The Best Way To Relax Is To Be Lazy In The Tub | Lush X Lazy Oaf First Impressions

Hey everyone!

Welcome to a brand new blog post! I went to Lush White Rose recently to check out the new Lush X Lazy Oaf collaboration range and I thought that today I would talk to you all about it. 

Lush have decided to collaborate with the well known London based brand Lazy Oaf who are known for creating clothing with creative yet iconic prints and many other products. This collaboration has been inspired by London laundrettes bc just like the iconic one that is featured in the BBC soap ‘EastEnders’. All of the collaborative range albeit one product are either scented in Lush’s well known Intergalactic or Sleepy range. 

 Happy Face Bath Bomb 

The first product that is featured within the range is the Happy Face bath bomb which is a white bomb that sports a smiley face on it. This bomb is scented in the Intergalactic range. Intergalactic contains Peppermint, Grapefruit, Cedarwood and Vetivert Oils. To me, this creates an uplifting Mint and Citrus scent with a slightly smoky backnote to it which keeps you guessing and on your toes. I adore the Intergalactic range and think that at this time of year that it could make for a great gift for someone who is working a lot this festive period or for someone who may be suffering with Seasonal Affective Disorder as the Mint and Citrus may help them with the early dark nights that are kicking in at the moment. Priced at £7.

Sad Face Bath Bomb 

Sometimes our faces are happy and sometimes our faces are sad and that is completely fine! This bath bomb has a sad face on it hence the name and contains Lavender and Ylang Ylang Oils, Tonka Absolute and Benzoin Resinoid. I don’t mind the Sleepy/Twilight range but it depends on my mood and such. I completely get the correlation between sad and sleepy so I get why it is scented in this scent family. Priced at £7. 

Wash Buddy 

Who doesn't love a good buddy when it comes to washing in the tub? This little bath buddy was designed to help you relax in the bath. This Bath Bomb is centralised around the Lazy Oaf logo. A true collaboration. This bomb is scented with Sleepy which contains Lavender and Tonka so when you need a buddy to help you relax after a long day then you can instantly turn to this cute creature and drop them into the tub. I'd definitely recommend giving this as a gift for someone or yourself after a long hard week. Priced at £5. 

Bubbly Buddy 

Lets create some bubbles and enjoy the fun together. This Bubble Buddy not only looks cute but creates some cool bubbles! This Bubble Bar emulates the Lazy Oaf logo through its design. This bar also is scented with the Sleepy scent from Lush. I think that Sleepy works best in a Bubble or Shower Gel format so I absolutely love the idea of this product. I also think that this would be amazing product for kids to use or when stuff is just getting a little bitt too much. Priced at £7. 

Checked In Soap 

When stuff has to be done,. Its best to be checked in. This Checked In Soap is not only punny through its checked flag design but also smells the part by being scented in the Intergalactic scent. Not only does Peppermint and Grapefruit Oils help to invigorate the mind and keep you checked into life but also looks amazing in your bathroom. I am kind of glad that Lush have decided to create a Intergalactic soap as the nearest soap that is out at Lush at the minute is Outback Mate which hits the spot in a different way to Intergalactic does for me. Priced at £7 for an 80g block. 

Checked Out Soap 

During the hustle and bustle of this time of the year, it’s completely fine to check out. Checked Out  Soap is scented with the Sleepy scent. I think that this would be great for having in the bathroom at night time at this time of year or to use. I can see it being the ultimate soap for small ones on Christmas Eve. Priced at £7 for a 80g block. 

Intergalactic Showder

After a full cycle spin, its good to feel oh so clean! As mentioned at the beginning of this post, the collaboration is focused around London based laundrettes and a good part of laundrettes is the clothes being washed. This is why Lush have decided to bring back their showders which are inspired by laundry detergent for this collaboration with Lazy Oaf. Not only do these showders look the part on the outside with their vibrant yet quirky packaging but on the inside too through the texture of the product. 

Some people may ask, what is showder? To summarise, Showder is pretty much just shower powder. If you have used Lush’s Shower Bombs then imagine them but crushed up with a bit of Salt running through it to help scrub the body in a box. Not only does this help to cleanse and nourish the body but also helps to scrub away dead skin cells through the addition of Fine Sea Salt. Add this to the mix of Peppermint, Grapefruit, Cedarwood and Vetivert and you have an amazing product that I’d definitely use first thing in the morning to help me get ready for the day ahead of me. I actually used something similar in the Intergalactic range when I caught COVID in late 2020 and even with only the faintest bit of smell that I had to my name, I could smell the intoxicating smell of Intergalactic which helped to stop me from feeling groggy,. I’d definitely recommend this for the morning after celebrating this festive season. Whether that be a Party, a night out with old friends or Christmas Day itself! Priced at £15 for 170g. 

Sleepy Showder 

Let’s scrub away the bad thoughts before bed! Sleepy Showder is just like the intergalactic Showder. Instead of my recommendation of using it the morning after partying, I’d definitely recommend to use Sleepy Showder the night before partying! This showder contains Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Tonka and Benzoin Resinoid. I know that I said that I don’t fully enjoy this scent but I quite like it in the Showder format. To me, the Lavender is slightly more herbal than powdery as I detect a sort of more grassy note of Lavender in this product which makes me enjoy it a bit more. I paired this with the tiniest bit of Beauty Sleep Face Mask that I got a while ago from the wonderful staff at Lush White Rose via asking for a sample of it and oh my god it was amazing. It instantly made me forget all about my anxiety that happened that day due to going out to get some shopping done. Priced at £15 for 170g. 

