Autumnal Shades: Lips
Following on from my last post about my favourite nail polish shades for this season, I had to share my favourite lip colours because I just live for dark lips. I'm all about nude, red or dark lips depending on the season and my mood. Not a fan of any kind of pinks. And I'm not a big make-up girl in general really. Well, some would disagree judging on my ever-growing collection, but try as I might I'm just not very good at doing make-up? The only way to make my make-up looks striking is through lip colour - it's the easiest and most statement. Plus, what is Autumn without a berry lip?
Side note: I'm trying to go cruelty free with all my makeup, skincare, etc., so a lot of my old favourites have been left out. Let me know any cruelty free brands you recommend!
You're probably sick of every blogger ever talking about this lipstick but it's so good! It's a nice creamy consistency even though it's a matte finish and it's a nice build able coverage too if you don't want the full effect. Perfect berry shade.
Not exactly a berry lipstick, but still a firm favourite and perfect for autumn. The lingerie range in general is a favourite of mine, the consistency and lasting power insanely good for the price! This shade is a dark brown with red undertones and the perfect shade to bridge the gap to a subtle berry tone if you prefer nudes.
I got a couple of the melted liquid lipsticks in the summer, but this is the first I've got in the new packaging with a wand instead of the usual applicator. I love the formula, the lasting power is great and look how dark it is! That pigmentation, though. Obsessed.
Any cruelty-free berry lip recommendations?
Loves. Emma.
Autumnal Shades: Nails
So it's been forever since I did a nail update, or any kind of beauty post, and I thought it was about time to change that. Autumn is not only my favourite season for fashion (and practically, everything), but for beauty too - any excuse for a dark lip and nail combo is good for me. I thought I'd split this into two post: my favourite nail polish shades for the season followed my lip shades - be prepared for lots of berry tones.
Barry M and Nails Inc are without a doubt two of my favourite nail polish brands, contended only really by WAH (but I don't have any dark autumnal shades from them yet). I know every blogger raves about Essie, but I've never found them to be any good for me. Maybe I've picked bad ones, but they always seem to chip and flake off from the first day? So I've got a selection of my top 5 here, a mix of both brands, both gel and normal finish. I was initially gonna pick my favourite berry toned polishes, but then I realised they were all so similar and why not mix it up a little.
This comes up almost black on camera, and it is the darkest of these shades. It's basically black with purple undertones and perfect for a vampy look.
I want to say this is a bright purple? It's not exactly luminous though, is it? Quite a strong, blue-toned purple.
The two biggest colours for Autumn are maroon and khaki, aren't they? This khaki shade is not a dirty khaki like they often can be, maybe a little more turquoise toned. And the gel effect from Barry M is the best.
Another favourite seasonal shade is mustard - it's kind of a love it or hate it and I definitely love it. It's another gel finish and such a different, statement choice.
I think this is my favourite berry shade, and I have quite a selection! It's bright enough without being bright, and has quite pink undertones to the purple.
What are your nail polishes of choice for Autumn?
Loves. Emma.
Chic & Sophisticated with sammydress
If you didn't catch my last post, it was the first of two in collaboration with sammydress. Although this outfit is much less 'me' than the last, I think I much prefer it? It's a complete contrast to the last outfit and that's what I liked so much about this collaboration. Also, you'll probably note the change in hair colour. I mean, it's Autumn! I had to go darker! I get bored with hair colours so it is only semi-permanent.
Frills and flared sleeves and the likes are everywhere this season and I'm a massive fan. I have so many different blouses/tops/jumpers with flared sleeves it is *quite* ridiculous. This blouse* is a bit different to any I own though, with the frills down the front and the cut-out/tie-up neckline. PSA the neckline can make it quite revealing depending on how you tie it and how the frills fall! It's great quality though and fits perfectly, but I did have to order this in an XL again which is beyond crazy.
I actually saw a pinafore very similar to this one when I was shopping a few weeks back and I was drawn to it, but didn't think it would suit me so I left it. Then I saw this one* and just thought, what the hell, basically! It's so nice and fitted, like often when I buy high waisted anything it's baggy on the waist in order to fit my hips, but this actually fits like a dream tbh. And it's so tailored and smart, but denim and casual at the same time, honestly can you tell how happy I am with this? It was one of those annoying pieces you order online and when it arrives the button holes aren't cut, so I had to cut them in, and the straps were excessively long, but there's not much that I can complain about with this really. Other than it being an XL again, but that seems to be the theme unfortunately.
So what we've learnt here is if you like something but don't think it will suit you, try it on anyway because you just might be surprised in the best way!
Statement Pieces: The Bright Shoes
If you're not up to date, part 1 and part 2 of this series.
First off I just need to apologise for the bloody silver pig on the step, I don't know what goes through my mums mind sometimes. And also the photobombing cat - life's tough when you're super busy and have only a tripod to help you out!
So I've talked about a statement jacket and trousers, so now for a pair of shoes and we're complete! Well, aside from a top. But the top in this outfit is kind of a statement piece too? If you're wanting to focus on one item in your outfit, in this case the shoes, you don't have to keep everything else you're wearing too simple.
Don't Play Too Safe.
If there's anything you should know about me, aside from my affinity for buying all the shoes, it's that I'm always a fan of an open-back. This has been going on for a fair few years. If you had a tumblr 4-5 years ago you'll remember the Nasty Gal top with the cut-out skull on the back, right? I think that's still in my wardrobe somewhere! But yeah, I'm a big fan of open back tops whether a t-shirt, jumper of sheer top like this one. There's an open-back jumper on ASOS that I keep eyeing up and I think I'm just gonna have to get it.
I picked this top up in the Boohoo sale a couple of weeks back. It was only £3 so I couldn't not, y'know? It's very sheer and very open back so it's a bit of a bra nightmare, but I still really love it. It's one of those that I know I'll be able to just throw on with a nice pair of jeans/trousers/shorts (anything really) for a night out when I don't know what to wear.
The all-black ensemble is a firm favourite of mine too, especially for the autumn/winter months, so to break it up with such a bright pop of colour in the form of these shoes will make a nice change this season. I just need a bright pink belt to match and I'm set!
If you're wanting any loafers, I would 100% recommend these Topshop KARTER loafers. You don't have to get bright pink like me, you can go for gold instead! Or they do black or pastel shades. But I have them in white too and they're just the comfiest shoes in the world.
This is the final part of the series - let me know if you've enjoyed it!