What Lysha Loves

If you're naturally very pale, then you'll know the struggle that comes with trying to find a good and 'natural' looking false tan. I've tried so many false tans before, and I settled with St Tropez which I find is perfect for me and so easy to apply. Last night my mum told me to try her new Skinny Tan, which at first I wasn't sure about because it looked difficult to apply. Putting that aside, I thought I'd try it.

I couldn't have been more wrong, the tan was so easy to apply and made my skin feel moisturised. A little bit also went a long way, as the bottle looked so little I thought at first I'd use it all. The instant colour made it easy to see where I had missed, although I have woken up this morning with a few patches but I think thats just me needing more practise at applying it!

Two other major benefits were the smell, which was amazing in comparison to the usual biscuit like smell you normally get from false tan. The other is that the tan works to smooth your skin and contour with naturally derived tanning actives! I'm looking forward to seeing how long lasting it is too, sometimes a girl just wants a nice natural glow!

Have you tried Skinny Tan before, or do you have any recommendations on what to try next? Comment below!

'Classic with a twist' is the mantra Paul Smith have followed since the 1970s, encouraging those who buy into the brand to embrace their style. By using English eccentricity and confident use of colour as their design aesthetic, it's safe to say that season after season Paul Smith create a staple piece which is given a quirky look, whether it is paint splashes on the inside of a shirt cuff or the statement multi-stripe print on the interior of a wallet.


This season, the Nottingham based brand introduce PS By Paul Smith, a diffusion line for the contemporary market which focuses on ready to wear clothing, footwear and accessories for men and women. The line will be more accessible, but will echo elements of design that Paul Smith are famous for. Bold uses of colour, sharp tailoring and distinctive prints will all feature in this collection, with a brand new circular logo to complete the look.
The mens collection is decorated with bold paisley prints, block colour knitwear, and sharp tailored suits for a classic look, along with casual jeans and winter jackets suitable for everyday wear. Autumnal florals, animal illustrations and trouser suits with double breasted jackets overlaying them feature in the women's collection, as well as co-ordinating prints and colours to match the menswear line.




To celebrate the new line, PS By Paul Smith in House of Fraser, Metro Centre are hosting a launch party on Saturday 27th August in store from 1pm-5pm. There is lots going on for you to enjoy whilst you look around the new store and check out the new collection. Keith Martin from Metro Radio will be doing a set of Britpop, Northern Soul and Motown and celebrity chef Pete Zulu will be providing a range of delicious miniature desserts. There will even be a Paul Smith cake along with continental beers, Prosecco and other refreshments.



 

So it's 18 years today since the first episode of SATC aired. As a huge fan I thought I'd put together a post dedicated to Carrie Bradshaw's best quotes that give us essential life lessons.

1. "Don't forget to fall in love with yourself first."

2. "I like my money where I can see it, hanging in your closet."

3. "They say nothing lasts forever, dreams change, trends come and go, but friendship never goes out of style."

4. "Some people refuse to settle for anything less than butterflies."

5. "Life gives you lots of chances to screw up, which means you have just as many chances to get it right."

Are you a Sex and the City lover? Let me know your favourite Carrie Bradshaw quote!

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I've just finished my first year at uni, where did that year go?!

It honestly could not have gone any better, and I'm now certain that fashion journalism is for me. As well as learning so much interesting stuff, I've met so many lovely people including my best friend Lucie. Thank you for being there for me this year Luce!

I haven't blogged for a while because I've been busy doing lots of work. Now I've finished uni I've got lots of posts planned and I'm really excited to share them! This post is just to say hi again, and that I'll be blogging a lot more from now!

Have any of you just finished your first year at uni? How have you found it?

Adorned in vintage boutique furniture with ambient lighting provided by glittering chandeliers, Lola Jeans bar and restaurant is easily one of the most stylish bars in Newcastle. With an impressive cocktail menu which is always a plus!

Lola Jeans is situated in Market Street, just a stones throw away from Eldon Square and Monument metro station. It's highly recommended that you take a friend for cocktails there next time you're in the Toon, which is just what I did today!

My best friend Lucie and I had a trip to Newcastle today to get street style shots for our Fashion Journalism assessment, and decided to have a bite to eat beforehand. I suggested Lola Jeans as I'd been before, and we were both impressed with the quick and polite service, not to mention the cocktails and amazing food!

Lucie had the Princess Peach Bellini, which was fizzy, pink and very princess-like with a touch of Prosecco. I had the China Rose Petal, a frothy cocktail topped with rose petals and served in a cute China teacup. Both cocktails were divine, and the presentation made them even better!

For food we both decided on burgers, which were equally tasty and perfectly cooked. Lucie had the Sloppy Joe and I had the John Dillinger. I could actually say it was the best burger I've had.

Make sure you stop by for a cocktail or two next time you go to Newcastle, you wont be disappointed!

After a hectic few weeks at uni a holiday with my other half is just what I needed! My boyfriend and I booked to go to Dubai just after Christmas, we are lucky that my dad lives there so we had a lovely place to stay and great company (thanks so much dad and Fi for having us!)



I have been a few times before, but it was Sam's first time in Dubai so we did lots of sightseeing as well as sunbathing! As a fashion journalist I was naturally going to be excited at the fact there was a Vogue cafe, and a huge fashion district in the Dubai Mall (yes I held a pair of Manolo Blahniks!)
We had coffee in the Vogue cafe, and we did lots of shopping.

