Friday 31 October 2014

Goodbye October...


It's been a little while since we've all caught up hasn't it?! Anyone been doing anything fun recently? What are you all dressing up as for Halloween? Last night I went to a Halloween party, I went as a haunted doll, although on reflection, I wish I went as something far more creative such as Bambi, Kim Kardashian or Black Swan. However, prior to Halloween, I've been exploring; visiting the Tower of London Poppy Memorial which marks the 100 years since the start of WWI, Italian markets, and enjoying autumn's perks.

Happy Halloween! Have a fun weekend...


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Tuesday 28 October 2014

5 #OOTDs That'll Make You Excited For The Cold...


Cardigan, top and shoes - all Topshop, trousers - Zara


Coat - Forever 21, jeans, top and scarf  - all Zara, boots - H&M, bag - Warehouse

Jumper - Zara, trousers - H&M, trainers - New Balance, coat - Barbour

Jacket - Warehouse, top, scarf and bag - all Zara, jeans - Topshop


Top and jeans - both Topshop, boots - H&M, jacket - Zara


Thanks for reading!

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Monday 27 October 2014

Happy 4th Birthday ATF!




On the 27th October 2010, I started a blog. I never intended on writing it four years later, I always expected it to be a 'phase' of about a week. But here I am, proud and as happy as ever, still tapping away at the keyboard.

Without you all, I probably wouldn't be still writing this blog. Yes, I write this as a little diary for myself, but seeing the stats rise and rise every year is such an achievement; it feels wonderful to think that others around the world appreciate your blog. So thank you! You guys motivate me to be a bigger and better blogger!

Cheers to the years to come!

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Monday 20 October 2014

What's On My Face #11:




Wow brows. Anybody else procrastinate tweezing their brows? Guilty, I am. There's something so annoying and never-ending about it all that gets me a bit frustrated. Anyway - I decided to work with what I had and attempt to shape my brows somewhat (I'll do them tonight - promise!). To the makeup!

I began the look with a fresh, dewy base; opting for my Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation and a light slick of Nars Creamy Concealer for extra coverage. I've unfortunately been a bit spotty lately (I'm putting it down to the change in seasons) and so grabbed my Mac Studio Fix Concealer - my favourite product for covering blemishes.

Moving on to bronzer; I lightly dusted over my forehead, temples, cheeks and chin, the L'Oréal Glam Bronze Powder. A massive fan of this creamy, buildable product. For a tawny, autumnal glow, I swirled Mac Melba Blusher onto the apples of my cheeks and blended.

For the eyes, I was feeling for something a little bit grungy and different today, however this is an eye-look I tend to favour quite often. I messily applied the Rimmel London Exaggerate Eyeliner and thoroughly smudged it to achieve the desired look. Then, to add a touch more smokiness, I lightly dusted Mac Woodwinked Eyeliner - and blended it all together.

Back to those brows. I used my current fave, Soap & Glory Archery Pencil and Bobbi Brown Brow Gel - these two did what they could then it was left for me to sit in sorrow of how un-groomed my eyebrows really were! For fluttery eyelashes, I chose my Max Factor False Lash Effect.

For the lips I used a current mix I've been loving for a little while. I smudged together my Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick and Mac lipstick in Plumful.

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Friday 17 October 2014

Friday Night.


It's Friday night! Anyone got any cool plans? I'm currently snuggled up in my pj's, with a salted caramel hot chocolate, writing this. That's pretty much how I like to spend my evenings. However; there are some times when a girl's just gotta get dressed up and shake her thang. If you're headed out tonight; here are some party outfit ideas that will hopefully inspire you! These outfits are perfect for date night or cocktails with your friends. Enjoy!

Top (which is now in sale - hurry!), jeans, shoes

Jumper (similar), skirt, heels

Dress (similar), heels (similar)

What do you like to wear when you dress up?

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All Black Or All Black?

Perhaps it's my corresponding response to the dreary weather, but somehow lately I've found myself dressing for a beatnik funeral. There's something just too darn chic about an all-black outfit - even against my pale-as-ever complexion. I feel like a dancing Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face too - now, who can resist that feeling? For some of us, such as Anna Wintour; who in a recent Vogue Youtube video revealed she will never be caught wearing an all-black look; find it all a bit daring, bland and lifeless - now the key I find is to play up other elements in style, such as texture, print and proportions, i.e wear a leather jacket with a knitted jumper. If you care to join me in making your current uniform all-black, or just fancy some inspiration, here are a few fashion looks that will help...


Do you like wearing all-black?

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Sunday 12 October 2014

Anastasia Brow Wiz Dupe:




For a long time, my brows and I have been having relationship issues. We've broken up several times in the past, and this time I put it down to no effort either end to make this work. However, recently - due to a third party joining the relationship - we'eve fallen madly in love for each other. That's all down to the Anastasia Brow Wiz Soap & Glory Archery Pencil.

