How To : Build Up Your Wardrobe

Hey everyone!
  So, Summer has officially started over here in the UK and I definitely have a few posts in store for the holidays - but today I wanted to make a post on something which I think could be useful for all seasons and something which i've doing for awhile now; building a good for all seasons, fashionable wardrobe consisting of fashion items that I 100% love. I am one of those people that can get really into organising and tidying/de-cluttering when i'm in the mood. It's a bit weird, actually. 99% of the time I am a renowned hoarder, who collects the most random of things, but get me in the right mood and a bunch of clothes and I will de-clutter away. In other words, clothes are the one thing that I will have no problem tidying up etc, because I always know what i'll wear and what I won't. That being said, I won't throw away sentimental clothes. Whoopsie.
 Okay, so the first step is to thoroughly go through your wardrobe and pick out what you like, what you don't and things you might be on the fence about. Once you've separated your clothes into these three piles, put back all the clothes in the 'yes' pile into you're wardrobe (to avoid having your room or wherever you're screening look like an absolute mess!). Next, find some sort of bag or place to keep the clothes in the 'no' pile. Usually, i'll keep these separately until a charity collection comes round and then i'll donate the clothes, unless I think they could be reused by my sister or a family friend. Finally, do another screening of the clothes in the 'maybe' pile. Think of these questions, will you wear it again? Does it still fit like it's supposed to? What would you wear it with? etc. etc. Put all the ones you've decided to keep, back in your wardrobe and the others with the ones you're giving away.
  So, if this has gone successfully - you should have lots of space for some new clothes. I tend to surf shopping websites and pick out certain types of clothing i'd like to purchase. Now, this isn't me picking out specific pieces, that's the next stage. This is me just saying, 'Oh, I quite fancy an oversized cardigan right now' etc. I make a casual list, so whenever I go shopping I have some key items to look out for. Now, here's one of my all time favourite tips - #Tip 1 Buy clothes way ahead of their season. Did that make sense? What I mean is, if it's Summer - stock up for Winter. Obviously you'll need the Summer essentials too (shorts, T-shirts etc) or you'll bake - but usually things like cardigans and Winter coats drop in their prices considerably and I always find little sale jewels by using this amazing trick. I've bought cardigans and coats that were around £60 to £70 for less than £20 ! And all of this was in Summer, who would've thought? 
  My next #Tip 2 is that you should have basic items in your wardrobe that you can use all year round. Yes, you can't necessarily walk around in a Christmas jumper in July - but have things like plain white T-shirts  and skirts etc. For Winter you can throw on a jumper or a cardigan over the T-shirt and for Summer, or hot days (since you never know with British weather) you can just leave it and wear it with shorts or the skirt.
  I think it's really important to love every piece in your wardrobe. Your clothes are a way of expressing yourself and one killer outfit can give your confidence an extra boost, so it's important you're happy and comfortable with what you're wearing. That's not me saying that you shouldn't try new things, ofcourse you should! It's so much fun going into a shop picking one wild card item and giving it a go - seeing whether you like it or not. It's just knowing that you have a trust set of fashion items that you love, and none that make you feel awkward wearing.

 Hope you enjoyed this post! I'm aware I only put 2 tips in, but if you like this kind of thing I can do more 'How To's'. Fashion is my passion, and i'm always on the look out for new clothes - so my wardrobe does often have clearouts. Anyway, have a nice Summer! And i'll get back to you all soon :)

Let's Talk : Hair Removal

Hair removal. The complete and utter bane of my existence. I hate it with a fiery passion. I mean, sure. I love not having any hairs on my legs and arms or in my armpits - but the hassle of waxing or any hair removal process is honestly the most boring,and tiring thing I've ever indulged in. And then there's this thing about which process you prefer. A question which I have been trying to answer for a couple of years now.

Personally, at the moment I have to go with my trusty shaving cream. I know many people have problems with this, saying it takes too long and that you often have to do it a couple of times (put layers of cream) in order to get results. However, it's painless which makes it a total winner, in my opinion & the brand I use always provides great, hair free results (making me only have to add another layer every now and then when I use it). Yes, the hairs grow back faster - but if you're someone who doesn't like the pain of waxing - shaving cream is the next best thing. The cream I use is called Veet Hair Removal Cream and instead of your average razor, it comes with a plastic spatula sort of thing - hence avoiding any cuts that you might receive from a sharp blade of some sort. However this is down to you and what you'd prefer.

Now, I'm not very experienced in the world of epilators. I've never used them, but from what I've heard - they're quite painful. The process is just getting the device and 'rolling' it across your skin as it individually plucks each hair out. Apparently this causes a sharp shock/ jolt of pain each time it plucks a hair out (which would be alot, if you aren't someone that does it as regular as 2-3 weeks). Whilst T.V adverts make it look painless and effortless (believe me, I have also had those first impressions), these little gadgets are seemingly far from being painless - some even saying they hurt more than waxing!

Waxing is another method of hair removal, and probably the most popular. Advantages include it being quick, effective - almost never failing to make you hair free in areas such as your legs, and long lasting . However,disadvantages include an intense amount of pain (this is subjective) ,and  red small 'swollen' spots to initially appear after a wax. I have experienced waxing, and the first time is (personally) the most brutal. If you wax regularly ,as in 1-2 weeks, (which isn't necessary)  it avoids excess pain  since if you only have a few, small hairs to remove - it won't hurt as much when you wax them as it would for long, and large amounts of hair on your legs or arms.

Finally, eyebrows. The last few techniques were mainly based on removing hair from your legs or arms - but as one weird society, we have seemingly taken to grooming our eyebrows to "perfection". I thread my eyebrows, and whilst I'm not the most experienced (as this is the only process I've tried), I personally think that it works best for me. Since my eyebrows are naturally quite thick and luckily have a natural arch/shape (or so I've been told) - threading simply tidies my eyebrows up. However I'm aware that threading can be used to create an eyebrow shape etc. Threading is an affordable process, my usual place charges only a £5 note for a tidy up. If you are someone who doesn't have thick eyebrows, and may not have dark hair (so your eyebrows don't show as well ) , microblading might be the process for you. Microblading is the technique of dyeing your eyebrows with a semi permanent ink, that fits with your natural hair and skin tone - whilst providing a slight shape. It lasts for about a year or so, yet it is not cheap. Prices are typically around £250 per treatment , however they do vary.

So, that was majority of what I have to say on hair removal. At the end of the day it is 100% your choice on whether you want to shave, or wax - or whether you'd rather just leave it - or wait till you're older. Yes, I may loathe the process, but I do like the result and that's why I do it. Don't ever feel that you have to wax just because everyone else is doing it - your body is your body & whatever you feel comfortable in is what you should do. One of my friends once said that she didn't have to look at her body, it was everyone else that would see her and "suffer" (though I think she's beautiful) so why should she care? And that's so important. At the end of the day, people have better things to than to hum and haw about your hairy (or hairless ) legs. I mean, do you analyse the legs of every stranger you come across? Probably not.

So, bye everyone! Blogtique is still under construction (its mainly the social media buttons etc .) Hope you liked today's post & I'll hopefully see you soon for some 'Summer Wardrobe Wants'.

Bye  mis amigas :)
           – The Blogtique x

Super Duper Quick Update

Hello!

So I know that this isn't a proper post, but I wanted to let any of you that care (wow, that came out insanely cynical) that my blog is undergoing a makeover. I know, I know, no more 'Beti-Online'. I guess you could say I just grew out of the name and wanted a more, day I say... sophisticatedly cute name (does that make sense?). This is a blog I want to keep going for as long as possible, and the name 'Beti- Online' just didn't reflect me anymore. 

  Okay, this sounds way more 'midlife crisis-esque' than I was going for. I can assure you that I have not experience a (and I quote) 'a loss of self-confidence and feeling of anxiety or disappointment that can occur in early middle age.'. I'm not even middle aged (far from it actually). The term 'Beti' was something my friends and family used in a joking manner, and when my mum suggested the name I was eager to use it- just because I found it a bit funny. That inside joke isn't really used anymore - and i've outgrown it. However, that doesn't mean i've outgrown the blog - and my writing style may have matured, but i'm still your local fangirl who loves Taylor Swift and Chinese food like crazy. I promise. 

   So say hello to 'Blogtique' (not going to lie, i'm really proud of this name - it fits 3 things I love most in one cute lil' name; fashion/beauty, blogging and... PUNS. I mean, who doesn't love a good pun?

   Anyway, I should probably sign off now. I'll try come up with a new brill' name to leave at the end of my posts, but for now I can just be '...' or , for the sake of using words, 'dot dot dot'. I'll see you (soon, hopefully) with a new content filled post soon, so brace yourself :)

Bye!

Dot Dot Dot xx

Why Are Smock Dresses Your Friend?

Hey readers,

I hope you're doing well. So, today's post is based on quite possibly my new favourite thing ; smock dresses. For those of you that don't know, a smock dress is a shapeless dress which flows and doesn't show off curves at all. Some of you might be gasping in horror, silently yelling at me for proposing such a ludicrous idea - but hear me out.
  I totally get that sometimes you do want to flaunt your figure, but that doesn't mean there aren't  times when you just want to walk out in what I call potato sack couture. For example, if you are someone that bloats easily after a meal (it's nothing to be ashamed of, I happen to be a prime suspect myself,) then a smock dress is just perfect. You can eat to your hearts content, whilst still maintaining a sleek, stylish look and not a miniture food baby (though, who knows? Maybe one day it'll be a trend,).
  For me, smock dresses are my ultimate 'BFF' whenever I enter a buffet. I'm a self confessed foodie, and when I see food, I eat it. Unless it's spinach. I will not eat spinach. Okay, that's a lie - let me rephrase that. I will not eat spinach, unless my mother is around, because jeez that woman can be forceful *shudders*. I digress. What i'm trying to say is that i'm one of those people that literally go to town when I enter a resturaunt. My motto is something along the lines of 'eat as much as possible so you don't regret not eating something in the morning' and also 'make the most of not eating you mother's cooking'. Oops, let's just wait for my mum to come raging from downstairs, shall we? I'm joking, she's great at cooking - but baking is another story. However, my first motto is 100% true.
  It is for that reason that I am known for stuffing myself at any chance I get at a resturaunt but this is often paired with a problem I mentioned earlier ; food babies. With the joy of eating, comes the fear of that tiny little bloat. The dress that fit you perfectly when you left the house is now stretched to reveal an obvious bloat. Yet this can be avoided with the trusty smock dress. If you know that you're going to be eating a jolly good amount, and you are cursed with the quick bloating - then try one of these beauties. Trust me, it's a life saver.

You can buy smock dresses from pretty much anywhere. My ultimate favourite smock dress (which I sadly don't have a picture of) was from River Island.

Anyway, that's all for now -I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you have any cute pictures of smock dresses, feel free to send them!

Bye :)

p.s They are also GREAT for twirling around like a princess. 10/10.

Holiday Haul ; Topshop, New Look , H&M... ASDA

Hey guys!

