Thank you!

Woohoo, I have reached over 100 followers!

I just wanted to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU gals for your constant support I was given through both good and bad times, for your amazing, heart-warming comments and messages, and most of all, for being such fantastic and unique people! Meeting you and getting to know you through your comments and blogs is certainly the biggest joy of all that the blogosphere can offer.

Would you have any requests or suggestions for the future? Something you'd like to see more (or less) of? Drop me a line in the comments, please!

Have a cheerful Monday evening everyone! xxx

Brother's Birthday Bold Lip

On Friday, it was my brother's 28th birthday (it's the same brother who was featured in my last post chewing gum and sitting on top of a bench - how the time goes by!), and he invited friends and family for some celebrating at a bar where almost everything costs 1 euro (4 zlotys). They have only basic drinks and snacks, like shots of vodka, beer and wine and some traditional Polish snacks to go with the vodka, like herrings and pate with cranberry dressing. It's always super crowded on Friday nights because people go there to have a drink before doing some serious clubbing damage. There are no tables, just a counter at which people stand to grab their order, and, if they have enough luck, find some space to eat their snacks. There's only one place like this in Warsaw and I have to say that despite the crowds, I really enjoyed the ambiance!

I decided to sport a bold red lip to match my red velvet skirt. Red lips always make me feel very feminine and sexy, there's just something about them that makes it impossible for a woman to go unnoticed. It looks even better with paler, winter skin, as the contrast between colors is more striking than usual.

Also, I had some make-up on from the morning and didn't have enough time to start over, so I thought it was a good way to glam it up a bit. I went for MAC Cockney, which is currently my favorite red, and NYX Plush Red lip pencil, which is more of a blue-based red. They held really nicely through the evening, and together with some balm underneath, this combo didn't feel drying at all.

What is your favorite red lipstick?

My Hair History

I think we all know these posts are in fact an excuse to show some childhood photos... ok, and maybe compare and contrast to see which hairstyle suited you best throughout the years. Hope you enjoy my story :)

Right in the beginning I have to admit I've never had my hair color treated apart from some subtle highlights and so the story is quite predictable, with my hair alternating between longer and then shorter and then longer again. Well, anyway...

I might be 2 or 3 years old in this picture, so the choice of haircut wasn't actually my own. I think I looked quite cute and this length was a good solution back then since I hated having my hair brushed or combed, and unfortunately my mum loved styling it in a ponytail at the top of my head, which resembled a lightning-struck palm tree. (The other personnage captured is my brother, of course.)

For my First Communion when I was 8, I had my hair braided the night before and then the waves were slightly brushed through. At the time, I considered those little waves to be utterly glamorous and sported them for any bigger event. The reddish hue of my hair is quite visible here as well.

Right after the Communion, I decided I wanted to have my hair cut to chin length. I remember it was probably my first time at the hairdresser's and I felt very mature having my hair done by a professional. It seems my hair is a completely different color here, but with my hair color, it has always been a matter of light: sometimes it looks reddish, sometimes it looks darker blond.

When I was 12, I grew really long hair and usually wore it in a ponytail or a braid. During summer, my hair was always full of highlights, especially round my face (and that hasn't changed). I remember I liked it that long (we're talking waist long here), but it was a mess to detangle.

Then when I was maybe 14 I cut my hair quite short in a style resembling an upside down pot, as it looks to me now, but (un)fortunately I have no digitalized photos to prove that.

Then, in high school, I grew it out again and had a side swept fringe together with some subtle layers. I got a lot of compliments on this haircut from my friends.

When I was 20, my hair got really long again and when I wanted to look pretty and add some volume, I just put it on some rollers to get those loose curls. Shortly after this photo was taken I became trimming it shorter and shorter...

... and then, some 1,5 years ago, I had it cut really short again. I loved how easy to style my short hair was, but I didn't like the lack of versatility.

So here I am, growing it out again. This time, I want them as long as 3 years ago with lots of layers for added volume, not as straight as I used to wear them. My hair grows quite fast so I'm hoping to achieve the goal in maybe 2 years time, which is not that bad... For now, I'm thinking of layering the style to add some definition. Do you think it's a good idea? Which style do you think suited me best?