I've flitted between using powder and pencil numerous times. For the past year I've been using powder as I found it really quick and easy to use. On the other hand, I've never truly realised how speedy a few strokes from a pencil is, nor how fool-proof or natural it looks. I guess because the previous pencils I've bought have all been too thick, too red, too wet or too crumbly. Soap & Glory have it just right.

PROS:
  • The price - £8.00 is a bargain for this product. It feels so luxurious and expensive; from the packaging to the product itself. It comes with an incredible spoolie one end (seriously good, trust me) and the pencil the other. 
  • The product - A thin, waxy, ashy pencil was all I was longing for. I originally turned to the Anastasia Brow Wiz or the Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil but after seeing the price I got very disheartened. This one however, triumphs them all. 
  • The packaging - As I previously mentioned, the packaging feels like something you'd find over on the Chanel counter, but for a third of the price. The thinness of the pencil allows for maximum control, while allowing for light-as-air strokes to be drawn. I love the black with the gold too - another expensive-looking detail.
  • The finish - Your brows are left looking natural, defined, thicker, fuller and lightly-groomed. It's easy to follow your natural brow shape or achieve a different look (for example, I make sure to give my eyes a lift by raising the arch in my brow slightly). 

CONS:
  • Shade range - Now personally, the shade Blondeshell fits perfectly for me, and would fit anyone wanting to achieve a super-light brow. However, even the other shade, Hot Chocolate, won't suit anyone with ginger or black hair. A tad disappointing, but I think the Blondeshell shade will fit most. Soap and Glory are a bit of a let down when it comes to shade ranges. 
Overall, I love this product. I will be sure to repurchase it several times when I'm finished and recommend it to just about everybody I see; this product is sure giving the Brow Wiz a run for it's money.

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Blogging 101: From Woah to Wow...


Now I am certainly no expert on giving anybody blogging advice; however, I have learnt a have tips and tricks along the way that have definitely improved my blog. ATF used to be a bright pink, celeb-style based blog that I loved but was very undeveloped and unsophisticated. I blogged once a week, if that even, and I was genuinely sick of the layout and content. In 2011, this blog saw to some changes and became cleaner, brighter and more professional. The content and style was much more me and I found myself being motivated and excited to blog. That's the whole point of blogging, isn't it? Having a little space on this thing we call the internet and sharing to others what we love. There are times however, where you'll find yourself perhaps too busy, not motivated or enthusiastic about blogging and basically a bit down in the dumps. So, here are a few blogging tips I've learned along the way that might just turn that frown upside down...
  1. You are more than just your traffic I don't blog just to see numbers stacking up; I blog because I love it, I enjoy sharing ideas to others and writing about fashion and beauty. Don't get disheartened if for a while, it may only be you reading your blog. It took this blog about 2 years for a good daily reading. It all takes time, effort and most of all, enjoyment. 
  2. Spruce up your site Thinking about the user experience when browsing your site and building a website that works for you and your content is a really good way to start taking things a little more seriously. At first I just used one of the basic blogger templates but after a while I was itching for something new, so I started to customize my blog to make it my own (this can be done while still using one of the templates). Personally, I like reading blogs with a clean, white background and kept very minimalistic. Giving your website some attention and building something that works for you is a great step to take.
  3. Use social media as an extension of your brand Social media is such a powerful platform to grow your blog and develop your brand. Keep things consistent across all platforms with your visuals and your tone, and curate accounts that share your personal brand and who you are in a really authentic way. It's taken me a while to really find my feet in social media - I've found focusing on just one or two platforms is the best way to go for me, instead of just spreading myself too thin across many. Pinterest is one that is so powerful, but often forgotten.
  4. Plan ahead A little structure can help with the creative process, and makes time management a whole lot easier.
  5. Slumps happen, it's okay It's normal to not feel completely in love with your blog and blogging all of the time. I had one major slump earlier in the year and it was actually a good thing as it helped me fall back in love with my blog again and really discover what I want this space to be.
  6. It’s okay not to be good at everything Here's the thing, it's really okay if you're not fantastic at everything you do. I write, it's who I am and it's what feeds me as a person, so I'm a-okay with not being the best photographer in the world. For a long time with my blog I felt like I had to take dreamy photographs, but really I'm finding that I'd rather play to my strengths than obsess over my weaknesses.
  7. Don’t try and emulate what has already come It exists because they created it - feel inspired by them, but don’t try and imitate their work. Create something that hopefully will inspire others too.
  8. Know your audience - interact with your readers, get to know them and build a relationship so when you write you can keep them in mind. Engagement is key for a happy blogging life in general.
  9. Be yourself - don't be afraid to do something a little differently, just because things have been done a certain way so far it doesn't mean you can't do your own thing and not follow the crowd. Embrace your individuality as it's key to an authentic and original creative voice. 
  10. Create content you're excited about One of the biggest things I've learnt is that if I'm not excited about the content I'm setting live, chances are you guys won't be either. This isn't a very review heavy blog, as they aren't something I massively enjoy working on so I try and keep things as interesting and conceptual as possible content wise. The last thing you want is to be working on content that you think you should be writing instead of creating something you actually want to be working on - the latter tends to be executed best.
Hope you all enjoyed reading something a little different over on here today! P.S: I'm still taking all of this my advice in myself - I should really practice what I preach!

