a (dark) tale of ebay

(excuse this TERRIBLE picture I made on paint. I am no artist, my friends)

I've written about eBay once before on here. It was a couple of years ago and when I first really got into it all. You could say I was a tiny bit obsessed. I was bidding on everything and trying to  learn pro eBay tactics to win auctions. I also sold pretty much my whole wardrobe. Anyway, this summer, I decided to start selling again. I was just feeling fed up with the bag full of old clothes under my bed. Also I've been dying to buy the contents of my online Asos basket. Yuuup.

So I took photos, wrote up the details, priced each item and after a couple of hours, I had around fifteen items listed. After a day my clothes were up to £30 and when I checked again the next morning it had risen to £60. An hour later it was at £80. I was surprised and confused and in all the excitement, I added another dress to my Asos basket. But in the back of my mind I thought it was strange how all of my listings, ranging from clothes (in a variety of sizes) to shoes to a purse, were all being so highly bid on after only a couple of days and all by one particular buyer called ange.bowd. I decided to click on this person's account and saw that they had never bought or sold anything before. To make matters more suspicious, they'd only been a member for ONE DAY. Something seemed a bit odd but I decided to ignore it. I was probably just being paranoid.

Skip five hours later and I'm sitting on the sofa with my laptop, checking to see how my eBay listings were progressing. The amount was still at £80 so I refreshed the page and suddenly the total dropped to £70. I refreshed again and it fell to £60, to £50, to £40, to £30 and then it just stopped. In the matter of seconds my total had gone from £80 to £30. I had no idea what had happened. I guessed that someone must've withdrawn their bids but I didn't know if that was even possible? I decided to check and see which items had changed in price and obviously, it was as I suspected. The same person, ange.bowd, had withdrawn their bid on every item. £50 pounds worth! When I clicked on to 'the buyer's reason', it said 'I could not contact the seller' which was rubbish. All day I'd had buyers messaging me for measurement and garment details but I'd received nothing from this person. Obviously I was angry but there wasn't much I could do about it so I decided to message this person. Instead of being angry, I decided to be delightfully passive aggressive. I thanked them for bidding on my items and apologised that they couldn't get hold of me, there must have been some strange issue with eBay today. There wasn't much more I could say but I refused to let them know I was upset.

(one of my trips to the post office...it took a while)

A couple of days later, when I was looking at ange.bowd's profile page, I saw that someone had left negative feedback saying how this buyer had bid on their items and then refused to pay. I decided to message the person who left feedback and the following day got a reply saying that this person had already been contacted by two other eBayers who had also been messed around by ange.bowd. Since we've messaged a couple of times and worked out ange.bowd has now changed their eBay name to paul.wright. Strangely, they now have positive feedback from a seller called angie and another called paul. Internet trolls tend to reuse names so my theory is that they've set up a few accounts and are using them to provide positive feedback for each other. In fact, it could be more than one person involved. Whatever this person/people are playing at, it was nice to know that it wasn't just me that'd be tricked. It was also reassuring to know that my assumption (that this person was purposely screwing people over) was actually right because for a second I wondered whether this person had tried to contact me. Anyway my next step is to report them.

The good news is that my listings all finished yesterday and, in total, I sold all fifteen items and earned £140. Even though I was messed around, my items still did well and I made more than before. So f*ck you ange.bowd. Every cloud.

Just wondering if anyone else has had a bad experience on eBay? I'd love to hear your story or even just your thoughts on mine :)

{how to} transition your wardrobe

1/2/3/4

On Wednesday, in my wish list post (see here), I touched upon how you can make your wardrobe transition from summer to autumn. If you have a lot of money to spend on clothes then this probably isn't necessary for you but if you're like me, consistently poor, then following some of these tips may help save the expense and effort of attempting to buy a new wardrobe on a tiny budget! These tips don't just apply for this summer to autumn, they can be used when considering the transition from any season to next however the examples I'm giving apply to the seasons previously mentioned. All the items shown are examples of pieces that are great for both summer and autumn.

