Tag: #lifestyleblogger

Tried and Tested: KeraStraight Volume Enhancing Shampoo, Conditioner and Style Root Lift Spray Gel

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I have recently came a new range of haircare products called KeraStraight. As I straighten my hair quite often I decided to give it a go.

Brand:

KeraStraight is a British company, launched 7 years ago in 2009. It produces innovative hair repairing treatments and products in addition to the award-winning KS Ultimate treatment that repairs and straightens hair at the same time. The range consists of some quick-fix 30-day treatments, luxurious supporting shampoos and conditioners and a small range of highly innovative styling products.

Why should you use KeraStraight:

According to the producer, the range:

  • Is suitable for all hair types
  • Straightens & repairs simultaneously
  • Eliminates frizz
  • Strengthens hair, to the very last tip
  • Is humidity resistant
  • Is Formaldehyde free

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Products:

KeraStraight products focus on straightening and repair. I have fine hair so I ordered these 3 products from KeraStraight website to add some extra volume and strength:

  • KeraStraight Volume Enhance Shampoo

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This shampoo contains a blend of volumising and conditioning ingredients as well as a specially formulated KS Complex. This innovative compound, made from African and Amazonian fruit and plant extracts, protects against environmental stresses, helping you benefit from longer-lasting flawless results.

  • KeraStraight Volume Enhance Conditioner

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I used KeraStraight Volume Enhance Conditioner after shampooing my hair with the shampoo from the same range. It is made from a luxurious blend of natural conditioning ingredients, proteins and essential volumising ingredient pro-vitamin B5 in addition to the specially formulated KS Complex.

What I really loved about this conditioner was the fact that its natural ingredients help to detangle hair and protect it against breakage.

  • KeraStraight Style Root Lift Spray Gel

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Once my hair was freshly washed, it was time to style it J I used the KeraStraight Style Root Lift Spray Gel. This product builds incredible body and strength. It has heat-activated proteins that expand within the structure of the hair as it dries, delivering extra volume, strength, hold and support.

Results:

All KeraStraight products are designed to maximise the longevity and benefits of KeraStraight treatments. Even though, I never had KeraStraight treatment, after I used the products, my hair looked thicker, fuller and seemed stronger. In addition it was straight, soft and manageable. As KeraStraight range is free from harmful chemicals you just know that it gets the best natural ingredients available.

I will definitely want to try some other KeraStraight products in the future!

I hope that you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Image Consultant Suggestions: Winter racing events attire and Hennessey Gold Cup Competition

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Quite a few of you have emailed me recently about the appropriate racing attire. Dressing for any races can be quite a frightening process for a non-regular racegoer. I enjoy races and as an image consultant I can clearly tell you that there are indeed some ‘rules’ to follow should you be heading to any races during this Autumn or Winter.

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So what should you wear?

The conventions of winter race-wear for ladies dictate elegant daywear, including hosiery, closed toe shoes and winter-appropriate hats. Gloves are optional however if you choose to wear them then opt for leather or a blended wool because delicate materials such as lace and fine cottons are more suited to the summer months.

Few more tips:

  • Remember that you will be outside for a long period of time so dress accordingly. Autumn-winter racing fashion usually dictates the wearing of clothes representative of the season.
  • Start with choosing what dress / suit you will wear and then match the appropriate accessories. It is so much easier to match a hat to an existing frock than the other way round.
  • When it comes to autumn racing, the number one rule is that your headwear should be felt material as straw is reserved for spring/summer months only.
  • Wear a pair of closed-in shoes and leave your Stilettos for summer races.

Competition:

I actually have a pair of tickets available to an amazing ‘The bet365 Festival – Hennessy Gold Cup Day’ to giveaway to my blog readers and Twitter followers so if you are interested then please enter my Twitter competition:

The bet365 Festival – Hennessy Gold Cup Day is a winter fashion and social calendar highlight offering the chance to fuse fashion with the enjoyment and long-standing traditions of horse racing. Traditionally it attracts a large numbers of celebrities including in recent years Stanley Tucci, James Norton, Carey Mulligan, Mel Chisolm, Jennifer Saunders, Martin Clunes, Tinie Tempah, Amanda Holden, Joan Collins, James Nesbitt, Rob Brydon, Hugh Bonneville, Cilla Black, Denise Lewis and Jackie Stewart to name a few.

As I will not be able to attend it-I am away during that time visiting my parents, one of you will have a chance to win the tickets. The Hennessy Gold Cup Day takes place on the second day of the bet365 Festival on the Saturday, 26 November 2016. It features the 60th running of the Hennessy Gold Cup as well as the bet365 Long Distance Hurdle at Run over 3 miles and 2½ furlongs. In addition you get a £5 off premier and grandstand tickets with code FUN16.

In addition, don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway to maximise your chances and win another amazing prize: a pair of tickets, a night in the hotel at the racecourse called The Lodge, a bottle of Hennessy and a Hennessy picnic for two:

A Rafflecopter giveaway

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Tried and tested: Nugg 8 Piece Ultimate Multi-Masking Set

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As some of you know, I recently got married. I will be going for my honeymoon in December so I am trying to prepare my holiday-size friendly set of beauty products. I came across a luxurious mini-masks from nugg that aimed to help hydrate, soothe, and refresh the appearance of your skin.

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‘nugg’ is renowned as the face mask authority and cutting edge technology that ensures your skin is nourished with only the finest, over 90% naturally derived ingredients.

The nugg set I received is perfect if you wish to try some different types of face masks in small, travel friendly packaging. It contains:

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  • 1 x Deep Cleansing Face Mask (10ml) – to help you give your complexion a deep clean and the appearance of a shine. Definitely my favourite mini mask as I have a combibation skin. It removed the excess oil from my face and my complezion was left shine-free.
  • 1 x Exfoliating Face Mask (10ml) – exfoliating mask pod to help your skin look smooth and clear. Amazing if you do not want to carry both exfoliator and mask with you as it combines the power from both products.
  • 1 x Hydrating Face Mask (10ml) – moisturising mask pod to help revitalise dry and dehydrated skin.
  • 1 x Anti-Aging Face Mask (10ml) – mask pod to help revitalise mature skin and add some extra radiance to your skin. Great for the days when your skin feels dehydrated.
  • 1 x Soothing Face Mask (10ml) – a soothing mask helping to balance and hydrate troubled or sensitive skin
  • 1 x Revitalizing Face Mask (10ml) – to help you achieve the appearance of a vibrant, radiant skin.
  • 1 x Intense Boosting Lip Mask (7g) – a 100% natural and vegan lip mask to help hydrate and soften your lips. I applied it to my lips for 20 minutes and my lips felt extremely sofy and plump afterwards.

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  • 1 x De-Puff Eye Mask with 6 Under Eye Pads (1.3ml) – it contains 93% natural ingredients and it will help to hydrate, soothe signs of puffiness and rejuvenate the skin for a refreshed look and feel.

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Verdict:

I really enjoyed using nugg masks. I will definitely take them with me on my honeymoon and any other trips when I need to control the amount of products (and their weight)!

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Horrible night out at Montezuma Club, London

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Today I would like to tell you about my night out at Montezuma Club in South Kensington in partnership with VIP Lounge.

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I recently won a Twitter competition run by VIP Lounge @VipLounge and I was extremely looking forward to my night out with friends.

img_3704My prize was:

  • A bottle of vodka with mixers
  • Access to VIP Lounge area in the club
  • Champagne sparklers

I shared the details of my Twitter prize with some of my friends and was asked to forward all their names and surnames so they can be added to the guest list. We all registered on the website and got ready for our night out. I decided to wear one of my little black dresses from River Island.

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After a couple of drinks just around the corner from the club we made our way to Montezuma London Club which is located a minute away from South Kensington station.

When we first arrived at the club at around 10:30p.m., my husband and a male friend of mine were asked to pay £20 for entry… We were all surprised but we paid and went downstairs.

Montezuma is extremely small… The dance-floor is basically of similar size to my living room and believe me my living room is not massive. But well, we sat down and I called Paul from @VipLounge to confirm when we will receive our drinks. First warning sign there was no answer… I texted @VipLounge and 40 minutes later I have finally heard from Paul. Basically I think that he is a club promoter who asks you to put your and your friends name on the list so he gets a commission out of attracting you to the club. Our drinks arrived over an hour later at 11:40.

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We took a couple of photos and in the meantime the waitress asked 5 girls that we didn’t know to sit at our table. The waitress gave them drinks from the same bottle of vodka that I won and 5 minutes later she asked us to leave the table. I went to speak to the club manager he told me that if we want to stay sitting where we were than we need to pay for it! How rude?!? We left the area, my husband bought us all some drinks and we started dancing. The DJ was horrible but as we didn’t have any sitting area at that time, we started dancing. Within the minutes the dance-floor was soo full that we were unable to move. It was also quite smelly and one of my friends felt quite sick as she was unable to breathe.

The drinks were also overpriced and a bottle of White Goose Vodka was £450. I was shocked to discover that considering how tacky and small this club was.

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Overall: 

I would never visit Montezuma again-it is overpriced, small, overcrowded and service was extremely rude and unfriendly. Be aware of any Twitter competitors from @VipLounge as they work with this club (I believe on a promoter basis) and if you win their Twitter prize then you will end up paying for everything anyway.

Hope you stay away from Montezuma-there are hundreds of other nice clubs in London that are better for a night out.

X

Pauline

 

 

 

 

Our dinner at the Grill Restaurant at Amba Hotel, London

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I visited Amba Hotel Marble Arch in London for the first time, a few months ago when I went there for my afternoon tea with my friend Sylwia. I had a lovely experience last time so I really wanted to go to The Grill restaurant for a dinner with my husband. We decided to book it for our second wedding ‘lunaversary’-yes, that’s right we are married for 2 months now. Time flies!

So let me tell you a bit about The Grill restaurant located at Amba Hotel.

Venue and location:

The Grill restaurant can be found on the first floor at Amba Hotel Marble Arch -just off Oxford Street in central London. It is easily accessible by public transport and the nearest tube station-Marble Arch is around 3 minutes away. It is perfectly located in the very heart of London’s glittering centre. If you decide to go to central London in order to get some gifts for the upcoming Christmas then you should definitely visit.

Times:

The Grill restaurant is open 7 days a week. Lunch and dinner are served from midday until 10 p.m.

Atmosphere:

We reached Amba Hotel Marble Arch at around 7 p.m. The atmosphere and staff were both pleasant. On our arrival, we were acknowledged by a friendly receptionist who then asked one of the waiters to take us to our table. The lights were dimmed, there was a relaxing music playing in the background and we were taken to sit at the candlelight table which provided a perfect setting for our romantic dinner.

The menu:

Once we were comfortably sited, our friendly waiter offered us to start our dinner with a glass of champagne. A few minutes later, we received a chilled glass of bubbly each and then we started considering what to pick for our dinner.

There were a lot of nice dishes to choose from so it took us a few minutes to decide what we would like to have:

Starters:

To start with I decided to have some cured Smoked Salmon with Horseradish crème fraiche and wild rocket. It was delectable.

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My husband had some classic Prawn Cocktail with tempura king prawn. It was presented beautifully and was very tasty.

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Mains:

For our mains we both selected the items from the charcoal Josper Grill.

I decided to have 35 Day Dry Aged Ribeye Steak with peppercorn sauce. As a side I decided to have some rosemary and Parmesan fries and buttered spinach. My main was simply delectable-steak was cooked to perfection (just as I like it) and sides complimented my dish faultlessly.

My husband had some British Lamb Cutlets with mint sauce. Again-his lamb was very tender and he loved it.

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Desserts:

As some of you know, I have a very bad sweet tooth so I decided to have a Pecan and Maple Syrup Tart with honeycomb ice cream. My dessert was mouth-watering.

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James decided to be healthier than me and had some fresh strawberries with clotted cream.

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Dress code:

The dress code at The Grill restaurant in Amba Hotel Marble Arch is smart casual. I decided to wear one of my pink Prada dresses with a pair of Jones kitten hills.

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Overall experience:

The Grill restaurant at Amba Hotel Marble Arch offers a welcoming atmosphere, friendly service and great quality food. I would definitely visit again. You should definitely go there next time you are shopping on Oxford Street if you wish to have a nice, reasonably priced meal.

In addition, The Grill restaurant will be running a special ‘seasonal’ set menu that will be available throughout December 2016 (excluding Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve)

If you are interested, than it will be served from midday to 10 p.m. and you’ll get a glass of sparkling wine on arrival, followed by a three-course meal for only £39 per person.

Website:

http://www.amba-hotel.com/hotels/united_kingdom/london/marble_arch/restaurants_and_bars/the_grill.html

Address: Bryanston Street, London W1H 7EH

I hope that you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Image Consultant Review: Morlands Glastonbury Leather boots

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As it’s getting colder outside, I decided to get some new, leather boots. They are my number one footwear during the autumn and winter. There are many boots options available—flat, over-the-knee, heeled, wedge, pointed toe etc. There is a boot to go with every outfit and occasion. You can wear them with a dress or your favorite pair of jeans and you will always end up looking elegant.

