THE BASIC CHAMBRAY SHIRT

Neat Fit Chambray Shirt £29 // Topshop

This year, I want to start buying minimalist pieces for my wardrobe and begin to create a collection of investment items that I can style into multiple looks, so basically what I am saying is that I want a streamlined wardrobe rather than an overflowing one of bargains that I don't actually wear.

I had a £30 Topshop voucher from Christmas, and I was a bit unsure of what to get and spent a good week checking up online to see if I found anything, which I didn't. I left it and went into a Topshop store a while after, and saw a gorgeous shirt in the maternity section, pretty annoyed I wouldn't fit it, but then I found it hidden behind some other items after a rummage in my size and fit.

This was £29 which I think is a really good price, as the quality is outstanding. It's a chambray cotton shirt; giving the appearance of a light denim, just a lot less heavy and thick, which is why I love this so much. I was initially going to get the white version to satisfy my monochrome wardrobe but I surprised myself by filtering a slight element of colour in. I love the masculine baggy fit (I got a 10) with the only element of shaping being a single pleat in the back.

I am so pleased with this versatile purchase, it literally is love. I think I will find endless looks to pair this shirt with and just typing this makes me want to throw it on.

TODAY'S FACE #1

Smashbox Undereye Primer // Bourjois Luminous Primer // Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum // Elf Pebble Eyeshadow // Soap and Glory Archery Pencil // Avon Eye Primer // Rimmel Scandaleyes Liquid Shadow Paint (Golden Bronze) // Urban Decay Half Baked & Tease // NYC Sunny Bronzer (in the crease) // Milani Eye Tech Liner // Benefit They're Real // Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener // Collection Lasting Perfection // Rimmel Stay Matte Powder // Nars Laguna // Sleek Contour Kit // Benefit High Beam // Rimmel Kate Lipstick (16)

So I don't tend to do these 'face of the day/FOTD' posts regularly here, but I thought after seeing Megan post some stunning looks I would go for it myself. I did my makeup at the weekend as I went along with no plan of what I wanted to see, but I got this golden bronze eyes, bronzed skin, peachy coral lips look which I really love and I think it'll be one I'll look back in the archives for when summer comes around. 

If you would like to see this more regularly do let me know and I will sort out a schedule or something because I really enjoyed photographing this look!

BOTANICS SKIN CALMING NIGHT CREAM

This winter saw me a dramatic change in my skin, where I has dry flaky patches under my eyes, around my nose, in between my brows and my chin a little bit. For someone with generally combination skin all year round it came as a bit of a shock and found myself with no other alternative in my skincare cupboard. I spoke to Megan who recently had a similar issue and recommended me the Botanics Skin Calming Ultra Calm Night Cream.

I actually use this day and night, because the Day Cream alternatives have some SPF in them and from past experience they have made my face look paler than it already is. It's thick, but absorbent so when you wear it in the day it actually makes makeup sit on it really well, and this is all I've been using day and night for the past two weeks or so. The 'soothing marshmallow' claims to leave the skin less reactive and more calm, due to its natural sugars and polyphenols. Not that I understand that. 

It cleared my skin up dramatically, with in about 2 days all the dry patches were gone and everything felt soft, replenished and soothed - basically, really calm. I couldn't believe how quickly it had worked, and now I'm really intrigued to try the serum from the same line. The best thing is, the range doesn't even break the bank, and there are usually offers on anyway.

How has your skin been this winter?

THE ROLL NECK CHUNKY KNIT

I didn't get involved with the roll neck trend until very late last year in the boxing day sales, when I spotted this Next forest green chunky roll neck jumper for £10 from £32. Instinctively, I picked it up and ran to the till right away, slightly unsure of how I'd style it but I actually love it. Who knew my wardrobe would spy an element of colour?!

It kind of has a mohair feel to it alongside it being a regular knit, which is quite unusual and one of the things that interested me. It is quite a short jumper, just skimming over my waistline and where my jeans sit, and I think I would have preferred it a little more long-line but it doesn't taint my opinion too drastically. For me, I like to wear this with a low bun or ponytail, black jeans and my leopard skate shoes, but I haven't worn this in an outfit without loving it. 

Buying this jumper has made me want so many more, especially in a crisp white knit, so I best get hunting before the weather gets too warm (I wish) - I type this while my feet are freezing. 

NICKI MINAJ ONIKA PERFUME

After Christmas, when hitting the sales I spotted the Nicki Minaj Onika EDP Gift Set, for a mere £12.50, and couldn't resist it, despite not ever having this perfume on my wishlist before. It was a new release in September this year, and to be honest, the 5ml rollerball was what made me decide to buy this, due to them being so uncommon in the UK.

The packaging (although not to everyone's taste) is something I really love about this fragrance - a simple black and gold bust and head of Nicki herself (or Onika) and this has a proud spot on my wall shelf simply because I love looking at it.

I think this might win the spot of one of my favourite scents now, and I've been reaching for it nearly every day. It's quite sweet, fruity and floral, but the sheer musky notes tie it all together. Nicki herself actually said this scent was designed to promote confidence, due to her sharing her birth name in the title. I've had so many compliments wearing this perfume, and the scent stays around for at least 6 hours on me, which is amazing for such an affordable scent.

 I think when this runs out I might be tempted to repurchase as I love it so much - you will probably catch my sniffing my wrists at any given time in the day...

FIVE PIECE FOOLPROOF EYES

Over the Christmas break, I totally stripped back my eye makeup (getting up early on boxing day wasn't going to be a full on smokey eye look, was it?) and it's kind of stuck for school and such, and only involves 5 products, including tools.

For brows I was quickly etching them in with the Soap&Glory Archery Brow Pencil and Tint, a product I used to be sacred of for the fear of cartoon looking brows, but I've found the good light handed technique that leaves them looking the same as if I were to have used a shadow.

Speaking of shadow, I was using the MAC Malt matte eyeshadow all over the lid; it's a light taupe-pink sort of nude and just looks very barely there and natural, but still like you've got something on your lids. I just use the Real Techniques Base Shadow brush for this, as it applies colour and blends too, and sometimes I will take a bit of my bronzer of the day to define the crease slightly more.

Then, as it seems I can't go a day without a slick of liner any more, I use the Benefit They're Real Push Up Liner - one that took a bit of getting used to but with the right technique you can get an ultra black gel feline flick that balances nicely with the light sweep of shadow. Then, a few coats of They're Real Mascara seals everything together and gives me length and volume to the lashes.

What has your daily eye makeup routine been recently?

DIY RIPPED KNEES #2

Ripped jeans has been a trend a lot of fashion bloggers have enjoyed throughout last year and going into this year. Personally, I don't have the money to fork out for a pair of pre-ripped jeans as they seem to be more expensive than regular jeans, and having short legs the slits never quite match my knees anyway, so I do it the budget way and DIY it.

The jeans I used were from Primark, their Ultra Soft Super Skinny £11 ones, in the Petite leg. I'm rather short and it's such a struggle to find jeans that I don't have to turn up due to extra length, but these are the perfect fit, and aren't baggy on me at all either. Because they have a slight stretch to them, it made the ripping much more simple, compared to last time where I used a pair with more of a stiff denim.

All I did was mark out where my knees are with tailors chalk I had lying around, and then took the jeans off to make it safer and easier. I cut two small holes and then used my inner strength (I joke) to rip that hole the entire width I had marked. This caused fraying and that distressed look I was going for so I didn't have to go mad with the cheese grater nor tweezers like last time.

After months of searching, it seems I've found the perfect fit of ripped knee jeans in the comfort of my own home.

A MONOCHROME MANICURE

As a change from the festive reds, glitters and just coloured manicures in general, I recently decided to experiment with monochrome nails; greys, blacks and whites. Almost my entire wardrobe consists of monochrome garments so why not incorporate that obsession into a manicure?

The first offering is Ciaté Cream Soda, a pale, cool toned grey that looks effortless and chic on it's own and slightly more edgy when layered with a glitter like the Next Confetti Effect Polish in New Tricks; a clear base jam packed with odd geometric shaped glitter and small circular flecks. I really like the look of this one on the nails, although I would recommend using two layers of topcoat as the glitters do curl up slightly and catch on things.

The two classic black and white polishes are from Mint London, a brand I decided to try at the Clothes Show Live, as they were running a 4 for £5 offer alongside a large goody bag too. I've only used the black - Cirque Le Soir so far, and it was extremely glossy and opaque in 2 coats, although I could have gotten away with one thicker coat. My only complaint is the drying time, as it is quite a thick polish but I used my Ciaté Speed Coat over it and they were touch dry in a couple of minutes. The white is called Dogtown and I am tempted to use this one soon, as I do think white nails have such a crisp look... until you get a smear of ink on a nail in the school day.

Have you ventured into the monochrome manicure world yet?

BORN PRETTY STORE BRUSHES

Recently I had some brushes sent to me from Born Pretty Store, in the form of this 5pc face kit*. I wasn't expecting much as they were extremely budget priced, but I'm actually a huge fan and have been getting a fair amount of use out of the collection. If you use the code EVANH10 you can also get 10% off the store.

My favourite brush is the one pictured in the first demo picture, and the one on the far right on the top picture. It's quite a dense, tall pointed yet round foundation brush, and one I imagine to be quite similar to the currently hyped Louise Young LY34 brush, making it perfect for a quick foundation application. The second demo shows the round buffer brush, which is slightly smaller than the rest. I like to use this for cream/liquid highlighters, especially Benefit High Beam.

The flat top brush is quite a nice one for concealer, and I also like the angled slightly rounded top pne for cream blush, especially the more natural colours as it is the perfect shape for focusing the colour along the cheekbone and up onto the temples for that cold flushed look. I assume the flat top angled brush would be rather good for this purpose too.

All the brushes aren't too dense that they are unworkable, so they aren't stiff when blending, but they are just the right density to get a flawless finish. I've really been enjoying the multi-use aspect of this brush set, not to mention I quite like the sleek monochrome look of them.

RIVER ISLAND LEOPARD SLIP ONS

Slip On/Skate Shoes are a trend that a lot of people enjoyed last year, and towards the back end of 2014 I got myself this leopard print pair from River Island for £10 in the sale, and it's started what I think to be a long term love regardless of whether the trend continues into 2015.

I did want some black croc textured ones (and still do) but of course they weren't included in the sale, being such a staple design, so instead I decided to go against my comfort zone of all black and try out these ones - slightly lustred, snakeskin textured leopard variations. I didn't know how I'd get on with them, but I'm really enjoying styling them into various looks (my personal favourite; black skinny jeans, and a thick deep green roll neck *outfit post coming soon*).

Upon the first 2-3 wears they did hurt the backs of my feet a little but with some plasters to help me through I managed to break them in and can go out fuss free. These have easily become my current favourite pair of shoes and I'm hoping my collection of slip ons will grow in the upcoming months - although purchasing my new blog design (what do you think?) has set me back on the spending slightly.