October Favourites

Happy Halloweeeen! It's the end of the month so its time for some monthly favourites. I want to start out by saying THANK YOU. At the start of this month I hit 100,000 views on this little old blog - that is huge and I can't believe that so many people have clicked to come over and read what I write. Now on to the beauty, everything I mention in this post has been talked about on my blog or on instagram, I haven't really tried many things that are new due to been busy with my head in books... 

L'Oreal True Match (find full review here) - Since trying out the new formula of this foundation I have been hooked and refuse to try out anything else. I am that obsessed that I already have a bottle in reserve for when I run out oops. Everything about it is just perfect, the consistency is much better than the first time around, it doesn't cling on to the dry patches and it lasts all day. I do have to powder but that's just oil that collects on my face. It works so well in the winter I hope its the same in the summer as well. p.s did you know that L'oreal posted my image of the foundation on their instagram and twitter?

Seventeen Falsifeye Mascara (full review here) - A new discover this month for me but a very good one. This mascara gives my lashes the effect of wearing false lashes but doesn't take the time or the effort. The wand has two sides and a cone so I can get every single lash n my lid, without having to find too many funny faces.

Maybelline Midnight Red - Where do I even begin with this colour, it is my new go to autumnal colour. I have reapplied it every single time I have gone to paint my toes or fingers. It lasts forever, with no chips even with all the washing up I have been doing! And the colour is one that everyone seems to like not just me!

Maybelline Divine Wine (full post here) - I once heard that having matching lips and nails was a big no no but I say yes yes. I think it looks a lot better if its all matching and what better to match my nail colour with then a berry lipstick! Divine Wine is a gorgeous colour that applies like butter to the lips and lasts all day, I am not a eye makeup wearer so this lip colour did scare me at first but with lovely bronzed skin it looks great.

Wet n Wild Cinnamon Spice - Another lipstick because who can only use one?! This is a pretty similar colour to the maybelline one but it isn't as red and more purple toned. Which does make it easier to wear as more things go with it. The formula of these aren't as creamy but just as matter and long lasting. Even though it does bleed a fair bit.


Food
I always love so much food but never have evidence to show you, the first thing I have loved this month is green tea! It was a thing that I loved a while back and then went off it and now i love it again! I drink a cup as and when I can and it gives me a boost of energy like a cup of tea would. I am also loving the Starbucks PSL, but this is a reoccurring favourite of mine and a lot of people don't like it but I like the spicy and sweet together.
Areo chocolate is another obsession of mine, mainly the mint one I could eat a large bag all by myself if I had the chance. Also, cereal bars have been a life saver. I keep one in my bag and then during the day when I get peckish they come in handy - the Alpen ones are great!

Candle

This is a new candle love! I can't have them at university and it is killing me every day but when I come home I am always lighting this one that I spotted in Asda. It smells good enough that you want to eat it. At first it is a bit sickly like most of their sweet ones are but afterwards it smells like gooey marshmallows on top of the fire and similar to fireside treats but slightly sweeter.

What have you been loving this month/week/day?

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Halloween Preparation - Pumpkin Carving

It's Halloween Tomorrow! 
I'm not a person who goes out anymore, infact I am spending tomorrow baking cupcakes - yum! But I do love decorating the outside and my university flat is currently full of spider decorations and banners. This weekend I have come home and love getting the outside of the house decorated, and one thing we don't do enough is pumpkin carving!

I jumped at the chance to get my creative juices flowing and thanks to the lovely people over at GrownWithLove I was sent a amazing pumpkin to carve out of and after spending hours on Pinterest looking for ideas. I saw an idea of adding fangs which you cut out from the mouth piece, not as easy as it looks but still do able as you can see above.

Some helpful hints for carving a scary face is to draw your design on faintly with a pen and then cut, it makes it easier to see where to cut it. Use a large spoon to scrape out the middle not your hands. Take out and use a variety of knifes and tools, carving kits are out there to buy but just use knives!

Overall, I am pretty pleased with the result of this pumpkin! My dad helped me to put this creature together and its not bad at all. Now it needs a name...any suggestions?

Are you doing any Halloween preparation today?! 

