ebony & ivory

Some of my favourite pieces I own are either black or white and whilst some people think that these two colours are dull and boring, I seriously beg to differ. These colours to me say classy, timeless and elegant and as I'm sure you will agree, the outfit above oozes all three....

Happy midweek!

1. All You Need is Love Ring Set: Forever21£3.90
2. Contrast Bowling Bag: Topshop £36
3. Self Stripe Sleeveless Dress: Topshop £29
4. Nude Shimmer Scarf: Forever21 £10.65
5. Black Vintage Court Shoes: Topshop £50
 

GlossyBox Reviews

1. FAB Gentle Body Wash

This product was pretty boring to be honest. FAB (First Aid Beauty) Gentle Body Wash is specifically designed as a moisturising cleanser intended for daily use on sensitive skin. Having used it consecutively for a week, it did very little to moisturise my skin and although the packaging is quite creative and appealing, the product certainly didn’t mirror this. Having received a Rituals shower gel (see review here) in December which smelt divine and is still lasting me now, this product was a massive let down. I really like a shower gel that has a foaming formulae and will therefore last much longer, however this one didn’t foam up at all, which meant that I had to use twice as much of the product to see results. I can appreciate that it is for sensitive skin so that will naturally limit its versatility but I just don’t think that this warrants its dullness!

If you do suffer really badly with sensitive skin then you may feel that this product does well to ease your skins irritability, however if you suffer occasionally with dry skin like me, then perhaps something as gentle as this isn’t for you.

Full size this product will set you back £13, which ordinarily I would say is a reasonably price. But as this product doesn’t really equate to much you have to use twice as much to wash with, so a bottle probably wouldn’t last you very long. 

This product definitely wasn’t for me, so I will give it just 1 out of 5 as it delievered very little. It’s neither here nor there really, I don’t have much more to say… it was just boring!

2. Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner

I received the Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner in a plum shade, which isn’t really a colour I would tend to use on my eyes. I hate to sound like a massive moan on my blog today, but this was yet another product that I felt looked better than it performed!  

I was really curious to use this eyeliner as I am already familiar with the Eyeko brand and the range of products that it has to offer. Eyeliner is a key part of my daily make-up routine and I would be lost without it, I am therefore always keen to try new types, shades and brands. Needless to say having given it a fair try, this eyeliner just wasn’t for me. If I had been given a different shade of eyeliner then I would have been able to experiment a little more, but the plum colour simply didn’t suit me. Personally I think that plum isn’t a colour that looks right on your eyes, it made me look tired and actually like I had been crying! I have seen other reviews from bloggers who have also received the plum coloured eyeliner and have been equally unhappy with it. If you have received the Eyeko eyeliner in plum and have devised a way to use the product in a way that doesn’t make you look like you have chronic insomnia…let me know! I would have been interested to try this product in the Emerald Green shade or the Midnight blue.

This skinny eyeliner comes with a silver handle that looks great and makes the product easier to apply. The handle allows you to be more precise when you are applying the eyeliner, so if precise definition is something that you struggle with, then this product could help you significantly. The handle did make it easier to apply the eyeliner, but when applied the pigmented nature of the product left my eye-make up looking a tad messy, which I didn’t like. Also the handle is quite deceiving as it makes it look like the eyeliner itself is much bigger than it actually is! So if this were a product that you took a liking to, I can imagine it would end up being a costly part of your make-up routine unless you use it sparingly. 

The eyeliner went on well and was soft in texture but I just wasn’t wowed by it. I am therefore giving it a disappointing 2 out of 5. I am glad I tried this product as I have been meaning to for a while now, but I wouldn’t use it again as I firmly believe there are far better, cheaper products available on the market. The Eyeko eyeliner costs £9.50, where as Rimmel Liquid and pencil eyeliner are two of my favourites and cost very little in comparison. Whats more with them, you know what you are getting and they do the job just fine.

sunday #1

I hope everyone has had a nice week:) Above is a photo summary of what's been happening in the last couple of weeks. Firstly I met the newest edition to my family yesterday, baby Leonardo and he is gorgeous! I have also managed to get a new job this week as I have mentioned and I start tomorrow, I cannot wait to be a working woman again. This picture was taken from a card my amazing auntie gave me:) I have also discovered Nero's porridge with my mama and it is to die for! This is of course equally as important as my new second cousin and job haha. I ate my body weight in pancakes and tried savoury pancakes for the first time with a very close friend and February's GlossyBox, 'The Fashion Week Edition' landed on my doormat. I said farewell to a lovely friend who is going travelling for a month in Oz and another close friend who has moved house and got a new job! Overall it's been a fabulous couple of weeks...

Wish me luck for tomorrow! 

OOTD- 24/02/2012

Happy Friday everyone! Soon I will be living the Monday-Friday dream myself and I seriously cannot wait. I have been making the most of my last 'free' days off, going to the gym lots and watching far too much of Dickinson's Real Deal-living the dream! Here are my OOTD photos for Friday 24th February, I didn't think I would be doing this again for awhile!

So I managed to see through a little challenge I set myself on the 15th January, 'Day 74' of my 100 day challenge. I vowed that I wouldn't buy any clothes for an entire month and I am very pleased to say that I have managed to complete it! Partly because of will power but mostly because I have no money to my name. My challenge is over now, so I celebrated my success with a new pair of boots! Now onto my next challenge. I have given up chocolate for Lent but who knows how successful I will be with this one. Has anyone else given up anything for Lent this year?


Black Chelsea Boots: Primark £15
Baby Pink Blouse: Forever21 £14.75
Vintage Floral Scarf: Forever21 £9.99
Tanned Satchel: Found in the attic! 

*Giveaway*

You may remember that I put together a giveaway on 17th February entitled '100 Follower Giveaway'. Today I can reveal that my 100th follower and winner of all the goodies is:

Em Sheldon author of 'A Day in the Life of Ems'. 

Congratulations!

Thank you to everyone who has entered the giveaway and hopefully I will be able to do the same when I reach 200 followers.. 

I appreciate all your support and lovely comments:) 


In the meantime keep following and reading!

if i was a rich girl....

So yesterday I said I would publish a second collage but in the evening I caught up with a lovely friend and simply didn't get the chance to. Still, better late than never hey. Here is a collection of my latest wants, all of which are ridiculously over priced and out of reach but I guess that's what makes fashion so exciting.... the wanting and dreaming...

ENJOY

1. I am addicted to anything that sparkles and shines.
Completely impractical and unnecessary but needless to say I LOVE them.
Whoopie Strappy Glitter Wedges: Topshop £65
2. I am naturally drawn to any blouse with a peter pan collar, so given that
 this one is Ombre in colour, you can imagine how much I like this little beauty.
Petites Ombre Shirt: Miss Selfridge £32
3. I am currently brushing up on my geography, 
so a little portable globe would suit me just fine.
Globe Necklace: ASOS £200
4. This clutch is perhaps the most reasonably priced, 
attainable thing on my want list..
Nolim Large Envelope Ostrich Bag: Missguided £17.99
5. More ridiculously overpriced jewellery anyone?!
Disney Couture Set Of 3 Believe Bracelets: ASOS £75
6. The perfect dress for a garden party...
Rosey Posey Georgia Dress: Topshop £29

                                         

summer nostalgia?

I don't know about where you guys are today, but the weather here in Exeter is absolutely miserable. At the moment it feels like summer is a distant memory but with bright colour clashing shades on the trend radar, the summertime blues are not here to stay. If you are a trend follower and you were brave enough to clash your colours last summer, this summer think even bolder and crazier. Personally I am a massive fan of colour clashing as I think it gives you the freedom to be creative. I am feeling much happier today anyway as I have finally managed to find a job (yey!) so all I need now is a bit of sunshine and I'll be a very happy lady. Has anyone booked any summer holidays yet? I am putting together a second collage of my latest wants for today so watch out for that:) Don't forget to FOLLOW bracelets & bangles if you aren't already... ta peeps! 

Enjoy my Wednesday collage..

HURRY UP SUMMER!

1. Peeptoe Orange Block Heels: Boohoo £30
2. Embellished Native Clutch: Forever21 £22.75
3. Cream Spike and Cut Out Earrings: Miss Selfridge £10.50
4. Ivory Boyfriend Blazer: Topshop £40
 5. Petite China Floral Dress (Also available in Tall) : Topshop £36

                                          

GlossyBox Review

Good afternoon to you all:) As I pointed out in yesterday's post, 'the editorial calendar' on Monday's I will be posting my GlossyBox Reviews. Whilst writing this review I have actually just received February's Glossybox (admittedly I am quite behind with my reviews!) and unfortunately it is a little disappointing. There are actually a lot of disappointed GlossyBox subscribers on twitter currently voicing their concerns about the products in this months box, but anyway back to today's review....  

