5 Last Minute NYE Dresses For £30 Or Under

2019 has gone so quickly, can you believe NYE is really less than 2 weeks away? I'm sure it was Halloween like last week, but I can't be too sure. If you're still searching for a new, cute, but still affordable dress for the big night I've set myself a budget of £30, done my research, and found some
gorgeous dress options. Sparkles, sequins are perfect for NYE, if you can't do it then, when can you?!

Pretty Little Thing blue glitter metallic bodycon dress - £20.00
Currently available in sizes 4-16

Missguided pink pearl cut out stretch satin dress - £15.00
Currently available in sizes 8, 10 and 14

Motel Rocks v neckline sequin dress - £18
Currently available in sizes XS- L

Pretty Little Thing silver glitter bodycon dress - £15.00
Currently available in sizes 4-16
Selling out

Hayden Williams X Missguided pink glitter dress - £28.00
Currently available in sizes 10-16

Hope all your dreams come true in the new year,
I'm so excited to have a year of fun, creative content !!

Goodbye 2019, Hello 2020

From @LittleMix on instagram; Manchester Arena concert 14/11/19. I was there !!!

2019... I'm not going to lie, I'm so glad to see the back of this year. Not a lot went my way this year, some of it out of my control and some of it not so much. I thought I would write a blog post about my feelings because I've got a lot of them. Looking back at my 2019 goals I came across these wonderful and accurate lines;

Oh honey, you've got a big storm coming.

But you know what, I just need to pick myself up and keep going. I think sometimes I forget that 21 is actually very young, I've got plenty of time and it's never too late.

A new year is a fresh start, I know some people absolutely hate that saying but it's a positive way of looking at the new year.

2020 feels like a fresh white page in a new sketchbook.

I've struggled with stress and anxiety and it's really held me back. I need to stop comparing myself to my peers and wondering why I'm not doing everything they are doing. Does anyone else feel the same way? Comparison really is the thief of joy. I don't think that certain things in life, like graduating from university, getting a good job, travelling the world, have time or age restrictions. You can do everything in your own time, as long as you are doing your own personal best. Going forward into 2020, I'm going to be doing what's best for me, I'm not going to worry too much about what other people think.

Something amazing did happen this year though- I met my lovely girlfriend who has made me the happiest I've been in a long while. She's called Abbie and she's a really good egg!

As I'm trying to focus on the positives, I'm going to write a bucket list for the coming year. I'm not setting new year resolutions any more cause it's just not gonna happen. I also think it's quite negative; if you break a resolution, you feel bad about yourself. I do really want to improve my mental health but there's no pressure, like I say, I don't want to put time limits on myself.

1) Start a scrapbook - good way to channel my creative energy and it's also quite an easy way to ease myself back into making art.

2) Start an etsy shop - my mum has always said I should do this, and that I'm good at making things. If your mum supports you, well at least that's a good start. I may as well try!

3) Make a new CV and linked in account- 2020 is the year of being a very boring adult, I'm already so excited.

After all these years of blogging I've realised I can't promise regular blog posts but I do have some quite good content planned so please try and stick around for that.

See you soon. Hopefully 2020 isn't the worst?

Advice For University Freshers 2019

A picture of me in first year back in my pink hair days, awfully tragic I know.
Hi babes, today I thought I would share a bit of advice for those starting university in September. Having been at university for what feels like 9 years and have experienced both living in halls, commuting from home and living in a flat, I feel like I can impart some pretty good wisdom to you soon to be freshers.

- Don't buy a freshers wristband
This especially relevant if you're going to uni in a big city like Manchester, you may find that half the events your flatmates or the people you make friends with don't want to go to, or you want to go to other places that aren't on the wristband. Honestly as someone going into their fourth (gulp) year of university overall, I have found that many freshers events are over hyped and you and your friends will probably find other fun nights to go to that aren't as expensive.

