Fiorelli Mia Grab Nautical Bag & For All My Eternity Natural 10 Self Tan #Fiorelli24Seven

If I had to say whether I was a shoes or handbag person I would hands down pick bags every time .I have bags for every occasion so when I was told about the Fiorelli 24Seven collection I was a little sceptical, could this bag take me from day to evening...?

I think the answer is a resounding yes, roomy for day but chic enough to dress up in the evening. I would use the long strap during the day and switch to the handles for the evening.

I was sent the Fiorelli Mia Grab Nautical bag and what a gorgeous bag it is. Summer for me is all about nautical themes so I adore this white, navy and tan combo. It goes with so many Summer outfits, complementing them nicely. Whilst I seem to live in black all winter, I love lighter and brighter colours for Summer.

The bag is also extremely roomy for fun day trips out featuring 3 zipped compartments and the central (and biggest) also having an internal zipped pocket. Just when you think that is all.. it also has a front pocket with an envelope flap magdot closure.  Another bonus is that it comes with short handles AND a strap, I like this detail as I like to have options!

Dressed up or down the Mia Grab Nautical is just perfect for Summer and definitely going to be a staple accessory for me. Smart, stylish and versatile, what is there not to love?

Fiorelli have teamed up with luxury self tanning brand 'For All My Eternity' to offer customers who purchase a #fiorelli24Seven bag either a shower gel or natural 10 self tan product from the range...

I have tried both products out and have had great results

The Tan Saving Shower Gel has been created to protect and prolong your tan, designed for use with self tanning products. It has a delicious grapefruit scent and feels nourishing and leaves skin feeling soft. Intense hydration is provided by Provitamin B5 with natural skin conditioners including certified organic Aloe Vera, natural vegetable-derived glycerine, and organic allantoin specially chosen to keep skin moisturised and nourished, leaving it feeling soft, smooth and supple.  

Free from parabens, sulfates, artificial colours and fragrances.

Natural 10 Self Tan Lotion

For All My Eternity say 

For All My Eternity’s Natural 10 is a luxury natural self tan lotion that delivers a totally natural-looking tan whilst caring for your skin. Loaded with the finest natural ingredients and extracts, including Aloe Vera, Cocoa Butter, Vitamins A & E, and infused with organic ingredients such as Rosehip Oil, Sunflower Oil and Sweet Almond Oil, Natural 10 works with your skin keeping it hydrated, young and supple, whilst giving you a long-lasting naturally bronzed glow.

My thoughts 

This self tan lotion is white and unscented. I applied it to dry skin with a mitt. It is hard to know where you have applied which is my only criticism as the tan goes on to develop into a beautifully natural golden glow after just one application. Two applications leaves my skin how it would look after I have spent a week in the sun. I should say however that I am not a sun worshipper so this lovely shade is perfect for me and really, really natural looking. I am impressed.

Easy to apply and pretty much foolproof, it dries almost immediately allowing you dress and there is no tackiness. Streak free and paraben free this is a brilliant self tan.

In the first picture I also shared some other items that are Summer beauty must haves ..

The Vichy Ideal Soleil Velvety BB Cream SPF50 - this is a great face base with a super high SPF that I will be using over the Summer to protect my skin and provide a nice, even skintone.

The perfume that I can always rely on come rain or shine is Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle - it is simply gorgeous and evokes great memories every time I wear it.

I love YSL's Rouge Volupte Lipstick in Nude Beige as it is a real 24/7 product - barely there for day it gives a hint of pink to the lips, by night it provides the perfect partner to a smoky eye and its buttery soft formula is a winner.

Estee Lauder's Little Black Primer only came out this year but already I can see just how much of staple this is... It can be worn 3 ways - alone for more definition to the eyes , under your favourite mascara for that extra wow factor or my fave way, over mascara to make it waterproof. I use this most days now.

And finally - Kiko Tri-Bal Soul Baked Blush in Mysterious Earth - This blusher can be swirled and used to provide colour and radiance to the skin or you can use the three shades individually for more impact to provide contour, blush and highlights to the face. Simple!

Well I hope you enjoyed my 24/7 journey with Fiorelli and For All My Eternity

Bettina x

Party Outfit - An Alternative To The Little Black Dress - Outfit Of The Day.

I was going to a Surprise Birthday Party and my first thoughts were to wear the usual LBD which I adore and feel comfortable in ..however I soon changed my mind having tried five of them and just not feeling it!

I had recently purchased a black blazer and thought it an ideal time to wear it, pulled out a statement t-shirt, popped on my skinny jeans and added some nude heels for some height, well being only teeny tiny I need all the help I can get and these have the added bonus of elongating my legs.

