Hiphopsideproject

Yegads! Looks like our summer is slowly coming to an end :( I’m sure you’ve noticed the weather changing, however muggy and random it may be. Alas, we’re almost midway through August, the nights are closing in and the sun’s slowly drooping in the sky (making it fucking horrendous to drive between the hours of 5-7pm) . Sad face. BUT! Look on the good side, we’ll soon be able to don our favourite coats, scarves and hats again (and invest in new bits and bobs, too), and eat yummy casseroles and stews whilst watching the rain outside ♥

Those of you who were early readers here may remember that last year I wrote an article about looking after your skin in the colder months, which is a bit of an epic read detailing the separate areas of skin care and focusing on certain products that keep your skin in tip-top winter condition. I’ve already started making a few changes to my routine in preparation for winter, not just with my skincare but with other aspects of day-to-dayness too. Here…

• Wardrobe
  Without stating the obvious, it’s going to start to get a bit colder. I know it can be hard to lose the summer ritual of stepping out without a jacket, but ladies, do yourselves a favour and grab a cardigan before you leave the house. For those of use who’ve been enjoying this lovely British summer, I’m sure this is something you’ve been doing for the past few weeks anyway! A lot of the highstreet stores have already started stocking their winter coats, too, so why not spend some time investigating the style you’d like this season? Don’t forget your hats & scarves, too!
• Vitamins
  Nothing beats a varied diet of fruit, vegetables and protein to keep your body’s defenses high, but in Winter it can be difficult to get the right kind of nutrients from the food we eat and the environmental changes. Vitamin D, for instance, is created in your skin when it’s exposed to the sun… hello, winter! your general multivitamin should contain a dose of it. I’ve just started on my winter vitamins so I’ll definitely be ready for what the season has to throw at me, starting now will build up a super strong winter barrier! This year I should have probably continued with my vitamins throughout summer seeing as I managed to get two pretty bad summer colds. I’m taking a skin, hair & nails supplement, a cod liver oil tablet (dude, I’m gonna have glossy Labrador hair!) and a general multivitamin. If/when I feel like I’m chugging along with sniffles and a cough I’ll add an echinacea supplement to this, too… and wash it down with a gallon of Orange juice!
• Skin Care
  As I mentioned earlier, my article last year describes a full-on assault into beating a greying winter complexion. The easiest things to do right now are to start switching up your light summer moisturiser for your heavier, skin protecting winter version. If you haven’t already got one, try pick one up with an SPF, it makes life a lot easier! otherwise, check your foundation (if you wear one) for it’s SPF, or invest in a facial SPF. Also, is it just me, or does winter bring with it ridiculously dry elbows? I’m thinking it’s because of wearing long sleeve sweaters that rub the skin. Anyhoo, invest in a small pot of nivea cream – it’s a lifesaver!

• Footwear
  Ok, ok… here’s where I admit that my feet are generally stuffed into nikes, hardly ever seeing the light of day. This year I did wear open flats quite a lot, though, and I’ll be sad to see them go. For me and my sneaker clad feet there won’t be much of a transition, however I have started walking to work and even the best trainers in the world won’t stand up very well to huge puddles and hail. I think this year may be the year of the welly for me! In all seriousness, though, whilst there are those who think that the only way to look fashionable is to wear heels every day, you need to bare in mind some kind of practicality. Opt for cute alternatives that won’t see you slip-sliding down the street., You’ll just look like a douche otherwise!
• Haircare
  Yeesh – rain, hail, snow, wind, central heating. It’s a wonder that we come out of winter with any hair left! Hats, hats, hats, ladies. They will be your winter hair saviors. Start introducing hats into your wardrobe on the windy Autumnal days that are already starting to destroy any idea of a hair style. Prepare your hair-emergency kit, too, a brush, a small tin of wax and some clips will come in VERY handy when you’re out and about and get caught in a gale!
• Looking Foward
  Don’t dwell on the loss of Summer, it’ll be back again (in some form) next year. Instead, spend a bit of time listing the things you love about the colder months, get excited by the changing seasons. It’ll make those dark mornings and long nights much easier to deal with! My list includes pumpkin pies, yankee candles throughout the house, cooking up bubbling beef stews with dumplings, curling up with a book and watching the rain, snow storms, the excuse to shop for new winter clothes, huge heavy duvets.

