ASOS CURVE Exclusive Knitted Kimono Review

About a month ago I have bought this Kimono top which I have forgot to review to all you lovely ladies out there.   You can buy it by clicking on this link: Asos Curve Exclusive Knitted Kimono

So from the picture it is clear that it is not your average Japanese Kimono, but more of a long shrug.

Colour: It comes only in black.  However, it is important to point out that the kimono has some metallic threads which makes it more of a glittery black.  If you zoom on the pictures provided on the Asos site you will see this detail. 

Material: It is quiet difficult to describe, but it is a bit see-throughish and it is not your normal knitwear material either, it is more of an acrylic material which kind of makes it a bit uncomfortable to the skin until you get used to it. Also as it comes to material I don't suggest this to be worn as a jacket during wintery months, this should be worn under a jacket during these colds months.  For Spring the material is perfect and for Summer in my case due to the unbearable heat we have in Malta in the Summer months I don't think I would wear it as it is a little thick for Summer. 

Style:  It looks more like a long shrug.  It doesn't have any buttons so it stays open and doesn't have any ties to tie it around.  The sleeves are baggy more bat-wing styled sleeves and are three-quarters in length.

Fit: Since this is a shrug, one can afford and play around with sizing depending on the look they are going for.  If you girls out there have big arms, don't worry about going a size smaller as the sleeves will still fit comfortably since they are baggy and will still hide those back-bumps nicely.  I personally went for a size smaller than usual and was almost a perfect fit as it was still slightly big.  Length-wise it is normal in length, it is not as short a normal shrug and not too long.   

Conclusion:  This top due to having the glittery material, is ideal for night outs.  I don't recommend it for casual wear and due to it's laid-back look I also don't recommend it for formal occasions.  Still this depends on how one wears it; if you wear it over an LBD I think it would look lovely for a wedding or such other occasion and if it is worn  over a tank-top one would look effortlessly chic for a girls' night out and even for office-wear it would look nice depending on what you pair it with.  I paired it with a three-quarter sleeved knitted top and it looked great.    

I hope you enjoyed this review, feel free to ask me more questions about this product that I haven't answered or share some styling tips on how to wear this Kimono. 

Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick Review

After seeing the amount of views my post on the Max Factor Liquid Effect Pencil Eyeliner got (unfortunately no comments :( ), I have decided to write another makeup review, this time on the Max Factor Colour Elixir Lipstick.  

So Max Factor advertises the Lipstick  as; 

"For instant fabulous colour and smoother, softer* lips over time look no further than Max Factor’s new Colour Elixir Lipstick. The Elixir formula contains a 60% blend of skin emollients, conditioners and antioxidants including vitamin E, for a visible transformation in the look and feel of your lips. As you apply the Colour Elixir Lipstick, it actively moisturises and smoothes lips. Enjoy rich and gorgeous looking colour on smooth, beautiful lips!
*vs bare lips "

About the Product in General;

It is in a normal squared gold lipstick tube, which gives it a very classic look.  The lipstick inside comes in the normal lipstick shape, i.e. the teardrop shape.  At the bottom of the tube it indicates the shade of the lipstick, however do not trust that when it comes to buying these lipsticks; always test it as colour varies and sometimes even its finish varies from one lipstick shade to another, such as it may be more shimmery or is matte.  The product comes in various shades, which vary from country to country as one can note in for example the British Max Factor site and the Australian Max Factor Site.  

So does it live up to what Max Factor claims? 

The lipsticks do offer an 'instant fabulous colour' and come in a great variety of colours at that.  Not all are of the same consistency, some are more shimmery/frosty than others (e.g. Secret Cerise) while others do not have any shimmer at all (e.g. Pink Brandy).  When I use these lipsticks the shades really light up my face and give me a more fresher look.  It is important to point out that the colour of these lipsticks is very intense and not as transparent/sheer as the Revlon Lip Butters I have seen (although to be honest I haven't tried them yet, but I saw loads of pictures and videos on other blogs), even though they have a moisturising formula.

According to Max Factor, the lipsticks have a particular moisturising formula and yes it is true.  The instant I tried on one of these lipsticks my lips felt really moisturised and in my opinion I found them even more moisturising then my normal lip balms.  I have tried other lipsticks which didn't have such an instant moisturising effect as this one.  Usually after a couple of hours wearing my old lipsticks my lips would crack, which ended up ruining my whole look.  Luckily, these Max Factor Lipsticks do not chap my lips at all, which is why I have thrown away my old lipsticks and bought 4 of these babies.  

Max Factor also claims that this lipstick smoothes lips, which from personal experience I also agree with this statement as it isn't the first time that I didn't exfoliate my lips and went straight to putting on this lipstick even when I had a slight crack - the result my lips still looked smooth and not icky like when you would apply lipstick on slightly chapped lips with other brands.  

