Topshop Skeleton Tee - MUST HAVE!

It's just a quick post as I'm trying my hardest to post more often as I know I suck slightly at this! But I like to think that this post will be fairly short and sweet.

Payday is almost here - hurrah! Which means that I'm slowly compiling a list of all the things I want to buy once the day is finally here; eight days (almost seven) and counting!

I'm having an inner debate with my conscience over whether or not to open a Topshop/Topman card. I know some people are dead against store cards, but they are a useful thing to have, especially if shopping is one of your vices in life. So yeah, I want a Topshop/Topman card, hence why I find myself browsing both sites quite a lot lately. But when I was adding to my ever-growing list of things I want once I get paid, I came across this amazing skeleton tee-shirt.

I've been toying with the idea of getting one of these tee's for a while. I have no idea why I think it's so good as I'm sure many people would disagree with me but I really like it. I really like the rolled back sleeves as I don't really like tee's that have sleeves that make the tee look like a box. It's a pet peeve of mine. I think this top would look great with black skinnies, black ankle boots and lots of gold jewellery; I have a gold chain that would go perfect with it.

So basically I've convinced myself to buy it once I get paid! Now payday really needs to hurry up!

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

I love nothing more than a good movie, and I especially love nothing more than when I see the trailer for a movie that instantly grabs my attention and curiosity.

Over the weekend I saw Paranormal Activity 4 at the cinema; yes, the film petrified me. I think I get some kind of sick thrill from having the wits scared out of me. But when I saw it, the trailer for "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" was shown and I actually can't wait for the movie to be released in January 2013.

In a nutshell, the movie follows on from the the Brother's Grimm tale of Hansel and Gretel who were kidnapped by a witch fifteen years previous and, fast forward fifteen years, Hansel and Gretel are now vengeful witch hunters, intent on ridding the world of witches.

Hansel and Gretel are portrayed by Jeremy Renner (The Avengers, The Bourne Legacy) and Gemma Arterton (Prince of Persia, Quantam of Solace) respectively, and, judging from the footage featured in the trailer, it seems that the casting was a perfect choice. Renner is super familiar with action flicks; the last two movies he featured in have been hugely successful action movies, but Arterton hasn't really had much experience with action movies, but she seems to have settled into the role effortlessly. I'm excited for this movie!

Below is the trailer for the movie; check it out and see what you think!

Little Mix's second single, "DNA"

I have no trouble in admitting that I LOVE Little Mix, and have done since they triumphed on The X Factor last year! 

Having released their second, original, recording, "Wings", in the summer, Little Mix are back with their third single, "DNA". Personally, I prefer this song a lot more than their previous effort; it has a bit of an urban feel and has a great bass-line and I also think it's good for bands to experiment with different sounds and styles as an artist should never become predictable.

The music video for the track was released yesterday and it's miles away from what is expected of Little Mix! The styling for the video is very vamp-like and the girls are dressed in lots of black with very heavy make-up. I'm guessing Sin City was the inspiration for the video, but it totally works! The result is brilliant! I predict another number one single for the girls with this track.

Check out the video below.

Halloween's a-coming!

Halloween is my favourite season of the whole year! I look forward to it more than Christmas, birthdays, Easter, etc. I absolutely love it and have done for as long as I can remember. Although it doesn't hold any sentimental value to me like a birthday does, or even Christmas, there is something about it that I love!

What I really love is walking into stores, such as Tesco or Asda, and seeing the amazing displays of Halloween stock that they feature and seeing all the different costumes, decorations and sweets that they have to offer! In my house I am the instigator of anything Halloween related and am always pushing for some extravagant Halloween party, like you see in American movies.

Movies is something else that I love about Halloween. There is only one film that I need to watch on Halloween and that is the CLASSIC "Hocus Pocus". It's most definitely one of the best Halloween films ever made and Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker (pre-Sex and the City) and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson Sister's are perhaps among the best witches ever!

I guess I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy dressing up for the occasion, wouldn't I? Just like every other 21 year old out there who enjoys a good time, Halloween also signals the one time in the year where adults can dress up in all manner of horrors, go out, get off their face, and laugh about it the following morning. Also, to quote Mean Girls:

"In the regular world, Halloween is when children dress up in costumes and beg for candy. In Girl World, Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it"

So yes, I'm extremely excited about Halloween this year! I have my outfit sorted and have my plans arranged, now I just need the day to arrive. Also, payday falls on Halloween this year; a double cause for celebration!

How does everyone else feel about Halloween? Cause for celebration or cause for concern?

Rita Ora - Radio 1 Live Lounge - "What Makes You Beautiful"

Something that I think sets Radio 1 apart from all other radio stations in the UK is the variety of musical genres that the station caters for; throughout the different shows that the station produces and airs, an eclectic  mix of music is covered. But one feature that I love at Radio 1 is the Live Lounge segment that features on Fearne Cotton's show. The Live Lounge allows music artists to perform a cover version of another artist's song and put their own spin on the track and, I have to say, there have been some BRILLIANT covers.

