Thursday 31 October 2013

Boo on a Budget: My Hallowe'en Ghost Costume

It's the 31st October - Hallowe'en, or All Hallows Eve - the night when children don their masks and run to every door yelling 'Trick of Treat?!' when really you know they only want you to say treat. It's the night when you have an excuse to scare yourself silly with horror films into the early morning, play with face-paint without being judged, and generally enjoy all of the dark and ghoulish things which may seem out of place at any other time of year.

This year, I'm heading out to a friends house for dinner - as I type, I am meant to be getting ready! To continue the festive spirit I'm taking some Hotel Chocolat Tiddly Vampires with me - but alas, I will not be dressing up.

However, last year I went out with my sister to a nightlife event at my university as a student. This  meant that we needed to do our costumes on a tight budget and in one afternoon!

So here is my quick fix for a Hallowe'en Ghost Costume!

All you will need is:

1 XL mens white Tshirt (long or short sleeved)
1 new black permanent marker
1 pair of white tights / leggings
1 pair of short shorts (if you have tights on, to retain your modesty!)
Black eye makeup
Dark red / black lipstick
Lots of hairspray

After a quick trip to Primark, we were ready for our DIY outfits.

1. Sketch the outline for your ghost face - I used the famous Scream face as my inspiration!
2. Colour it in - this is why you need a new pen, as it WILL run out! (Be sure to put something under it to avoid the ink staining your table).
3. As you make sure the ink has dried, backcomb your hair and apply copious amounts of black eye makeup - for added darkness, slick deep red lipstick onto your lips.

And you're done!




My sister did the same but went as a pumpkin; orange shirt and green tights. This is a VERY versatile and last minute idea which you can really play around with - and I got plenty of compliments! You can be any character instantly, and wear it on a night out or to a house party. I think it's suitable for any gender too with the odd alteration - I know a few guys who would happily wear the tights!

One word of warning, however; if you go with the ghost idea, make sure you aren't at risk of revealing your underwear if you're out and there's a UV light!

Happy Hallowe'en everyone, whatever you get up to!



Jo
xxx
 

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Tied up in Tartan


I’ve always loved the look of tartan. You can create a different mood with just one item of clothing or one accessory. Paired with black, leather and bold metal jewellery, it channels the punk era for the modern age. However once worn with chunky knits, thick tights and big comfy boots you’re ready for autumn. Every Autumn, when tartan comes back into fashion, I always wish I was brave enough to try something a little different, but worry about it clashing with my other clothes or being too bold for my own subtle taste in fashion. This means that, normally, I find myself lusting at a distance or enjoying just seeing the more traditional side of it when on holiday in Scotland.

That was, however, until I spotted this scarf in Primark. It caught my eye as soon as I entered the store, and I just couldn’t resist, no matter how much I told myself to! I love darker clothing, especially at this time of year; burgundy being my ultimate favourite (hence the name of this blog!). The beauty of this scarf is that it adds a dash of pattern to an outfit without being overpowering  - perfect for anyone who is, like me, tentatively stepping out of their fashion comfort zone. It's my way, I suppose, of testing the water before investing in something bigger. There are hundreds of tartan scarves around at the moment, with colours to suit everyone - some great examples can be found in Zara -  but being on a budget I just had to have this particular one.



Not only is it a lovely pattern and colour, but the length is perfect for wrapping around your neck to keep you warm. It is the size a scarf should be, and is incredibly versatile. So far I've worn it out for walks, into work and out shopping. It goes well with both smart and (very) casual outfits. Despite being cheap, it is very soft and cosy and certainly kept me warm on a trip to the wet British coastline one windy weekend.


If you’re looking for a low-cost way to stay on trend, keep warm or try something new, I’d recommend this gem. As usual, Primark has come up trumps in providing fans of the high-street bargain purchases to stay bang on trend without busting their budgets. I’m not normally one for raiding Primark very often, but when I see something like this I just absolutely must have it – and for a mere £5, who could blame me?


Jo
xxx