Cosy winters

Tomorrow is the first of December. The official start to Winter and the start of the count down to Christmas.  God how this year has flown by. 

When it comes to this time of year most people spend much more time inside. Keeping warm and cosy. Watching movies, drinking hot drinks and relaxing when ever they can. Most people are tired to, as it is coming to the end of the long (yet very fast) year. 

My room at university has been lacking that cosy factor so I have been redecorating. Adding accessories that are cosy and comforting for them cold winter days.

The first thing a lot of people think of when it comes to making a place feel more like home is candles. Unfortunately I am not allowed them in my university halls but I found these cute, battery operated ones in ASDA and they are actually pretty great! Granted they don't give a smell but they do flicker like candles and do make the place feel more cosy.

Moving on from candles I always think, darker tones and colours with lights, are a great way of giving a homely feeling. 

One of my favourite things in my room is this Star light from Primark. Stars have a bit of sentimental factor to me so I had to have one in my room. It doesn't give much light but it is very eye catching in a room. Plus it is battery operated so you don't need to worry to much about wires and where you are going to place it. 

I recently bought this lantern from Wilkinson's which I'm in love with. I think anything that is a rich copper or dark bronze colour makes any room feel cosy. For pieces that are so inexpensive, it has really made my room feel more like home and a perfect environment for winter days when I just want to sit, blog, do some work or just watch movies all day. 

Hope you enjoyed,

Plain Jayne x

Cosmetic Warrior

Instagram

Since coming to university I have found my skin has been misbehaving. Some people may find this topic a bit TMI to talk about but I have had my far share of pimples, spots and black heads over the past few months. I can't work out if it is just stress, the new city, different water or if my i'm just going through a bad skin time.

I decided I would try Lush's 'Cosmetic Warrior' face mask which is aimed for troublesome skin. On the Lush website it is described as 'A gentle and balancing fresh face mask with antibacterial tea tree and fresh garlic working together to cleanse.' Containing fresh green grapes which help to clean the skin whilst cooling it. Also containing free range eggs to tighten it texture and antimicrobial honey which leaves the skin sot and moisturised. 

I do find it difficult to find products which are good for my skin and help clean my skin but I will hands down recommend this to anyone who has bad skin or is having a bad break out because it has done wonders for mine. I have found my skin to feel so soft after use but after a day or two it looks so much cleaner and my break outs have just about gone.

I have been using this face mask once a week for the past three weeks and I have to say I have noticed the difference in my skin. It just seems so much brighter and much cleaner. Using a face mask makes you feel so relaxed and pampered, especially after a stressful week. What girl doesn't need that every once and a while, right?

Have you tried Cosmetic Warrior?
Plain Jayne x

Nottingham

Before coming to university I was the girl who had never been to Nottingham before. Never been to a open day here. Never looked around the university or have a clue where anything was. Oddly enough it still felt right to come to this city and start my fashion degree which will lead me into my future. 

I've been at uni for about six weeks now? and I have to say I have fallen in love with the city, not just the university and the course.

(Trinity square)

(NTU building)

(walk down to trinity square)

I think its the beautiful old buildings I love. When you walk around everyone around you looks so lovely. I could literally walk for hours just looking at all the architecture and the place I now call home. Especially since it  is so different to what I am used to back in Cumbria.

Have you ever been to Nottingham?
Plain Jayne x

Inspiration

Having inspiration can sometimes be difficult. If your tired. Feeling a little low or just can't be bothered, having inspiration can be really difficult, especially when you know you have work to do.

If you have read my blog before, you will know that I am now at university. I have been looking for ways to make my room more personal, which I have now been working on through my wall. It now contains pictures of my family, dogs, friends and all the memories that come with them. My schedule of the week and inspiration and motivating postcards/cards. Which is so much better then a blank wall, right?

(post cards for paper chase)

Sometimes finding inspiration to do a blog post or do my work can be challenging. I easily get  distracted or just don't find it a easy task to put my mind onto work. Having things like this on my wall helps me be more engaged and do tasks that I actually love to do. 

I do find sometimes I feel myself giving up. 'I can do this' 'I'm not very good at this' 'Theirs is better than mine so why bother' but these things remind me, we are all individual. 

