Review: ShopAlike.co.uk

Hi everyone, remember me? Sorry it's been so long since I last posted, but I've been really busy with college and university stuff lately. Ok excuses over now, lets get on with this post! 

ShopAlike homepage

I was recently contacted by Beatrix Rossi about doing a review of a new shopping website called ShopAlike.co.uk. She described the site as 'a shopping portal which brings together a full array of shops and products into the one site, therefore making internet shopping easier and faster'. I was happy to do it, because as someone who often spends hours trawling the internet for clothing items, the website concept is definately something that interests me.

On the site's homepage, all the products are organised into clear categories and there is a wide selection of brands. There is also the option of using the search bar. I decided to test how effective the site is by choosing a hypothetical purchase to search for. I tried out both methods of searching (selecting categories and using the search bar) and I found that using the search bar is better if you are looking for something very particular (e.g. a polka dot shirt with and lace collar), as the categories you can select may not be specific enough. If however you just want to browse though a broad selection of something quite vague (e.g a black blazer), selecting from the options is probably the best way to utilize the site. Sometimes, some search results can be a little irrelevant, but was I still able to find what I wanted. Though using ShopAlike I was also introduced to previously unknown (to me) brands that I really like, which is another plus.

A useful tool is the 'sort price' facility, which enables you to sort the search results into price order from lowest to highest. This is definately something that appeals to me as I'm always on the look out for a bargin! But for me the best thing about ShopAlike is the fact it incorporates over 300 partner shops into one website, which cuts out hours of searching though hundreds of different internet shopping locations. I can see myself using this site in the future, next time I need some retail therapy but can't be bothered spending hours searching the interwebz! I would give ShopAlike a rating of 8/10 :)

P.s. I will probably be putting up some outfit posts soon, so you can look forward to those! ;)

Trend: Leather Shorts

Links to Lookbook: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leather is everywhere this Autumn, and Lookbook.nu is no acception. I've put together six of my favourite outfits, all from Lookbook girls who are clearly working this trend! I've seen lots of leather skirts, pants, jackets and dresses recently but I think leather shorts look the best, I really should buy some myself. And I don't think they're just one of those crazy trends that you'll regret after a week either. You can see from the array outfits above that they're versatile, and can be incorporated into a variety of different looks. On looking at the pictures though, I do notice one aspect of uniformity: leather shorts seem to lend themselves to monochrome or earthy toned looks. I think it prevents the outfit from becoming too hectic, since there's already on mix of textures going on. But, as always, that's only my opinion. You can do the leather trend in whatever way you like. Tell me how you would style leather shorts in the comments :)

P.s. This is my last post before I go on holiday to Paris with my sister (excited much!!!), so there won't be any posts for a few days. But rest assured, there will be a shed load of holiday pics for you to see when I get back.. if you're interested that is!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the images used to create the collage of photographs. I put in links to the relevant Lookbook pages. Please contact me if you do not wish your images to be used on my blog.    

Aztec Tee

Aztec tee: Urban Outfitters

denim shorts: eBay

cardigan: Topshop

chelsea boots: River Island

Rosary necklace: Primark

leaf ring: Primark

hearts ring: eBay

bag: H&M

I thought I'd do a quick post of the outfit I wore for my first day back at college (bad times). I do get a few odd looks when I turn up in all my fashion get-up, but I can't be bothered caring what people think anymore. Trust me, life is a lot easier when you don't care about stuff, although it's easier said than done. Anyway, I won't be saying much about the outfit because I need to get on with some work, and start on my uni applications.. bleugh. What I will say is that I love my new H&M bag, which was only £15! You have to hand it to H&M when it comes to stylish bags on a budget. I decided to carry it in that very pretentious, very impractical way that fashiony people tend to carry bags. Hope you enjoyed...

Second-hand Jewellery

So today I thought I'd show you some of my charity shop jewellery. All of these were under £3 each, so it really is worth sifting through the crap to get to the good stuff! You may have seen some of these before in my outfit posts, if you have you'll know that they don't look scruffy or out-of-place when you wear them with new clothes. I think it's a great idea to look in charity shops if you like fashion but you're on a budget. I'm jealous of your thrift stores in America though, they're bigger and better than UK charity shops! These guys know how to do some serious thrifting!  