Lush X Lazy Oaf Body Spray

 Lazy has never smelt so good! Who doesn’t love a good Body Spray? This Body Spray was inspired by London Laundrettes and the character Dot Cotton from the BBC soap ‘EastEnders’. This Spray contains Tonka Absolute, Vetivert Oil, Tobacco Absolute, Champaca Absolute and Vanilla Absolute. Just from the ingredients alone, I was expecting this to smell very similar to Turmeric Latte through the use of Tonka and Vanilla yet to me it smells worlds apart. When I sprayed this in store, the first scent note I got was Champaca. A sort of resinous floral note. After this I got the smoky note of Tobacco and then the sweetness of the other ingredients. I mean each nose is different but if you are expecting a Vanilla heavy fragrance like Vanillary then you will be disappointed. To me, It reminds me of a mixture of Tobacco and the Ginger fragrance from Lush. An odd mixture I know but sort of fresh, floral and smoky. It is definitely worth going in store to give it a whiff but as I still have a bottle of Ginger perfume from Lush, I was a bit adamant on getting it straight there and then at White Rose as I wanted to see what it was like when it settled on the skin. To me, the Tobacco takes over the Champaca a bit and becomes a bit more of a intriguing scent that I couldn’t exactly pin point. Priced at £35 for a 200-g bottle. 

So what do I think of the range overall? It’s different and quirky. I do wish that the Intergalactic was switched out for a different scent to fit the Happy side of this collaboration a little bit more. Even though the scent has already been out this year, I think that Party On would have fitted the bill a little bit more or even Whoosh. Ooh, a Whoosh Bath Bomb would be amazing! Do I get why they were both chosen though? Definitely as both scents are well known and well loved when it comes to Lush. I think that Lush and Lazy Oaf was a good collaboration as they are both quirky. Do I wish the prices were changed slightly? Definitely. I think that £35 is a bit expensive for a body spray with a brand new scent that some may have not smelt before but again with inflation it is completely understandable why the prices have gone up a bit. I think that if the Body Spray was available in a smaller size like it is in the gift sets for a smaller price to try then it would be amazing. I also hope that the inclusion of the Showders again after the concept being discontinued in 2016 in this range means that they will be coming back in the future in other scents as I kind of love them especially when I’m staying in hotels and they only come equipped with showers. Overall I give the Lush X Lszy Oaf range a 8.6/10. 

Thanks to the lovely staff at Lush White Rose especially Betty and Sandra for being amazing to myself and Luke and for gifting us the Showders to try. If you can get to the Lush White Rose branch then I’d definitely recommend that you do. 

What do you think of the Lush X Lazy Oaf range? Let me know down below! 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x

Certain photos from this post are from the brands website and some of the products included in this post were gifted by the wonderful staff at the Lush White Rose store. All views and opinions are my own. 

Feeling My Elle Woods Graduation Fantasy | Masters Graduation - July 2022 - Leeds Beckett University | Outfit Of The Day

 Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post. I recently graduated from both my Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees including a MA in Media and Culture at Leeds Beckett University and I thought that today I would show you all what I wore. 

The photo in this post is before I grabbed my cap and gown as I had some time free before I needed to go grab them. If you want to see those photos then keep an eye on my social media channels. If you’re not sure where to go then just search thejamiesowden on all social media platforms. 

Before I go on about the outfit and show a photo where I look absolutely stunning if I say so myself. Id like to thank Abbey for not only coming to the graduation event, but for also, taking the photo that is featured in this post and helping me out in several ways during the day! 

The Shirt is from Next. It was gifted to me from a friend so sadly I don’t know the name of the shirt but I absolutely love the design of this shirt! 

The tie and bar clip are from Primark. I bought them last year so again I can’t remember the price of them but they are amazing for just adding a little bit of pizazz to an outfit. 

Now onto the suit! 

The suit is from Slater Menswear. I have always been fascinated by the items that Slater’s stock and forever wanted to purchase something from them so I did. I decided to purchase the Charlton Gray Regular Fit Black Two Piece Suit. Slater’s also offer a free alterations service which I participated in to ensure that  my suit fitted me, The customer service at their Leeds store was impeccable! I received my altered suit in ten days and as you can see from the photo it looks amazing on me. 

The shoes are from BoohooMAN. I bought them in 2019 but I haven’t worn them in a while so I thought I’d bring them out for a special occasion. I love these loafer style shoes as they are smart but comfortable. I love the splash of glitter that is on them as it shows off a bit of my personality just like the shirt does. I forgot how much I loved these shoes and now that I’ve worn them out, I might wear them out more frequently in the next few months. 

What do you think of this out? Let me know down below. What are you wearing for special moments this year? Let me know down below. 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x

Favourite Summer Things Mini Guide 2021

 Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post! I thought that today, I would talk to you all about some of my favourite items for the Summer that I have been checking out on social media. 

