a glimpse into my dressing room

Everyone has a favourite room in their house; for some the kitchen, others the bedroom, mine is most definitely my dressing room.  It's my little haven away from the real world where I can pamper and play dress up!

Today I thought I'd share a few pictures of my dressing room with you lovely made-ons. 

There is just one vital piece of the room missing...the dressing table.  It is currenlty in the creative hands of Martin & Louise Peacock - it's having a makeover and tomorrow is the big reveal, sooooooo excited to see what wonders they have worked on it and I'll be sure to share pics of the end result on Monday.  In the meantime do check out Sew Lulu on Facebook to see some of the fabulous wood and fabric creations made lovingly by the Peacocks.

jackets - such an important piece in any girl's wardrobe.  Stock up on various colours and patterns - they'll last you years and are so easy to throw over any outfit to smarten/brighten it up.  Also a vital garment for a night out in Yorkshire...bbbrrrr it's cold up north, and there is nothing chic about goose pimples.



the dark side - aka the dull section of my wardrobe.  I'm a huge fan of colour and try to avoid head to toe black (although some "fat days" you just need the comfort blanket of black)  But dark colours don't have to boring, you can jazz them up with a sparkly piece of jewellery or a slick of red lipstick.



the bright side - sunshine on a rainy day.  I LOVE colour, the brighter the better.  I urge you all not to be afraid of colour, not only will it lift your skin tone but it also lifts your moods.  If you wear bright, you feel bright.  The shops are full of colour blocking and patterns at the moment, so it's a great opportunity to get out onto the highstreet and try loads of different colours on and find which ones suit you best.  With colour I say toss the rule book out of the window - pink and red do work together and floral and spots can be tres chic.



the light side - there's something about a cream / white blouse that I think looks so luxurious and smart.  But buyer beware - this is a high maintenance look...whenever I'm wearing one of these items I'm on the constant looks out...avoiding red wine, spaghetti and children! 



a place for everything and everything in it's place. Wicker baskets are a great way to store your accessories, making them easy to get to (if you can't see it, you won't wear it) and helps to keep your wardrobe neat and tidy.





baskets of bling

shoes and makeup - my love of boxes continues!  I like to keep my shoes in their original boxes to avoid scuffs and dust.  I bought a set of cheap clear plastic boxes from eBay for my other shoes.  This is also a good way of fitting more into a smaller space, you can stack them up...and up!

the library!  I have amassed a collection of style and beauty books over the years
my favourite ones that I refer back to on a regular basis are
Style A - Zoe by Rachel Zoe
Style by Lauren Conrad
How to be Lovely - the Audrey Hepburn way of life

the mantra I try to live my life by "BE GLAMOROUS EVERYDAY"
and photos from the most special day of my life so far - 11th June 2011;
the day I married my best friend.

never be afraid to excessorise...pile those bangles high and layer necklace over necklace.  Jewellery is the easiset way to turn a simple outfit from drab to fab...and inexpensive - the high street is full of brillitant pieces for less than £10

designer delights - I am a high street girl, but every now and then I enjoy a designer splurge
just make sure it's an item with longevity - leave the "it bags" to the celebs, instead invest in a timeless piece where you really will get your money's worth

glitterati - the magpie within me just can't say no to sparkly, shiny things :-)

hairbands and bows oh my!

And there we have it, a glimpse into EmmaTaylorMade's dressing room...I hope I've inspired you to coordinate your clothes into colour order, or to detangle that bundle of necklaces at the bottom of your drawer! 

When your wardrobe is organised it's so much easier to see and pick your outfits -

make dressing up fun not a chore

xoxo

False Tan...I think I've Found The One!

I have been a false tan user for over a decade now and this week I think I discovered "The One."  It may not come as a surprise for you to hear that I found it in Essex!  But I'm not talking orange / creasote colour, that is no doubt springing into your mind right now, I'm talking sunkissed and even colour thanks to Lauren Goodger.  Yes, she of TOWIE fame and Mark Wright's ex (they went out for nine years...but she doesn't like to talk about it ;-)

Lauren launched a range of tanning products earlier this year - Lauren's Way (I'm sure it took a mammoth brain storming session to come up with that name!)

I consider myself something of a false tan aficionado; well it has taken me almost 10 years to perfect the technique, and my oh my have there been some disasters.  Anyone that went to Bournemouth University in 2001 will be familiar with the orange neck, white face and streaky hands look that I was often seen sporting in the Old Fire Station night club on a Thursday evening!

I now have the routine down to a fine art....but the quality of the false tan does massively affect the end result no matter how good you are at applying it.

