7th October, 2013 
THE ART OF DENIM
As I mentioned in my last post, designer outlet brand McArthurGlen is hosting a super cool event from the 5th – 2oth October called The Art of Denim, where their UK stores are making denim shopping extra fun. They’ve got a DONNA IDA pop-up shop at the Cheshire Oaks Outlet, a share-zone which will screen live feeds of street-style shots uploaded by shoppers on Instagram using the #ArtOfDenim, an exclusive free denim tote bag which shoppers will be able to customise with their own designs, a bespoke monogramming and embroidery service for your denim pieces, and loads more cool things. To celebrate the campaign, they sent me a denim customisation kit and challenged me to create a completely unique piece for my own. Here’s how I got on!
          
jacket: c/o Guess | jumpsuit: c/o Diesel | shoes: Converse
What do you think? I love love love my studded jacket. With DIY and customisation, I always think simple works best (unless you’re a sewing whiz kid or something, which I am most definitely not). Though the McArthurGlen kit had so many fun things to use, I just went for a line of studs along the breast hem of the jacket, as I already have a few denim jackets and wanted one that had something a little extra. I’m super happy with it! I also love the Diesel jumpsuit they sent me, which is so perfect it doesn’t need a thing doing to it. Although yesterday was bizarrely warm for October, so I didn’t need anything under it when we took these snaps, it’d look great over a jumper and with black boots on cold days.
Do you customise your denim? Let me know in the comments! And don’t forget to check here for more info about how you can get involved with The Art of Denim, and click here if you fancy winning a voucher to spend at one of their stores! Have a lovely week sweeties.
P.S. Did you spy my book The Elites in a couple of these pictures? If you love reading, particularly anything sci-fi or young adult, then please do take a look at it! It’s only £5.24 for a paperback copy at the moment, or just £3.08 for the Kindle version. Your support means the world to me. I want to do this for a living, so each and every sale – or even if you just tell someone about it you think might be interested – is going towards making my dream a reality. Thank you! x
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3rd October, 2013 
BRIGHTEN UP THE GREY
        
jumper: c/o Boohoo | skirt: Hollister | boots: Jones | bag: c/o Modalu
What’s the best way to make yourself feel better when you wake to a world blanketed in grey clouds? Put on a cute little skirt of course and splash some colour into autumn! This skirt was a present from Callum when he went to New York a few months ago, as he knows I’m a huge fan of Hollister (I know, I know, but seriously – they have some gorgeous clothes at great prices!) and it’s too cute to just be a summer skirt. It’s the perfect antitdote to a grey, rainy day. I paired the look with my gorgeous new Modalu Pippa bag to add a touch of sophistication. Bags like this are the perfect every day staple – clean lines, practical shape, but still luxurious and special.
On a different note, I’ve teamed up with McArthurGlen outlets to promote their Art of Denim campaign. They’ve given me a super fun customisation challenge to feature on the blog, so that’ll be up later this week, but for now here’s what the campaign is all about. From 5th – 20th October, McArthurGlen’s six UK designer outlets will launch a creative schedule of denim activity. Such activity includes a DONNA IDA pop-up shop at the Cheshire Oaks Outlet, a share-zone which will screen live feeds of street-style shots uploaded by shoppers on Instagram using the #ArtOfDenim, an exclusive free denim tote bag which shoppers will be able to customise with their own designs, and a bespoke monogramming and embroidery service for your denim pieces.
To celebrate the launch of the campaign, I’ve got a £50 McArthurGlen voucher to giveaway to one of my Twitter followers. It’s super simple and easy to enter, so if you’re on Twitter, then do enter! You could spend it on some amazing brands at the outlet stores, including The Kooples, Reiss, Diesel, Guess, Levi’s and Jaeger. The perfect pre-Christmas treat! x
To win the voucher, just complete the following step:
– Tweet a picture of you in your favourite denim outfit/piece of clothing and mention the following in your tweet –
@McArthurGlenUK
@girlinthelens
The hashtag #ArtOfDenim
For example: “My favourite denim look: pic.twitter.com/xxxxx for the @girlinthelens @McArthurGlen #ArtOfDenim Twitter competition”
*
– I will pick my favourite denim outfit to win the competition
– Entries will be checked and accounts created solely for the purpose of entering giveaways will be disregarded
– The giveaway is open NOW and will end at 11:59PM GMT on Sunday 20th October 2013
– In any event my decision as the competition judge and promoter is final
*
Good luck sweeties!
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1st October, 2013  
WARNING: NUDITY
photos via Pinterest
Say hello to flawless skin, pink-blushed cheeks and lips, and carefree, easy brows! This make up look is definitely my go-to style. While I love a flick of eyeliner and bold lips from time to time, there’s something just so beautiful and effortless about a clean-looking, fresh face. I’ve been reading up on some beauty tips, and one of the ones I love best to achieve this look is just to curl your eyelashes. Super simple, super quick, but something I often forget to do! So now I just give my eyelashes a quick curl, brush some clear eyebrow gel through my brows to get them looking groomed but still natural, swirl bareMinerals foundation over my skin and thumb vaseline over my lips, and I’m good to go! Sometimes I add a touch of white or pink eyeshadow into the inner corners of my eyes too if I’m looking a little tired.
Are you also a fan of the nude make up look? Let me know what your tips are for looking fresh-faced and gorgeous! x
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*This is a brand collaboration post*
26th September, 2013 
ALL WORK ALL FUN
   
