Get Your Neon On

Okay so tomorrow is the start of May, today I went out in a strappy camisole and a lace jacket from The Kooples and this afternoon I received an email from Company magazine reminding me that it was almost a year ago that I took part in Company Grads 2012 (read about it here if you've forgotten!). I am 20 next year and will be a graduate by next Summer. This is scary- i'm practically a grown-up.

In the mean time, rather than getting all teary about this being my last year as a teenager, I shall instead do a bright and beautiful post with a whole lot of glowing neon products to put a big summery smile on my face.

Smile, guys, it's Summer (ish)!

1. Essie polishes are my favourite. There, I said it, let's just all move on. They are so richly pigmented and always in the most glorious colours with the cheekiest, cheeriest names. Their new neon collection for 2013 is deliciously juicy and I want every last shade. This bubblegum shade is called Bottle Service.

2. Acid green nails are not to everyone's taste, granted, but with a name like Shake Your $$ Maker, how could you resist this funky shade?  A tan is an essential, i'd imagine, but go for this shade if your feeling a little brave. 

3. Orange you lovely! Gosh, one day i'll cease with the embarrassing puns, but that day is not today. This acidic orange shade is perfect to pep up your nude studded sandals and it has a suitably uplifting name: Saturday Disco Fever!

4. This refreshing purple shade reminds me of Atelier-To-Go and, of course, for that reason I love it. DJ Play That Song is like parma violets on acid and would look amazing worn with hot pink sandals or lashings of aqua (my new favourite hue... as this instagram shot shows)

5. Topshop's fashion-forward budget beauty collections really are second to none, and this sexy peach Lip Bullet is fabulous for adding a little vivacity to your make-up bag and will bring a tropical touch to a "bare-faced" look.

6. Another gem from Topshop, this Bombshell lipstick just screams 90s nostalgia! In a clear case with an almost gelatinous look, this bubblegum pink shade is great fun. Get them feelin' Hella Good with this fabulous fuschia. 

7. I spotted this Ciaté polish a couple of days ago on my Twitter feed and I have been getting rather excited about it since. An interpretation of the famous Caviar set, this bad boy glows in the dark: seriously! Read more about Ciaté Corrupted Neon here.

8. The Red Roses scent from Jo Malone is one of the most iconic fragrances of recent years, and all with good reason. It is soft, sweet and feminine but also still a little musky and certainly rather sophisticated. In her new role as Style Editor to the brand, Charlotte Stockdale has updated the scent by dipping in neon pink paint with a limited run of 300, each one individually engraved. Available exclusively at Selfridges, Charlotte's neon collection also offers a number of other pretty rosy treats with a little fluoro-floral touch.

9. Burberry beauty is usually all about redefining sultry nude shades, but this new lipgloss shade, Pink Sweet Pea, takes a new direction with a zingy, poppy colour and luxuriously glossy finish. It is £18.50 at Harvey Nichols here. 

10. The go-to beauty brand for all things bold and theatrical, if you're looking for a show-stopping lip colour then you need not look much further than Illamasqua. Though it is certainly not one for shrinking violets, this Intense lipgloss in Indulge is a bit of a corker. Pucker up boys! It is £14.50 here. 

11. Be a blushing beauty with this Love blush from Lancome. A pearly blush with an apricot core and candy pink trim, this blusher is flecked with light-reflecting particles to make it the ideal partner to gloriously bold lips. The packaging is rather cute too! The perfect gift, this blusher is £34 from Harvey Nichols here. 

Graphic and Kaleidoscopic

1. I love browsing Atelier-To-Go for the most exciting luxury labels and the freshest edit of the moment, and their latest drop from Rebecca Minkoff is worth a peek. This bright yellow Markey oversized clutch has been a huge hit at the office, and I have certainly got my eye on it. High quality leather with edgy zip detailing, this punchy piece is a unique and practical pop of colour for the season ahead. You can purchase it here for £243.

2. I am always on the look out for exciting jewellery labels to satisfy my sparkle cravings, and Joomi Lim jewellery is my new favourite. Available in Liberty and online here, New York label Joomi Lim's jewellery marries twinkling Swarovski crystals with futuristic neon accents and slightly punky detailing. This  delightful necklace from the Let Them Eat Cake collection would be the perfect way to pep up a simple outfit or add a touch of gloss to your failsafe black dress. Follow them on twitter @JoomiLim 

3. I am a sucker for Essie nail polishes and their Spring 2013 collection is yummy to say the least. Check out the stunning shades here for some Summer sun inspiration. My pick has to be the fresh marine shade, charmingly titled Avenue Maintain, which is an uplifting sunny day treat- a pretty Parisian blue. You can shop them here for £9.95.

4. Zara's shoes really are bang on this season and I was pretty much spoilt for choice when putting together this collage. These cobalt strappies are simple, minimal and elegant but still punchy enough to make an impact. They are a great heel height as well for daytime, while the open sandal style is ideal for the warmer months. Check them out here.