*This delightful pumpkin was sent to me, but all the carving and sweat was my own*

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Naked Noodle Review

Living at university is great, but one thing I struggle with has to be food. I like cooking everything fresh, so much so that I don't own a space in the freezer as I don't need it. It does get hard at times because the option of having a takeaway is always there - mainly Domino's. Who can resist when its 50% off? If it isn't pizza then it's Chinese which is just as worse. 

But its all ok because Naked Noodle exists - a brand that has created different flavored noodles that are healthy, tasty and inexpensive! I got the chance to review their Snack Pots and Stir Fry Range and after basically eating nothing but noodles for the past week I am slightly in love and ready to report back. As far as packaging goes it definitely entices you the images of the noodles look tempting and the coloured lids match the rest of the packaging. 

Naked Noodle Snack Pots

The snack pots are great for a quick lunch especially if you have like 15 minutes and need to hurry, there are 8 flavours in the range and I have highlighted the ones I have tried in bold - Thai Sweet Chilli, Cantonese Hoisin Duck, Malaysian Laksa, Thai Tom Yum, Vietnamese Beef Pho, Japanese Teriyaki, Singapore Curry & Chinese Chow Mein. 

One thing I love about all of the Naked Noodle range is that it is all suitable for vegetarians (full list of ingredients here)! This sold me straight away. They are also really easy to make, boil the kettle, pour the water up to the fill line, leave for 4 minutes, stir & enjoy! As it sits to rest the smell of the pot fills the room. 

Singapore Curry -  This pot is by far the most flavour filled one. As soon as you eat a spoonful you are hit with lots of different spices. The main ones been ginger and garlic and then something else came through to me after wards and that was a hint of chilli - it was odd because the three main ingredients are so simple yet powerful and delicious. 

Thai Tom Yum - This was a weird one for me to try, as I''m not the biggest fan of Thai food, however these noodles taste like sweet and sour that you order from the takeaway. It's chilli yet has a tomato base and the mix is amazing. Then a hint of sourness comes through from the lime which put me off at first but I gave it a stir and it was all good. This has a good kick to it though so be warned if yo try it and aren't a fan of spicy because wow this got me at first. 

Thai Sweet Chilli - This one is my favourite of the three I tried. I am still dreaming about it now after eating it, it is good food in a pot. It has a slight kick of chilli in it and mixed with a tangy taste it is delicious. If you have ever tried any form of a sweet chilli sauce or crisps then you will love this its warming to mouth and perfect on a cold day. 

Stir Fry Packs

Then we have the food that looks and tastes absolutely delicious! These are just 1% fat and around 200 calories per pack - great for those of us on a restricted diet. The stir fry packs can be eaten on their own similar to the snack pots or as a side dish - I added some mushrooms to mine (favourite vegetable) and it was even nicer! I forgot to take pictures of my amazing meals for these, but have purchased some more so will take a picture and add it in as soon as I have had them - promise. 

They come in a range of flavours - Teriyaki, Singapore, Sweet Chilli Chicken, Chow Mein & Hoi Sin. Of the two I tried Teriyaki was my favourite added with mushrooms and some other random veg it was amazing and managed to fill me up - which noodles don't usually do! 

I highly recommend trying Naked Noodle if you get a chance university student or not they are amazing, cost next to nothing and well deserve love! You can find them at all major supermarkets at £1.20 for a the stir fry and £1.71 for the snack pots!  

 

*PR SAMPLES, ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN*

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India Fashion Week London

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When Fashion Week happens around the world I love seeing what things are on the catwalk and coming into trend next season. This year I heard about the India Fashion Week that was taking place in London and was all ready to go until some unforeseen circumstances happened and I had to cancel - but next year I shall go! Even though I wasn't there physically, I kept up with images and updates from the event and gazed at all the gorgeous outfits. Here is some more information about the star studded event and what went down...(via a press release from IFWL)

