Thank You For The Music...

Rose Flower in my hair- Crown and Glory, Top-ASOS, Jeans-A/wear, Shoes-ASH, Bangles/Bracelets- some from random markets, new look, Wallpaper Rose. Rings- Scrabble ring-Rock'n'Rose, Heart ring- Me and Zena, Rosebud ring-Rock'n'Rose, Unicorn Necklace-Temporary:Secretary

So, this is one of the lovely hair accessories that was kindly given to me by the fabulous Sophie from the online store

Crown and Glory

It is a fake rose flower with leaves, on a hair grip that is really easy to stay in your hair

It's also really cute when you have your hair up to wear this at the side too
It's called Cotes du Rhone Floral Comb

I feel like a Spanish dancer or something when I've worn it, i love it!

All the items from Crown and Glory are sooo reasonably priced that you will be able to treat yourself to a couple of goodies

Also don't forget that you can use the discount code- ISTHISREALLIFE

(until Oct 1st)

Then you will get 10% off your purchase.

A few posts ago I wrote about A/wear's new collection

And i mentioned that they have a fab new range of jeans

Well, here a a pair from that very collection!

I treated myself to this new pair

But to be honest with you a was a little sceptical as I'm sure everyone knows how hard it is to find that perfect pair

And i had never ordered a pair of jeans online before

so i didn't know how they would fit

But i was really pleasantly surprised

I love them

The fit is just perfect for me

Just the right amount of stretch you want in a pair of jeans and i love the deep indigo colour too.

I kinda feel like a member of Abba with them on, you know how they used to wear those big flares!

But you know i always think it can never be a bad thing to look like your from a member of a cult hit Swedish pop band, right?

I just also wanna point out though that I do have on shoes in these pictures

but the way they have been taken it looks like i am shoeless/footless,hehe!

Oh and P.S- You guys are so freaking  awesome, you don't know how happy i was to reach 200 followers this week and then to add another couple on to that as well was just amazing!
I really really really do appreciate all that follow this blog (and all that dont but comment, link etc)
You are all wondeful
I really mean it
THANK YOU!



Truth Be Sold

A little while ago I wrote an article for Cellardoor Magazine about Beauty Advertisements.
This is something that i have always felt really strongly about and think that a lot of other people do too.
I would love for you to take a few minutes to read this article and let me know your thoughts about it and if you wouldn't mind taking part in my Adverting in the Beauty Industry survey too (Link can be found on this post or at the left-hand side top corner of this blog) that would be very much appreciated.
Hopefully then if enough people fill out my survey/leave comments on this post then we might be able to get an accurate picture of what we, the consumers actually think about this subject and then we will hopefully be able to try and help change certain things about the way we are being sold beauty products!

                                                  (Some Examples of 'POSSIBLE' Doctored Images)



Turn on the TV at any given time of day and there she is staring back at you explaining how her big volumised hair got its ‘MOJO’ back. Yes I’m talking about Miss Cheryl Cole. How did she get her ‘MOJO’ back I hear you cry, well she claims it was from using the L’Oreal shampoo that she is brandishing about in the advert but on closer inspection, although blink and you will miss it, if you look at the left hand corner of the screen, you will see that in actual fact her ‘MOJO’ is not just courtesy of the shampoo she is advertising it is also helped by the ad being "styled with some natural hair extensions." So, why are beauty brands using all this fakery in their campaigns?


And worse still, why are some of them still not owning up to doing it?


 It feels like beauty advertisements whether they be in glossy magazines or on TV are getting more and more unrealistic as the years go by. They are selling an unattainable image to us the consumers. No matter how much you use of the mascara, foundation, lipstick or whatever product they are advertising, you will never look like the digitally enhanced image of the model or celebrity that appears on the ads.


A recent survey by The Sun newspaper found out that 28 percent of beauty adverts in Magazines admitted in tiny print that their ad’s had been enhanced. Although another 44 percent of ads which seemed to have been altered in some way did not have a disclaimer on their adverts and did not admit to any adjustments


It is thought that only 28 percent of beauty adverts show the products accurately.
Unsurprisingly mascara adverts were proved to be the worst offenders with a massive 58 per cent admitting that they had airbrushed the lashes to look longer and 42 per cent said they used artificial lashes. Shampoo adverts like the aforementioned L’Oreal one is among the 23 percent that use models with artificial hair extensions


The message this sends to me is that the brands making these adverts must not have enough belief in the products they are selling so they feel they have to resort to trickery and false effects.