Depending on your style, a classic pair of black or brown boots could be all you need.  I recently came across Morlands Glastonbury. It a luxurious English brand offering a selection of ladies and men’s slippers, Sheepskin boots and accessories including beautiful gloves and a selection of Lambswool and Cashmere Scarves.

Brand:

Morlands Glastonbury was established nearly 150 years ago and quickly become renowned for the excellence of its sheepskin products. The core principles and John Morland’s legacy remain to this day and the company produces incomparable well-known products from the selection of soft, high-quality, natural skins.

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Boots:

I decided to order a pair of brown Sandra boots from Morlands Glastonbury’s Ladies Sheepskin Collection.

http://www.morlandssheepskin.co.uk/sheepskin-boots/ladies-sheepskin-boots-37/sandra

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When I firstly opened the box, I discovered that these signature sheepskin boots are exceptionally soft in texture, warm and extremely comfortable.

They are inspired by the English countryside and classic equestrian footwear, making their style timeless and elegant. I have bought hundreds of pairs of boots before, but my feet have never felt so good in any of them. When I firstly put them all, I knew that they would be my new favourite pair and their tall height gave my legs a flattering, lengthening appearance. Morlands Glastonbury Sandra boots are delicately detailed to reflect their contemporary, elegant style. Delicate, suede panels add detail around the middle.

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Due to the fact that they are made from the high-quality leather they can be worn during the winter as they are lovely and warm, as well as in the summer as they are breathable. Morlands Glastonbury Sandra boots are  extremely comfortable even when worn all day.

Overall:

I really enjoy wearing my new boots and I believe that they would appeal to any sophisticated customer who wants to get a luxurious, high-quality riding boots. Morlands boots are made from the finest quality leather so as long as they are properly looked after, they will last you for a long time. What I like the most about them is that they are lined with luxury Morlands sheepskin. As I have to wear heels at work most of the time, they provide my feet with the ultimate indulgence after work.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review!

X

Pauline

Holiday destinations: Dubrovnik, Croatia

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I visited Dubrovnik recently and it was simply breath-taking.

Dubrovnik is one of the best known Croatian cities on the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, referred to often as ‘the pearl of the Adriatic’. It was also recently featured in the popular ‘Game of Thrones’ series so it’s a must-see for any fan who wishes to discover the settings of this fantasy series.

As I was there with my fiancée only for a day, we decided to take one of the guided walking tours on top of the walls. In spite of the heat, humidity and heavy crowds, this was undeniably one of the most spectacular walks in the cities we’ve ever seen. Our guide was very knowledgeable and it was very interesting to listen to the tales she told us about the city.

We loved it and would love to visit the city again. Next time we will definitely stay for longer to see all the beautiful sides.

I hope you enjoyed reading this review.

X

Pauline

 


					

		
		
			





			
				



	
	

					
My new Limited Edition Pandora Club charm 2016
			


	


				

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I love browsing the online stores. Last week, I was on the T.H. Baker website which showcases the best jewellery and watches and I came across some amazing new charms. Today, I would like to tell you about the latest addition to my Pandora charms.


As some of you might already know, I love my Pandora bracelet and I even wore it to my wedding in August so I was super excited when I saw the latest, iconic Pandora Club collection. I instantly ordered the Pandora Club Charm 2016 Heart Diamond:


https://www.thbaker.co.uk/pandora-club-charm-2016-heart-diamond-791912d


When I received my order, I was extremely excited to open my Pandora Box.


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My new charm is crafted from sterling silver. Its design is based on beautiful tiny beads and hearts that are adorned.


On the front side, this gorgeous charm has a diamond that is set in the centre. It looks very exclusive and would make an amazing gift for anyone.


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On the opposite side, the charm is engraved with ‘2016’, which is perfect as a reference point to which limited collection it was from. In addition, if you like it and you decide to order it then the person you gift it to will always know when it was gifted to her.


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This stunning limited edition, collector’s item would be a perfect addition to any Pandora bracelet. It looks amazing with all my other charms:


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You can order it from T.H. Baker a certified PANDORA retailer that was established in 1888 :


www.thbaker.co.uk


I hope you enjoyed reading this review!


X


Pauline

					

		
		
			





			
				



	
	

					
Tried and Tested: ‘TEN EFFECTS’ Timeless Beauty Skin Treat & Make-up Fixer, JoanCollins
			


	


				

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As some of you might remember, I have recently tried the ‘I AM WOMAN’ Dry Oil Body Polish from Joan Collins. I really enjoyed using this product thus I decided to try some more products from Timeless Beauty Collection.


This week, I would like to tell you about TEN EFFECTS Skin Treat & Make-up Fixer.


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Ten Effects revolutionary skin treat & make-up fixer aims to revise and rejuvenate your skin whilst at the same time setting make-up in place. It is a luxurious product that uses a unique blend of 7 natural ingredients:


    

  • Allantoin  that exfoliates and rejuvenates,
    • 

  • Red Algae Gel and Frescolat MGA that calms and soothes irritation,
    • 

  • Organic Rose Water  that tightens pores and reduces redness,
    • 

  • Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerine that hydrate, moisturise and diminish the appearance of fine lines,
    • 

  • Vitamin E that protects and revises skin.
    • 



Application:


This 7 in one product comes in a travel friendly bottle with spray. I used one spritz over my make-up. It locked my make-up in place to create long-lasting and flawless coverage. It can be used anytime morning or night and if you use it regularly then it will add some extra radiance, hydration. As I have a combination skin, I really like that Joan Collins’s Ten Effects not only fixes my make-up but also minimises my pores and tones my skin due to a pH balancing layer.


Skin type:


Joan Collins Ten Effects revolutionary skin treat & make-up fixer has been formulated for all skin types.


Price:


£20.00 for 100ml


Website:


Joan Collins Ten Effects revolutionary skin treat & make-up fixer is available at:


www.joancollinsbeauty.com


I hope you enjoyed reading this review!


X


Pauline

					

		
		
			





			
				



	
	

					
Image Consultant suggestions: kay me dresses
			


	


				

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Are you tired of work-wear that is uncomfortable, inflexible, needs to be dry-cleaned and creases easily? If your answer is yes than you should check the Japanese fashion brand that is specifically designed for the busy businesswomen.


 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
  


I was recently provided with an excellent opportunity to view and try on kay me’s new autumn / winter collection and meet designer and founder-Junko Kemi in London. Let me tell you a bit about the brand and their dresses.


Brand


kay me is an anglicized version of the founder’s name ‘Kemi’ and also represents ‘me’ being the customer always at the heart of the service.


Founder and Lead Designer – Junko Kemi


After graduating from Waseda University in Tokyo, Junko worked in several international companies before founding kay me in 2011. She struggled to find a workwear that follow her simple rules:


1) was machine washable so she didn’t need trips to the dry cleaners or complicated cleaning regimes.


2) was made from flexible, stretchy fabrics as the inflexible suit materials gave her stiff shoulders after sitting at a desk for a long time


3) was suitable to wear for social events after work too.


kay me was born in one afternoon when Junko couldn’t stop feeling frustrated through the lack of clothing that ticked all of the boxes so she decided to create her own.


These days, there are thousands of designers whose clothes are unwearable… That’s not the case with Junko’s collections. Every item sold by kay me is personally worn and tested by Junko herself. Resembling to Victoria Beckham’s motto, if she doesn’t feel that it’s something she would personally wear, the item never makes its way to the shop floor or online.


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Manufacturing:


All of kay me products are manufactured by artisans in Japan. kay me is able to combine traditional hand sewing techniques with cutting-edge textile technology. In 2015, the kay me team perfected a new, machine washable, 100% silk material. kay me believes that the intricate beauty and design of kimono fabrics empower women to be happier in both their professional and personal lives.


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My showroom experience:


When I entered the showroom, I fell in love with Junko’s collection. I was immediately impressed by the quality of the dresses and how stretchy and fashionable they were so I decided to try them.


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All kay me dresses meet five key criteria:


    

  1. Stretchy
    2. 

  2. Machine Washable
    3. 

  3. Business ready
    4. 

  4. Made in Japan
    5. 

  5. Kimono inspired
    6. 



First of all, I tried 3 dresses from its vibrant and stylish Contemporary KIMONO by kay me collection. This collection combines functionality with classic Japanese beauty. The range is absolutely flawless for the modern but busy businesswoman. I was personally looking for a range of business wear like that for a long time as I wanted to have a collection of dresses that are easy to care for and look fashionable.


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Secondly, I decided try a simple black dress from key me work-wear range. It was a love at the first sight! Dress was exactly what I would like to wear to work and I gave me an ultra-flattering fit.


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Would you like to see or buy any products from key me range?


You can view the collection and order it online:


www.kayme.co.uk (free global shipping and 14-day returns )


I hope you enjoyed reading this review!


X


Pauline