I know, I know. It's been awhile, but alas I have picked up my laptop once more and i'm back with... you guessed it (let's hope, as it is in the title of today's post,)... A HAUL! Yup, i've gone shopping recently, and when do I ever go clothes shopping without blogging about it? I'm going on holiday next week, to the lovely place such as Cornwall. As a self proclaimed shopaholic, I saw this as the perfect time to perhaps bring out the £20 note i'd saved from Christmas (though, i'll admit - my mum did buy a couple of these clothes for me, but let's forget about that for now,) and to spend it on some new wardrobe goodies! 
  The first thing I bought was this really pretty sun hat from H&M for £9.99. I've really wanted a floppy sun hat for ages now and I thought it'd be really useful for the holiday (that an the urge to splurge!) due to the lovely weather that we've been recieving recently. I chose a rather neutral colour instead of the other black hat, as I felt it looked more summery and went with more of the clothes I owned. It just looked alot brighter and happier, though i'd definitely consider wearing the black one in Winter. I've always thought that adding a hat (fedora , floppy etc.) to an outfit makes it look so much more stylish, no matter what you're wearing - and now I can say that i'm an owner of one!
  The next thing I bought from H&M, for £14.99, was a black swimsuit (or anything really, romper etc...) throwover. I know the photos don't reveal much when it comes to this piece, but it's so hard trying to take a snap of an item of clothing when you're not wearing it, so I hope you all understand. For now, i'll do my best to describe it. The throw over was yet another type of clothing that i'd wanted for awhile, but i'd never had an excuse to buy one - until now! It's a simple piece, that's plain black. The details at the hem of the sleeves and the ends of the fabric are beautiful, and give a real... 'Coachella' feel to it. I got this is the large size, just because i'm a sucker for oversized things and I thought it's nice to just throw over any summer outfit/swimsuit and isn't one of those clothes that needs to fit you to the T (and i'm fairly tall, so it wouldn't swallow me up as I know it would do to some others, so whatever you feel comfy with)
  Next up, was this lovely dress from New Look. Now, here's a small confession. Whilst I absolutely adore dresses, i'm incredibly picky when it comes to them. The first stage of choosing is to actually like the piece, and can I just shoutout New Look right now? They have some pretty awesome dresses in stock right now, so if you're free do go check them out! The second stage is liking how it looks on me. And i'll be honest with you (as we're already in the midst of a confession) i've hit a bit of a low in terms of self confidence recently, so this has heightened my pickiness when it comes to dresses. This dress was so pretty, but I was so scared of not being able to pull it off - but I was actually really happy with how it looked, It was £24 - but I love it an awful lot, and feel reallt good wearing it.
  We're nearing the end of this haul now, and the next thing up is this gorgeous swimsuit from... Asda. Yes, I know - not as fancy as some of the other shops, but by no means does that weaken my love for this buy. I needed a new swimsuit, as my old one had gone a bit awol. I didn't really expect to find anything in Asda. We'd gone to do the food shopping, but I thought 'Why not?' and was really happy with the outcome. The swimsuit is very simple, with lovely patterns on it - but not in a clustered way. I think it's super cute and feminine with it's little ruffled 'skirt' below the waist, and I just really love it. I believe it was £14, which is a total bargain (considering River Island were selling ones far more expensive). Really pleased with this purchase.
  Finally, we have my prized purchase. The one that I have highly anticipated to write about. My new Topshop jeans! These feature the ever so popular embroidered design, which I am so in love with. Funny story, actually (false alarm, it's not that funny), but i'd fallen in love with this 'embriodered craze' way before it became one. I know, I sound like i'm trying to justify myself for joining the band wagon - but i'm being serious. I'd seen a pair of jeans like this (they have the design of jackets, skirts etc.) and instantly knew I wanted one. Soon enough, they were the new trend - and I was yet to get myself a pair. However, going into Topshop I saw this lovely speciman of jeans and my mum (being the gem that she is) said she'd buy them for me as a treat! And so, here comes the hard bit... breaking the price out to you all. The jeans were a whopping £65, which is insane , but I know i'll wear them often so I consider it as a good investment. I'll admit, initially I was really skeptical over the tassles - but they've sort of grown on me. 
  So, that's it everybody. That's my Cornwall Holiday Haul! I hope you enjoyed reading, and feel free to let me know any other cute holiday pieces you've bought over the years. 

Byeeee :)