Outfit: NYE.

Top and Shorts: C/O Republic @ USC* | Shoes: C/O Nelly.com* | Jacket: Miss Selfridge via Charity Shop | Bracelet: Fashion Union | Watch: Tommy Hilfiger C/O Shade Station*

Hey lovelies! I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and got everything that you wished for! With the Christmas festivities coming to an end and a whole new year approaching, I imagine everybody has been going crazy in the sales, planning the outfit that you are going to drink, dance, hug and kiss your way out of 2013 in. This year, USC have provided me with my sparkles with this gorgeous embellished flapper-inspired number (that, may I add, is now in the sale for £29 for the set instead of £58!). The At Republic range at USC is packed full of party-perfect pieces this year, so make sure you check it out if you haven't sorted your outfit out already!

What will you be wearing this NYE?

*DISCLOSURE: Starred items are PR samples.

Interview: Holly Smale, Author of Geek Girl.

A couple of weeks ago I experienced my first ever Clothes Show Live in Birmingham. Mind blown was not the word to describe how I felt when I wandered in to the huge exhibition space to see thousands of people bustling around the hundreds of beauty and fashion stands, food wagons and catwalk shows. One thing is for sure, I'll definitely save up a bit of money next year, it's definitely not a happy place for a poor person to be.

However, shopping wasn't my first priority at Clothes Show Live this year. I was invited along to meet lovely author, Holly Smale to interview her on her latest release, Geek Girl: Model Misfit. Over a Starbucks and the occasional exchange about how huge the Clothes Show was and how terribly unorganised we both were for the occasion, I found out a little more about her novel.

Having jotted down stories since the tender age of five years old, Holly is literally living the dream as a product of her imagination finally hits the shelves and becomes a best seller at number 6 on the charts. Back at Clothes Show Live, the place that first inspired her to write Geek Girl, she keeps her feet on the ground and greets me with a humble smile and a friendly chat. "Geek Girl is about a girl who is unpopular at school and is spotted by model scouts. She thinks everything is looking up for her from here, but how wrong she is", Without giving too much away, Holly briefed me on the book which I instantly though was very Princess Diaries-esque. A romantic comedy suitable for girls (and guys if they're in to that sort of thing!) aged 11+, Holly describes how she doesn't write with a certain target audience in mind but keeps her books free of swearing and sexual references. By writing with her "inner child", she produces a work that everybody can enjoy.

Geek Girl and Geek Girl: Model Misfit can be bought at all major bookstores or online at Amazon at an RRP of £6.99 each, so they're a perfect gift for any young girl, or even if you're looking for an easy read yourself. With two books already a success, I had to ask Holly if a third was imminent. "Yes, a third book is currently in the works. We may also be in talks about a film, but I can't tell you too much about that! Geek Girl actually gets launched in America in January 2015, so we have to wait and see what happens there first".

Okay, Holly! We'll be watching this space!

If you'd like to learn more about Holly and her works, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Have you read any of the Geek Girl books?

*DISCLOSURE: Sponsored post.

Outfit: Sports Luxe

Blouse: Primark | Joggers: C/O F+F* | Shoes: C/O F+F* | Necklace: Dorothy Perkins

I'm so late to the trend that I'm not sure it's even a "trend" any more, but I fell for these joggers and decided that they were too nice to be reserved only for gym sessions, so I took on F+F's "How You're Wearing It" challenge to show how I'd style these bad boys. The idea of wearing something sporty with jewellery and a pair of killer heels never crossed my mind as "right", or as something that I would ever be able to pull off, but I think the stylish PU stripe on these F+F trousers pulls the outfit together and stops me from looking like a mis-matched mess. If I'd have known that I could go on a night out wearing a pair of jogging pants, I would have done it a long time ago!

Are you a fan of sports luxe?

*DISCLOSURE: Starred items are PR samples.

Review: Debenhams Christmas Flowers.

Cinnamon Spice Bouquet- Debenhams Flowers: £29.99*

If you're looking for an extra something to give to your mum, your grandma or your aunt for Christmas, a bouquet of flowers is always a safe bet. Debenhams have brought out a range of festive bouquets to suit the occasion, made up of a selection of gorgeous red, white and green blooms. I was sent the Cinnamon Spice bouquet to review, and whilst I am a little disappointed at the lack of cinnamon fragrance, I agree that the Grandprix roses, cinnamon stick bundles and bunches of red berries make a very pretty arrangement which screams Christmas from it's vase on my dining room table. As usual, the flowers arrived unscathed in a sturdy box complete with some plant food to keep your bouquet looking great for as long as possible- Mine lasted for nearly two weeks before it started to look a little droopy!

Debenhams Flowers have kindly given me a discount code for £5 off all Christmas gifts until December 21, 2013, so if you fancy treating somebody to a pretty bunch of flowers (or even a nice bouquet to use as a dining table centre piece on Christmas Day), check out their full range here and don't forget to enter XMASBLOG at the checkout!

Will you be treating anybody to a bouquet for Christmas?

*DISCLOSURE: PR sample. My opinions are still 100% honest and my own.

Giveaway: Treat Republic Personalised Gifts.

1.  Personalised Forever Bracelet: £29.99

2. Personalised Message Never Forget Wooden Keyring: £9.99

3. Personalised Scottie Dog Food Bowl: £16.99

4. Personalised World Scratch Map: £15.99

5. Personalised Fairy Engraved Door Hanger: £14.99

I'm sure within every family or circle of friends there is somebody who is an absolute pain to shop for (boys, we're looking at you!). That's where gift websites such as Treat Republic step in to help and I don't think that you can go wrong with a personalised gift. Treat Republic has a huge collection of personalised gifts, ranging from kitchen utensils and cushions to glasses, mugs and jewellery, so there's something to suit everybody- even your pets! They have kindly teamed up with me this month to offer one of my lovely followers a gift of their choice, whether it be to tick something off their Christmas shopping list or to treat themself to an early Christmas present. The winner will receive an item of their choice up to the value of £30 from Treat Republic's Personalised Range, so I've picked out a few of my favourites to help you decide! As always, entries will be made via Rafflecopter and the rules are written below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules

-This giveaway is open to the UK only (I'm sorry!)!

-Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. To enter, you must be a follower of my blog via GFC or Bloglovin' and "like" the Treat Republic Facebook page. There are plenty of optional entries too!

-Please note that I run these giveaways to say thank you to my loyal followers. Entries will be checked and accounts created solely for the purpose of entering giveaways will be disregarded.

- The giveaway will run for ten days and will end at 11:59PM BST on Thursday, December 12, 2013.

Good luck! Let me know in the comments what you would like to win!

*DISCLOSURE: Collaborative giveaway. Treat Republic are kindly supplying the prize for this giveaway.

Coca-Cola's 12 Good Deeds of Christmas.

Happy December 1st, everybody! Can you believe that it's December already?! This year has flown by!

For me, Christmas is very much a time of giving and the gift of making somebody's day a little better is priceless. This is why I have teamed up with Coca Cola this year to inspire people to give something back to others during the festive period. For the next 24 days I will be embarking on a journey to put a smile on as many people's faces as I can through the 12 Good Deeds of Christmas that Coca Cola have challenged me to complete. They have kitted me up with a Christmas hamper to help me spread festive cheer, so here is my to-do list:

1. Take the time to stop and listen to some Christmas carol singers.

2. Thank your bin-ban, postman or paper boy with a surprise gift.

3.Offer to pay for taxis after a Christmas night out.

4.Surprise a loved one with a kiss under the mistletoe or a festive hug.

5. Give someone a hand carrying their Christmas shopping or luggage.

6. Make your colleagues smile by wearing a silly Christmas hat for a day.

7. Pay someone a compliment they weren't expecting.

8. Wish a complete stranger a Merry Christmas.

9. Surpise someone with a home made Christmas card.

10. Hold a door open for someone.

11. Reward good customer service with a thank you note.

12. Do your bit for the environment and recycle throughout Christmas.

I will be sharing progress of my good deeds and also opening a door of my Coca Cola advent calendar each day via all of my social media accounts, so make sure that you are following me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. I would also encourage all of you to join in with me and make somebody's day by completing a few of these little tasks, so if you find yourself partaking in a random act of kindness then please share your good deed with me by mentioning me on Twitter or Instagram and using the hashtag #CokeGoodDeeds. 

If you need a little more inspiration to get yourself in to the Christmas spirit, take a look at Coca-Cola's heart-warming new "Shooting Star" advert which is the inspiration behind this campaign. This year it isn't about going out of pocket to impress someone; it's about the little things. It isn't about us believing in Father Christmas, it's about him believing in us.

Will you be giving back this Christmas?

*DISCLOSURE: This campaign is in collaboration with Coca Cola.

Outfit:Layering Up.

Top: C/O Pussycat London* | Leggings: Zara | Blazer: Miss Selfridge via Charity Shop| Boots: Glamorous | Scarf: Zara | Hat:H&M | Necklace: C/O Chic La Chic*

At the time I was unsure about spending £20 on a scarf, but since picking this tartan piece up from Zara a couple of weeks ago I have struggled to take it off- it's super warm and adds a pop of colour to my predominantly black and grey winter wardrobe. May I also add how much I love these Zara leggings?! I gave in to the hype after hearing Fleur (Fleur De Force) endlessly raving about them in her videos and now I can feel myself falling in love with Zara's range of basics- unfortunately, it's a very expensive affair to have. This oversized dipped-hem t-shirt from Pussycat London has also become a go-to piece this season- Although the lace sleeves and the sheer mesh back don't make it the warmest choice, it's fab for throwing on and layering up but still looking put together.

What are your favourite layering pieces?

*DISCLOSURE: Starred items are PR samples.

UK Models: How to Kick Start Your Modelling Career.

When I was younger I loved the idea of becoming a model- What little girl doesn't like the thought of having her hair and makeup done for her every day and striking her best pose in front of the camera? However, being a shy character, a little on the shorter side and not knowing anybody in the industry I had no idea how to even get started; that's why I think companies like UK Models are great for anybody who is thinking about breaking in to the industry.

"The modelling industry is extremely competitive; thousands and thousands of girls and guys dream of making it as a model everyday, but not everyone can. Attempting to break into the modelling world is tough – but here at UK Models, we can help you. If you want to know how to become a model in England, then read on to find out!

UK Models is a model support service. We guide aspiring models and help them kick start their modelling careers. We achieve this by offering helpful tips and advice, which will definitely be beneficial due to our twelve years of experience in the industry. We also honestly advise you about whether you have the right look for the modelling industry and which type of modelling would suit you best. Once we have established your modelling goals, we will invite you for a photo shoot in one of our top of the range central London studios.
 

The photo shoot is the ultimate way to find out whether modelling is for you. You and our team will be able to discover if you have the ability to pose in front of the cameras and possess all of the attributes needed to become a model. We will provide you with talented makeup artists, hairdressers and stylists who will give you a makeover for the shoot. A top photographer will take your photos and the final images will be discussed with an image consultant, who you will be able to discuss your strengths and weaknesses with as well as whether you have what it takes to make it in the world of modelling. If you do decide that modelling is the right path for you, then you will have high quality photographs for your portfolio. A portfolio is like a visual CV; it is a collection of images that showcase a model’s work. It also shows potential clients a model’s versatility and scope as a model because of the fact that the model is shown in a range of looks and locations.

After the professional portfolio has been created, UK Models will support you for a year. We will answer all your questions about the modelling industry, help you with your approach to agencies and give you tips on freelancing and networking. Breaking into the industry is always going to be difficult; which is why we want to help you every step of the way.
 

 So if this sounds interesting to you and you want to find out how to become a model in England, then check out our website and register with us today. If we feel you have the right look required to become a successful model, we will be in touch and advise you on the next steps to take. You could make your modelling dreams come true!"

