Autumn essentials for your wardrobe

Autumn is finally here, my favourite season is upon us and I can't wait to share the greatest fashion trends for Autumn this year. I've been keeping a record of many bold styles and patterns that I feel are on trend right now, below I'll be sharing a collection of my favourite looks from some of my favourite online retailers. This is without a doubt my time of the year and the trends I am seeing today accent my wardrobe perfectly!

Lets get started so you can get shopping...

Animal Print

You won't need me to tell you that animal print has made it's yearly come back. The main print of the season is Zebra print and Snake skin which have been worn by many celebrities like Rihanna, Steff Lon Don, Rita Ora, Cardi B and Nicki Minaj. Fashion week was filled with animal print galore and I was there to experience the masters at work, showcasing their wearable art (faux of course). 

 Featured on my blog- How I style animal print

 credit- Pretty Little Thing

 credit- Pintrest

credit- Pintrest

As you can see the more print the better, I love to style prints together like this especially with a chunky fur coat, knee high boots and a thick belt to hold me in at the waist. Rihanna and Nicki have gone all out on their bold prints even down to the shoes they wear, so if you plan to be bold this season animal print is the look for you. Find similar styles like these on PLT, Boohoo and Missguided. 

Pinafores

I've always enjoyed styling a cute Pinafore, yes it may take you back to the early 90s (your awkward phase) but its one of the most comfortable clothing items to date and I feel it suits every shape and figure. I've noticed theres a theme to this season and most of it is taking us back to the late 80's early 90s where Fashion was at its best! Many online retailers are showcasing their unique versions of a Pinafore and styling them ready for Autumn. My advice would be to always wear flats when it comes to a Pinafore, style them with thick tights, long or short sleeved top/polar neck and cute pumps or winter boots. Below you can see that PLT have styled their Pinafores with short sleeves and even a jumper!

 credit- Pretty Little Thing

 credit- Pretty Little Thing 

Teddy Jackets

Teddy jackets are new to my fashion radar. Picture them as if your summer jean jacket has been revamped into a north pole cuddly teddy bear. All the rage this season and Autumn 17 I'm finally ready to make my first purchase! They come in many colours and sizes and work perfectly for the hot and cold Autumn Season. I'd love to style this jacket with a thin knit jumper, thick jeans and boots. You could also buy a oversized version to throw off your shoulders, wrap a fanny pack round your waist and finish the look off with some knee high boots. I'm looking forward to styling the Teddy jacket this season and I can see this being a trend over the Christmas period as well. 

 credit- Missguided

 credit- Missguided

Shell Suit co-ord

I'm not fighting it but the 80s are back! Have you ever watched the Fresh Prince of Bel-air and wondered why Will Smith's style is more on point than your current wardrobe today? Shell suits are here to prove that fashion really does come round full circle and we love it all! You could say Shell suits like the one listed below are more a summer/festival vibe but no. Autumn is the season for the shell suit and this cute co word set has been catching my eye on many online retailers and in a variety of colours as well. I would style this with skin coloured tights (because it is still Autumn) and sexy black heels, add the big gold hoops and you're ready to go. This co ord can be dressed up or down, either way its here to stay and we love it.

 credit- Pretty Little Thing

Tartan

Tartan is a very old yet a very popular print that we usually associate with Scottish Kilts, unless you're like me... 

When I think of Tartan I think of Clueless and Friends, Rachel was an icon when it came to her cute yet sassy fashion sense and we all know why Clueless comes to mind (who pulls off yellow tartan)!

Tartan has made a MAJOR come back this season. I've never seen so much love for Tartan like I am seeing now, it was so hard to get your hands on a Tartan blazer 5 years ago and now Boohoo have a whole range for you to choose from. Primark are also selling cute Tartan skirts with thick knit jumpers and I love the short cropped jumpers with a tartan skirt, thick tights and pumps. 90s Rachel can now make her come back and as always I'm all here for it. 

credit- Pintrest

 credit- Boohoo

 credit- Pintrest

Throughout the Autumn season you'll see many quirky styles thrown together, Autumn is all about layers and patterns. Most of the time people like to blend in with the Autumn trees, the leaves are a style of their own and thick knits are finally back on trend again. Enjoy styling your key pieces and remember that theres no such thing as too much when it comes to this colourful Season.

Catch me on insta @ccwhitegold for more... 

CCX

Holiday Look Book- Fashion Pieces.

Just imagine the sea, the waves, the sand and everything that comes with a Summer holiday crashing together as one. I hope you enjoy my Holiday Look Book showcasing some of my main fashion pieces on my amazing Holiday in Fuerteventura.

Enjoy

Airport Swag

 Vans- https://www.vans.co.uk/shop/en/vans-gb/checkerboard-classic-slip-on-shoes-veyebww#hero=0 

Barbie Backpack- https://www.truffleshuffle.co.uk/product/22331/pink-barbie-logo-backpack?msclkid=e442d46ef3cf11f073c68ff7b29c4edd&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%20Campaign&utm_term=4578847454499146&utm_content=Bing%20Shopping%20NEW 

New York T- https://www.missguided.co.uk/black-new-york-white-oversized-t-shirt-dress-10106537 

Holiday Vibes

 

 PLT Oriental Dress- https://www.prettylittlething.com/red-oriental-print-high-neck-extreme-split-maxi-dress.html 

I hope you felt inspired scrolling through this Look Book, keep updated by following my instagram- ccwhitegold

I'm now preparing for Autumn my favourite Season, I'm excited to see where Fashion will take us throughout the rest of this year so subscribe to my Blog to see much more in the near future.

CCX

My Fitness Journey

 Knowing that I've covered Gym Blogs before I came to realise that I haven't shared my Fitness story. Heres just a little glimpse into my life and what has helped shape me into the woman I am today.

I'll try and keep this short and sweet, so here goes... 

My First Hobby

I was first introduced to fitness by my Mum and Dad. My Mum being a sporadic Gym goer and my Dad rocking a hard 8 pack which I essentially wanted for myself. My parents were and always have been very active people whether they were, working around the house, going to work itself or just simply working out! I joined a Gym at 11 with my Mum where I attended 3 classes a week.

Growing up I was a very shy and a quiet little Girl, in other words the complete opposite to the woman I am today. Why would I start hobbies? That includes spending time AWAY from my Mum and not hiding under her skirt! (my favourite hiding place).

The only time I showed interest in anything was on holiday in Spain it was 2008 the year of the olympics. I was waiting anxiously for my Mum to hurry her ass up so I can jump into the pool as soon as possible when I saw a glimpse of the Synchronised swimming being covered on the tele. I was in awe and turned to my Dad and said "whatever they're doing there, I want to do that!" My Dad practically leapt for joy telling my Mum "Look, she's showing interest in something for once" haha!

So there I was a few weeks later into my Summer break, my Dad was practically searching for local pools on the flight home and he set me up for a 2 week taster sesh at the Brentwood Synchronised Swimming team. Needless to say I adored it and felt so proud and happy with myself that I was finally doing something that I loved. Synchronised Swimming helped shape me in many many ways, it taught me dedication, commitment, responsibility and the hard lesson of practice makes perfect!

I remember a few times I would cry into my goggles at the bottom of the pool, since we all acted like mermaids allot of things would happen there. I worked so hard on a figure and thankfully didn't give up because it really is true! Practice practice practice and you will see the results! The sport also helped with my confidence at school, it was fun doing something that was unique in the hobby world and after 14 years of winning Golds, Silvers, Bronze and finally best in Essex. I went as far as I could without becoming team GB (since it wasn't for me) I then hung up my nose clip and started to coach other swimmers in the team.

credit- Pintrest

Synchro Perks

• Helps with posture (stand tall with shoulders back always)
• Works every muscle in the body, no exaggeration needed.
• Builds arm strength and helps with definition  
• Helps breath control and teaches you how to hold your breathe for a long amount of time
• Builds strong legs, especially thighs. Thank me later.
• You'll never feel dehydrated ever again!
• Builds a core like no other

Synchro is incredibly strenuous on the body, you'll have the core of a Spartan and every single muscle works over time as soon as you step in the pool. Training in the pool is my favourite, you never feel your self sweating, you never feel your full body weight plus the elegance of the water you won't find anywhere else. I know I'll always be a swimming fanatic and I'm so grateful to have learnt such a unique form of dance.

Gym and Heartbreak

During my Synchronised Swimming years I got into a great routine of working out at home. My Dad had various gym equipment which for a newbie like me was enough to work with. These were- a gazelle for my legs, an ab cruncher chair (don't ask), a stack of weights, resistance bands and kettle bells. I slowly created a cute little gym session for myself which would take place in my parents bedroom, yes you read that correctly!

During this time I went through an annoying yet life changing break up which resulted in me spending even more time at home working out. I put all my negative and heart breaking energy into my work outs which in the long run helped me heal immensely. Getting into this routine made me fall in love with training outside of the pool and in the comfort of my own home. 

Seeing the benefits of my hard work helped my confidence grow more and more, so much so that a good 2 years later I met the love of my life. We both had many similar passions, one of those being working out. 

