the kingdom lights

Fruit print peplum top, c/o Boohoo; Pale yellow silk shirt, c/o Sacoor Brothers; Black skirt, Zara; Navy blue (very battered) moccasins, Topshop.

I rescued this outfit from the archives and thought I'd finally blog it today: don't you hate it when your file names are crazy button mashes of letters and you can't find a thing? Roll on MacBook Pro day! I wore this outfit to work the other week and despite it looking quite cute and bright, it was horrendously uncomfortable to pair a high-waisted skirt, with a sewn-in belt, and a peplum top with a zipped back. Cue several not-so-subtle outfit adjustments throughout the day. Love the burst of crazy print against a demure silk shirt and skirt though!

I can't believe how quickly this year is flying past, under four short months until Christmas! Yep, I went there(!) I finally booked graduation last week and despite it essentially bankrupting me, I'm kinda excited to go back to Southampton and have a nose around, throw my mortarboard in the air and pretend to be a Hogswarts gal for a day. The hunt for my perfect graduation dress and shoes begins!

Finally, thank you all for your super kind words about Aesthetic Magazine. I'll be starting work on Issue Three very soon, so if you'd like to contribute or sponsor the magazine, please see the magazine blog for more details. Alternatively, I'm always looking for bloggers for our magazine blog too, so just drop me an email if interested. ♥

GHD air hairdryer and the swinging sixties

As part of an ongoing campaign, I was kindly invited by Best British Bloggers to recreate a Sixties' hairstyle of my choice, with a weapon of choice. I opted for the Air hairdryer from GHD - their latest hairdryer release - and set about attempting to coiffure my unruly mane to something that Audrey Hepburn would be envious of.

GHD Air Hairdryer, c/o Best British Bloggers.

First things first, the Air hairdryer is nothing short of a miracle. I've long stayed away from blowdrying my hair as I tend to go through phases where I can't be pulled away from my Enrapture Totem Styler or Babyliss curler, and prefer not to apply too much heat to my hair. However, this hairdryer works really quickly and efficiently in drying all of my long, thick hair in no time at all, without it feeling fried. There are a multiplicity of heat settings, as well as interchangable styling nozzles, of which I simply use the standard option, on the whole.

Paired with one of my old ceramic plated hairbrushes, I simply blowdry my hair, curling the ends in with the brush for a bouncy 'Swinging Sixties' feel, and add a touch of hairspray to set the shine and bounce. To achieve my faux, messy beehive, I finger-comb my hair to an appropriate beehive silhouette, pin with invisible hair grips and tousle/mess the ends to make it feel more 'me'. I recently - in a moment of madness - trimmed a shorter fringe to frame my face, so I also tend to pull a few tendrils out around my face and blowdry or curl to flatter the overall look, et voila. Faux Audrey Hepburn, minus the mean reds (mostly). ♥

#holidayhop: Announcing My Winners

#holidayhop Competition with New Look.

It's been a busy week already for me, not least because I spent a large portion of it judging and shortlisting my winners with the lovely New Look team for the #holidayhop competition I ran in collaboration with New Look! Thank you to everyone who got involved - I really enjoyed reading everyone's entries and it was impossible to narrow it down to a handful of finalists, and I've discovered some amazing reads along the way too.

To see the winner and runner-ups, please see below the cut.

like a hundred postcards

Grey marl tee, Urban Outfitters; Blue waterfall skirt, c/o Glamorous; Black 'Aggie' boots, ASOS; Necklace, Swarovski.

With September just around the corner, it's finally justifiable to be putting my standard autumnal slant on pieces that I loved in the summer. Wearing this floaty electric blue skirt today, and offsetting it with that grey marl tee which, to my horror, has endured one too many washes. It does a perfect job of balancing out that summery feel that this skirt always seems to bring to an outfit. I don't know how I'll feel about dipped hems in a month, so I might as well get as many wears out of this outfit as I can! Of course no outfit on this blog would be complete without a random mix of jewellery thrown on: this time round I've opted for my Swarovski cord necklace and a stack of skinny white gold bracelets from various milestone birthdays, but more on that later.

