On holiday!

Hey guys, I've landed in Melbourne to visit family and go shopping, I can't guarantee regular posts for the next week, but I'll do what I can.

Easy how to make fabric bunting

This really is one of the greatest learn-to-sew projects I think there is, you only sew in straight lines, and you end up with something totally unique, cute and usable.
Bunting is a fantastic home decoration that is coming back into fashion, and it can be brought out on any occasion or just hung about your house year round, for me this will probably live on a huge blank wall in my kitchen.
So often people dive in head first and end up scared off because the spectacular frock they envisioned in their mind is nothing like the interesting ... thing they've created. It can be really disheartening so this is why I encourage simple projects to start off with.

Want to make some bunting? After the jump.

Product review: Veet Wax Strips with Easygrips

I have no problems admitting that I am one of the unlucky ones that includes hair removal as a major part of my beauty routine. It's just part and parcel with being a pale-skin-with-dark-features beauty. Shaving just doesn't do the trick but will work as a stop gap in Summer when I want to wear that skirt today, but ultimately, waxing and my epilator are my true year round fail-safes.
Wax strips are too damn easy to say no to just because they're much less messy then ye olde wax pots. Veet strips are the most commonly available ones and used to be pretty awesome to use, before they created the stupid 'easygrip's.
You see, you used to be able to use them over and over with little worry. The wax would gradually warm and spread about the strip without going too close to the edges. Hell, at my most thrifty I think I managed to use one pair of strips to do half a leg. But now because of the extra tab on one side, the chance of creating a mess on the other end is too high and I find myself going through strips much quicker. The direction you rub the strip in drags it a little each time, bringing the wax to the edge and before you could flip the strips around easily. Not anymore.

Despite this, the formulas are still great and effective with a nice range for dry, sensitive and other skin types, and they all come with finishing oil wipes to help remove excess wax once you're done. That hasn't changed, and that's still great.
I'm really hoping they bring back the old style soon, because I'm just not impressed. I feel that they've ruined a product that was great to start with, with a gimmick that makes them more profitable.

Veet EasyGrip Wax Strips Sensitive formula.

Blogroll!

Hey guys, I just made a Blogroll page, with some of my fave places to visit, the writers are all awesome birds too so show them some love!
http://www.boughtbybirdette.com/p/blogroll.html

Let me know if you've got a blog you would like to to check out!

Bought! Decadence envelope clutch by Mimco

So I had some loyalty vouchers lying around and there's a 25% off handbags sale going at Mimco at the moment, what does that equal? A sparkly new envelope clutch for $45, down from $179! Bargain of quite possibly the year at this stage. Mimco does have an epic rewards program so long as you act on the vouchers quickly as the voucher expire within about a month, and since mine were due to demise in a week, I took advantage of them as much as I could.
Envelope clutches are everywhere at the moment, and this gorgeous number is actually the first one I own, I realized I don't own any nice evening bags, I own many, many large day bags but hardly anything that would suit a date night. I've been watching a lot of early Sex and the City and picked up on Carries numerous and classic clutches and thought 'me too!'. The only thing I don't like about this bag is the name... the word 'decadent' really irks me ...
Looks fantastic with my little black dress!

Splurge v Steal: Concealed wedge sneakers

<3! Give me a quirky fashion item any-day.  While trapsing about at my local mall I found these beauties sitting on the shelf at Rubi Shoes, Concealed wedge sneakers. Isabel Marrant has some undoubtedly amazing shoes but my wallet is a much bigger fan of getting the look for less. They're so comfy too! Rubi shoes sells these in black, dark red, royal blue and I think the other colour was either beige or mostly white. I'm personally going to snap up the red, there's no point in hiding them! I'll wear them with my skinnies and short shorts. Also for a really in look, you can take then to the next step by customising them for a style that's completely your own too, (and being a budget buy, you don't feel awful about changing them!)

Join Bought by Birdette

Just a quick one tonight, I have injured myself while at training and don't have the will to write a proper post, but I just wanted to let you all know that you can now join my Blog as my friend! if you scroll down the menus to the left you can join me with Google friend connect. It'll help you stay up to date with me and what I'm writing about.
Thanks for your support guys! Please don't forget you can also follow me on Twitter, or like Birdette on Facebook, I love it when my fans show me to the world!

Product Review: Garnier BB Cream - Miracle skin perfecter

It's sort of hard to miss the bombardment of advertising for Garnier's latest skin saviour, the BB cream, but if you're anything like me, all you thought was "The heck is a BB cream and why do I want one?"

Well for starters BB creams (or blemish balm creams) were originally used in the treatment of laser surgery patients. The skin is ultra sensitive after the treatment and a special product was created to both protect and soothe.

Flash forward some time and you'd find that BB cream have slowly infiltrated the beauty market as a new must have item that 'does it all', particularly in Asian countries.

Garnier's BB Cream is the first to be marketed to the masses in Australia and comes with five main beauty concern fixes. Garnier claims it takes care of the following:

1. Hydrates for 24hrs.
2. Evens tone.
3. Corrects blemishes.
4. Boosts healthy glow.
5. UV Protection SPF 15.

I have been trying the cream for a little while now, and while it's not all bad news, I didn't find anything truly exciting about it. The look is a simple tube package while the formula is like a thick tinted moisturiser, a fresh smell greets you on application but the fragrance may not agree with those who have sensitive skin issues (part of the target market). I did find it does hydrate nicely, but with my oily skin I need very little help. I found it to have next to no coverage (I'd say about 5%) and would still need to use a foundation to provide any evening of my skin-tone. There was no difference to  my skins glowing, asides from the usual "I have moisturised" sheen, and to be honest SPF 15+ is next to nothing. In our climate you really need an SPF of at least 30+.

I don't have terribly sensitive skin, and could possibly suggest the product those who have and can't use much else. I would recommend it as a product to use on the weekends lounging about at home when a full face of make up isn't required in the least, perhaps if you start with already fantastic skin tone the product would be more favourable. One thing is that it doesn't aggravate existing skin blemishes, I found that it was quite soothing on an inflamed patch of dry skin. I also think that it is certainly more recommendable to drier skin types, and would like the product more if it had better coverage in a wider range of shades (only two shades does no one justice). 'Miracle skin perfecter' really is too far fetched a title for this product too, perhaps just skin perfecter.

NYFW

One thing I love about being on the south side of the equator is that technically we can wear trend in the right season MONTHS before those up in the northern hemisphere can. It's very easy if you know what you're doing.
Because events such as NYFW occur a good six months before the season they are actually show for, Designers of more frequent collections in Australia (say bardot, Sportsgirl, Dotti, Lorna Jane, Portmans etc etc) can wrap their heads around a trend in much less time then the year long design-to-store cycle that the big labels have. Thus resulting in that must have new trend on the catwalks yesterday -personally, I am awkwardly giggling at the cute owl hats on the runway at Anna Sui, while secretly loving them- being in stores and available within a few months, and just in time for our Autumn! (I don't think I'll find owl hats though, sadface.)
This also works amazingly to increase the longevity of items in your wardrobe. If you get an idea of what they're wearing next season, months in advance, you'll find that fashions tend to peak about a year after they creep in. First year around, things like high waists, bold shoulders and even the recent peter pan collars were on the back burner while people looked at them and thought "Oh my god, really??" While somewhere between six months to a year later, they're back with a vengeance as people come around to the idea. The more you see models and advertisements with something, the more you'll find you want it as it tricks you into thinking everyone is wearing it. In reality, it's only the few who are ahead of the ball that are.
Just for shits and giggles, owl hat!

Source: Style.com

Sportsgirl introduce 'window shopping'

How's this for something new and nifty? Sportsgirl have come up with an innovative and new way to shop their collections by just looking at a window (well almost).
Using QR codes, you simply scan the code correlating to the item you want with your smartphone, it then whips you to a site where you can add to bag and purchase. Too easy!
While it's only available at the rather trendy store in Chapel Street Melbourne for now, there are plans to set it up at random spots throughout the country, with the idea that this will make the flagship store range available to a wider audience.
Also yay, I hear that there's a special gift with each mobile order!

Has anyone given this a go? Let me know what you think in the comments!

Bake it! White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies

Something a little different to read.

I made these up for a friend of mine who mentioned that you really can't go wrong with them, It was her Birthday on Thursday and I stupidly forgot that she wasn't coming in to work that day. Silly me, she had told me last week. They were enjoyed none the less by everyone else, especially my boss who ate a quarter of them himself before I had to tell him to share! I couldn't find a recipe in my books so I mangled one I already knew.
Follow the jump for the method!

Incoming: Ladylike Glam Pieces

This is one of those trends that hides in the background for a few seasons before coming back with a bang. Prada did some beautiful frocks a few years ago that evoked a very classy fifties feeling, and the accessories -particularly handbags- have been slowly taking on the look.

Must have piece one: The structured handbag.
I did post about this a little while ago, anyone remember this bag I stalked for weeks? To help bring this look to life, a structured handbag is going to be the quickest and most worthy investment, look for details like a top handle, a twist or kiss lock of some description and a solid shape.
If you want to go completely on trend with the new season, I love this bag by Mimco. The texture and colour-blocking are brilliant.

After something more cheap chic? Dotti has this cute little magenta number, while Ooh la la from Myer has some gorgeous styles.

Click through for piece two!

Shopper of the year competition

I have to say I am rather cut that they have chosen four locations for this competition, and only spread them between Sydney and Melbourne. But check it out.
They're going to let 200 shoppers on the loose in DFO locations with $200 up their sleeves. They then have 45 minutes to race about DFO and put together an outfit with the money they have been given, best two outfits chosen on the day are crowned finalists and will have their outfits posted online for voting to choose the ultimate winner of $5,000 and the title of Shopper of the Year.
If I could justify it, I'd fly down and do it, but unfortunately it just skips the days I'm already in Melbourne in march by just two days, sadface.

Check it out online for more information and to sign up here.

Grammy fashion WTF: The gun arm accessory?

I'm going to go out on a limb here and possibly be one of the only people in the world who utterly loves the cyborg armour that Russian singer Sasha Gravida wore to the Grammys. How insane!
I get that people are just going to sit there and caw about how she's just trying to grab attention and Gaga has been doing it for years and blah blah blah. Personally I think this works for me because I've always had an interest in anime and video-games. I would've styled it with a much tougher outfit, the pink froth is a little too much of a juxtaposition for me.
A few years ago there was a fashion trend toward armour but it never really went anywhere, I recall jeans with shiny, armoured plates on this shins, they weren't very washer friendly. Perhaps this is a revival? Wearing a single glove was ridiculed when Michael Jackson did it but it is an iconic moment in fashion.

Loving this week: Finishing touches

I'm going gaga over all the new styles coming out, February and August are two of my favourites months of the year as the new seasons come into store with full force after the sales. Epic.
One of the things I am loving is all the opulent fur details. Even better, they are so easy to add to clothes you already have for a cheap and chic update to last years numbers.
In my opinion, you can't go wrong with neutral and natural colours and prints, think fawns, camels, browns, they will last you years longer in the style stakes then a some of the neons out there. Check out this gorgeous set from ASOS at under $10AU each! (One pair of cuffs or the collar).

If you're looking a little more local, you can also pick up some cut as fur collars from Sportsgirl at the moment, The jewel tones are incredibly glamorous and will work quite well with heaps of different hues for colour blocking. You can pull the look together with one of the matching felt fedoras to instantly finish an outfit and keep warm.

Sportsgirl Panamas and Fur stoles

Splurge vs Steal: Glitter Booties

Looks like I'm not the only one who fell in love with the glittery take on shoes released by Miu Miu last year. I also can't be the only one who cannot quite justify the price-tag!

Glitter is a weakness of mine that harks back too a childhood where I wasn't allowed to get too messy, and glitter was considered something heinous to clean up. These shoes will quickly add a bit of oomph to your outfit for the new season, and bootie styles will be your best style friend. I'm going to wear mine with both jeans and shorts skirts with tights for winter.

Supermarket Chic: Dove triple moisturising shower cream

There are some things in the beauty cupboard that I just can't justify spending a wad of cash on, especially when they're just going to be going down the drain within seconds of you using them. Shower gels are one such product.  It's still not necessarily a case of the cheaper the better as some cheap brands can be little more then detergent and fragrance, even though they boast of their moisturising properties, you still want to treat your skin with love.
One of my favourites would have to be Dove's Triple moisturising shower cream, it lathers up nicely for a clean feeling, has a nice subtle fragrance that suits any season and leaves skin feeling neutral instead of squeaky clean, (squeaky clean is bad you know!) The moisturisers are amazing too, it's not quite at a level where you could skip using actual moisturiser afterwards, but your skin will feel softened and pampered.
Check it out at your local and pop one in your trolley.

Bargain hunting 101:

I have a cool site for al the bargainistas out there, I've only just started playing with it myself but I think it's going to be indispensable with my involuntary budgeting.
Shoppingnotes.com is a tool you can use to help you get your coveted item as soon as the price drops, you just enter in the URL of the item you're lusting after, as well as your email address and you're done! There is also a handy button you can install into your browser so you don't have to keep coming back to the site for every item you find. I've been using it in particular with my investment pieces, Because nothing beats knowing that you got that amazing bag for an equally impressive price.
Too easy! Check it out here.

Recap: January 2012

Wear it first:

Twin bag Trend

Wish granted: 

De-Slick in a Tube

Cheeks to die for: 

Benefit Hervana

Make it flattering: 

Quick fix a bad neckline

What stories did you enjoy this month?