The look was completed with red lipstick and lashings of mascara.

Voila! I was party ready!

What To Wear To Brunch - Outfit Of The Day

Here is the outfit that I wore to Brunch at One Aldwych Hotel, it was just perfect for the occasion and even saw me through afternoon cocktails in The Lobby Bar.

I opted for black skinny jeans turned up so they were cropped to the ankle. A simple black t-shirt, a red cropped cardigan for a splash of colour and a statement necklace. I wore black patent ballet pumps with bow detail as I was spending the whole day out and heels would not have been comfortable.

Simple, smart & stylish.

Holiday Fashion - My Seven Day Wardrobe

I don't know about you but despite reading year after year in magazines how to master the capsule holiday wardrobe, packing smart etc I still haven't quite managed to get it right.

This year I vowed to pack light ..until I heard that we had a 20kg luggage allowance each! Then I thought well a girl needs choices. So in went upteen bottoms and far too many tops. In reality however I did go way over the top and the majority of my day options went unused, I spent most of my time in my tankini, sun hat and sarong as it was just too hot to wear much else.

Evenings however were a different story, I love an excuse to dress up in a cute Summer evening outfit and was really happy with my choices. I am not a fashionista and won't pretend to be, I am a 30 something mum who hopes she hasn't lost it just yet!

Day 1

Dress - Fat Face
Navy Sandals - New Look
Navy Bag - Oasis

Day 2 

Black & White Spotted Playsuit - Miso at USC
Sandals - River Island

Day 3 

Dress - Billie & Blossom at Dorothy Perkins 
Sandals - River Island 

Day 4 

Navy Stripe Dress - Dorothy Perkins 
Red Crop Cardigan - Marks & Spencer
Navy Sandals - New Look

The dress was a last min purchase the day before we flew and it is so, so nice. It clings to my curves and hides all the bad bits. A Summer fave!

Day 5

White Bow Top - Next
1950's Style Skirt - Bay (it's an oldie but I LOVE it)
Plimsolls - Primark 

I went all 1950's inspired for this adorable look. Funnily enough on the same night I wore this TOWIE had a Grease themed party. The 1950's is my favourite era for fashion, just gorgeous, girlie and cute.

Day 6 

Bright Floral Dress - BlueInc
Sandals - River Island 

So flattering on and almost neon, this was the perfect choice for my final full evening in Turkey.

Day 7

Navy Striped Bow Top - Next
Jean Shorts - Next
Red Crop Cardigan - Marks & Spencer
Plimsolls - Primark

This also doubled up as my travelling home outfit as we left the hotel at 9pm. Super comfy and I love the navy, red and white combination.

So there it is, a peek inside my suitcase - my seven days of holiday style. Hope you enjoyed it.

Bettina x

Valentine's Day Outfit - What I Wore

The weather was hideous, cold, wet and windy so I think my Valentine's Day outfit was pretty appropriate under the circumstances!

My whole outfit revolved around this Navy Heart Motif Jumper from Wallis that I simply could not wait to wear.  I love it, it has 3/4 length sleeves, some of the hearts are made with sequins and the back has a ribbon tie. So pretty. Hearts and romance :)

I don't normally do jumpers but this was so flattering I couldn't resist.

I paired it with navy skinny jeans and nude heels.

Moccis Warm Heart Slippers

My Moccis slippers have been indispensable this winter in keeping my feet nice and cosy but when I spotted these on the web site I fell in love with them, a rather Valentine appropriate print for Spring!

The style is called Warm Heart and cost £59.97 and they look super cute in the kids sizes as well costing £34.97.

Every Woman Needs A Little Black Dress

When it comes to party outfits I think that if you only buy one thing you should make it a little black dress... The one I am wearing above was I admit an impulse purchase (I went into the shop looking for a cardigan!). I bought it on the proviso that if I changed my mind and wanted to buy it when I next went shopping it would not be there, like so many things before.

This fits so many of my perfect dress criteria, it is black, it is not too revealing and it gives an amazing shape to my hourglass figure while hiding a multitude of sins! The black lace fabric is stunning and although I am only 4ft 11 I can get away with this non petite sized dress which comes just over my knees. Extremely flattering, comfortable and I feel so good wearing it. What more can a girl ask for ??

Teamed with nude heels which elongates the appearance of my legs.

Dress pictured is from Monsoon's Fusion Collection

Keeping Warm This Winter With Moccis Slippers

These gorgeous slippers arrived just in time for the Winter cold snap. With the weather turning decidedly chilly and heating bills climbing keeping feet warm is a priority. I hate my feet being cold and I find that if the floor is too cold that I end up having cramps and spasms in my toes so to be snuggly is to be happy.