"Pick your colours wisely"

Summer is pretty much open season (no pun intended) for every shade of every colour. You can get away with pastels, neons, metallics and those lovely deep colours we usually attribute to autumn (do those colours have a name? if so please tell me in the comment section!) However when the summer comes to an end so do those softer, cooler colours and out come the burnt oranges, dark greens, plum purples and earthy tones. So if you want your wardrobe to transition, it's important that you pick your colours wisely! For example, if you are out shopping and you see a swing cami vest and it comes in a range of different colours, pick the colour that will work well for both summer and autumn not just the one you like the most. That sherbet lemon may be perfect to wear at the weekend but, come September, will end up being packed away with the rest of your summer clothes. If you're unsure what would work well in your wardrobe or there are too many colours/prints to choose from then black and white will never let you down. However, if you want to be more experimental and colourful then pick bright but deep colours like emerald green and magenta. Both of these can be styled for a summer or autumn vibe depending on the accessories you put with it.

5/6/7

"Read up on trends"  

It's hard to plan ahead if you have no idea what you're planning for. How can you go shopping with the next season in mind when you have no idea what's going to be 'in'. Well, the great thing about fashion is that it's always ahead of itself. Read up on trends by following the fashion weeks online or simply Google 'A/W 14 trends'. If you want it spelt out for you, magazines like ELLE and Vogue will often have a section dedicated to the next season with catwalk pictures and tips. Also, if you subscribe to the ASOS magazine (which I love), it usually has a section detailing upcoming trends so there's no reason to not know! Trends aside, it's also important to remember that there are certain summer trends, like kimonos, swing dresses/tops and joggers, that are going to stay where they are and will be big players this autumn, so make sure you buy into them sooner rather than later. An item like the kimono is such a transitional piece simply because it's versatile. It can be worn with shorts and a vest/over your bikini in the summer or with a vest, jeans and a pair of boots in the autumn so if you don't already have one, hurry up! The best ones seem to be going quickly.

"Restyle and play around"

In the summer you wore that black swing dress with your tan, a pair of sandals and a whole load of after sun. In the autumn, pop a cute white shirt underneath, add a pair of tights, your ankle boots and a big scarf. The real key to transitioning your wardrobe is restyling it. So you bought that cami top in the plum purple and you have a monochrome kimono but that doesn't mean you have to wear those pieces in the same way that you wore them in the summer. Use this opportunity to restyle and play around with what you have. Also remember that whereas your wedges and floppy hat were you accessories during the summer, you now have scarves, hats, tights and boots at your disposal so make the most of them.

"80% basic and 20% statement"

When you go shopping, don't get caught up in buying too many statement pieces. Yes. there is such a thing as too many! The basics are your best friend. That means a good pair of skinny jeans, a trusty LBD, plenty of simple tops/shoes/bags in nude/black/white. A denim jacket. A leather jacket. Items that are going to be easy to restyle and won't be going out of fashion any time soon. Statement pieces are vital to anyone who loves fashion but I think there's such thing as a good balance. I'd say 80% basic and 20% statement. This gives your wardrobe a nice amount of versatility within the season as well as taking you effortlessly into the next. 

8/9

"Make the most of crazy trends"

Sometimes crazy things happen in fashion. The summer/ duster coat being a perfect example. This year has seen the rise of girls wearing big long coats out on hot summer days. If you read a lot of fashion blogs you'll have seen this during the last couple of months. At first I was against it. Summer is not a friend to the coat. Nope. I was outraged! But the more I saw it, the more I started to fall in love. In fact, I'm on the hunt for my own. My advice is to make the most of these crazy trends. The duster coat will be perfect when the weather cools down and the sandals are put away. It will effortlessly fall into that rotation with your leather jacket and tweed blazer. Although you can find summer/duster coats in most shops online, their doesn't seem to an an abundance of them. I think it's probably because it's a risky trend and brands are unsure that people will but into it. However I think that they will start appearing more and more towards the end of this season and will be pretty big this autumn. 

Let me know what you think of my tips to transitioning your wardrobe and feel free to share your own in the comments section below!

Happy Saturday!

keeping a blog schedule.

I've debated this for a while. The schedule. Do I post when I feel like it or do I make a schedule and keep to it? I know my fors and againsts having one but in the past I've always opted on the against side. The things is, I've done the whole 'posting when I want' thing for the last four years so I feel like it's time I tried something different. In fact, I wish I'd tried it before!