- Join a sports team or society
I know some of you may feel like you are the least sporty person in the world so this might not be relevant to you, but genuinely you will make amazing friends on a sports team and most unis have something for everyone such as cheerleading, pole dance, water polo, netball, martial arts and equestrian. I joined Women's Football and it's probably the best decision I made while at uni. And sign up for tour!! This is where you go on holiday with all the other sports teams at uni (best week of your life trust me)

- Don't feel like you need to be having loads of sex
Not to sound like your mum or anything, but this one is important. It may seem like every single person at uni and their cat is having sex 24/7 and it's easy to feel inexperienced but this isn't always the case, be your own person. Genuinely not everyone is having 5 one night stands a week.
But it's okay if you want to!! Make yourself aware of the nearest sexual health clinic and get tested regularly. Use condoms if you're having sex with boys (some people do it, apparently)

- Download the uber app and local taxi company apps
This makes it easy and safe to get yourself home on nights out. You can set up uber to paypal or your bank card so you don't have to worry about saving money for a taxi or having to go to a cash machine at 3am. If you end up losing your friends (or your friend decides to pull) you can easily get yourself home without having to worry.

- Bring fancy dress
As I mentioned before, If you join a society and go to a lot of socials you will need a lot of fancy dress as there probably will be a new theme almost every week. To avoid spending ridiculous amounts of money, be sure to pack things from home that you can use, i.e- tutu, face paints, glitter, school tie, headbands, army style top. You can easily DIY really cool costumes as well.

- Download the unidays app and make the most of student discounts
If you've read my blog before you'll know that I have a fair few missguided parcels delivered which can become very pricey so if this is you, always make sure to get student discount, the best way to do this is through the unidays app. There are loads of great discounts for retailers such as Topshop (10% off) Asos (up to 70% off) and even Virgin Trains (34% off)

- You don't have to drink if you don't want to
I know this may be slightly out of character advice for me, if you don't want to drink you really don't have to. There are actually a lot more non-drinkers than you would think at uni and not drinking definitely doesn't have to stop you make you making friends. If you want to drink do it, but it's no problem if you don't.

Things I Learnt In My Second Year Of Uni

Hi babes,
So my second year is over and I feel like it has gone way too fast! It feels like not long ago I was in college, looking around universities during the open days and being so nervous and worrying about personal statement. Now I'll be graduating in just over a year... eek! It really does go quicker than first year!

Here is everything I learnt...

• A degree is seriously hard work

The first year of your degree normally doesn't count, so when second year rolls around you realise just how much work to put in to complete a degree, it really freaks you out at first! You get so much coursework and so much to learn and revise if you're doing exams. If you miss too many lectures it can be so hard to catch up, and you can get stuck in a vicious cycle of missing uni to catch up on uni, which, take it from me, it EXTREMELY stressful. I'm not saying you need to have 100% perfect attendance (I would be a huge hypocrite if I said that.) Just try and attend as much as you can, escpically lectures for modules you find difficult, and ask your lecturers for help, something I definitely should have done more of this year. Try and get in the library as much as you can, but have breaks and take time out for yourself, too.

A trend board I did as part of a portfolio assignment

• Say yes to things more, make the most of opportunities

When your at uni there are just so many opportunities offered to you, such as volunteering, being part of societies and sports teams, being a course rep, going on trips, and a lot more. I definitely wish I would have taken up more of these opportunities, uni is all about making new experiences that may not be offered to you later on in life. Just remember not to take on too much or you may not be able to fit it in to your timetable. You don't to overwhelm yourself, or have so many responsibilities that your grades suffer. The best things I did were joining the Women's Football team, and going on tour to Croatia. Wish I'd have done some non football related things though!

Pool party in Porec, Croatia on sports club tour

• You won't be able to go out as much as you did in first year

In all honestly I wasn't out all the time in first year, because I wasn't close with my flatmates and I'm quite a socially shy person so I didn't make that many friends. However, I had to say no to a lot of nights out in the last year (probably should have said no to more, tbh.) It sucks to see your friends posting on their stories about how much fun they're having, but you have to remember that when you've got your degree everything will be worth it in the end.

• Apply for internships and work experience

This is a big one. It's good to get some experience on your CV before you graduate, so get applying and find some experience during the summer or for a full year if your course offers a placement year. (This is an indirect to me. Melissa get some work experience)

• Take time out for things you enjoy

This is something I definitely need to work on, I'm very passionate about photography, sewing, styling and blogging and other creative things outside my course but I've not really been putting in enough time for those things. It's hugely important to make time for the things you love, a lot of this is just time management and getting your assignments done in plenty of time so you've got more time for hobbies. Then I can spend more time with my little baby (this blog)

Hope you enjoyed this post, let me know what you thought! Are you at university, or will you be starting in September? I'm spending a lot of time at the moment watching the women's world cup games so do follow me on twitter (@melissajordank) for my hilarious and sassy commentary. See you next time,

How To Style The Top Trends Of 2019

Colourful tailoring is going to be huge for Spring/Summer 2019, get on the trend early by getting a bright and bold blazer from Zara. The main colours of this trend are vibrant shades, of pink, red, orange and yellow along with light neutrals. Make your look more casual by pairing with a relaxed white t-shirt and converse and vans, or be more dressed a risque by wearing a lace bralet underneath. 

