Giveaway: Mac Lipstick of your choice!

Since the day that I got a job I vowed to myself several things - To buy a pair of black boots with my first payslip, to buy books as and when I want and to do a blog giveaway. In February I bought a pair of black, faux crocodile skin boots, I have acquired at least fifteen books over the past few months and within this blog post I plan on addressing my third promise - and probably the most exciting of all - I will be doing a blog giveaway!

I pondered over the different types of things I could offer my beautiful followers for quite some time, putting myself in your shoes in terms of what I as a blogger would love to win. I didn't want to pick something extremely personal to me, like a piece of jewellery I chose, but I also didn't want it to be more impersonal like some form of giftcard. So I decided on what I see as a (very) happy medium. The lucky winner of this giveaway will get a Mac Lipstick (here) but in whatever colour they desire. 

Just four of your many options! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will end on May 4th 2014 and is open to anybody within the UK.

Good luck; I wish my waitress work wages could buy a lipstick for every single one of you!

Bethany Paige X

A side note - Any entries that are extremely impersonal (for example done through the use of accounts made to enter competitions) will be disregarded. 

Killer shoes

Looking at these Topshop skaters, you would think they would be fairly comfortable. For one thing they're flat and for another they have a nice thick rubber sole. Well, you would be mistaken. These slip-ons are far from comfortable and actually feel as though they may have been manufactured as a form of torture. Oh, how I wish I was exaggerating. Unfortunately I'm not and I am in fact currently wearing them with a pair of bed socks in attempts to get them to stretch a little and not be so murderous to my toes!

In buying them I thought I was being sensible for once not choosing skyscraper black boots. Alas, it seems I am naturally wired to purchase the most uncomfortable shoes possible, even when not intentionally so. The problem is, I assumed they would wear in so I decided not to send them back for the size up. This was my second mistake.

But they are beautiful.

Not just beautiful but bordering on divine aesthetically. They literally tick off every box, except comfort - slip-on, black, snakeskin and just the right mix of shiny and matte. They found their way into my online basket because I could see them with rolled and ripped jeans, mini skirts, midi skirts, maxi skirts and practically everything in between. So you can imagine why I was more than slightly disheartened when I couldn't start wearing them to death as soon as they arrived.

Never fear though, I will persevere - that is the fashion blogger way after all - until I can wear them with ease.

Bethany Paige X

If I wasn't on a spending ban...

As fashion bloggers, we kind of thrive on torturing ourselves. We are that odd breed of female who put themselves on a spending ban and then instantly log into Topshop accounts to browse all of the things that we can't buy. In a twisted way, we must enjoy the pain.

Yes, I'm on a spending ban. A mixture of travel and clothing splurges this month means that next month I will be quitting spending cold turkey (please ignore my silent tears)! Hopefully that way my bank balance will no longer cause me extreme heart palpitations every single time I lay eyes on it. Obviously though that does not mean I won't be creating several "if I wasn't on a spending ban I would buy" wishlists. Just so I know what I am unable to buy. And if there's one thing that such a wishlist is good for (minus making me tearful), it's a blog post.

Black and gold boots - Pretty Little Thing £35, Pink sandals - Topshop £52, 

Faux leather midi - Pretty Little Thing £18, Black peplum crop top - Topshop £18, 

White textured high waisted shorts and crop top - Topshop £20

Then again, £20 isn't that bad...Right?

Bethany Paige X

Nike Roshe Run ID

Running trainers and I are firm friends. Even before the likes of New Balance became public, teenage property, I adored them. I will happily wear them with anything (excluding ball gowns) from shorts to skirts and back round to jeans. As yet though, I haven't acquired a pair of Nike's, which is quite insane. It's almost sinful! I have NB, Reeboks and some from Topshop but none from the ultimate leader in the art that is trainers.

I plan on changing that. And I've decided to splash out. That means customisastion my fashion friends. Nike Roshe Run customisation.

I'm sure I have many more test designs to get through before I decide on a final, because £110 is quite the commitment. Still, this is my starting point and it is so much fun!

Which style is your favourite?

Bethany Paige X

An open letter to Tesco

Dearest Tesco, 

I have loved you for a long time due to your food supplying credentials, so please do not be offended by what I'm about to say. I never really anticipated your clothing department being, well, nice. I thought it was fine. But fine is far from high fashion. Yet, here I am, more than willing to admit, I was wrong.  


