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Felder Felder


This year I've decided to do a Fashion Week series, showing you guys what I've been loving on the catwalks. I was meant to do this last year for S/S 2015 but I wasn't very efficient in watching the shows - I pretty much underestimated how time consuming it was and how many shows there were and how long it actually took to watch said shows and gather pictures etc... so this year I've decided to approach it a little differently now that I've kinda got the gist of it. Basically, I will be writing four posts for the series - one for each Fashion Week (London, New York, Milan & Paris) and it will predominantly be pictures of the outfits. I know mainly pictures is unheard of with me as I do tend to witter on (can you guess?!) but I just feel that this way it will be easier to make sure the posts go up on time. So here is the first in the A/W 2015 Fashion Week series - London...



Felder Felder
Felder Felder
Felder Felder
Felder Felder
Felder Felder 
Felder Felder
Felder Felder
House of Holland
sass & bide
Simone Rocha
Topshop Unique
Topshop Unique
Topshop Unique
Vivienne Westwood Red Label
Vivienne Westwood Red Label
Vivienne Westwood Red Label
Vivienne Westwood Red Label

What were your favourites from LFW?

"In fact, if one person is unkind to an animal it is considered to be cruelty, but where a lot of people are unkind to animals, especially in the name of commerce, the cruelty is condoned and, once large sums of money are at stake, will be defended to the last by otherwise intelligent people." - Ruth Harrison
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...that is the question. Well, Shakespeare wouldn't agree with that one but it's always good to paraphrase the Bard himself once in a while, right?

I've been fighting with myself over starting YouTube since I was around 12 (8 years ago - yeesh!) and when I brought it up to my Mum initially, she hated the idea. The thought of her precious little girl exposing her personality, accent and mannerisms through singing (yes, singing) videos on a website made her skin crawl. All she would say to me was 'What if someone liked what they saw, found out where you lived, stalked you and then kidnapped you? What if he kills you Saffron? SAFFRON WHAT IF HE KILLS YOU?!?!' ...now you know where I get my dramatic side from. Because of her strong views against YouTube mixed with my 'good girl' persona, I knew that it wasn't a great idea. Plus, she kinda had a point.

There was an absolutely brilliant TV show on Channel 4 a couple of weeks back called Cyberbully (watch here). It was based on several true stories and was about this hacker gaining control of Casey(the protagonist)'s computer and blackmailing her into doing things to stop nude photos of her from being posted on the internet. Now I know this isn't exactly the same - but it does show what can happen when you end up on the internet's bad side. This person knew all about Casey's life - from her ex boyfriend to her best friend - and even had access not just to her laptop, but to her phone too. For over an hour the cyber-stalker tortured Casey - both mentally and physically - and it really made you wonder how these extremely common objects control us nowadays. Almost everyone in the UK has at least one computer in their home, with a hefty majority having more than one to themselves. Not to mention the amount of people with iPhones... Cyberbully made me realise that the internet can be a dangerous place - but as long as you remember that there is life outside of the internet (yes, there really is) then you should be okay.

Putting yourself on YouTube is a big deal. Absolutely anyone with an internet-enabled device and WiFi at their disposal can view your videos. Many people think that it's just others like them that will watch their videos - teenagers who love their bed and food more than the fresh air and family parties. Kids who would rather watch a 10-hour Keeping Up With The Kardashians marathon (guilty) than going to school. Girls and boys who will stay up till 4am watching videos of a cat dressed as a shark riding a roomba (you have to watch it) and wondering how the hell they ended up getting to that when they initially started binge watching Salad Fingers episodes. But - shock horror - not everyone that watches YouTube is like me. I know it may sound ridiculous for me to say, and I know some of you may roll your eyes but it's true - the internet is never as safe as you think. Don't get me wrong - you shouldn't fear the internet, but at the same time you shouldn't think it's your friend either. There are too many people out there who can find out where you live by just knowing your name or your face - and that's scary.