In April I posted Jessie J's cover of 'We Found Love' by Rihanna which I have to say was simply amazing. In August, Rita Ora featured in the Live Lounge and performed an acoustic version of her hit "How We Do" and then performed a cover of One Direction's - "What Makes You Beautiful". When she announced live on air her intention to cover One Direction, I was filled with dread. Although 1D are good at what they do, their music is so generic and simple, but perhaps that's why they've had such huge success I really didn't know how Rita could make this cover her own, but she did.

I have to say, this cover is perhaps one of my favourite live lounge covers EVER. Rita has such a gravelly tone to her voice which works perfect for the stripped back cover. It really is genius. She also brings a bit of a reggae vibe into the mix when she performs on the drums with her band member. It's brilliant!

Below is the full version of the cover; watch and be amazed!

Girls Aloud are BACK!

After what seems like four very, VERY long years, the announcement that the UK have been waiting for has finally happened; GIRLS ALOUD ARE BACK! They made the announcement by posting a countdown on their official website, counting down to ten days time which will mark exactly ten years to the day that Girls Aloud first performed on Popstars: The Rivals.

The countdown featured on the GA website yesterday (09/10/12)

I am SO excited about this! Girls Aloud are definitely one of the biggest girlbands in the UK, obviously after the Spice Girls! Apparently, they are set to perform their new single, which is rumoured to be this years Children in Need single, on the BBC ratings juggernaut Strictly Come Dancing, which member Kimberly Walsh is currently a contestant on. Even if it the rumours aren't true, the single is sure to be a number one hit for the band!

It's also rumoured that the band will announce their plans for a reunion tour in the New Year, which I will most definitely be getting tickets for, as well as announcing plans to release a new album! These next nine days are going to be unbelievably long, but I really cannot wait!

Girls Aloud fresh from supporting Coldplay
at Wembley Stadium in September 2009

My A/W12 Style Crush...

When it comes to describing or defining my style, this is something I would struggle to successfully do. I guess the word I would use to describe my style is eclectic; it changes so often and I'm very rarely channelling the same style for a consecutive period of time. It really does just depend on how I feel on that day. 

The reason that my style is so eclectic is because I take inspiration from a range of places. I don't only take inspiration from people, such as celebrities of fashion icons, but I take inspiration from different prints, the seasons and different trends. But I don't like to be predictable with what I wear and I would like to think that I dress the trends to suit me, rather than me dressing to suit the trends.

I won't lie, the majority of people who I take inspiration from for my style choices are females. Females are so much more daring when it comes to fashion and I admire the fact that they test the boundaries of fashion, which is exactly what fashion should allow. Fashion means that individuals can interpret the current trends in their own, unique way. 

Over the summer months I found myself falling in love with Rita Ora and Jessie J's styling. Rita Ora has a real urban feel to the way she dresses and is always seen in LOTS of gold jewellery, which always seem to accentuate whatever she is wearing. Jessie's style is craaazy and there is no way I would have any chance of attempting to mimic anything she wears. But one thing she wears better than anyone is shorts. I saw her at Wireless Festival in the summer and she was rocking a pair of distressed Levi's, white tank top and a camo jacket. I would describe her street style as pretty effortless for her, but it's most definitely effort for anyone else who is hoping to clone her style for themselves.

My most recent style crush is Demi Lovato, and I'm sure many people would agree that this is a bit of strange style crush for a guy to occupy, but oh well. I have been hooked on The X Factor USA and I'm actually more interested in what Demi is wearing rather than who is singing and if they're any good. The way that Demi dresses is so fresh for someone her age and it totally portrays her personality, as well as her professional image. This is something that young singers and performers very rarely accomplish and too often we see them dressing ten years older than what they are. Demi's style is very edgy and she has the ability to grunge up the most girly and feminine of products, as seen below.

Demi Lovato looking high street chic
at the X Factor USA auditions, 2012

I love everything about this outfit; I love how she took a very floral and feminine dress but dressed it down with the leather gilet and added a bit of edge to the outfit with the spiked necklace. A perfect outfit for Autumn/Winter! Also, the fact that she has layered this outfit makes it wearable even in the depths of winter; to make the outfit fully appropriate, it could be teamed with a pair of thick black tights and a nice
pair of biker boots.

The edge factor is something that I am gradually incorporating more and more into my outfits. Working in fashion retail means I need to be ahead of the trends before they hit the high street and by taking inspiration from someone such as Demi, I'm slowly doing that and am loving experimenting with different styles!

So yes, Demi Lovato is my A/W12 style crush! Which makes me quite excited to see what outfits I can create, whilst drawing inspiration from Demi and her cute, edgy style!

Watch this space!