Get In My Closet- The Expensive Taste Edition

I do not own many designer things-I have a few bags,2 pairs of shoes and a pair of sunglasses that can be categorized in that department. I would love that department to grow substantially but at the same time I do feel a little nauseous when thinking of the prices. I do not take these purchases lightly and you will never see me getting something high end on an impulse (unless its a lipstick..I have no self control when it comes to lipsticks). Thats what ASOS is for in my world.

In theory I understand that if I did not order from ASOS every month or feel compelled to buy all the things from Zara I could probably eventually buy one if not more of things from the above image. But I am so flaky when it comes to committing and saving some money unless its a trip or bills that need to get paid. I will be all good until another midi dress pops up in ASOS New In folder and that's where it ends. Half of the things I feel I "need" are obviously forgotten in a few months but then there are those few that have stuck with me.

Here come some of my real lust list items:

1. 3.1 Philip Lim Pashli Medium Satchel Bag in the shade white peach- I have always eyed the Pashli bags but it wasn't until I saw this pastel peach shade in person that it became an obsession. They stock it in Harvey Nicks in Dubai and I go to whisper my love to it every time I pass that store (I understand how that sounds but I gotta tell the truth to you). When I first laid my eyes on it I practically ran to it and cradled it in my arms like a baby. Only to realize I am still in a mall and that might be a bit much. This is a true story!

2. Valentino Rockstud Ankle Strap Pumps in nude leather- these haunt me in my dreams. They come in a array of rainbow colors but I would like basic nude leather just to make sure I could wear them with as many things possible. I have gone into the Valentino store in Dubai Mall a few times now just to make sure I still like them and yes..yes I do.

3. Valentino Rockstud Ballerinas in patent pastel pink- swooooooon.. and swooon some more. As much as I adore the pumps I know I would get so much more wear out of flats. And if we do the only math I like, the cost per wear math it would be like totally a bargain right?

4. Tom Ford Cocoa Mirage Eyeshadow quad- it is an expensive eyeshadow quad with brown shades I do not need. But I really really want it soo bad! That is all.

5. Miu Miu Noir Cat Eye Sunglasses- my latest love but a strong one it is. The whole new Miu Miu sunglasses collection is super cool but these tortoiseshell forties-style frames are funky and feminine and my favorites. And its sunny every day in Dubai surely that is a reason in its own to invest in more sunglasses right?

Whats your favorite item from my list? Is there something here you have or have been wanting to get?

I would love to know what is on your Expensive Taste wishlist.

OOTD-Floral Work Dress

I do understand that work attire really does depend of your industry and rules that go with it. Mine is events so that leaves plenty of room for creativity and depends mainly on the type of client we are dealing with. If you follow me on Instagram you see what I wear daily- its a whole lot of dresses.

This week I have been working at lounge for a bank but the setting is Art Dubai. That means I cant go cray cray but dont have to wear a totally basic black dress either. Its been rather fun coming up with the outfits every day trying to make it a tiny bit more corporate (I am sorry if you roll your eyes right now cause you work in an actual bank and do not consider the below get up corporate at all but you know its not than my normal poofy pastel midi skirts and mad men off the shoulder dresses) but still not looking boring. To brighten up working on the weekend out came my Oasis flowery pencil dress that hadnt gotten love in a long time.

 Because it is a day time event it felt pretty but not overdressed. The length and sleeves make me feel professional even if the fabric is fun. For me the main thing when going with a rather loud print and pencil cut is finding a dress that reaches the knees. Anything shorter and I would put it into the night out category (well in my case pretty much everything hits the knee but you know what I mean). One more thing I like about this dress is that its not a stretchy material and not overly curve hugging but that means its also unforgivable if you have a bit extra junk in the trunk since you bought the dress last year (Spanx I love you long time).

This dress is old but I started looking around for other flowery dresses that have a similar feel and you can see my favorite picks below. I wouldn't mind if all of these found their way to my wardrobe.

Do you like loud floral prints or would rather go with a simple block colors for dresses?

The Laura Roll

I would like to talk about a hairdo today. I am the kind of girl who wears her hair up 85% of the time. I have fine and limp hair and after mastering a few up-dos that take about 5min but look put together I rarely want to take the time to fuss with a blow dry.

Now this is a hairdo I have worn for longer than I care to admit. We are talking about something like nearly 10 years. Partly cause it works for any hair length as long as they reach into a tiny pony tail and partly cause I'm a creature of habit. Mainly cause it looks put together and lady like and goes with most of my outfits. My friends have jokingly started calling it "The Laura Roll". 

So here is how you do it:

You need to have a bit of grip to manipulate the hair for the roll. This is typically my second day hairdo. A little bit of dry shampoo and some light backcombing on the crown is where you want to begin. It also works super well if you have second day curls for example.

• Make your part where ever you want. I generally have it a little on the side but you can easily do it with middle part also.

• I then twist the front section of my hair on one side and pin it. Sometimes I twist both sides so that is really up to you. I feel that twisting both sides makes it a bit more retro. You can also easily make it bit more glam if you dont twist as tight.

• Next you want to gather the rest of the hair into a loose ponytail and pull the hair tie all the way to the end of the tail. This will help your roll to stay put whole day and no stray hairs will start falling out during the day. This really is the main trick that makes the whole thing so easy and so fool proof.

•  You just roll the hair inwards so the end of the ponytail and the hair tie help to bulk up your bun a bit and you pin it both sides. Here you can play with the shape of you roll. If you want it poofier you can tease the ponytail before. If you want it low at the nape of you neck roll it while pulling the hair down a bit. Because of the hair tie holding it together its much easier to get a clean look. I dont have thick hair so usually one long hairpin on both sides is enough to hold it in place.

• I like to also roll the sides of the bun and then pin the into the bun. Just twisting between the fingers until it is as tight as you like. This is very much an optional step as the roll looks fine on its own but I like having all my hair off my neck.

And this is how I wear my hair pretty much every day. Its my go-to when getting ready for a work event in a rush, its my safe bet on the mornings the hair just does the wo-hoo thing. You can see me with a looser version of Laura roll in the previous post, and here, here and here as well.

Do you have a favorite hairdo or do you wear your hair down usually? Would you try this up-dp?
Let me know let me know!

OOTD- Is This Another Pastel Dress?

Two outfit posts in a row. When was the last time this happened? Do not expect anything groundbreaking because here comes another lady like pastel dress.

Lets do a backstory.
This dress was no accidental ASOS purchase because I was looking for a suitable maxi for months. I had my last event at my previous job in January and it was a fancy polo affair that culminated with the finals and a fun sun downer after party and I knew I needed a perfect dress for it. A new one, the kind that would make me walk tall and feel great while running around in sun for a 12h work day but still feel put together and totally in control. But it also needed to be comfortable and work with flats or sandals so midi options were out. Ha. I know thats a lot of requirements for a dress and I agree I might over think these things sometimes but for me clothes I wear can definitely give me a boost and a mindset. So this was my "I will ace my last event and look fabulous while doing it" mindset.

"When in doubt, overdress" has always been my motto so I finally narrowed it down to this TFNC Maxi pastel dress on ASOS.

What ended up tipping me in favor of this dress was the wrap details around the bodice and the material that wasn't shiny or too eveningy. It has a great thick lining so there is no worry of exposing your underwear to the world and the one shoulder detail holds the dress in place. The fabric is stretchy so doesn't require taking mini steps when walking(I have a Topshop silk dress that makes me walk like a geisha) so this was important. Even the length was perfect for wearing with flats as I like when maxis reach all the way to the floor and you only see the shoe when walking.

I have since worn it a few more times and I actually loved the dress when teamed with my short leather jacket as well. It has proven to be more versatile than I hoped for so I might have to look into picking up a few more maxis. Its just such an easy piece to wear. If dresses are my favorite cause they are simple and you just need to match shoes then you dont even have to worry about footwear with maxis cause it probably wount show anyway.

I do have my eye on a few other maxi dresses from ASOS like this floral one, this dreamy forest green one thats on sale right now and this edgier washed black basic one.

Do you wear maxi dresses daily or do you see them only as a gala option?

OOTD -Reiss Rhomona Dress

I had the pleasure to attend Reiss SS15 press day few weeks back and I loved pretty much every piece. Among all that goodness was one dress that I really couldn't get out of my head later. So the moment I tried it on in the store there was no question this Rhomona Floral Lace Dress was missing in my life.

Internet reveals this is a Bloomingdale's Exclusive meaning they do not have it on Reiss site. They do however have it in Reiss stores in Dubai if you are living in this part of the world and feel the pull I did. Online you can find it here.

I have patiently waited to add some new spring pastels into my wardrobe and this dress is beyond perfection. Not only is it the prim-proper style I like but its light blue and midi length. Talk about ticking all the right boxes. I just think the delicate lace overlay makes for one modern but very romantic dress. I am in love with it and was so excited to wear it yesterday for a beautiful brunch at Frioul Bistro De Luxe with Laura.