 As a reader, I quite like to know when to check out a blog for a new post. I find it so frustrating when I Google one of my favourites and it's been three weeks since they last posted but then I realised that it's less about knowing when they are posting and more about wanting regular content from them. There's a big difference. With everything else that's going on in my life, I rarely remember who's posting when amongst getting uni work done and going out and just existing. Does anyone care enough to remember these things? Probably not. But for me, I read blogs in between these things and I like to know that when I haven't checked a blog for a week, there'll be a post waiting for me to read.

As well as for my readers, I think that creating a schedule is also good for me as the writer.  Having a schedule should encourage me to post regularly and also consider my content more. It should make me think about covering fashion and beauty more evenly because both are as big a part of this blog as the other. Hopefully, this will also draw people to my blog because they know what they are getting. It isn't just a lucky dip. I also find that plans and lists are one step closer to achieving the thing I am trying to get done because once I've written the thought down it has taken that first step out of my brain and entered the physical world. My brain knows it is sitting on that piece of paper/ or written on my OneNote planner and is waiting to be done as opposed to jumbled up amongst all the mundane thoughts of washing my jeans, buying a loaf of bread, replacing my shampoo, remembering to watch Big Brother etc. 

So from now on I'll be posting every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. A few extra posts may pop up in between those days if I do something different or special, so keep an eye out! 

I'd really love to know your thoughts on this subject! I know it isn't strictly fashion or beauty related but I felt it was something I wanted to discuss. Whether you are a blogger, reader or both, I'd like to hear your thoughts on either how/if you schedule your blog (and social media) and as readers, whether you find irregular content frustrating or more authentic? 

You can do this by simply just leaving a comment below or by tweeting me @hheartsfashion or following my Facebook page and dropping me a message!

Happy Monday!

P.s Excuse the silly photos! I wanted a picture to accompany this post so it wasn't just dense writing...I'm not sure how this happened...but it did.

what to wear for afternoon tea

As promised, I've decided to do a guide on what to where for afternoon tea at The Ritz, or any other venue that is as lovely and posh. Before I went I really struggled to know what to wear. I didn't want to look over or under dressed. Obviously it needed to be smart but appropriate for the day-time. As well as this, most people will be travelling around the city during the day so it has to be practical as well as formal. Here are my suggestions! Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments section!

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with a dress. Whether it be short, long, fitted, floaty, black, white or printed, there will be a dress out there for you. The biggest problem is finding one that fits perfectly and suits your budget. Below are some examples of different types of dresses that are all £85 or cheaper (most around £40 and are off the high-street) and come in a variety of sizes. As well as dresses, I have also included an alternative if dresses aren't your thing...

 When I went to The Ritz, I decided to pick a bright statement red lip but keep my nails simple with a clear pearly polish. I wanted my look (see here) to be quite minimalist and chic as opposed to pretty or colourful or girly. I wore a black dress with an off-white crocheted collar, black tights, black heeled ankle boots, an off-white satchels and pearls as my jewellery. I made the statement in my red lipstick and all black ensemble (which is very unlike me!)

I think it's important that you make the decision as to which part of your look you want to be the statement. If you are wearing a bright quirky patterned silk swing dress, maybe pick a neutral shoe and bag, some simple jewellery with a nice statement lipstick and neutral nails. That way your outfit has a focus. If that isn't your style then obviously do your own thing. It's important you feel comfortable.

 In terms of heels vs. flats, it all depends on which you are used to and feel comfortable in. If you can wear heels for a brief period of time, wear flats up while travelling but take a pair of heels with you to change into. You can get flats that fold up and can be easily stored in your hand bag so really, it's your choice. Obviously, if you are used to roaming the city in a pair of heels you are already sorted and if, like some, you don't wear heels then there are plenty of fancy flats on the high-street.

