Life in plastic, It's fantastic!

Barbie's looking pretty hot for a 55-year-old.

Images: Mattel, Elle UK, Wildfox, Instagram

And she's taking the fashion world be storm recently.

She's been around since 1959, and has been a glamorous gal ever since, whether that's in a LBD or a shiny leotard to work out in.

She's got so many style credentials, that there's a whole display dedicated to her and her many different looks at the infamous New York toy store, FAO Shwarz.

From a pretty ballerina to a sassy Vegas girl, Barbie's changed a lot of looks throughout the years that we could only ever dream of, and even has her own miniature versions of Louboutins! (seriously though, can we wear that Tiffany blue ball-gown to work..please?)

And it's not just her looks, but her influence in popular culture that has evolved too. From being accused of creating unrealistic views of the female body that will influence young girls, and accused of objectifying, she's released a campaign this year encouraging girls to be whoever they want to be. Not to get too deep, but surely, with all the endless careers that Barbie's had over the years (how did she manage to get so many qualifications under her pretty, pink belt?) surely, that makes her more of a feminist than anyone thought she could be? 

But back in fashion-land, back in the summer of 2010, Wildfox gave their own spin on all of the many personas of our favourite blonde beauty. Less elegant Swan Lake, more tumbling over while tipsy - much more funny (and realistic) if you ask me!

But this summer, the comfy brand made of Califronian dreams, was back, but this time, Barbie had grown up. With dreamy pastel shades and their infamous slogan sweatshirts, this is a Barbie collection I can get on board with - shotgun on the 'I Love Ken' top!

And it's not just Wildfox that's noticed this lil Miss.Miniature, but she also now has her own Instagram account dedicated just to her style, and it's pretty damn fabulous. 

Filled to the brim with outfit posts and fashion designers and icons aplenty - if you want to have a daily dose of cute and chic, then Barbie's your gal! But Jeremy Scott has even styled her in her own mini Moschino t-shirt, and now Milan Fashion Week has happened, it's become more clear as to why....

Jeremy Scott's collection fro Moschino was basically an Ode to Barbie!

Now I know that this isn't going to be everyone bag, and I'm not suggesting that you go out dressed in a pink 2-piece, roller-skating down the street (although, I do own a pair of roller-skates myself...that light up...)

But that's what great about the world of fashion: there's something from everyone. There's gonna be someone out there who's dying at the sight of this collection, and there's someone out there who just want to take away that 80's-inspired dress from it, which is more wearable, and then there's going to be those who hate it and think it's ghastly. But the thing is, it's just a bucket load of fun! And whatever's wrong with that?! In a world of adult decisions (bills, yawn) and depressing news, surely we can all indulge in some flirty fun - it is fashion after all, not a PhD in Quantum Physics!

What do you think of all this pink power that Barbie has brought into our lives? Do you love her, or hate her?

Stay sassy & happy!

A.x

No rest for the wicked...

Here's my life recently through the filtered lens of Instagram..

(Warning: contains an unhealthy amount of food porn)

1.) anyone who knows me knows that I'm obsessed with the Great British Bake-Off, so when I met my fave, Howard, with Cat, my heart wouldn't stop fluttering 

2.) indulging in a good, proper, greasy feast after my law exam...the first exam I've taken in four years... 

3.) in desperate need of a hair cut 

4.) any cocktails that come with flowers and Parma Violets is a thumbs up in my book 

5.) while the boys are away, the girls will play! Girls night out! 

6.) a trip back home always means stuffing myself full of Papa Lo's delicious cooking 

7.) Sunday afternoons in the Lo household means family congee & noodles 

8.) enjoying driving my lil' Cuffbert car back at home 

9.) rare occasion of being in possession of a £50 note 

10.) enjoying the fresh air and walk through the park after a good session at the gym 

11.) my Halloween alter-ego of a wols-attacked, bloody Little Red Riding Hood 

12.) flat fancy dress effort for Halloween 

13.) how has Kim not been part of my life until now?! 

14.) splurging out on some of y favourite food, sushi time! 

15.) these 2 beautiful ladies, Hannah and Iyesha, from my undergraduate uni course, came to visit and stay! 

16.) bacon and pancakes, the breakfast of champions! 

17.) ending the weekend in the most perfect way, spending Sunday in my favourite pub with a proper good roast with proper good company

I'm @amylo_92 on instagram, go and follow me or comment so I can check some of your instagrams out, as I'm always on the hunt for new ones to scroll through!

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

Recently...

Life's been a little but hectic since I've moved to Sheffield. A new city and new course has made time just absolutely fly by! The course is great too but just a lot of work, but thankfully, I've also got some new housemates and friends who are great and I get on with brilliantly :) So I'm sorry my blgging's been a bit on the quiet side! Instead if leaving it high and dry, here's a little update of late via my instagrammed life:

1.) went for a morning tea at Emma Bridgewater with my mum and this polka dot aga is now on my wishlist for my future dream home 

2.) fell head over heels in love for Christopher Bailey's SS'14 collection for Burberry 

3.) I got my craft on and added some sparkle to my Vans trainers 

4.) spots and stripes feeling like a liquorice all-sort

5.) crammed into the car ready to move up to Sheffield 

6.) spending some quality time with my gorgeous nephew 

7.) having some scrummy dim-sum with the family 

8.) settling into my new room with some pretty lights and photos of friends and family 

9.) falling in love with the city of Sheffield 

10.) a killer salad I made for dinner of bacon, chicken and avocado 

11.) unwinding after a day jam-packed of lectures with Breaking Bad, hoc late and a trusty cuppa 

12.) shorthand is taking over my life 

13.) being a fresher for the 4th time 

14.) having after-uni cocktails with Kim 

15.) flat 29C together for a night out for Imogen's birthday 

16.) loving the graffiti at my new local vintage shop

I'm hoping I'll get a bit more time to go back to regular blogging when everything settles down a little and I get a better grasp on my course.

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon, 

A.x

This Week...

1.) my dedication to the gym & working out continued
2.) completely indulged in a Harry Potter marathon at over the weekend 
3.) chilled out in bed in my cool-ass space pjs from Cath Kidston
4.) got my head down to tackle shorthand
5.) gave into the craze and made a ramen burger
6.) had a break from studying and enjoyed new issue Vogue with tea
7.) shopping spree, as I convinced myself that new city & new uni means new clothes...
8.) bought the cutest and coolest bottle opener to magically open my drinks!
9.) had my hair cut and done, and really wish I could give myself a blowdry at home
10.) with my girls, out for dinner & drinks with friends for Brammer's 22nd birthday
11.) whipped up a fish pie for the colder evenings
12.) one of those nights where I couldn't fall asleep and before I knew it, it was 3am...it sucks...

I love doing these weekly updates using my instagram photos! I hope you enjoy them too!

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x

Instagram Week: Insta-update!

I love instagram. I love how it keep you up to date with all your friends and favourite people, and all the food porn always makes me drool.

And I always enjoy Milk, Bubble, Tea's instagram in a week updates on her blog, and with my bestie Hannah recently doing one also, I thought I'd try my hand at it too!

I love seeing these on people's blogs, as not everyone has instagram and i love the way it looks, and it's a great and visual way to update people easily and quickly for when life gets a bit hectic and full blog posts get a bit thin.

So, here's what I've been up to recently!

1. my love for Libertys and it's beauty never gets old  2. gorgeous flowers outside of Libertys  3. fancy dress party with all my besties for jess' 21st birthday  4. vodka jelly shots at Iyesha's  5. catching up and partying with uni friends  6. spent the day smelling the flowers with my parents  7. shorthand textbook arrived ready for masters degree in september  8. rediscovering my undying love for an old t-shirt  9. having sushi with hannah in milton keanes  10. another trip to beautiful London  11. rollerskating, discoing fun  12. delving into this gem on the train journey home

Some of you might also remember I had a bit of a think and delve into my childhood in a recent blog post, ready for my friend Jess' 21st birthday, where the fancy dress theme was childhood hereos.

Well, in the end, I hauled a load of aqua coloured material and sparkly gems and gold trims, and got my scissors and sewing skills out, and got to work.

What do you guys think?! Think I could pass off for Princess Jasmine herself?!

I love fancy dress and loved dressing up as one of my favourite characters as a child, especially after all the time I played pretend being her when I was younger!

I'm planning to do more of these little instagrams updates, what do you guys think?

If you want to check out my instagram, it's @amylo92

Do you have an instagram? Let me know your username in the comments, I love checking people's account out :)

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

Festival Festivities

During the past weekend, I slipped my wellies on, and spent it at V Festival.

The weekend was filled with music, drinks, party hats, bands I'd been dying to see and bands that i love, and was shared with friends who put out with my out-of-tune screaming along, and new people who jumped up and down incessantly with me in crowded seas of fans.

During the Saturday, it was my best friend's brother's birthday, and he turned 18! In my eyes, I still think of him of the 13 year old that used to open the door for me when i came around, and then scuttle off to play Xbox...and now, he's about to go to uni and a proper grown-up young man, and what better way to spend your 18th birthday, than at a festival :)

If you follow me on Instagram, I'm sure you would've been sick of all the videos and selfies I took. 

We were prepared for the forecast of torrential downpours of rain...

...but thankfully, the skies were forgiving and we only saw sights of a few raindrops, and after that Sunday was just sunshine and smiles!

With the sunny Sunday saying hello, I went to town on my festival outfit and went a bit mad with pastel power, and bright make-up ad socks to boot.

I am in love with these shorts, not only are they coloured in with pretty pastels, which i always have a soft spot for, but each panel is a different colour! 

Music plays a massive part in my life, and I don't understand how music couldn't mean something to you, so when live music is around, I'm just in my element. It's not even if the band is amazing, or if they're interaction with the crowd makes you feel connected, which 99% of the time, both of these are true, but most of all, what i love the most, is the atmosphere. There's just something about being with a crowd of people, even if you are squished like sardines, you forget all about that fact because you're with people who all have the same passion as you for the act you're there to watch, and singing your heart out along with them, and jumping like crazy kangaroos.

Lissie and Seasick Steve are both artists that i really like, but know limited amount of their songs, but one of Lissie's song, is one of my favourite songs, go and Youtube 'When I'm Alone' by her, and I guarantee you won't regret it :)  Despite not knowing a lot of their songs at all though, I thoroughly enjoyed their sets, more than I expected, they are both such talented artists, that are amazing and charismatic live, and definitely made me want to go and check out more of their work.

Lissie @ V Festival 2013

Ellie Goulding and Kings of Leon are both acts that I've seen live before, and were absolutely blown away by, and seeing them again, I once again was lost for words (and also lost my voice due to all the screaming!). One of the things that really impressed my was Ellie's passion and energy, and as strange as it sounds, Kings of Leon's visuals were just stunning. You know those big screens they have so everyone at the back can see? Well, they didn't just have them showing the band playing, but they had edited them to go along with and fit in with the the vibe of the song they were playing, and the lights of the show were just as good.

Kings of Leon @ V Festival 2013

Ellie Goulding @ V Festival 2013

Two Door Cinema Club is a band that I love, and have been DYING to go see live for years, but fate just intervined and our paths never crossed, however, I finally saw them, and they were the energetic and exciting band that I was hoping for and more.

Two Door Cinema Club @ V Festival 2013

The Vaccines and The Script are both bands, whose songs I enjoy and sing along to, but have never paid all that much attention to. Well, that all changed at V. The Script had such amazing interaction with the crowd and just seemed so humble and excited to be playing, and really got everyone involved with the brilliant live set they were playing. And The Vaccines just made all the songs that I love, come alive on stage.

The Vaccines @ V Festival 2013

The Script @ V Festival 2013

But the main attraction, and the main reason why I was so excited for V this year was for the Queen herself.

Beyonce.

Beyonce @ V Festival 2013

Despite her coming on stage late, I still lost my goddamn mind, and after wanting to see her for so long, it wasn't just a live set, it was an experience.

I read  a blog post not that long ago from The Man Repeller, and I completely agree with what she said. It's not until you see her in action do you see her  passion, her drive, her gratefulness, how humble she is, and what a showman she is.

Beyonce @ V Festival 2013

She was fierce during 'Run The World', danced her bootylicious booty off to 'Crazy In Love', belted her lungs out during 'Halo', got the crowd going and singing along with 'Irreplacable', and of course, got everything turning their hands back and forth during 'Single Ladies'.

Did you go to V this year? Who was your favourite act? Have you been to any other festivals?

Hope you're all well, and have a brilliant Bank Holiday if you're in the UK!

Speak soon,

A.x

Ahoy Sailor!

With the heatwave dying down and the typical British weather sadly making more of an appearnce these days, my short shorts weren't accompanied by a bright, summery top this day.

So my high waisted shorts, with buttons with anchors on to top it off, they had to find a new partner in crime, in the form of a textured navy blue and white cropped top.

Instead of the typical combination of blue, white and red, I jumped into my perky, pink Nike high-tops, and my hair went along for this pink ride as well, as it went under a bit of a colour transformation.

(this is from my instagram, which you can follow me on here! @amylo92)

I heard and watched person upon person chalk their hair with simple art pastels, but with my hair being so dark, it just didn't work that well, even when I wet it as suggested. However, I came across this little beauty, which made my hair into a rainbow of colours with ease (even if it came with a bit of mess!)

I think it's a really fun way to change up your hair without committing. What colour would you add to your hair?

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x

Getting in the festival spirit

I love festivals. Being a big music lover, the thought of being at the same place, at the same time with others who share the same love and appreciation of an artist, while we all jump around hysterically and shout along until our voices are hoarse, well, it sounds perfect to me.

Although I've been camping at festivals before, and I loved it, nowadays, I much prefer my own comfy, clean bed. That's why this year, I'll be heading to V Festival in the day, and be in my jammies at home at night. Being cheaper and a close car ride to where I live, it made sense really!

The artists I'm most looking forward to see include the bootylicisous goddess Beyonce, long-time rock god favourites, Kings of Leon, the happy and infectiously catchy Two Door Cinema Club and the sultry and beautiful Jessie Ware. Other favourites of mine I can't wait to sing along to are Basement Jaxx, McFly, Kendrick Lamar, Jason Mraz, Stereophonics and Ellie Goulding.

I've spoken about my love for Ellie Goudling's music before, but after recently following her on Instagram, I have been drooling over her style, especially the armor she puts on before she steps out on stage to face the crowd.

Looking jaw-droppingly gorgeous when she's been done up, she's just as stunning when she's giving it her all up on stage. 

With simple yet slick and quirky pieces on stage that give her the freedom to jump around in, I absolutely love her style of mixing seductive straps and sheer panels, and playful polka dots and hearts.

The thing I love most about live performances is the atmosphere, no words can describe how euphoric it is, and one of the things I admire most about Ellie is the passion she has while performing, which just makes the atmosphere and the crowd even more electric.

Let's hope this glorious weather stays and I don't get drenched in rain once again

(and hopefully I don't pull this awful face anymore!)

What do you think of Ellie's style and music? Are you off to any festivals this summer? 

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x