Why save pretty lace and satin for under your clothes? Underwear as outerwear will continue to be everywhere in 2019. In spring and summer, lace, intricate embroidery, silk and satin will be the key materials of the season. The colour palette is pretty, delicate and fresh; think light shades of pink, lilac, white, balanced out with black. To incorporate this trend go for lace bodysuits and bralets (there is a huge selection at Missguided and Pretty Little Thing at the moment) and pair with jeans or a skirt. For a more subtle feminine take, get a lace or satin dress with delicate embroidery or embellishments. It's all about the details with this trend.

So, it looks like tie dye prints will be back again in Spring/Summer 2019. Welcome to 2013! All jokes aside, the trend this time around will have more of a faded, ombre, grungey feel, with a lighter colour palette of blues, yellows and pinks. This trend will be especially prominent in swimwear, with iconic swimwear brand Triangl leading the way, plenty of high street brands are likely to follow suit. Asos have a big selection of the print already, go for t-shirts and denim for effortless cool.

Sequins, thankfully for all of us, never seem to go out of fashion, and are appearing on catwalks season upon season. Right now many retailers such as Motel Rocks, Missguided and Topshop have plenty of sequinned partywear to choose from. Around Spring/Summer rainbow sequins will be everywhere, inspired by Ashish at London fashion week.

What trends are you going to be trying in 2019? How would you style them? Let me know,

2019 Goals

Happy New Year angels!

The idea of 'new years resolutions' seems quite scary to me, they seem a bit unrealistic and I have a huge fear of failure. However, I am a very ambitious person and setting goals seems a lot less scary.
For once I actually have a really good feeling about this year. I'm not putting too much pressure on myself but I think some good things are going to come my way in the next 12 months.

1. Read more
When I was younger I was a big reader but now I don't read at all! I'm going to set myself the challenge of just reading two books a month, which doesn't seem like a lot but adds up to 24 books at the end of the year. Reading is great escapism and it's something I really enjoy, so I think this is something I will definitely achieve and will also be fun. I won't lie, this did start by reading Rose and Rosie's Overshare book.

2. Survive second year and be on track to graduate with a good degree
Unfortunately, 2018 has been quite a difficult year for my mental health and as a result, my university work has suffered. I'm so passionate about fashion and what I'm studying (read a bit more about my university experience here) but depression has made me less motivated. I'm determined to get my degree though, I can and I will do it !

3. Get a tattoo
This is something I've wanted to do for a couple of years, but I am such a cry baby and I don't think I could tolerate the pain. I've had a few piercings and when I've been there, the the noise of a tattoo needle actually nearly made me cry! But life's way too short, plus I'm in the minority of gays that don't have a half sleeve of roses on their arm.

4. Get some work experience
So I'm due to graduate in just over a year and whilst that's soooo scary, I just want to take some baby steps to get to where I want to be, and try and get a couple of short work experiences before the end of 2019.

5. Work harder on my little blog
This little blog, The Fashion Femme has felt so neglected over the last few months and I'm determined to change that. Because the truth is, I LOVE writing. I feel like I can get my feelings out and truly express who I am. My blog is like my baby and I'm ready to put in the work and give it lots of love (I have quite a few posts in drafts already)

6. Celebrate my 21st with my friends
I know this sounds quite small, but historically I haven't really done much for my birthday and I don't think I've celebrated with friends since maybe my 13th? I know, sounds crazy right?! But this is a special birthday, so we should do something special. Hopefully get dressed up for some classy afternoon tea then a good old sesh. Only one year off feeling 22 like Taylor Swift, can you believe.

7. Who knows....?
So guys, just between us girls. I think 2019 might be the year I get in to a relationship. You can't plan for these things to happen, but I would love meet a nice girl, go on dates and fall in love, maybe adopt a cat... I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, but I'm a hopeless romantic. In any case, I'm going to make more of an effort to meet people, even just as mates is good.

What are your goals and plans for 2019? Whatever they are, I hope you crack on with them. If you've got any 2019 goals blog posts please do share, I'd love to give them a read. Have a good one babes you'll hear from me again soon, cya