OOTD Asos Black Mesh insert Maxi dress

Hey Dolls, 

I don't often post formal OOTDs on here but here's a goody.  It's called Black mesh insert maxi dress. It is a stunning dress perfect for formal occasions and was an absolute bargain from Asos.

Sooo drumroll on the price.... Just £17!  Can you believe it!?  Reduced from £25.99 and available here.

It's hard when youv'e got a formal occasion but you need a new dress.  I have several lovely formal dresses - did you see the melon coloured Alberta Ferretti dress?  But if you are with the same crowd it is often hard to repeat the same dress.  So, I had a little search on ASOS through their floor lengths and ended up getting two very similar ones.

I love the elegance of this racer neck dress and it has a stunning back which is a bit of a T style.  The material isn't the most expensive, but hey, what do you expect for £17!  It also has a thigh length split and looks perfect with heels in any colour.  It has a thin mesh see-through panel under the bust which I just love.

But I also bought a second dress which I didn't wear....and I love it more but it's a tad too short and was also another bargain at £25. (ps I'm 5 foot 10 so a floor length dress is a little tricky).  This one was a Club L racer front dress - but it is just too short and unforgiving because of its mermaid bottom.  I didn't have the heart to turn it back though....perhaps I'll wear it one day with no heels?

Love my LBD from ASOS

What do you think?  I think it was a fabulous buy for such a good price and a great way to wear a new outfit perfect for the occasion without breaking the bank!

Fiocco xxx

Spa LONDON - His and Hers massages

Hey Guys!

I was lucky enough to try out a 'his and hers' massage with Spa LONDON.  I cannot tell you how excited I was about this - the whole week before I couldn't stop thinking about it!

Based in the gorgeous village of Wimbledon (but still within the centrality of London) we went to Spa London, booked in for for some extremely delicious treatments.  I was booked in for their brand new signature treatment - La Sultane de Saba Shea Butter full body scrub and massage, and my other half was booked in for La Sultane de Saba Malaysian bamboo full Body Massage and Scrub.

After a long week of work, we were both really looking forward to some down-time to relax and be pampered and Spa LONDON didn't disappoint!

After being given our robes, slippers and towels, we were greeted with a glass of bubbly, fresh berries and time to relax in their stunning relaxation lounge.  Already the ambience was being to relax us and we were beginning to unwind.

The friendly massage therapists then invited us to the massage rooms and started to begin their treatments.  She began with a body scrub which combined with light massage was so refreshing and immediately made my skin so much smoother.  Then, after quickly showering off the scrub, the real treatment began which was the Sultane de Saba Shea Butter full body massage.

I had never had a full body massage before and it was so incredible to be literally massaged from head to toe.  You never realise how much tension you have in your arms, legs and even fingers until you go for a full body massage!  The smell of the gorgeous La Sultane de Saba was so mesmerizing and really added to the whole experience.  I felt completely spoiled and so relaxed after this treatment.

His Treatment

I was so excited to bring my other half, as he is a chef  and always on his feet with little time for relaxation.  He was booked in for Spa London's La Sultane de Saba Malaysian bamboo full Body Massage and Scrub which is where a the trained masseuse uses a small piece of bamboo like a rolling pin to gently massage the whole body.  She also used deep massage working on all the pressure points.  My boyfriend was so happy with the treatment and is definitely looking to go back for more!

After the massage, we went to the centerpiece of Spa LONDON, the Thermal Spa Experience.  This was a great way to unwind and to finish off the full experience.  Enjoying the Aroma Steam Room, Sauna, Ice Fountain, Hamman benches with foot spas, hydrotherapy pool, monsoon shower, bucket shower and of course relaxation lounge. The relaxation lounge - in the  picture above, really is exquisite and an island of calm.  As you can see I was enjoying myself greatly!

The hydroptherapy pool was also a delight and was a superb way to continue to feel pampered after the massage. We had an absolutely fabulous evening at Spa LONDON and would absolutely go there again.  

*Treatment for consideration and review

A Weekend in Venice

Last weekend I was back in Italy and we went for a road trip to one of my favourite places in the world - Venice! Staying for the weekend was marvelous, though the April weather was hit and miss.

The best way to reach Venice isn't by car as there are no roads there, but by catching a ferry across to the main island.  I think this is the perfect way to begin a trip in Venice as you can see it from afar and really creates that romantic ambiance.  It also only costs £15 and is just a 20 minute trip taking you to the heart of the city.

Part of the experience for me (apart from the gorgeous shops of Murano glass) are the stunning bridges and walk ways across the canales.  There are so many side streets like this one where there are no tourists and you get to see a real part of Venice where people live and work.  I was lucky enough in the photo below to find a sunny 5 minutes as soon the heavens opened!

 I love my cheeky dark blue silk shirt with a bow collar - I wore it with jeans and a half-length cream lambskin leather jacket.

There is constant water traffic along the main canals - there is really so much life and vibrancy. Apart from exploring the side alleys, we went for an Apperativo in St Marks Square.  Apperativo is an original classic from the region of Venice, so they know how to do it properly!

A fabulous weekend and I can't wait to go back xxx

Makeup of the day and hair of the day

Hey Dolls, 

I haven't done a makeup or hair of the day in forever!

I have been loving this eye of horus mascara in black - this is a little gem of a makeup brand and I have been using their liquid eyeliner a lot too including in the below pictures.  The mascara retails for £18.00, which I think is a good price to pay for a decent mascara.  It separates and lengthens without leaving lashes clumpy. I also love having makeup in my makeup bag that not everyone has!!