However, I would like to point out that these lipsticks do not have such a moisturising effect when one dabs a little on the lips for a very very slight pop of colour.  So to get the full moisturising effect you have to apply it as you would normally do with a lipstick.  

Now as one can note, Max Factor doesn't advertise these as long-lasting and in fact they aren't, they are pretty average when it comes to lasting power.  The colour doesn't last long, but if one applies a lip liner base before applying this lipstick then it will definitely last. 

Would I buy this again?

Of course, I have bought four in total - Secret Cerise, Pink Brandy, Chili & Sunbronze.  I always loved lipsticks, but my lips always chapped after 2-hours or so but with these my lips never get chapped and the colours are just amazing.  Also after a day wearing one of these lipsticks, the next day my lips would still feel moisturised even when the product has come off completely!

They are a bit pricey here in Malta as they are about 12Euros, but in my opinion I think they are worth every cent.  

Now below you will find a picture of me trying Secret Cerise, as I noticed it is not a very common colour to come-by.  As one can note it is a plum-pinkish colour and has a sort of frosty finish, which makes the lipstick very fun to wear.  (Note I am not wearing any lip liner)

Natural Lips

Wearing Secret Cerise

I hope you enjoyed this review and if you want me to provide you with more swatches of the shades I have I would be glad to oblige, just leave a comment ;D

Max Factor Liquid Effect Pencil Eyeliner Review

Apart from fashion I also have a love for makeup.  I am not a makeup artist, I am just your average 20 year old girl who loves makeup ;D

So I decided to review the Max Factor Liquid Effect Pencil Eyeliner.  Max Factor claims that the product does the following;

"For liquid-like intensity and long lasting colour try Liquid Effect Pencil Eyeliner and get expert precision in an easy to apply pencil. The intense finish and depth of colour of this new eye pencil gives the dramatic framing and definition you would expect from a liquid liner. Use the smart smudging tip on the end of the pencil to blend the liner slightly and take your look from day to night in one simple stroke! "

About the Product in General;

It is a pencil eyeliner and so it requires an eye-pencil sharpener.  It comes with a smudging tip on one end and can be found in 6 shades; Black Fire, Brown Blaze, Silver Spark, Lilac Flame, Violet Voltage & Green Glow.

So does it live up to Max Factor's claims?

The product doesn't offer as much intensity when applied on the eyelid.  Like many eyeliners, when testing it on your hand a lot of colour comes out, but when it is applied on the eye area it is much more difficult to get the same colour intensity as when applied on the hand.  However, decent product amount is transferred on the eye which makes it satisfactory to a certain extent, but it is not as intense as it is advertised.

Max Factor claims that it is long-lasting.  Unfortunately this isn't the case.  After 3 hours or so the colour fades and it is barely visible anymore. Probably using eye-primer will help in its longevity.

However, Max Factor is right on something it is very easy to apply unlike other eyeliners on the market.  I, who is always in a rush and not the best person out there when it comes to applying eyeliner in general, found this extremely easy to use and apply.  With a quick flick I get decent colour amount (but not as intense as claimed) and I am ready to go.  It's consistency is very soft, which makes it more fun to use unlike other eyeliners out there which I find them not so creamy to apply and sometimes I even find them too hard to be used as eye-pencils to begin with.  And although it is creamy, it doesn't smudge easily either, it just doesn't last so long.

Does it compare to a liquid eyeliner?  Well, I cannot comment on that as I haven't used liquid eyeliners for ages, but from what I recall and from what I have seen on other people, a liquid eyeliner is still better for definition rather than these pencils.

The smudging tip is quiet good, as I have tried other eyeliner smudging tips which ended up removing the eyeliner rather than smudging it.  This does the job nicely, but requires patience and very soft strokes to get the desired effect.

Would I buy this again? 

Although it isn't long-lasting and very intense; it is very easy to use, which makes me like the product and for the problem of the product it can easily be solved by reapplying.  However, I hate the price.  For lacking staying power and colour intensity and it cost me 7.80 Euros; I found it to be very pricey. 

Since I haven't come across another pencil eyeliner which offers such ease of application and also such a lovely purple colour, I would still buy it again.  I bought the Violet Voltage and I love the colour so much, that regardless of the cons I would still buy it again as I haven't found such a lovely purple shade from other brands.

Finally, here is a picture of how the product looks when applied;

Max Factor Liquid Effect Pencil Eyeliner in Violet Voltage

I hope you have enjoyed this review and feel free to comment and share your preferred eyeliners ;D  I'd love to know more about other products.  Also note I wasn't offered any money or products to do this review, so this is my honest opinion ;D

ASOS CURVE Jersey Top with Chiffon Sleeves Review

I bought this top more than a month ago, which is why I have the black version which is now sold out.  ASOS CURVE Jersey Top with Chiffon Sleeves

Colour: Currently the only colour available is the deep red.  I have the black version of this, so I cannot comment on the deep red one.