Although as a regular customer of many major brands, some I’m guessing who were included in this survey; I find this message hard to believe because some products I have tried actually do what they say on their tagline. Albeit to make your lashes longer your lips plumper or your skin brighter, as crazy as it sounds some really do work. Yes, the effects vary from person to person but the bottom line is to some degree a lot of these products do their job and in some cases do it really well. This is the bit that baffles me the most why are brands not proud enough of this to show customers their products in action on their adverts.


It is unfortunate that we can no longer trust advertisers to sell us the truth. The frustrating thing is some of these companies seem to think that what they are doing is not wrong.


When L’Oreal was investigated by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about their TV and magazine adverts for misleading consumers with their Telescopic mascara staring Penelope Cruz , it was discovered that Penelope was in actual fact wearing some false lashes as well as the mascara, something which the ad’s had not stated. The L’Oreal spokesperson responded by saying


"It is common industry practice to make use of some artificial lashes in order to ensure a consistent lash line under filming or shooting conditions - the ASA had previously accepted on more than one occasion that this industry practice was not misleading."


Although L’Oreal was then ordered to place a disclaimer on all future Telescopic ad’s, there was no apology for misleading their own customers, only a toned response trying to excuse the fact or give reason, depending on which way you look at it, for why they couldn’t rely on their mascara to have the desired effect its adverts claim it can.


There was a very similar case with Rimmel in which after some members of the public complained about the ads, the ASA investigated their "Magnif'eyes mascara" that Kate Moss advertised in their campaigns, J Walter Thompson, who is the advertising agency for Rimmel’s campaign, told the ASA that Miss Moss’s eyelashes were "cleaned up and enhanced" in post-production but did not explain the extent to which their appearance had been changed.
It insisted that Kate Moss did not wear false lashes at the shoot but supplied no evidence to support its denial
Because the ASA felt that false lashes may have been used and Rimmel’s customers had been mislead they took the step of banning the advert until the company added a disclaimer to the whole campaign.


Is getting their wrists slapped and being made to put a disclaimer on some of their ads really enough to get these massive brands to stop mis-leading their customers?


There are a few exceptions to the rule. Dove launched their famous ‘Real Beauty Campaign’ in 2004 which saw real women not airbrushed or retouched using their products in ad campaigns and TV commercials. Body beauty brand Mama Mio has also recently launched their first ever fully unretouched advert featuring a 42 year old model as she truly is. Although I’m sure there are many other brands who also advertise their products without the use of enhancements but it just isn’t enough.


Beauty brands have to look and see what their customers are telling them. We are not stupid or gullible enough to believe that their adverts haven’t been altered. But it is hard for some of us not to compare ourselves to these unrealistic images. Especially for young people, there is enough demand on them to look a certain way at a certain age; they do not need the added bonus of wondering why the foundation they have just bought does not make their skin look like the model on the advert.


Although beauty companies have to project a type of fantasy image to entice customers whether it be using the hottest model or the number one singer in the country in their ad’s, it just doesn’t make sense to make their product be the ‘fantasy’ part of the advert.


Beauty brands have to make a change. We all know now that the majority of these adverts aren’t real, whether it’s because it has a disclaimer basically telling you what is fake about the advert or because it is just so blatantly obvious to the naked eye that the image has been tampered with. All that this is doing is showing us that they do not have enough respect for the people who are keeping them in business to actually not mislead them about what they are selling them.


So how do we do it, how do we make them change their minds about their adverts, the only solution I see is to tell them how we feel. We the consumers, have to let them know if their fake ads are putting us off buying their products, if them not owning up to what is real and what is fake in their adverts makes us annoyed. Has seeing that unattainable image made us feel bad about the way we look? If they know exactly how we feel then it is in their hands to change it


I am asking you all to take part in my survey to be as truthful and honest as possible you don’t even have to tell me your name if you don’t want to, all you have to do is fill it in and tell me how these ads make you, the people who buy the products really feel.


With your answers in hand we will then have a very clear picture of what you, the public really think of the ads, is it all media outrage do they not affect us as much as we all think or have you actually starting to boycott brands that mislead you. I want to know.


Hopefully after hearing what their own customers have to say some brands will have the courage to make an advert without using enhancements and be proud enough of the product they are asking you to pay money for. If we can make even one company change the way they make their advert then I think we can claim a small victory for real beauty.


So please click this link to go straight to my Survey on false advertising in the beauty industry. You can follow the campaigns progress and find out the verdict from the survey on my Blog
Is This Real Life?


If you feel as strongly about this as i do them please pass on the link to this post to as many people you know, help spread the word and get as many people as possible to fill out my survey and leave comments!
Thank You.








