OOTD - Boots & A Trench

It is with great sorrow that I come to acknowledge that the cooler weather is upon us and Winter is lurking just around the corner. I am a summer girl through and through so this realisation seriously is heartbreaking, so to ease the pain a little I thought I'd post an OOTD in an outfit that makes me feel like I've stepped out of a commercial. By the way, you have to find your commercial-esque outfit - you know, the one that makes you feel absolutely freaking gorgeous - because it will change your life.

Perhaps the only good thing about the cooler weather is the fashion that it brings...I for one am a huge fan of scarves, boots and coats. A good trench coat is, in my opinion, an absolute staple in everyone's wardrobe and paired with some heeled boots you're set to go. 

Unfortunately for you guys, this entire outfit (excluding only my earrings) is from the Op-shop (what can I say, 90% of my wardrobe is) but it's the staples themselves that you want to invest in, not the exact pieces.

A gorgeous coat is something that everyone needs in their wardrobe and I am in love with this one I got from a dodgy little Op-shop that I rarely visit. I seriously had to search through so much junk to come across this gem as well as doing a little bit of repair with the buttons, but for $9 this was such a good investment. 

The boots are another one of my winter favourites. These are just simple, black, lace-up boots with a little heel. They're really quite comfortable all things considered although one downfall is they've quickly become scratched and scuffed. Luckily, because they're black it's not too obvious.

We then have everyone's staple all year round, the comfy jeans. These probably aren't my most comfortable jeans but I like the dark blue denim so they'll do the job.

Add a black and white shirt, some silver jewellery and you have a complete outfit that (hopefully) makes you feel a million bucks!

Original sources of the clothing pieces:
Jacket: Regatta (Myer)

Shirt: Sportsgirl

Jeans: Cotton On

Boots: Target

Earrings: Lovisa

Necklace: Unknown

Watch: Unknown

HUGE Collective Haul: Fashion, Makeup, Jewellery, Books & More!

I have accumulated so much over the past three months through Christmas presents, op-shops, post Christmas sales, New year sales, giveaway winnings and birthday presents. This is an enormous haul, I know, and I have spent a lot of money, but what can I say? It's the festive season, I'm a saver by nature and I don't splurge often so it was definitely a treat. Keep in mind it was also over three months!

Makeup

- Revlon cosmetic bag and manicure set - Christmas present

- Girlz Only Dry Spray Conditioner - $2

- Maybelline Colour Show Sequins Polish in Rose Bling - $2.97 reduced from $5.95

- Face of Australia Glitterati Polish in Studio 54- $6.95

- Face of Australia Glossy Lip Crayon in Peach Parfait - $5 reduced from $7.95

- BYS Blush Trio in Endless Summer - $5 reduced from $6.95

- Nivea Lip Butter in Vanilla and Macadamia - $3.40 reduced from $5.69

- Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain Set in Adore - $19.97 reduced from $40

- Model's Prefer Sweet Kisses Eyeshadow tin - Won in Amanda from Thai Tales' Giveaway 

- MAC Lipstick in Creme Cup - Incredible birthday gift from a beautiful blogger

Source for photograph of formal dress

Fashion
- Rubi Shoes Flats - $5 reduced from $15
- Sunglasses - $3 from Op Shop
- Firmoo Glasses - $15 reduced from $54 (with their Get your first pair free program)
- Flowery dress - $4 from Op Shop
- Red dress - FREE from Op Shop
- Photosynthesis Shirt - Christmas present ($20 from Think Geek website)
- My Formal Dress! - $120 from Swish Clothing, reduced from $300

Jewellery
- Colette Black and Gold Necklace - $6 reduced from $12.95
- Colette Black and Gold Square ring - $4 reduced from $7.95
- Lovisa Blue stone ring - $3 reduced from $9.99
- Lovisa Turqoise ring - $3 reduced from $7.99

Miscellanious
- Typo Notebook - $2 reduced from $9.95
- Green Tea Kimmidoll Candle - $6 reduced from $12
- Strawberry Champagne Our Eutopia Candle - $5 reduced from $15
- Lana Del Ray Born to Die The Paradise Edition CD - Christmas present
- Unwind trilogy by Neil Schusterman - Christmas present
- Giant Mug - $4 reduced from $15
- Decorative glass jars with gumballs inside - $2 each reduced from $6 each
- Washi Tape - $1 per tape reduced from $3 per tape
- Perfume by Patrick Suskind - Christmas present
- Wonder by R.J Palacio - Christmas present
- How I live now by Meg Rosoff - Christmas present
- Three printed and framed photographs - Birthday present

Don't forget to enter my giveaway here.

Haul - Maybelline, Australis, Face of Australia, Essence & Lovisa

After having accidentally been on an unofficial spending ban whereby I went nearly three months without a single makeup purchase (except for, of course, my giveaway) I splashed out after a particularly stressful Saturday involving lots of maths assignments and stressed tears! Retail therapy was the only solution.

After a short trip to Priceline I returned with a couple of exciting products!

