M&Co Style Challenge | Petite Flapper Dress*

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When I was asked to take part in M&Co's style challenge with this gorgeous flapper dress, all I could feel was excited about being able to recreate an outfit from one of my favourite films, the Great Gatsby. Also, any brand that has a petite section always gets a big thumbs up from me, so for those who weren't aware of this, do check out M&Co's Petite Section!

I just love how fun flapper dresses are. Don't you just want to shake around when you've got one on? I didn't want to accessorise this dress too much because let's be honest, the fringing and gorgeously embellished neckline do all the talking! But no flapper dress outfit is complete without some pearls. Although the flapper dress would have looked great at it's usual length, for my own frame, I thought it would be more flattering to shorten the dress a little bit by adding a belt. The great thing about the fringe is that it hides the belt rather well. With the party season coming up this is a fab addition to your wardrobe, and is an easy yet subtle way in making a bold fashion statement.

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Dress*: M&Co//HERE

Shoes: Ebay // HERE

Necklace: Ebay

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I hope you enjoyed this post! I know I enjoyed styling and twisting in this dress. Are you a fan of the 1920s style?

Take care and speak soon!

☺

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The Fifth Watches - Rose Gold & Peach and 10% Discount Code

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I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend! This week I am sharing a little something I treated myself to a couple of months ago but have only just had the time to post about it. I'm not usually a big wearer of accessories but I do love simple stylish pieces. As soon as I saw my friend wearing this watch I instantly fell in love. I love the feminine colours and the simplicity of the design. 

The Fifth Watches have quite an interesting business concept. Their watches are sold on the 5th of every month and are only available for sale for five days. Although I paid a little bit more than I usually would have liked to (~£80) as I am such a bargain lover:p I definitely think this purchase was worth the money, especially seeing as though I needed a new watch. Or may I am just making excuses to justify it haha. In any case I am so so glad I bought this new time piece. It's a perfect addition to any outfit and just so beautiful I can't stop looking at it! At first I was worried that it would look to big on my wrist because I have quite little arms/hands/wrists but I don't think it looks too bad. And yes, the first time I wore this watch (as shown in the picture above) I did leave the plastic on the watch as I was worried I would scatch it:p 

Here are a couple of the stats for this rose gold watch: 316L Stainless Steel Bezel, Hardened Mineral Crystal Lens, Japanese Quartz Movement, Water Resistant 5ATM, Face Diameter 43.0mm & Case Thickness 7.8mm. 

I hope you guys liked reading this post! Here's a 10% discount code on your purchase, just type in "Izzy" at the check out. Are you a big watch wearer? What is your favourite accessory?

Take care, speak soon and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

☺
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Travelling Essentials

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I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! Thank you so much for welcoming me back to the blogging community with all your lovely comments on my last outfit post HERE. Anyway as promised, this post will be about my travels. I travelled around China, Indonesia and Malaysia, and to say it wasn't eventful would be lying. It was an incredible experience and I did learn a lot through mistakes but also through meeting new people. So I thought I would kick off my travelling posts with a list of travelling essentials, and also share a few snaps that I took (you can see some more on my Instagram page - HERE). 

As I only travelled around some parts of Asia, some important things such as vaccinations may more applicable to other countries, however, the majority of those listed below should be taken into account if you are planning to go travelling. So, here goes.

Summer Blues #31 (Smart Casual/Date)

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It's been a while...How was your Summer? I got back from travelling not that long ago so am definitely experiencing a severe bout of Summer blues. But I just want to thank you guys for sticking around, I really appreciate it! My next post will be about my travels, but I thought I would kick start my return with one of my favourite kind of posts, a fashion inspiration post. 

Coming back to the UK from hot countries was hard. I mean I love being back at home but I am still missing those summer days. So much that I am still in denial that it's over, and have gone on to reflect that in this post's outfit.

If you've been a regular reader of my blog, you may recognise some of the pieces used in this outfit. Apart from the coat, I have blogged about everything else featured in this post. I do think that there's not always a need to go shopping for a new outfit. I mean I'd love to as I do get such an adrenaline rush and get so excited. But in reality is it really necessary? We have so many pieces in our wardrobes already that are waiting to be paired.

