Grey and Sparkly

14 June 2016

High Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire
I can’t lie, I wear a hell of a lot of grey. Honestly, I never realise how many darker colours I wear until I clean through my wardrobe or rearrange my clothing rail to see very little colour and plenty of blacks and greys. Even during the summer, although I do try to spice it up sometimes, I tend to resort to my old ways and habits! Today is no exception, I’m back at it and still loving it.
Today's a really simple work day. I have one major task to do which involves assessing and improving a website. Along this task is quite complex, I have the entire day to get it done and the office I work in is quite relaxed. My dress is a favourite days like this because the fabric is just so soft. It was a one off buy that I will never regret. The fabric imitates tweed with a static-looking effect to make a basic A-line dress. However the jewels along the collar help to brighten this up a little more and out a fun twist on a simple dress.
Out of true Anika nature, of course I completed the rest of the outfit with all-black accessories. I like to feel cosy at work and because I'm ALWAYS cold so a good jacket like this leather piece is a must. Similarly, tights are essential for me! In the summer, most people are surprised to find out I still wear tights basically all of the time! I love them, and they keep me warm - my fellow freezing friends will agree. I bring a briefcase to work which means I can bring any handbag needed, and today I chose this perfect purse from Next. The buckles help it to stand out from the average LBB (little black bag) and pair well with the dress without taking all attention away from the rest of the look. I find black shoes are perfect for this, everyone need a good pair of ballerinas or flats in their closet - no matter the style!


Dress – Next (similar: 1, 2, 3) // Jacket – Miss Selfridge (similar) // Boots – Next (similar) // Bag – Next (similar)

Dark Summer | Wishlist

10 June 2016

Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire
It’s wishlist time again! Shopping is one of my favourite *cough cough* ‘exercises’ and I absolutely love to create wishlists on Polyvore full of luxury and high street items. It’s one of my favourite networks for discovering new items and people to follow. Creating sets is extremely relaxing, especially when you create something that’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye. One thing I’ve noticed with my style is that I tend to go for darker colours and I’ve decided to sometimes embrace it! Of course, there are occasions where I need to brighten up my ensembles every so often, but I think all-black is so badass, I just love it. Wearing all-black in the sun is a pretty brave thing to do, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a little… ‘dark summer’.

The first thing on my list is the Black Spaghetti Top by Romwe. I have been on the lookout for cute summer tops to wear, because sometimes I’m so warm I barely want to wear anything at all (obviously I would never scar the world by doing that)! The straps on this top turn it from a basic tank top to a unique bralette that will subtly pair well with (literally) anything, and still stand out. It’s a cotton top, and fits perfectly into my theme. To pair with the top, I chose the Black Button Front Skirt from Topshop. I don’t wear a lot of skirts, simply because I don’t have much to pair them with. It can be really hard to find a skirt style that suits your body shape and this is still something I struggle with. Luckily, it means more shopping to ‘experiment’ with my style and what suits me. I usually play it safe with an A-line skirt, and I think this denim utilitarian piece fits well. No wishlist is complete without one high fashion item! The Sac De Jour Nano Leather Tote by Saint Laurent has always caught my eye, it’s so chic it hurts. I think this handbag would be the perfect investment, and joins the many others I have waiting on my list. I love the simple style, and think it projects pure elegance and femininity without being OTT. 

Another luxury bag I liked is the "Totes Amaze" Tote by 3.1 Phillip Lim. Devastatingly, it’s out of stock everywhere but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to include it in my Dark Summer Wishlist. The Harlock Platform Sandals by Jeffrey Campbell are one of the few white items in this list, but luckily they do come in black. For this look, even though it is based on embracing all-black, I really liked the monochrome contrast with white sandals. I think they will stand out even more, and help the outfit to look different too. Along with the White Hardware Belt from Yoins, adding a little splash of white is creating monochrome with minimal effort (see what I did there?)

Finally, the Tether Skeleton Bracelet from Marc by Marc Jacobs is one of my favourite items in the entire wishlist. It may be tiny, and difficult to see from a distance, but I absolutely adore the style. It’s so simply unique, the design behind it is genius. I find that watches like this are pieces that get the most attention without any effort. I love these little gems, as they pull a whole outfit together despite their size. This luxury piece is completely black and may stay near the top of my wishlist for a very long time.

What’s your favourite item?


Style Crush | Chloë Grace Moretz

8 June 2016

Yorkshire, UK
Chloë Grace Moretz has recently become one of my favourite actresses in Hollywood – even though I have many. Despite her age, Chloë has been featured in some amazing films, including Kick-Ass, If I Stay and Neighbours 2. Being completely honest, I never really thought of Chloë as a style icon as she’s not someone who strikes me as flaunting her riches and designer gear. When I think of Chloë, I don’t think of a typical 21st century celebrity with an annoying Instagram feed and three hundred cars. She has a really simple street style, as dresses to suit her taste while subtly staying on trend and in style. Check out ten of my favourite looks from Chloë below! 

Regarding her red carpet and appearance looks, Chloë really knows how to show off a good pattern and invests well in pieces that will catch an eye without being so over the top you have to look away. Not only do I love that fact that she doesn’t feel the need to pout for every photo op, but she also loves her basic casual wardrobe. It’s realistic and comfortable – not everyone walks around in Louboutin’s on a regular Wednesday. Chloë is a style crush for me, because she wears clothing that I can also wear. Her style is youthful, which inspires me to dress in more colour and experiment with my closet a little more. Majority of the young girls in the public eye spend thousands on an outfit, which could also be the case for Chloë occasionally, but she’s an easy fashion idol to imitate because her style is so effortlessly chic!

How Chic Is a Natural Skin Routine This Summer?

