Dancing the night away

Last night, Harriet and one of her best friends Rachael went on a night to Snobs in Birmingham. Rach runs a lovely little blog here all about her love of tea, vintage and the simple things in life! We had a fab time dancing the night away to some quality tunes and decided once we were dressed Harriet had accidentally taken inspiration from Olivia Newton-John at the end of Grease for her outfit! Rach was definitely rocking the Grecian goddess look. Here's a little peak at the outfits:

HARRIET:

Leather jacket - New Look / hairpins - from Emma's shop / statement necklace - Miss Selfridge / t-shirt - New Look / leggings - Topshop / shoes - New Look

RACH:

Feather headband - River Island / dress - Chelsea Girl at River Island / shoes - River Island / owl necklace -  Harriet's from Primark

H & E x

Vintage heaven at Solihull Vintage Fair

Remember last month when we blogged from Solihull Vintage Fair? Well Emma is down there again today! Despite the snow and horrendous cold weather, vintage lovers are wrapping up warm and heading to the Meadows Suite at Solihull Ice Rink til four today - the link to the website is here if you want more information.

H & E x

Topshop Tuesday: our favourite jewellery

The Topshop website is always a treasure chest of finds you want to snap up and wear straight away but today we've focused purely on the jewellery section to bring your our ten favourite pieces each. If you click on any of the links below the pictures it'll take you straight to the item you've selected!

EMMA:

Sunset stone collar - £14 / Coloured chain hoop earrings - £8.50 / Alphabet finger tattoos - £4 / Stone horn ear tunnels - £12.50 / Leather and rhinestone earrings - £8.50

Geo dangle drop earrings - £12.50 / Twist rope collar - £16.50 / Etched pyramid ring - £10 / Floral tash necklace - £8.50 / Neon perspex drop earrings - £15

HARRIET:

Multirow chain drape collar - £50 / Aztec cut out earrings - £7.50 / Leaf armour double ring - £10 / Aztec triangle drop earrings - £8.50 / Figure eight chain pendant - £16.50

Acrylic spike point necklace - £12.50 / Fabric cross bangle - £12.50 / Wing shape drop earrings - £8.50 / Floral stone cuff - £8.50 / Chunky animal collar - £14

We hope you enjoyed having a little peek through our favourite Topshop jewellery (all prices correct as of 12/03/13) - if you did why not click to follow us on the right hand side of this page which will mean you never miss a post, or you can comment below or follow us over on Twitter if you like!

H & E x

Saturday shopping: a sneak peak around the shop

Today we thought we'd bring you a little look around Emma's vintage shop. We're probably a bit biased but we think it's the best shop ever! Full to the brim of sparkly pieces, jewellery, fur coats, accessories and more with a menswear section too!

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening." - Coco Chanel.

"Fashions fade, style is eternal" - Yves Saint-Laurent.

"Whoever said that money can't buy happiness, simply didn't know where to go shopping" - Bo Derek.

"Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak" - Rachel Zoe.

If you've never been before and would like to find it - it's 31-33 Unicorn Hill in Redditch, just a couple of seconds' walk away from the bus and train stations and pretty much as close to the town centre as you can get!


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H & E x

Tuesday Tresses: accessories for your hair

Today we wanted to bring you some ideas for updating your hair! If you don't want a new style, colour or cut but you want your locks to look a little bit different why not try adding some accessories in?

Yesterday we featured some hair jewellery (here) but if you don't want to splash out on some new jewellery the this look is still so simple to achieve - simply put your hair up in a topknot, it can be as messy or as neat as you like. Then take some jewellery - either a necklace or you could even try it with a bracelet and pin it up around your head. It creates a stunning look within seconds!

Hair pins are such an amazing thing! They brighten up your hair and give a special vintage look! To create this simply tie up your hair in a bun or top knot and place the pins around the bun - you can use as many or as few as you like.

Headscarfs are so versatile - for this look simply leave your hair down and tie the scarf in a big bow at the front of your hair. It's a bold 70s look but is so easy to pull off! And you can use a scarf of any colour to match your outfit.

For this cute bow look all your need to do is plait your hair, cut off a strip of denim and tie it in a bow around the bottom of the plait. You can cut the denim as thin or thick as you like - and you can even make the look sparkle by adding studs or gems to the piece!

Let us know in the comments below which look is your favourite! Or why not leave some other suggestions for our readers to enjoy!

