OOTD: Feather Fever

Sometimes I get emails about the strangest things and sometimes I just can't resist saying yes. When an email from Novum Crafts dropped into my inbox asking if I'd like to review a Native American headdress, I knew I had no actual need of one but of course I still wanted it. Who can blame me; they're just so much fun!

Headdress: Novum Crafts* Top: Urban Outffiters. Skirt: Vintage. Belt: Primark. Rings and Necklaces: Primark

One of my first ever blog posts was a DIY to make your own headdress and it still gets a few repins on Pinterest, despite its horrible photography! However I've always dreamed of owning my own show-stopping headdress and this Turquoise 75cm Native American Headdress is simply perfect. It's dramatic without being huge and surprisingly wearable - for a feather headdress anyway! I think it would be perfect for fancy dress parties or festivals, but it also looks great hanging on my bedroom wall as a piece of homeware, 

Today I wanted to have a little fun with my outfit post. I teamed the headdress with a denim skirt and strappy summer cami. I picked up the denim skirt at Judy's Vintage Fair in Cambridge, one of my favourite vintage fairs which always has some hidden gems. I love the retro style, although I am still obsessed with suede skirts and I wish I owned one for this look. The cami top is an old favourite from an Urban Outfitters sale and it's a great top to sling on for a night of dancing; I love the folk embroidery and it's so comfortable and versatile. 

I was braver than usual with my makeup as I felt the headdress really deserved a strong look to go with it. I normally simply wear neutral colours on my eyes but I dug out my Storm palette by Sleek and decided to experiment with blues. It felt really out of my comfort zone, as I never experiment with my eyeshadow but I think the final look is actually pretty wearable, yet matches nicely with the beautiful turquoise feathers. 

I was seriously impressed with how well the headdress is made and also how comfortable it is to wear. Rather than a headband, it is structured around a cap-like hat which sits happily on my head without any slipping or tightness. The feathers are attached together by a long string of elastic, which gives the headdress some movement but also means nothing gets twisted or broken. Sometimes I just want something fun in my wardrobe and I really couldn't resist twirling around as my friend patiently photographed me. Hopefully you can tell that we had a lot of fun!

What do you think of the headdress? I'd love to hear some comments!

Jess

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OOTD: I Solemnly Swear

Oh look, it's another outfit post with a Harry Potter theme, and I'm not sorry at all! The unusual thing about this post isn't the Harry Potter top, but the fact I'm wearing jeans...

Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters. Vest: Primark. Boots: Primark. Belt: Primark.

I've probably mentioned before that I am not the kind of girl who wears jeans. I am definitely a dresses and skirts girl - somehow jeans don't look quite right on me. However, when I recently went shopping with a friend and popped in to American Eagle Outfitters, I somehow found myself trying on jeans. They were a bargain at just £15 rather than the £40ish they were originally listed as and I picked up some skinnies and these mom jeans to try on. The skinny jeans were quickly rejected but I found myself loving these dark mom jeans. The rips are very 'trendy' but I don't think they look too daft on me - at least I hope not! I like the oversized casual style, the high-waist and the rolled bottoms. I think this fit suits my shape much better than standard skinny jeans - take note, short girls with thighs - and works well with an oversized casual top.

Today I teamed the jeans with my latest Harry Potter top from Primark. Since I was getting out of my comfort zone with the jeans, I decided to stick to something I love on the top half, so it had to be a Harry Potter top! I love the cute cropped vest too style and, of course, the Mauraders Map motto "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." It's great to chuck on with these jeans or some other high waisted bottoms. I added some chunky boots which I picked up for just £10 from Primark. They're great to 'toughen up' a look - a phrase which I always feel ridiculous and pretentious using, but it's the perfect description for chunky, slightly masculine boots.

I couldn't resist getting my pose on in my garden; I definitely got slightly carried away! However, these jeans might be the start of my conversion to the denim side of fashion. I am amazed by quite how comfortable they are, as the fabric is super soft and the slightly oversized feel means you don't have to pour yourself into them. They are simply perfect for casual days or drinks with friends and I love it when choosing something out of your comfort zone pays off.

What are your thoughts on denim? What do you think of the outfit?

Jess

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5 Senses of Turkey with Thomas Cook

Last week, I was kindly invited by the wonderful Talented Talkers to an event in London with Thomas Cook to celebrate Turkey. I've been really enjoying writing travel posts recently and I have actually visited Turkey once before, many years ago. I have to admit I didn't enjoy it - although to be fair to Turkey, it wasn't its fault. We had traveled there on a family holiday but a few days before our flight, mine and my brother's middle school, which was also my Mum's place of work, was burnt down by an ex-pupil. When your Mum has lost her classroom and your house is covered in smoke thanks to your school burning down across the road, it's pretty hard to enjoy yourself on your holidays!

Therefore I was excited to give Turkey another chance thanks to Thomas Cook and experience the '5 senses' on offer at Paradise by the way of Kendal Green, the wonderful location for the event. As soon as we headed up the stairs, we entered a Turkish world, full of beautiful pottery, incredible Turkish music and the scents of orange blossom and rose water. We explored our five senses; for scent, there were beautiful perfumes which spread across the room; for sound, we were treated to the wonderful upbeat traditional music from the talented Turkish drummer and violinist; for sight, we got to dress up in some vibrant embroidered Turkish costumes and for touch, we made ourselves our very own body scrub. Mine was made from sea salt, rose water and jojoba oil and, much like the coffee and coconut scrub I made with Preloved, it left my skin feeling smooth and nourished. I love making natural body scrubs as a cheap and wholesome alternative to exfoliating products and I loved that the rose water gave this scrub a Turkish twist.

That leaves one sense; taste. Unsurprisingly, I loved the Turkish themed cocktails, particularly the Turkish Delight Martini which was made from vanilla vodka, white creme de cacao and rose water. Thank you Thomas Cook for the lovely photo of the Turkish Delight Martini, since I drank mine before I thought to photograph it - rookie blogger error! A martini is always a great way to explore the sense of taste, but I was impressed with the local Turkish wines too. I also enjoyed the meze options, especially as 'picky' foods is on of my favourite ways to eat a meal, mixing and matching small tastes of different flavours and trying a little bit of everything. As you might have guessed, taste was my favourite of all the senses on offer - food and drink definitely makes or breaks a holiday for me! 

Michelle, one of the airline staff, looked as glamorous as you would expect as she explained the various locations which Thomas Cook fly to; Antalya, Dalaman, Bodrum and Izmir. I particularly liked the sound of Antalya. Like the whole of Turkey, the beaches are stunning and the nearby Sime beach has both golden sand and Roman ruins, which sounds fascinating. After visiting Plitvice Lakes in Croatia and falling in love with the national park, I think the Duden Waterfalls sound incredible - there really is nothing more breathtaking than a set of waterfalls! I'd really love the chance to try Turkey again and truly enjoy the experience, without the worry of a fire in my mind! 

The event definitely left me craving a holiday full of sun, sand, beautiful scents and Turkish baths. Have you ever been to Turkey? Where would you recommend?

Jess

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