shirt: Zara | skirt: Cage City | shoes: Zara | bag: c/o Knomo
Who says workwear can’t be fun? Because I spend most of my office hours at home and in PJs and fluffy slippers, when I go to London for meetings I sometimes like to dress up in a more formal work style. It’s such a refreshing change! Slipping into a silk shirt and kitten heels really does make you feel more feminine and mature. Still, I’m not really one for looking too serious, so keeping the look playful is important to me. A leather miniskirt definitely straddles the line between formal and fun, and you can always opt for a knee-length, pencil-skirt number if your office isn’t too keen on minis! And when you’re out and about at meetings, carry your laptop in a cute case that still has a fashionable edge like this Knomo one.
Knomo bags are a recent discovery of mine, and wow have I fallen head over heels. Their bags are all about combining style with technology. Each of their pieces are designed to be useful and appropriate to suit the demands of modern technological life – secure padding for laptops and tablets, phone pouches in purses, super lightwear fabrics etc – as well as look amazing. It’s a blogger’s dream! Having recently crossed over to the dark side by trading in my old Acer laptop for one super sexy new MacBook Air, keeping my baby protected whilst I’m out and about is one of my biggest priorities, and Knomo’s bags are totally up to the job. Next on my wishlist is their gorgeous Oldbury bag, as my iPad is feeling rather left out 😉 x
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22nd September, 2013 
FEELING BLUE
    
coat: Sisley | shirt: Forever 21 | jeans: Warehouse | shoes: Converse | bag: c/o Brit-Stitch
We’ve got something a little different for you today on the blog! Because I love getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse into my favourite fashion brands, I sat down with the lovely team at Brit-Stitch to find out more about their company, and what the secret is to making such gorgeous bags. Some of you might recognise the bag in the photos above, because I have pastel pink and mint green versions (outfits here and here) and J’ADORE. Well, the lovely people at Brit-Stitch have just launched a super cool Make Your Own customisation feature, allowing you to create your perfect version of their Half Pint and Milkman shapes.
I was lucky enough to test it out, opting for this two-tone blue colour block Half Pint number. I wanted something cool and versatile for winter, something smart but with a bit of an edge. What do you think? It’s a lot harder than you might think to visualise how your design is going to look once it’s made, but luckily this bag is just what I had in mind. So now go have a little read on to find out more about the Make Your Own feature and what’s in store for Brit-Stitch in the future … x
Hello Brit-Stitch team! Your brand has such a wonderful story behind it. Can you give us a little more insight into Brit-Stich’s humble beginnings and how you’ve developed since?
When we say our bags have vintage heritage, we really mean it! It all began in 1967 when master craftsman Peter Jones made a leather cash bag for his local milkman, Toby. In 2012, Toby brought his bag back for a replacement strap. With 45 years of history in our hands, we decided it was time to give the vintage bag a modern makeover with the traditional skills from the past. Since then, we have been playing with bold colours and great designs to tap into the current market and become a modern staple for the next generation.
Has it been hard balancing your vintage inspirations with modern trends?
Initially yes, however with the input from our talented team from various backgrounds, we’ve developed products that are inspired from old designs but now appeal to the younger markets, with a focus on classic designs and current trends.
You’re a really tight-knit team, which is lovely to see. What is it like working this way, and does everyone have an input on what goes on at Brit-Stitch HQ?
Everyone in Brit-Stitch has an input into the designs, from the Leather Quality Control through every stage to Sales. Most of the employees have worked in the leather industry all their working lives which mean they bring a wealth of experience which we call upon when designing and making items.
What sort of things do you think about when you design and market a bag?
Quality and style are very important to us, we also look at a design and ask ‘Would we buy it and use it’! Our key aim is to create a timeless piece that can adapt to changing trends and be functional too.
How important are your British roots to you, and do you think you’ll ever expand the company overseas?
Being a British Manufacturer since 1967 our roots are firmly planted in the UK. We are continuously looking at new markets abroad but the manufacturing will always remain in the UK – our heritage is important to us.
You’ve just launched a Make Your Own feature, allowing buyers to customise their own bags. I think it’s super cool! What was the inspiration behind this?
We have always wanted to offer a service which allows the customer to design their own bags and a meeting with a very clever computer programming team allowed the idea to become a reality. Other Companies have offered similar services but to our knowledge there is no body offering anything like we do in the price range and within the short delivery times we offer. The future for the Make Your Own feature is very exciting with new features and products being launched soon – watch this space!
If you could be any Brit-Stitch bag, which would you be and why?
Now that’s an impossible choice! The great thing about our range is that there’s a bag for every occasion but if we had to choose, we’d be the Half Pint. Practical, perfectly sized and a classic!
Let us into a little Brit-Stitch secret …
The Managing Director had a daughter (Polly) born on the launch day!!
And lastly, what are your plans for the future?
We are continually working on new designs and colours but our focus at the moment is the development of the Make Your Own feature. We love the idea that everyone can have their own Brit Stitch to represent who they are. The future looks very exciting indeed!
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