Smile!

Been pondering over the idea of a smiley piercing for a while now and after speaking it over with some misunderstood unhappy parents I decided to get one! (Sorry Mum and Dad) 

A smiley piercing is a piercing through your frenulum (the bit of skin between your lip and your gum at the top of your mouth), and is only really visible when you smile. Hence the name. 

I've been intrigued by them for a year or two, but never thought I'd get one, due to my parents conservative ideas and strict principles. However, following a couple of tattoos and some pretty big 'debates' over the matter, I was told 'it's my body so I guess I can do what I want'. So like anyone else I went and got it ASAP! And I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! 

Not only is it discrete, pretty, sexy and painless, it is very temporary and also quite unusual, which I like. I got a plain silver ring which just hangs below the edge of my gums. Although the response has been largely mixed, I do definitely think this is a piercing that's going to become increasingly popular. Like the trendy septum piercing this is fairly unique. 

I wanted to get this piercing as it is one of the only ones you can get that won't leave a permanent mark. I like eyebrow, nose and ear piercings but I'm not too keen on being left with little holes! I highly highly recommend this piercing for anyone who fancies something a bit different, and absolutely zero fuss. 

Here's a highly edited picture of my piercing (got to love a good Instagram filter)

Gillian Wearing inspired shoot in Trafalgar Square

What they don't tell you about dyeing your hair blue...

What they don't tell you about dyeing your hair turquoise is that its a right bloody mess. 

I've experimented with hair colours before, which have included pink, purple and silver, but I decided about 4 months ago that I fancied something a bit different. I had seen a few bloggers with green and blue hair and absolutely loved it! The chance of looking like a mermaid for even a day is one that could not be passed up, so I decided to have a browse.

I completely and utterly blame Bleach London for drawing me in with their colourful Instagram pictures of hipster models with golden tans and long pastel hair! Nonetheless I went on to buy 'Washed Up Mermaid' by Bleach London and ended up applying two bottles worth to my already tired looking bleach blonde hair. 

30 minutes later I was bright turquoise, and I absolutely loved it! I was full on colourful, it wasn't just a tint or a tone, this dye had really worked some magic, even lifting the darker tones of blonde to a 'dolphiny' blue. I proceeded to have turquoise hair for weeks to come and fully embraced it by all means. Some people loved it, others (my mum) not so much. Regardless I felt fun and unique, and every outfit was completed by my aqua locks. 

What the bottle doesn't tell you, however, is that this is your life now. There's no going back. This stuff doesn't fade...this stuff clings on like hell! The '2-8 washes' on the bottle was absolute bull**** Not only did it stay for 2-8 washes...it stayed for 16 weeks! The pinks and purples had faded in a few weeks and done so in a beautiful delicate manner that had left me with dreamlike pastel shades. This was a whole different ballgame, and when I say I tried everything, I really do mean it.

I tried: 

Bleach London Colour Fader...about 20 times...(didn't work) 

Vitamin C hair masks X3...(worked a little bit but I smelt like an orange for weeks)

Colour B4 Hair Colour Stripper from Boots...(didn't work and smelt of sewage)

Salon Stripper...(didn't work and would never recommend...left my hair feeling like straw and looking even worse)

The only thing that eventually worked...was dyeing it dark dark brown. 

So the moral of this story is as fantastic as it is to look like a mermaid it is by far the worst colour in the whole spectrum of hair dyes to try and get out.

Lily-Rose Depp...the coolest child in all of time.

Lily-Rose Melody Depp is the daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis...and she is only 15! 

She has already made a name for herself as an actress and is now taking the fashion world by storm. Below she is photographed at Chanel Metiers d'Art show, wearing a Chanel pastel two piece with a simple blonde blunt bob. 

I'm 20, and this all makes me pretty jealous. But with an incredible Mum and a Dad who dated the 90's Kate Moss, what else could we expect? 

Depop - the cheaper version of Asos Marketplace?

Depop is not the only online marketplace around, but it is becoming the most popular amongst teenagers and young adults who are trying to make a bit of extra cash. The app is essentially a smaller and friendlier eBay where selling and buying is made as quick and simple as can be. 