The product in question today is the Weleda One Step Cleanser & Toner 

pictured below.

I was really pleased with this product on the whole, I only wish we were given a bigger sample as it went really quickly! The packaging, as you can see is slightly clinical which was a tad disturbing and the liquid itself actually looked like liquid penicillin! After looking on the website however they said it was a 'milky' product which is probably a better way of describing it! Although I don't tend to use too many different products on my skin as it is really sensitive, this product really made my skin feel fresh and clean at the end of an evening. As shocking as this may sound to all you skincare buffs out there, I don't actually use a cleanser or a toner. Instead I stick to a simple combination of Nivea oil free moisturiser and Nivea wet wipes for combination skin (boring I know!) But after trying this product I think I would consider buying it in full size and making it part of my daily skin- care routine. Usually using something new on my skin would bring me out in a rash but this product was gentle and it's deep cleansing action make my skin glow after just a few days. If you are someone who suffers with problem skin then I really do recommend trying this product, as even after a week of using it my skin maintained its clarity and felt much more refreshed. Although I only received a sample size, I would definitely pay the RRP for the full sized product. It was actually really shocking to see how much of my make-up was left on my skin at the end of the night even after having removed it with a wet wipe.

**  

As a company I really respect Weleda, as unlike other skin care company's they appear to have clear ethics and morals. They don't test any of there products on animals, they work with all kinds of associations including the Anthroposophic Health, Education and Social Care Movement and they work in harmony with nature, using nothing but natural ingredients. In terms of value for money I think that £9.95 for a 100ml product is very reasonable, especially considering how much effort has gone into making the product and the quality of the ingredients involved. It's also worth considering that for under £10 you get both a cleanser and a toner, which could save you money in the long run. In comparison to products such as Clinique's 'Rinse off Foaming Cleanser' which I have used before and didn't like at all, Weleda's product is far better and costs far less.  

**

I rate this product very highly and definitely wouldn't hesitate in giving it 5/5. I will use this product again... when I can afford to do so! There are a range of other products that Weleda have to off as well which may be worth checking out if you have already found your ideal cleanser and toner. You can shop by plant on their website as well which is a really refreshing idea, depending on the ingredients you favour the smell or effect of. Another good thing is that if you want to try out a product but perhaps begrudge paying the full amount for it in case you don't like it, you can buy a mini version of it first which costs about £2/3. I am really interested to try the product below as it is highly commended : 

Mini Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion 10ml
£1.95   

  Thanks for reading! Overall fab product! 

                                     

the editorial calendar

Now that my 100-day challenge is over (phew) I think it is about time that bracelets & bangles was given a bit of a shake-up. You may remember me saying on Day 99 of my challenge that I intended to introduce an, 'editorial calendar' on here. In doing this I am hoping that I can bring about a sense of consistency and rhythm to my little space on the Internet. I have broken the week down (see below) so that when you check in on a certain day you will know exactly what to expect. I actually had a calendar for my blog before I started my challenge, but the challenge itself took up so much of my spare time that I didn't get a chance to write much else on here. That said, here is what a typical week on my blog will look like from now on...

Monday- GlossyBox Review

I will be reviewing an item from my GlossyBox on a Monday. Click here for my latest review.

Wednesday- Collage Post

On a Wednesday I will be making a collage of things I think you guys will appreciate. For example in terms of stats, a collage of 'my latest wants' always seem to do pretty well. In the past I have put together collages including 'this valentines day' or 'all for under £20' at Christmas time. If this is what you like to see on bracelets & bangles, then a Wednesday would be a good day to check in.

Saturday- OOTD Post

My outfit of the day post will fall on a Saturday. This is pretty self-explanatory. If you are new to my blog, an OOTD will look like this. 

Sunday- Weekly Write Up. 

I actually did this before I started my 100-day challenge, check it out here. On a Sunday I will be rounding up my week, whether that be in picture form or a brief review. 

 If there is anything else I wish to post about during the week then I will do so on a Tuesday, Thursday or Friday. I also tend to write film reviews from time to time, so if the opportunity arises I will fit this in where possible. 