Dr Martens Geraldo Brando Sandals 

If you've been following me on social media or on this blog for a while, then you may know about my love for Dr Martens. I love all of their footwear and other products that they sell. One of my favourite products from Dr Martens are the Jadon Max Boots as not only do they look lovely but they also are made out of durable fabric and just fit my aesthetic amazingly. However, I do think during the Summer we all need a pair of shoes or sandals that are going to make us feel our sensational Summer fantasies and I think that the Geraldo Brando pair from Dr Martens do that perfectly! I personally adore them due to having the closed toe style of a shoe mixed with the sort of fun summer style that comes with sandals. I for one am wary of waring sandals due to hating my feet and I think that these will get me to start wearing sandals again due to this particular pair of sandals having that closed toe finish to the product. Check them out here.

Hill & Ellis 

We all need a good bag to get us through the warm weather and all of those hectic vibes that come with enjoying the Summer to its fullest! Hill & Ellis, a wonderful brand, create not only amazing bags but colourful bags that will complement the Summer vibes that you may be enjoying right now but will also add a perfect pop of colour to your Autumnal/Winter fashion looks! Their bags are also made with sustainable materials and are made in the lovely city of London! I absolutely adore their products and think that they are amazing all year round! Check them out here. 

Watermelon Malibu 

Who doesn't love a good drink? Is it just me or does Watermelon make you instantly think of Summer too? I guess its due to the amount of Watermelon based drinks that I have had during previous Summers. Especially Watermelon Mojitos! Malibu, which some already think as the epitome of Summer, have released a Watermelon version of their delicious drink and it is amazing. I absolutely love it and think that it is an amazing addition to a cocktail for those who love anything Watermelon. 

Jollibee 

If you have been living under a rock, which honestly I wouldn't blame you if you had been living under a rock during the past eighteen months, then you may not know what Jollibee is. Jollibee is a Fillipino fast food business that are slowly taking over the world! Jollibee focus on serving amazing Fried Chicken that will leave you feel happy for a while after you have eaten some. They also focus on creating an amazing homage to a well-known Filipino speciality which Jollibee have dubbed as the Jolly Spaghetti. This dish is amazing and reminds me of cold days where ally ou want is a hug in food form. They also offer a range of other dishes, have a brand spanking new store in Leeds and I think that their Fried Chicken eaten on a warm day in the Summer would be amazing! (Should I do a post on jollibee's food? Let me know down below or on my social media platforms!) Check them out here. 

Short Dungarees 

We all need a look to kill the Summer in! I think that Short Dungarees are the epitome of Summer fashion. If you follow me on Social Media then you will know that I mean this with my whole heart as half of my feed is full of me wearing different types of Short Dungarees including ripped ones which I think are amazing. A true chefs (in this case designers) kiss! They go with anything and just make you feel like it's Summer no matter what! 

So there we have it! A few of mt favourite Summer things! What are your favourite Summer things? Let me know down below or on my social media channels! 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie!x 

Some of the brands and products mentioned in this post was in return for photos, or, products. All views are my own and this transaction does not change my opinions in this post at all. 

A Little Celebratory Socially Distanced Photoshoot

 Hey everyone!

Welcome to a brand new blog post. I thought that I would change stuff up and talk a bit about what has been going in my life lately and talk about a little phptpshoot that I did to celebrate finishing a Undergraduate Degree at University. 

As I have just mentioned, I recently finished a Degree at Leeds Beckett University. 2020 has definitely challenged me in every way possible and I'm pretty proud of myself that I was able to finish a three year University course which included writing a ten thousand word dissertation during a worldwide pandemic. 

My dissertation was about the representation of visually impaired people within the film and television industry and how basing a character on three main tropes can make society perceive an image of the visually impaired community which isn't completely true and how these industries forget to actually include real visually impaired people or their real life stories, compared to things such as blogs and YouTube videos which do. 

At the beginning of this year, I was figuring out whether I wanted to stay in Leeds for another year and if I wanted to carry on with my student story via enrolling in a Masters Degree, as I think that we need to discuss how the representation of disabled and LGBTQIAP+ people within the media needs to be changed to showcase a more true representation of the marginalised groups. I also think that the media needs to showcase some form of good representation of invisible disabilities as well as visible disabilities as I  still think that the world isn't as educated on invisible disabilities as much as we should be and seeing a true representation of them within the media would help us to be more educated on the matter. I have decided to not stay in Leeds for another year due to how the lockdown this year has affected me mentally and I believe that I need to prioritise my mental health more than anything else this year. Even though I am not living in Leeds for another year, I have decided to pursue a Masters Degree within Media and Culture. 

To celebrate graduating, as graduations have been postponed during 2020, I decided to have a mini socially distanced adventure whilst I was in Leeds. This included a great meal at Blue Sakura. If you haven't checked out my post about Blue Sakura, then click here. I love eating Japanese food and getting to eat it to my hearts content at Blue Sakura is forever a beautiful blessing. Once I had filled my boots with food, I went to a little photoshoot within a park that is located in Leeds City Centre to take some photos as I liked the way that I looked and I wanted to show the world via social media that I had graduated University. 

Here is one of the photos from the photoshoot. Thanks to Alex that took these at a 2 metre distance. 

The mask is from RedBubble. The Shirt is from Jacamo, which I have included in a blog post before, which I will link here. The Jeans are from Primark. The Jacket is from Next and the shoes that I absolutely adore are from Boohoo. 

I love this slightly smart, slightly casual look and I love the hint of shimmer from the shoes. I also love the Blazer/Jacket and honestly, I need to invest in a couple more as they just jazz up an outfit when you want the outfit to feel that little bit more special. 

Have you been to Blue Sakura? Do you like the outfit? Let me know down below.

