Festival season is upon us so #MakeItMonksCross and stand out! We all know the aim of the game for festivals is to awaken your brightest, sparkly inner unicorn and wow the crowd with your fashion sense. So to give you a little inspiration and help you stand out, we’ve compiled our best tips and tricks, along with some fashion advice to help you live your best life this Summer.
DIY Fashionista
If you really want to impress people this summer and you want something that nobody will have then it’s time to get to work. We’ve spoken to the experts at Hobby Craft who have inspired us to create our own festival clothing, from knitted festival tops, tie-dye shirts, crochet bumbags and flower headbands, the festival creations you can do at home are endless!
For how to guides, go to: https://blog.hobbycraft.co.uk/?s=festival
Shine bright
If you can’t cover yourself in glitter and diamonds for festivals then when can you?
We’ve had a wander around our stores and picked out a few of our favourite products to make you shine bright this Summer.
Boots – Barry M face jewels: £4.99, New Look – face & body glitter: £3.49, Superdrug – fantasy hair glitter: £2.99, Primark – marble acrylic nails: £2
Earn your Stripes.
Animal print is going no where this festival season! We’re alllll about embracing our spirit animals so why not bring them to the surface with a bold print.
From classic leopard to chic zebra, you’ll definitely be able to earn your stripes with these outfits.
Green tiger print – Caroline Flack collection at River Island, Leopard two piece – Primark, Snake skin sandals – H&M, Leopard print dress – New Look
Bright and Beautiful!
Stand out this Festival season with the brightest outfit you can find. We don’t know about you but we definitely use festivals as a way to step outside our comfort zone and wear something that’s going to stand out from the crowd. Whether you fancy wearing neon, multi coloured or just full sequins, we’ve found some show stoppers that NEED to be added to your basket ASAP.
Multicoloured fringe jacket – Primark, Multicolour two piece – River Island, Sequin bandeau – New Look, Metallic Fringe Jacket – Primark
Mother’s day is slowly approaching so it’s time to start searching for a fab gift for the most important lady in your life.
It’s the perfect time to show Mother figures everywhere how much they mean to us! Say thank you for the love and support they’ve unconditionally given to us and spoil them rotten in return.
To help you prepare for Mother’s Day, we’ve searched our centre high and low for the best gifts to give you some inspiration! #MakeItMonksCross
For the Mum that deserves a pamper.
Nobody works harder than Mums, which is why Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion to pamper her and gift her some presents that make her sit back and relax like the queen she is!
So we’ve had a wander around our stores and picked out some of our favourite ideas that your Mum will love.
Superdrug: Pick N Mix individual bath bombs – £2.49 each, Primark: Luxury Bedding – starting from £30, Primark: pyjamas sets – £12, Boots: sanctuary incense set – £18.
For the Mum that never buys clothes for herself!
If your Mum is the type to only ever buy clothes for the kids, whilst she walks around in the same bleach stained top she’s had for years, then this is the section for you.
We’ve picked a few of our favourite outfits to give you some fashion inspiration that will suit any yummy mummy.
River Island: beige dress – £32, Oasis Fashion: Navy jumpsuit – £60, H&M: Khaki shirt dress – £24.99, New Look: Denim Jeans – £27.99, Leopard print bag – £15.99, Leopard print boots – £19.99.
For the fitness fanatic Mum.
If your Mum’s on a health kick and wouldn’t even dream of missing her weekly spin class, then we’ve got the ideal Mother’s Day gifts for you.
Primark: pink workout fleece – £12, sports leggings – £9, H&M: yoga top – £19.99, New Look: Rose Gold water bottle – £12.99, Primark: Yoga Matt – £7.00
For the Mother Figures
Mother’s Day is also a day to celebrate the people in your life who are like a Mum to you, whether that’s a grandparent, auntie, family friend or Dad. So we’ve had a browse to find some extra special gifts that will show them how much you appreciate them.
Superdrug Nail Bar: Treatment – starting from £7, Hobby Craft: homemade box frame – supplies from £3, Debenhams: Jewellery set – £22, Boots: Perfume – check individual prices in store.