We had a lovely day at the Jumeirah resort, and had lunch at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and a walk along the beach with the Burj Al Arab in full view. We also had cocktails and watched the sunset, which was so romantic and relaxing. Of course we visited the worlds tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. It was SO posh and everything was so pristine, it was an amazing experience to go to the 123rd floor and see a view of Dubai.








The Souks are fabulous too, it was nice to see traditional and authentic Dubai as well as the tall skyscrapers.

The Dubai World Cup was also on whilst we were there, so we got to dress up fancy and go watch the horses! The horse I placed a bet on was in the lead until the very last minute though! Sam and I also got in the Ahlan! which is the UAE version of Hello! Magazine.



I know this post is short and sweet, just thought I would let you all know what I had been up to as I haven't been blogging in a while!

Have you been to Dubai before? If so what do you think?

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of visiting It's Vintage Darling, in South Shields, to shoot some footage for assessment.

It's Vintage Darling is entering its fourth year in business, so I interviewed Sarah, the owner, to find out a little bit more about herself and the shop! Look out for the video and article on Fashion North soon.

My gorgeous gal Lucie, you can visit her blog here, modelled some vintage delights for the camera!

Vintage clothes are an absolute dream, and I could have spent hours looking around and shopping. My favourite pieces from the shoot were the 1960's maxi skirt with all the sparkles, and the green shawl dress from the 1950s.

I thought I would share some of the images with you all, as they are just so pretty!

Thanks so much again to Sarah for having us and for participating in the interview, I'm so grateful x

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New year, new start or new year, new wardrobe? I know which one I would choose. We all know that shopping can be an addiction and we can end up with just too many clothes. I'm in need of a wardrobe clear-out, it's getting to the point where clothes are hanging on top of other clothes!

Then we have the famous phrase 'I have nothing to wear' while looking through all of these clothes. Some of them you might not have even worn before, so this means it's time to go out with the old and in with the new.

The first task is to sort out what you want to keep and what you don't. Once you've done this your wardrobe will be ready to welcome some new clothes. Why not experiment with your style by trying something you've never tried before? You might find a new style that you love!

Who can believe its almost the end of January already? I can't believe how fast this year is going. Even though your bank account might still be recovering from Christmas, Valentines Day is just around the corner. If you're in a relationship, you can treat your loved one. If you're single its the perfect excuse to treat yourself!

I've created a gift guide above with some inspiration for what you can get the special lady in your life. If flowers and chocolates aren't her thing, Lush Cosmetics have a unique Valentines Day range with gift sets. Nightwear, perfume and lingerie are also popular presents.

If she's a fashion lover, why not get her a subscription to her favourite fashion magazine? It'll be a much appreciated gift!

A new year can mean a lot of things, including new make-up and trying out different looks.

With this in mind I thought I would share a few products which I am loving this month. After getting some gorgeous make-up for Christmas I've been experimenting with different make-up looks.
I'm especially loving the Anastasia Beverly Hills contouring kit and Dipbrow gel.

Do you have a favourite make-up product this month?

My make-up look using Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation.

After a few weeks of having constant breakouts, I took to Twitter to see if anyone knew of any skincare that would help. I was recommended some Soap and Glory products, so naturally the next day I went out and bought them so I could try them! I couldn't wait to get home from Uni and have a nice relaxing bath and use my new things. As a vintage lover I'm a huge fan of the retro packaging, and another point is that Soap & Glory don't test on animals.

First of all I tried the 3 in 1 Daily Detox facial wash, which is normally £8 but is currently on offer for £5.33 in Boots. It contains complexion friendly ingredients such as Vitamin C and Superfruit Yuzu to brighten up dull skin and instantly refresh.

I used this followed by the Scrub Your Nose In It facial scrub, which is on offer for £6. I love scrubs because it just instantly feels as though its working straight away. I could feel this tingling on my skin, it contains D-Clog Micromud to get right into your pores!

Finally, I applied the Fab Pore face mask (£6.67 on offer) and sat and watched the soaps. It's recommended on the packaging to leave for five minutes, or 15 minutes for a deeper cleanse. Obviously I decided to go for the fifteen, and after I had washed it off I could instantly see all products had reduced the redness around spots! Finished with moisturiser, my skin was so smooth. I'm quite impressed, and will be doing this twice a week in the hope that it will clear up my skin!

I'll also be posting a before and after picture soon!

What are your favourite skincare products? x

Hands up if you're that kinda girl who always rejected the idea of sporting a pair of heels during the day? Yup, me too. That was until one day I was ambling through Topshop and spotted the most lovely pair of mid-heels with a Croc-effect. Yes, the Jive shoe has stolen my heart. It was like a Cinderella moment. They were a little uncomfortable to break in at first, but now I consider them an everyday shoe, even though I've only had them a week!

Freshers week was made even more wonderful yesterday, as my Fashion Journalism course babes and I ventured to the Bowes Museum in County Durham to see the highly anticipated Yves Saint Laurent exhibition. The 'Style is Eternal' exhibition pays tribute to Yves Saint Laurent himself and his sensational designs which he brought to life throughout his career.

For this post I have teamed up with lovely Lesley, the face of online vintage store Dollybird Clothing. Specialising in vintage clothing from the 60's and 70's, Dollybird Clothing has been ever so popular since it first opened its doors last year. Lesley has her own store on Etsy, as well as a Facebook and Instagram page where you can see first hand which vintage delights she has up for grabs.