I have been wearing these handmade MOCCIS Moccasins Leather Slippers in Rock'N'Roll and have enjoyed warm, cosy toes. They are soft, comfortable and the leather soles mean that on my wooden/laminate flooring I don't slip and they feel sturdy on the carpets too. Soft and flexible I find them really comfortable to wear and move in and not at all restrictive. The double stitched ankles ensure they stay on my feet.

I chose the black with white stars version but there is a wide choice of prints and some exceptionally fun looking ones. Rita Ora instagrammed a pic of her wearing the penguin ones! Got to say I am tempted by some more fun prints now :)

MOCCIS Slippers are available for adults, junior and babies... The ones pictured are the adult version and cost £59.97.

Visit www.moccis.co.uk for more details

*PR Sample

Are Jelly Shoes Set For A Fashion Return?

The humble Jelly Shoe, I spent many a happy childhood Summer on the beach in my Jelly Shoes. I remember having pretty opaque red ones, white ones and black, however once I got to a certain age I consigned them to the history bin.. I also seem to remember a time when they featured a ghastly chunky, clunky heel. I much preferred the flat version.

I was rather surprised when my 26yr old highly fashionable and trendy sister bought this pair of clear jellies from New Look for £10 this Summer and then declared them the best £10 ever spent!

The Pros 

Comfortable
Practical
Airy and cool
Sensible
Go with everything
Easy to clean, can go into the water wearing them
Ideal for beach and pool - rinse out sand in seconds.
Fab on pebbly beaches - hello Brighton
Great for sight seeing trips - My sister walked up Mount Versuvius Volcano and whilst it was difficult it would have been so much harder in flip flops.

The Cons

They are Jelly Shoes

So what do you think? Would you wear them or are they being left firmly in your childhood.

I have to say I cannot for the life of me wear flip flops so I am very tempted to purchase a pair. So it is a big thumbs up from me!

Rome Wedding - Coast Lana Jersey Dress & Lyla Maxi Dresses

As a wedding guest I automatically think of taking a look at the dresses in Coast (well actually I love looking in store and online pretty much all the time, on this occasion however I had a gift voucher so what better excuse to spend it on. This wedding invitation was to the romantic City of Rome in Italy. So whatever I chose had to not only be suitable for the event but also deal with the July heat of 34/35 degrees and keep me cool.

The Lana Jersey Dress

I tried many dresses on and whilst they were extremely pretty on the hanger I had to face facts they were not right for me, eventually I found this Lana Jersey Dress and knew it was the one. This gorgeous dress, which was a stunning and vibrant shade of blue, fitted and flattered my curvy hourglass figure perfectly. Truly comfortable to wear, I teamed this dress with nude heels

Lyla Maxi Dress

My sister also visited Coast for her dress, her figure is slender and athletic (lucky lady!) and she opted for this beautiful Coral dress which complemented the outdoor wedding with its greenery and splendour to really stand out in the photographs that were taken.

A family shot :-) my mum is wearing Coast's Lori Lee Maxi Dress

On a final note...there were well over 200 guests and not one of us was wearing the same outfit!

Front Bow Espadrille Summer Wedge Shoes From Marks & Spencer

BeautySwot is all about things of beauty and over the weekend whilst browsing in the shops I came across these super cute wedge shoes from M&S.

Gorgeous patent nude wedge shoes with a front bow. I picked these up in a Size 3. They are really comfortable and not too high to walk in. Ideal for Summer and they make a change from my usual black shoes!

Marks and Spencer Front Bow Espadrille Wedge Shoes cost £19.50 and are available in sizes 3-8 including half sizes.

Spring Fashion 2013 - Warehouse and River Island

With the British weather being cold, abysmal and dreary for so long I have felt that my clothing choices have been so limited and left me stuck in a rut.  It was definitely time to inject some new life into my wardrobe and with the shops awash with Spring Fashion I could think of no better time to head to the shops and purchase a few key pieces.

Today I could not resist these gorgeous pieces from Warehouse

Accessory - A new handbag in camel shade - two tone faux leather/faux suede with gold detailing. Nice and spacious inside, it will fit everything I need it to.

I think this would look fab teamed with red lippie or nude lips and smoky eyes.

Butterfly Floral Print Cardigan  - I love this lightweight knit cardigan, I am going to wear it with a white T shirt and blue jeans. This is going to look great with a soft pink lipstick or deep petal pink. I can just see it now...

And finally I am SO excited about my new Wedge High Tops from River Island

These black contrast wedges are super comfortable, give me height (9cm heel) and bang on trend! Worn with skinny jeans in any shade, these are my key purchase this season.