5 June 2016

Ilkley, West Yorkshire, UK
Don’t you feel like days you spent on the beach last summer actually happened a million years ago? It’s June already and we can’t wait to show off our new bikinis at the beach! Besides our thirst for salty waves, cold lemonade, and the heat of summer, another feeling waking up is our desire to implement natural ways into our daily routine. Natural skin care is very chic these past few years, and for good reason – it is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Soak in the real nature
There is no way you are going to have beautiful, healthy, and glowing skin if you apply expensive serums and oils and barely ever leave your apartment save from going to and from work. Your skin needs the sun and wind, these are natural elements that remind us that we are alive, and add plenty of essential vitamin D into our bodies. Of course, you should always use sunscreen and limit the time you spend on the beach, but exposing your skin to the sun will give you a nice tan and feed you with vitamins, which means that you will be healthier and your skin will look beautiful. If you are worried about not getting enough vitamin D in your system, do not hesitate to use vitamin supplements and add more fish oil to your diet.
Wash the toxins out
You know that you should drink at least six glasses of water through the day to stay hydrated and health. This does not mean that you should drink water when you’re thirsty (by that time your body is already dehydrated), but try drinking a glass every few hours instead. There is only a certain amount of water our bodies can absorb in an hour, so keep a steady flow instead of drinking four glasses all at once. Making sure you are well hydrated from the inside does not exclude the need of moisturizing, though. Applying rich moisturizer every morning or evening will ensure that your skin keeps its glow, especially the skin on your face. In addition, you should use vitamin C serum, which will help your skin to keep its firmness and elasticity, especially when exposed to the summer sun.

Exfoliate and cleanse regularly
Exfoliating is incredibly important because we should rid our skin from those rough, dry layers which build up every day. Make your own gentle but powerful body scrub using coffee, brown sugar, and coconut oil, and use it at least once a week (better twice, though). However, exfoliating too often can strip your skin from its protective layers too, so don’t do it every day. On the other hand, unlike with exfoliating, you should cleanse your face at least once a day; but since you are doing it on a daily basis make sure you use a mild natural cleanser which will keep your skin soft and not strip it of its natural oils.
Natural masks
It is best to avoid ‘shady’ chemicals that can be found in pretty much any skincare product, and start making our own face and hair masks using ingredients from our fridges and kitchens. Use ingredients rich with oil for dry skin, for example avocado, honey, and coconut oil, and to soothe acne breakouts mix oatmeal, warm water, unsweetened yoghurt, and a bit of honey. If you would like to lighten your skin, simply use fresh lemon juice, honey, and a bit of papaya. In addition to being completely natural and safe, these masks are also delicious!
Remember, blindly following trends has never brought anyone anything good, and just because everyone is talking about something, it doesn’t mean that it is a good thing. Do your research, find out as much as you can about products you intend to use, and don’t hesitate to give up using a product if you notice side effects you don’t like. After all, your health should always come first, not just this season, but always.
This post is a guest post by Zara from highstylife.com!
Images source: Flickr

21 Ways to Speed up a Work Day

3 June 2016

Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
We’ve all been there. You’re at work, it’s around 9.05am and the day feels like it has already been three hours. Everything is dragging and it seems like the office clock is broken because the seconds and minutes are lasting way longer than they’re support to be. Sometimes, the entire week can drag along; and after a few years of walking in different offices and a few locations, I have worked out many ways to help the work day fly by.

Social media
It’s incredibly easy to get lost on Twitter… or Tumblr… or Instagram… or Pinterest…. or… what?

Write for fun
Getting blogposts done seems like a blast when you’re avoiding the secular work.

Finish your grocery list
It’s so much easier to complete the weekly shop when you’re not in the food store and trying to remember 30 items at once.

Play online games
Remember Stardoll? Yeah it’s still a thing. There are thousands of online games to get distracted by, the help the day pass by.

Create a new Pinterest board
Whenever I create a new board, I love to fill it as much as possible before the next one.

Work on your posture
I know my posture needs a lot of work, and why not use an office chair to practise?

Google baby animal pictures
Aren’t they just the cutest? I can’t pick a favourite. No wait, I can: tiger cubs.

Find funny memes
Twitter is the perfect place to find memes, but there are other sites like Reddit, Memebase and memes.com too!

Go to the bathroom
There’s nothing weird about 10 bathroom breaks right?

Perfect your cuppa
At one office job, I spent 20 minutes making each cup of tea. It was not only one of the most entertaining moments of the day, but now I can make a smashing cup of tea.

Snack break!
There’s always time for a snack – time to work on building up that secret drawer.

Discover some new blogs
I love stalking new blogs and using Bloglovin’ to fall in love with a whole load of blog posts, collecting as many as I can.

Read the news
Most news channels and stations have apps which update regular to keep us in the loop.

Plan your next holiday
And plan everything down to the T! A detailed itinerary and lists of landmarks to photograph.

Work on your posture
A good office chair is the perfect opportunity to rehearse a great posture.

Talk to someone
Whether it’s online or in person, engaging in some good conversation will help time fly by.

Five minute jam sesh
Sometimes I don’t even need headphones, when there’s a song stuck in my head (usually a classic Disney one), it’s easy to sing through the whole song and watch five minutes disappear.

Clean your desk
I’m a little OCD so this is more of a hobby for me, but really helps the day seems shorter.

Ask for a new task
A new task that’s exciting and time-consuming is the most obvious way to speed up a work day while actually getting work done!

Walk around
When working in a bigger office, I would occasionally stretch my legs for a little while, it’s healthy.

Observe your surroundings & daydream

People watch, stare out of the window or even inspect the clock! Plus falling into a state of happy daydreaming is definitely one of my favourite things to day. 
Image source: Tumblr
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