Although the blue and white might be seen as a more 'cool' coloured combination, I think the length of the skirt, the crisp white cami and the wedges give off that summer vibe.  Because it is the UK where it does tend to feel a lot cooler, I did pair this outfit with a gorgeous pale pink coat. It's not made of wool so it would explain the £28.45 price tag (although it's gone up to £31.05 now) but it does have that kind of feel and is quite warm. To finish the look I just kept it simple with a heart necklace and a powder blue clutch.

Cigarette Trousers | Outfit Inspiration #30 (Business/Work)

(I'll be travelling from 29 July so I am really sorry for the lack of updates! But I can't wait to show you all the pictures when I get back! Take care and speak soon :))

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How are you all? I hope you've all had a fantastic week! First, I'm glad you guys liked the Oreo Browie recipe and for those who made it I hope it tasted even better than it looked! Second, I just wanted to thank Emma from Essays and Wine for nominating me for "Best Up and Coming Fashion Blog" at the Bloggers Blog Awards! I never thought I would be nominated for something like that, and am just so flattered to have been nominated in the first place. Thank you so much not just for Emma's love but for all of my readers! I really appreciate all the feedback and love you give me :) If you're interested in voting, you can vote HERE but honestly a nomination is already more than I could have ever asked for!

Anyway this week I am sharing an outfit containing something I never thought I would wear: Cigarette Trousers/Pants as an alternative to usual suit pants. I have worn the 'traditional' suit trouser before but didn't really feel that they were very flattering on my body type, and definitely looked as though I had invaded my mum's wardrobe. Like always, for anyone, especially petites finding trousers can be difficult so it was ages before I found these. They are actually slightly too long at the trouser leg but I can alter that quite easily. Unfortunately these exact ones have sold out but you can find alternatives on ebay here.

Of course I couldn't pair a business/work inspired outfit without my trusty black heels and prada look-alike bag, which I have also featured in my Channelling Rachel Zane post. I think these cigarette pants paired with some pointy black heels makes for a formidable and professional looking outfit. Who says you can't be stylish in a business environment? 

As it was my first time trying these kind of pants, I wanted to wear something a bit more simple on the top, just so I wouldn't be drawing too much attention to myself:p A plain blue shirt is the perfect way to keep a look more toned down without being too dull. It really is a fantastic alternative to the classic white or black shirt!

I hope you guys enjoyed this post, I'm really sorry that there aren't as many pictures or the post is a little short! Packing has been on my mind the past couple of days as I am going travelling for just over month on the 29th eek! So excited! But it means that I won't be able to post for the next month :( I hope you guys will wait for me to get back, and if you're interested you can follow my travels on Instagram (instagram.com/lifeasapetite)! 

Oreo Brownies Recipe

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I hope you're all having a wonderful week! This week, as part of British Lion Eggs egg recipe campaign, I am getting my baking hat on and trying the infamous 'Slutty Brownie' Recipe. This was actually concocted by Rosie from The Londoner a couple of years back (here), and I thought I would try it out myself!  We all deserve a little indulgence once in a while, and these brownies are the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth! 

What you will need

2 Eggs

2 Packets of Oreos

Oil

Water

1 Box of Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

1 Box of Betty Crocker Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix

A baking tray (or an oven friendly bowl)

Spatula

Mixing Spoon

Knife

Mixing Bowl

Measuring Jug or Tablespoons

Once you have all the required ingredients, go ahead and follow the instructions on the back of the Cookie and Brownie Mix boxes. You can easily make these mixes from scratch, but if you want to save a little bit of time, these mixes are perfect and do the job just nicely.

First, preheat the oven to 180°C or Gas Mark 4.

Begin by making the cookie mix by pouring it into a mixing bowl. Then add 25ml water (~2tbsp), 65ml oil (~4tbsp) and an egg, and mix it all together.  (I had to add the picture of the pig below because...just how cute is my spatula...anyway back to the recipe).

Le Pont de la Tour Review | lifeasapetite

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How are we all? I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I was glued to the TV all weekend watching Wimbledon! Anyway this week I have another Restaurant Review, and this time I tried something French: Le Pont de la Tour Bar & Grill. Luckily J and I managed to catch the 3 course & a cocktail for £20 pp offer, which is an incredible price! Unfortunately they no longer run this offer but there are a couple of other offers available on Bookatable/Open Table if you wanted to give this restaurant a try!

