Casual Outfit Idea for Men this Autumn/Winter

Casual Outfit Idea for Men this Autumn/Winter

A couple of weekends ago me and my boyfriend hit the shops in Leeds City centre. He had not brought any new clothes for nearly a year before that day! However we (he) went crazy on the clothes and has completely transformed his look.

Chinos: Topman

Jumper: River Island

Gillet: Republic

Shoes: Vans

Ryan is wearing a t-shirt underneath his jumper which is also from River Island.

Although gillets have been around for many years; they have become increasingly popular for the autumn/winter seasons over these past couple of years. Putting the gillet over a contrasting jumper gives a more casual look than wearing heavy restricting coats. This particular gillet contains dense padding and hugs heat into the core of the body, which is a fabulous benefit considering the harsh winters we are now predicted. Most gillets come with a hood, and the majority of them are removable so the look can also be altered by removing the hood for mild days. Gillets tend to last a very time, especially if you invest in high quality gillet like the one Ryan is wearing. I believe these will be in fashion for many Autumn/Winters to come as they are less restricting than coats, therefore more convenient for every day life. They tend to provide much more warmth to the core of the body than coats as they are filled with large amounts of padding, I find that the more 'fashionable' coats this season are extremely thin and not appropriate for this weather.

However, I do believe that when wearing a gillet ALWAYS wear a jumper, pullover, hoodie or jacket underneath. The best under garment for a gillet should be a contrasting colour to the gillet and/or have a print or pattern on it to add extra style to the look. I have seen endless amounts of 'lads' who seem to contradict the idea of the gillet-adding exrta warmth and style- by wearing a t-shirt alone underneath, mega cringe and just down right stupid.

Now I have been living in Leeds a whilst I have noticed that almost every person I know has a pair of Converse or Vans. I jumped on the band wagon and brought myself a pair of white Converse which I must say are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn, so comfortable that I wear them nearly every day no matter what my outfit is and have asked for another pair for Christmas. However, in my home town, Lincoln, Vans and Converse are not a huge hit with the males. I really cannot understand this and why boys rather wear trainers, Toms or cheap plimsolls which look tatty after a few wears when these shoes don't only provide comfort but at the same time manage to look casual and smart and last forever. I feel these shoes are a much better quality that regular high street plimsolls and have a much thicker sole which provides much higher protection. I enjoy how Converse and Vans can be put in a washing machine and come out like new (I tend to put mine in a pillow case to keep them together and prevent possible bobbling). Ryan's Vans add to this look by giving it a smart/casual feel, the colour also ties in wonderfully with his jumper. From me to all viewers, these shoes are a definite must have.

To finish the look Ryan is wearing chinos. Do I need to say any more about chinos? If you're a boy/lad/teen/man you should already have a pair of these, they're the new 'denim jeans' are wont be making a disappearance any time soon! You can pick these up and any high street clothing store and now even in super markets so there is no excuse!

Over all this outfit is perfect for the Autumn/Winter months and is guaranteed to provide warmth, protection and style. It is the definition of smart/casual... casual/smart.

Emily Jade

 ♥ ✝ ☮

Hand Cream- Comparison and Review

Hand Creams; Dove, Cath Kidston and Sanctuary Spa Comparison

One of my pet hates is dry hands! Every since working at McDonald's my hands have become awfully dry and cracked due to the constant hand washing and harsh chemicals. To revise my hands I began using dove hand cream, which is okay, it takes a few days to gain softer hands but I thought it was time to change up and find something new.

Cath Kidston does a fabulous set of 3 hand creams, each a different fragrance. I purchased these from the store in Leeds for £6, they also sell these online www.cathkidston.co.uk. I must admit they smell beautiful, my particular favourite is the pink rose. I have had these for a few months as use them a few times each day but still have a lot left! They make hands reasonably soft after a few days, but what impresses me the most is the fragrances. If you have been chopping onions or garlic for example and still have the smell knitted into your skin after washing your hands these creams completely illuminate odours!

After finishing two nine hour shifts over the weekend my hands were wrecked. The Cath Kidston creams could not save my hands and the next day in town I decided to invest in something slightly more high quality.

After looking around I came across the sanctuary spa section and found a travel size, 30ml, bottle of hand cream. This was perfect as it was a brand I had heard about, it is the same size as the Cath Kidston tubes so I knew it would last and was only £3!

I cannot lie, this is the best product for reviving dry hands fast! The cream instantly locks in moisture, dries quickly and leaves hands feeling like velvet. I LOVE this cream. I have been using it a few time a day and I feel like my hands are back to how they were before I begun working! The only complaint about this cream is that it does not smell as great as the Cath Kidston fragranced ones- the smell reminds me of sun cream but after looking at a couple of other reviews on this cream many seem to like the fragrance of it, so not too much of an issue.

Out of the three if you're looking for a cream which just add a little moisture, not too heavy and to keep hands young, then Dove Hand Moisture will be great for you. If you're wanting your hands to smell beautiful and gain medium moisture then the Cath Kidston set of three is perfect! One could be left in a handbag, one at home, another at work so they're always accessible!

However if your searching for a fast moisturising hand cream that lasts then sanctuary spa hand cream is the most perfect cream for you. I'm sure there is other more expensive creams out there, however, if you're on a tight budget like myself this is definitely the best product for the price!

Emily Jade

 ♥ ✝ ☮

O.P.I Top and Base Coat Review

O.P.I Top and Base Coat Review

As a result of lots of free time and minimal working my love for nail art has blossomed into a slight obsession! Seeing as my nails are always painted I had decided it was about time I had invested in some decent top and base coat. The ones I used previously were from a set my mum received one Christmas and gave it straight to me about 8 years ago. So yes, it was definite about time.

My original choice was to pop to boots and buy a cheap set, but I thought again when I find my nails usually chip a lot and the base coat doesn't protect my nail from stains with my old ones so buying cheap ones would be no better. I knew I would have to pay a little more for quality however I would rather than have the same issues as I did!

Now, before you think I did actually spend a fortune on these bottles, in fact I had found myself a real bargain! At the moment I am loving Amazon, and I searched for O.P.I top and base coat and there they were, at the very top of the page, for less than £12! Immediately brought the pair of 15ml coats with no postage cost!

Since using the O.P.I base coat my nails have never stained or absorbed any of my nail varnish colours as they did before. The base coat is essentially like a primer for the nails, it allows the main nail colours to sit smoothly on the nail and helps prevent streaks and lumps.

The O.P.I top coat is great as it has a higher chip resistance in comparison to cheaper, lower quality top coats. I find the colour stays on my nails for days with minimal if any chips. I also find it easier to remove my nail varnish when I use these two coats, I'm unsure why but it is so much easier.

Over all, a fantastic purchase and definitely worth what I paid for them. I would think twice about paying full price for them as I do believe they can add up to a high expense. However, I have used these two way over 10 times now and they still look as full as they did when I first received them. If you're into nails and looking for a bargain, definitely pop on Amazon and buy yourself these. Great price, great product, excellent base and finish for nails polish, so why not?

Emily Jade

 ♥ ✝ ☮