Sources used-

-The Sun Newspaper article ‘Beauty Is Spin Deep’ By JANE HAMILTON, Consumer Editor

Published: 29 Mar 2010


-Advertising Standards Authority Online

-The independent.co.uk – ‘Kate Moss mascara advert was misleading, ASA rules’ By Martin Hickman

Published: Wednesday, 3 October 2007

You just gotta ignite the light, And let it shine, Just own the night, Like the Fourth of July, 'Cause baby you're a firework

 I have been a little MIA the past few days...
Sorry....
Normal serviced now resumed...!

1.  New bag from Urban Outfitters.  It is just so pretty , i have worked out that i think navy is actually my favourite colour.  I just seemed to be so attracted to everything navy coloured.  This bag is the perfect mini briefcase size, it also has a shoulder strap as well that can be used.   I love Urban Outfitters i just wish all their pretty goodies weren't always so expensive so that i could buy more...!


2+3.  Here are the beautiful hair accessories that I got sent from the awesome Crown and Glory.  It makes me want to wear a long flowing white dress and bare feet when i wear them....Perfect!
Remember if you are going to make a purchase from Crown and Glory you can get 10% off by using the discount code ISTHISREALLIFE at the checkout until Oct 1st!


4.  I LOVE candy sweets.  I always have done i have never really been a fan of chocolate or chocolate- based treats, don't get me wrong i won't say no to a milky way but i could eat refreshers all day long!
I was feeling a little flu-y this week so my Mama got me these to help my sniffles feel better!
My candy induced toothache has now took my mind off of it so you know its kinda worked...
P.S If you have never tried Refreshers please for you own sake try them, you will thank me later!


5+6.  What my nails look like this week.  I used my new Nails Inc. nail polish.  I am so indecisive sometimes that i just had to use two colours as they were both just so nice that i couldn't decide what one to use!
Looove this blue colour think it has went straight into my top 3 favourite nail polish colors ever.  Everyone has those kind of Top 3's right? Or is it just me....?


7+8.  These are said new nail polishes from Nails Inc.  If you have never tried Nails Inc before you, I think you would love it, they are really dense colours and stay on in my experience for at least a week without chipping!
This is one of their new collections they all came together in a set, think it was called the Pastel Collection!


9.  My ActionSampler Lomography camera.  I love it, it's just like those cute little fake ones you used to get when you were wee, except this one actually takes pictures!
I can't wait to get my first film developed!


10.  I got the new Katy Perry album and I really really Love it!
I was a little bit un-impressed by the first one bar a few songs.  But this one is like prefect pop music i think.  I can not stop listening to this song Firework.  It is like an anthem type song, I can't stop singing it...!
Even if you aren't a fan of Katy herself i would give it a listen anyway, as i was surprised by how good this one was!


11.  My current reading list.  I have been reading Eat, Pray, Love for an extraordinary amount of time if i am honest i have read three other books in between this one too.  I normally finish a book within three days of getting it but not this one.  There are parts of it that i have thought were amazing and really insightful but a lot of it has been a lot darker than i had thought like all the stuff about her divorce so i have been stopping and starting it, but i don't have much left to read now.  It is so funny watching the trailer for the movie though, they have made it seem like really light rom-com so i don't know how similar the movie will be to the book, have any of you seen it yet?
I can't wait to start The Help i have heard it's meant to be ah-mazing, and Eleven looks great too the author is a British stand-up comedian and i love his comedy so hopefully his novel will be just as funny!


12.  My bundle of magazines.  I know most fashion blogs only claim to read Vogue Or Harper's Bazaar, which is cool for them but so not me.  I love all different fashion mags, especially more independent titles like Pop, Nylon, ID and others of the same like.  But the only main total fashion-y type magazine i read every month is Elle and Maire Claire.  I loved this months MC i thought all the fashion spreads were really beautiful. 
But i also have to have my weekly celeb fix from Heat which i have read religiously since it first started.  And also Look is fab, the best place to find all the new clothes from the high street!

So...Um ....that was a little ME update for you, hope you enjoyed!

Elliott J. Frieze LFW.....

This is the second collection shown at LFW from young british designer Elliott J. Frieze

I just adore everything about the first outfit
It's such a elegant look with the trench coat ,shirt and big hair but mixed with  modern popping bright accents and contrasting blue lipstick

I love the whole -British- lady- who- lunches type feel to the collection

But Elliott has managed to keep it fresh and young by updating the colour palette

Using soft pastel ice cream shades

Also the weightless-ness of the dresses is so beautiful

I love that at first glance they look like really simple styles

But on closer inspection

You see that they are quite loose and have drawings on the inner slip of the dresses

They are like dresses for a day at the races but for the modern women

Elliott's collection has managed to give you beautiful tailoring and classic cuts and styles

But he has given thenm all a twist

Weither it be the colours used or the way the fabric has been cut

This collection is for a new type of british lady

Not the one that wears the Queens tweads

Oh no But for the one that will wear her head scarf and massive sunglasses with an aran cardigan drapped over her elegant dress to go for her afternoon tea!