5. Oops i've been rather naughty and have spent yet MORE money. This week I treated myself to not one, not two but three silky spaghetti strap camisoles from Topshop. I wear creamy camis all the time so it would have been rude not to treat myself to this infinitely versatile style from good old Toppers- a snip at just £18 here. I love these slouchy tops worn with a really pretty bra (Marks & Spencer have some delicious macaroon shade lingerie coming in this season- sneak peek here but post will follow), super skinny jeans and heels- perfect for a relaxed first date. 

6. When I laid eyes on this Clover Canyon skirt I was torn. It's so bold, so statement and so NOT me, but the more I see it the more I love it and I am now a little bit obsessed. It doesn't look it, but this neoprene skirt is ultra flattering, clinging softly to the hips for a sexy but fun aesthetic with a futuristic and flamboyant floral. A totally reasonable £175 here, this sculpting skirt is a hypnotic Summer hit.I love Californian label Clover Canyon, one of British Vogue's labels to watch, and we have such a delicious collection at Atelier-To-Go here. 

LFW Dream Wardrobe #1

It's just a few days until London Fashion Week, so naturally i'm spending all my money and buying lots of silly bits and pieces that I don't need but want... Lots.

1. This Reiss lounge suit in the most divine shade of off-white is a demure look for taking you from day to evening. With a slick boat neck and elegant 3/4 sleeves, this is flattering and stylish and all it needs is a little spicing up with some killer accessories.

2. Leopard Print. Zara. Handbag. I'm sold. This new season leopard print number is a gorgeous little bag to add a touch of wild charm to your LFW look.

3. This raspberry ripple polish from Essie is a rich shade that complements every look. It even has a tasty name: Extoric Liras.

4. I love this bejewelled ASOS belt which as a distinct MAWI charm to it, but it is just £20. This would look yummy paired with this lovely slouchy jumpsuit.

5. My latest indulgence? These studded Zara kitten heels. YES. THEY ARE KITTEN HEELS OKAY. I feel awful to have bought kitten heels, a lifelong advocate of "go high or go home", but I really like these. They kind of remind me of the Valentino Rockstuds, and could that ever be a bad thing?! They are perfect for adding a little edge to soft cream pieces.

6. These River Island cuffs will add a futuristic look to any outfit, and I love the clean simplicity. They are only £8 each, so it's more than okay to buy both for that extra fashion-edge.

Get those flashbulbs flashing you fashion lot!

Pursuit of Prettiness : Tutti Frutti Nails

Yay! The sun is shining! Yes, it's a bit baltic out, but today is the first day in a while i've felt a teensy bit summery, so here are some beautiful fondant fancy shades of nail polishes to spruce up your winter look a treat.

I received the Splash of Grenadine nail polish by Essie for my birthday from my parents, and I absolutely ADORE the vibrant pinky lilac shade- fabulous quality, of course, and sure to get a number of compliments (I counted four yesterday!)

1. Leighton Denny polishes really are top quality. This soft coral shade is a great way to warm up your winter neutrals, particularly gorgeous with muted sandy shades. This fiery shade is, rather aptly, called Just Perfect and is £11.

2. The Thakoon collection at NARS is full of truly phenomenal colours which have been at the top of my wish list for ages. This Anardana rich pink shade is a particular favourite- a sophisticated bright pink that isn't even remotely Barbie-esque. This retails for £14 from Space NK.

3. This is my new favourite polish, joining the ranks of Nails Inc Devonshire Row and Revlon Bewitching . A pretty pale violet shade that is a little bit sweet, but still very stylish and sophisticated. It's also universally flattering and will go with pretty much everything. I love, love, love it! You can buy Essie Splash of Grenadine here for £7.99.

4. This cheap and cheerful peachy polish from Models Own is a great uplifting shade. This Peach Sherbet shade is just £5 from ASOS. 

5. Another treat from the NARS Thakoon collection, this icy blue polish is a great alternative to pale sugary pink. At £14 it's a little more indulgent, but this high fashion shade is a hot trend for SS13. You can buy this Kutki polish at Space NK here.

6. Pistachio green nails are surprisingly chic, and this delicious Mint Candy Apple polish from Essie is a mouthwatering spring shade. The quality of Essie polishes is also totally unrivalled, so they are worth every penny of this £7.99 price tag.

7. Sherbet Lemon nails are not the easiest to pull off, but this Notting Hill Carnival polish from Nails Inc is a softer shade that will be particularly alluring on warmer skintones. You can buy it here for just £5.

8. Revlon nail polish is always such good quality, and this Dreamer shade is just delectable. A powdery blue, but not overly girly, this polish is a great alternative to your favourite winter navy. You can buy it here for £6.49.

PS

I also must say a big thank you to the lovely ladies at Nicolas Feuillatte who treated me to a luxurious manicure at the Sofitel SO spa in St James, all washed down with a few glasses of the truly divine Palmes D'Or Rose Champagne (read more about it here- it's just gorgeous)

Nothing makes a look complete quite like beautifully manicured nails, and nothing makes a manicure like a glass of chilled bubbly and indulgent canapes!