Faux Fur vest

Truworths sweater | Zara jeans | LEGiT boots | Black Cherry bag

Hi everyone!  I woke up yesterday with flu.  My ears are ringing, my throat is burning and I can hardly breathe out of my nose.  Not the best way to begin a Sunday.  After self-medicating and sleeping for the majority of the day, I woke up to shower and get ready for bed (again) only to find that my Twitter had been hacked.  After feeling so embarrassed and rushing to do damage control it was time for bed again.  Today I'm blogging from my bed and I'll be in my pajamas all day.  

How was your weekend?  Have you entered my Blackcherry Bag giveaway yet?  Tomorrow is the last day to enter! 

Faux Fur & Black Cherry Giveaway {Closed}

Woolworths hat | H&M faux fur jacket | Mr Price t-shirt | Woolworths pants | Mr Price booties | Black Cherry bag

Morning everyone!  This is what I wore to an event a little while ago but somehow I didn't get around to sharing this outfit.  Irina bought me this jacket from H&M in Russia while she was there in December and it's turned out to be one of those extremely unique pieces in my cupboard.  It is so warm which is great for winter.  Because it is such a bold piece I thought I'd pair it with black pants, my favourite hat and add a fun accent with a red lip.  Lastly, I grabbed my Black Cherry bag before I headed out the door.  You all know how much I love this bag and this is where this post gets exciting.

Black Cherry bags is giving one lucky reader a bag from their winter collection!

To enter, all you need to do is follow two easy steps:

1. Like Black Cherry bags on Facebook and comment on the wall saying "sent from Arum Lilea"; and
2. Comment down below letting me know how you follow my blog.

Good luck!

*Entrants must be from Gauteng only!

ELLE 2014 Rising Star Design Award

Happy Monday everyone!  A very special friend of mine bought me these flowers as a get-well gift and I thought they were just so beautiful that I wanted to share them.  It's amazing how flowers can brighten up your whole day.  I'm going make an effort to buy fresh flowers every weekend from now on because they really do inspire me.  Speaking of inspiration, you will need to draw some together for what I have to share today.

While I'm not a fashion designer myself, I think that any graduate training program or mentorship for young graduates starting up their careers is so important.  For all of you that are aspiring fashion designers, ELLE and Mr Price have started their search for the 2014 winner of the ELLE Rising Star Design Award.  

This award gives ambitious, young, up-and-coming designers the chance to launch their careers in the best possible way.  The winner of the award will receive a cash prize of R30 000 as  well as R7 000 to fund a new range of designs.  Finalists will be given the opportunity to showcase their designs at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Africa in October 2014.  The winner will also be given a two week internship at Mr Price head office in Durban as well as a two week internship with the editor of ELLE magazine and her team.

• Who can enter?  Final year fashion design students or fashion design graduates with no more than 3 years experience qualify for entry.  Entrants must also be born in an African country or have obtained citizenship in one.
• When can I enter?  Entries have already opened and you have until 11 August to make sure you get your entry in.
• Where can I enter?  Entry forms can be downloaded here.

To all those entering, good luck!!!

Sigma Beauty F80 Foundation Brush

I generally alternate between applying my foundation with my fingers, brush or a damp foundation sponge and I'm really happy with those results but I've been hearing so much about this Sigma Beauty Flat Kabuki F80 foundation brush that it piqued my curiosity.  Always keen to try something new, I've been trying it out and, as always, I've been so excited to share my thoughts with you.

The brush is really dense, unlike any other foundation brush I've ever used.  As a result of this, it provides such a smooth finish to your foundation.  It picks up any excess product to prevent your foundation from looking "cakey" on your face.  The handle of the brush is quite thick so this also makes it easier to apply your foundation and you apply it all over your face quicker than you would with a sponge or your fingers.  My final verdict?  It's such a fantastic brush and I think everyone needs it in their make up arsenal.

US readers can order this brush from Sigma Beauty online.  SA readers, you can avoid import duties and a long wait for you package by ordering you brush from Turquoise Studio.  The Sigma Beauty F80 brush can be found directly at this link.  Turquoise Studio have many Sigma Beauty brushes and make up so if you're looking for something special this is definitely the place you want to look.  An added bonus?  They offer free shipping any where in South Africa.

Three lucky Arum Lilea readers will be winning discount codes for their purchase of the Sigma F80 from Turquoise Studio.  To enter, simply comment below letting me know how you follow Arum Lilea and leave your email address.

*Open to SA readers only.

Weekend Casual

Truworths sweater | Woolworths pants | Legit boots | Forever New scarf 

This weekend I went for breakfast with two of my very special friends.  I'm generally that annoying girl who is always cold, no matter what.  I feel a draft so easily so I decided to layer up.  Under this sweater I had another two layers and even though we were going to be inside, I still threw on this scarf.  The layers worked though because I managed to avoid the cold.  Paired with my olive pants and favourite Legit boots, I was ready for a casual morning with friends.

