I'm back!!

Finally I am back to Luxe and Low!

Since my last post, which seems like years ago now,  I've been so busy with other projects that I've neglected my poor baby! Well anyway I'm back to blogging now and have a few new beauties to show you.

This year we have been so lucky with the weather and have had an amazing summer which always means lovely summer outfits. I pretty much stick to a uniform of black, whatever the weather, but this summer I've been tried to incorporate some more colour into my outfits through my shoes. Slowly but surely I am becoming a shoe hoarder but a woman can never have too many shoes right?

The first pair of shoes that have stolen my heart are these amazing red boots from Marks and Spencer's. So many people wouldn't even step foot into M&S but I am telling you right now that you are missing out! Their Limited Edition line is one of the best on the high street and is stylish as well as high quality.

For some reason these boots remind me a lot of the Chloe Susanna boots which retail at £795, which is a crazy price. These babies cost me a respectable £39.50 and are so comfortable. I must say they can be quite difficult to match with the right outfits but when put with a pair of blue jeans and a white tee they look incredible. I sometimes put them with an all black outfit and leave the boots as the stand out piece.

A great investment for the summer to autumn transition ladies!

Next up are a pair of boots from Primarni. To me, you can't go wrong with shoes from New Look and Primark! I've wanted a pair of Timberland boots for forever now but can't force myself to fork out the £100-something price tag. So being the bargin hunter that I (sometimes) am, as soon as I saw these I had to buy them. They come in the traditional brown colour as well as navy blue and black.

They are so comfortable and to be honest look like real Timberlands when they are on. Also a key Primark tip is ignore the Marble Arch flagship and get down to the store on Tottenham Court Road. It is my find of the summer- so much quieter and just as big as the Marble Arch store.

These 'fake' Timbs were £15 and are going to be so useful when it starts getting a bit colder :)

Last but not least are ANOTHER Primark pair - I promise I shop at other stores- that have taken prize position in my wardrobe. These blue court shoes are so flattering and lady like. They can be worn with a casual outfit as well as a going out, more dressy outfit.

These babies were £9...NINE POUNDS?!! God please save me from these ridiculous prices hahaha!

Classic, colourful and versatile, you really cannot ask for more. 

I hope you liked this quick shoe dedicated post, I am now going to be back in the full blogging swing so you can expect some fun fashion talk coming your way!

Keep it Luxe <3

Urban Retreat Flutter Couture Lash extensions

Hi loves! 

Sorry for the lack of posts in the past two weeks but I'm back with an off topic post :). So a few weeks ago my mum and I were looking into getting semi-permanent lash extensions because unfortunately our family were completely left out when God was dishing out eyelashes. For years I have struggled to find the perfect mascara which would give my lashes both length and volume without looking like a clumped mess! I do love strip lashes from Eylure but can spend an insane amount of time just trying to apply them properly. 

So after researching I decided to take the plunge and booked an appointment at Harrods Urban retreat for Flutter Couture lash extensions. When I arrived at my appointment I first met with Galina, my 'lash expert'  and discussed whether I was looking for length, volume etc. After this, my eyes were taped down (rather surgically I know!) and I was told to relax. Obviously this led to me having an amazing nap and waking up to these babies: 

BEFORE: 

AFTER:

As you can see in the pictures there really is a huge difference! After approximately 2 hours, I woke up and looked in the mirror Galina gave to me and fell in love instantly. Seriously I was obsessed with how they looked and how they really enhanced my face and tiny eyes. Because I didn't want really long lashes that made my eyes look even smaller, I opted for medium sized ones with a lovely curl. But the choice is entirely yours, if you like dramatic lashes with LOADS of length and volume then these talented girls are more than capable.

After the initial £190 for a full upper set it costs £65 for an infill and balance which should be done every 4-5 weeks. So just like a set of gel or acrylic nails! Galina who took my appointment was an extremely sweet girl who made the whole experience so relaxing and is now my certified go-to girl (if you book an appointment definitely ask for Galina).

The price might seem quite high but if you think about the cost of having to buy strip lashes and mascara all the time it doesn't seem to bad. Also on that note I should let you know that no mascara is needed AT ALL with these lashes and you have to stay away from oil based products on the eye area- so water based products only so that the glue is not interfered with. I would give my experience at my appointment and the lashes themselves 10/10! Two weeks with them and I still love them as much as I did in the beginning <3


Check out the website : http://www.urbanretreat.co.uk/Harrods/Essential_Grooming/Flutter_Couture_Lash_Extensions.aspx

Girls you NEED these lash extensions!



Keep it Luxe <3

Scuba.

Hi loves! 

