Black Velvet

While taking a break from my coursework, I was reading through some blogs, I came across a post on the Walk The Sand blog about this black velvet headband from Topshop (here on the website).

It's £12 (without student discount) and will be arriving at my flat in 3 - 6 working days.

It took me about 30 seconds to see it on Walk The Sand and get it up on Topshop's website and another 30 seconds to have it ordered and on it's way to me.

I've been looking for something like this for ages. In the past couple of months, I've really got into the whole headband look (very late, I know). I've mainly been wearing bandanas, but they don't stay on my head very easily or keep my hair under control as I'd like or keep my ears warm, which I hope this headband will. 

Red Hair Appreciation

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted red hair. My mum has red hair, and when I was younger I was hugely jealous of her gorgeous hair. I feel that redheads get a bad press (the whole "ginger-minger" thing), which I completely unfair, and makes me wonder why no-one discriminates against the blondes or brunettes. 

There's a definite trend for having red hair at the moment, which really first started when Cheryl Cole dyed her hair that purpley-red colour. But since I don't really like her colour (it's too fake), here is the original red-headed Girls Aloud member, Nicola Roberts: 

 Christina Hendricks aka Joan from Mad Men has definitely been influential. I mean, who wouldn't want to look like that? Or at the very least, have hair that colour?

Rihanna's red hair, for her softer new look (timed perfectly to go with the release of her album) has made three people I know dye their hair.

And then there's the models, who've been redheads for ages:

Lily Cole

Grace Coddington (she was a model and she's my hero so she's going on here)

and Karen Elson (inspiration for my haircut)

I have dyed my hair red before. It looked like this (ignore the weird face I'm pulling):

Because my hair is so dark, the red dye went an orangey colour, and made my skin look sallow. So it seems I am doomed to have dull brown hair instead of gorgeous red hair. Until I can afford to buy a decent wig. 

Basically, what I'm trying to say is, red hair is beautiful, and here to stay. 

Hair cut.

I've had a hair cut. I've wanted to cut my hair like this for a long time, but it's taken a while to work up the courage. 

Flo x

October shopping.

This is all I bought during the whole of October (that wasn't food, alcohol, desert boots or nail polish): 

A shearling aviator jacket, £25 from Primark. I love this jacket. I umm-ed and erm-ed about it because it is Primark, but its really cosy and keeps me really warm. 

 Brow brush and eyelash comb, £4.50 from Boots. Always useful - I've needed one for ages. It's working pretty well so far. 

 I cannot recommend this Soap and Glory conditioner (£7.50 from Boots) enough. I use it with cheapy, own-brand shampoo, and it works like a dream, especially on my difficult to manage, out of control, curly hair. I discovered it by accident, when "Santa" left it for me in my Christmas stocking, and I haven't looked back - it really defines my curls and makes my hair super shiny. It smells nice too. 

For the last four years (if not longer), I have used a Caudalie face wash (seen here). I felt it was time for a change, so I wandered into Space NK (one of my favourite shops in the world), and a very helpful sales woman helped me choose a new face wash, for £12. So far, it's working very well - my skin is clear, doesn't get to greasy, and, according to my mother, my skin has a 'glow' to it. I don't believe her. 

Budgeting and buying everything for myself has taken some getting used to, but I think I'm doing alright so far. 

Flo x

Holiday Purchases

A few things I picked up on my travels:

1. A hair cream by J.F. Lazartigue. 

When I went to Paris a few years ago, I had a "hair consultation" at the concession J.F. Lazartigue in Printemps and the woman there recommended I used this product. The cream weighs my hair down and stops it from frizzing and going dry, but it doesn't make it look greasy or pull out the curls. I've never been able to find it in the UK, so when we were there I had to pick some up. 

2. A birthday present for someone very special.

3. Delicious macaroons from Laduree. 

4. Foaming face wash by Caudalie. 

Until recently, the only place Caudalie was available in the UK was Space N.K, who charged quite a lot for it. Recently, Boots have been stocking it, but the price has been a little high for my meagre budget, especially now that I have to buy my own skincare products. However, in France, you can pick Caudalie up at any pharmacy. I've used the Facial Foaming Mousse for several years now - it's very gentle for sensitive skin like mine, but it is pretty effective for use against spots. 

5. Chocolate for the Lindt shop (a whole shop, devoted to chocolate - my idea of heaven).

I bought this gorgeous jacket from Pinko. The sleeves are rather long but it's a beautiful cut and it fits like a dream. I bought it from a designer outlet in Tuscany, far superior to the ones in England (it had a Prada store), reduced from 275€ to 75€.

Flo x

More Life Advice

Never go to a foam party when you're having a good hair day and wearing a new dress. Because your friend will think it funny to push you into the foam (that goes up to your waist) and put a load of said foam in your hair.

Before:

This is Charlotte. She's fun. She doesn't push people into foam.

I'm wearing a Gap Kids denim jacket that used to belong to my brother, my "Florence" necklace that I got for my 18th birthday, my new (and possibly ruined) H&M t-shirt dress and a hoop earring I found in my jewellery box that I'm wearing in an ironic way. 

After:

My parting was ruined (to the extent that I actually had to comb my hair this morning) and it took ten minutes in the toilets to get all the mascara and eyeliner off my face.

Flo x

Chop chop

If I cut my hair short I would want it to look like this: 

Natalie Portman

Mia Farrow

Audrey Hepburn

I think Audrey's cut would be best, because her hair curls, like mine does, and it's my favourite. 

And while I would love my hair to look like that, I don't think I could ever bear to not have long (ish) hair - it's a security thing, and if I hated the cut, then it would take forever to grow out again. 

But all of these ladies were very successful after they got their pixie cuts. Maybe I should get it cut in time for my exams. 

Flo x