Read my last post all about the Lidl White Chocolate, Coconut and Cornflakes Bar. 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x

Taking Pride In The Clothes We Wear | Outfit Of The Day

Hey!

How are you?

Welcome to a brand new blog post! I thought that i would show you my Outfit Of The Day from my adventure in Leeds. (If you havent read it then do so.)

As I said, I had an amazing day hanging out with Michelle getting up to a few things such as, shopping, listening to great music. gossiping and doing quirky stuff such as getting filmed for ITV, getting a glass of Whiskey spilled on me, and, talking about inexplicit topics in the middle of a pub next to an old aged couple. Oops.

We ended up walking back to the train station, and, noticed the rainbow steps that head down to Freedom Quarter. I remembered them from when I went to Leeds Pride a few weeks ago. As Michelle is a professional photographer and a photography student, she thought that it would be a great idea to get some unique and fun shots on the steps.

I love Pride and I love everything that the rainbow flag stands for. I know that Pride has become a bit commercial but. that's for an entirely different post. I thought that it would be great to get some shots in front of something that encompasses equality and the freedom to be yourself. I'm still trying to grasp my confidence and rock the world like the confident kween that I am. Yes, kween, but hey ho.

A lot of the stuff that i am wearing is from Primark, not because I've been sponsored, but mainly because as a student, I like to wander into Primark and then end up getting far too many items of clothes due to them being pretty cheap.

The Jacket that I am wearing is from Primark. It was priced at £16 and is made of a pleather sort of material. I wear it out and about mainly because I want a Leather Jacket, but, I don't want to sacrifice my ethics of being animal friendly. It also adds to the grunge inspired aesthetic that I want to submerge my life in.

The shirt that i am wearing is from Primark. I believe it's from Primark or Boohoo, I can't fully remember. It's a Blue checked thick short sleeve Flannel Shirt, that is slightly thick but as the weather has slightly gotten a bit nippy, so I thought that it would be a good idea to wear it.

Next on the outfit list is the tshirt. A black Misfits T-shirt that has a white skull embedded on the front, with Misfits in white on the back. I originally got this from Pulp a few year ago, but, I got it in the biggest size possible so I can wear it no matter what... Even if I put a couple of pounds on, or off. This also adds to the grunge inspired look.

I then wore light blue chinos. This is rare, as I normally stick to dark stretch skinny jeans, but as England has had a massive heatwave, I've been wearing slightly lighter fabrics. I love anything blue but chinos make everything look a little bit more smarter which I enjoyed. As I was meeting Michelle, I wanted to look nice!

To finish it off the outfit, I decided to wear electric Blue Snoopy Vans. Yes, I love Snoopy. Yes, I know that they're childish. No, I don't care if they look cringy or tacky. I love them! I also think that the blue slightly goes with the Blue Chinos. I also think that Vans are one of the comfiest trainer/sneaker brands ever. I just love them!

Do you like this outfit?

I hope that you have enjoyed this fashion post. I hope that you come back next time to read another post! 

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x 

Joining Forces With Shoes & Superheroes | Marvel X Vans Collection First Impressions

Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post! I hope that you're doing well! Today, I thought that I would talk to you all about the new Marvel X Vans Collection that is about to drop on June 8th. I thought that it would be fun to create this post, as, I love Vans, and own a lot of Vans including glitter ones, colourful ones, and ones from collections such as the Disney and Peanut collections.

Just before I get into the post, the internet is a free and wide open space, I know that certain blogs and blog posts can be for certain people, so, if you don't like the content that I am putting out in this post or my blog, then, simply click off and read something else.

Sharing a rich heritage rooted in creative expression and empowerment (which can be shown via other collections such as Vans x Disney & Vans X Peanuts), Vans and Marvel join forces once again to launch their largest collaboration to date. Celebrating the “Off The Wall” Super Heroes of the Marvel Universe, Vans introduces an extensive range of co-branded footwear, apparel and accessories featuring an all-star roster of iconic personas including The Avengers, Black Panther, Deadpool, Iron Man, Hulk and more! The Vans x Marvel collection is an epic collaboration for the ages, assembling a massive line-up of 70-plus styles for fans of all ages.

The Vans x Marvel collection kicks off with a selection of footwear inspired by The Avengers. Representing the Super Hero squad, a custom Old Skool has been outfitted with a unique colour story to symbolise key members; a vivid blue toe-box and shield graphic heel counter are a nod to Captain America while the shoe tongue has been reimagined to mimic a piece of Iron Man’s high-tech suit of armor. Finishing details include a silver leather wing Sidestripe that takes styling cues from the all-mighty Thor and a brightly coloured outsole that don Hulk’s signature green and purple tones. The Authentic presents a subtler aesthetic, showcasing additional Marvel Super Heroes such as Black Panther, Black Widow and Spider-Man in an allover print that also matches back to a selection of men’s t-shirts, hat, sandal and sock options as well as a special checkered apparel pack just for women.

I think that the first two are amazing for those who can't make their minds up and want a little bit of everything, I love the mixture of Marvel characters within both, but, as Vans instantly show there is something for everyone even just from the above two. One for the bold, and, one for the subtle, as personally, I think the smaller printer is a bit more subtle.