Theres nothing more attractive to me than a confident man who is willing to put some hard earned time in to working on himself and his health! Later in our relationship I was slowly pushed into joining an actual Gym and cancelling my membership in my Parents bedroom. I then started an ongoing Gym routine 3-4 evenings a week at a small Gym. 

credit- google

Gym Benefits 

Theres so many benefits but heres the ones that I've noticed in me.

• Clears the mind
• Builds body confidence
• You'll find a routine that works for you therefore helping to sculpt your body 
• GAINS!
• Helps with self development 
• Reduces health risks
• It's an excuse for a banging playlist
• Helps posture
• Working out releases the happy hormone, great after a long and hard day!

Yoga- Namaste

I started Yoga around the same time that I started working out at home. I'm very double jointed and Yoga helps me release pressure in my joints whilst keeping my flexibility from Synchro. I worried that I would lose my curvy pointed foot and my flexible abilities so Yoga was a big must for me outside of the water, plus it's a great stretch when you're sore from the Gym. I tried many Yoga DVD's throughout the years but now I follow a Youtube channel called- BoHo Beautiful. 

I love the scenery and the hippy vibes, plus its for all people you just need to find the one that works for you. I also like to mix in some pilates and meditation as well. I'd definitely recommend her channel, all you need is a mat and some water.

One of the many things I love is that theres different types of Yoga. Theres ones that focus on certain body parts and even sessions that help you wind down or set you up for the day. I'm not a major Yoga expert so I won't go into the other forms but I do know that I enjoy Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga.

credit- Pintrest

Yoga Benefits

• Increased Flexibility
• Increased muscle strength 
• Helps to maintain a balanced metabolism 
• Increases blood flow to help the joints
• Puts you in a meditated state
• Stretches the muscles 
• aligns your Chakras (see below)
• Improves posture

credit- Pintrest

So there it is! My fitness journey so far, I hope you enjoyed this Blog. If you have any questions regarding the Chakras, Synchro, my Gym routine please feel free to comment below or DM me on Insta- ccwhitegold

Heres to a happy and healthy future for us all, please continue to be open to the universe and all the beauties it has to offer! Get out there and get active <3

CCX

Met Gala 2018- Find the look!

Fashions biggest Gala has hit our screens again, showcasing the worlds most spectacular dresses. You may try to run away from it but you can't, every social media outlet can't help but showcase the many beautiful designs from the incredible and iconic designers. I like to call it a Designers Halloween, the themes excite us all as we anxiously wait for some of the worlds biggest stars to walk those iconic steps and carpet.

This year marks my favourite theme so far- Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. Being a fashionista myself I couldn't help but find many similarities with some of the outfits; compared to online retailers. Here I am going to showcase my favourite looks of the night and where you can find similar looks online!

Where do I even begin... 

J-Lo

Credit- Hawtcelebs

J-Lo SLAYED this outfit! I am all here for this dress plus the high high heels to finish off this look. The detail on this dress is much appreciated, plus the choppy bob helps showcase the symbolic frame over her shoulders  and then falling over a beautiful physique. I'm happy that the tail of the dress is plain and not overly decorated so you naturally look at the dress itself and the icon wearing it! Seeing this for the first time I thought of Missguided and their latest looks, I made a couple purchases a few weeks back as I love the embelished Cross. 

Shamefully we won't be finding this exact dress online any time soon but the inspiration is definitely there. Missguided styles the Cross on many different pieces as you can see, I myself own the cute boots and love to style them with jeans and a duster coat or a cute dress. 

https://www.missguided.co.uk 

Kim K West

 Credit- Vogue

If anyone can pull off a dress like this its Kim K! As much as we doubt her 'natural' curves, her figure alone can make a bin bag into Versace's next line. I love the simplicitty of this dress considering the attention to detail on many others at the Gala. I also love the subtle placements of the Crosses on the dress and the elegant flow of this material simply falling over her curves. 

Below you'll see two dresses from Missguided and Boohoo, I think you'll notice they have been modelled on women with darker skin which to me essentially works! Each to their own of course but for someone as pale as me, I would look like a walking ice pop than I would a walking Goddess.

Kim K can't help but remind me of Cleopatra here, the bold eyes and slick back hair have thrown a simple look into a bold statement well done to the Queen Versace for this incredible dress.

 Credit- Missguided

Credit- Boohoo

Ariana Grande

 Credit- USA news

Looking like a walking Sistine Chapel, Ariana definitely read the invite and read it good! Delicate vibes surround this dress with its baby blue tint and chiffon layer. With her cute and petite frame Ariana can't help but look like a Disney Princess in the making. I love the elegancy of this gown and all that it stands for.