September Wish List

1, 9, 16, 12 - Topshop

2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 14, 17 - H&M

5, 6, 11 - River Island

7 - In Love with Fashion.com

15 - New Look

13 - ASOS.com

Black is the New Black

Top: charity shop

bag: Urban Outfitters

maxi skirt: Boohoo.com

belt: my dad's

shoes: H&M

Necklace: charity shop

earrings: charity shop

Nails: Bella's choice - H&M 

eyeshadow: Brown - H&M

So this is a bit different from my usual style, since I don't usually wear a lot of black. I quite like it this gothic look though. Makes me feel like a vampire or something, what with me being three shades paler than milk.. but don't worry, I'm not a twilight fan girl. I went hunting round the charity shops today and I picked up this sweet green stone cross necklace for 50p! I would have bought it had it been £5 in a highstreet store. And the top I'm wearing was £2.50 froma charity shop! So I'm well chuffed about that. Sorry I'm always rambling on about charity shops, but you really should give them a try if you haven't already. You never know what you might find.

I'm also sporting some H&M cosmetics today, and although they were very cheap, the quality is pretty good. The shade on my eyes is called Brown, but I think it comes out more coppery, which I actually prefer. I love this shade of nail varnish, I've been wearing loads recently. And if you think it's too garish.. man-up and get some colour in your life! I kid ;)

New in at River Island

All River Island

So another highstreet store, another  New in post. I don't actually shop very often at River Island, but I noticed that recently they've got a lot of nice stuff in. They seem to be going with this 'Chelsea girl' look for Autumn, so I've picked out a few of my favourites from that range, and some other things from the 'just arrived' section.

1) Pussy bow blouse - Brown and chiffon together sounds so wrong, but this diamond-patterned pussy bow number just works for some reason. The print makes it look quite 70's-inspired I think, but with a pair of high-waisted shorts and the right accessories, it would look perfectly up to date. I think it would also look great with skinny jeans and heels for a relaxed night-time oufit.

2) Envelope clutch bag - Snake skin is rumored to be making a come-back this season. But if (like me) you're not a big fan, this classy clutch bag is the perfect way to subtly incorporate it into your wardrobe. But my favourite thing about this bag is the envelope style front. If I had anywhere to go (lol) I'd definitely get myself an envelope clutch for nights out/formal events.      

3) Polka dot contrast collar dress - Whenever I see a dress with a collar like this, my first thought is always 'I want now!!' usually followed by 'I can't afford it' which is then followed by 'not fair :'(' So you can see I have the mental age ten year old when it comes to clothes. Anyway, back to the dress. It's pretty and stylish, great for daytime or a night out. Wear it with brogues and a red satchel bag for the ultimate dose of preppiness!

4) Varsity-style sweater - I called this varsity-style, but I'm not sure it officailly qualifies.. oh well it'll have to do. I've always wanted a sweater like this, white or light grey. I've seen people wearing them with skinny jeans, looking effortlessly cool. Unfortunately, I can't seem to pull off the effortless look, a certain amount of effort is required to make me look half-decent! Nevertheless, I'm sure it would look lovely on most people, especially with acid-wash denim.

5) Red quilted coat - Now I may be jumping the gun a bit with this thoroughly wintery quilted coat, but you've got to think ahead in fashion right? I've seen a lot of quilted jackets on the highstreet, I think they're shaping up to be next seasons 'it' coats. And there's something therapeutic about a pop of colour (excuse the cliché) in your winter wardrobe, especially when it's red! I'll probably search around for a cheaper version of this though, £55 is a bit pricey for me.

6) Black Chelsea boots - I actually recently bought these boots, and they're my absolute pride and joy! They're just so versatile and they'll be infinitely useful for A/W. The chunky heel is just right for me, small enough to make them easy to walk in but tall enough to give me some (much needed) height. I really recommend these, even though they're not cheap, because they literally go with anything and they're just darn lovely!  