The one that likes to change things up!

As much as i am not a fan of Olivia Palmero (You may have noticed i just refuse point blank to put her on this blog. In my opion it is not hard to be nice to someone, and to me what i have seen heard of her i just find her downright rude and i really do not like people like that)

I could totally see her rocking that first outfit though, couldn't you?

I am really excitied to see what else Elliott comes up with in his next collection as for a young designer I think he is really talented

I don't know about you ,but i have been really underwhelmed by the majority of shows at LFW

which i found so dissapointing considering how good LFW was in feb

So i always find it so refreshing to see that there is still new designers like Elliott still striving to bring us all something a little bit different!

Check out Elliott's stuff here

Let me know what you think of the collection and if you are a fan?

I have some great news for all you accessory lovers

The Ah-Mazing and talented Sophie from the online store

Crown and Glory

has been lovely enough to give all the Is This Real Life? readers a special 10% discount on all their purchases 

The discount is valid until October 1st 

Please check out the site here- Crown and Glory

It has the most beautiful hair accessories 

And y'all know i can't get enough of flower based hair goodies

I have been lucky enough that Sophie sent me a couple of her pieces and i will be wearing them in a blog post in the next few days

I think you will love them, they are super pretty!

Let me know if you buy any lovely-ness from the store!

CODE TO BE USED AT CHECKOUT-

ISTHISREALLIFE

Oh My Gosh You Look Just Like Shakira....

So, as some of you may already know I contribute to a fabulous magazine called Cellardoor

The new issue has just came out this weekend and i have got to say (biased? haha!) that it's freaking awesome!

Even More beautiful editorials than ever with really amazing styling

and a wonderful cover star for all those Skins fan's out there

And of course an Interview with Marina and The Diamonds by Me!

I have posted the interview above

I would love to know what you think of it and if you are all fan's of Marina or not?

It is such an amazing magazine and I am really proud to be a part of it

To enjoy the full issue you can go to their new website here!

The LOOK show...

The High Street are Bringing it!

This is the show i have been inspired by the most so far at London Fashion Week

Maybe it's because realistically it is the only clothes i would be able to afford

Or is it maybe just because the high street have started to break out from copying designers and they are actually starting their own trends and being innovative with their own ideas

Who knows?

Either way LOOK magazine

The best weekly fashion magazine in my opinion has put together for the second year running

a 'high street catwalk' filled with all our favourite stores new collections!

French connection were my stand out

But randomly so was Next's who would have thought it,huh?

Take a look at this video and see what you think

High street VS High Fashion

In the words of Big Brother (TV SHOW)

Who wins you decide?

"So chin up. Put your shoulders back, walk proud, strut a little. Don't lick your wounds; celebrate them. The scars you bear are the signs of a competitor. You're in a lion fight. Just because you didn't win doesn't mean you don't know how to roar."

Georgia May Jagger

Love this outfit

It's so simple and effortless

Perfect shirt too

You can never go wrong with a polka dot, right?

Also I've got proper hair envy with Georgia too,

She's awesome!

Exciting news as well as having this fashion blog I have decided to start a new Entertainment blog too

I love all things Film/Tv/Music and Books and that's what this new blog will be covering

Reviews, news and Lot's of lovely fun things!

I have updated it with the first couple of reviews but i will be putting more stuff up soon!

Please do head on over and check out and let me know what you think!

Here is the website-

The Factory

Oh and don't worry nothing will be changing about this blog, i will still be updating daily with fashion awesome-ness!

Zara.is.freaking.awesome.right.now.

This is the new Zara lookbook

I am such a massive fan of Zara

I think they have some of the best quality clothes on the high street and although i do think sometimes the prices are higher than usual high street stores, i do think you get your moneys worth with materials, fabrics used,etc!

These are some of my favourite pieces from their new collection

I love the chunky feel of the knits and the layering is just perfect for winter

I think there is a really strong Parisian and 1950's feel in the collection too with the ankle grazing jeans flat shoes and capes

I cant wait to get my hands on a pair of those jeans either the red or the indigo look perfect

And can we just talk about how amazing the faux fur coat is, amazing!

I think that by far my favorite look out of these is the second picture, such perfect styling and beautiful pieces that technically shouldn't work together but somehow they look epic!

What do you think of the new collection and will you be buying any of these pieces?