 Would you consider kick-starting your modelling career with UK models?

*DISCLOSURE: Sponsored Post

Outfit: Frendli

T-shirt: C/O Original Attire* | Gilet: C/O BANK* | Disco Pants: C/O She Likes* | Boots: Dr. Martens | Hat & Bracelet: C/O Fashion Union* | Watch: Michael Kors | Necklace: Forever 21*

With my rather sad sense of humour I do love myself a good play on words, especially when it's on a t-shirt. At the moment, brands seem to be hopping on the trend wagon of word play with luxury and designer brand slogans; "Féline" being my personal favourite. Original Attire have come up with a couple of good ones of their own- As well as this "Frendli" t-shirt I love their "My Name's Not Chloé" print.

My Blonde & Blonde gilet from BANK is also quite a recent addition to my wardrobe, too- I had never seen them as being at all stylish in the past but when I got mine I didn't want to take it off. It's perfect for slipping on for a quick trip to the shops when it isn't cold enough to wrap up in one of my huge coats.

Are you loving the slogan tees trend at the moment?

*DISCLOSURE: Starred items are PR samples.

Shade Station: Tommy Hilfiger Gracie Watch.

Tommy Hilfiger Rose Gold Gracie Watch: £140* C/O Shadestation

If there's something I have a penchant for, it's collecting watches and sunglasses. Despite not really needing more than one (can't really say I need sunglasses at all in this country!), I just can't help adding to my vastly growing collection. So when Shade Station contacted me about a review I had quite a difficult decision on my hands- to go for a watch or sunglasses? Shade Station stocks a wide range of both watches and sunglasses from popular designers and brands including Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood and Dior, as well as high-end and designer jewellery. In the end I settled for this Tommy Hilfiger watch- I had quite fancied a chunky rose gold watch for a while and this one won me over after quite a tough toss-up between this and the lovely Stella watch from Juicy Couture. A lot of the items that Shade Station stocks are at discounted, competitive prices, so if you're looking to treat somebody for Christmas, be sure to check it out! :)

What do you have a penchant for?

*DISCLOSURE: PR sample. My opinions are still 100% honest and my own.

Behind The Scenes at AX Paris.

Hey lovelies!

You may have noticed that I have been a little MIA on the blog lately- I recently started an internship at AX Paris and it has come to my realisation that working 9-5 Monday to Friday isn't proving to be very blogger-friendly! However, I am going to have a major product and outfit photographing session this weekend so that I have some content to blast out during my lunch breaks throughout the next few weeks :)

Meanwhile, I have been busy on all the social networks here in the office, but today I took to the AX Paris blog to give you a sneak peek of the studio shoot I went along to yesterday to capture a few pictures of some of the fabulous new dresses that are coming soon to AX Paris! Click here to read my post :)

Have you spotted anything that you're going to keep your eye out for? My favourite was the navy velvet cold-shoulder swing dress!

Outfit: Khristmas is coming!

Dress: Kardashian For Lipsy C/O Bank* | Heels: C/O Tribeca Shoes* | Coat: C/O Fashion Union* | Bag: C/O Marc B* (similar)| Earrings: Primark

Outfit photos after sun down- Who knew of such a thing?! However, due to a new internship, tight deadlines and a case of bad organisation on my part, it had to happen on this occasion. I do think it heightens the effect of this gorgeous little red dress from the new Kardashian range (which has just been launched in time for all those Christmas parties!) from Lipsy, though. I wanted to let the colour  and the cheeky little chest cutouts do the talking, so I opted for minimal gold jewellery, killer heels and my beloved Fashion Union faux fur coat for a touch of Hollywood glamour (and because it's getting bloody cold here in the UK). If you like my Kardashian Khristmas party look, please go crazy using the hashtags #KardashianKhristmasKombo and #FrancesKK on Twitter, I'd love to hear your thoughts! <3

What do you think of the new Kardashian range at Lipsy? Have you got your Christmas party outfits sorted?

*DISCLOSURE: Starred items are PR samples.