Little Red Dress

Red dress: Boohoo.com

suspender tights: eBay

heels: Dorothy Perkins

bag: Matalan

bracelet: H&M

binoculars necklace: eBay

Rings: Topshop

Something pretty simple today. I wasn't in the mood for a complicated outfit so I just threw on this cute red dress from Boohoo.com. It arrived in the post this morning after about two weeks of waiting! I don't usually shop at Boohoo because I find most of the stuff is chav-gear, but I happened to come across this dress and I had to get it. It was just £15 too, so I don't really need to feel guilty. I'm going to wear this outfit with a black blazer for my friend's 18th on friday, so I'll try not to wreck it before then. It will probably end up in my floor-drobe though, along with everything else haha.

I also ordered a black jersey maxi skirt, which is not something I'd usually go for, but I thought I'd try something a bit different. I'll probably do an outfit post with it pretty soon. What do you guys think of maxi/midi skirts? Tell me if you like them and how you would style them in the comments!        

P.s. I tried out a centre-ish parting in this look. On seeing the photos I can't decide whether I look ok or like a foot.. feel free to tell me how stupid I look in the comments. 

Trend: Pleated Midi Skirts

Links to Lookbook: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Trend alert! Pleated midi skirts are all the rage on Lookbook.nu atm. It's another one of those unexpected 'grannish' trends. I mean who would have thought that mid-length skirts would not only be in fashion, but would look good few years ago? I certainly didn't. But I think there's evidence enough in the photos above that they're definately not just for OAP's anymore. Having said that, there are steps that should be taken to avoid looking like your gran when sporting the midi skirt. A stylish pair of shoes, preferably killer heels, is essential to keep things looking fresh and up to date. And always tuck your top into the skirt, and pull in the waist with a belt to retain a nice silhouette. This will prevent you from being swamped by too much fabric. Of course these are just my suggestions, you can wear the trend in whatever way you want. And it's not like I haven't made a few fashion faux pas in my time.. Ugg boots and sparkly jeans anyone?   

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the images used to create the collage of photographs. I put in links to the relevant Lookbook pages. Please contact me if you do not wish your images to be used on my blog.

P.s. I recently entered the VOLCOMunity competition on Lookbook.nu and it would be really great if you could hype my look! I entered the look you saw in my last post, go here to hype it on Lookbook. It's doing quite well atm, I'm in the top 50. So I might be in with a small chance of winning with your help :)

Vintage Denim

Blouse: Urban Outfitters

DIY vintage shorts: eBay

Platform sandals: H&M

Bag: Urban Outfitters

Ring: Topshop

Necklace: random gift shop?

Earrings: eBay

Nail varnish: 17 - Mint Choc Chip 

So I was finally able to upload this outfit post after having to order a new cable for the camera and then switching to a different computer and THEN coaxing my computer into recognising my usb.. anyway, long story short, the world of technology was conspiring against me when it came to uploading this outfit post!

I'm wearing my vintage shorts I mentioned I few posts back, and I loveeee them! I actually cut them a bit shorter and added a few studs I got off eBay to the top of one of the pockets. It's ridiculously easy to do, I don't why I haven't studded anything before. There's loads of tutorials on Youtube like this one on how to customize denim shorts. I'm especially pleased about these shorts because they are the first thing I've ever won on eBay, since I normally just go for the 'buy it now' option, so I don't have to handle the disappointment of losing the bid (very mature). But I got lucky this time and I swiped these babies for just £8! Get in!

I got the blouse and the bag in the Urban Outfitters sale. The bag was an absolute bargin at £10 but the blouse was a little more expensive. I generally refuse to buy anything from Urban Outfitters unless it's a sale item, because the stuff (although it's lovely) is way over-priced. I think it's a pretty good tactic to wait until the sales to buy the majority of your clothes because not only will you get more for your money, but it stops you from splurging too often.