Whatever you do on Mother’s Day, we hope you spoil the special lady in your life rotten! We also hope that this gift guide has made it a little easier finding the perfect present to buy for them.
And remember, Make it Monks Cross this Mother’s Day.
With only one day left until Valentine’s Day, we can’t be the only ones who are feeling the last minute panic to buy our loved ones the perfect gift. Lucky for you, Cupid works on a deadline at Monks Cross. Here are some of our last minute easy gift ideas:
Nothing shows that you really know your partner more than buying them an outfit to wear on Valentine’s Day. Picking out an outfit for your girlfriend is not only romantic but will make her feel great. Feel those 70s vibes with this heart print mini dress from River Island, this is dress can be worn for a more casual look with some boots or dressed up with some stilettos making it perfect for your Valentine’s Day plans.
To match that 70s vibe, nothing shows you know your boyfriend more than picking out the perfect patterned shirt to match his style. Not only is this Primark shirt on trend for Spring / Summer 2019 but it’s so versatile it’ll make a lasting impression on his wardrobe.
Valentine’s day is all about love and spending time together, so how about you treat your loved one to a BUYAGIFT experience from Debenhams. You can choose from a romantic meal out at The Shard or spend the day getting pampered at a local spa, perfect for spending quality time together!
Put your own unique twist on ‘I Love You’ by hand making your loved one a Valentine’s Day gift. From handmade cards, gifts to baking. Hobby Craft has everything you need to give that special someone a personalised gift that they’ll love.
For those on a budget, Poundland are offering some great Valentine’s Deals. Whether you feel like popping the question, they now sell engagement rings. Or you could make a hamper of all your loved ones favourite things, for some ultimate brownie points from your other half!
Don’t let the pressure of Valentine’s Day get to you, let the gifts speak for themselves by getting yours from Monks Cross.
Forget dry January, we’re doing Veganuary!
Whether you’re vegan, veggie, pescatarian, flexitarian, anything-else-atarian, or just looking to try something new this January, We’re here to make it as easy as possible for you.
Cheat on Meat
Something we couldn’t live without, even for a month, is Pizza Hut! So we’ve put in a word with the pizza experts themselves to see if they can pull some strings for us. They’re now offering at our restaurant a range of delicious NEW vegan pizzas, including:
- Vegan Jack ‘N’ Ch**se: Vegan ch**se, tomato sauce, BBQ jackfruit, sweetcorn, red onions, peppers and a BBQ drizzle.
- Vegan Veggie: Vegan ch**se, tomato sauce, spinach, sweetcorn, peppers, red onions and mushrooms.
- Vegan Margherita: Vegan ch**se and tomato sauce.Buttt unfortunately this offer is only running until the end of January so make sure you pop down and dig in before it’s too late.
Light Vegan Bites.
Not everyone has time to stop for a full meal when they’re out shopping, so we’ve had a browse around our two favourite coffee shops for some lighter bites that definitely make you popular with your animal friends.
Costa Coffee and Starbucks both offer vegan friendly options for food and drinks in store. Why not try Costa’s chipotle bean and butternut squash wrap or Starbucks vegan chocolate and raspberry cake?
Don’t forget to swap out dairy milk for their soy, coconut or almond so you can pair their delicious drink range with your snacks.
Beauty without Bunnies
Being vegan isn’t just about what you eat, it’s also about the products you use, for example your makeup! Finding makeup and other beauty products that hasn’t been tested on animals can be difficult so we’ve searched high and low to find you all the brands that our stores stock that are cruelty free and vegan.
Primark
If you’re hoping not to break the bank when shopping for cosmetics then Primark is the first stop on our list. Their own brand cosmetics line, Primark PS, are 100% certified cruelty free and coveted with Leaping Bunny status. Read all about their decision not to test on animals here.