Black Panther, Hulk and Spider-Man are seen once again in the collection with their own dedicated capsules. Stylized with heavy-duty ripstop, claw-like hardware and embossed embellishments, the Black Panther Sk8-Hi references King T’Challa’s vibranium suit. Black Panther makes another appearance on the Vans x Marvel short sleeve tee and Torrey jacket, combining classic comic book artwork with vintage Vans graphics. The Classic Slip-On showcases Hulk’s amazing strength as his feet burst through the checkerboard pattern of Vans’ cherished lace-free sneaker. Hulk fans can rejoice in building an incredible head-to-toe look, as he has his own hat, t-shirt and sock styles while She Hulk makes her debut on the Vans x Marvel Pull Over Hoodie and short sleeve tee. Spider-Man’s superhuman abilities are on full display across the Classic Slip-On sneaker and Slide-On sandal while his spider web motifs and core colours influence the design of additional men’s, women’s and kid’s apparel and accessory pieces. Like a true arch nemesis, Venom counters Spider-Man’s vivid colors with a small-yet-sinister apparel offering that features the symbiotic Super Villain’s menacing grin. Deadpool makes a surprise cameo in the Vans x Marvel collection with a special colorway of the Sk8-Hi. Detailed in durable red and black leather, Vans’ coveted high-top is inspired by Deadpool’s suit, with weapons such as the katana and ninja stars embedded in its build for added protection against foes.

Let's give it up for She-Hulk, I think that if you want a shoe that is versatile but still screams Marvel then Black Panther is your best bet. If you love Spidey in any form/actor (especially the latest Homecoming/Tom Holland era) then the Spiderman ones are for you. I think that the Red and Black accents draw towards the foot but not too much to the point where anything else bright would clash. If you love a good pair of Vans then you will love the Hulk ones, you could always pair the Hulk Vans with She-Hulk hoodie for a smashing Marvel based outfit. I always love a good Vans hat, so Marvel Vans Hats excite me a lot.

The women of Marvel present their own ensembles within the Vans x Marvel collection, showcasing upgraded materials, rare patterns and signature colors across the assortment of women’s apparel, accessories and footwear. The Classic Slip-On pays homage to Black Widow with sleek nylon uppers and a beveled outsole in an all-black colorway like her bodysuit. A rubberised Black Widow logo is outlined in red for a subtle contrast and ballistic canvas quarter panels put the finishing touches on this stealthy style. Captain Marvel’s heroic hues empower the Sk8-Hi with red suede and blue canvas uppers while gold covers the Sidestripe and accents the back-heel counter with a cut-out eight-point star, Captain Marvel’s cherished emblem. Captain Marvel makes her apparel debut on a pullover, ringer tee and crew tee in her own “Off The Wall” logo pose; her suit’s colors and iconography inspire brand new backpack and crew sock accessories. The women of Marvel team up for a special, graphic-focused capsule that includes the Authentic, Slide-On sandal and an assortment of women’s apparel and accessories. The action-packed allover print features memorable heroines such as Medusa, Scarlet Witch, Storm and more!

Again, if you want a great Marvel black pair of Vans that will go with everything that you wear, then, the Black Widow ones will be great for you. The slight hint of red makes the black somehow look more powerful and stylish. I love the Captain Marvel ones, I think that if you love Captain Marvel or want to show off that you love the MCU then these are definitely for you (and you can pair it with the Captain Marvel apparel). I love the Women of Marvel Slide-Ons as they give a strong edge to a casual Slide-On.

Kids and toddlers can get in on the action with their own apparel and footwear styles from the Vans x Marvel collection. Highlights from the assortment includes kids-only footwear styles including the Sk8-Hi Zip featuring Spider-Man, Authentic featuring the women of Marvel pattern in full colour and the Classic Slip-On showcasing Baby Groot across Vans’ iconic checkerboard motif.

First of all, can I buy the Baby Groot ones just to look at, or, would that be super weird? I love how Vans are ensuring that the kids and adults can both get fully submerged into the MCU in all ways (shoes, clothing and accessories) no matter what.

The Vans x Marvel collection will be available to shop at Vans retail stores, such as Schuh, and select locations globally beginning June 8. Sign up now and get early access online and in store.

All photos were supplied via the PR for Vans.

Are you like me who owns a lot of Vans? If so, what's your favourite pair/collection? Let me know down below! 

I hope that you've enjoyed this fashion post and I hope that everything is going well. I hope that you come back and read the next post!

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie xhttps://www.vans.co.uk/

Oh, What An Occasion! | What To Wear For Special Occasions

Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post. I hope that you're having a great day! I thought that today, I would talk to you all, about fashion that I think would look great for a special occasion. I have tried to make it as inclusive as possible via trying to find items that come in a mass range of sizes. Sadly, some stores create items that are available in different sizes for a different price, but I'll talk about that another time, but anywho, onto the blog post. Oh, and if you want you wear any of the items that I include and you're not the desired gender that the item is targeting to, then purchase it and wear it. At the end of the day, the only opinion that matters is yourself.

The first item is from Simply Be, The Elise Ryan Chiffon Dress With Asymettric Frill And Lace Inserts, is a beautiful item to wear for any special occasion, as the chiffon gives it some class, but the lace inserts give it a little bit of a modern twist. The lace also adds a little bit of cover for those, who might, be a little insecure about their arms, or for thoise times, where its hot in the afternoon, and a bit cooler, in the evening. I would definitely team this up with heel/flat shoe (whichever you feel most comfortable in), and, maybe some silver accessories just to give a slight bit of shine to the outfit.