P.s. If anyone has any requests or suggestions for my next post, please feel free to write them in the comments! :)    

  

Topshop Make up Haul

Lip stick in 'Thrilled',

Cream blush in 'High Five' -

both Topshop

 Firstly, sorry about the lack of outfit posts (or any posts at all) lately. It's quite difficult to get the lighting right where I take the photos because I like to use natural light but the weather is so gloomy most of the time. Ok excuses over, now onto the post! After seeing so many Youtube make up 'gurus' showing off their lovely Topshop make up, I decided I simply had to buy some to pad out my own pitiful collection (does one eyeshadow duo count as a collection?). I wanted to buy it online, but as you can imagine, it's a bit difficult to work out what suits you through a computer screen. But Topshop have solved this problem with their nifty little 'virtual makeover' application, which allows you to upload a photo and try out the different products on your face (see print screen above). There are a few issues with it though. Firstly, they don't seem to update the make up options very often, because a lot of the blushers on the virtual makeover were no longer available to buy. And secondly, the colours on the website aren't exactly the same as they are in real life. The lip stick I bought in the colour 'Thrilled' is more corally than it appeared on the virtual makeover. Luckily, I still like the colour, so Topshop is forgiven!   

New in at H&M

All H&M

H&M have just brought in their new autumn collection, so I thought I'd pick out a few of my favourites to talk about. I noticed there was a lot of warm, earthy tones, so tried to represent that in the collage. Also, leather and lace are going to be big this A/W so I chucked those in the mix too..

1) Boyfriend blazer - A classic piece for any season, but especially useful for your transitional wardrobe. If you live in the UK like me, you'll know what I mean when I say the weather can unpredictable, so it's good to have a simple jacket you can just throw on whenever you need it. The pink lining and cuffs add a touch of character to this otherwise neutral blazer. You can wear it with almost anything as long as it's not beige!

2) Leather shorts - They're not everyone's cup of tea, but like it or not, leather is going to be big this autumn. Personally I love the idea of clashing shiny black leather (or rather pleather in this case) with chunky knits, I find there's something appealing about the mixture of textures. H&M do a lovely leather skirt too which is worth a look.   

3) Gold collar necklace - It's sort of a sophisticated take on tribal jewellery. It has the potential to be worn at most occassions - you can use it to dress up a baggy jumper or pair it with a jumpsuit for a dressy night time look. It really is versatile. It is one of H&M's more expensive jewellery pieces, but compared to some stores it's a steal!

4) Heeled Loafers - Loafers are really dominating the world of footwear this autumn, especially the heeled kind. Just slip these on with a dress, jeans, anything and your outfit has instantly gone up a notch. I think these particular ones would look lovely with a pair of beige knee-high socks, or even some lace ankle socks for a cutesy look. Did you ever think loafers and socks could look good? Nope, me neither ;)  

5) Chunky knitted cardigan - I think chunky knits are the thing I miss most about A/W fashion. I love the colour of this ribbed H&M cardigan. It comes in navy blue and beige too. The knitted cardigan is one of those elusive garments which is both practical and stylish. They're perfect for bringing your summer wardrobe smoothly into autumn. Just add a chunky cardigan and black tights to any summer outfit and it is effortlessly transformed into an autumn-appropriate look.

6) Lace shift dress - Keep things simple and chic with this 60's inspired cream lace dress. I like how H&M have steered away from the traditional floral lace for this dress, and opted for a brocade sort of pattern instead. Just add black tights to this and a structured satchel bag and you're good to go. If you're not into the monochrome look, swap the black tights for coloured ones, that would look great too. Any of these from Topshop would do the trick.     

      

Knee-Highs and Navy Blue

Navy blue dress (with DIY lace collar): New Look

knee-high socks: Tesco clothing (I think..)

black heels: Dorothy Perkins

cameo necklace: Dorothy Perkins

So just another outfit for you today. There's not much to say about this really, it's pretty simple. I added a bit of white lace that I cut off a vest onto the collar of the dress - I just pinned it and sewed it, really easy. I was quite pleased with the result, I think it gives it a nautical sort of look, but not in an obvious way. I hate it when people do the nautical thing, but not with just one item - literally every item they wear is red white or blue, complete with a sailors hat and anchor earrings haha. I like the cameo necklace with this, I think it compliments the peter pan collar nicely, with it's little scalloped edges. It was only £2 in the sale, but it had another chain part attached to it, so I snapped it off with pliers haha.