Boots
Boots stock a variety of products that are free from animal testing as well as not containing any animal products…
- E.L.F
- Bulldog
- Original Source
- Umberto Ginnini
- Maui Moisture
- Urban Veda
- Isle of Paradise
- Miss Patisserie
- Bleach London
- Shea Moisture
- Spectrum
- Botanics
- St Tropez
Superdrug
Just like Primark, Superdrug’s own brand cosmetics line, ‘B’, is completely cruelty free and vegan. They’re strong believers in the ethical beauty campaign and have definitely embraced the vegan beauty lifestyle. They also offer a range of other brands that are clean, not mean! Below are all of the brands they stock which are cruelty free & vegan.
- B.
- Barry M
- E.L.F
- Sleek
- GOSH
- Makeup Revolutions
- MUA
- Lottie London
- Nip + Fab
- Tanya Burr
- The Balm
If you’re interested in detoxing your makeup bag and want to be sure which cosmetic brands don’t test on animals or contain animal products, you can check here.
Black Friday is just a few days away and the offers are already rolling into our stores at Monks Cross. So we’ve had a browse and found some of the best deals that are currently on at our stores.
You’re going to need to be quick if you want to get your paws on these deals though, they’ll be flying off the shelves.
On your marks, get set…. GO!
New Look
New Look offers you en vogue items destined to be your new favourites. Black Friday 2018 is guaranteed to make your Christmas shopping as easy as possible. Gift your mum that designer bag for half price and surprise your sister with those shoes she’s been pining after for months! The Black Friday sale at New Look has got you covered. Find discounts of up to 25% off across all departments, both online and in-store. Start preparing for the year’s biggest bargain hunt today!
Primark
We’ve got some must have offers on at Primark in the build up to Black Friday. Starting from 20th November 2018, they’ll have special promotional prices and reductions across the entire store!
They’ll also be opening at 8:30am on 23rd November to give you some extra time to bag your in store favourites!
Schuh
Black is back at Schuh! There’s up to 50% off on selected lines in store.
River Island
Looking for a Black Friday deal already? We love your spirit, but like your birthday, this special event happens just once a year (sob). It’s not all bad news, you can still pick up a fresh style steal (or ten) with River Islands latest offers and savings – go on treat yourself, you deserve it…
Debenhams
Debenhams is treating your to their 12 day spectacular this Black Friday season… Check out their 12 days of amazing deals.
Boots
This Black Friday, Boots has some incredible offers in store just for you. Get up to half price (or better) off selected ranges! Pop in store and grab yourself some bargains.
Hobby Craft
To kick start Black Friday, Hobby Craft are giving you up to 50% off on selected lines!! Pop in store and check it out.
To keep up to date with our latest Black Friday deals and other amazing offers, check out our offers page!
This Black Friday, Boots has some incredible offers in store just for you. Get up to half price (or better) off selected ranges! Pop in store and grab yourself some bargains.
Summer is here! We may be seeing the odd bit of cold weather and rain but the sun has actually managed to make an appearance for more than a couple of hours, so it’s time to embrace the sunshine and hit the high street in the latest summer fashion. To give you a little helping hand, we’re going to be picking out some of our favourite looks from this season!
Sultry Swimwear
Whether you’re hitting the beaches of Marbella or just sunbathing in your back garden, we’ve found the perfect bikinis and swimsuits that will make you swoon. From triangle plain halter necks to bright patterned one pieces, there’s swimwear to suit everyone in our stores.
Dreamy Dresses
Strolling around the shops helped the little fashonista inside us run wild, we found dresses to suit everyone’s style!
From bright flowy numbers to 90’s styled denim, we couldn’t get enough of the endless collections our stores had to offer
Step into Summer
We don’t know about you but we think shoes can either make or break your outfit. So we’ve had a look around Schuh to find some seasonal must haves that will never ruin your style. They have everything a girl could ever need this summer from strappy sandals, peep toe heels to glitzy boots.
Get the glow.
When the sun’s bright and beaming, you want to make sure your highlight is too, so we’ve put together some of our favourite makeup products from our centre.
Whether you’re into a subtle sultry look or you prefer to be a glowing golden goddess, our stores will definitely be able to help you out. They have everything from foundation and highlight to give you a true summer glow, to setting sprays to keep you looking perfect throughout the day.
Don’t worry if you’re not an expert or don’t know where to start, our lovely store assistants have a world of knowledge to make sure you leave feeling happy!
