10 desirable items worth saving your money for…

All tested or bought by yours truly, here are 10 items in the shops at the moment that are worth saving your money for! From bargain to blowout, you choose the items that fit your budget…

Clinique Clarifying Lotion

Clinique Clarifying Lotion

1. Clinique Clarifying Lotion

Only £23 for 400ml and guaranteed to make your skin feel smoother!  At Clinique stands, they will be able to tell you your skin type and advise on the best products. Coming from someone who uses this daily, I couldn’t live without it!

Moisturising Foundation from The Body Shop
Moisturising foundation with SPF15 from The Body Shop

2. Body Shop moisturising foundation

At £13, it’s a bit more expensive than your average foundation but a lot less than ones by high end brands like Dior. The Body Shop’s moisture foundation is a healthier alternative for your skin with SPF15 and gives you full face coverage with a softer and smoother feel. Luckily, you can save on the hassle of trying to find the right skin tone as the Body Shop give free makeovers!

Postcard purse from Accessorize

Postcard purse from Accessorize

3. London postcard purse from Accessorize

From a Londoner with love…You may have seen it on TV or been one of the lucky millions that visit the city every year. Now you can have your very own souvenir without paying for the ridiculous train journey! This London postcard purse has all the famous attractions from Big Ben to St. Paul’s Cathedral and is big enough to fit all your loose change. At just £8, it’s a quirky little accessory for girls who love London.

Paperchase floral diary

Paperchase floral diary

4. Floral diary from Paperchase

As summer approaches and hopefully the nice weather that comes with it, how about a new vibrant diary to document the highs and lows of British summertime. Starting in July 2011, it takes you right through to September 2012. At only £6.50, you can scribble all day long to your heart’s content!

Boots Pink Cow bath and shower gel in 'Mint Candy'

Boots Pink Cow bath and shower gel in 'Mint Candy'

5. Boots’ Pink Cow bath and shower gel

I use this stuff religiously! It smells good enough to eat and comes in a big bottle that lasts at least a couple of months. For only £3.05, it’s a bargain too. If you’re not a fan of mint then it’s also available in Vanilla Biscuit, Gingerbread, Strawberry Sundae, Coconut Creme and Lemon Cheesecake! Yummy.

Maybelline Line Definer Liquid Liner

Maybelline Line Definer Liquid Liner

6. Maybelline Line Definer

This line definer glides like a pen, making it easier to create smooth dramatic lines across your eyes, without the awkward messiness of liquid liner. At just £5 from Boots, it’s a bargain!

Frontcover Rainbow Eyes Kit from Boots

Frontcover Rainbow Eyes Kit from Boots

7. Frontcover Rainbow Eyes Kit (Exclusive to Boots)

This £16 make up box gives you the option of natural browns, a smoky effect, feminine chic and even a brave neon look. Whatever your mood, rainbow eyes allows you to experiment. The only disadvantage is that you can’t take out the individual colours, so Frontcover has made small pots too!

Wilkinson's Sword Quattro bikini razor

Wilkinson's Sword Quattro bikini razor

8. Wilkinson’s Sword Quattro bikini razor

Forget the hassle of painful waxing with a cheaper and equally effective alternative. And with a razor and a trimmer, it gives you more options! Just £9.69 from Boots or local supermarkets.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55

9. Sony Cyber-shot digital camera

If like me you like taking photos, then this camera is for you! The sweep panoramic settings allows you to capture full landscapes or cheesy snapshots! It’s a bit more expensive than your usual compact digital at £239 but if you have a bigger budget, then why not treat yourself!

Nails Inc Limited Edition in 'Portobello Road'

Nails Inc Limited Edition in 'Portobello Road'

10. Nails Inc Limited Edition nail polish

I love pastel nails but can never find the right shades. This £11 baby blue nail polish from Nails Inc gives complete nail coverage and lasts much longer than your usual 2 day varnish. Nails Inc have so many colours to choose from, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

Bring vintage glamour to this summer’s swimwear

50s beach.
vintage swimwear

Get influenced by vintage swimwear this summer. Picture via flickr by Genibee

As the sun finally shines through the clouds, and we say goodbye to winter, all anybody can think about is their summer holidays and basking in the sunshine. Even if you’re not going away this summer, we’re bound to have the usual one day heatwave so you can lay out in your garden or the nearest park and work on your summer tan.

Every year swimwear floods the high street around this time, and is the perfect summer investment to add to your collection. We all feel great in a new glamorous swimsuit, right?

This year, it’s all about vintage inspiration taking over the high street, I’ve picked the best out there to stand out at the seaside.

To work this summer’s retro look and hide problem areas, check out Topshop’s monochrome black scallop stripe bikini at £30.This bikini reminds me of the stylish sixties, and will ensure you stand out for all the right reasons on the beach.

If you prefer to cover up by the poolside, Topshop also do this cute ditsy floral number that echos wartime glamour. It’s so great to see a wealth of stylish one pieces on the high street that will flatter any figure.

To show off that beach body you’ve worked hard for, or are naturally blessed with, Kelly Brook’s range for New Look is a perfect port of call. While we can’t all have Kelly Brook’s body, her swimwear is inspired by classic glamour. This fifties inspired bikini is timeless and will turn heads.

