Autumn Additions: The Black Ravens - Gothic Jewellery Review

Hey Bloggers!

Long time no speak. First off, let me start by saying you have permission to slap me on the wrist for the distinct lack of content lately. Since my last post, a tortoise could have crossed the finish line by now, haha! ;) The good news? After my recent hiatus, the time away has inspired me with lots of exciting new post ideas to share with you all in the coming months - so watch this space, guys and gals.

Now that we've caught up, let's get into the zone about today's post shall we? It's a doozy and involves reviewing some GORGEOUS Gothic jewellery which I've added to my #autumn collection. 

I've recently had the pleasure of getting acquainted with an emerging brand that has since become my go-to for all things goth, punk and alternative, and I'm particularly fond of their amazing accessories. 

Let's start by introducing their brand name - I mean how cool does The Black Ravens sound? Pretty damn cool by my reckoning. Whether you're looking for a few spooky additions ready for #Halloween or you're in need of some affordable fashion buys to darken up your Autumn/Winter '18 Edit, The Black Ravens are the holy grail of online alt. retailers.

So without further adieu, here are the jewellery pieces I'm raving about this season (see what I did there?)

Black Triangle Choker Necklace 

Somewhere between a necklace-choker hybrid, this statement edition would definitely be my 'desert island' necklace. If I could only bring one jewellery item with me, this would be the main attraction. Not only does it come with a striking gem-embellished design that guarantees to collect compliments day or night, it also has a strong black rope which serves as the chain. Since I've always been a fan of black coloured jewellery, this piece offers a comfortable fit, a look that's aesthetically pleasing for any occasion, AND a triangular pendant that's 100% unique. So in terms of statement accessories, The Black Ravens have ticked all the right boxes while appealing to my inner goth chic.

Rose Gold and Black Single Band Ring

Next on my autumnal list of must-haves is this two-tone men's ring. Let's just address the sheer frustration of shopping for anything fashion related when you're a curvy gal! The majority of today's high street accessory brands don't offer XL-sized rings, so this minimalist piece is definitely a conversation starter for me. Sure, this is technically a guy's ring, but with the elegant rose gold band, who can tell, right? I find there's bucket-loads more variety once you branch out into the unisex (or men's) departments. What I LOVE about this ring - apart from its alternative look - is the fact that it's crafted from an authentic + solid Tungsten metal that stays scratch-free and won't tarnish. Anyone who knows me will know I never leave home without a fistful of rings to show off, and this single band will forever be ranked among my fave middle finger rings. There's no stacking required either as it's attractive enough to rock without other rings to distract the eye. 

Rose Gold Plated + Diamond Skull Stud Earrings

Image Credit: The Black Ravens

Three is the magic number, and these adorable skull earrings make a glistening gift for Halloween or Christmas! If you're after a pair of studs that are A) Not too small and B) Have instant Gothic appeal while still remaining pretty, these rose gold gems belong in your collection. I'm not one to follow the crowd when it comes to style, but unless you've been living under a rock you'll have noticed rose gold is EVERYWHERE right now: On our Instagram feeds, on the street style blogger round-up, at this year's #FashionWeek, and of course - emerging in full force on the high street at every opportunity. Love it or hate it, I personally cannot get enough of everything rose gold, so naturally, these earrings offer a luxe finishing touch that's right up my street. They also make the perfect fuss-free choice for those windy 'out and about' days while hustling from A to B.  



So there you have it: 3 key pieces from The Black Ravens which I can personally vouch for in terms of unique Gothic design, quality craftsmanship and affordability. Check out their website for up and coming pieces, then go and bag an accessories haul for yourself - you won't be disappointed! 


Thanks for reading, lovelies. ^^

Until next time,

Dawn xx  
  

Happy (Belated) Halloween Wishes...

Hey Bloggers,

Long time no speak! I hope you're all doing wonderful and enjoying autumn so far?

So major apologies on the lack of blog posts this past year, guilty as charged. Yep, my new year's resolution for 2017 will definitely include checking in on here more often. I mean sure, sometimes other stuff takes over, but I like to remember it like this... When life gives you lemons, make lemonade ;) 🍋

One of the reasons I created Paint Me Up in the first place was to have a platform to call my own. A place to share the stuff I dig with others. So here's to rekindling my passion for blogging and getting back on track! 🍸

Moving onto today's musings... I hope everyone had a kick-ass Halloween and enjoyed the spooky festivities as much as I did. Hands down, Halloween weekend '16 rocked, and I cannot wait to go even crazier come next October! 🎃

What did you all dress up as this year? I would love to see some party pictures from you guys and gals, along with plenty of spook-tastic costumes to boot.

Here are a few choice snaps I collected to celebrate my fave calendar occasion, Halloween. Once you're done browsing today's post, I hope you'll come away feeling inspired and ready to enjoy the fireworks this evening!

Until next time my lovelies...

Dawn 💋

Halloween 2016:

Jack O' Lantern Spotting in Manchester City Centre, Post-Carpenter Gig! \m/

Michael Myers and 'Dead by Dawn' the Ghostie...

The Pumpkin sees all! :3

My Guy made a corpse and hung it from a nearby tree... standard scaring tactics which went down a storm with the local kids! ;)

Our creepy Halloween bookshelf display...

Pumpkin Carving is always fun!

Pretty Day of the Dead Wall Decoration

Did I mention I have a sweet tooth? ;)

... and it wouldn't be Halloween without one final cupcake treat - thank you Patisserie Valerie!