Cannot wait to wear them, Spring is looking up :-)

GUESS Eyewear Spring / Summer 2013 Collection

GUESS has long been one of my favourite fashion brands. Claudia Schiffer brought the brand to my attention way back in the early 90's when she starred in those stunning black and white ad campaigns making me a loyal customer ever since. I love the stores, the clothing (which is a perfect mix of cool and glitz) and their advertising campaigns with no trip to America complete without a spending spree in one of their shops.

What really gets me excited however are their fabulous accessories - the watches, the bags, purses, belts and of course sunglasses. Over the years I have had them all...

The Eyewear for this Spring/Summer is no exception. Below I have selected my favourites from the collection but I do suggest a visit to the stores as there is so much more to choose from for both men and women and in a wide selection of styles to suit all face shapes.

£70 - Available in Shiny Gold Metal with Tortoise Tips/Brown Gradient Lens or  Shiny Gunmetal Metal with Black Tips/Grey Lens (pictured)

£65 Butterfly Shape Frames. 

Available in

Black/Grey Gradient Lens 
Pearl/Brown to Rose Gradient Lens (pictured)
Purple/Purple Gradient Lens 
Tortoise/Brown Gradient Lens

£90 - Available in Black/Grey Gradient Lens or Tortoise/Brown Gradient Lens (pictured)

£95 - Petite Rectangular Frame - Available in Black/Grey Gradient Lens (pictured), Tortoise/Brown Gradient Lens and Blush/Brown Gradient Lens (which are just gorgeous, I NEED these!)

Available from GUESS stores in the UK

Red Lips and a Candy Cane Jumper - My Christmas Day Look

This year I rocked the Christmas Jumper look with this rather fabulous black with Candy Cane design jumper from New Look. On the back it was red and white striped. I did toy with the idea of a red jumper bearing Rudolph with girlie lashes but decided that this was more me. I teamed it with black skinny jeans and wedge ankle boots for a rather relaxed Christmas Look, I usually dress up in a sparkly dress but I must admit this was quite fun!

I actually have my younger sister (pictured above with me) to thank for this, it was her that convinced me I NEEDED a Christmas Jumper despite my protestations :-)

My Make Up -

Red Lipstick - Revlon Fire and Ice
Foundation - YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat Foundation
Primer - New CID Cosmetics I-Prime Foundation Primer
Blusher - New York Color - Color Wheel Mosaic Powder Peach Glow
Contour Blush - Smashbox Girls On Film Blush Rush - Silhouette
Mascara - Benefit They're Real Mascara
Eyeliner - Maybelline EyeStudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner - Intense Black

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas Day x

Outfit Of The Day - The Perfect Dress For Afternoon Tea

I often get asked 'what should I wear for afternoon tea?' so I thought I would share with you what I recently wore when I went for afternoon tea at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel.

I rarely wear casual/smart dresses as my hourglass figure seems to suit far more structured dresses and I was on the look out for a dress that was easy to wear but still dressy enough for nice occasions (and have enough room to breathe having eaten ;-)) when I came across this pretty dress in Wallis

The Wallis website describes it as - A stunning black jersey dress with a vibrant all over flower print and foiling detail. Featuring 3/4 length sleeves, and a side tie detail creating a gorgeous silhouette. Perfect for day to evening wear.

I am inclined to agree - the perfect dress to take you from day to evening, this gives my figure a wonderful shape, hugging in all the right places and hiding everything that needs to stay hidden! It also features a lovely Oriental peacock design that is bang on trend this season

What do you think?

Wallis Petite Flower Print Jersey Dress £38.

New Look Fashion Fab Shoes

New Look has been fantastic this season for affordable and up to the minute fashionable shoes.

I spotted these absolutely gorgeous Cream and Black Lace Ankle Boots and fell instantly in love with them and knew they just had to be mine. Perfect for parties and actually surprisingly super comfortable.

Bows, lace, heels what's not to love :-)

I seem to have a thing for shoe boots this Autumn/Winter and earlier in the season I purchased these black suede effect lace up ankle boots with a wedge heel. Suitable for every day but smart enough to dress up for evenings.

Holiday Luggage - Spotting Your Suitcase On The Carousel!

I will admit it, I was until very recently one of those people that had to have matchy matchy holiday luggage and preferably in black,.but how many times had I stood at the luggage carousel with my husband and strained our necks wondering if the next black case out was ours ... The majority of cases coming round are either black or silver and I can't tell you how often I watched people pick up cases that were not theirs only to put them back on the carousel!