P.s. sorry about my perpetually pissed-off expression, it's just the way my face looks most of the time! Here I'll insert something amusing but relevant I found floating around on the interwebz. Enjoy...

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the above image. Please contact me if you would like me to remove it from my blog.

      

Trend: Platform Sandals

Links to Lookbook: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

I've recently noticed a growing trend on lookbook.nu: platform sandals. The problem is most of them are from expensive designer brands, which just isn't an option for me. But just as I had given up hope of sporting such lovely chunky sandals, I spotted these babies (above) on the H&M website for just £15 in the sale! Get in! Who needs Jeffrey Campbell and Miu Miu when you have H&M? The only down side is that I have to wait for about 2-3 weeks for them to arrive, but they're so pretty I couldn't resist. I also just bought myself some high-waisted levis shorts on eBay for £10. It's the first time I've ever won a bid haha. Unnecessary spending you say? Well it is nearly my birthday ;)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the images used to create the collage of photographs. I put in links to the relevant  Lookbook pages. Please contact me if you do not wish your images to be used on my blog. 

70's denim

 Button-down shirt: Topshop

70's style denim skirt: Topshop

plait belt: Primark

nude court shoes: Tesco clothing

Navy bag: Charity shop

key necklace: ebay

So here's my second outfit post on the blog.  It was a bit hurriedly thrown together tbh, because I knew I had to do an outfit post soon, so I just sort of did it without thinking it through haha. I do have a tendency to over-think things sometimes (all the time), so perhaps it turned out better this way. This is actually a good representation of my style - high-waisted, delicate jewellery, vintage-looking. It's kind if my go-to look. Do you have a particular style that you find you always go back to? Tell me in the comments, I'd like to know! I bought this 70's style denim skirt on a whim, because it was £12 in the sale, but it's since been reduced to £5 because no one's buying it :( bad times. I do like it though. The stiff denim helps it to retain it's a-line shape when it's on. Sorry if my blog seems like a Topshop advert atm, I just tend to buy most of the shop when there's a sale haha.      

I thought I'd do some close ups of the bag so you can see how pretty it is! I love the little gold feet on the bottom, it makes it look vintage, though I doubt it is, since it's in such good condition. It's a really unusual colour too - dark navy purplish blue , if that makes sense! Not bad for £4 from a charity shop! I always seem to find great bags in charity shops, but I can never find anything else. It's incredibly frustrating to see so many bloggers and lookbookers flaunting their amazing charity shop/thrift finds! I suppose it depends quite a lot on the area you live in. There aren't so many fashionable types around where I live, so the charity shops are mostly full of old trainers and diamante encrusted belts haha.        

Gold eyeshadow in centre of lids: Greyscale duo - Topshop

gold eyeshadow in middle corners: Barley - Collection 2000

black eyeliner: fast stroke - Collection 2000

black mascara: waterproof - 17 

Now I know I said this was a fashion blog, but I thought I might as well show you my eye make up too. Please excuse my very attractive cross-eyed expression, it's hard taking pictures of your own eyes! I'm wearing two gold eyeshadows, one of which is from a Topshop duo that I got in the sale. It's a bit difficult to apply evenly and it does crease (but then most eyeshadows crease on me) but the colour so wearable and also striking at the same time. So that makes up for it's faults I suppose. I used a lighter gold shadow from collection 2000 just to highlight the tear ducts, and create a slight gradient effect.   

New in at Topshop

All Topshop 

So this is kind of a round up of what's new at Topshop atm. I picked out a few of my favourite pieces, which I think will be great for the end of summer. Does anyone else get impatient waiting for autumn to come around? I think autumn is the best season for fashion. I love colours like burgundy, grey and navy - they look nice on anyone in my opinion.  