XOXO Gossip Girl & a Giveaway

Cotton On dress | YDE coat | Forever New tights | Woolworths heels | Mr Price shirt | Mr Price necklace

Hi everyone!  I've had these tights sitting in my cupboard since last year and I've been so excited to wear them but I haven't done so until now.  I finally decided it was time and put them together with this outfit.  The little hearts are just so sweet.  I thought this look was something Blair from Gossip Girl might have worn and I hope I did her fictional character proud.  

For all you fashion lovers out there, I have some very exciting news for you today.  Have you ever wanted to get all dressed up for a super glamorous, star studded fashion event?  Well Skip is hosting their Fashion Exchange event on 17 July 2014 to celebrate their love of fashion.  It's going to be one of the most stylish events of the year and here's where it this post gets exciting:  I've got double tickets to giveaway to 5 lucky readers!  

To enter all you need to do is comment below letting me know how you follow Arum Lilea.

Please note that the event is in Johannesburg and winners must be able to arrange their own transport to the event.  The winners will be drawn next Tuesday.  If you aren't selected as a winner, don't be bummed.  You can buy tickets to the event here.  Good luck! xxx

iPhone lately & a Giveaway

Hi lovelies!

Here are a few pictures from my iPhone that you may or may not have seen on my social media.  In these pictures you'll find a few reasons why I love winter almost as much as summer.  Stay tuned for a winter giveaway at the end!

1.  I love pulling out my cosy scarves and sweaters to bundle up and keep warm.

2.  When the cold starts to get to you a beautiful bunch of flowers can brighten up your day in no time.

3.  Winter outfit post like this one are always fun to plan.

4.  Wine coloured lipsticks are perfect for winter looks.  I'm loving deep reds and violets at the moment!

5.  A very special friend bought me a wonderful gift set with the most amazing hand cream in it.  I usually apply hand cream all the time but in winter it is especially important and having a wonderful hand cream is just another this I love during winter.  (Perhaps I should do a post on this cream?)

6.  Winter means lots of tea and making sure you stay healthy by eating lots of fruits and vegetables.  This is my favourite breakfast during winter!

7.  On the weekends there is nothing better than staying in bed, all cuddled up and reading a good book...

8.  ...preferably with a cute cat.

9.  When it's too cold to go outside, there are always plenty of youtube make up tutorials to try just like the one I tried here.

Another thing that I love about winter is Gluhwein.  This drink reminds me of being in Germany in the winter and it's such a special memory for me.  I still have a gluhwein mug from the Christmas markets in Germany that is currently serving as my make up brush holder just so that I can see it every day.  There's something so special about the mulled wine and the aroma that hangs in the air when it's being heated.  I love the smell of the combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and citrus.

Today I hope I can make your winter a little warmer by giving away a Original Gluhwein hamper.  To enter all you need to do is comment down below and tell me how you follow my blog.  A winner will be drawn 11 July 2014.  Good luck!

Currently Testing: Revlon Lips

Hi Beauties!

Can you believe it's July already?  I feel like June completely flew by as I spent the majority of it in bed sleeping in order to recover.  Anyway,  today I wanted to share some gorgeous products from Revlon that I've been trying out.  I love these because they suit all skin tones whether you're super pale like me (almost transparent) really dark skinned.  They're also so great because these lip products aren't going to blow your budget.  Let's face it, we all want to add something to our look, feel super glamorous and still have money in the bank while doing so (hashtag #winning).

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter

This is my favourite out of the three lip products I've been trying.  It's so creamy that it glides on to my lips and really moisturises them.  The colour is really long lasting which I something that I really look for in a lip colour.  Nothing bugs me more than an expensive lip colour that disappears in no time.  I've been trying shade 040 Red Velvet and I think this is a gorgeous colour for everyone to have in their collection and it is a perfect wine colour which is great for the winter season.  I definitely want to go buy a few more of these perhaps in a nude and pink shade.  I also can't resist the quilted packaging, it's so much fun!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick 

I fell head over heels in love with the Lip Butter that the lipstick unfortunately great expectations to live up to.  The lipstick is great if you find the creaminess of the lip butter too much.  It is pretty standard as far as lipsticks go.  I'm using shade 475 Icy Violet which I think would be absolutely gorgeous on girls with darker skin tones than myself.  

Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss

This is a gorgeous lip gloss.  I've been applying it on its own and also over the Lip Butter if I'm going for a really bold lip and I think both ways it looks great.  This is another product that I will be definitely be going to stock up on in a few different shades.  I'm currently using the shade 220 Fuchsia Finery which is such a fun colour.  I'm didn't expect to like it but I'm actually crazy about it since trying it and I would really love the same shade lip butter for the perfect marriage of Fuchsia.  This is another shade that I think looks so stunning on girls of every skin type. 

Have you tried any of these lip products?  I'd love to know what you think or if you have any other recommendations for me.  Thanks for reading!