Today, I've mostly been panicking about LFW outfits and plans (I have none for either of those mentioned...) and flitting shipments of Aesthetic magazine from my little home office to the Post Office. Heavy duty work, I'm telling you! I'm considering picking this beautiful dress up for Fashion Week and have already envisioned at least two dream outfits that I can create with it. ♥

stars that aren't there anymore

Navy 'Rona' sheer blouse, c/o Lovestruck; Olive green shorts, Forever 21; Merlot smoking shoes, Topshop; Black messenger bag, Zara; Peace friendship bracelet, c/o Mulberry; Lipstick, Lancome Rouge In Love in Midnight Rose.

Another week, another almost predictable uniform of colours... I'm absolutely single-handedly bringing 'back' olive green/navy blue/black worn together, although I'm unsure if that was ever a thing. The sheer navy shirt is my shirt of dreams, to say the least. A little lace structured collar, lace button placket and volumes of chiffony goodness are right up my street - rest assured, you'll never hear me use that phrase in real life. When walking to and from work, it even billows like a set of robes! Oh Lovestruck, you have me, erm, lovestruck.

My Zara bag is reaching that perfectly worn in stage, and I'm terrified of it getting too worn down. Nothing like the British high street to provide a bag that has a use by date! I'm looking for something more structured and metallic(?) for the AW12, something a little Proenza Schouler PS11-esque, without the hefty price tag! Finally, can we all appreciate how pretty the Topshop Merlot smoking shoes are? So pretty and dainty in comparison to the Vectras, that I truly hated. (Soz, blogosphere!) Anyway, enough of harping on about things-I-didn't-need-to-buy, off to make my heart stop with B2ST video clips. ♥

• • WOMEN'S UGG BOOTS
  • MEN'S UGG BOOTS
  • MEN'S SLIPPERS
  • ACCESSORIES
  • ABOUT UGG

• WOMEN'S UGG BOOTS

  UGG® sheepskin boots are a must-have in any woman's wardrobe. Once you try them on, you won't want to take them off. Tall or short, there's a pair for you.

• MEN'S UGG BOOTS

  Get your hands on a pair of men's boots from UGG® for men - the hottest look for men this winter. Using only the finest materials, they give you a comfort that is like nothing else.

• MEN'S SLIPPERS

  Relax in style with a luxurious pair of men's sheepskin slippers from UGG®. With the legendary warmth and feel of UGG, you wear them in and out of the house.

• ACCESSORIES

  Slip on the luxurious feel of UGG® leather gloves this winter. With its famous sheepskin lining, it's the only way to keep your hands toasty and stylish.

• ABOUT UGG®

  Make sure your UGG® Boots are genuine. Be wary of any websites selling discount UGG® boots. Visit the official UGG® Australia website for authentic UGG products.

when i miss you

Polka dot and pleat dress, c/o Ever Ours; Mint green low wedge peeptoes, Urban Outfitters; Moustache ring, Ever Ours; Nails, Chanel Pearl Drop.

When all else fails, I can always rely on soft pleated chiffon and polka dots to lighten up spirits. I'm absolutely loving this Ever Ours dress at the moment, I mean, when aren't I?! Since the lovely Kim sent it over last week (perhaps the week before!) I've worn it four or five times, enough times for my Mama to notice and realise that I'm probably regressing back to my childhood years. I wore this ensemble for a hot burger date with the dream team at the weekend, but have been pairing it with all manner of other floaty, girly pieces in my wardrobe too. Low wedge peeptoes, I can't believe it's nearly time to put you away for another season...

Today, Aesthetic Magazine is scheduled to land at House Daisy! As you read this, I'll be at work, but fingers crossed that it does arrive, and I'll be spending my evening packing up orders to send to my readers(!!) I'm still completely overwhelmed that people have written me such heartwarming emails and messages: promise that issue three will be even better, although that'll be a while yet. I'd just like to extend a huge thank you from Philippa and I for your interest in The Blogland Edition. As for the rest of my bank holiday weekend, I fully intend to spend my mornings cosied up in fresh bedsheets, my afternoons viewing various Korean dramas, and my evenings freshening up my writing skillzz. Perfect. ♥

FashionistA Custom Palettes

FashionistA Custom Palette, £5; FashionistA Bronzer and Blush Pans, £4 each; StyleBrows Kit, £7. Available in selected Superdrug stores. Products c/o FashionistA.