The next outfit that I think would be a great choice for a special occasion at this time of year is, Stefflon Don Frill Hem Jumpsuit from Boohoo. I love this jumpsuit, because it's easy to put an outfit together with, you can dress it down or up for different occasions, and it comes in sizes 6-22. I know that not everyone goes for a wide leg jumpsuit, but, I honestly think if you paired it with a red shoe, and, nude accessories, then it would make for an amazing outfit. This shows that jumpsuits are for special occasions, as well as, casual occasions. 

I normally don't go for things that are on sale when it comes to posts, mainly, because sale means that it won't be around for long, but I had to include this item when I saw it. This one is the 'Bethany' Blue Guitars Swing Dress from Lindy Bop. First of all, I've looked through Lindy Bop's website, and, I want all of it as my femme aesthetic. Every item looks amazing. I love this dress, simply, just because of the colour of it, but also because it screams a grand occasion, and it's whimsy via having little guitars printed all over it so if you were going to a symphony or a show of some sort then it would be a great match. I would pair this with, maybe, a slightly lighter blue shade of shoe, nude accessories and a red ribbon in your hair, if possible, to tie it all together. 

Up next on the occassion outfits, is a Dobell Oxford Blue Tailored Fit Suit, from Dobell. If you love a classic Blue suit for a special occassion then I think that this one would be a good fit. I would probably match it with matching brogues, and a bright light blue Pocket Square, and matching coloured braces if you want. 

Carrying on, the next outfit is from Boohoo MAN, via, Skinny Fit Stretch Suit Jacket and Trousers. I love these matching pieces, as they give a give a more slight outdoorsy look via being grey instead of black, come in stetch material, and go with everything possible. I would probably match with black, or, grey Brogue Boots/Chelsea Boots, as, I think that this suit can take it a bit more, maybe with a bright tie to add a pop of colour, and a good watch.

Last but not least, Triomphe Skinny Fit Jacket with Baroque Floral Flocking with the matching waistcoat, and Skinny Fit Trousers from Noose & Monkey. I adore this outfit, not just because of the deep colour, but because the flocking on the outside of the garments, instantly, show everyone that you have style and personality and because you will stand out from the rest. I also loe it because I would keep it dark as the garments speak for itself so if you don't want to go extra, then you don't have to. I'm forever dreaming that someday, I'll be able to get something from Noose and Monkey, as their clothing is amazing, and so, is their branding. They bring it everytime a new collection comes out. 

I hope that you have enjoyed this fashion post. Comment down below, with, what you love to wear for special occasions. 

Come back next time for another amazing post. 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x 

Strutting Into Spring | Female SS18 Fashion Trends

Hey everyone!

Welcome to a brand new blog post! I thought that today, I would talk to you all about the female fashion trends that are at the centre of the fashion world right now.

Gelato Shades 

Why are we using the term, gelato shades, and what does it mean, you ask? Well gelato shades is simply just another term for pastel shades of clothing. So, shades like pastel yellow, or Lemon Sorbet, oastel pink, or Strawberry Ice Cream and so forth. We've seen them all over the runway within 2018 alreadt, via brands such as Victoria Beckham, Tom Ford and Michael Kors, featuring them on the catwalk at Fashion Week. The best way to pull this trend off, is to wear anything with a pastel colour to it. I think that it is best to, attempt to wear items of clothing with a matching or similar pastel shade, but you could just, pile the pastel colours on, and imagine that you are a triple scoop ice cream.

Tailored Denim 

Remember when dark, tailored denim ruled the world, around 2000? Well, its back with a bang! 2018 is all about tailored denim, instead of the punk inspired ripped style of denim jeans, thanks to designers such as, Kenzo and Nina Ricci. Team them with a smart structed blazer to keep it smart, or, olay it down with a tank top and an oversized jumper.

Trench Coats 

Spring is all about, taking a staple wardrobe item and updating ti slightly, so this year is all about, pimping up the trench coat. This has been done via, embroidery and flashy colours. Brands such as Alexander McQueen have done this in their own quirky way. I think that, the best way to style this is to wear simple items underneath so that the trench coat takes centre stage.

Bright Colours 

Bright colours are still here for SS18. Primary colours have decided to take focus during Fashion Week this year, and designers such as Aalto and Versace have been been including them into their collections. I think the best way to style this, is to either wear a full outfit using one colour or, maybe have one statement piece that speaks for the full outfit.

What fashion trends are you loving at the moment? Tell me down below! 

I hope that you have enjoyed this fashion based blog post and I hope that you come back next time for another blog post.

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x

Thoughts On Dressing Against The Norm

Hey everyone!
Welcome to today's post. I thought that I would write something different today, about dressing against the norm, within life and social situations, eg work which relates more to the picture below.

Dressing against the norm — what does it say about you? From eccentric socks, to dressing against our gendered expectations, many people push the limits of social norms when it comes to fashion. Research has shown that non-conformists can be viewed as being of a higher status and more competent than those who follow the rules of fashion. Let's take a look at what different clothing says about the wearer…

Against gendered expectations. The line is becoming increasingly blurred between male and female clothing. Many people are speaking up, opposing the ideas that men and women should be dressed according to their sex. But, are you presenting yourself in a different way when you dress against the gendered expectations? Although fashionistas are saying that they don’t agree with gender rules, some research suggests that we’re still stuck in our old ways. Psychologists in New Jersey found that attitudes towards gender stereotypes hadn’t changed much between 1983 and 2014.