I have been on Depop for about 3 months now and my god have I spent a lot! However, I have also sold a lot! Meaning my guilt from this online haven is diminished. I downloaded the Depop app when a friend showed it to me, and for the first few weeks I spent hours coasting through the millions of posts, seeing what else could be added to my wardrobe. I soon discovered how easy it was to buy, and sell. Within the last three months I have bought 22 things...BUT I've also posted 60 of my own items, meaning I've broken even and turned a profit. The pricing itself is much lower than Asos Marketplace or Etsy. Out of all those 22 items I've bought, the most expensive was £25 and the cheapest £2. 

You can buy and sell basically anything, from used hair extensions to a brand new Ikea desk. The downfall of Depop is the copious amount of 15 year old girls who are attempting to sell their hundreds of New Look vest tops and Dorothy Perkins bags. Their dimly lit blurry images of a £10 crushed top (that was originally £12 to buy) engulf everything in their path. You have to scroll and scroll for hours before finding anything decent! But then...in the midst of all the rubbish you strike gold! 

Depop has two types of people...the car-boot sale junk sellers, whose collective total is worth the same as a Big Mac, and the vintage entrepreneurs who are making a killing on gems they've found in Cancer Research, Oxfam or their Mums cupboards. I am an aspiring vintage seller who is currently grafting away at my followers to try and build some sort of market. The best way to sell on Depop is follow! Follow, follow, follow. I am now following 7000 sellers, and in return have gained 3000 buyers.

Depop has been appreciated by magazines like Nylon, Vice and Asos. It's potential is being recognised and in return, online shops like Motel are posting cheaper versions of their online products. I'm talking £40 down to £15! 

The reason Depop is so successful is purely down to its simple usage and its clever branding. Unlike Asos Marketplace, Depop is not attached to a large international fashion company whose name automatically lifts the prices of its products. Instead, the independent sellers on Depop provide honest pricing that is slowly beginning to win the hearts and purses of our youth.

My personal favourite sellers are: @kristinaapearl @aajr @greysquirreldesign @vuich  @sterlingstuff and @neverfullydressed  

and here are some recommended by Asos:

http://www.asos.com/women/fashion-news/2014_08_6-wed/how-to-use-depop/  

My Depop is: @amygrover 

Come and have a look!

Paris Fashion Week SS15 - Couture

Another round of couture shows from the top designers shows once again why they are at the top. Chanel provided a variety of pastels and floral prints that screamed 1950's royal garden party. There were midi-length pleats and jewel covered mini-dresses that gave the show a 60's hit. The Chanel show was a personal favourite due to the way in which the outfits showed sophistication whilst still being modern and unique. 

Versace took a completely different look at SS15 with a seductive and sexy selection of evening gowns that made every women in the audience incomprehensibly jealous. Jourdan Dunn looked incredible in a beautiful cutaway black gown, as you can see below. 

 

However, Versace's Haute Couture show also provided the audience with an array of summery pink pastel co-ords. Two of which you can see below. 

Dior put on a great show with a wide selection of gowns, suits, jumpsuits and skirts that went down a hit, according to social media responses. The Dior show took the audience on a journey through the decades with some especially pleasing A-line skirts and over-indulgent beading. My personal favourite was the fully embellished mini-dress as seen below. Again there was a definite presence of pastel pinks and pretty floral lace, but in particular there was a growing presence of beading, from intricate lace designs to a full on covering. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for some pastel beading over the next few months. A baby pink A-line beaded skirt would go perfectly with a white cashmere turtleneck...keep on dreaming Amy. 

a couple new additions to the wardrobe

The White Pepper - Round Toe Walker Boot

I've been looking for a while for some comfy boots that make an outfit that little bit better.  I stumbled across these online and am so happy I did. The White Pepper is a East-London fashion retailer that compiles new street style and vintage inspired items that makes a cute collection of quirky individual looks that our hard not to love. Though more pricey then the high street brands like H&M and Topshop, the quality and uniqueness of the clothes make it all worth while. 

Hot!Mess - Metallic Skirt 

Although Hot!Mess wouldn't be my first choice of retailer due to it's pretty outgoing urban designs, I thought I'd add a bit of metallic to my wardrobe. Paired with a black turtle neck and black boyfriend coat this skirt looks great!