PLT did have a very similar print to this on a shorter and tighter dress, shamefully it looks like its all sold out so below I found the closest looks to this divine piece. 

 Credit- PrettyLittleThing

 Credit- PrettylittleThing

Rihanna

 Credit- Harpers Bazaar

Ri Ri always has and always will have my heart, especially when it comes to fashion. Is there a look that Rihanna can't pull off?
Here we see the heavy embellished and most detailed gown to hit the Met Gala this year, as you can see Rihanna also took the theme literally! Some are calling her a sexy Pope I just call it Rihanna! This stunning outfit and Popes hat has everyone talking, so much so that Rihanna has unofficially been crowned the best dressed guest. Below you will see some inspirations I found if you're going for a detailed look like Ri Ri's. 

 Credit- PrettyLittleThing Premium range

 Credit- PrettyLittleThing Premium range

Lena Waithe

 Credit- Vogue

Probably the most powerful message on a Met Gala Runway, Lena thrives in this incredible cape; considering the theme of the night. Celebrating LGBT in the finest way I applaud her for this bold yet brilliant statement at fashions most talked about event. I have mentioned in recent posts about the rainbow theme and its great effect on our style this summer.

 Boohoo have kindly helped me to keep my word and have added an amazing new range (probably for the festivals) helping those inspired by this look to add a hint of rainbow to your every day outfit.

 Credit- Boohoo 

Credit- Boohoo 

There you have it, fashions most talked about event and the most inspiring looks to date. I hope you all enjoy the inspiration behind these looks and find your own way to style and accessorise in your beautiful unique way. 

CCX

LFW Highlights

London Fashion Week has been and always will be the most exciting Fashion event to hit London. Every year the most expensive and well known Models grace our catwalks wearing the worlds best designs from the biggest names in the business! 

This year LFW exploded with colourful creativity and as always uniqueness.

Here i'll be covering my 3 favourite catwalks and where you'll find similar versions/inspirations to purchase these looks at home.

Armani- Patterns and Pastels

Credit- Pintrest

It's safe to say Armani had some colourful moments, showcasing beautiful pastel colours and baggy suits. This can be seen as quite risky but of course Armani pulls it off!

I loved the thin striped features flowing through the materials, adding that glimpse of shape and colour whilst wearing a thin and heavy layer.

A rainbow can be added to any colour especially down the sides of a tracksuit or dress but here Armani shows many lines in many ways and it just works.

Some outfits like the picture below; flaunt many patterns, colours you name it! Yet Armani managed to stay in their pastel theme, no dark colours here just light colours for all.

This particular pattern reminded me of a beach bag or your Dads workout pants back in the 80s! Now you should know that Catwalks are made to showcase your most insane and expressive styles and i'll be the first one to tell you that fashion always comes back around so who better to reintroduce this fun and exciting look than Armani itself. 

I'm ready for these beautiful Spring/Summer tones to hit our stores plus the many thin and flowy layers that Armani added to this collection. This shows me how well we can add and accessorise in the summer minus being baking hot by using these thin and colourful materials with pastel tones. 

 Credit- Pintrest

Heres an example of Missguided catching on with the pastel Spring and Summer trend. 

Tommy Hilfigers- Rock Circus!

 Credit- Pintrest

As we reach the opposite end of the spectrum Tommy Hilfiger showcases its Rock Circus, the title says it all.

Sticking with its theme of colours with TH's famous logo known worldwide, I loved the american, rock and doll feel. You see allot of beanie hats, tiny backpacks, chunky jewellery and thigh high tights. Of course Gigi and Bella make their appearance with their edgy vibe adding heavy eye make up and a fierce strut. 

My favourite look was Bella's all seeing eye hoody the look was finished off perfectly with sexy messy hair and thigh high tights. You can see throughout this Circus that TH wanted to put on a big show, each model had the tense job of circling the floor and showcasing their looks walking down a long set of stairs, I loved the chaos of this catwalk much like a Circus itself. 

I can't help but feel that the colours shown give off an American girl next door vibe... I loved this baggy Tommy Jumper Dress with its sequinned finish and the striped beanie. 

The Circus show is great inspiration for those wanting to keep their edgy street style look throughout Spring/Summer.

 Credit- Pintrest

A similar version of the look above can be seen here at Missguided. 

Burberry- The coat of many colours

 Credit- Pintrest

I had to leave the best till last because WOW Burberry slayed the day away with this incredibly bold catwalk, changing the way we look at Burberry forever. How have I not thought of this before! I was stunned to see nothing but rainbow shining through the iconic pattern that is Burberry.