Well this holiday my husband politely suggested that I may want to buy another case for myself (we have been through a few) as he was happily going to fill the large one we had.. the smallest was going to our 4yr old which left me without a case.

Case shopping is not altogether that glamorous unless you are purchasing those gorgeous matching Louis Vuitton luggage sets but let's face it, they don't get handled with care so why shell out too much.

Out we went to find a medium sized case and yes in my mind I fancied a black one with four wheels, the ones that can be pushed in any direction and spin round.

I remember the days when my parents would have to lug our heavy suitcases about and we would watch in envy as the smart airline crew would pull along theirs on wheels, what a great idea we thought. Just as we upgraded ours to those ones with extending handles and two wheels we spot Japanese tourists with cases with 4 wheels in Hawaii and so the upgrades continue.

I digress, I spotted this bright pink and blue, Hawaiian print case with four wheels and something just told me to buy it. I added the blue Bombay Duck luggage tag with the letter B and off I went.

I am not lying when I say it makes people smile when it comes round the carousel, they giggle and point, say it is such a great idea and the men smile or perhaps pity my husband ha ha!

I have the last laugh though when mine is so distinctive and easy to spot.

I love it :-)

My 'Lust Have' Christmas Wish List 2011

On my 'lust have' Christmas list this year I have included

An evening bag - although I cannot decide between these two...

The Glitzie Bow Clutch Bag from Ted Baker - £55

Glitter Clutch in Pewter from Dune - £60

A bottle of perfume

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle from £45


Eye shadow but not just any eye shadow

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eye Shadow in Epatant £22.50 - a beautiful silver/green that I swatched here

Something for my lips

Laura Mercier Nude Lip Glace in Champagne £18.50

And finally some makeup brushes 

EcoTools Bamboo 6 Piece Eye Brush Set - £14.99


These may not be the most expensive brushes but I was really pleased with my EcoTools blusher brush so I am hoping that these are just as good!

Look out for my Christmas Gift Guides coming very soon

The Only Way Is... BeautySwot!

Popping into Loughton this afternoon for a quick coffee, there was a noticeable whiff of excitement in the air. As I was sat sipping my Latte in Costa, I couldn't help but notice all the people milling around the shop opposite. What could possibly be causing this commotion?

The shop in question is called "Bella Sorella", which is owned by a certain Lydia Rose Bright from a certain BAFTA winning programme called "The Only Way Is Essex".

Those of you who follow me on Twitter will know that I am an avid fan of this show, so I was intrigued to see what all the fuss was about and decided to pay Bella Sorella a visit.

Inside, I found a fairly substantial selection of vintage style clothing and a delectable choice of cup cakes - which I managed to resist. (Definitely wise to go after my coffee!). There was also a quaint Christmas decoration range. I particularly liked the wooden "train set" style advent calendars - very nice and reasonably priced. 

All of this is wonderful, but does it really explain why so many people were there? No - the real reason was the presence of not one, but two TOWIE stars in-store today!

Lydia Bright was working hard behind the till and Lauren Goodger was also there making a special guest appearance, bringing her "Lauren's Way" fake tan collection.

Both girls are absolutely stunning in real life. And I was particularly struck by how beautiful and sweet Lauren is.

Here are a few photos of my visit....

Watching the crowd gathering outside "Bella Sorella"

Me with Lauren Goodger

Me with Lydia Rose Bright

I didn't manage to purchase anything on this occasion as it was too busy, but I fully intend to pop back during the week when it is quieter.

Along with other TOWIE star Jessica Wright's "With Love Jessica x" lingerie shop and the celebrity haunt "Nu Bar" at the other end of the High Street, Loughton certainly is the place to hang out!

How To Look Taller - The Magic Of Nude Shoes

The post where I appear taller!

After searching for what seemed like a lifetime and then having to wait for the right shoes to come back into stock, I finally posses a pair of nude coloured shoes. They have just the right amount of heel to give me some actual height and are a good width so they do not crush the toes together.

They got their first outing on Sunday night and I have to say I love them.

You may remember this black Coast Dress (Nikita) from a previous post where I teamed it with purple accessories for a wedding. The post can be found by clicking here . On that occasion I wore ankle strap purple shoes, which are one of my favourite pairs as they are relatively low heeled and quite comfortable.

However, I think that this combination of the black dress and nude heels really work. I feel that this elongates my body and legs and creates the illusion of me appearing taller than I actually am. This is classy and elegant, and very grown up!

I love my ankle strap shoes but when I compare them to this photo I can see how they are making me look shorter, my legs appear to finish at my ankles and this is just not as flattering as a court style/stiletto shoe can be.

Let's face it at just 4ft 11 I need all the help I can get to look taller :-)

What do you think?