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

Cute little outfit and cheap mascara - scandal eyes

Hey Lovely ladies, 

Sometimes a favourite highstreet mascara doesnt change.

I've been using Maybelline Scandal Eyes for two years now (obviously re-purchasing it!!) and it is a firm favourite for me that I use the whole time.  It is so black, plumping and volumising that the resutls are as good as the top brands - I would say very similar to Benefit Bad Gal Lash in consistency and blackness....if blackness is a real word.

This mascara is an absolute bargain at £6.99 - http://www.boots.com/en/Rimmel-Scandaleyes-Mascara_1238021/

 No excuse not to have this gem in your makeup bag.  Especially if you don't want to 'waste' your more expensive brands on every day use, but still want to have those Scandal Eyes! Haha - I thought the name was so tacky at the beginning, but the mascara actually does the job so well I will let it have that little name :)

Most of my followers are in the USA - so I am genuinely curious if you have Maybelline over there?  Or is it like cadbury dairy milk chocolate where you absolute expect it to be everywhere then it turns out it's just a UK thing.....

I wore it recently with this cute little outfit - a black Zara leather jacket, warehouse white shirt with gem collar and Zara jeans.  I'm also showing off my favourite Moschino clutch - so guilty for a bag binge! Pops!

The makeup is light with a good foundation and lashings of mascara - a fab look for going out for dinner

What do you think??

Big smoochies

Fiocco

OOTD and scandal eyes mascara by Maybelline

Best purchase this winter - Max Mara camel coat

Mmmmm there is nothing better than finding the perfect winter coat.  I spotted a beauty and fashion blogger wearing a camel coat, and I knew that it was a wardrobe staple that I absolutely needed.

I'd had my sights set on a camel Max Mara coat for a while and it took some time to find the right one. It seems that Max Mara specialise in their camel wear and I loved their huge range of choice.  A bit like how Burberyy 'does' the trench, Max Mara 'does' camel coats.  After trying on long, short and in-between i finally settled on the perfect one.

I went for a mid length wrap-around pure camel coat by Max Mara City.

I feel it goes with everything, from skinny black jeans, to a dress as it is both smart and casual at the same time.  The camel itself is a beautiful caramel colour and is so smooth to touch,

The model I went for can be closed as below or open with large lapels.  I love the dual way of wearing it and makes it so much more versatile.  It was an expensive buy, purchased in Italy - hence the picture of me in it in Italy! Yes it is super expensive - the UK one in the link below is is too unfortunately  - reduced down to £1138, but if you take care of it, I think this coat can be wearable for years.  It was definitely worth the money though, as I believe it is a wardrobe staple and I haven't stopped wearing it..

A similar one in the UK is this one which I love with a bright orang collar and is reversible.  http://gb.maxmara.com/p-1016045906001-vincita-camel

Camel Max Mara coat

Annoyingly my eyes are shut in the photo and my collar is sticking up not doing the coat justice, but this was a fabulous purchase and I would recommend all woman to try a camel coat as a staple in their wardrobe!

Do you have one?   What do you wear it with?

Fiocco xxxxx

Sun in Sorrento on the Amalfi coast

Sitting here in London in rainy March....I haven't stopped thinking of getting away this summer to a warmer, more beach perfect location!

Last year I managed to go on lots of sunny vacations, but my favourite was the Amalfi coast in Sorrento.

The crystal blue seas, the gorgeous sun, the natural rocky landscape and flowers everywhere is something which seems a long way away as I look at the gray Thames from my window!  The amazing pizza in Sorrento city centre with fresh local buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and basil on a thick tradition Naples style base was easily the best I have ever eaten.   And I have eaten a lot of Italian pizza!

If you make a trip down to the Amalfi coast be sure to rent a car so you can enjoy the hair pin turns all around the coast and stop of in beautiful little villages along the way.

I think I might have to make a trip back this summer!!

Clothes

Keeping the colours British I went for red white and blue!

I'm wearing int he below - Moschino red shorts, Topshop white crochet vest, blue under shirt  and Chanel sunnies :)

The best winter vacation in Copenhagen

I go to Copenhagen about 4-5 times a year and it is my favourite destination for a weekend winter long weekend.

There's nothing more festive than walking around the winter markets, I fell in love with reindeer skin the last time I was there which would make a magnificent throw for a sofa.  But I had to stop myself as I felt too guilty....perhaps I can find a synthetic one somewhere!

It's important to escape from the cold though.  After  along day walking around, especially if you make the trip out to see 'the mermaid' you will probably be thoroughly frozen to the core and  looking forward to a warm cosy hotel to come back to.

My favourite hotel in Copenhagen is the STAY Appartments.  (http://staycopenhagen.dk/)

They go absolutely all out on the nordic minimalist black and white decor. I'm not used to this style as live in a very traditional 'English countryside' house! But I absolutely love this minimalist style within this modern apartment.  

There is underfloor heating which makes this apartment divine.  The cosy sunset outside and the open kitchen meant I could enjoy a beautifully home cooked meal in the atmosphere of this cool and chic apartment.  

Staying in a normal hotel you would never get to experience the true glam of nordic chic as you can do here.  I would absolutely recommend it to all tourists looking for a a little extra 'glam' for their vacation.  It is a 15 minute walk from the centre or you could hop in a taxi!

Enjoy the pictures!

Love, fiocco