OOTD & FOTD || BELL SLEEVES AND RED HALO EYES

Ever since I laid my eyes on this Primark Bell Sleeved Top, I knew it was love at first sight - I just HAD to buy it. This top was only £10... Erm, excuse me but can we just appreciate that it so affordable and looks like it could be from River Island or Topshop??

Is it weird that I dressed up just to go shopping on my own? Sorry, but if I'm going to spend money on clothes I have to wear them out even if I look extra :') I own a few bell-sleeved tops now which I started collecting last year as I think they're so flattering and make every outfit look extra special. I mean, I matched this shirt with a pair of white ripped Jamie jeans, a big buckle belt and heeled mules, and this is something you can wear to an event, shopping, drinks etc. - ANYWHERE.

I also live in my Black Mules from Primark, which only cost me £10! I'm sorry, but Primark is killing it this year with their amazing fashion steals!🔥🔥🔥
I've been lusting over big Western-style buckle belts but couldn't find one within my budget so I settled for this gorgeous but simple buckle belt for £2, also from Primark (of course). I bought this belt in this dusky pink shade, as well as a deep mahogany brown which looks beautiful with my Mom Jeans.

On the other hand, my halo eye makeup was created using the Jeffree Star Beauty Killer Palette. I absolutely love this eyeshadow palette as the number of different looks you can create is infinite! I used the shade 'Courtney' as a base shadow and added some more in my crease for extra definition. I then went ahead and blended out the shade 'Confession' in my crease and inner corner, followed by 'Violence' for extra depth. Then, finally, I used my favourite shade from the palette called 'Princess' and put it in the centre of my lid for the halo effect. - If you're wondering what brushes I used to create this eye look then click here.
And that's it! The whole eye look is complete and it only took about 8 minutes to create! I've been loving dark pink and purple shades recently so that's practically all I've been wearing the past few weeks!

Have you got a favourite outfit that you can't get enough of? What about an eyeshadow look if you were makeup?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

WHAT'S IN MY SPRING MINI CROSS-BODY BAG?

I recently got a new cute little cross-body bag, so what better post to share with you than a 'what's inside my bag'?

As you can see, the bag is quite small but I have the powers of Mary Poppins and can always find enough room to shove all my things in, haha! My purse takes up the most room in my bag and I didn't want to replace it with a smaller coin purse as I never know how many cards I will need! (By this I mean loyalty/membership/gift cards - not debit/credit cards!!)

Another essential for me is a pair of sunglasses. I'm not sure if you're all aware but I do have to wear prescription glasses and my eyes tend to get really dry and sensitive in daylight so I always carry a pair of sunnies with me everywhere I go. I got these marble ones from Primark for only £3! What a bargain!

My house keys need to be on me 24/7 otherwise, I panic haha. Once I thought I wasn't able to go to work because I couldn't find my keys when I actually hung them up on my pinboard... :'). Now I always keep them in sight - either in my bag when I'm out, or on the table next to the front door.

I used to carry around a makeup bag with a full-face of goodies inside when I was at school & college, but now I can't be bothered to carry all the weight when I'm constantly on the go with an already heavy bag. Now I narrow it down to 2-3 products and this Spring I've been loving my Benefit Porefessional License to Blot Stick (now discontinued), any of the NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams, and a small bottle of perfume - this time is the Ted Baker XO Extraordinary fragrance.

Of course, my phone is going to find its way in my bag, haha. I use it to take some pictures for my social media when I carry a small bag around but hopefully, I'll be upgrading to a new phone soon(ish) so I won't have to drag my big camera around everywhere with me anymore.


*This post contains affiliate links.

What have you got in your bag this Spring? Any essentials you can't live without?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

2017 || APRIL FAVOURITES

April, April, April... What a rollercoaster of emotions you were - just like the weather you brought to us this year! I must say I loved quite a few of the same items this year so it might look like a review - but I promise you they are so worth it.

First up, I've been really enjoying using the Kerastase Voluminifique Spray. I have very thin hair and it's difficult to keep it looking volumised and thick. I've been using this spray after every wash and then blow drying and styling my hair as usual, and I have noticed a change in the volume even after sleeping with my hair down. This is honestly a Holy Grail for me and I highly recommend it to all who haven't been blessed with thick hair.

The Collection Glam Crystals Dazzling Gel Eyeliner in Glitz was my first glitter liner from this collection. It makes creating glam cut crease looks so much easier and it's great for those who aren't very good at using loose glitter as it sticks to the eyelid without any extra glitter glue. I try to use these as much as I can, but the turquoise shade is hands down my favourite and will get a lot of use this Summer!

Bell sleeves - my true love this Spring. How beautiful is this top from Topshop though? Not only has it got bell sleeves (which are so in this Spring - read my 'What's fashionable this Spring' post here), but also the oh-so-cute pie crust neckline! This is the top that's in my pictures however, the teal colour seems to be sold out on the website. I know for a fact that I'll be getting some more colours soon!