It's been a while since my last post,  I've just been so busy during the past couple of weeks! But I'm back with an outfit that I am obsessed with at the moment. As you probably already know, I am a Topshop addict and the High street store has recently been impressing me with everything in store. This outfit I put together includes both a Topshop skirt and top made from a 'scuba' material - a material that has a similar texture to a scuba diving suit but much more lightweight and easy to wear. 

The stretchy neoprene material really makes the items seem much more high end than they actually are and could easily be confused with with pieces from designers like Miu Miu or Prada. I thought accessories for this outfit should be relatively simple so I styled a necklace which I THINK is from New Look (I bought it about a month ago and have completely forgotten where it's from!) 

For arm jewellery, this Moschino wrap around bracelet has pushed all other jewellery out and brings a bit more edginess to a quite girly outfit. On my feet are these amazing boots from New Look that are SO comfortable and look lovely with pretty much every outfit.

To match the small leather vibe going on, I think the black and rose gold Balenciaga 'City' bag goes perfectly. When it comes to bags I would definitely suggest all women to get a black, medium sized leather bag as they can go with everything and look effortlessly chic - to be honest a great quality faux leather bag is the best option!

I love putting outfits together and will be styling some looks every week for a new feature on the blog that I'll be calling Luxe and Low Look of the Week :) .

Top: Topshop....can be found here

Skirt: Topshop....can be found here

Shoes: New Look....can be found here 

Bracelet: Moschino.....can be found here

Bag: Balenciaga Giant City - Similar can be found here

Keep it Luxe <3

House of Holland Nails

Hi loves!

The other day I was browsing around Boots (am I the only one that has a strange addiction to Boots?!) and I randomly came across these really different false nails. Now normally I hate false nails that you stick on because I always manage to break them off within hours but when I saw this collaboration between Elegent Touch nails and House of Holland I almost sprinted to the checkout! I picked the 'Tweed' selection as the bright colours were perfect for an outfit I was thinking of wearing, However there were about 5 different selections to choose from, with some amazing nail art. EXCUSE MY OLD LADY HANDS.

The box comes with 24 nails, a nail file and nail glue so it pretty much has everything you need. When it came to the application of the nails it was extremely straightforward although I am one of the lucky ones that seem to have exactly the same size nail beds as these nails sets.  

\

Once the nails were all done, which took me less than 10 minutes, they looked AMAZING. Even though I always keep my natural nails pretty long, I must say that these were much longer than I was use to. The length at first meant I struggled to do things like text and open bottles but it did get easier after a few hours. The glue was strong and it didn't feel like my nails were going to break at all.

After a day, I phoned my sister and raved about my nails and she popped into boots and went and bought a different style which also looked really nice. One thing we both noticed is that although they looked great, they did seem quite impractical. These nails would be perfect for a night out when you've forgotten to paint your nails or you just want fabulous, quirky looking nails.

1 pack in Boots was £8.99, and considering that includes 24 nails, it is such a great price for nails that can be reused as many times as you want. Get down to Boots and check out all the other beautiful designs! I would give these nails a solid 8.5/10 :)

Keep it Luxe 

<3

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! 

Chanel vs. Louis Vuitton

Who doesn't love a fight?! 

When it comes to classic designer handbags the two heavyweights are definitely Chanel's 2.55 Flap bag and Louis Vuitton's Speedy. I thought it would be a good idea to compare these two classics which also happen to be two of my favourite handbags in my collection. So I've broken it into 3 categories, Size, Design and Value for money.

Size: In terms of size, the Speedy 35 fits a lot more than the Large flap bag. When I want to use a bag that I  can comfortably put my purse, camera, some make up and maybe a bottle of water then I reach for the Speedy as it can fit all of these with ease. In contrast, the Chanel 2.55 is considerably smaller and restricting. Although it is in the large size I find myself picking the contents of my bag much more carefully.

First point = LV Speedy. 

Design: Both bags are iconic styles and are beautifully designed. In my opinion the Speedy is designed as more of a casual option and goes so well with everyday outfits such as a pair of jeans, a plain white T and a blazer. A lot of people always ask me how I can spot a fake and one of the key giveaways is that for the speedy, Louis Vuitton use one sheet of leather meaning that one side of the bag is 'upside down' in terms of the LV monogram. The 2.55 is designed to perfection. Whether its gold or silver hardware, the bag is effortlessly chic. A key positive of this bag is the straps. It can be carried as one long strap or two shorter straps. Meaning it can be dressed up and down extremely easily. Just because of the leather, the gold hardware and the fact it is Chanel...

