Holiday Essentials | Fashion

Hi everyone,

As my holiday is soon approaching I have been figuring out my outfits for the week (my favourite part!) so I thought I would share with you a few of my fashion essentials :-) 

1. Bikini's 



I like to bring a range of Bikini's with me in different styles, as they will be what I wear during the day throughout the week. I think bra style bikinis are best if you want more support and they generally tend to have a thicker lining to them. However, I personally find triangle bikinis to be much more comfortable to relax in. My favourite is this blue one on the right from Victoria Secret. I always like to take a pair of plain bikini bottoms with me so I can mix and match :-) 

From left to right:

Floral Bikini Set - H&M, Pom Pom Bikini Set - Topshop, Blue Bikini Top - Victoria Secret, Black Bikini Bottoms - Miscellaneous 

2. Crop Tops

Crop tops are a must for me as I think they are perfect for lounging around in and exploring the town. They also work so well with high waisted shorts which I always bring on holiday with me. I like to bring something a little more out of my comfort zone with me on holiday, such as this fringe crop top, as I think it is fun to play around with clothing when abroad.

From left to right:

Blue Ribbed Crop Top - Topshop, Ribbed Cropped Cami - Topshop, Suedette Fringe Crop Top - Topshop

3. Vest Tops

These vest tops provide a bit more coverage for day to day wear and I will be more likely to wear these when out and about or out for dinner. Whilst shopping recently I was particularly drawn to the top on the far right due to the way the straps come in at the centre back (my inner fashion design geek is coming out!) which I found to be very flattering. All of these tops were £12 or cheaper which is a bonus! 

From left to right:

Multicoloured Stripes T-shirt - Zara, 3D Stripe Crop Top - Topshop, Embroidered Striped Top - Topshop

4. High-Waisted Shorts

High-waisted shorts have always been a must-have for me, I think they are extremely flattering on every body shape and I love the variety of styles they come in. I always take a range of denim shades and I have more recently purchased a black pair so I will be sure that I have a pair that will match with the top I am wearing. 

From left to right:

Bright Blue Rosa Shorts - Topshop, Distressed Dark Denim Shorts - Topshop, Black Raw Edge Shorts - H&M  

5. Sundresses

I don't wear dresses very often, but I love little sundresses in the summer as they are simple, effortless and look cute :-) The one on the left has little appliquéd flowers on it, which is absolutely gorgeous and screams summer whilst the one on the right has rows of stitching to create a unique design to the skirt and is a great replica for Brandy Melville dresses. They are perfect for the evening too.  

White Babydoll Applique Sundress - Topshop, Black Sundress - H&M (Similar here)

6. Playsuits and Dungarees

I love playsuits and think they are super versatile for any moment on holiday, whether you need to throw something on at the pool or go for dinner they will be your best friend - plus this one is super comfortable! Dungarees are a trend that I have seen being worn by many and I can't wait to style these for the first time on holiday :-)

Black Wrap Around Playsuit - Topshop (similar here and here), Black Short Dungarees - Topshop

7. Flip-flops and Sandals

Open toed shoes are the only type I like to bring on a summer holiday, as my feet can stay cool and get a nice tan! Flip flops I wear for when lounging around the hotel, and sandals for when exploring or in the evening :-) I especially like the white pair on the far right for evening as they have a slight platform to them. 

From left to right:

Black and Gold Flip Flops - Ralph Lauren, Black Classic Leather Sandals - Gap, Hetty Cleated Sole Shoes - Topshop

I must quickly mention that loose short sleeved t-shirts are another essential of mine, but unfortunately the ones I have ordered have not arrived yet. They are great for throwing on after getting out of the pool and are great for protecting your shoulders from the sun :-) 

I hope this post is useful and there will be another holiday essential post very soon! 

Lots of love,

Sarah Marie x 

Holiday Essentials | Beauty

Hi everyone,

In a few weeks time I will be jetting off on holiday with my sister and I cannot wait! On the lead up to it I thought I would share with you some of my holiday essentials :-) 

1. Sun Tan Lotion and After Sun

Now, I know I may be stating the obvious but I cannot stress how important these two products are. My favourite sun tan lotion is the Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Protective Sun Lotion as the pink ribbons in it help to keep your skin hydrated. It also smells amazing! As for after sun, I don't particularly have a favourite just as long as it sinks into my skin quickly and feels soothing when I apply it, I am happy :-) 

2. Body Scrub and Body Lotion

Some people may shudder at the thought of body scrub as an essential as they think it will rub off their tan. However, skin can get dry very easily whilst laying out in the sun, therefore to combat this I think it is good to apply a bit of body scrub (The Body Shop Satsuma Body Polish) in the morning to get rid of any flaky skin so it is fresh for the day :-) Body lotion will help to maintain your skins smoothness throughout the holiday and I think Baylis & Harding's Jojoba, Silk and Almond Oil Body Lotion will do a great job. 