There is an argument that shows that it’s favourable for women to cross the gender barrier but perhaps not men. Back in 1990, it was found that despite the sex of the applicant, if the clothing that they wore was more masculine, they were more likely to be hired. When men dressed in pink however (a colour commonly associated with females, which I think is a very false conception, as most men wear pink), they were seen as less intelligent than women who were wearing the same colour.

Eccentric wear,which is seen as another way of going against the grain, when it comes to style it through eccentric clothing. When we think of outrageous outfits we may think of people with brightly coloured hair, patterned clothing and over the top jewellery. But, there are other ways to express freedom through dress. For example, people who wear unconventional socks are viewed as being rebellious and expressive. One of these people is Justin Trudeau, the current Prime Minister of Canada, who shows off his fun side by wearing funky socks with a traditional suit. You can make your own subtle ‘eccentric’ changes through patterned socks by CT shirts, online retailers of men’s formal shirts and accessories. Or make yourself stand out from the crowd through bright scarves and other extras.

By dressing against the norms, studies have shown that you build a brand of being ‘gutsy’. And in fact, people have the potential to see you as more brilliant, creative and successful. One study, published in 2014, found that those who go against conformity can be viewed as of a higher status than those who don’t. They were also considered to be more competent — potentially influencing the impression that they give off in the workplace.

Not only does it affect people’s perceptions of you but it can also affect the way you think, feel and act — this is through ‘embodied cognition’. Since eccentric dress gives you greater potential to express your individuality, it’s possible that it can make you feel more confident and comfortable in different situations. This could then go on to improve your performance at work or in challenges where you want to push yourself.

I love wearing bright coloured clothes, as mentioned slightly above, it helps me to stand out from the crowd, but I also think that in today's world of social media, its amazing to express your personality and creativity via bright coloured clothing, because if someone scrolls past your photo of the said outfit on social media, then they will talk about it and want to know more about it.

Going against the dress code. In some situations, for a job interview perhaps, it can be argued that dressing in accordance with expectations is the best thing to do. Under some circumstances, we think that people with extraordinary appearances are more successful, which can be reinforced, via social media and other forms of new media such as digital television and the internet as a whole.

Men who wear smart, fitted suits as they are often expected to wear in a formal situation, were perceived as being more confident, successful and thought to be earning a higher wage. This was compared to men who weren’t dressed as smartly in a loosely fitted suit. I believe, that this is the case sometimes as I have felt more confident when walking into an interview or formal event whilst wearing a suit. A brand of suits that I absolutely adore, is Charles Tyrwhitt. I wish that I could try out more of their items.  If I wore one of their suits to an interview, or work, per se then I would definitely feel more confident, and therefore feel more successful due to the confidence.

In one study that looked at the effects of clothing, it was found that senior managers were rated less favourably if they were dressed more ‘provocative’. This was a skirt slightly above the knee and one button on the blouse undone. It’s clear to see that it is important to consider our dress style carefully as people can make many assumptions without any evidence.

As we can see, dressing against societies expectations can have many effects on the opinion of others and your own performance. Although it’s important to express yourself through dress, you don’t want to hinder your work or your impression on others in formal situations. Wear a pair of crazy socks underneath your day-to-day outfit instead… 

What's your opinions on this? Let me know down below. 

I hope that you've enjoyed this interesting post about fashion. I hope that you come back next time for another post.

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x 

This post was in collaboration with Charles Tyrwhitt. If you want to find out more about then click here. All views and opinions are my own. 

Colours, Colours Everywhere! | Male Spring Fashion Trends

Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post! I thought that today, I would write a blog post all about male fashion trends, mainly because I wanted to. I'

I've decided to include a mixture of both general fashion trends and trends that were big at the London Fashion Week Mens SS18. T

Pink Is Returning

Pink is manly, and isn't jus for wearing on Wednesdays. Pink has made a fashion comeback in the past few years, due to things such as the stigma slowly coming away from pink only being known as a colour that LGBT+ people wear. (Before you say that pink isn't seen as a colour that only certain people wear, trust me I heard comments within the past six months saying so still. It's a stupid comment to make in my opinion.) Pink goes well other pale colours, but, it goes very well with anything thats white, as it gives a very summery St Tropez feel to the outfit.I think that a Pink jumper can make an outfit looks 10x better especially in the Summer.

https://www.ctshirts.com/uk/slim-fit-end-on-end-pink-shirt/FOR0491PNK.html

Eighties Is Back

From boxy suit jackets all the way to frayed hems, the eighties are coming back into fashion with a bang. The best way to do this would be to include something that is eighties inspired and to incorportate it into your outfit, otherwise too much eighties would look like a bad fancy dress job.

Layers

Layers are normally known as a trend for Winter, but if you're familiar with Spring weather, then you will know that it is still cold as hell, so layering seems like a good trend to still follow. ,I think the best thing about Spring layering is that its less about incorporating sartorial inspired clothing, but instead incorporating more streetwear into the outfit such as jackets and trainers.

