Dolly Mixture - High Neck Dress from R édition at La Redoute

The second I put on this pretty High Neck Dress from R édition at La Redoute, I felt like a 60s dolly. I love everything about it from the neckline to the fluted sleeves, the length to how cute it makes my VBO look!

Rebel Rebel - Maybelline Color Sensational Vivid Matte Liquid Lipstick in Rebel Red

As someone who wears their hair down fairly frequently, matte lipsticks are my make-up bff! I've recently found myself drawn more and more to the liquid variety, and have tried out several drug store brands to see what they can offer. Of the few I've recently tested, this bright red offering from Maybelline was hands down my favourite!

Addicted To Love (and monochrome)

I know, I know - shock, horror, it's me in yet another pair of trousers! Who is this person, and where have all her floral and polka dots gone? She's still there someone, and without a doubt will be back on the blog shortly, but for now I'm really enjoying playing around with my wardrobe and just having fun.

With this look, I felt part way between a chubby rock star and bad ass biker babe which is probably as far away from my usual bumper bangs and hair flowers as you can get! I loved pairing the high waisted jeans with a white shirt, and simply unbuttoned and tied it up to give it more of a cropped finish.

Shirt: Simply Be

Jeans: HM+

Biker Jacket: HM+ (Old season)

Sandals: George (Old season)

The only thing I'll say is that I needed to size up with both the blouse and the jeans (two sizes in the jeans, in fact!) If you're smaller in the bust than I am, your normal size will probably be fine but if you've got a lot up front, size up to avoid the dreaded gape of doom!

I really like this outfit, and it was put together very much with my friend Chattermonkey in mind. It's the right balance of smart vs casual for me to go and meet clients and has definitely made me want to continue to further push through my self imposed style limitations.

Until next time,

Diana x ❤ x

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Paint The Town Red - Sleek Pout Paint Lip Stain in Pin Up

It really doesn't matter that I have a drawer filled with approximately 100 million variants of red lipstick - show me a blue based red which I haven't tried before, and I will be all over it like nutella on a pancake stack.

That was my exact reaction when I came across the Pin Up shade of Pout Paint from Sleek Make-up. It kept coming up in conversation as a fantastic dupe for the Lime Crime Velveteens and OCC Lip Tar, but at a fraction of the price. Plus I loved the idea behind the Pout Paints and their excellent concept of mixing the range together to create your own personalised shade.

When used alone, Pin Up is a fantastic cherry red shade. The texture is thick without being gloopy, and dries to a lovely satin finish without making your lips feel cracked. It's not one to put on in a hurry though. Coming in a literal paint tube, the mixture needs to be applied with care, a lip brush and a steady hand. The formula applies semi-sheer and can be built up to a strong, solid colour for the perfect pout. Whilst you'll need to be careful when eating and drinking, the stain is generally long lasting but it is best to apply over lip primer and lip pencil for the most resilient finish.

My favourite feature of the Pout Paints is that they are designed to be used with other shades in their range. In addition to a variety of pinks and peaches, an orange, blue and white are available to mix things up. The orange warms your shade, the blue will darken and take your retro red to a dark plum with the white allowing you to lighten up your chosen mix. You simply apply basic colour theory to a paint palette, and create your own stunning lip shade to suit your mood. And with the tubes coming in at under £5, you don't have to melt your credit card to build up a collection of shades.

Having fallen in love with the pigment packed paint tubes, I am now absolutely desperate to get my hands on the rest of the range - especially the blue shade for that film noir finish. Whilst they're not the sort of product you can slap on and go, they are something which any make-up lover should have in their cosmetics arsenal as they are incredibly adaptable and lots of fun to play with.

Until next time,

Diana xx

Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Paint The Town Red - Sleek Pout Paint Lip Stain in Pin Up

It really doesn't matter that I have a drawer filled with approximately 100 million variants of red lipstick - show me a blue based red which I haven't tried before, and I will be all over it like nutella on a pancake stack.

That was my exact reaction when I came across the Pin Up shade of Pout Paint from Sleek Make-up. It kept coming up in conversation as a fantastic dupe for the Lime Crime Velveteens and OCC Lip Tar, but at a fraction of the price. Plus I loved the idea behind the Pout Paints and their excellent concept of mixing the range together to create your own personalised shade.

When used alone, Pin Up is a fantastic cherry red shade. The texture is thick without being gloopy, and dries to a lovely satin finish without making your lips feel cracked. It's not one to put on in a hurry though. Coming in a literal paint tube, the mixture needs to be applied with care, a lip brush and a steady hand. The formula applies semi-sheer and can be built up to a strong, solid colour for the perfect pout. Whilst you'll need to be careful when eating and drinking, the stain is generally long lasting but it is best to apply over lip primer and lip pencil for the most resilient finish.