 A couple of weeks ago I was merrily minding my own business looking for the pasta isle, planning on picking up the latest copy of InStyle afterwards, when my eyes fell upon pink faux mohair. Not just pink faux mohair - which any fashion blogger knows is enough to get the heart racing - but pink faux mohair in the form of an oversized boyfriend coat. There it was, hanging on a rail. But not just any rail (this is starting to sound a bit like an M&S advert - apologies). The sale rail. 

At this point, the sound of One Direction playing in the television isle was drowned out by angel song. I had been looking for a coat like this, no, this exact coat, for months. Obviously, I already knew I was going to buy it so realising that it had been reduced down from £65 to £19 was literally the highlight of my week because as we know, every little helps (wink).  

 Now, a week or so on, I write this letter to thank you, NAY, to congratulate you on your shifting from archetypal supermarket to fashion provider to the masses. I also apologies for my rash labelling of your store. May you continue to provide me with not only magazines and full roast chickens that make my car smell delightful, but with beautiful clothing too.  

 Bethany Paige
(Fashion blogger, Tesco enthusiast, mohair lover) 

A package from Lola

I love buying clothes (obviously) but there's one thing that I love even more and that’s winning them. A few weeks ago I entered a competition belonging to a fellow blogger, Lola, who has just opened a beautifully vintage online shop – Lola’s Wardrobe. It was one of those irresistibly simple “RT for a chance to win” deals that you never think you’ll have success with but that in this case I actually did. I managed to get my hands on a delicious chunky knit jumper with floral detail and not a penny out of my purse went towards it. If that isn’t something to be happy about, I’m not sure what is!

As you can imagine, upon its arrival I was beyond excited and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint in the slightest. Plus, the cute little note that came with it made me smile even more. 

Big thank you to Lola for allowing the most adorable jumper ever to grace my wardrobe! If you fancy checking out the shop it can be found here (I'm begging someone to buy those chunky black shoes before I spend yet more money this month!) and you can also follower her shop twitter @_LolaWebster which I would recommend because she's a pretty fab lady! 

Bethany Paige X

A skirt, some slips-ons and sandals

I told myself I wasn’t going to spend anything. That it would just be a window shopping trip with two of my favourite ladies. Just a wander around my local high street to have a bit of fun. If you’re a fashion blogger (or most females in fact), you’ve probably got the ending. Yes, I did spend something. It wasn’t just a window shopping trip. But hey, it was with two of my favourite ladies and it was fun. So, fulfilling half of my expectations isn’t too bad, right?

As per usual, the beauty and low pricing of Primark drew me in and I left with a new skirt and two pairs of shoes. Do I regret it? Nope. If anything, at least it gives me an excuse to talk to all of you about it.

Firstly, this skirt. I came close to putting it back after deciding firmly on the shoes but I couldn’t quite do it. My frugal side was saying that I should save the money and do without it, but my fashion blogger side was listing its positives: It can be worn in summer, I can wear it to sixth form, it’s asymmetric and I’ve wanted one for ages. In short, the fashion blogger side was more persuasive. And more fun.

Firstly, this skirt. I came close to putting it back after deciding firmly on the shoes but I couldn’t quite do it. My frugal side was saying that I should save the money and do without it, but my fashion blogger side was listing its positives: It can be worn in summer, I can wear it to sixth form, it’s asymmetric and I’ve wanted one for ages. In short, the fashion blogger side was more persuasive. And more fun. 

I have wanted a pair of slip on trainers like this ever since I went to LFW. Prior to that I didn’t really see the appeal because I’m not such an overly-casual shoe person unless the situation involves running trainers. But when paired with an asymmetric skirt (hang on a minute…) the lady wearing them at Sommerset House looked gorgeous. I also missed the opportunity to buy a pair in Madrid as they were a size too small so when I saw these for just £3 I couldn’t resist.

Finally, and most excitingly, possibly the most divine shoe/sandal/boot things ever! I saw this pair on Boohoo and fell in love but couldn’t really justify spending so much money on them since I bought another pair of black shoes last month (here). Thank you Primark for providing the solution. For £14 these are undeniably an absolute bargain. They will literally not be leaving my feet for the next month or so. Even whilst I’m in bed.

Hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend!

Bethany Paige X