All posts by Talyssa

FML: SammyDress Advertorial

Hi everyone!  Talyssa here for a slightly different FML.  This clothing in this FML was provided by Sammydress and will also feature a review on the product and service.  So let’s get into it!

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Jacket: Dongdaemun Markets Korea | Dress: Sammydress | Shoes and Socks: Topshop

First, let’s start with the positive…

Clothing Range and Shopping Experience:

When I saw this dress on Sammydress, I immediately fell in love.  It’s gorgeous, elegant and ever so Audrey Hepburn!  I must admit that the range of clothing on Sammydress is really nice, it’s unique and feminine and there’s a lot of variety.   You also get a kind of a thrill looking at such beautiful products selling for so cheap!  Less than $10?  Heck yes!  I’ll take five!

Using the site is simple and each product has a wide variety of images, including images posted by customers wearing the items they have bought.

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Unfortunately….that’s where the positives end for me.  When I opened my package from Sammydress, I was incredibly disappointed.  I don’t want to sound ungrateful or mean, but what I received in the mail was not, in my personal opinion, worth paying for.

No. 01:  The dress was nothing like the picture

This was the most disappointing aspect of the whole thing.  I was expecting an elegant and sophisticated looking dress as in the picture above, but instead I received a cheap looking copy.  I just felt lied to and cheated.  It’s one thing to say you’re copying the style of X celebrity and you’re posting images of how they wore it along with images of your actual imitation product – as I have seen many sites do – but it’s another thing completely to imply and ONLY provide images of a product your product is similar to, but isn’t actually what you are giving to your customers in return for their money.  Your customer is buying the product they are seeing on your website.  That’s what they expect to receive.  Nothing less.

I found the whole thing completely unfair and I’m pretty sure it violates some sort of consumer laws, at least it would in Australia anyway.  If Sammydress doesn’t consider their actual product good enough to post pictures of on their website then that just shows that they are aware that their products wouldn’t sell if they put up actual pictures.

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The back of the dress was the part I was looking forward to the most and was what originally made me choose this dress.  As you can see, what I received was significantly different to the image presented on the website (refer to 2nd image of post).  There is no low V-cut back and the bow is located significantly higher than the small of my back.  Not only that, the bow looks cheap and tacky – with the ribbon parts not even cut to the same length and it being sewn very cheaply and hastily onto the back of the dress.

No. 02: Quality

The quality of the dress was (unfortunately) cheap.  The material is see through, with no kind of material inlay provided to prevent this.  The hems all around the dress are hastily sewn, extremely messy and not hemmed straight.   Long pieces of thread are frequently left uncut and knotted on the dress.

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No. 03: Fit and Cut

The cut on my dress was so so so bad!  It had absolutely no shape and made me look flat, straight,frumpy and pre-pubescent.  The lack of darts used on the back of the dress meant that it didn’t come in on the waist, making it extremely unflattering on my stomach and waist.  You can see all the extra material there in the photo above!

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Another extremely annoying part of this dress were the sleeves. Whilst they look okay in the photos, they didn’t stay that way for very long and would often popup and sit vertically to my shoulder.  Quite frankly it looked ridiculous and I was extremely embarrassed walking around in this dress because of that reason.

In order for these sleeves to sit as desired on a persons shoulders, the back of the dress needed to have an open cut V (as with the original design).  This would have helped to open up the dress, allowing the sleeves to lay almost off the shoulder. Having a rounded mid-length back did not give the sleeves enough leeway to sit off the shoulder, causing them to pop up very frequently with any small movement.

No. 05: Value For Money

Clothing on Sammydress is extremely cheap.  Almost everything is less than $10, making the quality of the product understandable.

Shipping on the other had is pricey – almost costing $20!!  It’s such a purchase turn off when your shipping is more than the actual product!

Service:

Service is very fast.  My package was promptly sent and staff were very friendly and quick to answer any questions.

Would I shop here again?

Truthfully, probably not.  It’s unfortunate because I think the range is quite good, if only the products I received looked like the ones they promoted on the site!  In saying that, if you’re looking for something cheap to only wear once or as  a costume etc, you might want to give Sammydress a try.  I would actually prefer if Sammydress increased the cost of their products, if it meant getting a product as in the pictures on their site.  I would definitely shop there countless times if that were the case.

The Power of the Wand: Choosing the Right Mascara!

Choosing the right mascara for YOUR lashes is not as easy as it sounds.  It might come as a shock to some people, but when buying mascara, you’re buying for the wand not the actual makeup itself.  Why? Quite simply the wand holds all the power, with each being uniquely designed for a specific purpose.  This is why the mascara that works ever so fabulously on your friend, maybe not work so well on your lashes.  So how do you choose the right wand for your lashes? Simply read on!

1.  Texture and Type of Bristles.

The first step in choosing a mascara is to figure out what you want your lashes to look like.  Something as simple as the bristles of a mascara wand, can create an array of different looks for your lashes.  Mascara wands typically come with three different types of bristles:

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Original image credit: The Beauty Department edited by The Hidden Thimble

Made out plastic comb-like bristles,  this wand helps to separate lashes, add length and gives your lashes a darker and prominent look.

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Original image credit: The Beauty Department edited by The Hidden Thimble

Made out of synthetic fibres, this is your typical mascara wand.  Natural bristles create soft and light lashes that appear fuller, voluminous but look and feel natural.

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Original image credit: The Beauty Department edited by The Hidden Thimble

My personal favourite, plastic bristled wands are a combination of the two wands above.  The result – dark, long, full and best of all – clump-free lashes!  The downside:  your lashes won’t feel as soft and natural as with the natural bristle wands.

 2. Choosing the shape and size of the perfect mascara wand for your lashes.

Here are some tips to help you choose the perfect mascara wand for your lashes.  Bear in mind, that depending on the type of lashes you naturally have and the look that you are trying to achieve, you may need to choose a wand that covers multiple functions OR you might even need to use two mascaras.

If this made absolutely no sense to you, here’s what I mean:  if you have smaller eyes with short, but voluminous lashes, and you’re looking to add length and definition to your lashes, you would want to opt for a  small tapered wand for extra precision when working with smaller eyes.  In terms of bristles you’ll ideally want a wand with thin, comblike bristles to lengthen and define each lash.

Below are basic wands and their functions.  Have fun combining and figuring out what works best for you! 


I have short lashes and small eyes > Choose a small, short wand.

Smaller brushes work best for short lashes. Short brushes can get close to your eyes to help grab and lengthen each lash from the root to tip, whilst providing necessary control when you need to get up close and personal.

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NARS’ volumizing and lengthening mascaras are a great size for smaller eyes.


I have lots of lashes that lack length and definition > Choose a long, comb-like wand.

To define, separate and lengthen your lashes, choose a mascara with a long, comb-like wand.  These wands usually have evenly spaced bristles which help with length and definition, but lack in adding volume.

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I have long lashes but they lack volume > Choose a large, round wand with dense bristles.

Large, thick wands with densely packed bristles are the best for creating voluminous lashes.  Densely packed bristles hold more product helping to coat each lash, creating a thicker look to your lashes. Apply mascara with a zigzag motion to help evenly coat your lashes.

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My lashes are too straight > Choose a thick, curved wand.

The rule here is: the fatter the brush the bigger the curl.  To give your lashes extra curl and lift choose a thick, curved brush.  Apply by sweeping the wand over your lashes, from bottom to top, to help with the curling. Curling your lashes helps to lift your eyes, making them appear larger.

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I have big eyes and want natural looking lashes > Choose a straight wand.

The best wand for you is a straight wand.  Straight wands are great for getting coverage on every lash, but are not so good for people with smaller eyes as they are less accurate. Straight wands also give natural looking volume and curl, perfect for that everyday look. Depending on the sparseness and length of your lashes you can either choose a straight thick wand or a straight thin wand.

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I want more precision when applying mascara > Choose a precision wand.

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That’s all!  Enjoy and go forth and discover delicious lashes!

Talyssa xx

GTFO: Soda Factory

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This month’s Greatly Terrific Food Outing features one of Sydney’s most popularly rising bars: Soda Factory.  I don’t know what it is but I’m loving the hidden bar culture that is popping up all over Sydney – it just makes your bar experience all that more exciting.

