Nine X Lingerie - Babydoll Review

Today I'm going to be reviewing this gorgeous babydoll by Nine X Lingerie! Once they got in contact with me to review a piece of theirs I just had to accept - I've had a few pieces from Nine X before from when I've bought some lingerie for modelling!

They sent me the gorgeous Mira Satin and Mesh Babydoll - I chose to have it in the colour Turquoise because it looked absolutely stunning!

I got the babydoll in a size 22, just because I like to have a little extra room in my lingerie to compensate for my girls! When wearing the babydoll you can see that I opt to wear without straps sometimes, for me it holds up quite well without the the straps. For me personally, with the straps it pulled the piece quite high up, which is good for those who may have issues with showing too much cleavage! 

The overall aesthetic and feel to the piece is wonderful and absolutely beautiful - the piece has 2 mesh panels at the side which are clear which is absolutely love! It just separates the piece up a bit and gives it a little sexier twist!

On the front of the piece you have a scalloped lace detail on the hem of the top and bottom of the babydoll and on the back you have the same piece of scalloped lace on the top but on the bottom you just have the satin material run straight down. Back to looking at the front of the babydoll, the straps are of a stretchy material, they are very comfortable as well! There is a little black bow on the front of the babydoll in the centre of the lower bust line.

Overall I really love this piece, it has enough sexiness to not be too over bearing for those who may want to be a little subtle but enough cheekiness with the mesh on the side to still be sexy; its really comfortable and is so comfy to sleep in as well! I would get a male's opinion but I have no male to give me one... But I'm sure it will definitely be a hit with your significant other too! I'd super recommend this product and Nine X is such a fantastic company - especially due to the fact I've not been able to blog and being understanding that I couldn't do the review right away. 

This product is available in sizes 8 - 24 and is available in Black, Purple, Red, Turquoise and White.

Turquoise Mira Chemise Babydoll - £16.99 


Lots of Love

Emma Victoria

xoxoxox

Book Review; The Stark Trilogy

After reading the Fifty Shades Trilogy and the first 3 books of the Crossfire series, I decided to do a little hunting for books on the erotic/erotic romance genre while waiting for the 4th book of the Crossfire to be released - and up popped the Stark Trilogy by Julie Kenner. This has a sort of similar plot to the other 2 series, but it does have its difference.

Release Me (Book 1)
When you first start reading this book the first chapter and a bit you find out all about Nikki and it kind of sets the scene of why she's in LA, her new job, why she's at this specific party. Then a little while later (I think about the latter of Chapter 2/chapter 3) Nikki meets Damien. She kind of explains what she knows about him, about his celebrity status etc. So we get to know the basics.
 
I won't give away too much, but for me at first I thought Damien was a bit of a prick, until I kind of warmed to him as I got to know him. But I also kind of wasn't sure if I liked Nikki at first either, although I grew to like her as the book went on and began to see a little of myself in here!

What you realise first of that these characters aren't clean cut, unlike the Crossfire series (which I personally love, but thought everyone kind of looks beautiful no matter what) these characters having exterior and interior beauty, along with a lot of pain. And that's what I found intriguing in these books more then anything - was trying to figure out what had happened to the characters and how it may effect the story plot - which it kind of does, a lot.

If you are expecting straight into sex with this book, you are definitely going to be disappointed, unlike Fifty Shades and Crossfire, this book makes you wait until chapter 20 - just over 200 pages in. Despite it being worth it, and you'll see why once you read the book, it did make me just want to say "get into bed already" with the sexual tension. They do have an encounter earlier on in the book but nothing physical between them goes on - I'd personally say its more emotional and verbal.

I did enjoy this book despite having to wait, and it did intrigue me what the second book would cover.

Claim Me (Book 2)In book 2 we sort of carry on where we left off from the first. This book had a little more sex in it, but there wasn't much more, which did leave me a little disappointed. I also did prefer Damien's character in the second book then in the first, but I still wasn't on Team Damien just yet. I adored Nikki's character in the second, I found she had gained a lot more inner strength but

still showed that she had her weaknesses no matter how much she tried to fight and hide from them.

In the second book, Nikki has a bit more of a 'celebrity status' and this does change Nikki's overall outlook, but her personality is very much the same and she's very insecure about things.

Towards the end of the second book though, I couldn't decide if I hated Damien or if I liked him. I'm not one for secrets - and he did spring out a huge one, and lied to Nikki. Which, with the entirety of the lie, pissed me off with the character (I know its not real, but I get very immersed when I read!)

I did feel for Nikki on the job front though, as she didn't really have much luck. But she did have amazing sex...

I did find this book focused a lot on the romance and developing feelings between the two characters. Although I did like the fact that her friends weren't always at the forefront of the storyline, but did add to it in dramatic effects as well. It was perfectly balanced.

Complete Me (Book 3)
Well, out of all three books I found this one the most emotional. To me it had the most impact, and quenched my desire for the characters to become more true to themselves and to each other. I personally thought in this book we saw the raw'er more real side of the multi billionaire, universe running, sex god who played tennis - and it was refreshing.

I also liked how when Julie Kenner wrote this trilogy, that Nikki's character didn't drastically change overnight since being with Damien, which I found in Fifty Shades and a bit in the Crossfire series, that the characters just miraculously adapted to the new life a lot easier then what someone in reality would.

I think this book also had a rather dramatic, yet adorably sweet ending. Admittedly, I cried and definitely got wound up into all the drama.

My only fault with this book was, the sex was phenomenal - when we had it. I personally thought in the third book, we didn't get a lot of the thoroughly detailed sex, only Nikki's want/desire for Damien and to have it. I think had there been a few more detailed times, it would have improved the book slightly.

AND... What a cliffhanger, yet absolutely amazing bombshell at the end of the book!!!!

Overall
I really enjoyed the Stark Trilogy, I still personally have the Crossfire series as my number 1, but this does par up well with Fifty Shades. I think there could've been a few improvements here or there - but I really liked how the characters developed and I did like how Nikki's character changed, but only slightly as time went on. 
My only main fault with the whole Trilogy is the fact that I don't hardly recall Nikki ever having a period?! Correct me if I'm wrong, but it was all the sex and none of mother nature popping her head in? The only other fault is that, I know there are mini little follow up Novella's about Nikki and Damien which Kenner has written BUT if you don't own a kindle you can't read them, as I can't find them in paperback (annoying).
However I do know there is a spin off about Jamie called Tame Me - so if you want to find out more about Nikki's best friend/roommate this is meant to be a good read!

I would totally recommend this if you enjoyed Fifty Shades and want a storyline very similar with a mix of the Crossfire series and Fifty Shades.

Emma Victoria

xoxoxox

OOTW; Das Rock Haus Skirt Review

Today's OOTW is the first of 2015 and its a review of the gorgeous Das Rock Haus Olga Wrap Skirt!

OOTW

Olga Wrap Skirt, Das Rock Haus - £33.74 (converted into GBP)

White Long Sleeved Top, Novelle - £8
Long Apple Pendant, New Look - £5 (discontinued)
Stone Patent Double T-Bar Pumps, New Look - £7
Coral Headband, New Look - £5

Review
When the lovely Fiza contacted me about reviewing a skirt for Das Rock Haus I immediately jumped at the chance! The choice of skirts are wonderful and they are all so pretty and beautiful! Fiza and me discussed which would be best and I had a look, but I fell in love with the Olga and I'm so thrilled with the way it looks. Seeing as the skirt came from Singapore, I expected what with the Royal Mail for the skirt to take a little while to arrive but it arrived in 5 days which took me by surprise! When the skirt arrived it came in this wonderful mesh bag, with the ribbons tied in a bow. I completely loved the presentation of the skirt too, it was just the extra touch that makes the difference!

The fastenings are hook and eye fastenings which I honestly love, it's a more comfortable fit and no buttons coming off or loose! All you need to do is, take your measurements and the skirt's fastenings are done to your measurements for a perfect fit - which I honestly LOVE! I always have a problem when it comes to the 'right' size on my waist, and I think this is the perfect idea for an amazing fit!

I honestly love the fit on my figure - I'm an hourglass (with a little extra sand!) and I really love how this comfortably sits on my waist and doesn't dig in when I sit down. The wrap around skirt also helps to weight the skirt down a little so no awkward moments of the skirt flaring up when its a bit windy. I'm not wearing any shape wear with this skirt either. This skirt will be perfect for the hot Spring and Summer to come!

The skirt is a light weight material with a gorgeous triple bow detail on the top hem of the skirt - its the perfect touch to this already stunning skirt!

I give the Olga Wrap Skirt a 10/10!

Love

Emma Victoria
xoxox

Review; Fifty Shades Negligee & Underwear

I've been totally in love with the Fifty Shades collection since reading the books - I've turned into a bit of a fan girl if I'm honest! I have 2 mugs, one being the official 'Laters Baby' mug which is amazing and another which was a gift from my lovely friend. However, a friend suggested to me that I look at the collection which is being sold in Tesco - and I'm so glad I did!! I actually had a voucher from Tesco too for clothes, so I happily went and spent it on these beauties!

Satin Chemise

On my initial scroll through to decide what I might get, I saw these and fell in love! Two of my favourite things ever; satin and beautiful negligee! I love the simplicity and elegance of these and as soon as I tried them on, I didn't want to take them off! They come in two colours Duck Egg Blue and Black.

On the centre of the bust on each chemise is a little bow with the Fifty Shades Freed key; I think this is a really lovely touch and adds a tiny amount of glitz to the overall beautiful item! On the hem of the bust is stunning scallop edge lace, and the straps on the garment are adjustable - perfect to help the ladies sit nice and comfortably! The garment sits about thigh length, although I'd recommend if bending down or over to cover yourself - it can be a little revealing! The feel of the item, is a super soft stretchy satin and is really comfortable to wear at night.

I got mine in a size 18-20 and the fit is definitely comfortable - as said above the material is a little stretchy to help accomodate.

Black Satin Chemise - £19.50
Duck Egg Satin Chemise - £19.50

Kimono

The next item is the Satin Trimmed Kimono robe - when first putting this on, I was a little confused as I wasn't sure how kimono's work but soon figured it out. The robe itself is a beautiful soft cotton with the trim of the gown in a satin ribbon - a lovely elegant touch.

I got mine in a size 18-20 - however I do feel this is actually quite big on me when not tied up extremely tight (like the image). On the back of the neck, and on the end of the belt ribbon you have the Fifty Shades Darker emblem sewn on - again another really nice touch to the garment.

The garment sits about thigh length, and again be warned when bending over - although you don't do much bending in bed, only when you get up in the morning. This is a really cosy and comfortable item, and I can't wait for the really cold days to wear this and cuddle up in it! This is perfect for the elegant yet sexy look, and is perfect for not revealing too much but still enough to tease (I like to tease!).

Black Satin Trimmed Kimono - £19.50

Anastaisa Pleated Balcony Bra and Pleated Briefs

So I was totally drawn in by the Anastatsia set. I love the pleated ribbon design (pleated designs are definitely my weakness). Now my actual bra size is a 44DD, but recently, I've being losing weight and getting fit, so toning up and my body proportions are out of control at the moment. So I tried "sister sizes" which kind of worked. I got the bra in a 38E and if I'm honest, all I need is a bra extension clip and its pretty much a really comfy fit! The bra is underwired and has padded cups; the cup holds the ladies well and give me support and lift (which if I'm honest, I was surprised it did!). The pleated duck egg ribbon goes up on the straps, and over the cup and with a little bow and key charm in the centre of the bra and bows on the end of the straps which attach to the cup. 

Looking at the knickers, I got the high briefs, as I don't wear thongs that often and these are really comfy. I got these in a size 22 and fit perfectly. The back is a sheer black mesh material (very cheeky) and is really comfy. The front of the knickers have the signature bow and key charm as do most of the other items.

These are really really comfortable - and wore them for a whole 12 hours without feeling uncomfy at all - the bra gave me enough support just as much when I wear my actual bra size. This set is really elegant and charming. Its reserved but shows enough, which in the book is a good representation of Ana. The Anastasia set comes in either Black with Duck Egg Blue ribbon or White with Grey Ribbon.

Black Anastasia Pleated Balcony Bra - £19.50
White Anastasia Pleated Underwired Bra - £19.50
Black Anastasia Pleated High Briefs - £9.50
White Anastasia Pleated High Briefs - £9.50

Elena Lace Brazillian Briefs 

On the Elena Lace Brazillian Briefs the whole of the back is a sheer elegant yet risqué eyelash lace which has a comfortable cut along the bottom. The front has a panel with a golden pink back, covered in lace. The modesty panel, is a satin material on the outside and a cotton on the inside. The briefs has a low cut on them, which I'm normally not a huge fan of as these can be uncomfortable and roll down if you aren't gifted with a flat stomach like myself - however for me they did stay up very comfortably and I didn't feel uncomfortable with the lace either. As on the majority of the other items, we have the signature both and key charm - I definitely like the re occurrence of the charm as its just a lovely little detail.

I got these knickers in a 22, and are a perfect fit.

Elena Lace Brazilian Briefs - £9.50

Laters Baby Eye Mask

I really love the simplicity of this eye mask, I love the duck egg colour and the sewn lettering of Christian's famous phrase 'Laters Baby x'. This has a soft ruched ribbon going round the back of the head and has an elastic too. The mask is a satin material with a soft cushioning over the eyes and is very comfortable to sleep in; it does what it says on the tin really and blocks out light. I hate having light in rooms, I have to sleep in pitch black, and unlike other eye masks which do let light in, these don't at all & they are comfortable!

Duck Egg 'Laters Baby' Eye Mask - £5.00
(Unable to find link currently)

Overall I really loved these products! They were comfortable yet made me feel sexy, which is something I feel I've been lacking in lately these past few months! I don't think its even possible for me to pick a favourite, I love them all way too much to describe!

The collection is affordable too, which is something I really like. Sometimes I feel things can be overpriced but these haven't, so big thumbs up for that! The collection is also simple, and not "too over the top" I think it could've gone either way of really elegant, simple yet successful OR it could've been done badly, tacky and be a disaster. I'm just glad its the first one!

I know there are releases of other products such as nail varnish by OPI in January, so keep a look out for other products if you love Fifty Shades!

Emma Victoria

xoxox

Review: Hold-up Stockings from Amazon!

 So a while back I was looking for some hold up stockings that didn't cost the earth, that stood up well throughout the day and that were good quality. While browsing on amazon I came across these and thought I would take a risk. I got them in a size XL (my thighs normally fit a size 20-22) and the fit was really good, and they didn't cut into my thighs at all.

These stockings were also a really good height on the leg for me too. I normally find with stockings they go right to the top of my thigh, which sometimes is great but sometimes I like ones that sit a little lower on my thigh instead of right up near the kitty; and these ones do the trick perfectly!

So the black pair were really nice, and found they didn't ladder at all for me (despite ripping a toe nail, very painfully, just before putting these on for work) - both pairs are 20 denier and are definitely better then some of the ladder resistant stockings I've bought in the past. These isn't too much lace on the top, but just enough and the hold up tape is very hard wearing too. I wore these frequently when I had a lot of meetings and I was darting around London in a pencil skirt suit, these didn't fall down, I didn't need to adjust them at all only when I went to the bathroom.  

The white pair are really good for anyone who needs Bridal Wear and don't particularly want to wear a suspender belt. The white is really lovely and isn't a too stronger pigment (I did expect these to be more white then they are when I first bought them). They were perfect for me when putting together a winter snow themed outfit.

Both sets of hold-ups are very comfortable and haven't for me, since having them for 2 months, have not laddered at all. I personally hand wash them in cool water after they've been used and worn in shoes for many hours a day in meetings. 

Another really good thing about these stockings is that they come in various colorus as well, so you have an array of choice.

Paradise4women - Buy Here for £2.89 a set.

Emma Victoria

xoxox

Book Review; Crossfire Series Books 1-3

So as soon as I finished the Fifty Shades (FS) Trilogy I started the Crossfire series, I only got the first 3 books (and waited for the 4th book to be released on the 18th November; I will review this book along with when the 5th book is released although its probably ages away to being released). I'm going to review this like I did the FS Review, each book by itself.

Bared to You (Book 1)

Gideon pretty much just wants his own way, and Eva is, well, a bit stubborn and I think she is for the completely right reason. The book moves along a little quicker then FS and the way in which they meet is also a bit different, if not a little more realistic? I did like the fact the book moved along a little quicker, and I did think that Sylvia Day actually took more care and more depth into the sex scenes in this book. The sex scenes were seriously intense and erotic - and I mean that. All I'm saying is Gideon's Parents House and Magdalene and the Limo.

I think looking at the characters, Gideon is much more likely to notice and react quickly to the fact he's screwed up, like an almost immediate reaction - he is much more needy and paranoid in my opinion. Eva is stubborn, and its very obvious she has a lot of issues in trusting people, an sometimes even Gideon. I think towards the end of Chapter 18, you can see the two's trust and relationship being pushed quite far, especially for Eva.