I don't think I'm alone when I say that there's something really satisfying about creating your own make-up palette, filling up the compact squares with handpicked shades. When my FashionistA custom palette landed on my doorstep early last week, I practically bounded upstairs, whipped my camera out and set to work with putting my new palette together. Nope, not ashamed at all.

FashionistA's new releases include matte and merged bronzers, merged blushes, a StyleBrows kit (I'm dying to try mine!) and a mascara. The bronzer and blush pans are what excited me the most, though, so I thought I'd share a few photographs and thoughts on the new collection. Firstly, at £5 for a standard palette in a pretty red shade, this is a great option for those who are wary about splurging too much. Personally speaking, my MAC palette is still half empty: I can't quite bear to part ways with so much cash!

By far, my favourite in my little red palette is the merged London blush: a beautiful rose/peach shade with a radiant, slightly shimmery finish. I personally don't mind a little sparkle to my look, as someone who really doesn't wear lots of make-up. A smidge of BB cream, mascara and gel liner, and a flush to the cheeks is all I need for a day when my face needs something more, and this blush easily fits into my routine. Soft to the touch and finely milled, I couldn't recommend this shade more! Reminds me of my Nars Orgasm, without the super pigmentation or gold undertone.

While the Dubai merged bronzer looks, quite frankly, terrifying as a bronzing product, I've actually been reaching for this as an eye colour. It is a beautiful coppery bronze with some champagney tones that compliments my light olive skintone and brown eyes perfectly - I wear this all over the lid, with a little brought down on my lower lashline to wake my eyes up. I'm yet to try it as a bronzer though! The bronzers and blushes retail at a very reasonable £4 each.

Finally, I'm yet to use my StyleBrows kit *slaps wrist*. Amongst the hoards of products that I've unknowingly hoarded, I've managed to cut one less product from my, er, face. My natural brows are back to their natural groomed state and I've been embracing non-filled in brows, as weird as it felt when I first stopped. I'll update you with my thoughts on this soon though, at £7, it is much easier on the pursestrings to repurchase than the HD Brows set that I was once so reliant on. ♥

Please vote for Daisybutter at the Cosmo Blog Awards 2012? I'm nominated in the Established Fashion Blog category, and it would mean the world for my blog to be recognised for such an amazing achievement.

The AW12 Fashion Edit

Photographs by Michelle Chai.

Passing the midway mark of August inevitably means shorter days - I can't be the only one mildly horrified by it being dark by 9pm last night? - as well as longer Sunday mornings spent in bed flicking through my magazines and reading materials of choice.

Dressing for the autumn is arguably one of my favourite things about the onset of the cooler months, and I'm more than ready to give up my very-empty 'summer wardrobe' in place of layers, textures, faux fur, bordeaux red hues and cosy, structured boots. And snowberry white, as dubbed by British Vogue. But mostly, I can't wait to fill up my outerwear wardrobe (yes, I have one of those!) with another plethora of winter coat and scarf goodness.











Currently trying to cut back on daily trips to the supermarket and popping that £1.57 of chocolate-bar-spending towards my AW12 collection fund. Printed dark chiffons, leather accents and textures - be mine. I know that I, for one, need those leather and suede Topshop boots and that Monki printed shirt ASAP. ♥

don't forget about me

Realitee petrol blue zebra vest; Zara black skirt; Topshop 'Merlot' mini stud slippers; Ever Ours collar necklace; Mulberry peace friendship bracelet.

I think I can justify using 'spent the weekend being too hot, bothered, busy and partly-undressed' as an excuse for a blog-less weekend, right? It was so nice to be greeted with an Indian summer as I left the office on Friday evening, and I ended up just making the most of my weekend away from my laptop for once. That, paired with my nearly-had-it laptop and some awful Internet, has meant I'm back with some new inspiration and creativity. Cough cough. Get ready for a long post...

