It's spring soon! – Hurrah!

 

Well, ok, it isn’t. It’s February and it’s still dark in the mornings, there’s ice on cars and I’m still wearing a big coat and scarf whenever I leave the house…but what better an excuse to fling on a hair flower and a sarong dress?! Underneath the big coat obviously, let’s not be hasty and risk catching a chill!

 

My inspiration this month is the beautiful Portuguese singer and actress Carmen Miranda, with warmer colours than my usual everyday makeup, shimmer on cheekbones and eyelids and lashings of blusher. Brightening Eye Color in Ethereal is perfect for this look and I layered a pink over brown from the Beauty Encyclopedia for the lips, topped off with a touch of Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Brownie Points.

 

One of the easiest ways to a super-fast retro inspired hairstyle (and very “Carmen”) is to pop a hair flower into your ‘do.  There are lots of complicated things you can do with your hair, but it’s amazing how many compliments a simple hair flower can garner. And confusion… a uniformed security lady at Manchester Airport recently described my outfit choice as “brave”. What was the crazy ensemble I had on at the time? A plain circle skirt and a hair flower. Never mind! 

 

Hair flowers come in all shapes, sizes and colours; little tiny ones, GIANT, awesome ones, and (my faves!) massive, oversized ones with little birds  nestling inside the petals. You can wear one, or cover your whole head with them, and they’re sure to get you an admiring glance. You can make your own, you can pick them up on the high street , or you can shop online. Mine are from  www.tikitearaway.com. Check them out, the lovely ladies there will hook you up with an array of beautiful hair adornments – they even have an “Anna” flower! :They’re the place to go for the little birds I mentioned earlier!

 

The more eagle eyed among you may have noticed that I quite like leopard print. I love it! It suits everyone, it goes with everything. There really is nothing that can’t be improved with a little bit of animal print.  And turbans? Don’t get me started on the turbans! Bad hair day? – Turban. Short of time? Turban. Friday in the week? Turban. This dress (from the wonderful www.vivienofholloway.com) is one my absolute favourites, it definitely helps to brighten up a cold day, and I like to think Carmen would have approved!

 

Anna x

 

e.l.f. products used in the photograph: