...a lovely day out.

Yesterday was amazing. 


1) I had a Saturday off work, 2) I took this opportunity to take a trip up north to Edinburgh. I've only visited the city previously once, but I fell in love with it. 


It reminded me somewhat of Carlisle - it isn't one of these concrete jungles and brick playgrounds, it has character like Carlisle through its architecture and it old buildings. It also has greenery! Grassy areas with people sat outside socialising. That in itself is a rarity! 


...and it's great for shopping! - you name it, Edinburgh has it!


I was a little caught up in the place itself and despite going into numerous department stores, high street shops and designer boutiques, I only came away with one dress! - a tiny bit gutted my boyfriend bought more...


Needless to say, I love the dress! At £22, it's not damaged my bank balance, it's a Topshop classic and it will go with so much!


A functional design, that can be dressed up or down is always a winner in my book!


Here I've paired it with black leggings and my overly used leopard print pumps for a day time look. 


It's an unflattering camera angle on me but it focusses on the length of the dress and how it's dropped slightly at the back.


Topshop never fails...

a rarity.

It's a Friday night here, just before I'm about to head out to work in fact, but needless to say I have decided to let you all know about the wonder of the 20% off event River Island did for students... an actual rarity right there.

Firstly, River Island hardly ever offer any form of discount. They don't even offer that kind of incentive on store cards - trust me. 


So when it was advertised they would be knocking 20% off their stock for students, it was an offer that couldn't be refused! In my last year, last semester even, it was definitely something I wasn't prepared to miss out on!

So here we are. The goodies:

Super cute earrings! 
Totally love these cupcakes! 


They're cheap 'n' cheerful so add a quirky element to any look and 


I've had so many compliments about them so far! 
They were £1.50 (£1.20 with discount) so they definitely don't break the bank and are so wearable! 

These were my second earring purchase. What happened was I'd bought a haul of clothes and the assistant told me they had just got a lot of new jewellery through and it came in the form of these beauts! 


Again, they were only £1.50 full price and feature a leopard print design in the shape of a heart. 


These were made for me.

The last of my earring purchases, these are very cute little cherries. 


They just screamed at me to buy them because like the cupcakes, they're quirky and cool, yet understated and good to go with everything! 
And again they were only £1.50 meaning that with River's 20% offer, I bagged three pairs of adorable earrings for £3.60!

Every girls weakness: fabulous footwear. 


...And it comes no better than the flats at River Island. The styles they had on offer for this season are wearable, cool, current and they don't dent your bank account! 


I really don't need any more shoes so stuck to just the one pair and decided to opt for these! 


They're nude, have a suede effect and have little tassels on the front. 


They go with so much in my wardrobe and are a little more sophisticated than some of my other shoes so i'm viewing this purchase, £25 (£20 with discount) as a small investment!

As all good accessories go, this has to be up there with the best! 


A functional clutch will always be there for you! 


This is a predominately black one with a white and gold trim, featuring what I would describe as a tribal inspired design on the flap. 


The bag compliments any outfit and is quite a statement piece but at £25 (£20 with discount) it's a great little buy!

A blazer, likely to be one of my staple wardrobe pieces for this season! - It's still a bit nippy to be going out bare shouldered but it's certainly not coat weather either, so this is functional in the sense that it is an in-between jacket/cover-up, it's black so it will go with pretty much everything I own, and it's tailored so it's nice enough to wear out on an night or dress up a day outfit slightly. 


It only set me back £28 (£35 full price) and it's what I think will be an essential extra to my wardrobe over the next couple of months!

I'm in two minds about this next item. 


I totally love it, it's a beautiful tribal inspired skirt with the most fabulous print, it's a good length in that it's long enough to be considered a maxi skirt, and it's on trend with it's dropped hemline, but it doesn't trail on the floor - even with me no taller than 4"3'! ...so it can be worn with heels or flats! 


Its a real statement piece (I think that's the issue) but I haven't decided if it's a keeper yet! 


Even at £28 (£22.40 with discount) it didn't cost the earth but as it's such a statement skirt, I can't imagine it will get a lot of use!


So there we have it, a quick round up of what I consider some of River Island's best buys at the moment!

An Update!

It's been a couple of days since I've uploaded anything onto here - been uber busy at work but still had time to sneak a little trip into Topshop on my lunch... there was a sale on after all...

Okay, admittedly these weren't on sale but I'm a short hoarder and these had to be added to the collection! AND they were only £22 (£19.80 with student discount!) so they're hardly breaking the bank and they are so practical! - well they go with everything...

I've had them on a couple of outings with a tan belt and a loose fitting grey vest top.

These were a quirky purchase! Super cute anchor earrings are always a winner! 

Sale: £1.75

 Topshop sale jewellery is amazing if you can get it! The good stuffs usually gone by the time I get there so I was impressed with these purchases!

Sale: £3.75

I love the spiky tribal style earrings. They sit like hoops and the back of the earrings is one of the spikes so it blends in with the style!

Sale: £5.00

The ring on the left is one of those that fits over two fingers from underneath. It's incredibly comfy to wear, just conscious of getting it caught on my clothes!

Sale: £3.75

The ring on the right is made up of four separate rings (two shiny, two matte). They slot together and its nice to have the option to have the full four rings, or just the one!

The earrings below are fab! I totally love them! They hang quite low which isn't very clear in the pic. The back of one of them has the chain hanging down the back and on the other, the chain hangs from the front so they're quite unique!


Thank you Topshop!

Business Plans Set To Enhance Our Border City.

Carlisle is like many other cities around the UK at this time. The state of the economy is having a real impact here on the residents, and therefore the local businesses.


Running an independent shop in Carlisle is no task for the faint-hearted as we’ve already discovered after speaking to Hania McIntyre of Beau Boutique and Jane Coulthard of Jiggery Pokery (see earlier posts).


Kerry Martin is the Economic Development Officer for Carlisle City Council, and after speaking to her earlier today, she explained that a lot of businesses in Carlisle do face struggles in the current economic climate.


“Having a strong web presence is one of the main pieces of advice I could give to any new business. There are still a big proportion of businesses in Carlisle without a website,” explains Kerry.


It doesn’t take a genius to work out the power of the web and social networking; you just need to look at the success of Facebook and Twitter to see how much of an impact it can have and businesses really could use this to their advantage for advertising purposes.


Sue Lamb of Beauty @ SoLo also previously explained to me how her website has brought her a lot of business recently.


Kerry says: “It is all about how you manage it. Independent retailers can really strike back against the big names as they often have a unique selling feature. It’s all about putting out there what you can offer.”


There are now plans in place for a Business Improvement District to come to Carlisle which people hope to enhance the area here. This is potentially fantastic news for the traders of Carlisle.


This scheme is to be funded through a supplement of the business rates paid within the Business Improvement District, and it is estimated that in Carlisle that it will be about 1% of the rateable value of that business’ premises.


This could raise up to £230,000 a year for us here in the border city.


However, this will only be possible if the majority of businesses back the idea. The City Council aims to hold a referendum later this year.


With 120 Business Improvement Districts in the UK, our nearby districts include Newcastle and Preston.


Local and very successful menswear shop in Carlisle, Casanova, has been open for 36 years and they're still going strong.


Owner Terry Foster says: "It comes very naturally to us here. The key is that you have to stay with the times. We have a website, but we don;t trade off it.



"We don't compete directly with the high street either, we stock a wide range of products from fragrance to shoes, through to our clothes but the brands are quite exclusive here."


Another key area that Casanova prides itself on is it's outstanding customer service. 


"We have a very loyal set of customers and we make sure we look after them when they come into store. That's what makes the difference," explains Terry.


A further point Terry made was how Casanova's opening hours have changed: "We really have to work at it here and have now joined many other shops in opening seven-days a week. It's not necessarily a good thing, but it's just the way it's gone. You simply must not get complacent in this job, and never take anything for granted."


Let's hope the Business Improvement District plan is a success and helps a lot of other local independently run business reach the same level as Casanova!

Style On The Streets

I took to the streets of Carlisle earlier today when the sun finally got out to see what all you fashionable folk were wearing.

Here's a few ladies I spotted out and about the city today looking quite alternative and edgy in Carlisle!

Amy Kelly

"I borrowed this cardi off my sister but I'm not sure where she got it! My top is actually a dress which I've put a skirt over. I got my dress from a shop in the Metro Centre which has shut down since, and the skirt is from Primark, as is my bag. My tights were a present off my mum and my boots are from Zara."

Claire Storr

"My top was a present off my boyfriend but he got it from New Look. The cardi I'm wearing was £4 from Primark. My jeans are from New Look as well as my bag, and my shoes are also Primark."

Katie Mitchell

"The blazer is actually from Matalan but I can't remember how much it cost. The top belongs to my mum! My scarf is Miss Selfridge and it cost about £18 and my jeans are from Next, they'll have been about £30. My bag is from Topshop and I'm wearing Converse."

Sophie Burns

"My cardi is from a shop called West Coast and it was on special offer. My top is from New Look and was £12. My leggings are also New Look and were £7 and I'm wearing my Vans today." 

Ella Robinson

"My jumper is from Rebel and I got it in the sale, and my shorts are Levis which I got off eBay! I don't know how much they are full price but I paid about £30 for them. My coat is from New Look and I'm wearing TOMS which are around £35."

Nicole Tomaskewsk

"My top is from the mens department in Next and I can't quite remember where my leggings are from.My boots are from Miss Selfridge though, and my bag is from Topshop!"

"Stay Off The Sunbeds!"

Amber Day, beauty therapist at Boyd Hair and Beauty is promoting safe skincare this summer!


With the warmer months fast approaching, and with the sun already breaking through the clouds, it's more important than ever that your skin is protected!


Amber says: "When it comes to skin care, the best thing you can do is wear an SPF daily. They can be found in moisturisers, in sun creams and foundations. All you're doing is protecting your skin from the sun and it can having long-term benefits on you skin."


This is sound advice, and of course sensible but it's easy forgotten and with the warmer months approaching, a tan is going to be essential for wearing shorts and dresses!


"I would never advise anyone to use sun beds. We all know of the risks people face when they use them and they simply aren't worth it," says Amber.


Instead, Amber showed me the ranges that they carry in Boyd. 


"Fake Bake is a popular fake tan that people use regularly and of course we do spray tanning here at Boyd.


"We have a new tanning product coming into stock soon. It's from the Guinot range and it's a capsule that you take two weeks before you go on holiday, and two weeks when you come back and it increases the levels of melanin in your skin," explains Amber.


Amber also says the capsules are completely safe - there was a lot of controversy not too long ago about tanning pills. The capsules are going to retail for £30.


She adds that they will be really effective on pale skin (like mine) and will help improve sensitive skin in the heat as well.


Guinot is a French make and they do a lot of creams and gels which work in the treatments available at Boyd.


Amber said: "We have a few different facial treatments on offer. We often use a machine to penetrate the layers of skin and give a really deep cleanse. Sometimes that's all the skin needs!"


Using the Guinot products, you can see and feel the differences in the skin after the first use. 


The products are more expensive than the other types of skincare on the market but the results are immediate.


I have a very pale complexion and rarely tan in the sun, so with Amber's instruction, I'm going to leave the sun beds alone for a while and stick to my fake tan for now, and not forget the SPF!

Samina Talks Alternative Beauty Trends

This season if you're looking to try something a little different, look no further than Relax Hair and Beauty in Carlisle's city centre.


Samina Ghafoor is one of three resident beauty therapists at Relax and she has worked there for the last year, but has been in the beauty business for the last three years.


I caught up with her to find out what she recommends and what she thinks will be a success for summer 2012!


"Henna art is very close to me and it is an important part of my background. It's something my Aunty taught me from Pakistan and as I don't have a lot of family here, it's something I treasure," said Samina.


She started doing henna art when she was 14 years old and nowadays it is a seasonal treatment that a lot of people opt for.


Samina says, "There's a lot of controversy about henna art but as long as you use the right equipment, and it is powdered down in it's natural state, it won't scar."


People have found that it leaves terrible scars on their skin when the henna art has flaked away. 


It is effectively a temporary tattoo as a semi-permanent dye is applied to the skin. When the powder is left in it's natural consistency, there are very few limitations to the treatment (it's just like grinding down any other plant like parsley), but a lot of places add chemicals into the balance and that can have irreversible effects on the skin.


Samina does all her henna artwork freehand and says it is quite a popular treatment in Carlisle.


"It's not a treatment that I just do for a client, there is a lot of meaning behind each piece. We create a design that is unique to you and that process is memorable," explains Samina.


She also explained to me that the dye works best when it is mixed with sweat which is why it is often seen on the palms of the hands. Samina told me that in her culture, the darker your henna turns, the more love your mother-in-law has for you.


Henna artwork starts from as little as £5 but obviously a consultation is required for the treatment.


