Let's be honest, getting our nails done is expensive. Whether we're getting acrylics, gels, or just a normal manicure, most of us cannot afford to do it regularly. Does that mean we have to give up on having beautiful nails though? Of course not.
For me, what is important is finding a cheap alternative – something I can do myself that will still have a professional finish. I know a lot of people don't like to do their own nails, but honestly, practice makes perfect.
There are so many nail varnish brands out there to choose from that it can be a little overwhelming. I would always recommend finding a happy medium between price and quality because it's generally not worth spending very little if the quality is non-existent. My favourite brand for a long while has been Essie, and I swear by them. I find their nail polishes very easy to apply, they have a beautiful finish, and they usually last longer than some of the cheaper brands.
Essie Gel Couture in Sizzling Hot
Recently, my mum introduced me to their Gel Couture Collection. I personally think it is a nice, simple two-step system that guarantees professional, shiny looking nails that last considerably longer than the normal polishes. They have over 100 colours available and all it takes is two coats of whatever colour you have chosen, plus one coat of the platinum grade finish top coat.
In terms of pricing for the Gel Couture, Boots and Superdrug both sell the varnishes and top coats for £9.99 each. It's very reasonable and I definitely think it is worth the money. The colours available are all beautiful and the top coat really does give them an amazing shine. The last time I painted mine, they lasted over a week, which is pretty amazing for something done at home.
I would definitely recommend giving the Gel Couture a try!
Anxiety is something that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. Whether it is part of daily life or something that happens occasionally, I think we can all say that it is not a pleasant feeling. For some, it is a mere irritation, but for others, it can feel like it controls them and everything they do.
I started developing anxiety as a disorder shortly before my seventeenth birthday. I was suffering awfully with depression and it sort of came as a package deal for me. To begin with, it wasn't that bad. Then later, once I began suffering with anorexia, it became significantly worse.
Going to school became a major struggle for me. It wasn't just the pressure of my A-Levels that was getting to me – it was everything. Getting up in the morning felt like an impossible task, and the thought of leaving the house to face the day? Impossible.
I remember one day getting out of bed at about 11am and deciding that I wanted to try going to school. I was shaking terribly when I got there. The room felt too loud and echoey, it felt like the walls were closing in, and there were just too many people. I managed to get to my first lesson, where my teacher then announced without any warning that I was going to sit a mock exam. I broke down in tears and told her I couldn't do it – I just couldn't cope with the situation at all.
Over the years, my anxiety has come and gone. Sometimes it will be so bad that I can't leave the house to go to work. I missed so many lectures during my time at university because of it and I know that without it I probably could have done much better in some of my classes. However, other days it doesn't bother me at all.
My anxiety is generally linked to stress. If I find a situation or a place stressful, then I can guarantee that my anxiety will come back with a vengeance. The problem is that I need to learn how to handle stress in order to get a hold of my anxiety, but I have no one to help me. The NHS (the UK National Health Service) won't offer me counselling and I can't afford to pay for private insurance. I know how lucky I am to be in a country where there is free healthcare, but I also believe that there is not enough money invested in mental health.
What worries me the most is the future. If I never receive any help, then I might never get better. I know that I will cope because it has been five years and I am still here fighting, alive and mostly well. However, I am constantly worried about losing my job because of the amount of time I have to take off sick. I am lucky that my bosses are very understanding, but I won't be in this job forever and it might not always be the case. I worry for my future and my stability.
Living with anxiety is not easy and I often find that it involves being stuck in an ongoing cycle of relapse and recovery. I do believe that if we talk about it more and continue to raise awareness of it and the issues that occur because of it, things will get better in time. People need more help in finding coping mechanisms to deal with their stress and anxiety and they need others to be educated in how to be supportive when they are suffering, such as workplaces, schools, universities, and parents.
Education is key, I believe, as is the need for discussion. Sharing our experiences with others can reduce the feeling of isolation and it can help us learn from one another. None of us are alone. There is always someone out there who can relate to us and someone who can help us.
So, as a final little message, if you are going through a hard time, please remember that you are not alone and that there are people you can reach out to for help. Don't give up. Keep fighting.
The Teddy jacket is probably one of the most fashionable items this A/W season. It is a must-have in everyone's wardrobe. I have seen it in so many colours, which is great because it allows you to wear it in so many different ways. It's very versatile because you can dress it up and dress it down. It suits with most pairs of jeans and there's no reason why you can't wear it with a dress or skirt too.
My teddy jacket is from Urban Outfitters (£75) and I got it in the pink, which I believe is unfortunately sold out now. However, you can still purchase it in this luscious green, which I personally think is to die for. It is also available in other colours in the cropped version.
My favourite way to pair the jacket is to wear it with jeans for a relaxed, comfortable, but still stylish look. You can really wear it with whatever styled jeans you like, but since MOM jeans are generally my favourite, that's what I tend to wear.
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One thing I would warn about this particular jacket is that you can feel the wind through it, so if it is a particularly cold day, I would definitely recommend layering it underneath.