1)  The classic slubby tee is an essential in anyone's wardrobe. I particularly like the speckled effect of this one, makes it look like an old favourite that's been washed too many times haha. It will literally go with almost anything, or you can just throw it on with a pair of skinny jeans if you're feeling lazy.  

2)  This is florals and stripes combined in one garment. The vertical stripes are a bit of a twist on your average floral dress. It actually reminds me of my grandma's old curtains, but I kind of like that! Just slip this on with some sandals or ankle boots and you're pretty much good to go, just add a slouchy cardigan if it gets chilly.

3)  These tan ankles boots are so versatile, you could actually wear them all year round, but I think they are especially good for late summer/early autumn. The buckle and the slighly worn effect add just the right amount of detail for me. Wear them with tights, leggings, jeans, shorts, skirts.. you name it!

4) This burgundy satchel bag speaks for itself really. The mixture of shiny leather, soft suede and beguiling flashes of gold make for some seriously tempting arm-candy. At £85, the price is less tempting, but it's still a great piece for autumn. Pair it with a white shirt and a boyfriend blazer for a polished androgynous look.

5)  White and crochet are a match made in heaven, and this top has them both. It's cute and girly, but simple enough to avoid things getting too fussy. It's often the simplest outfits that have the most impact. You could wear it with high-waisted denim for a girl-next-door look, or pair it with some taylored trousers for something more sophisticated.

6) Last but not least, the black maxi skirt. Although black and summer don't usually go together (and your mum would probably hate it), I find there's something pleasing about going against the 'rules'. The lightness of the fabric makes up for the dark colour anyway. It'll look great with a skinny belt and plain vest tucked in or layer a chunky jumper over it when the weather gets a bit cooler.        

 

Rings and Things

I just thought I'd do a quick post to show you some of my jewellery. It's not exactly a vast collection, but it's adequate for now - I'm still working on it! In my opinion, accessories can make or break an outfit. There's something about those little flashes of gold and silver that can make you look twice at someone. Even if you're just wearing a plain baggy tee, you can transform the look of the outfit by adding a few rings and a nice necklace or two. As for my taste in jewellery, I don't really have a particular style that I stick to. I tend to gravitate towards anything particularly striking or pretty (or at least I try to). I have however, recently become slightly obsessed with tribal/aztec jewellery - anything chunky and silver with big bold stones. So to satisify my cravings, I bought some silver drop triangle earrings on eBay. I'll hopefully feature them in an outfit post soon!

Pastels

Chiffon top: Primark

trousers: New Look

belt: Primark

bag: charity shop

black stone ring: eBay

hearts ring: eBay

amber stone ring: Topshop

court shoes: Tesco clothing (Tehe)

nails: Lemon Barry M 

Today I wore this trousers/chiffon top combination. The little cream bag was £4 from a charity shop! Bargin! I finshed the look off with a light pink belt. On looking at the photos I realised that there are a lot pastels in the outfit, so why not make this a trends post? I'm not entirely sure if pastels are an official 'trend' for summer 2011 but I've seen lot of them in the shops. I'm also liking pastel nail varnish at the moment. I was determined to wear this yellow colour from Barry M even though it doesn't look its best against my pasty skin tone haha. The only other problem I find with this nail varnish (and other pastel varnishes I've tried) is that it takes about three coats to get the colour really bold. Lastly, just a quick word about my rings. The two-finger heart ring and the black stone ring were both from eBay and both very cheap. But be warned, two of the hearts have already snapped off and the stone fell out of the other ring! That's what you get for buying cheap and cheerful jewellery off eBay haha.        

First Post On Secret Stylist

Hello and welcome to my new blog Secret Stylist! And what better way to introduce myself than to post a giant mug-shot of myself for your entertainment! The best way I can describe what the blog will be is to call it a fashion diary. I'll make regular outfit posts and possibly write a bit about the latest 'trends', although I don't follow them religiously - there are no rules to fashion! You might get a few little extras as well (random snaps of anything that interests me). I suppose my main aim is to represent my style, maybe provide a little inspiration to any fashion-lovers out there. And of course, get feedback from my future followers. Hope you enjoy my blog!