I've tried most false tans on the market and I always go back to those which go on dark so you can see exactly where you are putting the stuff and you can immediately see if you've missed any bits.  Granted this type of tan is something of a passion killer as it requires you going to bed looking like a street urchin in baggy pjs(!) but I find the end result is far superior to the clear lotions.

My life/fashion/beauty guru Caroline Smart gave me the heads up on Lauren's Way and where she leads, I follow! 

I purchased the mousse version of the tan.  The bottle needs a good shake before use and in between application.  The mousse dries very quickly so you need to apply one area at a time, don't dispense a massive blob and put half of it on one arm whilst you rub in the other arm because you'll be left with a dark circular blob!!  The mousse goes on evenly and lightly and you can get dressed after about 5 minutes - it doesn't feel clammy and heavy like other tans.

Don't be alarmed by the darkness of the colour, once you shower in the morning you'll see that the end result is mucher more sunkissed than the shade on first application.

For those of you that are au fait with applying false tan I would go with the mousse version.  However for those less confident at tanning go with the lotion - it doesn't dry instantly and can be worked into the skin slowly.

Lauren's Way tanning products range from £11.95 - £19.95 which in my opinion are competitively priced and a bottle will last you a while, I'd say at least 12 applications.

After showering the next morning my colour was even and a really natural sunkissed shade.  I was suitably impressed with the application, the smell (far less digestive biscuity than most tans!), the price and most importantly the end result.

£15.95 - I'd recommend this product for beginners or nervous tanners

£17.95 - I'd recommend this product for those confident tanners

ETM's top tips for tanning

• exfoliate before application
• don't moisturise right before tanning - I'd recommend moisturising from head to toe in the morning then apply your tan in the evening
• always wear gloves - you can get a box of 100 latex gloves from Boots for a couple of pounds.  Even if you use a mit, you need to wear gloves as well.
• use an oil spray on your wrists, ankles and elbows before application - you can use a special false tan oil like Fake Bake Skin Smoothie or just a cheap Avon/Boots dry oil spray will do the job just as well
• start from your feet upwards, working in smooth strokes
• when tanning your feet and hands I recommend adding a small drop of moisturiser into the tan as this will give a lighter affect on these areas
• when you've applied the tan to ankles and elbows spritz some more dry oil spray and rub into these areas (preferably using a mit) to avoid the tell tale stained/dark elbow look
• tan your hands last of all - take your gloves off and dispense a drop of tan and a drop of moisturiser onto the back of your hands and rub in with your hand, making sure to get inbetween your fingers too.  Then immediately wipe your palm and lightly wipe your knuckles with a baby wipe
• wait a few minutes before dressing - when you do get dressed make sure to wear loose fitting items and for goodness sake don't have your white duvet cover on the bed on your tanning days!
• shower off in the morning and ta-da you are now a bronzed beauty......but oh no wait a minute you discover you've got a brown elbow or the colours gathered and darker in between your fingers....do not panic.  The final item that every false tanner should have in their bathroom cupboard is exfoliation gloves.  You can then pour a drop of shower gel onto the gloves and work the glove over the area and the mark will disappear.

Items every false tanner needs to be armed with

latex gloves - tanning mit - dry oil spray -

baby wipes - exfoliating gloves -

Happy Tanning Made-Ons! xo

April Shopping

Mooorning my lovely Made-ons!

Following my recent eBay selling spree I thought I'd treat myself to a few new pieces for my spring/summer wardrobe.

I just love colour be it pastel or neon, plain or patterned, a splash of colour or head to toe brights - anything goes.

Before leaving the house I look in the mirror and check that there's something on me - a top, nail varnish, hair clip, shoes - that has some vibrancy to it, as I really believe colour affects your mood and outlook:

Be Bold and Be Happy

These are the latest additions to my wardrobe.....



another leopard print top to add to my collection!  I'll be wearing this tucked into high waisted trousers with a black cardigan on top now and then come summer with white denim shorts and gladiator sandals.
I've had my eye on this beaded necklace in TopShop for a while now, I kept picking it up and putting it back because at £12.50 I thought it was a bit much for a piece of fashion jewellery.  But bingo! it went into the sale and at £6 I thought sod it, I'll have it!  The beads are in every fluroescent colour possible, and I loved the peace sign and tassle.  It will liven up a vest top and chinos outfit and will make a perfect accessory for my festival outfit (Stone Roses, Heaton Park baby!)
Top - Topshop
Necklace - Topshop



sheer, fluroescent, animal print and peplum - this top is 4 trends for the price of 1.
Now I know it looks a little bit TOWIE/Desperate Scousewives but it's all about how you wear it.  I'm thinking black skinny jeans and black pointed courts to keep it on the classy rather than brassy side.
Top - Primark