Alongside the henna artwork that Samina specialises in, she also does threading.


Threading is a treatment that shapes the eyebrows and it can also be used for the removal of unwanted facial hair. This is all done through twisting a single piece of thread.


This is a popular alternative to waxing as a lot of people have reactions to the heated wax used in certain treatments.


"Threading is a new and exciting treatment that actually works! It is a really good alternative to wax and I can see it being a treatment that we will have around for quite a while," explains Samina.


She told me of some horror stories of people she has seen who had been to an inexperienced person doing threading which is why it is so important to go to someone you know can do the treatment well.


Threading starts at just £3!


A further treatment that Samina believes to be big this season is microdermabrasion.


"Microdermabrasion is either for you or not. It suits people with really dry skin or really oily skin," said Samina.


Microdermabrasion is the process of exfoliating a layer of skin off the face to lighten your complexion and illuminate your appearance.


Samina added: "The best way to look at microdermabrasion is that in the morning, if you look in the mirror and your skin is dull, the rest of your day will be dull. Something like that can set you off to a bad start so microdermabrasion could be for you!"


With that I left Samina to her next client, and I contemplated the idea of a temporary tattoo.

Another Viewpoint.

At the beginning of this project, I asked a few people out on the streets what their general feeling was of Carlisle. 


I know a large percentage of people in our city aren't satisfied with what we have on offer but by chance, I decided to ask a couple more people who were relaxing in the sunshine what they thought of Carlisle.


Here's what they had to say about the shopping opportunities for young women in the city:

Jodie Mitchinson

"I think it's pretty good in Carlisle! There's a few different places to go and even though they're small, it's not far to Newcastle!"

Harriet Potts

"I must be the only person who doesn't want a Primark to come to Carlisle! Everyone would look the same! I really like Carlisle and the shopping here!"

Nadine Barbour

"I come down here from Dumfries and think it's great! I especially like Topshop's 'Last Chance To Buy' rail and have found some excellent buys in some of the smaller shops off the high street."

Taya Dixon

"For such a small place, I think it's good the amount of variety we have with the shops and the ranges they carry."










...are things finally looking up?

Trendy Tresses.

Statement hair. It says a lot about you as a person, and that you're bang on trend.


Last season, the colours that were rocking in  the style-stakes were reds and white blondes. Back then dip-dyed hair was all the rage; it was all people were talking about through the spring/summer season - well, the style conscious at least. 


This year, its reversed. Those dyed tips are being cut and it's all about roots having an impact. 


This is great news for the 'false' blondes out there, having slightly darker roots on show is key to nailing this trend so don't book that re-colour just yet!


Speaking to local salon owner, Mark Baker of Atelier on Carlisle's Warwick Road, he said: "I can only say great statements are cool this season. If it's a fringe, make it chunky. Big movement, curls and shape!"

It would appear looking at the catwalk, there is a revival of style in the hair world and cuts are being reworked to suit the clothes being sent down the runway this season.


There is so much scope when it comes to hair, and there will always be new exciting looks emerging, so when it comes to style, a lot of people who don't have the time to recreate runway inspired looks everyday need to consider practicality as well.


This means that a strong hair cut can work miracles! 


"High fashion colouring will always be cool, but unlike cuts, the looks are more understated, thus allowing the cutting to do the talking," says Mark.


Pixie cropped hair and bob-cut hair were two influential styles last year and fringes were really 'cool', but this year, a lot has to be said for long and bouncy hair, and hair tied back into stylish ponytails. 


So once you've got your colour and cut nailed, then comes the actual styling.


This season, expect to see a lot of looped under ponytails, which are a very easy to create and are casual enough for day-to-day. Side partings with waves are also expected to be big this season, and the beauty here is that it works on hair of all lengths!


Philip Holmes, the man behind Carlisle's Relax hair salon in the city centre said:"A lot of people have been hoping waves would make a comeback for quite a while now. Celebrities have been working them and curls have been given a lot of emphasis but people are still straightening their hair to death!"


What this means is that hair treatments are on the rise throughout salons as people are trying to get their hair back into a reasonable condition for summer.


Phil added: "Shaving a section out of the side of your head is a popular trend occurring at the moment. That's very alternative and something that might have a bigger following this season."


So there we have it, a run down on the very latest in hair styling from two of Carlisle's salon owners for summer 2012. 


...Bring on the hairspray!