I really enjoyed the first book, I jumped straight into the second without a moment's delay! I really like the fact that both the two main characters are pretty screwed up from their pasts, and not just one. I feel you still get that mystery of the two characters, trying to figure both out and figure if they really 'can' work or not. To conclude, I would definitely say if you enjoyed the FS trilogy then you have to give this book a go - I would say Gideon and Eva are a bit different to Christian and Ana but they have a lot more depth and are possibly in a more intense relationship.

LOVE - Gideon and Eva if I'm going to be honest. I like how they both have a lot of issues they need to resolve. I also like the fact Eva also comes from a wealthy background herself, so she can appreciate Gideon's wealth better (unlike Ana who is in denial of CG's Wealth in FS)
HATE - I personally was not digging the whole 'all characters seem to be beautiful and perfect' thing. I mean I get that her friend Cary is a model etc and that but it just kind of seems everyone is kind of beautiful and amazing,

Reflected in You (Book 2)

The second book started out following straight on from the ending of the first book, just the next morning. I found the second book a bit more tense then the first one. I was on the edge a lot of the time, trying to figure why it was happening and how it was to be resolved. There is also a HUGE plot twist at the end - I think what we can learn from Gideon's character is to take him literally, what he says is what he means.

I did feel a lot more sympathy for Eva in this book - mainly because it was like one thing after another, and she was on an emotional roller-coaster that never ended. I do think the way she reacted a lot of the time was rational, and if I'm honest I just want to give her a hug. I began to take a tiny dislike to Gideon with the way he treats Eva in this book, despite for all the good reason he may have to do so. But he soon made me like him again with the sex scenes in this book (although, most are actually towards the first half of the book, with the second half being a lot less focused on the sex, but the intensity of having none).

I really loved the second book for showing that 2 people who are majorly (pardon my language) fucked up to be so determined to make the relationship work, for me it shows that they aren't conventional but are desperate to try for what they have and develop that in a way they feel comfortable (obviously with Gideon taking control!).

LOVE That the relationship for Gideon and Eva isn't perfect - but more screwed up. Its the fact they want to prove people wrong.
HATE I found this consistent in both the second and third books - the fact we are given information like we've only just met the character when its just been a little while since they were mentioned! It drove me crazy!!!

Entwined with You (Book 3)
I think the key overall summary of this book is 'plot twists' and 'intense sex'. So many plot twists in this book, especially from the last few chapters - I think I nearly died at 2am when reading the last few chapters as it was all so unexpected.

I think if you are expecting 'closure' from the end of book 2, you can definitely think again. I think this book will just make you even more confused on Gideon and Eva's relationship. Despite all the drama and shocks in this book I found myself still getting completely wrapped up into why Gideon is the way he is - I personally want to know everything and completely get why Eva wants to know too. I think the major plot twist at the end is completely unexpected from my view - and supremely quick.

In this book I definitely think Gideon flourishes more and you begin to realise its not about him - all will make sense if you choose to read the book. This book definitely has a little more humour to it as well - some of the jokes that came out genuinely made me giggle more then they should have; again this gave the book more of a humorous and enjoyable feel.

LOVE The fact there is a little more romance; and despite it not being much we have a small insight into Gideon's past and we can understand the way he works sometimes. Oh and the aeroplane sex... Jesus that was hot...
HATE The dropped stories - I just found that some leads were dropped in the story like we will come back to them later. Like at the end when Gideon, Eva, Cary, and Eva's parents go to a function and Eva see's someone - its just dropped. Ugh frustrating.

Overall 
If I'm going to be honest, I was rather sceptical of this series to start with, as I didn't think that the books would live up to the claims that its 'better' then FS - well I think the book proved me wrong. I would argue however that I do think this was written better, and the plots aren't EXACTLY the same (like some people claimed), which was refreshing in itself. 
One of the big things that bugged me in all three of the books, had to be that some sex scenes were written in great depth, and real good depth too - but then if they had follow up sex near on after (which happened frequently) it would cover about 5-6 lines and that's it. I personally found that majorly frustrating and think Day could've done that a bit better in my opinion.

The only other big criticism is the release dates for the next books - I know this is not Day's fault, but the publishing house. Jesus, I just feel lucky I only had to wait 2 months for the 4th book to be released - I know many people have waited over a year. I am also confused on how many more there are actually going to be?! Some people have said five in total, some six and some people even said seven. So if you know please let me know in the comments!!

Emma Victoria

xoxox

Review; Collectif Pearl Coat (Beige)

Happy Saturday! Sorry today's post isn't up at the usual time, but I've been so wrapped up into my reading, that last night I forgot to write this post up (and while I write this I'm actually watching the rugby)!!

Anyway, today I thought I'd show, and review my absolutely stunning new coat! I'm in complete awe and love with this coat - I waited a year to purchase it, and its everything I expected and more.

So lets begin with the actual aesthetic looks to the coat.
The Pearl Coat has a 1930's style with stunning pleats on the waist, bust and back of the coat to give volume and to shape. The coat has a small hourglass cut to the waist, which is also supported with the flare of the skirt on the coat too. (Perfect for those ladies who want to flatter their figure, or to acheieve a little hourglass figure while wearing a coat). The collar, cuffs and trim of the coat are all in a faux fox fur which is so super soft you never want to take the coat of at all! I also saw a post on Tumblr where the Pearl Coat looks identical to the one in the picture (link here).