Finally, if you’re looking for value for money, and will be packing light this summer, this ASOS Triangle Bikini Top In Reversible Spot/Gingham might just be what your looking for. Allowing you to choose from polka dot and gingham, you can reverse the style easily to achieve the look you want, or why not mix and match?

With British Summer Time starting last weekend, we can’t wait for longer and warmer days and to jet off on our all important holidays!

A girl’s cheap guide to Milan

The Duomo Cathedral in Milan, by Stacey Cosens

Romantic old-time glamour, with an urban heartbeat. A place often overlooked for city weekends, Milan has some excellent hidden delights.

Think Milan, and you think fashion. As one of the fashion capitals of the world, Milan hosts designers such as Moschino and Versace. As you walk into the city’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, your eyes are drawn to its two central main players Prada and Louis Vuttion.

The other thing that will grab your eye in the Galleria is its rather posh McDonalds. Careful not to break the elegant theme of the shopping mall too much, it’s usual logo, is black and gold to match it’s neighbours. Everything has a touch of elegance here.

In the main Piazza del Duomo, you will find yourself surrounded by tourists and pidgeons as you stare at the main attraction, the Duomo Cathedral. Visible from throughout the city, and one of the biggest cathedrals in the world, the gothic Duomo cathedral has over 3000 statues built into its walls. As you circle this magnificent building, the sheer detail of this building is remarkable. The cathedral took over five centuries to complete, and it’s easy to see why.

A short walk down the road from the Piazza del Duomo is the Castello Sforzesco. The 14th century castle was once home to the Visconti family and restored to its original splendour by the equally aristocratic Sforza family in the 1450s.

The castle is now considered one of Milan’s most loved attractions, and hosts twelve mini-museums running all the way from Palaeolithic history through to 1950s furniture. If you don’t fancy exploring the museums, just walking through its grounds is entertaining enough. Outside you are greeted by an impressive water fountain and as you walk through the grounds you’ll spot statues and courtyards before you come into Milan’s answer to Central Park.

While you explore Milan’s historic monuments, you’ll have a sense of being transported to another time. The city has so much history, and you’ll get an instant sense of this.

While exploring Milan’s intertwining streets and avoiding getting flattened by the ever present trams, you’ll find yourself on Milan’s main high street, think of it as Milan’s Oxford Street. As you make your way down this road you’ll spot familar brands such as H&M and Mango, as well as less familiar European brands such as Pull and Bear and local boutiques.

No matter what your budget, you should find something that catches your eye. Pull and Bear is a particularly impressive brand with cheap t-shirts and stylish fashion staples; it is the perfect mix of H&M and Topshop. While we have a few of our own Pull and Bear stores in the UK, it’s well worth checking out the Milan store with its blaring dance music and three floors of clothes.

Flights and hotels are cheaper than you think, Ryanair has previously sold return flights to Milan for as little as £2 and hotels can be as little as £35 per night. This city is perfect for a short two day break.

Stacey’s adventures in NYC: Part Two

Stacey Magnolia bakery

Concrete Jungle, where dreams are made of…

Stacey Magnolia bakery

Me at Magnolia Bakery

What most excited me about my trip to New York, as well as the beauty of the city, was the shopping. Never had I been surrounded by so many beautiful clothes and so much spending money.

I had planned ahead well, I knew how much passion I had for shopping and I wanted to be able to shop til I dropped without worrying about money too much. The great thing about the American high street is the overwhelming choice of casual clothes for a small price.

Forever 21 do this best, think of it as a hybrid of Primark and Topshop. It manages to tap into key trends of the season, without looking cheap and without the money draining price tag. Thankfully, Forever 21 has finally made it across the pond and is slowly but surely taking over the country, as well as its UK website. Cheap and chic fashion is here!

 For the preppy casual look, that’s slightly cheaper than Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle and Aeropostale is your first port of call. Casual t-shirts, baggy jogging bottoms and comfy hoodies are in no small supply. American Eagle also manages to embrace a more stylish side with cute but casual skirts and dresses.

 However, if you find yourself strolling along Fifth Avenue, it’s impossible to miss the Abercrombie and Fitch building with its blaring techno beat and topless male models welcoming you at the door. It’s not everyday you start your shopping with a Polaroid of you and a handsome scantily clad man. I enjoyed the experience so much; I began collecting pictures of me with the models.

 The clothes in Abercrombie and Fitch are slightly pricier than most shops, but America is the place to stock up, as it will cost you a lot more in the UK. Also, if you’re in New York, these prices are a lot less intimidating than what you’ll find in Bloomingdales and Saks!

 If you prefer more of a unique vintage feel, head down Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village. Here you’ll find boutiques and vintage shops as well as the odd cool designer store. It’s a long road, but the mix of gorgeous shops is worth it, all the more so when you reach Magnolia Bakery. Its cupcakes made famous by Sex and the city.

 While there is always a queue, it’s worth it for the delicious lovingly made cupcakes and being round the corner from Carrie’s famous stoop on Perry Street.

 Finally, I couldn’t end a trip in New York without a trip to Soho. Spring Street has every shop you could ever wish for; from Mango to Urban Outfitters to our very own home-grown Topshop!