It’s most definitely winter here today, infact I woke up to a couple of inches of snow! It’s turned to slush already, booo, and I almost slipped on the bastard, but still… I need a winter hat!

There’s some proper nobhead hats going around right now, you know the ones, the stupid ones with ear flaps and string bits… that every fucker is wear and are even been sold on street corners. They’re like the crocs of hats, honestly. Don’t do it.

I haven’t really seen any hats that have grabbed me this year, however I haven’t looked for one very seriously. Now’s the time though. Let’s hit some webstores…

Only 4 that tickled my fancy at topshop, the others were bland… plain colours, patterns etc. Nothing special. The ones above at least have some special touches!

Some pretty styles at ASOS.com, I especially like the most pricey one pictured above, but hey. The peaked beanies are cute, too, I’ve always loved those kind! Also, look, pompoms don’t require nobhead hats to be wearable! Get them attached to a nice hat that every other loser doesn’t have and you’re set.

Look how good you guys have it in the US. See those prices? We can only dream! Anyway, this is mainly just for looksees, as postage from forever21.com for my UK compadres is like… $35, even only for a little hat! Tsh!

I’m sometimes astounded by the highstreet’s ability to rip things off. Which came first, topshops navy bow beanie or Miss Selfridge’s? Anyone know if there’s a higher end version that they both ripped off?

Finally, here’s a few from accessorize.com… I’m still undecided on which hat I’ll get, I’m leaning towards the cable knit ones though, they just seem more fun than the others!

Hey guys! how’s it all hanging? low and lose, I hope! This week has been a bit… glumful. Winter’s well and truly on its merry way, and whilst I love most things about the Autumn/Winter months, I can’t help but feel gross about the horrible weather. But! We must look on the bright side about all the great stuff that goes on during these dark months :)

• The beautiful Autumnal fallen leaves. Ok, so when it’s wet you can slip and crack your spine or split your trews and stuff, but they still look super purdy… even when you’ve fallen down and your eyeball is like ———- that far away from them…

  

  Photo by Me!

• Yummy foods made from seasonal faves. Yes friends, the time of the SQUASH is upon us. There’s nothing like a good chunk’o'pumpkin to warm the very cockles of your frozen winter heart, right? Expect some recipes on here pretty soon, enabling you too (even if you’ve never look a squash in the eye) to cook some comfort treats this autumn! Although, if you want something a little more concise this is the book I swear by: Cooking with Pumpkins & Squash by Brian Glover
• Autumn Spice. You know what I’m talking about, sumptuous cinnamon, fragrant clove and zingy ginger. Soon enough starbucks will bring back their Gingerbread latte, but why not just make your own with some fabulous homemade ginger syrup? Or why not fragrance your winter wardrobe with a great alternative to lavendar? Hell, go the whole hog, fragrance yourself!
• Pulling out the winter knitwear. It’s time to snuggle back into your warm knits and sweaters. This season I plan on buying several new cardigans, in various colours, to wear over my everyday t-shirts. Lovely!
• Shopping for a new winter coat :D Much much fun to be had with picking styles and colours. May I suggest reading this great article: How to buy a winter coat
• Getting ready for a new skincare regime, winter skin takes a lot of battering so you need to get the balance right. This week I’ll be shopping for a new cleanser (slightly exfoliation, but gentle & moisturising), perhaps a new moisturiser and some vitamin suppliments to keep my skin, hair & nails in tip top condition. Expect a ‘Winter Skin’ post later this week :)