TURTLE BAY REVIEW

“Rustic, authentic and always exploding with flavour"

For my friends birthday I was invited to the newly opened Turtle Bay in Guildford for dinner and drinks. I’d never been before so I was really looking forward to trying it out for the first time!

Turtle Bay is a Caribbean restaurant and bar which truly does capture the caribbean island vibe through their authentic dishes and lively environment. The menu is varied with a range of traditional Caribbean dishes which the restaurant describes as ‘the kind of food islanders enjoy at home, on the beach or in the street cafes’. Turtle Bay isn’t just about the food though, it’s a great destination for drinks with friends and family. The bar also runs a 241 offer on all cocktails every day which is always a bonus! Although watch out as the offer is quite sneaky, it runs from 12pm-7pm and then starts again at 10pm-close. Great if your wanting late afternoon drinks but not so great if your heading there slightly later! The food is lovely definitely slightly spicy though! The atmosphere inside is great and as the Turtle Bay in Guildford is newly opened it’s lovely inside with a large bar situated right in the middle of the restaurant which is very quirky.  The decor is great, very authentic and I love the attention to detail they've paid. I’d definitely recommend visiting Turtle Bay if you're ever after some authentic Caribbean food or a cocktail or three! Visit their website here. 

Images courtesy of Turtle Bay

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TREND WATCH - THIGH HIGH BOOTS

Thigh high boots..it's love or hate right? If done wrong, the result is ghastly, but if done right the over the knee boot can make an outfit. The prospect of a pair of thigh high boots for most of us probably sends alarm bells ringing and conjures up that image of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman?! This trend is all about less is more. Think chunky knits and thick opaque tights. Thigh high boots is one of this seasons hottest footwear trends and I've put together some of my favourite examples of how to pull off the risqué trend..

Images courtesy of Whowhatwear and Glamour 

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BENEFIT THEY'RE REAL MASCARA REVIEW

Mascara is probably my number one go-to beauty product. I don’t think I could live without it! A good mascara can make all the difference but when it comes to choosing a mascara it can be a minefield! I’ve tried so many different mascaras which all promise to thicken, lengthen and boost my lashes. For a while now I have been using Estee Lauder’s Sumptuous mascara which I do find is a really good product but I decided to switch things up and opt for a new mascara which I hadn’t tried before. So the chosen product.. Benefit’s They’re real Mascara.

I love the packaging of the Mascara and it remains true to Benefit’s quirky style. After removing the tube from the packaging though I did think it was a little smaller than your average tube of mascara and definitely smaller than my previous favourite Estee Lauder. However the mascara brushes bristles are great for creating lengthened lashes and helps to make your eyes look bigger and wider. The actual formula itself is great and after a few coats you're good to go. I’d definitely recommend this mascara and I think I might have found a new favourite!

Photo credit: Make her up 

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BLOOD SWEPT LAND AND SEAS OF READ

When I first heard about the art installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red which was to be held at the Tower of London I immediately knew I would love to go and visit. The installation marked 100 years from the First World War and was set to be a poignant memorial. In total 888,246 ceramic poppies were hand crafted and filled the Tower of London’s moat. Each of these individual poppies represents a British soldier who lost their life in the war.

Images courtesy of Historic Royal Palaces 

Prior to my visit I’d seen the poppies in photographs and on the TV but when i visited the installation it really showed the true greatness of the display. The display was so powerful that many visitors fell silent whilst gazing at the poppies. The scale of the installation was so visible when I saw it in person as any pictures id seen just didn’t do it justice. The scale really reflected the magnitude of how many brave soldiers lost their lives and how terrible the war was. I felt honoured to be able to see the installation and was so pleased that i managed to see it before the poppies are all taken down on armistice day-11th November. Each poppy was sold which raised millions of pounds for six service charities which I thought was a really amazing idea.

Seeing each poppy surrounding the Tower of London was such an eye opener and really made me stop and think and appreciate how lucky we are. I’d recommend anyone to go and see the amazing installation before all the poppies are removed on the 11th. I found it to be truly awe-inspiring. Here's a few pictures I took when i visited..

Own Image

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DISSERTATION CONSUMER SURVEY

I am currently in the process of collecting research and writing my dissertation on the UK Lingerie Market. As part of my Dissertation I’m aiming to gather as much Primary research as possible. Therefore I have created a questionnaire which is designed to collect information on the UK Lingerie market and consumers purchasing behaviour. If you have a spare five minutes and would be willing to complete my questionnaire I’d really appreciate it. Please be assured that all answers will remain confidential. Please click here.

Thank you in advance!

Picture credit- Drapers 

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TREND WATCH - LIPSTICK TOP SHADES OF THE SEASON

I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite lipstick shades of the season.. 

 Image 1: From L-R: L'oreal Liquid Lipstick-Tangerine Sonate, Tom Ford-Spanish Pink, Nars-Vera

  Image 2: From L-R: Giorgio Armani-Rogue Ecstasy 400, Bobbi Brown-Electric Pink, Zoeva-Venus Phase 

All Images courtesy of The Telegraph 

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LEE BUL - THE IKON GALLERY

Yesterday I visited the Ikon Gallery to seek some inspiration for my dissertation research. The gallery is situated in Brindley Place in Birmingham which is a really lovely area by the canal with lot's of restaurants and bars, well worth a visit if you're in Birmingham! At the gallery I viewed an exhibition by contemporary Korean artist Lee Bul.