What have you been loving this April? Other than the hot days of course!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

HOW I FACE MY FASHION FEARS - TRY-DAY FRIDAY - IT'S OKAY TO STEP OUT YOUR COMFORT ZONE

It feels like forever since I last spoke about fashion - I'm very sorry about that as I know how much you love these kinds of posts. I promise I'll do more of those from now on! It's just hard to find the time for photo shoots and the right kind of person to take them! Once I'm done with my 2nd year at uni I will focus 100% on blogging so I hope you're all as excited as I am!

*Jumper, Mom Jeans, and Choker are from Primark

The idea behind this post is to share with you my fashion fears, and believe it or not there are quite a few... For example, I find it very difficult to have my arms and shoulders out because of my post-acne scars, but since being challenged by Dia&Co to step out my comfort zone and try something different this Friday, I wanted to show everyone that we all have our own insecurities even though we might seem confident.

Many people (including myself), feel like they can't wear a certain outfit because of their insecurities. I personally don't feel like I can pull a maxi dress off because of my height - I'm only 5ft3". But why does it actually bother me? I've been put down by people I used to call my 'friends' and I guess it stuck around with me that I'm 'small and tubby', but being a size 8-10 I know it isn't true.

*Leotard - H&M, Bra - Pink at Victoria's Secret

The company Dia&Co specialise in 14+ size clothing where they send you a Dia Box that's styled up by one of the team members and if you don't like something you can exchange it for something else - the great thing about this company is that you don't have to pay until you decide which items you'd like to keep! Erm, sign me up now, please!! I'd love for something like this to be available for petite girls like me!

*Loafers - H&M

How many times have you felt like you can't wear something because of your own insecurities or having other people's thoughts on your mind? Well, hear me out now, stuff them! Who cares what they think? If they think negatively then it shows that they're insecure about themselves, but I can guarantee you will receive a lot of compliments if you wear that floral skirt or those pointy kitten heels - trust me! Us women should empower one another instead of bringing each other down, so I say rock that outfit girl and make sure you pay others compliments too because it will make you feel good knowing that your little gesture could have made someone's day!

I now challenge all of you, my lovely readers, to rock the outfit you've been wanting to for ages but never got 'the chance' to wear ;)

*This post isn't sponsored and all opinions are my own. I was asked to share my fashion fears by the brand and decided to mention them independently. 

Lots of love,

Maya xo

WHAT'S HOT THIS SPRING/SUMMER - #NOTTMFW PRESS EVENT

Last month I attended a press event hosted by Gemini Marketing in Nottingham which was a cheeky preview of what's hot in SS17 before the fashion show in Nottingham on the 25th March.

I was greeted with the most beautiful glitter bomb cocktail, oh my, I was in heaven. There was also lots of tasty snacks varying from cupcakes to MOD pizza (my new favourite pizza place). The staff at the Beauty Temple were very lovely and welcoming, and I got complimented on my outfit and makeup (yes, get in haha!!).

The mini show was presented by two lovely ladies (forgive me for forgetting their names) who looked amazing in their outfits! I actually bought the same top one of them was wearing - thanks for the inspo! The two models - Jamie and Ryan rocked the SS17 looks.

*the micro bag is my new favourite statement piece - but will our huge phones even fit in?!

So, what are the hot trends for this year? I'm so excited that it is officially Spring so I can use it as an excuse to buy loads more clothes hehe...

Back to the Fuchsia - definitely one of my favourite trends as I love bright pink colours - I know for a fact that my mum is gona go crazy over this trend and wear pink head to toe as she owes so many gorgeous fuchsia pieces!

Born in the 80's - say yes to Madonna Rock 'n' Roll leather trousers and cowboy boots! This S/S is all about shoulder pads, ruffles and neon - yes, yes, YES!!

Statement Sportswear - probably the most comfy of all of the trends! I'm looking forward to styling
up plain joggers with some fishnets tights and cropped jumpers.

Twisted Tailoring - who doesn't love a funky detail to their outfits? Like one of those 'half and half' jumpers you can buy in Topshop. If you don't want to splurge on a new outfit but make it look very trendy then put on an old checked shirt (Gingham is very in atm) and pin it up wonky - this was our biggest nightmare a few years back but it's now turned into a trend!

Check-Mate - like I mentioned above, gingham is very much in and I couldn't be happier. I saw a gorgeous checked dress in Primark and I wish I bought it! Now I'm gona have to go back and try it on to see if I can pull it off haha!!

Spring-Bling - if you're very much into sequins and sparkles then this is perfect for you. I love glitter, I would bathe myself in it if I could so this is a great opportunity to add some bling into your wardrobe.

We were all spoilt by the organisers of the event (thank you so much Gemini!). In my goodie bag I received a bottle of Orangina with a cute paper straw, a free pizza voucher from MOD pizza (yum yum, a full restaurant review will be up soon!), some perfume samples, a front row seat ticket to the Nottingham Fashion Show, a magazine and some other bits and bobs!

I'm very excited for the fashion show, I will take many snapchats and insta stories so be sure to follow me on those: @missmayasx 

Lots of love,

Maya xo