Comfortable Outfit of the Day

Recently, I have been popping into stores more often than I usually do. Sometimes I walk out barehanded and dissapointed, and sometimes I like a lot of things and happily decide to splurge. Sometimes I'm all for a sensible approach, which consists of looking for clothes that you might actually need, and sometimes I just prefer to go for it and buy something that takes my fancy, no matter if it's a necessary addition to my wardrobe or not.

These past 2 weeks proved to be quite fruitful, and I decided to share :) In fact, I really wanted to do outfit posts more often, but every time I intend to, I find my looks nothing special, or like today, the photos really do turn out rubbish. But, the hell with it, I'm going to show you what I've been wearing today anyway.

I'm trying to convince myself I look so bottom-heavy because of the camera positioning...

The photo features:

Ivory top from Reserved

Slouchy purple cardi from C&A

Blue and purple leopard print scarf from Tally Weijl (love!)

Brown trousers from Tally Weijl

Shell bracelet

I love how comfortable and soft this cardigan is, and I love the color, kind of milky reddish purple. I got it yesterday and like it so much I could sleep in it :) It also has sort of special pockets, which unfortunately can't be seen in the photos. The scarf is another favorite and my mum got it for me on our trip to the mall last week, and I've been wearing it almost every day since. I like the square style best, and, as unbelievable as it may sound, is an only animal print garment I own (well, I never understood the whole leopard print fad, but now I kind of do ;).

Would you ladies have any advice for outfit shots (other than having a tripod, which I obviously don't)? I tried various different setting today and the result is still not satisfactory. I'd much appreciate your help. Have a fantastic Friday night all! xxx

Friday night out

On Friday I went out with my friends to a new club called '1500 m2 for rent'. It's a combination of a bar, club and art gallery all in one, and is located in an old tenement house near the city centre. It's also one of a few loft spaces available for public here. When we came in and started wandering around, at one point I thought we were going to get lost, it's such a maze of rooms and corridors! It was the biggest event this month in Warsaw with 3500 people subscribed on Facebook. Luckily, we didn't have to queue at the entrance, because my brother, who's both a lawyer and a DJ, was one of the organizers :)

I go out to clubs very rarely, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to try a new look. I decided to create a bold, smokey eye with Barry M Dazzle Dust in 98, a dark purple with blue duochrome to match my shirt. I tried to go rocker chic, which is not usually my style; I never felt comfortable with such a dark eye make-up, but this time I actually really liked it.

I have to say this Dazzle Dust is simply stunning! I was expecting a lot of fallout, so I applied a sticky base underneath (Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow in Seashells), and I'm proud to report there was not even a tiny speck of glitter on my cheeks when I finished! I'm already thinking of how to incorporate it into everyday looks...

Products used:

Eyes:

CS Eye Poxy Primer: to prevent cream eyeshadow from creasing

Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow in Seashells: a greyish shade all over the lid

Barry M Dazzle Dust in 98

Annabelle eyeshadow in Vanilla Chilla to highlight

generic black gel eyeliner on upper lashline

MaxFactor Colour Perfection eyeliner in Ice Blue on the waterline

Lips:

Barry M lipstick in Peachy Pink

Maybelline lipgloss in Pink Whisper

Cheeks:

CS "G" Bronzer/Blush

Hope you all had a great weekend, ladies! xxx

Quick question

What would you say to the new header, ladies? I've been meaning to change something in the layout for a while, and this is what I came up with...

Completely over the top, no question about that.

Yay or nay? xxx

The yellow fog...

The ever so bright Sarah (If the shoe fits...) did this color tag a couple of days ago, and even though I wasn't actually tagged, I couldn't resist the temptation to join in...

It was a real challenge for me to find 7 yellow things as it's one of the colors that I tend to overlook the most. However, the difficulty of the search made it that more interesting! Somehow, the majority of yellow things I own can be found in the bathroom - and so we have:

The duck actually belongs to my brother (no, he's not my little brother, he's 28 if you really want to know ;), and I use this lovely bright mitt to scrub my back and legs until they're perfectly smooth.

These are almost all yellow cosmetics I have in my possession. What I like about Garnier anti-cellullite roll-on and Burt's Bees cuticle cream is their refreshing lemony scent, something I absolutely can't say for J&J face self-tanner.

I was given this huge jar of honey and milk scented bath salt by mum in law. Add a handful of it to your bath at the end of an exhausting day and the whole bathroom smells yummy and comforting.