I hope that my followers will appreciate a little bit more of a routine and structure on here. Personally I know that I like to follow blogs that have introduced such a calendar, it just helps to give your blog a stronger sense of personality and regularity. I hope you guys agree, let me know what you think!

looking good for less...

So it is that time of year again when London Fashion Week hits our catwalks. If like me you have expensive taste but a serious lack of funds to back it up, then fashion week can be a rather deflating time.  Feeling the pinch as much as I currently am, looking good on a night out or for a special occasion can prove quite challenging. I tend to get bored with my clothes very quickly and although I hate to admit it, I do tend to wear something just the once and then refuse to wear it again. With this in mind I have put together a collection of pieces that don't cost the earth but will have you turning heads in a second. I realise this isn't the cheapest outfit in the world, but even if you were to buy one or two of these pieces it would give your outfit a little bit more of a sparkle.
Enjoy my penniless fashion friends... 

Total cost of this outfit: £97.39

1. Camel Quilted Wrist Clutch: Dorothy Perkins £3
2. Velvet Cutout Dress: Unique at Topshop £40
3. Zigi Soho Glittery Platforms: New Look £36.99
4. Ancient Royalty Necklace: Forever21 £7.40
5. Grey Fur Trim Scarf: River Island £10

100 follower giveaway

Afternoon everyone, I am sure that you are all looking forward to the weekend. As I have mentioned in the past couple of posts, when my blog reaches 100 followers I will be giving follower 100 a few tokens of my appreciation. Check out the photo below for what you could win.

This giveaway contains:
1. L'Occitane Extra Gentle Soap with Shea Butter
2. LTD Edition Vaseline Crème Brûlée
3. Minature Guylian Belgian Chocolate's
4. Orly Nail Varnish Ruby (This I received in January's GlossyBox.
I have so many nail varnishes in this shade,
 I thought someone else could make use of it:)
5. LTD Edition SO...? Body Fragrance 'Daring'

How to Win:

To win this giveaway you must be following bracelets & bangles....that is it! It is easy to do and you have nothing to lose. I hope that soon I will be putting together a 1,000 follower giveaway (you've got to aim high) and my prizes will be far more amazing and luxurious. Still I am rather pleased with the collection I have put together here, these are a few of my favourite things and I am sure follower 100 will like them too. I am just 5 followers away from reaching the big 100, so click 'follow' for your chance to win people! Follower 100 will receive all of the above. 

The details: 

Starts: 17th February 2012 

Ends: 24th February 2012

Shipping: This giveaway is open to 

everyone. I will be shipping internationally.  

Must: Be following bracelets & bangles
publicly so I know who has won!

GOOD LUCK!

January's Glossy Box

I received January's GlossyBox about two weeks ago now and I was pleasently surprised to see that this GlossyBox was yet another limited edition one...I definitely joined at the right time! For Christmas we were given a limited edition scarlett red box and now in aid of Valentines Day a hot pink one. I have used a few of the products already and I am really loving the cleanser & toner, however I am a little disappointed with the body wash and the primer. Full reviews on all of the products will follow soon.

 On the whole I definitely preferred my previous GlossyBox goodies but even with that in mind, I would still really recommend joining the GlossyBox club. All of the products in this box totalled to over £65, so considering I only paid £12 (including P&P) this is a massive bargain! I am aware that not all of the products are full sized but it's great to get a taste of what is out there on the beauty market, as I tend to stick to the same old products all the time.

  I think a GlossyBox membership would make such a great Christmas present or a one off birthday present, they also do beauty packages for men! For more information click here.

 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

January's hot pink Glossybox. 

I apologise for the poor quality of these pictures!

Valentines goodies...

Product 1: Orly Nail Lacquer
RRP £6.95

Product 2: Murad Hybrids Skin Perfecting Primer- Dewy Finish
RRP £29.00

Product 3: Weleda One Step Cleanser & Toner
RRP £9.95

Product 4: Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner- Plum
RRP £9.50

Product 5: Fab Gentle Body Wash
RRP £13.00

this valentines day..

If you are looking for inspiration this Valentines Day, look no further! I have selected a handful of luxury items available on the high street that are set to make your loved one fall at your feet on the most romantic day of the year. Whether you buy into Valentines Day or not, the fashion addict in you is sure to fall in love with this little treasure trove...have a great day people!

