All Hail Queen B!!! – The Formation Tour UK

June 30, 2016January 13, 2017Leave a comment

The UK leg of the Formation Tour has started with a bang and what better place to start than the North East of England! Like most girls born in the late 80’s and 90’s Beyoncé is my idol and when I managed to get Gold Circle 1 tickets I squealed, jumped and cartwheeled with excitement.

On Monday night I could barely sleep and jumped out of bed on Tuesday morning to panic buy a rain appropriate outfit. Yes, unfortunately in true North East style it was bucketing down with no signs of clearing up. After an hour of unsuccessful shopping I decided I would just own the rain, get wet and flick my hair around “Drunk In Love” style.

I wore some mega ripped Mom Jeans with a white crop, white Chuck Taylor’s and a silk bomber. I felt like I could of been in the background of one of the Grown Woman flashbacks!

I was heading to Bey with 4 of my best friends which is the only way to go! People scrambled for the plastic poncho’s but we marched through the crowd’s in the brightly coloured sunglasses that were being given out to the crowds, not letting anything rain on our parade. As we walked in we were handed goodie bags filled with a poncho, towel and sunglasses. We were then given VIP badges making us feel like Beyoncé herself.

DJ Khalid was the support and we danced in the rain waiting for Bey to grace us with her presence. She started with the girl anthem of 2016, Formation rocking that huge hat as the giant screen in the middle of the stage turned. We were then taken through ALL of the hits, all the way back to Destiny’s Child….but to everyone’s surprise there was no sign of Single Ladies! Maybe Lemonade and the revelations into Bey and Jay’s marriage that have been came from it has made the singer change her mind about encouraging girls to “put a ring on it” and would rather empower women to be strong, independent and show that girls really do run the world. (YASSS QUEEN)

It was an emotional rollercoaster, I’m not sure if that is because of the moving heartfelt lyrics of Lemonade or the atmosphere in the Golden Circle but as she belted out Freedom me and my Bestest belted it out too with tears streaming down our face. She closed with Halo turning everyone into emotional wrecks, even me, which I still cannot believe as I’m known as an Ice Queen (emotion isn’t really my thing). Beyoncé’s powerful presence clearly had an effect on me.

If you are going to a one of the Formation Tour dates, you are in for the best concert of your life. The staging, 36 song set list, dancers and overall show was phenomenal but for someone to sing, dance and perform like that all at once, (without breaking a sweat) is beyond amazing and something to be admired. All Hail Queen B!!!!!

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Love Lottie xxx

P.S. THAT ASS!!!!!!!

New York by night – 5 things to do with your New York evenings

June 24, 2016January 13, 20171 Comment

New York is the city that never sleeps so you need to pack your nights with as much fun as you do during the day. These are some of the things I did on my recent trip to NYC and I would recommend you try to squish in as many as possible. I’ve also added some tips to make the most out of your trip saving as much as possible!

See a show!!! – A show in New York is a must! If theatre isn’t really your thing usually there will be something on in New York which will bring out your theatrical side. I personally would thoroughly recommend Matilda, Kinky Boots, Wicked and Book of Mormon (only if you aren’t easily offended). These shows are the big hitters on Broadway and therefore come with a big price tag for tickets costing around $100 – $200 per ticket. For huge discounts on these shows and loads more you need to plan a trip to your closest TKTS Box Office. Under those iconic red steps in Times Square is the biggest TKTS Box Office with discounted tickets for loads of shows, discounts range between 20% – 50% so you can grab yourself a bargain. If you buy your tickets from TKTS you are also supporting a non profit organisations, the Theatre Development Fund so its win win! You need to get there just before the office opens and be prepared to queue, the queue moves fast and its definitely worth it. For more information https://www.tdf.org/ is the place to be.

If you are relaxed about what you see and the big names don’t draw you in don’t be afraid to see something off Broadway. The small intimate theatre’s and small casts create a really personal experience. I went to see Newsical at the Kirk Theatre and laughed from start to finish.

Take me out to the Ball Game – A Baseball game is an amazing way to spend an evening, perfect for summer evenings. The food drinks and atmosphere are so good and even if you don’t normally enjoy sports there are fun games and entertainment on in between innings. I wouldn’t say there was any need to pre book your seats before your trip unless you really want to be close to the action, teams play against each other for a few nights in a row so I would recommend keeping an eye on StubHub and grab some bargain seats a couple of days before you plan to go.