Lee Bul was born under the military dictatorship in South Korea in 1964. After graduating in sculpture in the late 1980’s Bul’s work became preoccupied with politics. The exhibition at the Ikon Gallery is the first UK solo show by Lee Bul and showcased items including early drawings, studies, sculptures and installations. Bul’s work has been described as ‘visually compelling’ which has led to her becoming one of the most important artists of her generation.

After studying History of Art at A Level it really opened up my views on art and I've continued to be really interested in art. At the exhibition the first sculpture I came across was suspended like a chandelier, evoking castle like structures in the air. The sculpture is made up of tiny crystal beads, mirrors and chains and was captivating. The sculptures reflect utopian architecture alongside images of totalitarianism from Bul’s early experiences growing up in South Korea.

Via Negativa (2012) is one of Bul’s most outstanding works. A mirrored walk-in maze it is a full-scale installation which takes up a whole room. I found myself wandering into the maze which can only be described as a confusing labrinyth. The installation is an immersive amalgamation of two way mirrors, metals and LED lighting. The maze disorientates and forces the viewer into direct conflict with their own perspectives. I thought it was great to have such an interactive piece within the exhibition for the viewer to engage with and immerse themselves in. 

The last part of the exhibition was a futuristic tunnel which seemed endless. It was made up of a two way mirror and lighting which made it seem totally endless. Through the exhibition Bul wanted viewers to feel a sense of self reflection. Throughout the exhibition I was totally captured within the immersive surreal experience and I'd definitely recommend a trip to the Ikon Gallery if you're ever in Birmingham.

All photos own images. 

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WEDDING DRESSES EXHIBITION - V&A

"A good wedding dress should reflect the period in which it's worn"
Edwina Ehrman

Whilst visiting the V&A museum to view the Disobedient Objects exhibition I decided to also visit the Wedding Dresses exhibition which showcases over 80 wedding dresses from 1775 to 2014.  I'd heard about the exhibition when it first opened and I was really keen to visit as before uni I actually worked in a Bridal Boutique, Miss Bush Bridalwear. The exhibition tells the story of the evolution of the wedding dress tracing the development of the the bridal gown over the last two centuries. The exhibition is displayed over two floors with the first displaying the oldest gowns from the 18th century and the mezzanine level showcasing the last 50 years of fashion. 

From 18th century flower sellers to Kate Moss’s 2011 John Galliano dress, The Guardian describes the exhibition as a ‘democratic affair’. The curator of the exhibition Edwina Ehrman wanted the exhibition to involve ordinary people as well as some iconic dresses viewers may have seen before. 

The exhibition runs in chronological order which allows the viewer to see how both weddings and the dresses have evolved over time. As you make your way through the exhibition, alongside many of the dresses, there are photographs and short films giving an insight into the fascinating details of each dress including the bride which wore the dress. The exhibition was curated by Edwina Ehrman and took five years to put together. She explores trends of the times from the drop-waist of the Twenties to the mini dress of the Sixties to the growth of the modern unconventional outfit. 

As I made my way through the exhibition and neared the stairway to the mezzanine I heard the sounds of cheering and church bells. I was greeted by a video of the royal wedding which is projected onto the wall. There was a big crowd gathered round the video of the Duchess of Cambridge dressed in Alexander McQueen on her wedding day which captured the nations heart in 2011. The video felt somewhat nostalgic and evoked a sense of Britishness. 

Throughout the exhibition the history of each dress is highlighted whilst fascinating details about the wearer and their life are revealed. From their circumstances to their fashion choice. I found this particularly interesting, to be able to gain such an intimate insight into what many consider to be one of the most important days of a woman’s life. Many of the modern dresses inspire invention. Dita Von Teese’s purple taffeta Vivienne Westwood gown is a highlight within the exhibition with its tiny wasp waist. 

The exhibition includes some of the most glamorous, romantic and extravagant wedding dresses of all time and is definitely one of my all time favourite exhibitions I've seen at the V&A. See more information here.

Images all courtesy of the V&A Museum.

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DISOBEDIENT OBJECTS EXHIBITION V&A MUSEUM

“The exhibition demonstrates how political activism drives a wealth of design ingenuity and collective creativity that defy standard definitions of art and design"

Yesterday I visited the V&A museum in London to help me with my research for my dissertation. I visited the Disobedient Objects exhibition which is the first to examine the role of powerful objects in movements for social change. The artefacts placed on display throughout the exhibition were not intended as works of art or design - The creators of these objects suggest they were made in response to crisis in the heat of the moment. It seems somewhat ironic to show products of raw protest and political activism within the cultivated surroundings of the V&A.

The exhibition is thought-provoking with the telegraph describing it as “utterly engrossing”. Disobedient objects addresses activist design and as you wander round the one room exhibition you find yourself captivated by the rebellious atmosphere. The exhibition focuses its attention on objects that have played a part in social change and those which continue to do so. Designed to remind visitors of ongoing struggles, heightening the distressing nature of the exhibition. 

Artefacts from around the world are on display throughout the exhibition focusing on the period from the late 1970’s to now, with new technologies and political change rife. From anti-apartheid badges to defaced currency, political video games and textiles bearing witness to political murders.The masked Trini dolls made by the Zapatista movement in Mexico to the gorilla masks worn by art-activist group Guerrilla Girls each item represents social change. As you make your way through the exhibition violent protests are projected onto the walls and you are greeted with instructions on how to make a DIY tear-gas mask. Disobedient Objects addresses activist design aiming to showcase these radical objects telling a harrowing story. I found the exhibition to be hard-hitting, defying the common perception of art and design. The exhibition is running until the 1st February and I'd definitely recommend a visit. Find out more details here.

All photos own images. 

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