3. Deodorant and Body Spray

As it is going to be hot on holiday, deodorant is a very obvious essential. I like ones that do their job well and whose scents are not overpowering, which is why I choose Dove Go Fresh (the Cucumber one is actually my favourite!). Similarly, I think that there is nothing worse than an overpowering perfume on holiday which is why I much prefer a body spray. This is because it can be re-applied continuously throughout the day leaving a lovely light refreshing scent, I love Victoria's Secret Mango Temptation Fragrance Mist.    

4. Face Moisturiser and Eye Moisturiser

Under my suntan lotion during the day I like to apply my & Other Stories Cashmere Day Cream which really helps to combat dry skin and keep it hydrated. At night I also apply my Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment that is made from avocado as overnight it really sinks into my skin making my under-eyes look significantly better in the morning. This is great because I do not wear make-up during the day on holiday :-) 

5. Hydrating Foundation, Waterproof Mascara and Lip balm

At night we go out for dinner, and therefore I like to put a little bit of make-up on to dress myself up slightly. A hydrating foundation is perfect as it keeps the skin glowing throughout the night. A lightweight to medium foundation also does not feel too heavy or 'cakey' in the heat. My favourite is the Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Make-Up SPF 25. A waterproof mascara such as the Tarte Lights Camera Splashes Waterproof Mascara is great as it beats the heat and is great for holding curled lashes! Lip balm with SPF in it is great for both day and night. I especially like tinted ones such as Vaseline Rosy Lips for night time. MAC's Prep & Prime Lip is great for the day.  

6. Nail Varnish 

Nail varnish is a fun thing to play around with, and as I will have my feet out on the beach I definitely think it is essential (in my opinion there is nothing worse than unpainted toenails!). My go to colours are a bright-red (Burberry Orange Poppy) and a pastel shade (Topshop Forsaken or Boy Next Door) as I think they both compliment my skin tone well, especially when I am more tanned! 

7. De-Tangling Spray and Hairbrush

There is nothing worse then coming out of the pool or sea to discover your hair is a tangled, knotty mess. I think a good solution for this is to spray some detangling spray, I like the Healthy Sexy Hair's Soy Tri-Wheat Leave In Conditioner, throughout the hair. This one is perfect as it is a conditioner too which will help to combat any salt or chlorine in your hair. A good hairbrush will also be your best friend in a knotty situation and my all time favourite brand is the Tangle Teezer. You can also purchase one for wet hair too which is a bonus! My top tip would be to start brushing your hair from the bottom and work your way up as you will cause less damage to your hair this way. 

8. Hair Accessories and Tools

Hairbands and scrunchies are perfect for when you want to throw your hair up and get it out of your face when it is hot. I also bring with me either straighteners or curlers for the evening to combat the humidity and make myself look presentable for dinner time :-) I usually end up getting very hot whilst using these tools in the heat, so I always do my hair first and make-up afterwards to avoid it sweating off! 

This is only a small insight into what I bring on holiday, there are many more obvious items such as a toothbrush and body wash that I bring but thought I would share with you items that are essential for holiday. I hope that some of you find my suggestions helpful :-)

Lots of love,

Sarah Marie x

Lazy Sunday OOTD

Hi everyone,

Today I decided to wear my mum jeans for the first time, so I thought I would share with you how I styled them :-) I have had them since my trip to New York (hauls to come), so it was about time I wore them for a lovely lazy sunday! 

As the jeans are of a looser fit, I decided to add a belt (with a silver buckle) to define my waist and to correspond with the belt I added a long sleeve black crop top. I also wore some silver rings and as it was a lazy sunday, I am not wearing any shoes (excuse the feet). However, if I was to wear some shoes I would opt either for my black cut-out shoes or a pair of black converse :-)

Top: Topshop £10.00 (Long Sleeve Skinny Ribbed Crop Top)

Jeans: Topshop £40.00 (MOTO Bleach Mom Jeans)

Shoes: Topshop £35.00 (Similar here) 

Rings (not pictured): Urban Outfitters £16 (Crystal Ring Pack)

I hope you have all had a lovely weekend and there shall be another blog post up very soon :-) 

Lots of love

Sarah Marie x

The Spring Smoothie

Hi everyone,

It has been quite some time since my last blogpost due to the amount of work I have been set at university but now my first year is nearly over I really want to work hard at keeping this blog active. Today, I thought I would share with you a different type of post I have not done before - my go to smoothie recipe :-)

The Spring Smoothie

Ingredients

1 x Large Banana

5 x Large Strawberries

A handful of raspberries

A handful of blueberries

Coconut or Almond Milk

Raspberry Yoghurt 

Half a Lemon 

Cut the banana and strawberries into small slices and place in the blender with the raspberries and blueberries. Next add a dash of milk so it just covers the bottom of the blender and add four to five tablespoons of yoghurt in also. Then squeeze half a lemon on top of the ingredients (for some added refreshing flavour). It is optional here to add crushed ice. 

Blend all of the ingredients together, pour into a glass and finish it off with a slice of lemon (it just makes the smoothie look cute!).  

Let me know if you enjoyed this blog post and I will do more food related posts in the future :-)

Lots of love

Sarah Marie x