The coat itself, is very heavy, but at the same time its very cosy and warm. I genuinely can't wait to have snow again in the UK, just so I have even more excuse to wear the coat!
I bought this coat in a size 20, and its definitely true to size, I'm in between sizes in Collectif varying from a size 18 -22, but I'm predominantly a 20. The coat has a good little bit of stretch to it, not loads but enough to fit over my rather voluptuous lady lumps. The buttons are mighty sturdy too, as well as positively cute. What I love even more with the faux fur neck collar, is that you can have it loose like I am wearing in the images, or you can fasten it up so its more tighter around your neck for more warmth; there is 3 hook and eye fasteners on the fur collar, and is a really lovely option to have, depending on what the weather may be.

The coat also has really good pockets - I'm very fussy when it comes to coats with pockets. My last coat had poor excuses for pockets and I couldn't even put my phone in them without it falling out - however the pockets on the pearl can probably hold a compact mirror, lipstick and my iPhone 4s quite happily - which is perfect if you are just quickly dashing out and don't need nor want to take a handbag! (Also perfect to pop your hands in if you gloves aren't keeping your hands toasty!)

My favourite part of testing anything that has a flowy skirt to it, is the twirl test! I didn't expect this coat to be too twirly considering how heavy it is, but I was pleasantly surprised! If you are walking down the street the skirt actually swings as you go, making you look like you've stepped out of the 1930's glamour scene (no complaints here!), but if you really want to get some va va voom, then just spin in a circle (I do it a lot, way too much some times!) and then you can really get some volume under the skirt - definitely a happy girl here! No worries if it's windy though as the coat will definitely hold down so you won't have to worry about having any Marilyn Monroe moments!

11/10

So overall I think this whole coat is phenomenal - its just perfect and is classically elegant.  I even think giving it an 11 out of 10 is still not justifying how amazing this coat is, in design and quality. You can either dress it up or dress it down! I'd pair this coat with my Patsy Herringbone skirt, black tights, black pumps, a cute top and cardigan/bolero with this coat for a cute winter outfit!
The price of £185 may be a little steep for those on a budget, but I promise that it is definitely worth its price tag!

You can buy your's here:
Green - http://www.collectif.co.uk/plain-pearl-coat-p-vaw140611-c-green.html
Beige - https://www.collectif.co.uk/plain-pearl-coat-p-aw130609-c-beige.html 

Love 

Emma Victoria

xoxox

(P.S If you want to see my twirling around in the coat then check out my Mini Review on YouTube!)

Book Review; Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy

Okay okay, I know what you're thinking "everyone's read Fifty Shades, everyone knows about it" BUT I only just read the books in September, a few years after everyone else and the initial release. I tend to do this mainly so no one can tell me what happens when they see I'm reading it, and I like doing things out of the hype.

So, normally, I wouldn't talk about anything so personal, but this book has really brought it out into the light for me, I do enjoy these sexual erotic books - they reflect how I may feel, or what its like to be in that situation, a sense of escapism. I do enjoy being tied up, I have been for personal reasons and for modelling work which I've done. I enjoy it.

So I'm going to address each book one by one... I'm going to try and not spoil anything for those who are interested in reading but haven't yet, so what I write will be rather cryptic.

Fifty Shades of Grey (Book 1)

I took the first book on holiday with me, knowing I wouldn't finish it, because when I read, I read about 1 chapter at a time, but with this book I read about 7 chapters at a time. My best friend had to try and stop me from reading, I probably could've finished the book by the Wednesday (I started reading it on the train journey on Monday to my holiday) but I tried to savour the book so I could read some for the journey back... Which was unsuccessful. 

I really enjoyed the first book, and I really mean enjoyed. I kept giggling and got so wrapped up into it, I swear my life became a vortex, everything made me question what was going to happen with Ana and Christian, what does he really want, what are his problems, I questioned everything. I completely love how the book is written.  I personally adore Ana's character, I like how weak she can be, but so passionate and open minded, and super curious; in a way, I can see myself in Ana. In all honesty, I kind of cried at the end of the book, I couldn't believe Ana and what she had done, I wanted to kind of shake her and shout at her, but at the same time, I understood why she did what she had done.

Honestly, I'm gonna be pretty shallow and obvious here but I also completely adore Christian's character, although not so much in this book, more so in the second. I think the best part of Christian for me personally, was how quickly he had mood changes, like the slightest thing effected him. I saw this as a highlight mainly because, it brought a sense of urgency and unknown to his character - unpredictability.

I really like the fact that EL James stretched the fact in the book, that if anything was to happen it would be on Ana's terms, hence why Christian offers what he does. I did find this book did have a bad reputation at first, I still do now. I have found a lot of people think this book is about an abusive relationship which it is far from. From my perspective of reading, its an erotic novel based on the ideas of SOFT  (yes, soft, I know what hard is.) BDSM relationships. There is much worse that could

have been done, and Ana in fact asked for the worst (you'll know what I mean if you've read it).

I'm personally not a fan of books which takes the plot super slowly, like this book is based over just a few weeks, however, I'm swayed. I love the details and the depth EL James has gone into in this book, I love the sex scenes and how they've been written and how they develop. My favourite sex scene in this book is probably when Christian says to Ana it's all about touch...

LOVE - The plot, the sex, the characters - EVERYTHING. The perfect 1st book to a Trilogy in my honest opinion.
HATE - I can't really fault anything at all!

Fifty Shades Darker (Book 2)
Personally, I really enjoyed this book, as this flourishes the characters into a whole new light, and how they must adapt to each other, the differences between them and their relationship. At the beginning of the book it continues straight on from the first, however a few days later. Ana has been away from Christian; but things change very quickly.

I really didn't expect the plot to take the turn that it did, but I think it was a good move, however an obvious one. I think Ana does represent how a lot of women feel though, with her self-

confidence low, and that she isn't attractive, like she doesn't understand why she gets so much attention, good move EL James!