Le Pont de la Tour is a D&D restaurant, which stands for Des Gunewardena and MD David Loewi who led the buyout of Conran Restaurants in September 2006. As I have mentioned in most of my other Restaurant Reviews, my dining experience isn't just about the food, it is about the atmosphere and the decor. As this restaurant is situated along the River Thames, the atmosphere and view is gorgeous, thus making it a perfect spot for a romantic dinner! J and I took this opportunity to enjoy a lovely meal whilst watching the sun set! As for the decor, I really love how Le Pont de la Tour included little snippets of France, such as the addition of this bicycle and wooden plaque. 

Monochrome Double Layered Dress | Outfit Inspiration #29

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Did you have a good weekend? I can't believe it's July already! Have you guys been watching Wimbledon or enjoying the lovely weather? Thank you for all your lovely comments on my last post (HERE). I am glad to have been able to introduce you to some fun opera :) Anyway, this week I am sharing another outfit post with one of my new favourite things, double layered dresses!

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you'll know that I am a lover of simple pieces. Those that already speak for themselves and do not require much, if not anything, additional. This is not only because I believe that less is more, but also because I am quite hopeless at accessorising, and this dress is definitely a reflection of my style.

The pattern here is enough to give this dress the attention it deserves and doesn't require any extra accessorising at all. I usually shy away from patterned pieces as I find that they usually look quite unflattering on me. For some reason, however, I really like this patterned dress! Maybe because it is quite simplistic, or maybe because I am a huge fan of the monochromatic look. Either way, I love this new addition to my wardrobe! 

From my last outfit post (HERE) it is probably quite evident that I do love a bit of layering, so it is no surprise that I love double layered dresses. Because of the t-shirt crop top, I find this kind of dress very flattering and also gives the illusion of a slimmer waistline. I also love one pieces like this because you don't have to rack your brain trying to figure out what top will go with what skirt/trousers. So basically this a pretty stress free yet stylish outfit! 

I actually managed to snap this dress up for £9.99 from Shelikes on Ebay (I will link it below). What a bargain! The material is not too thick or too thin, meaning it is perfect for the hot weather we have been having lately. If there is one thing I wish this dress had, it would be a cut out back. I just love pieces with a cut out detailing as I think it is such a subtle way in showing some skin without being too revealing. But for the price and how gorgeous this dress is, it is only a very small point! 

As there was already so much going on with the dress I just paired it with my favourite ankle strap heels (also featured in my Tulle Outfit HERE), and a black clutch. If you wanted to glam this look up a bit more, some sparkly heels, or a sparkly clutch would go amazingly well too! 

English National Opera (ENO) - The Pirates of Penzance

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As some of you may know I am a massive music lover. I get totally lost in the moment when listening to certain songs/instrumentals. Opera isn't something I get to talk about very often, but it is something I enjoy. When you first come across opera, you either love it or hate it. I must say the first time I saw opera I was unsure, but eventually grew to enjoy and appreciate it. The singers just give me goosebumps, and the music takes me to another world! This post is written in collaboration with the English National Opera (ENO), and together with their new production of 'The Pirates of Penzenace', maybe it will help change your opinion on opera. 

A little bit about the ENO: It traces its roots back to 1931 when Lilian Baylis established the Sadler's Wells Opera Company and it was renamed the English National Opera in 1974. In 1984 it was also the first British opera company to tour the US. All their performances are in English which brilliant if you want to ease yourself into opera. The ENO are committed to creating new audiences by making their performances affordable and accessible to everyone, whilst at the same time collaborating with and providing new opportunities for new talent. 

From the poster above, you can already tell that The Pirates of Penzance seems rather quirky and fun, and that is exactly what it is. It is a comic opera, and was Gilbert & Sullivan's fifth collaboration. This fun production at the ENO will actually be BAFTA-award winner Mike Leigh's operatic directorial debut!  

As a brief overview, the story is based in Cornwall and follows Frederic (Robert Murray), a young pirate apprentice. Due to a misunderstanding by his nursery maid Ruth (Rebecca de Pont Davies) he was mistakenly placed into pirate apprenticeship. Although he despised the pirates' profession, he stayed on as he was bound by his sense of duty. He meets Mabel (Claudia Boyle), the daughter of Major-General Stanley (Andrew Shore), and they both fall in love. Frederic then finds that he was born on a leap year. This meant that he must remain as a pirate apprentice for another 63 years, until his actual 21st birthday. The only comfort he has is that Mabel has agreed to wait for him. 