So I went pretty natural on the face - I was using B50 foundation from YSL in the Teint Touche and followed by Hula bronzer from Benefit.  The look as all about the lashes so I wanted to keep my skin as natural as possible and also finished with a super nude Chanel lipstick.

I have been obsessed lately with Chanel's Rouge Coco moisturising lipsticks.  They leave a little shine on lips which looks great and is comfortable to wear. I am using Colour 400 Louise

To finish thhe Makeup of the Day is of course Hair of the  day!  I have been using:

 Kérastase Chronologiste Revitalizing Shampoo, Care Conditioner And Balm Treatment Trio

This fabulous revitliasing hair trio is currently discounted on Lookfantastic by £25 - so make sure you don't miss out. The third step - the hair mask is my absolute favorite of the three.  My hair was so glossy and shiny after using it when usually I have very dull and dry hair.  My brush went straight through without too much problems on tangles which makes it an absolute winner for me and has become a firm favourite!!  It is definitely worth the money in my opinion and a must-have for those with long hair prone to splitting.

So there we go! My hair and makeup favourites for the day!

Stay tunes for more as I have been discovering some beauties this month!

xxxxx

Nouveau Extend - eyelash extension review

Hey there!

As a proud brand ambassador part of my #Lashgang project I was invited to try out a Nouveau Extend treatment which is for eyelash extensions.

I LOVE wearing false eyelashes, and normally use the strip lashes, so I was really interested to try something which lasts longer.  The Nouveau Extend treatment is estimated to last 8 weeks so I can't wait to have a month of stunning lashes.

Yesterday I popped along to the Chelsea Day Spa to have my treatment done.  After a consultation with the Ultimate Lash Technician on the type of look I wanted (just a bit more than natural with a curve and more at the outer edges) it was time for the treatment.  You can't feel a thing, and the beautician applies each lash carefully one by one in what is an hour long treatment.  Lying with your eyes closed and with the gentle spa music in the background it almost sends you to sleep!

I have to say my before and after pictures are INCREDIBLE.  I think the pictures speak for themselves - longer lashes, more lashes and with an incredible curve.  I almost cried when I looked in the mirror to see those long sweeping princess lashes.  You also can't see there they've been applied as they magically look like part of your own lash.

The best part  is, despite them being long, thick and volumnous, it doesn't look like false eyelashes, they just look like you have naturally pretty insane lashes!  As you can tell I am over the moon with this treatment and would definitely go back there again.  I think this treatment is great for all year round as it mean you don't need o much makeup as you are already made up.  Personally I would love this look every day of the week January -December.  As it happens I'm off on holiday next week and love the idea of waking up with lashes like these every day.

Below are pictures before the Nouveau Extend treatment and immediately after.

The picture below was taken the day after and as you can see the lashes still look fabulous, long and natural

#NouveauExtend

All I can say is that this was a 10/10 treatment and I am in love with the results.  I don't know why but having amazing long lashes is such a confidence boost and makes you feel great walking out the door.

Thank you to Nouveau Lashes for this incredible semi permanent eyelash extension - I am in love with the Nouveau Extend treatment! xx
Fiocco

Beach Walk OOTD

Hello lovelies

On this mini vacation to Italy I've gone to the gorgeous riverside town of Cattolica near San Marino.

Yesterday I went for a gorgeous beach walk along the pier of Cattolica, and the sky was looking stunning at sunset. I'd spent a great day walking through the town enjoying lots of shopping.  They have fantastic makeup stores there and I purchased a few Chanel & YSL lipsticks in dark shades of brown which I'll be featuring on the blog soon.  I can't tell if I love or hate them on me - they are all the craze now since Kylie Jenner's new lip kip range so had wanted to try it out for a while!

 It's still a bit chilly in the spring air, so had to wrap up warm for this beach front walk and so chose a  Zara leather coat,  Guess Jeans and H&M khaki shirt.  A really simple outfit which is perfect for casual and dining out.

There is nothing more relaxing than a riverfront walk to clear the mind and awaken the body.

Looking forward to being back in the UK tomorrow!

Fiocco xxx

Budget bikini or designer? Primark vs Moschino

Wassup ladies.

So it's coming up to that time of year where things are warming up and perhaps you're looking at fabulous holiday destinations for the summer!!

I know that's what I'm doing - anyone who follows my blog knows that I am constantly dreaming of Italy or any other warm European country with sea, sand and incredible food!!

But - I've been considering bikini options.  Don't get me wrong - I have Moschino bikinis galore *guilty pleasure* but I thought I'd try out some budget bikinis too last summer to mix it up.  And the results were surprising  ........

The above blue and white bikini is....????????

Primark!  I think it cost under £5.00 in total.  What. A. Bargain.  I chose it because I'd packed my suitcase full of bikinis then 1 hour before my flight realised I had backed all bandeaux and needed a triangle bikini to sort out the tan lines.  After popping into Primark I found this stunner of a bikini.

I loved the nautical blue and white colour and thought I would just try it out to see.  I ended up wearing this stunner for most of the holiday - it lasted well and washed great.  It wasn't lined with nice soft lining like the Moschino below and the material didn't have a silky finish....but it dried quickly, was comfortable and looked great.

Below is a Moschino polka dot bikini.  The finish is much better, it has a silky touch and delicate gold clips to remove the neck tie.  But, it doesn't come cheap costing approx £120.  (oops, don't judge me!!)  I would say you can get a similar effect with a £5 bikini and really you enjoy yourself more in a cheaper one.  In the polka dot one below I am always worried about ruining it, sand getting into it and generally it is more high maintenance which isn't the best when on holiday.

So what is your personal choice?  Cheap or designer???  

I think Primark beat Moschino this time!

Kissesss

Fiocco xxxxx