 I loved everything about this Catwalk and all that it stands for. 

The heavy gold jewellery and the swinging spot lights were doing the most but nothing was taking my focus off of that beautiful coat of colours. Burberry showed Spring and Summer how to shine and  again we saw allot of thin yet cosy looking fabrics. 

Quick to jump to the mark, Missguided shows us how they like to do it and I'm sure we're going to see much more of this print in the near future. Pretty Little Thing and Boohoo have already dropped their summer festival lines as yes it is that time of the year again- Coachella is on the horizon!

Living up to the hype as per usual, no one other than Cara Delevingne struts out perfectly with this statement outfit. Walking with her hands in her pockets and swaying them side to side confirmed the Burberry pattern inside this beautiful coat. This coat is spectacular but more so a statement, symbolising a sad farewell to Burberry's chief creative and CEO Christopher Bailey and what a way to end the show. The earrings, the pixy cut and the plain white dress are what you need for your blank canvas when you are covering it in this beautiful coat of many colours.

One day I pray to add a copy of this coat to my own wardrobe with my many faux furs but for now we only have this picture and the memory it leaves behind. 

Heres to Spring/Summer go out and shine!

CCX

Free From Snacks that you shouldn't live without

Happy Hump Day everybody!

The weekend is nearly here and your working week is coming to a close end. Speaking of work, what do us Free From fans have for lunch? I've always been curious as to how you do it considering we have to take out a loan each day when buying such products. I hope one day soon this 'Unique' range will become our norm for some and maybe help lower the price.

Isn't it ironic that our Free From food is missing lots of main ingredients yet the price goes up! 

Heres my favourite Free From snacks that I'm loving right now, great for people on the go and those who have the occasional (everyday) chocolate craving like myself.

Just to remind you I am Dairy and Gluten free NOT by choice before you judge. All the products listed below are from Tesco- My favourite Free From store.

Heres your future lunch snacks-

Jordan's Country Crisp Oats

I was shocked to see this down the normal cereal isle considering the whole thing is Gluten and Dairy free. Yes the chocolate is free of Cow! I have been looking for a normal breakfast for years, I can eat coco pops but who wants that much sugar in the morning? This doesn't only taste great it fills you up for the whole morning plus the chocolate tastes great!

The highlighted ingredients are- SOYA, BARLEY and OATS, which personally are fine for me. Allergy Advice states that it MAY contain Gluten, Nuts and Milk but when eating this for Breakfast for a week, my stomach felt no pain or discomfort, no sickness etc... I know the suppliers have to put down these warnings for back up but this meal definitely agrees with me, baring in mind I have one of the most sensitive stomaches in the world :) 

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/266388536  

Tesco Choc 'N' Crispie Bar

 I've loved these for years now, they're a nice naughty snack to have when those cravings kick in. The chocolate tastes beautiful and melts in your mouth plus this crispy version is nice and crunchy. Perfect for the on the go you.

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/267279176 

Snack a Jacks

I personally did not know that I could eat Snack a Jacks! Made from Corn I was delighted to hear that I could add these to my lunch menu. Most of the crisps I used to love contain Dairy so to have the option of something as tasty as this has made my lunch times much easier.

Plus they're great for those watching the pounds and they still taste beautiful. If you like your Salt and Vinegar like I do this range is full of flavour!  

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/271349144 

Tesco Free From Mango Yogurt

A great Soya alternative as the label states plus they taste great! Most people I know would claim that my food tastes 'disgusting' without even trying it, just because it lacks Dairy and Gluten isn't that sad?

This range of Yogurts that come in a variety of flavours, taste exactly how I would expect a Yogurt to taste. So I'm very pleased to say that these too can make a great snack at work or something to have after your main meal. 

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/271856649 

I saved the best till last...

Tesco Free From Chocolate Cupcakes

Yay! These beautiful cupcakes are pretty pricey but oh so worthit for a now and then treat. You get two in a pack, one for you and another one for you again! If you've seen these yourself at Tesco you would notice that the packaging doesn't say Dairy Free but I promise you it is, the only reason they haven't listed it as Dairy free is because of the Egg... I know I was confused too. The icing is divine and the cake itself is so soft and puffy, I cannot get enough.

I even added two pictures for your Food loving needs!

Enjoy and please be rest assured that none of these listed products have played up my Colitis, hurt my stomach or in any way caused a reaction but that is me personally. ALWAYS read the labels correctly when shopping and look out for the ingredients in BOLD.

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/284427677 

All my love...




CCX