We all do and take things differently. We all take different paths in life, so remember to 'believe in yourself' 'smile' and know that you have to take your own course in life. Take everything as it comes and grab any opportunity that you can. 

Plain Jayne x 

McQueen and I

McQueen and I. A documentary following the foot steps of the brand and designer Alexander McQueen. This documentary is slightly darker then the film 'Dior and I', although with similar names. These two brands and designers are very different and this documentary talks about Alexander McQueen, or Lee Alexander McQueen, as a story not just based on a collection. 

Alexander McQueen is, personally, one of my favourite designers. Through him being so creative and the stories he told through his collections. It amazed me and never failed to grab your attention. Although he got a lot of bad comments and drama the film, thankfully, focuses on him and the amazing things he did.

The 'I' in the film comes come the relationship between him, his muse and the lady who discovered him and his talent, Isabella Blow. The documentary shows his discovery as a student from Isabella  Blow buying his first collection while he was a student. It then follows them and his rise to success. 

Although this pair seemed like a match made in heaven, the film leads to show his rising success followed by her down fall within the fashion industry. Also showing relationship curdling, which sadly then lead to the pairs down fall.

Alexander McQueen made over 20 collections in his time. Although at the beginning he may not have had thousands of pounds to spend on shows and collections, they were always beautifully innovative. Showed stories which weren't being seen anywhere else. His work was so well crafted for example when he turned Kate Moss into a hologram. A show where he used a big mirror box as the catwalk. The feeling being showed that the models were trapped and like animals. Also before the show started he made editors look at their own reflection for over Two hours. Two hours!

A list of all the amazing creations and designs would take up a post in its self but I promise you will not be disappointed on the insight of his beautiful designer but also the sadness that comes with the story, from the people that knew the pair best. 

Plain Jayne x

Dior & I

Dior and I. A film created by the french filmmaker Frederic Tchang. The film is the inside view of Raf Simons first couture collection (autumn-winter 2012) for Christian Dior which was to be created within 8 weeks.

The film takes the behind the senses looks and shoots of Raf Simons collection which had a new artistic direction. The film also takes its inspiration and name from Christian Dior's 1956 autobiography. It features a narrative voice-over of Christian Dior himself who expresses feelings and emotions that he felt while he was creating his collections which you then see Raf expressing through his. 

We see Simons on the very first day at Christian Dior where he was introduced to the inside of the house and meeting all of the atelier staff. We see through the film that Simons is a very visual worker creating many mood boards to create the collection, which was also expressed by his right-hand man, Pieter Mulier, who worked very close behind him through the process of the collection. 

Simons had to prove himself as he had never worked with haute couture, so there was a big challenge factor in the process.Raf is seen in the movie to be shy, especially with the filming of himself, but he also showed great focus and being very calm throughout. 

Tchang spoke ''I felt a very strong connection with rat's story, our journeys were similar. Emotionally I was in a very similar place: exited, scared, overwhelmed. After two months, I felt like i had made that collection with them''.

If you are a lover of Christian Dior or fashion I recommend this film highly. Do not to be out off by the subtitles. It is a fantastic insider, seeing the world of design followed by the end creation. Throughout also meeting the roles and characters of people who build and take part in the collection. 

(First look of the collection) 

(Ralf looking at mood boards)

(First piece of the collection)

Very much loved film,

Plain Jayne x

Velvet

Autumn and Winter is my favourite time of the year for clothing. Big coats, jumpers, cosy tights, boots and everything else that comes with winter. I love the variation of textures to that are brought into the clothing and my personal favourite is velvet. 

I know a few people who aren't very fond of velvet and the texture of it but I love it. Velvet is a fabric that always looks and feels very luxurious. Plus is always very cosy. 

Instagram

I Found these little shorts from Topshop the other day and fall in love. I'd much rather wear a pair of shorts then a skirt, especially in winter and these are my new favourites.

They fit like a glove and remind me slightly of a Christmas tree (Yes I mentioned Christmas). They are also very versatile as they are perfect for a night out with a pair of heels and a crop top or for a day look, paired with a graphic t-shirt, denim jacket, tights and boots. I have just ordered a few other things that are velvet that you may see be blogging about very soon.

Hope you enjoyed,

Plain Jayne x