H & E x

Make it Mine Monday: our shopping wishlists

If like us you're a serious fan of shopping you'll know the joy of searching out new beauties to buy and compiling a wishlist of items that seriously need to make their way in to your wardrobe now! So over the weekend Emma has been looking through some of the latest magazines while Harriet's been scouring the web for some lovely clothes and accessories! We are seriously in love - get us to the shops quick!

Topshop dress

I believe in love at first sight after seeing this beauty! I adore the pattern and think it would look amazing on. I'd wear it for work with a simple outfit, I wouldn't want to take away the limelight from the dress itself!

Forever 21 necklace

At £12.90 this is a little pricier than most necklaces I normally choose (I'm a cheapskate I know!) but I love how much of a statement it makes and think it would look just as amazing with a simple t-shirt and jeans/skirt combo as it would dressed up for a night out.

River Island t-shirt

River Island is one of those shops I would normally walk straight past but whenever I do venture in there I tend to find stuff I like and my current favourite night out dress is from there. This t-shirt is so cute. I'd either pair it with jeans/leggings or tuck it in to a mullet skirt.

New Look wedges

These wedges need to be on my feet now! I love the detail and I'm a massive fan of New Look when it comes to affordable but comfy heels for a night out.

H&M dress

I adore a printed dress and this is an absolute beaut! I'd definitely save this for a special night out with some simple earrings and a pair of heels. H&M's hard to beat when it comes to affordable fashion that fits so well and this one is a steal at £24.99.

ASOS skirt

I love this metallic skirt! It's a must have this season and well worth investing in! I'd definitely wear it with a boob tube but you could really experiment with it as it would go with so many things.

ASOS metallic shoes

Metallics are so in this season so these little gems will look so on trend! I'd wear them with most things, either with jeans, a pencil skirt or tailored trousers. They could be worn at night or in the day as they are so versatile, I love them!

Hair jewellery

This jewellery really updates this simple bun and makes it look so now - it's a look you can really play around with to find something which will suit your hairstyle. You could even use your own old jewellery if you don't have the cash to splash out on a new piece!

Chanel nail varnish

At £18 this Chanel nail polish is on the luxury end of the scale but the colour is so amazing and it's bound to be such a high quality product it would be well worth investing in. This colour is Lotus Rouge which is absolutely amazing but there are a whole host of colours in the Le Vernis range which are all as beautiful as each other!

Zara coat

I absolutely love this coat! Leopard prints never date, season after season they can be found on the catwalk and on the high street too. This coat is such a classy piece and you could wear it winter after winter. Because it's Zara it will last for so long, you're bound to get your money's worth out of it.

Treasure your new Things Tuesday: beauty and accessories

As we've probably mentioned a few times we love shopping and buying new things! Today we thought we'd bring you a selection of new accessories, beauty items and make up we've purchased this week - and of course tell you why we love them!

EMMA:

Topshop sandals

I absolutely love these sandals which I bought last week from Topshop - as soon as I saw them I knew I had to have them! They will go with almost everything and I've been braving the cold weather to wear them already because I can't wait to pop them on my feet!

Nivea Regenerating Night Cream and Rich Moisturising Day Cream

I love trying out new creams for my face and these Nivea products are absolutely amazing, they have really brightened up my cheeks!

MaxFactor Pan Stick

This pan stick is a must have! You only need to cover your face once and it gives you amazing coverage which lasts all day without the need to keep topping it up! It comes in five different shades, lasts for eight weeks or more and is only £6.99 - girls you need to run out and get one now!

Collection 2000 Bronzer

Like most girls I can't live without fake tan and this bronzer is truly the best. It gives you a natural bronzed look which I'm totally in love with!

HARRIET:



Scarf - vintage

This was one of three new scarves I got from Emma's shop last week. I absolutely love the pattern on it and the dark colours which match perfectly with all of my lovely coats! I hardly ever go out without some sort of scarf on and this is a more than welcome addition to my huge collection!

Barry M nail varnishes

As if I didn't have enough nail varnishes, I picked up this lovely green and red glitter one and also a green colour too from Barry M which is definitely one of my favourite brands for nail colours. The glitter one looks a bit Christmassy but I'm loving wearing it now and I'm always a fan of a green colour too!

MUA blusher

I've been using this shade to contour my face rather than as a blusher as it's just the right shade to blend in with my more pink looking Maybelline blusher. I love how cheap MUA products are but the quality is still so high!

Primark bracelets

I just loved how simple and cute these bracelets were - perfect for laying up and creating a really cool casual look.

Primark shoes

Studded shoes are everywhere right now but I thought I'd buy some plain slip on suede look shoes so that I could stud them myself - I'm currently on the lookout for the perfect studs to use but while I am I've been wearing these and the same ones I purchased in a teal colour loads - they're perfect with tights and a little dress or equally with jeans.

H & E x

Statement Saturday: accessorising your collars

Fashion is all about being creative so why not use a few simple tips to jazz up your outfits - a cheap accessory added to the collar or sleeve can really make all the difference and make you stand out from the crowd! There really is no end to the possibilities! Why not have a look around some of your local shops to see what you can find to add to your favourite piece - or you probably already own plenty of accessories or add-ons to bling up your outfit!

This beautiful white vintage shirt has really been jazzed up by adding gems on to the collar! It really brightens up the outfit and means you don't have to add much in the way of jewellery - unless you want to of course. These were purchased for just £1.10 each which shows how cheap it is to give pieces a whole new lease of life. 

This cropped black vintage jacket would go with almost anything and could be dressed up or down. But to give it that extra added sparkle why not attach these sparkly gems to the sleeves? It makes a change from accessorising your collars too and guarantee you will look unique!

 This vintage 1950s denim shirt is an absolute beaut but what makes it look even more individual is this dickie bow - it makes it look really quirky and will have people looking at you for all the right reasons. Why not team a bow with a vest top too? There are so many uses for one - they're definitely not just for boys!

This vintage shirt is such a lovely colour but to make it stand out even more why not add some dangly earrings. It really makes a statement!  You can try this with any shirt and any pair of earrings - mix and match them and see which looks the best!

 Of course in this horrible weather most of the time you're out and about wrapped in so many layers. But there's no reason why you can't make your coat really stand out! These brooches and a statement necklace give this otherwise beautiful but plain coat a real lift and make it look so classy and special. There's no reason why you can't add embellishments on to all of your coats - especially if you've had them a while and you're starting to get a little bored of them!

So there you have it, those are five of our top tips for making your outfit stand out and giving you that extra edge over all those fashion clones out there! All of the clothing featured is available at the shop so if you've fallen in love with the pictures why not pop in to the shop?

H & E x

Friday Fashion: our week in outfits

Today we thought we'd do something a little different but still sticking with the Friday Fashion theme. So without much further ado here is a guide to what we both wore every day this week!

MONDAY:

Emma: t-shirt - BOY London / skirt - H&M / belt - Primark / boots - Topshop

I love this t-shirt and practically live in it and I'm also loving this skirt. I added black tights to this outfit too. 

Harriet: dress - Primark / cardi - vintage / necklace - Primark

I loved wearing this cardi for the first time, it's so warm! And the dress will see me right through to summer. I teamed this with black tights and ended up wearing my wellies because of the snow!

TUESDAY:

Emma: t-shirt - Topshop / cardigan - vintage / skirt - Primark / shoes - Converse

This is my new t-shirt from Topshop and I paired it with this purple Frank User cardi which I love! Again I added black tights to this outfit.

Harriet: dress - Primark / cardi - Topshop / earrings - Primark / owl bracelet - Primark / watch - New Look

I had on a pair of black tights and my black Chelsea boots with this. I love this new dress and this tasselled cardi is a firm favourite of mine.

WEDNESDAY:

Emma: t-shirt dress - H &M / blouse - vintage

I'm loving wearing this t-shirt dress as it's so comfy and I added a little something extra to the outfit with this green vintage blouse over the top.

Harriet: dress - Topshop / shirt - vintage / scarf - H&M / rings - H&M and Primark

Wednesday is my busiest day at work so I like to be even comfier than normal! This loose dress and shirt combo was perfect for a long day with black tights and my leopard print Chelsea boots.

THURSDAY: 

Emma: t-shirt - available to order at the shop / skirt - vintage / shoes - Kurt Geiger

This 3/4 leather vintage skirt must be the comfiest item I own and these leopard print shoes go with almost anything!

Harriet: dress - H&M / cardi - Primark / scarf - vintage / earrings - Primark / marble ring - H&M / big ring - Primark

This cardi is so big and warm I love throwing it over a more fitting dress to hide any lumps and bumps! Again I had on my tights and my leopard print Chelsea boots.

