Best Dressed for Less No.9

The Court by emilyrodgers18 featuring high heel pumps

I decided to kick off my 'back to blogging' saga with a new Best Dressed for Less, because not only have I not posted one in a while, but with all the excitement of fashion weeks happening, there are a host of juicy best dressed celebrities to choose from. I haven't focused specifically on one muse this time, as I noticed amongst basically EVERY celebrity that each were wearing court shoes. I have never seen this before, in all of my 8 best dressed for less..es, meaning this trend is a bigg'un, its huge, and it can be worn a million and one different ways. This is even greater news for all you tall folk out there like myself, as the court doesn't pack much platform, and has a relatively low heel, depending on which you pick, and can be placed with any outfit and bought on the cheap! Aces all round! 

So I made two outfits, one casual, one dressy. One inspired by Olivia Palermo walking her pooch there, and the other is just something I liked. I love the pop of colour that these courts can bring, and the jumpsuit could be mixed with some bright pumps but I just loved the mesh on the black ones!

So if you're hitting any fashion events for this coming season (like me..post coming soon to explain) make sure you're strutting around in a pair of these, you literally have no excuse not to (unless you hate them, of course). 

Official Grad

If you're around my age, and have friends at uni, your FB newsfeed over the last few weeks will have been filled with flying mortar boards, happy families and robes. If not, you can only imagine how annoying it is after the first few, but after hundreds of 'friends' graduating, it is just too much. 

However, I'm going to bore you all with my special day pictures, because after three long years, and so much stress and hard work, I finally graduated with a 2:1 in International Fashion Marketing (with a 1st in Financial Management) and I couldn't be prouder of myself. 

As soon as my mum saw me in my attire she burst into tears crying "My little baby!" which was sweet. 

There was laughter and gaiety amongst friends, champagne and ceremony selfies. It was just the best day and I didn't want it to end. 

I am currently on holiday (back in the cayman islands) so I won't be posting for a week or so, but I will have plenty of photos to bore you all with next!

Interview blues

This post is going to be half rant, half 'name and shame', all about Monsoon. 

I thought I would put this out there because I found the way I was treated by this company was degrading and frankly disgusting, especially as a struggling grad looking for work, like many others. 

So, at the moment I'm applying for jobs in London for my big move there in September. I have a degree in International Fashion Marketing and so applied for the Merchandising Admin Assistant role for Monsoon on the off chance, knowing that I have studied merchandising roles (so I know what they involve) and have experience in admin. 

I was surprised and excited when I received an email for the Monsoon careers office asking me when I'd be available for a telephone interview. After booking the time slot, re arranging my work shifts around this and then spending hours preparing standard interview answers to what I thought would be an interview, I did not expect to be treated the way I was. 

After answering the call from my 'interviewer' she immediately asked me why I even wanted the merchandising role as I have a marketing degree. I replied because I'm interested in the field, have studied it as a module, and want to work for a large company. She told me that I would find the role boring, questioned what I knew about it (and when I answered told me I was wrong) and with a very patronising tone suggested that I try for marketing positions in future as I 'clearly' do not have a passion or an understanding of merchandising. 

Before I even put the phone down I was in tears. Not only because I'd been made to feel small, insignificant and had all my confidence battered out of me in one swift phone call but mainly because I was in shock. 

After being told I was to have an 'interview' for the position, I did not get asked one interview question but instead was basically asked why I had even bothered to apply for the role. 

Maybe it was fair of her to ask why I thought I was qualified, maybe she didn't think I had a genuine passion for the role, but then if so, WHY ASK ME FOR AN INTERVIEW?! This is the thing that really bugged me. Why even ask me for an interview when you don't think I'm qualified or passionate! 

The whole thing really upset me, and I have written a strongly worded email about it to them. However I highly doubt that this made a spot of difference to how they are treating candidates who have shown a genuine interest in the company. The whole situation has surprised and baffled me to my very core. 

But like all other graduates struggling to find a good job, that is worthy of the constant rejection and your time, I have to keep my head up and keep trying. But I can tell you all now, I will never step foot into Monsoon again. 