As a blogger, these things do cross my mind every so often. I think 'if they can stalk someone because of YouTube, what makes me think they can't stalk me because of my blog?'. And I guess I'm still conflicted over the response. I go by my gut instinct a lot. If I feel that somewhere, something or someone is unsafe for me - I stay away. And YouTube is just another one of those things. My blog on the other hand, is not. When I initially set up my blog two years ago, I wasn't scared at all. I wasn't scared when my page views hit 10,000 or 20,000, but the thought of posting that first YouTube video terrifies me. I guess not only is the whole 'the internet isn't safe' thing looming over my head, but also what if my channel gets popular? What if people are mean to me because of my strong opinions, thick Yorkshire accent or simply because my hair colour isn't to their taste? To be quite honest, I'm very split when it comes to criticism. Either I get really upset or shake it off and think 'Balls to them, I'm fabulous' (which is very true, I am indeed fabulous). I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are currently too many negatives over my attempt at conquering YouTube. The idea of making a load of money for doing hardly anything may seem very attractive, but I don't quite think it's worth my safety. Not yet, anyway...

I have actually posted videos on my own YouTube before - two in total. The first was me singing a cover of Fly With Me by the Jonas Brothers for a competition yeeeears ago. I was absolutely obsessed with them, and to be honest I still do fangirl over them once in a while...
The second video was of me and my friend-but-more-like-a-brother, Connor. We did the cinnamon challenge and it involved a lot of sick. I was still finding chunks of spewed-up curry (TMI, sorry) weeks after the explosion.

Even though I'm still in the middle of the 'should I or shouldn't I' conflict going on in my head, for now I'm gonna stay away. I'm almost 20 now, and even though I'm legally an adult (hahahahaha) I still trust my Mum's judgement and advice. She doesn't think it's safe for me, plus I'm still terrified of the idea. So until I gain a little more confidence behind the camera, you lot won't be able to hear my hilarious jokes and sassy statements. You'll just have to read them for now instead.


What's your take on YouTube? Would you ever take the plunge?

"The more helpless the creature, the more that it is entitled to protection by man from the cruelty of man." - Mahatma Gandhi 
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Ages back I was requested to do this post by a reader on ask.fm, so whoever that was - thank-you for the great idea! Here I have compiled a list of my 10 favourite cruelty-free (of course) budget beauty products ranging from skincare to make-up bits and pieces. Enjoy!




I've had this blusher for years and somehow still haven't hit pan. Talk about value for money! It's a universally wearable colour as it's such a beautiful, natural shade. It's perfectly pigmented and I'd recommend to all!





This has to be the only face wash that I've used that I can tell has properly cleaned my face. Because the muslin cloth that comes with the cleanser is white, and because the cleanser is white too, you can really see all the crap come off your face. It's disgusting but sooo satisfying at the same time. Not to mention it's super gentle on your skin, which is always a bonus. I've mentioned it previously in my 'How To: Care For Your Skin' post that you can have a little read of here.





This stuff comes in super handy. If I'm feeling lazy (which is very often) I can use this to clean my face, and not feel guilty about it. It gives your face a great deep clean, getting out any traces of dirt from the day. Not to mention, it's a great make-up remover! My only problem is that I have to be careful taking my eye make-up off with it, as it's not quite as sensitive as it should be.





I started using this foundation when I was about 15 and I loved it, but at the time I didn't know how to properly apply foundation and concealer, and therefore the coverage wasn't great. Now that I know how to get the most out of a product, I can use the HMF to it's full potential, And despite it not being full coverage like I would usually opt for, it's great when applied on top of Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer.





This is probably my favourite nail polish of all time. And I've literally had hundreds of different polishes, but this one tops them all. It gives you a shiny, pigmented finish that can even trick the professionals themselves into thinking you've had a gel manicure. Forget going to the beauticians - just nip to Boots!





If you have trouble applying eyeliner, you need this. This liner has helped me create the perfect eye look on so many occasions, at one point causing a shop assistant at Miss Selfridge to compliment me and ask where my eyeliner was from. Safe to say she was pretty shocked when I said Collection, I think she was expecting me to say MAC or something! Because it's a felt tip, the nip is fairly stiff (stop it) and therefore makes for easier application. It's now a staple in my make-up bag as it doesn't flake or dry out quickly like many others I've tried.





These lipsticks are amazing. They're pigmented, creamy and long-lasting. What else could you want in a lipstick?! The packaging is sleek and classic too, which is always a huge bonus. The only issue is that once you get one, you're gonna wanna get them all...



excuse the chipped nail polish... *cringe*


Everyone and their dog seems to rave on about this stuff, but it really is fab. There are many people out there that dismiss 'cheap' make-up because they believe it's not going to be good. Yet brands like Collection are there to prove them wrong. If you're looking for a medium-to-full coverage liquid concealer, give this one a try. My only main concern is the small colour range, especially for those like me who have pale yet neutral/warm skin.





I've loved their lip balm since around 2010 when I first purchased their limited edition Christmas Spiced Vanilla. Quickly after, I purchased the Cranberry Joy flavour in the range and then the next year, added Candied Ginger to my collection. Sadly, they no longer do them exact lip balms anymore. Two Christmases ago, I went into the Body Shop to see if they had any, but they were replaced by these domed lip balms that were no where near as good, they weren't even creamy like the old ones! I think TBS must've gotten a few requests to bring the old lip balms back as last Christmas they donned a similar formula, and I obviously had to snag one. This time, in the Glazed Apple flavour. Sadly but obviously, these only come around at Christmastime. Therefore, you can either wait or you can get their good-but-not-as-good Lip Butters. I have a bunch of these and I do love them, but they're just not quite the same.





If you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll be sick and tired of me raving on about this powder. For the price, it's bloody fab. Yeah the coverage is non-existent but it sets my makeup perfectly. And for just under £2, it's worth a try. I guess that's why I felt it was worth the coveted No.1 place!



What are your favourite budget beauty buys?
~requested~

"We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognise it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace." - Albert Schweitzer 
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Several weeks ago, Illamasqua had a huuuge sale on to celebrate Christmas and me being me just had to get involved. I went onto their website with the mindset that I'm 'just going to have a look' and 'maybe get one or two bits'... yet after several hours and over £100 later, I'm here writing about the things that accidentally 'fell' into my basket. Accidentally. Yep, accidentally...




I bought this as I thought it would make the perfect contouring powder. I've almost hit pan on the one I'm currently using and surprisingly I have no alternatives! It's slightly on the yellow-y side but I think it'll do the trick just fine.







Ahh eyeshadow palettes... my kryptonite. The one thing I just can't resist - even if I already have more than Boots themselves! This is a gorgeous palette with a fairly creamy texture, which surprised me but in a good way. It's not reaaally creamy - it kinda just feels like a wet powder, if that makes sense. 







As soon as I saw this back in October I fell in love. I wanted to buy it there and then but I was trying to be good with my money (that lasted long) so with a face full of mourning, I closed the window and stayed away from the website to avoid temptation. I'm glad I waited now as it was so much cheaper in the sale!






Pink eyeshadow is something I've really been enjoying experimenting with for quite some time now. I like to apply it in the centre of my lid, blending it out and then applying brown shadow in the crease. It looks natural but still girly, feminine and classic. So when I saw Dizzy in the sale, I couldn't not get it!







I'd been considering purchasing this for well over a year but because I'd never smelt it in person, I was put off. But when I saw how cheap it was to say it was a 75ml bottle - mixed with the rave reviews - I thought I'd take the plunge, and I must say, it smells amazing.







A few years back I got a white eyeliner pencil for my waterline as I knew that it helps make your eyes look bigger and brighter but because I have a blue sclera (the 'whites' of your eyes - I have brittle bones so mine are blue) it just looked odd against the contrast. Vow is more fleshy-toned so I thought it would be more effective - and natural - than my old white eyeliner.







Resist is very similar to one of my other Illamasqua lipsticks in Glissade - except this one is slightly lighter and is matte. Therefore, because it wasn't exactly the same AND because it was the perfect raspberry pink, I needed it. Don't judge me.






I'd been wanting this as soon as I saw it, but I had a gel eyeliner yeeears ago that went dry really fast, so it put me off buying any more. As for the brow gel, I was worried that it would make my eyebrows look unnatural, so I was put off buying any of that too. Despite this, my fears quickly dissipated after reading the rave reviews on the Illamasqua website. Customers were saying how amazing the products were and that the brow gel was a staple in their makeup bag, so obviously I had to jump on the bandwagon.
I wasn't too bothered about the Vintage Metallix, so it was more of a bonus for me. I love the pots that they come in as well, they look so sleek and classy! Not to mention, the matching rose-gold box is suuuper adorbs.







As you can see in the picture above, my eyeliner came covered in this weird white creamy stuff (take your heads out of the gutters, please) and I quickly tweeted the lovely social media team at Illamasqua, for them to tell me that I should e-mail them, which I did. To be perfectly honest - I was kinda pissed. Usually their deliveries come in flawless condition (I should know, I order from them often enough) but for some reason, during this sale period, they seem to be slacking as I wasn't the only one with a problem with one of my products. Many others opened their packages to find their Reflection Palette broken - and I'm pretty sure when they e-mailed Illamasqua they were faced with the same reply - send it back for a refund or exchange. When I read it I thought 'Right, okay, I'll just send it back and ask for an exchange. Simple!' Except, it wasn't simple. Now, if you haven't already noticed - I'm pretty lazy. I like things hassle free, especially when I'm not the one in the wrong. The paperwork that I had to fill out for the exchange was bordering on a joke. You'd think that I'd found a thumb in my can of Coke there was that much to fill out and do. So typically I left it for a few days, which turned into a few weeks, and a few days ago I thought 'Ahh screw it!' and I cleaned off the white stuff with hand sanitiser and then sharpened the pencil. I haven't tried it on my eyes yet but lets just hope I don't end up blind *knocks on wood*.


Now, despite my big old sigh over that order - it hasn't put me off ordering again. I got an e-mail last Thursday from them saying that more lines had been added to their sale, so obviously I had a look. Aaaand I may (or may not) have added three more lipsticks to my ever-so-vast collection...




The perfect nude. Something I've always been looking for, and to be honest aren't we all? This is why I ordered it - I had a feeling it could be The One. The verdict? It very well could be. I'm gonna have to see how it fares for a little bit longer, but for now I'm pretty chuffed with it! Ahh, it's so pretty!






"I don't have any pink lipsticks... Not any this exact shade anyway" is what I said to myself when I clicked 'Add to Basket'. Truth be told, I have a lot of pink lipsticks, the hefty majority being from Illamasqua. But this one is different - as unlike the others it's a dark, almost-but-not-quite vampy, raspberry pink. Honestly, I don't have a lipstick like this. 'It looks just like Resist!' I hear you cry - yeah it does but it's darker. So hush. I thought it was much brighter when I was ordering it, but to my surprise it wasn't. And I'm even more happy about it now as it brings the guilt levels down...







I wanted a mahogany lipstick for a while, so this was the perfect chance to get one! Although Autumn is over and Winter is coming to a close - I know it'll look great when September rears it's head again. When I tried Growl on for the first time, it's safe to say I fell in love. I can definitely see this shade quickly becoming one of my favourites. It's so gorgeous!


I'm really gonna have to put a serious spending ban in place as I've been wanting a Mini for years and if I'm not careful, I won't be able to afford one. So if you see me shopping, you have my full permission to remind me that I don't need that extra eyeshadow...or those 5 lipsticks in my basket. Okay?!


Did you order anything in the Illamasqua sale?

"I am in favour of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being." - Abraham Lincoln
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