Soho Nights – SoHo was my favourite place to go out on a evening, the atmosphere is so cool and the bars are relatively close to each other. New York is known for having the coolest spots in the most unlikely places including some bars which don’t even have sign and one which is hidden inside a Five Guys (apparently) so be prepared to give small low key bars a chance and explore this sneaky underground scene. If you are going to be eating in SoHo you have to go to The Mercer Kitchen, amazing food, cocktails and wine in a cool cellar venue and the perfect pre drinks meeting place is just up the road on the corner of Crosby Street, Back Forty West.

Comedy Show – Times Square will be full of people selling you Comedy Show tickets, I have always thought these were a little cheesy and never appealed to me. They also aren’t cheap, especially when you find out about the Comedy Cellar. The Comedy Cellar in Greenwich Village is a famous venue and the starting place for some huge Comics, the walls are full of pictures of huge stars performing in this intimate little venue. Tickets are only around $12 – $14 dollars on weeknight and go up for $20 – $24 on a weekend. Big groups can’t sit together so if you are bigger than a party of 8 then make two bookings.

When I was there we saw a range of up and coming comics and then when we thought it was over they announced that a surprise guest had came down to perform, Craig Robinson (aka Daryl from the US Office and Nick from Hot Tub Time Machine) walked on stage, he did a hilarious musical performance and left the night on the high. Anything can happen at the Comedy Cellar and you never know who will walk in, for $12 its an amazing and bargain night!

Roof Top Bars – New York is full of amazing roof top venues there are so many but you need to match the venue to your style or the kind of night you are planning. For amazing views I would recommend 230 Fifth in central Manhattan, you get a perfect views of the Empire State. If you are looking for a more chilled experience then you have to go to the Meatpacking District, there are loads of cool beer gardens and roof top venues, my favourite was Brass Monkey which was a cute roof top garden. Next door to Brass Monkey is an authentic German beer garden, The Standard Biergarten, serving every beer you can imagine and playing sports on huge screens. There is something to suit everyone!

Make the most of your trip!

Love Lottie xxx

NYC Looks – Perfect Outfits for New York Pt 2

June 20, 2016January 13, 20171 Comment

I have loved planning my outfits for New York but have enjoyed scrapping my plans and throwing together things at the last minute more. These looks were the result of ditching my plans and experimenting with the two cases full of clothes I brought with me to New York. Never be afraid to experiment!

Tribeca Lunch Date – Tribeca is a super cool, trendy area of New York and home to Queen B herself. It’s like Soho but more residential with boutique style shops and Cafe’s rather than the big chain names.

Dress – Lindsey Sleeveless Midi Dress, Boohoo.com – £12

Waistcoat – Long Waistcoat, Zara – £29.99 (Sale Alert! was £39.99)

Shoes – Classic White Vans (back at it again with the white Vans) – £45

Sunglasses- Zara – £15

Bag Chanel – Chanel, Handbag Clinic – £2300

Drinks in the Meatpacking District – The Meatpacking District is a really cool area with secret cellar bars and roof top terraces, no need to get dressed up too much, everything goes!

Dress – Asos off shoulder mini dress, Asos – £15

Boots – Suede Heeled Ankle Boots (Tan), River island – £65

Bag – Tassel Bucket Bag, Saint Laurent – £493

Sunglasses – Ralph Lauren – £90

Choker – River Island – £5

Baseball Game

T Shirt – Claudia Schiffer T Shirt, Zara – £9.99 (Sale Alert, was £14.99)

Jeans – Mollie High Waisted Jeggings, River Island – £40

Denim Jacket – Oversized Denim Jacket, Topshop – £45

Trainers – Internationalist Nike Trainers, Net-a-Porter – £55

Sunglasses – Zara – £15

Sunny Day in Long Island City – Long Island City is a really cool place with amazing places to eat and the best views of Manhattan!

