Fashion Schmashion

Do you want to be that girl with the messy foundation smudged makeup bag or do you prefer to indulge in a little bling for your beauty products?

If this sounds like you, you need to invest in the new season range of make-up!!

Looking more like jewellery items than makeup items you could almost wear these as accessories.  Especially Marc Jacobs’ Solid Perfume Ring and Necklace.  Its delicate flower shape is a limited edition so you need to be quick to buy this one.  Another solid perfume made into a necklace is Aromatics Elixor.  This is a very special product as it marks 40 years of Clinique’s classic scent and looks really attractive with its raised flower design.  Staying with the limited editions a must for your makeup bag is The Makeup Store Cover All Mix, a beautiful little gold embossed case containing three powders.

For a girl who really likes her bling the Lipsy Makeup brush really steals the show and is a very reasonable price.  Julien Macdonald has designed a diamond shaped pot to hold Model Pout Lip Gloss in a luscious pink shade, which is a fab bit of bling for your bag.

Touch up those manicured nails at any time with Chanel Nail Colour in Graphite; it adds a real sparkle to those hands.

Finally a girl always needs a pretty bottle to hold her scent in, Stella McCartney floral print limited edition is a work of art, from the Stella The Print Collection, and then there is the stunning black and gold bottle that puffs powdered gold across your skin by Givenchy L’Or Celeste, which is most certainly the jewel in this collection.

Get confident this season with a range of products that have been designed to make you look beautiful, no matter how many late night parties you attend!

Christmas time is usually jam-packed with parties, dinners and dances, it’s no wonder us girl’s need a little help to get us feeling back to our normal selves for work the next day!

It is good new that there are ranges of beauty must-buys available that have been designed to do just that!  First up is a loving bath oil, that will work to soothe our aches and pains as well as help to get a little of that glow back!

Chanel No.  5 Intense Bath Oil is the perfect product to do just this.  It is a little pricey at £60 but then it also offers 250ml of pure jumbo indulgence.

Next up is a great cleansing gel, one that will wipe every trace of the previous evening’s make-up away!  The hydrating honey scented suds from Nuxe Reve de Miel offer a Face and Body Ultra Rich Cleansing Gel that is priced at under £20.

A great renewing moisturiser is a must after a late night on the tiles.  Invest in one that claims to house all natural ingredients as these will help to brighten tired and dull skin.

Choose a cute nude eye shadow for the day after a heavy night out, a smoky shadow will only make you appear more tired looking, whilst a bright highlighting shadow will work to brighten up those tired morning after eyes!

Take a compact with you wherever you go in order to make any much-needed touch ups on the move!  Finish the look with a statement yet fresh and feminine scent, perfect for daytime.

At the very top of our essential hair products list is unsuprisingly a shiny pair of live-saving ghd hair straighteners!

When you think of statement chains, you are most likely thinking about jewellery.  However this season this isn’t the case, statement chain are now working themselves onto an assortment of cute clutch bags.

They offer a delicate strap that is both simple and dressy enough to be worked into evening attire.

This arm-candy staple has recently undergone a little modernisation and thankfully just in time for the party season!  A plain chain just isn’t jazzy enough when it comes to party attire, which is why the new chain is all about embellishment and fabulously ghetto!

Think chunky ghetto and fabulous metallic gold’s if you wish to really cavort this trend.  Opt for quirky metal links and ribbon trims.  This is certainly one-way to pimp up our arm candy and the A-list love it!

One of the moment designers is even getting eco friendly and has designed his chain strap using recycled bottles.  Not only will you look uber cool and on-trend, you will also be doing your bit for the environment with this little number.

A hint of leopard print in a bag will add the perfect edge to a party dress and a flash of red ribbon will add instant glam to an otherwise subtle chain bag.  Try adding some to a bag you already have, it is easy to do and will update your bag instantly.

Visit your local haberdashery in order to pick up a few must have pieces to add to bags you already have!

A great way to transform your clutch into a shoulder bag is to slip a long single-strand chunky necklace under the flap in order to create a strap.  Add a couple of ties to each end in order to prevent it from falling off and voila you have a new bag!

So you threw the best party of your life last night, you prepped the house with designer accessories and had all your fashionista friends round for one two many rounds of cosmos!  However the next day doesn’t look as rosy as the cosmos did!