All the images in this post (excluding the first two which were taken from my previous post) were sourced from Monsoon, ASOS and Boohoo. The dresses are a mix of straight and plus sizes, as all three brands do both.
 This post is to give some inspiration as to what is appropriate to wear for afternoon tea at a venue like The Ritz. Obviously fashion varies from place to place and what is acceptable may change depending on the city, venue and person. This post is based on my experience when I went to The Ritz in London last week. If you want to read more about my trip and see my outfit then click here.

Happy Wednesday!

Movies for Fashion Lovers

I thought that after a few outfit posts I would write something a little different. I was thinking about what inspires me and what I really enjoy. Well, obviously, as a fashion blogger I love fashion but I also have really got into films over the last couple of years. I'm not a film buff. I don't have the lingo down. I haven't seen every single film known to mankind but, I am working my way through and although I may not have the most insightful things to say, I can promise you that if you love fashion...you will like these films.

I first saw this film last year and it's definitely now one of my favourites. This is obviously a great movie for fashion lovers as firstly it has one of fashions biggest icons, Audrey Hepburn and secondly, is set in New York where the character, Holly Golightly [read as Go Lightly], is obsessed with Tiffany's. Prepare yourself for easy glam and effortless style. Saying that, I'm sure Audrey Hepburn could look elegant in anything.

Do not underestimate this film. It is not your average rom-com, even my 25 year old brother likes it! The story is a really interesting look into the fashion industry and cleverly  depicts a character that is supposed to be based on American Vogue's editor, Anna Wintour (written by former employee, Lauren Weisberger). The fashion is amazing but my favourite thing is how it feels like you're a fly on the wall in the offices the of Vogue and Elle.

I love the Edwardian fashion in Titanic. The beautiful silhouettes of the women; back in the days when they wore corsets under their extravagant dresses. The jewellery. The wealth. The style. Titanic gives you a glimpse of Fashion before women began to exhibit their bodies. It was the decade before fashion became fashion. A time when, only the wealthy had style. As well as this, the story is beautiful and as you already know, tragic.

This film is quite simply a masterpiece.

The costumes are spectacular! spectacular!

The music is beautiful.

The story is tragic.

Moulin Rouge, directed by Baz Luhrmann, is one of my favourite films.

Please watch...

This is pure 90's American fashion. It's a real easy watch so don't expect a film that's gonna leave you with new thoughts and ideas to ponder over. It won't play on your mind. It is enjoyable though and definitely inspiring if you have any upcoming 90's parties or feel like getting into the 90's trend that seems to still be popular. 

Typical Baz Luhrmann and much like Moulin Rouge, this film is filled with glitz, sparkle, glamour and theatricals. Adapted from Fitzgerald's, The Great Gatsby, this film has everything a person could want from a film. A gripping storyline, characters your invest in and music that pulls you into the moment. Similarly, this also has everything a fashion and twenties lover could ask for. The woman are gamine and beautiful. The styling is exotic and dazzling. As a film, it is simply quite bewitching. 

Possibly one of the saddest films I have watched but wow, does the cinematography make it worth returning for. The writing, music and costumes are beautiful as is the scene where Kiera Knightly runs out of the house in her iconic silky green dress. This film leaves you with more than thoughts of fashion.

Thanks for reading :)

Let me know what films you love!

Have you seen any of the movies above?

The joys of tights.

I have always passionately hated tights. Yes, I am self confessed tights hater. I have never found a pair that feel like they fit properly. If they are fitted nicely at the top, they are baggy at the knees. Usually though, I find they never come up high enough. They like to fall down throughout the day. They ladder and are just generally expensive pieces of material that never fit, frustrate me and ultimately end up collecting in my top draw for a year. I then throw them out, promise myself I will never buy another pair and 12 months down the line, I am getting deja vu.

I've tried so many places. Dorothy Perkins, New Look, Marks and Spencer, Evans, Simply Be, George, Tesco as well as strange online shops and they have always disappointed me. It's always a big fail. Well my friends, a break through occurred today. This happened in Primark, of all places. One of my best friends suggested Primark tights and I thought, "why the hell not!" I chose a black pair of 100 denier. They cost £2.50 and fit how I've always imagined tights should fit a person.

I'll be sure to do an outfit post in the next few days so you can see me in my new amazing tights... 

What are your experience of tights? 

Do you have a go-to place that never fails? 