I wore this to work yesterday, knowing that I'd be in an office for the majority of my day, and rushing on and off trains and tubes for the other part. The vest is something I bought years ago from the Realitee concession at Topshop. I'm not sure if they even exist anymore, but I know I still love it. The muted petrol blue colour is one of my favourites ever, and paired with copper studs, I refuse to let it leave my wardrobe. (Just like all of my other 'favourites' that are being held hostage.) Wore it untucked over my Zara skirt for a dressed down look and threw on my new Topshop Merlot velvet smoking slippers(!!)

I go through these weird phases with my clothes to the point where people like Aisling can choose outfits for me from a mile away. A pair of really good velvet smoking slippers had been on my mind for a good week before I allowed myself to browse Topshop online and realised I needed them immediately. They're no Yves Saint Laurent, but they'll do!

Just a little heads-up that my #holidayhop competition with New Look ends on Friday. To enter, all you have to do is style five summer looks to be in with a chance of winning up to £400 of vouchers. I'm loving reading everyone's entries, so please do enter if you have some spare time and a gap in your wardrobe. Finally, another obligatory plea for some extra Cosmo Blog Awards votes? I'm nominated in the Established Fashion Blog category, and I'd love to see my blog's name up in lights! ♥

through the constellation

Merlot mini stud slippers, £28, Topshop.

So after approximately four days of hefty sifting through high street brands online, Topshop did me proud once more. Meet the latest addition to my shoe collection: I can't wait to wear these with chiffons and purples and baroque/paisley prints. Full post coming tomorrow - tonight is dedicated to chicken and broccoli pesto pasta and a dose of so-bad-it's-good TV. ♥

Current Haircare

I have something of a love/hate relationship with my hair. My friends, as well as some long time readers of my blog, will know that I'm a minimal effort kinda girl when it comes to hair: I simply don't know how to manage, and nor do I have the patience to tame, it into anything more than it falls naturally.

Having said that, I've recently discovered my perfect set of haircare and thought I'd 'share my thoughts' seeing as I always seem to get comments about this mane that lives atop my head. I should probably also note here that my hair is typically normal/dry, is naturally straight (unless I sleep with it damp, which is a no-no in my books) and is also quite thick. Basically, I have a lot of it at the moment.

Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo, 300ml / £4.49, Boots/Superdrug.

My current shampoo of choice, as it has been since November, is the Aussie Miracle Moist shampoo. Pricey? A little. Worth it? Yes. I absolutely love this shampoo and couldn't see myself going without it any more, that's how much I like it. It smells lovely and sweet without being overpowering and injects my hair with moisture to the point that I probably don't need to condition. Apparently it contains Macadamia nut oil which is pretty good.

Sensai Intensive Hair Mask, £30, Selfridges.

For a weekly or twice-weekly pamper, I like to treat my tresses to the Sensai Intensive Hair Mask. I found this hidden beneath heaps of products in my InStyle intern's leaving bag and instantly tried it out. It leaves my hair soft to the touch and rather glossy too! I'd definitely recommend this as a pampering product - it isn't too heavy yet smells really rich and luxurious, if you know what I mean?

Argania Hair Oil, 100ml / £14.99, Boots.com.

Finally, I've been testing out the Argania Hair Oil recently. An obvious rival of the blogger infamous Moroccan Oil, this is scented so heavily to the point that it is sickly sweet, and my friends ask if I've rolled around in sweets. So er, yeah. I use this very sparingly when the ends of my hair need extra moisture, or if it is particularly blustery outside. Gemma has written a great post offering advice about hair oils, which I'd recommend reading before hopping out and spending a lot of money on empty promises.

I do still use my Neal & Wolf shine spray and volume boost serum, for anyone who was wondering. Both have managed to last me a year, and I'll be repurchasing both of those when they finally run out. You can find my previous reviews of them here and here. ♥