Material: Now this top has a combination of two materials.  It has a chiffon material on the sleeves which is quiet thick when considering it is chiffon, but still it is very comfy.  The rest of the top is made from viscose, which is stretchy and so one can risk taking a different size than their usual size since it stretches.

Style:  It is simple but yet fashionable.  The detail on the front is quiet cute.  I personally don't like frills but I find the detail on this top quiet tasteful, which in my opinion makes the top more versatile.  The sleeves are see-through as can be seen in the picture.  However, in my case the collar area seemed lower than as shown on the model. 

Fit: It is true to size, but due to being quiet stretchy one can play around with sizes but obviously one has to take into account their body shape.  The sleeves looked longer on me, but the end sleeve detail is quiet tight and so the sleeves didn't look frumpy but fashionable. Lenght-wise, the top is neither too short not too long, so covers the hip area nicely.  

Conclusion: This top is ideal for night outs, but if paired with certain pieces it can look quiet elegant such as if worn under a suit or blazer it would be good for work-wear or if one wears it with a tight pencil skirt or high waisted pants it would look great as lounge-wear.  As I said the top is very versatile, so it is up to you to use your fashion creativity.  My only disappointment with this top as again it doesn't come in a large variety of colours, lucky me I got the black one and all I can say is that this top will definitely be used well by me. 

Dear Asos,

After looking at the Asos Curve selection of dresses, I feel disappointed.  Although the dresses are gorgeous, not many in my opinion are flattering on a plus-size girl.  The great majority are too short and many plus-size women have huge thighs and would like them to be covered, even if one wears leggings they still wouldn't be very flattering.  Other dresses have high-waist details and girls with guts cannot wear such dresses as they wouldn't help to emphasise the good part of our curves but emphasise our flaws.
The following dresses are from the normal Asos selection which I think should be included in the Asos Curve catalog as these would be extremely flattering on the great majority of plus-size girls;
1. ASOS Midi Dress With Full Skirt

2. ASOS Pencil Dress with Square Neck

3. ASOS Midi Dress with Ruched Panels

4. ASOS Peterpan Collar Dress with Puffed Shoulders

5. ASOS Wrap Dress with Ruched Front

6. ASOS Midi Dress With Belt

7. ASOS Wrap Dress in Ponti Pencil

I have chosen these as some of the designs have ruching, which helps in hiding flaws and emphasise one's curves and which unfortunately not many dresses in the Asos Curve section have a lot of ruching detail.  Also I included a couple of midi-dress designs as a lot of dresses on Asos Curve are short and don't go beyond the knees.
Feel free to comment on whether you disagree or agree with these choices ;D

ASOS Curve Shirt With Super Long Pussybow Review

So it has been a while since I wrote a review, so recently I made a couple of purchases for the holiday season and I decided to review them to help out those who are still undecided on whether to purchase these items or not.  

This is a review for the ASOS Curve Shirt With Super Long Pussybow.

Colour: The site only offers one colour which is a wine/ deep red colour.  The colour of the actual item is almost as that shown in the picture, it is slightly lighter but still very close to the site images.

Material: It is very light fabric, so I wouldn't suggest wearing just this outside as you would end up freezing.  The fabric doesn't stretch so buy true to your size.  It also has a slight shine to it, not the glittery kind, but kind of the shine that satin has but way less shiney.  Also the fabric is very comfy and feels very nice on the skin.

Style: It is very low cut.  I had to wear a tank top underneath as my bra kept showing.  The bow didn't cover the low cut enough.  The bow as the product name states is very long, but it gives this shirt the extra fashionable factor which in my opinion makes it a more elegant piece of clothing.  The sleeves aren't as long as shown in the picture they are more 3/4 sleeves, but they are quiet baggier than that shown in the picture.  The length of the top is perfect, it is neither too long nor too short, so it covers the hips nicely.  

Fit: As I mentioned previously, the fabric doesn't allow for that much stretch.  The sizing, the bust area isn't that big.  In fact I being a small-chested girl and usually there would be still a lot of room to fill which would make certain tops very unflattering due to having so much room left in the chest area, this top had a right balance of chest area, i.e. if one is small-chested like me the top would still look good and if one has an average sized chest the shirt would look amazing, but I don't think it would fit very large-chested girls.  The tummy area was just right, in my case it was an exact fit and I would have liked a little more space.  While the hip area, since the shirt isn't very long and has a sort of a 'n' shape on the sides, the hip area wouldn't be very affected and so the fit is quiet comfy for those with large hips.

Conclusion: I suggest this top for office wear or lounge parties, but not for weddings or similar events.  It is elegant but not too elegant so it is best to be worn for those events which require some formality.  It looks great with high waisted skirts and pants and looks great when paired with a suit.  Fit is true to size so buy your size, but if you are large-chested I suggest to go a size up.  My only disappointment is that it doesn't come in other colours and styles.

99 Problems

It is a rarity when the original song sounds less awesome than the newer version sang by another artist, as it is in this case.  Enjoy ;D