I got this yellow bracelet from my aunt a good couple of years ago, and the flower and fruit brooch is even older, I stole it from my mum and it has a great sentimental value to me.

This dinky pair was acquired during one of the holidays spent with my cousin and we got those together. I never wear them but just love how cute they are, and they remind me of her.

Now, my color of choice has to be orange, and I tag these fabulously warm people:

Ondine

Loveaudrey

Natalia at Fashion Titbits

"There is no blue without yellow and without orange." Vincent Van Gogh

Latest lipstick love

As you probably know by now, I'm really obsessed with darker lip colors for fall and winter. During the summer, I tried to show some love to lighter, more 'nude' shades, but I think that, deep down in my heart, I'm a dark lip kinda girl. Let's face it, real nudes make me look as if I was going through a particularly violent stage of anemia.

So, after much deliberating, I succumbed and bought Inglot 'long' lipstick in shade no. 58. First, I just fell for the packaging, it's so simple yet classy (seems to be a rip-off from MAC's Mattenes?). However, the formula of these is also really nice, not too drying and quite longlasting, which is not something I'd expect from such a cheap product. It has no taste, a huge plus for me, but a bit of a funny smell, I can't really put my finger on it, though luckily it fades very fast.

The color is a deep, purpley pink and goes fantastic with blue items of clothing. I have a blue scarf and beret and it looks amazing against them. Because it's such an intense shade I do feel a bit self-conscious when wearing it, but have been getting a lot of compliments on my lipstick, so I think it's worth a bit of effort!

I highly recommend you check out this range of lipsticks, the color selection varies from nudes through reds to dark purples, and there's a variety of finishes available. Currently, I'm eyeing a darker berry shade with gold shimmers running through...

What's your recent make-up discovery? xxx

Róisín

Róisín Murphy is one of the most influencial artists on the modern pop/electro/disco stage, and I've been meaning to write a post about her style forever. I discovered her music some 2 years ago and instantly fell in love with her beautiful voice and funky beats. After watching her video clips, I really started appreciating her unique and courageous taste for fashion. Róisín is her own stylist and even though some of her outfits might not be exactly your cup of tea, I find that her approach to fashion can actually remind us that trends should be fun and... a bit crazy.

Plus, she's really stunning (and I want that hairstyle...)!

Photo and interview source: unofficial Roisin Murphy's blog

' [...] When I'm performing I like a certain amount of structure in my clothes – and in my haircut too. Changing on stage has become a big part of my performance now. I don't know if I'm hiding behind it, but I do get the strength to face the world if I'm wearing hard, blunt edges. Like I said before, I think it comes from my grandma. She'd ' wear masculine clothes, it gave her strength. Also, I do a lot of my own styling so it can be a bit scary as I'm the one making my own mistakes. There's a whole slipstream of the media now that deals with who looks right and who looks wrong now. I've got no right to complain, but it is a bit negative. I do get it wrong sometimes, of course, but the most irritating thing about that is when people say, "What was Róisí*Murphy's stylist thinking?"'

Check out my favorite Róisín's video on YT!

When alone at home...

... girls play with their make-up! It's a well-known truth and this is precisely what I did today. I didn't celebrate Halloween by dressing up, so I guess I'm compensating.

Anyway, the look was loosely themed around Cleopatra-style make-up with some heavy eyeliner, bronzed cheeks and coralish lips. I think it could be made into a more wearable version with a bit less dramatic liner, or spiced up even more with darker lip colour.

The key here is to keep the eyeliner not too flicked at the outer corner and to work it inwards to give more of a cat eye effect. I used shimmery golden eyeshadow all over the lid and added some white frosty shade under the browbone and in the inner corners, but this would also look nice with different lid colors.

Products used:

Eyes:

CS Eye Poxy primer

Annabelle Vanilla Chilla all over the lid

Inglot no 111 on the lid

NYX Jumbo Eye pencil in Cottage Cheese to highlight

CS black gel eyeliner on bent eyeliner brush

MaxFactor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush mascara

NYX no 104 corner eyelashes

Cheeks:

CS G Bronzer/Blush

Inglot no 84 on the apples of the cheeks

Lips:

MAC Jest lipstick

Have a great evening, gals! xxx