The Maybelline One by One mascara has been on my radar since it was first released quite a while ago but I never felt all that compelled to spend $19.25 on it! When I saw that they were on sale for $10 I figured there was no better time to buy it and therefore seized the opportunity! I am a bit annoyed that the only shade left was brown/black but I think I will cope!

I then ambled over to the Essence stand and discovered a completely uniterrupted Me & My Ice Cream collection! I don't think I've ever stumbled across one of the collections that hasn't been trashed with grotty finger prints pressed into all of the products. I grabbed the Cream blush in Ice bomb. Now I have had a bit more of a look at it I've discovered that it actually contains quite a lot of shimmer, but hopefully I can make it work.

I then checked out the Face of Australia stand in the hopes that the Glitterati polish in Studio 54 would be there, but alas it was not and I had to make do with 'Lookin' for some hot stuff.' All I want is Studio 54 but at this rate I will have every other polish in the whole collection! At least I managed to get this one on sale a little bit, for $3.50.

I saw that a couple of Australis products had been marked down and the Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Blush in Screen Siren was on sale for $6.47 instead of its usual $12.95. Even though I feel like these blushes have been around for years, I am really excited to finally try one out!

This is where you would think that I would recognise that perhaps two blushes were enough but no...I grabbed an Australis creme blush in Flirtatious pink because I LOVE my Australis creme blush in dusky rose and use it multiple times a week and thought that an additional shade wouldn't hurt. This too was half price and therefore cost $4.95! Bargain!

I then stopped in at Lovisa for a split second and grabbed a pair of earrings on sale for $3 down from $6.99.

Lastly I went to The Reject Shop and purchased two candles - one of them a Skittles candle in the flavour Melon Berry that smells exactly like green skittles, and an M&M 'Crisp Vanilla' candle. I love them, and for $3 each I am so happy I bought them!

So there is my little haul! I did spot some Essie polishes in Priceline which could be problematic as despite their painfully high price tag (at least in comparison to some other brands) they are still very tempting...

*And I just realised I forgot to include my Maybelline One by One macara in the photos! Argh!

 Don't forget to enter my giveaway here.

Haul - Lovisa, Colette, Dotti, Valleygirl, Cotton On and more

As always, the end of Christmas marks some pretty impressive sales for the weeks following. Despite vowing to avoid such sales by simply not going to the shops or closing my eyes whilst walking past, the sales still called out my name and sucked me in. I also found myself in an Op-shop and bought some things there too which I have included in this post.

First up is jewellery, and I bought two things. First was a necklace from Colette which was (not on sale) for $9.95. I would have liked it even more if it had been included in their huge 50% off range but even full priced I still think it is pretty good.

From Lovisa I picked up this ring on sale for $3, marked down from $7.99.

I then went to Dotti and picked up two shirts, the blue striped one for $10 and the plain blue one for $5.

Next was Cotton On where I purchased this scarf for $2 after having been marked down from $14.95, and some shoes (really from Rubi shoes) for $5 down from $19.95. I was very pleased with the shoes especially because I have a pair exactly the same and I wear them so often the soles have fallen off.

I then went Op-shopping and purchased four shirts. The first two were from Valleygirl originally and cost $2 each. The black shirt was originally from Emony and was brand new and therefore cost a little more at $6. Lastly I picked up a short originally from Everlast which cost me $1. I needed a new one for the gym and thought it would be suitable.

I also got a makeup bag from the Op-shop. It was new from Clinique, has two compartments and cost me $2.

So all up for two pieces of jewellery, six tops, a scarf, a pair of shoes and a makeup bag it cost me a total of $42.95 which could easily be charged for a pair of shoes alone!

Lovisa and Equip gift

It was back in February that I received some jewellery as a gift from a friend of mine. It was sitting in its box the other day (I had worn it several times, just returned it to its box!) and decided that I could do a review on it. She gave me two pieces of jewellery, chocolates and an assortment of other small things too, so generous she was!

I must say though, isn't the box gorgeous. I now use it to store my blushes and I absolutely love it. It is so classy! The bag it came in was lovely too. I've never been to Lovisa so I think I might have to drop in for a visit...

Anyway, the first thing is earrings from Equip. Now I'm not an easy person to buy for when it comes to earrings because I gravitate towards studs rather than the huge dangly earrings and I already have quite a large collection, but what she gave me I actually fell in love with. I surprised myself.

You see, these earrings are huge and dangly. But they look so lovely on. I would never even have taken a look at these in the shop but amazingly I really love them. LOVE! (It may have something to do with the fact that I think any jewellery that incorporates leaves is gorgeous, but anyway...) They look best when my hair is tied up in a bun or ponytail because then they really get to show themselves off.

She also gave me a necklace from Lovisa. I have no other necklaces like it so I am not sure how I am going to wear it, but I'll find a way. I'll have to go through my wardrobe and see what works.

So, that was a little jewellery post for you all. Sorry about the lack of posts this month, as usual life is so busy and it leaves little time for blogging. I'm doing my best!