Personally, I really like the second book, just as much, if not a smidgen more then the first. I like how this book delves a lot more into Christian and his problems, I find you can understand his character a lot more, why he acts the way he does and why he is so possessive over controlling everything.

Again, I cried at this book... more then three times (is that even acceptable?) but I'm only going to tell you three of them. One was when Leila (one of Christian's exes) is out after them (I will say no more unless you read it!), and I totally feel for Ana when she is with Ethan (her friends brother), I kind of want to get drunk with her. Another, when Christian couldn't be found (I cried for several reasons, not only when they couldn't find him, but why couldn't they, and Ana's reaction to it all just broke my heart in two). And one of the other times was near the end of the book, all I'm saying is... Christian's Birthday, his parents house, the boathouse.... That is all.

This book had be enthralled into it and with the Characters. I read this book in under 2 and a half days it was that good... My favourite sex scene would have to be on the billiard table...

LOVE- Understanding Christian a lot more, the HUGE event towards to the end of the book (which I can't say for those who haven't read the book!)
HATE - Ana's boss (he's just a dick to be really honest).

Fifty Shades Freed (Book 3)

If I'm going to be brutally honest, the first few chapters confused the hell out of me. I have no idea whether we are in the present, the future or the past. I would say, for me, that it just feels like EL James is counter referencing, like flashbacks. Had this have been written as it happens in the present, maybe it would unfold a little differently and be less confusing; but I don't know.

I did find that the book lacked the thorough detail it had in the first 2 books for example at the big event at the start of Freed (again, I'm being cryptic so I don't ruin it for others). It was a perfect chance to really delve and explore their compassion and love, but it all just seemed a bit rushed to me... Which I found disappointing.

However, for me, the redeeming part (and the best part) I found was that the sex in book 3 is MUCH more entertaining and better then in the first two. They are more experimental and Ana gets more of an insight into what Christian likes, and soon finds that she actually grows to like it too.

When I get into something, I get into it pretty deep, so I've really been grasped into this book - which is a sure fire way to know I like something, cause if I don't like it, I get bored and stop doing it (bad attitude I know, but that's me) but I just can't but these books down, the plot in book 3 is drama filled, and kept my heart racing quite a lot. I think by chapter eleven I was already a pool of emotions - and for me, I felt like I was in Ana's shoes, like I was in her situation.

I do have to say though, I'm not a big fan of how quickly the book would jump days, the first 2 books had most days in concession of each day, but in Freed days were jumped a lot more, and I think good scenes in the book, which could've added a real depth to it, where missed or jumped forward; which I personally think is a real shame.

LOVE - The Sex Scenes & Ana standing up for herself more (and the car chase... and the sex after the car chase...)
HATE - The drama towards the end of the chapters - I was genuinely scared for Ana for several reasons - one being Christian.

Overall
I loved this Trilogy; I managed to read all 3 books in just under 2 weeks. I can't remember the last time I read a book, let alone 3 books in such a short amount of time. If someone was to say to me to re-read these books in 2 weeks time, I'd accept happily. The Characters are so well developed and renowned, its really made me want to find my real life Christian Grey (it would help if he was a multi-millionaire too, but hey... a girl can dream). I also love how EL James writes the emails in the book... Christians signature's would really make me crack up with that schoolgirl giggle sometimes! I always looked forward to reading their emails in the book!

My favourite out of all three would definitely be Fifty Shades Darker, I love the progress of the characters and how the develop, argue, flourish and find where each of themselves stand; both in a way, finding their true identities, which have been shielded away or yet to be uncovered fully.

"Do you think there's potential for a fourth book?" I think there is plenty of story to carry it on from a few years later and/or Christian's perspective like we get at the end of Freed in the "Meet Fifty Shades" section. I think EL James would have a tough task writing a fourth though, as it would need to be on the same level, if not better then the first three to recapture the readers (Although I'd die if there was a fourth book I'd want to read it right away!).

However, I'm now moving onto another series of books, again which are erotic fiction. If you enjoyed this review, please let me know, and I will post a review of the next series that I'm reading!

Emma Victoria

xox

OOTW&Review; Collectif Summer Bouquet Dolores

So as I've said for the last few weeks, I'm going on a 2 month break (see post here which kind of explains why) so I saved this beauty of a dress to show you guys and to review for my last post. I'm going to miss documenting my outfits each week for the next 2 months, but I really need this break. However, I originally planned on getting this dress before my birthday but Collectif had sold out in my size weeks before and hadn't restocked - so I lost hope and began looking for a new dress which I'd love just as much. I felt heartbroken at first but on my actual birthday I went to Brighton with my best friend and we went into Collectif and THERE WAS THE DRESS. In my size, in the flared style, right in front of me! My birthday was made not only by the fact my best friend surprised me by coming down for the weekend (she kept it from me for months!) but I found the dress I;ve wanted so badly for a whole year!

Summer Bouquet Dolores Dress, Collectif - £65
Red & White Becca Bag, Collectif - £35
Slingback Peep Toes, Peacocks - £12
Pink Chiffon Scarf, eBay - £4.50
Leopard Print Cat Eye Sunglasses, eBay - £10
Double Notes Necklace, Bow & Crossbones - £4.99
20"Baby Pink Petticoat, Hell Bunny - £21.99