A/wear

A few posts ago i wore a dress from A/wear

And i suppose it's because i made a purchase from them(you know how companies have started to make their own small mags and when you buy from them they automatically send you one) that yesterday in the mail i received their magazine from them

It is very similar to the ASOS magazine in that it shows off all their new products

This is a photoshoot from it which showcases their new collection

And it couldn't be more perfect for me if it tried

I love anything to do with 19060's style

And so many of these pieces have a 60's focus

I think the images are really beautiful and really showcase the clothes

My favourite pieces are definitely the leopard print coat and the light pink/peach coat in the last photograph

They also have great handbags in this new range from only about £20 and i have my eye on a pair of the flares too and at £28 they are a bargain

For anyone who hasn't shopped at A/wear before their prices are quite similar to Topshops i would say,

 but possibly a little bit cheaper on some things

You should head on over to their website to check it out

I think i will definitely be making a lot more purchases from A/wear after seeing this campaign!

Are you a fan too, Let me know?

Marie Claire presents the Maybelline pop-up store...

Marie Claire presents the Maybelline pop-up store

I think this sounds so amazing, Marie Claire is one of my favourite magazines and i looove Maybelline too

I think the idea is fab- Here are all the details-

This event will take place over 10 days during London Fashion Week. 

The activity kicks off from 17th September. 

For ten days only during September,you will all be able to immerse yourselves in the magic of Maybelline as Marie Claire presents the world’s first MAYBELLINE NEW YORK POP-UP SHOP, at 18 Shorts Gardens Seven Dials, Covent Garden.

Open from the 16^th-26^th September, the space will be dedicated to backstage beauty, retailing exclusive Maybelline shades and products and showing fashionistas how to achieve this season’s must-have catwalk looks direct from New York Fashion Week.

Marie Claire will be presenting a number of events across the 10 day period from model scouting sessions to a day with a Marie Claire stylist.

This is the new issue of Marie Claire uk with the lovely Blake Lively on the front, out now!

Here is a mock-up of what the store will look like,

Super pretty,right?

One of the special days is the New York City day-

EXPERIENCE NEW YORK CITY IN LONDON

On Friday 17th September Marie Claire presents the  New York treat day. Enjoy a day of complimentary treats, Big Apple style. There will be donuts and brownies by day, then evening shopping accompanied by Cosmo and Manhattan cocktails and the laid-back vibes and New York sounds from an in-store DJ.

Be in with the chance to win amazing NY-inspired fashion goodies from Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Banana Republic, BCBG Maxazria, Gap, Ray Ban and a fabulous Guess watch. Or one of the many Maybelline Get the Look kits.

You'll also have the chance to win a fabulous overnight stay for two at the loft style Shoreditch hotel The Boundary and enjoy an evening of fun New York inspired cocktails.

And last but not least there is also a chance to win a weekend for two at the Plaza Athénée in New York famous for being the sets of Sex and the City.

Take a trip to Covent Garden with a copy of Marie Claire’s October issue in-hand, follow the location clues on the Marie Claire UK Twitter page and if you find a ‘Marie Claire fashionista’ or a ‘Maybelline Make-up Maven’ you stand a chance of bagging yourself a Marie Claire and Maybelline dollar. If you're lucky enough to receive one of these dollars, you will be able to use them to redeem and bag yourself one of the New York inspired prizes.

Start following them on Twitter and look out for the Marie Claire tweets here for clues to find the New York inspires hampers around London. Followers MUST come along with a copy of the new October issue of Marie Claire with Blake Lively on the cover to win.

Sounds great!

Will any of you be checking it out?

Links of London

These are the friendship bracelets from Links Of London

I first saw them on Cat Deeley a while ago and then got remembered about them again when Cat wore a stack of them to the Teen Choice Awards (pictures above)

I thought they looked fab

She has actually designed a couple of these herself

I think Cat has really really fantastic natural style and the way i have saw her wear these bracelets have made me want them even more!

I can't decide which colours i like better though

I think i would just like one of each

But at £125 individually i don't think that will be happening for me!

It does make me laugh that they are called friendship bracelets though because i don't know about you but when i was little and at primary school when me and my friends used to swap friendship bracelets we used to make them ourselves out of wool or thread and they genuinely cost like a £1 to make

So quite a contrast!

But i would really really love one of these I think they will definitely be going on my Christmas list!

Have any of you got a rich friend that has already bought you one of these friendship bracelets?

Oh and you can also check out the Links of London blog here too

Ah and some of you may have noticed that i am now a member of the Lookbook community!
So please if you feel inclined to do so....Hype it, click it, or just check it out!
You will find  the little bagde to click on at the side of my blog.