I'd love to know your thoughts on this issue! 

The Beauty Test: Seaweed Range (day 5-8)

I have now been doing this skincare routine for a week and have definitely noticed some changes (mostly positive) in my skin in the last four days so I thought, instead of a big heavy paragraph, I'd update you by writing a brief list below of how everything is going as well as a picture. It is also worth mentioning that my next post in this series will be next Thursday as I want a chance to post different content between now and then! So anyway, back to my skin update...

• Over the last few days I have noticed a couple of small blemishes on my face but I think that's normal when starting a new skincare routine.
• My chin is definitely less oily now and the small breakout I had before has cleared up.
• My forehead and nose are less oily then when I started this but I'd like to see a bigger change over the next week or so. I may also buy the exfoliator from the same range to see if that helps (it's important to mention that it has been very hot here which doesn't help in terms of having a shinyer face than usual!).
• My skin is smoother and looks more fresh and healthy...yay! 
• I'm also considering buying a different moisturiser (see here) to use during the daytime in the summer as it has an SPF which I can use instead of putting oily sun cream on my face. 

How do you keep your face protected from the sun during the Summer?

You can catch up on my skincare journey by reading the last two post listed below...

The Beauty Test: Seaweed Skincare (day 1)

The Beauty Test: Seaweed Skincare (day 2-4)

Disclaimer: All photos in this post are unedited and have been taken on the monochrome setting of my DSLR. All opinions expressed in this post are mine and there is no third party involved.

The Beauty Test: Seaweed Skincare (day 2-4)

So in case you didn't read my post last Thursday, here is a brief catch up...or alternatively you can click here to read the first post.

I have decided to test out a new skincare regime by The Body Shop, the Seaweed range, that is for combination skin. It is supposed to reduce excess oil, moisturise dry patches and overall, give a more clear and matte finish. I am using the seaweed cleansing facial wash, the seaweed toner and then there is also a day cream and a night cream in the range that acts as the moisturiser. As well as this, I also bought the tea tree blotting tissues. Before I started this test, my problem areas were as follows:

Results from day 2-4

Since starting this skincare regime on Thursday, I have definitely noticed a difference in my skin. I feel as though it has started to clear up the small breakout I had on my chin. Whereas before it was a little red and bumpy to touch, it is now clearer and softer. As well as this my chin, forehead and nose are definitely less oily (although my nose could be less so I'm hoping I quickly start to see a drastic change). I've been using my blotting tissues daily and find they help reassure me when I am out and about. They fit nicely into my little make up bag that travels around with me in my handbag and are easy and discreet to use. My skin has a nice glow to it and there is definitely more of matte finish. Another positive I have found is that I don't feel as though the products (especially the moisturiser) linger on my skin. It seems to quickly absorb and feels clean, fresh and soft afterwards. In the past I have used the Vitamin E range from The Body Shop but I found the cream very heavy and it made my face perspire more as it was coated in a thick product that my skin refused to absorb. My mum tells me it's better for drier skin, like hers (sorry mum!) as she  found it absorbed quickly on her and had a very different experience. This furthers the point that choosing the right skincare range is vital to it achieving what you want from it. In terms of negatives, I am yet to have any. The process can be time consuming and takes a lot of dedication but I have actually been enjoying doing it everyday. I have found very little reason to complain but I'm aware that it is still very early days and that a little further down the line, I am likely to find something I dislike.

Here is the latest picture of my face (excuse its bareness). Can you see much of a difference from the first post?

I'll next be posting about my skincare routine in four days time, so make sure you come back on Thursday and follow my beauty test!

Let me know any of your thoughts regarding this post or anything I have said in it. If you have any tips to share when it comes to skincare then please comment below. 

Thanks for reading!

Click here to view the first post in this series of posts, The Beauty Test.

"It's written on my T-Shirt so it must be true."

NERD.
An 'individual', i.e. a person who does not conform to society's beliefs that all people should follow trends and do what their peers do.

