WHAT I WORE: Lace Bralet, Tapered Trousers, PU Sleeve Blazer and Sandals

Do you find it difficult to know what to wear out when the nights are still a little wintery? It's definitely too cold to don an LBD without having a fur coat to keep us warm, but there is always the question of whether you will have somewhere to store it when you are inside and no longer need it. 

I think I managed to strike an adequate balance recently when I headed out for a Valentine's celebration with my better half. We had booked an overnight stay in Belfast and went for dinner in a restaurant which, ironically, was voted the most romantic restaurant in the city (we didn't know this when we chose it)! Follow the link below to check it out:

 http://www.zenbelfast.co.uk/

This restaurant was PERFECT, I honestly could not recommend it enough. The food was insanely delicious, the staff were uber attentive, the prices were very reasonable and to top it all off - the cocktails were a little too appetizing! The dark lighting and the rose petals scattered across the tables, the Valentine's balloons and the romantic background music created the most idyllic atmosphere. We had such a pleasant meal, and absolutely cannot wait to go back.

Back to the outfit choice though. I was aiming for a dressy outfit, but also one that would be comfortable after what would potentially be a three-course meal. A tight dress was not an option - absolutely no room for a food belly in one of those! And I wanted to be a little more dressed up than just jeans/leather pants and a top. So I pursued a nice pair of dressy trousers. I knew in my head exactly what I wanted, and well, us females usually don't stop until we get what we want! Admittedly, I am no exception to that theory. 

Outfit details are as follows:

Tapered Trousers - Missguided

It took me no time at all to find the perfect trousers, Missguided provided me with exactly what I was looking for and at an amazing price. Find them here:

https://www.missguided.co.uk/clothing/category/trousers/wrap-detail-tailored-trousers-khaki

Image © Missguided

Lace Bralet - Missguided

You know by now this is a favourite of mine, I have got SO much wear out of it! Unfortunately the black one is no longer available on Missguided, you can still get it in nude and white, however I have sourced the same black one elsewhere. Find it here:

http://www.silkfred.com/boutiques/one-nation-clothing/clothing/eyelash-lace-strappy-bralet-in-black?tcode=GPPC_PLAs&gclid=Cj0KEQiA0sq2BRDRt6Scrqj71vQBEiQAg5bj07p8102hD7JjXPHCFOchBbHexId1AYBm3ikZiU_KMbsaAuAI8P8HAQ

Image © Silk Fred

PU Sleeve Blazer - Miss Selfridge

My jacket is from a few seasons ago and is obviously no longer available, but I have picked out a couple of my favourite blazers which I think would be perfect if teamed with this outfit. Find them here:

http://www.boohoo.com/blazers/louise-woven-blazer/invt/dzz88769

  

AND 

https://www.missguided.co.uk/clothing/category/blazers/black-blazers/longline-blazer-black

Image © Missguided

And when we finally get some warmer weather, you could switch it up with a sleeveless blazer to give the outfit a whole new look. Find the perfect example here:

https://www.missguided.co.uk/clothing/category/coats-jackets/stand-up-collar-sleeveless-black

Image © Missguided

Sandals - New Look

Again, my sandals are from a previous season but they have the same ones in for spring/summer in a different texture. Find them here: 

http://www.newlook.com/shop/shoe-gallery/view-all-shoes/black-suede-ankle-strap-heels-_351605601

Image © New Look

To complete the look, add a simple black and gold necklace and a clutch bag and you are good to go! This should tide you over until the warmer evenings - *fingers crossed*!

Friday’s Giirl

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BEAUTY: My Current Tanning Regime

So I admitted in a previous post that I am a tan-aholic, but surprisingly that has changed since I was on holidays in Malta! I got a good tan while I was away and as a result, there was no need to apply fake tan for some time after.

If you are anything like me though,your tan doesn't last for long - in fact, I think you leave half of it behind when you board the plane! And when you live in Northern Ireland, you are lucky if you ever get the chance to top it up! So, naturally, it wasn't long before I was pale again, but for some reason it never crossed my mind to put tan on. I think I had gotten so used to having a shower and climbing into bed that the thought of taking extra time to apply tan and then having a second shower in the morning to rinse it off just seemed like too much effort - lazy,I know!

ANYWAY,when it comes to a night out I need to be tanned! And the first proper excuse I had was my birthday night out before Christmas. Turning 27,I wanted to look my best to make myself feel better about my rapid approach to my thirties - *GASP*

So what did I use?

For approximately one week before the big night out I began prepping my skin each night - this is so important because if you have smooth skin your tan will undoubtedly appear more flawless. To prep the skin, use a good exfoliator and moisturiser. I have been using Soap and Glory The Scrub of your Life (buy it here). I apply this to wet skin in circular motions using an exfoliating glove. The scrub is gentle on the skin and smells divine! 

After my shower, I moisturise with Boots Cocoa Butter and Vitamin E body lotion (find it here), paying particular attention to any dry areas such as elbows and knees. This body lotion is so affordable and it leaves my skin feeling amazing. Oh, and it also smells so good!

When it comes to the night of tanning, usually a Thursday night for me (the night we all go from a 4 to a 10!), I shower and exfoliate, but I do not moisturise. If you have dry skin I would recommend that you still do, but I find that it almost dilutes my tan and it doesn't come out as dark as I would like! It is still a good idea to moisturise your elbows and knees though to avoid any patches. I apply two layers of St. Moriz Instant Self Tanning Dark Mousse (buy it here) using the St. Moriz Self Tanning Applicator Mitt (buy it here) and allow it to dry before applying my pyjamas. I leave the tan to develop overnight and then shower any excess off in the morning. This leaves me with a beautiful tan as you can see in the photo above! It is dark though, so if you prefer a lighter tan, I suggest only applying one layer, or else using the medium shade instead of the dark.

Maintaining your tan is so important when it comes to wearing off - I can honestly say that this tan does not wear off patchy at all on me. I may need to gently exfoliate around my hands and feet, but by no means do I have to scrub at it. To ensure that it does wear off naturally, it is important that you follow the same routine for prepping the skin - exfoliate gently and moisturise regularly, every day if you can! This will keep the skin smooth and hydrated and you will get longer out of your tan. I can wear this tan for almost a week before reapplying. Usually, if I apply it on a Thursday night for the weekend, it will last all weekend and then start to fade, and I have fresh (pale) skin for reapplying the next Thursday night - perfect timing!

I honestly rate this tan, and the other products so highly. I can rely on them to give me the perfect glow, and thankfully I haven't had any horrible mishaps with it! I do love some more expensive tans such as Vita Liberta and Whitetobrown, but this really works for me and is an absolute steal!

Let me know if you have used it, and if you haven't, I highly recommend that you try it! What other tanning and prepping products do you love?

Friday’s Giirl

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