Emmys 2013

As you will now probably know, I do have an obsession with red carpet events. I'm generally not that bothered about the awards themselves but more on the fashion of course! And last night's Emmy Awards did not disappoint! There was some amazingly classic looks and just a couple of odd dresses!

Sofia Vergara knocks it out of the park once again in Vera Wang. I am obsessed with her red carpet looks; yes she usually wears the same style of dress but when you have a body like that, who cares?! If I had the cleavage that she had, I'd show it off too! This dress fits her like a glove and hugs every curve on her body. I love the lace details on the dress too!

Next up is Rose Byrne in Calvin Klein Collection. Now I love the blush pink colour of this dress as well as the simplicity of it. The cut-out midriff detail keeps the dress from looking drab and looking uber-sexy but subtle. A former brunette, I actually think her new blonde locks really suit her!

Ariel Winter looks super sweet in this Lorena Sarbu dress. It's age-appropriate (she's only 15!) and this colour really suits her. Many critics have said she looks like she's on her way to prom but the jewelled waist is subtle and the hair and make-up are really elegant and grown-up.

Following Ariel is her Modern Family co-star Sarah Hyland in CH by Carolina Herrara. Getting the lace memo like Sofia Vergara, this emerald green colour suits her skintone so well! I love the thick black waistband that just breaks up the lace. I also love that she's matched her burgundy nails with her lips too! This look is so polished for her.

Next up is Zooey Deschanel in J. Mendel. I'm sort of under-whelmed by this dress; it just does nothing for her figure. I love her in pastel colours but the silhouette isn't for her. However, I am in love with her red-carpet manicures!

She always goes for a really random but beautiful colour scheme/pattern! I think I get more excited to see her nails rather than her outfits nowadays!

Leslie Mann in J. Mendel looks absolutely stunning. I love the black and light grey chevron print and all of the beaded detail. The cut-out details and hint of side-boob give the dress a sexy touch and I'm a fan of the see-through part at the bottom!

Another Modern Family star who got it right on this red carpet was Julie Bowen. This Zac Posen dress is a piece of art; all the detail on the shoulders, bust and waist area and at the bottom too. My only improvement would be to get rid of all the detail at the bottom, just because she is such a slight woman and it looks a tad overwhelming on her.

Last but certainly not least is Tina Fey in Narciso Rodriguez. It's so nice to see her in something other than black and this colour is perfect on her. I think she looks her best in a block colour rather than a pattern. I love the neckline on this dress although it appears there was a nip slip when she went up to collect up her award. Oops!

How And What To Pack For A Short City Break

Now I love a city break, more than a beach holiday actually. I like the excitement of a city and sightseeing. My favourite city break is probably London. I'm going twice this year, just for a couple of days at a time and I'm super excited. I'm taking my mum next week for her 50th birthday and she has never been before! However when it comes to packing for any sort of holiday, I am guilty of overpacking. I'm actually terrible for it. If I'm going away for one week, I take enough clothes for two. There are, however, a few rules that I like/try to stick to.

1. Firstly, plan your outfits in advance. Every night, I usually plan my outfit for the next day anyway but when going away, it is essential. This means you'll pack the minimum clothes.
2. Choose a colour palette. I tend to stick to white, black, grey and navy just because if I end up buying things, every colour will go with them!
3. Check the weather, especially with UK city breaks. We all know how temperamental the weather is in this country.
4. Lay out everything on your bed first before packing and then put a couple of items back in your wardrobe. This ensures you just take the bare minimum.
5. Don't take items that you never wear at home. If you don't wear them at home, you won't wear them away. Stick to clothes you know you're comfortable in and look good in.
6. Limit yourself to a couple of pairs of shoes. One pair you will need for the day for walking around in; for this I'd suggest some form of flat, be it sneakers, pumps or boots, whatever you're comfortable in. But take a pair of shoes for nights. I'd suggest taking a pair of dressy flats rather than heels but again this depends on how you plan to spend your nights!
7. Similarly, don't take loads of accessories. If you're on a shopping/sightseeing trip, jewellery and scarves can get in the way and I always end up leaving them in changing rooms. I'd stick to a killer tote handbag big enough for a day out, simple jewellery and a pair of sunglasses!
8. Make sure you pack enough underwear for the trip!
9. Instead of buying travel-sized toiletries, buy the refillable bottles that you can reuse over and over again.
10. Keep your make-up and hair simple. In order to make the most out of your time away, wear the minimum make-up that doesn't constantly need redoing and wear your hair in a simple style. And leave the straighteners and curling irons at home!

What To Pack

You know when you go on a city break, you will buy clothes of some sort, I always do! Because I'm only going away for 3 days, I'm not planning on taking very much because I'll buy things there! Here are the key items that should be taken.

• 1 pair of jeans (I'm going in my black skinny jeans and that is all I will be taking!)
• 3 t-shirts
• A jacket or coat
• A cardigan/hoodie
• A dress or a dressy outfit for night time engagements- shorts/skirt and a top
• Enough underwear
• 2 pairs of shoes- a pair of Converse and a pair of pumps
• A big handbag or a rucksack
• Possibly an evening bag
• Make-up/toiletries/travel essentials (camera, phone, chargers, map)

Real Women Have Curves...

This statement is one of the worst out there. Women come in all shapes and sizes. Some have a more curvy figure, others (like myself) have always been naturally slim. This doesn't make us any less of a woman or anorexic, it just means our bodies are built a little different to those with curves.

Ever since I was little, I've always been the skinny girl; because I started dancing when I was three, I've always been able to maintain a slim frame. I'm also a very faddy eater and always have been. There was a time when I was too skinny; I was that malnourished and dancing my ass off every night, that I had to go and see a dietitian. I was anorexic. I ate one meal a day and danced most days for at least three hours. At primary school, a dinner lady used to have to sit next to me to ensure I ate my lunch. This lasted for years probably from the age of about 8. Then one day, I realised that dance wasn't fun anymore and that I needed a break. I was 15. Since then, I've still struggled with my weight. I've always been classed as underweight from my BMI index and I don't see that changing any time soon.

I binge eat too which doesn't help. Some days, like today, I'll sit and eat my weight in junk food and then there'll be other days, probably tomorrow, where I go back to eating just one meal. I know it's not healthy but I don't think it's something I'll ever be able to overcome. At the moment, I'm pairing this with exercising most days for at least an hour. I know I'm not fat yet I trick my brain into thinking that I am in order to keep me motivated.

So when somebody calls me anorexic or bulimic, I get very offended. People don't realise that it's not only a serious eating disorder, it's also a mental illness. You convince yourself that you're too fat so you either don't eat at all or you throw up everything you do eat. It's dangerous. 

So if anyone out there thinking about it or is currently suffering, I get it; just know that instead of starving yourself, strive to be fit not skinny. Exercise by all means but try and eat too. Anorexia is not an illness that just evaporates after a while, it stays with you for life. Even if it does go away like mine has, it will always be at the back of your mind every time you go to eat a piece of cake or a chocolate bar. Also if you're doing it to impress someone, don't. You need to get fit for yourself; never ever starve yourself to fit in or even worse to get a guy.