Make-Up

Collection Lasting Finish Foundation in Ivory

Natural Collection Face Powder in Neutral

Bourjois Clubbing Liquid Liner, Black

Natural Collection Eyeshadows in Candyfloss & Mermaid 

MUA Luxe Lip Lacquer in Atomic

Review

So after a year of lusting over this dress, I feel like my world is made by owning it now. You all know my favourite brand is Collectif, so as I normally do I went to their Brighton shop, had a lovely chat with the ladies who are probably becoming very familiar with me always popping in there and browsed round with my best friend - and then I found it. Now the dress itself is in the flared Dolores Style, and this dress has a lot of give to it, I was originally looking for a size 20, but I was advised to size down due to how much give the dress has and also for a better fit on the bust; so I ended up with an 18. When I got home the first thing I did (and my friend Danielle can vouch for me on this!) was but the dress on, as I just couldn't believe how much I loved this dress. Truthfully I could actually fit into a 16 with this dress, but I prefer it a little bigger if I was to wear a petticoat (like above) and also I can tailor the dress with my sewing machine if I need to. The dress has an absolutely gorgeous summer floral pattern, and for someone who doesn't normally wear yellow due to being blonde and the colour normally doesn't complement me, this dress just looks phenomenal! There is plenty of room on the bust for the bigger busted ladies but also gives a beautiful curve on the bust for the ladies who are more slender. This dress is perfect for an hourglass look. The dress sits about mid calf on me (I stand at 5 foot 5.5) and has an absolutely beautiful flare on the full circle skirt, I also love pairing a petticoat with the Dolores dress because of how pretty it makes the skirt, I feel like I've really stepped out of the 50's when wearing a petticoat with this dress! (I personally prefer wearing a 20" petticoat as this sits above the knee and doesn't go below the dress).

My favourite part is always the twirl test - this dress just twirls perfectly, the skirt has such a good flow and spreads out beautifully when twirling around. The dress has the permanently stunning feel to it, and even my friend who dances around with me said its a beautiful dress to dance in. The dress isn't tight on the waist like some dresses from other brands that I own either.

Another amazing feature to the Dolores Doll dresses are definitely the puffed elasticated sleeves. You can either wear them off the shoulder or as a normal sleeve. Which I love, if I feel like having a sassier day then I will have the sleeves off the shoulder but if I want to be a little more conservative then I will opt for on shoulder.

I decided to match this dress with a pink petticoat and pink chiffon headscarf, mainly because I thought these would compliment the yellow quite well. However, I also added my red Becca bag, which looks absolutely stunning alongside the dress too.

So another beautiful dress has won me over from Collectif!!

I'm going to miss doing these posts for a little while, but when I'm back I'm sure I will have lots of beautiful outfits to show you all!

Lots of Love & See You Soon!

Emma Victoria

xoxoxoxoxox

Review: M&S Stockings and Hold Ups!

Hello my dears! Okay, so today's post is a review, I've been asked over on my twitter by some lovely plus size ladies what I thought about the stockings I had bought for some photo shoots.

I'm going to be honest here, I was more of a stockings and suspenders sort of person, however, when I tried on some hold ups for a photo shoot I had back in April I fell in love (and became slightly obsessed). 

So I was a bit hesitant to actually go and buy hold-ups, y'know having thunder thighs and all. A friend recommend that I try the Big Tight's Company ; but I never got round to ordering, so I took a punt when I was in M&S and bought these in Black...

Sorry for my ill fitting bra in these... I was washing my bra's and this was the only clean spare one!

These are the 15 Denier Ladder Resist Shine Hold-Ups - these were only £5, so if they didn't fit there wasn't a huge amount of loss in money. I got mine in an XL, the biggest size they had, and they actually fit really well! They don't slip down when I walk, especially in public, which is an absolutely key factor when it comes to hold-ups. The stick adhesive is actually really good and does have a good stay, I only have to re-adjust every now and again so there is no qualms there. 

After absolutely loving the ones in black I did go out and also buy them in nude, cause you can never go wrong with nude stockings/hold-ups am I right?! I never really thought I'd be converted, but I seriously am. I really enjoy the feel of these; and especially with the ladder resist side, my friend and me bought a tester pair and punched some holes in to see if they would ladder... They didn't! The product does exactly what it said it should; and I really love the fact that a girl who fits into size 22 jeans with thanks to my thunder thighs fits into these lovely hold-ups.

You can buy them here

10 Denier - Illusion, Black, Nearly Black, Cocoa, Natural Tan, Ivory, Navy.

15 Denier - Black, Nearly Black, Nude.

Shoes are from Peacocks - £18

Lots of Love

Emma Victoria

xoxoxoxoxoxox

P.S - I'm 19 a week today, ahh!!!

My Favourite Top!

A little blog write up following my YouTube Video from the other week! As said, these tops compliment my bust and tummy amazingly and are so easy to style in different ways! 

I have 2 of the Polka Dot Tops. One in Candy Pink and the other in Navy

Buy Here

I also have 2 plain, white and Black, for easy pairings with patterned skirts or for an office look with some cigarette trousers or swing trousers.

Buy Here


I also have 2 patterned tops, one which is a Black and Cherry top, new to the Spring/Summer 2014 collection, and the other being the red gingham top from last summer.

Cherry Top - Buy Here
Gingham Top - Buy Here

I just love the cut of these tops, and they are super complimentary to those with a bigger bust! I love the fact they also have a stretchy bit on the sleeves. You can either wear it with the sleeves up as normal or you can wear them off the shoulder (which by the way looks absolutely adorable!).

I'd definitely recommend this top - its one of my favourites and they are so easy to style with several different outfits!

Lots of Love

Emma Victoria

xoxox

Glitzy Secrets Review & Make-Up/Hair Tutorial

I was contacted a couple of weeks ago about doing this review; and I just couldn't say no! This is

something I could not pass up so replied and sorted out the details. I'm splitting this post into 2 sections, the first being the review, the second being a Hair and Make-up Tutorial so you can achieve the elegant Grace Kelly Look yourself.

Review

This review is also inspired by the release of the Grace of Monaco biographic film (you can read Glitzy Secrets blog post all about Grace Kelly here). So after having a little look on their website, I absolutely fell in love with the Vintage Ribbon Head Band, it was gorgeous and elegant. 