Reiss is without a doubt a bit expensive but nothing I have bought from there ever ends up in my wardrobe unloved. So I walked away with this icicle blue beauty but I do also have my eyes on the classy cut out detail Clark dress, this laser cut Marther top, the ridiculously cute Kallisti Blazer with dots and these cobalt Allie slingbacks. 

Basically can I just have all the things from Reiss! Which one should I get next?

Skincare Gems

While I think it is perfectly normal to read a million reviews about a red lipstick before purchasing it or compare swatches of blush to find that exact shade I "need", I still know alarmingly little about skincare. It wasn't even that long ago I was convinced that since I have combination skin with oily T-zone I should keep away from anything very moisturizing. Looking back I have no idea why i figured "moisturizing = making skin more oily" but I did. 

I am by no means an expert now and I still mainly pick up skin care bits randomly without doing proper research. In my unguided search for perfect skin and glowing complexion I do sometimes stumble across some real gems. This post is dedicated to a few of my favorites I have been using in the past months.

Peter Thomas Roth products arrived to Sephora a while back but these masks are rather pricey and I did not know which one I should choose. In the end I bought the mini trial pack with all three (you can get it here) of his best selling masks. First up is the Cucumber Gel Mask (Link) that promises to "refresh, cool, moisturize and calm" dry or irritated skin. It smells divine and the gel consistency indeed feels very cooling on the skin. On a normal day I do not feel it makes that much difference but I really enjoy using is after a beach day or just a long day outdoors in the sun. I always wear SPF but skin is still a bit over heated after many hours in the desert sun and this calms it down fast. I also like that you can use this mask on under eye area making it perfect for reducing puffiness and refreshing the delicate skin.

Second little container houses the Pumpkin Enzym Mask (Link). The promise for this mask is pretty bold - "Highly effective exfoliating treatment addresses a dull, aging, and congested complexion in three ways: exfoliates with pumpkin enzyme, peels with alpha hydroxy acid, and polishes with aluminum oxide." I freaking LOVE this mask. From the strong sweet pumpkin pie smell (I imagine this smell not for everyone) to the gentle exfoliation it gives and ending with the visibly smoother skin I have after using this mask. This I shall repurchase in full size.

Third is the Rose Stell Cell Mask (Link). This one I think is a bit 'meh'. In theory it should "helps repair the signs of aging, including the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, dehydration, dullness and sagging as it strengthens and tones the look of skin". It has a similar gel like cooling texture like the cucumber one and there was nothing I disliked about it but nothing that wow'ed me either. So this is my least favorite of the three.

The lovely PR ladies from TishTash sent me the Izil Golden Glow Face Mask and I am so happy that they did. Its a brand I had never heard about and would probably not have known to try. Its a honey, saffron and argan oil goodness packed into a 100% natural (no paraben, no preservatives etc) thick gooey mask. It smells edible and feels fantastic on the skin. Its a bit sticky to apply and took some getting used to but once you wash it off the skin always feels clean and supple. Love this mask!

Another one that has been on the top of my mask list is the Boscia Luminizing Black Mask (Link). Picked it up on one of those mindless Sephora hauls when I was in NYC last summer. I have never really loved a peel off mask before but this one has won me over. First of all its just plain fun to put this thick completely black mask on and watch it turn into a vinyl like sheet on your face. Even more satisfying is peeling it off and seeing the content of your pores just sticking to it (too much info? sorry. I have nothing in my pores. they are pristine. i promise.). I do not use this often as I feel its pretty strong and properly detoxifying but whenever I do use it my makeup sits on my skin so much better and everything is just cleaner and bump free. I really dont want to run out of this mask until I have a back up ordered.

Last but definitely not least is my Khiels Midnight Recovery Concentrate (Link). I trust you have already tried this and if not then just tell me why? In a month I have been using it this has fast become my favorite skin care step in the evening. Everything about this makes me feel comforted and ready for bed. The beautiful blue bottle, the texture of the concentrate and the gorgeous lavender smell. I literally look forward to put this on my face every evening and I still marvel the results in the morning. For me this stuff gave almost instant results and my skin has never felt softer. I also notice a big change in the texture of my skin. This stuff is da bomb! And by the looks of it I can use it for ages cause you really need only a few drops.

Have you tried any of these products? Did you like them?
Also I am very open for eye cream suggestions so if you are using one you really love please let me know.

Thanks for reading and have a lovely day X

February Favorites

February is knows to fly by in a blink so before we roll into March here are some products that stood out for me this month. 

I haven't been doing these favorites posts every month as my preferred products dont rotate that often but this time its all things I have never talked about on the blog.

 

That palette what makeup dreams are made of -NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette (Link). I never did a review of this as its seemed the internet was overflowing with the praise for this magical palette. For good reason because I have hardly used any other blushes or bronzer since I got this as a Christmas present from Laura. Its a limited edition holiday release so sold out in most places but if you missed out and see it somewhere now just get it. Dont start thinking how many blushes you already own or that you have only one face and when will you use up all your bronzers. Just buy it because you will never regret it. It houses Laguna bronzer and three glorious blushes Deep Throat, Sex Fantasy and Final Cut. There is also Miss Liberty Highlighter which I am not crazy about but every other shade in it is perfection. It makes me happy just looking at it in the mornings while doing my makeup.

I mentioned the Oribe Signature Moisture Masque (Link) hairmask in a previous post but now that I have used it a few times I need to stress once more how awesome it is. Its expensive I know but you also get a proper luxury feeling. Starting with the smell that lingers in the hair after the mask and the thick lush consistency, ending with the silky smooth nourished locks that makes you want to do the hair commercial hair-flick all day long. I love putting it in the ends of my hair in the evening and wash it off in the morning for a proper intense boost. It honestly transforms my dry ends and as my hair is fine and rather short I need only a little of the mask. 

The Chanel Reve D'Orient Quadra Eye Shadow palette that was limited edition release made specially for Chanel Dubai Cruise Show last year. I have been loving the shimmery dark brown shade (so much so I have to look at the beautiful star embossing disappear) but have actually used all four shades a lot this month. 

Weirdly another Chanel product has made it to the favorites. I say weirdly cause I dont own a lot of Chanel makeup and it isn't a brand I tend to splurge on too often. However I have to say Vitalumier Aqua (Link) foundation is firmly taken the "new favorite" spot on my foundation shelf.

Last but not least is Figs & Rouge Wild Cherry (Link) balm. I have had this for a while but it got lost in the drawer depths of this makeup hauling individual. I dug it out and do not ever want to part with it again. It lives in my handbag and I kind of want to buy a second one that would move to my nightstand. This is a 100% petroleum free lip balm that has multiple used and pretty pretty tin package. I love the gloss it gives so I have been using it day time instead of lip gloss this month. I haven't been into my regular reds and other bright lipsticks lately so glosses and balm have gotten a lot of use. It has also come handy for smoothing flyaway hair and in the evening I like to use it for nails and cuticles. It really is one of those multiuse balms thats always handy to have with you.

This concludes my February Favorites. I left out some much loved skin care bits as I want to do a separate post on them next week. 

Let me know in the comments if you have done a favorites post. X

OOTD- Floral Printed Midi Prom Dress

I honestly can not believe I havent managed to post this dress earlier. I have had it for months and have bravely named it my favorite ASOS purchase of last year so there really is no excuse for the lack of blog coverage. It was my choice for most Christmas parties and loads of other occasions.

It is one of those pricier ASOS items that makes me 'umm' and 'aaah' for ages before making up my mind. Even though I loved it from the moment it appeared on the site you can never be sure with the quality of ASOS things. Ordering from ASOS = one of those great gambles that keeps my life exciting (I dont do extreme sports and I dont like casinos so yes this will be my choice of adrenaline..online shopping).

There was suddenly a random 20% discount code floating and in a flash- Floral Printed Midi Prom Dress (Link) was mine!

I was so excited to rip into the delivery a few days later and ever more excited to realize this time I hit

the jackpot. I mean yes..for some people this might be on the verge of costume dress from the Mad Men set but honestly that's how I like my dresses to look. I also think that the artsy almost painting like floral pattern is modern enough and the grey weighty fabric tones down the full-on-old-school cut so for me this is perfection.

The dress is obviously fully lined but I love that it also has a small tulle under skirt that help to hold the shape. Its 97% cotton so not much stretch in it but thankfully it fits me good from the waist anyway. I'm happy to report I think its worth its price.

The main thing really is that it makes me feel good. I wear this dress every opportunity I get because I just feel so pretty in it. Whats your 'makes me feel pretty' item in your closet? Is it something from ASOS as well?

Get In My Closet- ASOS Saved Items

I have been soo good as in haven't ordered anything from ASOS from a while. This however does not mean I'm not window shopping and adding everything into the Save Items folder. So I figured I could show you some of my favorites and maybe you can give me your input on which ones should I definitely order?

 1. ASOS Pretty Floral Placement Print Blouse (Link)- I just got a pair of cool high waist navy pants from Zara and I think paired with this blouse it would make such a great work outfit. I love white tops and blouses but sometimes its nice when they have a little detail or color on them also. Easy way to make an outfit interesting. Just imagine with a red or a bright pink lip with this shirt!