You probably haven’t even realised it yet, but you’ve most likely walked past Soda Factory on numerous occasions.  Located on the outskirts of Surry Hills, Soda Factory’s entrance is a black door located in a wall – it’s not even a fancy door or a door that kindly invites you inside.  Taking a glance inside you’ll find a small room with a retro hotdog stand and coke fridge.

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Hotdog stand to the left and the retro Coke fridge to the right.

But where’s the bar you say??

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It’s behind the Coke Fridge!! #MINDBLOWN #OHNOSHEDIDNT  (ps. Sora, I have used this photo without your permission.  Talyssa xox).  Now onto the review!

 Setting and Atmosphere

Soda Factory’s interior is reminiscent of an American 1950s diner.  It’s low lit atmosphere, pin-up styled waiters and waitresses, and music featuring old classics really help to add to this vibe.  Soda Factory’s decor is cool, funky and vintage with it’s biggest downside being that there are never enough seats for the amount of people they allow inside.  Don’t be surprised if you find yourself sitting on the floor!

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You’ll often find live indie bands playing at various times during the night, but the best part about the place is their theme nights!  You’ve got:

Movie Mondays:  Soda Factory plays a collection of old school and recent movies from 8pm every Monday. It also includes free popcorn!
Dollar Dogs: Every Tuesday Soda Factory has $1 hotdogs.  I’ve got to admit that I’ve only ever been to Soda Factory on a Tuesday because of this…
Fat Bubba’s chicken Wednesday: Featuring $1 buffalo wings and $10 buckets o’ chicken
Soda Social: Thursday brings live music and $12 cocktails all night

Rating: ★★★★.5

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Service

Service is the biggest negative about Soda Factory.  The place gets so busy that depending on the time you arrive, you can be waiting up to 45 minutes (or longer) for your food.  If you plan on going on a weekday, I recommend heading there straight after work (5:30pm).  At this time you’ll get your food on time and also find a place to sit.  Anything after 6:30pm you’re pretty much screwed.  Wait staff are extremely friendly and also quite easy on the eye ;)

Rating: ★★.5

Food

Soda Factory’s American diner theme is complimented by it’s menu.  You’ll find gourmet hotdogs, burgers, chilli cheese fries, fried chicken, milkshakes and so on.  I’d have to say though, Soda Factory is most popular for it’s hotdogs, which I think are pretty delicious and definitely worth the $1 price on a Tuesday…paying the usual price of $10 for them on any other day however, it’s probably not worth it.

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Bobby’s Bogan Dog
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Buffalo Bill. My number one favorite hotdog at Soda Factory!
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Tequila Sunrise. The bar is pretty standard and you can order most alcoholic drinks available at any bar. I love the extra detail they put with their red and white striped paper straws!

Rating: ★★★.5  – Not all hotdogs are as amazing as the Buffalo Bill.

Pricing and Value for Money

On an ordinary night, I would say pricing at Soda Factory is a bit overpriced – $10 for a hotdog is way too much, especially since they are smaller than usual sized hotdogs.  Luckily enough, Soda Factory’s plentiful theme nights and specials, means you can indulge in the menu at a much more affordable price!

Rating: ★★★

Where to Find Soda Factory

Address:  16 Wentworth Avenue Surry Hills, New South Wales
Website 
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Youtube

Opening Times:

Monday – Wednesday:  5pm – Late
Thursday: 5pm – 2am
Friday: 5pm – 3am
Saturday: 5pm – 5am

FML: Wednesday

#selfie.  What post wouldn’t be complete without a selfie?  I called this post Wednesday, since I couldn’t help but notice the Wednesday Adam’s vibe of this look!  Enjoy!

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Top: Elliatt  |  Neck-tie: G-market  |  Pleather pleated Skirt: ASOS  |  Shoes: TopShop

This little house was so beautiful!!
This blouse is so beautiful, I absolutely love the details.  It is definitely one of my most favorite pieces in my wardrobe.

I made a friend :D

 This is definitely one of my favorite looks at the moment, it’s a little bit feminine and school – like, mixed with a gothic creepy doll vibe.  Yup I love it.

I got this blouse from a blog competition I won at Bright Green Laces. Check them out!  This blouse is really beautiful with all its subtle details.  I absolutely love the cut-out features, mesh textures, floral patterns and the sequinned embellishments.  It’s delicate and feminine which adds to this look perfectly.

I have been wanting to find the perfect pleated leather skater skirt for quite a while now…and I still haven’t found it. Although I do like this one, it’s not exactly what I want.  The skirt is still slightly bell-shaped instead falling in that true skater skirt style.  I wonder, will I ever be able to find the leather skater skirt of my dreams?

Until next time,

Talyssa xx

 

Psychedelic Baby

Recently, Siree and I decided to check out Mirazozo.  If you don’t know what Mirazozo is, it is basically a 3D art installation dome-like structure, featuring different coloured light installations…  Wow was that not the worst description of something you have ever read?

Nevertheless I tried.

Keeping with the theme of colour I knew it was my chance to flaunt all my Tie-dye purchases from Thailand.  I absolutely fell in love with Tie-dye  in Thailand..I don’t know if it was the weather, or the relaxed attitude or my extreme happiness, but an unbreakable bond was formed.  I don’t really care if it’s not “in Vogue” at the moment, it is awesome and that is all that matters.

Austin Powers would be proud.

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Top: Koh Phangan Markets | Shorts: ShowPo | Shoes: Lipstick | Nail Polish: Sally Hansen “Save the Date”
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Inside Mirazozo, pretty awesome right?! It travels to different countries, so keep your eyes peeled to see if it is coming to yours!
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I know, I know – good choice with the Tie-dye. It looks awesome inside Mirazozo!

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Detail shot – I love the way the beads glow in the dark inside Mirazozo! And yay! Tassels!
Just for fun!
Just for fun!
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A shot for the shoes!
Top: Koh Phangan Markets | Shorts: ShowPo | Shoes: Lipstick | Nail Polish: Sally Hansen “Save the Date”

 

Enjoy Xx

 

Review: MAC Ruby Woo and Bobbi Brown Old Hollywood – A Red Lipstick Handbook

Red lipstick, red lipstick – Oh, how I love thee.

The red lipstick look is definitely one of my favourites and can add that classy and classic finish to your outfit.  Unfortunately a lot of girls steer clear of red lipstick.  Why?  Because of the fear of being unable to pull it off.

I’m not going to lie though, my red lipstick journey was not an easy one.  It’s pricey, there are SO many different shades, it’s hella difficult to apply and then you need to gather the guts to actually wear it out in public!

But I urge you – Do pursue!  Because once succeeded, a perfect pair of red lips is an excellent – possibly even crisis saving – skill to have up your sleeve.

So, let your red lipstick journey begin…

1.  Find what you feel comfortable in. 

There are so many different kinds of red lipstick to choose from – duller shades, darker, lighter, glossy and matte.  If you’re a bit scared try something duller as a first step, but if you want that classic vintage look (the one I love) go vibrant!

2.  Find what suits YOU

Look at your skin tone – typically orange or coral based reds suit fair skin and mauve or blue based reds suit tanned to darker complexions best.  My skin is quite fair, but I’m type 3 on the skin chart meaning, I can and do tan. So personally, I prefer to go with blue based reds. I feel comfortable in them and I feel like they suit me better.

Don’t know if you are cool or warm toned?
A tip I read somewhere which was surprisingly accurate was to look at the underside of your wrist.  If your veins are greenish looking, you are warm-toned,  if they are purple or blue looking you are cool-toned.

My suggestion?  Try a few shades on, check yourself out in the mirror and buy the one you like best.

Oh no!! Red lipstick makes my teeth look yellow!??!
Never fear!! I struggled with this too and actually thought I would never be able to wear red lipstick in public.  This is not true!  For me, I found that blue based red lipsticks kept my teeth looking white, where as the coral/orange based ones made them look yellow.

3.  Matte or Glossy?

For me, matte wins hands down.  I find it looks more classic and elegant, whereas glossy comes across as looking cheap when I wear it (thought other people pull it off fine).  Matte lipsticks also tend to be more forgiving, I find.  They eliminate those lipstick “no no’s” such as bleeding into the fine lines around your lips and the colour doesn’t smudge or transfer onto you coffee cup as easily.  It’s also much easier to control and you can easily tone down how vibrant the product is.  The negative – matte lipsticks dry your lips out a lot more than their glossy counterparts.

Go glossy if you want a very “look at me” effect.  They also keep your lips feeling hydrated and are generally easier to apply, gliding on with ease.

How do I know if a lipstick is matte?
Good makeup brands, such as M.A.C will have it written on the product.

 4.  Application

Red lipstick is hard to apply and because its so bright and vibrant, there is very little room for error.  It you happen to have unfortunate thin lips like me, it’s even harder!!

A few things that are essential to prevent feathering, bleeding and colour fading, are all handled through the art of application.

  • Outline your lips with lipliner, this will prevent your lipstick from feathering.
  • Fill in your lips with the liner.  This will give you a base on which you can easily and neatly apply your lipstick on top of.
  • Apply concealer on the outermost edge of your lips to clean up any mistakes. You can also dab some on your lips to help the lipstick stay vibrant for longer.
  • Apply your lipstick with a lip brush to get a precise outline of your lips.

5.  Preparation

Pulling off the perfect pair of red lips also takes some preparation.

Remember to:

  • Exfoliate your lips with a soft bristle, wet toothbrush.  This will remove dead skin.
  • Keep you lips moisturised regularly
  • Make sure to apply the lipstick and liner all the way to the inner corner of your lips.  Not  only does this create a poutier set of lips, it helps to avoid looking like you’ve missed a few spots when you smile.
  • I don’t usually have a problem with getting red lipstick on my teeth, but to be better safe than sorry, you can always try Jenna Marbles tip of putting your index finger in your mouth, forming a tight “o” around it and pulling it out.

 Bobbi Brown: Old Hollywood (Semi glossy) V.S. M.A.C: Ruby Woo (Matte)

Bobbi Brown: Old Hollywood

Bobbi Brown’s Old Hollywood formula combines color-saturated coverage with a lightweight texture.  This delivers pure, crisp colour with just one swipe.  Colour is long lasting, non drying and has no odour with a semi-matte finish.

Price:   $25 AUD

The following list of pro’s and cons are based on what I personally found when using the products and are based on what I generally look for in a lipstick.

Pro’s

  • Easy application – get full colour coverage in just one swipe.  The lipstick literally glides on.
  • Soft and smooth
  • Easy to remove
  • Affordable price (I got it for cheaper $12 on special)

Con’s

  • I personally find this lipstick quite Glossy although it is considered a “semi-matte.”
  • Teeth slightly show as yellow.
  • Prone to feathering and bleeding, if no lipliner is used
  • Wipes off easily
  • The finished look is not as elegant as other lipsticks.

Overall, a really good lipstick, although not my favorite for a red.  Worst attribute: The time a wore it, it bled terribly to the point where it looked like I had crows feet wrinkles…ON MY LIPS. yeah. I know.  Best attribute:  Intense colour in one swipe – easily glides on.

 

M.A.C:  Ruby Woo

M.A.C’s Ruby Woo formula creates bold, long lasting colour with a matte finish.  The blue based red is most noticeably known to make teeth look extremely white.   Ruby Woo is pigmented in one swipe however can be built up for a more intense colour. It’s also vanilla scented…YUM!!!

Price: $36 AUD

Pro’s

  • Makes teeth look SUPER white.  Love it.
  • Excellent Matte finish
  • No bleeding/feathering
  • Love the vanilla scent!!
  • Finish is very classy and elegant.

Con’s

  • Really, really dry formular
  • Dry formula means the product does not glide on as easily.
  • Colour is not as intense as Bobbi Brown’s Old Hollywood on first application, however intensity can easily be built up.  This allows for colour control, if you aren’t so keen on going mega intense on your first application

I.LOVE.THIS.LIPSTICK.  I love the super matte finish so much that I don’t mind how drying the formula is.  To combat the drying anyway, I always prep my lips with lip balm.  This doesn’t give as great of a finish, however if you build the colour on (takes a bit longer to apply with lip balm) you can definitely achieve the look with prepped lip-balmed lips.  I definitely think out of M.A.C’s red lipstick collection, this is my favourite – even against the popular “Russian Red.”

 Lipstick Comparison

Talyssa xo