[MOST WANTED] Beach Bags

I’m obsessed with finding a beach bag for my honeymoon right now. I want one that will double as a carry-on bag for the flight too.

We’re off to the south of Italy for two and a half weeks and will be splitting our time between city sight-seeing and lazy beach days, so the bag needs to double up for both destinations.

I love the wicker basket option, favoured by celebs like Kate Moss, but want something a little less beachy so that it’ll work further afield too.

I’ve hunted the internet for a few options:

1. When I think of a beach bag, I think of a bright patterned bag which will hold everything!
2. Stripes are totally beach worthy and this Next beach bag has two handle options and three inside pockets, so it’ll definitely work for the plane too.
3. For something fun, for a girly beach holiday, this New Look Beach Please bag is spot on!
4. This wicker-style bright orange tote from H&M is a slightly more practical take on the basket.
5. This block print tote bag by Accessorize will work when you’re back from your holidays too.

What do you carry on holiday?

[HOW TO] dress in Ibiza

This month the opening parties in Ibiza for the summer season will be in full swing and, last year I was a part of the fun! After my trip I wrote about what to pack and wear in Ibiza. This year I’m doing it again, this time, with shopping guides for those on a budget and for those for whom money is no object!

On a budget: Warehouse floral bandeau bikini; Warehouse denim shorts; Kurt Geiger pink aviator sunglasses; Kurt Geiger star friendship bracelets; French Connection jelly sandals; H&M feather headband; Warehouse palm print maxi dress; Warehouse aviator sunglasses; Warehouse thong leather sandals.

Money is no object: Tom Ford sunglasses; Zimmermann zebra print frill bikini; MiH scallop shorts; Antik Batik Aztec beaded mini dress; UGG raffia wedges; Diane von Furstenberg zebra print long kaftan; Kenneth Jay Lane gold coin necklace; Michael Kors flat sandals.

• Beachwear is a must. During the day you’ll likely spend much of your time by the pool or on the beach or somewhere in between the two – mainly sleeping off the previous night’s party!
• For daytime cover-up, choose either a pair of denim hot pants or a maxi dress/kaftan/cover-up which can also be dressed up for early evening drinks to watch the sunset.
• For club and bar openings pretty much anything goes in Ibiza! The boho look was born in 1960s’ Ibiza and this season’s tribal print trend is ideal for a holiday to the party island.
• For footwear at night, I’d advise flat embellished sandals for dancing the night away until the wee hours – but if that’s not your bag, why not choose a pair of wedges instead?
• As for accessories? Big sunglasses are the ultimate Ibiza accessory.
• Pile the bracelets high on your arms and the gold chains around your neck – this is the place – if ever there was one – for the arm party!!

Arm party: Lucy Folk friendship bracelet; Daisy Jewellery double heart bracelet; Lola Rose charm bracelet; Daisy Jewellery limited edition bracelet for the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign.

Last month, I recommended H&M’s Fashion Against Aids collection for anyone heading to the party isle – and that still stands.

Where are you heading on your holidays this summer? If you need help with your packing, drop me an email and I’ll see what I can do to help!

*Image via The Man Repeller

[INTRODUCING] Fashion Against Aids at H&M

If you’ve got festival tickets for the summer or are planning a trip to Ibiza but not sure what to pack, look no further than the latest Fashion Against Aids collection at H&M:

With bold colours and patterns and cheap prices, you’ll be sure to be able to find everything you need for a weekend of partying! From feather hairbands and earrings to crop tops and denim cut-offs to body-con dresses and sunglasses, and even ponchos for when it rains – this collection has it all!

What do you think of the collection?

How to… fake tan (Part II)

 

Source: weheartit

 

I seem to have become something of a fake tan addict this summer. After a promising April in the UK when I managed to develop a pretty convincing base to my summer tan and topping up sessions in Ibiza in May and Valencia in June, a disappointing July and August in Britain has left me pale and pasty. So I have found myself faking it.