Baseball Hat – Violet Baseball Hat, Boohoo.com – £6

Vest – Asos Vest Body (2 pack, black and white), ASOS – £20

Denim Shorts – Denim Low Rise in Clover, ASOS – £20

Shoes – Classic White Vans – £45

Sunglasses – So Real, Christian Dior – £240

Bag – Louis Vuitton Speedy Bandoulerie (Damier Ebene) – £850

Love Lottie xxx

5 things to do in New York this Summer – Daytime

June 17, 2016January 13, 2017Leave a comment

I’ve been in New York for over a week now and spent as much time as possible making the most of being in this beautiful city. I previously have only been to New York in the winter so have loved seeing a different side to the Big Apple. If you are coming to New York in the warmer months these things should definitely be on your To Do list.

Top of the Rock – The Rockefeller Centre is an amazing building and provides the best views of New York from its roof deck. I would recommend doing the Top of the Rock over the Empire State for the views as you can see the whole of Central Park and the Empire State in all its glory. A basic ticket is $32 and worth every penny.

Sunbathe in Central Park – Central Park is always a highlight of visiting New York. There is a huge grassed area called the Great Lawn where you can see the city through the trees. The whole place is filled with people having fun and relaxing which creates an amazing atmosphere. Central Park is full of things to do and see so just because the famous ice rink has been packed away doesn’t mean this shouldn’t be high on your list of things to do.

Drinks at the Leob Boathouse – While you are in Central Park you have to visit the Leob Boathouse, this iconic venue is beautiful and the perfect place for drinks on a sunny afternoon. You can sit back and relax watching the boats while sipping on Cocktails, (the French Bulldog is my personal recommendation). I was sat inches from where Carrie and Big fell in the lake in the 4th Series of SATC and a short walk away is the location for Chuck and Blair’s wedding on Gossip Girl so if your addicted to a Girly Netflix binge like me then the Boat House is a must see!

BRUNCH – Betches love Brunch and Brunch in NYC is a MUST! There are so many places that offer an amazing brunch and I did some thorough research before picking my destination. I started with a list of 12 venues that were all recommended to me by someone who lives in the City and wittled that list down to just one, Miss Lily’s. Miss Lily’s is a Caribbean, beach shack themed venue in Greenwich village serving eggs with a Carrebian twist, jerk chicken and their own version of a Bloody Mary, a Hot Stepper. The bottomless brunch menu is just $30 for an Entrée and 2 hours of bottomless cocktails and the amazing staff never let you have an empty glass. The DJ plays out Reggae and the atmosphere is perfect for a sunny afternoon. The staff are always dancing as they keep your cocktails full and serve amazing Entrée’s such as chicken and waffles, Jamacian Rancheros and my choice, the Coconut Pancakes.

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The Met – The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the best place to be if you have a cloudy day. For just $25 you can spend the whole day seeing Art from around the world and many time periods. Currently The Met is featuring an amazing exhibit bringing technology and fashion together, Manus Machina. There are pieces from Chanel, Prada, Saint Laurent and every other Fashion House you can imagine. The pieces are exquisite and even more impressive when you read how they were made, some are made by 3D printer and one Chanel gown is made entirely of the iconic Camelia Rose’s which each take around 90 minutes to make, the whole dress shows hours of intricate work and looks amazing for it.

I hope you get to enjoy New York as much as I have!!!

Love Lottie xxx

NYC Looks – Perfect Outfits for New York Pt 1

June 13, 2016January 13, 2017Leave a comment

I’ve been exploring New York for 3 days now and have crammed in seeing everything from West Village to the Upper East Side.These have been my looks and most importantly where I got them!

1 – Drinks in the West Village

Jeans – Mom Jeans, Topshop – £42

Top – Basic Crop Top (Tall), Topshop – £6

Blazer – Zara – £65

Shoes – Zara – £29.99

Bag – Chanel, Handbag Clinic – £2300

Look 2 – Exploring Long Island City

T-Shirt Dress9 – Cara, BooHoo.com – £8

Denim Jacket – Oversized Denim Jacket, Topshop – £45

Shoes -White Classic Van’s (Dammmnn) – £45

Sunglasses – So Real, Christian Dior – £240

Bag – Chanel, Handbag Clinic – £2300

Look 3 – Brunch

Sun Dress – Lace Insert Sundress, Topshop – £29

Denim Jacket – Oversized Denim Jacket, Topshop – £45

Boots – Suede Heeled Ankle Boots (Tan), River island – £65

Sunglasses – Sideral, Christian Dior – £290

Bag – Chanel, Handbag Clinic – £2300

Love Lottie xxx

Flight Essentials

June 10, 2016January 13, 20171 Comment

I fly A LOT and usually long haul, over the years I have learnt how to make my flying experience as comfortable and easy as possible. These are my top tips for anyone jumping on a plane this summer:-

Comfortable (buy stylish) Outfit – Every flight I used to get on I would be in heels, full face of make-up and jeans, always glam. After having to remove my shoes and run the length of 3 Heathrow Terminals, being delayed on the runway for 3 hours and deciding a value sleep more than looking good this soon stopped. Now it’s all about comfort!

