I had another fab Christmassy time in Leeds recently when I was invited back to the Victoria Quarter to explore more of its shops! My fave shop after Harvey Nics is Illamasqua and we started off there with mini makeovers! My brows were on fleek. Yes .. I did just use the F word I couldn’t resist (but it did make me cringe slightly if any consolation). However my lips were slightly overdrawn which took some getting used too but I did like the colour they used on me!
The eyebrows are life. As luck would have it they also used pretty much everything I had in my Illamasqua collection already, thunder brow cake, hollow cream (for contour) embellish eye gel, eyeliner and furore pigment. And they sent me on my way with an eyebrow gel in Awe, which is the colour lighter than I usually use and I was grateful of when I decided to go blonder last week!
We then visited Sandro. As they only do a S M and L sizes they weren’t for me but this khaki bag of actual dreams was. The tan tassle one wasn’t too shabby either. At £180 each (on sale) by pre Christmas budget didn’t quite stretch to them! 
Links of London were the next stop via Charbonnel et Walker, where if you haven’t tried a truffle you absolutely must they were AMAZING! 
When we got to Links we were shown all the new collections including the one deigned for their 25 years anniversary (Timeless) and it’s designed around the many faces of Big Ben, it was really interesting to see the mood boards up close that inspired the range. 
I fell in love with this one though, however again I have expensive taste and at over £3000 it wasn’t to be, the star bracelet was much more affordable though and was lovely and delicate.
After all the excitement we went to Harvey Nichols for afternoon tea. I’ve been once before a few years back and the tale was that we were given little desserts in shot glasses but with no spoons to eat it with. When we asked for a spoon we were told they’d run out! But they eventually found us one between 2, which wasn’t fantastic. So when this gorgeous feast arrived I prayed we would have spoons, I mean that’s over 2 years ago!….
You know what’s coming low don’t you??
Yup no spoons. We had 6 between 7 of us this time, after asking for some, we all found it quite hilarious that they then served the coffee afterwards with spoons! I told my bestie that nothing had changed a few years on and had a giggle.
The overall service was top notch though, aside from the spoon shortage the food was lush, the server we had was very attentive and even recognised Jenna from when she had visited before , he was fab!
I was sad when it was time to go, I looked longingly at the Charlotte Tilbury counter on my way out hoping I just might get something for Christmas from there (or the Sandro bag if you are listening Santa!)
It was a lovely day overall even if I now do covet things I can’t afford because of it, but I think it’s always nice to dream and it gives me something to work towards and maybe even save enough birthday pennies if Santa doesn’t deliver….