Floating my boat this week
It's been an aesthete's paradise on Planet Penny for the last few days, so why not share the goodness around?
Exhibit A - Brewhaha rose tea
Finally! A rose tea that tastes strongly of real roses, rather than straw/dust/soap. I'm rationing myself to one cup a day to keep the addiction in check. More at www.brewhahaltd.com, including stockists. Would go perfectly with satin pyjamas, feather fans, fine china and pistachio 'maccarons', if you were going to go the whole hog.
Exhibit B - Bourjois rouge hi-tech liptints
They are similar to Benefit's cult Benetint, but have a wider range of colours, last longer, don't highlight dry skin, and cost about £7. They last through lunch too, and I've found mine doubles up as long-lasting blusher for a night out. So they are miles cheaper and I like them more. Minor gripes are that the on-lip colour is not the same as the colour of the bottles (so try a tester drop on your lips in the shop before purchasing), and the packaging could be a little less chunky. But like I said, minor gripes.
Exhibit C - Fashion lingerie at New Look
Go and have a look, you'll be impressed. They have totally turned this department around, and are now making a smallish but perfectly formed range of undies, and right now I think they're the best quality/value/design at the cheaper end of the high street. Oh, and they make things in my size - did you hear that, Primark? In fact, they cater for a few sizes outside the narrow range of 32-36 A-C, so 32DDs and 38As etc might find something to suit. The styles have nods to Elle McPherson, Roberto Cavalli, D&G, Calvin Klein, Agent Provocateur, and more.
Exhibit D - The accessories section at the Oxford Circus H&M
They are selling 'nickel tested' jewellery. As someone who has quite extreme reactions to nickel (I hear it leaves the toilet seat up, hence it shall never visit my house...) I can't tell you how much fun this is. Long chunky chains, pendants and earrings from £2 that won't burn through your skin like something from Alien. Get the gothic/Balmain bling look for under a tenner. And check out the Johnny Loves Rosie-inspired range of hair accessories.
Comments
Also a top tip from me. I went into M&S today and idly looked at the bras. As a recent convert to Bravissimo I didn't think I'd find anything that would be as good / fit as well but blow me M&S have made some changed. In their Ceriso range they have some styles in 30 and 32 back sizes up to GG. Me and my 30GGs were very happy.
Grown-up styles in a 30 - about time too. I just think that if they're going to sell size 6 and size 8 dresses it makes sense to sell us something to wear underneath them. Normally, 30-anythings are offered nothing more than 30AAs in pastel colours with pictures of teddies on them - styles I would have cringed at even at the onset of puberty. Yuck!
I thought some of the M&S luxury silk range (Autograph?) was beautiful when I was in there the other day. Drooooool.
And good news about the Bourjois stuff - it's included in Boots' current 3-for-2 offer, along with several other decent mid-priced brands (No7, Revlon, etc). If you needed a couple of other thngs like powder or mascara anyway then you'd get the lip tint free.
PPS Have you seen the Dita von Teese collection for Wonderbra? It's heart-stoppingly pretty 1940's starlet glamour, but I confess I haven't checked the sizing (it was slightly out of my price range this month and I made myself walk away).