FAIIINT

Slick

Style

Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing H&M black coated skinny jeans and tank top, ASH poker lace up ankle boots, Balenciaga city bag. All black simple dark street style outfit. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Toilworn jewellery large silver skull ring, mini skull ring and luna landing moon necklace. Goth outfit details. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Toilworn jewellery large silver skull ring and mini skull ring. Goth outfit details. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Toilworn jewellery large silver skull ring and mini skull ring. Outfit details. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Toilworn jewellery large silver skull ring and mini skull ring and luna landing moon necklace. Outfit details.

H&M Tank Top / H&M Coated Skinny Jeans / Toilworn ‘Luna Landing’ Necklace / Toilworn ‘Departed’ Large Skull Ring /
Toilworn ‘Untimely’ Skull Ring / ASH ‘Poker’ Boots * / Balenciaga City Bag

Sometimes the simplest outfits are my favourites. I think outfits like this really highlight why it’s important to seek out nice basic pieces. They’re the foundation of your wardrobe, and having a collection of great basics means that even the simplest of outfits, no matter how thrown together, feel a little more considered. And nice doesn’t have to mean expensive either, most of this outfit is from H&M, but the pieces are cut well and made from good quality materials. It can take some searching to find items which are both inexpensive and great quality, but it’s so worth it when you do. I think H&M have been particularly good for this lately, so I’ve been stocking up.

Jewellery will always be one of my favourite ways to add interest to an easy look. I’ve already spoken about my love for Toilworn, and these pieces are the perfect pairing with an outfit like this. They’re unusual and attention grabbing, but in a more understated way, giving them an air of effortlessness, like something you’ve just casually thrown on. Adding a few pieces instantly elevates an outfit and takes it from being simple in a kind of boring way, to a simple outfit you feel like you could take on the world in.

Ta Prohm

Adventure

Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and roots. Ta Prohm temple doorway Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and plants. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Ruins with large tree roots. Ta Prohm temple path Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and plants. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and plants. Ta Prohm temple arch hallway Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and plants. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and roots. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and roots. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Stray dog waiting by Tuk Tuk. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and roots. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and roots. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and roots. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins with huge tree. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and plants. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and roots. Ta Prohm temple Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and plants. Ta Prohm temple doorway Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. Crumbling ruins reclaimed by nature and overgrown with trees and roots.

Ta Prohm / Siem Reap, Cambodia

Out of all the temples we visited whilst we were in Siem Reap, Ta Prohm was my favourite. Nestled amongst the ancient trees, this magnificent structure rises up. Abandoned and left to ruin by those who built it, its crumbling frame now becoming steadily reclaimed by the jungle surrounding it. Heavy, twisted tree roots creep down the moss covered walls as if melting in the heat of the sun, and tendrils spill over doorways and snake around pillars, smothering its remains.

Whilst walking around Angkor Wat filled me with an open-mouthed sense of awe, Ta Prohm left me feeling completely enchanted. Inside the temple complex it feels as if you’ve stumbled into a place where time has stood still, where each corridor, doorway and fallen brick seem to tease the possibility of discovery. I can only imagine what it must have felt like for those explorers who first uncovered it, but here you’re given that rare opportunity to get a small glimpse into that feeling of wonder for yourself. As it featured prominently in the first Tomb Raider film, it’s often referred to as the ‘Tomb Raider Temple’ by both locals and tourists alike. I must admit, being a huge fan of the games as a teen, I definitely felt like I was getting to live out all of my Lara Croft tomb raiding fantasies here!

Many of the rooms and passages through the temple are now impassible, blocked by jumbled piles of stone and the remains of long-dead trees. Wandering down a dark hallway and emerging into a small courtyard to find all other routes blocked, really adds to the sense of adventure and discovery, especially when there are no crowds to follow. We reached Ta Prohm around mid-afternoon, and this seemed like an ideal time. It was quiet and peaceful, with small groups spread out across the large site, a world away from the bustling crowds we found at the other temples we visited that day. This was a happy accident for us, but if you can, I’d reccomend trying to time your visit to arrive during the least busy times of the day. It’s so worth the extra planning to experience the site at a slower, more relaxed pace.

If you’re only in Siem Reap for a short while, Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat should be at the top of your list. Both are unmissable and extraordinary in their own unique ways and you should allow yourself plenty of time to get lost amongst the walls of each.

Bold

Style

Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Warehouse jumpsuit, IOLLA Muir smoke tortoise frames glasses, Topshop pointed flats, Toilworn arrowhead necklace, New Look backpack. All black everything, casual street style outfit. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing IOLLA Muir smoke tortoise cat eye frames glasses, Toilworn vertebra silver ring. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing New Look leather backpack. All black everything outfit details. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing Topshop pointed ankle strap flats. Fashion blogger Stephanie of FAIIINT wearing IOLLA Muir smoke tortoise cat eye frames glasses, Toilworn arrowhead pendent necklace. Portrait, outfit details.

IOLLA ‘Muir’ Smoke Tortoise Glasses * / Warehouse Jumpsuit / New Look Backpack /
Toilworn Arrowhead Necklace / Toilworn ‘Fortitude’ Vertebra Ring / Topshop Flats

Over the past few weeks it seems I took a bit of an unplanned, accidental break from blogging. It’s been a mixture of things. I’ve been ill with a stomach bug, my laptop’s been on its last legs for months making editing photos almost impossible, it’s been raining every time I’ve had a spare moment to shoot and honestly, it’s been kind of nice to come home and not feel like I have to blog. I’ve always had these self-imposed rules I’ve set for myself when it comes to the blog, but it’s been nice to not feel stressed about missing a posting day, or feeling like I need to post something, anything, just to keep it updated. Posts may get a little more sporadic around here, but I would always rather that than post something I’m not excited about, just to get something new up.

These new frames from IOLLA are definitely something I’m excited about though, and quite a step away from my usual comfort zone – not only are they not all black, they’re printed too! I love a cat eye, but I usually tend to go for much more angular styles, instead of the rounded shapes those face shape guides always tell me I should choose. These ‘Muir’ frames are like a perfect mixture of both, they’ve got the nice upturned classic cat eye shape, but with a more rounded bottom giving them a much softer look. The unusual smoke tortoise colouring adds to this too, the splotchy print keeps the lines feeling soft and feminine, a world away from the harsh graphic lines I’m usually drawn to.

It’s not often I fall in love with a print like this, and for the price and such high quality, it made them kind of impossible to say no to. All of IOLLA‘s frames are a standard £65 a pair, including prescription lenses and lens coatings, making them perfect for trying out a new style or picking up a special, more statement pair.