Tee - Newlook £9.99, Cardigan - Newlook £17.99, High Waisted Skirt - George £3 (sale)

Isn't it funny that nerd used to have so many negative connotations (see top of post) connected with it? I think pretty much every single film I've watched set in an American High School has some unfortunate student being heckled with this word. You know, the kid wearing big framed glasses and holding a stack of books? Nerd seems to be an interchangeable word, easily swapped with geek, freaks
 and dork (there's probably more but I'm tired and my brain has decided that it's had enough of thinking). Anyway, back to my original point. People (yes me!) now purposefully spend their precious cash on a T-Shirt with NERD written across it, simply because it's fashion. Do they even like it? Well I actually do. I have to say, I wasn't keen to start with but like most things in fashion, I get used to it and slowly grow to like it...and then buy into it. It's a vicious cycle. But yes, there have been a few exceptions. Some trends I could never get to grips with. Harem pants were never and will never be cool, tie-dye should stay lost in the past and, dare I say, bushy brows make me squirm and I don't recognise them as a trend because everyone should pluck their eyebrows! Back to the tops...after a few months of being exposed to them throughout the high-street, I finally gave in. There is something cute about them and nothing beats a cool tee tucked into a high waisted skirt, right? Well that's how I'll style mine.

The picture above was quickly snapped before I left for my lecture but I wanted you to be able to see my tee properly. I'd love to know your opinion on these tops and if you own one?  

'You wanna be on top?''

I don't know if you have watched Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model, but I'm sure you've seen America's. They have a pretty similar set up with Elle McPherson in the role of head judge, the same position held by Tyra Banks. The have a challenge, they have a photo shoot, they are judged and then one is eliminated, sounding familiar?  The difference between the two shows is quite simply their attitude. The American show challenges bullying and doesn't stand for divas. The British show however, seems to indulge both...

To start with I feel I should say, I have a lot of belief in British fashion, designers and models. I think our high-street is the best in the world and London's style easily rivals that of Paris, New York or Milan. However, since watching the most recent series of the show, I have seriously started to question what the producers and audience see as entertainment...in other words, I am losing faith in humanity. Modelling is a hard and competitive job. Fashion is undeniably, a tough industry - you enter into it knowing that you need either a thick skin or a hearing problem to survive. Fashion takes no prisoners so you can't quit every time someone criticises you. There would be no one left if this were the case. This however, doesn't excuse rudeness, favouritism and in extreme cases, bullying!

In the last episode I watched, there were 'certain girls' storming out of challenges, questioning the importance of tasks and generally being ungrateful, childish and outspoken. For every brat, there is a girl trying her hardest, just wanting to learn and taking every piece of advice she can get her hands on. Who gets rewarded? Who leaves the competition? I think you know the answer to both. After watching last night's episode, I really don't know how I feel about continuing with watching the series. I don't find diva behaviour amusing and similarly, I can't stand to see a hardworking person be humiliated and pushed out because she isn't obnoxious. Maybe they should re-name it Britain and Ireland's Next Top Bitch because they way the show is going they are putting attitude over talent and there is nothing fashionable about that!

The media loves to rave on about the eating disorder epidemic and creating positive body image for young girls. ''Let's challenging size 0!!'', but what about this bitch culture that seems to have been created simultaneously that no one seems to want to challenge? You know those pictures of celebrities looking 'fat' in their bikinis or person A's spotty face...that is the bitch culture. What kind of moral code are these magazines instilling in their readers? For me, this program is showcasing similar attitudes that disgust me. Attitudes that are breeding a generation of ignorant, rude and judgemental individuals that use this, as their way of climbing to the top. I don't want to see and read about these people in my favourite magazines - I will just stop buying them! I don't want to wear clothes worn by bullies - I would rather wear a bin bag. Most importantly, I don't want to watch the undeserving process of them become successful on TV - yeah, I'd rather read a book. I have no time for a beautiful model if she is only beautiful skin deep (these people are supposed to be role models?).

So many people criticise Fashion, accusing it of being shallow, trivial and cruel. The problem is, the beauty gets lost behind the ugliness of the people creating and wearing it. How sad is that?

What is your opinion or thoughts on this subject?
Do you agree that mean models are ugly models? 

Let me know your thoughts...






P.s I know that this isn't my usual topic for discussion but my blog is a place to express myself and this is an issue that I am keen to hear all your thoughts on...