 

Sunny Valencia

Further to my previous How to… fake tan post and various other fake tan related posts, this post responds to the questions I’ve been asked and the knowledge I’ve acquired. These are my 10 top tips for tanning – the fake way:

1. Use a mitt or gloves. I haven’t personally used gloves as I tried a mitt first and love the results. I get mine from Boots – they’ve been on offer most of the summer and I only just realised but apparently they can be put in the washing machine on a cold wash – mine’s going in with my next delicates wash. Beats trying to hand wash it!
2. Use a gradual tan if you’re scared of the proper thing or have had a bad experience in the past.
3. Instant tans are a great quick fix if you want to wear a dress but your pins are pasty.
4. Mousse fake tans are generally lighter and less greasy than lotions.
5. Remember to fake tan your feet – I try to go all the way to the edges so that any line is almost on the bottom of my foot and therefore covered by any footwear.
6. Remember also to tan the backs of your hands. Often forgotten as they are inside a mitt or gloves. Don’t overdo it but a little tan left of the mitt is often enough.
7. Don’t wash the mitt straight away as you’ll wash the tan off your hands and leave it patchy!
8. Whilst most people recommend putting fake tan on at night I find it annoying having to wander around letting it dry, so instead I tan in the morning and let it dry before dressing as I dry my hair and put my make-up on – that’s usually enough time. Just wear a darker colour and nothing too tight. Saves getting tan all over your bed sheets too.
9. Either fake tan your face or use a bronzer – otherwise you’ll look sun kissed and ill at the same time!
10. Finally, do not put any shoes and socks on until the tan is completely “fixed” – and don’t exercise or shower for a good 6-8 hours. Believe me, I speak from experience.

 

Source: weheartit

 

What are your top tips for fake tanning? Did I forget something?

Holiday Essentials #1

My number one holiday essential has to be, these Havaiana fit sandals:

I have worn them literally non-stop since I got them in the post from Spartoo at the beginning of May. I wore them the whole time in Ibiza and again last weekend in Valencia. They combine the ease of flip flops and jelly sandals and are comfortable and practical all at the same time. All for £24 – can’t be too bad?!

What is your holiday essential?

PS:

Have you entered my giveaway to win a fabulous pair of Oasis New Vintage earrings? If not, make sure you do so right away!! You can’t win, if you don’t enter!

AND, if you have already voted for me in the Filofax Facebook Blogger Style Off, thank you. If you haven’t voted for me yet, please do go and vote for me and will be forever grateful.

How to… Dress on holiday in Ibiza

I know that when my girlfriends and I first booked our little sojourn to the party isle many of us had a little panic over what to pack and turned to the internet for assistance. Now that I have been, I thought I would add my own little bit of wisdom to the pile:

Girls on the beach by Cafe Mambo – photo taken by my friend.

• Beachwear. During the day you will – if you’re anything like us – spend much of your time by the pool or on the beach or somewhere in between the two! Pack your bikinis/tankinis/swimsuits/whatever you prefer. For some a pair of denim hot pants is all that is needed. For others, add a maxi dress/kaftan/cover-up. Personally, I favoured a pair of H&M denim cut-offs and a loose vest.
• Take a hat. For two reasons: 1. It’ll keep your head covered and stop you getting sun stroke. And 2. It looks cool!
• For early evening drinks and dinner I’d recommend something more casual than your club wear (see below) but slightly more dressy than your poolside look. Saying that – we quickly learned that in Ibiza, anything goes!!! But my recommendations would be: A maxi dress and flats/espadrille wedges; or a playsuit/jumpsuit. These were my outfits of choice!
• For club wear, ANYTHING goes!!!! We saw one girl in a rather risqué outfit – wearing a leopard print body with black hot pants underneath! Finished off with a massive pair of stilettos!
• My advice would be, think: sequins, crop tops, hot pants, lace, crochet. It will be hot in the clubs, so less is definitely better!
• I’d also advise flat sandals for dancing the night away until the wee hours – but if that’s not your bag, just make sure you can last for hours on your heels!
• Glitter – another festival favourite and one for Ibiza too! But I’ll leave that for another post (what to pack in your toiletries bag for Ibiza!!!).
• Glow bands – bracelets and necklaces – fill your arms with them. We did!!

Me: glowing!!

Have you been to Ibiza? Do you have any further tips to add – I know I have only just touched the surface here, so please do add to it and make this a really good resource!!


If not Ibiza, where are you going on your holidays this summer?

Monday Morning Pic-Me-Up

In case you missed it in amongst my various ramblings – last weekend I was in Ibiza to celebrate my birthday and to experience the opening parties at Café Mambo and Es Paradis! Both parties were on Friday (20 May) and so we headed to Café Mambo early to catch the sunset – which is said to be one of the most spectacular in the world. To add a little fun to the girls’ weekend I took my Polaroid camera with me and we all got a photo of the sun setting to remember the night. Truly beautiful.


It seems anyone who is anyone is heading off to Ibiza this summer to catch some rays and some music! Are you planning a trip to the party island?