Do you think I was treated unfairly? Please leave comments below!

Babyliss Pro Perfect Curl

I got my hair done today, finally. I hadn't had it highlighted since May, so yes, I was sporting the badger look with my roots which as we all know is never very attractive. 

When my lovely dresser was done blowdrying, she said "I'm going to show you my new toy". Now I was slightly hesitant as we never want to be experiments in the hair department, those of you who are very attached to your locks would sympathise. Anyway, she bought out this long black plastic thing with a cylinder on the end, explaining that it was a curler. 

In fact, (after a bit of investigating) I found out it was the Babyliss Pro Curl curler, which costs a whopping £165!!

Apparently, it's going down a treat in the UK, (we're a bit behind the times here in Jersey) and have sold out practically everywhere, and I can see why!

My hair is so thick and so long that it usually takes a good hour to curl the whole thing, but with this product, it took roughly ten minutes. 

I have posted a video below so you can see how it works, but the device sort of traps and wraps your hair, heats it in the cylinder and when you release it, theres a curl!

Now Babyliss haven't always had the best track record with these sorts of things, especially with this product, as you can see how your hair could easily get caught whilst being wound up, but I was actually very impressed! 

Here are some snaps of my hair after using the Babyliss Pro Perfect Curl. 

Have you tried this product? What did you think? I would love to hear feedback from others.

Thanks guys!

Best Dressed for Less No. 8

Alexa Chung Style by emilyrodgers18 featuring a crocodile bag

Can't believe I haven't posted a BDFL since November! oopsieee! 

Anywho, the best dressed celebrities have been a bit lacklustre the last few times I've checked, and the only ones getting me excited are either Miranda Kerr or this lovely lady. It seems they can do no wrong! Although I'm still trying to work out what Alexa actually does apart from go to events in neat little outfits. Or is that all?

I love this outfit either way. The midi skirt is such an elegant way to dress up an outfit. The one I chose is obviously a lot less expensive than hers, as well as everything else. Although, if you can get a mulberry, that would be great. 

A denim shirt wasn't my first choice, but I think it kind of works with this look. And I love the pointed toe heels. I have a pair of pointed flats that I've started wearing a lot. And everyone should have a leather jacket in their closet in my opinion! 

So there you have it, I'll try not to leave it so long for the next Best Dressed for Less!

I love Giraffe by emilyrodgers18 featuring short skirts

I often get compared to a giraffe, surprisingly because I'm 6ft tall, have a patch of giraffe-print like freckles and actually have a soft spot for them. I even got a giraffe pandora charm and a little silver giraffe for my 21st, which I love. So I decided to dedicate a post on all things fashion based on these lovely creatures. You may have spotted that its a popular print this season, mainly in Topshop, and although I've tried on almost everything to do with them, I haven't yet taken the plunge and bought something. But with Indonesia coming up I am definitely contemplating that tank top!

IOTW #4

Here are my Instagrams of the Week. Bit of a mixture for this one! 

Firstly, my mum bought some wacky flowers which are beaut so I took a snap. 

When it was sunny a while back I went to my bathe in my friends garden. 

I made the third picture a bit bigger so you could actually see it. I started using the 'No Crop' app which gets the whole picture onto Instagram which is handy, and used it for this coastal picture when I went for a cliff path walk. 

When I was at the Country Show last weekend helping my mum sell her lovely Bunting, they had an animal farm next door and this little bubba cow was inside, too cute!

I love a 'look I'm in the garden getting a tan' picture.

The selfie was for the BINTM 'selfie' stage of their competition of which you can read my post about it here. I had actually just been doing a shoot on the beach and therefore was in a selfie mood. 

I have been doing lots of my Davina work outs recently being unemployed (starting work at Next this week, thank god!) and therefore spend my morning doing a few sit ups, and I'm loving the effects! 

My newest nail design, cartoon nails, a woman saw them and said they were 'fab'. 

And lastly, a club photo from last weekend, wearing my new Topshop animal print top.