Firstly underwear is so important, no one wants to be sat for 7 hours with an underwire poking them in the rib or lace slowly being imprinted on your bum. Thanks to the countless celebrities making Calvin Klein bralets and full briefs popular its now acceptable to not wear an actual bra to so many occasions (YASSS) and they are a must have for flying. Pink, Tommy Hilfiger and even Topshop have their own versions of these little beauties perfect for every style and budget.

Trainers are another must, Airports are huge and you never know when you will get that delay and need to run carrying all your carry on to make a connecting flight. My Nike Air Pegasus ‘83’s are my choice of foot wear for any flight, comfy and go with everything. For my flight today to New York I’ll be wearing them with some Ivy Park Leggings and my sassy “YASSS QUEEN” top from Betches.

Flights also tend to be a little colder so even if you heading out to 30 degrees and sunshine always pack a hoody or jumper for the flight as well as a pair of socks. I never fly without a pair of Hello Kitty socks!

Supplies – Even if you are flying on a flight were you get food and drinks as part of your ticket fare I would always recommend grabbing a bottle of water and a snack in the airport. You will never know the menu until you get on the flight and if they aren’t serving something you like then it’s a long time to go with nothing! Also the drinks on flights are small and they also don’t come round too often, especially if you are flying at night. If I have ever had to rush through an Airport and forget to pick up some water I spend the whole flight climbing over the person next to me to go ask for water, it doesn’t make you very popular!

Entertainment – Before you leave for the flight check the airlines website and look at what’s available on the entertainment package. Some airlines charge for the latest movies so look out for that as spending hours choosing between the bottom of the Netflix barrel is the worst. Checking the entertainment before you fly will allow you to download the latest box set to your tablet or lap top or bring enough books to keep you going.

Another must for entertainment is comfy headphones, if they are going to be on your head or in your ear for pretty much the full flight they need to be comfortable. Bose do a sound cancelling headphones are amazing, even if you need to sleep you can put these in and cancel out all the sound around you completely.

Don’t forget your chargers and make use everything is fully charged before leaving, there is nothing worse than 20% battery anxiety. Flights tend to have a USB plug so you can charge your phone or tablet and Business Class seats on British Airways have a plug socket. This is an American plug fitting though so if you need to use it you will also need an adapter.

Toiletries – Even though you can only take 100ml of any liquid on a flight its worth working out a way to get your skin care and toiletries on that flight. If you need to sleep on the flight it’s so nice doing your nightly routine before getting comfy and means you can freshen up before landing. I use Clarins skin care and whenever I can get a sample size I always pick my essentials, cleanser, day cream, night cream and eye make-up remover and use them for flights. I also pack a toothbrush, toothpaste, a moisturiser, lip balm, deodorant, comb and my basic make up items. Everything I need to get ready for bed, freshen up in the morning and feel amazing for arriving at my destination. They also come in handy in case your luggage is delayed (which has happened to me 4 times now!!!).

Set Up – You have to get your seat right, first selecting your seat always try to get a seat with that little extra leg room, these are at the front of the flight, emergency exits and at the beginning of any Class Cabin. Some airlines charge for these but others its first come first serve so check in early and grab those seats.

Once you are in your seat you need to make sure you have everything you need in reaching distance, there is nothing worse than having to go through a mini yoga routine to reach up and pull all the overhead luggage out mid-flight, or even worse, the seat belts signs staying on for what seems like a life time while your left pining for your head phones. At about this time I would put on my Hello Kitty socks and press play on a good girly film ready to start my trip in comfort!

Enjoy your next flight!!!!