The item is beautifully designed, and the elegant diamonds add a beautiful dimension when a light shines on the headband. This headband genuinely makes me feel like a princess. The beautiful design is set upon a wire headband, which is quite comfortable, it doesn't have any groves so I'd recommend some bobby pins to secure the head band in place if you plan on wearing it for a long period of time. The item is a little heavy, so if you decided to do maybe a beehive sort of style hair you could balance the headband on that to take a little weight off, however it isn't so heavy that you want to take it off. 

I got TONNES of compliments when out at the Brighton Vintage Fair last weekend, a lot of people said I looked beautiful and where asking where I got this beautiful headband from. I mainly chose this one due to the elegance and the curves of the piece, I wanted something a little different that wasn't straight and would look gorgeous and this product lives up to it all.

Its also very heavy duty, when sorting my hair out, my friend accidentally dropped the headband when passing it to me, but it was absolutely fine, although I wouldn't suggest dropping it, ours was an accident!! 

Overall I love this headband. I would recommend to anyone, whether it be for everyday, for an event or even for a bride getting married to get one of these hair accessories from Glitzy Secrets - you definitely get your money's worth and the quality is absolutely amazing!

Hair & Make-up Tutorial

With the headband I decided to go for a very traditional look, that of which was iconic with Grace Kelly's look. She often had the bottom of her hair curled and the top straight, and brushed backwards.

1. Naked Face. So basically you want to start with a naked face, and clean hair, I normally set my hair to get curls but for this tutorial I'm curling them with clean hair, if your hair is slightly silky like mine then just use some dry shampoo for texture if you prefer, however I opted for none. 

2. Pin Your Fringe (Optional) I wanted to make the headband stand out as much as possible, so I decided to pin my fringe back, I just back combed my fringe and pined it back with 2 bobby pins in a cross on top of my head, I also use this cross to help secure the headband later on. 

3. Curl First of all take about a 1/4 of an inch of hair, I decided to have thicker curls for this look as this was much more iconic of the Grace Kelly look.When curling only curl about half of your hair (as shown) to create this look - You will get thick curls which you can choose to brush out for extra volume at the bottom of your hair.

4. Seperate Now you want to just brush through the girls with your fingers to separate the curls to create a "bush" of curls on the bottom of your hair. 

5. Make-up I've gone for a very simple and elegant look for this style. I used my Collection Lasting Perfection foundation in Ivory for a base on my skin. For my eyes I used 2 eye-shadows, one being the Natural Collection eye-shadow in "Candyfloss" blended across the whole eyelid, and a champagne coloured eye-shadow from my palette again across the whole lid and blended to create a simple nostalgic look. I used a pencil eye-liner, sharpened to a point and drew a thin line on the top of my lid, just going to the point of my eye and stopping; I then went over the waterline at the bottom of my eye and met the two lines of eye-liner up in the corner of my outer eye. I then added my Rimmel Scandal-eyes mascara and to finish used my Maybelline Watershine Lip Gloss in "Cotton Candy".

6. Final Touches. I then add my headband, pushing the hair from the side of my face back behind my ears, I then secure the headband at the sides hiding the pins inside the curls. Using the pins on top of my hair I then secure the top of the headband to make sure it doesn't slip or fall down. And you are done! 

When I actually completed this look and looked in the mirror, I genuinley cried. I've never looked more beautiful in my whole life, and I've never cried about the way I look in a positive way. This headband and style would be something I'd consider wearing if I were getting married - the headband's elegance and beauty just adds a gorgeous yet simple effect on the whole hairstyle.

You can buy the Vintage Ribbon Headband here for £32 and much more choice of other accessories over on the Glitzy Secrets Website.

Lots of Love

Emma Victoria

xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Putting My Stamp On It...

The other week I was contacted by Mr Nutcase to do a review of a personalised phone case, I absolutely jumped at the chance! I've always kind of wanted one, but never really got round to doing it, so I finally did! 

The process was super simple for creating the phone case; you just have to enter the details of your phone (in my case, I have an iPhone 4S so I just put in the manufacturer which is Apple and the iPhone 4s, then you choose the case style you want. I opted for the ultra light weight slimline case because I've never been a fan of the flip cases.

You then get to choose from 25 layouts, which have different styles, different amounts of pictures you can put on them. I chose for the 4 grid for the photos I had in mind... 

I chose 2 pictures of myself, the top left was at Summertime Swing last year, and the bottom right is a picture I took for my OOTW picture and absolutely adore it! The top right is of Alice and the bottom left is of Freddie - they are mean the world to me, and I adore them, and I've always wanted to have a piece of them with me everywhere I go... and now I do!

The quality of the case is amazing! For this phone case it costs £14.95, it may be a little expensive however it is completely worth the price for the quality of the images that come out! The images of Freddie and me from Summertime Swing actually were instagram images, and the quality isn't actually pixelated what so ever!  Also, I often find that when I put a case on my phone, the feel of the phone in my hand is different.. it feels bulkier and heavier, however, this case is so thin and light weight that it doesn't make a huge difference at all, and it even fits into my trouser pockets without too much hassle (yes that is a necessity when you run around everywhere for everything!!).

Overall I'm super impressed with this phone case, yes it may be on the more expensive side of your price range but its definitely quality over quantity, I often let my brother and the children I work with handle my phone sometimes so it can be prone to scratches, especially on the case but this case had already paid for itself, doesn't have a single scratch on it whatsoever! With the back of the case being a matte feel, it means it is less likely to scratch then those with a gloss, and for people like me, that is such a good thing to have!

If you would like to make your own personal phone case from Mr Nutcase  then you can use this code to get 10% off your order!! 

"Thanku10"

See you on wednesday for another OOTW!

Lots of Love

Emma Victoria

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox