Janelle Monae // Current Girl Crush

'One of my core values is to help redefine what it means to be a strong and beautiful woman in the music and fashion worlds and to empower the wonderful things that make us unique.'

- Janelle Monae

Ok guys, I'm gonna need a couple minutes of your time to talk about Janelle Monae. She's the perfect mix of class and elegance and her music grabs you with incredible vocals and infusions of jazz and pop. She has such a signature style which is pretty flawless, unique and makes me want to spend all my money on the perfect tux.  Ok, that is all. 

Images sourced from Tumblr

Check out some of her music:

Janelle Monae ft Erykah Badu - Q.U.E.E.N

Janelle Monae - Tightrope 

Janelle Monae - Cold War

Janelle Monae ft Miguel - Prime Time

Check out my latest YouTube video: 

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

4 ways to wear: Galaxy Print Smock Dress

"Your life. Love it. 

From the hurt to the wonder. From the bone to the flower. 

Love it. With everything you've got. 

It’s yours." - Nayyirah Waheed

Dress; ASOS // Cardi; Matalan //  Crop top; Primark // Skirt; Topshop // Necklace; H&M

In one of my last posts I talked about experimenting a bit with my outfit posts and doing a couple of '3 ways to wear' / Lookbook-style posts and so this is the first of three that I've planned for the next month or so.

The dress itself is from ASOS and I just fell in love with the print when I was browsing through the sale. Intergalactic print is not something you see usually on items of clothing so it makes the dress a bit more quirky.  As it's a smock dress I figured it'd be quite versatile too.  So obviously you can wear it on it's own or with a blazer or cardi. I opted for a cardi to keep the relaxed/chilled vibe it has which would be great for a lazy day in the sun (oh summer, hurry up man!). The last two looks are quite relaxed too but incorporates layering to the outfit which I'm always a fan of.  The crop top allows you to see enough of the dress and is a great way to wear a crop top without showing off some belly if you don't want to.  Finally, the black skirt smartens it up a bit I think and would look even better with a blazer and a pair of black heels and could be worn to work depending on how relaxed your work dress code is.

Let me know what you guys think about this post and if you like or hate it! Also, what other ways would you wear a smock dress? I'd love to know!

Also! I've recently been featured on the Blogger's Lounge website and interviewed by Dirty Looks about hair care, hair crushes and DIY hair makeovers so make sure to check that out too here!

Currently, I am loving:

I came across Nayyirah Waheed's poetry and just love them, check out her Tumblr!

Check out my latest YouTube video HERE 

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

When it comes to lovin' I ain't chasing you // Inspiration

I came across this feature of Little Mix in Wonderland Magazine from last year and just think that these photo's of them are stunning.  To be honest, they're pretty stunning girls anyway but I love the simplicity of this shoot and outfits. I think Leigh-Ann and Jesy in particular look great as they kinda have an Elle Woods from Legally Blonde meets Hilary Banks from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air vibe to them. 

What do you guys think?

Currently I am loving:

Nearly Morning - Luke Sital-Singh (This song is so lovely - give it a listen!)

If you're having a bad day - Shane Koyczan  (Great, great, great spoken word! Give it a listen)

Check out my latest YouTube video HERE 

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

A Few Moments With: Bambella Blog // Interview #4

I first came across Alex's blog after taking part in a #lbloggers chat a couple of months back on twitter and instantly fell in love with her style - girly and quirky with an edge that will surely leave you with some inspiration for your own outfits and as a self confessed accessories-kinda-girl, Alex's blog always makes me promise myself to incorporate more jewelry into my day to day outfits. Not only does she share her personal style but money saving posts, DIY posts along with beauty, lifestyle and food posts all feature on her blog too.  I decided to ask Alex a few questions on blogging, her fashion design course and her outfit choice for a super cool themed date night...

Hello! Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 

Hello there! I'm Alex, 20 years of age, studying fashion design in Falmouth and want nothing more in life to blog and be a wedding dress designer.

How and why did you get into blogging?

I was first introduced to blogs when I started my own little jewellery shop. I wanted to get the shop's name out there so looked to bloggers to review my items. It was then that I started reading blogs purely out of interest and became addicted! From that, it seemed like the most natural step to create my own!

What advice would you give for anyone new to blogging and the blogging community? 

Most people tend to say social media for this answer, and although I do agree that it helps, I think that you need an aesthetically pleasing blog first as, you can get thousands of people to visit your blog through Twitter and Facebook, but if they don't like the look of your blog, they'll click off straight away. Doing a little research will help with this, such as Googling 'how to ... on blogger'. You will find loads of tutorials to help spruce up your blog a little. This is just my opinion though so don't hate on me if you disagree!  

You are currently studying Fashion design at University, has your blog helped with elements of your course?

Yes! It was a huge help to me getting on the course in the first place! Last year I was doing a different course at Falmouth and decided it wasn't for me, so went to see the head of the fashion course to ask about changing. Turns out he had already done a little research on me, found my blog, had a browse through and ended up loving it! As I had never done any previous fashion/textiles subjects at school, I think my blog was the main aspect that got me onto the course.

Who are your favourite designers at the moment?

Sorry to be cliché but it always has been and always will be Alexander McQueen. I love his style as it is the exact same thing I would love to be able to produce. The detail in his (or now the different people who work on his behalf) is just perfection in my eyes, I'm definitely not a believer in 'less is more'!

What are your best ways to personalize an outfit?

I find any average looking outfit can look more interesting with jewellery. I am a crazy jewellery fan and have way too much for my own good, so love wearing it at any opportunity! 

Date night is coming up! How would you style your outfit?

Well as it just so happens, mine and Jack's date night is in fact coming up! This weeks pick from the 'date ideas' jar was a themed night. We chose a pirate theme, so along with watching Pirates of the Caribbean and drinking rum, I'll probably be wearing a flouncy shirt, striped waistcoat, plain black skirt with knee high boots and fishnets to top it off! 

Where else can we find you?

Aside from my Blog of course, I have Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest all under the name alexmaceachern, YouTube under the name Alex Maceachern Bambella and Facebook by searching for Bambella Blog. 

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Hope you liked this interview! Let me know your thoughts below.

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Urban Outfitters comes to Nottingham!!

GUYS URBAN OUTFITTERS IS NOW IN NOTTINGHAM AND IT'S SO COOL AND EXCITING. 

Cool because, well, it's Urban Outfitters. Exciting because, you have no idea how much people have been talking about the store opening. It's like the highlight of the year for Nottingham shoppers (slight exaggeration? I dunno...) I was lucky enough to be invited along to the press day and went along with Gavina yesterday to take a look round which was pretty exciting! I've only ever been in the one in Liverpool One so it's nice to have one here in Notts that I can check out IN REAL LIFE instead of browsing through their online collection (and perhaps spend all my money in? Oh dear...)

Every time I go shopping I've started paying more attention to mannequins and how they're styled which I never really did before for some reason (I used to just ignore them and think 'oh they're dressed too cool for me to try' haha!).  I love the layering of different colours and textures on these mannequins and as soon as I finish writing up this post I'm going to YouTube how to tie a scarf/turban so I can gain extra cool points (you think I'm joking...)

Apart from loving the Urban Outfitters brand/style I also love love love the general design and vibe of the store.  It's a lot bigger than I thought and myself and Gavina kept commenting on the quite rustic/old school vibe it gave off with graffiti and street style art dotted around. There's also a Vinyl wall and an area full of quirky books and gift ideas (I'm pretty sure I saw a couple of furby's hidden at the back somewhere!) adding  to the whole shopping experience.

If you live in/near Nottingham and haven't done so already then you should probably go and check out the store for yourself, it's so flipppin cool! It's in such a great location too (the entrance to Victoria Centre) and it's opened just in time for some serious Christmas shopping. I'm so glad I got to go along to check it out so thank you to the guys at Urban Outfitters for the invite! I was also lucky enough to pick out an item so I shall do a separate outfit post for that so look out for that! Also, make sure to check out the #UONottingham hashtag on instagram for some pictures from their store opening party last night!

What do you guys think of the store? 

Currently, I've been loving:

Fast Car - Tracy Chapman

Find me on: YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Valentino S/S 2014

Image source

So, I was scrolling through Tumblr and erm, I don't know, I think I'm just in love with the Valentino S/S 2014 collection. There is just so much colour and detail and just general wow-ness. What do I have to do to get one of these dresses?! I can't wait for this trend to eventually work it's way down to the high-street in some form or another.

Check out my latest YouTube video - About me Tag - HERE 

 Find me on: 'Political' blog  | YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

How I style // Red Dresses

You guys probably know by now that I love red dresses. I think they're so lovely and quite easy to wear as long as you keep the rest of the outfit minimal.  As red is pretty bold I usually go for black or, if your feeling bold, I think blue and red are two colours that match quite well. Anyway, I was asked to put together a sort of How I would Style / Wishlist post featuring some lovely dresses from New Look and thought it could give you guys some ideas too.

Office Wear, a.k.a I need to look smart but I still wanna stand out y'know what I'm saying?

Dress - New Look; here

Bag & Heels - Zara

Notebook - Topshop

Lipstick - Chanel Rouge (or just any red lipstick if you're a pauper like myself!)

I think this is my favourite look. I just love the simplicity of it as even though you've got the bold colour, everything else is left quite minimal which I like.

Day out, a.k.a I'm off to town for lunch with the girls

Red Dress - New Look; here

Boots & Hat - H&M

Sunglasses -Ray-Ban

Moustache notebook - Urban Outfitters

 I quite like this off the shoulder dress! I don't own any myself but I think it's quite playful and easy to layer up with a jacket of some sort. I also thought this hat would go nicely with this dress and complete the over-all look I was trying to go for which was 'oh hey, I'm just going to Paris for lunch with the girls...' or something to that effect ha!

Night out, a.k.a Time to hit the town oooooh yeah

Dress - New Look; here

Leather Jacket - River Island

Necklace: H&M

Boots - Zara (how gorgeous are they?!)

Lipstick - RiRi Woo

Bronzer/Blusher - Nars

 Lastly, I think a red dress is a must for a night out. Sure, you've got the LBD but what about the LRD? Eh? Eh? I guess it depends on where you're going but I think having a red dress in your wardrobe for a night out is just as important as having a black one. Teamed up with a leather jacket, black boots and a gold chain I think anyone could rock this!

What do you guys think?
Which looks are your favourite?
Check out some more red dresses over here

Also! I have been thinking of ways to expand my blog a bit and have decided to set up a blogger series and interview bloggers who would be interested to take part. I've got a couple lined up at the moment and some on my list of people to e-mail but if you are interested in an interview (just a couple of questions!) then feel free to send me an e-mail! It's open for any type of blog, small, medium or big, just as long as you've been blogging for a while (so there's enough content for me to do a write up/get to know the style of your blog etc). I just thought it would be something cool to add and showcase other blogs out there and get to know the blogger a bit more! Initially I'll aim to interview one blog a month buuuuut that will depend on how interested people are in it etc, what do you think? Check out one of my previous interviews here.

Music wise, I am loving:
Birdy - Let Her Go (BBC Live Lounge Cover)

Check out my latest YouTube video on Comparing yourself to others HERE 

Find me on: Political blog | YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

Casper and Pearl // Current Love

My new current love is Casper&Pearl, I actually discovered them after they left a lovely comment on one of my posts a while back and have been meaning to share their blog and site with you. They are an Australian fashion brand taking inspiration from 'days gone by, innocence, the 70's and vintage fashion' and their upcoming Secret Garden collection captures just that. Think whimsical, arty, playful and fantastical - I love this collection so much!

Image Source

Think lazy summer days, spontaneous adventures and time spent putting daisy chains in your hair.

The thing that strikes me about this collection is how creative it is. It's not just about the clothes they are selling, but there's a story too, a 'character' if you will, that embraces a free-spirit I think is in all of us. 

What do you guys make of it?! Lovely isn't it! Make sure to check out the Casper&Pearl blog HERE and find inspiration from their other items HERE

*All images are sourced from Casper&Pearl blog 

Music wise, I am currently loving:

Noah and The Whale - There Will Come a Time

Imagine Dragons - On Top of The World

Macklemore - Can't Hold Us

Check out my latest YouTube video HERE 

Find me on: TrendTV | YouTube | Bloglovin | Twitter | Instagram: @thatgirlsaadiya

A Few Moments With: Cheyenne Davide // Interview #1

For anyone wanting to get into the fashion industry, writing a fashion blog seems to be one of the ways forward. Frequent posts about your take on a certain trend, how you would style certain key items or even certain brands that you are loving at the moment can really offer a great way to showcase your work, love for and knowledge of the fashion industry. While it may seem a struggle at the moment to get any job or internship opportunities, a blog can really catch the eye of potential employers and help create a platform for you and your talents.

One blogger who know all about this is Cheyenne Davide Yeahitsshyy.  Based in London, Cheyenne’s effortless and street wear focused style comes as a breath of fresh air in what can seem like a very contrived industry. Fun, relaxed and informal, her style offers inspiration for just about anyone, so, I decided to ask Cheyenne a couple of questions about her blog, style and future ambitions.

How old are you and what do you do for a living?

I'm 20 years old and I present for MTV - The Wrap Up, and an online music channel called REPVDO. 

When and why did you first get into blogging?

I first got in to blogging two years ago... I really wanted to be a fashion journalist so I started researching how to go about it and decided to start my blog. 

What opportunities have you been involved in since starting your blog?

I've been lucky enough to represent London and style/model two Adidas lookbooks, one for S/S and the other was for A/W. I've also styled a fashion story for Exit Magazine and Adidas together which was amazing. My first presenting opportunity came from my blog also... So I really owe everything I'm doing now to my little old blogspot!

How would you describe your style?

My style is ... weird! Somedays I will go out in a dress... Others I will look like a right boy in baggy clothes. I'll always be seen wearing trainers and most times I'll always be wearing a beanie... or a SnapBack - I love hats!

What are your favourite items in your wardrobe at the moment?

My favourite items in wardrobe are my beanies for winter and then shirts to tie around my waist. 

You have a seriously impressive collection of trainers and beanies! Which ones are your favourite?

My favourite beanies are from a brand called Educate and Elevate. I'm lucky enough that they send me stuff, and I genuinely do love their beanies! My favourite trainers would have to be Adidas really. 

What brands are you loving at the moment?

I don't really shop for brands... I normally shop in charity shops or most of my clothes are found in my Mum or Nan’s wardrobe. Like I said, I love Educate and Elevate and obviously Trapstar are doing massive things! Mikey (who owns Trapstar) is someone I met when I first started out in fashion and he really inspires me.

 Where do you look for style inspiration?

For style inspiration I look to my mum. I've always said she's my main inspiration... I mean I steal all her clothes! 

What are your ambitions for the future?

For the future I think I've finally found where I want to go in life. Obviously I started out in fashion, and I will always love it, but I'm going to focus more on presenting. That's what I love to do more than anything and I’m so grateful for the opportunities I've had already. I just want to take the presenting world by storm... so I can buy my mum a house!

Do you have any advice for those looking to get into blogging or the fashion industry?

My advice is to always believe in yourself. The only way you will ever succeed is if you wholeheartedly believe in yourself. You need to not give up and continue to work as hard as you can. Hard work pays off and if you continue to work hard then you will reach your dreams. 

Where to find Cheyenne: 

 Blog

 Twitter

 Tumblr

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TrendTV Nottingham - Street Style #4 + Bloglovin' link

Over at TrendTV Nottingham we have uploaded our fourth Street Style video so please do check it out! As we are a new channel we would also love your thoughts and suggestions on future videos and how we could shake things up a bit so we can make things interesting for you lot! Please let us know in the comment section of either the video or this post. Enjoy!

Also; given the new Google Reader situation please make sure to follow me on Bloglovin'
Send over your links and I'll follow too! 

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Nasty Gal Spring 2013 Collection

I don't know what I love more, the clothes or the model (how cool does she look??!).  I know it's pricey but The Nasty Gal Spring Collection is just lovely. I love the super cool beach wear teamed with sporty luxe wear making for effortless style and outfits that can be easily thrown together to create a really laid-back yet fashion-forward outfit.  No fuss, no non-sense style for summer - I like it!  The collection defo offers some inspiration for my summer wardrobe; I am loving the outfits in images one, four, five and six. Which are your favourite pieces and which ones will be inspiring your wardrobe this summer?

Before I forget, we have our third street style video out over at TrendTV Nottingham. If you're looking for street style inspiration, check it out and let us know what you think!