Love Lottie xxx

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Classic Glam – Make Up Look

June 6, 2016January 14, 2017Leave a comment

This week my favourite Make Up look was this glam, 40’s feel look I wore on Saturday night. Red lips and a serious eyeliner flick is always creates a dramatic, glam look, perfect for a Saturday night out with the girls! All the products I used are listed below and I recommend every single one. The NYX Eyeliner Mousse in Epic Black is my new favourite product, so easy to use, creates a dramatic deep black line and at only £9 from Boots I think its a bargain!

Face

Clarins Everlasting foundation, Shade 112 –£28

MAC blusher – The blush I used was limited edition from a little while ago, but Plum Foolery is a very close match! – £18.50

NYX Powder Contour Pallet – £18

Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Pallet (Crushed Pearl) – $40

Urban Decay Setting Spray – £22

Eyes

NYX Matte Eyeshdow, Lap Dance – £3.50

MAC Eyeshadow, Brown Down – £13

Urban Decay Eyeshadow, Riff – £14

MAC pigment, Vanilla – £16

NYX, Eyeliner Mousse, Epic Black – £9

H&M eye pencil, Panther – £3.99

H&M Mascara, Best Curl Friend – £7.99

Eylure Cheryl Lashes, Girls Night – £6

Lips

Christian Louboutin, Rouge Satin – £65

NYX Slide On Lip Pencil – Red Tape – £5.50

Brows

Anastasia Beverly Hills brow definer, Soft Brown – $23

Love Lottie xx

The New It Mulberry

June 3, 2016January 13, 20171 Comment

Mulberry have certainly been doing some revamping recently, from bringing back their vintage stamping to renovating their classics and ditching styles such as the Del Rey to make room for some new pieces. Mulberry has grown from strength to strength over the years and always seem to bounce back with new styles that quickly become a must have item.

As I buy Handbag’s for Handbag Clinic everyday I see a huge mix of Mulberry but nothing beats the Bayswater. Bayswater’s that come into our stores fly out with in minutes of being posted online or being placed on the shelf. The one photographed below was placed into our Newcastle store and sold in just 10 minutes!!! I’m sure the new sleeker, Celine esque Bayswater will be a huge hit.

If you are looking for a great quality, authentic, pre owned Mulberry (for roughly 50% less than in Mulberry) then keep you eyes on Handbag Clinic’s Facebook and Instagram, @handbagclinic . Bags will soon be available to buy online also so look out for that at the end of June.

In honour of the Bayswater’s new look here are some cool facts about how it came to be Mulberry’s most iconic bag:

Mulberry usually named their bags after rural locations in England but the Bayswater was one of the first Mulberry icons to venture into the city. The name Bayswater is taken from an upmarket, leafy district of London.
Mulberry was launched with just £500 in 1971 by mother-and-son team Joan and Roger Saul but the iconic Baywaster was designed by Nicholas Knightly who joined the company in 2002.
The Bayswater’s was inspired by a practical Doctors bag and the stylish Hermes Birkin design. This hybrid perfectly mixes practicality and style making it the perfect modern woman’s bag.
The Bayswater was crowned the first ever British “It Bag”.
The Bayswater has been carried by a huge range of celebs, Kate Moss, Alexa Chung, Fearne Cotton and Michelle Keegan are huge Mulberry fans and have regularly been papped with a Bayswater on their arm. The bag has even made it stateside on the like of Lauren Conrad, Blake Lively and Emma Roberts

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Lauren Conrad and Lo Bosworth were seen shopping at Kitson on Robertson Blvd. Then on to Agent Provocateur on Melrose Avenue finally after working up quite the appetite they chowed down at El Coyote mexican on Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles, Ca.

Pictured: Lauren Conrad

Ref: SPL41204 260708
Picture by: Rob Rosen / Splash News

Splash News and Pictures
Los Angeles: 310-821-2666
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London: 870-934-2666
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Love Lottie xxx

lottiehelen

Style – Travel – Beauty

Month: June 2016

All Hail Queen B!!! – The Formation Tour UK

New York by night – 5 things to do with your New York evenings

NYC Looks – Perfect Outfits for New York Pt 2

5 things to do in New York this Summer – Daytime

NYC Looks – Perfect Outfits for New York Pt 1

Flight Essentials

Classic Glam – Make Up Look

The New It Mulberry