Vertical Stripes

Vertical stripes have popped up as a big trend this season. Vertical stripes are normally used within fashion, to make yourself look a lot more taller than you are. Personally, I think that vertical stripes will be a big trend in fashion, as long as it isn't just vertical striped suits that make you look like a pimp when you wear them.

https://www.repertoirefashion.co.uk/menswear-c1/shirts-c4/mens-dwayne-shirt-slim-fit-dark-navy-blue-vertical-stripe-p24297

Tones

Outfits that are based around one tone of colour are slowly coming into fashion. I think the best way to pull this off is mainly using one main thing with a tone and pairing it with something that contrasts, because, if you try to make it all one colour, then there's a good chance that you'll look like a piece of fruit. Maybe, pairing a mustard yellow trenchcoat and chinos with a white shirt would be a good way.

https://www.hotdrops.com/uk/blog/best-trench-coats-for-men

Would you wear any of these trends? Let me know down below! 
Thanks for reading this fashion based blog post. I hope that you come back for another blog post!

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x 

Pop That Sweet Treat In Your Mouth | Valentines Day Gift Ideas

Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post! Valentines Day is slowly coming up soon. As its a massive marketing campaign to put a price on love and affection, I thought that today, I would write a gift guide telling you what you could buy for those who you love. If you're single like myself, then all of the below gifts can be bought for yourselves too.

Sweet Treats 

Jelly Belly 

Jelly Belly was founded in 1898, and began making jelly beans in 1976. Today, Jelly Belly products are sold all over the world. Jelly Belly jelly beans are certified kosher, vegetarian, and free from gelatine, gluten, fat and dairy. Jelly Belly products are the best thing for those who like sweets, but aren't a big fan of chocolate/can't have chocolate for reasons such as allergies or intolerances, like myself. I think that these Sparkling Wine Jelly Belly's are the best for a Valentines Day gift, due to them being full of light and refreshing flavours. The product also comes in a cute Champagne Bottle which I think is adorable!

Lindt 

Lindt are the epitome of Valentines Day Chocolates, in my opinion, due to them being a little bit extravagant and delicious to eat, but also aren't too expensive. They also do the cute Chocolate figures such as the Gold Bear/Bunny. I think that this would be a cute gift on its own, as you get delicious chocolate and a cute charm, to attach to whatever you want. If you're within driving distance of a Lindt store, then I urge you to pop in, as they offer a Pick & Mix service which would be great as a present. You fill it up with all yours or your partners favourite Lindt Lindor truffles, and then all you would need to do, is buy a ribbon and attach to the bag.
'

Charbonnet Et Walker

If you're feeling extravagant, and you are wanting something that's a little bit luxurious, then Charbonnet Et Walker is the place for you. Charbonnet Et Walker are known for their terrific truffles and a box of them with a ribbon, would make a perfect present for yourself or someone else. Flavours include Strawberries & Cream, Sea Salted Caramel, Whiskey, Pink Champagne and many more. All of their truffles are amaing, as I've tried them before and I can remember eating them like it was yesterday.

Old Fashioned Sweets 

Do you miss the good old days where you could run down to the corner shop, and pick up a bag of sweets for not that much money? Well, why not treat yourself/loved ones to some amazing old fashioned sweets such as Liquorice, Mint Humbugs and Aniseed Balls.

Underwear 

AVA-J 

I think that AVA-J are the best underwear brand around in the United Kingdom. Their underwear fits amazingly and looks great on anyone. They stock great underwear such as Boxers, Boxer Briefs, Jockstraps, Briefs and much more for yourself/the men in your life who need some great underwear. They even stock nightwear such as gorgeous dressing gowns! They even have a sale on at the moment, which I'm trying to avoid, due to still not finding my wonderful pair of AVA-J underwear when moving to Leeds, and because I'm trying to not spend loads at the moment. I love their jockstraps and briefs as they're gorgeous and super comfy.

Bravissimo 

Bravissimo is an amazing lingerie brand for those who want to feel sexy and confident no matter what. Bravissimo stock their amazing products, in a vary od different sizes and colours. If you are a big boobed woman or know someone who is, eg, a partner or someone then this brand is for them.

Fragrance

Debenhams 

Debenhams is known for its amazing array of fragrances, from ones such as Jimmy Choo to Viktor and Rolf to Tom Ford. There is a luxury fragrance for everyone. If you want to treat yourself to a new scent or get someone special, something that they'ce been lusting over then Debenhams is the place for you.

The Perfume Shop 

The Perfume Shop is known for having amazing perfumes, from brands such as, Calvin Klein, DKNY, Paco Rabanne, and celebrity fragrances such as David Beckham and Nicki Minaj. If you know someone who loves a certain celebrity then a fragrance from them might be a great gift. If you or yourself need to top up on a fragrance then this is the best place for you, due to their many offers.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a great go to present for anyone around Valentines Day, especially if they have a favourite liquor or brand. You can also always grab a bottle of something and add things, such as mixers and fruits to give them or yourslef a DIY Cocktail Kit. Check ASDA, Tesco, Morrisons. Sainsburys or your local Supermarket for whats on offer/what kinds of alcohol they stock.

Adventures

Experiences and adventures have become such a great gift. Things ranging from car experiences to afternoon tea to spa treatments and much more. Red Letter Days do a range of couple experiences which are great for those wanting to get back in touch with their other half but, there is also things like mentioned above that are great for one person or a group of friends.

Have you got anything planned for Valentines Day such as presents/experiences? Let me known down below! 

I hope that you've enjoyed reading this blog post! I hope that you've enjoyed this blog post.

Thanks for reading! 
Jamie x 

Jelly Belly's were featured in this blog post in return for goods or services. All views, opinions and ramblings are my own.