What I Keep In My Clutch (Debs Edition)

Debs season is officially on full swing!  I had mine on Wednesday and it was definitely one of the best nights of my life so far!  Good food, great company and amazing style, what more could you want?  Apart from the dress, shoes and jewellery, a clutch bag is also an important part of your outfit.  It's where you keep all the essentials for the night.  It has to look good with your dress and be practical at the same time.  

One of the most difficult things to decide on is what to put in it.  Most clutch bags don't fit a lot of things so this is where common sense comes in handy.  What do I really need to carry?  If you're still struggling in this department, fear not!  In this blog post I'm going to tell you what I carried just to give you a few ideas and help you along a little.

First of all, my clutch bag was a lovely silver colour with tiny silver gems along the middle.  I bought it in an accessories shop called Tiffany.  It also had a silver chain attached to put it on my shoulder if I wanted.

Tickets:  The tickets are essential.  You paid a lot of money for them so it wouldn't be any good turning up without them and then not being let inside.  Although, to be honest nobody collected my tickets so you could be lucky but I don't think I would risk it.

ID:  Again I didn't need to use my ID on the night but you never know when you could be the unlucky one who gets asked for it.  It never hurts to be extra prepared!

Money:  When do you not need money?  No matter what you are doing, never leave the house without money.  The debs is no exception.

Blotting Sheets:  I wouldn't say that these are essential but they definitely come in handy.  I had never used them before but since the debs was coming up I decided to give them a go.  No one wants a shiny face in pictures.  The great thing about blotting sheets is that not only do they remove the shine but they don't remove the makeup!

Concealer:  My makeup lasted all night.  I don't know how but it did.  In case you're one of those people whose makeup always melts off their face concealer is a must.  Touch up in the bathroom every now and again and no one will know the difference!  My go to concealer is the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer and I use it in the shade 10 Ivory.

Lipstick:  Lipstick just can't stay on all night.  It needs to be topped up so make sure you have it in your clutch.  The lipstick I wore was the No. 7 Moisture Drench lipstick in the shade Sugar Plum, a gorgeous pinky purple colour.

Your Phone:  I don't think anyone would forget to bring their phone anywhere since they are pretty much glued to our hands these days.  Phones are essential for taking pictures so you can look back on the memories and also to call anyone in an emergency.  Hopefully there won't be any emergencies.  Always remember not to spend the whole night on your phone.  Be happy with the company around you on the night.  You don't need to communicate with anyone else.

There you have it.  Those were the things I kept in my clutch for my debs.  I hope you found this post helpful and until then...

I'll see ya when I see ya!

10 Questions I Get Asked On The Lead-Up To The Debs

The debs/prom is a big deal to some.  It's the perfect excuse to go all out and spend loads of money in order to look fabulous.  Once debs fever sets in family and friends wait in anticipation for the day to come.  They become more excited than the actual débutante and so they constantly ask questions making sure that everything is in order so you can have a perfect day!  Here is just a few examples of those questions which I'm sure many people will be able to relate to.

1) Who are you bringing?:  A friend.  (Usually followed by the "yeah, sure" look).  Seriously, the person I bring to my debs does not have to be my potential future husband!

2) What's your dress like?:  So I give them all the details: colour, style etc.

3) Are your shoes comfortable?:  Yes, just like I've said every day since I got them.

4) Have you tried on your shoes today?:  Yes, mother, don't worry!  I'm giving them plenty of practise!

5) Do you need any more accessories?:  No, I think I have enough.  I want to look elegant not like a disco ball!

6) What time are you're hair/makeup appointments?:  Don't worry, I know the times, I won't be late!

7) What exactly is happening on the day?:  Do you want me to print off an itinerary for you?

8)  Will there be a photographer there?:  Yes and I'll make sure to show my best side!

9)  What's on the menu?:  So many delicious things!!

10) Will there be teachers present?:  Yeah...? (don't create any suspicion!) 

I hope you enjoyed this little blog post!  Crazy times are upon us!  Can you relate to any of these?  Did I miss out on any other questions?  Let me know and until then...

I'll see ya when I see ya!

How To Shop For A Debs/Prom Dress!

It's nearly August and that means that debs season is almost upon us.  Over the next month girls will be getting glammed up to the last and guys will be looking classy in their suits.  A débutante ball is a rite of passage.  You are leaving school and your friends and are preparing for the real world.  It is the last night that everyone you've gone to school with over the past 5/6 years will be together so you want it to be a good night.

Unusually for me, I left everything last minute.  My debs is next week and I only bought my dress today!  Buying a debs dress is tough work.  You want it to be perfect and you want to look fabulous.  I've spent the last two weeks traipsing through shop after shop, boutique after boutique trying to find that perfect dress.  Since I now have my dress (thank the Lord!) I thought I would share my new found wisdom with you on how to shop for a debs dress (because I'm obviously an expert now)!

Discuss With Friends:

Make a group chat on Facebook or find some other way to easily communicate with your friends to discuss dresses.  Give each other advice on colours, shapes and shops to look into.  Without giving too much away, tell each other the colour and brand name of your dress.  You wouldn't want to turn up to your debs in the same dress now, would you?  That would be a bunch of awkward!

Schedule Your Shopping Trips:

Pick a day you want to go and look for a dress, pick the town you want to go to and do research before hand.  Look online and get a list of as many shops and boutiques as you can in that area.  If you need to make appointments, make them!  There is no point in going anywhere clueless.  Have a plan and make the most of your shopping trip.

Try On As Much As You Can:

Go into a shop and try on as many dresses as you possibly can.  Don't pass over dresses if they don't catch your eye immediately.  Sometimes those are the best dresses.  Trust me, I know from experience.  Keep an open mind and you are bound to find the right dress for you.

Don't Shop Alone:

Always bring people along with you for second and even third opinion.  Make sure they are people who give an honest opinion.  Help is much appreciated during this stressful time.  They might be able to see the dress differently and give some advice.  Plus, you could always use them as you personal slave for the day and have them haul hundreds of dresses in and out of the dressing room for you!

Don't Lose Heart:

It's very easy to lose heart when searching for that perfect dress.  Try to stay positive.  Just because you don't find anything in the first shop or even on the first day doesn't mean you will never find anything.

Don't Leave Dress Shopping Until The Last Minute:

"The debs is weeks away, I have plenty of time!"  Stop right there!  Don't make the same mistake I did.  Start early because there are thousands of other girls looking for dresses.  Shops run out of stock, you can't find your size and the clock is ticking!  Leaving everything until the last minute only causes stress.  Start early and relax knowing you're sorted and then you can laugh at all the other girls pulling their hair out (a.k.a. me)!

So those are just a few tips I have come up with after my debs dress shopping experience.  I hope this was helpful.  Let me know if you have any more tips you think might come in handy and until then...

I'll see ya when I see ya!