A late Indian summer crept into London this October 2015 with the launch of the first ever India Fashion Week London and a celebration of South Asian fashion with the 10 year anniversary of The National Asian Wedding Show at the ExCel London.The inaugural fashion week was opened by DJ Neev Spencer and Presenter Sonali Shah, both ambassadors of the British Asian Trust who came to show their enthusiasm for the growth of Asian fashion in the UK market. United in their appreciation of South Asian fashion, Spencer and Shah featured on the catwalk alongside former Miss India and Bollywood beauty Ms Neha Dhupia. Ms Dhupia rocked the IFWLondon catwalk in a Payal Singhal black cropped poncho, the border of which was lined with detailed gold work, and a nude pink lehenga skirt.
Ms Dhupia, who helped curate the event, said “my favourite moment was of course walking down the ramp in London for the first time as a showstopper and secondly cutting this really big cake – it was like five levels!” Without a doubt the National Asian Wedding Show spared no expense as it celebrated its 10 year anniversary with Ms Dhupia and STAR TV actress Pooja Gaur; its catwalk was litten up with an array of stunning bridal couture designs and fireworks displays that electrified a packed Sunday audience.
When asked about her views on South Asian fashion in India compared to the UK market, Ms Dhupia said “I feel like it has a lot of room to grow and fashion in India is way ahead. But the most important thing is it’s got a great audience filled with beautiful people who are very aware and fashion conscious. So it’s a work in progress and that’s where you have the National Asian Wedding show and of course India Fashion Week which can help to change everything”.
A sentiment echoed by the show’s organiser Manny Singh, Managing Director of the Platinum Group, who set out to revolutionise the South Asian fashion market in the UK by providing a platform for NEWGEN and British Asian designers through the inception of India Fashion Week London, “For the last decade the Indian fashion industry has moved from the embryonic stage to a globally respected powerhouse. Indian and British Asian fashion designers have contributed immensely to the spread of fashion as a driving force, both among Indian consumers and select segments of Western markets. Our market can now boast dozens of leading fashion designers, who can match any European fashion designer in their concepts, styles and designs.” said Mr Singh.
“Historically Eastern fashion has played second fiddle to a British Asian audience who have been heavily influenced by the west, but with the growth of western brands in India and mainstream British retailers introducing eastern tones and styles in their collections, we’ve discovered a host of designers who understand their collections need to be designed for a western mainstream audience. Gone are the days where an outfit can only be worn for one occasion, designers are producing outfits that can be mixed and matched with other garments and have the longeivity in a more mainstream wardrobe. India Fashion Week London and The National Asian Wedding Show brings these designs to the forefront under one roof and will educate the UK consumer about fresh, couture and fusion designs, whether they are Asian or not.”
In line with Singh’s objectives, IFWLondon and The National Asian Wedding Show played host to noted fashion designers Raishma Islam, Anjulee&Arjun Kapoor, Saloni Ruia, Ridhi Mehra as well as collections featured by Payal Singhal, Satya Paul, Neeta Lulla, Mansi Malhotra, Pavan&Pranav, Shyamal&Bhumika, Shantanu&Nikhil and Anushree Reddy. Many of whom were clearly inspired by British fashion throughout the ages, such as Raishma Islam’s Edwardian style jackets and Kaya Rajan’s use of bold coloured embroidered and lace braces.
Along with the multitude of fusion designers, the catwalks were home to international performing artist Bambi Bains, England Women’s Cricketer Isa Guha, former Desi Rascal Arshina Trivedi, and British singer Navin Kundra who delighted audiences as he delivered his own special fusion mix of John Legend’s “All of Me” in both English and Hindi.
Fashion enthusiast celebrities were out in full force both representing The British Asian Trust and to see the latest designs from these NEWGEN, British and Asian designers alike.In a crowd littered with familiar faces front rowers included Sky Desi Rascals reality TV stars Jo Shah, Moses Baig, Kavita Sodha and Schmoyel Zia Siddiqui, Indian television actor and host Karan Tacker, actress Amber Rose Revah, Miss London Supranational and model Katerina Christo, actress and model Sara Archer, model and fashion influencer Diipa Khosla, Zayn Malik’s sisters Doniya and Waliyha Malik, and Olympic medallist boxer Amir Khan’s sister and fashion influencer Mariyah Khan. 

I am a huge fan of Neha Dhupia and it has just been announced that she is the leading lady for the 2016 show! She was a previous winner of Miss India and has been in some Bollywood films one of which is Dus and that is one of my all time favourites! I love that Indian designers are been recognized by the world for their amazing work, outfits like the ones below are stunning and deserve to be showcased in a grand event. In the picture below of all the models I am slightly obsessed with the outfit on the far left (pink and gold) I am slightly obsessed with the design and it looks like a wonderful bridal outfit! 

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India Fashion Week 2016 will be 14-16th October Sign Up Here

 

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My Personal Planner

I am now a part of the amazing and crazy planner community. Yes it is a thing. For the past few months I have browsing Etsy and looking at all the amazing stickers you can buy for a planner but I didn't have a planner I was happy with. Something that was perfect for life, blogging and university. Until I came across Personal-Planner. And the next thing I know I made a purchase, created my own planner and constantly updated twitter about it coming to me (follow me @pariejoshi). I thought of giving you a little tour...

Personal-Planner let you personalise everything and anything so that the planner that you will be using is perfect for you. It starts with choosing the size, I went with A5 but there are other sizes as well, and I think they have a A4 coming too. Then you get to design you front cover, there are lots of patterns and designs you can pick from but I went with my own a lovely quote in gold and polka dot. The other cool thing is the Owner Cover page you get to create, this can include all your personal details but I went with a another quote and my favourite girly emojis. 

Now, on to the actual planner. another one of the amazing personalisation features of this planner is the colour scheme preference. The gilr inside of me went with pink of course, a little worried after I had picked it but no regrets now I love it! The muted grey is the other colour I picked and it works really well together. You can go as far as picking the design you want on the top of the apge, mine are cute little flowers but options include birds and stripes. Each month starts off with a monthly view, allowing you to put in the most important dates. You also choose the month you want to start with, I went with October and it will finish next October.

Then we have the weekly view,there are also options on how you want your week to look like. I went with Vertical Ruled (top and bottom) to kind of resemble other planners I have seen. But if this isn't how you work then horizontal views are also available. You can see the muted grey colour here better than before and see that it works together. The main reason I went vertical is so that I can use lots of cute stickers! This week is Halloween themed, not very full or busy like others but cute! This was a printable from VintageGlamStudio, who I found of instagram and helped me with this whole planner thing. Stickers sound childish, but they make the planning process more exciting and fun!

After picking your layout you can choose the items you want on there, you can add personal dates such as birthdays ect so you never forget and also little add ons. I went with To-Do boxes on the left page and a weekly meal planner on the other to help me budget for the week. The other options available are workout schedules and weather. Adding a ruler to come with your planner is another option.

To make each month easier to find it is colour coded on the edge, and an overview of the next two years can be added to the back of the planner which can help you plan for the year ahead if you have important things to remember. On the back few pages you can choose from lined, square and the newly added colouring pages. I went with lined so that if I need to write something down then then is the best place.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

That concludes the planner tour! I have ordered a load of stickers (way more than my bank account can cope with) and will be putting them in a haul very soon. I want to theme everything so November is going to have a colour and then December is going to be all festive! Everything I order will also be from UK sellers so you know what to order and where from. Do you like these types of posts? Planning Addicts Unite! 

                                         

You can buy your own Personal Planner over on their Site! 

 

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My Go To Autumnal Makeup Look

In my mind, autumn is well and truly here and the cold weather is making its presence. I thought i would just share my go to current makeup look and the products that I am loving. It all starts with the base for which I use The amazing L'Oreal True Match without any primer underneath (SHOCKER) but this is because the new formula allows me to use it with just moisturiser underneath. Then to hid those awful bag I have been loving the L.A Concealer it covers, lasts well and it incredibly cream then set with the Rimmel Stay Matte.  I skip blusher in the winter and go straight to a little bit of bronzer to give me some colour.

Then for the eyes I have been obsessed with the Little Mix Eyes Palette all the colours are so pigmented and the first three gold shades are perfect for the autumn. Underneath this as a base and a primer I used the Bourjois Colourband in Brun which is pretty much the same colour as my eyelids making it pointless but ah well. For mascara I am still in love with the Benefit Roller Lash it gives my lashes length and they look like spider legs. And on my lower lash line I am started to smudge some brown eyeliner like the MAC lady did a few weeks ago for me, I can't do it as great as her but I try. 

Then for lips the main autumnal focus, for this I mix two different shades of berry/red one of them is the Wet n Wild Lipstick in Cinnamon (which is now available to buy on Amazon eep!) and the Bourjois Velvet Lipstick in Grand Cru together these are like superwoman on my lips.


I guess that gold eyes and berry lips are the standard autumn makeup look, but swapping red for nude is cool too!

What are your autumn must haves? 

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SEVENTEEN Define & Conquer Contour Kit Review

Contouring is a technique that we haven't stopped hearing about the past year or so, every brand seems to be bringing out their version of how to do it and every youtuber seems to showing us their way of doing it. All very complicated, it isn't really something that I do on a everyday basis due to the time that it takes, but recently I have been doing more often than usual using the Seventeen Define & Conquer Contour Kit. Retailing at just £5.99 its a makeup steal. The little compact contains an illumination highlighter, with no glitter or shimmer running through it and a warm bronze shade perfect for your contour as it doesn't have a muddy undertone. 

Inside there is also a how to guide to help you map out your face shape, very useful indeed especially if you are new to the whole thing. Both the powders are very finely milled and because they have no glitter running through them you can really build the colour up and go as deep as you want. The highlighter is extraordinary, it can be scary applying something glittery to your nose and forehead but this is a dream when it hits the light your face glows. 

If I don't use this in the morning then I keep the compact in my handbag with me so that on the go I can use the handy little mirror as well as use the two shades to liven up my face after a long day. To apply I have been using the RT 300 Tapered Brush it carves my cheeks out perfectly and allows me to use a different angle for the highlight. 

Buy your very own here, go on I know you want to...

 

*PR SAMPLES*

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NARS Lip Haul

It happened. I finally bought something from NARS. And of course they were going to be lips products but I am an addict after all. I went into the Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar in Liverpool which is glorious. Three floors of beauty, everything from MAC to Tom Ford it was like a dream come true. I wondered around for a little bit staring at everything but hearing my bank account cry at the same time - it was a struggle. I then came across the NARS counter and my heart was melting. Everything looked amazing the lovely assistant Shaolynn asked me what I was looking for today and I replied with 'A nude lipstick that doesn't wash me out'. 10 Minutes later she had applied a lipstick and a lip-gloss on my lips and they ended up in a shopping bag.

NARS Audacious Lipstick in Anita £24.00 - Harvey Nichols 

The NARS Audacious lipsticks are talked about a great deal and I finally understand the hype around them. First of all the packaging is out of this world, its a sleek black tube with NARS embossed on the outside and the lid is magnetic, which you could just play with for hours. Then my favourite bit is that the actual lipstick is engraved with the word NARS on. The feel of this lipstick is lovely, very creamy and luxurious.Shaolynn used a brush to apply it and I think I will be as well, just so that I don't use it all up.

NARS Lip-gloss in Chihuahua £19.00 - Harvey Nichols

After saying I will take the lipstick, she asked if there was anything else I wanted. I could have replied with 'everything' but instead asked her what she would recommend and that's how a lip-gloss became my second purchase. Its a colour that compliments the lipstick really well and both together don't wash my lips out instead make them look fuller and plump without the 'whole Kylie Jenner lip lining' that's what Shaolynn said not me. And she is 100% right, my lips looked glossy and gorgeous.

Even though it cost me £43 for just two products I couldn't be happier with them both, and I am on the rewards scheme so more points for me!

If you are ever in Liverpool go to the Beauty Bazaar it is every beauty lovers dream, I will definitely be popping back soon and looking at all the other brands they have on offer. For high end makeup I always got to HC because of the service and the very cute bags.

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Zoflora Summer Breeze

It sounds like a weird thing but when you go to university no one prepares you for all the cleaning that you have to do. Your bedroom, the bathroom and for me the kitchen when the cleaners don't come at the weekend. It weird, because you expect to know everything straight away how to clean it all but it is hard knowing what to do and how to do it. To make it less confusing for myself and easier to manage, I've been using Zoflora*.

What is Zoflora? 

Something that my grandma swears by and uses all the time. Zoflora Concentrated Disinfectant is a 3 in 1 action formula kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. All you do is dilute it in water and spray. 

Summer Breeze is a gorgeous scent that reminds me and takes me back to the summer not these miserable winter days. It has three different scents in Rose, Freesia and Peony. Together it might sound very strong but let me tell you it smells like milkshake - love it!

How To Use? 

The way I use it is in a spray bottle, mix 1 part of this with 3 parts water and it works well. Then just spray where you need to use and it wipe it clean. The main areas that I use it are my bathroom sink, shower wall (i have a wet room), shower head. Then in my bedroom I use it on my shelving which catch dust so quickly its unbelievable! If I don't get time on a weekday, I have a through clean on a Saturday along with my washing. It has made my cleaning life a lot simpler, as well as leaving everything smelling fresh and fragrant. 

Zoflora can be found in all Supermarkets. You can find a full list of all the fragrances available here, including 'Warm Cinnamon' which sounds like the perfect winter treat!

*PR SAMPLE*

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Ancient Warrior - CharmChuri 100% Silk Scarves

The cold weather outside calls for a few things, berry lipstick, knee high boots and scarves! I love wearing scarves under my coats or sometimes on their own with a warm jumper. My favourite one recently has been the Ancient Warrior Silk Scarf from CharmChuri*.

CharmChuri are a company based in London that supply premium silk scarves like this gorgeous one. They have around 10 years of experience in the silk trade industry, so kind of know what they are talking about. The Ancient Warrior scarf as it has been named feels luxurious and is like a soft blanket around your neck, keeping your neck warm and your style levels up. I have ever so slightly fallen in love with the design on this scarf, its a large elephant in the middle with the use of orange, purple and yellow running through it - a odd combination but beautiful. The scarves design reminds me of India and been on holiday!

Everyone styles accessories differently but for me I like to just throw them on with whatever I am wearing in a bid that it will look nice. But as the silk one has a gorgeous pattern and print on it you can't let it go to waste so I have been experimenting different ways to wear it, the first and third are pretty similar but both my favourite ways to wear it. You can see all the bright colours and the pattern just peeks through. The scarf is so precious I store it in the box that it came in to avoid it getting any creases or stains!

You can buy the Ancient Warrior Scarf over on their website , and view the whole range here

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Trilogy Stores Autumn Winter Wishlist

Source - Trilogy Stores

Denim Edit

I am in desperate neds for some new jeans but finding the right ones can be a pain and I always end up going for the same style. I want that to change and am lusting over these three different ones, first up we have the straight leg - basic but comfortable and great to wear with anything you own. I am also loving the look of white jeans, little did I know that you can pull them off in the winter as well with a chunky knit. Then the one pair of jeans I really want to get my hands on leather jeans. They are rocker-chic and the small detailing such as zips add such an edge. Can you imagine them with a burgundy top and a biker jacket *heart eyed emoji*

Source - Trilogy Stores

Perfect Knits

Who doesn't love a good chunky sweater? At the moment the weather is all over the place but I am taking every chance to get out the jumpers and more recently cardigans. Not the ones you throw on top of a t-shirt the big wooly ones. I love the look of these long and fluffly cardigans as a chance to layer up and great to keep warm. 

Folk Fall Tales

Then we have a trend that I have a lot about but never seem to know how to wear it. I read somewhere once that its like Bohemian but more simple with bold colours that pop. One piece that I love from the Trilogy Stores range is this Jumpsuit from the Alexa Chung for AG Jeans, How beautiful is it? Its a classic denim colour yet the long sleeves makes it look different and very chic. I would also add a over-sized scarf to complete the look and a cute little hat.  

If you ever find your self in a fashion rut and need some inspiration take a look at Trilogy Store Lookbook, including how to wear the very tough material that is suede.  

 

*POST IN COLLABORATION WITH TRILOGY STORES*

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