2. Whistles lace Trim Crop Tee (Link)- and the pastel obsession continuous. I adore this top- the color, the lace detail, the cut everything works. What doesn't work is Whistles prices. I dont think I can cope with the 160eur?! Its not worth it..or is it?

3. ASOS T Shirt with Hangry (Link)- YES! This one I have to get! If there is a dictionary with hangry in it they might as well insert my photo next to it. There is no denying my full bitch mode is on when I get hangry. Its just a fun tshirt to have.

4. River Island T-shirt (Link)- as basic as it gets but my current striped tee is getting really battered and I love the pocket and trim on the collar. Loose fit would be nice for a jeans/converse kind of weekend outfit.

5. ASOS Pleat Detail Top (Link)- another white top with some detailing. I'm always into the pleated midi skirts so why not a pleated top this time. My only concern with this one is that you probably cant tuck it into bottoms and that would limit me to wearing it with just black skinnys. Then again it would look fantastic on jeans.

6. Self Portrait Azaelea Midi Dress In Textured Lace (Link)- OMG this dress! The moment I saw this new brand Self Portrait in ASOS New In folder I was all over it. So many pretty dresses but this red one has to me my favorite. The low back and the thin spaghetti straps if it only wasn't this expensive. However husband if you are reading this..this dress would make an EXCELLENT gift for your wife!! (size 10)

7. Fashion Union Midi Skirt In Floral Broderie (Link)- broderie is one of my moms favorite fabrics. I always know she will pick up a broderie top for me to try on if we are shopping together. This skirt would just suit into my wardrobe so well. I actually do not own any white midi skirts. Crazy right?

8. ASOS Premium Bonded Lace Skirt in Floral (Link)- well is there a point for me to justify why I want this? Its a weighty midi that I do not need in Dubai heat but I love it anyway. I like the color combo and all you need is a white tshirt for an instant outfit.

Let me know which ones should I get? Or do you have some other interesting items in your Saved folder that I should take a look at?

FOTD Berry Lips

So here is an idea. Lets do a chit chat post with a little face of the day thrown in.

There is a a lot of new things I used for this look so I'm thinking I do short review of the products as well.

I have be been wanting to try Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua(Link) foundation for ages. Not even sure why as I typically prefer a bit more coverage and this is super lightweight but it might be because I kept reading such positive reviews on it. As I have a tan from Sri Lanka and my skin overall is in a pretty good condition I figured now is the time. So happy that I can now join the row of pleased beauty addicts cause this foundation is looovely. It has enough power to make skin look even but feels super lightweight. Its luminous in the best way and I love the slightly powdery smell. Its one for the good skin days for sure and I dont think it would hold up to the summer heat in Dubai but its absolutely perfect for now. Havent used anything else since I got this.

Second new thing is the Clarins Pro Eyebrow(Link) palette. I am not a fan of the dainty little tools in the kit so those go untouched (lost the tiny tweezers already when the cat pushed them behind a cupboard) but the products are all awesome. Three shades of brown for shaping your brows and a proper setting wax. I love the wax as my brows tend to be a bit unruly and dont stay put for the whole day without it. I didn't expect to like the baby pink looking eyeshadow but its perfect for under the eyebrow. Super natural but so brightening. All in all I am very pleased with my new brow kit.

Oldies but goodies are the Tarte Natural Beauty blush(Link) and the Clinique Airbrush Concealer(Link). Both excellent products that I have been using for a while and they still haven't ended up at the back of the drawers. Fairly new but I have written about it in the blog already is the Kevin Aucion Candelight Celestian Powder(Link) highlighter - soo good I dont have words for it. No there is a word for it- divine! I used it in inner corners of the eyes and a little on the cheek bones and down my nose.

 Three new things left. The most prominent in the look and my very first berry colored lip gloss. Simone got me this Mac Lipglass in Utterly Tart (Link). This is from the Mac Indulge Collection so its a limited edition. I have had it for a while but couldn't wear it as stuff like this sets into my lip lines very fast. Until now because I finally found a perfect lip liner for it. I mean I could have gotten something cheaper than a YSL lip liner(Link) but oh well. The shade is 21 and this liner is sooo pretty just worn on its own but perfect with the mac lipglass.

Lastly I have a new mascara Gucci Opulent(Link). This is great. I can do a separate review if you are interested but its a mascara so you know. Not much to say. However more importantly LiLash is definitely working!! I think you can see on this photo as well. I mean the mascara is good and lengthening but my lashes are waay longer than they used to be.

And there we have it. An easy but I think rather impactful look and its nice to have a change to all the red and pink lip I usually wear.

Let me know what you think? Also if you have a favorite berry shade I should check out?