My favourite feature of the Pout Paints is that they are designed to be used with other shades in their range. In addition to a variety of pinks and peaches, an orange, blue and white are available to mix things up. The orange warms your shade, the blue will darken and take your retro red to a dark plum with the white allowing you to lighten up your chosen mix. You simply apply basic colour theory to a paint palette, and create your own stunning lip shade to suit your mood. And with the tubes coming in at under £5, you don't have to melt your credit card to build up a collection of shades.

Having fallen in love with the pigment packed paint tubes, I am now absolutely desperate to get my hands on the rest of the range - especially the blue shade for that film noir finish. Whilst they're not the sort of product you can slap on and go, they are something which any make-up lover should have in their cosmetics arsenal as they are incredibly adaptable and lots of fun to play with.

Until next time,

Diana xx

Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Great Big Kiss - Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet, A Liquid Lipstick in Grand Cru (Shade 8)

I'm an utter sucker for red lipstick, so was really intrigued when I started to hear great things about the long lasting liquid versions. The Rouge Edition Velvet range from Bourjois was the one which seemed to stand out the most amongst the high street ranges, and with it's promise of a non-drying matte finish, I couldn't wait to try it out.

I choose a lovely dark burgundy red with a pink tint called Grand Cru (Shade 8), and the first thing I noticed was it didn't need a lip liner to stop it from bleeding. The slanted applicator applied a strong, opaque swipe of colour across my lips which felt soft and light-weight, and didn't leave my lips feeling dry at all. The wand also gave you the precision needed to paint the liquid on, which dries quickly to a velvet-matte finish.

But the best thing about the lipstick? It doesn't budge or fade at all throughout the day. Unlike traditional reds where you need to set them over lip liner and blot with powder for durability, the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet stayed put throughout, even when eating and drinking. The only downside is that it can flake off if your lips are dry, but a little exfoliation will sort that problem right out.

In terms of high street ranges, this is the best product I've come across in a long time. There are eight colours in the range, all of which are bold variants of red and pink. They are perfect for the festive season, taking you from office water cooler to office Christmas party without the need for a touch-up!

Until next time,

Diana xx

Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Great Big Kiss - Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet, A Liquid Lipstick in Grand Cru (Shade 8)

I'm an utter sucker for red lipstick, so was really intrigued when I started to hear great things about the long lasting liquid versions. The Rouge Edition Velvet range from Bourjois was the one which seemed to stand out the most amongst the high street ranges, and with it's promise of a non-drying matte finish, I couldn't wait to try it out.

I choose a lovely dark burgundy red with a pink tint called Grand Cru (Shade 8), and the first thing I noticed was it didn't need a lip liner to stop it from bleeding. The slanted applicator applied a strong, opaque swipe of colour across my lips which felt soft and light-weight, and didn't leave my lips feeling dry at all. The wand also gave you the precision needed to paint the liquid on, which dries quickly to a velvet-matte finish.

But the best thing about the lipstick? It doesn't budge or fade at all throughout the day. Unlike traditional reds where you need to set them over lip liner and blot with powder for durability, the Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet stayed put throughout, even when eating and drinking. The only downside is that it can flake off if your lips are dry, but a little exfoliation will sort that problem right out.

In terms of high street ranges, this is the best product I've come across in a long time. There are eight colours in the range, all of which are bold variants of red and pink. They are perfect for the festive season, taking you from office water cooler to office Christmas party without the need for a touch-up!

Until next time,

Diana xx

Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Summer Fun To The Max(i) - looking past the label to find the perfect maxi dress from H&M.

For the last year, I've been on the hunt for the perfect maxi dress to swish around in come the summer. Although at 5'6" my height is pretty average, I wanted something which I could wear with flats and it seemed to be an ever elusive design concept. I'd pretty much given up hope until I found myself in H&M looking for a birthday gift, and instead saw the holy grail of maxi dresses hanging in front of me. As it was from their main range, I was dubious that a main range L size would contain my K-cup cleavage so it was with trepidation that I tried it on in the changing room.

Cherry Lips, Go Baby Go: A Seventeen Stay Pout Lipstick in Infrared which is the perfect dupe of Mac's Ruby Woo.

I find that buying a lipstick tends to be an instant mood lifter, and with the new Seventeen Stay Pout range coming in at below £5, I just had to give it a try.

I saw Maybelline in a Coup de Ville.

It's been a while since I've wrote about any of the new cosmetics I've brought, but after being unable to resist Superdrug's "Buy One Get One Half Price" on Maybelline, I was so impressed I just had to blog!

I brought two things -  the Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in Hollywood Red and the Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes Mascara in black.

Let's start with the lipstick - the shade is less red and more of a pink and is the perfect day-time colour for anyone who loves a touch of vintage glamour. Stuck in the middle of a nude and pink-red, the colour is dense and moisture packed leaving your lips feeling soft and hydrated.

Rather than using a pink or red lip liner, I chose to use a white liner to define my top lip and smudge inwards to act as a natural highlighter. The above photo doesn't do it justice at all, and it is a dream to apply. It's one of those rare lipsticks I felt I could apply straight from the tube rather than needing a brush which is always a bonus when on the go!