Do not fear, tidying up with a hangover is in fact easier than you think!

First up open all the windows in order to let some much needed air in, while the apartment is airing, make yourself a cup of tea and take it back to bed for an hour.

Let yourself come around slowly.  Put on a few of your favourite tunes and tackle the mess in stages, this way it won’t seem like a massive task!

Collect all the empties first, this is often the main source of clutter and once these are gone, you will then be able to see the wood for the trees.

Ask a friend round to help.  Whilst you are tackling the dishes, he or she can be taking out the rubbish or paying a visit to the recycling bin.

Throw away anything that can’t be saved.  Are you really intending to eat that left over dip and soggy chips, we didn’t think so!

If your friend is still with you, get them to tackle one room whilst you tackle the other.  Set a goal, for example once all the mess has been cleared, why not treat yourself to a nice roast dinner, this will certainly get you moving quicker!

Go and buy some flowers and a paper, the fresh scent of the flowers will get the room smelling sweet and fresh, whilst the walk to the paper shop will do that hangover the world of good!

Finally, after every room is spotless you can sit down and enjoy that mammoth meal, knowing that you have burnt off an array of calories cleaning the apartment!

We all want our skin to glow with health, this may be possible in the warmer months, however the cold, harsh winter months are an entirely different story.

The cold generally has a negative effect on our skin, making it appear a little lackluster, pale and unhappy!  This is mainly due to the harsh weather conditions, such as snow, high wind, rain, sleet, you name it!  Constantly being pounded by such weather effects will only cause our skin to age and look a little tired.

Apart from moving abroad, there is something we can do about this1  There is a way we can get that healthy glow back, even at the height of winter!

So what’s the secret?  It’s quite simple in fact and consists of a clever, foolproof beauty routine from Clarins.  Young skin is often prone to unwanted blemishes throughout the winter months, however using Clarins boasts to keep your skin smooth and radiant throughout the December season.

The new daily Energizers will make sure your skin keeps that fresh faced look by using an assortment of energising ingredients, which boast to beat fatigue and protect!

We all want our skin to glow with health, this may be possible in the warmer months, however the cold, harsh winter months are an entirely different story.

The cold generally has a negative effect on our skin, making it appear a little lackluster, pale and unhappy!  This is mainly due to the harsh weather conditions, such as snow, high wind, rain, and sleet!  Constantly being pounded by such weather effects will only cause our skin to age and look a little tired.

Apart from moving abroad, there is something we can do about this.  There is a way we can get that healthy glow back, even at the height of winter!

So what’s the secret?  It’s quite simple in fact and consists of a clever, foolproof beauty routine from Clarins.  Young skin is often prone to unwanted blemishes throughout the winter months, however using Clarins boasts to keep your skin smooth and radiant throughout the December season.

The skin care range from the skin care connoisseurs is suited to those that may have outgrown the usual acne prevention lotions and scrubs and instead want something that works for skin affected by harsh weather.

The products claim to use a tumeric solution, which cares for the skin, as well as an astringent, which claims to purify the skin.  Other ingredients boast to work their skill on the radiance properties of you skin.  All in all, the end result will leave you with that healthy and luminous look!

The new daily Energizers will make sure your skin keeps that fresh faced look by using an assortment of energising ingredients, which boast to beat fatigue and protect!

Want to know what to buy this season!?  Well we have some news for you!  Think statement jackets, killer heels and super embellished jewels!

All will add a little added extra to a Christmas party look.

The coat should be a lush deco-grunge style mac, which can act as the perfect party throw over.

The shoes should be some extremely sexy 70′s vibe platform shoes and no party dress should be seen without them.

Super simple glam is an embellished jewelled collar which can be thrown over a simple plain white tee for that ‘I haven’t tried’ look.

These three items should be must-have editions to your Christmas wardrobe.  They will spice up an otherwise plain outfit or a party dress you already have in the closet

It is as much about the gowns as it is about the movies these days.  This is why the stars make it their up most priority and in order to be  sure to be noticed, they make sure what they walk the red carpet is the best option money can buy.

This season however there were two distinct style personas, these included vibrant attire, such as eye-popping reds from Valentino and Versace, and then there were the opposites who rocked shimmering ethereal nudes by Marchesa and Monique L’Hullier.