1. Black Bardot Dress: Miss Selfridge £22
2. Oversized Teardrop Earrings: New Look £4.99 (All earrings currently by one get one free people!)
3. Pearl Beaded Heart Bag: New Look £24.99
4. Snake Skin Platform Court Shoes: New Look £24.99
5. Nails in Adreniline: Topshop £6

This post is a little over due because I have been so preoccupied with my 100 day outfit challenge. Now that it is over, I am able to do a quick award write up. The lovely  Carmen from 'Handbag Full of Dreams' has given my blog, The Versatile Blogger Award. This is the 4th time I have received this award in 6 months! I am so pleased and appreciate every single award as much as the last. I hope everyone is having a nice weekend and a big thank you to Carmen:)

Now I know that I am supposed to reveal 7 facts about myself with this particular award, but I have been lucky enough to receive so many blogger awards lately that I don't really have much more to reveal! Still I will pass this lovely little award onto my 10 favourite blogs of the moment- you guys are great!

1.http://lucyywrites01.blogspot.com/ 

2. http://fashioninflux.blogspot.com/ 

3. http://dotty-dolly.blogspot.com/

4. http://the-beautybible.blogspot.com/

5. http://emily--charlotte.blogspot.com/

6. http://rubee-rubee.blogspot.com/

7. http://skadiida.blogspot.com/

8. http://bohovanity.blogspot.com/

9. http://miss-eblog.blogspot.com/

10. http://jadinashodgepodge.blogspot.com/

DAY 100!

Hurrah! My challenge is complete and I have successfully managed to take photos of my outfits for the past 100 day's. Day 1 feels like a lifetime ago! I obviously knew that I had to finish this challenge at some point, but some how I never really saw it coming to an end. Thank you to everyone who has followed me on this journey, I cannot wait to spend a day lounging around in my pjs and not have to worry about documenting it! Shame on everyone who tried to convince/bribe me into doing my final outfit posts naked- you should be appalled!!ha Remember to FOLLOW bracelets & bangles for your chance to win my 100th follower giveaway. 

ENJOY DAY 100!

1.
This outfit is an ode to summer.
Yellow is supposedly going to be the colour of the season.
Canary Yellow Summer Dress: Topshop £65

2.
Sequinned Clutch: Forever21 £22

3.
Don't try this at home.

4.

5.

6.
Tanned Wedges: Topshop £50

Day 99

It is a beautiful sunny day here in Exeter, so I decided to make the most and take my photos outside. I am so pleased to say bracelets & bangles has reached nearly 11,000 hits! Considering I never thought anyone would bother reading my blog, I see this as a massive achievement and thank everyone who continues to read. I will definitely keep up the posting when my challenge is over and I am looking to introduce an 'editorial calendar' that will see me consistently posting on certain topics each week, enabling a content rhythm and hopefully ensuring that my blog traffic continues to rise. If you are a blogger and are looking for ways to boost your traffic, I really recommend checking out The Independent Blogger's article on improving your stats, it has really helped to inspire me. You can do so here.  

Keep reading folks and enjoy day 99 of my 100 day outfit challenge! 

1.

2.
This season apparently it's all about the mid-length skirt.
This style of skirt is perfect for a short ass like me.
Skirt: Market Stall £15

3.
Floral Embroidered Blouse: Topshop £42

4.
This necklace has had more lives than a cat.
I have broken and fixed it so many times,
it has even been smashed in half and
yet it still lives to fight another day.
It didn't cost very much, I just
can't bare to part with!
Flat Stone Necklace: Claire's £3.50

5.

6.

7.
Black Velvet Wedges: Office £65

                                   

Day 98

Only two days left people! I hope you have all enjoyed seeing my outfit posts every day. I have got really positive feedback from my followers which makes the challenge so worth while. Remember that when I reach 100 followers I will be putting together a giveaway for follower number 100, so if you aren't already following bracelets & bangles please do!

Enjoy day 98 of my 100 day outfit challenge

1.
White & Gold Blouse: Topshop £38
Clutch Bag: Matalan £6

2.
White & Dusty Pink Scarf: Primark £5

3.
Polka Dot Shorts: Primark £12

4.
Gypsy Necklace: Car boot sale £1.50

5.

6.

7.