Happy Hour Again

IT'S DECEMBER! Time to put some Wham! on and bake Christmas treats! December is my favourite month of the year, mainly because it means I get an excuse to spend loads of time online shopping, wrapping presents (I actually really enjoy wrapping presents, and I am the queen of curly ribbons) and dressing up. I woke up on December 1st feeling 100 times more festive than I had in November. Christmas really starts now!
Last weekend I went out for dinner to one of my favourite hangouts, Drudenfuss in the centre of Aarhus. As I love any excuse to dress up and put my best red lipstick on, plus the fact it was the first weekend of December (always a reason to celebrate) I took the opportunity to don my new knitted dress and to finally showcase the most wonderful bag on earth, my Vendula London Happy Hour Clutch*.








   

 I've been waiting for a chance to use this bag (and a drop a Housemartins reference in my blog title) as it really is the most beautiful thing with its gold embossing and red satin lining and I feel like teamed with a sparkly dress it creates a dynamite winter look! I am a huge fan of velvet, wearing it always makes me feel very glam but still comfortable, and this bag does the exact same. Vendula have been lovely enough to send me two clutch bags now (see the other in a post here!) and the thing that strikes me about them is that they are surprisingly practical and fuss free to use. I was a little concerned that with them being a box bag it might be easy for them to get in the way of daily life or that the metal sides might be easily scratched, but this is not the case at all. Easy to carry, sturdy and beautiful!



My favourite part of this bag is the back of it. I mean, look at the little cocktail! This bag is perfect if you want a statement peace to wear at Christmas and New Years parties or just out for dinner and drinks. There really are so many occasions in the next few weeks (and months) that I know this bag will be fantastic for. Vendula are fast becoming one of my favourite companies so do check them out, especially all the beautiful things in their A/W range. The clutch bags are the perfect Christmas present (My mum wants one and has told me she will be borrowing mine as much as she can , as have a fair few other people). Every experience with Vendula has been fantastic for me, from the quality of the bags to the brilliant customer service. I really can't recommend them enough.



I have changed up my makeup routine an awful lot recently and seem to have switched products completely. I've been trying out the MAC Mineralize Moisture foundation in NW15 and I really have fallen in love with it. It sets brilliantly with a loose powder and gives a flawless but sheer finish that is great for everyday wear. I also had a bit of an eyebrow grooming disaster a week or so ago which left one of my brows looking a little worse for wear so I have been going for a much more 'done' look rather than leaving them to their own devices. I have been filling them in slightly with a Rimmel Brow Pencil in Black Brown, but I am trying to keep them looking fairly natural at the same time!

I got my dress last month when I visited Hull. I went to Meadowhall with my Auntie, Uncle, Grandma and Cousin ( we always try to fit in a shopping day, my family are some of the most stylish people I know and together we always find the best buys) and I saw this dress in Primark and knew instantly I had to have it. I've been wanting a very wearable but still sparkly dress since last Christmas when I wore this beauty by Oh My Love (gorgeous, but a little too much effort for day to day!) and this one fits the bill perfectly. They also had it in silver which I massively regret not getting, but the gold was an instant winner for me.

The Oh My Love Dress, layered under a Primark Christmas jumper for last years Save The Children Christmas Jumper Day
Pictures from Christmas Day last year:


This Months Inspiration:
Brands & Designers featured: Shrimps, House of Holland, Topshop and Vivienne Westwood.
Photos: From A/W 15-16 shows of featured brands and designers, Stills of Rita Hayworth from Gilda, Stills from 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'.

I hope you enjoyed this post. I feel like I haven't been in the blogging zone recently but I feel really motivated to write at the minute, especially with the holidays coming up! Have a lovely week this week, and remember to have a good look on the Vendula London website whilst you do your Christmas shopping!
Bethany x