The second item was the Maybelline Falsies Big Eyes Mascara in black. I brought this on a total whim, and am so glad I did because for the first time, I am able to cover my lower lashes without looking like a panda!

The wand design is very clever. It's double ended with a thicker brush designed for your longer top lashes and a mini brush to reach those hard to get tiny ones on bottom. The mascara texture itself is lengthening, thickening and clump-free when combed through with care. I also found that a sprinkling of setting powder dusted on with a fan brush before the mascara application really made them telescopic! The mascara is perfect for when you want a high-impact look with very little effort as it makes your eyes do all the talking.

Normally when I fall into a sales trap, I instantly regret the impulse choices as soon as I get home. (Note to self: no more liquid liners!) This time though, I couldn't be any more thrilled with my choices and both things have safely found a new home in my everyday make-up bag.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

Cherry Lips - My Favourite Red Lipstick For Festive Flirtations.

Despite having two large make-up bags filled to bursting point with a collection of red lipsticks, I will always be happy to discover another which I just can't live without. Blue based, pink based, matt, sheer - there are so many to transform my face from day to night with the mere flick of a lid.

The transition to Autumn and Winter often brings beauty trends which are lead with a slew of vampish shades, and as we get closer to the sparkling fun of the party season, there really isn't a better time of year to find your perfect shade. The five below are the current selection fighting it out in my main make-up bag, all red, yet all incredibly different.

1. Bésame Colour Lipstick in Bésame Red (£22).

Bésame Colour Lipstick in Bésame Red (£22).

Bésame Cosmetics produce a line of vintage inspired beauties for your make-up bag, with their reproduction packaging as much a key feature as the product inside. Their lipsticks come in a range of reds, but it is their signature shade - a semi-matte, feather proof blue based vibrant red which has become my go to shade for every special event or photo call. The vintage inspired gold bullet shaped case comes in it's own red velvet protective pouch for storage, and the lipstick itself is enriched with vitamins A, E, C, aloe and green tea. I feel like a silver screen siren whenever I use it, with it's navy undertones cooling against the pinkness in my pale skin.

2. Lipstick Queen in Scarlett Red Sinner (£20).

Lipstick Queen in Scarlett Red Sinner (£20).

When my lovely sort-of-sister-in-law gave me the pow-packed Scarlett Red Sinner by Lipstick Queen for my birthday, I was over the moon! This had been on my to-buy list for as long as I could remember. The full coverage red is incredibly pigmented, opaque, matte and yet somehow still manages to remain creamy and rich on the lips. Although it leans towards the cooler blue based lipsticks, it's not quite the navy undertones of Bésame and as such sneaks under the day time radar, especially when teamed with a soft, 1940s style flick on the eyes.

3. Dainty Doll in 002 / Saucy Sailor (£12.50).

Dainty Doll in 002 / Saucy Sailor (£12.50).

I found the idea behind Nicola Roberts' Dainty Doll to be a great concept. With the palest shades of drugstore foundations often still a little on the yellow side, she created a range of products for pale skinned people which really caught my milk bottle faced attention when it first launched. I was sceptical when the items quickly seemed relegated to online discount bins, but upon seeing this lipstick reduced to just £5 on Amazon, I thought I'd take a chance. It was the name which convinced me, and I'm glad I purchased it as the lipstick offered a moisturising, modern take on the classic red lip. The colour is evocative of the 40s screen siren, but it's shiny finish made it day wear friendly. If you google the name, there are quite a few online shops offering this lipstick for around the £5 mark so grab yourself a festive bargain whilst you can!

4. Barry M Ultra Moisturising Lip Paint  in LP160 / Black Cherry (£4.49).

Barry M Ultra Moisturising Lip Paint  in LP160 / Black Cherry (£4.49).

Barry M are proof that you don't need to spend a small fortune to get a highly pigmented colour pay-off. Available at pocket money prices, their new range of Ultra Moisturising Lip Paints are made with lip loving Cocoa Butter - perfect for battling the winter cold! Black Cherry is the ultimate Christmas vamp shade - the dark purple-red feels a little film noir, and is perfect for bringing your inner femme fatale out to play.

5. No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Berry (£9).

No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Berry (£9). 

The No7 High Shine Lip Crayon in Berry is my go-to product when I need to make an impact, but don't have much time. The berry colour is gorgeous, and it's crayon format means it's incredibly easy to apply yet still finishes as a beautiful high-shine gloss. As it's sheer, it's also a product which despite the intense colour, easily passes as day wear. I frequently wear it to meetings with gold eyeshadow and a soft pink flush on the cheeks to create a striking look which isn't too overpowering.

(Note: This is an honest, impartial review after purchasing an item, and not one which I have been paid for.)

Until next time,
Diana xx

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www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All product photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)