Note: All Photography by Myself (Dawn)

Festive Spirit

Here are a selection of images I took during the last few days of 2013. As you can see I have treated myself to lots of niceties here ;)

Gothic-Glam

Green with Envy

Sparkly Crucifix bracelet I bought whilst on a hiking trip in Kendal

M&S Treats courtesy of my Xmas Gift Card (Love you sis!)

Adorable Momiji Perfume I found in M&S - love the quirky packaging!!

"She believed she could. So she did."

Parisian Chic 

Christmas Cheer

Music is Passion

Two of my Hand Bag Essentials: Solid White Musk Perfume from The Body Shop and a copy of the latest Glamour Mag

Cute little Bunny light-up night light

Kiss me Quick

Happy Halloween 2013!

Hey Bloggers!

My apologies for being out of the blogosphere for a couple of months, I'm sure most of you will understand how hectic things can get around this time of year?!

Today's post is just a brief note on the Halloween holiday which is personally one of mine (and my sister's) favourite times of the year, simply because we are secretly goths at heart, haha! ;) Everything about Halloween screams excitement to me, from the sultry make-up looks and darker fashion trends to the seasonal treats and new flavours of coffee, it's all one big novelty. Me and my sister Faye will be spending our day in the Lake District this year, taking snap shots of the gorgeous scenery Windermere has to offer as well as sampling some of their finest luxury chocolates no doubt!

For me and my boyfriend the entire month of October is an excuse to watch all of those much loved horror classics by the likes of: John Carpenter, Wes Craven, George A. Romero and Hammer Horror to name a few. So tonight will be spent watching the original 'Halloween' movie, one of Carpenter's very best in my opinion. :)

Here is a song by the ever so decadent Marilyn Manson to get you all in the spooky mood... Happy Halloween everyone!

Pretty in Punk! Vogue Editorial

I've always had a strong love affair with fashion editorials. Whether I find them in Vogue, Elle, Tank or Pop, the excitement of buying my favourite fashion magazines each month brings a feeling of joy and reminds me just how versatile trends really are.

Even when I used to plan and co-ordinate styling photo shoots whilst I was studying at uni, it was always a pleasure to see the progression of how an initial idea develops into a finished promotional campaign - I suppose this is how creative teams feel when they are out on location shooting for the world's leading fashion magazines.

In that spirit, whilst flicking through the glossy pages of last month's Vogue, I stumbled across an extremely creative editorial with a strong emphasis on PUNK. So naturally, as Punk is one of my all time favourite sub-cultures especially in terms of styling, I have included the full editorial spread from the last issue on my blog... enjoy!

Note: All images courtesy of Vogue May 2013 Issue.

Time for a Spring Update...

Hey Bloggers,

Today's post talks about some of the gorgeous items which have been firmly on my fashion radar for a while now. It's coming up to payday soon which will definitely be an excuse to invest in some key pieces to update my spring wardrobe. 

I don't know about you but as it's been so cold and rainy for months on end, I seem to have been living in cardi's and jumpers! Don't get me wrong I love a good slouchy jumper as there are so many versatile numbers out there on the retail market, but sometimes it's good to mix things up and change what you choose to wear.

Now that the weather is changing and we're due to have a heatwave sometime soon, it's got me thinking about tees and layering. Spring is a great season for fashion and beauty as you can really play around with pastel colours, layer up on your neon accessories and experiment with light and airy beauty products that don't suffocate the skin so much!

Here are a few of my favourite styling ideas for spring to inspire you...

Actual Pain Eye Of The Angel Photographic Vest - ASOS (Love the Beauty vs Horror print!)

Black Antique Cross Leggings - TOPSHOP (I have a very similar pair I bought from Primark a few months back, but these are definitely on my wish list!)

ALVI Flatform Ankle Boots - ASOS (The comfiest shoe type ever!)

Backpack Bag In Mono Stripe - ASOS (Beetlejuice stripes, leather buckles, what's not to love??)

Pink Snakeskin Metallic Stilettos - Jimmy Choo (A little pricey for my budget but hey, we can all dream...)

MATCH Leather Brogues - ASOS (Blue pastels compliment denim ensembles perfectly - These would go with the denim pencil skirt I bought for £2.80 from a charity chop in Lancaster!) 

Note: All pictures not taken by myself.

Style File: Morticia and Gomez Addams, The Addams Family.

First of all, I would like to wish all of you creative types out there a Happy Halloween! I've seen some fantastic ghoulish costumes, make-up and nail art as well as decorations, pumpkins and confectionary - Halloween really is the best time to get creative, particularly when it comes to fashion! There's inspiration a-plenty too; whether it's flicking through magazines, eyeing up high street window displays, scrolling through facebook, twitter and pinterest images or even looking at what people are wearing on the streets, trick or treaters are spoilt for choice for a holiday that's almost as popular as christmas!

So without further ado, here is an extremely decadent couple from the world of cinema who I just love, and have chosen to look at for my halloween style file...

Morticia:

With her palid-white complexion, crimson red lips and nails, as well as her ebony-black long hair, Morticia is a gothic beauty queen. She is most famous for wearing a floor length black dress cinched in at the waist with lace/cob-web detailing... pure sophistication.

Gomez:

Similarly, Gomez is just as stylish as his other half and oozes class. With his slicked-back black hair, bold striped tailoring and baroque-esque prints, it's safe to say that Gomez knows how to work his gentleman's charm.

Note: All images are NOT my own.