You can purchase teddy jackets in most high street shops, including Topshop, River Island, and New Look.
Louis Tomlinson has been one of my idols for years now, and I have always loved his street style. It's not that he dresses in a particularly stylish way, but he pulls it off every single time, no matter what. This effortlessness is something that I envy and something that I think most of us put a lot of effort into (ironically) achieving. We try hard to make it look like we haven't tried at all.
After rummaging through my closet, which is admittedly filled with a lot more Adidas since Louis entered my life, I found a few pieces that looked Louis-esque. I thought it would be fun to try them out and they actually turned out to be a pretty close match to Louis' own outfits.
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I don't think I'll be dressing like this every day, mostly because I love my skirts and dresses too much, but Louis' affinity for joggers and sweatshirts is definitely something I can get behind!
Skinnydip London is probably my new favourite brand. There's something so unique and fresh about them. I love how playful and youthful their fashion accessories are and I really think they have the ability to totally transform our outfits.
The company sells: bags, purses, phone cases, sunglasses, clothing, jewellery, stationary, and a number of other items. It's all very fun and cutesy and sometimes even a little wacky. The majority of it is very colourful with cool patterns and designs and some awesome slogans. There are so many items that I am dying to order. My wish list just seems to be ongoing at this point.
That being said, here are some of my absolute faves (in no particular order):
The great thing about Skinnydip, aside from the fact that all their products are freaking awesome, is that they are also amazing value. So, go crazy in Skinnydip and make sure to check out all their new Disney collab stuff because that's super duper cute!
Remember that if you share pics of how you are styling your Skinnydip accessories, use #skinnydiplondon
When I am shopping, I always try to find things that I can wear throughout the year because money is pretty tight for me and I have very limited wardrobe space. My style has always been pretty girly, so it is important to me that I have a few skirts and dresses in my collection. Recently, when shopping in York, I found the perfect ditzy tea dress, which has quickly become a staple in my wardrobe. It can be styled in different ways to fit the season. I have chosen a few different looks for Autumn, adding thick woollen socks, a jumper and a cardigan.
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If it's feeling extra chilly, add a leather jacket or maybe even a teddy jacket. Coloured woollen tights are also a great idea if you want to brighten up your look!
I first found The 1975 on Tumblr in late 2013, which is kind of ironic because in a recent interview with The New York Times, Matty Healy claimed, "We're the Tumblr band, really, in every sense." Audios of 'Chocolate', 'Girls', and 'Sex'were constantly on my dashboard and it seemed like everyone was completely infatuated with the band, both musically and, of course, aesthetically.
It was exciting for me because before discovering The 1975 I had never really had much interest in music. I enjoyed the occasional song from a movie soundtrack or from a television show, but I did not tend to listen to entire albums and I was never exactly a fangirl. I suppose that what I was missing was a connection.
Just before I turned seventeen, I fell into a pretty serious, life-threatening depression. Music suddenly had a whole new meaning for me. I felt incredibly lonely and isolated, misunderstood, and in so much pain that I had no idea how to cope. Music became a sort of life-line for me.
The 1975's debut album became my best friend. Going to school was impossible for me, despite being smack-bam in the middle of my final year of A-Levels. No one visited me at home and I was mostly left by my family to work through my pain alone. So, I stayed in bed all day every day with my earphones in and The 1975 on repeat.
I became obsessed with their EP 'Facedown' and watched the music videos on YouTube more times than I can count. I had pretty awful insomnia and the black and white theme and haunting atmosphere, particularly of the 'Facedown' and 'Antichrist' music videos, felt sort of poetic and I was convinced that they must have understood how I was feeling because the visuals were like something I had painted in my head.
I am notorious for fads and obsessions and they rarely last in their intensity, even if I can usually count on them returning, but my love of The 1975 has never really faded. They have been a sort of constant in my life for the past five years.
The great thing about The 1975 is that they always seem to be evolving, changing in their own way while simultaneously staying exactly the same. I remember listening to their second album for the first time, laying on my bed in my American dorm room during my year abroad, and just listening to the whole thing with my eyes closed. It was like being transported back in time to a place of safety and comfort, but also like travelling somewhere new and exciting.
About a year after the second album was released, 'Loving Someone' became particularly important to me after coming to the realisation that I was a member of the LGBTQ+ community. That is one things that I love about The 1975 – all of their songs help me in different ways because they touch on so many different important topics. They never shy away from the controversial subjects and they use their platform to raise awareness for major issues.
The 'Love It If We Made It' music video, which was released 15th October 2018, is probably the best example of this to date. Video footage from multiple organisations aided in their attempt at displaying how truly f*cked up the world has become and how vital is the need for change.
I am proud to be a fan of The 1975 and I am extremely excited to listen to their third album, 'A BRIEF INQUIRY INTO ONLINE RELATIONSHIPS,' which is set for release 30th November 2018. There is no doubt in my mind that it will be just as epic and groundbreaking as their first two albums and I absolutely cannot wait to see them live in London in January 2019.