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Monday 6 October 2014

What's On My Face #10:



It's time to grab that wine-red lipstick and smoky brown eyeshadow; autumn is officially here! Well, I say autumn, however, here in London you'd think we're at winter's peak! Today was a weather combination I despise greatly; rainy, cold and windy. Cue inside-out umbrellas and frizz-ball hair.

To spice up a dull, winter's autumnal day I opted for a daytime-worthy, smoky brown eye look. But for the base, I wanted it to keep it fresh and dewy; to achieve this I used the Origins CC Cream. I added in a tiny bit of Maybelline Fit Me Concealer under the eyes too. Both of these products are great and were perfect for a low-coverage base. To slightly mattify my t-zone, I lightly dusted on Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (which I'm slowly running out of!).

Continuing with the dewy base, I dotted on Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush. This is super light but buildable, dewy but not sticky and luminous but not greasy. The colour is equally wonderful; it looks a dark pink in the pan, but on the face, it appears as a light, fuchsia-coral (yes - it's a bit describable! Hopefully the picture will demonstrate). For bronzer, I turned to an old fave, the Nars Laguna Bronzer.

I've recently bought a new brow product; the Soap & Glory Archery Pencil (I'm currently writing a review of it - but let's just say it comes pretty close to the Anastasia Brow Wiz!). Then on top for added definition, I used Bobbi Brown Brow Gel.

For the eyes, I was feeling a little fancy and wanted something a little different from my regular 'everyday' makeup, particularly now it's autumn. I swiftly grabbed my MAC Eye shadow in Woodwinked and blended it all over the eyes, focusing more on the outer corners. This eyeshadow is simply beautiful, with just the right amount of shimmer for daytime. Then, a quick curl of the lashes, a swipe of mascara, and I was good to go!

Et, voila!

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This Week's Style Inspo...

Now that London has officially turned into Antarctica, it's time to whip out those cashmere jumpers, mile-long scarves and vampy lipsticks.

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Friday 3 October 2014

Burberry SS 2015 Makeup Tutorial (Drugstore Edition)...


I adored the makeup look that Wendy Rowe created for this years Burberry show. Complimenting the nature-themed fashion looks, a rosy lip and fresh skin was used. It was simply stunning and can be worn across all seasons. I for one loved the look so much I recreated it for you guys, and even made a tutorial out of it. Although this sort of thing is probably better off on Youtube, I just couldn't resist. Also, as a little side-note, I don't (unfortunately, yet!) own any of the Burberry makeup so have offered you all drugstore alternatives. Without further ado, here's the look!


Always begin with a clean base. I was wearing my everyday makeup (tutorial coming soon!) and removed it with Bioderma Micelle Solution.


The base Rowe created focused a lot on layering techniques. For the first layer, she applied a liquid bronzer  but I actually skipped that step and moved to the next one. For this, I applied a mix of my Clarins Instant Light Perfector and the Origins CC Cream. Wendy used this. I added the illuminator in too as I don't quite posses that perfect model skin aha!


Then, for added coverage, foundation was lightly sweeped on top. I used my trusty L'Oréal True Match Foundation. I applied it with my fingers and then gently buffed it all together for a flawless finish.


Next, Wendy Rowe applied concealer under the eyes and on top of the cheekbones for extra luminosity. Her trick was to use a concealer that was one-shade lighter in order to achieve a highlighted effect. I reached for my Nars Creamy Concealer, obvs.


A tawny, dusty brown blusher was used along the cheekbones and on the apples. This gave natural definition without any strong brown/pink tones that is usually in contour powder, bronzer or blusher. Rowe used this while I grabbed the MAC Blusher in Melba.


Burberry used the blusher in three ways: as a contour, blusher and even an eyeshadow! It was placed lightly through the crease; this was to create subtle definition for the eyes and to balance with the bold lip later. Just look at my face - utter concentration!

No mascara was used on the models; Rowe said that this is a look that models often favour. I didn't use any in this tutorial either, however, I did quickly use my eyelash curlers for a bit off volume. I love the no-mascara look with this makeup- it feels fresh, modern and more suitable for daytime.


The brows were lightly groomed - although the likes of Miss Delevingne certainly didn't need any help in this department! As a drugstore alternative to the brand's latest launch, Burberry Effortless Eyebrow Define Pencil, I opted for my new love, Soap & Glory Archery Pencil in Blondeshell (review coming soon!).


Now for the exciting part! I lined and filled in my lips with Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Sultry. Oh boy do I adore this colour, particularly for autumn (and it looks great against pale skin too!). Alone, this gives a light, plummy finish. But the complete look included more red-y tones so I lightly blotted some of the Rimmel Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick in 001. These two products were matte, so for the glossy finish I lightly dabbed on some lip balm. Wendy Rowe used the Burberry Lip Cover in Ruby.




Do you like the makeup look Burberry chose? Tag or tweet me in any pics if you recreate the look! Thanks for reading!

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