FRIDAY:

 

Emma: jeans - Topshop / checked top - vintage / wooden sandals - Topshop / bracelet - Topshop

I love these new Topshop high-waisted ankle grazers, they fit so well. These new sandals will be my favourite this season as they'll go with almost anything and this starsign bracelet represents my birth sign and was only £5!

Harriet: dress - vintage / cardi - New Look / scarf - vintage / owl ring - Primark / leaf ring - Dorothy Perkins

Staying with the theme of big cardies over a dress! The pattern on this dress is beautiful!

So that's how we've styled ourselves this week while Emma's been in the shop and Harriet's been at work. Hope you've enjoyed this twist on Fashion Friday and we'll be back tomorrow with another new blogpost. In the meantime, are you following us on Twitter? If not find us @HEBeautifulLife.

Treat yourself Tuesday: our new purchases

We've both been indulging in a little retail therapy lately so we thought we'd show your some of our purchases and give you our ideas about how we'd wear what's in the shops right now! We've picked five items each so hold on tight and here we go!

Also - an announcement! You can now follow us on Twitter!

EMMA:

Skirt - H&M - £19.99

I love this skirt especially the length and the gorgeous green with the gold stud detailing! These types of skirt are so versatile as they can be worn for work, shopping, a dinner date, even partying - the list is endless! For a day look I would add black tights with a funky t-shirt, leather jacket, some ankle boots and plenty of jewellery.

Leopard print jumper - H&M - £12.99

I absolutely love this jumper! Again there are so many ways you could wear it - to work, shopping or for a comfy day. I would definitely choose to wear it on a comfy day but teaming it with jogging bottoms or a t-shirt dress, I guarantee you'll never want to take it off!

T-shirt - Topshop - £20

I am just totally in love with this new t-shirt! This comes up quite baggy and long so you could get away with wearing it as a dress with black tights and your favourite trainers. I can't wait to wear mine and will add my leather jacket over the top!

Skirt - H&M - £14.99

This delicate lace skirt is from H&M and I'm immensely in love with it! I wore this out on Saturday night and teamed it with a cami top, leopard print belt, cropped leather jacket and ankle boots. It looked totally amazing! This skirt is a must this season!

T-shirt dress - H&M - £7.99

Everyone should invest in a t-shirt dress, they are so simple to wear and go with absolutely everything! You can wear them under your shirts, baggy t-shirts, jumpers, dress it up with a blazer, a leather jacket and your favourite high shoes. And of course a must is to overload it with jewellery!

HARRIET:

Dress - Primark - £10

This dress sits at a beautiful midi length and is ideal for the taller girl such as myself if you don't want to show off too much leg! It's tight fitting but not too clingy which again is ideal. I'll be wearing this to work today with a tasselled sleeveless cardi, black tights, black Chelsea boots, a top knot and plenty of jewellery. Alternatively I'd pair it with these cross earrings (also Primark) and some mega heels for a classy evening look.

Shirt - vintage - Emma's shop

I've got a real thing about vintage shirts but most of the ones I own are denim so not ideal for work. As soon as I saw this in Emma's shop I knew I wanted it to be mine! It's long enough to wear with leggings so for a casual look I'd go for leggings, flat boots, a patterned headscarf and probably a big chunky jumper over the top. For a work look I'd tuck it in to some trousers or a skirt and wear a scarf tied in a bow under the collar.

Vest top - Primark - £3

How can you argue with spending about the same as you would on a sandwich on a top with a wolf on it, a dipped hem at the back and studs on the shoulder?! In the summer I'd wear this with a pair of denim shorts, Converse and some flowers in my hair to girly it up a bit! Or for now it'll be paired with leggings, Converse and a big jumper with plenty of bracelets.

Shirt - vintage - Emma's shop

What was I saying about vintage shirts? I love the stud detail Emma's cleverly added to this shirt and the length of it. I'll be wearing it to work open over a bright dress or with jeans, ballet shoes, a leather jacket and these peace earrings (from Primark) for a weekend look.

Maxi skirt - Primark - £10

I literally ran to this skirt and grabbed it as soon as I lay eyes on it! It's the ultimate comfy skirt. For a casual look I'll be wearing it with an oversized men's vest tucked in to it with a patterned headscarf and Converse/sandals in the summer. I think it would also look amazing with a white shirt and a big fur coat!

Those are just some of the looks we'll be rocking in the coming days and weeks! We hope you loved our new purchases as much as we do!

H & E x