick with the dupes!

Thanks for reading!