Fashion Schmashion

This season is welcoming colour with open arms, especially on the runway of Jason Wu.  The designer of the season opted to use MAC for his recent catwalk show.

MAC make-up artist Diane Kendall used an eye catching emerald green shade on the model’s eye sockets.  This was in order to pay homage to the Ming Dynasty.  This is exactly what Wu himself wished to create as he too paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty with his current collection.

Prabal Gurung followed suit and also sought the help of top-name make-up artists to create an emerald green feel.  Such a look is very eye-catching and really makes the eyes pop!

Charlotte Tilbury was the make-up artist in question.  She used a range of MAC cosmetics to create the look, which in turn resembled a scarab beetle inspired effect.  Dual tone green was used with a hit of blue on the eye sockets.

Other designers that really went to town on the make-up front included Estee Lauder.  The high fashion house had the help of the colour connoisseur Tom Pecheux.

Derek Lam smoked the eyes out using a deep purple shade.  The end result was something extremely dramatic that certainly turned a few heads on the runway.

If bright eyes are not your thing, why not opt for a bright lip instead!  These were showcased at the runway of Victoria Beckham and also at Thakoon.  Diane kendel was the make-up connoisseur in question and worked with matte acid blocks of colour in hot hues.

Both of the above designers have never taken this colourful road before, it certainly created an impact however!

Now we will just have to wait and see whether the Autumn shows follow suit and opt too for a paint box style of effects!  This is certainly the season to be doing the bright thing!  Head down to your local beauty counter today and get experimenting with a few different colours.

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!

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!

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

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!

We are by no means saying you stick to one or the other, we are simply saying what is hot for this season!

Sequins are great for many occasions.  Most may think you can only don such an attire to a party.  However this is not the case and wearing sequins with distressed jeans, boots and a blazer can create ‘I just threw this on’ look i amtter of minutes.

The contrast of both the over the top and sequins and the understated distressed fabrics will create an outfit that is not only alternative but also super cool and right on trend for the new year!

Sequins can also be worn with flats on a daytime.  Opt for a patent red pair in order to create a different look that stands out but for all the right reasons.  Keep you hair and jewellery simple in order to tone down the rest of the outfit.

Dress the same look up on an evening out with killer heels and cutesy accessories.  Pile the hair up and opt for one of this season’s must-have embellished headbands.

If you want to do the boyish approach, team a sequined top with a pair of sequined brogues, jeans and a blazer.  Add a felt hat to the mix as your only accessory!  This is another great daytime look that will guarantee to turn a few heads.

This season’s top style tips are in abundance.  The first trend to take note of is haute hippy.  This comes in the form of statement and oversized Jackie O style shades, super floopy on trend sun hats, retro billowing blouses and anything with a fringe.  However if you a little too scared to invest in a fringed jacket, opt for a fringe embellished bag, this way you add only a subtle hint of the trend as appose to a an in your face piece!

Maxi skirts and dresses are also a great look for summer and can teamed with cute cropped jackets, beanies and shades for a more winter look.  This is great news for those that are on a budget as this creates an uber versatile trend!

Go to great lengths this summer and let those hemline touch the floor.  The key maxi this year is the printed long dress.  For the ultimate in rock chic style, team with a floppy 70′s hat, a rock tee and urban All Saints byker shoes.

If you are a little on the petite size and prefer a dress that doesn’t touch the ground opt for another style.  Such a style comes in the shape of a mid-length skirt and is a great option when it comes to revealing a pair of killer statement heels!  Platforms make it easy to balance and are appearing everywhere on the highstreet this year.

The highest heels you can get your hands on are the only acceptable heels to wear with such a look!

Cameron Diaz is the star of this season’s must-see movie, the Bad Teacher!  As well as the film getting lots of laughs it is also a great film to go and see if you want to steal the stylish leading ladies style!

Cameron Diaz reveals an array of stylish attire on set in the shape of some very sultry work wear.  This is work wear only to be worn by the very confident but who says we can’t dress up during the day!

It is certainly a great way to make your day a little more interesting.  It is also a great way to go straight from the office and on to the cocktail bar without the hassle of running back home to get changed!

Think killer heels, tight knee length skirts, glamorous locks and sheer pastel shirts!  If you wish to tone the look down a little swap the heels for cutesy patent flats.  Wear your hair in a low-slung pony tail and add a little cardigan to the mix.  As soon as the work bell or in Camerons’ case, the school bell rings, add statement jewels and get those heels out to play!

Cameron has a figure to die for and she could more than likely pull off absolutely anything she chooses to put on, If you want to look as good as the stylish star, clever tailoring is key!  A few hard core sessions at the local gym won’t go a miss either!

Grunge style clothing is currently having a huge resurgence in popularity. A staple style for music fans in the 80s and 90s, more and more high street stores are stocking grunge-style clothing on their rails. The grunge look is incredibly easy to pull off and requires very little effort, but there are some rules that should be followed to make sure your grungy look is authentic and stylish.

• Start by looking at pictures of some of the original grunge stars. This will help to inspire you own grungy look.

• When you’re putting together your grungy look, don’t spend too much time on your hair. Wear it messy, as if you have just woken up.

• For a true grunge look, avoid wearing bright or bold colours. To be completely authentic, wear a relaxed flannel shirt with a band T-shirt underneath.

• No grunge outfit would be complete without a pair of ripped jeans. There are plenty of pre-ripped jeans available on the high street but, if your budget can’t stretch to some new jeans, you can rip an old pair yourself. You can even add patches, sew fabric on them and colour them with fabric pens. Any stains on them will just add to the grungy look.

• The right shoes are the key to the grungy look. A pristine pair of trainers or stiletto heels just won’t do. Scour charity shops for old pairs of Dr. Martins, Converse high tops, skate shoes or any other boots.

• Layering is the major part of the grunge look but, in the height of summer, it can get a little warm. A couple of vests layered over each other teamed with a pair of ripped jeans or shorts is a great, summer-friendly way to embrace the grunge trend.