One colour that is always popular and very much in this season is black.  Black certainly this season remained a popular choice, and there were definitely a few unexpected choices from major superstars such as Cate Blanchett who wore an opinion-dividing lavender Givenchy haute couture gown.  This gown came complete with an amazing adornment in the form of a pretty yellow embellishment.  There was another statement look on the scene, which came in the shape of purple shades and an unusual purple-burgundy hue seen on both Natalie Portman, in Rodarte, and Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbana.

If your work wardrobe is looking tired, it can affect how confident you feel and even how seriously you are taken, so why not invest in some key pieces to see you through autumn and winter in style? Online women’s retailer Pure Collection has skirts, tops, jackets and bags that can create a multitude of outfits. Be creative with accessories to add colour and don’t be afraid to show your personality.

Construct an outfit around a simple, black Cashmere Knitted Pencil Skirt, £79. This skirt comes in a super soft knit with a front seam detail, the trims are smooth and tubular and you’ll stay comfortable all day in the office with its ribbed elasticated waistband. With a combination of Milano knit to give structure and Lambswool for a breathable and warm finish, this material is then blended with our 100% sustainable Cashmere.

If you’d prefer your skirt to make more of statement, opt for this Cashmere Knitted Jacquered Pencil Skirt, £79. It comes in grey animal print, which is a great way to incorporate this season’s hot trend in a subtle and corporate friendly fashion. Made of a cashmere and wool blend, this skirt is smooth and durable, to see you through the 9-5.

Keep a Cashmere Textured Knitted Jacket, £179 close at hand to team with a bright coloured top. It can be dressed up or down and features a ribbed collar and deep cuff trim. Available in camel or charcoal, this jacket pairs brilliantly with both of the previously mentioned pencil skirts. It’s made from 100% sustainable cashmere, blended with Lambswool to keep you warm as well as smart at work.
If you’ve kept your skirt and jacket simple, go for a pop of colour and different texture with your top. This Sleeveless Silk Top, £41 is loose fitting and cut from smooth silk satin that creates a luxurious shine through front pleats. Each side of the top is in a contrasting matt, still in the same 100% silk. Comfortable and hangs beautifully, this top comes in Blackberry, Ivory and Silver.

Every woman needs a smart handbag for work, but there’s no need to choose something safe and dull. This Ribbon Trim Shoulder Bag, £74 is simple enough in smart black and real leather, but look closely and you’ll find some modern metal chain detail straps giving it a cool edge. Inside there are all the usual pockets for your essentials and it fastens securely with a zip and magnetic close.

The mid-season sale at Pure Collection continues, with up to 40% off key pieces. Visit http://www.purecollection.com

Fashion is changing for the new season and this means a slight change in the wardrobe.  Now that we have had our last blast of sunshine, it is time to hang up those summer dresses and get to investing in a new season of attire.

Think statement jackets.  The military style smarter jacket is always a good option or a tweed style blazer for an evening event.

Other must-have winter fashions include the likes of fur trimmed collars and fur embellished shoes.  Boots are a must and have been seen in all shapes and sizes, some flat and some uber high!

It is best to invest in two good pairs of boots, one for the day and another for a more dressy event.  Make sure they are stylishly practical.  Not being able to walk in them will only make you feel and look less confidant.

Other pieces to look to include items that can be layered, a great hat and scarf set and some super cute gloves.  Driving gloves are ever so stylish and despite being quite thin, they are surprisingly warm!

This season there are a few TV shows that are causing quite a stir, in fact without catch-up, many of us may never venture out!

One such TV show is Downton Abbey, which not only features a huge A-list cast, it has also been nominated for a variety of TV awards.

One of the female stars that is proving to be causing quite a stir both on set and off set when it comes to fashion is Jess Findlay.

She is the sister with the feisty attitude and her dress sense off scene certainly keeps in tune with that.  She was recently seen sporting a very daring bodycon cut out dress.  The black front and back was complimented by by sheer polka dot see through sides and sleeves, such attire is certainly a little different to that seen on the show’s set and is certainly a show-stopping piece!

Jess’s character represents the future generation of woman on the show and therefore she takes no nonsense from any one!  We can most definitely see this no nonsense attitude shine through in her fashion sense!