Although I haven't seen this opera yet myself, having watched several of the videos from ENO's Youtube account, as well as reading up on the story, it is definitely something I would love to watch. If something has brilliant catchy music, I'm hooked instantly, but the costumes in this production are colourful and vibrant. What I love most is that this is a comic opera, it's always good to have a good giggle. Anyway below I just wanted to share with you all a couple of pictures from ENO's Facebook Page, and their trailer for this production. 

There are three remaining performances which you can see live at the London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, London, WC2N 4E on Saturday 27 June 2015 at 14:30 and 19:30, and also Saturday 4 July 2015 at 18:30. If you are looking for something new to experience and want to have a laugh in a gorgeously decorated location this just might be what you need!

I hope you guys enjoyed this collaborated post :) Have you any of you seen The Pirates of Penzance, or any opera? If so, what has been your favourite? If not, would you like to get into it?

Take care and speak soon!

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Layers & Asymmetry | Outfit Inspiration #28

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I hope you've all had a terrific week! It's been pretty decent the past couple of days (I hope it holds up!) and I wanted to share with you an outfit I wore a couple of days ago. This white on white outfit is a perfect way to welcome the warmer weather, and keep cool. This outfit is bascially the exact opposite of the more casual version I posted HERE. I hope you enjoy! 

I had been looking for a white cami for ages but could not find anything that fitted my requirements. Requirements? What kind of requirements would a white cami need apart from being white and strappy?...Haha I can completely understand if it all seems quite silly but I wanted one that was chiffon and layered, too much to ask for? Possibly as none of my searches were unsuccessful, but then I found this beauty on Missguided. The downside is that it is quite long as you can see in the picture above...I can basically wear it as a dress! Also, it is slightly on the sheer side for me, so nude underwear it is. But I wanted to use that asymmetrical layering to my advantage by tucking it into the skort, making it look like a shorter cami. I was pretty chuffed with the result as it didn't look to shabby!

I absolutely adore this cream faux leather skort. I was never too keen on the usual white skort with the split of the two sides slap bang in the middle as I thought it looked a little odd and wouldn't suit me. I preferred something that was a little off centre. It took me absolutely ages to find this skort, and when I did they didn't have my size...typical! Anyway, after a good few months it finally came back in stock! I really like how it is cream as it makes a good contrast with the white cami in material and in colour. It costed £20 which is a little more than what I would have wanted to pay, but seeing as though I had been looking for something like this for ages I thought I might as well, rather than waste time finding something else. Apart from the price, another downside with this skort is that, because it is faux leather it's not that breathable, so I wouldn't recommend wearing this if you're going to end up being sweaty haha. 

Now, this jacket...ahhh what can I say other than I am in love! I was browsing for pale pink blazers as I only own black/grey (how summery haha) and found this gorgeous piece on Debenhams' website. It was the exact colour I wanted it too be, not too pink, was petite-sized and had zips! (I am a little obsessed with things that have a zip at the moment haha) But it was £55...I really liked it but didn't see how I could part with that kind of money. So I decided to wait and see whether it would drop in price, and kept browsing. It so happened that one day I clicked on the bookmark I had made for this jacket (who doesn't bookmark things they love?) and Debenhams had a sale whoop! It fell to £25! You'd probably think that's not a huge fall but to me it was and I felt justified, rightly or not, in purchasing it, and I am so happy I did. It's such a great colour for the summer, and just dresses any outfit up, like any blazer would. 

So below are just a couple of snaps with the blazer on. I just finished the look off with my powder blue clutch and some strappy heels. I managed to buy them for £15, down from £30, oh yeah! In a way I wish I had purchased heels with a thinner strap as I'm not sure whether they 'cut' my ankle too drastically, but then again the gold looks quite snazzy, doesn't it? They are out of stock at the moment but I will link it down below just in case they come back into stock.

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Outfit Details:

Blazer: Debenhams

Heels: Missguided // HERE [Similar]

Skort: Missguided // HERE

Asymmetric Cami: Missguided // HERE

Clutch: New Look

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I hope you guys liked this outfit :) What are your thoughts on skorts? What are your go to summer outfits?

Enjoy the rest of your day, and have a fantastic week ahead! Take care and speak soon!

☺

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