12 weeks til my holiday - woohoo!  I loved the colours on this bikini and thought they'd go well with my new brunette barnet.  I also like the fact that the halterneck is detachable, nothing worse than tan lines!
Bikini - Primark

my fluroscent obsession continues
I've only recently started to wear flat shoes (and that was only because I damaged my ankle and was forced out of heels for two weeks)  But you know what, flatties are growing on me!  I've decided that ballet pumps don't particularly suit me, I prefer a more structured shoe, so loafers are the perfect style for me.  I loved this pair as soon as I spotted them - the colour, the gold buckles and the tassles - perfect....made even more perfect by the fact that they were in the sale...get in!
Loafers - River Island

Wedding Outfit
I fell in lust with this clutch bag when I first spotted it on the cover of Grazia last month.  My heart literally skipped a beat and I knew I had to have it!  I used the bag as the strating point to planning my wedding guest outfit.  There are three large blue jewels on the bag and I picked these out as the key colour for my dress.  And so the hunt began for a blue number...and this dress ticked all the right boxes for me - knee length, pleated and ladylike neckline (golden rules for all wedding guests - don't go too short or to low neck).  It came with a nasty cheap looking brown belt, so I swapped this for a gold bow belt that finished it all off perfectly.  I'm now on the hunt for a pair of beige chunky heeled sandals and then I'm sorted.
Dress - Primark
Belt - ASOS
Clutch - River Island

This sparkly crop top appeals to the magpie within me.  At £40 it was a little extravagent I felt for a "novelty" top so I put it back on the shelf last month but low and behold there it was on Monday glistening in the window with a 50% off tag on.  I nipped in Topshop and elbowed my way through the sale rails desperatley hoping they'd have my size, and OMG they did (that never happens!)
I can't wait to wear this for my Girly Bank Holiday session in York - I'm thinking blue highwaisted trousers, piles of gold bangles, cerise clutch bag and beige court shoes.  Then come my summer holiday, I'll wear it with my blue maxi skirt and floral RayBans.
This necklace is a little beauty - thick gold with two yellow triangles, I know I'll be able to throw this over a simple tee or vest top and jeans, but I think it would also look good with my black strapless maxi dress on a summer's evening.
Top - Topshop
Necklace - Topshop

Bits and Bobs
Notebook - Cath Kidston
Liquid Eyeliner - Soap and Glory
Pink Lipstick Pen - Rimmel
Pink Blusher - Models Own
Snakeprint Hair Clip - TopShop
Kirby Grips - Primark
John Freida Finishing Gloss - Boots

sunshine on a rainy day

Rain, rain go away come again another day....

Take a moment to forget about the dark, damp weather outside and look at this image of spring sunshine and loveliness.

 

This pic makes me want to buy a bicycle and cycle nonchantly around the streets of Thirsk with a bunch of wild flowers in the basket!

I spotted this photo on Glamour's website; the lady in question is Gaby Basora, the designer genius behind American label Tucker - think colour and beautiful prints. 

Kelly Ripa and Lauren Conrad can often be seen sporting one of her beautiful girly blouses. 

This jumpsuit is officially on my "need it, want it" wish list



Lauren Conrad in a Tucker pansy print blouse



Friday Favourites

These are a few of my favourite things this week......

Miley Cyrus's gym wear
This girl is all over that Pilates class at the mo and I am loving her gym attire - black leggings and flat tummy flaunting tops. 

Ms Willa-booby sexying it up
I love this picture of Holly from this month's Cosmopolitan magazine.  Stepping out of the mumsy tea dresses and into a spot of lace bondage.  Girl looks good!

Thought / Quote for the week

Pastel perfection
Pale pink, green and gold - what a beautiful spring sight to behold.


atlantic-pacific.blogspot.com



From pastel perfection to neon amazingness
Absorb this photo and use it as motivation to go forth into the weekend with a healthy mindset

Jennifer Nicole Lee

Tipple of the week
Hot water with lemon and a teaspoon of coconut oil
Great way to start the day, fresh and cleansing plus the health benefits of coconut oil include hair care, skin care, stress relief, weight loss, increases immunity, improve digestion and metabolism and bone strength. 

coconut oil is available at Holland & Barrett - £4.65 for 100ml

Bag of the week

Oversized, clutch, hologram, animal print - what's not to love?!  Ooh and it's a bargainous £20...get yourself to Topshop and treat your self to a mid month present.

Happy Weekend my lovely Made-ons, speak to you

next week :-)

EmmaTaylorMade is back...hope you've missed me my lovely made-ons xoxo