Second point: Chanel 2.55 

Worth the money?: Now to probably the most important issue, value for money. The Speedy 35 retails at £560 whereas the 2.55 cost a considerably higher amount at £2740. A lot of people would say that those are ridiculous prices to pay for a handbag but you really have to think long term with these sort of investments. I am 100% confident that both of these bags could easily be handed down to my future (fabulous) daughter and still have the iconic status in the fashion world. Surprisingly I would give the value for money point to Chanel. One of the key reasons is how it has held up since the first day it came out of the box. I haven't coated it in cotton wool at all but it still looks as good as new after over a year and a half! What more could you ask for?!

Third point: Chanel 2.55

Therefore my prize goes to the Chanel 2.55. To be honest there was no competition, everyone that knows me knows that this bag is my beloved baby!

Until the next battle! (I'm thinking a Celine vs Balenciaga is in order) 

Keep it Luxe 

<3

ALL HAIL Gym wear.

January aka Gymuary. A new year always brings the same resolutions for most people - 'This year I'm going to lose weight/get fit'. Why do people insist on lying to themselves every year?! But this definitely includes me. If you are like me, I always get this weird paranoia that everyone in the gym watches me and only me, then your gym wear needs to be just as fabulous as your normal clothes. 

Trainers: £85   Tee: £25   Leggings: £55

So my parents and I took a trip to Harrods last week and if you have never been to their sports section then you have to get there asap! They have everything you could think of including my favourites Sweat Betty, Under Armour, Addidas and Nike. As you can see I have a soft spot for Nike! The Nike section in Harrods has loads of fashionable gym wear and a lot of pro items.  I picked up one running tee, a pair of ankle length training leggings and the most amazing pair of Nike Free 5.0.

The colour. The pattern. The fit. Seriously one of the best training t-shirts I have ever owned, no sweat patches in sight ladies!

The trainers are definitely worth the money. Harrods in particular had a number of unique pairs for both men and women. I have even started wearing these on shopping trips! Have I really become one of those people who are trying to make gym wear a new trend?!

These leggings really are so comfortable and elasticated which makes movement so easy and free. I normally prefer shorter capri leggings but as it's winter I thought full length ones would be more appropriate.

You can also find all these items on Nike.com. But trust me, if you can, take a trip down to Harrods Sports floor!!


Keep it Luxe
<3

January Wishlist

So thank the high heavens the sale period is nearly over! Now I do love a bargain but it really feels like people turn into animals when they see the big red SALE signs. Since I haven't been shopping much since Christmas there are a few things that I have been eye-ing up: 

1. Givenchy Tee

To me Givenchy epitomises Fashion. Riccardo Tisci's mind is a creative treasure chest and it has really shown since he took over as Creative Director of Givenchy. This tank top is in the 'Madonna' print and looks so effortlessly chic with simple black leggings. Although I will definitely be saving for this special, I have seen a few dupes on the high street in both Topshop and River Island so the same look can be created on a much smaller budget. 

Givenchy Madonna print tank - £350 

2. Topshop Gingham Dress 

Like Tartan, Gingham will be a print that so many of us will be reaching for this new year. This smock dress from Topshop will flatter all body shapes and can easily transition through seasons by throwing on a pair of tights and a leather jacket during the colder months. Also anything in black and white is perfect in my eyes! 

Gingham smock dress- £38 

3. Michael Kors Selma bag 

Although I love black and white, a pop of colour in any outfit can look amazing. There is no point in describing the fabulous-ness (if only that was a word) of this piece. This bag. This colour. 

Selma Bag- £315

4. Balenciaga Arenas 

Although these are supposed to be for men, I love these trainers and need a pair ASAP. My lucky brother has two pairs in the classic black and Balenciaga's new season brown colour. However, after seeing Rihanna in the white pairs has definitely certified my love for them! Although they are quite expensive for a pair of trainers, investing in a good quality pair will always means a great cost per wear. 

Balenciaga Arenas- £355




Keep it Luxe! 
<3

Welcome to Luxe and Low!

Welcome to my blog beautiful people!! 

My name is Amira, I am 22 years old living in the greatest city on earth (yes I am up for the debate) London. For years, my family and friends have pestered me to start a blog since I have an insane obsession with everything to do with fashion, from the High street to Designer labels . I LOVE FASHION. 

So Luxe and Low will be a blog mainly surrounding Fashion and possibly some Beauty items, depending on whether something in particular has caught my eye, which is very possible. I am so excited to start blogging and sharing the clothes, shoes, jewellery I'm loving at the moment. Also this blog will FINALLY force me into using my camera on a regular basis, the poor thing is as neglected as my gym membership! 

I thought I would give a little introduction first and a few things about me: 

Name: Amira 

Age: 22

Country: England. 

Favourite High Street Stores: TOPSHOP, Urban Outfitters, River Island

Favourite Designer Stores: Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga 

Music: Beyonce. Always Beyonce.

University: LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS

Keep it Luxe 

<3